Khulekela UJehova, INkosi Engunaphakade

1, 2. (a) Ubani ‘oyiNkosi engunaphakade,’ futhi kungani lesi siqu sifaneleka? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.) (b) Yini ephathelene nobukhosi bukaJehova esisondeza kuye?

INKOSI USOBHUZA ll yaseSwazini yabusa iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-61. Iminyaka eminingi leyo emakhosini anamuhla. Nakuba ubude bokubusa kwayo buphawuleka ngale ndlela, kunenkosi ukubusa kwayo okungalinganiselwa isikhathi esifushane sokuphila kwabantu. Eqinisweni iBhayibheli liyibiza ngokuthi ‘iNkosi engunaphakade.’ (1 Thim. 1:17) Umhubi wasitshela igama lalo Mbusi: “UJehova uyiNkosi kuze kube nini nanini, yebo kuze kube phakade.”—IHu. 10:16.

² Ubude bokubusa kukaNkulunkulu benza ukubusa kwakhe kungafani nokwanoma imuphi omunye umuntu. Nokho, into esisondeza kuye, indlela abusa ngayo. Inkosi eyabusa iminyaka engu-40 kwa-Israyeli wasendulo yadumisa uNkulunkulu ngala mazwi: “UJehova unesihe futhi unomusa, uyephuza ukuthukuthela futhi uchichima umusa wothando. UJehova usimisé saqina isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi emazulwini ngokwawo; futhi ubukhosi bakhe bubusé phezu kwakho konke.” (IHu. 103:8, 19) UJehova akagcini ngokuba iNkosi yethu, kodwa futhi unguBaba wethu—uBaba wethu osezulwini onothando. Lokhu kuphakamisa imibuzo emibili: UJehova uye wabonisa ngaziphi izindlela ukuthi unguBaba? UJehova uye wabusebenzisa ngayiphi indlela ubukhosi bakhe kusukela ekuvukeleni kwase-Edene? Izimpendulo zale mibuzo zizosishukumisela ukuba sisondele kuJehova futhi simkhulekele ngenhliziyo yethu yonke.

INKOSI ENGUNAPHAKADE IBA NOMKHAYA WENDAWO YONKE

3. Ubani owaba ilungu lokuqala lomkhaya kaJehova wendawo yonke, futhi obani abanye abadalwa baba “amadodana” kaNkulunkulu?

³ Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba uJehova wajabula kanjani lapho edala iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa! UNkulunkulu akazange aphathe leli zibulo lakhe njengesidalwa esiphansi. Kunalokho, walithanda njengeNdodana futhi walicela ukuba lihlanganyele naye enjabulweni yokudala ezinye izidalwa eziphelele. (Kol. 1:15-17) Zahlanganisa namashumi ezinkulungwane zezingelosi. Njengoba zichazwa ‘njengezikhonzi zakhe ezenza intando yakhe,’ izingelosi zikhonza uNkulunkulu ngenjabulo futhi uzihlonipha ngelungelo lokuzibiza ‘ngamadodana’ akhe. Ziyingxenye yomkhaya kaJehova wendawo yonke.—IHu. 103:20-22; Jobe 38:7.

4. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba umkhaya kaNkulunkulu wendawo yonke uhlanganise nabantu?

⁴ Kwathi lapho esedale amazulu abonakalayo nomhlaba, uJehova wawandisa umkhaya wakhe wendawo yonke. Ngemva kokuba elungise umhlaba waba ikhaya elihle elikwaziyo ukuzisekela, uJehova wayiphothula ngeqophelo eliphezulu kakhulu imisebenzi yakhe yasemhlabeni ngokudala umuntu wokuqala, u-Adamu, ngomfanekiso waKhe. (Gen. 1:26-28) NjengoMdali, kwakufaneleka ukuba alindele ukuba u-Adamu amlalele. NjengoBaba, zonke iziyalezo zakhe, uJehova wayezinikeza ngothando nangomusa. Lezo ziqondiso zazingayinswinyi neze inkululeko yomuntu.—Funda uGenesise 2:15-17.

5. Iliphi ilungiselelo uNkulunkulu alenza ukuze agcwalise umhlaba ngabantwana bakhe abangabantu?

⁵ Ngokungafani namakhosi amaningi, uJehova uyakujabulela ukuphathisa izikhonzi zakhe imithwalo yemfanelo, eziphatha njengamalungu athenjwayo omkhaya wakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, wanikeza u-Adamu igunya lokubusa ezinye izidalwa eziphilayo, waze wamnika nesabelo esijabulisayo nesiyinselele sokuqamba izilwane amagama. (Gen. 1:26; 2:19, 20) UNkulunkulu akazange adale izigidi zabantu abaphelele ezazizogcwalisa umhlaba. Kunalokho, wakhetha ukudalela u-Adamu umphelelisi owayephelele—owesifazane, u-Eva. (Gen. 2:21, 22) Wabe esenika lo mbhangqwana ithuba lokugcwalisa umhlaba ngezingane zawo. Ngaphansi kwezimo eziphelele, abantu babengaqhubeka benweba imingcele yePharadesi ize ifinyelele kuwo wonke amagumbi omhlaba. Bekanye nezingelosi ezisezulwini, babengakhulekela uJehova phakade njengengxenye yomkhaya wakhe wendawo yonke. Yeka ukuthi babenethuba eliyingqayizivele kangakanani! Yeka ukuthi lokhu kuyisibonakaliso esihle kanjani sothando lukaJehova njengoBaba!

ABANTWANA ABAVUKELAYO BENQABA UBUKHOSI BUKANKULUNKULU

6. (a) Kwaqala kanjani ukuvukela emkhayeni kaNkulunkulu? (b) Kungani lokho kuvukela kwakungasho ukuthi uJehova wayesephelelwe amandla okulawula?

⁶ Kuyadabukisa ukuthi u-Adamu no-Eva abazange baneliseke ngokuba noJehova njengoMbusi wabo. Kunalokho, bakhetha ukulandela indodana kaNkulunkulu yomoya evukelayo, uSathane. (Gen. 3:1-6) Ukuphila bengabuswa uNkulunkulu kwaletha ubuhlungu, ukuhlupheka nokufa kubo nasenzalweni yabo. (Gen. 3:16-19; Roma 5:12) UNkulunkulu wayengasenazo izikhonzi ezilalelayo emhlabeni. Ingabe lokho kusho ukuthi wayesephelelwe amandla okulawula, ukuthi wayesebudikilile ububusi bakhe phezu komhlaba nabakhileyo kuwo? Lutho neze! Walisebenzisa igunya lakhe ngokuxosha u-Adamu no-Eva ensimini yase-Edene, futhi ukuze abavimbele ukuba bangabuyeli kuyo, wamisa amakherubi ukuba aqaphe isango. (Gen. 3:23, 24) Ngesikhathi esifanayo, uNkulunkulu wabonisa uthando lwakhe njengoBaba ngokuqinisekisa ukuthi injongo yakhe yokuba nomkhaya wendawo yonke wabantwana bomoya nabangabantu abazinikele kuye yayiyofezeka. Wathembisa ukuthi kuzoba ‘nenzalo’ eyayizochoboza uSathane futhi ilungise imiphumela yesono sika-Adamu.—Funda uGenesise 3:15.

7, 8. (a) Izimo zase zizimbi kangakanani ngesikhathi sikaNowa? (b) Imaphi amalungiselelo uJehova awenza ukuze ahlanze umhlaba futhi alondoloze umkhaya wabantu?

⁷ Emakhulwini eminyaka alandela, kunabantu abakhetha ukuba qotho kuJehova. U-Abela no-Enoke bangabanye babo. Nokho, abaningi bamenqaba uJehova njengoBaba neNkosi yabo. Ngesikhathi sikaNowa, umhlaba ‘wawusugcwele ubudlova.’ (Gen. 6:11) Ingabe lokho kusho ukuthi uJehova wayengasenalo igunya lokulawula okwakwenzeka emhlabeni? Umlando wembulani?

⁸ Cabanga ngendaba kaNowa. UJehova wamnikeza amapulani aningiliziwe neziqondiso zokwakha umkhumbi omkhulu ukuze yena nomkhaya wakhe basinde. UNkulunkulu wabonisa uthando olukhulu ngawo wonke umkhaya wakhe wabantu nangokuyala uNowa ukuba abe “umshumayeli wokulunga.” (2 Pet. 2:5) Akungabazeki ukuthi isigijimi sikaNowa sahlanganisa ukumemezela ukuphenduka nezixwayiso ngembubhiso eyayisondela, kodwa abantu abazange bamlalele. Kwaphela amashumi eminyaka uNowa nomkhaya wakhe behlala ezweni elinobudlova nokuziphatha okubi okunyantisayo. NjengoBaba okhathalelayo, uJehova wayivikela futhi wayibusisa leyo miphefumulo eyisishiyagalombili eqotho. Ukuletha kwakhe uZamcolo wembulunga yonke kwabonisa ukuthi uJehova wayenegunya phezu kwalabo bantu abavukelayo nezingelosi ezimbi. Yebo, uJehova wayenegunya eligcwele.—Gen. 7:17-24.

UBUKHOSI BUKAJEHOVA NGEMVA KUKAZAMCOLO

9. Iliphi ithuba uJehova alinika abantu ngemva kukaZamcolo?

⁹ Njengoba uNowa nomkhaya wakhe beqala ukuphila emhlabeni ohlanziwe futhi bephefumula umoya ohlanzekile, akungabazeki ukuthi izinhliziyo zabo zagcwala ukumbonga uJehova ngokubanakekela nokubavikela kwakhe. UNowa akapholisanga maseko, wakha i-altare futhi wanikela imihlatshelo, ekhulekela uJehova. UNkulunkulu wambusisa uNowa nomkhaya wakhe futhi wabayala ‘ukuba bazale bande bagcwalise umhlaba.’ (Gen. 8:20–9:1) Abantu baphinde banikezwa ithuba lokukhulekela ngobunye nelokugcwalisa umhlaba.

10. (a) Ukuvukela uJehova kwaqala kuphi futhi kanjani ngemva kukaZamcolo? (b) Isiphi isinyathelo uJehova asithatha ukuqinisekisa ukuthi intando yakhe iyenziwa?

¹⁰ Nokho, uZamcolo awuzange uhlanze ukungapheleli kwabantu futhi kwakusadingeka babhekane nethonya elingabonakali likaSathane nezingelosi eziyizihlubuki. Kungakabiphi, kwaphinde kwaqala ukuvukelwa kokubusa kukaJehova okuhle. Ngokwesibonelo, uNimrode, ozalwa umzukulu kaNowa, wamelana nokubusa kukaJehova ngendlela embi ngokwedlulele. Uchazwa ngokuthi “iphisi elinamandla ngokumelene noJehova.” Wakha imizi emikhulu, njengowaseBhabhele, futhi wazibeka waba inkosi “ezweni laseShinari.” (Gen. 10:8-12) Isiphi isinyathelo iNkosi engunaphakade eyayizosithatha ngale nkosi evukelayo nangemizamo yayo yokubhuntshisa injongo kaNkulunkulu ‘yokugcwalisa umhlaba’? UNkulunkulu waphithanisa ulimi lwabantu, okwenza ukuba izikhonzi zikaNimrode ezikhungathekile zihlakazeke ‘ziye kuwo wonke umhlaba.’ Zahamba nokukhulekela kwazo kwamanga kanye nesibonelo sokubusa komuntu.—Gen. 11:1-9.

11. UJehova wabubonisa kanjani ubuqotho kumngane wakhe u-Abrahama?

¹¹ Nakuba abantu abaningi bakhulekela onkulunkulu bamanga ngemva kukaZamcolo, kunabantu abathembekile abaqhubeka bedumisa uJehova. Omunye wabo ngu-Abrahama, owalalela washiya ukunethezeka kwasemzini wakubo wase-Uri wayohlala ematendeni iminyaka eminingi. (Gen. 11:31; Heb. 11:8, 9) Ngenkathi u-Abrahama ephila njengonozulane, ngokuvamile wayezungezwe amakhosi angabantu, amaningi awo ayehlala emizini ebiyelwe ngezindonga. Kodwa uJehova wamvikela u-Abrahama nomkhaya wakhe. Ngokuphathelene nokumvikela kwakhe njengoBaba, umhubi wathi: “[UNkulunkulu] akavumelanga muntu ukuba abaphambe, kodwa wasola amakhosi ngenxa yabo.” (IHu. 105:13, 14) Eqotho kulo mngane wakhe, uJehova wamthembisa: “Kuyophuma amakhosi kuwe.”—Gen. 17:6; Jak. 2:23.

12. UJehova wabubonisa kanjani ububusi bakhe eGibhithe, futhi lokhu kwabathinta kanjani abantu bakhe ayebakhethile?

¹² UNkulunkulu wasiphinda endodaneni ka-Abrahama u-Isaka nakumzukulu wakhe uJakobe isithembiso saKhe sokubabusisa, esasiyohlanganisa ukuveza amakhosi enzalweni yabo. (Gen. 26:3-5; 35:11) Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba iveze amakhosi, inzalo kaJakobe yaba izigqila eGibhithe. Ingabe lokho kwakusho ukuthi uJehova wayengeke esasifeza isithembiso sakhe noma ukuthi wayebudikilile ububusi bakhe emhlabeni? Lutho neze! Ngesikhathi sakhe esifanele, uJehova wabonisa amandla akhe njengoNkulunkulu nobubusi bakhe kuFaro oyisijaka. Ama-Israyeli ayeyizigqila aba nokholo kuJehova, owawakhulula ngendlela enhle kakhulu oLwandle Olubomvu. Kusobala ukuthi uJehova wayelokhu enguMbusi Wendawo Yonke, futhi njengoBaba okhathalelayo, wasebenzisa amandla akhe amakhulu ukuze avikele abantu bakhe.—Funda u-Eksodusi 14:13, 14.

UJEHOVA UBA INKOSI KA-ISRAYELI

13, 14. (a) Yini ama-Israyeli ayimemezela engomeni ayihlabelela ngobukhosi bukaJehova? (b) Isiphi isithembiso esiphathelene nobukhosi uNkulunkulu asenza kuDavide?

¹³ Ngemva nje kokukhululwa kwawo ngokuyisimangaliso eGibhithe, ama-Israyeli ahlabelelela uJehova ingoma yokunqoba. Leyo ngoma elotshwe ku-Eksodusi isahluko 15, ihlanganisa nalesi simemezelo esisevesini 18: “UJehova uyobusa njengenkosi kuze kube nini nanini, kuze kube phakade.” Ngempela, uJehova waba iNkosi yaleso sizwe esisha. (Dut. 33:5) Nokho, abantu abazange baneliswe ukuba noJehova njengoMbusi wabo ongabonakali. Ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-400 bephumile eGibhithe, bacela uNkulunkulu ukuba ababekele inkosi engumuntu, njengomakhelwane babo abangamaqaba. (1 Sam. 8:5) Naphezu kwalokhu, uJehova waqhubeka eyiNkosi, iqiniso elaba sobala phakathi nokubusa kukaDavide, inkosi engumuntu yesibili yakwa-Israyeli.

¹⁴ UDavide waletha umphongolo wesivumelwano ongcwele eJerusalema. Phakathi naleso senzakalo esijabulisayo, amaLevi ahlabelela ingoma yokudumisa eyayinamazwi aphawulekayo, alotshwe kweyoku-1 IziKronike 16:31: “Mabathi phakathi kwezizwe, ‘UJehova usebé yiNkosi!’” Umuntu angase azibuze, ‘Njengoba uJehova eyiNkosi engunaphakade, kushiwo kanjani ukuthi waba iNkosi ngaleso sikhathi?’ UJehova uba iNkosi lapho enza isenzo esibonakalisa ububusi bakhe noma emisa inxusa elizommelela noma elizosingatha isimo esithile. Lesi sici sobukhosi bukaJehova sibaluleke kakhulu. Ngaphambi kokuba uDavide afe, uJehova wamthembisa ukuthi ubukhosi bakhe babuyoqhubeka isikhathi esingenasiphelo: “Ngiyovusa inzalo yakho ngemva kwakho, eyophuma ezibilinini zakho; futhi impela ngiyowumisa uqine umbuso wayo.” (2 Sam. 7:12, 13) Ekugcwalisekeni kokugcina kwalesi sithembiso, le “nzalo” kaDavide yavela eminyakeni engaphezu kweyinkulungwane kamuva. Yaba ngubani, futhi yayizoba iNkosi nini?

UJEHOVA UMISA INKOSI ENTSHA

15, 16. UJesu wagcotshwa nini njengeNkosi yesikhathi esizayo, futhi ngesikhathi esemhlabeni, imaphi amalungiselelo okubusa kwakhe awenza?

¹⁵ Ngonyaka ka-29 C.E., uJohane uMbhapathizi waqala ukushumayela ukuthi ‘umbuso wamazulu wawususondele.’ (Math. 3:2) Lapho uJesu ebhapathizwa uJohane, uJehova wamgcoba njengoMesiya othenjisiwe nanjengeNkosi yesikhathi esizayo yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. UJehova wabonisa uthando lwakhe njengoBaba kuJesu ngala mazwi: “Lo yiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engiyamukele.”—Math. 3:17.

¹⁶ Phakathi nayo yonke inkonzo yakhe, uJesu wakhazimulisa uYise. (Joh. 17:4) Wenza lokhu ngokushumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (Luka 4:43) Waze wafundisa nabalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandazele lowo Mbuso ukuba uze. (Math. 6:10) Njengoqokelwe ukuba iNkosi, uJesu wayengathi kwababemphikisa: “Umbuso kaNkulunkulu uphakathi kwenu.” (Luka 17:21) Kamuva, ngobusuku bangaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uJesu wenza ‘isivumelwano sombuso’ nabalandeli bakhe. Ngaleyo ndlela, wanikeza abanye babafundi bakhe abathembekile ithuba lokuhlanganyela naye njengamakhosi eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu.—Funda uLuka 22:28-30.

17. Iyiphi indlela elinganiselwe uJesu aqala ngayo ukubusa kwakhe ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka, kodwa yini okwakuzodingeka ayilinde?

¹⁷ UJesu wayeyoqala nini ukubusa njengeNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu? Wayengeke aqale masinyane. Ntambama ngosuku olulandela lolo enza ngalo isivumelwano nabafundi bakhe, uJesu wabulawa futhi abalandeli bakhe bahlakazeka. (Joh. 16:32) Nokho, njengasezikhathini ezidlule, uJehova waqhubeka enamandla okulawula. Ngosuku lwesithathu wayivusa iNdodana yakhe, futhi ngosuku lwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., uJesu wamisa umbuso ongokomoya phezu kwebandla lobuKristu labafowabo abagcotshiwe. (Kol. 1:13) Noma kunjalo, kwakudingeka ukuba uJesu alinde ngaphambi kokuba athathe izintambo ngokugcwele zokubusa umhlaba ‘njengenzalo’ ethenjisiwe. UJehova wathi kule Ndodana yakhe: “Hlala ngakwesokunene sami ngize ngibeke izitha zakho zibe yisenabelo sezinyawo zakho.”—IHu. 110:1.

KHULEKELA INKOSI ENGUNAPHAKADE

18, 19. Sishukumiseleka ukuba senzeni, futhi sizofunda ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁸ Ubukhosi bukaJehova babekelwa inselele ezulwini nasemhlabeni izinkulungwane zeminyaka. UJehova akakaze abudikile ubukhosi bakhe; waqhubeka enamandla okulawula. NjengoBaba onothando, wavikela futhi wanakekela izikhonzi zakhe ezithembekile ezinjengoNowa, u-Abrahama noDavide. Ingabe lokhu akusishukumiseli ukuba sizithobe eNkosini yethu futhi sisondele kuyo?

¹⁹ Kodwa manje ungase ubuze: UJehova uye waba kanjani iNkosi osukwini lwethu? Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi siyizikhonzi eziqotho zoMbuso kaJehova futhi sibe abantwana abaphelele emkhayeni wakhe wendawo yonke? Sisho ukuthini lapho sithandazela ukuba uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uze? Le mibuzo izophendulwa esihlokweni esilandelayo.