The Grand Divorcee

I wrote earlier about The Problems of Divorce where I examined the texts on the topic. Before that I wrote several essays on Scripture's input on marriage including one I titled In Context where I examined Peter's commands to wives and husbands (1 Peter 3:1-7) in context. Someone commented to me about that one that I ought to be careful there. "Just remember that God divorced Israel for her adultery and evil ways," they said.

Did He? Did God divorce Israel? When we consider divorce and the biblical view on the topic, is it true that God Himself is the Grandest Divorcee of all? The assertion comes from Jeremiah.

The LORD said to me in the days of King Josiah: "Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore? And I thought, 'After she has done all this she will return to Me,' but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it. She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore" (Jer 3:6-8).

Well, look, that's the answer, isn't it? God told Jeremiah regarding Israel "I had sent her away with a decree of divorce." Clear as day! Next question? I mean, it could even be claimed that those who are divorced are more like God than those who are not! Right?

I'd like to point out a couple of problems here. First, the text begins with "'If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to Me?' declares the LORD" (Jer 3:1). The context of God's statement here is Mosaic Law from Deuteronomy. In Chapter 24 we find instructions on the topic. As it turns out, the instructions are not at all regarding when one can divorce, but about what happens after. If a man divorces his wife, she marries another, and is again divorced, "then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the LORD" (Deut 24:4). That is, remarrying your wife whom you divorced after she has been remarried and divorced is something that God hates. He affirms that in the first verse of Jeremiah 3. So if God divorced Israel, by what possible means could He reunite with her? I ask, you see, because the rest of Scripture is abundantly clear that He does. Paul wrote, "I ask, then, has God rejected His people? By no means!" (Rom 11:1). We didn't replace Israel; we were grafted into Israel (Rom 11:17-29). If, then, God actually divorced Israel who married then to her other gods, and God then remarries her, God would be guilty Himself of that which He hates.

So, I ask again, did God divorce Israel? And I would argue, "No! He did not." You may say, "Apparently, then, you don't take the Bible literally." And I would argue that I'm taking it as written. Let me explain. First, there is the problem of the apparent contradiction that I've pointed out. In order for God to actually divorce Israel and then return He would need to violate His own nature. Problem! So I look at it again. What else might be going on?

Well, first, there are the clues found in the text. If God is affirming (as He does) that divorced people must not remarry each other (short version), then why does He say what He says? "Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, '"Return, faithless Israel," declares the LORD'" (Jer 3:12). He just said that such a return was ... what was the word ... "pollution". Why would He call for it? You see, the text is not about divorce; it's about repentance.

So what is He saying in verse 8 with that whole "decree of divorce" thing? Well, clearly God is not a man, so clearly God is not married to Israel. Our version of marriage is indeed a picture of Christ's relationship with the Church, but not a precise one. I mean, really, just take a few steps into "marriage" at its most literal and you'll find it's ... problematic. No, it is an image, not the reality. We are made in the image of God, but that doesn't mean we are God. In the same way, marriage is a mystical union and a covenant and all, similar to God's relationship with us, but God is not actually married to Israel nor Christ to the Church. Thus, the "decree of divorce" was not intended as a literal "God divorced Israel" since 1) it would violate His own nature and 2) He was not actually married to Israel. Instead, it was intended as a picture, a metaphor, an image of God's seriousness regarding Israel and Judah and their idolatry. "You don't want to go there," He was saying. "You really do not want to go there."

I can, of course, be mistaken on this point. If you believe I am, you will need to determine how it is that God is able to violate His own commands and disregard His own nature. You'll have to figure out how God (not a man) can marry Israel (not a woman). And you'll have to explain to others, "Just because God did it doesn't give you the right to do it," because that's a very common perception. "God divorced His wife, Israel; I can certainly divorce mine." Using God over against Christ (Matt 19:4-6) like that is very dangerous. So it is your call. But I would argue that God was using imagery that we can understand to warn His people against vile sin and not actually doing that which would violate His own nature and make Himself irrational. That would be my view. God is not the Grand Divorcee.