UJehova—“UZimu Opha Ukuthula”

“Sengathi uZimu opha ukuthula angaba nani noke.”—ROM. 15:33.

1, 2. Ngibuphi ubujamo obubudisi obuhlathululwe kuGenesisi izahluko 32 no-33, begodu waba yini umphumela?

KUSENDAWENI eseduze nePhenuweli, hlanu kwegwari yeJabhoki ngepumalanga yomlambo weJordani. U-Esewu uzwile bona iwele lakhe, uJakobho, libuyela ekhaya. Ngitjho nanyana besele kudlule iimnyaka ema-20 u-Esewu athengisele umnakwabo ubuzibulo, uJakobho bekasaba acabanga bona umnakwabo kungenzeka usambambele ivunda ufuna ukumbulala. Aphekelelwa madoda ama-400, u-Esewu wahlangabeza umnakwabo ebekahlukene naye. Alindele ukwamukelwa ngomguruguru, uJakobho uthumela izipho ezinengi ku-Esewu amahlandla ambalwa, bekwaba ziinlwana ezifuywako ezingaphezu kwa-550. Qobe iinceku zakaJakobho nezinikela u-Esewu umhlambi weenlwana ngamunye, bezimtjela bona usisipho esivela kumnakwabo.

² Emaswapheleni siyafika isikhathi sokuhlangana! Njengombana uJakobho akhamba ngesibindi ayokuhlangana no-Esewu, uyakhothama—ingasi kanye kodwana iinkhathi ezilikhomba. UJakobho sele alithethe igadango eliqakatheke khulu lokwehlisa ilaka lomnakwabo. UJakobho wathandaza kuJehova ambawa bona amphuluse esandleni saka-Esewu. UJehova wawuphendula umthandazo loyo? Iye. IBhayibhili ithi, “U-Esewu wagijima amhlangabeza, wamgona begodu wawela entanyeni yakhe wamanga.”—Gen. 32:11-20; 33:1-4.

3. Sifundani endabeni kaJakobho no-Esewu?

³ Indaba kaJakobho no-Esewu itjengisa bona kufuze senze iimzamo yekuthalo nesebenzako  ukurarulula iimraro engasongela ukuthula esikuthabelako ebandleni lobuKrestu. UJakobho wafuna ukwenza ukuthula no-Esewu, ingasi ngombana bekenze iphoso kumnakwabo begodu kufuze abawe ukulitjalelwa. Kunalokho, ngu-Esewu owadelela ilungelo lakhe lobuzibulo walithengisela uJakobho ngesidlo sinye. (Gen. 25:31-34; Heb. 12:16) Nokho, indlela uJakobho aya ngayo ku-Esewu itjengisa bona kufuze sizimisele ukwenza okungangani ukubulunga ukuthula nabanakwethu abamaKrestu. Godu kutjengisa bona uZimu weqiniso uyayibusisa iimzamo yethu yokwenza ukuthula. IBhayibhili inezinye iimbonelo ezisifundisa bona sibe ngabenzi bokuthula.

Isibonelo Esizidlula Zoke Sokusikhuthaza

4. Liyini ilungiselelo lakaZimu lokuphulusa isintu esonweni nokufa?

⁴ Isibonelo esizidlula zoke somenzi wokuthula nguJehova—“uZimu opha ukuthula.” (Rom. 15:33) Cabanga ngokobana uJehova wenze okungangani ukusisiza sibe nobuhlobo obunokuthula naye. Njengeenzukulwana zaka-Adamu no-Efa ezinesono, sifanelwe kufumana “umvuzo wokwenza isono.” (Rom. 6:23) Nanyana kunjalo, ngethando lakhe elikhulu, uJehova wenza ilungiselelo lokobana siphuluswe ngokuthumela iNdodanakhe ayithandako ukusuka ezulwini bona izokubelethwa njengomuntu opheleleko. INdodanakhe nayo yavumelana nalokho ngokuzithandela. Yazivumela bona ibulawe manaba kaZimu. (Jwa. 10:17, 18) UZimu weqiniso wayivusa iNdodanakhe ethandekako, okwathi ngemva kwalokho yanikela uYise inani leengazi zayo ezaphalakako, ezisihlengo sokuphulusa izoni eziphendukako ekufeni kwaphakade.—Funda KumaHebheru 9:14, 24.

5, 6. Iingazi zakaJesu ezaphalakako zibuthinta njani ubuhlobo obulimeleko hlangana kwakaZimu nesintu esinesono?

⁵ Ilungiselelo lomhlatjelo wesihlengo weNdodana kaZimu libuthinta njani ubuhlobo obulimeleko hlangana kwakaZimu nesintu esinesono? U-Isaya 53:5 uthi, “Wajeziswa ukwenzela bona sibe nokuthula, begodu ngebanga lamanceba wakhe sifumene ukulatjhwa.” Kunokobana baqalwe njengamanaba kaZimu, abantu abalalelako bangathabela ubuhlobo obunokuthula naye. “Ngombana ngokufa kwakaKrestu sikhululiwe, izono zethu zilitjalelwe.”—Efe. 1:7.

⁶ IBhayibhili ithi: “UZimu wakubona kukuhle bona koke ukuphelela kuhlale kuKrestu, [NW].” Lokhu kungombana uKrestu udlala indima eyihloko ekuzaliseni umnqopho kaZimu. Uyini umnqopho kaJehova? ‘Kubuyisana nezinto zoke ezisephasinapha nezulwini ngokwenza ukuthula ngeengazi [ezaphalakako]’ zakaJesu Krestu. ‘Izinto zoke’ uZimu azenze zaba nobuhlobo obunokuthula naye ‘zizinto zezulwini’ ‘nezinto zephasini.’ Ziyini?—Funda KwebeKholose 1:19, 20.

7. Ziyini ‘izinto zezulwini’ ‘nezinto zephasini’ uZimu azenze zaba nobuhlobo obunokuthula naye?

⁷ Ilungiselelo lesihlengo lenza kukghoneke bona amaKrestu azesiweko, ‘okuthiwa alungile’ njengamadodana kaZimu, bona abe ‘nokuthula noZimu.’ (Funda KwebeRoma 5:1.) Kuqaliselwa kiwo ‘njengezinto zezulwini’ ngombana anethemba lezulwini begodu ‘ayolibusa iphasi’ akhonze njengabapristi kuZimu. (ISam. 5:10) Ngakelinye ihlangothi, amezwi athi ‘izinto zephasini’ aqalisele ebantwini abaphendukileko, emaswapheleni abazokufumana ukuphila okungapheliko ephasini.—Rha. 37:29.

8. Uthinteka njani newucabanga ngalokho uJehova akwenzileko ukwenza kukghoneke bona isintu sibe nokuthula naye?

⁸ Azwakalisa ukuthokoza kwakhe okuvela ehliziyweni ngelungiselelo lakaJehova, uPowula watlolela amaKrestu azesiweko e-Efesu wathi: “Isisa sakaZimu siyaphuphuma, . . . wasenza abaphilako kanye noKrestu, thina ebesigade singabafileko ngebanga leemphambuko zethu. Ukuphuluswa kwenu kuya ngomusa wakhe.” (Efe. 2:4, 5) Kungakhathaliseki bona sinethemba lezulwini namtjhana lephasini, kufuze simthokoze ngokudephileko uZimu  ngomusa wakhe omkhulu. Iinhliziyo zethu zizala ukuthokoza nesicabanga ngalokho uJehova akwenzileko ukwenza kukghonakale ngesintu bona sibe nokuthula naye. Nesiqalene nobujamo obusongela ubunye obunokuthula ebandleni, ukuzindla kwethu ngokuthokoza ngesibonelo sakaZimu kufuze kusitjhukumisele bona sibe ngabenzi bokuthula.

Ukufunda Esibonelweni Saka-Abrahama no-Isaka

9, 10. U-Abrahama watjengisa njani bona umumenzi wokuthula endleleni asebenzelana ngayo noLoti nekuba nokunghanghisana hlangana nabelusi babo?

⁹ Malungana no-Abrahama, iBhayibhili ithi: “‘U-Abrahama wakholwa kuZimu, ngebanga lokukholwa kwakhe wamamukela bona ulungile,’ wabizwa bona mngani wakaZimu.” (Jak. 2:23) Ikholo laka-Abrahama labonakala ngezenzo zakhe zokuthanda ukuthula. Ngokwesibonelo, njengombana umhlambi ka-Abrahama wanda, kwaba nokunghanghisana hlangana kwabelusi bakhe nebendodana yomnakwabo uLoti. (Gen. 12:5; 13:7) Okukuphela kwesisombululo bekukobana u-Abrahama noLoti bahlukane. U-Abrahama bekazokuqalana njani nobujamo obubudisobu? Esikhundleni sokusebenzisa ubudala bakhe nobujamo bakhe noZimu ukutjela uLoti bona enzeni, u-Abrahama wazibonakalisa amumenzi wokuthula wamambala.

¹⁰ U-Abrahama wathi kuLoti, “Ngiyabawa, ungavumeli bona kuragele phambili kunokunghanghisana hlangana kwabelusi bakho nebami, ngombana sibantwana bomuntu.” U-Abrahama waragela phambili wathi: “Inarha yoke ayikho phambi kwakho na? Ngibawa sihlukane. Newuya ngakwesobuncele, ngizokuya ngakwesokudla; kodwana newuya ngakwesokudla, yeke mina ngizokuya ngakwesobuncele.” ULoti wakhetha indawo enothe kunazo zoke, kodwana u-Abrahama zange ambambele amavunda. (Gen. 13:8-11) Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi uLoti nekathunjwa mabutho ahlaselako, u-Abrahama zange azaze ukuyomphulusa.—Gen. 14:14-16.

11. U-Abrahama wakulwela njani ukuba nokuthula nabomakhelwana bakhe abamaFilisti?

¹¹ Godu cabanga ngendlela u-Abrahama alwela ngayo ukuthula nobomakhelwana bakhe abamaFilisti enarheni yeKanana. AmaFilisti “ayithatha ngenturhu” ipetsi ebeyigujwe ziinceku zaka-Abrahama eBheritjheba. Indoda ebeyiphuluse indodana yomnakwabo ngokuhlula amakhosi amane ebekayithumbile beyizokusabela njani esenzwenesi? Kunokobana alwe begodu abuyise ipetsakhe, u-Abrahama wakhetha ukuthula endabeni le. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, ikosi yamaFilisti yavakatjhela u-Abrahama bona benze isivumelwano sokuthula. Kungesikhatheso kwaphela ngemva kobana u-Abrahama afunge ukuba nomusa eenzukulwaneni zekosi yamaFilisti akhuluma khona ngendaba yokwetjelwa kwakhe ipetsi. Irarwe kukuzwa ngalokhu, ikosi yabuyisela ipetsi ku-Abrahama. U-Abrahama, waragela phambili aphila ngokuthula njengesifiki enarheni.—Gen. 21:22-31, 34.

12, 13. (a) U-Isaka wasilandela njani isibonelo sakayise? (b) UJehova wakubusisa njani ukuthanda ukuthula kwaka-Isaka?

¹² Indodana ka-Abrahama u-Isaka yalandela isibonelo sakayise sokuthanda ukuthula. Lokhu kubonakala endleleni u-Isaka asebenzelana ngayo namaFilisti. Ngebanga lendlala enarheni, u-Isaka wafudukisa umndenakhe ngetlhagwini yeBheri-lahayi-royi endaweni eyomileko yeNegebhi wawusa endaweni enothileko yamaFilisti eGerari. UJehova wabusisa u-Isaka ngesivuno esikhulu nangokwanda kwefuyo yakhe. AmaFilisti athoma ukummonakalela. Angafuni bona u-Isaka aphumelele njengoyise, amaFilisti avala iimpetsi ebezenjiwe ziinceku zaka-Abrahama endaweni leyo. Emaswapheleni, ikosi yamaFilisti yatjela u-Isaka bona ‘afuduke endaweni yabo.’ U-Isaka indoda enokuthula yenza njengombana kutjhiwo.—Gen. 24:62; 26:1, 12-17.

¹³ Ngemva kobana u-Isaka afuduse ikampa yakhe wayisa kude, abelusi bakhe bemba enye godu ipetsi. Abelusi bamaFilisti bathi amanzi lawo ngewabo. Njengoyise u-Abrahama,  u-Isaka khenge ayilwele ipetsi leyo. Kunalokho, u-Isaka wathi iinceku zakhe zembe enye ipetsi. Godu amaFilisti athi naleyo ngeyawo. Afuna ukubulunga ukuthula, u-Isaka wafudusa ikampakhe ekulu wayisa kenye indawo. Nebafika lapho iinceku zakhe zemba ipetsi u-Isaka ayibiza ngokobana yiRehobhoti. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, wafudukela endaweni enothe khudlwana yeBheritjheba, lapho uJehova ambusisa khona begodu wathi kuye: “Ungasabi ngombana nginawe, ngizokubusisa ngibuyelele inzalo yakho ngebanga lenceku yami u-Abrahama.”—Gen. 26:17-25.

14. U-Isaka wazibonakalisa njani amumenzi wokuthula ikosi yamaFilisti neyifuna ukwenza isivumelwano sokuthula naye?

¹⁴ Ngokuqinisekileko, u-Isaka bekanamandla wokulwela ilungelo lakhe lokusebenzisa zoke iimpetsi ebezenjiwe ziinceku zakhe. Ngaphezu kwakho koke, ikosi yamaFilisti neenkhulu zayo zamvakatjhela eBheritjheba zifuna ukwenza isivumelwano sokuthula naye, zathi: “Ngokuqinisekileko sibonile bona uJehova unawe.” Nanyana kunjalo, bona abulunge ukuthula, u-Isaka wakhetha ukufuduka ngaphezu kwesikhathi esisodwa kunokobana alwe. Nakilokhu u-Isaka wazibonakalisa amumenzi wokuthula. Ukulandisa komlando kuthi: “Wazenzela isidlo [iimvakatjhi zakhe] zadla zasela. Ngelanga elilandelako zavuka ekuseni zafunga komunye nomunye. Ngemva kwalokho u-Isaka wabakhambisa . . . ngokuthula.”—Gen. 26:26-31.

Ukufunda Endodaneni Ebeyithandwa Khulu NguJakobho

15. Kubayini abanakwabo kaJosefa bebangakghoni ukukhuluma naye ngokuthula?

¹⁵ Indodana ka-Isaka uJakobho yakhula yaba “yindoda engasolekiko.” (Gen. 25:27) Njengombana kukhulunywe ekuthomeni, uJakobho wafuna ukwenza ukuthula nomnakwabo, u-Esewu. Akunakuzaza bona uJakobho wazuza esibonelweni sakayise u-Isaka, sokwenza ukuthula. Yini engatjhiwo ngamadodana kaJakobho? Emadodanenakhe ali-12, uJakobho bekathanda khulu uJosefa. UJosefa bekayindodana elalelako nenehlonipho ezitlhogomela ngokudephileko iinkareko zakayise. (Gen. 37:2, 14) Nokho, abanakwabo kaJosefa abakhulu bammonakalela kangangobana bebangakghoni ukukhuluma naye ngokuthula. Ngelunya, bathengisa uJosefa ebugqilini begodu bakhohlisa uyise bamenza wakholelwa bona ubulewe sibandana somango.—Gen. 37:4, 28, 31-33.

16, 17. UJosefa wazibonakalisa njani kubanakwabo amthandi wokuthula?

¹⁶ UJehova wabonakala anoJosefa. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uJosefa waba ngundunakulu weGibhida—obekadlulwa nguFaro kwaphela ngamandla. Indlala ekulu neyiletha abanakwabo kaJosefa eGibhida, khenge bakwazi ngitjho nokumazi nasekavunule ngezebukhosini beGibhida. (Gen. 42:5-7) Qala bona bekulula kangangani ngoJosefa ukubuyiselela abanakwabo ngobumbi ababenze kuye nakuyise! Nokho, kunokobana afune ukubabuyiselela ngabakwenzileko, uJosefa walinga ukwenza ukuthula nabo. Nekubonakala ngokukhanyako bona abanakwabo baphendukile, wazazisa kibo, wathi: “Ningazizwa nibuhlungu begodu ningazikwateli ngombana nangithengisa la; ngebanga lokobana kuvikelwe ukuphila uZimu wangithumela phambi kwenu.” Ngalokho, wabanga boke abanakwabo walila.—Gen. 45:1, 5, 15.

¹⁷ Ngemva kokufa kwakaJakobho, abanakwabo kaJosefa bacabanga bona uJosefa uzozibuyiselela kibo. Njengombana baveza ukusaba kwabo, uJosefa “wakhihla esikhulu” waphendula wathi: “Ningasabi. Mina ngizokuragela phambili nginipha ukudla nina nabantwabenu abancani.” Umthandi wokuthula uJosefa “wabaduduza begodu wakhuluma nabo ngokuqinisako.”—Gen. 50:15-21.

“Kwatlolelwa Ukusifundisa”

18, 19. (a) Uzuze njani ngokucabangela iimbonelo zabenzi bokuthula ekucocwe ngabo esihlokwenesi? (b) Yini esizoyicabangela esihlokweni esilandelako?

¹⁸ UPowula watlola, “Koke okwatlolwako ngaphambilini kwatlolelwa ukusifundisa, ze  kuthi ngokunyamazela esinakho, ngebanga lalokho esikufundako eMitlolweni ecwengileko, ngokukhuthazwa ngiyo sibe nethemba.” (Rom. 15:4) Sizuze njani ngokungacabangeli kwaphela isibonelo sakaJehova esizidlula zoke kodwana nokulandisa okungokoMtlolo okumalungana no-Abrahama, u-Isaka, uJakobho noJosefa?

¹⁹ Ukuzindla ngokuthokoza ngalokho uJehova akwenza bona alungise ubuhlobo obonakeleko hlangana kwakhe nesintu esinesono akusitjhukumiseli na bona senze koke esingakwenza bonyana sibe nokuthula nabanye? Iimbonelo ezinjengesaka-Abrahama, u-Isaka, uJakobho noJosefa zitjengisa indlela ababelethi abangaba nomthelela omuhle ngayo ebantwaneni babo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukulandisokhu kutjengisa nokobana uJehova ubusisa iimzamo yalabo abalinga ukwenza ukuthula. Kungebangelo uPowula aqalisela kuJehova ‘njengoZimu opha ukuthula’! (Funda KwebeRoma 15:33; 16:20.) Isihloko esilandelako sizokukhuluma ngokobana kubayini uPowula agandelela bona kuqakathekile ngathi bonyana silwele ukuthula nendlela esingaba ngayo ngabenzi bokuthula.

Ufundeni?

• UJakobho wakwenza ngayiphi indlela ukuthula nekazokuhlangana no-Esewu?

• Kukuthinte njani lokho uJehova akwenzako ukwenzela bona isintu sibe nokuthula naye?

• Ufundeni eembonelweni zabenzi bokuthula u-Abrahama, u-Isaka, uJakobho, noJosefa?

[Iimbuzo Yesifundo]

[Iinthombe ekhasini 23]

Ngiliphi igadango eliqakatheke khulu elathathwa nguJakobho ekwenzeni ukuthula no-Esewu?