Job 1:5 (ESV)
[5] And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

The father offered burnt offerings on behalf of his children. He apparently offered one for each child as the text says, “according to the number of them all.” More children took more sacrifices. What a contrast with the Eternal Father who sacrificed his own son on behalf of his enemies.

Romans 5:8, 10 (ESV)
[8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
[10] For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

“While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” What an incredible truth! Does it matter whether we understand Jesus to be God, or “a god?” Does it matter what we believe about the Trinity? Isn’t the fact that God sacrificed his Son enough? There are those who say that Jesus is the first created being. Isn’t that okay as long as we understand that he is perfect? But here is the dilemma. Any sacrifice has to be perfect in order to be acceptable. The fact that Jesus never sinned is what makes him an acceptable sacrifice for a man. But how many men can one man die for? Job had a separate sacrifice for each of his children. One man can only die for one man.

Romans 5:19 says, “By the one man’s (Jesus) obedience the many will be made righteous.” How can many be made righteous by the death of one? Death is not a thing. Death is simply the absence of life. Death can be passed from one man to many. Life, on the other hand, is something. There is only so much life in one being. Life can pass from one man to one man, but how can many be saved? Hebrews 9:28 says, “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” As a man, Jesus is an acceptable, once for all sacrifice for a man. As God, Jesus is an acceptable sacrifice for “the sins of many.” The value of one man is equal to one man. The value of God is more than equal to the value of all humanity. Does it matter that Jesus is God? Yes! If he is anything less than God then his sacrifice is no sufficient for more than one.

Job, the father, offered sacrifices regularly on behalf of his children. The Father’s sacrifice of his Son, who is eternal God, makes us holy “once for all” (Heb 10:10). “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14 ESV). How do you respond to a truth like that?

Hebrews 10:19-25 (ESV)
[19] Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, [20] by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, [21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.


As our world turns dark our response is not to run and hide. It is not to build walls and keep people out. It is to draw near to God and rest in his unchanging favor for the sacrifice of his Son is all sufficient. Trust him.

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