1, 2. Yini ehilelekile ekugxiliseni amehlo ethu kuJehova?

SIPHILA ‘ezikhathini ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo’ futhi njengoba isikhathi siqhubeka ukuphila kuzoba nzima nakakhulu ngaphambi kokuba uNkulunkulu abhubhise leli zwe alethe ukuthula kwangempela emhlabeni. (2 Thim. 3:1) Ngakho, senza kahle ngokuzibuza, ‘Ngilufuna kuphi usizo nesiqondiso?’ Singase siphendule sithi, ‘KuJehova.’ Leyo impendulo enembile.

² Yini ehilelekile ekubhekeni kuJehova? Singaqikelela kanjani ukuthi amehlo ethu ahlala egxile kuye njengoba sibhekana nezinselele zokuphila? Emakhulwini eminyaka edlule, umhubi wasiqaphela isidingo sokuphakamisela amehlo ethu kuJehova ukuze sithole usizo lapho sibhekana nobunzima. (Funda iHubo 123:1-4.) Waqhathanisa ukubheka kwethu kuJehova nendlela inceku ebheka ngayo enkosini yayo. Wayesho ukuthini umhubi ngala mazwi? Inceku ayigcini nje ngokubheka enkosini yayo ukuze ithole ukudla nesivikelo, kudingeka iqhubeke ibheke enkosini yayo ukuze ibone ukuthi idingani bese yenza ngokuvumelana nalokho. Ngendlela efanayo, nsuku zonke kudingeka sihlole iZwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze sazi ukuthi iyini  intando kaJehova ngathi bese silandela leso siqondiso. Lena ukuphela kwendlela engasenza siqiniseke ngokuthi uJehova uzosisiza lapho sidinga usizo.—Efe. 5:17.

3. Yini engasiphazamisa ekugxiliseni amehlo ethu kuJehova?

³ Nakuba sazi ukuthi kubaluleke kangakanani ukuqhubeka sibheke kuJehova, ngezinye izikhathi singaphazamiseka. Yilokho kanye okwenzeka kumngane kaJesu oseduze, uMarta. “Wayethikanyezwa ukunakekela imisebenzi eminingi.” (Luka 10:40-42) Uma lokho kwenzeka kumuntu othembeke kangaka owayephila noJesu, kumelwe singamangali uma lokho kwenzeka kithi. Yini engasiphazamisa ekugxiliseni amehlo ethu kuJehova? Kulesi sihloko sizohlola indlela izenzo zabanye ezingasiphazamisa ngayo. Sizofunda nendlela yokuhlala sigxile kuJehova.

4. Kungani kungase kusimangaze ukuthi uMose walahlekelwa yilungelo lokungena Ezweni Lesithembiso?

⁴ Ngokuqinisekile uMose wayebheka kuJehova ukuze athole isiqondiso. Ngempela, “waqhubeka egxilile sengathi uyambona Lowo ongabonakali.” (Funda eyamaHebheru 11:24-27.) Ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kusitshela ukuthi “akakaveli umprofethi onjengoMose kwa-Israyeli, uJehova amazi ubuso nobuso.” (Dut. 34:10) Ngisho noma uMose ayengumngane oseduze kaJehova, walahlekelwa yilungelo lokungena eZweni Lesithembiso. (Num. 20:12) Yini eyabangela ukuba alahlekelwe yilelo lungelo?

5-7. Iyiphi inkinga eyavela ngokushesha ngemva kokuba ama-Israyeli ephumile eGibhithe futhi uMose wasisingatha kanjani leso simo?

⁵ Zingakapheli izinyanga ezimbili ama-Israyeli ephumile eGibhithe, ngaphambi kokuba afike eNtabeni iSinayi, kwavela inkinga enkulu. Abantu baqala ukukhononda ngokusweleka kwamanzi. Bakhononda ngoMose futhi isimo saba sibi kakhulu kangangokuthi uMose wakhala kuJehova wathi: “Ngizokwenzenjani ngalaba bantu? Sekusele kancane bangikhande ngamatshe.” (Eks. 17:4) UJehova waphendula ngokunika uMose iziqondiso ezicacile. Kwakumelwe athathe induku yakhe bese eshaya ngayo idwala eHorebe, okwakuyobangela ukuba kuphume amanzi kulo. Siyafunda: “UMose wenza kanjalo phambi kwamehlo amadoda amadala akwa-Israyeli.” Ama-Israyeli aphuza lawo manzi, inkinga yaxazululeka.—Eks. 17:5, 6.

⁶ Ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kube sekusitshela ukuthi uMose “waqamba leyo ndawo ngokuthi iMasa neMeriba, ngenxa yokukhononda kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli noNkulunkulu nangenxa yokuvivinya kwabo uJehova, ethi: ‘Ingabe uJehova ukhona phakathi kwethu noma cha?’” (Eks. 17:7) La magama ayefaneleka ngoba asho “Ukuvivinya,” “Ukuxabana.”

⁷ UJehova wazizwa kanjani ngalokho okwenzeka eMeriba? Wayengabheki izenzo zama-Israyeli njengokuvukela uMose kuphela, kodwa wayezibheka njengokubekela inselele ubuNkulunkulu bakhe. (Funda iHubo 95:8, 9.) Ngokungangabazeki ama-Israyeli ayenze iphutha. Ngaleso sikhathi, uMose wasabela kahle ngokubheka kuJehova nangokulandela iziqondiso zakhe ngokucophelela.

8. Iyiphi inkinga eyavela ngasekupheleni kohambo lwasehlane lweminyaka engu-40?

⁸ Nokho, kwenzekani lapho isimo esifanayo senzeka ngemva kweminyaka engu-40 ngasekupheleni kohambo lwasehlane? Ama-Israyeli aphinde azithola esendaweni eyagcina yaziwa ngokuthi iMeriba. Kodwa kulokhu, ayesendaweni ehlukile, eduze kwaseKhadeshi eduze komngcele  weZwe Lesithembiso. * Ama-Israyeli aphinde akhononda ngokusweleka kwamanzi. (Num. 20:1-5) Kodwa kulokhu, kwenzeka okuhlukile kuMose.

9. Yiziphi iziqondiso uMose azithola, kodwa yini ayenza? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

⁹ UMose wasabela kanjani kulokhu kuvukela? Waphinde waphendukela kuJehova, wafuna isiqondiso kuye. Kodwa kulokhu, uJehova akazange athi ashaye idwala. UMose watshelwa ukuba athathe induku yakhe, aqoqele abantu phambi kwedwala bese ekhuluma nedwala. (Num. 20:6-8) Nokho, uMose akazange akhulume nedwala. Kunalokho, wakhipha ukufutheka kwakhe ngokuthethisa isixuku esasibuthene lapho: “Yizwani manje, nina zidlubulundi! Ingabe sizonikhiphela amanzi kuleli dwala?” Ngemva kwalokho washaya idwala hhayi kanye kodwa kabili.—Num. 20:10, 11.

10. UJehova wasabela kanjani kulokho okwenziwa uMose?

¹⁰ UJehova wamthukuthelela kakhulu uMose. (Dut. 1:37; 3:26) Kungani uJehova asabela ngaleyo ndlela? Kuningana okungenzeka kwakuhilelekile. Njengoba kubonisiwe ekuqaleni, kungenzeka uJehova wacasuka ngenxa yokuthi uMose wehluleka ukulalela iziqondiso ezintsha ayesanda kuzithola.

11. Ngokushaya itshe, kungani uMose kungenzeka wabangela ukuba ama-Israyeli acabange ukuthi lokho okwenzeka kwakungesona isimangaliso sikaJehova?

¹¹ Sikhona esinye isizathu okungenzeka senza uJehova wathukuthela. Amatshe amakhulu aseMeriba yokuqala ayi-granite eqinile. Ngisho noma umuntu angawashaya kakhulu kangakanani, akunakwenzeka ukuthi kuphume amanzi kuwo. Nokho, amatshe aseMeriba yesibili ahluke kakhulu, amaningi kuwo akhiwa yi-limestone ethambile. Ngenxa yokuthamba kwala matshe, lezi zindawo zivame ukuba yimithombo yamanzi. Kungenzeka yini ukuthi ngesikhathi uMose eshaya itshe kabili kunokuba akhulume nalo, wabangela ukuba ama-Israyeli acabange ukuthi la manzi aphuma emthonjeni owawuphakathi kwala matshe kunokuba abheke ukuphuma kwawo njengesimangaliso esivela kuJehova? * Asiqiniseki.

12. Yisiphi esinye isizathu okungenzeka sabangela ukuba uJehova athukuthelele uMose no-Aroni?

¹² Mhlawumbe sikhona esinye isizathu esabangela ukuba uJehova athukuthelele uMose no-Aroni. Phawula lokho uMose akusho kubantu: “Ingabe sizonikhiphela amanzi kuleli dwala?” Ngokusebenzisa inkulumo ethi “si,” cishe uMose wayebhekisela kuye no-Aroni. La mazwi kaMose abonisa ukuthi wayengamhloniphi nhlobo uNkulunkulu njengoMenzi waleso simangaliso. Lokhu kuqinisekiswa yilokho esikufunda kumaHubo 106:32, 33: “Babangela ukucasuka emanzini aseMeriba, kangangokuba kwamhambela kabi uMose ngenxa yabo. Ngoba bawenza waba munyu umphefumulo wakhe waphahluka ngezindebe zakhe.” * (Num. 27:14) Kunoma  yikuphi, izenzo zikaMose azizange zinike uJehova udumo olumfanele. Ekhuluma noMose no-Aroni, uJehova wathi: “Nadlubulunda emyalweni wami.” (Num. 20:24) Ngempela benza isono esibi kakhulu!

13. Kungani isahlulelo uJehova asinika uMose sasifaneleka futhi sibonisa ubulungisa?

¹³ Njengabaholi phakathi kwabantu bakhe, uJehova wayelindele lukhulu kuMose naku-Aroni. (Luka 12:48) Ngaphambili, uJehova wenqabela sonke isizukulwane sakwa-Israyeli ukuba singene ezweni laseKhanani ngenxa yokuvukela kwaso. (Num. 14:26-30, 34) Ngakho kwakufaneleka ngoJehova futhi kuwubulungisa ukuba anike uMose isahlulelo esifanayo ngenxa yokuvukela kwakhe. Njengamanye ama-Israyeli avukela, uMose akavunyelwanga ukungena eZweni Lesithembiso.

14, 15. Yini eyabangela ukuba uMose avukele?

¹⁴ Yini eyabangela ukuba uMose avukele? Phinde uqaphele lokho okushiwo amaHubo 106:32, 33: “Babangela ukucasuka emanzini aseMeriba, kangangokuba kwamhambela kabi uMose ngenxa yabo. Ngoba bawenza waba munyu umphefumulo wakhe waphahluka ngezindebe zakhe.” Yize ama-Israyeli aphatha kabi uJehova, uMose owathukuthela. Ukwehluleka kwakhe ukuzithiba kwabangela ukuba akhulume engacabanganga ngemiphumela.

¹⁵ UMose wavumela izenzo zabanye ukuba zimphazamise ekugxiliseni iso lakhe kuJehova. Isimo sokuqala uMose wasisingatha kahle. (Eks. 7:6) Kungenzeka ukuthi ngemva kokusebenzelana nama-Israyeli adlubulundayo amashumi eminyaka, wakhathala wakhungatheka. Kungenzeka uMose wayecabanga ngendlela yena ayezizwa ngayo kunokucabanga ngendlela angakhazimulisa ngayo uJehova.

16. Kungani kumelwe sicabange ngalokho uMose akwenza?

¹⁶ Uma umprofethi othembeke njengoMose engaphazamiseka futhi akhubeke, kalula nje nathi singazithola sisesimweni esifanayo. NjengoMose, sekusele kancane singene ezweni elingokomfanekiso, izwe elisha uJehova asithembise lona. (2 Pet. 3:13) Akekho kithi ofuna ukulahlekelwa yilelo lungelo elikhethekile. Nokho, ukuze singene ezweni elisha, kudingeka sigcine amehlo ethu egxile kuJehova, sihlale sifuna ukwenza intando yakhe. (1 Joh. 2:17) Yiziphi izifundo okufanele sizifunde ephutheni likaMose?

17. Yini ezosisiza singanqotshwa ukukhungatheka?

¹⁷ Ungavumi ukunqotshwa ukukhungatheka. Ngisho noma singabhekana nezinkinga ezifanayo ngokuphindaphindiwe, “masingayeki ukwenza okuhle, ngoba ngenkathi efanele siyovuna uma singakhathali.” (Gal. 6:9; 2 Thes. 3:13) Lapho sibhekana nezimo ezisikhungathekisayo, noma uma kunothile ohlale esicasula, ingabe siyazithiba silawule ulimi lwethu nentukuthelo yethu? (IzAga 10:19; 17:27; Math. 5:22) Lapho sicasulwa abanye kudingeka sifunde ‘ukuqhela olakeni.’ Ulaka lukabani? Ulaka lukaJehova. (Funda eyabaseRoma 12:17-21.) Uma siqhubeka sibheke kuJehova, siyomhlonipha ngokuthi sigweme intukuthelo, kunalokho simlinde ngesineke ukuze athathe isinyathelo esifanele. Ukuzama ukuziphindiselela ngandlela thile kuyobonisa ukuthi asimhloniphi uJehova.

18. Yini okudingeka siyikhumbule mayelana nokulandela iziqondiso?

 ¹⁸ Zilandele ngokucophelela iziqondiso zakamuva. Ingabe sizilandela ngokwethembeka iziqondiso uJehova asinika zona? Uma kunjalo, ngeke sibambelele ekwenzeni izinto ngendlela ebesilokhu sizenza ngayo esikhathini esidlule. Kunalokho, siyoshesha ukulandela noma yisiphi isiqondiso esisha uJehova asinika sona ngenhlangano yakhe. (Heb. 13:17) Ngesikhathi esifanayo, siyoqaphela ukuba ‘singeqeli ngale kwezinto ezilotshiwe.’ (1 Kor. 4:6) Ngokwenza lokho, siyogcina amehlo ethu egxile kuJehova.

19. Singakugwema kanjani ukuvumela amaphutha abanye ukuba alimaze ubungane bethu noJehova?

¹⁹ Ungavumeli amaphutha abanye ukuba alimaze ubuhlobo bakho noJehova. Uma sigcina amehlo ethu angokomfanekiso egxile kuJehova, ngeke sivumele izenzo zabanye ukuba zisithukuthelise noma zilimaze ubuhlobo bethu naYe. Lokhu kubaluleke kakhulu uma njengoMose, siphathiswe okuthile enhlanganweni kaNkulunkulu. Nakuba kuyiqiniso ukuthi ngamunye wethu kudingeka ‘aqhubeke esebenzela ukusindiswa kwakhe siqu,’ kumelwe sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova akasahluleli ngendinganiso eyodwa engashintshi. (Fil. 2:12) Kunalokho, lapho sinemithwalo eminingi enhlanganweni yakhe, siyolandisa nakakhulu kuye. (Luka 12:48) Kodwa uma simthanda ngempela uJehova, ayikho into eyosikhuba noma isehlukanise nothando lwakhe.—IHu. 119:165; Roma 8:37-39.

20. Yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza?

²⁰ Kulezi zikhathi ezinzima, kwangathi amehlo ethu angaqhubeka ebheke phezulu kuLowo “ohlezi emazulwini” ukuze siyiqonde intando yakhe. Kwangathi singelokothe sivumele ubuhlobo bethu noJehova buphazanyiswe izenzo zabanye abantu. Ukubaluleka kwalokhu kugcizelelwa isibonelo salokho okwenzeka kuMose. Kunokuba sithukutheliswe amaphutha abanye abantu, masizimisele ukugcina ‘amehlo ethu ebheke kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, aze asibonise umusa.’—IHu. 123:1, 2.