“Give your servant an obedient heart” (1 Kings 3:9).
1. Why do some people tend to obey?
Some people obey because they want to avoid punishment, because others are watching them, or because they want to impress others. However, we obey Jehovah because we know that his counsel is for our good. But our obedience should not be based solely on the benefits we receive, but on a much more important reason: the love we feel for Jehovah.
2. What is the main reason why we obey Jehovah?
The primary reason we obey Jehovah is because we love him deeply. That love motivates us to be “obedient from the heart” and to do our best to apply his standards at all times, not just when others are watching or when we receive immediate benefits.
FIRST THEY OBEYED, BUT LATER THEY REBELLED
3. Why might the command to sprinkle blood on the frames have tested the Israelites' obedience? (See also the picture.)
This command may have tested their obedience because lambs were sacred animals to the Egyptians. Therefore, the Israelites may have feared retaliation from the Egyptians for sacrificing these animals. However, they trusted in Jehovah and obeyed his instructions. Thus, “they proceeded to do exactly what Jehovah had commanded them,” and Jehovah protected them by saving their firstborn.
ILLUSTRATION
An Israelite splatters blood on his doorframe while his son holds a lamp. In neighboring houses, several Israelites do the same.
The Israelites obeyed Jehovah despite possible retaliation from the Egyptians (see paragraph 3).
4. What surprising instruction did Jehovah give the Israelites?
Jehovah gave them the surprising instruction to turn around, head south, and camp between the Red Sea and the mountains. Although, from a human standpoint, this seemed like an illogical instruction, since they could be trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea, the Israelites obeyed the instructions Jehovah gave them through his servant Moses. However, when they saw the Egyptians approaching, they were “terrified” and even accused Moses of leading them to their deaths.
5. What did the Israelites not do at the Red Sea? (Psalm 106:7 and the footnote).
The Israelites did not appreciate the wonderful works Jehovah had done in Egypt, nor did they remember his loyal love. They also did not trust that he would again protect and save them. Although they crossed the Red Sea following Moses’ instructions, they did not correct their attitude of lack of faith and trust in Jehovah. For that reason, Jehovah rejected that entire generation and did not allow them to enter the Promised Land.
LESSONS FROM THE BAD EXAMPLE OF THE ISRAELITES
6. What will we do if we have an obedient heart? (Jeremiah 23:4).
If we have an obedient heart, we will trust in Jehovah and in those he has appointed to lead his people. We will follow his instructions even when we do not fully understand the reasons or when doing so provokes opposition from those who hate Jehovah. Our obedience will not depend on circumstances or immediate benefits, but on our trust in and love for Jehovah.
7. Why will it be easier for us to obey Jehovah if we strengthen our love for him?
Because when we deeply love Jehovah, our obedience will not depend on seeing immediate benefits or on the instructions being easy to follow. Rather, we will obey because we love him and trust him. That love will help us to be patient, overcome difficulties, and confidently await the good results of our obedience.
8. How did two Witnesses show that they were determined to be obedient?
The two Witnesses showed that they were determined to be obedient because they trusted in Jehovah and followed the organization's instructions, even though at first they were not convinced of its benefits.
The elderly man from Peru supported the videoconference meetings, despite thinking they wouldn't work in his region. Meanwhile, the sister from Japan accepted the dissolution of the language group she served with and decided not to criticize the change, but rather to look forward to the benefits.
9. How can we prepare ourselves to be obedient when we face opposition in the future? (See also the image.)
We can prepare ourselves by obeying the command to preach the Kingdom now, even when some people react badly or oppose our message. In this way, we will strengthen our trust in Jehovah and be ready to continue preaching with courage and obedience, even if we face much more intense opposition in the future.
ILLUSTRATION
A married couple who are preaching from house to house calmly walk away from a house where two people are furious with them.
Being obedient now prepares us to face opposition in the future (see paragraph 9).
LET US BE OBEDIENT LIKE KING JEHOSAPATH
10. How did King Jehoshaphat feel when three nations threatened him?
When he learned that three nations had united to fight against him, both King Jehoshaphat and his people were naturally afraid. However, Jehoshaphat did not allow fear to paralyze him. His example helps us today to cultivate and maintain an obedient heart.
11. What did Jehoshaphat do when he felt afraid? (2 Chronicles 20:5, 6, 10-12).
When Jehoshaphat felt afraid, he resolved to seek Jehovah. He prayed and begged for his help, acknowledging that he did not know what to do and that he needed God’s guidance and protection. Furthermore, he was willing to obey any instruction Jehovah gave him.
12. How will we strengthen our determination to obey Jehovah?
We will strengthen our resolve to obey Jehovah by increasing our Bible knowledge. The more we know about his promises, his works, and his ways, the more confidence we will have in him. This knowledge will strengthen our faith and help us to continue obeying him, even when we face difficult situations.
13. How does humility help us?
Humility helps us recognize that we need Jehovah’s guidance and support, rather than relying on our own strength or abilities. Furthermore, it enables us to more readily accept his instructions and maintain an obedient heart, regardless of the circumstances.
14. What did Jehoshaphat do when Jehovah gave him instructions?
When Jehovah gave him instructions through the prophet Jahaziel, Jehoshaphat immediately accepted them. He bowed down with his face to the ground to worship Jehovah, and the next day he encouraged the people to have faith in Jehovah and his prophets. In this way, he demonstrated his trust in and obedience to God.
15. How did Jehoshaphat demonstrate that he was a man of great faith?
Jehoshaphat proved himself a man of great faith because he fully trusted that Jehovah would keep his promise and fight for his people. Furthermore, he encouraged others to trust in Jehovah and, together with them, selected men to go before the army singing praises to God. In this way, he demonstrated his trust in Jehovah and his obedience to his instructions, even before seeing how he would save them.
16. What can those in authority learn from Jehoshaphat? (1 Kings 3:9; see also the picture.)
Those in positions of authority can learn from Jehoshaphat to be humble, to rely on Jehovah, and to listen to counsel before making important decisions. They should also encourage those under their care to obey God, both by their words and by their example. In this way, the elders will take good care of the congregation, and the parents will set a good example for their children.
ILLUSTRATION
A body of elders analyzes the instructions and principles of the article “How to Show Love and Mercy to Those Who Commit Serious Sin,” from the August 2024 issue of “The Watchtower.”
The elders listen to Jehovah, the organization, and the other elders (see paragraph 16).
17. Why should we cultivate and maintain an obedient heart?
We must cultivate and maintain an obedient heart because then we can be sure that Jehovah will care for us and guide us in any situation we face. Furthermore, even if we sometimes do not understand the reasons behind his instructions, we must trust that Jehovah is far wiser and more powerful than we are and that he always knows what is best for us.
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
What lessons can we learn from the bad example of the Israelites?
The bad example of the Israelites teaches us that we should not obey Jehovah only when we see immediate benefits or when circumstances are favorable. Nor should we allow fear or pressure from others to weaken our trust in him.
Rather, we should always trust in Jehovah and follow the instructions he gives us through those he has appointed to lead his people, even if we do not fully understand the reasons.
How did Jehoshaphat demonstrate that he had “an obedient heart”?
Jehoshaphat showed that he had an obedient heart because, when he felt afraid, he resolved to seek Jehovah, prayed to him, and begged for his help. Furthermore, he was willing to obey any instruction that Jehovah gave him, demonstrating that he trusted him completely, even in difficult situations.
What do we learn from the example of Jehoshaphat?
We learn from Jehoshaphat’s example that when we face difficulties, we should seek Jehovah’s guidance through prayer and the study of his Word. We should also increase our Bible knowledge and be humble, recognizing our need for his help. Furthermore, we should trust in his instructions, obey them promptly, and encourage others to do the same by our words and example.
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