Journal: Emmaus Journal
Volume: EMJ 18:1 (Summer 2009)
Article: A Further Word To Husbands: Life’s Greatest Challenge
Author: David J. MacLeod

EMJ 18:1 (Summer 2009) p. 3

A Further Word To Husbands: Life’s Greatest Challenge1

An Exposition Of 1 Peter 3:7

David J. Macleod

Dave MacLeod is Dean for Biblical Studies at Emmaus Bible College and is Associate Editor of The Emmaus Journal.

Introduction

Perhaps you’ve heard the story of a man who phoned a local armory and spoke to a young recruit.

“What kind of stock do we have there at the armory, private?” the caller asked authoritatively.

The private replied, “Sir, we have six tanks, six trucks, twelve jeeps, and a whole lot of guns and ammunition. Oh, yeah, we’ve also got two Cadillacs for our big, fat generals.”

The caller paused before barking out, “Private, do you know who this is?”

“No, sir,” the startled private replied.

“This is General Weston!”

Again there was a pause in the conversation, until the private asked, “General Weston, do you know who this is?”

EMJ 18:1 (Summer 2009) p. 4

Surprised, the general answered, “No!”

The private chuckled and said, “See ya around, fatty!”2

“Obviously,” writes Robert Lewis, “it’s important to know who you’re dealing with! That’s especially true when it comes to marriage. And even more so when it comes to women. Women often baffle us men.”3

• We know we need them. Mark Twain (1835-1910) was once asked, “In a world without women, what would men become?” He replied, “Scarce, sir, mighty scarce.”4

• When we are young they often scare us. The Greek playwright, Aristophanes (450-385 BC), could marvel,

“There is nothing so resistless

As a woman in her ire,

She is wilder than a leopard,

She is fiercer than a fire.”5

We fall in love, and we are enchanted, like Thomas Otway (1651-85), the English writer,

“O woman! lovely woman! Nature made thee

To temper man: we had been brutes without you;

Angels are painted fair, to look like you.”6

EMJ 18:1 (Summer 2009) p. 5

They often exasperate us. Aristophanes could also say,

“T...