Schoolmaster to Christ
NUMBERS CHAPTER 30
Schoolmaster to Christ
NUMBERS CHAPTER 30
Scripture Reading: Numbers 30 (KJV)
This brief section has what might be termed a dispensational bearing, applying specially to Israel – treating the question of vows and bonds. In relation to this subject, the man and woman stand in contrast. "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" (v 2).
In reference to the woman, the case was different: "If a woman also vow a vow unto the Lord, and bind herself by a bond, being in her fathers house in her youth; and her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every word wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of Her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the Lord shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her" (vv. 3-5).
The same thing applied in the case of a wife. Her husband could either confirm or disannul all her vows and bonds.
Such was the law regarding vows. There was no relief for the man. He was bound to go through whatever proceeded out of his mouth. Whatever he undertook to do, he was solemnly and irreversibly held to it. There was no back door, as we say, no way to get out of it.
Every child of God knows Who, in perfect grace, took this position and voluntarily bound Himself to accomplish the will of God, whatever that will might be. We know Who said, "I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people", "The man Christ Jesus," Who, having taken the vows on Him, discharged them perfectly to the glory of God, and the eternal blessing of His people. There was no escape for Him. In the deep anguish of His soul, in the garden of Gethsemane, we hear Him exclaiming, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me." But it was not possible. He had undertaken the work of man's salvation, and had to go through the deep and dark waters of death, judgment, and wrath; and perfectly meet all the consequences of man's condition. He had a baptism to be baptized with, and was straitened until it was accomplished. In other words, He had to die in order that by death He might open the pent-up floodgates, allowing the mighty tide of divine and everlasting love to flow down to His people. All praise and adoration forever be to His peerless name.
In the case of the woman, whether daughter or wife, we have the nation of Israel in two ways: under government and under grace; Looked at from a governmental point of view, Jehovah, Who is both Father and Husband, has held His peace at her, so that her vows and bonds are allowed to stand; though she suffers the consequences, and is made to feel the force of those words, "Better that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay."
On the other hand, viewed from the standpoint of grace, the Father and Husband has taken all on Himself, so that she can be forgiven and brought into the fullness of blessing, not on the ground of accomplished vows and ratified bonds, but on the ground of sovereign grace and mercy, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. How precious to find Christ everywhere. He is the center and foundation, the beginning and end of all the ways of God. May our hearts always be filled with Him. May our lips and lives speak His praise. Constrained by His love, may we live to His glory all our days on earth, and then go home to be with Him forever.
This is what we believe to be the primary thought of this chapter. We do not question its secondary application, i.e., to individuals. Further, like all Scripture, it has been written for our learning. It must always be the delight of devout Christians to study all the ways of God, whether in His grace or government; His ways with Israel; His ways with the church; His ways with all; His ways with each – to pursue this study with an enlarged heart and an enlightened understanding.
