1, 2. Ngowesifazana onjani esingamenyanya nxa engaba liwule?

 KUYADANISA ukubona umuntu ophila ngokuthengisa umzimba. Kwenza sizibuze ukuthi kuyabe kwenze njani umuntu aze akhethe impilo enjalo. Abanye bakhetha ukuphila impilo enjalo bebancane bebalekela ukuhlukuluzwa ngekhaya. Abanye bayabe beswela yikho bangabe bezama ukudinga imali ukuze bangabulawa yindlala, ikanti abanye bayabe bebalekela omkabo ababahlukuluzayo. Kuyadanisa kakhulu ukubona abantu bethwala nzima baze bacine bekhetha ukuphila impilo enjalo. Lokho yikho okungabe kwenza uJesu waphatha kuhle abanye abesifazana ababeyizifebe. Wathi labo ababezaphenduka batshintshe indlela abaphila ngayo babezakuba lethemba lokuthola ukuphila okungapheliyo.—Mat. 21:28-32; Luk. 7:36-50.

² Kodwa bakhona abanye abesifazana abakhetha ngabomo ukuphila ngokuthengisa umzimba. Bayabe bengaboni okubi ngalokho abakwenzayo kodwa bayabe bezigqaja ngakho futhi bezifunela imali. Ake sithi omunye wabesifazana laba wayelendoda  eyayimthanda futhi ithembekile kuye, yena waseyitshiya waqalisa ukuwula. Ubuzamzwela yini umuntu onjalo? Hatshi ubungeke umzwele, ubuzamenyanya ngenxa yempilo ayiphilayo. Lokho yikho okwenza uJehova wasebenzisa umzekeliso wesifebe ukuze asincede sizwisise ukuthi uzwa njani ngenkolo yamanga.

3. Sizaxoxa ngani esahlukweni lesi?

³ Ebhukwini likaHezekheli kulezahluko ezimbili ezikhuluma ngobufebe. Ezahlukweni lezo abantu bako-Israyeli labakoJuda ababengathembekanga bafaniswe labesifazana abangamawule. (Hez. isahluko 16 lo-23) Singakakhulumi okunengi ngezahluko lezi, asiqaleni sixoxe ngesinye isifebe okukhulunywa ngaso kuSambulo. Isifebe leso saba khona kudala uHezekheli engakabi khona lesizwe sako-Israyeli singakabi khona, futhi lalamuhla silokhu siqhubeka ngobufebe baso.

4, 5. Kuyini “iBhabhiloni Enkulu” njalo sikwazi njani lokho? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

⁴ UJesu watshengisa umphostoli uJohane umbono awubhala ebhukwini leSambulo. Wabona owesifazana ‘oyisifebe esikhulu’ obizwa langokuthi ‘yiBhabhiloni Enkulu unina wezifebe.’ (Isam. 17:1, 5) Sekuleminyaka eminengi izikhwicamfundo ezihlola iBhayibhili labakhokheli bezinkolo bedinga ukuthi owesifazana lo angabe engubani. Abanye bathi umela umbuso weBhabhiloni, abanye bathi oweRoma futhi abanye bathi umela isonto yeRoma Katolika. Kodwa sekulamatshumi eminyaka oFakazi bakaJehova besazi ukuthi ‘isifebe lesi esikhulu’ singubani. Isifebe lesi yizo zonke izinkolo zamanga ezisemhlabeni. Sikwazi njani lokho?

⁵ Isifebe lesi setheswa icala lokufeba “lamakhosi omhlaba” loba abezombusazwe. Yikho kuyacaca ukuthi kasimeli inhlanganiso zombusazwe. Ibhuku leSambulo lithi “labathengisi bomhlaba” bayayililela iBhabhiloni Enkulu okutshengisa ukuthi ayimeli abezamabhizimusi. Manje simelani isifebe lesi esikhulu? IBhayibhili lithi isifebe lesi ‘sisebenzelana lamadimoni,’ sikhonza izithombe futhi siliqili. Lokho ayisikho yini okwenziwa zinkolo zamanga? Sitshelwa lokuthi isifebe lesi sihlezi phezu kwemibuso yomhlaba okutshengisa ukuthi silamandla okwenza ababusi benze intando yaso. Sihlukuluza lezinceku zikaJehova ezithembekileyo. (Isam. 17:2, 3; 18:11, 23, 24) Konke lokhu kuveza ukuthi isifebe esikhulu simela inkolo yamanga ngoba yikho ebikwenza kusukela kudala kuze kube lamuhla.

6. Kungani kuthiwa iBhabhiloni Enkulu ‘ngunina wezifebe’?

⁶ Kungani iBhabhiloni Enkulu ingabizwa nje ngokuthi ‘yisifebe esikhulu’ kodwa ibizwa langokuthi ‘ingunina wezifebe’? Manengi kakhulu amasonto abumba inkolo yamanga. Ngesikhathi uJehova ephithanisa ulimi lwabantu eBhabheli loba eBhabhiloni abantu basuka lezimfundiso zabo zamanga. Lokhu kwenza ukuthi  izimfundiso zamanga zisabalale umhlaba wonke. Yikho inkolo yamanga ibizwa ngokuthi ‘yiBhabhiloni Enkulu’ ngoba edolobheni leBhabhiloni yikho lapho okwaqalisela khona izimfundiso zamanga. (Gen. 11:1-9) Ngakho wonke amasonto amanga angabizwa ngokuthi angamadodakazi esifebe esikhulu esiyinhlanganiso yenkolo yamanga. USathane usebenzisa amasonto amanga ukuze enze abantu basebenzelane lamadimoni, bakhonze izithombe futhi benze leminye imikhuba engamthokozisiyo uNkulunkulu. Yikho uJehova exwayisa abantu bakhe ukuthi bangazihlanganisi lenkolo yamanga. Uthi: “Phumani kuyo bantu bami nxa lingafuni ukuhlanganyela layo ezonweni zayo.”—Bala iSambulo 18:4, 5.

7. Kungani kumele silalele nxa uNkulunkulu esitshela ukuthi siphume ‘eBhabhiloni Enkulu’?

⁷ Wena usukwenzile yini lokhu? Khumbula ukuthi uJehova wadala umuntu wamenza waba lesifiso sokukhonza. (Mat. 5:3) Ngakho ukuze sithokoze kumele sikhonze uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo, singenzi loba yini engasihlanganisa leBhabhiloni Enkulu. Kodwa uSathane uDeveli yena uzimisele ukuyenga abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuthi benze izinto ezizabahlanganisa lenkolo yamanga. Okudanisayo yikuthi izikhathi ezinengi uyaphumelela ukwenza njalo. Kusiyafika isikhathi sikaHezekheli kwasekukanengi abantu bakaNkulunkulu betshiya uJehova besiyakhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. Kuqakathekile ukuthi sihlole lokho okwakusenziwa ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngoba kuzasifundisa okunengi ngezimiso zikaJehova lesihawu sakhe langendlela ahlulela ngayo.

8-10. Yiphi into eqakathekileyo uJehova ayikhangelele ebantwini bakhe? Nika umzekeliso.

⁸ Ebhukwini likaHezekheli, uJehova ufanisa abantu bakhe lezifebe ukuze aveze ukuthi lokho ababekwenza kwakumzwisa ubuhlungu kangakanani. Waphefumulela uHezekheli ukuthi abhale izahluko ezimbili eziveza ukuthi wayesizwa ubuhlungu kakhulu nxa abantu bakhe bemtshiya besiyakhonza abanye onkulunkulu. Kuyini ayefuna ukukucacisela abantu bakhe?

⁹ Ukuze sithole impendulo yombuzo lo, kumele siqale sikhumbule into eqakathekileyo uJehova ayifunayo ebantwini abamkhonzayo, esaxoxa ngayo eSahlukweni 5 sebhuku leli. UJehova wathi enika abako-Israyeli uMthetho wathi: ‘Akumelanga ube labanye onkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami, mina Jehova uNkulunkulu wakho nginguNkulunkulu ofuna umuntu azinikele kimi kuphela.’ (Eks. 20:3, 5) Waphinda wakhuluma amazwi afanana lalawo wathi: “Akumelanga likhothamele omunye unkulunkulu ngoba uJehova ufuna abantu bazinikele kuye kuphela. UnguNkulunkulu ofuna umuntu azinikele kuye kuphela.” (Eks. 34:14) UJehova wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi ngeke simkhonze ngendlela ayamukelayo nxa singazinikelanga kuye kuphela.

 ¹⁰ Okungasinceda ukuthi sikuzwisise lokhu yikucabanga ngabantu ababili abatshadileyo. Umuntu otshadileyo uyabe ekhangelele ukuthi umkakhe athembeke kuye. Kodwa nxa umkakhe angathandana lomunye umuntu kumbe alale lomunye umuntu uyezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu kakhulu. (Bala uHebheru 13:4.) UJehova laye uzwa ubuhlungu obukhulu kakhulu nxa abantu bakhe abazinikele kuye bemtshiya beqalisa ukukhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. Lokhu kuyacaca esahlukweni 16 sebhuku likaHezekheli.

11. UJehova wathini ngeJerusalema?

¹¹ Esahlukweni 16 sebhuku likaHezekheli yikho lapho esithola khona isiphrofetho eside kulazo zonke ebhukwini leli, futhi ngesinye seziphrofetho ezinde kakhulu eMibhalweni yesiHebheru. UJehova ukhuluma ngedolobho leJerusalema. Esahlukweni lesi iJerusalema imela abantu bakoJuda abangathembekanga. Ulandisa ngokuthi yayinjani ekuqaliseni lokuthi yamhlamukela njani. Uthi yaqalisa iyintandane ezwisa usizi, engcolileyo futhi kwakungelamuntu olendaba layo. Abazali bayo kwakungamaKhenani ayekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. Phela okwesikhathi eside eJerusalema kwakuhlala amaKhenani okwakuthiwa ngamaJebusi. Ahlala khona aze anqotshwa nguDavida. UJehova wayizwela intandane le wayithatha, wayigezisa futhi wayinakekela. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi yaba ngumkakhe. Ama-Israyeli ayehlala edolobheni leJerusalema ayeyenze isivumelwano loJehova. Isivumelwano lesi ayesenze ngensuku zikaMosi engabanjwanga ngamandla. (Eks. 24:7, 8) IJerusalema yathi isiyisigodlo sako-Israyeli, uJehova wayibusisa wayenza yanotha njalo yabanhle njengoba nje indoda enothileyo ingathengela umkayo imiceciso emihle.—Hez. 16:1-14.

12. Abantu beJerusalema baqalisa njani ukuhlamukela uJehova?

¹² Kodwa okwenzakala ngemva kwalokho kuyadanisa. UJehova wathi: “Waqalisa ukuthemba ubuhle bakho futhi waba liwule ngenxa yokuthi wawusudumile. Wawufeba laye wonke umuntu odlulayo, utshaphaza ubuhle bakho emuntwini wonke.” (Hez. 16:15) Ngensuku zikaSolomoni uJehova wayibusisa iJerusalema labantu bayo wayenza yanotha yaba lidolobho elicwebezelayo futhi elilodumo. (1 Amakho. 10:23, 27) Kodwa abantu baqalisa ukuhlamukela uJehova. USolomoni wangcolisa iJerusalema ngezithombe zabonkulunkulu bamanga ngoba wayefuna ukuthokozisa abafazi bakhe bezinye izizwe. (1 Amakho. 11:1-8) Abanye ababusa ngemva kwakhe bona benza okubi kakhulu ukwedlula yena. Bagcwalisa izithombe elizweni lonke, benza abantu bakhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. UJehova wezwa njani ngalokho okwasekusenziwa ngabantu bakhe? Wathi: “Izinto ezinje akumelanga zenzakale njalo akumelanga zibe khona.” (Hez. 16:16) Kodwa abantu bakhe baqhubeka besenza izinto ezinengi ezenyanyekayo.

13. Yiziphi izinto ezimbi ezazisenziwa ngabantu beJerusalema?

 ¹³ UJehova wathi: “Wathatha amadodana lamadodakazi ongizalele wona wanikela ngawo ezithombeni zakho. Wawungasuthiseki ngobuwule bakho yini? Wabulala amadodana ami wanikela ngawo ukuze atshiswe emlilweni.” (Hez. 16:20, 21) Akucabange ukuthi uJehova wayesizwa ubuhlungu obungakanani ngesikhathi ekhuluma amazwi la, eveza izinto ezenyanyekayo ezazisenziwa ngabantu bakhe. Izenzo lezi ezihlasimulisa umzimba zikuveza egcekeni ukuthi uSathane ulenhliziyo embi. Uyakholisa nxa ebona abantu bakaJehova behlamuka futhi besenza izinto ezimbi kangaka. UJehova uyakubona konke futhi ulawo amandla okuqeda ubuhlungu obudalwa yisihluku uSathane asenza ebantwini. Uzamjezisa loba sekutheni.—Bala uJobe 34:24.

14. Ngobani odadewabo beJerusalema ababili uJehova akhuluma ngabo, njalo kuyini ayefuna ukukuveza?

¹⁴ Abantu beJerusalema kwakungathi thiki kubo nxa besenza izinto ezilihlazo. IJerusalema yaqhubeka ifeba. UJehova wathi iJerusalema yayiliwule elingelanhloni. Yayisedlula wonke amanye amawule ngoba yona yayibhadala abantu ukuthi bazofeba layo. (Hez. 16:34) UNkulunkulu wathi iJerusalema yayifuze “unina,” okutsho izizwe ezazikhonza onkulunkulu bamanga ezake zahlala elizweni lako-Israyeli. (Hez. 16:44, 45) Waqhubeka wathi iJerusalema yayilodadewabo iSamariya. ISamariya yiyo eyaqalisa ukufeba loba ukukhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. Waphinda wakhuluma ngodadewabo wesibili, iSodoma. Lokhu kwakhumbuza abantu ngedolobho leSodoma elabhujiswa kudala ngoba abantu balo babesenza izinto ezimbi kakhulu futhi belenkani. Ayefuna ukukuveza yikuthi iJerusalema yayisisenza izinto ezimbi kakhulu ukwedlula iSamariya leSodoma. (Hez. 16:46-50) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu baxwayiswa kanenginengi kodwa kabazange balalele, baqhubeka behlamuka.

15. UJehova wayehloseni ngesikhathi ejezisa iJerusalema, futhi wabanika liphi ithemba abantu bakhe?

¹⁵ Manje uJehova wayezakwenzani? Watshela iJerusalema wathi: ‘Ngizabutha zonke izithandwa zakho owawuzithokozisa njalo ngizakunikela esandleni sazo.’ Abangane bayo babezayihlasela bayitshabalalise bathathe yonke inotho yayo lezinto zayo eziligugu. UJehova waqhubeka wathi: “Bazakukhanda ngamatshe bakugwaze ngezinkemba zabo.” Kuyini okwakuzakwenza ukuthi uJehova abajezise kabuhlungu kangaka abantu bakhe? Ayisikho ukuthi wayefuna ukubatshabalalisa kodwa wayefuna ‘ukuqeda bonke ubuwule babo.’ Waqhubeka wathi: “Ngizaqedela ulaka lwami lonke phezu kwakho futhi ukuthukuthela kwami kuzaphela. Ulaka lwami luzabohla, intukuthelo yami iphele.” Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 9 sebhuku leli, uJehova wayehlose ukuthi avuselele ukukhonza kweqiniso nxa abantu bakhe abathunjiweyo sebebuyele elizweni labo. Yikho wathi: “Ngizasikhumbula isivumelwano engasenza lawe ensukwini zobutsha bakho.” (Hez.  16:37-42, 60) UJehova wayengasoze enze njengabantu bakhe ababengathembekanga, yena wayezatshengisa ukuthi uqotho.—Bala iSambulo 15:4.

16, 17. (a) Kungani singasatsho ukuthi u-Ohola lo-Oholibha bamela amasonto amanga azithi ngawesiKhristu? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi, “Izelamani Eziyizifebe.”) (b) Yiziphi izifundo esizithola kuHezekheli isahluko 16 lo-23?

¹⁶ Isiphrofetho sikaJehova esibhalwe kuHezekheli isahluko 16 singasifundisa okunengi ngoJehova. Sisifundisa okunengi ngezimiso zikaJehova ezilungileyo langendlela ahlulela ngayo kanye lokuthi ulesihawu esikhulu. Izifundo lezo siyazithola lakuHezekheli isahluko 23. Ezahlukweni lezi uJehova kazange abakhekheleze abantu bakhe, wahle wabatshela ukuthi babefeba. Lamuhla amaKhristu eqiniso kumele acabangisise ngalokho uJehova akutshoyo. Asifuni kuzwisa uJehova ubuhlungu njengabantu bakoJuda labeJerusalema. Ngakho kumele sibalekele konke ukukhonza izithombe. Lokhu kugoqela ubuhwaba lokuthanda inotho ngoba lakho yikukhonza izithombe. (Mat. 6:24; Kol. 3:5) Sifuna ukutshengisa ukuthi siyambonga uJehova ngesihawu sakhe ngoba ukuvuselele ukukhonza kweqiniso ensukwini zokucina futhi kasoze avume ukuthi kuphinde kungcoliswe. Wenze “isivumelwano esingapheliyo” lamaKhristu agcotshiweyo. (Hez. 16:60) Isivumelwano lesi ngeke siphele lanxa abanye babo bengakhetha ukumhlamukela loba ukungathembeki kuye. Kwangathi sonke singaqhubeka sitshengisa ukuthi siyasiqakathekisa isibusiso esilaso ngokuqhubeka sikhonza uJehova ngendlela ehlanzekileyo silabantu bakhe.

¹⁷ Kodwa isiphrofetho sikaJehova esimayelana lezifebe esisebhukwini likaHezekheli sisifundisani ngeBhabhiloni Enkulu? Izindima ezilandelayo zizasicacisela.

18, 19. Izifebe okukhulunywa ngazo kuHezekheli zifanana njani lesifebe okukhulunywa ngaso kuSambulo?

¹⁸ UJehova katshintshi. (Jak. 1:17) Kusukela inkolo yamanga yaba khona ubelokhe eyizonda. Ngakho akusimangalisi ukubona ukuthi indlela ahlulela ngayo izifebe okukhulunywa ngazo ebhukwini likaHezekheli iyafanana lendlela azajezisa ngayo ‘isifebe esikhulu’ okukhulunywa ngaso ebhukwini leSambulo.

¹⁹ UJehova wajezisa izifebe ezimbili okukhulunywa ngazo ebhukwini likaHezekheli esebenzisa izizwe abantu bakhe ababefeba lazo loba bekhonza onkulunkulu bazo. Inkolo yamanga layo ilecala lokufeba “lamakhosi omhlaba.” Manje uJehova uzayijezisa njani? IBhayibhili lithi izinhlanganiso zombusazwe “zizasizonda isifebe, zisithathele konke esilakho futhi zisinqunule. Zizakudla inyama yaso zisitshise ngomlilo size siphele du.” Kuyini okuzabangela ukuthi ohulumende benze into enjalo ezakwethusa abantu? UNkulunkulu ‘uzakufaka ezinhliziyweni zabo ukuthi benze umcabango wakhe.’—Isam. 17:1-3, 15-17.

20. Kuyini okwenza sithi iBhabhiloni izabhujiswa kokuphela?

 ²⁰ UJehova uzasebenzisa izizwe ukuthi ajezise inkolo yamanga. Zizatshabalalisa wonke amasonto azithi ngawesiKhristu. Lokhu kuzakuba yikuphela kwenkolo yamanga. UJehova kasoze ayithethelele loba ayinike elinye ithuba lokuthi itshintshe. Ibhuku leSambulo lithi iBhabhiloni ‘ayisoze iphinde itholakale.’ (Isam. 18:21) Izingilosi zikaNkulunkulu zizathokoza ngenxa yokubhujiswa kwayo, zithi: ‘Dumisani uJah! Intuthu yokutsha kwayo iqhubeka ithunqa isiya phezulu kuze nini lanini.’ (Isam. 19:3) Inkolo yamanga izatshabalaliswa ingaphindi ibe khona. UJehova kasoze ayivumele ukuthi iphinde ivuke izongcolisa ukukhonza kweqiniso. IBhabhiloni Enkulu izatshabalaliswa angathi itshiswe ngomlilo futhi intuthu yokutsha kwayo izathunqa kuze kube nini lanini.

21. Ukuhlupheka okukhulu kuzaqalisa njani, njalo kuzaphela nini?

²¹ Ngesikhathi ohulumende bomhlaba behlasela iBhabhiloni Enkulu, bazabe bethunywe nguNkulunkulu ukuthi bayijezise. Lesi kuzakuba yisenzakalo esiqakathekileyo esizakwenza ukuthi  inhloso kaJehova igcwaliseke. Lokhu kuzabe kuyikuqala kokuhlupheka okukhulu, isikhathi esizabe sinzima kakhulu. (Mat. 24:21) Izinto zizaqhubeka zisiba nzima kakhulu kuze kufike impi ye-Amagedoni lapho uJehova azabhubhisa khona bonke abenza okubi. (Isam. 16:14, 16) Ezahlukweni ezilandelayo sizabona ukuthi ibhuku likaHezekheli likuveza njani okuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. Kodwa okwakhathesi yiziphi izifundo ezikuHezekheli isahluko 16 lo-23 esifuna ukuhlala sizikhumbula njalo sizisebenzisa?

22, 23. Ukuhlola izahluko ezikuHezekheli lakuSambulo ezikhuluma ngezifebe kungasinceda njani?

²² USathane uyakuthanda ukuphambula abantu ekukhonzeni kweqiniso. Uyathokoza kakhulu nxa ethola amathuba okwenza ukuthi sitshiye ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela ehlanzekileyo, senze njengezifebe okukhulunywa ngazo ebhukwini likaHezekheli. Kumele sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova kamamukeli umuntu ongathembekanga kuye. (Nani. 25:11) Ngakho kumele sizimisele ukungenzi loba yini engasihlanganisa lenkolo yamanga. Akumelanga sithinte loba yini uNkulunkulu athi ‘ingcolile.’ (Isaya. 52:11) Kanti njalo akumelanga singene kwezombangazwe loba ezingxabanweni zomhlaba lo. (Joh. 15:19) Ukuthanda kakhulu ilizwe lakini lokulitshisekela lakho yikukhonza kwamanga okusetshenziswa nguSathane ukuze adukise abantu. Lokhu lakho kufanele sikuxwaye.

²³ Phezu kwakho konke lokhu kasihlaleni sikhumbula ukuthi silesibusiso esiligugu sokukhonza uJehova ngendlela ehlanzekileyo sisethempelini lakhe elikhulu. Ngakho kasizimiseleni ukungenzi lutho oluzasihlanganisa lenkolo yamanga lobufebe bayo. Lokhu kuzakwenza kucace ukuthi siyasiqakathekisa isibusiso sokukhonza uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo.