Monday: Biblical Romances
Though the Bible covers a lot of history, it has made time to depict some romances. There was a strong, affectionate bond between Abraham and Sarah. He doesn’t desert her during her long years of barrenness. In fact, it is only at Sarah’s urging that Abraham takes Hagar as a surrogate wife. The ties of love between Abraham and Sarah are strong. SeeGenesis 16.1
It takes a lengthy chapter in Genesis to record Abraham’s servant’s long trip to find Isaac a wife. Upon his return with Rebecca, the inspired account includes another love story.See Genesis 24.
Another romance given a lot of time in the Bible is the one between Jacob and Rachel. In quick strokes the picture is painted of Jacob’s impulsive and warm response to Rachel. Apart from the Song of Songs, there isn’t another example in Scripture of a man and a woman kissing, certainly not before marriage. And if we recall that God is the ultimate author of Scripture, and through His inspiration the book of Genesis was written, we are reminded that God is a romantic, because He includes this love story and this kiss in the Bible. See Genesis 29. (If you were writing a history book spanning thousands of years, covering the creation of humankind and its Fall, why would you include this romantic detail?) In the historical period enclosed within the book of Genesis, there must be many time gaps. Yet, God inspired the inclusion of these warm love stories.
Go back over the stories of these romances. Whatever the love that existed, these accounts are in many ways similar to romance and love stories all over the world; that is, these people faced many challenges and suffered from the mistakes of one or both parties. What were some of the things done wrong that brought so much pain and suffering to these relationships? Most important, how can we learn from their mistakes?.
Unfortunately, many have made similar mistakes, or even worse. The good news is that God not only forgives, He heals. Whatever romantic mistakes you have made, how can you learn to seek the forgiveness and healing that come from the Cross?
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I think it is beautiful that the bible placed these romantic stories as reminders for us to understand that marriage can really be heart-warming and beautiful. Of course, God knew exactly which examples we would need. We should take the devotion the couples had for each other despite everything not going exactly how they would have wanted it to.
God placed these wonderful love stories in the Bible as examples that marriages can work even with their ups and downs. If God is head of the relationship then spouses would love and treat each other as they expect God to love and treat them. With prayers and devotions these intimate relationships can be successful as God intends them to be.
Another reason I think God includes these love stories in the Bible is to show comparison with us.
He is the bridegroom and each christian should be his bride. The relationship between the bridegroom and the bride should be one of deep abiding love. Where there is love then there is respect, trust, forgiveness, compassion, devotion and everything good and pure. I know that God is all these and more to His bride, but what kind of relationship do we have with Him? Only our relationship with Him will testify what kind of love/romance we have with God, our bridegroom.
Most marriages are fragile today...just one storm and the boat sinks. Issues of wife failing to bear children cause alot of misery in our society today. Mostly us men find ourselves indulging in a bid to have children causing pain to our spouses.
This lesson seems to suggest that it's OK to have romantic kisses before marriage, because Jacob and Rachel did so.
Genesis 29:11 cannot be used in my opinion to prove this, because it would be ignoring the context completely.
If we say Jacob's kiss was a romantic one, we must say the same about Laban kissing Jacob (Gen. 29:13), Esau kissing Jacob (Gen. 33:4 - notice they wept, just like Jacob when kissing Rachel), Aaron kissing Moses (Ex. 4:27) and countless others.
The fact is that kissing somebody you know, but didn't see for a long time (or probably never in this case), was a custom in those times that still exists today in many countries.
Hi Christian,
I agree with you that the kiss recorded by Jacob in Gen 29:11 doesn't appear to be about romance, so much as relief that Jacob's long journey was over. When we finally read about Jacob loving Rachel, in verse 18, a month has passed, and presumably he has had a chance to learn more about her. 🙂
Well I do not agree with my fellow saints there, the Bible does condone kiss before marriage he actually has a condition, that is done by married people
@Christian, is it possible then to be in a relationship without kissing? Cause from my experience then we shouldn't then bother to be in these relationships in the first place because one thing always leads to the other. The holding of hands, will blossom to a hug, which overtime will bear kisses. So tell me should we then make friendships with the opposite sex? Confused yet curious.
I have not studied this subject, so I don't want to be dogmatic about it. I was simply pointing to the fact that in my opinion Genesis 29:11 is not a romantic kiss. We should be very careful how we interpret the Bible and as much as possible leave out pre-conceived ideas. This is a lot more important to me than the subject of kissing.
As to whether the Bible allows it or not, I don't know. I personally can't see myself french kissing without committing adultery in my heart.
I love the fact that we are reminded that this itimacy is married people.
Romance is allowed only to married people.