1. (a) Zeziphi izinto asithembise zona uYehova? (b) Sibonisa njani ukuba ‘sithembele ngoYehova’? (Jonga “Igama Elicacisiweyo.”)

 UYEHOVA ubanike ithemba elivuyisayo bonke abantu abamthandayo. Kungabanga xesha lide uza kuphelisa ukugula, intlungu nokufa. (ISityhi. 21:3, 4) Uza kunceda ‘abalulamileyo’ abathembele ngaye ekwenzeni umhlaba ube yiparadesi. (INdu. 37:9-11) Uza kwenza nokuba sikuvuyele ngaphezu kokuba kunjalo ngoku ukuba ngabahlobo bakhe abathanda kakhulu. Livuyisa nyhani elo themba. Kodwa yintoni esenza siqiniseke ukuba uThixo uza kuzenza nyhani izinto asithembise zona? Kukuba akazange nanini na angayenzi into ayithembisileyo. Ngoko sinesizathu esivakalayo ‘sokuthembela ngoYehova.’ * (INdu. 27:14) Le nto siyenza ngokumlinda ngomonde sivuya uThixo wethu de azenze izinto asithembise zona.​—Isa. 55:10, 11.

2. Yintoni asele eyenzile uYehova?

² UYehova sele esibonisile ukuba uyazenza izinto azithembisileyo. Khawucinge ngesi isithembiso esisibona sisenzeka. Kwincwadi yeSityhilelo, uYehova wathembisa ukuba kule mihla siphila kuyo wayeza kuhlanganisa abantu bazo zonke iintlanga, izizwe neelwimi ukuze bamkhonze ngendlela ayifunayo bemanyene. Elo qela labantu abakhethekileyo namhlanje kuthiwa ‘sisihlwele esikhulu.’ (ISityhi. 7:9, 10) Nangona eli qela lamadoda, abafazi nabantwana lisuka kwiindawo ezahlukahlukeneyo zomhlaba, lilusapho olunye oluphilisana ngoxolo. (INdu. 133:1; Yoh.  10:16) Eso sihlwele sikhulu sabantu sikhuthele nakumsebenzi wokushumayela. Sihlala sikulungele ukuxelela abantu abasimamelayo ngethemba esinalo lehlabathi elibhetele. (Mat. 28:19, 20; ISityhi. 14:6, 7; 22:17) Ukuba ungomnye waso, ngokuqinisekileyo ithemba onalo lezinto ezivuyisayo eziza kwenzeka libaluleke kakhulu kuwe.

3. Yeyiphi eyona nto ayifunayo uSathana?

³ UMtyholi ufuna ungabi nalo ithemba lexesha elizayo. Eyona nto ayifunayo kukuba ucinge ukuba uYehova akanaxesha lakho, nokuba akazukuzenza izinto akuthembise zona. Ukuba sinokumvumela siza kutyhafa, side siyeke nokukhonza uYehova. Njengokuba siza kubona, wazama ukuliphelisa ithemba likaYobhi nokumyekisa ukukhonza uYehova.

4. Siza kuthetha ngantoni kweli nqaku? (Yobhi 1:9-12)

⁴ Kweli nqaku, siza kuthetha ngamaqhinga awawasebenzisayo uSathana xa wayezama ukwenza uYobhi ayeke ukuthembeka kuYehova. (Funda uYobhi 1:9-12.) Siza kuva nokuba yintoni esinokuyifunda kuYobhi, futhi kutheni imele ihlale isezingqondweni zethu into yokuba uYehova uyasithanda, nokuba uza kuzenza izinto asithembise zona.

5-6. Ziintoni ezenzeka kuYobhi ngokuqhwanyaza nje kwelihlo?

⁵ Izinto zazimhambela kakuhle uYobhi. Wayevuyela ukuba ngumhlobo kaYehova, enosapho olukhulu olonwabileyo, esiso nesityebi. (Yobhi 1:1-5) Kodwa ngosuku nje olunye, izinto ezininzi awayenazo zazingasekho. Waqala wafelwa yimfuyo yakhe. (Yobhi 1:13-17) Emva koko yaba ngabo bonke abantwana bakhe awayebathanda. Khawume kancinci, ucinge ngale ntlungu yamehlelayo. Kuba nzima kakhulu kubazali xa kusweleka omnye wabantwana babo. Unokuyicinga indlela uYobhi nomfazi wakhe abaziva ngayo xa besiva ukuba bonke abantwana babo abayi-10 baswelekile. Inoba babengakholelwa, iintliziyo zilihlwili bengazi nokuba mabathini. Yiloo nto uYobhi wakrazula izambatho zakhe, wawa phantsi.​—Yobhi 1:18-20.

⁶ Emva koko uSathana wamenza wagula sisifo esibuhlungu nesasimhlazisa. (Yobhi 2:6-8; 7:5) Ngaphambi kokuba agule, kwindawo awayehlala kuyo wayehlonitshwa kakhulu ngabantu. Babesiya kuye xa befuna ukucetyiswa. (Yobhi 31:18) Ngoku babemphepha, engafunwa ngabantakwabo, abahlobo bakhe, nkqu nezicaka zakhe.​—Yobhi 19:13, 14, 16.

7. (a) UYobhi wayecinga ukuba kutheni kusenzeka izinto ezimbi kuye, kodwa yintoni angazange afune ukuyenza? (b) Ziintoni ezinokwenzeka kumKristu ezifana nezo zenzeka kumfanekiso ohambisana nesi siqendu?

⁷ USathana wayefuna uYobhi akholelwe ukuba zonke ezi zinto zibuhlungu zimehlelayo zenzeka kuba ecaphukise uYehova. Ngokomzekelo, wenza kwakho umoya omkhulu ovuthuzayo owadiliza indlu ababekuyo abantwana abayi-10 bakaYobhi besitya. (Yobhi 1:18, 19) Waphinda wenza kwehla umlilo ezulwini, watshisa imfuyo kaYobhi nabantu ababeyalusa. (Yobhi 1:16) UYobhi wacinga ukuba lo moya nalo mlilo zivela kuYehova kuba zazisuka ezulwini. Ngenxa yaloo nto wacinga ukuba ikho le nto amcaphukise ngayo uYehova. Sekunjalo, zange afune ukumthuka uTata wakhe wasezulwini. Wayesazi ukuba kwiminyaka emininzi ngaphambi  kokuba ehlelwe yile ntlungu, zininzi izinto azenzelwe nguYehova. Ngoko wacinga ukuba, ukuba ebezamkela izinto ezilungileyo azenzelwa nguYehova, kutheni ke engenakuzamkela ezimbi. Yiloo nto wathi: “Maliqhubeke lidunyiswa igama likaYehova.” (Yobhi 1:20, 21; 2:10) UYobhi wayephelelwe yimali, eswelekelwe ngabantwana, egula nokugula, kodwa wahlala ethembekile kuYehova. USathana wayengekagqibi ngaye.

8. Leliphi elinye iqhinga uSathana awalisebenzisayo kuYobhi?

⁸ USathana wasebenzisa elinye iqhinga. Wenza ukuba amadoda amathathu awayezibiza ngokuba ngabahlobo bakaYobhi, athethe izinto ezamenza wacinga ukuba akukho yakhe. Athi isizathu sokuba ahlelwe zezi ntlungu kukuba zininzi izinto ezimbi azenzileyo. (Yobhi 22:5-9) Azama nokumenza akholelwe ukuba nokuba angenza izinto ezilunge kangakanani, uThixo akayikhathalelanga loo nto. (Yobhi 4:18; 22:2, 3; 25:4) Eyona nto ayeyifuna yayikukuba uYobhi athandabuze ukuba uyathandwa nguThixo, nokuba uThixo wayeza kumkhathalela. Ayefuna acinge nokuba akuncedi nganto ukumkhonza. Izinto awayezithetha zazinokumenza uYobhi acinge ukuba akukho ndlela yakuphuma kwiingxaki anazo.

9. Yintoni eyamncedayo uYobhi wanesibindi futhi womelela?

⁹ Khawube nombono wale nto yenzekayo. UYobhi utyiwa ziintlungu, uhleli eluthuthwini. (Yobhi 2:8) Abahlobo bakhe bamhlalele ngokumxelela ukuba akalunganga futhi akukho nto ibhadlileyo wakha wayenza. Iingxaki anazo zingaphezu kwamandla akhe, nentliziyo yakhe ilihlwili ngenxa yokuswelekelwa ngabantwana. Ekuqaleni uthi cwaka. (Yobhi 2:13–3:1) Ukuba abahlobo bakhe bacinga ukuba loo nto ithetha ukuba uza kumshiya uMdali wakhe, mabancame. UYobhi ude athethe, uthi: “Andizukuyeka ukuba msulwa  de ndife!” (Yobhi 27:5) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba ngelo xesha uphakamise intloko, uwajonge ngqo ebusweni la madoda azenza abahlobo bakhe. Yintoni eyanceda uYobhi wanesibindi esingaka, womelela naxa kwakusenzeka izinto ezibuhlungu kuye? Kaloku, naxa umoya wakhe uphantsi, lalingapheli ithemba lokuba uThixo wakhe amthandayo, uza kuziphelisa zonke iintlungu anazo. Wayesazi ukuba nokuba angasweleka, uYehova uza kumvusa.​—Yobhi 14:13-15.

10. Ibali likaYobhi lisifundisa ntoni?

¹⁰ Ibali likaYobhi lisifundisa ukuba uSathana akanakusinyanzela ukuba simshiye uYehova, nokuba uYehova wazi yonke into eyenzekayo kuthi. Izinto ezenzeka kuye zisinceda siziqonde kakuhle izinto ezenzekayo kuthi. Makhe sive ezinye izinto esinokuzifunda kweli bali.

11. Ukuba sihlala simthemba uYehova, yintoni esiqiniseke ngayo? (Yakobi 4:7)

¹¹ KuYobhi siyabona ukuba xa sihlala simthemba uYehova, akukho ngxaki singenakukwazi ukuyinyamezela, size ngaloo ndlela sibe siyamchasa uSathana. Yintoni eza kwenzeka emva koko? IZibhalo zisenza siqiniseke ukuba uMtyholi uza kusibaleka.​—Funda uYakobi 4:7.

12. Ithemba lovuko lamomeleza njani uYobhi?

¹² Ukholo esinalo lovuko lumele luqine. Njengokuba kutshiwo kwinqaku elidlulileyo, uSathana usoloko esebenzisa ukoyika ukufa, ukuze asenze siyeke ukuthembeka kuYehova. Wathi uYobhi angenza nantoni na, ayeke nokukhonza uYehova, ukuba loo nto iza kusindisa ubomi bakhe. Wayexoka. Naxa kwakunzima, kubonakala ngathi uza kufa, uYobhi wahlala ethembekile kuYehova. Indlela awayeqiniseke ngayo ukuba uYehova ulungile, nethemba awayenalo lokuba ekugqibeleni uza kuzilungisa izinto, zamenza wakwazi ukunyamezela. Wayenokholo lokuba ukuba uThixo akazilungisanga ngexesha esaphila ngalo izinto, wayeza kumvusa kwixesha elizayo. Ithemba lokuba abantu baza kuvuswa lalingeyontsomi kuYobhi. Ukuba aliyontsomi nakuthi, nokuba singoyikiswa ngokufa, sakuhlala sithembekile kuYehova.

13. Kutheni kufuneka siwazi amaqhinga uSathana awawasebenzisa kuYobhi?

¹³ Simele siwazi amaqhinga uSathana awawasebenzisa kuYobhi kuba usasebenzisa wona nakuthi namhlanje. Khawuve indlela awasityhola ngayo. Wathi: “Akukho nto umntu angenakuyincama ukuze asindise ubomi bakhe.” (Yobhi 2:4, 5) Eyona nto wayeyithetha kukuba asimthandi ncam uYehova uThixo futhi siza kumshiya ukuba loo nto ithetha ukusindisa ubomi bethu. Waphinda wathi uThixo akasithandi, akanalo nexesha lezo zinto sizenzayo kuba sifuna ukumvuyisa. Kuba sesiwazi la maqhinga akhe, thina bathembele ngoYehova asiqhatheki.

14. Iingxaki zinokusenza sibone ntoni? Yenza umzekelo.

¹⁴ Ukuba neengxaki mayibe lithuba lokuzijonga ukuba singabantu abanjani. Iingxaki awayenazo uYobhi zamnceda wabona izinto angomelelanga kuzo, waza wazilungisa. Ngokomzekelo, wabona ukuba kusafuneka asebenzele ukuthobeka. (Yobhi 42:3) Nathi iingxaki zingasenza sifunde izinto ezininzi ngeziqu zethu. Omnye umzalwana onguNikolay, * owavalelwa etrongweni nangona wayegula kakhulu uthi: “Itrongo ifana neX-ray, izenza zicace iimpawu anazo umKristu.”  Emva kokuba sizibonile izinto esingomelelanga kuzo, singasebenzela ukuzilungisa.

15. Ngubani esimele simmamele? Kutheni simele simamele yena?

¹⁵ Simele simamele uYehova, singazimameli iintshaba zethu. UYobhi wammamela kakuhle uYehova xa wayethetha naye. UThixo wambuyisela ezingqondweni uYobhi, wayengathi uthi: ‘Uyazibona izinto endizidalileyo? Ndiyazi yonke into eyenzekileyo kuwe. Ucinga ukuba andinakukwazi ukukuhoya?’ UYobhi waphendula ethobekile futhi eyixabisa indlela alunge ngayo uYehova. Wathi: “Ndikuve ngondiva, kodwa ngoku ndikubona ngawam amehlo.” (Yobhi 42:5) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba wawathetha la mazwi esahleli eluthuthwini, umzimba ugcwele zizilonda, abantwana bakhe bona besengcwabeni. Sekunjalo, uYehova wamenza waqiniseka uYobhi ukuba uyamthanda futhi uyavuyiswa zizinto azenzayo.​—Yobhi 42:7, 8.

16. UIsaya 49:15, 16 ubonisa ukuba yintoni esimele siyikhumbule xa sineengxaki?

¹⁶ Nathi namhlanje abantu basenokusithuka baze basiphathe njengoongantweni. Basenokuzama ukungcolisa amagama ethu nelentlangano, ‘bethetha yonke into embi ngathi, bexoka.’ (Mat. 5:11) Ibali likaYobhi lisifundisa ukuba uYehova usithembile ukuba siza kuhlala sithembekile kuye naxa sineengxaki. Uyasithanda, futhi akasoze abalahle abantu abathembela kuye. (Funda uIsaya 49:15, 16.) Ungazihoyi izinto ezithethwa ziintshaba zikaThixo. Omnye umzalwana waseTurkey, uJames nentsapho yakhe baye baneengxaki ezinzima, uthi: “Saqonda ukuba ukumamela ubuxoki ngabantu bakaThixo  kungasityhafisa. Eyona nto sacinga ngayo lithemba loBukumkani, ngoko saqhubeka sikhuthele emsebenzini kaYehova. Loo nto yasenza sahlala sivuya.” NjengoYobhi, simamela uYehova. Ubuxoki obuthethwa ziintshaba zethu abuliphelisi ithemba esinalo.

17. Yintoni oyifundayo kumadoda nabafazi ababethembekile ekuthethwa ngabo kumaHebhere isahluko 11?

¹⁷ AyingoYobhi qha umkhonzi kaYehova owahlala enesibindi waza akatyhafa xa wayeneengxaki ezinzima. Kwileta awayibhalela amaKristu akwaYuda, umpostile uPawulos wathetha ngabanye abakhonzi bakaYehova abaninzi, ebabiza ngokuba ‘lilifu elikhulu lamaNgqina.’ (Heb. 12:1) Bonke baba neengxaki ezinzima, kodwa ubomi babo bonke bahlala bethembekile kuYehova. (Heb. 11:36-40) Ngaba ukunyamezela nokusebenza nzima kwabo yaba kukudlala ngexesha? Hayi. Ngoxa bengazange bazibone ezinye izinto ezithenjiswe nguThixo zisenzeka, zange bayeke ukuthembela kuye. Ngenxa yokuba babesazi ukuba uYehova uyabathanda, babeqinisekile ukuba babeza kuzibona izinto azithembisileyo zisenzeka. (Heb. 11:4, 5) Indlela ababephila ngayo, inokusinceda sizimisele kakhulu ukuhlala sithembela ngoYehova.

18. Uzimisele ukwenza ntoni? (Hebhere 11:6)

¹⁸ Kuya kusiba kubi kweli hlabathi. (2 Tim. 3:13) USathana akakayeki ukwenza abantu bakaThixo babe neengxaki. Nokuba zeziphi esiseza kuba nazo, masizimisele ukumsebenzela nzima uYehova, siqinisekile ukuba “sibeke ithemba lethu kuThixo ophilayo.” (1 Tim. 4:10) Khumbula, izinto ezenzeka kuYobhi emva kwazo zonke iingxaki awayenazo zibonisa ukuba ‘uYehova unovelwano nenceba.’ (Yak. 5:11) Nathi masihlale sithembekile kuYehova, siqinisekile ukuba uza kubavuza ‘abo bamfuna ngokuzimisela.’​—Funda amaHebhere 11:6.