Ofakazi Abamelene Nonkulunkulu Bamanga
“Ningofakazi bami, usho uJehova, nenceku yami engiyikhethileyo.”—ISAYA 43:10.
1. Ungubani uNkulunkulu weqiniso, futhi yiziphi izici aphakeme kuzo ngaphezu konkulunkulu abaningi abakhulekelwayo namuhla?
NGUBANI uNkulunkulu weqiniso? Namuhla, lombuzo obaluleke kangaka ubhekene naso sonke isintu. Nakuba abantu bekhulekela onkulunkulu abaningi, Munye kuphela ongasinika ukuphila futhi asithembise ikusasa elijabulisayo. Munye kuphela okungase kuthiwe ngaYe: “Ngaye sinokuphila siyanyakaza futhi sikhona.” (IzEnzo 17:28) Yebo, munye kuphela uNkulunkulu onelungelo lokukhulekelwa. Njengoba abahlabeleli basezulwini besho encwadini yesAmbulo: “Uyakufanelekela, Jehova, yebo Nkulunkulu wethu, ukwamukela inkazimulo nodumo namandla, ngoba wadala zonke izinto, nangenxa yentando yakho zaba khona futhi zadalwa.”—IsAmbulo 4:11.
2, 3. (a) USathane walibekela kanjani inselele ngamanga igunya likaJehova lokukhulekelwa? (b) Waba yini umphumela wesono sika-Eva kuye ngokwakhe nasezinganeni zakhe, futhi waba yini umphumela kuSathane?
2 Ensimini yase-Edene, ngamanga uSathane walibekela inselele ilungelo likaJehova lokukhulekelwa. Esebenzisa inyoka, watshela u-Eva ukuthi uma ehlubuka emthethweni kaJehova futhi edla emthini uJehova ayewenqabele, wayeyoba njengoNkulunkulu. Nakhu akusho: “UNkulunkulu uyazi ukuthi mhla nizidla, kuyakuvuleka amehlo enu, nibe-njengoNkulunkulu, nikwazi okuhle nokubi.” (Genesise 3:5) U-Eva wayikholelwa inyoka wayesedla isithelo esasenqatshelwe.
3 Yebo, uSathane wayeqambe amanga. (Johane 8:44) Okuwukuphela kwendlela u-Eva aba ngayo “njengoNkulunkulu” lapho esonile yaba ukuthi wazithathela ngokwakhe isinqumo sokuthi yini eyayilungile neyayingalungile, okuyinto okwakufanele ishiyelwe kuJehova. Futhi naphezu kwamanga kaSathane, wagcina efile. Ngakho okuwukuphela komuntu owazuza ngesono sika-Eva kwaba uSathane. Eqinisweni, umgomo kaSathane ayengawushongo ekushoshozeleni u-Eva ukuba one wawuwukuba yena siqu abe unkulunkulu. Lapho u-Eva ona, waba umlandeli wakhe wokuqala ongumuntu, futhi ngokushesha walandelwa u-Adamu. Iningi lezingane zabo aligcinanga nje ngokuzalelwa “esonweni” kodwa futhi laba ngaphansi kwethonya likaSathane, futhi ngomzuzwana nje, kwaba nezwe elalidediselwe kude noNkulunkulu weqiniso.—Genesise 6:5; IHubo 51:5.
4. (a) Ungubani unkulunkulu walelizwe? (b) Kunesidingo sani esiphuthumayo?
4 Lelozwe labhujiswa yiSikhukhula. (2 Petru 3:6) Ngemva kweSikhukhula kwaba khona elinye izwe elalidediselwe kude noJehova, futhi lisekhona namanje. IBhayibheli lithi ngalo: “Lonke izwe lisemandleni omubi.” (1 Johane 5:19) Ngokwenza kwalo ngokuphambene nalokho okuqukethwe umthetho kaJehova nalokho okushoyo, lelizwe lifeza izinjongo zikaSathane. Ungunkulunkulu walo. (2 Korinte 4:4) Kodwa ungunkulunkulu ongenamandla. Akakwazi ukwenza abantu bajabule noma abanike ukuphila; uJehova kuphela ongenza lokho. Ngakho, abantu abafuna ukuphila okunokwaneliseka nezwe elingcono kumelwe baqale bafunde ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso bese befunda ukwenza intando yakhe. (IHubo 37:18, 27, 28; UmShumayeli 12:13) Ngakho kunesidingo esiphuthumayo sabesilisa nabesifazane bokholo ukuba bafakaze, noma bamemezele iqiniso, ngoJehova.
5. Yiliphi ‘ifu lofakazi’ uPawulu akhuluma ngalo? Yisho abanye babantu ababala.
5 Selokhu kwathi nhló, abantu abanjalo abakholekile bebekhona emhlabeni. Umphostoli uPawulu, kumaHeberu isahluko 11, unikeza uhlu olude lwabo futhi ubabiza ngokuthi ‘ifu elikhulu kangaka lofakazi.’ (Heberu 12:1) Indodana yesibili ka-Adamu no-Eva, u-Abela, yiyo eyokuqala ohlwini lukaPawulu. U-Enoke noNowa kukhulunyiwe nangabo kwabesikhathi sangaphambi kweSikhukhula. (Heberu 11:4, 5, 7) Ovelele ngu-Abrahama, ukhokho wohlanga lwamaJuda. U-Abrahama, obizwa ngokuthi “umngane kaJehova,” waba ukhokho kaJesu, “ufakazi okholekileyo noqinisileyo.”—Jakobe 2:23; IsAmbulo 3:14.
Ukufakazela Kuka-Abrahama Iqiniso
6, 7. Ukuphila nezenzo zika-Abrahama zakufakazela ngaziphi izindlela ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso?
6 U-Abrahama waba kanjani ufakazi? Ngokholo lwakhe olunamandla kuJehova nokumlalela kwakhe ngokwethembeka. Lapho ebizwa ukuba aphume edolobheni lase-Uri futhi ayophila ingxenye esele yokuphila kwakhe ezweni elikude, u-Abrahama walalela. (Genesise 15:7; IzEnzo 7:2-4) Ngokuvamile abantu bezizwe ezihambe zihlala bangayeka ukuphila kokuba imizulane futhi bakhethe ukuphila okulondeke kangcono kwasedolobheni. Ngakho, lapho u-Abrahama eshiya idolobha eyohlala ematendeni, wanikeza ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthembela kwakhe kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Ukulalela kwakhe kwaba ubufakazi kwababebukele. UJehova wambusisa ngokucebile u-Abrahama ngenxa yokholo lwakhe. Nakuba ayehlala ematendeni, u-Abrahama wachuma ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. Lapho uLoti nomkhaya wakhe bethunjwa, uJehova wamphumelelisa u-Abrahama ekubasukeleni kwakhe, wakwazi ukubophula. Umka-Abrahama waba nendodana esemdala, futhi ngalokho isithembiso sikaJehova sokuthi u-Abrahama wayeyoba uyise wembewu saqinisekiswa. Ngo-Abrahama, abantu babona ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu ophilayo ozigcwalisayo izithembiso zakhe.—Genesise 12:1-3; 14:14-16; 21:1-7.
7 Lapho ebuya kokophula uLoti, u-Abrahama wahlangana noMelkisedeki, inkosi yaseSalema (kamuva, elabizwa ngokuthi iJerusalema), owamukela u-Abrahama, ethi: “U-Abrama makabusiswe nguNkulunkulu oPhezukonke.” Wabuye wahlangana nenkosi yaseSodoma eyafuna ukumupha izipho. U-Abrahama wenqaba. Ngani? Wayengafuni ukuba kube nanoma yikuphi ukungabaza ngoMthombo wezibusiso zakhe. Wathi: “Ngiyaphakamisela isandla sami kuJehova, uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, umdali wezulu nomhlaba, ngithi angiyikuthatha umucwana nomchilo wezicathulo nokunye okwakho ukuba ungasho ukuthi: Ngimcebisile uAbrama.” (Genesise 14:17-24) Yeka ukuthi u-Abrahama waba ufakazi okahle kanjani!
Isizwe Sofakazi
8. UMose walubonisa kanjani ukholo olukhulu kuJehova?
8 UMose, umzukulu ka-Abrahama, naye uyavela ohlwini lukaPawulu lofakazi. UMose washiya ingcebo yaseGibithe, futhi kamuva, ngesibindi wabhekana nombusi walowo mbuso wezwe omkhulu ukuze aholele abantwana bakwa-Israyeli enkululekweni. Wasithathaphi isibindi? Okholweni lwakhe. UPawulu uthi: “[UMose] waqhubeka egxilile sengathi uyambona Lowo ongabonakali.” (Heberu 11:27) Onkulunkulu baseGibithe babebonakala, ukwazi ukubathinta. Ngisho nanamuhla, imifanekiso yabo isabahlaba umxhwele abantu. Kodwa nakuba uJehova engabonakali, wayengokoqobo kuMose ngaphezu kwabo bonke labonkulunkulu bamanga. UMose wayengakungabazi ukuthi uJehova wayekhona nokuthi wayeyobavuza abakhulekeli baKhe. (Heberu 11:6) UMose waba ufakazi ovelele.
9. Isizwe sakwa-Israyeli sasizomkhonza kanjani uJehova?
9 Ngemva kokuholela ama-Israyeli enkululekweni, uMose waba umlamuleli wesivumelwano phakathi kukaJehova nenzalo ka-Abrahama ngoJakobe. Ngenxa yalokho, isizwe sakwa-Israyeli saba khona njengempahla kaJehova ekhethekile. (Eksodusi 19:5, 6, qhathanisa ne-NW.) Ngokokuqala ngqá, kwakuzonikezwa ubufakazi ngesizwe. Amazwi kaJehova ku-Isaya, eminyakeni engaba ngu-800 kamuva, ngokuyisisekelo asebenza kusukela ekuqaleni kokuba khona kwalesi sizwe: “Ningofakazi bami, usho uJehova, nenceku yami engiyikhethileyo ukuba nazi, ningethembe, niqonde ukuthi nginguye.” (Isaya 43:10) Lesi sizwe esisha sasizokhonza kanjani njengofakazi bakaJehova? Ngokholo nokulalela kwaso nangezenzo uJehova ayezozenza ngenxa yaso.
10. Imisebenzi yamandla uJehova ayenza ngenxa ka-Israyeli yabunikeza ngayiphi indlela ubufakazi, futhi yaba yini imiphumela?
10 Eminyakeni engaba ngu-40 ngemva kokuba khona kwakhe, u-Israyeli wayesezothatha iZwe Lesithembiso. Izinhloli zaya kohlola umuzi waseJeriko, futhi uRahabi, isakhamuzi saseJeriko, wazivikela. Ngani? Wathi: “Sizwile ukuthi uJehova womisa amanzi oLwandle oluBomvu phambi kwenu ekuphumeni kwenu eGibithe nokuthi wenzani kuwo amakhosi amabili ama-Amori ayengaphesheya kweJordani, oSihoni no-Ogi, enawaqothulayo. Sathi sikuzwa lokho, izinhliziyo zethu zaphela amandla, akwabe kusabakho-sibindi kumuntu phambi kwenu, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu unguNkulunkulu ezulwini phezulu nasemhlabeni phansi.” (Joshuwa 2:10, 11) Umbiko ngemisebenzi kaJehova yamandla washukumisela uRahabi nomkhaya wakubo ukuba bashiye iJeriko nonkulunkulu balo bamanga futhi bakhulekele uJehova bekanye no-Israyeli. Ngokusobala, uJehova wayenikeze ubufakazi obunamandla ngo-Israyeli.—Joshuwa 6:25.
11. Yimuphi umthwalo wemfanelo bonke abazali abangama-Israyeli ababenawo ngokuqondene nokufakaza?
11 Ngenkathi ama-Israyeli eseseGibithe, uJehova wathuma uMose kuFaro wathi: “Ngena kuFaro, ngokuba ngenzé-lukhuni inhliziyo yakhe nenhliziyo yezinceku zakhe ukuba ngizenze lezizibonakaliso zami phakathi kwabo, ukuze utshele indodana yakho ezindlebeni nendodana yendodana yakho lokho engikwenzele iGibithe, nezibonakaliso zami engizenzile phakathi kwabo, nize nazi ukuthi nginguJehova.” (Eksodusi 10:1, 2) Ama-Israyeli alalelayo ayeyotshela izingane zawo ngezenzo zikaJehova zamandla. Nezingane zawo zaziyotshela izingane zazo, futhi lokho kwakuyokwenziwa ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane. Ngaleyo ndlela, izenzo zikaJehova zamandla zaziyokhunjulwa. Ngokufanayo nanamuhla abazali banomthwalo wemfanelo wokufakaza ezinganeni zabo.—Duteronomi 6:4-7; IzAga 22:6.
12. Ukubusisa kukaJehova uSolomoni no-Israyeli kwaba kanjani ubufakazi?
12 Isibusiso sikaJehova esicebile ku-Israyeli lapho ehlala ekholekile saba ubufakazi ezizweni ezizungezile. Njengoba uMose asho ngemva kokulandisa ngezibusiso zikaJehova ezazithenjisiwe: “Bonke abantu bomhlaba bayakubona ukuthi ubiziwe ngegama likaJehova, bakwesabe.” (Duteronomi 28:10) USolomoni wanikwa ukuhlakanipha nengcebo ngenxa yokholo lwakhe. Ngaphansi kwakhe isizwe sachuma futhi sajabulela inkathi ende yokuthula. Ngokuqondene naleso sikhathi siyafunda: “Kwafika abantu basezizweni zonke ukuzwa ukuhlakanipha kukaSolomoni bevela emakhosini onke abezwile ukuhlakanipha kwakhe.” (1 AmaKhosi 4:25, 29, 30, 34) Isivakashi sikaSolomoni esivelele kwakuyindlovukazi yaseSheba. Ngemva kokuzibonela isibusiso sikaJehova phezu kwesizwe nenkosi yaso, sathi: “Makabongwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho owenamele wena ukuba akubeke esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi ukuba ube-yinkosi kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho; ngokuba uNkulunkulu wakho wamthanda uIsrayeli.”—2 IziKronike 9:8.
13. Yibuphi ubufakazi buka-Israyeli okungenzeka babuphumelela kakhulu, futhi sisazuza kanjani kubo?
13 Umphostoli uPawulu wakhuluma ngalokho okungenzeka kwaba ubufakazi buka-Israyeli obaphumelela kakhulu. Lapho ekhuluma nebandla lamaKristu laseRoma ngo-Israyeli ongokwenyama, wathi: “Aphathiswa amazwi angcwele kaNkulunkulu.” (Roma 3:1, 2) Kusukela kuMose, ama-Israyeli athile akholekile aphefumulelwa ukuba alobe ngokusebenzelana kukaJehova no-Israyeli, kanye nenjongo yakhe, imithetho yakhe, neziprofetho zakhe. Ngalemibhalo labo babhali basendulo bafakaza kuzo zonke izizukulwane ezaziseza—kuhlanganise nesethu namuhla—ukuthi kunoNkulunkulu oyedwa kuphela, nokuthi igama lakhe nguJehova.—Daniyeli 12:9; 1 Petru 1:10-12.
14. Kungani abanye ababefakazela uJehova bashushiswa?
14 Ngokudabukisayo, u-Israyeli wahluleka ngokuphindaphindiwe ukubonisa ukholo, futhi kwadingeka uJehova athumele ofakazi esizweni sakhe siqu. Abaningi balaba bashushiswa. UPawulu wathi abanye “bamukela ukulingwa kwabo ngokuhlekwa insini nangokubhaxabulwa, impela, okungaphezu kwalokho, ngezibopho nangamatilongo.” (Heberu 11:36) Ofakazi abakholeke ngempela! Yeka ukuthi kudabukisa kanjani ukuthi ngokuvamile ukushushiswa kwabo kwakuvela emalungwini akubo esizwe sikaJehova esikhethiwe! (Mathewu 23:31, 37) Eqinisweni, isono salesi sizwe saba sikhulu kangangokuba, ngo-607 B.C.E., uJehova waletha abaseBabiloni ukuba bazobhubhisa iJerusalema nethempeli lalo futhi baqhube iningi lama-Israyeli ayesindile baliyise ekudingisweni. (Jeremiya 20:4; 21:10) Ingabe lokho kwasho ukuphela kokufakazelwa kwegama likaJehova yisizwe? Cha.
Ukuvivinywa Konkulunkulu
15. Banikezwa kanjani ubufakazi ngisho nasekudingisweni eBabiloni?
15 Ngisho nasekudingisweni eBabiloni, amalungu akholekile alesi sizwe awazange anqikaze ukufakaza ngobuNkulunkulu bukaJehova namandla. Ngokwesibonelo, uDaniyeli wawachaza ngesibindi amaphupho kaNebukadinesari, wachazela uBelishasari umbhalo owawusodongeni, futhi wenqaba ukuhlehla phambi kukaDariyu endabeni yomthandazo. NamaHeberu amathathu, lapho enqaba ukukhothamela isithombe, anikeza uNebukadinesari ubufakazi obuhle kakhulu.—Daniyeli 3:13-18; 5:13-29; 6:4-27.
16. UJehova wakubikezela kanjani ukuphindela kuka-Israyeli ezweni lakubo, futhi yayizoba yini injongo yalokhu kubuya?
16 Noma kunjalo, kwakuyinjongo kaJehova ukuba ubufakazi besizwe bubuye bunikezwe khona kwa-Israyeli. UHezekeli, owaprofetha phakathi kwamaJuda ayedingisiwe eBabiloni, wabhala ngesinqumo sikaJehova ngokuqondene nezwe elalichithiwe: “Ngiyakwandisa abantu phezu kwenu, yonke indlu yakwaIsrayeli, yonke yayo; imizi iyakuhlalwa, nezindawo ezichithekileyo ziyakwakhiwa.” (Hezekeli 36:10) UJehova wayengakwenzelani lokhu? Ngokuyinhloko ukuze afakazele igama lakhe siqu. NgoHezekeli wathi: “Angikwenzi lokho ngenxa yenu nina-ndlu yakwaIsrayeli, kepha ngenxa yegama lami elingcwele enilihlambalazile phakathi kwezizwe.”—Hezekeli 36:22; Jeremiya 50:28.
17. Uyini umongo wamazwi ka-Isaya 43:10?
17 Kwakungesikhathi eprofetha ngokubuya kuka-Israyeli ekudingisweni eBabiloni lapho umprofethi u-Isaya aphefumulelwa khona ukuba alobe amazwi ka-Isaya 43:10, ethi u-Israyeli wayengufakazi kaJehova, inceku yakhe. Ku-Isaya 43 no-44, uJehova uchazwa njengoMdali, uMbumbi, uNkulunkulu, oNgcwele, uMsindisi, uMhlengi, iNkosi, noMenzi ka-Israyeli. (Isaya 43:3, 14, 15; 44:2) Ukudingiswa kuka-Israyeli kwavunyelwa ngoba lesi sizwe sahluleka ngokuphindaphindiwe ukumdumisa njengonjalo. Nokho, sasisengabantu bakhe. UJehova wayethe kubo: “Ungesabi ngokuba ngikuhlengile, ngikubizile ngegama lakho; ungowami.” (Isaya 43:1) Ukudingiselwa kuka-Israyeli eBabiloni kwakuzophela.
18. Ukukhululwa kuka-Israyeli eBabiloni kwakufakazela kanjani ukuthi uJehova uwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso?
18 Ngempela, uJehova wenza ukukhululwa kuka-Israyeli eBabiloni kwaba ukuvivinywa konkulunkulu. Wacela inselele konkulunkulu bamanga bezizwe ukuba balethe ofakazi babo, futhi wabiza u-Israyeli ngokuthi ufakazi wakhe. (Isaya 43:9, 12) Lapho ephula imigoqo yokudingiswa kuka-Israyeli, wabonisa ukuthi onkulunkulu baseBabiloni babengebona nhlobo onkulunkulu nokuthi nguye kuphela onguNkulunkulu weqiniso. (Isaya 43:14, 15) Eminyakeni engaba ngu-200 ngaphambi kokuba kwenzeke, lapho ebiza uKoresi umPheresiya ngokuthi inceku yakhe ngokukhulula amaJuda, wanikeza obunye ubufakazi bobuNkulunkulu bakhe. (Isaya 44:28) U-Israyeli wayeyokhululwa. Ngani? UJehova uyachaza: ‘Ukuba [u-Israyeli] ashumayele udumo lwami.’ (Isaya 43:21) Kwakuyonikeza elinye ithuba lokufakaza.
19. Yibuphi ubufakazi obanikezwa ukuba uKoresi anxuse ama-Israyeli ukuba abuyele eJerusalema kanye nezenzo zamaJuda ayekholekile ngemva kokuba esebuyile?
19 Lapho isikhathi sifika, uKoresi umPheresiya wanqoba iBabiloni njengoba kwakuprofethiwe. UKoresi, nakuba ayeyiqaba, wamemezela ubuNkulunkulu bukaJehova lapho ekhipha isimemezelo kumaJuda eBabiloni: “Noma ngumuphi phakathi kwenu kubo bonke abantu bakhe, uNkulunkulu wakhe makabe-naye; akhuphukele eJerusalema lakwaJuda, akhe indlu kaJehova uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, yena onguNkulunkulu waseJerusalema.” (Ezra 1:3) AmaJuda amaningi asabela. Abhekisa amabombo eZweni Lesithembiso futhi akha i-altare endaweni okwakunethempeli lasendulo kuyo. Naphezu kokudumazeka nokuphikiswa okunamandla, agcina ekwazile ukwakha kabusha ithempeli nomuzi waseJerusalema. Konke lokhu kwenzeka, njengoba uJehova uqobo ayeshilo, hhayi ‘ngempi, namandla, kepha ngomoya wakhe.’ (Zakariya 4:6) Lempumelelo yanikeza obunye ubufakazi bokuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso.
20. Naphezu kobuthakathaka buka-Israyeli, kungathiwani ngokufakazela kwakhe igama likaJehova ezweni lasendulo?
20 Ngaleyo ndlela, uJehova waqhubeka esebenzisa u-Israyeli njengofakazi wakhe, nakuba ayeyisizwe sabantu abangaphelele, ababehlubuka ngezinye izikhathi. Ezweni langaphambi kobuKristu, leso sizwe, nethempeli laso nobupristi, sasimelela isikhungo somhlaba wonke sokukhulekela kweqiniso. Noma ubani ofunda emiBhalweni YesiHeberu ngezenzo zikaJehova ngokuphathelene no-Israyeli ngeke angabaze nanini ukuthi munye kuphela uNkulunkulu weqiniso, nokuthi igama lakhe nguJehova. (Duteronomi 6:4; Zakariya 14:9) Nokho, kunobufakazi obuningi okwakumelwe bunikezwe ngegama likaJehova, futhi sizoxoxa ngalokhu esihlokweni esilandelayo.
Uyakhumbula?
◻ U-Abrahama wakufakazela kanjani ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso?
◻ Iyiphi imfanelo kaMose evelele eyamenza waba ufakazi okholekile?
◻ Yiziphi izindlela u-Israyeli anikeza ngazo ubufakazi ngoJehova njengesizwe?
◻ Ukukhululwa kuka-Israyeli eBabiloni kwakubonisa kanjani ukuthi uJehova uwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Ngokholo lwakhe nokulalela, u-Abrahama wanikeza ubufakazi obuvelele bobuNkulunkulu bukaJehova