Jeremiah 35: 5 – 10
5 Then I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said to them, “Drink wine.” 6 But they said, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever. 7 You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, nor have any of these; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners.’ 8 Thus we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, 9 nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; nor do we have vineyard, field, or seed. 10 But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
Rechabites are an interesting group of people that pop up a few times in the Bible. Historically, their family line can be traced back to Midianite Jethro, father-in-law of Moses. In this portion of Jeremiah 35, the Bible records an exclusive group of people who have laid down strict laws and have adhered to the vows that their forefather Jonadab (Jehonadab) has vowed before the Lord. Here is a nomadic tribe which has set itself apart and has never assimilated into the society that they were living nearby. Instead, they have kept their forefather’s vow for generations.
The Prophet Jeremiah in order to compare and contrast the faithfulness and obedience of a nation/tribe (in this case, a small group of loyal people) to the faithless and disobedient nation of Israel, brings the whole house of Rechabites along with other men into the house of the Lord. He places wine in front of them and asks them to drink. However, the Rechabites fiercely defended their forefather’s oath and refused to take the wine.
On one hand, the Israelites, despite God’s repeated warnings through His prophets, tend to easily forget their loyalty to the Lord. At every opportunity they get, they stray away to different idols and find themselves in trouble. A loving God comes to their rescue every time. Jeremiah, utilizing the exemplary lifestyle of Rechabites, reminds the people of Judah that Rechabites have been so faithful through all generations because of the oath of their ancestor, a mere man. How much more the Israelites must obey the true and living God!
Jonadab (Jehonadab) was the man, who jumped into the chariot of Zealous Jehu to wipe out Baal from the land of Israel. (2 Kings 10: 15) Jehu knew in his heart that Jonadab was the man who can help him eliminate Baal and Ashtoreth worshippers from the land of Israel. Both men were responsible in bringing to a halt the atrocities and abominations committed by Ahab and Jezebel. Centuries and several generations later, the descendants of this valiant hero, still remained faithful to the promise of their forefathers. They upheld every aspect of the vow that Jonadab vowed before the Lord. Such was their faithfulness to their forefather!
Jeremiah reminded the people of Judah that when people like Rechabites were willing to obey their father’s vow dutifully, why couldn’t the children of Israel despite several warnings from the Lord still chose to disobey Him. God honored the Rechabites by promising them that they will never lack a man to stand before the Lord.
Jeremiah 35: 18 – 19
18 And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you, 19 therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever.” ’ ”
Dearly beloved, where do our loyalties lie? Are we willing to obey the Lord God Almighty implicitly and take Him at His Word? Do our lives reflect our faithfulness and obedience to God or do they reflect worldly desires? Just imagine hearing the blessing from a prophet of God for their faithfulness in keeping their forefather’s vow. They may not have expected any kind of blessing or promise. They were only obeying the vow of their forefather. God honored their faithfulness and blessed them with such a blessing. Let us also remain faithful and obedient to the One and only True God because in obedience there is blessing.
1 Samuel 15: 22
22 So Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.
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