How often do you think
that your life is so insignificant that no one ever takes notice of you? You
know that the Scriptures say that we are to be witnesses to the Lord Jesus at
all times. But what does that mean for us? Surely no one would be influenced by
my witness, would they? In fact I am often made fun of because of my different
lifestyle. So you think!
But is that true?
The Recabites were a
special group in Israel. They didn't drink wine, build houses, or plant crops.
In fact they lived in tents even when everyone else had more secure housing. In
other words, their lifestyle was so different from that of their neighbors that
they were often ridiculed.
But it was these
people whom God used, through the
preaching of Jeremiah, to show a most
important message to the rest of the people ; in fact it was a message of life
or death.
Jeremiah tested the Recabites
by calling them into the temple and putting wine in front of them to see if
they would maintain their vow before God. They passed the test and so Jeremiah
was able to be confident of their obedience to God.
These people, through
their lifestyle, which was godly and completely counter cultural, were the
perfect ones to point to as fully obedient to God, even in the midst of
hardship and persecution.
Jeremiah 35:8-10 NIV
[8] We have obeyed everything our
forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor
our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine [9] or built houses to live in or
had vineyards, fields or crops. [10] We have lived in tents and have fully
obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab commanded us.
Jeremiah 35:13-16 NIV
[13] “This is what the Lord
Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the people of Judah and those
living in Jerusalem, 'Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?' declares
the Lord. [14] 'Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants 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 ancestors.” But you
have not paid attention or listened to me. [16] The descendants of Jehonadab
son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these
people have not obeyed me.'
After all the years of
standing out from the crowd and being ridiculed, the Recabites were now able to
demonstrate to all the people the very thing that God had been saying all
along. They were faithful witnesses that could be pointed to by God and His
prophet.
These years
(generation?) of faithfulness were finally to be rewarded.
Jeremiah 35:18-19 NIV
[18] Then Jeremiah said to the
family of the Rekabites, “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel,
says: 'You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jehonadab and have
followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.' [19]
Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Jehonadab
son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.' ”
Are you in a similar
situation? Do you think that you are not a strong witness even when you are trying
to live a life of faithfulness in the
midst of a society that laughs at such values?
Take heart. God will
not be mocked. He will lift up those who stand out for Him. You may
not see the result of your witness, but it is noticed; by God and by your
neighbors.
Stand firm, and after
you have done everything, stand firm.
