ʻOkú Ke Maʻu ha Tui Hangē ko ʻĒpalahamé?

“ʻO ka hoko mai ʻa e Fanautama ʻa tangata, te ne ʻilo koā ha kei tui pehē ʻi mamani?”​—LUKE 18:8.

1. Ko e hā ʻoku faingataʻa ai ke tauhi ha tui ʻa ha taha ke mālohi ʻi he ʻaho ní?

ʻOKU ʻikai faingofua ke tauhi ha tui ʻa ha taha ke mālohi ʻi he ʻahó ni. ʻOku tenge mālohi ʻe he māmaní ʻa e kau Kalisitiané, koeʻuhi ke afeʻi ʻenau tokangá mei he ngaahi meʻa fakalaumālié. (Luke 21:34; 1 Sione 2:​15, 16) Kuo fāinga ʻa e tokolahi ke moʻui ʻi he mata ʻo e ngaahi tau, ngaahi fakatamaki, ngaahi mahaki, pe fiekaia. (Luke 21:​10, 11) ʻI he ngaahi fonua lahi, ʻoku mālohi ʻaupito ai ʻa e anga-fakamāmaní, pea ka ai ha faʻahinga ʻoku nau moʻuiʻaki ʻenau tuí ʻoku lau ia ʻoku nau taʻefakakaukau, pea aʻu ʻo māfana tōtuʻa. ʻIkai ngata aí, ʻoku tokolahi ʻa e kau Kalisitiane ʻoku fakatangaʻi ko ʻenau tuí. (Mātiu 24:9) Ko e foʻi fehuʻi ʻa Sīsū, naʻe fai ko ia ʻi he meimei taʻu ʻe 2,000 kuohilí, ʻoku feʻungamālie moʻoni: “ʻOka hoko mai ʻa e Fanautama ʻa Tangata, te ne ʻilo koā ha kei tui pehē ʻi mamani?”​—Luke 18:8.

2. (a) Ko e hā ʻoku mātuʻaki mahuʻinga ai ʻa e tui mālohí ki ha Kalisitiane? (e) Ko e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻo e tui ʻa hai ʻoku lelei ke tau fakakaukau ki aí?

² Kae kehe, ko e foʻi moʻoní ia, ko e tui mālohi ko iá ʻoku mātuʻaki mahuʻinga ia kapau te tau lavameʻa ʻi he moʻuí he taimí ni pea maʻu ʻa e moʻui taʻengata kuo talaʻofa ki he kahaʻú. ʻI he lave ki he ngaahi folofola ʻa Sihova kia Hapakuké, naʻe tohi ʻe he ʻapositolo ko Paulá: “Ko e tangata maʻoniʻoni aʻaku, te ne moʻui ʻi he tui: ka ʻo kapau te ne holomui, ʻe ʻikai hōifua hoku laumalie ʻiate ia. . . . ʻO ka taʻekau ʻa e tui, ʻoku ʻikai momoʻi lava haʻate fakahōifua [ʻa e ʻOtuá].” (Hepelu 10:​38–11:6; Hapakuke 2:4) Naʻe tala ange ʻe Paula kia Tīmote: “Tau ʻa e tau lelei ʻo e tui, puke ki he moʻui taʻengata, ʻa ia ne ui koe ki ai.” (1 Timote 6:12) ʻE malava fēfē leva, ke maʻu ha tui taʻemamotu? ʻI heʻetau fakakaukau ki he fehuʻi ko iá, ʻoku lelei ke tau vakai ki ha tangata ʻa ia naʻe moʻui ʻi he taʻu nai ʻe 4,000 kuohilí, lolotonga ia ko ʻene tuí ʻoku kei tokaʻi lahi ia ʻi he ngaahi lotu lalahi ʻe tolu​—ko e ʻIsilamí, lotu faka-Siú, mo e lotu faka-Kalisitiané. Ko e tangata ko iá ko ʻĒpalahame. Ko e hā naʻe mātuʻaki tuʻu-ki-muʻa ai ʻa ʻene tuí? ʻE lava ke tau faʻifaʻitaki kiate ia he ʻahó ni?

Talangofua ki he Fakahinohino ʻa e ʻOtuá

3, 4. Ko e hā naʻe fetukutuku ai ʻe Tela hono fāmilí mei ʻUa ki Hālaní?

³ Ko ʻĒpalahamé (ʻa ia naʻe tomuʻa ui ko ʻĒpalamé) ʻoku fuofua lave ki ai ʻi he konga pē ki muʻa ʻo e Tohitapú. ʻI he Senesi 11:​26 (PM), ʻoku tau lau ai: “Nae moui a Tela . . . bea nae fanau kiate ia a Ebalame, mo Nehoa, mo Halani.” Naʻe nofo ʻa Tela mo hono fāmilí ʻi ʻUa ʻo e kau Kalitiá, ko ha kolo tuʻumālie ʻi he fakatonga ʻo Mesopotēmiá. Kae kehe, naʻe ʻikai te nau nofo ai. “Bea nae ave e Tela a hono foha ko Ebalame, mo Lote koe foha o hono foha ko Halani, mo Selai [Sela] ko hono ofefine i he fono, koe unoho o hono foha ko Ebalame; bea naa nau alu atu mei Ua i Kalitia, ke fonoga ki he fonua ko Kenani; bea naa nau hoko ki Halani, o nofo ai.” (Senesi 11:​31, PM) Naʻe toe fetukutuku ʻe he tokoua ʻo ʻĒpalahame ko Nēhoá hono fāmilí ki Hālani. (Senesi 24:​10, 15; 28:​1, 2; 29:4) Ko e hā leva e ʻuhinga, naʻe hiki ai ʻa Tela mei ʻUa tuʻumālie ki Hālani mamaʻó?

⁴ ʻI he taʻu ʻe 2,000 nai hili ʻa e ʻaho ʻo ʻĒpalahamé, naʻe lea ai ʻa e tangata anga-tonu ko Sitīvení, ʻi he ʻao ʻo e Sanetalimi faka-Siú, ʻo fakamatalaʻi ʻa e fetukutuku angakehe ko eni naʻe fai ʻe he fāmili ʻo Telá. Naʻá ne pehē: “Ko e ʻOtua ha ʻi he Sikaina naʻa ne fakaha ia ki heʻetau kui ko Epalahame, lolotonga ʻene nofo ʻi Mesopotemia, pea teʻeki ke ne nofo ʻi [Hālani], pea ne folofola kiate ia, Hiki mei ho fonua, pea mei ho kāinga, pea haʻu ki he fonua te u toki fakaha atu. Toki ʻalu atu ia mei he fonua ʻo e kakai Kalitia, ʻo ne nofo ʻi [Hālani].” (Ngāue 7:​2-4) Naʻe anganofo ʻa Tela ki he finangalo ʻo Sihova fekauʻaki mo ʻĒpalahamé ʻi he taimi naʻá ne fetukutuku ai hono fāmilí tonu ki Hālaní.

5. Ko fē ʻa e feituʻu naʻe ʻalu ki ai ʻa ʻĒpalahame ʻi he hili ʻa e mate ʻene tamaí? Ko e hā hono ʻuhingá?

⁵ Naʻe nofo ai ʻa e fāmili ʻo Telá ʻi honau kolo foʻoú. ʻI he ngaahi taʻu ʻi mui ai ʻi he taimi naʻe pehē ai ʻe ʻĒpalahame “hoku fonua,” naʻá ne ʻuhingá ki he feituʻu ʻo Hālaní, kae ʻikai ko ʻUa. (Senesi 24:4) Kae kehe, naʻe ʻikai ke hoko ʻa Hālani ko e ʻapi tuʻumaʻu ia ʻo ʻĒpalahamé. Fakatatau kia Sitīveni, “hili ʻa e pekia [ʻa e tamai ʻa ʻĒpalahamé], naʻe hiki ia mei ai ʻe he ʻOtua ki he fonua ko eni, ʻa ia kuo hiki ki ai ʻe kimoutolu foki.” (Ngāue 7:4) ʻI he talangofua ki he fakahinohino ʻa Sihová, naʻe kolosi ai ʻa ʻĒpalahame, ʻo fakafeʻao ki ai ʻa Lote, ʻi ʻIufaletesi ki he fonua ko Kēnaní.a

6. Ko e hā ʻa e talaʻofa naʻe folofolaʻaki ʻe Sihova kia ʻĒpalahamé?

⁶ Ko e hā naʻe fakatupunga ai ʻe Sihova ke hiki ʻa ʻĒpalahame ki Kēnaní? Naʻe fekauʻaki ʻa e ʻuhingá mo e ngaahi taumuʻa ʻa e ʻOtuá ki he tangata anga-tonu ko iá. Naʻe folofola ʻa Sihova kia ʻĒpalahame: “Hiki ko e mei ho fonua, pea mei ho tupuʻanga, pea mei he fale ʻo hoʻo tamai, ki he fonua te u fakaha kiate koe. Pea te u ngaohi koe ko e puleʻanga lahi, pea te u fakamonuʻia koe, pea te u fakatauʻolunga ho hingoa; pea te ke hoko ko e monuʻiaʻanga. Pea te u ʻofeina ʻakinautolu te nau ofeina koe, pea ko ia te ne tutukuʻi koe te u fakamalaʻia; pea ʻe monuʻia ʻiate koe ʻa e faʻahinga kotoa pe ʻo e kelekele.” (Senesi 12:​1-3) ʻE hoko ʻa ʻĒpalahame ko e tamai ʻa ha puleʻanga lahi ʻa ia te nau fiefia ʻi he maluʻi ʻa Sihová mo nau maʻu ʻa e fonua ko Kēnaní. Ko ha talaʻofa maʻongoʻonga moʻoni! Ka naʻe pau ke fai ʻe ʻĒpalahame ʻa e ngaahi liliu lahi fakaʻulia ʻi heʻene moʻuí kae maʻu ʻa e fonua ko iá.

7. Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi liliu naʻe pau ke mateuteu ʻa ʻĒpalahame ke faí koeʻuhi ka ne maʻu ʻa e talaʻofa ʻa Sihová?

⁷ ʻI he taimi naʻe mavahe ai ʻa ʻĒpalahame mei ʻUá, naʻá ne siʻaki ai ha kolo tuʻumālie pea pehē nai foki ki he kāinga ʻo ʻene tamaí​—ʻa ia ko e ngaahi matavai mahuʻinga ʻo e malu ʻi he kuonga fakapēteliake ko iá. ʻI he taimi naʻá ne mavahe ai mei Hālaní, naʻá ne fakamavaheʻi leva ia mei he fale ʻo ʻene tamaí, kau ai ʻa e fāmili ʻo hono tokoua ko Nēhoá, ʻo ne hiki ki ha fonua taʻeʻiloa. ʻI Kēnaní naʻe ʻikai te ne kumi ke malu ʻi loto ʻi ha ʻā ʻo ha kolo. Ko e hā hono ʻuhingá? ʻI he taimi nounou pē hili ʻa e hū ʻa ʻĒpalahame ki he fonuá, naʻe folofola ange ʻa Sihova kiate ia: “Tuʻu, pea foli ʻa e fonua, ʻa hono lōloa mo hono māukupu; he te u ʻatu ia moʻou.” (Senesi 13:17) Naʻe muimui ʻa e taʻu 75 ko ʻĒpalahamé mo hono uaifi taʻu 65, ʻa Sela, ki he ngaahi fakahinohino ko ení. “Ko tui naʻa ne hanga ʻo ʻāunofo ai ki he Fonua ʻo e Talaʻofa, ʻo hange ko e nofo muli; ʻo ne faleʻaki ʻa e teniti pe.”​—Hepelu 11:9; Senesi 12:4.

Tui Hangē ko ʻĒpalahamé ʻi he ʻAhó Ni

8. ʻI he vakai atu ki he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa ʻĒpalahame mo e kau fakamoʻoni kehe ʻi he kuonga muʻá, ko e hā ʻoku totonu ke tau fakatupulekiná?

⁸ ʻOku fakakau ʻa ʻĒpalahame mo hono fāmilí ʻi he uhouhonga tokolahi ʻo e “ʻao kau fakamoʻoni [ki muʻa ʻi he Kalisitiané]” ʻa ia ʻoku lave ki ai ʻi he Hepelū vahe 11. ʻI he vakai ki he tui ʻa e muʻaki kau sevāniti ko eni ʻa e ʻOtuá, naʻe fakaʻaiʻai ai ʻe Paula ʻa e kau Kalisitiané ke “huʻihuʻi ʻa e fakamamafa kotoa pe, mo e angahala [taʻetui] ʻoku tau moʻuangofua ki ai.” (Hepelu 12:1) ʻIo, ʻe lava ke “tau moʻuangofua” ʻi he taʻetuí. Ka ʻi he ʻaho ʻo Paulá pea mo haʻatautolú, kuo lava ʻe he kau Kalisitiane moʻoní ʻo fakatupulekina ha tui mālohi ʻoku fakahoa ki he tui ʻa ʻĒpalahame mo e niʻihi kehe ʻi he ngaahi kuonga ki muʻá. ʻI he lea fekauʻaki mo ia pea mo e kaungā Kalisitiané, ʻoku pehē ʻe Paula: “Ko kitaua ʻoku ʻikai ko e haʻa holomui ʻoku to ki mala, ka ko e haʻa tui ai pe ke maʻu mai hota laumalie.”​—Hepelu 10:39.

9, 10. Ko e hā ha fakamoʻoni ʻoku ʻi ai ko e tokolahi ʻi he ʻahó ni ʻoku nau maʻu ʻa e tui hangē ko ia ko ʻĒpalahamé?

⁹ Ko e moʻoni, kuo liliu ʻa e māmaní ia mei he taimi ʻo ʻĒpalahamé. Neongo ia, ʻoku tau kei tauhi ʻa e “ʻOtua pe ʻo Epalahame” tatau, pea ʻoku ʻikai te ne liliu. (Ngāue 3:13; Malakai 3:6) ʻOku taau ʻa Sihova ke fai ʻa e lotú ki ai ʻi he ʻahó ni ʻo hangē pē ko ʻene taau ʻi he taimi ʻo ʻĒpalahamé. (Fakahā 4:11) ʻOku fakatapui kakato ʻe he tokolahi kinautolu kia Sihova, pea hangē ko ʻĒpalahamé, ʻoku nau fai ʻa e ngaahi liliu pē ʻoku fiemaʻu ʻi heʻenau moʻuí koeʻuhi ke fai ʻa e finangalo ʻo e ʻOtuá. ʻI he taʻu kuo ʻosí, naʻe fakahāhā mahino ai ʻe he toko 316,092 ʻa ʻenau fakatapuí ʻaki ʻenau fakamoʻulaloa ʻo papitaiso ʻi he vaí “ki he Huafa ʻo e Tamai mo e ʻAlo mo e Laumalie Maʻoniʻoni.”​—Mātiu 28:19.

¹⁰ Ko e tokolahi taha ʻo e kau Kalisitiane foʻou ko ení naʻe ʻikai fiemaʻu ia ke nau folau ki ha ngaahi fonua muli mamaʻo koeʻuhi ke fakahoko ʻa ʻenau fakatapuí. Ka ʻi ha ʻuhinga fakalaumālie, ko e tokolahi ʻo kinautolu naʻa nau folau mamaʻo ʻaupito. Ko e fakatātaá, ʻi Malitiasi, naʻe faʻa hoko ai ʻa Elsie ko ha fefine fai-fakalouʻakau. Naʻe manavahē ʻa e tokotaha kotoa pē ʻiate ia. Naʻe fokotuʻutuʻu ʻe ha tāimuʻa makehe ha ako Tohitapu mo e taʻahine ʻa Elsie, pea naʻe fakaava ʻe he meʻá ni ʻa e hala kia Elsie ke “tafoki mei he poʻuli ki he māma.” (Ngāue 26:18) ʻI heʻene vakai ki he mahuʻingaʻia ʻa ʻene taʻahiné, naʻe loto ai ʻa Elsie ke ako ʻa e Ko ʻEku Tohi ʻo e Ngaahi Talanoa Faka-Tohitapú. Naʻe fai tuʻo tolu ʻa ʻene akó ʻi he uike koeʻuhí he naʻá ne fiemaʻu ha fakalototoʻa tuʻumaʻu. Naʻe ʻikai ʻomi ʻe heʻene ngaahi tōʻonga fakafaʻahikehé kiate ia ha fiefia, pea naʻe ʻi ai ʻene ngaahi palopalema lahi fakafoʻituitui. Neongo ia, naʻe faifai pē ʻo ne malava ke fakaaʻu ʻa e folau lōloa ko ia mei he fakatēmenioó ki he lotu moʻoní. ʻI he taimi naʻe kumi mai ai ʻa e kakaí ki heʻene ngaahi ngāué, naʻá ne fakamatalaʻi ange leva ko Sihova pē taha te ne malava ʻo maluʻi kinautolu mei he koví. Kuo hoko he taimí ni ʻa Elsie ko ha Fakamoʻoni ʻosi papitaiso, pea ko e kakai ʻe toko 14 mei hono fāmilí mo e ngaahi mahení kuo nau tali ʻa e moʻoní.

11. Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi fengaʻunuʻaki ʻoku loto-lelei ʻa e faʻahinga ʻoku nau fakatapui kinautolu kia Sihová ke faí?

¹¹ Ko e tokolahi taha ʻo e faʻahinga ko ia he taʻu kuo ʻosí naʻa nau fakatapui kinautolu ke tauhi ʻa e ʻOtuá, naʻe ʻikai fiemaʻu ia ke nau fai ha ngaahi liliu lahi fakaʻulia pehē. Ka naʻa nau ngaʻunu kotoa mei he hoko ʻo mate fakalaumālié ki he hoko ʻo moʻui fakalaumālie. (Efeso 2:1) Neongo ʻoku nau kei ʻi he māmaní pē fakaesino, ʻoku ʻikai te nau kei hoko ko hano konga. (Sione 17:​15, 16) ʻI he meimei tatau mo e kau Kalisitiane paní, ʻa ia ‘ko honau koló ʻoku tuʻu ʻi hevaní,’ ʻoku nau hangē ko ha kau “ʻaunofo mo e muli.” (Filipai 3:20; 1 Pita 2:11) ʻOku nau ʻomi ʻenau moʻuí ʻo fehoanaki mo e ngaahi tuʻunga ʻa e ʻOtuá, ʻa ia ko hono ueʻi tefitó ʻe he ʻofa ki he ʻOtuá mo e ʻofa ki he kaungāʻapí. (Mātiu 22:​37-39) ʻOku ʻikai te nau tulimui ki he ngaahi taumuʻa siokita mo fakamatelie, pe ko ha ongoʻi ʻo ha fiemaʻu ke lavameʻa fakafoʻituitui ʻi he māmani ko ení. Ko hono kehé, ʻoku nau fakamaʻu honau matá ʻi he talaʻofa ko ia “ki ha langi foʻou mo ha fonua foʻou, ʻa ia ʻoku nofoʻanga ai ʻa maʻoniʻoni.”​—2 Pita 3:13; 2 Kolinito 4:18.

12. Ko e hā ʻa e ngāue naʻe fakamatalaʻi ʻi he taʻu kuo ʻosí ʻoku fakamoʻoniʻi ai kuo ʻilo ʻe Sīsū ʻi he lolotonga ʻo ʻene ʻi aí “ha kei tui pehē ʻi mamani”?

¹² ʻI he taimi naʻe hiki ai ʻa ʻĒpalahame ki Kēnaní, ko ia pē mo hono fāmilí naʻe ʻi aí fakataha mo Sihova pē taha, ke poupou mo maluʻi kinautolu. Kae kehe, ko e kau Kalisitiane toki papitaiso foʻou ko eni ʻe toko 316,092 ʻoku ʻikai moʻoni ko kinautolu pē. Ko e moʻoni, ʻoku poupouʻi mo maluʻi kinautolu ʻe Sihova ʻaki hono laumālié, ʻo hangē ko ia naʻá ne fai kia ʻĒpalahamé. (Palovepi 18:10) Kae kehe, tānaki atu ki aí, ʻokú ne poupouʻi kinautolu fakafou ʻi ha “puleʻanga” longomoʻui mo fakavahaʻapuleʻanga ʻa ia ʻoku tokolahi ange ia ʻi he ngaahi puleʻanga fakamāmani ʻe niʻihi ʻi he ʻahó ni. (Aisea 66:8) ʻI he taʻu kuo ʻosí, ko ha tumutumu ʻo ha tangataʻi-fonua ʻe toko 5,888,650 ʻo e puleʻanga ko iá naʻa nau fakamoʻoniʻi ʻenau tui longomoʻuí ʻaki ʻenau talanoa ki honau ngaahi kaungāʻapí ʻo fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi talaʻofa ʻa e ʻOtuá. (Maake 13:10) Naʻa nau fakamoleki ʻa e ngaahi houa lahi fakaʻulia ʻe 1,186,666,708 ʻi he ngāue ko ení, ko e kumi ke ʻilo ʻa e faʻahinga mahuʻingaʻiá. Ko hono olá, naʻe fakahoko ai ha ngaahi ako Tohitapu ʻe 4,302,852 mo e niʻihi ko ia naʻa nau fakaʻamu ke fakatupulekina ʻenau tuí. ʻI hano fakahāhā lahi ange ʻenau faivelengá, ko e toko 698,781 ʻi he “puleʻanga” ko ení naʻa nau kau ʻi he ngāue tāimuʻá, ka ʻikai taimi kakato, ko e māhina ʻe taha pe lahi ange. (Ko e fakaikiiki ʻo e ngāue ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ki he taʻu kuo ʻosí ʻoku maʻu ia ʻi he peesi 12 ki he 15.) Ko e fakamatala tuʻu-ki-muʻa ko ení ko ha tali papau ia mo moʻui ki he fehuʻi ʻa Sīsū, “ʻO ka hoko mai ʻa e Fanautama ʻa tangata, te ne ʻilo koā ha kei tui pehē ʻi mamani?”

Anga-Tonu Neongo ʻa e Ngaahi ʻAhiʻahí

13, 14. Fakamatalaʻi ʻa e niʻihi ʻo e ngaahi faingataʻa naʻe fehangahangai mo ʻĒpalahame mo hono fāmilí ʻi Kēnaní.

¹³ Naʻe faʻa faingataʻa ʻa e ngaahi meʻá kia ʻĒpalahame mo hono falé ʻi Kēnani. Naʻe ʻikai toe siʻi hifo ʻi he tuʻo tahá, naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e honge lahi ʻa ia naʻá ne seʻe ia mei Kēnani ki ʻIsipite. ʻIkai ngata aí, naʻe fakatou feinga ʻa e pule ʻo ʻIsipité mo e pule ʻo Kelá (ofi ki Kesa) ke ʻave maʻa kinaua ʻa e uaifi ʻo ʻĒpalahamé, ʻa Sela. (Senesi 12:​10-20; 20:​1-18) Naʻe toe ʻi ai foki ʻa e ngaahi vākovi ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo e kau tauhimanu ʻa ʻĒpalahamé mo e kau tauhimanu ʻa Loté, pea naʻe fakatupunga ʻe he meʻá ni ha mavaeua ʻi he ongo falé. ʻI he taʻesiokita, naʻe ʻoange ai ʻe ʻĒpalahame ʻa e ʻuluaki fili ki he fonuá kia Lote, pea naʻe fili ai ʻe Lote ke ne nofo ʻi he Vahefonua ʻo Sioataní, ʻa ia naʻe hangē ko ʻĪtení ʻi heʻene maʻuiʻui mo fakaʻofoʻofá.​—Senesi 13:​5-13.

¹⁴ Naʻe maʻukovia leva ʻa Lote, ʻi ha tau ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo e tuʻi ʻo ʻĪlami mamaʻó mo ʻene faʻahí, pea mo e ngaahi tuʻi ʻo e ngaahi kolo ʻe nima ʻi he Talalo Tokalelei ʻo Sitimí. Naʻe ikunaʻi ʻe he ngaahi tuʻi mulí ʻa e ngaahi tuʻi fakalotofonuá, pea naʻa nau ʻave ai ʻa e ngaahi koloa lahi, kau ai ʻa Lote mo ʻene koloá. ʻI he taimi naʻe fanongo ai ʻa ʻĒpalahame ʻi he meʻa naʻe hokó, naʻá ne tulimui taʻemanavahē ai ki he ngaahi tuʻi muli ko ení, pea naʻá ne malava ke fakafoki mai ʻa Lote mo hono falé, pea pehē ki he ngaahi koloa ʻa e ngaahi tuʻi fakalotofonuá. (Senesi 14:​1-16) Kae kehe, naʻe ʻikai ko e meʻa kovi taha ia naʻe hokosia ʻe Lote ʻi Kēnaní. ʻOku ʻikai ʻilo ʻa e ʻuhinga naʻá ne ʻalu ai ʻo nofo ʻi Sōtomá, neongo ʻa e ʻiloa ʻa e koló ʻi he ʻulungaanga taʻetāú.b (2 Pita 2:​6-8) ʻI he taimi naʻe fakatokanga ai ʻa e ongo ʻāngeló ʻe fakaʻauha ʻa e koló, naʻe hola leva ʻa Lote fakataha mo hono uaifí mo hono ongo ʻofefiné. Kae kehe, naʻe taʻetokanga ʻa e uaifi ʻo Loté ki he ngaahi fakahinohino pau ʻa e ongo ʻāngeló, ʻo ne iku ai, ʻo tanu ʻe he māsimá. Ne tōlalo ai ʻa Lote ʻo ne nofo ʻi ha taimi ʻi ha ʻana ʻi Soa, mo hono ongo ʻofefiné. (Senesi 19:​1-30) Ko e ngaahi meʻa ko eni naʻe hokó ʻoku pau pē naʻá ne fakahohaʻasi lahi ʻa ʻĒpalahame, tautefito koeʻuhi naʻe haʻu ʻa Lote ki Kēnani ko e konga ʻo e fale ʻo ʻĒpalahamé.

15. Neongo ʻa e ngaahi palopalema naʻe fehangahangai mo ʻĒpalahame lolotonga ʻene nofo tēniti ʻi ha fonua mulí, ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi fakakaukau hala naʻe hā mahino naʻá ne fakaʻehiʻehi mei aí?

¹⁵ Naʻe faifai ange nai pea fifili ʻa ʻĒpalahame, ko ia mo Loté naʻe totonu ke na nofo ʻo malu ʻi ʻUa fakataha mo e kāinga ʻo ʻene tamaí, pe ʻi Hālani fakataha mo hono tokoua ko Nēhoá? Naʻe faifai ange nai peá ne fakaʻamua naʻá ne mei malava ʻo nofo ʻo malu ʻi ha kolo ʻaaʻi kae ʻikai ko e nofo ʻi ha ngaahi tēniti? Naʻá ne fehuʻia nai, ʻa e poto ʻo e ngaahi feilaulau naʻá ne fai ʻi heʻene hoko ko ia ko ha tokotaha hikihiki holo ʻi ha fonua muli? ʻI he lea fekauʻaki mo ʻĒpalahame mo hono fāmilí, naʻe fakamatala ʻa e ʻapositolo ko Paulá: “Ka ne nau manatu ki he fonua ko ia naʻa nau haʻu mei ai, naʻa nau maʻu ai pe ha faingamalie ke nau foki.” (Hepelu 11:15) Kae kehe, naʻe ʻikai te nau foki kinautolu. ʻI he ʻikai tokanga ki he ngaahi faingataʻá, naʻa nau nofo pē ʻi he feituʻu naʻe fiemaʻu ʻe Sihova ke nau ʻi aí.

Kātaki ʻi he ʻAho Ní

16, 17. (a) Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi faingataʻa ʻoku fehangahangai mo e kau Kalisitiane tokolahi ʻi he ʻahó ni? (e) Ko e hā ʻa e fakakaukau papau ʻoku maʻu ʻe he kau Kalisitiané? Ko e hā hono ʻuhingá?

¹⁶ ʻOku ʻasi ʻa e kātaki meimei tatau ʻi he kau Kalisitiané he ʻahó ni. Neongo ko e tauhi ki he ʻOtuá ko ha matavai ia ʻo e fiefia lahi kiate kinautolu, ko e moʻuí ʻoku ʻikai ke faingofua ki he kau Kalisitiane moʻoní ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho fakaʻosi ko ení. Neongo ʻoku nau nofo ʻi ha palataisi fakalaumālie, ʻoku nau faingataʻaʻia ʻi he ngaahi faingataʻa fakaʻikonōmika tatau ʻo hangē ko ia ko honau ngaahi kaungāʻapí. (Aisea 11:​6-9) Kuo hoko ʻa e tokolahi ko e kau maʻukovia tonuhia ʻi he ngaahi tau ʻa e ngaahi puleʻangá, pea ko e niʻihi kuo tuku hifo ia ki ha tuʻunga mātuʻaki masiva ʻaupito ʻo ʻikai ʻi ha foʻui ʻo nautolu. Tānaki atu ki aí, ʻoku nau kātakiʻi ʻa e ngaahi palopalema ʻo e hoko ko ia ko ha kiʻi tokosiʻi taʻemanakoá. ʻI he ngaahi fonua lahi, ʻoku nau malangaʻi ʻa e ongoongo leleí ʻi he mata ʻo e taʻemahuʻingaʻia lahi fakaʻulia. Ko e niʻihi, ʻoku nau faingataʻaʻia ʻi he ngaahi ʻoho kākā ʻa e faʻahinga ko ia “ʻoku faʻu lao fakamamahi” mo “fakamaumatea ʻa e taʻehalaia.” (Sāme 94:​20, 21) Naʻa mo e ʻi he ngaahi fonua ko ia ʻoku ʻikai ʻohofi ai ʻa e kau Kalisitiané pea mo ia ʻoku fakahīkihikiʻi ai kinautolu ʻe he niʻihi koeʻuhi ko honau ngaahi tuʻunga māʻolungá, ʻoku nau ʻilo ʻenau hoko ʻo kehe mei honau kaungāakó mo e kaungāngāué​—ʻo hangē pē ko ʻĒpalahamé, ʻa ia naʻá ne nofo ʻi he ngaahi tēniti lolotonga ia ko e tokolahi taha ʻa e kakai takatakai ʻiate iá naʻa nau nofo ʻi he ngaahi kolo. ʻIo, ʻoku ʻikai ke faingofua ke nofo ʻi he māmaní pea lolotonga ia ʻoku “ʻikai” ʻo ia.​—Sione 17:14.

¹⁷ ʻOku tau fakatomala leva ai, ʻi heʻetau fakatapui ki he ʻOtuá? ʻOku tau fakaʻamu pehē ange mai naʻa tau kei nofo ko ha konga ʻo e māmaní, ʻo hangē ko e niʻihi kehe kotoa pē? ʻOku tau tangilāulau ʻi he ngaahi feilaulau kuo tau fai ʻi he ngāue ʻa Sihová? Halaʻatā! ʻI he ʻikai te tau sio ki mui ʻo fakaʻamua atu ʻa e kuohilí, ʻoku tau ʻilo ko ha meʻa pē nai kuo tau feilaulauʻi ʻoku ʻikai hano ʻaonga moʻoni ʻona ʻi hono fakahoa atu ki he ngaahi tāpuaki ʻoku tau fiefia ai he taimi ní pea mo ia te tau fiefia ai ʻi he kahaʻú. (Luke 9:62; Filipai 3:8) Tuku kehe ia, ʻoku fiefia ʻa e kakai ʻi he māmaní? Ko e foʻi moʻoní ia, ko e tokolahi ʻo kinautolu ʻoku nau kumi ki he ngaahi tali kuo tau ʻosi maʻu ʻe kitautolu. ʻOku nau faingataʻaʻiá koeʻuhi ko e ʻikai te nau muimui ki he tataki mei he ʻOtuá ʻoku tau muimui aí ʻo fakafou ʻi he ngaahi peesi ʻo e Tohitapú. (Sāme 119:105) Pea ʻoku fakaʻamu ʻa e tokolahi ʻo kinautolu ki he faʻahinga kaungāmeʻa Kalisitiane mo e feohi fiefia ko ia ʻoku tau fiefia ai mo hotau kaungātuí.​—Sāme 133:1; Kolose 3:14.

18. Ko e hā ʻa e ola ʻe iku atu ki ai ʻi he taimi ʻoku fakahāhā ai ʻe he kau Kalisitiané ha loto-toʻa hangē ko ʻĒpalahamé?

¹⁸ Ko e moʻoni, kuo pau ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi ke tau loto-toʻa ʻo hangē ko ʻĒpalahamé ʻi he taimi naʻá ne tulimui ai ʻi he kau puke pōpula ʻo Loté. Ka ʻi he taimi ʻoku tau fai pehē aí, ʻoku tāpuekina ʻe Sihova ʻa hono ikuʻangá. Ko e fakatātaá, ʻi ʻAilani Tokelau, kuo hoko ai ʻa e fetāufehiʻaʻakí ia ʻo fuʻu fefeka ko e ola ʻo e fakamālohi fakaelotumavahé, pea ʻoku fiemaʻu ʻa e loto-toʻa ia kae hoko ʻo tuʻuʻatā. Kae kehe, ko e kau Kalisitiane anga-tonú kuo nau muimui ʻi he ngaahi foʻi folofola ko ia ʻa Sihova kia Siosiuá: “Ke ke lototoʻa, mo tuʻu kalikali; ʻoua te ke manavahe, pea ʻoua te ke tailiili; he ko Sihova ko ho ʻOtua te ne ʻiate koe ʻi he meʻa kotoa ʻoku ke ʻalu ki ai.” (Siosiua 1:9; Sāme 27:14) ʻI he faai mai ʻa e ngaahi taʻú kuo fakaʻapaʻapaʻi ai kinautolu ʻi heʻenau tuʻu taʻemanavaheé, pea ʻoku nau lava ʻi he ʻahó ni ke malanga tauʻatāina ʻi he ngaahi feituʻu kotoa pē ʻo e fonua ko iá.

19. Ko fē ʻa e feituʻu ʻoku fiefia ʻa e kau Kalisitiané ke nau ʻi aí, pea ko e hā ʻa e ikuʻanga ʻoku nau ʻamanekina loto-falala ki ai ʻi he taimi ʻoku nau muimui ai ʻi he fakahinohino ʻa Sihová?

¹⁹ ʻOku fiemaʻu ke ʻoua ʻaupito te tau tālaʻa ʻi ha faʻahinga tuʻunga pē ʻoku tau fehangahangai mo ia, kapau ʻoku tau muimui ʻi he fakahinohino ʻa Sihová, ko e ola fakaʻosí ʻe hoko ia ko hono lāngilangi pea ʻaonga tuʻuloa kiate kitautolu. Neongo ʻa e ngaahi faingataʻá mo e ngaahi feilaulaú, ʻoku ʻikai toe ʻi ai ha feituʻu lelei ange ke tau ʻi ai ka ko e ʻi he ngāue pē ʻa Sihová, ʻo fiefia ʻi he feohi mo hotau fanga tokoua Kalisitiané mo hanga atu loto-falala ki he kahaʻu taʻengata kuo talaʻofa mai ʻe he ʻOtuá.

[Fakamatala ʻi lalo]

ʻOkú Ke Manatuʻi?

◻ Ko e hā ʻoku mātuʻaki fiemaʻu ai ʻa e tui mālohí?

◻ Naʻe fakahāhā fēfē ʻe ʻĒpalahame naʻá ne maʻu ha tui mālohi?

◻ ʻOku anga-fēfē ʻa e ō fakataha ʻa e fakatapuí mo e ngaahi liliu ʻi ha moʻui ʻa ha taha?

◻ Ko e hā ʻoku tau fiefia ai ke tauhi ʻa e ʻOtuá neongo ha ngaahi palopalema pē te tau fehangahangai nai mo ia?

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 7]

Naʻe loto-lelei ʻa ʻĒpalahame ke fai ʻa e ngaahi liliu lahi ʻi heʻene moʻuí koeʻuhi ka ne maʻu ʻa e talaʻofá

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 9]

ʻOku fakahā ʻe he fakamoʻoní kuo ʻilo ʻe Sīsū “ha kei tui pehē ʻi mamani” lolotonga ʻene ʻi aí