But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity. These are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father’s house. | ||
| Numbers 30:15–16 | ||
| In Numbers 30 we see God holding men to their word, but making exceptions for women. Is this chauvinistic discrimination? No. It’s a wonderful illustration. You see, on one hand, God wants me to be a man of integrity. On the other hand, as the Bride of Christ, we are all women. And we have a husband who ever lives to make intercession for us, who steps up, steps in, who’s at the right hand of the Father as an Advocate for us (1 John 2:1). Tempted in all points like us (Hebrews 4:15), Jesus understands our pressures, our frailties, our infirmities, and our desires to keep promises, but He also understands our inability to do so. So He steps in, intercedes, and intervenes on our behalf. It’s a wonderful picture and illustration. This is exactly what happened in Luke 22 . . . Only hours before He was to be crucified, Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him. “Not me,” Peter argued. “Lord, even if everyone else denies You, I won’t. I’ll die alongside of You, if it comes to that. You can count on me” (see verse 33). Knowing Peter’s heart, and also knowing he couldn’t do what he promised, Jesus said, “Satan has desired to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not. And when you make it through, strengthen the brothers” (see verses 31–32). From there, Peter would eventually find himself in Jerusalem, preaching at the service in which three thousand were saved (Acts 2:41). Because Jesus prayed for the man who made a vow he couldn’t keep, thousands were saved. You have a friend in Jesus Christ. You have a Bridegroom who knows all about your fickleness. You have One who steps up and steps in on your behalf, who ever lives to make intercession for you (Hebrews 7:25). No matter what vows you have made at any given time, Jesus will see you through. He promised to, and He keeps every promise perfectly. If, however, you turn your back on Him, walk away from Him, and are no longer covered by Him, you’re on your own. Numbers 30 has much to say about integrity, but also about our security as the Bride of Christ. Pastor Jon Courson | ||
