A Call To Faithfulness
As the oldest child growing up in a single parent home with a mother whot worked full time, my mother trusted in me to follow her directions, which were designed to keep our household safe. In Jeremiah 35:5–11, the prophet used a nomadic family as an example to God’s people of the faithfulness and obedience that He required from them so that they would live blessed in the Promised Land. I pray that we all walk in faithfulness to God, that we may live blessed. Amen
Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the Rekabites and said to them, “Drink some wine.” But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.’ (Jeremiah 35:5-7)
In an atmosphere of wanton disregard for the laws and commands that God had given to His people, Jeremiah was instructed by God to invite the Rekabites to the temple in a side room used as a residence by the priests, and offer them wine to drink. But their response to Jeremiah was that they had been commanded by their forefather never to drink wine. They were also commanded never to build houses or plant vineyards or sow seeds. Instead, they were to live in tents as nomads. They refused the offer of wine in keeping with those commands. Ultimately , they trusted in the promise that they would be blessed with long lives as a result of following their forefather’s commands.
We have obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab commanded us.
The Rekabites further responded to Jeremiah that they had been faithful throughout the generations in fully obeying everything that their forefather had commanded. Their complete faithfulness to the commands of a man were in stark contrast to the complete unfaithfulness of Judah to God‘s commands. This was the example that God used to get the attention of His people and call them to faithfulness.
But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded this land, we said, ‘Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian and Aramean armies.’ So we have remained in Jerusalem.” (Jeremiah 35:8-11)
The Rekabites had only come to Jerusalem to be inside its fortified walls, because of Babylon‘s invasion of the land. They were there only to escape harm by the Aramean and Babylonian armed forces. They made it clear that they had only temporarily set aside their nomadic travels for safety purposes.
The nation of Judah was in danger from an outside enemy (Babylon) because they had failed to be faithful and obedient to God’s instruction and commands. They worshiped other gods and engaged in evil practices. Therefore, God allowed Babylonian forces to eventually take them captive. God has given us instruction and commands to live by to keep us safe and out of the hands of the enemy. Following Jesus by walking with the Holy Spirit, protects us from pitfalls and dangers that the enemy wants to use to do us harm. Avoid the mistakes of Judah who refused to obey God and suffered greatly at the hands of the enemy. Instead, learn from the Rekabites, whom God used…. to call His people to faithfulness!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
“Mankind, He has told each of you what is good
and what it is the LORD requires of you:
to act justly,
to love faithfulness,
and to walk humbly with your God.” ~ Micah 6:8
