Rights

The Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel.  If a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, she will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her menstrual period.  On the eighth day the boy’s foreskin must be circumcised.  After waiting thirty-three days, she will be purified from the bleeding of childbirth.  During this time of purification, she must not touch anything that is set apart as holy.  And she must not enter the sanctuary until her time of purification is over.  If a woman gives birth to a daughter, she will be ceremonially unclean for two weeks, just as she is unclean during her menstrual period.  After waiting sixty-six days, she will be purified from the bleeding of childbirth. [Leviticus 12.1-5]

I remember the first time this was brought to my attention was by a dear friend who was struggling with it.  This friend happened to be female and she called "foul" on the premise of equal rights.

Assuming any of us had any rights at all in the presence of God, my friend would have been entirely correct.  However, in light of the fact that God made the rules, there is little foundation for a declaration of "rights" (gender related or otherwise).  Things are simply the way the rule-maker declares them.  Frankly, when compared to all the other rules imposed on male and female alike, this one rule pales in magnitude.  The curse upon mankind was not gender specific.  The inability to stand righteous in God's presence applied both to male and female.

All I can say to this rule and my friend's argument is, "Thank God for Jesus!"  The Apostle Paul would later write the following words in a letter to the church found in Galatia: There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female.  For you are all one in Christ Jesus. [Galatians 3.28]

Father, I assume my questions will continue as long as I continue to read the Bible.  Help me however to remain resolved that You are LORD and, as such, are above contest from me.  Thank You nonetheless for allowing me to offer my questions as Your created being and thank You for helping me to understand a little more here and there.