Swear

Definition: to make a solemn statement or promise undertaking to do something or affirming that something is the case *

Approximate Number of Occurrences in Scripture (160)

Read: Genesis 30:1-24, the entire 31st chapter and 35:16-29 for full context of this account

Genesis 30:1 (NIV) When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!"

Genesis 31:32 (NIV) “…But if you find anyone who has your gods, he shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it." Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.

That Was Then

If anyone is still skeptical about the power of our spoken words, I pray this account converts you. Jacob and Rachel, a couple best known for their unrelenting love (as Jacob submitted to 14 years of hard labor to marry Rachel) made Biblical headlines for their individual exploits as well. They were both ambitious and headstrong people. Jacob, whose name was later changed to Israel, was known as the deceiver who swindled his brother out of his birthright and stole his blessing, wrestled with GOD, faltered in his spiritual identity, but still fathered each of the founders of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Rachel, as it turns out, was as shrewd as she was beautiful. In competition with her sister Leah, Jacob’s other wife, she insisted that he sleep with her maidservant who bore her first children, she was an idol worshipper, a thief and also a cunning deceiver.

On two separate occasions the couple was captured by events in which they each swore an oath while in the heat of the moment. The first was from Rachel, whose jealousy and desperation drove her to the brink of hysteria as she remained barren while her sister Leah gave birth to four sons back-to-back. Refusing to be comforted by her husband’s profound love, which far outweighed his affection for Leah, Rachel swore to Jacob “give me children or I’ll die”! The second occurrence was when Jacob decided to flee with his wives, children and livestock from Laban, his father-in-law. Prior to their departure, Rachel stole her father’s household gods. Upon discovering his daughters, the livestock and his gods were missing, Laban set out in hot pursuit of Jacob. Catching up to him, Laban confronted Jacob on his night flight and sticky fingers. Appalled at the accusation and unaware that Rachel was the culprit, Jacob challenged Laban to search everyone in his party and swore if he found anyone with his gods “he shall not live”. Laban’s search returned null because Rachel, who was sitting on the gods, told her father she could not stand in his presence because she was having her period. Nonetheless, the words had been spoken.

Ten years later, after both instances were long forgotten, their oaths came to collect. Pregnant Rachel, an otherwise perfectly healthy woman, perished in a most unexpected way as she was the first recorded woman to die during childbirth. It’s undetermined whose words dealt the fatal blow, but one thing is certain – none of their words returned void.

This is Now

Once upon a time, a person’s word was their bond. Though we’ve become lax in our integrity on earth, Heaven still binds us to the oaths we swear. How often have you heard or said these phrases: “I swear to GOD…” ”As GOD is my witness…” “So help me GOD…” “I swear on my mother’s grave…” “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me GOD.” “As surely as the LORD lives…” “I take you to be my lawfully wedded wife and I do promise and covenant before GOD and these witnesses to be your loving and faithful husband, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer as long as we both shall live.” The increasing divorce rate, number of breached contract lawsuits, broken covenants, and perjury indictments evidence that little to no thought is given to the solemnity of swearing oaths in these modern times.

Many of these phrases are flippantly worked into a dialogue to express emphasis on scenarios that warrant none. For instance a frustrated mother might say to her child “So help me GOD if you don’t clean your room this minute your friends won’t see you after school for a month!” It may have been a while since she attended Sunday School class, but the premise hasn’t changed: to invoke the name of GOD is akin to calling on GOD Himself to bear witness and sanction what was said; and calls GOD to judge them and avenge His name if the statement was either false or the promise broken. If there is no adequate reason why appealing to GOD is necessary, we are in violation of the third commandment which says "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your GOD, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Exodus 20:7 (NIV). A kid cleaning his room (or most of the things we swear over for that matter) hardly qualifies for the seriousness of summoning the holy Name of GOD. Moreover, we would be remiss in forgetting or ignoring that this commandment comes with a promise, which bears repeating – “the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His Name.”

That said, we should use wisdom when swearing oaths. Many circumstances call for us to make sworn statements. In cases when swearing is absolutely necessary, we should be equally conscious of following through on the oath we made. “If my word is not good, then swearing won’t help” is a wise train of thought to consider before a solemn word passes through our lips. This thought would safeguard us against daring heaven to bear witness to the insignificant anecdotes we embellish. It means GOD will miss a lot of parties, phone conversations, social media posts and television shows; but we’ll miss a lot of undesired consequences as a result.

Who Said That?!!!

“It is not the oath that man, but the man the oath. – Anonymous **

What Do You Say?

AFFIRMATION: "I do not need to embellish the truth. I say what I mean and do what I say. I do not take the LORD's name in vain."

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*www.merriam-webster.com

**www.brainyquote.com