The Garden of Eden. Myth or Fact?
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34567 JANUARY 1, 201 2011 1
THE
GARDEN OF
EDEN MY TH OR FACT?
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Printing Each Issue: 42,162,000 I N 185 LANGUAGES
JANUARY 1, 2011
THE PURPOSE PURPOSE OF THIS MAGAZINE, MAGAZINE, The Watchtower, is to honor honor Jehovah Jehovah God, the Supreme Ruler of the universe. universe. Ju Just st as watch atchto tow wer erss in anc ancie ient nt time timess en enab able led d a pe pers rson on to obse observe rve de deve velo lopm pmen ents ts fr from om af afar ar,, so th this is magazi magazine ne sho shows us the significance of world events in the light of Bible prophecies. It comforts people with the good news that God’ Go d’ss Ki King ngdo dom, m, whic which h is a real real gove govern rnme ment nt in heav heaven en,, will will so soon on br brin ing g an en end d to all all wick wicked ednes nesss an and d tr tran ansf sfor orm m th the e earth into a paradise. It promotes faith in Jesus Christ, who died so that we might gain everlasti everlasting ng life and who is now ruling as King of God’s Kingdom. This magazine has been published by Jehovah’s Witnesses continuously since 1879 and is nonpolitical. It adheres to the Bible as its authority. This publicatio publication n is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwid worldwide e Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations quotatio ns are from the modern-lang modern-language uage New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References.
FROM OUR COVER 3 Eden— Eden—W Was IItt Mankin Mankind’s d’s Original Original Home? Home? 4 Was T There here Real Really ly a Garde Garden no off Ed Eden? en? 9 Wh Why y Ed Eden en Mat Matte ters rs to to You You
REGULAR FEATURES 12
Our Our Rea Reade ders rs As Askk . . .
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Learn Learn From From God’s God’s Word— Word—Why Why Learn Learn Fr From om God? God?
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Draw Draw Close Close to God—“H God—“He e Softene Softened d the Face Face of Jehovah” Jehovah”
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Did Did You Know Know??
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Imitate Imitate Their Their F Faith aith—He —He Endured Endured Despite Despite Disappointments For Young Young People—Ap People—Apprec preciat iate e Sacred Sacred Thing Things! s!
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 13 & 20
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Did God God Know Know That Adam and Eve Eve Would Would Sin? Does God Really Really Care About About You? You? An East East Asian Asian in Anc Ancien ientt It Italy aly
EDEN WAS IT MANKIND’S ORI RIGI GINA NAL L HO HOME ME? ?
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MAGINE MAGI NE yo yours urself elf in a ga gard rden en.. The There re are are no dis distr trac acti tions ons,, no sounds of chaotic city life drifting in over some nearby wall. This garden is vast, and nothing intrudes on its peace. Better yet, your mind is clear of worries, your body untroubled by any trace of illness, allergies, or pain. Your senses are fr free ee to tak take e in yo your ur sur surro roun undin dings. gs. You feas feastt your eye eyess first on the vivid hues of the bloss blossoms oms,, then then on th the e spar sparkl kle e of a st strream, eam, then then on th the e myria yriad d gree greens ns of folia oliag ge an and d gr gras asss in sun sun an and d shad shado ow. You feel eel the the mi mild ld bree breeze ze on your skin and smell the sweet fragrances it carries. You hear the rustl rustling ing of lea leaves ves,, the spla splash sh of wat water er tumbl tumbling ing o over ver roc ocks ks,, the the ca call llss an and d so song ngss of bi birrds, ds, th the e hu hum m of in inse sect ctss at work. ork. As yo you u pic pictur ture e the scen scene, e, do yo you u not long to be in such a place? Peo eopl ple e ar arou ound nd the the world orld be beli liev eve e that that ma mank nkin ind d ha had d it itss start start in a plac place e lik like tha that. t. Fo Forr cent centuri uries es,, me memb mber erss of Juda Judais ism, m, Ch Chri risstendom, and Islam have been taught about the garden of Eden, where God put Adam and Eve to live. According to the Bible, they had a peaceful, happy existence. They were at peace peac e with each othe other, r, with the ani animal mals, s, and with God, who kind kindly ly gave gave them them the the ho hope pe of li livi ving ng fo fore reve verr in that that lo love vely ly en en- vironment. vironm ent.—Gen —Genesi esiss 2:1 2:15-2 5-24. 4. Hind Hi ndus us too too ha have ve the their ir di dist stin inct ctiv ive e conce concept ptss ab about out a para paradi dise se in ancient times. Buddhists believe that great spiritual leaders, or Buddhas, arise in such golden ages when the world is like a paradise. And numerous religions of Africa teach stories that bear a remarkable resemblance to that of Adam and Eve. In fact, the idea of an early paradise has been pervasive in man mankin kind’s d’s rel religi igions ons and tra tradit ditions ions.. One autho authorr no noted ted:: “Many “Man y civ civili ilizat zation ionss bel believ ieved ed in a prim primord ordial ial para paradise dise that was characterized by perfection, freedom, peace, happiness, T TH H E WAT CH TO W ER
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abundance, and the absence of duress, tensi sion ons, s, an and d confl conflic icts ts.. . . . Th This is be beli lief ef gave gave rise rise in the coll collect ective ive cons consciou ciousnes snesss to a pro profou found nd nostalgia for the lost but not forgotten paradise dise an and d to a st stro rong ng de desi sire re to re reco cove verr it. it.” Might all those stories and traditions stem from from a comm common on roo root? Is it po poss ssib ible le that that ma mannkind’s “collective consciousness” is imprinted with with the mem memory ory of som someth ethin ing g re real al?? Was ther there e actu actual allly a ga garrde den n of Ede den n in the the dis dista tant nt past pa st an and d a rea eall Ad Adam am an and d Eve? Skeptics scoff at the idea. In this scientific ag age, e, ma many ny as assum sume e tha thatt suc such h ac accou counts nts ar are e mere me re lege legends nds an and d my myths ths.. Su Surpri rprisi singl ngly y, no nott al alll the skeptics are secular. Many religious lead-
ers promote disbelief in the garden of Eden. They Th ey say say that that ther there e ne neve verr wa wass an any y such such pl plac ace. e. They say that the account is merely a metaphor ph or,, a myth yth,, a fa fabl ble, e, a pa para rabl ble. e. Of course course,, the Bib Bible le do does es con contai tain n para parabl bles. es. Jesuss him Jesu himself self utt uttere ered d the mos mostt famo famous us of them.. Ho them Howev wever er,, the Bibl Bible e pre present sentss the accoun countt ab abou outt Ed Eden en,, no nott as a pa para rabl ble, e, bu butt as history, pure and simple. Yet, if the events describ scribed ed ne neve verr occ occurr urred ed,, the then n ho how w can the rest rest of the the Bi Bibl ble e be trus truste ted? d? Let Let us exam examin ine e why wh y som some e are are skep skepti tical cal ab about out the gar garde den n of Eden and see whether their reasons are so sound und.. The Then n we wi will ll con consi side derr wh why y the acaccoun countt shou should ld ma matt tter er to each each on one e of us. us.
W A S T H E R E R EAL EA L L Y A GAR GA RDEN OF EDEN?
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O YOU kno know w the sto story ry of Ada Adam m and Ev Eve e and an d th the e ga garrden of Ed Eden en?? It is fami famillia iarr to peop pe ople le ar arou ound nd the wo worrld ld.. Wh Why y no nott rea ead d it fo forr yourse yo urself? lf? You wil willl find it at Gen Genesi esiss 1:2 1:26–3 6–3:: 24.. He 24 Herre is th the e gi gisst of the the st stor ory: y: Jehovah Jeho vah God f for orms ms a ma man n fr from om the the d dus ust, t, names him Adam, and settles him in a garden in a region called Eden. God himself
eat from from thi thiss tree tree,, sta statin ting g tha thatt diso disobe bedi di-ence will result in death. In time, Jehovah makes a companion for Adam—the woman Eve—forming her from one of Adam’s ribs. God Go d gi giv ves them them the the jo job b of ca cari rin ng for th the e ga garrden and tells them to multiply and fill the earth. When Wh en Ev Eve e is al alon one, e, a se serp rpen entt sp spea eaks ks to he herr,
planted this garden. It isfruit-bearing well-wateredtrees. and abundant with beautiful At its center center is “the tree of the kno knowle wledg dge e of good go od an and d ba bad. d.” ” Go God d fo forb rbid idss hu huma mans ns to
tempting her to eat the forbidden fruit by clai claimi ming ng that that Go God d ha hass li lied ed to he herr an and d is wi with th-holdin hol ding g som somethi ething ng goo good, d, som somethi ething ng that will make her godlike. She gives in and eats the forbidden forbidden fruit. Later, Ada Adam m joins he herr in
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In the Bible, Jehovah Jehovah is the personal name of Go God. d.
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The Watchtower (ISSN 00430043-108 1087) 7) is publ published ished semimonthly semimonthl y by Watchto Watchtower wer Bible and Tract Tract Society ciety of New York, Inc.; M. H. Larson Larson,, PresiPresident; G. F. Simonis, Secretary-Treasurer; 25 Columbia Heights,Brooklyn Heigh ts,Brooklyn,, NY11 NY11201201-248 2483, 3, andby Watch Watch TowTower Bible and Tract Society of Canada, PO Box 4100, Georgeto Geor getown,ON wn,ON L7G 4Y4.Periodic 4Y4.Periodicals als Posta Postage ge Paidat Brooklyn Brooklyn,, NY NY,, and at addi additiona tionall mailin mailing g offices offices.. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Watc Watchtow htower, er, Wallkill, NY 12589-3299. 12589-3299. 10 1000 00 Red Mills Mills Road, Road, Wallkill, 5 20 201 11 Watch Watch Tower Tower Bible and Tract Socie Society ty of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada. Vol. 13 132, No. 1
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disobeying God. Jehovah responds by pronouncing sentence on Adam, Eve, and the serpe serpent nt.. Afte Afterr the hu huma mans ns are are exp expel elle led d from from the paradisaic garden, the angels block the entrance. Among Amo ng sch schola olars, rs, int intell ellectu ectuals als,, and hi histo storirians, it was once popular to attest that the even events ts reco record rded ed in the Bib Bible le bo book ok of Ge Gene nesi siss were true and historical. These days, skepticism about all such matters is more in fashion. ion. Bu Butt wh what at is the the ba basi siss fo forr the do doub ubts ts abou ab outt the Ge Gene nesis sis acco accoun untt of Ad Adam am,, Ev Eve, e, an and d the garden garden of Ed Eden en?? Let us exa exami mine ne fo four ur common commo n objecti objections. ons.
1. Was the garden of Eden a real place? Why Wh y is the there re do doub ubtt on this this sc scor ore? e? Ph Phil ilos osoophy may have played a role. For centuries, theolog theo logian ianss spec speculat ulated ed that God God’s ’s gar garden den was still in existence somewhere. However, the church was influenced by such Greek phil ph ilos osop ophe hers rs as Pl Plat ato o an and d Ari Arist stot otle le,, wh who o hel eld d th that at noth thin ing g on th the e earth earth cou ould ld be pe perrfect. Only heaven could contain perfection. Therefore, theologians reasoned, the originall Para na Paradi dise se ha had d to be close closerr to he heav aven en.. Some said that the garden sat atop an extremel tre mely y hig high h mou mountai ntain n that rea reache ched d just above the confines of this degraded planet; others, that it was at the North Pole or the Sout So uth h Pol ole; e; stil stilll oth ther ers, s, th that at it wa wass on or near ear 1
the moon. Not surprisingly, the whole con1
Th The e no notio tion n is uns unscri cript ptura ural. l. The TheBi Bibl ble e teache teachess that all all of God’s work God’s work is perfect; perfect; corrupti corruption on comes comes fro from m another another source. sour ce. (Deut (Deutero eronom nomy y 32:4 32:4,, 5) Whe When n Jeho Jehovah vah finished finished his cr creat eatio ion n of the ear earth, th, he pron pronou ounce nced d all all tha thatt he had ma made de “very good. good.”—Genesis ”—Genesis 1:31 1:31..
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cept cept of Ed Eden en took took on an au aura ra of fant fantas asy y. Some modern-day scholars dismiss the geography of Eden as nonsense, asserting that no suc such h plac place e ev ever er exi exist sted ed.. However, the Bible does not portray the garden that way. At Genesis 2:8-14, we learn a nu numb mber er of spec specifi ifics cs ab abou outt tha thatt plac place. e. It wass loca wa locate ted d in the east eastern ern part of the re re-gion called Eden. It was watered by a river that became the source for four rivers. Each of the four is named, and a brief description tio n ab abou outt its cours course e prov provid ided ed.. Th These ese de de-tails have long tantalized scholars, many of whom have scoured this Bible passage for clues to the present-day location of this ancien cientt site site.. Ho Howe weve verr, the they y ha have ve com come e up with with innumerable innum erable contr contradict adictory ory opini opinions. ons. Does this mean that the physical description of Eden Ed en,, its gard garden en,, an and d its rive rivers rs is fal false se or mythical? Cons Co nsid ider: er: Th The e ev even ents ts in the gard garden en of Eden Ede n acc accoun ountt unf unfold olded ed som some e 6,0 6,000 00 yea years rs ago.. Th ago They ey we were re pu putt in into to wri writin ting, g, evi evide dent ntly ly by Moses, who may have made use of oral accounts cou nts or per perhap hapss eve even n pre preexis existin ting g doc docuuments. Still, Moses was writing about 2,500 years yea rs after the eve events nts des describ cribed. ed. Ede Eden n was already ancient history. Now, is it possible for such landmarks as rivers to change over the course of dozens of centuries? The earth’s crust cru st is dy dyna nami mic, c, ev ever er in mo motio tion. n. Th The e re re-gion that likely included Eden is an earthquak qu ake e be belt— lt—on one e tha thatt no now w ac acco count untss for for ab about out 17 percent of the world’s largest quakes. In such areas, change is the rule rather than the exception. What is more, the Flood of
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Noah’s day may have altered the topography ph y in wa ways ys that we ssim imply ply can canno nott kno know w today.
2. Is it really believable that God formed Adam from dust and Eve from one of Adam’s ribs?
Here, though, are a few facts that we do know kn ow:: Th The e Ge Gene nesi siss acco accoun untt spea speaks ks of the garden as a real place. Two of the four rivers mentioned in the account—the Euphrates and the Tigris, or Hiddekel—flow today, and an d some some of the their ir sour source ce wa water terss are are very very close together. The account even names the la land ndss thr throu ough gh wh whic ich h tho those se riv river erss flo flowe wed d an and d specifi spe cifies es the natu natural ral res resour ources ces wel well-k l-kno nown wn in the area area.. To the pe peop ople le of an anci cien entt Isr Israe ael, l, the original audience who read this record, these deta details ils wer were e inf informa ormativ tive. e.
Modern sci Modern scienc ence e has confirm confirmed ed that the huma hu man n bo body dy is comp compos osed ed of vario various us el eleements—such as hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon—all of which are found in the earth’s crust. But how were those elements assembl bled ed in into to a li livin ving g cr crea eatur ture? e? Many scientists theorize that life arose on it itss own wn,, star starti ting ng wi with th ve very ry sim simple ple form formss that that gradual grad ually ly,, over over mil millio lions ns of yea years, rs, bec became ame more mo re an and d mo more re comp complex lex.. Ho Howe weve ver, r, the term term “simple “sim ple” ” can be mis mislea leadin ding, g, for all liv living ing things—even things—ev en micr microscop oscopic ic singlesingle-celled celled or-
Do myths and fairy tales work that way? Or do they tend to omit specifics that could readily be verified or denied? “Once upon a time in a faraway land” is a way to begin a fai fairy ry tal tale. e. Hi Hist story ory,, tho though ugh,, tend tendss to in in-clude relevant details, as the Eden account does.
ganisms—are incr ganisms—are incredibl edibly y com complex. plex. Ther There e is no pr proo ooff th that at an any y ki kind nd of llif ife e ha hass ev ever er ar aris isen en by chance or ever could. Rather, all living thing thi ngss be bear ar un unmi mista staka kabl ble e evi evide denc nce e of de desi sign gn by an in intel telli lige genc nce e far grea greater ter tha than n ou ourr ow own. n. —Romans —Roma ns 1:20. Can you ima imagine gine liste listening ning to a great sym sym-phony pho ny or adm admirin iring g a bril brillia liant nt pai paintin nting g or marveling at an achievement of technology and then insisting that these works had no
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The Deluge, an act of God, evidently wiped out all traces of the garden of Eden itself. Ezekiel 31:18 suggests thatt “the tha “the tr trees ees of Ed Eden” en” we were re alre already ady long long out out of exist existenc ence e by the seventh century B.C.E. So all those who searched for a still-existing garden of Eden in later times were misguided. WATCHTOWER ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 6 THE WATCHTOWER
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Origin n of Life—Fi Life—Five ve Question Questionss See See the bro brochur chure e The Origi Worth Asking, published by Jehovah’s Witnesses. 1
maker? make r? Of cours course e no not! t! But suc such h ma mast sterp erpie iece cess do no nott ev even en be begin ginto to ap appr proa oach ch the co comp mplex lexiity, beauty, or ingenuity of the design of the human body. How could we imagine that it had no Creator? Furthermore, the Genesis account explains that of all life on earth, only on ly hu huma mans ns we were re ma made de in the im imag age e of God. (Genesis 1:26) Fittingly, only humans on earth are capable of reflecting God’s creative ativ e driv drive, e, at time timess pro produc ducing ing im impre pressiv ssive e works of music, art, and technology. Should it su surp rpri rise se us that that Go God d is far far be bett tter er at crea creati ting ng than than we ar are? e? As to cr creati eating ng the wo woman man by usi using ng a rib fr from om the the ma man, n, wh wher ere e is the the di diffic fficul ulty ty in that? God God cou could ld ha have ve used other mea means, ns, but his manner of making the woman had beautiful significance. He wanted the man and an d th the e wom oman an to ma marr rry y an and d to fo form rm a cl clos ose e 1
bond bo nd,, as if they they wer ere e “o “one ne fle flesh sh..” (G (Gen enes esis is 2: 24) Is not the 24) the wa way y ma man n an and d wom oman an can co com mplemen ple mentt eac each h oth other er,, form forming ing a stab stable le and mutuall mutu ally y nou nourish rishing ing bon bond, d, po power werful ful evidenc de nce e of a wi wise se an and d lo lovi ving ng Cr Crea eato tor? r? Furthermore, modern geneticists have acknowledged that all humans likely descend1
Interestingly, modern medical science has found that the rib has an unu unusua suall capac capacit ity y to hea heal. l. Unli Unlike ke oth other er bones, it can grow back if its membrane of connective tissue is left intact.
ed fr from om on only ly on one e ma male le an and d on one e fema female le.. Re Real al-ly, ly, the then, n, is the Ge Gene nesis sis ac acco coun untt far far-f -fet etch ched ed??
3. The tree of knowledge and the tree of life seem mythical. Actuall Actu ally y, the Gen Genesi esiss acco account unt does no nott te teach ach tha thatt the these se tr tree eess ha had d an any y pec peculi uliar ar or supernatu supe rnatural ral po power werss of thei theirr own own.. Rather Rather,, they were actual trees that Jehovah invested with symb symboli olicc mean meaning ing.. Do no nott hu huma mans ns do some somethi thing ng simi simila larr at time times? s? Fo Forr ins instan tance, ce, a jud judge ge ma may y wa warn rn against the crime of acting in contempt of court. It is not the furniture, fixtures, and walls of the courtroom itself that the judge wants to protect from disrespect but the system of justice that the court represents. Various monarchs too have used the scepter and the crown as symbols of their sovereign authority. What, then, did the two trees symbolize? Many complex theories have been put forward. The genuine answer, while simple, is quit qu ite e prof profoun ound. d. The tr tree ee of the kn know owle ledg dge e of
good and bad represented a privilege that is God’s God ’s pro provin vince ce alon alone—th e—the e righ rightt to det determi ermine ne what is good and what is bad. (Jeremiah 10: 23) No wonder it was a crime to steal from that tree! tree! The tree of life, on the othe otherr hand hand,, represented a gift that only God can bestow —everlastin —ever lasting g life.— life.—Romans Romans 6:23 6:23..
4. A serpen serpentt that talks seems to belong to fairy-tale lore. Granted, this aspect of the Genesis narrative can be puzzling, especially if we do not take the rest of the Bible into account. Howev ever er,, the Scrip Scriptur tures es gra gradua duall lly y clea clearr up thi thiss in in-triguing mystery mystery.. Who or wha whatt made that serp serpent ent ap appea pearr to talk? The people of ancient Israel knew of other factors that shed much light on the role of that snake. For example, they knew
that although animals do not talk, a spirit pers pe rson on can can ma mak ke an an anim imal al ap appe pear ar to sp spea eak. k. Moses Mo ses al also so wr wrot ote e the ac acco coun untt ab about out Bala Balaam am;; God sen sentt an ang angel el to ma make ke Ba Balaa laam’s m’s d donk onkey ey talk like a man.—Numbers 22:26-31; 2 Peter 2:15, 2:1 5, 16. Can Ca n oth other er spiri spirits, ts, in incl clud udin ing g tho those se wh who o are God’s enemies, perform miracles? Moses had seen the magic-practicing priests of Egypt Egy pt dup duplic licate ate some some of Go God’ d’ss mi mira racl cles, es, such as making a staff appear to turn into a snake. The power to perform feats like that could cou ld com come e on only ly fr from om G God’ od’ss ene enemie miess in the spirit realm realm.—Ex .—Exodus odus 7:8-1 :8-12. 2. Evide Evi dent ntly ly Mo Mose sess wa wass al also so the in insp spir ired ed wri writter of the the bo book ok of Job. Job. Th That at bo book ok taug taught ht much about God’s chief enemy, Satan, who lyingly challenged the integrity of all of Jehova ho vah h’s se serva rvant nts. s. (Job 1:61:6-1 11; 2: 2:4, 4, 5) Di Did d the the Israelites of old thus reason that Satan had manipulated the serpent in Eden, making it appear app ear to talk and dec deceiv eive e Eve int into o break breaking ing herr in he integ tegrit rity y to Go God? d? It see seems ms li like kely ly.. Was Satan the force behind the serpent? Jesus lat later er refe referre rred d to Satan as “a lia liarr and the father fath er of the lie. lie.” ” ((Joh John n 8:44) 8:44) “Th “The e fathe fatherr of the lie” would be the author of the first lie ever ever told old, wou ould ld he not? Th The e first rst li lie e is fou ound nd in the serpent’s words to Eve. Contradicting God’ Go d’ss wa warn rnin ing g tha thatt ea eatin ting g the forb forbid idde den n fruit would end in death, the serpent said: “You positively will not die.” (Genesis 3:4) Clearly, Jesus knew that Satan had manipulated the serpent. The Revelation that Jesus gave to the apostle John settles the matter, calling Satan “the original serpent.”—Revelatio lat ion n 1:1; 1:1; 12 12:9 :9.. Is it re real ally ly far far-fet -fetch ched ed to be beli liev eve e that that a po powwerful spirit person could manipulate a serpent, pe nt, making making it ap appe pear ar to talk? Ev Even en hu hu-mans, though far less powerful than spirits, can perform baffl baffling ing tricks of ventriloqui ventriloquism sm and cr create eate con convin vincin cing g spe specia ciall effec effects. ts.
The Most Compelling Evidence Would you not agree that the skepticism about the Genesis account has little real basi sis? s? On the the ot othe herr ha hand nd,, ther there e is po pow wer erfu full ev eviidenc de nce e that that the the acco accoun untt is tru true e hi hist stor ory y. Forr exa Fo examp mple le,, Je Jesus sus Ch Chris ristt is cal calle led d “th “the e faithful and true witness.” (Revelation 3:14) Bein Be ing g a pe perf rfec ectt ma man, n, he ne neve verr lied lied,, ne neve verr mi missrepresented the truth in any way. What is more, mor e, he taug taught ht that he had exis existed ted lon long g befor ore e his his lif life as a ma man n on ea earth rth—i —in n fa fact ct,, he ha had d lived alongside his Father, Jehovah, “before the world was.” (John 17:5) So he was alive when life on earth began. What is the testimon mo ny of this this mo most st re reli liab able le of al alll witn witnes esse ses? s?
Jesus spok Jesus spoke e of Adam and Ev Eve e as rea reall peop people. le. He referred to their marriage when explaining Jehovah’s standard of monogamy. (Matthew the w 19: 9:33-6) 6) If they they ne neve verr exi exist sted ed an and d the ga garrden den in wh whic ich h th they ey li liv ved was a me merre myt yth, h, then either Jesus was deceived or he was a liar.. Neither conclusi liar conclusion on is feasible! Jesus had been in heaven, watching as the tragedy unfold folded ed in the gard garden. en.Wha Whatt evi eviden dence ce cou could ld be more mor e con convin vinci cing ng tha than n tha that? t? In reality, disbelief in the Genesis account underm und ermin ines es fa faith ith in Je Jesus sus.. Suc Such h di disbe sbeli lief ef also also makes it impossible to understand some of the the Bi Bibl ble’ e’ss grea greate test st them themes es an and d mo most st reas reassu surring ing prom promis ises es.. Let Let us see see ho how w th that at is so. so.
M A T T E R S T O Y O U WNEHofYtheED E N essenti ntial al to und unders erstand tanding ing the rrest est of the Bi Bi-mo most st surp surpris risin ing g ob obje jecti ction onss esse
O
that some scholars scholars raise to the account about Eden is that it is not supported by the rest of the Bible. For example, Professor of Religious Studies Paul Morris writes: “There are no later direct biblical references to the Eden Ed en st story ory.” .” Hi Hiss asses assessm smen entt ma may y wi win n no nods ds of agree agr eeme ment nt from from va vario rious us “ex “expe perts, rts,” ” but it runss di run dire rectl ctly y coun counter ter to the fac facts. ts. The Bible actually makes numerous reference en cess to the the gar garde den n of Ed Eden en,, Ad Adam am,, Ev Eve, e, an and d the serpent. But the error of a few scholars pales in comparison to a much larger, more pervasive one. By discrediting the Genesis record of the garden of Eden, religious leaders ers an and d Bibl Bible e cri critic ticss are are ac actua tuall lly y laun launch chin ing g an allall-ou outt assa assaul ultt on the Bibl Bible. e. How How so? so? Understanding what happened in Eden is 1
1
See, for example, Genesis 13:10; Deuteronomy 32:8; 2 Samuel 7 7:1 :14; 4; 1 Chronicles Chronicles 1:1; Isaiah 51 51:3; :3; Ezekiel 28:1 28:13; 3; 31:8, 9; Luke 3:38; Romans 5:12-14; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:13, 14; Jude 14; and Revelation 12:9.
ble. For exam ble. example ple,, God God’s ’s Word is des design igned ed to he help lp us fin find d an answ swer erss to the mo most st proprofound fou nd and far far-re -reach achin ing g que questio stions ns that humans face. Again and again, the Bible’s answer sw erss to thos those e qu ques esti tion onss re rela late te to ev even ents ts that that took place in the garden of Eden. Consider some exam example ples. s. Why do we grow old and die? Adam and Eve Ev e we were re to li live ve fo fore reve verr if the they y rema remain ined ed ˘
subjectt to Jeh subjec Jehov ovah ah.. Onl Only y if the they y rebel rebelle led d wou oulld th they ey di die. e. In th the e da day y th that at th they ey rebelled, they began to die. (Genesis 2:16, 17; 3:19) They lost perfection and could pass on only sin and imperfection to their offspring. The Bible thus explains: “Through one man sin entered into th the e world and death throu thr ough gh sin sin,, an and d thu thuss death death spr spread ead to al alll men because they had all sinned.”—Romans 5:12. Why does Why does God all allow ow wicke wickedne dness? ss? In the garden of Eden, Satan called God a liar who
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u o y d d n n a a d n a h e a m e o h t w n e i h t u d o n y a s e ] t i u n r . e b 5 p l r l : i 1 e 3 s w s e e i s h H t [ . e n e u d o e G s — y n e r ” . e e l e e h e w d h t e n e b a h y d t t i e n e i m s n r i m e u h t o e u y s p n i l u l e r a e b h w l s t l I e i “ b w
? g e i n h t r p e s r a ff o o s t i h W . d n n a e t , d n E e n p i r e d s o e G h t y , b g ? t d i n e r u o r p e y t s l a t ff u o p , r ” y e y c , t h e h i p n m o a n e r “ p m o d t l s r w o fi e t e s h r ’ t o e : f l s b r e i e h B t t c e a s h t r a e o s h d i c t r w a o h u o H T f
Y R C E E E H H T T E H G P S E I O O T T R T E P A L B I H B A T
s g h s . o t D t o t d i n a i n t s t e a u N w n n t e v a e i S a d J c U o t l u t . h . e O r h b b n t r s o t t n r u l h e c i W s t n u n i a s a ff e d a r e L E e u p e i s r E f e s d s n e m a H a p e e u o w s E A M p e c e e c J H h T t u s
l a u t i h d r . i a l 8 : i p a ” s 6 , u n . I s o o s n w e 6 i ; a r 1 t e r ) : a 7 u e m u z t 2 o h t 4 i u s f 5 , n a 6 a e r 2 w t a a h r l c y 4 : h e h o i t t a o N g A s s t “ g h I M s n n ’ n t O a f r — h e o i . v i l i l a t a b W e e v e l a k t n o o h a o e e i E h v t r i a H e f G p o T J o ( s f g n
. 9 . : l i 2 v 1 T e N n E D i o P e t R t a E h l S n e v a e E t R H a T S —
t o e o s l ; r l s h o p e 9 a A N p w h u a 2 o e . T , A h y r s r , e I s n . l r a k M o e m a 6 w n i 1 e : t ” h i O , e t v a 3 d t h m h t s z a . e W i i e o s “ s 8 r h r e n t E h h n n s , i a a 1 : a “ b n i l w i H 2 e g a o t T C r e u t i 2 s a s h F t o h n i r t l s a i e h t r v n G s u f s t e O o ’ n i a C a e J i h p — n e d l D y t a s a ” d u E l u . e s h t e t o v E i o e ’ i G n t S r r d i a e h d n i o ; s i i u e E i r l e o p G 6 m J l c h f n : n s f 1 H r m a u T P c o i C r a a o 6
e h t F T o . . n 4 O N a E o d t : D P h t o a 4 E R w S 8 E E e n s f S S e o h s o l E E o o l o h h i J H H T T T c w —
. e 0 1 : h 0 f t 2 o o n t d o u n i u t o l a i l n l e a t w v e a s R S u ; t s 8 e : u J p , 3 t n l l i a h w h t o s e J r 1 u s f e o . J e — n . b e n a n t e d a v E D n S N o E . i r U t e n a O w v g e r o o e W l b f b D n y e A l a c t E d n a H a t S e e E d l s i x v H i T A e e
d s e e ’ h e h s l T i l b i e b r u B u e h p h ? t c o e f r o b g . a s e s e s w s e h i t e s e v M r e n s i e t t e s v , I o e I s W e s t ’ s m i a h e h c h n t a o l W v o c a — h r e a t e l J r n b o e i y F c B b
withholds good from his creatures. (Genesis 3:3-5) 3:3 -5) He thus ca calle lled d int into o que questi stion on the rig righthtfulne ful ness ss of Je Jeho hovah vah’s ’s wa way y of rul rulin ing. g. Ada Adam m and Eve chose to follow Satan; so they likewise rejected Jehovah’s sovereignty and, in effect, asserted that man can decide for himself what is good and what is bad. In his perfect justice and wisdom, Jehovah knew that there was only one way to answer the challenge len ge pro proper perly— ly—all allow ow time to pas pass, s, givi giving ng humans the opportunity to rule themselves as they choose. The resulting wickedness is due, in part, to Satan’s continued influence and an d ha hass grad gradua uall lly y re reve veal aled ed a gr grea eatt tru truth th:: Man is incapable of governing himself without God God.—Je .—Jerem remiah iah 10:2 0:23. 3. What is God’s purpose for the earth? In the garden of Eden, Jehovah set a standard of be beaut auty y fo forr the ear earth. th. He com commi missi ssion oned ed Adam and Eve Eve to fill the earth with their offspring and “subdue it,” in order to bring the sa same me me meas asur ure e of be beau auty ty an and d ha harm rmon ony y tto o the the whole planet. (Genesis 1:28) So God’s purpose for the earth is that it be a paradise inhabi ha bite ted d by a pe perf rfect ect,, un unit ited ed fa fami mily ly of the offspring of Adam and Eve. Much of the Bible is about God’s means of fulfilling that origina orig inall purpo purpose. se. ˘
Why did Jesus Christ come to the earth? The rebellion in the garden of Eden brought a de deat ath h se sent nten ence ce up upon on Ad Adam am an and d Eve an and d all all theirr offsp thei offspring ring,, but God loving lovingly ly supp supplie lied d ˘
hope ho pe..the He Bible se sent nt his hi s So Son n ransom. to the the ea earth rth to pr pro ovi vide de what calls a (Matthew 20: 28) What does that mean? Well, Jesus was “the last Adam”; he succeeded where Adam had failed. Jesus maintained his perfect human life by remaining obedient to Jehovah. Then he freely gave his life as a sacrifice, or ransom, providing the means for all faithful humans to receive forgiveness for their sins and an d ev even entua tuall lly y att attai ain n the kind kind of life life tha thatt Adam and Ev Eve e enjo enjoyed yed in Ede Eden n bef before ore they sinned. (1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; John 3:16) Thus Jesu Jesuss guar guarant anteed eed that Jeho Jehovah vah’s ’s pur-
Adam and Eve suffered the t he disastrous results of sin
pose to tu pose turn rn th this is earth earth in intto an Ed Eden enli lik ke pa para ra-dise dise wi will ll come come tru true. e. God’s purpose is not vague, nor is it some 1
abstract theological concept. It is real. Just as the garden of Eden was a real place on this earth with real animals and real people, so God’s promise for the future is a certainty, a reality soon to come. Will it be your future, your yo ur rea realit lity? y? Much of that is up to you. God want wa ntss that that futu future re for as ma many ny pe peop ople le as po poss ssiible,, even ble even fo forr tho those se wh whose ose live livess ha have ve gon gone e wron wr ong.— g.—1 1 Ti Timo moth thy y 2: 2:3, 3, 4. As Jesu Jesuss was dyin dying, g, he spok spoke e to a man whos wh ose e li life fe ha had d ta tak ken a te terri rribl ble e turn turn.. Th The e ma man n was a criminal; he knew that he deserved to be executed. But he turned to Jesus for comfort, for hope. Jesus’ response? “You will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) If Jesus wants to see that former criminal there—resurrected and blessed with an opportunity to live forever in an Edenlike paradise—does he nott wa no want nt the the same same bl bles essi sing ng fo forr you ou?? He do does es!! His Father does! If you want that future for yourse yo urself, lf, do all that you can to lea learn rn abou aboutt th the e Go God d wh who o ma made de the the garde arden n of Ede den. n. 1
To learn more about about Chri Christ’ st’ss rans ransom om sacri sacrifice, fice, see chapter 5 of the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? published by Jehovah’s Witnesses. T THE HE WAT CH TO W E R ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 11
OUR READERS ASK . . . Why would Sat ata an use a serpent to spe speak to Eve Eve? ˇ You
may agree that as discussed on page 8, Satan Satan was the fo force rce behin behind d the serpe serpent nt that that spoke to Eve. The Bible certainly teaches this. How Ho wever ever,, you may may wonde onderr, ‘Why ‘Why would ould a pow powerful erf ul spiri spiritt mani manipu pula late te a snak snake e the the way a ve vent ntril ril-oquis oq uistt us uses es a dummy dummy?’ ?’ The Bible characterizes characterizes Satan’s Satan’s tactics as “machinations,” or “crafty acts,” and this incident helps to prove the point. (Ephesians 6:11; fo foot otno note te)) What What we se see e in Eden Eden is no fa fabl ble e abou about t a ta talk lkin ing g anim animal al;; it is a ch chil illi ling ng exam exampl ple e of clev clever er strat strateg egy y desig designed ned to lure lure peop people le away away from from God. Go d. In what what way?
the serpent told Eve that the fruit would make her “like God,” she was prepared to believe the lie. Sa Sata tan’ n’ss ch choi oice ce of wo word rdss al also so rev reveals eals much much.. He sowe sowed d doub doubts ts in Eve’ Eve’ss mind mind,, impl implyi ying ng that that God God wass holdi wa holding ng back back somet somethin hing g good good from from he her r
Satan chose his target carefully. Eve was the youngestt intellige younges intelligent nt creatur creature e in the universe universe.. Takin Taking g advanta advantage ge of her inexperie inexperience, nce, he set out to trick and seduce her. By hiding behind a se serpe rpent, nt, a very very ca cauti utiou ouss creat creature ure,, Satan Satan shrew shrewddly concealed his own bold and ambitious aims. (Genesis 3:1) Consider, too, what he accomplish plished ed by makin making g the se serpe rpent nt appe appear ar to sp spea eak. k. First, Satan caught and riveted Eve’s attention. She knew that snakes do not talk; her husband had named named all the animals, including including this one, on e, lik likely ely after after ca caref reful ul study study.. (Gene (Genesis sis 2:1 2:19) No doubt Eve too had observed this cautious creature. So Satan’s ploy roused Eve’s curiosity; it got her to focus on the one thing in all the garden that was forbidden to her. Second, if the serpent was lurking in the limbs of the forbidden de n tree, tree, what what concl conclusi usion on was was Ev Eve e lik likel ely y to draw? Might she not have reasoned that this lowly, dumb creature had itself eaten from that fruit and had thereafter been able to speak? If the fruit could do so much for a serpent, what might it do for her? We cannot know for sure what wh at Eve Eve th thou ough ghtt or whet whethe herr the the snak snake e had had ta takken a bi bite te of th the e fr frui uit, t, but but we do kno know th that at whe when
and need edles lessly sly re restr strict icting her freed fre om. sucsucece cess ss ne of Satan Sa tan’s ’s sc schem heme eing depe depend nded ededom. on theThe chanc chance that Eve’s self-interest would outweigh her love for the God who had given her everything she had. (Genesis 3:4, 5) Tragically, Satan’s gambit work wo rked ed;; neit neithe herr Eve Eve nor nor Adam Adam had had cu cult ltiv ivat ated ed in their own hearts the kind of love and appreciation tion for for Jeho Jehova vah h that that they they shou should ld have have.. Does Does not not Satan Sata n promote promote the same kind of self-int self-interes erest t and rational rationalizing izing today? today? What, though, about Satan’s motive? What was he after? In Eden, he attempted to hide both bo th hi hiss id iden enti tity ty and and hi hiss moti motive ve.. But, But, in ti time me,, he revealed himself. When he tempted Jesus, he surely knew that disguises were of no use. So he directly urged Jesus: “Fall down and do an ac actt of worsh worship ip to me.” me.” (Mat (Matthe thew w 4:9) 4:9) Evide Evidentl ntly y, Sa Sata tan n has has lo long ng been been dr driv iven en by je jeal alou ousy sy ov over er the wor orsh ship ip th that at goes goes to Jeho Jehova vah h God. God. He wi will ll go to any any le leng ngth th to di dive vert rt or perve pervert rt such such wors worshi hip. p. He lo love vess to destr destroy oy integ integrit rity y to God. God. Clearl Cle arly y, the Bible Bible re reve veals als that that Satan Satan is a dead dead-ly strate strategis gistt in seekin seeking g his aims. aims. Happ Happily ily,, we need not be fooled as Eve was, “for we are not ignorant igno rant of his designs designs.”— .”—2 2 Corinthia Corinthians ns 2:11 2:11.
WATCHTOWER ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 12 THE WATCHTOWER
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ANY peo people ple ask this quest question ion in all sin sin-cerity cer ity.. Whe When n the issue issue of Go God’ d’ss pe permi rmisssion of wickedness is raised, the sin of the first first hu huma man n pa pair ir in the the gard garden en of Ed Eden en qu quic ickkly comes into focus. The thought that ‘God knows everything’ may easily lead some to the conclusion that God must have known beforehand that Adam and Eve would disobey ob ey hi him. m. If God truly had foreknown that this perfect couple would sin, what would this impl ply? y? Su Such ch a no noti tion on wo woul uld d at attri tribut bute e ma many ny negative traits to God. He would seem to be unlov unl ovin ing, g, unj unjus ust, t, and in insi since ncere re.. So Some me mi might ght label it cruel to expose the first humans to something that was foreknown to end badly ly.. Go God d mi might ght see seem m re resp spon onsib sible le for—o for—orr at least an accomplice to— all the badness and suffering that followed throughout history.
Jehovah Jehova h endo endowed wed these perf perfect, ect, int intell ellig igent ent creatures with free will. So they were by no means preprogrammed preprogrammed to please God—li God—like ke some sort of robot. Think about it. Which woul wo uld d me mean an mo more re to you ou—a —a gift gift that that is give given n
To so some me,, ou ourr Creat Creator or wo woul uld d ev even en app appea earr foolish. Does Do es Jeho Jehova vah h Go God, d, as re rev vea eale led d in the the Sc Scri ripptures, match such a negative description? To answer that, let us examine what the Bible sa says ys ab abou outt the the crea creati tive ve works orks an and d the the pe pers rson on-al alit ity y of Je Jeho hova vah. h.
mecha me chani nical cally ly or one tha thatt com comes es fr from om the heart? The an heart? answ swer er is ob obvio vious. us. Li Lik kew ewise ise,, if Adam and Ev Eve e had fre freely ely chos chosen en to obey God, their obedience would have meant all the more to him. The capacity to choose enabled the first human pair to obey Jehovah out of lo love. ve.—De —Deuter uterono onomy my 30: 30:1 19, 20.
“It Was Very Good” Regard Reg arding ing God’ God’ss cre creati ation, on, incl includi uding ng the first humans on earth, the Genesis account sa says ys:: “G “God od sa saw w ev ever eryth ythin ing g he ha had d ma made de and and,, lo look ok!! it wa wass ve very ry goo good. d.” ” (G (Gen enes esis is 1:3 1:31) 1) Ada Adam m and an d Ev Eve e we were re per perfe fectl ctly y ma made, de, ideal ideally ly su suit ited ed to their earthly environment. There was nothing deficient in their makeup. Created “very good, goo d,” ” the they y we were re cer certai tainl nly y cap capab able le of the good go od con conduc ductt tha thatt wa wass re requ quir ired ed of the them. m. They Th ey we were re crea create ted d “i “in n Go God’ d’ss im imag age. e.” ” (G (Gen enes esis is 1:2 1:27) So the they y ha had d the cap capac acity ity to de demon mon-strate to some degree the godly qualities of wi wisdo sdom, m, loya loyall love love,, jus justi tice ce,, an and d goo goodn dnes ess. s. Re Re-flecting such qualities would help them to mak ma ke de deci cisi sion onss tha thatt wou ould ld be bene nefit fit them them an and d bring bri ng pl plea easur sure e to the their ir he heav avenl enly y Fathe Father. r.
Righteous, Just, and Good The Bible reveals Jehovah’s qualities to us. Thes Th ese e qu qual alit itie iess ma mak ke it im impo poss ssib ible le for hi him m to have anything to do with sin. Jehovah “is a love loverr of rig right hteou eousn snes esss and jus justi tice, ce,” ” says says Psalm 33:5. Thus, James 1:13 notes: “With evil things God cannot be tried nor does he hims himsel elff try an any yon one. e.” ” Ou Outt of fa fair irne ness ss an and d conconsideration, God warned Adam: “From every tree tree of the gard garden en you ma may y eat eat to sati satisf sfac acti tion on.. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.” (Gen (G enesi esiss 2: 2:1 16, 17) The first first cou couple ple we were re giv given en a cho choice ice betw betwee een n en endle dless ss li life fe and death death.. Would it not have been hypocritical for God to warn the them m again against st a spe speci cific fic si sin n wh whil ile e
Did God Know
THAT ADAM THA ADAM AND EVE WOULD SIN?
T THE HE WAT CH TO W E R ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 13
alre alread ady y kn kno owi wing ng the ba bad d ou outc tcom ome? e? As “a lovlover of rig right hteou eousne sness ss an and d jus justi tice ce,” ,” Je Jeho hovah vah woul wo uld d no nott h hav ave e off offer ered ed a ch choi oice ce that that in re real aliity di did d no nott exis exist. t. Jehovah Jeho vah is also abun abundan dantt in good goodnes ness. s. (Psalm (Ps alm 31:1 1:19) 9) Des Describ cribing ing God God’s ’s good goodness ness,, Jesus sus sa said id:: “W “Who ho is th the e ma man n am amon ong g you wh whom om his son asks for for bread— bread—he he will no nott hand him
Jehovah did not create the first humans as automatons programmed for a fixed course a stone, wi willl he? Or, perhaps ps,, he will ask for a fis fish— h—he he will will no nott ha hand nd hi him m a se serpe rpent nt,, will will he he?? Theref Ther efore ore,, if yo you, u, altho although ugh bein being g wic wicke ked, d, kno kn ow ho how w to give give go good od gifts gifts to you ourr ch chil ildr dren en,, how mu how much ch mo morre so wi will ll you ourr Fat athe herr wh who o is in the the he heav aven enss give give go good od thi thing ngss to thos those e as aski king ng him?” him ?” (Ma (Matthe tthew w 7:9:9-1 11) God giv gives es “go “good od things thi ngs” ” to hi hiss cr crea eatur tures es.. The wa way y hum human anss were we re crea create ted d and the Para Paradi dise se ho home me pr prep epar ared ed for them testify to God’s goodness. Would such a good Sovereign be so cruel as to pro vide a bea beautif utiful ul hom home e that he kne knew w wou would ld be taken tak en aw away ay?? No No.. Our rig right hteo eous us an and d goo good d Mak Ma ker is no nott to blam blame e for for ma man n’s re rebe bell llio ion. n. “Wise Alone” The Scriptures also show that Jehovah is “wise alone.” (Romans 16:27) God’s heavenly angels witnessed many manifestations of this boundless wisdom. They began “shoutin ing g in ap appl plaus ause” e” wh when en Je Jeho hova vah h brou brough ghtt forth his earthly creations. (Job 38:4-7) No doubtt thes doub these e int intell ellig igent ent spiri spiritt cre creatu atures res fol fol-lo lowe wed d ev even ents ts in the the gard garden en of Ed Eden enwi with th gr grea eatt in inte tere rest st.. Woul ould d it, it, the then, n, ma mak ke sen sense se for for a wi wise se God, Go d, aft after er creat creatin ing g an aw awee-in insp spiri iring ng uni unive verse rse and an array of marvelous earthly works, to br brin ing g forth forth un unde derr the ey eyes es of hi hiss an ang gel elic ic sons sons two tw o uni uniqu que e cr crea eatur tures es who he kn knew ew we were re WATCHTOWER ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 14 THE WATCHTOWER
bound to fa bound fail il?? Clea Clearl rly y, to pl plan an suc such h a cal calam amit ity y would wo uld no nott sta stand nd to reas reason on.. Still, someone may object, ‘But how could an allall-wi wise se Go God d no nott ha have ve kn kno own wn?’ ?’ Gr Gran ante ted, d, a facet of Jehovah’s great wisdom is his capability to know “from the beginning the finale.” (Isaiah 46:9, 10) However, he does not hav ha ve to use use this this capa capabi bili lity ty,, ju just st as he do does es no nott al alwa ways ys ha have ve to use use hi hiss im imme mens nse e po pow wer to the the full. Jehovah wisely uses his ability of foreknow kn owle ledg dge e sel select ectiv ivel ely y. He use usess it whe when n it makes sense to do so and fits the circumstances. The Th e ab abil ilit ity y to refr refrai ain n from from usin using g fo fore re-know kn owle ledg dge e can be il illus lustr trat ated ed wi with th a fe feat atur ure e of modern mode rn tec technol hnology ogy.. Som Someone eone wat watchin ching g a prerecorded sports match has the option to watc wa tch h th the e fin final al mi minu nute tess first first in orde orderr to kn kno ow the outcome. But he does not have to start that wa that way y. Wh Who o coul could d crit critic iciz ize e hi him m if he ch chos ose e to watch the entire match from the beginning? Similarly, the Creator evidently chose nott to see no see ho how w th thin ings gs wo woul uld d turn turn ou out. t. Rat Rathe herr, he cho chose se to wa wait it and and,, as event eventss un unfo fold lded ed,, see how his earthly children would conduct themselves. As men mention tioned ed ear earlie lier, r, Jeh Jehova ovah h in his wisdom did not create the first humans as automa tomato tons ns prog progra ramm mmed ed fo forr a fix fixed ed cour course se.. InInstead, he lovingly endowed them with free wi will ll.. By ch choo oosi sing ng the rig right ht cour course se,, the they y could cou ld ma mani nife fest st the their ir lo love ve,, gra grati titud tude, e, and ob obeedience, dien ce, ther thereby eby brin bringing ging added del deligh ightt to themselves and to Jehovah as their heavenly Father.—Pro Father .—Proverbs verbs 27 27:1 :11; 1; Isaiah 48:1 48:18. 8. The Scriptures show that on many occasions God did not make use of his ability of foreknowledge. For example, when faithful Abraham Abrah am went to the poin pointt of att attemp emptin ting g to sacrifice his son, Jehovah could say: “Now I do know tha thatt you are are Go Godd-fe fear arin ing g in th that at you have not withheld your son, your only one, fr from om me me.” .” (G (Gene enesi siss 22 22:1 :12) 2) On the ot other her hand, han d, the there re we were re also also occ occas asio ions ns whe when n the
God knew that Adam and Eve had the ability to act loyally
The quality of love is the strongest reason why Jehovah chose not to know in advance that Adam and Eve would sin. Love is God’s main ma in at attr trib ibut ute. e. “G “God od is lo love ve,” ,” says says 1 Jo John hn 4: 4:8. 8. Love Lov e is pos posit itiv ive, e, no nott neg negati ative ve.. It loo looks ks for the good in others. Yes, motivated by love, Jeho vah God wan wanted ted the bes bestt for the firs firstt human pair. Even though God’s earthly children had the option of making an unwise choice, our lovin loving g God wa wass no nott in incli cline ned d to be pessi pessimi mist stic ic or to be suspicious of his perfect creatures. He had amply provided for them and had equipped them well. It was only appropriate that God should expect, not rebellion, but lovin loving g ob obedi edienc ence e in retur return. n. He kn knew ew tha thatt bad cond conduct uct of certa certain in ind indivi ividual dualss caus caused ed Adam and Eve had the abil ability ity to act lo loyall yally y, God to “feel hurt.” Would he have felt such as was later proved even by imperfect men, pain if he had long known what they would su such ch as Ab Abra raha ham, m, Jo Job, b, Da Dani niel el,, an and d ma man ny ot othhdo?— do ?—Ps Psal alm m 78 78:4 :40, 0, 41; 1 Kings Kings 11: 1:9, 9, 10. ers. Thus Th us,, it is on only ly re reas ason onab able le to conc conclu lude de that that “With God all thin things gs ar are e pos possibl sible, e,” ” said Jethe the allall-wi wise se Go God d did did no nott ex exer erci cise se his his ab abil ilit ity y of sus. (Matthew (Matthew 19:2 9:26) 6) That is a com comfort forting ing foreknowledge to know in advance that our tho though ught. t. Je Jeho hova vah’ h’ss lo love ve,, alon along g wit with h hi hiss ot othe herr fir first st pa pare rent ntss wou would ld sin sin.. He wa wass not so fo fooli olish sh dominant attributes of justice, wisdom, and as to embark on a bizarre venture, using his power, guarantees that in due time he can ability to know the outcome in advance and and will remove all the effects of sin and death.—Revelati velation on 21 21:3-5. :3-5. th then en stag stagin ing g a me merre re reru run n of wh what at he al alrrea eady dy death.—Re knew. Clearly, Jehovah did not know beforehand th that at the the first first co coup uple le wou ould ld si sin. n. Wh Whiile he was “God Is Love” pained by the disobedience of man and the God’s adversary, Satan, initiated the rebel- ensuing suffering, God knew that this temlion in Eden that resulted in negative conse- porary situation would not prevent the fulquen qu ence ces, s, incl includ udin ing g sin sin an and d de deat ath. h. Sa Sata tan n thus thus fillment of his eternal purpose for the earth was “a manslayer.” He also proved to be “a an and d hu huma mans ns up upon on it it.. Wh Why y no nott fin find d ou outt mor more liar and the father of the lie.” (John 8:44) ab abou outt that that pu purp rpos ose e an and d ho how w you ma may y be bene nefit fit Driven by bad motives himself, he strives to fro from m its glori glorious ous fulfi fulfillm llment ent?? attri attribut bute e ba bad d mo motiv tives es to our lovin loving g Cr Crea eato torr. It For more information about God’s purpose for the suit suitss hi him m we well ll to shift shift the the blam blame e for for ma man’ n’ss si sin n ear the Bibl Biblee Real Real-earth, th, seechap seechapter ter 3 of the bo book ok What Does the to Jeho Jehovah. vah. ly Teach? published published by Jehovah’s Witnesses. 1
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T THE HE WAT CH TO W E R ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 15
LEARN FROM GOD’S WORD
Why Learn From God? This article ar ticle raises questions you may have wondered about and shows where you can read the answers in your Bible. Jehovah’s Witnesses would be pleased to discuss these answers with you.
1. Why learn from God? God has good news of something better for mankind. He tells us about it in the pages of the Bible. The Bible is like a letter to us from our loving Father in heaven.— heaven.—Read Jerem Jeremiah iah 29:1 29:11 1.
2. What is the good news? Mankind needs good government. No human ruler has ever relieved mankind of violence, injustice, disease, or death. But there is good news. God will gi giv ve mank mankind ind a good good gove govern rnme ment nt that that wi will ll brin bring g free free-dom do m from from al alll caus causes es of suffe sufferin ring. g.— —Re Read ad Dan Daniel iel 2:4 2:44. 4.
3. Why is it vital to learn from God? So Soon on God God will will clea clearr th the e ea earth rth of peop people le who who ca caus use e sufferin suff ering. g. Meanw Meanwhile hile,, he is te teac aching hing million millionss of meek people to enjoy a better way of life, based on love. From God’s Word, people are learning how to cope with life’s problems, how to find real happiness, and how to please God.—Read Zephaniah 2:3.
4. Who is the Author of the Bible? The Bible is made up of 66 small books. Some 40 men me n wrot wrote e them. them. The first first fiv five e were were writ writte ten n by Mose Mosess about 3,500 years ago. The last was written by the apos ap ostl tle e Jo John hn ov over er 1,900 ,900 yea ears rs ago. ago. But But th the e Bi Bibl ble e writ writ-ers ers wrot wrote e God’ God’ss th thou ough ghts ts and and not not thei theirr own. wn. So God God is the Author of the Bible.—Read 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter Peter 1:2 1:21 1. We know know that the Bible is from God because because it accurately curat ely foretells foretells the future future in detail. detail. No man can can do that. (Isaiah 46:9, 10) Also, the Bible bears the unmistakable stamp of God’s loving personality. It has the power to change people’s lives for the better. These facts convince millions that the Bible is God’s Word.—Re Read ad Jos Joshua hua 23: 23:1 14; 1 The Thessa ssalon lonian ianss 2:1 2:13. 3.
5. How can you understand the Bible? Jesus became famous as a teacher of God’s Word. Although most people he spoke to were familiar with the Bible, they needed assistance to understand it. To help them, Jesus referred to one Bible text after another and explained “the meaning of the Sc Scrip riptur tures. es.” ” This This featu feature, re, “L “Learn earn Fr From om God’s God’s Word, ord,” ” wi will ll us use e the same same metho method d to help help you. you.— —Read Luke 24:2 4:27 7, 45. Fe Few w th thin ings gs ar are e as fasc fascin inat ating ing as le learn arnin ing g from from God God about the purpose of life. But some people may not be plea please sed d that that you are are re read adin ing g the the Bi Bibl ble. e. Do no nott be discouraged. Your hope of enjoying everlasting life depends on your getting to know God.—Read Matthew 5:1 5:10-1 0-12; 2; John 17:3.
For more information, see chapter 2 of this book, published by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH? Really Rea lly TEACH?
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DRAW CLOSE TO GOD
“He “H e Sof Sof tened ened the the Face ace of Jeh Jehovah” vah” FE FELLT so unwo unworth rthy y,” says says a man man who who had had strayed from his godly upbringing. When he began to take steps to turn his life around, he feared that God would never forgive him. But this this re repe pent ntan antt si sinn nner er fo foun und d hope hope in th the e Bi Bibl ble e ac ac-co count unt about about Manas Manasseh seh,, recor recorded ded at 2 Chroni Chronicle cless 33:1-17. If you have ever felt unworthy because of past past si sins ns,, you to too o may may find comfo comfort rt in Mana Manassseh’s seh ’s example. example. Manasseh was raised in a godly home. home. His father, the r, Hezeki Hezekiah, ah, was was one of the most most outsta outstandi nding ng kings of Judah. Manasseh was born about three years yea rs after his father’s father’s life had been miraculou miraculously sly
Finally, Jehovah allowed Manasseh to be taken in fetters to Babylon. There, in exile, Manasse seh h had had a ch chan ance ce to re refle flect ct on hi hiss cour course se.. Di Did d he now no w see that that his impot impoten ent, t, lif lifele eless ss idols idols ha had d failed to protect him? Did he think back to the thing thi ngss his godly godly fathe fatherr had had taugh taughtt him as a ch child ild?? What Whatev ever er the case, case, Manas Manasseh seh ha had d a change of heart. The record says: “He softened the face of Jehovah his God and kept humbling hi hims msel elff gr grea eatl tly y . . . An And d he kept kept pr pra ayi ying ng to Him.” (V (Ver erse sess 12,13) 2,13) But But co coul uld d a man man who who had had committed such gross sins really be forgiven by God?
extended by God. (2 Kings 20:1-11) No doubt Hezek He zekia iah h view viewed ed th this is son son as a gi gift ft re resu sult ltin ing g from from God’s mercy and tried to instill in him a love for pure worship. But the children of godly parents do not always follow in their parents’ footsteps. Su Such ch was was the the ca case se wi with th Mana Manass sseh eh.. Mana Ma nass sseh eh was was not not more more than than 12 when when he lost lost his father. Sadly, Manasseh “proceeded to do what was bad in Jehovah’s eyes.” (Verses 1, 2) Was the young king influenced by counselors who had no regard for true worship? The Bible does not say. What it does tell us is that Manasseh descended to gross idolatry and cruelty. He set up altars to false gods, offered his own sons in sacrifice, rific e, practice practiced d spiritis spiritism, m, and and put put a grav graven en imag image e in Jehovah’s temple in Jerusalem. Stubborn Manasse seh h re refu fuse sed d to heed heed re repe peat at-ed warnings from Jehovah, the the God God whos whose e mirac miracle le had had enabled enab led his birth.—V birth.—Verserses 3-10. 3-10.
Jehovah was touched by Manasseh’s sincere repentan repen tance ce.. God heard heard his pleas pleas for for merc mercy y “and “an d re resto stored red him to Jerusa Jerusale lem m to his kingkingship.” ship .” (Verse (Verse 13) 13) In proof proof of his repentan repentance, ce, Mana Ma nass sseh eh then then di did d what what he co coul uld d to rect rectiify his wrongs wrongs,, cleari clearing ng out out ido idolat latry ry from from his realm rea lm an and d urging urging his peopl people e “to “to serve serve Jehov Jehovah ah.” .” —Verses 15-17 5-17. If you feel unworthy unworthy of God’s forgiveness forgiveness because of past sins, take heart from Manasseh’s example. This account is part of God’s inspired Word. Wo rd. (Romans (Romans 15:4) 5:4) Clearly Clearly,, Jehovah Jehovah wants wants us us to know that he is “ready to forgive.” (Psalm 86:5) It is not the sin but the heart condition of the sinner that matters to him. A sinner who pr pray ayss wi with th a co cont ntrit rite e heart heart,, aban abando dons ns hi hiss wron wrong g course cou rse,, an and d make makess dete determi rmined ned eff efforts orts to do what is right may ‘soften the face of Jehovah,’ ev even en as Manass Manasseh eh di did.— d.—Isa Isaiah iah 1:1 1:18; 55 55:6 :6,, 7.
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Young’ Young’ss Literal Tra Translation nslation here reads: “He . . . appeased the face of Jehovah his God.”
SUGGESTED ESTED BIBLE REA READING DING FOR JANU JANUAR ARY Y: SUGG ˛ 2 Ch Chro ronic nicles les 29–Ez 29–Ezra ra 10
DID YOU KNOW? Since Israel has a long dry season, what strategies did its inhabitants in ancient times adopt to ensure their water supply? ˇ Between October and April, rain falls
CISTERN, HORVOT MEZADA, ISRAEL ˘ Masada
National Park, Israel Nature and Parks Authority
in Israel and at times gushes down torrent valleys. In the summer, however, most mo st of thes these e “riv “river ers” s” dry up, up, and and ther there e may be no rain for months. How did peop pe ople le in Bi Bibl ble e time timess main mainta tain in a st stea eady dy supply of water? They The y resolv resolved ed this problem problem by cutcutting ting ch chan anne nels ls into into hi hill llsi side dess and and didirecting winter rains into underground cavities, or cisterns. Rooftops were sufficiently sloped to direct rainwater into these cisterns. Many families had their
ter rain seeps into the ground until it reach rea ches es impe imperme rmeab able le la laye yers rs of rock, rock, al alon ong g whic which h it ru runs ns unti untill it re reap app pea ears rs in springs. That villages were often built near near a spring spring (Heb (Hebre rew, w, en) is suguggest gested ed by such such pl plac acee-na name mess as EnEnshemesh, En-rogel, and En-gedi. (Joshua 15:7 5:7, 62 62)) At Jerusa Jerusalem lem,, a cond conduit uit was was quarri qu arried ed throug through h solid solid rock rock to bring bring springw spri ngwate aterr into into the cit city y.— .—2 2 Kings Kings 20:20. Wher Wh ere e there there were were no natu natural ral sp sprin rings gs,, one a well well (Heb (Hebre rew w, be er ), such as the one
own ow n ci cist stern ern,, from from which which they they could could dr dra aw wat ater er to quen quench ch thei theirr thirs thirst. t. —2 Kings 18:31; Jeremiah 6:7. The Israelites Israelites also took advanta advantage ge of natural springs. In the highlands, win-
at Beer-sheba, was sunk to tap underground water. (Genesis 26:32, 33) Au ´ thor Andr e Chouraqui notes that “the technic tec hnical al solution solutionss [the [the Israelit Israelites] es] found found command admiration even today.”
What kind of house might Abram (Abraham) have lived in? Abram and his wife lived in the prospero pe rous us Chal Chalde dean an city city of Ur. Ur. Bu Butt at God’s direction, they left that city and began dwelling in tents. (Genesis 11: 31; 13:12) 3:12) Conside Considerr what a sacrifice sacrifice this change may have involved for them. Ur, in modern-day Iraq, was excavated by Leonard Woolley between 1922 an and d 193 934. 4. Amon Among g the build building ingss he foun found d were were so some me 73 hous houses es built built of bric brick. k. The The ro room omss of many manyof of th thes ese e hous hous-es were arranged around a paved centrall co tra courty urtyard ard.. Th The e co courty urtyard ard slope sloped d gently toward its center, where a drain eliminated waste water. In the larger houses, hou ses, guest guest rooms had their their own lav-
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DRAWING OF A HOUSE FROM THE TIME OF ABRAHAM ˘ Drawing:
A. S. Whitburn
atori atories es.. Other Other room roomss on the ground ground floor included kitchens with fireplaces and slaves’ sleeping quarters. The family lived on the upper level, which was acce access ssed ed by a stai stairc rcas ase. e. The The stai stairs rs led led to a wooden balcony that ran around the courtyard and permitted access to the doors of the upper rooms. “A house . . . , with its paved court and neatly whitewashed walls, its own sy syst stem em of drai draina nage ge,, . . . of a doze dozen n rooms or more, implies a standard of life of a really high order,” wrote Woolley ley. “And And thes these e are are the the hous houses es . . . of the the middle class, shopkeepers, petty merchants, scribes, and so on.” T THE HE WAT CH TO W ER
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JANUARY 1, 2011 19
Does God Really Care Aboutt You? Abou
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O YOU fee eell lov loved ed?? Or are are you so some meti time mess le left ft wi with th th the e im im-pr press ession ion tha thatt nob nobod ody y ca care ress abo about ut yo you? u? In thi thiss fas fastt-pa paced ced,, self-centered world, it may seem easy to believe that you are too too sma small ll to ma matt tter er,, to too o insig insigni nifica ficant nt to be no notic ticed ed.. True to the Bible’s description of our times, many today are so absorbed in themselves that there is a widespread lack of concern for others.— othe rs.—2 2 Tim Timoth othy y 3:1 3:1,, 2. Regardless of age, culture, language, or race, all humans have a deep-rooted need to love and be loved. According to some reports, reports, our nerv nervous ous syst system em is spec special ially ly desi designed gned to se sens nse e love love an and d tend tender erne ness ss.. Je Jeho hova vah h Go God, d, the the on one e wh who o crea create ted d us, unders understand tandss bet better ter tha than n an anyo yone ne els else e our ne need ed to be lo loved ved and appreciated. How would you feel if he assured you that you are precio precious us to him? It wo would uld certai certainly nly be the most treasu sure red d re reco cogn gnit itio ion n you coul could d at atta tain in.. Ca Can n we real really ly be sure sure that that Jehovah Jeho vah is int intere ereste sted d in im imperf perfect ect huma humans? ns? Is he conc concerned erned about us as individuals? If so, what makes a person desirable to him? him? Jehovah Does Care Some 3,000 years ago, a God-fearing psalmist was filled wi with th awe wewh when en he be behe held ld the gran grande deur ur of the the st star arry ry ni nigh ghtt sky sky. Ther Th ere e wa wass no do doub ubtt in hi hiss mi mind nd ab abou outt the the infin infinit itel ely y supe superi rior or majes ma jesty ty of the One who had cr crea eate ted d the co count untles lesss star stars. s. Po Ponndering Jehovah’s greatness and contemplating man’s littleness, the psalmist expressed his amazement about Jehovah’s lovi loving ng conc concer ern: n: “W “Whe hen n I see see you ourr he heav aven ens, s, the the works orks of you ourr fing fin ger ers, s, the the mo moon on an and d the the st star arss that that you ha have ve prep prepar ared ed,, wha whatt is mortal man that you keep him in mind, and the son of earthling man that you take care of him?” (Psalm 8:3, 4) It wou ould ld be ea easy sy to co conc nclu lude de that that the the Su Supr prem eme e On One e is too fa farr off or too too preo preocc ccup upie ied d to ta tak ke no note te of im impe perf rfec ectt hu huma mans ns.. Yet et,, the the ps psal almi mist st kn knew ew tha thatt in spit spite e of ou ourr com compa para rativ tive e in insi signi gnifica ficance nce and an d tran transi sien ence ce,, ma man n do does es coun countt wi with th Go God. d. Another Ano ther psal psalmis mistt expr expresse essed d this assu assuran rance: ce: “Jeh “Jehov ovah ah is findi fin ding ng plea pleasu sure re in thos those e fe fear arin ing g him, him, in thos those e wa wait itin ing g fo forr his his loving-kindness.” (Psalm 147:11) The thought expressed in
both of thes both these e psal psalms ms is touc touchi hing ng.. Jeho Jehova vah, h, el elev evat ated ed as he is is,, is not simply aware aware of humans. Rather, he ‘takes care of them’ and an d ‘fin ‘finds ds pl plea easur sure e in the them. m.’’ This Th is fact fact is furth further er em emph phas asiz ized ed by a Bi Bibl ble e prop prophe hecy cy that that de de-scribes developments taking place in our time. Through the prophet Haggai, Jehovah indicated that the preaching of the good news of God’s Kingdom would be carried out worldwi wide. de. Wi With th wha whatt re resul sult? t? No Noti tice ce one of the effe effects cts:: “Th “The e de desi sirrable thi things of all th the e nations must com come in; and I will fill th thiis house hous e with glory glory.”— .”—Hagg Haggai ai 2:7 2:7.. What are these “desirable things” that are collected out of all the nations? These can hardly be material riches. (Haggai 2:8) What really makes Jehovah’s heart rejoice is not silver and gold. He delights in people who, despite their imperfection tions, s, wo worsh rship ip hi him m out of love love.. (P (Pro rove verb rbss 27:11) :11) The They y are are “th “the e de desi sirab rable le thi thing ngs” s” tha thatt bri bring ng him him glo glory ry,, an and d he trea treasur sures es their the ir he heart art de devo voti tion on and ze zeal alous ous ser servi vice. ce. Are yo you u amo among ng them? The thought that imperfect human creatures can appear
God expressed his affection for Daniel by sending the angel Gabriel to strengthen him
desirable to the Grand Creat desirable Creator or of the universe may seem unbe beli lieva evabl ble. e. In re real alit ity y, tho though ugh,, thi thiss trut truth h sho should uld mo moti tivat vate e us to ac accep ceptt the wa warm rm in invi vitat tatio ion n to dr draw aw clo close se to him.— him.—Is Isaia aiah h 55 55:6 :6;; James Jam es 4:8 4:8.. “You Are Someone Very Desirable” In his advanced age, the prophet Daniel had a striking enco count unter er early early one one evenin evening. g. While While Daniel Daniel was was pr pray aying ing,, a disti distinnguished visitor arrived suddenly. His name was Gabriel. Daniel had met met him befor before e and reco recogni gnized zed him as Jehov Jehovah ah’s ’s angel. Gabriel explained the reason for his sudden appearance: anc e: “O Daniel, Daniel, now now I have have come come forth forth to mak make e you you have have insight with understanding . . . because you are someone very desirable.”—Daniel desirable. ”—Daniel 9:21-23. 9:21-23. On another occasion, one of Jehovah’s angels addressed Daniel, saying: “O Daniel, you very desirable man.” Then, to strengthen Daniel, the angel said: “Do not be afraid, O very desi desira rabl ble e man. man. May May you have have peac peace. e.” ” (Dan (Danie iell 10: 0:1 11, 19) Thre Three e ti time mess Dani Daniel el is th thus us desc describ ribed ed as “v “very ery desi desira rabl ble. e.” ” This This expre expresssion can also mean “greatly “greatly beloved beloved,” ,” “highly “highly esteemed esteemed,” ,” even even “a favo favorit rite. e.” ” Surely, Daniel already felt close to his God and no doubt perceived that Jehovah approved of his devoted service. But that expression of God’s great affection as conveyed through his angelic messengers must have been most reassuring. Not T TH H E WAT CH TO W E R ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 21
have give have given n way way to conv conven enie ient nt book books. s. We now now have the complete Bible, including the written record of how some of Daniel’s prophecies cies were ere fu fulfi lfill lled ed.. And And we hav have at our our disp dispos os-al an abun abunda danc nce e of Bibl Bible e st stud udy y aids aids and and research tools. Do you make good use of su such ch tools ools?? Do you sc sche hedu dule le re regu gula larr ti time mess fo forr Bible reading and meditation? Then the effect ect of your doin ing g sowill sowill be the the same ame as it was Study God’s Word Regularly in Daniel Daniel’s ’s ca case. se. You will will be able able to buil build d solsolDaniel was a diligent student of the Scrip- id fa faith ith and and deep deepen en your our re rela lati tion onsh ship ip with with Je Je-ture tures. s. We kno know this this beca becaus use e he hi hims msel elf f hovah. God’s Word will be a sure guide for wrote: “I . . . dis isccerne erned d by the the books the the num um-- yo your ur life, life, giving you the assurance assurance of his lovber of the years . . . for fulfilling the devasta- ing care. care. tions of Jerusalem.” (Daniel 9:2) The books Persevere in Prayer available to him at the time likely included the inspired writings of Moses, David, SoloDaniel was a man of prayer. He made apmon, mo n, Isaiah Isaiah,, Jeremi Jeremiah, ah, Ezeki Ezekiel, el, and other other propriate requests of God. As a young man, pr prop ophet hets. s. We can imagin imagine e Daniel Daniel surro surround unded ed he faced the threat of execution if unable by numerous scrolls, thoroughly immersed to interpret Babylonian King Nebuchadnezin reading and comparing the prophetic pro- zar’s dream. Without hesitation, Daniel imnoun no unce ceme ment ntss th that at had had a beari bearing ng on th the e re rest stoo- pl plor ored ed Je Jeho hovah vah to gra grant nt hi him m sup suppo port rt an and d rati ration on of true true wors worshi hip p in Jerus Jerusale alem. m. Un- prot protection. ection. (Dani (Daniel el 2:1 2:17 7, 18) Years Years later later,, in disturbed, possibly in his roof chamber, he humble realization of his human imperfecno doubt doubt medita meditated ted deeply deeply on the meanmean- tion, the faithful prophet confessed his sin ing of such such passag passages. es. His purpo purposef seful ul study study tog oge ether ther wi with th th the e si sin n of his his pe peop ople le an and d strengthened his faith and drew him close to begg begged ed Jeho Jehovah vah for for forgiv givenes eness. s. (Da (Danie niell 9: Jehovah. Jeho vah. 3-6, 20) When he lacked understanding reStudy Studying ing God’s God’s Wor ord d also also molde molded d Daniel Daniel’s ’s gard gardin ing g th the e thin things gs that that were ere give given n him him by ininperson per sonali ality ty and affect affected ed his whole whole lif life e co cours urse. e. spi spira rati tion, on, Da Dani niel el ask asked fo forr Go God’ d’ss he help lp.. In Sc Scrip riptur tural al instruc instructio tion n durin during g his tender tender years years one ins instanc tance, e, the ang angel el who subs subsequ equent ently ly no doub doubtt made made hi him m dete determ rmin ined ed as a youth outh to visi visited ted Dan Daniel iel to giv give e him furthe furtherr insi insight ght surprisingly surprisingl y, Daniel Daniel respond responded: ed: “Y “You ou have have strengthe str engthened ned me.”—Dan me.”—Daniel iel 10:19. 0:19. The heartwarming heartwarming account account of Jehovah Jehovah’s ’s tender feelings for his faithful prophet is recorded in God’s Word for our benefit. (Romans 15:4) Reflecting on Daniel’s example al allo lows ws us to unde unders rsta tand nd what what mak makes a pers person on desira des irable ble to our our lovin loving g heave heavenly nly Fa Father ther..
observe the dietary regulations God’s Law that were applicable at the time.of(Daniel 1:8) Later,, he fearlessl Later fearlessly y declared declared God’s message message to Babylo Babylon’ n’ss rulers. rulers. (Prov (Proverb erbss 29:25 29:25;; DanDaniel 4:19-25; 5:22-28) His diligence, honesty, and trustworthiness were well-known. (Daniel 6:4) Above all, rather than compromising in orde orderr to sa save ve his his own life life,, Dani Daniel el fu full lly y trus truste ted d in Jeho Jehova vah. h. (P (Pro rove verb rbss 3: 3:5, 5, 6; Dani Daniel el 6: 23) No wonder he was “very desirable” in God’s God ’s sight! sight! In some some respe espect cts, s, Bibl Bible e stud study y is easi easier er for us toda today y than it was for for Daniel Daniel.. Bulky Bulky scrol scrolls ls WATCHTOWER CHTOWER ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 22 THE WAT
1
confirmed: “Your words have been heard.” —Daniell 10 —Danie 10:12. :12. Faith Faithfu full Da Dani niel el,, tho though ugh,, di did d mo more re tha than n offerr peti offe petiti tion onss to Go God. d. Da Dani niel el 6: 6:1 10 sta state tes: s: “Ev “E ven th thrree times in a day he was . . . praying and offer offering ing pra praise ise bef before ore his Go God, d, as he had been regularly doing.” Daniel found many reasonss to thank and prais reason praise e Jehovah. And he did so regularly. Yes, prayer was an integral 1
Jehovah’s Witnesses publish a number of research and study aids that can help to make Bible reading and study more beneficial. If you are interested in obtaining such aids, feel free to ask any of Jehovah’s Jehovah’s Witnesses Witnesses..
part of his worship, so much so that he could not give it up even at the risk of his life. Certainly, this steadfastness ende dear ared ed hi him m to Je Jeho hova vah. h. What Wh at a wo wond nder erfu full gi gift ft the the pr priv ivil ileg ege e of pray prayer er is is!! Ne Neve verr le lett a da day y go by wit witho hout ut tal talki king ng to yo your ur he heav avenl enly y Fa Fathe therr. Re Reme memb mber er to than thank k an and d prai praise se him him for al alll the the go good odne ness ss he sho shows ws.. Freel eely express your anxieties and concerns. Reflect on how your reques qu ests ts or sup suppl plica icati tion onss ha have ve be been en ans answe were red, d, and exp expre ress ss yo your ur gratitude. Take time to linger in prayer. When we thus open our heart to Jehovah in prayer, we experience his love in a ve very ry pe perso rsonal nal wa way y. Wha Whatt an in incen centi tive ve to “p “pers ersev ever ere e in prayer”!—R pray er”!—Romans omans 12: 12:12. 12. Glorify Jehovah’s Name No frie friend ndsh ship ip can can thri thrive ve if on one e pa parrty is se self lf-c -cen ente tere red. d. Th The e sa same me is tru true e in our re rela lati tions onshi hip p wi with th Jeh Jehov ovah ah.. Da Dani niel el wa wass awa ware re of thi thiss fact fact.. Co Cons nsid ider er ho how w gr grea eatl tly y he was con concerne cerned d abou aboutt glor glorifyi ifying ng Jeh Jehova ovah’ h’ss
Daniel’s diligence in study and prayer refined his personality and endeared him to God
name. When God answered his prayer by re vealin vea ling g to him Neb Nebucha uchadne dnezza zzar’s r’s dre dream am and its int interpr erpretat etation ion,, Dan Daniel iel said said:: “Let the the na name me of Go God d be beco come me bles blesse sed d from from time time inde indefin finit ite e even even to time indefin indefinite, ite, ffor or wisdom an and d mighti mightiness—f ness—for or they belong to him.” Later, when making known to Nebuchadnezzar the dr drea eam m and its its me meani aning ng,, Da Dani niel el re repea peate tedl dly y ga gave ve cr cred edit it to Je Jeho ho- vah, emp emphasi hasizin zing g that onl only y He is the “Re “Revea vealer ler of secr secrets ets.” .” Simila Sim ilarl rly y, when ple pleadi ading ng for for forgiv givene eness ss and deli deliver verance ance,, Daniel prayed: “O my God, . . . your own name has been called upon your city and upon your people.”—Daniel 2:20, 28;; 9:1 28 9:19. 9. We have many opportunities to imitate Daniel in this regard. When praying, we may express our concern that God’s “nam “n ame e be sa sanct nctifie ified. d.” ” (M (Matt atthe hew w 6: 6:9, 9,1 10) Ne Neve verr wo woul uld d we wa want nt our conduct to bring reproach on Jehovah’s holy name. Instead, may we always glorify Jehovah by sharing with others what wh at we le lear arn n ab abou outt the the go good od ne news ws of his his Ki King ngdo dom. m. Grant Gra nted, ed, iin n the wo worl rld d ar aroun ound d us, llov ove e and con conce cern rn fo forr ot othher erss ar are e wa want ntin ing. g. We can can,, ho howe weve verr, find gre great at com comfo fort rt in knowing that Jehovah really does care about his worshippers as individuals. As the psalmist says: “Jehovah is taking pleasure in his people. He beautifies the meek ones with salvation.”—Psalm 149:4.
T THE HE WAT CH TO W E R ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 2 3
IMITATE THEIR FAITH
He Endured Despite Disappointments SAMUEL could feel the grief in Shiloh. It almost seemed that the town was awash in tears. From how many houses did the cries of women and children emanate, the sounds of mourning over the news about fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers who would not be coming home? We know only that Israel had lost some 30,000 soldiers in a terrible defeat at the hands of the Philistines not long after the loss of 4,000 in another battle.—1 Samuel 4:1, 2, 10. That was just part of a string of tragedies. High Priest Eli had two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who had marched out of Shiloh with the sacred sacred ark ark of the covenant covenant.. Usually housed in the holy compartment of the tabernacle— tabern acle—a a tentlik tentlike e temple—th temple—this is preciou preciouss chest was a symbol of God’s presence. The people peo ple then then took took the Ar Ark k into into battle battle,, fooli foolishl shly y thinking that it would act like a charm and give giv e them them victo victory ry.. But the Philis Philistin tines es ca capptured the Ark, killing Hophni and Phinehas. —1 Samuel Samuel 4:3-1 4:3-11 1. The tabernacle in Shiloh had been honored with the presence of the Ark for centuri ries es.. Now Now it was was gone gone.. Upon Upon heari hearing ng th this is news, 98-year-old Eli fell backward from his ch chair airve and died. die His daught dau er-in -in-la -law wfore , widow wid owed ed th that at very ry day da y,d. di died ed in chil chghter ildb dbirt irth. h. Befo Be re expirexp irin ing, g, sh she e sa said id:: “Glo “Glory ry has has gone gone away away fr from om Isra Isra-el into exile.” Indeed, Shiloh would never be the same.— same.—1 1 Samuel Samuel 4:12-2 4:12-22. 2. How would Samuel cope with these profound found disapp disappoi ointm ntment ents? s? Would ould his faith faith st stan and d up to th the e chal challe leng nge e of help helpin ing g a peop people le who wh o had lost lost Jehov Jehovah ah’s ’s pr prot otect ection ion and favo favor? r? All of us today today may, may, at times, times, face hardhardships shi ps and disapp disappoin ointme tment ntss that that chall challeng enge e our faith aith,, so let let us see what what we can lear learn n from Samuel. WATCHTOWER ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 24 THE WATCHTOWER
He “Effected Righteousness” The Bible record turns away from Samuel at this this po poin intt an and d fo foll llo ows the the sacr sacred ed Ark, Ark,
showing us how Philistines suffered for taking it and werethe forced to return it. When we come upon Samuel again, some 20 years have passed. (1 Samuel 7:2) How was he occupi cupied ed du duri ring ng thos those e year years? s? We ne need ed no nott guess. We le learn arn tha thatt befo before re thi thiss per perio iod d beg began, an, “t “the he wo word rd of Sa Samu muel el continued to co come me to all all Israe Isr ael. l.” ” (1 Samue Samuell 4: 4:1) 1) The recor record d reve reveal alss tha thatt after aft er the the pe peri riod od wa wass over ver, Samu Samuel el ma made de a cuscustom tom of visi visiti ting ng thre three e ci citi ties es in Isra Israel el,, ma maki king ng a circuit each year, handling disputes and resolving questions. Then he would return to his hometown of Ramah. (1 Samuel 7:15-17) Clear Clearly ly,, Samue Samuell al alwa ways ys kep eptt bus busy y, an and d dur durin ing g thatt 20 tha 20-y -yea earr in inte terva rval, l, he ha had d mu much ch to do do.. The im immo mora rali lity ty an and d cor corrup rupti tion on of El Eli’ i’ss sonss ha son had d erod eroded ed peopl people’ e’ss fa faith ith.. Ma Many ny,, it seem seems, s, tu turn rned ed to id idol olat atry ry as a resu result lt.. Aft After er tw two o decades of hard work, though, Samuel delivered this message to the people: “If it is with al alll your our he heart art you are are retu return rnin ing g to Je Jeho ho- vah, put aw away ay the for foreign eign gods fro from m yo your ur midst and also also the Ashtore Ashtoreth th images images,, and direct your heart unswervingl unswervingly y to Jehovah and
se serv rve e hi him m al alon one, e, an and d he wi will ll de deli live verr you from from the han hand d of the Ph Phil ilis isti tine nes. s.”— ”—1 1 Sa Samue muell 7:3. :3. “The hand of the Philistines” had grown heavy on the people. With Israel’s army effectively smashed, the Philistines felt free to oppr op press ess Go God’ d’ss pe peop ople le wi with th im impun punit ity y. But Sa Samu muel el as assu sure red d the pe peop ople le that that thi thing ngss wo woul uld d chang ch ange e if onl only y the they y re retur turne ned d to Je Jeho hova vah. h. Were We re they willi willing? ng? T To o Samuel’ Samuel’ss deligh delight, t, they put aw away ay the their ir idol idolss an and d “be “bega gan n se servi rving ng Jeh Jehoo vah alo alone. ne.” ” Sam Samuel uel con conven vened ed an ass assembl embly y at Mizp Mi zpah ah,, a to town wn in the mou mounta ntain inou ouss cou count ntry ry north no rth of Jer Jerusa usale lem. m. The peo peopl ple e ga gathe there red, d, fasted, and repented for their many sins of idolatry.— idolat ry.—1 1 Samuel 7:4-6. Howeve How ever, r, the Phi Philis listin tines es lea learned rned of this gr grea eatt gathe gatheri ring ng an and d sa saw w an op oppo portu rtuni nity ty.. They Th ey se sent nt thei theirr ar arm my to Mi Mizp zpah ah to cru crush sh those worshippers of Jehovah. The Israelites
fe fear ar to hi hide de behi behind nd the their ir mo momm mmie iess whe when n they the y he hear ar a thun thunde derc rcla lap? p? No No,, thes these e we were re tough, battle-hardened battle-hardened soldiers. This thunder, then, must have been unlike anything they knew. Was it the sheer volume of this “loud “lo ud noise noise”? ”? Did it come out of a cle clear ar blue sky, or did it echo bafflingly from the hillsides? At any rate, it shook those Philistines to the co core re.. IIn n utt utter er con confus fusion ion,, th they ey cha chang nged ed quickly from bullies to targets. The men of Israel Isr ael pour poured ed forth fro from m Miz Mizpah, pah, def defeat eated ed them them,, an and d ch chas ased ed th them em fo forr mi mile les, s, do down wn southwes south westt of Jerus Jerusale alem.—1 m.—1 Samu Samuel el 7:1 :11 1. That Th at ba batt ttle le wa wass a tu turn rnin ing g po poin int. t. Th The e Ph Phil ilis is-tiness ke tine kept pt retre retreati ating ng duri during ng the res restt of Samu Samu-el’s days as judge. City after city returned to the con contro troll of God God’s ’s peo people ple.—1 .—1 Samu Samuel el 7: 13,1 13, 14. Many centuries later, the apostle Paul list-
hear he ard d ne news ws of the ap appr proa oachi ching ng da dang nger er.. Terr erriified, they asked Samuel to pray for them. He di did d so so,, off offer erin ing g a sa sacr crifi ifice ce as wel ell. l. Du Duri ring ng that that sacred ceremony, the Philistine army came up against Mizpah. Jehovah then answered Samuel’s prayer. In effect, Jehovah let out a roar roar of indi indign gnat atio ion. n. He “c “cau ause sed d it to thun thunde derr with wi th a loud loud no nois ise e on th that at da day y ag agai ains nstt th the e Phihilistines.” listi nes.”—1 —1 Samuel 7:7-1 :7-10. 0. Now, should we imagine that those Philistines were like little children who scurry in
ed Samue Samuell amo among ng the fa faith ithfu full judge judgess and prophets who “effected righteousness.” (Hebrews 11:32, 33) Samuel did indeed help to brin bring g ab abou outt wh what at wa wass go good od an and d righ rightt in God’s God ’s eyes eyes.. He rema remain ined ed effe effecti ctive ve becau because se he waited patiently on Jehovah, faithfully keeping at his work in spite of disappointments. He also showed an appreciative spirit. After the victory at Mizpah, Samuel had a monument erected to commemorate the way that Jehovah Jeho vah had hel helped ped his peo people ple.—1 .—1 Sam Samuel uel 7:12. Do you ‘effect yo yourse urself? lf? want If so,toyo you u dorighteousness’ wel welll to lea learn rn from from Sam Samuel uel’s ’s pa patie tienc nce e and his humble, hum ble, appr appreci eciati ative ve spir spirit. it. Who of us do does es no nott ne need ed thos those e qu qual aliities? It was good for Samuel to acq acqui uire re and di disp spla lay y suc such h traits when relatively young, How could Samuel help his people cope with terrible loss and disappointment?
for he faced deeper disappointments in his later lat er yea years. rs. “Your Own Sons Have Not Walked in Your Ways” The Th e ne next xt time time we se see e Sa Samu muel el,, he “h “had ad grown old.” Samuel had two adult sons by
this time, Joel and Abijah, and he entrusted them with the responsi responsibility bility of helping him in the wo work rk of jud judgi ging. ng. Sadl Sadly y, tho though ugh,, his his trust was mis mispla placed. ced. Hone Honest st and righ righteo teous us though Samuel was, his sons used their posi siti tion onss fo forr se selfi lfish sh en ends, ds, pe perve rverti rting ng jus justi tice ce and an d tak takin ing g bri bribe bes.— s.—1 1 Samu Samuel el 8: 8:11-3. 3. One On e da day y, th the e olde olderr me men n of Is Isra rael el ap ap-proache pro ached d the elde elderl rly y pro prophe phett to com compla plain. in. “Your “Y our ow own n so sons ns ha have ve no nott wa walk lked ed in yo your ur ways wa ys,” ,” they they sa said id.. (1 Sa Samu muel el 8:4, 8:4, 5) Was Sa Samu mu-el aware of the problem? The account does not no t sa say Unli lik keensi Eli, Eli, ho howe verr,rSa Samue l wa was s sur suree-ly no not tya. Un re repr preh ehen sibl ble eweve fathe father . Jeho Jemuel hova vah h ha had d re rebuked and punished Eli for failing to correct his sons’ wickedness, for honoring his sons more than God. (1 Samuel 2:27-29) Jehovah neve ne verr fo found und suc such h fau fault lt wi with th Sa Samue muel. l.
The account does not reveal Samuel’s agonizing niz ing sham shame, e, anxi anxiety ety,, or dis disappo appoint intment ment once on ce he le lear arne ned d of his his sons sons’’ wi wick cked ed cond conduc uct. t. Many Man y pare parent nts, s, ho howe weve ver, r, can im imagi agine ne hi hiss fe feelelings only too well. In today’s dark times, rebellion against parental authority and discipline is pandemic. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Parents who are dealing with that kind of pain may find a measure of comfort and guidance in Samuel’s example. He did not let his sons’ faithless ways alter his own course one bit. Remember, even after words and discipline faill to reac fai reach h ha hard rden ened ed he heart arts, s, pare parenta ntall exa exammple remai remains ns a po powe werfu rfull te teach acher er.. And parparents always have the opportunity to make theirr own Father thei Father,, Jeh Jehova ovah h God, pro proud—a ud—ass did Samu Samuel. el. “Do Appoint for Us a King”
Samuel’ uel’s s effe sonsctscoul could d not hav have ima imagine gined d hoSam how w fa far r the effects of thei their r gree greed d eand se selfi lfishshness would reach. The older men of Israel went on to say to Samuel: “Now do appoint for us a king to judg judge e us like all the natio nations.” ns.” Did that de demand mand fee feell lik like e a rej rejecti ection on to S Samam-
How did Samuel cope with the disappointment of having sons who went bad?
uel? Aft uel? After er al all, l, he ha had d be been en ju judg dgin ing g tho those se pe peoople pl e on Je Jeho hovah vah’s ’s be beha half lf for for de deca cades des.. No Now w they the y wa want nted ed,, no nott som some e me mere re pr proph ophet et lik like Samuel, but a king to be their judge. The nations round about had kings, and the Israelites wanted one too! How did Samuel react? “The thing was bad” in his eyes, we read. —1 Sa Samu muel el 8:5, 8:5, 6. Note No te ho how w Jeh Jehov ovah ah re resp spond onded ed wh when en Sa Samumuel too ook k the the ma matt tter er to hi him m in pra prayer: yer: “L “Lis iste ten n to the voice of the people as respects all that they say to you; for it is not you whom they have rejected, but it is I whom they have reje ject cted ed fr from om be bein ing g king king ov over er the them. m.” ” Ho How w comforting for Samuel, yet how awful an insult sult thos those e pe peop ople le ha had d flu flung ng at Almi Almigh ghty ty Go God! d! Jehova Jeh ovah h tol told d his pro prophe phett to warn the Isra Israelelit ites es of the high high pr priice th they ey wou ould ld pa pay y for ha havving a human king. When Samuel complied, they insisted: “No, but a king is what will come to be over us.” Ever obedient to his God, Go d, Sa Samue muell we went nt an and d ano anoin inte ted d the king king whom who m Jeh Jehov ovah ah chos chose.— e.—1 1 Sam Samuel uel 8:7 8:7-1 -19. 9. How, though, did Samuel obey? In a resentful, perfunctory way? Did he allow disap appoi pointm ntment ent to poi poison son his he heart, art, letti letting ng bitterness take root? Many a man might respond that way in such a situation, but not Samu Samuel el.. He ano anoin inte ted d Sau Saull an and d ack ackno nowl wledg edged ed that the man was Jehovah’s own choice. He kissed Saul, a sign of welcome and submissi sion on to th the e ne new w ki king ng.. An And d he ssai aid d to the the pe peoople: “Have you seen the one whom Jehovah hass ch ha chos osen en,, that that ther there e is no none ne lik like hi him m amon am ong g all the pe peopl ople? e?”—1 ”—1 Samue Samuell 10: 0:1 1, 24 24.. Samuel focused, not on faults, but on the good in the man Jehovah had chosen. As to himself, he focused on his own record of integrity to God rather than on the approval of fickle people. (1 Samuel 12:1-4) He also work wo rked ed fai faithf thfull ully y at his his ow own n ass assig ignme nment nt,, counseling God’s people about the spiritual danger dan gerss they face faced d and enco encourag uraging ing them
to rem remain ain faith faithful ful to Jeho Jehovah. vah. His coun counsel sel reached their hearts, and the people begged Samu Samuel el to pra pray in thei theirr be beha half lf.. He gav gave them them thiss bea thi beauti utiful ful repl reply: y: “It is unt unthi hink nkabl able, e, on my part, pa rt, to sin sin agai agains nstt Je Jeho hova vah h by ceas ceasin ing g to pray pray in you ourr be beha hallf; and and I mu must st in insstruc tructt you in the the good and righ rightt wa way y.”— .”—1 1 Samu Samuel el 12 12:2 :21-2 1-24. 4. Have Ha ve yo you u ever ever fe felt lt di disap sappo poin inte ted d wh when en someone else was chosen for a certain position tion or pri privi vile lege ge?? Samue Samuel’ l’ss exa examp mple le is a po powwer erfu full remi remind nder er that that we mu must st ne neve verr let let je jeal alou ou-sy or bitterness take root in our heart. God has plenty of rewarding, fulfilling work for each eac h of hi hiss fa faith ithfu full ser servan vants. ts. “For How Long Will You Be Mourning for Saul?” Samuel was right to see good in Saul; this wass a rema wa remark rkab able le ma man. n. Tal alll an and d im impr press essiv ive e in
appeara appea rance nce,, he wa wass cou coura rage geous ous an and d resou resourc rceeful ye yett in init itia iall lly y modes modestt and una unassu ssumi ming. ng. (1 Samuel 10:22, 23, 27) In addition to such gifts, he had a precious one—free will, the abil ab ilit ity y to ch choo oose se hi hiss li life fe cour course se an and d ma mak ke his his own decisions. (Deuteronomy 30:19) Did he us use e that that gift gift we well ll?? Sadl Sadly y, wh when en a ma man n ba bask skss in the the warm arm gl glo ow of newly acquired power, modesty is often the first quality to melt away. Before long, Saul began began to turn arrog arrogant. ant. He chose to disobey obe y Je Jeho hova vah’ h’ss or order derss tha thatt Samue Samuell tr tran anssmitted to him mitted him.. Once Once,, Saul grew im impat patien ientt and offered up a sacrifice that only Samuel could cou ld rig rightf htfull ully y offe offerr. Samue Samuell ha had d to giv give e him strong correction and foretold that the kingship would not remain in Saul’s family. Instead of being chastened by the discipline, Saul went on to commit worse acts of disobedien obed ience.— ce.—1 1 Sam Samuel uel 13:8 3:8,, 9, 13, 14. Throug Thr ough h Sam Samuel uel,, Je Jeho hovah vah to told ld Sau Saull to wage wag e war aga agains instt the Amal Amaleki ekites tes.. Jeho Jeho- vah’s vah ’s ins instruct truction ionss inc include luded d an ord order er to exe exe-cute their wicked king, Agag. However, Saul T THE HE WAT CH TO W E R ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 27
spared Agag as well as the best of the spoil that that wa wass to be de dest stro roye yed. d. Wh When en Sa Samu muel el came came to correct him, Saul revealed how much he had changed. Instead of modestly accepting correction, he rationalized, excused himself, justifie just ified d his acti actions, ons, side sideste stepped pped the issu issue, e, and tried to shift the blame to the people. When Saul tried to deflect the discipline by cl clai aimi ming ng that that some some of the the sp spoi oill wa wass in inte tend nded ed fo forr a sa sacri crifice fice to Je Jeho hova vah, h, S Samu amuel el utt utter ered ed the famous words: “Look! To obey is better than a sacrifice. sacrifice.” ” Courag Courageously eously,, Samuel rebuked the man and rev reveal ealed ed Jeho Jehovah vah’s ’s deci decisio sion: n: The kings kingshi hip p wo woul uld d be rip rippe ped d aw away ay fr from om Saul Saul an and d give given n to ano anothe ther— r—a a be bett tter er ma man. n. —1 Sam Samuel uel 15:1 5:1-33 -33.. Samuel was deeply upset over Saul’s failings. He spent the night crying out to Jeho vah abou aboutt the matt matter er.. He eve even n wen wentt int into o mourning for the man. Samuel had seen so much potential in Saul, so much good, and now his hopes were shattered. The man he once on ce kn knew ew ha had d ch chan ang ged ed—h —he e ha had d lost lost hi hiss be best st qualities and turned against Jehovah. Samuel re refus fused ed to se see e Sa Saul ul ev ever er ag agai ain. n. In time, time, though, Jehovah offered Samuel this gentle repr reproo oof: f: “F “For or ho how w long long will will you be mo mour urni ning ng for for Saul, whil while e I, on the other hand hand,, have rejected him from ruling as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I shall send you yo u to Jess Jesse e the Beth Bethleh lehemit emite, e, beca because use I have have provided among his sons a king for myself.” —1 Sa Samue muell 15:34 5:34,, 35 35;; 16: 6:1 1. Jehovah Jeho vah’s ’s purpo purpose se does no nott dep depend end on the waveri wa vering ng lo loyalt yalties ies of im imperf perfect ect huma humans. ns. If one man turns unfaithful, Jehovah will find ano an othe therr tto o carry carry ou outt Hi Hiss wi will ll.. So ag aged ed Sa Samu muel el let go of his grief over Saul. At Jehovah’s direction, Samuel went to the home of Jesse in Bethlehem, where he met a number of impressive-looking sons. Yet, from the first, Jehova Jeh ovah h rem reminde inded d Sam Samuel: uel: “Do no nott loo look k at his appearance and at the height of his statWATCHTOWER CHTOWER ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 28 THE WAT
ure . . . For not the way man sees is the way God sees, because mere man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is.” (1 Samuel 16:7) Finally, Samuel met the youngest son, and here was Jehovah Jeho vah’s ’s cho choice— ice—Da David! vid! In his final years, Samuel got to see ever more clearly the rightness of Jehovah’s decision sion to repla replace ce Saul Saul wi with th Da Davi vid. d. Saul Saul dedescended into murderous jealousy and apostasy.. Da tasy David, vid, how howeve ever, r, sho showed wed beau beautiful tiful qualities—cour qualit ies—courage, age, integrity, faith, and loyal alty ty.. As Sa Samu muel el’s ’s li life fe drew drew to a cl clos ose, e, his his faith grew ever stronger. He saw that no disappo ap poin intm tmen entt is to too o grea greatt fo forr Je Jeho hova vah h to he heal al,, to resolve, or even to turn into a blessing. Finally, Samuel died, leaving behind the record ord of a rema remarrkabl kable e li life fe th that at span spanne ned d th the e be bettter part of a century. All Israel mourned the loss loss of tha thatt fa fait ithf hful ul ma man— n—an and d no wo wond nder er!! To this day, servants of Jehovah do well to ask, ‘Wil ‘W illl I imit imitat ate e the fa fait ith h of Sa Samu muel el?’ ?’
ROME Vagnari M e d d i i t t e e r r
r a n e e a a n
S e e a
EAST ASIA
AN EA E AST ASIA IAN N I C F I C A C P
IN AN ANCI CIEN ENT T IT ITALY ALY
H
OW di did d a ma man n of Eas astt Asi Asian or orig igin in en end d up in the the an anci cien entt Ro Roma man n Em Empi pire re 2, 2,00 000 0 years yea rs ago? That was the que questi stion on faci facing ng archaeolo chae ologis gists ts after they made a fas fascina cinatin ting g disco di scove very ry in sou southe thern rn Ita Italy ly in 20 2009 09.. The Th e site site wa wass an an anci cien entt Ro Roma man n ceme ceme-tery tery at Vag agnar nari, i, 40 mile miless (6 (60 0 km km)) we west st of Bari. Seventy-five human skeletons were uncovere cov ered. d. Test estss on the bone boness ind indica icated ted that most of the people were born nearby. Yet, the skeleton of one man surprised the resear searche chers. rs. Ana Analy lysis sis of his his mi mito tocho chond ndria riall DN DNA A showed that he had East Asian ancestry on his mother’s side. His remains dated to the first first or se seco cond nd cent century ury C. C.E. E. Ac Acco cord rdin ing g to a re re-port on the find, “this appears to be the first time time that that a skel skelet eton on wi with th an Ea East st Asia Asian n an ance cesstry has been discovered in the Roman Empi pire re.” .” So wh who o wa wass this this ma man? n? “At fir first st glan glance ce it it’s ’s tem temptin pting g to link link thi thiss felfellow to the silk trade that flourished between Chin Ch ina a an and d Ro Rome me,” ,” sa says ys the the sa same me re repo port. rt. However, it is thought that such trade was carried on by a series of intermediaries, or midd mi ddle lemen men,, wi with th no on one e pe perso rson n ac actua tuall lly y making mak ing the whol whole e 5,0 5,00000-mil mile e (8,0 (8,00000-km) km) trek trek be betw tween een Ch China ina and Ita Italy ly.. What Wh at can can the the plac place e wh wher ere e the the re rema main inss were wer e fou found nd te tell ll us? In anci ancient ent ti times mes,, Va Vagnar gnarii was a rural imperial estate—land controlled by the em empe pero ror—w r—wher here e labor laborers ers sm smel elte ted d iron iron 1
1
Mitoc Mi tochon hondria driall DNA a anal nalysis ysis is unab unable le to pr prov ovide ide any information concerning paternal ancestry.
N E A C O
SKELETON OF AN EAST ASIAN MAN UNCOVERED IN AN ANCIENT ROMAN CEMETERY ˘ Su
concessione del Ministero per i Beni e le ` Attivit a Culturali - Direzione Regionale per i Beni Culturali e Paesaggistici della Puglia Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologicii della Puglia Archeologic
and prod and produce uced d cl clay ay til tiles es.. Ma Many ny of the wo work rkers ers ther there e we were re sla slaves, ves, an and d it is li lik kel ely y that that this this Or Oriienta en tall wa wass to too. o. In fa fact ct,, hi hiss bu buri rial al wa wass no nott that of a wealthy man. His surviving goods, which were buried with him, amounted to a single pot, and another body had been buried on top of his. Why is this find of interest? The spread of the the Ch Chri rist stia ian n me mess ssag age e in th the e first first cent centuury C.E. depended on how far the ancients traveled. The Bible reports that after Pentecost 33 C.E., the good news was carried far and wi wide de by fo fore reig ign n vis visit itors ors to Je Jerusa rusale lem. m. (Acts (Ac ts 2: 2:11-12 12,, 377-4 41) At the very very le leas ast, t, thi thiss skel skel-et eton on sugg sugges ests ts th that at ab abou outt that that ti time me some some pe peoople ple we were re tra traveli veling ng from from East East Asia Asia to the Me Medi di-terranean terranea n region. 1
1
T Ther here e is also evidenc evidence e that We Wester sterners ners wer were e traveli traveling ng to East Asi Asia. a. See the artic article le “How “How Far East Could Could Mi Missio ssionnaries Go?” in the January 1, 2009, issue of The Watchtower. T THE HE WAT CH TO W E R ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 2 9
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Appreciate Sacred Things! Instructions: Do this exercise in quiet surroundings. As you read the
scriptures, imagine that you are part of the event. Visualize the scene. Hear the voices. Feel the emotions of the characters. Let the account come to life. Main characters: Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau Summary: Esau sells his birthright to his twin brother, Jacob.
– ANALYZE THE SCENE.—READ GENESIS 25:20-34.
What characteristics did Jacob and Esau display even while still in the womb?
How do you picture the physical appearance of Jacob and of Esau as young men?
What emotions do you sense in the conversation between Jacob and Esau in verses 30 to 33?
DIG DEEPER. Using research materials at your disposal, find out something about the rights of the firstborn son. Why were these rights important? What was the significance of selling these rights for a bowl of stew?
— ANALYZE THE SCENE.—READ GENESIS 27:1-10, 30-38.
What emotion do you sense in Esau’s voice when he realized that his brother had received the blessing of firstborn?
WATCHTOWER CHTOWER ˙ JANUARY 1, 2011 30 THE WAT
DIG DEEPER. Was it wrong for Rebekah and Jacob to maneuver events events so that Jacob receiv received ed the blessing? Why, or why not? (Clue: See Genesis 25:23, 33.)
˜ APPLY WHAT YOU LEARNED. WRITE DOWN
WHAT YOU LEARNED ABOUT . . . The long-term consequences consequences of instant gratification.
FOR FURTHER APPLICATION. What sacred things have been entrusted to you?
In what specific ways can you show that you value sacred things?
™ WHAT ASPECT OF THIS ACCOUNT IS MOST
MEANINGFUL TO YOU, AND WHY?
IF YOU DON’T HAVE A BIBLE, ASK JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES FOR ONE, OR READ IT ONLINE AT
www.watchtower.org °
Does it really matter whether there was a garden of Eden? SEE PAGES 9-11. 9-11.
DidSEEGod know in advance that Adam and Eve would sin? PAGES 13-15. 13-15.
How can you know if your sins can be forgiven by God? SEE PA PAGE GE 18 18..
Is God concerned about you as an individual? SEE PAG PAGES ES 20-2 20-23. 3.
Would you welcome a visit?
www.watchtower.org
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