THE ABRAHAMIC MARRIAGE
Have you ever asked yourself this question: What does a Biblical marriage look like? Most of you I am sure simply rattle off Ephesians 5, written by the Apostle Paul, who uses Christ and the Church as the example and metaphor of Biblical marriage. This is of course true, accurate, and great truth to ponder, and practice. But it’s also all too easy for us to interject our own perceptions as to what that actually looks like without considering the true ramifications.
What if instead, we looked at the Apostle Peter’s teaching on marriage, who, by the way, was a married man himself, while the Apostle Paul was never married. Peter uses a godly, human marriage that all Christian Jews would have heard of. The one I call the Abrahamic Marriage, named after, of course, Abraham. Let me tell you a secret. Many Pastors today are fearful to preach on this type of marriage as laid out in 1 Peter. Why? Because of the requirements and implications laid out describing a godly, god-fearing wife. Many Pastors today would not feel comfortable using Patriarchal Abraham as a model for others to follow. Feminism has so infected the church, and the marriage relationship, that most women would never treat their husbands as their authority and lord. Most would never, ever submit to what Sarah did when her husband asked her to lie, to protect him from getting killed, which put her life in danger. If you are not familiar with this story, read it here – Genesis 12:1-20 NLT
However, this misses the primary point. Abraham was the leader of his home, the true head, and the authority of his wife. Sarah treated him as such. Here is the great irony. When Sarah took the lead, and Abraham listened to his wife instead of God, and took Hagar as Sarah urged and slept with her, he got nothing but trouble. Eventually, in fact, Sarah demanded Abraham send Hagar’s boy away, though Abraham loved Ishmael greatly. God did intervene and told Abraham to send the boy away, but God promised Abraham he would make him a great nation. Ishmael became the father of many Arab tribes and through the centuries, they have made life extremely difficult for Jews. But when Sarah listened to Abraham, followed his lead, and did as he asked, even though what he asked was unreasonable, she was greatly blessed by God, and the blessing she received extended to her husband and his offspring.
I would wager you when God came to Abraham and told him to go and sacrifice Isaac, you and Sarah’s only son, as a burnt offering, Abraham did not run this by Sarah, to get her advice or approval!! Can you imagine what she would have said or done!!?? Abraham obeyed God.
Sarah made it her practice to obey her husband, to treat him with great respect, honor, and deference. In doing so Sarah was of course obeying God, for this was God’s will for her! This is exactly what Peter writes to us about in 1 Peter 3:1-6 NASB
In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right, without being frightened by any fear.
Now please also read it in the Amplified Version here and take careful note of the descriptive words used to explain exactly what this concept actually means! The Amplified Bible is designed to convey the full meaning of the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic words and phrases behind the English Bible
https://www.biblegateway.com/
Abraham and Sarah provide us with a very tangible, yet wonderful picture of a Biblical Abrahamic Marriage, one we can each relate to. I cannot begin to describe how powerfully this concept found in 1 Peter 3 has impacted my wife and me. My wife has honored me, respected me, submitted to me, obeyed me, deferred to me, and done things that many women simply would not do. Yes, she is human, imperfect, and has made mistakes. But she has in so many ways exemplified this gentle and quiet spirit. She has esteemed me, appreciated me, and followed me into the things I knew God was calling me to do, even when she may have had her doubts or apprehensions. She is and has been a true daughter of Sarah!
This article, which I wrote about Kathy in great detail, demonstrates so many of the ways she lived out the concept of The Abrahamic Marriage and imitated Sarah and the holy women of old, even when times were extremely difficult. Please read it as it will bring to life in living color what it means to live out 1 Peter 3 and The Abrahamic Marriage!
https://strongdisciple.com/
For those who have not had the opportunity to read all my Thoughts Provoking articles, who may be thinking to themselves, “Why isn’t Mark talking about husbands also?” Keep in mind this is often what I focus on when I write, about how a husband should love his wife. In fact, you will find it specifically in Edition 11 – How Should A Man Really Love His Wife?
Or this article, Edition 19 – Live With Your Wife in an Understanding Way.
I hope and pray you will give serious thought and consideration to this concept, The Abrahamic Marriage. We are living in very corrupt, compromising times, and the truth is many Christian marriages are operating far from this divine concept. God will greatly bless those who embrace The Abrahamic Marriage and live it out!
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
