1, 2. (a) Sati njani kutsi bantfu bangaba bangani baNkulunkulu? (b) Sitawufundza ngani kulesihloko?

KUSUKELA sitalwa kuze kube ngulapho sifa, siyakudzinga kutsandvwa. Bantfu badzinga lutsandvo lolutabenta basondzelane, hhayi nje lutsandvo lwetitsandzani kuphela. Kodvwa sidzinga kakhulu kutsandvwa nguJehova. Bantfu labanyenti abakholelwa kutsi bangaba bangani labasedvute naNkulunkulu ngobe akabonakali futsi unemandla. Kodvwa tsine siyalati liciniso!

² EBhayibhelini siyafundza kutsi kunebantfu lebebabangani baNkulunkulu. Kufanele sifundze etibonelweni tabo. Kungani? Kungobe bungani naNkulunkulu buyintfo lebaluleke kakhulu lokufanele sibe nayo ekuphileni. Ngako asesifundze ngesibonelo sa-Abrahama. (Fundza Jakobe 2:23.) Waba kanjani ngumngani waNkulunkulu? Abrahama abengumngani waNkulunkulu ngobe abenekukholwa, futsi  watiwa ngekutsi “nguyise wabo bonkhe lababa nekukholwa.” (Roma 4:11) Njengobe ufundza ngesibonelo sakhe, tibute, ‘Ngingakulingisa njani kukholwa kwa-Abrahama futsi ngicinise bungani bami naJehova?’

3, 4. (a) Chaza kutsi yini lokungenteka yakuvivinya kakhulu kukholwa kwa-Abrahama. (b) Kungani Abrahama abetimisele kunikela nga-Isaka?

³ Asewucabange nga-Abrahama njengobe aneminyaka lengu-125 budzala, ahamba kancane acanca intsaba. ^[1] (Fundza kwatiswa lokusekugcineni.) Abelandzelwa yindvodzana yakhe Isaka lebeyineminyaka lecishe ibe ngu-25 budzala. Isaka abephetse tinkhuni futsi Abrahama abephetse umukhwa netintfo lebebatatidzinga kute babase umlilo. Loluhambo lwalumatima kakhulu ku-Abrahama. Kodvwa loko bekungabangelwa kutsi sokhulile, ngobe bekasenawo emandla. Kunaloko lwalumatima ngobe Jehova abemcele kutsi anikele ngendvodzana yakhe.​—Genesisi 22:1-8.

⁴ Kungenteka loko bekuluvivinyo lolukhulu kunalo lonkhe Abrahama lake wabhekana nalo. Labanye bantfu batsi Nkulunkulu wakhombisa kuba bete luvelo ngesikhatsi atjela Abrahama kutsi anikele ngendvodzana yakhe. Labanye batsi Abrahama abefuna kunikela ngendvodzana yakhe ngobe abengayitsandzi. Bantfu basho tintfo letifana naleti ngobe abakholwa futsi abati kutsi kuyini kukholwa mbamba nobe indlela lokubonakala ngayo. (1 Khorinte 2:14-16) Kodvwa Abrahama akazange amane alalele Nkulunkulu, lokusho kumlalela angakacabangisisi. Wamlalela ngobe akholwa mbamba. Bekati kutsi Jehova ngeke amcele kutsi ente intfo letawuhlale imvisa buhlungu. Bekati nekutsi nakamlalela, Jehova abetambusisa yena nendvodzana yakhe layitsandzako. Yini Abrahama lebekayidzinga kute abe nekukholwa lokucinile? Abedzinga lwati nekutsi afundze etintfweni lebetenteke kuye.

5. Abrahama kungenteka wafundza njani ngaJehova, futsi loko kwamenta wativa njani?

 ⁵ Lwati. Abrahama wakhulela edolobheni lelibitwa ngekutsi yi-Uri. Bantfu balapho, kuhlanganise neyise bebakhonta bonkulunkulu bemanga. (Joshuwa 24:2) Pho Abrahama wafundza njani ngaJehova? LiBhayibheli litsi indvodzana yaNowa lenguShemi, beyisihlobo sa-Abrahama. Waphila kwaze kwaba ngulapho Abrahama sekaneminyaka lecishe ibe ngu-150 budzala. Shemi abenekukholwa lokucinile, futsi kungenteka abeticocela tihlobo takhe ngaJehova. Nanobe singaciniseki ngaloko, kodvwa kungenteka nguleyo indlela Abrahama lafundza ngayo ngaJehova. Loko Abrahama lakufundza, kwamenta wamtsandza Jehova futsi kwamsita waba nekukholwa lokucinile.

6, 7. Tintfo letenteka ku-Abrahama takucinisa njani kukholwa kwakhe?

⁶ Tintfo letenteka kuye. Ngutiphi tintfo letenteka ku-Abrahama letenta kutsi kukholwa kwakhe kuJehova kucine? Labanye batsi loko lokucabangako kuholela endleleni lotiva ngayo futsi indlela lotiva ngayo iholela etentweni. Abrahama watsintseka ngaloko lakufundza ngaNkulunkulu, futsi loko kwamenta waba nenhlonipho lejulile ngaJehova “Nkulunkulu Losetikwako Konkhe, uMdali welizulu nemhlaba.” (Genesisi 14:22) LiBhayibheli litsi kuhlonipha lokunjalo ‘kwesaba Nkulunkulu.’ (Hebheru 5:7) Kuze sibe bangani labakhulu baNkulunkulu, kufanele simesabe. (Tihlabelelo 25:14) Nguloko lokwenta Abrahama walalela Jehova.

⁷ Nkulunkulu watjela Abrahama naSara kutsi bashiye likhaya labo lelise-Uri baye eveni labangalati. Besebakhulile futsi bekutawudzingeka bahlale emathendeni kuphila kwabo konkhe. Nanobe Abrahama bekati kutsi loko bekutawuba netingoti letinyenti, abetimisele kulalela Jehova. Ngenca yekulalela kwakhe, Nkulunkulu wambusisa futsi wamvikela. Sibonelo saloko kutsi Jehova wamvikela ngalokusimangaliso Abrahama naSara tikhatsi letinyenti, ngisho nangesikhatsi umfati wa-Abrahama lomuhle Sara atsatfwa kuye, futsi na-Abrahama waba sengotini yekubulawa. (Genesisi 12:10-20; 20:2-7, 10-12, 17, 18) Loko kwakucinisa kukholwa kwa-Abrahama.

8. Singaba njani nelwati lolutawucinisa bungani betfu naJehova?

⁸ Singaba yini bangani labakhulu naJehova? Yebo singaba ngibo! Njenga-Abrahama, kufanele sifundze ngaJehova. Natsi singalutfola lwati lesiludzingako.  Lamuhla sinalokunyenti kunaloko Abrahama bekanako. (Danyela 12:4; Roma 11:33) LiBhayibheli linelwati lolunyenti lolumayelana ‘Nementi welizulu nemhlaba.’ Loko lesikufundzako kusenta simtsandze Jehova futsi simhloniphe kakhulu. Lolutsandvo nenhlonipho kusikhutsata kutsi simlalele. Nasenta loko, siyayibona indlela lasivikela ngayo kanye netibusiso takhe, futsi loko kusenta simati kancono kuphindze kucinise kukholwa kwetfu. Nasimkhonta ngenhlitiyo yetfu yonkhe Jehova, sitawenetiseka, sibe nekuthula futsi sijabule. (Tihlabelelo 34:8; Taga 10:22) Nasichubeka sitfola lwati lolunyenti, bungani betfu naye butawucina.

9, 10. (a) Yini ledzingekako kute bungani bucine? (b) Yini leyenta kutsi Abrahama abutsatse njengalobubalulekile bungani bakhe naJehova futsi abucinise?

⁹ Bungani lobusedvute bungafananiswa nentfo leligugu. (Fundza Taga 17:17.) Abufanani nelivasi lelidulako lekuhlobisa kuphela. Bufanana nembali lenhle ledzinga kuniselwa futsi inakekelwe kute ivete timbali. Abrahama abebutsatsa njengalobubalulekile bungani bakhe naJehova futsi wabulondvolota. Wabulondvolota njani?

¹⁰ Abrahama wachubeka esaba Nkulunkulu futsi amlalela. Nasi sibonelo: Ngesikhatsi aya eKhenani akanye nemndeni wakhe netisebenti takhe, wachubeka avumela Jehova kutsi amcondzise nakatsatsa tincumo letincane naletinkhulu. Kusasele umnyaka ngaphambi kwekutsi Isaka atalwe, ngesikhatsi Abrahama aneminyaka lengu-99 budzala, Jehova wamtjela kutsi asoke bonkhe labadvuna emndenini wakhe. Abrahama wamngabata yini Jehova nobe wetama kutfola sizatfu sekungakwenti loko labemtjele kona? Cha, abemetsemba Jehova futsi wamlalela “ngalo lelo langa.”​—Genesisi 17:10-14, 23.

11. Kungani Abrahama abekhatsatekile ngeSodoma neGomora, futsi Jehova wamsita njani?

¹¹ Ngesizatfu sekutsi Abrahama bekahlale amlalela Jehova ngisho nasetintfweni letincane, bungani babo bacina. Bekativa akhululekile kukhuluma naJehova nganome yini ngisho nekucela lusito nangabe ahlushwa yimibuto lematima. Nasi sibonelo: Ngesikhatsi Jehova atsi utawubhubhisa lidolobha laseSodoma nelaseGomora, Abrahama bekakhatsatekile. Kungani? Bekesaba kutsi bantfu labalungile batawufa nalababi. Kungenteka abekhatsateke ngaLoti umshana wakhe kanye nemndeni wakhe lebebahlala eSodoma. Abrahama beketsembele kuJehova “umehluleli wemhlaba wonkhe,” ngako wakhuluma naye ngekutfobeka ngaloko bekumkhatsata. Jehova wambeketelela lomngani wakhe futsi wambonisa kutsi unemusa. Wamchazela kutsi ngisho nobe atawukhipha sehlulelo, kodvwa uyabafuna bantfu  labalungile futsi abavikele.​—Genesisi 18:22-33.

12, 13. (a) Lwati lwa-Abrahama netintfo letenteka kuye kwamsita njani ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi? (b) Yini lekhombisa kutsi Abrahama abemetsemba Jehova?

¹² Kuyacaca kutsi lwati netintfo letenteka ku-Abrahama kwamsita wagcina bungani bakhe naJehova bucinile. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Jehova nakamcela kutsi anikele ngendvodzana yakhe, bekati kutsi Jehova uhlala abeketela, anemusa, etsembekile futsi avikelana. Abrahama bekaciniseka ngalokuphelele kutsi Jehova abengakhombisi kubabete luvelo! Kungani sisho njalo?

¹³ Ngaphambi kwekutsi ashiye tisebenti takhe, Abrahama watsi: “Hlalani la nalembongolo, mine nalomfana sisaya lapha kuyawukhonta, sitawubuya sibuye la kini.” (Genesisi 22:5) Bekasho kutsini ngaloko? Abenemanga yini nakatsi utawuphindze abuye na-Isaka, abe ati kutsi uyonikela ngaye? Cha. LiBhayibheli litsi Abrahama bekati kutsi Jehova abenemandla ekuphindze avuse Isaka ekufeni. (Fundza Hebheru 11:19.) Bekati nekutsi Jehova wamniketa emandla ekuba nendvodzana ngisho nobe yena naSara besebabadzala kakhulu. (Hebheru 11:11, 12, 18) Ngako wabona kutsi akukho lobekungeke kwenteke kuJehova. Abrahama bekangati kutsi yini lebeyitawenteka ngalelo langa. Kodvwa bekanekukholwa kutsi nangabe kunesidzingo, Jehova bekatayivusa indvodzana yakhe kuze kutewugcwaliseka tonkhe tetsembiso taNkulunkulu. Kungako Abrahama abitwa ngekutsi “nguyise wabo bonkhe lababa nekukholwa.”

14. Ngubuphi bumatima lobhekana nabo ekukhonteni Jehova, futsi sibonelo sa-Abrahama singakusita njani?

¹⁴ Lamuhla, Jehova akasiceli kutsi sinikele ngebantfwana betfu, kodvwa usicela kutsi silalele imiyalo yakhe. Ngalesinye sikhatsi kungenteka singasicondzi sizatfu sekuniketwa lemiyalo nobe sikutfole kumatima kuyilalela. Kuyenteka yini nawe utive ngaleyo ndlela? Kulabanye, umsebenti wekushumayela awusimelula. Kungenteka banemahloni futsi bakutfola kumatima kukhuluma nebantfu labangabati. Labanye bayesaba kwehluka esikolweni nobe emsebentini. (Eksodusi 23:2; 1 Thesalonika 2:2) Nangabe ucelwa kutsi wente intfo lematima, cabanga ngesibonelo sa-Abrahama lesihamba embili sekuba nekukholwa nesibindzi. Nasizindla ngetibonelo temadvodza nebafati labetsembekile, loko kungasikhutsata kutsi sibalingise futsi sisondzelane neMngani wetfu Jehova.​—Hebheru 12:1, 2.

15. Kungani singaciniseka kutsi Abrahama akatisolanga ngekulalela Jehova ngebucotfo?

¹⁵ Abrahama watisola yini ngekulalela imiyalo yaJehova? LiBhayibheli litsi Abrahama “wafa asamdzala kakhulu  asenelisekile emphilweni.” (Genesisi 25:8) Ngesikhatsi sekaneminyaka lengu-175 budzala, abengakhona kucabanga ngesikhatsi lesidze labekasiphilile futsi ative enetisekile. Kungani? Kungobe bungani bakhe naJehova bebubalulekile kuye. Nobe kunjalo, nasifundza ngekutsi Abrahama ‘bekamdzala futsi enetisekile,’ loko akusho kutsi besekete sifiso sekuphila esikhatsini lesitako.

16. Ngutiphi tintfo letitawujabulisa Abrahama ePharadisi?

¹⁶ LiBhayibheli litsi Abrahama “abelindzele lidolobha lelinetisekelo leticinile, lelisungulwe laphindze lakhiwa nguNkulunkulu.” (Hebheru 11:10) Abekholelwa kutsi ngalelinye lilanga utalibona lelodolobha lelinguMbuso waNkulunkulu ubusa emhlabeni. Nakanjani utalibona! Ase ucabange ngendlela Abrahama latawujabula ngayo ngekuhlala epharadisi emhlabeni futsi achubeke acinisa bungani bakhe naNkulunkulu. Utawujabulela kwati kutsi sekuphele tinkhulungwane teminyaka sibonelo sakhe sekukholwa sisita tinceku taNkulunkulu. EPharadisi, utawati kutsi lomnikelo waseNtsabeni yaseMoriya wawufanekisela lokutsite lokuncono kakhulu. (Hebheru 11:19) Utawuphindze afundze ngekutsi buhlungu labuva ngesikhatsi alungiselela kunikela ngendvodzana yakhe Isaka, kusite tigidzi tebantfu labetsembekile kutsi bacondze buhlungu lobeviwa nguJehova ngesikhatsi anikela ngeNdvodzana yakhe Jesu Khristu kutsi ibe yinhlawulo yebantfu. (Johane 3:16) Sibonelo sa-Abrahama sisisite sonkhe kutsi siyijabulele kakhulu inhlawulo, lokusento lesikhulu selutsandvo lesake sentiwa.

17. Yini lotimisele kuyenta, futsi sitawufundza ngani esihlokweni lesilandzelako?

¹⁷ Shengatsi sonkhe singatimisela kulingisa kukholwa kwa-Abrahama. Njengaye, sidzinga lwati. Njengobe sichubeka sifundza ngaJehova futsi simlalela, sitayibona indlela lasibusisa ngayo nalasivikela ngayo. (Fundza Hebheru 6:10-12.) Shengatsi Jehova angaba nguMngani wetfu kuze kube phakadze! Esihlokweni lesilandzelako, sitawufundza ngaletinye tibonelo letintsatfu tebantfu lebebatsembekile lababa bangani labakhulu baNkulunkulu.