The Spiritual Journey 2024 - Day 38: Keep your promises to God.

“I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭116‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Joseph, having been sold into slavery by his own brothers, found himself back in prison because of the false accusation of Potiphar‘s wife. While in prison, he interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker. Both had been thrown in prison because of their offenses against the king of Egypt.

Joseph’s interpretation of the butler’s dream indicated that he would be restored to his position in three days.

“Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler. But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭40‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Joseph also interpreted the dream of the baker. But this interpretation, was not of restoration, but of his being executed.

“Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭40‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Sure enough, Joseph’s interpretations proved to be accurate with the butler being restored to his position and the baker being executed.

“Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.“

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭40‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yes, the interpretations came to pass. However, the butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot about him.

After two full years of Joseph remaining in prison, Pharaoh had the dream of the seven fat cows and seven skinny cows. None of his magicians could interpret the dream for him. It was at this point that the butler’s memory was suddenly jogged.

“Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: “I remember my faults this day.“

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭41‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The butler told Pharaoh about Joseph’s accurate interpretations of his and the baker’s dreams. Pharaoh then called Joseph before him. And, from Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph ended up second in command in Egypt, overseeing the storing up of food for seven years, preparing for the seven-year famine that did come.

Breaking our promises, not keeping our word, is a terrible thing. Joseph stayed in jail an extra two years because of the butler’s forgetfulness.

But, as bad as is to not keep our word to each other, imagine how much worse it is when we promise God we’ll do anything if He will just get us out of trouble, or will give us what we are requesting, then don’t even think about Him again. Even worse, some not only forget to fulfill what was promised to God, but also fail to simply obey Him.

The Lord takes His own word very seriously. As we have discussed, the Lord keeps His promises.

The ecclesiastical writer tells us that we would be better not to make a vow, than to make it and break it.

“When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.“

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesus instructed that we should be very careful in terms of making vows.

“”Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭33‬-‭37‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Don’t rashly promise things to the Lord. Rather, keep His word, and—as we have discussed before—don’t fail to praise Him. Walking in obedience, and praising Him, is the best way to show your gratitude for what the Lord has done. That is the best way to show that you have not forgotten Him.

Now, if you have made promises you did not, or cannot keep, quit ignoring your failure, your sin, confess it to Lord, He will forgive you.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.“

‭‭I John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In today’s portion of Psalm 116 we see that the psalmist, after rehearsing what the Lord has done for him, says that he will keep his promises to the Lord. Not only that, he will do this in the presence of God’s people.

After the spiritual journey, the Lord required that I share what He showed me through it, all of it, which I have. In my case, it is not that I had specifically told the Lord that I would speak about the journey if He would bring me out. However, I have devoted my life to speaking, to the best of my ability, what He gives me. I keep that vow.

Friend, if you have failed the Lord by not honoring a promise to Him, again, repent. And, going forward, watch your words: Don’t rashly promise something you can never, or will never, do.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

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