Watchtower Study for: OCT 10-16

Jehovah - "The God Who Gives Peace"

Songs to be used: 39, 76

Purpose of Study Article:

The unity enjoyed by Jehovah's Witnesses is
unique, and we should never take it for
granted.  This article highlights Bible examples
that encourage us to be peacemakers.

JEHOVAH
—“THE GOD WHO GIVES PEACE”

“May the God who gives peace be with all of you.”—ROM. 15:33.

1, 2. What tense situation is described in Genesis chapters 32 and 33, and what was the outcome?

‘+++’ THE place is close to Penuel, near the torrent valley of Jabbok on the east side of the river Jordan. Esau has heard that his twin brother, Jacob, is returning home. Even though 20 years have passed since Esau sold his right as firstborn to his brother, Jacob fears that his brother may still harbor a murderous grudge against him. Accompanied by 400 men, Esau marches toward his estranged brother. Anticipating a hostile reception, Jacob sends Esau wave upon wave of gifts amounting to over 550 domestic animals. With each group of animals, Jacob’s servants tell Esau that they are a gift from his brother.

   ‘+++’ 2 The moment finally arrives! As Jacob courageously walks toward Esau, he bows down—not once but seven times. Jacob has already taken the most important measure he can take to soften the heart of his brother. Jacob has prayed to Jehovah for deliverance from Esau’s hand. Does Jehovah answer this prayer? Yes. “Esau went running to meet him,” the Bible tells us, “and he began to embrace him and fall upon his neck and kiss him.”—Gen. 32:11-20; 33:1-4.

SCRIPTURES:

(Genesis 32:11-20) Deliver me, I pray you, from my brother’s hand, from E′sau’s hand, because I am afraid of him that he may come and certainly assault me, mother together with children. 12 And you, you have said, ‘Unquestionably I shall deal well with you and I will constitute your seed like the grains of sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” 13 And he kept lodging there on that night. And from what came to his hand he proceeded to take a gift for E′sau his brother: 14 two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats, two hundred female sheep and twenty rams, 15 thirty camels giving suck and their young ones, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and ten full-grown asses. 16 Then he handed over to his servants one drove after another by itself and repeatedly said to his servants: “Cross over ahead of me, and YOU are to set an interval between drove and drove.” 17 Further he commanded the first one, saying: “In case that E′sau my brother should meet you and ask you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going and to whom do these ahead of you belong?’ 18 then you must say, ‘To your servant, to Jacob. A gift it is, sent to my lord, to E′sau, and look! he himself is also behind us.’” 19 And he went on to command also the second, also the third, also all those following the droves, saying: “According to this word YOU are to speak to E′sau on YOUR encountering him. 20 And YOU must say also, ‘Here is your servant Jacob behind us.’” For he said to himself: “I may appease him by the gift going ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will give a kindly reception.”

(Genesis 33:1-4) In time Jacob raised his eyes and looked, and here E′sau was coming and with him four hundred men. Consequently he divided off the children to Le′ah and to Rachel and to the two maidservants, 2 and he put the maidservants and their children foremost and Le′ah and her children after them and Rachel and Joseph to the rear of them. 3 And he himself passed on ahead of them and proceeded to bow down to the earth seven times until he got near to his brother. 4 And E′sau went running to meet him, and he began to embrace him and fall upon his neck and kiss him, and they burst into tears.

What was the most
important step taken by Jacob in
making peace with Esau?

3. What do we learn from the account of Jacob and Esau?

   ‘+++’ 3 The account of Jacob and Esau shows that we should make earnest and practical efforts to settle matters when problems arise that may threaten the peace we enjoy within the Christian congregation. Jacob sought to make peace with Esau, but not because Jacob had erred against his brother and owed him an apology. No, Esau had despised his birthright and had sold it to Jacob for a bowl of stew. (Gen. 25:31-34; Heb. 12:16) However, the way Jacob approached Esau illustrates the extent to which we should be willing to go to preserve the peace with our Christian brothers. It also shows that the true God blesses our prayerful efforts to make peace. The Bible contains numerous other examples that instruct us to be peacemakers.

SCRIPTURES:

 (Genesis 25:31-34) To this Jacob said: “Sell me, first of all, your right as firstborn!” 32 And E′sau continued: “Here I am simply going to die, and of what benefit to me is a birthright?” 33 And Jacob added: “Swear to me first of all!” And he proceeded to swear to him and to sell his right as firstborn to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave E′sau bread and lentil stew, and he went to eating and drinking. Then he got up and went his way. So E′sau despised the birthright.

(Hebrews 12:16) that there may be no fornicator nor anyone not appreciating sacred things, like E′sau, who in exchange for one meal gave away his rights as firstborn.

A Superlative Example to Exhort Us

4. What is God’s provision for saving mankind from sin and death?

   ‘+++’ 4 The most outstanding example of a peacemaker is Jehovah—“the God who gives peace.” (Rom. 15:33) Think of the extent to which Jehovah went to enable us to have a peaceful relationship with him. As sinful descendants of Adam and Eve, we deserve “the wages [that] sin pays.” (Rom. 6:23) Still, out of his great love, Jehovah arranged for our salvation by sending his beloved Son from heaven to be born as a perfect human. And the Son willingly complied. He allowed himself to be put to death by God’s enemies. (John 10:17, 18) The true God resurrected his beloved Son, who afterward presented to the Father the value of his shed blood, which would be a ransom to save repentant sinners from eternal death.—Read Hebrews 9:14, 24.

SCRIPTURES:

(Romans 15:33) May the God who gives peace be with all of YOU. Amen.

(Romans 6:23) For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.

(John 10:17-18) This is why the Father loves me, because I surrender my soul, in order that I may receive it again. 18 No man has taken it away from me, but I surrender it of my own initiative. I have authority to surrender it, and I have authority to receive it again. The commandment on this I received from my Father.”

(Hebrews 9:14) how much more will the blood of the Christ, who through an everlasting spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works that we may render sacred service to [the] living God?

(Hebrews 9:24) For Christ entered, not into a holy place made with hands, which is a copy of the reality, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the person of God for us.

5, 6. How does Jesus’ shed blood affect the damaged relationship between God and sinful mankind?

   ‘+++’ 5 How does the provision of the ransom sacrifice of God’s Son affect the damaged relationship between God and sinful mankind? “The chastisement meant for our peace was upon him,” states Isaiah 53:5, “and because of his wounds there has been a healing for us.” Instead of being viewed as God’s enemies, obedient humans can now enjoy a peaceful relationship with him. “By means of [Jesus] we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one, yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses.”—Eph.1:7.

   ‘+++’ 6 The Bible states: “God saw good for all fullness to dwell in [Christ].” This is because Christ is the key figure in the fulfilling of God’s purpose. And what is Jehovah’s purpose? It is “to reconcile again to himself all other things by making peace through the [shed] blood” of Jesus Christ. “All other things” that God thus brings into a peaceful relationship with him are “the things in the heavens” and “the things upon the earth.” What are they?—Read Colossians 1:19, 20.

SCRIPTURES:

(Isaiah 53:5) But he was being pierced for our transgression; he was being crushed for our errors. The chastisement meant for our peace was upon him, and because of his wounds there has been a healing for us.

(Ephesians 1:7) By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one, yes, the forgiveness of [our] trespasses, according to the riches of his undeserved kindness.

(Colossians 1:19-20) because [God] saw good for all fullness to dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile again to himself all [other] things by making peace through the blood [he shed] on the torture stake, no matter whether they are the things upon the earth or the things in the heavens.

 7. What are “the things in the heavens” and “the things upon the earth” that are brought into a peaceful relationship with God?

   ‘+++’ 7 The provision of the ransom makes it possible for anointed Christians, who “have been declared righteous” as sons of God, to “enjoy peace with God.” (Read Romans 5:1.) They are referred to as “the things in the heavens” because they have a heavenly hope and “are to rule as kings over the earth” and serve as priests to God. (Rev. 5: 10) On the other hand, “the things upon the earth” refer to repentant humans, who will eventually attain to everlasting life on earth.—Ps. 37:29.

SCRIPTURES:

(Romans 5:1) Therefore, now that we have been declared righteous as a result of faith, let us enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

(Revelation 5:10) and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.”

(Psalm 37:29) The righteous themselves will possess the earth, And they will reside forever upon it.

8. How are you affected by reflecting on the extent to which Jehovah went to enable mankind to be at peace with him?

   ‘+++’ 8 Expressing his heartfelt gratitude for Jehovah’s provision, Paul wrote to the anointed Christians in Ephesus: “God, who is rich In mercy, . . . made us alive together with the Christ, even when we were dead in trespasses— by undeserved kindness you have been saved.” (Eph. 2:4, 5) Whether we have a heavenly hope or an earthly hope, we are deeply indebted to God for his mercy and undeserved kindness. Our hearts are filled with gratitude as we consider the extent to which Jehovah went to make it possible for mankind to enjoy peace with him. When we are confronted with situations that threaten the peaceful unity of the congregation, should not our appreciatively reflecting on God’s example move us to be peacemakers?

SCRIPTURES:

(Ephesians 2:4-5) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 made us alive together with the Christ, even when we were dead in trespasses—by undeserved kindness YOU have been saved—

Learning From the
 Ways of Abraham and Isaac

9, 10. How did Abraham prove himself to be a peacemaker in dealing with Lot when tension arose among their herdsmen?

   ‘+++’ 9 Concerning the patriarch Abraham, the Bible states: “ ‘Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness,’ and he came to be called ‘Jehovah’s friend.’ ” (Jas. 2:23) Abraham’s faith was made evident by his peace-loving ways. For example, as Abraham’s flocks and herds increased, tension developed between his herdsmen and those of his nephew Lot. (Gen. 12:5; 13:7) The obvious solution was that Abraham and Lot separate. How would Abraham deal with this delicate situation? Instead of using his age and status with God to tell his nephew what to do, Abraham proved himself to be a true peacemaker.

   ‘+++’ 10 “Please, do not let any quarreling continue Between me and you and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen,” Abraham told his nephew, “for we men are brothers.” The patriarch continued: “Is not the whole land available to you? Please, separate from me. If you go to the left, then I will go to the right; but if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” Lot chose the most fertile part of the land, but Abraham held no grudge against him. (Gen. 13:8-11) Later on when Lot was taken captive by invading armies, Abraham did not hesitate to rescue his nephew.—Gen.14:14-16

SCRIPTURES:

(James 2:23) and the scripture was fulfilled which says: “Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he came to be called “Jehovah’s friend.”

(Genesis 12:5) So A′bram took Sar′ai his wife and Lot the son of his brother and all the goods that they had accumulated and the souls whom they had acquired in Ha′ran, and they got on their way out to go to the land of Ca′naan. Finally they came to the land of Ca′naan.

(Genesis 13:7) And a quarrel arose between the herders of A′bram’s livestock and the herders of Lot’s livestock; and at that time the Ca′naan•ite and the Per′iz•zite were dwelling in the land.

(Genesis 13:8-11) Hence A′bram said to Lot: “Please, do not let any quarreling continue between me and you and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we men are brothers. 9 Is not the whole land available to you? Please, separate from me. If you go to the left, then I will go to the right; but if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” 10 So Lot raised his eyes and saw the whole District of the Jordan, that all of it was a well-watered region before Jehovah brought Sod′om and Go•mor′rah to ruin, like the garden of Jehovah, like the land of Egypt as far as Zo′ar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself the whole District of the Jordan, and Lot moved his camp to the east. So they separated the one from the other.

(Genesis 14:14-16) Thus A′bram got to hear that his brother had been taken captive. With that he mustered his trained men, three hundred and eighteen slaves born in his household, and went in pursuit up to Dan. 15 And by night he resorted to dividing his forces, he and his slaves, against them, and thus he defeated them and kept in pursuit of them up to Ho′bah, which is north of Damascus. 16 And he proceeded to recover all the goods, and he recovered also Lot his brother and his goods and also the women and the people.

11. How did Abraham pursue peace with his Philistine neighbors?

   ‘+++’ 11 Think also of how Abraham pursued peace with his Philistine neighbors in the land of Canaan. The Philistines had “seized by violence” a well of water dug by Abraham’s servants at Beer-sheba. How would a man who had rescued his nephew by overcoming the four kings who had captured him respond to this act? Rather than fight back and repossess his well, Abraham chose to remain silent about the matter. In time, the Philistine king visited Abraham to make a covenant of peace. Only after he got Abraham to swear to him to be kind to the Philistine king’s offspring did Abraham bring up the matter of his stolen well. Shocked to hear about this, the king restored the well to Abraham. As for Abraham, he continued to live peacefully as an alien resident in the land.—Gen. 21:22-31, 34.

SCRIPTURES:

(Genesis 21:22-31) Now it came about at that time that A•bim′e•lech together with Phi′col the chief of his army said to Abraham: “God is with you in everything you are doing. 23 So now swear to me here by God that you will not prove false to me and to my offspring and to my posterity; that, according to the loyal love with which I have dealt with you, you will deal with me and with the land in which you have been residing as an alien.” 24 So Abraham said: “I shall swear.” 25 When Abraham criticized A•bim′e•lech severely as regards the well of water that the servants of A•bim′e•lech had seized by violence, 26 then A•bim′e•lech said: “I do not know who did this thing, neither did you yourself tell it to me, and I myself have also not heard of it except today.” 27 With that Abraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to A•bim′e•lech, and both of them proceeded to conclude a covenant. 28 When Abraham set seven female lambs of the flock by themselves, 29 A•bim′e•lech went on to say to Abraham: “What is the meaning here of these seven female lambs that you have set by themselves?” 30 Then he said: “You are to accept the seven female lambs at my hand, that it may serve as a witness for me that I have dug this well.” 31 That is why he called that place Be′er-she′ba, because there both of them had taken an oath.

(Genesis 21:34) And Abraham extended his residence as an alien in the land of the Phi•lis′tines many days.

12, 13. (a) How did Isaac follow the example of his father? (b) How did Jehovah bless Isaac’s peace loving ways?

   ‘+++’ 12 Abraham’s son Isaac followed the peace-loving ways of his father. This is evident from the manner in which Isaac dealt with the Philistines. Because of a famine in the land, Isaac moved his household north, from Beer-lahai-roi in the arid region of the Negeb into the more fertile territory of the Philistines at Gerar. There Jehovah blessed Isaac with bumper crops and increased his livestock. The Philistines began to envy him. Not wanting Isaac to prosper as his father had prospered, the Philistines stopped up the wells that Abraham’s servants had dug in the region. Finally, the Philistine king told Isaac to ‘move from their neighborhood.’ The peaceful man Isaac complied.—Gen. 24: 62; 26:1, 12-17.

   ‘+++’ 13 After Isaac moved his encampment farther away, his shepherds dug another well. Philistine shepherds claimed that the water was theirs. Like his father, Abraham, Isaac did not fight over a well. Instead, Isaac again had his men dig a well. The Philistines also claimed this one for themselves. For the sake of peace, Isaac moved his large encampment away to yet another location. There his servants dug a well that Isaac named Rehoboth. In time, he moved to the more fertile region of Beer-sheba, where Jehovah blessed him and told him: “Do not be afraid, because I am with you, and I will bless you and multiply your seed on account of Abraham my servant.”—Gen. 26:17-25.

SCRIPTURES:

(Genesis 24:62) Now Isaac had come from the way that goes to Be′er-la′hai-roi, for he was dwelling in the land of the Neg′eb.

(Genesis 26:1) Now there arose a famine in the land, besides the first famine that occurred in the days of Abraham, so that Isaac directed himself to A•bim′e•lech, king of the Phi•lis′tines, to Ge′rar.

(Genesis 26:12-17) Afterward Isaac began to sow seed in that land, and in that year he was getting up to a hundred measures to one, as Jehovah was blessing him. 13 Consequently the man became great and went on advancing more and more and growing great until he got very great. 14 And he came to have flocks of sheep and herds of cattle and a large body of servants, so that the Phi•lis′tines began to envy him. 15 As for all the wells that the servants of his father had dug in the days of Abraham his father, these the Phi•lis′tines stopped up and they would fill them with dry earth. 16 Finally A•bim′e•lech said to Isaac: “Move from our neighborhood, because you have grown far stronger than we are.” 17 So Isaac moved from there and encamped in the torrent valley of Ge′rar and took up dwelling there.

(Genesis 26:17-25) So Isaac moved from there and encamped in the torrent valley of Ge′rar and took up dwelling there. 18 And Isaac proceeded to dig again the wells of water that they had dug in the days of Abraham his father but which the Phi•lis′tines went stopping up after Abraham’s death; and he resumed calling their names by the names that his father had called them. 19 And the servants of Isaac went on digging in the torrent valley and so they found there a well of fresh water. 20 And the shepherds of Ge′rar fell to quarreling with the shepherds of Isaac, saying: “The water is ours!” Hence he called the name of the well E′sek, because they had contended with him. 21 And they went digging another well, and they fell to quarreling over it also. Hence he called its name Sit′nah. 22 Later he moved away from there and dug another well, but they did not quarrel over it. Hence he called its name Re•ho′both and said: “It is because now Jehovah has given us ample room and has made us fruitful in the earth.” 23 Then he went up from there to Be′er-she′ba. 24 And Jehovah proceeded to appear to him during that night and to say: “I am the God of Abraham your father. Do not be afraid, because I am with you, and I will bless you and multiply your seed on account of Abraham my servant.” 25 Accordingly he built an altar there and called on the name of Jehovah and pitched his tent there, and the servants of Isaac went excavating a well there.

14. How did Isaac prove himself to be a peacemaker when the Philistine king sought to make a covenant of peace with him?

   ‘+++’ 14 Isaac surely had the ability to fight for his right to use all the wells that his servants had dug. After all, the Philistine king and his officials came to visit him in Beer-sheba and sought to make a covenant of peace with him, saying: “We have unmistakably seen that Jehovah has proved to be with you.” Still, for the sake of peace, Isaac had more than once opted to move rather than fight. This time too Isaac proved himself to be a peacemaker. The historical record states: “He made a feast for [his visitors] and they ate and drank. Next morning they were early in rising and they made sworn statements one to the other. After that Isaac sent them away. . . in peace.”—Gen.26:26-31.

SCRIPTURES:

(Genesis 26:26-31) Later on A•bim′e•lech came to him from Ge′rar with A•huz′zath his confidential friend and Phi′col the chief of his army. 27 At this Isaac said to them: “Why have YOU come to me, seeing that YOU yourselves hated me and so sent me away from YOUR neighborhood?” 28 To this they said: “We have unmistakably seen that Jehovah has proved to be with you. Hence we said, ‘Let, please, an oath of obligation occur between us, between us and you, and let us conclude a covenant with you, 29 that you will do nothing bad toward us just as we have not touched you and just as we have done only good toward you in that we sent you away in peace. You now are the blessed of Jehovah.’” 30 Then he made a feast for them and they ate and drank. 31 Next morning they were early in rising and they made sworn statements one to the other. After that Isaac sent them away and they went from him in peace.

Learning From the Son
 Whom Jacob Loved the Most

15. Why were Joseph’s brothers unable to speak peacefully to him?

   ‘+++’ 15 Isaac’s son Jacob grew up to be “a blameless man.” (Gen. 25:27) As discussed at the outset, Jacob sought to make peace with his brother, Esau. Undoubtedly, Jacob had benefited from the peaceable example of his father, Isaac. What can be said about Jacob’s sons? Of his 12 sons, Joseph was the One whom Jacob loved the most. Joseph was an obedient, respectful son who cared deeply for his father’s interests. (Gen. 37:2, 14) However, Joseph’s older brothers became so jealous of him that they were unable to speak peacefully to him. Cruelly, they sold Joseph into slavery and tricked their father into believing that Joseph had been killed by a wild beast.—Gen. 37:4, 28, 31-33.

SCRIPTURES:

(Genesis 25:27) And the boys got bigger, and E′sau became a man knowing how to hunt, a man of the field, but Jacob a blameless man, dwelling in tents.

(Genesis 37:2) This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, when seventeen years old, happened to be tending sheep with his brothers among the flock, and, being but a boy, he was with the sons of Bil′hah and the sons of Zil′pah, the wives of his father. So Joseph brought a bad report about them to their father.

(Genesis 37:14) So he said to him: “Go, please. See whether your brothers are safe and sound and whether the flock is safe and sound, and bring me back word.” With that he sent him away from the low plain of He′bron, and he went on toward She′chem.

(Genesis 37:4) When his brothers came to see that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they began to hate him, and they were not able to speak peacefully to him.

(Genesis 37:28) Now men, Mid′i•an•ite merchants, went passing by. Hence they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the waterpit and then sold Joseph to the Ish′ma•el•ites for twenty silver pieces. Eventually these brought Joseph into Egypt.

(Genesis 37:31-33) However, they took Joseph’s long garment and slaughtered a male goat and repeatedly dipped the long garment in the blood. 32 After that they sent the long striped garment and had it brought to their father and said: “This is what we found. Examine, please, whether it is your son’s long garment or not.” 33 And he went examining it and exclaimed: “It is my son’s long garment! A vicious wild beast must have devoured him! Joseph is surely torn to pieces!”

16, 17. How did Joseph prove himself to be a peace loving brother to his siblings?

   ‘+++’ 16 Jehovah proved to be with Joseph. In time, Joseph became Egypt’s prime minister—second in power only to Pharaoh. When a severe famine brought Joseph’s brothers to Egypt, they did not even recognize him in his official Egyptian attire. (Gen. 42:5-7) How easy it would have been for Joseph to repay his brothers for their cruelty to him and to their father! Rather than seek revenge, however, Joseph tried to make peace with them. When it became clear that his brothers had repented, he made himself known to them, saying: “Do not feel hurt and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here; because for the preservation of life God has sent me ahead of you.” Then he proceeded to kiss all his brothers and to weep over them.—Gen. 45: 1, 5, 15.

   ‘+++’ 17 After the death of their father, Jacob, Joseph’s brothers thought that Joseph might take vengeance on them. As they expressed their fears to him, Joseph “burst into tears” and replied: “Do not be afraid. I myself shall keep supplying you and your little children with food.” Peace-loving Joseph “comforted them and spoke reassuringly to them.”—Gen. 50:15-21.

SCRIPTURES:

(Genesis 42:5-7) So Israel’s sons came along with the others who were coming to buy, because the famine existed in the land of Ca′naan. 6 And Joseph was the man in power over the land. He was the one that did the selling to all people of the earth. Consequently Joseph’s brothers came and bowed low to him with their faces to the earth. 7 When Joseph got to see his brothers, he at once recognized them, but he made himself unrecognizable to them. So he spoke harshly with them and said to them: “Where have YOU come from?” to which they said: “From the land of Ca′naan to buy foodstuffs.”

(Genesis 45:1) At this Joseph was no longer able to control himself before all those who were stationed by him. So he cried out: “HAVE everybody go out from me!” And no one else stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

(Genesis 45:5) But now do not feel hurt and do not be angry with yourselves because YOU sold me here; because for the preservation of life God has sent me ahead of YOU.

(Genesis 45:15) And he proceeded to kiss all his brothers and to weep over them, and after that his brothers spoke with him.

(Genesis 50:15-21) When the brothers of Joseph saw that their father was dead, they began to say: “It may be that Joseph is harboring animosity against us and he will be sure to repay us for all the evil that we have rendered him.” 16 So they expressed a command to Joseph in these words: “Your father gave the command before his death, saying, 17 ‘This is what YOU are to say to Joseph: “I beseech you, pardon, please, the revolt of your brothers and their sin in that they have rendered evil to you.”’ And now pardon, please, the revolt of the servants of your father’s God.” And Joseph burst into tears when they spoke to him. 18 Following that his brothers also came and fell down before him and said: “Here we are as slaves to you!” 19 Then Joseph said to them: “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for YOU, YOU had evil in mind against me. God had it in mind for good for the purpose of acting as at this day to preserve many people alive. 21 So now do not be afraid. I myself shall keep supplying YOU and YOUR little children with food.” Thus he comforted them and spoke reassuringly to them.

“Written for Our Instruction”

18, 19. (a) How have you benefited from considering the examples of peacemakers discussed in this article? (b) What will we consider in the next article?

   ‘+++’ 18 “All the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction,” wrote Paul, “that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Rom.15:4) How have we benefited from considering not only the superlative example of Jehovah but also the Scriptural accounts of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph?

   ‘+++’ 19 Does not appreciatively reflecting on what Jehovah has done to heal the damaged relationship between him and sinful mankind move us to do all we can to pursue peace with others? The examples of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph show that parents can have a good influence on their children. Moreover, these accounts also show that Jehovah blesses the efforts of those who try to make peace. No wonder Paul refers to Jehovah as “the God who gives peace”! (Read Romans 15:33; 16:20.) The following article will consider why Paul stressed the need for us to pursue peace and how we can be peacemakers.

SCRIPTURES:

(Romans 15:4) For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.

(Romans 15:33) May the God who gives peace be with all of YOU. Amen.

(Romans 16:20) For his part, the God who gives peace will crush Satan under YOUR feet shortly. May the undeserved kindness of our Lord Jesus be with YOU.

____________________

What Did You Learn?

˙ In what way did Jacob seek peace when he was about to meet Esau?

˙ How have you been affected by what Jehovah did to enable mankind to be at peace with him?

˙ What have you learned from the examples of the peacemakers Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph?