Does God Hate Women?
Though this may seem like a ridiculous (i.e., foolish or absurd) question to some, this is an actual conversation being engaged in on social media. Please join our team member, social influencer, and miracle of God’s grace, Alyssa Glander, as she responds to this question in our blog today.
Recently, I’ve been seeing posts from a lot of women, who—deconstructed from the faith—are sharing their story and opinions online. Please know that I am not here to discredit or belittle anyone's spiritual journey, but I do hope to help clear up a common misconception that is floating around frequently within some of these narratives. Specifically, I would like to address the claim that God is a misogynist.
Does God hate women?
At the VERY least, is God misogynistic?
At the VERY least, is God misogynistic?
With the atrocities that women have faced in history, and even within the church, I can see how one might confuse the ignorant actions of men and women with a reflection of God’s character. After all, if we are the hands and feet, aren’t we just doing what our “Brain” (God) tells us to do?
While I can’t make any excuses for what some people do in the name of God, it’s important to remember that the creation is not the Creator. We all fall short of the glory of God in one way or another (Romans 3:23), but we as Christians need to be more mindful of how we handle these topics and how the actions of those who came before us have affected ministry—everywhere, for everyone, leading to today. We also have that same power, both positively and negatively. I encourage us all to be wise with our platforms and relationships so that we as Christians can be helping the next generation grow in the knowledge of the truth instead of hurting them with toxic rhetoric.
To best understand God’s heart when it comes to His creation—specifically women (for this blog today), we need to turn to what He says in His Word.
Have you ever read the account of the five daughters of Zelophehad? Turn to Numbers chapter 27 while I summarize, if you would like!
Zelophehad had five daughters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. But, he had no sons. Zelophehad was part of the generation of Israelites who departed from Egypt under Moses’ leadership and died during the forty years in the wilderness. Because Zelophehad had no sons, he had no one to pass his land down to. Understanding this, the daughters gathered together and went forth to try to appeal this regulation. We have to remember to read this account through its cultural context. All five of Zelophehad’s daughters belonged to the new generation which would have entered the Promised Land. Without their father, the five daughters would have been left with no prospects or means for a future. In other words, they would not receive the land promised to their father when it was to be dispersed among the tribes.
When the women gathered together in the presence of Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole community (Numbers 27:2), they stated their case in front of the sacred tent of meeting to argue that their father’s lineage should not be cut off from his clan just because he had no son (i.e., just because they were women).
They stated that they should be permitted to inherit his land portion in order to avoid this potential injustice to their father’s name (and property).
Here's what happened next:
Numbers 27: 5-8
Moses brought their case before the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, “The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them. And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.”
Is this not a narrative of God looking out specifically for women? And God’s Word provides us with so many more—more verses, more accounts, more examples—that reinforce how highly esteemed women are in God’s eyes and how God continually shows His intention and His love for women. I’ll just mention a few . . .
Read the story of Ruth in the book of the same name, or Tamar in Genesis 38. What about Rahab? She is even mentioned in the lineage of Jesus in Matthew's Gospel (11:5) and in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11! Deborah was an appointed judge over the people of Israel before rule by kings was instituted (Judges 4 & 5). All of these women mentioned were strong women and were strongly loved and used by God!
Additionally, the very fact that the church is called the bride of Christ speaks volumes to God’s heart for women. And don't forget about wisdom being referred to as a woman throughout Scripture! (I like to remind my husband of that one! 50 20 20 20 20 Recent
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