Title: Oaths and Men
V13 compared to Moses at the burning bush “Tell them I AM sent you”
There was nothing for God to compare himself to. He is singular. He is the absolute standard for oaths.
Also, in setting himself as the standard of the oath and promise, he demonstrates his faithfulness and trustworthiness when he fulfills the promise and keeps the oath.
(Over time our faith should increase as we experience God’s faithfulness to us.)
V16 There was no one and nothing greater to swear the oath by.
v14 “Indeed” (Despite your calculations Abraham)
Remember the context of the original promise to Abraham, and the daunting odds that faced Abraham and Sarah to become the Father and Mother of such a great nation.
Why was it against the odds?
Their advanced age
The fact that they were refugees in a foreign land
They had no other family
No economic advantage.
And what was the requirement of Abraham? What was required of him?
Answer: He had to wait.
Did he?
No? Not at first…eventually He learned (Hagar and Ishmael)
Application:
1. KNOW AND Remember the promises of God (list the best ones)
John 6:37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
Deut. 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Matt. 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
2. WAIT ON HIM (Don’t be an enzyme)
Ecclesiastes 3:11
11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, without the possibility that mankind will find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
Lamentations 3:25
“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” (ESV)
3. What should OUR view on oaths be today?
You know what phrase cracks me up in our culture today? When someone starts a sentence with, “Listen, I’m going to be honest with you…”
Jesus makes our view on oaths very clear in Matt. 5:34-37
34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one
Closing question: Why do you think Jesus commands it this way? Why should a believer not HAVE to share an oath?
- Because we should naturally be trustworthy people of our word
1 Peter 2:12
12 Keep your behavior(reputation) excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation.
2. Because EVERYTHING we do is a living sacrifice
Col. 3:23
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
IN other words: we are walking, living, breathing oaths to our Lord, always!