“Those knowing your name will trust in you; you will never abandon those seeking you, O Jehovah.” – Psalm 9:10
[From ws 12/19 p.16 Study Article 51: February 17 – February 23, 2020]
To give you food for thought as to whether the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses are God’s people on earth, we would like to suggest you read this article from the archives of this site which discusses highly pertinent information regarding this topic.
https://beroeans.net/2016/06/19/the-rise-and-fall-of-jw-org/
This is highlighted because there are a couple of places where the claim is made by word and context that the members of the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses are God’s people. The paragraphs are 4 & 6.
There is good advice in paragraph 3 when it says, “We need to spend time learning about Jehovah and his wonderful qualities. Only then can we begin to understand what motivates him to speak and to act. That will help us to discern whether he approves of our opinions, decisions, and actions”.
However, the incompetence or deliberate mistake of the writer of the Watchtower article comes shortly thereafter in Paragraph 5, which states “When he was about 40 years old, Moses chose to associate with God’s people, the Hebrews, rather than to be known as “the son of Pharaoh’s daughter”. This appears to be a deliberate misstatement to try to make the point the Organization desires, that of suggesting we should join or stay with the Organization which claims to be God’s modern-day people.
What is wrong? Jehovah had made a covenant with Abraham. Genesis 17:8 shows that it was “And I will carry out my covenant between me and you and your seed after you according to their generations for a covenant to time indefinite, to prove myself God to you and to your seed after you”.
God had decided he wanted Abraham’s offspring to be his people, but Abraham’s offspring had not yet agreed to be his people. This did not happen until the nation of Israel was at Mount Sinai. Exodus 19:5-6 confirms this when it relates “And now if YOU will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant, then YOU will certainly become my special property out of all [other] peoples, because the whole earth belongs to me. 6 And YOU yourselves will become to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the sons of Israel.””. Notice, that at this point, Israel becoming God’s special property was still future.
It is Exodus 24:3 that shows when they accepted to be his people. “Then Moses came and related to the people all the words of Jehovah and all the judicial decisions, and all the people answered with one voice and said: “All the words that Jehovah has spoken we are willing to do”.
Now these events of accepting to be God’s nation took place some 40 years after the time claimed in paragraph 5. However, not only is the timing incorrect. The only information the cited scripture of Hebrews 11:24 tells us is that he refused to be called Pharoah’s daughter. It says nothing about association. Furthermore, neither does the account of Exodus 2:11-14. It was not until his return as God’s appointed leader at 80 years of age, did he have the opportunity to associate with the Hebrews.
Paragraphs 7-9 reminds us that “Moses continued to learn about Jehovah’s qualities and to do His will”. He saw God’s compassion, power, patience, and humility.
Paragraph 10 tells us “To know Jehovah well, we not only have to learn about his qualities but also have to do his will. Jehovah’s will today is that “all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.” (1 Tim. 2:3, 4) One way we do God’s will is by teaching others about Jehovah”.
What needs emphasising is that to teach others accurate knowledge we have to take serious steps and research properly to ensure we are teaching accurate truth. Acts 17:11 reminds us of the key, “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so”. We must also always be “ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of YOU a reason for the hope in YOU, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect.” (1 Peter 3:15). We simply cannot defend the indefendable.
Paragraph 11 claims “we see direct evidence of Jehovah’s compassion when he guides us to those who have the right heart condition. (John 6:44; Acts 13:48)”. This claim is not unique. All Christian religions will be able to and many do, recount events where God guided people to their faith. Either, all these accounts are true, in which case God does not seem bothered as to which Christian religion someone joins, or none of them are true. There is nothing special or unique about the claims of the Organization that sets them apart from other religions in this way.
Howevever, we would not deny Jehovah shows compassion, after all Romans 5:8 reminds us “But God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.
Paragraph 11 also claims “We see the power of God’s Word at work as we watch those with whom we study break free from bad habits and begin to put on the new personality. (Col. 3:9, 10)”. Sadly, for the majority, the new personality appears to be a veneer of one, rather than any real change. How many fellow Witnesses do you know are working regularly on one or more of the fruits of the spirit? That seems to be forgotten once baptism takes place. We also need to pause and think about ourselves, rather than just pointing the finger. Are we working on these vital aspects of our Christian lives, or are we also victims of the constant propaganda that preaching is the most important thing and Christian qualities get put in second place and then quietly forgotten?
The same paragraph also claims “And we see proof of God’s patience as he gives many in our territory numerous opportunities to learn about him and be saved.—Rom. 10:13-15”. 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us the reason God is patient is because “he is patient with YOU because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance”. This also means those Witnesses who truly love God and endeavour to practice true Christian principles also have the time and opportunity to wake up to the lies and manipulation of the Organization.
Even in this otherwise encouraging paragraph (13), which says “What is the lesson for us? No matter how long we have been serving Jehovah, we should never take our relationship with him for granted. One of the most obvious ways we can prove that we value our friendship with God is by talking to him in prayer”, can you spot the subtle misinformation? As we have pointed out many times, the Organization hides the real hope from its followers. What did Jesus say in Matthew 5:9 in the Sermon on the Mount? “Happy are the peaceable, since they will be called ‘sons of God”.
Jesus warned against stopping others from entering into the Kingdom and becoming children of God, in Matthew 23:13 when he said “Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for YOU yourselves do not go in, neither do YOU permit those on their way in to go in”.
Paragraph 16 is beneficial without any errors. It correctly says: “David was moved to write: “The heavens are declaring the glory of God; the skies above proclaim the work of his hands.” (Ps. 19:1, 2) When David reflected on the way humans were made, he saw Jehovah’s wonderful wisdom at work. (Ps. 139:14) As David tried to comprehend Jehovah’s works, he felt humbled.—Ps. 139:6”
To endeavour to share with our readers some of these wonderful faith inspiring facts about the amazing universe we live in, we will be publishing a series of articles highlighting scientific discoveries which declare the glory of God.
Paragraph 18 is all about how David believed that Jehovah had helped him on many occasions. This is then taken as a precedent that Jehovah will help us in the same way today. What is not thought about and pointed out is that David had been chosen by God to be the future King of Israel, and in many aspects to be a shadow of Jesus Christ, as well as an ancestor of Jesus thereby giving him the legal right to be king.
We therefore cannot just expect Jehovah to support us in the same way, as in general the outworking of his grand purpose for the earth is not anywhere as dependent upon us, (if at all), compared with David.
He may do, and if so, we should be grateful, but we should not expect it.
Finally, having made the point a number of times that we can friends of God, it then confuses the issue by giving a mixed message. In paragraph 16 it says “Then each new day will be full of lessons about your loving Father. (Rom. 1:20)”. Then in paragraph 21 it concludes the article by stating “When we model our personality after his, we prove that we are his children.—Read Ephesians 4:24; 5:1.”.
Is this to try to confound reviewers of the Watchtower articles, or is it to confuse the rank and file witnesses, by trying to have it both ways? For whatever reason, it is a contradictory message. The Organization cannot sit on the fence and claim it both ways.
In terms of a relationship we can only be one or the other, we are either sons (children of God) or friends. Even if they try to argue that you can be best friends with your father, the reality is that the closest relationship and the one that would and should take first place is the familial relationship, that of being a son or daughter, which have the permanent relationship. You can stop being friends with someone, but you are forever the son or daughter of your father.
In conclusion a very mixed study article this week. Some good points, some confusing points, and some clearly wrong points.
Archived Comments
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Comment by Frankie on 2020-03-01 17:51:48
Hello Tadua
First of all, thank you for very good article and for your endeavour to shed light on the often dark corners of WT literature. I would like to look a little at whether and how Jehovah and Jesus respond to our prayers.
You wrote with respect to David (concerning Paragraph 18):
"We therefore cannot just expect Jehovah to support us in the same way, as in general the outworking of his grand purpose for the earth is not anywhere as dependent upon us, (if at all), compared with David."
He may do, and if so, we should be grateful, but we should not expect it."
In the Gospel of John and in his 1st Letter, we are assured that Jehovah and Jesus Christ will always listen to our prayers ........
"We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him." (John 9:31)
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you ............ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you." (John 15:7; 15:16)
"In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you." (John 16:23)
"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (John 14:13)
...... and they will always act on our prayers. There is no "big" or "small" thing to pray. Whatever means whatever.
However, certain conditions are set for my prayers to be heard, for example:
- I am a worshiper of God and do his will
- I ask the Father in Jesus' name
- I abide in Jesus and His words abide in me
I cannot pray for something bad for my neighbor, for example.
But not every prayer can be fulfilled exactly as I wish. For instance, I believe it is good for me to go straight from point A to point B. But God knows it's not good for me. So he will arrange my journey from point A to point C, then from C to point D and finally to point B. Or it will lead me to a completely different point X where it will be best for me in the sense of my prayer. God is love (1 John 4:8).
Still there is another very powerful verse:
"And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him." (1 John 5:15)
Our requests will be fulfilled, one way or another! So there is no place for doubts. We can be sure that our Heavenly Father will hear our prayers if we pray in accordance with His will and He will always act upon our prayers.
Love to you Tadua and to all.
Frankie
Comment by yobec on 2020-02-17 16:40:09
Once we become sons we also become brothers of Christ.
To say that sonship or being a brother of Christ is limited to a select few from among true Cristians is to deny Jesus' words who said:' WHOEVER does the will of my father, that one is my brother."Reply by Leonardo Josephus on 2020-02-18 04:06:44
Simple !
Reply by Frankie on 2020-02-18 14:56:16
Yes, and Jesus also said it clearly: "Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me." (Matt 28:10).
Love to all. Frankie
Comment by cx_516 on 2020-02-20 05:25:52
Thanks Tadua!
I really disliked the “Show That You Know Jehovah” illustration section. It feeds the merit based salvation psychology. By themselves, these points are valid, but the Org implies that if you don’t do these things on JW terms you don’t know God? How dare they insinuate that to people. Shame on them!
Cx516
Comment by Zeek on 2020-02-22 14:08:30
(I'm not implying JW's are or are not ‘God's people’, but…) For accuracy's sake, Jehovah did refer to the Hebrew Israelites as His people while they were yet in Egypt as slaves.
Byington
Exodus 3:7, 10
7 And Jehovah said “I have seen- my people's
10 And now come and let me send you to Pharʹaoh, and you bring
my people the sons of Israel
Exodus 5:1
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in and said to the Pharaoh “Says- Israel’s God Jehovah, Let my people go
Exodus 7:4
and the Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I will put my hand on Egypt and bring out of Egypt by great judgments- my armies, my people, the sons of Israel;
Exodus 8:1
and Jehovah said to Moses “Go in to the Pharaoh and say to him ‘Says Jehovah, Let- my people
The Israelites, through Jacob, (& especially through the Messianic blessing passed on to Judah…—Ge.49:8-12) were still considered defacto sons of the Abrahamic covenant which is why Jehovah called the Israelite slaves in Egypt, "My people", even before the Mosaic covenant went into effect.Reply by Tadua on 2020-02-23 09:23:00
Hi Zeek
Thank you for those scriptures. I agree with you Jehovah called the Israelites his people. But As I mentioned, his people had been chosen by him since the time of Abraham. However, the Israelites as a nation had not agreed to this until Mount Sinai, which was the point I was making. Also, they had not been worshipping Jehovah as a nation up until that point. The episode of the golden calf there at Mount Sinai makes that clear.
In the same way as a foster parent can say you are my adopted son or daughter and treat them as such, but the adoption does not become legal until the papers are signed and the child accepts his foster parents as his substitute parents.
Comment by Zeek on 2020-02-22 14:31:39
Byington
Hebrews 11:24-30
It was by faith Moses, when he grew up, renounced being known as Pharaoh’s daughter’s son,- 25 choosing rather to share the hardships of
➡️GOD’S PEOPLE⬅️
28 It was by faith he celebrated the passover and the application of the blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. 29 It was by faith they crossed the Red Sea as if along dry ground; attempting which, the Egyptians were swallowed up. 30 It was by faith the walls of Jericho fell after seven days of circling around them.
Granted also, Job was not specified as being Hebrew, nor Israelite, but as the ‘greatest of all Easterners’, yet Jehovah considered Job as ‘His servant’ (Job 1:3,8), thus as one of His people who worshiped God acceptably, so Israel did not have a exclusive right to alone be God's people.
Other gentiles (non-Israelites who kept their distance from the Abrahamic/Israel's seed) who worshiped Jehovah include Melchizedek, Jethro, Naaman, sailors after casting Jonah into the sea, & the Ninevites who repented, …& later Cornelius (even long before receiving Holy Spirit), …
Jesus also told Paul, regarding gentiles in Corinth (BEFORE they heard Paul & became Christians):
“…I have a numerous people in this city.”
(Acts 18:10)Reply by Tadua on 2020-02-23 09:28:46
Hi Zeek,
Thank you for highlighting this passage. I investigated this passage when preparing the article and came to the conclusion that choosing to share the hardships with God’s people, was on the balance of evidence in the scriptures, referring to after the Israelites left Egypt, not before. It is not clear what exact time period this is referring to and could be argued either way, but on with speculation. The hardships that are recorded are all from the time of the Exodus, not before.
Comment by Zeek on 2020-02-22 16:44:01
Jeremiah 22:3,15-16
3 This is what Jehovah says: “Uphold Justice and Righteousness. RESCUE the one being robbed from the hand of the defrauder. Do not mistreat any foreign resident, and do not harm any fatherless child or widow. ...
15...[Josiah] Upheld JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS,
And it went well with him.
16 He DEFENDED the legal claim of the AFFLICTED one and the POOR one,
So that it went well.
?‘Is THAT not what it means to KNOW ME?’ declares Jehovah.Reply by Tadua on 2020-02-23 09:32:30
Hi Zeek
Very good points.
Yes, Josiah defended the legal claim of the afflicted one and the poor one, not, defended himself against the legal claim of the afflicted one.