Theme: “Jehovah Deserves Our Obedience”
Sometimes we receive an instruction that, at first glance, may seem unimportant to us or whose reason we may not fully understand. In those moments, we might think: “Do we really need to do it this way?” But obedience does not depend on our always understanding all the reasons. It depends on how much we trust the one who gives us the instruction.
Jeremiah showed extraordinary obedience. Jehovah commanded him to do things that could seem strange, uncomfortable, and even impractical. Yet Jeremiah did not argue or look for excuses. He obeyed. Later he came to understand the reason for those instructions and saw that Jehovah had used them to convey a very powerful lesson.
His example teaches us an important truth: Jehovah deserves our obedience, even when we do not immediately understand why he asks something of us.
Let us first note that, although Jeremiah may have been surprised at what Jehovah had asked of him, he made a great sacrifice to obey.
Jeremiah 13:1-7
“This is what Jehovah said to me: ‘Go and buy yourself a linen belt and put it around your waist, but do not put it in water.’ So in keeping with Jehovah’s words, I bought the belt and put it around my waist. Then Jehovah’s words came to me a second time, saying: ‘Take the belt that you bought and that is around your waist, and get up, go to the Euphrates and hide it there in a crevice of the rock.’ So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, just as Jehovah had commanded me. But after many days, Jehovah said to me: ‘Get up, go to the Euphrates and take the belt that I commanded you to hide there.’ So I went to the Euphrates and dug up the belt and took it from the place where I had hidden it. And I saw that the belt was ruined; it was good for nothing.”
Jehovah first commanded him to buy a linen belt and put it on. That could already seem like a peculiar instruction. But then he asked him to travel all the way to the Euphrates River to hide it in a crevice of a rock. The information we have indicates that this journey could have been about 500 kilometers one way. Jeremiah had to make two round trips. In all, he traveled nearly 2,000 kilometers.
It was no small errand. Let us imagine what it meant to cross the mountains of Judea, cover long distances, and, depending on the route, venture into desert areas. In addition, his long absence would surely have aroused the curiosity of his neighbors. When he returned, he did not even have the belt he had bought.
Later, Jehovah commanded him to make that long journey again to retrieve the belt. And on returning, Jeremiah found that it was rotted and good for nothing. Viewed from the outside, someone might have thought that all of that had been a waste of time and effort. Jeremiah could have reasoned: “Why do I have to travel such a long distance to hide a belt and then go back for it?” But he did not.
Jeremiah let himself be molded by Jehovah. That is why he obeyed without complaining and without grumbling. He carried out the instructions even though he may not have understood their purpose right away.
This invites us to think about our own attitude. It is easy to obey when we perfectly understand the reason for an instruction. But the most valuable obedience is shown when we trust in Jehovah even if we do not see all the details.
For example, we may receive Bible-based counsel that, at first, seems difficult for us to apply. Perhaps it has to do with the kind of entertainment we choose, a friendship, the way we use social media, or how to resolve a family problem. Maybe we think that our situation is different or that the counsel does not seem so necessary. But, just like Jeremiah, we do well to obey humbly.
Jeremiah’s obedience was not automatic or unthinking. It was an expression of trust. He knew that Jehovah always has a reason for giving an instruction, even when his servants do not yet see it.
Later, Jeremiah understood why Jehovah had given him those instructions.
Jeremiah 13:8-11
“Then the word of Jehovah came to me, saying: ‘This is what Jehovah says: “In the same way I will bring to ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. These wicked people, who refuse to obey my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and go after other gods to serve them and to bow down to them, will become just like this belt that is good for nothing. For just as a belt clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me,” declares Jehovah, “in order that they might become to me a people and a name and a praise and something beautiful. But they did not obey.”’”
Now the meaning became clear. The belt had clung to Jeremiah’s waist. In a similar way, Jehovah had made Israel and Judah cling to him. Jehovah wanted them to be to him “a people and a name and a praise and something beautiful.” What a great privilege they had!
However, instead of staying close to Jehovah, they let themselves be led by pride. They refused to obey his words, followed the stubbornness of their own heart, and went after other gods. For that reason, they would end up like that ruined belt: they would be good for nothing.
The lesson was forceful. Jehovah had not given those instructions to Jeremiah on a whim. The prophet’s obedience became a visual representation of what would happen to Judah. His willingness to obey, even in something that seemed trivial, helped Jehovah to convey a message that could reach people’s hearts.
This also teaches us something very beautiful about Jehovah. He wants his servants to cling to him. He does not want us to obey him out of fear, but because we recognize that being close to him is the best thing for us. Just as a belt is firmly attached to the waist, Jehovah wants us to stay united to him.
But pride can pull us away from Jehovah. When a person insists on doing things his own way, he may begin to think that he knows more than Jehovah or that His standards do not apply to his case. The inhabitants of Judah did that: they let themselves be guided by their own heart. And the result was tragic.
That is why, when we receive Bible-based direction, we want to avoid an attitude of stubbornness. Instead of thinking “I know better what I need,” we want to ask ourselves: “What is Jehovah teaching me? How can I show him that I trust his guidance?”
Humble obedience keeps us close to Jehovah. And not only when we understand the reason for an instruction, but especially when we do not yet fully understand it.
Finally, we Christians strive to be obedient like Jeremiah even when we do not understand why we receive certain instructions.
In some countries, our work is banned or greatly restricted. In those circumstances, the branch or the elders may give specific instructions to protect the brothers, to keep receiving spiritual food, and to continue preaching as much as possible.
We may not always understand all the reasons behind those instructions. We may think that a measure is too cautious or that there would be another way to do things. But let us not forget the example of Jeremiah. He obeyed before knowing exactly why Jehovah had commanded him to make those journeys.
Jehovah’s wisdom is far greater than ours. That is why, when we receive direction based on Bible principles, we do well to show a reasonable and cooperative attitude.
James 3:17
“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical.”
Let us take note of this expression: “ready to obey.” It does not mean being gullible or obeying without thinking. It means trusting in Jehovah and recognizing that he knows better than we do what is best for us.
We are also reminded that we should not give information about our brothers or the congregation’s activities to those who have no right to know it. At certain times, keeping silent can protect others and help the work to keep moving forward.
Ecclesiastes 3:7
“A time to keep quiet and a time to speak.”
Being cautious is not a lack of courage. It can be a way to show love for our brothers and respect for the instructions given to us.
Obedience is also closely related to love for Jehovah.
1 John 5:3
“For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments.”
Obeying Jehovah is not a heavy burden or a cold obligation. It is a way of telling him: “Jehovah, I love you, I trust in you, and I recognize that your ways are always better than mine.”
Jeremiah did not understand the meaning of the linen belt from the start. But he obeyed. And when Jehovah explained the reason to him, it became clear that his obedience had served to convey a vital lesson to the people.
We too may not immediately understand why Jehovah gives us certain counsel or why certain things are asked of us within the congregation. But we can be sure that Jehovah never gives instructions without a wise and loving reason.
So let us imitate Jeremiah. Let us be obedient without complaining, without looking for excuses, and without letting ourselves be led by our own heart. Let us stay firmly united to Jehovah and show by our obedience that we recognize this truth: Jehovah deserves our obedience.
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