UJehova Akumelwe Asolwe
“Njengoyise ehawukela abantwana bakhe, kanjalo uJehova uyabahawukela abamesabayo. Ngokuba uyakwazi ukubunjwa kwethu; uyakhumbula ukuthi siluthuli.”—IHUBO 103:13, 14.
1, 2. Wayengubani uAbrahama, futhi kwenzeka kanjani ukuba umshana wakhe uLoti ahlale emzini owonakele waseSodoma?
UJEHOVA akanakubekwa icala ngenxa yezinkathazo okungenzeka sibhekane nazo ngenxa yamaphutha ethu. Kulokhu cabangela lokho okwenzeka eminyakeni engaba ngu-3 900 edlule. Umngane kaNkulunkulu uAbrahama (Abrama) nomshana wakhe uLoti babecebe kakhulu. (Jakobe 2:23) Eqinisweni, impahla nemfuyo yabo kwakukuningi kangangokuthi “izwe lalingenakubanela ukuba bahlale ndawonye.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwaba nengxabano phakathi kwabelusi balamadoda amabili. (Genesise 13:5-7) Yini eyayingenziwa ngalokhu?
2 Ukuze kuqedwe ukuxabana, uAbrahama wasikisela ukuba bahlukane, futhi wavumela uLoti ukuba akhethe kuqala. Nakuba uAbrahama ayeyindoda endala futhi kwakuyoba okufanelekile ngomshana wakhe ukuba amvumele athathe indawo enhle kakhulu, uLoti wakhetha indawo enhle kakhulu—sonke isigodi esinamanzi amaningi saseJordani Esezansi. Ukubonakala kwangaphandle kwakukhohlisa, ngoba eduze nje kwakunemizi yaseSodoma neGomora eyayinokuziphatha okubi. ULoti nomkhaya wakhe ekugcineni bathuthela eSodoma, futhi lokhu kwababeka engozini engokomoya. Ngaphezu kwalokho, bathunjwa lapho iNkosi uKedorlawomere nabangane bayo benqoba umbusi waseSodoma. UAbrahama namadoda akhe babakhulula, kodwa uLoti nomkhaya wakhe baphindela eSodoma.—Genesise 13:8-13; 14:4-16.
3, 4. Yini eyenzeka kuLoti namalungu omkhaya wakhe lapho uNkulunkulu ebhubhisa iSodoma neGomora?
3 Ngenxa yokuphendukezelwa kobulili nokuwohloka kokuziphatha kwaseSodoma neGomora, uJehova wanquma ukuyibhubhisa leyomizi. Ngomusa wathuma izingelosi ezimbili ezakhiphela uLoti, umkakhe, namadodakazi abo amabili ngaphandle kweSodoma. Kwakungamelwe babheke emuva, kodwa umkaLoti wabheka emuva, mhlawumbe elangazelela izinto ezibonakalayo ezazisele ngemuva. Ngaso lesosikhathi, waba yinsika kasawoti.—Genesise 19:1-26.
4 Yeka ukulahlekelwa uLoti namadodakazi akhe ababhekana nakho! Lamantombazane kwadingeka ashiye amadoda ayezoshada nawo. Manje uLoti wayengasenaye umkakhe nengcebo yakhe yezinto ezibonakalayo. Eqinisweni, ekugcineni waphoqeleka ukuba ahlale emhumeni namadodakazi akhe. (Genesise 19:30-38) Lokho okwakubonakale kukuhle kuye kwamane nje kwaba okuphambene. Ngisho nakuba ngokusobala ayenze amaphutha angathi sína, kamuva wabizwa ngokuthi ‘uLoti olungileyo.’ (2 Petru 2:7, 8) Futhi ngokuqinisekile uJehova uNkulunkulu wayengenakusolwa ngamaphutha kaLoti.
‘Amaphutha—Ubani Ongawabona?’
5. UDavide wazizwa kanjani ngamaphutha nangokugabadela?
5 Njengoba singaphelele futhi sinesono, sonke siyawenza amaphutha. (Roma 5:12; Jakobe 3:2) NjengoLoti, singase sikhohliswe ukubonakala kwangaphandle futhi singase senze iphutha ekwahluleleni. Ngakho, umhubi uDavide wanxusa: ‘[Amaphutha—ubani ongawabona?, NW] Ngithethelele kwasithekileyo. Yilonde inceku yakho nasezonweni ezihlazisayo; mazingabusi phezu kwami. Yikhona ngiyakube ngiphelele, ngingabe ngisaba-necala eziphambekweni ezinkulu.’ (IHubo 19:12, 13) UDavide wayazi ukuthi wayengase enze izono ayengaziqapheli nokuziqaphela. Ngakho, wacela ukuba athethelelwe iziphambeko okungenzeka zazifihlekile ngisho nakuye. Lapho enze isono esingathi sína ngenxa yokuthi inyama yakhe engaphelele imholele ekubeni athathe inkambo engalungile, wayelufisa kakhulu usizo lukaJehova. Wayefuna ukuba uNkulunkulu amvimbele ezenzweni zokugabadela. UDavide wayengafuni ukuba ukugabadela kube isimo sakhe sengqondo esivelele. Kunalokho, wayefisa ukuzinikela ngokuphelele kuJehova uNkulunkulu.
6. Iyiphi induduzo engatholakala kumaHubo 103:10-14?
6 Njengezinceku zikaJehova ezizinikezele zosuku lwanamuhla, nathi asiphelele futhi ngenxa yalokho siyawenza amaphutha. Ngokwesibonelo, njengoLoti singase senze ukukhetha okubi ngokuphathelene nendawo esingahlala kuyo. Mhlawumbe silahle ithuba lokwandisa inkonzo yethu engcwele kuNkulunkulu. Nakuba uJehova ewabona amaphutha anjalo, uyabazi abanenhliziyo ethambekele ekulungeni. Ngisho noma sona ngokungathi sína kodwa siphenduka, uJehova uyasithethelela futhi asisize futhi aqhubeke esibheka njengabantu abesaba uNkulunkulu. “Akasiphathi njengokufanele izono zethu, akasivuzi njengokwamacala ethu,” kusho uDavide. “Ngokuba njengokuphakama kwezulu phezu komhlaba unjalo umusa wakhe phezu kwabamesabayo. Njengokuba impumalanga yahlukene nentshonalanga, udedisile kangaka kithi iziphambeko zethu. Njengoyise ehawukela abantwana bakhe, kanjalo uJehova uyabahawukela abamesabayo. Ngokuba uyakwazi ukubunjwa kwethu; uyakhumbula ukuthi siluthuli.” (IHubo 103:10-14) UBaba wethu wasezulwini onomusa angase futhi asenze sikwazi ukulungisa iphutha lethu noma angase asinike elinye ithuba lokwandisa inkonzo yethu engcwele, kube udumo kuye.
Iphutha Lokusola UNkulunkulu
7. Kungani sibhekana nosizi?
7 Lapho izinto zonakala, kuwukuthambekela kobuntu ukusola othile noma okuthile ngalokho okwenzekile. Abanye baze basole ngisho noNkulunkulu. Kodwa uJehova akazilethi izinkathazo ezinjalo kubantu. Wenza izinto ezinhle, hhayi ezimbi. Phela, “uphumisa ilanga lakhe phezu kwababi nabahle, anise imvula phezu kwabalungileyo nabangalungile”! (Mathewu 5:45) Isizathu esiyinhloko sokubhekana kwethu nosizi siwukuthi siphila ezweni eliqhuba ngezimiso zobugovu futhi elisemandleni kaSathane uDeveli.—1 Johane 5:19, qhathanisa neNW.
8. Yini uAdamu ayenza lapho izinto zingamhambeli kahle?
8 Ukusola uJehova uNkulunkulu ngezinkathazo ezibangelwa amaphutha ethu akuhlakaniphile futhi kuyingozi. Ukwenza kanjalo kungasenza silahlekelwe yikho kanye ukuphila kwethu. Umuntu wokuqala, uAdamu, kwakufanele anike uNkulunkulu udumo ngazo zonke izinto ezinhle azamukela. Yebo, uAdamu kwakufanele ambonge ngokujulile uJehova ngenxa yokuphila ngokwakho nangenxa yezibusiso azijabulela ekhaya elinjengepaki, insimu yase-Edeni. (Genesise 2:7-9) Yini uAdamu ayenza lapho izinto zonakala ngenxa yokuba engalalelanga uJehova futhi wadla isithelo esinqatshelwe? UAdamu wakhononda kuNkulunkulu: “Owesifazane, owangipha yena ukuba abe-nami, unginikile kuwo umuthi, ngadla.” (Genesise 2:15-17; 3:1-12) Ngokuqinisekile, akufanele sisole uJehova, njengoba kwenza uAdamu.
9. (a) Lapho sihlangabezana nezinkathazo ngenxa yezenzo zethu ezingahlakaniphile, singayitholaphi induduzo? (b) NgokwezAga 19:3, yini abanye abayenzayo lapho bezilethela izinkathazo?
9 Uma sihlangabezana nezinkathazo ngenxa yokuba izenzo zethu zingahlakaniphile, singathola induduzo ngokwazi ukuthi uJehova ubuqonda kangcono ngaphezu kwethu ubuthakathaka bethu futhi uyosikhulula ekuhluphekeni kwethu uma sizinikela kuye ngokukhethekile. Kufanele silwazise usizo lwaphezulu esilutholayo, singalokothi sisole uNkulunkulu ngenxa yezimo ezinzima nezinkathazo esizilethela zona. Kulokhu isaga esihlakaniphile sithi: “Ubuwula bomuntu buchitha indlela yakhe, kepha inhliziyo yakhe iyamthukuthelela uJehova.” (IzAga 19:3) Enye inguqulo ithi: “Abanye abantu bayazonakalisa ngokwabo ngezenzo zabo siqu zobuwula bese besola INKOSI.” (Today’s English Version) Enye futhi inguqulo ithi: “Ukungazi komuntu kukhungathekisa izenzo zakhe futhi amelane noJehova.”—Byington.
10. Ubuwula buka-Adamu ‘bayichitha kanjani indlela yakhe’?
10 Ngokuvumelana nesimiso salesisaga, uAdamu wenza ngobugovu futhi ukucabanga kwakhe kobuwula ‘kwachitha indlela yakhe.’ Inhliziyo yakhe yasuka kuJehova uNkulunkulu, futhi waqala ukuhamba enkambweni yakhe siqu yobugovu, yokuzibusa. Phela, uAdamu waba ongabongi kangangokuthi wasola uMdali wakhe futhi ngaleyondlela wazenza ngokwakhe waba isitha soPhezukonke! Isono sika-Adamu sonakalisa indlela yakhe siqu neyomkhaya wakhe. Yeka isixwayiso esikulokhu! Labo abathambekele ekusoleni uJehova ngenxa yezimo ezingafiseleki bangase bazibuze ngokufanelekile: Ingabe ngiyamnikeza uNkulunkulu udumo ngenxa yezinto ezinhle engizijabulelayo? Ingabe ngiyabonga ngokuthi nginokuphila njengenye yendalo yakhe? Ingabe kungenzeka ukuthi amaphutha ami siqu aye angilethela inkathazo? Ingabe ngiyawufanelekela umusa nosizo lukaJehova ngenxa yokulandela isiqondiso sakhe, njengoba sibekwe eZwini lakhe eliphefumlelwe, iBhayibheli?
Ingozi Ngisho Nangezinceku ZikaNkulunkulu
11. Ngokuphathelene noNkulunkulu, yini abaholi benkolo yobuJuda bekhulu lokuqala ababenecala layo?
11 Abaholi benkolo yobuJuda bekhulu lokuqala leminyaka C.E. babethi bakhonza uNkulunkulu kodwa bengalinaki izwi lakhe leqiniso futhi bencika kokwabo ukuqonda. (Mathewu 15:8, 9) Ngenxa yokuthi uJesu Kristu wadalula ukucabanga kwabo okungalungile, bambulala. Kamuva, babonisa intukuthelo enkulu kubafundi bakhe. (IzEnzo 7:54-60) Indlela yalabobantu yayonakele kangangokuthi empeleni bathukuthelela uJehova ngokwakhe.—Qhathanisa nezEnzo 5:34, 38, 39.
12. Yisiphi isibonelo esibonisa ukuthi ngisho nabantu abathile abahlanganyela nebandla lobuKristu bayazama ukusola uJehova ngezinkathazo zabo?
12 Ngisho nabantu abathile ebandleni lobuKristu baye baba nokucabanga okuyingozi, bezama ukubeka uNkulunkulu icala ngobunzima abaye bahlangabezana nabo. Ngokwesibonelo, abadala abamisiwe ebandleni elithile bakuthola kudingekile ukunikeza owesifazane osemusha oshadile iseluleko somusa esingokomBhalo kodwa esiqinile ngobudlelwano ayenabo nendoda ethile yezwe. Phakathi nenye ingxoxo, wasola uNkulunkulu ngokungamsizi ukuba amelane nesilingo ubudlelwano bakhe obuqhubekayo nalendoda obamlethela sona. Empeleni wathi wayemthukuthelele kabi uNkulunkulu! Ukubonisana ngemiBhalo nemizamo ephindaphindiwe yokumsiza kwaba nhlanga-zimuka nomoya, futhi inkambo yokuziphatha okubi ngokushesha yamholela ekubeni axoshwe ebandleni lobuKristu.
13. Kungani kumelwe sigweme isimo sengqondo sokukhononda?
13 Umoya wokukhononda ungaholela umuntu ukuba asole uJehova. “Abangamesabi uNkulunkulu” abangena ngokunyenya ebandleni lekhulu lokuqala babenalolohlobo lomoya omubi, futhi wawuhambisana nezinye izinhlobo zokucabanga okonakele ngokomoya. Njengoba umfundi uJuda asho, lamadoda ‘ayephendukezela umusa kaNkulunkulu wethu ube-ngamanyala, ephika uMbusi oyedwa neNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.’ UJuda wathi futhi: “Yilabo abakhononayo nabasolayo.” (Juda 3, 4, 16) Izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile ngokuhlakanipha ziyothandazela ukuba zibe nomoya wokwazisa, hhayi isimo sengqondo sokukhononda ekugcineni esingase sizidabukise kuze kube seqophelweni lokulahlekelwa ukholo kuNkulunkulu futhi zibubeke engozini ubuhlobo bazo naye.
14. Omunye umuntu angase asabele kanjani uma ecasulwe umKristu akanye naye, kodwa kungani lokhu kungeke kube inkambo efanele?
14 Ungase ube nomuzwa wokuthi lokhu ngeke kwenzeke kuwe. Nokho, izinto ezonakala ngenxa yamaphutha ethu noma awabanye zingase ekugcineni zisenze sisole uNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, umuntu angase acasulwe yilokho akholwa naye akushoyo noma akwenzayo. Umuntu ocasuliwe—mhlawumbe oye wakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka iminyaka eminingi—angase athi: ‘Uma lowomuntu esebandleni, ngeke ngiye emihlanganweni.’ Umuntu angase acasuke kakhulu kangangokuba athi enhliziyweni yakhe: ‘Uma izinto ezinjena ziqhubeka, angifuni ukuba yingxenye yebandla.’ Kodwa ingabe umKristu kumelwe abe nalesosimo sengqondo? Uma ucasulwe ngomunye umuntu ongaphelele, kungani uthukuthelela lonke ibandla labantu abamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu futhi abamkhonza ngokwethembeka? Kungani othile ozinikezele kuJehova kumelwe ayeke ukwenza intando yaphezulu futhi ngaleyondlela athukuthelele uNkulunkulu? Kuhlakaniphe kangakanani ukuvumela umuntu noma izimo ezithile ukuba konakalise ubuhlobo obuhle bomuntu noJehova? Ngokuqinisekile, kungaba ubuwula nesono ukuyeka ukukhulekela uJehova uNkulunkulu ngenxa yanoma yisiphi isizathu.—Jakobe 4:17.
15, 16. Yini uDiyotrefe ayenecala layo, kodwa uGayu waziphatha kanjani?
15 Ake sithi wawusebandleni elilodwa noGayu umKristu onothando. ‘Wayenza okuthembekile’ ngokubonisa umoya wokungenisa izihambi kubakhulekeli ayekanye nabo ababevakashile—ngisho nabafokazi! Kodwa ngokusobala ebandleni elifanayo, kwakunendoda eqhoshayo uDiyotrefe. Wayengamukeli lutho kuJohane ngenhlonipho, omunye wabaphostoli bakaJesu Kristu. Eqinisweni, uDiyotrefe waze ngisho wakhuluma kabi ngoJohane. Lomphostoli wathi: “Enganelisiwe nayilokho akabamukeli abazalwane [uDiyotrefe], nabavumayo uyabanqabela, abakhiphe ebandleni.”—3 Johane 1, 5-10.
16 Uma uJohane eza ebandleni, wayehlose ukukhumbuza uDiyotrefe ngalokho ayekwenza. Phakathi nalesosikhathi, wasabela kanjani uGayu namanye amaKristu anomoya wokungenisa izihambi kulelobandla? Akukho emBhalweni okubonisa ukuthi ukhona kubo owathi: ‘Uma nje uDiyotrefe esekhona ebandleni, angifuni ukuba yingxenye yalo. Ngeke ungibone emihlanganweni.’ Ngokungangabazeki uGayu nabanye abafana naye bama beqinile. Abavumelanga lutho ukuba lubabangele ukuba bayeke ukwenza intando yaphezulu, futhi ngokuqinisekile abazange bamthukuthelele uJehova. Cha, nakancane, futhi abazange bavume ukunqotshwa amacebo obuqili kaSathane uDeveli, owayeyojabula uma bengathembekanga kuJehova futhi bamsola uNkulunkulu.—Efesu 6:10-18.
Ungalokothi Uthukuthelele UJehova!
17. Kufanele sisabele kanjani uma umuntu othile noma isimo kusicasula noma kusidumaza?
17 Ngisho nakuba umuntu othile noma isimo ebandleni kuye kwadumaza noma kwacasula inceku kaNkulunkulu, lowo ocasukile empeleni uyobe wonakalisa indlela yakhe siqu uma eyeka ukuhlanganyela nabantu bakaJehova. Umuntu onjalo uyobe akawasebenzisi ngokufanele amandla akhe okucabanga. (Heberu 5:14) Ngakho zimisele ukubhekana nalo lonke usizi njengomgcini wobuqotho. Londoloza ukwethembeka kuJehova uNkulunkulu, uJesu Kristu, nasebandleni lobuKristu. (Heberu 10:24, 25) Ayikho enye indawo elingatholakala kuyo iqiniso eliholela ekuphileni okuphakade.
18. Nakuba singakuqondi ngaso sonke isikhathi ukusebenza kwezinto zaphezulu, yini esingaqiniseka ngayo ngokuqondene noJehova uNkulunkulu?
18 Khumbula futhi ukuthi uJehova akalingi muntu ngezinto ezimbi. (Jakobe 1:13) UNkulunkulu, oyilo kanye uthando olwenziwe samuntu, wenza okuhle, ikakhulukazi kulabo abamthandayo. (1 Johane 4:8) Nakuba singakuqondi ngaso sonke isikhathi ukusebenza kwezinto zaphezulu, singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu ngeke ahluleke ukwenzela izinceku zakhe okuhle kakhulu. Njengoba uPetru asho: “Ngalokho zithobeni phansi kwesandla sikaNkulunkulu esinamandla, ukuze aniphakamise ngesikhathi esifaneleyo, niphonse izinkathazo zenu zonke phezu kwakhe, ngokuba uyanikhathalela.” (1 Petru 5:6, 7) Yebo, uJehova uyabakhathalela ngempela abantu bakhe.—IHubo 94:14.
19, 20. Kufanele sisabele kanjani, ngisho nakuba uvivinyo lwethu ngezinye izikhathi lusicindezela?
19 Ngakho-ke, ungavumeli noma yini noma ubani ukuba kukukhubekise. Njengoba umhubi asho ngokufanelekile, “abathanda umthetho [kaJehova uNkulunkulu] banokuthula okukhulu; akukho-sikhubekiso kubo.” (IHubo 119:165) Sonke siyabhekana novivinyo, futhi lungasenza sicindezeleke ngandlela-thile futhi sidumazeke ngezinye izikhathi. Kodwa ungalokothi uvumele inzondo yakheke enhliziyweni yakho, ikakhulukazi ngokumelene noJehova. (IzAga 4:23) Ngosizo lwakhe nangesisekelo esingokomBhalo, singatha izinkinga ongase ukwazi ukuzixazulula futhi ukhuthazelele lezo eziphikelelayo.—Mathewu 18:15-17; Efesu 4:26, 27.
20 Ungalokothi uvumele imizwelo yakho ikubangele ukuba usabele ngobuwula futhi ngaleyondlela wonakalise indlela yakho. Khuluma futhi wenze ngendlela eyothokozisa inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu. (IzAga 27:11) Khuluma noJehova ngomthandazo wentshiseko, wazi ukuthi ukukhathalela ngempela njengenye yezinceku zakhe futhi uyokunikeza ukuqonda okudingekayo ukuze uhlale usendleleni yokuphila nabantu bakhe. (IzAga 3:5, 6) Ngaphezu kwakho konke, ungamthukutheleleli uNkulunkulu. Lapho izinto zonakala, ngaso sonke isikhathi khumbula ukuthi uJehova akumelwe asolwe.
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Yiliphi iphutha uLoti alenza, kodwa uNkulunkulu wambheka kanjani?
◻ UDavide wazizwa kanjani ngamaphutha nangokugabadela?
◻ Lapho izinto zonakala, kungani kungafanele sisole uNkulunkulu?
◻ Yini eyosisiza ukuba sigweme ukuthukuthelela uJehova?
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
Lapho ehlukana noAbrahama, uLoti wenza ukukhetha okubi ngokuqondene nendawo ayezohlala kuyo