Marriage and Divorce and Marriage Again Every society has what they term as marriage. Some have the belief of one man one woman, others have the belief of multiple spouses, typically, but not always, this is one man many wives. In some societal settings adultery is commonly practices and accepted.

Marriage and Divorce and Marriage Again Divorce is accepted around the world with the exception of one country, the Philippians. Every country has their laws on divorce and its accessibility.

Marriage and Divorce and Marriage Again Man has accepted homosexuality into marriage and the divorce of these unions will follow.

Marriage and Divorce and Marriage Again The important thing to consider though is not what man says about marriage but what God says about marriage.

Marriage The beginning: Gen. 2:18, 21-25 – God saw that man needed a helper and He created woman. God joined man and woman together. God instituted marriage. God said they become one flesh.

Marriage Man changed what God established. Gen. 4:19 – from the lineage of Cain comes multiple spouses Gen. 16:3 – Sarai and Abram agreed to another wife for him, Hagar Gen. 29 – Jacob is tricked into marrying Leah and then he marries Rachel

Marriage At Mount Sinai God established His law with Israel. Ex. 20:14 – Do not commit adultery Ex. 20:17 – Do not covet your neighbor’s wife Lev. 18:18 – Do not take a woman and her sister Lev. 20:14 – Do not marry and woman and her mother Num. 5:11-31 – the law concerning an unfaithful wife and the jealous husband

Marriage Num. 36:2-12 – marriage was to remain within tribes for inheritance purposes Deut. 7:3-4 – do not make marriages with the peoples of Canaan Deut. 21:10-14 – taking of a female captive of war as a wife Deut. 24:1-4 – the law of divorce for Israel Deut. 25:5-10 – marriage law of surviving brother

Marriage In the Old Law there is not one passage about one man and one woman. Polygamy is an allowed relationship in the Old Testament among the nations and among God’s people. (Acts 17:30 – these times of ignorance God overlooked)

Marriage We also see the one husband–one wife relationship in the Old Testament. Adam had one wife. Noah had one wife. Job had one wife. Isaac had one wife.

Marriage When we look at other records in the Old Testament we read of the championing of one wife. Psalm 128 – the psalm suggests the ideal of one husband and one wife Prov. 31:10-31 – the worth of a wife In the Proverbs the value, worth, and treasure of a wife is extolled. – Prov. 12:4, 18:22, 19:14

Marriage When we study about multiple wives we can see some issues that arise. Gen. 16:1-9, 21:8-10 – issues arose between Sarah and Hagar Gen. 29-30 – Jacob marries Leah and Rachel and the issues that arose 1 Sam. 1:1-7 – the problems between Hannah and Peninnah

Marriage It is not until Jesus’ teaching that we are reminded about God’s plan for marriage. Matt. 19:4-6, Mark 10:6-9 – from the beginning, Gen. 2:24-25, it was one man and one woman joined by God as one flesh Rom. 7:2-3 – marriage is for life

Marriage That is all that needs to be said about marriage, one man, one woman, for their lifetime together. If one dies, the surviving spouse has the right to marry again.

Marriage Marriage summed up is very simple. God established that a man and a woman come together and become one flesh in marriage. They are not to be separated. This bond is intact for the duration of their lives, from the time they marry until the time of their death.