Looking for a new illustration if you’re teaching through Ephesians 5, 1 Peter 3, or one of the other Biblical passages on marriage?  Consider this little piece of trivia I read this morning on Challies.com about one of my favorite finless fish:

“Electric eels produce some of their most powerful shocks when mating—but without harming the mate. However, if these voltage bursts are emitted when not mating, they can kill the other eel. This suggests that they have a protection system that can be switched on.”

Pretty provocative and high-voltage stuff!

Even non-eel couples should desire to keep the romantic spark alive without creating fireworks of impassioned drama.  And I think this stems from mutual submission, constant consideration of each other’s f(eel)ings, and a sacrificial love that transcends superficial hedonism. It’s shocking how many couples “pull the plug” on their marriages because of selfish pursuits.

A terrestrial eel-like creature in the Garden of Eden has been trying to short-circuit our spousal relationships from the beginning.  Instead, we would do well to heed the instruction of Ephesians 5:33:

“Let each one of you love his eel wife as himself, and let the wife see that she electrocutes respects her husband.”