Jonadab’s Instructions, Jeremiah’s Contrast

Jeremiah, as depicted by Michelangelo from the Sistine Chapel ceiling

The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment:

Do you know Jonadab? A minor character in the Old Testament, but his words were important enough for inclusion, and their result, too. Take a look at 2 Kings 10:15-31 – use the link, I won’t use all the verses here. The name is spelled Jehonadab, but biblical spellings do vary, and we are told he is the son of Rechab. He and Jehu are named as those who wiped out Ahab’s family and destroyed worshipers of Baal in a very violent manner. In verse 31, we find Jehu not continuing to follow God’s commandments, but Jonadab isn’t mentioned again until Jeremiah 35, when God gives specific instructions:

The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink. (Jeremiah 35:1-2 KJV)

Go ahead and read the next verses, down to 14. That’s part of the lesson. It is obvious that Jeremiah was saying “God told me to give you wine,” but Jonadab’s descendants are having to part of that. They had sworn an oath and were following the instructions they had promised generations before.
We might think this was a lesson from God not to follow traditional instructions – but that’s not the lesson, as we learn from the second part of verse 14:

notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me. (Jeremiah 35:14 KJV)

Jeremiah had been speaking God’s word of destruction, but he had been ignored, then vilified for giving incorrect information. In these few words, he contrasts the obedience of the Rechabites to the righteous of their father, Jonadab, with the disobedience of the people of Judah and Israel to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - of all Israel.

All of his days, morning to evening, Jeremiah has spoken God’s prophecy to God’s people. Generations before them had made promises to prophets – and to God – that this generation was ignoring. “. . . ye hearkened not.”

Have we hearkened? Have we listened to God’s words, or have we determined they were meant only for other people at other times. That God has not been working in this world since days of old and we are left to, as Israel did centuries ago, to do what is right in our own eyes, as mentioned in Judges :

In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:6 KJV)


No – what is right in our own eyes is not what we should be doing:

Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. (Deuteronomy 12:8 KJV)

And for very good reasons:

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. (Proverbs 12:15 KJV)
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. (Proverbs 21:2 KJV)

If we have no concern for God’s will in our lives, we can certainly do whatever is right in our own eyes. We can ignore the lessons of Jonadab son of Rechab, the lessons from Jeremiah, even the lessons taught us by Jesus Christ. But there are consequences.

Are we really ready to face the consequences of doing what we think is right without learning what God desires for our lives and the consequences He has defined for not believing Him?

Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll accept the love and promise given in John 3:16-18.