As time has passed, there have been many more examples of the effects of sin on God's orginal marriage plans. For example, Lamech and his two wives, Abraham and his lies about Sarah, Jacob and his wedding, Joseph and his temptation, Sampson and his failure, and so on continuing to today. But, there does seem to be a difference in the importance of marriage. In Old Testament times and culture, having a son to carry on the family name was of utmost importance. Most likely, someone could write a large book on the many reasons why, but I content myself here with one hypothesis: the Messiah had not been born. For the Messiah to come, there obviously needed to be another generation. And another. And so on. (Please note that this is not the only reason, and not even necessarily the main reason, but for the Jews it would certainly be relavant.)
In time, Jesus was born, and served on this earth for His time, fulfilling His purpose in ministry and on the cross. Now things have changed. Dispensationally speaking, the Church had been introduced, and the Church had a new purpose different from Israel. Because of a principle of grace instead of life being lived by law, the way life is now lived is different. The New Testament describes our new life in Christ. Take a look at one particular difference in I Corinthians 7:
I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. (I Corinthians 7:26-35, KVJ)Basically, we are informed that, in this present time, to be single is better than to be married, because a single person can carry out the Lord's work better than a married person, not having as much to take care of. In the same way that a person is not to seek separation from his wife, a man is not to seek to be joined to a wife. The whole purpose of this is "that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction." In the age of the church, there is a purpose greater than marriage and family. Does this seem strange? Of course, because mankind was created married, and designed to be married. But that is not the end.
In the tribulation, after the church and its purpose has been removed from the earth, Israel has a new, urgent purpose. Time is limited to seven years until the Messiah returns to judge the earth. The Gospel must reach every person on earth in that time. God will prepare a special group of Jews to do just that, known as the 144,000. In Revelation 7, they are sealed by God to be protected during the remainder of the Tribulation. In chapter 14, they are described as virgins. For these ministers of God during this intense time, all thought of normal family life is rejected in favor of proclaiming the Word of God. Even those who are not part of the 144,000 are warned that when the Great Tribulation happens, it will be worst for those with a family (Matt. 24:19).
In the beginning, to not be married would have been an abberance. Because of sin, marriage has seen corruption. Now, it is an option: serve God whole-heartedly, or share that heart with another. During the tribulation, marriage will be a liability. During the Kingdom, the earth will be restored to the way it was before the curse of sin, but there will still be the corruption of sin. Finally, in the eternal state, there will be no marriage or giving in marriage (Matt. 22:30).
What does God have planned for you?
