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NASB | Malachi 2:16 "For I hate divorce," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong," says the LORD of hosts. "So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Malachi 2:16 "For I hate divorce," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong and violence," says the LORD of hosts. "Therefore keep watch on your spirit, so that you do not deal treacherously [with your wife]." |
Bible Question:
I recently met with someone claiming to have the gift of prophecy. He has many years in the ministry. This was the first time we had ever met. A friend had introduced us… He was very direct and came right out and told me that my wife and I should divorce. That God had never ordained our marriage…that we were married in sin, living together before getting married. That God would not bless sin and therefore could not bless our marriage. My wife has held this same position for over two years now…I haven't mentioned anything to her about this individual's view point. She has been asking for a divorce for over two years now. We lost our third son a few days after his birth, due to a birth defect and shortly after that she approached me for a divorce. I am searching for the Lord's direction here; we have two small children now and I have not loved my wife for many years. We have a dysfunctional relationship struggling to survive. I also come from a dysfunctional family. I am look for Truth!!! |
Bible Answer: Dear pricefhome, First of all please remember God is love. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (from New International Version) This is hard to understand and remember, especially when we consider the cards we have been dealt with in this life. You and your wife are met with some very challenging issues to say the least. You have brought up a few things in this thread such as two non believers growing apart because one turns to Christ and the other does not, the loss of a child and should we divorce. Your marriage is not one done in sin, nowhere in the Bible does it say you cannot live with a person before getting married, that is a tradition of men, besides I am sure you have a couple of beautiful children to which fact shows just how blessed you and your wife are. The hard part is realizing the blessing especially with the loss of a child. In the book of Job, Job had ten children taken from him but when he overcame they were all restored to him, if you haven't read Job please do. It appears that your wife somehow holds you or herself responsible for the loss of your son. Perhaps she doesn't know what happens when we pass on. Please read Ecc 12:7 to see that the spirit goes back to God and in 1Cor 15 we have two bodies a physical and spiritual. Upon the last breath in the physical body we transfer into the spiritual body and go back to God who made our souls. I personally believe that some souls are too special to stay in this age of evil that we live in today and that God takes them away from here so they do not have to suffer the evil. I believe from the bottom of my heart that you and your wife will see your baby again when you get into the uncorruptible spiritual body that we are to all wear. Anyway, you cannot and should not try to force your wife to go to church or to do anything she doesn't want to. There is a great deal more than you are able to share hear on the internet going on between you and your side is only half of the view so it really is not the best way to a solution. Anyone who claims anything above a sinner is one to observe with caution, especially one that says they have the gift of prophecy and tells you God never ordained your marriage, that is a load of mud for lack of better words and that person needs to get the mud out their own eye before helping anyone else. My parents divorced when I was ten and it was very difficult for me for years to follow, but how they ever thought they were compatible is beyond me, talk about two very different people. Because of the experience of my childhood I try extra hard in my marriage today to understand where my spouse is coming from and do my best to be there and understand and respect the space or companionship which is needed. This is not always easy and I have to put myself into the shoes of my spouse by being sensitive and inquiring of ways I can or cannot help. If you have sincerely grown apart beyond reconciliation then perhaps it may better for you two to move on. God does not intend us to be miserable in our lives nor should we be involved in things that make us sad constantly, but we should not give up either. Deut 24:1 24:1 "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, NKJV I hope this helps! Bless you, Love Fountain |