UYehova Nguthixo Ozeka Kade Umsindo

“UYehova, uThixo onenceba nobabalo, ozeka kade umsindo, onobubele bothando obuninzi.”—EKSODUS 34:6.

1, 2. (a) Ngoobani abangenelwayo kwixa elingaphambili kuphawu lukaYehova lokuzeka kade umsindo? (b) Lithetha ukuthini igama elithi “ukuzeka kade umsindo”?

ABANTU bomhla kaNowa, amaSirayeli awayehamba noMoses entlango, amaYuda awayephila ngexesha uYesu wayesemhlabeni—bonke babephila phantsi kweemeko ezahlukahlukeneyo. Kodwa bonke bangenelwa kuphawu olufanayo lukaYehova lobubele—ukuzeka kade umsindo. Abanye lwabasindisa ekufeni. Ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova kunokubusindisa nobethu ubomi.

² Kuyintoni ukuzeka kade umsindo? UYehova ukubonakalisa xa kutheni, yaye ngoba? “Ukuzeka kade umsindo” kuye kwachazwa “njengokumnyamezela ngomonde ubani okonayo okanye okucaphukisayo, nokungaphelelwa lithemba lokuba izinto ziya kuze zilunge ngokuphathelele olo lwalamano luye lwaphazamiseka.” Ngoko ke, olu phawu lukho ngenxa yenjongo ethile. Injongo yalo ngokukhethekileyo, kukunceda lowo ubangele ukungavisisani. Noko ke, ukuba ngumntu ozeka kade umsindo akuthethi ukuba uzibetha ngoyaba iziphoso. Xa injongo yokubonakalisa ukuzeka kade umsindo ifeziwe okanye xa kubonakala ukuba ukunyamezela loo meko akuncedi nto, ukuzeka kade umsindo kuyaphela.

 3. Ibiyintoni injongo yokuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova, yaye kuya kuphela nini?

³ Nangona abantu benokuba nalo uphawu lokuzeka kade umsindo, uYehova ungowona mzekelo ubalaseleyo ekubonakaliseni olu phawu. Ukususela kwixesha isono esonakalisa ulwalamano phakathi kukaYehova nendalo yakhe engabantu, uMdali wethu uye wanyamezela ngomonde yaye uye wenza ilungiselelo lokuba abantu abaguqukayo baphucule ulwalamano lwabo kunye naye. (2 Petros 3:9; 1 Yohane 4:10) Kodwa xa ukuzeka kade umsindo kwakhe kuyifezile injongo yako, uThixo uya kuthabatha amanyathelo nxamnye nabo benza ububi ngabom, aphelise le nkqubo ingendawo yezinto.—2 Petros 3:7.

Kuyavisisana Neempawu ZikaThixo Ezibalaseleyo

 4. (a) Ingcamango yokuzeka kade umsindo ichazwe njani kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere? (Bona nombhalo osemazantsi.) (b) Umprofeti uNahum umchaza njani uYehova, yaye oku kutyhila ntoni ngokuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova?

⁴ KwiZibhalo zesiHebhere, ingcamango yokuzeka kade umsindo ichazwa ngamagama amabini esiHebhere lawo ngokoqobo athetha “ubude bamathatha” yaye INguqulelo Yehlabathi Elitsha iwaguqulela ngokuthi “ukuzeka kade umsindo.”a Ethetha ngokuzeka kade umsindo kukaThixo, umprofeti uNahum wathi: “UYehova uzeka kade umsindo yaye unamandla kakhulu, kwaye uYehova akayi kurhoxa ekohlwayeni.” (Nahum 1:3) Ngenxa yoko, ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova akulophawu lokuba buthathaka yaye kunemida. Isibakala sokuba uThixo usomandla ezeka kade umsindo yaye kwangaxeshanye enamandla amakhulu sibonisa ukuba ukuzeka kade umsindo kwakhe kubangelwa kukuzibamba ngenxa yenjongo ethile. Unegunya lokohlwaya, kodwa akasiphumezi ngoko nangoko isohlwayo ukuze anike loo menzi wobubi ithuba lokuguquka. (Hezekile 18:31, 32) Ngoko ke, ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova yimbonakaliso yothando lwakhe, yaye kubonisa ukuba igunya lakhe ulisebenzisa ngobulumko.

 5. Ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova kuvisisana njani nokusesikweni kwakhe?

⁵ Kwakhona, ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova kuvisisana nokusesikweni nobulungisa bakhe. KuMoses, wazichaza ‘njengoThixo onenceba nobabalo, ozeka kade umsindo, onobubele bothando obuninzi nenyaniso.’ (Eksodus 34:6) Emva kweminyaka ethile, uMoses wavuma indumiso kuYehova esithi: “Zonke iindlela zakhe zisesikweni. NguThixo wentembeko, tu ubugqwetha; lilungisa yaye uthe tye yena.” (Duteronomi 32:4) Ewe, inceba, ukuzeka kade umsindo, okusesikweni nokuthi tye ziimpawu zikaYehova azisebenzisa ngokuvisisanayo.

Ukuzeka Kade Umsindo KukaYehova Ngaphambi KoNogumbe

 6. Bubuphi ubungqina obuphawulekayo bokuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova kwinzala ka-Adam noEva?

⁶ Imvukelo ka-Adam noEva yase-Eden yaluqhawula ngokusisigxina ulwalamano oluxabisekileyo olwaluphakathi kwabo noMdali wabo onothando uYehova. (Genesis 3:8-13, 23, 24) Oku kwahlukaniswa kwachaphazela inzala yabo, eyazuz’ ilifa isono, ukungafezeki nokufa. (Roma 5:17-19) Nangona isibini sokuqala esingabantu sona ngabom, uYehova wasivumela ukuba sibe nabantwana. Kamva, ngothando wenza ilungiselelo lokuba inzala ka-Adam noEva ixolelaniswe naye. (Yohane 3:16, 36) Umpostile uPawulos wachaza: “UThixo ubonakalisa uthando lwakhe kuthi ngokuthi, ngoxa sasisengaboni, uKristu asifele. Ke ngoko, ekubeni sivakaliswe singamalungisa ngegazi lakhe, siya kusindiswa ngaye kuyo ingqumbo. Kuba ukuba, xa sasiziintshaba, saxolelaniswa noThixo ngokufa koNyana wakhe, kobeka phi na ke ngoku ukusindiswa ngobomi bakhe, ekubeni sixolelanisiwe.”—Roma 5:8-10.

 7. UYehova wakubonakalisa njani ukuzeka kade umsindo kwakhe ngaphambi koMkhukula, yaye kutheni ukutshatyalaliswa kwesizukulwana esasiphila ngaphambi koMkhukula kwakufanelekile?

⁷ Ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova kwabonwa ngomhla kaNowa. Kwixesha elingaphezu kwenkulungwane ngaphambi koMkhukula, “uThixo wawubona umhlaba yaye, khangela! wonakele, kuba yonke inyama yayiyonakalisile indlela yayo emhlabeni.” (Genesis 6:12) Sekunjalo, kangangexesha elimiselweyo, uYehova wabonakalisa ukuzeka kade umsindo eluntwini. Wathi: “Umoya wam awusayi kusebenza ngokungenammiselo emntwini ngokuba eyinyama. Ngako oko imihla yakhe iya kuba likhulu elinamashumi amabini eminyaka.” (Genesis 6:3) Loo minyaka ili-120 yanika uNowa othembekileyo ithuba lokuvelisa intsapho yaye—akuba ewuvile ummiselo kaThixo—wakha umkhombe waza walumkisa abantu ababephila ngelo xesha ngoMkhukula ozayo. Umpostile uPetros wabhala: “Umonde kaThixo [uphawu olunxulumene nokuzeka kade umsindo] wawulindile ngemihla kaNowa, ngoxa kwakusakhiwa umkhombe, ekwathi kuwo abantu abambalwa, oko kukuthi, imiphefumlo esibhozo, bathwalwa ngokukhuselekileyo emanzini.” (1 Petros 3:20) Liyinyaniso elokuba, abo babengeyonxalenye yentsapho kaNowa esondeleyo “abazange banikele ngqalelo” ekushumayeleni kwakhe. (Mateyu 24:38, 39) Kodwa ngokuvumela uNowa akhe umkhombe aze mhlawumbi akhonze kangangamashumi athile eminyaka ‘njengomshumayeli wobulungisa,’ uYehova wanika abantu ababephila ngexesha likaNowa ithuba elaneleyo lokuguquka kwiindlela zabo ezinogonyamelo baze bakhonze Yena. (2 Petros 2:5; Hebhere 11:7) Ekugqibeleni, ukutshatyalaliswa kweso sizukulwana singendawo kwakufanelekile.

Umzekelo Wokuzeka Kade Umsindo KuSirayeli

 8. UYehova wakubonakalisa njani ukuzeka kade umsindo kwakhe ngokuphathelele uhlanga lwakwaSirayeli?

⁸ Ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova ngokuphathelele uSirayeli kwathabatha ixesha elingaphezulu lee kweminyaka eli-120. Ukutyhubela iminyaka engaphezu kwe-1 500 ngexesha amaSirayeli awayephila njengabantu bakaThixo abanyuliweyo, zazimbalwa kakhulu izihlandlo apho angazange akuvavanye ngokugqithiseleyo ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaThixo. Kwiiveki nje emva kokuhlangulwa kwawo ngendlela emangalisayo eYiputa, anqula izithixo, ebonakalisa ukungabi nantlonelo ngokupheleleyo ngoMsindisi wawo. (Eksodus 32:4; INdumiso 106:21) Kumashumi eminyaka awalandelayo, amaSirayeli akhalazela ukutya awayekulungiselelwe ngendlela emangalisayo nguYehova entlango, ambombozela nxamnye noMoses noAron, athetha ngokunxamnye noYehova yaye ahenyuza nabahedeni, ade aba nenxaxheba kunqulo lukaBhahali. (Numeri 11:4-6; 14:2-4; 21:5; 25:1-3; 1 Korinte 10:6-11) Ngokufanelekileyo, uYehova wayenokubatshabalalisa abantu bakhe, kodwa kunoko wazeka kade umsindo.—Numeri 14:11-21.

 9. UYehova wangqineka enguThixo ozeka kade umsindo njani ebudeni bexesha laBagwebi nasebudeni babalawuli abangookumkani?

⁹ Ebudeni bexesha laBagwebi, ngokuphindaphindiweyo, amaSirayeli ayesiwela kumgibe wokunqula izithixo. Ayesithi xa enze oko, uYehova awayekele kwiintshaba zawo. Kodwa xa eguquka aze acele uncedo kuye, wayebonakalisa ukuzeka kade umsindo aze amisele abagwebi ukuze bawahlangule. (ABagwebi 2:17, 18) Ebudeni bexesha elide labalawuli abangookumkani, bambalwa ookumkani abazinikela ngokupheleleyo kuYehova. Kwanaphantsi kwabo kumkani bathembekileyo, abantu babexuba unqulo oluyinyaniso nolobuxoki. Xa uYehova wavelisa abaprofeti ukuba babalumkise nxamnye nokungathembeki, ngokufuthi abantu babekhetha ukuphulaphula ababingeleli abanganyanisekanga nabaprofeti bobuxoki. (Yeremiya 5:31; 25:4-7) Eneneni, amaSirayeli abatshutshisa abaprofeti bakaYehova abathembekileyo ada ababulala abanye babo. (2 Kronike 24:20, 21; IZenzo 7:51, 52) Sekunjalo, uYehova waqhubeka ebonakalisa ukuzeka kade umsindo.—2 Kronike 36:15.

Ukuzeka Kade Umsindo KukaYehova Akuzange Kuphele

10. Ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova kwafikelela nini esiphelweni?

¹⁰ Noko ke, imbali ibonisa ukuba ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaThixo kunemida. Ngowama-740 B.C.E., wavumela ama-Asiriya ukuba abhukuqe ubukumkani bakwaSirayeli bezizwe ezilishumi aze athimbe abemi babo. (2 Kumkani 17:5, 6) Yaye ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane eyalandelayo, wavumela amaBhabhiloni ukuba ahlasele ubukumkani bezizwe ezibini zakwaYuda aze atshabalalise iYerusalem netempile yayo.—2 Kronike 36:16-19.

11. UYehova wakubonakalisa njani ukuzeka kade umsindo kwanaxa wayephumeza umgwebo?

¹¹ Noko ke, kwanaxa wayephumeza imigwebo yakhe nxamnye noSirayeli noYuda, uYehova wayengakulibalanga ukuzeka kade umsindo kwakhe. Ngomprofeti wakhe uYeremiya, uYehova waxela kusengaphambili ngokubuyiselwa kwabantu bakhe abanyuliweyo. Wathi: “Ngokuvisisana nokuzaliseka kweminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe eBhabhiloni ndiya kuphethulela ingqalelo yam kuni, kwaye ndiya kulimisela kuni ilizwi lam elilungileyo ngokunibuyisela kule ndawo. Ndiya kuzenza ndifumaneke kuni . . . Kwaye ndiya kulihlanganisa iqela labathinjwa ndize ndiniqokelele ndawonye kuzo zonke iintlanga nakuzo zonke iindawo endinisasazele kuzo.”—Yeremiya 29:10, 14.

12. Ukubuyela kwentsalela yamaYuda kwaYuda kwangqineka njani kulilungiselelo likaThixo ngokuphathelele uMesiya ozayo?

¹² Eneneni, intsalela yamaYuda awayethinjiwe yabuyela kwaYuda yaza yavuselela unqulo lukaYehova emva kokuba yakhe itempile eyayiseYerusalem kwakhona. Ekuphunyezweni kweenjongo zikaYehova, le ntsalela yayiza kuba “njengombethe ovela kuYehova” obangela ukuhlaziyeka nempumelelo. Yayiza kukhalipha ize yomelele “njengengonyama phakathi kwezilo zehlathi.” (Mika 5:7, 8) Eli binzana lamva limele ukuba lazaliseka ebudeni bexesha leeMaccabean xa amaYuda awayephantsi kwentsapho yeeMaccabees agxotha iintshaba zawo kwiLizwe Lesithembiso aza aphinda ayinikezela itempile, eyayingcolisiwe. Ngaloo ndlela, ilizwe netempile lalondolozwa ukuze enye intsalela ethembekileyo ikwazi ukwamkela uNyana kaThixo ekuveleni kwakhe apho njengoMesiya.—Daniyeli 9:25; Luka 1:13-17, 67-79; 3:15, 21, 22.

13. Kwanasemva kokuba amaYuda ebulele uNyana wakhe, uYehova waqhubeka njani ebonakalisa ukuzeka kade umsindo?

¹³ Kwanasemva kokuba amaYuda ebulele uNyana wakhe, uYehova waqhubeka ebonakalisa uphawu lokuzeka kade umsindo iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha, ewanika ilungelo elikhethekileyo lokubizwa ukuze abe yinxalenye yembewu yokomoya ka-Abraham. (Daniyeli 9:27)b Ngaphambi nasemva konyaka wama-36 C.E., amanye amaYuda alwamkela olu bizo, yaye ngaloo ndlela, njengoko uPawulos wachazayo kamva, “kukho intsalela yabanyuliweyo ngobubele obungasifanelanga.”—Roma 11:5.

14. (a) Ngowama-36 C.E., ilungelo lokuba yinxalenye yembewu yokomoya ka-Abraham ladluliselwa koobani? (b) UPawulos uyichaza njani indlela avakalelwa ngayo ngokukhetha kukaYehova amalungu kaSirayeli wokomoya?

¹⁴ Ngowama-36 C.E., okwesihlandlo sokuqala, ilungelo lokuba yinxalenye yembewu yokomoya ka-Abraham ladluliselwa kwabo babengengomaYuda bengengawo namaguquka. Bonke abasabelayo bafumana ububele obungasifanelanga nokuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova. (Galati 3:26-29; Efese 2:4-7) Evakalisa uxabiso olunzulu ngobulumko nenjongo kaYehova ngokubonakalisa inceba nokuzeka kade umsindo, avelisa ngayo inani elipheleleyo labo babiziweyo ukuze babumbe uSirayeli wokomoya, uPawulos wathi: “Hayi ubunzulu bobutyebi nobobulumko nobolwazi lukaThixo! Hayi indlela engaphengululeki ngayo imigwebo yakhe nendlela ezingalandeki ngayo iindlela zakhe!”—Roma 11:25, 26, 33; Galati 6:15, 16.

Ukuzeka Kade Umsindo Ngenxa Yegama Lakhe

15. Siyintoni isizathu esiyintloko sokuba uThixo azeke kade umsindo, yaye yiyiphi imbambano ekwakufuneka kudlule ixesha elithile ngaphambi kokuba izinziswe?

¹⁵ Kutheni uYehova ezeka kade umsindo? Isizathu esiyintloko kukuze azukise igama lakhe elingcwele aze athethelele ulongamo lwakhe. (1 Samuweli 12:20-22) Kwakufuneka kudlule ixesha elithile ngaphambi kokuba izinziswe ngendlela eyanelisayo kwindalo yonke imbambano yokusesikweni eyaphakanyiswa nguSathana ngokuphathelele indlela uYehova alusebenzisa ngayo ulongamo lwakhe. (Yobhi 1:9-11; 42:2, 5, 6) Ngenxa yoko, xa abantu bakhe babecinezelwa eYiputa, uYehova wathi kuFaro: “Ndikuyekile nje, kungenxa yokuze ndikubonise amandla am nokuze livakaliswe igama lam emhlabeni wonke.”—Eksodus 9:16.

16. (a) Ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova kwambangela njani ukuba azilungiselele abantu begama lakhe? (b) Liya kungcwaliswa njani igama likaYehova yaye luya kuthethelelwa njani ulongamo lwakhe?

¹⁶ Umpostile uPawulos wacaphula amazwi awathethwa nguYehova kuFaro xa wayechaza indima yokuzeka kade umsindo kukaThixo ukuze kuzukiswe igama Lakhe elingcwele. UPawulos wabhala: “Ukuba uThixo, nangona ebengathanda ukubonakalisa ingqumbo yakhe aze enze namandla akhe aziwe, wazinyamezela ngokuzeka kade umsindo okukhulu izitya zengqumbo ezenziwe zafanelekela intshabalalo, ukuze baziwe ubutyebi bozuko lwakhe kwizitya zenceba, azilungiselele kwangaphambili ngenxa yozuko, oko kukuthi, thina aba, asibize kungekuphela phakathi kwamaYuda kodwa kwanaphakathi kweentlanga, nguban’ othini? Kunjengokuba esithi kuHoseya: ‘Abo bangengobantu bam ndiya kubabiza ngokuthi “bantu bam.”’” (Roma 9:17, 22-25) Ngenxa yokuba uYehova wazeka kade umsindo, wakwazi ukunyula ezintlangeni “isizwana segama lakhe.” (IZenzo 15:14) Phantsi kweNtloko yabo, uYesu Kristu, ‘aba bangcwele’ baziindlalifa zoBukumkani obuya kusetyenziswa nguYehova xa engcwalisa igama Lakhe elikhulu ethethelela nolongamo Lwakhe.—Daniyeli 2:44; 7:13, 14, 27; ISityhilelo 4:9-11; 5:9, 10.

Ukuzeka Kade Umsindo KukaYehova Kuzisa Usindiso

17, 18. (a) Sinokuyenza njani impazamo yokugxeka uYehova ngokuzeka kade umsindo kwakhe? (b) Sikhuthazwa ukuba sikujonge njani ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova?

¹⁷ Ukususela ekuqaleni kwabantu ukuwela esonweni, uYehova uye wazibonakalisa enguThixo ozeka kade umsindo. Ukuzeka kade umsindo kwakhe ngaphambi koMkhukula kwavula ithuba lokuba kukhutshwe isilumkiso esifanelekileyo kwakhiwe nendawo ababeza kusindiselwa kuyo abantu. Kodwa umonde wakhe waphela, wafika uMkhukula. Ngokufanayo namhlanje, uYehova uzeka kade umsindo yaye oku kuthabathe ixesha elide kunokuba abanye bebelindele. Noko ke, eso ayisosizathu sokuba uphelelwe lithemba. Ukwenjenjalo bekuya kufana nokumgxeka uThixo ngenxa yokuzeka kade umsindo kwakhe. UPawulos wabuza: “Ngaba uyabudela kusini na ubutyebi bobubele nonyamezelo nokuzeka kade umsindo kwakhe, ngenxa yokuba ungazi ukuba ububele bukaThixo bukusa enguqukweni?”—Roma 2:4.

¹⁸ Akukho namnye kuthi owazi ngokupheleleyo ukuba sikufuna ukusa kuwuphi umkhamo ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaThixo ukuze siqiniseke ukuba uyakholiswa sithi aze asisindise. UPawulos uyasiluleka ukuba ‘sihlale silufezekisa usindiso lwethu ngoloyiko nangokungcangcazela.’ (Filipi 2:12) Umpostile uPetros wabhalela amanye amaKristu esithi: “UYehova akacothi ngokuphathelele isithembiso sakhe, njengoko abanye becinga njalo, kodwa unomonde kuni ngenxa yokuba akanqweneli ukuba kutshabalale nabani na kodwa unqwenela ukuba bonke bafikelele enguqukweni.”—2 Petros 3:9.

19. Sinokukusebenzisa ngokuyingenelo njani ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova?

¹⁹ Ngenxa yoko, masingaphelelwa ngumonde ngendlela uYehova ayisingatha ngayo imicimbi. Kunoko, masilandele isiluleko sikaPetros ‘siwugqale umonde weNkosi yethu njengosindiso.’ Usindiso loobani? Usindiso lwethu, yaye ukongezelela, nolwabanye abaninzi ekusafuneka beve ‘iindaba zilungileyo zobukumkani.’ (2 Petros 3:15; Mateyu 24:14) Oku kuya kusinceda ukuba sibuxabise ububele bukaYehova ngokuzeka kade umsindo kuze kusishukumisele ukuba sizeke kade umsindo kwabanye.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

Ngaba Unokuchaza?

• Lithetha ntoni eBhayibhileni igama elithi ‘ukuzeka kade umsindo’?

• UYehova wakubonakalisa njani ukuzeka kade umsindo kwakhe ngaphambi koMkhukula, emva kokuthinjwa ngamaBhabhiloni nangenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo?

• Ziziphi izizathu ezibalulekileyo eziye zabangela ukuba uYehova azeke kade umsindo?

• Sifanele sikugqale njani ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova?

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 9]

Ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova ngaphambi koMkhukula kwanika abantu ithuba elaneleyo lokuba baguquke

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 10]

Emva kokuwa kweBhabhiloni, amaYuda angenelwa kuphawu lukaYehova lokuzeka kade umsindo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 11]

Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, amaYuda nabo babengengomaYuda bangenelwa ngenxa yokuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 12]

AmaKristu namhlanje akusebenzisa ngokuyingenelo ukuzeka kade umsindo kukaYehova