1. Abanye abantu babaqala njani abantu bakosontjhaba, kodwana kubayini kungakalungi ukucabanga njalo?

NJENGOMBANA kutjengisiwe esihlokweni esigadungileko, abantu basebenzisa ibizo elithi “bakosontjhaba” ngomqondo wokudelela, otjengisa ukubaqalela phasi nokungabahloniphi. Kukudelela ukuqalela abantu bakezinye iintjhaba phasi umuntu nakasenarheni yekhabo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuba nomoya onjalo kutjengisa ukuwanganaki amaqiniso. Incwadi i-The Races of Mankind ithi: “Iinhlanga zabantu zingilokho iBhayibhili ethi zingikho—zibanakwethu.” Kanengi abantwana bomuntu bahlukile, kodwana nanyana kunjalo bantwabomuntu.

2, 3. UJehova ubaqala njani abantu bakosontjhaba?

² Kwamambala, kungakhathaliseki bona sihlalaphi, abantu bakosontjhaba bahlala bakhona phakathi kwethu. Gade kunjalo nakuma-Israyeli wekadeni, lawo ngokwesivumelwano somThetho bekanobuhlobo obukhethekileko noJehova uZimu. Amalungelo walabo egade bangasiwo ama-Israyeli bekalinganiselwe ngokwezinga elithileko, nanyana kunjalo ama-Israyeli bekutlhogeka abaphathe kuhle nangehlonipho. Qala bona sibonelo esihle kangangani ngathi bona sisilandele! AmaKrestu weqiniso akukafuzi akhethe nofana abandlulule abanye. Kubayini? Umpostoli uPitrosi wathi: “Sekuyangikhanyela bona uZimu uphatha boke abantu ngokulingana. Loyo omesabako, enze koke okulungileko wamukelekile kuye, nanyana angewaliphi itjhaba.”—IzE. 10:34, 35.

³ Abantu bakosontjhaba kwa-Israyeli wekadeni bazuza ebuhlotjeni obuseduze egade banabo nama-Israyeli wemvelo. Lokhu kutjengisa ukucabanga kwakaJehova endabeni le eyavezwa ngumpostoli uPowula ngemva kweminyaka eminengi nekabuza ngoJehova: ‘Eqinisweni uZimu ngabe nguZimu wamaJuda kwaphela na? Akasuye nowabatjhili na? Kwamambala uZimu ungewabo nabatjhili.’—Rom. 3:29; Juw. 2:32.

4. Kubayini kungatjhiwo bona ngeze kusaba nabantu bakosontjhaba ‘ku-Israyeli kaZimu’?

 ⁴ Ngokwesivumelwano esitjha, ibandla lamaKrestu azesiweko, lajamiselela u-Israyeli wamambala njengesitjhaba uZimu egade azokuba nobuhlobo obukhethekileko naso. Ngalokho sibizwa ngokobana ‘ngu-Israyeli kaZimu.’ (Gal. 6:16) Njengombana uPowula ahlathululile, esitjhabeni esitjha, ‘awukho umahluko hlangana neGirigi neJuda, osokileko nongakasoki, wakosontjhaba, umSkithe, isigqila nokhululekileko, kodwana uKrestu ungikho koke, begodu ukibo boke.’ (Khol. 3:11) Ngalokho, ngomnqondo loyo, bekungeze kwaba nabantu bakosontjhaba ebandleni lobuKrestu.

5, 6. (a) Ngimuphi umbuzo ongaphakama malungana no-Isaya 61:5, 6? (b) Bobani “abapristi bakaJehova” nabantu “bakosontjhaba” ekukhulunywe ngabo ku-Isaya? (c) Zifana ngani iinqhema embilezi?

⁵ Ngakelinye ihlangothi, omunye angaqalisela esahlukweni 61 sencwadi ka-Isaya, enesiporofido esizaliseka ebandleni lobuKrestu. Ivesi 6 lesahlukweso likhuluma ngalabo abazokukhonza ‘njengabapristi bakaJehova.’ Nokho ivesi 5, likhuluma ngabantu “bakosontjhaba” abazokubambisana begodu basebenzisane ‘nabapristi’ labo. Lokhu kufuze kuzwisiswe njani?

⁶ Siyazwisisa bona “abapristi bakaJehova” kuzokuba maKrestu azesiweko azokubandakanyeka “ekuvukeni kokuthoma” begodu ‘azokuba bapristi bakaZimu noKrestu, bazokubusa naye iminyaka eyikulungwana.’ (IsAm. 20:6) Ngaphezu kwalokho, kunamaKrestu amanengi athembekileko anethemba lokuphila ephasini. Nokho, nanyana asebenza begodu anobudlelwana obuseduze nalabo abazokukhonza ezulwini, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, ababantu bezinye iintjhaba. Ngethabo asekela begodu asebenza kunye ‘nabapristi bakaJehova,’ njengokungathi akhonza ‘njengabalimi’ babo ‘nanjengabatlhogomeli bamadribe.’ Liqiniso, ayasiza ekuhlawuleleni iinthelo zomoya eziphazimulisa uZimu, ekutlhogomeleni nekuvuneni abantu. Kwamambala, kokubili abazesiweko “nezinye izimvu” bafumana abantu abathembekileko abafisa ukukhonza uZimu ngokungapheliko bese babalusa ngethando.—Jwa. 10:16.

7. AmaKrestu namhlanjesi afana njani no-Abrahama namanye amadoda athembekileko wekadeni?

⁷ Njengombana sibonile esihlokweni esigadungileko, amaKrestu weqiniso anjengabantu bokosontjhaba, namtjhana izakhamuzi  zesikhatjhana, ephasini elimbi lakaSathana. Ngalokho, ayafana namadoda athembekileko wekadeni—abandakanya u-Abrahama—lawo okwathiwa ngawo ‘aziimfiki nezakhamuzi zesikhatjhana.’ (Heb. 11:13, NW) Kungakhathaliseki bona sinaliphi ithemba lengomuso, sinelungelo lokuthabela ubuhlobo u-Abrahama egade anabo noJehova. UJakobosi wahlathulula bona: “‘U-Abrahama wakholwa kuZimu [uJehova], ngebanga lokukholwa kwakhe wamamukela bona ulungile,’ wabizwa ngokobana ‘mngani kaJehova.’”—Jak. 2:23.

8. Ngisiphi isithembiso esanikelwa u-Abrahama, begodu wazizwa njani ngokuzaliseka kwaso?

⁸ UZimu wathembisa bona, yoke imindeni yephasini—ingasi isitjhaba sinye—beyizokubusiswa ngo-Abrahama neenzukulwana zakhe. (Funda uGenesisi 22:15-18.) Nanyana ukuzaliseka kwesithembiswesi esinikelwe nguZimu bekuzokwenzeka esikhathini eside esizako, u-Abrahama wabulunga ithemba lakhe ekuzalisekenokho. Ngaphezu kwengcenye yokuphila kwakhe, yena nomndenakhe bebakhamba bahlala iindawo neendawo. Soke isikhathesi, u-Abrahama wabulunga ubuhlobo bakhe noJehova.

9, 10. (a) Singasilingisa ngaziphi iindlela isibonelo saka-Abrahama? (b) Ngisiphi isimemo esingasidlulisela kwabanye?

⁹ Naphezu kokungazi bona kufuze alinde isikhathi eside kangangani bonyana abone ukuzaliseka kwethemba lakhe, ithando laka-Abrahama nokuzinikela kwakhe kuJehova khenge kugebezele. Wabulunga amehlwakhe adzimelele, akhenge anzinze esitjhabeni esithileko ngomnqopho wokuba sisakhamuzi saphakade kiso. (Heb. 11:14, 15) Qala bona kukuhlakanipha kangangani ngathi ukulandela isibonelo saka-Abrahama ngokuphila ipilo elula begodu singazivumeli sitshwenyeke khulu ngezinto eziphathekako, iinkhundla emphakathini, namtjhana amabizelo! Kubayini kufuze silwele ukuphila ipilo abantu abayiqala njengepilo evamileko, ephasini esekuseduze bona liphele? Kubayini kufuze sithande khulu izinto ezingezesikhatjhana kwaphela? Njengombana bekunjalo ngo-Abrahama, silindele okuthileko okungcono khulu kunephaseli. Sizimisele ukutjengisa ukubekezela nomoya wokulinda bekube kulapho ithemba lethu lizaliseka.—Funda Roma 8:25.

¹⁰ UJehova usamema abantu bazo zoke iintjhaba bona bazokubusiswa ngenzalo ka-Abrahama. ‘Abapristi bakaJehova,’ abazesiweko kuhlanganise nezinye izimvu abantu “bakosontjhaba,” badlulisela isimemwesi ebantwini ephasini mazombe ngeenlimi ezingaphezu kwa-600.

11. USolomoni wamema abantu beentjhaba bona benzeni?

¹¹ Ngo-1026 B.C.E., nekuvulwa itempeli, begodu ngokuvumelana nesithembiso uJehova asenza no-Abrahama, uSolomoni wabona bona abantu bazo zoke iintjhaba bazokuhlanganyela ekudumiseni uJehova. Emthandazweni osuka ehliziyweni, wathi: “Godu nakomunye umuntu wakosontjhaba, ongasiyingcenye yabantu bakho u-Israyeli eqinisweni ovela enarheni ekude ngebanga lebizo lakho (ngombana bazokuzwa ngebizo lakho elikhulu nangesandla sakho esinamandla nangomkhonwakho oluliweko), kwamambala afike athandaze endlini le, kwanga wena ngokwakho ungamlalela usemazulwini, indawakho yokuhlala ebekiweko, wenze ngokuvumelana nakho koke lowo wesinye isitjhaba akubawa kuwe; bona zoke iintjhaba zephasi zazi ibizo lakho bona zikusabe njengombana isitjhaba sakho u-Israyeli sikusaba.”—1 Kho. 8:41-43.

12. Kubayini abanye abantu bangaqala aboFakazi bakaJehova njengabangakajayeleki namtjhana njengabantu “bakosontjhaba”?

¹² Ngokuyihloko, umuntu wakosontjhaba mumuntu osenarheni okungasiyo yekhabo nofana umuntu ofika emphakathini namtjhana esiqhemeni sabantu abathileko. Lokhu kubuhlathulula kuhle ubujamo baboFakazi bakaJehova. Ngokuthembeka kwabo basekela urhulumende wezulwini, umBuso kaZimu ngaphasi kwakaKrestu. Ngalokho, abathathi  hlangothi eendabeni zepolotiki, ngitjho nanyana abanye abantu babaqala njengabangakajayeleki emphakathini wanamhlanjesi.

13. (a) Kungamuphi umqondo ibizo elithi, “bakosontjhaba” kanengi limbono womuntu? (b) Kghani umnqopho kaJehova wekuthomeni bewuhlanganisa nombono wokuqala abanye njengabakosontjhaba? Hlathulula.

¹³ Abantu bakosontjhaba kanengi babonakala ngezinto ezijayelekileko eenqhemeni zabo ezincani. Kungaba lilimi abalikhulumako, amasikwabo, ukubonakala kwangaphandle, ngitjho nendlela abambatha ngayo. Nanyana kunjalo, izinto abafana ngazo nabo boke abanye abantu, kungakhathaliseki bona bangebasiphi isitjhaba, ziqakatheke ngaphezu kwalezo abahluke ngazo kwabanye. Ngalokho, umuntu wakosontjhaba uqalwa njalo ngombana ahlukile ngeendlela ezithileko. Eqinisweni nesifunda ukuqala ngale komehluko loyo, okhona nofana oseemkhumbulwenethu, ibizo elithi, umuntu “wakosontjhaba,” alisatjho litho. Ngathana boke ephasini bebaphila ngaphasi kwakarhulumende owodwa nofana ihlangano yezepolotiki, akekho ogade azokuba ngewesinye isitjhaba ngokomqondo wezepolotiki webizweli. Eqinisweni, ekuthomeni uJehova bekahlose bona boke abantu babumbane njengomndeni munye ngaphasi kokubusa kunye—ukubusa kwakhe. Kungakghoneka nje bona abantu bazo zoke iintjhaba balise ukuqala abanye njengabakosontjhaba?

14, 15. Khuyini aboFakazi bakaJehova njengesiqhema abayithabelako?

¹⁴ Ephasini elimarhamaru nelitjhisakalela ubutjhaba, kuyaqabula ukufumana abantu abakwaziko nabangakghona ukuqala ngale kwemikhawulo. Kuyavunywa, ukuhlula ibandlululo kungaba budisi. Umsunguli wethungelelwano lethelevitjhini i-CNN, uTed Turner, ukhuluma ngokusebenza kwakhe nabantu abanengi abanamakghono abavela eenarheni ezihlukahlukeneko uthi: “Ukuhlangana nabantwaba kwaba ngokuhlangabezanwe nakho okubabazekako. Ngathoma ukuqala abantu abavela kezinye iinarha ingasi njengabantu “bakosontjhaba,” kodwana njengezakhamuzi engikunye nazo ephasineli. Ngathoma ukuqala ibizo elithi umuntu ‘wakosontjhaba’ njengelingafaneleki begodu ngabeka umthetho wokobana ibizwelo lingasetjenziswa emoyeni nofana engcocweni zema-ofisini we-CNN. Kunalokho, bekufuze kusetjenziswe ibizo elithi ‘iintjhabatjhaba.’

¹⁵ Eenarheni ezisephasini mazombe, boFakazi bakaJehova kwaphela abamukele indlela kaZimu yokucabanga njengesiqhema. Ngokufunda ukubona izinto njengoJehova, bakghone ukuqeda imikhawulo yobutjhaba emikhumbulweni nemazizwenabo. Kunokuphatha amalunga wokuhluka kweenqhema zeentjhaba ngokungawathembi, ukuwasola, namtjhana ngokuwahloya, bafunde ukuthanda iimfanelo namakghono weenqhemezi njengento ehle. Wakhe wacabanga ngento  abayifikeleleko nokobana yakuzuzisa njani wena ekusebenzelaneni kwakho nabanye?

16, 17. Ukuzaliseka kwesAmbulo 16:16 noDanyela 2:44 kungatjho ukuthini kuwe?

¹⁶ Msinyana zoke iintjhaba zagadesi zizokuqalana noJesu Krestu namabuthwakhe wezulwini epini yamaswaphela ngokujamelene nokubusa kwakaZimu, “ngesiHebheru ebizwa bona yi-Amagedoni.” (IsAm. 16:14, 16; 19:11-16) Eminyakeni engaphezu kwe-2 500 eyadlulako, umporofidi uDanyela waphefumulelwa bona abikezele umphumela ngaborhulumende abaphikisana nomnqopho kaZimu, watlola: “Emalangeni wamakhosi lawo uZimu wezulwini uzokuhloma umbuso ongeze warhayilwa nanini. Begodu umbuso loyo angekhe udluliselwe kwabanye abantu. Uzoyiphihliza uyiqede yoke eminye imibuso, bese wona uhlale ngokungapheliko.”—Dan. 2:44.

¹⁷ Ucabanga bona ukuzaliseka kwaso kuzokutjho ukuthini kuwe? Imikhawulo yobutjhaba eyenziwe babantu, leyo namhlanjesi etshwaya woke umuntu njengewakosontjhaba, ngeze isaba khona. Nanyana ngimuphi umahluko okhona endleleni umuntu abonakala ngayo ngaphandle uzokutjengisa ubuhle obukarako bokuhluka obufumaneka endalweni kaZimu. Ithemba elinjalo elithabisako kufuze lisitjhukumise soke bona siragele phambili sidumise umBumbi wethu, uJehova uZimu ngendlela esingakghona ngayo.

18. Ngiyiphi ituthuko yamva etjengisa bona umqondo webizo elithi ‘wakosontjhaba’ ungaqedwa?

¹⁸ Kghani akunangqondo ukukholelwa bona itjhentjho elinjalo lingenzeka? Awa, akusinjalo. Ngokuphambene nalokho, kunengqondo kwamambala ukukholelwa bona kuzokwenzeka. Wona umqondo wamezwi athi umuntu ‘wakosontjhaba’ awusatjho litho kiboFakazi bakaJehova, abanganandaba nokobana abantu abaphakathi kwabo ngebaziphi iintjhaba. Ngokwesibonelo, mva nje inengi lama-ofisi wabo wegatja amancani ahlanganisiwe ukwenzela bona kuncitjhiswe umsebenzi wokungamela bekuthuthukiswe izinga okufezwa ngalo ukutjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi zomBuso. (Mat. 24:14) Nekungatjhayisani neemfuneko zomthetho, akhenge ibatshwenye imikhawulo yobutjhaba nebawahlanganisako amagatja lawo. Lokho kungobunye ubufakazi obubonakalako bokobana uJesu Krestu njengomBusi obekwe nguJehova uqeda imikhawulo eyenziwe babantu, begodu ungomunye msinyana ‘ozokuphelelisa ukuhlula kwakhe’!—IsAm. 6:2.

19. Ilimi elihlwengileko leqiniso lenza abantu bakaZimu bakghona ukwenzani?

¹⁹ AboFakazi bakaJehova njengombana bavela eentjhabeni ezinengi begodu bakhuluma amalimi amanengi ahlukahlukeneko, balwela ukuphakamisa ilimi elihlwengileko leqiniso. Lokhu kwakha isibopho sobunye esingeze saphulwa. (Funda uZefaniya 3:9.) Lo, mndeni weentjhabatjhaba osephasini lakaSathana elimbi kodwana ohlukileko kilo. Kwanje umndeni obumbeneko lo usibonelo salokho okuzokwenzeka ephasini elizako—iphasi elinganabo abantu bakosontjhaba. Ngalokho, woke umuntu ophilako ngaphandle kokuzaza, uzokulemuka ukuba liqiniso kwalokho okudzubhulwe encwadini ngaphambilini: “Iinhlanga zabantu zingilokho iBhayibhili ethi zingikho—zibanakwethu.”—The Races of Mankind.