“Are you married? Do not seek a divorce…” I Corinthians 7:27
Well that’s about as simple as one can get about what Elohim says about divorce.
Before I continue, let me first point out a few things. First, regarding spousal abuse: while this needs to be addressed at length in another newsletter, divorce may not be the perfect will of Elohim. However, if you are in an abusive relationship, separation from a spouse that is physically abusive is necessary. Your safety, and that of your children, comes first. Next, divorce (and re-marriage) is acceptable in the eyes of Elohim if your spouse has committed adultery, fornication, or other sexual perversion. If you are currently in a marriage in which your spouse has been unfaithful, I would advise you to seek counsel before seeking divorce, but ultimately, divorce is an acceptable option for you. If you are the unfaithful spouse, you must repent of your sin against your spouse and confess it to them. They deserve the truth. Third, if your spouse is a non-believer and divorces you, you are not bound by the law and are free to remarry. Last, if you are divorced for “other reasons” other than your spouse committed adultery or your non-believing spouse left you, you do not have to carry guilt or shame. Elohim provided redemption for all of your past sins by way of the cross through Yeshua the Messiah. Repent and seek marriage restoration, if at all possible, as remarriage to another is a sin (again, another topic for another newsletter).
For the purpose of this newsletter, I would like to address married people, especially those considering divorce for “other reasons”.
It’s just simply not an option because Elohim hates divorce.
I am going to let the Word of Elohim speak for itself in regards to divorce:
Malachi 2:14-16 The Scriptures “Yahweh has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have acted treacherously, though she is your companion and the wife of your covenant. And did He not make one? And He had the remnant of the Spirit? And what is the one alone? He seeks a seed of Elohim. So you shall guard your spirit, and let none act treacherously against the wife of his youth. ‘For I hate divorce.’ said Yahweh Elohim of Yisra’el (Israel), ‘and the one who covers his garment with cruelty,’ said Yahweh of hosts. ‘So you shall guard your spirit, and do not act treacherously.'”
Matthew 5:32 KJV “But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away (divorce) his wife, saving for the cause of fornication (adultery), causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”
The Amplified version puts it this way:
“Because the Lord was witness [to the covenant made at your marriage] between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously and to who you were faithless. Yet she is your companion and the wife of your covenant [made by your marriage vows]. And did not God make [you and your wife] one [flesh]? Did not One make you and preserve your spirit alive? And why [did God make you two] one? Because He sought a godly offspring [from your union]. Therefore take heed to yourselves, and let no one deal treacherously and be faithless to the wife of his youth. For the Lord, the God of Israel says: I hate divorce and marital separation and him who covers his garment [his wife] with violence. Therefore keep a watch upon your spirit [that it may be controlled by My Spirit], that you deal not treacherously and faithlessly [with your marriage mate].”
Matthew 19: 1-9 The Scriptures “And it came to be when Yeshua had ended these words, that He left Galil and came to the borders of Yehudah beyond the Yarden. And large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. And the Pharisees came to Him, trying Him, and saying, ‘Is it right for a man to put away his wife for every reason?” And He answering, said to them, ‘Did you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?’ So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what Elohim has joined together, let man not separate.’ They said to Him, ‘Why then did Mosheh (Moses) command to give a certificate of divorce and to put her away?’ He said to them, ‘Because of the hardness of your hearts, Mosheh allowed you to put away your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever puts away is wife, except on the ground of whoring, and marries another, commits adultery. And whoever marries her who had been put away commits adultery.'”
I Corinthians 7: 10-16 The Scriptures “And to the married, I command, not I, but the Master: A wife should not separate from her husband. But if she is indeed separated, let her remain unmarried or be restored to favour with her husband, and let a husband not send away a wife. And to the rest I say, not the Master, if a brother has an unbelieving wife, and she thinks well to live with him, let him not send her away. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he thinks well to live with her, let her not send him away. For the unbelieving husband has been set-apart in the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been set-apart in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but not they are set apart. And if the unbelieving one separates, let him separate himself. A brother or sister has not been enslaved in such matters. But Elohim has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you shall save your wife? Only, as Elohim has distributed to each one, as the Master has called each one, so let him walk. And so I order in all the assemblies.”
God hates divorce. He does not give provision for divorce (saving the two exceptions). Divorce is a sin that no follower of The Way of Yeshua the Messiah should seek. Your wife nags you is not cause for divorce. Your husband spends too much time at the office is not cause for divorce. Poor communication, financial troubles, neglect, substance abuse, lack of intimacy, stress, illness- these are not God-given exceptions for those who want out of an unhappy marriage. “Yeah, but God wants me to be happy.” No, God wants you to be holy. Seek His way of doing things and true joy will come. If you seek Elohim instead of a divorce, then He will lead you and guide you into all truth. He will show you how to succeed at your marriage. He will bless you for sticking it out. You can have a joyful marriage if you’ll commit now to never get a divorce and do what Elohim says in Ephesians 5 and 1 Corinthians 13.
I challenge all married people, instead of contemplating divorcing your imperfect spouse, get down on your knees and pray for them, love on them, and be kind to them, every single day.
In His Service,
Rebecca Hamilton, Founder/ Executive Director
For Every Great Battle, There is a Great Victory!!