1, 2. (a) Sazi kanjani ukuthi abantu bangaba abangane bakaNkulunkulu? (b) Yini esizoxoxa ngayo kulesi sihloko?

KUSUKELA sizalwa kuze kube yilapho sifa, siyaludinga uthando. Abantu bayabudinga ubungane obuseduze nobunothando, hhayi nje uthando lwezithandani. Kodwa esikudinga ngaphezu kwakho konke, uthando lukaJehova. Abaningi abakholwa ukuthi abantu bangaba nobungane obuseduze nobunothando noNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthi akabonakali futhi unguMninimandla onke. Kodwa siyalazi iqiniso!

² IBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi abantu baye baba abangane bakaNkulunkulu. Kufanele sifunde ezibonelweni zabo. Ngani? Ngoba ukuba nobungane noNkulunkulu kungumgomo obaluleke kunayo yonke esingaba nayo ekuphileni. Ngakho, ake sibheke isibonelo sika-Abrahama. (Funda uJakobe 2:23.) Waba kanjani umngane kaNkulunkulu? Ubungane obuqinile buka-Abrahama noNkulunkulu babusekelwe okholweni futhi waziwa ‘njengoyise wabo bonke abanokholo.’  (Roma 4:11) Njengoba uhlola isibonelo sakhe, zibuze, ‘Ngingalulingisa kanjani ukholo luka-Abrahama ukuze ngiqinise ubungane bami noJehova?’

3, 4. (a) Chaza ukuthi yini okungenzeka yaba uvivinyo olukhulu kunalo lonke lokholo luka-Abrahama. (b) Kungani u-Abrahama wayezimisele ukunikela ngo-Isaka njengomhlatshelo?

³ Ake umcabange u-Abrahama eneminyaka engaba ngu-125 ehamba kancane enyuka intaba. ^[1] (Bheka umbhalo osekugcineni.) Wayelandelwa yindodana yakhe u-Isaka, cishe owayeneminyaka engu-25 ubudala. U-Isaka wayephethe izinkuni zokubasa umlilo kanti u-Abrahama yena wayephethe ummese kanye nezinto zokuphemba umlilo. Cishe lolo kwakuwuhambo olwalunzima kakhulu ekuphileni kuka-Abrahama. Kodwa hhayi ngenxa yokukhula ngeminyaka. Wayesenawo impela amandla. Kunalokho, lolo hambo lwalunzima ngenxa yokuthi uJehova wayemcele ukuba anikele ngendodana yakhe njengomhlatshelo!—Genesise 22:1-8.

⁴ Cishe lolo kwakuwuvivinyo olukhulu kunalo lonke lokholo luka-Abrahama. Abanye abantu bathi uNkulunkulu wayenesihluku ngokucela u-Abrahama ukuba anikele ngendodana yakhe. Kanti abanye bathi u-Abrahama wayezimisele ukwenza lokhu ngenxa yokuthi wayengayithandi indodana yakhe. Abantu basho izinto ezinjalo ngenxa yokuthi abanalo ukholo futhi abazi ukuthi luyini ukholo lwangempela noma lubonakaliswa kanjani. (1 Korinte 2:14-16) Kodwa u-Abrahama akazange avele nje alalele uNkulunkulu ngaphandle kokucabanga. Wayelalela ngenxa yokuthi wayenokholo lwangempela. Wayazi ukuthi uJehova akasoze amcela ukuba enze into eyobangela umonakalo ongenakulungiseka. U-Abrahama wayazi ukuthi uma elalela, uJehova uyombusisa futhi abusise nendodana yakhe. Yini u-Abrahama ayeyidinga ukuze abe nokholo oluqine kangako? Wayedinga ulwazi nokufunda kulokho ayebhekana nakho.

5. Iyiphi indlela okungenzeka u-Abrahama wamazi ngayo uJehova , futhi lolo lwazi lwamenza wazizwa kanjani?

⁵ Ulwazi. U-Abrahama wakhulela emzini  wase-Uri. Abantu bakuleyo ndawo babekhulekela onkulunkulu bamanga futhi ngisho noyise imbala wayebakhulekela. (Joshuwa 24:2) Pho u-Abrahama wamazi kanjani uJehova? IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi indodana kaNowa uShemi yayihlobene no-Abrahama. Futhi yaphila kwaze kwaba yilapho u-Abrahama eseneminyaka engu-150 ubudala. UShemi wayeyindoda yokholo ngempela futhi kungenzeka wayekhuluma nezihlobo zakhe ngoJehova. Asazi ngokuthe ngqo, kodwa kungenzeka ukuthi u-Abrahama wamazi kanjalo uJehova. Lokho u-Abrahama akufunda kwamenza wamthanda uJehova futhi lolo lwazi lwamsiza ukuba akhe ukholo.

6, 7. Izinto u-Abrahama abhekana nazo zaluqinisa kanjani ukholo lwakhe?

⁶ Izinto abhekana nazo. U-Abrahama wabhekana naziphi izimo ezaqinisa ukholo lwakhe kuJehova? Abanye bathi imicabango yakha imizwa futhi imizwa iholela esenzweni. Inhliziyo ka-Abrahama yashukunyiswa yilokho ayekufundile ngoNkulunkulu futhi lokho kwamenza waba nenhlonipho ejulile ‘ngoJehova uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, uMenzi wezulu nomhlaba.’ (Genesise 14:22) IBhayibheli libiza ukuhlonipha okujule kanjalo ngokuthi ‘ukwesaba kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.’ (Hebheru 5:7) Ukuze sibe nobungane obuseduze noNkulunkulu, sidinga ukwesaba kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. (IHubo 25:14) Yileyo mfanelo eyashukumisa u-Abrahama ukuba alalele uJehova.

⁷ UNkulunkulu watshela u-Abrahama noSara ukuba bashiye umuzi wabo owawuse-Uri baye kwelinye izwe. Base bekhulile futhi kwakuzodingeka bahlale ematendeni ukuphila kwabo konke. Nakuba u-Abrahama ayazi ukuthi kuyoba nezingozi eziningi, wayezimisele ukulalela uJehova. Ngenxa yokulalela kwakhe, uNkulunkulu wambusisa futhi wamvikela. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho umka-Abrahama omuhle, uSara, ethathiwe kuye futhi yena esengozini yokubulawa, uJehova wabavikela ngokuyisimangaliso bobabili u-Abrahama noSara isikhathi esingaphezu kwesisodwa. (Genesise 12:10-20; 20:2-7, 10-12, 17, 18) Lezo zenzakalo zenza ukholo luka-Abrahama lwaqina nakakhulu.

8. Singaluthola kanjani ulwazi nezifundo okungaqinisa ubungane bethu noJehova?

⁸ Singakwazi yini ukuba abangane abasondelene noJehova? Yebo, ngokuqinisekile singakwazi! Njengo-Abrahama, kudingeka sifunde ngoJehova. Nathi singaluthola ulwazi esiludingayo futhi sifunde kulokho esibhekana nakho. Namuhla, sinokuningi kakhulu kunalokho  u-Abrahama ayenakho. (Daniyeli 12:4; Roma 11:33) IBhayibheli ligcwele ulwazi mayelana “noMenzi wezulu nomhlaba.” Esikufundayo kusenza simthande uJehova futhi kusisiza simhloniphe ngokujulile. Lolu thando nenhlonipho ngoNkulunkulu kusishukumisela ukuba simlalele. Lapho senza kanjalo, siyayibona indlela asivikela nasibusisa ngayo futhi lokhu kusinika ulwazi olusekelwe kulokho esizibonele kona mathupha, okwenza ukholo lwethu luqine nakakhulu. Lapho sikhonza uJehova ngokugcwele, siyothola ukwaneliseka, ukuthula nenjabulo. (IHubo 34:8; IzAga 10:22) Lapho sithola ulwazi futhi sifunda kulokho esibhekana nakho, kuba yilapho ubungane bethu naye buqina khona nakakhulu.

9, 10. (a) Yini edingekayo ukuze ubungane buqine kakhudlwana? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi u-Abrahama wabazisa futhi wabuqinisa ubungane bakhe noJehova?

⁹ Ubungane obuseduze bungafaniswa nento eyigugu yenani elikhulu. (Funda izAga 17:17.) Abufani nevazi ebizayo esetshenziselwa ukuhlobisa nje kuphela. Bufana kakhulu nembali enhle edinga amanzi nokunakekelwa ukuze iqhakaze. U-Abrahama wabazisa futhi wabulondoloza ubungane bakhe noJehova. Wakwenza kanjani lokho?

¹⁰ U-Abrahama waqhubeka ejulisa ukwesaba kwakhe kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu nokulalela. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho eya eKhanani nomndeni wakhe kanye nezinceku zakhe, waqhubeka evumela uJehova ukuba amqondise ekwenzeni izinqumo ezinkulu nezincane. Ngonyaka owandulela ukuzalwa kuka-Isaka, lapho u-Abrahama eneminyaka engu-99 ubudala, uJehova wamtshela ukuba asoke bonke abesilisa endlini yakhe. Ingabe u-Abrahama wamngabaza uJehova noma wazama ukuthola izaba zokungakwenzi lokho ayecelwe ukuba akwenze? Cha, wathembela kuJehova futhi walalela ‘ngalo kanye lolo suku.’—Genesise 17:10-14, 23.

11. Kungani u-Abrahama ayekhathazekile ngeSodoma neGomora, futhi uJehova wamsiza kanjani?

¹¹ Ngenxa yokuthi u-Abrahama wayehlale emlalela uJehova ngisho nasezintweni ezincane, ubungane babo baqina kakhulu. Wayenomuzwa wokuthi angakhuluma nganoma yini noJehova, acele ngisho nosizo lapho exakwe yimibuzo enzima. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uJehova ethe uzoyibhubhisa imizi yaseSodoma naseGomora, u-Abrahama wayekhathazekile. Kungani? Wayesaba ukuthi abantu abalungile bazofa kanye nababi. Kungenzeka wayekhathazeke ngomshana wakhe uLoti nomndeni wakhe, ababehlala eSodoma. U-Abrahama wayemethemba uJehova, “uMahluleli womhlaba wonke,” ngakho ngokuthobeka wakhuluma naye ngezinto ezazimkhathaza. UJehova waba nesineke kumngane wakhe futhi wambonisa ukuthi unesihe. UJehova wamchazela ukuthi ngisho nalapho ekhipha  isahlulelo, uyabacinga abantu abalungile ukuze abasindise.—Genesise 18:22-33.

12, 13. (a) Ulwazi luka-Abrahama nalokho ayebhekane nakho kwamsiza kanjani kamuva? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi u-Abrahama wayemethemba uJehova?

¹² Kusobala ukuthi lonke ulwazi u-Abrahama ayelutholile kanye nalokho ayebhekane nakho kwamsiza wagcina ubungane bakhe noJehova buqinile. Ngakho kamuva, lapho uJehova emcela ukuba anikele ngendodana yakhe, wayazi ukuthi uJehova ubelokhu enesineke, enesihe, ethembekile futhi emvikela. U-Abrahama wayeqiniseka ngokugcwele ukuthi uJehova akavelanga nje waba nonya noma wangaba naluzwela esithubeni! Kungani sisho kanjalo?

¹³ Ngaphambi kokushiya izinceku zakhe, u-Abrahama wathi: “Nina hlalani lapha kanye nembongolo, kodwa mina nomfana sifuna ukuqhubekela laphaya siyokhulekela bese sibuyela kini.” (Genesise 22:5) Wayesho ukuthini u-Abrahama? Ingabe wayeqamba amanga mayelana nokubuya no-Isaka, azi kahle ukuthi uyonikela ngaye njengomhlatshelo? Cha. IBhayibheli lithi u-Abrahama wayazi ukuthi uJehova wayengamvusa u-Isaka ekufeni. (Funda eyamaHebheru 11:19.) U-Abrahama wayazi ukuthi uJehova wayemnike amandla okuzala indodana nakuba yena noSara base bekhule kakhulu. (Hebheru 11:11, 12, 18) Ngakho waqaphela ukuthi ayikho into eyayingahlula uJehova. U-Abrahama wayengazi ukuthi kwakuzokwenzekani ngalolo suku. Kodwa wayenokholo lokuthi uma kudingeka, uJehova wayezoyivusa indodana yakhe ukuze zonke izithembiso zaKhe zigcwaliseke. Yingakho u-Abrahama ebizwa ngokuthi “nguyise wabo bonke abanokholo.”

14. Iziphi izinselele obhekana nazo ekukhonzeni uJehova, futhi isibonelo sika-Abrahama singakusiza kanjani?

¹⁴ Nokho, namuhla uJehova akasiceli ukuba senze umhlatshelo ngezingane zethu, kodwa uyasicela ukuba silalele imiyalo yakhe. Ngezinye izikhathi singase singaziqondi izizathu zale miyalo noma kungenzeka sikuthole kunzima ukuyilalela. Kuke kwenzeke yini uzizwa kanjalo? Kwabanye, umsebenzi wokushumayela unzima. Mhlawumbe banamahloni futhi bakuthola kunzima ukukhuluma nabantu abangabazi. Abanye besaba ukwehluka emsebenzini noma esikoleni. (Eksodusi 23:2; 1 Thesalonika 2:2) Lapho ucelwa ukuba wenze into enzima, cabanga ngesibonelo esivelele sokholo nesibindi sika-Abrahama. Lapho sizindla ngezibonelo zamadoda nabesifazane bokholo, kungasishukumisela ukuba sibalingise futhi sisondelane noMngane wethu, uJehova.—Hebheru 12:1, 2.

15. Kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi u-Abrahama akazange azisole ngokulalela uJehova ngobuqotho?

¹⁵ Ingabe u-Abrahama wake wazisola ngokulalela imiyalo kaJehova? IBhayibheli lithi u-Abrahama “wafa esegugile  impela, esemdala, anelisekile.” (Genesise 25:8) Lapho eseneminyaka engu-175 ubudala, u-Abrahama wayengabheka emuva esikhathini eside ayesesiphilile futhi azizwe anelisekile. Ngani? Ngenxa yokuthi ubungane bakhe noJehova babulokhu buyinto ebaluleke kunazo zonke kuye. Nokho, lapho sifunda ukuthi u-Abrahama ‘wayesemdala futhi anelisekile,’ lokhu akusho ukuthi wayengasenaso isifiso sokuphila esikhathini esizayo.

16. Yiziphi izinto u-Abrahama ayozijabulela ePharadesi?

¹⁶ IBhayibheli lithi u-Abrahama “wayelindele umuzi onezisekelo zangempela, omakhi nomenzi wawo nguNkulunkulu.” (Hebheru 11:10) U-Abrahama wayekholelwa ukuthi ngelinye ilanga uyowubona lowo muzi, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, ubusa phezu komhlaba. Futhi uyowubona ngempela! Cabanga nje ukuthi u-Abrahama uyojabula kanjani lapho esehlala emhlabeni oyipharadesi futhi eqhubeka eqinisa ubungane bakhe noNkulunkulu. Uyokujabulela ukwazi ukuthi isibonelo sakhe sokholo sesisize izinceku zikaNkulunkulu izinkulungwane zeminyaka! EPharadesi uyothola ukuthi umhlatshelo waseNtabeni iMoriya wawufanekisela into enkulu nakakhulu. (Hebheru 11:19) Futhi uyothola ukuthi ubuhlungu abuzwa lapho elungiselela ukunikela ngendodana yakhe u-Isaka, busize izigidi zabantu abathembekile ukuba zibuqonde ubuhlungu uJehova abuzwa lapho enikela ngeNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu, njengesihlengo sesintu. (Johane 3:16) Isibonelo sika-Abrahama sisisize sonke ukuba sisazise nakakhulu isihlengo, isenzo esikhulu kunazo zonke sothando esake saboniswa!

17. Yini ozimisele ukuyenza, futhi sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁷ Kwangathi ngamunye wethu angazimisela ukulingisa ukholo luka-Abrahama. Njengaye, siyaludinga ulwazi nezimo esingafunda kuzo ekuphileni. Njengoba siqhubeka sifunda ngoJehova futhi simlalela, sizoyibona indlela asibusisa nasivikela ngayo. (Funda eyamaHebheru 6:10-12.) Kwangathi uJehova angaba uMngane wethu kuze kube phakade! Esihlokweni esilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngezinye izibonelo ezintathu zabathembekile ababa abangane bakaNkulunkulu abakhulu.