1, 2. (a) U-Elifazi loBhilidadi bathini ngalokho esikwenzela uNkulunkulu? (b) UJehova wezwa njani ngalokho abakukhulumayo?

U-ELIFAZI UMTHEMANI wabuza uJobe wathi: “Umuntu angasiza uNkulunkulu na? Lesihlakaniphi uqobo kambe singamsiza na? Bekungamupha ntokozo bani uSomandla ukulunga kwakho na? Ubengazuzani ngabe kuthiwa kawulasiyinga na?” (Jobe. 22:1-3) U-Elifazi wayecabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu kalandaba labantu. Umngane wakhe uBhilidadi umShuhi laye wala wemba phansi ukuthi umuntu angaba ngolungileyo phambi kukaNkulunkulu.—Bala uJobe 25:4.

² Amadoda la ayeqina ngokuthi konke esikwenzayo ukuze sihlale siqotho kuJehova akuncedi ngalutho ngoba kuye sizimpethu nje. (Jobe. 4:19; 25:6) Nxa usizwa lokhu ungacabanga ukuthi u-Elifazi loBhilidadi babethobekile. (Jobe. 22:29) Kuliqiniso ukuthi uJehova umkhulu njalo thina sibancane kakhulu nxa siqathaniswa laye. Kufanana lomuntu ophezu kwentaba ende kumbe ogade indizamtshina, ubona izinto eziphansi zizincane kakhulu. Kodwa yiyo yini indlela uJehova asikhangela ngayo? Hatshi. UJehova wamzondela u-Elifazi loBhilidadi loZofari ngokukhuluma  kwabo amanga njalo watshengisa lokuthi uyamqakathekisa uJobe ngokumbiza ngokuthi “inceku yami.” (Jobe. 42:7, 8) Siyabona-ke ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyabaqakathekisa abantu.

3. U-Elihu wambuza wathini uJobe futhi wayesitshoni?

³ U-Elihu wabuza uJobe wathi: “Aluba ulungile kuyini omnika khona wena na, kumbe yena wamukelani esandleni sakho?” (Jobe. 35:7) UJehova kazange amsole ngokubuza umbuzo lo. Kodwa wayesitshoni u-Elihu? Wayesitsho ukuthi uNkulunkulu kalandaba lakho yini esimenzela khona? Hatshi, ayekutsho yikuthi akulalutho uJehova aludingayo kithi ngoba konke esilakho kuvela kuye njalo uyathokoza nxa sikusebenzisa kuhle. Kanti njalo akulalutho esingamnika lona olungamenza abe ngcono kulalokho ayikho khona.

4. UJehova ukubona njani lokho esikwenzela abanye?

⁴ Konke okuhle esikwenzela abafowethu labodadewethu uJehova ukubala njengokuthi sikwenzela yena. UZaga 19:17 uthi: “Olomusa kubayanga upha uJehova, uzakumvuza ngalokho akwenzayo.” Umbhalo lo utshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyayibona imisebenzi emihle esiyenzayo. Lanxa uJehova enguMdali wazo zonke izinto uyawubona umusa esiwenzela abanye. Nxa sikwenza lokhu kufanana lokuthi simboleka okuthile njalo uyabe ezasibhadala ngokusinika izibusiso ezinengi. Kuliqiniso lokhu ngoba layo iNdodana yakhe yakutsho.—Bala uLukha 14:13, 14.

5. Sizaxoxa ngani?

⁵ Endulo uJehova wacela umphrofethi u-Isaya ukuthi abe ngummeli wakhe njalo enze umsebenzi oqakathekileyo. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi kuyamthokozisa uJehova ukuvumela abantu abathembekileyo ukuthi babambisane laye ukuze injongo yakhe igcwaliseke. (Isaya. 6:8-10) U-Isaya wavuma ngokuzithandela wathi “Ngilapha. Thuma mina.” Lanamuhla banengi abantu bakaJehova abazinikela ukwenza imisebenzi etshiyeneyo enhlanganisweni yakhe. Mhlawumbe uyake uzibuze ukuthi, ‘Lanxa kuyisibusiso esikhulu ukuthi uJehova angivumele ukuthi ngimsebenzele uyakuqakathekisa yini engikwenzayo? Ngeke awenze yini umsebenzi wakhe nxa mina ngingekho?’ Ake sixoxe ngendaba kaDibhora loBharakhi ukuze siphendule imibuzo le.

6. Yiwuphi umahluko owawukhona phakathi kwabako-Israyeli lebutho likaJabhini?

⁶ Kwasekuphele iminyaka engu-20 uJabhini inkosi yaseKhenani ithwalise nzima abako-Israyeli. Wonke umuntu wayedlela evalweni futhi esesaba lokuphuma phandle. Abako-Israyeli babengelazikhali zokulwa lezokuzivikela ikanti uJabhini yena wayelenqola zempi ezingu-900. Yikho kwakukhanya kunzima ukuthi bangamnqoba.—Abahlu. 4:1-3, 13; 5:6-8.

7, 8. (a) UJehova wamtshelani uBharakhi? (b) Abako-Israyeli balinqoba njani ibutho likaJabhini? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

⁷ UJehova wathuma umphrofethikazi uDibhora ukuthi atshele uBharakhi amazwi la: “Suka uhambe labantu bakoNafthali labakoZebhuluni abayizinkulungwane ezilitshumi ubakhokhelele eNtabeni iThabhori. Ngizahugela uSisera, umlawuli webutho likaJabhini, lezinqola zakhe zempi kanye lamabutho emfuleni uKhishoni ngimnikele ezandleni zakho.”—Abahlu. 4:4-7.

⁸ Ilizwi likaJehova lasabalala indawo yonke njalo amadoda angu-10 000 ahamba ayahlangana eNtabeni iThabhori. UBharakhi wafika  wabatshela okwakukhulunywe nguJehova bahle basilanda isitha eThahanakhi. (Bala ABahluleli 4:14-16.) Yathi isitshisa impi kwana izulu lesiqhotho futhi kwakungasahambeki indawana yonke. Bathi bekubona lokhu uSisera lebutho lakhe bathi nyawo ngibeletha. UBharakhi wabaxotshanisa okomango ongamakhilomitha angu-24 waze wayafika eHoreshi. USisera wathi ebona sekukubi weqa watshiya inqola wathathela ngejubane waqonda eZahanani. Kungenzakala ukuthi indawo le yayiseduze leKhedeshi. Wafika wacela ukucatsha ethenteni likaJayeli umkaHebheri umKheni, lakanye uJayeli wavuma. Khonokho nje uSisera bamthatha ubuthongo ngoba wayedinwe efile. Uthe esabuthuza ubuthongo uJayeli wathatha isikhonkwane sethente lakhe wasithela enhlafunweni kaSisera wahle wafa. (Abahlu. 4:17-21) Bayinqoba kanjalo-ke impi abako-Israyeli. *

9. Sifundani kuBahluleli 5:20, 21 mayelana lokunqotshwa kukaSisera?

⁹ Isahluko sesihlanu sebhuku laBahluleli sisinceda ukuthi sizwisise indaba okukhulunywa ngayo kusahluko sesine. Ngokwesibonelo kuBahluleli 5:20, 21 kuthiwa “izinkanyezi zalwa zisemazulwini, zalwa loSisera zisezindleleni zazo. Umfula uKhishoni wabakhukhula.” Kambe ivesi le itsho ukuthi izingilosi zabancedisa yini abako-Israyeli empini le kumbe itsho ukuthi kwawa amatshe evela emkhathini? IBhayibhili kalisitsheli lutho ngalokhu. Kodwa kukhanya uJehova wabancedisa abantu bakhe ngokwenza ukuthi kune izulu lesiqhotho kuleyondawo ukuze izinqola zempi ezingu-900 zabaseKhenani zehluleke ukuhamba. KuBahluleli 4:14, 15 kukhulunywa kathathu ngoJehova okutshengisa ukuthi nguye owayekhokhela empini le. Ngakho kakho loyedwa phakathi kwamadoda ayesempini owayengazitshaya isifuba esithi nguye oyenze abako-Israyeli banqoba.

10, 11. Yayiyini iMerozi njalo kungani yaqalekiswa?

¹⁰ Kulokunye esikunanzelelayo engomeni eyahlatshelwa nguDibhora loBharakhi abako-Israyeli sebenqobile. Bathi: “‘Iqalekisiwe iMerozi,’ kwatsho ingilosi kaJehova, ‘baqalekiseni kabuhlungu abantu bayo, ngoba kabezanga ukuncedisa uJehova, ukuzasiza uJehova emelane labalamandla.’”—Abahlu. 5:23.

¹¹ Yayingaphi iMerozi? Kasingeke sitsho ngoba kukhanya yaqalekiswa sibili okokuthi imbali yayo kayisalondeki. Mhlawumbe iMerozi kwakulidolobho okungenzakala ukuthi abantu balo bakhetha ukuzihlalela lapho besizwa umbiko wokuthi baphume bayekulwa loSisera. Nxa kuyikuthi uSisera wadlula eMerozi ngesikhathi ebalekela uBharakhi abantu bakhona babeyabe sebethole ithuba lokumbamba. Akwenzakali ukuthi sithi abantu laba babengawuzwanga umbiko wokuyancedisa empini ngoba phela amadoda angu-10 000 ayesuke esabelweni sabo esiyahlasela uSisera lebutho lakhe. Ngakho kwakumele benze okuthile ngendoda le lapho beyibona idlula phakathi kwemizi yabo. Basebethole ithuba lokusekela uJehova futhi wayezababusisa ngabe bakwenza lokhu. Loba kunjalo bona bakhetha ukuzihlalela. Abazange benze njengoJayeli owazimisela ukusekela uJehova ngokwenza lokho okukhulunywa ngakho kuBahluleli 5:24-27.

12. Kuyini esikufunda kuBahluleli 5:9, 10?

¹² Nxa sifunda kuBahluleli 5:9, 10 sibona umahluko omkhulu phakathi kwalabo abahamba loBharakhi empini labanye abangazange  bazihluphe ngokuyancedisa. UDibhora loBharakhi bancoma ‘amakhosana ka-Israyeli’ kanye labanye ‘ababezinikele ngokuzithandela phakathi kwabantu.’ Babetshiyene lalabo ‘ababegada obabhemi abamhlophe’ ngoba babezibona beqakatheke kakhulu. IBhayibhili lichaza ukuthi abanye ‘babezihlalele ezihlalweni zabo zengubo’ okutsho ukuthi babezikholisela impilo ikanti abanye ‘babezihambela emigwaqweni.’ Bonke laba bakhetha ukuzenzela imisebenzi yabo kulokuthi bayencedisa empini eyayiseThabhori indawo elamaqaqa lamaxhaphozi. Abantu laba batshelwa ukuthi bacabangisise ngokuthi kungani bengazange basekele impi kaJehova. Yikho ngamunye wethu kumele azihlole ukuthi wenza njani endabeni yokuncedisa emsebenzini kaJehova.

13. Okwenziwa yisizwe sakoRubheni lesakoDani kanye lesako-Asheri kutshiyene njani lokwenziwa ngabakoZebhuloni labakoNafthali?

¹³ Abazinikelayo bazibonela ngawabo indlela uJehova atshengisa ngayo amandla akhe. Basebethole okuthile ababezakuxoxela abanye mayelana ‘lezenzo ezilungileyo zikaJehova.’ (Abahlu. 5:11) KuBahluleli 5:15-17 sithola ukuthi abakoRubheni labakoDani kanye labako-Asheri abazange baye empini. Bazihlalela nje bekhangele izifuyo zabo kanye lenye impahla yabo enengi kulokuthi bayencedisa emsebenzini kaJehova. Kodwa abakoZebhuloni labakoNafthali “bafaka impilo yabo uqobo engozini” bazinikela ukuyancedisa uDibhora loBharakhi. (Abahlu. 5:18) Thina sifundani endabeni le mayelana lokuzinikela ngokuzithandela?

14. Singawusekela njani umsebenzi kaJehova namuhla?

¹⁴ Lanxa thina namuhla singayi empini siphathiswe umsebenzi wokutshumayela odinga ukuthi sibe lesibindi. Ngakho kudingakala abantu abanengi abazimisele ukuncedisa enhlanganisweni kaJehova. Banengi abafowethu labodadewethu abakwenzileyo lokhu. Abanye bangamaphayona, abanye basebenza eBhetheli, abanye benza  umsebenzi wokwakha amaWolu oMbuso. Ikanti abanye abazalwane abakhulileyo labatsha bayazinikela ukuncedisa nxa kulemihlangano yesiqinti leyesabelo. Kanti njalo kulabadala abasebenza gadalala kumakhomithi asebenzelana lezibhedlela futhi abanye bahlela imihlangano. Kungelani lokuthi uncedisa kuwuphi umsebenzi, hlala ukhumbula ukuthi uJehova uyathokoza ngokuzinikela kwakho njalo kasoze akukhohlwe okuhle okwenzayo.—Heb. 6:10.

15. Kuyini okungakunceda ubone ukuthi ulokhu usakukhuthalele yini ukuncedisa emsebenzini kaJehova?

¹⁵ Kuhle ukuthi ngamunye wethu azibuze imibuzo le: Ngiyaphathisa yini emsebenzini kaJehova kumbe ngizitshela ukuthi bazakwenza abenelisayo? Ngiyehluleka yini ukuncedisa emsebenzini kaJehova ngenxa yokudinga imali loba ezinye nje izinto ezigijinyiswa ngabantu emhlabeni lo? Ngizimisele yini ukusebenzisa impahla yami loba iziphiwo engilazo ukuze ngisekele loba yiwuphi umsebenzi owenziwayo enhlanganisweni kaJehova? Ucabanga ukuya kwenye indawo kumbe kwelinye ilizwe yini ukuze uyedinga umsebenzi? Nxa kunjalo thandaza kuJehova ukuze akuncedise ukuthi ucabangisise ngokuthi ukwenza njalo kuzayithinta njani imuli yakho kanye lebandla okulo. *

16. Lanxa uJehova elakho konke kuyini okumthokozisa kakhulu?

¹⁶ UJehova usinike isibusiso esihle kakhulu ngokusivumela ukuthi sitshengise ukuthi siyabusekela ubukhosi bakhe. Kusukela ensimini yase-Edeni uSathane ubelokhu eyenga abantu ukuthi bahlamukele uJehova. Ngakho nxa sincedisa ngokuzithandela emsebenzini kaJehova siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi sisekela ubukhosi bakhe. (Zaga. 23:15, 16) Ukumsekela kwethu kwenza enelise ukuphendula uSathane. (Zaga. 27:11) Yikho uJehova uyathokoza kakhulu nxa simlalela ngenhliziyo yonke futhi uyakuqakathekisa konke esimenzela khona.

17. U-Abahluleli 5:31 usitshelani ngekusasa?

¹⁷ Sekuseduze ukuthi emhlabeni lo kusale abantu abasekela ubukhosi bukaJehova kuphela. Sisilindele ngabomvu lesosikhathi! Lathi sizahlabela njengoDibhora loBharakhi sithi: “Sengathi zingabhubha zonke izitha zakho, O Jehova! Kodwa sengathi labo abakuthandayo bangaba njengelanga lapho liphuma ngamandla alo.” (Abahlu. 5:31) Lokhu sizakwenza ngesikhathi uJehova esusa uSathane labo bonke abantu abenza izinto ezimbi. Thina akusoze kudingakale ukuthi silwe empini ye-Amagedoni kodwa kuzamele ‘sime ngesibindi sibone ukukhulula kukaJehova.’ (2 ImiLan. 20:17) Loba kunjalo kunengi esingakwenza khathesi ukuze sisekele umsebenzi kaJehova.

18. Ukuzinikela kwakho kungenza ukuthi abanye benzeni?

¹⁸ UDibhora loBharakhi bahlabela bedumisa uJehova lapho ‘abantu bezinikela ngokuzithandela.’ (Abahlu. 5:1, 2) Sengathi ukuzinikela kwakho ngokuzithandela kungenza abanye ‘badumise uJehova.’