Conditions

I am completly amazed with the conditions of women in the Old Testament. Having read the stories more than once I am sad with how common they have become to me. It is hard for me to realize that these were real people who really had to live through these hard times and struggle through these things. It only opened my eyes wider to listen to the list of horrible things done to women during these times. They were not even their own property, they could not make decisions for themsleves or for their children. Everything was left up to the man of the house who could do as he pleased with all his posessions including his wife,children,money,animals, and property. It amazes me that people can be clumped into a catagory filled with things like money, animals, and property possesions. It makes me think that they had no value at all to their husbands. This is such a different concept than what we see in our culture today. Women have rights and are able to make their own decisions everyday many times over. Men listen to the voices of their wives and consider their opinions when making decisions as well. Most decisions are made as a partnership the husband and his wife unlike the Old Testament times when the husband was making all the decisions based his beliefs alone.
After realizing that these struggles were made by real people I then think of those few women mentioned in the bible that stood up to the cultural powers of the time. They went against all the norms and mores in order to do what they needed to for themselves, their families and their people. I often ask myself the question that if I had been in their posisition would I have been strong enough to stand up tall in a world full of male dominance? Would I have enough faith that God would bring me through what he had planned for me in my life? These are questions I will never be able to answer, but it makes me see the blessings that are present in my life everyday. That I am able to have a voice and able to recieve an education things that weren't allowed for women who lived a hundred years ago. I am so thankful to have the privedleges I do today and that I am free to speak the truth in love to all those around me.