Life Lessons from Biblical Wives: Eve Part 5

Wow, when I first began this journey, I had no idea how much I would learn from Eve alone!  We haven't even gotten past her! We learn so much from our mothers, and that is exactly what her name means "The mother of all living", so it just seems to fit well that I have learned so much from her.

On a completely separate note, have you ever wondered what she looked like?  I mean, we are talking about the only woman that was created in perfection!  What kind of hair did she have- curly, straight, or in between like mine?  What tone was her skin (not that it makes any difference- just trying to make a picture in my mind)? What color were her eyes? How tall was she?  Did she have freckles like my mom? How was she built?

I heard Dr. Ken Ham say once at a teachers' conference that because she and Adam were the parents of all of the people who came after, they had to be right in the middle of the spectrum in order to have children with the many varieties of hair, skin tones, eye color, and builds that we have.  They may have anticipated the end of each pregnancy just to see what this baby would look like!

However, because of the choice that Eve made and that Adam followed along with, each pregnancy came to an end with pain and discomfort (thank God for modern medicine!).

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6

Again, many questions run through my mind.  Why did she continue to look at the tree and the fruit?  How did she feel when she took hold of the fruit?  Did she notice a change when she bit into the fruit or did that happen once Adam took a bite, too? Why was Adam just standing there during this whole conversation with the serpent?  Why didn't he ever speak up?  Why did he eat the fruit?  Was it because he loved her so much that he wanted whatever was going to happen to her to happen to him as well or was it that she had such a strong personality that he ate because she told him to?

I think that is sometimes why God only puts so much information into certain passages, to make us think about the characters we are reading about, ourselves and our own lives and choices.  So what did I learn through this passage?

• The husband is the God-appointed leader of the home and even if we may not understand we need to follow him.  Adam had apparently told Eve about God's instructions concerning the tree (whether he added the "Do Not Touch" phrase or Eve did we may never know on this side of eternity).  Regardless of whether she agreed with him or not, she needed to follow what her husband had told her concerning the fruit on the tree.  Now that is very easy for me to say sitting here at the computer with my Bible opened up in front of me reading about her and her choice.  But how many times have I done the same thing?  God may not speak with a loud audible voice to Brian, but He does speak to his heart.  How many times have I insisted on having my way because, of course, we women have a better understanding of life than our husbands do (or so we incorrectly think)?  Letting go is never easy (especially for me), but it is vital if Brian is going to be the leader in our home that God wants him to be.   
• Don't encourage your husband to do what you want if it goes against what God has told him.  Our husbands are willing to do whatever it takes to make us happy.  Sometimes they have to make a choice between obeying what God has spoken to their hearts to do or pleasing us.  I would hope that I have never made Brian choose between the two.  As wives, we pray for God to direct our husbands, to give them wisdom in leading our home, and to make choices that would honor and please Him.  But when our husbands have an idea, want to make a decision, or lead us and our children, we sometimes stand firm in our own thinking, desires, and preferences.  Instead we need to step out of the way and realize that God is indeed answering our prayers and putting into the hearts of our husbands the qualities that we have been praying for.  Then we need to follow, always praying that God would bless the choices and decisions being made.  (Note: if our husband is doing something contrary to the Word of God or wrong, then we need to prayerfully act in accordance to God's Word. We are not to blindly go along with ungodly decisions.) 
• Your desire shall be for your husband and he is to be the ruler of the home (he shall rule over you).  The first part we usually have no problem with.   We love our husbands to pieces, and, if you are like me, your heart still skips a beat when you see him.  It is the second part of the verse that we tend to struggle with.  We have opinions and we always know what is best for ourselves, our children, and even our husbands.  However, God has put him in the place of authority over us and our home.  My parents used to say, "When Daddy's at work, Mommy is in charge.  When Daddy comes home, Daddy's in charge."  If our children are ever to respect their fathers as being the leader of our homes, then we as wives and mothers need to show by example that he is.  Actions speak louder than words.  

On Kristi's blog a few days ago, she did a post about the book she is currently reading The Power of a Praying Wife.  I have been following along and doing the assignments she gives.  The first week was to come up with a list of 5 things you love about your husband.  Rather than just coming up with a list, I would text Brian throughout the day with one thing from my list.  At one point he called me and asked if I was okay (he must have thought I was dying and sending him my last words of love!).  Last week, her post was about praying for our husbands and she gave a list of specific Bible verses and the quality that is covered by that verse when we pray it over our husbands.

Since we need to follow our husbands and allow them to be the ruler/ leader of our homes the way God intended them to be, I would suggest that we pray for them that God would give them wisdom in leading us, our children, and our homes.