And They Became One Flesh

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1
He spoke light into existence. He separated the water from the waters and made air.  He created the flowers, trees, grass.  He placed the stars in the sky, the sun to shine during the day, and the moon to shine during the night.  He created birds and fish.  He created all the land animals.  Then He formed man from the dust of the ground.  After looking around on that sixth day, God saw that each animal had a partner.  There was Mr. and Mrs. Giraffe, Mr. and Mrs. Monkey, Mr. and Mrs. Penguin.  But there was only a Mr. Man.  "And the Lord said it is not good for man to be alone.  I will make a help meet for him." Genesis 2:18  "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;  And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam 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.  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." Genesis 2:21‭-‬25.  So not only did God create animals and man on the sixth day, He created marriage.

But it is more than that.  He created more than JUST marriage.  First, He created a "help meet" for Adam.  He created someone who helps, someone to provide assistance  and support in times of hardship and distress.  So the wife was created to support and assist the husband.   Second, He "made" a woman.  Made means to build a house and establish a family.  When God made Eve, He created the family unit.  He created the first house.  He created her and then lead Eve to Adam.  God leads us to the one He created for us.  Third, when Adam called Eve "woman", he was using the term wife.  He said "bone of my bone.  Flesh of my flesh.  She will be called wife because she is part of me."  Eve not only was physically a part of Adam, she was figuratively a part of Adam.  Husbands and wives are a part of each other.  They are not complete when separate.  And finally, when He says, a man shall "leave" his father and mother, He is saying, "husbands, forsake, let go, and set free your parents.  It is time to "cleave", or cling to, your wife and you shall be one "flesh".  You shall be one person, one body,"  When we marry, we become one family unit.  Husbands and wives are a united front.  Nothing should divide them.  This is also referenced in Matthew 19:5 when Jesus says, "Man shall forsake his mom and dad, set them free, and cling to his wife and become one body, one person."

God created the family unit on day six.  One man.  One woman.  One united front.

So if God created marriage and the family unit, wouldn't it be a good thing?  Statistics show that fewer people are getting married.  Only about 50% of the population is actually married.  According to this, marriage is not a good thing.  But  what does the Bible say?  We find the answer in Proverbs 18:22 when we are told that "whoso findeth a wife, findeth a good thing and obtaineth favor from the Lord."  Obtained means to bring out, produce.  Favor is pleasure, delight, and goodwill.  So whoever finds a wife, brings outs delight from the Lord.  I would say that marriage is a good thing.  I sure hope The Hubs has seen the delight of Lord because of me.

What is even more shocking than the fact that only around 50% of people even are married is that 41% of those marriages end in divorce.  Divorce is not only an issue today.  It was also an issue in the days of Jesus.  We see this in Mark 10 when the Pharisees came to tempt Jesus and ask Him about divorce.  They asked Him if divorce was legal, to try to trick Him.  So it had to be an issue.  When Jesus answers, He reminds them that God made male and female, husband and wife in the beginning and that they are one flesh.  So He responds with "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Mark 10:9.  Asunder actually means to separate one's self from.  So He is telling the Pharisees that God ordained marriage, and if He joined the two together, no one should separate one's self from themselves.  If they are one flesh and they divorce, wouldn't they be separating from themself?  But the key is "What God has joined together." God lead Eve to Adam.  I know God lead me to The Hubs.  We are one flesh and I am incomplete without him.  I can't imagine trying to tear myself apart into two separate people.

Paul tries to help husbands and wives stay away from divorce.  He gives advice to both the husband and to the wife on how to have a happy marriage.  In 1 Corinthians chapter 7, we find some notes.  In verse 2, he tells us to avoid fornication and to have one husband/one wife.  He is telling the couple that to be able to prevent improper sexual interactions, they need to be closely joined to their husband/wife.  Verse three says, "Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband."  The husband should promise under oath and deliver goodwill to his wife and should the wife do the same.  To prevent adultry, remember that the husband and wife are one.  That is how marriage was created.  If they stick by one another, if they are closely joined together, fornication wouldn't be the temptation it is.  If Adam had stayed by Eve, she wouldn't have fallen to temptation.  Husbands and wives need to stay togther. Remain the united front.

So God created man and woman, husband and wife, the marriage, and the family unit.  When He created Eve, He LEAD her to Adam.  He leads us to the one we are to marry.  Marriage is a good thing because He created it.  We are able to produce pleasure from the Lord when we marry the one He created for us.  What He joins, we should not separate.  How can one separate themself from themself?  We are ONE FLESH.  We need to protect ourselves from temptation that defiles the marriage bed by sticking close to our spouse.  It is when we separate ourselves from our spouse that temptation arises, like what happened with Adam and Eve.

The Bible shows that the statistics don't have to be your statistics.  The Bible has some of the greatest marriage advice.  A happy marriage is possible.  But it is only possible By God's Amazing Grace.

*If you are in an abusive relationship, please find help.  The Bible does not condone abuse.  There is help available.