Insindiso IngekaJehova
“Kithina uNkulunkulu unguNkulunkulu wezinkululo [“wezenzo zokusindisa,” NW].”—IHUBO 68:20.
1, 2. (a) Kungani singase sithi uJehova unguMthombo wensindiso? (b) Ungazichaza kanjani izAga 21:31?
UJEHOVA unguMsindisi wabantu abamthandayo. (Isaya 43:11) Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli eyaziwayo uDavide yayikwazi ngokuzibonela lokhu, futhi yahlabelela ngokusuka enhliziyweni: “Insindiso ingekaJehova.” (IHubo 3:8) Umprofethi uJona wasebenzisa amazwi afanayo lapho ethandaza ngentshiseko esesiswini senhlanzi enkulu.—Jona 2:9.
2 Indodana kaDavide uSolomoni nayo yayazi ukuthi uJehova unguMthombo wensindiso, ngoba yathi: “Ihashi lilungiselwa usuku lokulwa, kepha ukusindiswa kungokukaJehova.” (IzAga 21:31) Endulo eMpumalanga Ephakathi, izinkabi zazidonsa igeja, izimbongolo zithwala imithwalo, abantu begibela iminyuzi futhi amahhashi esetshenziswa empini. Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba ama-Israyeli angene eZweni Lesithembiso, uNkulunkulu wayala ukuba lowo owayezokuba yinkosi yawo ‘angazandiseli amahashi.’ (Duteronomi 17:16) Amahhashi empi ayengeke adingeke ngoba uJehova wayeyobasindisa abantu bakhe.
3. Yimiphi imibuzo okufanele siyicabangele?
3 INkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ‘inguNkulunkulu wezenzo zokusindisa.’ (IHubo 68:20, NW) Yeka umcabango okhuthazayo! Kodwa yiziphi ‘izenzo zokusindisa’ uJehova aye wazenza? Futhi obani aye wabasindisa?
UJehova Usindisa Abaqotho
4. Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJehova uyabasindisa abantu abamhloniphayo?
4 Bonke abaphishekela inkambo yobuqotho njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezizinikezele bangaduduzwa amazwi omphostoli uPetru: “UJehova uyayazi indlela yokukhulula ekulingweni abantu abanokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, kodwa agcinele abantu abangalungile usuku lokwahlulelwa ukuze banqunywe.” Efakazela leli phuzu, uPetru wathi uNkulunkulu ‘akayekanga ukujezisa izwe lasendulo, kodwa wagcina uNowa, umshumayeli wokulunga, ephephile nabanye abayisikhombisa lapho eletha uzamcolo phezu kwezwe labantu abangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu.’—2 Petru 2:5, 9.
5. Yiziphi izimo uNowa akhonza ngaphansi kwazo ‘njengomshumayeli wokulunga’?
5 Ake uzicabange uphila ezimweni zosuku lukaNowa. Amademoni athathé imizimba yabantu asemhlabeni. Inzalo yalezi zingelosi ezingalaleli ihlukumeza abantu futhi ‘umhlaba ugcwele ubudlwangudlwangu.’ (Genesise 6:1-12) Nokho, uNowa akanakwesatshiswa ukuba ayeke ukukhonza uJehova. Kunalokho, ‘ungumshumayeli wokulunga.’ Yena nomkhaya wakhe bakha umkhumbi, bengangabazi ukuthi ububi buzosuswa besaphila. Ukholo lukaNowa luyalilahla lelo lizwe. (Heberu 11:7) Izimo zanamuhla zifuze ezosuku lukaNowa, ziphawula lezi njengezinsuku zokugcina zalesi simiso esibi sezinto. (Mathewu 24:37-39; 2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Khona-ke, njengoNowa, ingabe uyozibonakalisa uthembekile njengomshumayeli wokulunga okhonza kanye nabantu bakaNkulunkulu njengoba ulindele insindiso kaJehova?
6. Eyesi-2 Petru 2:7, 8 ibonisa kanjani ukuthi uJehova uyabasindisa abaqotho?
6 UPetru unikeza ubufakazi obengeziwe bokuthi uJehova uyabasindisa abaqotho. Lo mphostoli uthi: ‘[UNkulunkulu] wakhulula uLoti olungileyo, owayecindezeleke kakhulu ngokuzitika kwabantu abadelela umthetho ekuziphatheni okuxekethile—ngoba lowomuntu olungileyo ngalokho akubona nakuzwa ngesikhathi esahlala phakathi kwabo usuku nosuku wayehlupha umphefumulo wakhe olungileyo ngenxa yezenzo zabo zokungabi namthetho.’ (2 Petru 2:7, 8; Genesise 19:1-29) Ukuziphatha okubi ngokobulili kuye kwaba yiyona ndlela yokuphila ezigidini zabantu kulezi zinsuku zokugcina. NjengoLoti, ingabe ‘ucindezeleke kakhulu ngokuzitika ekuziphatheni okuxekethile’ kwabantu abaningi kangaka namuhla? Uma kunjalo, futhi uma ubonisa ukulunga, ungase ube phakathi kwalabo uJehova ayobasindisa lapho lesi simiso esibi siqedwa.
UJehova Usindisa Abantu Bakhe Kubacindezeli
7. Ukusebenzelana kukaJehova nama-Israyeli eGibithe kukufakazela kanjani ukuthi uyabakhulula abantu bakhe ekucindezelweni?
7 Uma nje lesi simiso esidala sisekhona, izinceku zikaJehova ziyobhekana nokushushiswa nokucindezela kwezitha. Kodwa zingaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyozikhulula, ngoba uye wabasindisa abantu bakhe abacindezelwe esikhathini esidlule. Ake sithi ungumIsrayeli ocindezelwe abaseGibithe osukwini lukaMose. (Eksodusi 1:1-14; 6:8) UNkulunkulu ushaya iGibithe ngezinhlupho zilandelana. (Eksodusi 8:5–10:29) Lapho inhlupho ebulalayo yeshumi idlula nokuphila kwamazibulo aseGibithe, uFaro uyawavumela ama-Israyeli ukuba ahambe, kodwa kamuva uvivisa amabutho akhe futhi ahlale ezithendeni zawo ama-Israyeli. Nokho, ngokushesha yena namabutho akhe bayabhujiswa oLwandle Olubomvu. (Eksodusi 14:23-28) Uhlabelela le ngoma noMose nawo wonke u-Israyeli: “UJehova uyindoda yempi; nguJehova igama lakhe. Izinqola zikaFaro nempi yakhe ukuphonsé elwandle; izinduna zakhe ezikhethiweyo zaminza eLwandle oluBomvu. Izintwa ziyabasibekela; bashona ezinzulwini njengetshe.” (Eksodusi 15:3-5) Bonke abacindezeli babantu bakaNkulunkulu kulezi zinsuku zokugcina balindelwe yinhlekelele efanayo.
8, 9. Nikeza isibonelo esisencwadini yabAhluleli esifakazela ukuthi uJehova uyabasindisa abantu bakhe kubacindezeli.
8 Iminyaka eminingana ngemva kokungena kwama-Israyeli eZweni Lesithembiso, abahluleli babefeza ubulungisa phakathi kwawo. Ngezinye izikhathi abantu babehlupheka ngenxa yokucindezelwa ezinye izizwe, kodwa uNkulunkulu wayesebenzisa abahluleli abathembekile ukuze abakhulule. Nakuba singase ‘sibubule’ ngokufanayo ‘ngenxa yabasicindezelayo nabasikhathazayo,’ uJehova uzosisindisa nathi zinceku zakhe eziqotho. (AbAhluleli 2:16-18, qhathanisa ne-NW; 3:9, 15.) Eqinisweni, incwadi yeBhayibheli yabAhluleli isiqinisekisa ngalokhu nangokusindisa okukhulu nakakhulu kukaNkulunkulu ngoMahluleli wakhe omisiwe, uJesu Kristu.
9 Ake sibuyele ezinsukwini zikaMahluleli uBaraki. Ngenxa yokukhulekela kwamanga nokungamukelwa nguNkulunkulu, ama-Israyeli aye abuswa ngokhahlo yinkosi yaseKhanani uJabini iminyaka engu-20. USisera uyisikhulu sebutho elikhulu lempi yaseKhanani. Kodwa, ‘akubonakali sihlangu, noma ingcula, phakathi kwezinkulungwane ezingamashumi amane nane kwaIsrayeli,’ nakuba isizwe singase sibe yizigidi ezine. (AbAhluleli 5:6-8) Ama-Israyeli akhala kuJehova ebonisa ukuphenduka. Njengoba uNkulunkulu eyalile ngomprofethikazi uDebora, uBaraki ubuthela amadoda angu-10 000 eNtabeni iThabori, futhi uJehova uyenga isitha ukuba sikhuphuke esigodini esiphansi kweThabori ephakeme. Ethafeni nasemfuleni oshile iKishoni kuqubuka amabutho kaSisera nezinqola zempi ezingu-900 ngomdumo omkhulu. Kodwa isiwohlo semvula sigcwalisa iKishoni ngesikhukhula samathantala amanzi. Njengoba uBaraki namabutho akhe behla eNtabeni iThabori besithwe yile mvula enkulu, babona ukuceka okubangelwa ulaka lukaJehova oludedelwe. Amabutho kaBaraki abulala abaseKhanani abethukile ababalekayo futhi akuphunyuki noyedwa. Yeka isixwayiso kwabasicindezelayo abagagamela ukulwa noNkulunkulu!—AbAhluleli 4:3-16; 5:19-22.
10. Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyozisindisa izinceku zakhe zanamuhla kubo bonke abazicindezelayo?
10 UJehova uyozisindisa izinceku zakhe zanamuhla ezitheni zazo ezizicindezelayo, njengoba nje asindisa u-Israyeli owesaba uNkulunkulu ngezikhathi zengozi. (Isaya 43:3; Jeremiya 14:8) UNkulunkulu wophula uDavide “esandleni sezitha zakhe zonke.” (2 Samuweli 22:1-3) Ngakho ngisho noma sicindezelwa noma sishushiswa njengabantu bakaJehova, masibe nesibindi, ngoba iNkosi yakhe enguMesiya iyosikhulula ekucindezelweni. Yebo, “iyakusindisa imiphefumulo yabampofu. Iyakukhulula umphefumulo wabo okhahlweni nasendluzuleni.” (IHubo 72:13, 14) Lokho kukhululwa kuseduze impela.
UNkulunkulu Uyabasindisa Abathembela Kuye
11. Yisiphi isibonelo sokuncika kuJehova esabekwa uDavide osemncane?
11 Ukuze sisindiswe nguJehova, kumelwe sithembele kuye ngesibindi. UDavide wabonisa ukuncika ngesibindi kuNkulunkulu lapho ephuma eyohlangabeza isiqhwaga uGoliyati. Cabanga lowo mFilisti omudekazi emi phambi kukaDavide omncane okhamuluka athi: “Wena uza kimi nenkemba, nomkhonto, nengcula, kepha mina ngiza kuwe ngegama likaJehova-Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu wempi kaIsrayeli oyeyisile. Namuhla uJehova uyakukunikela esandleni sami; ngiyakukubulala, ngisuse ikhanda lakho kuwe, nginike namuhla izinyoni zezulu nezilwane zomhlaba izidumbu zempi yamaFilisti, ukuze umhlaba wonke wazi ukuthi kukhona uNkulunkulu kwaIsrayeli, yazi yonke lenhlangano ukuthi uJehova akasindisi ngenkemba nangomkhonto; ngokuba ukulwa kungokukaJehova.” Ngokushesha uGoliyati usefile, futhi amaFilisti anqotshwa ngokuqinisekile. Ngokusobala, uJehova wabasindisa abantu bakhe.—1 Samuweli 17:45-54.
12. Kungani kungase kube usizo ukukhumbula iqhawe likaDavide u-Eleyazare?
12 Lapho sibhekene nabashushisi, kungase kudingeke ‘siqunge isibindi’ sithembele nakakhulu kuNkulunkulu. (Isaya 46:8-13, qhathanisa ne-NW; IzAga 3:5, 6.) Phawula lesi senzakalo sasendaweni okuthiwa yiPhasi-Damimi. U-Israyeli ubalekelé amabutho amaFilisti. Kodwa ukwesaba akumkhwantabalisi u-Eleyazare, elinye lamaqhawe kaDavide amathathu avelele. Uma ensimini yebhali futhi eyedwa ubulala amaFilisti ngenkemba. Ngakho ‘uJehova usindisa u-Israyeli ngokusindisa okukhulu.’ (1 IziKronike 11:12-14; 2 Samuweli 23:9, 10) Akukho muntu olindele ukuba silwe sodwa nebutho lempi. Nokho, ngezinye izikhathi singase sibe sodwa futhi sicindezelwe yizitha. Ingabe siyoncika ngomthandazo kuJehova, uNkulunkulu wezenzo zokusindisa? Ingabe siyofuna usizo lwakhe ukuze sigweme ukudalula esikholwa nabo kubashushisi?
UJehova Uyabasindisa Abagcini Bobuqotho
13. Kungani kwakunzima ukulondoloza ubuqotho kuNkulunkulu embusweni wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi?
13 Ukuze sisindiswe nguJehova, kumelwe silondoloze ubuqotho kuye kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwenzekani. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu bangezikhathi zasendulo babebhekana nokulingwa okuhlukahlukene. Cabanga ngalokho owawungase ubhekane nakho ukube wawuhlala embusweni wakwa-Israyeli wezizwana eziyishumi. Ukuba nokhahlo kukaRehobowamu kwakwenze lezi zizwana eziyishumi zayeka ukumsekela futhi zakha umbuso wasenyakatho wakwa-Israyeli. (2 IziKronike 10:16, 17; 11:13, 14) Emakhosini akhona amaningi, uJehu wayeyinkosi engcono kunawo wonke, kodwa ngisho naye ‘akahambanga emthethweni kaJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakhe.’ (2 AmaKhosi 10:30, 31) Nokho, umbuso wezizwana eziyishumi wawunabo abagcini bobuqotho. (1 AmaKhosi 19:18) Babonisa ukholo kuNkulunkulu, futhi waba nabo. Naphezu kokuvivinywa kokholo lwakho, ingabe ulondoloza ubuqotho kuJehova?
14. Yikuphi ukusindisa uJehova akwenza ezinsukwini zeNkosi uHezekiya, futhi yini eyaholela ekunqobeni kweBabiloni uJuda?
14 Ukungawulaleli uMthetho kaNkulunkulu okwakusakazekile kwaholela enhlekeleleni embusweni wakwa-Israyeli. Lapho abase-Asiriya bewunqoba ngo-740 B.C.E., abantu bezizwana zawo eziyishumi ngokungangabazeki babalekela embusweni wakwaJuda wezizwana ezimbili, lapho babengakhulekela khona uJehova besethempelini lakhe. Amakhosi akwaJuda angu-4 kwangu-19 ozalo lukaDavide—u-Asa, uJehoshafati, uHezekiya noJosiya—ayevelele ekuzinikeleni kwawo kuNkulunkulu. Ezinsukwini zikaHezekiya owayegcina ubuqotho, abase-Asiriya bavimbezela uJuda beyibutho elikhulu. Ephendula ukunxusa kukaHezekiya, uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa ingelosi eyodwa qhwába ukuba ibulale abase-Asiriya abangu-185 000 ngobusuku obubodwa, kanjalo esindisa abakhulekeli baKhe! (Isaya 37:36-38) Kamuva, ukungawugcini kwabantu uMthetho nokungazilaleli izixwayiso zabaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu kwaholela ekubeni uJuda anqotshwe yiBabiloni futhi kubhujiswe inhloko-dolobha yakhe, iJerusalema, nethempeli ngo-607 B.C.E.
15. Kungani amaJuda adingiselwe eBabiloni ayedinga ukukhuthazela, futhi ekugcineni uJehova wawakhulula kanjani?
15 AmaJuda adingisiwe ayedinga ukukhuthazela ukuze alondoloze ubuqotho kuNkulunkulu lapho esekuthunjweni eBabiloni iminyaka engaba ngu-70 yosizi. (IHubo 137:1-6) Omunye wabagcini bobuqotho ophawulekayo kwakungumprofethi uDaniyeli. (Daniyeli 1:1-7; 9:1-3) Cabanga indlela ajabula ngayo lapho kufezeka isimemezelo seNkosi uKoresi engumPheresiya ngo-537 B.C.E., esivumela amaJuda ukuba aphindele kwaJuda ayokwakha ithempeli kabusha! (Ezra 1:1-4) UDaniyeli nabanye babekhuthazele iminyaka, kodwa ekugcineni babona ukugumbuqelwa kweBabiloni nokukhululwa kwabantu bakaJehova. Lokhu kufanele kusisize sibonise ukukhuthazela njengoba silindele ukubhujiswa ‘kweBabiloni Elikhulu,’ umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga.—IsAmbulo 18:1-5.
UJehova Uyabasindisa Njalo Abantu Bakhe
16. Iyiphi insindiso uNkulunkulu ayiletha ezinsukwini zeNdlovukazi u-Esteri?
16 UJehova uyabasindisa njalo abantu bakhe lapho bethembeka egameni lakhe. (1 Samuweli 12:22; Isaya 43:10-12) Cabanga ngezinsuku zeNdlovukazi u-Esteri—ekhulwini lesihlanu leminyaka B.C.E. INkosi u-Ahashiveroshi (uXerxes I) iye yamisa uHamani ukuba abe undunankulu. Ethukutheliswe ukwenqaba komJuda onguMoridekayi ukukhothama phambi kwakhe, uHamani wakha ugobe lokumbulala yena nawo wonke amaJuda eMbusweni WasePheresiya. Uwanyundela ngokuthi ayizeqa-mthetho, ufaka nesisusa esingokwezimali futhi uyavunyelwa ukuba asebenzise indandatho enophawu lwenkosi ukuze abeke uphawu encwadini ethi mawaqothulwe. Ngesibindi u-Esteri uvezela inkosi ukuthi ungowohlanga lwamaJuda futhi udalula uzungu lukaHamani lokubulala. Ngokushesha uHamani ulenga kusona kanye isigxobo abesilungiselele ukubulawa kukaMoridekayi. UMoridekayi wenziwa undunankulu, unikwa negunya lokuvumela amaJuda ukuba azivikele. Anqoba izitha zawo ngokunqoba okukhulu. (Esteri 3:1–9:19) Lesi senzakalo kufanele siqinise ukholo lwethu lokuthi uJehova uyozenzela izenzo zokusindisa izinceku zakhe ezilalelayo zanamuhla.
17. Ukulalela kwaba kanjani nendima ekukhululweni kwamaKristu angamaJuda ekhulu lokuqala ayehlala eJudiya?
17 Esinye isizathu sokusindisa kukaNkulunkulu abantu bakhe siwukuthi bayamlalela yena neNdodana yakhe. Zibeke esimweni sabafundi bakaJesu abangamaJuda bekhulu lokuqala. Uyabatshela: “Lapho nibona iJerusalema lihaqwe amabutho akanisile, khona-ke yazini ukuthi ukuchithwa kwalo sekusondele. Khona-ke labo abaseJudiya mabaqale ukubalekela ezintabeni.” (Luka 21:20-22) Kudlula iminyaka, futhi uyazibuza ukuthi kazi la mazwi ayogcwaliseka nini. Sekuthi ngo-66 C.E. amaJuda ayavukela. Amabutho aseRoma aholwa uCestius Gallus azungeza iJerusalema futhi ayafuzula ayofika ezindongeni zethempeli. Kungazelelwe, amaRoma ahoxa ngaphandle kwesizathu esibonakalayo. Azokwenze njani amaKristu angamaJuda? Kuyi-Ecclesiastical History yakhe (Incwadi III, isahluko V, 3), u-Eusebius uthi abaleka eJerusalema naseJudiya. Asinda ngoba elalele isixwayiso sikaJesu esiyisiprofetho. Ingabe ushesha ngendlela efanayo ukwenza ngokuvumelana nesiqondiso esingokomBhalo esinikezwa ‘ngomphathi okholekile’ omiselwe ukwengamela konke ‘okungokukaJesu’?—Luka 12:42-44.
Ukusindiselwa Ekuphileni Okumi Phakade
18, 19. (a) Yikuphi ukusindisa okwenziwa kwenzeka ngokufa kukaJesu, futhi kusindiswa obani? (b) Yini umphostoli uPawulu ayezimisele ukuyenza?
18 Ukulalela isixwayiso sikaJesu kwasindisa ukuphila kwamaKristu angamaJuda eJudiya. Kodwa ukufa kukaJesu kwenza kwenzeke ukuba “zonke izinhlobo zabantu” zisindiselwe ekuphileni okungunaphakade. (1 Thimothewu 4:10) Isintu saqala ukudinga isihlengo lapho u-Adamu ona, kanjalo elahlekelwa ukuphila futhi edayisela uhlanga lwesintu ebugqilini besono nokufa. (Roma 5:12-19) Iminikelo yezilwane eyayenziwa ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose yayimane iwukusibekelwa okufanekiselayo kwesono. (Heberu 10:1-4) Njengoba uJesu ayengenaye ubaba ongumuntu futhi ngokusobala umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu ‘wasibekela’ uMariya kusukela ekhulelwa kwaze kwaba yilapho uJesu ezalwa, wazalwa engenalufuzo lwesono noma ukungapheleli. (Luka 1:35; Johane 1:29; 1 Petru 1:18, 19) Lapho uJesu efa njengomgcini wobuqotho ophelele, wanikela ngokuphila kwakhe okuphelele ukuze athenge kabusha futhi akhulule isintu. (Heberu 2:14, 15) Kanjalo uKristu “wazinikela waba isihlengo esihambelanayo sabo bonke.” (1 Thimothewu 2:5, 6) Akubona bonke abantu abayozenza batholakalele leli lungiselelo lensindiso, kodwa uNkulunkulu uvumela ukusetshenziswa kwezinzuzo zalo kulabo abalamukela ngokholo.
19 Ngokuletha inani lomhlatshelo wakhe wesihlengo kuNkulunkulu ezulwini, uKristu wathenga kabusha inzalo ka-Adamu. (Heberu 9:24) Kanjalo uJesu uzuza uMlobokazi, owakhiwe abalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe abangu-144 000 abavuselwe ekuphileni kwasezulwini. (Efesu 5:25-27; IsAmbulo 14:3, 4; 21:9) Futhi uba “uYise ongunaphakade” kulabo abamukela umhlatshelo wakhe futhi bamukele ukuphila okumi phakade emhlabeni. (Isaya 9:6, 7; 1 Johane 2:1, 2) Yeka ilungiselelo lothando! Ukulazisa kukaPawulu kubonakala encwadini yakhe yesibili ephefumulelwe eya kumaKristu aseKorinte, njengoba isihloko esilandelayo sizobonisa. Eqinisweni, uPawulu wayezimisele ukungavumeli lutho lumvimbele ukuba asize abantu bazenze batholakalele ilungiselelo likaJehova elimangalisayo lokusindiselwa ekuphileni okumi phakade.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Kunabuphi ubufakazi obungokomBhalo bokuthi uNkulunkulu uyabasindisa abantu bakhe abaqotho?
◻ Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJehova uyabasindisa labo abathembela kuye futhi balondoloze ubuqotho babo?
◻ Yiliphi ilungiselelo uNkulunkulu aye walenzela ukusindisela ekuphileni okumi phakade?
[Isithombe ekhasini 12]
UDavide wayethembele kuJehova, “uNkulunkulu wezenzo zokusindisa.” Ingabe wena wethembele kuye?
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
UJehova uyabasindisa njalo abantu bakhe, njengoba abonisa osukwini lweNdlovukazi u-Esteri