1, 2. (a) Abo bakhokela amaNgqina kaYehova bahluke njani kwiinkokeli zezinye iinkonzo? (b) Yintoni esiza kuthetha ngayo kweli nqaku nakwelilandelayo?

AMANGQINA KAYEHOVA adla ngokubuzwa umbuzo othi: “Ngubani inkokeli yenu?” Ayisothusi loo nto! Kaloku iicawa ezininzi zikhokelwa yindoda okanye libhinqa elinye. Kodwa ke siba nelunda xa sibaxelela ukuba thina asikhokelwa ngumntu ongafezekanga. Kunoko, sikhokelwa nguKristu ovusiweyo, ibe naye ukhokelwa nguYise, uYehova.​—Mat. 23:10.

² Kodwa ke likho iqela lamadoda, “ikhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi,” elikhokela abantu bakaThixo kule mihla. (Mat. 24:45) Sazi njani ke ukuba nguYehova ngokwenene osikhokelayo esebenzisa uNyana wakhe esingamboniyo? Kweli nqaku nakwelilandelayo siza kubona indlela uYehova aye kangamawaka eminyaka, wabeka ngayo abantu abathile ukuba bakhokele. Omabini la manqaku aza kuveza izinto ezintathu ezibubungqina bokuba uYehova wayewaxhasa loo madoda, nezingqina ukuba wayeyinkokeli yabantu bakhe, kwaye useyiyo nangoku.​—Isa. 58:11.

3. Yintoni eyanika uMoses amandla okukhokela amaSirayeli?

³ Umoya oyingcwele wawubanika amandla abameli bakaThixo. Masenze umzekelo ngoMoses, owayethunywe ukuba akhokele amaSirayeli.  Yintoni eyamnceda wakwazi ukwenza eso sabelo sinzima? UYehova “wabeka ngaphakathi kwakhe umoya Wakhe oyingcwele.” (Funda uIsaya 63:11-14.) Ngokuthulula umoya oyingcwele kuMoses, uYehova waqhubeka ebakhokela abantu bakhe.

4. AmaSirayeli ayibona njani into yokuba uMoses wayenomoya kaThixo? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

⁴ Ekubeni umoya oyingcwele ungamandla angabonakaliyo, amaSirayeli ayeza kuyiqonda njani into yokuba wawusebenza kuMoses? Kaloku umoya oyingcwele wabangela ukuba uMoses akwazi ukwenza imimangaliso kwaye avakalise igama likaThixo kuFaro. (Eks. 7:1-3) Umoya oyingcwele wabuphucula ubuntu bukaMoses, wathanda abantu, walulama kwaye wanomonde, nto leyo eyayimenza akufanelekele ukukhokela amaSirayeli. Wayahluke ngokupheleleyo kwiinkokeli ezigadalala nezingoohlohl’ esakhe zamanye amazwe! (Eks. 5:2, 6-9) Yavela yazicacela into yokuba uYehova wayekhethe uMoses ukuba akhokele abantu bakhe.

5. Chaza indlela uYehova awawanika amandla ngayo amanye amadoda akwaSirayeli ukuze akhokele abantu bakhe.

⁵ Kamva, umoya oyingcwele kaYehova wenza namanye amadoda awayemiselwe nguMoses ukuba abe namandla. “UYoshuwa unyana kaNun wazala ngumoya wobulumko.” (Dut. 34:9) “Umoya kaYehova wamgubungela uGidiyon.” (ABagwe. 6:34) “Umoya kaYehova waqalisa ukusebenza kuDavide.” (1 Sam. 16:13) Onke la madoda axhomekeka kumoya kaThixo ukuba uwakhokele, kwaye loo moya wawanika amandla okwenza izinto awayengenakukwazi ukuzenza ngaphandle kwawo. (Yosh. 11:16, 17; ABagwe. 7:7, 22; 1 Sam. 17:37, 50) Ngenxa yoko, yayingeyompazamo ukuzukisa uYehova ngezinto ezinkulu awayezenzile.

6. Kutheni uThixo wayefuna abantu bahlonele iinkokeli zakwaSirayeli?

⁶ Ayefanele athini ke amaSirayeli xa ebona ubungqina obuzicaceleyo bokuba loo madoda ayenikwe amandla ngumoya oyingcwele? Xa abantu bakhalazela indlela uMoses awayekhokela ngayo, uYehova wabuza lo mbuzo: “Kuya kude kube nini na singandihloneli esi sizwana?” (Num. 14:​2, 11) NguYehova owayekhethe uMoses, uYoshuwa, uGidiyon noDavide ukuba babe ngabameli bakhe. Xa abantu babethobela la madoda, babelandela ukhokelo lukaYehova.

7. Iingelosi zamnceda njani uMoses?

⁷ Iingelosi zabanceda abameli bakaThixo. (Funda amaHebhere 1:7, 14.) UYehova wasebenzisa iingelosi ukuze ziye kuthuma uMoses, zimxhobise kwaye zimkhokele. UThixo wathuma uMoses “njengomlawuli nomhlanguli ngesandla sengelosi eyabonakala kuye kwityholo elinameva.” (IZe. 7:35) UYehova ‘wawudlulisela ngeengelosi’ uMthetho, waza uMoses wawusebenzisa ukuze afundise amaSirayeli. (Gal. 3:19) Ibe uYehova wathi kuye: “Bakhokelele abantu kuloo ndawo ndathethayo ngayo kuwe. Yabona! Ingelosi yam iya kuhamba phambi kwakho.” (Eks. 32:​34) IBhayibhile ayitsho ukuba amaSirayeli ayibona ngamehlo ingelosi isenza lo msebenzi. Kodwa ke, indlela uMoses awayebayalela nawayebakhokela ngayo abantu yenza kwacaca ukuba wayencedwa nguThixo.

8. Iingelosi zamnceda njani uYoshuwa noHezekiya?

⁸ Emva koMoses, uYoshuwa, owangena ezihlangwini zakhe, waqiniswa ‘yinkosana yomkhosi kaYehova’ ukuze akhokele abantu bakaThixo xa babesilwa namaKanan; ibe amaSirayeli awaswantsulisa. (Yosh. 5:13-15; 6:2, 21) Kamva uKumkani uHezekiya wajongana nomkhosi omkhulu wama-Asiriya owawusongela ngokuhlasela iYerusalem. Ngobunye ubusuku, “ingelosi kaYehova yaphuma yaxabela ikhulu elinamashumi asibhozo anesihlanu lamawaka.”​—2 Kum. 19:35.

9. Ngaba iimpazamo ezenziwa ngabameli bakaThixo zazinika amaSirayeli izizathu zokungabathobeli? Cacisa.

 ⁹ Nangona ezi ngelosi zazifezekile, amadoda ezaziwanceda ayengafezekanga wona. UMoses wakha akamzukisa uYehova ngento awayeyenzile. (Num. 20:12) UYoshuwa yena akazange abuze kuThixo ngaphambi kokwenza isivumelwano namaGibheyon. (Yosh. 9:14, 15) ‘Intliziyo kaHezekiya yaba nekratshi’ kangangexesha elithile. (2 Kron. 32:25, 26) Nangona ayenezo ziphako la madoda, kwakulindeleke ukuba amaSirayeli alandele ukhokelo lwawo. UYehova wayewaxhasa esebenzisa abameli bakhe abaziingelosi. YayinguYehova owayekhokela abantu bakhe.

10. UMoses wakhokelwa njani nguMthetho kaThixo?

¹⁰ LiLizwi LikaThixo elalikhokela abameli bakhe. IBhayibhile ichaza uMthetho owawunikwe uSirayeli ngokuthi ‘ngumthetho kaMoses.’ (1 Kum. 2:3) Kodwa ke, iZibhalo zithi nguYehova oyena Mwisi-mthetho, nkqu noMoses lowo wayephantsi kwaloo Mthetho. (2 Kron. 34:14) Emva kokuba uYehova emnike imiyalelo ngendlela awayefanele awenze ngayo umnquba, “wenza ke uMoses njengako konke awamyalela kona uYehova. Wenza kanye njengoko.”​—Eks. 40:1-16.

11, 12. (a) Yintoni ekwakufuneka ayenze uYoshuwa kunye nookumkani ababelawula abantu bakaThixo? (b) ILizwi LikaThixo laba naliphi ifuthe kwiinkokeli zabantu bakhe?

¹¹ Ukususela ekuqaleni kukaYoshuwa ukukhokela abantu, wayenengxelo ebhaliweyo yeLizwi LikaThixo. Waxelelwa oku: “Umele uyifunde ngesandi esiphantsi imini nobusuku, ukuze wenze ngenyameko ngokuvumelana nako konke oko kubhalwe kuyo.” (Yosh. 1:8) Kamva, ookumkani ababelawula abantu bakaThixo benza okufanayo. Babenyanzelekile ukuba bafunde uMthetho yonke imihla, bazikhuphelele wona, baze ‘bagcine onke amazwi alo mthetho nale mimiselo ukuba bayenze.’​—Funda iDuteronomi 17:18-20.

¹² ILizwi LikaThixo laba naliphi ifuthe kumadoda akhokelayo? Masenze umzekelo ngoKumkani uYosiya. Emva kokuba uxwebhu olunoMthetho KaMoses lufunyenwe, unobhala kaYosiya wamfundela lona. * Wathini akuwuva loo Mthetho? “Kamsinya nje akuba ukumkani ewevile amazwi encwadi yomthetho, ngoko nangoko wazikrazula izambatho zakhe.” Kodwa akazange aphelele apho. ILizwi LikaThixo labangela ukuba uYosiya aqalise iphulo lokulusiphula neengcambu unqulo-zithixo waza walungiselela ukuba kubhiyozelwe iPasika. (2 Kum. 22:11; 23:1-23) Ngenxa yokuba uYosiya nezinye iinkokeli ezithembekileyo babekhokelwa liLizwi LikaThixo, bavuma ukulungisa nokucacisa ulwalathiso ababelunika abantu bakaThixo. Olo tshintsho lwabangela ukuba abantu bakaThixo bamandulo baphile ngendlela ethandwa nguThixo.

13. Zazahluke njani iinkokeli zabantu bakaThixo kwiinkokeli zeentlanga ezinganquli uThixo?

¹³ Aba kumkani bathembekileyo babahluke kakhulu kwiinkokeli zezinye iintlanga, amadoda awayekhokelwa bubulumko babantu nangamacebo angawasi ndawo! Iinkokeli zamaKanan zazibayeka abantu bazo ukuba benze izinto ezilizothe ezinjengokulalana kwabantu abazalanayo, ubufanasini, ukulala nezilwanyana, ukubingelela ngabantwana nonqulo-zithixo. (Lev. 18:6, 21-25) Kanti neenkokeli zamaBhabhiloni nezamaYiputa zazingenayo imiyalelo yococeko ehambisana nolwazi lwale mihla uThixo awayeyinike amaSirayeli. (Num. 19:13) Yavela yazicacela kubantu bakaThixo bamandulo into yokuba iinkokeli zabo zazikhuthaza ukunqula nokuziphatha ngendlela ecocekileyo, kunye nokucoceka emzimbeni.  Asithandabuzi ukuba nguYehova owayebakhokela.

14. Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova azohlwaye ezinye iinkokeli zabantu bakhe?

¹⁴ Ayingabo bonke ookumkani ababelawula abantu bakaThixo ababelandela imiyalelo yakhe. Abo babengamthobeli uYehova abazange bavume ukukhokelwa ngumoya oyingcwele, ziingelosi naliLizwi LikaThixo. Kwezinye iimeko, uYehova wayebohlwaya okanye abeke abanye endaweni yabo. (1 Sam. 13:13, 14) Ngexesha lakhe, wabeka umntu owayeza kuba bhetele kunaye nawuphi na umntu awayekhe wamsebenzisa.

15. (a) Abaprofeti bachaza njani ukuba kwakukho inkokeli ekhethekileyo eyayisiza? (b) Yayingubani le nkokeli ekwakuprofetwe ngayo?

¹⁵ UYehova wayeprofete kangangamakhulu eminyaka, echaza ukuba wayeza kumisela inkokeli efaneleka kakuhle ukuze ikhokele abantu bakhe. UMoses wathi kumaSirayeli: “UYehova uThixo wakho uya kunivelisela umprofeti, phakathi kwenu, kubazalwana benu, onjengam​—nize nimphulaphule.” (Dut. 18:15) UIsaya waprofeta esithi loo mntu wayeza kuba ‘yinkokeli nomphathi wamaqela.’ (Isa. 55:4) UDaniyeli yena waphefumlelwa ukuba abhale ngokuza ‘kukaMesiya iNkokeli.’ (Dan. 9:25) Ekugqibeleni, uYesu Kristu wathi yayinguye loo “Nkokeli” yabantu bakaThixo. (Funda uMateyu 23:10.) Abafundi bakhe bamlandela bengaqhutywa mntu, beyingqina into yokuba ukhethwe nguYehova. (Yoh. 6:68, 69) Yintoni eyabenza baqiniseka ukuba uYesu Kristu wayesetyenziswa nguYehova ukuze akhokele abantu bakhe?

16. Yintoni eyabonisa ukuba uYesu wayenikwe amandla ngumoya oyingcwele?

¹⁶ Umoya oyingcwele wamnika amandla uYesu. Xa uYesu wayebhaptizwa, uYohane umBhaptizi wabona “amazulu esahlukaniswa, nomoya usihla phezu kwakhe.” Emva koko “umoya wamqhubela ukuba ahambe aye entlango.” (Marko 1:10-12) Ukususela ngoko, umoya oyingcwele kaThixo wamnika amandla okwenza imimangaliso nokuthetha ngegunya alinikwe nguThixo. (IZe. 10:38) Ukongezelela koko, umoya oyingcwele wavelisa kuye isiqhamo esigqibeleleyo, esasiquka uthando, uvuyo nokholo olomeleleyo. (Yoh. 15:9; Heb. 12:2) Ayikho enye inkokeli eyayinobungqina obucace ngolu hlobo. UYesu wayekhethwe nguYehova.

17.Yintoni eyenziwa ziingelosi ukuze zincede uYesu?

¹⁷ Iingelosi zamnceda uYesu. Emva nje kokubhaptizwa kwakhe, “iingelosi zeza zaza zamlungiselela.” (Mat. 4:11) Kwiiyure ezimbalwa ngaphambi kokuba afe, “ingelosi evela ezulwini yabonakala kuye yaza yamomeleza.” (Luka 22:43) UYesu wayeqinisekile ukuba uYehova wayeza kumthumelela iingelosi ukuze zimncede kuyo nayiphi na into awayeyidinga ukuze enze ukuthanda kwakhe.​—Mat. 26:53.

18, 19. UYesu walisebenzisa njani iLizwi LikaThixo kubomi bakhe naxa wayefundisa abanye abantu?

 ¹⁸ UYesu wayekhokelwa liLizwi LikaThixo. Zisuka nje emva kokuba eqalise ubulungiseleli bakhe, wavumela iZibhalo ukuba zimkhokele. (Mat. 4:4) Enyanisweni ukuthobela kwakhe iLizwi LikaThixo kwamenza wavuma nkqu nokubulawa kwisibonda sentuthumbo. Kwanamazwi akhe okugqibela ngaphambi kokuba afe wayewacaphula kwiziprofeto ezithetha ngoMesiya. (Mat. 27:46; Luka 23:46) Khawumthelekise ke neenkokeli zonqulo zelo xesha ezazilikhabela kude iLizwi LikaThixo xa lixabe phambi kwezithethe zazo. UYesu wacaphula amazwi kaYehova awayewathethe ngomprofeti uIsaya athi: “Esi sizwana sindibeka ngemilebe yaso, kanti intliziyo yaso ikude lee kum. Sindinqulela ilize, kuba sifundisa iimfundiso eziyimiyalelo yabantu.” (Mat. 15:7-9) Ngaba ke uYehova wayenokukhetha amadoda anjalo ukuba akhokele abantu bakhe?

¹⁹ UYesu akazange aphelele nje ekwenzeni oko iLizwi LikaThixo likutshoyo, kodwa walifundisa abanye abantu. Xa kwakuphakama imibuzo ngemicimbi yonqulo, akazange aveze ubulumko bakhe okanye abonise amava anawo. Kunoko, wagxininisa into yokuba ziZibhalo ezinelona gunya likhulu. (Mat. 22:33-40) Ibe kunokuba azithandise kubaphulaphuli bakhe ngokubabalisela ngobomi bakhe ezulwini okanye ngokuncedisa kwakhe ekudaleni izinto, “wazivula ngokupheleleyo iingqondo zabo ukuba zicacelwe yintsingiselo yeZibhalo.” (Luka 24:32, 45) UYesu wayelithanda iLizwi LikaThixo kwaye wayekuthanda ukuchazela abantu ngalo.

20. (a) UYesu wabonisa njani ukuba wayezithoba kuThixo? (b) Umahluko ophakathi kukaYesu noHerode Agripa I usifundisa ntoni ngendlela uYehova ayikhetha ngayo inkokeli?

²⁰ Nangona uYesu wayebashiya bebambe ongezantsi abantu abammameleyo ngenxa ‘yamazwi amnandi’ awayewathetha, wayezukisa uMfundisi wakhe, uYehova ngaloo nto. (Luka 4:22) Xa isityebi esithile sazama ukumtyibela ngesibizo esithi “Mfundisi Olungileyo,” uYesu wathi: “Kutheni undibiza ngokuthi olungileyo? Akukho bani ulungileyo, ngaphandle komnye, uThixo.” (Marko 10:17, 18) Khawumthelekise ke noHerode Agripa I, owaba ngukumkani okanye inkokeli yakwaYuda kwiminyaka emalunga nesibhozo emva koko! Kwisihikahika setheko laseburhulumenteni, uHerode wayenxibe ‘isambatho sasebukhosini.’ Abalandeli bakhe babekhwaza besithi: “Lilizwi lothixo elo, yaye asilamntu!” Kuyacaca ukuba unkabi wancuma yedwa xa esiva enconywa. Kwenzeka ntoni emva koko? “Ngephanyazo ingelosi kaYehova yamxabela, ngenxa yokuba engamnikanga uzuko uThixo; yaye wadliwa ziimpethu waza wabhubha.” (IZe. 12:21-23) Ngokuqinisekileyo akakho umntu ocinga kakuhle owayenokuthi uHerode wayekhethwe nguYehova ukuba abe yinkokeli. Kwelinye icala, uYesu yena wayecaca nakuthathatha ukuba ubekwe nguThixo, kwaye wayesoloko emzukisa uYehova esithi nguye eyona Nkokeli Iphakamileyo yabantu bakhe.

21.Siza kuthetha ngantoni kwinqaku elilandelayo?

²¹ UYesu wayengayi kukhokela iminyaka embalwa nje kuphela. Emva kokuvuswa kwakhe wathi: “Linikwe mna lonke igunya ezulwini nasemhlabeni. . . . Yaye, khangelani! ndinani yonke imihla de kube sekuphelisweni kwenkqubo yezinto.” (Mat. 28:18-20) Kodwa wayeza kubakhokela njani abantu bakaThixo emhlabeni yena esisidalwa somoya esisezulwini? UYehova wayeza kukhetha bani ukuba asebenze phantsi koKristu, aze akhokele abantu bakhe? AmaKristu wona ayeza kubazi njani abameli bakhe? Inqaku elilandelayo liza kuphendula loo mibuzo.