But you're just a girl

This morning I cracked my Bible for the first time in 2014.  Every morning, while the boy naps, I open the pages of this book.  There are times when the hustle and bustle of out the scheduled norm takes me away from digging into scripture but I usually find my way back once routine returns.  The funny thing is that the older I get the more focused I am in finding insights and sharing my thoughts on what I read.

Right now, I'm following the study on www.SheReadsTruth.com.  The fabulous thing about it is that even if you only have a few minutes a day the scripture and accompanying discussion is powerful.  It really maximizes your time with God.  I typically have about 30 minutes to an hour during nap time but some days, as toddlers do, he decides that sleeping just isn't on his agenda.

So, the current series is on new beginnings.  What better place to start than creation, right?  Something struck me this morning during my reading, Adam's declaration in Genesis 2:23.

"And Adam said:

This is now bone of my bones

Flesh of my flesh;

She shall be called Woman,

Because she was taken out of Man."

My first thought, "Awww, the first love poem..."  Then I started to wonder about what it actually means to be a woman in Biblical terms and began digging into the commentary at the bottom of my Bible.  What I found there struck me with a profound sense of satisfaction.  

See, I've always felt like people look at me like I'm not capable of specific things because I'm petite with blond hair and blue eyes.  I'm somehow fragile or weak or less intelligent because of the way that I look.  But God says no.  No to the idea that a woman is somehow less than a man.  No to the idea that she isn't capable of being as intelligent or weak simply because she can't bench press a couple hundred pounds of iron or open a jar of pickles.  I'll have you know that I open my fair share of jars in this house.

Earlier in chapter 2, God says that he wants Adam to have a "comparable helper."  I can see all the feminists getting hot under the collar.  Hold up.  The term "helper" is not negative in any way.  In fact, God is also referred to as a help in a time of need (Psalm 33:20) and most of us know that God is the biggest, baddest helper of them all.   Women were not created to be secondary to man like some leftover afterthought but to be a companion to man; hence, the rib.  Women are created to be a just right fit with man.

The truly spectacular thing is Adam's reaction to Eve when she is presented to him.  His love poem extols that she is just like him but different.  This intrigues and astounds him.  She is intelligent, not like any other creature he had seen on the earth.  He gave her the name Woman, which is just like his name but different.  A perfect and suitable match to him.  He is completely enamored with her.

Martin Luther said it best, "God might have taken a bone from a toe and thus signified that Adam was to rule over her; or He might have taken a bone from his head to indicate her rule over him.  But by taking a bone from his side, God implied equality and mutual respect."

The Fall brought a much more pronounced difference between the sexes but I will contend until my dying breath that we are all equal.  We are all worthy of respect without limitation to our ability.

As a side note, I am snacking on an apple as I write.  Coincidence?

Girls, Girls, Girls...

Did the title grab your attention?
 

"'Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion!  For behold, I am coming and will dwell in your midst,' says the Lord."

Zechariah 2:10

 

 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey."

Zechariah 9:9

 

Daughter, a female offspring.  Daughter of Zion, a term of endearment used by God to refer to His people, believers.

Sorry to disappoint you.  The girls I'm going to be discussing today are some bad broads.  But I mean "bad" in the 90s slang good way.  On to the "bad" stuff.

Here's a little background on Zechariah:

Jerusalem has been in exile for 70 years.  Zechariah, a young prophet, tells the people that there is hope amidst desolation.  That the temple will be rebuilt and the Lord would be coming to dwell among them.  What reason would there be not to rejoice?  The spiritually bankrupt sins of their fathers had so decimated the people of Israel that they had been scattered to the four corners.  This exile was literal depiction of their hearts toward God.  But what God chastizes He will bring back to himself; as any loving Father would.

What intrigues me:

Considering the information we have on the role of women in Biblical times I have been perplexed by God's referral to His people, His believers, as a daughter.  Men were always so elevated amongst the heirarchy of social standing by Mosaic law.  Why would God chose to define His people with a feminine word?

Women were not to be completely silent, oppressed or passive victims. Consider these women:

1. Rahab, a prostitute who helped God's men escape beyond the wall,
2. Esther, who spoke to a king on behalf of her people when she was not summoned by him, a crime punishable by death and
3. Ruth, a widowed gentile who pursued Boaz in a time when the ramifications of such actions could leave her in a far more terrible state of destitution.

 These women moved with bold faith and their faith was rewarded. I long to be more like them.

Granted, there were laws to abide by for whatever reason but it was never God's intention for women to be devalued.  The law became twisted and preverted by scribes and pharisees; as all Godly things can be when left in the hands of man. One thing is for certain, women are just as important to God as any man.  The common referral to believers is, "the bride of Christ."  This referral to the body of Christ as His bride is representative of the church's soul in union with God.  Any real man knows that his wife is his greatest trust and because he is so invested in her well being she would willingly submit herself to his care (Ephesians 5:22-32). 

Surely, there are great injustices against women in the Bible and there is no denying that.  However, the same could be said of many men, especially Christ.  Sinless and blameless He endured a horrific death.  The good news: He won and with His victory we are ALL promised freedom. We were created specifically the way we are for a unique purpose.

YOU are the daughter of Zion, God's beloved.  That's a compliment. 

Where my girls at?

I'm not what one would call a feminist by any means, but I am convinced that in a professional setting, I should be held to the same standard. . .without having to dress like a man. No power suits, please. Since I've gone back to school, I’ve been doing a lot of research with a focus on discrimination of women in journalism. It’s caused me to really question a lot of the standards that society has placed on women in the workforce and the role of the woman on the home front. Duh, that’s kind of the point of the project but anyway, I am having a hard time reconciling our places in society and our places in the home.

The second wave of the women's movement in the 70s told us that we can have it all, career and family but if we’re expected to be wife, mom, and professional, then why wouldn’t those same standards are placed on men (in the male terms, obviously)? Why do women have to place their careers on hold in order to raise the family?

At any rate, personally, I believe that a man should be the head of the household and should reign with love and consideration for his family, I am one of the dying few. But I also want to know that when I walk into a job interview, that my skills and qualities are what the employer will be looking for, not whether or not I have testosterone coursing through my body. But that also means duality in child rearing and chores and bill paying. Where is the balance? Is it even possible to find a balance? What do you think?