The One And Only

The One and Only

Adah And Zillah

Read: Genesis 4:19-24

I couldn’t believe the words on the screen. While researching polygamy for an article, I had stumbled upon a Web site touting the benefits of the practice and including articles purportedly showing it to be commonplace. The site’s stated goal was “to provide a resource for people who wish to move beyond present day monogamy and to promote plural marriage by encouraging honorable individuals wishing to pursue polygamy as the marriage structure for their family and to support those individuals living plural marriage with integrity.” I tried to imagine how I would feel if my husband decided to add another wife.

The first polygamous relationship recorded in the Bible came only six generations after Adam. Lamech went against God’s original plan by marrying two women. How did Adah and Zillah feel about being the first women to share one husband? Perhaps they squabbled and suffered bouts of jealousy as they both tried to fulfill their roles as wives. Or maybe each one secretly longed to be in a monogamous marriage where she would have her husband’s attention and affection all to herself. Adah and Zillah had no idea that their relationship would begin a trend that would lead a king of Israel to marry a thousand wives.

No clear-thinking woman wants to share her husband with anyone else. Neither does God want to share us with anyone else. He designed us for meaningful, loving relationships with family and friends, but no one else should take his rightful place in our hearts. It’s not always obvious when a person is spiritually polygamous, but our lifestyles reveal whether or not God is at the center of our affections and allegiance. We won’t enjoy true intimacy with our heavenly Father until we give him first priority in our hearts. Our Creator wants us all to himself, and he openly admits that he is jealous for our affection.

You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.

Deuteronomy 5:9