“Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever” (Jeremiah 35:19).
TEXT — Jeremiah 35:2-10,13-19
Message
People do many things in a bid to leave their footprints on the sand of time. Like Absalom, some erect iconic monuments ‘to keep their names in remembrance’ (2 Samuel 18:18). Others name streets and estates after themselves. While their actions reflect the vanity of life, the word of God says, “the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance” (Psalm 112:6).
Jonadab, the son of Rechab was one of such person God held in remembrance. Our text focuses on the faithful obedience of his children to his commandment not to drink wine or dwell in permanent houses. This contrasted with the disobedience of the children of Israel to the statutes of God, who they publicly acknowledged as their Father. In response, God blessed the posterity of Jonadab and reaffirmed His intention to punish the sinful nation.
The study shows that obedience is still the pathway to an enduring blessing. It also outlines the steps into generational blessings. First is the importance of parental guidance or control. Jonadab must have had effective control over his children for them to turn the practice of obedience into a family tradition. Second, the Rechabites must have used oral traditions to transmit the instruction of Jonadab to future generations. In this digital age, parents and grandparents can use several devices to record, preserve and share the truth of the gospel to members of their families. Lastly, the Rechabites passed the test of obedience administered by Jeremiah.
Consequently, they have become a reference point, a perpetual memorial of the lesson of obedience. This remains a challenge to us. We need to commit ourselves to the wholesome obedience of God’s word at all times and in every situation.
Thought for the day
The paths of obedience shine brightly with generational blessings.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
Very educative and quite encouraging.