The Inseparable Love of God (1) [ Romans 8:38-39 ] Why can nothing separate us from the love of God? 1. Because God’s love is eternal. Romans 8:29a says: “For those whom He foreknew…” The word “foreknew” refers to before eternity began —before the creation of heaven and earth . The phrase “those whom He foreknew” does not simply mean knowing about someone intellectually, but rather loving them. In other words, it refers to “those whom God loved from eternity past.” Amos 3:2a says: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” If “known” merely meant intellectual knowledge, that would imply that God only knew Israel and did not know the other nations—which cannot be true, because the all-knowing God lacks knowledge of nothing. Therefore, “I have known you only” means “I have loved you only.” God loved Israel among all the nations of the earth. Hosea 13:5 says: “I knew you in the wilderness , in the land of great drought.” The “wilderness” was where the Israelite...
Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11)
Everyone who exalts
himself will be humbled,
and whoever humbles
himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11)
Haman was in a very good
mood because he alone was invited
to two banquets with
King Ahasuerus and Queen Esther.
He boasted to his wife,
Zeresh, and his friends about his wealth,
his many children, and
the high position the king had given him above all others.
Yet, despite all this,
Haman was not satisfied as long as he saw
the Jew Mordecai sitting
at the king's gate
(Esther 5:9-13).
Haman seemed to be
extremely angry
because Mordecai did not
acknowledge his high position,
nor did he bow down or
pay homage to him.
It appears that Haman
wanted everyone to recognize the high position he held,
which he was very proud
of.
However, there was just
one person, Mordecai the Jew,
who did not acknowledge
his high status.
This greatly
dissatisfied Haman.
His wife Zeresh and all
his friends advised him
to set up a gallows
about 23 meters high
and to ask the king the
next morning to have Mordecai hanged on it.
After that, he could go
to the second banquet with Queen Esther in high spirits.
This suggestion pleased
Haman, and he ordered the gallows to be built (v. 14).
Haman wanted to hang
Mordecai on the high gallows
because Mordecai did not
acknowledge his high position.
When I meditate on this
passage, I am reminded of Jesus,
who, despite having the
highest position equal with God,
came to this lowly and
humble earth (Ref.: Philippians 2:6-8)
and was crucified on a
high cross (Ref.: John 3:14),
the tree of curse
(Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13).
Jesus said, "For
all those who exalt themselves will be humbled,
and those who humble
themselves will be exalted"
(Luke 14:11).
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