Isaiah 54:5
“For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name—
The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.”
In this prophetic word of the book of Isaiah, the Lord is speaking to Israel, but it may certainly apply to those of us who have been adopted into God’s family through repentance and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.
A notable example is Ephesians 5:31-32, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” That would be us, and it is very fitting to our relationship with our God.
In light of this status of being Christ’s bride, what is a husband and his role as a spouse? Do we really need one? In Isaiah 54:5, the Hebrew word Ba`al is translated “husband” and is defined as “lord,” “owner,” or “master.” As followers of Christ today, we’d describe a husband as a spouse, partner, or mate–a married man. He is the leader or head of his family.
This leader’s chief responsibility is to love God and then his spouse. To feel a deep affection for her, as well as to treasure and value her. In his role as husband, he:
A) provides: supplies, accomodates, and one interesting definition, ministers;
B) protects: keeps her safe from harm;
C) defends: fights against what is threatening her well-being; and
D) supports (via Merriam Webster’s thought-provoking definition):
- endures bravely or quietly; bears
- promotes the interests or cause of, upholds or defends as valid or right, advocates for
- argues or votes for
- assists, helps
- acts with
- provides substantiation, corroborates
- pays the costs of maintaining a family
- provides a basis for the existence or subsistence of
- holds up or serves as a foundation or prop for
- maintains at a desired level by purchases or loans–maintains the price of
- keeps from fainting, yielding, or losing courage–comforts
- keeps (something) going
Each woman’s personal need for a husband may vary in reasoning, yet the Bible speaks of there being a greater strength in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Now, of course, some people will never marry an earthly spouse, by choice or otherwise. Yet we can see throughout the Bible God’s willingness and ability to perfectly fill the role of husband to both unmarried and married people.
Moreover, our wifely role as Christ’s bride would be to “love, honor, and obey” him. In this, we submit ourselves to His will, respect and hold him in the highest esteem, and do our best to do what he’s commanded us to do. No doubt, this ability is perfected in our sanctification process as we mature more and more in the Lord.
In any event, it gives me great comfort to realize my God is also my husband. The fact that he is the great Creator, all knowing, ever present, and all powerful, yet loves and cares for me, is more than I could ask for in a spouse. Not to mention, he is also willing to provide my own earthly spouse and takes this union very seriously.
God’s role in creating, molding, and shaping us has given him, as a husband, an insight into us that we could never have. He knows what’s best for us as he knows us better than we know ourselves. This reality should help us to rest in trusting him in all areas of our lives, as we know this will produce the peace and fulfillment so many of us long for.
Ms. Rita's Minute 