Jer 35:12-16, 19 (NIV) Then the word of the Lord came
to Jeremiah, saying: 13 "This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of
Israel, says: Go and tell the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem, 'Will
you not learn a lesson and obey my words?' declares the Lord. 14 'Jonadab son
of Recab ordered his sons 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. 15 Again
and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, "Each of
you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow
other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you
and your fathers." But you have not paid attention or listened to me. 16
The descendants of Jonadab son of Recab have carried out the command their
forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.'
. . . 19 Therefore, this is what the Lord Almighty,
the God of Israel, says: 'Jonadab son of Recab will never fail to have a man to
serve me.'"
NOTE: Because of our sin nature, there are certain
things that we will always struggle against.
But there are some things, which while a struggle, it is possible to
defeat in one's own strength. God
compares the Recabites ban on drinking with God's ban on idols. The Recabites obeyed their forefather's word,
and since they did not have the Holy Spirit living within them, they did it in
their own strength. The Israelites had
the ability to say no to the worshipping of idols, but they failed. Israel's failure results in much loss of
life, the loss of the land, and exile to a foreign country. The Recabites obedience to their forefather
results in a promise to always have a man to serve God. Today, there is a Recabite, one of the
remnant, who believes in the savior, and is serving God.
While we must rely
on the Holy Spirit for strength to say no to sin, there are things which must
start with us. We must choose to do the
right thing. God will give the strength
to do what is right, but only after we choose to do what is right. Father, help me to see those choices so that
I can make the right choice.
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