The definition of a vow is a solemn promise. Our vows, our solemn promises to God are important and have weight. In Numbers 30, God is making provision for a parent or a husband to protect their young daughters or young wives should they make a vow to God that those with more experience and wisdom know were made in haste without understanding. Adults, male and female, are bound by their oaths and vows. I distinctly remember as a little girl ready right then to go live with Jesus. My heart was pure, my understanding had a long way to go and years to learn. I remember as a teenager and giving in to the current thoughts emblazoned on billboards “Is God dead?” Again, a long way to go and needed years of experience to understand. Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: “This is what the Lord commands: When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.” v. 1-2.

How important are vows to God? People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:16-20. Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. Hebrews 7:22, 25-28.

How important is God’s oath? The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” (Psalm 110:4) Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:18-22.

So important that by God’s oath we draw near to God. So important we have an anchor for our soul, firm and secure because God’s nature is unchanging and it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Take His hand. He is our sure anchor and our ever Present hope. It takes time to understand. It takes trusting God to lead us and then listening to Him. His ways are not our ways. This is new territory that we have no experience of until we walk with Him. As you begin to walk with Him you begin to realize He has never left you. We don’t walk alone and it’s so much better when we walk with Him.