Obani Abayosinda ‘Osukwini LukaJehova’?

“Luhlobo luni lwabantu okufanele nibe yilo ezenzweni zokuziphatha ezingcwele nasezenzweni zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, nilindele futhi nikugcine kuseduze engqondweni ukuba khona kosuku lukaJehova!”—2 PETRU 3:11, 12.

 1. Obani abaye basebenza ngomoya namandla ka-Eliya?

UJEHOVA UNKULUNKULU uye wakhetha phakathi kwesintu abantu abayoba izindlalifa kanye neNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu, eMbusweni wasezulwini. (Roma 8:16, 17) Lapho esesemhlabeni, amaKristu agcotshiwe aye asebenza ngomoya namandla ka-Eliya. (Luka 1:17) Esihlokweni esandulele, siphawule ukufana okuthile phakathi kwemisebenzi yawo neyomprofethi u-Eliya. Kodwa kuthiwani ngomsebenzi walowo owalandela u-Eliya, umprofethi u-Elisha?—1 AmaKhosi 19:15, 16.

 2. (a) Sasiyini isimangaliso sokugcina sika-Eliya, nesokuqala sika-Elisha? (b) Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona bokuthi u-Eliya akayanga ezulwini?

² Isimangaliso sokugcina esenziwa ngu-Eliya kwakungesokuhlukanisa amanzi oMfula iJordani ngokuwashaya ngengubo yakhe. Lokhu kwenza ukuba u-Eliya no-Elisha bakwazi ukuwela emhlabathini owomile. Njengoba behamba ohlangothini olungasempumalanga lomfula, isivunguvungu sathatha u-Eliya samyisa kwenye indawo emhlabeni. (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 15 elinesihloko esithi “Yimaphi Amazulu U-Eliya Akhuphukela Kuwo?”) Ingubo ka-Eliya yasala. Lapho u-Elisha eshaya iJordani ngayo, amanzi alo aphinda ahlukana, enza ukuba akwazi ukuphindela emuva ehamba emhlabathini owomile. Lesi simangaliso sakwenza kwacaca ukuthi u-Elisha wayengene esikhundleni sika-Eliya ekuthuthukiseni ukukhulekela kweqiniso kwa-Israyeli.—2 AmaKhosi 2:6-15.

Izimfanelo Zokuhlonipha UNkulunkulu Zibalulekile

 3. UPawulu noPetru bathini ngokuba khona kukaJesu ‘nosuku lukaJehova’?

³ Emakhulwini eminyaka ngemva kwezinsuku zika-Eliya no-Elisha, umphostoli uPawulu noPetru bahlanganisa “usuku lukaJehova” oluzayo nokuba khona kukaJesu Kristu kanye ‘namazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha’ okwakuseza ngaleso sikhathi. (2 Thesalonika 2:1, 2; 2 Petru 3:10-13) Ukuze sisinde osukwini olukhulu lukaJehova—lapho uNkulunkulu ebhubhisa izitha zakhe futhi esindisa abantu bakhe—kumelwe sifune uJehova futhi sibonise ukuthobeka nokulunga. (Zefaniya 2:1-3) Kodwa kunezimfanelo ezengeziwe ezivelelayo njengoba sicabangela izenzakalo ezihilela umprofethi u-Elisha.

 4. Intshiseko ifeza yiphi indima enkonzweni kaJehova?

⁴ Intshiseko ngenkonzo kaNkulunkulu ibalulekile ukuze sisinde ‘osukwini lukaJehova.’ U-Eliya no-Elisha babeshiseka enkonzweni kaJehova. Ngentshiseko efanayo, namuhla insali yamaKristu agcotshiwe inikela inkonzo engcwele kuJehova futhi iyahola ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle.a Kusukela maphakathi nawo-1930, iye yakhuthaza bonke abamukela isigijimi soMbuso benethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni ukuba bazinikezele kuJehova futhi babhapathizwe. (Marku 8:34; 1 Petru 3:21) Izigidi ziye zasabela kahle kulesi sikhuthazo. Zake zaba sebumnyameni obungokomoya futhi zifile esonweni, kodwa manje ziye zafunda iqiniso likaNkulunkulu, zaba nethemba lokuphila okungunaphakade epharadesi lasemhlabeni, futhi ziyashiseka enkonzweni kaJehova. (IHubo 37:29; IsAmbulo 21:3-5) Ngentshiseko yazo, umoya wokubambisana, nowokungenisa izihambi neminye imisebenzi emihle, ziletha ukuqabuleka okukhulu kubafowabo bakaKristu abangokomoya abasesemhlabeni.—Mathewu 25:31-46.

 5. Kungani kubaluleke kangaka ukwenzela ‘abafowabo’ bakaJesu okuhle, futhi yisiphi isibonelo sasosukwini luka-Elisha esinaso?

⁵ Labo abenzela ‘abafowabo’ bakaJesu izinto ezinhle, ngenxa yokuthi laba abagcotshiwe bangabalandeli bakhe, banethemba lokusinda ‘osukwini lukaJehova.’ Umbhangqwana oshadile wasemzaneni waseShunemi wabusiswa kakhulu ngenxa yokuba nomusa nokungenisa u-Elisha nesikhonzi sakhe. Lombhangqwana wawungenandodana, futhi indoda yayisikhulile. Kodwa u-Elisha wathembisa owesifazane waseShunemi ukuthi wayeyobeletha indodana, futhi lokhu kwenzeka. Lapho lendodana okuwukuphela kwayo ifa ngemva kweminyaka ethile, u-Elisha waya eShunemi wafike wayivusa. (2 AmaKhosi 4:8-17, 32-37) Yeka imivuzo ecebile ngenxa yokubonisa umoya wokungenisa izihambi ku-Elisha!

6, 7. Yisiphi isibonelo esabekwa uNahamani, futhi sithintana kanjani nokusinda ‘osukwini lukaJehova’?

⁶ Kudingeka ukuthobeka ukuze samukele isiqondiso esisekelwe eBhayibhelini esivela ‘kubafowabo’ bakaKristu ngethemba lokusinda osukwini lukaJehova. Induna yempi yase-Aramu eyayinochoko, uNahamani, kwadingeka ibonise ukuthobeka ukuze ilandele ukusikisela kwentombazane yakwa-Israyeli eyisithunjwa, kokuthola ukwelashwa ngokuya kwa-Israyeli iyofuna u-Elisha. Kunokuba aphume endlini yakhe ahlangabeze uNahamani, u-Elisha wamthumelela lomyalezo: “Hamba ugeze kasikhombisa eJordani; kuyakuthi inyama ibuyele kuwe, uhlambuluke.” (2 AmaKhosi 5:10) UNahamani wazizwa ehlisiwe, futhi wathukuthela, kodwa ngemva kokuba ngokuthobeka ehambile wayozicwilisa eJordani kasikhombisa, “inyama yakhe yabuya yaba-njengenyama yomntwana omncane, wahlambuluka.” (2 AmaKhosi 5:14) Ngaphambi kokubuyela ekhaya, uNahamani waphindela emuva eSamariya eyobonga umprofethi kaJehova. Ezimisele ukuba angazizuzeli izinto ezibonakalayo ngamandla awanikwe uNkulunkulu, u-Elisha waphuma wahlangabeza uNahamani kodwa wenqaba ukwamukela izipho. Ngokuthobeka, uNahamani watshela u-Elisha: “Inceku yakho ayisayikunikela ngomnikelo wokushiswa nomhlatshelo kwabanye onkulunkulu, kuJehova kuphela.”—2 AmaKhosi 5:17.

⁷ Ngokulandela ngokuthobeka iseluleko esingokomBhalo sabagcotshiwe, izigidi zibusiswa ngokucebile namuhla. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngokubonisa ukholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu wesihlengo, laba abanhliziyo ziqotho baye bahlanzwa ngokomoya. Manje bajabulela ilungelo lokuba abangane bakaJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu. (IHubo 15:1, 2; Luka 16:9) Futhi ukuzinikela kwabo kuNkulunkulu nasenkonzweni yakhe kuyovuzwa ngokuba basindiswe ekubhujisweni okungunaphakade okuseduze ukuba kufikele izoni eziqhoshayo nezingaphenduki ‘osukwini lukaJehova’ olusondelayo.—Luka 13:24; 1 Johane 1:7.

“Ubani Onami Na? Ngubani?”

 8. (a) Labo abayosinda ‘osukwini lukaJehova’ banasiphi isimo sengqondo ngokwenza intando yaphezulu? (b) Yikuphi ukuthunywa okwanikezwa uJehu? (c) Kwakuzokwenzekani kuJezebeli?

⁸ Labo abanethemba lokusinda ‘osukwini lukaJehova’ kumelwe futhi bathathe isinyathelo esiwujuqu sokwenza intando yaphezulu. U-Eliya wabikezela ngesibindi ukubhujiswa komkhaya weNkosi u-Ahabi ongababulali futhi okhulekela uBali. (1 AmaKhosi 21:17-26) Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba ubhujiswe, u-Elisha, owayelandela u-Eliya esikhundleni, kwadingeka afeze umsebenzi othile owawungakaphothulwa. (1 AmaKhosi 19:15-17) Lapho kufika isikhathi sikaJehova esifanele, u-Elisha wayala isikhonzi ukuba siyogcoba induna yempi uJehu njengenkosi entsha yakwa-Israyeli. Ngemva kokuthela amafutha ekhanda likaJehu, isithunywa samtshela: “Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, uthi: Ngikugcobile ube-yinkosi yabantu bakaJehova kwaIsrayeli. Uyakuchitha indlu ka-Ahabi inkosi yakho ukuba ngiphindisele igazi lezinceku zami abaprofethi negazi lezinceku zonke zikaJehova esandleni sikaIzebeli. Yonke indlu ka-Ahabi iyakubhubha.” Indlovukazi embi uJezebeli (u-Izebeli) yayizophonswa ezinjeni, ingangcwatshwa ngendlela ehloniphekile.—2 AmaKhosi 9:1-10.

 9, 10. Amazwi ka-Eliya agcwaliseka kanjani kuJezebeli?

⁹ Amadoda ayekanye noJehu akwamukela ukugcotshwa kwakhe futhi amemezela ukuthi useyinkosi entsha yakwa-Israyeli. Ethatha isinyathelo esiwujuqu, uJehu waphuthuma eJizreyeli eyoqala umsebenzi wakhe wokubulala abaholi abayizihlubuki bokukhulekelwa kukaBali. Owokuqala owezwa umcibisholo obulalayo kaJehu kwaba yindodana ka-Ahabi, iNkosi uJehoramu. Yaphuma emzini ngenqola iyobuza ukuthi uJehu wayeze ngokuthula yini. “Ukuhlala kahle kuni, kusekuningi ukufeba nokulumba kukanyoko uIzebeli, na?” kuphendula uJehu. Kulokho, umcibisholo kaJehu wadabula inhliziyo kaJehoramu.—2 AmaKhosi 9:22-24.

¹⁰ Abesifazane abahlonipha uNkulunkulu bayakugwema ukuba njengoJezebeli noma ukuba njengabafana naye. (IsAmbulo 2:18-23) Ngesikhathi uJehu efika eJizreyeli, uJezebeli wayesezame ukuzenza akhange. Elunguza phansi ngewindi, wabingelela uJehu ngosongo olucashile. UJehu wabuza izikhonzi zikaJezebeli: “Ubani onami na? Ngubani?” Ngokushesha, kwalunguza izinduna ezimbili noma ezintathu. Ingabe zazisohlangothini lukaJehu? “Mphonseni phansi,” eyala. Kulokho, zathatha isinyathelo esiwujuqu, zamjikijela ngewindi uJezebeli omubi. Wanyathelwa cishe yizinselo zamahhashi. Lapho abantu befika bezomngcwaba, ‘abafumananga-lutho, kuphela inhloko, nezinyawo, nezintende zezandla zakhe.’ Yeka ukugcwaliseka okuphawulekayo kwamazwi ka-Eliya: “Izinja ziyakuyidla inyama kaIzebeli”!—2 AmaKhosi 9:30-37.

Ukusekela Ukukhulekela Kweqiniso Ngokusuka Enhliziyweni

11. Wayengubani uJehonadaba, futhi wakubonisa kanjani ukusekela kwakhe ukukhulekela kweqiniso?

¹¹ Labo abanethemba lokusinda ‘osukwini lukaJehova’ baphile phakade emhlabeni kumelwe basekele ukukhulekela kweqiniso ngenhliziyo yonke. Kumelwe babe njengoJehonadaba, noma uJonadaba, umkhulekeli kaJehova owayengeyena umIsrayeli. Njengoba uJehu ayeqhubeka efeza ukuthunywa kwakhe ngentshiseko, uJehonadaba wayefuna ukubonisa ukumamukela nokumsekela kwakhe. Ngakho waphuma wayohlangabeza inkosi entsha yakwa-Israyeli, eyayiphikelele eSamariya iyobulala abaseleyo bendlu ka-Ahabi. Ebona uJehonadaba, uJehu wabuza: “Inhliziyo yakho ilungelene nenhliziyo yami njengeyami ilungelene neyakho na?” Impendulo kaJehonadaba evumayo yashukumisela uJehu ukuba elule isandla agibelise uJehonadaba enqoleni yakhe yempi, ethi: “Hamba nami, ubone ukushisekela kwami uJehova.” Ngaphandle kokulibala, uJehonadaba wamukela ilungelo lokubonisa ukusekela kwakhe umbhubhisi kaJehova ogcotshiwe.—2 AmaKhosi 10:15-17.

12. Kungani kufanelekile ukuba uJehova afune ukuzinikela okukhethekile?

¹² Ngokuqinisekile ukusekela ukukhulekela kweqiniso ngokusuka enhliziyweni kuyafaneleka, ngoba uJehova unguMdali noMbusi Wendawo Yonke, ofuna ngokufanelekile nofanelwe ukuzinikela kwethu okukhethekile. Wayala ama-Israyeli: “Ungazenzeli izithombe ezibaziweyo, namfanekiso wokusezulwini ngaphezulu, nowokusemhlabeni phansi, nowokusemanzini phansi komhlaba; ungazikhothameli, ungazikhonzi, ngokuba mina-Jehova uNkulunkulu wakho nginguNkulunkulu onomhawu [“ofuna ukuzinikela okukhethekile,” NW].” (Eksodusi 20:4, 5) Labo abanethemba lokusinda ‘osukwini lukaJehova’ kumelwe bamkhulekele ngokukhethekile, benze kanjalo “ngomoya nangeqiniso.” (Johane 4:23, 24) Kumelwe bakusekele ngokuqinile ukukhulekela kweqiniso, njengo-Eliya, u-Elisha noJehonadaba.

13. Njengoba inhliziyo kaJehonadaba yayikuJehu, obani ngokufanayo abamukela iNkosi yobuMesiya futhi bakubonisa kanjani lokhu?

¹³ Ngemva kokubulawa kwendlu ka-Ahabi, iNkosi uJehu yathatha ezinye izinyathelo zokubona abakhulekeli bakaBali nokuqeda lenkolo yamanga kwa-Israyeli. (2 AmaKhosi 10:18-28) Namuhla, iNkosi yasezulwini uJesu Kristu iye yamiswa ukuba ibhubhise izitha zikaJehova futhi ilwele ubukhosi baKhe. Njengoba inhliziyo kaJehonadaba yayikuJehu, namuhla “isixuku esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu’ zikaJesu simamukela ngenhliziyo yonke uKristu njengeNkosi yobuMesiya futhi sibambisana nabafowabo abangokomoya emhlabeni. (IsAmbulo 7:9, 10; Johane 10:16) Ubufakazi balokhu sibunikeza ngokuqhuba inkolo yeqiniso nokuhlanganyela ngentshiseko enkonzweni yobuKristu, sixwayise izitha zikaNkulunkulu “ngosuku lukaJehova” olusondela ngokushesha.—Mathewu 10:32, 33; Roma 10:9, 10.

Izenzakalo Ezimangalisayo Zisemnyango!

14. Inkolo yamanga ilindelwe yini?

¹⁴ UJehu wathatha isinyathelo sokuqeda ukukhulekelwa kukaBali kwa-Israyeli. Osukwini lwethu, ngoJehu Omkhulu, uJesu Kristu, uNkulunkulu uzobhubhisa iBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. Maduze nje sizobona ukugcwaliseka kwamazwi engelosi kumphostoli uJohane: “Izimpondo eziyishumi owazibona, nesilo sasendle, lezi ziyosizonda isifebe [iBabiloni Elikhulu] futhi ziyosenza sibe esichithakele nesihamba-ze, futhi ziyodla ziqede izingxenye zaso eziyinyama futhi ziyosishisa ngokuphelele ngomlilo. Ngoba uNkulunkulu ukufake ezinhliziyweni zazo ukuba zifeze umcabango wakhe, nokuba zifeze ngisho nomcabango wazo owodwa ngokunika isilo sasendle umbuso wazo, kuze kube yilapho esefezekile amazwi kaNkulunkulu.” (IsAmbulo 17:16, 17; 18:2-5) “Izimpondo eziyishumi” zifanekisela imibuso yezombangazwe elungele impi, ebusa umhlaba. Nakuba njengamanje inobuhlobo bokuphinga ngokomoya neBabiloni Elikhulu, izinsuku zayo zibaliwe. Abaholi bezombangazwe balelizwe bazoyibhubhisa inkolo yamanga, futhi “isilo sasendle”—iZizwe Ezihlangene—sizoba nendima eyinhloko ekulibhubhiseni sihlangene ‘nezimpondo eziyishumi.’b Yeka ithuba lokudumisa uJehova!—IsAmbulo 19:1-6.

15. Yini ezokwenzeka lapho kwenziwa umzamo wokubhubhisa inhlangano kaNkulunkulu yasemhlabeni?

¹⁵ Ngemva kokuhlasela kweNkosi uJehu ukukhulekelwa kukaBali, indlu yakhe yasebukhosini yaphendukela ezitheni zakwa-Israyeli zezombangazwe. INkosi uJesu Kristu izothatha isinyathelo esifanayo. Imibuso yezombangazwe iyoqhubeka ikhona ngemva kokubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga efana nekaBali. Ngaphansi kwethonya likaSathane uDeveli, lezi zitha zobukhosi bukaJehova ziyohlasela ngamandla azo wonke, zizama ukubhubhisa inhlangano kaNkulunkulu yasemhlabeni. (Hezekeli 38:14-16) Kodwa uJehova uyokwenza ukuba iNkosi uJesu Kristu igalele kuzo ngokuzibhubhisa eHar–​Magedoni, ‘impi yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke,’ iphelelisa ukulwelwa kobukhosi bukaJehova.—IsAmbulo 16:14, 16; 19:11-21; Hezekeli 38:18-23.

Ukukhonza Ngentshiseko Ka-Elisha

16, 17. (a) Sazi kanjani ukuthi u-Elisha washiseka kwaze kwaba sekupheleni kokuphila kwakhe? (b) Kufanele senzeni ngemicibisholo yeqiniso?

¹⁶ Ngaphambi kokuba “usuku lukaJehova” luqede sonke isimiso sezinto esibi sikaSathane, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziyoba nesibindi futhi zishiseke njengo-Elisha. Ngaphandle komsebenzi wakhe njengesikhonzi sika-Eliya, u-Elisha wakhonza yedwa njengomprofethi kaJehova iminyaka engaphezu kuka-50! Futhi u-Elisha washiseka kwaze kwaba sekupheleni kokuphila kwakhe okude. Ngaphambi nje kokufa kwakhe, wavakashelwa umzukulu kaJehu, iNkosi uJowashi. U-Elisha wathi makacibe umcibisholo uphume ngewindi. Umcibisholo waphuma wayohlaba uphawu, u-Elisha wathi: “Ngumcibisholo kaJehova wokusindisa, umcibisholo wokusindiswa kuma-Aramu, ngokuba uyakubulala ama-Aramu eAfeki, uwaqede.” Ecelwe ngu-Elisha, uJowashi wabe eseciba phansi ngemicibisholo yakhe. Kodwa akakwenzanga ngentshiseko lokhu, waciba kathathu kuphela. U-Elisha wabe esethi, ngenxa yalokho, uJowashi wayeyolinqoba kathathu kuphela i-Aramu, futhi kwenzeka kanjalo. (2 AmaKhosi 13:14-19, 25) INkosi uJowashi ayizange iwabulale ngokuphelele ama-Aramu, ‘iwaqede.’

¹⁷ Nokho, ngentshiseko enjengeka-Elisha, insali egcotshiwe iyaqhubeka ilwa nokukhulekela kwamanga. Abangane bayo abanamathemba asemhlabeni benza okufanayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, bonke abanethemba lokusinda ‘osukwini lukaJehova’ benza kahle ngokukhumbula amazwi ka-Elisha owayeshiseka mayelana nokuhlasela umhlaba. Masithathe imicibisholo eyiqiniso futhi sicibe ngayo ngentshiseko—siphindelela—yebo, kuze kube yilapho uJehova ethi sesiwuqedile umsebenzi wethu ngayo.

18. Kufanele sisabele kanjani emazwini akweyesi-2 Petru 3:11, 12?

¹⁸ Maduze nje “usuku lukaJehova” luzosiqeda isimiso sezinto esibi samanje. Ngakho-ke, masizivumele ukuba sishukunyiswe amazwi omphostoli uPetru akhuthazayo. “Njengoba zonke lezizinto ziyoncibilika kanjalo,” kusho uPetru, “luhlobo luni lwabantu okufanele nibe yilo ezenzweni zokuziphatha ezingcwele nasezenzweni zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, nilindele futhi nikugcine kuseduze engqondweni ukuba khona kosuku lukaJehova!” (2 Petru 3:11, 12) Lapho zonke izingxenye zalesi simiso zincibilikiswa umlilo wentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu eyobonakaliswa ngoJesu Kristu, abayosinda yilabo kuphela abanomlando wokuziphatha okuqotho nokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Ukuhlanzeka kokuziphatha nokungokomoya kubalulekile. Ngokufanayo nothando ngabantu esiphila nabo, oluboniswa ngokusabela ezidingweni zabo, ikakhulukazi ngendlela engokomoya ngenkonzo yethu yobuKristu.

19. Kumelwe senzeni ukuze sisinde ‘osukwini lukaJehova’?

¹⁹ Ingabe amazwi nezenzo zakho zikubonakalisa njengenceku kaNkulunkulu ethembekile neshisekayo? Uma kunjalo, ungaba nethemba lokusinda ‘osukwini lukaJehova’ ungene ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu elithenjisiwe. Yebo, ungasinda uma wenza okuhle kubafowabo bakaKristu abangokomoya ngoba bangabalandeli bakhe, njengoba umbhangqwana waseShunemi wangenisa u-Elisha. Ukuze usinde kumelwe futhi ube njengoNahamani, owamukela umyalo waphezulu ngokuthobeka futhi waba umkhulekeli kaJehova. Uma ulangazelela ukuphila phakade epharadesi lasemhlabeni, kumelwe ubonise ukukusekela ngokusuka enhliziyweni ukukhulekela kweqiniso, njengoba kwenza uJehonadaba. Khona-ke ungaba phakathi kwezinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile, ngokushesha ezizobona ukugcwaliseka kwamazwi kaJesu athi: “Wozani, nina enibusiswe nguBaba, zuzani njengefa umbuso enawulungiselelwa kusukela ekusekelweni kwezwe.”—Mathewu 25:34.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

Ungaphendula Kanjani?

◻ Yiziphi ezinye zezimfanelo ezidingekayo ukuze sisinde ‘osukwini lukaJehova’?

◻ Yisiphi isibonelo esabekwa umbhangqwana waseShunemi osukwini luka-Elisha?

◻ Yisiphi isifundo esingasifunda kuNahamani?

◻ Singasilandela kanjani isibonelo sikaJehonadaba?

◻ Kufanele isithinte kanjani eyesi-2 Petru 3:11, 12?