Separation and Divorce (2)
Matthew 19:8,9 “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you refused to accept God’s teaching. But divorce was not allowed in the beginning. I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for the problem of sexual sin, and marries another woman is guilty of adultery.”
As someone who has been through the pain and the tragedy of divorce, I can tell you that the “easy come, easy go” attitude of contemporary society towards marriage these days is just a shocker!
Different cultures have different attitudes towards divorce. But even in places where the divorce rate is extremely low, many marriages that continue on paper are, in practice, all but dead and buried.
I get it … some men are brutes. God hates that. Some women have closed themselves off physically and emotionally from their husbands. God hates that too.
And there are times when divorce is the only option. When a wife and her children are being beaten, they have to flee. When a woman commits adultery again and again, many times the marriage has to end. But this “easy come, easy go” attitude … that was never God’s plan. It still isn’t. When asked by the religious leaders why Moses (back in the day) had permitted divorce, Jesus answered:
Matthew 19:8,9 “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you refused to accept God’s teaching. But divorce was not allowed in the beginning. I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for the problem of sexual sin, and marries another woman is guilty of adultery.”
As I said, in extreme cases, God permits divorce. Sadly those “extreme cases” happen way too often in this world. But short of adultery or violence … husbands, wives … we’re called to stick to one another, to cling to one another as one flesh, and to work hard to restore the marriage.
Why does divorce happen? Ultimately because we refuse to accept God’s teaching.
That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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