Siyavuya Kuba UYehova Esibonisa Indlela Yakhe
“UThixo yena—igqibelele indlela yakhe, ilizwi likaYehova linyibilikisiwe.”—2 SAMUWELI 22:31.
1, 2. (a) Yintoni abantu bonke abayifuna ngokugqithisileyo? (b) Ngumzekelo kabani ebesiya kuba siyatyapha xa siwuxelisa?
BONKE abantu bakufuna gqitha ukukhokelwa. Okunene, siyalufuna uncedo ukuze sijamelane nobomi. Kuyinyaniso ukuba, uYehova usinike umlinganiselo othile wobukrelekrele kunye nesazela ukuze zisincede siqonde okulungileyo nokubi. Kodwa isazela sethu sifuna ukuqeqeshwa ukuze sinikele ukhokelo olunokuthenjwa. (Hebhere 5:14) Nengqondo yethu kufuneka ifumane inkcazelo echanileyo—yaye iqeqeshelwe ukuyiphicotha loo nkcazelo—ukuze senze izigqibo ezifanelekileyo. (IMizekeliso 2:1-5) Kwanaxa senze oko, ngenxa yokuba ubani engenakuqiniseka ngobomi, izigqibo esizenzayo zisenokungahambi ngale ndlela besiyinqwenela. (INtshumayeli 9:11) Asinayo thina indlela ethembekileyo yokuqonda oko ikamva lisifumbathele kona.
2 Ngenxa yesi sizathu nezinye, umprofeti uYeremiya wabhala: “Ndazi kakuhle, Yehova, ukuba ayikho semntwini wasemhlabeni indlela yakhe. Asikokomntu ohambayo ukwalathisa inyathelo lakhe.” (Yeremiya 10:23, NW) UYesu Kristu, oyena mntu ubalaseleyo wakha waphila, walamkela ulwalathiso. Wathi: “UNyana akanakwenza nanye into ngokwakhe, kodwa kuphela oko abona uYise ekwenza. Kuba naziphi na izinto Lowo azenzayo, ezi zinto noNyana uzenza ngohlobo olufanayo.” (Yohane 5:19) Ngoko, hayi indlela ekububulumko ngayo ukuxelisa uYesu size sikhangele kuYehova ukuze asincede ngokwalathisa amanyathelo ethu! UKumkani uDavide wavuma ingoma esithi: “UThixo yena—igqibelele indlela yakhe, ilizwi likaYehova linyibilikisiwe, uyingweletshetshe kubo bonke abazimela ngaye.” (2 Samuweli 22:31) Ukuba sifuna ukuhamba ngendlela kaYehova kunokuba silandele ubulumko bethu, kuza kufuneka sifumane ukhokelo olugqibeleleyo. Ukungayamkeli indlela kaThixo kukhokelela kwintlekele.
UYehova Walatha Indlela
3. UYehova wamkhokela njani uAdam noEva, ibe wabathembisa ngantoni?
3 Makhe siqwalasele imeko ka-Adam noEva. Nangona babengenaso isono, babelufuna ulwalathiso. UYehova akazange ayekele uAdam ukuba azicebele yonke into kumyezo omhle wase-Eden. Kunoko, uThixo wamnika umsebenzi awayefanele awenze. Okokuqala, uAdam kwakufuneka athiye izilwanyana amagama. Emva koko, uYehova wabekela uAdam noEva usukelo olwaluya kuthabatha ixesha elide. Babefanele baweyise umhlaba, bawuzalise ngenzala yabo, baze banyamekele izilwanyana zasemhlabeni. (Genesis 1:28) Lo yayiza kuba ngumsebenzi omkhulu, kodwa ekugqibeleni kwakuza kubakho iparadesi egubungela ihlabathi lonke ephila abantu abafezekileyo abaseluxolweni nezilwanyana. Elinjani ukumangalisa ithemba! Ukongezelela, ngoxa uAdam noEva babehamba ngokuthembeka kwindlela kaYehova, babeza kunxibelelana naye. (Thelekisa iGenesis 3:8.) Elinjani ukuzuka ilungelo—ukuba nolwalamano lobuhlobo oluqhubekayo noMdali!
4. UAdam noEva babonisa njani ukuba babengenantembelo yaye benganyanisekanga, ibe loo nto yaphumela kwiyiphi intlekele?
4 UYehova wasalela isibini sokuqala sabantu ukuba sitye kumthi wokwazi okulungileyo nokubi owawuse-Eden, ibe loo nto yasivulela ithuba lokubonakalisa intobelo—umnqweno waso wokuhamba ngendlela kaYehova. (Genesis 2:17) Noko ke, loo ntobelo yavavanywa kungekudala. Xa uSathana wafikayo waza wabakhohlisa, kwakufuneka uAdam noEva babonakalise ukunyaniseka kuYehova yaye bathembele kumadinga Akhe ukuze baqhubeke bemthobela. Okulusizi ke kukuba, babenganyanisekanga yaye bengenayo intembelo. Xa uSathana wathembisa uEva ngenkululeko waza exoka watyhola uYehova esithi uthethe ubuxoki, wakhohliseka waza akamthobela uThixo. NoAdam walandela umkakhe baza bona. (Genesis 3:1-6; 1 Timoti 2:14) Umonakalo owabangelwa yiloo nto wawumkhulu. Ukuhamba ngendlela kaYehova ngekwakubanike uvuyo olwaluza kuya lukhula njengoko beqhubeka besenza ukuthanda kwakhe. Kunoko ubomi babo bazaliswa kukuphoxeka nentlungu de bafikelwa kukufa.—Genesis 3:16-19; 5:1-5.
5. Yiyiphi injongo ekukudala uYehova enayo, yaye ubanceda njani abantu abathembekileyo ukuba babone inzaliseko yayo?
5 Noko ke, uYehova akazange ayitshintshe injongo yakhe yokuba ngenye imini umhlaba ube likhaya eliyiparadesi eliphila abantu abafezekileyo nabangenasono. (INdumiso 37:11, 29) Yaye akakaze asilele ukunikela ukhokelo olugqibeleleyo kwabo bahamba ngendlela yakhe nabanethemba lokubona elo dinga lizaliseka. Kwabo phakathi kwethu baneendlebe zokuva, ilizwi likaYehova lisemva kwethu, lithi: “Nantsi indlela; hambani ngayo.”—Isaya 30:21.
Abanye Abahamba Ngendlela KaYehova
6. Ngawaphi amadoda amabini amandulo awahamba endleleni kaYehova, ibe waba yintoni umphumo?
6 Ngokutsho kwengxelo yeBhayibhile, ligcuntswana nje kuphela lembewu ka-Adam noEva elahamba ngendlela kaYehova. Owokuqala yayinguAbheli. Nangona wafa ngaphambi kwexesha, wafa ekholisa uYehova yaye ngaloo ndlela unethemba eliqinisekileyo lokuvuswa ‘kuvuko lwamalungisa’ ngexesha elifanelekileyo likaThixo. (IZenzo 24:15) Uza kuzibonela inzaliseko yokugqibela yeyona njongo kaYehova ngomhlaba nangoluntu. (Hebhere 11:4) Omnye owahamba ngendlela kaYehova yayinguEnoki, osiprofeto sakhe esasiphathelele isiphelo sale nkqubo yezinto sigcinwe kwincwadi kaYude. (Yude 14, 15) NoEnoki akazange aphile xesha lide. (Genesis 5:21-24) Sekunjalo, “wayenobungqina bokuba wayemkholise kakuhle uThixo.” (Hebhere 11:5) NjengoAbheli, wafa enethemba eliqinisekileyo lokuvuswa yaye uza kuba phakathi kwabo baza kubona iinjongo zikaYehova zizaliseka.
7. UNowa nentsapho yakhe babonakalisa njani ukuba banyanisekile kuYehova yaye bayamthemba?
7 Njengoko ihlabathi langaphambi koMkhukula lalisiya lizika kubungendawo, ukuthobela uYehova kwaya kusiba luvavanyo lokunyaniseka. Ngasekupheleni kwelo hlabathi, yayiliqaqobana nje labantu elafunyanwa lihamba endleleni kaYehova. UNowa nentsapho yakhe bamphulaphula uThixo baza bakuthemba oko wayekuthetha. Bayenza ngokuthembeka imisebenzi ababeyinikiwe baza bayixhathisa imikhwa engendawo yehlabathi laloo mihla. (Genesis 6:5-7, 13-16; Hebhere 11:7; 2 Petros 2:5) Sinokuba nombulelo ngenxa yokunyaniseka nangenxa yokuthobela kwabo ngentembelo. Yiloo nto eyabenza basinda kuMkhukula baza baba ngookhokho bethu.—Genesis 6:22; 1 Petros 3:20.
8. Kuhlanga lwakwaSirayeli, yintoni eyayibandakanyekile ekuhambeni ngendlela kaThixo?
8 Ethubeni, uYehova wenza umnqophiso nenzala kaYakobi eyayithembekile, ibe yaba luhlanga olukhethekileyo. (Eksodus 19:5, 6) UYehova wayebalathisa abantu bakhe awayenqophisene nabo esebenzisa uMthetho obhaliweyo, ababingeleli kunye nokhokelo olwalunikelwa ngabaprofeti ngokuqhubekayo. Kodwa ukulandela olo lwalathiso kwakuxhomekeke kumaSirayeli. UYehova wayalela umprofeti wakhe ukuba axelele amaSirayeli esithi: “Yabonani, ndibeka phambi kwenu namhla intsikelelo nesiqalekiso: intsikelelo, ukuba nithe nayiphulaphula imithetho kaYehova uThixo wenu, endiniwiselayo namhla; isiqalekiso, ukuba nithe anayiphulaphula imithetho kaYehova uThixo wenu, nesuka natyeka endleleni leyo ndiniwisele umthetho ngayo namhla, nalandela thixo bambi eningabazanga.”—Duteronomi 11:26-28.
Isizathu Sokuba Abanye Baphambuke Kwindlela KaYehova
9, 10. Kungenxa yayiphi imeko ekwathi kwafuneka amaSirayeli akholose ngoYehova yaye ahlakulele ukunyaniseka kuye?
9 NjengoAdam noEva, kwakufuneka amaSirayeli akholose ngoYehova yaye anyaniseke kuye ukuba ayefuna ukuqhubeka emthobela. USirayeli wayeluhlanga oluncinane olwalungqongwe ngabamelwane ababethanda ukulwa. Kumzantsi-ntshona kwakukho iYiputa neTiyopiya. Kumntla-mpuma kwakumi iSiriya neAsiriya. Kufutshane nawo kwakukho amaFilisti, ama-Amon, amaMowabhi namaEdom. Ngaxa lithile, zonke ezi ntlanga zazikhe zaziintshaba zikaSirayeli. Ngaphezu koko, zonke zaziqhelisela unqulo lobuxoki, olwalubalasele ngokunqulwa kwezithixo, ukunqulwa kweenkwenkwezi, yaye kwezinye iimeko kwakubakho izithethe ezilisikizi ezazinento yokwenza nesini kunye nenkohlakalo yokwenziwa kwamadini ngabantwana. Abamelwane bakaSirayeli babebhenela koothixo babo ukuba babanike abantwana abaninzi, isivuno sabo sichume yaye boyise ezimfazweni.
10 YayingamaSirayeli kuphela awayenqula uThixo omnye, uYehova. Wayewathembise ngokuwasikelela ngabantwana abaninzi, ngezivuno ezikhulu nangokuwanqabisa kwiintshaba zawo ukuba ayeza kuyithobela imithetho yakhe. (Duteronomi 28:1-14) Okubuhlungu kukuba, uninzi lwamaSirayeli aluzange luyenze loo nto. Uninzi lwabo babehamba ngendlela kaYehova lwabandezelwa ngenxa yokunyaniseka kwalo. Bambi bade bangcungcuthekiswa, bagculelwa, batywatyushwa, bavalelwa ezintolongweni, baxulutywa ngamatye yaye babulawa kwangamanye amaSirayeli. (IZenzo 7:51, 52; Hebhere 11:35-38) Hayi indlela okumele ukuba kwaba luvavanyo ngayo oko kwabathembekileyo! Noko ke, yintoni eyayibangela ukuba abantu abaninzi kangaka batenxe endleleni kaYehova? Mibini imizekelo yembali yakwaSirayeli enokusinceda sibone iingcamango zabo eziphosakeleyo.
Umzekelo Ombi Ka-Ahazi
11, 12. (a) Yintoni uAhazi angazange avume ukuyenza xa wayesongelwa yiSiriya? (b) Yiyiphi imithombo emibini uAhazi awathembela kuyo ukuze afumane ukunqabiseka?
11 UAhazi wayelawula kubukumkani basemzantsi bakwaYuda ngenkulungwane yesibhozo ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Kulawulo lwakhe akuzange kubekho xolo. Ngesinye isihlandlo, iSiriya yadibanis’ imikhosi nobukumkani basemntla bakwaSirayeli zaza zafunza kuye, ibe “yadidizela intliziyo yakhe nentliziyo yabantu bakhe.” (Isaya 7:1, 2) Noko ke, xa uYehova wamthembisa ngokumnceda waza wathi uAhazi makamvavanye, uAhazi wavuthulula kwema ngaye! (Isaya 7:10-12) Ngenxa yoko, uYuda woyiswa kuloo mfazwe kwaza konzakala abaninzi.—2 Kronike 28:1-8.
12 Ngoxa uAhazi engazange avume ukumvavanya uYehova, wakwazi ukuwa ngedolo ecela uncedo kukumkani waseAsiriya. Sekunjalo, uYuda waqhubeka exangxathwa ngabamelwane bakhe. Xa neAsiriya yamjikelayo uAhazi yaza ‘yambandezela,’ lo kumkani “wabingelela kwizithixo zaseDamasko ezazimeyisile, wathi, Izithixo zookumkani bama-Aram ezawancedayo, ndobingelela kuzo; zondinceda.”—2 Kronike 28:20, 23.
13. Wabonisa ntoni uAhazi ngokubhenela koothixo baseSiriya?
13 Kamva, uYehova wathetha noSirayeli esithi: “Mna Yehova, Thixo wakho, ndingokufundisa okungakuncedayo, ndikunyathelise ngendlela oya kuhamba ngayo. Akwaba imithetho yam ubuyibazele indlebe! Beluya kuba njengomlambo uxolo lwakho, nobulungisa bakho bube njengamaza olwandle.” (Isaya 48:17, 18) Ngokubhenela koothixo baseSiriya, uAhazi wabonisa indlela awayekude ngayo ‘nendlela awayefanele ukuhamba ngayo.’ Wayemfanyekiswe ngokupheleleyo kukucinga ngendlela yeentlanga, ebhenela kwimithombo yazo yonqabiseko elilize kunokubhenela kuYehova.
14. Kutheni uAhazi engazange abe nesingxengxezo ngokubhenela kwakhe koothixo bobuxoki?
14 Kwakukudala oothixo beentlanga, kuquka nabaseSiriya, bebhenciwe ukuba ‘bazizithixo ezingeni.’ (Isaya 2:8) Ngaphambilana, ebudeni bolawulo lukaKumkani uDavide, yabonwa nanguthathatha into yokuba uYehova mkhulu kunoothixo baseSiriya xa amaSiriya aba ngabakhonzi bakaDavide. (1 Kronike 18:5, 6) NguYehova kuphela, ‘uThixo woothixo, uNkosi kankosi, uThixo omkhulu, oligorha nowoyikekayo,’ onokunikela unqabiseko lokwenene. (Duteronomi 10:17) Noko ke, uAhazi wamnikel’ umva uYehova waza wabhenela koothixo beentlanga efuna unqabiseko. Loo nto yazala intlekele kwaYuda.—2 Kronike 28:24, 25.
AmaYuda AwayenoYeremiya EYiputa
15. Ona njani amaYuda awayeseYiputa ngomhla kaYeremiya?
15 Ngenxa yokunganyaniseki okwakuqatsele kubantu bakhe, ngowama-607 B.C.E., uYehova wavumela amaBhabhiloni ukuba ayitshabalalise iYerusalem netempile yayo. Inxalenye enkulu yolo hlanga yathinjelwa eBhabhiloni. Noko ke, bakho abashiyekayo, ibe phakathi kwabo kwakukho umprofeti uYeremiya. Xa iRhuluneli uGedaliya yagwintwayo, eli qela lasabela eYiputa lisimka noYeremiya. (2 Kumkani 25:22-26; Yeremiya 43:5-7) Lakufika apho, laqalisa ukunyusa amadini koothixo bobuxoki. UYeremiya waqiqa nala maYuda angathembekanga, kodwa aqinis’ iintamo. Ayikhaba ngaw’ omane into yokubhenela kuYehova aza abetha ngenqindi phantsi esithi aseza kuqhubeka enyusa isiqhumiso sedini “kukumkanikazi wezulu.” Ngoba? Kuba ayesenza loo nto kakade wona nooyisemkhulu ‘emizini yakwaYuda nasezitratweni zaseYerusalem, xa ayesahlutha sisonka, elungile, yaye awazange abone bubi.’ (Yeremiya 44:16, 17) Kwakhona la maYuda ema ngelithi: “Kususela koko sayekayo ukuqhumisela kukumkanikazi wezulu, nokumthululela iminikelo ethululwayo, saswela iinto zonke, sagqityelwa likrele nayindlala.”—Yeremiya 44:18.
16. Kutheni iingcamango zamaYuda awayeseYiputa zaziphosakele nje?
16 Hayi indlela ingqondo ezilibala msinya ngayo ezinye izinto! Zazisithini izibakala? Okunene amaYuda ayebingelele koothixo bobuxoki belizwe awayelinikwe nguYehova. Maxa wambi, njengakwixesha lika-Ahazi, ayechaneka ngenxa yokuwexuka kwawo. Noko ke, uYehova ‘wazeka kade umsindo’ kubantu bakhe awayenqophisene nabo. (Eksodus 34:6; INdumiso 86:15) Wathumela abaprofeti bakhe ukuba bababongoze ukuba baguquke. Maxa wambi, xa ukumkani ethembekile, uYehova wayemsikelela, yaye abantu babengenelwa kuloo ntsikelelo, nangona inkoliso yabo yayingathembekanga. (2 Kronike 20:29-33; 27:1-6) Hayi indlela loo maYuda awayeseYiputa awayewuphosa ngayo umhlola ngokucinga ukuba nayiphi na inkqubela awayenayo kwilizwe lakowabo yayibangelwe ngoothixo bobuxoki!
17. Kwakutheni ukuze uYuda aphulukane nelizwe kunye netempile yakhe?
17 Ngaphambi kowama-607 B.C.E., uYehova wayebongoze abantu bakwaYuda esithi: “Phulaphulani ilizwi lam: ndoba nguThixo wenu, nibe ngabantu bam, nihambe ngendlela yonke endinimiselayo, ukuze kulunge kuni.” (Yeremiya 7:23) AmaYuda aphulukana netempile yawo nelizwe lawo ngenxa nje yokuba engazange avume ukuhamba ‘ngendlela yonke uYehova awayewamisele yona.’ Masiqiniseke ke ukuba siyakuphepha ukwenza loo mpazamo enokuphumela ekufeni.
UYehova Uyabasikelela Abo Bahamba Ngendlela Yakhe
18. Yintoni abafanele bayenze abo bahamba ngendlela kaYehova?
18 Namhlanje, njengakwixesha elidluleyo, ukuhamba ngendlela kaYehova kufuna umntu anyaniseke—azimisele ukuba uza kukhonza yena yedwa. Kufuna intembelo—ukuba nokholo ngokupheleleyo lokuba amadinga kaYehova anokuthenjwa yaye aza kuzaliseka. Ukuhamba ngendlela kaYehova kufuna umntu athobele—alandele imithetho yakhe ngaphandle kokutenxa yaye agcine imilinganiselo yakhe ephakamileyo. “Lilungisa uYehova; uthanda imisebenzi yobulungisa.”—INdumiso 11:7.
19. Ngabaphi oothixo abanqulwa ngabaninzi namhlanje, yaye uba yintoni umphumo?
19 UAhazi wabhenela koothixo baseSiriya ukuze afumane unqabiseko. AmaSirayeli awayesezantsi eYiputa ayenethemba lokuba “ukumkanikazi wezulu,” uthixokazi owayenqulwa kwiindawo ezininzi kuMbindi Mpuma wamandulo, wayeza kuwanika izinto eziphathekayo. Namhlanje, oothixo abaninzi abayomifanekiso eqingqiweyo yokoqobo. UYesu walumkisa nxamnye nokukhonza ‘ubuTyebi’ kunokukhonza uYehova. (Mateyu 6:24) Umpostile uPawulos wathetha ‘ngenkanuko elunqulo-zithixo.’ (Kolose 3:5) Kwakhona wathetha nangabo ‘banothixo osisisu sabo.’ (Filipi 3:19) Ewe, imali kunye nezinto eziphathekayo zibalwa phakathi kwabona thixo baphambili abanqulwayo namhlanje. Enyanisweni, inkoliso yabantu—kuquka abaninzi abangamakholwa—‘ibeke ithemba layo kubutyebi obungaqinisekanga.’ (1 Timoti 6:17) Abaninzi basebenza nzima bekhonza aba thixo, ibe abanye bayawufumana umvuzo—bahlala kumapomakazi, banezinto zexabiso yaye batya ukutya okumnandi. Kodwa ke, abalifumani bonke elo cham. Yaye kwanabo bazifumanayo ezi zinto ekugqibeleni bafumanisa ukuba azibanelisi. Aziqinisekanga, zezexeshana yaye azizanelisi iintswelo zokomoya.—Mateyu 5:3.
20. Luluphi ulungelelwano esifuna ukulugcina?
20 Kuyinyaniso ukuba, asinakusuka nje sisong’ izandla ukuba sifuna ukuphumelela kule mihla yokugqibela yale nkqubo yezinto. Kufuneka sithabathe amanyathelo asengqiqweni ukuze silungiselele iintsapho zethu ngezinto eziphathekayo. Kodwa ukuba sizikhathaza gqitha ngokuphila ubomi obuxhomileyo, ngokusukela imali, okanye ngezinto ezinjengezo kunokuba sikhonze uThixo, sele siwele kuhlobo oluthile lonqulo-zithixo yaye asisahambi ngendlela kaYehova. (1 Timoti 6:9, 10) Noko ke, kuthekani ukuba sijamelana nokugula, iingxaki zemali okanye ezinye iingxaki? Masingafani nalaa maYuda awayeseYiputa awathi iingxaki zawo zazibangelwa kukukhonza kwawo uThixo. Kunoko, masimvavanye uYehova ngalaa ndlela uAhazi awasilela ukumvavanya ngayo. Yayama ngoYehova uThixo ngokunyaniseka ukuze ufumane ukhokelo. Luthembe uze ulusebenzise ukhokelo lwakhe, yaye thandazela amandla nobulumko bokuhlangabezana nazo zonke iimeko. Wandule ke, ulindele intsikelelo kaYehova ngentembelo.
21. Ziziphi iintsikelelo ezifunyanwa ngabo bahamba ngendlela kaYehova?
21 Ukutyhubela imbali yakwaSirayeli, uYehova wabasikelela ngokutyebileyo abo babehamba ngendlela yakhe. UKumkani uDavide wavuma ingoma esithi: “Yehova, ndikhaphe ngobulungisa bakho ngenxa yabandilaleleyo.” (INdumiso 5:8) Ngokwembono yakhe, nguYehova owabangela ukuba oyise kumadabi awayewalwa neentlanga ezazimngqongile ezathi kamva zaphilisa uAhazi ubomi bentshontsho. Phantsi kolawulo lukaSolomon, uSirayeli wasikelelwa ngoxolo nangenkqubela awathi amaYuda awayeseYiputa ayilangazelela kamva. UYehova wade wabangela ukuba uHezekiya, unyana ka-Ahazi ayoyise iAsiriya eyayinamandla. (Isaya 59:1) Ewe, isandla sikaYehova sasingesifutshane kwabanyanisekileyo bakhe abangazange ‘beme endleleni yaboni’ kodwa ababenonelela umthetho kaThixo. (INdumiso 1:1, 2) Kusenjalo ke nanamhlanje. Noko ke, sinokuqiniseka njani namhlanje ukuba sihamba ngendlela kaYehova? Oku kuza kuxutyushwa kwinqaku elilandelayo.
Ngaba Uyakhumbula?
◻ Ziziphi iimpawu ezibalulekileyo ukuze sihambe ngendlela kaYehova?
◻ Kutheni yayiphosakele indlela uAhazi awayecinga ngayo?
◻ Yintoni eyayiphosakele kwindlela amaYuda awayeseYiputa awayeqiqa ngayo?
◻ Sinokuluqinisa njani uzimiselo lwethu lokuhamba ngendlela kaYehova?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 13]
UAhazi wabhenela koothixo baseSiriya kunokuba abhenele kuYehova