An Earthly Covenant

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and they shall become one flesh." Genesis 2:24

Well, I'm continuing to go through my three year study of the Bible. The study began with the first portion of the book of Luke and has taken me into Genesis. So, this morning I focused on chapters one and two of Genesis. It's so much to take in. The creation is so far beyond human comprehension-- particularly that of male and female.

I was a little perplexed when I was studying this morning. I looked at how God spoke everything into creation until the creation of humans. He took special care to form Adam and then performed the first surgery to create Eve from Adam. It was a wonderful demonstration of how human life is valued by God above all else. We are formed in His image, not meaning we look like Him, but that we are reflections of His majesty. However, what I found confusing was all the creating was done and then something seemed haphazardly thrown in about a man leaving his parents and cleaving to his wife. "What does that have to do with creation?", I wondered. It just seems out of place among the other passages. Then, as I pondered over it for awhile I began to see it as part of the creation process. It was all part of God's ordination. I began to see that Adam yearned for a partner. He had spent much time and effort naming animals and was unable to find a helper suitable for him. God saw this was not good. Up to that point, God had decided everything else was good. Then, God saw that it wasn't good that there was nothing suitable with which Adam could be paired. So, with great intricacy, God put Adam into a deep sleep and took a vital part of Adam and used it to create Eve. What an incredible bond! What a sacred bond. This was the first wedding ceremony. Though there was no father or mother for Adam or Eve to leave, there was emphasis on the marriage bond from the beginning. It demonstrated God's perfect plan for marriage.

Prior to the creation of Eve, Adam had nothing like himself. Then, there was this marvelous creature who was made like him and for him. God put them together and the union was ordained. If we really think about it, the only other ordained, covenant relationship Christians have is the relationship we have with Jesus Christ. And the only earthly covenant relationship humans have which is within God's ordinance is a marriage between a man and woman. So, even from the point of creation, God is commanding us to protect that relationship. It is to have priority over all other relationships under the covenant relationship with Christ Himself!

I'm sure there are some reading who may not be married and perhaps thinking this doesn't apply. It does, though. Because this scripture not only commands husbands and wives to protect the marriage but also demonstrates to ALL the covenant of marriage. This means that we are to respect other marriages as well. We aren't to do or say anything to interfere with that God-ordained bond. Parents, friends, siblings and all others must support that which God joined together. To come between that earthly covenant is to interfere with something which God proclaimed as good. Therefore, we must do our part in protecting marriages-- our own and those around us.

If married, pray over your marriage and God's protection over it. Pray that Jesus would be at the center of that relationship. Pray for God to reveal to you what you need to do to cultivate and grow that relationship under Him. If you're not married, pray for marriages around you. Take care to note that God joined the couple as one. Though they are two separate individuals, the union between them is of great importance to God-- exceeding the relationship between parents and their children.

Unfortunately, the world does a pretty good job of tearing apart that covenant relationship. It has been distorted and defiled. We must take great care to protect marriages and families and support that which God has proclaimed good.

Lord, your creation is marvelous. You placed the earth in just the right position. You gave us night and day, stars, animals, and so much more. Everything You created was created by grand design. There were no mistakes. What an incredible master plan! Lord thank you for marriage and the unique bond that comes with it. Father, the enemy seeks to destroy that bond. We pray for your protection over our marriages and our families. We pray that You'll be at the center of our families. Lord, we pray we will reflect your majesty as purposed by Your grand design. In the holy, precious, and marvelous name of Jesus, Amen.



Side note: A friend told me she had tried to post a comment and was unable to do so. My apology! I checked the settings so comments, questions, and suggestions are no longer blocked. Please note that there is a delay on the display of comments for purposes of moderation in assuring the comments are acceptable.