Numbers

Num 30:1 Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: "This is what the Lord commands:


Num 30:2 When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.


Num 30:3 "When a young woman still living in her father's house makes a vow to the Lord or obligates herself by a pledge


Num 30:4 and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand.


Num 30:5 But if her father forbids her when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the Lord will release her because her father has forbidden her.


Num 30:6 "If she marries after she makes a vow or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself


Num 30:7 and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand.


Num 30:8 But if her husband forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the Lord will release her.


Num 30:9 "Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her.


Num 30:10 "If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath


Num 30:11 and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand.


Num 30:12 But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand. Her husband has nullified them, and the Lord will release her.


Num 30:13 Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself.


Num 30:14 But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them.


Num 30:15 If, however, he nullifies them some time after he hears about them, then he is responsible for her guilt."


Num 30:16 These are the regulations the Lord gave Moses concerning relationships between a man and his wife, and between a father and his young daughter still living in his house.

First I know that we are not bound by the law of the Old Testament. However I think its important to examine what God told Moses about women. It gives a fuller sense of who God made us. The God of the Old Testament is the same God in the New Testament and since he is never changing, I believe that the principles of the Old Testament still apply not in a damning law way, but as a guide for righteous living. Its like trying to figure out the present situations without looking at the past to learn from. It is clear in these passages, that God never intended women living with their parents OR married women to be independent. When I think about it, it makes sense when you are trying to create a union. If we look at marriage as a picture of God and the church (which is its intention) We can't both be independent, someone has to lead. Its easy to say God is leading my life, because most people wouldn't say I am leading God's life (although we may try sometimes!) So how fitting in a marriage that God would say women can make a vow (note it doesn't say she has no right to) but her husband or father can nullify it. Keep in mind God's intention for men is to love their wives in the same way Christ loves the church. So in that situation, this is not a controlling or domineering man forcing his wife into creepy submission. Its a loving union where because the husband is so in love and devoted to his wife, it makes sense that she would have no problem accepting his authority because she would entirely trust in his love for her and would know that he always had her best intentions at heart. I find it interesting that widows and divorced women must stand by their own vows. I would think this person would need to be very careful of decisions or promises they make because there is no real accountability and you will be fully responsible alone for the vows you make. However like I said before it no where says, women are lesser and cannot make vows, it just ensures the unity of a household.