In Jeremiah 35 we have the story of the Rechabites who have obeyed their father. They are separated out, distinguished from Israel. They listened. That means they not only heard, but they obeyed. The hearing doesn’t do anything unless you act on it. True faith shows in works. You can’t say you believe something if you don’t act on it.

The Israelites haven’t heard. The Lord sent them His word. They weren’t reading it, so He sent His prophets to tell it to them. He sent them again and again.

God is faithful and persistent. He doesn’t give up, but He is wise. The destruction of Jerusalem would get the attention of some of them. They weren’t giving it to Him otherwise.

We think we want Him to use the blessing to get our attention, to show Himself to us, but we tend to slink away with the ease and comfort. We tend to not look to Him when we don’t have need.

If you want the blessing and not the problem to direct your attention to God, then live in thanksgiving. Give thanks to Him for all things, all the time. It’s an acknowledgement that He brought the blessing, that He’s there and active in your life, that you aren’t just doing this on your own. He is bringing all things about.

The Lord says of the Israelites that not only did they not listen, but they didn’t incline their ear to the Lord.

I would think the former would be produced by the latter. You can hear that someone is speaking, but until you give them your attention, you aren’t listening. They needed to incline their ear.

Incline your ear is not just giving attention, but wanting to hear, leaning in.

Are you desiring to know the word of the Lord? Do you want to know what He’s saying? Some people want to avoid what God’s saying because if they knew God was speaking, they would have to obey.

Do you really want to know God’s word? You should! His words are truth and life!

Lean in. Hear and walk in the truth.