Cursed Blessings

To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." Genesis 3:16

The LORD pronounces the punishment for the woman because of her sin. The punishment consists of three parts, two of which have to do with her role as a mother and the third having to do with her role as a wife.

We shouldn't miss the fact that these punishments did not change the fact that the woman would become a mother and is a wife. These punishments did change how those life roles would work. We can assume that had the woman not sinned, childbearing and child raising and marriage would have been far less of a struggle.

In the case of motherhood, God's judgment was that the act of carrying and giving birth to a child was going to be a painful experience, as we know that it is. We could even say that the act of raising the child after birth would have pain as well. However, this is not to say that there is no blessing or joy that goes with the pain. Every mother knows that the immense joy of bringing new life into the world is great compensation for the pains of sickness and labor. And what joy there is in seeing the little grow and experience life and become a person under the loving gaze of the mother. God's punishment was not so heartless that motherhood would become something to be dreaded and feared. He gave the blessing of life to go with the pain, and thus give value to the struggles of motherhood.

In the marital relationship, we see that the punishment is truly tailored to fit the crime. Because the woman took the lead in sin, and in convincing her husband to follow, she is now given the role of submission to her husband's desire. Some have thought that this means sexual desire mainly or only. However, that doesn't seem to fit the context of the rest of Scriptural teaching on the subject (see. 1 Timothy 2:13ff as one example).

Finally, we should also notice carefully that God's pronouncements here are not for applying outside of the marriage relationship. God specifically mentions the words "husband" and "wife" in these verses. God does not intend that this be understood as applying in any way to every woman's relationship to every other man. Women and men in general are not addressed here, and it should not be implied that God considers men to be rulers over women or superior to women in any way. That is not the meaning here, nor is it the issue God is addressing, nor do we have the right to interpret it so.

Your Joyfully Loquacious Expositor
LEE