Izivumelwano Ezihilela Injongo Yaphakade KaNkulunkulu
‘UJehova . . . ukhumbulile isivumelwano sakhe kuze kube-phakade, izwi ayala ngalo izizukulwane eziyinkulungwane.’—IHUBO 105:7, 8.
1, 2. Kungani singasho ukuthi abaningi bethu baye bathintwa isivumelwano?
NGOKUNOKWENZEKA cishe isivumelwano esithile siye sakuthinta—isikhathi sakho esidlule, esamanje, nesizayo. Ungase ubuze, ‘siphi isivumelwano?’ Kulendaba, umshado, ngoba abaningi bethu bawumphumela womshado futhi abaningi bethu sishadile ngokwethu. Ngisho nalabo abangakashadi bangase bacabange ngezibusiso zomshado ojabulisayo esikhathini esizayo.
2 Emakhulwini eminyaka adlule umprofethi ongumHeberu uMalaki wabhala ‘ngomfazi wobusha,’ ‘ngomngane wakho nomfazi wesivumelwano sakho.’ (Malaki 2:14-16) Wayengabiza umshado njengesivumelwano, ngoba lokho kuyisivumelwano esingokomthetho, ilungiselelo phakathi kwabahilelekile lokwenza okuthile ngokuhlanganyela. Isivumelwano somshado siyisivumelwano esimbaxa-mbili lapho abantu ababili abahilelekile bevuma ukuba yindoda nomfazi, bemukela izibopho komunye nomunye futhi bebheka phambili ezinzuzweni ezihlala njalo.
3. Kungani ezinye izivumelwano zingase zisithinte ngokwengeziwe kunomshado?
3 Umshado ungase ubonakale uyisivumelwano esinethonya elikhulu kakhulu kithina, nokho iBhayibheli likhuluma ngezivumelwano ezinokubaluleka okukhulu ngokwengeziwe. Lapho iqhathanisa izivumelwano ezingokweBhayibheli nezezinkolo ezingezona ezingokweBhayibheli, enye iencyclopedia ithi kuseBhayibhelini kuphela lapho “ubuhlobo phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu bakhe buba isimiso esihlanganisa konke futhi esinemiphumela yendawo yonke.” Yebo, lezivumelwano zihilela injongo yaphakade yoMdali wethu onothando. Njengoba uzobona, ukwamukela kwakho izibusiso ezingenakubalwa kuxhumene nalezivumelwano. Unesizathu sokubuza, ‘Kodwa lokho kwenzeka kanjani?’
4. Yisiphi isivumelwano sokuqala esikhomba enjongweni kaNkulunkulu yaphakade?
4 Uyazi kahle imiphumela edabukisayo yalapho uAdamu noEva benqaba igunya likaNkulunkulu. Sazuza ukungapheleli njengefa kubo, okuyimbangela yezifo eziye zasihlupha, neziholela ekufeni. (Genesise 3:1-6, 14-19) Nokho, singabonga, ngokuthi isono sabo asiyibhuntshisanga injongo kaNkulunkulu yokugcwalisa umhlaba ngabakhulekeli beqiniso abajabulela injabulo nempilo ehlala njalo. Ngokuqondene nalokhu, uJehova wenza isivumelwano esilotshwe kuGenesise 3:15: “Ngizakubeka ubutha phakathi kwakho nowesifazane, naphakathi kwenzalo yakho nenzalo yakhe. Yona iyakuchoboza ikhanda lakho, wena uyakulimaza isithende sayo.” Nokho, ubufushane nolimi olungokomfanekiso lwalamazwi kwashiya imibuzo eminingi ingaphenduliwe. UJehova wayeyosigcwalisa kanjani lesithembiso sesivumelwano?
5, 6. (a) Yiziphi izindlela uNkulunkulu anquma ukuzisebenzisa ekufezeni injongo yakhe? (b) Kungani kufanele sibe nesithakazelo endleleni kaNkulunkulu yokwenza lokhu?
5 UNkulunkulu ngokuqhubekayo wakhetha ukulungiselela uchungechunge oluthile lwezivumelwano zaphezulu, lezo, kanye nesivumelwano sase-Edene, eziba yisikhombisa sezizonke. Ngamunye wethu othemba ukujabulela izibusiso zaphakade kufanele aziqonde lezivumelwano. Lokhu kuhlanganisa ukwazi ukuthi zenziwa nini futhi kanjani, obani ababehilelekile, yayiyini imigomo noma imibandela yazo, nokuthi lezivumelwano zihlobana kanjani enjongweni kaNkulunkulu yokubusisa isintu esilalelayo ngokuphila okuphakade. Lesi isikhathi esifanelekile sokubukeza lezivumelwano, ngoba ngoMarch 22, 1989, amabandla amaKristu ayohlangana ukuze agubhe iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa, esizihilela ngokuqondile lezivumelwano.
6 Yiqiniso, umqondo wezivumelwano kwabanye abantu ungase uzwakale ungakhangi, uyindaba engokomthetho, engathakazelisi kangako kubantu. Nokho, cabangela lokho iTheological Dictionary of the Old Testament ekushoyo: “Amagama ayemelele elithi ‘isivumelwano’ eMpumalanga Eseduze yasendulo kuhlanganise nasezweni lamaGreki nelamaRoma . . . ahlukaniswa ngokwemikhakha emibili yezincazelo zamagama: Isifungo nesibopho ngakolunye uhlangothi, uthando nobungane kolunye uhlangothi.” Singazibona zombili lezici—isifungo nobungane—njengensika yezivumelwano zikaJehova.
Isivumelwano Sika-Abrahama—Isisekelo Sezibusiso Zaphakade
7, 8. Hlobo luni lwesivumelwano uJehova asenza noAbrahama? (1 IziKronike 16:15, 16)
7 Inzalamizi uAbrahama, ‘uyise wabo bonke abakholwayo,’ ‘wayengumngane kaJehova.’ (Roma 4:11; Jakobe 2:21-23) UNkulunkulu wafunga kuye ngesifungo, eqalisa isivumelwano esiyisisekelo sokuthola kwethu izibusiso zaphakade.—Heberu 6:13-18.
8 Lapho uAbrahama eseUri, uJehova wamtshela ukuba athuthele kwelinye izwe, elaba yiKhanani. Ngalesosikhathi uJehova wathembisa uAbrahama: “Ngiyakukwenza isizwe esikhulu, ngikubusise, ngenze igama lakho libe-likhulu, . . . imindeni yonke yomhlaba iyakubusiswa kuwe.”a (Genesise 12:1-3) Ngemva kwalokho, uNkulunkulu kancane kancane wanezela imininingwane kulokho esikubiza ngokufanele njengesivumelwano sika-Abrahama: Inzalo ka-Abrahama, noma indlalifa, yayiyozuza iZwe Lesithembiso njengefa; inzalo yakhe yayiyofinyelela enzalweni engenakubalwa; uAbrahama noSara babeyoba umthombo wamakhosi.—Genesise 13:14-17; 15:4-6; 17:1-8, 16; IHubo 105:8-10.
9. Sazi kanjani ukuthi singahileleka esivumelwaneni sika-Abrahama?
9 UNkulunkulu wasibiza ngokuthi “isivumelwano sami phakathi kwami nawe [Abrahama].” (Genesise 17:2) Kodwa ngokuqinisekile kufanele sibe nomuzwa wokuthi ukuphila kwethu kuhilelekile, ngoba kamuva uNkulunkulu wasandisa lesivumelwano, ethi: “Ngiyakukubusisa nokukubusisa,ngandise nokwandisa inzalo yakho, ibe-ngangezinkanyezi zezulu nangangesihlabathi sasogwini lolwandle, inzalo yakho inqobe isango lezitha zayo, nangenzalo yakho ziyakubusiswa izizwe zonke zomhlaba.” (Genesise 22:17, 18) Siyingxenye yalezozizwe; silindelwe isibusiso esikhulu.
10. Yikuphi ukuqonda esikutholayo esivumelwaneni noAbrahama?
10 Ake sihlabe ikhefu ukuze sicabangele lokho esingakufunda esivumelwaneni sika-Abrahama. Njengesivumelwano sase-Edene esingaphambi kwaso, lesi sikhomba ‘enzalweni’ ezayo, kanjalo sisikisela ukuthi inzalo yayiyoba nohlu lozalo lwabantu. (Genesise 3:15) Yayiyoba eyohlu lukaShemi, kuze kufike kuAbrahama, nangendodana yakhe uIsaka. Loluhlu lwaluyohilela ubukhosi, futhi ngandlela-thile lwalungeke luvumele isibusiso somkhaya owodwa kuphela kodwa abantu bawo wonke amazwe. Sagcwaliseka kanjani lesosivumelwano?
11. Ukugcwaliseka okungokoqobo kwesivumelwano sika-Abrahama kwenziwa kanjani?
11 Inzalo ka-Abrahama ngoJakobe, noma uIsrayeli, yanda yaba isizwe esikhulu. Njengenzalo engokoqobo ka-Abrahama engenakubalwa, babezinikezele ekukhulekeleni okuhlanzekile kukaNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama, uIsaka, noJakobe. (Genesise 28:13; Eksodusi 3:6, 15; 6:3; IzEnzo 3:13) Kaningi amaIsrayeli ayekufulathela ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile, nokho, “uJehova wayenomusa kubo, wayenesihe kubo . . . ngenxa yesivumelwano sakhe noAbrahana noIsaka noJakobe, akathandanga ukubachitha.” (2 AmaKhosi 13:23; Eksodusi 2:24; Levitikusi 26:42-45) Ngisho nangemva kokuba uNkulunkulu amukele ibandla lobuKristu njengabantu bakhe, waqhubeka isikhathi esithile ebonisa umusa okhethekile kumaIsrayeli njengabantu ababeyinzalo engokoqobo ka-Abrahama.—Daniyeli 9:27.
Inzalo Engokomoya Ka-Abrahama
12, 13. UJesu wazibonakalisa kanjani eyingxenye eyinhloko yenzalo ekugcwalisekeni okungokomoya kwesivumelwano sika-Abrahama?
12 Isivumelwano sika-Abrahama Baba nokunye ukugcwaliseka, okungokomoya. Lokhu kugcwaliseka okukhulu kwakungeke kube sobala ngaphambi kwesikhathi sikaJesu, kodwa singajabula ngokuthi kusobala esikhathini sethu. Sinencazelo yokugcwaliseka kwaso eZwini likaNkulunkulu. UPawulu uyabhala: “Manje-ke izithembiso zanikwa uAbrahama nenzalo yakhe; akasho ukuthi: Ezinzalweni, kungathi ngeziningi, kepha kungathi ngeyodwa ukuthi: Nasenzalweni yakho enguKristu.”—Galathiya 3:16.
13 Yebo, inzalo yayiyoza ngohlu olulodwa kuphela, noma umkhaya, okwaba njalo ngoJesu, owazalwa engumJuda wemvelo, inzalo yoqobo ka-Abrahama. (Mathewu 1:1-16; Luka 3:23-34) Ngaphezu kwalokho, wayeyingxenye yomkhaya ka-Abrahama oMkhulu ezulwini. Khumbula ukuthi ngokholo olujulile inzalamizi uAbrahama yayizimisele ukunikela ngendodana yayo uIsaka uma uNkulunkulu ayefuna lokho. (Genesise 22:1-18; Heberu 11:17-19) Ngokufanayo, uJehova wathumela iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa emhlabeni ukuba ibe umhlatshelo wesihlengo sesintu esikholwayo. (Roma 5:8; 8:32) Ngakho kuyaqondakala ukuthi kungani uPawulu ebiza uJesu Kristu njengengxenye eyinhloko yenzalo ka-Abrahama ngokwalesivumelwano.
14. Iyiphi ingxenye yesibili yenzalo ka-Abrahama, futhi lokhu kuholela kuyiphi ingxoxo eyengeziwe?
14 UPawulu waqhubeka ebonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ‘wayeyokwandisa inzalo ka-Abrahama’ ekugcwalisekeni okungokomoya. Wabhala: “Kepha uma ningabakaKristu, seniyinzalo ka-Abrahama, niyizindlalifa ngokwesithembiso.” (Genesise 22:17; Galathiya 3:29) Abanjalo bangamaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya ayizi-144 000 bakha ingxenye yesibili yenzalo ka-Abrahama. Abamelene nengxenye eyinhloko yenzalo kodwa ‘bangabakaKristu.’ (1 Korinte 1:2; 15:23) Siyazi ukuthi abaningi babo ababona abozalo luka-Abrahama, ngoba bavela ezizweni ezingemaJuda. Nokho, okubaluleke kakhulu ekugcwalisekeni okungokomoya, ukuthi abayona ngokwemvelo ingxenye yomkhaya ka-Abrahama oMkhulu, uJehova; kunalokho, bavela emkhayeni ongaphelele ka-Adamu oyisoni. Ngakho siyodinga ukubona ezivumelwaneni zamuva indlela abangafaneleka ngayo ukuba babe yingxenye ‘yenzalo ka-Abrahama.’
Isivumelwano SoMthetho Siyanezelwa Okwesikhashana
15-17. (a) Kungani kwanezelwa isivumelwano soMthetho esivumelwaneni sika-Abrahama? (b) UMthetho wayifeza kanjani lemigomo?
15 Ngemva kokuba uNkulunkulu enze isivumelwano sika-Abrahama njengesinyathelo esiyisisekelo ekufezeni injongo yakhe, lwaluyovikelwa kanjani uhlu lweNzalo ukuba lungangcoliswa noma lungaqothulwa kuze kube yisikhathi sokuvela kwayo? Lapho iNzalo ifika, abakhulekeli beqiniso babeyoyazi kanjani? UPawulu uphendula imibuzo enjalo ngokubhekisela ekuhlakanipheni kukaNkulunkulu ngokunezela isivumelwano soMthetho okwesikhashana. Umphostoli uyabhala:
16 “Pho, umthetho uyini na? Wenezelwa ngenxa yeziphambeko, kuze kufike inzalo enikiwe isithembiso, umisiwe ngezingelosi, ngesandla somlamuleli. . . . Njalo-ke umthetho sewaba-ngumlayi wethu wokusiyisa kuKristu, ukuze silungisiswe ngokukholwa.”—Galathiya 3:19, 24.
17 ENtabeni yaseSinayi, uJehova wenza isivumelwano sesizwe esiyingqayizivele phakathi kwakhe noIsrayeli—isivumelwano soMthetho, esasinoMose njengomlamuleli waso.b (Galathiya 4:24, 25) Abantu bavuma ukuba kulesivumelwano, futhi saqiniswa ngegazi lezinkunzi nelezimbuzi. (Eksodusi 24:3-8; Heberu 9:19, 20) Sanikeza uIsrayeli imithetho engokwasezulwini nesimiso sikahulumeni wokulunga. Isivumelwano sanqabela ukuganiselana namaqaba noma ukuhlanganyela emikhubeni yokuziphatha okubi neyenkolo yamanga. Kanjalo savikela amaIsrayeli futhi saba amandla ekulondolozeni uhlu lwenzalo lungangcolisiwe. (Eksodusi 20:4-6; 34:12-16) Kodwa njengoba ayengekho umIsrayeli ongaphelele owayengagcina uMthetho ngokuphelele, senza izono zaba sobala. (Galathiya 3:19) Sakhomba futhi esidingweni sompristi ophelele, ohlala njalo nesomhlatshelo okwakungeke kudingeke ukuba uphindaphindwe minyaka yonke. UMthetho wawunjengomfundisi oholela umntwana kumqeqeshi odingekile, owayeyokuba uMesiya, noma uKristu. (Heberu 7:26-28; 9:9, 16-22; 10:1-4, 11) Lapho sesifeze injongo yaso, isivumelwano soMthetho sasiyophela.—Galathiya 3:24, 25; Roma 7:6; bheka “Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi,” ikhasi 31.
18. Yiliphi ithemba elengeziwe elalihilelekile esivumelwaneni soMthetho, kodwa kungani kwakunzima ukukuqonda lokhu?
18 Lapho enza lesivumelwano sesikhashana, uNkulunkulu futhi waphawula lomgomo ovusa amadlingozi: “Uma nilalela nokulalela izwi lami, nigcine isivumelwano sami, niyakuba-yigugu kimi . . . nibe-ngumbuso wabapristi kimi, nesizwe esingcwele.” (Eksodusi 19:5, 6) Yeka ithemba elihle! Isizwe sabapristi abangamakhosi. Nokho, lokho kwakuyoba kanjani? Njengoba uMthetho kamuva wachaza, isizwe esibusayo (sikaJuda) nesizwe sabapristi (sikaLevi) zabelwa imithwalo yemfanelo ehlukene. (Genesise 49:10; Eksodusi 28:43; Numeri 3:5-13) Akekho umuntu owayengaba yikho kokubili umbusi wabantu nompristi. Nokho, amazwi kaNkulunkulu kuEksodusi 19:5, 6 anikeza isizathu sokukholelwa ukuthi ngendlela ethile engembuliwe, labo abasesivumelwaneni soMthetho babeyoba nethuba lokuveza amalungu ‘ombuso wabapristi nesizwe esingcwele.’
Isivumelwano SikaDavide SoMbuso
19. Kwabhekiselwa kanjani ebukhosini ezivumelwaneni?
19 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJehova wanezela esinye isivumelwano esakhanyisa ngokwengeziwe indlela ayofeza ngayo injongo yakhe, kube isibusiso sethu saphakade. Sibonile ukuthi isivumelwano sika-Abrahama sakhomba phambili ebukhosini phakathi kwenzalo engokoqobo ka-Abrahama. (Genesise 17:6) Isivumelwano soMthetho futhi sabikezela amakhosi phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu, ngoba uMose watshela uIsrayeli: “Nxa ufikile [eZweni Lesithembiso], uthi: Ngiyakubeka inkosi phezu kwami njengazo zonke izizwe ezingizungezayo, uyakumbeka nokumbeka abeyinkosi phezu kwakho yena uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ayakumkhetha; . . . ungabeki phezu kwakho owezizwe.” (Duteronomi 17:14, 15) UNkulunkulu wayeyobulungiselela kanjani ubukhosi obunjalo, futhi babuyohlobana kanjani nesivumelwano sika-Abrahama?
20. UDavide nohlu lwakhe bangena kanjani kulendaba?
20 Nakuba inkosi yokuqala kwaIsrayeli kwakunguSawule wesizwe sakwaBenjamini, walandelwa uDavide onesibindi nothembekile wakwaJuda. (1 Samuweli 8:5; 9:1, 2; 10:1; 16:1, 13) Phakathi nokubusa kukaDavide, uJehova wakhetha ukwenza isivumelwano noDavide. Okokuqala wathi: “Ngiyakumisa inzalo yakho emva kwakho eyakuphuma ezibilinini zakho, ngiqinise umbuso wayo. Yiyo eyakwakhela igama lami indlu; ngiyakuqinisa isihlalo sobukhosi sombuso wayo kuze kube-phakade.” (2 Samuweli 7:12, 13) Njengoba kwaboniswa lapho, indodana kaDavide uSolomoni yaba inkosi elandelayo, futhi yasetshenziswa ekwakheni indlu, noma ithempeli, likaNkulunkulu eJerusalema. Nokho, kwakusenokwengeziwe.
21. Isivumelwano sikaDavide soMbuso senza ilungiselelo lani?
21 UJehova waqhubeka wenza lesivumelwano noDavide: “Indlu yakho nombuso wakho kuyakuqiniswa njalo phambi kwakho; isihlalo sakho sobukhosi siyakumiswa kuze kube-phakade.” (2 Samuweli 7:16) Ngokusobala, uNkulunkulu ngalendlela wayemisa uhlanga lwamakhosi kaIsrayeli emkhayeni kaDavide. Kwakungeke nje kube ukulandelana okunganqamuki kwamakhosi akwaDavide. Ekugcineni, kwakuyoza othile ohlwini lukaDavide owayezobusa “kuze kube-phakade, isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi [sasiyakuba] njengelanga phambi [kukaNkulunkulu].”—IHubo 89:20, 29, 34-36; Isaya 55:3, 4.
22. Isivumelwano noDavide sahlobana kanjani nohlu lweNzalo, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?
22 Khona-ke, kusobala ukuthi isivumelwano sikaDavide ngokuqhubekayo sagxiliswa ohlwini lweNzalo. Ngisho namaJuda ekhulu lokuqala leminyaka aqaphela ukuthi uMesiya kwakuyodingeka abe owohlu lwenzalo kaDavide. (Johane 7:41, 42) UJesu Kristu, ingxenye eyinhloko yenzalo yesivumelwano sika-Abrahama, wakufanelekela ukuba iNdlalifa yaphakade yaloMbuso kaDavide, njengoba ingelosi yakufakazela. (Luka 1:31-33) Kanjalo uJesu wazuza ilungelo lokubusa eZweni Lesithembiso, indawo yasemhlabeni uDavide ayebuse kuyo. Lokhu kufanele kwandise ukwethembela kwethu kuJesu; uyabusa, hhayi ngokugabadela okungemthetho, kodwa ngelungiselelo elingokomthetho elimisiwe, isivumelwano saphezulu.
23. Imiphi imibuzo nezindaba okusele okusadinga ukuxazululwa?
23 Siye sacabangela izivumelwano zaphezulu ezine kuphela eziphathelene nendlela uNkulunkulu ahlela ngayo ukufeza injongo yakhe yokuletha izibusiso zaphakade esintwini. Cishe, ungabona ukuthi lendaba ayiphelele. Kusasele imibuzo: Njengoba abantu baqhubeka bengaphelele, yimuphi umpristi noma umhlatshelo oyoke ukwazi ukukushintsha phakade lokho? Abantu bebeyokufanelekela kanjani ukuba ingxenye yenzalo ka-Abrahama? Ingabe sikhona isizathu sokukholelwa ukuthi ilungelo lokubusa laliyokwenaba ukuze lihlanganise okungaphezu nje kwendawo yasemhlabeni? Inzalo ka-Abrahama, kokubili ingxenye eyinhloko nengxenye yesibili, kwakungasiletha kanjani isibusiso kuzo “izizwe zonke zomhlaba,” kuhlanganise nathi ngabanye? Ake sibone.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Lesi isivumelwano sohlangothi olulodwa, njengoba kuhileleke umuntu oyedwa kuphela (uNkulunkulu) ekufezweni kwemibandela yaso.
b “Umqondo wesivumelwano wawuyisici esikhethekile senkolo yamaIsrayeli, okwakuyisona kuphela esasifuna ukwethembeka okuphelele futhi sivimbele ithuba elingenzeka lokwethembeka okumbaxa noma okuningi njengalokho okwakuvunyelwe kwezinye izinkolo.”—Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, Umqulu II, ikhasi 278.
Ithini Impendulo Yakho?
◻ isivumelwano sika-Abrahama sasibeka kanjani isisekelo sokwamukela kwethu izibusiso zaphakade?
◻ Yayiyini inzalo ka-Abrahama engokoqobo, engokwenyama? Inzalo engokomfanekiso?
◻ Kungani isivumelwano soMthetho sanezelwa esivumelwaneni sika-Abrahama?
◻ Isivumelwano sikaDavide soMbuso sayiqhubekisela kanjani phambili injongo kaNkulunkulu?
[Umdwebo ekhasini 13]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
Isivumelwano sase-Edene Genesise 3:15
ISivumelwano sika-Abrahama
Inzalo eyinhloko
Inzalo yesibili
Izibusiso zaphakade
[Umdwebo ekhasini 14]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
Isivumelwano sase-Edene Genesise 3:15
Isivumelwano sika-Abrahama
Isivumelwano soMthetho
Isivumelwano sikaDavide soMbuso
Inzalo eyinhloko
Inzalo yesibili
Izibusiso zaphakade
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
UNkulunkulu wenza isivumelwano noAbrahama othembekile ukuze afeze injongo yakhe ngenxa yesintu