“…Will you not receive instruction to hearken to My Words? says the Lord?” Jeremiah 35:13.

As the Rechabites refused to drink wine, build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards because of their father, Jonadab; God asked Judah and Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to hearken to My Words?” (Jeremiah 35:13).  This is strikingly similar to the spiritual condition of the United States today.  The sons of Jonadab hearkened to the words of their father but we, the sons and daughters of God, won’t hearken to His Word?

God sent His Word to Judah but the king, Jehoiakim, burned the scrolls (Jer. 36:23).  How many today dismiss the parts of God’s Word they don’t like?  It seems much more acceptable to preach happiness instead of holiness.  How often has God invited and commanded us to return to Him but we don’t incline an ear to hear?

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.” Jer. 36:27-28. 

It would serve both sinners and saints well to note that whether we incline an ear or not, whether we pick and choose parts of God’s Word or not, that the entirety of God’s Word will go forth.  God will always have a remnant to write again “all the former words…the king of Judah hath burned.”  A nations sinful actions will not stop the Word of God.

The problem with the sugar coated gospel, prosperity gospel, 40 days and 100 ways is not God’s problem but ours.  How quickly we hearken to man’s ways and discount God’s way.  Will we not receive instruction and hearken to God’s Word?  The Lord has been so faithful to us while we have hearkened to man’s word, can we not hearken His?

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Donna Warren