Isahluko Sesishiyagalolunye
UJehova Usifundisela Ukuba Sizuze
1. Abahlakaniphileyo basabela kanjani kulokho uJehova akushoyo?
LAPHO uJehova ekhuluma, abahlakaniphile balalela ngenhlonipho enkulu futhi bakwenze akushoyo. Konke akushoyo uJehova kuzuzisa thina futhi unesithakazelo esikhulu enhlalakahleni yethu. Ngokwesibonelo, akuve kuyithinta inhliziyo ukucabangela indlela uJehova akhuluma ngayo nabantu bakhe besivumelwano basendulo: ‘O ukube beniyoyilalela nokuyilalela imiyalo yami!’ (Isaya 48:18) Ubufakazi esibubonile bokuthi izimfundiso zikaNkulunkulu zibalulekile kufanele busenze simlalele futhi silandele isiqondiso sakhe. Iziprofetho ezigcwalisekile zichitha noma ikuphi ukungabaza ukuthi uJehova uzimisele ukufeza izithembiso zakhe.
2. Okuqukethwe u-Isaya 48 kwakulotshelwe obani, futhi obani abanye abangazuza kukho?
2 Ngokusobala, okuqukethwe isahluko 48 sencwadi ka-Isaya kwakulotshelwe amaJuda ayezothunjelwa eBabiloni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kulesi sahluko kunomyalezo amaKristu anamuhla angenakuwushalazela. Ku-Isaya isahluko 47, iBhayibheli labikezela ukuwa kweBabiloni. Manje uJehova uchaza akucabangayo ngezithunjwa ezingamaJuda ezikulo muzi. Bumphatha kabi uJehova ubuzenzisi babantu bakhe abakhethiwe nokungafuni kwabo ukukholelwa izithembiso zakhe. Noma kunjalo, usafuna ukubafundisa ukuze bazuze. Uyibona kusengaphambili inkathi yokucwengwa eyoholela ekubuyiselweni kwensali ethembekile ezweni layo.
3. Yini eyayingalungile ngokukhulekela kukaJuda?
3 Yeka indlela abantu bakaJehova abachezuke ngayo ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso! Amazwi ka-Isaya okuqala ayasangulukisa: “Yizwani lokhu, nina ndlu kaJakobe, nina enizibiza ngegama lika-Israyeli futhi eniye navela khona kanye emanzini kaJuda, nina enifunga igama likaJehova futhi eniphatha ngisho negama likaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, hhayi ngeqiniso noma ngokulunga. Ngoba bazibize njengabaphuma emzini ongcwele, futhi baye bancika kuNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, onguJehova wamabutho igama lakhe.” (Isaya 48:1, 2) Yeka ubuzenzisi! Kuyacaca ukuthi ‘ukufunga igama likaJehova’ kumane nje kuwukusebenzisa igama likaNkulunkulu ngendlela yokugcina icala. (Zefaniya 1:5) Engakathunjelwa eBabiloni, amaJuda ayekhulekela uJehova “emzini ongcwele,” iJerusalema. Kodwa ukukhulekela kwawo kwakungeqotho. Izinhliziyo zawo zazikude noNkulunkulu, futhi izenzo zawo zokukhulekela zazingelona ‘iqiniso noma ukulunga.’ Ayengenalo ukholo lwezinzalamizi.—Malaki 3:7.
4. Hlobo luni lokukhulekela olujatshulelwa uJehova?
4 Okushiwo uJehova kusikhumbuza ukuthi ukukhulekela akufanele kube yisenzo nje esingasho lutho. Kufanele kusuke enhliziyweni. Inkonzo yokugcina icala—mhlawumbe eyenziwa ngenjongo yokujabulisa abanye noma ukubahlaba umxhwele—ayisona ‘isenzo sokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.’ (2 Petru 3:11) Ukuthi umuntu uzibiza ngokuthi ungumKristu akwenzi ukukhulekela kwakhe kwamukeleke kuNkulunkulu. (2 Thimothewu 3:5) Kubalulekile ukuqaphela ukuthi uJehova ukhona, kodwa lokho kumane nje kuyisiqalo. UJehova ufuna ukukhulekela komphefumulo wonke nokushukunyiswa uthando nokwazisa okujulile.—Kolose 3:23.
Ukubikezela Izinto Ezintsha
5. Yiziphi ezinye ‘zezinto zokuqala’ ezabikezelwa uJehova?
5 Mhlawumbe la maJuda aseBabiloni kuzodingeka akhunjuzwe okuthile. Ngakho, uJehova uphinde awakhumbuze ukuthi unguNkulunkulu wesiprofetho seqiniso: “Ngizazisile izinto zokuqala kusukela ngisho nangaleso sikhathi, zaphuma emlonyeni wami, ngaqhubeka ngenza ukuba zizwiwe. Ngathatha isinyathelo ngokuzumayo, futhi lezo zinto zafika.” (Isaya 48:3) “Izinto zokuqala” yizinto asezenzile kakade uNkulunkulu, njengokukhulula ama-Israyeli eGibithe futhi awanikeze ifa eliyiZwe Lesithembiso. (Genesise 13:14, 15; 15:13, 14) Izibikezelo ezinjalo ziphuma emlonyeni kaNkulunkulu; zivela phezulu. UNkulunkulu wenza ukuba abantu bezwe imiyalo yakhe, futhi lokho abakuzwayo kufanele kubenze balalele. (Duteronomi 28:15) Uthatha isinyathelo ngokuzumayo ukuze akufeze lokho akubikezele. Iqiniso lokuthi uJehova unguMninimandla onke liqinisekisa ukuthi injongo yakhe iyafezeka.—Joshuwa 21:45; 23:14.
6. AmaJuda abe ‘anenkani nadlubulunda’ ngezinga elingakanani?
6 Abantu bakaJehova sebeye baba ‘nenkani futhi badlubulunda.’ (IHubo 78:8) Ubatshela ngokungagunci: ‘Nilukhuni, intamo yenu ingumsipha wensimbi nebunzi lenu liyithusi.’ (Isaya 48:4) Njengensimbi, amaJuda awagobeki—awavumelani nezimo. Lesi kungesinye isizathu esenza uJehova embule izinto zingakenzeki. Ngaphandle kwalokho, abantu bakhe bangathi ngezinto uJehova azenzile: ‘Zenziwe yisithombe sethu, futhi ziyalezwé yimifanekiso yethu eqoshiwe nemifanekiso yethu encibilikisiwe.’ (Isaya 48:5) Ingabe lokhu uJehova akushoyo manje kuyowathinta amaJuda angathembekile? UNkulunkulu uthi kuwo: “Nizwile. Kuboneni konke. Ngokuqondene nani, ngeke yini nikulandise? Ngenzé ukuba nizwe izinto ezintsha kusukela esikhathini samanje, ngisho nezinto ebezigciniwe, eningazazi. Kumelwe zidalwe kulesi sikhathi samanje, hhayi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, ngisho nezinto obungakazizwa ngaphambi kwanamuhla, ukuze ungasho ukuthi, ‘Bheka! Bengivele ngizazi.’”—Isaya 48:6, 7.
7. Yini okuyomelwe ayivume amaJuda athunjiwe, futhi yini angayilindela?
7 Kusasele isikhathi eside, u-Isaya waloba isibikezelo sokuwa kweBabiloni. Manje, njengoba sebeyizithunjwa eBabiloni, ngokwesiprofetho kuthiwa amaJuda awacabange ngokugcwaliseka kwalesi sibikezelo. Angaphika yini ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu weziprofetho ezigcwalisekile? Futhi njengoba izakhamuzi zakwaJuda zibonile futhi zezwa ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso, akumelwe yini zimemezele leli qiniso kwabanye? Izwi likaJehova elambuliwe libikezela izinto ezintsha ezingakenzeki, njengokunqoba kukaKoresi iBabiloni nokukhululwa kwamaJuda. (Isaya 48:14-16) Izenzakalo ezinjalo zibonakala zivela zingalindelwe. Akekho owayengazibona kusengaphambili ngokumane abheke izimo zezwe ezazenzeka. Kungathi ziyazenzakalela. Ubani owenza ukuba lezi zenzakalo zenzeke? Njengoba kunguJehova ozibikezela kusasele iminyaka engu-200 zenzeke, impendulo isobala.
8. Yiziphi izinto ezintsha amaKristu namuhla azilindele, futhi kungani elethemba ngokuphelele izwi likaJehova eliyisiprofetho?
8 Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova ufeza izwi lakhe ngokohlelo lwakhe lwesikhathi. Iziprofetho ezigcwalisekile azigcini ngokunikeza amaJuda asendulo kuphela ubufakazi bokuthi unguNkulunkulu, kodwa zinikeza namaKristu namuhla. Iziprofetho eziningi ezagcwaliseka esikhathini esidlule—“izinto zokuqala”—ziyisiqinisekiso sokuthi izinto ezintsha uJehova azithembisile—‘usizi olukhulu’ oluzayo, ukusinda ‘kwesixuku esikhulu’ kulolo sizi olukhulu, “umhlaba omusha,” nokunye okuningi—zizokwenzeka. (IsAmbulo 7:9, 14, 15; 21:4, 5; 2 Petru 3:13) Leso siqinisekiso sishukumisa abanhliziyo ziqotho namuhla ukuba bakushisekele ukukhuluma ngaye. Bazizwa njengomhubi, owathi: “Ebandleni elikhulu ngizikhulumile izindaba ezinhle zokulunga. Bheka! Izindebe zami angizivimbeli.”—IHubo 40:9.
UJehova Ubonisa Ukuzibamba
9. Isizwe sika-Israyeli ‘siweqe’ ngayiphi indlela ‘umthetho kusukela kwasesiswini’?
9 Ukusabela kwamaJuda kokungazikholwa iziprofetho zikaJehova kuwavimbele ukuba alalele izixwayiso zakhe. Yingakho eqhubeka ethi kuwo: “Ngaphezu kwalokho, awuzwanga, futhi awukazi, nendlebe yakho ayizange ivulwe kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke. Ngoba ngazi kahle ukuthi ubulokhu ukhohlisa ungaphazami, nokuthi ubulokhu ubizwa ngokuthi, ‘iseqamthetho kwasesiswini.’” (Isaya 48:8) UJuda unqabile ukulalela izindaba zikaJehova ezithokozisayo. (Isaya 29:10) Indlela abaye benza ngayo abantu besivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu ibonisa ukuthi lesi sizwe ‘siyiseqamthetho kwasesiswini.’ Kusukela sazalwa, nakuwo wonke umlando waso, lesi sizwe sakwa-Israyeli sizakhele umlando wobuhlongandlebe. Ukweqa umthetho nokuvukela kuyinsakavukela kulaba bantu, akuzona nje izono zankathi.—IHubo 95:10; Malaki 2:11.
10. Kungani uJehova eyozibamba?
10 Ingabe kufanele kulahlwe ithemba? Cha. Yize uJuda ebedlubulunda futhi evukela, uJehova uhlale eneqiniso futhi ethembekile. Ngenxa yodumo lwegama lakhe elikhulu, intukuthelo yakhe uzoyithulula ngokulinganisela. Uthi: “Ngenxa yegama lami ngizoyinqanda intukuthelo yami, nangenxa yodumo lwami ngizozibamba ngakuwe ukuze unganqunywa.” (Isaya 48:9) Yeka isimo esihlukile! Abantu bakaJehova, u-Israyeli noJuda, baye bangathembeka kuye. Kodwa uJehova uzolingcwelisa igama lakhe, enze ngendlela eyolilethela udumo nenhlonipho. Ngenxa yalokho, ngeke abanqume abantu bakhe abakhethiweyo.—Joweli 2:13, 14.
11. Kungani uNkulunkulu engeke avume ukuba abantu bakhe babhujiswe ngokuphelele?
11 Ukukhuzwa nguNkulunkulu kuyabaphaphamisa abantu abanhliziyo ziqotho kumaJuda athunjiwe, babe sebezimisela ukulalela izimfundiso zakhe. Lesi simemezelo esilandelayo sibaqinisekisa kakhulu abanjalo: “Bheka! Ngikucwengile, kodwa hhayi ngendlela yesiliva. Ngikwenzé wakhetheka esithandweni sokuncibilikisa sokuhlupheka. Ngenxa yami, ngenxa yami ngizothatha isinyathelo, ngoba umuntu angavuma kanjani ukuba angcoliswe? Futhi angiyikunika muntu omunye inkazimulo yami.” (Isaya 48:10, 11) Izehlakalo ezinzima—‘njengesithando sokuhlupheka’—uJehova avumele ukuba zehlele abantu bakhe ziye zabavivinya futhi zabacwengisisa, zaveza okusezinhliziyweni zabo. Emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili kwenzeka okufanayo lapho uMose ethi kokhokho babo: ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu wanenza ukuba nihambe iminyaka engamashumi amane ehlane, ukuze anithobise, futhi anivivinye ukuze azi lokho okwakusezinhliziyweni zenu.’ (Duteronomi 8:2) Naphezu kwesimo saso sengqondo sokudlubulunda, uJehova akazange asiqothule lesi sizwe ngaleso sikhathi, futhi ngeke asiqede namanje. Ngokwenza kanjalo igama lakhe nodumo lwakhe kuyophakanyiswa. Ukube abantu bakhe bebengaphelela ezandleni zabaseBabiloni, ubeyobe akathembeki esivumelwaneni sakhe, negama lakhe beliyothukeka. Bekungabonakala sengathi uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli akanamandla okusindisa abantu bakhe.—Hezekeli 20:9.
12. Phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala, amaKristu eqiniso acwengisiswa kanjani?
12 Nasezikhathini zanamuhla, abantu bakaJehova baye bakudinga ukucwengisiswa. Ekuqaleni kwekhulu lama-20, abaningi emaqenjini amancane abaFundi BeBhayibheli babekhonza uNkulunkulu ngenxa yesifiso esiqotho sokumjabulisa, kodwa abanye babenezisusa ezingalungile, njengesifiso sokuvelela. Ngaphambi kokuba lelo qembu lihole emsebenzini womhlaba wonke wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle okwaprofethwa ukuthi uzokwenziwa esikhathini sokuphela, kwakuzodingeka lihlanzwe. (Mathewu 24:14) Umprofethi uMalaki waprofetha ukuthi lo msebenzi wokucwengisisa wawuyokwenziwa lapho uJehova efika ethempelini lakhe. (Malaki 3:1-4) Amazwi akhe agcwaliseka ngo-1918. AmaKristu eqiniso ayedlule enkathini yokuvivinywa okuvuthayo phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala, futhi loko kuvivinywa kwaholela ekuboshweni kukaJoseph F. Rutherford, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngaleso sikhathi, nabanye bamalunga ayo aqavile. Lawo maKristu athembekile azuza kuloko kucwengisiswa. Ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I ayezimisele nakakhulu kunangaphambili ukukhonza uNkulunkulu wawo omkhulu nganoma iyiphi indlela ayefuna ngayo.
13. Abantu bakaJehova basabele kanjani ekushushisweni kusukela eminyakeni yempi yezwe yokuqala?
13 Kusukela kulezo zinsuku, oFakazi BakaJehova bebelokhu bebhekana nezinhlobo ezinesihluku kakhulu zokushushiswa. Lokhu akubenzanga bakungabaza okwashiwo uMdali wabo. Kunalokho, baye baqaphela amazwi umphostoli uPetru awasho kumaKristu ayeshushiswa osuku lwakhe: “Nenziwa lusizi izilingo ezihlukahlukene, ukuze isimo esivivinyiwe sokholo lwenu . . . sitholakale siyisizathu sendumiso nenkazimulo nokwazisa ekwambulweni kukaJesu Kristu.” (1 Petru 1:6, 7) Ushushiso oluvuthayo alubuqedi ubuqotho bamaKristu eqiniso. Kunalokho, luveza ubumsulwa bezisusa zawo. Lwenezela isimo esivivinyiwe okholweni lwawo, lubonise nokujula kokuzinikezela nothando lwawo.—IzAga 17:3.
‘Ngingowokuqala, Ngingowokugcina’
14. (a) Kungamuphi umqondo uJehova ‘engowokuqala nowokugcina’? (b) Yimiphi imisebenzi yamandla uJehova ayenza ‘ngesandla’ sakhe?
14 Ngemfudumalo, manje uJehova unxusa abantu besivumelwano sakhe: “Ngilalele, wena Jakobe, nawe Israyeli obiziweyo wami. Ngingofanayo. Ngingowokuqala. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngingowokugcina. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isandla sami sabeka isisekelo somhlaba, nesandla sami sokunene selula amazulu. Ngiyawabiza, ukuba aqhubeke emi ndawonye.” (Isaya 48:12, 13) Ngokungafani nomuntu, uNkulunkulu ungowaphakade futhi akashintshi. (Malaki 3:6) Encwadini yesAmbulo, uJehova uthi: “Ngingu-Alfa no-Omega, owokuqala nowokugcina, isiqalo nesiphetho.” (IsAmbulo 22:13) Akukaze kube khona uNkulunkulu umninimandla onke ngaphambi kukaJehova futhi ngeke abe khona ngemva kwakhe. UnguMdali Ophakeme nowaPhakade. “Isandla” sakhe—amandla akhe awasebenzisayo—sadala umhlaba sendlala namazulu agcwele izinkanyezi. (Jobe 38:4; IHubo 102:25) Lapho ebiza izidalwa zakhe, zivele zime ngomumo ukuze zimkhonze.—IHubo 147:4.
15. UJehova ‘umthande’ ngandlelani uKoresi futhi ngayiphi injongo?
15 KumaJuda nakwabangemaJuda kudluliselwa lesi simemo esibalulekile: “Qoqanani ndawonye, nonke nina bantu, nizwe. Ngubani phakathi kwabo olandisé lezi zinto? UJehova ngokwakhe umthandile. Uyokwenza akuthandayo phezu kweBabiloni, futhi ingalo yakhe iyoba phezu kwamaKaledi. Mina—mina ngokwami ngikhulumile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngimbizile. Ngimngenisile, futhi indlela yakhe iyokwenziwa iphumelele.” (Isaya 48:14, 15) NguJehova kuphela onawo wonke amandla futhi okwazi ukubikezela izenzakalo ngokunembile. Phakathi kwezithombe ezingenalusizo, azikho ezikwazi ukusho lezi zinto. NguJehova, hhayi izithombe, ‘omthandile’ uKoresi—okusho ukuthi, uJehova umkhethele injongo ethile. (Isaya 41:2; 44:28; 45:1, 13; 46:11) Ukuboné kusengaphambili ukuvela kukaKoresi ezweni futhi wammisa njengoyonqoba iBabiloni esikhathini esizayo.
16, 17. (a) Kungani kungase kuthiwe uNkulunkulu akazikhiphanga ngasese izibikezelo zakhe? (b) UJehova uzimemezele kanjani obala izinjongo zakhe namuhla?
16 Ngephimbo elincengayo, uJehova uyaqhubeka: “Sondelani kimi, nina bantu. Yizwani lokhu. Kwasekuqaleni angizange ngikhulume endaweni yokucasha. Kusukela esikhathini sokwenzeka kwako bengilokhu ngikhona.” (Isaya 48:16a) Izibikezelo ezivela kuJehova azizange zikhishwe isinyenyela noma zitshelwe abambalwa abavelele. Abaprofethi bakaJehova babengabakhulumeli bakaNkulunkulu abangagudl’ iguma. (Isaya 61:1) Bayimemezela obala intando kaNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, izigigaba eziphathelene noKoresi zazingezintsha kuNkulunkulu futhi akukona ukuthi akaziboni kusengaphambili. Kusasele iminyaka engu-200, uNkulunkulu wazibikezela obala ngo-Isaya.
17 Nanamuhla, uJehova akazifihlile izinjongo zakhe. Izigidi zabantu emazweni angamakhulukhulu naseziqhingini zolwandle zimemezela endlini ngendlu, emigwaqweni, nanoma ikuphi lapho zingakwazi ukumemezela khona isixwayiso ngesiphelo esizayo salesi simiso sezinto, nezindaba ezinhle zezibusiso eziyofika ngaphansi koMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Ngempela uJehova unguNkulunkulu ozivezayo izinjongo zakhe.
“Lalela Imiyalo Yami”
18. Siyini isifiso sikaJehova ngabantu bakhe?
18 Umoya kaJehova usumnike amandla, umprofethi uthi: “INkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ingithumile, yebo umoya wayo. Yilokhu uJehova akushilo, Owakuthenga kabusha, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli: ‘Mina, Jehova, nginguNkulunkulu wakho, Lowo okufundisayo ukuze uzizuzise, Lowo okubangela ukuba unyathele endleleni okufanele uhambe ngayo.’” (Isaya 48:16b, 17) La mazwi othando abonisa ukuthi uJehova uyanakekela kumelwe aqinisekise isizwe sakwa-Israyeli ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzosikhulula eBabiloni. Uyena owasithenga kabusha. (Isaya 54:5) Kuyisifiso sikaJehova esisuka enhliziyweni ukuba ama-Israyeli alungise ubuhlobo bawo naye futhi alalele imiyalo yakhe. Ukukhulekela kweqiniso kusekelwe ekulaleleni izimfundiso zaphezulu. Ama-Israyeli awakwazi ukuhamba endleleni efanele uma engafundiswa ‘indlela okufanele ahambe ngayo.’
19. Yikuphi ukunxusa okusuka enhliziyweni uJehova akwenzayo?
19 Isifiso sikaJehova sokuba abantu bakhe bagweme inhlekelele, bajabulele ukuphila, sibekwe ngamagama amnandi: “O ukube ubuyoyilalela nokuyilalela imiyalo yami! Khona-ke ukuthula kwakho bekuyoba njengomfula, nokulunga kwakho kube njengamagagasi olwandle.” (Isaya 48:18) Yeka ukunxusa okusuka enhliziyweni koMdali ongumninimandla onke! (Duteronomi 5:29; IHubo 81:13) Esikhundleni sokuya ekuthunjweni, ama-Israyeli angathola ukuthula okungangamanzi ageleza emfuleni. (IHubo 119:165) Izenzo zawo zokulunga zingaba ziningi njengamagagasi olwandle. (Amose 5:24) Njengoba ewakhathalela ngempela, uJehova uyawancenga ama-Israyeli, ngothando ewabonisa indlela okufanele ahambe ngayo. O, ukube nje abeyolalela!
20. (a) UNkulunkulu unasiphi isifiso ngo-Israyeli yize evukela? (b) Sifundani ngoJehova endleleni asebenzelana ngayo nabantu bakhe? (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 133.)
20 Zibusiso zini ezingatholwa u-Israyeli uma engaphenduka? UJehova uthi: “Inzalo yakho ibiyoba njengesihlabathi, nozalo oluphuma ezibilinini zakho lube njengezinhlayiya zaso. Igama lomuntu belingeke linqunywe noma libhuqwe phambi kwami.” (Isaya 48:19) UJehova ukhumbuza abantu ngesithembiso sakhe esithi inzalo ka-Abrahama iyoba ningi “ngangezinkanyezi zamazulu futhi ibe ngangesihlabathi esisogwini lolwandle.” (Genesise 22:17; 32:12) Kodwa, le nzalo ka-Abrahama ibilokhu ivukela, futhi ayinalo ilungelo lokubona ukufezeka kwalesi sithembiso. Empeleni, umlando wayo ubulokhu umubi kangangokuthi ngokoMthetho kaJehova ngokwakhe, ifanelwe ukuba igama layo linqunywe. (Duteronomi 28:45) Noma kunjalo, uJehova akafisi ukuba abantu bakhe baqothulwe, engafuni nokubalahla ngokuphelele.
21. Yiziphi izibusiso esingazithola namuhla uma sifuna ukufundiswa uJehova?
21 Izimiso ezikuleli vesi elinamandla ziyasebenza kubakhulekeli bakaJehova namuhla. UJehova unguMthombo wokuphila, futhi wazi kangcono ukudlula noma ubani ukuthi kufanele sikusebenzise kanjani ukuphila kwethu. (IHubo 36:9) Usinikeze iziqondiso ukuze sizuze, hhayi ngenjongo yokusephuca injabulo. AmaKristu eqiniso asabela ngokuba afune ukufundiswa uJehova. (Mika 4:2) Iziqondiso zakhe zivikela ingokomoya lethu nobuhlobo bethu naye, zisilondoloze nasemathonyeni kaSathane onakalisayo. Uma siziqonda izimiso esekelwe kuzo imithetho kaNkulunkulu, siye sibone ukuthi ukusifundisa kukaJehova kuzuzisa thina. Siyaqaphela ukuthi “imiyalo yakhe ayiwona umthwalo osindayo.” Futhi ngeke sinqunywe.—1 Johane 2:17; 5:3.
‘Phumani EBabiloni!’
22. AmaJuda athembekile anxuswa ukuba enzeni, futhi anikezwa ziphi iziqinisekiso?
22 Lapho iBabiloni liwa, akhona yini amaJuda ayobonisa isimo senhliziyo esifanele? Ingabe ayolisebenzisa ithuba lokukhululwa kwawo nguNkulunkulu, aphindele ezweni lawo, abuyisele ukukhulekela okumsulwa? Yebo. Amazwi kaJehova alandelayo abonisa ukuqiniseka kwakhe ukuthi lokhu kuyokwenzeka. “Phumani nina bantu, eBabiloni! Balekani nisuke kumaKaledi. Yazisani ngisho nangokukhamuluka kwenjabulo, yenzani ukuba kuzwiwe lokhu. Yenzani ukuba kuphumele emkhawulweni womhlaba. Thanini: ‘UJehova uyithengé kabusha inceku yakhe uJakobe. Abazange bome lapho ebenza ukuba bahambe ezindaweni ezibhuqiwe. Wenza ukuba kugeleze amanzi edwaleni ngenxa yabo, futhi waqhekeza idwala ukuze kugobhoze amanzi.’” (Isaya 48:20, 21) Ngokwesiprofetho, abantu bakaJehova banxuswa ukuba baphuthume baphume eBabiloni. (Jeremiya 50:8) Ukuhlengwa kwabo kumelwe kumenyezelwe kuze kube semikhawulweni yomhlaba. (Jeremiya 31:10) Ngemva koFuduko lwaseGibithe, uJehova wanakekela izidingo zabantu bakhe njengoba babehamba benqamula emazweni ayihlane. Uyobanakekela ngendlela efanayo abantu bakhe lapho bephindela ekhaya besuka eBabiloni.—Duteronomi 8:15, 16.
23. Obani abangeke bakuthole ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu?
23 Kunesinye isimiso esisemqoka amaJuda okufanele asikhumbule ngezenzo zikaJehova zokusindisa. Labo abathambekele ekulungeni bangase bahlupheke ngenxa yezono zabo, kodwa ngeke babhujiswe. Kuhlukile-ke kodwa ngabangalungile. “‘Akukho ukuthula kwababi,’ kusho uJehova.” (Isaya 48:22) Izoni ezingaphenduki ngeke zikuthole ukuthula uNkulunkulu akubekele abamthandayo. Izenzo zokusindisa azenzelwa labo abaphikelela ebubini noma abangakholwa. Lezo zenzo ezabanokholo kuphela. (Thithu 1:15, 16; IsAmbulo 22:14, 15) Ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu akukona okwababi.
24. Yini eyenzé abantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla bethaba?
24 Ngo-537 B.C.E. ithuba lokuhamba eBabiloni lawathokozisa kakhulu ama-Israyeli athembekile. Ngo-1919 ukukhululwa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu ekuthunjweni yiBabiloni kwabenza bethaba. (IsAmbulo 11:11, 12) Bagcwala ithemba, futhi babamba ithuba lokwandisa umsebenzi wabo. Yiqiniso, lelo qembu elincane lamaKristu lalidinga isibindi ukuze liwasebenzise kahle amathuba amasha okushumayela ezweni elinenzondo. Kodwa ngosizo lukaJehova, lashona emsebenzini wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Umlando ufakazela ukuthi uJehova walibusisa.
25. Kungani kubalulekile ukulalela imiyalo kaNkulunkulu elungile?
25 Le ngxenye yesiprofetho sika-Isaya igcizelela ukuthi uJehova usifundisela ukuba sizuze. Kubaluleke kakhulu ukulalelisisa imiyalo kaNkulunkulu elungile. (IsAmbulo 15:2-4) Ukuzikhumbuza ukuhlakanipha nothando lukaNkulunkulu kuyosisiza senze ngokuvumelana nalokho uJehova athi kulungile. Yonke imiyalo yakhe izuzisa thina.—Isaya 48:17, 18.
[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 133]
UNkulunkulu UMninimandla Onke Uyazibamba
“Ngizoyinqanda intukuthelo yami . . . ngizozibamba,” kusho uJehova kuma-Israyeli ayizihlubuki. (Isaya 48:9) Amazwi anjalo ayasisiza sibone ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubeka isibonelo esiphelele sokungawasebenzisi kabi amandla. Kuyiqiniso ukuthi akekho onamandla angaphezu kwakaNkulunkulu. Yingakho simbiza ngokuthi unamandla onke. Kuyafaneleka ukuba azibize ngokuthi “uMninimandla onke.” (Genesise 17:1) Akukona nje ukuthi unamandla angapheli kodwa unalo lonke igunya ngenxa yesikhundla sakhe njengeNkosi enguMbusi wendawo yonke ayidala. Yingakho kungekho muntu ongagagamela ambheke isandla noma athi kuye, “Ubuwenzani?”—Daniyeli 4:35.
Nokho, uNkulunkulu uyephuza ukuthukuthela ngisho noma sikhona isidingo sokubonisa izitha zakhe amandla akhe. (Nahume 1:3) UJehova ‘angayinqanda intukuthelo yakhe’ futhi uchazwa kahle ngokuthi “uyephuza ukuthukuthela” ngoba uthando—hhayi intukuthelo—oluyimfanelo yakhe evelele. Lapho eyidedela intukuthelo yakhe, kusuke kungeyokulunga, kusuke kunezizathu, futhi iyalawulwa ngaso sonke isikhathi.—Eksodusi 34:6; 1 Johane 4:8.
Kungani uJehova enza ngale ndlela? Kungoba amandla akhe uwalinganisa kahle nezinye izimfanelo zakhe eziyinhloko—ukuhlakanipha, ubulungisa nothando. Ukusebenzisa kwakhe amandla kuhlale kuhambisana nalezi ezinye izimfanelo.
[Isithombe ekhasini 122]
Umyalezo ka-Isaya wokubuyiselwa uwanikeza ithemba amaJuda athembekile athunjiwe
[Izithombe ekhasini 124]
AmaJuda ayenomkhuba wokuba athi izenzo zikaJehova ziyizenzo zezithombe
1. U-Ishtar 2. Izitini ezicwebezelisiwe zoMzila Wodwendwe waseBabiloni 3. Umfanekiso oyinyoka kaMarduk.
[Isithombe ekhasini 127]
“Isithando sokuhlupheka” singembula ukuthi izisusa zethu zokukhonza uJehova zimsulwa noma cha
[Isithombe ekhasini 128]
AmaKristu eqiniso abhekane nezinhlobo ezinesihluku kakhulu zoshushiso