God Concerning Marriage

It seems as if I keep finding myself bumping into preconceived notions and expectations and wondering how they got that way.  This past week my Bible study has been talking about sex and teaching our daughters about sex in a healthy, Christan manner.  That's a pretty challenging topic and it's caused me to think about what God says about marriage and sex.

Last week I had a long talk with my sister about marriage and God's plan for one man and one woman.  Admittedly, I like marriage.  It works GREAT for me.  I, personally, can't imagine why any man or woman would need or want more than one partner.  Personally, I can't think of a more miserable situation.  Yet, in the Bible there are books full of those situations.  I guess that leads me to wonder how Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.... David, Solomon.... got so far off base and why God didn't mention to them that they weren't following the rules. 

So where are the rules?  There seem to be lots of rules about sex in Exodus and Deuteronomy about who can't have sex and the payment for sexual consequences but no mention of marriage.  Deuteronomy 24 talks about what happens when a woman finds no favor with her husband but it doesn't talk about the act of marriage.  Matthew 5:31-32, 19:3-9 and Mark 10:3-12 talk about divorce.  And just to set the record straight, Sarah, in Matthew 19:6 and Mark 10:9 Jesus does say, "What God has joined together, let no man separate."  I'm glad I found those references because that part of the wedding ceremony had been really bothering me.  Having been in situations where a Christian prefaces a personal opinion by saying, "God told me...." I needed to know that the "What God has joined..." line really had Biblical authority.  At least that's one concern addressed.

My question then becomes what part represents God's joining?  Is it the leaving and cleaving?  Does that mean that when we choose a sexual partner, that is God' joining and we'd better stick with it?  Does it mean that a ceremony that represents the leaving and cleaving is God's joining?  Is God's joining dictated by the societal norm or am I really missing something more important?

How much of what we understand as marriage today in our culture was shaped by society rather than by the original intent of God?  That's a mind boggling question and it will join the ever growing list of questions I can't answer.  I can only say that I am thankful for the man with whom I am joined.