Kept Safe

Given all the strong, provocative, and affirming references to women in only these first six chapters of the Bible, it's amazing to me that the predominant theology and praxis for thousands of years has been far more inclined toward our weakness (of body and character), seduction, and shame. I certainly don't blame Scripture for this. And on some level, I don't even blame men. Context matters. History matters. It's not all that surprising (though no less disappointing) that the articulated thoughts of the learned and esteemed "experts" seeped into the consciousness of everyone around them and are now inculcated in not only our thoughts - conscious and unconscious - but the very fiber of our culture. But just because it is, doesn't make it OK. Rather, it invites me to re-imagining context and re-writing history - and then living in that reality; one that I think is far more consistent with Scripture's heart and intent.

The remaining verses of Genesis 6 (after the "beautiful women") read like this:

This is the history of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless man living on earth at the time. He consistently followed God's will and enjoyed a close relationship with him. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now the earth had become corrupt in God's sight, and it was filled with violence. God observed all this corruption in the world, and he saw violence and depravity everywhere. So God said to Noah, "I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. Yes, I will wipe them all from the face of the earth! "Make a boat from resinous wood and seal it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. Make it 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Construct an opening all the way around the boat, 18 inches below the roof. Then put three decks inside the boat-bottom, middle, and upper-and put a door in the side. "Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing. Everything on earth will die! But I solemnly swear to keep you safe in the boat, with your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring a pair of every kind of animal-a male and a female-into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. Pairs of each kind of bird and each kind of animal, large and small alike, will come to you to be kept alive. And remember, take enough food for your family and for all the animals." So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

God protects not only Noah, but women: Noah's wife and their sons' wives. On first glance I suppose this isn't all that profound. In order for the earth to be repopulated after its destruction women are going to be kind of important. I get it. But it's more than that. Listen to and look again at the words: But I solemnly swear to keep you safe in the boat, with your wife and yours sons and their wives. This is about more than procreation. This is about a God who is gracious and kind, beautiful and compassionate.

Despite history and theology's attempts - again and again - to shame women because of Eve's "fall," God's heart (and Scripture) says otherwise - again and again. We are kept safe. We are protected. We are chosen. We are honored. We matter.

For my own sake, and hopefully yours as well, let me say those words again - slightly re-phrased:

God keeps women safe. God protects women. God chooses women. God honors women. We matter.

God keeps me safe. God protects me. God chooses me. God honors me. I matter.

This may seem an over-simplified reading of this text or, at best, like trying to pull something out of nearly-nothing. Not to me. And here's why: in my own life the internal and external messages have been far different. They have sounded far more like this:

I am not safe. I am not protected. I am not chosen. I am not honored. I don't matter.

And the world around me continues to hammer these "truths" into my psyche. Domestic violence. Sexual trafficking. Pornography. Gender bias. Pay gaps. The list goes on and on.

For me, it's not oversimplified or nearly-nothing. It's everything. When Scripture offers me and all of us actual text, actual language, actual wording that heals those messages, I'm going to soak it up. With the onset of a flood (whether real or metaphorical), I am kept safe. When all seems lost, I am kept safe. When I feel like I'm drowning in a world that harms more than heals, I am kept safe. When I doubt my own value and worth, I am kept safe.

I am safe. I am protected. I am chosen. I am honored. I matter.
I am safe. I am protected. I am chosen. I am honored. I matter.
I am safe. I am protected. I am chosen. I am honored. I matter.

Language matters. The Text matters. Genesis 6:18 matters. Thanks be to God.