Navigating Family Relationships

In Genesis 2:18-25, we are given a description of how the very first marriage came to be. God creates a suitable partner for Adam and it is declared that these two separate beings are now one: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” There are two significant truths we can draw from this passage.

First, given the fact that Adam and Eve had no earthly father and mother, the presence of these words in God’s description of marriage should draw our attention. The marriage union marks a distinct transition where your closest familial tie is no longer your parents, but your spouse.

Second, we can see that God designed marriage to be a lifelong covenant. This idea is echoed in Matthew 19 as Jesus responds to the Pharisees by saying, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

During your engagement, you can begin to let these two truths guide your family relationships. Anytime you face conflict with your parents or future in-laws, look to scripture for guidance on how to handle it. Remember that your future spouse will soon have priority over all the other humans in your life, approach any conflict unified with them. As you begin to separate from your parents to become one with your future spouse, remember the Bible instructs us to honor our mother and father (Exodus 20:12).

As you read the passages from Genesis 2 and Matthew 19, reflect on God’s design for marriage and how you might apply these truths to your future family relationships.