The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Leviticus 12:5,
"A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding."
Here is something interesting. In the law the Lord gave Moses, a woman giving birth is unclean for a period twice as long if she had a baby girl than if she had a baby boy. Likewise, the period of her purification took twice as long.
I can hear the social justice warriors howl! Those who pretend there are no differences between the genders must suffer apoplexy with a case of the quivers over this! "How dare God establish distinctions such as this!" Is the Judeo-Christian outlook one with a preference for males over females? Is God a misogynist?
There have been a variety of explanations offered up as to why the Lord required double the time for uncleanness and purification for female babies versus males. I have not found any to be particularly compelling. Some feel the circumcision of the baby boy may have contributed toward the difference in time periods. Others look to prevailing attitudes during this patriarchal period - but this is from God, not dictated by any cultural imperative. Appeals are made to the possible difference in blood and bodily fluids expelled following birth for the two genders. As I say, I don't find any of the explanations particularly compelling, either these or others offered that I have found.
Here is a thought I have. Since God is creator and mankind is sinful and estranged from him, God was free to define the terms of covenant he imposed on his people in any way he chose. Since God created mankind male and female, he certainly has the liberty to make any distinctions he chooses between the genders. Was it his intention to denigrate the female gender?
I am reminded of the high ideal and lofty circumstance the culmination of all God's efforts in redeeming mankind achieve, "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:26-29.
"A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding."
Here is something interesting. In the law the Lord gave Moses, a woman giving birth is unclean for a period twice as long if she had a baby girl than if she had a baby boy. Likewise, the period of her purification took twice as long.
I can hear the social justice warriors howl! Those who pretend there are no differences between the genders must suffer apoplexy with a case of the quivers over this! "How dare God establish distinctions such as this!" Is the Judeo-Christian outlook one with a preference for males over females? Is God a misogynist?
There have been a variety of explanations offered up as to why the Lord required double the time for uncleanness and purification for female babies versus males. I have not found any to be particularly compelling. Some feel the circumcision of the baby boy may have contributed toward the difference in time periods. Others look to prevailing attitudes during this patriarchal period - but this is from God, not dictated by any cultural imperative. Appeals are made to the possible difference in blood and bodily fluids expelled following birth for the two genders. As I say, I don't find any of the explanations particularly compelling, either these or others offered that I have found.
Here is a thought I have. Since God is creator and mankind is sinful and estranged from him, God was free to define the terms of covenant he imposed on his people in any way he chose. Since God created mankind male and female, he certainly has the liberty to make any distinctions he chooses between the genders. Was it his intention to denigrate the female gender?
I am reminded of the high ideal and lofty circumstance the culmination of all God's efforts in redeeming mankind achieve, "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:26-29.
God is not a misogynist and I certainly don't think it was his intention to denigrate the female gender. Why would he create this wonderful gender if he felt so? Why would the Lord suffer so miserably on the cross, expressing his boundless love for this half of the human race if he felt so?
I'm happy to admit there are many things in Scripture I wish I understood better. What do you think as to why God ordained twice as long for the periods of uncleanness and purification for female births versus male?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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