A UNION OF POWER

 

I’ve written quite a bit about idolatry this year but felt this was worth mentioning. Judges Chapter 3 gives us a clear answer as to why ancient Israel fell into serving other gods once they moved into the promised land:

“And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites and Hivites, and Jebusites….And they took their daughters to be their wives and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods…..And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves.”  (Judges 3:5-7)

Both Moses and Joshua warned the Israelites against inter-marriage with the heathen nations (Deut 7:3-4; Joshua 23:12-13). Moses accentuated the influence of women in a marriage in his warning and Joshua warned that inter-marriages would become “snares and traps” and lead to spiritual and national downfall.

Despite the warnings, the children of Israel did this very thing which led them to break their covenant with Jehovah. And this is why…..marriage is a powerful union and the stronger influence of the one puts both parties on the same path.

There are some strong examples of this in the scriptures. Solomon married outside the covenant, and “his wives turned away his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:1-4). Solomon married seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines….did he really stand a chance????

Another notable example is King Ahab who married the infamous and evil Jezebel from the land of Phoenicia. This marriage caused the downfall of the northern kingdom of Israel. Jezebel introduced into Israel the worst forms of idol worship from her land in place of the worship of Jehovah (1 Kings 18:13,19). Not only did Jezebel influence Ahab to worship Baal but to kill many of God’s prophets (v 4). Her nemesis? Elijah. One of my most favourite stories in the Old Testament…..

These examples show the downfall of a whole nation and of generations to come. We can also see in the scriptures this power of marital union when used for good.

One of the most positive examples would have to be Ruth, who converted to the God of Israel when she married Naomi’s son. Her conversion and union with this Israelite produced such covenant loyalty that Ruth entered into a levirate marriage upon his death. Ruth married the next of kin according to Israel’s law whose name was Boaz. Ruth and Boaz had a son called Obed who became part of the Lord’s covenant line. Obed was the father of Jesse who was the father of King David (see Ruth 1 and Ruth 4). That’s a ‘marriage influence’ story in the best possible way. This woman is one of my favourite Old Testament figures.

The power of marriage never ends with just two people. It is passed on to the children and the generations to come. This can be seen in the Book of Mormon with the ‘stripling warriors’. I doubt very much that those boys could have been taught to believe and not doubt God’s power if their mothers did not follow and worship the God of Israel (Alma 56:47-48). I am convinced that the fathers were there in that influence too but somehow I think this is the reason why Moses accentuated the influence of women within the marital union and the home. Women bear and rear children and their influence with them is perhaps the strongest.

Who you marry would have to be the most important choice in anyone’s life because through this union you create the future. From two people united comes a family, comes a community, comes a country, comes a nation, comes the future that extends into eternity. Think of Abraham and Sarah......there is no greater example.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Abraham and Sarah by AI)

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