Many of us have heard about Eve, she was Adam’s wife who ate the fruit that resulted in the downfall of humanity. The Scriptures are clear about what happened. Genesis 3:1 – says, “The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied, “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.”

Those last few words are critical . . . Eve’s husband was with her. Didn’t Adam hear the serpent lying to his wife, Eve? Didn’t Adam recall the instructions that God gave to him? Why didn’t Adam speak up and tell the serpent to leave his wife alone? Why didn’t Adam tell Eve that they were going to obey God? Why didn’t Adam refuse the fruit that his wife offered him? God had already given man dominion over all animals, why didn’t Adam exercise his authority over the serpent? So many questions about why Adam seemingly just stood by. But, I want to focus on Eve.

In that moment, as Eve held out that piece of fruit to her husband, Eve’s desire was to control her husband. Eve “. . .saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her.” Sometimes when we as women want something, we pursue it relentlessly. After all, women are created to endure pain and suffering each month, during pregnancy and in childbirth. We are not easily dissuaded when we want something. That is why, later, in verse 3:16 God says to Eve, “And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” That declaration was part of the consequences of sin that every wife since then has to bear. Sure, sometimes wives understand something better or can do something better – but this is about control. We need to ask ourselves if our behaviors, actions and words are attempts to control our husbands or attempts to help them.

On this Mother’s Day, as women are honored by loved ones, we should ask ourselves how are we honoring our husbands? Are we trying to control them or are we helping them in their role as spiritual leader of the family? Are we acting like Eve and leading our husbands down paths that are not ordained for them because we want something different for our lives, some forbidden fruit perhaps? Maybe without even realizing it, we are influencing our husbands out of God’s will. If Eve had obeyed God and helped her husband versus trying to control him, she would not have let her desire for something swallow up her identity as a daughter of the Almighty God. Stand firm in who you are, a Daughter of the King created to help her husband.

Let’s pray.

Father in heaven, as we honor the women in our lives and as our lives as Moms are honored by others, let us reflect on how we live. Do we live in a way that attempts to control our husbands or to help them? Lord, may the cry of our hearts be to help our husbands become the men You created them to be. Help us to pray daily for them and show them honor and respect as You command us to. Help us to focus on honoring You by doing what You have said we need to do. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.