Today we begin numbers chapter 30, and we read about vows. “If God does ____, then I will promise to do ____.” Or, “If ______ happens, then I promise to do ____.” Vows are not to be taken lightly, and we should be careful with what we promise to do. Our words are binding. I pray that we would be wise and loving with what we say, and be very intentional with our promises. Praise King Jesus.
Numbers 30
1 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel, saying, “This is what the Lord has commanded. 2 If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Women and Vows
3 “If a woman vows a vow to the Lord and binds herself by a pledge, while within her father's house in her youth, 4 and her father hears of her vow and of her pledge by which she has bound herself and says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. 5 But if her father opposes her on the day that he hears of it, no vow of hers, no pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. And the Lord will forgive her, because her father opposed her.6 “If she marries a husband, while under her vows or any thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she has bound herself, 7 and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand. 8 But if, on the day that her husband comes to hear of it, he opposes her, then he makes void her vow that was on her, and the thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she bound herself. And the Lord will forgive her. 9 (But any vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, anything by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her.)
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ Who are “the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel”?
+ [V2+3] Why should you keep a vow to the Lord after making it? [see Deut. 23:21 & Eccles. 5:4]
+ What happens if a father opposes the vow his daughter makes?
+ What voids a wife’s vow?
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Are there vows that you made to the Lord that you’ve yet to follow through on?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?