1. Sinokuziva njani xa kusenziwa izinto ezingebobulungisa?

 UMHLOLOKAZI owalupheleyo uyaqhathwa aze aphulukane nemali yakhe abezigcinele yona ubomi bakhe bonke. Usana olungenakuzinceda lulahlwa ngumzali ongakhathaliyo. Indoda ethile ibanjelwa ulwaphulo-mthetho engalwenzanga. Uvakalelwa njani zezi ziganeko? Kusenokwenzeka ukuba, ngasinye sazo siyakukhathaza, yaye kuyaqondakala oko. Thina bantu sikhawuleza siyibone into elungileyo nephosakeleyo. Xa kusenziwa okungekho sikweni, siyacaphuka. Sifuna ukuba lowo ulixhoba abuyiselwe izinto zakhe, yena umenzi-bubi ohlwaywe. Xa kungenzeki oku, sisenokuzibuza: ‘Ngaba uThixo uyakubona oku kwenzekayo? Kutheni engenzi nto ngako?’

2. Wavakalelwa njani uHabhakuki ngokungabikho kobulungisa, yaye kutheni uYehova engazange amgxeke ngaloo nto?

² Kwakudala, abakhonzi abathembekileyo bakaYehova baye babuza imibuzo efanayo. Ngokomzekelo, umprofeti uHabhakuki wathandaza wathi kuThixo: “Kutheni undenza ndibone okungekho sikweni okulolu hlobo? Kutheni uvumela ugonyamelo, ubungendawo, ulwaphulo-mthetho nenkohlakalo ukuba zande kuyo yonk’ indawo?” (Habhakuki 1:3, Contemporary English Version) UYehova akazange amgxeke uHabhakuki ngokuthetha kwakhe ngokuphandle, kuba Nguye owafaka ebantwini ingcamango yokusesikweni. Ewe, uYehova usisikelele ngokusinika umlinganiselo omncinane wengcamango yakhe ebalaseleyo yokusesikweni.

3. Kutheni kunokuthiwa uYehova ukuqonda ngaphezu kwethu ukungabikho kobulungisa?

³ UYehova ubona yonk’ into engebobulungisa abantu abayenzayo. Ngokuphathelele imihla kaNowa, iBhayibhile isixelela ukuba: “UYehova wabona ukuba abantu baqatsele ekwenzeni izinto ezimbi emhlabeni, yaye zonke izinto abazicingayo zisoloko  zimbi.” (Genesis 6:5) Khawucinge ukuba ithetha ukuthini loo nto. Thina ukungabikho kobulungisa sikwazi kuba siye seva ngako okanye sakubona kusenzeka apha kuthi. Kodwa yena uYehova wazi ukungabikho kobulungisa okwenziwa emhlabeni wonke. Uyakubona konke! Ngaphezu koko, uyazazi iingcinga zentliziyo—iingcinga ezimbi ezenza abantu benze izinto ezingebobulungisa.—Yeremiya 17:10.

4, 5. (a) IBhayibhile ibonisa njani ukuba uYehova ubakhathalele abo baye baphathwa ngokungenabulungisa? (b) Yena ngokwakhe uYehova uye waphathwa ngokungenabulungisa njani?

⁴ Kodwa uYehova akaphelelanga ekuziboneni nje kuphela izinto ezingebobulungisa ezenziwayo. Ubakhathalele abo baye baphathwa ngendlela engenabulungisa. Xa abantu bakhe baphathwa ngenkohlakalo ziintlanga ezinobutshaba, uYehova wabandezeleka ‘ngokugcuma kwabo xa becinezelwa yaye bexhatshazwa.’ (ABagwebi 2:18) Mhlawumbi uye waphawula ukuba okukhona abanye abantu bebona kungekho bulungisa, kokukhona beyiqhela loo nto baze bayeke ukubasizela abo baphatheka kabuhlungu. Akunjalo ngoYehova! Ukubonile konke ukungabikho kobulungisa kangangeminyaka eyi-6 000, kodwa akayekanga ukukucaphukela. Kunoko, iBhayibhile isiqinisekisa ukuba izinto ‘ezinjengolwimi oluxokayo, izandla ezichitha igazi elimsulwa, nengqina lobuxoki elisoloko lixoka,’ uyazenyanya.—IMizekeliso 6:16-19.

⁵ Cinga nangendlela uYehova awazigxeka kabukhali ngayo iinkokeli zakwaSirayeli ezazisenza izinto ezingebobulungisa. Waphefumlela umprofeti wakhe ukuba azibuze athi: “Animelanga nikwazi na okububulungisa?” Emva kokukuchaza ngokucacileyo ukulisebenzisa kwawo kakubi igunya, uYehova waxela kwangaphambili oko kwakuza kwenzeka kula madoda onakeleyo, esithi: “Baza kukhwaza uYehova becela uncedo, kodwa akazukubaphendula. Uza kubufihla ubuso bakhe kubo ngelo xesha, ngenxa yobubi ababenzileyo.” (Mika 3:1-4) UYehova ukucaphukela nyhani ukungabikho kobulungisa! Kaloku, naye ukhe akaphathwa ngobulungisa! Kangangamawaka eminyaka, uSathana ebemgxeka ngendlela engenabulungisa. (IMizekeliso 27:11) Ngaphezu koko, uYehova wakhe waphatheka kabuhlungu xa  kwenzeka eyona nto yothusayo engebobulungisa xa uNyana wakhe, ‘ongazange one,’ wabulawa njengesaphuli-mthetho. (1 Petros 2:22; Isaya 53:9) Sinokuqiniseka ukuba uYehova uyayibona indlela abatsala nzima ngayo abantu xa bengaphathwa ngobulungisa nokuba ubakhathalele kakhulu.

6. Sisenokuziva njani xa sidibana nempatho engebobulungisa, yaye ngoba?

⁶ Sekunjalo, xa sibona kungekho bulungisa—okanye xa thina singaphathwa ngobulungisa—ngokwemvelo sicaphuka gqitha. Senziwe ngokomfanekiso kaThixo, yaye ukungabikho kobulungisa akuhambisani tu neempawu anazo uYehova. (Genesis 1:27) Ngoko, kutheni uThixo evuma kungabikho bulungisa?

7. Chaza indlela elahlaselwa ngayo igama likaYehova nendlela yakhe yokulawula.

⁷ Impendulo yalo mbuzo sinokuyifumana ngokufunda ngombuzo obalulekileyo owavela kumyezo wase-Eden. Njengoko sibonile, uMdali unelungelo lokulawula umhlaba nabo bonke abo bahlala kuwo. (INdumiso 24:1; ISityhilelo 4:11) Kodwa ke, kungekudala emva kokudalwa kwabantu, kukho umntu owaxokayo ngoYehova waza wathi akalawuli kakuhle. Kwenzeka njani oku? UYehova wayalela umntu wokuqala, uAdam, ukuba angatyi kumthi othile owawusemyezweni owawulikhaya lakhe eliyiParadesi. Kwakuza kwenzeka ntoni xa engathobeli? UThixo wathi kuye: “Ngokuqinisekileyo uza kufa.” (Genesis 2:17) Lo myalelo kaThixo wawungeyonto enzima kuAdam okanye kumfazi wakhe, uEva. Kodwa ke, uSathana wenza uEva wacinga ukuba uThixo wayengqongqo ngokungafanelekanga. Yintoni eyayiza kwenzeka ukuba wayesitya kuloo mthi? USathana wamxelela ngokuphandle uEva ukuba: “Ngokuqinisekileyo anizukufa. UThixo uyazi ukuba mhla nithe natya kuzo, aza kuvuleka amehlo enu nibe njengoThixo, nazi okulungileyo nokubi.”—Genesis 3:1-5.

8. (a) Wayezama ukuthini uSathana kuEva? (b) Watyhola ngelithini uSathana malunga nendlela alawula ngayo uThixo?

 ⁸ Kula mazwi uSathana wayezama ukuthi uYehova wayengamvimbanga nje kuphela inkcazelo ebalulekileyo uEva kodwa wayemxelele nobuxoki. UMhendi wenza ukuba uEva abe namathandabuzo ngoMntu anguye uYehova. Ngaloo ndlela, uSathana walingcolisa kakhulu igama likaThixo. Wayehlasela nolawulo olukhulu lukaYehova, okanye indlela alawula ngayo. USathana walumka akathandabuza inyani yokuba uThixo unguMlawuli Omkhulu. Kodwa watyhola ngelithi uYehova akanalo ilungelo lokulawula, akakufanelekeli ukulawula, nokuba akalawuli ngendlela elungileyo nangendlela ebancedayo abo abalawulayo.

9. (a) Waba yintoni umphumo wokungathobeli kuka-Adam noEva, yaye oku kwaphakamisa yiphi imibuzo ebalulekileyo? (b) Kutheni uYehova engazange asuke nje abatshabalalise abo bavukeli?

⁹ Ngenxa yoko, bobabini uAdam noEva abazange bamthobele uYehova ngokuthi batye kumthi ababengavumelekanga ukutya kuwo. Ukungathobeli kwabo kwabazisela isohlwayo sokufa, kanye njengokuba uThixo wayebayalele. Ubuxoki bukaSathana baphakamisa imibuzo ebalulekileyo. Ngaba ngokwenene uYehova unelungelo lokulawula abantu, okanye ngaba umntu ufanele azilawule? Ngaba uYehova ulawula ngeyona ndlela ifanelekileyo? UYehova wayenokusebenzisa amandla akhe njengosomandla abatshabalalise ngoko nangoko abo bavukeli. Kodwa imibuzo eyaphakanyiswayo, yayingekho malunga namandla kaThixo, kodwa yayimalunga negama lakhe, eliquka indlela alawula ngayo. Ngoko ukutshabalalisa uAdam, uEva noSathana kwakungayi kungqina ukulunga kolawulo lukaThixo. Kunoko, kwakuya kulwenza luthandabuzeke nangakumbi ulawulo lwakhe. Ekuphela kwendlela yokubona enoba abantu babenako na ukuzilawula, ngaphandle kukaThixo, yayikukubanika ixesha elingakumbi.

10. Yintoni eye yacaca ekuhambeni kwexesha malunga nolawulo lomntu?

¹⁰ Yintoni eyatyhilwa kukuhamba kwexesha? Kangangamawakawaka eminyaka, abantu baye bazama iindidi ezininzi  zoorhulumente, kuquka ulawulo lobuzwilakhe, olwedemokhrasi, olobusoshiyali nolobukomanisi. Xa bebonke nje aba rhulumente babotshwa ngabande linye ngala mazwi angqalileyo eBhayibhile athi, ‘xa umntu elawulwa ngomnye, uyenzakala.’ (INtshumayeli 8:9) Ngokufanelekileyo, umprofeti uYeremiya wathi: “Ndazi kakuhle, owu Yehova, ukuba umntu akakwazi ukuyilawula indlela yakhe. Umntu ohambayo akanalo kwaigunya lokwalathisa inyathelo lakhe.”—Yeremiya 10:23.

11. Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova avumele abantu basokole?

¹¹ UYehova wayesazi kwasekuqaleni ukuba xa abantu benokuzilawula babeza kutsala nzima kakhulu. Ngaba yayikukungabi nabulungisa ke ukuvumela le meko ukuba iqhubeke? Akunjalo konke konke! Singakuzekelisa ngolu hlobo oku: Masithi unomntwana ofanele atyandwe ukuze kusindiswe ubomi bakhe. Uyaqonda ukuba olu tyando luza kumenza ave ubuhlungu umntwana wakho, yaye oku kukwenza uzive ubuhlungu gqitha. Kwangaxeshanye, uyazi ukuba luza kumenza aphile umntwana wakho. Ngokufanayo, uThixo wayesazi—wada waxela kwangaphambili—ukuba ukuvumela kwakhe umntu azilawule kwakuza kubangela intlungu nokusokola okukhulu. (Genesis 3:16-19) Kodwa wayesazi nokuba ukuvumela kwakhe ukuba bonke abantu bone iziqhamo ezibi eziveliswa yimvukelo kwakuya kuphumela kwisiqabu esihlala sihleli nesibalulekileyo. Ngale ndlela le umbuzo omalunga nolawulo lukaThixo wawunokuphendulwa kube kanye, kungaphinde kubekho mathandabuzo.

12. Njengoko kuzekelisiwe kwimeko kaYobhi, uSathana ubatyhola ngelithini abantu?

¹² Xa uSathana wathandabuza ilungelo likaThixo lokulawula nendlela alawula ngayo, zange axoke kuphela ngohlobo loMntu nomlawuli alulo uYehova. Waxoka nangabantu abakhonza uThixo nangezizathu zokuba bemkhonza. Ngokomzekelo, khawuphawule oko wakuthethayo uSathana kuYehova  ngokuphathelele indoda elilungisa uYobhi: “Andithi wena umkhusele yena nendlu yakhe nayo yonke into anayo? Kaloku uwusikelele umsebenzi wezandla zakhe, nemfuyo yakhe igcwele ilizwe lonke. Khawolule nje isandla sakho, uthathe yonke into anayo, ubone ukuba akazukujika akuthuke na.”—Yobhi 1:10, 11.

13. Yintoni awayezama ukuyithetha uSathana xa wayetyhola uYobhi, yaye loo nto ibabandakanya njani bonke abantu?

¹³ USathana watyhola ngelithi uYehova wayesebenzisa amandla Akhe akhuselayo ukuze enze uYobhi amthande aze amkhonze. Ngamany’ amazwi, wayesithi uYobhi umkhonza uThixo kuba nje efumana izinto ezintle kuye. USathana wema ngelithi ukuba uYobhi wayenokungasikelelwa nguThixo, wayenokumjikela uMdali wakhe. USathana wayesazi ukuba uYobhi wayekhethekile ekubeni “yindoda elungileyo nethembekileyo, eyoyika uThixo nengazenziyo izinto ezimbi.” a Ukuba uSathana wayenokwenza indoda ethembekileyo uYobhi imjikele uYehova, wayenokuqiniseka ukuba angenza njalo nakubani na? Ngoko eyona nto wayetyhola ngayo uSathana kukuba bonke abantu abakhonza uThixo bamkhonza ngenxa yezinto abazifumanayo kuye. Loo nto siyibona kwinto elandelayo uSathana awayithethayo kuYehova: “Akukho nto umntu angenakuyincama ukuze asindise ubomi bakhe.”—Yobhi 1:8; 2:4.

14. Yintoni eye yayibonisa imbali malunga nento uSathana abatyhola ngayo abantu?

¹⁴ Imbali ibonisa ukuba abaninzi, njengoYobhi, baye bahlala benyanisekile kuYehova nangona babelingwa—nto leyo eziphikisayo izityholo zikaSathana. Bayivuyisile intliziyo kaYehova ngokuthembeka kwabo, yaye oku kumenze uYehova wakwazi ukuphendula isityholo sikaSathana sokuba abantu baya kuyeka ukukhonza uThixo xa besiva ubunzima. (Hebhere 11:4-38) Ewe, abo baneentliziyo ezilungileyo baye bala ukumshiya uThixo.  Kwanaxa behlelwe ziingxaki ezinzima kakhulu, baye bathembela ngokupheleleyo kuYehova ukuba abanike amandla okunyamezela.—2 Korinte 4:7-10.

15. Nguwuphi umbuzo osenokuphakama ngokuphathelele imigwebo kaThixo yexesha elidluleyo nelizayo?

¹⁵ Indlela uYehova ayiphendule ngayo imibuzo emalunga nolawulo lwakhe nangesizathu sokuba abantu bemkhonza azikokuphela kwemizekelo ebonisa ukuba usoloko esenza okulungileyo. IBhayibhile yongeza nangokusixelela indlela awabagweba ngayo abantu nezizwe ngaphambili. Ikwaqulethe neziprofeto zemigwebo aza kuyiphumeza kwixesha elizayo. Kutheni sinokuqiniseka ukuba uYehova uye wayiphumeza yaye useza kuyiphumeza ngobulungisa imigwebo yakhe?

16, 17. Nguwuphi umzekelo obonisa ukuba abantu abasoloko begweba ngendlela eyiyo?

¹⁶ Ngokuphathelele uYehova, kunokutshiwo ngokuchanileyo ukuthi: “Zonke indlela zakhe zezobulungisa.” (Duteronomi 32:4) Asinakuyithetha loo nto ngathi, kuba asisoloko sisazi zonke iinkcukacha futhi ngenxa yoko siye sigwebe ngendlela engeyiyo. Ngokomzekelo, khawucinge nje ngoAbraham. Nangona abantu baseSodom babesenza izinto ezimbi kakhulu, uAbraham wacenga uYehova ukuba angasitshabalalisi eso sixeko. Wabuza wathi kuYehova: “Ngaba nyhani uza kulitshayela ilungisa kunye nomenzi-bubi?” (Genesis 18:23-33) Ngokuqinisekileyo, impendulo yathi hayi. UYehova “wanethisa imvula yesalfure nomlilo eSodom” emva kokuba uLote olilungisa kunye neentombi zakhe befike ngokukhuselekileyo eTsoware. (Genesis 19:22-24) Ngokwahlukileyo koko, uYona “waba nomsindo” xa uThixo wabonisa inceba kubantu baseNineve. Ngenxa yokuba uYona wayesele echazile ukuba baza kutshatyalaliswa, wayeza kwaneliseka kukubabona betshatyalaliswa—nokuba sebeguquke ngokusuk’ entliziyweni na.—Yona 3:10–4:1.

¹⁷ UYehova wamqinisekisa uAbraham ukuba, ukuba  nobulungisa Kwakhe kumenza abasindise abantu abalungileyo xa etshabalalisa abantu abenza izinto ezimbi. Kwelinye icala, uYona kwakufuneka efundile ukuba uYehova unenceba. Ukuba abantu abenza izinto ezimbi bayazitshintsha iindlela zabo, ‘uyafuna ukubaxolela.’ (INdumiso 86:5) UYehova akafani nabantu abaphatha abanye kakubi kakhulu ukuze babonise ukuba banamandla, okanye aboyika ukuba abantu baza kucinga ukuba babuthathaka xa besiba nenceba. Usoloko ebonisa inceba nanini na kukho isizathu sokuba enze njalo.—Isaya 55:7; Hezekile 18:23.

18. Bonisa ngokusuka eBhayibhileni ukuba uYehova akenzi nje ngokuqhutywa ziimvakalelo.

¹⁸ Noko ke, uYehova akamfanyekiswa ziimvakalelo nje kuphela. Xa abantu bakhe babandakanyeka ngokunzulu kunqulo-zithixo, uYehova wathi: “[Ndiza kukugweba] ngokweendlela zakho ndize ndikuphendulise ngazo zonke izenzo zakho ezenyanyekayo. Ilihlo lam alizukuba nalusizi, nam andizukukusizela, kuba ndiza kukuphendulisa ngeendlela zakho.” (Hezekile 7:3, 4) Ngoko xa abantu bengafuni ukushiya izinto ezingalunganga, uYehova uza kubohlwaya. Kodwa umgwebo wakhe usekelwa kubungqina obuqinileyo. Ngenxa yoko, xa isikhalo safikayo ezindlebeni zakhe malunga neSodom neGomora, uYehova wathi: “Ndiza kwehla ukuze ndibone ukuba benza ngokwesikhalo esifikileyo kum na.” (Genesis 18:20, 21) Sinokuba nombulelo nyhani kuba uYehova engafani nabantu abaninzi abakhawuleza benze izigqibo ngaphambi kokuva zonke iinkcukacha! Nyhani, uYehova unjengokuba iBhayibhile imchaza ngokuthi, “nguThixo othembekileyo, ongaze awugqwethe umgwebo.”—Duteronomi 32:4.

19. Yintoni esinokuyenza ukuba sinemibuzo ebhidayo malunga nokubonisa kukaYehova ubulungisa?

¹⁹ IBhayibhile ayichazi zonke iinkcukacha ngokuphathelele izenzo zikaYehova zexesha elidluleyo; yaye ayichazi zonke iinkcukacha ngendlela uYehova aza kuwuphumeza ngayo umgwebo ebantwini kwixesha elizayo. Xa sibhidwa ziingxelo okanye  iziprofeto zeBhayibhile ezingenazo ezi nkcukacha, sinokufana nomprofeti uMika, owabhala wathi: “Ndiza kumlinda ngomonde uThixo ondisindisayo.”—Mika 7:7.

20, 21. Kutheni sinokuqiniseka ukuba uYehova uza kusoloko esenza okulungileyo?

²⁰ Sinokuqiniseka ukuba kwimeko nganye, uYehova uza kwenza okulungileyo. Kwanaxa kubonakala ngathi abantu ababuhoyanga ubulungisa, uYehova uthembisa esithi: “Ndim ophindisayo, ndim obuyekezayo.” (Roma 12:19) Ukuba simlinda ngomonde uYehova, siza kuba siqiniseke ngento efanayo naleyo wayeqiniseke ngayo umpostile uPawulos owathi: “Ngaba uThixo akanabulungisa? Soze angabi nabo!”—Roma 9:14.

²¹ Okwangoku, siphila ‘kumaxesha ekunzima ukuwanyamezela.’ (2 Timoti 3:1) Ukungabikho kobulungisa kunye ‘nengcinezelo’ kuye kwabangela ukuba igunya lisetyenziswe kakubi ngenkohlakalo. (INtshumayeli 4:1) Kodwa ke, uYehova yena akatshintshanga. Usakucaphukela ukungabikho kobulungisa, yaye ubakhathalele kakhulu abo baye baxhaphazeka. Ukuba sihlala sinamathele kuYehova size sixhase ulawulo lwakhe, uza kusinika amandla okunyamezela de akuphelise konke ukungabikho kobulungisa phantsi kolawulo loBukumkani bakhe.—1 Petros 5:6, 7.