Rash Promises
There was a man whose pregnant wife craved ramps, His next door neighbor had a beautiful garden full of wonderful fresh produce. Each night the wife would beg for ramps to fulfill her craving, so one night after dark her husband snuck into the neighbors garden and picked some ramps for his darling wife. The next night, his wife was sighing for more and once again he snuck into the garden, only to be caught by the owner, who happened to be a witch.
She agrees he may have all the food from the garden his wife desires but when the baby is born it will belong to her. Being afraid, he agrees. He promises she may have the baby.
Fairy tales were often used to illustrate a moral. There was another story. A boastful miller claimed his beautiful daughter can spin straw into gold. The king hears of this and sends for the girl. He shows her to a room full of straw and tells her that if it not turned to gold by morning she will die. A little evil Rumplestiltskin shows up to help her, but there is a bigger price each night he comes. On the third night, he tells her that the king will marry her but that her first born child will belong to him. She cries and begs but in the end she promises what he has demanded.
In the Bible in Judges 11, Jephthah makes a rash promise to God. He says if God will let him conquer the Ammonites he would sacrifice as a burnt offering the first thing that came out his door on his arrival home.
Unfortunately, when he arrives home his little daughter, his only child rushes out to greet him.
Have you ever made promises you couldn't or wouldn't keep? Perhaps you promised to pay back some money you owed someone. Maybe you made a promise to do something with your children on your day off and were unable to do it after all. Perhaps you cheated on your spouse and broke the promise you made before God. You have broken trust with others.
Perhaps you have been in a tight spot and prayed to God that if he would only (XYZ) you promised you would.. attend church, tithe, stop doing something, etc.
I think everyone has made a hasty promise they have failed to deliver on. Peter swore he would not disavow Jesus. When the cock crowed for the third time he broke down weeping. He had broken his promise.
God has made many promises to man throughout the ages and has never broken one yet. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Perhaps instead of making promises it is best to follow Matthew 5:37 "All you need to say is Yes or No; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
She agrees he may have all the food from the garden his wife desires but when the baby is born it will belong to her. Being afraid, he agrees. He promises she may have the baby.
Fairy tales were often used to illustrate a moral. There was another story. A boastful miller claimed his beautiful daughter can spin straw into gold. The king hears of this and sends for the girl. He shows her to a room full of straw and tells her that if it not turned to gold by morning she will die. A little evil Rumplestiltskin shows up to help her, but there is a bigger price each night he comes. On the third night, he tells her that the king will marry her but that her first born child will belong to him. She cries and begs but in the end she promises what he has demanded.
In the Bible in Judges 11, Jephthah makes a rash promise to God. He says if God will let him conquer the Ammonites he would sacrifice as a burnt offering the first thing that came out his door on his arrival home.
Unfortunately, when he arrives home his little daughter, his only child rushes out to greet him.
Have you ever made promises you couldn't or wouldn't keep? Perhaps you promised to pay back some money you owed someone. Maybe you made a promise to do something with your children on your day off and were unable to do it after all. Perhaps you cheated on your spouse and broke the promise you made before God. You have broken trust with others.
Perhaps you have been in a tight spot and prayed to God that if he would only (XYZ) you promised you would.. attend church, tithe, stop doing something, etc.
I think everyone has made a hasty promise they have failed to deliver on. Peter swore he would not disavow Jesus. When the cock crowed for the third time he broke down weeping. He had broken his promise.
God has made many promises to man throughout the ages and has never broken one yet. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Perhaps instead of making promises it is best to follow Matthew 5:37 "All you need to say is Yes or No; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
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