Today’s passage: Jeremiah 35:1-19
Helpful thoughts:
- The Rechabites were Kenite nomadic people who were descended from Moses’ father-in-law (Judges 1:16). They had traveled into the Promised Land with Israel.
- This passage is not telling the Jews that they were supposed to live in tents and never drink wine or plant vineyards like the Rechabites. The point was to show that there are people who here instructions from humans and obey them.
- The Rechabites had obeyed a man’s instructions for generations. Israel disobeyed God over and over.
- God’s fulfilled promise to the Rechabites is evidenced in Nehemiah 3:14 where the Rechabites participate in the rebuilding of Jerusalem after Israel’s return from exile.
Questions to consider:
- Why might it seem easier for us to obey people than to obey God? Why are we prone to fear people more than God?
- Assuming the best, Jonadab had good reasons to instruct his descendants to follow these rules. What motivates the good, loving God of the universe to instruct His children? Why does it make perfect sense to obey God? Why do we still struggle to do it?
- What do we learn about God when we consider how illogical and rebellious we are to disobey Him, and yet, He still sent Christ to die for us? How great is the love, mercy and grace of God? How are these attributes a great motivation to follow Him today?