Isimangaliso OLwandle Olubomvu

Ngokushesha nje lapho uFaro ezwa ukuthi ama-Israyeli asehambile eGibhithe, washintsha umqondo. Wayala amasosha akhe: ‘Thathani zonke izinqola zami zempi, siwajahe! Bekungamele siwavumele ahambe.’ UFaro nebutho lakhe bawajaha ama-Israyeli.

UJehova wayehola abantu bakhe esebenzisa ifu emini, ebusuku esebenzisa umlilo. Wabaholela oLwandle Olubomvu wabe esethi abaphumule khona.

Ama-Israyeli abona uFaro nebutho lakhe libajaha. Ayevalelekile, kuwulwandle ngapha kuyibutho laseGibhithe ngapha. Akhala kuMose: ‘Sizofa! Bekungafanele usikhiphe eGibhithe.’ Kodwa uMose wathi: ‘Ningesabi. Yimani nibone ukuthi uJehova uzosisindisa kanjani.’ Uyabona yini ukuthi uMose wayemethemba ngempela uJehova?

UJehova watshela ama-Israyeli ukuba alungele ukuhamba. Ngalobo busuku, uJehova walisusa ifu walibeka phakathi kwabaseGibhithe nabakwa-Israyeli. Ohlangothini lwabaseGibhithe kwakumnyama. Kodwa ohlangothini lwama-Israyeli kwakukhanya.

UJehova watshela uMose ukuba alulele isandla sakhe olwandle. UJehova wabe esebangela ukuba umoya omkhulu uvunguze ubusuku bonke. Ulwandle lwahlukana phakathi, kwaba nendlela yokuhamba. Ama-Israyeli awela emhlabathini owomile phakathi nolwandle, amanzi emi ngapha nangapha.

Ibutho likaFaro lalandela ama-Israyeli, nalo langena olwandle. UJehova wabe esebangela ukuba ibutho lidideke. Amasondo ezinqola aqala ukukhumuka. Amasosha amemeza: ‘Asiphumeni lapha! UJehova uyawalwela.’

UJehova wathi kuMose: ‘Yelulela isandla sakho phezu kolwandle.’ Ngokushesha nje, amanzi abuya amboza ibutho labaseGibhithe. UFaro nalo lonke ibutho lakhe bafa. Akusindanga noyedwa.

Ngaphesheya kolwandle, isixuku esikhulu sabantu sadumisa uNkulunkulu ngengoma: “Mangiculele uJehova ngoba uye waphakama kakhulu. Ihhashi nomgibeli walo ukuphonse olwandle.” Ngesikhathi abanye abantu becula, abesifazane babedansa bedlala amathamborini. Wonke umuntu wayejabule ngenxa yokuthi manje babekhululekile ngempela.