1. (a) UJehova usinike liphi ithemba? (b) Kusho ukuthini ‘ukuthemba uJehova’? (Bheka “Incazelo Yegama.”)

 UJEHOVA ubanike ithemba elihle bonke labo abamthandayo. Maduze uzoqeda ukugula, usizi nokufa. (IsAm. 21:3, 4) Uzosiza “abamnene” abathembela kuye baguqule umhlaba ube yipharadesi. (IHu. 37:9-11) Uzokwenza ukuba ngamunye wethu asondele kuye futhi abe nobuhlobo obuseduze naye, obedlula lobo esibujabulela njengamanje. Yithemba elimangalisa ngempela lelo! Kodwa yisiphi isisekelo esinaso sokukholelwa ukuthi izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu ziyogcwaliseka ngempela? UJehova akakaze angasigcwalisi isithembiso sakhe. Ngakho sinesizathu esihle ‘sokuthemba uJehova.’ * (IHu. 27:14) Lokhu sikubonisa ngokulinda uNkulunkulu wethu ngesineke nangenjabulo ukuba afeze injongo yakhe.​—Isaya 55:10, 11.

2. Yini uJehova aseyenzile kakade?

² Kakade uJehova usebonisile ukuthi uyazigcwalisa izithembiso zakhe. Cabanga ngalesi sibonelo esivelele. Encwadini yesAmbulo, uJehova wathembisa ukuthi osukwini lwethu wayeyohlanganisa abantu bazo zonke izizwe, izinhlanga nezilimi futhi babeyomkhonza ngobunye ngendlela emsulwa. Namuhla, lelo qembu elikhethekile labantu laziwa ngokuthi “isixuku esikhulu.” (IsAm. 7:9, 10) Nakuba linabesilisa, abasifazane nezingane zezinhlanga, izilimi nezizinda ezihlukahlukene, lelo qembu lakha ubuzalwane bomhlaba wonke obunokuthula nobunye. (IHu. 133:1; Joh. 10:16) Laba abayingxenye yesixuku  esikhulu baphinde bashumayele ngentshiseko. Bahlale bekulungele ukuxoxa ngethemba labo lezwe elingcono nanoma ubani ozimisele ukulalela. (Math. 28:19, 20; IsAm. 14:6, 7; 22:17) Uma uyingxenye yesixuku esikhulu, akungabazeki ukuthi ithemba lezinto ezingcono ezizayo liyigugu kakhulu kuwe.

3. Uyini umgomo kaSathane?

³ UDeveli ufuna ukukwephuca ithemba onalo. Umgomo wakhe uwukukwenza ukholelwe ukuthi uJehova akanandaba nawe nokuthi ngeke azigcine izithembiso zaKhe. Uma uSathane ephumelela ekusiphuceni ithemba esinalo, siyodikibala futhi singaze siyeke ngisho nokukhonza uJehova. Njengoba sizobona, uDeveli wazama ukuphuca uJobe ithemba ayenalo futhi amenze ayeke ukukhonza uJehova.

4. Sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sihloko? (Jobe 1:9-12)

⁴ Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngamaqhinga uSathane awasebenzisa emizamweni yakhe yokwenza uJobe alahle ubuqotho bakhe. (Funda uJobe 1:9-12.) Sizoxoxa nangokuthi singafundani esibonelweni sikaJobe nangokuthi kungani kudingeka sikhumbule ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyasithanda futhi uzozigcwalisa izithembiso zaKhe.

5-6. Kwenzekani kuJobe ngesikhashana nje?

⁵ Izinto zazimhambela kahle uJobe. Wayenobungane obuseduze noJehova. Wayenomndeni omkhulu onobunye futhi wayecaphuna kusale. (Jobe 1:1-5) Kodwa ngosuku olulodwa nje, uJobe walahlekelwa cishe yiyo yonke into. Waqale walahlekelwa umcebo wakhe. (Jobe 1:13-17) Kwabe sekufa zonke izingane zakhe ayezithanda. Ake uthi ukucabanga ngaleyo nhlekelele. Abazali bayakhungatheka lapho eyodwa yezingane zabo ishona. Ngakho cabanga ngokushaqeka, usizi nokuphelelwa ithemba uJobe nomkakhe ababenakho lapho bezwa ukuthi indlu iwele phezu kwazo zonke izingane zabo eziyishumi zashona. Akumangazi-ke ukuthi ngenxa yosizi, uJobe waklebhula izingubo zakhe wawela emhlabathini!​—Jobe 1:18-20.

⁶ USathane wabe esehlasela uJobe ngesifo esamenza walahlekelwa isithunzi. (Jobe 2:6-8; 7:5) Kunesikhathi lapho uJobe ayehlonishwa kakhulu emphakathini. Abantu babeza kuye ukuze bathole izeluleko. (Jobe 31:18) Manje, base bemgwema. Wayekhishwe inyumbazane, elahlwe abafowabo, abangane bakhe abaseduze, ngisho nayizinceku zakhe!​—Jobe 19:13, 14, 16.

7. (a) UJobe wayekholelwa ukuthi kwakuvelaphi ukuhlupheka kwakhe, kodwa yini enqaba ukuyenza? (b) Yiluphi uvivinyo umKristu angase abhekane nalo olufana nalokho esikubona esithombeni?

⁷ USathane wayefuna uJobe akholelwe ukuthi wayehlupheka ngenxa yokuthi uJehova wayengasamamukeli. Ngokwesibonelo, uSathane wasebenzisa umoya omkhulu ukuze adilize indlu izingane zikaJobe eziyishumi ezazikuyo zijabulela isidlo ndawonye. (Jobe 1:18, 19) Wabangela nokuba kwehle umlilo uvela ezulwini, ongagcinanga nje ngokubulala imfuyo kaJobe kodwa owabulala nezinceku ezaziyinakekela. (Jobe 1:16) Ngokusobala, umoya nomlilo kwakuvela emandleni angaphezu kwavamile, ngakho uJobe waphetha ngokuthi uMthombo wako kumelwe ukuba nguJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho, uJobe wakholelwa ukuthi ngandlela-thile wayemonile uJehova. Noma kunjalo, wenqaba ukuthuka uYise osezulwini. UJobe wavuma ukuthi eminyakeni edlule wayethole izinto eziningi ezinhle ezivela kuJehova. Waphetha ngokuthi uma kwamjabulisa ukwamukela  okuhle, kufanele akulungele nokwamukela okubi. Ngakho wathi: “Maliqhubeke lidunyiswa igama likaJehova.” (Jobe 1:20, 21; 2:10) Phakathi naso sonke leso sikhathi, uJobe wakwazi ukubhekana nesimo somnotho esinzima, ukuhlukumezeka ngokomzwelo nokugula kakhulu. Kodwa uSathane wayengakaqedi ngaye.

8. Yiliphi iqhinga uSathane abe eselisebenzisa kuJobe?

⁸ USathane wasebenzisa elinye iqhinga kuJobe, wasebenzisa abangane mbumbulu abathathu ukuze benze uJobe azizwe engelutho. La madoda athi ukuhlupheka kukaJobe kwakuwubufakazi bokuthi wayenecala lokwenza izinto ezimbi ezihlukahlukene. (Jobe 22:5-9) Bazama nokumenza akholelwe ukuthi ngisho noma ayengeyena umenzi wobubi, noma yimiphi imizamo ayeyenza yokujabulisa uNkulunkulu yayingasho lutho. (Jobe 4:18; 22:2, 3; 25:4) Empeleni, babezama ukwenza uJobe angabaze ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyamthanda, ukuthi wayezomnakekela, angabaze nokuthi kwakunenzuzo ukumkhonza. Amazwi abo ayengenza uJobe abone sengathi isimo sakhe asisoze sashintsha.

9. Yini eyanikeza uJobe isibindi namandla?

⁹ Cabanga ngalesi simo. UJobe uhlezi emlotheni, usezinhlungwini ezingapheli. (Jobe 2:8) Abangane bakhe balokhu bethi ungumuntu omubi futhi bazama ukulidicilela phansi igama lakhe. Izinkinga zakhe zinjengomthwalo osindayo emahlombe akhe, kuyilapho inhliziyo yakhe iqaqamba ngenxa yokushonelwa izingane zakhe. UJobe uqale athule. (Jobe 2:13–3:1) Uma abangane bakaJobe bebheka ukuthula kwakhe njengophawu lokuthi uzomlahla uMdali wakhe, bashaye phansi. Kunesikhathi lapho uJobe​—mhlawumbe uphakamisa ikhanda abuke laba bangane mbumbulu—​bese ethi: “Ngiyoze ngife ngingazange ngibulahle ubuqotho bami!” (Jobe 27:5) Yini eyamsiza waba nesibindi namandla  naphezu kwakho konke ukuhlupheka kwakhe? Ngisho noma ayedangele kakhulu, akazange aphelelwe ithemba lokuthi uNkulunkulu wakhe onothando wayeyogcina ekuqedile ukuhlupheka kwakhe. Wayazi ukuthi ngisho noma efa, uJehova wayeyomvusa.​—Jobe 14:13-15.

10. Indaba kaJobe isifundisani?

¹⁰ Indaba kaJobe isifundisa ukuthi uSathane ngeke akwazi ukusiphoqa ukuba silahle uJehova nokuthi uJehova ukubona konke okwenzekayo. Okwenzeka kuJobe kungaphinde kusisize sikuqonde kangcono okuhilelekile lapho sivivinywa. Cabanga ngezifundo ezithile esingazifunda kuJobe.

11. Uma siqhubeka sithembele kuJehova, yini esingaqiniseka ngayo? (Jakobe 4:7)

¹¹ UJobe wafakazela ukuthi uma siqhubeka sithembela kuJehova singakwazi ukukhuthazelela noma yiluphi uvivinyo futhi simelane noSathane ngokuphumelelayo. Uyoba yini umphumela? ImiBhalo isiqinisekisa ngokuthi uDeveli uyosibalekela.​—Funda uJakobe 4:7.

12. Ithemba lovuko lamqinisa kanjani uJobe?

¹² Sidinga ukunamathela ethembeni lovuko. Njengoba kubonisiwe esihlokweni esidlule, uSathane uvame ukusebenzisa ukwesaba ukufa ukuze asenze sephule ubuqotho bethu. Endabeni kaJobe, uSathane wathi uJobe wayengenza noma yini, aze ngisho ephule nobuqotho bakhe ukuze asindise ukuphila kwakhe. USathane wayenamanga. Ngisho nalapho uJobe ayebhekene nesimo esibi kakhulu, kubonakala sengathi vele uzokufa, akazange ayekethise. Ukuqiniseka kwakhe ngobuhle bukaJehova nethemba eliqinile lokuthi uJehova wayeyogcina ezilungisile izinto kwamsiza wakwazi ukukhuthazela. UJobe wayenokholo lokuthi uma uJehova engazilungisanga izinto esaphila, wayeyomvusa esikhathini esizayo. Ithemba lovuko lalingokoqobo kuJobe. Uma lelo themba lingokoqobo kithi, ngisho nalapho singase sife, ngeke sephule ubuqotho bethu.

13. Kungani kudingeka siwanakisise amaqhinga uSathane awasebenzisa kuJobe?

¹³ Kumelwe siwanakisise amaqhinga uSathane awasebenzisa kuJobe ngoba usasebenzisa izindlela ezifanayo kithi namuhla. Phawula indlela uSathane abamangalela ngayo abantu: “Umuntu [hhayi uJobe kuphela] uyokhipha konke anakho ngenxa yokuphila kwakhe.” (Jobe 2:4, 5) Empeleni uSathane uthi asimthandi ngempela uJehova uNkulunkulu futhi sizomlahla uma kufanele sisindise ukuphila kwethu. USathane uphinde athi uNkulunkulu akasithandi futhi ngeke ayibone imizamo yethu yokumjabulisa. Njengoba sixwayiswe kusengaphambili, thina esithanda uJehova asikhohliswa amaqhinga kaSathane.

14. Uvivinyo lwembulani ngathi? Fanekisa.

¹⁴ Kufanele sibheke uvivinyo njengethuba lokuba sizazi. Uvivinyo uJobe abhekana nalo lwamsiza wakwazi ukubona ubuthakathaka obuthile ayenabo futhi abulungise. Ngokwesibonelo, wafunda ukuthi kudingeka akuhlakulele nakakhulu ukuthobeka. (Jobe 42:3) Nathi singafunda okuningi kakhulu ngathi ngokwethu lapho sivivinywa. UNikolay * umzalwane owaboshwa naphezu kokuba nesimo esibucayi sempilo uthi: “Ijele linjenge-X-ray, libonisa izimfanelo zomKristu, lokho ayikho ngempela ngaphakathi. Lapho sesibazi ubuthakathaka bethu, sisebenzela ukubulungisa.

15. Ubani okufanele simlalele futhi kungani?

¹⁵ Kudingeka silalele uJehova, hhayi izitha zethu. UJobe walalelisisa lapho uJehova  ekhuluma naye. UNkulunkulu wabonisana noJobe, kwakungathi uthi: ‘Uyawabona amandla ami okudala? Ngikubonile konke okwenzeke kuwe. Ucabanga ukuthi ngeke ngikwazi ukukunakekela?’ UJobe waphendula ngokuthobeka futhi wabonisa ukwazisa okujulile ngobuhle bukaJehova. Wathi: “Izindlebe zami zizwile ngawe, kodwa manje sengiyakubona ngamehlo ami.” (Jobe 42:5) Lapho esho lawo mazwi, cishe uJobe wayesahlezi emlotheni, umzimba wakhe usagcwele izilonda futhi esalusizi ngenxa yezingane zakhe ezazifile. Noma kunjalo, uJehova waqinisekisa uJobe ngokuthi usamthanda nangokuthi usamamukela.​—Jobe 42:7, 8.

16. Ngokwencwadi ka-Isaya 49:15, 16, yini okufanele siyikhumbule lapho sivivinywa?

¹⁶ Nanamuhla, abantu bangasho izinto ezimbi ngathi futhi basiphathise okwezinto ezingelusizo lwalutho. Bangase bazame ukudicilela phansi igama lethu noma lenhlangano, ‘basho yonke inhlobo yento embi ngathi, besiqambela amanga’. (Math. 5:11) Endabeni kaJobe, sifunda ukuthi uJehova uyaqiniseka ukuthi siyohlala siqotho lapho sivivinywa. UJehova uyasithanda futhi akasoze abashiya labo abathembela kuye. (Funda u-Isaya 49:15, 16.) Ungazinaki izinto ezinyundelayo ezishiwo izitha zikaNkulunkulu! UJames, umzalwane waseTurkey onomndeni owabhekana novivinyo olunzima kakhulu, uthi: “Saqaphela ukuthi ukulalela amanga ashiwo ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu kuzosenza sidikibale. Ngakho sagxila ethembeni lethu loMbuso futhi sahlala simatasa enkonzweni esiyenzela uJehova. Ngenxa yalokho sahlala sijabule.”  NjengoJobe, silalela uJehova! Amanga ashiwo izitha zethu ngeke aliqede ithemba esinalo.

17. Ufundani esibonelweni sabesilisa nabesifazane abathembekile okukhulunywa ngabo encwadini yamaHebheru isahluko 11?

¹⁷ UJobe umane nje uyinceku eyodwa kaJehova eyahlala iqinile futhi inesibindi lapho ibhekene novivinyo olunzima. Encwadini yakhe ayibhalela amaHebheru, umphostoli uPawulu ubhekisela kweziningi ngokuthi ‘ifu elikhulu lofakazi.’ (Heb. 12:1) Zonke zabhekana novivinyo olunzima, kodwa zazakhela umlando omuhle kakhulu wokwethembeka kuJehova. (Heb. 11:36-40) Ingabe ukukhuthazela kwazo nomsebenzi wazo onzima wawuyize? Lutho neze! Nakuba phakathi nokuphila kwazo zingazange zizibone zonke izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu zigcwaliseka, zaqhubeka zithembele kuJehova. Ngenxa yokuthi zaziqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uyazamukela, zazazi kahle ukuthi ziyozibona izithembiso zigcwaliseka. (Heb. 11:4, 5) Isibonelo sazo singasiqinisa, siqhubeke sithembele kuJehova.

18. Yini ozimisele ukuyenza? (Hebheru 11:6)

¹⁸ Namuhla siphila ezweni elisuka kokubi liye kokubi kakhulu. (2 Thim. 3:13) USathane akakaqedi ukuvivinya abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yiziphi izinselele esisazobhekana nazo, kwangathi singazimisela ukumsebenzela kanzima uJehova, siqiniseka ngokuthi “ithemba lethu silibeke kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.” (1 Thim. 4:10) Khumbula, isibusiso uNkulunkulu asinika uJobe siwubufakazi bokuthi uJehova “unothando olukhulu nesihe.” (Jak. 5:11) Kwangathi nathi singahlala siqotho kuJehova, siqiniseka ngokuthi uyobavuza “labo abamfuna ngobuqotho.”​—Funda eyamaHebheru 11:6.