Jeremiah 35:5-6, 8, 10, 14, 19 NIV records, “Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the Rekabites and said to them, “Drink some wine.” But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. We have obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab commanded us. ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.’ ”” https://bible.com/bible/111/jer.35.5-19.NIV
Within Israel lived a subgroup who never drank wine. God used this group to rebuke His people. This group didn’t drink wine because their ancestor somehow convinced them it was a bad idea, and so that influence remained for generations. God’s influence, through His word and His prophets, was repeatedly ignored by Israel. What influence are we leaving with our families that could last generations? Is there anything we are doing that is worth our progeny following? I wrote the book MAN Up! A guide to restoring Biblical manhood to have such an influence on future Winters. Our culture needs Biblical men more than ever before. I imagine this need will continue to grow. I pray my children will teach it to their children. I have seen my older sons live the definition, and my daughters seek men who also live according to the Biblical manhood directives. I also plan to print all my thoughts from all of Scripture one day and leave them for my children to pass on to their children. Not that these words are necessarily so wonderful, but so that future generations will know their ancestor sought the Lord and took obedience to His commands seriously so that they might do likewise. Influence that lasts generations must be well explained and result in greater health and wholeness for its adherents. Like God’s, it should result in people living forever with Jesus because they obeyed better as a result of that influence. Yet, like God’s influence, it must be received and followed with humble hearts and faith that it does indeed lead to a blessed future. If it is ignored or rejected, it will result in eternal condemnation. This is the very thing God is trying to avoid, and we should also as we raise our children and influence our grandchildren.
