UJehova—“UNkulunkulu Onika Ukuthula”
“Kwangathi uNkulunkulu onika ukuthula angaba nani nonke.”—ROMA 15:33.
1, 2. Isiphi isimo esishubile esichazwa kuGenesise isahluko 32 no-33, futhi waba yini umphumela?
KUSEDUZE nasePhenuweli, eduze kwesigodi sesifufula saseJabhoki empumalanga yomfula iJordani. U-Esawu usezwile ukuthi umfowabo ayiwele naye, uJakobe, uyabuya ekhaya. Ngisho noma sekudlule iminyaka engu-20 u-Esawu adayisela umfowabo ubuzibulo bakhe, uJakobe wesaba ukuthi kungenzeka umfowabo usambambele amagqubu futhi angase ambulale. Ephelezelwa amadoda angu-400, u-Esawu uya kumfowabo ababexabene naye. Enexhala lokuthi angase angamukelwa ngokuthula, uJakobe uthumela ku-Esawu izipho eziningi zezilwane ezifuywayo ezingaphezu kuka-550. Izinceku zikaJakobe eziqhuba umhlambi ngamunye zitshela u-Esawu ukuthi lesi isipho esivela kumfowabo.
2 Ekugcineni bayahlangana! Njengoba uJakobe equnga isibindi eya ku-Esawu, uyakhothama—hhayi kanye kodwa izikhathi eziyisikhombisa. Kakade uJakobe ubesesithathile isinyathelo esibaluleke kakhulu ukuze athambise inhliziyo yomfowabo. Uye wathandaza kuJehova ecela ukuba amkhulule esandleni sika-Esawu. Ingabe uJehova uyawuphendula lo mthandazo? Yebo. IBhayibheli liyasitshela: “U-Esawu wagijima wamhlangabeza, wamgona wawela entanyeni yakhe wamanga.”—Gen. 32:11-20; 33:1-4.
3. Sifundani endabeni kaJakobe no-Esawu?
3 Indaba kaJakobe no-Esawu ibonisa ukuthi kufanele sithathe izinyathelo ezingokoqobo futhi senze umzamo oqotho wokulungisa izinto lapho kuphakama izinkinga ezingase zisongele ukuthula esikujabulela ebandleni lobuKristu. UJakobe wayefuna ukwenza ukuthula no-Esawu, kodwa hhayi ngoba wayemonile umfowabo futhi kudingeka axolise. Cha, u-Esawu wayelidelele ilungelo lakhe lobuzibulo futhi walidayisela uJakobe ngesitshulu nje. (Gen. 25:31-34; Heb. 12:16) Nokho, indlela uJakobe aya ngayo ku-Esawu ibonisa ukuthi kufanele sizikhandle kangakanani ukuze silondoloze ukuthula nabafowethu abangamaKristu. Ibonisa nokuthi uNkulunkulu weqiniso uyayibusisa imizamo yokwenza ukuthula esiyenza ngosizo lomthandazo. IBhayibheli linezinye izibonelo eziningi ezisifundisa ukuba sibe abenzi bokuthula.
Isibonelo Esihle Kakhulu Esisikhuthazayo
4. Iliphi ilungiselelo elenziwa uNkulunkulu ukuze asindise isintu esonweni nasekufeni?
4 Isibonelo esihle kakhulu somenzi wokuthula esikaJehova—“uNkulunkulu onika ukuthula.” (Roma 15:33) Cabanga ngalokho akwenza ukuze sikwazi ukuba nobuhlobo obunokuthula naye. Njengenzalo ka-Adamu no-Eva enesono, sifanelwe “inkokhelo yesono.” (Roma 6:23) Nokho, ngenxa yothando lwakhe, uJehova wahlela ukuba sithole insindiso ngokuthumela iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo isuka ezulwini izozalwa njengomuntu ophelele. Le Ndodana yavumelana nalokho ngokuzithandela. Yavuma ukubulawa izitha zikaNkulunkulu. (Joh. 10:17, 18) UNkulunkulu weqiniso wayivusa iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo, eyabe isinika uYise inani legazi layo elachitheka, elaliyoba isihlengo esisindisa izoni eziphendukayo ekufeni kwaphakade.—Funda amaHebheru 9:14, 24.
5, 6. Igazi likaJesu elachitheka libuthinta kanjani ubuhlobo obulimele phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nesintu esinesono?
5 Ilungiselelo lomhlatshelo wesihlengo weNdodana kaNkulunkulu libuthinta kanjani ubuhlobo obulimele phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nesintu esinesono? U-Isaya 53:5 uthi: “Isijeziso esasihloselwe ukuba thina sibe nokuthula sasiphezu kwakhe, futhi ngenxa yamanxeba akhe kubé khona ukuphulukiswa kwethu.” Kunokuba babhekwe njengezitha zikaNkulunkulu, manje abantu abalalelayo bangaba nobuhlobo obunokuthula naye. “Ngaye [uJesu] sitholé ukukhululwa ngesihlengo esingegazi lakhe lowo, yebo, ukuthethelelwa kweziphambeko zethu.”—Efe. 1:7.
6 IBhayibheli lithi: “UNkulunkulu wabona kukuhle ukuba ukugcwala konke kuhlale [kuKristu].” Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi uKristu uyisihluthulelo ekugcwalisekeni kwenjongo kaNkulunkulu. Iyini injongo kaJehova? ‘Iwukubuyisela zonke ezinye izinto ngokwenza ukuthula ngegazi elathululwa’ likaJesu Kristu. Ngakho, “zonke ezinye izinto” uNkulunkulu azenza zibe nobuhlobo obunokuthula naye, ‘ziyizinto ezisemazulwini nezinto ezisemhlabeni.’ Ziyini?—Funda eyabaseKolose 1:19, 20.
7. Ziyini “izinto ezisemazulwini” ‘nezinto ezisemhlabeni’ eziba nobuhlobo obunokuthula noNkulunkulu?
7 Ilungiselelo lesihlengo lenza amaKristu agcotshiwe, okuye ‘kwathiwa alungile’ njengamadodana kaNkulunkulu, akwazi ‘ukujabulela ukuthula noNkulunkulu.’ (Funda amaRoma 5:1.) Yiwo okuthiwa ‘ayizinto ezisemazulwini’ ngoba anethemba lasezulwini futhi “ayobusa njengamakhosi phezu komhlaba,” akhonze nanjengabapristi kuNkulunkulu. (IsAm. 5:10) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, “izinto ezisemhlabeni” zibhekisela kubantu abaphendukayo, ekugcineni abayothola ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni.—IHu. 37:29.
8. Uzizwa kanjani lapho uzindla ngalokho uJehova akwenza ukuze isintu sikwazi ukuba nokuthula naye?
8 Ebonisa ukwazisa kwakhe okusuka enhliziyweni ngelungiselelo likaJehova, uPawulu wabhalela amaKristu agcotshiwe e-Efesu: “UNkulunkulu, ocebile ngesihe, . . . wasiphilisa kanye noKristu, ngisho nalapho sasifile eziphambekweni—ngomusa ongafanelwe nisindisiwe.” (Efe. 2:4, 5) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinethemba lasezulwini noma lasemhlabeni, simkweleta kakhulu uNkulunkulu ngenxa yesihe nomusa wakhe ongafanelwe. Izinhliziyo zethu zichichima ukwazisa njengoba sifunda lokho uJehova akwenza ukuze isintu sikwazi ukuba nokuthula naye. Lapho sibhekana nezimo ezisongela ubunye obunokuthula bebandla, ukuzindla ngokwazisa ngesibonelo sikaNkulunkulu akufanele yini kusishukumisele ukuba sibe abenzi bokuthula?
Esikufundayo Kulokho Okwenziwa U-Abrahama No-Isaka
9, 10. U-Abrahama wazibonakalisa kanjani engumenzi wokuthula lapho esebenzelana noLoti ngesikhathi kuphakama ingxabano phakathi kwabelusi babo?
9 Ngokuphathelene nenzalamizi u-Abrahama, iBhayibheli lithi: “‘U-Abrahama waba nokholo kuJehova, kwabalelwa kuye njengokulunga,’ futhi wabizwa ngokuthi ‘umngane kaJehova.’” (Jak. 2:23) Ukholo luka-Abrahama lwabonakala ngezindlela zakhe ezibonisa ukuthi wayethanda ukuthula. Ngokwesibonelo, njengoba imihlambi ka-Abrahama yezimvu nezinkomo yanda, kwaba nengxabano phakathi kwabelusi bakhe nabomshana wakhe uLoti. (Gen. 12:5; 13:7) Ikhambi elisobala kwakuwukuba u-Abrahama noLoti bahlukane. U-Abrahama wayeyosisingatha kanjani lesi simo esibucayi? Kunokuba asebenzise ubudala nesikhundla sakhe phambi kukaNkulunkulu ukuba atshele umshana wakhe lokho okufanele akwenze, u-Abrahama wazibonakalisa engumenzi wokuthula wangempela.
10 U-Abrahama wathi kumshana wakhe: “Ngiyacela, makungabikho kuxabana okuqhubeka phakathi kwami nawe naphakathi kwabelusi bakho nabelusi bami, ngoba thina siyazalana.” Le nzalamizi yaqhubeka: “Izwe lonke alikho yini esandleni sakho? Ngiyacela, masihlukane. Uma uya kwesobunxele, mina ngizoya kwesokunene; kodwa uma uya kwesokunene, mina ngizokuya kwesobunxele.” ULoti wakhetha ingxenye yezwe eyayivunde kakhulu, kodwa u-Abrahama akazange amcasukele ngalokho. (Gen. 13:8-11) Kamuva lapho uLoti ethunjwe amabutho ayehlasele, u-Abrahama akazange anqikaze ukuyomophula umshana wakhe.—Gen. 14:14-16.
11. U-Abrahama wakuphishekela kanjani ukuthula nomakhelwane bakhe abangamaFilisti?
11 Cabanga nangendlela u-Abrahama aphishekela ngayo ukuthula nomakhelwane bakhe abangamaFilisti ezweni laseKhanani. AmaFilisti ‘ayethathe ngobudlova’ umthombo wamanzi owawugujwe izinceku zika-Abrahama eBheri-sheba. Indoda eyayophule umshana wayo ngokunqoba amakhosi amane ayemthumbile yayizosabela kanjani kulesi senzo? Kunokuba aphindisele ngokulwa abuyise umthombo wakhe, u-Abrahama wakhetha ukuzithulela. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, inkosi yamaFilisti yavakashela u-Abrahama izokwenza naye isivumelwano sokuthula. Kwakungemva kokuba inkosi yamaFilisti isifungise u-Abrahama ukuba abe nomusa enzalweni yayo lapho u-Abrahama akhuluma nayo ngendaba yokwebiwa komthombo wakhe. Yashaqeka lapho izwa lokhu, futhi yabuyisela umthombo ku-Abrahama. U-Abrahama waqhubeka ephila ngokuthula njengomfokazi kulelo zwe.—Gen. 21:22-31, 34.
12, 13. (a) U-Isaka wasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sikayise? (b) UJehova wazibusisa kanjani izindlela zika-Isaka zokuthanda ukuthula?
12 Indodana ka-Abrahama, u-Isaka, yalingisa izindlela zikayise zokuthanda ukuthula. Lokhu kubonakala endleleni u-Isaka asebenzelana ngayo namaFilisti. Ngenxa yendlala eyayisezweni, u-Isaka wathutha nomkhaya wakhe baya enyakatho besuka eBheri-lahayi-royi indawo eyayomile eseNegebhi baya endaweni evunde kakhudlwana yamaFilisti eGerari. Kuleyo ndawo uJehova wambusisa ngesivuno esiyinala futhi wandisa imfuyo yakhe. AmaFilisti aqala ukuba nomona ngaye. Engafuni ukuba u-Isaka achume njengoyise, agqiba imithombo eyayigujwe izinceku zika-Abrahama kuleyo ndawo. Ekugcineni, inkosi yamaFilisti yatshela u-Isaka ukuba ‘asuke angabe esakhelana nawo.’ U-Isaka indoda enokuthula yasuka.—Gen. 24:62; 26:1, 12-17.
13 Ngemva kokuba u-Isaka ethuthele kude kakhulu, abelusi bakhe bagubha omunye umthombo. Abelusi abangamaFilisti bathi lawo manzi kwakungawabo. Njengoyise, u-Abrahama, u-Isaka akazange alwele umthombo. Kunalokho, waphinde wacela abelusi bakhe ukuba bagubhe omunye umthombo. AmaFilisti aphinde athi nalona owawo. Ukuze kube nokuthula, u-Isaka waphinde wathutha umkhaya wakhe omkhulu waya kwenye indawo. Ngesikhathi belapho izinceku zakhe zagubha umthombo u-Isaka awubiza ngokuthi iRehobhoti. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, wathuthela endaweni evunde kakhulu yaseBheri-Sheba, lapho uJehova ambusisa khona wathi: “Ungesabi, ngoba nginawe, futhi ngizokubusisa ngandise inzalo yakho ngenxa ka-Abrahama inceku yami.”—Gen. 26:17-25.
14. U-Isaka wazibonakalisa kanjani engumenzi wokuthula lapho inkosi yamaFilisti ifuna ukwenza naye isivumelwano sokuthula?
14 Ngokuqinisekile, u-Isaka wayenawo amandla okulwela ilungelo lakhe lokusebenzisa yonke imithombo eyayimbiwe izinceku zakhe. Kakade, inkosi yamaFilisti nezikhulu zayo beza kuye eBheri-sheba befuna ukuzokwenza isivumelwano sokuthula naye, futhi bafike bathi: “Sibonile ngokuqinisekile ukuthi uJehova unawe.” Nokho, ukuze agcine ukuthula, u-Isaka wanquma kaningi ukuthutha kunokuba alwe. Nakulokhu, u-Isaka wazibonakalisa engumenzi wokuthula. Ukulandisa kuthi: ‘Wenzela izivakashi zakhe idili zadla zaphuza. Ngakusasa bavuka kusesekuseni kakhulu bafunga omunye komunye. Ngemva kwalokho u-Isaka wazimukisa ngokuthula.’—Gen. 26:26-31.
Esikufunda Endodaneni UJakobe Ayeyithanda Kunawo Wonke
15. Kungani abafowabo bakaJosefa babengakwazi ukukhuluma naye ngokuthula?
15 Indodana ka-Isaka uJakobe yakhula yaba “indoda engasoleki.” (Gen. 25:27) Njengoba kukhulunywe ngaye ekuqaleni, uJakobe wafuna ukwenza ukuthula nomfowabo, u-Esawu. Akungabazeki ukuthi uJakobe wazuza esibonelweni sikayise owayenokuthula, u-Isaka. Singathini ngamadodana kaJakobe? Emadodaneni akhe angu-12, uJakobe wayethanda uJosefa kakhulu. UJosefa wayeyindodana elalelayo nehloniphayo eyayikhathalela ngokujulile izinto zikayise. (Gen. 37:2, 14) Nokho, abafowabo bakaJosefa abadala baqala ukuba nomona ngaye kangangokuthi babengakwazi ukukhuluma naye ngokuthula. Unya lwabo lwabashukumisela ukuba badayisele uJosefa ebugqilini futhi bakhohlise uyise ukuba akholelwe ukuthi uJosefa wayebulewe isilo sasendle.—Gen. 37:4, 28, 31-33.
16, 17. UJosefa wazibonakalisa kanjani kubafowabo ukuthi uthanda ukuthula?
16 UJehova wazibonakalisa enoJosefa. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uJosefa waba undunankulu waseGibhithe—engowesibili embusweni ngemva kukaFaro kuphela. Lapho indlala enkulu yenza abafowabo ukuba beze eGibhithe, abakwazanga ngisho nokumbona njengoba ayegqoke izingubo zakhe zezikhulu zaseGibhithe. (Gen. 42:5-7) Yeka ukuthi kwakuyoba lula kanjani ngoJosefa ukuba aziphindiselele kubafowabo ngenxa yonya abalubonisa kuye nakuyise! Nokho, kunokuba aziphindiselele, uJosefa wazama ukwenza ukuthula nabo. Lapho kuba sobala ukuthi abafowabo babephendukile, waziveza kubo, ethi: “Ningezwa ubuhlungu futhi ningazithukutheleli ngokuthi nangithengisa lapha; ngoba uNkulunkulu wangithumela ngaphambi kwenu ukuze kulondolozwe ukuphila.” Wabe esebanga bonke abafowabo wakhala phezu kwabo.—Gen. 45:1, 5, 15.
17 Ngemva kokufa kukayise, uJakobe, abafowabo bakaJosefa bacabanga ukuthi angase aziphindiselele kubo. Njengoba bemtshela ngokwesaba ababenakho, uJosefa “waqhumuka wakhala izinyembezi” futhi wabaphendula: “Ningesabi. Mina ngizoqhubeka ngininika ukudla nina nabantwana benu abancane.” UJosefa othanda ukuthula “wabaduduza wabaqinisekisa.”—Gen. 50:15-21.
“Zalotshelwa Ukuba Kufundiswe Thina”
18, 19. (a) Uzuzeni ngokucabangela izibonelo zabenzi bokuthula okuxoxwe ngazo kulesi sihloko? (b) Sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?
18 UPawulu wabhala: “Zonke izinto ezalotshwa esikhathini esingaphambili zalotshelwa ukuba kufundiswe thina, ukuze kuthi ngokukhuthazela kwethu nangenduduzo evela emiBhalweni sibe nethemba.” (Roma 15:4) Sizuzeni ngokungacabangeli kuphela isibonelo esihle kakhulu sikaJehova kodwa nokulandisa okusemiBhalweni okuphathelene no-Abrahama, u-Isaka, uJakobe noJosefa?
19 Ukuzindla ngokwazisa ngalokho uJehova aye wakwenza ukuze alungise ubuhlobo obabonakele phakathi kwakhe nesintu esinesono akusishukumiseli yini ukuba senze konke esingakwenza ukuze siphishekele ukuthula nabanye? Isibonelo sika-Abrahama, u-Isaka, uJakobe nesikaJosefa zibonisa ukuthi abazali bangaba nethonya elihle ezinganeni zabo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lokhu kulandisa kubonisa nokuthi uJehova uyayibusisa imizamo yalabo abazama ukwenza ukuthula. Yingakho uPawulu abhekisela kuJehova ‘njengoNkunkulu onika ukuthula’! (Funda amaRoma 15:33; 16:20.) Isihloko esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngokuthi kungani uPawulu agcizelela isidingo sokuba siphishekele ukuthula nokuthi singaba kanjani abenzi bokuthula.
Ufundeni?
• UJakobe wakufuna kanjani ukuthula lapho esezohlangana no-Esawu?
• Kukuthinte kanjani lokho uJehova akwenzile ukuze isintu sikwazi ukuba nokuthula naye?
• Ufundeni ezibonelweni zalaba benzi bokuthula: u-Abrahama, u-Isaka, uJakobe noJosefa?
[Izithombe ekhasini 23]
Isiphi isinyathelo esibaluleke kakhulu esathathwa uJakobe ukuze enze ukuthula no-Esawu?