UJobe Wakhuthazela—Nathi Singakwazi!
“Bhekani, babusisiwe abakhuthazelayo.”—JAKOBE 5:11.
1. Yini omunye umKristu osekhulile ayisho ngezilingo zakhe?
‘UDEVELI unginamathele! Ngizizwa njengoJobe!’ Ngalawomazwi u-A. H. Macmillan wezwakalisa imizwa yakhe kumngane wakhe omkhulu endlunkulu yoFakazi BakaJehova. UMfoweth’ uMacmillan waqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni eneminyaka engu-89 ngo-August 26, 1966. Wayazi ukuthi udumo lwenkonzo yokwethembeka yamaKristu agcotshiwe njengaye ‘lwaluyowalandela.’ (IsAmbulo 14:13) Ngempela, ayoqhubekela phambili enkonzweni kaJehova ngokuvuselwa ekuphileni okungenakufa ezulwini. Abangane bakhe bajabula ngokuthi uMfoweth’ uMacmillan wawuthola lowomvuzo. Nokho, lapho iminyaka yakhe isincipha emhlabeni wayezungezwe izinhlobonhlobo zezilingo, kuhlanganise nezinkinga ezingokwempilo ezamenza wayiqaphela kakhulu imizamo kaSathane yokwephula ubuqotho bakhe kuNkulunkulu.
2, 3. Wayengubani uJobe?
2 Lapho uMfoweth’ uMacmillan ethi wayezizwa njengoJobe, wayebhekisela kumuntu owakhuthazelela ukuvivinywa okukhulu kokholo. UJobe wayehlala “ezweni laseUzi,” cishe e-Arabiya esenyakatho. Njengoba ayengowozalo lwendodana kaNowa, uShemi, wayengumkhulekeli kaJehova. Kubonakala sengathi ukuvivinywa kukaJobe kwenzeka esikhathini esithile phakathi nokufa kukaJosefa nalapho uMose ezibonakalisa eqotho. Phakathi naleyonkathi akukho muntu emhlabeni owayelingana noJobe ngokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu. UJehova wayebheka uJobe njengendoda engenasici, eqotho, eyesaba uNkulunkulu.—Jobe 1:1, 8.
3 Njengoba “ayemkhulu . . . kunabo bonke abantu basempumalanga,” uJobe wayenezinceku eziningi, futhi imfuyo yakhe yayibalelwa ku-11 500. Kodwa ingcebo engokomoya yayibaluleke kakhulu kuye. Njengobaba abesaba uNkulunkulu namuhla, cishe uJobe wayewafundisile amadodana akhe ayisikhombisa namadodakazi akhe amathathu ngoJehova. Ngisho nangemva kokuba ayengasahlali ekhaya lakhe, wasebenza njengompristi womkhaya ngokuwanikelela imihlatshelo, uma kungenzeka ukuthi ayonile.—Jobe 1:2-5.
4. (a) Kungani amaKristu ashushiswayo kufanele acabange ngomuntu onguJobe? (b) Ngokuphathelene noJobe, imiphi imibuzo esizoyicabangela?
4 UJobe ungumuntu amaKristu ashushiswayo okufanele acabange ngaye ukuze aqinisele ekukhuthazeleni kokubekezela. “Bhekani,” kubhala umfundi uJakobe. “Babusisiwe abakhuthazelayo; nizwile ngokukhuthazela kukaJobe, nibonile impetho yeNkosi ukuthi iNkosi inesihe esikhulu nesihawu.” (Jakobe 5:11) NjengoJobe, abalandeli bakaJesu abagcotshiwe ‘nesixuku esikhulu’ sosuku lwanamuhla badinga ukukhuthazela ukuze babhekane nokuvivinywa kokholo. (IsAmbulo 7:1-9) Ngakho, yiziphi izilingo uJobe azikhuthazelela? Kungani zenzeka? Futhi singazuza kanjani kokuhlangenwe nakho kwakhe?
Impikiswano Ebaluleke Kakhulu
5. UJobe engazi, kwakwenzekani ezulwini?
5 UJobe engazi, kwase kuzophakama impikiswano enkulu ezulwini. Ngolunye usuku “amadodana kaNkulunkulu ema phambi kukaJehova.” (Jobe 1:6) INdodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe yodwa, uLizwi, yayikhona. (Johane 1:1-3) Kwakukhona nezingelosi ezilungile ‘namadodana kaNkulunkulu’ ayizingelosi angalaleli. (Genesise 6:1-3) USathane wayelapho, ngoba wayengenakukhishwa ezulwini kuze kube ngemva kokumiswa koMbuso ngo-1914. (IsAmbulo 12:1-12) Osukwini lukaJobe, uSathane wayezophakamisa impikiswano ebaluleke kakhulu. Wayesezongabaza ukufaneleka kobukhosi bukaJehova phezu kwazo zonke izidalwa zaKhe.
6. Yini uSathane ayezama ukuyenza, futhi wamnyundela kanjani uJehova?
6 “Uvelaphi na?” kubuza uJehova. USathane waphendula: “Ekuzuleni emhlabeni nasekuhambahambeni kuwo.” (Jobe 1:7) Wayelokhu efuna othile angamshwabadela. (1 Petru 5:8, 9) Ngokwephula ubuqotho babantu abakhonza uJehova, uSathane wayezozama ukufakazela ukuthi akekho umuntu owayeyolalela uNkulunkulu ngokugcwele eshukunyiswa uthando. Eyamukela inselele yalempikiswano, uJehova wabuza uSathane: “Inhliziyo yakho iyiqaphele inceku yami uJobe na? Ngokuba akakho onjengaye emhlabeni, umuntu ongenasici nolungileyo, omesaba uNkulunkulu, obalekela okubi.” (Jobe 1:8) UJobe wayehlangabezana nezindinganiso zaphezulu ezazikucabangela ukungapheleli kwakhe. (IHubo 103:10-14) Kodwa uSathane waphendula: “UJobe uyamesaba uNkulunkulu ngeze na? Wena awumbiyelanga yini yena nendlu yakhe nakho konke okwakhe nxazonke, wabusisa umsebenzi wezandla zakhe na? Impahla yakhe yandile emhlabeni.” (Jobe 1:9, 10) Ngaleyondlela uDeveli wanyundela uJehova ngokuthi akukho muntu omthanda futhi omkhulekela ngenxa yalokho ayikho kodwa ukuthi uyazifumbathisa izidalwa ukuze zimkhonze. USathane wagomela ngokuthi uJobe ukhonza uNkulunkulu ngenxa yenzuzo yobugovu, hhayi ngoba eshukunyiswa uthando.
USathane Uyahlasela!
7. Kungayiphi indlela uDeveli abekela ngayo uNkulunkulu inselele, futhi uJehova wasabela kanjani?
7 “Kepha,” kusho uSathane, “ake welule isandla sakho, uthinte konke anakho, impela uyakukuthuka ebusweni bakho.” UNkulunkulu wayeyosabela kanjani kuleyonselele yokudelelwa? “Bheka,” kusho uJehova. “Konke anakho kusesandleni sakho; kuphela kuyena uqobo ungabeki isandla sakho.” UDeveli wayethé konke lokho uJobe anakho kwakubusisiwe, kwandisiwe, futhi kuvikelwe. UNkulunkulu wayezovumela ukuba uJobe ahlupheke, nakuba umzimba wakhe kwakungamelwe uthintwe. Ezimisele ukwenza okubi, uSathane wawushiya umhlangano.—Jobe 1:11, 12.
8. (a) Ikuphi ukulahlekelwa ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo uJobe abhekana nakho? (b) Laliyini iqiniso ‘ngomlilo kaNkulunkulu’?
8 Ngokushesha, ukuhlasela kobusathane kwaqala. Enye yezinceku zikaJobe yamlethela lezizindaba ezimbi: “Izinkabi bezilima, izimbongolo ziklabile eceleni kwazo, lapho amaSheba etheleka, azithatha; izinceku azibulele ngosiko lwenkemba.” (Jobe 1:13-15) Isivikelo sasisusiwe empahleni kaJobe. Cishe ngokushesha, kwasetshenziswa ngokuqondile amandla edemoni, ngoba enye inceku yabika: “Umlilo kaNkulunkulu uwile ezulwini, washisa izimvu nezinceku, waziqeda.” (Jobe 1:16) Yeka ukuthi kwakuwubudeveli kanjani ukwenza kubonakale sengathi kwakunguNkulunkulu owayenecala lenhlekelele enjalo ngisho nasencekwini yakhe! Njengoba umbani uvela ezulwini, uJehova wayengase asolwe kalula, kodwa eqinisweni lomlilo wawuvela emthonjeni wobudemoni.
9. Ukulahlekelwa ngokomnotho kwabuthinta kanjani ubuhlobo bukaJobe noNkulunkulu?
9 Njengoba uSathane ayeqhubeka nokuhlasela, enye inceku yabika ukuthi amaKaledi ayethathé amakamela kaJobe futhi ebulalé zonke ezinye izinceku. (Jobe 1:17) Nakuba ngaleyondlela uJobe ayesebhekene nokuwa ngokomnotho, lokhu akuzange kubuqede ubuhlobo bakhe noNkulunkulu. Ingabe wawungakukhuthazelela ukulahlekelwa okukhulu ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo ngaphandle kokwephula ubuqotho bakho kuJehova?
Inhlekelele Enkulu Iyagadla
10, 11. (a) Kwenzekani ezinganeni zikaJobe eziyishumi? (b) Ngemva kokufa okudabukisayo kwezingane zikaJobe, uJobe wambheka kanjani uJehova?
10 UDeveli wayengakaqedi ngoJobe. Enye futhi inceku yabika: “Amadodana akho namadodakazi akho ayedla, ephuza iwayini endlini yomfowabo oyizibulo; bheka, kwafika, kwadabula ihlane umoya omkhulu, washaya amagumbi omane endlu, yawa phezu kwezinsizwa, zafa; mina ngedwa kuphela ngisindile, ukuze ngikubikele.” (Jobe 1:18, 19) Abangazi bangase bathi leyoncithakalo eyabangelwa yilowomoya ‘yayiyisenzo sikaNkulunkulu.’ Nokho, amandla amademoni ayethinte uJobe lapho emncane khona.
11 Njengoba usizi lwalumehle isigubhukane, uJobe “waklebhula ingubo yakhe, waphucula ikhanda lakhe, wawela emhlabathini, wakhuleka.” Nokho, lalela amazwi akhe. “UJehova wapha, uJehova uthathile; malibongwe igama likaJehova.” Lokhu kulandisa kuyanezela: “Kukho konke lokho uJobe akonanga, akamthelanga uNkulunkulu okubi.” (Jobe 1:20-22) USathane wayesephinde wanqotshwa. Kuthiwani uma kufanele sibhekane nokushonelwa nosizi njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu? Ukuzinikela kuJehova okungenabugovu nokuthembela kuye kungasenza sikhuthazele njengabagcini bobuqotho, njengoba nje kwenza uJobe. Abagcotshiwe nabangane babo abanamathemba okuphila emhlabeni ngokuqinisekile bangathola induduzo namandla kulokhu kulandisa kokukhuthazela kukaJobe.
Lempikiswano Ishuba Ngokwengeziwe
12, 13. Komunye umhlangano ezulwini, yini uSathane ayicela, futhi uNkulunkulu wasabela kanjani?
12 Ngokushesha uJehova wabiza omunye umhlangano ekomkhulu lasezulwini. UJobe wayesengumuntu ongenazingane, ompofu, okwakubonakala ehlushwa uNkulunkulu, kodwa ubuqotho bakhe babuphelele. Yebo, uSathane wayengenakuvuma ukuthi ukumangalela kwakhe uNkulunkulu noJobe kwakungamanga. Manje “amadodana kaNkulunkulu” ayesezozwa impikiswano kanye nobufakazi obuphikisa ukumangalelwa njengoba uJehova ayevumela ukuba uDeveli athathe isinyathelo ukuze aqede lempikiswano.
13 Equlisa uSathane, uJehova wabuza: “Uvelaphi na?” Yaba yini impendulo? “Ekuzuleni emhlabeni nasekuhambahambeni kuwo.” UJehova waphinde wadonsela ukunakekela encekwini yakhe engenasici, eqotho, eyesaba uNkulunkulu, uJobe, eyayisabambelele ngokuqinile ebuqothweni bayo. UDeveli waphendula: “Isikhumba ngesikhumba, yebo, konke umuntu anakho uyakunika ngokuphila kwakhe. Kepha ake welule isandla sakho, uthinte amathambo akhe nenyama yakhe, impela uyakukuthuka ebusweni bakho.” Ngakho uNkulunkulu wathi: “Bheka, usesandleni sakho; gcina ukuphila kwakhe kodwa.” (Jobe 2:2-6) Egudlisela ukuthi uJehova wayengakayisusi yonke imigoqo evikelayo, uSathane wafuna ukuthinta amathambo nenyama kaJobe. UDeveli wayengenakuvunyelwa ukuba abulale uJobe; kodwa uSathane wayazi ukuthi isifo esingokomzimba sasiyomzwisa ubuhlungu futhi senze kubonakale sengathi wayethola isijeziso esivela kuNkulunkulu ngenxa yezono zangasese.
14. USathane wamshaya ngani uJobe, futhi kungani kungekho muntu owayengakhulula lesisiguli?
14 Njengoba ayesekhululiwe kulowomhlangano, uSathane waphuma egcwele injabulo yonya. Washaya uJobe “ngamathumba amabi, kusukela ematheni onyawo kuze kufike okhakhayini.” Yeka usizi uJobe alukhuthazelela njengoba ayehlezi emlotheni futhi ezinwaya ngodengezi! (Jobe 2:7, 8) Akukho dokotela ongumuntu owayengamkhulula kulesosifo, esibuhlungu, esenyanyekayo, ngoba sasibangelwe amandla obusathane. UJehova kuphela owayengaphulukisa uJobe. Uma uyinceku kaNkulunkulu egulayo, ungalokothi neze ukhohlwe ukuthi uNkulunkulu angakusiza ukuba ukhuthazele futhi angakunikeza ukuphila ezweni elisha elingenazo izifo.—IHubo 41:1-3; Isaya 33:24.
15. UmkaJobe wamnxusa ukuba enzeni, futhi uJobe wasabela kanjani?
15 Ekugcineni, umkaJobe wathi: “Usabambelela [ebuqothweni bakho, NW] na? Thuka uNkulunkulu, ufe.” Elithi ‘ubuqotho’ libonisa ukuzinikela okungenasici, futhi kungenzeka ukuthi wayekhulumé ngendlela ebhinqayo ukuze abangele uJobe ukuba athuke uNkulunkulu. Kodwa waphendula: “Ukhuluma njengalokhu owesifazane oyisiwula ekhuluma. Siyakwamukela okuhle kuphela kuNkulunkulu, singamukeli nokubi, na?” Ngisho nalelicebo likaSathane alizange lisebenze, ngoba siyatshelwa: “Kukho konke lokho uJobe akonanga ngomlomo wakhe.” (Jobe 2:9, 10) Ake sithi amalungu omkhaya aphikisayo abengase athi sizikhandla ngokungenangqondo emisebenzini yobuKristu futhi asinxuse ukuba silahle uJehova uNkulunkulu. NjengoJobe, singalukhuthazelela uvivinyo olunjalo ngoba siyamthanda uJehova futhi sifisa ukudumisa igama lakhe elingcwele.—IHubo 145:1, 2; Heberu 13:15.
Abakhohlisi Abathathu Abaqhoshayo
16. Obani ababethi bazoduduza uJobe, kodwa uSathane wabasebenzisa kanjani?
16 Kulokho okwagcina kungelinye icebo lobusathane, kwafika “abangane” abathathu ababethi bazoduduza uJobe. Omunye kwakungu-Elifazi, cishe ongowozalo luka-Abrahama ngo-Esawu. Njengoba u-Elifazi akhuluma kuqala, akungabazeki ukuthi wayemdala kunabo bonke. Omunye owayekhona, kwakunguBilidadi, ongowozalo lukaShuwa, owayengomunye wamadodana ka-Abrahama ngoKetura. Umuntu wesithathu kwakunguSofari, okuthiwa ungumNahama ukuze kuvezwe umkhaya wakhe noma indawo ayehlala kuyo, mhlawumbe enyakatho-ntshonalanga ye-Arabiya. (Jobe 2:11; Genesise 25:1, 2; 36:4, 11) Njengalabo abazama ukwenza ukuba oFakazi BakaJehova balahle uNkulunkulu namuhla, lababantu abathathu basetshenziswa uSathane emzamweni wokwenza ukuba uJobe avume ukuthi wayenecala ekumangalelweni kwamanga futhi aphule ubuqotho bakhe.
17. Benzani abantu abathathu ababevakashile, futhi yini abangazange bayenze izinsuku eziyisikhombisa nobusuku obuyisikhombisa?
17 Lababantu abathathu babukisa ngokubonisa uzwela olukhulu ngokukhala, beklebhula izingubo zabo, futhi bezithela ngothuli emakhanda abo. Kodwa-ke bahlala noJobe izinsuku eziyisikhombisa nobusuku obuyisikhombisa bengathi vú nelilodwa izwi lenduduzo! (Jobe 2:12, 13; Luka 18:10-14) Lababakhohlisi abathathu abaqhoshayo babentula kakhulu ngokomoya kangangokuba babengenalutho olududuzayo ababengalusho ngoJehova nangezithembiso zakhe. Nokho, babefinyelela iziphetho ezingalungile futhi belungela ukuzisebenzisa ngokumelene noJobe ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuba beye benza ngokuvumelana nesiko lomphakathi lokuluveza obala usizi. Ngokuthakazelisayo, ngaphambi kokuba ukuthula kwezinsuku eziyisikhombisa kuphele, insizwa u-Elihu yahlala lapho yayingase iyizwe kahle khona ingxoxo.
18. Kungani uJobe afuna ukuthula ekufeni?
18 Ekugcineni, uJobe wakuphazamisa lokhu kuthula. Njengoba ayengatholi nduduzo kulababantu abathathu ababemvakashele, waqalekisa usuku lokuzalwa kwakhe futhi wazibuza ukuthi kungani ukuphila kwakhe kwakunwetshwa. Wafuna ukuthula ekufeni, engacabangi nokucabanga ukuthi uyoke aphinde athole injabulo yangempela ngaphambi kokuba afe, kwazise ukuthi wayesentula, eshonelwe, futhi egula kakhulu. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wayengenakuvuma ukuba uJobe alinyazwe kuze kube sezingeni lokufa.—Jobe 3:1-26.
Abamangaleli BakaJobe Bayahlasela
19. Kukuziphi izici u-Elifazi amangalela kuzo uJobe ngamanga?
19 U-Elifazi wayekhuluma kuqala emizuliswaneni emithathu yenkulumo-mpikiswano eyabuvivinya ngokwengeziwe ubuqotho bukaJobe. Enkulumweni yakhe yokuqala, u-Elifazi wabuza: “Babhujiswaphi abalungileyo na?” Waphetha ngokuthi kumelwe ukuba uJobe wenzé okuthile okubi okwenza athole isijeziso sikaNkulunkulu. (Jobe, izahluko 4, 5) Enkulumweni yakhe yesibili, u-Elifazi wakuhleka usulu ukuhlakanipha kukaJobe wayesebuza: “Wazini esingayazi thina na?” U-Elifazi wayesho ukuthi uJobe wayezama ukuzenza aqapheleke ngaphezu koMninimandla onke. Ephetha ukuhlasela kwakhe kwesibili, wachaza uJobe njengonecala lokuhlubuka, ukufumbathisa, nokukhohlisa. (Jobe, isahluko 15) Enkulumweni yakhe yokugcina, u-Elifazi wamangalela uJobe ngamanga ngobugebengu obuningi—ukuphanga, ukugodlela abampofu isinkwa namanzi, nokucindezela abafelokazi nezintandane.—Jobe, isahluko 22.
20. Kwakunjani ukuhlasela kukaBilidadi uJobe?
20 Njengoba aba ngowesibili ukukhuluma emzuliswaneni ngamunye kwemithathu yezinkulumo-mpikiswano, uBilidadi ngokuvamile wayelandela isihloko esikhulu esimiswé u-Elifazi. Izinkulumo zika-Bilidadi zazishaya ngamafuphi kodwa zintinyela kabuhlungu. Waze wamangalela ngisho nezingane zikaJobe ngokwenza okungalungile futhi kanjalo zikufanelekela ukufa. Ngokucabanga okuyiphutha, wasebenzisa lomfanekiso: Njengoba umhlanga nencema koma ngaphandle kwamanzi, ngakho kunjalo ngabo “bonke abakhohlwa uNkulunkulu.” Lawomazwi ayiqiniso, kodwa ayengasebenzi kuJobe. (Jobe, isahluko 8) UBilidadi wafanisa ukuhlupheka kukaJobe nalokho okufikela ababi. (Jobe, isahluko 18) Enkulumweni yakhe yesithathu emfushane, uBilidadi waphikisa ngokuthi umuntu “uyimpethu” futhi “uyisibungu” futhi-ke akahlanzekile phambi kukaNkulunkulu.—Jobe, isahluko 25.
21. USofari wammangalela ngani uJobe?
21 USofari waba ngowesithathu ukukhuluma kulenkulumo-mpikiswano. Izikhathi eziningi, imiqondo yakhe yayifana naleyo ka-Elifazi noBilidadi. USofari wamangalela uJobe ngobubi futhi wamnxusa ukuba alahle imikhuba yakhe yesono. (Jobe, izahluko 11, 20) Ngemva kwemizuliswano emibili uSofari wayeka ukukhuluma. Wayengasenakwenezela lutho emzuliswaneni wesithathu. Nokho, kuyo yonke lenkulumo-mpikiswano, uJobe wabaphendula ngesibindi abamangaleli bakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesinye isikhathi wathi: “Nina nonke ningabaduduzi ababi. Amazwi angumoya nje awayikuphela yini?”—Jobe 16:2, 3.
Nathi Singakhuthazela
22, 23. (a) Njengasendabeni kaJobe, uDeveli angazama kanjani ukwephula ubuqotho bethu kuJehova uNkulunkulu? (b) Nakuba uJobe ayekhuthazelela ukuvivinywa okunhlobonhlobo, yini esingayibuza ngesimo sakhe sengqondo?
22 NjengoJobe, singase sibhekane nezilingo ezingaphezu kwesisodwa ngesikhathi, futhi uSathane angase asebenzise ukudumazeka noma ezinye izici emzamweni wakhe wokwephula ubuqotho bethu. Angase azame ukusenza simelane noJehova uma sinezinkinga ezingokomnotho. Uma othandekayo efa noma siba nempilo ebuthaka, uSathane angase azame ukusiyengela ekubeni sisole uNkulunkulu. Njengabangane bakaJobe, othile angase asimangalele nokusimangalela ngamanga. Njengoba uMfoweth’ uMacmillan abonisa, uSathane angase ‘asinamathele,’ kodwa singakhuthazela.
23 Njengoba sesibonile kakade, uJobe wayekhuthazelela izilingo zakhe ezinhlobonhlobo. Nokho, ingabe wayemane ekhuthazela ngomcacamezelo? Ingabe umoya wakhe wawephuke ngempela? Ake sibone ukuthi uJobe wayeselahlekelwe yilo lonke ithemba ngempela yini.
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Iyiphi impikiswano enkulu uSathane ayiphakamisa osukwini lukaJobe?
◻ Kungaziphi izindlela uJobe avivinywa ngazo ngokwedlulele?
◻ “Abangane” bakaJobe abathathu bammangalela ngani?
◻ Njengasendabeni kaJobe, uSathane angazama kanjani ukwephula ubuqotho bethu kuJehova?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
U-A. H. Macmillan