The Power-Struggle
Yesterday, we went through the first part of Genesis 3:16, which focused on Motherhood for Eve, but today in the final part of Genesis 3:16, God changes direction and puts a curse on marriage as well
We can read that from this point, women and men would now have an ongoing conflict. This verse is in stark contrast to the ideal conditions of creation, wherein the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve lived in harmony, but sadly, their relationship from that point on would now be a power struggle
I see this all too often, where there is a “power struggle” between Husband and Wife. Even within my marriage, in the early stages, it was hard to read words like “submit”, “control”, or “rule over” within the Scriptures because of the battles I had faced with domineering men throughout my life, and so, I would recoil and vow that that would NEVER happen
Desiring to Rule
I find that the NLT translation makes this translation more evident:
“You will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.”
Genesis 3:16
God says that Eve would desire to rule over her husband, but her husband would instead rule over her. This right there replaces the mutually interdependent relationship the Lord had created, in that His original design was for there to be a desire for one spouse to lead the other. Yet, now, sin had bought in conflict, and the battle of the sexes began. Both man and woman would now seek the upper hand in marriage. The man who was to care for and nurture his wife lovingly would now seek to control her, and the wife would desire to take control from her husband
God’s Truth for Marriage
Unfortunately, we have seen people take this Scripture literally. God’s statement “he shall rule over you” is not a biblical command for men to dominate women because, in the New Testament, God affirms His ideal relationship between man and woman in marriage. Christ-like qualities are emphasised on mutual submission to one another:
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”
Ephesians 5:21
This is because, from the beginning, God’s focus has been love and respect between husband and wife, and although sin has tainted this relationship, God commands believers in Christ to pursue this ideal relationship between husband and wife by following the relationship Christ has with His Church
Categories: Genesis
