Isahluko Sesithupha

UJehova—“UNkulunkulu Olungile NoMsindisi”

Isaya 45:1-25

1, 2. Yiziphi iziqinisekiso ezitholakala ku-Isaya isahluko 45, futhi imiphi imibuzo ezocatshangelwa?

SINGATHEMBELA ezithembisweni zikaJehova. UnguNkulunkulu owambula izinto noNkulunkulu wendalo. Uzibonakalise izikhathi eziningi ukuthi unguNkulunkulu olungile noMsindisi wabantu bezizwe zonke. Lezi ezinye zeziqinisekiso ezijabulisayo eziku-Isaya isahluko 45.

² Ngaphezu kwalokho, ku-Isaya isahluko 45 kunesibonelo esiphawulekayo sekhono likaJehova lokuprofetha. Umoya kaNkulunkulu wenza u-Isaya abuke amazwe akude futhi ahlolisise izenzakalo eziyokwenzeka eminyakeni engamakhulu ezayo, futhi umenza akwazi ukuchaza isenzakalo okunguJehova kuphela, uNkulunkulu wesiprofetho seqiniso, ongasibikezela ngokunembe kangaka. Yisiphi leso senzakalo? Sibathinta kanjani abantu bakaNkulunkulu osukwini luka-Isaya? Sibaluleke ngani kithina osukwini lwethu? Ake sihlole amazwi omprofethi.

Isimemezelo SikaJehova NgeBabiloni

 3.U-Isaya 45:1-3a ukuchaza ngamaphi amagama acacile ukunqoba kukaKoresi?

³ “Yilokhu uJehova akushilo kogcotshiweyo wakhe, kuKoresi, osandla sakhe sokunene ngisibambile, ukuze nginqobe phambi kwakhe izizwe, ukuze ngikhumule ngisho nezinkalo zamakhosi; ukuze ngivule phambi kwakhe iminyango enezicabha ezimbili, kangangokuthi ngisho namasango ngeke avalwe: ‘Mina ngokwami ngizohamba phambi kwakho, futhi ngizohlelemba amaduli ezwe. Ngizophula iminyango yethusi ibe yizicucu, nginqume nemigoqo yensimbi. Ngizokunika imicebo esebumnyameni nemicebo efihliwe esezindaweni zokuthukusa.’”—Isaya 45:1-3a.

 4. (a) Kungani uJehova ebiza uKoresi ngokuthi ‘ogcotshiweyo’ wakhe? (b) UJehova uyoqikelela kanjani ukuthi uKoresi uyanqoba?

⁴ Ngo-Isaya, uJehova ukhuluma noKoresi njengokungathi usekhona, nakuba uKoresi engakazalwa ngosuku luka-Isaya. (Roma 4:17) Njengoba uJehova emisa uKoresi kusengaphambili ukuba afeze umsebenzi othile, kungashiwo ukuthi uKoresi ‘ungogcotshiweyo’ kaNkulunkulu. Eholwa uNkulunkulu, uyozinqoba izizwe, enze amakhosi angabi namandla futhi angakwazi ukumelana naye. Kuyothi lapho uKoresi ehlasela iBabiloni, uJehova aqikelele ukuthi izicabha zomuzi zishiywa zivuliwe, zingabi nalusizo kuhle kwamasango abhodloziwe. Uyohamba phambi kukaKoresi, asuse zonke izithiyo. Ekugcineni, amabutho kaKoresi ayowunqoba umuzi, athathe ‘imicebo yawo efihliwe,’ ingcebo yawo egcinwe ezindaweni ezimnyama zokugcina izimpahla. Yilokhu okubikezelwa u-Isaya. Ingabe amazwi akhe ayagcwaliseka?

5, 6. Isiprofetho ngokuwa kweBabiloni sigcwaliseka nini futhi kanjani?

⁵ Ngonyaka ka-539 B.C.E.—ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-200 u-Isaya elobe lesi siprofetho—uKoresi uyafika ngempela ezindongeni zaseBabiloni ezohlasela umuzi. (Jeremiya 51:11, 12) AbaseBabiloni abanandaba kodwa. Banomuzwa wokuthi umuzi wabo awunakunqotshwa. Izindonga zawo ezinde zizinze phezu kwemiselekazi ejulile egcwele amanzi avela eMfuleni i-Ewufrathe, oyingxenye yesimiso sokuzivikela salo muzi. Sekuphele iminyaka engaphezu kwekhulu kungekho sitha esiye salidlisela ogageni iBabiloni! Eqinisweni, umbusi waseBabiloni uBelishasari, uzizwa elondeke kangangokuba uyazitika namalungu esigodlo sakhe. (Daniyeli 5:1) Ngalobo busuku—ubusuku buka-October 5/6—uKoresi uphothula iqhinga lezempi elibonisa ukukhalipha okukhulu.

⁶ Enhla nomfula eBabiloni, onjiniyela bakaKoresi sebegubhe usebe loMfula i-Ewufrathe, baphambukisa amanzi awo ukuze angabe esehlela eningizimu ngakulo muzi. Kungakabiphi, amanzi omfula aphakathi eBabiloni nalizungezile abohla kangangokuthi amabutho kaKoresi ayakwazi ukugxambuza emfuleni angene phakathi emzini. (Isaya 44:27; Jeremiya 50:38) Kuyamangalisa ukuthi njengoba nje u-Isaya abikezela, amasango angasemfuleni avuliwe. Amabutho kaKoresi atheleka phakathi eBabiloni, athatha isigodlo abese ebulala iNkosi uBelishasari. (Daniyeli 5:30) Ngobusuku obubodwa nje selinqotshiwe. IBabiloni seliwile, isiprofetho sigcwaliseka ngokuphelele.

 7. Kuwaqinisa kanjani amaKristu ukugcwaliseka okuphawulekayo kwesiprofetho sika-Isaya ngoKoresi?

⁷ Ukugcwaliseka okunembile kwalesi siprofetho kuqinisa ukholo lwamaKristu namuhla. Kuwanikeza isizathu esiqinile sokukholelwa ukuthi iziprofetho zeBhayibheli ezingakagcwaliseki nazo zingathenjwa. (2 Petru 1:20, 21) Abakhulekeli bakaJehova bayazi ukuthi isenzakalo esafanekiselwa ukuwa kweBabiloni ngo-539 B.C.E.—ukuwa ‘kweBabiloni Elikhulu’—senzeka ngo-1919. Noma kunjalo, babheke phambili ekubhujisweni kwale nhlangano yenkolo yanamuhla, nasekususweni okwathenjiswa kwesimiso sezombusazwe esiqondiswa uSathane, ekuphonsweni kukaSathane kwalasha nasekufikeni kwamazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha. (IsAmbulo 18:2, 21; 19:19-21; 20:1-3, 12, 13; 21:1-4) Ayazi ukuthi iziprofetho zikaJehova azizona izithembiso ezingasho lutho, kodwa ziyizincazelo ezicacile zezinto ezizokwenzeka. Ukuqiniseka kwamaKristu eqiniso kuyaqina lapho ekhumbula ukugcwaliseka kwayo yonke imininingwane yesiprofetho sika-Isaya esiphathelene nokuwa kweBabiloni. Ayazi ukuthi uJehova uyakufeza njalo akushoyo.

Okwenza UJehova Asebenzise UKoresi

 8. Yisiphi isizathu sokuqala sokuba uJehova enze uKoresi anqobe iBabiloni?

⁸ Ngemva kokusho ukuthi ubani oyonqoba iBabiloni nokuthi uyolinqoba kanjani, uJehova ube esechaza isizathu sokuqala sokwenza uKoresi anqobe. Ekhuluma noKoresi ngokwesiprofetho, uJehova uthi “ukuze wazi ukuthi nginguJehova, Lowo okubiza ngegama lakho, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.” (Isaya 45:3b) Kuyafaneleka ukuba umbusi wombuso wezwe wesine womlando weBhayibheli aqaphele ukuthi ukunqoba kwakhe okukhulu kunakho konke kungenxa yokusekelwa umuntu omkhulu kunaye—uJehova, uMbusi Wendawo Yonke. UKoresi kufanele aqaphele ukuthi ubizwa noma uthunywa uJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. Umlando weBhayibheli ubonisa ukuthi uKoresi wavuma ngempela ukuthi ukunqoba kwakhe okukhulu kwakuvela kuJehova.—Ezra 1:2, 3.

 9. Yisiphi isizathu sesibili esenza uJehova enze uKoresi anqobe iBabiloni?

⁹ UJehova uchaza isizathu sesibili esimenza enze uKoresi anqobe iBabiloni: “Ngenxa yenceku yami uJakobe nangenxa ka-Israyeli okhethiweyo wami, mina ngakubiza ngisho nangegama lakho; ngakunika igama lodumo, nakuba wawungangazi.” (Isaya 45:4) Ukunqoba kukaKoresi iBabiloni kuzamazamisa umhlaba. Kuwuphawu lokuwa kombuso wezwe nolokudlondlobala komunye, futhi izizukulwane ezilandelayo aziwulibali umphumela wako emlandweni. Nokho, izizwe ezingomakhelwane ezibuka lezi zenzakalo ngesithakazelo cishe ziyomangala uma zizwa ukuthi konke lokhu kwenzeka ngenxa yezithunjwa ‘ezingabalulekile’ eziyizinkulungwane ezimbalwa eziseBabiloni—amaJuda, inzalo kaJakobe. Kodwa kuJehova laba abaseleyo besizwe sakwa-Israyeli wasendulo ababona neze abangabalulekile. ‘Bayinceku’ yakhe. Kuzo zonke izizwe zomhlaba, yibona ‘abangabakhethiweyo’ bakhe. Nakuba uKoresi ayengamazi uJehova, usetshenziswa uJehova njengogcotshiweyo waKhe ukuze agumbuqele umuzi owawungafuni ukudedela izithunjwa zawo. Akuyona injongo kaNkulunkulu ukuba abantu bakhe abakhethiwe bahlale bedangele unomphela kwelinye izwe.

10. Yisiphi isizathu esibaluleke kunazo zonke sokuba uJehova asebenzise uKoresi ukuqeda uMbuso Wezwe WaseBabiloni?

¹⁰ Kunesizathu sesithathu nesibaluleke nakakhulu esenza uJehova asebenzise uKoresi ukuba agumbuqele iBabiloni. UJehova uthi: “NginguJehova, akekho omunye. Ngaphandle kwami akekho uNkulunkulu. Ngizokubhincisa ngikuqinise, nakuba ungakangazi, ukuze abantu bazi kusukela empumalanga kuye entshonalanga ukuthi akekho omunye ngaphandle kwami. NginguJehova, akekho omunye.” (Isaya 45:5, 6) Yebo, ukuwa koMbuso Wezwe WaseBabiloni kubonisa ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu futhi kuwubufakazi kubo bonke abantu bokuthi uyena kuphela okufanele akhulekelwe. Ngenxa yokukhululwa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu, abantu bezizwe eziningi—kusukela empumalanga kuya entshonalanga—bayovuma ukuthi uJehova ungukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso.—Malaki 1:11.

11. UJehova ubonisa kanjani ukuthi unamandla okugcwalisa injongo yakhe ngeBabiloni?

¹¹ Khumbula ukuthi lesi siprofetho sika-Isaya salotshwa kusasele iminyaka engaba ngu-200 kwenzeke lesi sigigaba. Kungenzeka ukuthi lapho besizwa, abanye bazibuza, ‘UJehova unawo ngempela yini amandla okusifeza?’ Njengoba umlando ufakaza, impendulo ithi yebo. UJehova uchaza ukuthi kungani kunengqondo ukukholelwa ukuthi angakufeza lokho akushoyo: “Owenza ukukhanya futhi adale ubumnyama, owenza ukuthula adale inhlekelele, mina, Jehova, ngenza zonke lezi zinto.” (Isaya 45:7 ) Konke okudaliwe—kusukela ekukhanyeni kuye ebumnyameni—nakho konke okusemlandweni—kusukela ekuthuleni kuya enhlekeleleni—kulawulwa uJehova. Njengoba nje edala ukukhanya kwasemini nobumnyama bakusihlwa, uyokwenzela u-Israyeli ukuthula, alethe inhlekelele eBabiloni. UJehova unamandla okudala izulu nomhlaba, futhi unamandla okugcwalisa iziprofetho zakhe. Kuwaqinisa idolo amaKristu anamuhla lokhu, wona alitadisha ngokuzimisela izwi lakhe lesiprofetho.

12. (a) UJehova ubangela amazulu nomhlaba ongokomfanekiso ukuba kwenzeni? (b) Yisiphi isithembiso esiduduzayo amazwi aku-Isaya 45:8 asiphathele amaKristu namuhla?

¹² Ngokufanelekayo, uJehova usebenzisa izenzakalo ezenzeka njalo endalweni ukuze achaze izinto ezilindele amaJuda athunjiwe: “Nina mazulu, bangelani ukuconsa okuvela phezulu; isibhakabhaka masiconse ukulunga. Umhlaba mawuvuleke, futhi mawukhiqize insindiso, mawubangele ukuba kumile ukulunga ngesikhathi esifanayo. Mina, Jehova, ngikudalile.” (Isaya 45:8) Njengoba nje amazulu angokoqobo ehlisa imvula enikeza ukuphila, uJehova uyokwehlisela amathonya okulunga phezu kwabantu bakhe esuka emazulwini angokomfanekiso. Futhi njengoba nje umhlaba ongokoqobo uvuleka ukuze ukhiqize inala yesivuno, uJehova uyokwenza umhlaba ongokomfanekiso wenze izenzakalo ezivumelana nenjongo yakhe elungile—ikakhulukazi insindiso yabantu bakhe abathunjelwe eBabiloni. Ngo-1919, uJehova wenza ‘izulu nomhlaba’ kwaveza izenzakalo ngendlela efanayo ukuze kukhululwe abantu bakhe. Ukubona izinto ezinjalo kwenza amaKristu namuhla athokoze. Ngani? Ngoba lezo zenzakalo ziqinisa ukholo lwawo njengoba ebheke phambili esikhathini amazulu angokomfanekiso, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, ayoletha ngaso izibusiso emhlabeni olungile. Ngaleso sikhathi ukulunga nensindiso evela emazulwini nasemhlabeni ongokomfanekiso kuyoba sezingeni elikhulu kakhulu kunangesikhathi kugumbuqelwa iBabiloni. Yeka ukugcwaliseka kokugcina okukhazimulayo kwamazwi ka-Isaya!—2 Petru 3:13; IsAmbulo 21:1.

Izibusiso Zokuqaphela Ubukhosi BukaJehova

13. Kungani kuwubulima ngabantu ukungabaza izinjongo zikaJehova?

¹³ Ngemva kwencazelo yezibusiso ezijabulisayo ezizayo, indlela esibekwe ngayo lesi siprofetho ishintsha ngokuzumayo, u-Isaya usho omaye ababili: “Maye kulowo ophikisene noMbumbi wakhe, njengodengezi luphikisana nezinye izindengezi zomhlabathi! Ingabe kufanele yini ubumba luthi kumbumbi walo: ‘Yini oyenzayo?’ Nalokho wena okufezile kuthi: ‘Akanazandla’? Maye kulowo othi kuyise: ‘Yini le oyizalayo?’ nakumfazi: ‘Yini le osikwa ngenxa yayo?’” (Isaya 45:9, 10) Kubonakala sengathi abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bayakuphikisa lokho uJehova akubikezelayo. Mhlawumbe abakholwa ukuthi uJehova uyovumela abantu bakhe bathunjwe. Noma, kungenzeka ukuthi bagxeka umqondo wokuthi u-Israyeli uyokhululwa inkosi yesizwe samaqaba kunokuba kube inkosi yendlu kaDavide. Ukuze aveze ubuwula balokho kuphikisa, u-Isaya ufanisa abaphikisi nezigaxa zobumba nezindengezi ezilahliwe ezingangabaza ukuhlakanipha komenzi wazo. Into ebunjiwe manje ithi umbumbi akanazandla noma amandla okubumba. Yeka ubuwula! Laba baphikisi bafana nezingane ezincane ezigxeka igunya labazali bazo.

14, 15. Inkulumo ethi “oNgcwele” nethi ‘uMbumbi’ yembulani ngoJehova?

¹⁴ U-Isaya unikeza impendulo kaJehova kubaphikisi: “Yilokhu uJehova akushilo, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli noMbumbi wakhe: ‘Ngibuze ngisho nangezinto ezizayo ngokuphathelene namadodana ami; futhi kufanele nina ningiyale ngokuphathelene nomsebenzi wezandla zami. Mina ngokwami ngenze umhlaba ngadala ngisho nomuntu phezu kwawo. Mina—izandla zami siqu zelula amazulu, futhi ngiyalé lonke ibutho lawo. Mina ngokwami ngivusé othile ngokulunga, futhi zonke izindlela zakhe ngiyoziqondisa. Nguye oyokwakha umuzi wami, futhi abangabami abasekudingisweni uyobadedela, hhayi ngentengo noma ngesifumbathiso,’ kusho uJehova wamabutho.”—Isaya 45:11-13.

¹⁵ Ukuchaza uJehova ngokuthi ‘ungoNgcwele,’ kugcizelela ubungcwele bakhe. Ukumbiza ngokuthi ‘uMbumbi’ kugcizelela igunya analo njengoMdali lokunquma indlela izinto ezizokwenzeka ngayo. UJehova uyakwazi ukutshela abantwana bakwa-Israyeli izinto ezizokwenzeka nokunakekela umsebenzi wezandla zakhe, abantu bakhe. Nalapha futhi isimiso sendalo nesokwambula izinto zibonakala zihlobene. NjengoMdali wendawo yonke, uJehova unegunya lokuqondisa izenzakalo ngendlela afuna ngayo. (1 IziKronike 29:11, 12) Kule ndaba okuxoxwa ngayo, uMbusi Wendawo Yonke unqume ukuvusa uKoresi, iqaba, ukuba abe umkhululi ka-Israyeli. Ukuza kukaKoresi, nakuba engakafiki, kuqiniseke njengokuba khona kwezulu nomhlaba. Iyiphi-ke indodana ka-Israyeli engalokotha igxeke uYise, “uJehova wamabutho”?

16. Kungani izinceku zikaJehova kufanele zizithobe kuye?

¹⁶ Wona la mavesi ka-Isaya anesinye isizathu sokuba izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zizithobe kuye. Izinqumo zakhe zihlale zizizuzisa kakhulu izinceku zakhe. (Jobe 36:3) Wenza imithetho ukuze asize abantu bakhe bazizuzise bona. (Isaya 48:17) AmaJuda osuku lukaKoresi amukela ubukhosi bukaJehova ayabona ukuthi kuyiqiniso lokhu. Njengoba uKoresi enza izinto ngokulunga kukaJehova, uthi mawahambe eBabiloni ayokwakha kabusha ithempeli. (Ezra 6:3-5) Ngokufanayo namuhla, bathola izibusiso labo abasebenzisa imithetho kaNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwabo kwamihla yonke nabazithoba ebukhosini bakhe.—IHubo 1:1-3; 19:7; 119:105; Johane 8:31, 32.

Izibusiso Zezinye Izizwe

17. Ngaphandle kuka-Israyeli, obani abanye abayozuza ezenzweni zikaJehova zokusindisa, futhi kanjani?

¹⁷ Ngeke kuzuze u-Israyeli kuphela ekuweni kweBabiloni. U-Isaya uthi: “Yilokhu uJehova akushilo: ‘Izisebenzi ezingakhokhelwa zaseGibithe nabathengisi baseTopiya namaSabeya, abantu abade, bayofika nokufika kuwe, futhi bayoba ngabakho. Bayohamba ngemva kwakho; bayoza beboshiwe, futhi bayokukhothamela. Bayothandaza kuwe, bethi, “Impela uNkulunkulu usebunyeni nawe, futhi akekho omunye; akekho omunye uNkulunkulu.”’” (Isaya 45:14) Osukwini lukaMose, “iqembu elikhulu eliyingxubevange” labangewona ama-Israyeli lahamba nama-Israyeli lapho eFuduka eGibithe. (Eksodusi 12:37, 38) Ngendlela efanayo, abantu bezizwe bayohamba nezithunjwa ezingamaJuda eziphindela ekhaya zisuka eBabiloni. Laba bantu abangemaJuda ngeke baphoqwe kodwa ‘bayozizela.’ Lapho uJehova ethi “bayokukhothamela” futhi “bayothandaza kuwe,” ukhuluma ngokuzithoba ngokuzithandela nokwethembeka laba bantu bezizwe abayokubonisa u-Israyeli. Uma befake amaketanga, bayobe bewafake ngokuzithandela, okubonisa ukuzimisela kwabo ukukhonza abantu besivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, abayothi kubo: ‘UNkulunkulu usebunyeni nani.’ Bayokhulekela uJehova njengamaproselithe, ngaphansi kwamalungiselelo esivumelwano sakhe no-Israyeli.—Isaya 56:6.

18. Obani namuhla abaye bazuza ekukhululeni kukaJehova “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu,” futhi bazuze ngaziphi izindlela?

¹⁸ Kusukela ngo-1919 lapho “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu” ekhululwa ekuthunjweni ngokomoya, amazwi ka-Isaya aye agcwaliseka nakakhulu kunasosukwini lukaKoresi. Emhlabeni wonke abantu abayizigidi babonisa ukuthi bafuna ukukhonza uJehova ngokuzimisela. (Galathiya 6:16; Zakariya 8:23) ‘Njengezisebenzi ezingakhokhelwa nabathengisi’ akhuluma ngabo u-Isaya, banikela ngamandla abo nangezimali zabo ngenjabulo ukuze basekele ukukhulekela kweqiniso. (Mathewu 25:34-40; Marku 12:30) Bazinikezela kuNkulunkulu futhi bahambe ezindleleni zakhe, bayakuthokozela ukuba izigqila zakhe. (Luka 9:23) Bakhulekela uJehova kuphela, bajabulela izinzuzo zokuhlanganyela ‘nesigqila sikaJehova esikholekile nesiqondayo,’ esisesivumelwaneni esikhethekile noNkulunkulu. (Mathewu 24:45-47; 26:28; Heberu 8:8-13) Nakuba zingahlanganyeli kuleso sivumelwano, lezo ‘zisebenzi ezingakhokhelwa nabathengisi’ ziyazuza kuso futhi zilalela imithetho yaso, ngesibindi zimemeza zithi: “Akekho omunye uNkulunkulu.” Yeka indlela okujabulisa ngayo ukuzibonela ngawethu namuhla ukwanda okukhulu kwenani lalaba basekeli bokukhulekela kweqiniso bokuzithandela!—Isaya 60:22.

19. Kuyokwenzekani kulabo abaphikelela nokukhonza izithombe?

¹⁹ Ngemva kokuveza ukuthi abantu bezizwe bayohlanganyela ekukhulekeleni uJehova, umprofethi uyababaza: “Impela wena unguNkulunkulu ozigcina ezifihlile, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uMsindisi”! (Isaya 45:15) Nakuba uJehova ezibamba ekuboniseni amandla akhe okwamanje, esikhathini esizayo ngeke azibambe. Uyoziveza enguNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uMsindisi wabantu bakhe. Kodwa uJehova ngeke abe uMsindisi wabathembela ezithombeni. U-Isaya uthi ngalabo: “Ngokuqinisekile bayoba namahloni bahlazeke nokuhlazeka, bonke ngothi lwabo. Abenzi bezithombe kuyodingeka bahambe ndawonye behlazekile.” (Isaya 45:16) Ukuhlazeka kwabo ngeke nje kube okomuzwa wesikhashana wokudumazeka nokuba namahloni. Kuyosho ukufa—okuphambene nesithembiso esilandelayo uJehova asithembisa u-Isaya.

20. U-Israyeli uyoyithola kanjani ‘insindiso yaphakade’?

²⁰ “Kepha u-Israyeli yena, ngokuqinisekile uyosindiswa ebunyeni noJehova ngensindiso yaphakade. Nina ngeke nibe namahloni, futhi ngeke nihlazeke kuzo zonke izikhathi zaphakade ezingenasiphelo.” (Isaya 45:17 ) UJehova uthembisa u-Israyeli insindiso yaphakade, kodwa inemibandela. U-Israyeli kumelwe ahlale ‘esebunyeni noJehova.’ Lapho u-Israyeli eqeda lobu bunye ngokwenqaba uJesu njengoMesiya, uyolahlekelwa ithemba lakhe ‘lensindiso yaphakade’ njengesizwe. Nokho, abathile kwa-Israyeli bayolubonisa ukholo kuJesu, futhi babe ingxenye eyinhloko ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu, oyothatha indawo ka-Israyeli ongokwenyama. (Mathewu 21:43; Galathiya 3:28, 29; 1 Petru 2:9) U-Israyeli ongokomoya akasoze ahlazeka. Uyofakwa ‘esivumelwaneni esimi phakade.’—Heberu 13:20.

Ekudaleni Nasekwambuleni Izinto, UJehova Uthembekile

21. UJehova uzibonisa kanjani ethembeke ngokuphelele ekudaleni nasekwambuleni izinto?

²¹ Ingabe amaJuda angasethemba isithembiso sikaJehova sokusindiswa phakade kuka-Israyeli? U-Isaya uyaphendula: “Yilokhu uJehova akushilo, uMdali wamazulu, Yena onguNkulunkulu weqiniso, uMbumbi womhlaba noMenzi wawo, Yena owawumisa ngokuqinile, ongazange awudalele ize nje, owawubumba ukuze uhlalwe ngisho nokuhlalwa: ‘NginguJehova, akekho omunye. Angizange ngikhulume ngisendaweni yokucasha, endaweni emnyama yomhlaba; futhi angizange ngithi enzalweni kaJakobe, “Ngifuneni ngeze nje kuphela.” NginguJehova, okhuluma okulungile, owazisa okuqondile.’” (Isaya 45:18, 19) Sekungokwesine nokokugcina kulesi sahluko u-Isaya eqala isiprofetho esinamandla ngamazwi athi: “Yilokhu uJehova akushilo.” (Isaya 45:1, 11, 14) Uthini uJehova? Uthi uthembekile ekudaleni nasekwambuleni izinto. Akawudalelanga “ize nje” umhlaba. Akasho ukuthi abantu bakhe u-Israyeli abamfunele ‘ize.’ Njengoba nje injongo kaNkulunkulu ngomhlaba iyofezeka, nenjongo yaKhe ngabantu bakhe abakhethiwe iyofezeka. Ngokungafani namazwi angazwakali alabo abakhonza onkulunkulu bamanga, amazwi kaJehova ashiwo obala. Amazwi akhe anobulungisa, futhi ayogcwaliseka. Labo abamkhonzayo ngeke bamkhonzele ize.

22. (a) AmaJuda athunjelwe eBabiloni angaqiniseka ngani? (b) AmaKristu namuhla aqiniseka ngani?

²² Kubantu bakaNkulunkulu abathunjelwe eBabiloni, lawo mazwi ayisiqinisekiso sokuthi iZwe Lesithembiso ngeke lihlale liyincithakalo. Kuyophinde kuhlale abantu kulo. Futhi izithembiso ayebathembise zona uJehova ziyagcwaliseka. La mazwi ka-Isaya aqinisekisa nabantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla ukuthi umhlaba ngeke ube incithakalo—ushiswe ngomlilo, njengoba abanye bekholelwa, noma ubhujiswe amabhomu enuzi, njengoba abanye besaba ukuthi kuyoba njalo. UNkulunkulu ujonge ukuba umhlaba uhlale phakade, umbozwe ubuhle obunjengobepharadesi futhi ube nezakhamuzi ezilungileyo. (IHubo 37:11, 29; 115:16; Mathewu 6:9, 10; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4) Yebo, njengasendabeni ka-Israyeli, amazwi kaJehova ayobonakala ethembekile.

UJehova Ubonisa Isihe

23. Uyini umphumela kulabo abakhulekela izithombe, futhi kubahambela kanjani labo abakhulekela uJehova?

²³ Amazwi kaJehova alandelayo agcizelela insindiso ka-Israyeli: “Ziqoqeni nize. Sondelanani, nina baphunyukileyo abavela ezizweni. Labo abathwele ukhuni lomfanekiso wabo oqoshiwe abazange babe nalwazi, ngokufanayo nalabo abathandaza kunkulunkulu ongenakukwazi ukusindisa. Lethani umbiko wenu nodaba lwenu. Yebo, mababonisane ndawonye ngobunye. Ngubani owenzé ukuba lokhu kuzwiwe kusukela esikhathini eside esadlula? Ngubani okubikile kusukela ngaso kanye leso sikhathi? Akumina Jehova yini, okungekho omunye uNkulunkulu ngaphandle kwakhe; uNkulunkulu olungile noMsindisi, njengoba kungekho omunye ngaphandle kwami?” (Isaya 45:20, 21) UJehova uthi ‘abaphunyukileyo’ mabaqhathanise insindiso yabo nalokho okwenzeka kwabakhonza izithombe. (Duteronomi 30:3; Jeremiya 29:14; 50:28) Ngenxa yokuthi abakhonza izithombe bathandaza futhi bakhonze onkulunkulu abangenamandla nabangakwazi ukubasiza, “abazange babe nalwazi.” Ukukhulukela kwabo kuyize—akufezi lutho. Kodwa labo abakhulekela uJehova bathola ukuthi unamandla okwenza izenzakalo azibikezela “kusukela esikhathini eside esadlula,” kuhlanganise nokusindisa abantu bakhe abathunjelwe eBabiloni. Amandla anjalo nokubona izinto kusengaphambili kuhlukanisa uJehova kubo bonke abanye onkulunkulu. Ngempela, ‘unguNkulunkulu olungile noMsindisi.’

“Insindiso Yethu Ivela KuNkulunkulu Wethu”

24, 25.(a) Yisiphi isimemo esikhishwa uJehova, futhi kungani isithembiso sakhe siyogcwaliseka nakanjani? (b) Yini okufanelekayo ukuba uJehova ayifune?

²⁴ Isihe sikaJehova simenza akhiphe lesi simemo: “Phendukelani kimi nisindiswe, nina nonke enisemikhawulweni yomhlaba; ngoba nginguNkulunkulu, akekho omunye. Ngizifungile mina—izwi liphumé ngokulunga emlonyeni wami, kangangokuthi ngeke libuye—ukuthi wonke amadolo ayoguqa kimi, zonke izindimi ziyofunga, zithi, ‘Ngokuqinisekile kukhona ukulunga okugcwele nezikhwepha kuJehova. Bonke abamthukuthelela kakhulu bayoqonda ngqo kuye babe namahloni. Yonke inzalo ka-Israyeli iyoba ngelungile kuJehova futhi iyoziqhayisa.’”—Isaya 45:22-25.

²⁵ UJehova uthembisa u-Israyeli ukuthi uyobasindisa labo abaseBabiloni abaphendukela kuye. Isiprofetho sakhe asinakungagcwaliseki ngoba uJehova unesifiso namandla okophula abantu bakhe. (Isaya 55:11) Amazwi kaNkulunkulu athembekile, kodwa athembeka nakakhulu uma uJehova efunga ukuthi uyowagcwalisa. (Heberu 6:13) Kuyafaneleka ukuba afune ukuba labo abafuna ukuthola umusa wakhe bazithobe kuye (“wonke amadolo ayoguqa”) futhi bazibophe kuye (“zonke izindimi ziyofunga”). Ama-Israyeli akhuthazelayo ekukhonzeni uJehova ayosindiswa. Ayokwazi ukuziqhayisa ngalokho uJehova awenzela kona.—2 Korinte 10:17.

26. “Isixuku esikhulu” esivela ezizweni zonke sisabela kanjani esimemweni sikaJehova sokuba siphendukele kuye?

²⁶ Isimemo sikaNkulunkulu sokuba abantu baphendukele kuye asigcinanga ezithunjweni zaseBabiloni lasendulo. (IzEnzo 14:14, 15; 15:19; 1 Thimothewu 2:3, 4) Lesi simemo sisaphuma namanje, futhi ‘isixuku esikhulu esiphuma kuzo zonke izizwe’ siyasabela bese siyamemezela: “Insindiso yethu ivela kuNkulunkulu wethu . . . nakulo iWundlu [uJesu].” (IsAmbulo 7:9, 10; 15:4) Unyaka ngamunye abantu abasanda kuhlanganyela abangamakhulu ezinkulungwane bandisa isixuku esikhulu ngokuphendukela kuNkulunkulu, bebuqaphela ngokugcwele ubukhosi bakhe futhi bavume obala ukuthi bayamkhulekela. Ngaphezu kwalokho, bamsekela ngobuqotho u-Israyeli ongokomoya, “inzalo ka-Abrahama.” (Galathiya 3:29) Babonisa uthando abathanda ngalo ukubusa kukaJehova okulungile ngokumemezela emhlabeni kabanzi ukuthi: “Ngokuqinisekile kukhona ukulunga okugcwele nezikhwepha kuJehova.”a Encwadini yakhe kwabaseRoma, umphostoli uPawulu wacaphuna u-Isaya 45:23 kuyi-Septuagint ukuze abonise ukuthi ekugcineni, bonke abaphilayo bayoqhubeka bevuma ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu futhi badumise igama lakhe.—Roma 14:11; Filipi 2:9-11; IsAmbulo 21:22-27.

27. Kungani amaKristu namuhla engazethemba ngokuphelele izithembiso zikaJehova?

²⁷ Kungani amalungu esixuku esikhulu engathemba ukuthi ukuphendukela kuNkulunkulu kusho ukusindiswa? Ngoba izithembiso zikaJehova zinokwethenjelwa, njengoba amazwi ayisiprofetho aku-Isaya isahluko 45 ebonisa ngokucacile. Njengoba nje uJehova ayenamandla nokuhlakanipha kokudala amazulu nomhlaba, unawo namandla nokuhlakanipha kokwenza iziprofetho zakhe zigcwaliseke. Futhi njengoba nje aqikelela ukuthi isiprofetho esiphathelene noKoresi siyagcwaliseka, uyozigcwalisa nanoma yiziphi iziprofetho zeBhayibheli ezingakagcwaliseki. Ngakho-ke, abakhulekeli bakaJehova bangaqiniseka ukuthi maduze nje uJehova uzophinde azibonise ‘enguNkulunkulu olungile noMsindisi.’

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 80, 81]

UJehova, owenza ukukhanya adale nobumnyama, angenza kube nokuthula futhi adale nenhlekelele

[Isithombe ekhasini 83]

UJehova uyokwenza “amazulu” ehlise izibusiso ‘nomhlaba’ ulethe insindiso

[Isithombe ekhasini 84]

Kufanele yini ukuba izindengezi ezilahliwe zobumba zingabaze ukuhlakanipha komenzi wazo?

[Isithombe ekhasini 89]

UJehova akazange awudalele ize umhlaba