Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 9/16/2006

Question
Hi,

To my surprise, during his sermon, my pastor said the words "Your desire shall be for your husband." in Genesis 3:16 actually means that wives want to rule their household rather than let their husband rule the household. Thaqt women are in rebellion to God establishing husbands as the head of the wife.

Is that true? Being a man I never thought of that. However, I have noticed that some women do resent thye authority of their husbands. What is your opinion on this?  

Answer
Hi Brison,

Thanks for this very interesting question.  Let us keep in mind what the problem was concerning women that was exposed in Genesis 3.

1 Timothy 2:12-15
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Women are to submit to their husbands because they are naturally vulnerable to deception.  Now let us considet the flesh for a second... everyone has a sin nature.  Sin is disobedience.... rebellion against God's laws.

1 Samuel 15:23
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.  

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

1 John 2:16-17
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

So every born again woman has two forces struggleing inside her: the Spirit and the Flesh.

Galatians 5:17
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Do all women rebell?  NO!  Some are led by the spirit, and submit to their husbands, some yield to the flesh and rebell against the husband.  Usually when she does it is because she was deceived in a matter and the husband was not.

I hope that I have helped you.

In Christ,
Pastor Don