A Lesson in Faithfulness (Jer. 34-35)

Consider the Rechabites. God gave Israel cities that they did not build – vineyards that they did not plant – and he called Israel to be fruitful and multiply in the land. God also called Israel to bring burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings – and at the annual Feast of Tabernacles, the LORD urged his people to rejoice (drinking wine and strong drink) at his holy place.

Jonadab, the son of Rechab, told his sons not to plant (or have) vineyards or build houses, or drink wine or sow seed. Jonadab told his sons to be nomads – contrary to what God told Israel to do!

And yet God blesses the Rechabites! Jonadab gives his family a whole bunch of commands that at best go beyond what God had said – and at worst may even contradict what God had said! Why does God bless the Rechabites?! "At least you obeyed your father!"

God’s point is not that everyone needs to be a Rechabite. We do not need to all become homeless nomadic teetotalers in order to follow Jesus! But we do need to follow Jesus with the same devotion that the Rechabites showed to their father....