Marriage Is God’s Divine Plan, Part 3of4, by Evans Olang

Genesis 2:18-25, vs. 18, “And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him”

In the last devo, I paid more attention to the fact that women (wives) are fearfully and wonderfully made and they are His daughters to be cared and natured, today I would like to share on biblical headship in addressing husbands (men).

We have the making of the woman, to be a help-meet for Adam. This was done upon the sixth day, as was also the placing of Adam in the garden. After an account of the seventh day’s rest; there is a general statement in Genesis 1:27, that God made man male and female, Observe that Adam was formed first, then Eve (1 Tim. 2:13). And she was made of the man, and for the man (1 Co. 11:8, 9), all which are urged as reasons for humility, modesty, silence, and submissiveness, of that sex in general, and particularly the subjection and reverence which wives owe to their own husbands.

Vs. 22,”Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” She was made from the man, brought to the man, described by the man and named by the man. Once again, this does not show that men are better than women but this talks about the gender role, biblical headship in the marriage. Matthew Henry puts it this way, “Yet man being made last of the creatures, as the best and most excellent of all, Eve’s being made after Adam, and out of him, puts an honor upon that sex, as the glory of the man, 1 Co. 11:7. If man is the head, she is the crown, a crown to her husband, the crown of the visible creation. The man was dust refined, but the woman was dust double-refined, one remove further from the earth” Adam was taught to recognize himself in his wife, as in a mirror; and Eve, in her turn, to submit herself willingly to her husband, as being taken out of him

This is for the wife to realize that God has placed her in a position of submission to her husband. Learning her role in the marriage covenant and leaving peacefully with her husband. Of course there are times that a husband may not deserve to be submitted to. The bible does not call for submission due to deserving but submission due to the position God has placed him. Honoring the position then honoring the man in that position. I know that there are women who are married to unbelievers, this ought not to change the submission part. God honors that marriage too and the principles of the marriage remain in effect. Here is a command to both wives and husbands, Wives are commanded to submit and husbands commanded to love. You notice that wives are not commanded to love, it’s natural for them, it’s a God given ability for them, on the other hand husbands are commanded to love. We also see that wives are commanded to submit which is not easy in our day because of the drive for gender equality in all aspects yet God commands her to submit, Colossians 3:17-18, “18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them”.

Ephesians 5:22, “22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word”

Wives are you submitted to your husbands? Are you belittling him, defying his authority as the head? His is your head and you are his crown. God has designed those roles for a reason. I believe marriages can grow and blossom when husbands and wives learn these two words, “LOVE and RESPECT”. Love, command for husbands; Respect, command for wives. Blessings Ev