Ayezalelwa Esizweni Esikhethwe UNkulunkulu

“Nguwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akukhethile ukuba ube yisizwe sakhe.”—DUTERONOMI 7:6.

1, 2. Iziphi izenzo zamandla uJehova azenzela abantu bakhe, futhi yibuphi ubuhlobo ama-Israyeli abungenela noNkulunkulu?

NGO-1513 B.C.E., uJehova wafaka izinceku zakhe emhlabeni ebuhlotsheni obusha naye. Ngalowo nyaka, wathobisa umbuso wezwe wakhulula ama-Israyeli ebugqilini. Ngokwenza kanjalo, waba uMsindisi noMnikazi wawo. Engakasithathi lesi sinyathelo, uNkulunkulu watshela uMose: “Yisho kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli ukuthi, ‘NginguJehova, futhi ngokuqinisekile ngizonikhipha ngaphansi kwemithwalo esindayo yabaseGibhithe nginikhulule ekugqilazweni yibo, futhi impela ngizonophula ngengalo eyeluliweyo nangezahlulelo ezinkulu. Ngokuqinisekile ngizonithatha nibe isizwe sami, futhi impela ngizoba nguNkulunkulu kini.’”—Eksodusi 6:6, 7; 15:1-7, 11.

² Ngemva nje kokuFuduka eGibhithe, ama-Israyeli angena ebuhlotsheni besivumelwano noNkulunkulu wawo, uJehova. Esikhundleni sokusebenzelana nabantu ngabanye, imikhaya noma imindeni, kusukela ngaleso sikhathi uJehova wayeyoba nabantu abahleliwe emhlabeni, abayisizwe. (Eksodusi 19:5, 6; 24:7) Wanika abantu bakhe imithetho eyayilawula izindaba eziphathelene nezenhlalo, kanti okubaluleke nakakhulu, yayilawula nokukhulekela kwabo. UMose wathi kubo: “Yisiphi isizwe esikhulu esinawonkulunkulu abaseduze naso ngendlela uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu aseduze ngayo kukho konke ukumbiza kwethu? Futhi yisiphi isizwe esikhulu esineziqondiso ezilungile nezinqumo zokwahlulela njengawo wonke lo mthetho engiwubeka phambi kwenu namuhla?”—Duteronomi 4:7, 8.

Ayezalelwa Esizweni Esingofakazi

3, 4. Sasiyini isizathu esibalulekile sokuba khona kuka-Israyeli njengesizwe?

³ Emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva, esebenzisa umprofethi wakhe u-Isaya, uJehova wakhumbuza ama-Israyeli ngesizathu esibalulekile sokuba khona kwawo njengesizwe. U-Isaya wathi: “Yilokhu akushilo uJehova, uMdali wakho Jakobe, noMbumbi wakho Israyeli: ‘Ungesabi, ngoba ngikuhlengile. Ngikubizé ngegama lakho. Ungowami. Ngoba nginguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli uMsindisi wakho. . . . Letha amadodana ami kusuka kude, amadodakazi ami kusuka emkhawulweni womhlaba, wonke umuntu obizwa ngegama lami futhi engimdalele inkazimulo yami, engimbumbile, yebo, engimenzile. Ningofakazi bami,’ usho uJehova, ‘yebo inceku yami engiyikhethile, . . . isizwe engizibumbele sona, ukuba silandise ngodumo lwami.’”—Isaya 43:1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 21.

⁴ Njengesizwe esasibizwa ngegama likaJehova, ama-Israyeli ayeyoba ofakazi bobukhosi bakhe phambi kwezizwe. Ayeyoba isizwe ‘esidalelwe inkazimulo kaJehova.’ ‘Ayeyolandisa ngodumo lukaJehova,’ nangezenzo zakhe zokukhulula ezimangalisayo, ngaleyo ndlela akhazimulise igama lakhe elingcwele. Ngamafuphi, ayeyoba isizwe esingofakazi bakaJehova.

5. U-Israyeli wayeyisizwe esizinikezele ngayiphi indlela?

⁵ Ngekhulu le-11 B.C.E., iNkosi uSolomoni yabonisa ukuthi uJehova wayenze u-Israyeli waba isizwe esihlukanisiwe. Ithandaza kuJehova, yathi: “Wena ngokwakho wasihlukanisa njengefa lakho kuzo zonke izizwe zomhlaba.” (1 AmaKhosi 8:53) Ama-Israyeli ngamanye nawo ayenobuhlobo obukhethekile noJehova. Ngaphambidlana, uMose wayewatshelile: “Ningabantwana bakaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu. . . . Ngoba uyisizwe esingcwele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho.” (Duteronomi 14:1, 2) Ngakho-ke, intsha engama-Israyeli kwakungadingeki ukuba inikezele ukuphila kwayo kuJehova. Yayizalwa isingamalungu esizwe sikaNkulunkulu esizinikezele. (IHubo 79:13; 95:7) Isizukulwane ngasinye esisha sasifundiswa imithetho kaJehova futhi sasibophekile ukuba siyigcine ngenxa yesivumelwano esasiphakathi kuka-Israyeli noJehova.—Duteronomi 11:18, 19.

Ayekhululekile Ukuba Azikhethele

6. Ama-Israyeli ngamanye kwakumelwe enze kuphi ukukhetha?

⁶ Nakuba ama-Israyeli ayezalelwa esizweni esizinikezele, umIsrayeli ngamunye kwakumelwe azenzele isinqumo sokukhonza uNkulunkulu. Ngaphambi kokuba angene eZweni Lesithembiso, uMose wawatshela: “Ngimisa amazulu nomhlaba njengofakazi ngokumelene nani namuhla, bokuthi ngibeke ukuphila nokufa phambi kwakho, isibusiso nesiqalekiso; kumelwe ukhethe ukuphila ukuze uqhubeke uphila, wena nenzalo yakho, ngokuthanda uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, ngokulalela izwi lakhe nangokunamathela kuye; ngoba ungukuphila kwakho nobude bezinsuku zakho, ukuze uhlale ezweni uJehova afunga kokhokho bakho o-Abrahama, u-Isaka noJakobe ukubanika lona.” (Duteronomi 30:19, 20) Ngakho, ama-Israyeli ngamanye kwakumelwe akhethe ukuthanda uJehova, ukulalela izwi lakhe nokunamathela kuye. Njengoba ama-Israyeli ayenenkululeko yokuzikhethela, ayeyobhekana nemiphumela yokukhetha kwawo.—Duteronomi 30:16-18.

7. Kwenzekani ngemva kokufa kwesizukulwane sikaJoshuwa?

⁷ Inkathi yabaHluleli iyibonisa ngokucacile imiphumela yokwethembeka neyokungathembeki. Ngaphambi nje kokuba leyo nkathi iqale, ama-Israyeli alandela isibonelo esihle sikaJoshuwa futhi abusiswa. “Abantu baqhubeka bekhonza uJehova zonke izinsuku zikaJoshuwa nazo zonke izinsuku zamadoda amadala aqhubeka ephila ngemva kukaJoshuwa nayeboné wonke umsebenzi kaJehova omkhulu awenzela u-Israyeli.” Nokho, esikhathini esithile ngemva kokufa kukaJoshuwa, “kwaqala ukuvela esinye isizukulwane ngemva kwaso esasingamazi uJehova noma umsebenzi ayewenzelé u-Israyeli. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bawela ekwenzeni okubi emehlweni kaJehova.” (AbaHluleli 2:7, 10, 11) Kubonakala sengathi leso sizukulwane esisha, esasingenakho okuhlangenwe nakho asizange silazise ifa laso njengamalungu esizwe esizinikezele, uNkulunkulu waso uJehova ayesenzele izenzo zamandla esikhathini esidlule.—IHubo 78:3-7, 10, 11.

Ukuphila Ngokuvumelana Nokuzinikezela Kwawo

8, 9. (a) Iliphi ilungiselelo elalinikeza ama-Israyeli ithuba lokubonisa ukuzinikezela kwawo kuJehova? (b) Ama-Israyeli ayenza iminikelo yokuzithandela ayezitholelani?

⁸ UJehova wenzela abantu bakhe amathuba okuphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwabo njengesizwe. Ngokwesibonelo, uMthetho wakhe wawunesimiso semihlatshelo, noma iminikelo, eminye yayo eyayiyisibopho, eminye ingeyokuzithandela. (Hebheru 8:3) Imihlatshelo enjalo yayihlanganisa iminikelo yokushiswa, iminikelo yokusanhlamvu neminikelo yenhlanganyelo eyayingeyokuzithandela—izipho ababeziletha kuJehova ukuze bathole umusa wakhe futhi babonise nokubonga kwabo.—Levitikusi 7:11-13.

⁹ Leyo mihlatshelo yokuzithandela yayimthokozisa uJehova. Iminikelo yokushiswa neyokusanhlamvu kwakuthiwa ‘iyiphunga elizolisayo kuJehova.’ (Levitikusi 1:9; 2:2) Emhlatshelweni wenhlanganyelo, igazi namanoni esilwane kwakunikelwa kuJehova, kanti inyama yona yayidliwa abapristi nalowo onikelayo. Ngaleyo ndlela wawuyisidlo esasifanekisela ubuhlobo obunokuthula noJehova. UMthetho wathi: “Manje uma nihlabela uJehova umhlatshelo wenhlanganyelo, kufanele niwuhlabele ukuzitholela ukwamukelwa.” (Levitikusi 19:5) Nakuba wonke ama-Israyeli ayezalwa enikezelwe kuJehova, lawo ayenza ukuzinikezela kwawo kube nenjongo ngokwenza iminikelo yokuzithandela ‘ayezitholela ukwamukelwa’ futhi ayebusiswa ngokucebile.—Malaki 3:10.

10. UJehova wakubonisa kanjani ukungajabuli kwakhe ezinsukwini zika-Isaya nezikaMalaki?

¹⁰ Nokho, isizwe esizinikezele sakwa-Israyeli sazibonisa kaningi singathembekile kuJehova. Ngomprofethi wakhe u-Isaya, uJehova wathi kuso: “Awuzange ungilethele izimvu zeminikelo yakho yokushiswa ephelele, futhi awuzange ungikhazimulise ngemihlatshelo yakho. Angizange ngikuphoqe ukuba ungikhonze ngesipho.” (Isaya 43:23) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma singenzi iminikelo yaso ngokuzithandela sishukunyiswa uthando, yayingabi nanzuzo emehlweni kaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, emakhulwini amathathu eminyaka ngemva kuka-Isaya, ezinsukwini zomprofethi uMalaki, ama-Israyeli anikela ngezilwane ezinezici. Ngakho, uMalaki wawatshela: “‘Angijabuli ngani,’ kusho uJehova wamabutho, ‘futhi angiwujabuleli umnikelo wesipho ovela esandleni senu.‘ . . . ‘Nilethé okuqhwagiwe, nokulunyonga, nokugulayo; yebo, nikulethé njengesipho. Ngingakujabulela yini esandleni senu?’ kusho uJehova.”—Malaki 1:10, 13; Amose 5:22.

Ayalahlwa Njengesizwe Esizinikezele

11. Ama-Israyeli ayenikezwe liphi ithuba?

¹¹ Ngesikhathi ama-Israyeli eba isizwe esizinikezele kuJehova, wawathembisa: “Uma nizolilalela nokulilalela izwi lami futhi nizosigcina impela isivumelwano sami, ngokuqinisekile niyoba impahla yami ekhethekile kuzo zonke ezinye izizwe, ngoba wonke umhlaba ungowami. Futhi nina ngokwenu niyoba umbuso wabapristi nesizwe esingcwele kimi.” (Eksodusi 19:5, 6) UMesiya othenjisiwe wayeyovela phakathi kwawo futhi awanike ithuba lokuqala lokuba amalungu kahulumeni woMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (Genesise 22:17, 18; 49:10; 2 Samuweli 7:12, 16; Luka 1:31-33; Roma 9:4, 5) Kodwa ingxenye enkulu yesizwe sakwa-Israyeli yahluleka ukuphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwayo. (Mathewu 22:14) Yamenqaba uMesiya futhi yagcina imbulele.—IzEnzo 7:51-53.

12. Imaphi amazwi ashiwo uJesu abonisa ukuthi u-Israyeli wayeselahliwe njengesizwe sikaJehova esizinikezele?

¹² Ezinsukwini ezimbalwa ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uJesu wathi kubaholi benkolo yamaJuda: “Anizange yini nifunde emiBhalweni ukuthi, ‘Itshe elaliwa abakhi, yilo eliye laba yitshe legumbi eliyinhloko. Leli liye laba khona livela kuJehova, futhi liyamangalisa emehlweni ethu’? Kungakho ngithi kini, Niyophucwa umbuso kaNkulunkulu unikwe isizwe esithela izithelo zawo.” (Mathewu 21:42, 43) Ebonisa ukuthi uJehova wayesewalahlile njengesizwe esizinikezele kuYe, uJesu wathi: “Jerusalema, Jerusalema, mbulali wabaprofethi nomkhandi ngamatshe walabo abathunyelwe kuye,—yeka ukuthi kukaningi kangakanani ngifuna ukubuthela abantwana bakho ndawonye, ngendlela isikhukukazi esibuthela ngayo amatshwele aso ndawonye ngaphansi kwamaphiko aso! Kodwa anifunanga. Bhekani! Indlu yenu ishiywa nani.”—Mathewu 23:37, 38.

Isizwe Esisha Esizinikezele

13. Imaphi amazwi ayisiprofetho uJehova awasho ezinsukwini zikaJeremiya?

¹³ Ngesikhathi somprofethi uJeremiya, uJehova wabikezela into ethile entsha ngokuqondene nabantu bakhe. Siyafunda: “‘Bheka! Kuza izinsuku,’ kusho uJehova, ‘engiyokwenza ngazo isivumelwano esisha nendlu ka-Israyeli nendlu kaJuda; esingafani nesivumelwano engasenza nokhokho babo mhla ngibabamba ngesandla ukuze ngibakhiphe ezweni laseGibhithe, “isivumelwano sami abasephula, nakuba mina ngangingumnikazi wabo ongumyeni,” kusho uJehova.’ ‘Ngoba yilesi isivumelwano engiyosenza nendlu ka-Israyeli ngemva kwalezo zinsuku,’ kusho uJehova. ‘Ngiyofaka umthetho wami ngaphakathi kubo, ngiwulobe nasenhliziyweni yabo. Ngiyoba nguNkulunkulu wabo, bona babe ngabantu bami.’”—Jeremiya 31:31-33.

14. Isizwe esisha sikaJehova esizinikezele saba khona nini futhi sasisekelwe phezu kwani? Chaza ukuthi singobani leso sizwe.

¹⁴ Isisekelo salesi sivumelwano esisha sabekwa ngo-33 C.E., lapho uJesu efa futhi kamuva eletha kuYise inani legazi lakhe elachitheka. (Luka 22:20; Hebheru 9:15, 24-26) Nokho, isivumelwano esisha saqala ukusebenza lapho kuthululwa umoya ongcwele ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. futhi kuzalwa isizwe esisha, “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.” (Galathiya 6:16; Roma 2:28, 29; 9:6; 11:25, 26) Ebhalela amaKristu agcotshiwe, umphostoli uPetru wathi: “‘Niluhlanga olukhethiweyo, ubupristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele, isizwe esiyimpahla ekhethekile, ukuze nimemezele kabanzi ubuhle’ balowo owanibiza ukuba niphume ebumnyameni ningene ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo. Ngoba kade ningesona isizwe, kodwa manje seniyisizwe sikaNkulunkulu.” (1 Petru 2:9, 10) Ubuhlobo obukhethekile phakathi kukaJehova no-Israyeli wenyama base buphelile. Ngo-33 C.E., umusa kaJehova wawususiwe ku-Israyeli wasemhlabeni wadluliselwa ku-Israyeli ongokomoya, ibandla lobuKristu, “isizwe esithela izithelo” zoMbuso kaMesiya.—Mathewu 21:43.

Ukuzinikezela Komuntu Ngamunye

15. Ngosuku lwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., uPetru wakhuthaza ababemlalele ukuba babhapathizelweni?

¹⁵ Ngemva kwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., wonke umuntu, umJuda noma oweZizwe, kwakudingeka azinikezele ngokwakhe kuNkulunkulu futhi abhapathizwe “egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele.”a (Mathewu 28:19) NgePhentekoste, umphostoli uPetru watshela amaJuda namaproselithe ayelalela: “Phendukani, yilowo nalowo kini abhapathizwe egameni likaJesu Kristu ngenjongo yokuthethelelwa kwezono zenu, khona-ke nizokwamukela isipho sesihle somoya ongcwele.” (IzEnzo 2:38) Lawo maJuda namaproselithe kwakudingeka abonise ngokubhapathizwa ukuthi anikezele ukuphila kwawo kuJehova nokuthi ayamukelé uJesu njengalowo uJehova ayeyowathethelela ngaye izono zawo. Kwakudingeka amamukele njengomPristi Ophakeme kaJehova nanjengoMholi wawo, iNhloko yebandla lobuKristu.—Kolose 1:13, 14, 18.

16. Ngosuku lukaPawulu, ababethambekele ngokufanele—amaJuda nabeZizwe—baba kanjani ingxenye ka-Israyeli ongokomoya?

¹⁶ Eminyakeni ethile kamuva, umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “Ngayisa isigijimi kulabo abaseDamaseku kuqala nakulabo abaseJerusalema, nakulo lonke izwe laseJudiya nasezizweni, sokuthi kufanele baphenduke futhi baguqukele kuNkulunkulu ngokwenza imisebenzi efanele ukuphenduka.” (IzEnzo 26:20) Ngemva kokukholisa abantu—amaJuda nabeZizwe—ukuthi uJesu wayenguKristu, uMesiya, uPawulu wabasiza ukuba bazinikezele futhi babhapathizwe. (IzEnzo 16:14, 15, 31-33; 17:3, 4; 18:8) Ngokuphendukela kuNkulunkulu, labo bafundi abasha baba amalungu ka-Israyeli ongokomoya.

17. Imuphi umsebenzi wokubeka uphawu osusondele esiphelweni sawo, futhi imuphi omunye umsebenzi owenzeka ngesivinini esikhulu?

¹⁷ Namuhla, sekuseduze ukuba kuphothulwe ukubekwa uphawu kokugcina kwabaseleyo baka-Israyeli ongokomoya. Lapho sekuqediwe, “izingelosi ezine” ezibambe imimoya yembubhiso ‘yosizi olukhulu’ ziyogunyazwa ukuba ziyidedele. Phakathi nalesi sikhathi, ukubuthwa ‘kwesixuku esikhulu,’ esinethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni kwenzeka ngesivinini esikhulu. Laba ‘bezinye izimvu’ bakhetha ngokuzithandela ukubonisa ukholo “egazini leWundlu” bese bebhapathizwa bebonisa ukuzinikezela kwabo kuJehova. (IsAmbulo 7:1-4, 9-15; 22:17; Johane 10:16; Mathewu 28:19, 20) Phakathi kwabo kukhona intsha eningi ekhuliswe abazali abangamaKristu. Uma ungomunye waleyo ntsha, kuzokuthakazelisa ukufunda isihloko esilandelayo.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Ake Sibukeze

• Kungani kwakungadingeki ukuba intsha engama-Israyeli izinikezele ngokwayo kuJehova?

• Ama-Israyeli ayengabonisa kanjani ukuthi ayephila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwawo?

• Kungani uJehova enqaba ama-Israyeli njengesizwe sakhe esizinikezele, futhi isiphi esangena esikhundleni sawo?

• Kusukela ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. kuqhubeke, amaJuda nabeZizwe kwakudingeka benzeni ukuze babe amalungu ka-Israyeli ongokomoya?

[Isithombe ekhasini 21]

Ama-Israyeli ayezalwa engamalungu esizwe sikaNkulunkulu esikhethiwe

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

UmIsrayeli ngamunye kwakudingeka azenzele isinqumo sokukhonza uNkulunkulu

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

Iminikelo yokuzithandela yayinika ama-Israyeli ithuba lokubonisa uthando lwawo ngoJehova

[Isithombe ekhasini 25]

Ngemva kwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., abalandeli bakaKristu kwakudingeka bazinikezele ngokwabo kuNkulunkulu futhi babonise lokhu ngokubhapathizwa