1. Yini eyayivimbela umkhaya ka-Adamu no-Eva ukuba ungene ensimini yase-Edene, futhi yini u-Abela ayeyifisa?

U-ABELA wayebuka umhlambi wezimvu zakhe uklabe ngokuthula emthambekeni wegquma. Mhlawumbe wabuye waphakamisela amehlo ngale kwawo endaweni ethe ukuqhela lapho ayengabona khona ukulokoza kwelangabi. Wayazi ukuthi kuleyo ndawo kunenkemba evuthayo elokhu iphenduphenduka, evimbe indlela eya ensimini yase-Edene. Abazali bakhe babeke bahlala khona, kodwa bona nezingane zabo babengasakwazi ukungena manje. Cabanga umoya wantambama uphephula izinwele zika-Abela njengoba ebheka phezulu ecabanga ngoMdali wakhe. Ingabe igebe phakathi komuntu noNkulunkulu laliyoke livaleke? U-Abela wayefisa sengathi lingavaleka.

2-4. U-Abela ukhuluma nathi namuhla ngamuphi umqondo?

² U-Abela uyakhuluma nawe namuhla. Uyamuzwa? Ungase uthi akanakukhuluma nami. Ingani le ndodana yesibili ka-Adamu kade yafa. Isidumbu sayo asisekho, saphenduka uthuli eminyakeni engaba ngu-6 000 edlule. Mayelana nabafileyo, iBhayibheli lithi: “Abazi lutho.” (UmSh. 9:5, 10) Ngaphezu kwalokho, akukho nelilodwa igama elilotshwe eBhayibhelini elashiwo u-Abela. Pho angakhuluma kanjani nathi?

³ Umphostoli uPawulu waphefumulelwa ukuba asho lokhu ngo-Abela: “Ngalo usakhuluma, nakuba afa.” (Funda eyamaHebheru 11:4.) Yini le u-Abela akhuluma ngayo? Ukholo. Ungumuntu wokuqala owabonisa le mfanelo enhle kakhulu. Walubonisa ngendlela enamandla ukholo kangangokuthi isibonelo sakhe siyaphila futhi singasilingisa namhlanje. Uma sifunda okholweni ayenalo futhi sizama ukumlingisa, umlando wakhe usuke ukhuluma nathi ngendlela engokoqobo nezuzisayo.

⁴ Nokho, yini esingayifunda ku-Abela nasokholweni lwakhe njengoba kukuncane kangaka okushiwo ngaye eBhayibhelini? Ake sibone.

5. Asho ukuthini amazwi kaJesu aveza u-Abela njengowayephila “ekusungulweni kwezwe”? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

⁵ U-Abela wazalwa ngasekuqaleni komlando wesintu. Kamuva uJesu wakhuluma ngo-Abela njengowayephila “ekusungulweni  kwezwe.” (Funda uLuka 11:50, 51.) Kusobala ukuthi uJesu wayekhuluma ngezwe labantu abangahlengeka esonweni. Nakuba u-Abela ayengumuntu wesine emhlabeni, kubonakala sengathi nguyena muntu wokuqala uNkulunkulu ambheka njengongahlengeka. * Ngokusobala, u-Abela akakhulelanga phakathi kwabantu ababeyisibonelo esihle.

6. Wayenabazali abanjani u-Abela?

⁶ Nakuba izwe lalingakabi nesikhathi eside likhona, lase lisitshekelwe ifu elimnyama. Abazali baka-Abela, u-Adamu no-Eva, cishe babebahle, benamandla. Kodwa babeyizehluleki futhi nabo babekwazi lokho. Babeke baba abantu abaphelele, bengaphila phakade. Kodwa bahlubuka kuJehova uNkulunkulu futhi baxoshwa ekhaya labo eliyiPharadesi ensimini yase-Edene. Ngokubeka ezabo izifiso kuqala kunanoma yini enye—ngisho nezidingo zenzalo yabo—balahlekelwa ukuphelela nokuphila okuphakade.—Gen. 2:15–3:24.

7, 8. Wathini u-Eva lapho kuzalwa uKhayini, futhi yini okungenzeka wayeyicabanga?

⁷ Lapho sebexoshiwe kuleyo nsimu, u-Adamu no-Eva baphila kanzima. Kodwa lapho bethola ingane yokuqala, bayiqamba ngokuthi uKhayini, noma “Okuthile Okuzelwe,” futhi u-Eva wathi: “Ngitholé indoda ngosizo lukaJehova.” Amazwi akhe asikisela ukuthi kungenzeka wayecabanga ngesithembiso uJehova ayesenze ensimini, ebikezela ngowesifazane othile owayeyoveza “imbewu,” noma inzalo, ngelinye ilanga eyayiyobhubhisa omubi owayedukise u-Adamu no-Eva. (Gen. 3:15; 4:1) Ingabe u-Eva wayecabanga ukuthi nguyena lowo wesifazane  okwakuprofethwe ngaye nokuthi uKhayini ‘wayeyimbewu’ ethenjisiwe?

⁸ Uma kunjalo, wayeshaye phansi kwashunq’ uthuli. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma yena no-Adamu babemfundisa lokho uKhayini lapho ekhula, kumelwe ukuba bamenza waqhosha. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, u-Eva wazala enye indodana, kodwa asitholi kusikisela kokuthi iyona eyayiyimbewu. Bayiqamba ngokuthi u-Abela, okungase kusho “Ukukhipha Umoya” noma “Ize.” (Gen. 4:2) Ingabe ukumqamba ngalelo gama kwakubonisa ukuthi kuncane ababekulindele kuye, njengokungathi babenamathemba amakhulu ngoKhayini kunango-Abela? Asiqiniseki.

9. Yini abazali namuhla abangayifunda kubazali bethu bokuqala?

⁹ Abazali namuhla bangafunda okuningi kulabo bazali bokuqala. Ngamazwi nangezenzo zenu, ingabe nizofundisa izingane zenu ukuqhosha, ukuvelela nemikhuba yobugovu? Noma, ingabe nizozifundisa ukuthanda uJehova uNkulunkulu nokuba nobungane naye? Ngokudabukisayo, abazali bokuqala behluleka ukufeza umthwalo wabo wemfanelo. Noma kunjalo, kwakusenethemba ngenzalo yabo.

10, 11. UKhayini no-Abela babenza hlobo luni lwemisebenzi, futhi iyiphi imfanelo u-Abela azakhela yona?

¹⁰ Njengoba laba bafana ababili bekhula, kumelwe ukuba u-Adamu wabaqeqesha ekwenzeni imisebenzi yokondla umkhaya. UKhayini waba umlimi; u-Abela waba umalusi.

¹¹ Nokho, u-Abela wenza into eyayibaluleke kakhulu. Njengoba isikhathi siqhubeka, wazakhela ukholo—imfanelo enhle uPawulu aloba ngayo kamuva. Cabanga nje! Wayengekho umuntu oyisibonelo u-Abela ayengafunda kuye. Walwakha kanjani-ke ukholo kuJehova uNkulunkulu? Cabangela izici ezintathu okungenzeka ukholo lwakhe lwalusekelwe ngokuqinile kuzo.

12, 13. Ukubuka indalo kaJehova kwakungamsiza kanjani u-Abela akhule okholweni?

¹² Indalo kaJehova. Yiqiniso, uJehova wayewuqalekisile umhlabathi, wabangela ukuba ukhiphe ameva namakhakhasi, okwenza kwaba nzima ukulima. Noma kunjalo, umhlaba wawukhiqiza inala yokudla umkhaya ka-Abela owawuphila ngako. Futhi izilwane zazingaqalekisiwe, kuhlanganise nezinyoni nezinhlanzi; izintaba, amachibi, imifula nezilwandle; sasingaqalekisiwe isibhakabhaka, amafu, ilanga, inyanga nezinkanyezi. Yonke indawo u-Abela ayebheka kuyo, wayebona ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bothando, ukuhlakanipha nobuhle bukaJehova uNkulunkulu owadala zonke izinto. (Funda eyabaseRoma 1:20.) Ngokungangabazeki, ukuzindla ngokwazisa ngalezi zinto kwaluqinisa ukholo lwakhe.

 ¹³ Kumelwe ukuba u-Abela wazipha isikhathi sokuzindla ngezinto ezingokomoya. Awumcabange elusa umhlambi wakhe. Ukuphila kukamalusi kwakuhilela ukuhamba amabanga amade. Wayehamba nalezi zilwane ezimnene emagqumeni, ezigodini, awele nemifula—elokhu efuna amadlelo aluhlaza, imithombo ekahle yamanzi nezindawo ezinhle kunazo zonke zokuphumula ezinomthunzi. Kuzo zonke izilwane uNkulunkulu azidala, izimvu yizona ezazibonakala zingalondekile, kunjengokungathi zakheke ngendlela ezenza zidinge umuntu ozoziqondisa futhi azivikele. Ingabe u-Abela wabona ukuthi naye udinga isiqondiso, isivikelo nokunakekelwa oThile ohlakaniphile nonamandla kunanoma imuphi umuntu? Akungabazeki ukuthi wayewasho amazwi anjengalawo lapho ethandaza, futhi ngenxa yalokho ukholo lwakhe lwaqhubeka lukhula.

14, 15. Izithembiso zikaJehova zenza u-Abela ukuba azindle ngani?

¹⁴ Izithembiso zikaJehova. Kumelwe ukuba u-Adamu no-Eva bawaxoxela amadodana abo ngezenzakalo zasensimini yase-Edene ezabenza baxoshwa. Ngakho kuningi u-Abela ayengazindla ngakho.

¹⁵ UJehova wayethe umhlabathi uzoqalekiswa. U-Abela wayewabona ameva namakhakhasi ayefakazela ukuba iqiniso kwalawo mazwi. UJehova wabikezela nokuthi u-Eva wayeyozwa ubuhlungu lapho ekhulelwe nalapho ebeletha. Lapho kuzalwa izingane zakubo, nakanjani u-Abela wathola ukuthi nalawo mazwi agcwaliseka. UJehova wabona kusengaphambili ukuthi u-Eva wayeyokuzwa isidingo esikhulu sokuthandwa nokunakwa umyeni wakhe nokuthi u-Adamu wayeyombusa. U-Abela wayibona naleyo nto edabukisayo yenzeka. Kuzo zonke izimo, wabona ukuthi izwi likaJehova lithembeke ngokuphelele. Ngakho, wayenezizathu eziqinile zokuba nokholo esithembisweni sikaNkulunkulu ‘sembewu,’ noma inzalo, ngelinye ilanga eyayizolungisa umonakalo owawuqale e-Edene.—Gen. 3:15-19.

16, 17. Yini okungenzeka u-Abela wayifunda emakherubini kaJehova?

¹⁶ Izinceku zikaJehova. U-Abela akabatholanga abantu ababeyisibonelo esihle, kodwa kwakungebona abantu bodwa ababeyizidalwa ezihlakaniphile emhlabeni ngaleso sikhathi. Lapho u-Adamu no-Eva bexoshwa ensimini yase-Edene, uJehova waqikelela ukuthi bona nenzalo  yabo abasakwazi ukungena kulelo Pharadesi lasemhlabeni. Ukuze aqaphe indlela engena khona, uJehova wabeka amakherubi—izingelosi ezinezikhundla eziphakeme kakhulu—nenkemba ephenduphendukayo evutha amalangabi.—Funda uGenesise 3:24.

¹⁷ Cabanga ukuthi kwakunjani lapho u-Abela ebona lawo makherubi ngesikhathi esengumfana. Njengoba ayenomzimba wenyama, kumelwe ukuba ukubukeka kwawo kwakubonisa amandla amakhulu kakhulu. Kwakumangaza nokubona leyo “nkemba” eyayivutha amalangabi futhi iphenduphenduka njalo. Njengoba u-Abela ekhula, kwake kwenzeka yini wathola ukuthi lawo makherubi abe nesithukuthezi ayeseshiya isabelo sawo? Cha. Ubusuku nemini, unyaka nonyaka, lezo zidalwa ezihlakaniphile nezinamandla zaqhubeka zimi kuleyo ndawo. Ngakho u-Abela wafunda ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu unazo izinceku ezilungile, eziqotho. Kulawo makherubi wayengabona ubuqotho nokulalela uJehova ayengakuboni emkhayeni wakubo. Akungabazeki ukuthi leso sibonelo sezingelosi saluqinisa ukholo lwakhe.

18. Isiphi isisekelo esiqinile esinaso sokwakha ukholo namuhla?

¹⁸ Lapho u-Abela ezindla ngakho konke uJehova ayekwembula ngaye endalweni, ezithembisweni zakhe nasezibonelweni zezinceku zakhe eziyizingelosi, wathola ukuthi ukholo lwakhe luqina nakakhulu. Isibonelo sakhe sikhuluma nathi, akunjalo? Intsha ngokukhethekile ingakuthola kuqinisa idolo ukwazi ukuthi ingazakhela ukholo lwangempela kuJehova uNkulunkulu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi benzani abantu bakubo. Njengoba sinezimangaliso zendalo ezisizungezile, iBhayibheli eliphelele kanye nabantu  abaningi abayizibonelo zokholo, sinesisekelo esiqinile sokwakha ukholo namuhla.

19. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, iliphi iqiniso elibalulekile u-Abela aliqonda?

¹⁹ Njengoba ukholo luka-Abela kuJehova lwalukhula, wafuna indlela yokulubonisa ngezenzo. Kodwa umuntu wayengamnikani nje uMdali wendawo yonke? Ngokusobala uNkulunkulu wayengadingi sipho noma usizo oluvela kubantu. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, u-Abela waqonda iqiniso elibalulekile: Uma—ngesisusa esihle—ayenganikela kuJehova ngokuhle kakhulu ayenakho, uYise onothando wayeyojabula.

20, 21. UKhayini no-Abela banikela ngani kuJehova, futhi wasabela kanjani?

²⁰ U-Abela walungiselela ukunikela ngezimvu zomhlambi wakhe. Wakhetha ezekhethelo, amazibulo; emnikelweni wakhe wafaka amaqatha anonile. UKhayini naye wafuna isibusiso nomusa kaNkulunkulu, walungiselela ukunikela ngesivuno sakhe. Kodwa izisusa zakhe zazingefani nezika-Abela. Umehluko wabonakala lapho lezi zelamani zethula iminikelo yazo.

²¹ Kungenzeka womabili amadodana ka-Adamu asebenzisa ama-altare nomlilo lapho enza umnikelo, mhlawumbe esendaweni amakherubi ayengawabona kuyo, okwakuyiwona wodwa ayengabameleli bakaJehova emhlabeni ngaleso sikhathi. UJehova wasabela kanjani? Siyafunda: ‘UJehova wambheka ngomusa u-Abela nomnikelo wakhe.’ (Gen. 4:4) Ukuthi uNkulunkulu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi umbheka ngomusa, iBhayibheli alisho.

22, 23. Yini eyenza uJehova wamukela umnikelo ka-Abela?

²² Kungani uNkulunkulu amukela umnikelo ka-Abela? Ingabe indaba yayisemnikelweni ngokwawo? U-Abela wanikela ngesilwane esiphilayo, kwachitheka igazi laso eliyigugu. Ingabe wayeqaphela ukuthi umnikelo onjalo wawuyoba obaluleke kangakanani? Eminyakeni eminingi ngemva kwesikhathi sika-Abela, uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa umnikelo wewundlu elingenasici ukuze afanekisele umnikelo weNdodana yakhe ephelele, “iWundlu likaNkulunkulu,” okwakuyochitheka igazi layo elingenasici. (Joh. 1:29; Eks. 12:5-7) Nokho, kumelwe ukuba kuncane kakhulu u-Abela ayekwazi noma ayekuqonda ngalokho.

²³ Esiqiniseka ngakho yilokhu: U-Abela wanikela ngokuhle kakhulu ayenakho. Akubanga umnikelo wakhe wodwa uJehova awubheka ngomusa kodwa naye ngokwakhe. U-Abela wenza umnikelo ngoba eshukunyiswa uthando ngoJehova nokholo lwangempela kuye.

24. (a) Kungani singenakusho ukuthi umnikelo kaKhayini wawunogcobho? (b) UKhayini wayefana ngayiphi indlela nabaningi namhlanje?

²⁴ Kwakuhlukile ngoKhayini. UJehova “akazange neze ambheke  ngomusa uKhayini nomnikelo wakhe.” (Gen. 4:5) Akukhona ukuthi umnikelo kaKhayini wawunogcobho; uMthetho kaNkulunkulu kamuva wayivumela iminikelo yemikhiqizo yomhlabathi. (Lev. 6:14, 15) Kodwa iBhayibheli lithi ngoKhayini “imisebenzi yakhe yayimibi.” (Funda eyoku-1 Johane 3:12.) Njengabaningi kuze kube namuhla, kusobala ukuthi uKhayini wayecabanga ukuthi ukumane azishaye onesimo sokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu kwakwanele. Ukuntula kwakhe ukholo lwangempela nothando ngoJehova kwasheshe kwabonakala ezenzweni zakhe.

25, 26. UJehova wamxwayisa wathini uKhayini, kodwa uKhayini wenzani?

²⁵ Lapho uKhayini ebona ukuthi akawutholanga umusa kaJehova, ingabe wazama ukufunda esibonelweni sika-Abela? Cha. Wagcwala inzondo ngomfowabo. UJehova wakubona okwakwenzeka enhliziyweni kaKhayini futhi wazama ngesineke ukubonisana naye. Waxwayisa uKhayini ngokuthi inkambo yakhe yayizomholela esonweni esingathí sina, futhi wathi uma eshintsha izindlela zakhe ‘uzophakanyiswa.’—Gen. 4:6, 7.

²⁶ UKhayini akasilalelanga isixwayiso sikaNkulunkulu. Wacela umfowabo owayemethemba ukuba amphelezele baye endle. Wafike wamshaya umfowabo wambulala. (Gen. 4:8) Ngomqondo othile, u-Abela waba isisulu sokuqala soshushiso olungokwenkolo, umfel’ ukholo wokuqala. Wayesefile, kodwa indaba yakhe ayiphelelanga lapho.

27. (a) Kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi u-Abela uyovuswa? (b) Singaqiniseka kanjani ngokuthi siyombona u-Abela ngelinye ilanga?

²⁷ Ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, igazi lika-Abela lakhalela impindiselo noma ubulungisa kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Futhi uNkulunkulu wenza ubulungisa ngokujezisa uKhayini omubi ngenxa yobubi ayebenzile. (Gen. 4:9-12) Okubaluleke nakakhulu, umlando wokholo luka-Abela ukhuluma nathi namuhla. Iminyaka ayiphila—cishe eyikhulu—yayimbalwa kubantu bangaleyo nkathi, kodwa u-Abela wasisebenzisa ngokunenjongo isikhathi asiphila emhlabeni. Wafa azi ukuthi uYise osezulwini, uJehova, uyamthanda futhi uyamamukela. (Heb. 11:4) Ngakho singaqiniseka ngokuthi ulondekile enkumbulweni kaJehova engenamkhawulo, ulindele ukuvuselwa emhlabeni oyipharadesi. (Joh. 5:28, 29) Ingabe uzoba khona ukuze umbone? Ungambona uma uzimisela ukulalela njengoba u-Abela ekhuluma futhi ulingise ukholo lwakhe olumangalisayo.