Iimbekiselo Zencwadi Yobomi BamaKristu Nomsebenzi Wokushumayela
NOVEMBA 1-7
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | YOSHUWA 18-19
“Indlela UYehova Awawohlula Ngobulumko Ngayo Umhlaba”
it-1-E 359 ¶1
Umda
Ukwabiwa komhlaba kwizizwe zakwaSirayeli kwakuxhomekeka kwizinto ezimbini: ukuba iqashiso liya kubani nokuba isizwe sinabantu abaninzi kangakanani. Iqashiso lalichaza indawo elikulo ilizwe elaliza kuba lilifa lesizwe ngasinye, lalichaza ukuba laliza kuba seMntla na okanye eMzantsi okanye eNtshona okanye eMpuma, ibe lalibonisa nokuba liza kuba selunxwemeni na okanye kummandla weentaba. NguYehova owayegqiba ukuba iqashiso liya kubani ibe loo nto yayisenza kungabikho mona okanye ukuxambulisana. (IMi 16:33). Ngokwenza ngoluhlobo, uYehova wayekwazi ukulawula indlela izinto ezenzeka ngayo ukuze kuzaliseke isiprofeto sikasolusapho uYakobi awasenza sele eza kufa esikwiGenesis 49:1-33.
it-1-E 1200 ¶1
Ilifa
Imihlaba elilifa. Oonyana bakaSirayeli balifumana ilifa labo kuYehova, owaxelela uMoses ngemida yomhlaba. (Num 34:1-12; Yos 1:4) Oonyana bakaGadi, oonyana bakaRubhen, nehafu yesizwe sakwaManase zaye zabelwa umhlaba wazo nguMoses. (Num 32:33; Yos 14:3) Zonke ezinye izizwe ezazishiyekile zabelwa ilifa lazo ngeqashiso nguYoshuwa noEleyazare. (Yos 14:1, 2) Njengoko isiprofeto sikaYakobi sisitsho kwiGenesis 49:5, 7, uSimeyon noLevi zange banikwe umhlaba owahlukileyo ukuze ube lilifa labo. Umhlaba kaSimeyon wawunazo neendawo eziphakathi kumhlaba wakwaYuda (kunye nezinye izixeko) (Yos 19:1-9), uLevi yena wanikwa izixeko eziyi-48 ezikumhlaba wakwaSirayeli. Ekubeni abaLevi babekhethwe ukuba benze umsebenzi okhethekileyo kwingcwele, elabo ilifa yayinguYehova. Babefumana izishumi ukuze ibe lilifa labo ngenxa yomsebenzi ababewenza. (Num 18:20, 21; 35:6, 7) Iintsapho zazinikwa umsebenzi kumhlaba wesizwe sazo. Njengoko iintsapho zazisiya zisibaninzi kwakufuneka noonyana bemane befumana ilifa, umhlaba wawumane usahlulwa ubezindawo ezincinci.
it-1-E 359 ¶2
Umda
Emva kokuba iqashiso lichazile ukuba isizwe siza kuhlala phi, kwakujongwa ukuba abantu beso sizwe baninzi kangakanani ukuze kubonwe ukuba baza kudinga indawo enkulu kangakanani na. “Nimele niwahlule ngamaqashiso umhlaba ube lilifa leentsapho zenu. Nize nilandise ilifa leqela elinabantu abaninzi, nilinciphise ilifa leqela elinabantu abambalwa. Wonke umntu uza kunikwa ilifa lakhe apho liwele khona iqashiso lakhe. Niza kufumana ilifa lenu lomhlaba ngokwezizwe zootata benu.” (Num 33:54) Indawo yesizwe ebichazwe liqashiso yayingatshintshi kodwa ilifa lalinokutshintshwa. Yiloo nto yacuthwa indawo yesizwe sakwaYuda xa kwafunyaniswa ukuba inkulu zaze ezinye iindawo zanikwa isizwe sakwaSimeyon.—Yos 19:9.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
it-1-E 359 ¶5
Umda
Kubonakala ukuba kwaqala kwenziwa amaqashiso ngesizwe sakwaYuda (Yos 15:1-63), ngenzala kaYosefu (Efrayim) (Yos 16:1-10), nehafu yesizwe sakwa Manase (Yos 17:1-13) ukuze kwahlulwe umhlaba owawusentshona komlambo iYordan, nokuze kubalwe imida nezixeko ababeza kuzifumana. Emva koko, kubonakala ingathi ukwabiwa komhlaba kwaphazamiseka, kuba inkampu yamaSirayeli yemka eGiligali yaya eShilo. (Yos 14:6; 18:1) Akuchazwanga ukuba yathatha ixesha elingakanani le nto, kodwa uYoshuwa wazingxolisa izizwe ezisixhenxe ezazishiyekile ngenxa yokuba zazilibazisa ukuthatha umhlaba owawushiyekile. (Yos 18:2, 3) Kukho izizathu ezahlukeneyo ezivelayo ezisenokuba zenza ezi zizwe azakhawuleza zawuthatha umhlaba. Abanye bathi kuba babezithathela izinto kwezinye iintlanga xa babephuma eYiputa ibe besoyikwa nangamaKanan, kusenokwenzeka ukuba zange bazive benyanzelekile ukuba bakhawuleze bawuthathe lo mhlaba ushiyekileyo. Mhlawumbi zange bakhawuleze kuba babesoyika ukuba ezi zizwe bathatha kuzo lo mhlaba zaziza kusuke zilwe kunye nabo. (Yos 13:1-7) Enye into, babesele bewazi kakuhle lo mhlaba wawusele wabiwe kodwa lo babeza kuwahlulelwa weLizwe Lesithembiso babengawazi ncam.
NOVEMBA 8-14
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | YOSHUWA 20-22
“Izinto Esinokuzifunda Ngokugqiba Ngento Ube Ungekayazi Yonke Into Ngayo”
Iindlela Eziphumelelayo Zokuncokolisana Neqabane Lakho
Ukuthetha ngokungqalileyo kuphelisa ukungaqondani. Ngasekuqaleni kwembali yamaSirayeli, isizwe sakwaRubhen, sakwaGadi, kunye nenxalenye yesizwe sakwaManase esasihlala kwimpuma yoMlambo iYordan, sakha “isibingelelo esiphawulekayo kakhulu” kufutshane neYordan. Ezinye izizwe azizange zikuqonde oku. Zicinga ukuba abazalwana bazo bawexukile, izizwe zasentshona, zavuk’ umnyele zifun’ ukulwa “nabavukeli.” Noko ke, ngaphambi kokuba ziye emfazweni, zathumela igqiza ukuba liye kuthetha nezizwe zasempuma. Hayi indlela okwaba bubulumko ngayo ukwenjenjalo! Zafumanisa ukuba eso sibingelelo sasingenzelwanga amadini atshiswayo okanye imibingelelo engamkelekanga. Kunoko, izizwe zasempuma zazisoyikela ukuba ezinye izizwe zazinokuthi kuzo: “Aninasabelo kuYehova.” Esi sibingelelo sasibubungqina bokuba nazo zazingabanquli bakaYehova. (Yoshuwa 22:10-29) Zasithiya esi sibingelelo ngokuthi bubuNgqina, mhlawumbi ngenxa yokuba yayibubungqina bokuba uYehova nguThixo wokwenyaniso.—Yoshuwa 22:34.
‘Sukela Izinto Ezisingisa Eluxolweni’
Kusenokwenzeka ukuba amanye amaSirayeli acinga ukuba kwakukho ubungqina obubambekayo bokwenziwa kobubi yaye ukuba ayenokubahlasela bengalindelanga, kwakuya kufa abantu abambalwa kwicala lawo. Noko ke, kunokuba zenze izinto ngokungxama, izizwe ezisentshona yeYordan zathumela abantu ababeza kuthetha ngale ngxaki nabazalwana bazo. Aba bantu babuza: “Siyintoni na esi senzo sokungathembeki nisenzileyo nxamnye noThixo kaSirayeli ngokujika namhlanje ekumlandeleni uYehova?” Enyanisweni, ukwakha kwezi zizwe isibingelelo kwakungesiso isenzo sokungathembeki. Kodwa zaziza kwenza ntoni emva kokutyholwa ngale ndlela? Ngaba zaziza kubathuka abo bazityholayo okanye zingavumi ukuthetha nabo? Ezi zizwe zazityholwa zaphendula kakuhle, zichaza ukuba eneneni esi sibingelelo zazisakhela uYehova. Indlela ezaphendula ngayo yagcina ulwalamano lwazo luluhle noThixo yaza yasindisa ubomi. Ukuthetha kakuhle kwayilungisa le ngxaki kwaza kwabuyisela uxolo.—Yosh. 22:13-34.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
it-1-E 402 ¶3
AmaKanan
Nangona amaKanan amaninzi engazange oyiswe ngokupheleleyo sisenokutsho sithi “uYehova wawanika amaSirayeli wonke umhlaba awayefunge ukuwunika ookhokho bawo,” waze “wawaphumza ngokupheleleyo,” ibe “asikho isithembiso esingazange sizaliseke kuzo zonke izithembiso ezihle uYehova awayezithembise indlu kaSirayeli; zonke zenzeka.” (Yos 21:43-45) Kwiindawo ezazijikeleze amaSirayeli, iintshaba zawo zazisoyika ibe amaSirayeli aziva ekhuselekile. Ngaphambili uThixo wathi uza kuwagxotha amaKanan “kancinci kancinci” ukwenzela izilwanyana zasendle zingabininzi kwindawo engenabantu. (Eks 23:29, 30; Dut 7:22) Nangona amaKanan ayenezixhobo ezikhulu zemfazwe eziquka iinqwelo zemfazwe ezinamarhengqa amakhulu entsimbi, akunakutyholwa uYehova ngenxa yokuba amaSirayeli engazange akwazi ukoxutha iindawo ezithile zamaKanan kuze kuthiwe isithembiso sakhe zange asifezekise. (Yos 17:16-18; ABa 4:13) Kodwa iBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba amaSirayeli ayesoyiswa ngamaxesha athile ngenxa yokungathembeki.—Num 14:44, 45; Yos 7: 1-12.
NOVEMBA 15-21
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZIWINI LIKATHIXO | YOSHUWA 23-24
“Icebiso Lokugqibela UYoshuwa Awalinika Uhlanga LwamaSirayeli”
it-1-E 75
Ubuhlobo
Kwenzeka into eyahlukileyo xa amaSirayeli ayengena kwaKanan, iLizwe Lesithembiso. UYehova wabanika wonke umhlaba amaSirayeli njengoko wayebathembisile ookhokho babo. Ngenxa yaloo nto, zange bangene kwiLizwe Lesithembiso njengabantu basemzini ibe uYehova zange abavumele ukuba babengabahlobo kunye neentlanga ezazingamkhonzi. (Eks 23:31-33; 34:11-16) Kwakufuneka bathobele imithetho kaThixo kuphela hayi eyeentlanga uThixo awayethe mabazigxothe. (Lev 18:3, 4; 20:22-24) Baye balumkiswa ukuba bangatshati kunye neentlanga ezazingamkhonzi uThixo. Ukuba nobuhlobo obunje kunye neentlanga kwakungazukuphelela nje ekubeni babe nabafazi abangamkhonziyo uThixo kodwa babeza kuba nazo nezizalwana ezingamkhonziyo baze baphele bekhonza noothixo babo, nto leyo eyayiza kuba ngumgibe kubo.—Dut 7:2-4; Eks 34:16; Yos 23:12, 13.
ILizwi LikaYehova Alinakuze Lisilele
19 Ngokuqinisekileyo, oko siye sakubona ngamehlo ethu, sinokuthi ngako: “Akusilelanga nalinye ilizwi kuwo onke amazwi alungileyo uYehova uThixo wenu awathethileyo kuni. Onke abe yinyaniso kuni. Akusilelanga nalinye ilizwi kuwo.” (Yoshuwa 23:14) UYehova uye wahlangula, wakhusela waza wabanyamekela abakhonzi bakhe. Ngaba kukho nasiphi na isithembiso aye akasizalisekisa ngexesha alityumbe ngokwakhe? Yinto engenakwenzeka leyo. Bubulumko ukukholosa ngeLizwi likaThixo.
20 Kuthekani ngekamva? UYehova usixelela ukuba uninzi lwethu lunokuba nethemba lokuphila kumhlaba olungisiweyo waba yiparadesi entle. Imbinana kuthi inethemba lokulawula kunye noKristu ezulwini. Lingakhathaliseki ithemba esinalo, sonke sinesizathu esivakalayo sokuhlala sithembekile njengokuba uYoshuwa wenzayo. Iyeza imini apho ithemba lethu liya kuzaliseka. Ngaloo mini, siya kukhangela ngasemva kumazwi onke ezithembiso azenzileyo uYehova, size nathi sithi: “Onke abe yinyaniso.”
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Iimbalasane Zencwadi KaYoshuwa
24:2—Ngaba uyise ka-Abraham, uTera, wayenqula izithixo? Ekuqaleni, uTera wayengamnquli uYehova uThixo. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayenqula uthixo wenyanga uSin—isithixo esidumileyo eUre. Ngokutsho kwembali yamaYuda, uTera usenokuba wayengumenzi wezithixo. Noko ke, xa uAbraham eshiya iUre ngokuyalelwa nguThixo, uTera uhamba naye ukuya kwaHaran.—Genesis 11:31.
NOVEMBA 22-28
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | ABAGWEBI 1-3
“Ibali Lokuba Nesibindi Nelingakholelekiyo”
UEhudi Waphula Idyokhwe Yomtshutshisi
Amacebo kaEhudi aphumelela, kungekhona ngenxa yokuba ekrelekrele, yaye kungekhona ngenxa yokungabi namandla kotshaba lwakhe. Ukuzaliseka kweenjongo zikaThixo akuxhomekekanga kubantu. Esona sizathu siyintloko sokuphumelela kukaEhudi kwakungenxa yokuba wayexhaswa nguThixo njengoko wayesenza ngokuvisisana nenjongo Yakhe engenakoyiswa ukuze akhulule abantu Bakhe. UThixo wavelisa uEhudi, “yaye xa uYehova wayebavelisela abagwebi [abantu bakhe], uYehova wayesiba nomgwebi lowo.”—ABagwebi 2:18; 3:15.
UEhudi Waphula Idyokhwe Yomtshutshisi
Inyathelo lokuqala likaEhudi yayikukulungiselela “ikrele”—ikrele elintlangothi-mbini elalilifutshane ngokwaneleyo ukuze lifihlwe phantsi kwempahla ayinxibileyo. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayelindele ukuba akhangelwe ukuba akanazixhobo kusini na. Ngokuqhelekileyo amakrele ayefakwa ekhohlo emzimbeni, ukuze abantu abasebenzisa isandla sasekunene bawakhuphe ngokulula. Kuba elinxele, uEhudi wayefihle isixhobo sakhe “phantsi kwesambatho sakhe ethangeni lakhe lasekunene,” apho abalindi bakakumkani bebengayi kufane bakhangele khona. Ngoko ke, ngaphandle kwesiphazamiso “wasondeza unikelo kuEglon ukumkani wakwaMowabhi.”—ABagwebi 3:16, 17.
Azichazwanga iinkcukacha zeziganeko zokuqala ezenzeka kwibhotwe likaEglon. IBhayibhile ithi nje: “Kwathi akugqiba [uEhudi] ukusondeza unikelo, kwaoko wabandulula abantu, abathwali bonikelo.” (ABagwebi 3:18) UEhudi wasondeza unikelo, wahamba mgama nabathwali bonikelo ukusuka kwindlu kaEglon, waza wabuya emva kokuba ebandulule. Kwakutheni ukuze enze oku? Ngaba wayehamba nala madoda ukuze amkhusele, ukuzalisa nje isiko, okanye mhlawumbi kuba engabathwali bonikelo? Ngaba wayefuna ukuba akhuseleke ngaphambi kokuba yena enze oko wayekucebile? Enoba wayecinga ntoni, ngenkalipho uEhudi wabuya yedwa.
“[UEhudi] wajika kumatye aqingqiweyo awayeseGiligali, waza wathi: ‘Ndinelizwi lasemfihlekweni nawe, Owu kumkani.’” IZibhalo azichazi ukuba wangena njani kwakhona ukuze aye kuEglon. Ngaba abalindi bebengayi kukrokra? Ngaba bacinga ukuba umSirayeli omnye nje kuphela ebengayi kuba yingozi kwinkosi yabo? Ngaba ukubuyela kukaEhudi yedwa kwakungabonisi ukuba kwakusenokwenzeka ukuba ungcatsha abantu bakowabo? Enoba kwenzeka ntoni, uEhudi wafuna ukuthetha nokumkani eyedwa, yaye oko kwenzeka.—ABagwebi 3:19.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Iimbalasane Zencwadi YaBagwebi
2:10-12. Sifanele sibe nocwangciso oluthe rhoqo lokufundisisa iBhayibhile ukuze ‘singakulibali ukwenza kukaYehova konke.’ (INdumiso 103:2) Abazali bafanele babethelele inyaniso yeLizwi likaThixo kwiintliziyo zabantwana babo.—Duteronomi 6:6-9.
NOVEMBA 29–DISEMBA 5
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZIWINI LIKATHIXO | ABAGWEBI 4-5
“UYehova Usebenzisa Abafazi Ababini Ukuze Asindise Abantu Bakhe”
“Ndaphakama Njengomama KwaSirayeli”
Ayetyhwatyhwa amaSirayeli xa esiva igama elithi Sisera! AmaKanan ayenamasiko nendlela yokunqula ekhohlakeleyo, ibe kwakudla ngokubingelelwa ngabantwana, kukho noonongogo basetempileni. Inoba kwakunjani ukuphathwa ngumkhosi nayinjengele yomKanan? Kwingoma kaDebhora sifunda ukuba abantu babehamba nzima elizweni ibe neelali zabo zazikhal’ ibhungane. (ABagwebi 5:6, 7) Khawube nomfanekiso-ngqondweni wabantu bezimele emahlathini nakwiinduli, besoyika ukulima nokuhlala kwiilali ezingabiyelwanga, besoyika ukuhamba kwiindlela zikawonkewonke kuba beza kuhlaselwa, abantwana babo bexhwilwa nabafazi babo bedlwengulwa.
“Ndaphakama Njengomama KwaSirayeli”
Kangangeminyaka eyi-20 amaSirayeli ayehlala esoyika, de uYehova wabona ukuba abonakala eguqukile, okanye njengoko ingoma kaDebhora noBharaki ephefumlelweyo isitsho, “De mna, Debhora, ndaphakama, de ndaphakama njengomama kwaSirayeli.” Asazi ukuba uDebhora, umfazi kaLapidoti wayenabo kusini na abantwana, kodwa la mazwi ayefuzisela. Ngamany’ amazwi, uYehova wamthuma ukuba awakhusele amaSirayeli ngokungathi ngumama ekhusela abantwana bakhe. Wamthuma ukuba ayalele indoda eyomeleleyo nenokholo uMgwebi uBharaki ukuba aye kulwa noSisera.—ABagwebi 4:3, 6, 7; 5:7.
“Ndaphakama Njengomama KwaSirayeli”
Kwakufuneka uYaheli eze necebo elikhawulezileyo. Wanika uSisera indawo yokuphumla. USisera wamyalela ukuba angakhe achazele nabani na onokumbuza ukuba ulapho. Akuba engqengqile wamembathisa, waza xa ecela amanzi, uYaheli wampha ubisi. Kungekudala uSisera walala cum. UYaheli wasebenzisa izinto ezisoloko zisetyenziswa ngobuchule ngabafazi abahlala ezintenteni; isikhonkwane nehamile. Elungele ukumcim’ igama ngokwenjongo kaYehova, wagoba ngakwintloko kaSisera. Ngeli xesha, ukuthandabuza kwakunokumbeka engozini. Ngaba mhlawumbi wayecinga ngabantu bakaThixo, nendlela le ndoda ebikhwel’ izehlela kubo kangangamashumi eminyaka? Okanye wayecinga ngokumela uYehova? Eli bali alisityebiseli koko. Sazi nje ukuba kungekudala, itshoba lalal’ umbethe kuSisera!—ABagwebi 4:18-21; 5:24-27.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Iimbalasane Zencwadi YaBagwebi
5:20—Iinkwenkwezi zamlwela njani uBharaki zisemazulwini? IBhayibhile ayixeli enoba oku kwakubandakanya ukuncediswa ziingelosi, iinkwenkwezi ekwakucingelwa ukuba zazithetha ishwangusha nezazithunyelwe ngamadoda azizilumko kaSisera, okanye mhlawumbi ukuvumisa ngeenkwenkwezi kukaSisera okwaba bubuxoki. Noko ke, alithandabuzeki elokuba uThixo wangenelela ngandlel’ ithile.
DISEMBA 6-12
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | ABAGWEBI 6-7
“Hamba Ngala Mandla Unawo”
Unokungenelwa Yimigaqo KaThixo
Umntu owayenesimo sengqondo esifanelekileyo ngesiqu sakhe nowayezithobile, yayinguGidiyon, umgwebi phakathi kwamaHebhere amandulo. Akazange afune ukuba yinkokeli yakwaSirayeli. Noko ke, xa wakhethwa ukuba afeze eso sabelo, uGidiyon wathetha ngokungafaneleki kwakhe. Wathi: “Iwaka lam lelona lincinane kwaManase, yaye nam ndingoyena mncinane endlwini kabawo.”—ABagwebi 6:12-16.
“Ikrele LikaYehova NelikaGidiyon!”
AmaMidiyan afikelwa luloyiko! Loo nzolo iphela ngesiquphe xa kusophulwa iingqayi ezingama-300, kuvuthelwa izigodlo ezingama-300, ezitsho ngesankxwe. Emangaliswe yiloo ntsholo itsho ngaxeshanye, isithi “ikrele likaYehova nelikaGidiyon!,” amaMidiyan ongezelela kule ntsholo ngokukhala. Kulo mbhodamo, akakwazi kwahlula ukuba ngubani na olutshaba. La madoda angama-300 ema ngokweendawo zawo njengoko uThixo esenza iintshaba zibulalane zodwa. Inkampu iyaphanziswa, ayikho indlela yokusaba, intsalela yomkhosi wamaMidiyan itshatyalaliswa ngokupheleleyo. Ulawulo olucinezelayo lufikelela esiphelweni.—ABagwebi 7:19-25; 8:10-12, 28.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Iimbalasane Zencwadi YaBagwebi
6:25-27. UGidiyon wasebenzisa ingqiqo ukuze angabacaphukisi ngokungeyomfuneko abo babemchasile. Xa sishumayela iindaba ezilungileyo, simele sikulumkele ukukhubekisa abanye ngokungeyomfuneko ngendlela esithetha ngayo.
DISEMBA 13-19
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | ABAGWEBI 8-9
“Kungcono Sithobeke Kunokuba Sibenekratshi”
Ukusingatha Njani Ukungavisisani?
UGidiyon, owayebambene ngezixhanti namaMidiyan, wacela uncedo kwisizwe sakwaEfrayim. Noko ke, emva kwelo dabi, uEfrayim wavunukela uGidiyon ekhalaza gqitha ngento yokuba engambizanga lisaqalisa elo dabi. Ingxelo ithi “azama ukuqhwaya ingxabano naye kabukhali.” UGidiyon waphendula wathi: “Ke kaloku yintoni endiyenzileyo xa kuthelekiswa nani? Ubhikico lukaEfrayim alulunganga ngakumbi na kunokuvunwa kweediliya kwa-Abhi-ezere? UThixo wazinikela ezandleni zenu iinkosana ezimbini zakwaMidiyan uOrebhi noZehebhe, yaye yintoni na endiye ndakwazi ukuyenza xa kuthelekiswa nani?” (ABagwebi 8:1-3) Esebenzisa amazwi obuciko, nathoba umsindo, uGidiyon wayiphepha loo mfazwe yezizwe eyayisenokuba yintlekele. Abesizwe sakwaEfrayim basenokuba babenengxaki yokuzigqala bebalulekile yaye benekratshi. Noko ke, oko akuzange kuthintele uGidiyon ukuba angafikeleli kwisicombululo soxolo. Ngaba sinokwenza okufanayo?
Kutheni Kufuneka Sithozame?
15 UGidiyon ngumzekelo omhle wokuthozama. Xa ingelosi yafika kuye okokuqala, ngoko nangoko wayixelela ngemvelaphi yakhe ephantsi nangokungafaneleki kwakhe. (ABagwe. 6:15) Emva kokuba esamkele isabelo esivela kuYehova, waqinisekisa ukuba uyazi kakuhle into ekwakufuneka ayenze kwaye wayesoloko efuna uYehova amkhokele. (ABagwe. 6:36-40) UGidiyon wayenesibindi nenkalipho. Sekunjalo, wayelumkile yaye ecinga ngaphambi kokuba enze. (ABagwe. 6:11, 27) Akazange axhakamfule eso sabelo kuba efuna ukuduma. Kunoko, lathi lakufika ixesha lokuba siphele, wakuvuyela ukubuyela kwindawo awayekuyo ngaphambili.—ABagwe. 8:22, 23, 29.
Hamba Ngeendlela ZikaYehova
9 Ukuze sibe ngabahlobo bakaThixo, simele ‘sithobeke engqondweni.’ (1 Pet. 3:8; INdu. 138:6) KuBagwebi isahluko 9 sifunda ngokubaluleka kokuthobeka. Unyana kaGidiyon uYotham wathi: “Kwathi ngaxa lithile imithi yaya kuthambisa ukumkani phezu kwayo.” Wakhankanya umthi womnquma, owomkhiwane nowomdiliya. Le mithi yayimela abantu abafanelekayo abangazange bafune ukulawula amanye amaSirayeli. Kodwa iqunube—elisetyenziselwa amafutha kuphela—lalimela ubukumkani buka-Abhimeleki onekratshi, umbulali owayethanda ukucinezela abanye. Nangona “wazenza inkosana kwaSirayeli iminyaka emithathu,” wafa ngequbuliso. (ABagwe. 9:8-15, 22, 50-54) Kubaluleke ngokwenene ‘ukuthobeka engqondweni.’
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
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Iefodi, I
Nangona uGidiyon wayefuna ukuzukisa uYehova aze akhumbule nendlela uYehova awenza amaSirayeli oyisa ngayo, iefodi “yaba ngumgibe kuGidiyon nendlu yakhe,” kuba amaSirayeli aye ayikhonza. (ABa 8:27) Kodwa ke iBhayibhile ayitsho ukuba uGidiyon wayikhonza; kangangokuba, umpostile uPawulos uthi ngomnye wamangqina kaYehova ‘akwilifu elikhulu’ awayephila ngaphambi kwexesha lamaKristu.—Heb 11:32; 12:1.
DISEMBA 20-26
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | ABAGWEBI 10-12
“UYifeta—Indoda Eyayijongise Amehlo Ayo KuYehova”
Ukuthembeka Kuyamkholisa UThixo
9 Kusenokwenzeka ukuba uYifeta wancedwa ngumzekelo kaYosefu. Umele ukuba wayefundile ngendlela uYosefu awabonakalisa ngayo inceba kubantakwabo, nakuba babemcaphukela. (Gen 37:4; 45:4, 5) Ukucingisisa ngalo mzekelo, kumele ukuba kwamnceda uYifeta asabele ngendlela eyayimkholisa uYehova. Oko kwenziwa ngabantakwabo, kwamvisa ubuhlungu nyhani uYifeta. Sekunjalo, ukulwela igama likaYehova kwakubaluleke ngakumbi kuneemvakalelo zakhe. (ABa 11:9) Wayezimisele ukuthembeka kuYehova. Esi simo sengqondo samzisela intsikelelo kaYehova, yena namaSirayeli.—Heb 11:32, 33.
it-2-E 27 ¶2
UYifeta
UYifeta, wayeyindoda eyayisenza izinto zenzeke ibe zange achithe xesha, waye wabakhokela kakuhle abantu. Wathumela umyalezo kukumkani wama-Amoni emxelela ukuba ngama-Amoni awayehlasela umhlaba wamaSirayeli. Ukumkani wathi amaSirayeli ayewuthathe kuma-Amoni lo mhlaba. (ABa 11:12, 13) Eli yaba lithuba elihle lokuba uYifeta azibonakalise ukuba akayonkokeli ethanda ingxabano, nengenambeko kunoko wayezazi kakuhle izinto ezazisenzeka kudala eyazi nendlela uThixo awayebaphatha ngayo abantu bakhe. Wayiphikisa into eyayithethwa ngama-Amoni waze wawabonisa ukuba (1) amaSirayeli zange awuthathe umhlaba wama-Amoni, wamaMowabhi, nowamaEdom (ABa 11:14-18; Dut 2:9, 19, 37; 2Kr 20:10, 11); (2) ama-Amoni ayengekahlali kulo mhlaba ngela xesha kuba wawuse ngowamaAmori ibe uThixo wayenikele ukumkani wabo uSihon kunye nomhlaba wabo kumaSirayeli; (3) kwakusele kuphele iminyaka eyi-300 amaSirayeli ehlala kuwo lo mhlaba ibe ama-Amoni zange akhe awakhalazele nakanye, yayingavakali eyokuba aqale ngoku ukuwakhalazela.—ABa 11:19-27.
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UYifeta
UYifeta wayeyiqonda ukuba eyona ngxaki ibangelwa yinto enokwenza nokukhonza. Wathi nguYehova uThixo onike uSirayeli lo mhlaba ibe ngenxa yaloo nto babengasoze bawunike abantu ababekhonza oothixo bobuxoki. Wathi uthixo wama-Amoni nguKemoshe. Abanye bathi yayingenguye. Nangona ama-Amoni ayenothixo uMilkom, amaMowabhi enothixo uKemoshe, zonke ezontlanga zazikhonza oothixo abaninzi. USolomon wenza ukuba kukhonzwe isithixo uKemoshe kwaSirayeli ngenxa yabafazi bakhe bezinye iintlanga. (ABa 11:24; 1Ku 11:1, 7, 8, 33; 2Ku 23:13) Abanye abaphandi bathi igama elithi “Kemoshe” lisenokuthetha “Lowo Uphumelelayo”. (Jonga iGesenius’s Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon, eguqulelwe nguS. Tregelles, 1901, iphe. 401.) UYifeta kusenokwenzeka ukuba wathi ama-Amoni acinga ukuba ngulothixo wabo uKemoshe oye wabanika umhlaba waze ‘waphumelela ekulawuleni’ ezinye iintlanga.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
it-2-E 26
UYifeta
UYifeta-UNyana Ozelelwe Emtshatweni. UYifeta “wayengunyana womfazi othengisa ngomzimba” kodwa loo nto ayithethi ukuthi wayezalwe ngaphandle komtshato. Umama wakhe wayethengisa ngomzimba ngaphambi kokuba abe ngumfazi wesibini kaGiliyadi, njengokuba noRahabhi wayethengisa ngomzimba waze emva kwexesha watshata noSalmon. (ABa 11:1; Yos 2:1; Mat 1:5) Enye into ebonisa ukuba uYifeta wayengazelwanga ngaphandle komtshato, kukuba wagxothwa ngabantakwabo ababezelwe ngumfazi wokuqala kaGiliyadi ukuze angafumani lifa. (ABa 11:2) Nangona abantakwabo Yifeta babebonakala ingathi ngabona babebalulekile, kwakhethwa uYifeta ukuba abe yinkokeli yamadoda akwaGiliyadi. (ABa 11:11) Enye into kukuba wabingelela kuThixo esibingelelweni. (ABa 11:30, 31) Ukuba wayengunyana ozelwe ngaphandle komtshato nyhani, zonke ezi zinto ngezingazange zenzeke kuba uMthetho wawusithi: “Makangangeni ebandleni likaYehova unyana ozelwe ngaphandle komtshato. Makungabikho nzala yakhe ingena ebandleni likaYehova ukuya kutsho nakwisizukulwana sakhe seshumi.”—Dut 23:2.
DISEMBA 27–JANUWARI 2
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | ABAGWEBI 13-14
“Izinto Abazali Abanokuzifunda KuManowa Nomfazi Wakhe”
Bazali Qeqeshani Abantwana Benu Kwasebusaneni
Cinga nje ngoManowa wakwaDan, owayehlala kwisixeko saseTsora kwaSirayeli mandulo. Ingelosi kaYehova yaxelela umfazi kaManowa olidlolo ukuba wayeza kuzala unyana. (ABagwe. 13:2, 3) Akuthandabuzeki ukuba uManowa othembekileyo nomfazi wakhe kwabavuyisa oku. Kodwa ke, zazikho izinto ezibaxhalabisayo. Ngoko ke uManowa wathandaza wathi: “Ndiyangxengxeza, Yehova. Lo mntu kaThixo oyinyaniso osandul’ ukumthumela, nceda umzise kuthi kwakhona aze asiyalele oko simele sikwenze emntwaneni oya kuzalwa.” (ABagwe 13:8) UManowa nomfazi wakhe babekuxhalabele ukukhuliswa komntwana wabo. Ngokuqinisekileyo bafundisa unyana wabo, uSamson, umthetho kaThixo yaye imigudu yabo yaphumelela. Ngokutsho kweBhayibhile, “Ekuhambeni kwexesha umoya kaYehova wamqhuba [uSamson].” Umphumo yaba kukuba, uSamson wenza imisebenzi yamandla emininzi njengomnye wabagwebi bakwaSirayeli.—ABag. 13:25; 14:5, 6; 15:14, 15.
USamson Uyoyisa Ngenxa Yamandla KaYehova!
Njengoko uSamson ekhula, ‘uYehova wamsikelela.’ (ABagwebi 13:24) Ngenye imini uSamson waya kuyise nonina wathi: “Kukho umfazi endimbonileyo eTimna ezintombini zamaFilisti, kwaye ke ndithabatheleni yena njengomfazi.” (ABagwebi 14:2) Unokuyicingela nje indlela abothuka ngayo. Kunokuba akhulule amaSirayeli kubacinezeli, unyana wabo wayefuna ukwakha ubuhlobo ngokutshata nentombi yabo. Ukutshata nentombi engumnquli wezithixo zobuhedeni kwakungavunyelwa nguMthetho kaThixo. (Eksodus 34:11-16) Ngenxa yoko, abazali bakhe bala besithi: “Akukho mfazi na phakathi kweentombi zabazalwana bakho naphakathi kwabo bonke abantu bakowethu, ukuba uye kuthabatha umfazi kumaFilisti angalukanga?” Sekunjalo, uSamson wazingisa esithi: ‘Ndithabatheleni nje yena, ngenxa yokuba nguye kanye olungileyo emehlweni am.’—ABagwebi 14:3.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
USamson Uyoyisa Ngenxa Yamandla KaYehova!
Lo mFilistikazi waba “nguye kanye olungileyo” njani kuSamson? IMcClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia ithi, wayengenguye ngenxa yokuba “wayemanz’ andonga, ethi ndijonge, enomtsalane, kodwa kwakungenxa yenjongo ethile.” Yiyiphi loo njongo? Incwadi yaBagwebi 14:4 ithi uSamson “wayefuna ithuba nxamnye namaFilisti.” USamson waba nomdla ngenxa yaloo njongo kwelo bhinqa. Njengoko uSamson ekhula, “umoya kaYehova wamqhuba” ukuba enze okuthile. (ABagwebi 13:25) Ngoko ngumoya kaYehova owawubangela uSamson enze eso sicelo somfazi singaqhelekanga nokuba abe ngumgwebi kwaSirayeli. Ngaba uSamson walifumana elo thuba wayelifuna? Makhe siqale sibone indlela uYehova amqinisekisa ngayo ukuba uza kumnceda.