Jeremiah 35

I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again: what you see in the Bible at any given time is highly dependent upon your immediate context—that is, your current life’s circumstances that provide the “frame of reference” by which you relate to the world around you. For example, if you are currently a student, you may notice things about education or wisdom. If you are currently a farmer, references to planting and harvest will likely pique your curiosity.

What we notice first depends upon our context. And that’s probably why I noticed God’s parenting tactics in this chapter, because ever since I became a parent, things that pertain to parenting are the first things I typically see in Scripture, and that’s why I never saw before the comedy of what’s going on here.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m sure God wasn’t trying to be funny when He asked Jeremiah to set up a meeting with the Rekabites. I’m sure He was dead serious. But all I could do was laugh at the realization that, when it comes to His children, God will try just about anything to get through to them. I don’t think there are any parenting methods that are out-of-bounds with Him.

It all began with a simple invitation: “This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: ‘Go to the Rekabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.’” (vs 1-2)

That seems nice. Invite your friendly neighbors in for a drink. Incidentally, the Rekabites were descendants of Moses’ father-in-law and were associated with the Midianites. Thus, they had most likely lived for generations among their Israelite brothers, although they were not technically part of God’s chosen people.

So, Jeremiah invited them over to the temple for a drink. But they politely declined… on account of the fact that they had decided not to consume alcohol after their forefather Jehonadab asked them to refrain from it. Of course, God knew exactly what the Rekabites were going to do. He knew that they wouldn’t join in the wine tasting.

But it’s what He did next that got me laughing: “Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, “Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?” declares the Lord. “Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, ‘Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.’ But you have not paid attention or listened to me. The descendants of Jehonadab son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.”’” (vs 12-16)

Seriously? Do you just see what God has done here? He gathered the Rekabites and the Israelites together and then turned to the Israelites and said, “Why can’t you be more like your brothers?” I thought only bad parents pulled those kind of guilt trips! I mean, one of the first things you learn as a parent of multiple children is that it’s not a good idea to encourage comparisons!

Why can’t you be more like your brother? Ha!

For some reason, this just throws another log of respect on the already-blazing bonfire of admiration I have for God. He really isn’t too proud to leave any stone unturned. When it comes to parenting His children, He will try anything. If there is even the slightest prayer that it will make a dent, He will do it. Even if it makes us feel bad. Even if it makes Him look bad!

And I can admire a parent who will throw aside all self-interest to try to do what’s best for His kids.