Perhaps They Will Listen

Jeremiah 26:3

“Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways.   Then I will relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.”

Whether you are in school as a student or a parent, you have seen and witnessed people who don’t listen. I can remember my days in school when the teacher would say, “Billy, are you with us?” “Billy, up here!” “Billy, please pay attention!” No offense to people named Billy. Billy’s mind was not in the classroom; it was still playing video games or somewhere else. One thing was true: because Billy did not pay attention in class, he was not a good student.

The Old Testament and New Testament are linked together in one holy book called the Bible. It is the inspired word of God, living and breathing as the Holy Spirit reveals its mysteries to those who call Christ a friend and follow Him (Colossians 1:26). Jeremiah was told to go to the front gate of the city and proclaim the prophecy the Lord had given him. Just like being in class, Jeremiah was the teacher, and the students were the Israelites. The message was clear: listen to the Lord, follow His law, and heed the prophets and servants of the Lord—then they would be spared from the disaster God had planned for His people.

At first, they listened, but upon hearing the message, they became angry and sought to kill Jeremiah for prophesying such dire things against Israel. Jeremiah was saved from this impending death sentence because some of the priests remembered how the Lord had spared Israel when they turned from their evil ways in the past. However, this time they did not, and Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was on his way.

For us, we have the Bible instead of the prophets. Jesus died for our sins so we could be one with the Father for eternity (John 3:16). Perhaps you are at a crossroads, wondering what or whom to listen to. Perhaps you are deciding whether to go all in or scrap this Jesus thing altogether. Maybe you’re like the Israelites, doing the church thing only because your parents make you. Jesus is standing in your path, saying, “Perhaps he or she will listen and turn from their evil ways.” Are you listening today? When you hear the Word, does it stir up a defensive reaction, like when Jeremiah spoke to Israel? The Lord is waiting for us to listen and follow Him in all our ways. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” Does He have all your ways, or are you still the one in class needing constant redirection? Perhaps you will listen.

Prayer: Father, I pray that we not only listen to Your Word, read it, and study it, but also obey it. I pray that hardened hearts will break and become hearts yearning after You. I pray that when the time comes for us to choose life and Jesus, we do not turn our backs and let Satan deceive us with rotten words and violence. I pray that when we hear You say, “Perhaps they will listen,” we stop and listen to You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.