QB18 How Many Wives Does God Have?

There is a large debate over whether God divorced Israel, often quoting from Jeremiah 3:8 or Hosea 1, but great care is needed in our exegesis to understand what actually took place. At this point in history, Israel was divided into two houses, or kingdoms: there was the Northern Kingdom (known as Israel), and the Southern Kingdom (known as Judah). The Lord appeals to the Northern Kingdom of Israel,  and in Jer 3:8 the prophet writes “Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also.” At first glance it would appear that God did divorce Israel for the passage says that He had given her a certificate of divorce. Yet when we read further on in the same passage in verse 14 we find that the Lord considers Himself still married to her, “Return, O backsliding children,” says the LORD; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” Jer 3:14

What are we to make of this? Is the Lord still married or not to Israel at this point in time? When Israel divided into two houses, did He then have two wives? Was the northern Kingdom a wife and the southern Kingdom another wife? Well, how many betrothals took place on Sinai? There was just one, one wedding between the Lord and Israel. Even though later she divided politically into two, God’s covenant remained with Israel as a whole – it was their corporate identity, as One people, that the Lord entered into a covenant relationship with, not with their divisions but their corporate identity as a whole. Therefore even though the nation of Israel divided politically into two, God didn’t then have two wives. In the same way He doesn’t accommodate our divisions and have a separate covenant for each. No, God will always only have one wife, and therefore there will always only be one wedding covenant, one wedding contract.

The fact is that when the northern tribes had torn themselves away from the south, they were not only divorcing (which means separating) themselves from Judah, but were also divorcing (or separating) themselves from the Lord and from the covenant that defined their relationship with the Lord as their Husband. Significantly, they then erected statues of Baal in Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom. (The word Ba ‘al means husband or master). When we step out of unity with each other into divisions or plurality we endanger the very covenant relationship by which we are consecrated unto the Lord, for at the heart of that covenant is the glory of oneness. The essential nature of the Bride is that she is One. Is Christ divided? Is there from Him plurality, divisions or even denominations, no, if we are truly in Christ, then we are also truly One with each other. Is that not the enduring message of the bread that we share, that we partake of one body, though we are many? How many wives does God have? There is but one. There has only ever been one. He fell in love with her and remains in love with her still. He has not forsaken her and gone with another, no, His love for her is eternal, yes she is Israel, but not the Israel of man, but the Israel of God (Gal 6:16), which includes all those who have come into the New Covenant, both Jew and Gentile. This is a key point when we consider what it means that the wife has made herself ready, that she has not only embraced her bridal identity with the Lord, but also her corporate reality with one another.

Did you enjoy this article?

Why not help us to spread the word and use the facebook or other social sharing links below. We'd really appreciate it, thanks!


Other Posts in 'Quick Bites'

May be an image of text that says "God is Love nOM "To know such love is our greatest reward for there lies the home our restless heart seeks.""

QB86 God is Love

6 Nov 2023
“(16) And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in...

May be an image of text that says "The Day of Û the Lord is key to Understanding the Middle East"

QB85 Why the Day of the Lord is Key to Understanding the Middle East (Part 2)

4 Nov 2023
“(9) Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end...

May be an image of text that says "The Day of the LORD and the Middle East"

QB84 Why the Day of the Lord is Key to Understanding the Middle East (Part 1)

1 Nov 2023
“(9) Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end...

May be an image of heart and text that says "There is a glory only attainable in the Bridal desert, preparation that can come no other way. Not amongst the cacophony If religious voices but by embracing the solítude hiddenness. Not Nottobe to be alone, but to be alone with Him. আমই"

QB83 The Bride in the Wilderness (Part 1)

30 Oct 2023
In the last Quick Bite (QB82), the Wedding at Cana, I brought attention to the first time the Lord’s glory was revealed. But what’s really interesting to note is...

No photo description available.

QB82 The Wedding at Cana

27 Oct 2023
And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the...

May be an image of 1 person and text that says "The Rapture of the Bride (Part 3)"

QB81 The Rapture of the Bride (Part 3)

24 Oct 2023
Last time we explored the parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14) and discovered the Wedding of the Lamb arranged for Israel was not cancelled but extended to include...

May be an image of 1 person and text that says "The Rapture of the Bride (Part 2)"

QB80 The Rapture of the Bride (Part 2)

23 Oct 2023
Previously I shared there can be no wedding before the resurrection because to become “one flesh” with our Bridegroom first requires our lowly bodies to be transformed to be...

May be an image of 1 person and text that says "The Rapture of the Bride (Part 1)"

QB79 The Rapture of the Bride (Part 1)

20 Oct 2023
As we see the escalation of tumult, depravity, suffering and destabilisation across the world I feel it is time to talk once more about the rapture from a bridal...

May be an image of 1 person, flower and wedding

QB78 Contending For the Birthright of a Nation

10 Oct 2023
When looking at spiritual warfare from a Bridal perspective the picture is indeed most glorious for it is no less than contending for the birthright of a nation. You...

May be an image of 1 person and text that says "The place of overcoming begins with being still"

QB77 The Warrior Bride (Part 3)

9 Oct 2023
Partnering with Heaven’s Armies through the Posture of Peace Probably the last thing we think about when considering spiritual warfare is not the recital of scripture, or the vocalising...

Looking for something? Try the search facility

About the author: Mike Pike

Live with my wife Jo in Cornwall UK, together we have raised five children and have served the Lord for over thirty years within the UK and in many other nations. My passion is for the coming of Jesus the Bridegroom King, and I long to see the Bride call upon Him to come.

CONTACT US


GET CONNECTED

Join our Facebook Group and become part of this growing movement around the world. On the group you'll join the Call2Come family and have the opportunity to participate and discuss various topics and teaching. Being part of the Call2Come family on the Facebook group includes

  • Regular updates and teaching
  • Meet others with a passion for the Lord's return
  • Grow in your own Bridal journey towards the Bridegroom
  • Latest news and developments

CONNECT WITH US

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP

SUBSCRIBE

If you want to receive our newsletter, simply provide your email in the box below. You will then be sent a confirmation email immediately which you need to respond to. Thank you!