“This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches.” (Jeremiah 9:23)
Has it ever dawned on you how reliant we as humans are on our wisdom, strength, and riches? We run into a problem, we figure it out. We generally like to think we’re smart and self-sufficient. And for those of us who know we’re not, at least we can turn to Google or hire someone to help us when the water heater breaks.
But what happens when we run into a situation that we have no wisdom, might, or money to fix? Dealing with a breakup? Dealing with anxiety? Stuck in an addiction? Stuck in an unwanted job? The list goes on and on, but it just seems there are situations we run into that we have no means of resolving in our own strength.
This was exactly the situation for Joseph in the Old Testament. Joseph was the youngest of twelve siblings. He was despised by his brothers. He was sold into slavery. He was alienated from his father and everyone he knew and loved. Genesis 38:1 tells us, “Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.”
Now let’s pause for a moment and consider: Joseph is a slave! No resources whatsoever. He has no money. He has no power. He has no friends. And he certainly has no strategy in terms of escaping Egypt and returning to his family. His life has no clear meaning or purpose. But there’s one factor that is going to shift everything!
“The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.” (Genesis 39:2)
It’s all in those first five words: “The Lord was with Joseph.” Joseph did not have anything to base his confidence on — other than the fact that God was with him! And that, my friend, was the X factor! As a result of God being with him, Scripture tells us that Joseph became a successful man.
Scripture then goes on to say: “His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.” (Genesis 39:3-4)
From slave to overseer! That is the power of God! My friend, if you are caught up in some kind of adversity, you are in good company. We all undergo the trials and sufferings of life. (1 Peter 5:9) But the most important factor in this situation is not the power you have. It’s not your own strength. It’s not your own wisdom. It’s not your own wealth. It’s not your own resources. And it’s not the friends and people around you. The most important factor is that God is with you. And that’s all that matters. Let everything else be taken away but the presence of God!
When God is with us, good things chase us down. (Psalm 23:6) When God is with us, our weakness is turned into strength. (2 Corinthians 12:10) When God is with us, our life heads in the right direction, even when we don’t know what to do! (Proverbs 3:5-6) Our trial may not end as soon as we would like it to, but we can be confident that God will make the end result good! Joseph remained a slave and prisoner for many years before getting released and becoming second in command over all Egypt. But in reflecting upon his life at the end of the story, Joseph had this to say to his brothers who sold him into slavery: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20) For us today, the same concept applies. No affliction we go through is ever wasted!
Let’s revisit our opening verse, but add verse 24 for context this time:
"This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
Wow! Just think how amazing this is! We have the understanding to know God! He’s the one who holds all the wisdom, power, and resources! He is on our side and is going to exercise kindness toward us! We can confidently declare then: “No matter what I go through, God is with me. And that is all that matters.”
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