1. Yiziphi izihloko abantu bakaNkulunkulu abahlala bezifunda futhi sincedakala njani ngokuzifunda kanenginengi?

 NGESIKHATHI ulungiselela iSifundo se-Nqabayokulinda wake wazibuza ukuthi; ‘Kasizange sike siyifunde yini indaba le?’ Nxa usulesikhathi eside uhlanganyela lebandla lobuKhristu, kungenzeka uyake unanzelele ukuthi kulezinye izihloko okuhlala kuxoxwa ngazo kanenginengi. Ukufunda ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, lenhlawulo, lomsebenzi wokwenza abafundi, kanye lezimpawu zobuntu ezigoqela uthando lokholo kuhlala kuyingxenye yokudla kwethu okungokomoya. Ngokufunda ngezihloko lezi kanenginengi sithola uncedo lokuthi singalugcina njani luqinile ukholo lwethu lokuthi ‘singalaleli ilizwi nje kuphela kodwa senze lokho elikutshoyo.’​—Jak. 1:22.

2. (a) Ibala elithi “isikhumbuzo” landise ukutshoni eBhayibhilini? (b) Izikhumbuzo zikaNkulunkulu zitshiyene njani lezabantu?

² Ibala lesiHebheru elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “isikhumbuzo” kanengi litsho imithetho, imilayo lezimiso uNkulunkulu azinika abantu bakhe. Imithetho kaJehova lezimiso zakhe kuhlala kuthembekile, kodwa eyabantu ihlala ithuthukiswa kumbe intshintshwa. Lanxa eminye imithetho kaNkulunkulu ifakwa iqondane lezimo kumbe izikhathi ezithile, kayisileli kumbe ibe lesici loba nini. Umhubi wathi: ‘Izimiso kumbe izikhumbuzo zakho zihlezi zilungile.’​—Hubo. 119:144.

3, 4. (a) Izikhumbuzo zikaJehova zigoqelani? (b) Abako-Israyeli babezatholani ngokuzilalela?

³ Mhlawumbe uyake unanzelele ukuthi izikhumbuzo zikaJehova ziyake zibe lemibiko eyizixwayiso. Isizwe sako-Israyeli sasijayele ukuthola izixwayiso zikaNkulunkulu kusetshenziswa abaphrofethi bakhe. Ngokwesibonelo abako-Israyeli sebezangena eLizweni ababelithenjisiwe, uMosi wabaxwayisa wathi: “Qaphelani linanzelele ukuthi aliyikuhugeka lihlamuke likhonze abanye onkulunkulu libakhothamele. Kungaba njalo ulaka lukaJehova luzavutha kini.” (Dute. 11:16, 17)  IBhayibhili liyakuveza ukuthi uNkulunkulu wanika abantu izikhumbuzo ezinengi eziluncedo.

⁴ Kwezinye izimo ezinengi uJehova wakhuthaza abako-Israyeli ukuthi bamesabe, balalele ilizwi lakhe njalo bangcwelise ibizo lakhe. (Dute. 4:29-31; 5:28, 29) Aluba babezilalela izikhumbuzo zakhe, akuthandabuzwa ukuthi babezathola izibusiso ezinengi.​—Levi. 26:3-6; Dute. 28:1-4.

5. Kungani uNkulunkulu walwela iNkosi uHezekhiya?

⁵ Embalini yako-Israyeli eyayilesikhathi esihle lesinzima, uNkulunkulu wagcina isithembiso sakhe. Ngokwesibonelo uJehova wangenela ngokuthumela ingilosi yakhe lapho iNkosi yase-Asiriya uSenakheribi isiyahlasela koJuda njalo ifuna ukuthathela iNkosi uHezekhiya umbuso. Ngobusuku obubodwa nje, ingilosi kaNkulunkulu yatshabalalisa “wonke amadoda empi” ebutho lase-Asiriya okokuthi uSenakheribi wacina esebaleka ebuyela kibo eyangekile. (2 ImiLan. 32:21; 2 AmaKho. 19:35) Kungani uNkulunkulu walwela iNkosi uHezekhiya? Ngoba ‘[uHezekhiya] wabambelela kuJehova kazange ayekele ukumlandela, wagcina imilayo yakhe.’​—2 AmaKho. 18:1, 5, 6.

6. INkosi uJosiya yatshengisa njani ukuthi yayimthemba uJehova?

⁶ INkosi uJosiya ngomunye umuntu oyisibonelo owalalela imilayo kaJehova. Eleminyaka engu-8 nje kuphela, waqalisa ‘ukwenza ukulunga phambi kukaJehova, kazange aphambukele kwesokudla loba esokhohlo.’ (2 ImiLan. 34:1, 2) UJosiya watshengisa ukuthi wayemthemba uJehova ngokuhlambulula ilizwe ekhipha izithombe njalo ebuyisela ukukhonza kweqiniso. Ngokwenza njalo, uJosiya kayisuye yedwa owathola izibusiso, kodwa lesizwe sonke sazithola.​—Bala u-2 ImiLando 34:31-33.

7. Kwenzakalani lapho abako-Israyeli bengalaleli izikhumbuzo zikaJehova?

⁷ Kodwa kuyadanisa ukuthi kwezinye izikhathi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babengazithembi izikhumbuzo zikaJehova. Okwamakhulu eminyaka, babentshintshantshintsha, belalela kwezinye izikhathi kodwa kwezinye bengalaleli. Lapho ukholo lwabo lusiba buthakathaka, kanengi babesenza lokhu okukhulunywa ngumphostoli uPhawuli, ‘ukuphetshulwa lapha lalaphaya yimimoya yonke yokufundisa.’ (Efe. 4:13, 14) Kanti njalo, njengoba kwakubikezelwe, baba lempumela ebuhlungu lapho besekela ukuthemba izikhumbuzo zikaNkulunkulu.​—Levi. 26:23-25; Jer. 5:23-25.

8. Singafundani esibonelweni sabako-Israyeli?

 ⁸ Singafundani esibonelweni sabako-Israyeli? Njengabako-Israyeli, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zalamuhla ziyelulekwa ziphinde zikhuzwe. (2 Pet. 1:12) Izikhathi zonke lapho sifunda iLizwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumulelweyo liba yisikhumbuzo kithi. Siyizidalwa ezilenkululeko yokuzikhethela, yikho-ke sikhululekile ukukhetha ukulalela iziqondiso zikaJehova kumbe ukulandela lokho okukhanya kukuhle emehlweni ethu. (Zaga. 14:12) Asikhangeleni ezinye izizathu ezingenza sithembe izikhumbuzo zikaJehova lokuthi sizuzani ngokuzilalela.

9. Ngesikhathi abako-Israyeli besenkangala, uJehova wabatshengisa njani ukuthi wayebasekela?

⁹ Ngesikhathi abako-Israyeli beqalisa uhambo olunzima olwathatha iminyaka engu-40 ‘enkangala enkulu eyesabekayo,’ uJehova kazange abacacisele ukuthi kuzahamba njani lokuthi uzabaqondisa njani, abavikele aphinde abanakekele njani. Kodwa wabatshengisa kanenginengi ukuthi babengamthemba yena kanye leziqondiso zakhe. Esebenzisa insika yeyezi emini leyomlilo ebusuku, uJehova wakhumbuza abako-Israyeli ukuthi wayebasekela ngesikhathi bequma egangeni elesabekayo. (Dute. 1:19; Eks. 40:36-38) Wabanika lalokho ababekudinga. “Izambatho zabo kaziguganga, lezinyawo zabo kazivuvukanga.” Liqiniso ukuthi “kabazange baswele lutho.”​—Neh. 9:19-21.

10. UJehova ubaqondisa njani abantu bakhe lamuhla?

¹⁰ Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu lamuhla sezisemnyango wokuyangena emhlabeni omutsha olokulunga. Siyamthemba yini uJehova ukuthi usinika esikudingayo ukuze sisinde ‘ekuhluphekeni okukhulu’ okuzayo? (Mat. 24:21, 22; Hubo. 119:40, 41) Kuliqiniso ukuthi uJehova kasiniki insika yeyezi kumbe eyomlilo ukuze asiqondise emhlabeni omutsha. Kodwa usebenzisa inhlanganiso yakhe ukuze asincedise ukuthi sihlale silindile. Ngokwesibonelo sesikhuthazwa kakhulu ukuthi siqinise ubuhlobo bethu loNkulunkulu ngokubala iBhayibhili sisodwa, sibe lokuKhonza kweMuli kwantambama kanye lokuthi singaphuthi emihlanganweni lasekutshumayeleni. Sesizilungisile yini izimo zethu ukuthi silandele imilayezo le? Ukwenza njalo kuzasinceda ukuthi sakhe ukholo oluzasigcina siphila size siyengena emhlabeni omutsha.

11. Yiziphi izindlela uNkulunkulu atshengisa ngazo ukuthi uyasikhathalela?

¹¹ Iziqondiso esizitholayo zisenza sihlale siphapheme ekukhonzeni ziphinde zisincede lasekuphileni kwethu kwansuku zonke. Izibonelo zalezi ziqondiso zigoqela ukungathandi kakhulu izinto ezisemhlabeni lokungazihluphi ngezinto ezinengi ukuze singakhathazeki kakhulu ekuphileni. Ezinye izimiso ezisincedileyo zimayelana lokugqoka lokuzilungisa lokukhetha ezokuzilibazisa ezihloniphekayo kanye lokukhetha ukuthi yimfundo engakanani eyeneleyo. Siyafunda langezikhumbuzo zokuthi singahlala njani sivikelekile ezingozini ezingabakhona ezindlini zethu, ezimoteni zethu, emaWolu oMbuso lasekulungiseleleni izingozi ezingasijuma. Izeluleko lezi zitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyasikhathalela.

12. (a) Yiluphi udaba uJesu akhuluma ngalo kanengi kubafundi bakhe? (b) Yisiphi isenzo sokuthobeka esasala sisengqondweni kaPhetro, futhi kumele sisithinte njani thina?

¹² Ngekhulu lokuqala, abantu bakaNkulunkulu babehlala bethola izikhumbuzo. UJesu wabatshela kanengi abafundi bakhe ukuthi kwakumele bafunde ukuzithoba. Kodwa kazange abatshele ngomlomo kuphela, wabatshengisa lokuthi kwenziwa njani. Ngobusuku obandulela ukufa kwakhe, uJesu wabuthanisa abaphostoli bakhe ukuze bananze iPhasika. Ngesikhathi abaphostoli bakhe besidla, uJesu wasukuma  ekudleni wabagezisa izinyawo, umsebenzi lo wawujayele ukwenziwa zinceku. (Joha. 13:1-17) Isenzo lesi sokuthobeka abazange basikhohlwe. Sekudlule iminyaka engu-​30, umphostoli uPhetro owayekhona kulesosidlo wanika ayekhonza labo iseluleko mayelana lokuthobeka. (1 Pet. 5:5) Isibonelo sikaJesu kumele sisifuqe sonke ukuthi sibe ngabathobekileyo nxa sisebenza labanye.​—Flp. 2:5-8.

13. UJesu wakhumbuza abalandeli bakhe ukuthi babe laluphi uphawu lobuntu oluqakathekileyo?

¹³ UJesu wayehlala exoxa labafundi bakhe langokuqakatheka kokuba lokholo oluqinileyo. Abafundi bakaJesu bathi sebehlulekile ukukhipha idimoni elalihlupha umfana othile babuza uJesu ukuthi: “Kungani sehlulekile ukulixotsha idimoni na?” UJesu waphendula wathi: ‘Ngokuba ukholo lwenu luncinyane. Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi nxa lingaba lokholo loba luluncinyane njengenhlamvu yemastadi, kakukho kini okungasoze kwenzeke.’ (Mat. 17:14-20) Enkonzweni yakhe yonke, uJesu wafundisa abalandeli bakhe ukuthi ukholo luphawu lobuntu oluqakathekileyo. (Bala uMathewu 21:18-22.) Silisebenzisa kuhle yini ithuba esilitholayo lokuthi siqinise ukholo lwethu nxa sifundiswa izinto ezisincedayo emihlanganweni emikhulu kanye lasemihlanganweni yobuKhristu? Imibuthano le ayisiyo yokuyakholisa kuphela kodwa yisikhathi sokuthi sitshengise ukuthi siyamthemba uJehova.

14. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sibe lothando olunjengolukaKhristu lamuhla?

¹⁴ IMibhalo yamaKhristu yesiGiriki igcwele izikhumbuzo ezisitshela ukuthi kumele sithandane. UJesu wathi umlayo wesibili omkhulu kulayo yonke ‘ngowokuthanda umakhelwana wakho njengalokhu uzithanda wena.’ (Mat. 22:39) UJakhobe, umfowabo kaJesu, laye wathi uthando ‘ngumthetho wobukhosi.’ (Jak. 2:8) Umphostoli uJohane wabhala wathi: “Bangane abathandekayo, kangililobeli umlayo omutsha kodwa omdala, elalilawo kusukela ekuqaleni.” (1 Joha. 2:7, 8) UJohane wayesitshoni ngokuthi ngokuthi ‘umlayo omdala’? Wayesitsho umlayo wothando. ‘Wawumdala’ ngenxa yokuthi uJesu wayeke wawutsho eminyakeni engamatshumi eyadlulayo, “kusukela ekuqaleni.” Kodwa ‘wawumutsha’ futhi ngoba kwasekumele abafundi babe lothando olutshengisa ukuzinikela, olwaludingakala njengoba basebezahlangana lezimo ezintsha ababengakaze bahlangane lazo. Thina njengabafundi bakaKhristu siyaziqakathekisa kakhulu izixwayiso ezisinceda ukuthi siqaphele, singabi ngabantu abazifunela okwethu kuphela njengabantu bomhlaba lo, okungenza sicine singasathandi umakhelwana wethu.

15. Yiwuphi umsebenzi owawuqakatheke kakhulu kuJesu ngesikhathi esesemhlabeni?

¹⁵ UJesu wayebakhathalela okweqiniso abantu. Lokhu sikubona ngothando ayelutshengisa  lapho eselapha abagulayo lababuthakathaka lalapho evusa abafileyo. Kodwa umsebenzi owawuqakatheke kakhulu kuJesu wawungayisikho kwelapha abantu. Ukutshumayela lokufundisa kwakhe kwakuzaba lempumela ehlala isikhathi eside ebantwini. Ngani? Ngoba nxa singakhangela labo uJesu abelaphayo lalabo abavusayo ngekhulu lokuqala baphinda baguga bacina befile, kodwa labo abalalela izindaba ayezitshumayela balindele ukuthola ukuphila okungapheliyo.​—Joha. 11:25, 26.

16. Umsebenzi wokutshumayela ngoMbuso lowokwenza abafundi usuhambe kangakanani lamuhla?

¹⁶ Umsebenzi wokutshumayela owaqaliswa nguJesu ngekhulu lokuqala ususenziwa kakhulu lamuhla ukwedlula ngesikhathi leso. UJesu walaya abafundi bakhe wathi: “Ngakho hambani lenze abafundi ezizweni zonke.” (Mat. 28:19) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi bakwenza, futhi lathi silesibindi sokutsho ukuthi sikwenzile! OFakazi bakaJehova abedlula izigidi eziyisikhombisa bayatshiseka ekumemezeleni uMbuso kaNkulunkulu emazweni adlula angu-230 futhi bafunda iBhayibhili lezigidi zabantu zikhathi zonke. Ukutshumayela lokhu kuyibufakazi bokuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokucina.

17. Yisiphi iseluleko uPhawuli loPhetro abasinikayo?

¹⁷ Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi izikhumbuzo zanceda amaKhristu okuqala ukuthi ahlale eqinile ekukholweni. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uThimothi wakhuthazwa kakhulu lapho umphostoli uPhawuli ngalesosikhathi owayeyisibotshwa eRoma emtshela ukuthi: “Lokho owakuzwa ngami, kugcine njengesibonelo semfundiso epheleleyo.” (2 Tim. 1:13) Umphostoli uPhetro esekhuthaze amaKhristu ayekhonza lawo ukuthi abe lezimpawu zobuntu ezinjengokubekezela, umusa wobuzalwane kanye lokuzithiba waphetha ngokuthi: “Ngizahlala ngilikhumbuza lezizinto, lanxa lizazi njalo liqinile ngokupheleleyo eqinisweni.”​—2 Pet. 1:5-8, 12.

18. AmaKhristu ekhulu lokuqala ayezibona njani izikhumbuzo?

¹⁸ Izincwadi ezabhalwa nguPhawuli loPhetro zazimumethe “amazwi akhulunywa kudala ngabaphrofethi abangcwele.” (2 Pet. 3:2) Abazalwane bekhulu lokuqala bazonda yini ngokuthola iziqondiso lezo? Hatshi, ngoba kwakutshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyabathanda, okwabanceda ukuthi baqhubeke ‘bekhula emuseni lasekwazini iNkosi yethu loMsindisi uJesu Khristu.’​—2 Pet. 3:18.

19, 20. Kungani kumele sithembe izikhumbuzo zikaJehova, njalo sitholani ngokwenza njalo?

¹⁹ Lamuhla silezizathu ezinengi zokuthemba izikhumbuzo zikaJehova ezitholakala eLizwini lakhe elingeke liqambe amanga, iBhayibhili. (Bala uJoshuwa 23:14.) Phakathi kwalo sithola indlela uNkulunkulu asebenza ngayo labantu abalesono okwezinkulungwane zeminyaka. Imbali ebhalwe eBhayibhilini yabhalelwa ukunceda thina. (Roma. 15:4; 1 Kor. 10:11) Sesikubonile ukugcwaliseka kweziphrofetho zeBhayibhili. Iziphrofetho singazifanisa lezikhumbuzo ezibhalwe zingakenzakali. Ngokwesibonelo izigidi ziza ngobunengi bazo zilanda ukuzokhonza uJehova ngendlela emsulwa njengoba kwaphrofethwa ukuthi lokhu kuzakwenzakala ‘ezinsukwini zokucina.’ (Isa. 2:2, 3) Izimo zomhlaba eziqhubeka zisiba zimbi lazo zigcwalisa iziphrofetho zeBhayibhili. Njengoba kuke kwatshiwo, umkhankaso omkhulu wokutshumayela owenziwa emhlabeni wonke ugcwalisa wona kanye amazwi kaJesu.​—Mat. 24:14.

²⁰ UMdali wethu usesinike ubufakazi obunengi esingabuthemba. Buyasinceda yini? Kumele sizithembe izikhumbuzo zakhe. Yikho kanye okwenziwa nguRosellen, uthi: “Ngesikhathi ngiqalisa ukuthemba uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke, kwaqalisa ukungikhanyela ukuthi uyangondla njalo uyangiqinisa.” Kasenzeni njalo lathi, sincedwe yikulalela izikhumbuzo zikaJehova.