Toy Stories: Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head — Love and Respect vs. Bitterness and Resentment - Wednesday
TODAY’S VERSE
James 1:19b
Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. (ESV)
The Bible is honest about the joys, but also the challenges of marriage. The Old Testament tells the story of several marriages that were deeply flawed, due in large part to cultural norms at the time that permitted men to have multiple wives. God ultimately redeemed this dysfunctional practice to fulfill His purposes, and in the New Testament, Jesus would clarify God’s intent for marriage to be for one man and one woman.
In Genesis 29 and 30, we learn about Jacob and Rachel. After falling in love, Jacob approached Rachel’s father, Laban, about marrying Rachel. As was customary, Jacob agreed to work for Rachel’s father for seven years before they could marry. When it was time for the wedding, Laban actually deceived Jacob, and he ended up marrying Rachel’s sister, Leah. Leah was the firstborn, and it was the father’s obligation to see that she was married first. Once Jacob realized this, he appealed to Laban for Rachel’s hand, and Laban agreed, but only after Jacob agreed to work another seven years. Once they were married, Leah ended up having children, but Rachel could not. In a moment of desperation, Rachel cried out to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” Jacob’s response wasn’t helpful: “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” This heated exchange would lead to a series of other poor decisions—a spin cycle.
If Jacob had had more compassion for his wife and kept his composure, he could have actually seen that Rachel’s outburst and perceived attack were connected to a deep longing and a desire to be loved. Jacob’s response clearly indicated that he was feeling disrespected by Rachel. If Jacob had done a better job of deciphering his wife’s emotions, the spin cycle could have stopped.
APPLICATION
Husbands, make understanding your goal the next time you feel disrespected by your wife. Give her the benefit of the doubt. Underneath the emotion, what is it that she needs?
PRAYER
Father, in the same way that You receive and graciously respond to us in our moments of weakness, may we offer the same to the ones we love.
