Day 49 or February the 18th. If you don't mean
it, don't say it. Our thought today is rooted
in Numbers chapter 30 verse 2. 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. The big picture
surrounding this verse. God wants his people
to be a holy nation, a nation set apart. Keeping
his festivals and making the right offerings
were all part of making Israel distinctively
different to all the other nations around. He
gives them many reminders of his goodness in
festivals, such as Passover and the Day of Atonement.
Most of these had a celebratory element in them.
as well as the more serious reminder of their
responsibility to a faithful God who has kept
his word throughout history, and in return wants
us to do the same. The book of Numbers teaches
a wonderful social quality of life that could
have astounded the godless tribes around. Sadly,
the Israelites didn't always keep the rules God
gave them, and as a result, they missed out every
time. And now our action step. You can't read
the Bible for long before you become very aware
that God wants you and me to be faithful, devoted
followers and not fans. He made us in His image
and He wants us to be like Him. In the Bible,
we have reminders of various levels of involvement.
Whenever we eat a full English breakfast, we
are reminded too. Look at the egg. That reminds
us that the hen was involved. Look at the bacon.
That confirms that the pig was totally committed.
The book of Numbers stresses the need for total
commitment and reminds us that a promise is a
promise. So don't make them lightly. Be true
and straight, speaking the truth and keeping
your word. Mark Twain said, Always tell the truth,
and you don't need to remember what you said.
Of course we are not to tell the truth just because
there's a rule that says so. We should tell the
truth because it's the right thing to do, and
God expects it, and society will be all the better
for it.