The Gift of Marriage and Family

Genesis 2:24-25

In the first book of God’s story, he introduces himself as Yahweh Elohim –the powerful and personal God. The first verses of Genesis teach us that this powerful and personal God exists as one God in three Persons. God the Father loves us so much that he sent God the Son to pay the penalty for sin and empowers us with God the Holy Spirit. Amazingly, the Creator made us in his image and gives the gift of responsibility that allows us to honor him through our work. And there is another gift that God gives us. Today let’s consider the gift of marriage and family. 

God’s story in God’s people is seldom told without some type of interaction between a husband and wife and their kids. I think you would agree that as God continues to write his story in us, marriage and family is the primary context in which our story is developed.  

The Creation story concludes that everything God made was good, except for one thing—it was not good for the man to be alone (Gen. 2:18). So, God completed the man by creating the woman. The man was made from the dust of the earth, and the woman was made from one of the man’s ribs (Gen. 2:21-22). Both the man and woman were made in God’s image from the same essence.

Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible during the period that the nation of Israel was wandering in the desert. By that time marriage was the common practice in Israel. Our passage today gives the basis for marriage and why it is so important. These verses explain that man is to leave his father and mother. Obviously, Adam and Eve had no father and mother to leave. So, writing years later, Moses is, in essence, explaining to Israel (and us) the “why” of marriage. 

Genesis 2:24-25
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

This passage begins with the word “therefore” which means what is going to be said is based on what has already been said. In the previous verses God remedied Adam’s loneliness by creating a woman, a “helper fit for him.” The woman was made to complete the man, and the man was made to complete the woman. 

Genesis 2:24 is so important in God’s story that it is repeated by Jesus in the Gospels and by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. It is the primary passage about marriage in the Bible. This verse provides five essential truths that make the marriage relationship work.  

God ordained marriage to be between a man and a woman.  When Jesus taught about marriage he started with this foundational truth, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female” (Matthew 19:4). Practically, humanity cannot continue to exist unless a man and a woman who God created for each other have children. God first command to the first couple was to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Gen. 1:28).  

The marriage relationship takes priority over all other relationships. When a man and a woman get married, this new relationship is primary. It takes priority over all former relationships whether parents, siblings, or friends. Unfortunately, many marriages fail because the couple has not cut the primary emotions tied with past relationships. 

Marriage is intended to be a lifelong commitment. The Hebrew word translated “hold fast” is dabaq. It means to “cling, stick, cleave, hold.” It is used in Job 19:20 to describe the skin clinging to the bones. In 2 Samuel 23:10, dabaq is used in a story of a warrior who fought so long and hard that his hand was frozen to his sword. So, it is in the marriage relationship. Through the great joys and inevitable challenges of marriage, the man and woman are committed to never let go of each other

The man and woman are to be committed to a one-flesh relationship. This one-flesh relationship speaks to an exclusive commitment and involves five areas that must be nourished and guarded. 

• Spiritual Oneness: The man and woman must grow individually and together in their love for Jesus. As much as they love each other, only Jesus can satisfy the deepest longing of their hearts. 
  
  
• Physical Oneness: The man and woman must be committed to an exclusive sexual relationship with each other. The marriage bed must be “undefiled” (Hebrews 13:4). 
  
  
• Emotional Oneness: The man and woman must be committed to exclusive feelings for each other. 
  
  
• Mental Oneness: The man and woman must keep all other relationship options off the table.
  
• Missional Oneness: The man and woman must be committed to go the same direction at the same time for the same reasons. 

A godly marriage is a safe and vulnerable place. In the garden, the man and woman were both naked and felt no shame. This speaks to vulnerability and safety. In a God-ordained marriage, the man and woman must feel safe with each other to share their feelings and dreams. Marriage is the place where we can share our hearts and know there will be acceptance and encouragement. 

God’s story in God’s people is most often rooted in the interwoven relationships of marriage and family. Of course, Genesis 3 changes everything. We’ll talk about that next time

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD 
Time in the Word: Read Genesis 2:24-25—Reflect on the 5 marriage essentials.  

Talking to God: How does understanding marriage as God’s gift—not merely a social arrangement—shape the way you view family and relationships?

Have questions? Please send your questions to our team. We're happy to assist as we explore God's Word together. Submit your question below, and we'll respond soon. If you're interested in learning more about a relationship with Jesus or seeking spiritual guidance, let us help you take the next step.