Lalela ‘Izixwayiso Ezibekwe Phambi Kwethu’!
1, 2. Incwadi kaJuda isinikezani njengomyalo?
UJEHOVA unguNkulunkulu wesixwayiso. (2 AmaKhosi 17:12-15; Hezekeli 3:17-21) Abantu bakhe bayazi ukuthi akafuni ukubona noma ubani ebhujiswa ngenxa yokulandela inkambo eholela ekubhujisweni. (Hezekeli 18:23, 32) Futhi ngokuqinisekile oFakazi BakaJehova bayabonga ngokuthi uBaba wabo wasezulwini uyaxwayisa, uyaqondisa futhi usindisa labo abamthandayo.
2 Incwadi ephefumlelwe kaJuda isinikeza kokubili isixwayiso nokuqondisa. Esahlukweni esandulelayo sifunde isizathu sokuba uJuda akhuthaze ayekholwa nabo ukuba ‘balwe kanzima ngenxa yokholo.’ Manje ake sicabangele ngomthandazo izixwayiso zakhe zesikhathi esidlule.—Roma 15:4.
Qaphela Ukuntula Ukholo
3. UJuda ‘wayefuna ukubakhumbuza’ ngani ayekholwa nabo?
3 UJuda uqhubeka nesixwayiso esihlobene nokholo, ethi:
“Kepha ngiyathanda ukunikhumbuza, nokuba kade benikwazi konke, ukuthi iNkosi, isisindisile isizwe isikhipha ezweni laseGibithe, yabuye yabhubhisa labo abangakholwanga.” (Juda 5)
Ngaphandle kokuba amaKristu ‘alwe kanzima ngenxa yokholo’ ngokuphumelelayo, angalahlekelwa ukuma okwamukelekayo phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu. Ukuze avimbele lokhu, uJuda ‘wayefisa ukukhumbuza’ ayekholwa kanye nabo ababesengozini ngezinto ababeke bazifunda nangendlela uNkulunkulu ayesebenzelane ngayo nabangathembekile esikhathini esidlule.
4. Kukanjani futhi kungani uJehova ‘asindisa’ amaIsrayeli ayegqilaziwe?
4 Juda Evesini lesihlanu uJuda okokuqala waveza ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu ‘wakhipha,’ noma wakhulula, amaIsrayeli ayeyizigqila ebugqilini baseGibithe. UNkulunkulu wenza kanjalo ngemva kokuba ayegcine ngokulalela iPhasika lokuqala. Ukukhululwa okumangalisayo eGibithe kwenziwa uJehova ngoba abantu ababeke bagqilazeka babebonise ukholo.—Eksodusi 12:1-14, 31.
5. (a) Liyini iGibithe elingokomfanekiso, futhi uJehova ubasindisa ngasiphi isisekelo abantu kulo? (b) Ngokwensindiso yokugcina, yini leyo ofakazi bakaJehova abazinikezele okumelwe bayenze?
5 Ngokuqhathanisa, uJehova ukhipha abantu eGibithe elingokomfanekiso, izwe lesintu elihlukaniswe naye. (IsAmbulo 11:8) Ukwenza lokhu ngoba ngokholo bayamqaphela njengoNkulunkulu wensindiso yabo noJesu Kristu njengeWundlu lephasika elalifanekiselwa eligazi lalo liyabathenga kulelizwe. (1 Korinte 5:7) Kodwa ukuze ahlanganyele ensindisweni, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ezulwini noma emhlabeni, ufakazi ozinikezele kaJehova kumelwe ahlale ethembekile kuYe futhi angahlubuki neze noma aphindele kulelizwe elibi nasebugqilini balo besono, njengoba namaIsrayeli ayekhululiwe kwakungamelwe aphindele eGibithe. (Duteronomi 17:16; Mathewu 24:13) Ukholo olunganqamuki lubalulekile, ngoba nakuba ‘ayesindise’ abantu baphuma eGibithe, uJehova ‘kamuva wabhubhisa labo ababengabonisi ukholo,’ labo ababefuna ukuphindela eGibithe noma ezindleleni zaseGibithe. (Qhathanisa no-1 Korinte 10:1-12; Eksodusi 32:4-6; Numeri 25:1-18; 21:4-9; 14:35-38.) Khona-ke, ngokuqinisekile, ukuze bathole insindiso yokugcina ofakazi bakaJehova abazinikezele namuhla kumelwe bagcine ukholo lwabo.—Heberu 3:12, 13.
Imiphumela Enzima Yokuziphatha Okubi
6. (a) Sasiyini ‘isimo sakuqala’ sezingelosi, futhi liyini ‘ikhaya lazo elifanelekile’? (b) Ukona kwaluphi uhlobo okwenziwa izingelosi ezithile? (c) Inkambo yokona yezingelosi ezihlubukayo iqhathaniseka kanjani naleyo ‘yabantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu’ abaphawulwa uJuda?
6 Lapho enikeza isibonelo sesibili esiyisixwayiso, uJuda waloba:
“Nezingelosi ezingagcinanga ubukhosi bazo, kodwa zalishiya ikhaya lazo [elifanelekile], izigcinele ukulahlwa kosuku olukhulu ngezibopho ezimiyo phansi kobumnyama.” (Juda 6)
Izingelosi zadalwa njengezidalwa ezingokomoya, zinethemba lokuphila okuphakade ezulwini. (IHubo 103:20; 104:4; Heberu 1:7) Leso kwakuyisiqalo sazo, “ubukhosi bazo.” “Ikhaya lazo [elifanelekile],” noma indawo ezaziyidalelwe, yayisemazulwini angabonakali. Kodwa izingelosi ezithile ngokugabadela zashiya ikhaya lazo lasezulwini elifanelekile. Umphostoli uPetru wathi “zona,” futhi ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho walandisa izehlakalo zosuku lukaNowa. (2 Petru 2:4, 5) Lokhu kudonsela ukunakekela enkathini engaphambi kukazamcolo lapho “amadodana [Incwadi yekhulu lesihlanu ka-Alexandrine yeSeptuagint Version ithi “izingelosi”] kaNkulunkulu [weqiniso],” ngokusobala ngokuzithathela imizimba yenyama, ngokungalaleli zazithathela abafazi ababukekayo. (Genesise 6:1, 2) Njengoba ukuhlala nabesifazane kwakungekhona okungokwemvelo ngezidalwa ezingokomoya, lezingelosi zona ngokuwela kulokho okwakuyisifiso esibi ngokuphelele ngazo. (Jakobe 1:13-15) Ngokufanayo, “abantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu” uJuda akhuluma ngabo babefuna ukuziphatha kabi ngokobulili nabantu bobulili obuhlukile.
7, 8. (a) Yini eye yenzeka ezingelosini ezingalaleli? (b) Ngakho-ke, yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sihlale sisesimweni esiphephile?
7 Lokho okwenzeka ezingelosini ezingalaleli kwasebenza njengesixwayiso kumaKristu osuku lukaJuda, futhi kusebenza njengesixwayiso koFakazi BakaJehova bezikhathi zanamuhla. Nakuba lezozingelosi zazingakusinda ukufa ngozamcolo ngokuziguqula imizimba, zavinjelwa ukuba ziphindele ‘ebukhosini bazo’ njengezidalwa ezingcwele ezingokomoya ezijabulela ukukhanya kweseluleko sikaNkulunkulu nokwamukelwa nguye. Kunalokho, ziye zagcinwa “ezibophweni zaphakade,” ngamandla kaNkulunkulu okuvimbela, kuze kube yilapho kufika ‘isahlulelo sosuku olukhulu’ saphezulu sokubhujiswa kwazo. Okwamanje, akukho okubonisa ukuthi zingazithathela imizimba yenyama, futhi azisetshenziswa uJehova, zisebumnyameni obukhulu obungokomoya, obubizwa ngokuthi yiTartarus.—2 Petru 2:4.
8 Njengoba nje izingelosi ezingalaleli zingenakukubalekela ukuwela ekubhujisweni kwazo, oFakazi BakaJehova banamuhla bayakuqaphela ukuthi bangahlala besesimweni esiphephile kuphela ‘ngokulwela kanzima ukholo.’ Ngempela, kumelwe simelane nanoma yibaphi abantu abangeqela ngalé kwemincele enikezwe uNkulunkulu futhi bafune ukungcolisa inyama.
9, 10. (a) Izakhamuzi zaseSodoma nemizi yangakhona zazinecala laziphi izono zokuziphatha? (b) Isiphi isibonelo esiyisixwayiso esanikezwa ngeSodoma, iGomora nemizi yangakhona?
9 Lapho enikeza isibonelo sesithathu esiyisixwayiso. uJuda uthi:
“Njengokuba iSodoma neGomora nemizi yangakhona yenza ubufebe ngendlela efana neyayo, yalandela inyama imbe imisiwe ibe-yisiboniso, izwa isijeziso somlilo omiyo njalo.” (Juda 7)
“ISodoma neGomora nemizi yangakhona” ngokusobala kuhlanganisa iAdima neSoboyimi mhlawumbe namanye amadolobha kulesosiFunda. Ngenxa yobubi bezakhamuzi zayo, uJehova wachitha yonke leyomizi ngemvula yesalufa nomlilo okuvela ezulwini, kwasinda iSowari kuphela, “uLoti olungileyo” namadodakazi akhe ababalekela kuyo. (2 Petru 2:6-10; Genesise 14:2; 19:18-29; Duteronomi 29:22, 23) Ngokusebenzisa amazwi ahunyushwe ngokuthi “njengokuba,” uJuda ngokusobala uhlanganisa lokho okwenzeka kuleyomizi nalokho okwenzeka endabeni yezingelosi ezingalaleli, ezaziye zenza okuthile okungekhona okungokwemvelo ezidalweni ezingokomoya ngokuzithathela abafazi babantu. Lapha iThe Jerusalem Bible ifundeka kanje: “Ubufebe baseSodoma neGomora namanye amadolobha angakhona babungebona obemvelo ngokufanayo.” Izakhamuzi zayo zazingenzi nje ubufebe nabesifazane kuphela kodwa zanelisa inkanuko yazo namadoda mhlawumbe ngisho nanezilwane. (Qhathanisa noLevitikusi 18:22-25.) Isixuku samadoda nabafana eSodoma sasikhanukela ukuba nobuhlobo bobulili nezivakashi zikaLoti ezazicatshangelwa yilesosixuku ukuthi zingamadoda, kodwa zavinjelwa lapho izingelosi ezimbili ezivakashile zisishaya ngobumpumputhe, emva kwalokho zaphephisa uLoti emzini olahliwe.—Genesise 19:1-17.
10 ISodoma, iGomora nemizi yangakhona kwanikeza isibonelo esiyisixwayiso ‘ngokuzwa isijeziso [sikaJehova uNkulunkulu] somlilo omiyo njalo,’ ukubhujiswa kwaphakade. Amanxiwa ashile okungenani eSodoma, iGomora, iAdima neSeboyimi acatshangelwa njengangaphansi kwamanzi engxenye eseningizimu yoLwandle lukaSawoti (Olufile) noma kulesosifunda. Ngakho-ke yona noma izakhamuzi zayo ayisashi. Ngokusobala imizi ngokwayo, kunokuba kube yizo zonke izakhamuzi zayo, yabhujiswa phakade, ngoba kubonakala ukuthi okungenani abantu abathile abake bahlala lapho bayovuswa. (Mathewu 10:15; 11:24; IsAmbulo 20:12, 13) Kodwa okwenzeka kuleyomizi eyabhujiswa kuyisixwayiso esikhulu ekuziphatheni okubi, okumelwe silalelwe oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla.
Ungalibhekeli Phansi Igunya Elinikezwe UNkulunkulu
11. ‘Abantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu’ ababeye banyelela phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu baqhathaniseka kanjani nabantu abonakele baseSodoma nemizi yangakhona?
11 Ngokulandelayo uJuda wabhekisela ‘kubantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu’ futhi wathi:
“Nokho ngokunjaloke nalabo abaphuphayo bangcolisa inyama, bayeyisa imibuso, bahlambalaza ubukhosi [abenkazimulo, NW].” (Juda 8)
“Ngokunjalo-ke,” noma, ngokusobala, ngendlela efanayo leyo abantu ababhujiswa baseSodoma nemizi yangakhona abonakalisa ngayo inyama yabo ngokuhlangana okubi kobulili okungekhona okwemvelo, ngakho-ke abantu ababehlose ububi abangena phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu bangcolisa umzimba ongokwenyama. Babengasinaki iseluleko sabaphostoli ‘sokubalekela ubufebe.’—1 Korinte 6:18-20.
12. (a) Leyomixhantela engamesabi uNkulunkulu ‘yayiphupha’ kanjani? (b) Yini ehlalele abenzi bokuziphatha okubi abangaphenduki?
12 Leyomixhantela futhi ‘yayiphupha,’ mhlawumbe ngoba yayifuna ukusekela imibono yayo ngamaphupho angokwesiprofetho angamanga. (Qhathanisa no-2 Petru 2:1; Duteronomi 13:1-5.) Ngenxa yalokho, amaphupho abo kungenzeka ukuthi ayehilela imicabango emibi ngobulili, noma lamazwi angase asho ukuthi izimfundiso zabo zazimane nje zi“yinkohliso.” (JB) Ngokuqinisekile, ‘labobantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu’ babefuna izindlela zokuthuthukisa amathuba abo okuziphatha okubi kobulili futhi becabanga ukuthi bangaphumelela ngokuziphatha okungcolile. Makungabikho noyedwa woFakazi BakaJehova namuhla owela kulologibe! UmaHluleli Omkhulu ngokungathandabuzeki ukhipha isahlulelo phezu kwabenzi bokuziphatha okubi abangaphenduki.—Genesise 18:25.
13. Isiphi isimo ‘abantu abaphuphayo’ abaziphethe kabi ababenaso egunyeni eliphethwe phezulu?
13 Labobantu “abaphuphayo” abaziphethe kabi ‘babeyisa imibuso futhi behlambalaza abenkazimulo.’ Ngokuzidlabalibukela phansi igunya elimiswe phezulu. (IzAga 21:4; 2 Petru 2:10) Njengezingelosi ezingalaleli, labobantu babenomoya wokuhlubuka futhi babefanelwe isahlulelo esinzima ngoba eqinisweni babengayihloniphi iNkosi YendawoYonke neNdodana yayo ethandekayo.
14. Babengobani ‘abenkazimulo’?
14 Labobantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu futhi babehlambalaza ‘abenkazimulo’ ngokusobala labo ababenenkazimulo ethile ababeyinikezwe uJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu. (Johane 17:22; 1 Petru 4:12-14) Yebo, njengoba inkazimulo enjalo, noma udumo, kwakuvela kuNkulunkulu, akukho ludumo-oluqondile okwakumelwe lunikezwe abantu abathandwayo emhlabeni ababelujabulela. Nokho, bonke oFakazi BakaJehova kumelwe bahloniphe ‘inkazimulo’ enjalo futhi bakhulume ngokufanelekile ngenhlonipho enkulu ngoJehova uNkulunkulu.—1 Samuweli 2:30.
15. (a) Labobantu ‘ababephupha’ ababonakalisa inyama babekhuluma kanjani ‘ngabenkazimulo’? (b) Yini okumelwe siyenze uma sinokuthambekela kokungalinaki igunya elinikezwe uNkulunkulu?
15 Ngokuqinisekile, labobalandeli bakaKristu abagcotshiwe abakhonza njengababonisi abamisiwe bakaKristu baye bathola inkazimulo, noma udumo, olubekwe phezu kwabo. OFakazi abakanye nabo kumelwe babambisane nabo futhi babasekele enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu. Masingafani nabantu abaphuphayo abangcolisa inyama bosuku lukaJuda ababukela phansi ubukhosi bukaJehova futhi abangayihloniphanga inkazimulo evela kuye, kodwa bahlambalaza labo abambathiswe leyonkazimulo. (Qhathanisa no-3 Johane 9, 10.) Ngakho-ke, uma sinokuthambekela kokubukela phansi igunya elinikezwe uNkulunkulu, sengathi ngokomthandazo singacela usizo lukaJehova ekulungiseni umbono wethu.
Isibonelo Esiqhamile SikaMikayeli
16. Uyini umehluko owawukhona phakathi kwengelosi enkulu uMikayeli nabantu ‘ababephupha’ ababengenanhlonipho?
16 Ngenxa yenzuzo yethu, uJuda usinikeza isibonelo esiqhamile, ethi:
“Kepha uMikayeli, ingelosi enkulu, lapho ephikisana noSathane ekhulumisana naye ngesidumbu sikaMose, akabanga-nasibindi sokuletha ukwahlulela kokuhlambalaza, kodwa wathi: INkosi mayikujezise.” (Juda 9)
Yeka umehluko owawukhona phakathi kwabantu ‘abaphuphayo’ abangenanhlonipho noMikayeli ingelosi enkulu eyaba iNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu! (Qhathanisa nezAga 8:22-31; Johane 6:62; Filipi 2:5-11; 1 Thesalonika 4:15, 16.) Ekuhlambalazeni izinceku zikaNkulunkulu, ‘abantu abaphuphayo’ abangamesabi uNkulunkulu basebenzisa kabi inkululeko leyo ngisho neNdodana kaJehova engayisebenzisanga lapho iphikisana noSathane ngomzimba womprofethi ongumHeberu uMose. Awukho umbiko ongokomBhalo wakuqala walokhu kuphikisana. Kodwa ngendlela ethile engabonakali uJuda wamukela lokhu kwaziswa futhi wasilobela khona ukuze sizuze.
17. (a) Empikiswaneni mayelana nomzimba kaMose, yini uMikayeli angayenzanga, futhi ngani? (b) UMikayeli wababekela kanjani abantu bakaJehova isibonelo sokuhlonipha igunya laphezulu?
17 Mhlawumbe, uDeveli wayefuna umzimba kaMose ofile ukuze aqalise inkolo yokukhulekela umuntu ngawo kanjalo onakalise abantu bakaJehova. Nokho uMikayeli akanqumanga ukuletha isahlulelo kuDeveli ngamazwi okuhlambalaza. UMikayeli wayengenaso isibindi sokwenza lokho ngenxa yokwesaba uJehova okufanelekile. Futhi akahambelanga phambili isikhathi esimisiwe sikaJehova sokubhubhisa uSathane. (IsAmbulo 12:7-9; 20:1-3, 7-10) Kunalokho, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ethandekayo yabonisa inhlonipho ngomaHluleli Omkhulu futhi yamnikeza ilungelo lokujezisa uDeveli. Ngakho-ke, uMikayeli watshela uSathane: “INkosi [uJehova] mayikujezise.” Nakuba amazwi kaMikayeli ayengewona awonya, wabonisa amandla ngokugcina umzimba kaMose, futhi uJehova wangcwaba umprofethi ethuneni elingaziwa. (Duteronomi 34:1-6) Ngokuqinisekile, kukho konke lokhu iNdodana kaNkulunkulu yabekela abantu bakaJehova isibonelo esiqhamile sokuhlonipha igunya laphezulu. Sengathi singasilandela.
18. Kungani kungashiwo ukuthi abantu ababefisa ukonakalisa inyama babengabenyama?
18 Ngokuqhathanisa, ngokulandelayo uJuda wathi:
“Kepha laba bayahlambalaza konke abangakwaziyo, nalokho abakwaziyo ngemvelo njengezidalwa ezingenangqondo babhubha ngakho.” (Juda 10)
Ngisho nakuba ababefisa ukungcolisa inyama babeyizidalwa eziphansi kuMikayeli, owayengenakuletha isahlulelo kuSathane ngokuhlambalaza, bahlambalaza hhayi ‘abenkazimulo’ kuphela kodwa futhi “konke [okungokomoya] abangakwaziyo” noma bakuqonde. “Bengabenyama” (Juda 19), babengenakuziqonda izinto ezingokomoya. (1 Korinte 2:6-16) Imicabango kaJehova, izindlela, ukusebenzelana nabantu nezenzo zakhe babengakwazi ‘labobantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu.’
19. ‘Abantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu’ babefana kanjani ‘nezilwane ezingenangqondo’?
19 Ngenxa yokuhlonipha uJehova uNkulunkulu, ingelosi enkulu uMikayeli nezinye izingelosi ezilungile azibahlambalazanga labo uNkulunkulu abanikeze inkazimulo ethile. Kodwa ‘labantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu’ benza kanjalo ngenxa yokuthi babezinikezele ngokugcwele ezinkanukweni zobulwane [zenyama]. Babengaziqondi izinto ezingokomoya kodwa lokho okwakukhanga izinkanuko zabo zenyama kuphela. Ngakho-ke, njengezilwane ezikhathalela inyama kuphela, babefuna ukwanelisa inyama ebuthaka. Labobantu, babehlose ukwanelisa izifiso ezimbi zobulili, ‘bazingcolisa ngokwabo’ ezonweni zenyama. Ngakho-ke bazibonisa ngokwabo befana ‘nezilwane ezingenangqondo ngemvelo ezizalelwe ukubanjwa nokubhujiswa’ ngaphandle kwethemba lokuvuswa.—2 Petru 2:9-13.
20. Ngokwamazwi kaJuda acatshangelwe kuze kube manje, iyiphi inkambo ofakazi abathembekile bakaJehova okumelwe bayilandele?
20 Yeka indlela okubaluleke ngayo ukuba oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla bamelane ngokuphelele nabafundisi bamanga, abathanda ukonakalisa inyama nalabo abadelela igunya elimiswe phezulu! Nokho, uma iseluleko esiye sacatshangelwa kuze kube manje encwadini kaJuda sembula izinga elithile lephutha ezimweni zethu siqu noma izindlela, sengathi singasheshe sishintshe inkambo yethu, ngomthandazo sifune usizo lukaBaba wethu osezulwini. Futhi sengathi singazuza njalo ngokomoya ngenxa yokulalela ‘izixwayiso ezibekwe phambi kwethu.’
(Ukucabangela kwethu incwadi kaJuda kuyophethwa esihlokweni seNqabayokulinda elandelayo.)
Ungawakhumbula yini lamaphuzu:
□ Okuhlangenwe nakho kwamaIsrayeli asendulo kukufakazela kanjani ukuthi kumelwe sibe nokholo olunganqamuki ukuze sithole insindiso?
□ Izingelosi ezingalaleli zisinikeza siphi isibonelo esiyisixwayiso?
□ ISodoma, iGomora nemizi eyayizungezile kuwanikeza siphi isixwayiso amaKristu?
□ Kungani kungamelwe silibukele phansi igunya elikhishwa phezulu?
□ Isiphi isibonelo sokuhlonipha igunya ingelosi enkulu uMikayeli eyasibeka, futhi kumelwe sisabele kanjani?
[Isithombe ekhasini 22]
Njengoba uNkulunkulu ‘asindisa abantu baphuma . . . eGibithe,’ amaKristu aye asindiswa kulelizwe elibi. Kodwa ukholo olungapheli luyadingeka ukuze kutholakale insindiso yokugcina
[Isithombe ekhasini 25]
Lokho okwenzeka eSodoma nasemizini elizungezile kuyisixwayiso ngokuziphatha okubi