We have already seen laws pertaining to vows in Leviticus 27 and here in Numbers 30 we have further laws. These relate to situations in which vows can be overruled. While laws like this relate to a specific cultural situation there is an underlying principle that should be recognised: our speech is important. God created the world by speaking. We can bless or curse others by speaking. It is through our spoken testimony that God gives life to those who are spiritually dead. Our speech matters. Speech is a powerful and sacred gift given by God to human beings as an accompaniment to our divine mandate to rule the earth. If we use speech in ways that are reckless and misleading, we desecrate this gift. If we make a promise, therefore, we must keep it. Vows must be fulfilled. Promise-keeping is one of the most celebrated attributes of God and it should therefore also be something that characterises us. There are a lot of bad reasons to make vows and promises. We might make grand promises to endear ourselves to others. We might make vows in prayer as a way of bargaining with God. We might make promises to get something whilst knowing that we may not be able to fulfil our obligation. Be careful what you promise. As Jesus taught, it is better to refuse to do something and then to nevertheless do it than it is to promise something and then not do it. Let your speech be true. Don’t desecrate this gift by using it rashly and wrongly.
Do you promise too much? Have you been trying to bargain with God? Are you keeping your promises and vows?
Read Numbers 30 and Matthew 21:28-31
