Numbers Chapter 30
A vow was a promise made to God to give Him something, usually a sacrifice. It also could mean that that the person was promising to abstain from something. People often make vows to God when they are in need of God’s help. This becomes a problem when God does answer their prayer but the vow that was made to God is quickly forgotten. God expects us to keep our vows and promises made to Him. To fully grasp that breaking a vow to God is sin, we need to realize that a broken vow required an offering of atonement according to the law in Leviticus.
It may surprise you to read that women in this culture were valued in that they could also make oaths to God. However, she still fell under the authority of her father when she was not yet married and then under the authority of her husband when married. If she made a vow that perhaps was one her father (or husband) knew that could not be kept, he could speak up and the vow would be of no value. But if the man did not say anything when he heard the vow made, the vow would stand, and the woman would be obligated to God to keep her vow.
Let's Reflect
1. How were the instructions that God gave concerning vows disseminated to the people?
2. Words are very important to God, and it is humbling to think about the fact that God hears every word we speak. According to verse 2 if a man made a vow to God, what part of it was the man responsible for?
3. If a female makes an oath to God, but her father objects to the oath and he speaks up right away saying that her oath was not what he deemed as proper, what does the Bible say about the female breaking her oath?
4. Verse 6 explains that a man that marries a woman who has made vows to God, or pledges prior to their marriage; when he hears of it, if he objects, then the vows are no longer binding. Let’s make up an example to better understand. Let’s say a woman makes a vow that she is going to give 75% of all of her monies to the tabernacle. The new husband or husband to be realizes that they would not be able to afford to live if they were to give that much. This vow would be forgiven by God and made void only at what point in time?
5. Verse 15 tells us what would happen if the husband tried to make the vow or pledge void at a later time. What would happen?
