1, 2. What events in Philippi led to the imprisonment of Paul and Silas? (See opening picture.)

IT IS about midnight. Two missionaries, Paul and Silas, are in prison​—the innermost part of the prison—​in the city of Philippi. Their feet are fastened securely in stocks, and their backs are still aching from the beatings they had just received. (Acts 16:23, 24) How quickly things had happened! Without any warning, they had been dragged by a mob to the marketplace to stand before a hastily convened court. Their clothes were torn off them, and they were severely beaten with rods. (Acts 16:16-22) The injustice of it all! Paul, a Roman citizen, deserved a proper trial. *

² As Paul sits in the darkness, he contemplates the events of the day. He thinks about the people of Philippi. They do not even have a Jewish synagogue in their city, unlike so many other cities that Paul has visited. In fact, the Jewish worshippers  need to gather outside the city gates beside a river. (Acts 16:13, 14) Is this because there are not even ten Jewish males in the city, the number required to form a synagogue? The people of Philippi are obviously very proud of their Roman citizenship, even if it is only a partial or secondary form of citizenship. (Acts 16:21) Could this be why they do not even think it possible that these Jews, Paul and Silas, could be Roman citizens? Whatever the case, here they are, unjustly thrown into prison.

3. Why may Paul have found his imprisonment confusing; yet, what attitude did he display?

³ Perhaps Paul is also thinking about the events of the past few months. He was on the other side of the Aegean Sea, in Asia Minor. While Paul was there, the holy spirit repeatedly stopped him from preaching in certain areas. It was as if the holy spirit were pushing him to go somewhere else. (Acts 16:6, 7) But where? The answer came in a vision while he was in Troas. Paul was told: “Step over into Macedonia.” With such a clear indication of Jehovah’s will, Paul immediately accepted the invitation. (Read Acts 16:8-10.) But what happened next? Soon after he arrived in Macedonia, he ended up in prison! Why did Jehovah allow this to happen to Paul? How long would he be stuck in prison? Even if these questions weighed heavily on Paul’s mind, he did not let them erode his faith and joy. Both he and Silas started “praying and praising God with song.” (Acts 16:25) Their hearts and minds were soothed by the peace of God.

4, 5. (a) How could our situation be similar to that of Paul? (b) How did Paul’s situation change unexpectedly?

⁴ Perhaps there have been times in your life when you felt that you, like Paul, were following the leadings of God’s holy spirit, but then things did not turn out the way you expected. You came face-to-face with challenges, or you found yourself in new circumstances that required massive changes in your life. (Eccl. 9:11) As you look back, maybe you are left wondering why Jehovah allowed certain things to happen. If so, what can help you to continue to endure with full confidence in Jehovah? To find the answer, let us return to the account of Paul and Silas.

⁵ As Paul and Silas sing songs of praise, a series of totally unexpected events occurs. Suddenly, there is a violent earthquake. The doors of the prison are thrown wide open. All the prisoners’ bonds are loosened. Paul stops the jailer from committing suicide. The jailer and his entire family get baptized. As the new day starts, the city magistrates send constables to release Paul and Silas. The officials ask them to leave the city peacefully. Then, on realizing that Paul and Silas are Roman citizens, the magistrates see that they have made a huge blunder, so they themselves come to escort the two men out. But Paul and Silas insist on first saying good-bye to their newly baptized sister Lydia. Additionally, they use the opportunity to strengthen the brothers. (Acts 16:26-40) How quickly everything changed!

6. What will we now discuss and review together?

⁶ What do we learn from these events? Jehovah can do the unexpected, so we need not be anxious in the face of  trials. That lesson no doubt made a deep impression on Paul, as evidenced by what he later wrote to the brothers in Philippi about anxiety and the peace of God. Let us first discuss Paul’s words recorded at Philippians 4:6, 7. (Read.) Then, we will review some additional Scriptural examples of how Jehovah did the unexpected. Finally, we will consider how “the peace of God” can help us to endure with full confidence in Jehovah.

7. What lesson did Paul highlight when he later wrote to the brothers in Philippi, and what lesson can we learn from his words?

⁷ No doubt when the brothers in Philippi read Paul’s letter to them, they remembered what had happened to him and how none of them had expected Jehovah to take action in the way that he did. What lesson was Paul teaching them? Basically: Do not worry. Pray, and then you will receive the peace of God. But notice that “the peace of God . . . surpasses all understanding.” What does that mean? Some translators render this expression “surpasses all our dreams” or “excels all human planning.” Paul was, in effect, saying that “the peace of God” is more wonderful than can be imagined. So although from a human viewpoint we may not see a way out of our problems, Jehovah does, and he can do the unexpected.​—Read 2 Peter 2:9.

8, 9. (a) Even though Paul had suffered an injustice in Philippi, what good resulted because of those events? (b) Why could the brothers in Philippi take Paul’s words seriously?

⁸ As the brothers in Philippi thought over what had happened in the ten years since those events, they would have been strengthened. What Paul wrote was true. Although Jehovah had allowed an injustice to occur, this ultimately resulted in “the defending and legally establishing of the good news.” (Phil. 1:7) Those city magistrates would think twice before doing anything against the newly formed Christian congregation in their city. Perhaps because of Paul’s actions, his traveling companion Luke, the physician, was able to remain in Philippi after Paul and Silas left. Luke could thus give extra help to the new Christians in that city.

⁹ Indeed, when those brothers in Philippi read Paul’s letter, they knew that these were not the words of an academic who was sitting somewhere in an office. Paul had experienced extreme difficulties; yet, he demonstrated that he had “the peace of God.” In fact, when Paul wrote to those brothers, he was under house arrest in Rome. But he was still showing that “the peace of God” was with him.​—Phil. 1:12-14; 4:7, 11, 22.

10, 11. What do we need to do when we are overly worried about a problem, and what can we reasonably expect?

¹⁰ What can help us not to be anxious over anything and to experience “the peace of God”? Paul’s words to the Philippians show us that the antidote to worry is prayer. So when we are anxious, we need to turn our worries into prayers. (Read 1 Peter 5:6, 7.) Pray to Jehovah in full faith, knowing that he cares for you. Pray to him “with thanksgiving,” remembering your blessings. Our confidence in him will be strengthened when we keep in mind that he can “do more than superabundantly beyond all the things we ask or conceive.”​—Eph. 3:20.

 ¹¹ As in the case of Paul and Silas in Philippi, we may be surprised by what Jehovah does for us personally. It may not be spectacular, but it will always be what we need. (1 Cor. 10:13) Of course, this does not mean that we sit back and do nothing, simply waiting for Jehovah to correct the situation or solve the problem. We need to act in harmony with our prayers. (Rom. 12:11) Our actions thereby prove our sincerity and give Jehovah something to bless. But at the same time, we need to realize that Jehovah is not limited by our requests, plans, and expectations. Sometimes he surprises us by doing the unexpected. Let us consider some Bible accounts that reinforce our confidence in Jehovah’s ability to do the unexpected in our behalf.

12. (a) What did King Hezekiah do when threatened by Assyrian King Sennacherib? (b) What do we learn from how Jehovah resolved the problem?

¹² As we search the Scriptures, time and again we find examples of Jehovah doing the unexpected. King Hezekiah lived at a time when King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah and captured all the fortified cities, with the exception of Jerusalem. (2 Ki. 18:1-3, 13) Then, Sennacherib turned his attention to Jerusalem. What did King Hezekiah do when faced with this imminent threat? He approached Jehovah in prayer and turned to Jehovah’s prophet Isaiah for advice. (2 Ki. 19:5, 15-20) Hezekiah also tried to show his reasonableness by paying the fine that Sennacherib imposed on him. (2 Ki. 18:14, 15) In time, Hezekiah made preparations for a long siege. (2 Chron. 32:2-4) But how was the situation resolved? Jehovah sent an angel to destroy 185,000 of Sennacherib’s soldiers in one night. Truly, not even Hezekiah expected that to happen!​—2 Ki. 19:35.

13. (a) What lesson do we learn from what happened to Joseph? (b) How did something unexpected occur in the case of Abraham’s wife, Sarah?

¹³ Consider the young man Joseph, a son of Jacob. While in a prison hole in Egypt, did Joseph have any idea that he would be appointed to the second-highest position in the land or that he would be used by Jehovah to save his family from starvation? (Gen. 40:15, ftn.; 41:39-43; 50:20) No doubt Jehovah’s actions exceeded all of Joseph’s expectations. Think, too, about Joseph’s great-grandmother Sarah. Did aged Sarah expect that Jehovah would allow her to give birth to her own son, not just receive as son the child produced by her servant girl? The birth of  Isaac certainly exceeded all that Sarah could ever have imagined.​—Gen. 21:1-3, 6, 7.

14. What confidence can we have in Jehovah?

¹⁴ Granted, we do not expect that Jehovah will miraculously take away all our problems before the promised new world; nor do we demand that spectacular things occur in our lives. But we do know that the God who helped his servants in amazing ways is our God, Jehovah. (Read Isaiah 43:10-13.) This confidence helps us to have faith in him. We know that he can do whatever is needed to empower us to accomplish his will fully. (2 Cor. 4:7-9) What lessons do we learn from these Bible accounts? As the examples of Hezekiah, Joseph, and Sarah show, Jehovah can help us to conquer the seemingly unconquerable if we remain faithful to Him.

15. What will help us to retain “the peace of God,” and how is this possible?

¹⁵ How can we face challenges and still retain “the peace of God”? It is by maintaining a good relationship with our God, Jehovah. Such a relationship is possible only “by means of Christ Jesus,” who offered his life as a ransom sacrifice. The provision of that ransom is yet another one of the amazing works of our Father. Jehovah uses the ransom to cover our sins, enabling us to have a clean conscience and draw close to him.​—John 14:6; Jas. 4:8; 1 Pet. 3:21.

16. What will result when we attain “the peace of God”? Illustrate.

¹⁶ What results when we receive this “peace of God that surpasses all understanding”? The Scriptures answer by saying that it ‘will guard our hearts and our mental powers by means of Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:7) The original-language word for “guard” was a military expression. It referred to a garrison of troops that was assigned to guard a fortified city in ancient times. Philippi was such a city. The inhabitants of Philippi slept soundly at night, knowing that soldiers were guarding the gates of their city. In a similar manner, when we have “the peace of God,” our hearts and minds remain at rest. We know that Jehovah cares for us and wants us to succeed. (1 Pet. 5:10) That knowledge guards us from becoming overwhelmed by anxiety or discouragement.

17. What will help us to face the future with full confidence?

¹⁷ Soon mankind will face the greatest tribulation that will ever occur here on earth. (Matt. 24:21, 22) We do not know all the details of what that will mean for us individually. However, there is no need for us to be consumed by anxiety. Even though we do not know everything Jehovah will do, we do know our God. We have seen from his past dealings that no matter what happens, Jehovah will always accomplish his purpose, and sometimes he does it in an unexpected manner. Each time Jehovah does so for us, we may experience in a new way “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.”

1, 2. Vbọ sunu dae Pọl kevbe Sailas vbe Filipai? (Ghee efoto nọ rre omuhẹn.)

HIA ne u ya aro ekhọe ruẹ bẹghe emwi nọ sunu. E Pọl vbe Sailas rre eghan vbe ogiasọn. Ughugha nọ dinmwi sẹ, ẹre eseghan viọ iran yi vbe ẹvbo na tie ẹre Filipai. Iran na khui iran owẹ ye uwu ike erhan nikhua, iyeke ye khia iran rhunmwuda ugbemwẹ oya ne iran gbe iran re. (Iwinna 16:​23, 24) Ovbi ẹghẹ kherhe ẹre ena hia ya sunu. Ẹghẹ owiẹ vbe ẹdẹ na kha na, ẹre ẹbu omurhia ya silo iran bu avbe eghaẹvbo vbe ada ẹvbohoho. Iran ghi yanghan ukpọn ye iran urhu nẹ, iran na ye asan ematọn bolo iran egbe. (Iwinna 16:​16-22) Nọ ghi sẹ ehia ọre wẹẹ, ne Pọl na re ọmotọ vbe Rom, ọ te khẹke ne iran ka gualọ otọre deghẹ ọ gele rriabe, iran ke suẹn gha rri ọre oya, sokpan iran ma ru vberriọ. *

² Vbuwe ebiebi ne Pọl ghaa ye vbe eghan, ọ kegha yerre  emwi nọ sunu vbe ẹdẹrriọ, ọ na vbe gha mu ẹmwẹ Ivbi e Filipai roro. Ivbi e Ju i mwẹ Sinagọg vbe Filipai vbene ọ rre ẹvbo ọvbehe ne Pọl ka mu otuẹ yo. Te Ivbi e Ju kpa hin orere ẹvbo nii rre, ya gha ru emwamwa ugamwẹ vbe ọkpẹn ẹzẹ. (Iwinna 16:​13, 14) Ughaghe ne ikpia ni re Ivbi e Ju vbe ẹvbo nii ma na sẹ igbe nọ, rhunmwuda ikpia igbe ẹre a ya mu e Sinagọgi gbọọ. Te Ivbi e Filipai wa gha hio rhunmwuda ne iran na re emotọ vbe Rom agharhemiẹn wẹẹ igho ẹre iran ya dẹ egbe laọ. (Iwinna 16:21) Ughaghe uhiomwẹ na, ẹre ọ kue si ẹre ne iran ma na zẹdẹ roro ẹre wẹẹ, e Pọl vbe Sailas ni Ivbi e Ju sẹtin vbe gha re emotọ ọghe Rom. Vbọrhirhighayehẹ, iran keghi fi e Pọl vbe Sailas fi eghan vbene iran ma na rẹn ọkpa rẹn eva.

3. Vbọzẹe ne iro gha na haan e Pọl vbe a werriegbe fi ẹre fi eghan? De akpa nọ ghi rhiema?

³ Ughaghe Pọl vbe gha muẹn roro emwi eso nọ sunu vbe uki eso nọ gberra. Vbe Pọl rre odin ọghe Okun Aegean vbe Asia Minor, ẹghẹ nibun ẹre orhiọn nọhuanrẹn ma ya kue nọ kporhu vbe ihe eso. Ọ na yevbe na miẹn wẹẹ, ọ mwẹ ehe ne orhiọn nọhuanrẹn hoo ne ọ na kporhu. (Iwinna 16:​6, 7) De ehe nọ khin? E Pọl keghi miẹn adia vbe umian ne Osanobua mu ma rẹn vbe Troas. Okpia ọkpa keghi tama rẹn vbe umian nii wẹẹ: “Gha die Masidonia ne u do yi ima obọ!” Ọwarọkpa nii, e Pọl kegha rrie Masidonia. (Tie Iwinna 16:​8-10.) Sokpan vbọ ghi sunu? Eghan ẹre ọ na vba egbe ẹre vbe ọ wa sẹ Masidonia. Vbọzẹe ne Jehova na kue ne emwi vbenia sunu? Vbọ khian kpẹ sẹ hẹ vbe eghan? Agharhemiẹn wẹẹ inọta vbenia ghaa rre Pọl ekhọe, ọ na ye gha sọyẹnmwẹ, amuẹtinyan ọghẹe ma vbe beghe. Irẹn vbe Sailas na suẹn gha “so ihuan, iran na gha na erhunmwu ghe Osanobua.” (Iwinna 16:25) Ọfunmwegbe Osanobua keghi fu iran ekhọe rre.

4, 5. (a) De vbene ihẹghẹ ọghe ima gha vbe ya sẹtin khọ ne Pọl werriẹ aro daa? (b) De vbene emwi ya fiwerriẹ vbe odẹ ne Pọl ma te yaro yi?

⁴ Emwi nọ sunu dae Pọl he sunu da ruẹ ẹdẹ ra? U sẹtin wa gha lele adia ọghe Osanobua vbe arrọọ ruẹ, sokpan emwi i gbe ye uviẹn vbene u te gualọe yi. U sẹtin gha werriẹ aro daa isievẹn nibun, afiwerriẹ ne gẹdẹgbẹ sẹtin wa vbe rhiegbe ma vbe arrọọ ọghuẹ. (Asan. 9:11) Emwi vbenian sẹtin ya ruẹ gha nọ evbọzẹe ne Jehova na kue ne emwi vberriọ sunu. Deghẹ u rre ihẹghẹ vbenian, de emwi nọ gha ya ruẹ gha mwẹ ẹbo izinegbe kevbe ilẹkẹtin yan e Jehova? Emwi nọ ghi sunu dae Pọl vbe Sailas gha rhie ewanniẹn ye inọta na.

⁵ E Pọl vbe Sailas ghi so ihuan, emwi ọyunnuan nibun keghi sunu. Vbe okaro, igbohiotọ ọghe ọhanabe na yan ẹkhu eghan rua, ọgiọrọ na ya gbalọ avbe oleghan na kharha kua. Te eseghan khian ghi te gbe egbe ẹre rua vbe ọ bẹghe emwi nọ sunu, sokpan e Pọl keghi go tie ẹre nẹi ghẹ gbe egbe ẹre rua. Ọna ẹre ọ ghi zẹ ne eseghan vbe ẹgbẹe ọre na do khian Ivbiotu e Kristi, iran na dinmwiamẹ. Ẹdẹ ghi gbe, eghaẹvbo keghi gie avbe ọgbalegbe ne iran ya fan e Pọl vbe Sailas fua vbe eghan, ne iran vbe tama Pọl vbe Sailas, ne iran fẹko kpa hin ẹvbo nii rre. Avbe eghaẹvbo ghi họn wẹẹ emotọ ọghe Rom ẹre Pọl vbe Sailas khin, ohan keghi mu iran, ẹre iran na tobọ iran do su iran ladian vbe ẹvbo nii. Sokpan e Pọl vbe Sailas na wẹẹ te iran khian ka ya nọ ẹmwẹ ọtẹn nokhuo Lidia nọ da dinmwiamẹ, iran na vbe loo ẹkpotọ nii ya rhie igiọdu ne etẹn. (Iwinna 16:​26-40) Ovbi ẹghẹ kherhe ẹre emwi hia wa ya fiwerriẹ!

6. De emwi ne ima khian ziro yan vbe ako iruẹmwi na?

⁶ Vbe ima miẹn ruẹ vbe okha na? Ọ ma khẹke ne ima gha si osi vbe ima ghaa rre edanmwẹ rhunmwuda, e Jehova gha sẹtin ye ima obọ vbe odẹ ne ima ma te yaro yi. Ebe ne Pọl gbẹn ya rhie igiọdu ne etẹn vbe Filipai ẹre ọ suigiẹ yọ wẹẹ, ọ wa gbọyẹmwẹ ye iyobọ ne Osanobua ru nẹẹn. Gia ka ziro yan ẹmwẹ e Pọl vbe Filipai 4:​6, 7. (Tie ẹre.) Vbe iyeke ọni, ma ghi guan kaẹn emwa eso ne Jehova vbe ru iyobọ na vbe odẹ ọghe ọyunnuan, ma ke do ziro yan odẹ ne “ọfunmwegbe Osanobua” ya ye ima mwẹ izinegbe kevbe ilẹkẹtin nẹi beghe yan e Jehova.

7. De emwi ne Pọl mobọ nianian vbe ebe nọ gbẹn gie etẹn vbe Filipai? De emwi ne ima miẹn ruẹ vbọ?

⁷ Vbe Pọl gbẹn ebe gie etẹn vbe Filipai, ẹi mwẹ iran ma yerre emwi nọ sunu dae Pọl kevbe odẹ ọghe ọyunnuan ne Jehova ya ru iyobọ nẹẹn. De emwi ne Pọl hoo ne iran gha mwẹ vbe orhiọn? Ọre wẹẹ: Esa i rrọọ ne iran khian ya gha si osi. Iran gha na erhunmwu, iran ghi miẹn ọfunmwegbe nọ ke obọ Osanobua rre. Yẹrẹro wẹẹ “ọfunmwegbe Osanobua . . . gberra ne ọmwa nagbọn gha sẹtin rẹn otọ ẹre.” Vbe a yae kha? Ọzedu eso keghi zedu ẹre vbenian: “Ọ gberra emwi hia ne a yaro yi” ra “emwamwa ọghe emwa nagbọn hia.” Emwi ne Pọl hoo ne ima rẹn mwa ọre wẹẹ, “ọfunmwegbe Osanobua” hiunsi sẹ emwi ne ima gha sẹtin ya aro ekhọe zẹ omwa rẹn. Te ọlọghọmwa ne ima ghee gẹdẹgbẹẹ ye kherhe vbe aro e Jehova, irẹn gha sẹtin sọfurre yọ vbe odẹ ne ima ma yaro yi.​—⁠Tie 2 Pita 2:⁠9.

8, 9. (a) Agharhemiẹn wẹẹ e Pọl rri oya vbe Filipai, de emwi esi nọ kẹrikian? (b) Vbọzẹe ne etẹn vbe Filipai ma na tila ẹmwẹ e Pọl rua?

⁸ Ebe ne Pọl gbẹn gie etẹn vbe Filipai wa rhie igiọdu ne iran rhunmwuda ọ ye iran yerre vbene Jehova ya ru iyobọ ne Pọl hẹ vbe ukpo igbe nọ gberra. E Jehova kue yọ ne Pọl vbe Sailas rhie oya sokpan, ọya ne iran re keghi kie ẹkpotọ yọ ne a ya ‘sinmwi oseghe ne ikporhu iyẹn nọ maan kevbe ne a ya ẹre igiẹ mu otọ.’ (Fil. 1:⁠7) Ohan ma ghi gi eghaẹvbo vbe Filipai kpokpo iko ne a da mugbọ vba. Ughaghe rhunmwuda udinmwẹ ne Pọl rhiema, ẹre ọ zẹe ne Luk na ye gha rre Filipai vbe Pọl kevbe Sailas kpaa nẹ. E Luk na gha ru iyobọ ne etẹn vbe iko ne a da mugbọ vba.

⁹ Vbe etẹn ni rre Filipai tie ebe ne Pọl gbẹn, iran rẹnrẹn wẹẹ ẹi re ẹmwẹ ne ọmwa nọ rri egie ebe ya ekhọe obọ re gbẹn. E Pọl la edanmwẹ ni wegbe gberra nẹ, uhiẹn vbe Pọl gbẹn ebe na, eghan ẹre ọ ghaa ye, sokpan ọ na ye gha rhiẹre ma wẹẹ “ọfunmwegbe Osanobua” gu irẹn rrọọ.​—⁠Fil. 1:​12-14; 4:​7, 11, 22.

10, 11. De emwi nọ khẹke ne ima ru vbe ima ghaa si osi? De emwi nọ khẹke ne ima yaro yi?

¹⁰ De emwi nọ gha ru iyobọ ne ima, ne ima ghẹ gha si osi ye emwi rhọkpa? De emwi nọ gha vbe ya ima gha mwẹ “ọfunmwegbe Osanobua”? Erhunmwu wa nọ zẹẹ. Erhunmwu ẹre ọ khẹke ne ima na vbe ima ghaa si osi. (Tie 1 Pita 5:​6, 7.) Gha mwẹ amuẹtinyan nẹi beghe wẹẹ, e Jehova gha họn erhunmwu ruẹ. Gha ye “ekhọe kpọnmwẹ” ọnrẹn ye afiangbe nọ ke obọ ẹre rre vbe u ghaa na erhunmwu. Ọ gha ya ilẹkẹtin ọghomwa wegbe sayọ vbe ima ghaa yerre wẹẹ “ọ gha sẹtin ru gberra vbene ima nọ rẹn, ra vbene a roro ẹre vbe ekhọe.”​—⁠Ẹfis. 3:⁠20.

 ¹¹ Odẹ eso ne Jehova ya ye ima obọ sẹtin kpa ima odin vbe nọ ghaa ye nẹ Pọl vbe Sailas. A sẹtin miẹn wẹẹ ẹi re odẹ ọghe ọyunnuan, sokpan ọ wa gha re emwi ne ima gualọ zẹẹ. (1 Kọr. 10:13) Ọni ma rhiema wẹẹ ima ghi kie abọ rre gha khẹ ne Jehova do sọfurre ye ọlọghọmwa ne ima ye. Te ọ khẹke ne ima gha zowẹ lele erhunmwu ne ima na. (Rom. 12:11) Ọna ẹre ọ khian suigiẹ yọ wẹẹ ima gele mu ẹtin yan e Jehova. Irẹn gha fiangbe ima deghẹ ima ru vberriọ. Ọ khẹke ne ima vbe yerre wẹẹ e Jehova gha sẹtin ru gberra emwi ne ima nọ rẹn ra emwi ne ima yaro yi. Gima ziro yan igiemwi eso vbe Baibol ọghe vbene Jehova ya ru emwi ne eguọmwadia re ma te yaro yi. Ọna gha ye ilẹkẹtin ọghe ima wegbe sayọ.

12. (a) De emwi ne Hẹzikaia ru vbe Ọba Asiria ye obo sekhae nẹ? (b) Vbe ima miẹn ruẹ vbe odẹ ne Jehova ya ru iyobọ nẹẹn?

¹² Okha ọghe vbene Jehova ya ru emwi ne eguọmwadia re ma te yaro yi ẹre ọ vuọn e Baibol. Vbe igiemwi, e Hẹzikaia kegha re Ọba Izrẹl vbe ẹghẹ ne Ọba e Sẹnakẹrib ọghe Asiria ya khọnmiotọ yan ẹvbo nibun vbe Judah sokpan ọ ma lae Jerusalẹm. (2 Ọba 18:​1-3, 13) Vbe Sẹnakẹrib ghi werriẹ aro dae Jerusalẹm, de emwi ne Ọba e Hẹzikaia ghi ru? Ọ na ka na erhunmwu gie Jehova, ọ ke ya rhie ibude vbe obọ Aizaia ne akhasẹ e Jehova. (2 Ọba 19:​5, 15-20) Ọ na vbe hae igho ne Sẹnakẹrib fian re. (2 Ọba 18:​14, 15) Ọ ghi sẹ ẹghẹ, e Hẹzikaia na ru emwamwa nọ khẹke ya mu egbe yotọ khẹ ẹghẹ ne Ivbi Asiria ya do gbe okin lẹga e Jerusalẹm. (2 Krọ. 32:​2-4) De emwi ne Jehova ghi ru? Ọ keghi gie odibo ọkpa ya guọghọ Ivbi iyokuo 185,000 ọghe Asiria vbe asọn ọkpa. Vbene ẹmwata, e Hẹzikaia tobọre ma te yaro yi emwi vberriọ!​—⁠2 Ọba 19:⁠35.

13. (a) Vbe ima miẹn ruẹ vbe okha ọghe Josẹf? (b) De emwi ọyunnuan nọ sunu vbe arrọọ ọghe Sera?

¹³ Gia vbe ziro yan emwi nọ sunu dae Josẹf. Vbe ọ rre eghan, ọ ma zẹdẹ yaro yọ wẹẹ a gha ya irẹn khian azukpogieva vbe otọ Igipt, amaiwẹ te ọ yaro yọ wẹẹ irẹn ẹre Jehova khian loo ya miẹn emwa rẹn fan vbe ẹghẹ ukhunmwu. (Gẹn. 40:15; 41:​39-43; 50:20) E Josẹf ma te zẹdẹ yaro yọ wẹẹ e Jehova gha fiangbe irẹn sẹrriọ. Vbe muẹn roro vbene Jehova ya fiangbe Sera hẹ. E Sera te yaro yọ wẹẹ irẹn gha ya egbe ọmaẹn biẹ ra? Ọvbi umọbọ ẹre ighẹ Hega ẹre ọ gha te mu ye ọmọ biẹ. Vbene ẹmwata, E Sera ma sẹtin ghọghọ vbe ọ biẹ Aizik.​—⁠Gẹn. 21:​1-3, 6, 7.

14. De aro ilẹkẹtin nọ khẹke ne ima gha mwẹ yan e Jehova?

¹⁴ Ọ ma khẹke ne ima yaro yọ wẹẹ, e  Jehova gha sọfurre ye ọlọghọmwa ne ima ye vbe odẹ ọghe ọyunnuan vbene agbọn ọgbọn te rre, ra ne ima gha nọ rẹn vbe erhunmwu nọ ru emwi ọyunnuan vbe arrọọ ọghe ima. Vbọrhirhighayehẹ, ma rẹnrẹn wẹẹ, e Jehova nọ ru iyobọ ne eguọmwadia re nẹdẹ vbe odẹ ọghe ọyunnuan ma he fiwerriẹ. (Tie Aizaia. 43:​10-13.) Ọna ẹre ọ zẹe ne ima na mwẹ ilẹkẹtin yan rẹn. Ọ gha sẹtin ru iyobọ nọ khẹke ne ima, ne ima mieke na sẹtin ru ahoo ọghẹe. (2 Kọr. 4:​7-9) Vbe ima miẹn ruẹ vbe okha eha na? Igiemwi ọghe Hẹzikaia, Josẹf kevbe Sera rhiẹre ma wẹẹ, e Jehova gha sẹtin ru iyobọ ne ima ya da amuẹtinyan ọghe ima yi vbe uwu edanmwẹ nọ ghi wegbe sẹ.

15. Vbọ khian ya ima gha mwẹ “ọfunmwegbe Osanobua”? Vbọzẹe ne ima na mwẹ ọfunmwegbe Osanobua?

¹⁵ De vbene ima khian ya gha mwẹ “ọfunmwegbe Osanobua” hẹ vbe ima ghaa rre ọlọghọmwa? Te ọ khẹke ne ima gha gu ẹre mu obọ. Izọese adẹwerriegbe ọghe “Jesu kristi” ẹre ọ kie ẹkpotọ yọ, ne ima na sẹtin sikẹ e Jehova. Ikpemehe ọghe izọese adẹwerriegbe keghi re ọkpa vbe usun emwi ọyunnuan ne Jehova he ru ne ima. Ẹre ọ ya fan ima hin ẹtin orukhọ rre nọ ghi zẹe ighẹ ima mwẹ ekhọe ọguọmwaziro nọ hianrẹn, ẹre ọ vbe zẹe ne ima na re ọsiọre.​—⁠Jọn 14:6; Jems 4:8; 1 Pit. 3:⁠21.

16. Vbọ kẹrikian vbe ima ghaa mwẹ “ọfunmwegbe Osanobua”? Ru igiemwi yọ.

¹⁶ Vbọ kẹrikian vbe ima ghaa mwẹ “ọfunmwegbe Osanobua ne ọ gberra ne ọmwa nagbọn gha sẹtin rẹn otọ ẹre”? Ebe Nọhuanrẹn khare wẹẹ ọfunmwegbe na ghi “gbogba ga” ekhọe kevbe orhiọn ima. (Fil. 4:7 NW ) Vbe urhuẹvbo e Grik, ẹmwẹ na “gbogba ga” keghi re ne ivbiyokuo loo. A kegha loo ẹre ginna ivbiyokuo na gie ya khẹ odẹ vbe ẹvbo na gbogba ga. Erriọ Filipai ghaa ye. Te Ivbi e Filipai vbiẹ dẹ ehọ vbe asọn, orhiọn iran ghi sotọ rhunmuda iran rẹnrẹn wẹẹ ivbiyokuo khẹ odẹ. Ma ghaa mwẹ “ọfunmwegbe Osanobua,” erriọ orhiọn ima vbe ya sotọ rhunmwuda ima rẹnrẹn wẹẹ e Jehova gbaroghe ima, ọ vbe hoo ne ima musọe. (1 Pit. 5:10) Ọna ẹre ọ zẹe ne orhiọn i na gbe ye ima iwu.

17. Vbọ khian ye ima gha mwẹ ilẹkẹtin zẹ vbene ima ya mudia khẹ emwi nọ khian sunu vbe odaro?

¹⁷ Vbe nẹi khian ghi kpẹ gbe, emwa nagbọn gha werriẹ aro daa orueghe na ma he miẹn egbọre ẹdẹ. (Mat. 24:​21, 22) Ima ma wa rẹn vbene emwi khian gha ye hẹ ne dọmwadẹ ima. Vbọrhirhighayehẹ, esa i rrọọ ne ima gha si osi. Ma rẹn arọ ọmwa ne Osanobua mwa khin agharhemiẹn wẹẹ ima ma rẹn emwi hia nọ khian ru. Ma mwẹ ilẹkẹtin wẹẹ ọ gha mu eyan rẹn hia sẹ rhunmwuda erriọ ka ruẹ de yi. Ọ sẹtin ru ẹre vbe odẹ ne ima ma te zẹdẹ yaro yi. Ẹghẹ ke ẹghẹ ne Jehova ya ru emwi ọyunnuan ne ima, ọ keghi ya ima mwẹ “ọfunmwegbe Osanobua ne ọ gberra ne ọmwa nagbọn gha sẹtin rẹn otọ ẹre.”