“Lupanga la Yehova ndi la Gideoni”

PANTHAWI ina pamene oweruza anali kulamulira mu Israyeli, Aisrayeli anali pa mpanipani wadzaoneni. Adani awo anali ambiri zedi ngati dzombe ndipo anali kuwawonongera minda yawo yachonde kuisandutsa zipululu. Kwa zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri, mbewu za Aisrayeli zinkati zikangoyamba kumera, magulu olanda a Amidyani, a Amaleki ndi anthu ena akum’mawa ankabwera ku Israyeli pa ngamira. Ziweto zawo zinkangoti mbwee kufunafuna nsipu, ndipo zinkadya chomera chilichonse. Koma Aisrayeli analibiretu abulu, ng’ombe kapena nkhosa. Ulamuliro wa Amidyani woopsa chotere unafika poipa kwambiri moti Aisrayeli sakanachitira mwina koma kuyamba kukabisa zinthu zawo m’nkhuti kumapiri, m’mapanga ndi m’malo ovuta kufikako. Umphawi wosaneneka unawapheratu Aisrayeli.

N’chifukwa chiyani anali m’mavuto otere? Chifukwa chakuti Aisrayeliwo anali atapanduka ndipo anali kutumikira milungu yonyenga, chotero Yehova sanawalanditse kwa mitundu imene inali kuwapondereza. Zinthu zitafika pothina kwambiri, ana a Israyeli anafuulira Yehova kuti awathandize. Kodi iye anawamvera? Kodi tingaphunzire chiyani pa zimene Aisrayeli anakumana nazo?​—Oweruza 6:1-6.

Mlimi Wamantha Kapena ‘Ngwazi Yamphamvu’?

Panthawi za mtendere, alimi ku Israyeli ankapuntha tirigu ndi zipangizo zokokedwa ndi ng’ombe. Ntchitoyi ankagwirira pamalo opita mphepo kuti akamapeta, mphepo iziuluza mankhusu kuwasiyanitsa ndi tirigu. Koma chifukwa cha magulu olanda aja, kupunthira tirigu pamalo otere kunali kosatheka, chifukwa iwo cholinga chawo chinali kulanda Aisrayeli kena kalikonse. Poopa kuonekera kwa Amidyani, Gideoni anali kupunthira tirigu m’nkhuti yoponderamo mphesa. Nkhutiyi iyenera kuti inali yaikulu, yogoba m’thanthwe ndipo inali yotchingira bwino. (Oweruza 6:11) M’menemo akanatha kumapuntha tirigu wochepa chabe ndi ndodo. Gideoni anali kuchita zimenezi chifukwa cha mavutowo.

Taganizirani mmene Gideoni anadabwira pamene mngelo wa Yehova anaonekera kwa iye ndi kunena kuti: “Yehova ali nawe, ngwazi iwe, wamphamvu iwe.” (Oweruza 6:12) Monga munthu wopuntha tirigu chobisa m’nkhuti yoponderamo mphesa, Gideoni ayenera kuti sankadziona ngati ngwazi kapena munthu wolimba mtima. Komabe mawu amenewo akusonyeza kuti Mulungu anali ataona kuti Gideoni angakhale mtsogoleri wolimba mtima wa Aisrayeli. Koma ngakhale zinali choncho, anafunika kum’tsimikizira zimenezo.

Yehova atauza Gideoni kuti ‘apulumutse Israyeli m’dzanja la Midyani,’ iye modzichepetsa anati: “Ha! Mbuye, ndidzapulumutsa Israyeli ndi chiyani? Taonani, banja langa lili loluluka m’Manase, ndipo ine ndine wamng’ono m’nyumba ya atate wanga.” Mosamala, Gideoni anapempha Mulungu kuti am’sonyeze chizindikiro chakuti akakhala naye pogonjetsa Amidyani, ndipo Yehova anamvera pempholo, pakuti kwenikweni iye anali kungofuna kumutsimikizira. Choncho Gideoni anapatsa mngeloyo chakudya, ndipo moto unatuluka m’thanthwe ndi kunyeketsa chakudyacho. Tsopano Yehova atam’chotsa mantha, Gideoni anamanga guwa la nsembe pamalopo.​—Oweruza 6:12-24.

Mlekeni “Am’nenere Mlandu Baala”

Vuto lalikulu kwambiri la Aisrayeli silinali kuponderezedwa ndi Amidyani ayi, koma kulambira Baala. Yehova “ali Mulungu wansanje,” ndipo salola munthu kum’tumikira pamenenso akupembedza milungu ina. (Eksodo 34:14) Chotero Yehova analamula Gideoni kuti agumule guwa la  nsembe limene bambo ake anali kuperekerapo nsembe kwa Baala ndi kugwetsa mlongoti wopatulika. Poopa bambo ake ndi anthu ena, Gideoni ndi antchito ake khumi, anagwira ntchitoyi usiku osati masana.

Mantha a Gideoni anali oyeneradi chifukwa opembedza Baala atamva kuti iye wawononga malo awo opatulika, anafuna kumupha. Koma ndi mfundo zosatsutsika, bambo ake a Gideoni, a Yoasi, anakambirana ndi anthuwo kuti ngati Baala alidi Mulungu, akanadziteteza yekha. Kenako, malinga ndi zimene anachitazi, Yoasi anatcha mwana wakeyo Yerubaala kutanthauza kuti, “Am’nenere mlandu Baala.”​—Oweruza 6:25-32.

Mulungu amadalitsa atumiki ake amene amasankha kupembedza koona molimba mtima. Pamene Amidyani ndi anzawo aja analowanso m’dziko la Israyeli, mzimu wa Yehova unakhala pa Gideoni. (Oweruza 6:34) Mzimu wa Mulungu, kapena kuti mphamvu yake yogwira ntchito, inalimbikitsa Gideoni kusonkhanitsa asilikali m’mafuko a Manase, Aseri, Zebuloni ndi Nafitali.​—Oweruza 6:35.

Kukonzekera Nkhondo

Tsopano Gideoni anali ndi asilikali 32,000, komabe anapempha Mulungu kuti am’patse chizindikiro chakuti akapambana. Anapempha kuti chikopa chaubweya chimene anachisiya popunthira tirigu chinyowe ndi mame, koma nthaka ya pansi pake ikhalebe youma, ndipo izi zikanasonyeza kuti Mulungu apulumutsadi Aisrayeli kudzera mwa iye. Yehova anachitadi chozizwitsa chimenechi, ndipo anamulimbitsanso mtima pamene ananyowetsa nthaka, koma chikopa chija n’kukhalabe chouma monga mmene Gideoni anapemphera kachiwiri. Kodi Gideoni anali kuda nkhawa mosayenera? Ayi, pakuti Yehova anachita malinga ndi pempho lake lofuna kum’tsimikizira. (Oweruza 6:36-40) Masiku ano sitiyembekezera zozizwitsa zotero. Komabe Yehova angatitsogolere ndi kutilimbikitsa ndi Mawu ake.

Kenako Mulungu anati gulu lankhondo la Gideoni linali lalikulu kwambiri. Ngati Aisrayeli akanagonjetsa adani awo ndi gulu lalikulu choncho, mwina akanayamba kudzitama kuti adzipulumutsa okha. Koma Yehova ndiye anali woyenera kutamandidwa chifukwa cha kupambana kwawo pankhondoyo. Kodi akanatani kuti asadzadzitame? Gideoni tsopano anagwiritsa ntchito Chilamulo cha Mose mwa kunena kuti asilikali onse amene anali ndi mantha abwerere. Atatero, asilikali 22,000 anabwerera n’kutsala 10,000 okha.​—Deuteronomo 20:8; Oweruza 7:2, 3.

Koma Mulungu anaona kuti asilikaliwo achulukabe. Choncho anauza Gideoni kupita kumadzi ndi asilikaliwo. Wolemba mbiri yakale wachiyuda dzina lake Josephus anati, Mulungu anauza Gideoni kuti asilikaliwo agube kukutentha, ulendo wopita kumadzi. Kaya zinalidi choncho kapena ayi, koma Gideoni anali kuonetsetsa mmene asilikaliwo anali kumwera madzi. Asilikali 300 okha ndi amene anali kumwa ndi dzanja limodzi kwinaku ali tcheru kuyang’anayang’ana kuti mwina adani awo angafike. Asilikali atcheru 300 okhawo ndi amene anasankhidwa kupita kunkhondo ndi Gideoni. (Oweruza 7:4-8) Taganizirani inuyo muli m’gulu limenelo. Kodi mukanaganiza kuti mungathe kugonjetsa adani anu 135,000, ndi mphamvu zanu zokha popanda Yehova kukuthandizani?

 Mulungu anauza Gideoni kuti atenge mnyamata ndi kupita kukazonda msasa wa Amidyani. Ali kumeneko Gideoni anamva munthu wina akuuza mzake maloto ake, ndipo mnzakeyo anamasulira malotowo kuti Mulungu watsimikiza mtima kupereka Amidyani m’dzanja la Gideoni. Zimenezo zinamulimbikitsa Gideoni. Anakhulupirira kuti Yehova athandiza iye ndi asilikali ake 300 kugonjetsa Amidyani.​—Oweruza 7:9-15.

Kamenyedwe ka Nkhondo

Asilikali 300 aja anawagawa m’magulu atatu, gulu lililonse linali ndi asilikali 100. Msilikali aliyense anam’patsa lipenga ndi mbiya yaikulu yopanda kanthu. M’kati mwa mbiya iliyonse anaikamo muuni. Choyamba chimene Gideoni anawalamula n’chakuti: ‘Mundipenyerere ine, ndi kuchita momwemo. Pamene ndiomba lipenga, inunso muziomba lipenga ndi kunena kuti, Lupanga la Yehova ndi la Gideoni.’​—Oweruza 7:16-18, 20.

Asilikali 300 a Aisrayeli aja anayenda monyang’ama kupita m’mphepete mwa msasa wa adaniwo. Unali usiku, cha m’ma 10 koloko. Apa n’kuti alonda a pa msasawo atangosinthana kumene. Imeneyi inali nthawi yabwino kuwaukira chifukwa alonda atsopanowo zikanawatengera kanthawi kuti ayambe kuona bwinobwino mu mdima.

Mwadzidzidzi, Amidyani anagwidwa ndi mantha kwambiri ndi zimene zinachitika. Bata lawo linasokonezeka ndi chiphokoso cha kuphwanyidwa kwa mbiya 300, kulira kwa malipenga 300, ndi kufuula kwa anthu 300. Podabwa, makamaka ndi mfuu yakuti “Lupanga la Yehova ndi la Gideoni,” Amidyani anawonjezera phokosolo pamene nawonso anayamba kufuula. M’chipwirikiticho, sakanatha kusiyanitsa mzawo ndi mdani. Asilikali 300 aja anangoimabe m’malo awo pamene Mulungu anachititsa adaniwo kusolola malupanga awo ndi kuyamba kuphana okhaokha. Msasawo unagonjetsedwa, panalibe zopulumuka, omwe anali kuthawa anawapitikitsa mpaka kutali kwambiri n’kuwamaliziratu onse. Ulamuliro wautali ndi wankhanza wa Amidyani uja unathera pamenepa.​—Oweruza 7:19-25; 8:10-12, 28.

Ngakhale atapambana nkhondoyo, Gideoni anali wodzichepetsabe. Pamene fuko la Efraimu lomwe linakhumudwa chifukwa sanaliitane kukamenya nawo nkhondoyo linkafuna kukangana naye, iye anayankha mofatsa. Mayankhidwe ake ofatsa anabweza mkwiyo wawo ndipo mtima wawo unakhala pansi.​—Oweruza 8:1-3; Miyambo 15:1.

Aisrayeli ataona kuti ali pamtendere tsopano, anam’limbikitsa Gideoni kuti akhale mfumu yawo. Amenewatu anali mayesero kwa Gideoni. Koma iye anakana. Sanaiwale amene anagonjetsa Amidyani. Iye anati: “Sindidzalamulira inu, ngakhale mwana wanga sadzalamulira inu; Yehova adzalamulira inu.”​—Oweruza 8:23.

Koma pokhala munthu wopanda ungwiro, Gideoni anachita zinthu zina mosayenera. Pachifukwa chimene sichinatchulidwe, iye anatenga zinthu zimene analanda kunkhondo n’kupangira chovala cha wansembe, n’kuchiika m’mudzi wake. Nkhaniyo imati Aisrayeli onse anayamba ‘kugwadira’ chovala cha wansembecho. Inde, anayamba kuchilambira ndipo chinakhala msampha ngakhale kwa Gideoni ndi banja lake. Komabe, iye sanakhaliretu wopembedza mafano, chifukwa Malemba amati anali munthu wokhulupirira Yehova.​—Oweruza 8:27; Ahebri 11:32-34.

Zimene Tikuphunzirapo

Nkhani ya Gideoni ndi yochenjeza ndiponso yolimbikitsa. Nkhaniyi ikutichenjeza kuti ngati Yehova atatichotsera mzimu wake ndi kuleka kutiyanja chifukwa cha kusamvera, tingakhale amphawi mwauzimu monga amakhalira anthu a m’dziko losakazidwa ndi dzombe. Tikukhala m’nthawi zowawitsa ndipo tisamaiwale kuti “madalitso a Yehova alemeretsa, sawonjezerapo chisoni.” (Miyambo 10:22) Mulungu amatidalitsa chifukwa chom’tumikira “ndi mtima wangwiro ndi moyo waufulu.” Koma kupanda kutero, sangatikonde.​—1 Mbiri 28:9.

Nkhani ya Gideoni ndi yolimbikitsa chifukwa ikutsimikizira kuti Yehova akhoza kupulumutsa anthu ake m’mavuto ena aliwonse, pogwiritsa ntchito ngakhale anthu ooneka ofooka kapena opanda mphamvu. Nkhani yakuti Gideoni ndi asilikali ake 300 anagonjetsa Amidyani 135,000, imatitsimikizira kuti Mulungu ali ndi mphamvu zopanda malire. Mwina ifenso tingakhale m’mavuto aakulu ndipo zingaoneke kuti adani athu ndi ambiri zedi. Koma nkhani ya m’Baibulo ya Gideoni ikutilimbikitsa kudalira Yehova amene amadalitsa ndi kupulumutsa onse omukhulupirira.