132_The value of a promise Lev 27:1-3 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the Lord involving the valuation of persons, 3 then the valuation of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 30 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord. 31 If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. 32 And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman's staff, shall be holy to the Lord. 33 One shall not differentiate between good or bad, neither shall he make a substitute for it; and if he does substitute for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.” It was a warm summer evening in the quaint chapel of a small countryside village. A young couple stood at the altar and exchanged vows. “For better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health…” The words rolled off their lips, promises made not just to each other, but before God and witnesses. Without hesitation, they expressed their determination to live in love, hope, and perseverance. Fast forward ten years. Life had thrown its curveballs. Yet they remembered the vow every day. That memory carried weight, gave strength, and steadied their feet through life’s storms. Sincere promises have power to mould character and change lives. Today we live in a culture where promises are often made in haste and forgotten with ease. Vows are treated like tissue paper—convenient, disposable, and not something to take seriously. But Scripture reveals, especially in Leviticus 27, that vows are sacred. How we treat them reveals a lot about the state of our hearts. Leviticus 27 is the final chapter of this book. Hitherto filled with intricate laws, detailed sacrifices, and holy instructions given at Mount Sinai, Leviticus ends with a chapter dealing with voluntary vows. It addresses those moments when someone, moved by gratitude, desperation, or deep reverence, chooses to offer something to God—not because they must, but because they want to. A vow, as presented here, is a solemn promise made to God—often involving the dedication of a person, animal, property, or some possession. It was a way of saying, “Lord, if you will help me, I will honor you in return.” Or, “God, because you have blessed me, I want to give this back to you.” Jacob, fleeing his home, was alone and afraid as he slept that night in the wilderness. He awoke after seeing a vision of a ladder with the Lord standing at the top. The Lord affirmed that he would bless Jacob and bring him back safely home. Naming the place Bethel, the house of God, Jacob vowed, “If God will be with me… then the Lord