There's a wonderful reminder tucked away early in the Exodus story. After Moses and Aaron share God's redemptive promise with the people, the text says, "The people believed. Exactly what did they believe? I’m not sure they could’ve imagined what would happen soon. At that point, there was one thing that was sufficient for them. The text says that they heard that the Lord had 'given heed' to them.
Their first response is to worship, but it wasn't because God parted the sea. That hasn't happened yet. Moses hasn't even gone back to Pharaoh. So far, there's nothing about their circumstances that has improved.
What moves them is the realization that God has been listening.
The people of Israel had been crying out. Their prayers may have felt unanswered and unnoticed. Yet God had heard every cry. God’s plan may have sounded great, but the good news that Moses first brought was that God had been paying attention.
People often assume pastors spend most of their time giving advice, solving problems, or developing plans. Sometimes that's true, we do. But more often, what people remember is whether someone listened. That’s what we do most.
I can easily spit out a generic idea about what you can do next in your life. But what’s often much more difficult is truly listening to what people are feeling and experiencing.
There is something healing about being heard. Something sacred about knowing that your story matters enough for another person to stop and pay attention.
That seems to be what gets the elders of the Israelites to respond.
So, today, if you feel overlooked, remember that God has given heed to you. Your prayers have not disappeared into the air. Your struggles have not gone unnoticed. The God who heard Israel still hears us.
As you trust that God listens to you, give the blessing of being heard to someone else, too.
Stay blessed...john
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