Watchtower Study, Jehovah's Hand Is Not Too Short, Week of June 2-8, 2025, Comments and Responses.

Watchtower Study, Jehovah's Hand Is Not Too Short, June 2-8, 2025, Comments and Answers.

“Is the Lord’s hand too short?” (Numbers 11:23, footnote).

1. How did Moses show his trust in Jehovah when he led the Israelites out of Egypt?

Moses demonstrated his trust in Jehovah by refusing to be intimidated by Pharaoh and his army, leading the Israelites through the Red Sea and the desert with complete faith in God's power. Unlike many Israelites who doubted, Moses maintained his trust that Jehovah would take care of them, which was rewarded when God provided food and water in the desert.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

He was not intimidated by Pharaoh and his army, he trusted completely in Jehovah and led his people through the Red Sea and then through the desert.

As we all know, Moses had many limitations, but he didn't let himself be intimidated. He focused on the fact that Jehovah was with him, and he felt secure in that regard. He knew it was a task beyond his ability, but he also knew he could do it with Jehovah's help.

Most of the Israelites stopped trusting that Jehovah could take care of them, but Moses continued to trust Him and was right to do so, as Jehovah gave the Israelites food and water so they could survive in the wilderness.

Hebrews chapter 11 speaks extensively about the faith of Moses and his family, because by faith his parents hid him, and by faith he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. By faith he left Egypt, and by faith he celebrated the Passover, all according to Jehovah's instructions. And by faith, he lifted up the staff, and the people crossed the Red Sea. In other words, his entire life was a journey of faith.

2. Why did Jehovah ask Moses the question found in Numbers 11:21-23?

Jehovah asked Moses this question because he doubted it would be possible to feed millions of Israelites with meat in the middle of the desert. Although Moses was a man of great faith, at that moment he struggled to imagine how Jehovah would fulfill that promise. So Jehovah asked him, “Is Jehovah’s hand too short?”

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Moses was a man of great faith, but despite that, he questioned Jehovah's claim that he would feed millions of people with meat while he was in the desert. So Jehovah asked him, "Is Jehovah's hand too short?" He was as if to say, "Do you think I can't do what I say I'm going to do?"

The expression 'the hand of Jehovah' refers to God's power in action. So, this question Jehovah asks Moses is: 'Do you think I'm not capable of doing what I say I'm going to do?'

From a human perspective, if we look at the environment in which Moses was receiving this declaration from Jehovah—in the middle of the desert, with millions of people in need of food—it's understandable that he wondered how this could be possible. However, at that moment, he was showing a lack of faith in Jehovah's power.

In the question to the readers, it is explained that, apart from manna, Jehovah also provided them with quail. Furthermore, they came to areas with date palms, which represented another source of food. It is also mentioned that their children would become shepherds in the wilderness for 40 years, which implies that there was some milk, some meat, and even that on two occasions that meat could be used for sacrifices in the wilderness. In other words, even though there wasn't a great abundance of varied food, there were things they could eat.

The Israelites experienced that in the most difficult moments Jehovah had taken care of them and had given them what they needed.

3. Why is it important for us to analyze what happened to Moses and the Israelites?

It is important to analyze what happened to Moses and the Israelites because their experience teaches us valuable lessons about the importance of trusting that Jehovah can always provide for what we need, even in difficult circumstances.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Because it will strengthen our confidence that Jehovah's hand is never too short.

We need to strengthen this confidence, because it is true that in the times we live in, doubts may sometimes arise about whether Jehovah will provide us with everything we need to live or take care of us.

WHAT THE EXAMPLE OF MOSES AND THE ISRAELITES TEACHES US

4. Why did many Israelites begin to doubt that Jehovah could take care of them?

Many Israelites began to doubt that Jehovah could care for them because they were influenced by the complaints of the foreigners traveling with them, who grew tired of eating manna and longed for the food of Egypt. This discontent spread among the Israelites, leading them to focus on what they lacked in the wilderness rather than trusting in Jehovah's provision.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

As the account in Numbers 11:4-6 explains, the foreigners among them expressed their selfish desires and began to complain, missing the food they had eaten in Egypt. This complaint then spread to the people, and they too began to complain against Jehovah.

According to what we've seen before, Moses was untrusting that Jehovah could feed the people. As Numbers 11:13-14 says, it seems he understood that he had to be the one to provide the meat, when he says, "Where shall I get meat to feed all these people?" In verse 14 he says, "I alone am not able to bear all these people; they are too much for me." This would show that Moses did not trust Jehovah to provide the meat, and thought he was the one who should solve the problem.

Moses became confused because of the great pressure he was under. Numbers 11:13 specifically says that when Moses is speaking to Jehovah, he says, "Because they keep weeping before me and saying, 'Give us meat to eat.'" That is, he felt that others were making demands on him.

5, 6. What do we learn from the bad influence that foreigners had on many Israelites?

We learn that it's easy to be influenced by the ungrateful attitude of those around us, as the Israelites were toward foreigners. This influence can lead us to feel discontent, to envy what others have, or to miss things from the past, losing sight of Jehovah's blessings. To avoid this, we must learn to be content with what we have and to focus on God's future promises.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The world we live in is also like the foreigners who influenced the Israelites. The world promotes the idea that we shouldn't settle for less, and while Christians aren't complacent, we do feel content, happy, and grateful for everything Jehovah gives us.

We can also learn that ingratitude is a contagious effect very quickly. Curiously, almost a year earlier they had already eaten quail until they were satisfied, but they had forgotten. So it seems that fatigue and the length of these complaints were affecting their view of Jehovah more.

It's true that the spirit of this world reinforces immediate gratification; that is, it demands enjoying things as soon as possible. If we remember Jehovah's promises, He has promised to give us good things in abundance, but in the New World, just like the Israelites, He promised them that they would have wonderful things in the Promised Land, not during the journey. We know that the wilderness was very dark and tedious, and there they had to learn to trust in Jehovah. So, being able to keep Jehovah's promises in mind when they are fulfilled will also strengthen our trust in Him.

We have texts that give us complete confidence in what Jehovah promises us for the future, so we should not be people of complaint. Let us instead consider the wonderful promise Jehovah has made to us through his Son: a paradise where we will lack nothing.

The risk of missing or longing for the things we had in the past is that we may stop appreciating the things Jehovah gives us now, and therefore feel discontented and, furthermore, may negatively influence other brothers with our complaints.

We should think that Jehovah always keeps his word—then and now. He has said that what we hope for is for the future, but even now he provides for the needs of his people. We may experience difficulties, but we have what we need. Just as he gave the Israelites what they needed, we see how Jehovah is doing the same now.

7. Why can we be sure that there are no limits to Jehovah’s hand?

We can be confident that there are no limits to Jehovah's hand, because his power is inexhaustible and can reach anywhere, as Jehovah taught Moses when he provided meat in the wilderness. God demonstrated his unlimited capacity to act, as when he freed the Israelites from Egypt. This assures us that no matter where we are or what trial we face, Jehovah's hand can always reach us and help us, as Psalm 138:6, 7 promises.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Because when we are going through a trial, we can be absolutely sure that Jehovah's hand will sustain his people and cover all their needs.

This can also be applied to each person's personal life, because sometimes we are alone or lack the means to live, but we see Jehovah's hand: how He gives us even more than we need. We see that Jehovah is always at our side when we are faithful to Him.

We can be confident because Jehovah has done it before. In Exodus 6:6, Jehovah tells them, "I will rescue him with a mighty arm" or "with an outstretched arm." This is precisely what he did when he led the Israelites out of Egypt with great miracles. They must have thought about Jehovah's power and how it was limitless. It is also an example for us, to understand the extent to which Jehovah will protect us.

The words of Exodus 6:6 help us see that it takes no effort for Jehovah to do this. The note says "with an outstretched arm," but what does it mean to reach out to pull something closer or pick something up? It requires practically no effort. For Jehovah, who helped his people in the wilderness, what effort did it take to reach out? It's very simple. The same is true for us: even when we face trials we may think are insurmountable or burdens that are very heavy, it's as simple as reaching out his arm for Jehovah.

8. What should we do to avoid falling into the same error as many Israelites? (See also the image.)

To avoid making the same mistake, we must avoid greed and cultivate gratitude for what Jehovah gives us. Although God provided the Israelites with a miraculous supply of quail, many failed to thank Him and instead indulged in selfish desires, accumulating more than they needed. Their attitude provoked Jehovah's anger.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We see how Jehovah fulfilled his promise; he sent them millions of quail, but they had the bad attitude of not even thanking Jehovah. Instead, they spent a day and a night gathering quail, demonstrating that they were driven by greed and a lack of gratitude.

At that moment, they didn't even stop to thank Jehovah and simply gathered everything they could. But, in the end, it was proof that Jehovah would take care of them, and if he had done it once, he could do it again.

This reminds us that when we receive any sign of Jehovah's care, whether physical or spiritual, we should take time to thank him and also not to be greedy or expect more, but to be content and grateful for what Jehovah gives us.

As we see in the image, the Israelites' greed prevented them from seeing the miracle taking place before their eyes. They only saw birds, food for them. They were surely impressed, as shown in the image, but they didn't perceive that Jehovah was, in fact, showing his affection for them and that this was a miracle. They were focused on themselves, and when we focus too much on ourselves, we can leave Jehovah aside and fail to see the miracles happening around us.

Whether we are poor or rich, the most important thing in our lives is to store up treasures in heaven. Because, as we read in the previous account, they were not grateful for what Jehovah gave them; on the contrary, they were driven by greed and tried to accumulate more than they needed, and this selfishness led them to death. So, whether we have much or little, let us be humble and strive to store up treasures in heaven, where no moth consumes.

The greed that aroused in them at that moment was enormous. The story says there was a height of about two cubits, that is, more than a meter of quail to collect. Over a day and a half, they collected ten omers, equivalent to about 220 kilos per person. They completely lost control and common sense; greed completely dominated them.

ILLUSTRATION

During the night, the Israelites gather a large number of quails in the desert.

What attitude did many Israelites demonstrate in the desert, and what does that teach us? (See paragraph 8.)

9. What can we be sure of?

We can be completely confident that Jehovah will never abandon us. Although we may face financial or material difficulties at some point, Jehovah will always give us the strength to endure them. He remains willing to help his faithful servants.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

That Jehovah will never abandon us and will give us strength to endure any difficulty.

It would be good for us to do some self-reflection and look back at how many times Jehovah has helped us without us even realizing it, how many times we have received strength, and how many times we have drawn strength without knowing where it came from. We must relate this to the fact that Jehovah is the one giving us strength and help to endure these difficulties.

The fact that Jehovah is with us and does not abandon us doesn't mean we can't experience difficulties, such as a lack of money or food. We have examples from the past and present where this has happened. However, Jehovah is always there to help us and to demonstrate his strength and power on our behalf. So the important thing is to trust that He will always be there.

WHEN GOING THROUGH ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

10. What economic problems might we suffer?

As the end of this system approaches, we may experience economic hardship, such as the loss of our jobs, material possessions, or homes due to political instability, wars, natural disasters, or new pandemics. This could force us to look for new employment in our area or even consider moving our families to another location to meet our basic needs.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Let's remember that we're crossing the desert. We may experience any economic hardship, such as losing our job or material possessions due to a disaster, political instability, or a pandemic. We may have to move to another area to find a new job or live in another country.

11. What can help us cope with financial problems? (Luke 12:29-31)

What can help us most is to turn to Jehovah in prayer, sharing our worries and asking for wisdom to make good decisions. We should also ask for inner peace so we won't be overly worried, as Luke 12:29-31 advises, and pray that he will help us be content with what we need.

In addition, we can seek practical guidance in our publications and on jw.org, where many have found helpful suggestions for managing their finances in a balanced way, always relying on Jehovah's help.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

One very important thing is to first tell Jehovah what worries us, asking for wisdom in making decisions and for inner peace, so as not to be overly worried. We see this in Proverbs 16:3, which says: "Leave everything you do in the Jehovah's hands, and your plans will succeed."

Our publications provide us with practical ideas and thoughts for tackling financial challenges, so it's a great place to focus on, and it will help us overcome some financial problems.

Matthew 6:32 says, "For it is the people of the nations who are earnestly seeking all these things." We don't want to be like the nations, the people of the world, because we know Jehovah and all the blessings we have received. We must have confidence that He knows our needs and will give us everything we need. Therefore, we must put the Kingdom first, because we know He has promised it and will surely fulfill it.

First Timothy 6:7-8 urges us to be content with what we have each day. This will greatly help us focus on what we have and not on what we wish we had. We must strive not to adopt this attitude of heart, as it could make us feel sad and discouraged, and, ultimately, we could lose the right motivation to worship Jehovah.

12. What questions will help a Christian make the best decision for his or her family?

1. What effect will being away from my husband or wife have on my marriage?

2. Will I be able to attend all the meetings, preach, and spend time with the brothers?

3. If you have children, how will I raise them ‘in accordance with Jehovah’s discipline and counsel’ if I am not with them?

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Your text is very well written. It only requires a slight improvement in punctuation for greater fluency and clarity. Here is the corrected version:

We need to evaluate the spiritual consequences that a job change could have, especially if it involves a change of location—that is, if we have to move. So, we should ask ourselves: What effect will this new job, and this significant change, have on my marriage or my family? Will it affect my ability to attend meetings or spend time with the faithful? In other words, how will it affect us, especially spiritually?

The question, if we have children, is: "How would I raise my children in accordance with Jehovah's discipline and counsel if I am not with them?" It is very important to meditate on that as well.

These were the questions Brother Tony asked himself. Although he received several offers to work abroad, he says he prayed about the matter, talked with his wife, and decided to turn them down. They worked hard to cut costs, and now he's seen how Jehovah cared for him and his family, and how they didn't lack for anything they needed.

The most important thing is that Brother Tony was able to help several people come to know Jehovah and that his children loved the truth. He doesn't claim he didn't face difficulties; perhaps he faced a lack of money or food, but he saw how Jehovah always cared for them and provided for them.

We can follow the principle of Luke 14:28: Shouldn't we, before building the tower, count the costs? Because if we accept a job that can relieve our excessive concern about financial problems, we may gain materially, but we could lose spiritually. This could affect our friendship with Jehovah, with our family, or with our brothers and sisters. Therefore, let us always count the costs.

A fundamental aspect of making a good decision is not to do what the world tells us to do, but rather, the opposite: we must do what Jehovah would want us to do. We should let ourselves be guided by Jehovah's way of thinking. In this way, we will make a good decision.

WHEN MAKING PLANS FOR OLD AGE

13. What can we do now to have what we need in the future?

We can work diligently and, if possible, save some money to cover our needs in old age. The Bible encourages us to prepare with foresight, as indicated in Proverbs 6:6-11. Although money can be a form of protection, it should not become the most important thing in our lives. The most important thing is to maintain our trust in Jehovah's hand, knowing that he will always take care of us if we put him first.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Perhaps we could consider saving some money to face the future with more peace of mind, but we must also ensure that this is not the most important thing in our lives; rather, we must be balanced and wise. As Ecclesiastes 7:12 says, this will help us preserve life.

The Bible, in Proverbs 6:6-11, encourages us to work hard now that we can, so that tomorrow we will have food and clothing. Instead, it says that the lazy person says, "Just a little while longer," and in the end, he sleeps all his life.

14. How does Hebrews 13:5 help us when planning for our old age?

Hebrews 13:5 reminds us that even though we make responsible plans to provide for our old age, our primary trust should be in Jehovah, not in riches.

This text assures us that Jehovah will never leave us or forsake us. As Jesus taught, it's useless to accumulate wealth if we are not rich in God's eyes.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

By always trusting in Jehovah, even when we are older and have little or much, we are assured that He will help us have what we need. Even at our age, let us always trust in Jehovah.

We are shown the importance of balance. The Bible tells us to work hard to have a living, but we cannot become so obsessed that we lose other privileges we have as Christians. In the end, we don't know what tomorrow will bring, and we may not even get to enjoy it.

The account in Luke 12:16-21 tells of a man who had barns and thought about expanding them to further improve his financial situation. When he was feeling satisfied, Jehovah showed him the truth with these words: “Who will take all your stored up barns if your life is needed this very night?” That is what happens to someone who is rich in the eyes of men, but not in the eyes of God.

Proverbs 23:4 says, “Do not be too eager to get rich.” And then, in verse 5, the reason is given: because money sprouts wings like an eagle's, and flies away. And how many modern-day examples do we have of people who have put their trust in something related to money? However, something unexpected happened, and they lost it—quickly, overnight.

Proverbs 23:4 says, "Stop and show understanding." We must stop putting wealth first and achieve balance. It's about planning, but knowing that, at any moment, everything can change. The text in Hebrews 13:5 is directly related to money and says, "I will never leave you" in all matters. So we must trust in Jehovah.

Luke 14:33 gives us a balance on how we should view money. Are we willing to say goodbye to the possessions we have? Because, if we aren't willing, Jesus said no one can be his disciple. So there we are offered a great balance: yes, indeed, we must make plans for our old age, but always trusting that Jehovah will never abandon us.

15. How should Christian parents view their children? (See also the image.)

Christian parents should view their children as a gift from Jehovah, with the responsibility of providing for their needs and guiding them to serve God, rather than seeing them solely as a means of supporting themselves in old age. The greatest joy for Christian parents is raising their children to love and serve Jehovah, prioritizing their spiritual development over any financial gain.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

They should not view their children as a retirement plan or expect them to provide for all their needs and look after them when they are older. Rather, they should strive to ensure that their children can be Christians, helping and serving others. It is true that children, when their parents are older, should also care for them, following somewhat the idea of ​​1 Timothy 5:4, to ensure that they lack all they need.

In some cultures, it's common for married couples to have children so that they can financially support them in their old age. But for Christian parents, the greatest joy is that our children can serve Jehovah in the future.

In the image in the paragraph, you can see how these parents have raised their daughter to such an extent that she now serves full-time alongside her husband, likely on a construction crew. They clearly maintain communication, and on the parents' side, there is a photograph of them with their daughter. You can see the joy of both parents and daughter in staying in touch while she continues to serve Jehovah.

ILLUSTRATION

A married couple chats animatedly with their daughter and her husband over video calls. The daughter and her husband are wearing high-visibility vests.

Christian couples consider biblical principles when making decisions about their future. (See paragraph 15.)

16. How can parents prepare their children to earn a living in the future? (Ephesians 4:28)

Parents can prepare their children for the future by teaching them from a young age to value hard work and setting a good example of trust in Jehovah. They should encourage them to do their best in school and help them make balanced academic decisions based on biblical principles. The goal is not only for their children to be able to support themselves financially, but also for them to have the time and energy to serve Jehovah, perhaps even as pioneers.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Above all, make sure to set a good example and teach them to trust in Jehovah. You should also try to show them, from a young age, the importance of hard work. If you do this, you will be able to instill in their hearts the idea of ​​studying or pursuing a university degree, not out of personal ambition, but with the goal of finding a job that will allow them to earn a decent living. But above all, we must instill in them a wholehearted love for Jehovah and help them pursue spiritual goals.

The goal is for them to find a job that will allow them to support themselves, because it is necessary for survival, but that they do not neglect the time we should dedicate to our worship of Jehovah.

The words of Ephesians emphasize this idea in different words, but they say: hard work and good labor. For children, they will get good grades in school. And when they get a little older, they can decide to have a good job that they can even dedicate to serving Jehovah.

17. What are we convinced of?

We are convinced that Jehovah can and will provide for our material needs, regardless of the circumstances. Although the end of this system may test our confidence, we are certain that Jehovah will use his unlimited power to provide for us.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

That Jehovah not only wants to, but also has the power to do it. Therefore, as we have seen, his hand will never fall short of what is needed and help us.

It is very important that we fully develop this trust, because the future that awaits us will make conditions like the desert the Israelites found themselves in, where it seemed they could have no food or anything. However, Jehovah's hand was powerful, and he gave them meat in abundance.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

What does what happened to Moses and the Israelites teach us?

What happened to Moses and the Israelites teaches us the importance of trusting Jehovah completely, even in seemingly impossible situations. Although Moses momentarily doubted how Jehovah would provide meat in the wilderness, God demonstrated that His power is limitless.

The Israelites, for their part, stopped trusting in Jehovah due to dissatisfaction and greed, which led to negative consequences. This reminds us to avoid lack of faith and be grateful for what He gives us, trusting that He will always fulfill His promises.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We've learned that we can absorb the ungrateful attitude of those around us, as happened to the Israelites, and fail to appreciate the things Jehovah gives us. So meditating on all that Jehovah has promised us in the new world can help us strengthen our trust in Him.

Another thing it teaches us is that no matter what we go through, Jehovah's hand can reach us.

It teaches us not to become greedy; rather, to store up treasures in heaven.

How can we show that we trust in Jehovah when we face financial difficulties?

We demonstrate our trust by praying to Jehovah, sharing our concerns, and asking for wisdom to make balanced decisions. We also trust that he will provide what we need if we seek first his kingdom.

Instead of worrying, we seek support from Bible literature, adjust our lifestyle if necessary, and avoid putting material things above our spirituality.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Seeking His help, asking Him above all to give us wisdom to act in this situation, to help us not be overly worried and to be content with what is necessary.

What should we keep in mind when making plans for old age?

When planning for our old age, we must keep in mind that Jehovah is our primary source of security, not money or material possessions. It is wise to save and plan responsibly, but without allowing wealth to become our primary source of security.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We can take into account biblical principles, such as those in Hebrews 13:5. So we can save, but not accumulate wealth, because that would be a love of money. Rather, we must remember that Jehovah will always take care of us, that he will never abandon us.

We should strive to make plans to have what we need in our old age, and we trust in Jehovah if something happens that was not in our plans.