Isahluko 8
Kungani UNkulunkulu Evumela Ukuhlupheka?
1, 2. Abantu bavame ukusabela kanjani ngokuhlupheka kwabantu?
LAPHO izinhlekelele zigadla, zicekela phansi impahla futhi zibulala abantu, abaningi abaqondi ukuthi kungani izinto ezimbi kangaka zenzeka. Abanye bakhathazwa izinga, unya, nokucekela phansi kobugebengu nobudlova. Nawe kungenzeka uye wazibuza, ‘Kungani uNkulunkulu evumela ukuhlupheka?’
2 Ngenxa yokungayitholi impendulo egculisayo yalombuzo, abaningi baye baphelelwa ukholo kuNkulunkulu. Banomuzwa wokuthi akanasithakazelo esintwini. Abanye abathatha ukuhlupheka njengento okufanele yamukelwe ekuphileni baye baba lusizi futhi basola uNkulunkulu ngabo bonke ububi obusemphakathini wesintu. Uma uye waba nemizwa enjalo, cishe uzokujabulela kakhulu okushiwo iBhayibheli ngalezi zindaba.
UKUHLUPHEKA AKUBANGELWA UNKULUNKULU
3, 4. Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi ububi nokuhlupheka akubangelwa uJehova?
3 IBhayibheli lisiqinisekisa ngokuthi ukuhlupheka esikubonayo okusizungezile akubangelwa uJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, umfundi ongumKristu uJakobe wabhala: “Uma engaphansi kokulingwa, umuntu makangasho ukuthi: ‘Ngilingwa uNkulunkulu.’ Ngoba uNkulunkulu akanakulingwa ngezinto ezimbi futhi yena ngokwakhe akalingi muntu.” (Jakobe 1:13) Njengoba kunjalo, akunakwenzeka ukuthi uNkulunkulu uye wabangela izinkathazo eziningi ezihlupha isintu. Akabaletheli izilingo abantu ukuze abenze bafanelekele ukuphila ezulwini, futhi akabahluphi abantu ngenxa yezenzo ezimbi okuthiwa bazenza ekuphileni kwangaphambili.—Roma 6:7.
4 Ngaphezu kwalokho, nakuba kuye kwenziwa izinto eziningi ezimbi egameni likaNkulunkulu noma likaKristu, akukho lutho eBhayibhelini olusikisela ukuthi ukhona kubo owake wavumelana nezenzo ezinjalo. UNkulunkulu noKristu abahlangene ngalutho nalabo abathi bayabakhonza kodwa bebe bekhohlisa futhi bekhwabanisa, bebulala futhi bephanga, benza nezinye izinto eziningi ezibangela ukuhlupheka kwabantu. Eqinisweni, “indlela yababi iyisinengiso kuJehova.” UNkulunkulu “ukude nababi.”—IzAga 15:9, 29.
5. Yiziphi ezinye zezimfanelo zikaJehova, futhi uzizwa kanjani ngezidalwa zakhe?
5 IBhayibheli lichaza uJehova ngokuthi “unesisa kakhulu ekusondelaneni ngokomzwelo futhi unesihe.” (Jakobe 5:11) Lithi “uJehova uthanda ukulunga.” (IHubo 37:28; Isaya 61:8) Akayena ongathetheleli. Uzinakekela ngesihawu izidalwa zakhe futhi zonke uzinika okungcono kakhulu okulungele inhlalakahle yazo. (IzEnzo 14:16, 17) UJehova uye wenza lokho kusukela khona kanye ekuqaleni kokuphila emhlabeni.
ISIQALO ESIPHELELE
6. Ezinye izinganekwane zibhekisela kanjani ekuqaleni komlando wesintu?
6 Sonke sijwayele ukubona nokuzwa ubuhlungu nokuhlupheka. Ngakho kungase kube nzima ukucabanga ngesikhathi esingenabuhlungu, kodwa sasinjalo isimo ekuqaleni komlando wesintu. Ngisho nezinganekwane zezizwe ezithile zibhekisela esiqalweni esinjalo esijabulisayo. Ezinganekwaneni zamaGreki, eyokuqala ‘yeZinkathi Ezinhlanu Zomuntu’ yayibizwa ngokuthi “Inkathi Yokuchuma.” Kuyo abantu babephila ukuphila okujabulisayo, okungenakukhandleka, okungenabuhlungu nezinkinga zokuguga. AmaShayina athi phakathi nokubusa koMbusi Ophuzi (uHuang-Ti) wasenganekwaneni, abantu babehlala ngokuthula, benobunye ngisho nanamandla emvelo nezilwane zasendle. AbasePheresiya, abaseGibithe, abaseTibet, abasePeru, nabaseMexico bonke banezinganekwane ezikhuluma ngesikhathi senjabulo nesokuphelela esasikhona ekuqaleni komlando wesintu.
7. Kungani uNkulunkulu adala umhlaba nesintu?
7 Izinganekwane zezizwe zimane zenanela umbhalo womlando wabantu owalotshwa kudala kunayo yonke, iBhayibheli. Usazisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wabeka abantu ababili bokuqala, u-Adamu no-Eva, epharadesi elalibizwa ngokuthi insimu yase-Edene futhi wabayala: “Zalani, nande, nigcwalise umhlaba, niwunqobe.” (Genesise 1:28) Abazali bethu bokuqala babephelele futhi benethemba lokubona wonke umhlaba uba ipharadesi elihlala umkhaya ophelele wabantu ophila ngokuthula nenjabulo ehlala njalo. Yilokho okwakuyinjongo kaNkulunkulu lapho edala umhlaba nesintu.—Isaya 45:18.
INSELELE ENENZONDO
8. U-Adamu no-Eva kwakulindeleke ukuba balalele muphi umyalo, kodwa kwenzekani?
8 Ukuze baqhubeke bamukeleka kuNkulunkulu, u-Adamu no-Eva kwakumelwe bangadli ‘emthini wokwazi okuhle nokubi.’ (Genesise 2:16, 17) Ukube balalela umthetho kaJehova, kwakungeke kube nokuhlupheka okwakuyokonakalisa ukuphila kwabantu. Ngokulalela umyalo kaNkulunkulu, babeyobe babonisa uthando lwabo ngoJehova nokuthembeka kwabo kuye. (1 Johane 5:3) Kodwa njengoba sifundile eSahlukweni 6, izinto azibanga njalo. Enxenxwe uSathane, u-Eva wadla isithelo salowomuthi. Kamuva, no-Adamu wasidla leso sithelo esasenqatshelwe.
9. Iyiphi impikiswano ehilela uJehova eyaphakanyiswa uSathane?
9 Uyabona yini ukuthi kwakubucayi kangakanani lokho okwenzeka? USathane wayehlasela isikhundla sikaJehova njengoPhezukonke. Ngokuthi, “Aniyikufa nokufa,” uDeveli waphikisa amazwi kaNkulunkulu athi, “Uyakufa nokufa.” Amanye amazwi kaSathane asikisela ukuthi uJehova wayegcina u-Adamu no-Eva bengazi ukuthi kungenzeka babe njengoNkulunkulu, ngenxa yalokho bangamdingi ukuba anqume ukuthi yikuphi okuhle nokubi. Ngakho-ke inselele kaSathane yabangela ukungatshazwa kokufaneleka kwesikhundla sikaJehova njengoMbusi Wendawo Yonke.—Genesise 2:17; 3:1-6.
10. Yikuphi ukusikisela kobuqili uSathane akwenza ngokuqondene nabantu?
10 USathane uDeveli wabuye wasikisela ngobuqili ukuthi abantu babeyohlala belalela uJehova uma ukulalela uNkulunkulu kubazuzisa. Ngamanye amazwi, ubuqotho babantu bangatshazwa. USathane wagomela ngokuthi akekho umuntu owayeyohlala ethembekile kuNkulunkulu ngokuzithandela. Lokhu kumangalela kukaSathane okunenzondo kwembulwe ngokucacile ekulandiseni kweBhayibheli okuphathelene noJobe, inceku kaJehova ethembekile eyadlula ovivinyweni olukhulu esikhathini esithile ngaphambi kuka-1600 B.C.E. Lapho ufunda izahluko ezimbili zokuqala zencwadi kaJobe, ungasiqonda isizathu sokuhlupheka kwabantu nesokuba uNkulunkulu akuvumele.
11. UJobe wayeluhlobo luni lomuntu, kodwa uSathane wagomela ngokuthini?
11 UJobe, “umuntu ongenasici nolungileyo,” wahlaselwa uSathane. Okokuqala, uSathane wathi uJobe wayenezisusa ezimbi ngokubuza lombuzo, “UJobe uyamesaba uNkulunkulu ngeze na?” Khona-ke, ngobuqili uDeveli wahlambalaza uNkulunkulu noJobe egomela ngokuthi uJehova wayethenge ukwethembeka kukaJobe ngokumvikela nokumbusisa. USathane wabekela uJehova inselele: “Kepha ake welule isandla sakho, uthinte konke anakho, impela uyakukuthuka ebusweni bakho.”—Jobe 1:8-11.
12. (a) Yimiphi imibuzo eyayingase iphendulwe ukuvumela kukaNkulunkulu uSathane ukuba avivinye uJobe? (b) Ukuvivinywa kukaJobe kwaba namuphi umphumela?
12 Ingabe uJobe wayekhonza uJehova ngenxa nje yakho konke okuhle ayekuthola kuNkulunkulu? Ingabe ubuqotho bukaJobe babungamelana novivinyo? Ingabe uJehova yena wayeyethemba ngokwanele inceku yakhe kangangokuba wayengavuma ukuba ivivinywe? Lemibuzo yayingase iphendulwe uma uJehova evumela uSathane ukuba alethele uJobe uvivinyo olunzima kakhulu. Inkambo kaJobe yokwethembeka ngaphansi kovivinyo olwaluvunyelwe uNkulunkulu, njengoba kulandiswe ngayo encwadini kaJobe, yaba ukulwelwa ngokuphelele kokulunga kukaJehova nobuqotho bomuntu.—Jobe 42:1, 2, 12.
13. Sihileleke kanjani kulokho okwenzeka e-Edene nakuJobe?
13 Nokho, okwenzeka ensimini yase-Edene nasendodeni uJobe kubaluleke nakakhulu. Izimpikiswano uSathane aziphakamisa zazihilela sonke isintu, kuhlanganise nathi namuhla. Igama likaNkulunkulu lahlanjalazwa, nobukhosi bakhe babekelwa inselele. Ubuqotho bendalo kaNkulunkulu engumuntu, bangatshazwa. Lezi zimpikiswano kwakumelwe zixazululwe.
INDLELA YOKUXAZULULA LEZI ZIMPIKISWANO
14. Lapho ebhekene nenselele enenzondo, yini engase yenziwe umuntu omangalelwayo?
14 Ngokwesibonelo, ake sithi ungumzali onothando, onabantwana abaningana emkhayeni ojabulayo. Ake sithi omunye womakhelwane bakho usakaza amanga, ukubeka icala lokuthi ungumzali ongalungile. Yini obungayenza uma lomakhelwane ethi abantabakho abakuthandi, bahlala nawe ngoba bengazi ukuthi kunokuthile okungcono, futhi bangahamba uma othile engababonisa indlela. Ungase uthi, ‘Usangene!’ Yebo, kodwa ungakufakazela kanjani lokho? Abanye abazali bangase basabele ngolaka. Ngaphandle nje kokuthi bekungabangela izinkinga ezengeziwe, ukusabela okunjalo ngobudlova bekuyofakazela lawomanga. Indlela eyanelisayo yokusingatha inkinga enjalo ibiyoba ukunika lowomuntu okumangalelayo ithuba lokuba afakazele lokho akushoyo nokunika abantabakho ithuba lokufakazela ukuthi bakuthanda ngobuqotho.
15. UJehova wakhetha ukuyisingatha kanjani inselele kaSathane?
15 UJehova unjengalowo mzali onothando. U-Adamu no-Eva bangase bafaniswe nalabo bantwana, futhi uSathane ufanelekela indima kamakhelwane oqamba amanga. Ngokuhlakanipha uNkulunkulu akazange ababhubhise ngokushesha oSathane, no-Adamu, no-Eva kodwa wavumela lezi zoni ukuba ziqhubeke ziphila okwesikhashana. Lokhu kwanikeza abazali bethu bokuqala isikhathi sokuqala umkhaya wabantu, futhi kuye kwanikeza uDeveli ithuba lokuba afakazele ukuthi akushilo kwakuyiqiniso yini ukuze kuxazululwe izimpikiswano. Nokho, zisuka nje uNkulunkulu wayazi ukuthi abanye abantu babeyothembeka kuye futhi ngaleyondlela babonakalise uSathane engumqambimanga. Yeka indlela esibonga ngayo ngokuthi uJehova uye waqhubeka ebusisa futhi esiza labo abamthandayo!—2 IziKronike 16:9; IzAga 15:3.
YINI EYE YAFAKAZELWA?
16. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba izwe libe semandleni kaSathane?
16 Cishe phakathi nawo wonke umlando wesintu, uSathane ube nenkululeko yokusebenzisa amaqhinga akhe okubusa isintu. Phakathi kokunye, uye wathonya imibuso yezombangazwe futhi wachumisa izinkolo, eziqondisa ngobuqili ukukhulekela kuye esikhundleni sikaJehova. Ngalokho uDeveli uye waba “unkulunkulu walesi simiso sezinto,” futhi ubizwa ngokuthi “umbusi walelizwe.” (2 Korinte 4:4; Johane 12:31) Ngempela, “lonke izwe lisemandleni omubi.” (1 Johane 5:19) Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi uSathane ukufakazele ukusho kwakhe ukuthi wayengasithatha sonke isintu kuJehova uNkulunkulu? Lutho neze! Nakuba eye wavumela uSathane ukuba aqhubeke ekhona, uJehova uye waqhubeka efeza injongo yakhe siqu. Khona-ke, yini iBhayibheli eliyembulayo ngokuvumela kukaNkulunkulu ububi?
17. Yini okufanele siyikhumbule ngokuqondene nembangela yobubi nokuhlupheka?
17 Ububi nokuhlupheka akubangelwa uJehova. Njengoba uSathane engumbusi walelizwe nonkulunkulu walesi simiso sezinto, yena nabamsekelayo yibona ababangela isimo samanje somphakathi wesintu nalo lonke usizi isintu esiye sabhekana nalo. Akekho ongase asho ngokufanelekile ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubangela ukuhlupheka okunjalo.—Roma 9:14.
18. Yini ukuvumela kukaJehova ububi nokuhlupheka okuye kwayifakazela ngokuqondene nomqondo wokuzibusa ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu?
18 Ukuvumela kukaJehova ububi nokuhlupheka kuye kwafakazela ukuthi ukuzibusa ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu akuzange kulethe izwe elingcono. Ngokungenakuphikwa, umlando uye waba nochungechunge lwezinhlekelele. Isizathu salokhu siwukuthi abantu baye bakhetha ukuphishekela inkambo yabo siqu yokuzibusa futhi baye bangabonisa ukukhathalela kwangempela izwi likaNkulunkulu nentando yakhe. Lapho abantu bakaJehova basendulo nabaholi babo ngokungathembeki bephishekela ‘inkambo ethandwayo’ futhi belahla izwi lakhe, imiphumela yayiba inhlekelele. Ngomprofethi wakhe uJeremiya, uNkulunkulu wathi kubo: “Abahlakaniphileyo bayakujabha, besabe, babhajwe; bheka, balilahlile izwi likaJehova, banokuhlakanipha kuni na?” (Jeremiya 8:5, 6, 9) Njengoba siye sahluleka ukulandela izindinganiso zikaJehova, isintu sisonke siye saba njengomkhumbi ongenaphini lokuwuqondisa, ophonswa lé nalé ulwandle oluyaluzayo.
19. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona bokuthi uSathane ngeke enze bonke abantu bafulathele uNkulunkulu?
19 Ukuvumela kukaNkulunkulu ububi nokuhlupheka kuye kwafakazela nokuthi uSathane akakwazanga ukususa sonke isintu kuJehova. Umlando ubonisa ukuthi sonke isikhathi bekulokhu kunabantu abaye bahlala bethembekile kuNkulunkulu kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yiziphi izilingo noma ukuhlupheka okwakulethwa phezu kwabo. Phakathi namakhulu eminyaka adlule, amandla kaJehova aye abonakaliswa ngenxa yezinceku zakhe, futhi igama lakhe liye lamenyezelwa emhlabeni wonke. (Eksodusi 9:16; 1 Samuweli 12:22) EyamaHeberu isahluko 11 isitshela ngohide lwabantu abathembekile, kuhlanganise no-Abela, u-Enoke, uNowa, u-Abrahama, noMose. EyamaHeberu 12:1 ibabiza ngokuthi ‘ifu elikhulu lofakazi.’ Babeyizibonelo zokholo olungantengantengi kuJehova. Nasezikhathini zanamuhla, abaningi baye banikela kuNkulunkulu ngokuphila kwabo ngobuqotho obungenakwephulwa. Ngokholo nangothando lwabo, abantu abanjalo bafakazela ngokungenakuphikwa ukuthi uSathane ngeke enze bonke abantu bafulathele uNkulunkulu.
20. Ukuvumela kukaJehova ukuba ububi nokuhlupheka kuqhubeke kuye kwafakazelani ngokuqondene noNkulunkulu nesintu?
20 Okokugcina, ukuvumela kukaJehova ububi nokuhlupheka ukuba kuqhubeke kuye kwanikeza ubufakazi bokuthi uJehova kuphela, uMdali, onekhono nelungelo lokubusa isintu ukuze sibusiswe futhi sijabule phakade. Phakathi namakhulu eminyaka adlule, isintu siye sazama izinhlobo eziningi zohulumeni. Kodwa ube yini umphumela? Izinkinga eziyinkimbinkimbi nezimo ezibucayi izizwe ezibhekene nazo namuhla ziwubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi ngempela, njengoba iBhayibheli lisho, ‘lapho umuntu ebusa omunye kuba ngukulimala kwakhe.’ (UmShumayeli 8:9) UJehova kuphela ongasophula futhi afeze injongo yakhe yasekuqaleni. Uyokwenza kanjani lokhu, futhi nini?
21. Kuyokwenzekani kuSathane, futhi ubani oyosetshenziswa ekufezeni lokhu?
21 Ngemva nje kokuba u-Adamu no-Eva bebe izisulu zeqhinga likaSathane, uNkulunkulu wazisa ngenjongo yaKhe ngokuqondene nendlela yokusindisa. Yilokhu uJehova akusho ngoSathane: “Ngizakubeka ubutha phakathi kwakho nowesifazane, naphakathi kwenzalo yakho nenzalo yakhe. Yona iyakuchoboza ikhanda lakho, wena uyakulimaza isithende sayo.” (Genesise 3:15) Leso simemezelo saqinisekisa ukuthi uDeveli wayengeke avunyelwe enze izenzo zakhe ezimbi kuze kube phakade. NjengeNkosi yoMbuso wobuMesiya, iMbewu ethenjisiwe uJesu Kristu, ‘iyochoboza ikhanda likaSathane.’ Yebo, “ngokushesha,” uJesu uzochoboza uSathane oyisihlubuki!—Roma 16:20.
YINI OZOYENZA?
22. (a) Yimiphi imibuzo okumelwe uyiphendule? (b) Nakuba uSathane ekhiphela ulaka lwakhe kulabo abathembekile kuNkulunkulu, yini abangaqiniseka ngayo?
22 Njengoba usuzazi izimpikiswano ezihilelekile, uzoba sohlangothini lukabani? Ingabe uyokufakazela ngezenzo zakho ukuthi ungumsekeli othembekile kaJehova? Njengoba uSathane azi ukuthi isikhathi sakhe sifushane, uyokwenza konke angakwenza ukuze akhiphele ulaka lwakhe kulabo abafuna ukugcina ubuqotho kuNkulunkulu. (IsAmbulo 12:12) Kodwa ungalucela kuNkulunkulu usizo ngoba “uJehova uyayazi indlela yokukhulula ekulingweni abantu abanokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.” (2 Petru 2:9) Ngeke avume ukuba ulingwe ngaphezu kwalokho ongakuthwala, futhi uyokwenza indlela yokuba ukwazi ukukhuthazelela izilingo.—1 Korinte 10:13.
23. Yini esingayilindela ngokuqiniseka?
23 Ngokuqiniseka, masilindele ngokulangazela isikhathi lapho iNkosi uJesu Kristu iyothathela uSathane nabo bonke abamlandelayo isinyathelo. (IsAmbulo 20:1-3) UJesu uyosusa bonke abanengxenye osizini naseziyaluyalwini isintu esiye sabhekana nazo. Njengoba leso sikhathi singakafiki, olunye uhlobo lokuhlupheka olubuhlungu kakhulu luwukulahlekelwa esibathandayo ngokufa. Funda isahluko esilandelayo ukuze uthole ukuthi kwenzekani kubo.
HLOLA ULWAZI LWAKHO
Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJehova akakubangeli ukuhlupheka kwabantu?
Yiziphi izimpikiswano ezaphakanyiswa uSathane e-Edene futhi zacaciswa osukwini lukaJobe?
Ukuvumela kukaNkulunkulu ukuhlupheka kuye kwafakazelani?