1. Yini ezosiduduza lapho sizizwa sengathi silahliwe noma lapho sikhungethwe izinkinga? (IHubo 118:5-7)

WAKE wazizwa sengathi ulahliwe, awunabani ongakusiza ubhekane nenkinga ekukhungethe? Abaningi bake bazizwa ngaleyo ndlela, okuhlanganisa nezinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile. (1 AmaKh. 19:14) Uma lokho kwenzeka kuwe, khumbula isithembiso sikaJehova: “Angisoze ngakushiya futhi angisoze ngakulahla.” Ngakho singasho ngokuqiniseka sithi: “UJehova ungumsizi wami; ngeke ngesabe.” (Heb. 13:5, 6) Umphostoli uPawulu wawabhalela amaKristu ayehlala eJudiya lawo mazwi ngabo-61 C.E. Amazwi akhe asikhumbuza lokho okwabhalwa umhubi encwadini yeHubo 118:5-7.—Yifunde.

2. Sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sihloko, futhi kungani?

² Njengomhubi, uPawulu wayezibonele mathupha ukuthi uJehova unguMsizi wakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, eminyakeni engaphezu kwemibili ngaphambi kokuba abhale incwadi yakhe eya kumaHebheru, uPawulu wasinda esiphephweni esinamandla ngesikhathi behamba ngomkhumbi olwandle. (IzE. 27:4, 15, 20) Phakathi nalolo hambo nangezinye izikhathi ezingaphambi kwalo, uJehova wayezibonakalise ngezindlela eziningi ukuthi unguMsizi kaPawulu. Sizoxoxa ngezintathu zalezo zindlela. UJehova wamsiza esebenzisa uJesu nezingelosi, abantu abasezikhundleni eziphakeme namanye amaKristu. Ukuxoxa ngalezi zenzakalo ezenzeka ekuphileni kukaPawulu kuzosenza sisethembe nakakhulu isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sokuthi uzoyiphendula imithandazo yethu lapho sicela usizo.

3. Yini okungenzeka uPawulu wayezibuza yona, futhi kungani?

³ UPawulu wayedinga usizo. Ngabo-56 C.E., isixuku samhudulela  ngaphandle kwethempeli eJerusalema futhi sazama ukumbulala. Ngosuku olulandelayo, ngesikhathi uPawulu elethwe phambi kweSanhedrini, izitha zakhe zazisho ukumqeda. (IzE. 21:30-32; 22:30; 23:6-10) Ngaleso sikhathi kungenzeka uPawulu wayezibuza, ‘Kuyoze kube nini ngibekezelele lokhu kuhlukunyezwa?’

4. UJehova wamsiza kanjani uPawulu esebenzisa uJesu?

⁴ Yiluphi usizo uPawulu aluthola? Ngobusuku bangemva kokuboshwa kukaPawulu, “iNkosi,” uJesu, yama ngakuye yathi: “Yiba nesibindi! Ngoba njengoba nje ubufakaza ngokugcwele ngami eJerusalema, kanjalo kumelwe ufakaze futhi naseRoma.” (IzE. 23:11) Leso sikhuthazo sasifike ngesikhathi ngempela! UJesu wamncoma uPawulu ngesibindi ayesibonise ngesikhathi efakaza ngaye eJerusalema. Wathembisa nokuthi uPawulu wayezofika ngokuphepha eRoma, aqhubeke afakaze nakhona. Ngemva kokuthola leso siqinisekiso, kumelwe ukuba uPawulu wazizwa ephephile njengengane egonwe uyise.

5. UJehova wamsiza kanjani uPawulu esebenzisa ingelosi? (Bheka isithombe esisekhasini 1.)

⁵ Yibuphi obunye ubunzima uPawulu abhekana nabo? Cishe ngemva kweminyaka emibili kwenzeke lezo zigigaba eJerusalema, uPawulu wayesemkhunjini oya e-Italiya ngesikhathi kuba nesiphepho esinamandla kangangokuba abagibeli namatilosi babecabanga ukuthi bazofa. Nokho, uPawulu wayengasabi. Kungani? Watshela bonke ababesemkhunjini: “Kulobu busuku, eduze kwami kume ingelosi kaNkulunkulu engingowakhe nenginikela kuye inkonzo engcwele, yathi: ‘Ungesabi Pawulu. Kumelwe ume phambi kukaKhesari, futhi bheka! uNkulunkulu ukunike bonke labo abahamba nawe.’” UJehova wayesebenzise ingelosi ukuze iphinde isho isiqinisekiso uJehova ayesinike uPawulu esebenzisa uJesu. UPawulu wafika ngempela eRoma njengoba nje uJehova ayethembisile.—IzE. 27:20-25; 28:16.

6. Yisiphi isithembiso sikaJesu esingasiqinisa, futhi kungani?

⁶ Yiluphi usizo thina esilutholayo? UJesu uzosisekela njengoba enza kuPawulu. Ngokwesibonelo, uJesu ubathembisa lokhu bonke abalandeli bakhe: “Nginani zonke izinsuku kuze kube isiphelo sesimiso sezinto.” (Math. 28:20) Amazwi akhe ayasiqinisa. Kungani? Yingoba ezinye izinsuku ziba nzima kakhulu kunezinye. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho sishonelwa umuntu esimthandayo, kumelwe sikhuthazelele lobo buhlungu hhayi nje kuphela izinsuku ezimbalwa, kodwa cishe iminyaka eminingi. Abanye bakhuthazelela izinkinga ezihambisana nokuguga. Abanye bakhuthazelela izinsuku ezinzima ezibangelwa isifo sokucindezeleka. Noma kunjalo, sithola amandla okukhuthazela ngoba  siyazi ukuthi uJesu unathi “zonke izinsuku,” unathi ngisho nangezinsuku ezinzima kakhulu ekuphileni kwethu.—Math. 11:28-30.

7. Ngokwencwadi yesAmbulo 14:6, uJehova usisiza kanjani namuhla?

⁷ IZwi likaNkulunkulu lisiqinisekisa ngokuthi uJehova uyasisiza esebenzisa izingelosi zakhe. (Heb. 1:7, 14) Ngokwesibonelo, izingelosi ziyasisekela futhi zisiqondise lapho sishumayela ‘izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso’ kubantu bazo “zonke izizwe nezinhlanga nezilimi.”—Math. 24:13, 14; funda isAmbulo 14:6.

8. UJehova wamsiza kanjani uPawulu esebenzisa umlawuli wamabutho?

⁸ Yiluphi usizo uPawulu aluthola? Ngo-56 C.E., uJesu waqinisekisa uPawulu ukuthi wayezofika eRoma. Noma kunjalo, amanye amaJuda eJerusalema ayehlela ukuhlasela uPawulu futhi ambulale. Lapho umlawuli wamabutho amaRoma uKlawudiyu Lisiya ezwa ngalolo zungu, wamsiza uPawulu. Ngokushesha, uKlawudiyu wayala ukuba iqembu elikhulu lamasosha livikele uPawulu, lihambe naye liye eKhesariya, indawo eyayiqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-105 ukusuka eJerusalema. EKhesariya, uMbusi uFeliksi wayala ukuba uPawulu “agcinwe esigodlweni sikaHerode agadwe.” AmaJuda ayefuna ukumbulala ayengeke amthole.—IzE. 23:12-35.

9. UMbusi uFestu wamsiza kanjani uPawulu?

⁹ Ngemva kweminyaka emibili, uPawulu wayesaboshiwe eKhesariya. Kwangena uMbusi omusha okuthiwa uFestu esikhundleni sikaFeliksi. AmaJuda ancenga uFestu ukuba adedele uPawulu alethwe eJerusalema ukuze abekwe icala, kodwa uFestu wenqaba. Mhlawumbe lo mbusi wayazi ukuthi amaJuda ‘ayeceba ukumcuthela uPawulu ambulale endleleni.’—IzE. 24:27–25:5.

10. Yini eyenziwa uMbusi uFestu ngesikhathi uPawulu ecela ukudlulisela icala kuKhesari?

¹⁰ Kamuva, icala likaPawulu laqulwa eKhesariya. Njengoba uFestu ayefuna “ukuthandwa amaJuda,” wabuza uPawulu: “Ingabe uthanda ukukhuphukela eJerusalema wahlulelwe khona phambi kwami?” UPawulu wayazi ukuthi kungenzeka amaJuda ambulale eJerusalema, wayazi nokuthi yini okwakudingeka ayenze ukuze asindise ukuphila kwakhe, afike eRoma futhi aqhubeke nomsebenzi wokushumayela. Wathi: “Ngidlulisela icala kuKhesari!” Ngemva kokuxoxa nomkhandlu wabeluleki, uFestu wathi kuPawulu: “Udlulisele icala kuKhesari; uzoya kuKhesari.” Isinqumo sikaFestu sokumthumela eRoma samsindisa ezitheni zakhe uPawulu. Kungekudala, wayezobe eseseRoma—kude namaJuda ayefuna ukumbulala.—IzE. 25:6-12.

11. Kungenzeka uPawulu wayecabanga ngamaphi amazwi aqinisayo abhalwa u-Isaya?

¹¹ Ngesikhathi uPawulu esalinde ukuba bahambe ngomkhumbi baye e-Italiya, kungenzeka wayecabanga ngesixwayiso esashiwo umprofethi u-Isaya kulabo abaphikisana noJehova: “Cebani icebo, kodwa liyobhuntsha! Khulumani noma yini eniyithandayo, kodwa ngeke iphumelele, ngoba uNkulunkulu unathi!” (Isaya 8:10) UPawulu wayazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzomsiza, futhi kumelwe ukuba lokho kwamqinisa njengoba ayesazobhekana nobunye ubunzima.

12. UJuliyu wamphatha kanjani uPawulu, futhi yini okungenzeka uPawulu wayiqaphela ngalokho?

¹² Ngo-58 C.E., uPawulu wahamba ngomkhumbi waya e-Italiya. Ngenxa yokuthi wayeyisiboshwa, wayengaphansi kwegunya lesikhulu sebutho lamaRoma okuthiwa uJuliyu. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, uJuliyu wayenamandla okwenza izinto ezimbili kuPawulu—ukumhlukumeza noma ukumphatha ngomusa. Wayezolisebenzisa kanjani igunya lakhe? Ngosuku  olulandelayo, ngesikhathi befika esitobhini sokuqala, “uJuliyu waphatha uPawulu ngomusa, wamvumela ukuba aye kubangane bakhe.” Kamuva, uJuliyu waze wasindisa ngisho nokuphila kukaPawulu. Kanjani? Amasosha ayefuna ukubulala zonke iziboshwa ezazisemkhunjini, kodwa uJuliyu wawavimba. Kungani? Yingoba ‘wayezimisele ukusindisa uPawulu.’ Cishe uPawulu waqaphela ukuthi uJehova wayesebenzisa lesi sikhulu esinomusa ukuze amsize futhi amvikele.—IzE. 27:1-3, 42-44.

13. UJehova angase abasebenzise kanjani abantu abasezikhundleni eziphakeme?

¹³ Yiluphi usizo thina esilutholayo? Uma kuhambisana nenjongo yakhe, uJehova angase asebenzise umoya wakhe ongcwele onamandla ukuze abangele ukuba abantu abasezikhundleni eziphakeme benze lokho akufisayo. INkosi uSolomoni yabhala: “Inhliziyo yenkosi injengemifudlana yamanzi esandleni sikaJehova. Uyiqondisa noma kuphi lapho ethanda khona.” (IzAga 21:1) Sisho ukuthini lesi saga? Abantu bangase bagubhe umsele ukuze benze amanzi asemfuleni aye ngalapho befuna aye khona. Ngendlela efanayo, uJehova angasebenzisa umoya wakhe ukuze ashintshe indlela ababusi abacabanga ngayo, bacabange ngokuvumelana nenjongo yakhe. Lapho lokho kwenzeka, abantu abasezikhundleni eziphakeme benza izinqumo eziyozuzisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu.—Qhathanisa no-Ezra 7:21, 25, 26.

14. Ngokwencwadi yezEnzo 12:5, obani esingabathandazela?

¹⁴ Yini esingayenza? Imithandazo yethu ‘singayenzela amakhosi nabo bonke abasezikhundleni eziphakeme’ lapho kudingeka benze izinqumo eziyothinta indlela esikhonza ngayo uJehova kanye nenkonzo yethu. (1 Thim. 2:1, 2, ftn.; Neh. 1:11) Njengoba kwenza amaKristu angekhulu lokuqala, nathi sibathandazela kakhulu kuNkulunkulu abafowethu nodadewethu abasemajele. (Funda izEnzo 12:5; Heb. 13:3) Ngaphezu kwalokho, singathandazela namaphoyisa agade abafowethu nodadewethu emajele. Singanxusa uJehova ukuba athonye indlela acabanga ngayo ukuze enze njengoJuliyu futhi abaphathe “ngomusa” abafowethu nodadewethu ababoshiwe.

15-16. UJehova wamsiza kanjani uPawulu esebenzisa u-Aristaku noLuka?

¹⁵ Yiluphi usizo uPawulu aluthola? Ngesikhathi uPawulu eya eRoma, uJehova wayelokhu emsiza esebenzisa amanye amaKristu. Ake sixoxe ngezibonelo ezimbalwa zalokhu.

¹⁶ Abangane bakaPawulu abathembekile,  u-Aristaku noLuka, banquma ukuhamba naye baye eRoma. * Nakuba iBhayibheli lingasho ukuthi nabo bathola isiqinisekiso esivela kuJesu sokuthi babezofika ngokuphepha eRoma, bafaka ukuphila kwabo engozini bengaphoqwanga muntu ukuze basize uPawulu. Bathola kamuva, emkhunjini owawupheshulwa isiphepho ukuthi babengeke bafe. Ngakho, ngesikhathi u-Aristaku noLuka bengena emkhunjini eKhesariya, kumelwe ukuba uPawulu wathandaza kuJehova ngokusuka enhliziyweni, embonga ngosizo ayemnika lona esebenzisa la maKristu amabili anesibindi.—IzE. 27:1, 2, 20-25.

17. UJehova wamsiza kanjani uPawulu esebenzisa amanye amaKristu?

¹⁷ Amanye amaKristu amsiza izikhathi eziningana uPawulu phakathi nohambo lwakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho bema eSidoni, uJuliyu wavumela uPawulu ukuba “aye kubangane bakhe ajabulele ukunakekelwa yibo.” Kamuva, edolobheni lasePhutheyoli, uPawulu nabangane bakhe ‘bathola abazalwane, babancenga ukuba bahlale nabo izinsuku eziyisikhombisa.’ AmaKristu akulezo zindawo anakekela izidingo zikaPawulu nabangane bakhe futhi akungabazeki ukuthi uPawulu wayewajabulisa ngokuwaxoxela izindaba ezimnandi nezikhuthazayo. (Qhathanisa nezEnzo 15:2, 3.) Ngemva kokukhuthaza labo ababebavakashele, uPawulu nabangane bakhe bangen’ indlela.—IzE. 27:3; 28:13, 14.

18. Yini eyenza uPawulu wabonga uNkulunkulu futhi waba nesibindi?

¹⁸ Njengoba uPawulu ayesondela eRoma, kumelwe ukuba wayecabanga ngamazwi awabhalela ibandla elikulelo dolobha eminyakeni emithathu edlule: “Sekuyiminyaka eminingi ngilangazelela ukuza kini.” (Roma 15:23) Nokho, wayengazitsheli ukuthi wayeyofika kubo eyisiboshwa. Kumelwe ukuba wakhuthazeka ngempela lapho ebona abafowethu baseRoma bemlindile ukuze bambingelele! “Lapho ebabona, uPawulu wabonga uNkulunkulu, wama isibindi.” (IzE. 28:15) Phawula ukuthi uPawulu wabonga uNkulunkulu ngokuba khona kwabafowethu. Kungani? Yingoba nalapha futhi  uPawulu waqaphela ukuthi uJehova wayemsiza esebenzisa amanye amaKristu.

19. Njengoba kuboniswe kweyoku-1 Petru 4:10, uJehova angasisebenzisa kanjani ukuze asize labo abadinga usizo?

¹⁹ Yini esingayenza? Bakhona yini abafowethu nodadewethu obaziyo ebandleni okulo abacindezelekile ngenxa yokuthi bayagula noma babhekene nezinye izimo ezinzima? Noma mhlawumbe bashonelwe umuntu abamthandayo. Uma siqaphela ukuthi othile udinga usizo, singacela uJehova asisize sisho noma senze okuthile okuyobonisa lowo muntu ukuthi siyamthanda. Amazwi ethu noma izenzo zethu zingase zibe yilokho kanye umfowethu noma udadewethu akudingayo ukuze akhuthazeke. (Funda eyoku-1 Petru 4:10.) * Labo esibasizayo bangase baphinde bakholelwe ukuthi isithembiso sikaJehova esithi, “Angisoze ngakushiya futhi angisoze ngakulahla” sibhekiswe nakubo. Lokho kuyokujabulisa nakanjani!

20. Kungani singasho ngokuqiniseka ukuthi “uJehova ungumsizi wami”?

²⁰ Njengoba kwakunjalo ngoPawulu nabangane bakhe, nathi sibhekana neziphepho ezinamandla ekuphileni kwethu. Kodwa siyazi ukuthi singaba nesibindi ngoba uJehova unathi. Uyasisiza esebenzisa uJesu nezingelosi. Uma kuhambisana nenjongo yakhe, uJehova angasebenzisa nabantu abasezikhundleni eziphakeme ukuze asisize. Njengoba abaningi kithi beye bazibonela, uJehova usebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze athinte izinhliziyo zezinceku zakhe zisisize lapho sidinga usizo. Ngakho, njengoPawulu, nathi sinesizathu esihle sokusho la mazwi ngokuqiniseka: “UJehova ungumsizi wami; ngeke ngesabe. Umuntu angangenzani?”—Heb. 13:6.