You Can Always Tell a Rechabite

If the title to this post strikes you as odd and confusing, then we may have just pinpointed one of the reasons people find it difficult to read the Bible - particularly the Old Testament.

This story is found there -specifically in the account of Jeremiah the prophet in the 35th chapter. It is interesting that before technology - without the aid of videos, even before the advent of flannel graph - God used illustrations to stress His point.

In this case, God used a particular family to convey His thoughts to the nation of Israel. He wanted to point out their rebellious nature by showing them a people of consistent obedience. The family was known as the Rechabites because they were descendants of a man named Rechab.

Why did God choose the Rechabites? What was it about them that caught His eye?

The prophet Jeremiah was instructed to invite them over...

...and I brought them into the house of the LORD . . . Then I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said to them, “Drink wine.” 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.’ Jeremiah 35:4-7 NKJV

I think it was their consistency of character that qualified them to be a play a role in what God was saying.

Just imagine the talk around town -

"there goes one of those Rechabites ... you know, Bill told me they all live together in an RV..."

"...do tell? - I heard they won't touch any liquor - something about a 'family curse'..."

" I know one thing - forget about trying to sell them any property! They may work hard but they won't do any farming - not a single one of them!"

These folks were probably a little quirky - but you always knew what to expect from them. That's appealing to me - and it was appealing to God.

Consistency of character is not a trait we emphasize these days: politicians bank on the fact that Americans have short memories - and contradict themselves, athletes declare that they are not role models and proceed to prove it with inconsistent lifestyles, even people of strong moral reputation will disappoint us at times.

In fact, in Christian circles we will advise against expecting a lot out of others, "people will let you down" -we say. But that wasn't the case with the Apostle Paul, one could follow him as he followed Christ...

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord ... 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6a NKJV (emphasis mine)

Paul lived his life consistent with the character of Christ; the Rechabites - an entire family - lived their lives in consistent obedience; and so can we. Our children need for us to do that. I understand that consistency is the trick to discipline. If we clearly communicate the expectations and the consequences and then respond consistently - it yields a calm security in our children.

But it is difficult.

There are a couple of things the Rechabites did to maintain their constant obedience:

1. They kept each other accountable. When Jeremiah honored the Rechabites and presented wine, it might have been tempting for them to partake- just to avoid offending their host. But these guys felt a greater allegiance to each other and the commands of their ancestors.
2. They kept it simple. Rechab passed along a few simple guiding principles to his family - drink no wine; live your lives as sojourners or nomads. Dave Ramsey of Total Money Makeover fame, calls this "keeping your life in big chunks" so it can be easily managed. Remember the movie, City Sickers? Curlee's secret was to find the "one thing" in life that was important and pursue it.

Sometimes, we may equate consistency with "dull"; our lives may even appear to be in a "rut"; it doesn't seem to be very rewarding. But there are rewards, we are quiet examples for others to follow.

Other people notice when they become jaded with all the flip-flops around them.

Our children notice.

God notices.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.