The Truth About Women: Episode 4 Is God a Misogynist?

In this episode, Leighann takes a look at 2 troubling passages in the Old Testament that people might use to support their argument that accuses God of being a misogynist. Through what she learned in a workshop she listened to on the Gospel Coalition website, Leighann is able to declare with certainty that  God is NOT a Misogynist. As you hear this episode on our summer series, “The Truth about Women” you will be amazed at the mercy and goodness of God and encouraged by the value He places on women. 

This podcast content came from Mary Willson’s workshop titled “Is God a Misogynist?” You can listen to it here on the Gospel Coalition website.

Psalm 18:33-35 

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. 33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. 34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.

Quote regarding God’s response to “the tragedy of human transgression:”

“The pervasive sin, distortion, brokenness and abuse of power, including misogynistic oppression in our world are effects of human rebellion against God. The painful situations described in the Scriptures relating to poor treatment of women reflect the tragedy of human transgression. Therefore, any action God takes to curb and/or liberate a person from such sin and brokenness exalts His mercy.” 

Quote regarding biblical law: 

“Biblical law, in part, functions to restrain sin within a fallen world rather than to create an ethical system for a perfected, sinless humanity within a perfected sinless world.” 

Two troubling passages of Scripture we took a look at:

1. Deuteronomy 21:10-14
1. God’s law emphasized responsibilities of the powerful rather than rights
2. God’s law recognizes the personhood of the vulnerable
3. God’s law is concerned with covenant relationships
2. Numbers 5:11-21
1. God’s law guards the community from defilement by upholding the marriage covenant.
2. God’s law protected women from human judgment (no witness).
3. God’s law allowed the woman to be innocent until (miraculously) proven guilty where the code of Hamarati practiced “trial by ordeal” where the accused would have had to have been miraculously saved from the ordeal in order to be proven innocent. 

2 Timothy 4:2-5

  Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.