1, 2. Yiziphi izinto ezimangalisayo u-Elija ayeke wazibona empilweni, kodwa yiziphi izenzakalo ezimangalisa kakhulu azibona esebhalwini lweNtaba yaseHorebi?

U-ELIJA wayeke wabona izinto ezimangalisa kakhulu. Wabona amawabayi emphathela ukudla kabili ngelanga ngesikhathi ecatshile. Kwathi ngesikhathi sendlala, wabona ifulawa ingapheli esitsheni kanye lamafutha engapheli phakathi kodiwo. Waphinda wabona uNkulunkulu ephendula umthandazo wakhe ngokwenza ukuthi umlilo wehle uvela ezulwini. (1 AmaKhosi, izahluko 17, 18) Lanxa kunjalo, u-Elija wayesazobona okunye okukhulu ukwedlula lokhu.

² Njengoba wayeqotsheme entubeni yobhalu lweNtaba yaseHorebi, wabona ukulandelana kwezenzakalo ezimangalisayo. Kwaqala kwaba lomoya ovunguzayo. Umoya lo wawuvunguza ngamandla usenza umsindo omkhulu ngenxa yokuthi wawudabula izintaba uqhekeza lamatshe. Kwalandela ukuzamazama komhlaba okwakhipha amandla amakhulu avalelwe ngaphansi komhlabathi. Ngemva kwalokho kwalandela umlilo. Kungenzakala ukuthi u-Elija wezwa ukutshisa okukhulu njengoba umlilo lo wawuthanyela indawo yonke.​—1 AmaKhosi 19:8-12.

3. Kuyini okwabonwa ngu-Elija okuyibufakazi bamandla kaNkulunkulu, njalo thina singawabona kuziphi izinto amandla la?

³ Zonke izenzakalo lezi ezitshiyeneyo ezabonwa ngu-Elija zazilokufanana okuthile ngoba zazitshengisa amandla amakhulu kaJehova uNkulunkulu. Liqiniso ukuthi kakudingeki ukuthi size sizibonele ngawethu izimangaliso zakhe ukuze sizwisise ukuthi ulamandla. Kusegcekeni ukuthi ulawo. IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi izinto ezidaliweyo zisipha ubufakazi obuphathelane ‘lamandla angapheliyo kanye lobuNkulunkulu’ bukaJehova. (KwabaseRoma 1:20) Cabanga ngokuphazima kombane, ukuduma okukhulu kwezulu, impophoma zamanzi kanye lokumangalisa kwesibhakabhaka esigcwele izinkanyezi! Konke lokhu kusitshengisa amandla amakhulu kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa emhlabeni lamuhla  abanengi kabawananzeleli amandla kaNkulunkulu. Lanxa kunjalo, bakhona abalutshwana abawazwisisa kuhle. Ukuzwisisa amandla la kaNkulunkulu kusenza sibe lezizathu ezinengi zokusondela kuye. Esahlukweni lesi, sizafunda okunengi okuphathelane lamandla kaJehova amakhulu kakhulu.

4, 5. (a)  Ibizo likaJehova lihambisana njani lobukhulu bakhe, kumbe amandla akhe? (b) Kungani kuqondile ukuthi uJehova wakhetha inkabi ukuthi imele amandla akhe?

⁴ UJehova ulamandla angafanani lawo munye umuntu. UJeremiya 10:6 uthi: “Kakho ofana lawe, wena Jehova; wena umkhulu, lebizo lakho lilamandla amakhulu.” Nanzelela ukuthi ubukhulu kumbe amandla kuhambisana lebizo likaJehova. Khumbula, sacaciselwa ukuthi ibizo leli litsho ukuthi “Wenza Ukuthi Kube Khona.” Kuyini okwenza ukuthi uJehova enelise ukudala loba yini ayifunayo lokuthi abe yiloba yini afuna ukuba yiyo? Okokuqala ngamandla akhe. Ukwenelisa kukaJehova ukufeza intando yakhe kakupheli. Amandla la angolunye uphawu oluqakathekileyo lobuntu bakhe.

⁵ UJehova usebenzisa imizekeliso ukuze asenze sizwisise ubukhulu bamandla akhe ngenxa yokuthi kasingeke senelise ukuwazwisisa kuhle. Njengoba sesibonile, usebenzisa inkabi ukuthi imele amandla akhe. (UHezekheli 1:4-10) Umzekeliso lowo uqondile ngenxa yokuthi lenkabi efuywayo inkulu futhi ilamandla. Abantu basePalestine bezikhathi zeBhayibhili babesazi inyamazana efuywayo le kuyiyo yodwa elamandla amakhulu. Kodwa babesazi langenye inkabi ethile yeganga eyayisesabeka ukwedlula efuywayo futhi leyonkabi kayisekho lamuhla. (UJobe 39:9-12) UMbusi waseRoma uJulius Caesar wathi izinkabi lezi zaziphosa zilingane lezindlovu. Wabhala wathi: “Amandla azo makhulu kakhulu futhi zilesiqubu esikhulu.” Cabanga ukuthi ubungazizwa umncane futhi ungelamandla kangakanani nxa ubungama eceleni kwenyamazana engako!

6. Kungani uJehova kunguye yedwa obizwa ngokuthi ‘nguSomandla’?

 ⁶ Ngendlela efananayo, umuntu mncane futhi kalamandla nxa eqathaniswa loJehova uNkulunkulu olamandla. Kuye, ngitsho lezizwe ezilamandla zibalwa njengothuli olusezilinganisweni. (U-Isaya 40:15) UJehova yena kafanani laloba yisiphi isidalwa, ulamandla angapheliyo yikho kunguye yedwa obizwa ngokuthi ‘nguSomandla.’ * (ISambulo 15:3) UJehova ‘ulamandla amakhulu, lokuqina okulamandla.’ (U-Isaya 40:26) Ungumthombo ongapheliyo wamandla. Kadingi amandla kunoma yini, ngenxa yokuthi “amandla ngakaNkulunkulu.” (IHubo 62:11, NW) Kodwa uJehova uwasebenzisa njani amandla akhe?

7. Uyini umoya ongcwele kaJehova, futhi amabala olimi okwakuvele kubhalwe ngalo iBhayibhili kuqala atshoni?

⁷ Umoya ongcwele othululwa nguJehova kawupheli. Umoya ongcwele ungamandla kaNkulunkulu awasebenzisayo. KuGenesisi 1:2, iBhayibhili lithi “ngamandla [kaNkulunkulu, (NW)] asebenzayo.” Amabala esiHebheru lesiGiriki ahunyutshwe ngokuthi “umoya” kwezinye izindawo angahunyutshwa ngokuthi “umoya ovunguzayo,” kumbe “umoya esiwuphefumulayo.” Ngokwabalobi bezichazamazwi, amabala olimi olwalusetshenziswe ukubhala iBhayibhili kuqala angatsho amandla angabonakaliyo asebenzayo. Njengoba singeke sawubona umoya ovunguzayo, lomoya kaNkulunkulu kasingeke sawubona kodwa imisebenzi yawo siyayibona njalo siyayizwisisa.

8. EBhayibhilini, umoya kaNkulunkulu ubizwa ngokuthini, futhi kungani kuqondile ukuthi kufananiswe njalo?

⁸ Umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu uyenelisa ukwenza loba yini. UJehova uyenelisa ukuwusebenzisa ukuze afeze loba yiphi injongo alayo. Kuyacaca-ke eBhayibhilini ukuthi umoya kaNkulunkulu ubizwa ngendlela yokufananisa ngokuthi ‘ngumunwe’  wakhe, ‘yisandla sakhe esiqinileyo,’ kumbe ‘yingalo yakhe eyelulekileyo.’ (ULukha 11:20; UDutheronomi 5:15; IHubo 8:3) Njengoba nje umuntu engasebenzisa izandla zakhe ukwenza imisebenzi etshiyeneyo edinga amandla angalinganiyo kumbe ubuciko obuthile, loNkulunkulu laye angasebenzisa umoya wakhe ukuze afeze loba yiphi inhloso alayo. Ngokwesibonelo, wasebenzisa amandla akhe ukudala i-athomu encane kakhulu, ukwehlukanisa amanzi eLwandle Olubomvu lokwenza amaKhristu ekhulu lokuqala akhulume ngezindimi zakwamanye amazwe.

9. Amandla kaJehova okubusa makhulu kangakanani?

⁹ UJehova uphinde asebenzise amandla akhe ngoba unguMbusi weNdawo Yonke. Ake uzicabange ulezinceku ezihlakaniphileyo eziyizigidi lezigidi, zizimisele ukwenza intando yakho! UJehova ulamandla anjalo okubusa. Ulezinceku ezingabantu futhi eMibhalweni zandise ukufananiswa lebutho. (IHubo 68:11; 110:3) Kodwa umuntu ubuthakathaka nxa eqathaniswa lezingilosi. Phela ngesikhathi ibutho lama-Asiriya lihlasela abantu bakaNkulunkulu, ingilosi eyodwa nje yabulala amasotsha angu-185 000 ngobusuku obubodwa! (2 AmaKhosi 19:35) Izingilosi zikaNkulunkulu “zilamandla amakhulu.”​—IHubo 103:19, 20, NW.

10. (a) Kungani uSomandla ebizwa ngokuthi nguJehova wamabutho? (b) Ngubani olamandla ukwedlula zonke izidalwa zikaJehova?

¹⁰ Kulezingilosi ezingaki? UDanyeli wabona umbono wezulu lapho abona khona izidalwa zomoya ezedlula i-100 miliyoni zimi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaJehova, kodwa kakulabufakazi bokuthi wabona zonke izingilosi ezadalwayo. (UDanyeli 7:10) Ngakho kungenzakala ukuthi kulezingilosi ezingamakhulu ezigidi. Yikho uNkulunkulu ebizwa ngokuthi nguJehova wamabutho. Ibizo leli lokuhlonipha litshengisa isikhundla sakhe esikhulu njengoMlawuli wezingilosi ezinengi ezilamandla futhi ezihlelwe kuhle. Kulengilosi eyodwa ayibeke ukuthi ikhokhele zonke lezizidalwa zomoya. Leyongilosi yiNdodana yakhe ayithandayo, ‘elizibulo kukho konke okwadalwayo.’ (KwabaseKholose 1:15) Njengengilosi enkulu, uJesu nguye olamandla kulayo yonke indalo kaJehova, uyinduna yazozonke izingilosi ezigoqela amaserafi lamakherubhi.

11, 12. (a) Ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lilamandla ngayiphi indlela? (b) UJesu wabufakazela njani ubukhulu bamandla kaJehova?

 ¹¹ UJehova usebenzisa amandla akhe ngenye futhi indlela. UHebheru 4:12 uthi: “Ilizwi likaNkulunkulu liyaphila njalo liyasebenza.” Wake wawananzelela yini amandla elizwi likaNkulunkulu, kumbe awomlayezo ophefumulelweyo oseBhayibhilini? Ilizwi lakhe lingasiqinisa, liqinise lokholo lwethu, futhi lisincede sintshintshe indlela ebesiphila ngayo. Umphostoli uPhawuli waxwayisa amakholwa ayekhonza lawo ukuthi angazihlanganisi labantu ababeziphatha kubi kwezemacansini. Waphinda wathi: “Lokho yikho abanye benu ababe yikho.” (1 KwabaseKhorinte 6:9-11) Amandla ‘elizwi likaNkulunkulu’ asebenza kubo futhi abanceda ukuthi benze untshintsho.

¹² Amandla kaJehova makhulu kakhulu futhi uwasebenzisa ngendlela yokuthi akulalutho olungamvimbela ukuthi awasebenzise. UJesu wathi: “KuNkulunkulu zonke izinto ziyenzeka.” (UMathewu 19:26) UJehova usebenzisa amandla akhe ukuze afeze ziphi izinjongo?

13, 14. (a) Kungani singathi uJehova kayisiwo mandla nje angaphiliyo? (b) UJehova uwasebenzisa ngaziphi izindlela amandla akhe?

¹³ Umoya kaJehova mkhulu ukwedlula loba yiwaphi amandla emvelo, futhi uJehova kayisiwo mandla nje angaphiliyo loba okungumthombo nje kwamandla. UnguNkulunkulu ophilayo osebenzisa amandla akhe ngendlela athanda ngayo. Kodwa kuyini okumenza awasebenzise?

¹⁴ Njengoba sizabona, uNkulunkulu usebenzisa amandla akhe ukuthi adale, abhubhise, avikele njalo abuyisele izinto kulokho ebeziyikho kuqala. Ngamafitshane, uwasebenzisa ukuze enze loba yini ehambisana lezinhloso zakhe ezipheleleyo. (U-Isaya 46:10) Ngezinye izikhathi, uJehova usebenzisa amandla akhe ukuze aveze izimpawu zobuntu bakhe eziqakathekileyo kanye lezimiso zakhe. Okwedlula konke yikuthi uqondisa amandla akhe ukuze enze intando yakhe, ukuze abuyisele ukubusa kwakhe futhi ukuze angcwelise ibizo lakhe elingcwele esebenzisa uMbuso kaMesiya. Kakulalutho olungenza inhloso leyo ingaphumeleli.

15. UJehova usebenzisa amandla akhe ngayiphi injongo ezincekwini zakhe, futhi isibonelo sika-Elija sakutshengisa njani lokhu?

 ¹⁵ UJehova uphinde asebenzise amandla akhe ukuze asincede njengomuntu munye ngamunye. Nanzelela ukuthi u-2 ImiLando 16:⁠9 uthi: “Ngoba amehlo kaJehova athungatha umhlaba wonke ukuze aqinise labo abanhliziyo zabo zizimisele kuye.” Esinye isibonelo yilokho esike sakhuluma ngakho ngo-Elija ekuqaliseni kwesahluko lesi. Kungani uJehova wamnika umzekeliso onjalo omangalisayo wamandla akhe? INdlovukazi eyayilesihluku uJezebheli yayifungile ukuthi yayizabulala u-Elija. Yikho umprofethi lo wayebaleka ukuze angabulawa. Wayezizwa elesizungu, esesaba futhi edanile, kwakungathi ukusebenza kwakhe gadalala kwakungancedanga ngalutho. UJehova waduduza u-Elija ngokumkhumbuza ngamandla akhe. Umoya, ukuzamazama komhlaba, kanye lomlilo kwatshengisa ukuthi uMuntu omkhulu ukwedlula bonke wayelo-Elija. Kwakungelasizathu sokwesaba uJezebheli ngoba uNkulunkulu usomandla wayelaye.​—1 AmaKhosi 19:1-12. *

16. Kungani ukucabanga ngamandla amakhulu kaJehova kusiduduza?

¹⁶ Lanxa lesi kungasiso sikhathi sakhe sokwenza izimangaliso, uJehova kantshintshanga kusukela ngesikhathi sika-Elija. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 13:8) Lakhathesi ulokhu ekuthanda ukusebenzisa amandla akhe ukuze ancede labo abamthandayo. Kuliqiniso ukuthi uhlala endaweni yomoya, kodwa kakho khatshana lathi. Amandla akhe kawapheli, ngakho lanxa esezulwini kasehluleki ukusondela kuye. Kulokuthi kubenjalo, “uJehova useduze kulabo abacela kuye.” (IHubo 145:18) Ngesikhathi umphrofethi uDanyeli ecela ukuthi uJehova amncede, ingilosi yafika engakaqedi ngitsho lokuthandaza! (UDanyeli 9:20-23) Kakulalutho olungavimbela uJehova ukuthi ancede futhi aqinise labo abathandwa nguye.​—IHubo 118:6.

17. Amandla kaJehova asenza sesabe ngomqondo wuphi, kodwa asenza singabi lakuphi ukwesaba?

¹⁷ Kumele amandla kaNkulunkulu asenze simesabe yini? Kumele siphendule ngakho kokubili, uyebo lohatshi. Siphendula sisithi yebo ngenxa yokuthi amandla akhe asenza sibe lokumesaba kokumhlonipha, inhlonipho esike saxoxa ngayo ngamafitshane esahlukweni esidlulileyo. IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi ukwesaba lokhu “kuyikuqala kokuhlakanipha.” (IHubo 111:10) Kodwa siphendula langokuthi hatshi ngenxa yokuthi kakulasizatho sokuthi amandla kaNkulunkulu enze siphongumesaba kumbe sokuthi singasondeli kuye.

18. (a) Kungani abantu abanengi bengabathembi abantu abalamandla? (b) Sikwazi njani ukuthi uJehova ngeke wakhohliswa ngamandla akhe?

¹⁸ Ngo-1887, umlobi wezembali ongumNgisi uLord Acton wabhala wathi: “Amandla ayakhohlisa njalo amandla amakhulu akhohlisa kakhulu.” Amazwi akhe ajayele ukuphindwa, mhlawumbe ngenxa yokuthi abantu abanengi bawabona eliqiniso elingeke laphikwa. Imbali itshengise kanengi ukuthi abantu abalesono bandise ukusebenzisa kubi amandla abo. (UmTshumayeli 4:1; 8:9) Lokhu kwenza abantu abanengi bangabathembi abantu abalamandla futhi kwenza bazehlukanise labo. UJehova ulamandla apheleleyo, kodwa amandla lawo asemenze wabaphatha kubi yini abantu? Ngitsho lakancane! Njengoba sibonile, uNkulunkulu ungcwele njalo kabaphathi kubi abantu. UJehova kafanani lamadoda loba abesifazane abalesono abakhokhelayo emhlabeni lo owonakeleyo. Kakaze awasebenzise kubi amandla akhe futhi kasoze lanini enze njalo.

19, 20. (a) Ngazozonke izikhathi, uJehova usebenzisa amandla akhe ngokuhambisana laziphi ezinye izimpawu zobuntu bakhe futhi kungani lokho kusikhuthaza? (b) Ungakufanekisa njani ukuzithiba kukaJehova, futhi kungani lokhu kukukhanga?

¹⁹ Khumbula ukuthi uJehova ulezimpawu zobuntu ezinengi hatshi amandla kuphela. Kusamele sifunde ngothando lwakhe, inhlakanipho yakhe kanye lokwahlulela ngokulunga. Kodwa akumelanga sicabange ukuthi uJehova utshengisa izimpawu zobuntu bakhe  ngendlela engantshintshekiyo angani utshengisa uphawu olulodwa ngasikhathi sinye. Ezahlukweni ezilandelayo sizabona ukuthi zikhathi zonke uJehova usebenzisa kuhle amandla akhe ukuze ahambisane lenhlakanipho yakhe, uthando lwakhe kanye lokwahlulela okuhle. Cabanga njalo ngolunye uphawu lukaNkulunkulu olumenza angafanani lamakhosi omhlaba lo​—ukuzithiba.

²⁰ Ake ucabange uhlangana lendoda elomzimba omkhulu futhi eqinileyo okokuthi uzizwa uyesaba. Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ubusucina unanzelela ukuthi indoda le ibaphatha kuhle abanye. Ihlala ikulungele ukusebenzisa amandla ayo ukuthi incede futhi ivikele abantu, ikakhulu ababuthakathaka labangenelisiyo ukuzivikela. Kayiwasebenzisi kubi amandla ayo. Uyayibona inyundelwa ingenzanga lutho, kodwa kayintshintshi indlela enza ngayo, iqhubeka ilomusa futhi ihlonipheka. Uyazibuza ukuthi ngabe nguwe olamandla amakhulu kangako ubungenelisa yini ukuzithiba lokuphatha abantu ngendlela enjalo! Njengoba usiba yazi ngcono leyondoda, ngeke yini wazizwa ufuna ukusondela kuyo? Silezizathu ezinhle kakhulu ezisenza sisondele kuJehova usomandla. Cabanga ngomutsho ogcweleyo okwakhelwe kuwo isihloko salesi sahluko: “UJehova uyaphuza ukuthukuthela njalo ulamandla amakhulu.” (UNahume 1:3) UJehova kaphangisi ukusebenzisa amandla akhe ukuthi alwe labantu ababi. Umnene futhi ulomusa. Ngitsho lalapho bemthukuthelisa, utshengise ukuthi “uyaphuza ukuthukuthela.”​—IHubo 78:37-41.

21. Kungani uJehova engabambi bantu ngamandla ukuthi benze intando yakhe njalo lokhu kusifundisani ngaye?

 ²¹ Ake sibone ukuzithiba kukaJehova ngenye indlela. Nxa kade ulamandla amakhulu, ucabanga ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi ubungalingeka yini ukuthi wenze abantu benze intando yakho? UJehova ulamandla amakhulu kodwa kabambi bantu ngamandla ukuthi bamkhonze. Lanxa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kuyiyo yodwa indlela engenza sithole ukuphila okungapheliyo, uJehova kasibambi ngamandla ukuthi simkhonze. Kulokwenza njalo, usenza sizizwe silesithunzi ngokusinika inkululeko yokuzikhethela. Uyasixwayisa ngempumela yokwenza izinqumo ezimbi kanye lomvuzo wokwenza izinqumo ezinhle. Kodwa usitshiyele umlandu wokuthi sizenzele izinqumo. (UDutheronomi 30:19, 20) UJehova kakuthandi ukuthi simkhonze ngoba sibanjwe ngamandla loba ngenxa yokuthi sesaba amandla akhe amakhulu. Udinga abazamkhonza ngokuzithandela ngoba bemthanda.​—2 KwabaseKhorinte 9:7.

22, 23. (a) Kuyini okusitshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyakuthanda ukunika abanye amandla? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esahlukweni esilandelayo?

²² Kasiboneni isizathu sokucina esisenza sihlale sisesaba uNkulunkulu uSomandla. Abantu abalamandla balomkhuba wokwesaba ukwabelana amandla abo labanye. Kodwa uJehova uyakuthanda ukupha izikhonzi zakhe ezithembekileyo amandla. Wenza abanye babezinkokheli. Ngokwesibonelo, ubeke iNdodana yakhe ukuthi ikhokhele. (UMathewu 28:18) Kulenye indlela uJehova apha ngayo izinceku zakhe amandla. IBhayibhili liyachasisa, “Bungobakho, O Jehova, ubukhulu lamandla lodumo lobukhosi; ngoba konke okusezulwini lokusemhlabeni kungokwakho. . .. Esandleni sakho kukhona ukuqina lamandla. Kukuwe ukuphakamisa lokupha amandla kubo bonke.”​—1 ImiLando 29:11, 12.

²³ Iqiniso yikuthi uJehova uyakuthokozela ukukunika amandla. Ubapha ‘amandla amakhulukazi’ labo abafuna ukumkhonza. (2 KwabaseKhorinte 4:7) Kawuzizwa ufuna ukusondela kuNkulunkulu lo olamandla amakhulu yini, osebenzisa amandla akhe ngomusa langendlela elobuntu? Esahlukweni esilandelayo, sizagxila endleleni uJehova asebenzisa ngayo amandla akhe ekudaleni izinto.