Marriage, by Gods decree, is sanctified, it is a relationship that is set apart and restricted. Israels sexual conduct set them apart from the Egyptians and the Canaanites. Prov. The text says: Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.". Our culture is adamantly opposed to the sanctity of sex. Later, God commanded Moses to take a census of all the Israelite men over 20 years old, which amounted to six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. (Numbers 1:46). In 2 Timothy chapter 2 Pauls instruction is more general, but still very much to the point of sexual morality. 20:22-27). When some have read Deuteronomy 7:2-5, they conclude that God is opposed to intermarriage among the races. There are several reasons for the difference in the emphasis of our Lord from that of the Old Testament, which condemned adultery and demanded the death penalty. Thus, it was not necessary for our Lord to dwell on the sinfulness of sexual immorality, since the Jews of His day agreed with Him on this point. Just as God gave life to all of His creatures in Genesis chapter 1, now in chapter 2 He gives a woman to Adam as his wife. The children of Israel did all work in the field as well. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Let those who have already divorced and remarried remember that divorce and immorality (as all other sins save unbelief) is not an unpardonable sin. If you have been following global events, the people of Ukraine are making an exodus because the Russians have invaded their country. 11-31). 4:1-5). Gen. 1:11-12, 31). Finally, sexual purity is vitally important to the Christian life because it is directly related to ones sanctification: For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. Shall I not punish these people, declares the LORD, And on a nation such as this Shall I not avenge Myself? (Jer. In both cases, the forbidden fruit is forbidden. To play out her role as Gods priestly nation, Israel had to be separate, sanctified, different from the surrounding nations. Flee immorality. (2) We can see by Josephs words that adultery was not only wrong, but that he understood it to be sin. So Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan displeased his father Isaac; and Esau went to Ishmael, and married, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abrahams son, the sister of Nebaioth. Based on the Hebrew Bible, intermarriage was quite frequent in early Israelite society. There are many Christians in Ukraine. In effect, Abram was not only endangering the promises of God and the purity of his wife, but he was paving the way for men to unknowingly commit adultery with his wife. Kill everyone - even your brothers, friends, and neighbors.". As a matter of fact, my differences with John over the proper use of a wood chisel have a great deal to do with the commandment, You shall not commit adultery. The principle underlying this commandment is that of the sanctity of marriage. Some people seem to disdain sex in marriage as much as the Bible disdains it outside of marriage. It is against the backdrop of Israels history as described in Genesis that the Seventh Commandment is given to the Israelites: You shall not commit adultery (Exod. If the Seventh Commandment teaches the sanctity of marriage, it also teaches the sanctity of sex, for it is only in marriage that the pleasure and product (children) are to be experienced. Marriage, in Josephs understanding, was an exclusive relationship. God told Satan, Adam and Eve that the Savior of mankind would be the seed of the woman. 2:11-12). 4:3-8). That is a topic for another article. For a while, Shaun was dating Dr. Carly Lever (Jasika Nicole), a pathologist. Jesus did not have nearly as much to say about adultery and sexual immorality as did the apostles. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. Those distinctions are spelled out in the Law, one of which is that of the maintenance of sexual and marital sanctity. To understand Johns response, you have to understand John. Viewed from a contemporary secular perspective, sexual pleasure restricted only to marriage is a tragic waste, a failure to make full use of ones sexual potential, and thus to deprive oneself of a great deal of sexual pleasure. Israel remained in the wilderness for forty years. Her name. The Book of Exodus (Exodus 2:5) does not give a name to Pharaoh's daughter, or to her father; she is referred to in Hebrew as simply the Bat-Paroh (Hebrew: ), a Hebrew phrase that literally translates to "daughter of Pharaoh."The Book of Jubilees (Jubilees 47:5) and Josephus both name her as Thermouthis (Greek: ), also transliterated as Tharmuth and . From the standpoint of the harm done to men, action sins are more serious. Now when they told David, saying, Uriah did not go down to his house, David said to Uriah, Have you not come from a journey? The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real Housewives of Dallas My 600-lb Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. It is little wonder, then, that God has so much to teach man about sanctification in the Bible. How Is Harry Potter a Literary Christ Figure? 13:4). (3) While David enjoyed sexual intimacy with Bathsheba, even though forbidden, Uriah refused such pleasure, even when legitimate and encouraged by the king. The word exodus literally means "the road out". Bible Answer: Marriage between people of different races occurs every day in spite of the conflicts that occur between nations and different interest groups. Satan made great promises about the benefits of partaking of the fruit of that tree, but he failed to tell all. There are many things and situations where people make an exodus. 7:3-5). And it was said, WHOEVER DIVORCES HIS WIFE, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DISMISSAL; but I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except for the cause of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery (Matt. If you owned a Mercedes Benz, would you loan it to a neighbor to go hunting in, or to haul firewood? As fans of the show will remember, they lost their unborn . When one enters into a sexual union, Paul reasons, one enters into marital union. Why should I pardon you? . While depriving a partner tempts them, fulfilling a partner does not necessarily keep them from sexual sin. The sanctity of sex in marriage clearly calls for the sanctity of sex before marriage. Sanctification was, for example, the first great test which man failed in the Garden of Eden. Uncovering the nakedness of a relative is prohibited (vss. He warned us . Abraham, and his seed, is set apart from the rest of mankind, and through Him Messiah will come and will bring blessing and salvation to all nations. We must start by praying for them, seeking what God will do. Some scholars estimate that if we factored in those groups and other factors, there would have been as many as 3 million Israelites exiting Egypt. The word Exodus came from the Latin exodos and was adopted as the book's title when the Bible was translated into Latin. Thus, because Israel practiced the same sins as the Canaanites, who lived in the land before them, they were thrust forth from the land, just as their predecessors, and just as God had warned: Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled. The exodus of Israel was not easy, and it took time, but it was a God kind of job. As I see it, the issue in Exodus 21 is two-fold, involving not only marriage, but slavery. 2. When we leave the gospels of the New Testament and come to the epistles, there is a change which we should recognize and appreciate. Eph. Exodos means leave, and the book of Exodus tells how the nation of Israel left Egypt. Q. Such could be the conclusion one would reach from a reading of John chapter 4, where Jesus spoke to the immoral woman at the well, or of John chapter 8, where Jesus refused to cast stones at the woman caught in the very act of adultery. As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people (Lev. 19:6). Pharaoh also instructed the midwives to kill the male children during birth but spare the female children (Exodus 1:15-16). 1 Cor. She has one stepson, Greg. The differences between holy and unholy, clean and unclean are crucial. It did not look bad, it did not taste bad. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. Mohar is the cash gift the groom gives the bride, as Eliezer, Abraham 's servant, gave "precious things" to Laban, Rebecca 's father, and as Jacob gave seven years of service for the hand of Rachel.The great sage and the ketubah's most important . Every daughter who comes into possession of an inheritance of any tribe of the sons of Israel shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father, so that the sons of Israel each may possess the inheritance of his fathers. Ex). The union of husband and wife is one of the unique elements of marriage. Just as no man can have two masters, neither can one have two unionsone with Christ, and another with a harlot. Answer. "If a man who has married a slave wife takes another wife for himself, he must not neglect the rights of the first wife to food, clothing, and sexual intimacy. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery (Matt. The sanctity of marriage is indicated by the statement in Genesis 2:24, that a man must leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. The children of Israel had become a threat, for the Egyptians might not control them. (4) While Uriah was willing to lay down his life for the king and the nation, David was willing to take Uriahs life to save his own reputation and to satisfy his own sexual desires. Exodus 2:10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. After Joseph and his generation died, a new king arose over Egypt who was not familiar with Joseph (Exodus 1:6-8). But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. The Israelites performed the same physical act of worship (obeisance) towards Yahveh and King David, as it is written, 1 Chr. When we consider what does Exodus mean? we reach the books core message. Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. The Good Doctor. 5:1-14). He feared that Israel would unite with Egypts enemies (Exodus 1:9). The difference between John and myself over the use of a wood chisel is also a matter of sanctification. Published by at February 16, 2022. Understanding marriage as a covenant which establishes between husband and wife a "partnership of the whole life" in which they "mutually hand over and accept each other" (see Code of Canon Law, c. 1055 and c. 1057) can greatly enrich our appreciation of this special union that is: (a) sacred in the plan of God; (b) permanent, faithful . 2:16-22). 8-10). Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness. Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Pagan religion often intermingled sexual immorality with its worship. We therefore would expect to find some very specific revelation on the subject of adultery and sexual sin in the epistles. The Bible seems to teach that this union is not severed by anything but death, anything including divorce. 24, 30) and the land (vss. (It is better for society that a man only think of murder than it is for him to take a life.) He equates sexual union with marital union. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. Shaun and Lea got engaged in the Season 4 finale. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders (Matt. We know, of course, that the Lord Jesus was not born of the union of Mary and Joseph, but by a supernatural conception brought about by the Holy Spirit. 6:12). and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Paddan-aram. Personally, I have understood the word "before" here as referring to rank - that is, you may not consider any other god to be more valuable/worthy . Exodos means leave, and the book of Exodus tells how the nation of Israel left Egypt. Fornication is a term used in the Bible for any sexual misconduct or impure sexual activity that occurs outside of the bounds of a marriage covenant. Finally, we shall attempt to distill the biblical teaching into a few guiding and governing principles. In conclusion, let me suggest three additional ways in which the sanctity of sex is to be applied in a practical way. The New Testament portrays a very similar picture. God was faithful to his promise that Abrahams descendants would number the stars in the sky (Genesis 26:4). Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth. There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. I would suggest that the four things which set a marriage apart from other relationships are the very four things which distinguish a Christians relationship with his Lord and with His body, the church. We must distinguish between truth and error, between good and evil, between holiness and unrighteousness. God did send Moses and protected him from all of the death decrees that the Pharoah had implemented to keep them down (Exodus 3-10). 20:14; Deut. Throughout the Scriptures, both Old Testament (cf. You must understand how Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37). I havent read a story that powerful and emotional and heart-wrenching in years! For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body (1 Cor. Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take to himself a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he charged him, saying, You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan, and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Paddan-aram. He did not permit man to use it. The assumption here is that the divorce is obtained in order to marry another, or that it will ultimately result in marriage to another. The relationship between a husband and his wife is a union. Her restoration is described as a marriage between God and His bride. From the standpoint of our sin against God, attitudinal sins and action sins are both rebellion against God. Our sanctification cannot be expressed or realized apart from a radical change in our sexual conductthat is, a radical change in the way we conduct ourselves sexually, as contrasted with our former conduct and that of the pagan world around us. Dr. Sandra Hamer Smith is a Christian and wife to Sylvester Smith. Here, Davids immorality led to the additional sin of murder. Time will not permit further exploration, but take note of how often unity (e.g. Exodus 32:27. They made their lives miserable with hard labor (Exodus 1). Drink water from your own cistern, And fresh water from your own well. 5:15-20). In my opinion, the rampant sexual immorality of our day is not primarily the result of greater temptation, of increased sexual desire, of greater opportunity, or even of the availability of the pill and abortion. Then his father and his mother said to him, Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines? But Samson said to his father, Get her for me, for she looks good to me.. We must begin by understanding that plucking out eyes and cutting off hands will not cure sin or assure us of keeping the Seventh (or any other) Commandment. For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress, And embrace the bosom of a foreigner? And the man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. This was now accomplished. I understand that possessing ones vessel in sanctification and honor (1 Thes. To John, a wood chisel is to be sanctifiedset apart for use only on wood. Sanctification involves purity, the absence of what is unclean. When our Lord commented on this text He said, Consequently they are no more two, but one flesh. The reproduction of life is that function which is carried out within the marriage union, according to Gods design and decree. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. We would thus expect him to wage war on the marital union, for it is through marital union that the seed will be preserved and the promised seed will come. Judgment awaits this nation, which is likened to a harlot. We can be disgruntled about what is happening with our pastor or whoever our leader is. The KJV Study Bible, Barbour Publishing, 2011, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Hence I have said to you, You are to possess their land, and I Myself will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 Paul says that the will of God is for us to be sanctified. In other words, what is it that makes a marriage distinct, unique, sanctified? Some died on the spot for murmuring and complaining about Moses (Numbers 16:33). For a Christian to engage in sexual intercourse with a harlot puts two unions in conflict: his union with Christ and his union with a harlot. Consider, for a moment, how that forbidden fruit (whatever it might have been) is similar to the forbidden fruit of illicit sex. Thus Jesus majored on those sins which were more subtle, and which were more characteristic of the religious leadership of Israel. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native, nor the alien who sojourns among you (for the men of the land who have been before you have done all these abominations, and the land has become defiled); so that the land may not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out the nation which has been before you. The epidemic of sexual immorality is, I believe, the result of a failure to understand or appreciate the sanctity of sex and of marriage. Will God forgive me for losing hope and the will to live? It is also significant that He taught divorce causes adultery, except in the case where the divorce was based upon previous adultery. The Christian life therefore involves making many distinctions and then living them out. 13:27). Can you guess what that was? John did not hesitate, even for a moment. He is found, and brought up by Pharaoh's daughter; He flees into Midian, and marries Zipporah. If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride price for virgins." If the passages don't mean that a woman has to marry her rapist, then what do they mean? her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage shall he not diminish, Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not, Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular, To scrape off, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold, Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular, Flesh, as living, for, food, food of any kind, kindred by blood, Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular, Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Law: Exodus 21:10 If he takes another wife to himself (Exo.