1, 2. (a) Sazi njani ukuba abantu banako ukuba ngabahlobo bakaThixo? (b) Siza kuthetha ngantoni kweli nqaku?

UKUSUSELA ekuzalweni kwethu de sife, siyaludinga uthando. Abantu badinga uthando lwabahlobo abasondeleyo, hayi nje olwabantu abathandanayo. Kodwa eyona nto siyidinga kakhulu, luthando lukaYehova. Abaninzi abayikholelwa into yokuba abantu bangaba ngabahlobo abasondeleyo bakaThixo, kuba akabonakali yaye ungusomandla. Kodwa thina siyazi ukuba bubuxoki obo!

² IBhayibhile isichazele ukuba bakho abantu ababa ngabahlobo bakaThixo. Simele sifunde kumzekelo wabo. Ngoba? Kaloku ukuba ngumhlobo kaThixo yeyona nto ibalulekileyo ebomini. Ngoko makhe sithethe ngomzekelo ka-Abraham. (Funda uYakobi 2:23.) Waba nguye njani umhlobo kaThixo? Waba nguye ngenxa yokholo, ibe ubizwa ngokuba “nguyise wabo bonke abo banokholo.” (Roma 4:11) Njengoko uhlolisisa umzekelo wakhe,  zibuze, ‘Ndinokuluxelisa njani ukholo luka-Abraham ndize ndomeleze ubuhlobo bam noYehova?’

3, 4. (a) Khawubalise ngento esenokuba yayilolona vavanyo lukhulu lokholo luka-Abraham. (b) Kutheni uAbraham wayekulungele ukubingelela ngoIsake?

³ Khawube nombono waloo nkonde inguAbraham eneminyaka emalunga neyi-125 ithe chu inyuka intaba. ^[1] (Jonga umbhalo osekugqibeleni.) Emva kwakhe kwakulandela unyana wakhe uIsake, owayemalunga neminyaka eyi-25 ubudala. UIsake wayephethe iinkuni, yena uAbraham ephethe imela nezinto zokubasa. Kumel’ ukuba olo yayilolona hambo lwakha lwanzima kuAbraham. Kodwa lwalungekho nzima ngenxa yokwaluphala. Kaloku wayesenamandla. Lwalunzima, kuba uYehova wayethe makabingelele ngonyana wakhe!—Genesis 22:1-8.

⁴ Kusenokwenzeka ukuba olo yayilolona vavanyo lukhulu lokholo luka-Abraham. Abanye abantu bathi yayiyinkohlakalo into yokuba uThixo athi uAbraham makabingelele ngonyana wakhe. Bambi bathi uAbraham wavuma kuba engamthandi unyana wakhe. Bazithetha ezi zinto kuba bengenalukholo ibe bengalwazi ukuba luyintoni ukholo lokwenene nendlela olusebenza ngayo. (1 Korinte 2:14-16) Kodwa uAbraham wayengathobeli nje kuba enguvuma-zonke. Wayethobela kuba enokholo lokwenene. Wayesazi ukuba uYehova soze athi makenze into eya kumzisela intlungu engapheliyo. Ibe wayesazi nokuba xa ethobela, uYehova wayeza kumsikelela yena nonyana wakhe. Yintoni eyayifuneka ukuze uAbraham abe nokholo olomelele ngolo hlobo? Kwakufuneka abe nolwazi namava.

5. Yiyiphi indlela ekusenokwenzeka ukuba uAbraham wafunda ngayo ngoYehova, ibe olo lwazi lwamenza wavakalelwa njani?

⁵ Ulwazi. UAbraham wakhulela kwisixeko saseUre. Abantu apho babenqula oothixo bobuxoki, ibe noyise wayengomnye wabo. (Yoshuwa 24:2)  Ngoko uAbraham wafunda njani ngoYehova? IBhayibhile ithi unyana kaNowa, uShem, wayezalana noAbraham. Ibe waphila de uAbraham waneminyaka emalunga ne-150 ubudala. UShem wayeyindoda yokholo, ibe kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayethetha ngoYehova kwizizalwane zakhe. Asinakuqiniseka, kodwa kusenokwenzeka ukuba le yindlela uAbraham awafunda ngayo ngoYehova. Oko wakufundayo kwamenza wamthanda uYehova waza wakholwa kuye.

6, 7. Amava ka-Abraham alomeleza njani ukholo lwakhe?

⁶ Amava. UAbraham wawafumana njani amava awomeleza ukholo lwakhe kuYehova? Abanye bathi iingcinga zikhokelela kwiimvakalelo, zize iimvakalelo zikhokelele kwizenzo. UAbraham wachukumiseka zizinto awazifundayo ngoThixo, ibe zamenza wanentlonelo enzulu ‘ngoYehova ongOyena Thixo Uphakamileyo, uMvelisi wezulu nomhlaba.’ (Genesis 14:22) IBhayibhile ithi intlonelo enzulu kangaka ‘luloyiko lobuthixo.’ (Hebhere 5:7) Ukuze sibe nobuhlobo obusondeleyo noThixo, simele sibe noloyiko lobuthixo. (INdumiso 25:14) Lulo olwashukumisela uAbraham ekubeni amthobele uYehova.

⁷ UThixo wathi kuAbraham noSara mabashiye ikhaya labo eliseUre baye kwilizwe lasemzini. Babesele bekhulile, ibe kwakuza kufuneka bahlale ezintenteni ubomi babo bonke. Nangona uAbraham wayesazi ukuba babeza kudibana neengozi ezininzi, wayezimisele ukumthobela uYehova. Ngenxa yokuthobela kwakhe, uThixo wamsikelela waza wamkhusela. Ngokomzekelo, xa umfazi omhle ka-Abraham, uSara, wathathwayo waza yena wasengozini yokubulawa, uYehova wabakhusela ngokungummangaliso izihlandlo ezahlukeneyo. (Genesis 12:10-20; 20:2-7, 10-12, 17, 18) Loo mava alomeleza ukholo luka-Abraham.

8. Singalufumana njani ulwazi namava aya komeleza ubuhlobo bethu noYehova?

⁸ Ngaba sinako ukuba ngabahlobo bakaYehova abasondeleyo? Ewe, ngokuqinisekileyo! NjengoAbraham, nathi simele sifunde ngoYehova, ibe sinako ukufumana ulwazi namava esiwadingayo. Namhlanje, sinokuninzi ngaphezu koko uAbraham wayenako. (Daniyeli 12:4; Roma 11:33) IBhayibhile izele lulwazi ‘ngoMvelisi wezulu nomhlaba.’ Oko sikufundayo kusenza simthande uYehova ibe kusinceda sibe nentlonelo enzulu  ngaye. Olu thando nentlonelo ngoThixo zisenza simthobele. Xa simthobela, sibona indlela asikhusela nasisikelela ngayo, ibe loo nto isenza sibe namava omeleza ukholo lwethu. Xa simkhonza ngokwenene uYehova, siya kufumana ulwaneliseko, uxolo novuyo. (INdumiso 34:8; IMizekeliso 10:22) Okukhona sifunda ngoYehova size sifumane amava, kokukhona ubuhlobo bethu naye buya komelela.

9, 10. (a) Yintoni efunekayo ukuze ubuhlobo bomelele? (b) Yintoni ebonisa ukuba uAbraham wayebuxabisa ubuhlobo bakhe noYehova?

⁹ Ubuhlobo obusenyongweni bunokufaniswa nento yexabiso. (Funda iMizekeliso 17:17.) Abufani nengqayi yexabiso ehombisileyo nje kuphela. Kodwa bufana nentyatyambo entle, edinga ukunkcenkceshelwa nokuxatyiswa ukuze ikhule. UAbraham wayebuxabisile ubuhlobo bakhe noYehova ibe wabulondoloza. Wayenza njani loo nto?

¹⁰ UAbraham waqhubeka emoyika yaye emthobela ngakumbi uThixo. Ngokomzekelo, ngoxa wayesiya eKanan nentsapho yakhe nabakhonzi bakhe, waqhubeka elandela ulwalathiso lukaYehova ekwenzeni izigqibo ezikhulu nezincinane. Ngonyaka ongaphambi kwalowo uIsake wazalwa ngawo, xa uAbraham wayeneminyaka eyi-99, uYehova wathi makaluse onke amadoda akwintsapho yakhe. Ngaba uAbraham wamthandabuza uYehova, okanye wazama iindlela zokuba angakwenzi oko wayekuyalelwe? Akunjalo, kunoko wamthemba uYehova waza wamthobela “kwangaloo mini.”—Genesis 17:10-14, 23.

11. Kwakutheni ukuze uAbraham axhalabe ngeSodom neGomora, ibe uYehova wamnceda njani?

¹¹ Ngenxa yokuba uAbraham wayesoloko emthobela uYehova nakwizinto ezincinane, ubuhlobo babo bomelela. Wayethetha noYehova ngayo yonke into, ade ambuze naxa kukho into emxakileyo. Ngokomzekelo, uAbraham waxhalaba xa uYehova wathi wayeza kuyitshabalalisa iSodom neGomora. Ngoba? Wayesoyika ukuba abantu abalungileyo babeza kufa nabo bangalunganga. Usenokuba wayexhalabele umtshana wakhe uLote nentsapho yakhe, ababehlala eSodom. UAbraham wayemthemba uYehova, “uMgwebi womhlaba wonke,” ngoko wathetha naye ngokuzithoba ngenkxalabo awayenayo. UYehova waba nomonde kumhlobo wakhe waza wambonisa ukuba unenceba. Wamchazela ukuba kwanaxa ezisa umgwebo, ukhangela abantu abalungileyo aze abasindise.—Genesis 18:22-33.

12, 13. (a) UAbraham wancedwa njani lulwazi namava awayenawo? (b) Yintoni ebonisa ukuba uAbraham wayemthembile uYehova?

¹² Kucacile ukuba lonke ulwazi namava uAbraham awayenawo amnceda  wabugcina bomelele ubuhlobo bakhe noYehova. Ngoko kamva, xa uYehova wamcela ukuba abingelele ngonyana wakhe, wayesazi ukuba uYehova wayesoloko enomonde, enenceba, ethembekile, yaye emkhusela. UAbraham wayeqinisekile ukuba uYehova akajikanga wasisikhohlakali! Kutheni sisitsho nje?

¹³ Ngaphambi kokuba ahambe, uAbraham wathi kubakhonzi bakhe: “Hlalani nina apha ne-esile, kodwa mna nenkwenkwe le sisaya kunqula ngaphesheya phayaa sandule ke sibuye size kuni.” (Genesis 22:5) Wayethetha ukuthini uAbraham? Ngaba wayebaqhatha xa wayesithi baza kubuya bobabini noIsake, ekubeni wayesazi ukuba uyokubingelela ngaye? Akunjalo. IBhayibhile ithi, uAbraham wayesazi ukuba uYehova wayenako ukumvusa ekufeni uIsake. (Funda amaHebhere 11:19.) Wayekhumbula ukuba uYehova wamenza wakwazi ukufumana unyana nangona uSara wayesele aluphele. (Hebhere 11:11, 12, 18) Ngoko wayeqonda ukuba akukho nto inokumoyisa uYehova. UAbraham wayengayazi eyona nto yayiza kwenzeka ngaloo mini. Kodwa wayenokholo lokuba uYehova wayenako ukumvusa unyana wakhe xa kuyimfuneko, ukuze azalisekise izithembiso zakhe. Kungenxa yoko le nto kusithiwa uAbraham “nguyise wabo bonke abo banokholo.”

14. Yintoni ofumanisa kunzima ukuyenza ekukhonzeni kwakho uYehova, ibe ungakunceda njani umzekelo ka-Abraham?

¹⁴ Noko ke, namhlanje uYehova akathi masibingelele ngabantwana bethu, kodwa ufuna sithobele imiyalelo yakhe. Maxa wambi sisenokungasiqondi isizathu sale miyalelo, okanye kusenokuba nzima ukuyithobela. Ngaba ukhe uvakalelwe ngaloo ndlela? Abanye bakufumanisa kunzima ukushumayela. Mhlawumbi baneentloni yaye bakufumanisa kunzima ukuthetha nabantu abangabaziyo. Abanye boyika ukwahluka kwabanye emsebenzini okanye esikolweni. (Eksodus 23:2; 1 Tesalonika 2:2) Xa ucelwa ukuba wenze into enzima, cinga ngomzekelo obalaseleyo ka-Abraham wokholo nenkalipho. Xa sicamngca ngemizekelo yamadoda namabhinqa okholo, loo nto ingasikhuthaza ukuba siwaxelise size sisondele kuMhlobo wethu, uYehova.—Hebhere 12:1, 2.

15. Yintoni esenza siqiniseke ukuba uAbraham zange azisole ngokuthobela kwakhe uYehova?

¹⁵ Ngaba uAbraham wazisola ngokuthobela kwakhe imiyalelo kaYehova? IBhayibhile ithi “wafa eyingwevu enkulu, aluphele yaye anelisekile.” (Genesis 25:8) Xa wayeyingwevu eneminyaka eyi-175 ubudala, uAbraham wayeziva anelisekile xa ecinga ngobomi obude abuphilileyo. Ngoba? Kuba ubuhlobo bakhe noYehova babuyeyona  nto ibalulekileyo kuye. Kodwa ke, xa sifunda ukuba uAbraham ‘wayaluphele yaye anelisekile,’ oko akuthethi kuthi wayengenawo umnqweno wokuqhubeka ephila.

16. Ziziphi izinto aza kuzivuyela uAbraham eParadesi?

¹⁶ IBhayibhile ithi uAbraham “wayelindele isixeko esineziseko zokwenene, sixeko eso esimakhi nomenzi waso unguThixo.” (Hebhere 11:10) UAbraham wayekholelwa ukuba ngenye imini wayeza kusibona eso sixeko, uBukumkani bukaThixo, bulawula emhlabeni. Kakade! Khawucinge nje indlela aza kukuvuyela ngayo uAbraham ukuphila emhlabeni oyiparadesi, eqhubeka esomeleza ubuhlobo bakhe noThixo. Uza kuvuya xa esiva ukuba umzekelo wakhe wokholo uye wanceda abakhonzi bakaThixo kangangamawaka eminyaka! EParadesi uza kufumanisa ukuba umbingelelo waseNtabeni yeMoriya wawufanekisela into enkulu ngakumbi. (Hebhere 11:19) Uza kubona nendlela intlungu awayenayo xa wayelungiselela ukubingelela ngonyana wakhe uIsake, eye yanceda ngayo izigidi zabantu abathembekileyo zaqonda indlela uYehova awayevakalelwa ngayo xa wayenikela ngoNyana wakhe, uYesu Kristu, waba yintlawulelo ngenxa yabantu. (Yohane 3:16) Umzekelo ka-Abraham usincedile sonke sanoxabiso ngakumbi ngentlawulelo, esona sipho sakha sasikhulu sothando!

17. Uzimisele ukwenza ntoni, ibe siza kuthetha ngantoni kwinqaku elilandelayo?

¹⁷ Ngamana ngamnye wethu angazimisela ukuxelisa ukholo luka-Abraham. Njengaye, nathi sidinga ulwazi namava. Njengoko siqhubeka sifunda ngoYehova ibe simthobela, siza kubona indlela asisikelela nasikhusela ngayo. (Funda amaHebhere 6:10-12.) Ngamana uYehova anganguMhlobo wethu ngonaphakade! Kwinqaku elilandelayo, siza kuthetha ngeminye imizekelo emithathu yabantu abathembekileyo ababa ngabahlobo abasondeleyo bakaThixo.