1, 2. (a) Ngubani “iKosi yesiphelani,” begodu kubayini isiqweso simfanela? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.) (b) Khuyini okwenza ukubusa kwakaJehova kusitjhideze kuye?

IKOSI YESWAZILAND uSobhuza II, yabusa iminyaka engaba ma-61. Leso sikhathi eside khulu esingabuswa yikosi emihleni yanamhlanjesi. Siside singako isikhathi esabuswa nguNdabezitha uSobhuza, kunenye-ke ikosi ukubusa kwayo okungalingani nesikhathi umuntu angasiphila. Ekhabolakhona, iBhayibheli limbiza ‘ngeKosi yesiphelani.’ (1 Thim. 1:17) Umrhubi wayigagula ngebizo iKosi leyo nakathi: “Mbala uZimu [‘uJehova, NW’] uyikosi nini nanini.”—Rhu. 10:16.

² Ubude besikhathi esibuswa nguZimu abufani nebesikhathi esibuswa mumuntu. Yeke, ukulemuka indlela uJehova abusa ngayo ngikho okusitjhideza kuye. Ikosi eyabusa iminyaka engaphezu kwema-40 kwa-Israyeli, yadumisa uZimu ngamezwi la: “USomnini [‘UJehova, NW’] unomusa nesirhawu, ubuthaka ekusilingekeni, uzele ukwethembeka. USomnini uzinzise isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi ezulwini; ubukhosi bakhe bengamele koke.” (Rhu. 103:8, 19) UJehova akasiyiKosethu kwaphela, usese nanguBaba kithi—uBabethu wezulwini onethando. Lokho kwenza sizibuze nasi imibuzo emibili: UJehova uzibonakalise njani ukuthi unguBaba? UJehova ubusebenzise njani ubukhosi bakhe kusukela ekuhlubukeni kwe-Edeni? Iimpendulo zemibuzo le, zizosihlohlozela bona sitjhidelane noJehova, besimlotjhe ngazo zoke iinhliziyo zethu.

3. Ngubani owaba lilunga lokuthoma lomndeni kaJehova wezulwini, begodu bobani abanye ababunjwa ‘njengamadodana’ kaZimu?

³ Kuyatjho ukuthi uJehova bekathabe kwamambala nekabumba iNdodanakhe okungiyo yodwa ngakwabo! UZimu akhange aliqale njengomuntu ophasi izibulo lakheli. Kunalokho, walithanda njengeNdodana, begodu walenzela ukuthi lihlanganyele naye ekubumbeni abanye abantu abapheleleko. (Kol. 1:15-17) Hlangana nokunye ebekubunjwa, kubalwa neengidigidi zeengilozi. Iingilozi zimlotjha ngethabo uZimu, kungebangelo azibiza ‘ngeenceku zakhe ezenza intandwakhe,’ begodu uyazidumisa ngokuzibiza ‘ngamadodanakhe.’ Zimndeni wezulwini kaJehova.—Rhu. 103:20-22; Job. 38:7.

4. Bangena njani-ke abantu emndenini kaZimu?

⁴ Wathi nakaqeda ukudala amazulu abonakalako nephasi, uJehova waphadlhalaja umndenakhe. Ngemva kokudala iphasi njengendawo ehle nesekela ukuphila, uJehova waphoritjha umsebenzakhe loyo ngokubumba umuntu wokuthoma ofana naye, u-Adamu. (Gen. 1:26-28) NjengoMdali, uJehova bekalindele bona u-Adamu alalele. NjengoBaba, uJehova wanikela boke abantu imiyalo yakhe ngomusa nangokubathanda. Akunakwenzeka ukuthi iinqophiswezo bezingamgandelela umuntu.—Funda uGenesisi 2:15-17.

5. UZimu bekahlele ukulizalisa njani iphasi ngabantu bakhe?

⁵ Ngokungafani namakhosi wabantu, uJehova akasabi ukuthwesa abantu bakhe umthwalo, abathembe njengamalunga womndenakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, wanikela u-Adamu igunya phezu kwazo zoke iimbunjwa eziphilako, bewambawa nokuthi azithiye amabizo, okungaba sisabelo esibudisanyana. (Gen. 1:26; 2:19, 20) UZimu akhange abumbe iwomakazi labantu abapheleleko bona lizalise iphasi. Kunalokho, wanyula ukwenzela u-Adamu umuntu ozomphelelisa—unakwakhe u-Eva. (Gen. 2:21, 22) Ngemva kwalokho, wababusisa wathi bazalise iphasi ngabantwababo. Ngobunjalo-ke abantu abapheleleko bebangaragela tjhubelo nokwanda, banwebele isivande sePharadeyisi kilo loke iphasi. Bebangamlotjha ngokungapheliko uJehova babumbene neengilozi ezulwini. Bekungaba mnandi khulu lokho! Begodu lokho kwenze nethando lakaJehova libonakale kuhle njengoBaba.

6. (a) Kweza njani ukuthi kube nokuhlubuka emndenini kaZimu? (b) Kubayini ukuhlubukokho kungatjengisi bona uJehova wabhalelwa kulawula?

⁶ Kuyadanisa-ke ukuthi u-Adamu no-Eva bebangakaneliseki ngokubuswa nguJehova. Kunalokho, bakhetha ukulandela indodana kaZimu eyingilozi eyahlubukako, uSathana. (Gen. 3:1-6) UZimu wathi nakazibeka phasi iintambo zokubusa, ipilo yaletha ubuhlungu, umtlhago nokufa kibo nakiyo yoke inzalo yabo. (Gen. 3:16-19; Rom. 5:12) UZimu akhange asaba nabantu abalalelako ephasini. Kghani lokhu bekutjho ukuthi sekanghalile ngombana ubhalelwe kubabusa abantu bakhe bephasini? Akusinjalo nakancani! Wasebenzisa igunya lakhe ngokubaqotha esivandeni, nangokubakhandela bona bangabe basabuya, walayela namakherubi ukuthi ayokugada emasangweni. (Gen. 3:23, 24) Khonokho, kwabonakala nethando lakhe njengoBaba, ngesikhathi aqinisekisa ukuthi umnqophwakhe usazokwenzeka ngawo woke amalunga womndenakhe wephasini azinikeleko. Wathembisa ukuthi kuzokuba nenzalo ezokurhayila uSathana, ilungise nayo yoke imitjhapho yesono eyabangelwa ngu-Adamu.—Funda uGenesisi 3:15.

7, 8.(a) Emihleni kaNowa, besebubumbi kangangani ubujamo? (b) UJehova wenza maphi-ke amalungiselelo wokuhlwengisa iphasi nokusindisa umndeni wabantu?

 ⁷ Emakhulwini weminyaka eyalandela, abanye abantu bakhetha ukumlalela uJehova. Abanye babantwabo ngu-Abela no-Inogo. Kanti-ke abanye bamlandula uJehova njengoBaba neKosabo. Emihleni kaNowa, iphasi ‘beseligcwele umguruguru.’ (Gen. 6:11) Kghani lokhu bekutjho ukuthi uJehova seliyambhalela iphasi? Uthini umlandoe?

⁸ Khewucabange ngendaba kaNowa. UJehova wamhlomisa ngamaplani nangeenqophiso zokwakha umkhumbi omkhulu ebewuzokusindisa yena nomndenakhe. Godu uZimu watjengisa nokuthi uwuthanda kangangani umndenakhe wabantu ngesikhathi alayela uNowa bona abe ‘mtjhumayeli wokulunga.’ (2 Pit. 2:5) Umlayezo kaNowa bewukhuluma ngokutjhuguluka nangeenyeleliso zembubhiso ebesele ibandamele, kodwana abantu bangesikhatheso bebamahlongandlebe. Besekumatjhumi weminyaka, uNowa nomndenakhe bahlala ephasini ebeselizele umguruguru nobukhohlakali. NjengoBaba onethando, uJehova wabavikela bewababusisa abantu ababunane abathembekilekwabo. Nesekaletha uMthwalela wephasi loke nje, uJehova besekafuna ukuqeda ngeenhlubuki neengilozi ezikhohlakeleko. Singatjho siqiniseke ukuthi uJehova bekayiphethe khona.—Gen. 7:17-24.

9. Ngiliphi ithuba uJehova alinikela abantu ngemva koMthwalela?

⁹ Ngesikhathi uNowa nomndenakhe bathoma ukukhamba ephasini elihlwengisiweko elibetha umoya, iinhliziyo zabo beziphuphuma ithabo ngebanga lokusororhwa nokuvikelwa nguJehova. Khonokho, uNowa wakha i-aldari wenza umhlatjelo wokudumisa uJehova. UZimu wambusisa uNowa nomndenakhe, bewathi “belethani nande nizalise iphasi.” (Gen. 8:20–9:1) Abantu babuye baba nethuba lohlanganyela ndawonye nokuzalisa iphasi.

10.(a) Kwabuye kwaqubuka nini godu ukuhlubuka kuJehova ngemva koMthwalela, begodu lokho kwenzeka kuphi? (b) UJehova wathatha maphi amagadango wokuqinisekisa bona intando yakhe iyenzeka?

¹⁰ Nokho, uMthwalela akhange usisuse isono, begodu abantu bebasazokuqalana namathonya angabonakaliko kaSathana neengilozi zakhe ezimahlubuka. Kwathi ngemva kwesikhatjhana godu abantu babuyela esigeni sabo sokuba mahlongandlebe. Ngokwesibonelo, isizukulwana sakaNowa, uNimrodi wajamelana noJehova. UNimrodi uvezwe ‘njengomzumi onamandla khulu’ ngokujamelene noJehova. Wakha iinthabathaba zamadorobho, bewazibeka njengekosi “enarheni yeTjhinari.” (Gen. 10:8-12) Ngimaphi-ke amagadango ebekangathathwa yiKosi yaphakade malungana nekosi esihlubuki le ebeyilinga ukumotjha umnqopho kaZimu ‘wokuzalisa iphasi’? UZimu wararanisa ilimi labantu, izakhamuzi zakaNimrodi ebezikwate ziqede itjhukela, ‘zasabalala iphasi loke.’ Zakhamba neenkolelo zazo zamala namasiko wokubusa kwabantu.—Gen. 11:1-9.

11. UJehova wathembeka njani kumnganakhe u-Abrahamu?

¹¹ Nanyana babanengi nje ebebalotjha abosingazimu ngemva koMthwalela, bebakhona nokho abantu abaragela tjhubelo nokulotjha uJehova ngokuthembeka. Omunye wabo ngu-Abrahamu, owasukela ipilo emabothobotho e-Uri wayokuhlala ematendeni iminyaka engangeminyaka. (Gen. 11:31; Heb. 11:8, 9) Ekhambweni lakhe, u-Abrahamu bekabhodwe makhosi wabantu, amanengi wawo ebekahlala emadorobheni akantjelwe ngamaboda. Kodwana uJehova bekahlala amvikela u-Abrahamu nomndenakhe. Nasekakhuluma ngevikeleko lakaJehova njengoBaba, umrhubi wathi: “UZimu akhange avumele noyedwa bonyana  awagandelele.” (Rhu. 105:13, 14) Ngombana vele besekazifumanele umngani, uJehova wathembisa u-Abrahamu wathi: ‘AmaKhosi azakuvela kuwe.’—Gen. 17:6; Jak. 2:23.

12. UJehova wabubonakalisa njani ubukhosi bakhe eGibhide, begodu lokhu kwabathinta njani abantu bakhe abakhethileko?

¹² UZimu wasibuyelela naku-Isaka indodana ka-Abrahamu isithembiso sokuthi inzalwakhe beyizokukhamba iveze amakhosi. (Gen. 26:3-5; 35:11) Kodwana ngaphambi kokuvela kwamakhosi layo, inzalo kaJakopo yaba ziingqila eGibhide. Yeke, kghani lokho bekutjho ukuthi uJehova bekazokubhalelwa kuphetha isithembiso sakhe? Kghani besekanghale koke okuphathelene nobukhosi bakhe ephasini? Akusinjalo nakancani! Kwathi ngesikhathi sakhe esifaneleko, uJehova waziveza ukuthi mhlobo bani womuntu, wasebenzisa amandla nobukhosi bakhe phezu kwakaFaro. Iingqila ezima-Israyelezo bezithembele kuJehova, owazitjhaphulula kwangaba ziindaba zalitho. Ekhabolakhona, vele uJehova ebekasese mBusi wendawo yoke, begodu njengoBaba onethando, wasebenzisa amandlakhe amakhulu ekuvikeleni abantu bakhe.—Funda u-Eksodusi 14:13, 14.

13, 14. (a) Kutjho ukuthini ukuthi uJehova waba yiKosi? (b) UZimu wamthembisani uDavida malungana nobukhosi?

¹³ Kwathi ngemva kokutjhatjhululwa ngokuyikarisomraro eGibhide, ama-Israyeli avuma ingoma yokuhlula, athokoza uJehova. Ingoma leyo, etlolwe ku-Eksodusi isahluko 15, nawehla nayo evesini18 ithi: “USomnini [‘UJehova, NW’] uzakubusa nini nanini.” Nangambala, uJehova waba yiKosi yesitjhaba esitjha. (Dut. 33:5) Kodwana abantu bebangakaneliseki ngokuba nomBusi ongabonakaliko, uJehova. Kwathi ngemva kweminyaka ema-400 ngemva kokuphuma eGibhide, babawa uJehova bona ababekele ikosi emumuntu njengombana kunjalo nakwezinye izizwe. (1 Sam. 8:5) Ngitjho nalapho sekubusa khona ikosi yesibili uDavida, kwabonakala ukuthi uJehova usese yiKosi.

¹⁴ UDavida waletha umfaji wesivumelwano ocwengileko eJerusalema. Hlangana nesikhathi esithabisakweso, amaLevi avuma ingoma yokuthokoza ebeyinanaka amezwi atlolwe kweyoku-1 IinKronike 16:31: “Izizwe azitjelwe kuthiwe: ‘USomnini uyabusa!’” Sewungazibuza-ke, ‘Njengombana uJehova ayiKosi yesiphelani, kwenzeka  njani-ke bona abe yiKosi ngesikhatheso?’ UJehova uba yiKosi nakakuveza emtarini ukubusa kwakhe, nekahloma ihlangano emjamelelako, namkha nekademba ubujamo obuthileko. Ukulemuka ukuthi uJehova yiKosi, kuqakatheke kwamanikelela. Ngaphambi kobana uDavida ahlongakale, uJehova wamthembisa bona ubukhosi bakhe buzokuraga isiphelani, nakathi “ngizakuvusa omunye esizukulwaneni sakho seengazi, ngiqinise umbuswakhe.” (2 Sam. 7:12) Isithembisweso saba njalo ngesikhathi kuvela “inzalo” namkha indodana kaDavida ngemva kweminyaka engaba ma-900. Bekungubani loyo, begodu waba nini yiKosi?

15, 16. UJesu wazeswa nini njengeKosi yesikhathi esizako, begodu ngesikhathi asese sephasini ngimaphi amalungiselelo awenza malungana nokubusa kwakhe?

¹⁵ Ngomnyaka ka-29 ngeenkhathi zakaJesu, uJwanisi uMbhabhadisi wathoma ukutjhumayela ngokuthi “umbuso wezulu ubandamele!” (Mat. 3:2) Ngesikhathi uJwanisi abhabhadisa uJesu, uJehova wazesa uJesu njengoMesiya othenjisiweko neKosi yesikhathi esizako yomBuso kaZimu. UJehova watjho amezwi amnandi njengoBaba, nakathi ngoJesu: “Le yiNdodanami engiyithandako nengithokozileko ngayo.”—Mat. 3:17.

¹⁶ UJesu waphazimulisa uYise kiyo yoke ikonzwakhe. (Jwa. 17:4) Lokho wakwenza ngokutjhumayela ngomBuso kaZimu. (Luk. 4:43) Wabe wafundisa nabalandeli bakhe bona bakuthandazele ukuza komBuso loyo. (Mat. 6:10) NjengeKosi yesikhathi esizako, uJesu bekangatjela labo abamphikisako ukuthi: “UmBuso kaZimu uphakathi kwenu.” (Luk. 17:21, NW) Kamuva ngentambama yangaphambi kokuhlongakala kwakhe, uJesu wenza isivumelwano somBuso nabalandeli bakhe. Wabe wathembisa nabanye babafundi bakhe bona bazokubusa naye njengamakhosi emBusweni kaZimu.—Funda uLuka 22:28-30.

17. Kungayiphi indlela emediweko uJesu athoma ngayo ukubusa ekhulwini lokuthoma leminyaka, begodu khuyini ebekufuze akulinde?

¹⁷ UJesu bekazokuthoma nini-ke ukubusa njengeKosi emBusweni kaZimu? Bekangekhe avele abuse ngesikhatheso. Phela kwathi malangantambama mhlokho, uJesu wathoma ukuhlunguphazwa, abafundi bakhe, ngiloyo naloyo wadosa sakhe isiphande, babaleka. (Jwa. 16:32) Nokho, njengangesikhathi sangaphambili, nalapho uJehova wayingena. Ngelanga lesithathu, wavusa iNdodanakhe, kwathi ngePentekoste langomnyaka ka-33 ngeenkhathi zabapostoli, uJesu wahloma umBuso ongokomoya ebandleni lobuKrestu labanakwabo abazesiweko. (Kol. 1:13) Nanyana kunjalo, uJesu bekusafuze alinde, kukhani asebenzisa amandlakhe wokubusa ngokuzeleko enzalweni ethenjisiweko ephasini. UJehova watjela iNdodanakhe wathi: “Hlala ngesidleni sami bekube kulokha nangenza izitha zakho zibe sinabelo seenyawo zakho.”—Rhu. 110:1.

18, 19. Sitjhukumiseleka bona senzeni, begodu sizokufunda ngani esihlokweni esilandelako?

¹⁸ Sekuziinkulungwana zeminyaka, ubukhosi bakaJehova busongelwa ezulwini nephasini. UJehova akhange alahle itewu malungana nobukhosi bakhe; bekasolo alawula. NjengoBaba onethando, wavikela bewaqalelela abantu bakhe abanjengoNowa, u-Abrahamu, noDavida. Yeke, lokhu akusitjhukumiseli na, bona sitjhidele hlanu kwakaBabethu wezulwini?

¹⁹ Esingazibuza khona ngilokhu: UJehova ube njani yiKosi emihleni yethu? Singahlala njani sizizakhamuzi ezithembekileko zomBuso kaJehova bese ngokukhamba kwesikhathi sibe madodana apheleleko womndenakhe wendawo yoke? Kutjho ukuthini ukuthandazela bona umBuso kaZimu uze? Iimpendulo zemibuzo le, zisesihlokweni esilandelako.