Then I set before the men of the house of the Rechabites pitchers full of wine and cups; and I said to them, "Drink wine!" But they said, "We will not drink wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, "You shall not drink wine, you or your sons forever."

Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, "Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, 'Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem', "will you not receive instructions by listening to My words?" Declares the LORD. "The words of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are observed. So they do not drink wine to this day for they have obeyed their father's command. But I have spoken to you again and again; yet you have not listened to Me."

Jeremiah 35:5-6, 12-14, NASB (1995)

Of all the things that went into the destruction of Judah as a nation, at least for a time of captivity, was their refusal to accept the legacy that had been passed down to them. They were God's chosen people, and He had given them a powerful kingdom for hundreds of years. Yet there came a time when despite all of this, that they decided to abandon God's direction and go their own ways. God Himself had given them a legacy of being His special people, and for many years the people obeyed. Parents passed God's way down to their children from generation to generation, and they were blessed as a result. 

They had a legacy that was worth something - a proud heritage that was a marvel to the rest of the world and a tremendous blessing to themselves. Yet there came a time when this legacy meant less and less to them, until it finally came to the point where it meant nothing at all. So God sent them prophets to warn them of the consequences that their foolish behavior would surely bring upon them, but they did not listen. He divided the powerful kingdom, and instead of being united as one nation under God, they became two nations that engaged in wars and civil wars for hundreds of years. God punished them with famine and enemies, and though it caused some to temporarily repent, most still turned away.

They turned away from their God and, therefore, their legacy. They sold their heritage for sin, and they reaped the consequences that such evil and reckless behavior brings.

Finally, after Israel (one half of the divided kingdom) was defeated and carried off into captivity, it became a time of decision for the other half; for Judah. And Judah being Judah decided that their legacy meant nothing, so they gave themselves up to idolatry. God sent one final set of warnings. The words you read above were part of His plea. He reminded them that the house of Rechab honored the legacy left behind by their father. And while the legacy was an honorable one, it was still a manmade set of standards. Still, the house of Rechab honored those standards and are remembered to this day as a family of honor.

They left behind a legacy which lasts to this day!

But Judah, though they had been left a true legacy from God Himself, did not honor that legacy. So God wiped them out, almost to a man. The remnant that remained and which was carried off into captivity was about one percent of the once mighty nation. They turned their back on their righteous legacy and left behind a legacy of shame!

What kind of legacy are we leaving for our families? If you really hadn't thought about it much in the past, think about it now! Here is one that is worthy of your consideration:

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:15, NIV (1978)