Marriage is Forever
(F. T. Wright)
Picture: Title Picture
Once the believer in Jesus clearly perceives the divine purpose in marriage, and understands the structure of heaven's order, he will cease to think of God so much in terms of a king and his subjects, as of an infinitely loving Father and His children. The heavenly organization will be viewed not so much as a kingdom, but as a family.
This does not deny that God is in fact King of kings, and that every citizen in His kingdom is a subject, for it is the truth that He is the Monarch of the universe and we are His liege subjects. The problem is that the concepts arising from our view of this relationship are colored by our knowledge of earthly kings and the citizens under them. Our observations of the relationships operating between this world's rulers and their peoples inform us that there is an established class structure which maintains the king and queen in privileged isolation above and away from the so-called commoners. It is not a family relationship. The members of the monarchy experience that only within their own, the "royal" family, where its members enjoy favors and advantages denied to those outside the "sacred" circle.
The nearer the king approaches to absolutism or despotism, the more marked is this separation between him and his people, and the more ruthlessly will he put down any challenge to his authority whether it be real or merely suspect. Yet, because we think of God and His children as King and subjects, even the extreme misrepresentation of true kingship as provided by dictators, tends to influence our thinking in regard to Jehovah and His kingdom. We need to look upon this world's kingdoms as representations of what God is not, rather than an education in what He is.
When Christ was faced with the task of conveying a true picture of His Father's position and work to the people of His time, He found that there were no earthly governments to which He could direct their attention as an example.
"'Whereunto,' asked Christ, 'shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?' Mark 4:30. He could not employ the kingdoms of the world as a similitude. In society He found nothing with which to compare it. Earthly kingdoms rule by the ascendancy of physical power; but from Christ's kingdom every carnal weapon, every instrument of coercion, is banished. This kingdom is to uplift and ennoble humanity. God's church is the court of holy life, filled with varied gifts and endowed with the Holy Spirit. The members are to find their happiness in the happiness of those whom they help and bless." The Acts of the Apostles, 12.
Picture: Christ likened the kingdoms of this world to fierce beasts of prey.
"The germ in the seed grows by the unfolding of the life-principle which God has implanted. Its development depends upon no human power. So it is with the kingdom of Christ. It is a new creation. Its principles of development are the opposite of those that rule the kingdoms of this world. Earthly governments prevail by physical force; they maintain their dominion by war; but the founder of the new kingdom is the Prince of Peace. The Holy Spirit represents worldly kingdoms under the symbol of fierce beasts of prey; but Christ is 'the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.' John 1:29. In His plan of government there is no employment of brute force to compel the conscience. The Jews looked for the kingdom of God to be established in the same way as the kingdoms of the world. To promote righteousness they resorted to external measures. They devised methods and plans. But Christ implants a principle. By implanting truth and righteousness, He counterworks error and sin." Christ's Object Lessons, 77.
The eternal Father does not distance Himself from His people, for, in and through Christ, He is closer to them than earthly parents are to their children. It is for this reason that Christ is called Immanuel, which literally means, "God with us." See The Desire of Ages, 19.
None of the worldly, unconverted, earthly rulers of the past could ever claim this title, for they have always distanced themselves from the inhabitants of their kingdoms. As may be expected, both king and people read in the relationship between them, the picture of how they, in turn, relate to their distant gods.
The admission of the inadequacy of this was forced from the lips of Nebuchadnezzar's supposedly wise men when they were required to reveal the king's dream, and provide its interpretation. They advised the angry monarch that the secret was known only to the distant "... gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh." Daniel 2:11. The Babylonian god did not come down to his people; he was not a father to them; did not communicate with them; and therefore did not offer them a family relationship. Of them, as they were in their supposed existence, the haughty Nebuchadnezzar upon his elevated throne was an accurate representation.
In a family relationship, the closer the members are, the greater their happiness. In like manner, the closer the Lord God of heaven can be to His children, the happier He is. It was for this reason that He directed the erection of the sanctuary. "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." Exodus 25:8. Even that was not enough. He would only be satisfied when He was dwelling in them as it is written: "... I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 2 Corinthians 6:16.
During all the immeasurable millennia between the beginning of God's creation until now, the closest representation of the unity which the heavenly Father desires to establish between Himself and His children, is best provided in a truly Christian home. It was when the first marriage was celebrated in Eden, that the doorway to great light on the divine order was opened. The marriage thereafter became the study of the unfallen intelligences who desired to understand the mystery of it and to enter into closer fellowship with their divine Husband, Christ.
In like manner, those who aspire to the rearing of beautiful children--children who will reflect the divine image, return unlimited joy to their devoted parents, and be an eternal blessing to their fellow creatures--must study and understand this subject until they are able to establish its principles in their individual lives, in their marriage relationship, in the family, and in the church. No one who desires to really achieve in this vital field can be satisfied with a superficial, uncertain knowledge of heaven's order and organization. All must be prepared to put all their faculties to the stretch in their search for the complete answer to these questions.
When such search is made, it will be found that Christ alone is Head of the church by virtue of the fact that He is the Head of every member in that body. Likewise, He is Head of the family by being the Head of each individual in the family. It will then be understood that the members of the body move only by direction from the Head, so that the activities of the members are their response to the will of Christ.
When Jesus entered into a marriage relationship with the created world, it was an eternal union. The Father did not loan Him, nor did He provide Himself on any temporary basis for the service of His espoused. The Almighty gave Jesus Christ to the family on earth and up in heaven. It was a gift once given that was never to be withdrawn. Jesus Christ's marriage is "... according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." Ephesians 3:11.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
When Jesus entered into marriage it was forever, and, as stated in the last chapter, He never gives the slightest consideration to divorce as a solution to the breakdown of the union between Himself and any partner. The many divorces which have been imposed on Him, have always come from the other side, never from Him.
It is of course a very easy thing to solemnly promise on the wedding day that you will be true and faithful to each other so long as you both continue living. Flushed with the glow of springtime love, confident that your relationship will endure no matter what trials may test it, you sincerely and honestly promise faithfulness. But, things can and do assume a different appearance when passing time and severe trials expose weaknesses in the natures of both parties.
When Jesus made His marriage vow, it was not for the short span of a human lifetime. It was for eternity! There would be no second chance if He found dissatisfaction in His marriage to the created world. Immanuel had to be very sure that He knew what He was doing from the outset so that He would be able to forever uphold His side of the contract. Not even the entrance of sin with the decay it imposed on His bride could lead Him to regret His commitment, or induce Him to withdraw from it.
Rather, He saw that, due to His loving care and kindly administration, His wayward one would emerge from her detour into the land of sin, more competent, desirable, and lovely than before she left Him.
"Christ can look on the misery of the world without a shade of sorrow for having created man. In the human heart He sees more than sin, more than misery. In His infinite wisdom and love He sees man's possibilities, the height to which he may attain. He knows that, even though human beings have abused their mercies and destroyed their God-given dignity, yet the Creator is to be glorified in their redemption." Testimonies for the Church 7:269.
For untold thousands and tens of thousands of years, the marriage between Him and the created world continued in unblemished perfection, and blessed unity. But the time came through no fault of His, when His dedication was severely tested, yet He came through the trial faithful to His marriage vows. It is most important that all those who aim to establish a family government in which they can raise truly converted children, understand that the union formed when two lives are bonded in wedlock is of enduring permanence. Therefore, consideration will be given in detail to some of the tests to Christ's marriage that were listed briefly in the last chapter.
There reference was made to Adam and Eve, Aaron, Moses, David, Peter, and Paul, each of whom failed to honor their marriage vows to Christ at some time or the other. The first of these offenders was Lucifer, the covering cherub. A consideration of how Christ and His Father dealt with his unfaithfulness is a revelation to us of how we are to deal with those who fail us.
The point to be seen in this study is that when Christ married into God's creation, this gave to each individual in that marriage a position. Lucifer, for instance, was placed nearest to God to serve as the covering cherub in the sanctuary. It will be shown that once he had been established in that position, the Lord would never take it from him no matter how unworthily he might behave. Instead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit worked to save him from leaving his assigned position, and, when he did, offered it back to him on condition of repentance, confession, and cleansing from the evil now abiding in him.
So too, when a man and a woman marry, they establish each other in certain specific positions in their lives and in their homes. This is an unconditional step which they take. They do not say that they will uphold each other in their rightful places if and just so long as the other continues to be pleasing. Christ's example demonstrates that they are to continue respecting their partner's position irrespective of the degree to which the other person is unfaithful or displeasing.
Let none overlook the point that it is in their rightful position that we are to recognize and uphold the one with whom we have solemnly exchanged marriage vows. When the other person assumes a place that the Lord has never given to him or her, it would be a serious mistake for us to recognize and uphold that person in that position. At the same time, such a development will not be used by the faithful one as a justification for the withdrawal of all support and for departure from the unfaithful one.
Once again, the example of Christ is the guideline as to how the Christian is to relate to this kind of situation. For instance, when Lucifer abandoned his post of duty and embarked on a seditious mission against God and His kingdom, the Lord could not work with him in that purpose, but He did not cut him off from all life support systems either. Even when he left heaven and seduced the human family, God still continued to supply him with all that was necessary to sustain his life. To this day, the devil lives by the supplies which come from a heavenly Husband who, though divorced by the devil, still fully meets His marriage responsibilities as far as the situation will permit. They do not live or work together, but Christ does not look upon this as an excuse for shutting Satan away from what he needs to continue living. When, in the end, destruction finally overtakes him, it will not be because God will cut him off; it will be because he will have placed himself where the Lord will no longer be able to reach him with the vital supplies necessary to keep him alive and functioning. Throughout seven thousand years during which time Satan's behavior will more than justify Christ's termination of every responsibility of the marriage contract with him, Christ has remained and will remain faithful to what He has promised. Thus He demonstrates how absolutely He understands that clause in the marriage vow which specifies that the marriage partners are bound to each other until death parts them. Only when, at the end of the millennium, Satan finally dies, will Christ be released from all further responsibility toward him.
If the unfaithful one makes moves to break up the relationship, then such efforts as only divine love can provide must and will be made to win that one back and return that one to the position vacated. But, if after all that yearning love can do, the other person still insists on walking the pathway of separation, then there is no option but to let that one go and accept the divorce we are compelled to bear.
All this is revealed in the story of Lucifer's unjustified defection.
It would have been impossible for him to have sinned worse than he did. His crimes against the divine government were the most grievous possible and there were no greater lengths in rebellion to which he could have gone. Yet the Lord did not dispossess him of his position as the covering cherub. It was he who vacated it.
Consider the seriousness of Lucifer's crimes against the government of God. At great cost to Himself in Jesus Christ, the eternal Father and Source of all life established a divine order in the universe by which alone happiness, fulfillment, and immortality could be guaranteed to every created being. It was an infinitely selfless undertaking, an amazing manifestation of His character of limitless love.
As the Creator of all, He was and eternally will be the Owner of everything existing. Therefore, He had the perfect right to administrate the universe in any way that He chose, without any of His created subjects having the least right to question, challenge, or in any way call for changes or modifications to the system. God's governmental system is a theocracy, not a democracy.
Picture: Because God is Creator of all, He is owner of all. Therefore, He alone has the right to decide how the universe should be governed.
Therefore, no matter how displeased Lucifer came to be with the divine order, he still had no right to rebel against it. This would remain true even if he had justification for his dissatisfaction as he would have had if God had been a despotic, oppressive overlord. God owned everything; Lucifer possessed nothing. All that he was or held was a trusteeship, not ownership, and only the owner has the right to determine how his possessions shall be managed.
But, Lucifer did not stop with insidious complaints against the divine order. He called for such a restructuring of heaven's governmental system as would relocate him as an owner of the kingdom and not merely a trustee in it. He demanded that Christ be replaced by himself; that he, the creature who had brought nothing into existence and therefore had no right of himself to anything or any position, should occupy the place and take the position of Him who had brought everything into existence and therefore had the right of ownership of all things and of any position He saw fit to occupy.
It was audacious, monstrous, inexcusable, treasonous, ungrateful rebellion of the worst order. It would be impossible to overstate the iniquitousness of the course of action which he adopted. That which made it even worse was his determination to pursue his utterly selfish aims no matter what the cost to others might be. His propositions, if they had been carried out, would have resulted in the death of every living thing throughout the entire universe, and the destruction of every planet, sun, and system God had ever created.
Some may feel that this is saying too much, that surely the consequences could not have been so serious. But, no one who understands the divine order and what it was specifically designed to achieve, will have any doubts as to the truth of these words. To state the matter briefly: God is the Source from whom all life flows. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe. He who called into existence the entire creation, upholds "... all things by the word of His power...." Hebrews 1:3. If the Lord were to cease this ministry, then all creation would cease to function and would be destroyed.
But, in order to accomplish this work of sustaining the universe, there had to be a Connector, who, because He Himself is also God, could receive the flood tide of power from the Deity, and, because, on the second side, He is truly creature, could safely channel the needed amounts of power to each created being and celestial body throughout the entire universe. Jesus Christ alone could and did fulfill that vital work.
But Lucifer was determined to replace Christ with himself, a mere creature who did not even begin to have the capacity to receive the energy flowing from God in order to channel it to the created world. Such a flow of power as emanates from God would have destroyed Lucifer in an instant if he had stepped into Christ's position. His total inability to receive and channel the required supplies of power to the universe would have meant that those who had been receiving life from God through Christ would have been totally cut off and would have perished.
Thus he became the great enemy of all created life and the lengths to which he was prepared to go to establish his selfish aims were demonstrated at Calvary when he unleashed against his Creator, Jesus Christ, every weapon of destruction and abuse at his command. Then the angels came to understand the real nature of his rebellion; the real character which had developed in him.
It was a situation in which a member of Christ's body had turned from Him in the worst possible way. The estrangement which was wholly from Lucifer's side, threatened to develop into total separation and would really test God's and Christ's commitment to be faithful to their created sons no matter what might develop. Because Jesus is the complete and perfect example as to how every believer is to behave under similar circumstances, everyone of us must have a clear understanding of how the Father and the Son related themselves to the covering cherub's chosen course.
That which stands out in the defection of Lucifer is that the Creators and the loyal angels exhibited only one disposition and engaged in only one activity and that was to save and restore. No trace of condemnation is to be found anywhere among them.
"Lucifer's disposition to serve himself instead of his Creator aroused a feeling of apprehension when observed by those who considered that the glory of God should be supreme. In heavenly counsel the angels pleaded with Lucifer. The Son of God presented before him the greatness, the goodness, and the justice of the Creator, and the sacred, unchanging nature of His law. God Himself had established the order of heaven; and in departing from it, Lucifer would dishonor his Maker and bring ruin upon himself. But the warning, given in infinite love and mercy, only aroused a spirit of resistance. Lucifer allowed his jealousy of Christ to prevail, and became the more determined." Patriarchs and Prophets, 35, 36.
But the Lord did not limit His saving efforts to these steps, for infinite love continues unabated until every possible recourse has been totally exhausted. Therefore, the Father convened a mighty meeting attended by all the heavenly host and relayed, no doubt, to every intelligent being throughout the universe. God's specific purpose in gathering them together was that He might solve the problem by explaining just why it was that none but Christ could occupy the position He did. "The King of the universe summoned the heavenly hosts before Him, that in their presence He might set forth the true position of His Son and show the relation He sustained to all created beings." Patriarchs and Prophets, 36.
It was a mighty, a beautiful, and a convincing revelation of the marriage between Christ and the created world; it was a presentation of the structure of the divine order and organization; and, as such, was a beautiful manifestation of the selfless, infinite love which had formed this structure for the happiness and blessing of every created being.
As the Almighty unfolded these truths, the angels were filled with wonder, admiration, and love. Lucifer himself was mightily moved to repentance, but he resisted the influence of God and Christ. Even though he briefly joined with the angels in their outburst of adoration and praise, his jealousy later resurfaced.
He then embarked on a campaign of lying insinuations against the governing Heads of the universe. "Leaving his place in the immediate presence of the Father, Lucifer went forth to diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels. He worked with mysterious secrecy, and for a time concealed his real purpose under an appearance of reverence for God." Patriarchs and Prophets, 37.
His charges, lying though they were, had a telling effect. Because he had spent an extremely long period of time serving the Almighty in His immediate presence, he was accepted as the highest angelic authority on the subject of God and His character. No other angel enjoyed closer access to the Father than Lucifer, so that he, in the very nature of the situation, knew more of God than did any one else. Therefore, when he began to lay charges against the Creator, the other angels listened.
Notice carefully that the Lord had neither divorced nor dismissed this rebel from his assigned position. The fact that he no longer occupied it was due to his having left it, not to his having been suspended from it. "Leaving his place in the immediate presence of the Father, Lucifer went forth...." In the meantime, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit continued their ministry of love. Devoid of any spirit of condemnation or of separation, they worked to bring him back into perfect harmony with the remainder of the kingdom. What a model this is for those confronted with a marriage partner who is breaking away from us! How many fragmenting marriage relationships would be restored if at least one of the contractors would relate to the problem as Jesus and His Father did.
"In great mercy, according to His divine character, God bore long with Lucifer. The spirit of discontent and disaffection had never before been known in heaven. It was a new element, strange, mysterious, unaccountable. Lucifer himself had not at first been acquainted with the real nature of his feelings; for a time he had feared to express the workings and imaginings of his mind; yet he did not dismiss them. He did not see whither he was drifting. But such efforts as infinite love and wisdom only could devise, were made to convince him of his error. His disaffection was proved to be without cause, and he was made to see what would be the result of persisting in revolt. Lucifer was convinced that he was in the wrong. He saw that 'the Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works' (Psalms 145:17); that the divine statutes are just, and that he ought to acknowledge them as such before all heaven. Had he done this, he might have saved himself and many angels. He had not at that time fully cast off his allegiance to God." Patriarchs and Prophets, 39.
One cannot study this terrible conflict without being amazed at two things. Firstly, it is astonishing that, in the face of such clear explanations of the divine order, and against such manifestations of infinite love and compassion toward him, the devil could still persist in rebellion; and secondly that, in the face of such treasonous, inexcusable behavior, the Lord maintained His absolute faithfulness to His marriage vows. He convincingly demonstrated that He would love His creatures as promised, for better or for worse, until death brings eternal separation.
This is confirmed in the strongest of terms by the fact that, after all this, Lucifer's position was held open for him. "Though he had left his position as covering cherub, yet if he had been willing to return to God, acknowledging the Creator's wisdom, and satisfied to fill the place appointed him in God's great plan, he would have been reinstated in his office." Patriarchs and Prophets, 39.
Picture: God's infinite love is more enduring than the mighty rocks.
God's behavior is truly incredible. Upon confession and cleansing, Lucifer would have stood before God just as if he had never sinned at all. There is no talk here of his having to suffer a punishment for his crimes, of his being obliged to accept a demotion, or of his being required to prove, over a period of probation, that he was in fact truly repentant and worthy of reinstatement. God's ways are certainly different from man's ways. To understand them fully is beyond the capacity of humanity until the Holy Spirit illumines the mind and implants the same love within.
In Lucifer's case, the Lord did all that He could to prevent a divorce, but despite His best efforts, the mighty angel persisted in separating himself from God until the divorce was complete and irreversible.
"The time had come for a final decision; he must fully yield to the divine sovereignty or place himself in open rebellion. He nearly reached the decision to return, but pride forbade him. It was too great a sacrifice for one who had been so highly honored to confess that he had been in error, that his imaginings were false, and to yield to the authority which he had been working to prove unjust." Patriarchs and Prophets, 39.
Satan now had no option but to leave heaven, for he could find no place for the operation of his principles where he had lost the battle to establish them. The war in heaven which resulted in Satan's eternal divorce from Christ and his expulsion from Paradise was certainly not a physical struggle between the devil and Christ. There was no question as to who had the greater power. That was not the issue being contested. Furthermore, the Creator of the universe does not become involved in physical struggles with His children nor does He ever use weapons of force. "God could have destroyed Satan and his sympathizers as easily as one can cast a pebble to the earth; but He did not do this. Rebellion was not to be overcome by force. Compelling power is found only under Satan's government. The Lord's principles are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God's government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailng power." The Desire of Ages, 759.
This statement makes it plain that the rebellion in heaven was not overcome by force but by truth and love. Likewise, the rebellion on this earth is being dealt with in the same way. The war in heaven was a struggle for the minds and loyalties of the angels. It was Satan's effort to establish his principles of operation in heaven firstly, and then throughout the universe, but when he lost the war so that no place was found by him in heaven for his kingdom, then he had to choose either to live according to the divine order, or to take himself elsewhere. He chose the latter, and, in so doing, made his divorce from Christ final and permanent.
It is true that, when he found himself outside the heavenly gates, he pleaded to be allowed to return, but the Lord was unable to permit this because the devil and his followers had placed themselves where they could no longer be restored.
"After Satan and those who fell with him were shut out of heaven, and he realized that he had forever lost all its purity and glory, he repented, and wished to be reinstated in heaven. He was willing to take his proper place, or any position that might be assigned him. But no; heaven must not be placed in jeopardy. All heaven might be marred should he be taken back; for sin originated with him, and the seeds of rebellion were within him. Both he and his followers wept, and implored to be taken back into the favor of God. But their sin--their hatred, their envy and jealousy--had been so great that God could not blot it out. It must remain to receive its final punishment." Early Writings, 146.
There is no sin which God cannot blot out provided that there is genuine repentance and acceptable confession. Satan and his followers did repent and they did make a confession, but these steps on their part were not of the character which would give them access to God's saving, cleansing power. Like Balaam and Judas, they repented for the results of their sin, and not for the iniquity itself. This is proved by the fact that, when they realized that the repentance they had offered and the confessions they had made did not bring them re-admission into Paradise, they planned an all out war against the government of heaven. They showed how totally and permanently they had divorced themselves from their heavenly bridegroom.
Throughout the entire drama, no moves toward separation and divorce were made by Christ and His Father. Neither did they demote the rebellious angel from his position as the covering cherub, for that is not the way things are done wherever the divine order is established. Yearning, pitying, saving love alone were manifest on Christ's part. It was Lucifer who generated separation, and who established the divorce.
Wonder and be astonished at the behavior of Christ the Husband who was and is faithful to Lucifer just so long as both shall live. Today, the Saviour's love for Lucifer is undiminished and unchanged. What an example this is to every one who will be a follower of Jesus! How different this is from the ways of men both in the world and in the churches of the world.
The statement was made earlier in these studies that God has never dismissed anyone from the position assigned him no matter how grievously that person has sinned against Him. It was then later stated that this was absolute faithfulness to the marriage vow.
To confirm this, we would do well to study God's dealings with His people as a specific guide as to how we are to relate to those who fail us or even war against us. We need to understand and practice the marriage vow as Christ has given it meaning.
Unfortunately, there is not the space in this publication to survey each and every case in Bible history which reveals the outworking of the divine principles. So, we shall confine ourselves to a few selected examples which are typical of the rest, while at the same time noting the main points in respect to some of the other individuals who had been called of God to fulfill an important role, but who failed the Lord very badly. We begin with Adam and Eve.
The defection of our first parents was a reproduction of Satan's sin in heaven, but the Lord did not divorce them. Instead, He extended His marriage by entering into a bond with sinful, fallen humanity. This was the ultimate humility, sacrifice, and manifestation of marital faithfulness.
Abraham and Sarah, like Lucifer, lost sight of their true position and sought to do God's part of the contract. When, by their devisings, they achieved the birth of Ishmael, they prided themselves on having achieved the divine purpose. But they had followed procedures which were Babylonian or antichristian through and through. They could not have sinned more grievously, yet, the divine Bridegroom did not cast them off, nor did He criticize, condemn, denounce, or separate Himself from them. He did not even suggest that they be deprived of their God-given position as the parents of the promised Seed.
Picture: When Adam and Eve sinned, they introduced death and destruction into this world, yet God did not divorce them.
Jacob also resorted to the utterly Babylonian procedures of devising his own plans, and of deceiving his father in order to ensure that the promise of the birthright be secured to himself. But again, we find no intention on God's part of divorcing him or of denying him the birthright blessings or of unseating him from his position.
Already the case of Aaron has been considered in Chapter Two in the light of the training given to him throughout his childhood and youth. We wish to consider it now from the point of view revealing Christ's relationship to him when he became responsible for the casting and erection of the golden calf and the licentious debauchery and wild dancing which accompanied it.
Aaron's sin stands out as one of the most terrible betrayals of sacred trust ever recorded in the Scriptures. He had been left in charge of the people in the encampment and was responsible for the maintenance of law and order. But, the disappearance of Moses up the mountain proved to have a very unsettling effect on the Israelites who had become accustomed in Egypt to having a visible God in the form of the idols which they had now left behind. In the place of these idols they looked to Moses as their visible God rather than to the Lord Jehovah in heaven above. So, when days passed by without Moses' reappearance, they began to grow uneasy and restless. These feelings soon swelled until the people demanded action. They had to have a visible god. Aaron being the one in authority, they brought their demands to him.
"Such a crisis demanded a man of firmness, decision, and unflinching courage; one who held the honor of God above popular favor, personal safety, or life itself. But the present leader of Israel was not of this character." Patriarchs and Prophets, 316.
So with calm assurance, Aaron made the calf and the people began their worship of the image in the place of God. From the mountaintop, God and Moses observed the disgraceful performance going on below. It was so evil that, had not Moses especially interceded for Israel, the protecting Spirit of God would have been forced to withdraw and leave the people exposed to swift and certain destruction.
All that Aaron had done was exceedingly sinful, but, when Moses came down the mountain, Aaron made things much worse for himself by exhibiting no signs of repentance whatsoever but stoutly defended himself instead by attempting to lay all the blame on the people.
Like Lucifer, Aaron had been highly privileged and this is what made his sin all the more grievous. "The fact that Aaron had been blessed and honored so far above the people was what made his sin so heinous. It was Aaron 'the saint of the Lord' (Psalms 106:16), that had made the idol and announced the feast. It was he who had been appointed as spokesman for Moses, and concerning whom God Himself had testified, 'I know that he can speak well' (Exodus 4:14), that had failed to check the idolaters in their heaven-daring purpose. He by whom God had wrought in bringing judgments both upon the Egyptians and upon their gods, had heard unmoved the proclamation before the molten image, 'These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.' It was he who had been with Moses on the mount, and had there beheld the glory of the Lord, who had seen that in the manifestation of that glory there was nothing of which an image could be made--it was he who had changed that glory into the similitude of an ox. He to whom God had committed the government of the people in the absence of Moses, was found sanctioning their rebellion. 'The Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him.' Deuteronomy 9:20. But in answer to the earnest intercession of Moses, his life was spared; and in penitence and humiliation for his great sin, he was restored to the favor of God." Patriarchs and Prophets, 320, 323.
Consideration of this record of disloyalty, uncovers the picture of a man who could watch unmoved as God's people debased themselves around the golden image. It would have been serious enough if, after having yielded to the people because of weakness and fear, he had watched them in an agony of remorse, but to stand by unmoved was to exhibit a serious lack of spiritual integrity, a toleration for sin as if it were but a minor matter. Aaron had certainly revealed the kind of man that he was, and, according to human judgment had shown that he was unfit to bear sacred responsibilities or to hold a holy office.
But God's ways are not man's ways and He sees differently from His children. Aaron had already been appointed to holy office, and as a member of Christ's body, the Lord would never divorce him or separate from him. Aaron could have vacated his position even as Lucifer did in heaven, and would have done so as Lucifer did if he had refused to repent. Had he left, the Lord would have had no choice but to accept that, but the separation would have come from Aaron's side, never from God's.
Some would claim that the words: "And the Lord was very angry with Aaron and would have destroyed him...." Deuteronomy 9:20, prove that the Lord had separated from Moses' brother, and was about to remove him from his position by killing him.
To take this stand is to misinterpret Scripture. God does not destroy, nor does He take away a person's position, nor withdraw from him. Instead, the sinning soul destroys himself, takes himself out of his divinely-appointed position, and separates himself from God. Aaron had done this to the extent that he was virtually outside the circle of protection, and, but for Moses' prayer and Aaron's penitence and confession, he would have perished that day. For those not yet confirmed on how God destroys, a study of Behold Your God by F. T. Wright and available from Destiny Press, is highly recommended.
The penitent Aaron was able to return to God and retain his position. Shortly after the golden calf incident, the people, according to God's direction, began the construction of the tabernacle. When it was completed, it was necessary to appoint the high priest and those priests who would assist him in his work.
If the selection of the high priest had been the responsibility of the people, it is quite clear that Aaron would never have been elected. So far as men could see, he had utterly and permanently disqualified himself from holding a position as a spiritual leader of the people, and therefore, they would not even have considered him as a candidate for the high priesthood.
But the people were not consulted for God, in His love and wisdom, realizes that man is not capable of appointing others their positions. Israel was not a democracy, a "government of the people, by the people, for the people." World Book Encyclopedia, 5:104, 1982 edition, quoting Abraham Lincoln. It was both a civil and religious theocracy, a government of and by the Lord for the benefit of everyone in it. This governmental system is so constituted that God alone through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit has the responsibility of deciding what position shall be filled by each and every member in the church.
It was by virtue of this arrangement that Aaron was appointed to the position of high priest in Israel. God chose the man, and He expected the people to recognize and accept what He had done. They did so without question or protest, for there is no record of any unrest or discontent over Aaron's appointment. He proved to be a faithful priest from then until his death, his one mistake being his support of his sister Miriam when she murmured against Moses and his position. Again, that did not cost him his ministry and work. Instead, he was required to understand the nature of his sin and to repent of it and make an adequate, acceptable confession, which he did.
God's dealings with Aaron are an amazing revelation of His ways in contrast to the ways of men who are so ready to think in terms of divorce in order to solve their problems. Let it be repeated that, when two people marry, they give to each other a position which once given can never be withdrawn, for divorce never comes from the Christian who truly understands the structure of the divine order and practices its principles. Even when the other partner sins most grievously against the marriage as both Lucifer and Aaron did, they are not to be demoted or cast off. Instead, divine love is to forgive and seek total restoration. If this is rejected as in Lucifer's case, divorce will follow, for the sinner has turned his back on love, and this can only lead to separation, but it will come only from the side of the unrepentant. "The very essence of the gospel is restoration...." The Desire of Ages, 824.
Jehovah dealt with Aaron according to His unchanging ways, which means that He will relate Himself to every one of His messengers in the selfsame manner. Understanding God's ways then becomes our guide to the way in which we are to relate to marriage partners, family members, church members, and messengers.
What all this means is that our recognition of a person in a certain position does not depend on whether, in the light of serious mistakes he has made, we adjudge him worthy to be at that post of duty or not, but on whether the evidence shows that the Lord called him to that position in the first case.
The pattern however, which tends to repeat itself, is that the marriage partner satisfies himself prior to the wedding day that his bride is the one for him. As a true Christian who practices the Sabbath rest principles, he believes that she is divinely appointed to be his wife. But, after some time, she makes a bad mistake, reveals some hitherto unseen weakness, and betrays the family to its enemies. Then comes the temptation to believe that she has now disqualified herself for her position and it is time to think in terms of disciplinary measures to correct the evil. If these were to be administered, they would certainly make the situation worse, and this would in turn, start the mind thinking in terms of separation.
The same pattern applies to the building of a movement. To initiate proceedings, God calls a messenger to proclaim present truth. Those who accept the light as from God are quite satisfied that the instrument through whom the message is communicated is called of the Lord and they gladly support him in his divinely-appointed ministry.
Unfortunately, and more so as time goes by, there is a tendency to think of him as a very holy, unique person not subject to the same problems which trouble other people. Accordingly, they erect a pedestal and seat him on it high above them. So, despite his diligent efforts to teach them better, while he protests that he is one like themselves, they have made themselves a god out of the man who is no more than a messenger.
In the meantime, he is being harassed by temptations of which they know nothing. While they live lives that are more sheltered than his, he is being attacked on every hand, endures hardship, is deprived of comforts that the average person takes for granted, is betrayed by those who profess to be friends and supporters of the work, and is assailed by faith-testing discouragements.
Most messengers have failed under this kind of pressure, and, when they do there are those who, while they still acknowledge that the messenger was called of God, now declare that his sin has disqualified him for his position, and they withdraw their support.
By so doing, they demonstrate that they did not understand the divine order nor the marriage principle. Instead of sitting in judgment on the fallen one, they should have made a fresh study of the way the Lord has related Himself to this kind of situation and then done likewise. They must learn that divorce never comes from God's side, and therefore must never come from their side either. They need to realize that if we divorce him or her whom the Lord has not divorced, then we are spiritual adulterers ourselves.
There would be few things if any which would be more difficult to do than to go on supporting a person who, in our eyes had disqualified himself for his work. To humanity, divorce is a so much more attractive solution, but, it is not God's way. Yet, it is here that the victory must be gained, for those who do not learn to practice the principles of the divine order down here will never qualify for a part in that order in the coming kingdom.
Among those who understood these principles and how to live them, was David as is revealed in his relation to an unrepentant and revengeful King Saul.
David knew as did all Israel, that the Lord had personally directed Samuel the prophet to anoint Saul to be the first king of Israel. God had given Saul his position, but it was not long before the monarch began to drift into terrible apostasy. He became a cruel oppressor of the people and was dragging all Israel into perdition with him. If ever a man could be judged in human sight to have disqualified himself for his position, it was Israel's first king.
Yet, the Lord did not unseat him from his throne, but actually protected and sustained him until his death terminated the relationship. It is another remarkable example of the way in which God remains faithful to His responsibilities. It demonstrates once more that the Lord never changes in His relationship to us; but it is we who change toward Him. David, the new king elect, demonstrated a marvelous knowledge of these principles when, on two different occasions, he was provided with the opportunity to slay the king, and the arguments to justify it.
Saul had become a cruel, despotic ruler, a curse to Israel, and an evil witness to the nations around them. He was dragging the people down with him into ever deeper apostasy and degradation. He had ceased to serve the Lord or His people, and was a disgrace to his profession. The name of God was held in contempt among the heathen because of him. It had become clear that, so long as he continued as the head of the monarchy, Israel was certain to suffer loss and walk in darkness. The situation was desperate and the pressure of the hour called for someone to take immediate and decisive action.
The opportunity was presented to David when the sovereign entered alone into the very cave where he and his men were hiding. "So he [King Saul] came to the sheep-folds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.)
"Then the men of David said to him, 'This is the day of which the Lord said to you, "Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you."' And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul's robe." 1 Samuel 24:3, 4.
If ever a man's life was endangered, it was King Saul's that day. Argument piled on argument calling for his execution. His crimes against Israel and his unfaithfulness to God were sins which made him worthy of death. The desperate needs of God's people called for his immediate removal. In fact, to have spared him under the circumstances would seem to be a shirking of responsibility ever afterwards to be regretted. If there was any doubt left in regard to what David should do, there was seeming Scripture support for the execution. His followers with positive conviction urged on him the necessity for immediate action. "Then the men of David said to him, 'This is the day of which the Lord said to you, "Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you."'"
No doubt David's personal feelings lent weight to the proposition, for he was wearied with continual flight and jeopardy on account of Saul's unrelenting determination to destroy him. To take the king's life in that cave that day would have rid him of an immense problem and shortened the waiting time for his assumption of the kingship. It was a very attractive prospect which was offering itself to him, and, without a doubt, he was sorely tempted to kill the king there and then.
In a situation like this, when human nature is clamoring for the solution which will rid it of its threats, men are prone to clutch on to any argument which can be used to justify their taking decisive action. But, the case of David demonstrated that, even when the justification for killing Saul seemed so conclusive, he was wise to carefully weigh up all the other evidences to make certain what was really the correct course to follow.
Against all the other evidences stood the divine principle of marriage. Saul was the Lord's anointed. It was God who had placed him in his position, and it was He who would have to remove him. It was not for David to sit in judgment on the king and decree his punishment. This principle is clearly stated in the following words:
"God permits men to be placed in positions of responsibility. When they err, He has power to correct or to remove them. We should be careful not to take into our hands the work of judging that belongs to God.
"The conduct of David toward Saul has a lesson. By command of God, Saul had been anointed as king over Israel. Because of his disobedience the Lord declared that the kingdom should be taken from him; and yet how tender and courteous and forbearing was the conduct of David toward him!" The Ministry of Healing, 484.
It was because David was established on the marriage principle that he was saved from making a terrible mistake that day and again on the later occasion when he was able to penetrate Saul's camp in the dead of night until he actually stood by the sleeping king. He understood that, as surely as God had placed Saul in the position of king, and maintained him in that role, he must respect and support the monarch too.
Every believer in Jesus needs to learn this same vital lesson in order to be saved from the fearful peril of rejecting God's delegated messengers. To do so is to reject Christ which is in turn to sever one's connection with eternal life. "If you reject Christ's delegated messengers, you reject Christ." Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 97. It is not for us to decide whether a person is worthy of the position or whether he is filling it satisfactorily or not. Those are God's concerns, not ours. We are to concern ourselves with relating to the person in question in the same way that God does.
Another splendid example of Christ's attitude toward one to whom he had given a position was the relationship which he maintained toward Judas Iscariot. This man had been appointed to a place among the twelve, not because Christ chose him, but because, when he urged his presence among them, the Saviour understood that the other men in the group needed to learn the vital lessons that the presence of Judas would provide. "While Jesus was preparing the disciples for their ordination, one who had not been summoned urged his presence among them. It was Judas Iscariot, a man who professed to be a follower of Christ. He now came forward, soliciting a place in this inner circle of disciples.... Jesus neither repulsed nor welcomed him.... If He had repulsed Judas, they would, in their own minds, have questioned the wisdom of their Master. The after history of Judas would show them the danger of allowing any worldly consideration to have weight in deciding the fitness of men for the work of God. The co-operation of such men as the disciples were anxious to secure would have betrayed the work into the hands of its worst enemies." The Desire of Ages, 293, 294.
From the outset and increasingly so as they moved on toward the cross, Judas wielded an evil influence among the twelve. "With Judas an element of antagonism was introduced among the disciples. In connecting himself with Jesus he had responded to the attraction of His character and life. He had sincerely desired a change in himself, and had hoped to experience this through a union with Jesus. But this desire did not become predominant. That which ruled him was the hope of selfish benefit in the worldly kingdom which he expected Christ to establish. Though recognizing the divine power of the love of Christ, Judas did not yield to its supremacy. He continued to cherish his own judgment and opinions, his disposition to criticize and condemn. Christ's motives and movements, often so far above his comprehension, excited doubt and disapproval, and his own questionings and ambitions were insinuated to the disciples. Many of their contentions for supremacy, much of their dissatisfaction with Christ's methods, originated with Judas." Education, 91, 92.
If ever Christ had justification for separation from one of His creatures, He certainly had it in the case of Judas, but He never permitted the solution of separation to cross His mind. What a wonderful example this is to every man or woman who feels that his or her marriage has become stale, flat, irksome, burdensome, profitless, and positively wearing. If such think that they have justification for divorce, then Christ had much, much more so in the burdens and cares that Judas imposed upon Him. The more deeply and extensively one considers the faithfulness of Christ in His marriage relationship to His unfaithful, disloyal, uncaring, irresponsible, and unspiritual ones, the more one realizes the truth that His love never changes or diminishes in the slightest, but is truly infinite. It never has and never will find a limit, a ceiling, a boundary, or a stopping place. No matter how far it is called to go, it will, and still there will be an infinity beyond.
It will also be seen with convicting clarity that marriage, once contracted, is indeed until death terminates the relationship. True marriage can never be a temporary arrangement to be lightly broken up under the least provocation. When it is found that the other member of the relationship is no longer faithful to the marriage vow, every effort will be re-doubled to bring the wanderer back if at all possible. This is the beautiful witness we have in the peerless example of Jesus with Judas. No truly spiritual person can study the Saviour's dealing with this erring one without being deeply moved.
"'Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him.' John 6:64. Yet, knowing all, He had withheld no pleading of mercy or gift of love.
"Seeing the danger of Judas, He had brought him close to Himself, within the inner circle of His chosen and trusted disciples. Day after day, when the burden lay heaviest upon His own heart, He had borne the pain of continual contact with that stubborn, suspicious, brooding spirit; He had witnessed and labored to counteract among His disciples that continuous, secret, and subtle antagonism. And all this that no possible saving influence might be lacking to that imperiled soul!" Education, 92, 93.
Judas did not perceive and so was not able to realize that Jesus was his Husband. He had never learned the truth of the words: "'For your Maker is your Husband, the Lord of hosts is His name: and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.
"'For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused,' says your God." Isaiah 54:5, 6.
But though Judas could not see His Saviour in the role of a loving Husband, Christ's faithfulness to him as a Husband is not wasted, for it provides a living demonstration of the way Christ continues to love, support, and sustain even those who betray Him. When Christians have learned to love their marriage partners and each other as Christ loves all of us, then how speedily the work will be finished.
Christ never left Judas; did not cast him out; did not deprive him of the position of a disciple; did not deny him the same mighty powers to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons as were given to the other eleven, when they all were sent out on their great missionary journey; and washed his feet first at the Lord's Supper. It was Judas who separated from his divine Husband and left the position granted to him. He did so, not because of any pressure from Christ, but in spite of every infinitely loving effort on his divine Husband's part to save the marriage.
Christ's behavior is so utterly different from the way in which humans approach the problem of the breakdown of human relationships, that it is difficult for us to really grasp the fact that His love is forever, irrespective of how much we betray Him. We are slow to realize that, once we admit another person into a position in our lives, we can never take the position away and give it to another no matter how unworthy that person has become to continue in that position. To reject another person from the position in which he has been placed is to reject Christ, and that is to reject eternal life.
Picture: Christ, as a Husband, has demonstrated that marriage is forever.
For instance, it is clear that, despite Judas' unrelenting effort to undermine confidence in Christ's work and to sow discord among His followers, the Saviour did not reject Judas from his position, but respected and supported him in that position even to the extent that he was sent forth as a representative teacher endowed like all the rest with the awesome power of the Holy Spirit.
Now, if one of the other disciples had become aware of the perfidy of Judas, and had accordingly withdrawn all support from him, he would have been rejecting a messenger delegated and supported by Christ and thus would have been rejecting Christ's work and Christ Himself.
Of course, the Saviour did not participate with Judas in his evil work, nor is a wife, for instance, to join in activities demanded by her husband when to do so would require the violation of principle, such as when he expects her to work or spend time with him in pleasure seeking on the Sabbath day, attend theaters, the races, and sporting venues, and disregard health and dress reform. Such a firm stand can prove very costly to the marriage but the resulting breakdown will be the fault of the transgressor, not of the true child of God.
The study of the relationship which Christ so consistently maintained with every one of those who were unfaithful to their marriage commitments to Him, has been but lightly touched on in this section. The facts are that an entire chapter could be devoted to each of the cases considered as well as to all the others which are recorded in Bible history. But, enough has been written to reveal the incredible faithfulness of Christ, our peerless Example, to the marriage of Himself with His creatures. He has demonstrated that His love has never been conditional on their love for Him, nor has He permitted His relationship to them to be affected by the degree to which they were faithful to Him. When this is understood, it will be clearly seen that He never withdraws His grace from them, but that the deprivation of these blessings is due to their separation from Him.
Thus the heavenly Husband has shown how we are to love as He loved and what true faithfulness to the marriage vow means.