For those of us who are familiar with Paul’s life, perhaps 2 Corinthians 12:10 is one of the significant things we remember when he said, “Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.” Although we may never have thought of it, that is a theme that runs through the whole Bible. What were the midwives who saved Moses compared to the power of Pharaoh? What was David’s sling compared to the spear of Goliath? What was the fearful group of disciples who fled from Jesus when He was arrested compared to the combined forces of the jealous Jews and the rapacious [brutal] Romans?
If we have built our lives on the foundation of the powers of this world, we will be lost. Banking on money will not work. Politicians may have had a catchy slogan when they said, “It is the economy, stupid,” but the truth is that the last word in that sentence describes the philosophy of the first four. Those who assume that the solution to the problems of drugs, racism or any other will be solved by edicts of the Supreme Court, legislation from the halls of Congress, giving away more money or pontifical and political pronouncements from the President are all wrong. Pharaoh is gone (though his mummified body may still exist), but God’s people were delivered from captivity by one who was born in captivity and cradled in an ark set adrift in the bulrushes by a mother who knew that God’s power could work through the weakest means. Her work will live on forever.
To be well educated, have a good bank account, a good marriage and a happy family are all desirable. However, our real strength is not in those things but in God and His power. In fact, all the power and even the good things of this world will pass away, and so, we must learn that our hope is ultimately in God and His power.
