“Bheka! Lona NguNkulunkulu Wethu”
Ukwaziswa okukhulunywe ngakho kulezi zihloko ezifundwayo ezimbili kusekelwe encwadini ethi Sondela KuJehova, eyakhululwa emihlanganweni yesigodi eyayingo-2002/03 emhlabeni wonke.—Bheka isihloko esithi “Yavala Igebe Enhliziyweni Yami,” ekhasini 20.
“Bheka! Lona nguNkulunkulu wethu. Sithembele kuye, uyosisindisa. Lona nguJehova.”—ISAYA 25:9.
1, 2. (a) UJehova wayibiza kanjani inzalamizi u-Abrahama, futhi lokhu kungasibangela ukuba sizibuze ukuthini? (b) IBhayibheli lisiqinisekisa kanjani ukuthi ubuhlobo obuseduze noNkulunkulu bungafinyeleleka?
“UMNGANE wami.” UJehova, uMdali wezulu nomhlaba, wayibiza kanjalo inzalamizi u-Abrahama. (Isaya 41:8) Cabanga nje—umuntu ongelutho ajabulele ubungane neNkosi EnguMbusi wendawo yonke! Ungase uzibuze, ‘Kungenzeka ukuba ngisondelane kanjalo noNkulunkulu?’
2 IBhayibheli liyasiqinisekisa ukuthi ubuhlobo obuseduze noNkulunkulu bungafinyeleleka. U-Abrahama waba nobuhlobo obunjalo ngoba “waba nokholo kuJehova.” (Jakobe 2:23) Nanamuhla, uJehova “usondelana nabaqotho.” (IzAga 3:32) KuJakobe 4:8, iBhayibheli liyasinxusa: “Sondelani kuNkulunkulu, naye uyosondela kini.” Kusobala ukuthi uma sithatha izinyathelo zokusondela kuJehova, uyosabela. Ngempela, uyosondela kithi. Kodwa ingabe la mazwi aphefumulelwe asho ukuthi yithina—abantu abanesono, abangaphelele—esithatha isinyathelo sokuqala? Lutho neze. Ukusondelana noJehova kwenzeka kuphela ngoba uNkulunkulu wethu onothando uye wathatha izinyathelo ezimbili ezibalulekile.—IHubo 25:14.
3. UJehova uthathe ziphi izinyathelo ezenza sikwazi ukujabulela ubungane naye?
3 Okokuqala, uJehova wahlela ukuba uJesu ‘anikele umphefumulo wakhe ube yisihlengo sabaningi.’ (Mathewu 20:28) Lowo mhlatshelo wesihlengo wenza sikwazi ukusondela kuNkulunkulu. IBhayibheli lithi: “Kepha thina, sinothando, ngoba yena wasithanda kuqala.” (1 Johane 4:19) Yebo, njengoba uNkulunkulu “asithanda kuqala,” wabeka isisekelo sokuba sakhe ubungane naye. Okwesibili, uJehova uzembulile kithi. Kunoma yibuphi ubungane esibakhayo, isibopho sisekelwa ekumazini ngempela omunye umuntu, ekuthandeni nasekwaziseni izimfanelo zakhe ezimenza ahluke. Ake ucabange ukuthi kusho ukuthini lokhu. Ukube uJehova ubenguNkulunkulu ocashile, ongaziwa, besingeke nhlobo sisondelane naye. Nokho, kunokuba azifihle, uJehova ufuna ukuba simazi. (Isaya 45:19) EZwini lakhe, iBhayibheli, uziveza ngezindlela esingaziqonda—okuwubufakazi bokuthi akagcini nje ngokusithanda kuphela kodwa futhi ufuna ukuba nathi simazi futhi simthande njengoBaba wethu wasezulwini.
4. Siyozizwa kanjani ngoJehova njengoba siya ngokuzazi kangcono izimfanelo zakhe?
4 Wake wambona umntwana omncane ekhombisa abangane bakhe uyise abese esho ngentokozo nangeqholo athi, “Ubaba wami lona”? Abakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu banazo zonke izizathu zokuzizwa ngendlela efanayo ngoJehova. IBhayibheli libikezela isikhathi lapho abantu abathembekile beyobabaza: “Bheka! Lona nguNkulunkulu wethu.” (Isaya 25:8, 9) Lapho siziqonda ngokwengeziwe izimfanelo zikaJehova, kulapho lapho siyoba khona nomuzwa ojulile wokuthi sinoBaba ongcono noMngane omkhulu kunabo bonke esingabacabanga. Yebo, ukuziqonda izimfanelo zikaJehova kusinika izizathu eziningi zokusondela kuye. Ngakho ake sihlole ukuthi iBhayibheli lizembula kanjani izimfanelo zikaJehova eziyinhloko—amandla, ubulungisa, ukuhlakanipha, nothando. Kulesi sihloko, sizodingida izimfanelo ezintathu zokuqala.
“Uphakeme Ngamandla”
5. Kungani kufaneleka ukuthi nguJehova kuphela obizwa ‘ngoMninimandla onke,’ futhi uwasebenzisa ngaziphi izindlela amandla akhe ababazekayo?
5 UJehova “uphakeme ngamandla.” (Jobe 37:23) UJeremiya 10:6 uthi: “O Jehova akekho onjengawe nganoma iyiphi indlela. Wena umkhulu, futhi igama lakho likhulu ngamandla.” Ngokungafani nanoma isiphi isidalwa, uJehova unamandla angenamkhawulo. Ngaleso sizathu, nguye yedwa obizwa ngokuthi ‘uMninimandla onke.’ (IsAmbulo 15:3) UJehova usebenzisa amandla akhe ababazekayo ukuze adale, abhubhise, avikele, futhi avuselele. Cabanga ngezibonelo ezimbili nje kuphela—amandla akhe okudala namandla akhe okuvikela.
6, 7. Linamandla kangakanani ilanga, futhi lifakazela liphi iqiniso elibalulekile?
6 Lapho uma ngaphandle elangeni elishisayo lasehlobo, uzwani esikhumbeni sakho? Ukushisa kwelanga. Nokho, empeleni uzwa imiphumela yamandla kaJehova okudala. Linamandla kangakanani ilanga? Ebuthunjini balo, cishe lingu-15 000 000 °C. Ukube ubungaqhephula iqhezwana lelanga elingangekhanda likakhanjana ulibeke lapha emhlabeni, ubungeke usondele ngamakhilomitha angu-140 kulelo qhezwana lokushisa kodwa kungenzeki lutho kuwe! Umzuzwana ngamunye, ilanga likhipha amandla alingana nokuqhuma kwamabhomu enyukliya ayizigidi ezingamakhulu amaningi. Noma kunjalo, umhlaba uzungeza ebangeni elifanele kuleyo mbawula eshisa bhè. Ukube beliseduze kakhulu, amanzi asemhlabeni abeyohwamuka; ukube beliqhele kakhulu, amanzi abeyoba yiqhwa. Kokubili bekuyokwenza iplanethi yethu ingabi nezinto eziphilayo.
7 Nakuba kona kanye ukuphila kwabo kuncike elangeni, abantu abaningi balithatha kalula. Ngenxa yalokho, abakuboni lokho elingasifundisa khona. IHubo 74:16 lithi ngoJehova: “Wena . . . walungiselela inkanyiso, yebo ilanga.” Yebo, ilanga likhazimulisa uJehova, “uMenzi wezulu nomhlaba.” (IHubo 146:6) Noma kunjalo, lingenye nje yezinto eziningi ezidaliwe ezisifundisa ngamandla amakhulu kaJehova. Lapho sifunda okwengeziwe ngamandla kaJehova okudala, ijula nangokwengeziwe inhlonipho yethu.
8, 9. (a) Imuphi umfanekiso-magama wesisa osibonisa ukuzimisela kukaJehova ukuvikela nokunakekela abakhulekeli bakhe? (b) Umalusi wezikhathi zeBhayibheli wayezinakekela kanjani izimvu zakhe, futhi lokhu kusifundisani ngoMalusi wethu Omkhulu?
8 UJehova ubuye asebenzise amandla akhe amakhulu ukuze avikele izinceku zakhe futhi azinakekele. IBhayibheli lisebenzisa imifanekiso-magama ecacile kodwa ethinta inhliziyo lapho lichaza izithembiso zikaJehova zokunakekela okuvikelayo. Ngokwesibonelo, bheka u-Isaya 40:11. UJehova uzifanisa nomalusi bese abantu bakhe ebafanisa nezimvu. Siyafunda: “[INkosi uJehova] iyokwelusa umhlambi wayo njengomalusi. Ngengalo yayo iyoqoqela ndawonye amawundlu; iwathwale esifubeni sayo. Izindlezane iyozihola ngokunakekela.” Uyakubona yini ngeso lengqondo lokho okuchazwe kuleli vesi?
9 Zimbalwa izilwane ezingakwazi nhlobo ukuzivikela njengezimvu ezifuyiwe. Umalusi wezikhathi zeBhayibheli kwakudingeka ukuba abe nesibindi ukuze avikele izimvu zakhe ezimpisini, emabhereni, nasezingonyameni. (1 Samuweli 17:34-36; Johane 10:10-13) Kodwa kwakunezikhathi lapho ukuvikela nokunakekela izimvu kwakudinga isisa. Ngokwesibonelo, uma imvu izala ikude nesibaya, umalusi wayelivikela kanjani iwundlu elisanda kuzalwa elingenakuzivikela? Wayeligona ‘esifubeni sakhe’—emakhukhwini asengxenyeni engenhla yengubo yakhe, mhlawumbe izinsuku eziningi. Kodwa lalifika kanjani iwundlu elincane esifubeni sikamalusi? Iwundlu lalingase liye kumalusi mhlawumbe lize lizigudle emlenzeni wakhe. Nokho, ngumalusi okwakumelwe agobe, elule izandla abese elifukula, alibeke esifubeni sakhe lapho lizolondeka khona. Yeka umfanekiso wesisa wokuzimisela kukaMalusi wethu Omkhulu ukuvikela nokunakekela izinceku zakhe!
10. UJehova usinika siphi isivikelo namuhla, futhi kungani isivikelo esinjalo sibaluleke nakakhulu?
10 UJehova wenze okungaphezu kokuthembisa nje isivikelo. Ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli, wabonisa ngezindlela eziyisimangaliso ukuthi uyakwazi ‘ukukhulula ekulingweni abantu abanokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.’ (2 Petru 2:9) Kuthiwani ngesikhathi sanamuhla? Siyazi ukuthi akawasebenzisi amandla akhe ukuze asivikele kuzo zonke izinhlekelele manje. Kepha usinikeza okuthile okubaluleke ngokwengeziwe—isivikelo esingokomoya. UNkulunkulu wethu onothando usivikela ezingozini ezingokomoya ngokusihlomisa ngesikudingayo ukuze sikhuthazelele izilingo futhi silonde ubuhlobo esinabo naye. Ngokwesibonelo, uLuka 11:13 uthi: “Uma nina, nakuba nibabi, nikwazi ukunika abantwana benu izipho ezinhle, kangakanani-ke ngoBaba osezulwini, uyobanika umoya ongcwele labo abawucela kuye!” Lawo mandla amakhulu angasenza sikwazi ukubhekana nanoma isiphi isilingo noma inkinga esihlangana nayo. (2 Korinte 4:7) Ngaleyo ndlela uJehova ulondoloza ukuphila kwethu, hhayi nje iminyaka embalwa emifushane, kodwa kuze kube phakade. Sinalelo themba engqondweni, singabheka noma yikuphi ukuhlupheka kulesi simiso ‘njengokomzuzwana futhi okulula.’ (2 Korinte 4:17) Asikhangwa yini uNkulunkulu owasebenzisa ngothando kangaka amandla akhe ukuze kuzuze thina?
“UJehova Ungumthandi Wobulungisa”
11, 12. (a) Kungani ubulungisa bukaJehova busisondeza kuye? (b) UDavide wafinyelela siphi isiphetho ngobulungisa bukaJehova, futhi angasiduduza kanjani la mazwi aphefumulelwe?
11 UJehova wenza okulungile nokufanelekile, futhi ukwenza ngokungaguquki nangokungakhethi. Ubulungisa bukaNkulunkulu abuyona imfanelo engenamzwelo, enonya esiqhelisela kude naye, kodwa buyimfanelo esenza simthande uJehova sisondele kuye. IBhayibheli liyichaza ngokucacile indlela ejabulisa ngayo le mfanelo. Ngakho ake sicabangele izindlela ezintathu uJehova abubonisa ngazo ubulungisa bakhe.
12 Okokuqala, ubulungisa bukaJehova bumenza athembeke futhi abe qotho ezincekwini zakhe. Umhubi uDavide wazibonela ngawakhe lesi sici sobulungisa bukaJehova. Ngokwalokho okwamehlela nokutadisha kwakhe izindlela zikaNkulunkulu, isiphi isiphetho uDavide afinyelela kuso? Wathi: “UJehova ungumthandi wobulungisa, futhi ngeke abashiye abaqotho bakhe. Ngokuqinisekile bayoqashwa kuze kube nini nanini.” (IHubo 37:28) Yeka isiqinisekiso esiduduzayo! UNkulunkulu wethu akasoze nanini abalahla labo abaqotho kuye. Ngakho singathembela ekusondelaneni kwakhe nathi nasekunakekeleni kwakhe kothando. Ubulungisa bakhe buyasiqinisekisa ngalokhu!—IzAga 2:7, 8.
13. Kubonakala kanjani ukukhathalela kukaJehova abantu abaswele eMthethweni awunika ama-Israyeli?
13 Okwesibili, ubulungisa bukaNkulunkulu buyazwelana nabahluphekile. Ukukhathalela kukaJehova abantu abaswele kubonakala eMthethweni awunika ama-Israyeli. Ngokwesibonelo, uMthetho wawunamalungiselelo ayeqinisekisa ukuthi izintandane nabafelokazi bayanakekelwa. (Duteronomi 24:17-21) Eqaphela indlela eyayingadonsa kanzima ngayo imikhaya enjalo, uJehova ngokwakhe waba uMahluleli noMvikeli onguYise wayo. (Duteronomi 10:17, 18) Wawadonsa ngendlebe ama-Israyeli ngokuthi uma ehlukumeza abesifazane nezingane ezingenabani, wayezokuzwa nakanjani ukukhala kwabo. Ngokwalokho okulotshwe ku-Eksodusi 22:22-24 wathi: “Intukuthelo yami iyovutha impela.” Nakuba intukuthelo ingekho phakathi kwezimfanelo zikaNkulunkulu ezivelele, izenzo zamabomu ezingenabulungisa zimvusela ulaka olufanele, ikakhulu uma izisulu kungabantu abangenabani.—IHubo 103:6.
14. Yibuphi ubufakazi obuphawuleka ngempela obubonisa ukungakhethi kukaJehova?
14 Okwesithathu, kuDuteronomi 10:17, iBhayibheli lisiqinisekisa ngokuthi uJehova ‘akaphathi noyedwa umuntu ngokukhetha futhi akamukeli isifumbathiso.’ Ngokungafani nabantu abaningi abanamandla nethonya, uJehova akaxhoshwa ingcebo noma ukubukeka kwangaphandle. Akanalo nhlobo ubandlululo noma ukwenzelela. Ubufakazi obuphawuleka ngempela bokungakhethi kwakhe yilobu: Ithuba lokuba ngabakhulekeli bakhe beqiniso, elihambisana nethemba lokuphila okungapheli, alivulekele kuphela izitatanyiswa ezimbalwa. Kunalokho, izEnzo 10:34, 35 zithi: “UNkulunkulu akakhethi, kodwa ezizweni zonke umuntu omesabayo futhi enze ukulunga uyamukeleka kuye.” Leli thuba livulekele bonke abantu kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinjani isimo sabo senhlalo, ibala labo lesikhumba, noma izwe abahlala kulo. Akubona yini ubulungisa beqiniso obusezingeni eliphakeme kakhulu lobo? Ngempela, ukuqonda kangcono ubulungisa bukaJehova kusisondeza kuye!
‘O Ukujula Kokuhlakanipha KukaNkulunkulu!’
15. Kuyini ukuhlakanipha, futhi uJehova ukubonisa kanjani?
15 Njengoba kulotshwe kweyabaseRoma 11:33, umphostoli uPawulu washukumiseleka ukuba ababaze athi: ‘O ukujula kokuhlakanipha nolwazi lukaNkulunkulu!’ Yebo, njengoba sicabanga ngezici ezihlukahlukene zokuhlakanipha kukaJehova okukhulu, sivele sifikelwe ukuthuthumela. Kodwa-ke, singayichaza kanjani le mfanelo? Ukuhlakanipha kuhilela ukusebenzisa ulwazi, ikhono lokwahlukanisa, nokuqonda. Esebenzisa ububanzi bolwazi lwakhe nokujula kokuqonda kwakhe, uJehova wenza izinqumo ezingcono kakhulu ngaso sonke isikhathi, azifeze ngezindlela ezingcono kakhulu kunalokho esingakucabanga.
16, 17. Indalo kaJehova ikufakazela kanjani ukuhlakanipha kwakhe okukhulu? Nikeza isibonelo.
16 Yibuphi obunye ubufakazi obukhethekile bokuhlakanipha kukaJehova okukhulu? IHubo 104:24 lithi: “O Jehova, yeka ukuthi miningi kangakanani imisebenzi yakho! Yonke uyenzé ngokuhlakanipha. Umhlaba ugcwele imikhiqizo yakho.” Ngempela, lapho sifunda okwengeziwe ngezinto uJehova azenzile, kuba yilapho kusesabisa nangokwengeziwe ukuhlakanipha kwakhe. Angithi nososayensi kuningi abakufunde ngokutadisha indalo kaJehova! Kuze kube nomkhakha wobunjiniyela, obizwa ngokuthi i-biomimetics, ozama ukulingisa imiklamo yezinto zemvelo.
17 Ngokwesibonelo, mhlawumbe usuke wagqolozela ubuhle bolwembu wabamba ongezansi. Ngempela yisimanga somklamo. Ezinye izintambo zolwembu ezibukeka zintekenteke ziqine kakhulu kunensimbi, ziqine kakhulu kunokotini abenza izingubo ezivikela ezinhlamvini zesibhamu. Kusho ukuthini lokho ngempela? Cabanga nje uma ulwembu lunganwetshwa luze lube ngangenetha lokudoba. Lolo lwembu lungaba namandla kangangokuba lungakwazi ukuvimba indiza emoyeni! Yebo, zonke lezo zinto uJehova uzenze “ngokuhlakanipha.”
18. Kubonakala kanjani ukuhlakanipha kukaJehova ekusebenziseni kwakhe abantu ukuloba iZwi lakhe, iBhayibheli?
18 Ubufakazi obukhulu kunabo bonke bokuhlakanipha kukaJehova butholakala eZwini lakhe, iBhayibheli. Iseluleko esihlakaniphile esitholakala emakhasini alo ngempela sisibonisa indlela engcono kakhulu yokuphila. (Isaya 48:17) Kodwa ukuhlakanipha kukaJehova okungenakuqhathaniswa kuyabonakala nasendleleni okwalotshwa ngayo iBhayibheli. Kanjani? Ngokuhlakanipha kwakhe, uJehova wakhetha ukusebenzisa abantu ukuba balobe iZwi lakhe. Ukube wayesebenzise izingelosi ukuba zilobe iZwi eliphefumulelwe, ingabe iBhayibheli beliyosikhanga njengoba kunjalo manje? Kuyavunywa, izingelosi zaziyochaza uJehova ngokwendlela ezimbona ngayo phezulu futhi zisho indlela ezizinikele ngayo kuye. Kodwa besiyokwazi ngempela yini ukuqonda umbono wezidalwa zomoya eziphelele, ezilwazi lwazo, okuhlangenwe nakho kwazo, namandla azo kungaphezu kakhulu kokwethu?—Hebheru 2:6, 7.
19. Isiphi isibonelo esibonisa ukuthi ukusetshenziswa kwabalobi abangabantu kwenza iBhayibheli lithinte imizwa futhi likhange kakhulu?
19 Ukusetshenziswa kwabalobi abangabantu kwenza iBhayibheli lithinte imizwa futhi likhange kakhulu. Abalobi balo babengabantu abanemizwa enjengeyethu. Njengoba babengaphelele, babhekana nezilingo nezingcindezi ezifana nezethu. Kwezinye izimo, babhala ngemizwa nangemishikashika yabo uqobo, bethi “mina,” “ngi-.” (2 Korinte 12:7-10) Ngakho babhala amazwi okwakungekho ngelosi eyayingawaveza. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngamazwi kaDavide alotshwe kumaHubo 51. Ngokombhalo ongenhla kwalo, uDavide waqamba leli hubo ngemva kokuba enze isono esingathí sina. Wathulula sonke isifuba sakhe, eveza ukudabuka okujulile futhi encenga uNkulunkulu ukuba amthethelele. Amavesi 2 no-3 athi: “Ngigezisise esiphambekweni sami, ungihlanze ngisho nasesonweni sami. Ngoba mina ngiyazazi izeqo zami, nesono sami siphambi kwami njalo.” Phawula ivesi 5: “Bheka! Ngazalwa ngezinseka nginesiphambeko, umama wangikhulelwa esonweni.” Ivesi 17 liyanezela: “Imihlatshelo eya kuNkulunkulu iwumoya ophukile; O Nkulunkulu, inhliziyo ephukile nechobozekile ngeke uyidelele.” Awuthintwa yini yilolo sizi lomlobi? Ubani nje ongasho amazwi anje asuka enhliziyweni, ngaphandle komuntu ongaphelele?
20, 21. (a) Kungani kungase kuthiwe iBhayibheli linokuhlakanipha kukaJehova, yize kwasetshenziswa abalobi abangabantu? (b) Kuzoxoxwa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?
20 Ngokusebenzisa kwakhe abantu abangaphelele kanjalo, uJehova wasinika lokho kanye esikudingayo—umbhalo ‘ophefumulelwe uNkulunkulu’ kodwa ube unezici zobuntu. (2 Thimothewu 3:16) Yebo, labo balobi babeqondiswa umoya ongcwele. Ngakho baloba ukuhlakanipha kukaJehova, hhayi okwabo. Singathembela ngokuphelele kulokho kuhlakanipha. Kungaphezu kakhulu kokuhlakanipha kwethu kangangokuthi uNkulunkulu usinxusa ngothando: “Thembela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, ungenciki kokwakho ukuqonda. Mqaphele kuzo zonke izindlela zakho, yena uyokwenza izindlela zakho ziqonde.” (IzAga 3:5, 6) Ngokulalela leso seluleko esihlakaniphile, sisondela kuNkulunkulu wethu ohlakaniphe ngaphezu kwabantu bonke.
21 Imfanelo kaJehova emenza athandeke kakhulu nenhle kunazo zonke uthando. Ukuthi uJehova ulubonise kanjani uthando kuzoxoxwa ngakho esihlokweni esilandelayo.
Uyakhumbula?
• UJehova wathatha ziphi izinyathelo ezenza sikwazi ukwakha ubungane naye?
• Iziphi ezinye zezibonelo zamandla kaJehova okudala nezamandla akhe okuvikela?
• UJehova ubusebenzisa kanjani ubulungisa bakhe?
• Kubonakala kanjani ukuhlakanipha kukaJehova endalweni yakhe naseBhayibhelini?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Njengomalusi ogona iwundlu esifubeni sakhe, uJehova uzinakekela ngesisa izimvu zaKhe
[Isithombe ekhasini 13]
Ukuhlakanipha kukaJehova kubonakala endleleni elalotshwa ngayo iBhayibheli