The origin of the battle of the sexes dates back Adam and ever and their sin, Adam and Eve experienced different consequences; their sin affected them each in distinct and unique manner. The roles assigned to them by God serve the purpose of countering and healing these consequences.
Loving headship and willing submission are the means of regaining the marital harmony caused by Adam and Eve’s disobedience.
These differing consequences are summed up in God’s statement to Eve:
The origin of the battle of the sexes
“Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” (Genesis 3:16).
- Eve and women. “Desire” in Genesis 3:16 does not refer to sexual or loving romantic desire, but rather, to a desire to “seek control over.” As a result of Eve’s disobedience, she will experience a toxic desire to usurp the authority of her husband. Chaucer, in his classic, Canterbury Tales, gives us a clear picture of female control as he presents the women of The Queen’s Court agreeing together that what women want most of all is to dominate their men. God’s remedy for women’s condition is submission. It is through Submission that the balance and harmony of marriage is regained.
- Adam and men. As a result of Adam’s own disobedience, he will experience a desire to “rule over” his wife (Genesis 3:16). The Hebrew word for “rule” is not the word used in Genesis 1:28. There it has a positive context. Here, “rule” represents a new, despotic type of authoritarianism contrary to God’s original design. Adam, and men for countless generations after him, would feel and act out a sinful desire to dominate women. History, unfortunately, is rife with examples of the subjugation of women.
Needless to say, these are not examples of the God Ordained patter of male headship. They demonstrate the pervasive effects the Fall has had on men throughout the centuries.
God’s remedy for The Role Of The Husband is loving headship as modeled by Christ’s loving headship of the Church. It is through loving headship that the balance and harmony of marriage is regained.
The Origin Of The Battle Of The Sexes -Pastor Kirt Eure
