S) "18 Then Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father, kept all his commands and done according to all that he commanded you; 19 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me always.'"'"
Jeremiah 35:18-19 (NASB)
O) God directed Jeremiah to find the house of Rechab, because He knew of their faithfulness to Him through their obedience to their father's command. There is a promise within verse 19, similar to the promise the LORD made to King David (that he would never cease to have a descendant on the throne), and Jonadab would always have descendants serving the LORD. There are a few things that strike me about this promise. First, it is specific and cannot be taken out of context. This is not the type of promise that can directly translate to a modern believer, since it was a conditional promise based on events that aren't really repeatable. Jonadab gave his children specific commands for a specific time, and they obeyed, "therefore…" Second, this was not a universal salvation. God didn't promise that all of his descendants would stand before Him, only that there would be some continually. At the same time, here we have God looking into the future at what will be, not what may be. So, this alludes to God's sovereignty, but the fact that not all of his descendants will be saved, calls into question, why not all? While we don't have the exact answers, we do know that God desires that all would repent and be saved (see 2 Peter 3:9). So, in the end, what we see at work is that a man taught his children well. As a result, they obeyed. As a result of that obedience, some were saved, and some of his family would continue to be saved, from generation to generation. In a sense, the story of the Rechabites manifested the truth of Proverbs 22:6.
A) The most simple application, is that I teach my children well. It continues to be a sore spot in my heart, that my relationship with my own dad has failed, ultimately because there is no Christian foundation between us. My inability to relate to my own dad, in any areas of the Way, is a motivation in itself that I teach my own children well. I so desire to give them what I never had, to give them lifelong counsel about the ways of God. I so desire to disciple them, to be a lifelong mentor about personal devotion to Christ, and what it means to be a godly spouse, and to raise children of faith. I don't know of God would ever tell me the same thing He said to the Rechabites, but He doesn't have to say it for me to want it. Ultimately, I have faith that His model for discipleship works. As long as I am raising my children to seek Him, to know te LORD then I have confidence I will always have descendants standing before my God. If my children learn to teach their own children, to teach the next generation, to disciple their children in Christ, personally, then I know it will continue on and on until the Day of our Lord.
P) Father, You are worth it all. That is the bottom line, basic, foundational truth that I w any my children to learn, and to teach their own kids. It doesn't matter what "it" is, You are always worth it. I know I lack the wisdom and discipline in myself to see this desire accomplished, Lord. Start with me, discipline me to seek You with my whole heart, and all my strength, and my innermost thoughts. Let my efforts be full of Your grace, as I try my best to raise my own kids to seek You fully. Soften their hearts, and give them open ears and eyes. Let them faithfully seek You all their days. Let them also learn the importance of teaching their own children, that generation after generation of my descendants, would learn to place their trust in You, LORD God. Let Your will be done for my posterity. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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