Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

THE ROOT REASON Millions of dollars have been spent researching the causes of marriage breakups. Yet it all comes back to the simple statement Jesus made: Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives. If a husband or wife refuses to handle finances properly, divorce may result. Obnoxious behavior comes from a hardened heart. Extramarital affairs occur because a person is not sensitive to God's demands. Problems occur if in-laws interfere. Religious differences can be resolved if the partners want this to happen. Simply stated, hardness of heart is the root reason for all divorces. God never intended divorce. Because He is merciful and loving, He forgives; but divorce is definitely not His will nor ever will be. The Bible says: For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one's garment with violence (Malachi 2:16).