In Genesis 2:18-25 we find that God instituted marriage. Genesis 2:24 states,
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Marriage, the binding of two into one flesh [a covenant relationship], was God’s perfect design from the beginning. From these verses in Genesis we find God’s guiding principles for His marriage design: the man and woman are to leave father and mother for the purpose of joining together; the man and woman are to “cleave like glue” (a permanent bond; bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh); the two are to be unified in their actions (though remaining distinct in their man/woman personalities, traits and responsibilities) – yet completing their mate as a whole; they are to meet each other’s needs (emotionally, physically, mentally, intimately) – yet, allowing God to complete them spiritually. In Matthew 19:6 we read,
“Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
From the very beginning, Satan has tried to destroy God’s institution of marriage. Husbands and wives alike have been tempted by Satan and the world to turn their eyes and hearts away from their spouse [their covenant relationship] and to place them on someone else. Husbands and wives have also allowed their own selfish desires to overshadow their covenant relationship. Consequently, those who have allowed themselves to succumb to either temptation and/or selfishness have caused their covenant relationship to be torn apart such that lifelong scars must now be endured.
(It should also be understood here that Satan has not limited himself in his destructive assault on marriages; he has done everything in his power to redefine “marriage”. The onslaught of Satan’s attack has resulted in unions that are an abomination before God; men “marrying” men, and women “marrying” women. And these ungodly “marriages” have even permeated into many so-called “churches”; with a justification that all people need to be able to live in harmony within a monogamous relationship of their choosing, being recognized / celebrated in a union called “marriage”.
Romans 1:24-27 states,
“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”
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Let it be understood here that marriage is a “work of love” and that it takes [two] to make a marriage work! Our commitment to our covenant relationship is to be expressed through our love for our mate “till death do us part” – not in “word”, but in “deed”. And it bears repeating that God intended marriage to last for a lifetime. A marriage that is immersed in God’s love is a marriage that will weather any storm, any trial, and any temptation. For, we must remember that it is God’s “glue” that joins a man and a woman together in holy matrimony. As a husband and wife draw closer to the Lord in their personal relationship, they too will grow closer to each other in their covenant relationship.
May husbands and wives learn to keep their eyes on the Lord; to cleave to their [own] mate. May each seek to meet their own mate’s needs. May each married couple allow the Lord to be in the center of their marriage; for therein they will find true unity. May each husband and wife be mindful of God’s Word.
Ephesians 5:22,
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”
Ephesians 5:25,
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
Families need strong marriages, churches need strong marriages, and our nation needs strong marriages. Pray for God’s institution of marriage.
