USARA wayemi endlini yakhe ethalaza ngapha langapha. Ake umbone ngelihlo lengqondo owesifazana lo, ubukeka edanile yini? Nxa kunjalo, kungaba lula ukuthi simzwisise ukuthi yindaba enjalo. Yena lomkakhe u-Abhrahama basebelesikhathi eside behlala ndawonye endlini le futhi bekulikhaya labo sibili. *

Babehlala e-Uri, idolobho elalinothile lilabantu abazingcitshi ekwenzeni imisebenzi yezandla labalamabhizimusi. Kufanele ukuthi labo babekhomba ngophakathi. Umuzi wabo wawungasindawo yokugcina impahla kuphela kodwa kulapho uSara lomkakhe ababesiba lezikhathi ezimnandi lezibuhlungu bendawonye. Kulapho futhi ababethandaza khona izikhathi ezinengi kuJehova uNkulunkulu wabo ababemthanda. Yikho uSara wayelezizathu ezinhle zokulithanda ikhaya lakhe.

Lanxa kunjalo uSara wayezimisele ukukutshiya konke lokhu ayeqalisa impilo entsha. Mhlawumbe wayeleminyaka engaba ngu-60 njalo wayezahamba izindawo ayengakaze azigxobe, ahlalele evalweni futhi engasoze abuyele emzini wakhe. Kuyini okwenza impilo yakhe yantshintsha? Thina sifundani endleleni atshengisa ngayo ukholo?

Kungenzakala ukuthi uSara wakhulela e-Uri futhi imuli yangakibo yayihlala edolobheni lelo. Khathesi idolobho lelo kalisekho, selingamanxiwa kuphela. Kodwa ngezinsuku zikaSara imikhumbi yabathengisi yayitheleka ngoMfula uYufrathe iletha izimpahla eziligugu ezivela phetsheya. Kwakungasibantu ezitaladini ze-Uri kulitshebetshebe, ngapha izikepe lazo zingena ziphuma kungathi zimpolompolo. Akumcabange uSara ekhulela edolobheni elinje futhi esazi phose wonke umuntu ngebizo. Laye wayesaziwa ngoba wayemuhle okwelanga liphuma.

EBhayibhilini kukhulunywa kakhulu ngokholo lukaSara. Wayengakhonzi unkulunkulu wenyanga owayekhonzwa ngabanengi e-Uri, lapho okwakulomphongolo kankulunkulu lo wawumude utshaya khonale. Kodwa uSara wayekhonza uNkulunkulu weqiniso uJehova. IMibhalo ayisitsheli ukuthi waluthola ngaphi ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu. Uyise wayeke wakhonza izithombe. USara watshada lo-Abhrahama indoda eyayindala kulaye ngeminyaka engu-10. * (UGenesisi 17:17) Ngemva kwesikhathi esithile u-Abhrahama waba ‘nguyise wabo bonke abakholwayo.’ (KwabaseRoma 4:11) Bendawonye bakha umtshado oqinileyo futhi babehloniphana, bekhulumisana kuhle njalo bebambisana lanxa babephakathi kobunzima. Okuqakathekileyo yikuthi babemanyene ngoba bonke babemthanda uNkulunkulu.

 USara wayemthanda kakhulu umkakhe futhi bobabili babehlala lezihlobo zabo e-Uri. Kodwa njengoba ungekho umuzi ongathunqi intuthu, iBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi uSara “wayeyinyumba; wayengelabantwana.” (UGenesisi 11:30) Ngalezonsuku kwakulihlazo ukuswela inzalo. Lanxa kunjalo wahlala ethembekile kuNkulunkulu lakumkakhe. ULothi umntanomnewabo ka-Abhrahama owayeyintandane wayesengani yindodana yabo. Babezikholisela impilo kodwa ngelinye ilanga izinto zathi phendu!

U-Abhrahama wafika kuSara ethabe emanzi te! Wayengakukholwa lokhu okwakwenzakele. UNkulunkulu wayekhulume laye esebenzisa ingilosi. Akumcabange uSara esekhangele umkakhe embuza esithi: “Utheni kuwe? Ngicela ungitshele.” Engxenye u-Abhrahama wahlala phansi ukuze ayicacade kuhle indaba yakhe. Wamchathekela lokho uJehova ayemtshele khona: “Tshiya ilizwe lakini labantu bakini uye elizweni engizakutshengisa lona.” (ImiSebenzi 7:2, 3) Ukuthaba konke sekuphelile baqalisa ukucabangisisa ngalokho uJehova ayethe bakwenze. Kwasekumele batshiye impilo yabo entofontofo bayephila emathenteni. USara wathini? Kungenzakala ukuthi u-Abhrahama wayemkhangele ngelokhozi efuna ukubona ukuthi uzathini. USara wayezamsekela yini umkakhe?

Thina asikaze senze isinqumo esifanana xathu laleso okwakumele senziwe nguSara. Lanxa kunjalo sonke empilweni kumele senze izinqumo. Siphila emhlabeni olabantu abagijimisana lenotho, abaqakathekisa impahla abalayo lokuphila impilo entofontofo. Kodwa iBhayibhili lisikhuthaza ukuthi sifake uMbuso kuqala futhi sithokozise uNkulunkulu hatshi thina. (UMathewu 6:33) Kumele sicabangisise ngesinqumo esenziwa nguSara futhi sizibuze ukuthi, ‘Ngizakhethani empilweni yami?’

USara wayetshaywa likhanda ngesikhathi epakitsha impahla zakhe, ezibuza ukuthi athatheni njalo atshiyeni. Wayengasoze athathe izinto ezinkulu ezazingeke zithwalwe ngobabhemi lamakamela lezinto ababengasoze bazisebenzise sebehlala emathenteni. Kungenzakala ukuthi ezinye impahla zabo ezinengi bazithengisa kumbe bazinika abanye. Babezatshiya impilo yedolobheni lapho ababehlala duze lemakethe, bethenga izilimo, inyama, izithelo, izigqoko lokunye ababekudinga.

Kungenzakala ukuthi kwakunzima ukuthi uSara atshiye umuzi wakhe. Nxa kuyikuthi umuzi wabo wawufanana lezakhiwo ezinengi zase-Uri ezatholwa ngabavumbulula izinto zembali, wayengabe elahlekelwe sibili. Eminye imizi yakhona yayilezindlu ezinengi, ilamanzi ampompozayo kanye lezimpompi. Ngitsho labayanga babengenelisa ukuba lendlu elemiduli, uphahla kanye lesivalo.  Kodwa ithente lalingeke libavikele nxa izigebengu sezibahlasela. Kanti njalo babengathwaliswa nzima yizilwane, ingwe, amabhere lamakhanka ngoba yizo izinyamazana ezazijayelekile.

Pho kuthiwani ngezihlobo zabo? USara wayezatshiya obani? UNkulunkulu wabalaya ukuthi ‘batshiye ilizwe lakubo labantu bakibo’ futhi lokho kwakuzakubanzima kakhulu kuSara. Njengoba uSara wayengowesifazana owayelomusa lothando kufanele ukuthi wayengazithontisi izihlobo zakhe. Kwakubuhlungu kakhulu ukuzitshiya ngoba wayengasoze aphinde azibone. Lanxa kunjalo uSara wabalesibindi waqhubeka elungiselela uhambo lwabo.

Lanxa kwakunzima uSara wayeseziqoqile impahla zakhe eselindele ilanga ababezasuka ngalo. UThera wayesegugile kodwa laye wayezahamba lo-Abhrahama loSara. (UGenesisi 11:31) Lokhu kwakuzenza uSara abe lomsebenzi omkhulu wokunakekela umzali wakhe osekhulile. ULothi laye wahamba labo. Bamlalela uJehova ‘basuka elizweni lamaKhaledi.’—ImiSebenzi 7:4.

Baqala baqonda eHarani umango ongamakhilomitha angaba ngu-960 enyakatho ntshonalanga belandela uMfula uYufrathe. Bafika bahlala khona okwesikhathi esithile. Kungenzakala ukuthi uThera wayesegula kakhulu engasenelisi ukuqhubeka ngohambo. Bahlala lapho uThera waze wafa eseleminyaka engu-205. Belapho uJehova waphinda wakhuluma lo-Abhrahama emtshela ukuthi asuke elizweni lelo aye elizweni azamtshengisa lona. UNkulunkulu wakhuluma esinye isithembiso esithi: “Ngizakwenza ube yisizwe esikhulu.” (UGenesisi 12:2-4) Kodwa bathi besuka eHarani u-Abhrahama wayeseleminyaka engu-75 uSara esele-65 futhi babelokhu bengelamntwana. Manje isizwe sasizakuba khona njani ku-Abhrahama? Wayezathatha omunye umfazi yini? Engxenye uSara wayesecabanga ngesithembu ngoba sasijayelekile ngalezonsuku.

Basuka eHarani baqhubeka ngohambo lwabo. Kodwa nanzelela ukuthi ngobani abasebehamba labo. IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi imuli ka-Abhrahama yasuka lenotho ababeyitholile kanye “labantu ababebatholile eHarani.” (UGenesisi 12:5) Babengobani abantu laba? Kungenzakala babeyizisebenzi zabo. Kusegcekeni ukuthi u-Abhrahama loSara babetshumayeza labo ababefuna ukulalela. Amanye amaJuda akudala athi ivesi le ikhuluma ngabantu abasebephendukele enkolweni yeqiniso, sebefuna ukukhonza uJehova. Nxa kunjalo kutsho ukuthi ukholo oluqinileyo lukaSara lwamenza wakhuluma ngokuqiniseka lapho exoxela abanye ngoNkulunkulu kanye lethemba ayelalo. Kuqakathekile ukuthi sicabangisise ngokholo lwethu ngoba siphila labantu abangelakholo lethemba. Uzimisele yini ukuxoxela abanye okuhle okufunda eBhayibhilini?

Kungenzakala bachapha uMfula uYufrathe ngo-Nisani 14, 1943 B.C.E., basebeqonda eningizimu elizweni uJehova ayebathembise lona. (U-Eksodusi 12:40, 41) Akumbone ngelihlo lengqondo uSara ethalaza ngapha langapha ekhangwa yibuhle bendawo le kanye lomkhathi omuhle. Eduzane lezihlahla ezinkulu zaseMore eShekemu, uJehova waphinda wabonakala ku-Abhrahama wathi kuye: “Lelilizwe ngizalinika isizukulwane sakho.” Ibala elithi “isizukulwane” lalisitsho okukhulu ku-Abhrahama. Kungenzakala ukuthi lamkhumbuza esivandeni sase-Edeni lapho uJehova akhuluma khona ngenzalo eyayizachoboza uSathane. UJehova wayemtshelile u-Abhrahama ukuthi isizwe esasizaphuma kuye sasizakwenza ukuthi abantu bonke emhlabeni babusiswe.—UGenesisi 3:15; 12:2, 3, 6, 7.

Lanxa kunjalo imuli le yahlangana lobunzima. Indlala yayisibhahile elizweni laseKhenani yikho u-Abhrahama wabona kungcono ukuthi ahambe lemuli yakhe baqonde eningizimu, eGibhithe. Kodwa kukhona okwasekunuka santungwana kulesosabelo. Yikho wakhuluma loSara wathi: “Ngiyazi ukuthi ungumfazi omuhle kakhulu. AmaGibhithe azakuthi ekubona athi, ‘Lo ngumkakhe.’ Lapho-ke bazangibulala wena bakuyekele uphile. Ubokuthi ungudadewethu, ukuze ngiphathwe kuhle ukuze kukulungele lempilo yami isindiswe ngenxa yakho.” (UGenesisi 12:10-13) Yindaba u-Abhrahama wenza isicelo lesi esingajayelekanga?

 Abanye abaphikisi bacabanga ukuthi u-Abhrahama wayeqamba amanga futhi eligwala kodwa lokhu akusiloqiniso ngoba uSara wayengudadewabo sibili. Icebo u-Abhrahama alenzayo lalilihle kakhulu. Bobabili babekwazi ukuthi injongo kaNkulunkulu yokuthi inzalo lesizwe kuphume ku-Abhrahama yayiqakathekile. Ngakho ukuze kwenzakale lokhu kwakumele u-Abhrahama avikelwe. Kanti njalo ubufakazi obuvezwa yilabo abavumbulula izinto zembali butshengisa ukuthi kwakujayelekile ukuthi ababusi baseGibhithe bathathe umfazi womuntu babulale umkakhe. Yikho u-Abhrahama wenza ngokuhlakanipha futhi uSara wazithoba, walalela.

Kwathi u-Abhrahama efika eGibhithe, ezinye izikhulu zikaFaro zabona ukuthi uSara wayengumfazi omuhle kakhulu. Yikho zahamba zayatshela uFaro ngaye, yena wasebalaya ukuthi bamlethe kuye. Akucabange ubuhlungu u-Abhrahama abuzwayo ngalesosikhathi, lokwesaba uSara ayeselakho. Kukhanya uSara kazange akhahlanyezwe njengesibotshwa kodwa waphathwa njengesivakatshi esihlonitshwayo. Engxenye uFaro wayesenza lokhu efuna ukumncenga lokumhuga ngenotho yakhe ukuze abe ngumkakhe, abesehamba esiyamcela kumnewabo.—UGenesisi 12:14-16.

Akumbone ngelihlo lengqondo uSara ebuka indawo yaseGibhithe esewindini kumbe evulandini. Wayesizwa njani esephakathi kobuntofontofo, elezibiliboco phambi kwakhe? Wathatheka yini ngobunkanyankanya ayebubona esikhosini obabudlula obase-Uri? Akucabange indlela uSathane ayezathokoza ngayo aluba uSara wakhetha ukutshiya umkakhe waba yindlovukazi kaFaro. Kodwa uSara kazange akwenze lokhu, waqhubeka ethembekile kumkakhe lakuNkulunkulu. Bonke abantu abatshadileyo kumele bathembeke ngaleyondlela lanxa siphila emhlabeni ogcwele abantu abangaziphathanga. Uzamlingisela yini uSara, uthembeke kotshade laye lasebanganeni bakho?

UJehova wehlisela izifo ezimbi kuFaro lendlu yakhe ukuze avikele uSara. Kwathi uFaro edobha udletshana lokuthi uSara ngumka-Abhrahama wahle wambuyisela njalo walaya ukuthi u-Abhrahama lemuli yakhe baphume baphele eGibhithe. (UGenesisi 12:17-20) U-Abhrahama wathaba wafa ngesikhathi ethola umkakhe. Khumbula ukuthi wayemtshele amazwi la: “Ngiyazi ukuthi ungumfazi omuhle kakhulu.” Kodwa ubuhle ayebuqakathekisa kakhulu kuSara yibuhle bangaphakathi, lobo obuligugu kakhulu emehlweni kaJehova. (1 Phetro 3:1-5) Sonke kumele sibe lobuhle lobu. Singamlingisela uSara ngokufaka uMbuso kuqala, ngokutshela abanye ngoNkulunkulu langokuhlala sithembekile kuNkulunkulu lanxa sihlangana lezilingo zokuthi siziphathe kubi.