“Izindlela ZikaJehova Ziqondile”
“Izindlela zikaJehova ziqondile, futhi ngabalungileyo abayohamba kuzo.”—HOSEYA 14:9.
1, 2. UJehova wawanika isiqalo esinjani ama-Israyeli, kodwa kwenzekani kuwo?
UJEHOVA wanikeza ama-Israyeli isiqalo esihle ezinsukwini zomprofethi uMose. Nokho, ekuqaleni kwekhulu lesi-8 B.C.E., isimo sawo sase sisibi kangangokuthi uNkulunkulu wawathola enecala lobubi obukhulu. Lokhu kuyabonakala uma sibheka uHoseya izahluko 10 kuya ku-14.
2 Inhliziyo ka-Israyeli yayisizenzisa. Abantu balowo mbuso wezizwe eziyishumi ‘babelime ububi’ bavuna ukungalungi. (Hoseya 10:1, 13) UJehova wathi: “Lapho u-Israyeli esengumfana, ngamthanda ngaleso sikhathi, futhi ngayibiza indodana yami ukuba iphume eGibhithe.” (Hoseya 11:1) Nakuba uNkulunkulu ayewakhulule ebugqilini baseGibhithe, ama-Israyeli amkhokhela ngokuqamba amanga nangokukhohlisa. (Hoseya 11:12) Ngenxa yalokho uJehova wawanikeza lesi seluleko: “Kufanele ubuyele kuNkulunkulu wakho, ugcine umusa wothando nobulungisa.”—Hoseya 12:6.
3. Kwakuzokwenzekani ngeSamariya eliyisihlubuki, kodwa ama-Israyeli ayengasithola kanjani isihe?
3 ISamariya eliyisihlubuki nenkosi yalo laliyobhujiswa kabuhlungu. (Hoseya 13:11, 16) Kodwa isahluko sokugcina sesiprofetho sikaHoseya siqala ngalesi sicelo: “O Israyeli, buyela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho.” Uma ama-Israyeli ayengaphenduka afune ukuthethelelwa, uNkulunkulu wayezowabonisa isihe. Yebo, kwakuzodingeka avume ukuthi “izindlela zikaJehova ziqondile,” ahambe kuzo.—Hoseya 14:1-6, 9.
4. Iziphi izimiso esizoxoxa ngazo esiprofethweni sikaHoseya?
4 Le ngxenye yesiprofetho sikaHoseya inezimiso eziningi ezingasisiza ukuba sihambe noNkulunkulu. Nazi esizoxoxa ngazo: (1) UJehova ufuna ukukhulekela okungenabuzenzisi, (2) uNkulunkulu ubabonisa uthando oluqotho abantu bakhe, (3) kudingeka sithembele kuJehova njalo, (4) izindlela zikaJehova zihlale ziqondile, futhi (5) izoni zingabuyela kuJehova.
UJehova Ufuna Ukukhulekela Okungenabuzenzisi
5. UNkulunkulu ulindele inkonzo enjani kithi?
5 UJehova ulindele ukuba sinikele kuye inkonzo engcwele ngendlela ehlanzekile engenabuzenzisi. Nokho, u-Israyeli wayesephenduke “umvini wezinga eliphansi,” ongatheli. Izakhamuzi zakwa-Israyeli zase ‘zandise ama-altare’ ezaziwasebenzisela ukukhulekela kwamanga. Lezi zihlubuki zazimise ngisho nezinsika—mhlawumbe amatshe ayenzelwe ukukhulekela okungcolile. UJehova wayezowabhidliza la ma-altare adilize nalezo zinsika.—Hoseya 10:1, 2.
6. Ukuze sihambe noNkulunkulu, iyiphi imfanelo okumelwe singabi nayo?
6 Ubuzenzisi abunandawo ezincekwini zikaJehova. Kodwa kwakwenzekeni kuma-Israyeli? Phela, ‘izinhliziyo zawo zase zinobuzenzisi’! Nakuba ngaphambili ayengenele isivumelwano noJehova njengabantu abazinikezele kuye, wawathola enecala lokuzenzisa. Sifundani kulokhu? Uma sizinikezele kuNkulunkulu, akumelwe sibe abazenzisi. IzAga 3:32 ziyaxwayisa: “Umuntu okhohlisayo uyinto enengekayo kuJehova, kodwa Yena usondelana nabaqotho.” Ukuze sihambe noNkulunkulu, kumelwe sibonise uthando “oluvela enhliziyweni ehlanzekile nakunembeza omuhle nasokholweni olungenabuzenzisi.”—1 Thimothewu 1:5.
UNkulunkulu Ubabonisa Uthando Oluqotho Abantu Bakhe
7, 8. (a) Yini edingekayo ukuze sijabulele uthando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho? (b) Yini okufanele siyenze uma siye sona ngokungathí sina?
7 Uma uJehova simkhulekela ngendlela eqondile nengenabo ubuzenzisi, siyothola umusa wakhe wothando, noma uthando lwakhe oluqotho. Ama-Israyeli angalawuleki atshelwa: “Zihlwanyeleleni imbewu ngokulunga; vunani ngokomusa wothando. Zilimeleni umhlabathi olimekayo, lapho kusenesikhathi sokufuna uJehova aze afike anifundise ngokulunga.”—Hoseya 10:12.
8 Ukube nje ama-Israyeli ayeyophenduka, afune uJehova! Khona-ke, wayeyokujabulela ‘ukuwafundisa ngokulunga.’ Uma siye sona ngokungathí sina, masifune uJehova, sithandaze kuye sicele intethelelo futhi sifune usizo olungokomoya kubadala abangamaKristu. (Jakobe 5:13-16) Kwangathi singafuna nesiqondiso somoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu, ngoba “lowo ohlwanyela enombono wenyama yakhe uyovuna ukonakala enyameni, kodwa lowo ohlwanyela enombono womoya uyovuna ukuphila okuphakade okuvela emoyeni.” (Galathiya 6:8) Uma ‘sihlwanyela sinombono womoya,’ siyoqhubeka sijabulela uthando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho.
9, 10. UHoseya 11:1-4 usebenza kanjani ku-Israyeli?
9 Singaqiniseka ukuthi ngaso sonke isikhathi uJehova usebenzelana ngothando nabantu bakhe. Ubufakazi balokhu butholakala kuHoseya 11:1-4, ofundeka kanje: “Lapho u-Israyeli esengumfana, ngamthanda ngaleso sikhathi, futhi ngayibiza indodana yami ukuba iphume eGibhithe. . . . Benzela imifanekiso yoBhali imihlatshelo, futhi bashunqisela imifanekiso ebaziweyo umusi womhlatshelo. Mina-ke, ngafundisa u-Efrayimi [ama-Israyeli] ukuhamba, ngimthwala ngezingalo zami; akazange aqaphele ukuthi ngangimphulukisile. Ngaqhubeka ngimdonsa ngezindophi zomuntu wasemhlabeni, ngamagoda othando, kangangokuba ngaba kuye njengalabo abasusa ijoka emihlathini yakhe, futhi ngobumnene ngaletha ukudla kulowo nalowo.”
10 U-Israyeli lapha ufaniswa nomntwana. Ngothando, uJehova wafundisa ama-Israyeli ukuhamba, ewathwala ngezingalo. Waqhubeka ewadonsa “ngamagoda othando.” Yeka umfanekiso othinta inhliziyo! Zicabange ungumzali wakwa-Israyeli wasendulo usiza umntanakho ukuba acathule. Uvulé izingalo. Ungase usebenzise izintambo ukuze umntanakho abambelele, angawi. Uthando lukaJehova ngawe lunesisa ngendlela efanayo. Uyakujabulela ukukuhola “ngamagoda othando.”
11. UNkulunkulu ‘waba kanjani njengalowo osusa ijoka’?
11 Ekusebenzelaneni nama-Israyeli, uJehova ‘waba kuwo njengalabo abasusa ijoka emihlathini yawo, futhi ngobumnene waletha ukudla kulowo nalowo.’ Kwaba sengathi uNkulunkulu uphakamisa ijoka noma alisunduzele emuva ukuze isilwane sikwazi ukudla kahle. Kwaba ngemva kokuba ama-Israyeli ephule ijoka lawo lokuzithoba kuJehova lapho acindezelwa khona ijoka lezitha zawo. (Duteronomi 28:45, 48; Jeremiya 28:14) Sengathi singelokothe sibuswe isitha sethu esikhulu, uSathane, bese sizwa izinhlungu zejoka laso elicindezelayo. Kunalokho, masiqhubeke sihamba ngobuqotho noNkulunkulu wethu onothando.
Thembela KuJehova Njalo
12. NgokukaHoseya 12:6, yini efunekayo ukuze siqhubeke sihamba noNkulunkulu?
12 Ukuze siqhubeke sihamba noNkulunkulu, kumelwe sithembele kuye njalo. Ama-Israyeli atshelwa: “Ngokuqondene nawe, kufanele ubuyele kuNkulunkulu wakho, ugcine umusa wothando nobulungisa; futhi mawuthembele kuNkulunkulu wakho njalo.” (Hoseya 12:6) Izakhamuzi zakwa-Israyeli zazinganikeza ubufakazi bokuthi zibuyela ngokuzisola kuJehova ngokubonisa umusa wothando, ngokwenza ubulungisa ‘nangokuthembela kuNkulunkulu njalo.’ Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sesinesikhathi eside kangakanani sihamba noNkulunkulu, kumelwe sizimisele ukubonisa umusa wothando, ukwenza ubulungisa nokuthembela kuNkulunkulu njalo.—IHubo 27:14.
13, 14. UPawulu wawasebenzisa kanjani amazwi kaHoseya 13:14, okusinika siphi isizathu sokuthembela kuJehova?
13 Isiprofetho sikaHoseya esihilela ama-Israyeli sisinika isizathu esikhethekile sokuthembela kuNkulunkulu. UJehova wathi: “Ngizobakhulula esandleni seShiyoli; ngizobophula ekufeni. O Kufa, ziphi izindosi zakho? O Shiyoli, kuphi ukubhubhisa kwakho?” (Hoseya 13:14) UJehova wayengeke awophule ekufeni ngaleso sikhathi ama-Israyeli, kodwa ekugcineni wayeyokugwinya ukufa kuze kube phakade futhi akwenze ize ukunqoba kwako.
14 Ekhuluma namaKristu ayegcotshiwe njengaye, uPawulu wacaphuna isiprofetho sikaHoseya wathi: “Lapho lokhu okonakalayo kugqoka ukungonakali nalokhu okufayo kwembatha ukungafi, khona-ke kuyokwenzeka izwi elilotshiwe elithi: ‘UkuFa kugwinyiwe kuze kube phakade.’ ‘KuFa, kuphi ukunqoba kwakho? KuFa, luphi udosi lwakho?’ Udosi oluveza ukufa yisono, kodwa amandla esono uMthetho. Kodwa sibonga uNkulunkulu, ngoba usinikeza ukunqoba ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu!” (1 Korinte 15:54-57) UJehova wavusa uJesu ekufeni, enikeza isiqinisekiso esiduduzayo sokuthi abantu abasenkumbulweni kaNkulunkulu bayovuswa. (Johane 5:28, 29) Yeka isizathu esijabulisayo sokuthembela kuJehova! Nokho, ngaphezu kwethemba lovuko kunokunye okusishukumisela ukuba sihambe noNkulunkulu.
Izindlela ZikaJehova Zihlale Ziqondile
15, 16. Yini eyabikezelwa ngeSamariya, futhi leso siprofetho sagcwaliseka kanjani?
15 Ukuqiniseka kwethu ukuthi “izindlela zikaJehova ziqondile” kusisiza ukuba siqhubeke sihamba noNkulunkulu. Izakhamuzi zaseSamariya azizange zihambe ezindleleni zikaNkulunkulu zokulunga. Ngenxa yalokho, kwakuzodingeka zijeze ngesono sazo nokungabi nalukholo kuJehova. Kwabikezelwa: “ISamariya liyobhekwa njengelinecala, ngoba empeleni liyadlubulunda kuNkulunkulu walo. Liyokuwa ngenkemba. Abantwana balo bayophahlazwa, nabesifazane balo abakhulelweyo bayoqhaqhwa.” (Hoseya 13:16) Umlando ubonisa ukuthi abase-Asiriya, abanqoba iSamariya, babengazenza ngempela izenzo ezinesihluku kanjalo.
16 ISamariya laliyikomkhulu lombuso wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi. Nokho, lapha igama elithi Samariya kungenzeka libhekisela kuyo yonke indawo yalowo mbuso. (1 AmaKhosi 21:1) Inkosi yase-Asiriya uShalimaneseri V yavimbezela umuzi waseSamariya ngo-742 B.C.E. Lapho iSamariya ligcina liwile ngo-740 B.C.E., izakhamuzi zalo eziningi ezivelele zadingiselwa eMesophothamiya naseMediya. Akuqinisekwa ukuthi iSamariya lanqotshwa uShalimaneseri V yini noma uSarigoni II owamlandela. (2 AmaKhosi 17:1-6, 22, 23; 18:9-12) Noma kunjalo, imibhalo egciniwe yomlando kaSarigoni ikhuluma ngokudingiselwa kwama-Israyeli angu-27 290 ezindaweni eziseNhla Ne-Ewufrathe naseMediya.
17. Kunokwedelela izindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu, yini okufanele siyenze?
17 Izakhamuzi zaseSamariya zajeza kakhulu ngenxa yokungazilandeli izindlela zikaJehova eziqondile. NjengamaKristu azinikezele, nathi singathola imiphumela ebuhlungu uma siba abenzi besono, sedelele izindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu zokulunga. Kwangathi singeyiphishekele nanini inkambo embi kanjalo! Kunalokho, ngamunye wethu makasebenzise iseluleko somphostoli uPetru: “Makungabikho noyedwa kini ohlupheka ngoba engumbulali noma eyisela noma engumenzi wokubi noma ngoba engugaxekile ezindabeni zabanye abantu. Kodwa uma ehlupheka ngoba engumKristu, makangabi namahloni, kodwa makaqhubeke ekhazimulisa uNkulunkulu kuleli gama.”—1 Petru 4:15, 16.
18. Singakwazi kanjani ‘ukuqhubeka sikhazimulisa uNkulunkulu’?
18 ‘Siqhubeka sikhazimulisa uNkulunkulu’ ngokuhamba ezindleleni zakhe eziqondile kunokuba sizenzele izinto ngendlela yethu. UKhayini wabulala ngoba wazenzela umathanda, wangasilalela isixwayiso sikaJehova sokuthi isono sase sizombhozomela. (Genesise 4:1-8) UBhalami wamukela inkokhelo enkosini yakwaMowabi, wazama waze wancama ukuqalekisa u-Israyeli. (Numeri 24:10) Futhi uNkulunkulu wambulala umLevi uKhora nabanye ngenxa yokuvukela igunya likaMose no-Aroni. (Numeri 16:1-3, 31-33) Asifuni neze ukuhamba “endleleni kaKhayini” yokubulala, ukugijimela “enkambweni yokuphambuka kaBhalami,” noma ukushabalala “enkulumweni kaKhora yokuhlubuka.” (Jude 11) Nokho, uma kwenzeka siphambuka, isiprofetho sikaHoseya sisinikeza induduzo.
Izoni Zingabuyela KuJehova
19, 20. Imiphi imihlatshelo ama-Israyeli aphendukayo ayenganikela ngayo?
19 Ngisho nalabo abaye bakhubeka ngenxa yokona okungathí sina bangabuyela kuJehova. KuHoseya 14:1, 2, sithola lokhu kunxusa: “O Israyeli, buyela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, ngoba isiphambeko sakho sikukhubekisile. Thathani amazwi nibuyele kuJehova. Yishoni kuye, nonke nina bantu nithi, ‘Kwangathi ungaxolela isiphambeko; wamukele okuhle, futhi njengembuyiselo sizonikela kuwe ngamaduna ezinkomo ezindebe zethu.’”
20 Ama-Israyeli aphendukayo ayenganikela kuNkulunkulu ‘ngamaduna ezinkomo ezindebe zawo.’ Lena kwakuyimihlatshelo yokudumisa okuqotho. UPawulu wayekhuluma ngalesi siprofetho lapho ekhuthaza amaKristu ukuba ‘anikele kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo wokudumisa, okuwukuthi, isithelo sezindebe ezivuma obala igama lakhe.’ (Hebheru 13:15) Yeka ilungelo okuyilo ukuhamba noNkulunkulu nokunikela ngemihlatshelo enjalo namuhla!
21, 22. Yikuphi ukuvuselelwa ama-Israyeli aphendukayo ayeyokuthola?
21 Lawo ma-Israyeli ashiya inkambo yawo yokuduka ayesebuyela kuNkulunkulu anikela kuye ‘ngamaduna ezinkomo ezindebe zawo.’ Ngenxa yalokho, avuselelwa ngokomoya, njengoba nje uNkulunkulu ayethembisile. UHoseya 14:4-7 uthi: “[Mina Jehova] ngizokuphulukisa ukungathembeki kwabo. Ngizobathanda ngokuzithandela, ngoba intukuthelo yami isukile kuye. Ngizoba njengamazolo ku-Israyeli. Uyoqhakaza njengomnduze, futhi uyofaka izimpande zakhe njengeLebhanoni. Amahlumela akhe ayophuma, futhi isithunzi sakhe siyoba njengesomnqumo, amakha akhe ayoba njengaweLebhanoni. Bayophinda futhi babe ngabahlala emthunzini wakhe. Bayotshala okusanhlamvu, futhi bayoveza imiqumbe njengomvini. Isikhumbuzo sakhe siyoba njengewayini laseLebhanoni.”
22 Ama-Israyeli aphendukayo ayezophulukiswa ngokomoya aphinde athole uthando lukaNkulunkulu. UJehova wayezoba njengamazolo aqabulayo kuwo ngomqondo wokuthi wayezowabusisa kakhulu. Abantu bakhe abavuselelwe babezoba nesithunzi ‘esinjengesomnqumo,’ futhi babeyohamba ezindleleni zikaNkulunkulu. Njengoba nathi sizimisele ukuhamba noJehova uNkulunkulu, yini efunekayo kithi?
Qhubeka Uhamba Ezindleleni ZikaJehova Eziqondile
23, 24. Incwadi kaHoseya iphetha ngasiphi isiprofetho esikhuthazayo, futhi sisithinta kanjani?
23 Ukuze siqhubeke sihamba noNkulunkulu, kumelwe sibonise “ukuhlakanipha kwaphezulu” futhi ngaso sonke isikhathi senze ngokuvumelana nezindlela zakhe eziqondile. (Jakobe 3:17, 18) Ivesi lokugcina lesiprofetho sikaHoseya lithi: “Ngubani ohlakaniphile, ukuba aqonde lezi zinto? Oqondayo, ukuba azazi? Ngoba izindlela zikaJehova ziqondile, futhi ngabalungileyo abayohamba kuzo; kodwa izeqamthetho zona, yizo eziyokhubeka kuzo.”—Hoseya 14:9.
24 Esikhundleni sokuqondiswa ukuhlakanipha kwaleli zwe nezindinganiso zalo, masizimisele ukuhamba ezindleleni zikaNkulunkulu eziqondile. (Duteronomi 32:4) UHoseya wenza kanjalo iminyaka engu-59 noma ngaphezulu. Wazimemezela ngokwethembeka izigijimi zaphezulu, azi ukuthi abahlakaniphileyo nabaqondayo babezowaqonda lawo mazwi. Kuthiwani ngathi? Uma nje uJehova esasivumele ukuba sinikeze ubufakazi, sizoqhubeka sicinga labo abazokwenza ngokuhlakanipha bawamukele umusa wakhe ongafanelwe. Siyakujabulela ukwenza lokhu sibambisene ngokugcwele ‘nenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’—Mathewu 24:45-47.
25. Ukuxoxa kwethu ngesiprofetho sikaHoseya kufanele kusisize ukuba senzeni?
25 Ukuxoxa kwethu ngesiprofetho sikaHoseya kufanele kusisize ukuba siqhubeke sihamba noNkulunkulu sinombono wokuphila okuphakade ezweni elisha alithembisile. (2 Petru 3:13; Jude 20, 21) Yeka ithemba elihle! Lelo themba liyofezeka komunye nomunye wethu uma sibonisa ngamazwi nangezenzo ukuthi siqinisile uma sithi: “Izindlela zikaJehova ziqondile.”
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
• UNkulunkulu uyosebenzelana kanjani nathi uma sinikela kuye inkonzo ehlanzekile?
• Kungani kufanele sithembele kuJehova njalo?
• Kungani uqiniseka ukuthi izindlela zikaJehova ziqondile?
• Singaqhubeka kanjani sihamba ezindleleni zikaJehova eziqondile?
[Isithombe ekhasini 28]
Lwamukele usizo olungokomoya lwabadala abangamaKristu
[Isithombe ekhasini 29]
Isiprofetho sikaHoseya sisinika isizathu sokuthembela ezithembisweni zikaJehova zovuko
[Izithombe ekhasini 31]
Qhubeka uhamba noNkulunkulu unombono wokuphila okuphakade