Jeremiah 35
Wow. I’ve been pretty terrrrible at updating my blog. I started a post a few weeks ago, but I never got around to finishing it. :[ Oh wells!
Anyway, I’ve been reading through Jeremiah because I finished Isaiah and didn’t know where to go after. It was a pretty logical choice, I guess. I’ve realized that I haven’t been really absorbing the passages that I’ve been reading – I’ve kind of just been reading the words. Hopefully if I write something down, it’ll stick better in my brain.
Today’s passage was Jeremiah 35. So in this passage God commands Jeremiah to go talk to the Recabite community, and as Jeremiah speaks to these people, he hears from them that their ancestor commanded them “You are not to drink wine, you or your children, ever. Neither shall you build houses or settle down, planting fields and gardens and vineyards. Don’t own property. Live in tents as nomads so that you will live well and prosper in a wandering life” (Jeremiah 35:6-7 – The Message) and that they have been following this commandment since it was given. The sons of Judah, however, chose to ignore God’s calling, and He promises calamity upon them for their disobedience. After God commands judgment upon the people of Jerusalem through Jeremiah, he tells the Recabites of their reward for their faithfulness in verse 19-ish (The Message doesn’t really label each verse D:): “Because you have done what Jonadab your ancestor told you, obeyed his commands and followed through on his instructions, receive this Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel: There will always be a descendant of Jonadab son of Recab at my service! Always!“
What struck me the most in this passage was the nature of the Recabites’ reward. God doesn’t promise them worldly riches, protection from harm, or even physical security. He promises them and their descendants the opportunity to serve God. I know for sure that I take the opportunities that I have to serve God for granted. I often think that serving God is a choice that I make and a sacrifice I choose to give, and it’s really humbling to be reminded that even the work that I do for God is a gift from Him. It makes me question whether or not I take my service for God as something to be enjoyed, and something to take joy from. I guess the opportunity to serve God really IS the greatest reward because it means that God is willing to use our ineptitude and our brokenness in His magnificent and great plans. I have yet to fully embrace that and fully appreciate the amount of grace God is showing me by giving me the opportunity to serve Him, but it’s encouraging to know that as I continue to be obedient to Him, God will continue to give me His work to do and I will slowly learn to delight in serving Him.
