Usuku Lokwahlulelwa KoNkulunkulu
“Ubani onguNkulunkulu onjengawe?”—Mika 7:18.
1. Nakuba ukuba khona kukaJehova kuphikwa, abantu abaningi bakholelwa kuphi njengokunenhlakanipho engaphezu kweyomuntu?
NAMUHLA abantu abaningi ngokwengeziwe bathi: ‘Akakho uNkulunkulu!’ Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi singase sibe yini isizathu sokusho kwabo lokhu, iBhayibheli lithi: “Isiwula sithi enhliziyweni yaso: ‘Akakho uNkulunkulu.’” (AmaH. 14:1) Nakuba abaningi bekuphika ukuba khona kukaJehova, iningi lesintu likholelwa konkulunkulu abangenakubalwa. ENdiya nje kuphela amaHindu akholelwa konkulunkulu abangamakhulu ezigidi.
2. Kulolusuku lapho ubunkulunkulu babo bonke labo ababizwa ngokuthi onkulunkulu bungatshazwa, ubani omi njengoMahluleli?
2 IBhayibheli liyakuvuma ukuthi kukhona abaningi ababizwa ngokuthi onkulunkulu noma abazama ukuzenza onkulunkulu ngokwabo. IHubo 82:1, 6 lithi: “UNkulunkulu umi emhlanganweni wawonkulunkulu; uyahlulela phakathi kwawonkulunkulu. Mina ngathi: Ningonkulunkulu nina, nonke ningamadodana oPhezukonke.” Futhi iHubo 97:1, 7 lithi: “UJehova uyinkosi; . . . Mabajabhe bonke abakhonza izithombe ezibaziweyo, abazigabisa ngezithombe. Mkhonzeni nina nonke-bonkulunkulu.” Ubunkulunkulu babo bonke laba abakhulekelwa ngabantu buye bangatshazwa manje. Usuku lwabo lokwahlulelwa selufikile. UJehova uyahlulela.
3. Ekhulwini lesishiyagalombili B.C.E. igama lamuphi umprofethi ongumJuda elaliyinselele kubo bonke onkulunkulu bezwe, futhi ngani?
3 Ekhulwini lesishiyagalombili ngaphambi kwesiKhathi sethu Esivamile, kwakukhona umprofethi ogama lakhe laliyinselele kubo bonke onkulunkulu bezwe. Igama lakhe elithi, Mika, lisho ukuthi “Ubani onjengoJah?” okungukuthi, uJehova.—Mika 1:1; Jer. 26:18.
4. Kungamuphi umbuzo obeka inselele kubo bonke ababizwa ngokuthi onkulunkulu uMika nesiprofetho sakhe okuphathelene nawo?
4 Lapho eziqhathanisa nabantu bezizwe zabeZizwe, umprofethi uMika uyazikhulumela nabathembekile abanjengaye lapho ethi: “Ngokuba bonke abantu bahamba, kube-yilowo nalowo ngegama likankulunkulu wakhe, kepha thina siyakuhamba ngegama likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu kuze kube-phakade naphakade.” (Mika 4:5) Ngokufanelekileyo-ke, kuze kube sesiphethweni sencwadi yakhe engokwesiprofetho uMika uphakamisa umbuzo oyinselele, “Ngubani onguNkulunkulu onjengawe othethelela insali yefa lakho ububi bayo, uyiyekele isiphambeko sayo na?”—Mika 7:18.
5. NgokukaMika 1:2-4, uJehova uyeneka obala phambi kobani indaba yakhe, futhi impikiswano iyini?
5 Impikiswano yobunkulunkulu kufanele icatshangelwe yizwe lonke, futhi uJehova weneke indaba yakhe obala, ikakhulukazi phambi kwalabo abathi bammelele emhlabeni. Leliqiniso lisobala emazwini acashunwe kuMika 1:2-4: “Zwanini, bantu bonke, uqaphele, mhlaba nokugcwala kwakho, iNkosi uJehova ibe-ngufakazi ngani, iNkosi isethempelini layo elingcwele. Ngokuba bhekani, uJehova uphuma endaweni yakhe, ehle, anyathele ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zomhlaba. Izintaba ziyakuncibilika phansi kwakhe, nezigodi ziyakuqhekezeka njengengcina phambi komlilo, njengamanzi athululwé emaweni.”
6. KuMika 1:12; 2:3, 4; 4:10, uJehova ukuchaza kanjani okushiwo yilezozingcezu zenkulumo ezesabisayo?
6 Ekufakazeni kwakhe okuqhubekayo, uJehova unikeza incazelo yalezozingcezu zenkulumo ezesabisayo ngokuthi:
“Lokho okubi kwehlile kuvela kuJehova, kwafika esangweni laseJerusalema.” (Mika 1:12) “Ngalokho usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Bhekani, ngiceba okubi ngalomndeni, eningayikukhipha kukho izintamo zenu; futhi ningahambi ngokuzidla, ngokuba lokho kuyisikhathi esibi. Ngalolosuku bayakuphakamisa umfanekiso ngani, bakhale isililo, bathi: Sichithiwe nokuchithwa; isabelo sabantu bami sinikwa omunye; yeka ukubuya kwakhe kimi.” (Mika 2:3, 4) “Yiba-nemihelo, uzale, ndodakazi yaseSiyoni njengobelethayo, ngokuba manje uyakuphuma emzini uhlale endle, ufike naseBabele.”—Mika 4:10.
7. Njengoba sifunda ngezizathu zokuba uJehova azimisele ukuthatha esinjalo isinyathelo esesabekayo, iyiphi ingxenye yanamuhla engokomfanekiso okumelwe sicabange ngayo, futhi ikakhulukazi maqondana naziphi izinto ezimbi?
7 Njengoba sibukeza izizathu zokuba uJehova alungele ukuthatha isenzo esesabeka kanjalo, masicabange ngelanamuhla eLobukholwa, ngoba lifanekisela uIsrayeli ongathembekile wosuku lukaMika. Njengoba uJehova eqhubeka enikeza ubufakazi obala, uyachaza: “Konke lokhu kungenxa yesiphambeko sikaJakobe nangezono zendlu yakwaIsrayeli.” Phakathi kwalezozono uJehova uchaza ukukhulekela ‘ezindaweni eziphakemeyo’ esikhundleni sasethempelini eJerusalema, nokukhonza kwabo izithombe “ezibaziweyo.”—Mika 1:5-7.
8, 9. (a) NgokukaMika 2:1, 2; 3:1-3, amaIsrayeli ayebaphanga kanjani abafowabo abangamaIsrayeli? (b) UMika wayewufakazi obonakalayo kabani, futhi ngamaphi amandla?
8 Ngaphandle kokwandulelayo, uJehova uchaza “abaceba ububi,” ‘nabenza okubi emibhedeni yabo.’ Uyanezela: “Ekukhanyeni kokusa bayakwenza, ngokuba kusemandleni ezandla zabo. Bafisa amasimu, bawadluzula, nezindlu, bazisuse; bacindezela indoda nendlu yayo, umuntu nefa lakhe.” (Mika 2:1, 2) “Akusikho okwenu ukwazi ukulunga nina enizonda okuhle nithanda okubi, enebula kubo isikhumba sabo, nenyama yabo emathanjeni abo, enidla inyama yabantu bami, nihlinza kubo isikhumba sabo, naphula amathambo abo, yebo, nibaqoba njengokwasekhanzini nanjengenyama phakathi kwebhodwe.”—Mika 3:1-3.
9 Ngamazwi anjalo iNkosi eNkulu uJehova wakhonza ‘njengofakazi’ ngokumelene nombuso wasendulo wakwaJuda. Umprofethi wakhe uMika kwakumelwe akhonze njengofakazi waKhe obonakalayo, futhi lokhu kwafuna isibindi esikhulu kuye, yebo, amandla amakhulu angokomoya. Kodwa lomsebenzi wawumlingene uMika. Kanjani? Usitshela ngalamazwi: “Kepha mina ngicela amandla ngoMoya kaJehova ngokulunga nangobuqhawe ukuba ngimtshele uJakobe iziphambeko zakhe, uIsrayeli izono zakhe.”—Mika 3:8.
10. Kungayiphi indlela uIsrayeli ayephatha ngayo uJehova ngokungalungile, futhi njengesibonelo kithi, uMika wayengeyena umuntu obuthakathaka ngokomoya ngayiphi indlela?
10 Umoya ofanayo kaJehova owanikeza uMika amandla okumemezela isigijimi esinamandla nesahlulelo ngezwi lomlomo futhi samshukumisela ukuba alobe phansi lesosigijimi esinamandla esivela kuNkulunkulu weqiniso. UMika wayenokuthile abaprofethi bamanga, ababoni bemibono nabalumbi balolosuku ababengenakho. Ngakho-ke, ‘wayenempendulo’ kaJehova ezinkingeni zesizwe, okungukuthi ‘ukuphambuka’ kukaJakobe ‘nesono’ sikaIsrayeli. Yena siqu, uMika wayenomuzwa wokulunga, kangangokuba wakuqaphela ngokujulile ukuthi abantu bakubo babephatha kabi uNkulunkulu, ngokwedelela bephula umthetho kaNkulunkulu futhi bephula nesivumelwano sabo sesizwe naye esenziwa ngomlamuleli uMose. Njengesibonelo esihle soFakazi BakaJehova abangamaKristu namuhla, uMika wayengeyena umuntu obuthakathaka ngokwenkolo, kodwa wayegcwele amandla angokomoya ukuze akhombe isono njengesono!
UMTHWALO WEMFANELO WONKULUNKULU BAMANGA NGENXA YEZIMO
11. Icala likubani ngokuziphatha okubi nezimo zenkolo kuIsrayeli wasendulo nakweLobukholwa manje?
11 UJehova wemikhosi wayengenacala ngezimo ezimbi ezazisesizweni sakwaIsrayeli endulo. Futhi akanacala ngezimo ezimbi zokuziphatha nezingokwenkolo eziphakathi kukaIsrayeli wanamuhla, eLobukholwa. Umuntu owayenecala emuva osukwini lukaMika, ngokufanayo nanamuhla, ‘unkulunkulu walesisimiso sezinto,’ uSathane uDeveli, nabo bonke onkulunkulu abangamademoni abahlanganyela naye. (Math. 4:3, 4; 2 Kor. 4:4) Ngokuvumelana nalokhu kulotshiwe: “Ngokuba bonke abantu bahamba, kube-yilowo nalowo ngegama likankulunkulu wakhe.” (Mika 4:5) “Ngokuba noma kukhona okuthiwa onkulunkulu, nokuba kusezulwini nokuba kusemhlabeni, njengoba bakhona onkulunkulu abaningi namakhosi amaningi.” (1 Kor. 8:5) Bonke labonkulunkulu bamanga basitholile isikhathi sokwenza wonke umonakalo abebengawenza.
12. UJehova uyosikhipha kanjani isahlulelo ngokuhlakaniphile phezu kwabo bonke labonkulunkulu bamanga?
12 Nokho, manje, isikhathi sesifikile sokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke alethe kubo bonke isahlulelo futhi aqede zonke izindlela zabo zokukhulekela emathempelini, ngabapristi, izithixo noma izithombe ezibaziweyo amasiko nemihlatshelo. Injongo kaJehova eyayingenakuguqulwa yokwenza lokhu endabeni kaIsrayeli ongokoqobo wasendulo uyiveza ngomprofethi wakhe uMika, ngokuthi: “Ngiyakunquma ukulumba esandleni sakho, kungabe kusabakho kuwe abahlola imihlola. Ngiyakunquma izithombe zakho ezibaziweyo nezinsika zakho phakathi kwakho, ungabe usakhonza imisebenzi yezandla zakho. Ngiyakubasiphula oAshera bakho phakathi kwakho, ngiyichithe imizi yakho. Ngiyakwenza impindiselo ngentukuthelo nangokufutheka kuzo izizwe ezingalalelanga.”—Mika 5:12-15.
13. Kusukela nini lapho kuye kwaba khona ukudalulwa okukhulu kakhulu konkulunkulu bamanga, futhi kungani lokhu kuhlanganisa eLobukholwa?
13 Phakathi neminyaka eyikhulu edlule kuye kwaba khona ukudalulwa konkulunkulu bamanga balelizwe, ngisho neLobukholwa. Lokhu kudalulwa akunakulinganiswa nalutho emlandweni wezizwe kusukela ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema ngabaseBabiloni ngonyaka ka-607 B.C.E. noma cishe eminyakeni eyi-109 ngemva kokuba umprofethi uMika eqede ukuloba isiprofetho sakhe. Lokhu kuye kwahlanganisa ukudalulwa kukankulunkulu weLobukholwa, obizwa ngokuthi umthath’ emunye, ngokungenakuchazeka owenziwa onkulunkulu abathathu emunye, ngamunye walabonkulunkulu ekwabanye, elingana nabo futhi enobuphakade njengabo. Lonkulunkulu ongumthath’ emunye ngezinye izikhathi ufanekiswa nomzimba womuntu onamakhanda amathathu noma ikhanda elinobuso obuthathu. Ukusebenzisa izithombe ezenziwe ngumuntu ekukhulekeleni kwenkolo kungabonwa ngokusobala emathempelini, emasontweni amakhulu namancane eLobukholwa.
14. (a) Ngubani emhlabeni owahlanganyela ngokuqhamile kulomsebenzi wokudalula? (b) Kunini futhi kukanjani lesigaba sikaMika sazithathela igama elithi “oFakazi BakaJehova,” njalo samukela siphi isibopho?
14 Phakathi nalesisikhathi sokwahlulelwa kwabo bonke onkulunkulu bamanga balelizwe, obani abaye benza umsebenzi wokudalula? AmaKristu azinikezele, nabhapathiziwe aye agcotshwa ngomoya kaJehova uNkulunkulu ngoJesu Kristu. Njengeqembu, noma isigaba, ayefanekiselwa umprofethi kaJehova uMika. Imisebenzi efana naleyo kaMika iye yaqhutshwa namuhla, ikakhulukazi kusukela ekupheleni kweMpi Yezwe I ngo-1918 C.E. Khona-ke isigaba sikaMika ngokwesinqumo saqhubekela phambili esikhathini esingemva kwempi futhi ngokuvelele sasebenza njengofakazi bakaNkulunkulu kaMika ngokumelene nesimiso esikhonza izithombe seLobukholwa nobuqaba. Ngenxa yezizathu ezizwakalayo lesigaba sikaMika, lapho sibuthene ndawonye emhlanganweni wezwe lonke eColombus Ohio, ngo-1931 samukela isinqumo esavuma ngaso ukuthi singo“Fakazi BakaJehova” futhi saqinisekisa ngokwaso ukuthi sizogcwalisa lesibopho sokuba ofakazi baKhe. Elandela lesosibonelo, amabandla amaKristu azinikezele ezweni lonke, aziqaphela ngokwawo njengo“Israyeli kaNkulunkulu,” ngobunye asivuma lesosinqumo sika-1931 futhi azamukelela ngokwawo igama elisekelwe eBhayibhelini elithi “ofakazi bakaJehova.” (Isaya 43:10-12; Gal. 6:16) Nakuba libekelwa inselele eLobukholwa, igama lisamile!
15. (a) Ngokwamazwi akhe siqu, ubani ongufakazi omkhulu kakhulu kaJehova? (b) Ngakho-ke yini uSathane ayengathanda ukuyenza kulofakazi phakathi nesikhathi esemhlabeni?
15 Labobaphathi begama elisha baqaphela ukuthi uMholi wabo, uJesu Kristu, wayengufakazi futhi usengufakazi omkhulu kakhulu kaJehova. Encwadini yokugcina yeBhayibheli, isAmbulo uJehova uNkulunkulu asebenzisa uJesu Kristu ukuba asambule kumphostoli uJohane osekhulile, iNdodana ezelwe yodwa kaNkulunkulu ithi ngayo: “Nakhu akushoyo uAmen, ufakazi othembekayo noqinisileyo, ukuqala kokudaliweyo kukaNkulunkulu.” (IsAm. 3:14) NjengoYise, uJehova, iNkosi uJesu yanikeza ubufakazi ngezimo ezenyanyekayo ezazikuIsrayeli wosuku lwayo, ezifana nalezo ezachazwa uMika. Ngokuvelele, uJesu yilowo uJehova manje asemsebenzisa kulolusuku lokwahlulela bonke onkulunkulu bamanga. Khona-ke, akumangalisi ukuthi uSathane uDeveli ‘njengonkulunkulu walesisimiso sezinto,’ wayefuna ukubhubhisa iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe yodwa phakathi nesikhathi isemhlabeni. Ukuzalwa kobuntu kweNdodana kaNkulunkulu wakubheka njengethuba elihle kakhulu lokwenza lokhu. Akungabazeki ukuthi, ngokuvela esiprofethweni sikaMika 5:2, uSathane uDeveli wayazi ukuthi ukuzalwa kwakuyokwenzeka kuphi.
16. UMika 5:2 wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uMesiya wayezozalelwa kuphi?
16 UMika 5:2 ufundeka kanje: “Kepha wena-Betlehema-Efratha omncane ukuba ube-phakathi kwemindeni yakwaJuda, ngiyakuphunyelwa ngovela kuwe, ozakuba-ngumbusi kwaIsrayeli, okuvela kwakhe kusukela endulo ezinsukwini zaphakade.”
17. (a) Kodwa uMika 5:2 ubonisa ukuthi ukuzalwa okuthenjisiwe kwakuzokwenzeka ngemva kokwenzeka kwani? (b) Lapho isikhathi sifika ukuba ukuzalwa kwenzeke, incasakazi ewumJuda yazifumana ikuphi, futhi kanjani?
17 Ngokwalokho amavesi azungeze uMika 5:2 akubonisayo, isiprofetho sasizogcwaliseka ngemva kokubuya kwamaJuda eminyakeni engama-70 yokuthunjwa ezweni laseBabiloni. (Bheka uMika 1:16; 4:10.) Futhi eqinisweni kwakuseminyakeni engama-535 ngemva kokuba amaJuda akhululiwe esebuye akha ezweni lakwaJuda, lapho umuzi omncane waseBetlehema wabuye wamiswa khona. Esikhathini esifanelekile uJehova wathumela ingelosi encasakazini engumJuda yohlu lomndeni weNkosi uDavide ukuba isho ukuthi wayezoba umama kaMesiya othenjisiwe, uKristu. Khona-ke esikhathini esifanelekile sokubeletha, uMariya wazithola esemzini wesizwe sakubo eBetlehema, ukuba abhaliswe lapho ngokwesimemezelo sikaKesari Awugustu. Lapho, cishe phakathi nenyanga yesikhombisa yesiJuda, uTishri, noma cishe ekuqaleni kuka-October, indodana eyizibulo kaMariya yazalwa futhi yabizwa ngokuthi uJesu, njengoba nje ingelosi yayiyalile. Ukuthi uSathane uDeveli wayenesithakazelo kulokhu kuzalwa okumangalisayo kuboniswa iqiniso lokuthi abakhulekeli bakhe, okungukuthi, izazi zezinkanyezi ezazingamaqaba, zaba nesithakazelo esikhulu endabeni. Maqondana nalokhu, umlobi-mlando, umphostoli uMathewu, uyaloba:
18. Ngokuvumelana nalelicebo elibi, uSathane waluletha kanjani ulwazi lokuzalwa kukaJesu ekunakekeleni kwenkosi yaseJudiya uHerode?
18 “UJesu esezelwe eBetlehema laseJudiya emihleni kaHerode inkosi, . . . UHerode inkosi esekuzwile lokho wakhathazeka neJerusalema lonke kanye naye. Wabutha bonke abapristi abakhulu nababhali besizwe, wabuza kubo ukuthi uKristu uzakuzalelwaphi. Bathi kuye: EBetlehema laseJudiya, ngokuba kulotshiwe kanjalo ngomprofethi ukuthi: Nawe-Betlehema, lizwe lakwaJuda, kawusiye omncane nakanye kubabusi bakwaJuda, ngokuba kuyakuvela kuwe umbusi oyakwalusa isizwe sami uIsrayeli.”—Math. 2:1-6.
19. Kungani ukubulawa kwabantwana baseBetlehema, njengoba kwakuyalwe iNkosi uHerode, kwehluleka ukufeza umgomo wakho?
19 Ngakho-ke inkosi uHerode yathumela izazi zezinkanyezi eBetlehema. Kodwa ngemva kokuba labalaleli bamaphupho behluleke ukubika futhi bamtshele ukuthi wayengamthola kuphi uJesu osanda kuzalwa, inkosi uHerode yathumela amasosha ayo eBetlehema ukuba ayobulala bonke abantwana besilisa abaneminyaka emibili nangaphansi. Kodwa uMariya nomyeni wakhe, uJosefa, babexwayiswe kusengaphambili futhi bashiya iBetlehema babalekela eGibithe ukuze basindise umntwana osemncane uJesu. Akukho kungabaza ngokuthi iNkosi uHerode enomona, efuna ngamandla ubukhosi yayishukunyiswa unkulunkulu wayo, uSathane uDeveli, iNyoka engokomfanekiso ekhanda layo lalizochotshozwa “inzalo” ‘yowesifazane’ kaNkulunkulu. (Gen. 3:15) Ngakho-ke akudunyazwanga nje kuphela iNkosi uHerode kodwa futhi nombusi ongabonakali wabo bonke onkulunkulu abangamademoni.—Math. 2:7-18.
20. USathane uDeveli nonkulunkulu bakhe abangamademoni bafanelwe bahlulelwe ubani, futhi, phakathi nalesisikhathi sokwahlulelwa, uSathane nezingelosi zakhe baye baphathwa kanjani?
20 Ukuze kulungiswe izinto, uSathane uDeveli nabo bonke onkulunkulu bakhe abangamademoni kufanele bahlulelwe yilowo ababezama ukumbulala. Lokhu kuyaqhubeka kakade, kusukela ekupheleni ‘kwezikhathi ezimisiwe zabezizwe’ ngo-1914, [izizwe] lezo uSathane uDeveli angunkulunkulu wazo. (Luka 21:24; 2 Kor. 4:4) Ngokuvumelana namazwi kaNkulunkulu akuGenesise 3:15, isiprofetho sikaMika 5:1 sabikezela: “Bayakumshaya umahluleli wakwaIsrayeli [okungukuthi uJesu Kristu] ngenduku esihlathini.” Kodwa manje njengoba usuku lokwahlulelwa kwabo bonke onkulunkulu bamanga seluqalile, ingelosi enkulu uMikayeli, ogama lakhe lisho ukuthi “Ubani onjengoNkulunkulu?” iye yalwa noSathane uDeveli nezingelosi zakhe ezingamademoni futhi yabakhipha ezulwini.
21. Phakathi nesikhathi sempi ezulwini, yini eyayenzeka emhlabeni, futhi kunini lapho uKristu eyobusa sonke isintu ngaphandle kokuphazanyiswa uSathane nabanye onkulunkulu abangamademoni?
21 Okwenzeka ngesikhathi esifanayo nesempi emazulwini angabonakali kwaba yimpi yezwe yokuqala emlandweni wesintu phakathi kuka-1914 kuya ku-1918. Njengoba uDeveli odunyaziwe nabo bonke onkulunkulu abangamademoni beye bagcinwa emhlabeni wethu omncane, ngempela kuye kwaba isikhathi esikhethekile ‘somaye emhlabeni nasolwandle.’ (IsAm. 12:7-12) Lolusuku lokwahlulelwa lwabo bonke onkulunkulu bamanga luyoqhubeka kuze kube yilapho ‘impi yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke’ eHar-Magedoni seyidlulile futhi uSathane nabo bonke abanye onkulunkulu abangamademoni bevalelwe kwalasha iminyaka eyinkulungwane yokubusa kukaKristu. (IsAm. 16:14-16; 20:1-3) Ngakho-ke uMbusi okhazinyulisiwe ovela eBetlehema, uJesu Kristu, uyobusa sonke isintu ngaphandle kokuphazanyiswa yibo bonke onkulunkulu bamanga futhi uyakuyala yonke imikhaya yomhlaba ekukhulekelweni okunikeza ukuphila koyedwa noweqiniso uNkulunkulu ophilayo.