MARRIAGE MUSINGS

Dear Husband,

My observation over time is that the man insisting that his wife is not submissive is usually trying to force a personal, not a divine agenda. Many, if not all, of these men are trying to force THEIR own will down the woman's throat. Some are trying to force their family and friends' opinions on the woman and it is her resistance that is termed unsubmissiveness. Asking your wife to steal, lie, kill or commit any of the "lesser" sins to save your skin is EVIL. You are putting her in a terrible situation.

 

Dear Wife,

It is ALWAYS helpful to learn how to win the battle and the war. If you have to choose between committing sin and saving your marriage, take Option 3. Take it to the Lord in prayer and let Him give you a divine strategy. It is for cases like what you're dealing with that the Holy Spirit was given. He will lead you to all truth.

 

Sarah asked Abraham to put away Hagar - a WIFE Sarah had taken for Abraham. Abraham was displeased with Sarah's "verdict". Did he go around town talking about how unsubmissive Sarah was? Did he insist on forcing his will/desire (which is probably a popular opinion) on Sarah? No, he took it to the Lord in prayer.

 

I guess it will shock you that in that case, God asked Abraham to listen to what Sarah was saying. It will shock many of us how God would judge in what we consider to be "clear cut" cases... I can bet that most counsellors would have told Sarah to go and submit to Abraham but you can see that God did not judge the same way...

 

I'm wondering if God was trying to point out to Abraham that they got to that position because they did not consult with Him before going ahead to marry Hagar. Both Abraham and Sarah were EQUALLY to blame...Neither of them asked God for His will...

 

Esther's husband, King Ahasuerus, was in error. He had neglected his wife and had even approved a plan to kill Jews who had done him no harm. Esther was on the right side but she still needed to be tactful. Many women have found themselves in trouble because they were too focused on proving that they are right.

 

Whatever you do, male or female, don't be so focused on winning the battle that you give the enemy an opportunity to come in and destroy what you're building. Take time to hear what God is saying so you can make godly choices...

 

Enjoy your day.