relationships (Gensis 2:18-25) The Marriage Union

 (GENESIS 2:18-25)  Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.  21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man 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.”

24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION: 

Here we see God's very clear plan and design, that a marriage relationship is meant to be between one man and one woman.  God also intended that the marriage union be an intimate companionship as well as teamwork.  To be an effective team, a couple needs to work together in unity.

Striving for unity within any relationship always involves nurturing one's relationship with God while nurturing one's relationship with anyone else.  And within marriage, this is even more critical, especially because it is so very easy to take both God and spouse for granted.  Yet, these are the most intimate relationships one could ever have, God coming in first place, and the spouse coming in second place.

It is important to note that the act of sex is an emotional marriage... the man and the woman become "one flesh".  For those who have had sex before marriage with more than one person will always say, "You always remember your first."  Why yes, because God designed us this way - to bring about a special closeness between a husband and wife that one wouldn't have with anyone else.  There should be no shame in sex, when we do things God's way.

Sadly, sin diminishes everything that God desires for us.  For example, when children are raped or molested, whether by the same sex or opposite sex, this messes with them in a big way!  In these cases, immediate counseling is required, as well as God's spiritual healing, strength and guidance.  The Lord's way is to reconcile, build, edify and encourage, while Satan's realm aims to divide, destroy, distort and discourage.

Regarding the union between spouses, God lays this out very clearly.  Some versions use the word "cleave", while here in the NASB, the word "joined" is used.  Like being - joined at the hips!!!  Parents (or anyone or anything else) should not interfere in someone else's marriage.  As well, a spouse should not be running to their parents (or someone or anything else) to escape or complain.  Instead, spouses need to stay and work things out, continually protecting, building and working on this relationship!  

All the while doing as we should, trust in the Lord and His will.  He created us, so He knows us better than we know ourselves.  God also wants the best for us and knows how it all works; so, what He says stands true and will always work.