1, 2. (a) Ngutiphi tipho Nkulunkulu latinika Adamu? (b) Kungani Nkulunkulu anika Adamu umfati? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

JEHOVA bekanenjongo ngesikhatsi adala umhlaba. “Wawubumbela kutsi uhlale bantfu.” (Isa. 45:18) Adamu longumuntfu wekucala lamdala, abete sono futsi Nkulunkulu wamnika likhaya lelihle, insimu yase-Edeni. Adamu abekujabulela kubona tihlahla letinkhulu, imifudlana legeleta emanti netilwane lebetitidlalela kulensimu. Kodvwa kukhona lokubaluleke kakhulu labeshoda ngako. Jehova wakuchaza nakatsi: “Akukuhle kutsi umuntfu ahlale yedvwana. Ngitamentela umsiti lolungele yena.” Ngemuva kwaloko, Nkulunkulu wehlisela Adamu butfongo lobukhulu, wakhipha lolunye lwetimbambo takhe futsi “wambumba lomsikati ngelubhambo.” Ngesikhatsi Adamu aphaphama, wajabula kakhulu! Watsi: “Lona-ke sewulitsambo lematsambo ami, nenyama yenyama yami. Uyawubitwa ngekutsi: ‘yindvodzakati,’ ngobe utsetfwe endvodzeni.”​—Gen. 2:18-23.

² Umfati abesipho lesikhetsekile lesivela kuNkulunkulu ngobe abetawuba ngumsiti lote sono wendvodza yakhe. Abetawuphindze abe nelilungelo lelikhetsekile lekutala bantfwana. Ecinisweni, “Adamu wametsa umkakhe watsi ngu-Eva, ngobe waba ngunina wabo bonkhe labaphilako.” (Gen. 3:20) Lesi sipho lesihle kakhulu Nkulunkulu lasinika bo-Adamu na-Eva! Bebatawutala bantfwana labete sono. Ngaleyo ndlela, umhlaba bewutawugcina  ulipharadisi leligcwele bantfu labete sono, futsi lababusa etukwaletinye tintfo letiphilako.​—Gen. 1:27, 28.

3. (a) Kute babusiswe nguNkulunkulu, yini bo-Adamu na-Eva lobekufanele bayente, kodvwa kwentekani? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo?

³ Kuze batfole tibusiso, bo-Adamu na-Eva bekufanele bahloniphe Jehova futsi bemukele kubusa kwakhe. (Gen. 2:15-17) Nguloko kuphela lobekungabenta bakwati kufeza injongo Nkulunkulu labenayo ngabo. Nobe kunjalo, kuyadzabukisa kutsi bayengwa ‘yinyoka yekucala,’ Sathane, futsi bamona Nkulunkulu. (Semb. 12:9; Gen. 3:1-6) Lokuvukela kubatsintse njani bafati? Yini leyafezwa bafati labahlonipha Nkulunkulu bangesikhatsi lesendlulile? Kungashiwo ngani kutsi bafati labangemaKhristu balamuhla ‘balibutfo lelikhulu’?​—Hla. 68:11.

4. Ngubani lowabekwa licala lekona kwabo-Adamu na-Eva?

⁴ Ngesikhatsi Nkulunkulu atsi Adamu akachaze kutsi kungani angakalaleli, watitsetselela watsi: “Ngulomfati lowanginika yena kutsi ahlale nami, nguye lona longinike lesitselo, ngase ngiyasidla.” (Gen. 3:12) Adamu akazange agcine nje ngekungasivumi sono sakhe, kodvwa wetama nekusola umfati labemnikwe nguNkulunkulu kanye neMuphi wakhe lonelutsandvo. Bo-Adamu na-Eva bona bobabili, kodvwa Adamu nguye lowabekwa licala lekona kwabo. Kungako umphostoli Pawula abhala kutsi “ngemuntfu munye [Adamu] sono sangena eveni, nekufa kwangena ngesono.”​—Rom. 5:12.

5. Kufakazela ini kuvumela kwaNkulunkulu kutsi bantfu batibuse bona kwesikhashana?

⁵ Sathane wenta bo-Adamu na-Eva bacabanga kutsi abamdzingi Jehova njengeMbusi wabo. Loko kwaphakamisa umbuto lobalulekile lomayelana nebukhosi, lotsi: Ngubani lonelilungelo lekubusa? Kuze Nkulunkulu aphendvule lombuto, wavumela bantfu kutsi batibuse kwesikhashana. Bekati kutsi tintfo lebetitawenteka betitawufakazela kutsi bantfu ngeke baphumelele nabatibusa bona. Kulamakhulu eminyaka, kubusa kwebantfu kubafake etinkingeni letinyenti. Kuleminyaka lelikhulu leyengcile, kufe bantfu labangaba ngu-100 000 000 etimphini, futsi loku kufaka ekhatsi tigidzi temadvodza, bafati, nebantfwana labete licala. Sekuvele kunebufakazi lobunyenti bekutsi “akusiko kwemuntfu kutsi aticondzisele yena tinyatselo takhe.” (Jer. 10:23) Nangabe silivuma leliciniso, sitawemukela Jehova njengeMbusi wetfu.​—Fundza Taga 3:5, 6.

6. Emaveni lamanyenti, baphatfwa njani bantfu labasikati?

⁶ Kulelive lelibuswa nguSathane, emadvodza nebafati baphatfwa kabi. (Shu. 8:9; 1 Joh. 5:19) Kuhlukunyetwa kwebantfu labasikati, kungulobunye bebudlova lobubuhlungu kakhulu. Emhlabeni wonkhe, emaphesenti langaba ngu-30 ebafati abika kutsi ashaywa bantfu latsandzana nabo. Kuletinye tindzawo, bantfwana labadvuna batsatfwa njengalababalulekile ngobe kucatjangwa kutsi batawuvusa umuti futsi banakekele batali babo labakhulile nabogogo nabomkhulu babo. Kulamanye emave, bantfwana labangemantfombatana abatsandvwa, futsi minyenti imibungu lengemantfombatana lebulawako kunaleyo lebafana.

7. Nkulunkulu walungisela emadvodza nebafati sicalo lesinjani?

⁷ Nkulunkulu akajabuli ngekuphatfwa kabi kwebantfu labasikati. Yena ubaphatsa kahle futsi uyabahlonipha. Bufakazi baloko bubonakala ekutseni Eva wadalwa ete sono futsi anelikhono lekuba ngumsiti lomuhle wa-Adamu, hhayi sigcili sakhe. Kungako ekupheleni kwelilanga lesitfupha lekudalwa kwetintfo, Nkulunkulu “wakubona konkhe labesakwentile, kutsi kuhle kakhulu.” (Gen. 1:31) “Konkhe” Jehova labekwentile ‘bekukuhle kakhulu.’ Waciniseka  kutsi emadvodza nebafati baba nesicalo lesihle!

8. (a) Chaza indlela bantfu labatiphatsa ngayo lamuhla. (b) Kuwo wonkhe umlandvo webantfu, bobani Nkulunkulu lababonise umusa?

⁸ Kutiphatsa kwemadvodza nebafati kwahhohloka ngemuva kwekungalaleli kwebantfu bekucala e-Edeni, futsi kuleminyaka lelikhulu leyengcile sekuhhohloke kakhulu kunakucala. LiBhayibheli labiketela kutsi kutiphatsa lokubi bekutawandza “emalangeni ekugcina.” Kutiphatsa lokubi sekwandze kakhulu kangangekutsi sekusebaleni kutsi leti ‘tikhatsi letibucayi.’ (2 Thim. 3:1-5) Kodvwa kuwo wonkhe umlandvo webantfu, ‘iNkhosi LenguMbusi Jehova’ iwabonise umusa emadvodza nebafati labetsembele kuye, labalalela imiyalo yakhe nalabatitfobako kuye njengobe anguMbusi wabo.​—Fundza Tihlabelelo 71:5, NW.

9. Bangakhi bantfu labasindza kuZamcolo futsi kungani basindza?

⁹ Ngesikhatsi Nkulunkulu asebentisa Zamcolo kute abhubhise live lasendvulo lebelinebudlova ngesikhatsi saNowa, bambalwa bantfu labasindza. Nangabe bomnakabo Nowa nabodzadzewakhe bebasaphila ngaleso sikhatsi, bafa babulawa nguzamcolo. (Gen. 5:30) Kodvwa linani lebafati labasindza kuZamcolo belilingana nelemadvodza. Kwasindza Nowa, umfati wakhe, emadvodzana akhe lamatsatfu nebafati bawo. Basindza ngobe bebesaba Nkulunkulu futsi benta intsandvo yakhe. Tigidzi tebantfu letiphila lamuhla tiyintalelwane yalabantfu labasiphohlongo lebebasekelwa nguJehova.​—Gen. 7:7; 1 Phet. 3:20.

10. Kungani Jehova abasekela bafati bemadvodza letsembekile asendvulo lebebamesaba?

¹⁰ Ngemuva kweminyaka lembalwa, Nkulunkulu wabasekela bafati bemadvodza letsembekile asendvulo lebebamesaba. Abengeke abasekele kube bebahlale babubula ngekuphila kwabo. (Juda 16) Ngeke size simcabange Sara, umfati lohloniphako wa-Abrahama, akhonona ngesikhatsi bashiya imphilo lentofontofo yase-Uri futsi babatakhamuti tesikhashana letihlala emathendeni kulelinye live. Esikhundleni saloko, ‘Sara abemlalela Abrahama, ambita atsi “nkhosi.”’ (1 Phet. 3:6) Cabanga nangaRebheka, lobekasipho lesiligugu lesivela kuJehova futsi lowaba ngumfati lokahle. Akumangalisi kutsi Isaka indvodza yakhe “wamtsandza umkakhe, . . . wadvudvuteka emuva kwebuhlungu bekufelwa ngunina.” (Gen. 24:67) Lamuhla, sijabula kakhulu ngekutsi emkhatsini wetfu kunebafati labesaba Nkulunkulu njengaSara naRebheka!

11. Babelekisi lababili labangemaHebheru basikhombisa njani sibindzi?

¹¹ Ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli atigcili eGibhithe, acala kwandza ngelinani futsi Faro wakhipha umyalo wekutsi tonkhe tinswane temaHebheru letibafana tibulawe natisatalwa. Nobe kunjalo, cabanga ngebabelekisi labangemaHebheru boShifira naPhuwa, lokungenteka kutsi bebengamele umsebenti wekubelekisa. Ngesibindzi abazange bavume kubulala letinswane ngobe bebamesaba Jehova. Ngako wababusisa, wabapha imindeni.​—Eks. 1:15-21.

12. Yini lebeyikhetsekile ngaDebhora naJayeli?

¹² Ngesikhatsi kunetikhulu ka-Israyeli, lomunye umfati lowasekelwa nguNkulunkulu nguDebhora lobekangumphrofethikati. Wakhutsata Sikhulu lesinguBharaki futsi waba nencenye ekusiteni ema-Israyeli kutsi akhululwe ekucindzetelweni, kodvwa wabiketela kutsi ludvumo lwekuncoba bantfu baseKhenani belungeke luye kuBharaki. Esikhundleni saloko, belutawuya “esandleni semfati” Nkulunkulu labetamsebentisa kute ancobe Sisera lobekayindvuna yelibutfo lemphi laseKhenani. Nguloko lokwenteka ngesikhatsi Jayeli umfati longasiye umIsrayeli abulala Sisera.​—Khu. 4:4-9, 17-22.

13. LiBhayibheli lisitjelani nga-Abigayili?

¹³ Abigayili abengumfati lobalulekile lowaphila ngelikhulu lesi-11 B.C.E. Abehlakaniphile  kantsi indvodza yakhe Nabali beyinelunya, ingasilo lusito futsi ingenangcondvo. (1 Sam. 25:2, 3, 25) Davide netinceku takhe bavikela tintfo taNabali kwesikhashana, kodvwa ngesikhatsi bacela kudla naletinye tintfo ‘wabatsela ngenhlamba’ futsi wangabaniki lutfo. Loku kwamtfukutselisa kakhulu Davide kangangekutsi wahlela kubulala Nabali netinceku takhe. Nakeva ngaloku, Abigayili watsatsa kudla nekwekunatsa wakumikisa kuDavide netinceku takhe, ngaleyo ndlela wenta kutsi kungacitseki ingati. (1 Sam. 25:8-18) Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi Davide watsi kuye: “Akadvunyiswe Simakadze Nkulunkulu wema-Israyeli lokutfume lamuhla kutsi utengihlangabeta.” (1 Sam. 25:32) Ngemuva kwekufa kwaNabali, Davide washada na-Abigayili.​—1 Sam. 25:37-42.

14. Emadvodzakati aShalumi ahlanganyela kumuphi umsebenti, futsi lamuhla bodzadze labangemaKhristu benta intfo lefanako ngayiphi indlela?

¹⁴ Emadvodza lamanyenti, bafati kanye nebantfwana bafa ngesikhatsi emabutfo aseBhabhulona abhubhisa iJerusalema nelithempeli nga-607 B.C.E. Lubondza lwalelidolobha lwaphindze lwakhiwa nga-455 B.C.E. ngaphansi kwesicondziso saNehemiya. Emadvodzakati aShalumi lobekangumbusi wencenye yesifundza saseJerusalema, aba semkhatsini webantfu labasita nakuvuselelwa lolubondza. (Neh. 3:12) Abekulungele kwenta umsebenti lophansi. Sijabula kakhulu ngabodzadze labanyenti labangemaKhristu labakusekela ngenjabulo kwakhiwa kwetakhiwo tebuKhristu ngetindlela letehlukahlukene lamuhla.

15. Nguliphi lilungelo Nkulunkulu lalinika Mariya?

¹⁵ Esikhatsini lesitsite ngaphambi kwelikhulu lekucala C.E. nasekhatsi nalo, Jehova wabusisa bafati labanyenti wabanika emalungelo lamahle. Lomunye wabo bekunguMariya lobekayintfombi ntfo. Ngesikhatsi atsembisene umshado naJosefa, umoya longcwele wabangela kutsi Mariya akhulelwe ngalokusimangaliso. Yini leyenta Nkulunkulu wakhetsa yena kutsi abe ngumake waJesu? Asingabati kutsi abenebuntfu lobuhle bebuKhristu lobebudzingeka kute akhulise indvodzana yakhe lete sono kusukela iseyincane idzimate ibe yindzala. Kwakulilungelo lelikhulu ngaMariya kuba ngumake wemuntfu lomkhulu kunabo bonkhe labake baphila emhlabeni!​—Mat. 1:18-25.

16. Niketa sibonelo lesikhombisa indlela Jesu labebaphatsa ngayo bafati.

¹⁶ Jesu abebakhombisa umusa lomkhulu bafati. Nasi sibonelo: Cabanga ngemfati lobekanesifo sekopha iminyaka lengu-12. Wachamuka ngemuva kwaJesu njengobe bekasesicumbini futsi watsintsa ingubo yakhe. Esikhundleni sekutsi Jesu amtsetsise, ngemusa watsi: “Ndvodzakati, kukholwa kwakho kukuphilisile. Hamba kahle, ngobe sewuphilile ekuguleni kwakho.”​—Mak. 5:25-34.

17. Nguyiphi intfo lesimangaliso leyenteka ngeliPhentekhoste la-33 C.E.?

¹⁷ Labanye bafati lebebabafundzi baJesu bamsita yena nebaphostoli bakhe. (Luk. 8:1-3) NgeliPhentekhoste la-33 C.E., emadvodza langaba ngu-120 lobekufaka ekhatsi nebafati batfola umoya longcwele waNkulunkulu ngendlela lekhetsekile. (Fundza Imisebenti 2:1-4.) Lokutfululwa kwemoya longcwele kwabiketelwa ngalamavi latsi: ‘Mine [Jehova] ngiyawutfululela umoya wami etikwabo bonkhe bantfu. Emadvodzana nemadvodzakati enu ayawuphrofetha, . . . ngiyawutfululela umoya wami etincekwini nasetincekukatini tami.’ (Jow. 2:28, 29) Ngalesimangaliso lesenteka ngeliPhentekhoste, Nkulunkulu abekhombisa kutsi sewuwalahlile ema-Israyeli lahlubukile wabese usekela ‘Israyeli waNkulunkulu,’ lowakhiwa bafati nemadvodza. (Gal. 3:28; 6:15, 16) Emkhatsini wabodzadze labangemaKhristu bangelikhulu lekucala lebebafakaza, bekunemadvodzakati lamane aFiliphu umvangeli.​—Imis. 21:8, 9.

18, 19. (a) Mayelana nekukhonta kweliciniso, nguliphi lilungelo Nkulunkulu lalinikete emadvodza nebafati? (b) Umhlabeli ubabita ngekutsini bafati labamemetela tindzaba letimnandzi?

¹⁸ Ngasekupheleni kwabo-1800, lidlanzana lebafati nemadvodza lakhombisa kutsi liyakutsandza kukhonta kweliciniso. Lavula indlela kulabo manje labanencenye ekugcwalisekeni kwemavi aJesu lasiphrofetho latsi: “Letindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso tiyawushunyayelwa emhlabeni wonkhe, kuze kube bufakazi etiveni tonkhe, bese-ke kuphela kuyefika.”​—Mat. 24:14.

¹⁹ Lelicembu lelincane leBafundzi BeliBhayibheli selikhule laba BoFakazi BaJehova labangaba ngu-8 000 000 lamuhla. Bantfu labangetulu kwa-11 000 000 banesifiso sekufundza liBhayibheli futsi bakhombisa kutsi bayawutsandza umsebenti wetfu ngekuba khona eSikhumbutweni sekufa kwaJesu saminyaka yonkhe. Emaveni lamanyenti, linyenti lalabantfu lababakhona eSikhumbutweni bafati. Ngetulu kwaloko, bafati ngibo labakha incenye lenkhulu yebamemeteli beMbuso basikhatsi sonkhe labangetulu kwa-1 000 000 emhlabeni wonkhe. Kuyacaca kutsi Nkulunkulu unikete bafati labetsembekile lilungelo lekuba nencenye ekufezeni emavi emhlabeli lowatsi: ‘Jehova ukhipha umyalo; bafati labamemetela tindzaba letimnandzi balibutfo lelikhulu.’​—Hla. 68:11, NW.

20. Yini lokufanele sicabangele kuyifundza?

²⁰ Sikhatsi asisivumeli kutsi sikhulume ngabo bonkhe bafati labetsembekile lokukhulunywa ngabo eBhayibhelini. Kodvwa sonkhe singafundza ngabo eVini laNkulunkulu nasetihlokweni letishicilelwa etincwadzini tetfu. Sibonelo saloku kutsi singazindla ngekwetsembeka kwaRuthe. (Rut. 1:16, 17) Kufundza incwadzi yeliBhayibheli leyetsiwe ngelibito leNdlovukazi Esta kanye netihloko letikhuluma ngaye kungakucinisa kukholwa kwetfu. Singafundza ngalabafati kanye nalabanye ekuKhonteni kwetfu Kwemndeni. Nangabe sihlala sodvwa, singafundza tihloko letinjena esifundvweni lesitichubela sona.

21. Bafati labesaba Nkulunkulu bakukhombise njani kutinikela kwabo kuJehova ngetikhatsi letimatima?

²¹ Kuyacaca kutsi Jehova uyawubusisa umsebenti wekushumayela lowentiwa bafati labangemaKhristu futsi uyabasekela nabavivinywa. Nasi sibonelo: Ngekusitwa nguNkulunkulu, bafati labamesabako babugcina bucotfo babo nakubusa emaNazi nemaKhomanisi ngesikhatsi linyenti labo lihlushwa futsi labanye baze bafa ngenca yekulalela Nkulunkulu. (Imis. 5:29) Njengasesikhatsini lesendlulile, bodzadze betfu nebazalwane basekela bukhosi baNkulunkulu lamuhla. Ecinisweni, njengasesikhatsini sema-Israyeli asendvulo, Jehova ubamba sandla sabo sangesekudla futsi atsi: ‘Ningesabi, ngitanisita.’​—Isa. 41:10-13.

22. Ngumaphi emalungelo esikhatsi lesitako lesibuke embili kuwo?

²² Esikhatsini lesitako emadvodza nebafati labesaba Nkulunkulu batawenta lomhlaba ube lipharadisi futsi basite tigidzi tebantfu labavusiwe kutsi tifundze ngetinjongo taJehova. Kuze kube nguleso sikhatsi, ngisho nobe singemadvodza nobe bafati, kufanele silijabulele lilungelo letfu lekukhonta Jehova “lihlombe ngelihlombe.”​—Zef. 3:9.