1-3. Kutheni sinokuqiniseka ukuba uYehova uthobekile?

 YIBA nombono katata ofuna ukufundisa umntwana wakhe omncinci into ebalulekileyo. Ufuna imchukumise le nto aza kuyithetha. Ufanele amqale ngaphi ke? Ngaba ufanele ame njengesigantsontso esoyikekayo ecaleni komntwana aze athethe ngqwabalala? Okanye ngaba ufanele agobe azilinganise naye aze athethe ezolile? Utata osisilumko nothobekileyo uza kuthetha naye ngendlela ezolileyo.

² UYehova yena nguTata onjani? Ngaba unempakamo okanye uthobekile, ukrwada okanye uzolile? UYehova wazi yonk’ into, futhi uhamba yedwa ngobulumko. Ngaba wakha waqaphela kodwa ukuba abantu abakleva nabazi yonk’ into abathobekanga? Itsho neBhayibhile ukuba, “ulwazi lwenza umntu akhukhumale.” (1 Korinte 3:19; 8:1) Kodwa uYehova ‘olumkileyo entliziyweni,’ uthobekile. (Yobhi 9:4, NWT ka-1999) Le nto ayithethi kuthi kukho umntu angaphantsi kuye uYehova okanye akangomntu omkhulu. Ithetha ukuba akanayo tu impakamo. Kutheni sisitsho?

³ UYehova ungcwele. Ngoko akanazo tu iimpawu ezimngcolisayo umntu, ezinjengempakamo. (Marko 7:20-22) Cinga nangento eyathethwa ngumprofeti uYeremiya kuYehova: “Nakanjani uza kukhumbula uze ugobe phezu kwam.” a (IZililo 3:20) Uyayiva phofu le nto? UYehova, ongoYena Uphakamileyo, wayekufuna ‘ukugoba,’ okanye azilinganise noYeremiya, ukuze amhoye. (INdumiso 113:7) Uthobeke nyhani uYehova. Kodwa ubonakala njani ukuba uthobekile? Ukuthobeka kwakhe kudibana njani nobulumko bakhe? Futhi kusinceda njani thina?

4, 5. (a) Kuyintoni ukuthobeka, uYehova ubonakala njani ukuba uthobekile, futhi yintoni okungathethi yona? (b) UYehova wabonakala njani ukuba uthobekile kwindlela awayesebenzisana ngayo noDavide, futhi kusinceda njani ukuthobeka kukaYehova?

⁴ Ukuthobeka kukungazicingeli bhetele ngokugqithisileyo nokungabi nampakamo. Umntu othobekileyo ululamile, unomonde, futhi ubhetyebhetye. (Galati 5:22, 23) Kodwa ke, asifanelanga sicinge ukuba kuba uYehova ethobekile, elulamile futhi enomonde, soze acaphuke xa kungenziwa bulungisa okanye angabi nasibindi sokusebenzisa amandla akhe okutshabalalisa. Into esifanele siyicinge kukuba, ngokuthobeka nangokululama, uYehova ubonisa ukuba ukwazi kakuhle ukuzilawula futhi amandla akhe amakhulu uza kusoloko ewasebenzisa ngendlela eyiyo. (Isaya 42:14) Ukuthobeka ke kudibana njani nobulumko? Omny’ umphengululi weBhayibhile wathi umntu kufuneka angazicingeli yedwa ukuze athobeke, futhi ngumntu  onjalo kuphela onokulumka nyhani. Kusinceda ngantoni ukuthobeka kukaYehova?

⁵ Kwingoma awayibhalayo uKumkani uDavide wathi ngoYehova: “Undinika ikhaka lakho losindiso, yaye isandla sakho sasekunene siyandixhasa, nokuthobeka kwakho kundenza ndibe mkhulu.” (INdumiso 18:35) UDavide wayevakalelwa kukuba uYehova wayezithoba, agobe ukuze alingane naye, engumntu ophantsi enjalo, ukuze amkhusele futhi amhoye yonke imihla. UDavide wayesazi ukuba wayenokusindiswa kwiintshaba zakhe aze abe ngukumkani omkhulu kuphela ngenxa yokuba uYehova wayethobekile futhi emnceda. Kuyafana nakuthi. Sinokuba nethemba lokusindiswa kuphela ngenxa yokuba uYehova ethobekile futhi esinceda njengoTata olulamileyo nonothando.

6, 7. (a) Kutheni iBhayibhile ingathi uYehova uthobeke ngendlela efanayo neyabantu? (b) Ukululama kudibana njani nobulumko, futhi ngubani ongumzekelo omhle wokululama?

⁶ Ukuthobeka luphawu oluhle abamele bazame ukuba nalo abantu abathembekileyo. Luyahambelana nobulumko. Ngokomzekelo, iMizekeliso 11:2 ithi: “Ubulumko bobabo bathobekileyo.” Kodwa ke, iBhayibhile ayithi uYehova uthobeke ngendlela efanayo neyabantu. Kutheni ingatsho? Ngoba xa iBhayibhile ithetha ngokuthobeka kwabantu isube ithetha ngomntu oziqondayo ukuba kukho izinto angakwaziyo ukuzenza. USomandla akukho nto angakwaziyo ukuyenza, ngaphandle nje kwezo akhetha ukungazenzi kuba elandela imithetho nemigaqo yakhe yobulungisa. (Marko 10:27; Tito 1:2) Eny’ into, kuba engOyena Uphakamileyo, akukho mntu unelungelo lokumxelela into amakayenze. Ngoko leyo indlela yokuthobeka ayisebenzi tu kuYehova.

⁷ Kodwa ke, uYehova uthobekile futhi ululamile. Ufundisa abantu abamkhonzayo ukuba ukuze balumke nyhani kufuneka balulame. ILizwi lakhe lithetha ‘ngokuzola nokuba sisilumko.’ b (Yakobi 3:13) Makhe sijonge indlela uYehova angumzekelo omhle ngayo kule nto.

8-10. (a) Kutheni imangalisa nje into yokuba uYehova engenangxaki nokuthuma abantu ukuba benze izinto egameni lakhe nokubamamela? (b) USomandla usebenzisene njani ngokuthobeka neengelosi zakhe?

⁸ Iyachukumisa indlela athobeke ngayo uYehova. Ngokomzekelo, akanangxaki nokuthuma abantu ukuba bammele nokubamamela. Iyamangalisa into yokuba uYehova esenza le nto, kuba akadingi kuncediswa okanye kucetyiswa. (Isaya 40:13, 14; Roma 11:34, 35) Kodwa mininzi imizekelo eseBhayibhileni ebonisa le ndlela uYehova athobeke ngayo.

⁹ Ngokomzekelo, khawucinge ngento ebalulekileyo eyenzeka ebomini buka-Abraham. UAbraham wafikelwa ziindwendwe ezintathu, enye yazo wayibiza ngokuba ‘nguYehova.’ Yayiziingelosi ezi, kodwa enye yazo yeza egameni likaYehova futhi yayimela igama Lakhe. Into eyayithethwa neyayisenziwa yiloo ngelosi kwakufana nokuba yayithethwa futhi yayisenziwa nguYehova. UYehova wasebenzisa le ngelosi ukuze axelele uAbraham ukuba wayesivile ‘isikhalo esikhulu ngeSodom neGomora.’ UYehova wathi: “Ndiza kwehla ukuze ndibone ukuba benza ngokwesikhalo esifikileyo kum na. Ukuba akunjalo, ndiza kuyazi loo nto.” (Genesis 18:3, 20, 21) Kodwa ke, la mazwi kaYehova ayengathethi kuthi uSomandla wayeza “kwehla” ngokoqobo. Endaweni yaloo nto, waphinda wathumela iingelosi ukuba ziyojonga ukuba kwakusenzeka ntoni. (Genesis 19:1) Ngoba? Ngaba uYehova obona zonke izinto ‘wayengenakuzazela’ ngokwakhe ukuba kwenzeka ntoni kuloo ndawo? Ngokuqinisekileyo wayenako. Kodwa kuba ethobekile, wanika ezo ngelosi umsebenzi wokuyojonga ukuba kwenzeka ntoni nokuyobona uLote nentsapho yakhe eSodom.

¹⁰ Enye into, uYehova uyamamela. Wakhe wacela iingelosi zakhe ukuba zicebise iindlela zokutshabalalisa uKumkani uAhabhi owayesenza izinto ezimbi. UYehova wayengaludingi olo ncedo. Kodwa, walamkela icebiso lenye ingelosi waza wayivumela  ukuba yenze ngaloo ndlela. (1 Kumkani 22:19-22) Yayikukuthobeka nyhani oko!

11, 12. Yintoni eyenzekayo eyabangela uAbraham wakubona ukuthobeka kukaYehova?

¹¹ UYehova uyafuna nokumamela abantu, bezelwe benesono benjalo, abafuna ukumxelela ngezinto abanexhala lazo. Ngokomzekelo, xa uYehova waxelela uAbraham okokuqala ngenjongo Yakhe yokutshabalalisa iSodom neGomora, loo ndoda ithembekileyo yamangaliswa yiloo nto. UAbraham wathi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo awunakuyenza loo nto,” waza waqhubeka wathi: “Ngaba uMgwebi womhlaba wonke akazukwenza okulungileyo?” Wabuza uYehova ukuba wayengenakuzixolela na ezo zixeko ukuba kwakunokubakho abantu abangamalungisa abayi-50 apho. UYehova wamqinisekisa ukuba angayenza loo nto. Kodwa uAbraham waphinda wabuza, walithoba elo nani laba ngu-45, lehla laya ku-40, njalo njalo. Nangona uYehova wayemqinisekisa ukuba wayenokwenza okulungileyo, uAbraham waqhubeka ebuza umbuzo omnye de elo nani lehla laya ku-10. Mhlawumbi uAbraham wayengekayiqondi ncam indlela anenceba ngayo uYehova. Kodwa, ngomonde nangokuthobeka uYehova wamvumela umhlobo nomkhonzi wakhe uAbraham ukuba athethe into awayenexhala layo.—Genesis 18:23-33.

¹² Bangaphi abantu abakleva kakhulu abebenokummamela ngomonde umntu ongekho kleva njengabo? c Leyo yindlela athobeke ngayo uThixo wethu. Kuloo ncoko, uAbraham wabona ukuba uYehova ‘akakhawulezi ukucaphuka.’ (Eksodus 34:6) Kumele ukuba uAbraham waqonda ukuba wayengenalo ilungelo lokuthandabuza indlela Oyena Uphakamileyo enza ngayo waza wamcenga kabini esithi: “Owu yhini Yehova, ungavuthi ngumsindo.” (Genesis 18:30, 32) Kakade uYehova zange avuthe ngumsindo. “Uzolile kwaye usisilumko” nyhani.

13. Lithetha ukuthini igama elithi “bhetyebhetye” ngokwendlela elisetyenziswe ngayo eBhayibhileni, futhi kutheni eli gama limchaza kakuhle nje uYehova?

¹³ Ukuthobeka kukaYehova kubonakala nakolunye uphawu oluhle analo, ukuba bhetyebhetye. Ngelishwa inqabile loo nto ebantwini. UYehova akapheleli nje ekuzimameleni iingelosi nabantu bakhe. Akanangxaki nangokwenza izinto abamcela zona xa zihambelana nemigaqo yakhe yobulungisa. Ngokwendlela elisetyenziswe ngayo eBhayibhileni, igama elithi “bhetyebhetye” ngokoqobo lithetha “ukuyekelela.” Ukuba bhetyebhetye kukaYehova yeny’ into engqina indlela alumke ngayo. UYakobi 3:17 uthi: “Ubulumko obuvela emazulwini . . . bubhetyebhetye.” Zeziphi iindlela uYehova osisilumko abonakala ngazo ukuba ubhetyebhetye? Enye indlela ebalulekileyo kukuba, akasoloko ehamba ngomgca wempuku, uyakwazi ukutshintshatshintsha. Khumbula ukuba, igama lakhe lisifundisa ukuba uYehova uba yiyo nantoni na efunekayo ukuze afeze iinjongo zakhe. (Eksodus 3:14) Ngoko igama lakhe lisixelela ukuba uyakwazi ukutshintshatshintsha xa imeko isitsho njalo?

14, 15. Umbono kaHezekile wenqwelo kaYehova usifundisa ntoni ngenxalenye esezulwini yentlangano kaYehova, futhi yahluke njani kwimibutho yehlabathi?

¹⁴ Kukho indawo ebangel’ umdla eBhayibhileni esenza sikuqonde bhetelana ukutshintshatshintsha kukaYehova. Umprofeti uHezekile waboniswa umbono wenxalenye esezulwini yentlangano kaYehova, eyenziwa zizidalwa zomoya. Wabona inqwelo enkulu eqhutywa nguYehova. Into ebangel’ umdla yindlela eyayihamba ngayo. Amavili ayo amakhulu ayenamacala amane futhi egcwele ngamehlo ukuze abone yonk’ indawo futhi aye nakweliphi na icala ngesiquphe, engakhange eme okanye ajike. Enye into, nangona le nqwelo yayinkulu kakhulu, yayingasindwa xa ihamba, njengezithuthi ezenziwe ngabantu. Yayiphephetheka ngesantya sombane, iphephetheka naxa itshintsha icala eya kulo ingakhange ijike mavili! (Hezekile 1:1, 14-28) Nentlangano kaYehova ke, ifana nqwa naye, iyakwazi ukutshintshatshintsha. Itshintsha ngesiquphe xa imeko ifuna njalo.

 ¹⁵ Abantu banokuyizama nabo loo nto, kodwa bona nemibutho yabo abakhawulezi ukutshintsha xa imeko ifuna njalo. Masiyizekelise kanje le nto: Itreyini ethutha imithwalo inokuba nkulu futhi ibe namandla ngendlel’ emangalisayo. Kodwa yenza njani xa kusithi gqi into ebingalindelekanga? Ukuba kukho into enkulu ewa phambi kwayo, kufuneka ivele incame ngokujika. Kanti nokumisa ngoko nangoko kungumcimbi. Itreyini ethwele imithwalo esindayo inokuma kwisithuba seekhilomitha ezimbini emva kokuba kubanjwe iibreki! Banjalo ke abantu ngokungakwazi okanye ngokungafuni ukutshintsha xa iimeko zisitsho, amaxesha amaninzi ngenxa yekratshi. Loo nto yenze kwawa amashishini, kwabhukuqwa noorhulumente. (IMizekeliso 16:18) Sivuya nyhani ke thina kuba uYehova nentlangano yakhe bengekho njalo tu!

16. UYehova wabonakala njani ukuba ubhetyebhetye kwindlela awasebenzisana ngayo noLote ngaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweSodom neGomora?

¹⁶ Khawucinge kwakhona ngokutshatyalaliswa kweSodom neGomora. ULote nentsapho yakhe banikwa imiyalelo ecacileyo yingelosi kaYehova, isithi: “Balekela kummandla weentaba.” Kodwa ke, uLote wayengayiva ncam le nto. Wacenga wathi: “Mandingayi pha, owu yhini Yehova!” Kuba wayesoyika ukuba babeza kufa ukuba babalekela ezintabeni, uLote wacela ukuba yena nentsapho yakhe babalekele kwisixeko esikufuphi saseTsoware. Kodwa, uYehova wayezimisele ukusitshabalalisa eso sixeko. Eny’ into, uLote wayengenasizathu sakoyika, kuba nakanjani uYehova wayenokukwazi ukumkhusela kwezo ntaba! Sekunjalo, uYehova wayekelela wenza ngokwesicelo sikaLote. Ingelosi yathi kuLote: “Kulungile, ndiza kukucingela, ndingayitshabalalisi le dolophu uthetha ngayo.” (Genesis 19:17-22) Uthi yayingebobubhetyebhetye ke obo?

17, 18. Kwimeko yabantu baseNineve, uYehova wabonakala njani ukuba ubhetyebhetye?

 ¹⁷ Kanti ke, uYehova uyakwamkela nokuguquka ngokusuk’ entliziyweni kwabantu, usoloko enenceba nobulungisa. Khawucinge nje ngento eyenzekayo xa umprofeti uYona wathunywa kwisixeko saseNineve esasinabantu ababesenza izinto ezimbi nababeziindlobongela. Xa uYona wayehamba kwizitrato zaseNineve, umyalezo kaYehova awayewuthetha wawulula kakhulu: Eso sixeko sinamandla sasiza kutshatyalaliswa kwiintsuku eziyi-40. Kodwa ke, izinto zavele zatshintsha. Abantu baseNineve baguquka!—Yona, isahluko 3.

¹⁸ Kusifundisa intw’ eninzi ukuthelekisa into eyenziwa nguYehova xa kwaguquk’ abantu baseNineve nendlela uYona awayijonga ngayo yena loo nto. Kule meko, uYehova watshintsha, wabaxolela abantu baseNineve kunokuba abe “likroti elinamandla” aze abatshabalalise. d (Eksodus 15:3) Kodwa yena uYona wayengazimiselanga kutshintsha aze abe nenceba. Kunokuba abe bhetyebhetye njengoYehova, wasuka wafana nala treyini ethutha imithwalo ebesithethe ngayo ngaphambilana. Kuba wayethe bazotshabalala, mabatshabalale ke! Kodwa ke, uYehova waba nomonde kulo mprofeti wakhe ongenamonde, waza wamfundisa isifundo esibalulekileyo sokuba bhetyebhetye nokuba nenceba.—Yona, isahluko 4.

19. (a) Siqinisekiswa yintoni ukuba uYehova ubhetyebhetye kwinto ayilindeleyo kuthi? (b) IMizekeliso 19:17 ibonisa njani ukuba uYehova uyiNkosi ‘elungileyo nenobubele,’ okanye nebhetyebhetye, futhi uthobeke kakhulu?

¹⁹ Okokugqibela, uYehova ubhetyebhetye kwinto ayilindeleyo kuthi. UKumkani uDavide wathi: “Yena uyakwazi ukubunjwa kwethu, ekhumbula ukuba siluthuli.” (INdumiso 103:14) UYehova uziqonda ngaphezu kwethu izinto esingakwaziyo ukuzenza nezo sizenza kuba sizelwe sinesono. Akaze alindele ukuba  senze into engaphezu kwamandla ethu. IBhayibhile ithi kukho iinkosi ezingabantu ‘ezilungileyo nezinobubele,’ ngamany’ amazwi nezibhetyebhetye, kubekho ‘nezingqwabalala.’ (1 Petros 2:18) UYehova yena uyiNkosi enjani? Yiva ukuba ithini iMizekeliso 19:17: “Umntu omphatha kakuhle osweleyo uboleka uYehova.” Le nto ithetha ukuba uYehova uyabuqhaphela bonke ububele esibenzela abanye. Kucacile ke ukuba ulungile futhi ubhetyebhetye. Le nto ithetha nokuba uMdali wendalo yonke, uziva ebatyala abantu abenzela abanye inceba! Soze ukufumane kweny’ indawo ukuthobeka okunjalo!

20. Yintoni esenza siqiniseke ukuba uYehova uyayiva imithandazo yethu futhi uyayiphendula?

²⁰ UYehova usalulamile futhi usebhetyebhetye nangoku kubakhonzi bakhe. Xa sithandaza sinokholo, uyamamela. Nangona engathumeli iingelosi ukuba zithethe nathi, asifanelanga sicinge ukuba akayiphenduli imithandazo yethu. Khumbula ukuba xa umpostile uPawulos wacela abo wayekholwa nabo ukuba ‘baqhubeke bethandazela’ ukuba akhululwe etrongweni, wathi: “[Ukuze] ndiphinde ndibe kunye nani ngokukhawuleza.” (Hebhere 13:18, 19) Ngoko imithandazo yethu inokukwazi ukubangela uYehova ukuba enze ngendlela eyahlukileyo kuleyo ebeza kwenza ngayo!—Yakobi 5:16.

21. Yintoni ekungathethi yona ukuthobeka kukaYehova? Uziva njani ngokuthobeka kukaYehova?

 ²¹ UYehova uthobekile. Loo nto siyibona ngokuba elulamile, ekufuna ukumamela, enomonde futhi ebhetyebhetye. Kodwa loo nto ayithethi kuthi uyabavumela abantu ukuba bophule imithetho yakhe. Abefundisi beecawe basenokucinga ukuba babhetyebhetye xa benyumbaza iindlebe zamarhamente abo ngokuwafundisa ukuba akukho ntw’ irongo ngokwenza izinto angazifuniyo uYehova. (2 Timoti 4:3) Abantu badla ngokuyenza into erongo besazi xa kuyeyona ndlela ilula leyo kubo, baze bathi babhetyebhetye. Kodwa akuyondlela abhetyebhetye ngayo leyo uYehova. UYehova ungcwele; soze ophule imithetho yakhe. (Levitikus 11:44) Kufuneka siqonde ke ukuba esona sizathu sokuba uYehova abe bhetyebhetye kukuba uthobekile. Loo nto isenza simthande nyhani. Ikwenza uzive njani into yokuba uYehova uThixo, oyena Mntu usisilumko kubo bonke, ekwangoyena Mntu uthobekileyo kubo bonke? Kumnandi nyhani ukusondela kulo Thixo omkhulu kangaka abe elulamile, enomonde futhi ebhetyebhetye!