He Dwells — The B'log in My Eye

A husband must understand his wife in the same manner Christ understands His bride. We have for an example Jesus and His bride Nathanael in the first chapter of John.

Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! John 1:48-49

To appreciate the passage, we need to recognize the implications–Nathanael did ‘not’ believe Jesus was the Messiah merely because He saw him sitting beneath a tree. In that day the expression, ‘To sit under a fig tree, ’ meant that a person was studying; the inference being that Nathanael was not only reading the Bible, but was likely reading the account of Jacob (and ‘Jacob’s Ladder’) in Genesis 28. Jesus knew what he was reading, because when you are in His Word, you are with Jesus.

Jesus knew His bride well because His bride was in the Word. Therefore it stands to reason we will know our bride best when together, we are in His Word. And yes, this writer is convicted by his own words.

Honor

Men and woman are equal, but we are not the same. A woman’s desire for things spiritual exceeds that of a man and it is for this reason satan approached Eve in the Garden—the desire (at least in part) makes her more susceptible to deception. The other thing that added to her vulnerability was that Adam was not around. The Bible doesn’t tell us where Adam was, but only where he wasn’t—with Eve. Not very honorable is it?

As a result of Adam’s sin, God imposed the condition whereby a women’s desire to be with the man will intensify (despite the pain of child birth), but the man must work by the sweat of his brow. This is the way it is. The lesson of the Garden reminds man that we honor the wife and not the job (or worse, the avocation). Spending time together in the Word is most honorable. Once again, the writer stands convicted.

Enrich

The Godly man and the Godly woman have much to share with one another, but sadly it is the man who often dismisses that which the wife has to offer. This should not be the case.

Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” Exodus 4:25

“What does that have to do with man being enriched by woman, ” you ask?

Moses was all puffed-up about being ordained by God to confront pharaoh with a host of miracles, so much so he had forgotten to take care of his own house hold. If Zipporah had not stepped in and did what she did, God would have killed Moses on the spot. The lesson is of course is that we should listen to our spouses long before it comes to something like this.

Or Be Hindered

Men should understand, honor, and be enriched by their wives so that their prayers will not be hindered. This is not about God suddenly cursing you for being disobedient, but rather His not giving you more than you can handle. After all, why would the Lord open more doors if we are failing to walk through the doors He has opened in our own homes? Spiritual opportunities appear when we are obedient to the ones He has already provided.