To listen is to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing. It also means to pay attention; to heed; to obey. Sometimes as believers we pray for direction from God, when we really have our heart set elsewhere.
The prophet Jeremiah was a sensitive man who deeply loved his people, and who hated to have to pronounce judgement on them. He repeatedly warned them of God's judgement but they refused to adhere till the city was taken by the Babylonians (Jeremiah 39;1-118).
In Chapter 42, the people came to Jeremiah and besought him to pray for them. They wanted to know where to go. They said;
"We beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) That the LORD thy God may show us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do." Jeremiah 42:2-3
Jeremiah agreed to pray for them and to tell them the truth and keep nothing back from what God would tell him. The people promised to obey anything God would tell them to do. They said;
"The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God." Jeremiah 42: 5-6
Whether it would be good or bad, these people promised to not only listen but obey what God would tell them to do.
Ten days later, Jeremiah received the message from God, the answer to their prayers. God told them to stay in the land, and He would build them, plant them, and shower them with his mercies. Though their city was i captivity under the king of Babylon, God would favour them and save them from the king's hand (Jeremiah 42: 7-12)
God also made it explicitly clear that if they would not abide in the land, if they were to leave for Egypt in a bid to avoid war and hunger, they would do so at their own peril.
"So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them." Jeremiah 42: 17
In other words, the place the people desired to go to was Egypt, and God had just revealed through the prophet Jeremiah that the place would be their doom with unbearable hardship. They wanted to hear from God, and now that God had responded the answer wasn't quite what they were expecting, but would they listen? Would they obey?
The people of Israel did not listen, one of the mean accused Jeremiah of conspiring with their enemies to trick them, they refused to listen to Jeremiah and chose to disobey God.
"So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah." Jeremiah 43: 4
As believers it is important we listen to what God is saying before taking any decisions. We should trust in His leading and let Him guide us. When God speaks through His word, we should listen. Before we pray and ask for direction, we should make up our minds to really obey him even when we don't seem to understand his reasons. Everything God tells us to do is for our own good.
Here are three notable things I learnt from Jeremiah 42;
1. God wants the best for us, we should go to him in prayer for guidance and direction in everything we do. Jeremiah 42: 3
2. We must decide in our heart to obey God at all times, even before coming to him in prayer. Jeremiah 42: 6
3. Genuine obedience will bring about many blessings from God. We should trust, listen and obey and enjoy many bountiful blessings from God. Jeremiah 42:10
Prayer: Heavenly father, please help me to always listen and obey your word concerning every area of my life in Jesus Name. Amen.
References
The Holy Bible, King James Version, Jeremiah 42-43
