1, 2. Ilanga liwabonakalisa kanjani amandla kaJehova okudala?

 WAKE wama yini eduze komlilo ebusuku kubanda? Mhlawumbe welula izandla zakho wazothisa emalangabini ukuze ujabulele ukufudumala komlilo. Uma usondela kakhulu kuwo, wawungeke ukumele ukushisa kwawo. Uma uqhela kakhulu kuwo, wawungagodola.

² Kukhona “umlilo” ofudumeza isikhumba sethu emini. Lo “mlilo” ovuthayo uqhele ngamakhilomitha ayizigidi ezingu-150! a Yeka amandla okumele ukuba ilanga linawo ukuze wena ukwazi ukuzwa ukushisa kwalo libe liqhele kangaka! Noma kunjalo, umhlaba uqhele ngebanga elifanele kuleyo mbawula eshisa kangako. Ukube umhlaba ubuzungeza eduze kakhulu kwelanga, amanzi asemhlabeni abeyohwamuka; ukube ubuzungeza kude kakhulu nelanga, amanzi abeyoba yiqhwa. Kokubili bekuyokwenza iplanethi yethu ingabi nezinto eziphilayo. Ngaphandle kokuthi ukukhanya kwelanga kuyadingeka emhlabeni, kuhlanzekile futhi kuwusizo, ingasaphathwa eyokuthi kuyajabulisa.​—UmShumayeli 11:7.

3. Yiliphi iqiniso elibalulekile elifakazelwa yilanga?

³ Nokho, abantu abaningi balithatha kalula ilanga, yize ukuphila kwabo kuncike kulo. Ngenxa yalokho baphuthelwa yilokho ilanga elingasifundisa kona. IBhayibheli lithi ngoJehova: “Wena wenza ukukhanya nelanga.” (IHubo 74:16) Ngempela, ilanga lidumisa uJehova, “uMenzi wezulu nomhlaba.” (IHubo 19:1; 146:6) Lingenye yezindikimba zasezulwini ezingenakubalwa ezisifundisa ngamandla amakhulu kaJehova okudala. Ake sizihlolisise ezinye zazo, bese sibheka umhlaba nezinto eziphilayo ezikuwo.

4, 5. Linamandla futhi likhulu kangakanani ilanga, nokho lingakanani uma liqhathaniswa nezinye izinkanyezi?

⁴ Cishe njengoba wazi, ilanga liyinkanyezi. Libonakala lilikhulu kunezinkanyezi esizibona ebusuku ngoba liseduze impela uma liqhathaniswa nazo. Linamandla kangakanani? Ebuthunjini balo, ilanga cishe lingu-15 000 000°C. Ukube ubungaqhephula ucezwana lwelanga elingangekhanda likakhanjana ulibeke lapha emhlabeni, ubungeke usondele kulo ngamakhilomitha angu-140 kodwa kungenzeki lutho kuwe! Umzuzwana ngamunye ilanga likhipha amandla alingana nokuqhuma kwamabhomu enyukliya ayizigidi ezingamakhulu amaningi.

⁵ Ilanga likhulu kangangokuthi amaplanethi angu-1 300 000 alingana nomhlaba angangena khaxa kulo. Ingabe ilanga liyinkanyezi enkulu ngokungavamile? Cha, izazi zezinkanyezi zilibiza ngokuthi liyinkanyezi ephuzi enokukhanya, ubukhulu, nesisindo esivamile nje. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala ukuthi “inkanyezi iyahluka kwenye inkanyezi ngenkazimulo.” (1 Korinte 15:41) Wayengazi ukuthi lawo mazwi aphefumulelwe  ayiqiniso kanjani. Kunenkanyezi enkulu kangangokuba ukube ibingabekwa lapho kunelanga khona, umhlaba wethu ubungangena phakathi kuyo. Enye inkanyezi enkulu ebekwe lapho kunelanga khona ingaze iyofika eplanethini i-Saturn​—nakuba leyo planethi iqhele emhlabeni kangangokuthi kwathatha iminyaka emine ukuba isiphuphutheki sifike kuyo, sibe sihamba ngesivinini esisiphinda izikhathi ezingu-40 esenhlamvu yesibhamu eqhasha esibhamwini esinamandla!

6. IBhayibheli libonisa kanjani ukuthi izinkanyezi ziningi ngaphezu kwalezo ezibonwa yiso lenyama?

⁶ Okumangalisa nakakhulu kunobukhulu bezinkanyezi yinani lazo. Eqinisweni, iBhayibheli lisikisela ukuthi izinkanyezi cishe azinakubalwa, kunzima ukuzibala njengoba nje kunzima ukubala ‘isihlabathi solwandle.’ (Jeremiya 33:22) Le nkulumo isho ukuthi kunezinkanyezi eziningi ngaphezu kwalezo  ezibonwa yiso lenyama. Phela, uma umlobi weBhayibheli onjengoJeremiya ayengabuka isibhakabhaka ebusuku, azame ukubala izinkanyezi azibonayo, wayengabala ezingu-3 000 noma ngaphezudlwana, ngoba yilezo ezingabonwa yiso lenyama lingasizwa yilutho ebusuku obucwathile. Lelo nani lingafaniswa nenani lezinhlayiya zesihlabathi esisesandleni. Kodwa empeleni inani lezinkanyezi likwenza ubambe ongezansi, njengesihlabathi solwandle. b Ubani ongabala inani elingako?

7. Ungalichaza kanjani inani lezinkanyezi ezisemthaleni wethu noma inani lemithala elikhona endaweni yonke?

⁷ U-Isaya 40:26 uyaphendula: “Phakamiselani amehlo enu ezulwini nibone. Ngubani odale lezi zinto? YiLowo okhipha ibutho lazo ngesibalo, zonke uzibiza ngamagama.” IHubo 147:4 lithi: “Ubala izinkanyezi.” Zingaki “izinkanyezi”? Awulula lo mbuzo. Izazi zezinkanyezi zilinganisela ukuthi kunezinkanyezi ezingaphezu kwezigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu emthaleni wethu i-Milky Way. c Abanye bathi ziningi kakhulu kunalokho. Kodwa umthala wethu uphakathi kweminingi, futhi eminingi igcwele izinkanyezi eziningi ngisho nakakhulu. Kunemithala emingaki? Ezinye izazi zezinkanyezi ziye zalinganisela ukuthi ingaba yizinkulungwane zezigidi, ngisho nezigidigidi. Okwamanje, kubukeka sengathi umuntu uhlulwa ngisho nawukusho ukuthi mingaki imithala, ingasaphathwa eyengqikithi yazo zonke izigidi eziyizinkulungwane zezinkanyezi ezikuyo. Kodwa uJehova uyazi ukuthi zingaki. Ngaphezu kwalokho, inkanyezi ngayinye uyibiza ngegama layo!

8. (a) Ungabuchaza kanjani ubukhulu bomthala i-Milky Way? (b) UJehova ukuhlela kanjani ukunyakaza kwezindikimba zasezulwini?

 ⁸ Simangala ngisho nakakhulu lapho sicabanga ngobukhulu bemithala. Kulinganiselwa ukuthi ububanzi bomthala i-Milky Way bungu-100 000 light-years. Cabanga ngomsebe wokukhanya uhamba ngesivinini esikhulu samakhilomitha angu-300 000 ngomzuzwana. Kungawuthatha iminyaka engu-100 000 lowo msebe ukuba unqamule umthala wethu! Kanti eminye imithala mikhulu nakakhulu kunowethu. IBhayibheli lithi uJehova “welula amazulu” njengokungathi ayindwangu nje. (IHubo 104:2) Uhlela nanokunyakaza kwale ndalo. Kusukela ezinhlayiyeni ezincanyana zothuli oluphakathi kwezinkanyezi kuye emthaleni onamandla kunayo yonke, konke kuhamba ngokwemithetho eqanjwe uNkulunkulu futhi wayenza yasebenza. (Jobe 38:31-33) Ngenxa yalokho, ososayensi baye bafanisa ukunyakaza okunembile kwezindikimba zasezulwini nobuciko bokusina indlamu! Yibe usucabanga ngaLowo odale lezi zinto. Awakumangazi yini amandla amakhulu kangaka kaNkulunkulu okudala?

9, 10. Isimiso sethu sikanozungezilanga, i-Jupiter, umhlaba, nenyanga kuwabonisa kanjani amandla kaJehova?

⁹ Amandla kaJehova okudala ayabonakala emhlabeni oyikhaya lethu. Ubeke umhlaba ngokucophelela kule ndawo enkulu kangaka. Abanye ososayensi bakholelwa ukuthi imithala eminingi ingase ingayiphathi kahle iplanethi enezinto eziphilayo njengeyethu. Kusobala ukuthi ingxenye enkulu yomthala wethu i-Milky Way yayingaklanyelwe ukuba ihlale izinto eziphilayo. Phakathi nendawo kulo mthala kugcwele izinkanyezi. Kushisa bhé kule ndawo futhi kuvamile nokuba izinkanyezi zicishe zishayisane. Kanti emaphethelweni alo mthala azikho izinto eziningi ezidingekayo ekuphileni. Isimiso sethu sikanozungezilanga sibekwe kahle endaweni efanele.

¹⁰ Umhlaba uthola usizo kumvikeli okude kodwa omkhulu​—iplanethi i-Jupiter. Njengoba ubukhulu bayo buphindwe  izikhathi ezingaphezu kwenkulungwane kunoboMhlaba, i-Jupiter inamandla amakhulu kakhulu okudonsa izinto. Uba yini umphumela? Idonsa noma iphephule izinto ezintaza emkhathini. Ososayensi bathi ukube bekungengenxa ye-Jupiter, ngabe izinto ezisindayo nezintazayo eziwela emhlabeni zinamandla ngokuphindwe izikhathi ezingu-10 000 kunalokho eziyikho manje. Eduze kwethu, umhlaba wethu ubusiswe nge-satellite engavamile​—inyanga. Njengoba ingagcini nje ngokuba yinhle nokuba “isibani sasebusuku,” inyanga yenza umhlaba uhlale utsheke ngendlela eyodwa engaguquki. Lokho kutsheka kwenza umhlaba ube nezinkathi zonyaka ezingaguquguquki​—okuwusizo olukhulu ezintweni eziphilayo lapha.

11. Umoya ozungeze umhlaba usebenza kanjani njengesivikelo?

¹¹ Amandla kaJehova okudala abonakala kuzo zonke izinto eziklanyiwe emhlabeni. Cabanga ngomoya ozungeze umhlaba, osebenza njengesivikelo. Ilanga likhipha imisebe ewusizo nebulalayo. Lapho imisebe ebulalayo ihlaba emoyeni ongaphezu komhlaba, ishintsha i-oxygen evamile ibe i-ozone. Ungqimba lwe-ozone olwakhekayo lube selumunca eminingi yale misebe. Kufana nokuthi iplanethi yethu iklanywe yaba nesambulela sayo esiyivikelayo!

12. Umjikelezo wamanzi uwabonisa kanjani amandla kaJehova okudala?

¹² Leso isici esisodwa nje somoya wethu ozungeze umhlaba, umoya owakhiwa inkimbinkimbi yamagesi akufanelekelayo ukusekela izidalwa eziphila emhlabeni noma eduze kwawo. Umjikelezo wamanzi ungesinye sezimanga ezenzeka kulo moya ozungeze umhlaba. Unyaka ngamunye ilanga lihwamula amanzi angama-cubic kilometer angu-400 000 ezilwandle zomhlaba. La manzi akha amafu, wona apheshulwa umoya aye le nale. La manzi asuke esecwengekile futhi ahlanzwa, ehla eyimvula nesichotho, abuyisele amanzi emhlabeni. Kunjengoba umShumayeli 1:7 esho: “Yonke imifudlana igelezela olwandle, kodwa ulwandle alugcwele. Endaweni imifudlana egeleza isuka kuyo, iphindela khona iphinde igeleze.” UJehova kuphela ongadala umjikelezo onjalo.

13. Yibuphi ubufakazi bamandla oMdali esibubona ezitshalweni ezisemhlabeni nasemhlabathini?

 ¹³ Nomaphi lapho sibona khona izinto eziphilayo, sibona ubufakazi bamandla oMdali. Amandla kaJehova okudala siwabona kusukela emithini emikhulukazi i-redwood, emide ngaphezu kwesakhiwo esinezitezi ezingu-30, kuya ezitshalweni ezincanyana ezisolwandle ezikhiqiza umoya esiwuphefumulayo. Umhlabathi ngokwawo ugcwele izinto eziphilayo​—iminyundu, isikhutha, nezilwanyana ezincanyana, zonke zilekelelana ngezindlela eziyinkimbinkimbi ezisiza izitshalo ukuba zikhule. Kuyafaneleka ukuba iBhayibheli lithi umhlaba noma umhlabathi unamandla.​—Genesise 4:12, umbhalo waphansi.

14. Yimaphi amandla aqube ngisho nakuyi-athomu encanyana?

¹⁴ Akungatshazwa ukuthi uJehova ‘wenza umhlaba ngamandla akhe.’ (Jeremiya 10:12) Amandla kaNkulunkulu abonakala endalweni yakhe encane kunazo zonke. Ngokwesibonelo, ama-athomu ayisigidi abekwe ancikana ngeke abe makhulu ngangonwele lomuntu. Futhi ngisho noma i-athomu ibinganwetshwa ibe yinde ilingane nesakhiwo esinezitezi ezingu-14, i-nucleus yayo ibingalingana nenhlayiya kasawoti esesitezi sika-7. Noma kunjalo, leyo nucleus encanyana kanjalo iveza amandla amangalisayo adedeleka lapho kuqhuma ibhomu lenyukliya!

15. Ngokuxoxa ngezilwane zasendle ezihlukahlukene, uJehova wayemfundisa siphi isifundo uJobe?

¹⁵ Ubuningi bezilwane emhlabeni bungobunye ubufakazi obusobala bamandla kaJehova okudala. IHubo 148 libala eziningi izinto ezidumisa uJehova, ivesi 10 libala ‘nezilwane zasendle nazo zonke izilwane ezifuywayo.’ Ukuze aveze isizathu sokuba umuntu esabe futhi ahloniphe uMdali, uJehova wake wakhuluma noJobe ngezilwane ezinjengebhubesi, idube, inkunzi yasendle, uBehemoti (noma imvubu), noLeviyathani (cishe ingwenya). Laliyini iphuzu? Uma umuntu emangazwa yilezi zidalwa ezinamandla, ezishayisa uvalo nezingafundiseki, kumele azizwe kanjani ngoMdali wazo?​—Jobe, izahluko 38-41.

16. Yini ekuhlaba umxhwele ngezinye zezinyoni uJehova azidalile?

 ¹⁶ IHubo 148:10 libala “nezinyoni ezinamaphiko.” Cabanga nje ukuthi ziyizinhlobo eziningi kanjani! UJehova watshela uJobe ngenqe, ‘elihleka ihhashi nomgibeli walo.’ Yebo, nakuba le nyoni engamamitha angu-2,5 ubude ingakwazi nhlobo ukundiza, ikwazi ukugijima amakhilomitha angu-65 ngehora, igxathu elilodwa lithatha amamitha angu-4,5! (Jobe 39:13, 18) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, inyoni okuthiwa i-albatross ichitha isikhathi esiningi sokuphila kwayo indiza phezu kwezilwandle. Njengoba idalwe ikwazi ukuntweza, amaphiko ale nyoni aba amamitha amathathu uma iwavulile. Ingandiza amahora amaningi kodwa ingawashayi amaphiko. Kanti inyoni ebizwa ngokuthi i-hummingbird yona ingamasentimitha amahlanu ubude, iyinyoni encane kunazo zonke emhlabeni. Ingashaya amaphiko ayo izikhathi ezingu-80 ngomzuzwana! Ama-hummingbird ayacwebezela njematshe ayigugu anamaphiko, akwazi ukuntweza njengendiza enophephela emhlane, kanti akwazi nokundiza ahlehle.

17. Mkhulu kangakanani umkhomo okuthiwa i-blue whale, futhi yisiphi isiphetho okufanele sifinyelele kuso ngemva kokucabanga ngendalo kaJehova eyizilwane?

¹⁷ IHubo 148:7 lithi ngisho ‘nezilwane zasolwandle’ zidumisa uJehova. Cabanga ngesilwane okuthiwa sikhulu kunazo zonke ezake zaba khona kule planethi, umkhomo i-blue whale. Ubude balesi silwane esibhukuda ‘emanzini ajulile’ bungaba amamitha angu-30 noma ngaphezulu. Isisindo saso singalingana nesezindlovu ezindala ezingu-30. Ulimi lwaso lulodwa lulingana nendlovu eyodwa. Inhliziyo yaso ingangemoto encane. Lesi sitho esikhulukazi sishaya izikhathi ezingu-9 kuphela ngomzuzu​—ngokungafani nenhliziyo ye-hummingbird, engase ishaye izikhathi ezingaba ngu-1 200 ngomzuzu. Okungenani umthambo wegazi owodwa walo mkhomo mkhulu kangangokuba ingane ingakhasa kuwo. Ngempela, izinhliziyo zethu zisishukumisela ukuba senanele isikhuthazo esiphetha incwadi yamaHubo: “Konke okuphefumulayo​—makudumise uJah.”​—IHubo 150:6.

18, 19. Zihlukahlukene kangakanani izinto eziphilayo azenzile uJehova emhlabeni, futhi indalo isifundisani ngobukhosi bakhe?

¹⁸ Sifundani ngokusebenzisa kukaJehova amandla akhe okudala? Kuyasimangaza ukuhlukahluka kwendalo. Omunye umhubi wathi: “O Jehova, yeka ukuthi miningi kangakanani imisebenzi yakho! . . . Umhlaba ugcwele izinto ozidalile.” (IHubo 104:24) Kuyiqiniso ngempela! Izazi zezinto eziphilayo zithi kunezinhlobo zezinto eziphilayo ezingaphezu kwesigidi emhlabeni; kodwa iyahlukahluka imibono ngokuthi kungenzeka kunezinye izigidi ezingakanani ezengeziwe. Umuntu ongumdwebi angase ahluleke ukusungula izinto angazidweba ngezinye izikhathi. Ngokuphambene, kusobala ukuthi alipheli ikhono likaJehova lokusungula izinto​—amandla akhe okuqamba nokudala izinto ezintsha nezihlukahlukene.

¹⁹ Ukusebenzisa kukaJehova amandla akhe okudala kusifundisa ngobukhosi bakhe. Igama elithi “Mdali” lilodwa nje lehlukanisa uJehova kukho konke okunye ezulwini nasemhlabeni, konke “okuyindalo.” Ngisho neNdodana kaJehova ezelwe yodwa, eyaba “isisebenzi esiyingcweti” ngesikhathi kudalwa, ayibizwa nhlobo ngokuthi inguMdali noma umsizi woMdali eBhayibhelini. (IzAga 8:30; Mathewu 19:4) Kunalokho, ‘iyizibulo layo yonke indalo.’ (Kolose 1:15) Isikhundla sikaJehova njengoMdali simnika igunya lokusebenzisa amandla  aphelele okubusa ezulwini nasemhlabeni.​—Roma 1:20; IsAmbulo 4:11.

20. UJehova uphumule ngamuphi umqondo selokhu aqeda ukudala indalo yakhe yasemhlabeni?

²⁰ Ingabe uJehova useyekile ukusebenzisa amandla akhe okudala? IBhayibheli lithi ngesikhathi uJehova eqeda umsebenzi wakhe wokudala ngosuku lwesithupha lokudala, “waqala ukuphumula ngosuku lwesikhombisa kuwo wonke umsebenzi wakhe ayewenzile.” (Genesise 2:2) Umphostoli uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi lolu ‘suku’ lwesikhombisa luyiminyaka eyizinkulungwane eziningi, ngoba lwalusaqhubeka osukwini lwakhe. (Hebheru 4:3-6) Kodwa igama elithi “ukuphumula” lisho ukuthi uJehova useyekile yini ukusebenza? Cha, uJehova akayeki ukusebenza. (IHubo 92:4; Johane 5:17) Khona-ke, kumele ukuba lokhu kuphumula kwakhe kubhekisela ekumeni komsebenzi wakhe wokudala izinto ezisemhlabeni. Kodwa umsebenzi wakhe wokufeza izinjongo zakhe usalokhu uqhubeka ungaphazanyiswa. Lowo msebenzi uhlanganisa nokuphefumulela imiBhalo Engcwele. Umsebenzi wakhe uye wahilela ngisho nokuveza “indalo entsha,” okuzoxoxwa ngayo eSahlukweni 19.​—2 Korinte 5:17.

21. Amandla kaJehova okudala ayobathinta kanjani abantu abathembekile kulo lonke iphakade?

²¹ Lapho ekugcineni usuku lukaJehova lokuphumula luphela, uyokwazi ukusho athi yonke imisebenzi yakhe emhlabeni ‘mihle kakhulu,’ njengoba nje asho ekupheleni kwezinsuku eziyisithupha zokudala. (Genesise 1:31) Kuyobonakala ukuthi ngemva kwalokho uyothanda ukuwasebenzisa kanjani amandla akhe okudala angenamkhawulo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uwasebenzisa kanjani, singaqiniseka ukuthi amandla kaJehova okudala ayolokhu esihlaba umxhwele. Kulo lonke iphakade, siyofunda okwengeziwe ngoJehova endalweni yakhe. (UmShumayeli 3:11) Lapho sifunda okwengeziwe ngaye, ukumesaba kwethu okunenhlonipho kuyojula nakakhulu​—futhi siyosondela nakakhulu kuMdali wethu Omkhulu.