"Therefore
shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall
be one flesh" Genesis 2:24.
All
the way through the Scriptures starting at Genesis chapter 2 we see that in
marriage a man and woman leave their parents and are joined together by God to
set up a distinct family unit.
This
is a picture of the marriage of Christ and His church (His bride) which He
loved and for which He gave Himself for. In speaking of marriage in
Ephesians 5 v 32 Paul says "This is a great mystery: but I speak
concerning Christ and the Church." The marvel of this great story of
love; of the Love of Christ who gave all that he had that He might win that
which He valued so highly. A marriage that will last for eternity, a picture of
which we can experience now.
Our
marriages should be full of this love of Christ; giving them a holiness and a
powerful testimony in the world, which thing Satan hates. He hates all that is
precious to Christ!
Marriage
is for the raising of children in a secure loving environment. We see the
problem in society where children are raised without this security, and the
instability it brings to children when this is broken.
In
our verse, "A man" would indicate a mature person who is able to take
the positive decision to "leave" his parents, and the responsibility
that goes with that decision.
"Cleave"
would indicate a bond of affection, which is enduring; literally to glue or
cement. A permanent relationship of love.
Being
"one flesh" would indicate oneness of activity and purpose and also
the physical relationship.
Marriage
is the God-given relationship for the display of our natural affections and
desires.
Marriage
is until the Lord shall come or death breaks the bond. Matthew 19 v 6
says "What God hath joined together let not man put asunder."
In
marriage too, an individual loses his own identity and both become a new
person: "And they twain shall be one flesh: so that they are no more twain
but one flesh." (Matthew 10:8) If we take Christ as our pattern we should
give our love to our partner, wanting only their love in return. (He
loved us and gave Himself for us. Ephesians 5:25) and as this is
displayed love will grow.
The
husband has the rôle of responsibility as head and the wife the subject
position. This is God's order to which we must be prepared to submit if
we wish His blessing Ephesians 5:22 and 23 "Wives submit yourselves unto
your own husband, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the
wife."
If
you are considering marriage are you prepared to share everything with your
partner as one person: yourself, your time, your money, your interests, your
friends so that all you do will be only that which you are both happily agreed
upon before the Lord? Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting yourselves one to
another in the fear of the Lord."
Title : GOD'S PATTERN FOR MARRIAGE
Description : "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh" Genesis 2:2...