How To End The War Between Husbands And Wives
Scandalous things took place in the Garden of Eden generations ago. Sin entrapped the world—eroding the beauty and purposes of God. I don’t think most families grasp all that fell apart due to this.
When God spoke to the woman after the fall, He conceded there was a conflict between her and her husband. He said, “You will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you” (Genesis 3:16). The ravages of sin sparked a war in the household. Parties who pledged to love each other now encounter conflict and contention.
This verse acknowledges that wives might endeavor to control, but—because of the brute strength and temperament of the man—they would not triumph. Through self-centered schemes, their husbands often gain the upper hand.
A perusal of history shows that women have been demeaned and exploited. This was never God’s intention. It was the outworking of sin—not the Lord’s purposes.
Within the ancient story of Adam and Eve, there are whispers of hope. God informs us how peace can be found.
Delving a little deeper, one discovers a redemptive action point. The Lord says to Adam:
“You will be toiling all your life. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you will have get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk” (Genesis 3:17-19).
It is easy to overlook what’s being disclosed. Most understand this passage to mean men will agonize to bring home a paycheck. They will labor and toil because of sin and the curse. While this is true, the Bible is revealing much more.
After the fall, men were poised to take on life’s difficulties and conflicts. Because of a strong physical stature and stable temperament, husbands can take on extreme duress and problems.
Instead of expending anger or violence, a virtuous man “swallows all of it up” with acts of sacrificial love. A man becomes a suffering servant for his family. He becomes an earthly reflection of Jesus.
“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean . . . He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies” (Ephesians 5:25-28).
From the moment sin invaded the world, there has been a war in the home. However, the pathway to peace is not as difficult as many have been led to conclude.
Men are called to be like Jesus and lay down their lives for their families. This is the way of love.
