Tag: kataleipo

Romans 11:4 – Focus on Him

Posted on by Will

But what was God’s answer to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who did not bow the knee to Ba’al."

Truth to Learn

God wants us to keep our focus on Him, not on ourselves.

 

Behind the Words

“God’s response” is from chrēmatismos, meaning “the answer from a god.” It is often translated as “a warning.” This is not simply a response from God, but a stern warning to Elijah that he does not understand the real situation.

The Greek word translated “reserved” is kateleipō, which is a compound word made up of kata, which means “down” but is used here as an intensifier and leipo, which means “to leave.” Literally, it means “to leave behind,” which is the negative use of this word. It is also used in a positive sense meaning “to set apart or to reserve.”

 

Meaning Explained

Paul is talking about Elijah the prophet of God who defeated the prophets of Ba’al in a contest on Mount Carmel to prove who is really God, Jehovah or Ba’al. When Ba’al failed (he is merely a god, not the true God), and Jehovah succeeded (He is truly the one and only GOD ALMIGHTY), Elijah commanded the people to kill all the false prophets. But then, in fear of Jezebel’s threatened retaliation, he fled to the wilderness to a cave in Mt Horeb. Here Elijah lamented to God that all Israel had forsaken Him and that he alone remained of the faithful. Let’s see how God responds to Elijah.

Paul tells us that the divine answer that God gave to Elijah is this, “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who did not bow the knee to Ba’al.” In other words, even though Elijah thought he alone was still faithful, God warned him not to think so selfishly; there were seven thousand others who were also still faithful to God. Now, when compared to the hundreds of thousands, or even millions of Israelites in the land at that time, seven thousand doesn’t sound like very many. But compared to Elijah’s lament, “I am left alone,” seven thousand is a pretty big number. It’s simply a matter of perspective and God’s perspective is always the correct one.

The point is that God set apart a remnant of Israel who were still faithful to Him. You will notice that God did not say that there are seven thousand who have proven themselves to be faithful by their actions and deeds. He said that He had “reserved” to Himself these seven thousand men. Here is God’s message to Elijah, “My dear son, I have not left you alone, there are seven thousand others that I have set-apart to Myself. These have not bowed to Ba’al; they bow to Me.”

Do you see the impact of what God says? He, as the active agent in the process, set-apart seven thousand Israelites to be faithful. He chose them, they did not choose Him! In the following verse Paul will call it “election.”

 

Application

Isn’t this the way it feels sometimes, when we are under spiritual attack? It seems that all is falling down around us and we are all alone with no one to turn to. But even if it were true that everyone else had forsaken us, we can always turn to God. He will never forsake those whom He has chosen. Keep your focus on Him, not yourself. Remember, we are not the ones in control – He is.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 5:31 – Glued Together as One

Posted on by Will

"For this reason a man shall leave father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

Truth to Learn

God has a specific design for the marriage relationship.

 

Behind the Words

The words “For this reason” are translated from the Greek words anti toutou. The word anti means “opposite” or “against” and toutou (a form of houtos) means “this.” So, this expression literally means “against this,” or “answering to this.”

The verb “leave” is from the Greek verb kataleipō, made up of kata, meaning “down” but used as an intensifier and leipō, meaning “to leave” or “to be without.” Hence, the meaning of kataleipō is “to completely leave behind” or “to forsake.”

“Joined” is translated from proskollaō, which is composed of pros, meaning “to” or “toward” and kollaō, meaning “to glue.” So, we can see that this word means “to glue one thing to another.”

The words “shall become” are translated from esontai eis. Esontai is the verb of being meaning “they shall be” and eis is a preposition meaning “unto” or “into.” Hence, these two words literally mean “shall be unto” or “shall become.”

 

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is a quotation from Genesis. This particular verse comes immediately after Adam had awakened from his deep sleep during which God had removed one of his ribs to make the woman (Eve) for him. Upon awakening Adam said,

“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man” (Genesis 2:23).

The very next verse is:

For this reason, a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)

These words (verse 24) are not the words of Adam, for he did not have an earthly mother or father and he had not yet experienced fatherhood. These are the words of Moses as he is narrating the story. Moses’ point is, as Adam and Eve were literally made of the same flesh, so too, any married couple separate from their parents and become “as one” when they are married.

Now, we know that a man and a woman don’t literally come to share the same DNA after they get married. However, they do produce offspring that is literally a union (a gluing together) of the DNA of both parents.  Also note that the marriage of a man and a woman brings them into such intimacy both physically and emotionally that they become glued together in purpose, thought, and will. Just as Adam was alone and not complete until God provided a woman for him, so too a man and a woman today are not complete until they are united in marriage.

As we will see in the next verse, Paul is not just talking about the physical union of a man and his wife, he is also talking about the spiritual union between Christ and His bride.  

 

Application

Clearly, God’s plan for mankind involves a deep emotional and physical gluing together of one man and one woman in marriage. Any other arrangement is counter to the image of Christ and His bride, the church.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 5:31 – Glued Together as One

Posted on by Will

"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

Truth to Learn

God has a specific design for the marriage relationship.

Behind the Words

The words “For this reason” are translated from the Greek words anti toutou. The word anti means “opposite” or “against” and toutou (a form of houtos) means “this.” So, this expression literally means “against this,” or “answering to this.”

The verb “leave” is from the Greek verb kataleipō, made up of kata, meaning “down” but used as an intensifier and leipō, meaning “to leave” or “to be without.” Hence, the meaning of kataleipō is “to completely leave behind” or “to forsake.”

“Joined” is translated from proskollaō, which is composed of pros, meaning “to” or “toward” and kollaō, meaning “to glue.” So, we can see that this word means “to glue one thing to another.”

The words “shall become” are translated from esontai eis. Esontai is the verb of being meaning “they shall be” and eis is a preposition meaning “unto” or “into.” Hence, these two words literally mean “shall be unto” or “shall become.”

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is a quotation from Genesis. This particular verse comes immediately after Adam had awakened from his deep sleep during which God had removed one of his ribs to make the woman (Eve) for him. Upon awakening Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man” (Genesis 2:23). The very next verse is:

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)

These are not the words of Adam, for he did not have an earthly mother or father and he had not yet experienced fatherhood. These are the words of Moses as he is narrating the story. Moses’ point is, as Adam and Eve were literally made of the same flesh, so too, any married couple separate from their parents and become “as one” when they are married.

Now, we know that a man and a woman don’t literally come to share the same DNA after they get married. However, they do produce offspring that is literally a union (a gluing together) of the DNA of both parents.  Also note that the marriage of a man and a woman brings them into such intimacy both physically and emotionally that they become glued together in purpose, thought, and will. Just as Adam was alone and not complete until God provided a woman for him, so too a man and a woman today are not complete until they are united in marriage.

As we will see in the next verse, Paul is not just talking about the physical union of a man and his wife, he is also talking about the spiritual union between Christ and His bride.  

Application

Clearly, God’s plan for mankind involves a deep emotional and physical gluing together of one man and one woman in marriage. Any other arrangement is counter to the image of Christ and His bride, the church.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.