Siyajabula Ngokuthi UJehova Usibonisa Indlela Yakhe
“Indlela kaNkulunkulu iphelele; izwi likaJehova lihlanzekile.”—2 SAMUWELI 22:31.
1, 2. (a) Yini bonke abantu abanesidingo esiyisisekelo sayo? (b) Yisibonelo sikabani okuyoba kuhle ukuba sisilingise?
BONKE abantu banesidingo esiyisisekelo sesiqondiso. Ngempela, sidinga usizo ukuze sihambe ngendlela efanele ekuphileni. Yiqiniso, uJehova uye wasinika isilinganiso esithile sokuhlakanipha nonembeza ukuze kusisize sihlukanise phakathi kokulungile nokungalungile. Kodwa unembeza wethu udinga ukuqeqeshwa ukuze ube yisiqondiso esinokwethenjelwa. (Heberu 5:14) Futhi ingqondo yethu idinga ukwaziswa okuyikonakona—kanye nokuqeqeshelwa ukuhlaziya lokho kwaziswa—ukuze senze izinqumo ezinhle. (IzAga 2:1-5) Ngisho nalapho, ngenxa yokungaqiniseki ngokuzokwenzeka ekuphileni, izinqumo zethu zingase zingaphumeli kulokho ebesikufisa. (UmShumayeli 9:11) Thina ngokwethu, asinayo indlela enokwethenjelwa yokwazi ukuthi ikusasa liphetheni.
2 Ngenxa yalezi zizathu nezinye eziningi, umprofethi uJeremiya wabhala: “Ngiyazi, Jehova, ukuthi indlela yomuntu ayikuye uqobo; akukuyo indoda ukuba ihambe, iqondise izinyathelo zayo.” (Jeremiya 10:23) UJesu Kristu, umuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke owake waphila, wasamukela isiqondiso. Wathi: “INdodana ayikwazi ukwenza ngisho nento eyodwa ngokusuka kuyo siqu, kodwa kuphela lokho ebona uYise ekwenza. Ngoba noma yiziphi izinto azenzayo Yena, neNdodana iyazenza lezizinto ngendlela efanayo.” (Johane 5:19) Khona-ke, yeka indlela okuhlakaniphe ngayo ukulingisa uJesu ngokubheka kuJehova ukuze sithole usizo ekuqondiseni izinyathelo zethu! INkosi uDavide yahlabelela: “Indlela kaNkulunkulu iphelele; izwi likaJehova lihlanzekile; yena uyisihlangu kubo bonke abaphephela kuye.” (2 Samuweli 22:31) Uma sifuna ukuhamba endleleni kaJehova kunokuba silandele okwethu ukuhlakanipha, siyoba nesiqondiso esiphelele. Ukwenqaba indlela kaNkulunkulu kuphumela enhlekeleleni.
UJehova Usibonisa Indlela
3. UJehova wabaqondisa kanjani o-Adamu no-Eva, ebanika maphi amathemba?
3 Cabanga ngo-Adamu no-Eva. Nakuba babengenasono, babesidinga isiqondiso. UJehova akashiyelanga ku-Adamu ukuba azihlelele yena yonke into ensimini enhle yase-Edene. Kunalokho, uNkulunkulu wamnika umsebenzi okwakumelwe awenze. Okokuqala, u-Adamu kwakudingeka aqambe izilwane amagama. UJehova wabe esenika u-Adamu no-Eva imigomo yesikhathi eside. Kwakufanele banqobe umhlaba, bawugcwalise ngezizukulwane zabo, futhi banakekele izilwane ezisemhlabeni. (Genesise 1:28) Lona kwakuyoba umsebenzi omkhulu, kodwa umphumela wawuyoba yipharadesi lomhlaba wonke eligcwele uhlanga lwesintu oluphelele, oluphila ngokuthula nezilwane. Yeka ithemba elimangalisayo! Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba u-Adamu no-Eva babehamba ngokwethembeka endleleni kaJehova, babeyokwazi ukukhulumisana naye. (Qhathanisa noGenesise 3:8.) Yeka ilungelo elimangalisayo—ukuba nobuhlobo obuqhubekayo, bomuntu siqu noMdali!
4. U-Adamu no-Eva bakubonisa kanjani ukuntula ukwethemba uNkulunkulu nokwethembeka kuye, futhi kwaba namiphi imiphumela eyinhlekelele?
4 UJehova wabenqabela abantu ababili bokuqala ukudla emthini wokwazi okuhle nokubi owawuse-Edene, futhi lokhu kwabanika ithuba ngokushesha lokubonisa ukulalela kwabo—isifiso sabo sokuhamba endleleni kaJehova. (Genesise 2:17) Nokho, ngokushesha lokho kulalela kwavivinyeka. Lapho uSathane efika namazwi akhe akhohlisayo, u-Adamu no-Eva kwakudingeka babonise ukwethembeka kuJehova futhi bathembele ezithembisweni zaKhe ukuze bahlale bengabalalelayo. Ngokudabukisayo, babentula ukwethembeka futhi bengathembele kuYe. Lapho uSathane ethembisa u-Eva ukuzibusa futhi emangalela uJehova ngokungeyikho ngokuthi wayeqambé amanga, u-Eva wakhohliseka futhi wangamlalela uNkulunkulu. U-Adamu wamlandela naye wangena esonweni. (Genesise 3:1-6; 1 Thimothewu 2:14) Balahlekelwa kakhulu ngenxa yalokho. Ukuhamba endleleni kaJehova kwakuyobanika injabulo eyandayo lapho beqhubeka befeza intando yakhe. Kunalokho, ukuphila kwabo kwase kugcwele indumalo nobuhlungu kwaze kwaba yilapho beficwa ukufa.—Genesise 3:16-19; 5:1-5.
5. Iyini injongo kaJehova ayimisa kusenesikhathi eside, futhi ubasiza kanjani abantu abathembekile ukuba babone ukugcwaliseka kwayo?
5 Nokho, uJehova akazange ayishintshe injongo yakhe yokuthi ngolunye usuku umhlaba uyoba yikhaya eliyipharadesi labantu abaphelele nabangenasono. (IHubo 37:11, 29) Futhi akakaze angabaniki isiqondiso esiphelele labo abahamba endleleni yakhe futhi abanethemba lokubona ukugcwaliseka kwaleso sithembiso. Kulabo phakathi kwethu abanezindlebe zokuzwa, izwi likaJehova lingemva kwethu, lithi: “Nansi indlela; hambani ngayo.”—Isaya 30:21.
Abathile Bahamba Endleleni KaJehova
6. Yimaphi amadoda amabili angezikhathi zakudala ayehamba endleleni kaJehova, futhi kwaba namiphi imiphumela?
6 Ngokokulandisa kweBhayibheli, yingcosana kuphela ezizukulwaneni zika-Adamu no-Eva eyahamba endleleni kaJehova. U-Abela wayengowokuqala kuzo. Nakuba afa ngaphambi kwesikhathi, wafa esemseni kaJehova futhi ngenxa yalokho unethemba eliqinisekile lokuhlanganyela ‘ovukweni lwabalungileyo’ ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esifanele. (IzEnzo 24:15) Uyobona ukugcwaliseka kwenjongo enhle kaJehova ekugcineni, ephathelene nomhlaba nesintu. (Heberu 11:4) Omunye owahamba endleleni kaJehova kwakungu-Enoke, osiprofetho sakhe mayelana nokuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto silondolozwe encwadini kaJude. (Jude 14, 15) U-Enoke naye akaphilanga isilinganiso esigcwele sokuphila ayengase akuphile. (Genesise 5:21-24) Noma kunjalo, “wafakazelwa ukuthi wayemjabulise kahle uNkulunkulu.” (Heberu 11:5) Lapho efa, njengo-Abela, wayenethemba eliqinisekile lovuko futhi uyoba phakathi kwalabo abayobona izinjongo zikaJehova zigcwaliseka.
7. UNowa nomkhaya wakhe babonisa kanjani ukuthi babethembekile kuJehova futhi bemethemba?
7 Njengoba izwe langaphambi kweSikhukhula laliya liba libi nakakhulu, ukulalela uJehova kwakukuvivinya nakakhulu ukwethembeka. Lapho selizophela lelo zwe, kwakuneqenjana elilodwa kuphela elatholakala lihamba endleleni kaJehova. UNowa nomkhaya wakhe babelalela uNkulunkulu futhi bekwethemba lokho ayekusho. Bayifeza ngokwethembeka imisebenzi ababenikwe yona futhi bangavuma ukubanjwa ugibe lwemikhuba emibi yezwe langaleso sikhathi. (Genesise 6:5-7, 13-16; Heberu 11:7; 2 Petru 2:5) Singabonga ngokuthi balalela ngokwethembeka futhi bathembela kuJehova. Ngenxa yalokho, basinda eSikhukhuleni futhi baba okhokho bethu.—Genesise 6:22; 1 Petru 3:20.
8. Esizweni sakwa-Israyeli, yini eyayihilelekile ekuhambeni endleleni kaNkulunkulu?
8 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uJehova wenza isivumelwano nozalo lukaJakobe othembekile, futhi lwaba yisizwe sakhe esikhethekile. (Eksodusi 19:5, 6) UJehova wabanika isiqondiso abantu besivumelwano sakhe esebenzisa uMthetho olotshiwe, abapristi kanye nesiqondiso esiqhubekayo esiyiziprofetho. Kodwa kwakukuwo ama-Israyeli ukuthi ayasilandela yini leso siqondiso. UJehova wenza ukuba umprofethi wakhe atshele ama-Israyeli: “Bheka, ngibeka phambi kwakho namuhla isibusiso nesiqalekiso, isibusiso, uma niyilalela imiyalo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu enginiyala ngayo namuhla, nesiqalekiso, uma ningayilaleli imiyalo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, kepha niphambuka endleleni enginiyala ngayo namuhla, ukulandela abanye onkulunkulu eningabaziyo.”—Duteronomi 11:26-28.
Okwenza Abathile Bayishiye Indlela KaJehova
9, 10. Yisiphi isimo esabangela ukuba kudingeke ama-Israyeli athembele kuJehova futhi ahlakulele ukwethembeka kuye?
9 Njengoba nje kwakunjalo ngo-Adamu no-Eva, ama-Israyeli kwakudingeka athembele kuJehova futhi athembeke kuye ukuze aqhubeke elalela. U-Israyeli wayeyisizwe esincane esizungezwe omakhelwane abanokubanga. Eningizimu-ntshonalanga kwakuneGibithe neTopiya. Enyakatho-mpumalanga kuneSiriya ne-Asiriya. Eduze nje kuneFilistiya, izwe lakwa-Amoni, elakwaMowabi nelakwa-Edomi. Zonke lezi zizwe zake zaba yizitha zika-Israyeli ngezikhathi ezithile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, zonke zaziqhuba inkolo yamanga, eyayiphawulwa ukukhulekelwa konkulunkulu abayizithombe, ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi, kwezinye izimo namasiko obulili obuyingcaca kanye nokwenziwa kwemihlatshelo ngezingane okunonya. Omakhelwane bama-Israyeli babethembela konkulunkulu babo ukuba babanike imikhaya emikhulu, izivuno ezinhle futhi babenze banqobe ezimpini.
10 Kwakungu-Israyeli kuphela owayekhonza uNkulunkulu oyedwa, uJehova. Wabathembisa ukubabusisa ngemikhaya emikhulu, izivuno ezinhle nokubalonda ezitheni zabo uma belalela imithetho yakhe. (Duteronomi 28:1-14) Ngokudabukisayo, abaningi kwa-Israyeli abakwenzanga lokhu. Kulabo abahamba endleleni kaJehova, abaningi bahlupheka ngenxa yokwethembeka kwabo. Abanye baze bahlukunyezwa, bahlekwa usulu, babhaxabulwa, baboshwa, bakhandwa ngamatshe futhi babulawa ama-Israyeli akubo. (IzEnzo 7:51, 52; Heberu 11:35-38) Yeka uvivinyo okumelwe ukuba lokho kwaba yilo kwabathembekile! Nokho, kungani abaningi kangaka bachezuka endleleni kaJehova? Izibonelo ezimbili emlandweni wama-Israyeli zisisiza ukuba sibone ukucabanga kwawo okunephutha.
Isibonelo Esibi Sika-Ahazi
11, 12. (a) Lapho esongelwa yiSiriya, yini u-Ahazi enqaba ukuyenza? (b) Yimiphi imithombo emibili u-Ahazi ayekulindele kuyo ukulondeka?
11 U-Ahazi wayebusa embusweni wakwaJuda oseningizimu ngekhulu lesi-8 B.C.E. Umbuso wakhe wawungenakho ukuthula. Ngesinye isikhathi, iSiriya yahlangana nombuso wasenyakatho wakwa-Israyeli yalwa naye, “yayisiqhaqhazela inhliziyo yakhe nenhliziyo yabantu bakhe.” (Isaya 7:1, 2) Nokho, lapho uJehova ethi uzomsekela u-Ahazi futhi ethi makamvivinye, u-Ahazi wala waphetha! (Isaya 7:10-12) Ngenxa yalokho, uJuda wanqotshwa kuleyo mpi futhi kwaphuma izidumbu eziningi.—2 IziKronike 28:1-8.
12 Nakuba u-Ahazi enqaba ukuvivinya uJehova, wakwazi ukuzithoba wacela usizo enkosini yase-Asiriya. Noma kunjalo, uJuda waqhubeka ehlushwa omakhelwane bakhe. Lapho i-Asiriya nayo imjikela u-Ahazi, ‘imhlupha,’ le nkosi ‘yahlabela onkulunkulu baseDamaseku ababeyishayile, yathi: “Ngokuba onkulunkulu bamakhosi ase-Aramu bawasiza, ngiyakubahlabela ukuba bangisize nami.”’—2 IziKronike 28:20, 23.
13. U-Ahazi wabonisani ngokuphendukela konkulunkulu baseSiriya?
13 Kamuva, uJehova wathi ku-Israyeli: “NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho okufundisile okukusizayo, okuholile ngendlela omelwe ukuhamba ngayo. Sengathi nga ulalele imiyalo yami! Khona ukuthula kwakho kwakuyakuba njengomfula, nokulunga kwakho njengamaza olwandle.” (Isaya 48:17, 18) Lapho ephendukela konkulunkulu baseSiriya, u-Ahazi wabonisa ukuthi wayesephambuke kakhulu kangakanani ‘ekuhambeni ngendlela okwakumelwe ahambe ngayo.’ Ukucabanga kwezizwe kwase kumdukise ngokuphelele, esethembele emithonjeni yazo yokulondeka okungekho, kunakuJehova.
14. Kungani u-Ahazi ayengenakuzithethelela lapho ephendukela konkulunkulu bamanga?
14 Base bedalulwe kudala onkulunkulu bezizwe nabaseSiriya ukuthi ‘bangonkulunkulu abangasizi ngalutho.’ (Isaya 2:8, NW) Ngaphambili, phakathi nokubusa kweNkosi uDavide, kwakubonakale ngokucacile ukuthi uJehova uphakeme kunonkulunkulu baseSiriya lapho abaseSiriya beba yizinceku zikaDavide. (1 IziKronike 18:5, 6) NguJehova kuphela, “uNkulunkulu wawonkulunkulu, neNkosi yamakhosi, uNkulunkulu omkhulu onamandla nowesabekayo,” onganikeza ukulondeka kwangempela. (Duteronomi 10:17) Nokho, u-Ahazi wamfulathela uJehova futhi wathembela konkulunkulu bezizwe ukuba bamlonde. Umphumela waba yinhlekelele kuJuda.—2 IziKronike 28:24, 25.
AmaJuda NoJeremiya EGibithe
15. Ngosuku lukaJeremiya amaJuda ayeseGibithe ona ngani?
15 Ngenxa yokungathembeki okukhulu kwabantu bakhe, ngo-607 B.C.E., uJehova wavumela abaseBabiloni ukuba babhubhise iJerusalema nethempeli lalo. Iningi lalesi sizwe ladingiselwa eBabiloni. Nokho, abanye basala, okwakukhona phakathi kwabo umprofethi uJeremiya. Lapho uMbusi uGedaliya ebulawa, leli qembu lathatha uJeremiya labalekela eGibithe. (2 AmaKhosi 25:22-26; Jeremiya 43:5-7) Khona, laqala ukwenzela onkulunkulu bamanga imihlatshelo. UJeremiya wabonisana nawo ngobuqotho lawo maJuda ayengathembekile, kodwa aba nenkani. Enqaba ukubuyela kuJehova futhi aphikelela athi ayezoqhubeka eshisela “inkosikazi yezulu” impepho. Ngani? Ngoba yilokho ayekade ekwenza wona nawoyisemkhulu ‘emizini yakwaJuda nasezitaladini zaseJerusalema, ngokuba ayesuthi isinkwa, ehlala kahle, engakuboni okubi.’ (Jeremiya 44:16, 17) AmaJuda aphikisa nangokuthi: “Selokhu sayeka ukushisela inkosikazi yezulu impepho nokuyithululela iminikelo yokuphuzwa, siswele konke, siqedwe ngenkemba nangendlala.”—Jeremiya 44:18.
16. Kungani amaJuda ayeseGibithe ayenephutha kakhulu endleleni ayecabanga ngayo?
16 Yeka ukuthi ingqondo ikwazi kanjani ukukhumbula kuphela lokho ekuthandayo! Kwakwenzekeni ngaphambili? AmaJuda ayeyenzile ngempela imihlatshelo konkulunkulu bamanga ezweni uJehova ayewanike lona. Ngezinye izikhathi, njengasesikhathini sika-Ahazi, ayehlupheka ngenxa yalokho kuhlubuka. Nokho, uJehova ‘wayephuza ukubathukuthelela’ abantu besivumelwano sakhe. (Eksodusi 34:6; IHubo 86:15) Wathumela abaprofethi bakhe ukuba bayobanxusa ukuba baphenduke. Ngezinye izikhathi, uJehova wayeyibusisa inkosi lapho ithembekile, futhi abantu babezuza kuleso sibusiso, yize iningi labo lalingathembekile. (2 IziKronike 20:29-33; 27:1-6) Yeka ukuthi ayenephutha kanjani lawo maJuda ayeseGibithe lapho ethi ukuchuma kwasezweni lakubo kwakubangelwe onkulunkulu bawo bamanga!
17. Kungani uJuda alahlekelwa yizwe nethempeli lakhe?
17 Ngaphambi kuka-607 B.C.E., uJehova wayenxuse abantu bakwaJuda: “Lalelani izwi lami, ngiyakuba nguNkulunkulu wenu, nina nibe ngabantu bami, nihambe ngezindlela zonke enganiyala ngazo ukuba kube kuhle kini.” (Jeremiya 7:23) AmaJuda alahlekelwa yithempeli lawo nezwe lawo ngenxa yako kanye ukuthi enqaba ukuhamba ‘ngezindlela zonke uJehova ayewayale ngazo.’ Masiqikelele ukuthi siyaligwema lelo phutha elibangela inhlekelele.
UJehova Uyababusisa Abahamba Endleleni Yakhe
18. Yini okumelwe bayenze labo abahamba endleleni kaJehova?
18 Njengasesikhathini esidlule, ukuhamba endleleni kaJehova namuhla kudinga ukwethembeka—ukuzimisela ukukhonza yena yedwa. Kudinga ukumethemba—ukuba nokholo olugcwele lokuthi izithembiso zikaJehova zinokwethenjelwa futhi zizofezeka. Ukuhamba endleleni kaJehova kufuna ukulalela—ukulandela imithetho yakhe ngaphandle kokuchezuka nokugcina izindinganiso zakhe eziphakeme. “UJehova ulungile, uyathanda ukulunga.”—IHubo 11:7.
19. Yibaphi onkulunkulu abakhulekelwa abantu abaningi namuhla, futhi kuba namiphi imiphumela?
19 U-Ahazi wayethembele konkulunkulu baseSiriya ukuba bamlonde. Ama-Israyeli ayeseGibithe ayenethemba lokuthi “inkosikazi yezulu,” unkulunkulukazi owayekhulekelwa ezindaweni eziningi eMpumalanga Ephakathi yasendulo, wayeyowachumisa ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. Namuhla, onkulunkulu abaningi abazona izithombe ezingokoqobo. UJesu waxwayisa ngokukhonza ‘iNgcebo’ kunokukhonza uJehova. (Mathewu 6:24) Umphostoli uPawulu wakhuluma ‘ngokukhanuka, okuwukukhonza izithombe.’ (Kolose 3:5) Wakhuluma nangalabo ‘abankulunkulu wabo uyisisu sabo.’ (Filipi 3:19) Yebo, imali nezinto ezibonakalayo kuphakathi konkulunkulu abayinhloko abakhulekelwayo namuhla. Empeleni, iningi labantu—kuhlanganise nabaningi abazihlanganise nenkolo—‘libeka ithemba lalo engcebweni engaqinisekile.’ (1 Thimothewu 6:17) Abaningi basebenza kanzima bekhonza lab’ onkulunkulu, futhi abanye bayayithola imivuzo—ukuhlala emakhaya kanokusho, ukuba nezinto ezibizayo nokudla izibiliboco ezibiza ngokweqile. Nokho, akubona bonke abathola leyo ngcebo. Futhi nalabo abayitholayo, ekugcineni bathola ukuthi lezi zinto ngokwazo azanelisi. Aziqinisekile, zingezesikhashana futhi azizanelisi izidingo ezingokomoya.—Mathewu 5:3.
20. Yikuphi ukulinganisela okumelwe sihlale sinako?
20 Yiqiniso, kumelwe sibhekane namaqiniso njengoba siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina zalesi simiso sezinto. Kudingeka sithathe izinyathelo ezinengqondo ukuze sondle imikhaya yethu ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. Kodwa uma sibheka ukuphila ukuphila okusezingeni eliphezulu, ukuphishekela imali noma izinto ezinjalo njengokubaluleke ngaphezu kokukhonza uNkulunkulu, sesiwelé ohlotsheni oluthile lokukhonza izithombe futhi asisahambi endleleni kaJehova. (1 Thimothewu 6:9, 10) Nokho, kuthiwani lapho sibhekana nezinkinga zempilo, ezingokwezimali noma ezinye? Masingabi njengalawo maJuda ayeseGibithe athi izinkinga zawo zazibangelwe ukukhonza uNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, masimvivinye uJehova, okuyinto u-Ahazi ahluleka ukuyenza. Phendukela kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka ukuze uthole isiqondiso. Sisebenzise ngokusethemba isiqondiso sakhe, futhi uthandazele amandla nokuhlakanipha kokusingatha noma yisiphi isimo. Khona-ke, lindela isibusiso sikaJehova ngokuqiniseka.
21. Yiziphi izibusiso ezitholwa yilabo abahamba endleleni kaJehova?
21 Kuwo wonke umlando wakwa-Israyeli, uJehova wayebabusisa ngokucebile labo ababehamba endleleni yakhe. INkosi uDavide yahlabelela: “Jehova, ngihole ngokulunga kwakho ngenxa yezitha zami.” (IHubo 5:8) UJehova wayenza yanqoba izimpi eyayizilwa nezizwe ezingomakhelwane ezakhathaza u-Ahazi kamuva. Ngaphansi kukaSolomoni, u-Israyeli wabusiswa ngokuthula nokuchuma okwalangazelwa amaJuda ayeseGibithe kamuva. UJehova wenza indodana ka-Ahazi, uHezekiya, ukuba inqobe ngisho ne-Asiriya enamandla. (Isaya 59:1) Yebo, isandla sikaJehova sasingafinyeziwe kwabathembekile bakhe, ababengami “endleleni yezoni,” kodwa abakuthokoza kwabo kwakusemthethweni kaNkulunkulu. (IHubo 1:1, 2) Kusenjalo namanje. Nokho, thina namuhla singaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi sihamba endleleni kaJehova? Lokhu kuzoxoxwa ngakho esihlokweni esilandelayo.
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Yiziphi izimfanelo ezibalulekile ukuze sihambe endleleni kaJehova?
◻ Kungani ukucabanga kuka-Ahazi kwakungalungile?
◻ Yini eyayinephutha kulokho amaJuda aseGibithe ayekucabanga?
◻ Singakuqinisa kanjani ukuzimisela kwethu ukuhamba endleleni kaJehova?
[Isithombe ekhasini 13]
U-Ahazi wathembela konkulunkulu baseSiriya kunakuJehova