Ukukhululwa Kuseduze Kubantu Abanokuzinikela Kokwesaba UNkulunkulu!
“INkosi iyakwazi ukuhlangulisa ekulingweni [abanokuzinikela kokwesaba, “NW”] uNkulunkulu, kepha abangalungile iyabagcinela usuku lokwahlulelwa, bajeziswe.”—2 PETRU 2:9.
1. (a) Iziphi izimo ezicindezelayo isintu esibhekene nazo osukwini lwethu? (b) Ngenxa yalokhu, imiphi imibuzo esizoyicabangela?
IZINKINGA zokuphila ziyanda kuso sonke isintu. Lokhu kunjalo kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umuntu uhlala lapho izinto ezibonakalayo ziyinala khona noma lapho zintuleka khona. Ukungalondeki kukuyo yonke indawo. Njengokungathi akwanele ukukhathazeka ngezimo zezomnotho, izinkinga ezingathi sina zendawo esizungezile zihlasela unozungezilanga uMhlaba, zisongela konke ukuphila okukuwo. Ukugula kudlangile. Izifo ezithathelwanayo, izifo zenhliziyo, nobhadane lomdlavuza kubulala abantu abaningi. Ukuziphatha okubi kuye kwabangela umonakalo omkhulu emizwelweni yabantu nasekuphileni kwemikhaya. Ngaphandle kwakho konke lokhu, izwe ligcwele ubudlova. Ngenxa yalokho umphakathi wesintu obhekene nakho, sibuza ngokufanelekile ukuthi: Ingabe sikhona isisekelo esiqinile sokulindela ukukhululwa okusheshayo? Uma kunjalo, kuyofika kanjani, futhi kuyofikela bani?—Qhathanisa noHabakuki 1:2; 2:1-3.
2, 3. (a) Kungani namuhla sithola lokho okushiwo kweyesi-2 Petru 2:9 kuqinisekisa? (b) IBhayibheli likhomba kuziphi izenzo ezikhethekile zokukhulula njengesisekelo sesikhuthazo?
2 Okwenzekayo osukwini lwethu kusikhumbuza ngezinye izikhathi ezibaluleke kakhulu emlandweni wesintu. Umphostoli uPetru udonsela ukunakekela ezenzweni zokukhulula uNkulunkulu azenza ngalezozikhathi bese efika kulesiphetho esiqinisekisayo: “INkosi iyakwazi ukuhlangulisa ekulingweni [abanokuzinikela kokwesaba] uNkulunkulu.” (2 Petru 2:9, qhathanisa neNW.) Phawula umongo walawomazwi, kweyesi-2 Petru 2:4-10.
3 “Ngokuba uma uNkulunkulu engayekanga izingelosi ezonileyo, kodwa wazinikela ukuba ziphonswe esihogweni, emigodini yobumnyama, ukuba zigcinelwe ukwahlulelwa, nezwe lamandulo engaliyekanga, kodwa wamlondoloza uNowa, umshumayeli wokulunga, engowesishiyagalombili, mhla eletha uzamcolo ezweni elingamesabi uNkulunkulu; nemizi yaseSodoma neGomora wayahlulela wayichitha ngokuyiphendula umlotha, eyenza ibe-yisiboniso kubo abangayikumesaba uNkulunkulu; noLoti olungileyo, ehlushwa ngukuhamba ngamanyala kwabangenamthetho, wamhlangulisa—ngokuba ngokubona nangokuzwa lona olungileyo, ehlala phakathi kwabo, wezwisa ubuhlungu umphefumulo wakhe olungileyo imihla ngemihla ngenxa yezenzo ezingenamthetho—iNkosi iyakwazi ukuhlangulisa ekulingweni abamesabayo uNkulunkulu, kepha abangalungile iyabagcinela usuku lokwahlulelwa, bajeziswe, ikakhulu labo abahamba ngokwenyama enkanukweni yokuzingcolisa, bedelela ubukhosi.” Njengoba leyomibhalo ibonisa, okwenzeka osukwini lukaNowa nasesikhathini sikaLoti kusho okukhulu kithi.
Umoya Owawandile Osukwini LukaNowa
4. Osukwini lukaNowa, kungani uNkulunkulu abheka umhlaba njengowawonakele? (IHubo 11:5)
4 Ukulandisa okungokomlando okukuGenesise isahluko 6 kusazisa ukuthi osukwini lukaNowa umhlaba wawusuwonakele phambi kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso. Ngani? Ngenxa yobudlova. Lena kwakungeyona indaba yobudlova obenzeka lapha nalaphaya. UGenesise 6:11 ubika ukuthi “umhlaba wagcwala ubudlwangudlwangu.”
5. (a) Isiphi isimo sengqondo sabantu esaba nengxenye ebudloveni bosuku lukaNowa? (b) Yini uEnoke ayexwayise ngayo ngokuqondene nokungamesabi uNkulunkulu?
5 Yini eyayibubangela? Umbhalo ocashunwe kweyesi-2 Petru ubhekisela kubantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu. Yebo, umoya wokungamesabi uNkulunkulu wawugcwele ezindabeni zabantu. Lokhu kwakungahileli nje ukungabi nanhlonipho okuvamile ngomthetho waphezulu kodwa isimo sengqondo sokwedelela uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe.a Futhi lapho abantu bedelela uNkulunkulu, kungalindelwa kanjani ukuthi bayosebenzelana ngomusa nabanye abantu? Engakazalwa uNowa, lokhu kungamesabi uNkulunkulu kwase kudlange kangangokuthi uJehova wayebangele uEnoke ukuba aprofethe ngomphumela. (Juda 14, 15) Ukwedelela kwabo uNkulunkulu nakanjani kwakuzobangela ukukhishwa kwesahlulelo saphezulu.
6, 7. Isiphi isimo esihilela izingelosi esasiyisici esikhulu ezimweni ezimbi ezabakhona ngaphambi kukaZamcolo?
6 Kwakukhona futhi nelinye ithonya elalinengxenye ebudloveni bangalezozinsuku. UGenisise 6:1, 2 uqaphelisa ngalo lapho ethi: “Kwathi abantu beqala ukwanda ebusweni bomhlaba, bezala amadodakazi, amadodana kaNkulunkulu [weqiniso, NW] abona amadodakazi abantu ukuthi mahle, azithathela abafazi kuwo awathandayo.” Ayengobani lamadodana kaNkulunkulu weqiniso? Kwakungebona abantu nje. Kwase kuphele amakhulu eminyaka amadoda ebona abesifazane ababukekayo futhi ebashada. Lamadodana kaNkulunkulu ayeyizingelosi ezaziguqulela emizimbeni yenyama. KuJuda 6, zichazwa ‘njengezingelosi ezingagcinanga ubukhosi bazo, kodwa ezashiya ikhaya lazo.’—Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Petru 3:19, 20.
7 Lapho lezidalwa ezingaphezu kwabantu ezaziphendula abantu ziba nobuhlobo namadodakazi abantu, waba yini umphumela? “Ngalezozinsuku kwakukhona iziqhwaga [amaNefili, NW] emhlabeni, nangasemuva futhi, lapho amadodana kaNkulunkulu engena kuwo amadodakazi abantu, awazalela abantwana. Lana ayengamadodana asendulo anamandla, anegama lodumo.” Yebo, inzalo yalokho kuhlangana okungekhona okwemvelo yayingamaNefili, iziqhwaga ezazisebenzisa amandla azo angaphezu kwawabantu ukuze zihlukumeze abanye.—Genesise 6:4.
8. UJehova wasabela kanjani ezimweni ezimbi ezazisemhlabeni?
8 Empeleni saba sibi kangakanani isimo? Safika eqophelweni lapho ‘uJehova abona khona ukuthi ububi bomuntu bukhulu emhlabeni nokuthi zonke izizindlo zemicabango yenhliziyo yakhe zimbi njalo.’ UNkulunkulu wasabela kanjani kulokhu? “Wayesezisola uJehova ukuthi wayebenzile abantu emhlabeni, wadabuka enhliziyweni yakhe.” Lokhu akusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu waba nomuzwa wokuthi wayenze iphutha ngokudala isintu. Kunalokho, wazisola ngokuthi ngemva kokuba esebadalile abantu, ukuziphatha kwabo kwaba kubi kangangokuthi waphoqeleka ukuba ababhubhise.—Genesise 6:5-7.
Inkambo Eyaholela Ekukhululweni
9. (a) Kungani uNkulunkulu asebenzelana ngomusa noNowa? (b) Ikuphi ukwaziswa uNkulunkulu akunika uNowa kusengaphambili?
9 Ngokuqondene noNowa, “wayetholile umusa emehlweni kaJehova. . . . UNowa wayeyindoda eqotho, engenacala esizukulwaneni sakhe; uNowa wayehamba noNkulunkulu.” (Genesise 6:8, 9) Ngakho uJehova wazisa uNowa kusengaphambili ngokuthi wayezoletha uzamcolo wembulunga yonke futhi wamyala ukuba akhe umkhumbi. Sonke isintu, ngaphandle kukaNowa nomkhaya wakhe, sasizoshanelwa emhlabeni. Ngisho nendalo eyizilwane yayizobhujiswa, ngaphandle kwalezo ezimbalwa ezazimelela uhlobo ngalunye oluyinhloko uNowa okwakumelwe azifake emkhunjini.—Genesise 6:13, 14, 17.
10. (a) Ikuphi ukulungiselela okwakumelwe kwenziwe ngenjongo yokusinda, futhi kwakuwumsebenzi omkhulu kangakanani? (b) Yini ephawulekayo ngendlela uNowa enza ngayo isabelo sakhe?
10 Lokhu kwazi kusengaphambili kwathwesa uNowa umthwalo wemfanelo onzima. Kwakumelwe kwakhiwe umkhumbi. Kwakumelwe ingaphakathi libe ngamacubic metre angu-40 000 ubukhulu. UNowa kwakumelwe awugcwalise ngokudla bese ebutha zonke izilwane nezinyoni, “zonke izinhlobo zenyama,” ukuze zilondolozwe. Kwakuwumsebenzi owawuzothatha iminyaka eminingi wenziwa. UNowa wasabela kanjani? “Wenze njalo; njengalokho uNkulunkulu emyalile wakwenza.”—Genesise 6:14-16, 19-22; Heberu 11:7.
11. Ngokuqondene nabendlu yakhe, imuphi umthwalo wemfanelo obalulekile owawuphezu kukaNowa?
11 Ngesikhathi enza lowomsebenzi, uNowa futhi kwakudingeka asebenzise isikhathi esithile akha ingokomoya lomkhaya wakhe. Wawudinga ukuvikelwa ukuze ungazamukeli izindlela zobudlova nesimo sengqondo sokwedelela sabantu ababewuzungezile. Kwakubalulekile ukuba ungangeni shí ezindabeni zokuphila zansuku zonke. UNkulunkulu wayewunike umsebenzi okwakumelwe uwenze, futhi kwakubalulekile ukuba ugxilise ukuphila kwawo kuwo. Siyazi ukuthi umkhaya kaNowa wayamukela imfundiso yakhe futhi waba nokholo olunjengolwakhe ngoba uNowa, umkakhe, amadodana abo amathathu, nabafazi bawo—abantu abayisishiyagalombili sebebonke—bakhulunyelwa kahle emiBhalweni.—Genesise 6:18; 1 Petru 3:20.
12. Njengoba kuboniswe kweyesi-2 Petru 2:5, imuphi umthwalo wemfanelo uNowa awufeza ngokwethembeka?
12 UNowa wayenomunye umthwalo wemfanelo—ukuxwayisa ngoZamcolo owawuza nokwenza kwaziwe ukuthi kungani wawuza. Kusobala ukuthi wawenza ngokwethembeka lowomsebenzi, ngoba eZwini likaNkulunkulu kubhekiselwa kuye ngokuthi “umshumayeli wokulunga.”—2 Petru 2:5.
13. Iziphi izimo uNowa ayebhekene nazo njengoba ayenza isabelo sakhe asinikwe uNkulunkulu?
13 Manje cabanga nje ngezimo uNowa ayewenza ngaphansi kwazo lowo msebenzi. Zibeke esimweni sakhe. Uma wawunguNowa noma ilungu lomkhaya wakhe, wawuyozungezwa ubudlova obabushoshozelwa amaNefili nabantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu. Wawuyobhekana ngqó nethonya lezingelosi eziyizihlubuki. Njengoba usebenza emkhunjini wawuyoba isisulu sokuhlekwa usulu. Futhi unyaka nonyaka njengoba uxwayisa ngoZamcolo ozayo, wawuyothola ukuthi abantu bangene shí ezindabeni zokuphila zansuku zonke kangangokuthi ‘abanaki’—okungukuthi ‘kuze kufike uzamcolo ubakhukhule bonke.’—Mathewu 24:39; Luka 17:26, 27.
Okuhlangenwe Nakho KukaNowa Kusho Ukuthini Kuwe?
14. Kungani thina namuhla singakutholi kunzima ukuqonda isimo uNowa nomkhaya wakhe ababebhekene naso?
14 Akunzima neze ngabaningi babafundi bethu ukusibona ngamehlo engqondo isimo esinjalo. Ngani? Ngoba izimo osukwini lwethu zifana kakhulu nalezo ezazikhona osukwini lukaNowa. UJesu Kristu wathi lokhu kwakumelwe kulindelwe. Esiprofethweni sakhe esikhulu esiphathelene nesikhathi sokuba khona kwakhe phakathi nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto, uJesu wabikezela: “Njengasemihleni kaNowa, kuyakuba-njalo ukufika kweNdodana yomuntu.”—Mathewu 24:37.
15, 16. (a) Kungayiphi indlela kuyiqiniso ukuthi, njengasosukwini lukaNowa, umhlaba namuhla ugcwele ubudlova? (b) Ibuphi ubudlova ngokukhethekile izinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziye zabhekana nabo?
15 Ingabe kuye kwaba njalo? Ingabe izwe namuhla ligcwele ubudlova? Yebo! Abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyikhulu baye bafa ezimpini kulelikhulu leminyaka. Abanye babafundi bethu baye bazizwela siqu imiphumela yalokhu. Ngisho nabengeziwe baye basongelwa izelelesi ezifuna imali yabo noma ezinye izinto eziyigugu. Futhi abasha baye bavulekela ebudloveni esikoleni.
16 Nokho, izinceku zikaJehova zibhekana nokungaphezu kokonakalisa kwempi nobudlova obuvamile bezelelesi. Zibhekana futhi nobudlova ngoba aziyona ingxenye yezwe kunalokho zilwela ukuba abantu abanokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu. (2 Thimothewu 3:10-12, qhathanisa neNW.) Ngezinye izikhathi lobubudlova buba ukusunduza noma ukumukula; ngezinye izikhathi buhilela ukucekela phansi impahla, ukushaya ngonya, ngisho nanokubulala.—Mathewu 24:9.
17. Ingabe ukungamesabi uNkulunkulu kudlangile namuhla? Chaza.
17 Ngesikhathi benza ubudlova obunjalo, ngezinye izikhathi abantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu, baye bakubonisa isidanasi ukumedelela kwabo uNkulunkulu. Kwenye indawo eAfrika, amaphoyisa athi: “Uhulumeni ngowethu. Nina yanini kuNkulunkulu, uma ekhona, nimcele ukuba azonisiza.” Emajele nasemakamu okuhlushwa, oFakazi BakaJehova baye babhekana namadoda anjengoBaranowsky, eSachsenhausen, eJalimane, owakloloda wathi: “Manje ngiyalwa noJehova. Sizobona ukuthi ubani onamandla, yimina noma uJehova.” Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uBaranowsky wagula wafa; kodwa abanye bayaqhubeka bebonisa isimo sengqondo esifanayo. Iziphathimandla ezingenela umbhidlango wokushushisa akuzona zodwa ezibonisa ukwedelela uNkulunkulu. Ezweni lonke, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zizwa futhi zibone izinto ezifakazela ukuthi labo abazenzayo abanakho ukwesaba uNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zabo.
18. Imimoya emibi inengxenye ngaziphi izindlela esimweni sesintu esiyaluzayo?
18 Kulezinsuku ezifana kangaka nesikhathi sikaNowa, sibona futhi ukungenela kwemimoya emibi. (IsAmbulo 12:7-9) Lamademoni yizo leziya zingelosi ezaziguqulela emizimbeni yenyama futhi zashada nabesifazane ezinsukwini zikaNowa. Lapho kufika uZamcolo, abafazi nabantwana bazo babhujiswa, kodwa lezozingelosi ezingalaleli zaphoqeleka ukuba zibuyele endaweni yomoya. Azibange zisaba nayo indawo enhlanganweni kaJehova engcwele kodwa zaphonswa eTartarus, isimo sobumnyama obukhulu, zahlukaniswa nokukhanya kwaphezulu. (2 Petru 2:4, 5, qhathanisa neNW) Zisebenza ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaSathane, ziye zaqhubeka zisebenzelana eduze nabantu, futhi, nakuba zingasakwazi ukuziguqulela emizimbeni yenyama, ziye zalawula amadoda, abesifazane, ngisho nabantwana. Okunye kwalokhu kwenziwa ngemikhuba yokulumba. Futhi zibangela isintu ukuba sibhubhisane ngezindlela ezingakholeki. Kodwa akupheleli lapho.
19. (a) Obani ngokukhethekile abayizisulu zenzondo yamademoni? (b) Amademoni azama ukusiphoqa ukuba senzeni?
19 IBhayibheli lembula ukuthi amademoni alwa nalabo “abagcina imiyalo kaNkulunkulu nabanobufakazi bukaJesu.” (IsAmbulo 12:12, 17) Leyomimoya emibi ingabagqugquzeli abaphambili bokushushiswa kwezinceku zikaJehova. (Efesu 6:10-13) Isebenzisa noma iziphi izindlela ezingacatshangwa ukuba ibangele noma iyenge abantu abathembekile ukuba bephule ubuqotho kuJehova nokuba bayeke ukumemezela uMbuso kaJehova onoJesu njengeNkosi enguMesiya.
20. Amademoni azama kanjani ukuvimbela abantu ukuba bagqashule ekulawuleni kwawo? (Jakobe 4:7)
20 Amademoni alwela ukuvimbela abantu abalangazelela ukukhululeka ethonyeni lawo elicindezelayo. Owesifazane waseBrazil owayesebenzisa imimoya ubika ukuthi lapho kufika oFakazi ekhaya lakhe, amazwi amademoni ayemyala ukuba angawuvuli umnyango; kodwa wawuvula, futhi walifunda iqiniso. Ezindaweni eziningi amademoni abasebenzisa ngokuqondile abathakathi ukuze azame ukuvimbela umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, edolobhaneni elithile eSuriname, abaphikisi boFakazi BakaJehova bathintana nesangoma esasaziwa ngamandla aso okubulala abantu ujuqu ngokumane sibakhombe ngeshoba laso. Sinodwendwe lwaso lwamathwasa nabashaya izigubhu, lesisangoma, esinedemoni, sasondela koFakazi BakaJehova. Sasho amazwi aso omlingo futhi sabakhomba ngeshoba laso. Abantu bakulelodolobhana balindela ukuba oFakazi bawe bafe, kodwa kwaba isangoma esaquleka kwadingeka ukuba sisuswe abasekeli baso abaphoxekile.
21. Njengasosukwini lukaNowa, iningi labantu lisabela kanjani ekushumayeleni kwethu, futhi ngani?
21 Ngisho nasezindaweni lapho ukuthakatha kungenziwa obala, wonke umuntu onguFakazi KaJehova uyazi ukuthi kunjani ukuzama ukushumayela kubantu abamatasa ngezindaba zokuphila zansuku zonke kangangokuthi abafuni ukukhathazwa. Njengasosukwini lukaNowa, iningi labantu ‘alinaki.’ (Mathewu 24:37-39) Abanye bangase babuncome ubunye bethu nalokho esikufezayo. Kodwa umsebenzi wethu wokwakha okungokomoya—ohilela amahora amaningi esifundo somuntu siqu, ukuba khona njalo emihlanganweni, nenkonzo yasensimini—uwubulima kubo. Bakuhleka usulu ukuthembela kwethu ezithembisweni zeZwi likaNkulunkulu, ngenxa yokuthi ukuphila kwabo kugxiliswe ezintweni ezibonakalayo nasezinjabulweni zenyama abangaba nazo manje.
22, 23. Izenzakalo zosuku lukaNowa zisinika kanjani isiqinisekiso esiqinile sokuthi uJehova uyobakhulula ekulingweni abantu abanokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu?
22 Ingabe izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile ziyohlala zixhashazwa yilabo abangenalo uthando ngoNkulunkulu? Akunjalo neze! Kwenzekani ngosuku lukaNowa? Ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaNkulunkulu, uNowa wangena emkhunjini owawusuphelile. Khona-ke, ngesikhathi esimiswe ngokwaphezulu, “imithombo yonke yotwa yabhoboka, namafasitele asezulwini avuleka.” UZamcolo waqhubeka kwaze kwambozeka ngisho nezintaba. (Genesise 7:11, 17-20) Izingelosi ezazishiye indawo yazo efanele yokuhlala zaphoqeleka ukuba ziyishiye imizimba yazo yabantu futhi zibuyele endaweni yomoya. AmaNefili nalo lonke lelozwe labantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu, kuhlanganise nalabo abanganakanga ukulalela isixwayiso sikaNowa, babhujiswa. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uNowa nomkakhe namadodana abo amathathu nabafazi bawo basindiswa. Kanjalo, uJehova wamkhulula uNowa nendlu yakhe ekulingweni ababekukhuthazelele iminyaka eminingi kangaka.
23 Ingabe uJehova uzobenzela okufanayo abantu abanokuzinikela kokumesaba namuhla? Akukho nokuncane ukungabaza ngakho. Ukuthembisile, futhi akasoze aqamba amanga.—Thithu 1:2; 2 Petru 3:5-7.
[Umbhalo waphansi]
a “Elithi anomia lisho ukungayihloniphi, noma ukuyedelela imithetho kaNkulunkulu; elithi asebeia [isimo esiyibizo segama elihunyushwe ngokuthi ‘abantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu’] lisho isimo sengqondo esifanayo ngakuNkulunkulu ngokwaKhe.”—Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, umQulu 4, ikhasi 170.
Ingabe Uyakhumbula?
◻ UPetru wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uJehova uyakwazi ukukhulula ekulingweni abantu abanokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu?
◻ Iziphi izici ezazinengxenye ebudloveni bosuku lukaNowa?
◻ Ngenxa kaZamcolo wembulunga owawuza, imuphi umthwalo wemfanelo uNowa ayenawo?
◻ Ikuphi okufana nosuku lukaNowa esikubonayo esikhathini sethu?
[Isithombe ekhasini 12]
Ukwakha umkhumbi kwakuhilela iminyaka yomsebenzi onzima
[Isithombe ekhasini 13]
UNowa wasebenzisa isikhathi akha ingokomoya lomkhaya wakhe