Lungiselela Ukukhululelwa Ezweni Elisha
“Khumbulani umkaLoti.”—LUKA 17:32.
1. Isiphi isibonelo sokukhulula esingokomlando isifundo sethu sanamuhla esisiqokomisayo, futhi singasizuzisa kanjani?
NGEMVA kokulandisa ngokukhulula okumangalisayo uJehova akwenzela uNowa nomkhaya wakhe, umphostoli uPetru waphawula esinye isibonelo esingokomlando. Wadonsela ukunakekela ekusindisweni kukaLoti olungile lapho iSodoma neGomora kwenziwa umlotha, njengoba sifunda kweyesi-2 Petru 2:6-8. Lemininingwane yalondolozelwa ukuba sizuze kuyo. (Roma 15:4) Ukunakisisa lokho okwenzeka ngokuqondene nalokho kukhululwa kungasisiza kusibeke ohlwini lokusindela ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu.
Indlela Esisabela Ngayo Endleleni Yezwe Yokuphila
2. Ikuphi ukuziphatha kwabantu eSodoma naseGomora okwaholela ekubhujisweni kwabo uNkulunkulu?
2 Yabhujiselwani leyomizi nababehlala kuyo? Umphostoli uPetru ukhuluma ngokuzitika “ngamanyala.” (2 Petru 2:7) Njengoba kuboniswa ukusetshenziswa kwegama lesiGreki leyonkulumo ehunyushwe kulo, abantu baseSodoma naseGomora babezitika ebubini ngendlela eyayibonisa indelelo esobala, yebo ukweyisa, umthetho negunya. UJuda 7 uthi ‘babenza ubufebe [ngokwedlulele, NW] futhi balandela inyama imbe.’ Ukuthi ukuziphatha kwabo kwakukubi ngokungathi sína kangakanani kwabonakala lapho amadoda aseSodoma, ‘amasha namadala, abantu bonke bephelele,’ ezungeza umuzi kaLoti futhi efuna ngenkani ukuba akhiphe izivakashi zakhe ukuze amadoda aseSodoma anelise izinkanuko zawo ezonakele. Futhi amemeza esola uLoti ngoba wamelana nokonakala ayekufuna.—Genesise 13:13; 19:4, 5, 9.
3. (a) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uLoti nomkhaya wakhe bahlale endaweni eyonakele njengeSodoma? (b) ULoti wasabela kanjani ekuziphatheni kwamanyala kwabantu baseSodoma?
3 ULoti wayethuthele endaweni eseduze neSodoma ngenxa yesimo sayo esasithembisa ukuchuma ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. Ngemva kwesikhathi, wahlala emuzini ngokwawo. (Genesise 13:8-12; 14:12; 19:1) Kodwa akavumelananga nemikhuba yokuziphatha okubi yamadoda alowomuzi, futhi lawomadoda ayengambheki njengomunye wawo, ngokusobala ngenxa yokuthi uLoti nomkhaya wakhe abahlanganyelanga ekuphileni kwawo kokuzijabulisa. Njengoba eyesi-2 Petru 2:7, 8 isho: “NoLoti . . . ehlushwa ngukuhamba ngamanyala kwabangenamthetho—ngokuba ngokubona nangokuzwa lona olungileyo, ehlala phakathi kwabo, wezwisa ubuhlungu umphefumulo wakhe olungileyo imihla ngemihla ngenxa yezenzo ezingenamthetho.” Lezozimo zaba uvivinyo olukhulu kuLoti ngoba, njengomuntu olungile, wayekwenyanya ukuziphatha okunjalo.
4. (a) Izimo namuhla zifana ngaziphi izindlela nalezo zaseSodoma lasendulo? (b) Uma sifana noLoti olungile, sisabela kanjani ezimweni zanamuhla ezonakele?
4 Nasosukwini lwethu futhi, izinga lokuziphatha komphakathi wesintu lehle kakhulu. Emazweni amaningi, abaningi ngokwandayo baba nobuhlobo bobulili ngaphambi komshado noma ngaphandle kwasemshadweni. Ngisho nentsha eningi esesesikoleni ihileleke ngokujulile kulendlela yokuphila, futhi ibahleka usulu abangahlanganyeli nayo. Ongqingili baziveza obala futhi bachanasa emigwaqweni yamadolobha amakhulu bekufuna ngenkani ukuqashelwa. Abefundisi baye bahlanganyela kulokhu kuzitika. Ngokomthetho, awamaningi amasonto agcoba ongqingili abaziwayo nezifebe. Nokho, eqinisweni, njengoba imibiko yezindaba iye yabonisa ngokuphindaphindiwe, akunzima neze ukuthola ongqingili, izifebe, neziphingi ezikhundleni zobufundisi. Eqinisweni, abanye abaholi benkolo baye bathuthelwa kwamanye amadolobha noma baye baphoqelelwa ukuba basule ngenxa yamahlazo aphathelene nobulili. Abathandi bokulunga abahambisani nobubi obunjalo; ‘bayakwenyanya okubi.’ (Roma 12:9) Badabuka kakhulu lapho ukuziphatha kwabantu abathi bakhonza uNkulunkulu kuletha isihlamba egameni lakhe futhi kubangele abantu abangenalwazi ukuba bafulathele yonke inkolo benengekile.—Roma 2:24.
5. Ukubhubhisa kukaNkulunkulu iSodoma neGomora kusiphendulela muphi umbuzo?
5 Unyaka nonyaka isimo siya siba sibi. Ingabe siyophela? Yebo, siyophela! Lokho uJehova akwenza eSodoma naseGomora kukubonisa ngokucacile ukuthi, ngesikhathi sakhe esimisiwe, uyosikhipha isahlulelo. Uyobabhubhisa ngokuphelele ababi, kodwa uyozikhulula izinceku zakhe ezithembekile.
Ubani Noma Yini Eza Kuqala Ekuphileni?
6. (a) Isiphi isifundo esifike ngesikhathi esisendabeni yezinsizwa ezazizoshada namadodakazi kaLoti? (b) Isimo sengqondo sababezoba abalingane bawo sawavivinya kanjani amadodakazi kaLoti?
6 Yilabo ababonakalisa ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu kuphela abayosinda. Ngokuqondene nalokhu, cabangela lokho izingelosi zikaJehova ezakusho kuLoti ngaphambi kokuba iSodoma neGomora kubhujiswe. “Unobani futhi lapha na? Umkhwenyana, namadodana akho, namadodakazi akho, nabo bonke onabo emzini baphumise kulendawo, ngokuba siyakuyichitha lendawo.” Ngakho uLoti wakhuluma nezinsizwa ezazizoshada namadodakazi akhe. Wazicelisisa ngokuphindaphindiwe: “Sukani niphume kulendawo, ngokuba uJehova uyakuchitha umuzi.” Ubuhlobo bazo nendlu kaLoti babuzinika ithuba elikhethekile lokukhululwa, kodwa kwakumelwe zithathe isinyathelo zona ngokwazo. Kwakumelwe zinikeze ubufakazi obuzwakalayo bokulalela uJehova. Esikhundleni salokho, kuzona uLoti “wayenjengontelayo.” (Genesise 19:12-14) Ungacabanga ukuthi amadodakazi kaLoti azizwa kanjani lapho ezwa ngokwenzekile. Kwavivinya ukuthembeka kwawo kuNkulunkulu.
7, 8. (a) Lapho izingelosi zincengisisa uLoti ukuba abaleke nomkhaya wakhe, wasabela kanjani, futhi kungani lokhu kwakungahlakaniphile? (b) Ukuze bakhululwe, yini eyayibalulekile ngoLoti nomkhaya wakhe?
7 Ngakusasa entathakusa, izingelosi zaqala ukumsheshisa uLoti. Zathi: “Vuka uthathe umkakho, namadodakazi akho omabili onawo, funa ubhujiswe ngenxa yobubi bomuzi.” Kodwa ‘walibala.’ (Genesise 19:15, 16) Ngani? Yini eyayimbamba? Ingabe kwakuyizimpahla ezibonakalayo ayenazo lapho eSodoma—okuyiyonanto eyayimyengele kuleyondawo kwasekuqaleni? Ukuba wanamathela kulezizinto, wayeyobhujiswa kanye neSodoma.
8 Ngenxa yesihe, izingelosi zababamba ngesandla abomkhaya wakhe zabakhiphela ngaphandle komuzi ngokushesha. Emaphethelweni omuzi, ingelosi kaJehova yayala: “Baleka, usinde; ungabheki emva kwakho, ungemi-ndawo ethafeni lonke; balekela entabeni, funa ubhujiswe.” Nalapha uLoti wanqikaza. Ekugcineni, ngemva kokuba sekuvunyelenwe ngokuthi wayengaya endaweni engekude kangako, yena nomkhaya wakhe babaleka. (Genesise 19:17-22) Kwakungasenakubakhona okunye ukulibala; ukulalela kwakubalulekile.
9, 10. (a) Kungani ukuba kanye nomyeni wakhe kwakunganele ngomkaLoti ukuba alondolozwe? (b) Lapho umkaLoti efa, iluphi olunye uvivinyo uLoti namadodakazi akhe ababhekana nalo?
9 Nokho, ukukhululwa kwakungakapheleli lapho bephuma eSodoma. UGenesise 19:23-25 uyasitshela: “Ilanga laphumela emhlabeni, uLoti esangena eSowari. Khona uJehova wanisa phezu kweSodoma naphezu kweGomora isibabule nomlilo, kuvela kuJehova ezulwini. Wachitha leyomizi nethafa lonke, nabo bonke abakhé emizini, nalokho okuhlumayo emhlabathini.” Kodwa wayekuphi umkaLoti?
10 Wayebaleke nomyeni wakhe. Nokho, ingabe wayevumelana ngokugcwele nalokho ayekwenza? Akukho lutho olubonisa ukuthi wayevumelana ngandlela thile nokuziphatha okubi kwaseSodoma. Kodwa ingabe uthando lwakhe ngoNkulunkulu lwaluqine ngaphezu kothando lwakhe ngendlu yakhe nangezinto ezibonakalayo ayenazo lapho? (Qhathanisa noLuka 17:31, 32.) Engaphansi kokucindezeleka, kwabonakala okwakusenhliziyweni yakhe. Ngokusobala base beseduze naseSowari, mhlawumbe sebengena kulowomuzi, lapho ngokungalaleli ephenduka ebheka emuva. Futhi njengoba umlando weBhayibheli usho, “waba-yinsika kasawoti.” (Genesise 19:26) Manje uLoti namadodakazi akhe babhekana nokunye ukuvivinywa kokholo lwabo. Ingabe uthando lukaLoti ngomkakhe ofile noma imizwa yamantombazane ngonina ofile kwakunamandla kunothando lwabo ngoJehova, owayebangele lenhlekelele? Ingabe babeyoqhubeka belalela uNkulunkulu ngisho noma othile abasondelene kakhulu naye engathembekanga? Bethembela ngokugcwele kuJehova, ababhekanga emuva.
11. Yini esiyifundile lapha ngokukhulula uJehova akunikezayo?
11 Yebo, uJehova uyakwazi ukukhulula ekulingweni abantu abanokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Uyayazi indlela yokukhulula wonke amalungu emikhaya ehlangene ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa; uyayazi futhi indlela yokukhulula abantu ngabanye. Uma bemthanda ngempela, ubonisa ukucabangela okukhulu ekusebenzelaneni nabo. “Uyakwazi ukubunjwa kwethu; uyakhumbula ukuthi siluthuli.” (IHubo 103:13, 14) Kodwa ukhulula kuphela labo abanokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu, abakuzinikela kwabo kuqotho, abakulalela kwabo kuwukubonakaliswa kokwethembeka.
Amalungiselelo Othando Okukhululwa Okukhulu
12. Imaphi amalungiselelo othando uJehova ayezowenza ngaphambi kokuba alethe ukukhululwa esikulindele kangaka?
12 Ngalokho akubangela ezinsukwini zikaNowa noLoti, uJehova akazange abasuse phakade bonke ababi. Njengoba umbhalo usho, kwamane kwabeka isibonelo sezinto ezizayo. Ngaphambi kokuba lezozinto zifike, uJehova wayehlose ukwenza okwengeziwe ukuze azuzise abantu abamthandayo. Wayezothumela iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, uJesu Kristu, emhlabeni. Lapha, uJesu wayezosusa isihlamba egameni likaNkulunkulu ngokubonisa uhlobo lokuzinikela uAdamu njengomuntu ophelele okwakufanele alunike nayengalunika uNkulunkulu; kodwa uJesu wayezolunikeza ngaphansi kwezimo ezinzima ngisho nangaphezulu. UJesu wayezodela ukuphila kwakhe okuphelele kobuntu njengomhlatshelo ukuze inzalo ka-Adamu ekholwayo ithole lokho uAdamu akulahla. Khona-ke, ‘umhlambi omncane’ wabantu abathembekile wawuyokhethwa uNkulunkulu ukuba uhlanganyele noKristu eMbusweni wakhe wasezulwini, futhi “isixuku esikhulu” sasiyoqoqwa kuzo zonke izizwe ukuba sakhe isisekelo somphakathi omusha wabantu. (Luka 12:32; IsAmbulo 7:9) Uma lokho sekufeziwe, uNkulunkulu wayeyokwenza isenzo esikhulu sokukhulula esafanekiselwa izenzakalo ezihlangene noZamcolo nokubhujiswa kweSodoma neGomora.
Isizathu Sokuba Isinyathelo Esiwujuqu Sibe Esiphuthumayo Manje
13, 14. Yini esingayifunda eqinisweni lokuthi uPetru wasebenzisa ukubhujiswa kwabantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu ezinsukwini zikaLoti nezikaNowa njengezibonelo?
13 Abafundi beZwi likaNkulunkulu bayazi ukuthi ezikhathini eziningi uJehova uye wenza izenzo zokukhulula izinceku zakhe. Nokho, ngokuvamile iBhayibheli alisho ukuthi, ‘Njengoba kwakunjalo ngalesosikhathi, kuyoba njalo nokuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu.’ Kungani umphostoli uPetru, ephefumulelwe umoya ongcwele, ebalula izibonelo ezimbili kuphela? Yini ayayihlukile ngalokho okwenzeka ezinsukwini zikaLoti nezikaNowa?
14 Uphawu olucacile lutholakala kuJuda 7, lapho sifunda ukuthi: “[I]Sodoma neGomora nemizi yangakhona . . . imisiwe ibe-yisiboniso, izwa isijeziso somililo omiyo njalo.” Yebo, ukubhujiswa kwezoni ezedlulele kuleyomizi kwakungokwaphakade, njengoba kuyoba njalo ukubhujiswa kwababi ekupheleni kwesimiso sezinto esikhona manje. (Mathewu 25:46) UZamcolo wosuku lukaNowa kubhekiselwa kuwo ngokufanayo emongweni okhuluma ngezahlulelo zaphakade. (2 Petru 2:4, 5, 9-12; 3:5-7) Ngakho ngokubhujiswa kwabantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu ezinsukwini zikaLoti nezikaNowa, uJehova wayebonisa ukuthi uyozikhulula izinceku zakhe ngokubabhubhisa phakade labo abenza ukungalungi.—2 Thesalonika 1:6-10.
15. (a) Isiphi isixwayiso esiphuthumayo esinikezwa labo abenza izenzo ezimbi? (b) Kungani bonke abaphikelela ekwenzeni ukungalungi beyokwahlulelwa ngokufanele?
15 Ukubhujiswa kwababi akuyilethi injabulo kuJehova, futhi akuyilethi injabulo nasezincekwini zakhe. NgoFakazi bakhe, uJehova unxusa abantu: “Buyani, buyani ezindleleni zenu ezimbi; niyakufelani?” (Hezekeli 33:11) Nokho, uma abantu bengasibonisi isifiso sokulalela lokhu kunxusa kwakhe kothando kunalokho bephikelela endleleni yabo yokuphila yobugovu, inhlonipho kaJehova ngegama lakhe siqu elingcwele nothando lwakhe ngezinceku zakhe ezithembekile eziphathwa kabi abantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu kudinga ukuba ahlulele ngokulunga.
16. (a) Kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi ukukhululwa okwabikezelwa kuseduze kakhulu? (b) Siyokhululwa kuphi futhi siyokhululelwa kuphi?
16 Isikhathi sikaNkulunkulu sokuletha ukukhululwa siseduze kakhulu! Izimo zengqondo nezenzakalo uJesu abikezela ukuthi ziyoba isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto zibonakala ngokucacile. Izici zalesosibonakaliso zaqala ukuvela okokuqala eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-75 edlule, futhi uJesu wathi “lesisizukulwane” asiyikudlula ngaphambi kokukhishwa kwesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu kulelizwe elingamesabi uNkulunkulu. Lapho uNkulunkulu enquma ukuthi isigijimi soMbuso sesishunyayelwe ngezinga elanele kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe ngenjongo yokunikeza ubufakazi kuzo zonke izizwe, khona-ke isiphelo salelizwe elibi sizofika, kanye naso kufike ukukhululwa kwabantu abanokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu. (Mathewu 24:3-34; Luka 21:28-33) Ukukhululwa kuphi? Ekulingweni okuye kwadingeka ukuba babhekane nakho okuvela kubantu ababi, nasezimweni eziye zaba umthombo wokucindezeleka nsuku zonke kubo njengabathandi bokulunga. Kuyoba futhi ukukhululelwa ezweni elisha lapho ukugula nokufa kuyoba izinto zesikhathi esidlule.
Usizo Lwaphezulu Ngenjongo Yokusindiswa
17. (a) Imuphi umbuzo osangulukisayo okufanele sizibuze wona? (b) Singabunikeza kanjani ubufakazi bokuthi, njengoNowa, sishukunyiswa “ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu”?
17 Umbuzo esidinga ukuwucabangela ngabanye uwukuthi, ‘Ingabe ngisilungele lesosenzo sikaNkulunkulu?’ Uma sithembela kithina ngokwethu noma kulokho esikucabangela njengokuwukulunga, asisilungele. Kodwa uma, njengoNowa, sishukunyiswa ‘ukwesaba uNkulunkulu,’ khona-ke sisabela ngokholo esiqondisweni uJehova asinika sona, futhi lokhu kuyoholela ekukhululweni kwethu.—Heberu 11:7.
18. Kungani ukufunda inhlonipho yoqobo ngegunya elingokwasezulwini kuyingxenye ebalulekile yokulungiselelwa kwethu ukukhululelwa ezweni elisha?
18 Lapho libachaza ngendlela ehlaba umxhwele labo abajabulela isivikelo uJehova asinikezayo, iHubo 91:1, 2 lithi: “Yena owakhile ekusithekeni koPhezukonke nohlezi emthunzini kaSomandla uthi kuJehova: Uyisiphephelo sami nenqaba yami noNkulunkulu wami engimethembayo.” Leli iqembu labantu abavikelwe uNkulunkulu njengamaphuphu ngaphansi kwamaphiko enyoni engumzali. Bathembela ngokugcwele kuJehova. Bayavuma ukuthi ungoPhezukonke, uMninimandla Onke. Ngenxa yalokho, bayalihlonipha igunya elingokwasezulwini futhi bayazithoba kulo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi lisetshenziswa abazali noma “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.” (Mathewu 24:45-47) Ingabe kunjalo ngathi ngabanye? NjengoNowa, ingabe sifunda ukwenza ‘njengalokho uJehova esiyalile’ nokwenza izinto ngendlela yakhe? (Genesise 6:22) Uma kunjalo, siyasabela ekulungiselelweni uJehova asinika khona ukuze sikhululelwe ezweni lakhe elisha lokulunga.
19. (a) Iyini inhliziyo yethu engokomfanekiso, futhi kungani kubalulekile ukuba siyinakekele? (IzAga 4:23) (b) Singazuza kanjani esibonelweni sikaLoti ngokuqondene nokusabela kwethu ekuyengeni kwezwe?
19 Lokho kulungiselelwa kuhilela nokunakekela izinhliziyo zethu ezingokomfanekiso. “Ovivinya izinhliziyo nguJehova.” (IzAga 17:3) Usisiza ukuba sibone ukuthi okubalulekile akusikho lokho esibonakala siyikho ngaphandle, kodwa, kunalokho, umuntu ongaphakathi, inhliziyo. Nakuba singabenzi ubudlova noma ukuziphatha okubi njengezwe elisizungezile, sidinga ukuqapha singayengwa noma sijatshuliswe yilezizinto. NjengoLoti, kufanele sizizwe sicindezelekile ngokuba khona kwezenzo ezinjalo zokungabi namthetho. Labo abakuzondayo okubi ngeke bafune izindlela zokukwenza; kanti abantu abangakuzondi bangase bangakwenzi ngokoqobo kuyilapho befisa sengathi ngabe bayakwenza. “Nina enithanda uJehova zondani okubi.”—IHubo 97:10.
20. (a) IBhayibheli lisixwayisa ngaziphi izindlela ngendlela yokuphila yokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo? (b) Singabona kanjani ukuthi izifundo ezibalulekile ezivela eBhayibhelini eziphathelene nokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo zigxilile ezinhliziyweni zethu?
20 Ngothando uJehova usifundisa ukuxwaya hhayi nje kuphela ukuziphatha okubi kodwa nendlela yokuphila yokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo. IZwi lakhe liyeluleka: ‘Yaneliswani ukudla nezambatho.’ (1 Thimothewu 6:8) UNowa namadodana akhe kwadingeka bashiye imizi yabo lapho bengena emkhunjini. ULoti nomkhaya wakhe, nabo kwadingeka ukuba bashiye ikhaya nezimpahla ukuze basindise ukuphila kwabo. Silugxilise kuphi uthando lwethu? “Khumbulani umkaLoti.” (Luka 17:32) UJesu wakhuthaza: “Kodwa funani kuqala umbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe.” (Mathewu 6:33) Ingabe siyakwenza lokho? Uma izindinganiso zikaJehova zokulunga zisihola futhi ukumemezela izindaba zinhle zoMbuso wakhe kuyinto esiyikhathalela kuqala ekuphileni kwethu, khona-ke ngempela, siyasabela ekulungiseleleni kwakhe abantu abayokhululelwa ezweni lakhe elisha.
21. Kungani singalindela ngokufanele ukuthi isithembiso sikaJehova sokukhulula sizogcwaliseka ngokushesha?
21 Kubantu abanokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu ababeyobona ukugcwaliseka kwesibonakaliso sokubakhona kwakhe emandleni oMbuso, uJesu wathi: “Lulamani, niphakamise amakhanda enu, ngokuba kusondele ukukhululwa kwenu.” (Luka 21:28) Ingabe uye wasibona lesosibonakaliso njengoba siye sagcwaliseka kuyo yonke imininingwane? Khona-ke qiniseka ngokuthi kuseduze kakhulu ukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso sikaJehova sokukhulula! Qiniseka ngokugcwele ngokuthi “uJehova uyakwazi ukukhulula ekulingweni abantu abanokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu.”—2 Petru 2:9, NW.
Yini Oyifundile?
◻ NjengoLoti, kufanele sisabele kanjani endleleni yezwe yokuphila?
◻ Iluphi uvivinyo uLoti nomkhaya wakhe ababhekana nalo ngisho nalapho bebaleka eSodoma?
◻ Izibonelo ezasetshenziswa uPetru zikugcizelela kanjani ukuphuthuma kokuthatha ukuma okuqinile ohlangothini lukaJehova manje?
◻ Ekulungiseleleni abantu bakhe ukukhululwa, iziphi izifundo ezibalulekile uJehova azifundisayo?
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
UNkulunkulu uvikela abantu bakhe njengamaphuphu ngaphansi kwamaphiko anamandla omzali wawo