1, 2. Ngumuphi umsebenti lomatima Joshuwa lanikwa wona ngemuva kwekufa kwaMosi?

JEHOVA wakhuluma naJoshuwa watsi: ‘Mosi, inceku yami, ufile. Ngako-ke wena kanye naso sonkhe lesive sema-Israyeli tilungiseleleni kwewela umfula iJordane, niye eveni lengininika lona.’ (Josh. 1:1, 2) Lolu kwaba lushintjo lolukhulu Joshuwa lebekangakalulindzeli njengobe besekabe ngumsiti waMosi iminyaka lecishe ibe ngu-40!

² Ngenca yekutsi Mosi besekahole sive sema-Israyeli sikhatsi lesidze, kungenteka Joshuwa bekatibuta kutsi batamemukela yini yena kutsi abe ngumholi wabo. (Dut. 34:8, 10-12) Nayikhuluma ngembhalo waJoshuwa 1:1, 2, lenye incwadzi itsi: “Lenye yetintfo letimatima kakhulu naletiyingoti kubantfu kungesikhatsi kubekwa umholi lomusha.”

3, 4. Sati ngani kutsi Joshuwa bekametsemba mbamba Nkulunkulu, futsi ngumuphi umbuto lesingatibuta wona?

³ Kungenteka Joshuwa wesaba kakhulu nakanikwa lesabelo, kodvwa ngemuva kwemalanga lambalwa wenta loko Jehova lakusho. (Josh. 1:9-11) Bekametsemba kakhulu Jehova. Njengobe liBhayibheli lisho, Jehova wamcondzisa Joshuwa kanye nesive  sema-Israyeli asebentisa ingilosi. Kunengcondvo kucabanga kutsi lengilosi bekunguliVi, loyiNdvodzana yaNkulunkulu lelitibulo.​—Eks. 23:20-23; Joh. 1:1.

⁴ Jehova wasita sive sema-Israyeli kutsi sivumelane nalolushintjo njengobe besekunguJoshuwa umholi waso lomusha. Lunyenti lushintjo lolwentekako esikhatsini lesiphila kuso, loko kwenta sitibute: ‘Njengobe inhlangano yaJehova itfutfuka ngekushesha, sinato yini tizatfu letinhle tekumetsemba Jesu Khristu ngengobe angumholi wetfu lobekiwe?’ (Fundza Matewu 23:10.) Kuze siphendvule lombuto, sitawuhlola kutsi Jehova wabahola njani bantfu bakhe esikhatsini sasendvulo nakwenteka tingucuko.

5. Yini leyenteka kuJoshuwa ngesikhatsi angaseJerikho? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

⁵ Ngemuva kwesikhashana ema-Israyeli ewele umfula iJordane, kwenteka intfo lengakavami kuJoshuwa. NakangaseJerikho, wahlangana nendvodza iphetse inkemba. Bekangayati kutsi ingubani, ngako wayibuta: “Ukanye natsi yini nome umelene natsi?” Joshuwa wamangala nayitsi ‘iyindvuna yemphi yaSimakadze’ lebeyitimisele kuvikela bantfu baNkulunkulu. (Fundza Joshuwa 5:13-15.) Nanobe leminye imibhalo itsi nguJehova lobekakhuluma naJoshuwa, siyaciniseka kutsi Nkulunkulu bekasebentisa ingilosi njengobe bekavamise kwenta.​—Eks. 3:2-4; Josh. 4:1, 15; 5:2, 9; Imis. 7:38; Gal. 3:19.

6-8. (a) Kungani letinye ticondziso taJehova tibonakala tingaketayeleki kubantfu? (b) Yini lekhombisa kutsi leticondziso betihlakaniphile futsi tifike ngesikhatsi? (Buka umbhalo longentasi.)

⁶ Ingilosi yanika Joshuwa sicondziso lesicacile sekutsi yini labengayenta kute ancobe iJerikho. Kungenteka ekucaleni leticondziso betibonakala tingeke tisebente. Nasi sibonelo, Jehova wayala kutsi onkhe emadvodza asokwe. Loko bekutawenta kutsi angakhoni kuya emphini emalanga lambalwa. Bekusikhatsi lesikahle yini sekutsi basokwe?​—Gen. 34:24, 25; Josh. 5:2, 8.

⁷ Kungenteka lamasotja bekatibuta kutsi atayivikela njani imindeni yawo nayihlaselwa titsa enkambu. Ngekushesha kwavakala kutsi “iJerikho yayivalisisiwe ngenca yesive sema-Israyeli.” (Josh. 6:1) Kufanele kutsi loko kwabenta basetsemba kakhulu sicondziso saJehova.

⁸ Ngetulu kwaloko, ema-Israyeli atjelwa kutsi angayihlaseli iJerikho. Esikhundleni saloko, ayalwa kutsi atungelete lelidolobha kanye ngelilanga kuze kuphele emalanga lasitfupha, kodvwa ngelilanga lesikhombisa atjelwa kutsi alitungelete tikhatsi letisikhombisa. Lamanye emasotja kungenteka acabanga: ‘Simosha sikhatsi kanye nemandla etfu!’ Kodvwa Umholi wema-Israyeli longabonakali bekakwati kahle loko labekwenta. Kukholwa kwema-Israyeli kwacina nakalalela leticondziso, futsi akuzange kudzingeke kutsi alwe nemasotja aseJerikho.​—Josh. 6:2-5; Heb. 11:30. *

9. Kungani kufanele sitilalele ticondziso lesititfola enhlanganweni yaJehova? Shano sibonelo.

⁹ Yini lesiyifundzako? Ngaletinye tikhatsi ngeke siyicondze indlela lensha inhlangano yaJehova letsi sente ngayo tintfo. Nasi sibonelo, kungenteka ekucaleni asizange sicondze kutsi kungani kufanele sisebentise tintfo tebuchwephesha nasidadisha, nasenta umsebenti wekushumayela kanye nasemihlanganweni. Nyalo sesiyatibona tinzuzo tekusebentisa tintfo tebuchwephesha.  Nasibona imiphumela lemihle yekutisebentisa, siba nekukholwa lokucinile kanye nebunye ngisho noma besingabata ekucaleni.

10. Ngubani lebekacondzisa umhlangano lobalulekile wesigungu lesibusako lebewuseJerusalema?

¹⁰ Ngemuva kweminyaka lengu-13 Khoneliyu lebekangakasoki waba ngumKhristu, lamanye emaKhristu labekangemaJuda bekatsi kubalulekile kutsi asoke. (Imis. 15:1, 2) E-Athiyokhi bazalwane bebaphikisana ngaloko. Ngako bahlela kutsi Pawula ayeJerusalema kuze ayobuta sigungu lesibusako ngalendzaba. Kungani? Pawula wachaza: “Ngabuyela khona ngenca yesembulo.” Asingabati kutsi Khristu wacondzisa tintfo kuze sigungu lesibusako silungise lokungevani.​—Gal. 2:1-3.

11. (a) Nguyiphi inkinga lemayelana lekusoka lebeyikhona kumaKhristu langemaJuda? (b) Yini leyavivinya sifiso saPawula sekusekela emadvodza lamadzala eJerusalema? (Buka umbhalo longentasi.)

¹¹ Khristu wacondzisa sigungu lesibusako kutsi sikwente kucace kutsi emaKhristu langesiwo emaJuda bekungakadzingeki kutsi asoke. (Imis. 15:19, 20) Kodvwa ngemuva kweminyaka kwentiwe lesincumo, emaJuda lamanyenti abechubeka asoka bantfwana bawo. Emadvodza lamadzala aseJerusalema eva emahemuhemu ekutsi Pawula bekangawuhloniphi uMtsetfo waMosi. Ngako bacela Pawula kutsi ente sento lebesitawukhombisa kutsi uyawuhlonipha uMtsetfo waMosi. * (Imis. 21:20-26) Amtjela kutsi atsatse emadvodza lamane ethempelini, futsi atihlambulule kanye nawo kuze bantfu babone kutsi “uphila ngekuvumelana neMtsetfo.” Kungenteka Pawula abengacondzi kutsi kubaluleke ngani kutsi ente njalo ngobe ecinisweni lenkinga beyikumaKhristu labekangemaJuda lebekangayicondzi kahle indzaba yekusoka. Nanobe kunjalo, ngekutfobeka Pawula wasilalela lesicondziso njengobe emadvodza lamadzala bekafuna kutsi kube nebunye kubantfu baNkulunkulu. Singahle sitibute:  ‘Yini leyenta Jesu wangayicatululi lendzaba ngisho nome besekuphele sikhatsi lesidze ngemuva kwekufa kwakhe uMtsetfo waMosi ungasasebenti?’​—Khol. 2:13, 14.

12. Yini leyenta Khristu wangayilungisi ngekushesha indzaba yekusoka?

¹² Labanye kubatsatsa sikhatsi lesidze kutsi bavumelane nekucondza lokusha. NemaKhristu langemaJuda abedzinga sikhatsi lesanele sekutsi ativumelanise nekucondza lokusha. (Joh. 16:12) Lamanye abekutfola kumatima kwemukela kutsi kusoka bekungasesilo luphawu lwekutsi umuntfu unebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu. (Gen. 17:9-12) Lamanye bekangafuni kwehluka kulamanye emaJuda ngoba bekesaba kuhlushwa. (Gal. 6:12) Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Khristu wasebentisa Pawula kutsi abhale tincwadzi letiphefumulelwe kute acondzise emabandla.​—Rom. 2:28, 29; Gal. 3:23-25.

13. Yini lengasisita kutsi silalele ticondziso taKhristu lamuhla?

¹³ Nangabe singaticondzi ngalokuphelele tizatfu letenta kube netingucuko enhlanganweni, kuhle kutsi sicabange ngendlela Khristu lebekabahola ngayo bantfu baNkulunkulu esikhatsi lesendlulile. Kusukela kusaphila Joshuwa nangelikhulu lekucala, Khristu abesolo anika bantfu baNkulunkulu ticondziso letihlakaniphile kute abavikele, acinise kukholwa kwabo, futsi abente babe nebunye.​—Heb. 13:8.

14-16. Ticondziso lesititfola ‘esisebentini lesetsembekile nalesihlakaniphile’ tikhombisa njani kutsi Khristu ufuna kusisita sibe nekukholwa lokucinile?

¹⁴ Lamuhla, Khristu usisita kutsi sibe nebuhlobo lobuhle naJehova, uphindze asebentise “sisebenti lesetsembekile nalesihlakaniphile” kutsi sisinikete ticondziso letifika ngesikhatsi lesifanele. (Mat. 24:45) Marc longubabe webantfwana labane utsi: “Sathane wetama kwenta libandla libe butsakatsaka ngekutsi ahlasele imindeni. Nyalo sikhutsatwa kutsi sibe nekukhonta kwemndeni njalo ngeliviki kuze tinhloko temindeni tivikele imindeni yato!”

¹⁵ Nasibona indlela Jesu lasihola ngayo sitawucondza kutsi ufuna kusisita sihlale sinebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu. Patrick longulomdzala welibandla utsi: “Labanye bebakutfola kumatima kuya ensimini nasicala kuhamba ngemacembu ngetimphelasontfo. Kodvwa lolushintjo lukhombisa kuJesu ubakhatsalela bonkhe bantfu labasebandleni. Labanye bazalwane nabodzadze labanemahloni nalabebangayi njalo ensimini sebaya njalo futsi sebatibona balusito. Loku kubente baba nebuhlobo lobuhle naJehova.”

¹⁶ Ngetulu kwekunakekela sidzingo setfu sekuba nebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu, Khristu usisita kutsi sihlale sinake umsebenti lobaluleke kakhulu lowentiwa emhlabeni lamuhla. (Fundza Makho 13:10.) André losandza kuba ngulomdzala welibandla uhlale etama kulandzela tonkhe ticondziso letinsha inhlangano yaJehova lesinika tona. Utsi: “Kuncishiswa kwetisebenti telihhovisi leligatja kusikhumbuta kutsi umsebenti wekushumayela uyaphutfuma nekutsi kufanele ute kucala ekuphileni kwetfu.”

17, 18. Kungani kufanele sinake tinzuzo lesitfola kuletingucuko letinsha letisandza kwentiwa yinhlangano?

¹⁷ Sicondziso lesisitfola kuJesu Khristu loyinkhosi lebusako sitasisita nyalo nasekhatsini lesitako. Yetama kunaka indlela lozuze ngayo ngekulandzela ticondziso letinsha. Kunganikhutsata kutsi ngesikhatsi sekukhonta kwemndeni nicoce ngekutsi tinizuzise njani tingucuko letenteke emhlanganweni wasekhatsi neliviki noma emsebentini wekushumayela.

 ¹⁸ Nangabe sikhumbula kutsi kusebentisa ticondziso lesitinikwa yinhlangano yaJehova kuba nemiphumela lemihle, kutawuba melula kutsi sitilalele futsi sitawujabula. Kuyasijabulisa kutsi songa imali ngoba sesisebentisa tebuchwephesha futsi asisashicileli bomagazini netincwadzi letinyenti. Loku kusita inhlangano yaJehova ifundzise bantfu labanyenti ngetindzaba letimnandzi. Singakhona yini kukhulisa lizinga lesisebentisa ngalo tintfo tebuchwephesha nasifundza tincwadzi tetfu? Lena ngulenye indlela lesingayisebentisa kuze sisekele Khristu lofuna kutsi sisebentise kahle imali yenhlangano.

19. Kungani kufanele silalele sicondziso saKhristu?

¹⁹ Nangabe sivuma kucondziswa nguKhristu sisuke sisita bazalwane betfu nabodzadze kutsi babe nekukhowa lokucinile kanye nebunye. Nakacabanga ngekuncishiswa kwemalunga emindeni yaseBethel emhlabeni wonkhe, André utsi: “Umoya lomuhle lowakhonjiswa bazalwane labebangemalunga aseBethel labalwemukela lolushintjo ungenta ngibetsembe futsi ngibahloniphe. Bachubeka bahambisana nencola yaJehova njengobe bajabulela kwenta nome ngabe ngusiphi sabelo labanikwa sona.”

20, 21. (a) Kungani kufanele setsembele kuKhristu umholi wetfu? (b) Ngumuphi umbuto lesitawucoca ngawo esihlokweni lesilandzelako?

²⁰ Masinyane, umholi wetfu lobekiwe Jesu Khristu ‘utawucedzela kuncoba kwakhe’ futsi ‘utawenta imisebenti leyesabekako.’ (Semb. 6:2; Hla. 45:4) Kwanyalo usilungiselela kuphila eveni lelisha kanye nemsebenti wekufundzisa newekwakha lesitawube siwenta nakuvuswa bantfu labafile.

²¹ Nangabe simetsemba umholi wetfu loyinkhosi noma ngabe kwentekani, utasihola asiyise eveni lelisha. (Fundza Tihlabelelo 46:1-3.) Lamuhla kungaba lukhuni kwenta tingucuko, ikakhulukati nangabe singakatilindzeli. Yini lengasisita kutsi silondvolote kuthula kanye nekukholwa lokucinile kuJehova? Esihlokweni lesilandzelako sitawuphendvula lombuto.