God's Perspective for Single Women 3

In the last two posts, we’ve talked about being single. Today, we’re talking about daughters. Are you a daughter? (Unless you’re a man, I would venture that all of you are daughters!)

All through the Bible, the Lord shows that a girl’s father is responsible for her if she’s unmarried. (Deuteronomy 7:3; 22:16, and many more passages)

Let’s look together at Numbers 30:3-16.

If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father’s house in her youth; And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her (verses 3-5).

Notice with me several things:

• The young woman is in her father’s house. She lives at home and is therefore under her father’s protection and authority. (This passage is not talking about a lady who has been living independently and is older.)
• The father’s judgment—his yes or no—overrides the daughter’s vow.
• The daughter is to be submissive to her father’s judgment. She will accept his approval or disapproval of her vow.

Numbers 30 goes on to say that a woman who has a husband is different. Her husband is her authority.

Let’s read verse 16, These are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father’s house.

I think it’s clear that a father is responsible for his daughter, if she is under his roof, and that a husband is responsible for his wife. This isn’t a dictatorship. It’s a protection. God gave man the leadership in the family (to be explored in later posts) and this includes the father-daughter relationship.

Let’s go to the New Testament for further understanding about single daughters. Ephesians 6:1-3 says, Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Colossians 3:20 goes a little further. It says, Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Children are to obey their parents. What does this have to do with the single woman? Well, it all has to do with age and where you live.

Do you live at home, and are you under 18? Obey your parents in the Lord. (I personally think that if a young lady is single and being supported financially by her parents, she is still under their authority until she becomes independent. That is, if a girl is 20 or 25 and living with Mom and Dad, she should obey her parents—because she is under their roof and their authority.)

The command to honor our father and mother does not have an age limit on it. We are always to honor them.

Let’s say you are 35 or 40, living on your own, and financially independent. Do you need to honor your parents? Yes. Do you need to obey them unconditionally? Probably, you can make your own decisions, but you should always honor them. I believe there will be some things you will want to talk over with your father, as God has given him to you as your advisor. Ask the Lord to help you make wise decisions, and consult your dad from time to time.

Many girls have no involved father in their life, and therefore, they don’t have his protection or advice. If this describes you, don’t despair! God is your Father. Do you know Him? If you have a personal relationship with God through faith in His Son, you have a Father. In fact, you have a perfect Father. (Click here for a previous post that contains some verses that might help you with the concept of God as your Father.)

In summary:

• If you’re single, honor your parents. (That goes for married people, too!)
• If you are living at home, financially supported by your parents, and especially if you are under 18, obey your parents.
• If you are an adult single woman, it is good to honor your father by seeking his advice about important decisions.
• If you don’t have an involved father, know that you have a heavenly Father that loves you, protects you, and wants to be consulted and honored in your life.

God bless you!