1, 2. Yini labanye bantfu labayicabangako ngaNkulunkulu?

BANTFU labanyenti bakholelwa kutsi Nkulunkulu akanendzaba naloko labakwentako. Bacabanga nekutsi akanendzaba netintfo letenteka kubo. Sibonelo saloko kutsi ngesikhatsi siphepho lesinemandla sihlasela incenye lenkhulu yePhilippines ngaNovember 2013, umphatsi walelinye lidolobha lelikhulu watsi: “Kungenteka Nkulunkulu ukulenye indzawo.”

² Labanye bantfu bacabanga kutsi Nkulunkulu ngeke akubone labakwentako. (Isaya 26:10, 11; 3 Johane 11) Nangesikhatsi semphostoli Pawula, labanye bebacabanga ngaleyo ndlela. Naku lakusho ngabo: “Bebangafuni kumati kahle Nkulunkulu.” Bebangakalungi, bona, babukhali futsi bababi.—Roma 1:28, 29.

3. (a) Ngumiphi imibuto lesingatibuta yona? (b) EBhayibhelini, “sandla” saNkulunkulu sivame kumelela ini?

³ Kutsiwani ngatsi? Siyati kutsi Jehova ubona yonkhe intfo lesiyentako. Kodvwa siyakholelwa yini kutsi Jehova unendzaba natsi? Siyawabona yini emandla akhe ekuphileni kwetfu? Ngalokuvamile, eBhayibhelini “sandla” saNkulunkulu simelela emandla akhe lawasebentisako. Usebentisa lamandla kute asite tinceku takhe, futsi ancobe titsa takhe. (Fundza Dutheronomi  26:8.) Jesu watsi labanye bantfu “batawubona Nkulunkulu.” (Matewu 5:8) Singulabanye balabo bantfu yini? ‘Singambona njani Nkulunkulu’? Ase sifundze ngetibonelo letiseBhayibhelini tebantfu labawabona emandla aNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwabo, netalabo labangazange bawabone. Sitawuphindze sifundze ngekutsi kukholwa kusisita njani kute sibone emandla aNkulunkulu.

4. Kungani titsa tema-Israyeli tala kubona emandla aNkulunkulu?

⁴ Esikhatsini lesendlulile, bantfu labanyenti bebanelitfuba lekutibonela baphindze beve ngendlela Nkulunkulu lasita ngayo ema-Israyeli. Jehova wasebentisa timangaliso kute akhulule bantfu bakhe eGibhithe futsi ancobe emakhosi lamanyenti eVeni Lesetsembiso. (Joshuwa 9:3, 9, 10) Nanobe lamanye emakhosi bekevile aphindze ayibona indlela Jehova labesindzise ngayo bantfu bakhe, kodvwa “akha imphi yekuhlasela Joshuwa kanye nema-Israyeli.” (Joshuwa 9:1, 2) Lamakhosi awabona emandla aNkulunkulu ngesikhatsi alwa nema-Israyeli. Ngenca yemphumela wemandla aJehova, “lilanga lema langete lanyakata, nenyanga yema yangete yahamba, sive saze satiphindzisela etitseni taso.” (Joshuwa 10:13) Kodvwa Jehova wenta tinhlitiyo tetitsa tema-Israyeli “taba lukhuni” kute tilwe nawo. (Joshuwa 11:20) Titsa tema-Israyeli tancontjwa ngobe tala kuvuma kutsi Jehova abebalwela bantfu bakhe.

5. Yini iNkhosi lembi lengu-Ahabi leyala kuyikholelwa?

⁵ Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, iNkhosi Ahabi yabona emandla aNkulunkulu emahlandla lamanyenti. Elija wayitjela watsi: “Kungeke kube khona ematolo ngisho nemvula . . . , kuze kusho mine.” (1 Emakhosi 17:1) Loku bekutawenteka ngemandla aNkulunkulu kuphela, kodvwa Ahabi akazange akukholelwe loko. Ngemuva kwesikhatsi, Elija wathantaza kuJehova, futsi wamphendvula ngekutsi atfumele umlilo lovela ezulwini. Ahabi wawubona lomlilo. Ngemuva kwaloko Elija watjela Ahabi kutsi Jehova utawucedza somiso futsi atfumele imvula lenkhulu. (1 Emakhosi 18:22-45) Nanobe Ahabi atibona tonkhe letimangaliso, wachubeka angakholelwa kutsi uwabonile emandla aJehova. Yini lesiyifundza kuletibonelo? Sifundza kutsi kufanele siwabone emandla aNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwetfu.

6, 7. Yini bantfu baseGibeyoni naRahabi labayibona?

⁶ Bantfu baseGibeyoni bebehluke kakhulu kuletinye tive letibomakhelwane babo. Bawabona emandla aNkulunkulu. Esikhundleni sekutsi balwe nema-Israyeli, bantfu baseGibeyoni benta kuthula nawo. Kungani? Kungobe batsi bevile ngaJehova nako konkhe lakwentile. (Joshuwa 9:3, 9, 10) Bakhombisa kuhlakanipha ngobe babona kutsi Jehova abewalwela ema-Israyeli.

⁷ Rahabi naye wawabona emandla aJehova. Abengasiye umIsrayeli, kodvwa abevile ngendlela Jehova labekhulule ngayo  bantfu bakhe eGibhithe. Nakufika tinhloli letimbili taka-Israyeli, watsi: “Ngiyati kutsi Simakadze uniphe lelive.” Rahabi abekholelwa kutsi Jehova angamsindzisa yena nemndeni wakhe. Wakhombisa kukholwa kuJehova nanobe bekati kutsi kwenta njalo kuyingoti.—Joshuwa 2:9-13; 4:23, 24.

8. Lamanye ema-Israyeli awabona njani emandla aNkulunkulu?

⁸ Ngalokungafani neNkhosi Ahabi, lamanye ema-Israyeli labona umlilo usuka ezulwini ngemuva kwemthantazo wa-Elija, abona kutsi nguNkulunkulu lowente loko. Amemeta atsi: “Jehova unguNkulunkulu weliciniso!” (1 Emakhosi 18:39, NW.) Kuwo kwavele kwacaca kutsi lawo bekungemandla aNkulunkulu.

9. Nguyiphi indlela lesingambona ngayo Jehova lamuhla?

⁹ Sesifundze ngetibonelo letinhle naletimbi letisisita sicondze kutsi kusho kutsini ‘kubona Nkulunkulu’ nobe emandla akhe. Njengobe sicala kumati Jehova nebunguye bakhe, sibona emandla akhe ‘ngemehlo etinhlitiyo tetfu.’ (Efesu 1:18) Loku kusikhutsata kutsi sifune kulingisa bantfu labetsembekile bangesikhatsi lesendlulile nebalamuhla lababone indlela Jehova lasite ngayo bantfu bakhe. Kodvwa sinabo yini bufakazi bekutsi Nkulunkulu uyabasita bantfu lamuhla?

10. Ngubuphi bufakazi lesinabo lobukhombisa kutsi Jehova uyabasita bantfu lamuhla? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

¹⁰ Sinebufakazi lobunyenti bekutsi Jehova uyachubeka nekusita bantfu lamuhla. Sivamile kuva ngebantfu labathantaza  kuNkulunkulu bamcela kutsi abasite, futsi wayiphendvula imithantazo yabo. (Tihlabelelo 53:2) Nasi sibonelo: Ngesikhatsi Allan ashumayela esihlengeni lesincane lesisePhilippines, wahlangana nemfati lowavele wakhala nakambona. Allan utsi: “Ngalelo langa ekuseni lomfati wathantaza kuJehova wamcela kutsi abonane naBoFakazi.” Ngesikhatsi lomfati aseminyakeni yekutfomba, abefundzelwa BoFakazi, kodvwa nakashada futsi atfutsela kulesihlenge, akazange asachubeka nekufundza. Nkulunkulu washeshe wawuphendvula umthantazo wakhe kangangekutsi loko kwamtsintsa inhlitiyo. Kungakapheli nemnyaka, watiniketela kuJehova wase uyabhajatiswa.

11, 12. (a) Jehova utisita njani tinceku takhe? (b) Chaza indlela Jehova lasita ngayo lomunye dzadze.

¹¹ Tinceku taJehova letinyenti tiwabonile emandla akhe ngesikhatsi tiyekela imikhuba lemibi lefaka ekhatsi kubhema, kusebentisa kabi tindzakamiva nobe kubuka titfombe letikhombisa kungcola. Labanye batsi bake betama kutiyekelela lemikhuba kodvwa abakhonanga. Nobe kunjalo, ngesikhatsi bacela lusito kuJehova, wabanika “emandla lamakhulu kakhulu,” futsi bakhona kugcine bayiyekele lemikhuba.—2 Khorinte 4:7; Tihlabelelo 37:23, 24.

¹² Jehova uphindze asite tinceku takhe kutsi tibeketelele tinkinga letibhekana nato. Nguloko lokwenteka ku-Amy. Wabelwa kutsi ayewusita ekwakheni liHholwa leMbuso nelikhaya letitfunywa telivangeli esihlengeni lesincane lesiseLwandle iPacific. Lesihlenge besinemasiko lehlukile futsi bekuvama kuhamba gesi nobe kuphele emanti kantsi netitaladi betigcwala emanti. Amy bekahlala ekamelweni lelincane lasehhotela futsi abekhumbula umndeni wakhe. Ngalelinye lilanga watsetsisa lomunye dzadze labekasebenta naye. Weva buhlungu kakhulu ngaloko lebekakwentile. Nakabuyela ekamelweni lakhe lobekuhambe gesi kulo, wathantaza kuJehova wamcela kutsi amsite. Ngesikhatsi gesi sekabuyile, wafundza sihloko lesiku-Sicongosekulindza lesikhuluma ngeluhlelo lwalabo labaphotfule eGileyadi. Lesihloko besikhuluma ngebumatima lobufanako nalobo lebekabhekene nabo. Amy utsi: “Ngabona kutsi Jehova abekhuluma nami. Loko kwangikhutsata kutsi ngichubeke esabelweni sami.”—Tihlabelelo 44:25, 26; Isaya 41:10, 13.

13. Ngubuphi bufakazi lesinabo lobukhombisa kutsi Jehova usite bantfu bakhe kute bavikele lilungelo labo lekushumayela?

¹³ Jehova uphindze wasita bantfu bakhe kutsi bavikele futsi bacalise ngalokusemtsetfweni kushunyayelwa kwetindzaba letimnandzi. (Filiphi 1:7) Sibonelo saloko kutsi labanye bohulumende betame kumisa umsebenti wekushumayela, kodvwa sitivikele etinkantolo. Siphumelele emacaleni langaba ngu-268 etinkantolo letiphakeme emhlabeni wonkhe, futsi kusukela ngemnyaka wanga-2000, siphumelele emacaleni langu-24 eNkantolo Yemalungelo Ebantfu YaseYurophu. Kuyacaca-ke kutsi kute longamelana nemandla aNkulunkulu!—Isaya 54:17; fundza Isaya 59:1.

14. Ngubuphi lobunye bufakazi lesinabo lobukhombisa kutsi Nkulunkulu uyabasita bantfu bakhe?

 ¹⁴ Kushunyayelwa kwetindzaba letimnandzi emhlabeni wonkhe, kungulobunye bufakazi bekutsi Nkulunkulu uyabasita bantfu bakhe. (Matewu 24:14; Imisebenti 1:8) Bunye etincekwini taJehova letisemhlabeni wonkhe bukhombisa kutsi Jehova uyasisekela. Lobunye ngeke ubutfole nome ngukuphi! Ngisho nebantfu labangamkhonti Jehova bayavuma, batsi: “Nembala Nkulunkulu unani.” (1 Khorinte 14:25) Sinebufakazi lobunyenti bekutsi Nkulunkulu uyabasekela bantfu bakhe. (Fundza Isaya 66:14.) Kodvwa kutsiwani ngawe? Uyawabona yini emandla aJehova ekuphileni kwakho?

15. Ngaletinye tikhatsi, kungani singase singawaboni emandla aJehova ekuphileni kwetfu?

¹⁵ Ngaletinye tikhatsi singase singawaboni emandla aNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwetfu. Kungani? Kungobe nakwenteka siba netinkinga letinyenti, singahle sikhohlwe kutsi Jehova usisite emahlandla lamanyenti esikhatsini lesendlulile. Nguloko lokwenteka ku-Elija. Abenesibindzi, kodvwa ngesikhatsi iNdlovukazi Jezebeli ifuna kumbulala, wesaba kakhulu. Kwesikhashana, wakhohlwa ngendlela Jehova labemsite ngayo esikhatsini lesendlulile. LiBhayibheli litsi Elija abefuna kufa. (1 Emakhosi 19:1-4) Abengalutfola kuphi lusito kanye nesibindzi? Abengalutfola ngekwetsembela kuJehova!—1 Emakhosi 19:14-18.

16. Nangabe sinetinkinga, yini lesingayenta kute sibone Nkulunkulu?

¹⁶ Jobe abenake kakhulu tinkinga takhe kangangekutsi akazange asibone simo labekuso ngendlela Jehova labekasibona ngayo. (Jobe 42:3-6) Ngaletinye tikhatsi, nakitsi kungase kube matima kubona Nkulunkulu ngenca yetinkinga lesinato. Yini lengasisita kute sibone loko Nkulunkulu  lasentela kona? Kufanele sizindle ngaloko liBhayibheli lelikushoko mayelana netinkinga tetfu. Nasenta njalo Jehova utawuba ngumuntfu mbamba kitsi, futsi natsi singasho sitsi: “Tindlebe tami setike teva ngawe, kodvwa nyalo emehlo ami asakubonile.”

17, 18. (a) Ungawabona njani emandla aJehova ekuphileni kwakho? (b) Shano indzaba lekhombisa kutsi Nkulunkulu uyasisita lamuhla.

¹⁷ Ungawabona njani emandla aJehova ekuphileni kwakho? Ase sihlole tibonelo letisihlanu. Sekucala, ungabona kutsi Jehova wakusita ngekutsi utfole liciniso. Sesibili, ungakhumbula ngesikhatsi usemhlanganweni webuKhristu, ulalele inkhulumo, futsi utsi: “Lenkhulumo inguloko lebengikudzinga!” Sesitsatfu, mhlawumbe uke wayibona indlela Jehova laphendvule ngayo leminye yemithantazo yakho. Sesine, kungenteka bewufuna kwenta lokwengetiwe emsebentini waJehova futsi wayibona indlela lakusite ngayo kute ufinyelele lomgomo. Sesihlanu, kungenteka wayekela umsebenti wakho ngobe wawukudlela sikhatsi sekwenta umsebenti waJehova, ngako wambona Nkulunkulu asigcwalisa setsembiso sakhe lesitsi: “Ngeke ngize ngikulahle.” (Hebheru 13:5) Nangabe sinebudlelwane lobuhle naJehova, sitawusheshe siwabone emandla akhe ekuphileni kwetfu.

¹⁸ Sarah longudzadze waseKenya, utsi: “Ngathantaza ngemuntfu lebengimfundzela lebengicabanga kutsi akasanendzaba nalesifundvo. Ngabuta Jehova kutsi ngingasincamula yini lesifundvo. Ngekushesha nasengitsite ‘Amen,’ lucingo lwami lwakhala. Lomuntfu lebengimfundzela bekacela kutsi ngihambe naye esifundvweni. Ngamangala kakhulu!” Nangabe sibuka loko Nkulunkulu lasentela kona, sitawabona emandla akhe. Rhonna longudzadze lohlala e-Asia, utsi kutsatsa sikhatsi kubona indlela Jehova lasisita ngayo ekuphileni kwetfu. Uyengeta utsi: “Nase ukwentile loko, kuyamangalisa kubona kutsi unendzaba kangakanani natsi!”

19. Yini lenye lokufanele siyente kute sibone Nkulunkulu?

¹⁹ Jesu watsi labo ‘labatawubona Nkulunkulu’ kufanele ‘bahlanteke enhlitiyweni.’ (Matewu 5:8) Kusho kutsini loko? Kusho kutsi kufanele sigcine imicabango yetfu ihlantekile futsi siyekele kwenta nobe yini lengakalungi. (Fundza 2 Khorinte 4:2.) Kulesihloko, sifundze ngekutsi kuze sibone Nkulunkulu kufanele sichubeke sikhulisa budlelwane betfu naye. Esihlokweni lesilandzelako, sitawufundza ngekutsi kukholwa kungasisita njani kute sibone emandla aJehova ngalokucacile ekuphileni kwetfu.