This morning John MacArthur presented an intriguing look into the dynamics of the average male/female relationship using Genesis 3:16. I will attempt to summarize his talk, and if you desire to hear the entire message please visit the Grace to You website or Oneplace.com. First, let’s take a look at the primary Scripture verse below:
To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you." –Gen 3:16 (NASB)
John MacArthur keys in on two very descriptive works that the Lord uses; “desire” and “rule.” Now most of you know that I spent a significant amount of my life in the U.S. Military and I see the Bible through the eyes of a redeemed soldier. So bare with me as I refer to events and terms from that time in my life to describe what I see here.
The setting in Genesis is just after the Lord God finished creation to include His crowning jewel, the human beings who He created in God’s own image. Now one tradition we have in the Army is that prior to a change of command, the outgoing and incoming Commanders conduct a joint inventory of all personnel, equipment and material which the Commander is held responsible for. And its during this type of event (an inventory of the Earth and all the created things) that the Lord God turns to Adam and explains that the “tree of knowledge of good and evil” is not to be used for food, and “if you eat of it, you will surely die.” Now we move forward in time and Eve joins Adam in the garden, and they have a visitor, the serpent and the actions that follows are a record of the fall.
Now when the Lord comes back into the garden, He addresses the three individually; and Gen 3:16 is what He says to the woman. Now paying particular attention to the words identified early we notice that the Lord uses the same word “desire” when speaking to Cain in Gen 4:6-7. See below:
Then the LORD said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not {your countenance} be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."—Gen 4:6-7 (NASB)
MacArthur goes on to explain that one of the results of the fall is for the average women to be prompted from within to resist the leadership of her husband and she is often tempted to usurp his authority and rule over him instead. This is exhibited in multiple ways depending on the personality of each person. Now, before you get too excited, we have another word to look at, so please read all the way to the end; and the next word is “rule.” This word is used in a similar manner as it would be in a sentence today, to have dominion over or to reign over. Yet, at no point does the Lord God instruct the man to rule over his wife. Understand that Gen 4 is not God instructing the women to go and experience pain in childbirth; but He is explaining the consequences of her actions (because this, then that). Turning our attention back to Gen 1:28, God instructs humanity to jointly rule over creation.
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, " Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." –Gen 1:27-28 (NASB)
However, just as the wife in her fallen state is predisposed to behave contrary to God’s will, so is the husband predisposed to behave contrary to God’s will by acting in a domineering way, ruling over his wife and family instead of leading them in a loving, caring and self sacrificing way as Christ does in leading us.
So the bottom line is that both men and women are sinful creatures; both living in disobedience to God.
Recommendation:
For the Wife: If you believe that your husband is not listening to you, not demonstrating true care and concern towards you and the things of interest to you; take proactive steps to listen to God more and demonstrate more care and concern for the things of God.
For the Husbands: If you believe that your wife is not truly submitted to you, that she is not responsive to your desires and not cheerfully following your lead; take steps to submit yourself more fully to the Lord, and be careful to respond to Him and follow His lead wholeheartedly in a thankful and reverential manner.
Remember what we are told in Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Although this was presented as a warning, the opposite is also true; if you want to reap greater respect and submission from your wife, then sow respect and submission with God; if you want greater attentiveness, love and care from your husband, sow more love, care and attentiveness towards God.
I realize this was a long email and I so appreciate your reading through all of it.
May God bless you and your homes, and may He show Himself strong in your lives daily.
Author Resource:-
Dennis Bradford is a 21 year veteran of the United States Army, who recommitted his life to Jesus Christ during the fall of 1999. Before retiring from the Army, Dennis served in command and staff positions in the U.S. and traveled to over 10 countries overseas. He’s active in his local church and also serves in the DC metro area. Dennis was recently excepted into the Capital Bible Seminary and he expects to serve in a cross-cultural setting upon graduation. He is the divorced father on a teen daughter who he remains connected with via telephone , email and summer visits.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.christian-article-bank.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites