Mal. 2:16 (RSV) — “For I hate divorce, says the LORD the God of Israel, and covering one’s garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless.”
It has been assumed by many that the reason God says He hates divorce is that it spoils an ideal pattern He established. Husband and wife united for life are to be a picture of Christ and the ecclesia. Divorce certainly does destroy the type, but destruction of the pattern may not be the most important issue at stake.
Deviations tolerated
The Old Testament indicates God has tolerated many deviations from the ideal pattern of the bride and bridegroom: polygamy, concubinage, marriages of convenience or lust. No doubt He disapproves of all such things. Yet the harlot Rahab was salvageable from a sordid background; Abraham, with his concubine whom he sent away, is called “the father of the faithful;” David, an adulterer and polygamist, is styled “a man after God’s own heart;” Samson, who lusted after several women, is included in the catalog of heroes of faith. To be sure, we have no record that God approved of all these aberrations, but neither did He consider them absolute roadblocks to gaining His favor.
In many situations, the scriptural record does not supply a word of disapproval or censure. We are left to figure out for ourselves whether the behavior was tolerable or reprehensible. Consider some examples: Jacob with Leah and Rachel; Judah and Tamar’s incestuous relationship; Moses with his wife of non-Israelitish background; Elkanah, husband of Hannah and Peninnah; Esther, queen of the harem; Hosea, directed to buy back his adulterous partner.
The events in such cases sometimes give us a means of evaluating the wisdom or folly of the circumstances, but God was able to work with each of the individuals involved and further His purposes through them even though they did not declare the pattern of Christ and the ecclesia.
Other factors for hating divorce
So what are the reasons for God’s statement that He hates divorce? He does not give us a comprehensive list, but we can deduce what some of them are. In the Malachi passage, He mentions several important issues that are entangled with divorce:
- Vs. 13 and 14 condemn the mechanical worship that implores God’s help while continuing in corrupt behavior.
- Violence (v.16). The violence may be either verbal or physical abuse or both.
- Faithlessness (v.14). This lack of faithfulness is to “your companion” (a particularly intimate word in the Hebrew) and “your wife by covenant.” The damage to the human relationship is very important in God’s view.
- Violation of His covenant of marriage. The NW renders the first part of v.15: “Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his…” Marriage is not just a contract between two people; God is at the heart of the relationship.
- Damage to the children. Continuing v.15 in the NIV: “…and why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring…” Volumes have been written about the damaging effects of divorce on children.
- Straying attention and affection. 15 continues (NIV): “So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.” Here is evident allusion to the middle-aged temptation to philandering.
- Self-justification. In v. 17, God complains that men have turned things upside down, excusing evil behavior and therefore abandoning both His standards and His covenant relationship with them.
Evil led to evil
In Israel of Malachi’s time, a divorced wife might have nowhere to go, particularly if her parents were dead. She would be left with no income, no shelter, no security of any kind. What to do? Many had little choice but to become prostitutes in order to survive. Considering His interest in His covenant people, no wonder God would hate what was happening!
Also, what would happen to the children? An ex-husband determined to follow where lust led him would hardly be a good father. Day-care centers for working mothers were not yet available. As children of the streets, they could hardly have had much chance of a better life for themselves than their mothers had. Seeing this injustice, the God who cared for widows and orphans understandably hated divorce!
No better today
And He still hates divorce, for the same reasons. Divorced women are still economically disadvantaged in most cases. Whichever parent has the children, the youngsters still have extreme difficulty becoming useful members of society or God’s family.
Consider current statistics for our society: children from divorced families account for 63% of youth suicides, 70% of teenage pregnancies, 75% of juveniles in correctional facilities. Children from broken homes make up 3/4 of the adolescent patients at chemical abuse centers and are five times more likely to be suspended from school.
The children suffer
It doesn’t matter which parent is ultimately responsible for the breakup of the marriage. It may be both of them. In any case, it is definitely the children who suffer — and who feel they are the cause. Ninety-eight percent of kids from divorced families say they feel responsible for the breakups. What a burden of undeserved guilt they have to bear. What a heavy load to carry into their own relationships. What a setup for failure in their own marriages. What a means of transmitting the disease to the next generation down the line!
Yes, God hates divorce!!!!
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One