| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| October 17, 2026 | ESV (2016) | ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026 |
Job 1
Observation & Interpretation
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. (Job 1:5 – ESV)
Job demonstrated his love and concern for his children by interceding for them through consecration and offing burnt offerings. He was unsure if they had sinned, but sought to cover them just in case. The quantity of offerings coincided with the number of his children, ensuring that they were all accounted. Also, due to the constancy of their potential sin, Job needed to continually perform these atoning actions on their behalf.
The parallels and contrasts with Jesus are striking. Christ intercedes for us not through the killing of animals, but by offering Himself as the worthy sacrifice. There is no need to account for a specific number of those who have sinned because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Moreover, Jesus’ death on the cross is a one-time, propitiatory act that covers all sins for all people for all time.
Application
Jesus is the new and better Job. He is the One—the only One—whose intercession provides everlasting reconciliation with God and restored relationship with Him. There is no longer need to continually attempt to justify ourselves or our loved ones. Rather, the gracious offer of Christ is to place one’s faith completely in Him who grants His righteousness by the shedding of His blood. May God’s people rest solely on the gift of salvation offered in Christ, repenting of the sin of self-justification and placing their faith entirely in Him for the forgiveness of their sins.