Ingabe Ungenile Ekuphumuleni KukaNkulunkulu?

“Umuntu ongene ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu naye ngokwakhe uye waphumula emisebenzini yakhe siqu.”—HEBERU 4:10.

 1. Kungani ukuphumula kufiseleka kangaka?

UKUPHUMULA. Yeka ukuthi igama elimnandi nelithandeka kanjani lelo! Njengoba siphila ezweni lanamuhla elisheshayo neliphithizelayo, iningi lethu lingavuma ukuthi kuyathandeka kakhulu ukuphumula kancane. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibadala noma sibancane, sishadile noma asishadile, singase sizizwe sikhandlekile futhi situbekile ngenxa nje yokuphila kwansuku zonke. Kulabo abanokulinganiselwa okungokomzimba noma ababuthakathaka, usuku ngalunye luyinselele. Njengoba imiBhalo isho, “yonke indalo iyaqhubeka ibubula kanyekanye futhi iba sezinhlungwini kanyekanye kuze kube manje.” (Roma 8:22) Umuntu ophumulayo akukhona ukuthi uyavilapha ngempela. Ukuphumula kuyisidingo somuntu okumelwe saneliswe.

 2. UJehova ubephumule kusukela nini?

² UJehova uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe ubelokhu ephumule. Encwadini kaGenesise, siyafunda: “Kwase kupheleliswa izulu nomhlaba kanye nombuthano wakho wonke. UNkulunkulu waqeda ngosuku lwesikhombisa imisebenzi yakhe abeyenzile; waphumula ngosuku lwesikhombisa emisebenzini yakhe yonke abeyenzile.” UJehova wenza “usuku lwesikhombisa” lwaba olubaluleke ngokukhethekile, ngoba ukulandisa okuphefumulelwe kuqhubeka kuthi: “UNkulunkulu wabusisa usuku lwesikhombisa, walungcwelisa.”—Genesise 2:1-3.

UNkulunkulu Waphumula Emsebenzini Wakhe

 3. Yini okungenakuba yizona zizathu zokuphumula kukaNkulunkulu?

³ Kungani uNkulunkulu aphumula “ngosuku lwesikhombisa”? Yebo, akazange aphumule ngoba ekhathele. UJehova ‘unamandla amaningi’ futhi “akapheli amandla, akakhathali.” (Isaya 40:26, 28) Futhi uNkulunkulu akaphumulanga ngoba edinga ikhefu noma ukwehlisa izinga lokusebenza, ngoba uJesu wasitshela: “UBaba uye waqhubeka esebenza kuze kube manje, nami ngiyaqhubeka ngisebenza.” (Johane 5:17) Noma ngabe yikuphi, “uNkulunkulu uwuMoya” futhi akalinganiselwe yimijikelezo yomzimba nezidingo zezidalwa zenyama.—Johane 4:24.

 4. “Usuku lwesikhombisa” lwaluhluke kanjani ‘ezinsukwini’ eziyisithupha ezazandulele?

⁴ Singasiqonda kanjani isizathu sokuphumula kukaNkulunkulu “ngosuku lwesikhombisa”? Ngokuqaphela ukuthi, nakuba ayekujabulele kakhulu lokho ayekufezile phakathi nenkathi ende ‘yezinsuku’ eziyisithupha zokudala ezazandulele, uNkulunkulu wabusisa ngokukhethekile “usuku lwesikhombisa” futhi wathi ‘lungcwele.’ I-Concise Oxford Dictionary ichaza elithi “ngcwele” ngokuthi “okunikezelwe noma okuhlukaniselwe ngokukhethekile (unkulunkulu noma injongo ethile engokwenkolo).” Ngakho, ukubusisa kukaJehova “usuku lwesikhombisa” nokulubiza ngokuthi lungcwele kubonisa ukuthi kumelwe ukuba lona kanye ‘nokuphumula’ kwakhe kuhlobene ngandlela-thile nentando nenjongo yakhe engcwele, kunokuba kuhlobane nanoma iziphi izidingo zakhe. Kuyini lokho kuhlobana?

 5. Yini uNkulunkulu ayenza yaqala ukusebenza phakathi ‘nezinsuku’ eziyisithupha zokudala?

⁵ Phakathi ‘nezinsuku’ eziyisithupha zokudala ezazandulele, uNkulunkulu wayenze yonke imijikelezo nemithetho elawula ukusebenza komhlaba nakho konke okuwuzungezile futhi wayenza yaqala ukusebenza. Ososayensi manje bafunda indlela lokhu okuklanywe ngokumangalisa ngayo. Ngasekupheleni ‘kosuku lwesithupha,’ uNkulunkulu wadala umbhangqwana wokuqala ongabantu wayesewubeka ‘ensimini e-Edene ngasempumalanga.’ Ekugcineni, uNkulunkulu wamemezela injongo yakhe ngokuphathelene nomkhaya wesintu nomhlaba ngala mazwi ayisiprofetho: “Zalani, nande, nigcwalise umhlaba, niwunqobe, nibuse phezu kwezinhlanzi zolwande, nezinyoni zezulu, nezilwanyana ezinwabuzelayo emhlabeni.”—Genesise 1:28, 31; 2:8.

 6. (a) Ekupheleni ‘kosuku lwesithupha,’ uNkulunkulu wazizwa kanjani ngakho konke ayekudalile? (b) “Usuku lwesikhombisa” lungcwele ngamuphi umqondo?

⁶ Lapho “usuku lwesithupha” lokudala luphela, ukulandisa kuyasitshela: “UNkulunkulu wabona konke akwenzileyo; bheka, kwakukuhle kakhulu.” (Genesise 1:31) UNkulunkulu wayanelisekile ngakho konke ayekwenzile. Ngakho waphumula, noma wayeka ukuqhubeka nomsebenzi wokudala ngokuphathelene nomhlaba. Nokho, nakuba le nsimu eyipharadesi yayiphelele futhi iyinhle kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi, yayiyindawo encane nje, futhi kwakunezidalwa ezimbili kuphela ezingabantu emhlabeni. Kwakuyothatha isikhathi ukuba umhlaba nomkhaya wesintu kufinyelele isimo uNkulunkulu ayesihlosile. Ngenxa yalokhu, wamisa “usuku lwesikhombisa” olwaluyovumela konke ayekudalile ‘ezinsukwini’ eziyisithupha ezazandulele ukuba kuqhubeke ngokuvumelana nentando yakhe engcwele. (Qhathanisa neyabase-Efesu 1:11.) Lapho “usuku lwesikhombisa” luphela, umhlaba uyobe usuyipharadesi lembulunga yonke okwakhe kulo umkhaya wabantu abaphelele phakade. (Isaya 45:18) “Usuku lwesikhombisa” luhlukaniselwe, noma lunikezelwe, ekufezekeni nasekugcwalisekeni kwentando kaNkulunkulu ngomhlaba nesintu. Ngalowo mqondo ‘lungcwele.’

 7. (a) UNkulunkulu waphumula kanjani “ngosuku lwesikhombisa”? (b) Ziyobe zinjani zonke izinto lapho lolo “suku lwesikhombisa” luphela?

⁷ Ngakho uNkulunkulu waphumula emsebenzini wakhe wokudala “ngosuku lwesikhombisa.” Kunjengokungathi waqhela wavumela ayekwenze kwasebenza ukuba kuziqhubekele kufezeka. Uqiniseka ngokugcwele ukuthi lapho kuphela “usuku lwesikhombisa,” konke kuyobe kufezeke njengoba nje ayehlosile. Ngisho noma kuye kwaba nezithiyo, ziyobe zinqotshiwe. Sonke isintu esilalelayo siyozuza lapho intando kaNkulunkulu yenzeka ngokugcwele. Akukho lutho oluyovimba lokhu ngoba “usuku lwesikhombisa” lunesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu, futhi “walungcwelisa.” Yeka ithemba elimangalisayo ngesintu esilalelayo!

U-Israyeli Akangenanga Ekuphumuleni KukaNkulunkulu

 8. Kwenzeka nini futhi kanjani ukuba ama-Israyeli aqale ukugcina iSabatha?

⁸ Isizwe sakwa-Israyeli sazuza elungiselelweni likaJehova lokusebenza nokuphumula. Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba anike ama-Israyeli uMthetho eNtabeni YaseSinayi, uNkulunkulu wawatshela esebenzisa uMose: “Bhekani, njengalokho uJehova eniphile isabatha, ngalokho uyaninika ngosuku lwesithupha isinkwa sezinsuku ezimbili; hlalani, kube-yilowo nalowo endaweni yakhe, kungaphumi-muntu endaweni yakhe ngosuku lwesikhombisa.” Umphumela waba ukuthi ‘baphumula-ke abantu ngosuku lwesikhombisa.’—Eksodusi 16:22-30.

 9. Kungani kungenakungabaza ngokuthi umthetho weSabatha wawuwushintsho olujabulisayo kuma-Israyeli?

⁹ Leli lungiselelo lalilisha kuma-Israyeli, njengoba ayesanda kukhululwa ebugqilini eGibithe. Nakuba abaseGibithe nabanye babelinganisa isikhathi ngezinsuku ezinhlanu kuya kweziyishumi, akubonakali kungenzeka ukuthi ama-Israyeli ayeyizigqila ayenikwa usuku lokuphumula. (Qhathanisa no-Eksodusi 5:1-9.) Ngakho-ke kunengqondo ukuphetha ngokuthi abantu bakwa-Israyeli balujabulela lolu shintsho. Kunokuba babheke imfuneko yeSabatha njengomthwalo noma isithiyo, kufanele ukuba bakujabulela ukuyigcina. Eqinisweni, kamuva uNkulunkulu wabatshela ukuthi iSabatha kwakufanele libe isikhumbuzo sokugqilazwa kwabo eGibithe nokukhululwa kwabo nguye.—Duteronomi 5:15.

10, 11. (a) Ngokulalela, yini ama-Israyeli ayengase abheke phambili ekuyijabuleleni? (b) Kungani ama-Israyeli ahluleka ukungena ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu?

¹⁰ Ukube ama-Israyeli aphuma noMose eGibithe ayelalele, ayeyoba nelungelo lokungena ‘ezweni elichichima ubisi nezinyosi’ elalithenjisiwe. (Eksodusi 3:8) Lapho ayeyojabulela ukuphumula kwangempela, hhayi ngeSabatha kuphela kodwa kukho konke ukuphila kwawo. (Duteronomi 12:9, 10) Nokho, akubanga njalo. Ngokuphathelene nawo, umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Obani labo abezwa kodwa nokho bavusa intukuthelo ebabayo? Eqinisweni, abenzanga kanjalo yini bonke labo abaphuma eGibithe ngaphansi kukaMose? Ngaphezu kwalokho, obani uNkulunkulu anengwa yibo iminyaka engamashumi amane? Akubona yini labo abona, abazidumbu zabo zawa ehlane? Kodwa obani afunga kubo ukuthi ngeke bangene ekuphumuleni kwakhe ngaphandle kwalabo abenza ngokungalaleli? Ngakho siyabona ukuthi abakwazanga ukungena ngenxa yokuntula ukholo.”—Heberu 3:16-19.

¹¹ Yeka isifundo esinamandla esisitholayo! Ngenxa yokuntula ukholo kuJehova, leso sizukulwane asizange sikuthole ukuphumula uJehova ayesithembise kona. Kunalokho, sabhubha ehlane. Asiqondanga ukuthi njengenzalo ka-Abrahama, sasihlangene kakhulu nentando kaNkulunkulu yokulethela zonke izizwe zomhlaba izibusiso. (Genesise 17:7, 8; 22:18) Kunokuba sisebenze ngokuvumelana nale ntando yaphezulu, saphazanyiswa ngokuphelele izifiso zaso ezivamile nezobugovu. Kwangathi singelokothe siwele enkambweni enjalo!—1 Korinte 10:6, 10.

Kusasele Ukuphumula

12. Yiliphi ithemba amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayesenalo, futhi lalingafezeka kanjani kuwo?

¹² Ngemva kokuphawula ukuhluleka kuka-Israyeli ukungena ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuntula ukholo, uPawulu wabe esebhekisela kumakholwa ayekanye naye. Njengoba kuphawuliwe kumaHeberu 4:1-5, wawaqinisekisa ukuthi “kusasele isithembiso sokungena ekuphumuleni [kukaNkulunkulu].” UPawulu wawanxusa ukuba abonise ukholo ‘ezindabeni ezinhle’ ngoba “thina esibonise ukholo siyangena kulokhokuphumula.” Njengoba uMthetho wawusususiwe kakade ngomhlatshelo kaJesu wesihlengo, lapha uPawulu wayengabhekiseli ekuphumuleni okungokoqobo okwakwenzeka ngeSabatha. (Kolose 2:13, 14) Ngokucaphuna uGenesise 2:2 neHubo 95:11, uPawulu wayenxusa amaKristu angamaHeberu ukuba angene ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu.

13. Lapho ecaphuna iHubo 95, kungani uPawulu aqokomisa igama elithi “namuhla”?

¹³ Kufanele ukuba kwaba “izindaba ezinhle” kumaKristu angamaHeberu ukuthi ayengase angene ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu, njengoba nje ukuphumula kweSabatha kufanele ukuba kwaba “izindaba ezinhle” kuma-Israyeli ngaphambili. Ngakho-ke, uPawulu wanxusa amakholwa ayekanye naye ukuba angalenzi iphutha elenziwa u-Israyeli ehlane. Ecaphuna lokho manje okuyiHubo 95:7, 8, waqokomisa igama elithi “namuhla,” nakuba kwase kuyisikhathi eside kusukela uNkulunkulu aphumula ekudaleni. (Heberu 4:6, 7) Wayesho ukuthini uPawulu? Wayesho ukuthi “usuku lwesikhombisa,” uNkulunkulu ayeluhlukanisele ukuvumela injongo yakhe ngomhlaba nesintu ukuba ifezeke ngokugcwele, lwalusaqhubeka. Ngakho-ke, kwakuphuthuma ukuba amaKristu ayekanye naye asebenze ngokuvumelana naleyo njongo kunokuba abanjwe iminako yobugovu. Waphinda wanikeza lesi sixwayiso: “Ningazenzi lukhuni izinhliziyo zenu.”

14. UPawulu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi ‘ukuphumula’ kukaNkulunkulu kusasele?

¹⁴ Ngaphezu kwalokho, uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi “ukuphumula” okuthenjisiwe kwakungeyona nje indaba yokuzinza eZweni Lesithembiso ngaphansi kokuhola kukaJoshuwa. (Joshuwa 21:44) “Ngoba uma uJoshuwa ayebaholele endaweni yokuphumula,” kusho uPawulu, “ngabe uNkulunkulu kamuva akakhulumanga ngokuqondene nolunye usuku.” Ngenxa yalokho, uPawulu wanezela: “Abantu bakaNkulunkulu basalelwe ukuphumula kwesabatha.” (Heberu 4:8, 9) Kuyini lokho “kuphumula kwesabatha”?

Ngena Ekuphumuleni KukaNkulunkulu

15, 16. (a) Asho ukuthini amagama athi “ukuphumula kwesabatha”? (b) Kusho ukuthini ‘ukuphumula komuntu emisebenzini yakhe siqu’?

¹⁵ Amazwi athi “ukuphumula kwesabatha” ahunyushwe esuselwa egameni lesiGreki elisho “ukusabatha.” (Kingdom Interlinear) UProfesa William Lane uthi: “Leli gama lahluka ngenxa yomyalo weSabatha owamiswa eNkolweni YobuJuda ngesisekelo sika-Eksodusi 20:8-10, lapho kwakugcizelelwa khona ukuthi ukuphumula kuyahambisana nokudumisa . . . [Ligcizelela] isici esikhethekile esiwukwenama nenjabulo, okubonakaliswa ngokutusa nokudumisa uNkulunkulu.” Ngakho-ke, ukuphumula okuthenjisiwe akukhona ukumane ungasebenzi. Kuwukushintsha emsebenzini okhathazayo, ongenanjongo wenze inkonzo ejabulisayo edumisa uNkulunkulu.

¹⁶ Lokhu kufakazelwa amazwi kaPawulu alandelayo: “Ngoba umuntu ongene ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu naye ngokwakhe uye waphumula emisebenzini yakhe siqu, njengoba nje noNkulunkulu eye waphumula kweyakhe siqu.” (Heberu 4:10) UNkulunkulu akaphumulanga ngosuku lwesikhombisa lokudala ngoba ekhathele. Kunalokho, wayeka umsebenzi wokudala emhlabeni ukuze avumele umsebenzi wezandla zakhe uziqhubekele futhi ufinyelele inkazimulo egcwele, kube udumo kuye. Njengengxenye yendalo kaNkulunkulu, kufanele nathi singene kulelo lungiselelo. Kufanele ‘siphumule emisebenzini yethu siqu,’ okungukuthi, kufanele siyeke ukuzama ukubonisa ukuthi silungile phambi kukaNkulunkulu ngenjongo yokuzuza insindiso. Kunalokho, kufanele sibe nokholo lokuthi insindiso yethu ixhomeke emhlatshelweni wesihlengo kaJesu Kristu, okuyokwenziwa ngawo zonke izinto ziphinde zivumelane nenjongo kaNkulunkulu.—Efesu 1:8-14; Kolose 1:19, 20.

IZwi LikaNkulunkulu Linamandla

17. Iyiphi inkambo eyaphishekelwa u-Israyeli wenyama okumelwe siyigweme?

¹⁷ Ama-Israyeli ahluleka ukungena ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokungalaleli kwawo nokuntula ukholo. Ngenxa yalokho, uPawulu wanxusa amaKristu angamaHeberu: “Ngakho-ke masenzeni konke okusemandleni ethu ukuze singene kulokho kuphumula, funa noma ubani awele esibonelweni esifanayo sokungalaleli.” (Heberu 4:11) Iningi lamaJuda ekhulu lokuqala alilubonisanga ukholo kuJesu, futhi abaningi kuwo bahlupheka kakhulu lapho isimiso sezinto samaJuda siphela ngo-70 C.E. Yeka ukuthi kubaluleke kangakanani ukuba sibe nokholo ezwini likaNkulunkulu lesithembiso!

18. (a) UPawulu wanikeza ziphi izizathu zokubonisa ukholo ezwini likaNkulunkulu? (b) Kukanjani “izwi likaNkulunkulu libukhali kunanoma iyiphi inkemba esika nhlangothi zombili”?

¹⁸ Sinezizathu ezizwakalayo zokubonisa ukholo ezwini likaJehova. UPawulu wabhala: “Izwi likaNkulunkulu liyaphila futhi linamandla futhi libukhali kunanoma iyiphi inkemba esika nhlangothi zombili futhi lihlaba kuze kuhlukane umphefumulo nomoya, amalunga nomnkantsha wawo, futhi liyakwazi ukuqonda imicabango nezinhloso zenhliziyo.” (Heberu 4:12) Yebo, izwi, noma umyalezo, kaNkulunkulu ‘ubukhali kunanoma iyiphi inkemba esika nhlangothi zombili.’ AmaKristu angamaHeberu kwakudingeka akhumbule lokho okwenzeka kokhokho bawo. Bengasinaki isahlulelo sikaJehova sokuthi babeyobhubha ehlane, bazama ukungena eZweni Lesithembiso. Kodwa uMose wabaxwayisa: “Ama-Amaleki namaKhanani alapho ngaphambi kwenu; niyakuwa ngenkemba.” Lapho ama-Israyeli ephulukundlela ngenkani, “ehla ama-Amaleki kanye namaKhanani ayehlala kuleyontaba, abashaya, abaqothula kwaze kwaba-seHorma.” (Numeri 14:39-45) Izwi likaJehova libukhali kunanoma iyiphi inkemba esika nhlangothi zombili, futhi noma ubani olishaya indiva ngamabomu uyobhekana nemiphumela nakanjani.—Galathiya 6:7-9.

19. “Lihlaba” ngokunamandla kangakanani izwi likaNkulunkulu, futhi kungani kufanele sivume ukuthi sinesibopho sokulandisa kuNkulunkulu?

¹⁹ Yeka indlela izwi likaNkulunkulu ‘elihlaba’ ngamandla ngayo “kuze kuhlukane umphefumulo nomoya, amalunga nomnkantsha wawo”! Lifinyelela phakathi emicabangweni nasezisuseni zabantu, lithubeleze ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso lize lifike emnkantsheni ekujuleni kwamathambo! Nakuba ama-Israyeli ayekhululwe ebugqilini baseGibithe ayevumile ukugcina uMthetho, uJehova wayazi ukuthi ngaphakathi ekujuleni ayengawazisi amalungiselelo nezimfuneko zakhe. (IHubo 95:7-11) Ayekhathalela ukwanelisa izifiso zawo zenyama kunokwenza intando yakhe. Ngakho-ke, awazange angene ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu ayekuthembisile, kodwa abhubha ehlane. Kudingeka sifunde kulokho, ngoba “akukho ndalo engabonakali emehlweni [kaNkulunkulu], kodwa zonke izinto zíze futhi zenekwe obala emehlweni alowo esiyolandisa kuye.” (Heberu 4:13) Ngakho-ke kwangathi singafeza ukuzinikezela kwethu kuJehova futhi ‘singahlehleli emuva ekubhujisweni.’—Heberu 10:39.

20. Yini eseza, futhi kumelwe senzeni manje ukuze singene ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu?

²⁰ Nakuba “usuku lwesikhombisa”—usuku lukaNkulunkulu lokuphumula—lusaqhubeka, ukuphaphamele ukufezeka kwenjongo yakhe ngomhlaba nesintu. Ngokushesha nje, iNkosi EnguMesiya, uJesu Kristu, izothatha isinyathelo sokususa bonke abaphikisi bentando kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni, kuhlanganise noSathane uDeveli. Phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane, uJesu nababusi abakanye naye abangu-144 000 bayokwenza umhlaba nesintu kube sesimweni uNkulunkulu ayesihlosile. (IsAmbulo 14:1; 20:1-6) Manje yisikhathi sokuba sibonise ukuthi ukuphila kwethu kugxile entandweni kaJehova uNkulunkulu. Kunokuba sifune ukubonisa ukuthi silungile phambi kukaNkulunkulu futhi sithuthukise ezethu izithakazelo, manje yisikhathi sokuba ‘siphumule emisebenzini yethu siqu’ futhi sikhonze izithakazelo zoMbuso ngenhliziyo yonke. Ngokwenza kanjalo nangokuhlala sithembekile kuBaba wethu osezulwini, uJehova, siyoba nelungelo lokujabulela izinzuzo zokuphumula kukaNkulunkulu manje naphakade.

Ungachaza?

◻ Kungayiphi injongo uNkulunkulu aphumula “ngosuku lwesikhombisa”?

◻ Yikuphi ukuphumula ama-Israyeli ayeyokujabulela, kodwa kungani engangenanga kukho?

◻ Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze singene ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu?

◻ Kukanjani izwi likaNkulunkulu liphila, linamandla, futhi libukhali kunanoma iyiphi inkemba esika nhlangothi zombili?

[Isithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

Ama-Israyeli ayegcina iSabatha, kodwa awangenanga ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu. Uyazi ukuthi kungani?