1-2. Yintoni ababengafani ngayo ookumkani ababini? Kuza kuphendulwa eyiphi imibuzo kweli nqaku?

 NGOKU makhe sithethe ngookumkani bakudala ababini. Omnye wayelawula izizwe eziyi-10 zakwaSirayeli; omnye izizwe ezibini zakwaYuda. Aba kumkani babengaphili ngexesha elinye, kodwa zazikhona izinto ababefana ngazo. Bobabini benza izinto azicaphukelayo uYehova, bakhuthaza nabantu bakhe ukuba bazenze. Bobabini babekhonza izithixo bengabo nababulali. Kodwa yayikhona into ababengafani ngayo. Omnye wenza izinto ezimbi de wasweleka, kanti omnye waguquka, waza waxolelwa. Yayingoobani aba kumkani?

² YayinguAhabhi ukumkani wakwaSirayeli noManase ukumkani wakwaYuda. Izinto awayengafani ngazo la madoda zinokusifundisa into ebalulekileyo ngokuguquka. (IZe. 17:30; Roma 3:23) Kuthetha ukuthini ukuguquka? Ubonakala njani umntu oguqukileyo? Kufuneka siyazi le nto kuba sifuna uYehova asixolele xa senze isono. Le mibuzo iza kuphenduleka xa sithetha ngendlela ababephila ngayo aba kumkani babini. Siza kubona nezinto esinokuzifunda kubo. Emva koko, siza kuthetha ngento eyafundiswa nguYesu ngokuguquka.

3. Wayengukumkani onjani uAhabhi?

³ Lo kumkani wayengowe-7 kookumkani ababelawula izizwe eziyi-10 zakwaSirayeli. Watshata noIzebhele, intombi kakumkani waseSidon, apho kwakuhlala abantu abanemali. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba loo mtshato wenza namaSirayeli akwazi ukuzenzela imali. Kodwa wawenza amshiya uYehova. UIzebhele owayezinikele kuBhahali wakhuthaza noAhabhi ukuba aqhubele abantu bakhe ekukhonzeni esi sithixo  senyanyekayo, esasikhonzwa ngokuthengisa ngemizimba etempileni nangokubingelela ngabantwana. Lo kumkanikazi, wabulala abaprofeti bakaYehova abaninzi. (1 Kum. 18:13) NoAhabhi “wenza izinto ezimbi kakhulu emehlweni kaYehova kunabo bonke abo babengaphambi kwakhe.” (1 Kum. 16:30) UYehova wayezibona kakuhle zonke izinto ezazisenziwa nguAhabhi noIzebhele. Kodwa kuba enguThixo onenceba wathumela abaprofeti, omnye wabo inguEliya, ukuba bayokulumkisa abantu bakhe ukuba bayeke izinto ezimbi abazenzayo bengekashiywa lixesha. UAhabhi noIzebhele zange babamamele abo baprofeti.

4. UYehova wathi kuza kwenzeka ntoni kuAhabhi? Yintoni awayenzayo uAhabhi akuva loo nto?

⁴ UYehova wade waphelelwa ngumonde. Wathumela uEliya ukuba aye kuxelela uAhabhi noIzebhele into aza kuyenza kubo. Bonke abantu bakowabo babeza kubulawa. Akuva izinto ezazithethwa nguEliya, wakhathazeka kakhulu uAhabhi! Into eyothusayo kukuba, loo ndoda yayingaboni mntu likratshi, ‘yazithoba.’​—1 Kum. 21:19-29.

5-6. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba uAhabhi wayengaguqukanga?

⁵ Emva kokuba uAhabhi ethethe noEliya, wazithoba. Kodwa izinto awazenzayo emva koko zabonisa ukuba wayengaguqukanga. Zange azame ukuwayekisa ukukhonza uBhahali amaSirayeli, engazange azame nokuwakhuthaza ukuba akhonze uYehova. Zikhona nezinye izinto awazenzayo ezazibonisa ukuba wayengaguqukanga.

⁶ Ekuhambeni kwexesha, uAhabhi wacela ukumkani olungileyo wakwaYuda, uYehoshafati, ukuba ahambe nabo xa besiya kulwa namaSiriya. UYehoshafati wamcebisa ukuba baqale babuzise kumprofeti kaYehova. Ekuqaleni uAhabhi zange avume. Wathi: “Isekho enye indoda enokusibuzela kuYehova; kodwa ndiyayicaphukela, kuba ayiprofeti zinto zintle ngam, zizinto ezimbi zodwa.” Kodwa baya kuthetha nomprofeti uMikaya. Kwenzeka kanye le nto wayeyithethile uAhabhi, indoda kaThixo yabaxelela into embi eyayiza kwenzeka. Endaweni yokuba aguquke aze acele uxolo kuYehova, uAhabhi owayesenza izinto ezimbi wathi lo mprofeti makavalelwe ejele. (1 Kum. 22:7-9, 23, 27) Wakwazi ukumvalela yena umprofeti kaThixo, kodwa into angazange akwazi ukuyenza kukunqanda isiprofeto ukuba singenzeki. AmaSirayeli aya kulwa namaSiriya, uAhabhi wabulawa.​—1 Kum. 22:34-38.

7. Wathini uYehova ngoAhabhi emva kokusweleka kwakhe?

⁷ Emva kokusweleka kuka-Ahabhi, uYehova wachaza into awayeyicinga ngaye. Ukubuya kukaKumkani uYehoshafati emfazweni, uYehova wathumela umprofeti uYehu ukuba aye kumxelela ukuba ngewayengayanga kumncedisa uAhabhi emfazweni. Lo mprofeti wathi: “Ngaba umele uncede abenzi-bubi, yaye ngaba ufanele uthande abo bamcaphukelayo uYehova?” (2 Kron. 19:1, 2) Khawuyicinge kakuhle le nto. Ukuba uAhabhi wayeguquke nyhani, umprofeti wayenokuthi ngumenzi-bubi ocaphukela uYehova? Kucacile ukuba ngoxa uAhabhi wayezisola ngezinto ezimbi awayezenzile, zange aguquke.

8. Into eyenziwa nguAhabhi isifundisa ntoni ngokuguquka?

⁸ Sifunda ntoni kwinto eyenziwa nguAhabhi? Xa uEliya wayesand’ ukumxelela into eza kwenzeka kubantu bakowabo, wazithoba. Yayintle loo nto. Kodwa izinto awazenza emva koko zabonisa ukuba  wayengaguqukanga ncam. Ngoko umntu oguquke nyhani akatsho nje ngomlomo ukuba uyazisola, abe ugqibile. Ngoku makhe sithethe ngoManase ukuze sibone ukuba uba njani umntu oguquke nyhani.

9. Wayengukumkani onjani uManase?

⁹ Emva kweminyaka emalunga neyi-200, uManase waba ngukumkani wakwaYuda. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba izinto ezimbi awazenzayo zazisodlula nezika-Ahabhi! IBhayibhile ithi: “Wayeqatsele ekwenzeni izinto ezimbi emehlweni kaYehova, ukuze amcaphukise.” (2 Kron. 33:1-9) Wamisa izibingelelo zoothixo babahedeni, wenza nomfanekiso oqingqiweyo wepali engcwele etempileni kaYehova. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba loo pali yayimela uthixokazi wenzala. Wenza imilingo, wasebenzisa ukuvumisa nobugqwirha. Wachitha ‘negazi labantu abamsulwa abaninzi kakhulu.’ Kwabo bantu kwakukho noonyana bakhe ‘awabingelela ngabo emlilweni,’ ehlawulela ngabo koothixo bobuxoki.​—2 Kum. 21:6, 7, 10, 11, 16.

10. Wenza ntoni uYehova kuManase? Emva koko lo kumkani wenza ntoni yena?

¹⁰ NjengoAhabhi, uManase zange abamamele abaprofeti bakaYehova xa babemlumkisa. Ekugqibeleni, ‘uYehova wazisela uYuda abaphathi-mkhosi bakakumkani waseAsiriya, bamthimba uManase bamfaka iihaki, bambopha ngamakhamandela amabini ekopolo baza bamsa eBhabhiloni.’ Kuyabonakala ukuba ngelo xesha, wacingisisa kakuhle ngezinto awayezenza. “Waqhubeka ezithoba kakhulu kuThixo wookhokho bakhe.” Wade “wamcenga uYehova uThixo wakhe.” “Waqhubeka ethandaza.” Le ndoda yayisenza izinto ezimbi, ngoku yayitshintsha. Yayibona ukuba uYehova ‘nguThixo wayo,’ ithandaza ingayeki.​—2 Kron. 33:10-13.

11. Izi-2 Kronike 33:15, 16 zithi ziintoni ezenziwa nguManase ezazibonisa ukuba uguquke nyhani?

¹¹ Ekuhambeni kwexesha, uYehova wayiphendula imithandazo kaManase. Ngenxa yezinto awayezithandazela, wambona ukuba uguquke nyhani. Wamxolela, waza waphinda wamenza ukumkani. UManase wasebenza ngamandla akhe onke ukuze abonise ukuba uguquke nyhani. Wenza into angazange akwazi ukuyenza uAhabhi, wayeka ukwenza izinto ezingafunwayo nguYehova. Wasusa yonke into enokwenza nokukhonzwa kwezithixo, waza wakhuthaza abantu ukuba bakhonze uYehova. (Funda izi-2 Kronike 33:15, 16.) Ukuze akwazi ukwenza ezi zinto, kwafuneka abe nesibindi nokholo. Kaloku iminyaka emininzi ngaphambi kokuba aguquke, wayekhuthaza intsapho yakhe, izikhulu ezazisebenza naye nabanye abantu ukuba benze izinto ezazicatshukelwa nguYehova. Ngoku mdala, uzama ukulungisa  ezinye zeengxaki awazenzayo. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba umzukulwana wakhe omncinci uYosiya owaba ngukumkani olungileyo, wafunda kuye ukwenza izinto ezilungileyo.​—2 Kum. 22:1, 2.

12. Sifunda ntoni kuManase ngokuguquka?

¹² Sifunda ntoni kuManase? Wazithoba, kodwa zange aphelele apho. Wathandaza ecela uYehova amxolele. Wayeka ukwenza izinto ezimbi. Wasebenza ngamandla elungisa iingxaki awayezenzile, wazimisela ukukhonza uYehova, ekhuthaza nabanye ukuba benze njengaye. Into eyenziwa neyenzeka kuManase ibenza babe nethemba nabantu abenze ezona zinto zakhe zambi. Isibonisa ukuba uYehova uThixo ‘ulungile futhi usoloko efuna ukuxolela.’ (INdu. 86:5) UYehova uza kubaxolela abantu abaguquka nyhani.

13. Yenza umzekelo osinceda sibone into ebalulekileyo ngokuguquka.

¹³ UManase zange azisole njee, kube kuphelele apho. Le nto isifundisa into ebalulekileyo ngokuguquka. Makhe senze umzekelo. Uya evenkileni ethengisa izinto ezibhakiweyo, ufike uthenge ikeyiki. Endaweni yokuba akunike ikeyiki, umntu othengisayo ukunika iqanda. Uza kulithatha? Awucingi! Kodwa ungalithatha xa ekuxelela ukuba kubalulekile ukuba libe khona iqanda xa kusenziwa ikeyiki? Nokuba angatsho awucingi. Ngokufanayo, uYehova ufuna umntu owenze isono aguquke. Intle yona into yokuba azisole ngento ayenzileyo. Kubalulekile kona ukuzisola. Kodwa ayikuko qha okufunekayo ukuze umntu abonakale ukuba uguquke nyhani. Ziintoni ezinye ezifunekayo? Siza kufunda ngazo kumzekeliso kaYesu.

14. Kwibali likaYesu, unyana owayelahlekile wabonisa njani ukuba uguquke nyhani?

¹⁴ KuLuka 15:11-32 uYesu wabalisa ngonyana owayelahlekile. Lo mfana wazibona eyindoda, wemka kokwabo, waya “kwilizwe elikude.” Apho wafika waphila unothanda. Ubomi baba nzima, waqala wacinga ngesigqibo asenzileyo. Wacinga indlela ekwakumnandi ngayo kokwabo. UYesu uyibeka kakuhle le nto, uthi lo mfana ‘wabuyela ezingqondweni.’ Wagqiba ekubeni abuyele ekhaya, afike acele uxolo kutatakhe. Yayibalulekile into yokuba ayiqonde indlela embi ngayo into ayenzileyo. Kodwa kwakufuneka aphelele apho? Hayi. Kwakufuneka atshintshe nendlela aphila ngayo!

15. Yintoni eyenziwa ngunyana owayelahlekile eyabonisa ukuba uguquke nyhani?

¹⁵ Unyana owayelahlekile wabonisa ukuba uguquke nyhani kwinto awayeyenzile. Wahamba indlela ende ebuyela kokwabo. Akufika kutata wakhe wathi: “Ndimonile uThixo, nawe ndikonile. Andisafanelanga  nokuba kuthiwe ndingunyana wakho.” (Luka 15:21) Le nto yayithethwa ngulo mfana yayisuka entliziyweni, ibonisa ukuba ufuna ukuphinda abe ngumhlobo kaYehova. Waqonda nokuba izinto azenzileyo zimkhathazile utatakhe. Wazimisela ukusebenza nzima ukuze utatakhe aphinde amthande. Wayexolele nokuphathwa njengabantu abaqeshiweyo. (Luka 15:19) Eli ayilobali njee. Izinto esizifunda kulo zinokunceda abadala xa befuna ukuqonda ukuba umKristu owenze isono uguquke nyhani na.

16. Ziintoni ezinokwenza kube nzima kubadala ukubona ukuba umntu uguquke nyhani?

¹⁶ Akukho lula kubadala ukubona ukuba umntu owenze isono esinzulu uguquke nyhani na. Yintoni eyenza kungabi lula? Kaloku abakwazi ukubona into esentliziyweni, baxhomekeka kwizinto ababona ezenza loo mntu ukuba uyayicaphukela into ayenzileyo. Ukuba loo mntu wenze into embi kakhulu, abadala basenokungaqiniseki ncam ukuba uguquke nyhani.

17. (a) Khawenze umzekelo wento ebonisa ukuba ukuzisola nje qha akubonisi ukuba umntu uguquke nyhani. (b) Ama-2 Korinte 7:11 athi yintoni ekufuneka ayenze umntu oguquke nyhani?

¹⁷ Nanku umzekelo. Umzalwana uyakrexeza. Sekuyiminyaka eyenza le nto. Endaweni yokuba acele uncedo, uyayifihla kumfazi wakhe, kubahlobo bakhe nakubadala. Kodwa ude abhaqwe. Xa ebona ukuba abadala banobungqina bokuba uyakrexeza nyhani, akaphiki, ude abonakale ezisola. Kodwa ngaba loo nto ibonisa ukuba uguqukile nyhani? Hayi. Abadala abachophele eli tyala, abazukwanela kukubona indlela azisola ngayo nje qha. Kaloku le nto akayenzanga kanye qha, kodwa sekuyiminyaka eyenza. Khange ayokuzixela; ubhaqwe ngomnye umntu waya kumxela. Ngoko abadala baza kufuna ukubona ukuba izinto azenzayo zibonisa ukuba uyitshintshe nyhani na indlela acinga ngayo, aziva ngayo naziphethe ngayo. (Funda ama-2 Korinte 7:11.) Usenokukhutshelwa ngaphandle de abonise ukuba uguquke nyhani.​—1 Kor. 5:11-13; 6:9, 10.

18. Ziintoni amele azenze umntu okhutshelwe ngaphandle ukuze abonakale ukuba uguquke nyhani? Xa ezenza ezo zinto yintoni eza kwenzeka?

¹⁸ Into eza kubonisa ukuba umntu okhutshelwe ngaphandle uguquke nyhani, kukuba angaphoswa ziintlanganiso aze enze izinto abadala abamcebise ukuba azenze, njengokufunda iBhayibhile nokuthandaza qho. Uza kuphepha nantoni na enokumenza aphinde one. Ukuba usebenza ngamandla ukuze aphinde abe ngumhlobo kaYehova, umele aqiniseke ukuba uYehova uza kumxolela, nokuba abadala baza kumbuyisela ebandleni. Ekubeni besazi ukuba amatyala awafani, xa befuna ukuqonda  ukuba loo mntu wonileyo uguquke nyhani na, abadala abazukumthelekisa nomnye umntu, baza kuba nenceba xa bemgweba.

19. Ziintoni ezinye ekufuneka azenze umntu oguquke nyhani? (Hezekile 33:14-16)

¹⁹ Sifundile ukuba umntu oguquke nyhani akatsho njee ngomlomo ukuba uyazisola ngento ayenzileyo. Kufuneka atshintshe indlela acinga naziva ngayo, enze nezinto ezibonisa ukuba uguqukile. Le nto ithetha ukuba kufuneka ayiyeke ngokupheleleyo loo nto imbi ebeyenza, enze izinto ezifunwa nguYehova. (Funda uHezekile 33:14-16.) Eyona nto ibalulekileyo amele asebenzele kuyo, kukuphinda abe ngumhlobo kaYehova.

20-21. Ungamnceda njani umntu owenze isono esinzulu?

²⁰ UYesu wachaza enye yezinto ezazibalulekile kumsebenzi wakhe wokushumayela ngokuthi: “Ndizokubiza aboni, ukuze baguquke.” (Luka 5:32) Yiloo nto esimele sizimisele ukuyenza nathi. Masithi uvile ukuba umhlobo wakho omthanda nyhani wenze isono esinzulu. Umele wenze ntoni?

²¹ Awumncedi ukuba uyayifihla loo nto ayenzileyo. Nokuba ungazama ukuyifihla, iza kuvela kuba uYehova ujongile. (IMize. 5:21, 22; 28:13) Unokumnceda ngokumxelela ukuba abadala bafuna ukumnceda. Ukuba akafuni ukuya kuzixela kubadala, baxelele ngokwakho. Loo nto iza kubonisa ukuba uzimisele ukumnceda. Le nto ibalulekile kuba ukuba akalufumani uncedo kubadala aze aguquke, unokuyeka ukuba ngumhlobo kaYehova!

22. Yintoni esiza kufunda ngayo kule veki izayo?

²² Ukuba lo mntu kudala esenza esi sono, baze abadala bagqibe ukuba kufuneka akhutshelwe ngaphandle, ngaba loo nto ithetha ukuba khange babe nenceba? Kule veki izayo siza kufunda ngendlela uYehova ayibonisa ngayo inceba xa eqeqesha abantu abenze isono nendlela esinokumlinganisa ngayo.