1, 2. (a) Ngokuvamile wenzenjani umama uma umntanakhe ekhala? (b) Yimuphi umuzwa onamandla nakakhulu kunozwela lukamama?

 PHAKATHI kwamabili umntwana uyakhala. Unina uthi gubhu avuke. Selokhu athola umntwana akasalali zwi njengasekuqaleni. Useyakwazi ukuhlukanisa ukukhala kosana lwakhe. Ngakho uyakwazi ukubona ukuthi usana lwakhe ludinga ukunceliswa, ukugonwa, noma ukuwotawotwa. Kodwa kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umntwana ukhalelani, unina uyamnaka. Izinseka azimvumeli ukuba azizibe izidingo zengane yakhe.

² Uzwela umama analo ngengane eyavundla esiswini sakhe luphakathi kwemizwa yothando ejule kunayo yonke abantu abayizwayo. Kodwa kunomuzwa onamandla angenakulinganiswa—uzwela lukaNkulunkulu wethu, uJehova. Ukufunda ngale mfanelo esenza simthande kungasisiza sisondele nakakhulu kuJehova. Khona-ke ake sixoxe ngokuthi luyini uzwela nokuthi uNkulunkulu wethu ulubonisa kanjani.

3. Sisho ukuthini isenzo sesiHebheru esihunyushwe ngokuthi “bonisa isihe” noma “hawukela”?

³ EBhayibhelini uzwela luhlobene eduze nesihe. Maningana amagama esiHebheru nawesiGreki anomqondo wozwela. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngesenzo sesiHebheru esithi ra·chamʹ esivame ukuhunyushwa ngokuthi “bonisa isihe” noma “hawukela.” Enye incwadi ithi isenzo esithi ra·chamʹ “sisho umuzwa wozwela olujulile, njengalolo esiba nalo uma sibona esibathandayo noma abadinga usizo lwethu bephela amandla noma behlupheka.” Leli gama lesiHebheru  uJehova alisebenzisa kuye lihlobene negama elisho “isibeletho” futhi lingachazwa ngokuthi “uzwela lukamama.” a—Eksodusi 33:19; Jeremiya 33:26.

4, 5. IBhayibheli liyisebenzisa kanjani imizwa umama anayo ngomntanakhe ukuze lisifundise ngozwela lukaJehova?

⁴ IBhayibheli lisebenzisa imizwa umama anayo ngomntanakhe ukuze lisifundise lokho okushiwo uzwela lukaJehova. Ku-Isaya 49:15 siyafunda: “Owesifazane angamkhohlwa yini umntanakhe osancela noma angayizweli [ra·chamʹ] indodana yesibeletho sakhe? Ngisho noma laba besifazane bangakhohlwa, mina ngeke ngikukhohlwe.” Leyo ncazelo ethinta inhliziyo igcizelela ukujula kozwela uJehova analo ngabantu bakhe. Kanjani?

⁵ Kunzima ukucabanga ukuthi umama angakhohlwa ukuncelisa nokunaka ingane yakhe esancela. Phela usana alukwazi ukuzisiza; ubusuku nemini umntwana udinga ukunakekelwa unina futhi udinga uthando lwakhe. Kuyadabukisa nokho ukuthi kuyenzeka omama bangazinaki izingane zabo, ikakhulu kulezi “zikhathi ezibucayi” eziphawulwa ukungabi nalo “uthando.” (2 Thimothewu 3:1, 3) UJehova yena uthi: “Mina ngeke ngikukhohlwe.” Uzwela uJehova analo ngezinceku zakhe alupheli. Amandla alo awanakulinganiswa nawomuzwa wemvelo wothando olujule kakhulu—uzwela umama aye aluzwe ngosana lwakhe. Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi umhlaziyi othile wathi ngo-Isaya 49:15: “La mazwi aphakathi kwamazwi anamandla kakhulu abonisa uthando lukaNkulunkulu eTestamenteni Elidala, uma kungekhona ukuthi yiwo anamandla kunawo wonke.”

6. Abantu abaningi abanesono baye balubheka kanjani uzwela, kodwa uJehova usiqinisekisa ngani?

⁶ Ingabe ukubonisa uzwela kuwuphawu lobuthakathaka?  Abantu abaningi abanesono bebenalowo mbono. Ngokwesibonelo, isazi sefilosofi esingumRoma uSeneca, owaphila sikhathi sinye noJesu nowayengungqondongqondo owaziwayo eRoma, wafundisa ukuthi “isihawu siwubuthakathaka bengqondo.” USeneca wayengumsekeli wamaStoyiku, wona ayenefilosofi egcizelela ukuthula kwangaphakathi okungenamizwa. USeneca wayethi umuntu ohlakaniphile angabasiza abahluphekile, kodwa akumele azivumele ukuba abahawukele ngoba lowo muzwa ungamncisha ukuthula. Umbono obonisa ukuzikhathalela okunjalo wawenza umuntu angalubonisi uzwela olusuka enhliziyweni. Kodwa uJehova akanjalo neze! EZwini lakhe uJehova usiqinisekisa ngokuthi “unozwela olukhulu nesihe.” (Jakobe 5:11, mbhw.) Njengoba sizobona, uzwela alubona ubuthakathaka kodwa luyimfanelo enamandla nesemqoka. Ake sihlole ukuthi uJehova, njengomzali onothando, ulubonisa kanjani.

7, 8. Ama-Israyeli ahlupheka kanjani eGibhithe lasendulo, futhi uJehova wasabela kanjani ekuhluphekeni kwawo?

⁷ Uzwela lukaJehova lubonakala ngokucacile endleleni aphatha ngayo isizwe sakwa-Israyeli. Ekupheleni kwekhulu lika-16 B.C.E., izigidi zama-Israyeli zazigqilazwe eGibhithe lasendulo lapho zazicindezelwa khona kanzima. AbaseGibhithe “bakwenza kwaba munyu ukuphila kwawo ngokuwagqilaza, njengoba ayesebenza ngobumba nezitini nangazo zonke izinhlobo zobugqila.” (Eksodusi 1:11, 14) Njengoba ayecindezelekile, ama-Israyeli akhalela usizo kuJehova. Wasabela kanjani uNkulunkulu onozwela?

⁸ Inhliziyo kaJehova yathinteka. Wathi: “Ngikubonile ngempela ukuhlupheka kwabantu bami abaseGibhithe, ngakuzwa nokukhala kwabo ngenxa yalabo ababaphoqa ukuba  basebenze; ngibazi kahle ubuhlungu ababuzwayo.” (Eksodusi 3:7) UJehova wayengeke abone ukuhlupheka kwabantu bakhe noma ezwe ukukhala kwabo kodwa kungathi diki kuye. Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 24 sale ncwadi, uJehova unguNkulunkulu ozizwa ecindezelekile lapho ebona izinceku zakhe zicindezelekile. Kodwa uJehova akagcinanga nje ngokubazwela abantu bakhe; wathinteka wabenzela okuthile. U-Isaya 63:9 uthi: “Ngothando nangobubele bakhe wabahlenga.” UJehova wasindisa ama-Israyeli eGibhithe ‘ngamandla amakhulu.’ (Duteronomi 4:34) Esewasindisile, wawanika ukudla okuyisimangaliso wawayisa nasezweni elinothile okwakuzoba elawo.

9, 10. (a) Kungani uJehova ayelokhu ewakhulula kaningi ama-Israyeli lapho esezinzile eZweni Lesithembiso? (b) Ezinsukwini zikaJefta uJehova wakhulula ama-Israyeli kukuphi ukucindezelwa, futhi yini eyamenza wawakhulula?

⁹ Uzwela lukaJehova alugcinanga ngaleso sikhathi. Ngesikhathi ama-Israyeli esezinzile eZweni Lesithembiso, ayelokhu engathembeki abese ehlupheka ngenxa yalokho. Kodwa ayeye awabone amaphutha awo bese ekhala kuJehova. Wayewakhulula kaningi. Kungani? “Ngoba waba nozwela ngabantu bakhe.”—2 IziKronike 36:15; AbaHluleli 2:11-16.

¹⁰ Cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka ezinsukwini zikaJefta. Njengoba ama-Israyeli ayesekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga, uJehova wawayeka acindezelwa abakwa-Amoni iminyaka engu-18. Ekugcineni ama-Israyeli aphenduka. IBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi: “Basusa onkulunkulu bezinye izizwe phakathi kwabo bakhonza uJehova, kangangokuba akabange esakwazi ukubekezelela ukuhlupheka kuka-Israyeli.” b (AbaHluleli  10:6-16) Babethi bangaphenduka ngobuqotho nje abantu bakhe, uJehova angabe esakumela ukubabona behlupheka. Ngakho uNkulunkulu onozwela wanika uJefta amandla okuba akhulule ama-Israyeli ezandleni zezitha zawo.—AbaHluleli 11:30-33.

11. Indlela uJehova aphatha ngayo isizwe sakwa-Israyeli isifundisani ngozwela?

¹¹ Indlela uJehova aphatha ngayo isizwe sakwa-Israyeli isifundisani ngozwela? Phakathi kokunye, siyabona ukuthi lungaphezu nje kokudabukela abantu abahluphekayo. Khumbula isibonelo sikamama oshukunyiswa uzwela ukuba anake umntanakhe lapho ekhala. Ngendlela efanayo, uJehova uyakunaka ukukhala kwabantu bakhe. Uzwela analo lumenza abakhulule ekuhluphekeni kwabo. Okunye futhi ukuthi indlela uJehova aphatha ngayo ama-Israyeli isifundisa ukuthi uzwela alubona neze ubuthakathaka, ngoba le mfanelo yothando yamenza wenzela abantu bakhe isenzo esiwujuqu nesibonisa ukuthi unamandla. Kodwa ingabe uJehova ubonisa uzwela ezincekwini zakhe lapho ziyiqembu kuphela?

12. UMthetho wawubonisa kanjani ukuthi uJehova unozwela ngabantu ngabanye?

¹² UMthetho uNkulunkulu awunikeza isizwe sakwa-Israyeli wabonisa uzwela analo ngomuntu ngamunye. Ngokwesibonelo cabanga ngokukhathalela kwakhe abampofu. UJehova wayazi ukuthi kungaphakama izimo ezingalindelekile ezazingenza umIsrayeli aswele. Kwakufanele baphathwe kanjani abampofu? UJehova wawayala ngokuqinile ama-Israyeli: “Ungayenzi lukhuni inhliziyo yakho noma umvalele isandla umfowenu ompofu. Kufanele umnike ngesandla esivulekile, akufanele umnike ububula, ngoba kungenxa yalesi sizathu uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho eyobusisa zonke izenzo zakho nayo yonke imizamo yakho.” (Duteronomi 15:7, 10)  UJehova wabuye wayala ama-Israyeli ukuba angavuni ngokuphelele ngasemngceleni wamasimu awo noma abuthe umkhothozo. Leyo mikhothozo kwakungeyabampofu. (Levitikusi 23:22; Ruthe 2:2-7) Uma isizwe siwulalela lo mthetho obonisa ukucabangela abampofu baso, abantu abahluphekayo kwa-Israyeli kwakungadingeki banxibe. Ingabe lokho kwakungabonisi ukuthi uJehova unozwela?

13, 14. (a) Amazwi kaDavide asiqinisekisa kanjani ukuthi uJehova usikhathalela ngokujulile njengabantu ngabanye? (b) Yisiphi isibonelo esibonisa ukuthi uJehova useduze nalabo “abaphukile enhliziyweni” noma “abadangele”?

¹³ Nanamuhla uNkulunkulu wethu onothando usikhathalela ngokujulile njengabantu ngabanye. Singaqiniseka ukuthi ukwazi kahle konke ukuhlupheka esingase sibhekane nakho. Umhubi uDavide wabhala: “Amehlo kaJehova akwabalungile, nezindlebe zakhe ziyalalela lapho bekhalela usizo. UJehova useduze nalabo abaphukile enhliziyweni; uyabasindisa abadangele.” (IHubo 34:15, 18) Mayelana nalabo abachazwa yila mazwi, omunye umhlaziyi weBhayibheli uthi: “Inhliziyo yabo iphukile nomoya wabo udabukile, okusho ukuthi bathotshiswe yisono, abanakho ukuzihlonipha; bayazinyeza, abazethembi.” Abantu abanjalo bangase babe nomuzwa wokuthi uJehova ukude kakhulu futhi baphansi kakhulu ukuba abakhathalele. Kodwa akunjalo. Amazwi kaDavide asiqinisekisa ngokuthi uJehova akabalahli labo ‘abazinyezayo.’ UNkulunkulu wethu onozwela uyazi ukuthi ngalezo zikhathi sisuke simdinga kakhulu kunanganoma yiziphi ezinye izikhathi, futhi useduze.

¹⁴ Cabanga ngalokhu okwenzeka. Umama othile e-United States waphuthumisa indodana yakhe eneminyaka emibili esibhedlela ngoba yayinomkhuhlane omubi kabi. Ngemva kokuxilonga umfana, odokotela batshela unina ukuthi kuzodingeka bamlalise esibhedlela. Walalaphi unina ngalelo langa? Esihlalweni esasisegunjini lesibhedlela, eduze kombhede  womfana wakhe! Umfanyana wakhe wayegula, unina wayefuna ukuba seduze kwakhe. Ngokuqinisekile singalindela okukhulu nakakhulu kunalokho kuBaba wethu wasezulwini onothando! Angithi senziwe ngomfanekiso wakhe. (Genesise 1:26) Amazwi athinta inhliziyo eHubo 34:18 asitshela ukuthi lapho ‘siphuke inhliziyo’ noma ‘sidangele,’ uJehova, njengomzali onothando, “useduze”—uhlale enozwela futhi ekulungele ukusisiza.

15. Yiziphi izindlela uJehova asisiza ngazo njengabantu ngabanye?

¹⁵ Usisiza kanjani-ke uJehova njengabantu ngabanye? Akayisusi ngempela imbangela yokuhlupheka kwethu. Kodwa ubenzele amalungiselelo amaningi labo abakhalela usizo kuye. IZwi lakhe iBhayibheli linikeza iseluleko esisebenzayo esingaba usizo. Ebandleni, uJehova ulungiselele ababonisi abafanelekayo ngokomoya abazama ukulingisa uzwela lwakhe lapho besiza abanye abakhulekeli. (Jakobe 5:14, 15) Njengoba ‘elalela imithandazo,’ uyabanika “umoya ongcwele labo abawucela kuye.” (IHubo 65:2; Luka 11:13) Lowo moya ungasinika “amandla angaphezu kwavamile” ukuze sikhuthazele kuze kube yilapho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ususa zonke izinkinga ezisicindezelayo. (2 Korinte 4:7) Asiwazisi yini wonke la malungiselelo? Masingakhohlwa ukuthi ayizindlela uJehova abonisa ngazo uzwela.

16. Yisiphi isibonelo sozwela lukaJehova esikhulu kunazo zonke, futhi simthinta kanjani umuntu ngamunye?

¹⁶ Kodwa-ke isibonelo esikhulu kunazo zonke sozwela lukaJehova ukunikela kwakhe ngaLowo amthanda kakhulu ukuba abe isihlengo sethu. Kwakuwukuzidela kukaJehova okubonisa uthando, futhi kwasivulela indlela yokuba sisindiswe. Khumbula, lelo lungiselelo lesihlengo lithinta wena siqu. Kuyafaneleka ukuthi uZakariya, uyise kaJohane uMbhapathizi, wabikezela ukuthi leli lungiselelo laliyolubonisa ngendlela emangalisayo ‘uzwela lukaNkulunkulu wethu.’—Luka 1:78.

17-19. (a) IBhayibheli libonisa kanjani ukuthi uzwela lukaJehova lunemingcele? (b) Yini eyenza uJehova wagcina eyekile ukubonisa abantu bakhe uzwela?

¹⁷ Ingabe kufanele sicabange ukuthi uzwela lukaJehova alunamingcele? Cha, iBhayibheli libonisa ngokucacile ukuthi kuyafaneleka ukuba uJehova abagodlele uzwela abantu abaphikisana nezindlela zakhe ezilungile. (Hebheru 10:28) Ukuze ubone ukuthi kungani enza kanjalo, khumbula isibonelo sesizwe sakwa-Israyeli.

¹⁸ Nakuba uJehova ayelokhu ewakhulula ama-Israyeli ezitheni zawo, wagcina eyekile ukuwabonisa uzwela. Laba bantu abangezwa babekhulekela izithixo, baze bazilethe naphakathi ethempelini likaJehova lezi zithixo zabo ezinyanyekayo! (Hezekeli 5:11; 8:17, 18) Sitshelwa nokuthi: “Babelokhu behlekisa ngezithunywa zikaNkulunkulu weqiniso, bedelela amazwi akhe, bebenza inhlekisa abaprofethi bakhe, kwaze kwaphela ithemba lokuthi bangaphulukiswa, uJehova wabavuthela ngolaka.” (2 IziKronike 36:16) Ama-Israyeli aze afika eqophelweni lapho kwakungasafaneleki nhlobo ukuba aboniswe uzwela, futhi avusela uJehova intukuthelo efanele. Waba yini umphumela?

¹⁹ UJehova akabange esabazwela abantu bakhe. Wathi: “Ngeke ngibazwele noma ngibadabukele, noma ngibe nomusa kubo; ayikho into eyongivimbela ukuba ngibabhubhise.” (Jeremiya 13:14) Ngaleso sizathu iJerusalema labhujiswa kanye nethempeli lalo, ama-Israyeli wona athunjwa ayiswa eBhabhiloni. Yeka ukuthi kudabukisa kanjani lapho abantu abanesono bedlubulunda baze benze uNkulunkulu angabe esabazwela nhlobo!—IsiLilo 2:21.

20, 21. (a) Kuyokwenzekani lapho uNkulunkulu eyeka ukubonisa uzwela osukwini lwethu? (b) Iliphi ilungiselelo likaJehova elibonisa uzwela okuzoxoxwa ngalo esahlukweni esilandelayo?

²⁰ Kuthiwani ngesikhathi sanamuhla? UJehova akakashintshi. Ngenxa yokuthi unozwela, uthume oFakazi bakhe  ukuba bashumayele ‘izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso’ emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe. (Mathewu 24:14) Uma abantu abanhliziyo ziqotho bezamukela, uJehova uyabasiza basiqonde isigijimi soMbuso. (IzEnzo 16:14) Kodwa lo msebenzi ngeke uqhubeke umshawushile. UJehova uyobe engabonisi uzwela uma engavumela leli zwe elibi, nabo bonke ubuhlungu nezinhlupheko zalo, liqhubeke likhona kuze kube phakade. Lapho uNkulunkulu eyeka ukulibonisa uzwela leli zwe elibi, uyolibhubhisa. Ngisho nalapho, uyobe enziwa uzwela—uzwela ngenxa ‘yegama lakhe elingcwele’ nezinceku zakhe ezizinikele. (Hezekeli 36:20-23) UJehova uyosusa ububi alethe izwe elisha lokulunga. Mayelana nababi, uJehova uthi: “Iso lami ngeke libe nesihawu; ngeke ngibonise uzwela. Imiphumela yezindlela zabo ngiyoyehlisela emakhanda abo.”—Hezekeli 9:10.

²¹ Singakafiki leso sikhathi, uJehova uyabazwela abantu ngisho nalabo abangase babhujiswe. Abantu abonayo abaphenduka ngobuqotho bangazuza kwelinye lamalungiselelo kaJehova abonisa uzwela ngendlela emangalisayo—intethelelo. Esahlukweni esilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngeminye imifanekiso emihle eseBhayibhelini ebonisa ukuthi uJehova uthethelela ngokuphelele.