Ngoku Lixesha Lokuthabath’ Inyathelo
“Koda kube nini na nimbaxa?”—1 KUMKANI 18:21.
1. Yintoni eyenza ukuba umhla wethu wahluke kwixesha elidluleyo?
NGABA uyakholelwa ukuba uYehova ukuphela koThixo oyinyaniso? Ngaba uyakholelwa nokuba iziprofeto zeBhayibhile zalatha kumhla wethu ‘njengemihla yokugqibela’ yenkqubo kaSathana engendawo? (2 Timoti 3:1) Ukuba kunjalo, ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuvuma ukuba ngoku, kunanini na ngaphambili, lixesha lokuthabath’ inyathelo. Embalini abuzange khe ubomi babantu bube sengozini njengokuba kunjalo namhlanje.
2. Yintoni eyenzeka kubukumkani bezizwe ezilishumi zakwaSirayeli ebudeni bolawulo lukaKumkani uAhabhi?
2 Ngenkulungwane yeshumi ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, uhlanga lakwaSirayeli kwafuneka lwenze isigqibo esibaluleke gqitha. Ngubani olwaluza kumkhonza? Ephenjelelwa ngumfazi wakhe ongumhedeni, uIzebhele, uKumkani uAhabhi wakhuthaza unqulo lukaBhahali kubukumkani bezizwe ezilishumi zakwaSirayeli. UBhahali wayenguthixo wendyebo owayemele anise imvula aze achumise isivuno. Abanquli bakaBhahali abaninzi basenokuba babephuza isithixo sakhe baze baqubude kuso. Ukuze benze uBhahali asikelele izityalo nemfuyo yabo, abanquli bakhe babesiba namatheko ababenxila kuwo baze baziphathe kakubi ngokwesini noonongogo abasetempileni. Babezicenta ukuze kutsaze igazi.—1 Kumkani 18:28.
3. Unqulo lukaBhahali lwaba nayiphi impembelelo kubantu bakaThixo?
3 Intsalela yamaSirayeli emalunga nama-7 000, ayizange ithabath’ inxaxheba kolu nqulo lwezithixo, lokuziphath’ okubi nolunogonyamelo. (1 Kumkani 19:18) Ngokunyaniseka yabambelela kumnqophiso eyayiwenze noYehova uThixo, ibe ngenxa yoko yatshutshiswa. Ngokomzekelo, uKumkanikazi uIzebhele wabulala abaprofeti bakaYehova abaninzi. (1 Kumkani 18:4, 13) Ngenxa yale meko inzima, amaSirayeli amaninzi aba mbaxa, azama ukukholisa uYehova noBhahali. Ngokushiya uYehova nokunqula uthixo wobuxoki, oko kwakubonisa ukuba umSirayeli uwexukile. UYehova wathembisa amaSirayeli ukuba wayeza kuwasikelela ukuba ayamthanda aze athobele imiyalelo yakhe. Noko ke, wawalumkisa ukuba xa esilela ‘ukuzinikela ngokupheleleyo’ kuye, wayeza kuwatshabalalisa.—Duteronomi 5:6-10; 28:15, 63.
4. Yintoni uYesu nabapostile bakhe abaxela kwangaphambili ukuba yayiza kwenzeka kumaKristu, yaye oko kuye kwazaliseka njani?
4 INgqobhoko ikwimeko efanayo namhlanje. Amalungu eecawa athi angamaKristu, kodwa iiholide zawo, indlela aziphatha ngayo neenkolelo zawo ziyangqubana noko kufundiswa yiBhayibhile. NjengoIzebhele, abefundisi beNgqobhoko baye baququzelela ukutshutshiswa kwamaNgqina kaYehova. Kwakhona imbali ibonisa ukuba baye baxhasa iimfazwe ngenxa yoko banegalelo ekufeni kwezigidi ngezigidi zamalungu eecawa. Ukuxhasa konqulo oorhulumente behlabathi ngaloo ndlela, iBhayibhile ikuchaza ngokuba luhenyuzo lokomoya. (ISityhilelo 18:2, 3) Ukongezelela, iNgqobhoko iye ayabona nto imbi kuhenyuzo lokoqobo, kuquka nolo lwenziwa ngabefundisi bayo. UYesu Kristu nabapostile bakhe baxela kwangaphambili ngolu wexuko lungaka. (Mateyu 13:36-43; IZenzo 20:29, 30; 2 Petros 2:1, 2) Yintoni eza kwenzeka ekugqibeleni kumarhamente eNgqobhoko angaphezu kwewaka lesigidi? Yiyiphi imbopheleleko abanayo abakhonzi bakaYehova bokwenyaniso ngokuphathelele aba nabo bonke abalahlekiswe lunqulo lobuxoki? Ukuze sifumane impendulo ecacileyo kule mibuzo, simele sihlolisise iziganeko ezakhokelela ‘ekutshatyalalisweni kukaBhahali kwaSirayeli.’—2 Kumkani 10:28.
UThixo Ubonisa Uthando Kubantu Bakhe Abanxaxhileyo
5. UYehova wayibonisa njani inkxalabo kubantu bakhe abanxaxhileyo?
5 UYehova uThixo akavuyiswa kukohlwaya abo banganyanisekanga kuye. NjengoBawo onothando, unqwenela ukuba abo bangendawo baguquke baze babuyele kuye. (Hezekile 18:32; 2 Petros 3:9) Ubungqina boko, kukuba uYehova wasebenzisa abaprofeti abaninzi ngemihla ka-Ahabhi noIzebhele ukulumkisa abantu bakhe ngemiphumo yokunqula uBhahali. Omnye wabo baprofeti yayinguEliya. Emva kwembalela eqatha, eyaxelwa kwangaphambili, uEliya waxelela uKumkani uAhabhi ukuba ahlanganisele ndawonye amaSirayeli nabaprofeti bakaBhahali kwiNtaba yeKarmele.—1 Kumkani 18:1, 19.
6, 7. (a) UEliya wambhenca njani oyena nobangela wokuwexuka kukaSirayeli? (b) Benza ntoni abaprofeti bakaBhahali? (c) Wenza ntoni yena uEliya?
6 Bahlanganiselana ndawonye kwisibingelelo sikaYehova “esasichithiwe,” mhlawumbi kukholiswa uIzebhele. (1 Kumkani 18:30) Okulusizi kukuba, amaSirayeli awayelapho ayengaqinisekanga ukuba ngubani phakathi kukaYehova noBhahali owayenokunisa imvula efunekayo. UBhahali wayemelwe ngabaprofeti abangama-450, ngoxa yena uEliya wayekuphela komprofeti omele uYehova. Ehlab’ emxholweni, uEliya wabuza abantu wathi: “Koda kube nini na nimbaxa?” Wandula ke, wabangqala wathi: “Ukuba uYehova nguThixo oyinyaniso, landelani yena; kodwa ukuba nguBhahali, landelani yena.” UEliya wathi makwenziwe uvavanyo ukubonisa ukuba nguwuphi uThixo wokwenyaniso, esenzela ukuba amaSirayeli ambaxa azinikele ngokupheleleyo kuYehova. Kwakumelwe kuxhelwe iinkomo ezimbini kwenziwe umnikelo, omnye uye kuYehova omnye kuBhahali. UThixo wokwenyaniso wayeya kuwutshisa ngomlilo umnikelo wakhe. Abaprofeti bakaBhahali balungisa umnikelo wabo, baza baqhubeka bekhwaza kangangeeyure besithi: “Owu Bhahali, siphendule!” Xa uEliya waqalisa ukubagculela, bazicenta de kwatsaza igazi, baza bakhwaza kakhulu. Kodwa abazange baphendulwe.—1 Kumkani 18:21, 26-29.
7 Ngoku kwafika ixesha likaEliya. Okokuqala, walungisa isibingelelo sikaYehova wanqunqa ithole lenkomo walibeka kuso. Emva koko, wayalela ukuba kugalelwe iingqayi ezinkulu ezine zamanzi phezu komnikelo. Oku kwenziwa izihlandlo ezithathu de umsele ongqonge isibingelelo wazaliswa ngamanzi. Wandula ke uEliya wathandaza wathi: “Owu Yehova, Thixo ka-Abraham, kaIsake noSirayeli, yenza kwaziwe namhlanje ukuba unguThixo kwaSirayeli yaye mna ndingumkhonzi wakho nezi zinto zonke ndizenze ngokwelizwi lakho. Ndiphendule, Owu Yehova, ndiphendule, ukuze esi sizwana sazi ukuba wena, Yehova, unguThixo oyinyaniso yaye wena uziguqule iintliziyo zaso.”—1 Kumkani 18:30-37.
8. UThixo wawuphendula njani umthandazo kaEliya, yaye wenza ntoni lo mprofeti?
8 UThixo oyinyaniso waphendula ngokuhlisa umlilo ezulwini ukuze udle umbingelelo nesibingelelo. Loo mlilo wadla namanzi awayesemseleni! Khawucinge nje indlela ekwawachaphazela ngayo amaSirayeli oko. “Ngoko nangoko awa ngobuso aza athi: ‘UYehova nguThixo oyinyaniso! UYehova nguThixo oyinyaniso!’” Ethabath’ inyathelo elibhekele phaya, uEliya wayalela amaSirayeli wathi: “Babambeni abaprofeti bakaBhahali! Ningavumeli namnye kubo abaleke!” Bonke abaprofeti bakaBhahali abangama-450 babulawelwa kumazantsi eNtaba yeKarmele.—1 Kumkani 18:38-40.
9. Yiyiphi enye indlela abavavanywa ngayo abanquli bokwenyaniso?
9 Ngaloo mini ingasoze ilibaleke, uYehova wanisa imvula okwesihlandlo sokuqala emva kweminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha! (Yakobi 5:17, 18) Unokukuthelekelela oko kwakuthethwa ngamaSirayeli njengoko ebuyela emakhayeni awo; uYehova uzingqine enguThixo oyinyaniso. Noko ke, abanquli bakaBhahali abazange banikezele. UIzebhele waqhubeka nephulo lakhe lokutshutshisa abakhonzi bakaYehova. (1 Kumkani 19:1, 2; 21:11-16) Ngenxa yoko abantu bakaThixo baphinda bavavanywa ingqibelelo yabo. Ngaba imini yokugwetywa kwabanquli bakaBhahali yayiza kufika bezinikele ngokupheleleyo kuYehova?
Thabatha Inyathelo Ngoku
10. (a) Kule mihla, yintoni ibisenziwa ngamaKristu athanjisiweyo? (b) Kuthetha ukuthini ukuthobela umyalelo okwiSityhilelo 18:4?
10 Kule mihla, amaKristu athanjisiweyo aye enza umsebenzi ofana nalowo kaEliya. Ngokushumayela nokusasaza iincwadi alumkisa abantu bazo zonke iintlanga abakwiNgqobhoko nabangekho kuyo ngengozi yonqulo lobuxoki. Ngenxa yoko, izigidi zabantu ziye zathabath’ inyathelo zayeka ukuba ngamalungu onqulo lobuxoki. Ziye zahlulela ubomi bazo kuYehova zaba ngabafundi bakaYesu Kristu ababhaptiziweyo. Ewe, ziye zathobela isibongozo sikaThixo esingxamisekileyo esiphathelele unqulo lobuxoki, esithi: “Phumani kuyo, bantu bam, ukuze ningabelani nayo ngezono zayo, nokuze ningamkeliswa kwizibetho zayo.”—ISityhilelo 18:4.
11. Yintoni efunekayo ukuze uYehova akholiswe sithi?
11 Ezinye izigidi, ngoxa zinomdla kwisigidimi esisekelwe eBhayibhileni esisasazwa ngamaNgqina kaYehova, azikaqiniseki ngoko zimele zikwenze. Abanye kwaba bayeza ngamaxesha athile kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu, njengakwiSidlo seNkosi Sangokuhlwa okanye beze kuphulaphula iintetho ezithile zendibano yesithili. Siyababongoza bonke abo ukuba bawaqwalasele ngenyameko amazwi kaEliya, athi: “Kode kube nini na nikhwele ecingweni.” (1 Kumkani 18:21, New English Bible) Kunokuba bazilazile, bafanele bathabath’ inyathelo ngoku baze bazabalazele ukuzalisekisa usukelo lokuba ngabakhonzi bakaYehova abazahluleleyo nababhaptiziweyo. Ithemba labo lobomi obungunaphakade lisengozini!—2 Tesalonika 1:6-9.
12. Yiyiphi ingozi aye angena kuyo amanye amaKristu abhaptiziweyo, ibe yintoni amele ayenze?
12 Okubuhlungu kukuba, amanye amaKristu abhaptiziweyo akayi rhoqo kwiintlanganiso nakwinkonzo yasentsimini okanye apholile ngokomoya. (Hebhere 10:23-25; 13:15, 16) Wambi ayekile ukuba nenzondelelo ngenxa yokoyika ukutshutshiswa, ukuxhalabela indlela yokuziphilisa, ukuzama ukuba zizityebi okanye ukusukela iziyolo. UYesu walumkisa ukuba ezo zinto zaziya kubaphambukisa, zibaminxe zize zibe ngumgibe kubalandeli bakhe abathile. (Mateyu 10:28-33; 13:20-22; Luka 12:22-31; 21:34-36) Kunokuba ‘babe mbaxa,’ abo banjalo bamele ‘babe nenzondelelo baze baguquke’ baqhubeke besenza ngokuvisisana nokuzahlulela kwabo kuThixo.—ISityhilelo 3:15-19.
Unqulo Lobuxoki Luphela Ngesiquphe
13. Chaza ukuba yayinjani imeko kwaSirayeli xa uYehu wathanjiswa njengokumkani.
13 Isizathu sokuba kungxamisekile ukuba abantu bathabath’ inyathelo ngoku, sinokubonwa koko kwenzeka kwaSirayeli kwiminyaka eli-18 emva kokuba iconjululwe imbambano yokuba ngubani uThixo oyinyaniso kwiNtaba yeKarmele. Usuku lukaYehova lokugweba unqulo lukaBhahali lweza ngesiquphe lungalindelwanga ebudeni bobulungiseleli bukaElisha, ilandela likaEliya. Unyana kaKumkani uAhabhi, uYehoram, wayelawula uSirayeli, yaye uIzebhele unina wayesaphila njengokumkanikazi. Ngasese, uElisha wathuma omnye wabalindi bakhe ukuba aye kuthambisa umphathi-mkhosi wakwaSirayeli, uYehu, njengokumkani omtsha. Ngelo xesha, uYehu wayesempuma yeYordan eRamoti-giliyadi, ekhokela imfazwe nxamnye neentshaba zikaSirayeli. UKumkani uYehoram wayeseYizereli kwintlambo ekufuphi neMegido, esachacha kumanxeba akhe awawafumana emfazweni.—2 Kumkani 8:29–9:4.
14, 15. Nguwuphi umyalelo uYehu awawufumanayo, yaye wenza ntoni?
14 UYehova wayalela uYehu ukuba enze oku: “Uze uyixabele indlu ka-Ahabhi inkosi yakho, ndize ndiliphindezele igazi labakhonzi bam abaprofeti negazi labo bonke abakhonzi bakaYehova esandleni sikaIzebhele. Yaye yonke indlu ka-Ahabhi imele itshabalale; . . . UIzebhele uya kudliwa zizinja kwisiqwenga somhlaba esiseYizereli, yaye akuyi kubakho bani umngcwabayo.”—2 Kumkani 9:7-10.
15 UYehu wayeyindoda engaphozisi maseko. Ngaphandle kokuzilazila, wakhwela inqwelo yakhe wayibalekisa ukuya eYizereli. Umlindi owayeseYizereli wabona ukuba kuza inqwelo kaYehu waza waxelela uKumkani uYehoram, waza yena wakhwela kweyakhe inqwelo esiya kuhlangabeza umphathi-mkhosi wakhe, uYehu. Ekudibaneni kwabo, uYehoram wabuza: “Luxolo na, Yehu?” UYehu waphendula wathi: “Lungakho njani uxolo lo gama kusekho uhenyuzo lukaIzebhele unyoko nokukhafula kwakhe okuninzi?” Wandula ke uYehu ngaphambi kokuba uKumkani uYehoram asabe, waqubula isaphetha sakhe waza watola kuYehoram utolo lwaphumela entliziyweni yakhe wafa.—2 Kumkani 9:20-24.
16. (a) Yiyiphi imeko ajamelana nayo ngesiquphe amagosa enkundla kaIzebhele? (b) Ilizwi likaYehova eliphathelele uIzebhele lazaliseka njani?
16 Engaphozisanga maseko, uYehu waqhuba waya kungena esixekweni. Ekrobe ngefestile, uIzebhele owayehombe esisicicibala, wambulisa ngamazwi okumsongela. Engamhoyanga, uYehu wabuza: “Ngubani na ongakum? Ngubani na?” Abalindi bakaIzebhele babemele benze isigqibo ngaphandle kokulibazisa. Amagosa enkundla amabini okanye amathathu akroba ngefestile. Kwangoko, ukunyaniseka kwawo kwavavanywa, kuba uYehu wathi: “Mphoseni phantsi!” La magosa amphosa phantsi uIzebhele, waza wanyathelwa ngamahashe kaYehu nenqwelo yakhe. Yafa ngaloo ndlela ke inkokeli yonqulo lukaBhahali. Ngaphambi kokuba angcwatywe, izinja zazisele zitye inxalenye yenyama yakhe, kanye njengokuba kwakuxelwe kwangaphambili.—2 Kumkani 9:30-37.
17. Indlela uThixo awamgweba ngayo uIzebhele imele yomeleze ukholo lwethu kwesiphi isiganeko esizayo?
17 Ihenyukazi lokomfuziselo elibizwa ngokuba ‘yiBhabhiloni Enkulu’ liza kufikela esiphelweni esikhwankqisayo esifanayo. Eli henyukazi limela unqulo lobuxoki lwehlabathi likaSathana, olunemvelaphi yaseBhabhiloni yamandulo. Emva kokupheliswa konqulo lobuxoki, uYehova uThixo uza kujolisa iintolo zakhe kubo bonke abo bayinxalenye yehlabathi likaSathana. Nabo aba uya kubatshabalalisa, evulel’ indlela ihlabathi elitsha lobulungisa.—ISityhilelo 17:3-6; 19:19-21; 21:1-4.
18. Emva kokufa kukaIzebhele, yintoni eyenzeka kubanquli bakaBhahali kwaSirayeli?
18 Emva kokufa kukaIzebhele, uKumkani uYehu akazange aphozise maseko wabulala yonke inzala ka-Ahabhi nabaxhasi bakhe abaphambili. (2 Kumkani 10:11) Kodwa amaSirayeli amaninzi anqula uBhahali ayesekho elizweni. Ngokuphathelele bona, uYehu wathabatha inyathelo elalibonisa ukuba ‘akalunyamezeli usukuzwano noYehova.’ (2 Kumkani 10:16) Ezenza ngathi ungumnquli kaBhahali, uYehu wenza umbingelelo omkhulu kwitempile kaBhahali eyayakhiwe nguAhabhi eSamariya. Bonke abanquli bakaBhahali abakwaSirayeli baya apho. Bevaleleke kuloo tempile, baxatyelwa ngamadoda kaYehu. IBhayibhile iqukumbela le ngxelo ngala mazwi: ‘Ngaloo ndlela uYehu wamtshabalalisa uBhahali kwaSirayeli.’—2 Kumkani 10:18-28.
19. Liliphi ithemba elibalaseleyo eliya kufunyanwa ‘sisihlwele esikhulu’ sabakhonzi bakaYehova abanyanisekileyo?
19 Unqulo lukaBhahali lwasitshulwa neengcambu zalo kwaSirayeli. Ngokuqinisekileyo, unqulo lobuxoki lweli hlabathi nalo luya kuphela ngesiquphe ngendlela emangalisayo. Uya kuba kweliphi icala ngaloo mini inkulu yomgwebo? Thabatha inyathelo ngoku, mhlawumbi uya kuba nelungelo lokuba phakathi ‘kwesihlwele esikhulu’ sabantu abasinde ‘kwimbandezelo enkulu.’ Uya kwandula ke ujonge emva ngovuyo uze udumise uThixo ngokutshabalalisa “ihenyukazi elikhulu elawonakalisayo umhlaba ngohenyuzo lwalo.” Umanyene nabanye abanquli bokwenyaniso, uya kuvumelana namazwi abangel’ imincili avunywa ezulwini athi: “Dumisani uYa, ngenxa yokuba uYehova uThixo wethu, uSomandla, uqalisile ukulawula njengokumkani.”—ISityhilelo 7:9, 10, 14; 19:1, 2, 6.
Imibuzo Onokucamngca Ngayo
• Ziziphi izinto amaSirayeli ayenetyala lokubandakanyeka kuzo kunqulo lukaBhahali?
• Luluphi uwexuko olukhulu iBhayibhile eyaprofeta ngalo, yaye eso siprofeto sizaliseke njani?
• UYehu walusiphula njani neengcambu zalo unqulo lukaBhahali?
• Yintoni esimele siyenze ukuze sisinde kwimini kaThixo yomgwebo?
[Imaphu ekwiphepha 25]
(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)
ISokho
IAfeki
IHelekati
IYokenam
IMegido
ITahanaki
IDotan
ISAMARIYA
IEndore
IShunem
IOfra
IYizereli
I-Ibleyam (IGati-rimon)
ITirtsa
IBhete-shemeshe
IBhete-sheyan (IBhete-shan)
IYabheshe-giliyadi?
IAbheli-mehola
Indlu ka-Arbhele
IRamoti-giliyadi
Incopho Yentaba
INtaba yeKarmele
INtaba yaseTabhore
IMore
INtaba yeGilbhowa
[Amanzi]
Ulwandle LweMeditera
Ulwandle LwaseGalili
[Umlambo]
Umlambo IYordan
[Umthombo nequla]
Iqula laseHarodi
[Inkcazelo]
Based on maps copyrighted by Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est. and Survey of Israel
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 26]
Ukushumayela ngoBukumkani nokuya kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu rhoqo zizinto ezibalulekileyo kunqulo lokwenyaniso
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 28, 29]
NjengoYehu, bonke abafuna ukusinda ngemini kaYehova bamele bathabath’ inyathelo