Daughters of Abraham

Daughters of Abraham

Recently, still on the subject of marriage, I listened to some teaching on the role of wives in submission to husbands.

The main text is drawn from 1 Peter 3 where Peter exhorts wives to submit to their husbands in such a way that even if they are unbelievers, they will also be won over because of the good behavior of their wives. Submitting is not a sign of weakness, but rather of strength. Now men and women are equal before God but their roles are different. Man was made first, and has a role to take the lead, to be the head of the household. Woman was made next to support the men and be a good helpmate and partner. Both are equal but find fulfillment in the respective roles that God intended them for. In the same way, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is One, but each have their own role. They are one, yet they perform different roles. The Son is submits Himself to the Father, and the Holy Spirit submits himself to the Son.

Now many husbands are deemed unworthy of respect by their wives. However, Peter’s teaching is not to submit only if they are worthy. He says to submit even if they are unbelievers. Now submitting can be done rebelliously, reluctantly giving in but sulking and muttering under the breath. However, the manner of the submission spoken of by Peter gives us the impression of gentleness and love. Now there are some things that are clearly wrong and against God’s will that a woman should not follow even if ordered by her husband – to kill or hurt someone, to prostitute herself, or to do something that clearly harms herself or the children, to worship idols. Nevertheless, even in such situations, the attitude of refusal should be gentle and loving. i.e. “I respect and love you as my husband, but I cannot do this”.  

Daniel and his three friends would not eat meat sacrificed to idols, but did not outrightly defy the officer in charge of them. Instead, they asked him to give them 10 days to prove their diet would leave them healthy. They had a submissive attitude and trusted God to find a way out for them.

The fact is, most of the time, wives do not submit to their husbands are because of pride or selfishness. Sometimes, wives can be so “on fire” that they can really put their husbands off themselves, the church and even Christ. Imagine, a gung-ho passionate lady for God who attends cell group, prayer meeting, seminars, and then goes home and condemns her husband who is not in favor of her attending so many activities. In reality, she can do greater good by submitting to her husband, showing him more love instead of nagging him.

The beginning of 1 Peter 3 is “likewise”, referring to the preceding verses which talk about Jesus who submitted Himself to God, even to death on the cross. Hence, the theme is about wives submitting to their husbands just as Jesus submitted to the Lord.

Verse 3 in a way has been misquoted by some to say women should not wear gold at all. However, there are three things mentioned – women are plaiting the hair, wearing gold, and wearing clothes. The point is not about not allowing women to plait their hair or wear gold or to wear clothes, but to not depend on these for their outward beauty. Instead, of far greater value is a meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great worth.

When God and two angels came to visit Abraham and promised him a son through Sarah in the coming year, she laughed in her heart thinking “Shall I have this pleasure, being so old, and my lord also?” Even in her heart, Sarah thought of Abraham as her lord, like her master.

Now the rewards of wives submitting to their husbands can be seen in verses 9-10. They will inherit a blessing, being able to love life and see good days. How wonderful it would be for all of us to be able to love living and seeing good days!

There is the story of Abigail who protected her husband Nabal and his servants from slaughter by David and his men. Although he was not worthy of her, Abigail used all her wit and wisdom to protect him. And when he died, David called for her and she became married to the future king of Israel.

  

There is also the true story of a wife whose husband refused to let her go to church. She gently kissed him and told him she had to go, and left. When she came back, she found herself locked out in the cold. The next morning, when he opened the door, she simply kissed him and made him breakfast. Not long after, amazed at the love, he too came to believe Christ and eventually became a famous preacher, whom God used to raise 10 people from the dead in his lifetime.

Now, why would Scripture use Sarah as the example of all women? Ruth too was submissive to Naomi, and there is Abigail. However, Sarah was most famed for being submissive to her husband, and we see that God blessed her with youthfulness and beauty even in her old age, so that she was sought after even at 90!

Each sister in Christ has the potential to be a true daughter of Sarah, with great inner beauty and a quiet spirit, submitting to their husbands as to the Lord. May the Lord bless you with His wisdom and love, gentleness and beauty, as you seek His presence and love others through His love. In Jesus name, Amen.

Four Women In the Messianic Line

Four Women In the Messianic Line

During our family Bible Reading on Matthew 1, we were drawn particularly to the mention of only four women in the whole genealogy from Abraham to our Lord Jesus, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. I was reminded then, of an excellent lady author who wrote a series on these four women, with each of their lives representing an important truth for our Christian walk today.

Tamar (Genesis 38) – The daughter in law of Judah was a Canaanite woman whom he had specially selected for his eldest son, Er. However, his son did evil in the eyes of the Lord and was put to death. Judah then asked his second son, Onan, to sleep with her and produce offspring for his eldest brother. However, while using her for his pleasure, Onan refused to give her his seed, and the Lord saw this act as wicked and put him to death also. By now, Judah was afraid that his youngest son, Shelah, would meet the same fate, and returned Tamar to her father’s house. She would have been left hopeless, a complete scorn to her family, seen as cursed. Yet, she did not give up hope! When she heard that Judah was on his way to Timnah, she disguised herself as a prostitute and succeeded in sleeping with him, risking certain death to obtain the seed of his family line, which was the right of her late husband, Er. When she was found to be pregnant, Judah at first ordered her to be executed, but when he learned that he was the father, he commended her instead as more righteous than himself for what she had done.

Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles and tragedies, Tamar never gave up, but continued to hope, and when the opportunity presented itself, risked everything, even her own life, to secure her destiny in the line of Judah. For us too who are in the Lord, we must press on in our faith, never giving up as long as there is breath in our lungs, and regardless of what happens, cling on to the hope that we have in Christ Jesus.

Rahab (Joshua 2) – She was a prostitute in Jericho who had heard of the power and might of the God of Israel. Despite its powerful walls and strength, Rahab believed that Jericho would be destroyed, and based on her faith, risked her life to help the two spies Joshua had sent into the city. Because of her faith, she and her parents and brothers were saved from destruction.

We too must put our faith in the Lord, and cast our lot with Him, that we might be spared, like Rahab in the day of destruction.

Ruth (Ruth 1-4) – She was a Moabitess who loved her mother-in-law and refused to leave her, following her back to her people and accepting the God of Israel as her God. In obedience, she cared for and obeyed her mother-in-law in everything, and we also see how the wonderful love story unfolded between Ruth and Boaz.

Like Ruth, we too must have love, to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. There is no quality more important than love.

Bathsheba (2 Samuel) – She was the object of the sinful desire of King David, whose sin led to a powerful curse on his entire family. His act of adultery and murder reciprocated in terrible sins by his children, and his beloved son Absalom even rebelled against him and plotted to take his life. Even in Matthew 1, she is referred to as the wife of Uriah the Hittite, the stain of her sin and King David’s marked on her name throughout the generations. Despite this, the Lord showed her unlimited grace, and even chose her son Solomon and lifted him up as the greatest and wisest king in the known world.

We too must remember and know the unlimited grace that God has showered upon us unworthy sinners, and never cease to be thankful and humble before Him.

In conclusion, as we walk our Christian life together, let us always have hope, always have faith and always have love, living in the wonderful grace of God, and glorifying His name.

God bless,

Jason