When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house ... (Deuteronomy 24:1)
Divorce is an uncomfortable subject to discuss because it is so hurtful and contentious even when there has been no infidelity. It tears people apart and causes emotional ripples that can resonate through generations. It is so destructive that the Messiah made it clear that, other than immorality, there really isn’t a valid reason for divorce. Nevertheless, God permitted a “bill of divorcement” (sefer k’ritut, literally “writing of cutting off”) allowing a man to divorce his wife for reasons other than immorality. Why would He do such? Because, as Messiah said, He knew of the hardness of mens’ hearts.
God’s purpose for marriage began when God cut Adam’s side to remove a rib and make the woman. Then He presented the woman unto the man and instructed the two of them that, as husband and wife, they were to be in covenant with one another. The Creator purposed that she was to come from him in order to be at his side as a helper and companion.
Thus, from the beginning, marriage has been a covenantal relationship whereby two people were to be, in every way possible, “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Interestingly, the Hebrew word for covenant, ברית brit, and the root word for divorce, כרית k’rit, are both related to “cutting.” The cut made in Adam’s side was intended to bring the woman to his side; divorce “cuts” her away from his side for all time.
Where we are concerned when the last Adam, the Messiah, was hanging on the tree, a cut was made into His side that allowed for those who were “cut off,” to be joined to Him. Therefore we are regarded as His Bride and are to cleave to Him just as a wife is to cleave to her husband. In return, we have the confidence that He is eternally faithful and determined to keep us in His care. In this regard, we are reminded of the words of Paul who said, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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