According to Pew Research, "Only about 2% of the global population lives in polygamous households, and in the vast majority of countries, that share is under 0.5%. Polygamy is banned throughout much of the world, and the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which has said that “polygamy violates the dignity of women,” called for it to “be definitely abolished wherever it continues to exist.” But there often are limits to government administration of marriages. In many countries, marriages are governed by religious or customary law, which means that oversight is in the hands of clerics or community leaders." (See the full article)
In 1882, it was criminalized in the United States but groups in Utah still practice the vice. Joseph Smith led the Mormons in very steep polygamic practice in 1831, and though in 1890 succeeding president, Wilford Woodruff issued the "Manifesto," to publicly share the church's official stance against it, individuals and some renegade "members" still practice the vice today (Read more). Where did they claim they got the inspiration to practice this vice? The Old Testament.
Did Cain, the first mighty rebel against God, practice polygamy? Absolutely not!
Though a rebel, Cain didn't suddenly throw out all the principles, values, and truths that his parents Adam and Eve taught him. He was a murderer, but not an adulterer. He was a vagabond but not a polygamist. He was the husband of one wife! The Bible said, "And Cain knew his wife (singular, one, uno)..." Genesis 4:17. God's family design was preserved for four generations in Cain's family until in the process of time... sin began to erode righteousness, seeking to annihilate the things of God from man's heart, thoughts, and actions.
Where did polygamy come from? Let's look at the historical and Biblical accounts: And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: ... And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
The Bible listed a total of 4 generations who were faithful to their marriage vows: Cain, his son Enoch, his grandson Irad, His great-grandson, Mehujael, His great-great grandson, and Methusael. But Cain's great-great-great grandson broke the mold. He must have felt that God was limiting him in his pleasurable pursuits because he married not one but two wives: And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. Genesis 4:19. This was the first mention of this practice in the Bible, and it did not start among the righteous but the unrighteous members of Adam's family tree.
Was this God's ideal plan? No, but one major hereditary trait of selfishness left unchecked usually leads to another sinful output down the line. But God still preserved the family design after Adam sinned, therefore no one had any excuse.
While Satan was busy building his ungodly army of followers to sow seeds of error, God was also building a righteous army to preserve truth in the fallen world: And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. Genesis 4:25, 26.
Adam lived 800 years after having Seth and instilled in him all of God's truths and standards, especially in preserving the marital relations that mimic the pure faithful relationship that He longs to have with us... his people.
Seth continued the godly tradition and passed it on.
Unfortunately, just as we cannot always hide our children from evil societal interactions, it was the same for Godly parents in the days before and after the flood. From Enos to Noah and His family they were faithful to God's plan of faithful, sacred monogamy. Nine generations of faithfully guarding God's ways on earth! Genesis 5:1-32.
Unfortunately, sin is merciless and persistent in its cruel vendetta against righteousness, therefore it attacks truth seeking to crush it forever. Despite the many years of God's people being living examples of God's requirement of monogamy, thus seeking to preserve the Divine sacredness of marriage and the family, evil had its influence in willing hearts. The Scriptures warn us: Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. I Corinthians 15: 33, 34.
We learned in our previous posts, that in the process of time, it came to pass that "the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair (extremely beautiful and attractive); and took them wives of all they chose. Genesis 6:1,2. Godly men became enamored with worldly, ungodly women. Their engorged appetites, fuelled by fleshy greed enticed them to feast on not only their "approved" wife, the first wife, but they had a buffet-style feast... picking, choosing, and refusing multiple partners of "all who they chose."
This unnatural mingling with, and coupling of "Christians" and "Non-Christians", this vile sin of polygamy, was one reason God's heart was grieved and He brought swift judgment through a worldwide flood to preserve truth from error... to exalt His law and faithful character. Genesis 6: 3-7.
After the Flood was monogamy still preserved? Yes! Look at God's stamp of approval on monogamy after the flood. The Bible stated, “In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;” You may say that was Noah, but what about Abraham?
The custom of polygamy was widespread during Abraham's time, however, he started out in a monogamous relationship until like Adam, He listened to his wife's request and disobeyed God. That one mistake brought chaos to his once peaceful family environment, and the consequences of the marriage with Hagar have far-reaching effects even today. Genesis 16-21.
In Genesis 26, God signally protected and approved monogamy when Isaac and Rebecca lied to Abimelech about their marital status. When Abimelech, an unbeliever, saw Isaac and Rebecca playing together, their intimate play could not be mistaken for sibling affection. He immediately reprimanded Isaac and chastised him asking what if one of the people had chosen to sleep with his wife during this deception? Evil would have befallen them.
Why was Abimalech so rash with his speech? God had already warned him of the evil of trying to have another man's wife even when he already had a wife himself: ...but God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord wilt thou slay a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister?... in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know... for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: ....Now, therefore, restore the man his wife...and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou and all that are thine. Genesis 20:1-7
In Genesis 29, Jacob, Abraham's grandson wanted only one wife, Rachel. However, Laban tricked him, and he ended up marrying Rachel. He could have chosen to be married only to Leah, but he was bent on having Rachel so he married her too! In this case, two is too many. The baleful result of this polygamous marriage was a severely dysfunctional family. But guess who was buried in the family graveyard beside Jacob in the end... not Rachel, but Leah, the first wife.
Doesn't God have a sense of humor? Yes, He does. His way is always the best way and all we need to do is obediently follow the safe course He has set before our feet. Polygamy is a vice no matter how much pleasure it may afford. Stay clear of it. Perhaps today you are in a polygamous affair, prayerfully follow God's advice to Abraham... take care of your second or third wife and children... but "send them away"... Genesis 21: 8-21. This is the only safe path.
Is this easy to do? No, but God requires loving obedience and our faithful cooperation in overcoming our sins and defeating our selfish ways while loosening all of Satan's strongholds in our lives.
Let's not condemn, but prayerfully help those who may be practicing this vice. Maranatha! (Please check out previous blogs to get a better foundation on this important topic. Click on the links below).
Song to Encourage: Let the Weak Say I Am Strong
Lyrics: Let the Weak Say I Am Strong
Previous Blogs: Pandora’s Box: In the Process of Time
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Excellent! Great topic