Here is an email that has been doing the rounds among JW's.

Jehovah's Direction Not Man's
Illustration about obedience given by a brother at a new Kingdom Hall in New England:

Do you realize that in the Bible there are many instances of situations where Jehovah's people were given directions that made no sense from a human standpoint and seemed totally illogical?

For instance:
> Abraham sacrificing his only son Isaac.

> Noah building an ark on dry land when there had never been rain.

> Moses had the Israelites march out in battle formation and then march back in the direction they left. Pharaoh thought they were crazy and then Moses led them to the Red Sea; Pharaoh thought he could kill them all - their backs were against the sea.

> Gideon; his army was whittled down to 300 men. With torches and jars they went out to defeat the enemy.

> Jericho; for 6 days they marched around the city once and on the 7th day they marched seven times and then shouted.

> Jehoshaphat who was afraid when the Ammonites & others were coming to annihilate them prayed, and Jehovah said...put the singers, women, children in front of the armed forces and go and meet the enemy!

All of these situations were Jehovah's direction but they seemed foolish & totally illogical from a human standpoint. It seemed each time as if they would be killed.

Then the brother asked the questions:

'Do you have the faith to follow the direction of the faithful slave, in these last days even if you don't understand what they are asking and it seems as if you will die because the direction is illogical?'

'Will you quickly obey and trust the channel Jehovah is using?'

He told us to carefully meditate on that because we will be in a similar situation in the tribulation where we will think we are facing death, but we need to obey quickly the directions given...we will have to decide what we will do in an instant.


In his introduction, this Brother, who had just returned from Bethel, brought greetings from the Governing body. He said the ''faithful slave” is very concerned about us, especially in regards to the brothers' and sisters' employment in these hard economic times'.

He mentioned that the new meeting arrangement was made because of upcoming hard times and the strain to make ends meet.

This is a small excerpt of what he said.
'Keep your heads erect and do not gaze about'

We don't know what gasoline will be like in January--could be $10 a gallon! How would the friends be able to travel to meetings? And also our jobs may be in jeopardy. How would we react if suddenly we lose our jobs? Would we panic and not come to the meetings?

We need to downsize expenditures and get used to having little. He said the 'slave' advised us to read from our KM the 20 minute part (???) taken from the October 15, 2005, pages 8-11. (You have to read that Watchtower. It is a glimpse into what is coming.)

He also said we have to be prepared to leave everything, our belongings, etc, and be scattered. He said how would we feel if we found ourselves homeless? Moses did. Moses was employed by Pharaoh, had much riches and because of circumstances, he had to be on the run and suddenly he had nothing! No job, no food, nowhere to sleep. Moses was basically a homeless person!

(Boy you could hear a pin drop!)

He said we have to have faith and don't be afraid. Never allow an unexpected incident, including job loss to paralyze you. Do everything you can and then WAIT on Jehovah silently, and see how He will come to your aid ...


Isaiah 41:10 & 13

10 Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not gaze about, for I am your God. I will fortify you. I will really help you. I will really keep fast hold of you with my right hand of righteousness. 13 For I, Jehovah your God, am grasping your right hand, the One saying to you, “Do not be afraid. I myself will help you.”


Lamentations 3:26

26 Good it is that one should wait, even silently, for the salvation of Jehovah.