Hamba Ngeendlela ZikaYehova Ngenkalipho
“Hayi, uyolo lwabantu bonke abamoyikayo uYehova, abahamba ngeendlela zakhe!”—INDUMISO 128:1.
1, 2. Ingxelo yeBhayibhile engamazwi nezenzo zamangqina kaYehova okuqala iluncedo njani?
ILIZWI likaYehova eliNgcwele lizaliswe ziingxelo ezingezilingo novuyo lwabakhonzi bakhe abanyanisekileyo. Okwenzeka kuNowa, uAbraham, uSara, uYoshuwa, uDebhora, uBharaki, uDavide, nabanye kuchazwa ngokweenkcukacha. Bonke babengabantu bokwenene ababefana ngento ethile ekhethekileyo. Babenokholo kuThixo yaye bahamba ngeendlela zakhe ngenkalipho.
2 Amazwi nezenzo zamangqina kaYehova okuqala zinokusikhuthaza njengokuba sizabalazela ukuhamba ngeendlela zikaThixo. Ngaphezu koko, siya konwaba ukuba sibonakalisa ukuhlonela uThixo noloyiko olufanelekileyo lokungamkholisi. Oku kuyinyaniso nangona sijamelana nezilingo ebomini, kuba umdumisi ophefumlelweyo wavuma le ngoma: “Hayi, uyolo lwabantu bonke abamoyikayo uYehova, abahamba ngeendlela zakhe.”—INdumiso 128:1.
Oko Ikuko Inkalipho
3. Yintoni inkalipho?
3 Ukuze sihambe ngeendlela zikaYehova, simele sibe nenkalipho. Enyanisweni, iZibhalo ziyalela abantu bakaThixo ukuba balubonakalise olu phawu. Ngokomzekelo, umdumisi uDavide wavuma le ngoma: “Yomelelani, ikhaliphe intliziyo yenu nonke nina nithembele kuYehova.” (INdumiso 31:24) Inkalipho “ngamandla engqondo nokuziphatha okuba nobuganga, ukunyamezela, nokumelana nengozi, uloyiko okanye ubunzima.” (Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary) Umntu onenkalipho womelele, akafihlisi, ulikroti. Isibakala sokuba uYehova uyabanika inkalipho abakhonzi bakhe sicaciswa ngala mazwi ompostile uPawulos kuTimoti awayesebenza naye: “UThixo akasinikanga moya wabugwala; wasinika owamandla, nowothando, nowesidima.”—2 Timoti 1:7.
4. Yiyiphi enye indlela yokufumana inkalipho?
4 Enye indlela yokufumana inkalipho evela kuThixo kukuqwalasela ngomthandazo iLizwi likaYehova, iBhayibhile. Iingxelo ezininzi eziseZibhalweni zinokusinceda sibe nenkalipho ngakumbi. Ngoko ke, makhe kuqala sibone ukuba sinokufunda ntoni kwingxelo ekwiZibhalo zesiHebhere ngabathile abahamba ngeendlela zikaYehova ngenkalipho.
Inkalipho Yokuvakalisa Isigidimi SikaThixo
5. Abakhonzi bakaYehova banamhlanje banokungenelwa njani kwinkalipho kaEnoki?
5 Inkalipho kaEnoki inokubanceda abakhonzi bakaYehova banamhlanje basithethe ngenkalipho isigidimi sikaThixo. Ngaphambi kokuba uEnoki azalwe, “kwaqalwa oko ukubiza ngegama likaYehova.” Bambi abaphengululi bathi abantu “baqala ngokungenantlonelo” ukubiza ngegama likaYehova. (Genesis 4:25, 26, Appleyard’s Version; Ge 5:3, 6) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba igama likaThixo lalisetyenziswa ebantwini okanye kwanakwizithixo. Ngenxa yoko, unqulo lobuxoki lwaluxhaphakile ekuzalweni kukaEnoki ngowama-3404 B.C.E. Enyanisweni, kubonakala ngathi nguye yedwa ‘owahamba noThixo,’ esukela ikhondo lobulungisa elivisisana nenyaniso kaYehova etyhiliweyo.—Genesis 5:18, 24.
6. (a) Sisiphi isigidimi esinamandla uEnoki awayesivakalisa? (b) Sinokuba nayiphi intembelo?
6 UEnoki wasivakalisa ngenkalipho isigidimi sikaThixo, mhlawumbi ngokushumayela. (Hebhere 11:5; thelekisa eyesi-2 kaPetros 2:5.) Eli ngqina lalilodwa lathi: “Yabonani, yeza iNkosi namawakawaka abangcwele bayo, ukuba ibagwebe bonke, ibohlwaye bonke abangahloneli Thixo kubo, ngenxa yemisebenzi yabo yonke yokungahloneli Thixo, abayenze bengahloneli Thixo, nangenxa yazo zonke izinto ezilukhuni, ababezithethile ngayo aboni abangahloneli Thixo.” (Yuda 14, 15) UEnoki wayenenkalipho yokusebenzisa igama elithi Yehova xa wayevakalisa eso sigidimi sasigweba abantu abangahloneli Thixo. Yaye njengokuba uThixo wanika uEnoki inkalipho yokuvakalisa eso sigidimi sinamandla, ngoko uYehova uwanike amandla amaNgqina Akhe anamhlanje ukuba alithethe ngokungafihlisi ilizwi Lakhe kubulungiseleli, esikolweni nakwezinye iindawo.—Thelekisa IZenzo 4:29-31.
Inkalipho Ngaphantsi Kokulingwa
7. UNowa unikela wuphi umzekelo wenkalipho?
7 Umzekelo kaNowa unokusinceda sibe nenkalipho xa sisenza imisebenzi yobulungisa ngoxa silingwa. Ngenkalipho nokholo, wathabatha isenzo akulunyukiswa nguThixo ngomkhukula womhlaba wonke waza “wawakha umkhombe wokusindisa indlu yakhe.” Ngezenzo zentobelo nobulungisa, uNowa waligweba ihlabathi labangakholwayo ngemisebenzi yalo yobungendawo waza wabonisa ukuba lifanelwe kukutshatyalaliswa. (Hebhere 11:7; Genesis 6:13-22; 7:16) Ukucamngca ngekhondo likaNowa kuyabanceda abakhonzi bakaThixo banamhlanje ukuba babe nesabelo ngenkalipho kwimisebenzi yobulungisa efana nobulungiseleli bamaKristu.
8. (a) UNowa wajamelana nantoni ngenkalipho ‘njengomvakalisi wobulungisa’? (b) Yintoni aya kusenzela yona uYehova ukuba singabashumayeli abanenkalipho bobulungisa?
8 Ukuba sisukela ikhondo lobulungisa kodwa asazi ukuba sihlangabezane njani nesilingo esithile, masithandazele ubulumko bokumelana naso. (Yakobi 1:5-8) Ukunyaniseka kukaNowa kuThixo ngaphantsi kovavanyo kubonisa ukuba kunokwenzeka ukuhlangabezana neemvavanyo ngenkalipho nokuthembeka. Wamelana nengcinezelo yehlabathi elingendawo nezithunywa zezulu ezazizenze abantu nenzala yazo engamabhastile. Ewe, uNowa ‘wayengumvakalisi wobulungisa’ onenkalipho ‘kwihlabathi lakudala’ elalisinge entshabalalweni. (2 Petros 2:4, 5; Genesis 6:1-9) Nangona wathetha ngokungafihlisi njengommeli owayevakalisa isilumkiso sikaThixo kwabo bantu babephila ngaphambi komkhukula, ‘abazange baqonde, wada wafika unogumbe, wabakhukulisa bonke.’ (Mateyu 24:36-39) Kodwa masikhumbule ukuba phezu kwayo nje intshutshiso nokungamkelwa kwesigidimi esisekelwe eBhayibhileni luninzi lwabantu namhlanje, uYehova uya kusixhasa njengokuba wamxhasayo uNowa ukuba sibonisa ukholo nenkalipho efanayo njengabashumayeli bobulungisa.
Inkalipho Yokuthobela UThixo
9, 10. UAbraham, uSara noIsake babonisa ukuthobela ngenkalipho ngaziphi iindlela?
9 “Isihlobo sikaThixo” uAbraham singumzekelo omhle wokuthobela uThixo ngenkalipho. (Yakobi 2:23) Kwafuneka uAbraham abe nokholo nenkalipho ukuze athobele uYehova aze ayishiye iUre yamaKaledi, isixeko esasinentabalala yeengenelo zokuphathekayo. Wakholelwa kwidinga likaThixo lokuba “zonke izizwe zehlabathi” ziya kuzisikelela ngaye yaye imbewu yakhe yayiya kunikwa ilizwe. (Genesis 12:1-9; 15:18-21) Ngokholo uAbraham “waba ngumphambukeli emhlabeni wedinga” waza walindela “umzi lo uneziseko”—uBukumkani bukaThixo basezulwini, aya kuvuselwa ebomini emhlabeni ngaphantsi kolawulo lwabo.—Hebhere 11:8-16.
10 Umfazi ka-Abraham, uSara, waba nokholo nenkalipho ezazifuneka ukuze ayishiye iUre, ahambe nomyeni wakhe ukuya kwilizwe lasemzini, aze anyamezele nabuphi na ubunzima ababeya kuhlangana nabo apho. Yaye hayi indlela awavuzwa ngayo ngokuthobela kwakhe uThixo ngenkalipho! Nangona wayeludlolo de waba malunga neminyaka engama-90 “liseligqithile ixesha,” uSara wanikwa amandla ‘okumisa umzi, ekubeni wambalela ekuthini uthembekile lowo wabekayo ngedinga.’ Ekuhambeni kwexesha, wazala uIsake. (Hebhere 11:11, 12; Genesis 17:15-17; 18:11; 21:1-7) Emva kweminyaka ethile, uAbraham ngenkalipho wamthobela uThixo waza “wamnikela uIsake.” Akuba enqandwe sisithunywa sezulu, lo solusapho wamfumana unyana wakhe onenkalipho nentobelo ekufeni “ngokomzekeliso.” Ngaloo ndlela ekunye noIsake babonisa ngokuprofetayo ukuba uYehova uThixo uya kunikela ngoNyana wakhe, uYesu Kristu, njengentlawulelo ukuze abo banokholo kuye babe nobomi obungunaphakade. (Hebhere 11:17-19; Genesis 22:1-19; Yohane 3:16) Ngokuqinisekileyo, ukuthobela ngenkalipho kuka-Abraham, uSara noIsake kufanele kusishukumisele ukuba simthobele uYehova yaye senze ukuthanda kwakhe ngamaxesha onke.
Inkalipho Yokuma Nabantu BakaThixo
11, 12. (a) UMoses wayibonisa njani inkalipho ngokuphathelele abantu bakaYehova? (b) Ngenxa yenkalipho kaMoses, sinokubuza wuphi umbuzo?
11 Ngenkalipho uMoses wema nabantu bakaThixo ababecinezelwe. Ngenkulungwane ye-16 B.C.E., abazali bakaMoses nabo babonisa inkalipho. Bengawoyiki umyalelo wokumkani wokubulala abantwana bamaHebhere abangamakhwenkwe abasandul’ ukuzalwa, bamfihla uMoses baza ke bamfaka emkhombeni phakathi kweengcongolo kunxweme lomlambo womNayile. Akufunyanwa yintombi kaFaro, wakhuliswa njengonyana wayo, nangona waqala wafumana uqeqesho lokomoya ekhayeni labazali bakhe. Njengenxalenye yentsapho kaFaro, uMoses “waqeqeshwa . . . kubo bonke ubulumko bamaYiputa” waza waba “yinkunkqele ngamazwi nangemisebenzi,” enamandla okusebenzisa ingqondo nomzimba.—IZenzo 7:20-22; Eksodus 2:1-10; 6:20.
12 Phezu kwazo nje iingenelo zokuphathekayo zendlu yasebukhosini, ngenkalipho uMoses wakhetha ukuma nabanquli bakaYehova, ngoko ababengamakhoboka amaYiputa. Ekhusela umSirayeli, wabulala umYiputa waza wabalekela kwaMidiyan. (Eksodus 2:11-15) Malunga neminyaka engama-40 kamva, uThixo wamsebenzisa ukukhokela amaSirayeli aphume ebukhobokeni. Ngoko ke uMoses “wayishiya iYiputa, akawoyika umsindo wokumkani,” owamsongela ngokumbulala ngenxa yokumela uYehova ethethelela amaSirayeli. UMoses wahamba wanga uyambona “lowo ungenakubonwa,” uYehova uThixo. (Hebhere 11:23-29; Eksodus 10:28) Ngaba unokholo nenkalipho enjalo yokuba uya kunamathela kuYehova nakubantu bakhe phezu kwabo nje ubunzima nentshutshiso?
Inkalipho ‘Yokulandela UYehova Ngokuzeleyo’
13. UYoshuwa noKalebhi bayimisela njani imizekelo yenkalipho?
13 UYoshuwa noKalebhi ababenenkalipho banikela ubungqina bokuba sinokuhamba ngeendlela zikaThixo. ‘Bakuzalisa ukumlandela uYehova.’ (Numeri 32:12) UYoshuwa noKalebhi babephakathi kwamadoda ali-12 awathunyelwa ukuya kuhlola iLizwe Ledinga. Zisoyika abemi balo, iintlola ezilishumi zazama ukuwanqanda amaSirayeli angangeni kwaKanan. Noko ke, uYoshuwa noKalebhi ngenkalipho bathi: “Ukuba uYehova usinonelele, wosisa kwelo zwe, asinike; lilizwe elibaleka amasi nobusi. Kodwa musani ukugwilika kuYehova, musani ukuboyika abantu belo zwe nina; kuba bakukudla kwethu. Umkile umthunzi wabo kubo, uYehova unathi; musani ukoyika.” (Numeri 14:8, 9) Ngenxa yokuswela ukholo nenkalipho, eso sizukulwana samaSirayeli asizange sifike kwilizwe ledinga. Kodwa uYoshuwa noKalebhi, kunye nesizukulwana esitsha, bangena kulo.
14, 15. (a) Njengokuba uYoshuwa wayesebenzisa amazwi akuYoshuwa 1:7, 8, kwenzeka ntoni kuye nakumaSirayeli? (b) Sisiphi isifundo esingenkalipho esisifundayo kuYoshuwa noKalebhi?
14 UThixo waxelela uYoshuwa oku: “Yomelela, ukhaliphe kunene, ukuze ugcine ukwenza ngokomyalelo wonke, awakuwisela wona uMoses umkhonzi wam. Musa ukutyekela ekunene nasekhohlo kuwo, ukuze wenze ngengqiqo apho sukuba usiya khona. Ize ingesuki incwadi yalo myalelo emlonyeni wakho; uze ucinge ngayo imini nobusuku, ukuze ugcine, ukwenze konke okubhaliweyo kuyo; ngokuba woba nokuphumelela ngendlela yakho oko, ukwenze ngengqiqo oko.”—Yoshuwa 1:7, 8.
15 Njengokuba uYoshuwa wayewasebenzisa loo mazwi, iYeriko nezinye izixeko zawela kumaSirayeli. UThixo wada wenza ukuba nelanga lime ngxi ukuze liqhubeke likhanya de amaSirayeli oyise eGibheyon. (Yoshuwa 10:6-14) Xa wayesongelwa yimikhosi yotshaba emanyeneyo eyayinabantu “abaninzi njengentlabathi eselunxwemeni lolwandle,” uYoshuwa wenza ngenkalipho, yaye kwakhona uThixo wenza amaSirayeli oyisa. (Yoshuwa 11:1-9) Nangona singabantu abangafezekanga, njengoYoshuwa noKalebhi, sinokumlandela ngokuzeleyo uYehova, yaye uThixo unokusinika amandla okuhamba ngeendlela zakhe ngenkalipho.
Inkalipho Yokukholosa NgoThixo
16. UDebhora, uBharaki, noYaheli bayibonisa ngaziphi iindlela inkalipho?
16 Ukukholosa ngoThixo ngenkalipho kuba nomvuzo, njengokuba kuboniswa ziziganeko ngemihla abagwebi ababephumeza ngayo okusesikweni kwaSirayeli. (Rute 1:1) Ngokomzekelo, uMgwebi uBharaki nomprofetikazi uDebhora bakholosa ngoThixo ngenkalipho. Ukumkani wakwaKanan uYabhin wayewacinezele kangangeminyaka engama-20 amaSirayeli xa uYehova wabangela ukuba uDebhora ashukumisele uBharaki ekubeni ahlanganise amadoda ali-10 000 kwiNtaba yeTabhore. Umthetheli womkhosi kaYabhin, uSisera, wakhawuleza waya kumlanjana waseKishon, eqinisekile ukuba kule ndawo ithe tyaba amadoda akwaSirayeli ayengayi kumelana nomkhosi wakhe neenqwelo zawo zokulwa ezingama-900 ezineerhengqa zentsimbi ezivilini zazo. Xa amaSirayeli afika kwithafa lalo mlanjana, uThixo wawalwela yaye isikhukula saliguqulela eli thafa ledabi ekubeni ngumgxobhozo owenza iinqwelo zokulwa zikaSisera azabi nakuhamba. Amadoda kaBharaki oyisa, kangangokuba “wawa wonke umkhosi kaSisera ngohlangothi lwekrele.” USisera wabalekela ententeni kaYaheli, kodwa njengokuba wayelele, uYaheli waba nenkalipho yokumbulala ngokubethelela isikhonkwane sentente ezintlafunweni zakhe. Njengokuba wayetshilo eprofeta uDebhora kuBharaki, “udumo” lweli dabi lwaba lolwenkazana. Ngenxa yokuba uDebhora, uBharaki, noYaheli ngenkalipho bakholosa ngoThixo, kwaSirayeli “lazola ke ilizwe iminyaka emashumi mane.”—ABagwebi 4:1-22; 5:31.
17. Nguwuphi umzekelo wokukholosa ngoYehova ngenkalipho owamiselwa nguMgwebi uGidiyon?
17 Ngenkalipho uMgwebi uGidiyon wakholosa ngoYehova uThixo xa amaMidiyan nabanye babehlasela uSirayeli. Nangona abahlaseli babemodlula ngamadoda ahlaselayo angama-135 000, amadoda okulwa akwaSirayeli angama-32 000 ayesenokuthi uloyiso lwawo olubangelwe nguThixo alwenze ngokwawo. Ngokwalathiswa nguYehova, uGidiyon wawunciphisa umkhosi wakhe wangamaqela amathathu amadoda ali-100 kwiqela ngalinye. (ABagwebi 7:1-7, 16; 8:10) Njengokuba la madoda angama-300 ayerhangqe inkampu yamaMidiyan ebusuku, nganye yayiphethe isigodlo nomphanda wamanzi onesikhuni esivuthayo ngaphakathi. Kusakwenziwa umqondiso othile, azivuthela izigodlo, ayaphula imiphanda, aphakamisela phezulu izikhuni ezivuthayo, aza akhwaza esithi: “Ikrele likaYehova, likaGidiyon!” (ABagwebi 7:20) AmaMidiyan oyikayo aqalisa ukusaba aza oyiswa. Iziganeko ezinjalo zifanele zisiqinisekise ukuba ukukholosa ngoThixo ngenkalipho kunomvuzo nanamhlanje.
Inkalipho Yokuzukisa UYehova Nokukhuthaza Unqulo Olunyulu
18. Xa wabulala uGoliyati, ngenkalipho uDavide wenza ntoni?
18 Eminye imizekelo yeBhayibhile isinika inkalipho yokuzukisa uYehova nokukhuthaza unqulo olunyulu. UDavide oselula, ngenkalipho owahlangula izimvu zikayise, wangqineka enenkalipho phambi kwengxilimbela yomFilisti uGoliyati. UDavide wathi: “Wena uza kum unekrele, nentshuntshe, nomkhonto; ke mna ndiza kuwe egameni likaYehova wemikhosi, uThixo wezintlu zakwaSirayeli omngcikivileyo. Namhlanje uYehova uya kukunikela esandleni sam, ndikubulale, ndikunqumle intloko, . . . wazi wonke umhlaba ukuba amaSirayeli anaye uThixo; lazi lonke eli bandla, ukuba akungakrele, akungantshuntshe ukusindisa kukaYehova; ngokuba imfazwe yekaYehova.” (1 Samuweli 17:32-37, 45-47) Ngoncedo lukaThixo, ngenkalipho uDavide wamzukisa uYehova, wambulala uGoliyati, waza ngaloo ndlela waba nendima ebalulekileyo ekususeni isisongelo samaFilisti kunqulo olunyulu.
19. USolomon kwafuneka abe nenkalipho ukuze enze wuphi umsebenzi, yaye le ndlela inokusetyenziswa njani namhlanje?
19 Xa unyana kaKumkani uDavide uSolomon wayeza kwakha itempile kaThixo, uyise owalupheleyo wambongoza wathi: “Yomelela ukhaliphe, wenze. Musa ukoyika, musa ukuqhiphuka umbilini; ngokuba uYehova uThixo, uThixo wam, unawe; akayi kukuyekela, akayi kukushiya, ude uwugqibe wonke umsebenzi wenkonzo yendlu kaYehova.” (1 Kronike 28:20) Ethabatha isenzo senkalipho, uSolomon wayigqiba ngokunempumelelo itempile. Xa umsebenzi wokwakha wobuthixo ulucelomngeni namhlanje, masikhumbule amazwi kaDavide: “Yomelela ukhaliphe, wenze.” Enjani yona ukuba ntle indlela yokuzukisa uYehova nokukhuthaza unqulo olunyulu!
20. UKumkani uAsa wakhalipha ngayiphi indlela?
20 Ngenxa yomnqweno kaKumkani uAsa wokuzukisa uThixo nokukhuthaza unqulo olunyulu, waziphelisa kwaYuda izithixo namahenyu asetempileni. Kwakhona wamsusa uninakhulu ongumwexuki kwisikhundla esiphakamileyo waza wasitshisa “isithixo sakhe esilisikizi.” (1 Kumkani 15:11-13) Ewe, uAsa “womelela [wakhalipha, NW], wazikhwelelisa zonke izinto ezinezothe ezweni lonke lakwaYuda nelakwaBhenjamin, nasemizini abeyithimbile kweleentaba lakwaEfrayim; wasihlaziya isibingelelo sikaYehova, esiphambi kwevaranda kaYehova.” (2 Kronike 15:8) Ngaba nawe ngenkalipho uyalugatya uwexuko yaye ukhuthaza unqulo olunyulu? Ngaba ubuncwane bakho bezinto eziphathekayo ubusebenzisela ukuhambisela phambili izilangazelelo zoBukumkani? Yaye ngaba uzama ukuzukisa uYehova ngokuba nesabelo rhoqo ekuvakaliseni iindaba ezilungileyo njengomnye wamaNgqina akhe?
21. (a) Iingxelo ezingabagcini bengqibelelo bangaphambi kobuKristu zinokusinceda njani? (b) Yintoni eza kuqwalaselwa kwinqaku elilandelayo?
21 Hayi indlela esinombulelo ngayo kuba uThixo ezigcinile iingxelo zeZibhalo ezingenkalipho yabagcini bengqibelelo bangaphambi kwexesha lobuKristu! Ngokuqinisekileyo, imizekelo yabo emihle inokusinceda sinikele inkonzo engcwele kuYehova ngenkalipho, ngokoyika uThixo, nangentlonelo. (Hebhere 12:28) Kodwa iZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike zikwaqulethe imizekelo yokubonakaliswa kwenkalipho yokuhlonel’ uThixo. Ezinye zezi ngxelo zinokusinceda njani sihambe ngenkalipho ngeendlela zikaYehova?
Ubuya Kuphendula Uthini?
◻ Yintoni inkalipho?
◻ UEnoki noNowa bayibonisa njani inkalipho?
◻ UAbraham, uSara, noIsake benza ngenkalipho ngaziphi iindlela?
◻ Yiyiphi imizekelo yenkalipho eyamiselwa nguMoses, uYoshuwa noKalebhi?
◻ Abanye babonisa njani ukuba ngenkalipho babekholose ngoThixo?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 15]
Ngenkalipho uGidiyon nomkhosi wakhe omncinane bakholosa ngoYehova