"Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father
in all that he hath charged us."--_Jer. 35:8._
GOD is pleased with those who obey what their parents tell them. To-day
we hear about a family, whose father gave them an order that sounds
strange to us. They were never to live in stone or brick houses, but
always to have tents; they were not to have corn-fields or vineyards,
but only flocks of sheep, and herds of cows and goats; and they were
never to taste wine or strong drink, but only water and milk. It was
quite a long time after the old father, who gave these orders, had
died, that the Prophet Jeremiah was told to try whether they still
minded him. He was told to set pots of wine and cups before them, and
to ask them to drink. But they all answered steadily, that their father
had bidden them never to touch wine, nor have fields, nor build houses;
and they were resolved that they would obey him. Then God was pleased
with them, and gave a blessing to them by the mouth of His prophet.
He said that there should never be an end to their tribe, because they
were so obedient. And so it has been.
These Rechabites, as they are called, lived two thousand four hundred
years ago; and their children and descendants have gone on like them
ever since--living in tents, keeping sheep, and drinking no wine, and
obeying the voice of their father, who lived so long ago. They have
lasted so long, because God blessed their obedience.
Now, sometimes a little child goes out alone, and some friend offers
it something nice that it knows its mother would not like it to have.
Or some person asks a little boy to come into a beer-shop, and drink
a drop, when perhaps his father had told him not. Recollect, then,
that if you are steady in minding what you are told, as those good
Rechabites were, then God will be pleased with you, and own you for His
good child, and give you His blessing.