Our stubborn hearts like Israel

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the Lord. The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, 'Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.' But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered." But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me." (Jeremiah 35:12-19 ESV)

We are a stubborn people. God continually cries out to us. He shows us the right ways that we may walk by still waters in the abundant life of walking in the narrow path of The Lord. When we turn away, he guides us back. When we turn around and sin he rebukes us to save us.

God works all things for his good purposes. But if we are stubborn we may walk away from The Lord and from life. But if like Jonadab and his family are faithful and trust God even when we don't understand we will get to be with God forever. For we have chosen God in this life and his ways. We will know him and his ways. So in eternity we will rejoice in simply being with God.
Amen