It troubles us to consider God being glorified through failure. It can't be. We're just stuck with pieces that don't fit anything, not even each other. Dead end. Oops. What now?
But consider this: a broken covenant forces us to consider what a covenant is, if it's possible, how it works, and where God is in it all.
God's Word tells us that in unfaithfulness, a marital covenant can rightfully be stepped away from, right? Ok, so that just looks like some lucky ones get to claim that "they did the right thing." But what about the rest of us. What about the job, not "the woman," who was chosen over the spouse. Insert anything there, (for job) and it's an issue of faithfulness. Something, some commitment, some issue, overwhelmed the commitment to the marriage, right? Now, I am not exchanging God's Word for a new interpretation here. But I am making a different point. Keep reading.
In His Word, He paints a picture of the marriage covenant being unbreakable by anything unless one person gives his loyalty to another person. That makes sense--fair enough. One person broke the covenant. The covenant no longer works; it's not intact. It's broken. So what's the point?
It matters that God speaks in Covenants--even though it's a bit strange and foreign to us and our culture. His covenants are the basis for the way he relates to Us, His Creation! And there's got to be a reason He did it this way. What's going on??
In the Covenant he made with Abraham which the world now benefits from, HE fulfilled both sides, causing Abraham to fall into a deep sleep so that He HIMSELF could pass through and perform the ritual between both parties. He literally did Abraham's part for him so that the outcome of the promise would not depend on Abraham--so that Abraham could not mess it up. That's AMAZING! Then God did this again in the New Covenant in which again HE fulfilled both sides. JESUS fulfilled on our behalf what was ours to perform. He lived without sin on our behalf so that we do not have to. He
What in life can stand unless God fulfills both sides? Nothing! We've proven that, right?
So where is the consolation in this conceptual breakdown? What difference does it make to know that God's promises to us individually are so powerful that He fulfilled both sides, His and ours. It makes a huge difference.
It is only knowing that God loves me unconditionally--and has promised to love me and provide for me and take care of me no matter what I deserve--that I can face life without a desperate fear that I'm going to run out of something soon and quick. Whatever it is that I need, He has promised to give. I can "go boldly to the throne-room of grace to receive mercy in my time of need."
Now, in the case of a solid marriage covenant, don't say, "Well, then, why didn't I get a lasting marriage?"
Go back. It is only in knowing that God loves ME unconditionally that I can start to function in a healthy way without having to get others to meet my needs. That's essentially what happened in the divorce. One person couldn't get from the marital well all they needed. The financial security, the emotional support, the thrill of shared passions, the sexual satisfaction, whatever.
Having a constant, endless supply which comes freely from God's hand to any who will ask and believe and receive, is the answer to that. Only then can 2 people make it past the crisis of not having what it takes. Both can go and receive from God what is needed.
If one party in the divorce wasn't willing or was just ignorant, and couldn't do that, don't get angry at God. He has freely offered. It takes both doing this for it to work.
But if it didn't work.....and since it didn't work, let it be a sign to you of WHAT KIND OF WONDERFUL GOD would fulfill both sides when it comes to ME! (and my spouse if he would come to know it.) That covenant is unbreakable. It is something I can learn to stand on and trust, build on and grow, thrive on and shine. Finding a partner who knows this, who knows God's faithfulness TO THEM.... that is the person you are looking for. That is the only kind of person who can withstand a storm--when everything is stripped, they have an endless supply because they know their Father loves them, and so they don't avoid the throneroom out of fear of rejection; they know that because of Jesus, they have access to everything that is the Father's. At all times. In every situation. No matter what they deserve. That's the grace of God which came through Jesus' death on your behalf, taking your punishment and rising with your new life, now free from the condemnation of sin.
Now that's exciting.
Consider that covenant toward you that cannot be broken. Build on THAT. He gave you your first marriage. He will give you another. He will never stop giving.
Don't stop believing.
The point: a broken covenant forces us to consider what a covenant is, if it's possible, how it works, and where God is in it all.
