Isahluko Sesine

“Ningofakazi Bami”!

Isaya 43:1-28

 1. UJehova usisebenzisa kanjani isiprofetho, futhi abantu bakhe kumelwe benzeni ngesiprofetho esesigcwalisekile?

UKUKWAZI ukubikezela ikusasa kungenye yezinto ezihlukanisa uNkulunkulu weqiniso kwabamanga. Kodwa lapho uJehova eprofetha, usuke ehlose okungaphezu kokufakazela ukuthi unguNkulunkulu. Njengoba kubonisiwe ku-Isaya isahluko 43, uJehova wenza isiprofetho sibe ubufakazi bokuthi unguNkulunkulu nokuthi uyabathanda abantu bakhe besivumelwano. Abantu bakhe nabo akufanele baqonde isiprofetho esithile esigcwalisekile bese bethula; kufanele bakufakazele abakubonile. Yebo, kumelwe babe ofakazi bakaJehova!

 2. (a) Sinjani isimo esingokomoya sika-Israyeli ngesikhathi sika-Isaya? (b) UJehova uwavula kanjani amehlo abantu bakhe?

² Kuyadabukisa ukuthi ngesikhathi sika-Isaya u-Israyeli usesimweni esidabukisa kangangokuba uJehova ubheka laba bantu njengabakhubazekile ngokomoya. “Lethani isizwe esiyizimpumputhe nakuba amehlo wona ekhona, nabayizithulu nakuba benezindlebe.” (Isaya 43:8) Abantu abayizimpumputhe nabayizithulu ngokomoya bangamkhonza kanjani uJehova njengofakazi bakhe abaphilayo? Yinye kuphela indlela okungenzeka ngayo. Amehlo nezindlebe zabo kumelwe zivulwe ngokuyisimangaliso. Futhi uJehova uyazivula ngempela! Kanjani? Okokuqala, uJehova ubajezisa kanzima—izakhamuzi zombuso wakwa-Israyeli osenyakatho ziyathunjwa ngo-740 B.C.E., ezakwaJuda zithunjwa ngo-607 B.C.E. UJehova ube esesebenzisa amandla ngenxa yabantu bakhe ngokubakhulula futhi abuyisele insali evuselelwe ngokomoya nephendukile ezweni layo ngo-537 B.C.E. Empeleni, uJehova uyaqiniseka ukuthi injongo yakhe ayinakubhuntshiswa kangangokuba eminyakeni engaba ngu-200 kusengaphambili, ukhuluma ngokukhululwa kuka-Israyeli njengokungathi sekwenzekile kakade.

 3. Yisiphi isikhuthazo uJehova asinika abantu ababesazothunjwa?

³ “Yilokhu akushilo uJehova, uMdali wakho, Jakobe, noMbumbi wakho, Israyeli: ‘Ungesabi, ngoba ngikuthengé kabusha. Ngikubizé ngegama lakho. Ungowami. Uma kwenzeka udabula emanzini, ngizoba nawe; nasemifuleni, ngeke ikukhukhule. Uma kwenzeka udabula emlilweni, ngeke ushe, nelangabi alisoze lakuhangula. Ngoba nginguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli uMsindisi wakho.’”—Isaya 43:1-3a.

 4. Kukanjani uJehova enguMdali ka-Israyeli, futhi ubanikeza siphi isiqinisekiso abantu bakhe ngokuphathelene nokuphindela kwabo ezweni labo?

⁴ UJehova unesithakazelo esikhethekile ku-Israyeli ngoba ungowakhe. Uyindalo yakhe siqu agcwalisa ngayo isivumelwano asenza no-Abrahama. (Genesise 12:1-3) Yingakho iHubo 100:3 lithi: “Yazini ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu. Nguye osenzile, akuthina. Thina singabantu bakhe nezimvu zedlelo lakhe.” NjengoMdali noMhlengi ka-Israyeli, uJehova uyobabuyisela ezweni labo bephephile abantu bakhe. Izithiyo ezinjengamanzi, imifula edla izindwani nezingwadule ezishisayo ngeke zibavimbe noma zibalimaze, njengoba nje izinto ezifuze lezi zingabavimbanga okhokho babo lapho belibangise eZweni Lesithembiso eminyakeni eyinkulungwane ngaphambili.

 5. (a) Amazwi ka-Isaya amduduza kanjani u-Israyeli ongokomoya? (b) Obani abangane baka-Israyeli ongokomoya, futhi bafanekiselwa obani?

⁵ Amazwi kaJehova ayayiduduza nensali yanamuhla ka-Israyeli ongokomoya, emalungu ayo ‘ayindalo entsha’ agcotshwe ngomoya. (2 Korinte 5:17) Njengoba iye yama ngesibindi phambi ‘kwamanzi’ ayisintu, ithole isivikelo sikaNkulunkulu sothando ezikhukhuleni ezingokomfanekiso. Uvivinyo olunjengomlilo oluvela ezitheni zayo aluyilimazanga kodwa kunalokho luyicwengisisile. (Zakariya 13:9; IsAmbulo 12:15-17) Ukunakekela kukaJehova kuye kwafinyelela ‘nasesixukwini esikhulu’ ‘sezinye izimvu,’ esiye sazibandakanya nesizwe sikaNkulunkulu esingokomoya. (IsAmbulo 7:9; Johane 10:16) Safanekiselwa “iqembu elikhulu eliyingxubevange” elafuduka lisuka eGibithe kanye nama-Israyeli, safanekiselwa nangabangemaJuda ababuya nezithunjwa ezazikhululwe eBabiloni.—Eksodusi 12:38; Ezra 2:1, 43, 55, 58.

 6. UJehova uzibonisa kanjani enguNkulunkulu wobulungisa endabeni yokuhlenga (a) u-Israyeli ongokwenyama? (b) u-Israyeli ongokomoya?

⁶ UJehova uthembisa ukukhulula abantu bakhe eBabiloni esebenzisa amabutho amaMede namaPheresiya. (Isaya 13:17-19; 21:2, 9; 44:28; Daniyeli 5:28) NjengoNkulunkulu wobulungisa, uJehova uyokhokhela “izisebenzi” zakhe ezingamaMede namaPheresiya ngesihlengo esifanelekayo, zona zimnike u-Israyeli. “Nginikele iGibithe njengesihlengo sakho, iTopiya neSeba esikhundleni sakho. Ngenxa yokuthi ubulokhu uyigugu emehlweni ami, uye wabhekwa njengonodumo, futhi mina ngokwami ngikuthandile. Ngizonikela abantu esikhundleni sakho, namaqembu ezizwe esikhundleni somphefumulo wakho.” (Isaya 43:3b, 4) Umlando uyakufakazela ukuthi uMbuso WasePheresiya walinqoba iGibithe, iTopiya neSeba eseduze, njengoba nje uNkulunkulu ayebikezele. (IzAga 21:18) Ngendlela efanayo, ngo-1919 uJehova, ngoJesu Kristu, wakhulula insali ka-Israyeli ongokomoya ekuthunjweni. Kodwa uJesu wayengadingi mvuzo ngalokho akwenza. Wayengeyena umbusi oyiqaba. Kanti futhi wayekhulula abafowabo abangokomoya. Ngaphandle kwalokho, ngo-1914, uJehova wayesemnikezile kakade ‘izizwe zaba yifa lakhe nemikhawulo yomhlaba yaba yimpahla yakhe.’—IHubo 2:8.

 7. UJehova uzizwa kanjani ngabantu bakhe ezikhathini zasendulo nezanamuhla?

⁷ Phawula indlela uJehova ayiveza obala ngayo imizwa yakhe enesisa ngezithunjwa ezihlengiwe. Uthi kuzo ‘ziyigugu, zinodumo futhi uyazithanda.’ (Jeremiya 31:3) Uzizwa ngendlela efanayo ngezinceku zakhe eziqotho namuhla—mhlawumbe ngisho nangaphezulu. AmaKristu agcotshiwe angeniswa ebuhlotsheni noNkulunkulu ngokusebenza komoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu ngemva kokuzinikezela kuMdali wawo, hhayi ngenxa yozalo lwawo. UJehova ubadonsele kuye naseNdodaneni yakhe laba, waloba imithetho nezimiso zakhe ezinhliziyweni zabo ezivumayo.—Jeremiya 31:31-34; Johane 6:44.

 8. Yisiphi isiqinisekiso uJehova asinikeza izithunjwa, futhi ziyozizwa kanjani ngokukhululwa kwazo?

⁸ Eziqinisekisa ngokwengeziwe izithunjwa, uJehova uyenezela: “Ungesabi, ngoba nginawe. Ngizoyiletha inzalo yakho ivela empumalanga, ngizokuqoqela ndawonye kusuka entshonalanga. Ngizothi kuyo inyakatho, ‘Dedela!’ nakuyo iningizimu, ‘Ungagodli. Letha amadodana ami kusuka kude, amadodakazi ami kusuka emkhawulweni womhlaba, wonke umuntu obizwa ngegama lami futhi engimdalele inkazimulo yami, engimbumbile, yebo, engimenzile.’” (Isaya 43:5-7) Ngisho nezindawo ezikude lé zomhlaba ngeke zibe kude ukuba uJehova afike kuzo uma sekuyisikhathi sokuba akhulule amadodana namadodakazi akhe awalethe ezweni lawo alithandayo. (Jeremiya 30:10, 11) Akungabazeki ukuthi kubona, lokhu kukhululwa kuyodlula ukukhululwa kwasekuqaleni kwalesi sizwe eGibithe.—Jeremiya 16:14, 15.

 9. UJehova uzilandisa ngaziphi izindlela ezimbili izenzo zakhe zokukhulula abantu ngenxa yegama lakhe?

⁹ Ngokukhumbuza abantu bakhe ukuthi babizwa ngegama lakhe, uJehova ugcizelela isithembiso sakhe sokukhulula u-Israyeli. (Isaya 54:5, 6) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova uhlanganisa igama lakhe nezithembizo zokukhulula abantu. Ngokwenza kanjalo uqinisekisa ukuthi uyena oyothola inkazimulo lapho izwi lakhe lesiprofetho ligcwaliseka. Ngisho nomnqobi weBabiloni ngeke alufanelekele udumo okufanele luye kuNkulunkulu ongukuphela kwakhe ophilayo.

Onkulunkulu Baquliswa Icala

10. Iyiphi inselele uJehova ayibekela izizwe nonkulunkulu bazo?

¹⁰ UJehova manje wenza isithembiso sakhe sokukhulula u-Israyeli sibe imbangela yokuthethwa kwecala lomhlaba wonke lapho equlisa khona onkulunkulu bezizwe icala. Siyafunda: “Izizwe zonke maziqoqane ndawonye, amaqembu ezizwe mawabuthane ndawonye. Ngubani phakathi [konkulunkulu bazo] ongakusho lokhu? Noma bangasenza yini sizwe ngisho nezinto zokuqala? [Onkulunkulu bazo] mabaveze ofakazi babo, ukuze kuthiwe balungile, noma mabezwe bathi, ‘Kuyiqiniso!’” (Isaya 43:9) UJehova uphonsela izizwe zomhlaba inselele enkulu. Empeleni uthi: ‘Onkulunkulu benu mabafakazele ukuthi bangonkulunkulu ngokulibikezela ngokunembile ikusasa.’ Njengoba kunguNkulunkulu weqiniso kuphela ongaprofetha angashayi eceleni, lesi sivivinyo siyobembula izinqe bonke abakhohlisi. (Isaya 48:5) Kodwa uMninimandla onke wenezela nenye imfuneko engokomthetho: Bonke abathi bangonkulunkulu beqiniso kumelwe baveze ubufakazi, ubufakazi bezibikezelo zabo nobokugcwaliseka kwazo. Njengokulindelekile, uJehova akazikhiphi naye kule mfuneko engokomthetho.

11. UJehova uyithuma ukuba yenzeni inceku yakhe, futhi yini uJehova ayembulayo ngokuba kwakhe uNkulunkulu?

¹¹ Njengoba bengenalusizo, akukho bufakazi obungavezwa onkulunkulu bamanga. Ngakho, kubangela amahloni ukuthi akukho muntu ogibela ebhokisini lofakazi. Kodwa manje sekufika isikhathi sokuba uJehova afakazele ukuthi unguNkulunkulu. Ebheka abantu bakhe, uthi: “Ningofakazi bami, . . . yebo inceku yami engiyikhethile, ukuze nazi futhi nibe nokholo kimi, niqonde ukuthi ngingofanayo. Ngaphambi kwami kwakungekho Nkulunkulu owabunjwa, nangemva kwami kwaqhubeka kungekho noyedwa. Mina—mina nginguJehova, ngaphandle kwami akekho umsindisi. Mina ngokwami ngazisile ngisindisile futhi ngenzé ukuba kuzwiwe, ngesikhathi kungekho nkulunkulu ongaziwa phakathi kwenu. Ngakho ningofakazi bami, . . . mina nginguNkulunkulu. Futhi, ngingofanayo ngaso sonke isikhathi; akekho okhululayo esandleni sami. Ngizosebenza, ngubani [ongasinqanda isandla sami ]?”—Isaya 43:10-13.

12, 13.(a) Iyiphi inqwaba yobufakazi abantu bakaJehova okufanele bayiveze? (b) Igama likaJehova liye laqokonyiswa kanjani ezikhathini zanamuhla?

¹² Ngemva kwamazwi kaJehova, ibhokisi lofakazi ngokushesha ligcwala isixuku sofakazi abajabulile. Ubufakazi babo bucacile futhi abusoleki ndawo. NjengoJoshuwa, bafakazela ukuthi ‘konke uJehova akukhulumile kugcwalisekile. Akuphuthanga nezwi elilodwa kukho.’ (Joshuwa 23:14) Abantu bakaJehova basawakhumbula amazwi ka-Isaya, uJeremiya, uHezekeli, nabanye abaprofethi, ababikezela ukuthunjwa kukaJuda nokukhululwa kwakhe okuyisimangaliso, njengokungathi ngazwi linye. (Jeremiya 25:11, 12) Umkhululi kaJuda, uKoresi, washiwo ngegama kusasele isikhathi eside azalwe!—Isaya 44:26–45:1.

¹³ Uma sicabangela le nqwaba yobufakazi, ubani ongaphika ukuthi uJehova ungukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso? Ngokungafani nonkulunkulu bamaqaba, nguJehova kuphela ongadalwanga; uyena kuphela onguNkulunkulu weqiniso.a Ngenxa yalokho, abantu ababizwa ngegama likaJehova banelungelo elingavamile nelijabulisa kakhulu lokuxoxela izizukulwane ezizayo, kanye nabanye ababuza ngaye lezi zenzo ezimangalisayo. (IHubo 78:5-7) Ngendlela efanayo, oFakazi BakaJehova banamuhla bona banelungelo lokumemezela igama likaJehova emhlabeni wonke. Ngawo-1920 abaFundi BeBhayibheli baya ngokuya bekuqaphela ukubaluleka okukhulu kwegama likaNkulunkulu, elithi Jehova. Kwathi ngo-July 26, 1931, emhlanganweni owawuseColumbus, Ohio, umongameli weNhlangano uJoseph F. Rutherford, wethula izwi lesinqumo elinesihloko esithi “Igama Elisha.” Amazwi athi, “Sifisa ukwaziwa nokubizwa ngegama elithi ofakazi bakaJehova” ajabulisa izihambeli zomhlangano, ezenanela leli zwi lesinqumo ngo-“Elethu” ohlokomayo. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, igama likaJehova liye lenziwa laziwa emhlabeni wonke.—IHubo 83:18.

14. UJehova uwakhumbuzani ama-Israyeli, futhi kungani lesi sikhumbuzo sifike ngesikhathi?

¹⁴ UJehova uyabakhathalela abaphatha igama lakhe ngenhlonipho, ubabheka “njengenhlamvu yeso lakhe.” Ukhumbuza ama-Israyeli ngalokhu, ewatshela indlela awakhulula ngayo eGibithe futhi wawahola ngokuphepha ehlane. (Duteronomi 32:10, 12) Ngaleso sikhathi kwakungekho nkulunkulu angamazi phakathi kwawo, ngoba ayezibonele ngawawo ukuhlaziswa ngokuphelele konkulunkulu baseGibithe. Yebo, bonke onkulunkulu baseGibithe bahluleka ukuvikela iGibithe nokuvimbela ukuhamba kuka-Israyeli. (Eksodusi 12:12) Ngokufanayo, iBabiloni elinamandla, elindawo yalo igcwele amathempeli okungenani angu-50 onkulunkulu bamanga, liyokwehluleka ukunqanda isandla soMninimandla onke lapho ekhulula abantu bakhe. Ngokusobala, “akekho umsindisi” ngaphandle kukaJehova.

Amahhashi Empi Ayagingqika, Amatilongo Ayavuleka

15. UJehova uprofethani ngokuphathelene neBabiloni?

¹⁵ “Yilokhu uJehova akushilo, Owanithenga kabusha, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli: ‘Ngenxa yenu ngizothumela eBabiloni ngenze ukuba kuwe imigoqo yamatilongo, namaKaledi asemikhumbini answininize. NginguJehova oNgcwele wenu, uMdali ka-Israyeli, iNkosi yenu.’ Yilokhu uJehova akushilo, Lowo owenza indlela idabule olwandle uqobo nomgwaqo udabule ngisho nasemanzini anamandla, Lowo okhipha inqola yempi nehhashi, ibutho lempi nabanamandla ngesikhathi esifanayo: ‘Bazolala phansi. Ngeke bavuke. Ngokuqinisekile bazocinywa. Kumelwe bacinywe njengentambo yefilakisi.’”—Isaya 43:14-17.

16. Yini eyokwehlela iBabiloni, abathengisi abangamaKaledi, nanoma obani abangafuna ukuvikela iBabiloni?

¹⁶ IBabiloni lifana netilongo ezithunjweni ngoba liyazivimbela ukuba zibuyele eJerusalema. Kodwa izinto iBabiloni elivimbe ngazo azisona isithiyo kuMninimandla onke, Lowo “owenza indlela idabule [oLwandle Olubomvu] uqobo nomgwaqo udabule ngisho nasemanzini anamandla”—cishe amanzi aseJordani lawo. (Eksodusi 14:16; Joshuwa 3:13) Ngendlela efanayo, inxusa likaJehova, uKoresi, liyokwenza i-Ewufrathe enamandla ibohle, amaqhawe alo akwazi ukungena emzini. Abathengisi abangamaKaledi abagwedla emiseleni emikhulu yaseBabiloni—imigudu yamanzi okuhamba kuyo izinkulungwane zemikhumbi edayisayo nezikebhe ezithwala onkulunkulu baseBabiloni—bayonswininiza ngenxa yosizi lapho inhloko-dolobha yabo enamandla iwa. Njengezinqola zikaFaro oLwandle Olubomvu, izinqola ezinesivinini zaseBabiloni ngeke zibe lusizo. Ngeke zilisindise. Njengoba nje umuntu eyicisha kalula intambo yefilikasi yesibani samafutha, umhlaseli uyokususa kube kanye ukuphila kwalabo abayofuna ukuvikela lo muzi.

UJehova Uhola Abantu Bakhe Ngokuphepha Abayise Ekhaya

17, 18. (a) Yini le nto “entsha” uJehova aprofetha ngayo? (b) Kungayiphi indlela abantu kungafanele bakhumbule izinto zangaphambili, futhi ngani?

¹⁷ Eqhathanisa izenzo zakhe zangaphambili zokukhulula nalokho azokwenza manje, uJehova uthi: “Ningazikhumbuli izinto zokuqala, ningaphenduleli ukucabanga kwenu ezintweni zangaphambili. Bhekani! Ngenza into entsha. Izovela manje. Nina nizoyazi, akunjalo? Impela, ngizomisa indlela edabula ehlane, edabula emifuleni yasogwadule. Isilo sasendle sizongidumisa, izimpungushe nezintshe; ngoba ngizobe nginike amanzi ngisho nasehlane, imifula ogwadule, ukuze ngiphuzise isizwe sami, okhethiweyo wami, isizwe engizibumbele sona, ukuba silandise ngodumo lwami.”—Isaya 43:18-21.

¹⁸ Uma ethi “ningazikhumbuli izinto zokuqala,” uJehova akeve esikisela ukuthi izinceku zakhe kumelwe zikhohlwe izenzo zakhe ezidlule zokusindisa. Eqinisweni, eziningi zalezi zenzo ziyingxenye yomlando ophefumulelwe nguye, futhi wayala ukuba ukuphunyula eGibithe kukhunjulwe minyaka yonke emkhosini wokugubha iPhasika. (Levitikusi 23:5; Duteronomi 16:1-4) Kodwa uJehova manje ufuna abantu bakhe bamkhazimulise ‘ngento entsha’—into ezokwenzeka kubona mathupha. Le nto ayihlanganisi nje kuphela ukukhululwa kwabo eBabiloni kodwa ihlanganisa nohambo lwabo oluyisimangaliso lokuya ekhaya, mhlawumbe behamba ngendlela eqondile yasogwadule. Kulelo zwe eliwugwadule, uJehova uyobavulela “indlela” futhi enze imisebenzi enamandla efuze leyo ayenzela ama-Israyeli osukwini lukaMose—impela uzobondla ehlane abantu ababuyela ekhaya aqede nokoma kwabo ngemifula. Amalungiselelo kaJehova ayoba insanda kangangokuba nezilo zasendle ziyodumisa uNkulunkulu, ziyeke ukuhlasela abantu.

19. Insali ka-Israyeli ongokomoya nabangane bayo bahamba kanjani ‘eNdleleni Yobungcwele’?

¹⁹ Ngokufanayo ngo-1919 insali ka-Israyeli ongokomoya nayo yakhululwa ekuthunjweni iBabiloni, futhi yahamba endleleni eyayivulwe uJehova, “iNdlela Yobungcwele.” (Isaya 35:8) Ngokungafani nama-Israyeli, akudingekanga ihambe ogwadule olushisayo isuka kwenye indawo iya kwenye, futhi uhambo lwayo aluphelanga ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa nje lapho ifika eJerusalema. Kodwa, le “Ndlela Yobungcwele” yaholela le nsali yamaKristu agcotshiwe epharadesi elingokomoya. Asekuyo le “Ndlela Yobungcwele,” ngoba kusadingeka adlule kulesi simiso sezinto. Uma nje esekule ndlela—uma nje esagcina izindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu zokuhlanzeka nobungcwele—asesepharadesi elingokomoya. Futhi yeka intokozo abanayo ngokujoyinwa isixuku esikhulu sabantu “abangewona ama-Israyeli”! Ngokungafani nalabo abanake isimiso sikaSathane, insali nabangane bayo bayaqhubeka bejabulela idili elicebile elingokomoya elilungiselelwa uJehova. (Isaya 25:6; 65:13, 14) Bebona isibusiso sikaJehova kubantu bakhe, abantu abaningi abaziphathisa okwezilwane baye bazishintsha izindlela zabo futhi badumisa uNkulunkulu weqiniso.—Isaya 11:6-9.

UJehova Uveza Ubuhlungu Abuzwayo

20. U-Israyeli wosuku luka-Isaya umdumaze kanjani uJehova?

²⁰ Endulo, insali ebuyiselwe ka-Israyeli iyisizwe esiguqukile uma siqhathaniswa nesizukulwane esonakele sika-Isaya. Ngesizukulwane sika-Isaya, uJehova uthi: “Awuzange ungibize ngisho nokungibiza, Jakobe, ngoba udiniwe yimi, Israyeli. Awuzange ungilethele izimvu zeminikelo yakho yokushiswa ephelele, futhi awuzange ungikhazimulise ngemihlatshelo yakho. Angizange ngikuphoqe ukuba ungikhonze ngesipho, futhi angizange ngikudine ngenhlaka yempepho. Awungithengelanga umhlanga omnandi ngemali; awuzange ungisuthise ngamafutha emihlatshelo yakho. Empeleni ungiphoqe ukuba ngikukhonze ngenxa yezono zakho; ungidinile ngeziphambeko zakho.”—Isaya 43:22-24.

21, 22. (a) Kungani kungase kuthiwe izimfuneko zikaJehova aziwona umthwalo? (b) Abantu bamenza kanjani uJehova abakhonze?

²¹ Uma uJehova ethi, “Angizange ngikuphoqe ukuba ungikhonze ngesipho, futhi angizange ngikudine ngenhlaka yempepho,” akasho ukuthi ayidingeki imihlatshelo nenhlaka (okuyizinto ezakha impepho engcwele). Lezi zinto ziyingxenye ebalulekile yokukhulekela kweqiniso esivumelwaneni soMthetho. Kunjalo ‘nangomhlanga,’ obhekisela kuyi-calamus enephunga elimnandi, isithako esinuka kamnandi samafutha okugcoba angcwele. Ama-Israyeli abengasakunaki ukusebenzisa lezi zinto enkonzweni yasethempelini. Kodwa ingabe izimfuneko ezinjalo ziwumthwalo? Cha aziwona! Izinto ezifunwa uJehova zilula uma ziqhathaniswa nezonkulunkulu bamanga. Ngokwesibonelo, unkulunkulu wamanga uMoloki wayefuna ukwenzelwa umhlatshelo ngezingane—into uJehova angakaze ayifune!—Duteronomi 30:11; Mika 6:3, 4, 8.

²² Ukube nje ama-Israyeli ayenokuqonda okungokomoya, ayengeke neze ‘adinwe uJehova.’ Ngokubheka uMthetho wakhe, ayeyolubona uthando olujulile awathanda ngalo futhi ayeyokujabulela ukumenzela iminikelo ‘yamafutha,’—okungcono kakhulu kwemihlatshelo yawo. Kunalokho, ngobugovu azigcinela wona amafutha. (Levitikusi 3:9-11, 16) Yeka ukuthi lesi sizwe esonakele simcindezela kanjani uJehova ngezono zaso—empeleni, simenza akhonze sona!—Nehemiya 9:28-30.

Isijeziso Siveza Izithelo

23. (a) Kungani sifaneleka isijeziso sikaJehova? (b) Yini ehilelekile ekujeziseni kukaNkulunkulu u-Israyeli?

²³ Nakuba isijeziso sikaJehova sinzima, futhi kube kufanele, siyayifeza injongo yaso, senza akwazi ukubonisa isihe. “Mina—mina nginguye osula izeqo zenu ngenxa yami, futhi izono zenu ngeke ngizikhumbule. Ngikhumbuze; masizibeke ndawonye ekwahluleleni; nikeza okwakho ukulandisa ukuze ube ongenaphutha. Uyihlo, owokuqala, wonile, nabakhulumeli bakho [“abahumushi,” umbhalo waphansi we-NW] beqe umthetho wami. Ngakho ngizongcolisa izikhulu zendawo engcwele, futhi ngizonikela uJakobe njengomuntu onikelwe ekubhujisweni no-Israyeli emazwini okuchapha.” (Isaya 43:25-28) Njengazo zonke izizwe zomhlaba, u-Israyeli uzalwa u-Adamu, “owokuqala.” Ngakho, akukho muntu wakwa-Israyeli ongathi yena ‘akanaphutha.’ Ngisho “nabakhulumeli” baka-Israyeli—abafundisi bakhe noma abahumushi boMthetho—bonile phambi kukaJehova futhi bafundisa amanga. UJehova uyobe esenikela sonke isizwe sakhe “ekubhujisweni” ‘nasemazwini okuchapha.’ Uyongcolisa nabo bonke abakhonza ‘endaweni yakhe engcwele,’ noma endlini engcwele.

24. UJehova uyobathethelela ngasiphi isizathu esiyinhloko abantu bakhe—abasendulo nabanamuhla—nokho, uzizwa kanjani ngabo?

²⁴ Nokho, phawula ukuthi isihe saphezulu esiyoba umphumela siyobe singengenxa yokuzisola kuka-Israyeli nje kuphela; siyoba nangenxa kaJehova ngokwakhe. Yebo, igama lakhe lihilelekile. Ukube ubengashiya u-Israyeli ethunjwe unomphela, izibukeli beziyolihlambalaza igama lakhe. (IHubo 79:9; Hezekeli 20:8-10) Nanamuhla, ukungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova nokulwelwa kobukhosi bakhe kuza kuqala kunokusindiswa kwabantu. Noma kunjalo, uJehova uyabathanda labo abamukela iseluleko sakhe ngenhliziyo ephelele nabamkhulekela ngomoya nangeqiniso. Ubonisa uthando analo ngalaba—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bagcotshiwe noma abezinye izimvu—ngokusula iziphambeko zabo ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu Kristu.—Johane 3:16; 4:23, 24.

25. Yiziphi izinto ezesabisayo uJehova azozenza maduze nje, futhi singakubonisa kanjani ukwazisa kwethu manje?

²⁵ Ngaphezu kwalokho, maduze nje uJehova uzobonakalisa uthando analo ngesixuku esikhulu sabakhulekeli bakhe abaqotho lapho esenzela into entsha ngokusidlulisa ‘osizini olukhulu’ singene ‘emhlabeni omusha.’ (IsAmbulo 7:14; 2 Petru 3:13) Siyobona uJehova ebonakalisa amandla akhe amakhulu ngendlela esingakaze siyibone. Ukuqiniseka kwaleso senzakalo kwenza insali egcotshiwe nabo bonke abayokwakha isixuku esikhulu bathokoze futhi baphile usuku ngalunye ngokuvumelana nalo msebenzi obaluleke kakhulu: “Ningofakazi bami”!—Isaya 43:10.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 48, 49]

UJehova uyowasekela amaJuda lapho ephindela ekhaya eJerusalema

[Izithombe ekhasini 52]

UJehova uphonsela izizwe inselele yokuba zinikeze ubufakazi bonkulunkulu bazo

1.Umfanekiso wethusi kaBali 2. Imifanekiso yobumba ka-Ashitarothi 3. Onkulunkulu baseGibithe abangoziqu-zintathu uHorus, u-Osiris no-Isis 4. Onkulunkulu bamaGreki u-Athena (kwesobunxele) no-Aphrodite

[Izithombe ekhasini 58]

“Ningofakazi bami.”—Isaya 43:10