Akumelwe Umkhohlwe UJehova

ABANYE kuleli qembu babeke bakwenza okuthi akufane nalokhu. Nokho, abaningi babeqala futhi begcina ukunqamula emanzini amaningi kodwa bangabi manzi. UJehova wayesanda kwenza ukuba uMfula iJordani ungagelezi. Manje, izigidi zama-Israyeli zishaye ujenga ukuze ziwelele eZweni Lesithembiso. Njengokhokho bawo oLwandle Olubomvu eminyakeni engu-40 ngaphambili, amaningi manje awela iJordani kumelwe ukuba ayacabanga, ‘Angisoze ngakukhohlwa uJehova akwenze lapha.’—Josh. 3:13-17.

Nokho, uJehova wayazi ukuthi amanye ama-Israyeli ‘ayeyoyikhohlwa ngokushesha imisebenzi yakhe.’ (IHu. 106:13) Ngakho, wayala uJoshuwa, umholi wama-Israyeli, ukuba athathe amatshe angu-12 emfuleni futhi awabeke endaweni yokuqala ayezokanisa kuyo. UJoshuwa wachaza: “La matshe kumelwe abe isikhumbuzo kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli.” (Josh. 4:1-8) Lawo matshe ayeyokhumbuza lesi sizwe ngezenzo zikaJehova zamandla futhi agcizelele kuso isizathu esenza kudingeke sihlale simkhonza ngobuqotho.

Ingabe lokhu kulandisa kubafundisa okuthile abantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla? Yebo. Nathi akumelwe nanini sikhohlwe uJehova; kumelwe siqhubeke simkhonza ngobuqotho. Okunye isizwe sakwa-Israyeli esaxwayiswa ngakho kungasebenza nasezincekwini zikaJehova namuhla. Cabanga ngamazwi kaMose: “Ziqaphele ukuba ungamkhohlwa uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho bese ungayigcini imiyalo yakhe nezinqumo zakhe zokwahlulela nezimiso zakhe.” (Dut. 8:11) Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi ukukhohlwa uJehova kungaholela ekungamlalelini ngamabomu. Le ngozi isekhona nasosukwini lwethu. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhalela amaKristu wawaxwayisa ngengozi ‘efanayo yokungalaleli’ njengoba kwenza ama-Israyeli ehlane.—Heb. 4:8-11.

Ake sicabange ngezinye izenzakalo ezenzeka emlandweni wama-Israyeli ezizoqokomisa ukuthi akufanele sikhohlwe uNkulunkulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, esikufunda ekuphileni kwamadoda amabili angama-Israyeli aqotho kuzosisiza ukuba sikhonze uJehova ngokukhuthazela futhi sibonise ukubonga.

Izizathu Zokukhumbula UJehova

UJehova akazange awakhohlwe ama-Israyeli phakathi nayo yonke iminyaka eseGibhithe. “Wasikhumbula isivumelwano sakhe asenza no-Abrahama, u-Isaka noJakobe.” (Eks. 2:23, 24) Lokho akwenza ngaleso sikhathi ukuze awakhulule ebugqilini kwakungafanele akukhohlwe.

UJehova washaya abaseGibhithe ngezinhlupho ezingu-9. Abapristi bakaFaro abenza imilingo babengenawo amandla okuziqeda. Noma kunjalo, uFaro wadelela uJehova, wenqaba ukukhulula ama-Israyeli. (Eks. 7:14–10:29) Nokho, inhlupho yeshumi yaphoqa lowo mbusi oqhoshayo ukuba enze ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu. (Eks. 11:1-10; 12:12) Siholwa uMose, isizwe sakwa-Israyeli kanye nengxubevange yabanye, cishe abantu abangu-3 000 000, baphuma eGibhithe. (Eks. 12:37, 38) Bengakabiphi, uFaro washintsha umqondo. Wayala amabutho akhe ahlomile nezinkweli zamahhashi—ibutho elalinamandla kunawo wonke emhlabeni ngaleso sikhathi—ukuba aphinde ayobamba izigqila zakhe. Khona manjalo, uJehova watshela uMose ukuba aholele ama-Israyeli endaweni encane ephakathi koLwandle Olubomvu nezintaba, iPhihahiroti, eyayibonakala sengathi yayiyoba ithuna lawo.—Eks. 14:1-9.

UFaro wayekholelwa ukuthi ama-Israyeli ayevalelekile nokuthi ibutho lakhe lalizozigwazela ibhece. Kodwa uJehova wavikela ama-Israyeli ngokumisa insika yefu neyomlilo phakathi kwawo nabaseGibhithe. UNkulunkulu wabe esehlukanisa uLwandle Olubomvu, lwaba izindonga ezicishe zibe ngamamitha angu-15 ngapha nangapha. U-Israyeli wadabula emhlabathini owomile. Kungakabiphi, abaseGibhithe base besogwini, bebuka ama-Israyeli ewelela ngaphesheya.—Eks. 13:21; 14:10-22.

Umholi ohlakaniphile wayeyoyeka ukubajaha—kodwa hhayi uFaro. Egcwele ukuzethemba, wayala amabutho akhe nezinkweli zamahhashi ukuba angene olwandle. AbaseGibhithe baqhubeka beya phambili. Kodwa abazange bawafice ama-Israyeli ngoba babhekana nobunzima. Izinqola zabaseGibhithe zase zingasakwazi ukuhamba! UJehova wayekhiphe amasondo azo.—Eks. 14:23-25; 15:9.

Ngenkathi abaseGibhithe besashikashikana nezinqola eziphukile, wonke ama-Israyeli awelela ogwini olusempumalanga. UMose wabe esephakamisela isandla sakhe phezu koLwandle Olubomvu. Ngaleso sikhathi, uJehova wadiliza izindonga zamanzi. Amathantala amanzi amboza uFaro namabutho akhe, baminza, akwangasinda noyedwa. U-Israyeli wayesekhululekile!—Eks. 14:26-28; IHu. 136:13-15.

Lesi senzakalo senza izizwe ezizungezile zaba nokwesaba isikhathi eside. (Eks. 15:14-16) Ngemva kweminyaka engu-40, uRahabi waseJeriko watshela amadoda amabili angama-Israyeli: “Sehlelwe ukwethuka ngenxa yenu, . . . ngoba siyizwile indlela uJehova omisa ngayo amanzi oLwandle Olubomvu phambi kwenu lapho niphuma eGibhithe.” (Josh. 2:9, 10) Ngisho nezizwe ezingamaqaba zazingakayikhohlwa indlela uJehova ayekhulule ngayo abantu bakhe. Kusobala ukuthi u-Israyeli wayenezizathu ezengeziwe zokumkhumbula.

‘Ubalonda Njengenhlamvu Yeso Lakhe’

Ngemva kokuwela uLwandle Olubomvu, ama-Israyeli afika Ogwadule LwaseSinayi, ‘ihlane elikhulu nelesabekayo.’ Njengoba ayedabula lelo hlane “elinomhlabathi owomile ongenawo amanzi” nelingenakudla kwalolo quqaba, uJehova wawanakekela. UMose wakhumbula: “[UJehova] wamthola [u-Israyeli] ezweni eliyihlane, ogwadule olungenalutho, oluhewulayo. Wamhaqa, wamnakekela, wamlonda njengenhlamvu yeso lakhe.” (Dut. 8:15; 32:10) UNkulunkulu wawanakekela kanjani?

Wawanika “isinkwa esivela emazulwini,” esibizwa ngokuthi imana, esasivela ngokuyisimangaliso “phezu kobuso behlane.” (Eks. 16:4, 14, 15, 35) Wenza nokuba amanzi aphume “edwaleni lensengetsha.” Ngenxa yesibusiso sakhe, izingubo zawo azizange ziguge nezinyawo zawo azizange zivuvukale phakathi neminyaka engu-40 esehlane. (Dut. 8:4) UJehova wayelindele ukuba enzeni? UMose wawatshela: “Ziqaphele futhi unakekele kahle umphefumulo wakho, ukuze ungazikhohlwa izinto amehlo akho azibonile futhi zingamuki enhliziyweni yakho zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwakho.” (Dut. 4:9) Ukube ama-Israyeli ahlala ezikhumbula izenzo zikaJehova zokusindisa futhi abe nomoya wokubonga, ngabe amkhonza njalo futhi alwela ukulalela imithetho yakhe. Ama-Israyeli ayezokwenzenjani?

Ukukhohlwa Kudala Ukungabongi

UMose wathi: “IDwala elakuzalayo, walikhohlwa, wamkhohlwa uNkulunkulu.” (Dut. 32:18) Izenzo zikaJehova oLwandle Olubomvu, amalungiselelo akhe okunakekela isizwe sakhe ehlane kanye nazo zonke izinto ezinhle ayezenzile ngokushesha zalibaleka futhi zanganakwa. Ama-Israyeli aqala ukuvukela.

Ngesinye isikhathi ama-Israyeli asola uMose ngokuntuleka kwamanzi. (Num. 20:2-5) Akhononda ngemana elaliwagcina ephila, athi: “Umphefumulo wethu usuyasenyanya lesi sinkwa esidelelekile.” (Num. 21:5) Angabaza isahlulelo sikaJehova futhi athi awasafuni uMose abe umholi wawo, athi: “Ukube sasifele ezweni laseGibhithe, noma sasifele kuleli hlane! . . . Masibeke inhloko, sibuyele eGibhithe!”—Num. 14:2-4.

Ukungalaleli kwama-Israyeli kwamthinta kanjani uJehova? Kamuva, lapho umhubi ezindla ngalezo zenzakalo, wabhala: “Yeka ukuthi babedlubulunda kaningi kangakanani kuye ehlane, babemenza azizwe kabuhlungu ogwadule! Ngokuphindaphindiwe babevivinya uNkulunkulu, bamzwisa ubuhlungu oNgcwele ka-Israyeli. Abazange basikhumbule isandla sakhe, usuku abakhulula ngalo kophikisana nabo, indlela abeka ngayo izibonakaliso zakhe eGibhithe.” (IHu. 78:40-43) Yebo, ukukhohlwa kwama-Israyeli kwamzwisa ubuhlungu obukhulu uJehova.

Ababili Abangazange Bakhohlwe

Nokho, amanye ama-Israyeli awazange amkhohlwe uJehova futhi amabili kuwo kwakunguJoshuwa noKalebi. La madoda ayeseqenjini lezinhloli ezingu-12 ezathunywa zisuka eKadeshi-barineya ukuba ziyohlola iZwe Lesithembiso. Eziyishumi zabuya nombiko omubi, kodwa uJoshuwa noKalebi batshela abantu: “Izwe esalidabula silihlola liyizwe elihle kakhulu impela. Uma uJehova ejabule ngathi, khona-ke ngokuqinisekile uyosingenisa kuleli zwe futhi asinike lona, izwe eligeleza ubisi noju. Kuphela ningadlubulundi kuJehova.” Lapho abantu bezwa lawo mazwi, bafuna ukubakhanda ngamatshe oJoshuwa noKalebi. Kodwa la madoda amabili aqhubeka emethemba ngokuqinile uJehova.—Num. 14:6-10.

Ngemva kweminyaka ethile, uKalebi watshela uJoshuwa: “UMose inceku kaJehova [wangithuma] ngisuka eKadeshi-barineya ukuba ngiyohlola izwe, futhi ngambuyisela izwi njengoba nje lalinjalo enhliziyweni yami. Abafowethu ababekhuphuke kanye nami babangela ukuba izinhliziyo zabantu zigcwale amanzi; kepha mina, ngamlandela ngokuphelele uJehova uNkulunkulu wami.” (Josh. 14:6-8) UJoshuwa noKalebi bathembela kuNkulunkulu, bakhuthazelela ubunzima obuhlukahlukene. Babezimisele ukukhumbula uJehova ukuphila kwabo konke.

UJoshuwa noKalebi babonisa nokubonga, beqaphela ukuthi uJehova wayesigcwalisile isithembiso sakhe sokungenisa abantu bakhe ezweni elivundile. Yebo, ama-Israyeli kwakufanele ambonge uJehova ngokuwanakekela. UJoshuwa wabhala: “UJehova wamnika u-Israyeli lonke izwe ayefunge ukulinika okhokho bakhe. . . . Asikho nesisodwa isithembiso esaphutha kuzo zonke izithembiso ezinhle uJehova ayezenzile endlini ka-Israyeli; zagcwaliseka zonke.” (Josh. 21:43, 45) Namuhla, singakubonisa kanjani ukubonga okufana nokukaKalebi noJoshuwa?

Yiba Obongayo

Umuntu owesaba uNkulunkulu wake wathi: “Ngizombuyisela ngani uJehova ngazo zonke izinzuzo zakhe kimi?” (IHu. 116:12) Isikweletu esinaso kuNkulunkulu ngenxa yezibusiso zakhe zezinto ezibonakalayo, isiqondiso sakhe esingokomoya kanye nendlela yokusisindisa esikhathini esizayo sikhulu kangangokuba ngeke sikwazi ukusikhokha naphakade. Empeleni, ngeke nje size sikwazi ukumkhokhela. Kodwa sonke singakwazi ukumbonga.

Ingabe iseluleko sikaJehova siye sakuphephisa ezinkingeni? Ingabe intethelelo yakhe iye yakusiza ukuba ube nonembeza ohlanzekile? Izinzuzo zalezi zenzo zikaNkulunkulu zihlala isikhathi eside futhi kufanele kube njalo nangokubonga onakho. Intombazanyana eneminyaka engu-14 okuthiwa uSandra yabhekana nezinkinga ezinkulu kodwa yazinqoba ngosizo lukaJehova. Ithi: “Ngathandaza kuJehova ngicela usizo, futhi iye yangihlaba umxhwele indlela aye angisiza ngayo. Manje ngiyazi ukuthi kungani ubaba ayehlale engitshela ngezAga 3:5, 6: ‘Thembela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, ungenciki kokwakho ukuqonda. Mqaphele kuzo zonke izindlela zakho, yena uyokwenza izindlela zakho ziqonde.’ Ngiyaqiniseka ngokuthi njengoba uJehova aye angisiza kuze kube manje, uyohlale engisiza.”

Bonisa Ukuthi Uyamkhumbula UJehova Ngokukhuthazela

IBhayibheli ligcizelela enye imfanelo ehlobene nokukhumbula uJehova: “Vumelani ukukhuthazela kuphelelise umsebenzi wako, ukuze nibe abaphelele nabaphilile ezicini zonke, abangantuli lutho.” (Jak. 1:4) Kuhilelani ukuba “abaphelele nabaphilile ezicini zonke”? Kuhilela ukuhlakulela izimfanelo eziyosisiza ukuba sibhekane novivinyo ngokuthembela kuJehova nangokuzimisela ukulunqoba singapheli amandla. Lolo hlobo lokukhuthazela luletha ukwaneliseka okukhulu lapho uvivinyo lokholo seluphelile futhi akwenzeki lungapheli.—1 Kor. 10:13.

Inceku kaJehova esinesikhathi eside imkhonza futhi eye yabhekana nezinkinga ezinzima zempilo ichaza lokho okuye kwayisiza ukuba ikhuthazele: “Ngizama ukucabanga ngalokho uJehova akwenzayo, hhayi ngalokho engifuna ukukwenza. Ukuba qotho kusho ukugxila ezinjongweni zikaNkulunkulu, hhayi ezifisweni zami. Lapho ngibhekene nezinkinga, angisho ukuthi, ‘Kungani zehlela mina, Jehova?’ Ngimane nje ngiqhubeke ngimkhonza futhi nginamathele kuye ngisho noma kuvela izinkinga engingazilindele.”

Namuhla ibandla lobuKristu likhonza uJehova “ngomoya nangeqiniso.” (Joh. 4:23, 24) Njengeqembu, amaKristu eqiniso awasoze amkhohlwa uNkulunkulu njengoba kwenza isizwe sakwa-Israyeli. Kodwa, ukuba ingxenye yebandla akusona isiqinisekiso sokuthi siyohlale siqotho njengabantu ngabanye. NjengoKalebi noJoshuwa, ngamunye wethu kumelwe abonise ukubonga nokukhuthazela enkonzweni kaJehova. Sinesizathu esizwakalayo sokwenza lokhu, ngoba uJehova uyaqhubeka esiqondisa futhi esinakekela ngabanye kulesi sikhathi sokuphela esinzima.

Njengamatshe esikhumbuzo abekwa uJoshuwa, umlando wezenzo zikaNkulunkulu zokusindisa usiqinisekisa ngokuthi ngeke abalahle abantu bakhe. Ngakho, kwangathi ungazizwa njengomhubi owabhala: “Ngizozikhumbula izenzo zikaJah; ngoba ngizokukhumbula ukwenza kwakho okumangalisayo kwakudala. Ngokuqinisekile ngizozindla ngawo wonke umsebenzi wakho, futhi ngizozikhathaza ngezenzo zakho.”—IHu. 77:11, 12.

[Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Sonke isizwe kwadingeka sidabule ihlane “elinomhlabathi owomile”

[Umthombo]

Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.

[Isithombe ekhasini 8]

Ngenkathi ama-Israyeli ekanise eKadeshi-barineya, kwathunywa izinhloli eZweni Lesithembiso

[Umthombo]

Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.

[Isithombe ekhasini 9]

Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi ehlane, ama-Israyeli ayengabonga uNkulunkulu ngeZwe Lesithembiso elivundile

[Umthombo]

Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.

[Isithombe ekhasini 10]

Ukugxila ezinjongweni zikaJehova kusisiza ukuba sikhuthazelele noma iziphi izinselele esibhekana nazo