Inhlonipho Yokwesaba UNkulunkulu Ngegazi
“Ngiyafakaza kini ngalolusuku lwanamuhla ngithi anginacala egazini labo bonke.”—IZENZO 20:26.
1. Amazwi kaPawulu kuzEnzo 20:26 awubonisa kanjani umbono kaJehova ngegazi?
LAWOMAZWI omphostoli uPawulu njengomKristu abonisa inhlonipho yakhe enhle ngegazi, uketshezi lokuphila. Lapho siqhubeka nalengxoxo, sizohlola ukuthi uPawulu wayesho ukuthini ngalawomazwi. Kodwa okokuqala ake sicabangele lokho uMdali wemiphefumulo yezilwane neyabantu akushoyo ngegazi. Sesiphawulile kakade ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu ubheka igazi, njengoba lisho ukuphila, njengelingcwele. Labo abachitha igazi ngamabomu noma ngokunganaki, futhi ikakhulukazi igazi lomuntu, baba necala legazi phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Nokho, azikho yini izindlela igazi elingasetshenziswa ngazo ukuze lizuzise isintu?
2. (a) Kungani kwakuyisono esikhulu ukudla igazi ngalabo ababekwaIsrayeli? (b) AmaIsrayeli avuzwa kanjani ngokugcina lowomthetho?
2 Umthetho kaNkulunkulu kuIsrayeli ngokuqondene negazi ngokugcizelela wathi: “Maningadli igazi lenyama noma iyiphi, ngokuba umphefumulo [ukuphila, King James Version; American Standard Version] wenyama yonke uyigazi layo; yilowo nalowo oyidlayo uyakunqunywa.” Kwakuyisono esikhulu ngamaIsrayeli noma ngabagogobeleyo phakathi kwabo ukudla igazi, ngisho noma kwakungenjongo yokondliwa okudingekayo. Ngaphambi kokuba badle inyama, kwakumelwe bathulule igazi futhi balimboze ngomhlabathi, kanjalo ngokomfanekiso bebuyisela ukuphila kuNkulunkulu. (Levitikusi 17:13, 14) Lowo kwakuwumthetho waphezulu. Ngokuwugcina, lawomaIsrayeli ayelondoloza ubuhlobo obungokomoya obuhle noJehova, uMthombo wokuphila. Futhi ayejabulela ezinye izinzuzo, ukulondolozwa kwempilo engokomzimba.
Igazi LikaKristu
3. (a) Kungani igazi likaJesu ‘liyigugu’ ngokuvelele? (b) ImiBhalo yesiHeberu ikhomba kanjani emhlatshelweni kaJesu?
3 Nokho, uJehova wayenokusetshenziswa kwegazi okukodwa okuvelele engqondweni. Lokhu kwakungokokuhlenga isintu esonweni nokufa “ngegazi eliyigugu” likaKristu Jesu. Ngisho nalapho “izwe lingakasekelwa” (ngokuveza kuka-Adamu noEva onesono inzalo ehlengwayo), uJehova wayeyazi indlela ayeyokhulula ngayo isintu. (1 Petru 1:18-20, qhathanisa neNW; Roma 6:22, 23) ‘Yigazi likaJesu iNdodana yakhe elisihlambulula ezonweni zonke.’ (1 Johane 1:7) Lokhu kusetshenziswa kwegazi kubaluleke kakhulu kangangokuthi uNkulunkulu wabangela ukuba emiBhalweni yesiHeberu kulotshwe imifuziselo nezithunzi eziningi ezazikhomba emhlatshelweni ophelele kaJesu.—Heberu 8:1, 4, 5; Roma 15:4.
4. Imiphi imifuziselo eyenziwa esenzakalweni esilotshwe kuGenesise isahluko 22?
4 Emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka ngaphambi kokunikeza uIsrayeli uMthetho, uJehova wayala uAbrahama ukuba anikele ngoIsaka eNtabeni yaseMoriya. Kanjalo uNkulunkulu wabonisa indlela ayeyonikela ngayo ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, uJesu. Ukuzithoba kukaIsaka ngokuzithandela kulesenzakalo kwafanekisela ukulalela kukaJesu intando kaYise ekuthululeni igazi lokuphila kwakhe ngomhlatshelo.—Genesise 22:1-3, 9-14; Heberu 11:17-19; Filipi 2:8.
5. Imihlatshelo yoMthetho kaMose yayijule kanjani ngokwencazelo engokomoya?
5 UMthetho kaMose wanikeza futhi ‘isithunzi sezinto ezinhle ezizayo,’ ukhomba phambili emhlatshelweni kaJesu ngenxa yesintu. LoMthetho wawuvumela ukusetshenziswa okukodwa kuphela kwegazi—emihlatshelweni yezilwane eya kuJehova. Leyomihlatshelo yayingeyona inkonzo nje. Yayinencazelo engokomoya ejulile. Ngokwemininingwane, yayifanekisela umhlatshelo kaJesu nakho konke okwakuyofezwa ngawo.—Heberu 10:1; Kolose 2:16, 17.
6. Imihlatshelo yoSuku Lokubuyisana yayifanekisela ukuhlengwa kwamaphi amaqembu amabili? Ngayiphi indlela?
6 Ngokwesibonelo, indlela ka-Aroni yokusingatha imihlatshelo yoSuku Lokubuyisana yayifanekisela indlela umPristi oPhakeme omkhulu, uJesu, asebenzisa ngayo izinzuzo zokuphila kwegazi lakhe eliyigugu ekunikeleni insindiso, okokuqala ‘endlini’ yakhe yobupristi yamaKristu agcotshiwe ayizi-144 000 ukuze abalelwe ukulunga futhi azuze ifa njengamakhosi nabapristi kanye naye emazulwini. Ngokulandelayo, umhlatshelo ngenxa ‘yabantu’ wafanekisela ukuhlenga kukaJesu bonke labo besintu abayodla ifa lokuphila okuphakade lapha emhlabeni. Ngisho kwamanje, “isixuku esikhulu” salaba sibalelwa ukulunga ukuze sisinde osizini olukhulu olusondelayo. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi siye ‘sahlanza izingubo zaso sazenza zaba-mhlophe egazini leWundlu,’ futhi sibonisa ukholo lwaso ngokunikela kuNkulunkulu inkonzo engcwele.—Levitikusi 16:6, 15, 18-22; Heberu 9:11, 12; IsAmbulo 14:1, 4; 7:4, 9, 14, 15.
7. Kungani singajabula ngokugcwaliseka kwaleyomifuziselo yasendulo?
7 ‘Ukuphila kusegazini.’ Igazi likaJesu laliphelele, ngalokho umhlatshelo wakhe uphumela ekunikezeni ukuphila okuphelele kubo bonke labo ababa nokholo. Yeka indlela esijabula ngayo ngokuthi leyomifuziselo yasendulo iye yagcwaliseka emhlatshelweni kaJesu wothando!—Levitikusi 17:14; IzEnzo 20:28.
Igazi—Impikiswano Yokuziphatha
8, 9. (a) Imiphi eminye yemisebenzi emangalisayo yegazi? (b) NjengoDavide, singayibonisa kanjani inhlonipho yokwesaba uNkulunkulu ngendlela esenziwe ngayo?
8 Umklamo wegazi ubonakalisa ukuhlakanipha okumangalisayo. Izazi zokuziphendukela kwemvelo, ezisenenkinga ekuchazeni isiqalo sokuphila, zingazama ukusitshela ukuthi igazi lokuphila kwethu lazivelela ngandlela-thile. Yeka indlela okungakholeki ngayo!
9 Igazi lethu eliyinkimbinkimbi lifeza imisebenzi emangalisayo ngempela. Lidlulisela ioksijini esekela ukuphila nezakhi kuzo zonke izingxenye zomzimba wethu. Likhipha ukungcola. Lithwala amangqamuzana amhlophe alwa nezifo namanye amangqamuzana avuselela ukulimala okuncane nokukhulu. Lisiza ekuqondiseni izinga lokushisa komzimba. Yilowo nalowo unegazi elihlukile; izazi zezici zofuzo eNgilandi zikhuluma ngisho nangokusebenzisa “imigqa yeminwe yeDNA” ethathwe egazini ukuze kutholakale izigebengu. Phakathi kwezingxenye eziningi zomzimba igazi liyisitho esabangela iNkosi uDavide ukuba ithi: “Jehova, uyangihlolisisa, uyangazi. Ngiyakukubonga, ngokuba ngenziwa ngokwesabekayo nangokumangalisayo”!—IHubo 139:1, 14.
10. (a) Ubani okumelwe anqume indlela okumelwe kusetshenziswe ngayo igazi? (b) Isiphi isiqondiso esikhanyayo uNkulunkulu asinikeza uNowa noIsrayeli? (c) Isiphi isibonelo esibonisa ukuthi igazi lingcwele ngisho nalapho kuphakama isimo esiphuthumayo?
10 Akumelwe yini uMenzi wesintu olungile, uMklami wegazi lethu, kube nguYe onquma indlela loloketshezi lokuphila olungasetshenziswa ngayo ngokufanelekile? (Jobe 36:3) Ngokuqinisekile lokho uye wakwenza. Wathi kukhokho wethu uNowa: “Kepha inyama okukuyo umphefumulo wayo, okungukuthi igazi layo, aniyikuyidla.” (Genesise 9:4) Futhi lapho ephinda uMthetho wakhe kuIsrayeli, wathi ngokusobala: “Qaphela kuphela ukuba ungalidli igazi, ngokuba igazi lingumphefumulo; awuyikuwudla umphefumulo kanye nenyama. Ungalidli; lithulule emhlabeni njengamanzi.” (Duteronomi 12:23, 24) Akungabazeki ukuthi uDavide wayenalomyalo engqondweni lapho amaqhawe akhe amathathu efaka ukuphila kwawo engozini ukuze amlethele amanzi aphuzwayo emthonjeni waseBetlehema. “Wawathululela uJehova” njengayemelela igazi lokuphila kwawo. (2 Samuweli 23:15-17) Ubungcwele begazi akumelwe bunganakwa ngisho nalapho isimo siphuthuma.—Bheka futhi eyoku-1 Samuweli 14:31-34.
Ebandleni LobuKristu
11, 12. (a) Isiphi isinqumo esafinyelelwa yindikimba eyayiqondiswa umoya ngemibuzo engokwemfundiso ekhulwini lokuqala? (b) Lendikimba yakubopha ngaliphi ibhande linye ukudliwa kwegazi? (c) Kungani ukumpontshelwa kwegazi kungase kufaniswe nokudla igazi ngomlomo?
11 Uyalibona yini ngamehlo engqondo ikamelo elikhulu eJerusalema lekhulu lokuqala? Kubuthene kulo abaphostoli bakaJesu nabanye abadala bebandla lobuKristu. Baxoxa ngani? OPawulu noBarnaba basuka eAntiyokiya bezobeka phambi kwabo inkinga ephakame khona ngokuqondene nokusoka. Lowomkhandlu unquma ukuthi amaKristu asanda kuphenduka awakudingi ukusokwa okungokwenyama.—IzEnzo 15:1, 2, 6, 13, 14, 19, 20.
12 Lapho iphawula ngalesinqumo, indikimba ebusayo ngalesosikhathi, yabeka ngamafuphi izimfuneko ezisasebenza kumaKristu. Yathi: “Kwaba-kuhle kuMoya oNgcwele nakithi ukuba singanithwesi umthwalo omkhulu ngaphandle kwalezizinto ezifunekayo zokuthi niyeke okuhlatshelwe izithombe, negazi, nokuqumbeleneyo [okunegazi], nobufebe; uma nizilinda kulezozinto, noba nenza kahle. Salani kahle.” (IzEnzo 15:28, 29) Ngakho ukukhonza izithombe, ukudla igazi, nobufebe kuboshwa ngabhande linye ngokwenkolo. AmaKristu kumelwe akuyeke konke lokhu ukuze alondoloze impilo enhle engokomoya futhi ahlanganyele ekugcwalisekeni kwezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu. Ngokuqondene negazi, akusho lutho ukuthi lidliwa ngomlomo noma limpontshelwa emithanjeni. Kunenjongo efanayo—ukusekela nokondla umzimba. Njengoba indikimba ebusayo ibonisa ngokusobala, ukwehluleka ukuyeka igazi kuwukwephula umthetho kaNkulunkulu.
13. (a) Ukuyeka igazi kuye kwaphumela kusiphi isivikelo esenezelwe ngoFakazi BakaJehova? (b) Eminye imithetho yaphezulu iye yabavikela kanjani abantu bakaNkulunkulu?
13 Ukwanda kwamuva kweAIDS, isifo sokusha kwesibindi, nezinye izifo ezibangelwa ukumpontshelwa igazi kubonisa ukuthi impilo enhle engokomzimba ngokuvamile nayo ihilelekile ekugcineni imithetho kaNkulunkulu. Ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli, uNkulunkulu wanikeza amaIsrayeli imithetho ethile ngokudla, ukwehlukaniswa nabantu, ezempilo, nokuhlanzeka eyayilufanela kahle uhambo lwawo lwasehlane. (Levitikusi 11:2-8; 13:2-5; Duteronomi 23:10-13) Ngokulalela leyomithetho, amaIsrayeli awazange alondoloze ubuhlobo obungokomoya noNkulunkulu wawo kuphela kodwa futhi avikelwa ngokomzimba ezifweni ezazidlange komakhelwane bawo. Odokotela baqale emakhulwini edlule nje eminyaka ukuqaphela ukuhlakanipha okungokoqobo okukweminye yaleyomithetho. Abaningi babo, nabo sebeqala ukuqaphela ukuthi umthetho kaNkulunkulu ngegazi uwukuhlakanipha.
14. Lapho amaIsrayeli elalela, ikuphi ukuphilisa nezibusiso ezazitholakala kuwo?
14 Lapho amaIsrayeli elalela, uNkulunkulu wagcwalisa kuwo lesithembiso: “Uma ulalela nokulalela izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, ukwenza okulungile emehlweni akhe, ulalele imiyalo yakhe, ugcine izimiso zakhe zonke, angiyikubeka phezu kwakho nasinye salezozifo engizibeké phezu kwabaseGibithe, ngokuba nginguJehova okuphilisayo.” Okubaluleke ngokwengeziwe, ukulalela kwagcina amaIsrayeli esohlwini lwezibusiso zoMbuso zesikhathi esizayo.—Eksodusi 15:26; 19:5, 6.
15. Isiphi isibonelo samuva esibonisa indlela esingabusiswa ngayo ngokulalela imithetho kaNkulunkulu?
15 OFakazi BakaJehova bayazazisa izinzuzo eziningi ezinikezwa ezokwelapha zanamuhla. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho iHholo LoMbuso ngaseSydney, eAustralia, libhujiswa ngebhomu lamaphekula ngonyaka odlule futhi oFakazi abangaphezu kwama-50 bephuthunyiswa esibhedlela esiseduze, bajabula ngokuthi odokotela babenoketshezi oluningi olungelona igazi olwalungampontshelwa. Bonke ababelimele basinda. Babengabonga ngokuthi lokhu kumpontshelwa kwakuvumelana nemithetho kaJehova. Ngokwengeziwe, akekho kubo owayesengozini yokungenwa izifo ezingathathelwana ngegazi.
“Anginacala Egazini Labo Bonke”
16. NjengoPawulu, isiphi isimo sengqondo okumelwe sisibonise ngenkonzo engcwele?
16 Nokho, ake sibuyele futhi ekhulwini lokuqala. Cishe sekudlule iminyaka eyisikhombisa kusukela uPawulu noBarnaba bezwa uJakobe ememezela ukwenqatshelwa kokukhonza izithombe, igazi, nobufebe. Phakathi nalesosikhathi uPawulu usebe nohambo lwezithunywa zevangeli izikhathi ezimbili eya eAsia Minor naseMpumalanga Yurophu. Manje, lapho ebuya edlula eMiletu, uyakwazi ukuxoxa nabadala base-Efesu, abeza ukuzomhlangabeza lapho. Ubakhumbuza ukuthi akazange ayeke ‘ukukhonza iNkosi ngakho konke ukuthobeka, nangezinyembezi, nangokulingwa.’ Ingabe thina namuhla siyazidela ekunikeleni ngakho konke esinakho enkonzweni kaJehova? Kumelwe sizidele.—IzEnzo 20:17-19.
17. NjengoPawulu, kumelwe siyifeze kanjani inkonzo yethu?
17 UPawulu wayeyifeza kanjani leyonkonzo? Wayefakaza noma kuphi lapho ayethola khona abantu, ngokuyinhloko emakhaya abo, futhi kungakhathaliseki isizinda sabo ngokwenkolo. Akazange ayeke ukuyala labobadala, futhi akungabazeki ukuthi babehamba naye njengoba ayefundisa “phambi kwabantu nakuzo izindlu ngezindlu.” Kwakungebona kuphela ababezuza enkonzweni kaPawulu yentshiseko, ngoba ‘wayefakaze [“ngenkuthalo,” NW] kubaJuda nakumaGreki ukuphendukela kuNkulunkulu nokukholwa yiNkosi yethu uJesu.’ Phawula igama elithi “ngenkuthalo.” Ingabe thina namuhla sikukhuthalele ukuthi zonke izinhlobo zabantu, zonke izizwe, ziyabuthola ubufakazi?—IzEnzo 20:20, 21; IsAmbulo 14:6, 7.
18. (a) NjengoPawulu, kumelwe siwufake kanjani umphefumulo wethu enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu? (b) NjengoPawulu, kumelwe senzenjani lapho sibhekene nokucindezeleka okwandayo?
18 Igama elithi “ngenkuthalo” liyavela futhi emazwini kaPawulu alandelayo: “Ukuphila angikushayi into yalutho ukuba kube-yigugu kimi, kuphela ukuba ngiphelelise ukuhamba kwami nenkonzo engayamukela eNkosini uJesu yokufakaza [ “ngenkuthalo,” NW] ngevangeli lomusa kaNkulunkulu.” (IzEnzo 20:24) Umphefumulo, noma ukuphila kwakhe kwakungeke kube nokubaluleka, ukuba wayengazange ayigcwalise kanjalo inkonzo yakhe. Ingabe sizizwa ngaleyondlela ngenkonzo yethu? Njengoba lezinsuku zokugcina ziya ekupheleni, futhi njengoba ukucindezeleka, ukushushiswa, ukugula, noma ukuguga kusifikela, ingabe sisabonisa umoya onjengokaPawulu ekufuneni ngenkuthalo imizi ‘efaneleyo’?—Mathewu 10:12, 13; 2 Thimothewu 2:3, 4; 4:5, 7.
19. Kungani uPawulu ayengathi, “Anginacala egazini labo bonke”?
19 UPawulu wayengalindele ukuphinde ababone labobadala base-Efesu. Nokho, ngokuqiniseka okukhulu wayengathi kubo: “Ngiyafakaza kini ngalolusuku lwanamuhla ngithi anginacala egazini labo bonke.” Kanjani? UPawulu wayengazange alichithe igazi empini. Wayengazange alidle igazi. Kodwa wayebe nesithakazelo esikhulu ekuphileni kwabanye, njengoba kwakumelelwe yigazi labo. Wayengafuni ukubabona belahlekelwa ukuphila kwabo ngoSuku Lwesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokwehluleka kwakhe ukunikeza ubufakazi benkuthalo. Wayengazange ayeke ukutshela labobadala nabanye “lonke icebo likaNkulunkulu.”—IzEnzo 20:26, 27.
20. (a) Ngokuvumelana nesixwayiso sikaJehova esiphindaphindiwe kuHezekeli, yimuphi umthwalo wemfanelo okumelwe siwufeze namuhla? (b) Yini eyoba ngumphumela kithi nakulabo abasilalelayo?
20 Njengoba “usizi olukhulu” lusondela, isidingo sokumemezela lonke icebo likaNkulunkulu siya siphuthuma kakhulu kunangaphambili. Isimo siyefana naleso engaba yizi-2 600 edlule lapho ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema kwakusondela. Izwi likaJehova leza kumprofethi wakhe uHezekeli, lathi: “Ndodana yomuntu, ngikwenzé umlindi kuyo indlu yakwaIsrayeli; ngalokho yizwa izwi emlonyeni wami, ungixwayisele bona. Lapho ngithi komubi: Uyakufa nokufa, besewungamxwayisi, ungakhulumi ukumxwayisa omubi ngendlela yakhe ukuba umsindise, yena lowo omubi uyakufela ezonweni zakhe, kepha igazi lakhe ngiyakulibiza esandleni sakho.” (Hezekeli 3:17-21; 33:7-9) Izinceku zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe ‘nesixuku esikhulu’ sabangane bazo banomthwalo ofanayo namuhla. Ubufakazi bethu kumelwe bube obenkuthalo. Ngakho, ngosuku lwempindiselo kaNkulunkulu, singasindiswa kanye nalabo abasilalelayo.—Isaya 26:20, 21; 1 Thimothewu 4:16; IsAmbulo 7:9, 14, 15.
21. Singayibonisa ngaziphi izindlela inhlonipho yokwesaba uNkulunkulu ngegazi, futhi kube namuphi umphumela?
21 Ezindabeni zokungathathi-hlangothi kobuKristu, zokuyeka igazi, zokunikeza ubufakazi ngenkuthalo, nezokuba nokholo emhlatshelweni oyigugu kaKristu, ngamunye wethu makazimisele ukulalela konke ukulaya kukaNkulunkulu. Kanjalo singahlanganyela ekugcwalisekeni okujabulisayo kweHubo 33:10-12: “UJehova uchitha icebo labezizwe; uphuthisa imicabango yabantu. Icebo likaJehova limi phakade . . . Sibusisiwe isizwe esiNkulunkulu waso nguJehova.”
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Ikuphi ukusetshenziswa okukodwa kwegazi okuletha izibusiso ezihlala njalo?
◻ Sizuza kanjani ngokuyeka igazi?
◻ Singazigcina kanjani ‘singenacala egazini labo bonke’?
◻ Isiphi isibonelo sokukhuthala okumelwe sisilandele?
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 26]
IThe Wall Street Journal kaMarch 20, 1986, yayinendaba enesihloko esithi: “Izindawo Zokugcina Igazi Azilondekile KuAIDS.” Izigaba zokuqala zazifundeka ngalendlela: “Izindawo zokusetshenziswa kwegazi eU.S. azilondekile ngendlela izinhlangano ezigcina igazi ezifuna siyikholelwe. Ngokunokwenzeka ukumpontshelwa kwegazi kuyindlela eyinhloko yokusakaza iAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ukusukela emaqenjini asengozini enkulu yokuthola lesifo kuye kubo bonke abantu. Ukuhlolwa kwegciwane elilwa ne-AIDS okwenziwa ukuze kuvikelwe igazi elinikelwe akunakuqinisekisa ukuthi zonke izingxenye ezithintekile ziyotholakala. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abagcina igazi bayangabaza ukuthatha izinyathelo eziyothuthukisa ukulondeka kokumpontshelwa kwalo.”