WHAT GOD HAS JOINED

T. Oberg

Genesis 24: 1–9, 66, 67; Ecclesiastes 4: 9–12

One has been impressed in relation to this time together because in this marriage we have two

persons who have been brought together, one from New Zealand and the other from the United States. I think that in relation to every marriage, particularly in relation to this one, it would be good to be reminded of the sovereignty of the God and Father that we have to do with. I was impressed with this scripture in relation to Abraham seeking a wife for Isaac.

There was some doubt in the servant’s mind as to whether he would be able to ensure that Isaac should have a wife. But Abraham knew the God with whom he had to do—“Jehovah the God of the heavens, who took me out of my father’s house he will send his angel before thee, that thou mayest take a wife for my son thence”. I think we need to see, particularly in marriage, the seal that God would put on it, His movements in relation to it. You might think,

‘Well, I am fortunate, I have got my wife’, but I do not think a Christian would approach it from that standpoint. It is a mercy that falls upon men generally; we must admit that; it is known in the world, but a Christian should have some appreciation of the love of God that has provided that mercy for him.

And then it should be rightly used; there is a purpose in everything that God does. The institution of marriage was inaugurated, or brought into being, at the time of the creation. But we should, particularly at this time in the testimony, value the greatness of God that He would bring persons together in marriage, and we should see His part in it. We should attribute the origin of our marital bonds to God; as has been said by Mr. Darby, nothing begins with us except sin. I think that the acknowledgment of the greatness of God in doing what He has done in bringing our brother and sister together in marriage would cause us to rejoice in it because it shows the love of God. As the hymn says—

‘How good is the God we adore,

Our faithful unchangeable Friend,

Whose love is as great as His power,

And knows neither measure nor end’ (Hymn 23)

This is the One that we have to do with, but I would like to tell you, further, that there is a purpose in what God does. There is a tendency and I feel this as being weak in relation to it when we are married to view it as our own doing, and perhaps we slip into the enjoyment of what would be afforded in this mercy without acknowledging the part of God in it and His purpose, His desires, in relation to it.

We see an example in Isaac. Isaac’s mother had died; there was sorrow; and, dear friend, if you are a friend of Christ this world is full of sorrow, and yet it speaks of Isaac being comforted. When he consummated his marriage he was comforted. I think that in marriage there should be the powerful feeling of an oasis of comfort, comfort in a right way, comfort not only in a natural sense, but comfort in the acknowledgment of the great God who has allowed this to transpire, and the magnification of God in it, the One who loves us. Here Isaac and Rebecca had a tent. Often we settle down in a house, and then we become occupied with the house; but they had a tent. When you think of it, the impress it made upon them would have been distinctive. It would affect a person who went into it, and you would feel the result of it, the fruitfulness, the lineage of Isaac as it goes through Scripture marking out the wisdom of God in bringing Rebecca to him. It is something that we should take account of, and see that we use and enjoy marriage in a right sense.

Then in the last scripture we have the matter of two being better than one. This book really shows that this scene of things is not to be used selfishly for us. Ecclesiastes begins with “Vanity of vanities! all is vanity”, and you find the test is stronger when you are younger; the temptation is to draw you off away from Christ to pursue the vanity and glamour of the world, things that may appeal to you naturally. When you become married I think the test is the things that are on this earth; they can be taken up rightly—maybe our houses, whatever it is—and yet they may occupy a place in our lives which takes the place that Christ may have had at the start of our married life in coming in and bringing us together. It is a wonderful thing if Christ was the common bond that brought us together, and I think that that touches on the three-fold cord. It is something that has impressed me, because, when there was a marriage, my grandmother used to have this much on her mind, that a three-fold cord is not easily broken. You see, God in His sovereignty would touch this marriage, and would touch every marriage that is joined of Him. The Lord said, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate”, Matthew 19: 6. That stands, and we would acknowledge the sovereignty of God and the moving of His heart. And yet you see around, as a matter of practical experience, the fact that this world is full of failed marriages, persons separated from each other. Therefore marriage is something that we should enter into with the preciousness before us of that three-fold cord the fact that we are to bring Christ into everything that we do. What a wonderful thing it is! Because it is there that we find comfort; there it is where you really find relief from the sorrows that accompany the pathway here.

One would encourage us all to rejoice, to rejoice in this occasion, to rejoice in the goodness and mercy of God that the institution of marriage continues to this day, and one would just remind us, or exhort, that those who are married hold it rightly, acknowledging the sovereignty of God in touching our lives in this way. The labour spoken of here would be like Priscilla and Aquila labouring together in what would further the work of the Lord. Well, may we be helped in relation to it.

One would just add that perhaps those who are not married might think that this word leaves them out, but one thing I think we can always join in is the acknowledgment, as we have already said, of what God has done at this time. Also let us soberly assess the fact that God has His hand over all things; He has His hand over you and me. He would have to say when the time came if it would be His will that you should be married, and it would be something to rely on Him in relation to. There is a lot of pressure today, I feel, in relation to marriage, yet one would desire, knowing something of the expression of the three-fold cord, that the establishment and inauguration of marriage may be through the guidance and direction of the One that we have to do with. Well, may we be encouraged in relation to this. One would just lift up our hearts again to say that we need to be thankful, thankful for what has taken place, and to realize the goodness and mercy of God in this matter, for His name’s sake.