Qaphela! USathane Ukufuna Ngabomvu

 1. Chaza ukuthi esinye isidalwa somoya santshintsha njani saba nguSathane.

WAYEYISIDALWA somoya esasilobuhlobo obuhle loJehova. Kodwa waqalisa ukuba lesifiso sokuthi abantu bakhonze yena. Kulokuthi alahle isifiso lesi esibi, wasifukamela wasiyekela sakhula saze sazala isono. (Jak. 1:14, 15) Wacina ebizwa ngokuthi nguSathane. Kazange ‘ame eqinisweni’ njalo wahlamukela uJehova, wasesiba ‘nguyise wamanga.’​—Joh. 8:44.

2, 3. Chaza ukuthi amabala alandelayo asifundisani ngesitha sikaJehova: elithi ‘Sathane’ elithi ‘Develi’ lelithi ‘inyoka’ kanye lelithi “umgobho”?

² Kusukela uSathane wahlamuka, ubelokhu etshengisa ukuthi uyisitha sikaJehova esikhulu njalo kuyacaca ukuthi uyabazonda kakhulu abantu. Izindlela ezitshiyeneyo abizwa ngazo zitshengisa ukuthi wonakele sibili. Ibizo elithi Sathane litsho ukuthi “Mphikisi” njalo litshengisa ukuthi ingilosi le embi kayibusekeli ngitsho ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu. Iyabuzonda futhi ilwa ngamandla wonke ukuze ibuqede. Into uSathane ayinxwanele ukwedlula zonke yikutshabalalisa ubukhosi bukaJehova.

³ KuSambulo 12:9 uSathane ubizwa ngokuthi [“nguDeveli,” NW ] okutsho ukuthi “Mnyundeli.” Lokhu kusikhumbuza indlela agcona ngayo uJehova emenza akhanye angani ungumqambi wamanga. Nxa kuthiwa ‘uyinyoka endala’ sikhumbula umonakalo awudala e-Edeni lapho esebenzisa inyoka ukuze akhohlise u-Eva. Kanti njalo ukuthi uSathane ‘ungumgobho omkhulu’ kwenza sicabange ngesilo esesabekayo futhi lokhu kuyamfanela sibili ngoba uzimisele ukuphambanisa injongo kaJehova lokutshabalalisa abantu bakhe.

 4. Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi?

⁴ Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi uSathane uyingozi enkulu kakhulu ngoba angenza ukuthi sicine singasathembekanga kuNkulunkulu. Yikho iBhayibhili lisixwayisa lisithi: “Zithibeni, liqaphele. Isitha senu, uSathane, siyazulazula njengesilwane esibhongayo sidinga esingamudla.” (1 Phet. 5:8) Ngakho-ke esihlokweni lesi sizaxoxa ngezinto ezintathu ezisichaza kuhle lesisitha sikaJehova labantu bakhe, njalo zizasinceda sibone lokuthi kuqakathekile ukuqaphela isitha lesi esiyingozi.

5, 6. (a) Yiziphi izibonelo ezitshengisa ukuthi izidalwa zomoya “zilamandla amakhulu”? (b) Chaza ukuthi kungani kuthiwa uSathane ‘uphethe amandla okufa.’

⁵ Izidalwa zomoya ezibizwa ngokuthi yizingilosi “zilamandla amakhulu.” (2 Phet. 2:11) Zikhaliphe kakhulu ukwedlula abantu njalo zilamandla kulabo. Lanxa zilamandla amakhulu, izingilosi ezithembekileyo ziwasebenzisa kuhle amandla azo. Ngokwesibonelo, enye ingilosi kaJehova yabulala amasotsha ase-Asiriya angu-185 000 ayezohlasela abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Akulamuntu owayengenza isimanga esingaka njalo lebutho lilonke lalinganqoba nzima. (2 AmaKho. 19:35) Kanti njalo enye ingilosi yasebenzisa amandla ayo amakhulu kanye lobuciko bayo ukuze ikhulule abaphostoli bakaJesu ejele. Ingilosi le yafika yakhiyinula iminyango yejele, yakhupha abaphostoli, yaphinda yakhiya. Konke lokhu kusenzakala abalindi babekhonapho eduze, kodwa kababonanga lutho.​—ImiSeb. 5:18-23.

⁶ Lanxa izidalwa zomoya ezithembekileyo ziwasebenzisa kuhle amandla azo, uSathane uwasebenzisa kubi awakhe. Ulawo sibili amandla amakhulu njalo nguye obangela izinto ezimbi ezenzakala emhlabeni. IMibhalo ithi ‘uyinkosi yalo umhlaba’ njalo ‘ungunkulunkulu walesisikhathi.’ (Joh. 12:31; 2 Khor. 4:4) USathane uDeveli ‘uphethe amandla okufa.’ (Heb. 2:14) Lokhu akutsho ukuthi uhamba elandelela bonke abantu ebabulala. Kodwa uyenga abantu abanengi emhlabeni ukuthi babelengqondo yokubulala njengaye. Kanti njalo isono lokufa kwafika ebantwini bonke ngenxa yokuthi u-Eva wakholwa amanga kaSathane kanye lokuthi u-Adamu kazange amlalele uNkulunkulu. (Rom. 5:12) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uDeveli uwaphethe sibili “amandla okufa.” UJesu wambiza ngokuthi ‘ungumbulali’ njalo kuyamfanela. (Joh. 8:44) Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi uSathane uyisitha esilamandla amakhulu.

 7. Amadimoni atshengisa njani ukuthi alamandla?

⁷ Nxa siphikisana loSathane siyabe sizehlukanisa laye kanye labo bonke abasekeli bakhe abaphikisana lobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu. Abanye abasekeli bakhe yizingilosi ezinengi ezahlamukayo ezibizwa langokuthi ngamadimoni. (Isam. 12:3, 4) Kukanengi amadimoni etshengisa amandla awo amakhulukazi ngokuhlukuluza abantu ngendlela ebuhlungu kakhulu. (Mat. 8:28-32; Mak. 5:1-5) Ungawakhangeleli phansi amandla ‘enkosi yamadimoni’ kanye lawezingilosi lezi ezimbi. (Mat. 9:34) Kasingeke senelise ukunqoba impi esiyilwa loSathane nxa uJehova engasincedisi.

 8. (a) USathane unxwaneleni? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.) (b) Kuyini okubona kusenzakala okutshengisa ukuthi abantu bomhlaba lo balesihluku njengoSathane?

⁸ Umphostoli uPhetro wathi uSathane ‘unjengesilwane esibhongayo sidinga esingamudla.’ Lokhu kwenza sizwisise indlela uSathane alesihluku ngayo. Lanxa umhlaba wonke ungaphansi kwamandla akhe, uSathane ulokhu edinga abanye abantu abanengi angabahlasela. (1 Joh. 5:19) Kuye umhlaba wonke ufana lokudla okuphelele elimini kwamfaka indlala. Phela abantu abazingela ubusuku lemini ngabagcotshiweyo abasesemhlabeni kanye ‘lezinye izimvu’ ezisebenza ndawonye labo. (Joh. 10:16; Isam. 12:17) USathane kadlali, ubafuna ngabomvu abantu bakaJehova. Kusukela ekhulwini lokuqala kuze kube lamuhla ubelokhu etshotshozela ukuthi abalandeli bakaKhristu bahlukuluzwe futhi lokhu kwenza sibone ukuthi ulolunya sibili.

9, 10. (a) USathane wazama njani ukuphambanisa injongo kaNkulunkulu esizweni sako-Israyeli? (Nika izibonelo.) (b) Kungani uSathane wayefuna kakhulu ukuhlasela isizwe sako-Israyeli endulo? (c) Ubona angani lamuhla uDeveli uzwa njani nxa omunye wezinceku zikaJehova esenza isono esikhulu?

⁹ Izinto ezenziwa nguSathane ukuze aphambanise injongo kaNkulunkulu lazo zitshengisa ukuthi ulesihluku. Isilwane esilambileyo kasilazwelo nxa sihlasela inyamazana. Nxa siyinqwethela kasiyizweli isihawu njalo kasizisoli ngitsho nxa sesiyibulele. USathane laye unjalo. Kabazweli abantu nxa ebahlasela. Ngokwesibonelo, uSathane uDeveli wayengabe enqwethanqwetha ecathamela abako-Israyeli ngesikhathi bethatheka ngokuziphatha okubi kwezemacansini kanye lobuhaga. UZimri wajeziswa kabuhlungu ngenxa yokuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini njalo loGehazi laye wajeziswa ngenxa yobuhaga. Nxa ubala ngokwenzakala ebantwini laba, “uyasibona” yini isilwane esibhongayo sithokoziswa yikuthi sinqobile?​—AmaN. 25:6-8, 14, 15; 2 AmaKho. 5:20-27.

¹⁰ USathane wayefuna kakhulu ukuhlasela isizwe sako-Israyeli endulo. Phela esizweni leso kulapho okwakuzavela khona uMesiya onguye owayezahlifiza uSathane njalo atshengise lokuthi uJehova nguye olelungelo lokubusa. (Gen. 3:15) USathane wayefuna ukuthi isizwe sako-Israyeli sitshabalale njalo wenza izinto ezinengi ezama ukuhuga abantu balesisizwe ukuze bangcoliswe yisono. Kazange amzwele uDavida esefebile futhi kazange azwe ubuhlungu lapho uMosi eseyaliswe ukungena eLizweni Lesithembiso. USathane kalasikhathi sokuzwela. Nxa ebona izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zisenza izono ezinkulu uyathaba. Mhlawumbe ukunqoba okunjengalokhu kungaba ngenye yezinto azisebenzisayo nxa eseyisa uJehova.​—Zaga. 27:11.

11. USathane wayengabe ehloseni lapho ehlasela uSara?

¹¹ USathane wayebazonda kakhulu abosendo okwakuzavela kulo uMesiya. Ngokwesibonelo, u-Abhrahama esanda kutshelwa ukuthi uzakuba “yisizwe esikhulu” kulokuthile okwenzakalayo. (Gen. 12:1-3) Lapho u-Abhrahama loSara beseGibhithe, uFaro wathi uSara kalethwe esigodlweni sakhe njalo kusegcekeni ukuthi wayefuna abe ngumkakhe. Kodwa uJehova wangenela wavikela uSara ukuthi angangcoliswa yinkosi le. (Bala uGenesisi 12:14-20.) Lokhu kwaphinda kwenzakala eGerari u-Isaka engakazalwa. (Gen. 20:1-7) NguSathane yini owabangela lokho okwakusenzakala? USara wayetshiye i-Uri, idolobho elalinothile wakhetha ukuyahlala emathenteni. Mhlawumbe uSathane wayebona angani uSara wayezakhumbula kudala kwakhe abesehugwa yibunkanyankanya obabusezigodlweni zamakhosi la. Kungenzeka ukuthi uSathane wayecabanga ukuthi uSara wayengatshiya uJehova njalo ehlukane lomkakhe ayekwendela kwenye indoda. IBhayibhili alitsho lutho ngalokhu kodwa kumele ukuthi uDeveli wayengathokoza kakhulu ebona uSara engasekho phakathi kosendo okwakuzavela kulo inzalo eyayithenjisiwe. Aluba uSara wathatheka, umtshado wakhe wawuzachitheka, asale engaselasithunzi njalo ubuhlobo bakhe loJehova babuzaphambaniseka. Kodwa uSathane wayengasoze azisole ngitsho ngakho konke lokhu. USathane ulomoya omubi sibili.

12, 13. (a) USathane watshengisa njani ukuthi ulesihluku ngemva kokuzalwa kukaJesu? (b) Ubona angani uSathane uzwa njani nxa ebona abasakhulayo abathanda uJehova futhi abazama ngamandla onke ukumkhonza?

¹² Kwathi sekwedlule iminyaka eminengi u-Abhrahama efile, kwazalwa uJesu. Lanxa usana lolu lwalungabe luluhle njengelanga liphuma, uSathane kazange abe lendaba lakho lokhu. Wayekwazi ukuthi umntwana lo wayezakhula abe nguMesiya owayethenjisiwe. Phela uJesu nguye owayeqakatheke kakhulu kunzalo ka-Abhrahama njalo ngokuya kwesikhathi nguye ‘owayezachitha imisebenzi kaSathane.’ (1 Joh. 3:8) USathane wayezazikhuza yini abone ukuthi ukubulala usana kwakuyabe kululunya? Wayengeke ngoba nxa esenza izinto ezimbi kuye akuthi thiki! Yikho kazange atshone ethikaza, wahle wazama ukubulala uJesu esesemncane. Wakwenza njani lokhu?

¹³ Lapho iNkosi uHerodi isizwa izazi zibuza mayelana lalowo ‘owayezalelwe ukuba yinkosi yamaJuda,’ yazonda yafa njalo yazimisela ukumbulala. (Mat. 2:1-3, 13) Yikho-ke ukuze icebo layo liphumelele, yakhupha umlayo wokuthi kubulawe bonke abafanyana ababeleminyaka emibili lengaphansi ababehlala eBhethilehema kanye lasemangweni wonke oseduze. (Bala uMathewu 2:13-18.) Kodwa uJesu wasinda ngesikhathi kusenzakala umonakalo lo owatshiya abantu bethithibele. Lanxa kunjalo indaba le isifundisani ngesitha sethu uSathane? Kusegcekeni ukuthi uDeveli kakuqakathekisi ukuphila kwabantu njalo ulesihluku lasebantwaneni abancane. ‘Uyisilwane esibhongayo’ ngempela. Ungaqali ukusikhangelela phansi isitha lesi esilolunya kangaka.

14, 15. USathane ‘uzinqunde’ njani “izingqondo zabangakholwayo”?

¹⁴ Ubuqili yiyo yodwa indlela uSathane angayisebenzisa ukuze ehlukanise abantu loJehova uNkulunkulu olothando. (1 Joh. 4:8) Uqila abantu ngokubangela ukuthi ‘bangasiqapheli isidingo sabo esingokomoya.’ (Mat. 5:3, NW) Ngokwenza lokhu “usenqunde izingqondo zabangakholwayo ukuze bangakuboni ukukhanya kwevangeli lenkazimulo kaKhristu, ongumfanekiso kaNkulunkulu.”​—2 Khor. 4:4.

¹⁵ Okunye akusebenzisa kakhulu nxa eseqila abantu yinkolo yamanga. Kumele ukuthi uyathokoza kakhulu nxa ebona abantu bekhonza ezinye izinto kulokuthi bakhonze uJehova uNkulunkulu “olobukhwele,” okutsho ukuthi ofuna abantu bakhonze yena kuphela. (Eks. 20:5) Abanye bakhonza amadlozi, abantu, izinyamazana kumbe ezinye izinto ezidaliweyo. Labantu abanengi abacabanga ukuthi bakhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela eqondileyo bayizigqili zezimfundiso ezingamanga kanye lemikhuba engancedi lutho. Bazwisa usizi njengalabo uJehova akhuluma ngabo esithi: “Lichithelani imali kokungasikho kudla lokusebenza kwenu kulokho okungasuthisiyo na? Lalelani, lalelani kimi, lidle okuhle, umoya wenu uzathokoziswa yizibiliboco.”​—Isaya. 55:2.

16, 17. (a) Kungani uJesu waphendula uPhetro wathi: “Yana emva kwami, Sathane”? (b) USathane angasiqila njani nxa efuna sikhohlwe ukuthi ukuphela sekuseduze?

¹⁶ USathane angenelisa lokuqila izinceku zikaJehova ezikhutheleyo. Ngokwesibonelo, ake sikhangele ukuthi kwahamba njani lapho uJesu etshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi kwasekuseduze ukuthi abulawe. UPhetro wathi esizwa lokhu wambizela eceleni wathi kuye: “Woba lomusa kuwe, Nkosi; lokhu kakusoze kwafa kwenzakala kuwe.” Lanxa uPhetro wayengabe engahlosanga okubi, uJesu wamphendula wathi: “Yana emva kwami, Sathane!” (Mat. 16:22, 23, NW) Kungani uJesu wabiza uPhetro ngokuthi “Sathane”? Wayekwazi ukuthi sasesizafika isikhathi sokuthi afe ukuze abe ngumhlatshelo wenhlawulo futhi atshengise ukuthi uDeveli ungusomangase. Lesi kwakungayisiso sikhathi sokuthi uJesu abe ‘lomusa kuye.’ Kwakuyisikhathi esiqakatheke kakhulu ngenxa yokuthi ukufa kwakhe kwakuzahlenga abantu. Ngabe uJesu waphongulibala kancane nje iqhinga likaSathane lalizabe liphumelele.

¹⁷ Lathi siphila esikhathini esinzima kakhulu ngoba ukuphela sekuseduze. USathane ufuna “sibe lomusa” kithi kulokuthi sihlale silindile. Uzama ukusiyenga ukuthi sigijimisane lezinto zomhlaba lo ezingabangela ukuthi sicine sikhohlwa ukuthi ukuphela sekuseduze. Yikho-ke kasihlaleni ‘silindile’ singavumi ukuqilwa sikhangele! (Mat. 24:42) Akumelanga siwakholwe amanga aluhlaza afafazwa nguSathane ezama ukusiyenga esithi ukuphela kukhatshana kumbe ngeke kwafa kwafika.

18, 19. (a) Yiliphi elinye iqhinga uSathane angasiqila ngalo? (b) UJehova usincedisa njani ukuthi sihlale siphapheme njalo silindile?

¹⁸ Kulelinye futhi iqhinga uSathane alisebenzisayo nxa ezama ukusiqila. Ufuna sicabange ukuthi uNkulunkulu kasithandi lokuthi ngeke athethelele izono zethu. La ngamanye amanga ayabe ewahulula ukuze adukise abantu. Kanti vele ngubani uNkulunkulu angamthandiyo ngitsho lakancane futhi angeke amthethelele loba sekutheni? Nguye kanye uSathane. IBhayibhili lisenza singathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda. Lithi: “UNkulunkulu kasuye ongalunganga; kasoke awukhohlwe umsebenzi wenu lothando elamtshengisa lona.” (Heb. 6:10) UJehova uyathokoza kakhulu nxa ebona sisenza okusemandleni ethu ukuze simthokozise njalo ukusebenza kwethu akusilo ize. (Bala u-1 Khorinte 15:58.) Ngakho-ke akumelanga sivume ukuqilwa nguSathane.

¹⁹ Sesifundile ukuthi uSathane ulamandla, ulesihluku njalo uliqili. Manje singasinqoba njani isitha lesi esiyingozi kangaka? UJehova uyasincedisa. ILizwi lakhe liyasifundisa ngamaqhinga kaSathane yikho “amacebo akhe siyawazi.” (2 Khor. 2:11) Nxa sesiwazi amacebo kaSathane sizakwenelisa ukuhlala siphapheme njalo silindile. Kodwa ukwazi amacebo kaSathane yikho kodwa okufunakalayo yini? Hatshi, ngoba iBhayibhili lithi: “Menqabeni uSathane, uzalibalekela.” (Jak. 4:7) Esihlokweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngezinto ezintathu uSathane asithiya ngazo sibone ukuthi singamnqoba njani.