When I was in school, I had a physical education teacher who was always telling us “to listen up.” Kids who did not listen were always doing the wrong thing or did not know what to do because they had not heard the directions.
When our children became old enough to listen and follow directions, it gave me a new perspective. You want your children to listen and follow directions because you know life is a lot easier when that happens. A child who will not listen nor follow directions will find life difficult.
Moses and Aaron spoke to the Pharaoh about letting the people go so they could hold a festival in the Lord’s honor in the wilderness. They were following the Lord’s instructions to Moses from Exodus 3:18.
After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.” 2 “Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”[1] Exodus 5:1-2.
The Pharaoh did not want to listen to the Lord because he did not know the Lord. Why is knowing the Lord so important when it comes to listening and following the Lord?
Paul writes in Romans 8:14, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” [2]
Pharaoh’s heart was hard toward God. He did not know God, nor did he want to know Him and would suffer the consequences because of that.
As we come into a relationship with God, we begin to be able to hear His voice of the Holy Spirit. Jesus say in John 10: 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, [3] Those who are children of God know the voice of the Good Shepherd and the importance of following that voice. My life would quite different if I had not listened to the voice of the Shepherd. It is He who always knows what is best for my life. That does not mean life is easy, but does it mean God is able to unfold His plan for our lives as we listen and follow.
Take time to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd Jesus. What is He telling you? What would He like you to do? When you take time to listen, you will be surprised all the Lord wants to tell you.
To hear more of the story of Moses, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/the-footsteps-of-moses/following-god-brings-challenges
[1,2,3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.