Making a vow – 4 February 2010

Have you ever been in such trouble that you didn’t know what to do even after so much prayer?  About 8 years ago, I was living a less fulfilling life.  Born in a little town in Africa, to a family of 5 brothers and a sister, it was a struggle for Mum and Dad to put food for us on the table.  Even after securing two degrees in my adult life, just having enough to meet my family’s needs was almost impossible.  Then one day I read a story in the bible about Hannah, and how she made a vow that if God gave her a son, then she would give him back to God for His service.

I had been doing everything possible, including honouring the Lord with my tithes and offerings, but God seemed not to be responding to my predicament.  Then I prayed, “Lord, I have been honouring you as you said we should do in Malachi 3:10.  So where are the blessings which you promised you would pour out?  I have completed my studies and still no good thing is happening?”  With tears flowing from my eyes, I made my requests known including “If you give me a good job I vow I will continue to honour you with my tithes.”  That night God answered with a vision in which I saw a pillar of crystal clear fog rising from the ground into the skies.  For lack of space, I summarise by saying God blessed me with a dream job.    

Recently I came across this fascinating and similar story of the people of Oberammergau, :

In the midst of the horror of a 30 years' war, a dreaded plague swept across Europe. High in the Bavarian Alps, the citizens of Oberammergau attempted to seal themselves off from the outside world.  However, when a homesick young man sneaked into the village and brought the pestilence with him, 84 residents died within 3 weeks.  In desperation, the town council made a solemn vow that if God would stop the plague, out of gratitude, they would present a play depicting the life and suffering of Christ, every 10 years, for the duration of their existence.  Miraculously, the plague took no more lives in the town.  True to their word, the villagers performed their first play in 1634, and have continued to do so to this day.  The play takes place outdoors where the sky and mountains are the back drop.

Apart from encouraging you to check them out on the website and consider visiting the town for the next passion of Christ play in 2010, I want to let you know that God is faithful to anyone who seeks him in truth and in Spirit.  My experience and the bible says so too, never make a vow to God if you are not committed to doing what you said you would do.