Week 3: Listening to the Father
Rebellious Ears Mean Broken Tears
Week 3, Day 5
Throughout the Old Testament, we hear the voice of God the Father more than that of the Son or the Spirit. And He spoke, most often, through prophets. However, the Israelites provided us with countless examples of those who did not listen... or if they listened, they did not obey.
When God speaks through Isaiah in chapter 48, He addresses the “house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel.”
Isaiah 48:8, 17-19 (ESV)
8 You have never heard, you have never known,
from of old your ear has not been opened.
For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously,
and that from before birth you were called a rebel.
17 Thus says the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you to profit,
who leads you in the way you should go.
18 Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!
Then your peace would have been like a river,
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;
19 your offspring would have been like the sand,
and your descendants like its grains;
their name would never be cut off
or destroyed from before me.”
What does God mean by they “have never heard” or “never known” (v. 8)?
What is the consequence of their not paying attention to His commandments (v. 17-19)?
I encourage you to read the entire chapter of Isaiah 48 as God expresses His frustration at their lack of attention to His instruc-tion. This is, of course, not the only time that God gives such a description of Israel.
Ezekiel 12:1-2 (ESV)
The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house.
What happens when we do not listen to God’s teaching?
What biblical example comes to mind of the pain or heartache associated with not listening to God?
What personal life example comes to mind?
What is the most important part of listening to God’s
commands?
Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
What is the difference between the wise and foolish builders? (Hint: they both heard the word.)
Additional notes, drawings, or thoughts from listening to the Father:
We would love to hear from you! Please share with us what you are hearing and how you are growing in your devotion to listening.
This blog post is taken from the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. To order a copy of this book, please visit our website and invite a friend to participate in the study with you. The book includes additional guides and questions to be reviewed in a small group context weekly.