Chapter 3: God's Got an Opinion!
Theme: God's opinion is that sex is holy, a gift given by Him to enable a married couple to enjoy oneness and pleasure in marriage.
Everyone has an opinion about sex. Most Christians never consider that God, the Creator, has an opinion too! Women will be amazed to discover three gifts of sexual intimacy hidden in the pages of scripture: the gifts of intimate knowing, holy intimacy, and exquisite pleasure. Understanding God’s opinion will encourage each wife as she pursues passion.
In this chapter Linda and Juli discuss the three intimacy gifts that God has given us. Those three gifts are:
- The Gift of Intimate Knowing
- The Gift of Holy Intimacy
- The Gift of Exquisite Pleasure
Of those three the gift of intimate knowing is the one that stood out to me. Linda is a fabulous Bible teacher and in this segment of the study she discusses the term yada. Let me give you a little quote from the workbook to clarify the meaning.
The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament for "to know deeply" is yada. It is an active form of knowing, pursuing, and experiencing. Yada is used to indicate a knowing of facts, the learning of skill, and even of the deep knowing in sexual intercourse. In Genesis 4:1 we read, "And Adam knew (yada) Eve as his wife, and she became pregnant and bore Cain" (AMP).
When you and your husband are together sexually, it's about more than biology, more than exchanging body fluids and releasing chemicals in the brain. God desires you to deeply know each other physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Anything less is a compromise, and inadequate expression of what God designed. Through God's gift of Intimate Knowing a husband and wife receive a deep knowledge of each other that they have with no one else. This knowing brings a depth to their relationship. Who could have imagined all of that could be accomplished by sex? As we said in week 1, sex is very, very powerful.The beautiful mystery is that God also uses the term yada when He describes the relationship He wants with us. He desires that we know, pursue and experience Him in a relationship that is like none other. Look at what He says in Jeremiah 16:21 "Therefore behold, I am going to make them know (yada)--This time I will make them know (yada) My power and My might; and they shall know (yada) that My name is the Lord" (NASB).
Another portion of scripture that stands out to me is Psalm 139. I urge you to read it for yourself and in each portion when it refers to knowing or being known substitute yada. How marvelous that God Himself desires to have such a deep and intimate relationship with us. It is such a humbling thought that as deeply as I know my husband, My God knows me deeper. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
If this is a topic that interests you and you'd like to read our other articles check out Pursuing Passion: What Kind of Love Are You Making and Chapter 1: I've Got Power and Chapter 2: Me, Pursue Passion? and Chapter 4: Making Truth Stick
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