1, 2. (a) OFakazi bakaJehova batshiyene njani lamanye amasonto? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi lakwesilandelayo?

ABANTU bajayele ukubuza oFakazi bakaJehova ukuthi, “Ngubani umfundisi wenu?” Umbuzo lo awusimangalisi ngoba phela emasontweni amanengi kulabafundisi abakhokhelayo. Kodwa sandise ukubaphendula sisithi umkhokheli wethu nguKhristu, kasilamfundisi ongumuntu. UKhristu yena uqondiswa nguYise uJehova.—Mat. 23:10.

² Kodwa likhona iqembu lamadoda akhokhelayo enhlanganisweni elibizwa ngokuthi ‘yinceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo.’ (Mat. 24:45) Sazi njani ukuthi uJehova nguye osikhokhelayo esebenzisa iNdodana yakhe? Esihlokweni lesi lakwesilandelayo sizaxoxa ngobufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi uJehova wayebancedisa njani abantu bakhe ayebaphathise umsebenzi wokukhokhela. Kuzasicacela ukuthi lanxa uJehova wayekhetha abantu ukuthi baphathe umsebenzi lo, nguye owayekhokhela futhi ulokhu ekwenza lokhu lalamuhla.—Isaya. 58:11.

3. Kuyini okwanceda uMosi ukuthi enelise ukukhokhela abako-Israyeli?

³ Umoya ongcwele yiwo owawuqondisa abameli bakaNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo uMosi wakhethwa ukuthi akhokhele  abako-Israyeli. Kuyini okwamnceda ukuthi enelise ukuphatha umsebenzi omkhulu kangaka? IBhayibhili lithi uJehova ‘wathela umoya ongcwele phakathi kwakhe.’ (Bala u-Isaya 63:11-14.) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova nguye owayekhokhela abantu bakhe esebenzisa uMosi.

4. Abako-Israyeli babona njani ukuthi uMosi wayeqondiswa ngumoya ongcwele? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

⁴ Pho abako-Israyeli babezabona njani ukuthi umoya ongcwele uphezu kukaMosi? Umoya ongcwele wanika uMosi amandla okwenza izimangaliso kanye lesibindi sokumemezela ibizo likaJehova phambi kukaFaro. (Eks. 7:1-3) Wamnceda lokuthi abe lothando, azithobe njalo abekezele. Lokhu kwamenza waba ngumkhokheli omuhle kakhulu. Wayetshiyene lababusi bezinye izizwe ababelolunya futhi bengelandaba labanye abantu. (Eks. 5:2, 6-9) Kwabacacela abako-Israyeli ukuthi uJehova nguye owayekhethe uMosi ukuthi abakhokhele.

5. Chaza ukuthi uJehova wawancedisa njani amanye amadoda ukuthi akhokhele abako-Israyeli.

⁵ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJehova wakhetha amanye amadoda ukuthi akhokhele abako-Israyeli njalo wawanika umoya wakhe ongcwele. Ngokwesibonelo iBhayibhili lithi: “UJoshuwa indodana kaNuni wayegcwele umoya wokuhlakanipha.” (Dute. 34:9) Lisitshela lokuthi “umoya kaJehova wafika kuGidiyoni.” (Abahlu. 6:34) Liphinda lithi “umoya kaJehova wafika kuDavida” wamnika amandla. (1 Sam. 16:13) Amadoda la enza imisebenzi emikhulu ngenxa yokuthi avuma ukuqondiswa ngumoya kaNkulunkulu. (Josh. 11:16, 17; Abahlu. 7:7, 22; 1 Sam. 17:37, 50) UJehova nguye owayewanika amandla okwenza imisebenzi le futhi udumo lwalusiya kuye.

6. Kungani uNkulunkulu wayefuna abantu balalele amadoda ayekhokhela?

⁶ Abako-Israyeli kwakumele benzeni lapho bebona ukuthi abakhokheli babo babeqondiswa ngumoya ongcwele? Ngesikhathi besola indlela uMosi ayekhokhela ngayo, uJehova wabuza wathi: “Koze kube nini abantu laba bengeyisa na?” (Nani. 14:2, 11) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova nguye owayekhethe uMosi, uJoshuwa, uGidiyoni loDavida ukuthi bakhokhele abantu bakhe. Nxa abantu babewalalela amadoda la kwakufanana lokuthi balalela uJehova uMkhokheli wabo.

7. Izingilosi zamncedisa njani uMosi?

⁷ Izingilosi zazibasekela abakhokheli ababekhethwe nguNkulunkulu. (Bala uHebheru 1:7, 14.) UNkulunkulu wasebenzisa izingilosi ukuthi zincedise uMosi. Okokuqala uMosi “wathunyelwa ukuba ngumbusi lomkhululi nguNkulunkulu yena ngokwakhe, ngengilosi eyabonakala kuye isesixukwini.” (ImiSeb. 7:35) Okwesibili uJehova wasebenzisa izingilosi ukuthi zinike uMosi uMthetho ukuze ayewufundisa abako-Israyeli. (Gal. 3:19) Okwesithathu uJehova wamtshela wathi: “Khathesi hamba, ukhokhelele abantu endaweni engakhuluma ngayo kuwe. Ingilosi yami izahamba phambi kwakho.” (Eks. 32:34) IBhayibhili kalisitsheli ukuthi abako-Israyeli bayibona ngamehlo ingilosi isenza leyomisebenzi. Kodwa babona indlela uMosi ayebaqondisa futhi ebakhokhela ngayo, kwasekubacacela ukuthi izingilosi zazimncedisa sibili.

8. Izingilosi zamnceda njani uJoshuwa loHezekhiya?

⁸ Ngubani omunye owancediswa zingilosi? IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi ingilosi ‘engumlawuli wamabutho kaJehova’ yancedisa uJoshuwa ukuthi anqobe ngesikhathi esilwa labaseKhenani. (Josh. 5:13-15; 6:2, 21) Kanti njalo ingilosi yaphinda yasiza iNkosi uHezekhiya ngesikhathi ibutho lama-Asiriya lifuna ukuhlasela iJerusalema. IBhayibhili lithi ngobusuku  obubodwa “ingilosi kaJehova yaphuma yayabulala amadoda azinkulungwane ezilikhulu lamatshumi aficamibili lanhlanu enkambeni yama-Asiriya.”—2 AmaKho. 19:35.

9. Kuyini okwakumele abako-Israyeli bakwenze lanxa babekhokhelwa ngabantu ababesenza amaphutha?

⁹ Lanxa izingilosi zingelasono zazincedisa amadoda alesono. Ngesinye isikhathi uMosi wehluleka ukunika uJehova udumo. (Nani. 20:12) UJoshuwa laye wenza isivumelwano labaseGibhiyoni engazange aqale abuze ukuthi uJehova uthini ngaleyondaba. (Josh. 9:14, 15) Okwesikhathi esithile “inhliziyo kaHezekhiya yagcwala ukuzikhukhumeza.” (2 ImiLan. 32:25, 26) Lanxa amadoda la ayephambanisa kwezinye izikhathi, uJehova wayekhangelele ukuthi abako-Israyeli baqhubeke bewalalela. Phela uJehova wayewasekela esebenzisa izingilosi zakhe. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi nguye sibili owayekhokhela abantu bakhe.

10. UMthetho kaNkulunkulu wawumqondisa njani uMosi?

¹⁰ Abakhokheli bako-Israyeli babeqondiswa liLizwi likaNkulunkulu. IBhayibhili libiza uMthetho owanikwa abako-Israyeli ngokuthi ‘nguMthetho kaMosi.’ (1 AmaKho. 2:3) Lanxa kunjalo iMibhalo iveza ukuthi uMthetho lo wawuvela kuJehova ngokwakhe njalo uMosi laye kwakumele awulalele. (2 ImiLan. 34:14) Ngemva kokuba esephiwe iziqondiso zokwakha ithabanikeli, “uMosi wenza konke njengokulaywa kwakhe nguJehova.”—Eks. 40:1-16.

11, 12. (a) Kuyini okwakumele kwenziwe nguJoshuwa lamakhosi ako-Israyeli? (b) ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lalibaqondisa njani abakhokheli bako-Israyeli?

¹¹ UJoshuwa wayelencwadi yoMthetho kaNkulunkulu ngesikhathi eqalisa ukukhokhela abako-Israyeli. UJehova wamtshela wathi: “Cabanga ngayo emini lebusuku, ukuze unanzelele ukuthi wenza konke okulotshwe kuyo.” (Josh. 1:8) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi amakhosi ako-Israyeli kwakumele enze okufananayo. Kwakufanele awubale nsuku zonke uMthetho, awubhale phansi njalo ‘alandele ngokunanzelela wonke amazwi’ akuwo kanye lezimiso zawo.—Bala uDutheronomi 17:18-20.

¹² ILizwi likaNkulunkulu labanceda njani abakhokheli bako-Israyeli? Ake sixoxe ngeNkosi uJosiya. Kwathi ugwalo loMthetho kaMosi selutholakele, uJosiya wacela unobhala wakhe ukuthi alubale. * Yenzani inkosi selubaliwe ugwalo? IBhayibhili lithi: “Ithe isiwezwile amazwi oGwalo loMthetho, yadabula izingubo zayo.” Isuka lapho yabhidliza izithombe njalo yahlela ukuthi kube lomkhosi wePhasika omkhulu kakhulu. (2 AmaKho. 22:11; 23:1-23) ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lasiza uJosiya labanye ababusi ababethembekile ukuthi bazimisele ukuntshintsha njalo bacacisele abantu lokho okufunwa nguNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwanceda abako-Israyeli ukuthi benze intando kaJehova.

13. Abakhokheli bako-Israyeli babetshiyene njani lababusi bezinye izizwe?

¹³ Abakhokheli bako-Israyeli ababethembekile babetshiyene lababusi bezinye izizwe ababeqondiswa yikuhlakanipha kwabantu okuyize. Ngokwesibonelo ababusi baseKhenani babevumela imikhuba engcolileyo egoqela ukuya emacansini lesihlobo, ukulala lenyamazana, ukunikela ngabantwana, ukukhonza izithombe kanye lobutabane. (Levi. 18:6, 21-25) Kanti njalo ababusi baseBhabhiloni kanye labaseGibhithe babengelayo imithetho yenhlanzeko uNkulunkulu ayeyinike abantu bakhe. (Nani. 19:13) Kodwa abakhokheli bako-Israyeli babekhuthaza abantu ukuthi bakhonze uJehova kuphela, baziphathe kuhle futhi bahlanzeke. Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi uJehova nguye owayekhokhela abantu bakhe.

14. Kungani uJehova wayebakhuza abanye abakhokheli bako-Israyeli?

 ¹⁴ Amanye amakhosi ayebusa ko-Israyeli kawazange awulandele umthetho kaNkulunkulu. Ayengafuni ukuqondiswa ngumoya wakhe ongcwele, izingilosi kanye leLizwi lakhe. Kwezinye izikhathi uJehova wayebakhuza abakhokheli abanjalo kumbe abathathele ubukhosi. (1 Sam. 13:13, 14) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJehova wakhetha umkhokheli ongelasono.

15. (a) Abaphrofethi bakuveza njani ukubuya komkhokheli omutsha? (b) Ngubani okwaphrofethwa ukuthi wayezakuba ngumkhokheli wabantu bakaNkulunkulu?

¹⁵ Okweminyaka eminengi uJehova wathembisa ukuthi uzabeka umkhokheli owayengafanani labanye. UMosi watshela abako-Israyeli wathi: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uzalivusela umphrofethi phakathi kwabafowenu njengami. Libomlalela.” (Dute. 18:15) U-Isaya waphrofetha ukuthi lowomuntu wayezakuba ‘ngumkhokheli lomlawuli wabantu.’ (Isaya. 55:4) UDanyeli laye waphefumulelwa ukuthi abhale ‘ngombusi oGcotshiweyo’ owayezakuba khona. (Dan. 9:25) Ekucineni uJesu Khristu waveza ukuthi nguye umbusi okwakuphrofethwe ukuthi uzakuba nguMkhokheli wabantu bakaNkulunkulu. (Bala uMathewu 23:10.) Yikho abafundi bakhe babemlandela ngoba babevuma ukuthi nguye sibili okhethwe nguJehova. (Joh. 6:68, 69) Kuyini okwabenza baqiniseka ukuthi uJesu Khristu nguye okhethwe nguJehova ukuthi akhokhele abantu bakhe?

16. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi uJesu wayeqondiswa ngumoya ongcwele?

¹⁶ UJesu wayeqondiswa ngumoya ongcwele. Ngesikhathi ebhabhathizwa, uJohane wabona ‘izulu livuleka umoya usehlela phezu kwakhe [uJesu] unjengejuba.’ Ngemva kwalokho “umoya wamthumela enkangala.” (Mak. 1:10-12) Waphinda wamnika amandla okwenza izimangaliso njalo wamsiza lokuthi enelise ukutshumayela ngesibindi. (ImiSeb. 10:38) Kanti njalo umoya ongcwele wamnceda ukuthi abe lezimpawu ezinhle ezigoqela uthando, intokozo kanye lokholo oluqinileyo. (Joh. 15:9; Heb. 12:2) Kwakhanya sibili ukuthi umoya ongcwele wawusebenza kuye lokuthi wayekhethwe nguJehova ukuthi akhokhele abantu bakhe.

17. Izingilosi zamsiza njani uJesu?

¹⁷ Izingilosi zamsiza uJesu. IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi esanda kubhabhathizwa “izingilosi zeza zamnakekela.” (Mat. 4:11) Liphinda lisibikele ukuthi sekusele amahola amalutshwane ukuthi abulawe “ingilosi yabonakala kuye ivela ezulwini yamqinisa.” (Luk. 22:43) UJesu wayeqiniseka ukuthi uJehova wayezathumela izingilosi ukuthi zimnike amandla ukuze enelise ukuqhubeka esenza intando kaYise.—Mat. 26:53.

18, 19. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi uJesu wayeliqakathekisa iLizwi likaNkulunkulu?

 ¹⁸ UJesu wayeqondiswa liLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi eqalisa inkonzo yakhe wayevumela ukuthi iMibhalo imqondise kukho konke ayekwenza. (Mat. 4:4) Walandela iLizwi likaNkulunkulu kwaze kwaba sekufeni. Esezakufa watsho amazwi aphathelane loMesiya atholakala eMibhalweni yesiHebheru. (Mat. 27:46; Luk. 23:46) Kodwa ngalesosikhathi abafundisi bamasonto babengakulandeli okwakutshiwo liLizwi likaNkulunkulu ikakhulu nxa babebona kuphikisana lamasiko abo. UJesu wakhuluma ngabo ecaphuna amazwi ayeke aphrofethwa ngu-Isaya wathi: “Lababantu bangihlonipha ngezindebe zabo, kodwa izinhliziyo zabo zikhatshana kwami. Bangikhonza ngeze; izimfundiso zabo yimithetho kuphela efundiswa ngabantu.” (Mat. 15:7-9) UJehova wayengeke akhethe abantu abanjalo ukuthi bakhokhele abantu bakhe.

¹⁹ UJesu wayelisebenzisa kakhulu iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lapho efundisa. Nxa abafundisi bamasonto babemphikisa wayengasebenzisi ukuhlakanipha kwakhe kumbe ulwazi ayelalo kodwa wayebaphendula esebenzisa iMibhalo. (Mat. 22:33-40) Kanti njalo wayengatshoni exoxela abantu ukuthi impilo yayinjani ezulwini loba ukuthi kwakunjani ukuncedisa uYise ukudala ezinye izinto, kodwa ‘wayebavula izingqondo ukuze bakwazi ukuzwisisa iMibhalo.’ (Luk. 24:32, 45) UJesu wayelithanda sibili iLizwi likaNkulunkulu futhi wayezimisele ukusiza abanye ukuthi balizwisise.

20. (a) UJesu watshengisa njani ukuthi wayezithoba kuNkulunkulu? (b) UJesu wayetshiyene njani loHerodi Agripha Wokuqala?

²⁰ Lanxa abantu babemangaliswa “ngamazwi amnandi” ayephuma emlonyeni wakhe, uJesu kazange azitshaye isifuba kodwa wanika uYise udumo. (Luk. 4:22) Ngelinye ilanga enye indoda enothileyo yathi kuye, “Mfundisi olungileyo,” yena waphendula ngokuzithoba wathi: “Ungibizelani ngokuthi ngilungile na? Kakho olungileyo ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu yedwa.” (Mak. 10:17, 18) UJesu wayetshiyene kakhulu loHerodi Agripha Wokuqala. Indoda le yaba yinkosi eJudiya ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-8 uJesu esukile emhlabeni. Ngelinye ilanga yenza umbuthano omkhulu ‘yagqoka ezobukhosi.’ Abantu bathi beyibona futhi beyizwa ikhuluma bamemeza bathi: “Leli lilizwi likankulunkulu, hatshi elomuntu.” Kumele ukuthi uHerodi wakhukhumala esizwa abantu bemncoma njalo kazange anike uNkulunkulu udumo. Kwenzakalani ngemva kwalokho? IBhayibhili lithi: “Ingilosi yeNkosi yamtshaya yamlahla phansi wadliwa zimpethu wafa.” (ImiSeb. 12:21-23) Kakho sibili ongathi uHerodi wayekhethwe nguJehova ukuthi akhokhele abantu bakhe. UJesu wayetshiyene loHerodi futhi wayekunanzelela ukuthi uJehova nguye uMkhokheli omkhulu njalo wayemnika udumo sonke isikhathi. Kwakhanya ukuthi wayekhethwe nguNkulunkulu sibili.

21. Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

²¹ UJehova uhlose ukuthi iNdodana yakhe ikhokhele okwesikhathi eside hatshi okweminyaka emilutshwana nje. Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, uJesu watshela abafundi bakhe wathi: “Wonke amandla ezulwini lasemhlabeni aphiwe mina. . . . Ngempela ngilani kokuphela, kuze kube sekucineni kwesikhathi.” (Mat. 28:18-20) Kodwa njengoba uJesu wayesehambile ezulwini wayezabakhokhela njani abantu bakaNkulunkulu abasemhlabeni? Ngobani ababezakhethwa ukuthi bakhokhele abantu bakaNkulunkulu beqondiswa nguKhristu? Kanti njalo amaKhristu ayezababona njani abakhokhelayo? Sizaxoxa ngemibuzo le esihlokweni esilandelayo.