A: The Bible tells us that God never changes (James 1:17), so the change must lie with us. I think maybe God is giving us time to learn. You don't expect a three-year-old to act like Miss Manners, or a beginning swimmer to attempt the high-dive. We tolerate behaviors from an infant that would be considered outrageous for an adult. Why don't we lay down the whole law on the baby's first day? Because we understand that an infant does not have the maturity or the background to follow it. Instead, as children grow we give them simple, straightforward rules: "Don't go out after dark!" "Don't cross the street alone!" "Into bed at 8:00!" "Don't touch the matches!" Such rules may be counterproductive for an adult, but appropriate for a child. (See Galatians 4:1-3)

I don't mean that people in ancient times were less mature than people today, it is the times that were not mature. That is to say, there was not enough background of history to allow for an adequate understanding of God's teaching. Even now we do not have the full picture. Before the New Testament even less was known, because the world at large did not have the example or teachings of Yeshua and his disciples. In his teaching he made use of the lives and teachings of the saints and the prophets who had come before him. They in turn made reference to their own forbears, and to the Torah (the Law of Moses) When God spoke to Moses, he referred to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When the time is right, God gives us more. (Galatians 4:4)

Why isn't polygamy one of those things that God put a stop to early on? I honestly don't know. I think we have to trust God that he makes the proper decisions as to what to demand from us at any point in history. Maybe in a spiritually dim era polygamy was in women's better interest. It allowed what few righteous men there were to protect more women, and the abuse of an evil man is lessened if it's spread among several wives. In any case that time is passed. 1 Corinthians 7:2, 1 Timothy 3:2.

Although the New Testament does call for women to be submissive to their husbands (1 Peter 3:5-6), this has nothing to do with valuing the man above the woman. (Galatians 3:28, 1 Corinthians 11:11,12) It is simply the order of command which God has set out for this world, apparently dating back to Genesis 3:16. Even so, men are to treat their wives with respect (1 Peter 3:7) It appears that in the Age to Come there will be no more domination of men over women, as there will be no wives and husbands. (Matthew 22:30). In the end there will be no more curse (Rev. 22:3), so the curse of Genesis 3:16 will no longer apply.