LIFE SCRIPTS

7 “If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. 8 If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. 9 If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. 10 If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights. 11 If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.
Exodus 21:7‭-‬11 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/exo.21.7-11.NIV.

Women are unique in God’s eyes. Here, specifications are laid by God on how female servants are to be treated. If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she was to be treated with dignity and esteem. If the master wasn’t pleased with her, he was to allow her to be redeemed back and not resold to foreigners. God institutes guidelines on how to protect the weak and vulnerable. Women are in many ways exploited in many societies. But long before the advent of our society, God makes it clear to His people about how they’re to treat women and vulnerable people. Beyond this, He even instructs that if the owner of the servant grants her as a wife to his son, he’s to give her the full rights of a daughter. If the man marries another wife, he’s still bound to support his original wife but if not, then she’ll be free to leave. No room for exploitation was allowed by God. He’s a God who is just and protects the weak. Extrapolate that to some cultures today where a man is allowed to marry off his daughters at a very tender age. Some of these girls are exposed to malpractices such as FGM and do even not have a right to decide the life they desire to live. They’re sold off to the highest bidder in the name of a ‘husband’ who is free to do as he chooses including marrying other women. God’s heart inclines to the weak especially women and children. He reaches out and shows His mercy to them in unique ways including instituting laws to cater for the same.