The Lord wants to form Himself in us and demonstrate His character in us. Male and female He made us. It is not about what I want, it is about what works. Faith works by love. Galatians 5:6 Some cite women in ministry. And women did minister to Jesus. And He loved them. But He did not call any to follow Him as the twelve were called. He did not make any woman an apostle. Why not? I think it is a question we ought not need to ask, for if it were His Father's will to do that, He would have done it.
There is a word that sticks in the craw of every man and woman ever born: Obedience. Paul wrote to the Romans: Ch. 1:5 Through him we received grace and a commission as an apostle to bring about faithful obedience among all the gentiles for the sake of his name. Ch. 16:25 Now to the one who is able to strengthen you with my gospel and the message that I preach about Jesus, the Messiah, by revealing the secret that was kept hidden from long ago 26 but now has been made known through the prophets to all the gentiles, in keeping with the decree of the eternal God to bring them to the obedience that springs from faith— 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus the Messiah, be glory forever! Amen. These like book ends from first and the last chapters of Romans, a most important text!!!
If faith works by love, than the work must be obeying God! John's 1st letter says it emphatically: 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Are these scriptures commandments of the Lord? Paul says they are! (1 Corinthians 14:36-38) It is a part of the pattern of divine order and obedience that I see in these matters, a pattern set for our salvation and our safety in this life.
God made men and women differently. First one and then the other.
1 Corinthians 11:3 Now I want you to realize that the Messiah is the head of every man, and man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of the Messiah.
Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof: and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Everything else He spoke into existence! (every time I read and study Genesis 1-3 I get a blessing!)
1 Corinthians 11:3 Now I want you to realize that the Messiah is the head of every man, and man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of the Messiah.
The whole of creation has been subjected to vanity (futility, corruption). Romans 8:20-21 seems crucial to understanding almost anything else in scripture. Why was satan even allowed into Eden? As a part of God’s plan! Ephesians 3:9-12 !!!
Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth? 25 But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Ephesians 3:9 and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; 10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.
We ARE His workmanship. But satan would have us think we can be self-made people. I truly do not know what it was like when everything Adam and Eve knew was good. But when satan came on the scene they saw evil and after they ate the fruit they KNEW evil.
After they ate the forbidden fruit everything changed. Adam and Eve were given divine sentences. The divine mandate to be fruitful and multiply was changed: “I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children;” Their relationship changed: “thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” And their mandate to have the earth as their dominion was very much altered: “and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” became “cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
Today these changes are not undone. Even though we have marvelous technical prowess, much of the world still sows and harvests by hand and plow. Women still have painful child births and, though I know no one who believes it, I think women conceive children much more often that they would have in the garden.
“thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” Is this change then a curse? Were Adam and Eve cursed? Some have called the whole matter the Adamic curse. But only satan and the ground were directly cursed. Adam knew he would die. And I have been taught that that word die means separated from God, from life. (Later on death is tied to cursing. Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed;) I guess they were cursed, but it was part of the plan!
A lot happened since then, and Jesus has wrought our salvation. Why then do we still live in dying bodies? Ephesians 3:10 seems to require it! We are alive to God forever, but our bodies are still subject to vanity (futility, corruption).
We simply do not know what the male female relationship was like before the fall. It seems logical that there was no male ruling female. But was there also no female desiring husband? Was this desire a curse? Part of the plan.
What is becoming clear to me about the scriptures I cite (Genesis Ch. 3; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Cor. 14:33-40; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; Titus 2:3-5; 1Peter 3:1-6) is that they are GOD”S word on the matter, not man’s and not given to man or woman except to teach and guide.
It is true that misogyny and misandry have been a result of our being subjected (UNWILLINGLY) to vanity. But the resentments of Adam for Eve and Eve for Adam cannot alter the scriptures. Cultures everywhere and at all times have suffered from men hating women and women hating men. Thin of the implications of Islamic Sharia law!
The real question is have men and women essentially changed? They are still born in need of salvation. They still sin even after they are saved! Were women treated any better or worse in Paul’s day? Solomon’s day? Moses’ day? Noah’s day? Were women sinners then? Did women treat men with 100% righteousness then? Could women’s relationships with men be subjected to vanity too? Or was it all Adam’s fault and Eve was acquitted?
Men and women are different, and God is different than men and women. They are both made in His image and likeness! But after the fall from grace the image and likeness suffers corruption. It is we who being separated from God by our sins need to be rejoined to God according to His plan. Are we now so much more mature after 2000 years of Christendom that the scriptures don’t apply, that we do not need divine guidance?
One of satan’s main war plans is to vilely corrupt men and women sexually. We see the results today overflowing in our modern world culture! There is this thing called feminism which has really corrupted women. The whole basis of the feminist movement is that men are not in any way given authority over women. The scripture does not support that at all.
Ephesians 5 22 Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body.
24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;
26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
27 that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself:
29 for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;
30 because we are members of his body.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.
32 This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church.
33 Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.
It may be a greater problem that men do not know how to submit to those men who rule over them in the Lord (or in the world!)
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.
Not some, all! And we have to see the scriptures as speaking from the heart of God’s Spirit … yes?
Paul wrote:
1 Corinthians 14: 36 What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone? 37 If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
The question I ask is this: Can the requirements of 1 Corinthians 14 (and the rest of the related scriptures) be so onerous to women as to be seen as some sort of violation of their person? their womanhood? It may be offensive to women who desire to speak with and to men, to teach men and even to usurp authority from men. Or to have their heads uncovered. But is it offensive to women who don't have those desires?
“thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”
1Corinthians 11:1-16… I know men who would be offended if they were asked to cut their hair short, or remove their hats in church services. And some would just almost faint if asked to teach a lesson. But God has a role for man: to lead. When man does not… well Jael got the glory! And Deborah warned Barak that she would!
Judges 4:8 “If you’ll go with me, I’ll go,” Barak replied. “But if you won’t go with me, then I’m not going.” 9 She [Deborah] responded, “I will surely go with you, but the road that you’re about to take will not lead to honor for you.
Did it lead to dishonor?
“thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”
This will not be an issue when Christ returns. Yet I’m inclined to think that these commandments will be kept all through the Millennial Kingdom! Why? Because they are part of the PLAN! 9 … to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; 10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything.
1 Corinthians 11:3 Now I want you to realize that the Messiah is the head of every man, and man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of the Messiah. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors his head, 5 and every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, which is the same as having her head shaved. 6 So if a woman does not cover her head, she should cut off her hair. If it is a disgrace for a woman to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her own head.Are these things so onerous to women and to men that to do them is objectionable? 1 Corinthians 14:36-38 is really hard to deal with. ESPECIALLY 38 in the ESV, ISV, CBJ and The Message versions of the Bible.
Now I want you to realize that the Messiah is the head of every man, and man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of the Messiah.
EVEN JESUS HAS A HEAD, an authority greater than He!
The scriptures are not written to offend but to bless. Nor, I trust, is what I write. Nevertheless some are offended, and not simply by these scriptures. Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
I simply see the church suffering much disharmony and dysfunction and believe that God has given the Body, the whole Body some rules which will be a blessing to keep, and not a curse. Frighteningly men and women can still be tyrants, and Ahabs and Jezebels even where those rules are obeyed. But the humility God seeks to impart to us is I think more easily received if we obey these divine commands.
