Part One
THE FAITHFUL RECHABITES
Jeremiah 35
“…I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear…” (Jeremiah 25:3-4 NAS)
How many of you can say amen when you hear a parent say to their children, “I’ve told you time and time again. When will you hear? Can’t you understand what I’m saying?” I bet you’ve said the same thing to your children. Well, we’re all in good company, God said the same thing to His children down through the halls of history. And the result was always the same—rewards when they listened and consequences when they didn’t.
Biblical scholars tell us when God repeats something once it’s important, but when He repeats it over and over again—we’d better listen. And obey. The folks in Jeremiah’s day flat refused God’s warning. But don’t we do the same thing today? Filling the churches on Sunday, yet leaning to our own understanding the rest of the week?
The 35th Chapter of Jeremiah records the account of a family called the Rechabites. The father’s name was Jonadab who was the son of Rechab. By all accounts this family was tight. Rechab set the standard and the sons obeyed—as did their wives, children, and grandchildren.
What a novel occurrence–even in that day!
I read the chapter, and read it again. I needed to know more about these Rechabites. What prompted this father-leader and what caused the sons and their families to listen? Was he a warrior? A brutal man who demanded obedience? But it appears this was a family of scribes. A family whose grandfather was witness to the cleansing of Israel from Baal worship and the slaying of Ahab, Jezebel, and those who followed this despicable idol. You can find the history in 2 Kings 9 and 10. (Probably around 841 B.C.)
Can you imagine the conversations around the campfires at night? This scribe-father instructed his sons and their families to drink no wine, to build no houses, to sow no seed, nor plant vineyards, and to live in tents—and through generations they obeyed.
God told Jeremiah to invite these Rechabite men to the temple in Jerusalem, sometime probably around 609-606 B.C. and give them wine to drink. What? Would God do something like that to trick ’em? No. This was a test, to be used for an example. And these fathers passed with flying colors.
Would you?
Inside the pomp and circumstance of the temple chambers this family refused Jeremiah’s offer of wine and gave testimony to what they’d been taught. And God used them as a living example of obedience to His disobedient people in Judah.
God gave Jeremiah these words to speak to the inhabitants of Jerusalem:
“Will you not receive instruction by listening to My words? The words of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are observed. So they do not drink wine to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again; yet you have not listened to Me” (Jeremiah 35:13-14 NAS).
And God pronounced judgment for His people’s disobedience. Total disaster! In 605 B.C., the King of Babylon first invaded Judah and carried 5,000 captives to Babylon.
But to the house of the Rechabites, for their obedience to listen and obey their fathers, God promised His reward: “Jonadab, the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before me always.”
Folks, “always” means forever. We shall see all these sons of Rechab, standing before the Lord. Generations of them during the Millennium, in the New Heavens and Earth. Wouldn’t you love to hear that promise as a reward for your obedience? God’s gift to your children and grandchildren? During these days of great deception and falling away from the Word of God, what are the chances?
Slim to none if we don’t set our hearts, minds, and souls to listen and obey the Word of God. Every word He has spoken to you and to me over and over again—through His written Word, through His prophets, and preachers—through His Spirit. Maybe through your parents and grandparents, but especially through His Only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who told us:
“I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, BUT THROUGH ME” (John 14:6 NAS).
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Part Two Wednesday: SLICING, DICING, AND BURNING, Jeremiah 36
MOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES 