U-Abrahama noSara—Ungalulingisa Ukholo Lwabo!
UBIZWA ngokuthi “uyise wabo bonke abanokholo.” (Roma 4:11) Umkakhe othandekayo naye wayenayo leyo mfanelo. (Hebheru 11:11) Laba kwakungo-Abrahama, inzalamizi eyesaba uNkulunkulu, noSara, umkakhe owayezinikele kuNkulunkulu. Kungani babeyizibonelo ezinhle kangaka zokholo? Iziphi ezinye zezilingo abazikhuthazelela? Futhi indaba yokuphila kwabo ibaluleke ngani kithi?
U-Abrahama wabonisa ukholo lapho uNkulunkulu emyala ukuba ashiye umuzi wakhe. UJehova wathi: “Phuma ezweni lakini nasezihlotsheni zakho nasendlini kayihlo uye ezweni engizokutshengisa lona.” (Genesise 12:1) Le nzalamizi ethembekile yalalela, ngoba siyatshelwa: “Ngokholo u-Abrahama, lapho ebizwa, walalela ngokuphuma aye endaweni ayemiselwe ukuyamukela njengefa; waphuma, nakuba ayengazi ukuthi uyaphi.” (Hebheru 11:8) Ake ucabange ukuthi kwakusho ukuthini lokho kuthutha.
U-Abrahama wayehlala e-Uri, manje eseningizimu ye-Iraq. I-Uri yayiyinkaba echumayo yaseMesophothamiya, ihwebelana namazwe asePersian Gulf futhi mhlawumbe nawase-Indus Valley. USir Leonard Woolley, owaqondisa ukuvubukulwa kwe-Uri okuhleliwe, uveza ukuthi esikhathini sika-Abrahama imizi eminingi yayakhiwe ngezitini, ibhandiwe futhi icakiwe. Ngokwesibonelo, umuzi wesinye isakhamuzi esicebile wawuyizitezi ezimbili, unegceke eliphakathi elalikhonkiwe. Isitezi esiphansi sasihlala izisebenzi nezivakashi. Esitezi sesibili kwakunompheme wamapulangwe owawuzungeze lonke udonga, wenza kube nendlela eya emakamelweni amalungu omkhaya. UWoolley uthi njengoba zazinamakamelo angu-10 kuya kwangu-20, izindlu ezinjalo “zazivulekile futhi zivumela abantu ukuba baphile kahle, banethezeke, futhi ngokwezindinganiso zaseMpumalanga, baphile ntofontofo. Ngokuyinhloko [zazi]yimizi yabantu abaphucuzekile futhi zanelisa izidingo zokuphila kwasedolobheni okuthuthuke kakhulu.” Uma kungukuthi u-Abrahama noSara bashiya umuzi onjalo bebheke ukuyohlala ematendeni, badela lukhulu ukuze balalele uJehova.
U-Abrahama waqale wathuthela umkhaya wakhe eHarana, umuzi osenyakatho yeMesophothamiya, wayesewuthuthela eKhanani. Kwakuyibanga elingamakhilomitha athi awabe ngu-1 600—indlela ende ngempela leyo kumbhangqwana osukhulile! Lapho beshiya iHarana, u-Abrahama wayeneminyaka engu-75 ubudala, uSara enengu-65.—Genesise 12:4.
Cishe uSara wazizwa kanjani lapho u-Abrahama emtshela ukuthi bazoyishiya i-Uri? Ukushiya kwakhe ukulondeka okusemzini othokomele aye ezweni angalazi nokungenzeka linokhahlo, nokwamukela ukuphila okusezingeni eliphansi, kungenzeka kwamkhathaza. Noma kunjalo, uSara wazithoba, ebheka u-Abrahama ‘njengenkosi’ yakhe. (1 Petru 3:5, 6) Ezinye izazi zibheka lokhu njengokubonisa “isimo sengqondo nokuziphatha [kukaSara] okuyinjwayelo nokwakumbonisa inhlonipho” u-Abrahama, okuwubufakazi “bendlela ayecabanga futhi ezizwa ngayo ngempela.” Kodwa ngaphezu kwakho konke, uSara wayethembele kuJehova. Ukuzithoba kwakhe nokholo lwakhe kuyizibonelo ezinhle kubafazi abangamaKristu.
Yiqiniso, asicelwa ukuba sishiye imizi yethu ukuze silalele uNkulunkulu nakuba abanye abashumayeli besikhathi esigcwele beye bashiya amazwe akubo ukuze bayoshumayela izindaba ezinhle kwelinye izwe. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi simkhonza sikuphi uNkulunkulu, uma nje sibeka izithakazelo ezingokomoya kuqala ekuphileni, uyozinakekela izidingo zethu.—Mathewu 6:25-33.
USara no-Abrahama abazange bazisole ngesinqumo abasenza. Umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “Ukuba ngempela baqhubeka bekhumbula leyo ndawo ababephume kuyo, babeyoba nalo ithuba lokubuyela.” Kodwa ababuyelanga. Beqiniseka ukuthi uJehova “uba umvuzi walabo abamfuna ngobuqotho,” baba nokholo ezithembisweni zakhe. Nathi kumelwe sibe nokholo ezithembisweni zikaJehova ukuze siqhubeke sizinikela kuye ngomphefumulo wonke.—Hebheru 11:6, 15, 16.
Ingcebo Engokomoya Nengokwenyama
Ngemva kokufika kuka-Abrahama eKhanani, uNkulunkulu wathi kuye: “Leli zwe ngiyolinika inzalo yakho.” U-Abrahama wamphendula ngokumakhela i-altare nangokubiza “egameni likaJehova.” (Genesise 12:7, 8) UJehova wamenza waceba u-Abrahama, nabantu ababesekamu lakhe babebaningi kakhulu. Njengoba ayeke wabutha amadoda aqeqeshiwe angu-318, izigqila ezazizalelwe endlini yakhe, kuye kwasikiselwa ukuthi “sebebonke abantu bakhe kumelwe ukuba babengaphezu kakhulu kwenkulungwane.” Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwakungasizathu sini, abantu babembheka ‘njengesikhulu sikaNkulunkulu.’—Genesise 13:2; 14:14; 23:6.
U-Abrahama wayehola ekukhulekeleni, efundisa abendlu yakhe ukuba “bagcine indlela kaJehova ukuba benze ukulunga nokwahlulela.” (Genesise 18:19) Izinhloko zemikhaya ezingamaKristu namuhla zingathola isikhuthazo esibonelweni sika-Abrahama njengomuntu owaphumelela ekufundiseni amalungu endlu yakhe ukuba athembele kuJehova futhi enze ukulunga. Ngakho akumangalisi ukuthi incekukazi kaSara engumGibhithe, uHagari, nenceku ka-Abrahama endala kunazo zonke no-Isaka indodana yakhe, bancika kuJehova uNkulunkulu.—Genesise 16:5, 13; 24:10-14; 25:21.
U-Abrahama Wayefuna Ukuthula
Izenzakalo ezenzeka ekuphileni kuka-Abrahama zembula ukuthi wayenobuntu obuvumelana nobukaNkulunkulu. Kunokuba avumele ukuxabana kuqhubeke phakathi kwabelusi bakhe nabelusi bendodana yomfowabo uLoti, u-Abrahama wasikisela ukuba bahlukanise amakamu abo futhi wacela le nsizwa, uLoti, ukuba ikhethe izwe elithandayo. U-Abrahama wayengumakhi wokuthula.—Genesise 13:5-13.
Uma kuyoke kudingeke sikhethe phakathi kokubambelela emalungelweni ethu noma sizivumelanise nezimo ukuze silondoloze ukuthula, singase siphawule ukuthi uJehova akazange avumele u-Abrahama ukuba ahlupheke ngenxa yokucabangela kwakhe uLoti. Kunalokho, ngemva kwaleso senzakalo uNkulunkulu wathembisa u-Abrahama nenzalo yakhe lonke izwe u-Abrahama ayelibona kuzo zonke izinhlangothi. (Genesise 13:14-17) UJesu wathi: “Bayajabula abanokuthula [ngokwezwi nezwi, okusho abakhi bokuthula], ngoba bayobizwa ngokuthi ‘amadodana kaNkulunkulu.’”—Mathewu 5:9.
Ubani Owayezoba Indlalifa Ka-Abrahama?
Naphezu kwezithembiso zokuba nenzalo, uSara wayelokhu eyinyumba. U-Abrahama wayethula kuNkulunkulu le ndaba. Ingabe inceku yakhe u-Eliyezeri yayizodla lonke ifa lakhe? Yayingeke ngoba uJehova wathi: “Lo muntu ngeke akulandele njengendlalifa, kodwa ozophuma ezibilinini zakho nguye oyokulandela njengendlalifa.”—Genesise 15:1-4.
Nakuba kunjalo ingane yayilokhu ingaveli, futhi uSara owayeseneminyaka engu-75 ubudala waphelelwa ithemba lokukhulelwa. Ngakho, wathi ku-Abrahama: “UJehova ungivalile ukuba ngingabatholi abantwana. Ngiyacela, lala nencekukazi yami. Mhlawumbe ngingathola abantwana kuyo.” U-Abrahama wabe esethatha uHagari waba ngumkakhe wesibili, walala naye, wakhulelwa. Lapho nje uHagari ethola ukuthi ukhulelwe, waqala ukuyidelela indlovukazi yakhe. USara wakhononda kalusizi ku-Abrahama, waphoxa noHagari, okwabangela ukuba le ncekukazi ibaleke.—Genesise 16:1-6.
U-Abrahama noSara benza ngokwendlela ababecabanga ukuthi ilungile, bethatha inkambo eyayivumelana nemikhuba eyamukelekayo yosuku lwabo. Nokho, kwakungeyona indlela kaJehova leyo yokuzalwa kwenzalo ka-Abrahama. Amasiko ethu angase athi izenzo ezithile zilungile ezimweni ezihlukahlukene, kodwa lokho akusho ngempela ukuthi uJehova uyavuma. Umbono wakhe ngesimo sethu ungase uhluke ngokuphelele. Ngakho, kudingeka sifune isiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu, sithandazele ukuba asibonise indlela afuna sizenze ngayo izinto.—IHubo 25:4, 5; 143:8, 10.
Akukho Lutho “Okungaphezu Kwamandla KaJehova”
Ekugcineni, uHagari wamzalela indodana u-Abrahama, eyaqanjwa ngokuthi u-Ishmayeli. Kodwa yayingeyona iNzalo eyayithenjisiwe. NguSara okwakumelwe azale leyo ndlalifa, nakuba ayesemdala kakhulu.—Genesise 17:15, 16.
Lapho uNkulunkulu ecacisa ukuthi uSara wayezozalela umyeni wakhe indodana, “u-Abrahama wawa ngobuso wahleka wathi enhliziyweni yakhe: ‘Ingabe indoda eneminyaka eyikhulu ubudala izozalelwa umntwana, futhi ingabe uSara, yebo, ingabe owesifazane oneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye ubudala uzozala?’” (Genesise 17:17) Lapho ingelosi iphinda lowo myalezo uSara ezwa, “wahleka ngaphakathi.” Kodwa akukho lutho “okungaphezu kwamandla kaJehova.” Singaba nokholo lokuthi angenza noma yini ayifunayo.—Genesise 18:12-14.
Kwakungenxa ‘yokholo ukuthi uSara ngokwakhe wathola amandla okukhulelwa inzalo, ngisho nakuba ayesedlulile ebudaleni obumisiwe, njengoba ambheka njengothembekile lowo owayethembisile.’ (Hebheru 11:11) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uSara wazala u-Isaka, igama elisho “Ukuhleka.”
Ukuzethemba Ngokuphelele Izithembiso ZikaNkulunkulu
UJehova wathi ngu-Isaka indlalifa okwase kukudala ilindelwe. (Genesise 21:12) Ngakho kumelwe ukuba u-Abrahama washaqeka lapho uNkulunkulu emcela ukuba anikele ngendodana yakhe. Nokho, u-Abrahama wayenezizathu ezinengqondo zokwethemba uNkulunkulu ngokuphelele. Ingabe uJehova wayengeke akwazi ukuvusa u-Isaka kwabafile? (Hebheru 11:17-19) UNkulunkulu wayengawabonisanga yini kwasekuqaleni amandla akhe ngokuvuselela ngokuyisimangaliso amandla okuzala ka-Abrahama noSara ukuze bazale u-Isaka? Eqiniseka ngamandla kaNkulunkulu okugcwalisa izithembiso zaKhe, u-Abrahama wayekulungele ukulalela. Yiqiniso, wanqandwa ekuyibulaleni ngokoqobo indodana yakhe. (Genesise 22:1-14) Noma kunjalo, indima ka-Abrahama kulokhu iyasisiza sibone ukuthi kumelwe ukuba kwaba nzima kangakanani ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ‘ukunikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuze wonke umuntu obonisa ukholo kuyo angabhubhi kodwa abe nokuphila okuphakade.’—Johane 3:16; Mathewu 20:28.
Ukuba nokholo kuNkulunkulu kwakwenza kwacaca ku-Abrahama ukuthi indlalifa yezithembiso zikaJehova yayingenakushada nomkhulekeli wamanga wasezweni laseKhanani. Umzali owesaba uNkulunkulu wayengayivumela kanjani ingane yakhe ukuba ishade nanoma ubani ongamkhonzi uJehova? Ngakho-ke, u-Abrahama wafunela u-Isaka umfazi ofanelekayo ezihlotsheni zakhe eMesophothamiya, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaphezu kwangu-800. UNkulunkulu wawubusisa lowo mzamo ngokubonisa ukuthi uRebheka wayengowesifazane ayemkhethe ukuba abe umlobokazi ka-Isaka, nokhokhokazi kaMesiya. Yebo, uJehova ‘wambusisa u-Abrahama kukho konke.’—Genesise 24:1-67; Mathewu 1:1, 2.
Ukubusiswa Kwazo Zonke Izizwe
U-Abrahama noSara babeyizibonelo zokukhuthazelela ukuvivinywa nokubonisa ukholo ezithembisweni zikaNkulunkulu. Ukugcwaliseka kwalezo zithembiso kuyalithinta ithemba lesintu laphakade, ngoba uJehova waqinisekisa u-Abrahama: “Ngenzalo yakho zonke izizwe zomhlaba ngokuqinisekile ziyobusiswa ngenxa yokuthi ulalelé izwi lami.”—Genesise 22:18.
Yiqiniso, u-Abrahama noSara babengaphelele, njengoba nathi singaphelele. Nokho, lapho intando kaNkulunkulu ibacacela, ngokushesha bazivumelanisa nayo—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi lokho kwakuyobizelani. Ngaleyo ndlela u-Abrahama ukhunjulwa ngokuthi “umngane kaJehova,” noSara ‘njengowesifazane ongcwele owayethembela kuNkulunkulu.’ (Jakobe 2:23; 1 Petru 3:5) Ngokuzikhandla ekulingiseni ukholo luka-Abrahama noSara, nathi singaba nobuhlobo obuyigugu noNkulunkulu. Singazuza futhi ezithembisweni eziyigugu uJehova azenza ku-Abrahama.—Genesise 17:7.
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Ngenxa yokholo lwabo, uJehova wababusisa ngendodana o-Abrahama noSara nakuba base bebadala
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Isibonelo sika-Abrahama siyasisiza ukuba sibone ukuthi kwasho ukuthini kuJehova ukuvumela iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ukuba ife