The Rechabites

by Toms, A. F. | Category: Gems From Jeremiah | Oct 1991

We read about the Rechabites in Jeremiah chapter 35. Their history goes far back into the Old Testament, for Rechab their progenitor belonged to the Kenites who threw in their lot with Israel, being related to Moses through marriage (Judg. 1:16).

But the man who made them famous was called Jonadab. Jonadab showed his zeal for God when he joined with Jehu in the campaign against the wicked house of Ahab and the worship of Baal.

Jonadab gave commandment to his sons and daughters that they should drink no wine, build no houses, but live in tents, sow no seed and plant no vineyards. His instructions seemed to be very severe, and we might argue that he was depriving them of perfectly legitimate things. However, it is obvious that he was a man who feared God deeply, and seeing the awful wickedness around him he desired to preserve his posterity from such sin and lawlessness, and so he placed them under this solemn pledge. It was calculated to preserve their pilgrim character and keep them from putting down roots. The great founders of the nation of Israel had been pilgrims who lived in tents, and Jonadab decided that his family should do the same. The remarkable thing is that 250 years later his descendants were absolutely true to this family tradition, and that is what it was. A tradition is something handed down from one generation to another, and from one generation to another they had passed it on and had lived by it: So firmly did they adhere to the family tradition that when Jeremiah tried to persuade them to drink wine they flatly refused, and out came the story of the commandment of Jonadab their father.

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, nor our daughters; nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: but we hove dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us (Jer. 35:810).

Jeremiah did not want to tempt the Rechabites into disloyalty to their pledge; he wanted to use the example of their devotion as an object lesson for God's people, Judah. The Rechabites had been far more true to the commandments of their forefathers than Judah had been to the commandments of the Lord. That is the main point that comes out of the story to provide a lesson for us today.

Let us think for a moment about the power of tradition. You may have your own thoughts about the demands that Jonadab placed on his family and whether he was asking more than was reasonable, but perhaps you will agree that if the demands kept them from sin and resulted in a closer walk with God there was profit in them. They also illustrate the amazing power of tradition, for after some 250 years Jonadab's descendants were still keeping strictly to the details of his instructions. There is no doubt that men love to be loyal to tradition. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? It depends on whether or not the traditions are according to God's Word. The Lord Jesus had stern words for the Pharisees about their traditions because they cut right across the clear commandments of God. He said:

Ye have made void the Word of God because of your tradition (Mat. 15:6).

On the other hand there were traditions which the apostles urged the disciples to keep because they were based on God's Word. Paul, writing to the Church of God in Corinth, commended them for their observance of such traditions.

Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them unto you (1 Cor. 11:2).

So this is a point of real interest to us all, for tradition dies hard as we have seen. Are you and I bound by any tradition in our family lives or in our church associations? That is a question worth asking ourselves, and if we are, let us check them Out with God's Word to make sure that they are not cutting across any plain commandment of the Lord.

Let us now think about the other lesson that comes out of the passage we are considering. It is the lesson that Jeremiah so much wanted his people

to learn, and that is why he offered the Rechabites wine to drink. God wanted their loyalty to family tradition to be an object lesson to His people.

Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go, and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to My words? said the LORD. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed, and unto this day they drink none, for they obey their father's commandment: but I have spoken unto you, rising up early and speaking; and ye have not hearkened unto Me (vv. 12-14).

These are solemn words. You can almost feel the heart of God yearning after His people. He further says:

I have sent also unto you all My servants the prophets ... saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings ... but ye have not ... hearkened unto Me (v.15).

God is speaking to us also, speaking through His Word. Are we paying attention? So much depends upon our response to His Word. God longs to bless us, but He can only do so in the rich and full way He desires if we are obedient to Him. Let us make sure that our hearts are sensitive to His Word, and that we are careful to obey even in the small details of what He says. It was a young boy who said to God, "Speak; for Thy servant heareth" (1 Sam. 3:10). Let us follow that good example.

Toms, A. F. | Oct 1991
Gems From Jeremiah