144 FEMINIST VIEWS THAT UNDERMINE SCRIPTURE
How does Bilezikian avoid the force of Peter’s command to wives
to be subject to their husbands and to imitate the example of Sarah, who
“obeyed Abraham”? He says it was a humorous statement—in other
words, the statement does not tell us what Peter actually meant. It was
a joke. Here is what Bilezikian says:
The use of Sarah as an example of obedience shows that Peter was
not devoid of a sense of humor. In Genesis, Abraham is shown as
obeying Sarah as often as Sarah obeyed Abraham—once at God’s
behest as he was told, “Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells
you” (Gen. 16:2, 6; 21:11-12).... Sarah obeyed Abraham, but
Christian wives, her spiritual daughters, are never told to “obey”
their husbands neither here nor anywhere else in the Bible.^1But to say that a straightforward biblical statement is an example
of humor is simply an easy way to avoid the force of a verse whose plain
meaning contradicts one’s position. This is not the kind of argument that
reflects submission to Scripture.
Did Abraham actually “obey Sarah,” as Bilezikian claims?
The Old Testament texts Bilezikian cites do not show Sarah taking
over leadership of her household or Abraham obeying Sarah. Here are
the verses he refers to:
And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me
from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall
obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai
(Gen. 16:2).But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do
to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled
from her (Gen. 16:6).So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son,
for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.”
And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his(^1) Gilbert Bilezikian, Beyond Sex Roles: What the Bible Says About a Woman’s Place in Church
and Family, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1985), 191, italics added.