The Ideal Marriage

 

    When God created man, He wanted man to have a partner so He created a woman from the man's rib.  There was no controversy, arguing, or conflict in the beginning.  Marriage was not a struggle until sin entered the world.  It was a perfect union between man and woman.  It was a blessing from God.  Now it is still the number one thing that Satan attacks.  If he can destroy the family, then he has a foothold in all aspects of life.

    Man and woman were both created in God's feminine and masculine aspects of His image.  Neither sex is a mistake.  Neither is better than the other.  When the world was perfect and in harmony, marriage between man and woman was easy.  They were given the perfect environment for their marriage to thrive and for them to do as God commanded them: reign over the animals and multiply the human race.

    The couple had rest.  God tended to their needs.  They had a harmonious relationship with God.  Their entire world was perfectly balanced for them to have everything they needed.  They did not have one burden laid upon them.  Everything was a beautiful blessing.  It was a simple life that allowed them to live naively.  

    The few rules that they had were easy enough to keep until Satan came and planted ideas in their head that they needed more.  They were naive.  They took him at face value and never doubted what he said to be a lie.  They did not know how to manipulate, lie, or anything bad at this point.

    When they listened to Satan and broke their one rule that God told them not to break no matter what, all that shattered.  Their eyes were opened to things that they never needed to know.  The repercussions were high.  The perfect marriage that they had been cultivating was now shattered.  They all of a sudden had problems that they would have to work through.  Man would have to start working hard for their livelihood.  Women would now have harder births and monthly bleeding.  Ultimately, death entered the world that would affect all life.

    The first sign of the curse that they received was that they faced immediate spiritual death.  They were banished from the perfection of the garden, so that they could not taint it with sin more than they already had.  They no longer got to walk with God.  God no longer gave them everything they needed without working a little for it.  

    Their eyes had been opened to the spiritual world, a world that humans were never supposed to interact with.  They now had to learn the difference between good and evil.  That is an individual journey, so that can bring conflict in all relationships.  Marriages have to work hard to stay on the same path together.

    The marriage of Adam and Eve was unlike any marriage today.  They had no in-laws to deal with.  They were made for each other and never had to question their relationship.  They never had to question the institution of marriage because it was always clear to them.  They are ultimately the example for all marriages because it was instituted and designed by God.

    The ideal marriage of Adam and Eve sets the foundation of the family and society.  If Satan can destroy God's design for marriage structure and values, then he destroys the family and ultimately society.  That is a cherished win for him because it means he thinks he is in control of civilization and can destroy all humanity that way.

    The ideal marriage of Adam and Eve gives people a picture of what marriage can be like.  It is a prescription for a happy and healthy marriage.  After sin entered the world, they hurt each other, but they never gave up on each other.  God designed marriage for a biological male and biological female to enjoy all aspects of life together.  God's design is perfect.

Genesis 2, Song of Solomon 8:5-7, Ephesians 5:21-30, & Hebrews 13:4