It is against the backdrop of Israels history as described in Genesis that the Seventh Commandment is given to the Israelites: You shall not commit adultery (Exod. For a Christian to engage in sexual intercourse with a harlot puts two unions in conflict: his union with Christ and his union with a harlot. Anytime you hear the word exodus, it causes you to notice. Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular, To show willingness, be pleased, determine, undertake (to do anything), Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct, To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular, Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular. 4:11-12). First, since the sanctity of sex reflects its value, its beauty, its goodness, let us never think of sex as something dirty and defiling. And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 6-18), as well as illicit intercourse (vss. There is no explanation for this name change, but the title "priest of Midian" accompanies both names, and he is called Moses' father-in-law, so it is safe to assume this was the same man. In fact, it wasnt bad, in and of itself. The children of Israel did all work in the field as well. Deuteronomy 22When a man accuses his wife of not being a virgin at the time they were married, the parents can show her (blood-stained) garment as proof of her purity. and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live. 5:1-14). Having said this, let us note that eyes and hands are very precious body members. Marriage's original intent was so that man would not be alone . The same could be asked about your best china, or that very special dress (maybe even your wedding dress). It chronicles the story of their deliverance from four hundred years of bondage and how God sent Moses as an instrument of deliverance. The Bible says, Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needed not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). As a matter of fact, my differences with John over the proper use of a wood chisel have a great deal to do with the commandment, You shall not commit adultery. The principle underlying this commandment is that of the sanctity of marriage. If we have accepted the principle of sanctification in general, we must then see it in the particulars of our Christian experience. 34:7). When we come to our last text, we come full circle: Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge (Heb. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Gen. 12:2-3). He is a purist in that regardI am not. For whoever does any of these abominations, those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people. Sexual sin has very serious theological implications. 25:1-9). and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods. There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. We can cry out to God, and He will hear us. 19-23). Sanctification is one of the great principles of the Bible, whether in the Old or the New Testament. Lev. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Law: Exodus 2:21 Moses was content to dwell (Exo. Their people have been under the foot of the Egyptians for four hundred years. It can dull the mind, like wine, making one insensitive to reality (Hos. In Genesis chapter 12 further revelation about mans salvation is given as the benefits brought about by human (and ultimately divine) seed: And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you; And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. The Old Testament prophets take up the themes already developed in the Pentateuch. Intimacy. Joseph ended up in Egypt away from his family and did not understand until decades later when his brothers came to Egypt why all these events occurred (Genesis 50:20). In chapter 38, Judah engaged in sexual union with his daughter-in-law, whom he thought to be a Canaanite cult prostitute (38:14-23). 42 One may wonder why only the husband is to leave his father and mother, and not the wife. At His second coming He will bring judgment to the wicked. It chronicles the story of their deliverance from four hundred years of bondage and how God sent Moses as an instrument of deliverance. It means a lot of people quit and left. Exodus is not used casually. But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. . The opposite is true. The couple finally ties the knot and it's sure to be a wedding to remember. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? As we established, Exodus means to leave or depart. God is not a fan of bondage or suffering. From the standpoint of our sin against God, attitudinal sins and action sins are both rebellion against God. Here, the church is the bride of Christ, with the responsibility of exemplifying the relationship of Christ to His church (Eph. Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth. Prepare yourself. Leviticus 18Israel is to distinguish herself from practices of Egypt and Canaan by maintaining sexual purity (vss. This is what we shall seek to learn from the writings of the apostles in the New Testament. We also can learn that sometimes we will wander in the wilderness until we get our acts together. The important thing to note here is that God also promised salvation through the seed of the woman in the midst of the curse pronounced on Satan: And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you will bruise him on the heel (Gen. 3:15). Let those who have already divorced and remarried remember that divorce and immorality (as all other sins save unbelief) is not an unpardonable sin. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Because of its significance and the power behind it, we use it gingerly. Second, if we want the world to understand God's faithful love, we need to . Let them be yours alone, And not for strangers with you. Shall I then go to my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? Judgment awaits this nation, which is likened to a harlot. In both cases, the forbidden fruit is forbidden. It's been a long road, but on . He does not necessarily teach that attitudinal sins are as bad as action sins. Her duty of marriage.--Rather, her right of cohabitation. The Scriptures frankly tell us that sexual sin can be the source of other sins. This is already the size of many metropolitan cities and doesnt count the mens female relatives or the men under 20 years. The word Exodus came from the Latin exodos and was adopted as the book's title when the Bible was translated into Latin. The University of Memphis alumnae has been in education for about 20 years after receiving the call to teach. The sin of adultery is dealt with so severely because it is a violation of the sanctity of the marriage which God has ordained and set apart. Exodus 2:10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. (NIV) Exodus 22:16-17, which seems to be a restating of the same law, sheds some light on this passage: If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife. Mount Sinai, from which God spoke to Moses and the Israelites, was sanctified, set apart. I believe that the sexual union of Adam and Eve consummated their marital union, and thus there is implied here a sanctity of both the marriage and the sexual relationship of Adam and Eve. More than this, it was very desirable: And out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:9). also 1 Tim. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is. I do, however, believe that the first sin is similar to that of adultery, and thus very instructive. 30 Verses to Reflect on in the Book of Hebrews. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. But David stayed at Jerusalem. So Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan displeased his father Isaac; and Esau went to Ishmael, and married, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abrahams son, the sister of Nebaioth. This sexual union consummates and symbolizes the union of marriage. But if they marry one of the sons of the other tribes of the sons of Israel, their inheritance will be withdrawn from the inheritance of our fathers and will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they belong; thus it will be withdrawn from our allotted inheritance. Third, we must beware of that teaching (either by direct statement or by inference, or by silence) which holds that any and every sexual pleasure can be enjoyed by a married couple behind closed doors. 1 Cor. They made their lives miserable with hard labor (Exodus 1). Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exod. Most Americans seem to think that human sexuality is to be used in the same way I use my Stanley chiselthe more uses to which it can be put, the better. (3) Terms referring to adultery and sexual immorality are employed non-literally, referring to Israels infidelity to God. When we are willing to do whatever it takes to avoid a sin, we will likely take the steps necessary to avoid it. Harlotry, wine, and new wine take away the understanding. Spiritual adultery has also become rampant, and is condemned. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 6:15-20). The sexual immorality of Israel has defiled the people and the land, and necessitates their expulsion from the land. 13-21). Furthermore, the one who divorces their spouse also causes them to commit adultery, since a remarriage is assumed. I understand that possessing ones vessel in sanctification and honor (1 Thes. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. Thus you are to keep My charge, that you do not practice any of the abominable customs which have been practiced before you, so as not to defile yourselves with them; I am the LORD your GOD (Lev. For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the. Throughout the Scriptures, both Old Testament (cf. John 3:16-17). I honestly believe that. Abraham, and his seed, is set apart from the rest of mankind, and through Him Messiah will come and will bring blessing and salvation to all nations. Abrams request was for Sarai to lie, representing herself as an eligible bride, and thus potentially putting her in another mans bed in order to save his life. 5:28-32). In Exodus 20:3, we read: You shall have no other gods before me. The book of Exodus not only tells some of the Bibles most famous events, but the word means something that sums up the books entire message. Smith was also a freelance correspondent for BET news. Dr. Smith primarily teaches language arts. Q. James 1:13-15). The dubious distinction for the most well-known case of adultery would have to go to David, who sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah: Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. Then David said to Uriah, Go down to your house, and wash your feet. And Uriah went out of the kings house, and a present from the king was sent out after him. "If a man who has married a slave wife takes another wife for himself, he must not neglect the rights of the first wife to food, clothing, and sexual intimacy. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. How many times have we heard that adultery breaks the marriage union, that is, that adultery (legitimately) causes divorce? (2) The sanctity of marriage. Neither man nor beast was allowed to draw too near to it (Exod. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. The king of Egypt was still determined to kill the male children. When we consider what does Exodus mean? we reach the books core message. (3) The sanctity of sex. If you have been following global events, the people of Ukraine are making an exodus because the Russians have invaded their country. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. Viewed from a contemporary secular perspective, sexual pleasure restricted only to marriage is a tragic waste, a failure to make full use of ones sexual potential, and thus to deprive oneself of a great deal of sexual pleasure. 20:22-27). Exodus 21:9 And if he chooses her for his son, he must deal with her as with a daughter. He can never divorce her as long as he lives. Then the LORD GOD said, It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him. And out of the ground the LORD GOD formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. For He says, the two will become one flesh. But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. What Is the Meaning of Psalm 91 and Why Is it Popular? When we leave the gospels of the New Testament and come to the epistles, there is a change which we should recognize and appreciate. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. It is significant that our Lord began by talking about adultery, but that He almost immediately came to the subject of divorce. He warned us . He has also set this unity apart, distinguishing it from the previous parental-child entity. Second, we move from an Old Testament dispensation (centered around the nation Israel) to a New Testament dispensation (centered around a predominantly Gentile church). The third chapter of the Book of Genesis is significant to our study as well. In conclusion, let me suggest three additional ways in which the sanctity of sex is to be applied in a practical way. 11-31). Smith is also a playwrightand poet. That's the immediate need that marriage was created to address in Genesis 2. His indignation at discovering his daughter-in-law was pregnant out of wedlock (not knowing yet it was by him), reveals that sexual immorality was clearly condemned (cf. Physical intimacy is the most obvious, but there is also a spiritual and emotional intimacy. For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you. We must even distinguish between what is personally permissible and what is personally beneficial (1 Cor. Our culture is adamantly opposed to the sanctity of sex. The Book of Exodus (Exodus 2:5) does not give a name to Pharaoh's daughter, or to her father; she is referred to in Hebrew as simply the Bat-Paroh (Hebrew: ), a Hebrew phrase that literally translates to "daughter of Pharaoh."The Book of Jubilees (Jubilees 47:5) and Josephus both name her as Thermouthis (Greek: ), also transliterated as Tharmuth and . The Bible says God is near the brokenhearted (Psalms 34:18). A few months ago, I was talking on the phone to my friend, John Maurer. I think there is little evidence for this conclusion. Yes, Marriage Matters to God. But it is also referred to regularly in later Bible books. Categories . He had to mature in Egypt away from his family. In both cases, the forbidden fruit is very desirable. Teenagers, culture is lying to you. The reason seems to be solely because God has sanctified the marriage and the sexual sin has profaned it. 5:18). And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king. Our Lord is teaching us that we must, unlike our culture, take sexual sin most seriously. So Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan displeased his father Isaac;read more.and Esau went to Ishmael, and married, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abrahams son, the sister of Nebaioth. Leviticus 18 and 20 emphasize the defiling nature of adultery, and warn that the practice of such sins will defile the land and will result in expulsion from the land, just as the Canaanites were expelled (cf. Grietje Commelin. This incident reveals several important truths: (1) Joseph knew he could not lie with this woman because she was the wife of another man. The Israelites themselves were set apart from the Egyptians and from all other nations. But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native, nor the alien who sojourns among you (for the men of the land who have been before you have done all these abominations, and the land has become defiled); so that the land may not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out the nation which has been before you. For this reason it says, Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you (Eph. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More. Satan can be expected to attack the sanctity of marriage in order to wage war on the seed.. However, the plan of the Lord prevails. If you look at Exodus 1:5, you will see that seventy souls had come out of Jacob and arrived in Egypt with Joseph. The consequences of guilt or innocence are spelled out (vss. We need only look at men like David and Solomon, who had so many wives they couldnt keep up with them, but still sought after more (such as David sought Bathsheba). Thus, in the gospels we see how our Lord pressed beyond the actual act of adultery to the attitudinal sins of adultery: You have heard that it was said, YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; but I say to you, that every one who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. Let those who think this is an occasion or an excuse for sin read Romans chapter 6 very carefully. Kill everyone - even your brothers, friends, and neighbors.". When some have read Deuteronomy 7:2-5, they conclude that God is opposed to intermarriage among the races. And, Paul says, it involves for Timothy the fleeing of youthful lusts, which surely include illicit sexual passions and conduct.