Genesis 2:24 (NKJV)

‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.’

There was no father or mother in the day that this word was spoken but it was spoken by divine revelation. Apart from a spouse, the other closest people to cleave to are our parents. And yet in marriage, we are invited into a new experience that is called upon to supersede parental association. The unity of man and wife must overtake and override the relationship with parents. This is not contestable and must not be debatable. Yes, we must continue to respect parents but after marriage, we must never cleave (or be joined to them). This is wholesome scripture.

Why do some still cleave to their parents after marriage? Why do parents still cleave to their children after marriage? Why this total disrespect of a clear injunction of scriptures? This explains why the cleaving between married couples has become so weak. Let’s return to the bible: unity begins with departing. The depth of unity in the spousal relationship is directly connected to the level of ‘heart-leaving’ of parents. We can’t eat our cakes and have it. It’s simply wrong. And we must stop it!!! For any marriage to work, a level is disconnection must first take place somewhere else. Are we letting that happen?

‘Lord, may I learn to obey you irrespective of what my culture or traditions say. In this age of ‘higher interpretation of scriptures’, please help us not to interpret this but simply obey it as it is. And may we enter the blessedness of wholesome marriages because we have obeyed you. Amen.’