Rechabites, example of obedience

² “Go to the Rechabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.” ³ So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons—the whole family of the Rechabites. ⁴ I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God. It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. ⁵ Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the Rechabites and said to them, “Drink some wine.”

BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT

⁶ But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab son of Rechab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. ⁷ 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.’ ⁸ We have obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab son of Rechab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine ⁹ or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. ¹⁰ We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab commanded us.

JEREMIAH 35.2-10

BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT

‘Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me.

JEREMIAH 35.14

GOLDEN TEXT

* understand who the Rechabites were;

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* understand that obedience is the Lord's great desire for us;

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* assess the importance of a family alliance.

OBJECTIVES

The first time the Rechabites are mentioned in Scripture dates back to the time of Israel's departure from Egypt. They descended from Hobab, Moses' brother-in-law. Even though they were not Hebrews, they went with the people of Israel from the land of the Pharaohs to Canaan. They learned that the easy and often unruly life distanced people from serving God with purity and fidelity. Therefore, they adopted the lifestyle of when they cross the desert, leaving Egypt. They were shepherds who lived in tents, abstained from wine and had no property.

The prophet Jeremiah used the story of the Rechabites to show that some people, or group of people, are more faithful to their human or family legacies than Israel - the chosen people.

INTRODUCTION

RECHABITES, AN OBEDIENT FAMILY

Who were the Rechabites?

1 - RECHABITES, AN OBEDIENT FAMILY

Rechabites family in alliance

Rechabites persevering in obedience

1 - RECHABITES, AN OBEDIENT FAMILY

Jeremiah received an order from the Lord to summon the house of the Rechabites. The families of the Rechabites were tested and approved, remaining faithful and obedient to the word of their family leader. Thus, the sovereign God showed, through the prophet, how disobedient and unfaithful the Israelites were to Jehovah's commandments and, therefore, suffered incalculable setbacks and losses in their history.

1.1 – Who were the Rechabites?

The Rechabites story begins with the liberation of the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt, when Hobab was invited to accompany the Israelites towards the land of Cannan. They adopted the Israelites religion and came to live south of the desert of Judah.

Many years later, during the period of monarchy in Israel, God raised up Captain Jehu to put an end to Ahab's lineage. Continuing towards the capital of the Northern Kingdom, Jehu found Jonadab, son of Rechab, one of the opponents of the idolatrous cult of Baal-Melkart, and invited him to accompany to witness what he would do to the rest of Ahab's family.

1.2 – Rechabites family in alliance

Approximately 200 years after Jonadab, son of Rechab, witnessed the destruction of the Baal cult among the Israelites of the Northern Kingdom, God called the prophet Jeremiah to test his descendants.

The Rechabites were taken to one of the temple chambers in Jerusalem, which belonged to the sons of Hanan. Cups filled with wine would be placed before them. But, with one voice, the family stated that they had a covenant not to consume wine, not to build houses, not to sow seeds, nor plant or own vineyards (Jer 35.1-7).

1.2.1 – The scripture reaffirms the importance of a family in alliance

When leaving Egypt, families had to be inside their homes, under the protection of the blood of a lamb, sprinkled on the lintel of their doors.

The reunited families were under the seal of an alliance, a pact made around a table. That night was marked by a great deliverance from God (Exo 12).

1.3 – Rechabites persevering in obedience

Perseverance is the quality of someone who does not give up or stop, but, constantly, remains firm and moves forward.

The Rechabites were persevering in obeying their family principles. Faced with the test, they did not give in; rather, they remained faithful to their principles. Like the Rechabites, the servant of God must not give in at the time of testing (Rom 12:12).

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FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF OBEDIENCE

Two foundations of obedience

2 - FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF OBEDIENCE

How obedience should be practiced

2.1 – Two foundations of obedience

Obedience is based on two principles: listening and submitting. The Rechabites listened to their leader Jonadab, and the Israelites did not stoop to hear the word of God, spoken by the Lord's servants, the prophets.

God expected the nation to be obedient to him, but the people were rebellious and disobeyed his Word; therefore, he received a painful judgment (Jer 35. 10, 15, 17).

Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were in rebellion against the Lord of Israel.

The act of listening provides knowledge of the divine will and purposes. This indispensable knowledge paves the way to obedience and attracts the blessings that provide life.

(Dt 28.1,2; 11.27; 38.20;

Is 55.3; Jer 38.20)

2.2 – How obedience should be practiced

In this unique passage from the Holy Scriptures, we are guided by God on how to practice obedience:

obedience must be integral;

obedience implies taking action;

obedience implies keeping the word;

obedience implies listening carefully;

obedience is personal;

obedience promotes changes;

obedience is sustained by fidelity.

BLESSINGS ARISING FROM OBEDIENCE

Blessings in the family

3 - BLESSINGS ARISING FROM OBEDIENCE

Divine blessings

Constant service before the Lord

The secret of blessings on a family is to remain in obedience to the principles of authority established in the Scriptures. The Rechabites followed the orders of their father, Jonadab, son of Rechab (Jer 35:8). Likewise, every child must obey the orders of their parents (Eph 6:1-3).

3.1 - Blessings in the family

The Rechabites were nomads; Therefore, they were subject to all the difficulties of a life far from cities, but they understood that, to survive, they needed unity among their family members. Thus, Jonadab warned about the importance of union to preserve the clan. Family cohesion would protect them in facing all kinds of adversities.

3.2 - Divine blessings

God revealed to Jeremiah His purpose of sending prophets to exhort the people: obedience to His word would lead the Israelites to enjoy the promise of a new life, free from idolatry and sin, in the full enjoyment of abundance and prosperity. Judah would be free from threats and would achieve the great privilege of remaining in the land that the Lord had given them.

Obedience was the only way to avoid the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah, the beloved city of Jerusalem, and the first Temple. But because they rejected the Word of the Lord, the judgment was confirmed (Jer 35:15, 17).

3.3 - Constant service before the Lord

Obedience is a principle deeply appreciated by God. Those who were faithful to him will not lack opportunities to work in his service, just as was promised to Jonadab and his descendants.

Obedience is the fruit of knowledge of God's will, and cannot be partial and must be linked to all areas of life. The practice of obedience needs to be based on the two verbs mentioned by the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah: keep and do (Jer 35:18).

CONCLUSION

In this passage, God teaches that obedience manifests itself on three levels:

(a) personal - The Lord called His Servant Jeremiah and ordered him to summon the family of Rechabites; the prophet fulfilled the orders given to him;

(b) the familiar - the Rechabites, even facing a great test, acted correctly and obeyed the voice of Jonadab, their father;

(c) the collective - Judah had to decide between obedience that provides life, or disobedience that enslaves and promotes all sorts of confusion and death; disobedience led the nation of Israel into captivity.

CONCLUSION

GOD BLESS YOU!

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