1, 2. Iinceku zakaZimu bezisolo zizizwa njani ngephaseli, begodu zinekhaya ngamuphi umqondo?

 INGA-KGHANI uzizwa usekhaya ephasini lanamhlanjesi? Nengabe akusinjalo, awusiwedwa! Kusukela ekadeni, boke abamthanda kwamambala uJehova bebazizwa njengeemfiki ephasineli. Ngokwesibonelo, njengombana bagega namakampa eKanana, abakhulekeli bakaZimu abathembekileko ‘batjengisa [tjhatjhalazi] bona baziimfiki nezakhamuzi zesikhatjhana ephasini.’—Heb. 11:13.

² Ngokufanako, abalandeli bakaKrestu abazesiweko, ‘ikhaya labo elisezulwini,’ baziqala ‘njengabakhambako nabadlulako’ ephasineli. (Fil. 3:20; 1 Pit. 2:11) ‘Ezinye izimvu zakaKrestu’ nazo ‘azisingezephaseli njengombana [noJesu] gade angasingewephasi.’ (Jwa. 10:16; 17:16) Nanyana kunjalo, abantu bakaZimu banalo “ikhaya.” Eqinisweni, sithabela isivikelo sekhaya eliphephe nelithabisa ukuwadlula woke esingawacabanga, elibonakala ngamehlo wekholo kwaphela. UMosisi watlola: “[Jehova, wena ngokwakho] besolo ulikhaya lethu lokuphephela eenzukulwanini ngeenzukulwana.” (Rha. 90:1) UJehova wazibonakalisa njani ‘alikhaya’ leenceku zakhe ezithembekileko zekadeni? ‘Ulikhaya’ labantu bebizo lakhe njani namhlanjesi? Begodu uzozitjengisa njani akuphela kwekhaya elivikelekileko esikhathini esizako?

3. Ngisiphi isihloko, okufanekiswa ngakho, nokufana esikufumana kuRhalani 90:1?

³ Njengemifanekiso eminengi eseBhayibhilini, iRhalani 90:1 linesihloko, okufanekiswa nakho, nokufana okukhona. UJehova sihloko. Okufanekiswa ngakho yindawo yokuhlala. Kunengi uJehova afana ngakho nendawo enjalo. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova uyabavikela abantu bakhe. Lokho kuvumelana neqiniso lokuthi ungikho  kanye ukwenziwa samuntu kwethando. (1 Jwa. 4:8) Godu unguZimu wokuthula, owenza abathembekileko bakhe ‘bahlale ngokuthula.’ (Rha. 4:8) Ngokwesibonelo, cabangela ukusebenzelana kwakhe neenhloko zembeleko ezithembekileko zekadeni, sithome ngo-Abrahama.

4, 5. UZimu wazibonakalisa njani ‘alikhaya’ ku-Abrahama?

⁴ Singagcina ngokucabanga kwaphela ukuthi u-Abrahama—ngesikhatheso ebekangu-Abrama—wazizwa njani uJehova nekathi kuye: “Phuma enarheni yekhenu neenhlotjeni . . . uye enarheni engizokutjengisa yona.” Nengabe lokho kwamtshwenya u-Abrahama, akunakuzaza ukuthi amezwi kaJehova alendelako akuqeda koke ukutshwenyekokho: “Ngizokwenza isitjhaba esikhulu ngawe begodu ngizokubusisa ngenze nebizo lakho libe likhulu . . . Godu ngizokubusisa labo abakubusisako, naloyo okuthuwelelisako nami ngizomthuwelelisa.”—Gen. 12:1-3.

⁵ Ngamezwi lawo, uJehova bekazibophezela ukuthi uzokuba yindawo yokuhlala ephephileko ku-Abrahama neenzukulwaneni zakhe. (Gen. 26:1-6) UJehova wasizalisa isithembiso sakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, wakhandela uFaro weGibhide neKosi u-Abhimeleki weGerari bona balale noSara bese babulala u-Abrahama. Wavikela u-Isaka noRebheka ngendlela efanako. (Gen. 12:14-20; 20:1-14; 26:6-11) Sifunda ukuthi: “[UJehova] azange avumele muntu bona abaqatjhe, kodwana ngebanga labo wayala amakhosi, athi: ‘Nina madoda ningabathinti abazesiweko bami, begodu kubaporofidi bami ningenzi litho elimbi.’”—Rha. 105:14, 15.

6. U-Isaka watjela uJakobho bona enzeni, begodu kungenzeka ukuthi uJakobho wazizwa njani?

⁶ Abaporofidi labo bebabandakanya umzukulu ka-Abrahama uJakobho. Nekufika isikhathi sokobana uJakobho athathe umfazi, uyise u-Isaka, wathi kuye: “Ungathathi umfazi emadodakazini weKanana. Sikima, uye ePhadani-aramu endlini kaBhethuweli uyise lakanina begodu uzithathele umfazi emadodakazini kaLabani.” (Gen. 28:1, 2) Msinyana uJakobho wamlalela u-Isaka. UJakobho watjhiya ukuvikelela komndenakhe oseduze, egade uhlala eKanana, begodu kubonakala ngasuthi wakhamba yedwa, amakhulu wamakhilomitha ukuya eHarana. (Gen. 28:10) Mhlamunye wazibuza: ‘Ngizokukhamba isikhathi esingangani? Inga-kghani umalumami uzongamukela ngefudumalo begodu anginikele umfazi osaba uZimu?’ Nengabe uJakobho bekatshwenywa zizinto ezinjalo, ukunakuzaza ukuthi kwaphela ukutshwenyekokho nekafika eLuzi, esemakhilomitheni alikhulu ukusuka eBherisheba. Kwenzekani eLuzi?

7. UZimu wamkhuthaza njani uJakobho ngebhudando?

 ⁷ ELuzi, uJehova wabonakala kuJakobho ebhudangweni, wathi: “Qala nginawe begodu ngizokutjheja yoke indlela oyikhambako bengikubuyisele endaweni le, ngombana angeze ngikutjhiye bekube kulapho ngikwenze kwamambala engikukhulume kuwe.” (Gen. 28:15) Qala bona amezwi lawo amkhuthaza begodu amduduza kangangani uJakobho! Ungamcabanga na ngemva kwalokho akhambela phezulu, anetjisakalo yokubona ukuthi uZimu uzolizalisa njani ilizwi Lakhe? Nengabe utjhiye ikhaya, mhlamunye wayokukhonza kenye inarha, pheze uyazwisisa ukuthi uJakobho bekazizwa njani. Nokho, akunakuzaza ukuthi ububonile ubufakazi bendlela uJehova akutlhogomela ngayo.

8, 9. UJehova watjengisa njani ukuthi ‘ulikhaya’ kuJakobho, begodu singafundani kilokho?

⁸ UJakobho nekafika eHarana, umalumakhe uLabani wamamukela ngezandla ezimhlophe bese ngokukhamba kwesikhathi wamnikela uLeya noRaheli bona babe bomkakhe. Nokho, ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uLabani walinga ukucaphaza uJakobho, atjhugulula umrholo wakhe amahlandla alitjhumi! (Gen. 31:41, 42) Kodwana, uJakobho wakukghodlelela ukutlhoriswokho, aqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzokuragela phambili amtlhogomela—nangambala wamtlhogomela! Phela, ngesikhathi uZimu atjela uJakobho bona abuyele eKanana, ihloko yembeleko le besele ‘inemihlambi emikhulu neenceku neencekukazi namakamela nabodumbana.’ (Gen. 30:43) Athokoza ngokudephileko, uJakobho wathandaza: “Awukangifaneli umusa wethando nakho koke ukuthembeka okutjengise encekwini yakho, ngombana ngawela iJordani ngiphethe idondolo lami kwaphela kodwana nje ngibe makampa amabili.”—Gen. 32:10.

⁹ Kwamambala, qala bona bewuliqiniso kangangani umthandazo kaMosisi njengombana acabanga ngokudephileko: “Jehova besolo ulikhaya lethu lokuphephela eenzukulwanini ngeenzukulwana”! (Rha. 90:1) Amezwi lawo asasebenza ngokufanako nanamhlanjesi, ngombana uJehova, “ongaphendukiko,” usaragela phambili alikhaya elifuthumeleko neliphephileko labathembekileko bakhe. (Jak. 1:17) Khesicabangele ukuthi lokho kwenzeka njani.

10. Kubayini singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uragela phambili alikhaya eliphephileko eencekwini zakhe?

¹⁰ Cabanga ngalokhu: Usekhotho, unikela ubufakazi obujamelene nehlangano yeengebengu yephasi loke. Umrholi wayo uhlanikaphe khulu, unamandla, begodu umleyimala nombulali onelunya. Bewungazizwa njani newuphumela ngaphandle kwekhotho ekupheleni kwelanga? Uphephile? Awa! Kwamambala, bewungaba namabanga azwakalako wokufuna isivikelo. Umfanekiso lo uveza ubujamo beenceku zakaJehova, ezifakaza ngoJehova ngesibindi begodu ngokungasabi ziliveze epepeneneni inaba lakhe elikhulu, uSathana! (Funda IsAmbulo 12:17.) Kodwana uSathana ukghonile na ukuthulisa abantu bakaZimu? Awa! Eqinisweni, siragela phambili siphumelela ngokomoya—okuyinto enehlathululo yinye kwaphela: UJehova usesesiphephelo sethu, ‘likhaya’ lethu, khulukhulu emalangeni wamaswaphelo la. (Funda u-Isaya 54:14, 17.) Nanyana kunjalo, uJehova angekhe aba likhaya eliphephileko kithi nengabe sivumela uSathana asiyenge bona siphume endaweni yethu yokuhlala.

11. Ngisiphi isifundo esingasifunda eenhlokweni zembeleko?

¹¹ Godu asifunde isifundo eenhlokweni zembeleko. Nanyana bezihlala eKanana, zahlala zihlukile ebantwini balapho, ngombana bezizonda ukuziphatha neendlela zabo ezimbi. (Gen. 27:46) Bekumadoda aphila ngeenkambisolawulo ebekangatlhogi  irhelo elide lezinto ekufuze azenze namkha angazenzi. Lokho ebezikwazi ngoJehova nobuntu bakhe bekwanele kizo. Ngombana uJehova bekalikhaya lazo, azange zifune ukubona ukuthi zingazitjhideza eduze kangangani nephasi. Kunalokho, zahlala kude khulu nephasi ngendlela ebezingakghona ngayo. Qala bona zisibekela isibonelo esihle kangangani! Uyalinga na ukulingisa isibonelo seenhloko zembelekwezo ezithembekileko malungana nabangani obakhethako nezokuzithabisa? Ngokudanisako, abanye ebandleni lobuKrestu batjengisa ukuthi ngokwezinga elithileko, basekhaya ephasini lakaSathaneli. Nengabe uzizwa njalo ngitjho nakancani, thandaza ngendaba leyo. Khumbula, iphaseli ngelakaSathana. Litjengisa umoyakhe welunya nomrhobholo.—2 Kor. 4:4; Efe. 2:1, 2.

12. (a) UJehova uyitlhogomela njani indlwakhe engokomoya? (b) Uzizwa njani ngamalungiselelo la?

¹² Bona silwisane namaqhinga kaSathana, kufuze siwasebenzise ngokuzeleko amalungiselelo angokomoya uJehova awenzela indlwakhe yekholo, labo abamenza ikhaya labo. Amalungiselelo lawo abandakanya imihlangano yobuKrestu, ukukhulekela komndeni, ‘nezipho ezibabantu’—abelusi ababekwe nguZimu ukusitjhiriya nokusisekela njengombana silwisana neentjhijilo zokuphila. (Efe. 4:8-12) UMnakweth’ uGeorge Gangas, ogade alilungu lesiHlopha esiBusako iminyaka eminengi, watlola: “[Nenginabantu bakaZimu] ngizizwa ngisekhaya nginomndenami, ngiseparadeyisini elingokomoya.” Inga-kghani uzizwa ngendlela efanako?

13. Ngisiphi isifundo esingasifumana kumaHebheru 11:13?

¹³ Enye ifanelo yeenhloko zembeleko ekufanelekelako ukulingiswa kuzimisela kwazo ukuhlala zihlukile ebantwini abazibhodileko. Njengombana kuvezwe  esigabeni 1, ‘batjengisa tjhatjhalazi bona baziimfiki nezakhamuzi zesikhatjhana ephasini.’ (Heb. 11:13) Uzimisele na ukuhlala uhlukile? Kuyavunywa ukuthi ukwenza bunjalo akusibulula ngaso soke isikhathi. Kodwana ngesizo lakaZimu nesekelo lamaKrestu okunye nawo, ungaphumelela. Khumbula, awusiwedwa. Boke abafuna ukukhonza uJehova basepini! (Efe. 6:12) Nanyana kunjalo, yipi esingayithumba nengabe sithembela kuJehova begodu simenza ikhaya lethu eliphephileko.

14. Ngimuphi “umuzi” iinceku zakaJehova ebeziwulindile?

¹⁴ Okhunye okuqakathekileko nakhu: Lingisa u-Abrahama ngokubulunga amehlwekho aqale emvuzweni. (2 Kor. 4:18) Umpostoli uPowula watlola ukuthi u-Abrahama “bekalindele umuzi onesisekelo esiqinileko owasungulwa wakhiwa nguZimu.” (Heb. 11:10) “Umuzi” waba mBuso kaMesiya. Liqiniso, u-Abrahama kwatlhogeka alindele  “umuzi” loyo. Ngomqondo othileko, thina akutlhogeki siwulinde. Nje uyabusa ezulwini. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ubufakazi obandako butjengisa ukuthi msinyana uzokulawula ngokupheleleko ephasini. Inga-kghani umBuso loyo uyinto yamambala kuwe? Unesithintela na endleleni oqala ngayo ukuphila, umbono wakho wephasi lanje, nezinto eziza mantanzi ekuphileni kwakho?—Funda 2 Pitrosi 3:11, 12.

15. Labo abathembela ephasini lanje balindelwe lingomuso elinjani?

¹⁵ Njengombana iphasi lakaSathana litjhidela ekupheleni kwalo, ‘iinhlabi zokugandeleleka’ zizokwanda. (Mat. 24:7, 8) Ngokuqinisekileko ubujamo buzokuthuwelela hlangana nesizi elikhulu. Umthangala-sisekelo uzokonakala, begodu abantu bazokusabela amaphilo wabo. (Hab. 3:16, 17) Ngokuphelelwa lithemba, kuzokuba njengokungathi bafuna isiphephelo “emarharheni nangaphasi kamadwala emaweni.” (IsAm. 6:15-17) Kodwana akunamarharha wamambala namkha iinhlangano zepolitiki nezamarhwebo ezinjengentaba ezizokuba sivikelo.

16. Kufuze siliqale njani ibandla lobuKrestu, begodu kubayini?

¹⁶ Nokho, abantu bakaJehova bazokuragela phambili bathabela ukuphepha ‘kwekhaya’ labo, uJehova uZimu. Njengomporofidi uHabakuki, ‘bazokuthaba ngoJehova ngokwakhe.’ ‘Bazokuthaba ngoZimu wephuluso yabo.’ (Hab. 3:18) UJehova uzokutjengisa ngaziphi iindlela ukuthi ‘ulikhaya’ hlangana neenkhathi ezibudisezo? Kufuze silinde sibone. Kodwana nakhu esingaqiniseka ngakho: Njengama-Israyeli ngesikhathi sokuFuduka, “isiqubuthu esikhulu” sizokuhlala sihlophisekile, sisiphaphamele isinqophiso esivela kuZimu. (IsAm. 7:9; funda u-Eksodosi 13:18.) Isinqophisweso esivela kuJehova, pheze sizokuza ngelungiselelo lebandla. Kwamambala, iinkulungwana ezinengi zamabandla ephasini loke zibonakala zihlobene ‘namakamura wangaphakathi’ wokuvikela abikezelwe ku-Isaya 26:20. (Funda.) Uyiqala njengeqakathekileko na imihlangano yabandla? Inga-kghani usabela msinyana esinqophisweni uJehova asinikela ngelungiselelo lebandla?—Heb. 13:17.

17. UJehova ‘ulikhaya’ ngitjho neencekwini zakhe ezihlongakeleko ngamuphi umqondo?

¹⁷ Ngitjho nalabo abangahlongakala ngaphambi kokuthoma kwesizi elikhulu bahlala baphephile kuJehova, ‘ikhaya’ labo. Njani? Sekukade iinhloko zembeleko zahlongakala, uJehova wathi kuMosisi: “NginguZimu . . . ka-Abrahama, uZimu ka-Isaka noZimu kaJakobho.” (Eks. 3:6) Ngemva kokudzubhula amezwi lawo, uJesu wangezelela: “UnguZimu wabaphilako ingasi wabafileko, ngombana phambi kwakhe boke bayaphila.” (Luka 20:38) Kwamambala, kuJehova, abathembekileko abahlongakeleko kunjengokungathi bayaphila; ukuvuswa kwabo kuqinisekile.—Mtj. 7:1.

18. Ephasini elitjha, uJehova uzozitjengisa njani ‘alikhaya’ labantu bakhe ngendlela ekhethekileko?

¹⁸ Ephasini elitjha eliseduze kangaka, uJehova uzokuba ‘likhaya’ labantu bakhe nangomunye umqondo. IsAmbulo 21:3 sithi: “Indlu ecwengileko yakaZimu seyihlangana nabantu. Uyohlala nabo babe sitjhaba sakhe, uZimu isibili uyohlala nabo abe nguZimu wabo.” Ekuthomeni, uJehova uzokuhlala neenkhonzi zakhe zephasini ngokujanyelwa nguKrestu Jesu. Ekupheleni kweminyaka eyikulungwana, uJesu uzokubuyisela umBuso kuYise, sekawuphethe ngokuzeleko umnqopho kaZimu ngephasi. (1 Kor. 15:28) Ngemva kwalokho, abantu esele benziwe baphelela angekhe basatlhoga uJesu njengomjameli; uJehova uzokuba nabo. Qala bona silindelwe lithemba elikarisa kangangani! Nokho, okwanje, asizimisele ukulingisa iinzukulwana zekadeni ezithembekileko ngokwenza uJehova ‘ikhaya’ lethu.