Schedule for Week of April 14

WEEK STARTING APRIL 14

Song 114 and Prayer

Congregation Bible Study:

cl chap. 5 ¶18-21, box on p. 55 (30 min.)

Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Exodus 11-14 (10 min.)

No. 1: Exodus 12:37-51 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: What Are Some Events Associated With the Presence of Christ?—rs p. 344 ¶1-5 (5 min.)

No. 3: Abner—Those Who Live by the Sword Die by the Sword—it-1 pp. 27-28 (5 min.)

Service Meeting:

Song 100

15 min: Make Good Use of the 2014 Yearbook. Discussion. Review “A Letter From the Governing Body.” Arrange in advance for some to relate an experience from the Yearbook that has been encouraging to them. Invite audience to comment on outstanding aspects of the worldwide report. Conclude by encouraging all to complete their reading of the Yearbook.

15 min: “Improving Our Skills in the Ministry—Being a Helpful Companion.” Discussion. Have two brief demonstrations showing a companion who is not helpful. After each one, invite the audience to comment on how the companion could have handled the situation better.

Song 45 and Prayer

Improving Our Skills in the Ministry—Being a Helpful Companion

Why Important: Jesus recognized the value of preaching with a companion. So when he dispatched 70 of his disciples to go ahead of him and preach, he sent them out in pairs. (Luke 10:1) A companion can provide needed support if his fellow publisher encounters a difficult situation or is unsure of how to answer a householder. (Eccl. 4:9, 10) He can share his experience and occasionally offer a suggestion that may help the one with whom he is working become a more effective evangelizer. (Prov. 27:17) He can also encourage by means of his upbuilding conversation between doors.—Phil. 4:8.

How to Do It:

- Pay attention when your partner is giving a witness. (Jas. 1:19) When a scripture is read, follow along in your copy of the Bible. This will put you in a better position to assist if needed.

- Use good judgment to determine if and when you should join in the conversation. (Prov. 25:11) If you accompany another publisher on a Bible study, your occasional comments will likely be appreciated. However, when preaching from house to house, your service companion may prefer that you let him do the talking when it is his turn. Of course, if he is a new publisher or if he is not sure how to respond to a question or objection, he will likely appreciate your help. But whether you are accompanying a publisher in the house-to-house, return visit, or Bible study work, do not interrupt, take over the conversation, or introduce a different subject.

- Share your experience. If, on occasion, you can give the publisher with whom you are working a suggestion to help him be more effective in the ministry, do not hold back. (Prov. 3:27) At an appropriate time, you might begin by saying: “How do you think that went?” or “May I offer a suggestion?” or “Here’s what I try to do.” Keep in mind that while others appreciate receiving a suggestion on occasion, they will be discouraged if every mistake is called to their attention.

Try This During the Month:

After working in the ministry with your field service partner, tell him what he said or did that made him a helpful companion.

^ (Luke 10:1) After these things the Lord designated 70 others and sent them out by twos ahead of him into every city and place where he himself was to go.

^ (Eccl. 4:9, 10) Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their hard work. 10 For if one of them falls, the other can help his partner up. But what will happen to the one who falls with no one to help him up?

^ (Prov. 27:17) As iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens his friend.

^ (Phil. 4:8) Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well-spoken-of, whatever things are virtuous, and whatever things are praiseworthy, continue considering these things.

^ (Jas. 1:19) Know this, my beloved brothers: Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger,

^ (Prov. 25:11) Like apples of gold in silver carvings Is a word spoken at the right time.

^ (Prov. 3:27) Do not withhold good from those to whom you should give it If it is within your power to help.

Schedule for Week of April 21

WEEK STARTING APRIL 21

Song 132 and Prayer

Congregation Bible Study:

cl chap. 6 ¶1-8 (30 min.)

Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Exodus 15-18 (10 min.)

No. 1: Exodus 15:20–16:5 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: Why Christians Are Not Required to Keep the Sabbath—rs pp. 345-346 ¶3 (5 min.)

No. 3: Abortion—Life Is a Precious Gift From God—it-1 p. 28 (5 min.)

Service Meeting:

Song 27

10 min: “Congregate the People.” Questions and answers.

10 min: “A Special Invitation.” Questions and answers. Give all in attendance an invitation, if available, and discuss its contents. Inform the congregation when their campaign will begin, and outline local arrangements for covering the territory. Have a brief demonstration.

10 min: “Maintain Your Conduct Fine Among the Nations.” Questions and answers. Also discuss applicable points from “2014 Convention Reminders” and the letter to all congregations dated August 3, 2013, regarding safety precautions when attending spiritual programs.

Song 125 and Prayer

“Congregate the People”

1. District and international conventions have what similarities to a momentous gathering of the Israelites shortly after they left Egypt?

1 Shortly after leaving Egypt, Jehovah instructed Moses to “congregate the people” at Mount Sinai to hear His words so that they might fear Him and instruct their sons in His ways. (Deut. 4:10-13) What a memorable and faith-strengthening occasion that must have been! During the next few months, Jehovah’s people will gather at district and international conventions to be instructed by Jehovah. What must we do in order to benefit to the full?

2. What must we do to “be ready” for our convention?

2 “Be Ready”: Jehovah commanded the Israelites to “be ready” for that historic gathering at Mount Sinai. (Ex. 19:10, 11) Likewise, careful preparation is needed by all who will attend the conventions, not just by those who will have a part on the program. For example, many will need to arrange to take time off from their secular job. Perhaps your situation is similar to Nehemiah’s. He wanted to leave his work as King Artaxerxes’ cupbearer in order to go to Jerusalem and help rebuild its walls, but he knew that the king might not be agreeable. Nehemiah said a prayer and then courageously presented his graciously worded request. The king allowed him to leave and even gave support to the building project! (Neh. 2:1-9) In addition to requesting time off from your employer, have you confirmed your travel arrangements and accommodations? The elders will be happy to help any who may need assistance. Plan to arrive early for each session, and be ready to “pay more than the usual attention” to what you will hear.—Heb. 2:1.

3. What will help us to prepare our heart for the program?

3 Another important facet of our readiness involves preparing our heart so that we may listen and learn. (Ezra 7:10) The convention program will be posted in advance on the jw.org Web site and will list the titles for all the talks along with one or two key scriptures for each one. This provides excellent material to consider during our Family Worship evening in the weeks leading up to our assigned convention. Some publishers print out the program and use it for taking brief notes during the convention.

4. How can parents use the convention to teach their children?

4 ‘Teach Your Sons’: One of the stated purposes of the convention at Mount Sinai was for Israelite parents to “teach their sons.” (Deut. 4:10) The convention gives parents an excellent opportunity to do the same. Parents should have their children sit with them during the sessions and help them pay attention. At the end of each day and later during their family worship, families can discuss the program together.

5. How will we benefit from attending the upcoming convention?

5 The momentous convention at Mount Sinai helped the Israelites to appreciate their unique privilege of being God’s people. (Deut. 4:7, 8) Our upcoming convention is designed to benefit us in a similar way. For three days we will be able to step out of the harsh wilderness of Satan’s world and enjoy spiritual refreshment and upbuilding association in our spiritual paradise. (Isa. 35:7-9) With Jehovah’s day drawing near, may we not forsake this opportunity to meet together for an interchange of encouragement!—Heb. 10:24, 25.

^ par. 1 (Deut. 4:10-13) On the day that you stood before Jehovah your God in Ho′reb, Jehovah said to me, ‘Congregate the people together to me so that I may let them hear my words, in order that they may learn to fear me all the days that they are alive on the ground and that they may teach their sons.’ 11 “So you came near and stood at the base of the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire up to the very heavens; there was darkness, cloud, and thick gloom. 12 And Jehovah began to speak to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but you saw no form—there was only a voice. 13 And he declared his covenant to you, which he commanded you to observe—the Ten Commandments. Afterward, he wrote them on two tablets of stone.

^ par. 2 (Ex. 19:10, 11) Then Jehovah said to Moses: “Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and they must wash their clothing. 11 And they must be ready for the third day, because on the third day Jehovah will come down upon Mount Si′nai before the eyes of all the people.

^ par. 2 (Neh. 2:1-9) In the month of Ni′san, in the 20th year of King Ar·ta·xerx′es, wine was set before him, and as usual I took up the wine and gave it to the king. But I had never been gloomy in his presence. 2 So the king said to me: “Why do you look so gloomy when you are not sick? This can be nothing but gloominess of heart.” At this I became very frightened. 3 Then I said to the king: “Long live the king! Why should I not look gloomy when the city, the place where my forefathers are buried, lies in ruins, and its gates have been consumed by fire?” 4 The king then said to me: “What is it that you are seeking?” At once I prayed to the God of the heavens. 5 I then said to the king: “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah, to the city where my forefathers are buried, so that I may rebuild it.” 6 Then the king, with his royal consort sitting beside him, said to me: “How long will your journey be, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a set time. 7 Then I said to the king: “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the region Beyond the River, granting me safe passage until I reach Judah, 8 as well as a letter to A′saph the keeper of the Royal Park, so that he may give me timber for beams for the gates of the Fortress of the House and for the walls of the city and for the house where I will go.” So the king gave them to me, for the good hand of my God was upon me. 9 Eventually I came to the governors of the region Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. The king also sent with me army chiefs and horsemen.

^ par. 2 (Heb. 2:1) That is why it is necessary for us to pay more than the usual attention to the things we have heard, so that we never drift away.

^ par. 3 (Ezra 7:10) Ez′ra had prepared his heart to consult the Law of Jehovah and to practice it, and to teach its regulations and judgments in Israel.

^ par. 4 (Deut. 4:10) On the day that you stood before Jehovah your God in Ho′reb, Jehovah said to me, ‘Congregate the people together to me so that I may let them hear my words, in order that they may learn to fear me all the days that they are alive on the ground and that they may teach their sons.’

^ par. 5 (Deut. 4:7, 8) For what great nation has gods as near to it as Jehovah our God is to us whenever we call on him? 8 And what great nation has righteous regulations and judicial decisions like this entire Law that I am putting before you today?

^ par. 5 (Isa. 35:7-9) The heat-parched ground will become a reedy pool, And the thirsty ground springs of water. In the lairs where jackals rested, There will be green grass and reeds and papyrus.  8 And a highway will be there, Yes, a way called the Way of Holiness. The unclean one will not travel on it. It is reserved for the one walking on the way; No one foolish will stray onto it.  9 No lion will be there, And no vicious wild beasts will come on it. They will not be found there; Only the repurchased ones will walk there.

^ par. 5 (Heb. 10:24, 25) And let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, 25 not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near.

A Special Invitation

1. When will the invitation campaign for the 2014 conventions begin?

1 If you were planning a special meal for friends or family, one that required much effort and expense to prepare, you would likely be enthusiastic when extending invitations. Similarly, much work has gone into preparing the spiritual feast that will be presented at our 2014 district and international conventions. Beginning three weeks before the start of our convention, we will have the privilege of inviting others to attend. What will help us to extend the invitations with enthusiasm?

2. What will move us to have a full share in the campaign?

2 We will be moved to have a full share in the campaign if we reflect appreciatively on how much we personally benefit from the spiritual banquet that Jehovah provides at our conventions. (Isa. 65:13, 14) We should remember, too, that our annual campaign yields results. Some people we invite will attend the convention with us. Regardless of how many respond, however, our diligent efforts during the campaign will bring praise to Jehovah and reflect his generosity.—Ps. 145:3, 7; Rev. 22:17.

3. How will the invitations be distributed?

3 Each body of elders should determine how the congregation can give the invitations wide distribution, including whether to leave them at not-at-homes or offer them in public witnessing within the territory. On weekends the magazines should be offered along with the invitation when appropriate. If the first Saturday of the month falls within the dates of the campaign, emphasis should be placed on distributing invitations rather than on starting Bible studies. After the campaign concludes, how happy we will be to know that we participated enthusiastically and that we invited as many people as possible to join us at the spiritual banquet that Jehovah provided!

What Will You Say?

After giving a customary greeting, you might say: “We are involved in a global campaign to invite people to a very important event. The date, time, and address are printed on this invitation.”

^ par. 2 (Isa. 65:13, 14) Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “Look! My servants will eat, but you will go hungry. Look! My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty. Look! My servants will rejoice, but you will suffer shame. 14 Look! My servants will shout joyfully because of the good condition of the heart, But you will cry out because of the pain of heart And you will wail because of a broken spirit.

^ par. 2 (Ps. 145:3) Jehovah is great and most worthy of praise; His greatness is unsearchable.

^ par. 2 (Ps. 145:7) They will bubble over as they recall your abundant goodness, And they will shout joyfully because of your righteousness.

^ par. 2 (Rev. 22:17) And the spirit and the bride keep on saying, “Come!” and let anyone hearing say, “Come!” and let anyone thirsting come; let anyone who wishes take life’s water free.

“Maintain Your Conduct Fine Among the Nations”

1. Why is it important for us to maintain good conduct during the upcoming conventions?

1 We attract the attention of the public during our conventions each year, so it is important that by our conduct we properly represent the God we worship. (Lev. 20:26) Our good manners as well as our dress and grooming should clearly identify us as Christ’s true followers. As we attend the upcoming district or international conventions, how can we ‘maintain our conduct fine among the nations’ and thus give glory to our heavenly Father?—1 Pet. 2:12.

2. What opportunities to display the Christian personality will we have during the convention?

2 Display the Christian Personality: The love we show toward one another and the way we deal with “those on the outside” stand in stark contrast to the dominant spirit of the world. (Col. 3:10; 4:5; 2 Tim. 3:1-5) We should be kind and patient when dealing with hotel personnel and restaurant workers, even if problems arise. Good manners also dictate that we leave the customary tip for those providing personal services.

3. What reminder is given to parents, and why?

3 Parents should closely supervise their children at the convention site, in restaurants, and at the hotel. (Prov. 29:15) The manager of one hotel restaurant said to a couple: “We just love you people. Your families and your children are so well-mannered and polite. All the staff were talking, and we wish that you were staying here every weekend.”

4. While in the convention city, what attention should we give to our appearance?

4 Modest Dress: Our dress during the convention should be appropriate and modest, not reflecting the extreme styles common in the world. (1 Tim. 2:9) Even when checking in and out of the hotel and during times of leisure before and after the sessions, we want to avoid an overly casual or slovenly appearance. Thus we will be proud to wear our convention badge and not be embarrassed to give a witness when we have an opportunity. Our appearance and fine conduct while attending the upcoming conventions will not only attract honesthearted people to the Bible’s life-saving message but it will also bring joy to Jehovah.—Zeph. 3:17.

2014 Convention Reminders

▪ Program Times: The doors to the building will open at 8:00 a.m. The introductory music will begin at 9:20 a.m. all three days. At that time, all of us should go to our seats so that the program can begin in a dignified manner. The closing song and prayer will be introduced at 4:55 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 3:50 p.m. on Sunday.

▪ International Conventions: Some areas will host international conventions. Keep in mind that the branch office has invited specific congregations and foreign delegates after carefully calculating the number of seats, parking spaces, and hotel rooms available. Overcrowding may occur if publishers attend an international convention to which they have not been invited. If circumstances require you to attend a convention other than the one to which you are assigned, you should not choose an international convention.

▪ Parking: At all convention sites where we control the parking, the spaces will be available at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is usually limited, so carpooling should be done to the extent possible. Only those with a license plate or placard for the disabled will be allowed to park in the area reserved for such ones.

▪ Seat Saving: When the doors to the facility are opened each morning, please do not rush to the seating area of your preference as if competing with fellow attenders. A self-sacrificing spirit that moves us to seek the good of others identifies us as true Christians and moves onlookers to praise God. (John 13:34, 35; 1 Cor. 13:4, 5; 1 Pet. 2:12) Seats may be saved only for those living in your home or traveling in your vehicle or for your current Bible students. Special seating has been provided for the elderly and the infirm. Since this seating is limited, only one or two persons directly assisting the elderly or infirm individual may sit with him.

▪ Noon Meal: Please bring a lunch rather than leave the convention site to obtain a meal during the noon break. A small cooler that can be placed under a seat may be used. Large family-size picnic coolers and glass containers are not permitted in the convention facility.

▪ Donations: We can show our appreciation for the convention arrangements by making voluntary contributions to the worldwide work at the convention. Any checks should be made payable to “Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Donations can also be made by means of a debit or credit card.

▪ Medication: If you require prescription medication, please be sure to bring an adequate supply with you, since none will be available at the convention. Diabetic syringes and needles must be disposed of properly as hazardous waste and not in trash receptacles at the convention facility or hotel.

▪ Safety Precautions: Please be especially mindful of preventing potential injuries that can be caused by slipping and tripping. Each year injuries occur that are related to footwear, especially high-heeled shoes. It is best to choose modest, well-fitting shoes that will allow you to walk safely on ramps, stairs, gratings, and so forth.

▪ Hearing Impaired: The program will be broadcast in the auditorium on an FM radio frequency. To hear it, you will need to bring a small battery-operated FM receiver with earphones.

▪ Baby Strollers and Lawn Chairs: Baby strollers and lawn chairs should not be brought to the convention site. However, child-safety seats are acceptable if they can be secured in a seat next to the parents.

▪ Fragrances: Most conventions take place in enclosed areas with mechanical ventilation. Therefore, it would be loving on our part to limit the use of strong fragrances, colognes, and perfumes that may cause reactions in people with respiratory or related problems.—1 Cor. 10:24.

▪ Please Follow Up (S-43) Forms: A Please Follow Up form should be used to provide information regarding any interest found through informal witnessing during the convention. Completed forms may be submitted to the Book Room or given to your congregation secretary on your return home.

▪ Restaurants: Honor Jehovah’s name by your fine conduct at restaurants. Dress in a way that befits a Christian minister. Leave an appropriate tip if this is customary.

▪ Hotels:

▪ Volunteer Service: Any who wish to volunteer should report to the Volunteer Service Department at the convention. Children under 16 years of age can also make a fine contribution by working under the direction of a parent, guardian, or other adult approved by a parent or guardian.

^ par. 1 (Lev. 20:26) You must be holy to me, because I, Jehovah, am holy, and I am setting you apart from the peoples to become mine.

^ par. 1 (1 Pet. 2:12) Maintain your conduct fine among the nations, so that when they accuse you of being wrongdoers, they may be eyewitnesses of your fine works and, as a result, glorify God in the day of his inspection.

^ par. 2 (Col. 3:10) and clothe yourselves with the new personality, which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it,

^ par. 2 (Col. 4:5) Go on walking in wisdom toward those on the outside, making the best use of your time.

^ par. 2 (2 Tim. 3:1-5) But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, 5 having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.

^ par. 3 (Prov. 29:15) The rod and reproof impart wisdom, But a child left unrestrained brings shame on his mother.

^ par. 4 (1 Tim. 2:9) Likewise, the women should adorn themselves in appropriate dress, with modesty and soundness of mind, not with styles of hair braiding and gold or pearls or very expensive clothing,

^ par. 4 (Zeph. 3:17) Jehovah your God is in your midst. As a mighty One, he will save. He will exult over you with great joy. He will become silent in his love. He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

^ (John 13:34, 35) I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.”

^ (1 Cor. 13:4, 5) Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, 5 does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury.

^ (1 Pet. 2:12) Maintain your conduct fine among the nations, so that when they accuse you of being wrongdoers, they may be eyewitnesses of your fine works and, as a result, glorify God in the day of his inspection.

^ (1 Cor. 10:24) Let each one keep seeking, not his own advantage, but that of the other person.

^ (Matt. 5:37) Just let your word ‘Yes’ mean yes, your ‘No,’ no, for what goes beyond these is from the wicked one.

Schedule for Week of April 28

WEEK STARTING APRIL 28

Song 35 and Prayer

Congregation Bible Study:

cl chap. 6 ¶9-15 (30 min.)

Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Exodus 19-22 (10 min.)

Theocratic Ministry School Review (20 min.)

Service Meeting:

Song 113

5 min: Start a Bible Study on the First Saturday. Talk. Outline local arrangements for field service on the first Saturday in May, and encourage all to have a share. Include a brief demonstration using the sample presentation on page 8.

15 min: “Exciting Design for New Tracts!” Questions and answers. Include a two-part demonstration showing how to offer one of the new tracts from house to house and then how to continue the conversation when making a return visit on someone who showed interest.

10 min: “New Video for Starting Bible Studies.” Talk. Play the video or its audio track for the audience. Invite audience to suggest other ways to use the video.

Song 75 and Prayer

Theocratic Ministry School Review

The following questions will be considered at the Theocratic Ministry School during the week beginning April 28, 2014.

^ (Gen. 39:7-12) Now after these things, the wife of his master began to cast her eyes on Joseph and say: “Lie down with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife: “Here my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has entrusted everything he has into my care. 9 There is no one greater in this house than I am, and he has not withheld from me anything at all except you, because you are his wife. So how could I commit this great badness and actually sin against God?” 10 So day after day she spoke to Joseph, but he never consented to lie with her or to remain with her. 11 But on one of the days when he went into the house to do his work, none of the household servants were in the house. 12 Then she grabbed hold of him by his garment and said: “Lie down with me!” But he left his garment in her hand and fled outside.

^ (Gen. 41:14) So Phar′aoh sent for Joseph, and they brought him quickly from the prison. He shaved and changed his clothes and went in to Phar′aoh.

^ (Gen. 41:39, 40) Phar′aoh then said to Joseph: “Since God has caused you to know all of this, there is no one as discreet and wise as you. 40 You will personally be over my house, and all my people will obey you implicitly. Only in my role as king will I be greater than you.”

^ (Gen. 49:27) “Benjamin will keep on tearing like a wolf. In the morning he will eat the prey, and in the evening he will divide spoil.”

^ (Ex. 3:7-10) Jehovah added: “I have certainly seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their outcry because of those who force them to work; I well know the pains they suffer. 8 I will go down to rescue them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a land good and spacious, a land flowing with milk and honey, the territory of the Ca′naan·ites, the Hit′tites, the Am′or·ites, the Per′iz·zites, the Hi′vites, and the Jeb′u·sites. 9 Now look! The outcry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen also the harsh way that the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Now come, I will send you to Phar′aoh, and you will bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

^ (Ex. 3:14, 15) So God said to Moses: “I Will Become What I Choose to Become.” And he added: “This is what you are to say to the Israelites, ‘I Will Become has sent me to you.’” 15 Then God said once more to Moses: “This is what you are to say to the Israelites, ‘Jehovah the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

^ (Ex. 7:1) Jehovah then said to Moses: “See, I have made you like God to Phar′aoh, and Aaron your own brother will become your prophet.

^ (Ex. 14:30, 31) Thus Jehovah saved Israel on that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel also saw the great power that Jehovah wielded against the Egyptians, and the people began to fear Jehovah and to put faith in Jehovah and in his servant Moses.

^ (Ex. 19:4) ‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to the Egyptians, in order to carry you on wings of eagles and bring you to myself.

^ (Ex. 20:5) You must not bow down to them nor be enticed to serve them, for I, Jehovah your God, am a God who requires exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation of those who hate me,

Exciting Design for New Tracts!

1. What items for the ministry have an exciting new design?

1 Five new tracts were released at the 2013 “God’s Word Is Truth!” District Conventions. Additionally, Kingdom News No. 38, entitled “Can the Dead Really Live Again?” has been added to the series of tracts. All six of these tracts have an exciting new design. What are the reasons for the new format? When we offer them from house to house, how can we make good use of their design features?

2. What is the purpose of the new design?

2 Why the New Design?: Effective house-to-house presentations often include these four steps: (1) Ask a viewpoint question to start a conversation. (2) Share a thought from the Scriptures. (3) Offer literature for the householder to read. (4) Leave a question to answer next time, and make arrangements to return. The tracts’ new design helps us easily to follow all four steps.

3. How might we offer one of the new tracts in the ministry?

3 How to Use Them: (1) After giving a greeting, show the householder the intriguing multiple-choice question on the front of the tract, and ask for his opinion. (2) Open the tract, and consider “What the Bible Says.” Read the scripture directly from the Bible when circumstances allow. If the householder has time, discuss “What That Can Mean for You.” (3) Offer the tract, and encourage him to read the rest at his convenience. (4) Before you leave, show him the question on the back under “To Think About” and make arrangements to discuss the Bible’s answer next time.

4. How could we use the new tracts on the return visit?

4 The return visit is easy too. Simply use the cited scriptures on the back of the tract to answer the question you raised at the conclusion of your last visit. Before you leave, point out the picture of the Good News brochure, show the householder the brochure and the designated lesson that contains more information on the subject, and offer the brochure. If he accepts it, make arrangements to discuss the brochure on your next visit. You have started a Bible study! Or instead of offering the brochure, you could offer another tract and arrange to return to discuss it with the householder.

5. What value do tracts have in our ministry?

5 Tracts have been used in our ministry for over 130 years. Although their size and format have varied, they have been a very effective witnessing tool. May we make good use of this new design to continue spreading Bible knowledge earth wide.—Prov. 15:7a.

^ par. 5 (Prov. 15:7) The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But not so the heart of the stupid one.

New Video for Starting Bible Studies

A brief video entitled Why Study the Bible? is reaching a vast audience on jw.org. The video is designed to motivate interested people to accept our offer of a free Bible study. It can be accessed by selecting “Request a Bible Study” at the bottom of the home page or by scanning the QR (quick response) code printed on the back of each of our new tracts. Here are some ways that we can make good use of the video.

- When making a return visit, say to the householder: “May I show you a short video that explains how you can get answers to your Bible questions?” If he agrees, show him the video on your mobile device or on his own computer.

- If we place one of the new tracts while engaging in informal or public witnessing, point out the QR code and encourage the person to scan it with his mobile device. Since in many languages the QR code takes you directly to the video on our Web site, it may be possible to play the video on the spot using your mobile device.

- Tell coworkers, schoolmates, relatives, and other acquaintances about the video, and offer to show it to them. Or e-mail them a link to the video, and invite them to view it on their own.

By making use of this new provision, we may be able to start more Bible studies, spiritually assisting those who are “rightly disposed for everlasting life.”—Acts 13:48.

^ (Acts 13:48) When those of the nations heard this, they began to rejoice and to glorify the word of Jehovah, and all those who were rightly disposed for everlasting life became believers.

Schedule for Week of May 5

WEEK STARTING MAY 5

Song 33 and Prayer

Congregation Bible Study:

cl chap. 6 ¶16-21, box on p. 65 (30 min.)

Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Exodus 23-26 (10 min.)

No. 1: Exodus 25:1-22 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: There Is No Bible Record of Adam’s Keeping a Sabbath Day—rs p. 346 ¶4–p. 347 ¶2 (5 min.)

No. 3: Abraham—Abraham’s Early History Is an Example of Faith—it-1 pp. 28-29 ¶3 (5 min.)

Service Meeting:

Song 117

10 min: Offer the Magazines During May. Discussion. Start by demonstrating how the magazines may be offered, using the two sample presentations on this page. Then analyze the sample presentations from beginning to end. Conclude by briefly encouraging all to become well-acquainted with the magazines and to share enthusiastically in offering them.

10 min: Local needs.

10 min: How Did We Do? Discussion. Invite publishers to comment on how they benefited from the part “Improving Our Skills in the Ministry—Being a Helpful Companion.” Ask the audience to relate good experiences.

Song 103 and Prayer

Announcements

▪ Literature offer for April: The Watchtower and Awake! magazines. May and June: What Does the Bible Really Teach? or one of the following tracts: How Do You View the Bible?, How Do You View the Future?, What Is the Key to Happy Family Life?, Who Really Controls the World?, or Will Suffering Ever End? July: Feature one of the following 32-page brochures: Good News From God!, Listen to God, or Listen to God and Live Forever.

▪ The meeting schedule for the week preceding your district or international convention should be adjusted in order to review counsel and reminders from the insert in this issue of Our Kingdom Ministry and the letter to all congregations dated August 3, 2013, regarding safety precautions when attending spiritual programs. A month or two following your convention, a local needs part may be used to review specific convention points that the publishers have found to be helpful in the ministry.

Sample Presentations

To start Bible studies on the first Saturday in May

“We are making brief visits to discuss this intriguing question. [Show the first question on the back of the May 1 Watchtower.] What’s your opinion?” Allow for response. Consider together the material under the question and at least one of the cited scriptures. Offer the magazines, and arrange to discuss the next question.

The Watchtower May 1

“We’re visiting briefly because many people are interested in what the future holds. When you think about the future, how do you feel? Are you confident, or are you worried? [Allow for response. Then read one of the scriptures from the box “What God Has Revealed About the Future.”] This magazine outlines some of the things that God says will happen and explains why we can be sure that they will occur.”

Awake! May

“We’re making brief visits to help people manage their stress. Does it seem to you that people are more stressed today than they were in the past? [Allow for response.] Many have found that the practical advice found in the Bible helps them manage their stress. Here’s one example. [Read Matthew 6:34.] This magazine explains how Bible principles can help us to manage four common causes of stress.”

Note: This issue may be of special interest to businesspeople.

^ (Matt. 6:34) So never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Each day has enough of its own troubles.

Field Service Highlights

We are pleased to report that during the month of October 2013 there were three new all-time peaks in regular pioneers: 161,892 in the United States, 3,198 in Puerto Rico, and 57 in the Turks and Caicos Islands. What a fine example these pioneers display in focusing on Kingdom interests!—Matt. 6:22.

^ (Matt. 6:22) “The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is focused, your whole body will be bright.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

^ (Ex. 11:1-14:31)

Then Jehovah said to Moses: “One more plague I am going to bring upon Phar′aoh and Egypt. After that he will send you away from here. When he does send you away, he will literally drive you out of here. 2 Now tell the people that all the men and women should ask their neighbor for articles of silver and of gold.” 3 And Jehovah gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself had become highly esteemed in the land of Egypt among Phar′aoh’s servants and among the people. 4 Moses then said: “This is what Jehovah has said, ‘About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt, 5 and every firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Phar′aoh who is sitting on his throne to the firstborn of the slave girl who is working at the hand mill, and every firstborn of the livestock. 6 Throughout all the land of Egypt, there will be a great outcry such as has never occurred nor will ever occur again. 7 But not even a dog will bark at the Israelites, at the men or their livestock, so that you may know that Jehovah can make a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites.’ 8 And all your servants will certainly come down to me and prostrate themselves to me, saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” With that he went out from Phar′aoh in the heat of anger. 9 Jehovah then said to Moses: “Phar′aoh will not listen to you, in order for my miracles to be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron performed all these miracles before Phar′aoh, but Jehovah allowed Phar′aoh’s heart to become obstinate, so that he did not send the Israelites away from his land.

12 Jehovah now said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2 “This month will be the beginning of the months for you. It will be the first of the months of the year for you. 3 Speak to the entire assembly of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month, they should each take for themselves a sheep for their father’s house, a sheep to a house. 4 But if the household is too small for the sheep, they and their nearest neighbor should share it between themselves in their house according to the number of people. When making the calculation, determine how much of the sheep each one will eat. 5 Your sheep should be a sound, one-year-old male. You may choose from the young rams or from the goats. 6 You must care for it until the 14th day of this month, and the whole congregation of the assembly of Israel must slaughter it at twilight. 7 They must take some of the blood and splash it on the two doorposts and the upper part of the doorway of the houses in which they eat it. 8 “‘They must eat the meat on this night. They should roast it over the fire and eat it along with unleavened bread and bitter greens. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled, cooked in water, but roast it over the fire, its head together with its shanks and its inner parts. 10 You must not save any of it until morning, but any of it left over until morning you should burn with fire. 11 And this is how you should eat it, with your belt fastened, sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you should eat it in a hurry. It is Jehovah’s Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt on this night and strike every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from man to beast; and I will execute judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am Jehovah. 13 The blood will serve as your sign on the houses where you are; and I will see the blood and pass over you, and the plague will not come on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 “‘This day will serve as a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to Jehovah throughout your generations. As a lasting statute, you should celebrate it. 15 Seven days you are to eat unleavened bread. Yes, on the first day you are to remove the sourdough from your houses, because anyone eating what is leavened from the first day down to the seventh, that person must be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you will hold a holy convention, and on the seventh day, another holy convention. No work is to be done on these days. Only what every person needs to eat, that alone may be prepared for you. 17 “‘You must keep the Festival of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day, I will bring your multitudes out of the land of Egypt. And you must keep this day throughout your generations as a lasting statute. 18 In the first month, on the 14th day of the month, in the evening, you are to eat unleavened bread until the 21st day of the month, in the evening. 19 No sourdough is to be found in your houses for seven days, because if anyone eats what is leavened, whether he is a foreigner or a native of the land, that person must be cut off from the assembly of Israel. 20 You should not eat anything leavened. In all your homes, you are to eat unleavened bread.’” 21 Moses promptly called all the elders of Israel and said to them: “Go and select young animals for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover sacrifice. 22 Then you must dip a bunch of hyssop into the blood that is in a basin and strike the upper part of the doorway and the two doorposts with the blood; and none of you should go out of the entrance of his house until morning. 23 Then when Jehovah passes through to plague the Egyptians and sees the blood on the upper part of the doorway and on the two doorposts, Jehovah will certainly pass over the entrance, and he will not allow the plague of death to enter into your houses. 24 “You must observe this event as a lasting regulation for you and your sons. 25 And when you come into the land that Jehovah will give you just as he has stated, you must keep this observance. 26 And when your sons ask you, ‘What does this observance mean to you?’ 27 you must say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Passover to Jehovah, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when he plagued the Egyptians, but he spared our houses.’” Then the people bowed low and prostrated themselves. 28 So the Israelites went and did just as Jehovah had commanded Moses and Aaron. They did just so. 29 Then at midnight, Jehovah struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Phar′aoh who was sitting on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the prison, and every firstborn of the animals. 30 Phar′aoh got up that night along with all his servants and all the other Egyptians, and there was a great outcry among the Egyptians, because there was not a house where someone was not dead. 31 At once he called Moses and Aaron by night and said: “Get up, get out from among my people, both you and the other Israelites. Go and serve Jehovah, just as you have said. 32 Take also your flocks and your herds and go, just as you have said. But you must also bless me.” 33 And the Egyptians began to urge the people to depart quickly out of the land “because,” as they said, “we are all as good as dead!” 34 So the people carried their flour dough before it was leavened, with their kneading troughs wrapped up in their clothing on their shoulder. 35 The Israelites did what Moses had told them and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and of gold as well as clothing. 36 Jehovah gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, so that they gave them what they asked for, and they plundered the Egyptians. 37 Then the Israelites departed from Ram′e·ses for Suc′coth, about 600,000 men on foot, besides children. 38 And a vast mixed company also went with them, as well as flocks and herds, a great number of livestock. 39 They began to bake the dough that they brought from Egypt into round loaves of unleavened bread. It was not leavened, because they had been driven out of Egypt so suddenly that they had not prepared any provisions for themselves. 40 The dwelling of the Israelites, who had dwelled in Egypt, was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, on this very day, all the multitudes of Jehovah went out of the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night on which they will celebrate Jehovah’s bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This night is to be observed to Jehovah by all the people of Israel throughout their generations. 43 Then Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: No foreigner may eat of it. 44 But if someone has a slave man who was purchased with money, you should circumcise him. Only then may he share in eating it. 45 A settler and a hired worker may not eat of it. 46 In one house it is to be eaten. You must not take any of the meat outside of the house, and you must not break any of its bones. 47 All the assembly of Israel are to celebrate it. 48 If a foreigner resides with you and he wants to celebrate the Passover to Jehovah, every male of his must be circumcised. Then he may come near to celebrate it, and he will become like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. 49 One law will apply for the native and for the foreigner who is residing among you.” 50 So all the Israelites did just as Jehovah had commanded Moses and Aaron. They did just so. 51 On this very day, Jehovah brought the Israelites along with their multitudes out of the land of Egypt.

13 Jehovah spoke further to Moses, saying: 2 “Sanctify to me every firstborn male among the Israelites. The first male to be born, of both human and animal, belongs to me.” 3 Then Moses said to the people: “Remember this day on which you went out of Egypt, from the house of slavery, because with a mighty hand Jehovah brought you out of here. So nothing leavened may be eaten. 4 You are going out on this day, in the month of A′bib. 5 When Jehovah has brought you into the land of the Ca′naan·ites, the Hit′tites, the Am′or·ites, the Hi′vites, and the Jeb′u·sites, which he swore to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, then you must keep this observance in this month. 6 Seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day, there will be a festival to Jehovah. 7 Unleavened bread is to be eaten for the seven days; and nothing leavened is to be found with you, and no sourdough is to be found with you within all your territory. 8 And you must tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what Jehovah did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 And this will serve for you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial on your forehead, so that Jehovah’s law may be in your mouth, for with a mighty hand Jehovah brought you out of Egypt. 10 You must keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year. 11 “When Jehovah brings you into the land of the Ca′naan·ites, which he has sworn to give to you and to your forefathers, 12 you must devote to Jehovah every firstborn male, as well as every male firstling of the livestock that you acquire. The males belong to Jehovah. 13 Every firstling donkey you are to redeem with a sheep, and if you do not redeem it, then you must break its neck. And every firstborn male of your sons you are to redeem. 14 “In case your son should ask you later on, ‘What does this mean?’ then you should say to him, ‘With a mighty hand Jehovah brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 15 When Phar′aoh stubbornly refused to send us away, Jehovah killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man to the firstborn of beast. That is why I am sacrificing to Jehovah all the firstborn males, and I redeem every firstborn of my sons.’ 16 This must serve as a sign on your hand and as a headband on your forehead, for with a mighty hand Jehovah brought us out of Egypt.” 17 Now when Phar′aoh sent the people away, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Phi·lis′tines, although it was near. For God said: “The people may change their minds when they are confronted by war and will return to Egypt.” 18 So God made the people go around by the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. But it was in battle formation that the Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt. 19 Moses also took Joseph’s bones with him, because Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear: “God will not fail to turn his attention to you, and you must take my bones up out of here with you.” 20 They departed from Suc′coth and encamped at E′tham, at the edge of the wilderness. 21 Now Jehovah was going ahead of them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud would not move away from before the people during the day, nor the pillar of fire at night.

14 Jehovah now said to Moses: 2 “Tell the Israelites that they should turn back and encamp before Pi·ha·hi′roth, between Mig′dol and the sea, within view of Ba′al-ze′phon. You are to encamp facing it by the sea. 3 Then Phar′aoh will say about the Israelites, ‘They are wandering in confusion in the land. The wilderness has closed in on them.’ 4 I will allow Phar′aoh’s heart to become obstinate, and he will chase after them, and I will glorify myself by means of Phar′aoh and all his army; and the Egyptians will certainly know that I am Jehovah.” So that is what they did. 5 Later it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had run away. Immediately, Phar′aoh and his servants had a change of heart regarding the people, and they said: “Why did we do this and release Israel from serving as slaves for us?” 6 So he made his war chariots ready, and he took his people with him. 7 He took 600 chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt, with warriors on every one of them. 8 Thus Jehovah allowed the heart of Phar′aoh king of Egypt to become obstinate, and he chased after the Israelites, while the Israelites were going out with confidence. 9 The Egyptians chased after them, and all the chariot horses of Phar′aoh and his cavalrymen and his army were catching up with them while they were camping by the sea, by Pi·ha·hi′roth, facing Ba′al-ze′phon. 10 When Phar′aoh got closer, the Israelites raised their eyes and saw the Egyptians pursuing them. The Israelites became terrified and began to cry out to Jehovah. 11 They said to Moses: “Is it because there are no burial places in Egypt that you have brought us here to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by leading us out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt when we said, ‘Let us alone, so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 Then Moses said to the people: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the salvation of Jehovah that he will perform for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you will never ever see again. 14 Jehovah himself will fight for you, and you will keep silent.” 15 Jehovah now said to Moses: “Why do you keep crying out to me? Tell the Israelites that they should break camp. 16 As for you, lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites may go through the midst of the sea on dry ground. 17 As for me, I am allowing the hearts of the Egyptians to become obstinate, so that they will go in after them; thus I will glorify myself by means of Phar′aoh and all his army, his war chariots, and his cavalrymen. 18 And the Egyptians will certainly know that I am Jehovah when I glorify myself by means of Phar′aoh, his war chariots, and his cavalrymen.” 19 Then the angel of the true God who was going ahead of the camp of Israel departed and went to their rear, and the pillar of cloud that was in front of them moved to the rear and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. On the one side, it was a dark cloud. On the other side, it was lighting up the night. So the one camp did not come near the other camp all night long. 21 Moses now stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah drove the sea back with a strong east wind all night long, turning the sea basin into dry ground, and the waters divided. 22 So the Israelites went through the midst of the sea on dry ground, while the waters formed a wall on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Phar′aoh’s horses, his war chariots, and his cavalrymen began going after them into the midst of the sea. 24 During the morning watch, Jehovah looked at the camp of the Egyptians from within the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw the camp of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He kept taking wheels off their chariots so that they were driving them with difficulty, and the Egyptians were saying: “Let us flee from any contact with Israel, because Jehovah is fighting for them against the Egyptians.” 26 Then Jehovah said to Moses: “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, their war chariots, and their cavalrymen.” 27 Moses at once stretched out his hand over the sea, and as morning approached, the sea returned to its normal condition. As the Egyptians fled from it, Jehovah shook the Egyptians off into the midst of the sea. 28 The returning waters covered the war chariots and the cavalrymen and all of Phar′aoh’s army who had gone into the sea after them. Not so much as one among them was allowed to survive. 29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground in the midst of the seabed, and the waters formed a wall on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus Jehovah saved Israel on that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel also saw the great power that Jehovah wielded against the Egyptians, and the people began to fear Jehovah and to put faith in Jehovah and in his servant Moses.

^ (Ex. 12:37-51)

Then the Israelites departed from Ram′e·ses for Suc′coth, about 600,000 men on foot, besides children. 38 And a vast mixed company also went with them, as well as flocks and herds, a great number of livestock. 39 They began to bake the dough that they brought from Egypt into round loaves of unleavened bread. It was not leavened, because they had been driven out of Egypt so suddenly that they had not prepared any provisions for themselves. 40 The dwelling of the Israelites, who had dwelled in Egypt, was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, on this very day, all the multitudes of Jehovah went out of the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night on which they will celebrate Jehovah’s bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This night is to be observed to Jehovah by all the people of Israel throughout their generations. 43 Then Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: No foreigner may eat of it. 44 But if someone has a slave man who was purchased with money, you should circumcise him. Only then may he share in eating it. 45 A settler and a hired worker may not eat of it. 46 In one house it is to be eaten. You must not take any of the meat outside of the house, and you must not break any of its bones. 47 All the assembly of Israel are to celebrate it. 48 If a foreigner resides with you and he wants to celebrate the Passover to Jehovah, every male of his must be circumcised. Then he may come near to celebrate it, and he will become like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. 49 One law will apply for the native and for the foreigner who is residing among you.” 50 So all the Israelites did just as Jehovah had commanded Moses and Aaron. They did just so. 51 On this very day, Jehovah brought the Israelites along with their multitudes out of the land of Egypt.

^ ***sn pp. 134-135 God’s Own Book—A Treasure***

Song 114

God’s Own Book—A Treasure

(Proverbs 2:1)

1. There is a book that by its many pages,

Brings peace and joy and hope to humankind.

Its wondrous thoughts are charged with such great power;

It brings life to the “dead,” sight to the “blind.”

That precious book is God’s own Holy Bible.

Its words were penned by men whom God inspired,

By men who truly loved their God Jehovah,

And by his holy spirit they were fired.

2. They wrote a record true of God’s creations,

How by his might this universe appeared.

They also told how man at first was sinless

But how his Paradise then disappeared.

They further told about a certain angel

Who challenged God and spurned his sov’reignty.

That challenge led to sin and man’s great sorrow,

But soon will come Jehovah’s victory.

3. Today we live in times of joy unbounded.

God’s Kingdom now is here with Christ as Lord.

This is the day Jehovah grants salvation

To all who come to him in full accord.

Within his book are found these cheerful tidings;

A sacred banquet feast on which to feed.

It offers peace beyond all human thinking;

This Living Treasure beckons all to read.

(See also 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21.)

^ ***cl pp. 55-56 Creative Power—“The Maker of Heaven and Earth”***

Learning From Jehovah’s Creative Power

18 What do we learn from Jehovah’s use of his creative power? We are awestruck by the diversity of creation. One psalmist exclaimed: “How many your works are, O Jehovah! . . . The earth is full of your productions.” (Psalm 104:24) How true! Biologists have identified well over a million species of living things on earth; yet, opinions vary as to whether there may be as many as 10 million, 30 million, or more. A human artist may find that his creativity runs dry at times. In contrast, Jehovah’s creativity—his power to invent and create new and diverse things—is obviously inexhaustible.

19 Jehovah’s use of his creative power teaches us about his sovereignty. The very word “Creator” separates Jehovah from everything else in the universe, all of which is “creation.” Even Jehovah’s only-begotten Son, who served as “a master worker” during creation, is never called Creator or co-Creator in the Bible. (Proverbs 8:30; Matthew 19:4) Rather, he is “the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15) Jehovah’s position as the Creator gives him the intrinsic right to wield exclusive sovereign power over all the universe.—Romans 1:20; Revelation 4:11.

20 Has Jehovah stopped exercising his creative power? Well, the Bible does say that when Jehovah finished his creative work on the sixth creative day, “he proceeded to rest on the seventh day from all his work that he had made.” (Genesis 2:2) The apostle Paul indicated that this seventh “day” is thousands of years long, for it was still ongoing in his day. (Hebrews 4:3-6) But does “rest” mean that Jehovah has stopped working altogether? No, Jehovah never stops working. (Psalm 92:4; John 5:17) His rest, then, must simply refer to the cessation of his work of physical creation respecting the earth. His work of bringing his purposes to fulfillment, however, has continued uninterrupted. Such work has included the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. His work has even involved the bringing forth of “a new creation,” which will be discussed in Chapter 19.—2 Corinthians 5:17.

21 When Jehovah’s rest day finally comes to an end, he will be able to pronounce all of his work on the earth “very good,” much as he did at the end of the six creative days. (Genesis 1:31) How he may choose to exercise his limitless creative power thereafter remains to be seen. In any event, we may be assured that we will continue to be fascinated by Jehovah’s use of creative power. Throughout all eternity, we will learn more about Jehovah through his creation. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) The more we learn about him, the more profound our awe will become—and the closer we will draw to our Grand Creator.

^ ***cl p. 55 Creative Power—“The Maker of Heaven and Earth”***

Questions for Meditation

Psalm 8:3-9 How can Jehovah’s creation teach us humility?

Psalm 19:1-6 Jehovah’s creative power may incite us to do what, and why?

Matthew 6:25-34 How can contemplating Jehovah’s creative power help us to fight anxiety and set proper priorities in life?

Acts 17:22-31 How does Jehovah’s use of creative power teach us that idolatry is wrong and that God is not far off from us?

^ ***rs p. 344 pars. 1-5 Return of Christ***

What are some of the events with which the Bible associates the presence of Christ?

Dan. 7:13, 14: “With the clouds of the heavens someone like a son of man [Jesus Christ] happened to be coming; and to the Ancient of Days [Jehovah God] he gained access, and they brought him up close even before that One. And to him there were given rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him.”

1 Thess. 4:15, 16: “This is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first.” (So, those who will rule with Christ would be resurrected to be with him in heaven—first those who had died in years past and then those who would die following the Lord’s return.)

Matt. 25:31-33: “When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left.”

2 Thess. 1:7-9: “To you who suffer tribulation, relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of his strength.”

Luke 23:42, 43: “He [the sympathetic evildoer impaled alongside Jesus] went on to say: ‘Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom.’ And he said to him: ‘Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.’” (Under Jesus’ rule, all the earth will become a paradise; the dead who are in God’s memory will be raised with an opportunity to enjoy perfect life on earth forever.)

^ ***it-1 pp. 27-28 Abner***

ABNER

(Ab′ner) [Father Is a Lamp].

Son of Ner, of the tribe of Benjamin. First Samuel 14:50, 51 evidently refers to Abner as “the uncle of Saul,” though this phrase in the Hebrew can be applied either to Abner or to Ner, his father. Josephus speaks of Abner as Saul’s cousin, and of their fathers, Ner and Kish, as brothers. (Jewish Antiquities, VI, 129, 130 [vi, 6]) However, the inspired history at 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39 seems to weigh heavily in favor of Kish as being the son of Ner and, hence, the brother of Abner. This would make Abner the uncle of Saul.—See also the chart under ABIEL No. 1.

Abner served as chief of the army for Saul, and his fighting force sometimes assumed major proportions, upwards of 200,000 men. (1Sa 15:4) On special occasions he sat next to the king at the banquet table. (1Sa 20:25) Though Abner was undoubtedly a powerful and valiant man, Abner was chided by David, when the latter was a fugitive in the Wilderness of Ziph, for having failed to guard Saul’s person properly as his lord and “the anointed of Jehovah.”—1Sa 26:14-16.

Following Saul’s death in the crushing defeat administered by the Philistines, Abner withdrew across the Jordan to Mahanaim in Gilead, taking Saul’s son Ish-bosheth with him. Though David had been proclaimed king in Hebron by the tribe of Judah, Abner set up Ish-bosheth as a rival king in Mahanaim. Abner was clearly the power behind the throne and in time obtained the support of all the tribes except Judah on behalf of Ish-bosheth.—2Sa 2:8-10.

Eventually, the armies of the two opposing kings met in a test of strength at the Pool of Gibeon in the territory of Benjamin, about a third of the way from Hebron to Mahanaim. After the two armies had sized each other up, Abner proposed a contest between a dozen young warriors from each side. The sides were so evenly matched that a mutual slaughter resulted, provoking a full-scale combat between the two armies. Abner’s forces lost 18 men for every one of Joab’s soldiers and retreated toward the wilderness.—2Sa 2:12-17, 30, 31.

Abner, pursued by Joab’s fleet-footed brother Asahel, urged him repeatedly to turn his attention elsewhere and avoid a deadly encounter with him. When Asahel kept refusing, Abner finally made a powerful backstroke and killed Asahel with the butt end of his spear, running him through in the abdomen. (2Sa 2:18-23) At Abner’s appeal, Joab finally called a halt to the pursuit at sundown, and the two armies began marches back to their respective capitals. Their stamina can be seen from the 80 km (50 mi) or more that Abner’s forces marched, down into the basin of the Jordan, fording the river, then up the Jordan Valley to the hills of Gilead, where they made their way to Mahanaim. After burying Asahel in Bethlehem (perhaps on the following day), Joab’s men had a night-long march of over 22 km (14 mi) through the mountains to Hebron.—2Sa 2:29-32.

Abner supported Ish-bosheth’s declining regime but also strengthened his own position, perhaps with an eye on the kingship, since he was, after all, the brother of Saul’s father. When taken to task by Ish-bosheth for having relations with one of Saul’s concubines (an act allowable only to the dead king’s heir), Abner angrily announced the transfer of his support to David’s side. (2Sa 3:6-11) He made overtures to David, stressing his own position as virtual ruler of the rest of Israel outside Judah. Satisfying David’s requirement of the return of his wife Michal, Abner now privately approached the heads of the 11 tribes separated from Judah to build up their favor toward Jehovah’s appointed king, David. (2Sa 3:12-19) Thereafter he was warmly received by David at his capital in Hebron, and that same day set out to persuade all the tribes to make a covenant with David. But Joab, absent on a raid, returned and, after denouncing Abner as a conniving spy, personally called him back and tricked Abner into a position where he could kill him.—2Sa 3:20-27.

With Abner’s death, any hoped-for support for Ish-bosheth collapsed and Ish-bosheth was soon assassinated by traitorous men. With this the rule of the house of Saul came to a complete end.—2Sa 4:1-3, 5-12.

Many years later, while nearing the time of his own death, David remembered Abner’s death (as well as Amasa’s) and charged Solomon with the responsibility of removing the stain of bloodguilt that Joab had brought on David’s house. (1Ki 2:1, 5, 6) Shortly thereafter, Abner’s slayer, Joab, was executed at Solomon’s order.—1Ki 2:31-34.

Only one son of Abner is listed, Jaasiel, who was a leader in the tribe of Benjamin during David’s reign. (1Ch 27:21) First Chronicles 26:28 also mentions Abner’s contributions toward the tabernacle from spoils won as chief of the army.

^ ***sn pp. 118-119 We Are Jehovah’s Army!***

Song 100

We Are Jehovah’s Army!

(Joel 2:7)

1. We are Jehovah’s army,

Freed from Satan’s chains,

Preaching about God’s Kingdom,

In which Jesus now reigns.

As we press on faithfully,

Each a volunteer,

We remain determined

With no hint of fear.

(CHORUS)

We are Jehovah’s army;

With his Christ we’re one,

Joyfully proclaiming,

“God’s rule has begun.”

2. We are Jehovah’s servants,

Searching for his sheep,

Those who are lost and lonely,

Those who sigh and who weep.

These we try to find and feed

With repeated calls;

These we keep inviting

To our Kingdom Halls.

(CHORUS)

We are Jehovah’s army;

With his Christ we’re one,

Joyfully proclaiming,

“God’s rule has begun.”

3. This is Jehovah’s army

Under Christ’s command,

Fully equipped for battle,

Each one firmly will stand.

Cautious though we need to be,

Upright we remain.

In the face of danger,

Truth we will maintain.

(CHORUS)

We are Jehovah’s army;

With his Christ we’re one,

Joyfully proclaiming,

“God’s rule has begun.”

(See also Eph. 6:11, 14; Phil. 1:7; Philem. 2.)

^ ***yb14 pp. 4-7 A Letter From the Governing Body***

A Letter From the Governing Body

Dear Fellow Domestics:

How delighted we are to write you at the beginning of this momentous year! By late 2014, a whole century will have passed since our beloved King Jesus Christ began ruling in the midst of his enemies.—Ps. 110:1, 2.

Early in this service year, at the annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, the New World Bible Translation Committee released the newly revised English edition of the finest translation of the Bible available to mankind. Jehovah used his own spirit-begotten sons to provide the original New World Translation. (Rom. 8:15, 16) That fact alone certainly makes this translation special, do you not agree?

For many years, the Writing Committee of the Governing Body has made Bible translation its priority. Today, the New World Translation is available in whole or in part in 121 languages. We entreat you to show Jehovah how deeply you appreciate the Bible you have. Read it and meditate on it every day. Thereby, you will draw closer to its Author, Jehovah God.—Jas. 4:8.

We are moved when we hear of the trials that our precious brothers and sisters are facing. Understandably, they may at times find it difficult to rejoice with their brothers. One family in Asia, for example, recently had their lives turned upside down when the mother suddenly became completely paralyzed. Baffled, the medical experts were unable to reverse her condition. How sad! The husband now provides around-the-clock care for his wife. Their son and two daughters are setting a good example as Christians by giving loving support to their parents. This fine family as well as all of you who have successfully dealt with various trials can feel the joy that comes from enduring tests of your faith. (Jas. 1:2-4) Jehovah assures his anointed ones and the other sheep that we will be happy that we kept on enduring trials, because we will be blessed with the gift of everlasting life!—Jas. 1:12.

Last year, the Memorial attendance was 19,241,252. How encouraging to see so many honor Jehovah and Jesus Christ by attending the most important meeting of the year for God’s people! During the Memorial season, a great shout of praise ascended as millions served as auxiliary pioneers in March and April. How inspiring! And were you not pleased to learn that those enrolled as auxiliary pioneers during the circuit overseer’s visit may enjoy the entire pioneer meeting that he conducts, even if his visit is not during the months of March or April? Spiritually wise ones understand the value of keeping active in the preaching work and in congregation activity. Being busy helps us to remain steadfast and immovable, foiling the Devil’s attempts to undermine our faith and push us off course.—1 Cor. 15:58.

How invigorating it is to note that during the past service year, 277,344 symbolized their dedication by water baptism and are now on the road to life along with their brothers worldwide! (Matt. 7:13, 14) These new ones need our support to become “stabilized in the faith.” (Col. 2:7) Continue to encourage one another to endure to the end. (Matt. 24:13) “Speak consolingly to those who are depressed, support the weak, be patient toward all.” (1 Thess. 5:14) Finally, may each of us “pray constantly,” saying: “Let your Kingdom come.”—1 Thess. 5:17; Matt. 6:10.

Please enjoy this Yearbook, and know that we love each and every one of you lovers of Jehovah!

Your brothers,

Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses

[Picture on pages 4, 5]

Governing Body members arriving for their weekly meeting, usually held on Wednesday mornings

^ ***sn p. 55 Move Ahead!***

Song 45

Move Ahead!

(Hebrews 6:1)

1. Move ahead, move ahead to maturity!

It’s the will of our God that we gain ability.

Try your best to improve in your ministry,

Then our God your work will bless.

There’s a place in the service for all.

It’s the work Jesus did, you’ll recall.

Look to God that you thus at no time may fall,

Standing firm for righteousness.

2. Move ahead, move ahead, boldly witnessing!

Everlasting good news to all sorts of people bring.

Join in praise to Jehovah, our God and King,

As we preach from door to door.

Wicked foes try to cause us to fear.

Don’t shrink back, but let ev’ryone hear

Joyful news that the Kingdom of God is here.

Teach the truth yet more and more.

3. Move ahead, move ahead, always follow through,

And improve in your skills for there’s so much work to do.

Let God’s spirit keep on motivating you.

Find the joy that is divine.

Love the people you work hard to find.

Keep returning to reach heart and mind.

And assist all good progress each day to make,

So the light of truth will shine.

(See also Phil. 1:27; 3:16; Heb. 10:39.)

^ (Ex. 15:1-18:27)

At that time Moses and the Israelites sang this song to Jehovah: “Let me sing to Jehovah, for he has become highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.  2 My strength and my might is Jah, since he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.  3 Jehovah is a powerful warrior. Jehovah is his name.  4 Phar′aoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea, And his finest warriors have sunk into the Red Sea.  5 The surging waters covered them; down into the depths they sank like a stone.  6 Your right hand, O Jehovah, is great in power; Your right hand, O Jehovah, can shatter an enemy.  7 In your great majesty you can throw down those who rise up against you; You send out your burning anger, it eats them up like stubble.  8 By a breath from your nostrils waters massed together; They stood still, holding back the floods; The surging waters congealed in the heart of the sea.  9 The enemy said: ‘I will pursue! I will overtake! I will divide spoil until I am satisfied! I will draw my sword! My hand will subdue them!’ 10 You blew with your breath, the sea covered them; They sank like lead in majestic waters. 11 Who among the gods is like you, O Jehovah? Who is like you, showing yourself mighty in holiness? The One to be feared with songs of praise, the One doing wonders. 12 You stretched out your right hand, and the earth swallowed them up. 13 In your loyal love you have led the people whom you have redeemed; In your strength you will guide them to your holy place of dwelling. 14 Peoples must hear; they will shudder; Anguish will seize the inhabitants of Phi·lis′ti·a. 15 At that time the sheikhs of E′dom will be terrified, And trembling will take hold of the mighty rulers of Mo′ab. All the inhabitants of Ca′naan will be disheartened. 16 Fear and dread will fall upon them. Because of the greatness of your arm they will be as motionless as a stone Until your people pass by, O Jehovah, Until the people whom you produced pass by. 17 You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of your inheritance, The established place that you have prepared for yourself to inhabit, O Jehovah, A sanctuary, O Jehovah, that your hands have established. 18 Jehovah will rule as king forever and ever. 19 When Phar′aoh’s horses with his war chariots and his cavalrymen went into the sea, Then Jehovah brought back the waters of the sea upon them, But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the midst of the sea.” 20 Then Mir′i·am the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and with dances. 21 Mir′i·am sang in response to the men: “Sing to Jehovah, for he has become highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.” 22 Moses later led Israel away from the Red Sea, and they went out to the wilderness of Shur and marched on for three days in the wilderness, but they did not find water. 23 They came to Ma′rah, but they were not able to drink the water from Ma′rah because it was bitter. That is why he named it Ma′rah. 24 So the people began to murmur against Moses, saying: “What are we to drink?” 25 He cried out to Jehovah, and Jehovah directed him to a tree. When he threw it into the water, the water became sweet. There He established for them a regulation and a case for judgment, and there He put them to the test. 26 He said: “If you will strictly listen to the voice of Jehovah your God and will do what is right in his eyes and will pay attention to his commandments and keep all his regulations, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians, for I, Jehovah, am healing you.” 27 After that they came to E′lim, where there were 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees. So they camped there by the water.

16 After they departed from E′lim, the entire assembly of the Israelites eventually came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between E′lim and Si′nai, on the 15th day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. 2 Then the entire assembly of the Israelites began to murmur against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites kept saying to them: “If only we had died by Jehovah’s hand in the land of Egypt while we were sitting by the pots of meat, while we were eating bread to satisfaction. Now you have brought us out into this wilderness to put this whole congregation to death by famine.” 4 Then Jehovah said to Moses: “Here I am raining down bread for you from the heavens, and each of the people should go out to gather his amount day by day, so that I may put them to the test to see whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 But on the sixth day when they prepare what they have gathered, it is to be double the amount that they pick up on each of the other days.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites: “In the evening you will certainly know that it is Jehovah who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 In the morning you will see Jehovah’s glory, for he has heard your murmurings against Jehovah. Who are we that you should murmur against us?” 8 Moses continued: “When Jehovah gives you meat to eat in the evening and in the morning bread to satisfaction, you will see that Jehovah has heard your murmurings that you are murmuring against him. But who are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against Jehovah.” 9 Then Moses said to Aaron: “Tell the entire assembly of the Israelites, ‘Come near before Jehovah, for he has heard your murmurings.’” 10 As soon as Aaron had spoken to the entire assembly of the Israelites, they turned and faced toward the wilderness, and look! Jehovah’s glory appeared in the cloud. 11 Jehovah spoke further to Moses, saying: 12 “I have heard the murmurings of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be satisfied with bread, and you will certainly know that I am Jehovah your God.’” 13 So that evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning a layer of dew was all around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew evaporated, there was a fine, flaky substance on the surface of the wilderness, as fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they began to say to one another, “What is it?” for they did not know what it was. Moses said to them: “It is the bread that Jehovah has given you for food. 16 This is what Jehovah has commanded, ‘Each one should gather it according to how much he can eat. You are to take an omer measure for each individual according to the number of the people that each of you has in his tent.’” 17 The Israelites began to do so; they gathered it, some gathering much and some gathering little. 18 When they would measure it by the omer, the one who had gathered much had no surplus and the one who had gathered little had no shortage. They each gathered it according to what they could eat. 19 Then Moses said to them: “Nobody should leave any of it until the morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses. When some men left some of it until the morning, it bred worms and stank, and Moses became indignant at them. 21 They would pick it up morning by morning, each one according to what he could eat. When the sun got hot, it melted. 22 On the sixth day, they picked up twice as much bread, two omer measures for each person. So all the chieftains of the assembly came and reported it to Moses. 23 At that he said to them: “It is what Jehovah has said. Tomorrow there will be a complete rest, a holy sabbath to Jehovah. Bake what you need to bake, and boil what you need to boil; then save whatever is left over and keep it until the morning.” 24 So they saved it until the morning, just as Moses had commanded, and it did not stink nor were there maggots in it. 25 Then Moses said: “Eat it today, because today is a sabbath to Jehovah. Today you will not find it on the ground. 26 You will pick it up for six days, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.” 27 However, some of the people did go out to pick it up on the seventh day, but they found nothing. 28 So Jehovah said to Moses: “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 Take notice of the fact that Jehovah has given you the Sabbath. That is why he is giving you the bread for two days on the sixth day. Everyone must stay where he is; nobody is to leave his locality on the seventh day.” 30 So the people observed the Sabbath on the seventh day. 31 The house of Israel named the bread “manna.” It was white like coriander seed, and its taste was like that of flat cakes with honey. 32 Then Moses said: “This is what Jehovah has commanded, ‘Fill an omer measure of it as something to be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread that I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I was bringing you out of the land of Egypt.’” 33 So Moses said to Aaron: “Take a jar and put in it an omer measure of manna and deposit it before Jehovah as something to be kept throughout your generations.” 34 Just as Jehovah commanded Moses, Aaron placed it before the Testimony so that it might be preserved. 35 The Israelites ate the manna for 40 years, until they came to a land that was inhabited. They ate the manna until they came to the frontier of the land of Ca′naan. 36 Now an omer is a tenth of an e′phah measure.

17 The entire assembly of the Israelites departed from the wilderness of Sin by stages according to the order of Jehovah, and they camped at Reph′i·dim. But there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So the people began quarreling with Moses and saying: “Give us water to drink.” But Moses said to them: “Why are you quarreling with me? Why do you keep putting Jehovah to the test?” 3 But the people were very thirsty for water there, and they kept murmuring against Moses and saying: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to kill us and our sons and our livestock with thirst?” 4 Finally Moses cried out to Jehovah: “What should I do with this people? A little longer and they will stone me!” 5 Then Jehovah said to Moses: “Go ahead of the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel and your rod with which you struck the Nile River. Take it in your hand and walk on. 6 Look! I will be standing before you there on the rock in Ho′reb. You must strike the rock, and water will come out of it, and the people will drink it.” Moses did so before the eyes of the elders of Israel. 7 So he named the place Mas′sah and Mer′i·bah because of the quarreling of the Israelites and because they put Jehovah to the test by saying: “Is Jehovah in our midst or not?” 8 Then the A·mal′ek·ites came and fought against Israel in Reph′i·dim. 9 At this Moses said to Joshua: “Choose men for us and go out to fight against the A·mal′ek·ites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill, with the rod of the true God in my hand.” 10 Then Joshua did just as Moses told him, and he fought against the A·mal′ek·ites. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses kept his hands lifted up, the Israelites prevailed, but as soon as he would let down his hands, the A·mal′ek·ites prevailed. 12 When the hands of Moses were heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur, one on each side, supported his hands, so that his hands remained steady until the sun set. 13 Thus Joshua defeated Am′a·lek and his people with the sword. 14 Jehovah now said to Moses: “Write this as a memorial in the book and repeat it to Joshua, ‘I will completely wipe out the memory of Am′a·lek from under the heavens.’” 15 Then Moses built an altar and named it Je·ho′vah-nis′si, 16 saying: “Because his hand is against the throne of Jah, Jehovah will have war with Am′a·lek from generation to generation.”

18 Now Jeth′ro the priest of Mid′i·an, Moses’ father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, how Jehovah had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Jeth′ro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken in Zip·po′rah, Moses’ wife, when she was sent back to him, 3 along with her two sons. One son was named Ger′shom, because Moses said, “I have become a foreign resident in a foreign land,” 4 and the other was named E·li·e′zer, because he said, “The God of my father is my helper, who rescued me from Phar′aoh’s sword.” 5 So Jeth′ro, Moses’ father-in-law, along with Moses’ sons and his wife, came to Moses into the wilderness where he was camping at the mountain of the true God. 6 Then he sent word to Moses: “I, your father-in-law Jeth′ro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.” 7 At once Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him. Each of them asked about the other’s welfare, and then they went into the tent. 8 Moses related to his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done to Phar′aoh and Egypt in behalf of Israel, all the hardships that had befallen them along the way, and how Jehovah had delivered them. 9 Jeth′ro rejoiced over all the good that Jehovah had done for Israel by rescuing them from Egypt. 10 Then Jeth′ro said: “Praised be Jehovah, who rescued you from Egypt and from Phar′aoh, and who rescued the people from under Egypt’s control. 11 Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all the other gods, because of what he did to those who acted arrogantly against his people.” 12 Then Jeth′ro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before the true God. 13 On the next day, Moses sat down as usual to serve as judge for the people, and the people kept standing before Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said: “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit here alone with all the people standing before you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law: “Because the people keep coming to me to inquire of God. 16 When a case arises, it comes to me and I must judge between one person and the other, and I make known the decisions of the true God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him: “What you are doing is not good. 18 You will surely wear out, both you and this people who are with you, because this is too big a load for you and you cannot carry it by yourself. 19 Now listen to me. I will give you advice, and God will be with you. You serve as representative for the people before the true God, and you must bring the cases to the true God. 20 You should warn them about what the regulations and the laws are and make known to them the way in which they should walk and the work that they should do. 21 But you should select from the people capable men fearing God, trustworthy men hating dishonest profit, and appoint these over them as chiefs over thousands, chiefs over hundreds, chiefs over fifties, and chiefs over tens. 22 They should judge the people when cases arise, and they will bring every difficult case to you, but every minor case they will decide. Make it easier for yourself by letting them share the load along with you. 23 If you do this, and God so commands you, you will be able to stand the strain, and everyone will go home satisfied.” 24 Moses immediately listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose capable men out of all Israel and appointed them heads over the people, as chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens. 26 So they judged the people when cases arose. A difficult case they would bring to Moses, but every minor case they would judge. 27 After that Moses saw his father-in-law off, and he went his way to his land.

^ (Ex. 15:20-16:5)

Then Mir′i·am the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and with dances. 21 Mir′i·am sang in response to the men: “Sing to Jehovah, for he has become highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.” 22 Moses later led Israel away from the Red Sea, and they went out to the wilderness of Shur and marched on for three days in the wilderness, but they did not find water. 23 They came to Ma′rah, but they were not able to drink the water from Ma′rah because it was bitter. That is why he named it Ma′rah. 24 So the people began to murmur against Moses, saying: “What are we to drink?” 25 He cried out to Jehovah, and Jehovah directed him to a tree. When he threw it into the water, the water became sweet. There He established for them a regulation and a case for judgment, and there He put them to the test. 26 He said: “If you will strictly listen to the voice of Jehovah your God and will do what is right in his eyes and will pay attention to his commandments and keep all his regulations, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians, for I, Jehovah, am healing you.” 27 After that they came to E′lim, where there were 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees. So they camped there by the water.

16 After they departed from E′lim, the entire assembly of the Israelites eventually came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between E′lim and Si′nai, on the 15th day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. 2 Then the entire assembly of the Israelites began to murmur against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites kept saying to them: “If only we had died by Jehovah’s hand in the land of Egypt while we were sitting by the pots of meat, while we were eating bread to satisfaction. Now you have brought us out into this wilderness to put this whole congregation to death by famine.” 4 Then Jehovah said to Moses: “Here I am raining down bread for you from the heavens, and each of the people should go out to gather his amount day by day, so that I may put them to the test to see whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 But on the sixth day when they prepare what they have gathered, it is to be double the amount that they pick up on each of the other days.”

^ ***sn p. 156 A Victory Song***

Song 132

A Victory Song

(Exodus 15:1)

1. Sing to Jehovah. His great name is highly exalted.

His proud Egyptian foes, He has cast into the sea.

Praise Jah Almighty; Besides him there can be no other.

Jehovah is his name; He has gained the victory.

(CHORUS)

Jehovah God, Most High over all,

The one from time indefinite the same,

You soon will cause your enemies to fall

And sanctify your holy name.

2. See now all nations Opposing the Sov’reign, Jehovah.

Though mightier than Pharaoh, They too will suffer shame.

Doom now awaits them; They will not survive Armageddon.

Soon ev’ryone will know That Jehovah is God’s name.

(CHORUS)

Jehovah God, Most High over all,

The one from time indefinite the same,

You soon will cause your enemies to fall

And sanctify your holy name.

(See also Ps. 2:2, 9; 92:8; Mal. 3:6; Rev. 16:16.)

^ ***cl pp. 57-61 Destructive Power—“Jehovah Is a Manly Person of War”***

THE Israelites were trapped—wedged between forbidding mountain cliffs and an impassable sea. The Egyptian army, a ruthless killing machine, was in hot pursuit, determined to annihilate them. Still, Moses urged God’s people not to lose hope. “Jehovah will himself fight for you,” he assured them.—Exodus 14:14.

2 Even so, Moses apparently called out to Jehovah, and God responded: “Why do you keep crying out to me? . . . Lift up your rod and stretch your hand out over the sea and split it apart.” (Exodus 14:15, 16) Just picture the unfolding of events. Jehovah immediately commands his angel, and the pillar of cloud moves to Israel’s rear, perhaps spreading out like a wall and blocking the Egyptian line of attack. (Exodus 14:19, 20; Psalm 105:39) Moses stretches out his hand. Driven by a strong wind, the sea splits apart. The waters somehow congeal and stand up like walls, opening up a path wide enough to accommodate the entire nation!—Exodus 14:21; 15:8.

3 Faced with this display of might, Pharaoh should order his troops home. Instead, prideful Pharaoh orders an attack. (Exodus 14:23) The Egyptians rush into the seabed in pursuit, but their charge soon dissolves into chaos as the wheels of their chariots begin falling off. Once the Israelites are safe on the other side, Jehovah commands Moses: “Stretch your hand out over the sea, that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, their war chariots and their cavalrymen.” The watery walls collapse, burying Pharaoh and his forces!—Exodus 14:24-28; Psalm 136:15.

4 The deliverance of the nation of Israel at the Red Sea was a momentous event in the history of God’s dealings with mankind. There Jehovah proved himself to be “a manly person of war.” (Exodus 15:3) How, though, do you react to this portrayal of Jehovah? To be honest, war has brought much pain and misery to humankind. Could it be that God’s use of destructive power seems more like a deterrent than an incentive to your drawing close to him?

Divine War Versus Human Conflicts

5 Nearly three hundred times in the Hebrew Scriptures and twice in the Christian Greek Scriptures, God is given the title “Jehovah of armies.” (1 Samuel 1:11) As Sovereign Ruler, Jehovah commands a vast army of angelic forces. (Joshua 5:13-15; 1 Kings 22:19) The destructive potential of this army is awesome. (Isaiah 37:36) The destruction of humans is not pleasant to contemplate. However, we must remember that God’s wars are unlike petty human conflicts. Military and political leaders may try to attribute noble motives to their aggression. But human war invariably involves greed and selfishness.

6 In contrast, Jehovah is not driven by blind emotion. Deuteronomy 32:4 declares: “The Rock, perfect is his activity, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice; righteous and upright is he.” God’s Word condemns unbridled rage, cruelty, and violence. (Genesis 49:7; Psalm 11:5) So Jehovah never acts without reason. He uses his destructive power sparingly and as a last resort. It is as he stated through his prophet Ezekiel: “‘Do I take any delight at all in the death of someone wicked,’ is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, ‘and not in that he should turn back from his ways and actually keep living?’”—Ezekiel 18:23.

7 Why, then, does Jehovah use destructive power? Before answering, we might call to mind the righteous man Job. Satan challenged whether Job—really, any human—would keep his integrity under trial. Jehovah answered that challenge by allowing Satan to test Job’s integrity. As a result, Job suffered illness, loss of wealth, and loss of his children. (Job 1:1–2:8) Unaware of the issues involved, Job mistakenly concluded that his suffering was unjust punishment from God. He asked God why He had made him a “target,” “an enemy.”—Job 7:20; 13:24.

8 A young man named Elihu exposed the flaw in Job’s reasoning, saying: “You have said, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s.’” (Job 35:2) Yes, it is unwise to think that we know better than God or to assume that he has behaved unfairly. “Far be it from the true God to act wickedly, and the Almighty to act unjustly,” Elihu declared. Later, he said: “As for the Almighty, we have not found him out; he is exalted in power, and justice and abundance of righteousness he will not belittle.” (Job 34:10; 36:22, 23; 37:23) We can be sure that when God fights, he has good cause for doing so. With that in mind, let us explore some of the reasons why the God of peace sometimes assumes the mantle of a warrior.—1 Corinthians 14:33.

^ ***rs p. 345 Return of Christ***

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you get into your kingdom.’ And he said to him: ‘Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.’” (Under Jesus’ rule, all the earth will become a paradise; the dead who are in God’s memory will be raised with an opportunity to enjoy perfect life on earth forever.)

See also pages 234-239, under the heading “Last Days.”

^ ***rs p. 345-p. 346 par. 3 Sabbath***

<<

Sabbath

Definition: Sabbath is taken from the Hebrew sha·vath′, meaning “rest, cease, desist.” The sabbatical system prescribed in the Mosaic Law included a weekly Sabbath day, a number of additional specified days throughout each year, the seventh year, and the fiftieth year. The weekly Sabbath of the Jews, the seventh day of their calendar week, is from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. Many professed Christians have traditionally kept Sunday as their day of rest and of worship; others have adhered to the day set aside on the Jewish calendar.

Are Christians under obligation to keep a weekly sabbath day?

Ex. 31:16, 17: “The sons of Israel must keep the sabbath, so as to carry out the sabbath during their generations. It is a covenant to time indefinite [“a perpetual covenant,” RS]. Between me and the sons of Israel it is a sign to time indefinite.” (Notice that sabbath observance was a sign between Jehovah and Israel; this would not be the case if everyone else were also obligated to keep the Sabbath. The Hebrew word rendered “perpetual” in RS is ‛oh·lam′, which basically means a period of time that, from the standpoint of the present, is indefinite or hidden from sight but of long duration. That can mean forever, but not necessarily so. At Numbers 25:13 the same Hebrew word is applied to the priesthood, which later ended, according to Hebrews 7:12.)

Rom. 10:4: “Christ is the end of the Law, so that everyone exercising faith may have righteousness.” (Sabbath keeping was a part of that Law. God used Christ to bring that Law to its end. Our having a righteous standing with God depends on faith in Christ, not on keeping a weekly sabbath.) (Also Galatians 4:9-11; Ephesians 2:13-16)

Col. 2:13-16: “[God] kindly forgave us all our trespasses and blotted out the handwritten document against us, which consisted of decrees and which was in opposition to us . . . Therefore let no man judge you in eating and drinking or in respect of a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath.” (If a person was under the Mosaic Law and was judged guilty of profaning the Sabbath, he was to be stoned to death by the whole congregation, according to Exodus 31:14 and Numbers 15:32-35. Many who argue for sabbath keeping have reason to be glad that we are not under that Law. As shown in the scripture here quoted, an approved standing with God no longer requires observance of the sabbath requirement given to Israel.)

How did Sunday come to be the principal day of worship for much of Christendom?

Although Christ was resurrected on the first day of the week (now called Sunday), the Bible contains no instruction to set aside that day of the week as sacred.

“The retention of the old Pagan name of ‘Dies Solis,’ or ‘Sunday,’ for the weekly Christian festival, is, in great measure, owing to the union of Pagan and [so-called] Christian sentiment with which the first day of the week was recommended by Constantine [in an edict in 321 C.E.] to his subjects, Pagan and Christian alike, as the ‘venerable day of the Sun.’ . . . It was his mode of harmonizing the discordant religions of the Empire under one common institution.”—Lectures on the History of the Eastern Church (New York, 1871), A. P. Stanley, p. 291.

^ ***it-1 p. 28 Abortion***

ABORTION

The expulsion of an embryo or fetus before it can live on its own. Common use often distinguishes between abortion and miscarriage, the former being defined as the deliberate and induced emptying of a pregnant uterus, the latter being considered as the accidental and unavoidable interruption of pregnancy. The distinction between abortion and miscarriage is not made in the Bible; there the terms are used in a broader and interchangeable sense. The Hebrew sha·khal′, meaning “suffer an abortion” (Ex 23:26), is also rendered “bereave” (De 32:25), ‘bereave of children’ (Le 26:22), ‘miscarry’ (Ho 9:14), and “prove fruitless” (Mal 3:11). The Hebrew word yoh·tseʼth′, rendered “abortion” in Psalm 144:14, is from a root meaning “come out.” (Compare Ge 27:30.) The expressions “miscarriage” and “one prematurely born” (Ps 58:8; Ec 6:3) render the Hebrew word ne′phel, which comes from the root na·phal′, meaning “fall.”—Compare Isa 26:18.

Unavoidable abortion or miscarriage may be caused by accident, infectious disease, mental or physical stress and strain, or because of a general organic weakness on the part of the mother. The waters near Jericho were death dealing, causing miscarriages, until Jehovah’s prophet Elisha healed them.—2Ki 2:19-22.

Deliberately to induce abortion or miscarriage by artificial means, by the use of drugs, or by medical operation, the sole purpose of which is to avoid the birth of an unwanted child, is an act of high crime in the sight of God. Life as a precious gift from God is sacred. Hence God’s law to Moses protected the life of an unborn baby against more than criminal abortion, for if in a fracas between men a pregnant woman suffered an accident fatal to her or the child, “then you must give soul for soul.” (Ex 21:22-25) Of course, before applying that penalty, the circumstances and degree of deliberateness were taken into consideration by the judges. (Compare Nu 35:22-24, 31.) But emphasizing the seriousness of any deliberate attempt to cause injury, Dr. J. Glenn comments: “The viable embryo in the uterus IS a human individual, and therefore destroying it, is a violation of the sixth commandment.”—The Bible and Modern Medicine, 1963, p. 176.

Properly viewed, the fruitage of the womb is a blessing of Jehovah. (Le 26:9; Ps 127:3) Hence, in promising to prosper Israel, God gave assurance of successful culmination of pregnancy and the bringing forth of children, saying: “Neither a woman suffering an abortion nor a barren woman will exist in your land.” (Ex 23:26) As indicated in the prayer of the righteous, on the other hand, evidence of God’s disfavor to his enemies would be their having miscarrying wombs and their becoming like miscarriages that never see the sun.—Ps 58:8; Ho 9:14.

Job in his misery contemplated that it would have been better had he been “a hidden miscarriage.” “Why from the womb did I not proceed to die?” this tormented man cried out. (Job 3:11-16) Solomon, too, reasoned that a prematurely expelled fetus is better off than the person who lives a long time but who never comes to enjoy life.—Ec 6:3.

Contagious abortion, a disease characterized by premature birth, may occur among animals such as cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. Accidental abortion due to neglect or disease of domestic animals has also been known since the days of the patriarchs Jacob and Job.—Ge 31:38; Job 21:10.

^ ***sn p. 34 Take Sides With Jehovah!***

Song 27

Take Sides With Jehovah!

(Exodus 32:26)

1. Once with confusion our sad hearts were filled,

Drinking the cup false religion distilled;

But with what happiness our hearts were thrilled

When of God’s Kingdom we heard.

(CHORUS)

Take sides with Jehovah;

Make him your delight.

He’ll never forsake you;

Walk on in his light.

Tell, tell the glad tidings

Of freedom and peace.

His rule by Christ Jesus

Will ever increase.

2. Now we’re rejoicing in serving our God,

Spreading the seeds of his truth all abroad,

Helping our brothers God’s virtues to laud,

Praising his great worthy name.

(CHORUS)

Take sides with Jehovah;

Make him your delight.

He’ll never forsake you;

Walk on in his light.

Tell, tell the glad tidings

Of freedom and peace.

His rule by Christ Jesus

Will ever increase.

3. We will not fear what the Devil can do.

Trusting Jehovah will carry us through.

Though they are many and though we are few,

God is our strength and our might.

(CHORUS)

Take sides with Jehovah;

Make him your delight.

He’ll never forsake you;

Walk on in his light.

Tell, tell the glad tidings

Of freedom and peace.

His rule by Christ Jesus

Will ever increase.

(See also Ps. 94:14; Prov. 3:5, 6; Heb. 13:5.)

^ ***sn p. 148 Loyally Submitting to Theocratic Order***

Song 125

Loyally Submitting to Theocratic Order

(1 Corinthians 14:33)

1. As Jehovah’s people sound throughout the earth

Truths about the Kingdom and its priceless worth,

Theocratic order they must all obey

And remain united, loyalty display.

(CHORUS)

Loyal submission in recognition,

This to our God we owe.

He gives protection, tender affection,

Loyalty to him we show.

2. God provides his steward and his active force.

These will ever guide us in our Christian course.

So may we be steadfast, seeking God to please,

Loyally proclaiming all his wise decrees!

(CHORUS)

Loyal submission in recognition,

This to our God we owe.

He gives protection, tender affection,

Loyalty to him we show.

(See also Luke 12:42; Heb. 13:7, 17.)

^ (Ex. 19:1-22:31)

In the third month after the Israelites went out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the wilderness of Si′nai. 2 They pulled away from Reph′i·dim and came to the wilderness of Si′nai and camped in the wilderness. Israel camped there in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to the true God, and Jehovah called to him from the mountain, saying: “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and to tell the Israelites, 4 ‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to the Egyptians, in order to carry you on wings of eagles and bring you to myself. 5 Now if you will strictly obey my voice and keep my covenant, you will certainly become my special property out of all peoples, for the whole earth belongs to me. 6 You will become to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.” 7 So Moses went and summoned the elders of the people and declared to them all these words that Jehovah had commanded him. 8 After that all the people answered unanimously: “All that Jehovah has spoken, we are willing to do.” Moses immediately took the people’s response to Jehovah. 9 And Jehovah said to Moses: “Look! I am coming to you in a dark cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and so that they may always put faith in you as well.” Then Moses reported the words of the people to Jehovah. 10 Then Jehovah said to Moses: “Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and they must wash their clothing. 11 And they must be ready for the third day, because on the third day Jehovah will come down upon Mount Si′nai before the eyes of all the people. 12 You must set boundaries for the people all around it and tell them, ‘Beware of going up to the mountain or touching its border. Anybody touching the mountain will surely be put to death. 13 No hand is to touch him, but he will either be stoned or be shot through. Whether beast or man, he will not live.’ But at the sound of the ram’s horn they may come up to the mountain.” 14 Then Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and he began to sanctify the people, and they washed their clothing. 15 He said to the people: “Get ready for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.” 16 On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning, and there was a heavy cloud on the mountain and a very loud sound of a horn, and all the people in the camp began to tremble. 17 Moses now brought the people out of the camp to meet the true God, and they took their place at the base of the mountain. 18 Mount Si′nai smoked all over, because Jehovah came down upon it in fire; and its smoke was rising like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain was trembling violently. 19 As the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and the voice of the true God answered him. 20 So Jehovah came down upon Mount Si′nai to the top of the mountain. Then Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 Jehovah now said to Moses: “Go down and warn the people not to try to force their way through to look at Jehovah, or many of them will perish. 22 And let the priests who regularly come near to Jehovah sanctify themselves, so that Jehovah may not strike them.” 23 Moses then said to Jehovah: “The people are not able to come up to Mount Si′nai because you already warned us, saying, ‘Set boundaries around the mountain, and make it sacred.’” 24 However, Jehovah said to him: “Go, descend, and come back up, you and Aaron with you, but do not let the priests and the people force their way through to come up to Jehovah, so that he may not strike them.” 25 So Moses descended to the people and told them.

20 Then God spoke all these words: 2 “I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 You must not have any other gods besides me. 4 “You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 You must not bow down to them nor be enticed to serve them, for I, Jehovah your God, am a God who requires exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing loyal love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave unpunished the one who takes up His name in a worthless way. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it sacred. 9 You are to labor and do all your work for six days, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to Jehovah your God. You must not do any work, neither you nor your son nor your daughter nor your slave man nor your slave girl nor your domestic animal nor your foreign resident who is inside your settlements. 11 For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and he began to rest on the seventh day. That is why Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day and made it sacred. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that Jehovah your God is giving you. 13 “You must not murder. 14 “You must not commit adultery. 15 “You must not steal. 16 “You must not testify falsely when you are a witness against your fellow man. 17 “You must not desire your fellow man’s house. You must not desire your fellow man’s wife nor his slave man nor his slave girl nor his bull nor his donkey nor anything that belongs to your fellow man.” 18 Now all the people were witnessing the thunder and lightning, the sound of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and seeing this made them tremble and stand at a distance. 19 So they said to Moses: “You speak with us, and we will listen, but do not let God speak with us, for fear that we will die.” 20 So Moses said to the people: “Do not be afraid, for the true God has come to put you to the test, in order that the fear of him may continue with you so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people kept standing at a distance, but Moses went near to the dark cloud where the true God was. 22 Then Jehovah said to Moses: “This is what you are to say to the Israelites, ‘You have seen for yourselves that I spoke with you from heaven. 23 You must not make gods of silver alongside me, and you must not make gods of gold for yourselves. 24 An altar of earth you are to make for me, and you will sacrifice on it your burnt offerings, your communion sacrifices, your flock, and your herd. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and I will bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, you must not build it using stones cut with tools. For if you do use your chisel on it, you will profane it. 26 And you must not go up by steps to my altar, that your private parts may not be exposed upon it.’

21 “These are the judicial decisions that you are to convey to them: 2 “If you buy a Hebrew slave, he will serve as a slave for six years, but in the seventh year, he will be set free without paying anything. 3 If he came by himself, he will go out by himself. If he is the husband of a wife, then his wife must go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children will become her master’s, and he will go out by himself. 5 But if the slave should insist and say, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my sons; I do not want to be set free,’ 6 his master must bring him before the true God. Then he will bring him up against the door or the doorpost, and his master will pierce his ear through with an awl, and he will be his slave for life. 7 “If a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not go free the same way that a slave man does. 8 If her master is not pleased with her and he does not designate her as a concubine but causes her to be purchased by someone else, he will not be entitled to sell her to foreigners, for he has betrayed her. 9 If he selects her for his son, he is to grant her the rights of a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife for himself, the sustenance, the clothing, and the marriage due of the first wife are not to be diminished. 11 If he will not render these three things to her, then she is to go free without paying any money. 12 “Anyone who strikes a man so that he dies must be put to death. 13 But if he does it unintentionally and the true God lets it happen, I will designate for you a place where he can flee. 14 If a man becomes very angry with his fellow man and he deliberately kills him, the man must die even if you have to take him from my altar. 15 One who strikes his father or his mother must be put to death. 16 “If anyone kidnaps a man and sells him or is caught holding him, he must be put to death. 17 “Anyone who curses his father or his mother must be put to death. 18 “This is what should happen if men quarrel and one strikes his fellow man with a stone or a fist and he does not die but is confined to his bed: 19 If he is able to get up and walk around outdoors with the aid of a staff, then the one who struck him must be free from punishment. He will only make compensation for the time the injured man lost from his work until he is completely healed. 20 “If a man strikes his slave man or his slave girl with a stick and that one dies by his hand, that one must be avenged. 21 However, if he survives for one or two days, he is not to be avenged, because he is someone bought with his owner’s money. 22 “If men should struggle with each other and they hurt a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but no fatality results, the offender must pay the damages imposed on him by the husband of the woman; and he must pay it through the judges. 23 But if a fatality does occur, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, blow for blow. 26 “If a man strikes the eye of his slave man or the eye of his slave girl and he destroys it, he is to let the slave go free in compensation for his eye. 27 And if he knocks out the tooth of his slave man or of his slave girl, he is to let the slave go free in compensation for his tooth. 28 “If a bull gores a man or a woman and that one dies, the bull must be stoned to death and its meat is not to be eaten; but the owner of the bull is free from punishment. 29 But if a bull was in the habit of goring and its owner had been warned but he would not keep it under guard and it killed a man or a woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner is also to be put to death. 30 If a ransom is imposed on him, he must give as the redemption price for his life all that may be imposed on him. 31 Whether it gored a son or a daughter, it is to be done to the bull’s owner according to this judicial decision. 32 If the bull gored a slave man or a slave girl, he will give the price of 30 shekels to that one’s master, and the bull will be stoned to death. 33 “If a man uncovers or digs a pit and does not cover it and a bull or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit is to make compensation. He is to pay the price to its owner, and the dead animal will become his. 35 If a man’s bull hurts another’s bull and it dies, then they must sell the live bull and divide the price paid for it; they should also divide the dead animal. 36 Or if it was known that a bull had been in the habit of goring but its owner would not keep it under guard, he must make compensation with bull for bull, and the dead one will become his own.

22 “If a man steals a bull or a sheep and he slaughters or sells it, he is to compensate with five bulls for the bull and four sheep for the sheep. 2 (“If a thief is found in the act of breaking in and he gets struck and dies, there is no bloodguilt for him. 3 But if it happens after sunrise, there is bloodguilt for him.) “He must make compensation. If he has nothing, then he must be sold for the things he stole. 4 If what he stole is found alive in his possession, whether it is a bull or a donkey or a sheep, he is to make double compensation. 5 “If anyone puts his animals out to graze in a field or a vineyard and lets them graze in someone else’s field, he is to make compensation with the best of his own field or with the best of his own vineyard. 6 “If a fire starts and spreads to thornbushes and it causes sheaves or standing grain or a field to be consumed, the one who started the fire must make compensation for what was burned. 7 “If a man gives his fellow man money or articles to keep and these are stolen from the fellow man’s house, if the thief is found, he must make double compensation. 8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house must be brought before the true God in order to determine whether he put his hand on the goods of his fellow man. 9 In all cases of illegal possession of goods, concerning a bull, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or anything lost of which he may say, ‘This is mine!’ both parties will present their case before the true God. The one whom God pronounces guilty is to make double compensation to his fellow man. 10 “If a man gives his fellow man a donkey or a bull or a sheep or any domestic animal to keep and it dies or gets maimed or gets led away while nobody is looking, 11 there should be an oath made between them before Jehovah, that he did not lay his hand on the goods of his fellow man; and the owner must accept it. The other man is not to make compensation. 12 But if the animal has been stolen from him, he is to make compensation to its owner. 13 If it was torn by a wild animal, he is to bring it as evidence. He is not to make compensation for something torn by a wild animal. 14 “But if anybody asks to borrow an animal from his fellow man and it gets maimed or it dies while its owner is not with it, the man who borrowed it must make compensation. 15 If its owner is with it, he is not to make compensation. If it was hired, the money paid for the hire is the compensation. 16 “Now if a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged and he lies down with her, he must pay the bride-price for her to become his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he is to pay the money at the rate of the bride-price. 18 “You must not allow a sorceress to live. 19 “Anyone lying down with an animal must surely be put to death. 20 “Whoever sacrifices to any gods but Jehovah alone is to be devoted to destruction. 21 “You must not mistreat a foreign resident or oppress him, for you were foreign residents in the land of Egypt. 22 “You must not afflict any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict him at all, so that he cries out to me, I will unfailingly hear his outcry; 24 and my anger will blaze, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will become widows, and your children will be fatherless. 25 “If you lend money to anyone poor of my people, someone who is dwelling with you, you must not become like a moneylender to him. You must not charge him interest. 26 “If you seize the garment of your fellow man as security for a loan, you are to return it to him by sunset. 27 For it is his only covering, his clothing to cover his body; in what will he lie down to sleep? When he cries out to me, I will certainly hear, for I am compassionate. 28 “You must not curse God nor curse a chieftain among your people. 29 “You must not hesitate to make offerings from your abundant produce and the overflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you are to give to me. 30 This is what you should do with your bull and your sheep: Seven days it will continue with its mother. On the eighth day, you are to give it to me. 31 “You should prove yourselves holy people to me, and you must not eat the flesh of anything in the field that has been torn by a wild animal. You should throw it to the dogs.

^ ***sn p. 45 Gratitude for Divine Patience***

Song 35

Gratitude for Divine Patience

(2 Peter 3:15)

1. Great God, Jehovah, boundless in might,

You have made known your love of right.

Wickedness rules on earth below,

Causing you pain, as we well know.

You are not slow, as men may contend;

Your time is near for badness to end.

We look to you in hope and trust,

Grateful that you are patient and just.

2. One thousand years, from your point of view,

Are like a day when they are through.

Time now proceeds to your great day;

It will arrive without delay.

Though all transgression you do resent,

Your heart is glad when sinners repent.

We look ahead with hope renewed,

Praising your name in deep gratitude.

(See also Luke 15:7; 2 Pet. 3:8, 9.)

^ ***cl pp. 61-64 Destructive Power—“Jehovah Is a Manly Person of War”***

Why the God of Peace Is Compelled to Fight

9 After praising God as “a manly person of war,” Moses declared: “Who among the gods is like you, O Jehovah? Who is like you, proving yourself mighty in holiness?” (Exodus 15:11) The prophet Habakkuk similarly wrote: “You are too pure in eyes to see what is bad; and to look on trouble you are not able.” (Habakkuk 1:13) Although Jehovah is a God of love, he is also a God of holiness, righteousness, and justice. At times, such qualities compel him to use his destructive power. (Isaiah 59:15-19; Luke 18:7) So God does not blemish his holiness when he fights. Rather, he fights because he is holy.—Exodus 39:30.

10 Consider the situation that arose after the first human couple, Adam and Eve, rebelled against God. (Genesis 3:1-6) Had he tolerated their unrighteousness, Jehovah would have undermined his own position as Universal Sovereign. As a righteous God, he was obliged to sentence them to death. (Romans 6:23) In the first Bible prophecy, he foretold that enmity would exist between his own servants and the followers of the “serpent,” Satan. (Revelation 12:9; Genesis 3:15) Ultimately, this enmity could only be resolved by the crushing of Satan. (Romans 16:20) But that judgment act would result in great blessings for righteous mankind, ridding the earth of Satan’s influence and opening the way to a global paradise. (Matthew 19:28) Until then, those who sided with Satan would constitute an ongoing threat to the physical and spiritual well-being of God’s people. On occasion, Jehovah would have to intervene.

God Acts to Remove Wickedness

11 The Deluge of Noah’s day was a case of such intervention. Says Genesis 6:11, 12: “The earth came to be ruined in the sight of the true God and the earth became filled with violence. So God saw the earth and, look! it was ruined, because all flesh had ruined its way on the earth.” Would God allow the wicked to snuff out the last vestige of morality left on earth? No. Jehovah felt obliged to bring a global deluge to rid the earth of those who were bent on violence and immorality.

12 It was similar with God’s judgment against the Canaanites. Jehovah revealed that out of Abraham would come a “seed” through which all the families of the earth would bless themselves. In harmony with that purpose, God decreed that Abraham’s offspring would be given the land of Canaan, a land inhabited by a people called the Amorites. How could God be justified in forcibly evicting these people from their land? Jehovah foretold that the eviction would not come for some 400 years—until “the error of the Amorites” had “come to completion.” (Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14, 15; 15:13, 16; 22:18) During that period of time, the Amorites sank deeper and deeper into moral corruption. Canaan became a land of idolatry, bloodshed, and degraded sexual practices. (Exodus 23:24; 34:12, 13; Numbers 33:52) The inhabitants of the land even killed children in sacrificial fires. Could a holy God expose his people to such wickedness? No! He declared: “The land is unclean, and I shall bring punishment for its error upon it, and the land will vomit its inhabitants out.” (Leviticus 18:21-25) Jehovah did not kill the people indiscriminately, however. Rightly disposed Canaanites, such as Rahab and the Gibeonites, were spared.—Joshua 6:25; 9:3-27.

Fighting in Behalf of His Name

13 Because Jehovah is holy, his name is holy. (Leviticus 22:32) Jesus taught his disciples to pray: “Let your name be sanctified.” (Matthew 6:9) The rebellion in Eden profaned God’s name, calling into question God’s reputation and way of ruling. Jehovah could never condone such slander and rebellion. He was obliged to clear his name of reproach.—Isaiah 48:11.

14 Consider, again, the Israelites. As long as they were slaves in Egypt, God’s promise to Abraham that by means of his Seed all the families of the earth would bless themselves seemed empty. But by delivering them and establishing them as a nation, Jehovah cleared his name of reproach. The prophet Daniel thus recalled in prayer: “O Jehovah our God, you . . . brought your people out from the land of Egypt by a strong hand and proceeded to make a name for yourself.”—Daniel 9:15.

15 Interestingly, Daniel prayed this way at a time when the Jews needed Jehovah to act once again for the sake of His name. The disobedient Jews found themselves in captivity, this time in Babylon. Their own capital city, Jerusalem, lay in ruins. Daniel knew that restoring the Jews to their homeland would magnify Jehovah’s name. Daniel thus prayed: “O Jehovah, do forgive. O Jehovah, do pay attention and act. Do not delay, for your own sake, O my God, for your own name has been called upon your city and upon your people.”—Daniel 9:18, 19.

^ ***sn p. 133 Grateful for God’s Word***

Song 113

Grateful for God’s Word

(Philippians 2:16)

1. Jehovah, our Father, we want to express

How grateful we are that your Word we possess!

Its writers you inspired to tell your very thought.

By Scripture we’re guided; by you we are taught.

2. Endowed are its pages with human appeal.

Your prophets were like us; they felt what we feel.

We gather faith and courage by learning of their lives.

Our heart it refreshes; our soul it revives.

3. Your word has such power to reach deep inside,

Yes, even the spirit and soul to divide.

It searches our intentions and motives of our hearts.

It offers correction and wisdom imparts.

(See also Ps. 119:16, 162; 2 Tim. 3:16; Jas. 5:17; 2 Pet. 1:21.)

^ ***sn pp. 90-91 Our Reasons for Joy***

Song 75

Our Reasons for Joy

(Matthew 5:12)

1. Our reasons for joy are abundant,

Like riches increasing in worth.

Desirable things of all nations

Are joining us in all the earth.

The joy in our heart is well-founded,

With roots reaching deep in God’s Word.

We daily partake of its teachings;

Faith follows the things we have heard.

Our causes for joy are deep-seated,

Like embers that burn in our hearts.

Though troubles and trials beset us,

Endurance Jehovah imparts.

(CHORUS)

Jehovah our God is our joy,

The work of his hands our delight.

How deep are his thoughts, how great are his works,

Abounding in goodness and might!

2. We gladly behold his productions,

The heavens, the sea, and the land.

We gaze at the book of creation,

Applauding the work of his hand.

Triumphantly we now bear witness,

Proclaiming the Kingdom of God.

The news of its birth and its blessings,

We joyously spread all abroad.

Eternal rejoicing approaches,

Like daylight that follows the night.

The promised new earth and new heavens

Will bring everlasting delight.

(CHORUS)

Jehovah our God is our joy,

The work of his hands our delight.

How deep are his thoughts, how great are his works,

Abounding in goodness and might!

(See also Deut. 16:15; Isa. 12:6; John 15:11.)

^ ***w13 2/15 p. 4 This Is Our Spiritual Heritage***

6 Our spiritual heritage includes a wealth of accurate and valuable information from the past. For example, consider Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These patriarchs and their families must have had discussions about how to please Jehovah. So it is not surprising that upright Joseph rejected sexual immorality so as not to “sin against God.” (Gen. 39:7-9) Christian traditions were also handed down orally or by example. Among these were points regarding the Lord’s Evening Meal that the apostle Paul passed on to Christian congregations. (1 Cor. 11:2, 23) Today, details needed for us to worship God “with spirit and truth” are part of his written Word. (Read John 4:23, 24.) The Bible is for the enlightenment of all mankind, but we as Jehovah’s servants especially appreciate it.

^ ***w07 10/15 pp. 23-24 Hear the Voice From Within***

16 The account about Joseph in Potiphar’s house shows that. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph. Though he lived at a time when no Bible book had yet been written and the Ten Commandments had not been given, Joseph reacted by saying: “How could I commit this great badness and actually sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9) He was not responding that way simply to please his family; they lived far away. He principally wanted to please God. Joseph knew God’s standard for marriage—one man for one woman, the two being “one flesh.” And he had likely heard of how Abimelech felt on learning that Rebekah was married—that to take her would be wrong, bringing guilt on his people. And, yes, Jehovah blessed the outcome in that case, showing his view of adultery. Joseph’s knowing all of that likely reinforced the proddings of his inherited conscience, moving him to reject sexual immorality.—Genesis 2:24; 12:17-19; 20:1-18; 26:7-14.

^ ***w04 1/15 p. 29 par. 6 Highlights From the Book of Genesis—II***

41:14-16, 39, 40. Jehovah can bring about a reversal of circumstances for those who fear him. When adversities strike, we are wise to put our trust in Jehovah and remain faithful to him.

^ ***w04 6/1 p. 20 Do Your Circumstances Control Your Life?***

While a slave in Egypt, Joseph had to resist the immoral advances of his master’s wife. Angry at being rejected, she falsely accused Joseph of trying to rape her. He was given “over to the prison house,” where “with fetters they afflicted his feet, into irons his soul came.” (Genesis 39:7-20; Psalm 105:17, 18) How trying this must have been! For about 13 years, Joseph was either a slave or a prisoner because of injustices brought on him by others, including members of his own family.—Genesis 37:2; 41:46.

^ ***w99 1/1 p. 30 An Act of Forgiveness Opens the Way for Salvation***

Joseph’s mercy was not extended without a basis. He had already observed evidence of their repentance. For example, when Joseph accused his half brothers of being spies, he overheard them say among themselves: “Unquestionably we are guilty with regard to our brother . . . That is why this distress has come upon us.” (Genesis 42:21) Also, Judah had offered to become a slave in Benjamin’s place in order that the young man could be returned to his father.—Genesis 44:33, 34.

Hence, Joseph was justified in extending mercy. Indeed, he realized that doing so could result in the salvation of his entire family. Therefore, Joseph told his half brothers to return to their father, Jacob, and say to him: “This is what your son Joseph has said: ‘God has appointed me lord for all Egypt. Come down to me. Do not delay. And you must dwell in the land of Goshen, and you must continue near me, you and your sons and the sons of your sons and your flocks and your herds and everything you have. And I will supply you with food there.’”—Genesis 45:9-11.

^ ***w12 1/1 p. 29 She Acted Wisely, Bravely, and Selflessly***

A Prophecy Fulfilled

In fighting for God’s people, Esther and Mordecai fulfilled another Bible prophecy. Over a dozen centuries earlier, Jehovah inspired the patriarch Jacob to foretell regarding one of his sons: “Benjamin will keep on tearing like a wolf. In the morning he will eat the animal seized and at evening he will divide spoil.” (Genesis 49:27) In the “morning” of Israel’s kingly history, Benjamin’s descendants included King Saul and other mighty warriors for Jehovah’s people. In the “evening” of that royal history, after the sun had set on Israel’s kingly line, Esther and Mordecai, both of the tribe of Benjamin, warred effectively against Jehovah’s enemies. In a sense, they also divided spoil, in that Haman’s vast estate went to them.

^ ***w09 3/1 p. 15 “I Well Know the Pains They Suffer”***

The holy God had a reason for drawing Moses into conversation. God said: “Unquestionably I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their outcry as a result of those who drive them to work; because I well know the pains they suffer.” (Verse 7) God was not blind to the misery of his people; nor was he deaf to the voice of their pleadings. Rather, their anguish became his own. Notice that God said: “I well know the pains they suffer.” Regarding the words “I well know,” one reference work notes: “The expression implies personal feeling, tenderness, and compassion.” Jehovah’s words to Moses reveal a deeply concerned and caring God.

What would God do? He did not merely look with pity or hear with compassion. He was moved to act. He purposed to deliver his people out of Egypt and to bring them “to a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Verse 8) To that end, Jehovah commissioned Moses, saying: “Bring my people . . . out of Egypt.” (Verse 10) Faithful to that commission, Moses led Israel out of Egypt in 1513 B.C.E.

Jehovah has not changed. His worshippers today can be sure that he sees their adversities and hears their cries for help. He well knows the pains they suffer. But Jehovah does not just feel compassion for his devoted servants. The tender God is moved to act in their behalf “because he cares” for them.—1 Peter 5:7.

God’s compassion gives us reason for hope. With his help, we imperfect humans can attain a measure of holiness and become acceptable to him. (1 Peter 1:15, 16) One Christian woman who has struggled with depression and discouragement found comfort in the account about Moses’ experience at the thornbush. She says: “If Jehovah can make even the dirt holy, then maybe there is a little hope for me. This thought has helped me profoundly.”

^ ***w13 3/15 pp. 25-26 Honor Jehovah’s Great Name***

5 How did Jehovah reply to Moses’ question? In part, he said: “This is what you are to say to the sons of Israel, ‘I SHALL PROVE TO BE has sent me to you.’” Then he added: “Jehovah the God of your forefathers . . . has sent me to you.” God revealed that he will become whatever he chooses to become so as to accomplish his purpose, that he will always prove true to his word. Hence, in verse 15 we read that Jehovah himself said: “This is my name to time indefinite, and this is the memorial of me to generation after generation.” How that revelation must have strengthened Moses’ faith and filled him with awe!

JEHOVAH LIVED UP TO HIS NAME

6 Shortly after commissioning Moses, Jehovah fully lived up to his name by ‘proving to be’ Israel’s Deliverer. He humiliated Egypt with ten devastating plagues, at the same time exposing the Egyptian gods—including Pharaoh—as impotent. (Ex. 12:12) Then Jehovah opened up the Red Sea, led Israel through it, and drowned Pharaoh and his military force. (Ps. 136:13-15) In the “great and fear-inspiring wilderness,” Jehovah proved to be a Preserver of life as he provided food and water for his people, perhaps numbering from two to three million or more! He even caused their garments and their sandals not to wear out. (Deut. 1:19; 29:5) Yes, nothing can stop Jehovah from proving true to his incomparable name. He later stated to Isaiah: “I—I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior.”—Isa. 43:11.

^ ***w04 3/15 p. 25 par. 7 Highlights From the Book of Exodus***

7:1—How was Moses made “God to Pharaoh”? Moses was given divine power and authority over Pharaoh. Hence, there was no need to be afraid of that king.

^ ***w12 3/15 pp. 26-27 Do Not Look at “the Things Behind”***

8 Can you imagine the joy the Israelites felt as they marched out of the land of their slavery as free people? In a spectacular way, they had witnessed Jehovah’s power when he brought the Ten Plagues upon haughty Pharaoh and his people. (Read Exodus 6:1, 6, 7.) In fact, not only did the Egyptians finally allow the Israelites to go free but the Egyptians urged them to go, giving them so much gold and silver that it could be said that God’s people “stripped the Egyptians.” (Ex. 12:33-36) The Israelites further rejoiced when they saw the destruction of Pharaoh and his military forces in the Red Sea. (Ex. 14:30, 31) How faith-strengthening it should have been to witness such exciting events!

9 Unbelievably, though, within a short time of their miraculous deliverance, these same people began to grumble and murmur. About what? Food! They became dissatisfied with what Jehovah supplied and complained: “How we remember the fish that we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers and the watermelons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic! But now our soul is dried away. Our eyes are on nothing at all except the manna.” (Num. 11:5, 6) Yes, their viewpoint had become distorted—so much so that they even wanted to return to the land of their slavery! (Num. 14:2-4) The Israelites looked at the things behind and lost Jehovah’s favor.—Num. 11:10.

10 What is the lesson for us today? When faced with difficulties and problems, let us not fixate on what may appear to have been positive things in the past—perhaps even before we came to a knowledge of the truth. Although it is not wrong to meditate on the lessons we have learned from past experiences or to savor cherished memories, we need to maintain a balanced, realistic view of the past. Otherwise, we could accentuate our dissatisfaction with our present circumstances and be tempted to return to our former way of life.—Read 2 Peter 2:20-22.

^ ***w96 6/15 pp. 10-11 Mounting Up With Wings Like Eagles***

In the Shadow of an Eagle’s Wings

One of the most dangerous periods of an eagle’s life is when it learns to fly. Not a few eagles die in the attempt. The fledgling Israelite nation was also in danger when it departed from Egypt. Thus the words of Jehovah to the Israelites were most fitting: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, that I might carry you on wings of eagles and bring you to myself.” (Exodus 19:4) There are reports of eagles briefly carrying a young bird on its back so that the young one would not crash in its initial attempts to fly. G. R. Driver, commenting in the Palestine Exploration Quarterly on such reports, said: “The [Biblical] picture then is not a mere flight of fancy but is based on actual fact.”

Eagles are exemplary parents in other ways too. Not only do they provide the nestling with regular meals but the mother bird also carefully chops up the meat the male eagle brings to the nest so that the eaglet can swallow it. As their nests are usually built on cliffs or in tall trees, the young birds are exposed to the elements. (Job 39:27, 28) The scorching sun, common to Bible lands, could cause the death of the young bird were it not for the care of its parents. The adult eagle spreads out its wings, sometimes for hours at a time, in order to shade its tender nestling.

Thus it is very appropriate that the wings of an eagle are used in the Scriptures as a symbol of divine protection. Deuteronomy 32:9-12 describes how Jehovah protected the Israelites during their wilderness trek: “For Jehovah’s share is his people; Jacob is the allotment that he inherits. He came to find him in a wilderness land, and in an empty, howling desert. He began to encircle him, to take care of him, to safeguard him as the pupil of his eye. Just as an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its fledglings, spreads out its wings, takes them, carries them on its pinions, Jehovah alone kept leading him.” Jehovah will give us the same loving protection if we trust in him.

^ ***w04 3/15 p. 27 par. 1 Highlights From the Book of Exodus***

Scriptural Questions Answered:

20:5—How is it that Jehovah brings “punishment for the error of fathers” upon future generations? After reaching an age of responsibility, each individual is judged on the basis of his own conduct and attitude. But when the nation of Israel turned to idolatry, it suffered the consequences of this for generations thereafter. Even the faithful Israelites felt its effects in that the nation’s religious delinquency made staying on a course of integrity difficult for them.

^ (Ex. 23:1-26:37)

“You must not spread a report that is not true. Do not cooperate with a wicked one by becoming a malicious witness. 2 You must not follow after the crowd to do evil, and you must not pervert justice by giving testimony to go along with the crowd. 3 You must show impartiality in the dispute of a poor person. 4 “If you come upon your enemy’s bull or his donkey straying, you must return it to him. 5 If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has fallen under its load, you must not ignore it and leave. You must help him release the animal. 6 “You are not to pervert the judgment of the poor one among you in his legal case. 7 “Have nothing to do with a false accusation, and do not kill the innocent and the righteous, for I will not declare the wicked one righteous. 8 “You must not accept a bribe, for the bribe blinds clear-sighted men and can distort the words of righteous men. 9 “You must not oppress a foreign resident. You know how it feels to be a foreigner, because you were foreign residents in the land of Egypt. 10 “You are to sow your land with seed and gather its produce for six years. 11 But the seventh year you should leave it uncultivated and let it lie fallow, and the poor among your people will eat of it, and what they leave, the wild animals of the field will eat. That is what you should do with your vineyard and your olive grove. 12 “Six days you are to do your work; but on the seventh day, you are to cease from your labor, in order that your bull and your donkey may rest and the son of your slave girl and the foreign resident may refresh themselves. 13 “You must be careful to do all that I have said to you, and you must not mention the names of other gods; they should not be heard on your lips. 14 “Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me. 15 You will observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. You will eat unleavened bread for seven days, just as I have commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of A′bib, for at that time you came out of Egypt. No one is to appear before me empty-handed. 16 Also, you are to observe the Festival of Harvest of the first ripe fruits of your labors, of what you sow in the field; and the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the results of your labors. 17 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the true Lord, Jehovah. 18 “You must not offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened. And the sacrifices of fat offered at my festivals should not stay overnight until the morning. 19 “You are to bring the best of the first ripe fruits of your ground to the house of Jehovah your God. “You must not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. 20 “I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you on the way and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. 21 Pay attention to him, and obey his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, because my name is in him. 22 However, if you strictly obey his voice and do all that I say, I will show hostility to your enemies and oppose those who oppose you. 23 For my angel will go ahead of you and will bring you to the Am′or·ites, the Hit′tites, the Per′iz·zites, the Ca′naan·ites, the Hi′vites, and the Jeb′u·sites, and I will annihilate them. 24 You must not bow down to their gods or be persuaded to serve them, and you must not imitate their practices. Instead, you must demolish them and smash their sacred pillars. 25 You must serve Jehovah your God, and he will bless your bread and your water. I will remove sickness from among you. 26 The women in your land will not suffer a miscarriage or be barren, and I will give you a full life span. 27 “I will send the fear of me ahead of you, and I will throw into confusion all the people you encounter, and I will cause all your enemies to flee from you in defeat. 28 I will send the feeling of dejection ahead of you, and it will drive the Hi′vites, the Ca′naan·ites, and the Hit′tites out from before you. 29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, so that the land does not become desolate and the wild animals of the field multiply against you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land. 31 “I will set your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea of the Phi·lis′tines and from the wilderness to the River; for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive them out from before you. 32 You must not make a covenant with them or their gods. 33 They should not dwell in your land, so that they may not cause you to sin against me. If you should serve their gods, it would surely become a snare to you.”

24 Then he said to Moses: “Go up to Jehovah, you and Aaron, Na′dab and A·bi′hu, and 70 of the elders of Israel, and bow down from a distance. 2 Moses should approach Jehovah by himself; but the others should not approach, and the people should not go up with him.” 3 Then Moses came and related to the people all the words of Jehovah and all the judicial decisions, and all the people answered with one voice: “All the words that Jehovah has spoken, we are willing to do.” 4 So Moses wrote down all the words of Jehovah. Then he got up early in the morning and built at the foot of the mountain an altar and 12 pillars corresponding to the 12 tribes of Israel. 5 After that he sent young Israelite men, and they offered up burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as communion sacrifices to Jehovah. 6 Then Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took the book of the covenant and read it aloud to the people. And they said: “All that Jehovah has spoken we are willing to do, and we will be obedient.” 8 So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said: “This is the blood of the covenant that Jehovah has made with you in harmony with all these words.” 9 Moses and Aaron, Na′dab and A·bi′hu, and 70 of the elders of Israel went up, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was what seemed like a sapphire pavement, and it was as pure as the heavens themselves. 11 He did not harm the distinguished men of Israel, and they saw a vision of the true God and ate and drank. 12 Jehovah now said to Moses: “Come up to me on the mountain and stay there. I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment that I will write for their instruction.” 13 So Moses got up with his attendant Joshua, and Moses went up the mountain of the true God. 14 But to the elders he had said: “Wait here for us until we return to you. You have Aaron and Hur with you. Whoever has a legal case may go to them.” 15 Then Moses went up the mountain while the cloud was covering it. 16 Jehovah’s glory remained on Mount Si′nai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day he called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 17 To the Israelites who were watching, the appearance of Jehovah’s glory was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop. 18 Moses then entered into the cloud and went up the mountain. And Moses stayed on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights.

25 Jehovah then said to Moses: 2 “Tell the people of Israel to take up a contribution for me; from every person whose heart moves him, you are to take up my contribution. 3 This is the contribution that you are to accept from them: gold, silver, copper, 4 blue thread, purple wool, scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, 5 ram skins dyed red, sealskins, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, balsam for the anointing oil and the perfumed incense, 7 and onyx stones and other stones to be set in the eph′od and the breastpiece. 8 They are to make a sanctuary for me, and I will reside among them. 9 You are to make it, the tabernacle and all its furnishings, following exactly the pattern that I am showing you. 10 “They are to make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide and a cubit and a half high. 11 Then you will overlay it with pure gold. Inside and outside you are to overlay it, and you will make a border of gold all around it. 12 And you will cast four rings of gold for it and attach them above its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. 13 And you will make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 You will put the poles through the rings on the sides of the Ark in order to carry the Ark with them. 15 The poles will stay in the rings of the Ark; they are not to be removed from it. 16 You will place in the Ark the Testimony that I will give you. 17 “You will make a cover of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 You are to make two cherubs of gold; you will make them of hammered work on the two ends of the cover. 19 Make the cherubs on the two ends, one cherub on each end of the cover. 20 The cherubs are to spread out their two wings upward, overshadowing the cover with their wings, and they will face each other. The faces of the cherubs will be turned toward the cover. 21 You will put the cover on the Ark, and in the Ark you will place the Testimony that I will give you. 22 I will present myself to you there and speak with you from above the cover. From between the two cherubs that are on the ark of the Testimony, I will make known to you all that I will command you for the Israelites. 23 “You will also make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long and a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. 24 You will overlay it with pure gold and make a golden border around it. 25 You will make a rim around it a handbreadth wide and a border of gold to go around the rim. 26 You will make for it four rings of gold and place the rings on the four corners, where the four legs are attached. 27 The rings are to be close to the rim as holders for the poles for carrying the table. 28 You will make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold and carry the table with them. 29 “You will also make its dishes, its cups, its pitchers, and its bowls from which they will pour drink offerings. You are to make them out of pure gold. 30 And you will put the showbread on the table before me constantly. 31 “You will make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand is to be made of hammered work. Its base, its stem, its branches, its cups, its knobs, and its blossoms will be one piece. 32 And six branches will extend out from the sides of the lampstand, three branches from one side and three branches from the other side. 33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers will be on the one set of branches, with knobs and blossoms alternating, and three cups shaped like almond flowers on the other set of branches, with knobs and blossoms alternating. This is how the six branches will extend out from the stem of the lampstand. 34 On the stem of the lampstand are four cups shaped like almond flowers, with its knobs and its blossoms alternating. 35 A knob will be under the first two branches that extend out of the stem and a knob under the next two branches and a knob under the next two branches, for the six branches extending out from the stem. 36 The knobs and the branches and the whole lampstand are to be one piece of pure, hammered gold. 37 You will make seven lamps for it, and when the lamps are lit, they will shine on the area in front of it. 38 Its snuffers and its fire holders are to be of pure gold. 39 It should be made, along with these utensils, from a talent of pure gold. 40 See that you make them after their pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.

26 “You are to make the tabernacle with ten tent cloths of fine twisted linen, blue thread, purple wool, and scarlet material. You are to make them with embroidered cherub designs. 2 Each tent cloth will be 28 cubits long and 4 cubits wide. All the tent cloths are to be the same size. 3 Five tent cloths are to be joined one to another to form a series, and the other five tent cloths will be joined in a series. 4 You will make loops of blue thread on the edge of the one tent cloth at the end of the series, and you are to do the same on the outermost edge of the other set where it will join. 5 You will make 50 loops on the one tent cloth and 50 loops on the edge of the other tent cloth so that they will be opposite each other where they join. 6 You are to make 50 gold clasps and join the tent cloths together with the clasps, and the tabernacle will form one unit. 7 “You will also make cloths of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle. You will make 11 tent cloths. 8 Each tent cloth will be 30 cubits long and 4 cubits wide. All 11 tent cloths are to be the same size. 9 You are to join five of the tent cloths together and join the other six tent cloths together, and you are to fold over the sixth tent cloth at the front of the tent. 10 And you are to make 50 loops on the edge of the one tent cloth, the outermost one in the series, and 50 loops on the edge of the tent cloth at the other place where they join. 11 You are to make 50 copper clasps and put the clasps in the loops and join the tent together, and it will become one unit. 12 The remaining part of the tent cloths will serve as an overhanging. Half of the tent cloth that remains will hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 The remaining length of the cloths of the tent will serve as an overhanging for the tabernacle by one cubit on each side, in order to cover it. 14 “You will also make a covering for the tent of ram skins dyed red and over that a covering of sealskins. 15 “You will make the panel frames for the tabernacle out of acacia wood standing upright. 16 Each panel frame is to be ten cubits high and a cubit and a half wide. 17 Each panel frame has two tenons joined to each other. That is how you should make all the panel frames of the tabernacle. 18 You are to make 20 panel frames for the south side of the tabernacle, facing south. 19 “You will make 40 silver socket pedestals under the 20 panel frames: two socket pedestals under the one panel frame for its two tenons and two socket pedestals under each following panel frame for its two tenons. 20 For the other side of the tabernacle, the northern side, make 20 panel frames 21 and their 40 silver socket pedestals, two socket pedestals under one panel frame and two socket pedestals under each following panel frame. 22 For the rear section of the tabernacle to the west, you will make six panel frames. 23 You will make two panel frames to serve as the two rear corner posts of the tabernacle. 24 They should be doubled from the bottom to the top, up to the first ring. This should be done for both of them, and they will form the two corner posts. 25 And there will be eight panel frames and their 16 silver socket pedestals, two socket pedestals under the one panel frame and two socket pedestals under each following panel frame. 26 “You will make bars of acacia wood, five for the panel frames of the one side of the tabernacle, 27 and five bars for the panel frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the panel frames of the side of the tabernacle to the west, for the rear section. 28 The middle bar that runs along the center of the panel frames should extend from end to end. 29 “You will overlay the panel frames with gold, and you will make their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and you will overlay the bars with gold. 30 You must set up the tabernacle according to its plan that you were shown in the mountain. 31 “You are to make a curtain of blue thread, purple wool, scarlet material, and fine twisted linen. It will be made with cherubs embroidered on it. 32 You will hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold. Their hooks are to be of gold. The pillars are set on four socket pedestals of silver. 33 You will hang the curtain under the clasps and bring the ark of the Testimony there within the curtain. The curtain will make a division for you between the Holy and the Most Holy. 34 You must put the cover on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy. 35 “You will place the table outside the curtain, with the lampstand opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle; and the table you will put on the north side. 36 You will make a screen for the entrance of the tent out of blue thread, purple wool, scarlet material, and fine twisted linen woven together. 37 You will make five pillars of acacia for the screen and overlay them with gold. Their hooks are to be of gold, and you will cast five socket pedestals of copper for them.

^ (Ex. 25:1-22)

Jehovah then said to Moses: 2 “Tell the people of Israel to take up a contribution for me; from every person whose heart moves him, you are to take up my contribution. 3 This is the contribution that you are to accept from them: gold, silver, copper, 4 blue thread, purple wool, scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, 5 ram skins dyed red, sealskins, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, balsam for the anointing oil and the perfumed incense, 7 and onyx stones and other stones to be set in the eph′od and the breastpiece. 8 They are to make a sanctuary for me, and I will reside among them. 9 You are to make it, the tabernacle and all its furnishings, following exactly the pattern that I am showing you. 10 “They are to make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide and a cubit and a half high. 11 Then you will overlay it with pure gold. Inside and outside you are to overlay it, and you will make a border of gold all around it. 12 And you will cast four rings of gold for it and attach them above its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. 13 And you will make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 You will put the poles through the rings on the sides of the Ark in order to carry the Ark with them. 15 The poles will stay in the rings of the Ark; they are not to be removed from it. 16 You will place in the Ark the Testimony that I will give you. 17 “You will make a cover of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 You are to make two cherubs of gold; you will make them of hammered work on the two ends of the cover. 19 Make the cherubs on the two ends, one cherub on each end of the cover. 20 The cherubs are to spread out their two wings upward, overshadowing the cover with their wings, and they will face each other. The faces of the cherubs will be turned toward the cover. 21 You will put the cover on the Ark, and in the Ark you will place the Testimony that I will give you. 22 I will present myself to you there and speak with you from above the cover. From between the two cherubs that are on the ark of the Testimony, I will make known to you all that I will command you for the Israelites.

^ ***sn pp. 42-43 Fear Them Not!***

Song 33

Fear Them Not!

(Matthew 10:28)

1. Ever onward, O my people,

Let the Kingdom tidings go.

Tremble not before our foe.

Let all lovers of truth know

That my reigning Son, Christ Jesus,

To the earth has cast the foe,

Soon to bind the Devil, Satan,

Letting all his victims go.

(CHORUS)

Fear them not, O my beloved,

Though their boasting threats may fly.

I will keep my faithful servant

As the apple of my eye.

2. Even though your foes are many,

Though they threaten and revile,

Though they flatter and they smile,

To mislead and to beguile.

Fear them not, my faithful warriors,

Nor their persecution’s heat,

For I will preserve the faithful

Till the vict’ry is complete.

(CHORUS)

Fear them not, O my beloved,

Though their boasting threats may fly.

I will keep my faithful servant

As the apple of my eye.

3. Never fear you are forgotten;

I am still your strength and shield.

Though you die upon the field,

Even death to me will yield.

Fear them not who kill the body

But cannot destroy the soul.

To the end may you be faithful;

I will bring you to your goal!

(CHORUS)

Fear them not, O my beloved,

Though their boasting threats may fly.

I will keep my faithful servant

As the apple of my eye.

(See also Deut. 32:10; Neh. 4:14; Ps. 59:1; 83:2, 3.)

^ ***cl pp. 64-66 Destructive Power—“Jehovah Is a Manly Person of War”***

Fighting in Behalf of His People

16 Does Jehovah’s interest in defending his name mean that he is cold and self-centered? No, for by acting in accord with his holiness and love of justice, he protects his people. Consider Genesis chapter 14. There we read of four invading kings who kidnapped Abraham’s nephew Lot, along with Lot’s family. With God’s help, Abraham executed a stunning defeat of vastly superior forces! The account of this victory was likely the first entry in “the book of the Wars of Jehovah,” evidently a book that also documented some military encounters that are not recorded in the Bible. (Numbers 21:14) Many more victories were to follow.

17 Shortly before the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, Moses assured them: “Jehovah your God is the one going before you. He will fight for you according to all that he did with you in Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 1:30; 20:1) Starting with Moses’ successor, Joshua, and continuing on through the period of the Judges and the reigns of the faithful kings of Judah, Jehovah indeed fought for his people, giving them many dramatic victories over their enemies.—Joshua 10:1-14; Judges 4:12-17; 2 Samuel 5:17-21.

18 Jehovah has not changed; nor has his purpose to make this planet a peaceful paradise changed. (Genesis 1:27, 28) God still hates wickedness. At the same time, he dearly loves his people and will soon act in their behalf. (Psalm 11:7) In fact, the enmity described at Genesis 3:15 is expected to reach a dramatic and violent turning point in the near future. To sanctify his name and protect his people, Jehovah will once again become “a manly person of war”!—Zechariah 14:3; Revelation 16:14, 16.

19 Consider an illustration: Suppose that a man’s family was being attacked by a vicious animal and that the man jumped into the fray and killed the violent beast. Would you expect his wife and children to be repelled by this act? On the contrary, you would expect them to be moved by his selfless love for them. In a similar way, we should not be repelled by God’s use of destructive power. His willingness to fight to protect us should increase our love for him. Our respect for his unlimited power should deepen as well. Thus, we can “render God sacred service with godly fear and awe.”—Hebrews 12:28.

Draw Close to the “Manly Person of War”

20 Of course, the Bible does not in each case explain all the details of Jehovah’s decisions regarding divine warfare. But of this we can always be certain: Jehovah never wields destructive power in an unjust, wanton, or cruel manner. Oftentimes, considering the context of a Bible account or some background information can help us to put things into perspective. (Proverbs 18:13) Even when we do not have all the details, simply learning more about Jehovah and meditating upon his precious qualities can help us to resolve any doubts that might arise. When we do this, we come to see that we have ample reason to trust our God, Jehovah.—Job 34:12.

21 Although Jehovah is “a manly person of war” when the situation demands it, this does not mean that he is warlike at heart. In Ezekiel’s vision of the celestial chariot, Jehovah is pictured as being prepared to fight against his enemies. Yet, Ezekiel saw God surrounded by a rainbow—a symbol of peace. (Genesis 9:13; Ezekiel 1:28; Revelation 4:3) Clearly, Jehovah is calm and peaceable. “God is love,” wrote the apostle John. (1 John 4:8) All of Jehovah’s qualities exist in perfect balance. How privileged we are, then, to be able to draw close to such a powerful yet loving God!

^ ***cl p. 65 Destructive Power—“Jehovah Is a Manly Person of War”***

Questions for Meditation

2 Kings 6:8-17 How can God’s role as “Jehovah of armies” prove encouraging to us during times of distress?

Ezekiel 33:10-20 Before Jehovah resorts to destructive power, what opportunity does he mercifully extend to those who transgress his law?

2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 How will the coming destruction of wicked people bring relief to faithful servants of God?

2 Peter 2:4-13 What moves Jehovah to wield his destructive power, providing what lessons for all mankind?

^ ***rs p. 346 par. 4-p. 347 par. 2 Sabbath***

Was the requirement of sabbath keeping given to Adam and thus made binding on all of his offspring?

Jehovah God proceeded to rest as to his works of material, earthly creation after preparing the earth for human habitation. This is stated at Genesis 2:1-3. But nothing in the Bible record says that God directed Adam to keep the seventh day of each week as a sabbath.

Deut. 5:15: “You must remember that you [Israel] became a slave in the land of Egypt and Jehovah your God proceeded to bring you out from there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. That is why Jehovah your God commanded you to carry on the sabbath day.” (Here Jehovah connects his giving of the sabbath law with Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt, not with events in Eden.)

Ex. 16:1, 23-29: “The entire assembly of the sons of Israel finally came to the wilderness of Sin . . . on the fifteenth day of the second month after their coming out of the land of Egypt. . . . [Moses] said to them: ‘It is what Jehovah has spoken. Tomorrow there will be a sabbath observance of a holy sabbath to Jehovah. . . . Six days you will pick [the manna] up, but on the seventh day is a sabbath. On it none will form.’ . . . Jehovah said to Moses: . . . ‘Mark the fact that Jehovah has given you the sabbath.’” (Prior to this, there had been a marking off of weeks of seven days each, but this is the first reference to a sabbath observance.)

^ ***it-1 pp. 28-29 Abraham***

(A′bra·ham) [Father of a Crowd (Multitude)].

The name given by Jehovah to Abram (meaning “Father Is High (Exalted)”) when he was 99 years old, and when God was reaffirming His promise that Abraham’s offspring would become many.—Ge 17:5.

Family Origin and Early History. Abraham was the tenth generation from Noah through Shem and was born 352 years after the Deluge, in 2018 B.C.E. Although listed first among the three sons of Terah, at Genesis 11:26, Abraham was not the firstborn. The Scriptures show that Terah was 70 years old when his first son was born, and that Abraham was born 60 years later when his father Terah was 130 years old. (Ge 11:32; 12:4) Evidently Abraham is listed first among his father’s sons because of his outstanding faithfulness and prominence in the Scriptures, a practice that is followed in the case of several other outstanding men of faith such as Shem and Isaac.—Ge 5:32; 11:10; 1Ch 1:28.

Abraham was a native of the Chaldean city of Ur, a thriving metropolis located in the land of Shinar, near the present junction of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. It was about 240 km (150 mi) SE of Nimrod’s onetime royal city of Babel, or Babylon, so notorious for its unfinished Tower of Babel.

In Abraham’s time, the city of Ur was steeped in Babylonish idolatry and the worship of its patron moon-god Sin. (Jos 24:2, 14, 15) Nevertheless, Abraham proved to be a man of faith in Jehovah God, even as his forefathers Shem and Noah; and as a consequence, he earned the reputation “the father of all those having faith while in uncircumcision.” (Ro 4:11) Since true faith is based on accurate knowledge, Abraham may have received his understanding by personal association with Shem (their lives overlapped by 150 years). Abraham knew and used the name of Jehovah; to quote him: “Jehovah the Most High God, Producer of heaven and earth,” “Jehovah, the God of the heavens and the God of the earth.”—Ge 14:22; 24:3.

While Abraham was still living in Ur, “before he took up residence in Haran,” Jehovah commanded him to move out to a strange land, leaving behind friends and relatives. (Ac 7:2-4; Ge 15:7; Ne 9:7) There in that country that He would show Abraham, God said he would make out of him a great nation. At the time, Abraham was married to his half sister Sarah, but they were childless and both were old. So it would take great faith to obey, but obey he did.

Terah, now around 200 years old and still the family’s patriarchal head, agreed to accompany Abraham and Sarah on this long journey, and it is for this reason that Terah as father is credited with making the move toward Canaan. (Ge 11:31) It appears that fatherless Lot, Abraham’s nephew, was adopted by his childless uncle and aunt and so accompanied them. Northwestward the caravan moved, some 960 km (600 mi), until they reached Haran, which was an important junction on the E-W trade routes. Haran is located where two wadis join to form a stream that reaches the Balikh River in the winter, about 110 km (68 mi) above where the Balikh empties into the Euphrates River. Here Abraham remained until the death of his father Terah.—MAP, Vol. 1, p. 330.

^ ***sn p. 138 We Must Be Taught***

Song 117

We Must Be Taught

(Isaiah 50:4; 54:13)

1. Come with rejoicing, and learn about Jehovah.

“Come drink life’s water,” the spirit has said.

Healthful instruction, God has provided.

All those who hunger for truth will be fed.

2. Never forsaking our gathering together,

We must be taught; we must learn what is right.

Here with God’s spirit, here with our brothers,

Here we are strengthened to walk in the light.

3. Lips that sing praise, how encouraging to hear them!

Tongues of the taught ones, how sweet is their sound!

Oh, may we always meet with God’s people!

Oh, may we always among them be found!

(See also Heb. 10:24, 25; Rev. 22:17.)

^ ***sn p. 122 “From House to House”***

Song 103

“From House to House”

(Acts 20:20)

1. From house to house, from door to door,

Jehovah’s word we spread.

From town to town, from farm to farm,

Jehovah’s sheep are fed.

This good news that God’s Kingdom rules,

As Jesus Christ foretold,

Is being preached throughout the earth

By Christians young and old.

2. From house to house, from door to door,

Salvation we proclaim.

It comes to those who choose to call

Upon Jehovah’s name.

But how can they call on the name

Of One they do not know?

So to their houses and their doors,

The sacred name must go.

3. So let us go from door to door

To spread the Kingdom news.

And whether it’s embraced or not,

We’ll let the people choose.

At least we’ll name Jehovah’s name,

His glorious truth declare.

And as we go from door to door,

We’ll find his sheep are there.

(See also Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:14.)