16. In view of our having what may we not expect miraculous intervention in deciding our problems, and why not?

¹⁶ We are therefore not to look for miraculous intervention by these innumerable holy angels to help us decide what is God’s will in personal matters and problems. God has given us his written Word, and he provided it for us to consult. If we do not consult it, it will not serve us as a guide. In his Word he reveals himself to us. He opens up his mind and heart to us, telling us what he thinks, what he has already done and is now doing and will yet do, and informing us what he would like us to do in order to gain his favor and the gift of eternal life in his new world. We need his Word, because in our flesh it is impossible for us to see him. He makes known to us that his name is Jehovah, meaning the One who causes to be; and he shows us his attributes of wisdom, justice, power and love and how all four attributes work together without clash. So the only way we definitely know about him is by his written Word. Getting to know him through the Word we learn to develop confidence in Him and to respect his advice and to see that his commands are authoritative. We build up faith that his Word is right and without mistake or misdirection. This makes us consult it in our problems and take its advice.

17. What, then, is the question with us as to God’s Word? And what may we expect if we heed it, and what if we do not?

¹⁷ The question with us is, then, What place does God’s Word occupy in our lives? Do we place it above the word of everybody else, above human philosophies and man-made religious traditions and the commands of men which run contrary to God’s will? If we follow God’s Word and keep his commands through it and pay attention to its advice, we shall have God’s approval and blessing. It will work for our spiritual good, keeping us always in the relationship of children to Him and under his protection by his angels, and guaranteeing to us the gift of everlasting life for our faithfulness. God assures us, as he did the Israelites of old, that if we take heed to his Word we shall avoid much trouble and grief. But if we do not consult and keep familiar with his Word and do what it says, we shall run into personal, private trouble and difficulty and we shall miss the divine approval and blessing.

Free Moral Agency and the Word

1. How has God left us as free moral agents concerning his Word, and so to whom are we to ascribe blessings and to whom our troubles?

GOD recognizes us as free moral agents and lets us choose to take his Word or leave it. If we keep his Word and meet up with great blessings for this, then we can ascribe those blessings to God. “Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, for it comes down from the Father of the celestial lights, and with him there is not a variation of the turning of the shadow.” (Jas. 1:17, NW) But if we take no heed to his Word and follow our selfish desire or some creature’s word because it agrees with our selfish desire and then we get into trouble, we may incline to say, “The Devil did that!” Yes, the Devil did that, but remember that he did it through you, through your yielding to him. You played into his hands. It did not necessarily have to be that way.

2. From what features about God’s Word does our difficulty often arise in determining our problem? What does this let us prove?

² Our difficulty in determining God’s will in our personal matters arises often because his Word was not written for each of us individually, but was written for the organization of his people. The advice and instructions in his Word apply, therefore, to all individuals in the organization or associated with it. It does not say one thing to one person and another thing to another person so as to please each one according to his individual likes. God does not bend or alter his law just to suit the selfish desires or inclinations of some individual. His law is theocratic and according to his will and rule of action. It is not determined by the selfish will of any individual creature. So the advice and instructions given are often general, setting out the principle to follow but leaving each individual a free moral agent to choose to follow the faithful principle set forth or to follow his selfish desire. In that way God allows each individual the opportunity to prove how much love and confidence he has toward God the Giver of the Word, and how eager he is to do the divine will. God does not force his will upon any creature. He wants loving obedience.