Here below I have put together "Why I believe, what I believe". My understanding on "Leave and cleave" based on The Word of God. Please take time and read through.
We do read just twice in the Bible about "LEAVE & CLEAVE" First in the Old Testament in Genesis 2:24,"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." And in the New Testament in, Ephesians 5:31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."
From what I learn from God's Word "Leave and cleave" is not always literally leaving your parents but it sure is a matter of the heart, where the child no longer depends on his parents but begins a new journey with his wife, takes his own decisions on things concerning his family.
Many take the "Leave and cleave" to heart and literally turn their backs and walk out, Some even leave their parents in senior citizen's home, some wash their hands off them, some just have no time for them any more, some don't respect the elderly.
We do read just twice in the Bible about "LEAVE & CLEAVE" First in the Old Testament in Genesis 2:24,"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." And in the New Testament in, Ephesians 5:31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."
From what I learn from God's Word "Leave and cleave" is not always literally leaving your parents but it sure is a matter of the heart, where the child no longer depends on his parents but begins a new journey with his wife, takes his own decisions on things concerning his family.
Many take the "Leave and cleave" to heart and literally turn their backs and walk out, Some even leave their parents in senior citizen's home, some wash their hands off them, some just have no time for them any more, some don't respect the elderly.
Yes as someone said,
“What does this leaving and
cleaving look like in daily life? It means that we no longer ‘lean’ on our parents, but on each other. It means that we do not allow parents to dominate
our lives. We show them respect by listening to their ideas or suggestions, but we make our own decisions."
This is true, parents have to let the adult son cleave to his wife and not interfere in their choices and decisions. They need to allow their son to function Independently and hand over running of home, to son and daughter-in-love.And children have to make a choice if theywant to stay on with their parents or move out.
But let not modern lifestyle, 'nuclear family' system, teachings of others, influence and overtake 'Biblical values' and standards.
After their children get married parents are to step back, let go and let children take responsibilities, give them their space, not interfere in their decision, their life and choices but still always be there only if children need their help or advice. The son finally has to make the choice if he wants to stay with parents or move out and both are Biblically right!
And what God wants us to do is more important. He cares for the old, He values relationships!
Isaiah 46:4, "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."God's Word also says, “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children." (Prov. 17:6).
A home that has grandparents is truly blessed! In Biblical times and in the past, elders were the most revered members of a family.
Wilford James writes, Quote> " However, a complete change has taken place when it comes to the elderly people and the place the hold in today’s society. They are no longer involved in the rearing of their grandchildren and have been replaced by daycare centers, the internet, televisions and videos games. The sense of family unity, love of community, respect and care for our fellow man instilled in children by their grandparents has all been lost in the absence of these valuable sources of knowledge and experience. The elderly folks in today’s society are treated more like old furniture than part of a family. They are dusted off every so often and taken out of the house for a trip to the mall or a fast food restaurant; or they are simple placed in convalescent homes wher they spend the rest of their life lonely and forgotten. < unquote.
In this age where people prefer nuclear family unit, both parents working, parents prefer their kids to be looked after by maids, and kids learn more from the TV and Internet. We stand facing a generation that has lost the understanding of what it is to honor the elders and seniors at home. God's Word says in Leviticus 19:32 “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord." Even when our Lord walked this earth, families lived in close communities.
I can hardly find example in the Word of God where "Leave and cleave" was literally put into practice but many examples of families living together. Here below are some Biblical examples! By using the familiar images of an Insula, Jesus helped his followers to understand the kingdom of God—a household of faith where God's family lives in close community. I think in the Biblical times "Father's House" was very important.
I just stumbled on this blog and was blessed.
"IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE: A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE!" http://www.openheaven.com/forums/printer_friendly_posts.asp?TID=47805
Posted By: Henry Falcone
And we need to study a Jewish wedding and why our Lord chose to follow the Jewish wedding pattern. We can learn a lot from a Jewish Wedding too! http://www.ldolphin.org/wedding.html
Be blessed as you study the "Jewish wedding" and more about the "Father's House!
Even in the Old Testament we see how Isaac brought his wife to his mother's tent and Jacob bring back his wife to his Father's home. Genesis 24:67 "Then Isaac brought her(his wife) into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death."
At Bethel on the way to finding a wife for himself, Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God." (Genesis 28: 20-21) and later in Genesis 31:3 "The LORD said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you"
Read my blog here: "JACOB'S JOURNEY BACK TO HIS FATHER'S HOUSE
Genesis 35:27 "Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is,Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. Jacob continued to live with his sons (Genesis 38-44).
Christin Ditchfield writes, "The Scriptures tell us that
Jesus — God’s Son —has chosen us to be His Bride. Right now, He’s gone to
get everything ready (to build on those extra rooms), but one day soon He’ll
return and bring us home to His Father."
Read more: http://www.christinditchfield.com/in-my-fathers-house/
Read more: http://www.christinditchfield.com/in-my-fathers-house/
In Jesus's time, families usually lived in clusters of buildings called "Insula". Jesus used the image of an insula - clusters of buildings where extended families lived together - to describe the kingdom of God.
In Jesus’s time, families usually lived in clusters of buildings called Insulas.
These clusters were built around a central courtyard. Grandparents, cousins,
uncles, and aunts all lived and interacted together in the insula. As sons married, they added to the insula. After asking a girl to marry him, the son would return to his village and build new rooms onto his father’s home.
Such family portraits are rare to see in this present age that promotes nuclear family lifestyle to be the best! Timothy inherited good values from his mother and grandma.
Also check: Korazin - The City
Studying the ruins of Korazin and other
Galilean towns, scholars have pieced together a picture of family life in the
first century.
"Korazin stood in the northwestern corner of the Galilee region, about three miles from the sea. The nearby cities of Capernaum and Bethsaida joined Korazin as part of the orthodox triangle, an area inhabited primarily by devout Jews. Jesus spent a great deal of time in the triangle area, living in Capernaum and teaching in the towns and villages nearby. Just north of Korazin lay the Mount of Beatitudes, the hillside where Jesus may have presented the Sermon on the Mount. Archaeologists have uncovered various ruins at Korazin. The remains of a synagogue, several buildings, and an oil pressing installation can be seen today. They have also discovered a Moses seat—the special seat for Torah readers—in the Korazin synagogue.
Studying the ruins of Korazin and other Galilean towns, scholars have pieced together a picture of family life in the first century. As he taught, Jesus drew on many family practices that were common in his day."
Even after creating man, Abba Father enjoyed a daily fellowship with Adam and Eve; He loved to walk in the garden (Genesis 3:8-9) and talk with them. But when man sinned they lost this beautiful fellowship they enjoyed with The Father God!
Abba Father wanted to redeem His lost to Himself! Galatians 4:5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."
And who says mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
Abba Father wanted to redeem His lost to Himself! Galatians 4:5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."
After fall of man, Satan has done a lot to mess and destroy not just our Heavenly Father's but earthly father's relationship with children and caused divide and disunity in families. But God takes pain to reveal His Father heart to us through His Son Yeshua and will turn back hearts of fathers to children and children to fathers. Malachi 4:6 "He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents"
May we restore honor, dignity to elders in our families. What would Jesus Christ our Lord do is what we need to do!
And who says mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
cannot see eye to eye? When Naomi asked her daughters-in-law to go to their
respective parental homes after their husbands (Naomi's sons) died, Orpah left but Ruth chose to follow her mother-in-law. Ruth 1:16 "But Ruth replied, “Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."
God honored Ruth's choice! She met Boaz!
God honored Ruth's choice! She met Boaz!
We look around and see some mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law having tough time seeing eye to eye and the world too teaches our kids
Do we really care?
Even when on the cross He remembered His mother and did not want to leave her alone. He trusted John would take good care of her. And John took her 'into his home'
John 19: 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,here is yourson,” 27 and to the disciple,“Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home"
Jesus wants us to follow His example
mother-in-law and daughter-in-law cannot enjoy a loving mother-daughter
relationship. But Ruth and Naomi set a beautiful example by sharing a beautiful relationship. Naomi also found great joy to be a nurse to her grandson Obed.
Because of Ruth's faithfulness she was the great-grandmother of King David, was one of the five women listed in the genealogy of Christ along with Tamar,
Rahab, Bathsheba, and Mary. Please check my blog on Ruth and Naomi here: http://relationshipsmatter-julia.blogspot.in/2015/06/ruth-and-naomi.html
May we learn valuable lessons from these Biblical personalities and may God restore relationships that the enemy has messed up on earth! Time we listened to God's voice! The elderly need our touch, care and love!
As kids parents and grandparents give their best for us, let us not cast them away when they are old like we throw away the curry leaves and spices that added flavor to the curry! Our parents spend sleepless nights, sacrifice their time and energy to give us the best they can afford and when they are to lean back and rest, we so easily cast them out or more often turn our back on them and walk away. Some parents as they grow older, become forgetful, confused and are slow in doing things. They do not remember many things, don't take their medication on time, are not able to prepare nutritious meals.
Does that really matter to us?
Do we really care?
Even when on the cross He remembered His mother and did not want to leave her alone. He trusted John would take good care of her. And John took her 'into his home'
John 19: 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,here is yourson,” 27 and to the disciple,“Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home"
Jesus wants us to follow His example
John 13:15 "I have set you an example that you should do
as I have done for you."
Someone else may think one way and we may
differ from their viw, but finally need to do what God wants us to do. His way
sure is the right way!
Following Yeshua,
Julia
