Ngaba Inkulu Gqitha Into Uyehova Ayifunayo Kuthi?
“Akubizayo uYehova kuwe, kukuthi wenze okusesikweni, uthande inceba, uhambe noThixo wakho ngokuthozamileyo.”—MIKA 6:8.
1. Sisenokuba siyintoni isizathu sokuba abanye bangamkhonzi uYehova?
UYEHOVA unanto ithile ayifunayo kubantu bakhe. Kodwa ke wakuba ufunde la mazwi angasentla acatshulwe kwisiprofeto sikaMika, usenokugqiba ngelithi noko oko kufunwa nguThixo kusengqiqweni. Noko ke, abantu abaninzi abamkhonzi uMdali wethu Ozukileyo, kwaye abanye ababekhe bamkhonza bayekile. Ngoba? Kaloku bacinga ukuba inkulu gqitha into efunwa nguThixo kuthi. Ngaba kunjalo? Okanye ngaba ingxaki ilele kwisimo sengqondo saloo mntu ngoko kufunwa nguYehova? Isiganeko esithile esakha senzeka embalini siyasikhanyisela kulo mba.
2. Wayengubani uNahaman, kwaye yintoni umprofeti kaYehova awamyalela ukuba ayenze?
2 Umphathi-mkhosi waseSiriya uNahaman wayephethwe liqhenqa, kodwa wacetyiswa ukuba aye kwaSirayeli apho kwakukho umprofeti kaYehova owayenokumphilisa. Ngoko uNahaman kunye negqiza lakhe basinga kwaSirayeli baza ekugqibeleni bagaleleka kwikhaya lomprofeti kaThixo uElisha. Kunokuba aphume endlwini aye kwamkela undwendwe lwakhe olubalulekileyo, uElisha wathumela umkhonzi ukuba athi kuNahaman: “Yiya uhlambe izihlandlo ezisixhenxe eYordan, ibuyele kuwe inyama yakho, uhlambuluke.”—2 Kumkani 5:10.
3. Sasiyintoni isizathu sokuba uNahaman ale ekuqaleni ukwenza oko uYehova wayefuna akwenze?
3 Ukuba uNahaman wayenokwenza loo nto wayeyixelelwe ngumprofeti kaThixo, wayeza kuphila kweso sifo silizothe. Ngoko, ngaba yayinkulu gqitha into uYehova wayefuna ayenze? Akunjalo. Sekunjalo, uNahaman akazange avume ukwenza oko kwakufunwa nguYehova. Waqhankqalaza esithi: “IAbhana neFarpare, imilambo yaseDamasko, ayilungile na, ngaphezu kwamanzi onke akwaSirayeli? Andingehlambi kuyo na, ndihlambuluke?” Emva koko, wemka uNahaman eligqabi ngumsindo.—2 Kumkani 5:12.
4, 5. (a) Wavuzwa ngantoni uNahaman ngenxa yokuthobela kwakhe, kwaye wasabela njani akuwufumana loo mvuzo? (b) Yintoni esiza kuyiqwalasela ngoku?
4 Yayiyintoni kanye kanye ingxaki kaNahaman? Yayingekokuba le nto kwakufuneka ayenze yayinzima gqitha. Ngobuchule abakhonzi bakaNahaman bathi: “Ukuba umprofeti ubethethe into enkulu kuwe, ubungayi kuyenza yini na? Kangakanani na ke xa athi kuwe, Hlamba, uhlambuluke?” (2 Kumkani 5:13) Ingxaki yayikwisimo sengqondo sikaNahaman. Wayevakalelwa kukuba wayesihluthiwe isidima sakhe kwaye kwakusithiwa makenze into ekubonakala ukuba yena wayeyigqala njengeyayingayi kunceda neyayiza kumenza intlekisa. Noko ke, uNahaman waliva icebiso elanikelwa ngobuchule ngabakhonzi bakhe waza wantywila izihlandlo ezisixhenxe kuMlambo iYordan. Khawuthelekelele indlela awavuya ngayo xa “yabuya inyama yakhe, yanjengenyama yomntwana, wahlambuluka”! Umlomo wakhe wawungahlangani ngumbulelo. Ngaphezu koko, uNahaman wavakalisa ukuba ukususela ngoko, wayengayi kuze anqule thixo wumbi ngaphandle koYehova.—2 Kumkani 5:14-17.
5 Kuyo yonke imbali yabantu, uYehova uye wayalela abantu ukuba bathobele imiyalelo eyahlukeneyo. Siyakumema ke nawe ukuba uqwalasele ethile kule miyalelo. Njengoko uyiqwalasela, zibuze indlela ongewawusabele ngayo ukuba uYehova wayefune ukuba wenze izinto ezinjalo. Kamva, siza kuhlolisisa oko uYehova afuna sikwenze namhlanje.
Okwakufunwa NguYehova Mandulo
6. Sayalelwa ukuba senze ntoni isibini sokuqala esingabantu, kwaye ngewawusabele njani wena kuloo miyalelo?
6 UYehova wayalela isibini sokuqala esingabantu, uAdam noEva, ukuba sikhulise abantwana, seyise umhlaba kwaye songamele izilwanyana. Le ndoda kunye nenkosikazi yayo basikelelwa nangekhaya elikhulu elibupaki. (Genesis 1:27, 28; 2:9-15) Kodwa ke kwakukho umqathango. Babengafanele batye kumthi othile, umthi omnye kwimithi emininzi eyayithwele iziqhamo kumyezo wase-Eden. (Genesis 2:16, 17) Yayingenkulu into ekwakufuneka bayenze, akunjalo? Ngaba ngewawungakuvuyelanga ukuphumeza eso sabelo unethemba lokuphila ngonaphakade usempilweni egqibeleleyo? Nangona kwaye kwavela umhendi emyezweni, ngaba ngewawungalichasanga ibango lakhe? Kwaye ngaba akuvumi ukuba uYehova wayenelungelo lokubeka umqathango omnye olula?—Genesis 3:1-5.
7. (a) UNowa wanikwa siphi isabelo, kwaye yiyiphi inkcaso awajamelana nayo? (b) Ukugqala njani oko uYehova wayekufuna kuNowa?
7 Kamva, uYehova wayalela uNowa ukuba akhe umkhombe owawuza kuba yindlela yokusinda kumkhukula wehlabathi lonke. Ngenxa yobukhulu baloo mkhombe, loo msebenzi wawungelula kwaye mhlawumbi abantu babewugculela yaye bewuchasa. Ukanti, hayi indlela ekwaba lilungelo ngayo kuNowa ukukwazi ukusindisa indlu yakhe, singasathethi ke ngezilwanyana ezininzi! (Genesis 6:1-8, 14-16; Hebhere 11:7; 2 Petros 2:5) Ukuba yayinguwe owayenikwe eso sabelo, ngaba ngewawuzibhokoxile ukuze usiphumeze? Okanye ngaba ngewawucinge ukuba inkulu gqitha le nto uYehova afuna uyenze?
8. UAbraham wayalelwa ukuba enze ntoni, kwaye yintoni eyafuziselwayo ngenxa yokuthobela kwakhe?
8 UThixo wayalela uAbraham ukuba enze into eyayinzima kakhulu, emxelela oku: “Khawuthabathe unyana wakho, emnye kuwe, omthandayo, uIsake, uhambe uye ezweni laseMoriya, umnyuse khona abe lidini elinyukayo.” (Genesis 22:2) Ekubeni uYehova wayethembisile ukuba uIsake, owayengekabi namntwana ngoko, wayeza kuba nembewu, lwavavanywa ukholo luka-Abraham kumandla kaThixo okubuyisela uIsake ebomini. Xa uAbraham wazama ukubingelela ngoIsake, uThixo wamsindisa loo mfana. Oku kwabonisa ukuba uThixo wayeza kunikela ngowakhe uNyana ngenxa yoluntu aze kamva amvuse.—Genesis 17:19; 22:9-18; Yohane 3:16; IZenzo 2:23, 24, 29-32; Hebhere 11:17-19.
9. Kutheni sinokuthi yayingenkulu ngokugqithiseleyo into eyayifunwa nguYehova kuAbraham?
9 Bambi basenokucinga ukuba yayinkulu gqitha into uYehova uThixo awayefuna ukuba uAbraham ayenze. Kodwa ngaba kwakunjalo? Ngaba ngokwenene kukuswela uthando ukuba uMdali wethu, onako ukubavusa abafileyo, afune simthobele kwanokuba ukwenjenjalo kuya kuphumela ekubeni silale engcwabeni okwexeshana? UYesu Kristu nabalandeli bakhe bokuqala abazange bacinge njalo. Babekulungele ukuxhatshazwa emzimbeni, kwanokufa ngokwako, ukuze benze ukuthanda kukaThixo. (Yohane 10:11, 17, 18; IZenzo 5:40-42; 21:13) Ukuba iimeko zazinokufuna wenjenjalo, ngaba nawe ngewawenze okufanayo? Khawuqwalasele ezinye zezinto uYehova awafuna bazenze abo babevuma ukuba ngabantu bakhe.
UMthetho kaYehova KumaSirayeli
10. Ngoobani abathembisa ukwenza konke uYehova awayebayalele ukuba bakwenze, kwaye wabanika ntoni?
10 Inzala ka-Abraham eyeza ngonyana wakhe uIsake nomzukulwana wakhe uYakobi, okanye uSirayeli, yakhula yaluhlanga lwakwaSirayeli. UYehova wawakhulula amaSirayeli kubukhoboka baseYiputa. (Genesis 32:28; 46:1-3; 2 Samuweli 7:23, 24) Kungekudala emva koko, athembisa ukuba ayeza kwenza yonke into uThixo awayewayalela ukuba ayenze. Athi: “Konke akuthethileyo uYehova sokwenza.” (Eksodus 19:8) Ngokuvisisana nomnqweno wamaSirayeli wokufuna ukulawulwa nguye, uYehova wanika olo hlanga imithetho engaphezu kwama-600, kuquka neMithetho Elishumi. Ethubeni, le mithetho kaThixo, eyadluliselwa ngoMoses, yabizwa ngokuba nguMthetho.—Ezra 7:6; Luka 10:25-27; Yohane 1:17.
11. Yayiyintoni enye yeenjongo zoMthetho, yaye yiyiphi eminye yemiyalelo eyayiyiphumeza?
11 Enye injongo yoMthetho yayikukukhusela amaSirayeli ngokubeka imiyalelo emihle yemibandela enjengokuziphatha ngokwesini, ushishino, kunye nokunyamekela abantwana. (Eksodus 20:14; Levitikus 18:6-18, 22-24; 19:35, 36; Duteronomi 6:6-9) Kwamiselwa imithetho ngendlela umntu amele aqhubane ngayo nabanye abantu kwakunye nemfuyo yakhe. (Levitikus 19:18; Duteronomi 22:4, 10) Imfuneko yemithendeleko eyayibakho minyaka le kunye nokuhlanganisana ukuze kunqulwe yayibakhusela abantu ngokomoya.—Levitikus 23:1-43; Duteronomi 31:10-13.
12. Yayiyintoni injongo eyintloko yoMthetho?
12 Eyona njongo yoMthetho yachazwa ngumpostile uPawulos, owabhala esithi: “Wongezwa ukuze ukunxaxha kwenziwe kubonakale, de ifike imbewu [uKristu] ekwenziwe kuyo isithembiso.” (Galati 3:19) Lo Mthetho wawuwakhumbuza amaSirayeli ukuba akafezekanga. Ngoko ke, kwakusengqiqweni ukuba afumane idini eligqibeleleyo elaliza kuzisusa ngokupheleleyo izono zawo. (Hebhere 10:1-4) Ngoko uMthetho wawenzelwe ukulungiselela abantu ukuze bamkele uYesu, owayenguMesiya, okanye uKristu. UPawulos wabhala: “UMthetho uye waba ngumkhapheli wethu osikhokelela kuKristu, ukuze sivakaliswe singamalungisa ngenxa yokholo.”—Galati 3:24.
Ngaba UMthetho KaYehova Wawuluxanduva?
13. (a) Abantu abangafezekanga babewugqala njani uMthetho, yaye ngoba? (b) Ngaba ngokwenene uMthetho wawuluxanduva?
13 Nangona uMthetho ‘wawungcwele yaye unobulungisa,’ abaninzi bawugqala njengoluxanduva. (Roma 7:12) Ngenxa yokuba uMthetho wawugqibelele, amaSirayeli akazange akwazi ukuyifikelela imilinganiselo yawo ephakamileyo. (INdumiso 19:7) Kungoko umpostile uPetros wawubiza ngokuthi ‘yidyokhwe leyo ookhokho bethu kwanathi sasingenamandla akuyithwala.’ (IZenzo 15:10) Kakade ke, uMthetho wona ngokwawo wawungeloxanduva, kwaye ukuwuthobela kwakuyingenelo ebantwini.
14. Yiyiphi imizekelo embalwa ebonisa ukuba uMthetho wawuyingenelo gqitha kumaSirayeli?
14 Ngokomzekelo, ngokutsho koMthetho isela lalingavalelwa entolongweni kodwa kwakufuneka lisebenze lize liyihlawule ngokuphindwe kabini okanye nangaphezulu loo nto liyibileyo. Ngaloo ndlela ixhoba lalingalahlekelwa nto, kananjalo kungeyomfuneko ukuba kuthwaliswe abantu abasebenza nzima uxanduva lokuxhasa inkqubo yeentolongo. (Eksodus 22:1, 3, 4, 7) Ukutya okuyingozi kwakungatyiwa. Inyama yehagu, xa ingaphekwanga kakuhle, inokuthwala isifo ekuthiwa yitrichinosis, kwaye umvundla wawunokuthwala isifo ekuthiwa yitularemia. (Levitikus 11:4-12) Ngendlela efanayo, uMthetho wawukwakhusela nangokungavumi ukuba izidumbu zichukunyiswe. Xa umntu echukumise isidumbu, kwakufuneka ahlambe isiqu sakhe kunye neengubo zakhe. (Levitikus 11:31-36; Numeri 19:11-22) Ilindle laligqunyelelwa ngomhlaba, ngaloo ndlela kukhuselwa abantu ukuba bangangenwa ziintsholongwane ezisandul’ ukwaziwa zizazinzulu kwiinkulungwane zakutshanje.—Duteronomi 23:13.
15. Yintoni eyayiluxanduva kumaSirayeli?
15 Yayingenkulu kangako into eyayifunwa nguMthetho ebantwini. Kodwa akunjalo ngamadoda awayezenza abatoliki boMthetho. Xa ithetha ngemithetho awayimiselayo, iA Dictionary of the Bible, eyabhalwa nguJames Hastings, ithi: “Umthetho ngamnye weBhayibhile wawulandelwa ngamasolotya amaninzi angenamsebenzi. . . . Ngaloo ndlela babezama ukuba yonke into nje efika engqondweni ilawulwe nguMthetho, yaye bezama ngolunya ukuba yonke ihambo yomntu ilawulwe ngumthetho ongqongqo. . . . Izazela zacinezelwa; amandla elizwi likaThixo athityazwa aza afuthaniselwa yiloo ntarhantarha yemithetho yabantu.”
16. UYesu wathini ngemithetho namasiko awayeluxanduva eenkokeli zonqulo?
16 UYesu Kristu wazichasa iinkokeli zonqulo ezazimisela imithetho emininzi, esithi: “Babopha imithwalo enzima baze bayibeke emagxeni abantu, kodwa bona ngokwabo abathandi kuyishukumisa ngomnwe wabo.” (Mateyu 23:2, 4) Walitsolisa elokuba imithetho kunye namasiko awayeluxanduva awawenziwe ngabo, kuquka nokuhlambulula abantu okwakusenziwa ngocoselelo, zazisenza “ilizwi likaThixo litshitshe.” (Marko 7:1-13; Mateyu 23:13, 24-26) Noko ke, kwanangaphambi kokuba uYesu eze emhlabeni, abafundisi bonqulo bakwaSirayeli babengakuchazi ngendlela echanileyo oko uYehova wayekufuna.
Oko Ngokwenene UYehova Akufunayo
17. Sasiyintoni isizathu sokuba uYehova angakholiswa ngamadini awayenyuswa ngamaSirayeli awayengenalukholo?
17 Esebenzisa umprofeti uIsaya, uYehova wathi: “Ndidikiwe ngamadini anyukayo eenkunzi zeegusha, namanqatha amathole atyetyisiweyo; negazi leenkunzi ezintsha, neleemvana, neleebhokhwe, andilinanzile.” (Isaya 1:10, 11) Yintoni eyayisenza uThixo angakholiswa ngamadini awayewafune ngokwakhe eMthethweni? (Levitikus 1:1–4:35) Kaloku abantu babengamhloneli. Ngenxa yoko, babongozwa: “Zihlambeni, ziqaqambiseni; susani ububi beentlondi zenu phambi kwamehlo am; yekani ukwenza ububi; fundani ukwenza okulungileyo; khathalelani ukugweba; lulekani isibhovubhovu; gwebani ityala lenkedama; lithetheni ityala lomhlolokazi.” (Isaya 1:16, 17) Ngaba oku akusincedi ukuba sikuqonde oko kufunwa nguYehova kubakhonzi bakhe?
18. Yintoni kanye kanye eyayifunwa nguYehova kumaSirayeli?
18 UYesu wakuchaza oko kwakufunwa nguThixo ngokwenene. Wakuchaza xa wayebuzwa umbuzo othi, “Nguwuphi owona myalelo mkhulu eMthethweni?” UYesu waphendula ngokuthi: “ ‘Umele umthande uYehova uThixo wakho ngentliziyo yakho iphela nangomphefumlo wakho uphela nangengqondo yakho iphela.’ Lo ngowona myalelo mkhulu nowokuqala. Owesibini, njengawo, ngulo, ‘Umele umthande ummelwane wakho njengawe siqu.’ Kule miyalelo mibini kuxhonywe uMthetho uphela, nabaProfeti.” (Mateyu 22:36-40; Levitikus 19:18; Duteronomi 6:4-6) Umprofeti uMoses waveza ingongoma efanayo xa wabuza esithi: “UYehova uThixo wakho ubiza ntoni na kuwe, kungekuko ukumoyika uYehova uThixo wakho, uhambe ngeendlela zakhe zonke, umthande, umkhonze uYehova uThixo wakho ngentliziyo yakho yonke, nangomphefumlo wakho wonke; ugcine imithetho kaYehova, nemimiselo yakhe?”—Duteronomi 10:12, 13; 15:7, 8.
19. AmaSirayeli azama njani ukubonakala engcwele, kodwa uYehova wathini kuwo?
19 Phezu kwazo nje izono zawo, amaSirayeli ayefuna ukubonakala engcwele. Nangona uMthetho wawusithi makuzilwe ukutya ngoMhla Wocamagushelo kuphela, aqalisa ukuzila ngokufuthi. (Levitikus 16:30, 31) Kodwa uYehova wawakhalimela, esithi: “Ukuzila endikunyulileyo asikoku na: ukucombulula iziqamangelo zokungendawo, ukukhulula izitropu zeedyokhwe, ukundulula abavikivekileyo bekhululekile, naphule zonke iidyokhwe? Asikoku na: ukumqhekezela esonkeni sakho olambileyo, ubangenise endlwini abaziintsizana, abatshutshiswayo? xa uthe wabona ohamba ze, umambese, ungazifihli kwinyama yakho?”—Isaya 58:3-7.
20. Kwakutheni ukuze uYesu akhalimele abahanahanisi bonqulo?
20 Loo maSirayeli awayezenza amalungisa ayenengxaki efana neyabahanahanisi bonqulo abaxelelwa nguYesu esithi: “Ninikela isinye kwishumi letyeleba nedile nekumin, kodwa niye nayigatya imibandela enzima ngakumbi yoMthetho, eyile, okusesikweni nenceba nokuthembeka. Ezi zinto kwakubophelelekile ukuzenza, kanti kungamele kugatywe ezinye izinto.” (Mateyu 23:23; Levitikus 27:30) Ngaba la mazwi kaYesu akasincedi siqonde oko kufunwa nguYehova kuthi?
21. Umprofeti uMika wakushwankathela njani oko uYehova akufunayo nangakufuniyo kuthi?
21 Ukuze acacise oko kufunwayo noko kungafunwayo nguYehova kuthi, umprofeti uMika wabuza: “Ndiya kumkhawulela uYehova ndinantoni na? Ndiye kuzigoba na kuThixo ophezulu? Ndiya kumkhawulela ndinamadini anyukayo na, ndinamathole amnyaka mnye na? Wokholiswa na uYehova ngamawaka eenkunzi zezimvu, ngamawaka alishumi emilambo yeoli? Ndorhola owamazibulo na ngenxa yesikreqo sam, isiqhamo somzimba wam na ngenxa yesono somphefumlo wam? Uxelelwe, mntundini, okulungileyo: akubizayo uYehova kuwe, kukuthi wenze okusesikweni, uthande inceba, uhambe noThixo wakho ngokuthozamileyo.”—Mika 6:6-8.
22. Yintoni uYehova awayeyifuna ngokukhethekileyo kwabo babephantsi koMthetho?
22 Ngoko ke, yintoni kanye kanye le yayifunwa nguYehova kwabo babephantsi koMthetho? Kakade ke, kwakufuneka bamthande uYehova uThixo. Ngaphezu koko, umpostile uPawulos wathi: “UMthetho uphela uzalisekiswa lilizwi elinye, elileli: ‘Umele umthande ummelwane wakho njengawe siqu.’ ” (Galati 5:14) Ngokufanayo, uPawulos waxelela amaKristu aseRoma esithi: “Lowo umthandayo umntu olidlelane lakhe uwuzalisekisile umthetho. . . . Uthando lukukuzaliseka komthetho.”—Roma 13:8-10.
Awunzima
23, 24. (a) Kutheni ingafanele ibe nkulu gqitha into efunwa nguYehova kuthi? (b) Yintoni esiza kuyixubusha ngokulandelayo?
23 Ngaba ayisichukumisi indlela uThixo uYehova anothando, ulwazelelo nenceba ngayo? UNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo, uYesu Kristu, weza emhlabeni eze kubonakalisa uthando lukaThixo—eze kwazisa abantu indlela abaxabiseke ngayo kuYehova. Echaza uthando lukaThixo, uYesu wathetha oku ngokuphathelele oongqatyana abazizidalwa eziphantsi: “Akukho namnye kubo oya kuwela emhlabeni ngaphandle kolwazi lukaYihlo.” Ngoko waqukumbela ngokuthi: “Ningabi naloyiko: Nixabiseke ngaphezu koongqatyana abaninzi.” (Mateyu 10:29-31) Ngokuqinisekileyo ayifanele ibe nkulu gqitha nantoni na afuna siyenze uThixo onothando ngolo hlobo!
24 Noko ke, yintoni uYehova ayifuna kuthi namhlanje? Yaye kutheni abanye bebonakala becinga ukuba inkulu gqitha le nto ifunwa nguThixo? Ngokuhlolisisa le mibuzo, sifanele sikwazi ukusibona isizathu sokuba kulilungelo elihle kangaka ukwenza nantoni na uYehova afuna siyenze.
Ngaba Unokuphendula?
◻ Kutheni abanye besenokungafuni ukumkhonza uYehova?
◻ Izinto ezifunwa nguYehova ziye zatshintsha njani ukutyhubela iminyaka?
◻ Yayiyintoni injongo eyaphunyezwa nguMthetho?
◻ Kutheni ingenkulu gqitha into efunwa nguYehova kuthi?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 18]
Imithetho yabantu, enjengokuhlanjululwa okwakusenziwa ngocoselelo, yalwenza lwaluxanduva unqulo