“UNkulunkulu Uluthando”

“Lowo ongenalo uthando akamazi uNkulunkulu, ngoba uNkulunkulu uluthando.”—1 JOHANE 4:8.

 1-3. (a) Imaphi amazwi iBhayibheli eliwashoyo ngemfanelo kaJehova yothando, futhi ahluke ngayiphi indlela? (b) Kungani iBhayibheli lithi “uNkulunkulu uluthando”?

ZONKE izimfanelo zikaJehova zinhle, ziphelele, futhi ziyakhanga. Kodwa imfanelo kaJehova emenza athandeke kunazo zonke uthando. Akukho lutho olunye olusidonsela kuJehova ngamandla njengothando lwakhe. Ngokujabulisayo, uthando futhi luyimfanelo yakhe evelele. Sikwazi kanjani lokho?

² IBhayibheli lisho okuthile ngothando elingalokothi neze likusho ngezinye izimfanelo zikaJehova eziyinhloko. ImiBhalo ayisho ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungamandla noma ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungubulungisa noma ngisho ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungukuhlakanipha. Unazo lezo zimfanelo futhi ungumthombo omkhulu wazo zontathu. Nokho, kweyoku-1 Johane 4:8, kushiwo okuthile okujule nakakhulu ngothando, kuthiwa: “UNkulunkulu uluthando.” Yebo, uthando lusezibilinini zikaJehova. Lunguye uqobo, noma lokho ayikho. Singase sikubheke kanje: Amandla kaJehova amenza akwazi ukwenza okuthile. Ubulungisa nokuhlakanipha kwakhe kuqondisa indlela enza ngayo. Kodwa uthando lukaJehova yilo olumshukumisela ukuba enze okuthile. Futhi lolu thando lwakhe lubonakala ngaso sonke isikhathi endleleni asebenzisa ngayo ezinye izimfanelo zakhe.

³ Kuvame ukuthiwa uJehova uwuthando olwenziwe samuntu. Ngaleso sizathu, uma sifuna ukufunda ngothando, kumelwe sifunde ngoJehova. Ngakho, ake sihlole ezinye zezici zothando lukaJehova olungenakufaniswa nalutho.

Isenzo Sothando Esikhulu Kunazo Zonke

 4, 5. (a) Isiphi isenzo sothando esikhulu kunazo zonke emlandweni? (b) Kungani singase sithi uJehova neNdodana yakhe bahlanganiswe yisibopho sothando esiqine kunazo zonke ezake zakhiwa?

⁴ UJehova ubonise uthando ngezindlela eziningi, kodwa iyodwa evelele kunazo zonke. Iyiphi leyo? Iwukuthumela kwakhe iNdodana yakhe ukuba ihlupheke futhi ife ngenxa yethu. Singasho kugcwale umlomo ukuthi lesi yisenzo sothando esizidlula zonke emlandweni. Kungani singase sisho kanjalo?

⁵ IBhayibheli libiza uJesu ngokuthi “izibulo layo yonke indalo.” (Kolose 1:15) Cabanga nje—iNdodana kaJehova yayisikhona kungakabi khona konke okunye. Kwase kuyisikhathi esingakanani-ke iNdodana noYise bendawonye? Abanye ososayensi balinganisela ukuthi sekuyiminyaka eyizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-13 izulu nomhlaba kukhona. Nokho, noma ngabe lokhu kulinganisela kuyiqiniso, bekungeke kube yisikhathi eside ngokwanele ukuba kuveze isikhathi esesiphilwe iNdodana kaJehova eyizibulo! Yayenzani yonke leyo minyaka? Yayikhonza ngenjabulo ‘njengesisebenzi esiyingcweti’ sikaYise. (IzAga 8:30; Johane 1:3) UJehova neNdodana yakhe basebenzisana ekwenzeni zonke izinto zibe khona. Yeka izikhathi ezimnandi nezijabulisayo ababa nazo! Ubani nje phakathi kwethu ongaqala ukuqonda amandla obuhlobo osebunesikhathi eside kangaka bukhona? Ngokusobala, uJehova uNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe bahlanganiswe isibopho sothando esiqine kunazo zonke ezake zakhiwa.

 6. Lapho uJesu ebhapathizwa, uJehova wayiveza kanjani indlela azizwa ngayo ngeNdodana yaKhe?

⁶ Noma kunjalo, uJehova wathumela iNdodana yakhe emhlabeni ukuba izozalwa njengomntwana ongumuntu. Leso senzo sasho ukuthi phakathi namashumi athile eminyaka, uJehova wayezodela ukusondelana neNdodana yakhe ethandekayo ezulwini. UJehova esezulwini wayembheke ngesithakazelo esikhulu uJesu njengoba ayekhula eba indoda ephelele. Eseneminyaka engaba ngu-30 ubudala, uJesu wabhapathizwa. Kuleso senzakalo uYise wazikhulumela mathupha esezulwini, wathi: “Lo yiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engiyamukele.” (Mathewu 3:17) Kumelwe ukuba uYise wajabula kakhulu lapho ebona ukuthi uJesu wayekwenze ngokwethembeka konke okwakubikezelwe, konke okwakuthiwe akakwenze!—Johane 5:36; 17:4.

 7, 8. (a) Wabhekana nani uJesu ngoNisani 14, 33 C.E., futhi kwamphatha kanjani uYise wasezulwini? (b) Kungani uJehova avumela iNdodana yakhe ukuba ihlupheke futhi ife?

⁷ Nokho, uJehova wazizwa kanjani ngoNisani 14, 33 C.E., njengoba uJesu ayekhashelwa futhi eboshwa isixuku esithukuthele? Wazizwa kanjani njengoba uJesu ayegconwa, ethimiselwa ngamathe, ebhonywa ngezibhakela? Njengoba ayebhaxabulwa ngesiswebhu, kuze kudabuke umhlane? Njengoba izandla nezinyawo zakhe zibethelwa esigxotsheni futhi eshiywa lapho elenga, abantu bebe bemthuka? UYise wazizwa kanjani njengoba iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo yayimkhalela kamunyu? UJehova wazizwa kanjani lapho uJesu efa, futhi le Ndodana yaKhe ayithandayo iqala ngqá ukungabi khona selokhu kwaba khona indalo?—Mathewu 26:14-16, 46, 47, 56, 59, 67; 27:26, 38-44, 46; Johane 19:1.

⁸ Njengoba uJehova enemizwa, asinawo amazwi okuchaza ubuhlungu okumelwe ukuba wabuzwa ngokufa kweNdodana yakhe. Esikwazi ukukusho isisusa sikaJehova sokuba akuvumele kwenzeke. Kungani uYise azizwisa ubuhlungu obunjalo? UJehova usembulela into emangalisayo kuJohane 3:16—ivesi leBhayibheli elibaluleke kakhulu kangangokuba seliye labizwa ngokuthi lingumnyombo wamaVangeli. Lithi: “UNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kangangokuba waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuze wonke umuntu obonisa ukholo kuyo angabhubhi kodwa abe nokuphila okuphakade.” Nasi-ke isisusa sikaNkulunkulu: uthando. Akukaze kuboniswe uthando olungaphezu kwalolu.

UJehova Usiqinisekisa Ngothando Lwakhe

 9. USathane ufuna sikholelwe ukuthi uJehova usibheka kanjani, kodwa uJehova usiqinisekisa ngani?

⁹ Nokho, kuphakama umbuzo obalulekile: Ingabe uNkulunkulu uyasithanda ngabantu ngabanye? Abanye bangavuma ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyasithanda isintu sisonke, njengoba kusho uJohane 3:16. Kodwa empeleni banalo muzwa, ‘Akukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyangithanda mina njengomuntu siqu.’ Iqiniso liwukuthi uSathane uDeveli ufuna ngezinkani ukusenza sikholelwe ukuthi uJehova akasithandi futhi akasazisi. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi thina sicabanga ukuthi asithandeki futhi asilutho kangakanani, uJehova usiqinisekisa ngokuthi inceku yakhe ngayinye ethembekile ayiconsi phansi kuye.

10, 11. Umfanekiso kaJesu wondlunkulu ubonisa kanjani ukuthi sibalulekile kuJehova?

¹⁰ Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngamazwi kaJesu alotshwe kuMathewu 10:29-31. Ebonisa ukubaluleka kwabafundi bakhe, uJesu wathi: “Ondlunkulu ababili abathengiswa yini ngohlamvu lwemali lwenani elincane? Nokho ngeke kuwele phansi namunye wabo uYihlo angazi. Kodwa zona kanye izinwele zekhanda lenu zibaliwe zonke. Ngakho-ke ningesabi: Nina nibaluleke ukudlula ondlunkulu abaningi.” Cabanga ukuthi lawo mazwi asho ukuthini ezilalelini zikaJesu zekhulu lokuqala.

¹¹ Ngosuku lukaJesu undlunkulu wawuyinyoni eshibhe kunazo zonke ezazidayiselwa ukudliwa. Ngohlamvu lwemali olulodwa lwenani elincane, umthengi wayethola ondlunkulu ababili. Kodwa ngokusho kukaLuka 12:6, 7, uJesu wabuye wathi uma umuntu ethenga ngezinhlamvu ezimbili, wayengatholi ondlunkulu abane, kodwa abahlanu. Le nyoni eyibhansela yayenezelwa sengathi yayingabalulekile. Mhlawumbe lezo zinyoni zazingento yalutho kubantu, kodwa wayezibheka kanjani uMdali? UJesu wathi: “Akukho nowodwa kubo [ngisho noyibhansela] olibalekayo phambi kukaNkulunkulu.” Manje kungenzeka ukuthi sesiyalithola iphuzu likaJesu. Uma uJehova ewazisa kanjalo undlunkulu owodwa, umazisa kangakanani-ke umuntu! Njengoba uJesu asho, uJehova wazi konke ngathi. Ingani ngisho nezinwele zamakhanda ethu zibaliwe!

12. Kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi uJesu wayengenzi ihaba lapho ethi izinwele zethu zibaliwe?

¹² Abanye bangase bathi uJesu wayenza ihaba ngalokhu. Kodwa, ake ucabange ngovuko. Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba uJehova usazi kahle ngayo ukuze akwazi ukusidala kabusha! Usibheka njengababaluleke kakhulu kangangokuba ukhumbula yonke imininingwane, kuhlanganise nezici zethu zofuzo eziyinkimbinkimbi nayo yonke inkumbulo, nokuhlangenwe nakho kweminyaka eminingi. Ukubala izinwele zethu—lezo ngokuvamile ezingaba ngu-100 000 ekhanda lomuntu—bekungaba ubala nje. Yeka indlela la mazwi kaJesu asiqinisekisa kahle ngayo ukuthi uJehova ukhathalela umuntu ngamunye kithi!

13. Indaba yeNkosi uJehoshafati ibonisa kanjani ukuthi uJehova ubheka okuhle kithi nakuba singaphelele?

¹³ IBhayibheli lembula okunye futhi okusiqinisekisa ngothando lukaJehova. Ubheka okuhle kithi futhi akwazise. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngenkosi elungile uJehoshafati. Lapho le nkosi yenze isenzo sobuwula, umprofethi kaJehova wayitshela: “Ngenxa yalokhu kukhona intukuthelo ngokumelene nawe evela ebusweni bukaJehova.” Isixwayiso esisangulukisa ngempela! Kodwa umyalezo kaJehova awuphelelanga lapho. Waqhubeka wathi: “Noma kunjalo, kukhona izinto ezinhle eziye zatholakala kuwe.” (2 IziKronike 19:1-3) Ngakho intukuthelo kaJehova efanele ayizange imsithe ukuba angaziboni “izinto ezinhle” kuJehoshafati. Akuqinisi yini idolo ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu ubheka okuhle kithi nakuba singaphelele?

UNkulunkulu ‘Okulungele Ukuthethelela’

14. Lapho sona, imiphi imizwa ecindezelayo esingaba nayo, kodwa singakuthola kanjani ukuthethelelwa uJehova?

¹⁴ Lapho sona, siba nomuzwa wendumalo, wokuzisola, nowecala ongasibangela ukuba sicabange ukuthi asisoze nanini sakufanelekela ukukhonza uJehova. Nokho, khumbula ukuthi uJehova “ukulungele ukuthethelela.” (IHubo 86:5) Yebo, uma siphenduka ezonweni zethu bese sizabalazela ukungazenzi futhi, singathola ukuthethelelwa uJehova. Ake ucabange ngendlela iBhayibheli elisichaza ngayo lesi sici esimangalisayo sothando lukaJehova.

15. UJehova uzibeka kude kangakanani nathi izono zethu?

¹⁵ Umhubi uDavide wasebenzisa inkulumo ecacile ukuze achaze ukuthethelela kukaJehova: “Njengokuqhelelana kwempumalanga nentshonalanga, uzibeké kude kangako izeqo zethu.” (IHubo 103:12) Iqhelelene kangakanani impumalanga nentshonalanga? Impumalanga ihlale iqhelelene nentshonalanga ngebanga esingeke sikwazi ukulicabanga; lezi zindawo zombili azisoze zahlangana. Esinye isazi sithi le nkulumo isho ukuthi “kude lé; kude kakhulu.” Amazwi kaDavide aphefumulelwe asitshela ukuthi lapho uJehova ethethelela, ubeka izono zethu kude lé nathi.

16. Lapho uJehova esithethelela izono zethu, kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi ube esesibheka njengabahlanzekile?

¹⁶ Wake wazama yini ukususa ibala engutsheni enombala okhanyayo? Mhlawumbe ngisho usuzame konke, aliyanga ndawo lelo bala. Phawula indlela uJehova achaza ngayo ukuthi uthethelela kangakanani: “Nakuba izono zenu kungenzeka ukuthi zibomvu klebhu, zizokwenziwa zibe mhlophe njengeqhwa; nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi zibomvu njengendwangu ebomvu okwegazi, zizoba njengoboya.” (Isaya 1:18) Igama elithi “klebhu” lichaza umbala obomvu.a Umbala ‘obomvu okwegazi’ wawungeminye yemibala okwakudaywa ngayo indwangu. Asisoze sakwazi ukususa ibala eliyisono ngemizamo yethu. Kodwa uJehova angathatha izono ezibomvu klebhu nezibomvu okwegazi azenze zibe mhlophe njengeqhwa noma njengoboya obungadayiwe. Ngakho lapho uJehova esithethelela izono zethu, akufanele sibe nomuzwa wokuthi siyoba nebala lalezo zono size sife.

17. UJehova uziphonsa ngamuphi umqondo izono zethu ngemva kwakhe?

¹⁷ Engomeni yokubonga ethinta inhliziyo uHezekiya ayiqamba ngemva kokululama esifweni esibulalayo, wathi kuJehova: “[Uziphonsé] ngemva kwakho zonke izono zami.” (Isaya 38:17) UJehova lapha uchazwa ngokuthi uthatha izono zomenzi wobubi ophendukayo aziphonse ngemva kwaKhe lapho engeke aphinde azibone khona noma aziqaphele. Ngokusho kwenye incwadi, nanku umqondo odluliselwayo: “Wenzé [izono zami] kwaba sengathi azikaze zibe khona.” Akusiduduzi yini lokho?

18. Umprofethi uMika ubonisa kanjani ukuthi uma uJehova esithethelela, uzisusa ngokuphelele izono zethu?

¹⁸ Esithembisweni sokubuyisela, umprofethi uMika washo amazwi abonisa ukuqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uyobathethelela abantu bakhe abaphendukayo: “Ubani onguNkulunkulu onjengawe, . . . osidlulisayo iseqo sensali yefa lakhe? . . . Futhi wena uyoziphonsa ekujuleni kolwandle zonke izono zabo.” (Mika 7:18, 19) Cabanga lokho lawo mazwi akusho kubantu ababephila ezikhathini zeBhayibheli. Kwakungenzeka yini ukuba into eyayiphonswe “ekujuleni kolwandle” iphinde itholakale? Ngakho amazwi kaMika abonisa ukuthi uma uJehova esithethelela, uzisusa ngokuphelele izono zethu.

“Ububele Besisa BukaNkulunkulu Wethu”

19, 20. (a) Sisho ukuthini isenzo sesiHebheru esihunyushwe ngokuthi “bonisa isihe” noma “hawukela”? (b) IBhayibheli liyisebenzisa kanjani imizwa umama anayo ngomntanakhe ukuze lisifundise ngobubele bukaJehova?

¹⁹ Ububele bungesinye isici sothando lukaJehova. Buyini ububele? EBhayibhelini, ububele buhlobene eduze nesihe. Maningana amagama esiHebheru nawesiGreki anomqondo wobubele. Ngokwesibonelo, isenzo sesiHebheru esithi ra·chamʹ sivame ukuhunyushwa ngokuthi “bonisa isihe” noma “hawukela.” Leli gama lesiHebheru, uJehova alisebenzisa kuye, lihlobene negama elisho “isibeletho” futhi lingachazwa ngokuthi “ububele bukamama.”

²⁰ IBhayibheli lisebenzisa imizwa umama anayo ngomntanakhe ukuze lisifundise lokho okushiwo ububele bukaJehova. U-Isaya 49:15 uthi: “Owesifazane angakhohlwa yini umntanakhe osancela, angabi nobubele [ra·chamʹ] ngendodana yesibeletho sakhe? Yebo, bangase bakhohlwe, kodwa mina ngeke ngikukhohlwe.” (The Amplified Bible) Kunzima ukucabanga ukuthi umama angakhohlwa ukuncelisa nokunaka ingane yakhe esancela. Phela usana alukwazi ukuzisiza; ubusuku nemini umntwana udinga ukunakekelwa unina. Kuyadabukisa nokho ukuthi kuyenzeka omama bangazinaki izingane zabo, ikakhulu kulezi “zikhathi ezibucayi.” (2 Thimothewu 3:1, 3) UJehova yena uthi: “Kodwa mina ngeke ngikukhohlwe.” Ububele besisa uJehova anabo ngezinceku zakhe bunamandla angenakulinganiswa nawomuzwa wemvelo wothando olujulile esingaba nawo—ububele umama aye abuzwe ngosana lwakhe.

21, 22. Abhekana nani ama-Israyeli eGibhithe lasendulo, futhi uJehova wasabela kanjani ekukhaleni kwawo?

²¹ Njengomzali onothando, uJehova ububonisa kanjani ububele? Le mfanelo ibonakala ngokucacile endleleni aphatha ngayo u-Israyeli wasendulo. Ekupheleni kwekhulu le-16 B.C.E., izigidi zama-Israyeli zazigqilazwe eGibhithe lapho zazicindezelwa khona kanzima. (Eksodusi 1:11, 14) Ekucindezelekeni kwawo, ama-Israyeli akhala kuJehova. Wasabela kanjani uNkulunkulu onobubele?

²² Inhliziyo kaJehova yathinteka. Wathi: “Ngikubonile ukuhlupheka kwabantu bami abaseGibhithe, futhi ngikuzwile ukukhala kwabo . . . Ngibazi kahle ubuhlungu ababuzwayo.” (Eksodusi 3:7) UJehova wayengeke abone ukuhlupheka kwabantu bakhe noma ezwe ukukhala kwabo kodwa kungathí diki kuye. UJehova unguNkulunkulu wozwela. Futhi uzwela—ukukwazi ukuzwa ubuhlungu babanye—luhlobene eduze nobubele. Nokho, uJehova akagcinanga nje ngokubazwela abantu bakhe; wathinteka wabenzela okuthile. U-Isaya 63:9 uthi: “Ngothando lwakhe nangobubele bakhe wabahlenga.” Wawophula “ngesandla esinamandla” ama-Israyeli eGibhithe. (Duteronomi 4:34) Ngemva kwalokho, wawanika ukudla okuyisimangaliso wawayisa nasezweni elinothile okwakuzoba elawo.

23. (a) Amazwi omhubi asiqinisekisa kanjani ukuthi uJehova usikhathalela ngokujulile njengabantu ngabanye? (b) UJehova usisiza ngaziphi izindlela?

²³ UJehova akabonisi ububele bakhe ezincekwini zakhe njengeqembu kuphela. UNkulunkulu wethu onothando usikhathalela ngokujulile njengabantu ngabanye. Ukwazi kahle konke ukuhlupheka esingase sibhekane nakho. Umhubi wathi: “Amehlo kaJehova akwabalungile, nezindlebe zakhe zisekukhaleleni kwabo usizo. UJehova useduze nalabo abaphukile enhliziyweni; futhi uyabasindisa abanomoya ochobozekile.” (IHubo 34:15, 18) UJehova usisiza kanjani njengabantu ngabanye? Akayisusi ngempela imbangela yokuhlupheka kwethu. Kodwa ubenzele amalungiselelo amaningi labo abakhalela usizo kuye. IZwi lakhe linikeza iseluleko esisebenzayo esingaba usizo. Ebandleni, usinika ababonisi abafanelekayo ngokomoya, abazama ukulingisa ububele bakhe lapho besiza abanye. (Jakobe 5:14, 15) Njengoba ‘enguMuzwi womthandazo,’ uJehova uyabanika “umoya ongcwele labo abawucela kuye.” (IHubo 65:2; Luka 11:13) Wonke lawo malungiselelo awukubonakaliswa ‘kobubele bukaNkulunkulu wethu.’—Luka 1:78.

24. Uyosabela kanjani othandweni lukaJehova?

²⁴ Akujabulisi yini ukuzindla ngothando lukaBaba wethu wasezulwini? Esihlokweni esandulele, sikhunjuzwe ukuthi uJehova usebenzise amandla, ubulungisa, nokuhlakanipha kwakhe ngezindlela zothando ukuze kuzuze thina. Kanti kulesi sihloko, sibonile ukuthi uJehova uye wabonisa uthando lwakhe ngesintu ngokuqondile—nangathi ngabanye—ngezindlela eziyisimangaliso. Manje, ngamunye wethu uyobe wenza kahle ngokuzibuza, ‘Ngiyosabela kanjani othandweni lukaJehova?’ Kwangathi ungasabela ngokumthanda ngenhliziyo, ingqondo, umphefumulo, namandla akho onke. (Marku 12:29, 30) Kwangathi indlela yakho yokuphila kwansuku zonke ingabonisa isifiso sakho esisuka enhliziyweni sokusondela kakhulu kuJehova. Kwangathi noJehova, uNkulunkulu oluthando, angasondela kakhulu kuwe—kuze kube phakade!—Jakobe 4:8.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Uyakhumbula?

• Sazi kanjani ukuthi uthando luyimfanelo kaJehova evelele?

• Kungani kungase kuthiwe ukuthumela kukaJehova iNdodana yakhe ukuba ihlupheke futhi isifele kwakuyisenzo sothando esikhulu kunazo zonke?

• UJehova usiqinisekisa kanjani ukuthi uyasithanda njengabantu ngabanye?

• IBhayibheli likuchaza ngaziphi izindlela ezicacile ukuthethelela kukaJehova?

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

“UNkulunkulu . . . wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa”

[Isithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

“Nina nibaluleke ukudlula ondlunkulu abaningi”

[Umthombo]

© J. Heidecker/VIREO

[Isithombe ekhasini 18]

Imizwa kamama ngomntanakhe ingasifundisa ngobubele bukaJehova