Isahluko Seshumi Elinesihlanu

Ukuvuya Komfazi Oludlolo

Isaya 54:1-17

 1. Kutheni uSara wayelangazelela ukuzala abantwana, yaye kwenzeka ntoni ngokuphathelele oku?

 USARA wayekulangazelela ukuzala abantwana. Ngelishwa, wayeludlolo, yaye oko kwakubuhlungu kakhulu kuye. Ngomhla wakhe, ukuba ludlolo kwakusisigculelo, kodwa asikuphela kwento eyamenza waba buhlungu uSara. Wayelangazelela ukubona isithembiso uThixo awasenza kwindoda yakhe sizaliseka. UAbraham wayeza kuzala imbewu eyayiza kuba yintsikelelo kuzo zonke iintsapho zasemhlabeni. (Genesis 12:1-3) Noko ke, kwaqengqeleka amashumi eminyaka emva kokuba uThixo enze eso sithembiso, bengafumani mntwana. USara wada waluphala engenamntwana. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba maxa wambi wayezibuza enoba akafananga wathemba ilize kusini na. Noko ke, ngenye imini, ukuphelelwa kwakhe lithemba kwajika kwaba luvuyo!

 2. Kutheni sifanele sibe nomdla kwisiprofeto esibhalwe kuIsaya isahluko 54?

² Le meko elusizi wayekuyo uSara isinceda siqonde isiprofeto esibhalwe kuIsaya isahluko 54. IYerusalem ichazwa njengomfazi oludlolo owaba novuyo olukhulu lokuba nabantwana abaninzi. Ukubagqala kukaYehova abantu bakhe bamandulo njengomfazi wakhe, kubonisa indlela awayebathantamisa ngayo. Ngaphezu koko, esi sahluko sikaIsaya sisinceda siqonde inkalo ebalulekileyo yoko iBhayibhile ikubiza ngokuba ‘yimfihlelo engcwele.’ (Roma 16:25, 26) Ukuchazwa ‘komfazi’ nemeko yakhe eyayixelwe kwangaphambili kwesi siprofeto kusikhanyisela ngokubanzi ngonqulo olunyulu namhlanje.

 Ukufaniswa ‘Komfazi’

 3. Kutheni ‘umfazi’ oludlolo eza kuba nesizathu sokuvuya?

³ Isahluko 54 siqala ngamazwi avuyisayo, athi: “‘Memelela ngovuyo, wena mfazi uludlolo olungazaliyo! Chwayita umemelele ngovuyo uze udanduluke kabukhali, wena ungazange ube nenimba, kuba baninzi oonyana bophanzileyo kunoonyana bomfazi onendoda,’ utsho uYehova.” (Isaya 54:1) Hayi indlela okumele ukuba kumchulumancisa ngayo uIsaya ukuthetha la mazwi! Yaye hayi indlela ukuzaliseka kwawo okuza kuwakhuthaza ngayo amaYuda asekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni! Ngelo xesha, iYerusalem iza kube iseyinkangala. Ngokwembono yabantu, kuza kubonakala ngathi akukho themba lokuba iya kuze imiwe kwakhona, kanye njengokuba umfazi oludlolo ngokuqhelekileyo engenakuba nethemba lokuzala abantwana ebudaleni bakhe. Kodwa lo “mfazi” ulindelwe ziintsikelelo ezinkulu kwixesha elizayo—uza kuvelisa inzala. IYerusalem iza kuzaliswa yimincili. Iza kuphinda ibe nenyambalala ‘yoonyana,’ okanye abemi.

 4. (a) Umpostile uPawulos usinceda njani sibone ukuba uIsaya isahluko 54 umele abe nenzaliseko engakumbi kunaleyo yowama-537 B.C.E.? (b) Iyintoni “iYerusalem ephezulu”?

⁴ UIsaya usenokuba akakwazi oku, kodwa isiprofeto sakhe siza kuba nenzaliseko engaphezu kwenye. Umpostile uPawulos ucaphula uIsaya isahluko 54 aze achaze ukuba lo “mfazi” ufanekisela into ebaluleke ngakumbi kunesixeko sasemhlabeni saseYerusalem. Ubhala athi: “IYerusalem ephezulu ikhululekile, yaye inguma wethu.” (Galati 4:26) Iyintoni le “Yerusalem ephezulu”? Ngokucacileyo ayisosixeko saseYerusalem ekwiLizwe Lesithembiso. Eso sixeko sisemhlabeni, asikho “phezulu” kummandla wasezulwini. “IYerusalem ephezulu” ‘ngumfazi’ kaThixo wasezulwini, intlangano yakhe yezidalwa ezomeleleyo zomoya.

 5. Kwingxelo yokomfuziselo ekwabaseGalati 4:22-31, ngubani ofanekiselwa (a) nguAbraham? (b) nguSara? (c) nguIsake? (d) nguHagare? (e) nguIshmayeli?

⁵ Noko ke, kwenzeka njani ukuba uYehova abe nabafazi  ababini bokomfuziselo—omnye ezulwini nomnye emhlabeni? Ngaba kukho ukungavumelani okuthile apha? Akunjalo konke konke. Ukuze sicacelwe koku umpostile uPawulos utsalel’ ingqalelo yethu koko kwakufanekiselwa yintsapho ka-Abraham. (Galati 4:22-31; bona umxholo othi “Isiprofeto Esafanekiselwa Yintsapho Ka-Abraham,” kwiphepha 218.) USara, umfazi ka-Abraham ‘owayengumfazi okhululekileyo,’ ufanekisela intlangano engumfazi kaYehova wezidalwa zomoya. UHagare, umfazi ka-Abraham wesibini, okanye ishweshwe elalilikhobokazana, ufanekisela iYerusalem yasemhlabeni.

 6. Intlangano kaThixo yasezulwini iye yahlala ithuba elide iludlolo ngayiphi ingqiqo?

⁶ Ngokuhlolisisa le nkcazelo, sinokubona ukuba kukhulu okuqulethwe nguIsaya 54:1. Emva kokuqengqeleka kwamashumi eminyaka eludlolo, uSara wazala uIsake xa wayenama-90 eminyaka ubudala. Ngokufanayo, intlangano kaYehova yasemhlabeni yahlala ithuba elide iludlolo. Emva phayaa e-Eden, uYehova wathembisa ukuba ‘umfazi’ wakhe wayeza kuvelisa ‘imbewu.’ (Genesis 3:15) Ngaphezu kwama-2 000 eminyaka kamva, uYehova wenza umnqophiso noAbraham ngokuphathelele loo Mbewu ithenjisiweyo. Kodwa ‘umfazi’ kaThixo wasezulwini kwafuneka alinde iinkulungwane ezininzi ngakumbi ngaphambi kokuba avelise loo Mbewu. Noko ke, lafika ixesha lokuba abantwana balo “mfazi uludlolo” babe baninzi kunabalowo woSirayeli wokwenyama. Ukufaniswa kwalo mfazi oludlolo kusinceda sibone isizathu sokuba iingelosi zikulangazelele kangaka ukubona ukufika kweMbewu ethenjisiweyo. (1 Petros 1:12) Kwenzeka nini oko?

 7. “IYerusalem ephezulu” iye yaba naso nini isizathu sokuvuya, njengoko kuxelwe kwangaphambili kuIsaya 54:1, yaye kutheni uphendula ngolo hlobo?

⁷ Ngokuqinisekileyo ukuzalwa kukaYesu njengomntwana ongumntu kwazisa uvuyo olukhulu kwiingelosi. (Luka 2:9-14) Kodwa eso siganeko ayisiso eso sixelwe kwangaphambili kuIsaya 54:1. Kuphela kuxa uYesu wazalwa ngomoya oyingcwele ngowama-29 C.E. awathi waba ngunyana wokomoya  ‘weYerusalem ephezulu,’ waza wavunywa ekuhleni nguThixo ngokwakhe ‘njengoNyana wakhe oyintanda.’ (Marko 1:10, 11; Hebhere 1:5; 5:4, 5) Seso siganeko esazalisekisa uIsaya 54:1, nesabangela ukuba ‘umfazi’ kaThixo wasezulwini abe nesizathu sokuvuya. Ekugqibeleni uye wavelisa iMbewu ethenjisiweyo, uMesiya! Iinkulungwane zokuba ludlolo kwakhe zazifikelele esiphelweni. Noko ke, aluphelelanga apho uvuyo lwakhe.

 Oonyana Abaninzi Bomfazi Oludlolo

 8. Kutheni ‘umfazi’ kaThixo wasezulwini eye waba nesizathu sokuvuya emva kokuvelisa iMbewu ethenjisiweyo?

⁸ Emva kokufa nokuvuka kukaYesu, ‘umfazi’ kaThixo wasezulwini wakuvuyela ukumamkela kwakhona lo Nyana ukholekileyo ‘njengezibulo kwabafileyo.’ (Kolose 1:18) Wandula ke lo mfazi wavelisa oonyana abangakumbi bokomoya.  NgePentekoste yowama-33 C.E., abalandeli bakaYesu abamalunga ne-120 bathanjiswa ngomoya oyingcwele, ngaloo ndlela besamkelwa njengeendlalifa kunye noKristu. Kamva ngalo olo suku kongezelelwa abangama-3 000. (Yohane 1:12; IZenzo 1:13-15; 2:1-4, 41; Roma 8:14-16) Eli qela loonyana laqhubeka lisanda. Ebudeni beenkulungwane zokuqala zowexuko lweNgqobhoko, olu lwando lwaluluncinane kakhulu. Kodwa oko kwakuza kutshintsha ngenkulungwane yama-20.

9, 10. Umyalelo ‘wokwenziwa banzi ngakumbi kwendawo yentente’ wawuthetha ukuthini kumfazi owayehlala ezintenteni kumaxesha amandulo, yaye kutheni eso yayisiba sisihlandlo sovuyo kumfazi onjalo?

⁹ UIsaya uhlabela mgama eprofeta ngexesha lolwando oluphawulekayo, esithi: “Yenze ibe banzi ngakumbi indawo yentente yakho. Kwaye mabawolule amalaphu entente yomnquba wakho. Ungathinteli. Yandisa iintambo zentente yakho, uzenze zomelele izikhonkwane zentente yakho. Kuba uya kuphuma uye ngasekunene nangasekhohlo, nenzala yakho iya kuzidla ilifa iintlanga, izime izixeko ebeziphanzile. Musa ukoyika, kuba akuyi kuhlaziswa; yaye musa ukuziva uthotyiwe, kuba akuyi kudaniswa. Kuba uya kulilibala kwanehlazo lexesha lobutsha bakho, nongcikivo lobuhlolokazi bakho akuyi kuba salukhumbula.”—Isaya 54:2-4.

¹⁰ Apha iYerusalem ifaniswa nomfazi ohlala ezintenteni, kanye njengoSara. Xa esikelelekile yaza yanda intsapho yakhe, umfazi onjalo kuye kufuneke ukuba alandise ikhaya lakhe. Kuye kufuneke afake amalaphu neentambo ezinde ngakumbi zentente aze aqinise izikhonkwane zentente kwiindawo ezintsha ezibethelelwa kuzo. Eli lixesha lovuyo kuye, yaye ebudeni balo uye ayilibale iminyaka yentlungu yokungaqiniseki enoba uya kuze abe nabo kusini na abantwana bokwandisa inzala yakhe.

11. (a) Wasikelelwa njani ‘umfazi’ kaThixo wasezulwini ngowe-1914? (Bona umbhalo osemazantsi.) (b) Ziziphi iintsikelelo abaye bazinandipha abathanjisiweyo abasemhlabeni, ukususela ngowe-1919?

 ¹¹ IYerusalem yasemhlabeni yayiza kusikelelwa ngexesha elinjalo lohlaziyo emva kokuthinjelwa eBhabhiloni. “IYerusalem ephezulu” yona isikelelwe nangakumbi. a Ingakumbi ukususela ngowe-1919, ‘inzala’ yayo ethanjisiweyo iye yanda kwimeko yayo yokomoya eyayisandul’ ukuhlaziywa. (Isaya 61:4; 66:8) Iye ‘yazidla ilifa iintlanga’ ngokuthi yande ifikelele kumazwe amaninzi ifuna bonke abo babenokuba yinxalenye yentsapho yayo yokomoya. Ngenxa yoko, kwanda ngokukhawuleza okukhulu ukuhlanganiswa koonyana abathanjisiweyo. Kubonakala ukuba inani labo elipheleleyo elili-144 000 laye laphelela phakathi kwiminyaka yowe-1930. (ISityhilelo 14:3) Ngelo xesha, ekwenziweni komsebenzi wokushumayela, kwayekwa ukunikela ingqalelo ekuhlanganisweni kwabathanjisiweyo. Sekunjalo, lona ulwando aluzange luphelele kubathanjiswa.

12. Ukongezelela kwabo bathanjisiweyo, ngoobani abaye bahlanganiselwa kwibandla lamaKristu ukususela ngeminyaka yowe-1930?

¹² UYesu ngokwakhe waxela kwangaphambili ukuba ngaphandle ‘komhlambi wakhe omncinane’ wabazalwana abathanjisiweyo, wayeza kuba “nezinye izimvu” ezazimele zingeniswe esibayeni samaKristu okwenyaniso. (Luka 12:32; Yohane 10:16) Nangona engeyonxalenye yoonyana abathanjisiweyo ‘beYerusalem ephezulu,’ la madlelane athembekileyo abathanjiswa afeza indima ebalulekileyo ekwakuprofetwe ngayo kwakudala. (Zekariya 8:23) Ukususela ngeminyaka yowe-1930 ukuza kuthi ga namhlanje, kuye kwahlanganiswa “isihlwele esikhulu” sawo, nto leyo ephumele ekwandeni okungenakuthelekiswa  nanto kwebandla lamaKristu. (ISityhilelo 7:9, 10) Namhlanje eso sihlwele sikhulu sifikelele kwizigidi. Lonke olu lwando lwenze kwabakho imfuneko engxamisekileyo yeeHolo zoBukumkani, iiHolo zeNdibano, nezakhiwo zesebe ezingakumbi. Abonakala echanile ngokwenene amazwi kaIsaya. Elinjani lona ilungelo ukuba yinxalenye yolo lwando lwaluxelwe kwangaphambili!

Umfazi Oyinyamekelayo Inzala Yakhe

13, 14. (a) Ngawaphi amabinzana ekubonakala kunzima ukuwaqonda abhekiswa ‘kumfazi’ kaThixo wasezulwini? (b) Yintoni asikhanyisela ngayo uThixo ngokuzekelisa kwakhe ngolwalamano lwentsapho?

¹³ Sibonile ukuba kwinzaliseko enkulu yesi siprofeto, ‘umfazi’ ufanekisela intlangano kaYehova yasezulwini. Kodwa emva kokufunda uIsaya 54:4, sisenokuzibuza ukuba loo ntlangano yezidalwa zomoya yayikhe yalifumana njani ihlazo nongcikivo. Iindinyana ezilandelayo zithi lo “mfazi” kaThixo uza kugatywa, axhwaleke, yaye ahlaselwe. Uza kude amcaphukise uThixo. Kunokwenzeka njani oko kwintlangano yezidalwa zomoya ezifezekileyo ezingazange zone? Impendulo siyifumana ngokuhlola uhlobo elulo intsapho yalo mfazi.

¹⁴ UYehova usebenzisa ulwalamano lwentsapho—indoda nomfazi, umama nabantwana—ukudlulisela iinyaniso ezinzulu kuba ulwalamano olunjalo luqhelekile ebantwini. Ingakhathaliseki imeko yentsapho yethu, siyayazi indlela omele ube yiyo umtshato ofanelekileyo okanye ulwalamano olufanelekileyo phakathi komzali nomntwana. Ngoko hayi indlela ecacileyo uYehova asifundisa ngayo ngolwalamano olusenyongweni oluphakathi kwakhe nenyambalala yabakhonzi bakhe abangumoya! Yaye asikuko nokuba ihlab’ umxhelo indlela asifundisa ngayo ukuba intlangano yakhe yasezulwini iyayinyamekela inzala yayo ethanjiswe ngomoya esemhlabeni! Xa abakhonzi abangabantu bebandezeleka, abakhonzi abathembekileyo basezulwini, ‘abayiYerusalem ephezulu,’ nabo bayabandezeleka. Ngokufanayo, uYesu wathi: “Ekubeni  nenjenjalo koyena mncinane waba bazalwana bam [bathanjiswe ngomoya], nenjenjalo nakum.”—Mateyu 25:40.

15, 16. Iyintoni inzaliseko yokuqala nenzaliseko enkulu kaIsaya 54:5, 6?

¹⁵ Ngoko akumangalisi ukuba, inkoliso yamazwi abhekiswa ‘kumfazi’ kaYehova wasezulwini ifanekisela oko kwenzeka kubantwana bakhe abasemhlabeni. Qwalasela la mazwi athi: “‘UMenzi wakho Ozukileyo yindoda engumnini wakho, igama lakhe linguYehova wemikhosi; yaye Lowo Ungcwele kaSirayeli nguMhlawuleli wakho. Uya kubizwa ngokuba nguThixo womhlaba uphela. Kuba uYehova wakubiza ngokungathi ubungumfazi oshiywe ngokupheleleyo nowenzakeleyo emoyeni, nanjengomfazi wexesha lobutsha owathi ke wagatywa,’ utsho uThixo wakho.”—Isaya 54:5, 6.

¹⁶ Ngubani umfazi ekubhekiselwa kuye apha? Kwinzaliseko yokuqala, yiYerusalem, efanekisela abantu bakaThixo. Ebudeni beminyaka engama-70 yokuthinjwa kwabo eBhabhiloni, babeza kuvakalelwa kukuba uYehova ubagatyile waza wabashiya ngokupheleleyo. Kwinzaliseko enkulu, la mazwi abhekisela ‘kwiYerusalem ephezulu’ nasekuveliseni kwayo ekugqibeleni ‘imbewu’ echazwe kwiGenesis 3:15.

Uqeqesho Lokomzuzwana, Iintsikelelo Zikanaphakade

17. (a) IYerusalem esemhlabeni yayiza kufikelwa njani ‘ngumkhukula’ wokucaphuka kukaThixo? (b) Nguwuphi ‘umkhukula’ owafikela oonyana ‘beYerusalem ephezulu’?

¹⁷ Isiprofeto sihlabela mgama sisithi: “‘Ndakushiya ngokupheleleyo okomzuzwana omncinane, kodwa ndiya kukuqokelela ndawonye ngeenceba ezinkulu. Ngomkhukula wokucaphuka ndabufihla ubuso bam kuwe okomzuzwana nje, kodwa ngobubele bothando ndiza kuba nenceba kuwe ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo,’ utsho uMhlawuleli wakho, uYehova.” (Isaya 54:7, 8) IYerusalem yasemhlabeni izaliswa ‘ngumkhukula’ wokucaphuka kukaThixo ngokuthi ihlaselwe yimikhosi yaseBhabhiloni ngowama-607 B.C.E. Iminyaka  engama-70 yokuthinjwa kwayo yayisenokubonakala ilixesha elide. Kodwa ke, olo vavanyo ‘lolomzuzwana’ xa luthelekiswa neentsikelelo zikanaphakade ezazigcinelwe abo babelwamkela uqeqesho. Ngokufanayo, oonyana abathanjisiweyo ‘beYerusalem ephezulu’ bavakalelwa ngokungathi bonganyelwe ‘ngumkhukula’ wengqumbo kaThixo xa uYehova wabavumelayo bahlaselwa yimibutho yezobupolitika eyayiphenjelelwa yiBhabhiloni Enkulu. Kodwa hayi indlela olwabonakala lulufutshane ngayo olo qeqesho kamva, xa luthelekiswa nexesha leentsikelelo zokomoya ezalandelayo ukususela ngowe-1919!

18. Yiyiphi imigaqo ebalulekileyo esiyifundayo ngokuphathelele ukubonakalisa kukaYehova ingqumbo ebantwini bakhe, yaye oku kunokusichaphazela njani ngokobuqu?

¹⁸ Ezi ndinyana zigxininisa enye inyaniso ebaluleke kakhulu—ingqumbo kaThixo ikhawuleza iphele, kodwa inceba yakhe ihlala ngonaphakade. Umsindo wakhe uyavutha nxamnye nabenzi bobubi, kodwa usoloko ulawuleka, usoloko unenjongo. Yaye ukuba siyalwamkela uqeqesho lukaYehova, umsindo wakhe uba ‘ngowomzuzwana,’ uze uphele. Uthatyathelw’ indawo ‘yinceba yakhe enkulu’—ukuxolela kwakhe  nobubele bakhe bothando. Zona zihlala “ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.” Ngoko, xa senze isono, asifanele sibe mathidala ukuguquka size sifune ukuxolelaniswa noThixo. Ukuba sisono esinzulu, sifanele siye kubadala bebandla ngokukhawuleza. (Yakobi 5:14) Liyinyaniso elokuba, kusenokufuneka uqeqesho, yaye kusenokuba nzima ukulwamkela. (Hebhere 12:11) Kodwa luya kuba lolokwexeshana xa luthelekiswa neentsikelelo zikanaphakade eziya kulandela ngenxa yokuxolelwa nguYehova uThixo!

19, 20. (a) Uyintoni umnqophiso womnyama, yaye uhlobene njani nabathinjwa baseBhabhiloni? (b) ‘Umnqophiso woxolo’ uwanika siphi isiqinisekiso amaKristu athanjisiweyo namhlanje?

¹⁹ Ngoku uYehova ukhuthaza abantu bakhe ngokubaqinisekisa esithi: “‘Oku kunjengemihla kaNowa kum. Kanye njengoko ndifungile ukuba amanzi kaNowa akayi kuphinda adlule phezu komhlaba, ngokunjalo ndifungile ukuba andisoze ndikucaphukele okanye ndikukhalimele. Kuba iintaba zingashenxiswa, neenduli zingashukuma, kodwa ububele bam bothando abuyi kushenxiswa kuwe, nomnqophiso wam woxolo awuyi kushukuma,’ utsho uYehova, Lowo unenceba kuwe.” (Isaya 54:9, 10) Emva kukaNogumbe, uThixo wenza umnqophiso kunye noNowa nazo zonke izinto eziphilayo—maxa wambi owaziwa ngokuba ngumnqophiso womnyama. UYehova wathembisa ukuba akasayi kuze aphinde atshabalalise ngomkhukula emhlabeni. (Genesis 9:8-17) Kwakuthetha ntoni oko kuIsaya nakubantu bomhla wakhe?

²⁰ Kuyakhuthaza ukwazi ukuba isohlwayo sabo seminyaka engama-70 yokuthinjwa eBhabhiloni, sasiza kufika kube kanye kuphela. Sakuba sidlulile, sasingayi kuphinda sibuye. Emva koko, kwakuza kusebenza ‘umnqophiso kaThixo woxolo.’ Igama lesiHebhere elithi “uxolo” lithetha, kungekuphela nje ukungabikho kwemfazwe, kodwa kwanentlalo-ntle yalo lonke uhlobo. Ngokwembono kaThixo lo mnqophiso uya kuhlala uhleli. Nokuba zingashenxa iinduli neentaba, kodwa bona ububele bakhe bothando abusokuze buphele kubantu  bakhe abathembekileyo. Ngelishwa, ekugqibeleni uhlanga lwakhe lwasemhlabeni luye lwasilela ukuphila ngokuvisisana naloo mnqophiso lwaza lwaziphulukanisa noxolo lwalo ngokuthi lumgatye uMesiya. Noko ke, bona oonyana ‘beYerusalem ephezulu’ baye baqhuba kakuhle kakhulu. Lithe lakudlula ixesha elinzima lokuqeqeshwa kwabo, baqiniseka ukuba uThixo uya kubakhusela.

Unqabiseko Lokomoya Lwabantu BakaThixo

21, 22. (a) Kutheni kusithiwa “iYerusalem ephezulu” ixhwalekile yaye iphoswa ngapha nangapha? (b) Imeko esikelelekileyo ‘yomfazi’ kaThixo wasezulwini iyifanekisela njani imeko ‘yenzala’ yakhe esemhlabeni?

²¹ UYehova uhlabela mgama exela kwangaphambili ngokunqabiseka kwabantu bakhe abathembekileyo, esithi: “Owu mfazi uxhwalekileyo, ophoswa ngapha nangapha sisivuthuvuthu, ongathuthuzelekanga, yabona, ndiwabeka amatye akho ngodaka oluqinileyo, yaye ndiya kusibeka ngeesafire isiseko sakho. Kwaye uqoqo lwakho ndiya kulwenza ngeerubhi, namasango akho ngamatye abengezelayo abumlilorha, nemida yakho yonke ngamatye ayolisayo. Bonke oonyana bakho baya kufundiswa nguYehova, lube lukhulu uxolo loonyana bakho. Uya kumiselwa ngokuqinileyo ngobulungisa. Uya kuba kude nengcinezelo—kuba akuyi koyika nto—nayo nantoni na enkwantyisayo, kuba ayiyi kusondela kuwe. Ukuba nabani na angakuhlasela, akayi kuba eyalelwe ndim. Nabani na okuhlaselayo uya kuwa ngenxa yakho.”—Isaya 54:11-15.

²² Kambe ke, ‘umfazi’ kaYehova okummandla womoya akakaze axhwaleke okanye aphoswe ngapha nangapha sisivuthuvuthu ngokoqobo. Kodwa wabandezeleka xa ‘inzala’ yakhe ethanjisiweyo esemhlabeni yabandezelekayo, ingakumbi xa yayisekuthinjweni kokomoya ebudeni bowe-1918 ukusa kowe-1919. Ngokukwanjalo, naxa ‘umfazi’ wasezulwini ephakanyiswa, iba kwimeko efanayo nenzala yakhe. Ngoko, khawucinge nje imeko echulumancisayo echazwa ikuyo  “iYerusalem ephezulu.” Amatye axabisekileyo asemasangweni, ‘udaka oluqinileyo’ lwexabiso eliphakamileyo, iziseko, kwakunye nemida, konke oku kubonisa “ubuhle, ukubalasela, ukusulungeka, ukomelela, nokuzinza” kwayo, ngokutsho kwenye imbekiselo. Yintoni eyayiza kukhokelela amaKristu athanjisiweyo kwimeko enjalo ukunqabiseka nokusikeleleka?

23. (a) ‘Ukufundiswa nguYehova’ kube nawuphi umphumo kumaKristu athanjisiweyo ngemihla yokugqibela? (b) Abantu bakaThixo basikelelwe ngayiphi ingqiqo ‘ngemida yamatye ayolisayo’?

²³ Indinyana 13 kaIsaya isahluko 54 iyaphendula—ithi onke aza “kufundiswa nguYehova.” UYesu wawasebenzisa amazwi ale ndinyana kubalandeli bakhe abathanjisiweyo. (Yohane 6:45) Umprofeti uDaniyeli waxela kwangaphambili ukuba ebudeni beli “xesha lesiphelo,” abo bathanjisiweyo babeza kusikelelwa ngentabalala yolwazi lokwenyaniso nokuqonda kokomoya. (Daniyeli 12:3, 4) Oko kuqonda kuye kwabenza baqalisa elona phulo likhulu lemfundo embalini, lokusasaza imfundiso yobuthixo emhlabeni wonke. (Mateyu 24:14) Kwangaxeshanye, oko kuqonda kuye kwabanceda babona umahluko phakathi konqulo lokwenyaniso nolobuxoki. UIsaya 54:12 ukhankanya ‘imida yamatye ayolisayo.’ Ukususela ngowe-1919, uYehova uye wabenza abo bathanjisiweyo bayiqonda ngokucace ngakumbi imida yokomoya, ebahlulayo kunqulo lobuxoki nakwiingcamango ezingezozabuthixo zehlabathi. (Hezekile 44:23; Yohane 17:14; Yakobi 1:27) Ngaloo ndlela bahlukanisiwe njengabantu bakaThixo.—1 Petros 2:9.

24. Singaqinisekisa njani ukuba sifundiswa nguYehova?

²⁴ Ngoko, ngamnye wethu ufanele azibuze ukuba, ‘Ngaba ndifundiswa nguYehova?’ Asiyifumani loo mfundiso ngokuzenzekelayo. Simele senze umzamo. Ukuba sifunda rhoqo iLizwi likaThixo size sicamngce ngalo yaye ukuba samkela imiyalelo yalo ngokuthi sifunde uncwadi olusekelwe eBhayibhileni olupapashwa “likhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi”  nangokuthi silungiselele size siye kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu, ngokwenene siya kuba sifundiswa nguYehova. (Mateyu 24:45-47) Ukuba sizabalazela ukukwenza oko sikufundayo size sihlale sithe qwa yaye siphaphile ngokomoya, imfundiso yobuthixo iya kusenza sahluke kwabo bakwihlabathi elingahloneli Thixo. (1 Petros 5:8, 9) Ngaphezu koko, luya kusinceda ‘sisondele kuThixo.’—Yakobi 1:22-25; 4:8.

25. Sithetha ntoni isithembiso sikaThixo soxolo kubantu bakhe namhlanje?

²⁵ Isiprofeto sikaIsaya sikwabonisa ukuba abo bathanjisiweyo basikelelwe ngoxolo olukhulu. Ngaba oku kuthetha ukuba abaze bahlaselwe? Akunjalo, kodwa uThixo ubaqinisekisa ukuba naluphi na uhlaselo olunjalo aluyalelwanga nguye yaye akayi kuluvumela ukuba luphumelele. Siyafunda: “‘Khangela! Mna ndidale ingcibi, leyo ivuthela umlilo wamalahle eenkuni nevelisa isixhobo njengomsebenzi wayo. Ndidale kwanendoda eyonakalisayo yomsebenzi wokwaphula. Nasiphi na isixhobo esiya kuyilwa nxamnye nawe asiyi kuphumelela, nalo naluphi na ulwimi oluya kuphakama nxamnye nawe ekugwetyweni uya kulugwebela isohlwayo. Lilo elo ilifa labakhonzi bakaYehova, yaye ubulungisa babo buphuma kum,’ utsho uYehova.”—Isaya 54:16, 17.

26. Kutheni kusomeleza nje ukwazi ukuba uYehova unguMdali woluntu lonke?

²⁶ Kokwesibini ngoku kwesi sahluko sikaIsaya uYehova ekhumbuza abakhonzi bakhe ukuba unguMdali. Ngaphambilana, uxelela umfazi wakhe wokomfuziselo ukuba ‘unguMenzi wakhe Ozukileyo.’ Ngoku uthi unguMdali woluntu lonke. Indinyana 16 isichazela ngengcibi evuthela amalahle eziko layo njengoko isenza izixhobo zayo zokutshabalalisa eziza kusetyenziswa ngumphumi-mkhosi ‘owonakalisayo nowaphulayo.’ Amadoda anjalo asenokubonakala esoyikeka kwabanye abantu, kodwa bangamoyisa njani uMdali wabo? Ngoko namhlanje, kwanaxa eyona mikhosi  inamandla yehlabathi ihlasela abantu bakaYehova, ayinakuze iphumelele. Kunokwenzeka njani oko?

27, 28. Yintoni esinokuqiniseka ngayo ebudeni bala maxesha anzima, yaye sazi njani ukuba ukusihlasela kukaSathana akuyi kuphumelela?

²⁷ Ixesha lokonakaliswa kwabantu bakaThixo nokonakaliswa kokumnqula kwabo ngomoya nenyaniso, lidlulile. (Yohane 4:23, 24) UYehova wayivumela iBhabhiloni Enkulu ukuba ihlasele kube kanye ize iphumelele okwexeshana. Okomzuzwana, “iYerusalem ephezulu” yayibona inzala yayo iphantse yathuliswa njengoko umsebenzi wokushumayela emhlabeni waphantse wanqunyanyiswa. Akusayi kuphinda kwenzeke oko! Ngoku iyayoliswa ngoonyana bayo, kuba, ngengqiqo yokomoya, abanakoyiswa. (Yohane 16:33; 1 Yohane 5:4) Kambe ke, kuye kwayilwa izixhobo zokubahlasela, yaye kuseza kuyilwa ezingakumbi. (ISityhilelo 12:17) Kodwa azikhange yaye azisayi kuze ziphumelele. USathana akanaso nesinye isixhobo esinokoyisa ukholo nenzondelelo evuthayo yabo bathanjisiweyo kunye namaqabane abo. Olu xolo lokomoya ‘lilifa labakhonzi bakaYehova,’ ngoko akukho bani unokuluthabatha ngetshova kubo.—INdumiso 118:6; Roma 8:38, 39.

²⁸ Akukho nanye into elinokuyenza ihlabathi likaSathana enokuwuphelisa umsebenzi wabakhonzi abazinikeleyo bakaThixo kunye nonqulo lwabo olucocekileyo oluhlala luhleli. Inzala ethanjisiweyo ‘yeYerusalem ephezulu’ iye yakhuthazwa kakhulu seso siqinisekiso. Kukwanjalo nangamalungu esihlwele esikhulu. Okukhona sisazi ngakumbi ngentlangano kaYehova yasezulwini nangendlela eqhubana ngayo nabanquli bakhe abasemhlabeni, kokukhona luya kuqina ngakumbi ukholo lwethu. Logama nje ukholo lwethu luqinile, izixhobo zikaSathana ziya kuba lilize ekulweni nxamnye nathi!

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

[Imibuzo YeSifundo]

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 218, 219]

Isiprofeto Esafanekiselwa Yintsapho Ka-Abraham

Umpostile uPawulos wachaza ukuba intsapho ka-Abraham yayifuzisela okuthile, ifanekisela ulwalamano analo uYehova nentlangano yakhe yasezulwini kwakunye nohlanga lwasemhlabeni lukaSirayeli phantsi komnqophiso woMthetho kaMoses.—Galati 4:22-31.

UAbraham, njengentloko-ntsapho, ufanekisela uYehova uThixo. Ukuvuma kuka-Abraham ukunikela unyana wakhe othandekayo uIsake njengedini kufanekisela ukuvuma kukaYehova ukunikela uNyana wakhe oyintanda njengedini ngenxa yezono zabantu.—Genesis 22:1-13; Yohane 3:16.

Sarah ufanekisela ‘umfazi’ kaThixo wasezulwini, intlangano yakhe yezidalwa zomoya. loo ntlangano yasezulwini ichazwa ngokufanelekileyo njengomfazi kaYehova, kuba inolwalamano olusenyongweni noYehova, ithobela ubuntloko bakhe, yaye isebenzisana ngokupheleleyo nokuhunyezwa kweenjongo zakhe. Ikwabizwa ngokuba ‘yiYerusalem ephezulu.’ (Galati 4:26) Kwalo “mfazi” mnye ukhankanywe kwiGenesis 3:15, yaye uchazwe embonweni kwiSityhilelo 12:1-6, 13-17.

UIsake ufanekisela iMbewu yokomoya yomfazi kaThixo. Ngokuyintloko, le mbewu nguYesu Kristu. Noko ke, iye yaquka nabazalwana bakaKristu abathanjisweyo, abamkelwe njengoonyana bokomoya baza baba ziindlalifa kunye noKristu.—Roma 8:15-17; Galati 3:16, 29.

UHagare, umfazi wesibini okanye ishweshwe lika-Abraham, wayelikhoboka. Ufanekisela iYerusalem yasemhlabeni, eyayilawulwa nguMthetho kaMoses, owawubabhenca bonke ababephantsi kwawo bengamakhoboka esono nokufa. UPawulos wathi “uHagare lo uthetha iSinayi, intaba ekwelaseArabhiya,” kuba kulapho wamiselwa khon umnqophiso woMthetho.—Galati 3:10, 13; 4:25.

UIshmayeli, unyana kaHagare, ufanekisela amaYuda enkulungwane yokuqala, oonyana beYerusalem ababesakhotyokiswe nguMthetho kaMoses. Njengoko uIshmayeli watshutshisa uIsake, nawo loo maYuda atshutshisa amaKristu, awayengoonyana abathanjisiweyo bakaSara wokomfuziselo, “iYerusalem ephezulu.” Yaye kanye njengoku uAbraham wamdululayo uHagare noIshmayeli, noYehova ekugqibeleni wayilahla iYerusalem noonyana bayo abavukelayo.—Matthew 23:37, 38.

 [Umfanekiso okwiphepha 220]

Emva kokubhaptizwa kwakhe, uYesu wathanjiswa ngomoya oyingcwele, waza uIsaya 54:1 waqalisa ukuba neyona nzaliseko ibalulekileyo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 225]

UYehova wabufihla ubuso bakhe kwiYerusalem “okomzuzwana nje”

 [Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 231]

Ngaba umphumi-mkhosi nengcibi bangamoyisa na uMdali wabo?