1, 2. (a) Why do many find it difficult to trust those in authority? b) What will we see in this article?
Many today find it hard to trust anyone in authority. Why? Because they see that laws and politics generally favor the rich and powerful, but the poor are treated unfairly. No wonder the Bible says: “Man has dominated man to his own harm” (Eccl. 8:9). Also, the conduct of some religious leaders leaves much to be desired, and this has caused some people to lose trust in God. So we need to help our Bible students learn to trust God and those he has appointed to lead us here on earth.
Of course, students are not the only ones who need to learn to trust Jehovah and his organization. Those of us who have been in the truth for many years have to continue trusting that Jehovah's way of doing things is always the best, since situations may arise that put our faith to the test. In this article we will look at three of them. First, when we read certain stories from the Bible. Second, when we receive instructions from Jehovah's organization. And, third, when we face tests in the future.
WE TRUST JEHOVAH WHEN WE READ THE BIBLE
3. Why can some stories in the Bible test our trust in Jehovah?
As we read the Bible, we may wonder why Jehovah treated some people in a certain way or why he made certain decisions. For example, in the book of Numbers we read that Jehovah sentenced an Israelite to death for gathering firewood on the Sabbath. But in the Second Book of Samuel we read that, centuries later, Jehovah forgave King David even though he had committed adultery and murder (Num. 15:32, 35; 2 Sam. 12:9, 13). We may wonder, “Why did Jehovah forgive David such serious sins, but he condemned the other man for a sin that did not seem so serious?” Let's look at three factors that we must take into account when reading the Bible.
4. How do Genesis 18:20, 21 and Deuteronomy 10:17 help us trust in Jehovah's decisions?
The Bible does not always give all the details. For example, we know that David truly repented of everything he did (Ps. 51:2-4). But what kind of person was the man who disobeyed the Sabbath law? Was he sorry for what he had done? Had he disobeyed Jehovah on other occasions? He had received warnings, but he had ignored or even rejected them? The Bible doesn't say. However, we can be sure that Jehovah “never commits injustice” (Deut. 32:4). Human beings often make mistakes in judging because we get carried away by things like the opinion of others or prejudices. But Jehovah is not like that, he takes into account all the facts (read Genesis 18:20, 21; Deuteronomy 10:17).The more we know Jehovah and his rules, the more we will trust his decisions. So, if reading the Bible raises questions that we cannot answer right now, what we know about Jehovah is more than enough to trust that he “is righteous in all his ways” (Ps. 145:17).
5. What effect does imperfection have on our sense of justice? (See the sidebar “Imperfection Clouds Our Sense of Justice.”)
Imperfection clouds our sense of justice. Since God made us in his image, we do not like injustice (Gen. 1:26). But, because we are imperfect, we can make mistakes in judgment, even when we think we have all the information. Let us remember, for example, what happened to Jonah. He was very angry when Jehovah decided to show mercy to the people of Nineveh (Jon. 3:10-4:1). However, thanks to Jehovah's decision, more than 120,000 Ninevites were saved. In the end, it was Jonah who was wrong, not Jehovah.
Imperfection clouds our sense of justice
ILLUSTRATION:
A man with foggy glasses that prevent him from seeing his surroundings clearly.
Because we are imperfect, we are sometimes harsher or more forgiving than Jehovah (1 Sam. 16:7). That can make us question the way he does things. Our situation is similar to that of someone who has fogged up glasses: no matter how hard he tries, he cannot see things clearly. Similarly, imperfection can cloud our sense of justice and make it hard for us to understand why Jehovah does things the way he does. When that happens, it is our way of seeing things that is wrong, not Jehovah's (Ezek. 18:29).
6. Why is Jehovah not obliged to explain to us?
Jehovah does not owe us human beings explanations. It is true that in the past Jehovah allowed some of his servants to weigh in on decisions he had made or was about to make (Gen. 18:25; Jon. 4:2, 3). And, sometimes, he explained why he had made a certain decision (Jon. 4:10, 11). But he is under no obligation to explain to us why he does things. He is our Creator and he does not need our approval to do anything, neither before nor after doing it (Is. 40:13, 14; 55:9).
TRUST JEHOVAH WHEN RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS
7. Whom might we have a hard time trusting, and why?
Surely we are convinced that Jehovah always does the right thing. But we may have a hard time trusting his representatives here on Earth. We may wonder if they are doing things Jehovah's way or their own. That may have happened to some people in biblical times. Consider the examples in paragraph 3. A relative of the man who violated the Sabbath law may have wondered if Moses consulted Jehovah before sentence was pronounced. Something similar may have happened to a friend of Uriah the Hittite. David had committed adultery with Uriah's wife, and that friend may have wondered if David had taken advantage of his position as king to escape the punishment he deserved. The reality is this: we cannot say that we trust Jehovah if we do not trust his representatives on earth, whom he trusts.
8. What similarity is there between what is mentioned at Acts 16:4, 5 and the way the congregation functions today?
Today, Jehovah uses the “faithful and wise slave” to direct the earthly part of his organization.— Matt. 24:45. Like the governing body of the first century, this slave directs the worldwide work and gives instructions to the elders of the congregations (read Acts 16:4, 5). And the elders see to it that these instructions are followed in the congregations. If we follow the instructions of the organization and the elders, we will show that we trust Jehovah's way of doing things.
9. When might it be difficult for us to support the elders' decisions, and why?
Sometimes we may find it difficult to support the decisions of the elders. For example, in recent years many congregations and circuits have been reorganized. In some cases, to make better use of Kingdom Hall space, the elders have asked some publishers to change congregations. If that happened to us, it might be difficult for us to leave our family and friends. Does Jehovah tell the elders where each publisher is to go? No. And maybe that's exactly why it's hard for us to follow the instructions they give us. But Jehovah trusts his decisions, and so should we. *
10. According to Hebrews 13:17, why should we support the elderly?
Why should we support elders' decisions even when we don't like them? Because when we do, we maintain the unity of God's people (Eph. 4:2, 3). Also, the congregation benefits when we are all humble and accept the decisions of the elders (read Hebrews 13:17). More importantly, because in this way we show Jehovah that we trust him, since he has appointed the elders to take care of us (Acts 20:28).
11. What can help us to trust more in the guidance of the elders?
What can help us trust more in the guidance of the elders? Remember that they ask Jehovah for holy spirit when they are going to make decisions that have to do with the congregation. They also take into account biblical principles and the organization's instructions. They sincerely want to please Jehovah and give the best possible care to the brothers. These faithful men know that God will hold them accountable for the way they do their work (1 Pet. 5:2, 3). Consider this: In a world divided by racism, religion, and politics, we stand united in serving the one true God. This is clear proof that Jehovah blesses his organization.
12. What questions should the elders discuss to know if a person is repentant?
Jehovah has given the elders a serious responsibility to keep the congregation clean. Thus, if a Christian commits a serious sin, Jehovah expects the elders to decide whether he can remain a part of the congregation. Among other things, they have to find out if the person is really sorry. They must analyze questions such as the following: although that person affirms that he is sorry, does he really hate what he did? Is she determined not to commit that sin again? If her bad friends led her to sin, is she willing to cut them off? The elders pray to Jehovah, analyze the facts according to what the Bible says, and take into account the attitude that the person shows towards what he did. They then decide whether he can remain in the congregation or not. Depending on the case, the sinner may need to be expelled (1 Cor. 5:11-13).
13. What might concern us if a family member or friend of ours is expelled?
If someone who is not our friend or relative is expelled, we may readily accept the decision of the elders. But what if they expel someone who is very close to us? Then our trust in the elderly could be tested. We may worry that they did not consider all the factors or that they did not judge the matter Jehovah's way. What will help us view the decision of the elders with the right attitude?
14. What should we remember if the elders decide to expel a family member or friend of ours?
We must remember that the expulsion is a measure that Jehovah has established for the good of the congregation and the sinner. If someone who has not repented were allowed to remain in the congregation, this person would be a bad influence (Gal. 5:9). Furthermore, he may not realize the seriousness of his sin and that he has to change his way of thinking and acting in order to regain his friendship with Jehovah (Eccl. 8:11). We can be sure that the elders take very seriously their responsibility to decide whether someone should be expelled or not. Like the judges of ancient Israel, they know that “they do not judge for any man, but for Jehovah” (2 Chron. 19:6, 7).
TRUSTING JEHOVAH NOW PREPARES US FOR THE FUTURE
15. Why do we need to trust in Jehovah's guidance today more than ever?
The end of this system is getting closer. Therefore, today more than ever we have to trust in Jehovah's way of doing things. This is because during the Apocalypse we may receive instructions that seem strange, impractical, or illogical. Of course, Jehovah will not speak directly to us. He will probably use his representatives here on Earth to give us instructions. That will not be the time to doubt and wonder if those instructions come from Jehovah or if the responsible brothers are doing things his way. Will we trust Jehovah and his organization at such an important time in history? How we react now to the organization's guidance will help us know the answer. If we trust the instructions we receive now and obey them right away, we will probably do the same during the great tribulation (Luke 16:10).
ILLUSTRATION:
A group of brothers and sisters gathered in a basement. As one brother gives instructions, another looks at him skeptically.
What will help us trust and obey the instructions we receive during the Apocalypse? (See paragraph 15).
16. How will our trust in Jehovah’s decisions soon be tested?
There is another matter on which we must ponder: how will our reaction be when Jehovah judges the people at the end of this system? Now we hope that many of those who do not serve Jehovah, including some of our relatives, will decide to do so before the end comes. But at Armageddon it will be Jehovah, through Jesus, who decides what will happen to them (Matt. 25:31-33; 2 Thess. 1:7-9). It will not be up to us to decide who will receive Jehovah's mercy and who will not (Matt. 25:34, 41, 46). Will we trust Jehovah, or will we turn our backs on him because we disagree with what he has decided? It is clear: we need to strengthen our trust in Jehovah now so that we can fully trust him in the future.
17. What will be the results of Jehovah's decisions at the end of this system?
Imagine how we will feel in the new world when we see the results of Jehovah's righteous decisions. Neither the false religion nor the greedy commercial system nor the governments that oppress and make people suffer will exist anymore. Health problems, old age and the death of our loved ones will be a thing of the past. Satan and his demons will be locked up for 1,000 years. All the damage that his rebellion has caused will be gone (Rev. 20:2, 3). How happy we will feel that we have trusted Jehovah's way of doing things!
18. What lessons do we learn from the example of the Israelites mentioned at Numbers 11:4-6 and 21:5?
Will there be situations in the new world that will test our confidence in Jehovah's way of doing things? Consider what happened shortly after Jehovah freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Some began to complain that they missed the fresh food they had there and despised the manna he gave them (read Numbers 11:4-6; 21:5). Could something similar happen to us after the great tribulation? We do not know how much we will have to work to clean the Earth and gradually turn it into a paradise. There may be a lot to do and life may not be very easy at first. Will we complain about what Jehovah gives us then? The more grateful we are now for what Jehovah gives us, the more likely we will be in the future.
19. How would you summarize the main points of this article?
Jehovah's way of doing things is always correct. And we must be convinced of that. We also have to trust the people he has chosen to carry out his instructions. Let us never forget what Jehovah said through the prophet Isaiah: “Your strength from him will depend on your keeping calm and showing confidence.” —Isa. 30:15.
WHAT WILL HELP US IN THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS TO TRUST JEHOVAH'S WAY OF DOING THINGS?
When we read some stories from the Bible.
The Bible does not always give all the details. For example, we know that David truly repented of everything he did. But what kind of person was the man who disobeyed the Sabbath law? Was he sorry for what he had done? The Bible doesn't say so . However, we can be sure that Jehovah “never commits injustice.” Human beings often make mistakes in judging because we get carried away by things like the opinion of others or prejudices. But Jehovah is not like that, he takes into account all the facts.
When we receive instructions.
Surely we are convinced that Jehovah always does the right thing. But we may have a hard time trusting his representatives here on Earth. For example: David had committed adultery with Uriah's wife, and that friend may have wondered if David had taken advantage of his position as king to escape the punishment he deserved from him. The reality is this: we cannot say that we trust Jehovah if we do not trust his representatives on earth, whom he trusts.
When we face trials in the future.
Today more than ever we have to trust Jehovah's way of doing things. This is because during the Apocalypse we may receive instructions that seem strange, impractical, or illogical. Of course, Jehovah will not speak directly to us. He will probably use his representatives here on Earth to give us instructions. That will not be the time to doubt and wonder if those instructions come from Jehovah or if the responsible brothers are doing things his way.
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