“Ngako-ke kuphumula kweliSabatha kusabasalele bantfu baNkulunkulu.”​—HEB. 4:9.

1, 2. Yini lesiyifundzako kuGenesisi 2:3, futsi ngumiphi imibuto lesitawuyiphendvula?

 ESEHLUKWENI sekucala saGenesisi sifundza kutsi Nkulunkulu wadala umhlaba ngemalanga lasitfupha langekwemfanekiso. Kuphela kwelilanga ngalinye kubonakala nganankha emavi: “Kwahlwa, kwasa.” (Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31) Kodvwa-ke, mayelana nelilanga lesikhombisa, liBhayibheli litsi: “Nkulunkulu walibusisa lilanga lesikhombisa, walingcwelisa; ngobe ngalo abephumulile emsebentini wakhe wonkhe wekudala.”​—Gen. 2:3, NW.

² Naka sento lesitsi “abephumulile.” Lesento siveta kutsi lilanga lesikhombisa​—‘lokulilanga’ laNkulunkulu lekuphumula belisachubeka nga-1513 B.C.E., ngesikhatsi Mosi abhala incwadzi yaGenesisi. Nkulunkulu usaphumulile yini lamuhla? Nangabe solomane uphumulile, singangena njani ekuphumuleni kwakhe? Timphendvulo talemibuto tibaluleke kakhulu kitsi.

Solo ‘Uphumulile’ Yini Jehova?

3. Emavi aJesu lakuJohane 5:16, 17 aveta njani kutsi lilanga lesikhombisa belisachubeka nangesikhatsi saJesu?

³ Kunebufakazi lobubili lobusenta siphetse ngekutsi lilanga lesikhombisa belisachubeka ekhulwini lekucala C.E. Kwekucala, cabanga ngemavi aJesu lawasho kubaphikisi bakhe labebamgceka ngekutsi uphilisa ngeliSabatha, lebebacabanga kutsi kungumsebenti. Jesu watsi kubo: “Babe wami seloku usasebenta kuze kube manje; nami-ke ngenta njalo.” (Joh. 5:16, 17) Abechaza kutsini? Jesu bebamsola ngekutsi usebenta ngeliSabatha. Imphendvulo yakhe letsi “Babe seloku usasebenta” yayitiphendvula leto tinsolo. Empeleni Jesu bekatsi kulabantfu: ‘Mine naBabe senta umsebenti lofananako. Njengobe Babe abesolomane asebenta ngeliSabatha, futsi usasebenta nanyalo, nami-ke ngingasebenta ngeliSabatha.’ Lamavi aveta kutsi ngesikhatsi saJesu bekusolo kulilanga lesikhombisa, lilanga laNkulunkulu lekuphumula. a

4. Kuloko Pawula lakusho, yini leveta kutsi bekusolo kulilanga lesikhombisa ngesikhatsi sakhe?

⁴ Bufakazi besibili buvetwa ngumphostoli Pawula. Ngesikhatsi acaphuna Genesisi 2:2 lokhuluma ngekuphumula kwaNkulunkulu, Pawula waphefumulelwa kutsi abhale: “Tsine lesikholwako siyangena ekuphumuleni kwakhe.” (Heb. 4:3, 4, 6, 9) Loku kukhombisa kutsi ngesikhatsi saPawula, bekusolo kulilanga lesikhombisa. Belitawutsatsa sikhatsi lesingakanani lelilanga lekuphumula?

5. Yayiyini injongo yelilanga lesikhombisa, futsi leyo njongo itawugcwaliseka nini?

⁵ Kute siphendvule lowo mbuto, kufanele sikhumbule injongo yelilanga lesikhombisa. Genesisi 2:3 uyayichaza: “Nkulunkulu walibusisa lilanga lesikhombisa, walingcwelisa.” Jehova wangcwelisa lelo langa ngobe walikhetsa kutsi kube ngilo lafeza ngalo injongo yakhe. Injongo yakhe kutsi emhlabeni kugcwale bantfu labalalelako labatawunakekela, baphindze banakekele nako konkhe lokuphila kuwo. (Gen. 1:28) Ngako-ke, sizatfu lesenta Nkulunkulu Jehova kanye naJesu Khristu, ‘loyiNkhosi  yeliSabatha,’ kutsi ‘bachubeke basebenta kute kube manje’ kutsi bafuna leyo njongo igcwaliseke. (Mat. 12:8) Lilanga laNkulunkulu lekuphumula litawuchubeka kute kube ngulapho injongo yakhe seyigcwalisekile. Loku kutawukwenteka ekupheleni kweMinyaka Leyinkhulungwane.

Ungahluleki “Ngenca Yekungalaleli Njengabo”

6. Ngutiphi tibonelo letingaba secwayiso kitsi, futsi yini lesingayifundza kuto?

⁶ Nkulunkulu wacacisela bo-Adamu na-Eva injongo yakhe ngemhlaba, kodvwa bamelana nayo. Liciniso, bo-Adamu na-Eva baba bantfu bekucala kungalaleli Nkulunkulu, futsi balandzelwe tigidzigidzi tebantfu labangalaleli. Ngisho nebantfu baNkulunkulu, ema-Israyeli, bawela tikhatsi letinyenti kulolugibe lwekungalaleli. Pawula wecwayisa emaKhristu elikhulu lekucala kutsi nawo abengawela kulolugibe lwekungalaleli njengema-Israyeli. Wabhala: “Ngako-ke asikhutsalele kungena kuloko kuphumula, kubete lowehluleka ngenca yekungalaleli njengabo.” (Heb. 4:11) Loko Pawula lakushoko kuveta kutsi bantfu labangalaleli angeke bangene ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu. Kusho kutsini loko kitsi? Kusho kutsi nasimelana nenjongo yaNkulunkulu ngandlelatsite, angeke singene yini ekuphumuleni kwakhe? Kubalulekile kutsi siyati imphendvulo yalombuto, futsi sitawucoca ngayo kabanti kulesihloko. Kwekucala, sitawucoca ngesibonelo lesibi sema-Israyeli nekutsi kungani angangenanga ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu.

“Bangeke Basangena Ekuphumuleni Kwami”

7. Yayiyini injongo yaNkulunkulu ngesikhatsi akhulula ema-Israyeli eGibhithe, futsi yini leyayilindzelekile kuwo?

⁷ Nga-1513 B.C.E., Jehova wembula injongo yakhe mayelana nema-Israyeli encekwini yakhe Mosi. Watsi: “Sengehlile kutebakhulula esandleni semaGibhithe nekubakhipha eveni laseGibhithe, ngibayise eveni lelibanti nalelivundzile, lelinelubisi neluju lwetinyosi.” (Eks. 3:8) Jehova wawakhulula ema-Israyeli eGibhithe kute abe bantfu bakhe, njengobe abetsembise Abrahama. (Gen. 22:17) Nkulunkulu waniketa ema-Israyeli imitsetfo leyayitawuwenta abe nekuthula naye futsi abe bangani bakhe. (Isa. 48:17, 18) Watsi kuwo: “Naniyawulilalela livi lami nigcine nesivumelwane sami [njengobe sivetiwe eMtsetfweni], niyawuba ligugu lami emkhatsini wato tonkhe tive; ngobe wonkhe umhlaba wami.” (Eks. 19:5, 6) Ngako-ke, kute ema-Israyeli abe nebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu kwakufanele alalele livi lakhe.

8. Abetawuphila njani ema-Israyeli kube amlalela Nkulunkulu?

⁸ Asewucabange nje kutsi kuphila kwakutawuba njani kube ema-Israyeli amlalela Nkulunkulu! Jehova abetawubusisa emasimi awo, tivini kanye netilwane tawo. Abetawavikela nasetitseni tawo. (Fundza 1 Emakhosi 10:23-27.) Abenelitfuba lekukhululwa ekubusweni nguletinye tive, ngisho nangesikhatsi saJesu lapho emaRoma abebusa tive letinyenti. Jehova abefuna kutsi ema-Israyeli abe sibonelo etiveni letibomakhelwane bawo. Abefuna kutsi kucacele wonkhe umuntfu kutsi labo labamlalelako, Nkulunkulu weliciniso, utawubabusisa.

9, 10. (a) Kungani bekungakafaneli ngema-Israyeli kutsi afune kubuyela eGibhithe? (b) Kubuyela kwema-Israyeli eGibhithe bekutawukutsintsa njani kukhonta kwawo Jehova?

⁹ Ema-Israyeli abenelitfuba lelikhetsekile lekuvumela Jehova kutsi awasebentise ekugcwaliseni injongo yakhe. Ngekwenta kanjalo, abetawubusiswa nguYe, futsi abetawukwenta nekutsi yonkhe imindeni lesemhlabeni nayo ibusiswe. (Gen. 22:18) Nanobe kunjalo, linyenti lawo alizange libe nendzaba nalelitfuba lekuba sive saNkulunkulu kanye nekuba sibonelo kuletinye tive. Abefuna nekubuyela eGibhithe. (Fundza Numeri 14:2-4.) Kube abuyela eGibhithe, abengeke akwati kukhonta Jehova ngendlela layifunako, futsi abengeke asaba sibonelo kuletinye tive. Ngetulu kwaloko, kube aphindze aba tigcili taseGibhithe  abengeke asakwati kulalela uMtsetfo waNkulunkulu ngenkhululeko nobe atfole kutsetselelwa kwetono. Ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli atsi asafuna kubuyela eGibhithe, abeticabangela wona, angacabangi ngaNkulunkulu kanye nenjongo yakhe. Kungako Jehova atsi: “Nguloko-ke lokwangicansula kulabo bantfu baleto tikhatsi, ngadzimate ngatsi: ‘Solomane bayeduka ngemicabango yabo, netindlela tami abaticondzi.’ Ngako-ke ekutfukutseleni kwami, ngafunga ngatsi: ‘Bangeke basangena ekuphumuleni kwami.’”​—Heb. 3:10, 11; Hla. 95:10, 11.

¹⁰ Kufuna kwema-Israyeli kubuyela eGibhithe bekuveta kutsi abengenandzaba netibusiso Jehova labewanikete tona. Kuphela kwentfo labeyifuna bekukudla lokumnandzi kwaseGibhithe. (Num. 11:5) Lama-Israyeli abefanana na-Esawu, longazange abe nendzaba nekuba kwakhe litubulo, futsi wabutsengisa kute atfole kudla.​—Gen. 25:30-32; Heb. 12:16.

11. Kungetsembeki kwema-Israyeli angesikhatsi saMosi kwayitsintsa njani injongo yaNkulunkulu?

¹¹ Nanobe lama-Israyeli lakhululwa eGibhithe angazange abe nekukholwa kuJehova, loko akuzange kuyigucule injongo yaNkulunkulu ngaleso sive. Bantfwana bawo balalela kwendlula wona, ngako Jehova wasebentisa bona kute afeze injongo yakhe. Bawulalela umyalo waKhe wekungena eVeni Lesetsembiso futsi balincoba. Incwadzi yaJoshuwa 24:31 itsi: “Baka-Israyeli bakhonta Simakadze kuso sonkhe sikhatsi sekuphila kwaJoshuwa kanye nebaholi labasala emvakwakhe labakubona konkhe loko Simakadze lakwentela sive sema-Israyeli.”

12. Sati njani kutsi singakwati kungena ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu lamuhla?

¹² Nanobe kunjalo, lesitukulwane lebesilalela safa, futsi kwasala situkulwane “lesasingazange simati Simakadze singatani nangetintfo lake watentela sive saka-Israyeli.” Ngesizatfu saloko, “sive sema-Israyeli senta lokubi emehlweni aSimakadze; sakhonta boBhali.” (Khu. 2:10, 11) LiVe Lesetsembiso alizange libe ‘yindzawo yekuphumula’ kuso. Ema-Israyeli akazange abe nekuthula naNkulunkulu ngobe akamlalelanga. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Pawula wabhala ngawo watsi: “Kube Joshuwa wabaniketa [bantfwana baka-Israyeli] loko kuphumula, Nkulunkulu abengeke aphindze akhulume ngalelinye lilanga. Ngako-ke kuphumula kweliSabatha kusabasalele bantfu baNkulunkulu.” (Heb. 4:8, 9) “Bantfu baNkulunkulu” Pawula labekhuluma ngabo, ngemaKhristu. Loko kusho kutsi emaKhristu abengangena yini ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu? Yebo, futsi loku kuhlanganisa nemaKhristu langemaJuda kanye nalangesiwo.

Labanye Abazange Bangene Ekuphumuleni KwaNkulunkulu

13, 14. (a) Emalangeni aMosi, ema-Israyeli bekufanele enteni kute angene ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu? (b) Esikhatsini saPawula, emaKhristu bekufanele alalele uMtsetfo waMosi yini kute angene ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu?

¹³ Ngesikhatsi Pawula abhalela emaKhristu langemaHebheru, abekhatsatwe kutsi lamanye  emkhatsini wawo abengenti ngekuvumelana nenjongo yaNkulunkulu. (Fundza Hebheru 4:1.) Abekwenta ngayiphi indlela loku? LamaKhristu abesolo agcina uMtsetfo waMosi. Kuliciniso kutsi eminyakeni lengu-1 500 ngembikwaloku, onkhe ema-Israyeli labefuna kuphila ngekuvumelana nenjongo yaNkulunkulu bekufanele awugcine uMtsetfo. Kodvwa ngemuva kwekufa kwaJesu abengasawudzingi. Lamanye emaKhristu akazange akucondze loko, futsi abekholelwa kutsi bekusafanele awuhloniphe loMtsetfo. b

¹⁴ Pawula watjela lamaKhristu labesagcina uMtsetfo kutsi Jesu besekunguye umphristi lomkhulu kwendlula bonkhe labanye baphristi lababantfu. Waveta kutsi sivumelwane lesisha besincono kakhulu kwendlula sivumelwane lesentiwa na-Israyeli. Waphindze watsi lithempeli laJehova “likhulu kantsi futsi liphelele” kwendlula lithempeli “lelakhiwe ngetandla.” (Heb. 7:26-28; 8:7-10; 9:11, 12) Pawula wasebentisa sibonelo seliSabatha leliseMtsetfweni waMosi kute achaze indlela emaKhristu langangena ngayo ekuphumuleni kwaJehova. Wabhala: “Kuphumula kweliSabatha kusabasalele bantfu baNkulunkulu. Ngobe lowo longena ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu, naye uphumula emisebentini yakhe, njengobe naNkulunkulu aphumula kuyakhe.” (Heb. 4:8-10) LamaKhristu langemaHebheru bekufanele ayekele kucabanga kutsi abengemukelwa nguJehova ngekwenta imisebenti lesekelwe eMtsetfweni waMosi. Kusukela ngeliPhentekhoste la-33 C.E., Nkulunkulu wemukela labo lababa nekukholwa kuJesu Khristu.

15. Kungani kulalela kubalulekile nangabe sifuna kungena ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu?

¹⁵ Yini leyavimba ema-Israyeli angesikhatsi saMosi kutsi angene eVeni Lesetsembiso? Kungalaleli. Yini leyavimba lamanye emaKhristu labephila emalangeni aPawula kutsi angene ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu? Nawo avinjwa yintfo lefananako​—kungalaleli. Ehluleka kubona kutsi uMtsetfo besewuyifezile injongo yawo, futsi Jehova besekahola bantfu bakhe ngendlela leyehlukile.

 Kungena Ekuphumuleni KwaNkulunkulu Lamuhla

16, 17. (a) EmaKhristu angangena njani ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu lamuhla? (b) Yini lesitawucoca ngayo esihlokweni lesilandzelako?

¹⁶ Ambalwa emaKhristu lamuhla lakholelwa kutsi kute asindziswe kufanele agcine uMtsetfo waMosi. Emavi aPawula laya kubase-Efesu ayacaca: “Empeleni kusindziswa kwenu ngekukholwa kuya ngemusa, futsi loko akuveli kini, sipho nje saNkulunkulu. Loko akuveli ngemisebenti, funa kube khona lotibongako.” (Ef. 2:8, 9) Ngako-ke, emaKhristu angangena njani ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu lamuhla? Jehova wakhetsa lilanga lesikhombisa kutsi libe lilanga lakhe lekuphumula, kute agcwalise injongo lanayo ngemhlaba. Singangena ekuphumuleni kwaJehova ngekumlalela futsi sibambisane nenhlangano yakhe.

¹⁷ Kodvwa sisuke senta ngalokumelene nenjongo yaJehova nangabe singasilaleli sisebenti lesetsembekile nalesihlakaniphile, futsi sikhetsa kulalela kuphela loko lesikubona kukuhle kitsi. Kwenta kanjalo kungalimata buhlobo betfu naJehova. Esihlokweni lesilandzelako sitawucoca ngetimo letingasiniketa litfuba lekuveta kutsi siyalalela yini nobe cha. Tincumo lesitawutitsatsa kuletimo titawuveta kutsi singene mbamba yini ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu.

[Imibhalo lengentansi]

Imibuto Yekuzindla

• Beyiyini injongo yelilanga laNkulunkulu lekuphumula?

• Sati njani kutsi nalamuhla kusengilo lilanga lesikhombisa?

• Yini leyavimba ema-Israyeli angesikhatsi saMosi kanye nalamanye emaKhristu angelikhulu lekucala kutsi angene ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu?

• Singangena njani ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu lamuhla?

[Imibuto Yesihloko Lesifundvwako]

[Emavi lahambisana nesitfombe ekhasini 27]

Singangena ekuphumuleni kwaJehova ngekumlalela futsi sibambisane nenhlangano yakhe

[Titfombe emakhasini 26, 27]

Yini lebalulekile letawusisita singene ekuphumuleni kwaNkulunkulu?