Uyisakhamuzi Noma Ungowezizwe, UNkulunkulu Uyakwamukela!

“Wazenza izizwe zonke ngagazi linye ukuba zakhe ebusweni bonke bomhlaba.”—IZENZO 17:26.

 1. Ibuphi ubunzima obukhona ezindaweni eziningi namuhla mayelana nokwamukelwa kwabantu bezinye izizinda?

IMIBIKO yamaphephandaba ibonisa ukuthi emazweni amaningi kunokukhathazeka okukhulayo ngabezizwe, izifiki, nababaleki. Izigidi zisha amashushu ngokuthutha ezingxenyeni zaseAsia, eAfrika, eYurophu, naseMelika. Mhlawumbe zifuna ukukhululeka ebumpofwini obucindezelayo, impi yombango, noma ushushiso. Kodwa ingabe zamukelekile kwezinye izindawo? Umagazini iTime wathi: “Njengoba inhlanganisela yezinhlanga zaseYurophu iqala ukushintsha, amanye amazwe athola ukuthi awawavumeli kangako amasiko abezizwe njengoba ayeke acabanga.” Ngababaleki abangu-18 000 000 “abangafunwa,” iTime yathi: “Inselele abayibeka ezizweni ezizinzile ngeke iphele.”

 2, 3. (a) Isiphi isiqinisekiso esiqabulayo esinikezwa iBhayibheli mayelana nokwamukelwa? (b) Kungani singazuza ekuhloleni lokho imiBhalo ekushoyo ngokusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu nabantu?

² Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwenzekani mayelana nalendaba, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wamukela abantu bazo zonke izizwe—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umuntu uyisakhamuzi esingumsinsi wokuzimilela, isifiki, noma umbaleki. (IzEnzo 10:34, 35) Abanye bangabuza, ‘Kodwa ningakusho kanjani lokho? UNkulunkulu akazange yini akhethe uIsrayeli wasendulo kuphela njengabantu bakhe, elahla abanye?’

³ Nokho, ake sibone indlela uNkulunkulu asebenzelana ngayo nabantu basendulo. Singahlola futhi iziprofetho ezithile ezihlobene namalungelo atholakalayo kubakhulekeli beqiniso namuhla. Ukubukeza lokhu kwaziswa okungokwesiprofetho kungembula ukuqonda okugcwele ongase ukuthole kukhuthaza kakhulu. Futhi kubonisa indlela uNkulunkulu angasebenzelana ngayo nabantu ngabanye ‘bazo zonke izizwe, nemindeni, nabantu, nezilimi’ ngemva kosizi olukhulu.—IsAmbulo 7:9, 14-17.

“Ziyakubusiswa Izizwe Zonke”

 4. Inkinga yobuzwe yaqala kanjani, kodwa iziphi izinyathelo uNkulunkulu azithatha?

⁴ Ngemva kukaZamcolo, umkhaya kaNowa waveza sonke isintu, futhi wonke wawungabakhulekeli beqiniso. Kodwa lobobunye bashintsha ngokushesha. Kungakadluli isikhathi eside, abanye abantu, bengayinaki intando kaNkulunkulu, baqala ukwakha umbhoshongo. Lokhu kwaholela ekubeni isintu sihlukane sibe amaqembu ezilimi aba abantu abahlakazekile nezizwe. (Genesise 11:1-9) Noma kunjalo, ukukhulekela kweqiniso kwaqhubeka ngohlu lozalo olwaholela kuAbrahama. UNkulunkulu wabusisa uAbrahama othembekile futhi wathembisa ukuthi inzalo yakhe yayiyoba isizwe esikhulu. (Genesise 12:1-3) Lesosizwe sasinguIsrayeli wasendulo.

 5. Kungani sonke singakhuthazeka ngokusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu noAbrahama?

⁵ Nokho, uJehova wayengabakhipheli ngaphandle abantu abangeyena uIsrayeli, ngoba injongo yakhe yanwebeka ukuze ihlanganise sonke isintu. Lokhu sikubona ngokusobala kulokho uNkulunkulu akuthembisa uAbrahama: “[Ngembewu, NW] yakho ziyakubusiswa izizwe zonke zomhlaba, ngokuba ulalele izwi lami.” (Genesise 22:18) Nokho, emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka uNkulunkulu wasebenzelana noIsrayeli ngendlela ekhethekile, enikeza isimiso soMthetho sesizwe sonke, elungiselela ukuba abapristi benze imihlatshelo ethempelini lakhe, futhi elungiselela iZwe Lesithembiso ukuba uIsrayeli ahlale kulo.

 6. Amalungiselelo uNkulunkulu awenzela uIsrayeli ayeyobazuzisa kanjani bonke?

⁶ Umthetho kaNkulunkulu kuIsrayeli wawulungele abantu bazo zonke izizwe ngoba ukuba nesono kwabantu wakuveza obala, ubonisa isidingo somhlatshelo ophelele wokuhlawulela izono zabantu unomphela. (Galathiya 3:19; Heberu 7:26-28; 9:9; 10:1-12) Nokho, isiphi isiqinisekiso esasikhona sokuthi iMbewu ka-Abrahama—leyo zonke izizwe ezaziyobusiswa ngayo—yayiyofika futhi ihlangabezane nezimfuneko? UMthetho kaIsrayeli wasiza nalapha. Wenqabela ukuganiselana namaKhanani, abantu ababenedumela elibi lemikhuba namasiko onakele, njengomkhuba wokushisa abantwana bephila. (Levitikusi 18:6-24; 20:2, 3; Duteronomi 12:29-31; 18:9-12) UNkulunkulu wayala ukuba ashatshalaliswe kanye nemikhuba yawo. Lokhu kwakuzoba ngokwenzuzo ehlala njalo yabo bonke, kuhlanganise nomfokazi ogogobeleyo, njengoba kwakuyosiza ekugcineni uhlu lozalo lweMbewu lungonakalisiwe.—Levitikusi 18:24-28; Duteronomi 7:1-5; 9:5; 20:15-18.

 7. Isiphi isibonakaliso sokuqala esasikhona sokuthi uNkulunkulu wayebamukela abafokazi?

⁷ Ngisho nangesikhathi uMthetho usasebenza futhi uNkulunkulu esabheka uIsrayeli njengokhethekile, wabonisa isihe kwabangewona amaIsrayeli. Ukuzimisela kwakhe ukwenza kanjalo kwakubonakaliswe lapho uIsrayeli ephuma ebugqilini baseGibithe eya ezweni lakhe siqu. “Kwenyuka nabo ingxubevange yabantu.” (Eksodusi 12:38) Uprofesa C. F. Keil uchaza labo ngokuthi “uquqaba lwabezizwe . . . inhlanganisela, noma isixuku sabantu bezizwe ezihlukahlukene.” (Levitikusi 24:10; Numeri 11:4) Cishe abaningi babo babengabaseGibithe abamukela uNkulunkulu weqiniso.

Ukwamukelwa Kwabezizwe

 8. AbaseGibeyoni bayithola kanjani indawo phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu?

⁸ Njengoba uIsrayeli ayenza ngokuvumelana nomyalo kaNkulunkulu wokuqeda izizwe ezingcolile eZweni Lesithembiso, wavikela iqembu elilodwa labezizwe, abaseGibeyoni, ababehlala enyakatho yeJerusalema. Bathumela kuJoshuwa amanxusa ayezifihlile ukuthi angobani, ezocela ukuthula futhi akuzuza. Lapho icebo labo lidaluleka, uJoshuwa wayala ngokuthi abaseGibeyoni babeyokhonza ‘njengabagawuli bemithi nabakhi bamanzi kuyo inhlangano nakulo ialtare likaJehova.’ (Joshuwa 9:3-27) Nanamuhla izifiki eziningi zamukela izikhundla eziphansi zenkonzo ukuze zibe yingxenye yabantu abasha.

 9. Isibonelo sikaRahabi nomkhaya wakubo sikhuthaza kanjani maqondana nabezizwe kwaIsrayeli?

⁹ Kungase kukukhuthaze ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu akamukelanga amaqembu abezizwe kuphela emuva ngalesosikhathi; nabantu ngabanye babemukelekile futhi. Namuhla ezinye izizwe zamukela kuphela izifiki ezinesikhundla esiphakeme emphakathini, umcebo ezingawufaka, noma imfundo ephakeme. Akunjalo ngoJehova, njengoba sibona esenzakalweni esenzeka ngaphambidlana nje kwesigameko nabaseGibeyoni. Sasihilela umKhanani owayengenaso nakancane isikhundla esiphakeme emphakathini. IBhayibheli limbiza ngokuthi “uRahabi isifebe.” Ngenxa yokholo lwakhe kuNkulunkulu weqiniso, yena nabakubo bakhululwa lapho iJeriko liwa. Nakuba uRahabi ayengowezizwe, amaIsrayeli amemukela. Wayeyisibonelo sokholo okufanele sisilingise. (Heberu 11:30, 31, 39, 40; Joshuwa 2:1-21; 6:1-25) Waba ngisho nawukhokhokazi kaMesiya.—Mathewu 1:5, 16.

10. Ukwamukelwa kwabezizwe kwaIsrayeli kwakuxhomeke kukuphi?

¹⁰ Abangewona amaIsrayeli babemukelwa eZweni Lesithembiso kuye ngomzamo wabo wokuthokozisa uNkulunkulu weqiniso. AmaIsrayeli atshelwa ukuba angabi nobudlelwano, ikakhulukazi ngokwenkolo, nalabo ababengamkhonzi uJehova. (Joshuwa 23:6, 7, 12, 13; 1 AmaKhosi 11:1-8; IzAga 6:23-28) Noma kunjalo izihambi eziningi ezazingewona amaIsrayeli zayilalela imithetho eyisisekelo. Abanye baze baba ngisho nangamaproselithe asokiwe, futhi uJehova wabemukela ngokugcwele njengamalungu ebandla lakhe.—Levitikusi 20:2; 24:22; Numeri 15:14-16; IzEnzo 8:27.a

11, 12. (a) AmaIsrayeli kwakumelwe abaphathe kanjani abakhulekeli babezizwe? (b) Kungani kungase kudingeke sithuthuke ekulandeleni isibonelo sikaJehova?

¹¹ UNkulunkulu waqondisa amaIsrayeli ukuba alingise isimo sakhe sengqondo ngakubakhulekeli bezizwe: “Umfokazi ogogobeleyo kini uyakuba-kini njengowokuzalwa ekhaya phakathi kwenu, umthande njengalokhu uzithanda wena, ngokuba naningabafokazi ezweni laseGibithe.” (Levitikusi 19:33, 34; Duteronomi 1:16; 10:12-19) Lokhu kusinika isifundo, ngisho nakuba singekho ngaphansi koMthetho. Kulula ukuwela ogibeni lobandlululo nenzondo ngalabo bolunye uhlanga, isizwe, noma impucuko. Ngakho senza kahle ngokubuza: ‘Ingabe ngiyazama ukuhlukana nobandlululo olunjalo, ngilandela isibonelo sikaJehova?’

¹² AmaIsrayeli ayenobufakazi obubonakalayo bokwamukelwa uNkulunkulu. INkosi uSolomoni yathandaza: “Owezizwe ongesiye owabantu bakho uIsrayeli, lapho evela ezweni elikude ngenxa yegama lakho . . . ebeseza ukukhuleka kulendlu, mawuzwe wena ezulwini . . . ukuze bonke abantu bomhlaba bazi igama lakho, bakwesabe.”—1 AmaKhosi 8:41-43; 2 IziKronike 6:32, 33.

13. Kungani uNkulunkulu enza ilungiselelo lokushintsha ukusebenzelana kwakhe noIsrayeli?

¹³ Ngenkathi uJehova esasebenzisa isizwe sakwaIsrayeli njengabantu bakhe futhi ngaleyondlela evikela uhlu lozalo lukaMesiya, uNkulunkulu wabikezela ushintsho oluphawulekayo. Ngaphambidlana, ngenkathi uIsrayeli evuma ukuba sesivumelwaneni soMthetho, uNkulunkulu wathembisa ukuthi wayengaba umthombo ‘wombuso wabapristi nesizwe esingcwele.’ (Eksodusi 19:5, 6) Kodwa uIsrayeli wabonisa ukungathembeki amakhulu amaningi eminyaka. Ngakho uJehova wabikezela ukuthi wayeyokwenza isivumelwano esisha okwakuyothi ngaphansi kwaso labo abakha ‘indlu kaIsrayeli’ bathethelelwe iziphambeko nezono zabo. (Jeremiya 31:33, 34) Lesosivumelwano esisha salindela uMesiya, omhlatshelo wakhe wawuyobahlanza ngempela abaningi esonweni.—Isaya 53:5-7, 10-12.

AmaIsrayeli Ezulwini

14. Yimuphi “uIsrayeli” omusha owemukelwa uJehova, futhi kanjani?

¹⁴ ImiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki isisiza ukuba siqonde indlela konke lokhu okwafezwa ngayo. UJesu wayenguMesiya, okufa kwakhe kwagcwalisa uMthetho futhi kwabeka isisekelo sokuthethelelwa izono ngokuphelele. Ukuze athole leyonzuzo, umuntu kwakungadingeki ukuba abe umJuda osokwe enyameni. Cha. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala ukuthi esivumelwaneni esisha, “umJuda yilowo onguye ngaphakathi, nokusoka kungokwenhliziyo, ngomoya kungengegama.” (Roma 2:28, 29; 7:6) Labo ababonisa ukholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu bathola intethelelo, futhi uNkulunkulu wabamukela ‘njengabangamaJuda ngomoya,’ akha isizwe esingokomoya esibizwa ngokuthi “uIsrayeli kaNkulunkulu.”—Galathiya 6:16.

15. Kungani ubuzwe obungokwenyama bungesona isici sokuba ingxenye kaIsrayeli ongokomoya?

¹⁵ Yebo, ukwamukelwa kuIsrayeli ongokomoya kwakungaxhomekile esizindeni esithile esingokobuzwe noma ubuhlanga. Abanye, njengabaphostoli bakaJesu, babengamaJuda emvelo. Abanye, njengenduna yempi engumRoma uKorneliyu, babengabeZizwe abangasokiwe. (IzEnzo 10:34, 35, 44-48) UPawulu washo lokhu ngokunembile ngoIsrayeli ongokomoya: “[Akukho] mGreki namJuda, ukusoka nokungasoki, owezizwe noma umSkithe, isigqila noma okhululekileyo.” (Kolose 3:11) Labo abagcotshwe ngoMoya kaNkulunkulu baba ‘uhlanga olukhethiweyo, ubupristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele, abantu abazuziweyo.’—1 Petru 2:9; qhathanisa noEksodusi 19:5, 6.

16, 17. (a) Iyiphi indima amaIsrayeli angokomoya anayo enjongweni kaNkulunkulu? (b) Kungani kufanelekile ukucabangela labo abangesiye uIsrayeli kaNkulunkulu?

¹⁶ Iliphi ikusasa amaIsrayeli angokomoya analo enjongweni kaNkulunkulu? UJesu waphendula: “Ungesabi, mhlambi omncane; ngokuba kwathandeka kuYihlo ukuninika umbuso.” (Luka 12:32) Abagcotshiwe, ‘abangabombuso wasezulwini,’ bayoba izindlalifa kanye neWundlu ekubuseni koMbuso walo. (Filipi 3:20; Johane 14:2, 3; IsAmbulo 5:9, 10) IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi laba ‘babekwe uphawu kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli’ futhi “bathengwa ebantwini, babe-lulibo kuNkulunkulu nakulo iWundlu.” Bangu-144 000. Nokho, ngemva kokulandisa ngalelinani elibekwa uphawu, uJohane uveza iqembu elihlukile—“isixuku esikhulu ebesingenakubalwa-muntu, sivela kuzo zonke izizwe, nemindeni, nabantu, nezilimi.”—IsAmbulo 7:4, 9; 14:1-4.

¹⁷ Abanye bangase babuze: ‘Kuthiwani ngezigidi ezingeyona ingxenye kaIsrayeli ongokomoya, njengalabo abangase badlule osizini olukhulu njengalesosixuku esikhulu? Iyiphi indima abanayo namuhla ngokuhlobene nabambalwa abasasele bakaIsrayeli ongokomoya?’b

Abezizwe Eziprofethweni

18. Yini eyaholela ekubuyeni kukaIsrayeli ekuthunjweni kwaseBabiloni?

¹⁸ Uma siphindela emuva esikhathini lapho uIsrayeli engaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho kodwa engathembeki kuso, sithola ukuthi uNkulunkulu wanquma ukuvumela abaseBabiloni ukuba bamchithe uIsrayeli. Ngo-607 B.C.E., uIsrayeli wathunjwa iminyaka engu-70. Khona-ke uNkulunkulu wasihlenga lesosizwe. Ngaphansi kobuholi boMbusi uZerubabele, insali kaIsrayeli ongokwemvelo yaphindela ezweni lakubo. Ababusi bamaMede namaPheresiya, ababechithe iBabiloni, baze babasiza nokubasiza ngamalungiselelo athile labathunjwa ababebuyela emuva. Incwadi kaIsaya yabikezela ngalezenzakalo. (Isaya 1:1-9; 3:1-26; 14:1-5; 44:21-28; 47:1-4) Futhi uEzra usinikeza imininingwane engokomlando ngalokho kubuya.—Ezra 1:1-11; 2:1, 2.

19. Ngokuvumelana nokubuya kukaIsrayeli, kwakunayiphi inkomba engokwesiprofetho yokuthi abezizwe babeyohileleka?

¹⁹ Nokho, lapho ebikezela ngokuhlengwa nokubuya kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu, uIsaya washo lesiprofetho esimangalisayo: “Izizwe ziyakuhamba ekukhanyeni kwakho, namakhosi ekukhazimuleni kokuphuma kwakho.” (Isaya 59:20; 60:3) Lokhu kusho okungaphezu kokuthi abezizwe ngabanye babemukelekile, ngokuvumelana nomthandazo kaSolomoni. UIsaya wayekhomba oshintshweni olungavamile lwesimo. “Izizwe” zaziyokhonza nabantwana bakwaIsrayeli: “Abezizwe bayakuzakha izingange zakho, amakhosi abo akukhonze; noma ngakushaya ngentukuthelo yami, sengiyakuhawukela ngomusa wami.”—Isaya 60:10.

20, 21. (a) Ezikhathini zanamuhla sithola kuphi ukufana ekubuyeni kukaIsrayeli ekuthunjweni? (b) ‘Amadodana namadodakazi’ anezelwa kanjani kamuva kuIsrayeli ongokomoya?

²⁰ Ngezici eziningi, ukuya nokubuya kukaIsrayeli ekuthunjweni kunokufana okuthile ezikhathini zanamuhla noIsrayeli ongokomoya. Ngaphambi kweMpi Yezwe I, insali yamaKristu agcotshiwe yayingahambisani ngokugcwele nentando kaNkulunkulu; yayisabambelele kweminye imibono nemikhuba eyayithathwe emasontweni eLobukholwa. Khona-ke, phakathi nokudideka kwangesikhathi sempi futhi ngokwengxenye ngenxa yokushoshozela kwabefundisi, abaholayo phakathi kwensali kaIsrayeli ongokomoya baboshwa ngokungemthetho. Ngemva kwempi, ngo-1919 C.E., labo abagcotshiwe ababesejele elingokoqobo bakhululwa futhi amacala abo asulwa. Lokhu kwafakazela ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babekhululiwe ekuthunjweni yiBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe lonke wenkolo yamanga. Abantu bakhe baphuma bakha futhi bahlala epharadesi elingokomoya.—Isaya 35:1-7; 65:13, 14.

²¹ Lokhu kwakubonisiwe encazelweni kaIsaya: “Babuthana bonke, beza kuwe; amadodana akho ayakuvela kude, namadodakazi akho ayakuphathwa ngezingalo. Khona uyakubona, ukhazimule; inhliziyo yakho iyakugquma, yanuleke, ngokuba ingcebo yolwandle iyakuphendulelwa kuwe, nemfuyo yezizwe iyakuza kuwe.” (Isaya 60:4, 5) Emashumini eminyaka alandela, ‘amadodana namadodakazi’ aqhubeka engena, egcotshwa ngomoya ukuba agcwalise izindawo zokugcina kuIsrayeli ongokomoya.

22. “Abezizwe” baye basebenza kanjani ngokubambisana namaIsrayeli angokomoya?

²² Kuthiwani ‘ngabezizwe abayokwakha izingange zakho’? Nalokhu kuye kwenzeka esikhathini sethu. Njengoba ukubizwa kwabangu-144 000 kwakuya ekupheleni, isixuku esikhulu esivela kuzo zonke izizwe saqala ukuthutheleka ekukhulekeleni kanye noIsrayeli ongokomoya. Laba abasha banethemba elisekelwe eBhayibhelini lokuphila okuphakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi. Nakuba isiphetho senkonzo yabo yokwethembeka siyokwehluka, bakujabulela ukusiza insali egcotshiwe ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso.—Mathewu 24:14.

23. “Abezizwe” baye babasiza ngezinga elingakanani abagcotshiwe?

²³ Namuhla, abangaphezu kuka-4 000 000 ‘abangabezizwe,’ bekanye nensali yalabo ‘abangabombuso wasezulwini,’ babonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwabo kuJehova. Abaningi babo, amadoda nabesifazane, abadala nabancane, bakhonza enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele njengamaphayona. Kwamaningi emabandleni angu-66 000, abezizwe abanjalo bathwele imithwalo yemfanelo njengabadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo. Insali iyajabula ngalokhu, ibona ukugcwaliseka kwamazwi kaIsaya: “Abezizwe bayakumela ukwalusa imihlambi yenu, abafokazi babe-ngabalimi benu nabaphathi bezivini zenu.”—Isaya 61:5.

24. Kungani singakhuthazeka ngokusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu noIsrayeli kanye nabanye esikhathini esidlule?

²⁴ Ngakho kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uyisakhamuzi, isifiki, noma umbaleki, kunoma yisiphi isizwe emhlabeni unethuba elihle kakhulu lokuba owezizwe ongokomoya lowo uMninimandla onke amemukela ngokufudumele. Ukwamukelwa nguye kuhlanganisa nokuba sethubeni lokujabulela amalungelo enkonzweni yakhe manje nasesikhathini esizayo esiyoba khona phakade.

Ilungiselelo LikaJehova, ‘Abanikelwe’

“Abezizwe bayakumela ukwalusa imihlambi yenu.”—ISAYA 61:5.

 1. Kungani igama elithi “umuphi” lingasikhumbuza ngoJehova?

YEKA indlela uNkulunkulu angumuphi onomusa ngayo! Umphostoli uPawulu wathi: ‘[UJehova] ubapha bonke ukuphila nokuphefumula nakho konke.’ (IzEnzo 17:25) Ngamunye wethu angazuza ngokucabanga ‘ngezipho eziningi ezinhle neziphiwo ezipheleleyo’ esizithola kuNkulunkulu.—Jakobe 1:5, 17; IHubo 29:11; Mathewu 7:7; 10:19; 13:12; 21:43.

 2, 3. (a) Kumelwe sisabele kanjani eziphweni zikaNkulunkulu? (b) Kungamuphi umqondo amaLevi ‘ayengabanikelwe’?

² Ngesizathu esihle umhubi wazibuza ngendlela ayengamkhokhela ngayo uJehova. (IHubo 116:12) UMdali wethu empeleni akadingi noma yini abantu abangase babe nayo noma banikele ngayo. (IHubo 50:10, 12) Nokho, uJehova ubonisa ukuthi uyathokoza lapho abantu ngokwazisa bezinikela ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. (Qhathanisa namaHeberu 10:5-7.) Bonke abantu kufanele bazidele ekuzinikezeleni kuMdali wabo, lowo, naye onganezela amalungelo engeziwe, njengoba kwaba njalo ngamaLevi asendulo. Nakuba wonke amaIsrayeli ayezinikezele kuNkulunkulu, wakhetha umkhaya ka-Aroni ongamaLevi njengabapristi ukuba wenze iminikelo etabernakele nasethempelini. Kuthiwani ngamanye amaLevi?

³ UJehova watshela uMose: “Sondeza isizwe sakwaLevi . . . Bayakugcina yonke impahla yetende lokuhlangana . . . Uyakunikela amaLevi kuAroni nakumadodana akhe; ayanikelwa [ngesiHeberu, nethu·nimʹ] ngempela kuye, evela kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli.” (Numeri 3:6, 8, 9, 41) AmaLevi ‘ayenikelwe’ kuAroni ukuba afeze imisebenzi ethile enkonzweni yasetabernakele, ngakho uNkulunkulu wayengathi: “Nginikiwe wona phakathi kwabantwana bakwaIsrayeli.” (Numeri 8:16, 19; 18:6) Amanye amaLevi ayenza imisebenzi elula; amanye athola amalungelo avelele, njengokufundisa ngemithetho kaNkulunkulu. (Numeri 1:50, 51; 1 IziKronike 6:48; 23:3, 4, 24-32; 2 IziKronike 35:3-5) Manje ake siphendulele ukunakekela kwethu kwabanye abantu ‘abanikelwe’ nasekufaneni okukhona namuhla.

AmaIsrayeli Abuya EBabiloni

 4, 5. (a) Imaphi amaIsrayeli abuya ekuthunjweni eBabiloni? (b) Ezikhathini zanamuhla, yini efana nokubuya kwamaIsrayeli ekuthunjweni?

⁴ UEzra noNehemiya balandisa ngendlela insali yamaIsrayeli, iholwa uMbusi uZerubabele, eyabuya ngayo eBabiloni iya ezweni lakubo, ukuze ibuyisele ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Kokubili lokulandisa kubika ukuthi laba ababuya babeyingqikithi yabangu-42 360. Izinkulungwane zalelonani ‘zazingamadoda abantu bakwaIsrayeli.’ Ngokulandelayo ukulandisa kubala abapristi. Bese kuba amaLevi acishe abe ngu-350, kuhlanganise nabahlabeleli nabalindi-sango abangamaLevi. UEzra noNehemiya babhala futhi nangezinkulungwane ezengeziwe okungenzeka zazingamaIsrayeli, mhlawumbe ngisho nabapristi, kodwa ezazingenabo ubufakazi bendabuko yazo.—Ezra 1:1, 2; 2:2-42, 59-64; Nehemiya 7:7-45, 61-66.

⁵ Lensali kaIsrayeli eyayithunjiwe futhi kamuva eyabuyela eJerusalema nakwaJuda yabonisa ukuzinikela okuphawulekayo kuNkulunkulu nokuzinikela okujulile ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. Njengoba kuphawuliwe, ezikhathini zanamuhla sibona ukufana okufanelekayo ensalini kaIsrayeli ongokomoya eyaphuma ekuthunjweni kwaseBabiloni Elikhulu ngo-1919.

 6. UNkulunkulu uye wawasebenzisa kanjani amaIsrayeli angokomoya esikhathini sethu?

⁶ Kusukela ekukhululweni kwayo ngo-1919, insali yabafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshiwe iye yaqhubekela phambili ngentshiseko ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. UJehova uye wabusisa imizamo yayo yokuqoqa abokugcina babangu-144 000 abakha “uIsrayeli kaNkulunkulu.” (Galathiya 6:16; IsAmbulo 7:3, 4) Njengeqembu, insali egcotshiwe yakha isigaba ‘senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo’ esisetshenziswa ekulungiseleleni inala yokudla okungokomoya okunikeza ukuphila, eye yasebenza ngokuzikhandla ukuze ikusakaze emhlabeni wonke.—Mathewu 24:45-47.

 7. Obani abahlangenyela nabangcotshiwe ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso?

⁷ Njengoba isihloko esandulelayo sibonisile, abantu bakaJehova manje bahlanganisa nezigidi ‘zezinye izimvu,’ ezinethemba elivela kuNkulunkulu lokudlula osizini olukhulu oseluseduze. Zifisa ukukhonza uJehova phakade emhlabeni, lapho zingasayikulamba futhi zome nalapho izinyembezi zokudabuka zingasayikwehla khona. (Johane 10:16; IsAmbulo 7:9-17; 21:3-5) Ingabe ekulandiseni okuphathelene nalabo ababuya eBabiloni kukhona okuthile esikuthola kufana nokwabanjalo? Yebo!

Nabangewona AmaIsrayeli Bayabuya

 8. Obani abahamba namaIsrayeli ayebuya eBabiloni?

⁸ Ngenkathi kukhishwa ubizo lokuba abathandi bakaJehova eBabiloni babuyele eZweni Lesithembiso, kwasabela izinkulungwane zabangewona amaIsrayeli. Ezinhlwini ezanikezwa nguEzra noNehemiya, sifunda ‘ngamaNethini’ (okusho, “Abanikelwe”) ‘nabantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni,’ abanani labo sebebonke lalingu-392. Ukulandisa kukhuluma nangabanye abangaphezu kuka-7 500: ‘izinceku nezincekukazi,’ kuhlanganise “nabahlabeleli besilisa nabesifazane” abangewona amaLevi. (Ezra 2:43-58, 65; Nehemiya 7:46-60, 67) Yini eyashukumisela abaningi kangaka abangewona amaIsrayeli ukuba babuye?

 9. Umoya kaNkulunkulu wawuhileleke kanjani ekubuyeni ekuthunjweni?

⁹ UEzra 1:5 ukhuluma ngabo “bonke abamoya wabo uNkulunkulu ayewuvusile ukuba bakhuphuke bakhe indlu kaJehova.” Yebo, uJehova wayeshukumise bonke labo ababuya. Wathonya umoya wabo, okungukuthi, amandla abo engqondo aqhubezelayo. Ngisho nakuba esemazulwini, uNkulunkulu wayengakwenza lokhu ngokusebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele, amandla akhe ayisiphekupheku. Ngaleyondlela, bonke labo ‘abakhuphuka ukuba bakhe indlu kaJehova’ basizwa ‘umoya [kaNkulunkulu].’—Zakariya 4:1, 6; Hagayi 1:14.

Okufanayo Osukwini Lwanamuhla

10, 11. Abangewona amaIsrayeli ababuya eBabiloni bangafaniswa nobani?

¹⁰ Ngobani abafanekiselwa yilabo abangewona amaIsrayeli ababuya? AmaKristu amaningi abengaphendula: ‘AmaNethini afana “nezinye izimvu” namuhla.’ Yiqiniso, kodwa hhayi amaNethini kuphela; ngoba bonke labo abangewona amaIsrayeli abuya bamelela amaKristu angeyena uIsrayeli ongokomoya namuhla.

¹¹ Incwadi ethi You May Survive Armageddon Into God’s New Worlda yaphawula: “Insali yamaIsrayeli angu-42 360 kwakungeyona yodwa eyashiya iBabiloni nombusi uZerubabele . . . Kwakukhona nezinkulungwane zabangewona amaIsrayeli . . . Ngaphandle kwamaNethini kwakukhona nabanye abangewona amaIsrayeli, izigqila, abahlabeleli besilisa nabesifazane abangochwepheshe nenzalo yezinceku zeNkosi uSolomoni.” Lencwadi yachaza: “AmaNethini, izigqila, abahlabeleli nabantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni, bonke ababengewona amaIsrayeli, baphuma ezweni lokuthunjwa futhi babuya nensali yamaIsrayeli . . . Ngakho ingabe kulungile yini ukucabanga ukuthi namuhla abantu bobuzwe obuhlukahlukene abangewona amaIsrayeli angokomoya bebengazihlanganisa nensali kaIsrayeli ongokomoya futhi bathuthukise ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova uNkulunkulu kanye nayo? Yebo.” Abanjalo ‘baye baba amaNethini, abahlabeleli, nabantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni abangokomfanekiso bosuku lwanamuhla.’

12. UNkulunkulu uwusebenzisa kanjani umoya wakhe ngendlela ekhethekile kumaIsrayeli angokomoya, kodwa singaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi utholakalela bonke abakhulekeli bakhe?

¹² Njengasemfuziselweni wasendulo, uNkulunkulu uyabapha umoya wakhe nalaba abanethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni. Yiqiniso, abazalwa kabusha. Ngamunye wabangu-144 000 uzalwa kabusha kanye kuphela njengendodana kaNkulunkulu engokomoya futhi agcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele. (Johane 3:3, 5; Roma 8:16; Efesu 1:13, 14) Yebo, lokho kugcotshwa kuwubonakaliswa okuyingqayizivele komoya kaNkulunkulu emhlanjini omncane. Kodwa umoya kaNkulunkulu udingekile futhi ekufezeni injongo yakhe. Yingakho uJesu athi: ‘UYihlo osezulwini uyabapha abacela kuye umoya ongcwele.’ (Luka 11:13) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi lowo ocelayo unethemba lasezulwini noma ungowezinye izimvu, umoya kaJehova utholakala ngobuningi ukuze kufezwe intando yaKhe.

13. Umoya ungasebenza kanjani kuzo zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu?

¹³ Umoya kaNkulunkulu washukumisela kokubili amaIsrayeli nabangewona amaIsrayeli ukuba babuyele eJerusalema, futhi uqinisa futhi usize bonke abantu bakhe abathembekile namuhla. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ithemba lomKristu alinikwa uNkululnkulu liwukuphila ezulwini noma emhlabeni, kumelwe ashumayele izindaba ezinhle, futhi umoya ongcwele umenza akwazi ukuthembeka kulokho. Ngamunye wethu—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi unaliphi ithemba—kumelwe ahlakulele izithelo zomoya, sonke esizidinga ngesilinganiso esigcwele.—Galathiya 5:22-26.

Banikelwe Ngenjongo Yenkonzo Ekhethekile

14, 15. (a) Phakathi kwabangewona amaIsrayeli ababuya, imaphi amaqembu amabili aqokwa? (b) Ayengobani amaNethini, futhi yini ayeyenza?

¹⁴ Phakathi kwezinkulungwane zabangewona amaIsrayeli umoya owabashukumisela ukuba babuye kwakunamaqenjana amabili iZwi likaNkulunkulu elawaqoka—amaNethini nabantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni. Babengobani? Yini ababeyenza? Futhi lokhu kungase kusho ukuthini namuhla?

¹⁵ AmaNethini ayeyiqembu elalidabuka kwabangewona amaIsrayeli futhi ayenelungelo lokukhonza namaLevi. Khumbula abaseKhanani abavela eGibeyoni ababa “abagawuli bemithi nabakhi bamanzi kuyo inhlangano nakulo ialtare likaJehova.” (Joshuwa 9:27) Cishe abanye benzalo yabo babephakathi kwamaNethini abuya eBabiloni, kuhlanganise nabanye ababenezelwe njengamaNethini phakathi nokubusa kukaDavide nangezinye izikhathi. (Ezra 8:20) Yini amaNethini ayeyenza? AmaLevi anikelelwa ukusiza abapristi, futhi kamuva amaNethini anikelelwa ukusiza amaLevi. Ngisho nakwabezizwe abasokile, lokhu kwakuyilungelo.

16. Indima yamaNethini yashintsha kanjani ngokuhamba kwesikhathi?

¹⁶ Lapho leliqembu libuya eBabiloni, lalinamaLevi ambalwa, uma liqhathaniswa nabapristi noma amaNethini ‘nabantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni.’ (Ezra 8:15-20) IDictionary of the Bible, kaDkt. James Hastings, iyaphawula: “Ngemva kwesikhathi esithile sithola [amaNethini] ezinze ngokuphelele njengesigaba esingcwele esingokomthetho, kangangokuba anikezwa amalungelo.” Umagazini wezazi othi Vetus Testamentum uyaphawula: “Kwenzeka ushintsho. Ngemva kokuBuya Ekuthunjweni, laba [abezizwe] babengasabhekwa njengezigqila zaseThempelini, kodwa njengezikhonzi kulo, bejabulela ukuma okufanayo nokwamanye amaqembu, ayenamalungelo eThempelini.”—Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Ukuma Okushintshile.”

17. Kungani amaNethini emukela okwengeziwe kokukwenza, futhi kunabuphi ubufakazi obungokweBhayibheli balokhu?

¹⁷ Yebo, amaNethini awazange alingane nabapristi namaLevi. Lamaqembu okugcinwe ngawo ayengamaIsrayeli, ayekhethwe nguJehova ngokwakhe futhi ayengeke athathelwe isikhundla ngabangewona amaIsrayeli. Nokho, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi ngenxa yokuncipha kwenani lamaLevi, amaNethini anikezwa okwengeziwe kokwenziwa enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu. Anikwa izindawo zokuhlala eduze nethempeli. Osukwini lukaNehemiya asebenza nabapristi ekuvuseleleni izindonga eduze nethempeli. (Nehemiya 3:22-26) Futhi inkosi yasePheresiya yayala ukuba amaNethini angayikhokhi intela, njengoba nje namaLevi ayengayikhokhi ngenxa yenkonzo yawo yasethempelini. (Ezra 7:24) Lokhu kubonisa indlela laba ‘abanikelwe’ (amaLevi namaNethini) ababehlangene ngayo ngokuseduze ngalesosikhathi ezindabeni ezingokomoya nendlela izabelo zamaNethini ezakhula ngayo ngokuvumelana nesidingo, nakuba engazange abhekwe njengamaLevi. Lapho kamuva uEzra eqoqa abathunjwa ukuba babuye, ekuqaleni ayengekho amaLevi phakathi kwabo. Ngakho waqinisa imizamo yokuqoqa athile. Lokhu kwaphumela kumaLevi angu-38 namaNethini angu-220 abuya ngenjongo yokukhonza ‘njengezinceku zendlu kaNkulunkulu.’—Ezra 8:15-20.

18. Abantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni kungenzeka babenza muphi umsebenzi?

¹⁸ Iqembu lesibili labangewona amaIsrayeli elaqokwa kwakungabantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni. IBhayibheli alinikezi imininingwane eminingi ngabo. Abanye ‘babengabantwana bakwaSofereti.’ UEzra unezela umunci ocacile kulelogama, olenza libe uHas·so·pheʹreth, okungenzeka kusho “umbhali.” (Ezra 2:55; Nehemiya 7:57) Ngaleyondlela kungenzeka babeyizisebenzi ezingababhali noma abakopishi, ngokunokwenzeka ababhali basethempelini/abangabaqondisi. Nakuba babevela kwabezizwe, abantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni babonisa ukuzinikela kwabo kuJehova ngokushiya iBabiloni futhi babuye ukuze bahlanganyele ekubuyiselweni kokukhulekelwa kwaKhe.

Ukuzinikela Kwethu Namuhla

19. Buyini ubuhlobo phakathi kwabagcotshiwe namuhla nabezinye izimvu?

¹⁹ Esikhathini sethu, uNkulunkulu uye wayisebenzisa ngokunamandla insali egcotshiwe ekuholeni ukukhulekela okumsulwa nasekumemezeleni izindaba ezinhle. (Marku 13:10) Yeka indlela laba abaye bajabula ngayo ukubona amashumi ezinkulungwane, amakhulu ezinkulungwane, kanye nezigidi zezinye izimvu zizihlanganisa nabo ekukhulekeleni! Futhi yeka ukubambisana okujabulisayo okuye kwaba khona phakathi kwensali nezinye izimvu!—Johane 10:16.

20. Ikuphi ukuqonda okusha okunengqondo mayelana nokwakufanekiselwa amaNethini nabantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni? (IzAga 4:18)

²⁰ Bonke abangewona amaIsrayeli ababuya ekuthunjweni eBabiloni lasendulo bafana nezinye izimvu manje ezikhonza nensali kaIsrayeli ongokomoya. Nokho, kuthiwani ngeqiniso lokuthi iBhayibheli liqoka amaNethini nabantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni? Kulomfuziselo amaNethini nabantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni babenikezwe amalungelo angalé kwawalabo abangewona amaIsrayeli ababuya. Lokhu kwakusenokufanekisela ukuthi namuhla uNkulunkulu uye wanikeza ezinye izimvu ezivuthiwe nezizimisele amalungelo nemisebenzi eyengeziwe.

21. Abanye abazalwane abanethemba lasemhlabeni baye bayithola kanjani imisebenzi eyengeziwe namalungelo?

²¹ Amalungelo engeziwe amaNethini ayehlangene ngokuqondile nemisebenzi engokomoya. Abantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni ngokusobala bemukela imithwalo yemfanelo yokuqondisa. Ngokufanayo namuhla, uJehova uye wabusisa abantu bakhe ‘ngezipho ezingabantu’ ukuze zinakekele izidingo zabo. (Efesu 4:8, 11, 12, qhathanisa neNW.) Okuhlanganiswa kulelilungiselelo amakhulu amaningi abazalwane abavuthiwe, abanokuhlangenwe nakho abahlanganyela ‘ekwaluseni imihlambi,’ abakhonza njengababonisi bezifunda nabezigodi nasemaKomitini Egatsha emagatsheni angu-98 eWatch Tower Society. (Isaya 61:5) Endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yeNhlangano, ngaphansi kokuqondisa ‘kwenceku ethembekileyo’ neNdikimba yayo Ebusayo, amadoda afanelekayo athola ukuqeqeshwa ukuze asize ekulungiseleleni ukudla okungokomoya. (Luka 12:42) Ezinye izisebenzi zokuzithandela esezinesikhathi eside ziye zaqeqeshelwa ukuba ziqondise amakhaya aseBethel namafekthri nokwengamela izimiso zokwakhiwa kwezakhiwo ezintsha zamagatsha namahholo okukhulekela kobuKristu emhlabeni wonke. Ziye zenza kahle ngokukhethekile ekukhonzeni njengabasizi abaseduze bensali egcotshiwe, eyakha ingxenye yobupristi bobukhosi.—Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Korinte 4:17; 14:40; 1 Petru 2:9.

22. Kungani kufanelekile ukuba abanye bezinye izimvu banikezwe amalungelo anzima manje, futhi kufanele sisabele kanjani kulokhu?

²² Ezikhathini zasendulo, abapristi namaLevi baqhubeka bekhonza phakathi kwamaJuda. (Johane 1:19) Nokho, namuhla insali kaIsrayeli ongokomoya emhlabeni kumelwe iqhubeke incipha. (Qhathanisa noJohane 3:30.) Ekugcineni, ngemva kokubhujiswa kweBabiloni Elikhulu, bonke abangu-144 000 ‘ababekwe uphawu’ bayobe sebesezulwini emshadweni weWundlu. (IsAmbulo 7:1-3; 19:1-8) Kodwa manje ezinye izimvu kumelwe ziqhubeke zikhula. Iqiniso lokuthi abanye bazo, abafaniswa namaNethini nabantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni, manje babelwa imithwalo yemfanelo enzima ngaphansi kokwengamela kwensali egcotshiwe alibenzi baqhoshe noma bazizwe bebalulekile. (Roma 12:3) Lokhu kusinikeza isiqinisekiso sokuthi njengoba abantu bakaNkulunkulu ‘bephuma osizini olukhulu,’ kuyoba namadoda anokuhlangenwe nakho—“izikhulu”—alungele ukuhola phakathi kwezinye izimvu.—IsAmbulo 7:14; Isaya 32:1; qhathanisa nezEnzo 6:2-7.

23. Kungani kumelwe sonke sihlakulele umoya wokupha ngokuphathelene nenkonzo kaNkulunkulu?

²³ Bonke labo ababuya eBabiloni babezimisele ukusebenza ngokuzikhandla futhi babonakalise ukuthi ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kwakuyinto eza kuqala engqondweni nasenhliziyweni yabo. Kungokufanayo nanamuhla. Kanye nensali egcotshiwe, ‘abezizwe bamile balusa imihlambi.’ (Isaya 61:5) Ngakho kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinaliphi ithemba esilinikwe uNkulunkulu, futhi kungakhathaliseki ukuthi imaphi amalungelo angase anikwe abadala abamiswe umoya ngaphambi kosuku lokulwelwa kukaJehova eArmagedoni, sonke masihlakulele umoya ongenabugovu, onempilo, wokupha. Nakuba singeke simkhokhele uJehova ngazo zonke izinzuzo zakhe ezinhle, kwangathi singenza noma yini esiyenzayo enhlanganweni yakhe ngomphefumulo wonke. (IHubo 116:12-14; Kolose 3:23) Ngakho sonke singazinikela ngenxa yokukhulekela kweqiniso, njengoba ezinye izimvu zikhonza ngokuseduze nabagcotshiwe, abamiselwe ukuba “babuse emhlabeni.”—IsAmbulo 5:9, 10.