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Jehovah Makes a Beautiful Name for HimselfIsaiah’s Prophecy—Light for All Mankind II
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Just as when a beast itself goes down into the valley plain, the very spirit of Jehovah proceeded to make them rest.’”—Isaiah 63:11-14a.d
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Jehovah Makes a Beautiful Name for HimselfIsaiah’s Prophecy—Light for All Mankind II
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In time, God took them out of the great and fear-inspiring wilderness and led them into a land flowing with milk and honey—a place of rest. (Deuteronomy 1:19; Joshua 5:6; 22:4) Now, though, the Israelites suffer because of having lost their favorable relationship with God!
‘A Beautiful Name for Himself’
21. (a) What great privilege could Israel have had in connection with God’s name? (b) What was God’s primary reason for liberating Abraham’s descendants from Egypt?
21 Still, the material loss of the Israelites pales in comparison with the loss of the privilege they have tossed away, namely, that of sharing in the glorifying of God’s name. Moses promised the Jews: “Jehovah will establish you as a holy people to himself, just as he swore to you, because you continue to keep the commandments of Jehovah your God, and you have walked in his ways. And all the peoples of the earth will have to see that Jehovah’s name has been called upon you, and they will indeed be afraid of you.” (Deuteronomy 28:9, 10) When Jehovah acted in defense of Abraham’s descendants, rescuing them from slavery in Egypt, he was not doing so simply to make life more convenient or pleasant for them. He was acting in behalf of something far more important—his name. Yes, he was seeing to it that his name was “declared in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:15, 16) And when God showed mercy after the rebellion of Israel in the wilderness, his reason for doing so was not mere sentiment. Jehovah himself said: “I went acting for the sake of my own name that it might not be profaned before the eyes of the nations.”—Ezekiel 20:8-10.
22. (a) In the future, why will God once again fight in behalf of his people? (b) In what ways does our love for God’s name affect our actions?
22 What a powerful conclusion Isaiah then gives to this prophecy! He says: “Thus you led your people in order to make a beautiful name for your own self.” (Isaiah 63:14b) Now it can be clearly seen why Jehovah fights mightily in the interests of his people. It is to make a beautiful name for himself. Isaiah’s prophecy thus serves as a powerful reminder that bearing the name of Jehovah is both an awesome privilege and a great responsibility. True Christians today love the name of Jehovah more than their own lives. (Isaiah 56:6; Hebrews 6:10) They are loath to do anything that could possibly bring reproach upon that sacred name. They respond to God’s loyal love by remaining loyal to him. And because they love Jehovah’s beautiful name, they long for the day when he will trample his enemies in the winepress of his anger—not merely because it will benefit them but because it will lead to the glorification of the name of the God they love.—Matthew 6:9.
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