Thank God for Men :)

Patriarchy.  A source of contempt for many individualistic women.  Every independent woman gets fired up about a society ruled by men: the feminist movement, the relinquishing of womanly duties, and competition for male-dominated roles.  I, too, have been offended by our male-dominated society and have rebelled against it...against the need for men and against my desire to be taken care of.

But, the more I learn, experience, and observe, the more I come to understand and respect the value in a patriarchal society.  **(I say this now so that you don't think this is a man-bashing entry written by a feminist, naive, and independent girl blogger.  I share observations concerning the way men have failed, but bear with me all you men-readers: I value you and your role in society and commend all of the wonderful traits that make you great leaders, husbands, fathers, and brothers.)**  :)

I think a lot of this tension comes from the misuse of women by men.  The majority of men do not fulfill the role they were intended to.  While they dominate in nearly all roles of leadership, they have greatly misused their authority.  They do not act as protectors of women and children, but exploit women and children for their own gain.  

In general, men have largely become people unworthy of respect or trust.  They are often greedy and selfish: driven by instinctual desire for power and consumed with chasing after lust.  They do not display the character of a good neighbor, brother, son, husband, or father.  They do not display the image and character they were made in.

This failure in society's men has resulted in gender confusion all across the board.  As men are seen as exploiters of trust and faith, women do not allow them to be in roles they were made for.  Women no longer trust them to adequately fulfill those roles.  Women no longer trust men to be caretakers of them or their children.  Women feel the need to overcompensate - to fulfill these roles.
The result: gender and role confusion, and all kinds of problems that reach and negatively affect all aspects of society...producing an extremely unhealthy world with unhealthy people.
This takes all kinds of forms, many pretty obvious, many too complicated to get into.  None of it is good...none of it is the way it was intended to be.

In my Exodus/Deuteronomy class, we have gotten to chapter 22.  On the first read, I wasn't impressed.  Through the archaic language and culture, I didn't see the significance of what was being communicated.  But, in remembering all that I've learned in Genesis and Exodus and giving the law a second read, I caught on to the picture being portrayed and the effort being made with these "statutes and ordinances".  I saw a law that was striving to protect dependent and vulnerable elements of society: women.

Yes, no matter what we want to believe or how badly we fight it, we, women, are vulnerable and dependent.  Although we have a most important job of taking care of babies and raising children, we were not meant to take care of ourselves alone.

Deuteronomy portrays women as dependents...under the protection and authority of either father or husband.
While Deuteronomy gives this responsibility and even authority to men, it also provides checks on their power.  Limits put in place to avoid societies like what ours has become: where men misuse their power over women to take advantage of them rather than protect them.

These limits and checks: ultimately manifested in men who answer to God - who seek wisdom and guidance from him...seeking to emulate God's character to his wife, children, and the rest of society.  That's a man worthy of respect.

And what a world: where women don't have to sacrifice their gentile, nurturing, and weak (yes, weak) nature in order to be strong and independent in the face of men who will hurt them and exploit them.  Where men can be the authoritative voice and leader and women can be their helpers.

Don't fight against it girls: we are great helpers.  Men couldn't lead without our help.  We need each other.  Equally. But we need each other when we are operating in the right roles.

Women need taken care of.  Men need the help of women.