Exodus 21:9 And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.

Once we have placed our faith the Jesus Christ the Father betroths us to Him and treats us after the manner of daughters. 

Before we get all gender biased here allow me to quote you one more line of scripture.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

We are all alike and treated equally, What is the manner of daughters?

In the former period the daughter had no appreciable legal rights; she was merely a member of her father’s household, and as such was, in common with the other members of the household, subject to the power of her father, who was accountable to no one for his treatment of her. (Jewish Encyclopedia)

The daughter owned nothing and was adorned at the will of the Father.

The second matter at hand is that while the betrothed is referred to as “the bride”, we are not the wife until after the wedding. We aren’t there yet. The son’s responsibility was to prepare a home for His bride but only the Father could make a determination for when the wedding was to take place. The custom of this time was that the Son was required to be separated from His betrothed.

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Until that day we are being prepared to receive our betrothed.

1 Corinthians 3:2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,

Luke 12:47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.

Well that is harsh. Most warnings are harsh, so pay close attention.

Who is preparing you?

1 John 4:8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

To know Him is to love Him.

For those of us that have children we are familiar with the endless why. No answer is totally satisfying and just leads to yet another why.

Why did God create all this?

The simplest answer is found in the first commandment, the greatest commandment, love God.

John 1 English Standard Version

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit were alive in an eternal realm alone, in unity, One alone.

Love, like light, needs an object to pore itself out upon, to be seen. No greater love has ever existed outside of who God is in character and experience. The issue of love alone is that there is no reciprocal emotion, no return on investment. The object of God’s love is asked to love God in return. That emotion has to be a free will expression or it is not real.

So what is the end game of creation because of this great love?

Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

Revelation 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

Ephesians 5:25-27 English Standard Version

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

The Father loves the Son so much that He created a bride for Him to love and to be loved.