1, 2. Yikuphi ukungaqiniseki uJoshuwa abhekana nakho ngemva kokufa kukaMose?

AMAZWI kaJehova ayesankeneneza ezindlebeni zikaJoshuwa: “UMose inceku yami ufile; manje suka, uwele leli Jordani, wena naso sonke lesi sizwe, ungene ezweni engisinika lona.” (Josh. 1:1, 2) Lolu kwakuwushintsho olwalungalindelekile kuJoshuwa, owayebe yisikhonzi sikaMose iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-40!

² Ngenxa yokuthi uMose wayebe umholi wama-Israyeli isikhathi eside, kungenzeka uJoshuwa wayezibuza ukuthi abantu bazozizwa kanjani lapho sekunguye oholayo. (Dut. 34:8, 10-12) Enye incwadi echaza iBhayibheli isho lokhu lapho ikhuluma ngoJoshuwa 1:1, 2: “Endulo nanamuhla, kuba nokungaqiniseki nokukhathazeka kubantu lapho kushintsha umholi.”

3, 4. Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJoshuwa wayengenzi iphutha ngokuthembela kuNkulunkulu, futhi yimuphi umbuzo esingazibuza wona?

³ Kumelwe ukuba uJoshuwa wayekhathazeke kufanele, kodwa ngemva nje kwezinsuku ezimbalwa, wabonisa ukuthi uthembele kuJehova. (Josh. 1:9-11) Wayengenzi iphutha ngokuthembela  kuNkulunkulu. Njengoba iBhayibheli lisho, uJehova wahola uJoshuwa nabantu baKhe, u-Israyeli, ngengelosi yakhe. Kunengqondo ukucabanga ukuthi le ngelosi kwakuwuLizwi, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu eyizibulo.—Eks. 23:20-23; Joh. 1:1.

⁴ UJehova wawasiza ama-Israyeli amamukela uJoshuwa njengomholi omusha. Nathi siphila ezikhathini zoshintsho, futhi singase sizibuze, ‘Njengoba inhlangano kaNkulunkulu iya phambili ngesivinini esikhulu, ingabe sinazo izizathu zokwethemba uJesu njengoMholi okhethiwe?’ (Funda uMathewu 23:10.) Cabanga indlela uJehova ahola ngayo abantu bakhe ngobuqotho ngezikhathi zoshintsho endulo.

5. Yisiphi isimo uJoshuwa abhekana naso lapho esondela eJeriko? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

⁵ Ngokushesha ngemva kokuba ama-Israyeli ewele iJordani, uJoshuwa wavelelwa isimo ayengasilindele. Njengoba ayesondela eJeriko, wahlangana nendoda eyayiphethe inkemba. Engazi ukuthi yayingubani le ndoda, wayibuza: “Ungakithi noma ungakwabaphikisana nathi?” Wamangala lapho le ndoda imtshela ukuthi ingubani. ‘Yayiyisikhulu sebutho likaJehova’ esasilungele ukuvikela abantu bakaNkulunkulu. (Funda uJoshuwa 5:13-15.) Nakuba le ndaba kwezinye izindawo ithi uJehova wayekhuluma ngokuqondile noJoshuwa, akungabazeki ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayekhuluma esebenzisa ingelosi, njengoba ayevame ukwenza ngaphambilini.—Eks. 3:2-4; Josh. 4:1, 15; 5:2, 9; IzE. 7:38; Gal. 3:19.

6-8. (a) Kungani ezinye zeziqondiso zikaJehova zazingase zibonakale zingaphusile emehlweni omuntu? (b) Kungani lezi ziqondiso zazihlakaniphile futhi zifike ngesikhathi esifanele? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

⁶ Le ngelosi enguMholi yanika uJoshuwa iziqondiso ezicacile zendlela iJeriko okwakumelwe libhujiswe ngayo. Kungenzeka ezinye zazo zaqale zabonakala zingaphusile. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova wayala ukuba wonke amadoda asokwe, okwakuzowenza angakwazi ukulwa izinsuku eziningana. Ingabe ngempela leso kwakuyisikhathi esifanele sokusoka lawo madoda empi?—Gen. 34:24, 25; Josh. 5:2, 8.

⁷ Cishe lawo madoda angama-Israyeli azibuza ukuthi ayezoyivikela kanjani imindeni yawo lapho izitha zihlasela. Kungazelelwe, kwezwakala ukuthi iJeriko “lalivalwe ngci ngenxa yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.” (Josh. 6:1) Ingabe lokhu kwakungeke kuwenze asethembe nakakhulu isiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu?

⁸ Ama-Israyeli ayalwa nokuba angalihlaseli iJeriko kodwa alizungeze kanye ngosuku izinsuku eziyisithupha nakasikhombisa ngosuku lwesikhombisa. Kungenzeka amanye amasosha ayethi, ‘Saze sadlala ngesikhathi namandla ethu!’ Kodwa uMholi wama-Israyeli ongabonakali wayazi kahle ukuthi wenzani. Le ndlela yokuhlasela ayigcinanga nje ngokuqinisa ukholo lwama-Israyeli kodwa yawavikela ekubhekaneni nebutho laseJeriko elalinamandla.—Josh. 6:2-5; Heb. 11:30. *

9. Kungani kufanele silandele iziqondiso esizithola enhlanganweni kaNkulunkulu? Nikeza isibonelo.

⁹ Yini esingayifunda kule ndaba? Ngezinye izikhathi singase singaziqondi kahle izizathu zezinqumo ezintsha ezikhishwa inhlangano. Ngokwesibonelo, kungenzeka ekuqaleni sasingaqondi ukuthi kungani kufanele  sisebenzise imishini yezobuchwepheshe lapho sicwaninga, sisenkonzweni nalapho sisemihlanganweni yebandla. Cishe manje siyazibona izinzuzo zokuyisebenzisa le mishini uma sinayo. Lapho sibona imiphumela emihle yale ntuthuko naphezu kwanoma yikuphi ukungabaza esike saba nakho, ukholo lwethu luyaqina futhi siba nobunye.

10. Ubani owaqondisa ukuhlangana kukaPawulu nendikimba ebusayo eJerusalema?

¹⁰ Cishe eminyakeni engu-13 ngemva kokuguqukela kukaKorneliyu ebuKristwini, amanye amakholwa angamaJuda ayesakhuthaza ukusoka. (IzE. 15:1, 2) Lapho kuphakama impikiswano e-Antiyokiya, kwahlelwa ukuba uPawulu ayobuza indikimba ebusayo eJerusalema. Kodwa sasivela kubani leso siqondiso? UPawulu wathi: “Ngakhuphuka ngenxa yesambulo.” Kusobala ukuthi uKristu waqondisa izinto ukuze indikimba ebusayo ilungise lolo daba.—Gal. 2:1-3.

11. (a) Iyiphi inkinga mayelana nokusoka eyayilokhu iqhubeka phakathi kwamakholwa angamaJuda? (b) Kwavivinyeka kanjani ukuzimisela kukaPawulu ukusekela abadala eJerusalema? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

¹¹ Iqondiswa uKristu, indikimba ebusayo yakwenza kwacaca ukuthi amaKristu angewona amaJuda kwakungadingeki asokwe. (IzE. 15:19, 20) Kodwa ngemva kweminyaka kuphume lesi sinqumo, amaJuda amaningi angamakholwa aqhubeka esoka izingane zawo. Lapho abadala eJerusalema bezwa amahemuhemu okuthi uPawulu wayengawugcini uMthetho kaMose, bamnika iziqondiso ayengazilindele. * (IzE. 21:20-26) Bamtshela ukuba athathe amadoda amane aye nawo ethempelini ukuze abantu baphethe ngokuthi uPawulu “uyawugcina uMthetho.” UPawulu wayengase angavumelani nalokho ayetshelwa ukuba akwenze, athi amaKristu angamaJuda yiwona angayiqondi kahle indaba yokusoka. Nokho, ukuze abonise ukuthi uyasisekela isifiso  sabadala sokuthuthukisa ubunye, ngokuthobeka uPawulu wenza lokho ayekutsheliwe. Nokho, singase sizibuze, ‘Kungani uJesu avumela le ndaba ukuba ihlale isikhathi eside kangaka ingaxazululiwe kuyilapho ukufa kwakhe kwaqeda ukusebenza koMthetho kaMose?’—Kol. 2:13, 14.

12. Kungasiphi isizathu uKristu avumela kudlule isikhathi ngaphambi kokuxazulula impikiswano emayelana nokusoka?

¹² Kwabathile, kuthatha isikhathi ukwamukela ukuqonda okusha. AmaKristu angamaJuda ayedinga isikhathi esanele sokulungisa umbono wawo. (Joh. 16:12) Kwamanye, kwakunzima ukwamukela ukuthi ukusoka kwase kungelona uphawu lokuba nobuhlobo obukhethekile noNkulunkulu. (Gen. 17:9-12) Ngenxa yokwesaba ushushiso, amanye ayekuthola kunzima ukwehluka emiphakathini yamaJuda. (Gal. 6:12) Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uKristu wawanika iziqondiso ezengeziwe ngezincwadi eziphefumulelwe ezabhalwa uPawulu.—Roma 2:28, 29; Gal. 3:23-25.

13. Yini engasisiza sikwethembe ukuhola kukaKristu namuhla?

¹³ Lapho kunzima ukuqonda ezinye zezizathu zoshintsho olwenziwa yinhlangano, senza kahle ngokukhumbula indlela uKristu ahola ngayo esikhathini esidlule. Kokubili ngosuku lukaJoshuwa nasekhulwini lokuqala, uKristu wayehlale enikeza isiqondiso esihlakaniphile ukuze avikele abantu bakaNkulunkulu bebonke, aqinise ukholo lwabo futhi abagcine benobunye.—Heb. 13:8.

14-16. Isiqondiso esisinikwa “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo” sibonisa kanjani ukuthi uKristu ufuna sihlale sinokholo oluqinile?

¹⁴ Indlela uKristu asikhathalela ngayo ibonakala endleleni asinika ngayo isiqondiso esifike ngesikhathi esebenzisa “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.” (Math. 24:45) UMarc, ubaba wezingane ezine, uthi: “USathane uzama ukwenza amabandla abe buthaka ngokuhlasela imindeni. Njengoba sikhuthazwa ukuba sibe nokukhulekela komkhaya isonto ngalinye, umlayezo oya ezinhlokweni zemindeni ucacile—vikela umndeni wakho!”

¹⁵ Lapho sibona ukuthi uKristu uyasiqondisa, kuvele kusikhanyele ukuthi ufuna sithuthuke. UPatrick ongumdala uthi: “Ekuqaleni kwakubadikibalisa abanye ukuphuma insimu ngamaqembu amancane ngezimpelasonto. Kodwa, leli lungiselelo liyabonisa ukuthi uJesu ukhathalela wonke umuntu ebandleni. Abafowethu nodadewethu abanamahloni nababengavamile ukuphuma njalo baye bazizwa bethandwa futhi bebalulekile, ngakho sebeza njalo ensimini.”

¹⁶ UKristu uyasisiza nokuba sigxile emsebenzini obaluleke kunayo yonke owenziwa emhlabeni namuhla. (Funda uMarku 13:10.) U-André osanda kuba umdala, ubelokhu ezinaka izinguquko ezenzeka enhlanganweni kaNkulunkulu. Uthi: “Ukuncishiswa kwabantu egatsheni kusikhumbuza ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina futhi kudingeka sigxile emsebenzini wokushumayela.”

17, 18. Kungani kusisiza ukucabanga ngezinzuzo esizithole ngokwamukela izinguquko ezibe khona muva nje?

¹⁷ UJesu Kristu, njengeNkosi ebekwe esihlalweni sobukhosi, usinikeza iziqondiso ezisisiza manje nasesikhathini esizayo. Ngakho, masizijabulele izinzuzo esizithola ngokwamukela izinguquko ezisanda kwenziwa. Ningakuthola kukhuthaza ukuxoxa ekukhulekeleni komkhaya ngendlela eniye nazuza ngayo oshintshweni olwenziwe  emihlanganweni yaphakathi nesonto noma enkonzweni.

¹⁸ Uma siqonda isizathu seziqondiso esizithola enhlanganweni kaJehova nendlela ezisizuzisa ngayo, cishe siyokujabulela ukuzilandela. Ngokuqinisekile siyaqonda ukuthi ukuncishiswa kwenani lezincwadi ezinyatheliswayo konga imali; ukusetshenziswa kwemishini yezobuchwepheshe kusivumela ukuba sishumayele ngoMbuso emhlabeni wonke. Ukukhumbula lokhu, kuyosisiza sisebenzise izincwadi nezinto ezisemishinini yethu ngokuphumelelayo. Ngale ndlela, siyobonisa ukuthi siyawuqonda umbono kaKristu wokusebenzisa impahla yenhlangano ngokuhlakanipha.

19. Kungani kufanele sisamukele isiqondiso sikaKristu?

¹⁹ Lapho sinamathela ngobuqotho esiqondisweni sikaKristu, siqinisa ukholo lwabanye futhi sithuthukisa ubunye. Ecabanga ngokuncishiswa kwenani lomndeni waseBethel emhlabeni wonke, u-André uthi: “Umoya omuhle oboniswa yilabo ababekhonza eBethel abaye bazivumelanisa noshintsho uyangikhuthaza futhi ungenza ngibahloniphe. Bahambisana nenqola kaJehova ngokujabulela noma yisiphi isabelo abasinikezwayo.”

20, 21. (a) Kungani kufanele simethembe uKristu, uMholi wethu? (b) Yimuphi umbuzo esizoxoxa ngawo esihlokweni esilandelayo?

²⁰ Maduze, uMholi wethu, uJesu Kristu, ‘uyophelelisa ukunqoba kwakhe’ futhi enze ‘izinto ezesabekayo.’ (IsAm. 6:2; IHu. 45:4) Okwamanje, ulungiselela abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuphila ezweni elisha lapho ngamunye wethu eyoba nengxenye ekufundiseni abantu abavusiwe nasekwenzeni umhlaba ube ipharadesi.

²¹ INkosi yethu egcotshiwe iyophumelela ekusingeniseni ezweni elisha, uma nje sihlala sithembekile kuyo ngisho nalapho izimo zishintsha. (Funda iHubo 46:1-3.) Ngezinye izikhathi, singase sikuthole kunzima ukubhekana noshintsho, ikakhulukazi uma lwenzeka kungalindelekile. Uma kwenzeka lokho, singahlala kanjani sinokuthula kwengqondo nokholo oluqinile kuJehova? Sizoxoxa ngalowo mbuzo esihlokweni esilandelayo.