Having a Marriage that brings God Glory
“To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, and in pain you will bring forth children; your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:16 MEV
Submission.
In our culture, submission is not a popular word at all. It’s one of the most misunderstood and misused words in the English language.
From the very beginning in the Garden of Eden, Eve made the choice to disobey God. Out of all the things in the Garden that God had told Adam was free to eat, the serpent succeeded in twisting God’s words by making Eve think that God was keeping something from them. As a result of the fall, Adam and Eve had to live with the consequences of their choice. The consequences affected them all – the serpent, Adam, and Eve and trickles down to you and me.
Genesis 3:16 says, “To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, and in pain you will bring forth children; your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:16 MEV
Understanding the battle with submission lies in our key verse. The curse on the woman wasn’t just in childbirth but it also affected her relationship with her husband. The phrase, “your desire will be for your husband” is not talking about a physical attraction, but rather it’s talking about the woman wanting to be the leader over the husband in every aspect, especially spiritually. It would be a constant battle that women down through the ages would face.
God had established the man as the spiritual leader over the family from the very beginning and He reinstates it again by declaring who is to still lead the home – the husband – by saying he will rule over you. The latter part of that verse has been very misunderstood and misused as well. God never intended for the man to rule over the woman in an abusive way. That just isn’t how God operates.
God sets the tone for how a husband is to treat his wife in Ephesians 5:25 by saying, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (NKJV). Jesus was a servant and willingly loved sacrificially.
Submitting to our husbands is one of the most difficult actions that we will ever take and done outside of God’s empowerment is downright impossible. However, it is the key to having a marriage that brings God glory. 1 Peter 3:1-4 lists three main reasons why wives should submit to their husbands.
1. In obedience to the Word of God
2. To bring the lost to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ
3. To be precious in the eyes of God
God sets up His authority in the home and to rebel against it – well, plain and simple – we would be rebelling against God Himself. I want my marriage to bring God glory. I want God’s blessings poured out over my marriage and sweet friend, I’m sure you do too.
Dear God,
Thank you for my husband. Forgive me of all the times I have tried to be the leader in our marriage. I want to have a marriage that brings you the most glory. Keep me humble and help me to be the wife to my husband that he needs. I love you Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Dig Deeper:
“That they may teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, and to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.” Titus 2:4-5 MEV
Reflection:
Read each verse and match the action of the wife with the right verse
1 Timothy 3:11 Ephesians 5:33
Amos 3:3 Genesis 2:19
Ephesians 6:18 Numbers 6:24-27
1 Corinthians 1:4-8
Actions:
Be unified with him in purpose and in will
Respect him
Be his helpmate
Praise him
Bless him
Be thankful for him
Pray with him and for him
Question to ponder:
Which of these actions has been the easiest action step for you to take and which has been the hardest?
What will you do today to bring God the most glory in your marriage?