People Series: Jonadab
Ever heard of Jonadab? Jonadab was a Rechabite (Jeremiah 35:6).
He lived like how our forefathers of faith lived. In implicit obedience. God blessed him.
How did our forefathers live?
They dwelt in tents. ⛺️ Never settled in one place. They moved, wherever God led them. They were obedient to God and He took good care of them.
Abraham, dwelt in tents, his journey of faith is critical to understand our walk with God today.
God called Abraham out of his “settled” state. They lived as strangers as God took them on a tour, and eventually Israel entered the promised land of Canaan.
“And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.” Acts 7:3
Many are in a settled state spiritually; they think they are Godly but have gotten comfortable and complacent with their spiritual walk. We are strangers on earth. We were of the world, when in darkness. Now, we are of heaven, born of God, not of this world anymore. In the wilderness journey, we await to enter our promised land when Jesus comes to take His bride.
Abraham lived with a hope which is hardly found in today’s Christians. Why do I say that? Many today are deeply invested in the things of the earth. Most depend on the might of their earthly possessions rather than the Word of God.
“By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:9-10
What I learnt from the life of Jonadab, the Rechabite?
- Never drank wine (Jeremiah 35:6)
- Never built a house (Jeremiah 35:7)
- Never sowed seeds.
- Nor planted a vineyard.
The above qualities pleased God. What’s in it for us? The New Testament ministry.
Never drank wine
Believers are filled with the Joy of Heaven. There is nothing that is of the world that brings joy to the believer. He lives in the joy of the Lord, the fullness of which is found in the presence of God (Psalms 16:11)
The worldly celebrate in wines that intoxicate, separate a person from reality. As children of the Almighty God, our celebration is always in the presence of God. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was given to us to rejoice in the presence of God. The Holy Spirit is the new wine. The wine that flows from Heaven and satisfies our heart and soul.
On the day of Pentecost, the apostles were filled with a new wine. Not of the earth. Since then, they were led by the Holy Spirit, as joy and gladness filled their heart, to live mightily for the glory of God.
Never built a house
Believers are the building of God (1 Corinthians 3:9). A believers house is not built with human hands, it is eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1)
The carnally minded man is of the world. His hope is only in this world. He has no view of eternity. Since childhood he has been trained to live, to eat. He is focused on building a reputation for himself. To own things and have power. The pride of life (1 John 2:16).
Don’t we hear enough stories of people killing for a parking space?
Believers are born again, spiritually minded individuals living to do the will of God. Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Living each day to enter the habitation prepared by God for them (John 14:1-3).
Never sowed seeds
The carnal mind is invested in the things of the world. He sows in the earth to reap of the earth. His heart is given to gaining the best education, best career, best of all he can gain to increase his reputation. His time and resources are spent for the things of the world. He has no time for God. He loves his degrees and certificates and theology, and like Ephraim is a bullock unaccustomed to yoke (of the Word of God).
The young man (Matthew 19:19-22) who came to Jesus was a rich person, a good man, but unwilling to give his life for Jesus. He loved his earthly treasures more than what he would get in heaven if he followed Christ.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21)
Some of the seeds sown by the believer;
- Sow seeds of faith (Matthew 13:32)
- Sow in tears (Psalms 126:5,6)
- Sow in righteousness (Proverbs 11:18)
- Sow goodness (Job 4:8) (Matthew 13:37)
- Sow peace (James 3:18)
Never planting a vineyard
Believers are the vineyard of the Lord. The fruit of which is to leave behind a spiritual legacy of faith and hope, powered by love. We weren’t separated by God to work in the vineyard of this world, but to work in the vineyard of God, as labourers for the glory of God.
Believers are called to plant the everlasting Word of God in the hearts and minds of our children rather than plant perishable, material pillars.
What have we learnt from the life of the early apostles? Is it not the same? In a time of great persecution they received the mighty Word of God. They weren’t settled but went house to house in prayer and breaking bread (Acts 2:42-46).
We have the gospel today because of the power of God that raised up apostles and believers who only had Jesus in their heart and mind.
Do these points surprise you as a believer? I’ll leave you with the promise of God to His children.
And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. (Deuteronomy 6:10-12)