Jeremiah 35:12

 Jeremiah 35:12 says, Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, Verse thirteen adds, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.  This time, the word of the LORD was a question for Jeremiah to ask the people of Judah and Jerusalem.  God once again identified Himself, stating that He was the LORD of hosts and the God of Israel.  God is the God of all creation, but the people of Israel of which Judah and Jerusalem were a part whether they were acknowledging it or not, were those who were supposedly in a covenant relationship with God.  God asked if they would not receive His instruction and hear His word.  We need to live in obedience to God as followers of Christ so that He never has to ask us the same question.  Verse fourteen states, 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: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.  God then held the Rechabites up as an example.  He said that Jonadab, the son of Rechab commanded his sons to not drink wine, and they still continued to obey his command, but that God had spoken to those who were called His people from early in the morning to late at night and they did not obey His command.  We need to never be more faithful to some man or man made tradition than we are to the word of God and His commandments.  Verse fifteen adds, I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.  God then says that He had sent prophets calling on His people to turn from their idolatry and wicked ways and to return to Him and He would keep them safe in the land that He had given them, but that they would not listen to the prophets.  We need to listen to God's word today as Christians if we are to be successful in our spiritual life.  Verse sixteen declares, Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me:  God once again cited the obedience of the sons of Jonadab and the lack of obedience of the people of Judah and Jerusalem.  Verse seventeen adds, Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.  God said that He was going to bring punishment to the people of Judah and Jerusalem because they would not listen to His word and live in obedience to Him.  Being a part of a Christian family or even what is called a Christian nation will never save anyone.  We must individually listen to God's call to salvation and personally respond to it to be saved and become a part of His family.  Verse eighteen states, And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you:  Then verse nineteen adds, Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.  God said that the obedience of the people of Rechab would be rewarded by always having someone to stand before Him.  I believe that this had to do with more than just following Jonadab's rules, but obeying God Who Jonadab represented.  We cannot be saved simply by obeying man made rules, but must live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit if we are truly God's people, and if we do we will be rewarded with everlasting life with God.