What principles from Exodus 21:3 apply to maintaining family unity today? Setting the Scene “If he came alone, he is to leave alone; but if he had a wife, she is to go with him.” Core Principle Revealed God safeguards the marriage bond. The servant’s change in status must never sever a union God already joined. In today’s language: whatever life brings—job shifts, relocations, crises—husband and wife are meant to remain one unit. Timeless Principles for Today • Marriage precedes circumstance. – Vows are not suspended when life’s seasons change (Genesis 2:24). • The family unit has priority over economic systems. – Work, career, or ministry assignments must serve—never split—the home (1 Timothy 5:8). • Responsibility travels with relationship. – A spouse’s obligations do not get “checked at the door” of a new commitment (Ephesians 5:25-29). Practical Ways to Guard Family Unity • Weigh major decisions together. – Before accepting a promotion or move, ask, “Will this draw us closer or push us apart?” • Protect shared time. – Schedule weekly “marriage time” that even urgent tasks cannot displace. • Maintain transparency about pressures. – Like the servant’s status was known to all, be open about stressors so they don’t quietly erode unity. • Place spiritual life at the center. – Worship, Scripture reading, and service as a couple anchor the household (Psalm 128:1-4). Scriptures That Reinforce the Lesson • Matthew 19:6—“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” • Colossians 3:19—“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” • Proverbs 24:3-4—“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.” Closing Reflection Israel’s servant law may feel distant, yet its heartbeat is unmistakable: God values covenant relationships more than changing circumstances. Keep the marriage bond first, and unity will flourish whatever season comes. |
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