Leaving and Cleaving
For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh (Gen 2:24).
The relationship of fathers and mothers to their children is unique and special. For this reason the only commandment that had a promise attached to it was, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you” (Ex 20:12). Our longevity is dependent upon our honoring our fathers and mothers. Even so, when we marry, we must leave our fathers and mothers and cleave to our spouses.
To “leave” our fathers and mothers does not mean we must cut off all relationship to them. We should relate to them, and honor them all the days of our lives. However, when we marry, our relationship to them must change. From that point, the primary communion of hearts that is designed to alleviate the loneliness must come from our spouse, not our parents. Anything else will be a perversion of both relationships.
It is not natural for a man or woman to continue cleaving to their parents after they are married. If they do this, destruction of both relationships is possible, as well as the wounding of their own souls. There is a point in every man\’s life when he must become the man of his own home. There is a point in every woman\’s life when she must establish her own household. That point is marriage.
The authority of a father or mother over a son or daughter is cut at marriage. Fathers and mothers may always help their children with advice and wisdom when it is requested. However, after marriage, parental attempts to control will be destructive to the lives of their children. We were created to be free, and if we are mature enough to marry, we are mature enough to make the decisions and bear the responsibility of our choices. If we do not allow this basic responsibility to develop, it will make the ultimate accomplishment of our created purposes much more difficult.
- The onslaught of the sexual revolution is an attack on the foundation of society.
- The enemy wants to destroy the foundations which have so painstakingly been laid over the years toward a Godly pattern.
- As the church goes, so goes the nation. Ungodly patterns started with relaxation of absolute moral values in the church in the name of “grace”.
Pray for the church to go back to being an example when it comes to the foundations of family and how people come together in marital unions. As we rebuild the broken foundation in the Ekklesia, so shall we see it reflected in our communities and society at large.