UYobhi Wanyamezela—Nathi Sinako!

“Yabonani, sithi, banoyolo abo banyamezelayo.”—YAKOBI 5:11.

1. Omnye umKristu owayesele ekhulile wathini ngezilingo ezazimfikela?

‘UMTYHOLI usemva kwam! Ndivakalelwa ngendlela efanayo noYobhi!’ Ngaloo mazwi uA. H. Macmillan waxelela umhlobo wakhe osenyongweni indlela awayevakalelwa ngayo kwikomkhulu lamaNgqina kaYehova. UMzalwan’ uMacmillan waligqiba ikhondo lakhe lasemhlabeni eneminyaka engama-89 ubudala ngoAgasti 26, 1966. Wayesazi ukuba imbeko ngenxa yenkonzo yokuthembeka yamaKristu athanjisiweyo njengaye yayiya ‘kulandelana nabo.’ (ISityhilelo 14:13) Eneneni, babeya kuqhubeka nenkonzo kaYehova ngokuvuselwa kubomi bokungafi ezulwini. Abahlobo bakhe bavuya kuba uMzalwan’ uMacmillan wawufumana loo mvuzo. Noko ke, kwiminyaka yakhe yokugqibela emhlabeni, wafikelwa ziimvavanyo ezahlukahlukeneyo, kuquka iingxaki zempilo ezamenza wawaqonda kakuhle amalinge kaSathana okwaphula ingqibelelo yakhe kuThixo.

2, 3. Wayengubani uYobhi?

² Xa uMzalwan’ uMacmillan wathi wayevakalelwa ngendlela efanayo noYobhi, wayebhekisela kwindoda eyanyamezela ukuvavanywa ngokuqatha kokholo lwayo. UYobhi wayehlala “ezweni lakwaUtse,” ekusenokwenzeka ukuba lalikumntla weArabia. Ekubeni wayeyinzala yonyana kaNowa uShem, wayengumnquli kaYehova. Kubonakala ngathi uYobhi wavavanywa ngaxa lithile phakathi kokufa kukaYosefu nexesha uMoses awazingqina ethe tye ngalo. Ebudeni belo xesha akukho mntu emhlabeni wayefana noYobhi ngokuzinikela kuThixo. UYehova wayemgqala uYobhi njengendoda egqibeleleyo, ethe tye, emoyikayo uThixo.—Yobhi 1:1, 8.

³ ‘Njengendoda enkulu kubo bonke oonyana belaseMpumalanga,’ uYobhi wayenezicaka ezininzi, ya-ye imfuyo yakhe yayili-11-500. Kodwa ubutyebi bokomoya babubobona bubalulekileyo kuye. Njengoobawo abahlonela uThixo namhlanje, uYobhi umele ukuba wabafundisa oonyana bakhe abasixhenxe neentombi zakhe ezintathu ngoYehova. Kwanasemva kokuba bengasahlali ekhayeni lakhe, wayengumbingeleli wentsapho yakhe enikela imibingelelo egameni labo, eyayiya kusebenza xa kwakunokwenzeka bone.—Yobhi 1:2-5.

4. (a) Kutheni amaKristu atshutshiswayo efanele acinge ngendoda enguYobhi? (b) Ngokuphathelele uYobhi, yiyiphi imibuzo esiza kuyiqwalasela?

⁴ AmaKristu atshutshiswayo afanele acinge ngoYobhi ukuze azomeleze aze abe nomonde nonyamezelo. Umfundi uYakobi wabhala: “Yabonani, sithi, banoyolo abo banyamezelayo. Unyamezelo lukaYobhi naluva, nesigqibo seNkosi nasibona, ngokuba iNkosi inemfesane enkulu, inenceba.” (Yakobi 5:11) NjengoYobhi, abalandeli bakaYesu abathanjisiweyo ‘nesihlwele esikhulu’ sanamhlanje kufuneka babe nonyamezelo ukuze bahlangabezane nokuvavanywa kokholo lwabo. (ISityhilelo 7:1-9) Ngoko, ziziphi izilingo uYobhi awazinyamezelayo? Kwakutheni ukuze zenzeke? Yaye sinokungenelwa njani kumava akhe?

Imbambano Ebalulekileyo

5. Nangona uYobhi wayengazi, kwakusenzeka ntoni ezulwini?

⁵ Engazi uYobhi, kwakuza kuphakanyiswa imbambano enkulu ezulwini. Ngenye imini “oonyana bakaThixo beza kuzimisa phambi koYehova.” (Yobhi 1:6) UNyana kaThixo okuphela kwamzeleyo, uLizwi, wayekho. (Yohane 1:1-3) Zazikho nezithunywa zezulu ezingamalungisa ‘noonyana bakaThixo’ abazizithunywa ezingathobeliyo. (Genesis 6:1-3) USathana wayelapho, kuba akazange agxothwe ezulwini de kwaba semva kokumiselwa koBukumkani ngowe-1914. (ISityhilelo 12:1-12) Ngomhla kaYobhi, uSathana wayeza kuphakamisa imbambano ebalulekileyo. Wayeza kuvakalisa ukukuthandabuza kwakhe ukulunga kolongamo lukaYehova phezu kwazo zonke izidalwa Zakhe.

6. USathana wayezama ukwenza ntoni, yaye wamtyhola wathini uYehova?

⁶ “Uvela phi na?” uYehova wabuza. USathana waphendula: “Ekutyhutyha-tyhutyheni ehlabathini, nasekuhamba-hambeni kulo.” (Yobhi 1:7) Wayefuna ubani angamginyayo. (1 Petros 5:8, 9) Ngokwaphula ingqibelelo yabantu abakhonza uYehova, uSathana wayezama ukungqina ukuba akukho mntu wayenokumthobela ngokupheleleyo uYehova eqhutywa luthando. Esabela kule mbambano, uYehova wambuza oku uSathana: “Umgqalile na kodwa umkhonzi wam uYobhi: ukuba akukho unjengaye ehlabathini, indoda egqibeleleyo, ethe tye, emoyikayo uThixo, etyekayo ebubini?” (Yobhi 1:8) UYobhi wayeyifikelela imilinganiselo kaThixo eyayikuthabathela engqalelweni ukungafezeki kwakhe. (INdumiso 103:10-14) Kodwa uSathana waphendula: “UYobhi lo ufumana emoyikela ilize na uThixo? Akuthanga na wena wambiyela wamjikeleza, wayijikeleza indlu yakhe; wayijikeleza into yonke anayo ngeenxa zonke; wawusikelela umsebenzi wezandla zakhe, imfuyo yakhe yaligqiba ilizwe?” (Yobhi 1:9, 10) Ngaloo ndlela uMtyholi watyhola uYehova ngokuthi akukho mntu umthanda nomnqula ngenxa yesikhundla Sakhe kodwa uyazinyoba izidalwa ukuze zimkhonze. USathana wathi uYobhi wayekhonza uThixo ngenxa yeengenelo zokuzingca, kungekhona ngenxa yokuqhutywa luthando.

USathana Uyahlasela!

7. UMtyholi wamcel’ umngeni ngayiphi indlela uThixo, ibe uYehova wasabela njani?

⁷ USathana wathi: “Kodwa ke khawuse isandla sakho ngoku, uchukumise into yonke anayo, ukuba akayi kukulahla na nawe lo, akwenze oko ebusweni bakho.” UThixo wayeza kusabela njani kolo celomngeni olwalusisithuko kuye? UYehova wathi: “Yabona, konke anako kusesandleni sakho; ke kuye ngokwakhe musa ukusa sandla sakho.” UMtyholi wayethe zonke izinto uYobhi awayenazo zazisikelelwe, zandiswa, zaza zajikelezwa. UThixo wayeza kumvumela uYobhi abandezeleke, nangona umzimba wakhe wawungamele kuchukunyiswa. Ezimisele ukwenza ububi, uSathana wemka kuloo ndibano.—Yobhi 1:11, 12.

8. (a) Walahlekelwa njani zizinto eziphathekayo uYobhi? (b) Enyanisweni wawuvela phi ‘umlilo kaThixo’?

⁸ Kungekudala, yaqala intlaselo kaSathana. Omnye wabakhonzi bakaYobhi wamphathela ezi ndaba zimbi: “Iinkomo bezilima, namaesile ebesidla ecaleni lazo; agaleleka amaShebha, azithimba, ababulala abafana ngohlangothi lwekrele.” (Yobhi 1:13-15) Izinto zikaYobhi zazingasajikelezwanga. Phantse ngoko nangoko, kwasetyenziswa amandla eedemon ngokuthe ngqo, kuba omnye umkhonzi wanikela le ngxelo: “Umlilo kaThixo uwe ezulwini, wayitshisa impahla emfutshane nabafana, wabadla.” (Yobhi 1:16) Hayi indlela ekwakukhohlakele ngayo ukwenza kubonakale ngathi nguThixo owayebangela umkhonzi wakhe afikelwe ziintlekele ezinjalo! Ekubeni umbane uvela ezulwini, kwakungalula ukuba uYehova abekwe ityala, kodwa eneneni umlilo wawuvela kwiidemon.

9. Ukulahlekelwa ngokoqoqosho kwaluchaphazela njani ulwalamano lukaYobhi noThixo?

⁹ Njengokuba uSathana wayeqhubeka ehlasela, omnye umkhonzi weza nengxelo yokuba amaKaledi ayezithabathe zonke iinkamela zikaYobhi aza ababulala bonke abanye abafana. (Yobhi 1:17) Nangona uYobhi ngaloo ndlela walahlekelwa zizo zonke izinto awayenazo, oku akuzange kuluphelise ulwalamano lwakhe noThixo. Ngaba unganyamezela ukulahlekelwa zizinto ezininzi eziphathekayo uze ungayaphuli ingqibelelo yakho kuYehova?

Ukufika Kwentlekele Enkulu Ngakumbi

10, 11. (a) Kwenzeka ntoni kubantwana bakaYobhi abalishumi? (b) Emva kokufa kabuhlungu kwabantwana bakaYobhi, wamjonga njani uYehova?

¹⁰ UMtyholi wayengekagqibi ngoYobhi. Kwafika nomnye umkhonzi wanikela eyakhe ingxelo: “Oonyana bakho neentombi zakho babesidla, besela iwayini endlwini yomkhuluwa wabo omkhulu; nanko kuvela umoya omkhulu ngasentlango, wabetha ezimbombeni zone zendlu, yabawela abafana abo, bafa; kwasinda mna ndedwa, ukuza kukuxelela.” (Yobhi 1:18, 19) Abangaziqondi kakuhle izinto basenokuthi umonakalo owabangelwa nguloo moya ‘wawusisenzo sikaThixo.’ Noko ke, amandla eedemon ayembambe apho amncinane khona uYobhi.

¹¹ Esentlungwini, uYobhi “wayikrazula ingubo yakhe yokwaleka, wayicheba intloko yakhe, wawa emhlabeni, waqubuda.” Kodwa, khawuphulaphule amazwi akhe. “UYehova wanika, ikwanguYehova othabathileyo; igama likaYehova malibongwe.” Le ngxelo yongezelela ithi: “Kuko konke oko akonanga uYobhi, akamsolanga nokumsola uThixo.” (Yobhi 1:20-22) USathana wayoyisiwe kwakhona. Kuthekani ukuba siyafelwa size sibe sentlungwini njengabakhonzi bakaThixo? Ukuzinikela ngokungazingci kuYehova nokukholosa ngaye kunokusinceda sinyamezele njengabagcini bengqibelelo, kanye njengokuba uYobhi wenzayo. Abathanjiswa namaqabane abo anethemba lokuphila emhlabeni ngokuqinisekileyo banokuthuthuzelwa baze bomelezwe yile ngxelo engokunyamezela kukaYobhi.

Imbambano Iba Qatha Ngakumbi

12, 13. Kwenye indibano eyayisezulwini, uSathana wafuna ntoni, ibe uThixo wasabela njani?

¹² Ngokukhawuleza uYehova wabiza enye indibano kwiintendelezo zasemazulwini. Ngoku uYobhi wayeyindoda engenabantwana, ehlwempuzekileyo, ekwakubonakala ngathi ibethwe nguThixo, kodwa wayesayilondoloze ngokuqinileyo ingqibelelo yakhe. Kakade ke, uSathana wayengayi kuvuma ukuba izityholo zakhe ngoThixo noYobhi zazibubuxoki. Ngoku “oonyana bakaThixo” babeza kuva impikiswano njengoko uYehova wayeqhubela uSathana ekubeni le mbambano ifikelele uvuthondaba.

¹³ Efuna uSathana anikele ingxelo, uYehova wabuza: “Uvela phi na?” Yathini impendulo? “Ekutyhutyha-tyhutyheni ehlabathini, nasekuhamba-hambeni kulo.” Kwakhona uYehova walathisela ingqalelo kumkhonzi wakhe ogqibeleleyo, othe tye, omoyikayo uThixo uYobhi, owayesabambelele nkqi kwingqibelelo yakhe. UMtyholi waphendula: “Ulusu ngenxa yolusu; konke anako umntu wokunika ngenxa yomphefumlo wakhe. Kodwa ke khawuse isandla sakho ngoku, uchukumise emathanjeni akhe nasenyameni yakhe, ukuba akayi kukulahla na nawe lo, akwenze oko ebusweni bakho.” Wathi ke uThixo: “Nanko esesandleni sakho; kuphela wogcina umphefumlo wakhe.” (Yobhi 2:2-6) Ezama ukubonisa ukuba uYehova wayesamjikelezile uYobhi, uSathana wafuna ukuba kuchukunyiswe amathambo nenyama kaYobhi. UMtyholi wayengayi kuvunyelwa ambulale uYobhi; kodwa uSathana wayesazi ukuba ukugula enyameni kwakuya kuba buhlungu kwenze kubonakale ngathi wayebandezeleke ngenxa yesohlwayo esivela kuThixo ngenxa yezono awayezenza emfihlekweni.

14. USathana wambetha ngantoni uYobhi, yaye kutheni kwakungekho mntu wayenokumnceda?

¹⁴ Egxothiwe kuloo ndibano, uSathana wemka echwayitile ezimisele ukwenza inkohlakalo. Wambetha uYobhi “ngamathumba amabi, wathabathela entendeni yonyawo lwakhe, wesa elukakayini lwakhe.” Okunjani kona ukubandezeleka uYobhi awakunyamezelayo njengokuba wayehleli eluthuthwini ezikrwela ngokhamba! (Yobhi 2:7, 8) Akukho gqirha ungumntu wayenokumnceda kuloo nkxwaleko ibuhlungu ngokungathethekiyo, yenyanyekayo, nehlazisayo, kuba yayibangelwa ngamandla kaSathana. NguYehova kuphela owayenokumphilisa uYobhi. Ukuba ungumkhonzi kaThixo ogulayo, ungaze ulibale ukuba uThixo unokukunceda unyamezele yaye unokukunika ubomi kwihlabathi elitsha elingenazifo.—INdumiso 41:1-3; Isaya 33:24.

15. Umfazi kaYobhi wambongoza ukuba enze ntoni, ibe yena wasabela njani?

¹⁵ Ekugqibeleni, umfazi kaYobhi wathi: “Usabambelele na ekugqibeleleni kwakho? Mlahle uThixo, ufe.” ‘Ukugqibelela’ kubonisa ukuzinikela ngokugqibeleleyo, yaye usenokuba wayephoxisa ukuze abangele uYobhi aqalekise uThixo. Kodwa uYobhi waphendula: “Uthetha njengesidengekazi. Siya kwamkela okulungileyo kuThixo, singamkeli nokubi, yini na?” Kwaneli iqhinga likaSathana alizange lisebenze, kuba sixelelwa oku: “Kuko konke oko akonanga uYobhi ngomlomo wakhe.” (Yobhi 2:9, 10) Masithi amalungu entsapho achasayo ebesixelela ukuba sizizidenge ngokuziqoba kusukelo lwezinto zobuKristu aze asibongoze ukuba simlahle uYehova uThixo. NjengoYobhi, sinokulunyamezela uvavanyo olunjalo kuba siyamthanda uYehova yaye sinqwenela ukudumisa igama lakhe elingcwele.—INdumiso 145:1, 2; Hebhere 13:15.

Amamenemene Amathathu Anekratshi

16. Ngoobani abafika, ngelithi baze kuthuthuzela uYobhi, kodwa uSathana wabasebenzisa njani?

¹⁶ USathana weza nelinye iqhinga, kwafika “izihlobo” ezithathu, ngelithi zize kuthuthuzela uYobhi. Esinye sasinguElifazi, ekusenokwenzeka ukuba wayeyinzala ka-Abraham ngoEsawu. Ekubeni uElifazi wayethetha kuqala, ngokungathandabuzekiyo wayengoyena mdala. Kwakhona, kwakukho noBhiledadi, inzala kaShuwa, omnye woonyana baka-Abraham ngoKetura. Indoda yesithathu yayinguTsofare, obizwa ngokuba ngowaseNahama okuchaza intsapho yakowabo okanye indawo awayehlala kuyo, mhlawumbi kumntla-ntshona weArabia. (Yobhi 2:11; Genesis 25:1, 2; 36:4, 11) Njengabo bazama ukwenza amaNgqina kaYehova amlahle uThixo namhlanje, aba bathathu babesetyenziswa nguSathana kwilinge lokwenza uYobhi avume ukuba unetyala kwizimangalo zobuxoki aze aphule ingqibelelo yakhe.

17. Senza ntoni esi sithathu sasimtyelele, yaye yintoni esingazange siyenze iintsuku ezisixhenxe nobusuku bazo?

¹⁷ Esi sithathu sazenza esinovelwano olunzulu ngokulila, sikrazule iingubo zaso, yaye sizigalela ngothuli entloko. Kodwa sandula ke sahlala noYobhi iintsuku ezisixhenxe nobusuku bazo singakhuphi nelinye ilizwi lokumthuthuzela! (Yobhi 2:12, 13; Luka 18:10-14) La mamenemene mathathu anekratshi ayengamakhamte ngokomoya kangangokuba kwakungekho nto ithuthuzelayo ayenokuyithetha ngoYehova nangamadinga akhe. Ukanti, ayefikelela kwizigqibo eziphosakeleyo yaye eza kuzisebenzisa kuYobhi akuba egqibile ngaloo nkwalambisa yokuba lusizi phambi kwabantu. Okubangel’ umdla kukuba ngaphambi kokuba ziphele iintsuku ezisixhenxe zokungathethi, umfana ogama linguElihu wahlalela kumgama awayenokuphulaphula kuwo.

18. Kwakutheni ukuze uYobhi afune uxolo ekufeni?

¹⁸ Ekugqibeleni uYobhi wathetha. Ekubeni engafumananga kuthuthuzeleka kwesi sithathu sasimtyelele, wawuqalekisa umhla wokuzalwa kwakhe waza wazibuza isizathu sokuba bolulwe ubomi bakhe obulusizi. Wayenga angafumana uxolo ekufeni, engacingi nokucinga ukuba kwakunokubuya kubekho into enokumvuyisa ngaphambi kokuba afe, ekubeni ngoku wayeludwayi, efelwe, yaye egula ngokungaginyisi mathe. Kodwa uThixo wayengayi kumvumela uYobhi achukunyiswe ukusa ekufeni.—Yobhi 3:1-26.

Intlaselo Yabamangaleli BakaYobhi

19. UElifazi wammangalela kweziphi iinkalo uYobhi exoka?

¹⁹ UElifazi waba ngowokuqala ukuthetha kwiingxoxo ezintathu ezayivavanya ngokubhekele phaya ingqibelelo kaYobhi. Kwintetho yakhe yokuqala, uElifazi wabuza: “Kuphi na apho ke bathi shwaka khona abathe tye?” Wagqiba kwelokuba uYobhi umele ukuba wayenze into ethile engendawo ukuze ohlwaywe nguThixo. (Yobhi, isahluko 4, 5) Kwintetho yakhe yesibini, uElifazi wabugculela ubulumko bukaYobhi waza wabuza: “Wazi ntoni na, esingayaziyo thina?” UElifazi wayebonisa ukuba uYobhi wayezama ukuzibonakalisa ephakamile kunoSomandla. Intlaselo yakhe yesibini wayiqukumbela ngokuchaza uYobhi njengonetyala lokuwexuka, ukunyotywa nenkohliso. (Yobhi, isahluko 15) Kwintetho yakhe yokugqibela, uElifazi exoka watyhola uYobhi ngamatyala amaninzi—ukucudisa, ukuvimba abasweleyo isonka namanzi, nokucinezela abahlolokazi neenkedama.—Yobhi, isahluko 22.

20. UBhiledadi wamhlasela njani uYobhi?

²⁰ Esiba ngowesibini ukuthetha kuzo zontathu ezi ngxoxo, uBhiledadi wayesuka nje anyathele apho uElifazi ebehambe khona. Iintetho zikaBhiledadi zazimfutshane kodwa zihlaba ngakumbi. Wade watyhola abantwana bakaYobhi ngokwenza okuphosakeleyo ngaloo ndlela befanelwe kukufa. Eqiqa ngendlela ephosakeleyo, wasebenzisa lo mzekeliso: Njengokuba imikhanzi neengcobo zisoma zize zife xa engekho amanzi, kunjalo nangabo “bonke abamlibalayo uThixo.” Loo mazwi ayinyaniso, kodwa ayengasebenzi kuYobhi. (Yobhi, isahluko 8) UBhiledadi wazigqala iinkxwaleko zikaYobhi njengezo zifikela abangendawo. (Yobhi, isahluko 18) Kwintetho yakhe yesithathu emfutshane, uBhiledadi wathi umntu ‘yimpethu nombungu’ yaye ngoko ke akacocekanga emehlweni kaThixo.—Yobhi, isahluko 25.

21. UTsofare wammangalela ngantoni uYobhi?

²¹ UTsofare wayengowesithathu ukuthetha kule ngxoxo. Ubukhulu becala, wayehamba emazwini kaElifazi noBhiledadi. UTsofare watyhola uYobhi ngobungendawo waza wambongoza ukuba ahlukane nezono zakhe. (Yobhi, isahluko 11, 20) Emva kwengxoxo yesibini uTsofare akabuyanga athethe. Wayengenanto angayongeza kwingxoxo yesithathu. Noko ke, kuyo yonke le ngxoxo, uYobhi wayebaphendula ngenkalipho aba babemmangalela. Ngokomzekelo, ngesinye isihlandlo wathi: “Ningabathuthuzeli abayindinisa, nonke niphela. Aphelile na amazwi angumoya?”—Yobhi 16:2, 3.

Sinokunyamezela

22, 23. (a) Njengakwimeko kaYobhi, uMtyholi usenokuzama njani ukwaphula ingqibelelo yethu kuYehova uThixo? (b) Nangona uYobhi wanyamezela iimvavanyo ezahlukahlukeneyo, sinokubuza ntoni ngesimo sakhe sengqondo?

²² NjengoYobhi, sisenokujamelana nezilingo eziliqela ngaxalinye, yaye uSathana usenokusebenzisa udimazeko okanye abanye oothunywashe kwimigudu yakhe yokwaphula ingqibelelo yethu. Usenokuzama ukusenza simvukele uYehova xa sineengxaki zezoqoqosho. Ukuba kufa umntu esimthandayo okanye sinempilo enkenenkene, uSathana usenokuzama ukusenza simbeke ityala uThixo. Njengezihlobo zikaYobhi, kusenokuvela umntu osenokude asimangalele ngobuxoki. Njengokuba uMzalwan’ uMacmillan wabonisayo, uSathana usenokuba ‘usemva kwethu,’ kodwa sinokunyamezela.

²³ Njengokuba sibonile ukuza kuthi ga ngoku, uYobhi wayezinyamezela izilingo ezahlukahlukeneyo ezazimfikela. Noko ke, ngaba wayesele efane wanyamezela nje kuphela? Ngaba eneneni wayenomoya owaphukileyo? Makhe sibone enoba uYobhi wayesele ephelelwe lilo lonke ithemba kusini na.

Ubuya Kuphendula Uthini?

◻ Yiyiphi imbambano enkulu uSathana awayiphakamisayo ngomhla kaYobhi?

◻ UYobhi wavavanywa ngokupheleleyo ngaziphi iindlela?

◻ “Izihlobo” ezithathu zikaYobhi zammangalela ngantoni?

◻ Njengakwimeko kaYobhi, uSathana usenokuzama njani ukwaphula ingqibelelo yethu kuYehova?

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 10]

A. H. Macmillan