Dedication-Does It REALLY Make That Big Of A Difference?

[Timl1980]

The answer, obviously...is yes.

 

But...what Biblical account would you use to show someone the absolute seriousness with which Jehovah takes our dedication as servants of his?

 

I was recently having a conversation with a brother about this very subject...and because my brain couldn't really come up with anything at the moment...he shared something with me that, in a very serious way...rattled me a little.

 

So, as always...I have sat down to share this brothers research and thoughts...with the rest of you...my dear brothers and sisters.

 

First...as I'm certain all of you know...dedication is the very private decision a Christian makes to set himself, (or herself), apart as something sacred...allowing themselves to be used, from that point on, as a sacred utensil so to speak...our entire life course now being dedicated to Jehovah and the doing of HIS will over our own. 

 

Yes, we disown ourselves...and allow Jehovah's ways and thinking to influence our entire way of life. 

 

Most of us have taken this step...and I would dare to say that most of us then took the next step...that of making that deeply private dedication public by means of baptism. 

 

Now...how serious does Jehovah take this dedication? The brother had me turn to two very well-known Biblical accounts...had me read both...and then asked me to tell him what the difference is between the two.

 

The accounts are as follows: 

 

Exodus 16: 6-13: "So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites: “In the evening you will certainly know that it is Jehovah who brought you out of the land of Egypt.7 In the morning you will see Jehovah’s glory, for he has heard your murmurings against Jehovah. Who are we that you should murmur against us?”8 Moses continued: “When Jehovah gives you meat to eat in the evening and in the morning bread to satisfaction, you will see that Jehovah has heard your murmurings that you are murmuring against him. But who are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against Jehovah. Then Moses said to Aaron: “Tell the entire assembly of the Israelites, ‘Come near before Jehovah, for he has heard your murmurings.’”10 As soon as Aaron had spoken to the entire assembly of the Israelites, they turned and faced toward the wilderness, and look! Jehovah’s glory appeared in the cloud.11 Jehovah spoke further to Moses, saying:12 “I have heard the murmurings of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be satisfied with bread, and you will certainly know that I am Jehovah your God.’”13 So that evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning a layer of dew was all around the camp."

 

And

 

Numbers 11:31-34: "Then a wind from Jehovah sprang up and began driving quail from the sea and causing them to fall around the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and they were about two cubits deep on the ground.32 So all that day and all night and all the next day, the people stayed up and gathered the quail. No one gathered less than ten hoʹmers, and they kept spreading them all around the camp for themselves.33 But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it could be chewed, Jehovah’s anger blazed against the people, and Jehovah began striking the people with a very great slaughter.34 So they gave that place the name Kibʹroth-hat·taʹa·vah, because there they buried the people who showed selfish craving."

 

My answer?

 

In both cases, they murmured about food, in particular...the food they used to eat back in Egypt. So, while that was the same...the only glaring example I could point to as a difference was that Jehovah did not punish them in the first instance...whereas on the second occasion...he put to death those who craved the meat.

 

The brother first took a moment to inform me that, despite the wording of the verse...Jehovah didn't literally put them to death the instant the quail was between their teeth...according to the Hebrew word used there...it actually indicates they were put to death before the supply was exhausted.

 

He pointed out that this could have been Jehovah's way of giving them another opportunity to simply stop being greedy and save some of the meat...but apparently the devoured everything they could get their hands on.

 

Then this brother shook me a little...by asking me to read the following scripture that tied all of this together:

 

Exodus 24:7: "Then he took the book of the covenant and read it aloud to the people. And they said: “All that Jehovah has spoken we are willing to do, and we will be obedient.”

 

The difference...my dear brothers and sisters...was simply this: The second time, they were dedicated to Jehovah.

 

This is what has me a bit rattled, to be completely honest. This proves to me what I already knew to be true...our dedication to Jehovah is truly...a matter of life or death!

[Alikay]

Simply put - Dedication is between you and jehovah alone while baptism is between you and onlookers of the outward symbol of your dedication. 

[jwhess]

The Watchtower reference to these occurrences with the quail.  Dedication matters.

 

*** w95 3/1 p. 16 par. 10 Living Up to Our Dedication “Day After Day” ***
That may remind you of the occasion when the Israelites complained about having only manna to eat. Jehovah sent quail to them. Something similar had happened about a year earlier in the wilderness of Sin, just before the Israelites declared their dedication to Jehovah. (Exodus 16:1-3, 12, 13) But the situation was not exactly the same. When Jehovah provided quail the first time, he did not call the Israelites to account for their murmuring. This time, however, things were different. “The meat was yet between their teeth, before it could be chewed, when Jehovah’s anger blazed against the people, and Jehovah began striking at the people with a very great slaughter.” (Numbers 11:4-6, 31-34) What had changed? As a dedicated nation, they were now held accountable. Their lack of appreciation for Jehovah’s provisions led them to complain against Jehovah, despite their having promised to do all that Jehovah had spoken! Complaining about Jehovah’s table today is similar. Some fail to appreciate Jehovah’s spiritual provisions through “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45-47) Remember, though, that our dedication requires us gratefully to keep in mind what Jehovah has done for us and accept the spiritual food that Jehovah supplies.
 

[dljbsp]

That is a powerful illustration of the seriousness of dedication to Jehovah. The difference between the two accounts—one before and one after the Israelites dedicated themselves to Jehovah—truly emphasizes how Jehovah views dedication. 

 

In Exodus 16, before they dedicated themselves, Jehovah showed mercy and provided for them despite their murmuring. But in Numbers 11, after they had already declared their obedience to Jehovah (Exodus 24:7), their greed and lack of appreciation for Jehovah’s provisions led to severe consequences. 

 

This example highlights that once we dedicate ourselves to Jehovah, we are held accountable to our commitment. Dedication is not merely a personal or symbolic act, but a binding agreement with Jehovah that comes with profound responsibility. As you rightly concluded, our dedication is truly a matter of life or death, as it determines our relationship with our Creator. Jehovah takes this dedication seriously, and so must we.