Yellow: Direct Response
Light Yellow: Additional Response
Celeste: Additional Points
“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?
The book of Hebrews speaks of many people who had faith in Jehovah. One of them is Moses, who left us an example of extraordinary faith (Heb. 3:2-5; 11:23-25). He demonstrated this quality when he led the Israelites out of Egypt. He was not intimidated by Pharaoh and his army. He trusted completely in Jehovah and led the people through the Red Sea and then through the desert.(Heb. 11:27-29). Most of the Israelites stopped trusting that Jehovah could take care of them, but Moses continued to trust him. And he was not wrong to do so, since Jehovah gave the Israelites food and water so they could survive in the desert. (Ex. 15:22-25; Ps. 78:23-25).
2. Why did Jehovah ask Moses the question found in Numbers 11:21-23?
2 About a year after liberating Israel from Egypt, Jehovah said he would feed them meat. Although Moses was a man of great faith, he doubted those words, for he found it hard to imagine how Jehovah could obtain enough meat in the middle of the desert for millions of people. So God asked him, “Is Jehovah’s hand too short?” (Read Numbers 11:21–23 and the footnote.) Here, the expression “Jehovah’s hand” refers to God’s power in action—his Holy Spirit. In other words, Jehovah was asking him, “Do you think I can’t do what I say I’m going to do?”
3. Why is it important for us to analyze what happened to Moses and the Israelites?
3 Have you ever wondered whether Jehovah will provide you and your family with the necessities of life? Whether you have or not, let's examine the example of Moses and the Israelites, who stopped trusting that God could take care of them. We will also look at some biblical texts that will strengthen our confidence that Jehovah's hand is never too short.
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?
4 Why did many Israelites begin to doubt that Jehovah could take care of them? The nation of Israel and a multitude of foreign people had left Egypt and had been crossing the desert for some time on their way to the Promised Land. (Ex. 12:38; Deut. 8:15). The foreigners grew tired of eating manna and began to complain, and many Israelites began to do the same. (Num. 11:4-6). They missed the food they had in Egypt. And Moses, under pressure from the people, felt obliged to be the one to give them meat to eat. (Num. 11:13, 14).
5, 6. What do we learn from the bad influence that foreigners had on many Israelites?
5 Apparently, the Israelites were influenced by the foreigners' lack of gratitude. We too may pick up on the ungrateful attitude of the people around us, and as a result, we may become dissatisfied with the things Jehovah has given us. We might miss what we had in the past or envy what others have. But we will be happier if we learn to be satisfied with what we have.
6 The Israelites should have remembered what Jehovah had promised them. He had told them that he would give them abundant good things when they reached the Promised Land, not while they were traveling in the desert. Similarly, instead of focusing on the things we don't have in this world, it's good for us to meditate on all that Jehovah has promised to give us in the new world. In addition, we can reflect on biblical texts that strengthen our trust in Jehovah.
7. Why can we be sure that there are no limits to Jehovah’s hand?
7 We might wonder why God asked Moses, “Is the Lord’s hand too short?” Perhaps he wanted to help him understand that his hand—or his power—never runs out and can reach anywhere, no matter how far away. So, even though the Israelites were in the middle of the desert, Jehovah was able to provide them with an abundance of meat. “With an outstretched arm,” God demonstrated his power. (Ex. 6:6, footnote) Therefore, when we are going through a trial, we can be absolutely sure that Jehovah's hand will be able to reach us wherever we are. (Ps. 138:6, 7).
8. What should we do to avoid falling into the same error as many Israelites? (See also the image.)
8 Jehovah kept his promise and sent them heaps and heaps of quail. But the Israelites didn't thank him for this miracle. Instead, many of them were overcome by greed and spent a day and a half gathering all the quail they could. Jehovah was angry with those who displayed “selfish desires” and punished them (Num. 11:31-34). What does this example teach us? We must be careful not to become greedy. Whether we are rich or poor, the most important thing in our lives should be to accumulate “treasures in heaven” by strengthening our friendship with Jehovah and Jesus. (Matt. 6:19, 20; Luke 16:9). If we do this, we can be confident that Jehovah will provide for us.
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?
9 Today, Jehovah is still willing to help his people. But that doesn't mean we'll never lack money or food. Even so, we can be sure that Jehovah will never abandon us. He will give us strength to endure any hardship. For example, let's look at two situations in which we can show that we trust Jehovah to take care of us: 1) when we face financial difficulties and 2) when we make plans to meet our material needs in old age.
WHEN GOING THROUGH ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
10. What economic problems might we suffer?
10 As the end of this system approaches, the economic situation is likely to worsen. We could lose our jobs, our material possessions, or our homes due to political instability, wars, natural disasters, or new pandemics. We may need to look for a new job in our area or consider moving our family to a new location to be able to afford what we need. What can help us make decisions that show we trust in Jehovah’s hand?
11. What can help us cope with financial problems? (Luke 12:29-31)
11 Something very important and that will help us a lot is to tell Jehovah what worries us. (Prov. 16:3). Let us ask for wisdom to make good decisions and inner peace so that we are not “excessively worried.” (it’s Luke 12:29-31). Let us pray that he helps us to be content with what is necessary (1 Tim. 6:7, 8). Let's look to our publications for practical ideas on how to deal with economic problems. Many have found the videos and articles on jw.org that cover this topic very helpful.
12. What questions will help a Christian make the best decision for his or her family?
12 Some have accepted a job that meant moving away from their families, but over time many have realized that this was a bad decision. Before accepting a new job, consider not only the possible financial benefits but also the spiritual consequences. (Luke 14:28) Ask yourself, "What effect will being away from my husband or wife have on my marriage? Will I be able to attend all the meetings, preach, and spend time with the brothers and sisters?" If you have children, you should also ask yourself this important question: “How will I raise my children ‘in accordance with Jehovah’s discipline and counsel’ if I am not with them?” (Eph. 6:4). When making a decision, let yourself be guided by God's way of thinking, not by what family or friends who don't follow biblical principles tell you. Tony, who lives in West Asia, received several tempting offers to work abroad. But after praying about the matter and discussing it with his wife, he decided to decline the offers and work to reduce the family's expenses. What does Tony think about his decision? He says: “I've been able to help several people come to know Jehovah, and our children love the truth. We've learned that if we put Matthew 6:33 into practice, Jehovah will take care of us.”
WHEN MAKING PLANS FOR OLD AGE
13. What can we do now to have what we need in the future?
13 Our trust in Jehovah’s hand could also be tested when we make plans for our old age. The Bible encourages us to work hard so that in the future we can cover our material needs. (Prov. 6:6-11). It's good to save a little money for the future, if possible. Although money is a protection to a certain extent, we never want it to be the most important thing in our lives. (Ecl. 7:12).
14. How does Hebrews 13:5 help us when planning for our old age?
14 Jesus used a comparison to explain that it is of no use for someone to accumulate wealth if he is “not rich in the eyes of God.” (Luke 12:16-21). We do not know what will become of our lives tomorrow (Prov. 23:4, 5; James 4:13-15). Furthermore, Jesus said that all who want to be his disciples must be willing to give up all their possessions. (Luke 14:33, footnote) In the first century, Christians in Judea had to do this, and they gladly accepted it. (Heb. 10:34) Today, many brothers have lost their jobs or possessions for refusing to support a political party. (Rev. 13:16, 17) They have shown complete trust in Jehovah’s promise: “I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you.” (Read Hebrews 13:5.) We 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.
15. How should Christian parents view their children? (See also the image.)
In some cultures, the main reason couples have children is to provide for them financially in their old age. They see them as, so to speak, a retirement plan. But the Bible says that parents should provide for their children's needs. (2 Cor. 12:14) Of course, as parents get older, they may need their children to help them financially and in other ways, and many children do so wholeheartedly. (1 Tim. 5:4) Now the greatest joy of Christian parents is to help their children serve Jehovah, not to raise them so that they can later take care of them financially. (3 Juan 4).
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)
16 Parents, when you help your children prepare to earn a living in the future, be sure to set a good example and teach them to trust in Jehovah. Try to show them from a young age the importance of working hard. (Prov. 29:21; it is Ephesians 4:28). As your children grow, help them do their best in school. Look in our publications for biblical principles that can help them make good academic decisions. Your goal should be to help your children get a job that will allow them to support themselves and have time to preach more or even pioneer.
17. What are we convinced of?
17 Jehovah's faithful servants have no doubt that he is able and willing to provide for their material needs. The closer we are to the end of this system, the more our trust in Jehovah will be tested. But whatever happens, let us fully trust that Jehovah will use his power to provide for us. We are convinced that his hand will never fall short; he will always reach wherever we are.
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
What does what happened to Moses and the Israelites teach us?
Just as the Israelites were influenced by foreigners, we too could be influenced by the ungrateful attitude of the people around us, and as a result, we could become dissatisfied with the things Jehovah has given us.
We must be careful not to become greedy. Whether we are rich or poor, the most important thing in our lives should be to store up “treasures in heaven” by strengthening our friendship with Jehovah and Jesus.
How can we show that we trust in Jehovah when we face financial difficulties?
Let us ask Him for wisdom to make good decisions and inner peace to avoid being "excessively worried." Let us pray that He will help us be content with what we need. Let us look in our publications for practical ideas to deal with financial problems.
We must let ourselves be guided by God's way of thinking, and not by what family or friends who do not follow biblical principles tell us.
What should we keep in mind when making plans for old age?
Jesus used a comparison to explain that it is useless for someone to accumulate wealth if he "is not rich in God's sight." Furthermore, Jesus said that all who want to be his disciples must be willing to give up all their possessions.
We 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.
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