«His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity» (Isaiah 9:7, NLT).
HUMANS TEND TO ATTRIBUTE to the Bible that which rests in the depths of their souls. Often, while reading the Scriptures, they direct their reading t ward supporting their own social prejudices. For instance, many-both believers and unbelievers-believe God’s Word relegates women to a position of servitude with respect to men, as a mere object that exists to satisfy men’s most callous desires. However, that’s not biblical.
Throughout the Old Testament, we find women such as Deborah, who «was judging Israel» (Judg. 4:4); and when King Josiah wanted to know what the Book of the Law said, he sought the help of «Hulda the prophetess» (2 Kings 22:14). We are told that Abigail was «a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance• who was able to smooth over her husband Nabal’s wrongdoing (1 Samuel 25:3), and that Zelophehad’s daughters were allowed to claim the inheritance that legitimately belonged to them (Num. 27).
Likewise, in the New Testament, we find wealthy women in the Gospels who «were contributing from their own resources to support» the emerging Christian movement (Luke 8:3, NLT); and in the book of Acts, Lydia had her own business dealing in purple cloth (see Acts 16:14).
These examples are more than enough to affirm that the Bible is not a book that distorts the view of women (particularly with a violent slant) or discriminates against them. Susan E. Hylen wrote an excellent article in a journal of biblical archeology, in which she dismantles at least five of the main myths regarding the treatment of women in the context of the Christian church and New Testament period.
Although it’s true that sin has disrupted human relationships, God’s Word advocates for a return to the beginning, to the time in which both men and women were totally equal, where there was no discrimination of any kind.
The Christian principle is this: «There is neither … male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus» (Galatians 3:28, NIV). When we come to understand and accept that, in addition to being equal, we are all one in Christ, the words of the prophet Isaiah will be fulfilled: «Peace will never end» (Isaiah 9:7, NLT).
Can you imagine our everyday life being characterized by human relationships full of deep and continuous peace?
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Angelica Cuate
