MARRIAGE 301 - MARRITAL SEPARATION AND DIVORCE (CHAPTER THREE)

'she can't cook', 'he loves sex too much' (reasons for divorce)

 Marriage is the oldest institution known to man. The first marriage was conducted in Eden by the Almighty God Himself. After He had created Adam and discovered that he was 'alone', He decided to give him (Adam) a 'help meet' [KJV] or as the Amplified version states 'a helper'. The Lord God Almighty removed a rib from Adam and used it to create Eve - the first woman ever. Now please note that that was NOT marriage! Genesis 2:22 states

"And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and while he slept, He took one of his ribs or a part of his side and closed up the [place with] flesh. And the rib or part of his side which the Lord God had taken from the man He built up and made into a woman, and He brought her to the man."

The last bit 'brought her to the man' is MARRIAGE! That was World's first marriage and it was officiated by the Almighty Himself! WOW! Dear readers, that short phrase summarises the main theme of this article and its predecessors:

MARRIAGE 101 - GOD'S MARITAL PLAN FOR YOU (CHAPTER ONE)

MARRIAGE 201 - ATTITUDE TO YOUR MARRIAGE PARTNER (CHAPTER TWO)

"ENSURE YOUR PARTNER IS GODLY & GOD'S CHOICE!"

Marriage was always in God's plan, even before time began. Adam expounded more on the definition of marriage by stating in Genes 2:24 that 

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

It was never mentioned in that verse that he may leave his wife when he pleases or vice-versa. Many people have added this clause by their actions and inactions. I am so happy that this is the last in the series of Marriage issues I have been given to share because I can now finally get back to revealing some more Biblical mysteries that have been giving to me recently. However, it is paramount that I pass God's message to His people! Dear readers, GOD HATES DIVORCE!  In His word (the Bible), it is stated time and time again through different people at very different times. Most notably, were the messages from His (God's) servant - Malachi and His Son - Jesus Christ. Malachi 2:15-16 says

15. And did not God make [you and your wife] one [flesh]? Did not One make you and preserve your spirit alive? And why [did God make you two] one? Because He sought a godly offspring [from your union]. Therefore take heed to yourselves, and let no one deal treacherously and be faithless to the wife of his youth.

16. For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I hate divorce and marital separation and him who covers his garment [his wife] with violence. Therefore keep a watch upon your spirit [that it may be controlled by My Spirit], that you deal not treacherously and faithlessly [with your marriage mate].

Jesus speaking in response to the question on divorce posed by the Pharisees stated in Matthew 19:4-11

4. He replied, Have you never read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

5. And said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?

6. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (separate).

7. They said to Him, Why then did Moses command [us] to give a certificate of divorce and thus to dismiss and repudiate a wife?

8. He said to them, Because of the hardness (stubbornness and perversity) of your hearts Moses permitted you to dismiss and repudiate and divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been so [ordained].

9. I say to you: whoever dismisses (repudiates, divorces) his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

10. The disciples said to Him, If the case of a man with his wife is like this, it is neither profitable nor advisable to marry.

11. But He said to them, Not all men can accept this saying, but it is for those to whom [the capacity to receive] it has been given. 

The question the Pharisees asked was this: "Is it lawful and right to dismiss and repudiate and divorce one’s wife for any and every cause?" Take note of the underlined clause 'any and every cause' as this is exactly what the people of this world, Christians and even some so-called 'Men of God' will be found guilty of on Judgement day! When you get to the courthouses, you hear very flimsy causes like 'he has no money', 'she is stubborn', 'he hits me', 'she can't cook', 'he loves sex too much', 'she insults me' and because of reasons like this, you see couples of 15 years, 20 years even recently 54 years opting for a divorce. 

BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT DIVORCE
From the above passages, you can see that:

1. God HATES Divorce & Marital Separation (it is a SIN!) - Malachi 2:16
2. God hates a 'Wife-Abuser' (whether it be physical or mental) - Malachi 2:16
3. Divorce was never in God's plan - Matt.19:8
4. It came into this world as a result of hardness and stubbornness of man's heart towards God's initial laws so He made it as a permissive will, but permits ONLY in the case of marriage infidelity - Matt.19:8
5. Divorce is only permitted when your partner commits adultery with another man or woman - Matt. 19:9
6. If you divorce your wife and marry another woman, you will be found guilty of ADULTERY (same applies for women) - Matt. 19:9
7. If you marry a woman who divorced her husband, you will also be found guilty of ADULTERY (same applies for women) - Matt. 19:9
8. Jesus Himself stated that divorce is so evil, it is better you abstain from marriage and keep yourself celibate, than to marry and divorce your partner - Matt 19:10-11

In summary, dear readers, I will give a short word of advice to two classes of people - the married & unmarried. 
TO THE MARRIED please know and take note of one thing. There is no problem, no trouble, no challenge, no issue, no habit, no difficulty, no dilemma, no temptation, no trial and no tribulation which is too big for God to handle! He said in Jeremiah 32:27 

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

My dear married reader, the fact that you have to remain unmarried, lonely and single after you divorce is enough reason why you shouldn't! There is nothing you are facing right now that is making you contemplate divorce, that is too hard for the Almighty God to handle. All you have to do is use the most powerful weapons given to you (your knees and mouth) to get down and PRAY! Bible states that at the name of Jesus, EVERY knee must bow and EVERY tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord! I have seen even divorcees get reconciled. I have seen couples separated for 20+ years reconciled. Just invite Jesus into your home and I assure you that whatever you are passing through with your husband or your wife, whatever storm of life you both may be wading through would be calmed. He has done it before, He will do it again in your life in Jesus name, AMEN! Don't Get Divorced ...GET JESUS!!!

TO THE SINGLE there is so much to say but I summarise in 3 short instructions:

1. Pray fervently concerning your future marriage partner
2. Pray fervently concerning your future marriage partner
3. Pray fervently concerning your future marriage partner

When you pray fervently concerning your future marriage partner, God Himself will take on the responsibility of 'finding you a wife or husband' and you can be rest assured that when God Himself provides you a partner, that person will surely be Godly as he or she is obviously God's choice for you! You also must strive to ensure you are God's choice for another person because He has said that He will never give His children stone when they ask for bread, or a serpent when they ask for fish!

PS: To know how to identify when God is choosing a particular person for you, refer to the first article in this series via this link  MARRIAGE 101.

Please share this post so your friends and family would be made more aware of God's desire in this vital issue - Marriage! 
Thanks and God bless you richly as you do in Jesus name, AMEN!