Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?[Romans 8:35]
God does not keep His child immune from trouble; He promises, “I will be with him in trouble…” (Psalm 91:15). It doesn’t matter how real or intense the adversities may be; nothing can ever separate him from his relationship to God. “In all these things we are more than conquerors…” (Romans 8:37). Paul was not referring here to imaginary things, but to things that are dangerously real. And he said we are “super-victors” in the midst of them, not because of our own ingenuity, nor because of our courage, but because none of them affects our essential relationship with God in Jesus Christ. I feel sorry for the Christian who doesn’t have something in the circumstances of his life that he wishes were not there.
“Shall tribulation…?” Tribulation is never a grand, highly welcomed event; but whatever it may be— whether exhausting, irritating, or simply causing some weakness— it is not able to “separate us from the love of Christ.” Never allow tribulations or the “cares of this world” to separate you from remembering that God loves you (Matthew 13:22).
“Shall…distress…?” Can God’s love continue to hold fast, even when everyone and everything around us seems to be saying that His love is a lie, and that there is no such thing as justice?
“Shall…famine…?” Can we not only believe in the love of God but also be “more than conquerors,” even while we are being starved?
Either Jesus Christ is a deceiver, having deceived even Paul, or else some extraordinary thing happens to someone who holds on to the love of God when the odds are totally against him. Logic is silenced in the face of each of these things which come against him. Only one thing can account for it— the love of God in Christ Jesus. “Out of the wreck I rise” every time.Romans 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of the Messiah? Trouble? Hardship? Persecution? Hunger? Poverty? Danger? War?
Bible in One Year:
1 Chronicles 7:1 The sons of Yissakhar were: Tola, Pu’ah, Yashuv and Shimron — four.
2 The sons of Tola were: ‘Uzi, Refayah, Yeri’el, Yachmai, Yivsam and Sh’mu’el. They were heads of their fathers’ clans, descended from Tola; they were strong, brave men in their generations. In the time of David they numbered 22,600.
3 The son of ‘Uzi was Yizrachyah, and the sons of Yizrachyah were: Mikha’el, ‘Ovadyah, Yo’el and Yishiyah — five, all of them leaders. 4 With them, by their generations, in their fathers’ clans, were army troops organized for war, 36,000 of them, because they had many women and children. 5 Their kinsmen among all the clans of Yissakhar, strong, brave men, numbered 87,000, listed in genealogical records.
6 [The sons of] Binyamin were: Bela, Bekher and Y’dia‘el — three.
7 The sons of Bela were: Etzbon, ‘Uzi, ‘Uzi’el, Yerimot and ‘Iri — five; they were leaders of fathers’ clans, strong, brave men. They numbered 22,034, listed in genealogical records.
8 The sons of Bekher were: Z’mirah, Yo’ash, Eli‘ezer, Elyo‘enai, ‘Omri, Yeremot, Aviyah, ‘Anatot and ‘Alemet; all these were sons of Bekher. 9 Listed in genealogical records by generations under leaders of fathers’ clans, who were strong, brave men, were 20,200.
10 The son of Y’dia‘el was Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan were: Ye‘ush, Binyamin, Ehud, Kena‘anah, Zeitan, Tarshish and Achishachar. 11 All these were descendants of Y’dia‘el, leaders of their fathers’ clans, who were brave, strong men; they numbered 17,200, all fit to fight with the army.
12 [More descendants of Binyamin:] Shupim, Hupim, the sons of ‘Ir.
Hushim, the son of another [of Isra’el’s sons, namely, Dan].
13 The sons of Naftali were: Yachtzi’el, Guni, Yetzer, Shalum, the sons of Bilhah.
14 The descendants of M’nasheh: his concubine the woman from Aram bore Makhir the father of Gil‘ad; Asri’el [Gil‘ad’s son] was descended from her. 15 Makhir’s wife was from the families of Hupim and Shupim, and his sister’s name was Ma‘akhah. M’nasheh’s second son was Tz’lof’chad, and Tz’lof’chad had daughters. 16 Ma‘akhah the wife of Makhir bore a son whom she named Peresh, the name of his brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem. 17 The son of Ulam was B’dan. These were the descendants of Gil‘ad the son of Makhir the son of M’nasheh. 18 His sister Hammolekhet [the governor] bore Ish-Hod, Avi‘ezer and Machlah. 19 The sons of Sh’mida were Achyan, Sh’khem, Lik’chi and Ani‘am.
20 The descendants of Efrayim were: Shutelach, his son Bered, his son Tachat, his son El‘adah, his son Tachat, 21 his son Zavad and his son Shutelach; also ‘Ezer and El‘ad, whom the men of Gat born in the land killed when they came down to raid their cattle. 22 Efrayim their father mourned for a long time, and his kinsmen came to comfort him. 23 Then he had sexual relations with his wife, and she conceived and bore a son whom he called B’ri‘ah [in calamity], because his household had suffered a calamity. 24 His daughter was She’erah, who built upper and lower Beit-Horon and Uzen-She’erah. 25 Refach was his son, and Reshef, then his son Telach, his son Tachan 26 his son La‘dan, his son ‘Ammihud, his son Elishama, 27 his son Nun and his son Y’hoshua.
28 Their possessions and settlements were Beit-El with its towns; Na‘aran to the east; and to the west, Gezer with its towns; also Sh’khem with its towns, as far as ‘Ayah and its towns; 29 and, near the territory of the descendants of M’nasheh, Beit-Sh’an with its towns, Ta‘nakh with its towns, Megiddo with its towns and Dor with its towns. In these places lived the descendants of Yosef the son of Isra’el.
30 The children of Asher were: Yimnah, Yishvah, Yishvi, B’ri‘ah and their sister Serach. 31 The sons of B’ri‘ah were: Hever and Malki’el, who fathered Birzayit. 32 Hever fathered Yaflet, Shomer, Hotam and their sister Shua. 33 The sons of Yaflet were: Pasakh, Bimhal and ‘Ashvat; these were the sons of Yaflet. 34 The sons of Shemer were: Achi, Rohgah, Hubah and Aram. 35 The sons of his brother Helem were: Zofach, Yimnah, Shelesh and ‘Amal. 36 The sons of Zofach were: Suach, Harnefer, Shu‘al, Beri, Yimrah, 37 Betzer, Hod, Shama, Shilshah, Yitran and Be’era. 38 The sons of Yeter were: Y’funeh, Pispah and Ara. 39 The sons of ‘Ula were: Arach, Hani’el and Ritzya. 40 All these were descendants of Asher, leaders of their fathers’ clans, elite, strong, brave men, the most important of the princes. Those fit for battle service, listed in genealogies, numbered 26,000 men.
8:1 Binyamin fathered Bela his firstborn son; his second, Ashbel; his third, Achrach; 2 his fourth, Nochah; and his fifth, Rafa. 3 Bela had sons: Adar, Gera, Avihud, 4 Avishua, Na‘aman, Achoach, 5 Gera, Sh’fufan and Huram. 6 These are the sons of Ehud, the heads of fathers’ clans among the inhabitants of Geva (they were carried away captive to Manachat; 7 those who carried them off were Na‘aman, Achiyah and Gera): he fathered ‘Uzah and Achichud. 8 Shacharayim fathered children on the plains of Mo’av; after sending away his wives Hushim and Ba‘ara, 9 it was through his wife Hodesh that he fathered: Yovav, Tzivya, Mesha, Malkam, 10 Ye‘utz, Sokhya and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of clans. 11 Through Hushim he fathered Avituv and Elpa‘al. 12 The sons of Elpa‘al: ‘Ever, Mish‘am, Shemed — he built Ono and Lod with its towns — 13 and B’ri‘ah and Shema — they were heads of fathers’ clans among the inhabitants of Ayalon, who drove away the people living in Gat.
14 Achyo, Shashak, Yeremot, 15 Z’vadyah, ‘Arad, ‘Eder, 16 Mikha’el, Yishpah and Yocha were the sons of B’ri‘ah. 17 Z’vadyah, Meshulam, Hizki, Hever, 18 Yishm’rai, Yizli’ah and Yovav were the sons of Elpa‘al. 19 Yakim, Zikhri, Zavdi, 20 Eli‘einai, Tziltai, Eli’el, 21 ‘Adayah, B’rayah and Shimrat were the sons of Shim‘i. 22 Yishpan, ‘Eved, Eli’el, 23 ‘Avdon, Zikhri, Hanan, 24 Hananyah, ‘Eilam, ‘Anatotyah, 25 Yifdeyah and P’nu’el were the sons of Shashak. 26 Shamsh’rai, Sh’charyah, ‘Atalyah, 27 Ya‘areshyah, Eliyah and Zikhri were the sons of Yerocham. 28 These were leaders of fathers’ houses through all their generations, leading men who lived in Yerushalayim.
29 In Giv‘on lived the father of Giv‘on, whose wife’s name was Ma‘akhah; 30 and his firstborn son ‘Avdon, Tzur, Kish, Ba‘al, Nadav, 31 G’dor, Achyo and Zekher. 32 Miklot fathered Shim’ah. In contrast with some of their kinsmen, they and their families lived in Yerushalayim.
33 Ner fathered Kish; Kish fathered Sha’ul; and Sha’ul fathered Y’honatan, Malkishua, Avinadav and Eshba‘al. 34 The son of Y’honatan was M’riv-Ba‘al, and M’riv-Ba‘al fathered Mikhah. 35 The sons of Mikhah: Piton, Melekh, Ta’rea and Achaz. 36 Achaz fathered Y’ho‘adah; Y’ho‘adah fathered ‘Alemet, ‘Azmavet and Zimri; Zimri fathered Motza; 37 and Motza fathered Bin‘a. His son was Rafah, his son was El‘asah and his son was Atzel. 38 Atzel had six sons, whose names were: ‘Azrikam, Bokhru, Yishma‘el, Sh‘aryah, ‘Ovadyah and Hanan; all these were sons of Atzel. 39 The sons of his brother ‘Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Ye‘ush the second and Elifelet the third. 40 The sons of Ulam were strong, brave men, archers; they had many children and grandchildren, a hundred and fifty. All these were descendants of Binyamin.
9:1 So all Isra’el was listed by genealogies, and these were recorded in the book of the kings of Isra’el. Then Y’hudah was carried away captive to Bavel because of their unfaithfulness. 2 The first people to return to their possessions in the cities were the Isra’elim, the cohanim, the L’vi’im and the temple servants. 3 In Yerushalayim lived some descendants of Y’hudah, some descendants of Binyamin and some descendants of Efrayim and of M’nasheh: 4 ‘Utai the son of ‘Ammihud, the son of ‘Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the descendants of Peretz the son of Y’hudah. 5 Of the Shiloni: ‘Asayah the firstborn and his sons. 6 Of the descendants of Zerach: Ye‘u’el and their kinsmen, 690. 7 Of the descendants of Binyamin: Salu the son of Meshulam the son of Hodavyah the son of Hasnu’ah, 8 Yivneyah the son of Yerocham, Elah the son of ‘Uzi the son of Mikhri, Meshulam the son of Sh’fatyah the son of Re‘u’el the son of Yivneyah, 9 and their kinsmen, according to their generations — altogether 956. All these men were leaders of fathers’ clans.
10 Of the cohanim: Y’da‘yah, Y’hoyariv, Yakhin, 11 ‘Azaryah the son of Hilkiyah the son of Meshulam the son of Tzadok the son of M’rayot the son of Achituv the ruler of the house of God, 12 ‘Adayah the son of Yerocham the son of Pash’chur the son of Malkiyah, Ma‘asai the son of ‘Adi’el the son of Yachzerah the son of Meshulam the son of Meshilmit the son of Immer, 13 and their kinsmen, leaders of their fathers’ clans, 1,760 very competent men available for serving in the house of God.
14 Of the L’vi’im: Sh’ma‘yah the son of Hashuv the son of ‘Azrikam the son of Hashavyah, from the descendants of M’rari; 15 Bakbakar; Heresh; Galal; Matanyah the son of Mikha the son of Zikhri the son of Asaf; 16 ‘Ovadyah the son of Sh’ma‘yah the son of Galal the son of Y’dutun; and Berekhyah the son of Asa the son of Elkanah, who lived in the towns of the N’tofati.
17 The gatekeepers: Shalum, ‘Akuv, Talmon, Achiman and their kinsmen; Shalum was the chief. 18 Previously they had guarded the king’s gate to the east; they were gatekeepers for the camp of the descendants of Levi. 19 Shalum the son of Kore the son of Evyasaf the son of Korach and his kinsmen from his father’s clan the Korchim were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tent. Their ancestors had been in charge of the camp of Adonai, keepers of the entryway. 20 Pinchas the son of El‘azar had been ruler over them long before; Adonai had been with him. 21 Z’kharyah the son of Meshelemyah guarded the entryway to the tent of meeting. 22 All these chosen to be gatekeepers numbered 212. Their genealogies were recorded in their towns; they had been appointed to their positions by David and Sh’mu’el the seer. 23 They and their descendants supervised the gates of the house of Adonai, that is, the house of the tent, by periods of duty. 24 The gatekeepers served on the four sides, east, west, north and south. 25 From time to time their kinsmen had to come in from their towns to help them for seven days.
26 For the four chief gatekeepers were on permanent duty; they were the L’vi’im in charge of accommodations and supplies in the house of God. 27 They spent their nights in the vicinity of the house of God, because they were in charge of it; they were responsible for opening it up each morning.
28 Some of [the L’vi’im] were in charge of the articles used for the service; they had to keep records of them when bringing them in and out. 29 Others were in charge of the equipment, the holy utensils, the fine flour, the wine, the olive oil, the frankincense and the spices. 30 Some of the sons of the cohanim mixed together the ingredients for the perfumes. 31 Mattityah, one of the L’vi’im, who was the firstborn of Shalum the Korchi, was permanently in charge of baking operations. 32 Some of their kinsmen, from the descendants of the K’hati, were in charge of preparing the showbread every Shabbat. 33 Also there were the singers, heads of fathers’ clans among the L’vi’im. They lived in the accommodations and were free from other kinds of service, for they were employed in their own work day and night. 34 These were heads of fathers’ clans among the L’vi’im, according to their generations, and they were leaders; they lived in Yerushalayim.
35 In Giv‘on lived the father of Giv‘on, Ye‘i’el, whose his wife’s name was Ma‘akhah; 36 and his firstborn son ‘Avdon, Tzur, Kish, Ba‘al, Ner, Nadav, 37 G’dor, Achyo, Z’kharyah and Miklot. 38 Miklot fathered Shim’am. In contrast with some of their kinsmen, they and their families lived in Yerushalayim.
39 Ner fathered Kish; Kish fathered Sha’ul; and Sha’ul fathered Y’honatan, Malkishua, Avinadav and Eshba‘al. 40 The son of Y’honatan was M’riv-Ba‘al, and M’riv-Ba‘al fathered Mikhah. 41 The sons of Mikhah were: Piton, Melekh and Ta’rea. 42 Achaz fathered Ya‘ra; Ya‘ra fathered ‘Alemet, ‘Azmavet and Zimri; Zimri fathered Motza; 43 and Motza fathered Bin‘a. His son was Rafah, his son El‘asah and his son Atzel. 44 Atzel had six sons, whose names were: ‘Azrikam, Bokhru, Yishma‘el, Sh‘aryah, ‘Ovadyah and Hanan; all these were sons of Atzel.
John 6:22 The next day, the crowd which had stayed on the other side of the lake noticed that there had been only one boat there, and that Yeshua had not entered the boat with his talmidim, but that the talmidim had been alone when they sailed off. 23 Then other boats, from Tiberias, came ashore near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had made the b’rakhah. 24 Accordingly, when the crowd saw that neither Yeshua nor his talmidim were there, they themselves boarded the boats and made for K’far-Nachum in search of Yeshua.
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Yeshua answered, “Yes, indeed! I tell you, you’re not looking for me because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate the bread and had all you wanted! 27 Don’t work for the food which passes away but for the food that stays on into eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For this is the one on whom God the Father has put his seal.”
28 So they said to him, “What should we do in order to perform the works of God?” 29 Yeshua answered, “Here’s what the work of God is: to trust in the one he sent!”
30 They said to him, “Nu, what miracle will you do for us, so that we may see it and trust you? What work can you perform? 31 Our fathers ate man in the desert — as it says in the Tanakh, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[a] 32 Yeshua said to them, “Yes, indeed! I tell you it wasn’t Moshe who gave you the bread from heaven. But my Father is giving you the genuine bread from heaven; 33 for God’s bread is the one who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread from now on.” 35 Yeshua answered, “I am the bread which is life! Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever trusts in me will never be thirsty. 36 I told you that you have seen but still don’t trust. 37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will certainly not turn away. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do not my own will but the will of the One who sent me. 39 And this is the will of the One who sent me: that I should not lose any of all those he has given me but should raise them up on the Last Day. 40 Yes, this is the will of my Father: that all who see the Son and trust in him should have eternal life, and that I should raise them up on the Last Day.”
41 At this the Judeans began grumbling about him because he said, “I am the bread which has come down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t this Yeshua Ben-Yosef? We know his father and mother! How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Yeshua answered them, “Stop grumbling to each other! 44 No one can come to me unless the Father — the One who sent me — draws him. And I will raise him up on the Last Day.[Footnotes:
John 6:31 Psalm 78:24; Nehemiah 9:15]
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