# 179 God's View of Marriage

The Book of Genesis

Day 179

Ge 20:9 And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I offended you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done."

A plaque from God has apparently fallen on the camp of Abimelech. (verse 17 and 18) It was a judgment from God that He used to prevent Abimelech from committing a “great sin.” (The word in the original language here can be taken to mean punishment.)  In other words, Abimelech is saying, “What have I ever done to you that you should cause such punishment to come to me and my kingdom? You have done something here that ought not to be done!”

What was it that Abraham had done that invited this great punishment from God? In turning Sarah over to Abimelech and his harem, Abraham was opening the door for Abimelech to commit the sin of adultery.  In addition to being mentioned as one of the sins that prevent someone from inheriting the kingdom of God, (see 1Co 6:9-11 and  Gal 5:19-21) Heb 13:4 says, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” This is serious stuff! Abimelech knew it, and one has to wonder why we can’t seem to grasp it in the church today.  The high divorce rate speaks mounds about our view of marriage. Let’s face it, our view of marriage, has become more shaped by the world than the Word of God.

This is not the way it should be! Jesus tells us in Mr 10:6-12, “"But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.'  7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 'and the two shall become one flesh; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." 10 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter.  11 So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.  12 "And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

In letting loose of our spouses through divorce,  we commit this sin of Abraham’s and set up someone else (like Abimelech) for the sin of adultery! 

Yes, we have made a mess of this “institution that God loves” (Mal 2:11) but there is hope! We can appeal to a prophet like Abimelech did, and ask him to intercede on our behalf! Our Prophet now is Jesus. (“ who ever lives to intercede on our behalf.”)   Heb 7:25 says, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

Bring all your sins to Jesus! There is nothing He will not forgive! He paid for them all on the cross! And as He so beautifully stated to the woman caught in the act of adultery in  Joh 8:11, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."  Draw a line in the sand, and from this day forth seek to live in accordance with what God’s Word says about marriage.

Pray: Lord, thank You for interceding for us! Without Your forgiveness, who could stand? Give us the resolve to steer clear of this “sin of Abraham’s.”  Help us to see marriage as you see it…..a picture of Your faithfulness and commitment to us through faith in Jesus!