1, 2. Kuyini uJoshuwa ayengabe ezibuza khona ngesikhathi uMosi esefile?

AMAZWI kaJehova ayelokhu enkenteza ezindlebeni zikaJoshuwa. Wayethe kuye: ‘UMosi inceku yami usefile. Ngakho-ke wena labantu bonke laba lungiselelani ukuchapha umfula uJodani liye elizweni esengizalinika bona.’ (Josh. 1:1, 2) UJoshuwa wayengalulindelanga untshintsho olukhulu kangaka. Phela wayeseleminyaka engaba ngu-40 eyinceku kaMosi!

² Kumele ukuthi uJoshuwa wayengabe ezibuza ukuthi isizwe sako-Israyeli sasizamamukela yini ukuthi abe nguMkhokheli waso njengoba sasesileminyaka leminyaka sikhokhelwa nguMosi. (Dute. 34:8, 10-12) Elinye ibhuku elicubungula iBhayibhili lichaza uJoshuwa 1:1, 2 lisithi: “Ezizweni ezazikhona endulo lalezo ezikhona lamuhla, isikhathi esinzima futhi esiyingozi kulazo zonke ngesokuntshintshwa komkhokheli.”

3, 4. Sikwazi njani ukuthi uNkulunkulu kazange amlahle uJoshuwa njalo yiwuphi umbuzo esingazibuza wona?

³ Kayisikho ukuthi uJoshuwa wayesesaba umnyama ongelampisi. Lanxa wayelovalo, akwenza ngemva kwensukwana kwatshengisa ukuthi uyamthemba uJehova. (Josh. 1:9-11) Lakanye uJehova kazange amlahle ngoba iBhayibhili liveza ukuthi wakhokhela uJoshuwa  kanye lesizwe sako-Israyeli esebenzisa ingilosi yakhe. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ingilosi leyo kwakunguLizwi, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu elizibulo.—Eks. 23:20-23; Joh. 1:1.

⁴ UJehova wancedisa isizwe sakhe ukuthi silwamukele untshintsho lokuba lomkhokheli omutsha uJoshuwa. Lathi siphila ezikhathini ezilontshintsho olukhulu. Ngakho singazibuza ukuthi, ‘Njengoba inhlanganiso kaNkulunkulu igijima ngesiqubu esikhulu kangaka, yiziphi izizatho ezenza simthembe uJesu Khristu, uMkhokheli wethu obekwe nguNkulunkulu?’ (Bala uMathewu 23:10. *) Ukuze siphendule umbuzo lo, kasikhangeleni ukuthi endulo uJehova wayebakhokhela njani abantu bakhe nxa kungaba lontshintsho.

5. UJoshuwa wabonani esezafika eJerikho? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

⁵ Abako-Israyeli bathi sebechaphe uMfula uJodani, uJoshuwa wabona isimanga. Wahlangana lendoda eyayiphethe inkemba eduze kwedolobho leJerikho. Njengoba wayengazi ukuthi indoda le ingubani, wayibuza wathi: “Ungowakithi kumbe ungowezitha zethu?” Wamangala imtshela ukuthi ‘ingumlawuli webutho likaJehova’ njalo izovikela abantu bakhe. (Bala uJoshuwa 5:13-15.) Lanxa amanye amavesi endabeni le esitshela ukuthi uJoshuwa wayekhuluma loJehova, kumele ukuthi uJehova wasebenzisa ingilosi yakhe njengoba wayesenza njalo endulo.—Eks. 3:2-4; Josh. 4:1, 15; 5:2, 9; ImiSeb. 7:38; Gal. 3:19.

6-8. (a) Kuyini okwakungenza ukuthi lokho uJehova ayekutshela abako-Israyeli kukhanye angathi akulangqondo? (b) Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi lokho ayebatshele khona kwakuqondile futhi kufike ngesikhathi? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

⁶ Ingilosi yachasisela uJoshuwa ukuthi kwakufanele alihlasele njani idolobho leJerikho. Kodwa ezinye izinto eyazikhulumayo zazingakhanya angathi azilangqondo ngokubona kwabantu. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova walaya ukuthi wonke amadoda ako-Israyeli asokwe. Lokho kwakuzakwenza ukuthi angenelisi ukulwa okwezinsuku ezithile. Pho leso kwakungaba yisikhathi esihle yini sokusoka?—Gen. 34:24, 25; Josh. 5:2, 8.

⁷ Kungenzeka ukuthi amabutho ako-Israyeli ayezibuza ukuthi ayezazivikela njani izimuli zawo nxa isitha sasingagadla ngalesosikhathi. Kodwa kwenzakala into ayengayilindelanga. Athola umbiko wokuthi iJerikho ‘yayisivalwe ngci ngenxa yabako-Israyeli.’ (Josh. 6:1) Kumele ukuthi umbiko lo wenza abako-Israyeli bakuthemba lokho uNkulunkulu ayebatshele khona.

⁸ Okunye abako-Israyeli ababekutsheliwe yikuthi bangalihlaseli iJerikho kodwa balibhode kanye ngelanga okwensuku eziyisithupha, besekusithi ngelanga lesikhombisa balibhode kasikhombisa. Mhlawumbe amanye amabutho ako-Israyeli ayezibuza esithi, ‘Kambe senzani sidlalisa isikhathi sethu lamandla ethu?’ Kodwa uMkhokheli wabo wayesazi ukuthi wenzani. Icebo lelo laqinisa ukholo lwabako-Israyeli njalo lenza baceza ingozi yokuyaqondana lamabutho aseJerikho.—Josh. 6:2-5; Heb. 11:30. *

9. Kungani kumele silalele lokho inhlanganiso kaNkulunkulu esitshela khona? Nika isibonelo.

⁹ Indaba le isifundisani? Kwezinye izikhathi singabe singazizwisisi izinto ezintsha esizitshelwa yinhlanganiso. Ngokwesibonelo, kungenzakala ukuthi sasikubona kungaqondanga ukusebenzisa ezempucuko nxa sisekutshumayeleni loba  emihlanganweni yebandla kumbe nxa sitaditsha iBhayibhili sisodwa. Kodwa khathesi sesikubona ukuthi kuyanceda kakhulu. Nxa singabona ukuthi esikutshelwayo kunceda ngani, ukholo lwethu luyaqina futhi siyahlala simanyene labafowethu labodadewethu.

10. Ngubani owenza ukuthi udaba lokusoka luhluzwe emhlanganweni oqakathekileyo wequla elibusayo owawuseJerusalema?

¹⁰ Kwathi sekwedlule iminyaka engaba ngu-13 uKhoneliya eguqukile waba likholwa, amanye amaJuda ayelokhu esithi amaKhristu kumele asokwe. (ImiSeb. 15:1, 2) Yikho kwavuka impikiswano e-Antiyokhi, kwasekuhlelwa ukuthi uPhawuli ayekwethula udaba lolu kuqula elibusayo eJerusalema. Ngubani owenza ukuthi udaba lolu lufike kuqula elibusayo? UPhawuli wathi: “Ngaya khona kulandela ukwambulelwa.” Kuyacaca ukuthi uKhristu nguye owenza ukuthi udaba lolu luyelungiswa liqula elibusayo.—Gal. 2:1-3.

11. (a) Yiluphi uhlupho olwaqhubeka lukhona phakathi kwamaKhristu angamaJuda? (b) Kwenzakalani kuPhawuli okwakungabangela ukuthi angavumelani labadala eJerusalema? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

¹¹ UKhristu wancedisa iqula elibusayo lacacisa ukuthi kwakungadingakali ukuthi abeZizwe asebengamaKhristu basokwe. (ImiSeb. 15:19, 20) Loba kunjalo, amaJuda amanengi aqhubeka esoka abantwabawo lanxa kwasekuleminyaka isinqumo lesi senziwe. Abadala ababeseJerusalema bathi besizwa ukuthi kulehungahunga lokuthi uPhawuli wayengawulandeli uMthetho kaMosi, bamtshela into ayengayilindelanga. * (ImiSeb. 21:20-26) Bamlaya ukuthi athathe amadoda amane ahambe lawo ethempelini ukuze abantu babone ukuthi ‘uyawulalela umlayo.’ UPhawuli wayengalisola icebo lelo, ame ngokuthi amaJuda yiwo ayelohlupho ngoba engayizwisisi kuhle indaba yokusoka. Kodwa wazithoba wenza lokho abadala ababemtshele khona ngoba wayebona ukuthi bafisa ukuthi kube lokumanyana phakathi kwabazalwane. Kanti kuyini  okwenza ukuthi uJesu atshiye udaba lolu luluhlupho okwesikhathi eside kangaka njengoba ukufa kwakhe kwasekuwususile uMthetho kaMosi?—Kol. 2:13, 14.

12. Kuyini okungabe kwenza ukuthi uKhristu ahlale isikhathi eside engayilungisanga ngokugcweleyo indaba yokusoka?

¹² Abanye kubathatha isikhathi ukwamukela untshintsho nxa kungalungisiswa indlela esizwisisa ngayo indaba ethile. Mhlawumbe lokhu yikho okwenza uKhristu wahlala isikhathi eside engayilungisanga ngokugcweleyo indaba yokusoka ngoba amaJuda ayedinga isikhathi ukuze antshintshe indlela ayebona ngayo izinto. (Joh. 16:12) Kwakunzima ukuthi amanye awo akwamukele ukuthi ukusoka kwakungeke kusaba luphawu olutshengisa ukuthi angabantu bakaNkulunkulu abakhethiweyo. (Gen. 17:9-12) Amanye ayengafuni ukuveza ukuthi ami ngaphi endabeni le ngoba ayesesaba ukuhlukuluzwa ngamaJuda. (Gal. 6:12) Kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi uKhristu wawanceda ukuthi ayizwisise indaba le esebenzisa izincwadi eziphefumulelweyo ezalotshwa nguPhawuli.—Rom. 2:28, 29; Gal. 3:23-25.

13. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi siyithembe indlela uKhristu asikhokhela ngayo lamuhla?

¹³ Nxa singazizwisisi kuhle izizatho ezenze kwaba lontshintsho enhlanganisweni, kumele sikhumbule ukuthi uKhristu wayebakhokhela njani abantu bakaNkulunkulu kudala. Ngesikhathi sikaJoshuwa langesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala, uKhristu wayenika abantu bakaNkulunkulu imilayezo eyayibanceda ukuthi bahlale bevikelekile, belokholo oluqinileyo njalo bemanyene.—Heb. 13:8.

14-16. Nika izibonelo ezitshengisa ukuthi uKhristu ufuna sihlale silokholo oluqinileyo.

¹⁴ UJesu uyasithanda futhi ufuna sihlale siqinile ekukhonzeni. Lokhu kukhanya ngezeluleko leziqondiso ezifika ngesikhathi esizinikwa ‘yinceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo.’ (Mat. 24:45) Omunye umfowethu okuthiwa nguMarc olabantwana abane uthi: “USathane ufuna ukudiliza amabandla ngokuhlasela izimuli. Yikho izinhloko zezimuli zikhuthazwa ukuthi zenze ukukhonza kwemuli maviki wonke ukuze zivikele izimuli zazo.”

¹⁵ Ukunanzelela ukuthi uKhristu usikhokhela njani kwenza sizwisise ukuthi ufuna sonke sihlale silokholo oluqinileyo. Omunye umdala webandla okuthiwa nguPatrick uthi: ‘Ekuqaliseni abanye babekubona kungakhuthazi kangako ukuthi sihlangane singamaqembu amancane nxa sisiya ekutshumayeleni ngempelaviki. Kodwa untshintsho lolu lwenza kukhanye ukuthi uJesu uthanda umuntu ngamunye ebandleni. Ngokwesibonelo, abanye abafowethu labodadewethu abalenhloni futhi ababengaphumi kangako enkonzweni sebekubona ukuthi labo baqakathekile ebandleni. Lokhu kubancede ukuthi bakhuthale ekutshumayeleni.’

¹⁶ Kanti njalo uKhristu uyasisiza ukuthi sihlale siwuthanda umsebenzi oqakatheke kulayo yonke owenziwa emhlabeni lamuhla. (Bala uMakho 13:10.) Umzalwane okuthiwa ngu-André osanda kuba ngumdala webandla uzama ngamandla wonke ukulandela lonke untshintsho olwenziwa yinhlanganiso kaNkulunkulu. Uthi: ‘Ukuphungulwa kwezisebenzi emawofisini egatsha kusikhumbuza ukuthi kumele sisebenze nzima emsebenzini wokutshumayela ngoba ukuphela sekuseduze kakhulu.’

17, 18. Kungani kuqakathekile ukucabanga ngokuthi untshintsho oselwenziwe yinhlanganiso lusinceda ngani?

¹⁷ Indlela iNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu esikhokhela ngayo itshengisa ukuthi ilelihlo elibukhali elibona okuphambili. Ngakho kasicabangeni ngokuthi untshintsho oselwenziwe  yinhlanganiso lusisiza ngani. Kungaba kuhle ukuthi ekukhonzeni kwemuli lixoxe ngokuthi indlela imihlangano esisenziwa ngayo lendlela esesitshumayela ngayo kulisize njani.

¹⁸ Ukunanzelela ukuthi untshintsho olwenziwa yinhlanganiso kaJehova lunceda thina kuzakwenza ukuthi silwamukele ngazo zombili. Ngokwesibonelo, khathesi asisaphrinti amabhuku amanengi futhi sesisebenzisa kakhulu ezempucuko. Lokhu konga imali njalo kwenza umsebenzi woMbuso uqhubekele phambili emhlabeni wonke. Yikho kasizameni ukuzisebenzisa kakhulu ezempucuko ngoba nxa sisenza njalo, siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi sifuna ukuyisebenzisa kuhle iminikelo yenhlanganiso.

19. Kungani kumele sisekele uMkhokheli wethu uKhristu?

¹⁹ Nxa sisekela uMkhokheli wethu uKhristu, siyabe siqinisa ukholo lwabanye njalo sisenza ukuthi kube lokumanyana ebandleni. Ngokwesibonelo inhlanganiso isanda kwenza untshintsho lokuthi kuphungulwe izisebenzi zeBhetheli. Omunye umfowethu okuthiwa ngu-André uthi: “Indlela abazalwane ababeseBhetheli abamukele ngayo untshintsho lolu yenza ngimthembe uMkhokheli wethu uKhristu njalo ngibahloniphe abazalwane laba. Bazimisele ukwamukela ngentokozo loba yiwuphi umsebenzi abawuphiwayo futhi lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi bahambisana lenqola kaJehova.”

20, 21. (a) Kungani kumele simthembe uMkhokheli wethu uKhristu? (b) Yiwuphi umbuzo esizaxoxa ngawo esihlokweni esilandelayo?

²⁰ Sekuseduze ukuthi uMkhokheli wethu uJesu Khristu aqedise ‘ukunqoba’ kwakhe njalo ‘enze izimanga.’ (Isam. 6:2; Hubo. 45:4) Okwakhathesi unceda abantu bakhe ukuthi balungiselele ukuyaphila emhlabeni omutsha lokuyaphathisa emsebenzini omkhulu wokwenza umhlaba ube lipharadayisi lowokufundisa abazavuswa.

²¹ INkosi yethu esikhokhelayo kayisoze yehluleke ukusingenisa emhlabeni omutsha. Ngakho kumele siyithembe ngenhliziyo yonke kungelani lokuthi kwenzakalani. (Bala iHubo 46:1-3.) Kwezinye izikhathi impilo ingantshintsha singalindelanga futhi kungaba nzima ukuthi lokho sikwamukele. Pho singenzani ukuze singakhathazeki kakhulu njalo siqhubeke silokholo oluqinileyo? Umbuzo lo sizaxoxa ngawo esihlokweni esilandelayo.