1-3. Kungani singaba leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uthobekile?

UBABA ufuna ukufundisa umntanakhe omncane isifundo esiqakathekileyo. Ufuna ukufinyelela inhliziyo yomntanakhe. Angakwenza njani lokho? Kumele ame phambi komntwana lo ngendlela emenza esabe futhi asebenzise amazwi akhahlamezayo yini? Kumbe kumele aguqe alingane lomntwana lo futhi akhulume ngendlela emnene enza umntwana akhululeke? Kuliqiniso ukuthi ubaba ohlakaniphileyo futhi othobekileyo angakhetha ukubamnene.

² UJehova unguBaba onjani? Uyazigqaja kumbe uthobekile, uyakhahlameza kumbe umnene yini? UJehova wazi konke futhi ulenhlakanipho enkulu. Kodwa wake wakunanzelela yini ukuthi ukuba lolwazi kanye lokukhalipha kakwenzi ukuthi umuntu athobeke? Njengoba iBhayibhili lisitsho, “ulwazi luyakhukhumeza.” (1 KwabaseKhorinte 3:19; 8:1) Kodwa uJehova, ‘olokuhlakanipha okujulileyo,’ uthobekile. (UJobe 9:4) Lokhu akutsho ukuthi uJehova ulesikhundla esiphansi kodwa kutsho ukuthi kazigqaji. Kungani kunjalo?

³ UJehova ungcwele. Ngakho kazigqaji ngoba ukuzigqaja kwenza umuntu abe ngongcolileyo. (UMakho 7:20-22) Nanzelela futhi ukuthi umphrofethi uJeremiya watshela uJehova wathi: “Loba sekunjani, umphefumulo wakho [uJehova ngokwakhe] uzakhumbula futhi ukhothame phezu kwami.” * (IZililo 3:20, NW)  Cabanga ngalokho! UJehova, iNkosi yeNdawo Yonke, wayezimisele ‘ukukhothama,’ kumbe ukuzehlisa alingane loJeremiya, ukuze amlalele kuhle lowomuntu olesono. (IHubo 113:7) UJehova uthobekile. Kodwa ukuthobeka kukaNkulunkulu kugoqelani? Kuhambelana njani lenhlakanipho? Kungani kuqakathekile kithi?

4, 5. (a) Kuyini ukuthobeka, kutshengiswa njani, futhi kungani kungamelanga senze iphutha lokubona angani kuyibugwala kumbe kuyikwesaba? (b) UJehova wakutshengisa njani ukuthobeka endleleni aphatha ngayo uDavida, futhi kuqakatheke kangakanani kithi ukuthobeka kukaJehova?

⁴ Ukuthobeka yikuzehlisa lokungazigqaji. Ukuzithoba luphawu lobuntu olusuka enhliziyweni, futhi kukhanya ezimpawini ezinjengobumnene, ukubekezela kanye lokuzwisisa. (KwabaseGalathiya 5:22, 23) Kodwa kakumelanga izimpawu zobuntu lezi ezithokozisa uNkulunkulu zibonwe njengezitshengisa ubugwala kumbe ukwesaba. Izimpawu lezo zihambelana lolaka lukaJehova olulungileyo kumbe amandla akhe okubhubhisa. Ukuthobeka lobumnene kwenza ukuthi uJehova atshengise ngendlela enhle amandla  akhe amakhulu kanye lawokuzithiba. (U-Isaya 42:14) Ukuthobeka kuhambelana njani lenhlakanipho? Elinye ibhuku elikhuluma ngeBhayibhili lithi: “Ukuthobeka kuchazwa . . . ngokuthi yikuba lendaba labanye futhi kungumthombo oqakathekileyo wenhlakanipho.” Ngakho inhlakanipho yeqiniso ngeke ibekhona kungelakuthobeka. Inhlakanipho kaJehova isinceda njani?

⁵ INkosi uDavida yahlabelela isithi kuJehova: “Wena uyanginika isihlangu sakho sokunqoba, lesandla sakho sokunene siyangiqinisa; uyazehlisela phansi ukuze ungenze ngibe mkhulu.” (IHubo 18:35) Kuliqiniso ukuthi uJehova wazehlisa ukuze alwele umuntu lo olesono, emvikela futhi emsekela ilanga ngelanga. UDavida wananzelela ukuthi ukuzimisela kukaJehova ukuzithoba ngaleyondlela yikho kuphela okwakungenza asindiswe futhi acine eselesikhundla esikhulu njengenkosi. Ngubani kithi obengaba lethemba lokusindiswa aluba uJehova ubengathobekanga, engazimiselanga ukuzehlisa ukuze asiphathe njengoBaba omnene futhi osithandayo?

6, 7. (a) Kungani iBhayibhili lingakaze lithi uJehova kaziphakamisi? (b) Ubumnene lokuhlakanipha kuhambisana njani, futhi ngubani oyisibonelo esikhulu kulokhu?

⁶ Kuqakathekile ukunanzelela ukuthi kulomehluko othile phakathi kokuthobeka lokungaziphakamisi. Ukungaziphakamisi kuluphawu oluhle kakhulu okumele abantu abathembekileyo bazame ukuba lalo. Ukungaziphakamisi kufanana lokuthobeka ngoba lakho kuhambisana lokuhlakanipha. Ngokwesibonelo, iZaga 11:2 zithi: ‘ukuzithoba kumbe ukungaziphakamisi kuhamba lenhlakanipho.’ Loba kunjalo, iBhayibhili kalikaze lithi uJehova kaziphakamisi. Kungani? Ngendlela okusetshenziswe ngayo eMibhalweni, ukungaziphakamisi kutsho ukunanzelela ukuthi kukhona okuthile umuntu angenelisi ukukwenza. Akulalutho uSomandla angenelisiyo ukulwenza ngaphandle kwalokho yena azikhethela ukuthi angakwenzi ngenxa yezindlela zakhe ezilungileyo. (UMakho 10:27; KuThithusi 1:2) Okunye yikuthi ungoPhezukonke, ngakho kabuswa yiloba ngubani. Ngakho-ke umqondo wokuziphakamisa kawusebenzi kuJehova.

⁷ Loba kunjalo, uJehova uthobekile njalo umnene. Ufundisa izikhonzi zakhe ukuthi ukubamnene kuqakathekile ukuze zibe lokuhlakanipha kweqiniso. ILizwi lakhe likhuluma mayelana  ‘lobumnene obuvela enhlakaniphweni.’ * (UJakhobe 3:13, NW) Endabeni le, cabanga ngesibonelo sikaJehova.

8-10. (a) Kungani kumangalisa ukuthi uJehova utshengisa ukuthi uzimisele ukwaba umsebenzi kanye lokulalela? (b) USomandla uziphatha njani izingilosi zakhe ngendlela etshengisa ukuthobeka?

⁸ Ukuzimisela kukaJehova ukuthi abele imisebenzi lokuthi alalele kuyibufakazi obuthokozisayo bokuthi uthobekile. Kuyamangalisa ukuthi wenza njalo; uJehova kadingi ukuncediswa kumbe ukwelulekwa. (U-Isaya 40:13, 14; KwabaseRoma 11:34, 35) Lanxa kunjalo, iBhayibhili litshengisa kanengi ukuthi uJehova uyazehlisa ngezindlela lezi.

⁹ Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngesenzakalo esimangalisayo esenzekala empilweni ka-Abhrahama. U-Abhrahama waba lezivakatshi ezintathu, futhi esinye salezi zivakatshi wasibiza ngokuthi “nguJehova.” Izivakatshi lezo kwakuyizingilosi, kodwa enye yazo yayimele uJehova njalo yayisenza konke ebizweni lakhe. Lapho ingilosi le ikhuluma futhi isenza okuthile, iqiniso yikuthi kwakunguJehova owayekhuluma futhi esenza lezozinto. UJehova wasebenzisa leyondlela ukuthi atshele u-Abhrahama ukuthi wayezwe ‘insolo ngeSodoma leGomora enkulu kakhulu.’ UJehova wathi: “Sengizakuya khona ngiyobona ingabe lokho abakwenzileyo kubi okulingana lensolo le esifikile kimi. Nxa kungenjalo, ngizakwazi.” (UGenesisi 18:3, 20, 21) Kodwa umlayezo kaJehova wawungatsho ukuthi uSomandla ‘wayezakuya khona’ yena ngokwakhe. Kulokuthi enze njalo, wathuma izingilosi ukuthi ziyekuba ngabameli bakhe. (UGenesisi 19:1) Kungani wenza njalo? UJehova obona konke wayengehluleka yini ‘ukwazi’ isimo seqiniso sendawo leyo engathumanga muntu? Wayengeke ehluleke. Kodwa, uJehova wazehlisa wapha izingilosi lezo umsebenzi wokuyahlola isimo lowokuyavakatshela uLothi lemuli yakhe eSodoma.

¹⁰ Okunye yikuthi uJehova uyalalela. Wake wacela izingilosi zakhe ukuthi zitsho amacebo atshiyeneyo okuwisa iNkosi eyayingalunganga  u-Ahabi. UJehova wayengaludingi usizo olunjalo. Kodwa wavuma icebo lenye ingilosi waseyilaya ukuthi ihambe iyelenza. (1 AmaKhosi 22:19-22) Kwakungayisikho ukuthobeka yini lokhu?

11, 12. U-Abhrahama wakubona njani ukuthi uJehova uthobekile?

¹¹ UJehova uzimisele lokulalela abantu abalesono abalesifiso sokumtshela okubakhathazayo. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uJehova etshela u-Abhrahama ngenjongo yakhe yokubhubhisa iSodoma leGomora, indoda le ethembekileyo yadideka engqondweni. U-Abhrahama wathi “kakube khatshana lawe lokho!” Waphinda wathi: “Kambe uMahluleli womhlaba wonke kayikwenza okufaneleyo na?” Wabuza ukuthi pho nxa kwakungaba labangu-50 abalungileyo kulelo dolobho wayezayekela yini ukulibhubhisa. UJehova wathi wayengeke alibhubhise. Kodwa u-Abhrahama waphinda wabuza elokhu esehlisa inani lisuka ku-45, laya ku-40, kusehla kusiya phansi. Kungelani lokuthi uJehova wayesethe kasoze abhubhise, u-Abhrahama waqhubeka esehlisa inani laze lafika ku-10. Kungenzakala ukuthi u-Abhrahama wayengakakuzwisisi ukuthi uJehova ulomusa kangakanani. Kungelani lokuthi kuyini okwenza u-Abhrahama wabuza imibuzo leyo, uJehova wavumela ngokuthobeka ukuthi u-Abhrahama owayeyinceku yakhe futhi engumngane wakhe atsho lokho okwakumkhathaza.​—UGenesisi 18:23-33.

¹² Ngabantu abangaki abahlakaniphileyo njalo abafundileyo abangabekezelela ukulalela umuntu ongakhaliphanga? * UNkulunkulu wethu uthobekile ngoba uyabalalela abantu abangakhaliphanga. Ekuxoxeni lokhu, u-Abhrahama wazibonela ukuthi uJehova ‘uyaphuza ukuthukuthela.’ (U-Eksodusi 34:6) Mhlawumbe ngemva kokunanzelela ukuthi wayengela lungelo lokubuza okwenziwa ngoPhezukonke, u-Abhrahama wancenga kabili esithi: “UJehova angathukutheli.” (UGenesisi 18:30, 32) Kodwa uJehova kazange athukuthele. Ulabo sibili ‘ubumnene obuvela enhlakaniphweni.’

13. Litshoni ibala elithi “ukuzwisisa” ngendlela elisetshenziswa ngayo eBhayibhilini, futhi kungani limchaza kuhle uJehova?

¹³ Ukuthobeka kukaJehova kubonakala lakolunye uphawu oluhle​—ukuzwisisa. Kuyadanisa ukuthi uphawu lolu kalwandanga ebantwini abalesono. UJehova kazimiselanga ukulalela kuphela izinceku zakhe ezihlakaniphileyo kodwa futhi uzimisele ukuntshintsha avumelane lazo nxa lokho kungasoze kwephule izimiso zakhe zokulunga. Njengokusetshenziswa kwalo eBhayibhilini, ibala elithi “ukuzwisisa” litsho “ukuvuma ukuntshintsha.” Uphawu lolu lalo luyingxenye yenhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu. UJakhobe 3:17, uthi: ‘Ukuhlakanipha okuvela phezulu kuyazwisisa.’ (NW) Kodwa kungani kungathiwa uJehova olenhlakanipho yonke uyazwisisa? Okunye kwakhona yikuthi uyenelisa ukuntshintsha. Khumbula ukuthi ibizo lakhe lisifundisa ukuthi uJehova uyenelisa ukuba yilokho okudingakalayo ukuze agcwalise izinjongo zakhe. (U-Eksodusi 3:14) Lokhu kakutshengisi yini ukuthi uyenelisa ukuntshintsha njalo uyazwisisa?

14, 15. Umbono kaHezekheli wenqola kaJehova yasezulwini usifundisani ngenhlanganiso kaJehova yasezulwini, futhi yehlukene njani lezinhlanganiso zabantu?

¹⁴ Kulendima eseBhayibhilini esinceda ukuthi sizwisise ukuntshintsha kukaJehova. Umphrofethi uHezekheli waphiwa umbono wenhlanganiso kaJehova yasezulwini yezidalwa zomoya. Wabona inqola emangalisayo, “inqola” kaJehova ehlala iqondiswa nguye. Okukhanga kakhulu yindlela eyayihamba ngayo. Yayilamavili amane amakhulu ayelamehlo abona yonke indawo futhi amavili lawo ayesenelisa ukuntshintsha masinyane akhangele kwenye indawo engamanga kumbe engatshibilikanga. Inqola le enkulu yayingahambi kancane njengenqola eyenziwe ngabantu. Yayisenelisa ukuhamba ngesiqubu sombane. (UHezekheli 1:1, 14-28) Inhlanganiso kaJehova iyantshintsha kakhulu, njengoba nje uMbusi olamandla oyiqondisayo ehambelana lezimo, inhlanganiso le intshintsha ihambisane lezimo kanye lezidingo okuhlala kuntshintsha ngaso sonke isikhathi.

¹⁵ Abantu bangazama ukulingisela ukuntshintsha lokhu okupheleleyo. Kodwa kulokuthi imithetho yabantu kanye lezinhlanganiso zabo ibe ngehambelana lezimo, kayintshintshi futhi  kayitshengisi ukuzwisisa. Nanku umzekeliso: Isitimela esithwala impahla kumbe isikepe esikhulu esithwala i-oyili kokubili kungabe kulamandla amakhulu. Kodwa kuyenelisa yini ukuntshintsha masinyane nxa kumele kwenze njalo? Isitimela leso ngeke senelise ukukhona nxa into ethile ingawela phambi kwaso. Kakulula ukuthi siphonguma masinyane. Isitimela sempahla esiyabe sithwele kakhulu singahamba umango ongamakhilomitha amabili ngemva kokuba umtshayeli enyathele imiqobotsho! Ngendlela efananayo, isikepe lesi singaqhubeka sihamba okwamakhilomitha angu-8 ngemva kokucitshwa kwenjini. Lanxa injini ingafakwa kurivesi, isikepe lesi singaqhubeka sihamba okwamakhilomitha amathathu! Lokho kufanana lezinhlanganiso zabantu ezingantshintshiyo futhi ezingazwisisiyo. Abantu bandise ukwala ukuhambisana lokuntshintsha kwezimo kanye lezidingo. Ukungafuni ukuntshintsha okunjalo kwenze izinhlanganiso ezinengi zaphelelwa yimali futhi kwenza ohulumende abanengi bawa. (IZaga 16:18) Kuyathokozisa ukwazi ukuthi uJehova kanye lenhlanganiso yakhe kabanjalo!

16. UJehova watshengisa njani ukuthi uyazwisisa ngendlela aphatha ngayo uLothi engakabhubhisi iSodoma leGomora?

¹⁶ Cabanga futhi ngokubhujiswa kweSodoma leGomora. Ingilosi kaJehova yapha uLothi lemuli yakhe iziqondiso ezicacileyo: “Balekelani ezintabeni.” Kodwa uLothi kazange akuthande ukwenzanjalo. Wancenga esithi: “Hatshi makhosi ami.” ULothi wacela ukuthi yena lemuli yakhe bavunyelwe ukuthi babalekele edolobheni elaliseduze elaseZowari ngenxa yokuthi wayecabanga ukuthi wayezakufa angabalekela ezintabeni. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova wayefuna ukulibhubhisa idolobho lelo. ULothi wayengelaso vele isizatho sokwesaba. Kuliqiniso ukuthi uJehova wazakwenelisa ukuvikela uLothi ukuze aqhubeke ephila ezintabeni! Lanxa kunjalo, uJehova wavuma ukuthi uLothi abalekele eZowari futhi kasalibhubhisanga lelodolobho. Ingilosi yatshela uLothi yathi: “Kulungile, ngiyasamukela njalo lalesi isicelo.” (UGenesisi 19:17-22) UJehova watshengisa ukuthi uyazwisisa.

17, 18. UJehova watshengisa njani ukuthi uyazwisisa endleleni aphatha ngayo abantu baseNineve?

 ¹⁷ UJehova utshengisa umusa futhi wenza okulungileyo ngazo zonke izikhathi nxa umuntu etshengisa ukuthi uphenduke ngeqiniso. Cabanga ngalokho okwenzakalayo lapho umphrofethi uJona ethunywa eNineve, idolobho elalilabantu abenza okubi futhi abalodlakela. Lapho uJona ebhoda emigwaqweni yaseNineve, umlayezo ophefumulelweyo ayewutshela abantu wawulula: Idolobho lelo elikhulu lalizabhujiswa ngemva kwamalanga angu-40. Kodwa izimo zantshintsha kakhulu. Abantu baseNineve baphenduka!​—UJona, isahluko 3.

¹⁸ Kuyanceda kakhulu ukuqathanisa lokho uJehova akwenzayo ngemva kokuphenduka kwabaseNineve kanye lalokho okwenziwa nguJona. Esimweni lesi, uJehova wantshintsha waba nguMthetheleli wezono kulokuthi abe ‘libutho.’ * (U-Eksodusi 15:3) Kodwa uJona yena kazange afune ukuntshintsha futhi kazange abe lomusa. Kulokuthi acabange ngokuzwisisa kukaJehova, wenza njengesitimela esithwala impahla, kumbe isikepe esikhulu esike sakhuluma ngaso. Wayekhulume ngembubhiso, ngakho kwakumele kwenzakale! Kodwa ngesineke, uJehova wafundisa umphrofethi wakhe owayengelakubekezela isifundo ayengasoze wasikhohlwa esokuzwisisa lesokutshengisa umusa.​—UJona, isahluko 4.

19. (a) Kungani singaba leqiniso ukuthi uJehova ulozwelo kulokho akhangelele ukuthi sikwenze? (b) IZaga 19:17 zitshengisa njani ukuthi uJehova uyiNkosi ethobeke kakhulu njalo ‘elungileyo futhi elozwelo’?

¹⁹ Okokucina yikuthi uJehova uyazwisisa nxa sekubuya kulokho akhangelele ukuthi sikwenze. INkosi uDavida yathi: “Uyakwazi ukuthi sibunjwa njani, uyakhumbula ukuthi siluthuli.” (IHubo 103:14) UJehova uyazizwisisa izinto esingenelisi ukuzenza kanye lalokho esikuphambanisayo ukwedlula thina. Kakhangeleli ukuthi senze lokho esingenelisi ukukwenza. IBhayibhili likhuluma ngamakhosi angabantu ‘alungileyo lalozwelo’ kanye  lalawo ‘alolaka.’ (1 UPhetro 2:18) UJehova uyiNkosi enjani? Nanzelela ukuthi iZaga 19:17 zithi: “Olomusa kubayanga upha uJehova.” Kuyacaca ukuthi inkosi elungileyo futhi elozwelo yiyo kuphela engananzelela zonke izenzo zokulunga ezenzelwa abantu abangabayanga. Okwedlula lokho yikuthi umbhalo lo ungatsho ukuthi uMdali wendawo yonke ukubona kufanele ukuthi abusise abantu abenza izenzo ezinjalo zomusa! Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthobeka okwedlula okwanoma ngubani.

20. Kuyini okusenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uyayizwa imithandazo yethu futhi uyayiphendula?

²⁰ Lamuhla, uJehova uphatha izinceku zakhe ngendlela emnene futhi etshengisa ukuthi uyazwisisa. Uyalalela nxa sikhuleka kuye ngokholo. Lanxa engathumi izingilosi zakhe ukuthi zikhulume lathi, kakumelanga siphethe ngokuthi imithandazo yethu kayiphenduli. Khumbula ukuthi lapho umphostoli uPhawuli ecela ayekhonza labo ukuthi ‘bakhuleke’ ukuze aphume ejele, waphinda wathi: “Ukuze ngibuyiselwe kini masinyane.” (KumaHebheru 13:18, 19) Ngakho imithandazo yethu ingenza uJehova enze lokho abengasoze akwenze ngabe besingakhulekanga!​—UJakhobe 5:16.

21. Kuyini okungamelanga siphethe ngakho mayelana lokuthobeka kukaJehova, kodwa kuyini okumele sikuzwisise ngaye?

²¹ Kodwa ukutshengisa kukaJehova ukuthobeka okugoqela  ubumnene, ukuzimisela ukulalela, ukubekezela kanye lokuzwisisa, kakutsho ukuthi uJehova uyephula izimiso zakhe ezilungileyo. Abakhokheli bamasonto azithi ngawesiKhristu bangacabanga ukuthi bayazwisisa nxa betshela imihlambi yabo lokho efuna ukukuzwa, besenza izimiso zikaJehova zokuziphatha zikhanye zingaqakathekanga. (2 KuThimothi 4:3) Kodwa umkhuba wabantu wokwekela ukufundisa lokho okuqondileyo ngenxa yokufuna ukuthandwa kawuhambisani lokuzwisisa kukaNkulunkulu. UJehova ungcwele; kasoze wenza lokho okungahambisani lezimiso zakhe. (ULevi 11:44) Ngakho kasithandeni ukuzwisisa kukaJehova ngenxa yokuthi ukuzwisisa kwakhe kuyibufakazi bokuthi uthobekile. UJehova ulenhlakanipho ukwedlula loba ngubani. Ngakho kakukuthokozisi yini ukucabanga ngokuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu onjalo uthobeke ukwedlula loba ngubani? Kuyathokozisa kakhulu ukusondela kuNkulunkulu omnene, obekezelayo futhi ozwisisa kangaka!