It’s a fact that God created everything. He created the sun, moon, and stars; He created every animal kind, and His ultimate creation was humans. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27). This fact has been attacked by Satan for many centuries. Creation isn’t a random string of accidents but a deliberate plan by God. Every part of creation shows God’s design and love for what He created.
When all things were in place to support human life, God created man. The Hebrew word for “man” is “Adam”; hence, Adam was the first human. God gave Adam responsibility. Even in Paradise, there are rules. He was to tend to the Garden and name the animals, but he wasn’t to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Some time later, when Adam needed someone to help him, God took Eve from him. The Hebrew word translated Eve is “haua” pronounced “khav-vaw.” Adam fell in love when he saw Eve for the first time. He made a proclamation that should be heeded today.
“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:23-24).
Many modern translations say “joined to his wife” instead of “cleave unto his wife.” This doesn’t mean that you can’t have multiple generations in the same home, but a man needs to lead his own family. Man and woman are both very important in God’s eyes, and each has a distinct place in life. Even though there were only two people in all of creation, Adam knew that there would be more, and knew that their children would multiply. He made the prophetic statement that a man should leave his parents’ authority and take a wife and “cleave” (or cling or join) to her. The one man/one woman idea began in the Garden of Eden and is God’s way even today. He never changes.
What happened? What has caused the trouble we see in marriage today? The simple answer is sin. Adam loved his wife so much that he didn’t seem to want to upset her. When she listened to the voice of deception and ate the forbidden fruit, Adam submitted to his wife’s foolishness. Why didn’t he stop her? Instead of being a man who stood firmly on God’s commands, he submitted to Eve’s foolishness.
God had told Adam, very clearly in a way that couldn’t possibly be misunderstood. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17).
God didn’t say “if” you eat it, but knew Adam would be weak. God said “in the day that thou eatest thereof.” Eve listened to the lying serpent instead of God, who had created her. Adam chose to follow her in sin. Too many women today follow that same pattern. Instead of striving to honor God and submit to their husband, they want to be the authority over men. The Apostle Paul made it clear that women are to submit to their husbands and learn from them.
“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence” (1 Timothy 2:11-12).
Was Paul a chauvinist? No, he was a scholar who understood that men and women have equally important roles in God’s creation, but each role is separate. He studied the Old Testament and knew what the Genesis account meant. I realize that I’m a woman who writes commentaries on Scriptural issues. I only study the men whose ministries my husband studied. In that way, I believe I submit to my husband’s authority. The role of men and women is clearly seen in all of Scripture. In the Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess and knew that Barak was to lead Israel against Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army. Barak knew he had to fight, but would only go if Deborah went with him.
“And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me then I will not go” (Judges 4:8).
I have always wondered about Barak. God used him, but he seems a bit of a wimp. The point is, Deborah was willing to do whatever she could for the Lord. She pointed out to Barak that it wasn’t for his honor she was going, but to honor God. Yes, if a man won’t step up to battle for the Lord, then God will use a woman to accomplish his purpose.
Where are the Godly men today? The men who are men of integrity? Too many boys are being raised by single mothers who can’t show a boy how to be a man. If you’re one of those boys, or if the man in your household isn’t Godly, remember that you have a Father in Heaven who has given Scripture as a guide.
Look in Genesis to see how Abraham was called out of a pagan life and willingly allowed God to show him a better way. Abraham learned to trust God. Still, he made mistakes. Like Adam, Abraham allowed his wife to make decisions contrary to God’s way. God had promised that Abraham and Sarah would have a child, but Abraham and Sarah were quite old, and Sarah was well past child-bearing age. So, Sarah decided to “help” God and talked Abraham into having a child with her maid, Hagar.
“And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife” (Genesis 16:3).
What could go wrong? When you don’t trust God, everything can and will go wrong. Hagar did have a son, who was named Ishmael, and there was much trouble because Abraham and Sarah didn’t trust God to accomplish His promise.
In time, Sarah did become pregnant, and Isaac was the son God had promised Abraham and Sarah. Sarah had come up with a plan, and Abraham just went along. It wasn’t God’s plan. Abraham should have firmly stood on God’s promise. Adam listened to Eve, and the whole world was corrupted. Abraham listened to Sarah, and the Ishmaelites have been trouble for the world ever since. The world has always needed men who stood firmly upon God’s promises, even if their wives have a “better” idea.
There are many examples of men who fear the Lord but fail in their walk with Him. Today it’s very difficult to find true men of God. How can you qualify to be a Godly man? First, love God. A scribe once challenged Jesus as to which is the first commandment.
“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:29-30).
If a man can love God in that way, the rest of his life will fall into place. Let me ask you a question: do you watch sports? If so, you probably know the stats of your favorite players. Do you follow your favorite team daily? What about vehicles? Now let me ask you: what’s your wife’s favorite color? Does she like flowers? Which flower would she love to get as a surprise from you, just because you love her? If you aren’t married, do you respect your future wife enough to keep yourself pure? What about God? Do you study Scripture as closely as you study sports? We need Godly men in this world; we need men of integrity. Where are the Godly men?
Marriage was ordained of God in the Garden of Eden, and His feelings about marriage haven’t changed at all. Marriage is a “picture” of Jesus’ love for His ekklesia (His church).
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it, That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, The he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
Does that describe you? Do you expect your wife to work all day, keep the house perfectly clean, do the laundry, shuffle the children to babysitters and school functions, cook breakfast, make lunches, then cook dinner? That’s not a marriage; that’s a slave driver. Stop and examine your relationship with God. Do you honor Him, or do you think He expects too much of you? Do you love your wife as Jesus loved the church? Remember, Jesus gave His life for His Bride. Are you willing to set your selfish ways aside and sacrifice for your bride? We need Godly men who honor God each and every day.
What about your children? Are you an example of a Godly man that your sons can respect? Do you show them that a man honors God in all aspects of his life? What about your daughters? They need to see an example of the type of man to look for when choosing a husband. A Godly man will love his children and be the example they can follow throughout their lives. Do they see you studying God’s word? Do you lead your family in prayer? My youngest daughter would love to meet a Godly man whom she can respect. Her father, my husband, gave a hard example for any man to follow, and my daughter has no desire to settle for less.
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
Godly men bless their entire family. By the way, we also need Godly women who submit to God.
Godly men include grandpas, uncles, and brothers in Christ. If you see a family in need, step up. Be the example that a young man who has no Godly example to follow can be shown the right path. Remember to put God first, serve God, and don’t compromise. I’m blessed to know some very Godly men. These men are getting older. Where are the younger Godly men? If you’re a man, there’s a Godly man living in you. Let him out.
I’m sort of hurrying this along. I need to go get Mandi from work. I’ll be glad when we get her problem diagnosed, and hopefully it will be something that can be dealt with easily.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
Recommended prophecy sites:
All original Scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).