The Role of Wives

"Now if one thrusts his hand into water, he shall surely bring forth water. And perchance, if one thrusts his hand into the earth, he shall surely bring forth earth. It follows, then, that should the Living God thrust his hand into the side of man, he would surely bring forth from within man a portion of that man. A part of the man's own being was now separated from man, yet that portion was still man: 'The man is no longer one. He is divided, yet both parts are ... still that man,' declared the Lord."²⁵⁹ "'You are perfect Eve. As perfect as anything created can be perfect. Nor can you—or any other creature—reach beyond your present perfection, except you take into yourself that which is not created ... It is divinity alone that is truly perfect,' [the Lord] replied."²⁶⁰ "[Adam] loves her continuously. And with abandoned, innocent, unbridled passion, she loves him in return. She has full confidence in her place beside him. No reassurances need be given that he loves her. She never questions, but totally accepts his love. There is no fear of displeasing him or losing him. She is beautiful, she knows that, yet there is no pride. Rather a deep inward knowing that he is lord of all earth, and she is ... his perfect mate."²⁶¹

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (Ephesians 5:21-24)

Worldly changes (civil rights and equal rights) in the laws of the land have been used by Satan to attempt to change the law of God. Many Christian women and churches have been deceived by feminism and the equal rights amendment into believing that God has changed his mind about women's role in marriage and in church (see "What's a Woman to do?"). It is written, however, "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee" (Genesis 3:16). From the beginning of time through this time, wives have been commanded by God to be in subjection to their husbands that their house not be divided. "If a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand" (Mark 3:25; see also James 1:8). This submission does not in anyway decrease their equality in the eyes of God: for God is no respecter of persons. Submission means to yield oneself to the authority or will of another. The English "submit" or "be in subjection" comes from the Greek word hupotasso: "This word was a Greek military term meaning 'to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader'. In non-military use, it was 'a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden.'"²⁶² Wives are only exempted from being subject to their husbands in everything when their husbands direct them to disobey God. In that instance, wives can stand on the Word of God against their husbands' directive. We can see an example of this with the following scriptures:

Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. (Matthew 23:1-3)

Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told, Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:17-29)

Ultimately, wives are submitting themselves to the Lord, who in turn puts them under the oversight of their husbands: "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Mark 8:34). For many women, submitting themselves to someone else is not foreign to them. Women that have a job are under the authority of their boss. More often than not, these bosses are given, not chosen; however, these women willingly submit themselves to their boss. Amazingly these same women—loyal and submitted employees—discard restraint and refuse to be submitted to their own husbands. "Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Matthew 23:28). Likewise, many women submit themselves unto their pastor, not realizing that their Christian husband comes before their pastor. "For the husband [not the pastor] is the head of the wife" (Ephesians 5:23). When a wife places another person (her father, her pastor, her mother, her girlfriends, etc.) or thing above her husband, she is guilty of rebellion, idolatry and adultery—breaking covenant. "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" (1 Samuel 15:23). This rebellion has its roots in childhood judgment of her parents; particularly her father. If she judged that her father was not a "good" father then she will balk at submitting herself to another man. "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth" (Ephesians 6:2-3). Could the spread of female diseases like breast cancer and fibromyalgia have its root in women rebelling against God's chosen order? Hmmm (Luke 19:14, 27). "Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 24:9). Sadly, many wives cloak their rebellion in emotionalism; they use anger and/or tears to manipulate (sorcery) their husbands.

And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee? And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people. And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? and he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. (Judges 14:16-18)

Many wives also use their bodies, sexually, to manipulate their husbands. Take care "that no [wo]man go beyond and defraud [her husband] in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified" (1 Thessalonians 4:6). "Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency" (1 Corinthians 7:3-5).

Men desire respect first and love second; hence, God commands wives to reverence their husbands (Ephesians 5:33). "And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. ... For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people" (Esther 1:20, 22). Unlike women, men put respect before love. So do not try to shower him with your love, but continue to disrespect him. Wives are to deny themselves and submit themselves to their husbands: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord" (Colossians 3:18). To submit is to be "obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed" (Titus 2:5)

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (1 Peter 3:1-6)

Wives are to be sober minded—showing no excessive or extreme qualities of fancy, emotion, or prejudice, discreet, chaste, good, honorable, not slanderers—speaks no evil of others, full of integrity, and homemakers (Titus 2:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:11; 1 Timothy 5:14)). "There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband" (1 Corinthians 7:34). Wives are like Vice Presidents of Operations guiding the house under the authority of their Presidents (husbands), who in turn, report to the Chief Executive Officer (Jesus Christ) and the Board of Directors (the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost). Wives are similar to Joseph to whom Pharaoh said, "Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou" (Genesis 41:40). Like deacons in a church (see "Deacons"), wives provide service to their husbands, to their children and to the physical house. "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness" (Proverbs 31:27). The husbands, in turn, love their wives and work to make her job more efficient through serving her needs through Christ. "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands" (Proverbs 14:1). Wives are to be industrious and giving:

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. (Proverbs 31:13-20)

Wives that adhere to the Word of God, have husbands that love them and are committed to them. "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised" (Proverbs 31:30). "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life" (Proverbs 31:11-12). These husbands have a place of authority and respect in the community; they reflect the discretion, agreeableness, and industriousness of their wives (see 1 Samuel 25:18-31 for an example of a virtuous woman). "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land" (Proverbs 31:23). "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones" (Proverbs 12:4). "A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike" (Proverbs 27:15). "It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman" (Proverbs 21:19). Wives not adhering to the Word of God tend to be contentious and often angry. They fail to realize that "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom" (Proverbs 13:10). Furthermore, "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom" (Proverbs 11:2). God "will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God" (Romans 2:6-11).

Contentious wives can drive their husbands to indifference, or worse, to evil. Let us consider two examples: Michal and Jezebel. Michal, the wife of David, despised her husband's praising of the Lord and rebuked him—the king—for it. Her contentiousness resulted in David becoming indifferent to her—David stopped having sexual relations with her—but kept her as his wife. Moreover, to add insult to injury, David sets his heart to go after other women.

And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. ... And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. ... Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. (2 Samuel 6:14, 16, 20-23)

Another woman for our consideration is Jezebel. Wives pushing female supremacy (strong hold of feminism with spirit of Jezebel) operate in sorcery, as did Jezebel. Before we begin, let us acknowledge that any Christian reading of Jezebel will note that she is not like anything anyone aspires to be. Wives are not to rule over their husbands, as did Jezebel over Ahab. Nevertheless, let us see what happens when a woman chooses not to be help and chooses to lead over the man.

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, so let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. (1 Kings 19:1-2)

And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. (1 Kings 21:1-7)

Here we have the start of a problem. Notice Ahab, THE KING, the man God chose to rule, has lost his place because he allowed his wife to lead.

So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth ... And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. (1 Kings 21:8, 15-16)

Finally ... "But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up" (1 Kings 21:25). In each one of these situations above, Jezebel is ruling over her husband. In fact, there is not a time in scripture where Jezebel is mentioned there is an indication that she is submitted. Rather, she manipulates the king and the people; God calls this sorcery. "And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her [sorceries] are so many" (2 Kings 9:22)? She was not the king, she was not God's representative to the people, and yet she manipulated the king and the people as she saw fit (see "The Principality of Sedition"). The audacity of sedition is such that it drives women to make decisions outside of their husbands' authority yet expect their husbands to partake in their sins by helping them execute their plans. When a wife rules over her husband, the consequences will be disastrous. "And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel: And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah: And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled" (2 Kings 9:7-10). Ultimately for the woman, it leads to death:

And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot. And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter. And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. (2 Kings 9:30-35)

In conclusion, wives put away the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of the princes of this world and embrace the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-8). Repent for believing that "The way of the LORD is not equal" (Ezekiel 18:25). "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). Go forth and fulfill the roles for which God has predestinated for women and stop being "foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another" (Titus 3:3).

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