Slow to hear their cries - God's differing treatment of 2 sets of people

There's 2 groups of people discussed in Alma 21-22 and 23-24. One is the group of 450 people that followed Alma out of Shemlon and the other is King Limhi's people (that Alma's group left). We learn multiple things by comparing these groups:

God was slow to hear the cries of one.
 15 And now the Lord was ^aslow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their ^bcries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage.

The other group were placed in a similar situation (bondage) but received the assurance from God that they would receive help and that he would eventually deliver them:

 13 And it ^acame to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

 14 And I will also ease the ^aburdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as^bwitnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their ^cafflictions.

 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did^astrengthen them that they could bear up their ^bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with ^cpatience to all the will of the Lord.

The difference appears to be that the second group was informed about what God was doing the entire time. Also, they knew they would be delivered.

Why was God slow to hear the cries of one group and why didn't he inform them about as many things? I think it's because he wants to maximize the learning and improve the habits of each group.  Interestingly, the outcome for both groups was roughly the same: both ended up in Zarahemla, they all joined the church. However, one knew God was involved in helping them from the beginning and the other didn't.

God wants us to develop strong habits so that we continually receive the blessings he wants to give us and so that we become better people. With all things, it takes time for us to learn and develop. Once we've progressed and are closer to him, he can be more direct with us. As a result, when in the past he may require us to just believe, after our diligence he may just tell us what to do and/or what he's doing. Early on, it may take more time for us to be told things and guided, but as we prove ourselves and get better at listening to him, we'll be guided more often and more quickly. It's because we've learned.

Great lessons for us.

Trust God and look for his guidance. It makes life easier. If he's slow to respond, it's for our good; he's trying to teach us.