First-class Women

First-Class Women

Concubines

As Patsy listened to her friends gush about their plans to enjoy a spa day, her mind frantically searched for an excuse not to join them. Why set herself up for more embarrassment and shame? She could experience that any day. No matter where she went with her two best friends, Patsy felt the sting of discrimination. In restaurants and shops, they received attention while Patsy felt overlooked or ignored. Her friends meant well, but they were oblivious—and they were skinny. I’m tired of being treated like a second-class person just because of my size, Patsy thought.

Concubines in Old Testament times knew how it felt to be second-class citizens. Although God did not condone the practice, it became acceptable in Israelite society for a man to take female slaves, bondservants, or foreign prisoners of war as secondary wives. Becoming the master’s concubine meant a rise in status for a slave or servant, but she still remained inferior to his wife. A concubine’s children were considered the legal children of her mistress but had no inheritance or property rights unless their father chose to adopt them.

Many women struggle with feelings of inferiority and see themselves as second-class people. These feelings may be based on social or economic status, ethnic origin, family background, level of education, or even appearance. Although the world may encourage these perceptions, in God’s eyes there are no second-rate people. No matter what circumstances we’re born into, we are equally guilty of the sin that separates us from him. Fortunately, God sees each of us as someone worth dying for. Once we are born into his family by believing in Jesus, we are equally accepted and forgiven. God has no second-rate children in his family.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28 (NIV)