The Rechabites are less than famous. (They only appear on one page of your Bible.) The Rechabites were less than wealthy. (They owned no homes, land or crops.) It is quite likely that the Rechabites were hardly noticed by their neighbors after taking refuge in the city.
But God knew them. He noticed them and was pleased by what He saw.
He sent Jeremiah to find them and as usual He gave Jeremiah an unusual assignment. Find the Rechabites, bring them into the temple and offer them a big bowl of wine. (Jeremiah had to be wondering how many more facets of his call still remained to be discovered….he was now God’s sommelier!)
But they refused the wine. Instead of seizing the opportunity to enjoy some of life’s “finer” things, they quietly declined the offer. You see their father had vowed that his family would drink no wine, build no houses, and sow no seeds. Instead they would live in tents and enjoy many days in the land. It seems this man did not want the bonuses of the land to get in the way of the blessings of the LORD.
Their faithfulness to their father’s vow served as an indictment to the rest of the people of Jerusalem. But it also serves as a reminder to Jeremiah (and the people) that it is possible to live faithfully before God. It can be done. It has been done! God gives a special blessing to this family.
What do see these days? A culture living in defiance of God. A church that is much less than it should be. Believers who disappoint.
Yes, all of that is out there.
But God knew them. He noticed them and was pleased by what He saw.
He sent Jeremiah to find them and as usual He gave Jeremiah an unusual assignment. Find the Rechabites, bring them into the temple and offer them a big bowl of wine. (Jeremiah had to be wondering how many more facets of his call still remained to be discovered….he was now God’s sommelier!)
But they refused the wine. Instead of seizing the opportunity to enjoy some of life’s “finer” things, they quietly declined the offer. You see their father had vowed that his family would drink no wine, build no houses, and sow no seeds. Instead they would live in tents and enjoy many days in the land. It seems this man did not want the bonuses of the land to get in the way of the blessings of the LORD.
Their faithfulness to their father’s vow served as an indictment to the rest of the people of Jerusalem. But it also serves as a reminder to Jeremiah (and the people) that it is possible to live faithfully before God. It can be done. It has been done! God gives a special blessing to this family.
What do see these days? A culture living in defiance of God. A church that is much less than it should be. Believers who disappoint.
Yes, all of that is out there.
But there are Rechabites out there too. Simple families and individuals who have quietly committed to not let the bonuses of life distract them from the blessings of the LORD.
May you see them. May you grow them. May you bless them.
May you see them. May you grow them. May you bless them.
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