Gen. 3:16 - “Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you.”
I’ve had men point to Gen. 3:16 and say, “See! It says right there that I am to rule over my wife.”
Note the change.
In the beginning, woman was created equal to man. Here, because of sin, a fall in position has taken place for the woman but note this: This fall in position is descriptive of trouble and anguish to come for one reason only. Because of man’s sinful nature, her husband will rule over his wife with selfishness rather than with gentleness and concern.
I find it interesting to note that the word “desire” in 3:16 is the same word used regarding sin in 4:7. It means to control or to possess. In reality, 3:16 means, “You will desire to control and rule your husband, but he will rule over you.”
Like Jesus’ comment, “The poor you will always have with you,” this statement in Genesis is condemning of man.
In fact, some men reading this will only now have the realisation dawn on them that they had taken this verse as license to keep their wives in a one-down position, when instead God is saying, because you are sinful to the core, this is how you will treat your wife.
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... I don't get it. I think I might... that men lord over their wives because they are sinful...
ReplyDeleteBut you have so many other verses in the Bible where it is clear that God is saying that women are to obey and serve their husbands. Colossians 3:18 comes to mind.
that men lord over their wives because they are sinful"
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly correct. I'm going to prepare a longer answer for this afternoon or tomorrow. Verse 18 is important. Too bad you didn't read as far as verse 19. Did you know that men are told to submit to their wives one more time in the Bible than women are told to submit to their husbands. It's a respect / positional thing. With the main difference being husbands are told to be ready to die for their wives. I'll do a post on it.
We all know that the Bible can be used to support pretty much any point of view; so at least I am glad that when it comes to women, Rod prefers to use his own reason to conclude that God would probably prefer men and women to have a respectful, somewhat equal, relationship, rather than a submissive relation... but I could be wrong!
ReplyDeleteHehe, good timing this morning...
ReplyDeleteDid you know that men are told to submit to their wives one more time in the Bible than women are told to submit to their husbands.
I certainly did not know that; I thought what Ginx said was accurate. It would be interesting to read quotes that support your point of view, even if ultimately it does not change much since you can twist these quotes to fit your views...