Isahluko Seshumi Nesihlanu
Owesifazane Oyinyumba Uyathokoza
1. Kungani uSara ayelangazelela ukuba nezingane, futhi izinto zazimhambela kanjani?
USARA wayelangazelela ukuba nezingane. Ngokudabukisayo, wayeyinyumba futhi lokho kwakumzwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu. Ngesikhathi ayephila ngaso, ukuba inyumba kwakubhekwa njengehlazo, kodwa kwakunokwengeziwe okwakuzwisa uSara ubuhlungu. Wayelangazelela ukubona isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu kumyeni wakhe sigcwaliseka. U-Abrahama kwakumelwe aveze inzalo eyayiyoba isibusiso kuyo yonke imikhaya yomhlaba. (Genesise 12:1-3) Nokho, ngemva kwamashumi eminyaka uNkulunkulu enza leso sithembiso, kwakungakabi khona ngane. USara wakhula waba mdala futhi elokhu engenangane. Kungenzeka ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi wayecabanga ukuthi ulinde umnyama ongenafu. Kodwa ngolunye usuku ukukhathazeka kwakhe kwaphenduka injabulo!
2. Kungani kufanele sisithakazelise isiprofetho esiku-Isaya isahluko 54?
2 Usizi lukaSara lusisiza siqonde isiprofetho esiku-Isaya isahluko 54. Lapho, kukhulunywa neJerusalema njengokungathi liyinkosikazi eyinyumba ebe isithola intokozo enkulu yokuba nezingane eziningi. Ngokubiza abantu bakhe basendulo ngokuthi bangumkakhe, uJehova ubabonisa isisa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lesi sahluko sika-Isaya sisisiza ukuba sicacise isici esibalulekile salokho iBhayibheli elikubiza ngokuthi “imfihlo engcwele.” (Roma 16:25, 26) Ukuthi ungubani “owesifazane” kanye nezinto okwabikezelwa ukuthi ziyomehlela kulesi siprofetho kusenza sikuqonde kakhulu ukukhulekela okumsulwa namuhla.
“Owesifazane” Uyadalulwa
3. Kungani “owesifazane” oyinyumba eyoba nesizathu sokuthokoza?
3 Isahluko 54 siqala ngamazwi ajabulisayo: “‘Khamuluka ngenjabulo, wena wesifazane oyinyumba ongazalanga! Yenama ngokukhamuluka kwenjabulo futhi umpongoloze, wena ongazange ube nezinhlungu zokubeletha, ngoba abantwana bolahliwe baningi kakhulu kunabantwana bowesifazane onomyeni,’ kusho uJehova.” (Isaya 54:1) Kumelwe ukuba kuyamjabulisa u-Isaya ukusho la mazwi! Futhi yeka ukuthi ukugcwaliseka kwawo kuyowaduduza kangakanani amaJuda athunjelwe eBabiloni! Ngaleso sikhathi iJerusalema liyobe liseyincithakalo. Ngeso lomuntu, kuyobonakala lingekho ithemba lokuthi liyophinde libe nabantu, njengoba nje nowesifazane oyinyumba engaze angaba nathemba lokuthola abantwana esekhulile. Kodwa lona “wesifazane” uyothola isibusiso esikhulu esikhathini esizayo—uyozala. IJerusalema liyothokoza ngokwedlulele. Liyophinde libe ‘nabantwana’ noma izakhamuzi eziningi.
4. (a) Umphostoli uPawulu usisiza kanjani ukuba sibone ukuthi u-Isaya isahluko 54 kumelwe ukuba unokugcwaliseka okungaphezu kokwango-537 B.C.E.? (b) Liyini “iJerusalema eliphezulu”?
4 Kungenzeka ukuthi u-Isaya yena akazi, kodwa isiprofetho sakhe siyoba nokugcwaliseka okungaphezu kokukodwa. Umphostoli uPawulu ucaphuna u-Isaya isahluko 54 abese echaza ukuthi “owesifazane” ufanekisela okuthile okubaluleke nakakhulu kunomuzi waseJerusalema lasemhlabeni. Uyabhala: “IJerusalema eliphezulu likhululekile, futhi lingumama wethu.” (Galathiya 4:26) Liyini leli “Jerusalema eliphezulu”? Kusobala ukuthi aliwona umuzi waseJerusalema eZweni Lesithembiso. Lowo muzi owasemhlabeni, hhayi “phezulu” ezulwini. “IJerusalema eliphezulu” ‘lingowesifazane’ kaNkulunkulu ongokwasezulwini, inhlangano yakhe yezidalwa zomoya ezinamandla.
5. Edrameni engokomfanekiso ekweyabaseGalathiya 4:22-31, ubani ofanekiselwa (a) U-Abrahama? (b) uSara? (c) u-Isaka? (d) uHagari? (e) u-Ishmayeli?
5 Kungenzeka kanjani pho ukuba uJehova abe nabesifazane ababili abangokomfanekiso—omunye ongowasezulwini omunye ongowasemhlabeni? Ingabe kunokungqubuzana okuthile lapha? Lutho neze. Umphostoli uPawulu ubonisa ukuthi impendulo isedrameni engokwesiprofetho yomkhaya ka-Abrahama. (Galathiya 4:22-31; bheka esithi “Umkhaya Ka-Abrahama—Umfanekiso Ongokwesiprofetho,” ekhasini 218.) USara, “owesifazane okhululekile” nongumka-Abrahama, ufanekisela inhlangano kaJehova enjengomfazi yezidalwa zomoya. UHagari, isigqilakazi sika-Abrahama nesingumkakhe wesibili, noma isancinza, ufanekisela iJerusalema lasemhlabeni.
6. Kungamuphi umqondo inhlangano kaNkulunkulu yasezulwini yahlala isikhathi eside iyinyumba?
6 Sesinalolo lwazi, siyaqala ukubona ukubaluleka okukhulu kuka-Isaya 54:1. Ngemva kwamashumi eminyaka eyinyumba, uSara wazala u-Isaka eseneminyaka engu-90. Ngokufanayo, inhlangano kaJehova engokwasezulwini yahlala isikhathi eside iyinyumba. Emuva le e-Edene, uJehova wathembisa ukuthi “owesifazane” wakhe wayeyoveza “inzalo.” (Genesise 3:15) Ngemva kweminyaka engaphezu kuka-2 000, uJehova wenza isivumelwano no-Abrahama ngeNzalo yesithembiso. Kodwa lona “wesifazane” kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini kwadingeka alinde amakhulu amaningi eminyaka andukuba aveze leyo Nzalo. Noma kunjalo, safika isikhathi lapho abantwana balona “wesifazane” owayekade ‘eyinyumba’ baba baningi khona kunalabo baka-Israyeli ongokwenyama. Umfanekiso wowesifazane oyinyumba usisiza ukuba sibone isizathu sokuba izingelosi zikushisekele kangaka ukubona ukufika kweNzalo eyabikezelwa. (1 Petru 1:12) Kwagcina kwenzeke nini lokho?
7. “IJerusalema eliphezulu” lasithola nini isikhathi sokuthokoza, njengoba kwabikezelwa ku-Isaya 54:1, futhi kungani uphendula kanjalo?
7 Ukuzalwa kukaJesu njengengane engumuntu kwakuyisikhathi sokuthokoza ngempela ezingelosini. (Luka 2:9-14) Kodwa leso senzakalo akusona esabikezelwa ku-Isaya 54:1. Kwaba yilapho uJesu egcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele ngo-29 C.E. lapho aba khona indodana engokomoya ‘yeJerusalema eliphezulu,’ leyo uNkulunkulu uqobo ayivuma obala ukuthi ‘iyiNdodana [yakhe], ethandekayo.’ (Marku 1:10, 11; Heberu 1:5; 5:4, 5) Yingaleso sikhathi lapho “owesifazane” kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini aba nesizathu sokuthokoza, kugcwaliseka u-Isaya 54:1. Ekugcineni, wayeseyivezile iNzalo eyayithenjisiwe, uMesiya! Yayisidlulile iminyaka engamakhulu amaningi yokuba inyumba. Kodwa ukuthokoza kwakhe akuphelelanga lapho.
Amadodana Amaningi Owesifazane Oyinyumba
8. Kungani “owesifazane” kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini aba nesizathu sokuthokoza ngemva kokuveza iNzalo eyayithenjisiwe?
8 Ngemva kokufa kukaJesu nokuvuka kwakhe okwalandela, “owesifazane” kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini wakuthokozela ukuphinde amukele le Ndodana ethandekayo ‘njengezibulo labafileyo.’ (Kolose 1:18) Wabe eseqala ukuveza amadodana angokomoya engeziwe. NgePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., abalandeli bakaJesu abacela ku-120 bagcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele, ngaleyo ndlela bamukelwa njengezindlalifa ezikanye noKristu. Kamuva ngalo lolo suku kwanezelwa abanye abangu-3 000. (Johane 1:12; IzEnzo 1:13-15; 2:1-4, 41; Roma 8:14-16) Leli qembu lamadodana laqhubeka landa. Phakathi namakhulu eminyaka yokuhlubuka kweLobukholwa, ukwanda kwamfimfa. Nokho, lokho kwakuzoshintsha ngekhulu lama-20.
9, 10. Iziyalezo ‘zokwenza indawo yetende ibe banzi’ zazisho ukuthini kowesifazane owayehlala ematendeni endulo, futhi kungani lesi kuyisikhathi sokuba owesifazane onjalo athokoze?
9 U-Isaya uyaqhubeka eprofetha ngenkathi yokwanda okumangalisayo: “Yenza indawo yetende lakho ibe banzi. Mabelule izindwangu zetende zetabernakele lakho elikhulu. Ungagodli. Yelula izintambo zetende lakho, uzenze ziqine lezo zikhonkwane zakho zetende. Ngoba uyosabalala ngakwesokunene nangakwesobunxele, futhi inzalo yakho iyodla ngisho nefa lezizwe, futhi iyohlala ngisho nasemizini eyenziwe incithakalo. Ungesabi, ngoba ngeke wenziwe ube namahloni; ungazizwa uhlazekile, ngoba ngeke udumazeke. Ngoba uyolikhohlwa ngisho nehlazo lesikhathi sobusha bakho, nesihlamba sobufelokazi bakho obuqhubekayo ngeke usasikhumbula.”—Isaya 54:2-4.
10 Lapha kukhulunywa ngeJerusalema njengokungathi lingumfazi nomama ohlala ematendeni, njengoSara. Uma ebusiswa ngomkhaya okhulayo, kusuke sekuyisikhathi sokuba lowo mama abone ukuthi umuzi wakhe uyanwetshwa. Kudingeka afake izindwangu nezintambo zetende ezinjana futhi ambele izikhonkwane ezindaweni ezintsha. Lo msebenzi uyamjabulisa, futhi njengoba ematasa kangaka, angase ayikhohlwe kalula iminyaka ayichitha enexhala lokuthi uyoke azithole yini izingane eziyoqhubekisela phambili uhlu lozalo.
11. (a) “Owesifazane” kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini wabusiswa kanjani ngo-1914? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.) (b) Kusukela ngo-1919 kuqhubeke, yiziphi izibusiso ezitholwe abagcotshiwe emhlabeni?
11 IJerusalema lasemhlabeni labusiswa ngesikhathi esinjalo sokwenziwa kwezinto zibe zintsha lapho sesiphelile isikhathi sokuthunjelwa eBabiloni. “IJerusalema eliphezulu” liye labusiswa ngisho nangokwengeziwe.a Kusukela ikakhulukazi ngo-1919, “inzalo” yalo egcotshiwe iye yaqhakaza esimweni sayo esingokomoya esisanda kubuyiselwa. (Isaya 61:4; 66:8) ‘Yadla ifa lezizwe’ ngokuthi yasakazekela emazweni amaningi ifuna bonke ababeyongena emkhayeni wayo ongokomoya. Umphumela waba ukwanda okusheshayo kokubuthwa kwamadodana agcotshiwe. Kubonakala sengathi isibalo sayo sokugcina esingu-144 000 sagcwala maphakathi nawo-1930. (IsAmbulo 14:3) Ngaleso sikhathi umsebenzi wokushumayela awubange usagxila ekubuthweni kwabagcotshiwe. Kodwa, ukwanda akugcinanga ngabagcotshiwe.
12. Ngaphandle kwabagcotshiwe, obani abaye baqoqelwa ebandleni lobuKristu kusukela ngawo-1930?
12 UJesu ngokwakhe wabikezela ukuthi ngaphandle ‘komhlambi wakhe omncane’ wabafowabo abagcotshiwe, wayeyoba “nezinye izimvu” okumelwe zilethwe esibayeni samaKristu eqiniso. (Luka 12:32; Johane 10:16) Nakuba bengekho phakathi kwamadodana agcotshiwe ‘eJerusalema eliphezulu,’ laba bangane abathembekile babagcotshiwe bafeza indima ebalulekile nokwaprofethwa ngayo kudala. (Zakariya 8:23) Kusukela ngawo-1930 kuze kube namuhla, kuye kwaqoqwa “isixuku esikhulu” sabo, umphumela waba ukwanda kwebandla lobuKristu okungakaze kubonwe. (IsAmbulo 7:9, 10) Namuhla leso sixuku esikhulu sibalelwa ezigidini. Konke loku kwanda kudale isidingo esiphuthumayo samaHholo OMbuso, amaHholo OMhlangano nezakhiwo zamagatsha. Amazwi ka-Isaya abonakala efaneleka kunanini ngaphambili. Yeka ilungelo okuyilo ukuba yingxenye yaloko kwanda okwabikezelwa!
Umama Oyizwelayo Inzalo Yakhe
13, 14. (a) Ezinye zezinkulumo eziqondiswe “kowesifazane” kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini zidala yiphi inkinga? (b) Yini esiyiqondayo ngokusebenzisa kukaNkulunkulu umfanekiso wobuhlobo bomkhaya?
13 Sesibonile ukuthi ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu, “owesifazane” walesi siprofetho ufanekisela inhlangano kaJehova yasezulwini. Kodwa ngemva kokufunda u-Isaya 54:4, kungenzeka sizibuze ukuthi le nhlangano yezidalwa zomoya yalithola kanjani ihlazo noma isihlamba. Amavesi alandelayo athi “owesifazane” kaNkulunkulu uyolahlwa, ahlushwe futhi ahlaselwe. Uyoze avuse ngisho nentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu. Izinto ezinjalo zingashiwo kanjani ngezidalwa zomoya eziphelele ezingakaze zone? Impendulo isohlotsheni lwalo mkhaya.
14 UJehova usebenzisa ubuhlobo bomkhaya—indoda nenkosikazi, umama nezingane—ukuze adlulise amaqiniso ajulile angokomoya ngoba ubuhlobo obunjalo bubalulekile kubantu. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umkhaya wethu mkhulu kangakanani noma usesimweni esinjani, cishe sinawo umbono wokuthi umshado omuhle noma ubuhlobo obuhle phakathi komzali nengane kufanele bube njani. Khona-ke, yeka ukuthi uJehova usifundisa ngokucace kanjani ukuthi yena unobuhlobo obufudumele, obusondelene nobokwethembana nezixuku ezinkulu zezinceku zomoya! Futhi yeka indlela asifundisa kahle ngayo ukuthi inhlangano yakhe engokomoya yasezulwini iyayinakekela inzalo yayo egcotshwe ngomoya emhlabeni! Lapho izinceku ezingabantu zihlupheka, nezinceku zasezulwini ezithembekile, “iJerusalema eliphezulu,” ziyahlupheka. Ngokufanayo, uJesu wathi: “Ngezinga enikwenze ngalo komunye wabancane kunabo bonke laba bafowethu [abagcotshwe ngomoya], nikwenzile nakimi.”—Mathewu 25:40.
15, 16. U-Isaya 54:5, 6 wagcwaliseka kanjani okokuqala futhi yikuphi ukugcwaliseka kwakhe okukhulu?
15 Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi okuningi kokushiwo “kowesifazane” kaJehova wasezulwini kubonisa izinto ezenzeka kubantwana bakhe emhlabeni. Cabangela la mazwi: “‘UMenzi wakho Omkhulu ungumyeni wakho, nguJehova wamabutho igama lakhe; futhi Okuthenga kabusha ungoNgcwele ka-Israyeli. Uyobizwa ngokuthi uNkulunkulu wawo wonke umhlaba. Ngoba uJehova wakubiza njengokungathi ubungumfazi oshiywe ngokuphelele futhi ozwiswe ubuhlungu emoyeni, nanjengomfazi wesikhathi sobusha wabe esaliwa,’ kusho uNkulunkulu wakho.”—Isaya 54:5, 6.
16 Ubani umfazi okukhulunywa naye lapha? Ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala, uyiJerusalema, elifanekisela abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Phakathi neminyaka engu-70 bethunjelwe eBabiloni, bayoba nomuzwa wokuthi uJehova ubalile futhi wabashiya ngokuphelele. Ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu, la mazwi abhekisela ‘eJerusalema eliphezulu’ nasekugcwaliseni kwalo uGenesise 3:15 ngokuveza “inzalo” ekugcineni.
Ukujeziswa Umzuzwana, Izibusiso Zaphakade
17. (a) IJerusalema lasemhlabeni liyosithola kanjani ‘isikhukhula’ sentukuthelo yaphezulu? (b) Yisiphi ‘isikhukhula’ esatholwa amadodana ‘eJerusalema eliphezulu’?
17 Isiprofetho siyaqhubeka: “‘Ngakushiya ngokuphelele umzuzwana, kodwa ngizokuqoqela ndawonye ngesihe esikhulu. Ngesikhukhula sentukuthelo ngafihla ubuso bami kuwe umzuzwana, kodwa ngomusa wothando waphakade ngizoba nesihe phezu kwakho,’ kusho Okuthenga kabusha, uJehova.” (Isaya 54:7, 8) IJerusalema lasemhlabeni lihlaselwa ‘isikhukhula’ sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu lapho amabutho aseBabiloni ehlasela ngo-607 B.C.E. Iminyaka engu-70 eyolichitha lithunjiwe ingase ibonakale iyisikhathi eside. Noma kunjalo, uvivinyo olunjalo luba ‘olomzuzwana’ uma luqhathaniswa nezibusiso zaphakade eziyotholwa abasamukelayo isijeziso. Ngokufanayo, amadodana agcotshiwe ‘eJerusalema eliphezulu’ azizwa sengathi akhungathekiswa ‘isikhukhula’ solaka lwaphezulu lapho uJehova evumela ukuba ahlaselwe abezombusazwe begqugquzelwa iBabiloni Elikhulu. Kodwa yeka indlela esabonakala singesesikhashana ngayo kamuva leso sijeziso, uma siqhathaniswa nenkathi yezibusiso eyalandela kusukela ngo-1919!
18. Yisiphi isimiso esibalulekile esisitholayo mayelana nolaka lukaJehova kubantu bakhe, futhi singamthinta kanjani umuntu siqu?
18 La mavesi aveza elinye iqiniso elikhulu—ulaka lukaNkulunkulu ludlula ngokushesha, kanti isihe sakhe sihlala kuze kube phakade. Ulaka lwakhe luyavutha uma kwenziwe okubi, kodwa luyalawulwa ngaso sonke isikhathi, futhi njalo nje lusuke lunenjongo ethile. Futhi uma sisamukela isijeziso sikaJehova, ulaka lwakhe luhlala “umzuzwana,” bese luyaphela. Luthathelwa indawo ‘isihe sakhe esikhulu’—ukuthethelela kwakhe nomusa wakhe wothando. Lokhu kuhlala ‘phakade.’ Uma senze isono-ke, akufanele nanini sinqikaze ukuphenduka futhi sifune ukulungisa izinto noNkulunkulu. Uma kuyisono esingathi sína, kumelwe siye kubadala bebandla ngokushesha. (Jakobe 5:14) Yiqiniso, isijeziso singase sidingeke, futhi kungase kube nzima ukusamukela. (Heberu 12:11) Kodwa siyoba esesikhashana uma siqhathaniswa nezibusiso zaphakade ezitholakala ngenxa yokuthethelelwa uJehova uNkulunkulu!
19, 20. (a) Siyini isivumelwano sothingo, futhi sihlangana kanjani nezithunjwa eBabiloni. (b) ‘Isivumelwano sokuthula’ siwaqinisekisa ngani amaKristu agcotshiwe namuhla?
19 UJehova manje unikeza abantu bakhe isiqinisekiso esiduduzayo: “‘Lokhu kunjengasezinsukwini zikaNowa kimi. Njengoba nje ngifungile ukuthi amanzi kaNowa ngeke aphinde adlule emhlabeni, kanjalo ngifungile ukuthi ngeke ngikuthukuthelele noma ngikusole. Ngoba izintaba zingasuswa, namagquma angayendayenda, kodwa umusa wami wothando ngeke ususwe kuwe, nesivumelwano sami sokuthula ngeke siyendayende,’ kusho uJehova, Lowo onesihe kuwe.” (Isaya 54:9, 10) Ngemva kweSikhukhula, uNkulunkulu wenza isivumelwano—ngezinye izikhathi esibizwa ngokuthi isivumelwano sothingo—noNowa nazo zonke ezinye izinto eziphilayo. UJehova wathembisa ukuthi wayengeke aphinde abhubhise umhlaba ngesikhukhula sembulunga yonke. (Genesise 9:8-17) Kusho ukuthini lokhu ku-Isaya nabantu bakubo?
20 Kuyaduduza ukwazi ukuthi isijeziso okumelwe basithole—ukuthunjelwa eBabiloni iminyaka engu-70—bayosithola kanye kuphela. Uma sesidlulile, ngeke baphinde basithole. Ngemva kwalokho, ‘isivumelwano sokuthula’ sikaNkulunkulu siyobe sesisebenza. Igama lesiHeberu elisho ‘ukuthula’ alisho nje kuphela ukungabi bikho kwempi, kodwa lisho nenhlalakahle yalo lonke uhlobo. KuNkulunkulu, lesi sivumelwano esaphakade. Ayothi anganyamalala nje amagquma nezintaba, umusa wakhe wothando kubantu bakhe abathembekile uphele. Ngokudabukisayo, isizwe sakhe sasemhlabeni siyogcina sihlulekile ukufeza lokho isivumelwano esikufunayo kusona, futhi siyoziqedela ukuthula ngokwala uMesiya. Kodwa amadodana ‘eJerusalema eliphezulu’ enza kangcono kakhulu. Lapho isidlulile inkathi enzima yokujeziswa kwawo, aqinisekiswa ngesivikelo saphezulu.
Ukulondeka Okungokomoya Kwabantu BakaNkulunkulu
21, 22. (a) Kungani “iJerusalema laphezulu” kuthiwa liyahlushwa futhi lijikijelwa isiphepho? (b) Isimo esibusisekile ‘sowesifazane’ kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini sibonisani ‘ngenzalo’ yakhe emhlabeni?
21 UJehova ube esebikezela ukulondeka kwabantu bakhe abathembekile: “O wena wesifazane ohlushwayo, ojikijelwa isiphepho, ongaduduzwa, bheka ngibeka amatshe akho ngodaka oluqinile, futhi ngiyobeka isisekelo sakho ngamasafire. Ngiyokwenza imibhoshongo yakho ibe ngeyamarubi, namasango akho abe ngawamatshe akhazimula njengomlilo, nayo yonke imingcele yakho ibe ngeyamatshe ajabulisayo. Bonke abantwana bakho bayoba ngabantu abafundiswé uJehova, nokuthula kwabantwana bakho kuyochichima. Uyomiswa ngokuqinile ngokulunga. Uyoba kude nokucindezelwa—akukho lutho oyolwesaba—uyoba kude nento esabisa kakhulu, ngoba ngeke isondele kuwe. Uma kwenzeka kuba khona okuhlaselayo, ngeke kube ngomyalo wami. Noma ubani okuhlaselayo uyowa ngenxa yakho.”—Isaya 54:11-15.
22 Yebo, “owesifazane” kaJehova osendaweni yomoya akakaze ahlushwe ngokuqondile noma ajikijelwe isiphepho. Kodwa wahlupheka ngesikhathi “inzalo” yakhe egcotshiwe ihlushwa emhlabeni, ikakhulukazi ngesikhathi ithunjiwe ngokomoya phakathi nenkathi ka-1918-19. Kanti, lapho “owesifazane” wasezulwini ephakanyiswa, kusuke kwenzeka okufanayo nasenzalweni yakhe. Khona-ke, cabangela incazelo enhle ‘yeJerusalema laphezulu.’ Amatshe ayigugu emasangweni, “udaka oluqinile” olubizayo, izisekelo, ngisho nemingcele isikisela “ubuhle, ubukhazikhazi, ubumsulwa, amandla nokuqina,” njengoba kusho enye incwadi. Yini eyokwenza amaKristu agcotshiwe abe sesimweni esilondeke nesibusiseke kanjalo?
23. (a) ‘Ukufundiswa uJehova’ kube naliphi ithonya kumaKristu agcotshiwe ezinsukwini zokugcina? (b) Kungamuphi umqondo abantu bakaNkulunkulu bebusiswe ‘ngemingcele yamatshe ajabulisayo’?
23 Ivesi 13 lika-Isaya isahluko 54 linikeza impendulo—wonke ‘ayofundiswa uJehova.’ UJesu ngokwakhe wathi lokhu okushiwo yileli vesi kusebenza kubalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe. (Johane 6:45) Umprofethi uDaniyeli wabikezela ukuthi phakathi nalesi “sikhathi sokuphela,” abagcotshiwe bayobusiswa ngolwazi lweqiniso oluningi nokuqonda okungokomoya. (Daniyeli 12:3, 4) Ukuqonda okunjalo kubenze bakwazi ukuhola emkhankasweni wemfundo omkhulu kunayo yonke emlandweni, besakaza imfundiso yaphezulu emhlabeni wonke. (Mathewu 24:14) Ngesikhathi esifanayo, lokhu kuqonda kubasizile babona umehluko phakathi kwenkolo yeqiniso neyamanga. U-Isaya 54:12 ukhuluma ‘ngemingcele yamatshe ajabulisayo.’ Kusukela ngo-1919, uJehova wenze abagcotshiwe bayiqonda ngokucace bhá imingcele engokomoya—wabahlukanisa nenkolo yamanga nezici zaleli zwe zokungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu. (Hezekeli 44:23; Johane 17:14; Jakobe 1:27) Ngaleyo ndlela babekelwe eceleni njengabantu bakaNkulunkulu.—1 Petru 2:9.
24. Singaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi sifundiswa uJehova?
24 Ngakho, ngamunye wethu kufanele azibuze, ‘Ingabe ngifundiswa uJehova?’ Imfundo enjalo asimane nje siyithole ngokuzenzakalelayo. Kumelwe senze umzamo. Uma sifunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu njalo futhi sizindla ngalo, uma samukela ukufundiswa ngokufunda izincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini ezinyatheliswa “isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo,” uma siyilungiselela imihlangano yobuKristu futhi siya kuyo, ngempela siyobe sifundiswa uJehova. (Mathewu 24:45-47) Uma sizama ukukusebenzisa esikufundayo, sihlale siphapheme futhi silindile ngokomoya, imfundiso yaphezulu iyosehlukanisa nabantu abakuleli zwe elingenaNkulunkulu. (1 Petru 5:8, 9) Okuhle nakakhulu ukuthi kuyosisiza ‘sisondele kuNkulunkulu.’—Jakobe 1:22-25; 4:8.
25. Isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sokuthula sisho ukuthini ngabantu bakhe namuhla?
25 Isiprofetho sika-Isaya sibonisa nokuthi abagcotshiwe babusiswa ngokuthula okukhulu. Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi abalokothi bahlaselwe? Cha, kodwa uNkulunkulu unikeza isiqiniseko sokuthi ngeke akugunyaze lokho kuhlaselwa futhi ngeke akuvumele kuphumelele. Siyafunda: “‘Bheka! Mina ngidalé ingcweti, efutha umlilo wamalahle ikhiphe isikhali njengomsebenzi wayo. Mina futhi, ngidalé umuntu ochithayo ukuba enze umsebenzi wokuphihliza. Noma isiphi isikhali esiyokwakhiwa ngokumelene nawe ngeke siphumelele, nanoma yiluphi ulimi oluyokuvukela ekwahluleleni uyolulahla. Leli yifa lezinceku zikaJehova, futhi ukulunga kwazo kuvela kimi,’ kusho uJehova.”—Isaya 54:16, 17.
26. Kungani kumisa idolo ukwazi ukuthi uJehova unguMdali wesintu sonke?
26 Sekungokwesibili kulesi sahluko sika-Isaya uJehova ekhumbuza izinceku zakhe ukuthi unguMdali. Ngaphambili, utshele umfazi wakhe ongokomfanekiso ukuthi ‘unguMenzi wakhe Omkhulu.’ Manje usethi unguMdali wesintu sonke. Ivesi 16 lichaza umuntu osebenza ngensimbi ukuthi ufutha amalahle esithando sakhe njengoba akha izikhali zakhe zokubhubhisa kanye neqhawe, ‘umuntu ochithayo owenza umsebenzi wokuphihliza.’ Abantu abanjalo bangase babesabise abanye abantu, kodwa kungenzeka kanjani nje babe nethemba lokunqoba uMdali wabo? Ngakho namuhla, ngisho nalapho amabutho anamandla kunawo wonke ehlasela abantu bakaJehova, ngeke neze aphumelele. Kungenzeka kanjani lokho?
27, 28. Yini esingaqiniseka ngayo kulezi zikhathi zezinkathazo, futhi sazi ngani ukuthi ukusihlasela kukaSathane ngeke kuphumelele?
27 Sesidlulile isikhathi sokuhlasela okuchitha abantu bakaNkulunkulu nokukhulekela kwabo ngomoya nangeqiniso. (Johane 4:23, 24) UJehova wavumela iBabiloni Elikhulu ukuba lihlasele kanye, ukuhlasela okwathi ukuphumelela isikhashana. Okomzuzwana nje, “iJerusalema eliphezulu” labona inzalo yalo icishe ithuliswa njengoba umsebenzi wokushumayela emhlabeni wawusufana nomisiwe. Ngeke kuphinde kwenzeke lokho! Manje liyethaba ngenxa yamadodana alo, ngoba ngomqondo ongokomoya, awanakunqotshwa. (Johane 16:33; 1 Johane 5:4) Yebo, zenziwe izikhali zokulwa nawo, futhi kusazokwenziwa ezengeziwe. (IsAmbulo 12:17) Kodwa azizange ziphumelele futhi ngeke ziphumelele. USathane akanaso isikhali esinganqoba ukholo futhi sidambise intshiseko evuthayo yabagcotshiwe nabasizi babo. Loku kuthula okungokomoya ‘kuyifa lezinceku zikaJehova,’ ngakho akukho muntu ongazephuca lona.—IHubo 118:6; Roma 8:38, 39.
28 Cha, akukho lutho izwe likaSathane elingakwenza oluyoke lumise umsebenzi nokukhulekela okuhlanzekile nokuqhubekayo kwezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezizinikele. Lesi siqinisekiso siye sayiduduza kakhulu inzalo egcotshiwe ‘yeJerusalema eliphezulu.’ Kunjalo nangamalungu esixuku esikhulu. Uma sazi okwengeziwe ngenhlangano kaJehova yasezulwini nokusebenzelana kwayo nabakhulekeli bakhe emhlabeni, ukholo lwethu luyoqina ngokwengeziwe. Uma nje ukholo lwethu lusaqinile, izikhali zikaSathane ngeke zenze lutho lapho elwa nathi!
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a NgokwesAmbulo 12:1-17, “owesifazane” kaNkulunkulu wabusiswa kakhulu ngokuzala “inzalo” ebaluleke kunazo zonke—hhayi indodana eyodwa engumoya, kodwa uMbuso KaMesiya wasezulwini. Wazalwa ngo-1914. (Bheka ethi IsAmbulo—Umvuthwandaba Waso Omkhulu Useduze!, amakhasi 177-86.) Isiprofetho sika-Isaya sigxile entokozweni ayitholayo ngenxa yesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu emadodaneni akhe agcotshiwe asemhlabeni.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 218, 219]
Umkhaya Ka-Abrahama—Umfanekiso Ongokwesiprofetho
Umphostoli uPawulu wachaza ukuthi umkhaya ka-Abrahama uyidrama engokomfanekiso, umfanekiso ongokwesiprofetho wobuhlobo uJehova anabo nenhlangano yakhe yasemhlabeni nesizwe sasemhlabeni sika-Israyeli ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho KaMose.—Galathiya 4:22-31.
U-Abrahama, njengenhloko yomkhaya, ufanekisela uJehova uNkulunkulu. Ukuzimisela kuka-Abrahama ukunikela ngendodana yakhe ethandekayo ibe umhlatshelo kufanekisela ukuzimisela kukaJehova ukunikela ngeNdodana yakhe ethandekayo u-Isaka ibe umhlatshelo wezono zesintu.—Genesise 22:1-13; Johane 3:16.
USara umelela “umfazi” kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini, inhlangano yakhe yezidalwa zomoya. Leyo nhlangano yasezulwini ichazwa kufanele ngokuthi umfazi kaJehova, ngoba isondelene noJehova ngokujulile, iyazithoba ebunhlokweni bakhe, futhi ibambisana naye ngokugcwele ekufezeni izinjongo zakhe. Ibizwa nangokuthi “iJerusalema eliphezulu.” (Galathiya 4:26) KuGenesise 3:15 kukhulunywa ngaye lona “wesifazane,” futhi kusAmbulo 12:1-6, 13-17 uvezwe esembonweni.
U-Isaka ufanekisela iNzalo engokomoya yowesifazane kaNkulunkulu. Ngokuyinhloko, nguJesu Kristu lona. Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi le nzalo yahlanganisa nabafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshiwe, abamukelwa njengamadodana angokomoya futhi babe izindlalifa kanye noKristu.—Roma 8:15-17; Galathiya 3:16, 29.
UHagari, umka-Abrahama wesibili, noma isancinza, wayeyisigqila. Ulifanekisela kahle iJerusalema lasemhlabeni, elalibuswa uMthetho KaMose, owawuveza bonke ababewulandela ukuthi bayizigqila zesono nokufa. UPawulu wathi elithi “Hagari lisho iSinayi, intaba ese-Arabiya,” ngoba isivumelwano soMthetho samiswa lapho.—Galathiya 3:10, 13; 4:25.
U-Ishmayeli, indodana kaHagari, ufanekisela amaJuda ekhulu lokuqala, abantwana beJerusalema ababesagqilazwe uMthetho KaMose. Njengoba nje u-Ishmayeli ahlupha u-Isaka, nalawo maJuda awahlupha amaKristu, lawo ayengamadodana agcotshiwe kaSara ongokomfanekiso, “iJerusalama eliphezulu.” Futhi njengoba nje u-Abrahama amxosha uHagari no-Ishmayeli, ekugcineni uJehova walilahla iJerusalema nabantwana balo abavukelayo.—Mathewu 23:37, 38.
[Isithombe ekhasini 220]
Ngemva kokubhapathizwa kwakhe, uJesu wagcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele, futhi u-Isaya 54:1 waqala ukugcwaliseka ngendlela ebaluleke kakhulu
[Isithombe ekhasini 225]
UJehova wafihlela iJerusalema ubuso bakhe “umzuzwana”
[Isithombe ekhasini 231]
Ingabe iqhawe nomuntu osebenza ngensimbi bangakwazi ukumelana noMdali wabo?