God's Plan For Marriage: One Man, One Woman, One Flesh

 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)

The concept, definition, and status of marriage has been hotly debated and questioned for the last quarter century. But probably never has it gotten as much media airtime as it did last week during the oral arguments for California's Proposition 8, which eliminates the rights of same-sex couples to marry. Proposition 8 is being touted as a political issue by both sides. Proponents for the bill say that the individual states have the right to define marriage, while arguements against the bill say that it discriminates against same-sex couples, denying them the same legal rights that heterosexual couples have.

Photo by Brad Stone, New York Times

While the issue is deeply political, it is also strongly spiritual. From the beginning of time, God has defined marriage as the bond that exists between one man and one woman. God laid the framework for His definition of future marriages. The man is to leave his family, stemming a new family with his wife, becoming one flesh. This "one-flesh" bond does not mean that man and woman are equal, for there are obvious physical, emotional, and psychological differences. This one-flesh bond means that they are to become one in the eyes of God, a foreshadow to how His people would become one through the body of Christ.

The irony of this verse however, is that families did not exist yet. Adam and Eve had not yet had children. But God had given Adam the imperative command to "be fruitful and multiply" in 1:28. Not only was God laying the framework for future marriages, but also for future families as well. God desires that families consist of one father and one mother.

The political and social arguments for or against same-sex marriage are constantly changing. But God's definition of marriage is clear. For God, as well as for His people, marriage is the spiritual union between one man and one woman.