Wenza Ngokuhlakanipha, Wabonisa Isibindi Nokuzidela

Inhliziyo ka-Esteri yayishaya ngamandla lapho esondela esihlalweni sobukhosi. Cabanga ngalokhu: Kwakuthule kuthe cwaka esigodlweni senkosi sasePheresiya, eShushani, kangangokuba u-Esteri wayekwazi ngisho ukuzwa izigi zakhe nokuhwashazela kwengubo yakhe yasebukhosini. Kwakungafanele aphazanyiswe ukunaka ubukhazikhazi begceke lasebukhosini, izinsika ezinhle nophahla oluqoshiwe olwenziwe ngemisedari evela kude eLebanoni. Amehlo akhe ayethé njo endodeni eyayihleli esihlalweni sobukhosi, indoda okuphila kwakhe kwakusezandleni zayo.

INkosi yambukisisa njengoba eza, yabe seyelulela intonga yayo yegolide kuye. Kwakuyisenzo esilula, kodwa sasisho lukhulu ekuphileni kuka-Esteri, ngoba ngaleso senzo inkosi yabonisa ukumxolela ngokwephula umthetho—wokuza kuyo ingambizanga. Njengoba esondela esihlalweni sobukhosi, u-Esteri welula ingalo wathinta isihloko sentonga, okuwuphawu lokubonga.—Esteri 5:1, 2.a

INkosi u-Ahashiveroshi yayicebile futhi inamandla. Kuthiwa imvunulo yasebukhosini yenkosi yasePheresiya yangalezo zikhathi yayingabiza amakhulu ezigidi zamarandi namuhla. Nokho, njengoba esondela, u-Esteri walubona lubhalwe emehlweni uthando kumyeni wakhe. Inkosi yathi: “O Esteri ndlovukazi, ukhala ngani, futhi siyini isicelo sakho? Ngisho noma kungaba yingxenye yobukhosi—mawusinikwe nokusinikwa!”—Esteri 5:3.

Kakade, u-Esteri wayeselubonisile ukholo nesibindi esiphawulekayo; ngokuya enkosini ukuze avikele abantu bakubo etulweni lokubaqothula. Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, wayesaphumelele kodwa kukhulu okwakusengaphambili. Kwakufanele enze le nkosi eqhoshayo ibone ukuthi umeluleki wayo emethemba kakhulu uyindoda embi, ekhohlise inkosi ngobuqili ukuze ikhiphe umyalo wokubulala abantu bakubo ka-Esteri. Wayezoyenza kanjani inkosi ikubone lokhu, futhi yini esingayifunda okholweni lwakhe?

Wasikhetha Ngokuhlakanipha ‘Isikhathi Sokukhuluma’

Ingabe kwakufanele u-Esteri adalule yonke inkinga phambi kwezikhulu zegceke? Ukwenza kanjalo kwakuyoyehlisa isithunzi inkosi futhi kunikeze umeluleki wayo uHamani ithuba lokuphika. Ngakho wenzani u-Esteri? Emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili, inkosi ehlakaniphile uSolomoni yaphefumulelwa ukuba ibhale: “Kukhona isikhathi esimisiwe sayo yonke into, . . . isikhathi sokuthula nesikhathi sokukhuluma.” (UmShumayeli 3:1, 7) Singacabanga ukuthi uyise ka-Esteri wokutholwa, indoda ethembekile uMoridekayi, yayifundisa le ntombazanyana izimiso ezifana nalezi ngesikhathi iyikhulisa. Ngokuqinisekile, u-Esteri wayeqonda ukubaluleka kokusikhetha kahle ‘isikhathi sokukhuluma.’

U-Esteri wathi: “Uma kubonakala kukuhle enkosini, inkosi mayize noHamani namuhla edilini engiyilungiselele lona.” (Esteri 5:4) Inkosi yavuma futhi yabiza noHamani. Uyayibona indlela u-Esteri akhuluma ngayo ngokuhlakanipha? Uhlonipha isithunzi somyeni wakhe futhi wenza isimo esikahle sokudalula ukukhathazeka kwakhe.

Ngokungangabazeki, u-Esteri walungiselela idili ngokucophelela, eqinisekisa ukuthi wenza zonke izinto ngendlela ethandwa umyeni wakhe. Edilini kwakunewayini elimnandi ukuze nesimo sijabulise. (IHubo 104:15) U-Ahashiveroshi wazijabulisa futhi washukumiseleka ukuba aphinde abuze u-Esteri ukuthi siyini isicelo sakhe. Ingabe kwase kuyisikhathi sokukhuluma?

U-Esteri wabona kungesona. Kunalokho, wamemela inkosi noHamani edilini lesibili, ngakusasa. (Esteri 5:7, 8) Kungani ayelokhu ehlehlisa? Khumbula ukuthi bonke abantu bakubo ka-Esteri babezobulawa ngomyalo wenkosi. Ngenxa yakuba bucayi kwalesi simo, kwakufanele aqiniseke ukuthi ukhuluma ngesikhathi esifanele. Ngakho walinda, wenza elinye ithuba lokubonisa umyeni wakhe ukuthi umazisa kakhulu kangakanani.

Ukubekezela kuyimfanelo engandile futhi eyigugu. Nakuba ayecindezelekile futhi efuna ukukhipha okumkhathazayo, u-Esteri wabekezela walinda isikhathi esikahle. Singafunda okuningi esibonelweni sakhe, ngoba cishe sonke sake sayibona into embi edinga ukulungiswa. Lapho sifuna ukubonisa umuntu onegunya inkinga ethile, kungase kudingeke silingise u-Esteri, sibekezele. IzAga 25:15 zithi: “Umlawuli unxenxwa ngesineke, nolimi olumnene lungaliphula ithambo.” Uma silinda ngesineke isikhathi esifanele futhi sikhuluma ngesizotha njengoba kwenza u-Esteri, ngisho nokuphikisa okuqine njengethambo kungase kwephulwe. Ingabe uNkulunkulu ka-Esteri, uJehova, wambusisa ngokubekezela nokuhlakanipha kwakhe?

Ukubekezela Kuvula Indlela Yokwenza Ubulungisa

Ukubekezela kuka-Esteri kwavula indlela yochungechunge lwezenzakalo eziphawulekayo. UHamani wahamba edilini lokuqala umoya wakhe ujabule kakhulu, “eneme enhliziyweni” ngokuthi inkosi nendlovukazi bayamthanda. Nokho, njengoba uHamani aphuma esangweni lesigodlo, ubona uMoridekayi, lowaya mJuda owayengafuni ukumkhulekela. Okwakwenza uMoridekayi angamkhulekeli kwakuwunembeza wakhe nobuhlobo bakhe noJehova uNkulunkulu, hhayi ukuthi wayengamhloniphi uHamani. Nokho, ‘masinyane wagcwala intukuthelo’ uHamani.—Esteri 5:9.

Lapho uHamani etshela umkakhe nabangane bakhe ngale ndaba, bamcebisa ukuba enze isigxobo esikhulu, esingamamitha angaphezu kuka-22 ubude, abese ecela imvume yenkosi ukuba alengise uMoridekayi kuso. UHamani wawuthanda lo mbono futhi wayaleza ukuba kwenziwe isigxobo ngokushesha.—Esteri 5:12-14.

Ngakolunye uhlangothi, inkosi yaba nobusuku obungavamile. IBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi “yaqwasha,” ngakho yacela ukufundelwa ngokuzwakalayo imibhalo yezenzakalo zeZwe. Kule mibhalo kwakukhona nendaba yetulo elalenzelwe u-Ahashiveroshi. Yasikhumbula leso senzakalo; labo ababefuna ukuyibulala babanjwa babulawa. Kodwa kuthiwani ngendoda eyadalula lelo tulo—uMoridekayi? Ngaso leso sikhathi, inkosi yabuza ukuthi wavuzwa ngani uMoridekayi. Yathini impendulo? Akenzelwanga lutho.—Esteri 6:1-3.

Imangele futhi idumele, inkosi yabuza ukuthi iziphi izikhulu zegceke ezikhona. Yayifuna umuntu ezomthuma alungise lesi simo. Nakho-ke isithola uHamani egcekeni—kubonakala sengathi ufika ekuseni kangaka nje ngoba ufuna ukuthola imvume yokubulala uMoridekayi. Kodwa engakasenzi lesi sicelo, inkosi imbuza ukuthi iyiphi indlela engcono kakhulu yokudumisa umuntu othandwa inkosi. UHamani akakhohlwanga kunguye lowo muntu! Ngakho wathi kumelwe idunyiswe ngezinga eliphezulu kakhulu: Igqokiswe ingubo yasebukhosini, izikhulu zegceke zizungeze nayo iShushani igibele ihhashi lenkosi, idunyiswe kuzwe wonke umuntu. Ucabanga ukuthi baba njani ubuso bukaHamani lapho ezwa ukuthi indoda eyayizodunyiswa uMoridekayi? Uyazi ukuthi ubani inkosi eyamabela ukuba ahambe edumisa uMoridekayi? UHamani!—Esteri 6:4-10.

UHamani wakwenza lokhu inhliziyo yakhe igaya izibozi, ngemva kwalokho waphuthuma ekhaya ecindezelekile. Umkakhe nabangane bakhe bathi le ngwijikhwebu iyibika lokuthi kukhona okusina kumjeqeza; nakanjani wayezohlulwa empini yakhe noMoridekayi umJuda.—Esteri 6:12, 13.

Ngenxa yokuthi u-Esteri wayebekezela, walinda nalolo suku ukuze ethule isicelo sakhe enkosini, uHamani wanikwa ithuba lokuzimbela umgodi. Kungenzeka yini ukuthi uJehova owabangela inkosi ukuba iqwashe? (IzAga 21:1) Akumangazi ukuthi iZwi likaNkulunkulu lisikhuthaza ukuba sibonise “isimo sengqondo sokumlinda.” (Mika 7:7) Lapho silinda uNkulunkulu singase sithole izixazululo zezinkinga zethu ezikwedlula kude lokho thina ebesingakucabanga.

Wakhuluma Ngesibindi

U-Esteri wayengeke alokothe avivinye ukubekezela kwenkosi ngokwengeziwe, edilini lakhe lesibili, kwakufanele ayitshele konke. Kodwa kanjani? Inkosi yamnika ithuba lokukhuluma, imbuza futhi ukuthi siyini sicelo sakhe. (Esteri 7:2) Sase sifikile ‘isikhathi sokukhuluma’ ku-Esteri.

Singambona ngeso lengqondo u-Esteri ethandaza buthule kuNkulunkulu wakhe ngaphambi kokusho la mazwi: “O nkosi, uma ngitholé umusa emehlweni akho, futhi uma kubonakala kukuhle enkosini, manginikwe umphefumulo wami siqu ngokukhala kwami nabantu bakithi ngesicelo sami.” (Esteri 7:3) Phawula ukuthi waqinisekisa inkosi ngokuthi uyasihlonipha isinqumo sayo mayelana nalokho okubonakala kulungile. Yeka indlela u-Esteri ayehluke ngayo kuVashiti, inkosikazi yenkosi yokuqala, owahlazisa umyeni wakhe ngamabomu! (Esteri 1:10-12) Ngaphezu kwalokho, u-Esteri akazange ayigxeke inkosi ngephutha lokuthemba uHamani. Kunalokho, le ndlovukazi yancenga inkosi ukuba iyivikele ekufeni.

Ngokuqinisekile lesi sicelo sayishukumisa futhi sayimangaza inkosi. Ubani owayengalokotha abeke isandla endlovukazini? U-Esteri waqhubeka: “Sithengisiwe, mina nabantu bakithi, ukuba sibhuqwe, sibulawe futhi sibhujiswe. Manje ukube besithengiselwe ukuba sibe nje yizigqila nezincekukazi, bengizothula. Kodwa lolu sizi alufanelekile uma luzodalela inkosi umonakalo.” (Esteri 7:4) Phawula ukuthi u-Esteri wayiveza ngokuqondile inkinga, wanezela nokuthi ubezothula ukube babethengiselwe ebugqilini kuphela. Nokho, lokhu kuqothulwa kohlanga kwakuzoyithinta ngokuqondile inkosi, ngakho wayengeke athule.

Isibonelo sika-Esteri sisifundisa okuningi ngekhono lokukholisa. Uma kungake kwenzeke kudingeke utshele umuntu omthandayo noma umuntu osegunyeni eliphakeme inkinga ethile, ukubekezela, inhlonipho nokwethembeka kungaba usizo olukhulu.—IzAga 16:21, 23.

U-Ahashiveroshi wabuza ngokufutheka: “Ubani lowo, futhi uphi nje lowo muntu oqunge isibindi sokwenza ngaleyo ndlela?” Cabanga nje ukuthi kwaba njani njengoba u-Esteri emkhomba ethi: “Umuntu, umphikisi nesitha, yilo Hamani omubi.” Kwathuleka kwathi nyá. Kwaphela nasozwaneni kuHamani. Yibone ngeso lengqondo inkosi ibheja iba bomvu njengoba ibona ukuthi umeluleki wayo emethembayo uyisayinise ngobuqili umyalo wokuqothula yena kanye umkayo emthandayo! Inkosi yaphuma ithukuthele ingqangqa iyokwehlisa umoya ngaphandle engadini.—Esteri 7:5-7.

Esedaluliwe ukuthi uyigwala elinobuqili, uHamani wagaqa waya ezinyaweni zendlovukazi. Lapho inkosi ibuya endlini ibona uHamani encenga u-Esteri esihlalweni sakhe esisambhede, yathukuthela yathelwa ngamanzi, yambeka icala lokuzama ukudlwengula indlovukazi khona kanye endlini yenkosi. Lase limshonele uHamani. Wasuswa, ubuso bakhe bumboziwe. Esinye isikhulu segceke satshela inkosi ukuthi kunesigxobo esikhulu uHamani ayesenzele ukulengisa uMoridekayi. Ngokushesha u-Ahashiveroshi wayala ukuba uHamani alengiswe kuso.—Esteri 7:8-10.

Kuleli zwe lanamuhla elingenabulungisa, kulula ukucabanga ukuthi ubulungisa abusoze benziwa. Wake wazizwa ngaleyo ndlela? U-Esteri akazange aphelelwe ithemba. Ngesikhathi esifanele, wakukhulumela ngesibindi okulungile futhi wathembela kuJehova kukho konke. Nathi masenze okufanayo! UJehova akakashintshi. Usakwazi ukubamba ababi nabenza ngobuqili emaswini abo, njengoba enza kuHamani.—IHubo 7:11-16.

Wazidela Ngenxa KaJehova Nabantu Bakhe

Ekugcineni, inkosi yathola ukuthi ungubani uMoridekayi—kwakungeyena nje umuntu othembekile owamvikela etulweni lokumbulala kodwa futhi wayengubaba ka-Esteri wokutholwa. U-Ahashiveroshi wanika uMoridekayi isikhundla sikaHamani sokuba undunankulu. Indlu kaHamani—kuhlanganise nengcebo yakhe eningi—yanikwa u-Esteri owamisa uMoridekayi phezu kwayo.—Esteri 8:1, 2.

Njengoba u-Esteri noMoridekayi base bephephile, ingabe indlovukazi yayisizophumula? Yayingaphumula ukube yayizicabangela yona. Ngaleso sikhathi, umyalo kaHamani wokubulala wonke amaJuda wawusufinyelele ezingxenyeni ezikude zombuso. UHamani wayenze unkatho noma iPhure—okuwuhlobo oluthile lokusebenzelana nemimoya—ukuze athole isikhathi esifanele sokwenza ayekuhlosile. (Esteri 9:24-26) Nokho, kwakusasele izinyanga ukuba lokhu kwenzeke kodwa kwakusondela ngokushesha. Yayingagwemeka yini le nhlekelele?

U-Esteri wafaka ukuphila kwakhe engozini futhi ngokuphinde aye enkosini ingambizanga. Kulokhu, wakhalela abantu bakubo, encenga umyeni wakhe ukuba achithe lo myalo omubi. Kodwa imiyalo eyayikhishwa egameni lenkosi yasePheresiya yayingenakuchithwa. (Daniyeli 6:12, 15) Ngakho inkosi yanikeza u-Esteri noMoridekayi amandla okumisa imithetho emisha. Kwakhishwa umyalo wesibili, owawunikeza amaJuda ilungelo lokuzivikela. Abagibeli bamahhashi baya kuzo zonke izingxenye zombuso, betshela amaJuda lezi zindaba ezinhle. Abantu baqala ukuba nethemba. (Esteri 8:3-16) Singawacabanga amaJuda ayekuwo wonke lowo mbuso omkhulu ezilungiselela impi, into ayengeke akwazi ukuyenza ukube wawungakhishwanga lo mthetho omusha. Nokho, okubaluleke nakakhulu ukuthi ingabe ‘uJehova wamabutho’ wayeyoba nabantu bakhe?—1 Samuweli 17:45.

Lapho lufika olwamanqamu abantu bakaNkulunkulu babelulungele. Ngisho nezinye izikhulu zasePheresiya zase zingasohlangothini lwabo, kwazise zase zisakazekile izindaba ngondunankulu omusha, uMoridekayi umJuda. UJehova wanika abantu bakhe ukunqoba okukhulu. Ngokungangabazeki, waqiniseka ukuthi izitha zinqotshwa ngokuphelele.b—Esteri 9:1-6.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, uMoridekayi wayengasoze engamela indlu kaHamani ngokuthula uma amadodana ayishumi ale ndoda eyonakele asaphila. Nawo abulawa. (Esteri 9:7-10) Kwabe sekugcwaliseka isiprofetho seBhayibheli, ngoba ngaphambili uNkulunkulu wayebikezele ukubhujiswa okuphelele kwama-Amaleki, ayeyizitha ezikhohlakele zabantu bakhe. (Duteronomi 25:17-19) Amadodana kaHamani ayeyinsali yaleso sizwe esiqalekisiwe.

Nakuba ayemncane, u-Esteri kwadingeka aphakamele lolu daba olulukhuni lwemiyalo yasebukhosini ehlanganisa impi nokubulala. Kwakungelula neze. Kodwa intando kaJehova kwakuwukuba abantu bakhe bangabhujiswa, isizwe sakwa-Israyeli kwakufanele siveze uMesiya othenjisiwe, umthombo wethemba labantu! (Genesise 22:18) Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu namuhla ziyajabula ngokwazi ukuthi lapho uMesiya, uJesu, esemhlabeni, wanqabela abalandeli bakhe kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke ukuba bahlanganyele ezimpini.—Mathewu 26:52.

Noma kunjalo, amaKristu asempini engokomoya; uSathane kunanini ngaphambili ushabashekela ukuqeda ukholo lwethu kuJehova uNkulunkulu. (2 Korinte 10:3, 4) Yeka ukuthi kuyisibusiso kanjani ukuthi sinesibonelo esinjengesika-Esteri! Njengaye, kwangathi singaba nokholo ngokubonisa ukuhlakanipha nokubekezela lapho sisebenzisa ikhono lokukholisa, nangokuba nesibindi nokuzidela ukuze simelele abantu bakaNkulunkulu.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 28]

Imibuzo Ngo-Esteri

Kungani uMoridekayi avuma ukuba u-Esteri ashade neqaba elingakholwa?

Abukho ubufakazi balokho okushiwo ezinye izazi ukuthi uMoridekayi wayefuna ukuba u-Esteri ashade nenkosi ukuze kucebe yena. NjengomJuda othembekile wayengeke awujabulele umshado onjalo. (Duteronomi 7:3) Izindaba zamaJuda zakudala zithi uMoridekayi wazama ukuvimbela lo mshado. Kubonakala kungenakwenzeka ukuthi yena noma u-Esteri, ababemane nje bengabantu besinye isizwe futhi besezweni elibuswa inkosi engumashiqela eyayizenza unkulunkulu, babengaba nezwi kule ndaba. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwacaca ukuthi uJehova wasebenzisa umshado ka-Esteri ukuze avikele abantu bakhe.—Esteri 4:14.

Kungani incwadi ka-Esteri ingenalo igama likaNkulunkulu elithi Jehova?

Kusobala ukuthi uMoridekayi waphefumulelwa ukuba alobe le ncwadi. Mhlawumbe ekuqaleni le ncwadi yayigcinwa ezincwadini zezenzakalo zasePheresiya ngaphambi kokuba ibuyiselwe eJerusalema. Ukusetshenziswa kwegama likaJehova kwakungenza abakhulekeli bonkulunkulu basePheresiya bafune ukuyishisa. Kunoma yikuphi, kuyacaca ukuthi uJehova wayehilelekile kule ndaba. Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi igama likaNkulunkulu lifihlwe emibhalweni yokuqala yesiHebheru ngokubhalwa ngezinhlamvu ezifundeka ndlela-zonke, kuyilapho kubonakala sengathi amagama ahlelwe ngamabomu ukuze izinhlamvu zokuqala noma zokugcina zamazwi alandelanayo zibe yigama likaNkulunkulu.—Esteri 1:20, umbhalo waphansi.

Ingabe incwadi ka-Esteri inembile ngokomlando?

Abagxeki bathi ayinembile. Nokho, ezinye izazi ziye zaphawula ukuthi umlobi wale ncwadi wabonisa ukuthi wayenolwazi oluningiliziwe ngobukhosi basePheresiya, izakhiwo namasiko akhona. Yiqiniso, azikho izincwadi ezisekhona ezitholakalayo ezikhuluma ngeNdlovukazi u-Esteri, kodwa u-Esteri akuyena ukuphela komuntu wasebukhosini okungakhulunywa ngaye ezincwadini zomphakathi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, imibhalo yezwe ibonisa ukuthi kwakukhona indoda ebizwa ngokuthi u-Mardukâ, okuyigama lesiPheresiya elisho ukuthi Moridekayi, eyayikhonza njengesikhulu segceke eShushani ngesikhathi esichazwa incwadi ka-Esteri.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 29]

Ukugcwaliseka Kwesiprofetho

Lapho belwela abantu bakaNkulunkulu, u-Esteri noMoridekayi bagcwalisa esinye isiprofetho seBhayibheli. Eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-1 200 ngaphambili, uJehova wayephefumulele inzalamizi uJakobe ukuba ibikezele lokhu ngenye yamadodana ayo: “UBhenjamini uyoqhubeka edwengula njengempisi. Ekuseni uyodla isilwane esibanjiwe, ebusuku ahlukanise impango.” (Genesise 49:27) Ngesikhathi ‘sasekuseni’ somlando wamakhosi akwa-Israyeli, inzalo kaBhenjamini yayihlanganisa iNkosi uSawulu namanye amabutho anamandla abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi ‘sasebusuku’ somlando walawo makhosi, ngemva kokuba selunqamukile uhlu lwamakhosi akwa-Israyeli, u-Esteri noMoridekayi ababengabesizwe sakwaBhenjamini, balwa ngempumelelo nezitha zikaJehova. Ngandlela-thile, nabo bayihlukanisa impango, ngoba ifa likaHamani laya kubo.

[Isithombe ekhasini 25]

U-Esteri wasazisa ngokuthobeka isihe senkosi yakhe

[Isithombe emakhasini 26, 27]

U-Esteri wabudalula ngesibindi ububi bukaHamani

[Isithombe emakhasini 28, 29]

U-Esteri noMoridekayi bathumela izimemezelo kumaJuda ayeseMbusweni wasePheresiya