Isahluko Samashumi Amathathu
“Duduzani Abantu Bami”
1. Iyiphi enye yezindlela uJehova asiduduza ngayo?
UJEHOVA ‘unguNkulunkulu onikeza induduzo.’ Enye indlela asiduduza ngayo ingezithembiso enzé ukuba zilotshwe eZwini lakhe. (Roma 15:4, 5) Ngokwesibonelo, uma ufelwe othile omthanda kakhulu, yini engakududuza ngaphezu kwethemba lokuvuswa kwakhe ezweni likaNkulunkulu elisha? (Johane 5:28, 29) Futhi kuthiwani ngesithembiso sikaJehova sokuthi maduze nje uzoqeda ububi, aguqule lo mhlaba ube ipharadesi? Akududuzi yini ukuba nethemba lokusindela kulelo Pharadesi elizayo futhi ungaphinde ufe?—IHubo 37:9-11, 29; IsAmbulo 21:3-5.
2. Kungani singazethemba izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu?
2 Ingabe singazethemba ngempela izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu? Ngempela singazethemba! UMenzi walezo zithembiso uthembeke ngokuphelele. Unamandla futhi uyathanda ukufeza akushilo. (Isaya 55:10, 11) Lokhu kwaboniswa ngokunamandla ngokuqondene nalokho uJehova akusho ngomprofethi u-Isaya ukuthi wayeyobuyisela ukukhulekela kweqiniso eJerusalema. Ake sixoxe ngaleso siprofetho, njengoba sitholakala ku-Isaya isahluko 40, ngoba ukwenza kanjalo kungaqinisa ukholo lwethu kuJehova, uMfezi wezithembiso.
Isithembiso Esiduduzayo
3, 4. (a) Yimaphi amazwi enduduzo alotshwa u-Isaya abantu bakaNkulunkulu abayowadinga kamuva? (b) Kungani izakhamuzi zakwaJuda naseJerusalema ziyothunjelwa eBabiloni, futhi ukugqilazwa kwazo kuyothatha isikhathi esingakanani?
3 Ekhulwini lesi-8 B.C.E., umprofethi u-Isaya uloba amazwi enduduzo abantu bakaJehova abazowadinga kamuva. Ngemva nje kokutshela iNkosi uHezekiya ngokubhujiswa kweJerusalema okwakuzofika nokuthunjelwa kwamaJuda eBabiloni, u-Isaya usho amazwi kaJehova ayisithembiso sokubuyiselwa: “‘Duduzani, duduzani abantu bami,’ kusho uNkulunkulu wenu. ‘Khulumani nenhliziyo yeJerusalema nilimemeze nilitshele ukuthi inkonzo yalo yempi iphelile, ukuthi isiphambeko salo sesikhokhelwe. Ngoba litholé inani eligcwele lazo zonke izono zalo esandleni sikaJehova.’”—Isaya 40:1, 2.
4 Igama elithi “duduzani,” okuyigama okuvulwa ngalo ku-Isaya isahluko 40, lisichaza kahle isigijimi sokukhanya nethemba esikuyo yonke incwadi ka-Isaya. Ngenxa yokuhlubuka, izakhamuzi zakwaJuda naseJerusalema ziyodingiselwa eBabiloni ngo-607 B.C.E. Kodwa lezo zithunjwa ezingamaJuda ngeke zibakhonze phakade abaseBabiloni. Cha, ziyogqilazwa kuze kube yilapho isiphambeko sazo “sesikhokhelwe.” Kuyothatha isikhathi esingakanani lokho? Ngokusho komprofethi uJeremiya, kuyothatha iminyaka engu-70. (Jeremiya 25:11, 12) Ngemva kwalokho, uJehova uyohola insali ephendukile iphume eBabiloni ibuyele eJerusalema. Ngonyaka ka-70 uJuda enziwe incithakalo, yeka induduzo okuyoba yiyo ngezithunjwa ukuqaphela ukuthi isikhathi sokukhululwa kwazo okwakuthenjisiwe sesisondele!—Daniyeli 9:1, 2.
5, 6. (a) Kungani uhambo olude olusuka eBabiloni luya eJerusalema lungeke lukuvimbele ukufezeka kwesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu? (b) Ukubuyiselwa kwamaJuda ezweni lawo kuyoba namuphi umphumela kwezinye izizwe?
5 Uhambo olusuka eBabiloni luya eJerusalema lungamakhilomitha angu-800 kuya kwangu-1 600, kuye ngendlela umuntu akhetha ukuhamba ngayo. Ingabe lolu hambo olude luyokubhuntshisa ukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu? Lutho neze! U-Isaya uyabhala: “Lalela! Kukhona omemeza ehlane: ‘Lungisani indlela kaJehova! Wenzeni uqonde umgwaqo omkhulu kaNkulunkulu wethu odabula ithafa eliwugwadule. Maziphakanyiswe zonke izigodi, kwehliswe zonke izintaba namagquma. Indawo enamaduli kumelwe ibe yizwe elihlelembekileyo, namagebhugebhu abe yithafa elisesigodini. Ngokuqinisekile inkazimulo kaJehova iyokwembulwa, nayo yonke inyama iyoyibona kanye kanye, ngoba wona kanye umlomo kaJehova ukukhulumile.’”—Isaya 40:3-5.
6 Ngaphambi kokuba bathathe uhambo, ababusi baseMpumalanga babevame ukuthuma amadoda ukuba ayolungisa umgwaqo, asuse amatshe amakhulu futhi akhe ngisho namabhuloho, ahlelembe namagebhugebhu. Ngokuqondene namaJuda abuyela ekhaya, kuyoba sengathi uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe uhamba phambili, esusa noma iziphi izithiyo. Angithi laba abantu begama likaJehova, futhi ukufeza isithembiso sakhe sokubabuyisela ezweni labo kuyokwenza izizwe zibone inkazimulo yakhe. Zithanda noma zingathandi, lezo zizwe ziyophoqeleka ukuba zibone ukuthi uJehova unguMfezi wezithembiso zakhe.
7, 8. (a) Amazwi ka-Isaya 40:3 agcwaliseka kanjani ekhulwini lokuqala C.E.? (b) Isiprofetho sika-Isaya saba nakuphi ukugcwaliseka okukhulu ngo-1919?
7 Ukugcwaliseka kwalesi siprofetho sokubuyiselwa okwenzeka ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E. akuphelelanga ngaleso sikhathi. Sagcwaliseka nasekhulwini lokuqala C.E. UJohane uMbhapathizi wayeyizwi ‘lokhamulukayo ehlane,’ kugcwaliseka u-Isaya 40:3. (Luka 3:1-6) Engaphansi kokuphefumulelwa, uJohane wathi la mazwi ka-Isaya asebenza kuye. (Johane 1:19-23) Kusukela ngo-29 C.E., uJohane waqala ukulungiselela uJesu Kristu indlela.a Isimemezelo uJohane asenza kusengaphambili senza abantu bamfuna uMesiya othenjisiwe ukuze nabo bamlalele futhi bamlandele. (Luka 1:13-17, 76) NgoJesu, uJehova wayezoholela abaphendukayo enkululekweni enikezwa nguMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuphela—ukukhululeka ebugqilini besono nasekufeni. (Johane 1:29; 8:32) Amazwi ka-Isaya aba nokugcwaliseka okukhulu lapho kukhululwa insali ka-Israyeli ongokomoya eBabiloni Elikhulu ngo-1919 nalapho ibuyiselwa ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso.
8 Kuthiwani-ke ngalabo abasemgqeni wokuzuza ngokugcwaliseka kokuqala kwalesi sithembiso—amaJuda ayizithunjwa eBabiloni? Ingabe kumelwe asithembe ngempela isithembiso sikaJehova sokuwabuyisela ezweni lawo alithandayo? Ngempela angasithemba! Ngamazwi acacile nemifanekiso ethathelwe ekuphileni kwansuku zonke, manje u-Isaya unikeza izizathu ezinamandla zokwethemba ngokuphelele ukuthi uJehova uyoligcwalisa izwi lakhe.
UNkulunkulu Ozwi Lakhe Lihlala Kuze Kube Phakade
9, 10. U-Isaya ubuqhathanisa kanjani ubufushane bokuphila komuntu nokuhlala phakade ‘kwezwi’ likaNkulunkulu?
9 Okokuqala, izwi laLowo owenza isithembiso sokubuyisela lihlala kuze kube phakade. U-Isaya uyabhala: “Lalela! Othile uthi: ‘Memeza!’ Omunye wathi: ‘Ngizomemeza ngithini?’ ‘Yonke inyama iwutshani obuluhlaza, futhi wonke umusa wayo wothando unjengembali yasendle. Utshani obuluhlaza bomile, imbali ibunile, ngoba wona kanye umoya kaJehova uvunguze phezu kwako. Ngokuqinisekile abantu bawutshani obuluhlaza. Utshani obuluhlaza bomile, imbali ibunile; kodwa izwi likaNkulunkulu wethu lona, liyokuma phakade.’”—Isaya 40:6-8.
10 Ama-Israyeli azi kahle ukuthi utshani abuhlali kuze kube phakade. Ngenkathi komile, ukushisa kwelanga okunamandla kuyabushintsha bungabe busaba luhlaza bube bomvana. Ngomqondo othile, ukuphila komuntu kunjengotshani—kufushane. (IHubo 103:15, 16; Jakobe 1:10, 11) U-Isaya uqhathanisa ubufushane bokuphila komuntu nokuhlala phakade ‘kwezwi’ likaNkulunkulu, noma injongo yakhe. Yebo, “izwi likaNkulunkulu wethu” lihlala kuze kube phakade. Lapho uNkulunkulu ekhuluma, akukho lutho olungalulaza amazwi akhe noma luwenze angagcwaliseki.—Joshuwa 23:14.
11. Kungani singamethemba uJehova ukuthi uyozifeza izithembiso eziseZwini lakhe elilotshiwe?
11 Namuhla sinenjongo kaJehova elotshwe eBhayibhelini. IBhayibheli liye labhekana nokuphikiswa okubi emakhulwini eminyaka edlule, futhi abahumushi balo nabanye abantu abanesibindi baye bafaka ukuphila kwabo engozini ukuze balilondoloze. Nokho, imizamo yabo iyodwa ayisona isizathu sokusinda kwalo. Lonke udumo ngokusinda kwalo kumelwe luye kuJehova, ‘uNkulunkulu ophilayo nohlala njalo’ noMlondolozi weZwi lakhe. (1 Petru 1:23-25) Cabanga ngalokhu: Njengoba uJehova elondoloze iZwi lakhe elilotshiwe, akufanele yini sethembe ukuthi uyozifeza izithembizo eliziqukethe?
UNkulunkulu Onamandla Ozinakekela Ngesisa Izimvu Zakhe
12, 13. (a) Kungani kungase kwethenjelwe esithembisweni sokubuyisela? (b) Yiziphi izindaba ezinhle zamaJuda ayizithunjwa, futhi kungani engaqiniseka?
12 U-Isaya unikeza isizathu sesibili sokwethemba isithembiso sokubuyiselwa. UMenzi walesi sithembiso unguNkulunkulu onamandla obanakekela ngesisa abantu bakhe. U-Isaya uyaqhubeka: “Yenyukela ngisho nasentabeni ephakeme, wena wesifazane olethela iZiyoni izindaba ezinhle. Phakamisa izwi lakho ngamandla, wena wesifazane olethela iJerusalema izindaba ezinhle. Liphakamise. Ungesabi. Yisho emizini yakwaJuda ukuthi: ‘Nangu uNkulunkulu wenu.’ Bheka! INkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ngokwakhe iyokuza njengonamandla [“inamandla,” umbhalo waphansi], futhi ingalo yayo iyobe ibusa esikhundleni sayo. Bheka! Umvuzo wayo ukuyo, nenkokhelo eyikhokhayo iphambi kwayo. Iyokwelusa umhlambi wayo njengomalusi. Ngengalo yayo iyoqoqela ndawonye amawundlu; iwathwale esifubeni sayo. Ezincelisayo iyozihola ngokunakekela.”—Isaya 40:9-11.
13 Ezikhathini zeBhayibheli kwakuvamile ukuba abesifazane bahalalisele ukunqoba, bamemeze noma bahlabelele izindaba ezinhle zokunqoba empini noma zokukhululeka okuzayo. (1 Samuweli 18:6, 7; IHubo 68:11) Ngokwesiprofetho u-Isaya ubika ukuthi kunezindaba ezinhle zamaJuda ayizithunjwa, izindaba ezingase zimenyezelwe ngokungesabi, zimenyezwe ngisho naseziqongweni zezintaba—uJehova uyohola abantu bakhe abaphindisele eJerusalema labo abalithandayo! Bangaqiniseka ngoba uJehova uyokuza ‘enamandla.’ Ngakho akukho lutho olungamvimba ukuba afeze isithembiso sakhe.
14. (a) U-Isaya uyichaza kanjani indlela ethambile uJehova ayohola ngayo abantu bakhe? (b) Yisiphi isibonelo esibonisa indlela enesisa abelusi abanakekela ngayo izimvu zabo? (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 405.)
14 Nokho, lo Nkulunkulu onamandla unayo nemfanelo yobumnene. Ngemfudumalo, u-Isaya uchaza indlela uJehova ayohola ngayo abantu bakhe abaphindisele ezweni labo. UJehova unjengomalusi onothando oqoqela izimvu zakhe ndawonye azigone “esifubeni” sakhe. Igama elithi “isifuba” lapha ngokusobala libhekisela emaphaketheni engubo asesifubeni. Ngezinye izikhathi abelusi bazifaka kuwo izimvu ezisanda kuzalwa ezingakakwazi ukuhamba ngejubane lomhlambi. (2 Samuweli 12:3) Akungabazeki ukuthi umfanekiso othinta inhliziyo kanjalo ophathelene nomsebenzi wokwelusa uqinisekisa abantu bakaJehova abathunjiwe ukuthi ubakhathalela ngothando. Ngokuqinisekile uNkulunkulu onamandla kanjalo kodwa onezimfanelo zobumnene bangamethemba ukuthi uyokufeza lokho abathembise kona!
15. (a) Wafika nini uJehova ‘enamandla,’ futhi ubani ‘ingalo ebusa esikhundleni sakhe’? (b) Yiziphi izindaba ezinhle okumelwe zimenyezelwe ngokungesabi?
15 Amazwi ka-Isaya anencazelo engokwesiprofetho yosuku lwethu. Ngo-1914, uJehova wafika ‘enamandla’ wamisa uMbuso wakhe emazulwini. ‘Ingalo ebusa esikhundleni sakhe’ yiNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu, leyo uJehova ayibeke esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi ezulwini. Ngo-1919, uJehova wakhulula izinceku zakhe ezigcotshiwe emhlabeni ekugqilazweni yiBabiloni Elikhulu futhi waqala ukukubuyisela ngokuphelele ukukhulekelwa okumsulwa kukaNkulunkulu ophilayo noweqiniso. Lezi izindaba ezinhle okumelwe zimenyezelwe ngokungesabi, njengokungathi zimenyezwa eziqongweni zezintaba ukuze lesi sigijimi sifinyelele kude naseduze. Khona-ke masiphakamise amaphimbo ethu futhi ngesibindi sazise abanye ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu ukubuyisele ukukhulekela okumsulwa emhlabeni!
16. UJehova ubahola ngayiphi indlela abantu bakhe namuhla, futhi lokhu kubeka siphi isibonelo?
16 Amazwi ka-Isaya 40:10, 11 abalulekile nakithina namuhla. Kuyaduduza ukubona indlela yesisa uJehova ahola ngayo abantu bakhe. Njengoba nje umalusi eziqonda izidingo zemvu ngayinye—ngisho namawundlu angakwazi ukuhamba ngejubane lomhlambi—uJehova uyakuqonda ukulinganiselwa kwenceku yakhe ngayinye ethembekile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova, njengoMalusi onesisa, ubekela abelusi abangamaKristu isibonelo. Abadala kumelwe baphathe umhlambi ngesisa, belingisa ukukhathalela kothando kukaJehova. Kumelwe bahlale bekhumbula indlela uJehova azizwa ngayo ngelungu ngalinye lomhlambi, “alithenga ngegazi leNdodana yakhe siqu.”—IzEnzo 20:28.
Unamandla Kakhulu, Uhlakaniphe Kakhulu
17, 18. (a) Kungani amaJuda athunjiwe engathembela esithembisweni sokubuyiselwa? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo ethusayo u-Isaya ayibuzayo?
17 AmaJuda athunjiwe angathembela esithembisweni sokuthi ayobuyiselwa ngoba uNkulunkulu unamandla kakhulu futhi uhlakaniphe kakhulu. U-Isaya uthi: “Ngubani olinganise amanzi enkothweni yesandla sakhe, walinganisa ububanzi bamazulu ngokwawo ngobubanzi besandla sakhe wafaka esilinganisweni uthuli lomhlaba, noma wakala izintaba ngesikali, namagquma ezikalini? Ngubani olinganise umoya kaJehova, ngubani futhi njengomuntu wakhe omelulekayo ongamenza azi utho? Ngubani abonisané naye ukuze amenze aqonde, futhi ngubani omfundisa indlela yobulungisa, noma omfundisa ulwazi, noma omenza azi yona kanye indlela yokuqonda kwangempela?”—Isaya 40:12-14.
18 Lena imibuzo ethusayo angazibusa yona amaJuda athunjiwe. Ingabe abantu abangelutho nje bangalinqanda igagasi lolwandle olunamandla? Ngeke! Kodwa kuJehova, izilwandle ezimboze umhlaba zifana neconsi lamanzi entendeni yesandla sakhe.b Ingabe abantu ababuthaka bangawakala amazulu abanzi agcwele izinkanyezi noma bakale izintaba namagquma? Cha. Kodwa uJehova ukala amazulu kalula njengoba nje umuntu engakala into ethile ngesandla sakhe—ububanzi obuphakathi kwesithupha nocikicane uma isandla usivulile. Empeleni, uNkulunkulu angazikala izintaba namagquma esikalini. Ingabe ngisho nezihlakaniphi zezihlakaniphi zingameluleka uNkulunkulu ngokuthi yini okumelwe ayenze manje noma esikhathini esizayo? Phinde!
19, 20. Ukuze agcizelele ubukhulu bukaJehova, u-Isaya usebenzisa miphi imifanekiso ecacile?
19 Kuthiwani ngezizwe zomhlaba ezinamandla—zingamelana yini noNkulunkulu lapho efeza izwi lakhe lesithembiso? U-Isaya uphendula ngokuchaza izizwe kanje: “Bheka! Izizwe zinjengethonsi lamanzi eliphuma ebhakedeni; futhi ziye zabhekwa njengongwengwezi lothuli ezikalini. Bheka! Uphakamisa iziqhingi ngokungathi uthuli olucolekileyo nje. Ngisho neLebanoni alanele ukugcina umlilo uvutha, nezilwane zalo zasendle azanele ukwenza umnikelo wokushiswa. Zonke izizwe zinjengento engekho phambi kwakhe; uye wazibheka njengezingelutho nanjengokungekhona okungokoqobo.”—Isaya 40:15-17.
20 KuJehova, zonke izizwe zinjengethonsi lamanzi eliphuma ebhakedeni. Zifana nothuli oluhlala esikalini, kodwa isikali singanyakazi.c Ake sithi othile ubengakha i-altare elikhulu, athathe zonke izihlahla ezimboze izintaba zaseLebanoni zibe izinkuni. Ake sithi ube esenikela ngazo zonke izilwane ezikulezo zintaba, zibe umhlatshelo. Ngisho nomnikelo onjalo ubungeke umfanele uJehova. Njengokungathi le mifanekiso esasetshenzisiwe kuze kube manje ayanele, u-Isaya uphendukela enkulumweni enamandla ngokwengeziwe—zonke izizwe “azilutho” emehlweni kaJehova.—Isaya 40:17, New Revised Standard Version.
21, 22. (a) U-Isaya ukugcizelela kanjani ukuthi uJehova akanakuqhathaniswa? (b) Izincazelo zika-Isaya ezicacile zisiholela kusiphi isiphetho? (c) Iyiphi inkulumo enengqondo engokwesayensi elotshwa umprofethi u-Isaya? (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 412.)
21 Ukuze aphinde agcizelele ukuthi uJehova akanakuqhathaniswa, u-Isaya uyaqhubeka ebonisa ubuthutha balabo abenza izithombe ngegolide, isiliva namapulangwe. Yeka ukuthi kuwubuwula kanjani ukucabanga ukuthi noma yiziphi izithombe ezinjalo zingafanekisela “Lowo ohlala ngaphezu kwesiyingi somhlaba” nobusa abantu abahlala kuso!—Funda u-Isaya 40:18-24.
22 Yonke le mifanekiso ecacile isiholela esiphethweni esisodwa—akukho lutho olungavimba uJehova onamandla kakhulu, ohlakaniphe kakhulu nongenakuqhathaniswa ukuba afeze isithembiso sakhe. Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba amazwi ka-Isaya awaduduza futhi awaqinisa ngayo amaJuda ayethunjelwe eBabiloni ayelangazelela ukuphindela ezweni lawo! Nathi namuhla singaqiniseka ukuthi izithembiso zikaJehova ngekusasa lethu ziyofezeka.
“Ubani Odale Lezi Zinto?”
23. Yisiphi isizathu esimisa amaJuda athunjiwe isibindi, futhi yini uJehova ayigcizelelayo ngaye manje?
23 Kunesinye futhi isizathu sokuba amaJuda athunjiwe ame isibindi. Lowo othembisa ukuwakhulula unguMdali wezinto zonke noMthombo wamandla. Ukuze agcizelele ikhono lakhe elimangalisayo, uJehova ubhekisela ukunakekela emandleni akhe abonakala endalweni: “‘Kodwa ningangifanisa nobani ukuze ngilinganiswe naye?’ kusho oNgcwele. ‘Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu nibone. Ngubani odale lezi zinto na? YiLowo okhipha ibutho lazo ngisho nangesibalo, zonke azibize ngisho nangamagama. Ngenxa yobuningi bamandla ashukumisayo, kwazise futhi uyingqabavu, ayikho neyodwa kuzo esilelayo.’”—Isaya 40:25, 26.
24. Ezikhulumela, uJehova ubonisa kanjani ukuthi akalingani namuntu?
24 ONgcwele ka-Israyeli uyazikhulumela. Ukuze abonise ukuthi akalingani namuntu, uJehova ubhekisa ukunakekela ezinkanyezini zasemazulwini. Njengomkhuzi wamabutho okwazi ukulawula kahle amabutho akhe, uJehova uyazilawula izinkanyezi. Ukube ubengaziqoqela ndawonye zonke, bekungeke ‘kube khona neyodwa kuzo esilelayo.’ Nakuba sisikhulu isibalo sezinkanyezi, ngayinye uyibiza ngegama, kungaba igama layo noma kube isiqu esithile esisagama. Njengamasosha alalelayo, zihlala ezindaweni zazo futhi zilondoloze ukuhleleka, ngoba uMholi wazo ‘unamandla amaningi ashukumisayo’ futhi ‘uyingqabavu.’ Ngakho, amaJuda athunjiwe anesizathu sokuba nethemba. UMdali olawula izinkanyezi, unamandla okusekela izinceku zakhe.
25. Singasabela kanjani esimemweni saphezulu esiku-Isaya 40:26, futhi kube namuphi umphumela?
25 Ubani kithina ongasenqaba isimemo saphezulu esiku-Isaya 40:26, esithi: “Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu nibone”? Okutholwe izazi zezinkanyezi namuhla kubonisa ukuthi amazulu agcwele izinkanyezi ethusa nakakhulu kunangesikhathi sika-Isaya. Izazi zezinkanyezi ezibuka emazulwini ngezibonakude zazo ezinamandla, zilinganisela ukuthi amazulu anemithala eyizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-125. Phela kulinganiselwa ukuthi owodwa nje—i-Milky Way—unezinkanyezi ezingaphezu kwezigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu! Lolo lwazi kufanele lusenze simesabe uMdali ezinhliziyweni zethu futhi silethembe ngokuphelele izwi lakhe lesithembiso.
26, 27. Ichazwa kanjani imizwa yabantu abathunjelwe eBabiloni, futhi yiziphi izinto okufanele bazazi?
26 Azi ukuthi iminyaka ayichitha ekuthunjweni iyowathena amandla amaJuda athunjiwe, uJehova uphefumulela u-Isaya ukuba alobe kusengaphambili la mazwi aqinisekisayo: “Ukusho ngasiphi isizathu, Jakobe, futhi kungasiphi isizathu, Israyeli, uthi, ‘Indlela yami ithukusiwe kuJehova, futhi ubulungisa kimi buyamphunyuka noNkulunkulu wami imbala’? Awukazi yini noma awukezwa yini? UJehova, uMdali wemikhawulo yomhlaba, unguNkulunkulu isikhathi esingenasiphelo. Akakhathali noma adinwe. Ukuqonda kwakhe akuphenyeki.”—Isaya 40:27, 28.d
27 U-Isaya uloba amazwi kaJehova achaza imizwa yabantu abathunjelwe eBabiloni, eliqhelile impela ezweni lakubo. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu wabo akayiboni noma akayazi “indlela” yabo—inkambo yabo yokuphila okunzima. Bacabanga ukuthi uJehova akanandaba nempatho ebuhlungu abayitholayo. Bakhunjuzwa izinto okufanele bazazi, uma bengenakuzazi ngezenzakalo abahlangabezana nazo, okungenani-ke bangazazi ngokutshelwa abanye. UJehova uyakwazi futhi uzimisele ukukhulula abantu bakhe. UnguNkulunkulu ongunaphakade noMdali womhlaba wonke. Ngakho usenawo amandla awabonisa lapho edala, futhi angafika naseBabiloni elinamandla. UNkulunkulu onjalo akanakukhathala noma abenzele phansi abantu bakhe. Akufanele balindele ukuziqonda ngokugcwele izenzo zikaJehova, ngoba indlela yakhe yokuqonda ayinakuqondakala.
28, 29. (a) UJehova ubakhumbuza kanjani abantu bakhe ukuthi uyobasiza abakhatheleyo? (b) Yimuphi umfanekiso osetshenziswayo ukuze kuboniswe indlela uJehova anikeza ngayo izinceku zakhe amandla?
28 Ngo-Isaya, uJehova uyaqhubeka ekhuthaza abantu abathunjiwe abadangele: “Unika okhatheleyo amandla; kongenamandla ashukumisayo wenza kuvame amandla aphelele. Abafana bayokhathala futhi badinwe, nezinsizwa ngokwazo ziyokhubeka nakanjani, kodwa labo abathemba uJehova bayothola amandla kabusha. Bayokhuphuka ngamaphiko njengezinkozi. Bayogijima futhi bangadinwa; bayohamba futhi bangakhathali.”—Isaya 40:29-31.
29 Lapho ekhuluma ngesidingo sokunikeza okhatheleyo amandla, kungenzeka ukuthi uJehova ucabanga ngohambo olukhathazayo oluyothathwa yizithunjwa lapho ziphindela ekhaya. UJehova ukhumbuza abantu bakhe ukuthi kuyisici sobuntu bakhe ukusiza abakhatheleyo ababheka kuye ukuze basekelwe. Ngisho nabantu abayizingqabavu kunabo bonke—‘abafana nezinsizwa’—bangase bakhathale futhi bawe ngenxa yokukhandleka kakhulu. Nokho, uJehova uthembisa ukubanikeza amandla labo abamethembayo—amandla angapheli ukuze bagijime futhi bahambe. Ukundiza kamnandi kokhozi, inyoni enamandla ekwazi ukuntweza amahora amaningi, kusetshenziselwa ukufanekisa indlela uJehova anikeza ngayo izinceku zakhe amandla.e Enalawo mathemba okusekelwa kwaphezulu, amaJuda athunjiwe awanasizathu sokuphelelwa yithemba.
30. AmaKristu eqiniso namuhla angayithola kanjani induduzo emavesini okugcina ka-Isaya isahluko 40?
30 La mavesi okugcina ka-Isaya isahluko 40 awaphathele amazwi enduduzo amaKristu eqiniso aphila ezinsukwini zokugcina zalesi simiso esibi. Njengoba kunezingcindezi nezinkinga eziningi kangaka ezisiqeda amandla, kuqinisa idolo ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu uyabubona ubunzima esibukhuthazelelayo nezenzo ezingenabulungisa esihlushwa ngazo. Singaqiniseka ukuthi uMdali wezinto zonke, Lowo ‘okuqonda kwakhe akulandiseki,’ uyozilungisa zonke izenzo ezingenabulungisa ngesikhathi sakhe nangendlela yakhe. (IHubo 147:5, 6) Okwamanje, akudingeki sikhuthazele ngamandla ethu siqu. UJehova, omandla akhe awapheli, anganikeza izinceku zakhe amandla ngezikhathi zovivinyo—ngisho ‘namandla angaphezu kwavamile.’—2 Korinte 4:7.
31. Yisiphi isithembiso sokukhanya isiprofetho sika-Isaya esasisiphathele amaJuda ayizithunjwa eBabiloni, futhi yini esingaqiniseka ngokuphelele ngayo?
31 Cabanga ngalawo maJuda ayizithunjwa eBabiloni ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E. Kude lé, iJerusalema lawo alithandayo liyincithakalo, ithempeli lalo lingamanxiwa. Isiprofetho sika-Isaya sasiwaphathele isithembiso esiduduzayo sokukhanya nethemba—uJehova wayeyowabuyisela ezweni lawo! Ngo-537 B.C.E., uJehova wahola abantu bakhe wababuyisela ekhaya, efakazela ukuthi unguMfezi wezithembiso. Nathi singathembela ngokuphelele kuJehova. Izithembiso zakhe zoMbuso, ezichazwe kamnandi kangaka esiprofethweni sika-Isaya, ziyogcwaliseka. Yizindaba ezinhle ngempela lezo—isigijimi sokukhanya kuso sonke isintu!
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a U-Isaya ubikezela ukulungiswa kwendlela phambi kukaJehova. (Isaya 40:3) Nokho, amaVangeli athi leso siprofetho sisebenza kulokho uJohane uMbhapathizi akwenza lapho elungiselela uJesu Kristu indlela. Abalobi abaphefumulelwe bemiBhalo YamaKristi YesiGreki basho kanjalo ngoba uJesu wayemelela uYise futhi efike ngegama likaYise.—Johane 5:43; 8:29.
b Kuye kwabikwa ukuthi “isisindo sezilwandle cishe singamathani angama-quintillion angu-1,35 (1,35 x 1018), noma ingxenye eyodwa kwezingu-4400 zesisindo soMhlaba.”—Encarta 97 Encyclopedia.
c I-Expositor’s Bible Commentary iyaphawula: “Eduze kwemakethe yaseMpumalanga abathengisi babengalinaki ithonsi elincane lamanzi elikubhasikidi wokukala noma uthuli olusezikalini lapho kukalwa inyama noma izithelo.”
d Ku-Isaya 40:28, igama lesiHeberu elihunyushwe ngokuthi “phakade” lisho ukuthi “njalonjalo,” ngoba uJehova ‘uyiNkosi engunaphakade.’—1 Thimothewu 1:17.
e Ukhozi lundizela phezulu ngaphandle kokusebenzisa amandla amaningi. Lukwazi ukwenza kanjalo ngokusebenzisa umoya ofudumele okhuphukela phezulu.
[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 404, 405]
UJehova, UMalusi Onothando
U-Isaya ufanisa uJehova nomalusi onothando ogona amawundlu akhe esifubeni. (Isaya 40:10, 11) Ngokusobala u-Isaya usekela lo mfanekiso omuhle ezintweni ezingokoqobo ezenziwa abelusi. Ingqapheli yanamuhla eyabuka abelusi emithambekeni yeNtaba iHermoni eMpumalanga Ephakathi iyabika: “Umalusi ngamunye wayegada umhlambi wakhe. Lapho ethola iwundlu elisanda kuzalwa wayelifaka emaphaketheni . . . ejazi lakhe elikhulu, ngoba lalisuke libuthakathaka ukuba lilandele unina. Lapho isifuba sakhe sesigcwele, wayewatshatha amawundlu, awabambe ngezinyawo, noma awafake esikhwameni noma kubhasikidi awagibelise embongolweni, kuze kube yilapho la mawundlu esekwazi ukulandela onina.” Akududuzi yini ukwazi ukuthi sikhonza uNkulunkulu obakhathalela ngesisa kanjalo abantu bakhe?
[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 412]
Umi Kanjani Umhlaba?
Endulo abantu babekholelwa ukuthi umhlaba uyisicaba. Kodwa ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E., isazi sefilosofi esingumGreki uPythagoras wathi kumelwe ukuba umhlaba uyindilinga. Noma kunjalo, kusasele amakhulu eminyaka amabili ngaphambi kokuba uPythagoras asho lokhu, umprofethi u-Isaya washo ngokucacile nangokuqiniseka okukhulu ukuthi: “Ukhona Lowo ohlala ngaphezu kwesiyingi somhlaba.” (Isaya 40:22) Igama lesiHeberu elithi chugh elihunyushwe ngokuthi ‘isiyingi’ lapha, lingahunyushwa nangokuthi “indilinga.” Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi yinto eyindilinga kuphela ebonakala nhlangothi zonke ukuthi iyisiyingi.f Khona-ke, kusasele isikhathi eside umprofethi u-Isaya waloba inkulumo ezwakalayo ngokwesayensi nengenazo izinganekwane zasendulo.
[Umbhalo waphansi]
f Empeleni, umhlaba uyindilinga eyisicaba kancane kuma-pole.
[Isithombe ekhasini 403]
UJohane uMbhapathizi wayeyizwi ‘elikhala ehlane’