Isahluko 9
Isivumelwano SikaNkulunkulu ‘Nomngane’ Wakhe Kakade Sesizuzisa Izigidi
1, 2. (a) Yibuphi ubuhlobo bobungane osebuqalile kakade ukusebenzela inzuzo yezigidi? (b) Kungani uAbrahama akwazi ukuba umngane kaNkulunkulu?
EMINYAKENI engaphezu kwe-1950 edlule umngane weqiniso waso sonke isintu wathi: “Akakho onothando olukhulu kunalolo lokuba adele ukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yabahlobo [“abangane,” NW] bakhe.” (Johane 15:13) Lesosikhulumi, uJesu, sasingumzukulu womuntu owayebizwa ngokuthi umngane waLowo ovelele kakhulu kuyo yonke indawo, uJehova uNkulunkulu. Lobuhlobo bobungane, nakuba bungase bubonakale buyinqaba, sebuqalile kakade ukusebenzela inzuzo yezigidi.
2 Wayengubani lomuntu wezikhathi zasendulo owasizuzela okukhulu kangaka ngenxa yobungane bakhe noNkulunkulu? WayenguAbrahama, umzukulu kaShemi, owayengomunye wabasinda kuZamcolo wembulunga yonke wosuku lukaNowa. UAbrahama wangena ebuhlotsheni noNkulunkulu, ebonisa izimfanelo zomngane weqiniso. Eshukunyiswa uthando nokholo, uAbrahama wenza ngokuvumelana nentando kaNkulunkulu, futhi ngenxa yalesizathu umlobi weBhayibheli uJakobe uthi: “Kwagcwaliseka umbhalo othi: Kepha uAbrahama wakholwa nguNkulunkulu, kwabalelwa kuye ukuthi kungukulunga, wabizwa ngokuthi umhlobo [“umngane,” NW] kaNkulunkulu.”—Jakobe 2:23.
3, 4. (a) Yini ebonisa indlela uJehova alwazisa ngokuphakeme ngayo ukholo nethemba uAbrahama aba nalo kuye? (b) UJehova wayiletha ngamaphi amazwi inkulumo yakhe ekuIsaya 41:8 emvuthwandabeni okhazimulayo?
3 Leyondoda yokholo nezenzo yayingeyasemzini waseUri lamaKaledi, futhi yayingeyokuqala eyabizwa ngokuthi umHeberu. (Genesise 14:13) Leligama lasetshenziswa ezizukulwaneni zakhe zesizwe sakwaIsrayeli. (Filipi 3:5) Ngenxa yokwenza kwakhe uAbrahama umngane wakhe, uJehova uNkulunkulu wamletha futhi kwezinye zezindaba zaKhe siqu. Lokhu kuboniswa yilokho okulotshwe kuGenesise 18:17-19.
4 Lokho kubonisa indlela uJehova uNkulunkulu alwazisa ngokuphakeme ngayo ukholo nethemba uAbrahama aba nalo kuye, kwaphumela ekulaleleni kuka-Abrahama okungenakungatshazwa. Ngakho ngaphandle kokuzinyeza noma ukuzisola, uJehova wenza amazwi akhe esizweni sakwaIsrayeli afinyelela umvuthwandaba ngokuthi: “Kepha wena-Israyeli, nceku yami, wena-Jakobe engikukhethileyo, nzalo ka-Abrahama othandiweyo [“umngane,” NW] wami.”—Isaya 41:8.
Isivumelwano Sika-Abrahama Siqala Ukusebenza
5, 6. (a) Isiphi isivumelwano uJehova asenza nomngane wakhe uAbrahama? (b) UNkulunkulu wenza isithembiso kumngane wakhe ngokuphathelene ‘nenzalo’ naphezu kwaziphi izimo eziphikayo?
5 Izinga isibopho somuntu nomngane wakhe onothando esingamholela kulo liboniswa yiqiniso lokuthi uMbusi wendawo yonke, uJehova, wenza isivumelwano nalomuntu ophansi, uAbrahama. KuGenesise 15:18 siyafunda: “Ngalolosuku uJehova wasenza isivumelwano noAbrama [uAbrahama], wathi: Ngiyakunika inzalo yakho lelizwe, kusukela emfuleni waseGibithe kuze kube-semfuleni omkhulu, umfula uEwufrathe.”
6 UEwufrathe kwakuwumfula uAbrahama nendlu yakhe abawuwela ukuze bangene eZweni Lesithembiso. Lapho bewuwela, uAbrahama wayengenamntwana, nakuba ngalesosikhathi ayeseneminyaka engama-75, nomkakhe esedlulile esikhathini sokuthola abantwana. (Genesise 12:1-5) Nokho, naphezu kwalezozimo ezaziphika, uNkulunkulu wathi kuAbrahama olalelayo: “Bheka ngasezulwini, ubale izinkanyezi, uma ungazibala. . . . Kuyakuba-njalo inzalo yakho.”—Genesise 15:2-5.
7. (a) Sibizwa ngokuthini lesi sivumelwano? (b) Saqala ngamuphi unyaka ukusebenza futhi kwaba nasiphi isenzakalo ekuphileni kuka-Abrahama? (c) Lokho kwakuyiminyaka emingaki ngaphambi kokuba kwenziwe isivumelwano soMthetho nesizwe sakwaIsrayeli?
7 Isivumelwano uJehova asenza ‘nomngane’ wakhe sisibiza ngokuthi isivumelwano sika-Abrahama. Lesosivumelwano saqala ukusebenza ngo-1943 B.C.E. lapho uAbrahama ehambisana nezimfuneko zesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu futhi ewela uEwufrathe eya eZweni Lesithembiso. Ngalowonyaka uJehova uNkulunkulu waba ngaphansi kwesibopho sokubusisa uAbrahama ongenamntwana ‘ngenzalo.’ UMthetho owawungowesivumelwano esenziwa nesizwe sakwaIsrayeli eNtabeni iSinayi waba seminyakeni engama-430 kamuva, ngo-1513 B.C.E.—Genesise 12:1-7; Eksodusi 24:3-8.
Isivumelwano SoMthetho Sinezelwa Esivumelwaneni Sika-Abrahama
8. (a) Yayiyini injongo yesivumelwano soMthetho? (b) Ingabe isivumelwano soMthetho senza isivumelwano sika-Abrahama sangasebenza?
8 Ngalesosikhathi, inzalo ka-Abrahama ngendodana yakhe uIsaka yayisingabantu abakhululekile. Isizwe sakwaIsrayeli sasikhululiwe eGibithe futhi saholelwa eNtabeni iSinayi eArabiya. NgoMose njengomlamuleli, lapho sasingeniswe esivumelwaneni soMthetho noJehova uNkulunkulu. Njengoba lawomaIsrayeli kakade ayeyinzalo yemvelo ‘yomngane’ kaJehova, uAbrahama, yayiyini ngempela injongo yesivumelwano soMthetho esinjalo? Sasizosebenza njengesivikelo kubantu bakaJehova abakhethiwe. Isivumelwano soMthetho asizange sisiqede isivumelwano sika-Abrahama, ngisho nakuba saveza isizwe sakwaIsrayeli njengesinecala lokwephula umthetho uma sicabangela umthetho kaNkulunkulu ophelele.—Galathiya 3:19-23.
9, 10. (a) Inzalo ka-Abrahama yazizwa kanjani ‘ngenzalo’ izizwe zonke ezaziyobusiswa ngayo? (b) Ingabe ukucabanga kwayo kuye kwabonakala kunengqondo?
9 Ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, amaIsrayeli aba “abantwana” balesosivumelwano soMthetho. Aba nomuzwa wokuthi ngenxa yokuba yinzalo yemvelo ka-Abrahama, ngokuzenzekelayo aba “inzalo” izizwe zonke ezaziyobusiswa ngayo. Ingabe lokhu kuye kwaba njalo? Cha! Namuhla, cishe eminyakeni eyizi-3 500 kamuva, siyayibona iRepublic of Israel ezimele, kodwa ilwela ukuphumelela phakathi kwezizwe eziningi ezinenzondo.
10 Ngakho ukuziphendulela komuntu ekubeni umJuda namuhla ngomqondo wokuba ingxenye ‘yenzalo’ ka-Abrahama ezobusisa sonke isintu akuyona indlela kaJehova uNkulunkulu. Khona-ke, yini eye yenzeka?
11. Umphostoli uPawulu wakuchaza kanjani lokho okwenzeka enzalweni ka-Abrahama engokwemvelo?
11 Umphostoli uPawulu uyasichazela lendaba, ethi: “Kulotshiwe ukuthi uAbrahama wayenamadodana amabili, enye kuso isigqilakazi [uHagari] nenye kokhululekileyo [uSara]. Kodwa eyesigqilakazi izelwe ngokwenyama, kepha eyokhululekileyo izelwe ngesithembiso. Lokhu kungukufanekisa; ngokuba laba bayizivumelwano ezimbili, esinye ngesaseNtabeni yaseSinayi, esizalela ubugqila, esinguHagari. Kepha uHagari lo uyintaba yaseSinayi eArabiya, eqondene neJerusalema lakalokhu, ngokuba lisebugqileni nabantwana balo. Kepha iJerusalema eliphezulu likhululekile, lona lingumame wethu.”—Galathiya 4:22-26.
12. Sasifanekisela bani isigqilakazi uHagari?
12 IJerusalema uHagari isigqilakazi afanelana nalo lalingelasemhlabeni, kuhlala kulo amaJuda enyama. Ngezinsuku zikaJesu Kristu, laliyikomkhulu lesizwe sakwaIsrayeli futhi lalingaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho. (Mathewu 23:37, 38) Lapho isivumelwano soMthetho uMose ayengumlamuleli waso sisasebenza, uIsrayeli wemvelo wayeyingxenye ebonakalayo yenhlangano kaJehova. Ngakho yayingase ifanekiselwe owesifazane, uHagari isigqilakazi sikaSara.
Abantwana Beqiniso Besivumelwano Sika-Abrahama
13. (a) Umka-Abrahama, uSara, wayefanelana nani? (b) Kungani “iJerusalema eliphezulu” kungathiwa “likhululekile”?
13 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, “iJerusalema eliphezulu” laliyinhlangano kaJehova yasezulwini engabonakali. Ngokufanelekileyo, lalingase lifanekiselwe owesifazane, uSara, umka-Abrahama wangempela. Isivumelwano soMthetho asenziwanga nalenhlangano, ngakho “iJerusalema eliphezulu” lalikhululekile, njengoSara wasendulo. Lena inhlangano eveza “inzalo” ethenjisiwe, futhi kungakho umphostoli uPawulu ayengayibiza ngokuthi “umame wethu.”
14. Ingabe isivumelwano sika-Abrahama siyasebenza ‘eJerusalema eliphezulu,’ futhi ngalokho bangabizwa ngokuthini abafundi bakaJesu Kristu abazelwe ngomoya?
14 Khona-ke, ngokuqinisekile isivumelwano sika-Abrahama sisebenza kuyo njengomfazi ongokomfanekiso ka-Abrahama oMkhulu, yebo, enhlanganweni kaJehova yendawo yonke ephezulu emazulwini. Kusobala ukuthi abafundi bakaJesu Kristu abazelwe ngomoya, njengomphostoli uPawulu, bangamadodana, noma abantwana, besivumelwano sika-Abrahama. UPawulu uyaqhubeka ebonisa ngalokho, ethi:
15. Yini umphostoli uPawulu ayisho kwabaseGalathiya 4:27-31 ngokuqondene ‘nabantwana’ besivumelwano sika-Abrahama?
15 “Ngokuba kulotshiwe ukuthi: Thokoza wena-nyumba ongazaliyo; mpompoloza wena ongenamihelo; ngokuba abantwana boyisikhwebu baningi kunabakhe onendoda. Kepha nina-bazalwane, njengoIsaka ningabantwana besithembiso. Kepha njengakulesosikhathi owazalwa ngokwenyama wazingela owazalwa ngokoMoya, kunjalo-ke namanje. Kodwa umbhalo uthini na? Uthi: Xosha isigqilakazi nendodana yaso, ngokuba indodana yesigqilakazi ayisoze yalidla ifa kanye nendodana yokhululekileyo. Ngakho-ke, bazalwane, asisibo abantwana besigqilakazi, singabokhululekileyo.”—Galathiya 4:27-31; Isaya 54:1.
16. Isenzakalo esingokomfanekiso sezikhathi zasendulo sabikezelani ngokuqondene nesivumelwano soMthetho, lokhu kwashiyani?
16 Ngakho, lesosenzakalo esingokomfanekiso sezikhathi zasendulo sabikezela ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu, uAbrahama oMkhulu, wayeyosisusa isivumelwano soMthetho esasiyokwenziwa noIsrayeli eNtabeni yaseSinayi. Ngalendlela isenezelo (isivumelwano soMthetho) esivumelwaneni sika-Abrahama sasiyosuswa, noma siqedwe, kusale isivumelwano sika-Abrahama kuphela nesithembiso saso ‘senzalo’ leyo yonke imindeni yomhlaba eyayiyobusiswa ngayo.
17. (a) Isivumelwano soMthetho sasizoqhubeka isikhathi eside kangakanani? (b) Kungani uJesu Kristu ayengumzukulu oyinhloko ka-Abrahama? (c) Ukuba kukaJesu yiNxusa eliyiNhloko likaJehova lokubusisa yonke imindeni yomhlaba kwakuxhomeke kuphi?
17 Ngakho isivumelwano soMthetho esinezelwe sasiyoqhubeka kuze kufike “inzalo” ethenjisiwe, futhi lena yabonakala inguJesu Kristu. Ngesimangaliso saphezulu, waba umzukulu ka-Abrahama ongokwenyama. Waba umzukulu oyinhloko waleyonzalamizi. Wayengeyena nje umzukulu ka-Abrahama ongokwenyama kuphela kodwa futhi wayeyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, futhi ngalokho engumuntu ophelele, owahlala ‘engcwele, engenacala, engenabala, ehlukanisiwe nezoni.’ (Heberu 7:26) Nokho, ukuba kwakhe iNxusa eliyiNhloko likaNkulunkulu lokubusisa yonke imindeni yomhlaba kwakuxhomeke ekunikeleni ukuphila kwakhe okuphelele kobuntu nokusebenzisa inani lakho ngenxa yaso sonke isintu. Ngokuzidela okunjalo, wayeyosebenza njengoMpristi oMkhulu kaJehova, enikela ngomhlatshelo owawunazo zonke izimfuneko zaphezulu.
Isivumelwano SoMthetho Sabethelwa Esigxotsheni Sokuhlushwa SikaJesu
18. (a) Izinzuzo zomhlatshelo wesihlengo zaziyoya kubani kuqala, futhi ngani? (b) Yini uJesu aba yiyo?
18 Izinzuzo zalomhlatshelo wesihlengo zaziyonikelwa okokuqala ngenxa yesizwe samaJuda, uJesu aba yilungu laso ngokuzalwa kwakhe okuyisimangaliso incasakazi uMariya. Lokhu kwakudingeke ngempela, ngoba amaJuda ayengaphansi kwesigwebo sokufa ngezizathu ezimbili. Kanjani? Okokuqala, ayeyinzalo yesoni uAdamu, futhi okwesibili, ngenxa yokungapheleli kwawo, aba ngaqalekisiwe ngokwehluleka ukuphila ngokuvumelana nesivumelwano soMthetho noNkulunkulu. Nokho, uJesu waba yisiqalekiso ngenxa yawo. Ngokubethelwa esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa aze afe, wakwazi ukususa isiqalekiso “ezimvini ezilahlekileyo zendlu yakwaIsrayeli.” Ngo-33 C.E., isivumelwano soMthetho sabethelwa esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa sikaJesu, futhi isibaya sezimvu samaJuda ayengaphansi kwalesosivumelwano soMthetho sesikhashana savalwa, saqedwa.—Mathewu 15:24; Galathiya 3:10-13; Kolose 2:14.
19. (a) Yisiphi isibaya sezimvu esisha okwadingeka sivulwe, futhi sasiyoba nani? (b) Ngakho-ke labo abangeniswa esibayeni esisha sezimvu baba yini?
19 Ngakho kwakumelwe kuvulwe isibaya sezimvu esisha ukuze kuhlale kuso izimvu ezingokomoya zikaMalusi oMuhle ovusiwe, uJesu Kristu. UMalusi oMuhle ozidelayo uyisango elingokomfanekiso futhi lalesibaya sezimvu esisha. (Johane 10:7) Labo abangeniswa kulesibaya sezimvu esisha ngaphansi kukaMalusi oMuhle baba amadodana azelwe ngomoya ka-Abrahama oMkhulu futhi kanjalo baba yingxenye ‘yenzalo’ yaKhe. (Roma 2:28, 29) Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, phakathi nalezinsuku zokugcina insali ‘yaleyonzalo’ engokomoya ibiyisibusiso ezigidini ezandayo zabantu emazweni angaphezu kwama-200.
[Isithombe ekhasini 80, 81]
Isivumelwano soMthetho kaMose esenziwa eNtabeni yaseSinayi saphela lapho sibethelwa noJesu esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa