What is the Truth of the Matter?

Many years ago, God created marriage between a man and a woman, and He intended for it to be an institution of sweet intimacy, meaningful fellowship, and lasting commitment. The serpent interrupted God's design by tempting Eve to disobey, and as we all know, she ate the fruit and induced Adam to join her. Thus was Satan's first assault, and it was on the marriage.

Today, Satan's main objective has not changed. His purpose is to destroy your marriage, and his first step is to plant the thought that divorce is a better option than staying in an unhappy marriage. If this thought is not recognized as a lie and rejected, then before long it is acted upon.

The purpose of this Bible study is for women to be made aware of the Lies we are told everyday. With our eyes wide open, we can be wise to the schemes of the devil, and we do not have to live our lives in ignorance. The Truth dwells in the Word of God, and when we receive it, the Holy Spirit will quicken it in our spirits that we might be set free from the lies we have believed concerning our wedded state.

Come with me and search the Scriptures:

Genesis 2:21-24
"And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place, then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; he shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.' Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

Malachi 2:13-16
"And this is the second thing you do: you cover the alter of the Lord with tears, with weeping and crying; so He does not regard the offering anymore, nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, 'For what reason?' Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

'For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one's garment with violence,' says the Lord of hosts. 'Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.'"

Mark 2:2-10
"The Pharisees came and asked Him, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?' testing Him.

And He answered and said to them, 'What did Moses command you?'

They said, 'Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.'

And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

We find reinforcement in the Word of God that marriage is God's idea. We also find that we must be committed to permanence. Is there a lingering idea in the back of your mind that tells you that divorce is an option? Maybe you are entertaining the notion that when your children grow up, then divorce is possible. These ideas are directly contrary to God's design for you.

The Truth of the Matter is:

Marriage is a lifelong covenant. There is no marriage that God cannot heal. There is no person God cannot change. God's grace is sufficient, even in the most difficult or extreme circumstances.

May you find true joy and peace with the knowledge of His Word.

Love, Karen