DAD'S RAMBINGS -- THE POWER OF A WOMAN

"Now when Jehoram was established over the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also others of the princes of Israel. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for he had the daughter of Ahab as a wife; and he did evil in the sight of the LORD." (II Chronicles 21:4-6)

Never underestimate the influence that a wife has on her husband. Jehoram had taken as a wife a daughter of Ahab. This was not good. Now, we can't blame all of Jehoram's wickedness on his wife. He was responsible for his own actions. But our text makes it clear that he followed in the steps of Ahab because his wife was a daughter of Ahab.

It has been said that the wife is the neck that turns the head of the husband. Wives have a power that influences their husbands – either for good or for ill. We see that influence throughout Scripture, starting with Adam and Eve. Eve saw that the fruit was good and she gave it to her husband, and he ate (Genesis 3:7). Sarah persuaded Abraham to have a child by her maid (Genesis 16:2). Rebeccah conspired against her husband, Isaac, and caused all kinds of problems (Genesis 27). I Kings says that Solomon's wives turned his heart after other gods, and he "went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites" (I Kings 11:4-5). Jezebel was a horrible influence on Ahab, conspiring to kill Naboth for his vineyard (I Kings 21). And the list goes on.

But a wife can also be an influence for righteousness. Abigail was not able to change her husband, Nabal, but she did keep David from committing a horrible act of killing Nabal and later became David's wife because of her wise counsel (I Samuel 25). The Apostle Paul encourage wives to remain with their unsaved husbands, saying, "How do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband?" (I Corinthians 7:16). Peter wrote that a wife could win her disobedient husband without a word, "when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear" (I Peter 3:1-2). Influence is a powerful things.

So, my female friends, don't underestimate the power you exert over your husbands, both by your words and by your Christ-centered life.

Love, Dad