Wife swapping

Years ago a relative of mine talked a little bit about joining friends who believed in wife swapping. I was shocked to hear that behavior was going on in this small town. And I had actually forgotten about it until recently, when someone was talking about it. Adultery is rampant today in this country and probably has been since the beginning of time, since it is one of the ten commandments. It brings me to the thoughts I've had since I began to read the Old Testament and the relationships mentioned there.

It is clear that Abraham loved Sarah. An "arrangement" was made for their marriage. Hopefully, Sarah grew to love Abraham, as women had no choice. (Gen34),Dinah was violated, which brought forth anger and destruction by her male relatives. (Prostitution is also mentioned, in a negative way). (Gen 34:31) "But they said, "should he treat our sister like a prostitute?"

Wife swapping as I know it, means getting involved indiscriminately for sexual gratification, and not for love. Yet, it also implies the exchange of one for another spouse, and in my mind, that's being used. It leads to divorce deep hurt and resentment and hatred.
Was that the case with Jacob, sometimes Leah or Rachel? While reading the scriptures, you could feel the tenseness between the two women, even though they are sisters. Wonder how Jacob would have felt if they shared themselves with his friends or relatives? In the case of Rachel, I'm sure he wouldn't have liked it. It would have caused many problems. And, I'm certain that is the case today. (This is an old testament example of what is known here as bigamy, which is a criminal offense, to marry someone else while have a legal spouse).

Rachel is left initially barren while her sister Leah is fertile and has children to the envy of her sister. This is taken from the Orthodox Study bible: (Gen 29:30)"Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah;" (31)"But when the Lord saw Leah was hated, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren."

We don't know who hated who. Was it between the sisters or between the husband and one of the sisters. It is not clear. My women's intuition tells me it was between the sisters. As the man was getting his cake and eating it too!

How can a man who loves his wife commit adultery? Wife swapping is clearly that. It is not for love but it is promiscuous behavior and a confused mix at that. It is hoped that a man that loves his wife would not indulge in that type of behavior, and would have made that decision before committing his life to her. (It's a mutual decision).

Marriage is not for the selfish, immature and prideful boaster who is not willing to enter into a serious agreement of "oneness" only with another.

There are many playboys out there--one-stop no obligation types. The reason they are that way is because they don't know what love is. Nor do they want to. In today's lingo, too bad so sad.

Love is not sex, it is deep, and very profound. Priceless and eternal. It's what you hunger for all your life, and if your lucky find it. God in his wisdom is revealing his thoughts to us through the bible chapters, are you listening to His unchanging word in a changing world?

It is, as I believe, the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman.