Manje Yisikhathi Sokuthatha Isinyathelo Esiwujuqu
“Kuyoze kube nini nixhugela phakathi kwemibono emibili?”—1 AMAKHOSI 18:21.
1. Yini eyenza isikhathi sethu sihluke kakhulu kwesidlule?
INGABE uyakholwa ukuthi uJehova uwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso? Uyakholwa yini nokuthi iziprofetho zeBhayibheli zibonisa ukuthi isikhathi sethu ‘siyizinsuku zokugcina’ zesimiso esibi sikaSathane? (2 Thimothewu 3:1) Uma ukukholelwa lokho, nakanjani uzovuma ukuthi manje kunesidingo sokuthatha isinyathelo esiwujuqu kunanini ngaphambili. Kuyaqala emlandweni ukuba kube nabantu abaningi kangaka abakuphila kwabo kusengozini.
2. Kwenzekani embusweni wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi lapho kubusa iNkosi u-Ahabi?
2 Ngekhulu leshumi B.C.E., isizwe sakwa-Israyeli kwadingeka senze isinqumo esinzulu. Sasizokhonza bani? Ithonywe umkayo oyiqaba, uJezebeli, iNkosi u-Ahabi yakhuthaza ukukhulekelwa kukaBhali embusweni wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi. UBhali kwakungunkulunkulu wenzalo okwakuthiwa uletha imvula nesivuno esihle. Abakhulekeli bakaBhali abaningi kungenzeka babelinganisa ukuqabula isithombe salo nkulunkulu wabo noma basikhothamele. Ukuze benze uBhali abusise izilimo nemfuyo yabo, abakhulekeli bakhe babezitika ngobulili nezifebe zasethempelini. Babenanomkhuba wokuzisika ukuze bophe.—1 AmaKhosi 18:28.
3. Ukukhulekela uBhali kwaba naliphi ithonya kubantu bakaNkulunkulu?
3 Insali yama-Israyeli angaba ngu-7 000 yenqaba ukuhlanganyela kulokhu kukhulekela izithombe okuhilela ukuziphatha okubi nobudlova. (1 AmaKhosi 19:18) Yanamathela ngokwethembeka ebuhlotsheni bayo besivumelwano noJehova uNkulunkulu, futhi ngenxa yalokhu yashushiswa. Ngokwesibonelo, iNdlovukazi uJezebeli yabulala abaprofethi bakaJehova abaningi. (1 AmaKhosi 18:4, 13) Ngenxa yalezi zimo ezivivinyayo, iningi lama-Israyeli laxuba izinkolo, lazama ukujabulisa uJehova noBhali ngesikhathi esifanayo. Kodwa lapho umIsrayeli efulathela uJehova akhulekele unkulunkulu wamanga, lokho kwakuwukuhlubuka. UJehova wayethembise ukuwabusisa ama-Israyeli uma emthanda futhi elalela imiyalo yakhe. Nokho, wawaxwayisa ngokuthi uma ‘engazinikeli kuye kuphela,’ ayeyobhuqwa.—Duteronomi 5:6-10; 28:15, 63.
4. UJesu nabaphostoli bakhe babikezelani okwakuyokwenzeka phakathi kwamaKristu, futhi kuye kwagcwaliseka kanjani lokho?
4 Namuhla kunesimo esithi asifane kweLobukholwa. Amalungu amasonto athi angamaKristu, kodwa amaholidi, ukuziphatha nezinkolelo zawo kuyangqubuzana nezimfundiso zeBhayibheli. NjengoJezebeli, abefundisi beLobukholwa bahamba phambili ekushushiseni oFakazi BakaJehova. Sekukudala abefundisi beLobukholwa besekela izimpi, okwenza babe necala ekufeni kwezigidigidi zamalungu esonto. Lokho kusekela kwenkolo ohulumeni bezwe kubizwa ngokuthi ubufebe obungokomoya eBhayibhelini. (IsAmbulo 18:2, 3) Ngaphezu kwalokho, eLobukholwa libuthalalisa kakhulu kunakuqala ubufebe obungokoqobo, ngisho naphakathi kwabefundisi balo. UJesu Kristu nabaphostoli bakhe bakubikezela lokhu kuhlubuka okukhulu. (Mathewu 13:36-43; IzEnzo 20:29, 30; 2 Petru 2:1, 2) Siyoba yini isigcino sabalandeli beLobukholwa abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyinkulungwane? Abakhulekeli bakaJehova beqiniso banamuphi umthwalo wemfanelo ngokuqondene nalaba bantu nabo bonke abanye abadukiswe inkolo yamanga? Sithola izimpendulo ezicacile zaleyo mibuzo lapho sihlola izenzakalo ezimangalisayo ezaholela ‘ekubhuqweni kukaBhali kwa-Israyeli.’—2 AmaKhosi 10:28.
Uthando LukaNkulunkulu Ngabantu Bakhe Abaphambukayo
5. UJehova wakubonisa kanjani ukubakhathalela ngothando abantu bakhe abaphambukayo?
5 UJehova uNkulunkulu akakujabuleli ukujezisa abantu abangathembeki kuye. NjengoBaba onothando, ufisa ukuba ababi baphenduke, babuyele kuye. (Hezekeli 18:32; 2 Petru 3:9) Okufakazela lokhu ukuthi uJehova wasebenzisa abaprofethi abaningi ezinsukwini zika-Ahabi noJezebeli ukuze axwayise abantu baKhe ngemiphumela yokukhulekela uBhali. Omunye walabo baprofethi kwakungu-Eliya. Ngemva kwesomiso esadala umonakalo omkhulu, esasimenyezelwe kusengaphambili, u-Eliya wathi iNkosi u-Ahabi mayibuthele ama-Israyeli nabaprofethi bakaBhali eNtabeni iKarmeli.—1 AmaKhosi 18:1, 19.
6, 7. (a) U-Eliya wawuveza kanjani umnyombo wokuhlubuka kuka-Israyeli? (b) Abaprofethi bakaBhali benzani? (c) U-Eliya wenzani?
6 Kwabuthanelwa ngase-altare likaJehova “elalidiliziwe,” mhlawumbe ukuze kujatshuliswe uJezebeli. (1 AmaKhosi 18:30) Ngokudabukisayo, ama-Israyeli ayelapho ayengaqiniseki ukuthi ubani phakathi kukaJehova noBhali owayengayiletha ngempela imvula eyayidingeka kakhulu. UBhali wayemelelwe abaprofethi abangu-450, kanti uJehova wayemelelwe ngumprofethi u-Eliya kuphela. Eqonda emnyombweni wenkinga yabo, u-Eliya wabuza abantu: “Kuyoze kube nini nixhugela phakathi kwemibono emibili?” Wabe eseyibeka ngamazwi alula ngokwengeziwe indaba ababebhekene nayo: “Uma uJehova enguNkulunkulu weqiniso, landelani yena; kodwa uma kunguBhali, landelani yena.” Ukuze ashukumisele ama-Israyeli ayemanqikanqika ukuba azinikele kuJehova kuphela, u-Eliya wathi makwenziwe isivivinyo sokubona ukuthi ubani onguNkulunkulu weqiniso. Kwakuzohlatshwa izinkunzi ezimbili zenziwe umhlatshelo, enye ibe ekaJehova enye ibe ekaBhali. Lowo onguNkulunkulu weqiniso wayezoshisa umhlatshelo wakhe ngomlilo. Abaprofethi bakaBhali balungisa umhlatshelo wabo, base bememeza amahora amaningi: “O Bhali, siphendule!” Lapho u-Eliya eqala ukubenza inhlekisa, bazisika baze bopha, bamemeza baqandula kodwa lutho impendulo.—1 AmaKhosi 18:21, 26-29.
7 Kwabe sekuba ithuba lika-Eliya. Waqale walungisa i-altare likaJehova wayesebeka inkunzi phezu kwalo. Wabe esethi makuthelwe phezu komhlatshelo amanzi agcwele izimbiza ezine ezinkulu. Lokhu kwenziwa kathathu, amanzi aze agcwala umsele ozungeze i-altare. U-Eliya wabe esethandaza: “O Jehova, Nkulunkulu ka-Abrahama, ka-Isaka noka-Israyeli, namuhla makwaziwe ukuthi wena unguNkulunkulu kwa-Israyeli futhi mina ngiyinceku yakho futhi ngenzé zonke lezi zinto ngezwi lakho. Ngiphendule, Jehova, ngiphendule, ukuze lesi sizwe sazi ukuthi wena, Jehova, unguNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi wena ngokwakho ubuyisé inhliziyo yabo.”—1 AmaKhosi 18:30-37.
8. UNkulunkulu wawuphendula kanjani umthandazo ka-Eliya, futhi lo mprofethi wenzani?
8 UNkulunkulu weqiniso waphendula ngokushisa kokubili umhlatshelo ne-altare ngomlilo owehla ezulwini. Lowo mlilo washisa ngisho namanzi ayesemseleni ozungeze i-altare! Cabanga ukuthi lokhu kwenzani kuma-Israyeli. ‘Masinyane awa ngobuso bawo athi: “UJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso! UJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso!”’ U-Eliya wabe esethatha isinyathelo esiwujuqu, wayala ama-Israyeli: “Bambani abaprofethi bakaBhali! Ningavumeli ngisho noyedwa kubo ukuba aphunyuke!” Babe sebebulawa bonke abaprofethi bakaBhali abangu-450 phansi kweNtaba iKarmeli.—1 AmaKhosi 18:38-40.
9. Abakhulekeli beqiniso bavivinywa kanjani ngokuqhubekayo?
9 Ngalo lolo suku olungasoze lwalibaleka, uJehova wanisa imvula sekuyiminyaka emithathu nengxenye ingaziwa! (Jakobe 5:17, 18) Ungayicabanga into ama-Israyeli ayexoxa ngayo lapho egoduka; uJehova wayebonisile ukuthi nguye onguNkulunkulu weqiniso. Nokho, abakhulekeli bakaBhali abazange badele. UJezebeli waqhubeka nomkhankaso wakhe wokushushisa izinceku zikaJehova. (1 AmaKhosi 19:1, 2; 21:11-16) Ngakho, ubuqotho babantu bakaNkulunkulu baphinde bavivinywa. Ingabe usuku lukaJehova lokwahlulela abakhulekeli bakaBhali lwaluzofica abantu baKhe bezinikele kuYe kuphela?
Thatha Isinyathelo Esiwujuqu Manje
10. (a) Ezikhathini zanamuhla, yini amaKristu agcotshiwe abelokhu eyenza? (b) Kusho ukuthini ukulalela umyalo okusAmbulo 18:4?
10 Ezikhathini zanamuhla, amaKristu agcotshiwe aye enza umsebenzi ofana noka-Eliya. Ngomlomo nangezincwadi, aye axwayisa abantu bazo zonke izizwe, zeLobukholwa nezingezona ezeLobukholwa, ngengozi yokuba senkolweni yamanga. Ngenxa yalokho, izigidi ziye zathatha isinyathelo esiwujuqu zayeka ukuba amalungu enkolo yamanga. Ziye zanikezela ukuphila kwazo kuJehova zaba abafundi bakaJesu Kristu ababhapathiziwe. Yebo, ziye zalalela ukunxusa kukaNkulunkulu okuphuthumayo mayelana nenkolo yamanga: “Phumani kulo, bantu bami, uma ningafuni ukuhlanganyela nalo ezonweni zalo, futhi ningafuni ukwamukela ingxenye yezinhlupho zalo.”—IsAmbulo 18:4.
11. Yini edingekayo ukuze umuntu amukeleke kuJehova?
11 Ezinye izigidi zisalokhu zingaqiniseki ukuthi kufanele zenzenjani, nakuba ziwuthanda umyalezo osekelwe eBhayibhelini osakazwa oFakazi BakaJehova. Abanye balaba bantu bayeza ngezinye izikhathi emihlanganweni yamaKristu, njengasemkhosini weSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa noma ezingxenyeni ezithile zomhlangano wesigodi. Bonke abanjalo sibanxusa ukuba bacabangisise ngamazwi ka-Eliya: “Koze kube nini nigxamalazile?” (1 AmaKhosi 18:21, New English Bible) Kunokuba bazindele, kudingeka bathathe isinyathelo esiwujuqu manje bakulwele ngentshiseko ukufinyelela umgomo wokuba abakhulekeli bakaJehova abazinikezele babhapathizwa. Lokhu kuhilela amathuba abo okuthola ukuphila okuphakade!—2 Thesalonika 1:6-9.
12. Isiphi isimo esiyingozi amanye amaKristu abhapathiziwe aye awela kuso, futhi yini okufanele ayenze?
12 Ngokudabukisayo, amanye amaKristu abhapathiziwe awasaphumi njalo enkonzweni noma asepholile. (Hebheru 10:23-25; 13:15, 16) Amanye aye aphelelwa intshiseko ngenxa yokwesaba ushushiso, ukukhathazeka ngokokuziphilisa, imizamo yokuceba, noma ukuphishekela izinjabulo zobugovu. UJesu waxwayisa ngokuthi zona kanye lezi zinto zaziyokhuba, ziminyanise futhi zibe ugibe kwabanye babalandeli bakhe. (Mathewu 10:28-33; 13:20-22; Luka 12:22-31; 21:34-36) Kunokuba kube njengokungathi ‘baxhugela phakathi kwemibono emibili,’ abanjalo kufanele ‘bashiseke futhi baphenduke’ ngokuthatha isinyathelo esiwujuqu, benze ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwabo kuNkulunkulu.—IsAmbulo 3:15-19.
Isiphelo Esizumayo Senkolo Yamanga
13. Chaza isimo u-Israyeli ayekuso lapho kugcotshwa uJehu njengenkosi.
13 Isizathu esenza kuphuthume ukuba abantu bathathe isinyathelo esiwujuqu manje sibonakala kulokho okwenzeka kwa-Israyeli eminyakeni engaba ngu-18 ngemva kokuxazululwa kwempikiswano ngoNkulunkulu weqiniso eNtabeni iKarmeli. Usuku lukaJehova lokwahlulela abakhulekeli bakaBhali lwafika ngokuzumayo phakathi nenkonzo ka-Elisha, owalandela u-Eliya esikhundleni. Indodana yeNkosi u-Ahabi, uJehoramu, yayibusa kwa-Israyeli futhi unina uJezebeli wayesaphila, eyindlovukazi. Ngesinyenyela, u-Elisha wathuma inceku yakhe ukuba iyogcoba induna yempi ka-Israyeli, uJehu, njengenkosi entsha. Ngaleso sikhathi, uJehu wayesempumalanga yeJordani eRamoti-gileyadi, eqondisa impi ka-Israyeli eyayilwa nezitha. INkosi uJehoramu yayiseJizreyeli ethafeni elisesigodini ngaseMegido, isalulama ngemva kokulimala empini.—2 AmaKhosi 8:29–9:4.
14, 15. Yini uJehu athunywa ukuba ayenze, futhi wenzenjani?
14 Nakhu uJehova ayala uJehu ukuba akwenze: “Kumelwe ushaye indlu ka-Ahabi inkosi yakho, futhi kumelwe ngiphindisele igazi lezinceku zami abaprofethi negazi lazo zonke izinceku zikaJehova esandleni sikaJezebeli. Yonke indlu ka-Ahabi kumelwe ishabalale; . . . UJezebeli uyodliwa yizinja esiqeshini sezwe eJizreyeli, futhi akekho oyomngcwaba.”—2 AmaKhosi 9:7-10.
15 UJehu wayeyindoda engananazi. Engapholisi maseko, wagibela enqoleni yakhe waphuthuma eJizreyeli. Umlindi owayeseJizreyeli wabona ngokugijima kwenqola ukuthi nguJehu, wabikela iNkosi uJehoramu eyabe isingena enqoleni yayo yaphuma iyohlangabeza induna yempi yayo. Lapho behlangana, uJehoramu wabuza: “Ingabe kukhona ukuthula, Jehu?” UJehu waphendula: “Kuthula kuni okungaba khona uma kusekhona ubufebe bukaJezebeli unyoko nobuthakathi bakhe obuningi?” Kwathi iNkosi uJehoramu isathi iyabaleka, uJehu wakhipha umnsalo wayiciba enhliziyweni yafa.—2 AmaKhosi 9:20-24.
16. (a) Isiphi isimo izikhulu zegceke zikaJezebeli ezabhekana naso ngokuzumayo? (b) Izwi likaJehova mayelana noJezebeli lagcwaliseka kanjani?
16 Ngaphandle kokuzindela, uJehu waqonda emzini ngenqola yakhe. Elunguze ngefasitela phezulu, uJezebeli owayesezibhixe ngezimonyo wabingelela uJehu ngamazwi okumsongela. Engamnaki, uJehu wafuna ababezomsekela: “Ngubani okanye nami? Ngubani?” Izinceku zikaJezebeli kwase kudingeka zithathe isinyathelo esiwujuqu manje. Kwalunguza ngefasitela izikhulu ezimbili noma ezintathu zegceke. Ubuqotho bazo bavivinywa khona manjalo. “Mphonseni!” kusho uJehu. Lezo zikhulu zamphonsa phansi emgwaqweni uJezebeli, wanyathelwa amahhashi nenqola kaJehu. Ubhongoza ekukhulekelweni kukaBhali kwa-Israyeli wakuthola kanjalo okumfanele. Lingakaveli nethuba lokumngcwaba, izinja zase ziyidlile inyama yakhe, njengoba nje kwakubikezelwe.—2 AmaKhosi 9:30-37.
17. Isahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu kuJezebeli kufanele sisenze siqiniseke ngokwengeziwe ngasiphi isenzakalo esizayo?
17 Isifebe esingokomfanekiso esibizwa ngokuthi “iBhabhiloni Elikhulu” liyosishonela ngokushaqisayo ngendlela efanayo. Leso sifebe simelela izinkolo zamanga zezwe likaSathane, ezaqala emzini wasendulo waseBhabhiloni. Ngemva kokubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga, uJehova uNkulunkulu uyobe esephendukela kubo bonke abantu abakha ezinye izingxenye zezwe likaSathane. Nazo ziyobhujiswa, kucatshwe indlela yezwe elisha lokulunga.—IsAmbulo 17:3-6; 19:19-21; 21:1-4.
18. Ngemva kokufa kukaJezebeli, kwenzekani kubakhulekeli bakaBhali kwa-Israyeli?
18 Ngemva kokufa kukaJezebeli, iNkosi uJehu ayichithanga sikhathi, yabulala lonke uzalo luka-Ahabi nabasekeli bakhe abayinhloko. (2 AmaKhosi 10:11) Kodwa kwasala ama-Israyeli amaningi ayekhulekela uBhali. UJehu wawathathela isinyathelo esiwujuqu ukuze abonise ukuthi ‘wayengakubekezeleli ukubangisana noJehova.’ (2 AmaKhosi 10:16) Ezishaya umkhulekeli kaBhali, uJehu wahlela umkhosi omkhulu ethempelini likaBhali elalakhiwe ngu-Ahabi eSamariya. Bonke abakhulekeli bakaBhali kwa-Israyeli beza kulo mkhosi. Sebevalelwe ngaphakathi, amabutho kaJehu ababulala bonke. IBhayibheli liphetha lokhu kulandisa ngala mazwi: “Kanjalo uJehu wambhuqa uBhali kwa-Israyeli.”—2 AmaKhosi 10:18-28.
19. Iliphi ithemba elimangalisayo elilindele “isixuku esikhulu” sabakhulekeli bakaJehova abaqotho?
19 Ukukhulekelwa kukaBhali kwaqedwa nya kwa-Israyeli. Ngokufanayo, izinkolo zamanga zaleli zwe zizophela ngokuzumayo nangokushaqisayo. Uyobe usohlangothini lukabani wena ngalolo suku olukhulu lokwahlulela? Thatha isinyathelo esiwujuqu manje. Uma wenza kanjalo ungase ube nelungelo lokuba phakathi ‘kwesixuku esikhulu’ sabantu abayosinda “osizini olukhulu.” Khona-ke, uyokwazi ukukhumbula isikhathi esidlule ujabule futhi uyodumisa uNkulunkulu ngokwahlulela ‘isifebe esikhulu esonakalisa umhlaba ngobufebe baso.’ Unobunye nabanye abakhulekeli beqiniso, uyovumelana namazwi avusa amadlingozi engoma yabahlabeleli basezulwini: “Dumisani uJah, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, uMninimandla onke, uqalile ukubusa njengenkosi.”—IsAmbulo 7:9, 10, 14; 19:1, 2, 6.
Imibuzo Yokuzindla
• Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba u-Israyeli wasendulo abe necala lokukhulekela uBhali?
• Ikuphi ukuhlubuka okukhulu iBhayibheli elakubikezela, futhi leso siprofetho siye sagcwaliseka kanjani?
• UJehu wakuqeda kanjani ukukhulekelwa kukaBhali?
• Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sisinde osukwini lukaNkulunkulu lokwahlulela?
[Ibalazwe ekhasini 25]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
ISoko
I-Afeki
IHelikati
IJokineyamu
IMegido
IThahanaki
IDothani
ISAMARIYA
I-Eni-dori
IShunemi
I-Ofira
IJizreyeli
IJibheleyamu (IGati-rimoni)
ITiriza
IBheti-shemeshi
IBheti-sheyani (IBheti-shani)
IJabeshi-gileyadi?
I-Abela-mehola
Indlu ka-Aribeli
IRamoti-gileyadi
Ukuphakama Kwezintaba
INtaba iKarmeli
INtaba iThabori
IMore
INtaba iGilibowa
[Amachibi amanzi]
ULwandle iMedithera
ULwandle LwaseGalile
[Umfula]
UMfula iJordani
[Umthombo]
Umthombo waseHarodi
[Umthombo]
Based on maps copyrighted by Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est. and Survey of Israel
[Izithombe ekhasini 26]
Ukushumayela ngoMbuso nokuya emihlanganweni yobuKristu njalo yizici ezibalulekile zokukhulekela kweqiniso
[Isithombe ekhasini 28, 29]
NjengoJehu, bonke abafuna ukusinda ngosuku lukaJehova kumelwe bathathe isinyathelo esiwujuqu