Two As One: From a Husband’s Perspective

How should a husband lead his family? Hubie Synn explains how a dive into Genesis with a mentor helped him become the husband and father he was called to become.

It’s true what they say, that behind every successful man is an even better woman. I’ve learned this fact full well. God most definitely speaks to me through my wife. In fact, God had to show me that my relationship with Vicki and how I handled my home were at the foundation of a fruitful ministry.

God has been faithful to put some great spiritual mentors in my life. One such mentor was Jack Forde.

One day Jack pointed out to me the difference in how Adam and Eve were made. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7). So Adam was made from dirt. It’s pretty basic and simple. Men usually think in simple terms, he explained to me.

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Gen. 2:15, NIV). So Adam first had a job, and then the Lord gave him a helpmate in Eve. How interesting is that? Adam had an assignment before God brought him Eve. Now keep following me here. Later in Genesis, when the serpent tempted Eve, Scripture says, “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it” (Gen. 3:6, NIV). Notice that when Eve ate the fruit, nothing happened.

“She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves” (Gen. 3:6–7, NIV). It was when Adam ate the fruit that their eyes were opened. This brought clarity to me that my place in the family is to be the head of the household. Jack encouraged me to realize that while yes, I am the head of the household, that means it’s my responsibility to love my wife, listen to her, and nurture her. Being a Christlike husband means building up my wife and becoming a servant leader. We are equally important to God and to each other. We simply have different roles. It’s been said that Eve was taken from the rib of Adam, his side, to be by his side. The two become one flesh.