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Gen. 20
A very unexpected thought popped into my head this morning when I read what God said to Abimelech in Genesis 20:3. God said, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.” I suddenly saw Sarah as Christ’s bride, the Church. Anyone who belongs to Christ is that bride. Thus, anyone who tries to take or keep such a person from God is a dead man unless they repent and accept Christ’s prayer on their behalf. Interestingly, this correlates with the thought I had from yesterday’s reading in Matthew 18. Taking one married to Christ as your own and causing one of His precious little ones to stumble are the same thing. And this is the guilt that the devil and all his seed bear.
Matt. 19
I have been thinking for some time now about Jesus’ ‘immorality exception’ concerning divorce. I know the typical interpretation of this is that divorce is not unlawful in cases where the spouse was not faithful. However, I have come to see His statement differently. Jesus had already noted that God’s intention from the beginning was for man and wife to remain one flesh. He then said that the Law permitted divorce because of the hardness of their hearts. His next statement, which includes the immorality exception, starts with, “And I say to you…”. That sounds like an “also” or “in addition” to me. In other words, divorce not only goes against God’s desire for marriage, but it also results in the sin of adultery.
Which brings me to the exception clause. Jesus had already established that divorce was contrary to God’s desire. And since the immorality exception is part of His add-on statement regarding the sin of adultery, I just can’t see that it counters what He just established. Instead, I think the immorality exception counters His statement about adultery. Jesus made a very similar statement in His Sermon on the Mount. He said, “…but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matt. 5:32). The point is that divorce causes adultery. Thus, the point of the exception clause is that in the case of sexual immorality adultery has already been committed and caused by the unfaithful party.
I think it is easier for people to see Jesus’ exception clause as a justification for divorce. But I honestly don’t think it is. Divorce, permitted by Moses’ Law or not, is still against God’s intent and desire. It happens and will continue to happen because we are weak and selfish human beings. But when Jesus was asked if there was any reason at all that rendered divorce lawful, His answer was, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Matt. 19:6b). This means that even if one spouse was unfaithful, God’s desire is for reconciliation. This is, however, the one situation where the divorce itself, if it takes place, would not be the cause of the adultery. Still, I think, it is better to do the hard thing. Forgive, reconcile, and stay together, if the unfaithful one allows.
Neh. 9
The Israelites have a big story. Big story, big God. And their story is our story. God called us out of slavery and passed us through the impossible chasm of the waters of death into His life. He made His Sabbath rest known to us through His Son, the bread of life and living water. “[He is] a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness; and [He does] not forsake [us].” (Neh. 9:17b).