"To oBEy or not to oBEy that is the question."

There is a fascinating story in Jeremiah 35 intended to make the southern tribes of Judah aware of their offensive disobedience. Jeremiah is asked to invite a group of people called the Rechabites and give them wine to drink. When they are offered the wine they immediately refuse explaining that their father--Jonadab the son of Rechab--commanded them not to drink wine, them and their sons forever. There were other instructions given by their father and they were steadfast in their obedience to these commands from a human being. Listen to their explanation for why they wouldn't imbibe. "And we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he commanded us, not to drink wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters,..." (Jer.35:8).

God uses this stellar example of obedience to humiliate His people who have been deliberately ignoring all that He has commanded them. God had sent his prophets "again and again saying, 'Turn every man from his evil way...but you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me'" (35:15).

It isn't too difficult to sanctimoniously scorn God's people declaring how unreasonable they must have been. Yet, as I ponder this story it prompts a question for self-examination--"What sin(s) do I persist in despite God's repeated warnings?" We have the very Words of God written in the Bible to speak out against our vices and faults? Am I, Are you, listening or do I/you turn a deaf ear to God's Word that exposes our failures? Am I persistent in my lack of faith failing to trust God fully with my next source of employment, my future vocation or mate, my provision in retirement, my children's spiritual condition? Too often I'm clamoring for control, complaining, and critical. Lord, don't let me arrogantly dismiss the people of Judah as excessively corrupt, but instead let the light of your Word shine brightly on my life exposing the crud that needs to be removed.