1, 2. Iziphi izici zemihlangano engokwasezulwini esizozidingida?

IMIHLANGANO yezizwe neyesigodi ibilokhu iyingxenye yomlando wanamuhla woFakazi BakaJehova kusukela kudala. Abaningi kithi baye baya kule mihlangano ejabulisayo, mhlawumbe kweminingi phakathi namashumi eminyaka edlule.

² Ezinkulungwaneni zeminyaka edlule, abantu bakaNkulunkulu nabo babeba nemihlangano engcwele. Sizobukeza eminye yemihlangano okukhulunywa ngayo eBhayibhelini yangaphambi kweyosuku lwanamuhla, sibone ukufana okukhona phakathi kwezici zasendulo nezanamuhla zemibuthano enjalo bese sigxila ezinzuzweni ezitholakala ngokuya kuyo.—IHu. 44:1; Roma 15:4.

3. (a) Waphawuleka ngani umhlangano wokuqala wabantu bakaJehova esitshelwa ngawo? (b) Ama-Israyeli ayebizwa kanjani ukuze ahlangane ndawonye?

³ Umhlangano omkhulu wokuqala esitshelwa ngawo abantu bakaNkulunkulu abaya kuwo ngenjongo yokuthola imfundo engokomoya yilowo owaba phansi kweNtaba iSinayi. Wawuyingqopha-mlando yangempela emlandweni wokukhulekela okuhlanzekile. Kuleso senzakalo esasivusa amadlingozi, okungangabazeki ukuthi ababekhona abazange basilibale, uJehova wabonisa ama-Israyeli amandla akhe lapho ewanikeza uMthetho wakhe. (Eks. 19:2-9, 16-19; funda u-Eksodusi 20:18; Duteronomi 4:9, 10.) Lowo mhlangano waba isisekelo sokusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu no-Israyeli eminyakeni eyalandela. Ngemva nje kwalokho, uJehova wasungula indlela okwakuzobizwa ngayo abantu bakhe ukuba bahlangane. Wayala uMose ukuba enze amacilongo amabili esiliva, ayezosetshenziselwa ukubiza “yonke inhlangano” ukuba ihlangane “emnyango wetende lokuhlangana.” (Num. 10:1-4) Zama ukucabanga nje ngesasasa elaliba khona kuleyo mibuthano!

4, 5. Kungani imihlangano eyaqhutshwa uMose noJoshuwa yayibaluleke ngokukhethekile?

 ⁴ Ngasekupheleni kweminyaka engu-40 ama-Israyeli ayihlala ehlane, esikhathini esasibucayi emlandweni waleso sizwe empeleni esasisesisha, uMose wabizela ndawonye ama-Israyeli akubo. Ayeselungele ukungena eZweni Lesithembiso. Lesi kwakuyisikhathi esifanelekayo ngoMose ukuba akhumbuze abafowabo zonke izinto uJehova ayebenzele zona nakho konke ayesazobenzela kona.—Dut. 29:1-15; 30:15-20; 31:30.

⁵ Mhlawumbe kuwo lowo mhlangano, uMose wakhuluma ngelungiselelo lasikhathi sonke lokuba abantu bakaNkulunkulu bahlangane futhi bafundiswe. Ngeminyaka yeSabatha phakathi noMkhosi Wamadokodo, amadoda, abesifazane, abantwana nabafokazi ababegogobele kwa-Israyeli kwakumelwe babuthane endaweni eyayikhethwe uJehova ‘ukuze balalele futhi bafunde ukwesaba uJehova futhi baqaphele ukuwafeza wonke amazwi omthetho.’ (Funda uDuteronomi 31:1, 10-12.) Ngakho, kwacaca kwasekuqaleni komlando wabantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuthi kwakumelwe bahlangane njalo bafunde izwi likaJehova nangezinjongo zakhe. Lapho ama-Israyeli eseqede ukunqoba iZwe Lesithembiso kodwa esazungezwe izizwe ezingamaqaba, uJoshuwa wabutha wonke ama-Israyeli ngenjongo yokuqinisa ukuzimisela kwawo ukuhlala eqotho kuJehova. Besabela kulokhu, abantu bafunga ukuthi babeyokhonza uNkulunkulu.—Josh. 23:1, 2; 24:1, 15, 21-24.

6, 7. Kungani kungase kushiwo ukuthi imihlangano yanamuhla yabantu bakaJehova iye yaba ingqopha-mlando ebalulekile?

⁶ Iye yaba khona imihlangano eyingqopha-mlando nasemlandweni wanamuhla wabantu bakaJehova—imihlangano eye yaphawula izenzakalo ezinkulu emisebenzini engokwasezulwini noma ekuqondeni kwethu imiBhalo. (IzAga 4:18) Umhlangano wokuqala omkhulu abaFundi BeBhayibheli ababa nawo ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, waba ngo-1919 eCedar Point, e-Ohio, e-U.S.A. Lowo mhlangano owathanyelwa abantu abangaba ngu-7 000 ukhunjulwa ngokuthi kwasungulwa kuwo umkhankaso wokushumayela embulungeni yonke. Ngo-1922, ngesikhathi kunomhlangano owathatha izinsuku ezingu-9 kuyo le ndawo, lo msebenzi wanikezwa umfutho omkhulu uJoseph F. Rutherford, owanxusa ababekhona ababelalelisisile: “Yibani ofakazi beNkosi abathembekile nabeqiniso. Qhubekani nilwa kuze kube yilapho yonke iminonjana yeBhabhiloni isibhujisiwe. Memezelani isigijimi yonke indawo. Izwe kumelwe lazi ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu nokuthi uJesu Kristu uyiNkosi Yamakhosi noMbusi Wababusi. Lolu usuku olukhulu kunazo zonke. Bhekani, iNkosi iyabusa! Nina ningamanxusa ayo okuyimemezela. Ngakho-ke, memezelani, memezelani, memezelani, iNkosi nombuso wayo.” Bonke ababekhona nabo bonke abantu bakaNkulunkulu emhlabeni wonke, bakwamukela ngenjabulo lokho kunxusa.

⁷ Ngo-1931, eColumbus, e-Ohio, abaFundi BeBhayibheli bakujabulela ngempela ukwamukela igama elithi oFakazi BakaJehova. Kwabe sekuthi ngo-1935, eWashington, D.C., uMfoweth’ uRutherford wachaza ukuthi singobani “isixuku esikhulu,” esichazwa kusAmbulo ‘njengesimi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi naphambi kweWundlu.’ (IsAm. 7:9-17) Ngo-1942, ngesikhathi iMpi Yezwe II isabambene ngezihluthu, uNathan H. Knorr wanikeza inkulumo evusa amadlingozi eyayinesihloko esithi, “Ukuthula—Ingabe Kungahlala Njalo?” Kule nkulumo wachaza ukuthi siyini ‘isilo sasendle esinombala obomvu’ sesAmbulo 17 futhi wabonisa ukuthi kwakusazoba nomsebenzi omningi wokushumayela ngemva kwempi.

8, 9. Kungani imihlangano ethile iye yaba ethinta inhliziyo kakhulu?

⁸ Okwaphawuleka ngokukhethekile eMhlanganweni Ongokwasezulwini “Wezizwe Ezijabulayo” owaba seCleveland, e-Ohio, ngo-1946, kwaba inkulumo yoMfoweth’ uKnorr eyayinesihloko esithi “Izinkinga Zokwakha Kabusha Nokwanda.” Echaza isasasa eladalwa yileyo nkulumo, omunye wababekhona wabhala: “Ngaba nelungelo  lokuba ngemva kwakhe endaweni yesikhulumi kusihlwa ngalolo suku, futhi njengoba echaza umsebenzi wabe esekhuluma ngezinhlelo zokwandisa ikhaya laseBethel eBrooklyn nendawo yokunyathelisa, izilaleli zashaya ihlombe isikhathi eside. Nakuba ubuso bezilaleli babungabonakali uma usendaweni yesikhulumi, kwakulula ukuzwa ukuthi zazijabule.” Komunye umhlangano wezizwe owaba seDolobheni laseNew York ngo-1950, izilaleli zajabulela ukuthola INguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ngesiNgisi, iBhayibheli lokuqala ukwethulwa lolimi lwanamuhla elalibuyisela igama likaNkulunkulu endaweni yalo efanele eZwini lakhe.—Jer. 16:21.

⁹ Imihlangano uJehova abuthela kuyo oFakazi bakhe abathembekile ngemva kwezikhathi zoshushiso noma ukuvinjelwa nayo yayithinta inhliziyo kakhulu. U-Adolf Hitler wayefunge ukuthi wayeyobaqothula oFakazi BakaJehova eJalimane, kodwa emhlanganweni owaba ngo-1955, oFakazi abangu-107 000 bagcwalisa izinkundla ayevame ukumasha kuzo eNuremberg. Abaningi ababekhona abakwazanga ukubamba izinyembezi zenjabulo! Phakathi kwezihambeli ezingu-166 518 ezazikhona emihlanganweni emithathu emikhulu eyayinesihloko esithi “Ukuzinikela Kokwesaba UNkulunkulu” eyaba sePoland ngo-1989, kwakunenani elikhulu lezihambeli elalivela emazweni ngaphambili ayaziwa ngokuthi i-Soviet Union neCzechoslovakia nakwamanye amazwe aseMpumalanga Yurophu. Abanye babo babeqala ukuba semhlanganweni onabantu bakaNkulunkulu abangaphezu kuka-15 noma kuka-20. Cabanga nangenjabulo eyaba khona eMhlanganweni Wezizwe owabase seKiev, e-Ukraine, owawunesihloko esithi “Ukufundisa Kwaphezulu,” okwabhapathizwa kuwo abantu abangu-7 402—inani elikhulu kunawo wonke loFakazi BakaJehova abake babhapathizwa ngosuku olulodwa.—Isaya 60:22; Hag. 2:7.

10. Imiphi imihlangano yesigodi oyikhumbula ngokukhethekile, futhi ngani?

¹⁰ Mhlawumbe kunemihlangano yesigodi noma yezizwe oyikhumbula ngokukhethekile. Usawukhumbula yini umhlangano wesigodi wokuqala owaya kuwo noma mhlawumbe lowo owabhapathizwa kuwo? Leyo mihlangano iyizenzakalo ezingokomoya eziyingqopha-mlando kuwe. Zazise lezo zinkumbulo!—IHu. 42:4.

11. Iliphi ilungiselelo lemikhosi eyayiba khona njalo ngezinkathi ezithile zonyaka uNkulunkulu alimisa kwa-Israyeli wasendulo?

¹¹ UJehova wayefuna ukuba ama-Israyeli ahlangane eJerusalema emikhosini emithathu eyayenziwa ngezinkathi ezithile zonyaka minyaka yonke—uMkhosi Wamaqebelengwane Angenamvubelo, uMkhosi Wamasonto (kamuva owabizwa ngokuthi iPhentekoste) noMkhosi Wamadokodo. Ngokuphathelene nale mikhosi, uNkulunkulu wayala: “Izikhathi ezintathu ngonyaka bonke abesilisa bakho bayovela phambi kobuso beNkosi yeqiniso, uJehova.” (Eks. 23:14-17) Ziqaphela inzuzo engokomoya yale mikhosi, izinhloko zemikhaya eziningi zazihamba nawo wonke amalungu emikhaya yazo.—1 Sam. 1:1-7; Luka 2:41, 42.

12, 13. Ukuba khona emikhosini yaminyaka yonke kwakuhilelani kuma-Israyeli amaningi?

¹² Cabanga ukuthi ukuthatha lolo hambo  kwakuhilelani emkhayeni ngamunye wama-Israyeli. Ngokwesibonelo, uJosefa noMariya, babehamba amakhilomitha angaba ikhulu ukuya eJerusalema besuka eNazaretha. Ucabanga ukuthi kwakuyokuthatha isikhathi esingakanani ukuqeda lolo hambo, uhamba nezingane ezincane? Ukulandisa ngokuya kukaJesu eJerusalema esengumfana kubonisa ukuthi izihlobo nabangane babengathatha lolo hambo njengeqembu. Kumelwe ukuba kwakuwumsebenzi ngempela ukuhamba nokulungiselela ukudla ndawonye nokwenza amalungiselelo ezindawo zokulala ezifanelekayo ezindaweni ezingajwayelekile. Noma kunjalo, izimo zaziphephe ngokwanele ukuba ingane eneminyaka engu-12 njengoJesu inganikezwa inkululeko ethile. Cabanga ukuthi lokho kwakuba isenzakalo esingalibaleki kangakanani, ikakhulukazi ezinganeni!—Luka 2:44-46.

¹³ Ngesikhathi ama-Israyeli ehlakazeke kakhulu ngaphandle kwemingcele yezwe lenkaba yawo, labo ababeza emikhosini babevela ezizweni eziningi. NgePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., amaJuda namaproselithe ayenokwazisa aya eJerusalema evela ezindaweni ezinjenge-Italy, iLibhiya, iKrethe, i-Asia Minor neMesophothamiya.—IzE. 2:5-11; 20:16.

14. Ama-Israyeli azuza kanjani ngokuba khona emikhosini yaminyaka yonke?

¹⁴ Kuma-Israyeli athembekile, umvuthwandaba wohambo olunjalo nento ayegxila kuyo kwakuba isici esingokomoya—ayelangazelela ukukhulekela uJehova ekanye nezinkulungwane ezazinokwazisa ezazizogubha umkhosi. Wawuba yini umphumela kulabo ababeba khona? Impendulo ingase itholakale eziqondisweni uJehova azinika abantu bakhe ngokuqondene noMkhosi Wamadokodo: “Kumelwe ujabule phakathi nalo mkhosi wakho, wena nendodana yakho nendodakazi yakho nesigqila sakho nesigqilakazi sakho nomLevi nomfokazi nentandane nomfelokazi, abangaphakathi kwamasango akho. Izinsuku eziyisikhombisa uyomgubhela umkhosi uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho endaweni uJehova ayoyikhetha, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uyokubusisa kuwo wonke umkhiqizo wakho nakuzo zonke izenzo zesandla sakho, kumelwe nijabule nje kuphela.”—Dut. 16:14, 15; funda uMathewu 5:3.

15, 16. Ikuphi ukuzidela okuye kwadingeka ukuba ukwenze ukuze uye emihlanganweni emikhulu? Kungani ungazisoli ngokwenza lowo mzamo?

¹⁵ Yeka ukuthi le mibuthano yasendulo ibabekela izibonelo ezinhle kanjani abantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla! Nakuba izinto eziningi ziye zashintsha phakathi namakhulu eminyaka edlule, izici eziyisisekelo zale mihlangano azikashintshi. Ezikhathini zeBhayibheli, kwakudinga ukuzidela okuthile ukuya kule mihlangano. Kungokufanayo nanamuhla. Noma kunjalo, izinzuzo zokuya kuyo zenza umuntu angazisoli ngokwenza lowo mzamo. Lezi zenzakalo zaziyimibuthano engokomoya ebalulekile futhi kusenjalo nanamuhla. Zisinika ulwazi nokuqonda okubaluleke kakhulu ekulondolozeni ubuhlobo obuseduze noNkulunkulu. Imihlangano isishukumisela ukuba sisebenzise lokho esikufundayo, isisiza sigweme izinkinga futhi isikhuthaza ukuba sihlale sigxilile emisebenzini nasezintweni eziyosiqabula kunokuba zisicindezele.—IHu. 122:1-4.

¹⁶ Injabulo iyisici esitholakala njalo kubantu abeze emihlanganweni. Umbiko womhlangano omkhulu owaba ngo-1946 waphawula: “Kwakujabulisa ukubona izinkulungwane eziningi zofakazi zihlezi zithokomele, kujabulisa nangokwengeziwe ukulalela njengoba iqembu le-orchestra lalihlanganyela nezihlwele ezazicula ngamazwi azo okwakwenza inkundla inkeneneze unqambothi lwezingoma zoMbuso zokudumisa uJehova.” Lo mbiko wanezela: “UMnyango Wenkonzo Wezisebenzi Zokuzithandela wabhalisa izisebenzi ezazivela phakathi kwezihambeli ukuba zinakekele yonke iminyango, ngoba nje zijabulela ukukhonza oFakazi ezikanye nabo.” Ingabe nawe wake wayizwa injabulo enjalo emihlanganweni  yesigodi noma yezizwe?—IHu. 110:3; Isaya 42:10-12.

17. Ukuhlelwa kwemihlangano kuye kwalungiswa kanjani ezikhathini zamuva?

¹⁷ Ezinye izinto ziye zashintsha endleleni imihlangano ehlelwa ngayo. Ngokwesibonelo, abanye abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakhumbula isikhathi lapho imihlangano emikhulu yayingathatha khona izinsuku ezingu-8! Kwakuba nesimiso sasekuseni, santambama nesakusihlwa. Inkonzo yasensimini yayihlale iyingxenye yesimiso. Izinkulumo ezimbalwa zaziqala ngo-9 ekuseni, futhi kwakuvame ukuba kube nezimiso eziqhubeka kuze kushaye ihora lesi-9 ebusuku. Izisebenzi zokuzithandela zazisebenza kanzima isikhathi eside zilungiselela ababekhona ukudla kwasekuseni, kwasemini nokwakusihlwa. Manje imihlangano isimifushane kunakuqala futhi imikhaya noma abantu ngabanye sebekulungiselela kusengaphambili ukudla kwabo ukuze bagxilise ingqondo ngokwengeziwe esimisweni sokudla okungokomoya.

18, 19. Iziphi izici zemihlangano emikhulu ozilangazelela njalo, futhi ngani?

¹⁸ Izici zemihlangano emikhulu osekuyisikhathi eside ziyingxenye yesimiso zilangazelelwa kakhulu yibo bonke. “Ukudla” okungokomoya okulungiselelwa “ngesikhathi esifanele,” okusisiza siziqonde kangcono iziprofetho nezimfundiso zeBhayibheli, akutholakali kuphela ngezinkulumo kodwa nangezincwadi ezintsha ezikhululwa emihlanganweni yesigodi. (Math. 24:45) Izincwadi ezinjalo ezikhululwayo zivame ukuba amathuluzi asiza abantu abaqotho ukuba baqonde amaqiniso eBhayibheli. Amadrama ashukumisayo asekelwe eBhayibhelini akhuthaza abasha nabadala ukuba bahlolisise izisusa zabo futhi baqaphe izingcindezi ezilethwa ukucabanga kwezwe okungqubuzana noNkulunkulu. Ngokufanayo, inkulumo yobhapathizo isinikeza sonke ithuba lokuhlola izinto eziza kuqala ekuphileni kwethu nelokunambitha injabulo yokubona abanye bebonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwabo kuJehova.

¹⁹ Yebo, imihlangano emikhulu osekuyisikhathi eside iyingxenye yokukhulekela okuhlanzekile, ihlomisa abantu bakaJehova abajabulayo ukuba bamkhonze ngendlela efanele phakathi nezikhathi ezinzima. Imibuthano enjalo iyasishukumisa ngokomoya, isinika amathuba okuthola abangane abasha, isisiza ukuba sazise ubudlelwane bethu bomhlaba wonke futhi iyindlela eyinhloko uJehova abusisa nanakekela ngayo abantu bakhe. Ngokuqinisekile, ngamunye kithi uyofuna ukuhlela izimo zakhe ngendlela ezomenza akwazi ukuba khona futhi azuze esimisweni ngasinye somhlangano wesigodi.—IzAga 10:22.