The Old Testament character Job had an issue with God. Job talks about it in Job 9:32-35: "He [God] is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot."

Job had trouble—more trouble than most of us can imagine. God had given Satan access to Job to test his faith (Job 1:12; 2:6). Job did not have a route to God. All he had were the sacrifices and offerings he made to try to appease God (Job 1:5). Job wanted an intercessor, an advocate, somebody to present his case before God.

Job knew such a person existed. In chapter 19, verse 25, Job said, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth."

Job lived in the days before Jesus Christ the Son of God came to earth to establish the kingdom of God on earth and to initiate the age of grace. Today, believers in Christ have an intercessor. The intercessor is Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

The New Testament book of Hebrews speaks of Jesus and His permanent priesthood in chapter 7, verses 24b-25: "He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

Job looked for an intercessor; the followers of Christ have one.

God is holy; He has not changed. We are not holy. The best fifteen minutes we could put together would still be like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). When we sin, we violate God's holiness. We need an advocate. In 1 John 2:1, we read, "If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."

Job longed for an intercessor, an arbitrator; we have one. At times we may feel like we have as much trouble as Job had. In that trouble, we might wonder if God is moving against us, if there is something we have done that has violated His holiness.

In Hebrews 4:14, we are instructed that since Jesus Christ is our High Priest, we are to hold firmly to the faith we profess. In other words, if what is happening does not make sense, remember that Jesus is in place for us. Verse 15 declares that Jesus knows exactly what we are going through, and verse 16 exhorts us to come before God's throne of grace with confidence to find grace and mercy for our need.

If we have an issue with God, Jesus Christ is the answer—first as Savior and then as intercessor.