TAKING AN OATH by Robert Soto (Posted on an email from Words From the Creator)

TAKING AN OATH
By Robert Soto
Posted on an email from Words From the Creator

November 15, 2009

Numbers 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."

I have never been to court where I am required to raise my hand and respond to the following question: "Do swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?" The United States government expects us to keep the oath we make in a court of law. The sad thing is that we are expected to keep the oath but they are not expected to do the same. When Geronimo met with General Miles and General Miles gave him the promises that the government expected him to keep, he said, "We took an oath not to do any wrong to each other or to scheme against each other." But I wonder if General Miles knew that even though he intended to keep the oath, the United States government did not. I wonder what went through his mind as he and Geronimo took this oath and promised that they would do no wrong against each other and that they would not go against each other.

For an Apache, an oath was his life. He was expected to keep his word. He would do what he said he would do. Oaths were important, so as Geronimo took this oath with General Miles, a history of obedience came in support of his words. But he was taking a risk because he knew by personal experience that for the White Eyes, their words were not meant to be kept. They were just words that came out of their mouths. But For God the Creator an oath is more than just words. He demands that our promise be more than just words. He expects us to keep what we said we would do. Moses said, "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." As Geronimo and General Miles swore that they would not wrong each other nor scheme against each other, Geronimo meant what he said. If General Miles and the United States government had kept their word, things might be a little different for our Apache people as well as our other Apache brothers and sisters.

Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:

McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church