Scripture Reading: Genesis 3:16, Colossians 3:18,17,23, Ephesians 5:21-33, 1 Corinthians 7:3
In Genesis 3:13 and 16, we find the first record of God speaking directly to Eve. He had spoken to Adam and Eve before, telling them that they were to be “fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it.” He also told them to have dominion over all the created beings. We are also told in Gen. 2:15 that God took the man and put him in the garden and gave instructions that they could eat of every tree of the garden, except one. God did give full instructions of what He expected of the man and woman. However, this Scripture in Gen. 3:13and 16 is the first time we see God directly speaking to Eve.
God had already directed a question to Adam concerning their disobedience. Adam had blamed the woman (and maybe indirectly blamed God). In verse 13, God asked Eve, “What is this that thou hast done?” The woman also blamed someone else—the serpent.
Our righteous God knew exactly what had happened. He put judgment on all concerned. For our study on women, we see in Genesis 3:16, God spoke directly to Eve.
“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception: in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”
God put the judgment on Eve and then told her that her husband would rule over her. This has been God’s plan for man and wife throughout the ages. In Paul’s writings to the Church today, we still find this. In Colossians 3:18, we read,
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.”
In this same portion of Scripture the message goes on to husbands, children, fathers, and servants. Each are to fulfill what the Lord has for them to do. All are to take the 17th verse which is written to all believers,
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Wives, as they submit to their husbands, should be doing it all (in word or deed) in the name of the Lord Jesus. Husbands, as they take the headship of the home and love their wives, should be doing all things in the name of the Lord Jesus. Verse 23 of this same chapter says,
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men:”
Here again is the perfect plan of God. Our relationship with our husbands should be from our hearts, and as unto the Lord. In 1 Corinthians 7:3 we read,
“Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence; and likewise also the wife unto the husband.”
The word “benevolence” means to promote the prosperity and happiness of others; be kind and charitable. The husband should be thinking of what is best for the wife, and the wife should be thinking of what is best for the husband.
In the last text in our Scripture reading, Ephesians 5:21-33, we have our best explanation of the wife-husband relationship. This portion of Scripture is used a lot at weddings. (I hope you will take time to read all this portion). It starts off by saying, “Submitting yourselves on to another ….” Then verse 22 tells the wives to submit unto their own husbands “as unto the Lord.” As His children, we desire to be in His will. His will for wives is to submit unto their own husbands. Then the rest of the portion is comparing a husband’s relationship to the wife, with Christ’s relationship to His church. He tells us that He is giving a great mystery concerning Christ and the church, and yet every man should love his wife, “even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.”
There could be no problem for the wife nor the husband fulfilling exactly what the Lord intends if each would take these Scriptures from the Lord and obey them.
These Scriptures we have studied, that are directed to wives (and husbands), show the ideal relationship. There is much joy and peace and happiness in this type of relationship. We know that Christ, as Head of the Church, never shows Himself as a Dictator. Wives who are saved and desire to be in the will of the Lord, will find pleasure in being submissive and loving their husbands and working together to be of help to them.
I know some are saying “yes, but what if my husband isn’t doing his part?” This we will take up in a future lesson.
