Courageously Walk in Jehovah’s Ways

“Happy is everyone fearing Jehovah, who is walking in his ways.”​—PSALM 128:1.

1, 2. Of what help is the Biblical record of the words and deeds of early witnesses of Jehovah?

JEHOVAH’S Sacred Word is filled with accounts of the trials and joys of his loyal servants. Experiences of Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Joshua, Deborah, Barak, David, and others virtually leap from its pages. All of them were real people with something special in common. They had faith in God and courageously walked in his ways.

² The words and deeds of early witnesses of Jehovah can be of encouragement to us as we endeavor to walk in God’s ways. Moreover, happiness will be our lot as we display reverence for God and wholesome fear of displeasing him. This is true though we face trials in life, for the inspired psalmist sang: “Happy is everyone fearing Jehovah, who is walking in his ways.”​—Psalm 128:1.

What Courage Is

3. What is courage?

³ To walk in Jehovah’s ways, we must have courage. In fact, the Scriptures command God’s people to display this quality. For instance, the psalmist David sang: “Be courageous, and may your heart be strong, all you who are waiting for Jehovah.” (Psalm 31:24) Courage is “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” (Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary) A courageous person is strong, bold, valiant. That Jehovah gives his servants courage is clear from these words of the apostle Paul to his coworker Timothy: “God gave us not a spirit of cowardice, but that of power and of love and of soundness of mind.”​—2 Timothy 1:7.

4. What is one way to acquire courage?

⁴ One way to acquire God-given courage is to give prayerful consideration to Jehovah’s Word, the Bible. Many accounts appearing in the Scriptures can help us to become more courageous. Therefore, let us first see what we can learn from the record in the Hebrew Scriptures of some who courageously walked in Jehovah’s ways.

Courage to Declare God’s Message

5. How can Enoch’s courage benefit Jehovah’s present-day servants?

⁵ Enoch’s courage can help Jehovah’s present-day servants to speak God’s message courageously. Before Enoch was born, “a start was made of calling on the name of Jehovah.” Some scholars say that men “began profanely” to call on Jehovah’s name. (Genesis 4:25, 26; 5:3, 6) The divine name may have been applied to humans or even to idols. Hence, false religion was flourishing when Enoch was born in 3404 B.C.E. In fact, he seems to have been alone in ‘walking with God,’ pursuing a righteous course harmonizing with Jehovah’s revealed truth.​—Genesis 5:18, 24.

6. (a) What strong message did Enoch declare? (b) What confidence can we have?

⁶ Enoch courageously delivered God’s message, likely by preaching. (Hebrews 11:5; compare 2 Peter 2:5.) “Look!” declared this solitary witness, “Jehovah came with his holy myriads, to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly deeds that they did in an ungodly way, and concerning all the shocking things that ungodly sinners spoke against him.” (Jude 14, 15) Enoch had the courage to use the name Jehovah when delivering that message condemning the ungodly. And as God gave Enoch courage to declare that strong message, so Jehovah has empowered His present-day Witnesses to speak His word boldly in the ministry, at school, and elsewhere.​—Compare Acts 4:29-31.

Courage Under Trial

7. Noah provides what example of courage?

⁷ Noah’s example can help us to be courageous in performing righteous works when we are under trial. With courage and faith, he acted upon divine warning of a global flood and “constructed an ark for the saving of his household.” By obedient and righteous acts, Noah condemned the unbelieving world for its evil works and proved it worthy of destruction. (Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:13-22; 7:16) Meditating on Noah’s course helps God’s modern-day servants to engage courageously in such righteous works as the Christian ministry.

8. (a) What did Noah face as a courageous “preacher of righteousness”? (b) What will Jehovah do for us if we are courageous preachers of righteousness?

⁸ If we are pursuing a righteous course but do not know how to deal with a certain trial, let us pray for wisdom to cope with it. (James 1:5-8) Noah’s loyalty to God under test shows that it is possible to meet trials with courage and faithfulness. He withstood pressure from an evil world and from materialized angels and their hybrid offspring. Yes, Noah was a courageous “preacher of righteousness” to “an ancient world” headed for destruction. (2 Peter 2:4, 5; Genesis 6:1-9) Though he spoke boldly as a herald proclaiming God’s warning to the antediluvians, “they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away.” (Matthew 24:36-39) But let us remember that despite persecution and the rejection of our Bible-based message by most people today, Jehovah will uphold us as he upheld Noah if we display similar faith and courage as preachers of righteousness.

Courage to Obey God

9, 10. In what respects did Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac display courageous obedience?

⁹ “Jehovah’s friend” Abraham is a fine example of courageous obedience to God. (James 2:23) Abraham needed faith and courage to obey Jehovah and leave Ur of the Chaldeans, a city full of material advantages. He believed God’s promise that “all the families of the ground” would bless themselves by means of him and that his seed would be given a land. (Genesis 12:1-9; 15:18-21) By faith Abraham “resided as an alien in the land of the promise” and looked forward to “the city having real foundations”​—God’s heavenly Kingdom, under which he would be resurrected to life on earth.​—Hebrews 11:8-16.

¹⁰ Abraham’s wife, Sarah, had the faith and courage needed to leave Ur, accompany her husband to a foreign land, and endure any hardships they would encounter there. And how she was rewarded for her courageous obedience to God! Though barren until about 90 and “past the age limit,” Sarah was empowered ‘to conceive seed, since she esteemed God faithful who had promised.’ In time, she bore Isaac. (Hebrews 11:11, 12; Genesis 17:15-17; 18:11; 21:1-7) Years later, Abraham courageously obeyed God and “as good as offered up Isaac.” Stopped by an angel, the patriarch received his courageous and obedient son out of death “in an illustrative way.” He and Isaac thus prophetically portrayed that Jehovah God would provide his Son, Jesus Christ, as a ransom so that those exercising faith in him might have eternal life. (Hebrews 11:17-19; Genesis 22:1-19; John 3:16) Surely, the courageous obedience of Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac should move us to obey Jehovah and always do his will.

Courage to Stand With God’s People

11, 12. (a) How did Moses display courage with regard to Jehovah’s people? (b) In view of Moses’ courage, what question might be asked?

¹¹ Moses courageously took his stand with God’s oppressed people. In the 16th century B.C.E., Moses’ parents themselves showed courage. Not fearing the king’s order to kill newborn Hebrew males, they hid Moses and then put him in an ark among the reeds by the bank of the river Nile. Found by Pharaoh’s daughter, he was brought up as her own son, though he first received spiritual training in his parents’ home. As part of Pharaoh’s household, Moses “was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” and became “powerful in his words and deeds,” mighty in mental and physical capabilities.​—Acts 7:20-22; Exodus 2:1-10; 6:20.

¹² Despite the material advantages of the royal house, Moses courageously chose to take his stand with Jehovah’s worshipers, then enslaved by the Egyptians. In defense of an Israelite, he killed an Egyptian and then ran away to Midian. (Exodus 2:11-15) About 40 years later, God used him to lead the Israelites out of bondage. Moses then “left Egypt, but not fearing the anger of the king,” who threatened him with death for representing Jehovah in Israel’s behalf. Moses walked as if he saw ‘the invisible One,’ Jehovah God. (Hebrews 11:23-29; Exodus 10:28) Do you have such faith and courage that you will stick with Jehovah and his people despite hardship and persecution?

Courage to ‘Follow Jehovah Wholly’

13. How did Joshua and Caleb furnish examples of courage?

¹³ Courageous Joshua and Caleb provided evidence that we can walk in God’s ways. They “followed Jehovah wholly.” (Numbers 32:12) Joshua and Caleb were among the 12 men sent to spy out the Promised Land. Fearing its inhabitants, ten spies tried to dissuade Israel from entering Canaan. However, Joshua and Caleb courageously said: “If Jehovah has found delight in us, then he will certainly bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that is flowing with milk and honey. Only against Jehovah do not rebel; and you, do not you fear the people of the land, for they are bread to us. Their shelter has turned away from over them, and Jehovah is with us. Do not fear them.” (Numbers 14:8, 9) Lacking faith and courage, that generation of Israelites never reached the land of promise. But Joshua and Caleb, together with a new generation, did enter it.

14, 15. (a) As Joshua applied the words of Joshua 1:7, 8, what did he and the Israelites experience? (b) What lesson involving courage do we learn from Joshua and Caleb?

¹⁴ God told Joshua: “Be courageous and very strong to take care to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn aside from it to the right or to the left, in order that you may act wisely everywhere you go. This book of the law should not depart from your mouth, and you must in an undertone read in it day and night, in order that you may take care to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful and then you will act wisely.”​—Joshua 1:7, 8.

¹⁵ As Joshua applied those words, Jericho and other cities fell to the Israelites. God even made the sun stand still so that it kept shining until Israel was victorious at Gibeon. (Joshua 10:6-14) When imperiled by united enemy forces “as numerous as the grains of sand that are on the seashore,” Joshua acted courageously, and God again made Israel victorious. (Joshua 11:1-9) Though we are imperfect humans, like Joshua and Caleb, we can follow Jehovah wholly, and God can empower us to walk in his ways courageously.

Courage to Trust in God

16. In what ways did Deborah, Barak, and Jael show courage?

¹⁶ Courageous trust in God is rewarded, as shown by events in the days when judges administered justice in Israel. (Ruth 1:1) For example, Judge Barak and the prophetess Deborah courageously trusted in God. Canaanite king Jabin had oppressed Israel for 20 years when Jehovah had Deborah prompt Barak to assemble 10,000 men on Mount Tabor. Jabin’s military chief, Sisera, rushed to the torrent valley of Kishon, sure that on this level ground Israel’s men would be no match for his army and its 900 war chariots with iron scythes on their wheels. When the Israelites marched into the valley plain, God acted in their behalf, and a flash flood turned the battlefield into a quagmire that immobilized Sisera’s chariots. Barak’s men prevailed, so that “all the camp of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword.” Sisera fled to the tent of Jael, but as he slept, she had the courage to kill him by driving a tent pin through his temples. True to Deborah’s prophetic statement to Barak, “the beautifying thing” of this victory thus went to a woman. Because Deborah, Barak, and Jael courageously trusted in God, Israel “had no further disturbance for forty years.”​—Judges 4:1-22; 5:31.

17. What example of courageous trust in Jehovah was provided by Judge Gideon?

¹⁷ Judge Gideon courageously trusted in Jehovah God when the Midianites and others invaded Israel. Though outnumbered by some 135,000 invaders, Israel’s 32,000 fighting men might still have been inclined to ascribe God-given victory to their own valor. At Jehovah’s direction, Gideon therefore reduced his forces to three groups of 100 men. (Judges 7:1-7, 16; 8:10) As the 300 encircled the Midianite camp at night, each had a horn and a water jar with a torch inside. At a signal, they blew the horns, smashed the jars, raised flaming torches aloft, and shouted: “Jehovah’s sword and Gideon’s!” (Judges 7:20) The terrorized Midianites began to flee and were subdued. Such events should convince us that courageous trust in God is also rewarded today.

Courage to Honor Jehovah and Promote Pure Worship

18. When he struck down Goliath, David courageously did what?

¹⁸ Some Bible examples impart courage to honor Jehovah and promote pure worship. Young David, who boldly rescued his father’s sheep, proved courageous before the Philistine giant Goliath. “You are coming to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin,” said David, “but I am coming to you with the name of Jehovah of armies, the God of the battle lines of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day Jehovah will surrender you into my hand, and I shall certainly strike you down and remove your head off you; . . . and people of all the earth will know that there exists a God belonging to Israel. And all this congregation will know that neither with sword nor with spear does Jehovah save, because to Jehovah belongs the battle.” (1 Samuel 17:32-37, 45-47) With divine help, David courageously honored Jehovah, struck down Goliath, and thus played a vital role in removing a Philistine threat to pure worship.

19. For what project did Solomon need courage, and how can his approach be applied in our day?

¹⁹ When King David’s son Solomon was about to build God’s temple, his aged father urged him: “Be courageous and strong and act. Do not be afraid nor be terrified, for Jehovah God, my God, is with you. He will not desert you or leave you until all the work of the service of Jehovah’s house is finished.” (1 Chronicles 28:20) Taking courageous action, Solomon successfully completed the temple. When a theocratic building program presents a challenge today, let us remember David’s words: “Be courageous and strong and act.” What a fine way to honor Jehovah and promote pure worship!

20. In what respect did King Asa take courage?

²⁰ Because of King Asa’s desire to honor God and promote pure worship, he rid Judah of idols and male temple prostitutes. He also removed his apostate grandmother from her high position and burned her “horrible idol.” (1 Kings 15:11-13) Yes, Asa “took courage and proceeded to cause the disgusting things to vanish from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had captured from the mountainous region of Ephraim, and to renew Jehovah’s altar that was before the porch of Jehovah.” (2 Chronicles 15:8) Do you also courageously reject apostasy and promote pure worship? Are you using your material resources to advance Kingdom interests? And are you seeking to honor Jehovah by having a regular share in declaring the good news as one of his Witnesses?

21. (a) How can accounts of pre-Christian integrity keepers help us? (b) What will be considered in the next article?

²¹ How grateful we are that God has preserved Scriptural accounts regarding courageous pre-Christian integrity keepers! Surely, their fine examples can help us to render sacred service to Jehovah with courage, godly fear, and awe. (Hebrews 12:28) But the Christian Greek Scriptures also contain examples of godly courage in action. How can some of these accounts help us to walk courageously in Jehovah’s ways?

Courage to Imitate Christ

3. Who provides the best example of courage, and what was said about him at Hebrews 12:1-3?

³ Jesus Christ provides the best example of courage. After citing the ‘great cloud’ of courageous pre-Christian witnesses of Jehovah, the apostle Paul focused on Jesus by saying: “Because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also put off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Indeed, consider closely the one who has endured such contrary talk by sinners against their own interests, that you may not get tired and give out in your souls.”​—Hebrews 12:1-3.

4. How did Jesus display courage when tempted by Satan?

⁴ After his baptism and 40 days of meditation, prayer, and fasting in the wilderness, Jesus bravely opposed Satan. Tempted by the Devil to turn stones into bread, Jesus refused because it was wrong to perform a miracle to satisfy personal desire. “It is written,” said Jesus, “Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah’s mouth.” When Satan challenged him to jump off the temple battlement, Jesus refused because it would have been a sin to tempt God to rescue him from potential suicide. “Again it is written,” Christ stated, “You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.” Satan offered him all the kingdoms of the world for one “act of worship,” but Jesus would not apostatize and support the Devil’s challenge that humans would not remain faithful to God under test. So Jesus declared: “Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’” At that, the Tempter “retired from him until another convenient time.”​—Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:13.

5. What can help us to withstand temptation?

⁵ Jesus was in subjection to Jehovah and was opposed to Satan. If we similarly ‘subject ourselves to God and oppose the Devil, he will flee from us.’ (James 4:7) Like Jesus, we can courageously withstand temptation if we apply the Scriptures, perhaps even quoting them at the time we are tempted to do something sinful. Is it probable that we will yield to temptation to commit thievery if at that time we repeat to ourselves God’s law: “You must not steal”? Are two Christians likely to succumb to sexual immorality if even one of them courageously quotes the words: “You must not commit adultery”?​—Romans 13:8-10; Exodus 20:14, 15.

6. How was Jesus a courageous world conqueror?

⁶ As Christians hated by this world, we can avoid its spirit and sinful conduct. Jesus told his followers: “In the world you are having tribulation, but take courage! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33) He triumphed over the world by not becoming like it. His example as a conqueror and the outcome of his integrity-keeping course can fill us with the courage to imitate him by remaining separate from this world and undefiled by it.​—John 17:16.

Courage to Keep On Preaching

7, 8. What will help us to keep on preaching despite persecution?

⁷ Jesus and his disciples relied on God for courage to keep on preaching despite persecution. Christ boldly fulfilled his ministry despite persecution, and after Pentecost 33 C.E., his persecuted followers continued to proclaim the good news even though Jewish religious leaders tried to stop them. (Acts 4:18-20; 5:29) The disciples prayed: “Jehovah, give attention to their threats, and grant your slaves to keep speaking your word with all boldness.” And what happened? “When they had made supplication, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken,” says the account, “and they were one and all filled with the holy spirit and were speaking the word of God with boldness.”​—Acts 4:24-31.

⁸ Since the majority of people today are not receptive to the good news, boldness is often needed to keep on preaching to them. Especially when persecuted, Jehovah’s servants are in need of God-given courage in order to bear thorough witness. (Acts 2:40; 20:24) So the courageous Kingdom proclaimer Paul told a youthful, less-experienced coworker: “God gave us not a spirit of cowardice, but that of power and of love and of soundness of mind. Therefore do not become ashamed of the witness about our Lord, neither of me a prisoner for his sake, but take your part in suffering evil for the good news according to the power of God.” (2 Timothy 1:7, 8) If we pray for courage, we will be able to keep on preaching, and even persecution will not rob us of our joy as Kingdom proclaimers.​—Matthew 5:10-12.

Courage to Take Sides With Jehovah

9, 10. (a) What did first-century Jews and Gentiles do in order to become baptized followers of Christ? (b) Why did it take courage to become a Christian?

⁹ Many first-century Jews and Gentiles courageously abandoned unscriptural traditions to become baptized followers of Christ. Shortly after Pentecost 33 C.E., “the number of the disciples kept multiplying in Jerusalem very much; and a great crowd of priests began to be obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7) Those Jews had the courage to break religious ties and accept Jesus as the Messiah.

¹⁰ Beginning in 36 C.E., many Gentiles became believers. When Cornelius, members of his family, and other Gentiles heard the good news, they promptly accepted it, received holy spirit, and were “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” (Acts 10:1-48) In Philippi a Gentile jailer and his household quickly embraced Christianity, and “he and his were baptized without delay.” (Acts 16:25-34) Courage was required to take such steps because Christians were a persecuted, unpopular minority. They still are. But if you have not made a dedication to God and been baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, is it not time for you to take these courageous steps?

Courage in Divided Households

11. Eunice and Timothy provided what fine examples of courage?

¹¹ Eunice and her son Timothy set fine examples of courageous faith in a religiously divided household. Though Eunice had a pagan husband, she taught her son “the holy writings” from his infancy. (2 Timothy 3:14-17) Upon becoming a Christian, she manifested ‘faith without any hypocrisy.’ (2 Timothy 1:5) She also had the courage to impart Christian teaching to Timothy while showing respect for the headship of her unbelieving husband. Surely, her faith and courage were rewarded when her well-taught son was chosen to accompany Paul on missionary travels. How this can encourage Christian parents who find themselves in similar circumstances!

12. What kind of person did Timothy become, and who are now proving to be like him?

¹² Though Timothy lived in a religiously divided household, he courageously accepted Christianity and became a spiritual person about whom Paul could say: “I am hoping in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you [Philippians] shortly, that I may be a cheerful soul when I get to know about the things pertaining to you. For I have no one else of a disposition like his who will genuinely care for the things pertaining to you. . . . You know the proof he gave of himself, that like a child with a father he slaved with me in furtherance of the good news.” (Philippians 2:19-22) Today, many boys and girls in religiously divided homes bravely embrace true Christianity. Like Timothy they are giving proof of themselves, and how we rejoice that they are part of Jehovah’s organization!

Courage to ‘Risk Our Necks’

13. In what way did Aquila and Priscilla display courage?

¹³ Aquila and his wife, Priscilla (Prisca), set an example by courageously ‘risking their necks’ for a fellow believer. They received Paul into their home, worked with him in tentmaking, and helped him to build up the new congregation in Corinth. (Acts 18:1-4) During their 15-year friendship, they even put their lives in jeopardy in his behalf in an undisclosed way. They were living in Rome when he told Christians there: “Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who have risked their own necks for my soul, to whom not only I but also all the congregations of the nations render thanks.”​—Romans 16:3, 4.

14. By risking their necks for Paul, Aquila and Prisca were acting in harmony with what commandment?

¹⁴ By risking their necks for Paul, Aquila and Prisca acted in accord with Jesus’ words: “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34) This commandment was “new” in that it went beyond the Mosaic Law requirement that a person love his neighbor as he loved himself. (Leviticus 19:18) It demanded self-sacrificing love that would go as far as to give one’s life for others, as Jesus did. The writer Tertullian of the second and third centuries C.E. quoted the words of worldly people regarding Christians when he wrote: “‘See,’ they say, ‘how they love one another . . . and how they are ready even to die for one another.’” (Apology, chapter XXXIX, 7) Especially amid persecution may we be obligated to demonstrate brotherly love by courageously risking our lives so as to avoid exposing fellow believers to brutality or death at enemy hands.​—1 John 3:16.

Courage Brings Joy

15, 16. As shown in Acts chapter 16, how may courage and joy be linked?

¹⁵ Paul and Silas provide evidence that displaying courage amid trials can bring joy. By order of the civil magistrates in the city of Philippi, they were publicly beaten with rods and put in prison stocks. Yet, they did not dejectedly cower in fear. Despite their trying circumstances, they still had God-given courage and the joy that it brings to faithful Christians.

¹⁶ About the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were praying and praising God in song. Suddenly, an earthquake shook the prison, loosened their bonds, and threw open the doors. The frightened jailer and his family were given a bold witness that led to their baptism as Jehovah’s servants. He himself “rejoiced greatly with all his household now that he had believed God.” (Acts 16:16-34) What joy this must have brought Paul and Silas! Having considered this and other Scriptural examples of courage, how can we remain courageous as Jehovah’s servants?

Continue to Be of Good Courage

17. As shown in Psalm 27, how is hoping in Jehovah related to courage?

¹⁷ Hoping in Jehovah will help us to remain courageous. David sang: “Hope in Jehovah; be courageous and let your heart be strong. Yes, hope in Jehovah.” (Psalm 27:14) Psalm 27 shows that David relied on Jehovah as “the stronghold” of his life. (Verse 1) Having seen how God dealt with David’s adversaries in the past gave him courage. (Verses 2, 3) Appreciation for Jehovah’s center of worship was another factor. (Verse 4) Trusting in Jehovah’s help, protection, and deliverance also built up David’s courage. (Verses 5-10) Helpful, too, was continued instruction in the principles of Jehovah’s righteous way. (Verse 11) Confident prayer for deliverance from his adversaries, coupled with faith and hope, helped David to be courageous. (Verses 12-14) We can build up our courage in similar ways, thus showing that we really “hope in Jehovah.”

18. (a) What shows that regular association with fellow worshipers of Jehovah can help us to remain courageous? (b) Christian meetings play what role in building up courage?

¹⁸ Regular association with fellow worshipers of Jehovah can help us to remain courageous. When Paul appealed to Caesar and was traveling to Rome, fellow believers met him at the Marketplace of Appius and Three Taverns. “Upon catching sight of them,” says the account, “Paul thanked God and took courage.” (Acts 28:15)