(Genesis 3:12) Why There Are No Prince Charmings

Genesis 3:9-12

Genesis 3:9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

Dear Ladies,

I really hate to tell you this…but there is no such thing as prince charming.

Of course most of you already knew that didn’t you 🙂

Originally in the Garden of Eden God gave man the role of protecting or caring for, and providing for his wife Eve [1]. Please understand this isn’t God’s way of saying women are constantly weak and need help.

Instead this is His way of fulfilling a woman’s desire to be loved (cared for) and a man’s desire to be respected (able to care for those he loves). The truth is most women I know are MUCH better decision makers than men, however that doesn’t change the fact that Adam was the one who was supposed to be making them.

Yet something strange happened in Genesis 3:6

Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Eve comes to her husband Adam with a fruit he knows they aren’t supposed to eat and says “here eat this.” Now Adam’s responsibility as the protector and defender of his wife was to tell her “no we shouldn’t rebel against the command of God!” but he doesn’t do that. Instead Adam eats the fruit and by doing so allows Eve to become the decision maker [2].

So what’s the big deal? By doing this Adam is rejecting his responsibility (calling) to care for Eve. This is why instead of admitting his own failure to God after eating the fruit and hiding, Adam chose to throw Eve under the bus [3].

And from that point on ladies the marital relationship was totally messed up.

Here’s how God explained what her relationship with Adam would become in Genesis three.

Genesis 3:16 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.” (emphasis added)

“your desire shall be for your husband” here refers to the husband’s place of decision-making, so God is saying “you will want to be the one in control”. “He shall rule over you” gives the idea of demanding control over someone.

God tells Eve from now on the marriage will be about control. You will be trying to gain it, and Adam will be trying to keep it.

Now honestly marriage isn’t like that every moment of the day. However any of you who are married know the smallest, most ridiculous things can turn into a huge argument or fight over who gets their way.

It should be pointed out God didn’t want things to be like this. In His plan the husband and wife would selflessly put each other first, and by doing so become a picture to the world of what God is like [4]. But Adam and Eve were given a choice (Genesis 2:16–17) with the results of that choice being among other things man’s unwillingness to fulfill his role in marriage.

Oh that doesn’t mean they NEVER will protect or provide for you. There will be moments of “emotional love” of course.  And because of Christ’s death on the cross the Holy Spirit gives us the strength to be men of God, however there is still a sinful nature that wants our own way.

The bottom line is ladies you can’t rely on prince charming riding in on a white horse.

Thankfully you have something much better.

God promises in Scripture that He will protect and defend those who are faithful to Him.

1. Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
2. 1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
3. Isaiah 46:4 even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save

Of course this doesn’t mean God will give you whatever you want. But take comfort in the fact that in times of need He hears your cries, will never ignore them, and responds in a way that’s best for you.

And while your at it take comfort in the fact that there aren’t any prince charming’s.  Because while broken and selfish relationships do bring pain, they also remind us that our only true source of hope is God.