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Women's Report - October 2009

Modern-day slavery

 

The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.” …. So she named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are El-roi”; for she said, “Have I really seen God and remained alive…?” (Genesis 16:10, 13)

 

Reflections from MCC U.S. Women's Advocacy*

 

by Linda Gehman Peachey

 

I don’t remember hearing much about Hagar while growing up. Yet, the Bible records two amazing encounters Hagar had with God, in which God intervened to help her survive. In Genesis 16, an angel found her wandering in the desert after she ran away from Sarah and gave her a promise very similar to the one given to Abraham. Interestingly, God did not even mention Abraham but promised to multiply her offspring. And in Genesis 21, God helped her find a well of water and again promised to make her son into a great nation.

What is especially remarkable about these stories is that Hagar was a female slave. She had no rights of her own, and was used by others to serve their interests and needs. Perhaps she was born into a slave family or her parents had to sell her in order to pay off a debt. We also know she was from Egypt and may have been one of the gifts Pharaoh gave to Abraham after taking Sarah into his harem. Sarah and Abraham then used her to solve their inheritance problems and finally abused and rejected her when her son appeared to threaten their son’s status and access to the family’s wealth.

Nevertheless, God did not abandon Hagar but sought her out and gave her the resources and assurances she needed to survive. It is important for us to remember this, for Hagar is not just a biblical figure from long ago. In many ways, she represents those today who are used and exploited by others, and find it difficult or impossible to escape their situation.

Sometimes people are literally trapped in prison-like conditions. In other settings, they may find it very difficult to survive on their own. No doubt this was Hagar’s situation, at least while she was pregnant. It would have been very difficult for her to survive in the desert and so the first angel encouraged her to return home, where she would at least have food, shelter and help through the birthing process.

Women and girls today are often caught in similar ways. A bad harvest, illness or natural disaster can plunge families into debt and desperation and leave them very vulnerable. During a learning tour to southern Mexico last year, for instance, we heard how women from Honduras and El Salvador come to Mexico looking for jobs. Some want to go to the United States eventually, but others simply want to earn some extra money in order to pay off a debt or provide extra security for their families. Bar owners search out these women and promise them jobs as waitresses. Sadly, these women soon discover the way to earn money is to drink 30-40 beers each day with male clients. To counter the effects of so much alcohol, they are then given drugs and soon find themselves in a cycle of addiction, debt and prostitution. They become trapped and find it very difficult to leave the bar.

The Mennonite Church USA Statement against Human Trafficking reports that 80% of victims of modern day slavery are female and 50% are children under the age of 18. This statement further encourages all of us to become more aware of these situations, find ways to offer hope and encouragement to victims, work at prevention, take responsibility as consumers and advocate for laws that protect victims and hold accountable those who exploit others.

Just as God paid attention to and encouraged Hagar, God invites us to listen to victims of exploitation and slavery. And just as God did not abandon Hagar, God invites us to work toward a world in which all can survive and thrive.

For discussion and reflection:

  • Who in your community is most vulnerable to exploitation?
  • What resources are available to offer help and a way out of an unjust situation?
  • How can the church be involved in preventing forced labor and slavery?
 

Resources

 

From Mennonite Church USA:

 

From the Church of the Brethren:

 

In addition

  • Previous issues of Women’s Report can be found at: http://us.mcc.org/programs/women.
  • The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution to take steps to end sexual violence and impunity in conflict zones. Resolution 1888 calls for the appointment of a Special Representative and a team of experts to oversee efforts to end conflict-related sexual violence. The resolution also calls for advisors focused on protection of women in peacekeeping operations, and for parties to a conflict to investigate reports of sexual violence and bring perpetrators to justice. Go to: http://www.enoughproject.org/blogs/under-clintons-watch-un-calls-end-rape-weapon-war.
 

Poems and Prayers

 

And You Said

 

Where was no wine

there was you

and you said drink,

and there it was, startling and sweet.

 

And where there was no bread

there was you

and you said feed one another,

and there it was,

filling and strong.

 

And where there was no love

there was you

and you said touch,

and there we were,

our hands looking like yours.

 

Reprinted by permission of The Pilgrim Press from In Wisdom’s Path: Discovering the Sacred in Every Season. Copyright 2000 by Jan L. Richardson, p. 41. ______________________________________________________________________________

The mission of MCC U.S. Women’s Advocacy is to encourage mutuality between women and men, and provide resources which address sexism, violence and abuse in our families and communities. ______________________________________________________________________________

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