1-2. Yini amakhosi amabili ayehluke ngayo, futhi sizoxoxa ngamiphi imibuzo?

AKE sixoxe ngamakhosi amabili asendulo. Enye yabusa embusweni wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi; enye yabusa embusweni wakwaJuda wezizwe ezimbili. Nakuba aphila ngezikhathi ezingafani, kuningi ayefana ngako. Womabili la makhosi avukela uJehova, abangela ukuba abantu bakhe bone. Womabili ayekhonza izithixo futhi engababulali. Nakuba kunjalo, kukhona ayehluke ngako. Enye yawo yenza izinto ezimbi kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwayo, kodwa enye yaphenduka, izono zayo zathethelelwa. Ayengobani lawo makhosi?

² Kwakungu-Ahabi inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, noManase inkosi yakwaJuda. Umehluko phakathi kwala madoda amabili ungasifundisa lukhulu ngendaba ebalulekile​—ukuphenduka. (IzE. 17:30; Roma 3:23) Kuyini ukuphenduka futhi kuboniswa kanjani? Kumelwe sazi ngoba sifuna uJehova asithethelele lapho sona. Ukuze sithole izimpendulo zale mibuzo, sizohlola ukuphila kwala makhosi amabili, sibone ukuthi singafundani ezibonelweni zawo. Sizobe sesixoxa nangalokho uJesu akufundisa ngokuphenduka.

3. U-Ahabi wayeyinkosi enjani?

³ U-Ahabi wayeyinkosi yesikhombisa yombuso wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi. Washada noJezebeli, indodakazi yenkosi yaseSidoni, isizwe esicebile sasenyakatho. Kungenzeka ukuthi lowo mshado waletha umcebo ezweni lakwa-Israyeli. Kodwa walimaza ubuhlobo leso sizwe esasinabo noJehova. UJezebeli owayengumkhulekeli kaBhali, wenza u-Ahabi  wakhuthaza leyo nkolo enengekayo, eyayihlanganisa ubufebe ethempelini nokunikela ngezingane. Ngesikhathi uJezebeli eyindlovukazi, bonke abaprofethi bakaJehova babesengozini. Wabulala abaningi babo. (1 AmaKh. 18:13) U-Ahabi “wenza okubi kakhulu emehlweni kaJehova kunabo bonke ababengaphambi kwakhe.” (1 AmaKh. 16:30) UJehova wayekubona konke okwakwenziwa u-Ahabi noJezebeli. Kodwa ngomusa, uJehova wathumela umprofethi u-Eliya ukuze axwayise abantu baKhe ukuba bashintshe indlela abenza ngayo kungakephuzi. Kodwa u-Ahabi noJezebeli abalalelanga.

4. Yisiphi isahlulelo esabikezelwa ngo-Ahabi futhi wasabela kanjani?

⁴ Ekugcineni, uJehova wayeka ukubabekezelela. Wathumela u-Eliya ukuba ayobikezela isahlulelo ku-Ahabi noJezebeli. Wawuzobulawa wonke umndeni wabo. Amazwi ka-Eliya amphatha kabi kakhulu u-Ahabi! Ngokumangalisayo, leyo ndoda eqhoshayo ‘yazithoba.’​—1 AmaKh. 21:19-29.

5-6. Yini ebonisa ukuthi u-Ahabi wayengaphendukile ngempela?

⁵ Nakuba u-Ahabi azithoba ngaleso sikhathi, ukuziphatha kwakhe ngemva kwalokho kwabonisa ukuthi wayengaphendukile ngempela. Akazange azame ukuqeda ukukhulekelwa kukaBhali embusweni wakhe. Akazange akukhuthaze ukukhulekela uJehova. U-Ahabi wabonisa ukungaphenduki nangezinye izindlela.

⁶ Kamuva, lapho u-Ahabi emema inkosi elungile yakwaJuda uJehoshafati ukuba bayolwa nabaseSiriya, uJehoshafati wathi abaqale bakhulume nomprofethi kaJehova. U-Ahabi waqale wenqaba, wathi: “Kusekhona oyedwa osele esingabuza uJehova ngaye; kodwa mina ngiyamzonda ngoba akwenzeki aprofethe okuhle ngami kodwa uprofetha okubi kuphela.” Noma kunjalo, bakhuluma nomprofethi uMikhaya. Nangempela, lo mprofethi kaNkulunkulu wabikezela izindaba ezimbi ngo-Ahabi! Kunokuba aphenduke, acele intethelelo kuJehova, u-Ahabi okhohlakele wathi akafakwe ejele umprofethi. (1 AmaKh. 22:7-9, 23, 27) Nakuba inkosi yakwazi ukubopha umprofethi kaJehova, yayingeke ikwazi ukuvimba ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho. U-Ahabi wabulawa kuleyo mpi.—1 AmaKh. 22:34-38.

7. UJehova wamchaza kanjani u-Ahabi ngemva kokufa kwakhe?

⁷ Ngemva kokufa kuka-Ahabi, uJehova waveza ukuthi wayezizwa kanjani ngaye. Ngesikhathi inkosi elungile uJehoshafati ibuyela ekhaya iphephile, uJehova wathumela umprofethi uJehu ukuba ayitshele ukuthi yayenze kabi ngokuzihlanganisa no-Ahabi. Umprofethi kaJehova wathi: “Ingabe kufanele usize abantu ababi, futhi ingabe kufanele uthande labo abazonda uJehova?” (2 IziKr. 19:1, 2) Cabanga ngalokhu: Ukube u-Ahabi wayephenduke ngempela, umprofethi wayengeke amchaze njengendoda embi ezonda uJehova. Kuyacaca ukuthi nakuba u-Ahabi abonisa ukuzisola okuthile, akazange aphenduke ngokuphelele.

8. Singafundani ngokuphenduka esibonelweni sika-Ahabi?

⁸ Singafundani esibonelweni sika-Ahabi? Lapho ezwa umyalezo ka-Eliya wenhlekelele eyayizokwehlela umndeni wakhe, u-Ahabi waqale wazithoba. Kwaba isiqalo esihle leso. Kodwa akwenza emva kwalokho kwabonisa ukuthi wayengaphendukile enhliziyweni yakhe. Ngakho, ukuphenduka kuhilela okungaphezu kokubonisa ukuzisola isikhashana. Ake sixoxe ngesinye isibonelo esizosisiza siqonde ukuthi ukuphenduka kwangempela kuhilelani.

9. Wayeyinkosi enjani uManase?

⁹ Eminyakeni engaba ngu-200 ngemva kwalokho, uManase waba inkosi yakwaJuda. Kungenzeka wayemubi kakhulu kuno-Ahabi! IBhayibheli lithi: “Wenza okubi kakhulu emehlweni kaJehova, wamcasula.” (2 IziKr. 33:1-9) UManase wakhela onkulunkulu bamanga ama-altare, wenza ngisho nomfanekiso oqoshiwe wesigxobo esingcwele​—cishe esasiyisithixo sokukhulekela ubulili—​khona kanye ethempelini likaJehova elingcwele! Wenza imilingo, wabhula futhi wathakatha. “Wachitha negazi eliningi kakhulu elingenacala.” Izenzo zakhe ezimbi zokubulala zazihlanganisa ‘nokushisa amadodana akhe emlilweni,’ njengomhlatshelo konkulunkulu bamanga.​—2 AmaKh. 21:6, 7, 10, 11, 16.

10. UJehova wamyala kanjani uManase, futhi yasabela kanjani le nkosi?

¹⁰ Njengo-Ahabi, uManase wayenenkani engazinaki izixwayiso uJehova aziletha esebenzisa abaprofethi baKhe. Ekugcineni, ‘uJehova walethela [uJuda] izinduna zempi zenkosi yase-Asiriya, zambamba ngamahhuku uManase, zambopha ngozankosi bethusi zamyisa eBhabhiloni.’ Ngesikhathi eboshiwe eBhabhiloni, kubukeka sengathi uManase wacabangisisa ngalokho ayekwenzile. “Waqhubeka ezithoba kakhulu phambi kukaNkulunkulu wokhokho bakhe.” Akagcinanga lapho. “Wancenga uJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe ukuba ambonise umusa.” Empeleni uManase “wayelokhu ethandaza kuYe.” Leyo ndoda embi yayisishintsha. Yaqala ukubheka uJehova ‘njengoNkulunkulu wayo’ futhi yathandaza kuye iphikelela.​—2 IziKr. 33:10-13.

11. Ngokweyesi-2 IziKronike 33:15, 16, uManase wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayephenduke ngempela?

¹¹ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uJehova wayiphendula imithandazo kaManase. Wayebona ukuthi inhliziyo yaleyo ndoda yayishintshile, futhi lokho kwakubonakala emithandazweni yayo. Ukunxusa kukaManase kwamthinta uJehova, wambuyisela ubukhosi bakhe. UManase walisebenzisa ngokugcwele ithuba lokubonisa ukuthi wayephenduke ngempela. Wenza lokho u-Ahabi angazange akwenze. Washintsha izenzo zakhe. Wamelana nokukhulekela kwamanga, wakhuthaza ukukhulekela kweqiniso. (Funda eyesi-2 IziKronike 33:15, 16.) Lokho kwakudinga isibindi nokholo, ngoba kwase kuphele amashumi eminyaka uManase eyithonya elibi emndenini wakhe, ezicukuthwaneni zakhe nakubantu bakhe. Kodwa manje, ngasekupheleni kokuphila kwakhe, uManase wazama ukulungisa ububi ayebenzile. Kungenzeka waba nethonya elihle kumzukulu wakhe owayesemncane uJosiya, kamuva owaba inkosi enhle kakhulu.​—2 AmaKh. 22:1, 2.

12. Isibonelo sikaManase singasifundisani ngokuphenduka?

 ¹² Yini esingayifunda esibonelweni sikaManase? Wazithoba, wenza nokwengeziwe. Wathandaza, wacela ukuboniswa isihe. Washintsha nezenzo zakhe. Wasebenza kanzima ukuze alungise umonakalo ayewenzile, wenza konke okusemandleni ukuze akhonze uJehova futhi asize nabanye ukuba benze okufanayo. Isibonelo sikaManase sibanika ithemba nalabo abenze izono ezinkulu kakhulu. Sibona ubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu ‘muhle futhi uhlale ekulungele ukuthethelela.’ (IHu. 86:5) Labo abaphenduka ngempela bangathethelelwa.

13. Fanekisa isifundo esibalulekile ngokuphenduka.

¹³ UManase wenza okungaphezu kokumane nje azisole ngezono zakhe. Lokho kusifundisa isifundo esibalulekile ngokuphenduka. Cabanga ngalo mfanekiso: Ake sithi uya esitolo uyothenga ikhekhe. Kodwa esikhundleni sokukunika ikhekhe, odayisayo avele akunike iqanda. Ubungajabula? Ubungeke! Bekungangcono yini uma ebengakuchazela ukuthi iqanda liyisithako esibalulekile sekhekhe? Lutho neze! Ngendlela efanayo, uJehova ufuna ukuba isoni siphenduke. Uma isoni sizisola ngesikwenzile, lokho kuhle. Ukuzizwa kanjalo kuyisithako noma ingxenye ebalulekile yokuphenduka, kodwa akugcini lapho. Yini enye edingekayo? Sifunda okuningi emfanekisweni othinta inhliziyo owenziwa uJesu.

14. Emfanekisweni kaJesu, indodana eyadlubulunda yabonisa kanjani ukuthi yayisiqala ukuphenduka?

¹⁴ KuLuka 15:11-32, uJesu walandisa indaba ethinta inhliziyo yendodana eyadlubulunda. Le nsizwa ayimlalelanga uyise, yahamba yaya “ezweni elikude.” Kuleyo ndawo yafike yaziphatha kabi. Kodwa lapho kufika izikhathi ezinzima, yaqala ukucabangisisa ngalokho eyayikwenzile. Yabona ukuthi kwakungcono kakhulu ukuphila kwayo ngesikhathi isahlala noyise. Njengoba uJesu asho, le nsizwa ‘yasanguluka.’ Yanquma ukubuyela ekhaya, icele uyise ayithethelele. Kwakubalulekile ukuba le ndodana ibone ukuthi yayone kangakanani. Kodwa ingabe lokho kwakwanele? Cha. Kwakumelwe yenze okuthile!

15. Indodana yolahleko esemfanekisweni kaJesu yabonisa kanjani ukuthi yayiphendukile?

¹⁵ Indodana yolahleko yabonisa ukuthi yayiphenduke ngempela ezonweni zayo. Yathatha uhambo olude olubuyela ekhaya. Yaya kuyise yathi: “Ngonile kulo izulu nakuwe. Akusangifanele ukubizwa ngokuthi ngiyindodana yakho.” (Luka 15:21) Amazwi ale nsizwa asuka enhliziyweni abonisa ukuthi yayifuna ukulungisa ubuhlobo bayo noJehova. Yabona nokuthi izenzo zayo zazimzwise ubuhlungu uyise. Yayikulungele ukusebenza kanzima ukuze uyise aphinde ayethembe, izimisele ngisho nokuphathwa njengesisebenzi  sikayise! (Luka 15:19) Lo mfanekiso awugcini nje ngokuthinta inhliziyo. Kuwo abadala bebandla bangafunda izifundo abangazisebenzisa lapho bezama ukuthola ukuthi abakholwa naye uphenduke ngempela yini esonweni sakhe.

16. Kungani kungase kube nzima ngabadala ukuba babone ukuthi othile uphenduke ngempela?

¹⁶ Akulula ukuba abadala babone ukuthi umuntu owenze isono esikhulu uphenduke ngempela yini. Kungani? Abadala abakwazi ukufunda izinhliziyo, ngakho kudingeka bathole ubufakazi obubonisa ukuthi umfowabo uphenduke ngempela esonweni sakhe. Ngezinye izikhathi, kungenzeka ukuthi umuntu wenze isono esibi kakhulu kangangokuba abadala abaxoxa naye bangase bangaqiniseki ngokuthi uphenduke ngempela.

17. (a) Yisiphi isibonelo esibonisa ukuthi kungase kudingeke okungaphezu kokudabuka ukuze umuntu abonise ukuthi uphenduke ngempela? (b) Njengoba kuboniswe kweyesi-2 Korinte 7:11, yini elindeleke kumuntu ophenduke ngempela?

¹⁷ Cabanga ngalesi sibonelo. Ake sithi umzalwane uyaphinga iminyaka eminingi. Kunokuba afune usizo, ufihlela umkakhe, abangane nabadala ukuthi uziphatha kabi. Ekugcineni kuyatholakala. Lapho ebuzwa ngobufakazi obutholakele, uyavuma futhi abonakale ezisola kakhulu. Ingabe lokho kwanele? Abadala abasingatha lelo cala kuyodingeka babheke ngale kokudabuka kwakhe. Lokhu kwakungekhona ukwahlulela okubi kwesikhashana nje, kodwa waziphatha kabi iminyaka eminingi. Akuyena ozibikile; omunye umuntu oveze ububi bakhe. Ngakho kuzodingeka abadala bathole ubufakazi bokuthi indlela acabanga ngayo, azizwa ngayo nenza ngayo isishintshe ngempela. (Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 7:11.) Kungase kumthathe isikhathi ukwenza ushintsho oludingekayo. Cishe uyosuswa ebandleni lobuKristu isikhathi esithile.​—1 Kor. 5:11-13; 6:9, 10.

18. Umuntu osusiwe angabonisa kanjani ukuthi uphenduke ngempela, futhi kube namiphi imiphumela?

¹⁸ Ukuze abonise ukuthi uphenduke ngempela, umuntu osusiwe kufanele eze njalo emihlanganweni futhi alalele iseluleko sabadala sokuba athandaze futhi atadishe iBhayibheli njalo. Uzozikhandla ukuze agweme izimo ezamholela ekwenzeni okubi. Uma esebenza kanzima ukuze alungise ubuhlobo bakhe noJehova, angaqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uyomthethelela ngokugcwele nokuthi abadala bayombuyisela ebandleni. Kuyiqiniso ukuthi lapho abadala behlola icala ngalinye bazocabangela izimo ezihilelekile kulelo cala, bagweme nokukhipha isinqumo esingabonisi uthando.

19. Ukuphenduka kwangempela kuhilelani? (Hezekeli 33:14-16)

¹⁹ Njengoba sifundile, ukuphenduka kwangempela kuhilela okungaphezu kokumane  nje sithi siyaxolisa ngesono esisenzile. Kuhilela nokuphenduka kwangempela engqondweni nasenhliziyweni okuholela ezenzweni ezinhle. Lokhu kuhilela ukuba umuntu ashiye indlela embi abuyele ekulandeleni izindlela zikaJehova. (Funda uHezekeli 33:14-16.) Kumuntu owonile, okubalulekile kufanele kube ukulungisa ubuhlobo bakhe noJehova.

20-21. Singamsiza kanjani umuntu owenze isono esikhulu?

²⁰ UJesu wachaza ingxenye ebalulekile yenkonzo yakhe lapho ethi: “Ngizele ukuzobizela izoni ekuphendukeni.” (Luka 5:32) Nathi kufanele kube isifiso sethu leso. Ake sithi sithola ukuthi umngane wethu oseduze wenze isono esikhulu. Kufanele senzeni?

²¹ Uma sizama ukukufihla akwenzile siyobe siyamlimaza umngane wethu. Kanti futhi ukwenza kanjalo akusoze kwaphumelela ngoba uJehova uyasibona. (IzAga 5:21, 22; 28:13) Ungasiza umngane wakho ngokumkhumbuza ukuthi abadala bayafuna ukumsiza. Uma umngane wakho enqaba ukutshela abadala ngaleyo ndaba, kufanele wena ubatshele, okuzobonisa ukuthi ufuna ngempela ukumsiza. Ubuhlobo bakhe noJehova busengozini!

22. Sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

²² Kuthiwani kodwa uma umuntu esenesikhathi eside elandela inkambo yesono kangangokuba abadala baze banqume ukuba asuswe? Ingabe lokho kuzosho ukuthi abambonisanga isihe? Esihlokweni esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngendlela uJehova ayala ngayo izoni ngesihe nokuthi singamlingisa kanjani.