Isahluko 1

Kungani UJehova Kufanele Abe Nofakazi?

OFAKAZI BAKAJEHOVA baziwa emhlabeni wonke ngokuphikelela kwabo ekukhulumeni nabantu yonke indawo ngoJehova uNkulunkulu noMbuso wakhe. Futhi banedumela lokuba abantu ababambelela ezinkolelweni zabo naphezu kwalo lonke uhlobo lokuphikiswa, ngisho nokufa.

“Izisulu eziyinhloko zoshushiso olungokwenkolo e-United States ekhulwini lamashumi amabili kuye kwaba oFakazi BakaJehova,” kusho incwadi ethi The Court and the Constitution, ka-Archibald Cox (1987). “OFakazi BakaJehova . . . baye bahlukunyezwa futhi bashushiswa ohulumeni kuwo wonke umhlaba,” kusho uTony Hodges. “EJalimane lobuNazi babeqoqwa bathunyelwe emakamu okuhlushwa. Phakathi neMpi Yezwe Yesibili, iNhlangano [ye-Watch Tower] yavalwa e-Australia naseCanada. . . . Manje [ngawo-1970] oFakazi BakaJehova sebephathwa ngesihluku e-Afrika.”—Jehovah’s Witnesses in Africa, uHlelo luka-1985.

Kungani kunalolushushiso? Iyini injongo yokushumayela? Ingabe oFakazi BakaJehova ngempela bathunywe uNkulunkulu? Kungani nje uJehova engaba nofakazi—futhi kube ofakazi abangabantu abangaphelele nokwenza? Izimpendulo zihlobene nezimpikiswano ezidingidwa ecaleni eliqulwa enkantolo yomhlaba wonke—icala elibucayi kakhulu kunawo wonke ake aqulwa. Kumelwe sihlole lezimpikiswano ukuze siqonde ukuthi kungani uJehova enofakazi nokuthi kungani labofakazi bezimisele ukukhuthazelela ngisho nokuphikiswa okunzima kakhulu.

Ubukhosi BukaJehova Bubekelwa Inselele

Lezimpikiswano ezibalulekile zihilela ukufaneleka kobukhosi, noma ukubusa okuphakeme, kukaJehova uNkulunkulu. UnguMbusi Wendawo Yonke ngenxa yokuba kwakhe uMdali, uNkulunkulu, noMninimandla onke. (Gen. 17:1; Eks. 6:3; IsAm. 4:11) Kanjalo ubusa ngokufanele phezu kwayo yonke into esezulwini nesemhlabeni. (1 IziKr. 29:12, umbh. waph. weNW) Kodwa ngaso sonke isikhathi ubukhosi bakhe ubusebenzisa ngothando. (Qhathanisa noJeremiya 9:24.) Khona-ke, yini ayicelayo ezidalweni zakhe ezihlakaniphile? Ukuba zimthande futhi zibonise ukwazisa ngobukhosi bakhe. (IHu. 84:10) Nokho, eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane edlule ubukhosi bukaJehova obufanele babekelwa inselele. Kanjani? Ngubani? UGenesise, incwadi yokuqala yeBhayibheli, iyayikhanyisa lendaba.

Ibika ukuthi uNkulunkulu wadala abantu ababili bokuqala, u-Adamu no-Eva, wayesebanikeza ikhaya elihle eliyinsimu. Wababekela nalomyalo: “Ungadla kuyo yonke imithi yensimu ngokuthanda kwakho, kepha ungadli kuwo umuthi wokwazi okuhle nokubi, ngokuba mhla udla kuwo uyakufa nokufa.” (Gen. 2:16, 17) Wawuyini “umuthi wokwazi okuhle nokubi,” futhi ukudla isithelo sawo kwakuyobonisani?

Kwakuwumuthi ongokoqobo, kodwa uNkulunkulu wawusebenzisela injongo engokomfanekiso. Ngenxa yokuthi wawubiza ngokuthi “umuthi wokwazi okuhle nokubi” nangenxa yokuthi wayeyale ukuba abantu bokuqala ababili bangadli kuwo, lomuthi walifanekisela ngokufanelekile igunya likaNkulunkulu lokunqumela abantu “okuhle” (okujabulisa uNkulunkulu) “nokubi” (okungamjabulisi uNkulunkulu). Ngakho ukuba khona kwalomuthi kwavivinya inhlonipho yomuntu ngobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu. Ngokudabukisayo, abantu bokuqala ababili abamlalelanga uNkulunkulu futhi badla isithelo esinqatshelwe. Bahluleka kuloluvivinyo olulula kodwa olwalulukhulu lokulalela nokwazisa.—Gen. 3:1-6.

Lesisenzo esasibonakala sisincane sasho ukuhlubuka ebukhosini bukaJehova. Kanjani? Ukuqonda indlela thina bantu esenziwe ngayo kuzosenza siqonde okushiwo yilokho u-Adamu no-Eva abakwenza. Lapho uJehova edala abantu bokuqala ababili, wabanikeza isipho esiphawulekayo—ukuzikhethela. Ephelelisa lesisipho, uJehova wabanikeza amakhono okusebenzisa ingqondo ayehlanganisa amandla okuqonda, ukucabanga, nokwahlulela. (Heb. 5:14) Babengafani namarobhothi angenangqondo; futhi babengafani nezilwane, ngokuyinhloko ezenza izinto ngomzwelo ongokwemvelo. Nokho, inkululeko yabo yayilinganiselwe, ingaphansi kokubusa kwemithetho kaNkulunkulu. (Qhathanisa noJeremiya 10:23, 24.) U-Adamu no-Eva bakhetha ukudla isithelo esinqatshelwe. Kanjalo bayisebenzisa kabi inkululeko yabo. Yini eyabaholela kulenkambo?

IBhayibheli lichaza ukuthi isidalwa somoya sikaNkulunkulu sasithathe inkambo yangamabomu yokuphikisana nokumelana noNkulunkulu. Lesidalwa, kamuva esaziwa ngokuthi uSathane, sakhuluma ngenyoka e-Edene futhi saphambukisa u-Eva, kwathi ngaye, saphambukisa u-Adamu, ekuzithobeni ebukhosini bukaNkulunkulu. (IsAm. 12:9) Ngokudla emthini, u-Adamu no-Eva benza ukwahlulela kwabo kwaba ngaphezu kokukaNkulunkulu, bebonisa ukuthi babefuna ukuzinqumela bona ukuthi yikuphi okuhle nokuthi yikuphi okubi.—Gen. 3:22.

Ngakho impikiswano eyaphakanyiswa yayiwukuthi, Ingabe uJehova unegunya lokubusa isintu, nokuthi ingabe usebenzisa ubukhosi bakhe ukuze kuzuze izikhonzi zakhe? Lempikiswano yasikiselwa ngokucacile amazwi eNyoka ku-Eva: “Ngempela uNkulunkulu ushilo yini ukuthi: Ningadli emithini yasensimini, na?” Lokhu kwakusikisela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayegodlela owesifazane nomyeni wakhe ngokungafanele okuthile okuhle.—Gen. 3:1.

Ukuhlubuka kwase-Edene kwaphakamisa enye impikiswano: Ingabe abantu bangathembeka kuNkulunkulu lapho bebhekene novivinyo? Lempikiswano ehlobene neyokuqala yacaciswa emakhulwini eminyaka angu-24 kamuva ngokuphathelene noJobe othembekile. USathane, ‘izwi’ elalingemva kwenyoka, wabekela uJehova inselele ngokuqondile, ethi: “UJobe uyamesaba uNkulunkulu ngeze na?” USathane wamangala ngokuthi: “Wena awumbiyelanga yini yena nendlu yakhe nakho konke okwakhe nxazonke, wabusisa umsebenzi wezandla zakhe na? Impahla yakhe yandile emhlabeni.” Ngalokho uSathane wayesikisela ukuthi ubuqotho bukaJobe babubangelwa ubugovu. Wabuye wamangala ngokuthi: “Isikhumba ngesikhumba, yebo, konke umuntu anakho uyakunika ngokuphila kwakhe.” Njengoba uJehova ayephawulile, ‘akukho muntu owayenjengoJobe emhlabeni,’ uSathane empeleni wayesho ukuthi wayengaphambukisa noma iyiphi inceku kaNkulunkulu kuYe. (Jobe 1:8-11; 2:4) Kanjalo zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zabekelwa inselele ngandlela-thile ngokuqondene nobuqotho nokwethembeka kwazo ebukhosini baKhe.

Njengoba zase ziphakanyisiwe, lezimpikiswano kwadingeka zixazululwe. Ukudlula kwesikhathi—manje esicishe sibe yiminyaka engu-6 000—nokuhluleka okudabukisayo kohulumeni babantu kubonisa ngokucacile ukuthi abantu badinga ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu. Kodwa ingabe bayabufuna? Ingabe bakhona abantu abayobonakalisa ukubuqaphela ngobuqotho ubukhosi bukaJehova bokulunga? Yebo! UJehova unofakazi bakhe! Kodwa ngaphambi kokuba sicabangele ubufakazi babo, ake siqale sihlole lokho okuhileleke ekubeni ufakazi.

Lokho Okushiwo Ukuba Ufakazi

Amagama olimi lokuqala ahunyushwe ngokuthi “ufakazi” anikeza ukuqonda ngokuqondene nalokho okushiwo ukuba ufakazi kaJehova. EmiBhalweni yesiHeberu, ibizo elihunyushwe ngokuthi “ufakazi” (ʽedh) livela esenzweni esithi (ʽudh) esisho ukuthi “buyela” noma “phinda, yenza futhi.” Ngokuphathelene nebizo elithi (ʽedh), i-Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament ithi: “Ufakazi umuntu, ngokuphindaphinda, oqinisekisa ubufakazi bakhe ngokugcizelela. Igama elithi [ʽedh] livamile olimini olusetshenziswa enkantolo. I-Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language for Readers of English iyanezela: “Incazelo yokuqala [yesenzo esithi ʽudh] cishe yayithi ‘ushó ngokuphindaphindiwe nangamandla.’”

EmiBhalweni yamaKristu, amagama esiGreki ahunyushwe ngokuthi “ufakazi” (marʹtys) nangokuthi “nikeza ubufakazi” (mar·ty·reʹo) nawo ayenencazelo engokomthetho, nakuba ngokuhamba kwesikhathi aba nencazelo ebanzi ngokwengeziwe. Ngokwe-Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, “umqondo wegama elithi ukufakaza [usetshenziswa] ngomqondo wokufakazela amaphuzu angase aqinisekiswe nangomqondo wokufakazela amaqiniso, okusho, ukwenza izinkolelo zaziwe futhi uzivume.” Ngakho ufakazi ulandisa ngamaphuzu avela olwazini lwakhe siqu, noma umemezela imibono noma amaqiniso aqiniseka ngawo.a

Inkambo yokwethembeka yamaKristu ekhulu lokuqala yajulisa incazelo yegama elithi “ufakazi.” Amaningi alawomaKristu okuqala afakaza ngaphansi kokushushiswa futhi ebhekene nokufa. (IzE. 22:20; IsAm. 2:13) Ngenxa yalokho, cishe ngekhulu lesibili C.E., igama lesiGreki elisho ufakazi (marʹtys, okuvela kulo futhi igama elithi “martyr” [umfel’ ukholo]) laba nencazelo esebenza kubantu ababezimisele “ukukuqinisa ngokufa ukubaluleka kobufakazi noma ukuvuma kwabo.” Akukhona ukuthi babizwa ngokuthi ngofakazi ngoba bafa; kodwa bafa ngoba bengofakazi abathembekile.

Khona-ke, babengobani ofakazi bokuqala bakaJehova? Obani ababezimisele ukumemezela “ngokuphindaphindiwe nangamandla”—ngamazwi nangendlela ababephila ngayo—ukuthi uJehova unguMbusi ofanele? Obani ababezimisele ukulondoloza ubuqotho kuNkulunkulu, kuze kube ngisho nasekufeni?

Ofakazi BakaJehova Bokuqala

Umphostoli uPawulu uthi: “Sinefu elingaka [ngesiGre., neʹphos, okubonisa ifu elikhulu] lawofakazi elisihaqileyo.” (Heb. 12:1) ‘Lelifu elikhulu’ lofakazi laqala ukuba khona ngokushesha ngemva kokuhlubuka ebukhosini bukaNkulunkulu e-Edene.

KumaHeberu 11:4, uPawulu uchaza u-Abela njengofakazi wokuqala kaJehova, ethi: “Ngokukholwa u-Abela wanikela kuNkulunkulu ngomhlatshelo omuhle kunoKayini, athola ngakho ubufakazi bokuthi ulungile, uNkulunkulu uqobo efakaza ngezipho zakhe; nangakho usakhuluma, noma efile.” U-Abela waba ufakazi kaJehova ngayiphi indlela? Impendulo isekutheni kungani umhlatshelo ka-Abela ‘wawumuhle’ kunokaKayini.

Kalula nje, u-Abela wenza umnikelo ofanele enesisusa esifanele futhi wawusekela ngemisebenzi efanele. Njengesipho, wanikela ngomhlatshelo wegazi omelela ukuphila kolibo lomhlambi wakhe—kanti uKayini wanikela ngezinto ezingaphili. (Gen. 4:3, 4) Umhlatshelo kaKayini wawungenawo amandla ashukumisayo okholo lawo abangela ukuba umnikelo ka-Abela wamukeleke. UKayini kwakudingeka athuthukise ukukhulekela kwakhe. Kunalokho, wabonisa isimo esibi senhliziyo ngokwenqaba iseluleko nesixwayiso sikaNkulunkulu nangokubulala u-Abela othembekile.—Gen. 4:6-8; 1 Joh. 3:11, 12.

U-Abela wabonisa ukholo olwaluntulwa abazali bakhe. Ngenkambo yakhe yokwethembeka, wayenza yaziwa inkolelo yakhe yokuthi ubukhosi bukaJehova bulungile futhi buyafaneleka. Phakathi neminyaka ecishe ibe yikhulu ayiphila, u-Abela wabonisa ukuthi umuntu angathembeka kuNkulunkulu kuze kube sezingeni lokuqinisa ubufakazi bakhe ngokufa. Futhi igazi lika-Abela lisaqhubeka ‘likhuluma,’ ngoba umbhalo ophefumlelwe wokuba kwakhe umfel’ ukholo walondolozwa eBhayibhelini ngenxa yezizukulwane ezizayo!

Emakhulwini eminyaka acishe abe mahlanu ngemva kokufa kuka-Abela, u-Enoke waqala ‘ukuhamba noNkulunkulu,’ ephishekela inkambo evumelana nezindinganiso zikaJehova zokuhle nokubi. (Gen. 5:24) Ngalesosikhathi, ukwenqatshwa kobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu kwase kuholele ekwandeni kwemikhuba yokungamesabi uNkulunkulu phakathi kwesintu. U-Enoke wayekholelwa ukuthi uMbusi Ophakeme wayeyobathathela isinyathelo abantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu, futhi umoya kaNkulunkulu wamshukumisela ekubeni amemezele ukubhujiswa kwabo kwesikhathi esizayo. (Juda 14, 15) U-Enoke wahlala engufakazi othembekile kwaze kwaba sekufeni, ngoba uJehova ‘wamthatha,’ ngokusobala emvikela ekubulaweni izitha zakhe ngobudlova. (Heb. 11:5) Ngakho igama lika-Enoke lingase linezelwe ohlwini olukhulayo ‘lwefu elikhulu lofakazi’ bezikhathi zangaphambi kobuKristu.

Umoya wokungamesabi uNkulunkulu waqhubeka wanda ezindabeni zabantu. Esikhathini sokuphila kukaNowa, owazalwa cishe eminyakeni engu-70 ngemva kokufa kuka-Enoke, amadodana kaNkulunkulu ayizingelosi eza emhlabeni, ngokusobala embatha isimo sabantu, futhi ahlala nabesifazane abahle. Inzalo yawo yaziwa ngokuthi amaNefili; yaba imidondoshiya phakathi kwabantu. (Gen. 6:1-4, qhathanisa neNW.) Waba yini umphumela walokhu kuhlangana okungekhona okungokwemvelo kwezidalwa zomoya nabantu kanye nohlanga olwavela lapho? Umbhalo ogciniwe ophefumlelwe uyaphendula: “Kepha uJehova wabona ukuthi ububi bomuntu bukhulu emhlabeni nokuthi zonke izizindlo zemicabango yenhliziyo yakhe zimbi njalo. UNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi umhlaba wonakele, ngokuba inyama yonke yayonakalisile indlela yayo emhlabeni.” (Gen. 6:5, 12) Yeka indlela okudabukisa ngayo ukuthi umhlaba, isenabelo sezinyawo zikaNkulunkulu, ‘wawugcwele ubudlwangudlwangu.’—Gen. 6:13; Isaya 66:1.

Ngokuphambene, “uNowa wayeyindoda eqotho, engenacala esizukulwaneni sakhe.” (Gen. 6:9) Wabonisa ukuzithoba kwakhe ebukhosini bukaNkulunkulu ngokwenza ‘njengoba uNkulunkulu ayeyalile.’ (Gen. 6:22) Ngokholo, “wakha umkhumbi wokusindisa indlu yakhe.” (Heb. 11:7) Kodwa uNowa wayengaphezu nje kokuba umakhi; ‘njengomshumayeli [noma ummemezeli] wokulunga,’ waxwayisa ngembubhiso eyayiza. (2 Pet. 2:5) Nokho, naphezu kokufakaza kukaNowa ngesibindi, lesosizukulwane esibi ‘asinakanga kwaze kwafika uzamcolo wasikhukhula sonke.’—Math. 24:37-39.

Ngemva kosuku lukaNowa, uJehova waba nofakazi phakathi kwezinzalamizi zangemva kukaZamcolo. U-Abrahama, u-Isaka, uJakobe, noJosefa kukhulunywa ngabo njengengxenye yokuqala yefu lofakazi bangaphambi kobuKristu. (Heb. 11:8-22; 12:1) Babonisa ukubusekela kwabo ubukhosi bukaJehova, benza kanjalo ngokugcina ubuqotho. (Gen. 18:18, 19) Kanjalo baba nengxenye ekungcwelisweni kwegama likaJehova. Esikhundleni sokufuna ukulondeka embusweni wasemhlabeni, ‘bavuma ukuthi bangabafokazi nezihambi emhlabeni,’ ngokholo ‘bebheke umuzi onezisekelo, omakhi nomenzi wawo nguNkulunkulu.’ (Heb. 11:10, 13) Bamukela uJehova njengoMbusi wabo, bebeka ithemba labo eMbusweni wasezulwini othenjisiwe njengokubonakaliswa kobukhosi bakhe obufanele.

Ekhulwini le-16 B.C.E., inzalo ka-Abrahama yayiyizigqila ezazidinga ukukhululwa ebugqilini baseGibithe. Kungalesosikhathi lapho uMose nomfowabo u-Aroni baba abantu abavelele ‘empini yonkulunkulu.’ Baya kuFaro futhi bakhuluma amazwi kaJehova awujuqu: “Bavumele abantu bami ukuba bahambe.” Kodwa uFaro oqhoshayo wayenza lukhuni inhliziyo yakhe; akafunanga ukulahlekelwa isizwe esikhulu sezisebenzi eziyizigqila. “Ngubani uJehova,” ephendula, “ukuba ngilalele izwi lakhe, ngimyeke uIsrayeli ukuba ahambe na? Angimazi uJehova, futhi angiyikumvumela uIsrayeli ukuba ahambe.” (Eks. 5:1, 2) Ngaleyompendulo yokweyisa, uFaro, naye owayebhekwa njengonkulunkulu ophilayo, wenqaba ukuqaphela ubuNkulunkulu bukaJehova.

Njengoba kwase kuphakanyiswe impikiswano yobunkulunkulu, uJehova manje waqhubeka ebonisa ukuthi unguNkulunkulu weqiniso. UFaro, ngabapristi bakhe abenza imilingo, wanxusa amandla ahlangene onkulunkulu baseGibithe edelela amandla kaJehova. Kodwa uJehova wathumela izinhlupho eziyishumi, ngayinye imenyezelwa uMose no-Aroni, ukuze abonise ukubusa kwakhe phezu kwezinto nezidalwa ezisemhlabeni kanye nokuphakama kwakhe kunonkulunkulu baseGibithe. (Eks. 9:13-16; 12:12) Ngemva kwenhlupho yeshumi, uJehova wakhipha u-Israyeli eGibithe “ngesandla esinamandla.”—Eks. 13:9.

Kwakudinga isibindi esikhulu nokholo kuMose, ‘owayemnene kunabo bonke abantu,’ ukuze ame phambi kukaFaro, hhayi kanye kuphela, kodwa izikhathi eziningi. (Num. 12:3) Nokho, uMose akazange asilulaze isigijimi uJehova ayemyale ukuba asidlulisele kuFaro. Ngisho nokusongelwa ngokufa akuzange kumenze ayeke ukunikeza ubufakazi! (Eks. 10:28, 29; Heb. 11:27) UMose wayengufakazi ngempela; wabufakazela “ngokuphindaphindiwe nangamandla” ubuNkulunkulu bukaJehova.

Ngemva kwalokho kukhululwa eGibithe ngo-1513 B.C.E., uMose waloba incwadi kaGenesise. Ngaleyondlela kwaqala inkathi entsha—inkathi yokulotshwa kweBhayibheli. Njengoba kusobala ukuthi uMose waloba incwadi kaJobe, wayeyiqonda ngandlela-thile impikiswano eyayiphakathi kukaNkulunkulu noSathane. Kodwa njengoba ukulotshwa kweBhayibheli kwakuqhubeka, izimpikiswano ezihilela ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu nobuqotho bomuntu zazizolotshwa phansi ngokucacile; ngakho bonke abahilelekile bangazi kahle ngezimpikiswano ezinkulu ezihilelekile. Phakathi nalesosikhathi, ngo-1513 B.C.E., uJehova wabeka isisekelo sokuveza isizwe sofakazi.

Isizwe Sofakazi

Ngenyanga yesithathu ngemva kokuhamba kwawo eGibithe, uJehova waletha ama-Israyeli ebuhlotsheni obukhethekile besivumelwano naye, ewenza abe “yigugu” kuye. (Eks. 19:5, 6) NgoMose, manje wasebenzelana nawo njengesizwe, ewanikeza uhulumeni ongokwasezulwini osekelwe esivumelwaneni soMthetho njengomthetho-sisekelo wawo wesizwe. (Isaya 33:22) Ayengabantu bakaJehova abakhethiwe, abahlelelwe ukuba bammelele njengeNkosi yabo enguMbusi.

Nokho, emakhulwini eminyaka alandela, lesisizwe asizange sibamukele ngaso sonke isikhathi ubukhosi bukaJehova. Ngemva kokuzinza eZweni Lesithembiso, u-Israyeli ngezinye izikhathi wayephambuka akhulekele onkulunkulu babezizwe bamademoni. Ngenxa yokuhluleka kwakhe ukumlalela njengoMbusi ofanele, uJehova wavumela ukuba aphangwe, futhi ngenxa yalokho kwabonakala sengathi onkulunkulu babezizwe babenamandla kunoJehova. (Isaya 42:18-25) Kodwa ngekhulu lesishiyagalombili B.C.E., uJehova wababekela inselele obala onkulunkulu bezizwe ukuze aqede lokho kucabanga okuyiphutha futhi aphendule umbuzo othi, Ngubani onguNkulunkulu weqiniso?

Ngomprofethi u-Isaya, uJehova wacela inselele: “Ngubani phakathi kwabo [onkulunkulu babezizwe] ongamemezela lokhu [isiprofetho ngokunembile], asizwise izinto zakuqala [okusho, izinto eziseza]; [njengonkulunkulu] mabalethe ofakazi babo ukuba balungisiswe, [abezizwe] bezwe, bathi: Kuyiqiniso.” (Isaya 43:9) Yebo, onkulunkulu babezizwe mabalethe ofakazi abangafakazela isiprofetho sonkulunkulu babo, bathi “Kuyiqiniso.” Kodwa abekho konkulunkulu abanjalo abangaletha ofakazi bokuba kwabo onkulunkulu!

UJehova wacacisela u-Israyeli ngomthwalo wakhe wemfanelo wokuphendula umbuzo othi, Ngubani onguNkulunkulu weqiniso? Wathi: “Ningofakazi bami, . . . nenceku yami engiyikhethileyo ukuba nazi, ningethembe, niqonde ukuthi nginguye; ngaphambi kwami akwenziwanga uNkulunkulu, nangasemva kwami akayikuba-khona. Mina, mina nginguJehova, ngaphandle kwami akakho umsindisi. Ngimemezele, ngisindisile, ngizwisile, kungakabikho unkulunkulu wabezizwe phakathi kwenu; yebo, ningofakazi bami, . . . mina nginguNkulunkulu.”—Isaya 43:10-12.

Ngakho abantu bakaJehova u-Israyeli babakha isizwe sofakazi. Babengabuqinisekisa ngokugcizelela ubukhosi bukaJehova obufanele. Ngokusekelwe kokuhlangenwe nakho kwabo kwesikhathi esidlule, babengamemezela ngokuqiniseka ukuthi uJehova unguMkhululi Omkhulu wabantu bakhe noNkulunkulu wesiprofetho seqiniso.

Ukufakaza Ngokuqondene NoMesiya

Naphezu kobufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda ‘balelofu elikhulu’ lofakazi bangaphambi kobuKristu, uhlangothi lukaNkulunkulu lwezimpikiswano lwalungaxazululekile ngokuphelele. Ngani? Ngoba ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esimisiwe, ngemva kokuba sekuboniswe ngokucacile ukuthi abantu badinga ukubusa kukaJehova nokuthi abanakuzibusa ngokuphumelelayo ngaphandle kwakhe, uJehova kumelwe akhiphe isahlulelo sakhe phezu kwalabo abenqaba ukuhlonipha igunya lakhe elifanele. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izimpikiswano ezaphakanyiswa azihileli umuntu kuphela. Ngenxa yokuthi kwakuhlubuke ingelosi e-Edene, indaba yobuqotho ebukhosini bukaNkulunkulu yafinyelela futhi yahilela izidalwa zikaNkulunkulu zasezulwini. Ngakho, uJehova wahlosa ukuba indodana engumoya ize emhlabeni, lapho uSathane ayeyothola khona ithuba eligcwele lokuyivivinya. Leyondodana engumoya yayizonikwa ithuba lokuba iwuphendule, ngendlela ephelele, umbuzo othi, Ingabe ukhona umuntu oyothembeka kuNkulunkulu ngaphansi kwanoma yikuphi ukulingwa okungase kulethwe kuye? Njengoba yayiyobe ibufakazele kanjalo ubuqotho bayo, indodana kaNkulunkulu yayiyonikwa igunya njengomlweli omkhulu kaJehova, oyobhubhisa ababi futhi ayifeze ngokugcwele injongo kaNkulunkulu yokuqala ngokuqondene nomhlaba.

Kodwa lomuntu wayeyobonakala kanjani? E-Edene, uJehova wayethembise ukuthi kwakuyoba khona “imbewu” eyayizochoboza ikhanda leSitha esinjengenyoka futhi ilwele ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu. (Gen. 3:15, qhathanisa neNW.) Esebenzisa abaprofethi abangamaHeberu, uJehova wanikeza imininingwane eminingi ‘ngaleyombewu’ enguMesiya—isizinda sayo nemisebenzi, ngisho nesikhathi eyayiyovela ngaso.—Gen. 12:1-3; 22:15-18, qhathanisa neNW; 49:10; 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Isaya 7:14; Dan. 9:24-27; Mika 5:2.

Maphakathi nekhulu lesihlanu B.C.E., lapho kuqedwa ukulotshwa kwemiBhalo YesiHeberu, iziprofetho zase zilotshwe zaphelela, zilindele ukuba uMesiya afike azozigcwalisa. Ubufakazi balofakazi—eqinisweni, ufakazi kaNkulunkulu omkhulu kunabo bonke—buzocatshangelwa esahlukweni esilandelayo.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 11]

Abantu bangakhetha ukuzuza ebukhosini bukaJehova. Kodwa kumelwe bezwe ngabo kuqala

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 13]

U-Abela wayewufakazi kaJehova wokuqala

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 14]

U-Enoke wafakaza ngesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu kwabangamesabi uNkulunkulu

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 17]

UJehova wasicacisela sonke isizwe umthwalo waso wemfanelo njengofakazi bakhe

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 18]

“Ningofakazi bami, . . . mina nginguNkulunkulu”

[Isithombe ekhasini 10]

Izenzakalo zase-Edene zaphakamisa izimpikiswano ezibalulekile: Ingabe ubukhosi bukaJehova bulungile? Ingabe izidalwa zakhe ziyothembeka kuye?

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

UNowa wayengumshumayeli wokulunga ngaphambi kokuba uNkulunkulu abhubhise izwe ngozamcolo

[Isithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

UMose no-Aroni bafakaza ngamandla kuFaro ngobuNkulunkulu bukaJehova