Contemplative Bible Reading

Leviticus 18 (New Living Translation)

This post is a bit different as I am considering an entire chapter instead of one sentence.

There are many criticisms of the Bible by some women. Women are not worth as much as men in transactions. Women obey their father, then obey their husband. They don’t have a “mind of their own.” Women are to “be silent” in some circumstances where men are allowed to talk.

This chapter teaches an unprecedented respect for women. Something that sets God’s people apart from the world. In the world, men did as they wished with women if for no other reason than men were physically stronger than women and could simply “push them around.”

Note how so many of the verses in this chapter tell men NOT to do things to women. The subject here is sexual relations. All the DO NOTs are about men towards women (your mother, your father’s wives, your sister, your half sister, granddaughter, stepsister, father’s sister, mother’s sister, uncle’s wife, et al.). A man having sexual relations with these women was physically possible.

God says, “NO! Respect women. I created you able to act in a detestable manner. Many peoples on earth do these things. You will not. THIS ALL CHANGES NOW.”

Many people criticize Christianity as a “Thou shalt not” practice where we “can’t have any fun.” Well, this chapter is a lot of “Thou shalt not” with a message of “Thou shalt respect women, no matter what everyone else on earth is doing.”