God's View of Women/Does God Really Care About Women?

Did God create women inferior to man? 

No. Genesis 1:27 states: "God proceeded to create the man in his image, in God's image he created him; male and female he created them."  So from the very beginning, humans-both male and female-were created with the ability to reflect God's qualities. Although Adam and Even had their own unique emotional and physical makeup, the both received the same commission and enjoyed the same rights before their Maker. -Genesis 1:28-31.

Prior to Eve's creation, God declared:  "I am going to make a helper for him [Adam], as a compliment of him." (Genesis 2:18) Does the word "compliment" imply that the woman was inferior to the man?  No, because this Hebrew word can also be rendered "counterpart" or "a help corresponding to" man. Think of the complimentary roles played by a surgeon and an anesthetist during surgery. Can one manage without the other. Hardly! Though the surgeon performs the actual operation, is he more important? It is hard to say. Likewise, God created the man and the woman to cooperate closely, not to compete with each other. -Genesis 2:24. 

What shows God's concern for women? 

Foreseeing what fallen, sinful men do, God early on expressed his intention to protect women. Speaking of the Mosaic law, instituted in the 16th century B.C.E., author Laure Aynard, in her book La Bible au feminin (The Bible in the Feminine Gender), notes:  "For the most part, when the Law covenant speaks of the woman, it is to defend her." 

For instance, the Law commanded honor and respect for both father and mother.  (Exodus 20:12; 21:15, 17)  It also required that due consideration be shown to pregnant women.  (Exodus 21:22) Even today, the protection provided by those laws of God stands in sharp contrast with the lack of legal rights that some women experience in many parts of the world.  But there is  more.  

Next time: God's View of Women/Does God Really Care About Women? -A Law That Reflects God's View of Women

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