Proverbs 8:35 (ESV) … “ For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord...”
The word translated “whoever” comes into its own in the New Testament where we read in the text of texts, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, italics added). Indeed, the Bible ends with that wondrous word still sounding out from the great heart of God: “Whoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17.)
“Whoever finds me finds life.” The search is rewarded at last. “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart,” announced the Lord to Old Testament Israel just as the final deportation of the Jews to Babylon for their seventy-year captivity was about to begin (Jeremiah 29:13). At the end of the captivity the prophet Daniel did just what Wisdom urges. On behalf of Israel he sought her (Daniel 9:1–3, 21–27) and the nation was reborn. However, the quest for divine wisdom went on. Then Jesus came.
What a meteor shower of “finds” we have at the beginning of the gospel story as told by John! No sooner did Andrew find Jesus than he found his brother Simon. “We have found the Messiah” Andrew said (John 1:41). Then Jesus found Philip, and Philip found his friend Nathanael. “We have found him,” Philip said (John 1:45). “Whoever finds me finds life, and obtain favor from the Lord,” Wisdom says. Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael found that to be true. All who find Him agree.
Sir James Simpson discovered chloroform. Because of this find, a greater-than-life photo of the man adorns the wall of the entrance to the medical research section of the Chicago Natural History Museum. The museum accorded Simpson this honor because his discovery of chloroform revolutionized medicine. Before his day, surgery was a nightmare.
One day a newspaper reporter interviewed the famous researcher. The journalist asked his first question: “Sir James, would you please tell me what you consider to be your most important discovery?”
The scientist promptly replied, “My most important discovery was when I found out that I was a sinner in the sight of a holy God.”
The startled newsman did not think that answer would get his article on the front page, so he tried again. “Thank you, Sir James,” he said. “Now would you tell me what you consider to be your second most important discovery?”
The famous scientist replied, “Young man, my second most important discovery was when I found that Jesus died for a sinner like me.” Sir James had found wisdom, he had found life, and he had obtained favor of the Lord.[1]
[1] Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Proverbs 1–19: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 1, Pr 8:35). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.