1. Abantu bakaJehova abanengi bakhethe ukwenzani futhi kungani bekhethe ukwenza njalo?

AMAMILIYONI abantu bakaNkulunkulu lamuhla akhethe ukutshiya ezinye izinto. Abafowethu labodadewethu abanengi bakhethe ukuhlala bengatshadanga. Abanye abatshadileyo bakhethe ukungabi labantwana okwesikhathi esithile. Ezinye imuli zikhethe ukuphila zingelazinto ezinengi. Abantu bonke laba bakhethe ukwenza izinto lezi ngenxa yesizatho lesi esiqakathekileyo: Bafuna ukwenza konke abangakwenza ekukhonzeni uJehova. Bayasuthiseka futhi bayathemba ukuthi uzabanika konke abakudingayo. Bazazisola yini? Hatshi! Kungani sisitsho njalo? UJehova wanika izinceku zakhe zakudala konke ezazikudinga. Ngokwesibonelo, wabusisa u-Abrahama ‘uyise wabo bonke abalokholo.’—Rom. 4:11.

2. (a) Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuHebheru 11:8-10, 16, kungani u-Abrahama wavuma ukusuka e-Uri? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi?

² U-Abrahama wavuma ukutshiya ubuntofontofo obabusedolobheni le-Uri ngoba wayelindele “idolobho elilezisekelo eziqinileyo.” (Bala uHebheru 11:8-10, 16.) Yiliphi lelo ‘dolobho’? U-Abrahama wehlelwa yibuphi ubunzima esalindele ukuthi idolobho lelo lakhiwe? Singamlingisela njani u-Abrahama kanye labanye abamlingiselayo? Esihlokweni lesi sizaxoxa ngemibuzo le.

3. Kuyini idolobho u-Abrahama ayelilindele?

³ Idolobho u-Abrahama ayelilindele nguMbuso kaNkulunkulu. UMbuso lo ubunjwa nguJesu Khristu labagcotshiweyo abangu-144 000. UPhawuli wathi uMbuso lo ‘lidolobho likaNkulunkulu ophilayo, iJerusalema lasezulwini.’ (Heb. 12: 22; Isam. 5:8-10; 14:1) UJesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi bakhuleke becela ukuthi uMbuso lo uze ukuze intando kaNkulunkulu yenziwe emhlabeni njengasezulwini.—Mat. 6:10.

4. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuGenesisi 17:1, 2, 6, kuyini u-Abrahama ayekwazi ngedolobho loba ngoMbuso owawuthenjiswe nguNkulunkulu?

⁴ U-Abrahama wayekwazi yini ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uzabe uhlelwe njani? Hatshi. Okweminyaka eminengi indaba leyo ‘yayiyimfihlo engcwele.’ (Efe. 1:8-10; Kol. 1:26, 27) Kodwa u-Abrahama wayekwazi ukuthi enye inzalo yakhe yayizakuba ngamakhosi ngoba uJehova wayemthembisile. (Bala uGenesisi 17:1, 2, 6.) U-Abrahama wayelokholo oluqinileyo ezithembisweni zikaNkulunkulu okokuthi kwakungani uyambona oGcotshiweyo kumbe uMesiya owayezakuba yiNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Lokhu yikho okwenza uJesu watshela amaJuda wathi: “Uyihlo u-Abrahama wathokoza kakhulu ekhangelele ukubona usuku lwami, lakanye walubona wajabula.” (Joh. 8:56) Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi u-Abrahama wayekwazi ukuthi enye inzalo yakhe yayizakuba ngamakhosi eMbusweni owawuzabunjwa nguNkulunkulu futhi wayezimisele ukulindela ukuthi uJehova agcwalise isithembiso leso.

5. Kungani sisithi u-Abrahama wayelindele idolobho elicandwe nguNkulunkulu?

⁵ Kungani sisithi u-Abrahama wayelindele idolobho kumbe uMbuso ocandwe nguNkulunkulu? Kazange abe yisizalwane saloba yiwuphi umbuso womhlaba. Wahamba ehlala endaweni ezitshiyeneyo kulokuthi ahlale endaweni eyodwa abesesekela inkosi engumuntu. Kanti njalo kazange azame ukuzicandela owakhe umbuso kodwa waqhubeka elalela uJehova elindele ukuthi agcwalise izithembiso zakhe. Ngokwenza njalo, u-Abrahama watshengisa ukuthi ulokholo oluqine okumangalisayo. Ake sixoxe ngobunye ubunzima ahlangana labo besesibona ukuthi sifundani esibonelweni sakhe.

6. Lalinjani idolobho le-Uri?

⁶ U-Abrahama watshiya idolobho lase-Uri elalivikelekile, lilabantu abafundileyo futhi abanothileyo. Kanti njalo impilo yase-Uri yayintofontofo. Idolobho lelo  lalivikelwe yinkalakatha yomduli lomgelo wamanzi otshonayo owawusemaceleni alo amathathu. Abantu bakhona babezingcitshi zokubhala lezesamu. Kungenzakala lokuthi abanengi babo babesenza ezamabhizimusi ngoba abezembali bathola imibhalo yezamabhizimusi emanxiweni edolobho lelo. Izindlu zazakhiwe ngezitina njalo imiduli yazo iplastiwe futhi yapendwa yaba mhlophe. Ezinye izindlu zazilamakamelo angu-13 kumbe angu-14 agombolozele iguma elilungiswe kuhle.

7. Kungani kwakumele u-Abrahama athembe ukuthi uJehova uzamvikela yena kanye lemuli yakhe?

⁷ U-Abrahama kwakumele athembe ukuthi uJehova uzamvikela yena kanye lemuli yakhe. Phela batshiya umuzi wabo owawumuhle futhi uvikelekile bayahlala ematendeni emagcekeni eKhenani. Babengasavikelwanga yimiduli emikhulu lemigelo yamanzi etshonayo. Kwasekulula ukuthi izitha zibahlasele.

8. U-Abrahama wehlelwa yibuphi ubunzima?

⁸ Lanxa u-Abrahama wayesenza intando kaNkulunkulu, wake waswela ukudla okweneleyo kokunika imuli yakhe. Kwaba lendlala enkulu elizweni uJehova ayethe ayekulo. Indlala leyo yayimbi okokuthi u-Abrahama wabona kungcono ukuthi ake ayehlala eGibhithe okwesikhatshana. Eselapho, uFaro umbusi walelolizwe wamthathela umkakhe. Kumele ukuthi u-Abrahama wayekhathazeke kakhulu ngesikhathi uJehova engakabangeli ukuthi uFaro ambuyisele umkakhe.—Gen. 12:10-19.

9. Yibuphi ubunzima obabusemulini ka-Abrahama?

⁹ Izinto zazinzima emulini ka-Abrahama. Umkakhe uSara wayeyinyumba futhi lokhu kwabazwisa ubuhlungu okweminyaka eminengi. Yikho uSara wacina enika u-Abrahama incekukazi yakhe uHagari ukuthi imzalele abantwana. Kodwa uHagari wathi esezithwele u-Ishmayeli, waqalisa ukweyisa uSara. Kwaba kubi okokuthi uSara wacina emxotsha.—Gen. 16:1-6.

10. Kuyini okwakungenza u-Abrahama acine engasamthembi uJehova?

¹⁰ USara wacina ezithwele futhi wazala indodana u-Abrahama ayinika ibizo elithi Isaka. U-Abrahama wayewathanda womabili amadodana akhe, u-Ishmayeli lo-Isaka. Kodwa uJehova wamtshela ukuthi axotshe u-Ishmayeli loHagari ngenxa yokuthi u-Ishmayeli wayemphatha kubi u-Isaka. (Gen. 21:9-14) Ngemva kweminyaka eminengi uJehova wacela u-Abrahama ukuthi anikele ngo-Isaka abe ngumhlatshelo. (Gen. 22:1, 2; Heb. 11:17-19) Kuzo zombili izenzakalo lezi, u-Abrahama kwakumele athembe ukuthi uJehova wayezacina ezigcwalisile izithembiso ezazimayelana lamadodana akhe.

11. Kungani kwakumele u-Abrahama abekezele elindele uJehova?

¹¹ Ngesikhathi kusenzakala konke lokhu, u-Abrahama kwakumele afunde ukubekezela elindele uJehova. Kungenzeka wayeseleminyaka edlula 70 lapho besuka e-Uri. (Gen. 11:31–12:4) Okweminyaka engaba ngu-100 wahlala ematendeni ebhoda ilizwe laseKhenani. Wafa eleminyaka engu-175. (Gen. 25:7) Kodwa kazange akubone ukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso sikaJehova sokunika inzalo yakhe ilizwe laseKhenani. Kakubonanga lokusungulwa kwedolobho elinguMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Lanxa kunjalo iBhayibhili lithi wafa “emdala futhi esuthisekile.” (Gen. 25:8, NWT) U-Abrahama waqhubeka elokholo oluqinileyo njalo ezimisele ukulindela uJehova kungelani lobunzima obabumehlela. Kuyini okwamnceda ukuthi aqinisele? Okwempilo yakhe yonke uJehova wamvikela njalo waba ngumngane wakhe.—Gen. 15:1; Isaya. 41:8; Jak. 2:22, 23.

12. Silindeleni futhi sizaxoxa ngani?

 ¹² Lathi njengo-Abrahama silindele idolobho elilezisekelo eziqinileyo. Kodwa thina kasilindelanga ukuthi idolobho lelo lakhiwe ngoba uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasungulwa ngo-1914 njalo waqalisa ukubusa ezulwini. (Isam. 12:7-10) Silindele ukuthi uMbuso lo ubuse lasemhlabeni. Sisawulindele, kungenzeka sehlelwe zinhlupho ezihambelana lalezo ezehlela u-Abrahama loSara. Izinceku zikaJehova zakhathesi zenelisile yini ukulingisela u-Abrahama? Izindaba zokuphila ebeziphuma ku-Nqabayokulinda zitshengisa ukuthi abanengi lamuhla balokholo njalo bayabekezela njengo-Abrahama loSara. Kasixoxeni ngabanye babo sibone ukuthi singafundani.

13. Ufundani kumfowethu uWalden?

¹³ Zimisele ukutshiya ezinye izinto. Nxa sifuna ukuqakathekisa idolobho likaNkulunkulu loba uMbuso wakhe kumele sibe njengo-Abrahama owayezimisele ukutshiya ezinye izinto ukuze athokozise uNkulunkulu. (Mat. 6:33; Mak. 10:28-30) Asixoxeni ngomfowethu uBill Walden. * Ngo-1942 esezaqeda ukufundela ubunjinela eyunivesithi eseMelika, waqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhili laboFakazi bakaJehova. Esinye isikhwicamfundo esasimfundisa sasesimtholele umsebenzi ayezawenza eseqedile eyunivesithi. Kodwa yena wala. Wasichasisela ukuthi wayesekhethe ukungenzi umsebenzi lo owawuzamnika imali enengi ngoba efuna ukwenza okunengi ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu. Kungakayi ngaphi uhulumende wathi uBill angene esisotsheni. Wala yikho wafayindiswa amadola eMelika angu-10 000 wasegwetshwa iminyaka emihlanu. Wakhululwa ejele ngemva kweminyaka emithathu. Ngemva kwesikhathi wabizwa eSikolo seGiliyadi wasesiyakuba ngumnali e-Africa. UBill watshada lo-Eva njalo baqhubeka bengabanali e-Africa. Lokhu kwakusitsho ukuthi kwakumele batshiye ezinye izinto. Ngemva kweminyaka eminengi babuyela eMelika ukuze banakekele unina kaBill. Nxa echaza impilo yakhe uBill uthi: “Inyembezi ziyahlengezela nxa ngicabanga ngesibusiso  esimangalisayo sokusetshenziswa nguJehova enkonzweni yakhe okweminyaka edlula 70. Ngihlala ngimbonga ngokungincedisa ukuthi ngikhethe ukwenza inkonzo yakhe okwempilo yami yonke.” Lawe ungenelisa yini ukuba senkonzweni yesikhathi sonke okwempilo yakho yonke?

14-15. Ufundani kulokho okwenzakala kumfowethu lodade Apostolidis?

¹⁴ Ungacabangi ukuthi awusoze wehlelwe zinhlupho. Indaba ka-Abrahama isifundisa ukuthi ngitsho lalabo abazinikele ukuba senkonzweni yesikhathi sonke okwempilo yabo yonke bazakuba lenhlupho. (Jak. 1:2; 1 Phet. 5:9) Lokhu yikho kanye okwenzakala kumfowethu u-Aristotelis Apostolidis. * Wabhabhathizwa ngo-1946 eGreece njalo ngo-1952 wathembisana lodade okuthiwa ngu-Eleni owayefuna ukwenza okunengi ekukhonzeni njengaye. Kodwa u-Eleni wagula, kwatholakala ukuthi kulento eyayimila ebuchotsheni bakhe okuthiwa yi-brain tumor. Lanxa into le yakhitshwa, yaphinda yamila ngemva kweminyaka emilutshwana betshadile. Odokotela baphinda bamhlinza kodwa enye ingxenye yomzimba yasala ingasasebenzi futhi wayengasenelisi ukukhuluma kuhle. Lanxa kunjalo u-Eleni waqhubeka ekhuthele ekutshumayeleni lanxa wayegula njalo oFakazi behlukuluzwa nguhulumende.

¹⁵ U-Aristotelis wanakekela umkakhe okweminyaka engu-30. Phakathi kwaleyominyaka wayengumdala webandla, esebenza kumakhomithi emihlangano emikhulu njalo wancedisa ekwakheni iWolu Yemihlangano Emikhulu. Ngo-1987 u-Eleni walimala kakhulu esekutshumayeleni njalo waba kukhoma okweminyaka emithathu wasesifa. U-Aristotelis waphetha indaba yakhe yokuphila esithi: “Eminyakeni yonke le ngehlelwa zinhlupho ezinengi futhi ezinye zakhona zenzakala ngingalindelanga. Kwakudinga ukuthi ngiqinisele njalo ngingavumeli loba yini ingiqede amandla. Kodwa uJehova ubehlala enginika amandla engiwadingayo ukuthi ngimelane lenhlupho lezi.” (Hubo. 94:18, 19) UJehova uyabathanda kakhulu bonke abenza okusemandleni abo ukuthi  bamkhonze kungelani lenhlupho ezibehlelayo.

16. Umfowethu uKnorr wamkhuthaza njani umkakhe?

¹⁶ Hlala ucabanga ngezibusiso ozithenjisiweyo. U-Abrahama wayehlala ecabanga ngezibusiso uJehova ayezamnika zona futhi lokhu kwakumnceda ukuthi aqinisele nxa esebunzimeni. Udadewethu u-Audrey Hyde laye wazama ukuhlala ecabanga ngezibusiso zesikhathi esizayo lanxa umkakhe wokuqala uNathan H. Knorr wabulawa yimvukuzane lowesibili uGlenn Hyde wabanjwa umkhuhlane ohlasela ingqondo okuthiwa yi-Alzheimer’s. * Uthi wancedwa ngokunye akutshelwa ngumfowethu Knorr sekusele amaviki amalutshwana ukuthi afe. ‘UNathan wathi kimi: “Nxa sesifile, akulanto engasithathela ithemba esilalo njalo kasisoze siphinde sizwe ubuhlungu.” Wasengikhuthaza wathi: “Hlala ukhangele phambili ngoba kulapho okulomvuzo wakho khona.” Waphinda wathi: “Zama ukuhlala uncedisa abanye. Lokhu kuzakwenza uthokoze.”’ Kuyanceda sibili ukuhlala sisenzela abanye okuhle ‘lokujabula ngenxa yethemba lethu.’—Rom. 12:12.

17. (a) Kungani ensukwini lezi kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuhlala sicabanga ngezibusiso esizithenjisiweyo? (b) UMikha 7:7 usinceda njani?

¹⁷ Ezinsukwini lezi kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuhlala sicabanga ngezibusiso esizithenjisiweyo. Okwenzakala emhlabeni khathesi kutshengisa ukuthi sesisekucineni kwezinsuku zokucina. Sekuseduze ukuthi idolobho elilezisekelo eziqinileyo esililindeleyo libuse umhlaba wonke. Okunye okuzasithokozisa yikubona izihlobo labangane bethu bevuswa. Ngesikhathi leso uJehova uzanika u-Abrahama kanye lemuli yakhe umvuzo ngokubavusa ukuthi baphile emhlabeni ngenxa yokholo lokubekezela kuka-Abrahama. Uzabe ukhona yini ukuze ubamukele? Nanku ongakwenza ukuze ube khona: Zimisele ukutshiya ezinye izinto ngenxa yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, uqhubeke ulokholo lanxa usehlelwa zinhlupho njalo ufunde ukubekezela ulindele uJehova njengo-Abrahama.—Bala uMikha 7:7.