The Dignity God Restores

Genesis 30:21

Afterward she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.

(ESV)

Thought:
One of the hard things to deal with in the Old Testament is the treatment of women. There would have been for the most part just as many women as there were men in Israel, but yet they rarely if ever receive a mention.

Only one daughter is mentioned, there would have been more, her name is Dinah, just tucked away in this one verse. She will come back up in a later chapter, and I’ll just say it doesn't end up much better for her in that chapter either.

Even she barely gets a mention, but you see this was the place of women, they were to be seen and not heard, they were of little value beyond bearing children. That is why so much importance is laid on fertility and barrenness in the Old Testament. This is a result of sin.

No longer are women, human beings, created in the image of God, they are just walking incubators. Simply tools in the hands of men, especially those who are powerful. Plenty of men in the bible had multiple wives, you don’t hear of women having multiple husbands.

But suddenly you reach the gospels, and mentions of women are everywhere. Joseph is not the focus of Jesus’ birth, but rather Mary, his mother, is. When everyone left Jesus at his crucifixion, who remained? The women did.

And in the New Testament, women are raised to equal status with men, co-heirs in the inheritance that is promised to us all in Christ. Yes there may still remain distinction of role, but in value, dignity, and worth in the church of God all of those things ought to be reinstated. No longer are women objects, they are treasured children of God and ought to be treated with the respect such a title demands.

Let us strive as a church to elevate those who for so long have been oppressed by those in power. We are not a community here to benefit those who are strong and powerful, but those who have been oppressed and marginalised. We are to be unlike the word, more like the kingdom of God.

Reflection:
Dinah’s quiet mention reminds us how easily people can be overlooked or undervalued. But in Christ, every person—male or female—is given equal dignity and worth. This passage calls us to reflect God’s heart by honouring those the world ignores, elevating the vulnerable, and building a church where all are treasured as God’s children.

Prayer:
Father, thank You that in Christ You restore dignity to all people. Help me honour those who are overlooked and treat every person as Your beloved child. Shape our church into a community that reflects Your kingdom—lifting up the vulnerable, protecting the oppressed, and valuing all with the worth You give. Amen.