1. Belinjani ikhambo uJona ebekaqalene nalo, begodu wazizwa njani ngokufika lapho?

 UJONA gade azokuba nesikhathi esinengi sokucabanga. Bekaqalene nekhambo lamakhilomitha angaphezu kwa-800, ikhambo leenyawo ebelingamthatha inyanga, namtjhana ngaphezulu. Kokuthoma, bekufuze akhethe phakathi kweendlela ezifitjhani neziphephileko bese kancani kancani ukhamba eenkhisini ezinengi naphezu kweentaba ezinengi. Bekufuze agege iRhalawumba leSiriya elikhulu, ayame nemilambo emikhulu enjenge-Ewufrathe, bese ufuna indawo yokufihla ihloko ebantwini beentjhaba edorobheni nemizini yeSiriya, eMesophothamiya ne-Asiriya. Njengombana amalanga akhamba, wacabanga ngendawo aya kiyo ebeyimthusa khulu, idorobho egade litjhidela ngokususa kwakhe inyawo—iNiniva.

2. UJona wafunda njani bona angekhe akwazi ukubalekela isabelo sakhe?

² Into uJona ebekayazi ngile: Angekhe akwazi ukujika nokubalekela isabelwesi. Wakhe wakulinga lokho ngaphambilini. Njengombana sibonile esahlukweni esigadungileko, uJehova ngesineke wafundisa uJona ngesivunguvungu elwandle nangokumphulusa ngokusimangaliso efesini ekulu. Ngemva kwamalanga amathathu, yahlanzela uJona ngaphandle kwelwandle aphila, ararekile begodu asele ayindoda elalelako.—UJona, izahl 1, 2.

3. Ngiyiphi ifanelo uJehova ayibonisa uJona, nokho ngimiphi imibuzo ephakamako?

³ UJehova nekathuma uJona eNiniva kwesibili, umporofidi lo walalela wathatha ikhambo elidelo lokuya epumalanga.  (Funda uJona 3:1-3.) Nokho, inga-kghani wavumela isiluleko sakaJehova samtjhentjha ngokupheleleko? Isibonelo, uJehova waba nomusa kuye, wamphulusa ekuqwileni, azange amjezise ngokuvukela kwakhe, begodu wamnikela ithuba lesibili lokuphetha isabelo sakhe. Ngemva kwalokhu, uJona wafunda na ukuba nomusa kwabanye? Ukufunda ukuba nomusa kanengi kubudisi ebantwini abanesono. Akhe sibone bonyana singafundani emzukuzukwini kaJona.

4, 5. Kubayini uJehova aqala iNiniva ‘njengomuzi omkhulu,’ begodu lokho kusifundisani ngaye?

⁴ UJona akhenge aqale iNiniva ngendlela uJehova ayiqala ngayo. Siyafunda: “INiniva belimumuzi omkhulu kuZimu.” (Jona 3:3) Iinkhathi eentathu, umlando kaJona udzubhula uJehova akhuluma ‘ngeNiniva umuzi omkhulu.’ (Jona 1:2; 3:2; 4:11) Kubayini umuzi lo umkhulu, namtjhana uqakathekile kuJehova?

⁵ INiniva belimumuzi wendulo, ihlangana nemizi yokuthoma  uNimrode ayakha ngemva kwakaKukhulamungu. Beyiyikulu, beyisifunda esikhulu leso ebesihlanganisa amanye amadorobho, ebekutlhogeka bona umuntu akhambe amalanga amathathu ukusuka komunye umkhawulo ukuya komunye. (Gen. 10:11; Jona 3:3) INiniva beyikarisa, inamatempeli amahle, inamaboda aqinileko nezinye izakhiwo ezihle. Kodwana ayikho eentwenezi ebeyenza umuzi lo uqakatheke kuJehova uZimu. Into ebeyiqakathekile kuye babantu. INiniva beyinabantu abanengi khulu ngesikhatheso. Naphezu kobumbi babantu, uJehova gade abakhathalela. Ukuthatha njengokuligugu ukuphila kwabantu begodu ukhanuka kwanga ngamunye angatjhuguluka afunde ukwenza okuhle.

6. (a) Kungenzeka yini eyenza uJona wafumana iNiniva ithusa kangaka? (Qala umtlolo waphasi.) (b) Sifundani ngoJona ngomsebenzi wokutjhumayela awenzako?

⁶ Ekugcineni uJona nekafika eNiniva, ubunengi babantu abangaphezu kwe-120 000 kungenzeka benza indawo leyo yamthusa khulu. a Wakhamba ilanga loke bewafika edorobheni eliphithizela khulu bona afumane indawo ehle angathoma kiyo ukutjhumayela umlayezwakhe. Bekazokukhuluma njani nabantwaba? Kghani wafunda ukukhuluma isi-Asiriya? Namtjhana uJehova wenza ikarisomraro yokobana akwazi ukukhuluma ilimelo? Asazi. Kungenzeka uJona wakhuluma umlayezwakhe ngelimi alimunyako isiHebheru bese kwasetjenziswa umtjhugululi bona ase ikulumwakhe elimini leNiniva. Kunanyana ngikuphi, umlayezwakhe bewulula begodu kungenzeka bengekhe uthandeke: “Kusele iminyaka ematjhumi amane kwaphela, iNiniva itjhatjalaliswe.” (Jona 3:4) Wakhuluma ngesibindi nangokuphindaphinda. Ngokwenza njalo, watjengisa isibindi esikhethekileko nekholo, ifanelo amaKrestu ayifuna khulu namhlanje kunanini ngaphambili.

7, 8. (a) Abantu beNiniva basabela njani emlayezweni kaJona? (b) Ikosi yeNiniva yenzani neyizwa umlayezo kaJona?

⁷ Abantu beNiniva bawulalela umlayezo kaJona. Kungenzeka bekacabanga bona abantu bazokusilingeka bebabe nelunya. Kunalokho, kwenzeka into erarako. Abantu balalela! Ilizwi lakhe labhebhetheka njengomlilo womango. Kungakadluli isikhathi eside, boke abantu bebakhuluma ngomlayezo kaJona wembubhiso. (Funda uJona 3:5.) Iinjinga nabatlhagako, abanamandla  nababogabogako, abatjha nabadala boke batjhuguluka. Bazila ukudla. Iindaba zokutjhugulukezi zafika eendlebeni zekosi.

⁸ Nekosi yatjhuguluka neyizwa umlayezo kaJona. Ifikelwe kusaba uZimu, yasikima esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi, yahlubula iimbatho zayo zebukhosini, yambatha umgodla njengabantu bayo, “yahlala emlotheni.” ‘Ineenkhulu zayo,’ benza ukuzilokho kwaba ngokomthetho. Yathi boke bambathe umgodla, ngitjho neenlwana ezifuywako. b Ngokuthobeka yatjheja bona abantu bayo bebanomlandu wokwenza okumbi nenturhu. Itjengisa ukuba nethemba bona uZimu weqiniso uzokuba nomusa nekabona ukuphenduka kwabo, ikosi yathi: ‘UZimu . . . uzokubuya elakeni lakhe elivuthako, bona singapheliswa.’—Jona 3:6-9.

9. Abanyefuli baba nakuphi ukuzaza ngabantu beNiniva, kodwana sazi njani bona bebanamala?

⁹ Abanye abanyefuli batjengisa ukuzaza bona ukuphenduka okufana nalokhu kwenzeka msinyana kangaka ebantwini beNiniva. Nokho, izazi zeBhayibhili zatjheja bona amatjhuguluko anjalo bekangaphikisani neenkolelo ezililize nokuthatheka kwabantu bezizwe ezinjalo eenkhathini zekadeni. Ngalokho, siyazi bona abanyefuli abanjalo banamala, ngombana ngokukhamba kwesikhathi uJesu Krestu ngokwakhe wakhuluma ngokutjhuguluka kwabantu beNiniva. (Funda uMatewu 12:41.) UJesu bekayazi into ayitjhoko ngombana bekaphila ezulwini angufakazi wezenzakalwezi njengombana zenzeka. (Jwa 8:57, 58) Iqiniso nanti, singacabangi bona abantu angekhe baphenduke—nanyana bangabonakala banelunya kangangani kithi. NguJehova kwaphela ofunda ihliziyo.

10, 11. (a) UJehova wasabela njani ekutjhugulukeni kwabantu beNiniva? (b) Kubayini singaqiniseka bona isahlulelo sakaJehova besilungile?

¹⁰ UJehova wenzani abantu beNiniva nebatjhugulukako? Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi uJona watlola: “UZimu weqiniso wabona iimsebenzabo, bona babuyile endleleni yabo embi; ngalokho uZimu weqiniso wazisola ngehlekelele athi uzobalethela yona; akhenge asayiletha.”—Jona 3:10.

 ¹¹ Kghani lokhu bekutjho bona uJehova wabona bonyana isahlulelo sakhe ngeNiniva besingakalungi? Awa. IBhayibhili ithi ubulungiswa bakaJehova buphelele. (Funda uDuteronomi 32:4.) Bekungasatlhogeki bona uJehova abe nelaka ngeNiniva. Wabona ukuphenduka ebantwinaba begodu wabona bonyana isahlulelo ebekazobalethela sona asisatlhogeki. UJehova wabona ukuthi kwanje batlhoga isirhawu.

12, 13. (a) UJehova wakutjengisa njani ukucabangela, ukungabi bukhuni nomusa? (b) Kubayini ubuporofidi bakaJona bebungasi mamala?

¹² UJehova akasibukhuni, onganathando ngitjho noZimu onelunya njengombana avezwa badosi phambili beenkolo. Ngokuphambene nalokho, uyacabangela, akasibukhuni begodu unomusa. Nekafuna ukujezisa abambi, kokuthoma usebenzisa abajameli bakhe ephasini bona bayelelise abantu, ngombana ufuna ukubona abantu abambi benza lokho okwenziwa ngebeNiniva—ukutjhuguluka nokutjhentjha iindlela zabo. (Eze. 33:11) UJehova watjela umporofidakhe uJeremiya: “Ngananyana ngisiphi isikhathi engikhuluma ngaso ngokujamelene nesitjhaba nombuso bona ngizosisiphula ngisiwise begodu ngisitjhabalalise, bese isitjhabeso siyabuya ebumbini baso engikhulume ngokujamelene naso, ngizozisola ngehlekelele ebengizoyikhipha kiso.”—Jer. 18:7, 8.

¹³ Ubuporofidi bakaJona bebumamala na? Awa; ngombana bayelelisa abantu ngalokho ebekuzokwenzeka nebangatjhugulukiko. Isiyelelisweso besizokukhutjhwa ngebanga lobumbi babantu beNiniva abatjhugulukako ngokukhamba kwesikhathi. Nengabe baphikelela ezenzweni zabo ezimbi, uZimu bekazobalethela isahlulelo esifanako. Leyo yinto eyenzeka ngokukhamba kwesikhathi.—Zef. 2:13-15.

14. UJona wasabela njani emseni kaJehova ngeNiniva?

¹⁴ UJona wasabela njani ukutjhatjalaliswa nekungafiki ngesikhathi ebekasilindele? Siyafunda: “Nokho, kuJona, bekungathandeki nakancani, wasilingeka khulu.” (Jona 4:1) UJona wabe wenza umthandazo ebekungathi uthuka uMninimandla woke kiwo! UJona wathi ngathana wazihlalela ekhaya, enarheni yekhabo. Wathi bekazi kusukela ekuthomeni bona uJehova angekhe ayilethe ihlekelele eNiniva, wasebenzisa lokho njengebanga elenza wabalekela eTharashishi kwekuthomeni. Bese wabawa ukufa, wathi ukufa kuzokuba ngcono kunokuphila.—Funda uJona 4:2, 3.

15. (a) Khuyini eyagandelela beyasilinga uJona? (b) UJehova wasebenzelana njani nomporofidakhe ogandelelekileko?

¹⁵ Khuyini ebeyitshwenya uJona? Angekhe siyazi yoke into ebekayicabanga, kodwana siyazi bona uJona wamemezela ukutjhatjalaliswa  kweNiniva phambi kwabo boke abantwabo. Bamkholelwa. Kodwana bekunganakutjhatjalaliswa okuzako. Kghani bekasaba ukuhlekwa nokubizwa ngomporofidi wamanga? Nanyana ngikuphi, akhenge athabe ngokutjhuguluka kwabantu nangomusa kaJehova kibo. Kunalokho, kubonakala kwanga, wasilingeka khulu, wazirhawukela begodu watshwenyeka ngokuphelelwa kwakhe sithunzi. Nokho, ngokukhanyako, uZimu kaJona onomusa bekasolo abona okuhle kumporofidakhe ogandelelekileko lo. Kunokujezisa uJona ngokungalaleli kwakhe, uJehova wamane wambuza umbuzo owodwa wokuzihlola: “Kulungile na ukuvutha kwakho ngelaka?” (Jona 4:4) UJona wawuphendula umbuzo lo? IBhayibhili ayitjho.

16. Kungaziphi iindlela abanye abazifumana baphikisana noZimu ngazo, begodu ngisiphi isifundo esingasifunda esibonelweni sakaJona?

¹⁶ Kulula ukwahlulela uJona ngendlela aziphatha ngayo, kodwana senza kuhle ngokukhumbula bona kujayelekile ngabantu abanesono ukungavumelani noZimu. Abanye bangacabanga bona uZimu bekufuze avikele ihlekelele namtjhana bekufuze amahlulele msinyana umenzi wobumbi nokobana bekufuze ngathana wasiletha kade isiphelo salo loke iphasi lakaSathaneli. Isibonelo sakaJona sisikhumbuza bona nesingavumelaniko noJehova uZimu, ngaso soke isikhathi mbonwethu otlhoga ukulungiswa—ingasi kaZimu.

17, 18. (a) UJona wenzani ngemva kokusuka eNiniva? (b) Ikarisomraro kaJehova ebandakanya isitjalo seselwa yamthinta njani uJona?

¹⁷ Umporofidi odanileko lo wasuka eNiniva waya ingasi ekhaya, kodwana epumalanga, eentabeni ezingamele isifunda. Wakha umthunzana walinda ngaphasi kwawo ukubona iNiniva. Mhlamunye bekasesenethemba lokubona umuzi lo utjhatjalaliswa. UJehova bekazoyifundisa njani indoda enamavunda le umusa?

¹⁸ Ngobusuku obubodwa, uJehova wamilisa isitjalo seselwa. UJona nekavukako wabona isitjalo esinothilekwesi, sinamabhlara amakhulu nomthunzi omkhulu kunomthunzana ebekahlezi kiwo. Wathaba kwamambala. “UJona wathaba kwamambala ngesitjalo,” mhlamunye waqala ukuvela kwaso okusimanga njengetshwayo lesibusiso sakaZimu nokwamukelwa. Nokho, uJehova bekafuna ukumenzela okungeziweko uJona kunokumane amsize ekutjhiseni nekudubhuleni kwakhe umlomo. Bekafuna ukufikelela ihliziyo kaJona. Ngalokho uZimu wenza iinkarisomraro ezingeziweko. Wathumela isibungu bona sisahlele besibulale isitjalo. Bese wathumela “umoya orhabulako” bekwaba kulapho uJona  athoma ‘ukuthinteka khulu’ ngebanga lokutjhisa. UJona wagandeleleka, godu wabawa uZimu bona afe.—Jona 4:6-8.

19, 20. UJehova wabonisana njani noJona malungana nesitjalo seselwa?

¹⁹ Godu uJehova wabuza uJona bona bekulungile na ukuvutha kwakhe ngelaka, kwanje ngokufa kwesitjalo seselwa. Kunokuphenduka, uJona wazithethelela, wathi: ‘Bekulungile ukuvutha kwami ngelaka, bengife.’ Kwanje bekusikhathi sakaJehova sokuhlathulula isifundo ngokukhanyako.—Jona 4:9.

²⁰ UZimu wabonisana noJona, wathi umporofidi lo bekezwe ubuhlungu ngokufa kwesitjalo esakhula ngobusuku obubodwa, leso uJona angakhenge asitjale namtjhana asikhulise. Ngalokho uZimu waphetha: “Mina, akukafuzi na ngilirhawukele iNiniva umuzi omkhulu, onabantu abangaphezu kweenkulungwana ezilikhulu namatjhumi amabili abangawaziko umahluko  phakathi kwesandla sabo sangesigomeni nesangesinceleni, ngaphandle kweenlwana ezinengi ezifuywako?”—Jona 4:10, 11. c

21. (a) Ngiwuphi umfanekiso uJehova awusebenzisa ukufundisa uJona? (b) Umlando kaJona ungasisiza njani bona sihlole iinsusa zethu?

²¹ Usibona kuhle na isifundo uJehova asidlulisela ngomfanekiso? UJona akhenge enze neyodwa into ukutlhogomela isitjalwesi. Ngakelinye ihlangothi, uJehova bekaMthombo wokuphila wabantu beNinivabo begodu wabasekela njengombana enza ngazo zoke iimbunjwa ephasinapha. UJona bekangaqala njani isitjalo esisodwesi njengesiqakathekileko ukudlula ukuphila kwabantu aba-120 000, kuhlanganise nayo yoke ifuywabo? Kghani akusikho bona uJona wavumela ukuba marhamaru? Eqinisweni, warhawukela isitjalo ngombana besizuzisa yena ngenyama. Ukuvutha kwakhe ngelaka ngeNiniva bekungabangelwa ukuba marhamaru na—ukufuna ukuvikela ubudumo bakhe nokufuna ukubonakala aqinisile? Indaba kaJona ingasisiza bona sihlolisise iinsusa zethu. Ngubani hlangana nathi onganakho ukutjhigamela okunjalo? Qala bona kufuze sithabe kangangani bonyana uJehova ngesineke usifundisa ukuzidela ngebanga labanye, ukuba nesirhawu nomusa—njengaye!

22. (a) UJona samthinta njani isiluleko sakaJehova esihlakaniphileko sokuba nomusa? (b) Ngisiphi isifundo okufuze soke sisifunde?

²² Umbuzo naku, uJona wafunda isifundo kilokhu na? Incwadi enebizo lakhe iphetha ngombuzo kaJehova ongakaphendulwa, eqinisweni—osalengeleleko. Abanye abanyefuli bangalila ngokuthi uJona akhenge aphendule. Nokho, eqinisweni, ipendulwakhe ikhona. Yincwadi kaJona ngokwayo. Kwamambala, ubufakazi butjengisa bona uJona watlola incwadi enebizo lakhe. Akhe ucabange ngomporofidi loyo, godu avikelekile enarheni yekhabo, atlola umlando lo. Akhe ucabange ngendoda endala, ehlakaniphileko nethobekileko le, ngokuswaba ithintitha ihloko njengombana itlola imitjhaphwayo, ukuvukela nokwala ngekani ukubonisa umusa. Ngokukhanyako, uJona wafunda isifundo esiqakathekileko esilulekweni sakaJehova esihlakaniphileko. Wafunda ukuba nomusa. Kghani nathi singafunda ukwenza njalo?—Funda uMatewu 5:7.