UJehova Ufuna Abantu Bonke Baphenduke

1. Kutshoni ukuphenduka?

NXA singenza into embi kuqakathekile ukuthi siphenduke. EBhayibhilini nxa kukhulunywa ngokuthi umuntu usephendukile kuyabe kutshiwo ukuthi usetshintshe izenzo zakhe lemicabango yakhe, wazimisela ukungaphindi ukwenza okubi abekwenza.—Khangela ibala elithi “Ukuphenduka” kuNgcazelo Yamabala aseBhayibhilini.

2. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sonke sifunde ngokuphenduka? (UNehemiya 8:​9-11)

² Kuqakathekile ukuthi sonke sifunde ngokuphenduka ngoba siyona nsuku zonke. Njengoba savela ku-Adamu lo-Eva silesono futhi isono sibangela ukuthi sife. (Rom. 3:23; 5:12) Ngitsho lamadoda ayelokholo oluqinileyo njengomphostoli uPhawuli ayethwala nzima ngenxa yesono. (Rom. 7:​21-24) Lathi sisithwalise nzima yikho kumele siphenduke. Kodwa sekumele sihlale sidanile yini ngenxa yezono esizenzayo? Hatshi, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu olesihawu ufuna sithokoze. Cabanga ngalokho okwenzakala kumaJuda ngesikhathi sikaNehemiya. (Bala uNehemiya 8:​9-11.) UJehova wayengafuni ahlale edanile ngenxa yezono ayeke azenza kodwa wayefuna amkhonze ethokoza. UJehova uyakwazi ukuthi nxa singaphenduka sizathokoza, yikho esifundisa ngokuphenduka. Asithandabuzi ukuthi uBaba wethu olesihawu uzasithethelela nxa singaphenduka sitshiye izono zethu.

3. Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi?

³ Esihlokweni lesi sizaxoxa ngezinto ezintathu ezimayelana lokuphenduka. Okokuqala, sizaxoxa ngokuthi uJehova wawafundisani ama-Israyeli ngokuphenduka. Okwesibili, sizabona ukuthi uJehova wabancedisa njani abantu ukuthi baphenduke. Okwesithathu, sizaxoxa ngalokho uJesu akufundisa abafundi bakhe ngokuphenduka.

UJEHOVA WAWAFUNDISANI AMA-ISRAYELI NGOKUPHENDUKA?

4. UJehova wawafundisani ama-Israyeli ngokuphenduka?

⁴ Ngesikhathi uJehova enika ama-Israyeli imithetho yakhe, wenza lawo isivumelwano. Wawathembisa ukuthi nxa ayengaqhubeka elalela imithetho yakhe wayezawavikela futhi awabusise. Wawaqinisekisa wathi: “Umthetho lo engilinika wona lamuhla awunzima kini, futhi awukhatshana lani.” (Dute. 30:​11, 16) Kodwa nxa babengamhlamukela bakhethe ukukhonza abanye onkulunkulu, wayengasoze aqhubeke ebabusisa futhi babezathwala nzima. Lanxa kunjalo lokhu kwakungatsho ukuthi uNkulunkulu usebalahle kokuphela. ‘Babengabuyela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wabo balalele ilizwi lakhe.’ (Dute. 30:​1-3, 17-20) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi babengaphenduka baphinde babe ngabangane bakaJehova futhi wayezababusisa.

5. UJehova watshengisa njani ukuthi wayebabekezelela abantu bakhe? (U-2 AmaKhosi 17:​13, 14)

⁵ Ama-Israyeli kwakuwehlula ukuthi ahlale ethembekile kuJehova. Ayehlala emhlamukela, ekhonza izithombe futhi esenza lezinye izinto ezenyanyekayo. Lokhu kwenza aqalisa ukuhlupheka. Kodwa uJehova kazange abalahle abantu bakhe lanxa babengamlaleli. Wayelokhu ethuma abaphrofethi bakhe ukuthi babakhuthaze ukuthi baphenduke njalo bamkhonze ngenhliziyo yonke.—Bala u-2 AmaKhosi 17:​13, 14.

6. UJehova wabancedisa njani abantu bakhe ukuthi babone ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuphenduka? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

⁶ UJehova wayehlala ethuma abaphrofethi bakhe ukuthi baxwayise abantu bakhe njalo babancedise ukuthi babuyele kuye. Ngokwesibonelo, wathuma umphrofethi wakhe uJeremiya ukuthi abatshele athi: ‘Phenduka wena Israyeli ohlamukayo. Angisoze ngikukhangele ngizondile ngoba ngiqotho. Angisoze ngihlale ngikuzondele. Wena vuma icala lakho ngoba uhlamukele uJehova.’ (Jer. 3:​12, 13) Waphinda wathuma uJoweli ukuthi abatshele athi: “Phendukelani kimi ngenhliziyo yonke.” (Jow. 2:​12, 13) U-Isaya yena wamthuma ukuthi athi: ‘Zihlambululeni, tshiyani izenzo ezimbi elizenza phambi kwami, yekelani ukwenza okubi.’ (Isaya. 1:​16-19) UHezekheli yena wamtshela ukuthi athi: ‘Ngiyathokoza yini ngokufa komuntu owenza okubi? Mina engikufunayo yikuthi umuntu omubi atshiye konke okubi akwenzayo aqhubeke ephila. Angithokozi ngokufa kwaloba ngubani. Yikho phendukani liphile.’ (Hez. 18:​23, 32) UJehova uyathokoza nxa ebona abantu bephenduka ngoba ufuna baphile kuze kube nini lanini! Kodwa kagoqi izandla alindele ukuthi umuntu owonileyo azitshintshele yedwa. Ake sibone ezinye izibonelo ezizasinceda sikuzwisise lokho.

7. UJehova wabafundisani abantu bakhe esebenzisa isibonelo somphrofethi uHosiya lenkosikazi yakhe?

⁷ Khathesi asixoxeni ngalokho uJehova akufundisa abantu bakhe esebenzisa uGomeri, owayeyinkosikazi yomphrofethi uHosiya. UGomeri wafeba, wasetshiya uHosiya waya kwamanye amadoda. Manje kwakusavuma yini ukuthi aphenduke? Njengoba uJehova ebona okusenhliziyweni, watshela uHosiya wathi: “Hamba futhi, umthande umkakho lanxa esethandwa ngenye indoda futhi elala lamanye amadoda, njengoba nje uJehova laye ebathanda abako-Israyeli lanxa bemhlamukela besiya kwabanye onkulunkulu.” (Hos. 3:1; Zaga. 16:2) Nanzelela ukuthi ngesikhathi uJehova etshela uHosiya amazwi la, uGomeri wayelokhu eqhubeka efeba. Lanxa kunjalo uJehova watshela uHosiya ukuthi amlande afike amtshele ukuthi uyamthethelela futhi abuyelelane laye.a UJehova wasebenzisa isibonelo lesi ukuthi atshengise abantu bakhe ukuthi wayengakabakhalali lanxa babeyiziqholo. Lanxa babesenza izono ezimbi kakhulu, wayelokhu ebathanda yikho wayebancenga efuna ukubancedisa ukuthi batshintshe besebephenduka kuye. Njengoba uJehova ‘ehlola izinhliziyo,’ isibonelo lesi sitshengisa ukuthi uyabancedisa abantu abaqhubeka besenza izono ezinkulu ukuthi baphenduke. (Zaga. 17:3) Ake sibone ukuthi ukwenza njani lokho?

UJEHOVA UBANCEDISA NJANI ABANTU UKUTHI BAPHENDUKE?

8. UJehova wamncedisa njani uKhayini ukuthi aphenduke? (UGenesisi 4:​3-7) (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

⁸ UKhayini wayelizibulo lika-Adamu lo-Eva, yikho wayelesono ayesithethe ebazalini bakhe. Kanti njalo iBhayibhili lithi ngaye: “Eyakhe imisebenzi yayimibi.” (1 Joh. 3:12) Mhlawumbe lokhu yikho okwenza uJehova ‘wangamamukeli uKhayini kanye lomnikelo wakhe.’ Kodwa uKhayini kazange atshintshe izenzo zakhe, “wazonda wafuthelana njalo wadana kakhulu.” UJehova wasesenzani? Wakhuluma laye uKhayini. (Bala uGenesisi 4:​3-7.) Wabonisana laye, wamtshela ukuthi wayezambusisa nxa angaphenduka. Waphinda wamxwayisa ukuthi nxa engaqhubeka ezondile wayengacina esesenza isono. Kuyadanisa ukuthi uKhayini wephulela izigodo endlebeni. Kazange avume ukuthi uJehova amncedise. Okwenziwa nguKhayini kwahle kwenza uJehova wakhalala yini ukuncedisa abanye ukuthi baphenduke? Ngitsho lakancane!

9. UJehova wamncedisa njani uDavida ukuthi aphenduke?

⁹ UJehova wayemthanda kakhulu uDavida waze wathi ‘uyindoda ethokozisa inhliziyo yakhe.’ (Imiseb. 13:22) Kodwa uDavida wenza izono ezinkulu ezigoqela ukufeba lokubulala. UMthetho kaMosi wawusithi umuntu owenze izono ezinjalo kumele abulawe. (Levi. 20:10; Nani. 35:31) Kodwa uJehova kazange akuvumele ukuthi uDavida abulawe.b Wathuma umphrofethi wakhe uNathani kuDavida lanxa wayengakenzi lutho olwalutshengisa ukuthi uyaphenduka. UNathani wasebenzisa umzekeliso owathinta inhliziyo kaDavida. UDavida wazwisisa, wasephenduka. (2 Sam. 12:​1-14) Ngemva kwalokho uDavida wabhala iHubo elaveza ukuthi wayezisola kakhulu ngalokho ayekwenzile. (Hubo. 51, amazwi ethula isahluko) IHubo leli seliduduze abantu abanengi abayabe benze izono, labanceda bazimisela ukuphenduka. Siyambonga kakhulu uJehova ngokuthi wancedisa inceku yakhe ayeyithanda uDavida ukuthi iphenduke.

10. Uzwa njani ngokuthi uJehova uyasibekezelela njalo uyasithethelela?

¹⁰ UJehova uyasizonda isono, kalani lokuthi sincane kumbe sikhulu. (Hubo. 5:​4, 5) Lanxa kunjalo, uyakwazi ukuthi sonke siyizoni njalo uyasincedisa ukuthi silwisane lesono ngenxa yokuthi uyasithanda. Ngitsho lalabo abenza izono ezinkulu kakhulu uyazama ukubancedisa ukuthi baphenduke ukuze basondele kuye. Kuyasiduduza kakhulu ukwazi lokhu! Ukucabangisisa ngendlela uJehova asibekezelela ngayo lasithethelela ngayo kwenza sizimisele ukuqhubeka sithembekile kuye, lokuthi sizimisele ukuphenduka masinyane nxa singawona. Khathesi asixoxeni ngalokho uJesu akufundisa abafundi bakhe mayelana lokuphenduka.

UJESU WABAFUNDISANI ABALANDELI BAKHE NGOKUPHENDUKA?

11-12. UJesu wasebenzisa wuphi umzekeliso ukuze afundise abalandeli bakhe ukuthi uyise uthethelela njani? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹¹ Sathi sesifikile isikhathi sokuthi uMesiya abuye emhlabeni, uJehova wathuma uJohane uMbhabhathizi ukuthi akhuthaze abantu ukuthi baphenduke. UJesu laye wathi eqalisa ukutshumayela, wayefundisa abantu ukuthi kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi baphenduke—Mat. 3:​1, 2; 4:17.

¹² Ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni wayejayele ukufundisa abantu ukuthi uYise uzimisele ukubathethelela nxa bangawona. Wabacacisela lokhu ngesikhathi ebatshela umzekeliso wendodana yolahleko. Indodana le yasuka ngakibo yaya elizweni elikhatshana yafika yenza izinto ezimbi kakhulu. Kodwa ngemva kwesikhathi ‘kwathi dlwe kuyo,’ yasibuyela ngekhaya. Uyise wayamukela njani? UJesu wathi “yathi isesekhatshana, uyise wathi mehlo suka wayibona wayizwela, wasegijima wafika wayigona wayiqabuza.” Indodana le yaya ngakibo yafika yacela ukuthi ibe yisisebenzi. Kodwa uyise wayamukela wala ukuthi ibe yisisebenzi waseyibiza ngokuthi ‘yindodana yakhe.’ Uyise wathi indodana yakhe “ibilahlekile kodwa isitholakele.” (Luk. 15:​11-32) Kufanele ukuthi ngesikhathi uJesu esezulwini engakabuyi emhlabeni, wambona kanengi uYise esiba lesihawu, ethethelela izoni ezaseziphendukile. Umzekeliso lo uyasiduduza kakhulu ngoba utshengisa ukuthi uBaba wethu uJehova ulesihawu esikhulu!

13-14. Umphostoli uPhetro wafundani ngokuphenduka njalo wabafundisani abanye? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹³ Umphostoli uPhetro wafunda okunengi kuJesu mayelana lokuphenduka kanye lendlela uJehova athethelela ngayo. UJesu wayehlala emthethelela uPhetro ngoba wayephambanisa kanengi. UPhetro wathi esephike iNkosi yakhe kathathu, wezwa ubuhlungu kakhulu ezisola ngalokho ayekwenzile. (Mat. 26:​34, 35, 69-75) Kodwa uJesu wathi esevusiwe wabonakala kuPhetro njalo kumele ukuthi wafika kuye eyedwa. (Luk. 24:​33, 34; 1 Khor. 15:​3-5) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uJesu wamqinisekisa ukuthi uyamthanda lokuthi wayesemthethelele.—Khangela uMakho 16:7 lomcijo wokutaditsha othi “and Peter” ku-Nguqulo Yomhlaba Omutsha yesiNgisi okuthiwa yi-Study Bible.

¹⁴ UPhetro wayesekuzwisisa kuhle ukuthi kutshoni ukuphenduka lokuthethelelwa, yikho wayesesenelisa ukuthi achasisele abanye. Kwathi sekudlule umkhosi wePhentekhosti, uPhetro wachasisela amaJuda ukuthi ayeyenze icala ngokubulala uMesiya. Lanxa kunjalo, wawakhuthaza wathi: “Phendukani njalo liguquke ukuze izono zenu zesulwe, ukwenzela ukuthi uJehova alivuselele.” (Imiseb. 3:​14, 15, 17, 19) Ngakho uPhetro wawatshela ukuthi nxa umuntu ephenduka uyaguquka atshintshe izenzo zakhe lendlela acabanga ngayo abesephila ngendlela ethokozisa uNkulunkulu. Wawacacisela ukuthi uJehova wayezazesula izono zawo, angaphindi azithonisise futhi. Ngemva kweminyaka eminengi, uPhetro wakhuthaza amaKhristu wathi: ‘UJehova uyalibekezelela ngoba kafisi ukuthi loba ngubani abhujiswe kodwa ufisa ukuthi abantu bonke baphenduke.’ (2 Phet. 3:9) Lokhu kuyasiduduza kakhulu nxa singenza isono kungelani lokuthi ngesikhulu kumbe ngesincane.

15-16. (a) Umphostoli uPhawuli wafundani ngokuthethelela? (U-1 Thimothi 1:​12-15) (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁵ USawuli waseThasu wenza izinto ezinengi ezimbi kakhulu futhi wabahlukuluza kabuhlungu abalandeli bakaKhristu. Kumele ukuthi amaKhristu amanengi ayecabanga ukuthi ngeke wafa waphenduka. Kodwa uJesu wayengacabangi njengabo, wayekwazi ukuthi uSawuli angaphenduka atshintshe. Yena loYise babebona okuhle kuSawuli. UJesu wathi: “Indoda le iyisitsha sami engisikhethileyo.” (Imiseb. 9:15) UJesu wenza isimangaliso ukuze ancedise uSawuli ukuthi aphenduke. (Imiseb. 7:58–8:3; 9:​1-9, 17-20) USawuli owacina esesaziwa ngokuthi ngumphostoli uPhawuli wathi esebe ngumKhristu wayibonga kanengi iNkosi ukuthi yayibe lesihawu kuye. (Bala u-1 Thimothi 1:​12-15.) Watshela amanye amaKhristu wathi: ‘UNkulunkulu ngomusa lowo uzama ukulinceda ukuthi liphenduke.’—Rom. 2:4.

¹⁶ UPhawuli wenzani ngesikhathi esizwa ukuthi ebandleni leKhorinte kwasekulomuntu oxhwalileyo kodwa olokhu engenziwa lutho? Akwenzayo kutshengisa indlela uNkulunkulu wethu olothando asilaya ngayo. Kuphinda kusitshengise ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuba lesihawu. Sizaxoxa ngendaba le esihlokweni esilandelayo.