Even though they were God’s chosen people, at times the Jews were extremely disobedient to Him. During one of these periods of disobedience, the Rechabites were used as an attempt of a wake up call to the Jews. They were told to order the Rechabites to drink wine. Of course God knew how these people would respond. “We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, ourselves, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, and not to build houses to dwell in. We have no vineyard or field or seed, but we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done all that Jonadab our father commanded us.” (Jeremiah 35:8-10) The obedience to their father by the descendants of Rechab is compared to the lack of obedience of the Jews to their Heavenly Father in an attempt to shame them to change. “I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, ‘Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.’ But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me.” (Jeremiah 35:15-16) God wants everyone to obey Him and He gives us plenty of opportunity, but the desire to follow Him must come from our own hearts. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
Today’s reading: Jeremiah 30-31