Remember When and Where

O. T. #362  "Remember When and Where"
Sept. 11, 2014
Numbers 33
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan: Numbers 33:51

Praying for the families who lost loved ones on 9-11 when the Twin Towers were attacked and brought down.
Do you recall where you were when it happened?

LET IT GLOW

When our family is talking about a certain time that a particular thing happened, I think back to where we lived at that specific time. Then I recall which years we lived there. That helps me to remember when something occurred. To my best recollection, we have lived in 18 various places since we moved off to college in 1980 until now. You understand, my madness, don't you? Some places our son would not remember, since he was less than two years old when we first moved. The people, activities, and churches hold vivid memories for me. It may have been that way for Moses and some of the Israelites.

This long chapter is where Moses listed the 40 stops between Egypt and Moab that the Israelites made. These places would have been the camps where they stayed during their forty year journey through the wilderness. Looks like they averaged about one place a year, though it may not have happened that way. This younger generation, who conquered Moab and were presently living there may not have had memories of all of the places they lived, camped.

Some of the names would have brought back vivid memories.  (Falwell)

We may consider the whole book of Numbers as a diary, and indeed the first book of travels ever published. (Clarke)

When you add Egypt and Moab into the forty places, they total 42, as they rested at the shore of the Jordan River. When they crossed over Jordan, they entered the rest (later) of the Promised Land. Similarly, there are 42 generations from Abraham unto Christ, the Promised Messiah and Savior.

Do you have special events in your life that you can recall the time and place it happened?


LET IT GROW

I am not going into those many places where Israel pitched their tents. Certainly crossing the Red Sea and camped at Mount Sinai would have been highlights. Also, it was a memorable journey which would have involved drought, desert, fiery serpents, pits, an earthquake, squabbles, and death. Through it all, God was faithful to provide for their needs, even their shoes and clothes did not wear out. Time after time God showed His love and mercy, as well as His judgment to His chosen children.

Here are four commands God gave Israel as well as a two-fold warning:

1. When they passed over Jordan, they were to drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan.(In verse 52, there was no command by God to carry out a mass slaughter of the Canaanites. Falwell)
2. They were to destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. (verse 52)
3. Take possession of the land and settle in it, the land which God gave them to possess. (verse 53)
4. Distribute the land by lot according to their clans. The larger groups got a more land; smaller groups got less land.

The warnings of what would happen if Israel did not drive out the inhabitants, disobeying God's instructions included:

1. The inhabitants would become pricks, barbs, in Israel's eyes. A prick is a brier as a hedge.
2. They would be thorns in Israel's sides.
3. They would give Israel trouble in the land where they live.
4. God would do to Israel what He planned to do to them.

If Israel failed to obey God, she would be the object of God's punishment in exactly the same way as the Canaanites were. (MacArthur)

For a brief time during the reigns of David and Solomon Israel possessed this area. Then came the Syrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians to take over, due to Israel's idolatry. And we know the rest of the story. The 400 years of silence between the Old Testament and New Testament, the Romans and Greeks ruling and Jews were scattered. However, since 1948, Israel has been a nation once again.

Are we warning people of judgment to come? What about the love and mercy and salvation of Jesus?
Are we standing up against sin in our society?

LET IT GO

Remember all the good and bad I have experienced; how God delivered us from my sins.

Follow God's Word and Spirit.

Be a faithful warrior growing in faith and love.

Pray for Israel, our military, our leaders, and God's protection and direction now.

To Stay or to Go

O. T. #361 "To Stay or to Go"
Sept. 10, 2014
Numbers 32-Part 3
We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan my be ours.   Numbers 32:32

LET IT GLOW

I may have already shared our dilemma-to stay in our home town and home church, near family, or go away to college for the ministry. My husband waited too long to make the decision to go and the fall semester began. Finally, I started packing, after enduring much stuff due to this waiting around. He agreed that we must step out on faith and follow God's leading to a particular Baptist college located 6 hours from our family. So we made the needed preparations, said our good byes, then moved our stuff and our two preschoolers with us. God was faithful in providing us a house to rent near campus, me a job, him with classes and work study. Then the end of the semester came and the final tuition payment had to be paid before my husband could take finals. God provided. We were so blessed and taken care of by our heavenly Father. We went to do His will and His will went before us. We experienced God's provisions and working in so many wonderful ways. Had we stayed instead of going, we would have missed out on them all. Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.
Two tribes of Israel had the same dilemma.

We have discussed how the two tribes of Gad and Reuben request permission for them to stay on the east side of the Jordan River and not cross over whenever the rest of the Israelites do.  Moses included some stipulations if they were going to stay instead of go. These were agree upon, with the warning that if they do not do so, they would be sinning against the LORD, and their sins would find them out. Moses was urging them to carefully and completely fulfill their obligations.

The two tribes committed themselves to provide their warriors for the conquest of the land. Non-participation would be sin and God would certainly find and judge the tribes for their sin. (MacArthur)

How seriously do we take our agreements we make with others? How about our commitments with God? Is it a lie if we don't do what we say we will do, keep our agreements, commitments? A lie is a sin. I have not considered this before now.


LET IT GROW

The tribe of Manasseh wasted no time in joining the two tribes of Gad and Reuben once their agreement was made. (2 Kings 17) All three joined together in seeking land in that territory. From the Amorites Manasseh took Gilead (verse 39).

Verses 39-42 indicate that Manasseh conquered cities not yet taken and settled in the northern area of Gilead. (MacArthur)

As I said before, the Assyrian invasion of Israel, in 732 B.C., began with the captivity of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (1 Chron. 5:26).

To stay or go. Are we often confronted with that dilemma? There are times that our heart may say one and the Lord says the other. To which will we listen?


LET IT GO

...of the things which hold me back from going where and when God leads me to fulfill His purpose.

Whenever God tells me to stay, then stay where He placed me; wherever He says to go, then go.

Keep my focus and eyes on Jesus and ears open to His voice.

Live by faith, not by sight.

Tell of the wonderful things God does for me and give Him the glory.

Are Are You Settling for Second Best or God's Perfect Best?

O. T. #360  "Are You Settling for Second Best or God's Perfect Best?
Sept. 9, 2014
Numbers 32-Part 2
But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.  Numbers 32:23

LET IT GLOW

As a child, did you ever try to hid something from your parents? Something you did wrong and they would not approve nor be happy about? Yes, I have done those things as a teenager, lying and deceiving my parents, using my friends when making up stories to cover my sins. Ouch! Eventually, the truth came out. I had to admit my sins, my wrongs. Yes, my sins found me out. It was not a pretty picture they painted of me, either.
My way was not the best way. The path I was on was wrong for me. My parents were trying to guide me and protect me from bad mistakes I could have regretted  for the rest of my life. I thank God for wise parents. With His help, I didn't settle for second best nor a big mess in my life. It was His perfect best that He gave to me, though I had to wait for it. I am forever thankful. I am so blessed with God's perfect best for my life!

We left the two tribes of Gad and Reuben requesting to stay in the land where Israel was already living. It was the land they had already conquered from Moab. The land was good for grazing and they had herds of livestock which needed grazing. These guys were living by sight and not by faith. They desired what was easy, not enduring the hard times, not wanting to fight enemies for a land they had not seen, to obtain God's perfect best for them. They settled for second best.

For what do we settle? Are we willing to fight for what we know is God's perfect best for us or second best? Of course, it may require faith and to be in a spiritual fight. Remember, God gave victory to the Israelites in some of the most unusual ways.

What did Moses warn these two tribes?
If they turned away from following God, He would again leave all this people in the desert, and you will be the cause of their destruction. It would be a life or death situation if Gad and Reuben tribes turned away and did not obey God's instructions. If they bowed down to other gods and worshiped them instead, they would be destroyed.  (Deut. 30:17-18)

Do we warn our loved ones who turn to their own ways and desires, away from following God?

LET IT GROW

How did the tribes of Gad and Reuben respond to Moses' warning?

• We would like to build pens for our livestock.
• We want to build fortified cities for their women and children's protection while we are gone helping Israel.
• We are ready to arm ourselves and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place.
• We give up any right to inheritance of land on the other side of Jordan.

Do we arm ourselves with the whole armor of God, as Ephesians 6 tells us before we go out to battle in the world? Salvation, righteousness, truth, peace, faith, Word of God are our armor against the temptations and evil that surround us.

Have we found our place of service unto the Lord? Will we help others find their place in which God has for them to serve? Are we willing to give up our rights, our will, to obey and follow God?

Moses did not take all of this lightly, did he? What were the requirements he laid out before these leaders?

• If you arm yourselves before the LORD for battle,
• if all of you will go armed over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven His enemies out before Him,
• then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may return and be free from your obligation to the LORD and to Israel.
• This land will your possession before the LORD.
• But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.
• Build pens and cities, but do what you promised.

Do we stand up for God's Word and principles for us to live by, proclaiming abortion and homosexuality, fornication, adultery, drug abuse, and alcohol use as sinful. Do we show others the righteous way to live? Are we prayer warriors for our brothers and sisters and children? The devil is working hard to destroy their lives. Shouldn't we work hard to bring them to the light of Jesus? Stay in the fight, dear one. Press on. fight the good fight of faith. Victory is around the corner.

Stay with me, friends. We will find out how all of this turns out next post.
Are you are contemplating settling for second best or continuing to march for your Promised Land?
Keep in mind that nothing can stand against our God who is greater, stronger, mightier, higher than any other. If our God is for us, who can stop us? If He is with us, who can stand against us? (Chris Tomlin's song)

LET IT GO

Realize that my sins will find me out.

Bring my failures, sins, lack of faith before the throne of God. Confess and ask forgiveness, so they are under the blood of Jesus.

Ask for faith to carry on to accomplish His will.

Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.

Pray and encourage others that are in a spiritual battle.

Don't settle for second best, but strive for God's perfect the best for our life, our Promised Land.

Give God the glory for the victories.

United, Yet Divided

O. T. #359  "United, Yet Divided"
Sept. 8, 2014
Numbers 32
Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.  Numbers 32:5

LET IT GLOW

Has your family ever been divided on an issue? Ours has. I believed a course of action was wrong, not trusting in God, waiting on His timing and provision. Taking matters into their own hands. But I was out numbered and my conviction was overruled. They went ahead and did it anyway. It was not a happy process to endure. It definitely challenged my faith. Although we were divided on an issue, we were still united as a family, lovingly supportive of their decision. Looking back, maybe God used this method to provide what could not have otherwise have been. So far, all is well.
Two tribes of Israel wanted to go on their own, be divided from the rest of the nation by a river. Take a look into this matter.

Here they are, Israel is camped in the newly conquered land of Moab where the Midianites were defeated. It was a land for the cattle to graze. Look around and see. That's what the children of Gad and the children of Reuben did. (The half tribe of Manasseh would later join them.) It was so great, in fact, they wanted to stay there, settle down, settle in, make their homeland. (These tribes had herds of cattle.)
Actually, who would not want to cross over Jordan into the Promised Land? Do we? Are we willing to do whatever it takes for us to experience our Promised Land, what God wants to give us here and now? Will we live by faith or by sight? (Of course, heaven is our ultimate Promised Land.)

So their leaders approached Moses and Eleazar with a proposition:

• If we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.
• These two tribes wanted to settle on the eastern side of the Jordan River (from the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee).
• As we have said, both of the tribes of Gad and Reuben wanted the ideal land for their herds. 
• Also, both tribes had suffered a decrease in population from the first to last census. Maybe they felt it was better for them to select their own land than to cast lots with the others.

Where is their faith? Are they only living by sight? To me, if your tribe is smaller in number, then it would be safer to be have the rest of the nation close by rather than be separated. However, they didn't think that way, apparently.
Do we seek God's grace in a matter so He allows us to partially obey Him? Sometimes going our own way is not the best way. God always knows what is best for us.


LET IT GROW

I wonder if the old lawgiver's thoughts went back to the tragedy when Israel rebelled  at Kadesh. (The people listened to the ten spies report on the giants in the land and refused to go conquer it.) Moses lived through the 38-40 years of the people, which were 20 years and older, dying off. What an experience in the wilderness.)

What was Moses' response to the request?

• Shall your countrymen go to war while you sit here?
• Why are you discouraging the Israelites from going over into the land the LORD has given them?
• Your father did the same thing at Kadesh Barnea, discouraging entrance into the land the LORD had given them. They aroused the LORD's anger.
• It resulted in them not following God wholeheartedly. (verse 11,NIV) Their doubt in God's ability to give them the land was considered evil.(verse 13)
• Not one of the men age 20 and up got to see the Promised Land,(much less enter it).
• Except for Caleb and Joshua who followed the LORD wholeheartedly, so these two would get to enter. (Moses got to see it earlier.) These three saw what a beautifully lush land that was waiting for them to come.
• Moses warned these two tribes that they were doing the same thing. If they turned away from following God, He would again leave all this people in the desert, and you will be the cause of their destruction.

I am going to stop there in the middle of the story. Find out what happened tomorrow.
Joshua and Caleb followed the Lord wholeheartedly; He said so. Their trust and complete faith was in what God said He would do-give them the Promised Land. (Numbers 14 and Joshua 14 give us more insight.)

 God warns us to wholeheartedly follow Him, as well as obey, love, seek, and believe Him wholeheartedly. Are we doing it with all of our heart?

Wholehearted means to be complete, full.
Wholehearted obedience is wholly obeying God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Mark 12:30)

God is pleased when we wholeheartedly follow Him. The question is, "Are we?"


LET IT GO

Walk by faith, not by sight.

Wholeheartedly follow the Lord God.

Love God with all my heart, soul, and mind.

Love my neighbor as myself.

Completely follow His Word and Spirit.

Total Obedience

O. T. #358 "Total Obedience"
Sept. 5, 2014
Numbers 31-Part 2
Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.  Numbers 31:2

LET IT GLOW

God is not pleased with partial obedience, half-hearted obedience, nor disobedience. He wants complete, wholehearted, total obedience. It would be well with us if we were to remember this. Israel should have, also, but did not.

The 12,000 Israelites warred against the Midianites and won.
What was the result?

• They slew all the males, as the LORD commanded Moses.
• Five kings of Midian, mentioned in verse 8 were killed.
• Balaam was killed with the sword.
• The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children.
• They took all the Midianite herds, flocks, and goods as plunder.
• They burned the camps and towns where the Midianites had settled.
• Everything they captured was brought before Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the Israelite assembly by the Jordan.

Sounds like they had a great victory. That is, until you read verses 13-18.What may seem like a victory to one may not be complete obedience to the Lord.


LET IT GROW

Moses and Eleazar and all the leaders of the community met the army outside of camp. Moses was angry with the officers of the army which returned from the battle.

Why was he angry? They didn't kill all of the Midianites. Especially the women, since they were the ones who turned the Israeli men away from the LORD in Peor, into idolarty and immorality. Thus the LORD struck them with a plague. How quickly they forgot. (Numbers 25)

What specific instructions did Moses give the army?

• He told them to kill all the women who had slept with a man. This was so the same thing was not repeated and to prevent the fall of the men into sin.
• So Moses directed them to kill all the boys, also. This was because little boys grow up to avenge fathers' death and perpetuate the  Midian culture-which in itself was anti-God. (Guzik)
• They were allowed to save for themselves, as slaves, the virgin girls who had not slept with a man. These young girls would not be connected with immorality and idolatry.
• Anyone who had killed or touched anyone who was killed had to go through the cleansing ritual, purifying themselves, their clothing, and captives. In other words, purification of the soldiers was required. (verses 19-20)
• Eleazar reminded the soldiers that the gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead, and anything else that cold withstand fire must be put through the fire, then it would be clean. It must be purified with water of cleansing.
• Anything not withstanding fire must be put through that water.

Some may question the harshness of all this and are bothered about it. god was protecting His children, a new nation and generation of believers.
Keep in mind:

These orders to burn and kill came from God. He is the righteous Judge of the earth. He was fully aware of all the circumstances and consequences involved at the time of the command. Israel was fighting for its very survival, and often that meant to kill or be killed. the moral habits of some of these desert people were almost unimaginable in their degeneration. (Falwell)


What happened to the confiscated wealth from this battle?

• The spoils was to be divided into two parts, with one part going to those who took part in the war and the other part to the rest of the congregation. God did not want looters and pirates.
• From the portion which the army received, they were to give a portion to the LORD.
• It all included over 800,000 animals, well over 1 million dollars in gold. (Falwell)

Did the Lord bless His children and at the same time eliminate the Midian enemies?
Not one Israeli soldier was missing or killed.(verse 49)
They were faithful to bring an offering as an atonement for their souls before the LORD. (verse 50)
David established this as a permanent rule of war, some four centuries later. (1 Sam. 30:24-25)

Do we allow worldly things such as secular music, songs, media, their ways, to be in the Lord's house of worship? There should be a separation of things used for the gospel and the Lord's honor. Are we watching out for those things which do not please the Lord?

LET IT GO

Totally obey what the Lord has said in His Word.

Be faithful in following His Spirit's leading.

Pay attention to the details.

Separate myself from the worldly ways and things which do not please the Lord, nor honor Him.

Pay Backs Are Tough

O. T. #357  "Pay Backs Are Tough"
Sept. 4, 2014
Numbers 31-Part 1
And the LORD said to Moses, "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites." So Moses said to the people,  "Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites and to carry out the LORD's vengeance on them."  Numbers 31:1-2 NIV

LET IT GLOW

There are some mean people who need to be paid back for the awfully mean things they have done and are doing to me. Someone needs to make them pay. Yet, I can't pay them back. God won't allow me to do it. I must wait on His revenging hand, timing, wisdom, and mercy. Justice will be had. May I add, God usually takes it further and far worse than I ever would have. Pay backs are tough. I am responsible to forgive them and  love them in spite of everything. A hard row to hoe.

We read here about the destruction of Midian. I found some background on this group of people.

The Midianites were descendants of Abraham through his wife Keturah (Gen. 25:2). Some forty years earlier, Moses (a descendant of Abraham through Sarah) had married a Midianite, Zipporah. but in the ensuing years, this tribe had degenerated until they were no different from a dozen other pagan desert people.  (Falwell)

The Midianites were nomadic people, at this time associated with the people of Moab. God commanded they be attacked in retribution for their seduction of Israel into sexual immorality and idolatry (Numbers 25:1-18). (Guzik)

The Midianites were a large confederation of tribes, associated with various smaller groups...They roamed through the arid lands of Sinai, the Negeb, and Transjordan. Here it is those Midianites associated with Moab that are picked out for vengeance. (Wenham)

In verse 2, the LORD told Moses to avenge, take vengeance, on the Midianites for Israel. Again, in verse 3, He instructs Israel to go against the Midianites and avenge the LORD of Midian, carry out the LORD's vengeance on them.

The King James Bible uses the word avenge, which means to punish, take vengeance; charge, deliver up, thrust, pay.
The New International Version of the Bible uses vengeance, which refers to vindication, retribution, punishment.

In Romans 12: 19, Paul says, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," saith the Lord.

Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 32:35, To Me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

In the Blackabys' Experiencing God Day By Day Devotional, they say:

One of the hardest areas in which to trust God is in the matter of justice. When we perceive an injustice, we want to see the guilty party punished. We want justice to prevail, especially if we are the victim. We become impatient if we are not avenged quickly. Yet God warns us that vengeance is not our prerogative. We are to desire justice, but we are not to seek vengeance (Micah 6:8). When someone offends us, our responsibility is to respond to the offense with forgiveness (Matt. 5:44). God takes the responsibility to see that justice is done. God loves people too much to allow sin to go unchecked. If we are impatient and seek revenge, we presume that we are wiser than God, and we reveal a blatant lack of trust that God will do the right thing. If we refuse to trust God's justice, we become enslaved to bitterness and anger. We must guard our hearts and trust God to exercise His judgment against those who oppose Him.

I could not have said it better. What more could I say about this subject?
The hard part is to forgive these people and love them in spite of it all. Ohhhh so hard.
Are you with me? Let's make the right choice-focus on Jesus instead of those people.


LET IT GROW

Now we know who Israel was sent to kill. Before the battle, God has the Israeli army comprised of 12,000 soldiers, a 1,000 of each tribe ready. Phinehas, the priest, was to lead the charge with the holy instruments and the trumpets to blow in his hand.

Liberty Bible Commentary tells us:
Priests were called the "anointed of the battle."
They gave the army three facts:

1. The Lord goes with you.
2. He will fight for you.
3. He will save you. Victory by Israel was dependent upon Israel's obedience to God.

Are you fighting a battle today, friend? Take to heart, God goes with you, for He never leaves us. He will fight for you, if you will let Him do the fighting. He will give you victory over this battle, so give Him the glory for doing it.

In Matthew 5:44, Jesus says: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Easy words to type and read. Hard words to apply.
The words of an old hymn comes to my mind- Trusting Jesus that is all. Trusting Jesus whether great or small. Trusting Jesus, through it all. Trusting Jesus, that is all.


LET IT GO

Forgive those who hurt me, so bitterness does not grow in my heart.

Leave the vengeance to God.

Focus on my blessings and praise God for them.

Keeping Vows or Oaths

O. T. #356  "Keeping Vows or Oaths"
Sept. 3, 2014
Numbers 30
If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.  Numbers 30:2

LET IT GLOW

My sister and brother in law will celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary tomorrow. My parents were married forty-six years before Dad passed away. My brother and sister in law have been married forty-one years. My husband and I will celebrate our forty-second wedding anniversary in two months. Our children have been married seventeen and sixteen years. Do you see a pattern in our family? We are blessed with a family who keeps their wedding vows. I am so proud of them. It is important that our younger generation sees love and commitment in our lives.

It is becoming a serious and common matter in our society to say a vow, sign an agreement or oath, then later break it whenever a person decides it is unimportant or does not want to do it any longer. Broken vows are found in marriages, business, employment, and everyday life. What happened to the days when "I do" is forever? When our word of "Yes, I agree to do this" is as good as a signature? Where are our commitments? Why are we hurting our witness in the world? Israel received instructions about vows and oaths which they would make in the future. They could apply to us today, also.

Here we have Moses speaking to the heads, the leaders, of the tribes of Israel. These were to communicate to all of Israel these instructions concerning vows/oaths.
The keeping of vows involving three types of people are given direction:

1. the vow of a man,
2. the young woman still living in her father's house,
3. the vow of a married woman,
4. the vow of a widow or divorced woman.

First, the man who makes a vow unto the Lord or takes an oath or pledge has obligated himself and must not break it his word, but do everything he said he would do. A vow to God is no small thing and is to be taken seriously. Also, if a man breaks an oath, he has simply committed sin.

Second, the vow of a young woman still living in her father's house, which is made unto the Lord or as an oath of obligation, wasn't taken as binding unless her father approved of it. (verses 3-5)

Third, the vow of a married woman could be made void by her husband on the day he hears it, or else she is obligated to keep the vow or oath, with her husband confirming it. If he waits until later, then the husband is responsible for her vow or oath. (verses 6-8 and 10-15)

Fourth, the widow or divorced is bound by her vows or obligations. (verse 9) She has no "head" of her household (her "head" is God directly), so she is bound by her vows. (Guzik)

When God declares someone to be in a position of rightful authority and others are expected to submit to that authority, the head is accountable before God for the result. God never grants authority without accountability. When this is understood, it makes submission much easier.  (Guzik)

Do we keep our words, our vows to God, our oaths to others?
As a wife, are we submissive to our husband's directions and final word of authority?

LET IT GROW


David Guzik explains this matter:

• In Matthew 5:34-37, Jesus wasn't forbidding oaths, as much as telling us that we should be so filled with integrity in our words that an oath is unnecessary.
• Jesus answered under oath in a court (Matt. 26:63-64), and God Himself swears oaths (Luke 1:73; Acts 2:30; Heb. 3:18, 6:13,17)
• Because God takes our vows seriously, sometimes it is better not to make a vow. (Ecc.5:4-5)
• Many vows are just plain foolish; "I'll never do that again" is a foolish vow. It is foolish and unwise to demand such a vow from someone else.
• There is a vow we all can and should make-a vow to praise God (Ps. 56:12).

Are our words that of integrity? Are we known by others that we keep our word? Are we careful with  what we say "yes" to do? Do we discuss things with our husband before agreeing to something? Do we praise our God throughout the day?


LET IT GROW

Discuss matters of importance with my husband, then submit to his leadership.

Remember that "no" is an acceptable answer.

Decide which "yes" is the best answer for me.

Keep my words of commitment.

Take my vows seriously that are made unto the Lord.

Fulfill my obligations.