Thembela Engalweni KaJehova Esindisayo
“Jehova, . . . yiba-yingalo yethu ekuseni njalo, nokusindiswa kwethu ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka.”—ISAYA 33:2.
1. UJehova unengalo enamandla ngamuphi umqondo?
UJEHOVA unengalo enamandla. Yebo, njengoba ‘uNkulunkulu enguMoya,’ akuyona ingalo engokwenyama. (Johane 4:24) EBhayibhelini, ingalo engokomfanekiso imelela ikhono lokusebenzisa amandla. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu ubakhulula ngengalo yakhe abantu bakhe. Ngempela, ‘uNkulunkulu walusa umhlambi wakhe njengomalusi, abuthe amawundlu ngemikhono [“ngengalo,” NW] yakhe, awagone esifubeni sakhe.’ (Isaya 40:11; IHubo 23:1-4) Yeka indlela abantu bakaJehova abazizwa bephephe ngayo engalweni yakhe yothando!—Qhathanisa noDuteronomi 3:24.
2. Yimiphi imibuzo lapha efanelwe ukuba siyicabangele?
2 Ingalo kaJehova iye yabasindisa kanjani abantu bakhe, esikhathini esidlule namanje? Yiluphi usizo uNkulunkulu abanikeza lona njengebandla? Futhi kungani abantu bakhe bengathembela engalweni yakhe esindisayo phakathi nakho konke ukucindezeleka kwabo?
Ingalo KaNkulunkulu Esindisayo Iyasebenza
3. ImiBhalo ithi ukukhululwa kukaIsrayeli eGibithe kwakubangelwe yini?
3 Ngaphambi kokukhulula amaIsrayeli ebugqilini baseGibithe eminyakeni engu-3 500 edlule, uNkulunkulu watshela umprofethi wakhe uMose: “Yisho kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli ukuthi: NginguJehova; ngizakunikhipha emithwalweni yabaseGibithe, nginikhulule ebugqileni benu, nginihlenge ngengalo eyeluliweyo nangezahlulelo ezinkulu.” (Eksodusi 6:6) Ngokukamphostoli uPawulu, uNkulunkulu wakhipha amaIsrayeli eGibithe “ngengalo ephakemeyo.” (IzEnzo 13:17) Amadodana kaKora athi ukunqoba iZwe Lesithembiso kwakubangelwe uNkulunkulu, ethi: “Abalidlanga izwe ngenkemba yabo, nengalo yabo ayibasindisanga; kepha kwaba-yisandla sakho sokunene, nengalo yakho, nokukhanya kobuso bakho, ngokuba wawubathanda.”—IHubo 44:3.
4. Ukuthembela engalweni kaJehova esindisayo kwavuzwa kanjani ezinsukwini zokuhlasela kweAsiriya?
4 Ingalo kaJehova yabasiza futhi abantu bakhe ezinsukwini zokuhlasela kweAsiriya. Ngalesosikhathi umprofethi uIsaya wathandaza: “Jehova, yiba-nomusa kithi, sihlalela wena. Yiba-yingalo yethu ekuseni njalo, nokusindiswa kwethu ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka.” (Isaya 33:2) Lowomthandazo waphendulwa lapho ingelosi kaNkulunkulu ibulala abangu-185 000 ekamu labaseAsiriya, okwenza ukuba iNkosi uSaneheribi imuke eJerusalema “ijabhile.” (2 IziKronike 32:21; Isaya 37:33-37) Ukuthembela engalweni kaJehova esindisayo njalo kuyavuzwa.
5. Ingalo kaNkulunkulu enamandla yawenzelani amaKristu ayeshushiswa ekupheleni kweMpi Yezwe I?
5 Ingalo kaNkulunkulu enamandla yasindisa amaKristu agcotshiwe ayeshushiswa ekupheleni kweMpi Yezwe I. Ngo-1918 indlunkulu yeNdikimba Ebusayo yahlaselwa yizitha zayo, futhi abazalwane abaziwayo baboshwa. Besaba ababusi bezwe, abagcotshiwe bacishe bawuyeka umsebenzi wabo wokushumayela. Kodwa bathandazela ukuba uvuselelwe nokuba bahlanzwe esonweni sokungakhuthali nokungcola kokwesaba. UNkulunkulu waphendula ngokubangela ukuba abazalwane ababeboshiwe bakhululwe, futhi ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho kwalandela ukwesulwa kwamacala abo. Ngenxa yamaqiniso azwakaliswa emhlanganweni wabo ngo-1919 nokuthululwa komoya kaNkulunkulu oshukumisayo, abagcotshiwe bavuselelwa ukuba benze inkonzo yesibindi kuJehova ekugcwalisekeni kokugcina kukaJoweli 2:28-32.—IsAmbulo 11:7-12.
Usizo Ebandleni
6. Sazi kanjani ukuthi kungenzeka ukukhuthazelela isimo esivivinyayo ebandleni?
6 Njengoba uNkulunkulu eyisekela yonke inhlangano yakhe, ingalo yakhe isekela abantu ngabanye abakuyo. Yebo, izimo azikho ezingeni lokuphelela kunoma yiliphi ibandla ngenxa yokuthi bonke abantu abaphelele. (Roma 5:12) Ngakho ezinye izinceku zikaJehova ngezinye izikhathi zingase zibhekane nesimo esivivinyayo ebandleni. Ngokwesibonelo, nakuba uGayu ayenza “okuthembekileyo” ngokwamukela abazalwane abavakashile ngomoya wokungenisa izihambi, uDiyotrefe akazange abamukele futhi wazama ngisho nokubaxosha ebandleni labo abanomoya wokungenisa izihambi. (3 Johane 5, 9, 10) Nokho, uJehova wamsiza uGayu kanye nabanye ukuba baqhubeke bebonisa umoya wokungenisa izihambi ekusekeleni umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Ukuthembela kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo kufanele kusisize ukuba siqhubeke senza imisebenzi yokwethembeka lapho silindele yena ukuba alungise isimo okungenzeka sivivinya ukholo lwethu.
7. AmaKristu athembekile aphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwawo kuNkulunkulu naphezu kwaziphi izimo ebandleni laseKorinte?
7 Cabanga nje uma wawuhlanganyela nebandla laseKorinte lekhulu lokuqala leminyaka. Ngesinye isikhathi, amaqembu ayesongela ubunye balo, futhi ukubekezelelwa kokuziphatha okubi kwawubeka engozini umoya walo. (1 Korinte 1:10, 11; 5:1-5) Amakholwa ayemangalelana ezinkantolo zezwe, futhi abanye bexatshaniswa izinto ezihlukahlukene. (1 Korinte 6:1-8; 8:1-13) Umbango, umhawu, intukuthelo, nesiphithiphithi kwakwenza ukuphila kube nzima. Abanye babengabaza ngisho negunya likaPawulu futhi bedelela ikhono lakhe lokukhuluma. (2 Korinte 10:10) Nokho, abathembekile ababehlanganyela nalelobandla babephila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwabo kuNkulunkulu phakathi nalesosikhathi esivivinyayo.
8, 9. Kufanele senzeni uma sihlangabezana nesimo esivivinyayo ebandleni?
8 Uma kuphakama isimo esivivinyayo, kudingeka sinamathele kubantu bakaNkulunkulu. (Qhathanisa noJohane 6:66-69.) Masibekezelelane, siqaphela ukuthi abanye kubathatha isikhathi eside kunabanye ukuba bembathe ‘umuntu omusha’ nokuba bembathe isihawu, umusa, ukuthobeka, ubumnene, nokubhekakade. Njengoba futhi izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zinezizinda ezihlukene, sonke kudingeka sibonise uthando futhi sibe ngabathethelelayo.—Kolose 3:10-14.
9 Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi yokukhonza uJehova, omunye umzalwane wathi: “Uma kukhona into ebibaluleke kakhulu kimi, bekuyindaba yokuzigcina ngiseduze nenhlangano kaJehova ebonakalayo. Okuhlangenwe nakho kwami kwangaphambili kwangifundisa indlela okungahlakaniphile ngayo ukuthembela embonweni womuntu. Lapho senginqumile engqondweni ngalelophuzu, ngazimisela ukunamathela kulenhlangano ethembekile. Iyiphi enye indlela umuntu angathola ngayo ukuvunyelwa uJehova nezibusiso zakhe?” Ingabe nawe ulazisa ngendlela efanayo ilungelo lakho lokukhonza uJehova nabantu bakhe abajabulayo? (IHubo 100:2) Uma kunjalo, ngeke uvumele lutho ukuba lukususe enhlanganweni kaNkulunkulu noma lonakalise ubuhlobo bakho naLowo ongalo yakhe isindisa bonke abamthandayo.
Usizo Lapho Sihlaselwa Izilingo
10. (a) Umthandazo ubasiza kanjani abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuba babhekane nesilingo? (b) Yisiphi isiqiniseko uPawulu asinikezayo kweyoku-1 Korinte 10:13?
10 Njengabantu abathembekile abahlanganyela nenhlangano kaNkulunkulu, sithola usizo lwakhe phakathi nesikhathi sokulingwa. Ngokwesibonelo, uyasisiza ukuba silondoloze ubuqotho bethu kuye lapho sihlaselwa isilingo. Yebo, kufanele sithandaze ngokuvumelana nalamazwi kaJesu: “Ungasingenisi ekulingweni, kodwa usikhulule ko[m]ubi,” uSathane uDeveli. (Mathewu 6:9-13) Empeleni, ngokwenza kanjalo sicela uNkulunkulu ukuba angasivumeli sihluleke lapho silingwa ukuba singamlaleli. Uyayiphendula futhi imithandazo yethu yokucela ukuhlakanipha kokunqoba izilingo. (Jakobe 1:5-8) Futhi izinceku zikaJehova zingaqiniseka ngosizo lwakhe, ngoba uPawulu wathi: “Anifikelwanga ukulingwa okungenjengokwabantu; kepha uNkulunkulu uthembekile, ongayikuvuma ukuba nilingwe ngokungaphezu kwamandla enu, kepha oyakuthi kanye nokulingwa anenzele indlela yokuphepha, nize nibe-namandla okukuthwala.” (1 Korinte 10:13) Uyini umthombo wesilingo esinjalo, futhi uNkulunkulu uyenza kanjani indlela yokuphunyuka?
11, 12. AmaIsrayeli azivumela ukuba anqotshwe yiziphi izilingo, futhi singazuza kanjani kokuhlangenwe nakho kwawo?
11 Isilingo sivela ezimweni ezingasibangela ukuba singathembeki kuNkulunkulu. UPawulu wathi: “Lokho kwaba-yizibonelo kithi, size singafisi [“okulimazayo,” NW], njengalokho bona [amaIsrayeli] babekufisa. Futhi ningabi-ngabakhonza izithombe njengabanye kubo, njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi: Abantu bahlala phansi ukuba badle, baphuze, basukuma ukuba badlale. Futhi asingenzi ubufebe njengokuba abanye kubo benza ubufebe, bafa ngalusuku lunye abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nantathu. Futhi asingayilingi iNkosi njengabanye kubo bayilinga, babhujiswa yizinyoka. Futhi ningakhononi njengabanye kubo bakhonona, babhujiswa ngumbulali.”—1 Korinte 10:6-10.
12 AmaIsrayeli afisa okulimazayo lapho evumela ukunqotshwa isilingo sokuba ngahahayo ekubutheni nasekudleni izigwaca ezazilungiselelwe nguNkulunkulu ngokuyisimangaliso. (Numeri 11:19, 20, 31-35) Ngaphambili, ayebe abakhonzi bezithombe lapho ukungabikho kukaMose kubangela isilingo sokuhlanganyela ekukhulekelweni kwethole. (Eksodusi 32:1-6) Izinkulungwane zabhubha ngenxa yokuvumela ukunqotshwa isilingo futhi zafeba nabesifazane bakwaMowabi. (Numeri 25:1-9) Lapho amaIsrayeli ezivumela ukuba alingwe futhi ekhononda ngokubhujiswa kukaKora ohlubukayo, uDathani, uAbiramu, nabangani babo, kwabhubha abangu-14 700 ngesishayo esasithunyelwe ngokwaphezulu. (Numeri 16:41-49) Singazuza kokuhlangenwe nakho okunjalo uma siqaphela ukuthi asikho nesisodwa salezilingo esasisikhulu kangangokuba amaIsrayeli ayengenakumelana naso. Ayengakwenza lokho uma ayebonise ukholo, ebonga ngokunakekela kukaNkulunkulu kothando, futhi uma ayekwazisa ukulunga koMthetho wakhe. Khona-ke ingalo kaJehova yayiyowasindisa, njengoba nje nathi ingasisindisa.
13, 14. UJehova uyenza kanjani indlela yokuphunyuka lapho izinceku zakhe zibhekene nesilingo?
13 NjengamaKristu, sibhekana nezilingo ezivamile esintwini. Nokho, singahlala sithembekile kuNkulunkulu ngokuthandazela usizo lwakhe nangokusebenzela ukumelana nesilingo. UNkulunkulu uthembekile, futhi ngeke asivumele ukuba silingwe ngaphezu kwamandla ethu. Uma sithembeka kuJehova, ngeke sikuthole kunzima ukwenza intando yakhe. Wenza indlela yokuphunyuka ngokusiqinisa ukuba simelane nesilingo. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho sishushiswa, singase silingeke ukuba sihlehle ngethemba lokubalekela ukuhlushwa noma ukufa. Kodwa uma sithembela engalweni kaJehova enamandla, isilingo asifinyeleli eqophelweni lapho engenakuluqinisa khona ukholo lwethu futhi asinikeze amandla anele okulondoloza ubuqotho. Njengoba umphostoli uPawulu asho: “Siyacindezelwa nxazonke, kodwa asinyinyekile; siyaxakeka, kodwa asidikibali; siyazingelwa, kodwa asidelwa; siwiswa phansi, kodwa asibhujiswa.”—2 Korinte 4:8, 9.
14 UJehova futhi usekela abantu bakhe ngokusebenzisa umoya wakhe njengomkhumbuzi nomfundisi. Usikhumbuza amaphuzu angokomBhalo futhi usisize ukuba siqonde indlela yokuwasebenzisa ukuze simelane nesilingo. (Johane 14:26) Izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile ziyaziqonda izimpikiswano ezihilelekile esilingweni futhi azikhohliseki ukuba zilandele inkambo engalungile. UNkulunkulu uye wenza indlela yokuphunyuka ngokuzenza zikwazi ukukhuthazela kuze kube ngisho nasekufeni ngaphandle kokuvumela ukunqotshwa isilingo. (IsAmbulo 2:10) Ngaphandle kokusiza izinceku zakhe ngomoya wakhe, uJehova usebenzisa izingelosi zakhe ngenhlangano yakhe.—Heberu 1:14.
Usizo Ezindabeni Zomuntu Siqu
15. Yiluphi usizo lomuntu siqu esingaluthola encwadini yesiHlabelelo seziHlabelelo?
15 Labo abahlanganyela nenhlangano kaJehova bathola usizo lwakhe ezindabeni zomuntu siqu. Ngokwesibonelo, abanye kungenzeka bafuna umlingani ongumKristu. (1 Korinte 7:39) Uma kuba khona ukudumala, kungase kube wusizo ukucabanga ngenkosi uSolomoni yakwaIsrayeli. Yahluleka ukuzuza umShulamiti ukuba ashade nayo ngoba wayethanda umalusi othobekile. Umlando wenkosi ngokuphathelene nalendaba ungase ubizwe ngokuthi iNgoma KaSolomoni Yothando Olwehlulekile. Singase sikhale izinyembezi uma imizamo yethu siqu yokweshela othile ingaphumeleli, kodwa uSolomoni wakwazi ukubhekana nokudumala kwakhe, ngakho nathi singakwazi. Umoya kaNkulunkulu ungasisiza ukuba sibonise ukuzithiba nezinye izimfanelo zokwesaba uNkulunkulu. IZwi laKhe lisisiza ukuba samukele iqiniso elivame ukuba buhlungu lokuthi umuntu akanakuba nothando lomshado nganoma ubani nje. (IsiHlabelelo seziHlabelelo 2:7; 3:5) Nokho, IsiHlabelelo seziHlabelelo sibonisa ukuthi kungase kwenzeke ukuthola esikholwa kanye naye osithanda kakhulu. Okubaluleke nangokwengeziwe, ‘lesihlabelelo sezihlabelelo’ sigcwaliseka othandweni loMalusi Omuhle, uJesu Kristu, ‘ngomlobokazi’ wakhe wabalandeli abagcotshiwe abangu-144 000.—IsiHlabelelo seziHlabelelo 1:1; IsAmbulo 14:1-4; 21:2, 9; Johane 10:14.
16. ‘Usizi enyameni’ amaKristu ashadile ahlangabezana nalo lungase luhlanganiseni?
16 Ngisho nalabo abashade nokholwayo “banosizi enyameni.” (1 Korinte 7:28) Kuyoba nezinkathazo nezinkinga ezihilela indoda nomfazi kanye nabantwana babo. (1 Korinte 7:32-35) Ukugula kungase kulethe umthwalo nokucindezeleka. Ushushiso noma ubunzima obungokomnotho kungase kwenze kube nzima ngobaba ongumKristu ukuba alungiselele izidingo zokuphila zomkhaya wakhe. Abazali nabantwana bangase bahlukaniswe ngokuboshwa, futhi abanye bangase bahlushwe futhi babulawe ngisho nokubulawa. Kodwa kuzo zonke izimo ezinjalo, singamelana nesilingo sokuphika ukholo uma sithembela ngempela engalweni kaJehova esindisayo.—IHubo 145:14.
17. Iyiphi inkinga yomkhaya uNkulunkulu enza uIsaka noRebeka bakwazi ukuyikhuthazelela?
17 Kungase kudingeke sikhuthazelele uvivinyo oluthile isikhathi eside. Ngokwesibonelo, indodana ingase ibangele ukukhathazeka kubazali bayo abesaba uNkulunkulu ngokushada nongakholwa. Lokho kwenzeka emkhayeni wenzalamizi uIsaka nomkayo uRebeka. Indodana yabo eneminyaka engu-40 uEsawu yashada nabesifazane ababili abangamaHeti ababa “[yimbangela yosizi] enhliziyweni kaIsaka noRebeka.” Eqinisweni, “URebeka wayesethi kuIsaka: Ngidiniwe ukuphila ngenxa yamadodakazi kaHeti; uma uJakobe [enye indodana yabo] ethatha umfazi kuwo amadodakazi kaHeti onjengalawa, kuwo amadodakazi alelizwe, kuyakungisiza ngani ukuphila na?” (Genesise 26:34, 35, qhathanisa neNW; 27:46) Ngokusobala, umphefumulo olungile kaRebeka wahlushwa yilenkinga eyayiqhubeka. (Qhathanisa neyesi-2 Petru 2:7, 8.) Nokho, ingalo kaJehova yabasekela oIsaka noRebeka, yabenza bakwazi ukukhuthazelela loluvivinyo kuyilapho belondoloza ubuhlobo obuqinile naYe.
18. Yiluphi uvivinyo lomuntu siqu uC. T. Russell alukhuthazelela ngosizo lukaNkulunkulu?
18 Kubangela ukukhathazeka lapho ilungu lomkhaya elibhapathiziwe liyekethisa enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu. (Qhathanisa neyesi-2 Thimothewu 2:15.) Nokho, abanye baye bakukhuthazelela ngisho nokulahlekelwa umlingani wabo ngokomoya, njengoba kwenza uCharles T. Russell, umongameli wokuqala weWatch Tower Society. Umkakhe wanqamula ubuhlobo bakhe neNhlangano futhi wamshiya ngo-1897, ngemva kweminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-18 beshadile. Ngo-1903 wammangalela ukuze athole imvume yokuhlala ngokwehlukana engokomthetho, futhi yakhishwa ngo-1908. Usizi lwakhe (uRussell) lwabonakala lapho emtshela encwadini yokuqala ambhalela yona: “Ngiye ngakuthandazela ngobuqotho eNkosini. . . . Ngeke ngikuthwese umthwalo ngezindaba zosizi lwami, noma ngizame ukukwenza ungizwele ngokuyichaza ngokuningiliziwe imizwelo yami, njengoba ngezikhathi ezithile ngibona izingubo zakho zokugqoka nezinye izinto ezingikhumbuza ngokucacile ubuwena bangaphambili—ugcwele uthando nesihawu nokuba wusizo—ubonisa umoya kaKristu. . . . Oh, cabangela ngomthandazo lokho esengizokusho. Futhi qiniseka ngokuthi usizi lwami olubuhlungu kakhulu, olungithinta ngokujulile ngokomzwelo, alusona isizungu engizoba naso kukho konke ukuphila, kodwa ngukona kwakho, sithandwa, ukulahlekelwa kwakho kwaphakade, ngendlela engibona ngayo.” Naphezu kosizi olunjalo, uRussell wasekelwa uNkulunkulu kwaze kwaba sekugcineni kokuphila kwakhe kwasemhlabeni. (IHubo 116:12-15) UJehova uyazisekela njalo izinceku zakhe ezithembekile.
Kuzo Zonke Izinkathazo
19. Yini okufanele siyikhumbule uma izinkinga ezibangela ukukhathazeka ziphikelela?
19 Abantu bakaJehova bamazi ngokuthi “unguNkulunkulu wezinkululo,” Lowo ‘osithwala imihla ngemihla.’ (IHubo 68:19, 20) Ngakho-ke, njengabantu abazinikezele abahlanganyela nenhlangano yakhe yasemhlabeni, masingalokothi sivumele ukunqotshwa isimo sokulahla ithemba uma izinkinga ezibangela ukukhathazeka ziphikelela. Khumbula ukuthi “uNkulunkulu uyisiphephelo sethu namandla ethu; ufunyaniswa elusizo impela ekuhluphekeni.” (IHubo 46:1) Ukuthembela kwethu kuye njalo kuyavuzwa. “Ngamfuna uJehova, wangiphendula,” kusho uDavide, “wangikhulula kulo lonke uvalo lwami. . . . Nasi isihlupheki esakhala, uJehova wezwa, wasikhulula kuzo zonke izinhlupheko [“izinkathazo,” NW] zaso.” —IHubo 34:4-6.
20. Yimuphi umbuzo osasele ozocatshangelwa?
20 Yebo, uBaba wethu wasezulwini uyabasindisa abantu bakhe kuzo zonke izinkathazo. Uyayisekela inhlangano yakhe yasemhlabeni, enikeza usizo ezindabeni zebandla nezomuntu siqu. Ngempela, “uJehova akayikulahla abantu bakhe.” (IHubo 94:14) Kodwa ngokulandelayo ake sicabangele ezinye izindlela uJehova asiza ngazo abantu bakhe ngabanye. UBaba wethu wasezulwini uzisekela kanjani izinceku zakhe ezigulayo, ezicindezelekile engqondweni, ezikhungethwe usizi ngenxa yokushonelwa, noma ezikhathazekile ngenxa yamaphutha azo? Njengoba sizobona, nakulezizimo, sinesizathu sokuthembela engalweni kaJehova enamandla.
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Ingalo kaJehova iye yayiletha kanjani insindiso ezikhathini zangaphambili?
◻ UJehova ubasiza kanjani abantu bakhe ebandleni namuhla?
◻ Yiluphi usizo uJehova alunikezayo ezindabeni zomuntu siqu?
◻ Yini okufanele siyenze uma izinkinga ezibangela ukukhathazeka ziphikelela?
[Isithombe ekhasini 8, 9]
UNkulunkulu wakhipha amaIsrayeli eGibithe “ngengalo ephakemeyo”