Genesis 24-26
Genesis 24: Abraham’s servant swore an oath to find Isaac a wife from within Abraham’s relatives. The servant asked Abraham some questions to clarify the parameters, but the challenge before him was clear and God’s guidance was needed.
Genesis 25:32 Esau swore an oath to Jacob, selling his birthright for a bowl of stew. Esau is much more worried about himself right now than he is about others and their future. Can you relate?
Genesis 26:3 and Genesis 26:31 contain more oaths that were sworn before God and before man.
This seems like a lot of serious promises made in a short amount of time. What can we learn from this?
Today we kind of think about promises like this, (correct me if I’m wrong) there are big promises like wedding vows, (Yes, this is us, nearly 40 years ago.) and then there are little promises like, “I’ll meet you for coffee on Wednesday”. Right?
We use the words vow, contract, oath, covenant, promise, synonymously. They all broadly mean that there is an agreement between one party and another. We could say that a contract is an earthly legal agreement that carries earthly consequences. A covenant, oath or vow that is made with God as a witness adds a spiritual element to the consequences. This is true and bears more weight to its seriousness. But don’t all of these promises matter to God?
Why does God talk about it?
First – Through these oaths and covenants God reveals Himself as true, reliable, and trustworthy.
Have you wondered why God would enter into a covenant with a man? Seriously! He is God and who are we to step in and have any part of His decisions? One reason might be so we know that He keeps His promises. If He says it, it will be done.
What does that mean to you?
Most importantly, there never has been or will be a reason not to trust God. Isn’t that awesome news?! My personal takeaway is that others should be able to trust me. God should be leading my decisions to make vows or promises. All of them! Ultimately, He is the one I will need to rely on for the endurance, patience, wisdom, etc. to help me see the promise through. I am weak but He is strong. Isn’t it a good idea to seek Him first before jumping in?
Second – God invites us into His plans
I ask again, why would God enter into a covenant or make an oath with a man, a family, or a whole people group? Maybe it is because He loves us and wants to be in relationship with us. Does God need us? (Uhhhh the creator who could breathe life into existence? That One?) I don’t think so. He doesn’t need us, He wants us. WOW. Read that again and make it personal. He doesn’t need me, He wants me.
What does that do for you?
It should motivate you to do everything you can to grow in your relationship with Him. It should also stir your heart to join Him by doing all that you can to challenge and encourage everyone you can toward a healthy vibrant walk with God. (AKA make disciples) Personally, it reminds me that I belong to Him. And because of that, I am growing to care more deeply about what and who He cares about and act on that compassion.
The story of the servant and Abraham is a great example of how an oath is supposed to work between people. The servant agrees, he goes, he prays, he confirms, he thanks God, and returns quickly to fulfill his promise. The servant has not acted on his own but has followed God’s lead throughout.
With God at the center of the promises made, we have seen a very positive outcome. However, when God is not at the center, it’s a very different story.
Our third example comes from Esau.
Third – God shows us what happens when our promises are frivolous.
Before we are too quick to judge Esau (and Jacob) we need to look around. This is also a problem Jesus addresses in His teachings to the Jews. They are making promises, swearing by people and places and avoiding God’s counsel. Jesus tells them to stop making a show of this foolishness. (Matthew 5:33-37). He is not saying it’s wrong to make an oath. He’s saying don’t pretend, don’t be fake, don’t just say things frivolously. Think about it. It makes you look bad. It makes your people look bad and ultimately it makes God look bad when you attach the word “Christian” to your life.
What does that mean to you?
I have broken promises. Have you? I have agreed to things that I never intended to follow through with, have you? When I do this frivolous thing, my actions are speaking loudly that I care more about me than I do about you. Esau’s action spoke the same. He cared more about himself than his dad, his God, his heritage, God’s covenant, and so on.
Every one of us can grow to love others more tomorrow than today. That is my prayer for me and for you today. “
challenge
Vows, oaths, and promises are part of God’s true, honest, and reliable character.
Next time you make a promise, consider the consequences. Pray for God’s instruction. And remember that in all that you do, you are representing yourself as a child of God, because you can’t not communicate.
Don’t take the easy road and never commit yourself to an agreement like this. I can just hear this as the simple solution. Instead, agree with God about the vows, oaths, and promises that you need to wholeheartedly commit to.
By His grace and with His help, KEEP THEM.
