1. IBhayibhile isifundisa ntoni ngoYehova?

NGABA ungathanda ukuba abantu bazigqibele ukuba ungumntu onjani ngokujonga nje ibala lakho, indlela obume ngayo ubuso bakho okanye ubungakanani bomzimba wakho? Awunakuyithanda loo nto. Kuvuyisa kakhulu ukwazi ukuba uYehova akagqibi ukuba singabantu abanjani ngokujonga indlela esibonakala ngayo ebantwini. Ngokomzekelo, xa uSamuweli wayejonge oonyana bakaYese, akazange ayibone into eyabonwa nguYehova. UYehova waxelela uSamuweli ukuba omnye woonyana bakaYese wayeza kuba ngukumkani wakwaSirayeli. Kodwa wayethetha ngowuphi? Xa uSamuweli wabona unyana kaYese omdala, uEliyabhi, wathi: “Lo umi phambi kukaYehova ngumthanjiswa wakhe nyhani.” UEliyabhi wayengathi ngukumkani. “Kodwa uYehova wathi kuSamuweli: ‘Sukujonga inkangeleko yakhe nobude bakhe, kuba andikhethanga yena.’” Sifunda ntoni? UYehova waphinda wathi: “Umntu ubona nje okubonakalayo emehlweni, kodwa uYehova ubona okusentliziyweni.”—1 Sam. 16:1, 6, 7.

2. UYohane 7:24 uthi kutheni singenakugqiba ngabantu ngokubakha nje phezulu? Yenza umzekelo.

² Kuba singafezekanga, sidla ngokubakha phezulu abantu size sibe sesigqiba ukuba banjani. (Funda uYohane 7:24.) Kodwa akukho nto ingako sinokuyazi ngomntu ngokumjonga nje ngaphandle. Ngokomzekelo, nogqirha okrelekrele nonamava akukho nto ingako anokuyazi ngokujonga nje umntu ogulayo. Kufuneka ammamele kakuhle loo mntu ukuze azazi izinto awayekade egula zizo, indlela aziva ngayo ngemeko yakhe nezinye izinto azivayo emzimbeni. Ugqirha usenokumsa nakwi-X-ray ukuze abone into eyenzekayo ngaphakathi emzimbeni wakhe.  Ukuba akayenzi loo nto usenokumnika amayeza ento angaguli yiyo. Ngendlela efanayo, asinakubazi kakuhle abazalwana noodadewethu ngokujonga nje indlela abakhangeleka ngayo. Kufuneka sizame ukwazi ukuba bangabantu abanjani. Ewe kona, asiziboni iintliziyo zabo, ngoko soze sibazi njengoYehova. Kodwa sinokuzama ukufana noYehova. Njani?

3. Eli nqaku liza kusinceda njani sifane noYehova?

³ UYehova ubaphatha njani abakhonzi bakhe? Uyabamamela. Uyabaqonda ukuba basuka phi nemeko yabo. Uyavelana nabo. Njengokuba sifunda ngendlela uYehova awazenza ngayo ezi zinto kuYona, uEliya, uHagare noLote, makhe sibone ukuba sinokumlinganisa njani kwindlela esibaphatha ngayo abazalwana noodadewethu.

4. Kutheni sisenokumjonga kakubi uYona?

⁴ Kuba singazi yonke into ngemeko kaYona, sisenokucinga ukuba wayengumntu ongenakuthenjwa nongathobeliyo. Wathunywa nguYehova ukuba axelele abantu baseNineve ukuba baza kugwetywa. Kodwa yena akazange amthobele, wakhwela inqanawa eyayingayi kule ndawo wayethunywe kuyo, “kude noYehova.” (Yona 1:1-3) Ngaba wawunokuphinda umnike elinye ithuba uYona? Mhlawumbi wawungazukuyenza loo nto. Kodwa yena uYehova wamnika.—Yona 3:1, 2.

5. Yintoni oyifundayo ngoYona kumazwi akuYona 2:1, 2, 9?

⁵ Umthandazo kaYona usinceda sibone ukuba wayengumntu onjani. (Funda uYona 2:1, 2, 9.) Ngokuqinisekileyo wathandaza kaninzi, ibe omnye umthandazo awawenza esiswini sentlanzi usinceda sibone ukuba wayengeyondoda nje eyabalekayo xa yayithunywa nguThixo. Izinto awazithethayo zibonisa ukuba wayethobekile, embulela uYehova ibe ezimisele ukumthobela. Ngoko ayisothusi into yokuba uYehova angajongi impazamo kaYona, awumamele umthandazo wakhe aze aqhubeke emsebenzisa.

6. Kutheni kubalulekile ukuba simamele kakuhle?

⁶ Ukuze sibamamele kakuhle abanye kufuneka sithobeke size sibe nomonde. Le nto ibalulekile ngenxa yezizathu ezithathu. Okokuqala, asizukufane sibacingele  kakubi abantu. Okwesibini, siza kubazi ukuba baziva njani abazalwana bethu nokuba kutheni besenza izinto ezithile, ibe loo nto iza kusenza sibe novelwano. Okwesithathu sisenokumnceda azazi naye. Ngamanye amaxesha, umntu usenokungazazi ukuba uziva njani ade athethe nomnye umntu. (IMize. 20:5) Omnye umdala waseAsia uthi: “Ngenye imini ndakha ndangxama ngokuthetha ndingekaziva zonke iinkcukacha. Ndaxelela omnye udade ukuba makaphucule indlela aphendula ngayo kwiintlanganiso. Ndazi emva kokuba ndithethe loo nto ukuba akakwazi kakuhle ukufunda, ngoko akukho lula ukuphendula.” Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba bonke abadala ‘beve kakuhle’ ngaphambi kokuba bacebise.—IMize. 18:13.

7. Yintoni oyifundayo kwindlela uYehova awamphatha ngayo uEliya?

⁷ Akululanga ukuthetha kwabanye abazalwana noodade ngenxa yezinto ezakha zenzeka kubo okanye ngenxa yobuntu babo. Sinokwenza ntoni ukuze kube lula kubo ukusixelela indlela abaziva ngayo? Khumbula into eyenziwa nguYehova kuEliya xa wayebaleka uIzebhele. Kwadlula iintsuku ezininzi ngaphambi kokuba uEliya axelele uTata wakhe osezulwini eyona ndlela aziva ngayo. UYehova wammamela kakuhle, wamkhuthaza waza wamnika umsebenzi obalulekileyo. (1 Kum. 19:1-18) Kusenokuthatha ixesha ngaphambi kokuba abazalwana noodade basithembe baze basixelele indlela abaziva ngayo. Kodwa ukuba sinomonde njengoYehova, baza kude basithembe. Xa befuna ukusixelela indlela abaziva ngayo, kufuneka sibamamele kakuhle.

8. IGenesis 16:7-13 ithi uYehova wamnceda njani uHagare?

⁸ UHagare, isicakakazi sikaSarayi, wenza impazamo emva kokuba etshate noAbram. UHagare wamitha waza wamdelela uSarayi owayengenabantwana. Izinto zaba mbi kakhulu kangangokuba uSarayi wamgxotha. (Gen. 16:4-6) Kuba singafezekanga sisenokucinga ukuba uHagare wayekhohlakele ibe wayemele ohlwaywe. Kodwa uYehova wayengacingi njalo yena. Wathumela ingelosi yakhe kuye. Ingelosi yafika yamnceda watshintsha indlela acinga ngayo yaza yamsikelela. UHagare waqonda ukuba uYehova ebemjongile ibe uyayazi imeko yakhe. Wade wathi: “UnguThixo obonayo, . . . lowo undibonayo.”—Funda iGenesis 16:7-13.

9. Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova abe nobubele kuHagare?

⁹ UYehova wabona ntoni kuHagare? Wayezazi izinto ezakha zenzeka kuHagare nezinto awazinyamezelayo. (IMize. 15:3) UHagare wayengumYiputa owayehlala namaHebhere. Ngaba wayekhe azive ngathi akafunwa? Ngaba wayekhumbula abantu bakowabo nelizwe lakhe? Yayingenguye yedwa inkosikazi ka-Abram. Kangangexesha elithile, amadoda athembekileyo ayenabafazi abaliqela. Kodwa uYehova wayengafuni loo nto xa wayedala abantu. (Mat. 19:4-6) Ngoko ayothusi into yokuba umntu wayesenokuba nomona nenzondo. UYehova wayengayithandi indlela uHagare awayemphethe ngayo uSarayi. Kodwa wayeyiqonda indlela aziva ngayo nemeko yakhe, ngoko waba nobubele kuye.

10. Ziintoni esinokuzenza ukuze sibazi bhetele abazalwana noodadewethu?

 ¹⁰ Sinokufana noYehova ngokuzama ukubazi abazalwana noodadewethu. Zama ukubazi bhetele abazalwana noodade. Ncokola nabo ngaphambi nasemva kweentlanganiso, shumayela nabo, ukuba kunokwenzeka, bamemele kwakho. Xa usenza loo nto uza kubona ukuba udade obucinga ukuba akanabubele uneentloni, umzalwana obucinga ukuba uthanda imali uyakuthanda ukupha, okanye umzali osoloko efika emva kwexesha kwiintlanganiso nabantwana bakhe uyachaswa. (Yobhi 6:29) Loo nto ayithethi ukuba simele ‘sizifake ezintweni zabantu.’ (1 Tim. 5:13) Kodwa kubalulekile ukubazi abazalwana noodadewethu nezinto ezakha zenzeka ebomini babo. Le nto iza kusinceda sibazi kakuhle.

11. Kutheni kubalulekile ukuba abadala babazi kakuhle abazalwana noodade?

¹¹ Abadala ngabona bamele babazi abazalwana noodade. Khawucinge ngento eyenzeka komnye umzalwana, uArtur, owayengumveleli wesiphaluka. Yena nomnye umzalwana baya kubona udade owayebonakala ngathi uneentloni. UArtur uthi: “Seva ukuba umyeni wakhe wasweleka kwiminyaka embalwa emva kokuba betshatile. Nangona kwakunzima, wakhulisa iintombi zakhe ezimbini ezimthandayo uYehova. Kodwa ngoku wayengasaboni kakuhle, enayo nedepression. Nangona kunjalo akazange ayeke ukumthanda uYehova. Sabona ukuba ininzi into esinokuyifunda kulo dade.” (Fil. 2:3) Lo mveleli wayelinganisa uYehova. UYehova uyabazi abakhonzi bakhe nentlungu yabo. (Eks. 3:7) Abadala ababazi kakuhle abazalwana noodade banokukwazi ukubanceda.

12. Kwamnceda njani uYip Yee ukumazi kakuhle udade osebandleni lakhe?

¹² Xa umazi kakuhle umzalwana okanye udade okudikayo usenokumcingela. Khawucinge ngalo mzekelo. UYip Yee, ohlala eAsia uthi: “Omnye udade ebandleni wayethethela phezulu. Ndandicinga ukuba akanambeko. Kodwa xa ndasebenza naye entsimini ndafumanisa ukuba wayencedisa abazali bakhe xa bethengisa iintlanzi. Kwakufuneka akhwaze ukuze abantu bazothenga. Ndabona ukuba ukuze ndibaqonde abazalwana noodade kufuneka ndibazi kakuhle.” Kufuneka sisebenze nzima ukuze sibazi kakuhle abazalwana noodadewethu. Xa sithobela  icebiso leBhayibhile lokubathanda nyhani abanye, silinganisa uYehova othanda “zonke iintlobo zabantu.”—1 Tim. 2:3, 4; 2 Kor. 6:11-13.

13. IGenesis 19:15, 16 ithi zenza ntoni iingelosi xa uLote wayengade aphume, ibe ngoba?

¹³ Ngexesha elalibaluleke kakhulu ebomini bakhe, uLote akazange akhawuleze amthobele uYehova. Iingelosi ezimbini zaya kuye zaza zamxelela ukuba makakhuphe intsapho yakhe eSodom. Ngoba? Zathi: “Siza kuyitshabalalisa.” (Gen. 19:12, 13) Ngentsasa elandelayo, uLote nentsapho yakhe babengekahambi. Iingelosi zaphinda zamlumkisa uLote. Kodwa “wayesangqunga.” Sisenokucinga ukuba uLote akazange ayikhathalele into eyathethwa nguYehova, okanye side sithi wayengathobeli. Kodwa uYehova akazange amncame. “Kuba uYehova wayenovelwano ngaye,” iingelosi zababamba ngesandla zaza zabakhuphela ngaphandle kwesixeko.—Funda iGenesis 19:15, 16.

14. Ziintoni ezazisenokwenza uYehova abe novelwano ngoLote?

¹⁴ Inoba uYehova waba novelwano ngoLote ngenxa yezizathu eziliqela. Mhlawumbi uLote walibazisa kuba wayesoyika abantu abangaphandle kwesixeko. Zikhona nezinye izinto ezaziyingozi. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba weva ngookumkani ababini abatshona kwimingxuma yebhitumene kwintlambo eyayikufutshane. (Gen. 14:8-12) Inoba uLote wayenexhala ngentsapho yakhe. Enye into, wayesisityebi, ngoko kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayenendlu entle eSodom. (Gen. 13:5, 6) Ayikho kwezi enokuba sisizathu esibhadlileyo sokuba uLote angamthobeli uYehova. Nangona kunjalo, uYehova akazange ajonge impazamo yakhe kodwa wathi ‘uyindoda elilungisa.’—2 Pet. 2:7, 8.

15. Endaweni yokugqiba ngomntu ngenxa yezinto azenzayo, yintoni esimele siyenze?

¹⁵ Endaweni yokuba sigqibe ngomntu ngenxa yezinto azenzayo, simele sizame ukuyiqonda indlela aziva ngayo.  UVeronica, udade waseYurophu wazama ukwenza loo nto. Uthi: “Omnye udade wayesoloko engenamdla wanto. Wayengakufuni ukuhlala nabanye abantu. Ngamanye amaxesha, ndandisonqena nokuthetha naye. Kodwa ndacinga ukuba, ‘Ukuba bendikwimeko yakhe bendiza kumfuna umhlobo.’ Ngoko ndaqonda ukuba mandimbuze ukuba uziva njani. Emva koko, wandixelela indlela aziva ngayo. Ngoku ndimazi kakuhle.”

16. Kutheni simele sicele uYehova asincede sibacingele abanye?

¹⁶ NguYehova yedwa oyena mntu usazi kakuhle. (IMize. 15:11) Ngoko mcele ukuba akuncede ubone izinto azibonayo ebantwini uze ukwazi nokuba novelwano. Umthandazo wanceda udade ekuthiwa nguAnzhela wabacingela abanye. Kwakunzima ukuvana nodade owayesebandleni lakhe. UAnzhela uthi: “Kwakunokuba lula ukumgxeka lo dade ndize ndimphephe. Kodwa ndacela uYehova ukuba andincede ndimqonde.” Ngaba uYehova wawuphendula umthandazo ka-Anzhela? Uthi: “Sashumayela kunye saza emva koko sancokola kangangeeyure. Ndaba novelwano xa ndandimmamele. Ngoku ndimthanda kakhulu, ibe ndizimisele nokumnceda.”

17. Yintoni esimele sizimisele ukuyenza?

¹⁷ Awunakubakhetha abazalwana noodade onokuba novelwano kubo. Bonke baneengxaki njengoYona, uEliya, uHagare noLote. Ngamanye amaxesha bazifaka ngokwabo ezingxakini. Xa sithetha inyani, sonke sakha sazifaka engxakini. Yiloo nto uYehova esithi masivelane. (1 Pet. 3:8) Xa sithobela uYehova simanyana kakhulu nentsapho yethu esehlabathini lonke. Ngoko simele sibamamele, sibazi kakuhle abazalwana noodadewethu size sibe novelwano.