Good Morning.
“Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16b)
When it comes to the roles of men and women, it’s not a popular thing to live by the biblical standard set by the Creator in today’s world. Put simply, He established that men were to lead and serve as head and priest in their home. His wife was to serve at his side and fulfill her role as help mate.
And though He reaffirmed this by saying, “he shall rule over you,” there is a statement made here that may shed light on why gender roles are being reversed in our day. The statement, “Your desire shall be to your husband” suggests a couple of possibilities. It could be saying that woman would look to the man for leadership and rely upon his strength. But there are those scholars who suggest this statement might hint that woman would desire his role as leader of the family. That’s not too far-fetched when you consider what is taking place in the world.
And though many men have abdicated their role as priest of the home, God has not abandoned His position on the matter: He still expects the men to lead and the woman to help him. In fact, that is where her role as “help-opposite” comes in. Though she was to be subservient to him, it was not in the role of a slave. She was allow him to lead the family and help him be the priest of the home by opposing him when he failed to do just that. By provoking him to be what God had ordained him to be, she would help him.
Furthermore, Paul makes it clear that this subservient role was predicated upon the man’s complete devotion to her best interests, in obedience to Messiah’s example.
“Therefore, just as the church is subject to Messiah, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Messiah also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” (Ephesians 4:24-25)
Whether male or female, let us be determined to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. When are content to do our part in His agenda, it will assist and, sometimes, inspire others to do likewise. In this way, we all prosper and are blessed. Amen.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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