Isahluko Seshumi Nantathu
Insindiso Nokujabula Ngaphansi Kokubusa KukaMesiya
1. Chaza isimo esingokomoya sabantu bakaNkulunkulu besivumelwano ngezinsuku zika-Isaya.
NGEZINSUKU zika-Isaya, isimo esingokomoya sabantu bakaNkulunkulu besivumelwano sasisibi. Ngisho nalapho kubusa amakhosi athembekile, njengo-Uziya noJothamu, iningi labantu lalikhulekela ezindaweni eziphakeme. (2 AmaKhosi 15:1-4, 34, 35; 2 IziKronike 26:1, 4) Lapho uHezekiya eba inkosi, kwadingeka asuse izinto ezihlobene nokukhulekela uBali ezweni. (2 IziKronike 31:1) Yingakho uJehova anxusa abantu bakhe ukuba babuyele kuye futhi wabaxwayisa ngesijeziso abazosithola!
2, 3. Yisiphi isikhuthazo uJehova asinikeza labo abafisa ukumkhonza naphezu kokungathembeki okusakazekile?
2 Noma kunjalo, akubona bonke ababengamahlongandlebe angasenakulungiseka. UJehova wayenabaprofethi abathembekile, futhi cishe akhona namaJuda athile ayebalalela. UJehova wayewaphathele amazwi enduduzo. Ngemva kokuchaza ukuchithwa uJuda ayezobhekana nakho lapho kuhlasela um-Asiriya, umprofethi u-Isaya waphefumulelwa ukuba alobe indima emnandi kunazo zonke kulo lonke iBhayibheli, incazelo yezibusiso eziyoba khona ngaphansi kokubusa kukaMesiya.a Ezinye izici zalezi zibusiso zagcwaliseka ngezinga elincane ngesikhathi amaJuda ebuya ekuthunjweni eBabiloni. Kodwa sonke lesi siprofetho sigcwaliseka ngezinga elikhulu namuhla. Yiqiniso, u-Isaya namanye amaJuda athembekile esikhathi sakhe abazange baphile baze babone lezi zibusiso. Kodwa babebheke phambili kuzo ngokholo futhi ngemva kovuko bayokubona ukugcwaliseka kwamazwi ka-Isaya.—Heberu 11:35.
3 Abantu bakaJehova bosuku lwanamuhla nabo bayasidinga isikhuthazo. Izimilo eziwohloka ngokushesha ezweni, ukuphikiswa ngonya kwesigijimi soMbuso nobuthakathaka bomuntu siqu busibekela inselele sonke. Amazwi amahle ka-Isaya aphathelene noMesiya nokubusa kwakhe angabaqinisa futhi abasize abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakwazi ukubhekana nalezi zinselele.
UMesiya—Umholi Onekhono
4, 5. U-Isaya waprofethani ngokuqondene nokuza kukaMesiya, futhi uMathewu wawasebenzisa kanjani amazwi ka-Isaya?
4 Kusasele amakhulu eminyaka ngaphambi kwesikhathi sika-Isaya, abanye abalobi beBhayibheli abangamaHeberu bakhomba ekuzeni kukaMesiya, uMholi wangempela uJehova ayezomthumela ku-Israyeli. (Genesise 49:10; Duteronomi 18:18; IHubo 118:22, 26) Manje, ngo-Isaya, uJehova unezela eminye imininingwane. U-Isaya uyabhala: “Kumelwe kuphume ihlumela esiphunzini sikaJese; ezimpandeni zakhe ihlumela liyokhiqiza.” (Isaya 11:1; qhathanisa neHubo 132:11.) Elithi “ihlumela” libonisa ukuthi uMesiya uyoba inzalo kaJese ngendodana yakhe uDavide, eyagcotshwa ngamafutha njengenkosi yakwa-Israyeli. (1 Samuweli 16:13; Jeremiya 23:5; IsAmbulo 22:16) Lapho uMesiya weqiniso efika, leli “hlumela,” elivela endlini kaDavide, liyoveza isithelo esihle.
5 UMesiya othenjisiwe nguJesu. Umlobi wevangeli uMathewu wayebhekisela emazwini ka-Isaya 11:1 lapho ethi ukubizwa kukaJesu ngokuthi “umNazaretha” kwakugcwalisa amazwi abaprofethi. Ngenxa yokuthi wakhulela emzini waseNazaretha, uJesu wayebizwa ngokuthi umNazaretha, ngokusobala okuyigama elihlobene nelesiHeberu elisetshenziswe ku-Isaya 11:1 kwelithi “ihlumela.”b—Mathewu 2:23, umbhalo waphansi; Luka 2:39, 40.
6. Kwaprofethwa ukuthi uMesiya uyoba luhlobo luni lombusi?
6 UMesiya uyoba luhlobo luni lombusi? Ingabe uyofana nom-Asiriya ononya, onenkani obhubhisa umbuso wakwa-Israyeli wasenyakatho wezizwe eziyishumi? Cha. U-Isaya uthi ngoMesiya: “Umoya kaJehova kumelwe uhlale phezu kwakhe, umoya wokuhlakanipha nowokuqonda, umoya weseluleko nowamandla, umoya wolwazi nowokwesaba uJehova; futhi uyojabula ngokwesaba uJehova.” (Isaya 11:2, 3a) UMesiya ugcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu, hhayi ngamafutha. Lokhu kwenzeka ngesikhathi uJesu ebhapathizwa, lapho uJohane uMbhapathizi ebona umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu wehlela kuJesu usesimweni sejuba. (Luka 3:22) Umoya kaJehova “wehlela phezu” kukaJesu, futhi unikeza ubufakazi balokhu lapho enza izinto ngokuhlakanipha, ngokuqonda, ngokuvumelana neseluleko, ngamandla nangolwazi. Yeka izimfanelo ezinhle zombusi!
7. Yisiphi isithembiso uJesu asenza kubalandeli bakhe abathembekile?
7 Abalandeli bakaJesu nabo bangawuthola umoya ongcwele. Kwenye yezinkulumo zakhe, uJesu wathi: “Uma nina, nakuba nibabi, nikwazi ukunika abantwana benu izipho ezinhle, yeka ukuthi uBaba osezulwini uyobanika kakhulu kangakanani umoya ongcwele labo abawucela kuye!” (Luka 11:13) Ngakho, akufanele nanini sinqikaze ukucela umoya ongcwele kuNkulunkulu, kungafanele futhi siyeke nokuhlakulela izithelo zawo ezinhle—“uthando, injabulo, ukuthula, ukubhekakade, umusa, ubuhle, ukholo, ubumnene, ukuzithiba.” (Galathiya 5:22, 23) UJehova uthembisa ukuphendula isicelo sabalandeli bakaJesu ‘sokuhlakanipha okuvela phezulu’ ukuze kubasize babhekane ngokuphumelelayo nezinselele zokuphila.—Jakobe 1:5; 3:17.
8. UJesu uyithola kanjani intokozo ekwesabeni uJehova?
8 Yikuphi lokhu kwesaba uJehova uMesiya akubonisayo? Ngokuqinisekile uNkulunkulu akamenzi uJesu ethuke, esabe ukuthi uzomlahla. Kunalokho, uMesiya unokwesaba kwenhlonipho ngoNkulunkulu, unothando olunenhlonipho ngaye. Umuntu owesaba uNkulunkulu ufisa ‘ukwenza izinto ezimjabulisayo’ ngaso sonke isikhathi, njengoba uJesu enza. (Johane 8:29) Ngezwi nangesibonelo, uJesu ufundisa ukuthi ayikho intokozo edlula ukuhamba ngokwesaba uJehova okuhlanzekile nsuku zonke.
UMahluleli Olungileyo Nonesihe
9. Yisiphi isibonelo uJesu asibekela labo abaye bacelwe ukuba bahlulele izindaba ebandleni lobuKristu?
9 U-Isaya ubikezela okwengeziwe ngezimfanelo zikaMesiya: “Ngeke ahlulele ngokwanoma yikuphi okubonakala emehlweni akhe, noma amane asole ngokwento ayizwe ngezindlebe.” (Isaya 11:3b) Ukube ubungama phambi kwenkantolo, ubungeke yini ubonge ngokuba nomahluleli onjalo? NjengoMahluleli waso sonke isintu, uMesiya akakhohliswa yizimpikiswano ezingamanga, ubuqili basezinkantolo, inzwabethi noma izinto ezingasho lutho, njengengcebo. Uyakwazi ukubona inkohliso futhi ubuka ngalé komzimba ongakhangi, abone “umuntu osithekile wenhliziyo,” “umuntu ofihlekile.” (1 Petru 3:4, umbhalo waphansi) Isibonelo sikaJesu esiphakeme kunazo zonke siyisibonelo kubo bonke abaye bacelwe ukuba bahlulele izindaba ebandleni lobuKristu.—1 Korinte 6:1-4.
10, 11. (a) UJesu ubalungisa ngayiphi indlela abalandeli bakhe? (b) Yisiphi isahlulelo uJesu asinika ababi?
10 Izimfanelo zikaMesiya ezisezingeni eliphakeme ziyozithinta kanjani izahlulelo zakhe? U-Isaya uyachaza: “Kumelwe ahlulele abantu abaphansi ngokulunga, futhi kumelwe asole ngobuqotho ngenxa yabantu abanobuvi basemhlabeni. Kumelwe ashaye umhlaba ngenduku yomlomo wakhe; futhi uyobulala omubi ngomoya wezindebe zakhe. Ukulunga kumelwe kube yibhande lamanyonga akhe, nokukholeka kube yibhande lezinkalo zakhe.”—Isaya 11:4, 5.
11 Uma abalandeli bakhe bedinga ukulungiswa, uJesu ubalungisa ngendlela ebazuzisa kakhulu—isibonelo esihle kubadala abangamaKristu. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, labo ababenza umkhuba ububi bangalindela isahlulelo esinzima. Lapho uNkulunkulu enza lesi simiso sezinto silandise, uMesiya ‘uyoshaya umhlaba’ ngezwi lakhe elinegunya, abanikeze isahlulelo sokubhujiswa bonke ababi. (IHubo 2:9; qhathanisa nesAmbulo 19:15.) Ekugcineni, bayobe bengasekho abantu ababi abaphazamisa ukuthula kwesintu. (IHubo 37:10, 11) Njengoba amanyonga nezinkalo zikaJesu zibhince ukulunga nokukholeka, unamandla okukwenza lokhu.—IHubo 45:3-7.
Izimo Ezishintshile Emhlabeni
12. Yiziphi izinto ezingakhathaza umJuda lapho ecabangela ukusuka eBabiloni aphindele eZweni Lesithembiso?
12 Mbone ngeso lengqondo umIsrayeli osanda kuzwa ngesimemezelo sikaKoresi sokuba amaJuda aphindele eJerusalema ayokwakha kabusha ithempeli. Ingabe uzokushiya ukulondeka kwaseBabiloni ahambe ibanga elide aye ekhaya? Njengoba u-Israyeli ayengekho iminyaka engu-70, amasimu angenamuntu aseyizikhotha. Izimpisi, izingwe, amabhubesi namabhere kuyazichanasela nje kulawo masimu. Izimfezi nazo zisekhaya lapha. AmaJuda abuyayo kuzodingeka athembele ezilwaneni ezifuywayo ukuze aphile—imihlambi yezilwane izokhiqiza ubisi, uboya bezimvu nenyama, kanti izinkabi zizolima. Ingabe zizodliwa izilwane eziphila ngezinye? Ngeke yini izingane ezincane zilunywe izinyoka? Kuthiwani ngengozi yokulalelwa unyendle endleleni?
13. (a) U-Isaya wakha muphi umfanekiso ojabulisayo? (b) Sazi kanjani ukuthi ukuthula okuchazwa u-Isaya kuhilela okungaphezu kokuphepha ezilwaneni zasendle?
13 U-Isaya manje uchaza izimo ezijabulisayo uNkulunkulu azoziletha ezweni. Uthi: “Impisi iyohlala isikhathi newundlu leduna, ingwe ilale nezinyane lembuzi, ithole nebhongo lengonyama elinomhlwenga nesilwane esondlekile konke ndawonye; nomfanyana nje uyokuhola. Inkomazi nebhere kuyoklaba; amankonyane ako ayolala phansi ndawonye. Ngisho nengonyama iyodla utshani njengenkunzi. Umntwana oncelayo uyodlala emgodini wemfezi; ingane elunyuliweyo iyobeka isandla sayo emlonyeni womgodi wenyoka enesihlungu. Ngeke nhlobo zilimaze noma zibangele incithakalo kuyo yonke intaba yami engcwele; ngoba umhlaba ngokuqinisekile uyogcwala ulwazi ngoJehova njengoba nje amanzi esibekela ulwandle.” (Isaya 11:6-9) La mazwi awayithinti yini inhliziyo? Phawula ukuthi ukuthula okuchazwa lapha kubangelwa ulwazi ngoJehova. Ngakho, kuhileleke okwengeziwe kunokuphepha nje ezilwaneni zasendle. Ulwazi ngoJehova ngeke luzishintshe izilwane, kodwa luyoshintsha abantu. Ohambweni lwawo lokuya ekhaya noma ezweni lawo elibuyiselwe, ama-Israyeli ngeke kudingeke esabe izilwane zasendle noma abantu abanjengezilwane.—Ezra 8:21, 22; Isaya 35:8-10; 65:25.
14. U-Isaya 11:6-9 ugcwaliseka kanjani ngezinga elikhulu?
14 Kodwa lesi siprofetho sinokugcwaliseka okukhulu nakakhulu. Ngo-1914, uJesu, uMesiya wabekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi eNtabeni yasezulwini iZiyoni. Ngo-1919 abaseleyo ‘baka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ bakhululwa ekuthunjweni kwaseBabiloni futhi bahlanganyela ekubuyiseleni ukukhulekela kweqiniso. (Galathiya 6:16) Ngenxa yalokho, kwavuleka indlela yokuba isiprofetho sika-Isaya sePharadesi sigcwaliseke ezinsukwini zanamuhla. “Ulwazi olunembile,” ulwazi ngoJehova, luye lwashintsha ubuntu babantu. (Kolose 3:9, 10) Abantu ababeyizidlwangudlwangu sebenokuthula. (Roma 12:2; Efesu 4:17-24) Lezi zinguquko sezithinte izigidi zabantu ngoba isiprofetho sika-Isaya siye sahlanganisa nenani elandayo lamaKristu anethemba lasemhlabeni. (IHubo 37:29; Isaya 60:22) La maKristu aye afunda ukulindela isikhathi lapho wonke umhlaba uyobuyiselwa ube ipharadesi elilondekile nelinokuthula, ngokwenjongo kaNkulunkulu yokuqala.—Mathewu 6:9, 10; 2 Petru 3:13.
15. Kufanele yini silindele ukuba amazwi ka-Isaya agcwaliseke ngokoqobo ezweni elisha? Chaza.
15 Kulelo Pharadesi elibuyiselwe, ingabe isiprofetho sika-Isaya siyoba nokunye ukugcwaliseka, mhlawumbe okungokoqobo? Kubonakala kufaneleka ukucabanga kanjalo. Lesi siprofetho sinikeza bonke abayophila ngaphansi kokubusa kukaMesiya isiqiniseko esifanayo naleso esasinikeza ama-Israyeli abuyayo; bona nezingane zabo ngeke basongelwe yingozi yanoma iluphi uhlobo—evela kumuntu noma esilwaneni. Ngaphansi kokubusa koMbuso kaMesiya, bonke abakhileyo emhlabeni bayojabulela izimo zokuthula njengalezo ezazijatshulelwa u-Adamu no-Eva e-Edene. Yebo, imiBhalo ayivezi yonke imininingwane yokuthi ukuphila kwakunjani e-Edene—noma ukuthi kuyoba njani ePharadesi. Kodwa singaqiniseka ukuthi ngaphansi kokubusa ngokuhlakanipha nangothando kweNkosi uJesu Kristu, yonke into iyoba njengoba kufanele ibe njalo.
Ukukhulekela Kweqiniso Kubuyiselwa NgoMesiya
16. Yini eyaba isibonakaliso sabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngo-537 B.C.E.?
16 Ukukhulekela kweqiniso kwahlaselwa okokuqala e-Edene ngesikhathi uSathane ephumelela ukuthonya u-Adamu no-Eva ukuba bangamlaleli uJehova. Kuze kube namuhla, uSathane akakawuyeki umgomo wakhe wokususa abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka kuNkulunkulu. Kodwa uJehova akasoze avuma ukuba ukukhulekela okumsulwa kuphele emhlabeni. Kuhileleke igama lakhe, futhi uyabakhathalela abamkhonzayo. Ngakho, ngo-Isaya, wenza lesi sithembiso esihlaba umxhwele: “Ngalolo suku kuyoba khona impande kaJese eyobe imi njengesibonakaliso ezizweni. Ngisho nezizwe ziyophendukela kuyo ukuba zibuze, futhi indawo yayo yokuphumula kumelwe ibe ekhazimulayo.” (Isaya 11:10) Emuva ngo-537 B.C.E., iJerusalema, umuzi uDavide ayewenze ikomkhulu lesizwe, laba isibonakaliso, lidonsa insali ethembekile yamaJuda ahlakazekile ukuba ibuye futhi yakhe kabusha ithempeli.
17. UJesu ‘waphakama’ kanjani ‘ukuze abuse izizwe’ ekhulwini lokuqala nasosukwini lwethu?
17 Kodwa lesi siprofetho sibhekisela kokungaphezu kwalokho. Njengoba sesibonile, sibhekisela ekubuseni kukaMesiya, okuwukuphela koMholi weqiniso wabantu bazo zonke izizwe. Umphostoli uPawulu wacaphuna u-Isaya 11:10 ukuze abonise ukuthi osukwini lwakhe abantu bezizwe babezoba nendawo ebandleni lobuKristu. Ecaphuna indlela elihunyushwe ngayo leli vesi kuyi-Septuagint wabhala: “U-Isaya uthi: ‘Kuyoba khona impande kaJese, futhi kuyoba khona ovelayo ukuba abuse izizwe; izizwe ziyothembela kuye.’” (Roma 15:12) Ngaphezu kwalokho, lesi siprofetho sifinyelela ngisho nakulesi sikhathi—osukwini lwethu lapho abantu bezizwe bebonisa uthando lwabo ngoJehova ngokusekela abafowabo bakaMesiya abagcotshiwe.—Isaya 61:5-9; Mathewu 25:31-40.
18. Osukwini lwethu, uJesu uye waba kanjani isibonakaliso?
18 Ekugcwalisekeni kosuku lwanamuhla, “lolo suku” akhuluma ngalo u-Isaya lwaqala mzukwane uMesiya ebekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi njengeNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini ngo-1914. (Luka 21:10; 2 Thimothewu 3:1-5; IsAmbulo 12:10) Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, uJesu Kristu ubeyisibonakaliso esicacile sika-Israyeli ongokomoya nesabantu bezizwe zonke abalangazelela uhulumeni olungileyo. Ngaphansi kwesiqondiso sikaMesiya, izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso ziye zayiswa kuzo zonke izizwe, njengoba uJesu abikezela. (Mathewu 24:14; Marku 13:10) Lezi zindaba ezinhle zinethonya elinamandla. ‘Isixuku esikhulu okungekho muntu okwazi ukusibala, esiphuma kuzo zonke izizwe’ sizithoba kuMesiya ngokuhlanganyela nensali egcotshiwe ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa. (IsAmbulo 7:9) Njengoba abaningi abasanda kuhlanganyela beqhubeka bezihlanganisa nensali ‘endlini’ kaJehova “yomthandazo” engokomoya, banezela enkazimulweni ‘yendawo yokuphumula’ kaMesiya, ithempeli likaNkulunkulu elikhulu elingokomoya.—Isaya 56:7; Hagayi 2:7.
Abantu Abanobunye Bakhonza UJehova
19. Kukuziphi izehlakalo ezimbili lapho uJehova ebuyisela insali yabantu bakhe ehlakazeke emhlabeni wonke?
19 U-Isaya ube esekhumbuza ama-Israyeli ukuthi uJehova wake wawalungiselela insindiso ngesikhathi lesi sizwe sicindezelwe isitha esinamandla. Leyo ngxenye yomlando ka-Israyeli—ukukhulula kukaJehova lesi sizwe ekuthunjweni eGibithe—ithandeka kakhulu kuwo wonke amaJuda athembekile. U-Isaya uyabhala: “Ngalolo suku uJehova uyophinda elule isandla sakhe, okwesibili, ukuba azitholele insali yabantu bakhe eyosala e-Asiriya naseGibithe nasePhatirosi naseKushe nase-Elamu naseShineyari naseHamati naseziqhingini zolwandle. Ngokuqinisekile uyophakamisela izizwe isibonakaliso futhi abuthe abahlakazekileyo bakwa-Israyeli; abahlakazekile bakwaJuda uyobaqoqela ndawonye bevela emikhawulweni yomine yomhlaba.” (Isaya 11:11, 12) UJehova uzohola insali ethembekile yakwa-Israyeli noJuda njengokungathi uyibamba ngesandla, iphume ezizweni ehlakazekele kuzo, ayibuyisele ekhaya iphephile. Lokhu kwenzeka ngezinga elincane ngo-537 B.C.E. Kodwa yeka ukuthi kuhle kangakanani ukugcwaliseka okukhulu! Ngo-1914, uJehova waphakamisa uJesu Kristu osesihlalweni sobukhosi waba ‘njengesibonakaliso ezizweni.’ Kusukela ngo-1919 abaseleyo ‘baka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ baqala ukuthuthelekela kulesi sibonakaliso, bezimisele ukuhlanganyela ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa ngaphansi koMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Lesi sizwe esingokomoya esingavamile sivela “kuzo zonke izizwana nezilimi nabantu nezizwe.”—IsAmbulo 5:9.
20. Yibuphi ubunye obuyojatshulelwa abantu bakaNkulunkulu lapho bebuya eBabiloni?
20 U-Isaya manje uchaza ubunye besizwe esibuyiselwe. Ebhekisela embusweni wasenyakatho ngokuthi u-Efrayimi nowaseningizimu ngokuthi uJuda, uthi: “Umhawu ka-Efrayimi kumelwe umuke, ngisho nalabo ababonisa ubutha kuJuda bayonqunywa. U-Efrayimi ngeke abe nomhawu ngoJuda, noJuda ngeke abonise ubutha ku-Efrayimi. Kumelwe bahlasele amaFilisti entshonalanga; ndawonye bayophanga amadodana aseMpumalanga. Bayolulela isandla sabo phezu kuka-Edomi noMowabi, namadodana ka-Amoni ayoba yizikhonzi zabo.” (Isaya 11:13, 14) Lapho amaJuda esebuyile eBabiloni, ngeke esahlukana abe izizwe ezimbili. Amalungu azo zonke izizwe zakwa-Israyeli ayophindela ngobunye ezweni lawo. (Ezra 6:17) Ngeke aphinde acasukelane noma abonisane ubutha. Njengabantu abamunye, ayophumelela ukulwa nezitha zawo ezizweni eziwazungezile.
21. Ubunye babantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla buvelele kanjani ngempela?
21 Okuhlaba umxhwele nakakhulu ubunye ‘buka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.’ Sekuyiminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-2 000 lezi zizwe ezingokomfanekiso zika-Israyeli ongokomoya ezingu-12 zijabulela ubunye obusekelwe othandweni ngoNkulunkulu nangabafowabo nodadewabo abangokomoya. (Kolose 3:14; IsAmbulo 7:4-8) Namuhla, abantu bakaJehova—ama-Israyeli angokomoya nalabo abanethemba lasemhlabeni—bajabulela ukuthula nobunye bomhlaba wonke ngaphansi kokubusa kukaMesiya, izimo ezingekho emasontweni eLobukholwa. OFakazi BakaJehova, ngobunye balwa impi engokomoya nemizamo kaSathane yokuphazamisa ukukhulekela kwabo. Ngobunye, bafeza ukuthunywa abakunikwa uJesu kokushumayela nokufundisa izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaMesiya ezizweni zonke.—Mathewu 28:19, 20.
Izithiyo Zizonqotshwa
22. UJehova ‘uyolunquma’ kanjani “ulimi lolwandle lwaseGibithe” futhi ‘azulise isandla sakhe eMfuleni’?
22 Ziningi izithiyo, ezingokoqobo nezingokomfanekiso, ezithiya ukubuya kwama-Israyeli ekudingisweni. Zizonqotshwa kanjani? U-Isaya uthi: “UJehova ngokuqinisekile uyonquma ulimi lolwandle lwaseGibithe, azulise isandla sakhe eMfuleni ngokuvutha komoya wakhe. Kumelwe awugalele ezifufuleni zawo eziyisikhombisa, abangele abantu ukuba bahambe ngezimbadada zabo.” (Isaya 11:15) NguJehova ozosusa zonke iziphazamiso zokubuya kwabantu bakhe. Ngisho nesithiyo esithena amandla njengolimi loLwandle Olubomvu (njengeGulf of Suez) noma esingaweleki njengoMfula onamandla i-Ewufrathe, sizokomiswa ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, ukuze umuntu akwazi ukuwela engazikhumulanga izimbadada zakhe!
23. Kungayiphi indlela kuyoba “nomgwaqo omkhulu ophuma e-Asiriya”?
23 Ngosuku lukaMose, uJehova walungiselela u-Israyeli indlela yokubaleka eGibithe aye eZweni Lesithembiso. Uzokwenza into efuze leyo manje: “Kumelwe kube khona umgwaqo omkhulu ophuma e-Asiriya wensali yabantu bakhe, njengoba nje waba khona oka-Israyeli ngosuku lokuphuma kwakhe ezweni laseGibithe.” (Isaya 11:16)UJehova uzohola abadingiswa ababuyayo kube sengathi bahamba emgwaqweni omkhulu osuka endaweni ababedingiselwe kuyo uye ezweni lakubo. Abaphikisi bazozama ukubanqanda, kodwa uNkulunkulu wabo, uJehova, uzobe enabo. Ngokufanayo namuhla, amaKristu agcotshiwe nabangane bawo bahlaselwa ngonya, kodwa baqhubekela phambili ngesibindi! Baphumile e-Asiriya lanamuhla, izwe likaSathane, futhi basiza abanye ukuba benze okufanayo. Bayazi ukuthi ukukhulekela okumsulwa kuyophumelela futhi kuchume. Akuwona umsebenzi womuntu, kodwa okaNkulunkulu.
Ukujabula Okungapheli Kwezikhonzi ZikaMesiya!
24, 25. Abantu bakaJehova bayodumisa futhi babonge ngamaphi amazwi?
24 Ngolimi lwentokozo u-Isaya manje uchaza ukwethaba kwabantu bakaJehova ngokugcwaliseka kwezwi laKhe: “Ngalolo suku ngokuqinisekile uyothi: ‘Ngizokubonga, O Jehova, ngoba nakuba wangivuthela ngolaka, intukuthelo yakho yabuya kancane kancane, wangiduduza.’” (Isaya 12:1) Isijeziso sikaJehova kubantu bakhe abaphambukayo sinzima. Kodwa siyayifeza injongo yaso yokulungisa ubuhlobo besizwe naye neyokubuyisela ukukhulekela okumsulwa. UJehova uqinisekisa abakhulekeli bakhe abathembekile ukuthi ekugcineni uyobasindisa. Yingakho bebonga!
25 Ukuthembela kuJehova kwama-Israyeli abuyiselwe kuqinisekiswe ngokuphelele, ayamemeza: “‘Bheka! UNkulunkulu uyinsindiso yami. Ngizokwethemba futhi ngingabi nangebhe; ngoba uJah uJehova uyizikhwepha zami namandla ami, futhi waba yinsindiso yami.’ Ngokuqinisekile niyokha amanzi ngokwethaba eziphethwini zensindiso.” (Isaya 12:2, 3) Igama lesiHeberu elihunyushwe ngokuthi “amandla” evesini 2 lihunyushwe ngokuthi “ukudumisa” enguqulweni i-Septuagint. Abakhulekeli bahuba izingoma zokudumisa ngenxa yensindiso ‘kaJah uJehova.’ Isifushaniso segama likaJehova esithi “Jah” sisetshenziswa eBhayibhelini ukuze sidlulisele imizwa ephakeme yokudumisa nokubonga. Ukusebenzisa inkulumo ethi “uJah uJehova”—ukuliphinda kabili igama laphezulu—kufaka umfutho ekudumiseni uNkulunkulu.
26. Obani namuhla abenza kwaziwe ezizweni ukusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu nabantu?
26 Abakhulekeli bakaJehova abaqotho abakwazi ukuyigcina kubo intokozo abanayo. U-Isaya uyabikezela: “Ngokuqinisekile ngalolo suku niyothi: ‘Mbongeni uJehova! Bizani igama lakhe. Yenzani izenzo zakhe zaziwe phakathi kwezizwe. Yishoni ukuthi igama lakhe liphakanyisiwe. Hubelani uJehova, ngoba uye wenza ngendlela edlulele. Lokhu kuyaziswa kuwo wonke umhlaba.’” (Isaya 12:4, 5) Kusukela ngo-1919, amaKristu agcotshiwe—kamuva ngosizo lwabangane bawo ‘bezinye izimvu’—aye ‘amemezela kabanzi ubuhle balowo owawabiza ukuba aphume ebumnyameni angene ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo.’ ‘Awuhlanga olukhethiweyo, isizwe esingcwele’ esihlukaniselwe le njongo. (Johane 10:16; 1 Petru 2:9) Abagcotshiwe bamemezela ukuthi igama likaJehova elingcwele liphakanyisiwe futhi bahlanganyele ekulenzeni laziwe emhlabeni wonke. Bahola bonke abakhulekeli bakaJehova ekujabuleleni ilungiselelo lakhe lokusindiswa kwabo. Kunjengoba u-Isaya esho: “Mpongoloza umemeze ngenjabulo, O wena wesifazane owakhe eZiyoni, ngoba oNgcwele ka-Israyeli mkhulu phakathi kwakho”! (Isaya 12:6) ONgcwele ka-Israyeli nguJehova uNkulunkulu uqobo.
Bheka Esikhathini Esizayo Ngokuqiniseka!
27. AmaKristu aqiniseka ngani njengoba esalindele ukugcwaliseka kwethemba lawo?
27 Namuhla, izigidi ziye zathuthelekela ‘esibonakalisweni sezizwe’—uJesu Kristu osesihlalweni sobukhosi eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. Ziyakujabulela ukuba izikhonzi zalowo Mbuso, futhi kuzivusa amadlingozi ukwazi uJehova uNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe. (Johane 17:3) Zithola injabulo enkulu ebudlelwaneni bazo bobuKristu obunobunye futhi zilwa kanzima ukuze zilondoloze ukuthula okuwuphawu lwezinceku zikaJehova zeqiniso. (Isaya 54:13) Njengoba zigculisekile ukuthi uJah uJehova unguNkulunkulu ofeza izithembiso zakhe, ziyaqiniseka ngethemba lazo futhi kuzithokozisa kakhulu ukulihlanganyela nabanye. Kwangathi umkhulekeli kaJehova ngamunye angaqhubeka esebenzisa wonke amandla akhe ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu nasekusizeni abanye benze kanjalo. Sonke masilalele amazwi ka-Isaya futhi sijabule ngensindiso eza ngoMesiya kaJehova!
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Elithi “Mesiya” livela egameni lesiHeberu elithi ma·shiʹach, elisho ukuthi “Ogcotshiweyo.” ElesiGreki elifana nalo lithi Khri·stosʹ, noma “Kristu.”—Mathewu 2:4, umbhalo waphansi.
b Igama lesiHeberu elisho “ihlumela” lithi neʹtser, elisho “umNazaretha” lithi Nots·riʹ.
[Izithombe ekhasini 158]
UMesiya ‘uyihlumela’ likaJese, ngeNkosi uDavide
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 162]
[Isithombe ekhasini 170]
U-Isaya 12:4, 5, njengoba enjalo eMiqulwini Yasolwandle Olufile (Igama likaNkulunkulu liphawuliwe lapho livela khona)