Good Morning.
Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.” (Genesis 3:17)
“Because you heeded the voice of your wife” sounds as if this was the root of Adam’s problem. Consequently, this has led some men to conclude that listening to their wife is not recommended and will only lead to trouble. However, compare that to what Abraham is told in regard to Sarah’s instruction about Hagar.
“Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice.” (Genesis 21:12)
When considering both of these verses, perhaps we are to understand that men should do more than listen to the voice of their wife; maybe they should actually listen to the content of their words. If Adam failed to actually pay attention to what was going on and what was being said, that might help explain just why he ate the forbidden fruit. If Abraham had done this, from the beginning, he might have seen the wisdom in Sarah’s words.
Men should listen to their wives and take what they say into consideration but men must first listen to God’s voice. The command not to eat from the forbidden tree had been directed to Adam; he should have heeded God’s voice. The call to be the father of nations had been promised to Abraham; if he had not faltered in his belief on his trip into Egypt, Hagar and Ishmael may have never happened. The point: it is possible to listen and not hear. It is very important to train ourselves to hear The Voice within the voice and The Message within the message. In other words, listen for God’s Truth (or the lack thereof) within the words of those who speak into our lives. If we do this, we can live a life that is much more stress free.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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