1, 2. (a) Ziziphi izipho uThixo awazinika uAdam? (b) Kwakutheni ukuze uThixo anike uAdam umfazi? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

UYEHOVA wawudala ngenjongo umhlaba. ‘Wawubumba ukuba umiwe.’ (Isa. 45:18) Umntu wokuqala awamdalayo, uAdam, wayefezekile ibe uThixo wamnika ikhaya elihle—umyezo wase-Eden. UAdam umele ukuba wayekuthanda ukubuka imithi emihle eyayilapho, imisinga yamanzi nezilwanyana ezidlalayo! Kodwa kwakukho into ebalulekileyo awayengenayo. UYehova wayichaza ukuba yintoni xa wathi: “Akulungile ukuba umntu aqhubeke eyedwa. Ndiza kumenzela umncedi oza kuba ngumphelelisi wakhe.” Emva koko, uThixo wamenza walala ubuthongo obunzulu uAdam, wathatha enye yeembambo zakhe, waza “walwakha ke . . . ubambo . . . lwaba ngumfazi.” Hayi indlela awavuya ngayo uAdam ukuvuka kwakhe! Wathi: “Ekugqibeleni eli ke lithambo lasemathanjeni am nenyama yasenyameni yam.”—Gen. 2:18-23.

² Esi sipho sikaThixo esingumfazi sasikhethekile kuba sasiza kuba ngumncedi ofezekileyo wendoda. Lo mfazi wayeza kuba nalo nelungelo lokuzala abantwana. “UAdam walibiza igama lomfazi wakhe ngokuthi nguEva, ngenxa yokuba wayeza kuba ngunina wabo bonke abaphilayo.” (Gen. 3:20) Esinjani ukumangalisa isipho uThixo awasinika esi sibini! Babeza kukwazi ukuvelisa abanye abantu abafezekileyo. Ngaloo ndlela, umhlaba wawuza  kuba yiparadesi ezaliswe ngabantu abafezekileyo ababeza kuthotyelwa zezinye izidalwa.—Gen. 1:27, 28.

3. (a) Ukuze uAdam noEva basikelelwe nguThixo, yintoni ekwakufuneka bayenze, ibe kwenzeka ntoni? (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo esiza kuyiphendula?

³ Ukuze bafumane iintsikelelo ezazibekwe phambi kwabo, uAdam noEva kwakuza kufuneka bathobele uYehova baze balamkele negunya lakhe. (Gen. 2:15-17) UThixo wayeza kubavumela ukuba bazalisekise injongo yakhe kuphela xa bemthobela. Noko ke, okulusizi kukuba, baphenjelelwa nguSathana, “inyoka yantlandlolo,” baza bamona uThixo. (ISityhi. 12:9; Gen. 3:1-6) Le mvukelo iye yawachaphazela njani amabhinqa? Yintoni eyafezekiswa ngamabhinqa awoyik’ uThixo mandulo? Kutheni kunokubhekiselwa kumabhinqa angamaKristu namhlanje ngokuba ‘angumkhosi omkhulu’?—INdu. 68:11.

4. Ngubani owabekwa ityala ngokona kwesibini sokuqala?

⁴ Xa wabuzwa ngokuvukela kwakhe, uAdam wazithethelela ngesi sizathu sif’ amanqe: “Umfazi owandinikayo ukuba abe nam, nguye ondinikileyo isiqhamo somthi ndaza ndadla.” (Gen. 3:12) UAdam akazange angamkeli mbopheleleko ngesono sakhe nje kuphela, kodwa wazama nokubeka ityala kumfazi amnikwe nguThixo—nakuMdali onothando walo mfazi ngenkqu! Bobabini uAdam noEva bona, kodwa ityala labekwa kuAdam. Yiloo nto umpostile uPawulos wathi “isono sangena ngamntu mnye [uAdam] ehlabathini nokufa ngaso isono.”—Roma 5:12.

5. Ube yintoni umphumo wokuziphatha kwabantu?

⁵ USathana waqhatha isibini sokuqala sacinga ukuba asimdingi uYehova njengoMlawuli. Loo nto yaphakamisa lo mbuzo ubalulekileyo uphathelele ulongamo: Ngubani onelungelo lokulawula? Ukuze aphendule lo mbuzo, uThixo uye wavumela abantu ukuba baziphathe kangangexesha elithile. Wayesazi ukuba oko kwakuza kubonisa ukuba ukuzilawula kwabantu ngaphandle kwakhe akuyi kuphumelela. Kangangeenkulungwane, ulawulo lwabantu luye lwabangela intlekele emva kwenye. Kule minyaka nje imalunga nekhulu idluleyo, bamalunga ne-100 000 000 abantu abafe kwiimfazwe—ibe baquka izigidi zamadoda, amabhinqa nabantwana. Ngoko, sekukho ubungqina obuninzi bokuba “asikokomntu ohambayo ukwalathisa inyathelo lakhe.” (Yer. 10:23) Yiloo nto amaKristu okwenyaniso esamkela uYehova njengoMlawuli wawo.—Funda iMizekeliso 3:5, 6.

6. Kumazwe amaninzi, aphathwa njani amabhinqa namantombazana?

⁶ Kokubini amadoda namabhinqa anamava okuphathwa kakubi kweli hlabathi lisemandleni kaSathana. (INtshu. 8:9; 1 Yoh. 5:19) Ezona zenzo zenkohlakalo zibandakanya ukuxhatshazwa kwamabhinqa. Emhlabeni wonke, amalunga ne-30 pesenti amabhinqa athi aye axhatshazwa ngabayeni bawo okanye abantu athandana nabo. Kwezinye iindawo, amakhwenkwe athandwa kakhulu kuba kusithiwa aza kukhula anyamekele abazali abalupheleyo aze andise intsapho. Kwamanye amazwe abantwana abangamantombazana abaxatyiswanga, ibe abazali babo bayabaqhomfa.

7. Sisiphi isiqalo esihle uThixo awasinika abantu?

⁷ Ukuphathwa kakubi kwamabhinqa akumkholisi uThixo. Uwaphatha ngobulungisa nangentlonelo. Indlela uYehova awajonga ngayo amabhinqa ibonakala kwinto yokuba wadala uEva efezekile waza wamenza waneempawu ezazimenza umphelelisi ka-Adam kungekhona ikhoboka. Yiloo nto ekupheleni kosuku lwesithandathu lokudala, uThixo “wazibona zonke izinto  awayezenzile, khangela! zilunge gqitha.” (Gen. 1:31) “Zonke izinto” awayezenzile uYehova ‘zazilunge gqitha.’ Ngokwenene, wasinika isiqalo esihle isibini sokuqala!

8. (a) Banjani abantu phandl’ apha? (b) Ukutyhubela imbali, ngoobani aye wababonisa ububele uThixo?

⁸ Emva kwemvukelo yase-Eden, abantu baqhubeka bengamthobeli uYehova. Kule minyaka idluleyo, indlela yabo yokwenza izinto iye yambi nangakumbi. IBhayibhile yaxela kwangaphambili ukuba ububi babuza kuba buninzi “ngemihla yokugqibela.” Ukwenza izinto ezimbi kwabantu okugqugqisileyo kuchaza ukuba siphila ‘kumaxesha amanqam.’ (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Noko ke, ukutyhubela imbali, ‘iNkosi enguMongami uYehova’ iye yabonisa ububele kumadoda nakumabhinqa athembela kuye nathobela imithetho yakhe aze azithobe kuye njengoMlawuli.—Funda iNdumiso 71:5.

9. Bangaphi abantu abasindayo kuMkhukula, yaye ngoba?

⁹ Xa uThixo watshabalalisa ihlabathi lamandulo elalinogonyamelo ngoMkhukula, bambalwa abasindayo. Ukuba abantakwabo Nowa noodadewabo babesaphila ngelo xesha, nabo bafa ngomkhukula. (Gen. 5:30) Kodwa inani lamadoda elasinda kuNogumbe liyalingana nelamabhinqa. Abo basindayo yayinguNowa, umfazi wakhe, oonyana bakhe abathathu, nabafazi babo. Basindiswa kuba babemoyika uThixo ibe besenza intando yakhe. Izigidi ngezigidi zabantu abaphilayo ngoku ziphuma kwabo bantu basibhozo ababexhaswa nguYehova.—Gen. 7:7; 1 Pet. 3:20.

10. Yintoni eyenza abafazi aboyik’ uThixo boosolusapho abathembekileyo baxhaswa nguYehova?

¹⁰ Kwiminyaka emininzi kamva, abafazi aboyik’ uThixo boosolusapho abathembekileyo nabo babexhaswa nguThixo. Ngokuqinisekileyo kwakungazi kuba njalo ukuba babethanda ukukhalaza. (Yude 16) Omnye wabo bafazi nguSara. Xa kwathiwa makashiye ikhaya lakhe elitofotofo eUre, aye kuhlala ezintenteni, akazange akhalaze. Kunoko, uSara “wayemthobela uAbraham, embiza ngokuthi ‘nkosi.’” (1 Pet. 3:6) Khawucinge nangoRebheka, owayesisipho esisikelelwe nguYehova waza wangumfazi ophum’ emagqabini. Ayisothusi ke into yokuba umyeni wakhe, uIsake, “wamthanda waza wathuthuzeleka . . . emva kokulahlekelwa ngunina.” (Gen. 24:67) Nathi siyavuya namhlanje kuba sinabafazi aboyik’ uThixo njengoSara noRebheka!

11. Abazalisikazi bamaHebhere basibonakalisa njani isibindi?

¹¹ Xa amaSirayeli ayengamakhoboka eYiputa, ayesanda kakhulu ngenani, waza uFaro wakhupha umyalelo wokuba kubulawe zonke iintsana zamaHebhere ezingamakhwenkwe ekuzalweni kwazo. Noko ke, khawucinge ngaba bazalisikazi bamaHebhere babini, uShifra noPuwa. Baba nesibindi baza bala ukubulala ezo ntsana ngenxa yokuba babesoyika uYehova. Wabavuza ngokubanika ezabo iintsapho.—Eks. 1:15-21.

12. Yintoni ebalaseleyo ngoDebhora noYaheli?

¹² Ngemihla yabagwebi kwaSirayeli, omnye umfazi owaxhaswa nguThixo ngumprofetikazi uDebhora. Wakhuthaza umGwebi uBharaki waza wadlala indima enkulu ekuncedeni uSirayeli akhululeke kwingcinezelo, kodwa waxela kwangaphambili ukuba uzuko lokoyiswa kwamaKanan lwalungazi kuya kuBharaki. Kunoko uThixo wayeza kuyinikela “esandleni somfazi” intloko yomkhosi wamaKanan uSisera. Kwenzeka loo nto kanye xa uYaheli, umfazi ongengomSirayeli, wabulala uSisera.—ABagwe. 4:4-9, 17-22.

13. IBhayibhile ithini ngoAbhigali?

¹³ Khawucinge nangoAbhigali, umfazi othembekileyo owayephila kwiminyaka eyi-1 100 ngaphambi kukaKristu. Wayenengqiqo,  ngoxa umyeni wakhe uNabhali wayengqwabalala, engungantweni yaye engenangqiqo. (1 Sam. 25:2, 3, 25) Kangangexesha elithile, uDavide namadoda akhe babekhusela impahla kaNabhali, kodwa xa bacela ukutya nezinye izinto ezaziza kubanceda, ‘wabakhalimela kakhulu’ akabanika nto. UDavide wacaphuka kakhulu wade waceba ukumbulala uNabhali namadoda akhe. Esakuva ngale nto, uAbhigali waphathela uDavide namadoda akhe ukutya nento eselwayo ukuze kungade kuphalal’ igazi. (1 Sam. 25:8-18) Kamva, uDavide wathi kuAbhigali: “Makabongwe uYehova uThixo kaSirayeli, okuthumeleyo ngale mini wandihlangabeza!” (1 Sam. 25:32) Emva kokuba uNabhali efile, uDavide watshata noAbhigali.—1 Sam. 25:37-42.

14. Iintombi zikaShalum zazisenza wuphi umsebenzi, ibe amabhinqa angamaKristu ayenza njani into efanayo namhlanje?

¹⁴ Kwafa amadoda, abafazi nabantwana abaninzi xa imikhosi yaseBhabhiloni yatshabalalisa iYerusalem netempile ngo-607 B.C.E. Iindonga zeso sixeko zaphinda zakhiwa ngonyaka ka-455 B.C.E., phantsi kolwalathiso lukaNehemiya. Phakathi kwabo bancedisa ukulungisa ezo ndonga yayiziintombi zikaShalum, inkosana yesiqingatha seYerusalem. (Neh. 3:12) Ngokuzithandela zazisenza umsebenzi ophantsi. Siwaxabisa gqitha amabhinqa angamaKristu amaninzi athi ngovuyo axhase ukwakhiwa kweeholo namasebe namhlanje!

15. Liliphi ilungelo elikhethekileyo uThixo awalinika elinye ibhinqa eligama linguMariya?

¹⁵ Ngaphambilana nasebudeni benkulungwane yokuqala, uYehova wasikelela amanye amabhinqa ngamalungelo akhethekileyo. Phakathi kwawo yayiyintombi enyulu uMariya. Ngoxa wayesaganwe nguYosefu, wamithiswa ngumoya oyingcwele ngokungummangaliso. Kwakutheni ukuze uThixo akhethe yena ukuba abe ngunina kaYesu? Ngokuqinisekileyo wamkhetha kuba wayeneempawu ezintle ezazifuneka ukuze akhulise unyana wakhe ofezekileyo. Elinjani lona ilungelo lokuba ngunina koyena mntu ubalaseleyo owakha waphila emhlabeni!—Mat. 1:18-25.

16. Yenza umzekelo obonisa indlela uYesu awayewaphatha ngayo amabhinqa.

¹⁶ UYesu wayenobubele kumabhinqa. Ngokomzekelo, khawucinge ngelinye ibhinqa elalinethombo legazi kangangeminyaka eyi-12. Lachukumisa isambatho sikaYesu ngasemva phakathi kwesihlwele. Kunokuba alikhalimele, ngobubele uYesu wathi: “Ntombi, ukholo lwakho lukuphilisile. Hamba ngoxolo, uze uphile kwisifo sakho esibuhlungu.”—Marko 5:25-34.

17. Nguwuphi ummangaliso owenzeka ngePentekoste ka-33 C.E?

¹⁷ Amanye amabhinqa awayengabafundi bakaYesu ayemlungiselela yena nabapostile bakhe. (Luka 8:1-3) NgePentekoste ka-33 C.E, amalunga ne-120 amadoda namabhinqa awafumana umoya oyingcwele ngendlela ekhethekileyo. (Funda iZenzo 2:1-4.) Oko kuthululwa komoya oyingcwele kwakuchazwe kwangaphambili ngala mazwi: ‘Mna Yehova ndiya kuthululela umoya wam phezu kwalo lonke uhlobo lwenyama, yaye ngokuqinisekileyo baya kuprofeta oonyana benu neentombi zenu. Naphezu kwezicaka naphezu kwezicakakazi ngaloo mihla ndiya kuthulula umoya wam.’ (Yow. 2:28, 29) Loo mmangaliso owawenzeke ngePentekoste wawububungqina bokuba uThixo wayekholiswa ngala madoda namabhinqa awaba ‘nguSirayeli kaThixo.’ (Gal. 3:28; 6:15, 16) Phakathi kwamabhinqa angamaKristu awayeshumayela ngenkulungwane yokuqala kwakukho neentombi ezine zikaFilipu owayengumvangeli.—IZe. 21:8, 9.

18, 19. (a) Ngokuphathelele unqulo lokwenyaniso, liliphi ilungelo uThixo alinike amadoda namabhinqa? (b) Umdumisi uwachaza njani amabhinqa avakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo?

¹⁸ Ngasekupheleni kweminyaka yee-1800, iqaqobana lamadoda namabhinqa labonisa umdla kunqulo lokwenyaniso. Lilo elavula indlela ngokushumayela isigidimi sikaYesu ibe laliyinxalenye yokuzaliseka kwesiprofeto sakhe esithi: “Ezi ndaba zilungileyo zobukumkani ziya kushunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba omiweyo kube bubungqina kuzo zonke iintlanga; kwandule ke kufike ukuphela.”—Mat. 24:14.

¹⁹ Elo qaqobana laBafundi beBhayibhile lande laya kutsho kwi-8 000 000 yamaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje. Abanye abantu abangaphezu kwe-11 000 000 babonisa umdla kwiBhayibhile nakumsebenzi wethu ngokubakho kwiSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaYesu. Kumazwe amaninzi, abaninzi iba ngamabhinqa. Ukongezelela, angaphezu kwe-1 000 000 amaNgqina akwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo. Nalapho, inkoliso yawo ngamabhinqa. Ngokuqinisekileyo, uThixo unike amabhinqa athembekileyo ilungelo lokuba nenxaxheba ekuzalisekiseni amazwi omdumisi athi: “NguYehova onikela eli lizwi; abafazi abavakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo bangumkhosi omkhulu.”—INdu. 68:11.

20. Ziziphi izinto esinokuzifunda kuNqulo Lwentsapho nakufundisiso lobuqu?

²⁰ Asinakuthetha ngawo onke amabhinqa aseBhayibhileni. Kodwa sinokufunda ngawo kwiLizwi likaThixo nakwiincwadi zethu. Ngokomzekelo, sinokucamngca ngokunyaniseka kukaRute. (Rute 1:16, 17) Ukufunda incwadi yeBhayibhile ebizwa ngoKumkanikazi uEstere namanqaku athetha ngaye kunokulomeleza ukholo lwethu. Ukufunda ngemizekelo enjengale kunokusinceda ibe sinokuyisebenzisa kuNqulo Lwentsapho. Ukuba sihlala sodwa, sinokufunda ngayo kufundisiso lobuqu.

21. Amabhinqa awoyik’ uThixo akubonise njani ukuzinikela kwawo kuYehova ngamaxesha anzima?

²¹ UYehova uyawusikelela umsebenzi wokushumayela owenziwa ngamabhinqa angamaKristu aze awaxhase nangamaxesha anzima. Ngokomzekelo, ngoncedo lwakhe amabhinqa awoyik’ uThixo ahlala ethembekile phantsi kolawulo lwamaNazi nolwamaKomanisi xa amaninzi kuwo ayephethwe kakubi, de amanye afa ngenxa yokuzithoba kwawo kuThixo. (IZe. 5:29) Njengaloo mabhinqa athembekileyo, oodadewethu abakhonza uThixo kunye nathi baxhasa ulongamo lwakhe. Kuba ngathi, njengakumaSirayeli, uYehova ubamba isandla sabo sasekunene aze athi: “Musa ukoyika. Mna ngokwam ndiza kukunceda.”—Isa. 41:10-13.

22. Ngawaphi amalungelo esinokukhangela phambili kuwo?

²² Kungekudala, amadoda namabhinqa awoyik’ uThixo aza kuwutshintsha lo mhlaba awenze iparadesi aze ancede izigidi zabavusiweyo zifunde ngeenjongo zikaYehova. De kube lelo xesha, enoba singamadoda okanye amabhinqa, masilixabise ilungelo esinalo lokukhonza uThixo “ngaxhatha linye.”—Zef. 3:9.