Obedience Is A Choice

(Jeremiah 35:1-19)

It only makes sense... when we are faced with a decision that requires us to obey or disobey, we must choose. The Old Testament is filled with stories of both, obedience and disobedience. The Israelites would disobey God, He would send them a prophet to call them back into obedience. Some would listen and turn from their unfaithfulness and others went on their merry way. But it was always their choice. In the passage that we are reading today, God uses the example of the Recabites to demonstrate that people have the ability to be obedient, even to another human.

This group of people had been faithful to a command of their forefather, Jonadab for generations.
But they said, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever.  You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, nor have any of these; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners.’  Thus 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, or our daughters,  nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; nor do we have vineyard, field, or seed.  But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. (Jeremiah 35: 6-10)
The Recabites had made the decision, each one individually and each generation, to be faithful to the teaching of  Jonadab. They had not built homes, tasted wine, sown seed or planted a vineyard; rather, they had lived in tents and lived as sojourners. I am sure that many a wife had said, "I would really like to live in a  house of my own" and many a man had said, "I would really like to have a garden to feed my family". But because they chose to be faithful to the teaching, they lived differently.

God uses these people to tell the children of Israel that they have the ability to choose to be obedient to Him. If generations of Recabites can live by the word of a man, surely His people can live by His words.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to obey My words?” says the Lord.  “The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, and obey their father’s commandment. But although I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, you did not obey Me.  I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me. Surely the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them, but this people has not obeyed Me.”’ (Jeremiah 35:13-16)

I understand God's frustration. He gives them chance after chance to listen and change... but they don't obey. Thankfully, we have a patient God, One that calls repeatedly and gives us chance after chance to listen and obey. Peter puts it this way...But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8,9) He wants everyone to listen and obey! He wants everyone to be saved! And so He patiently waits. He patiently calls everyone to repent and be be converted. (Acts 2: 36-41) But He leaves the choice up to us... just as he always has. He calls and we choose to hear or we choose to shut our ears.

If you are not a Christian, I encourage you to open your ears to the life saving, life giving message of the gospel. Jesus paid the price for your sins and He calls you to obedience. Hear the message of Christ; believe that Jesus is God's Son and that He died for you, repent of your sins, turn to follow Him, confess His name before men, be immersed in baptism for the forgiveness of your sins, receive the Holy Spirit and be raised to walk as a new creation to live out a life of faithfulness to God. If you are a Christian and have chosen to walk away from God, may you choose to listen again, be restored to the Father and determine to hear His voice once again. God is patient, but He will not wait forever...

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,  looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:10-12) These verses are right after Peter's plea in verses 8 and 9. He makes it clear, God doesn't want any to perish... He is patient... he keeps His promise and He calls us to repentance. Then He tells us that time is running out... what are you waiting for?