Lokho UJoshuwa Akukhumbula

“UMOSE inceku yami ufile; ngalokho suka uwele leli Jordani, wena nalaba bantu bonke, niye ezweni engibanika lona abantwana bakwa-Israyeli,” kusho uJehova. (Joshuwa 1:2) Yeka umsebenzi owawuhlalele uJoshuwa! Wayebe inceku kaMose iminyaka engaba ngu-40. Manje wayesetshelwa ukuba angene esikhundleni senkosi yakhe ahole abantwana bakwa-Israyeli abanenkani abangenise eZweni Lesithembiso.

Njengoba uJoshuwa ecabanga ngalokho okwakumhlalele, mhlawumbe wakhumbula uvivinyo ayebhekane nalo walunqoba. Akungabazeki ukuthi lokho uJoshuwa ayekukhumbula kwamsiza kakhulu ngaleso sikhathi, futhi kungawasiza namaKristu namuhla.

Ukusuka Ekubeni Isigqila Kuya Ekubeni Umlawuli

Phakathi kwezinto uJoshuwa ayezikhumbula iminyaka eminingi eyisigqila. (Eksodusi 1:13, 14; 2:23) Singagcina ngokuzicabangela nje ukuthi yini uJoshuwa abhekana nayo ngaleso sikhathi ngoba iBhayibheli aliyinikezi imininingwane. Kungenzeka ukuthi uJoshuwa wafunda ukuba umhleli onekhono lapho ekhonza eGibithe, futhi kungenzeka ukuthi wasiza ekuhleleni ukuphuma kwamaHeberu ‘nengxubevange yabantu’ kulelo zwe.—Eksodusi 12:38.

UJoshuwa wayengowomndeni wesizwe sakwa-Efrayimi. Umkhulu wakhe u-Elishama wayeyisikhulu sesizwe futhi kubonakala sengathi nguye owahola amadoda ahlomile angu-108 100 esinye sezigaba zezizwe ezintathu zakwa-Israyeli. (Numeri 1:4, 10, 16; 2:18-24; 1 IziKronike 7:20, 26, 27) Nokho, lapho ama-Amaleki ehlasela u-Israyeli ngemva nje kokuphuma eGibithe, uMose wacela uJoshuwa ukuba ahlele amabutho. (Eksodusi 17:8, 9a) Kungani acela uJoshuwa, engacelanga ngokwesibonelo umkhulu wakhe noma uyise? Omunye umbono  uthi: “Njengoba [uJoshuwa] ayeyisikhulu sesizwe esibalulekile u-Efrayimi, engumuntu owayaziwa kakade ngekhono lakhe ekuhleleni, futhi owayethenjwa ngokuphelele abantu, uMose wakhetha yena njengomholi okufanelekele kahle kakhulu ukukhetha nokuhlela amabutho.”

Noma ngabe ikuphi, lapho ekhethwa, uJoshuwa wenza njengoba uMose ayemyalile. Nakuba u-Israyeli ayengayazi nhlobo impi, uJoshuwa wayeqiniseka ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezobasiza. Ngakho lapho uMose ethi kuye, “kusasa ngizakuma esiqongweni sentaba, induku kaNkulunkulu isesandleni sami,” kwakwanele. Kumelwe ukuba uJoshuwa wakhumbula ukuthi uJehova wayesanda kuqothula ibutho elalilikhulu kunawo wonke ngaleso sikhathi. Ngakusasa, lapho uMose ephakamisa izandla ezigcina ziphakeme kuze kuyoshona ilanga, akubanga nasitha esasingamelana no-Israyeli, ama-Amaleki anqotshwa. UJehova wabe eseyala uMose ukuba abhale encwadini ‘abeke ezindlebeni zikaJoshuwa’ umyalo othi: “Ngizakuqothula ukukhunjulwa kuka-Amaleki phansi kwezulu.” (Eksodusi 17:9b-14) Yebo, uJehova wayezowajezisa nakanjani ama-Amaleki.

Lapho Eyinceku KaMose

Kumelwe ukuba isigigaba sama-Amaleki sabuqinisa nakakhulu ubuhlobo bukaJoshuwa noMose. UJoshuwa waba nelungelo lokuba inceku, noma “isikhonzi” sikaMose, “kusukela ebunsizweni bakhe” waze wafa uMose, okwakuyiminyaka engaba ngu-40.—Numeri 11:28, NW.

Leso sikhundla sasinamalungelo nemithwalo yemfanelo. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uMose, u-Aroni, amadodana ka-Aroni namadoda amadala angu-70 akwa-Israyeli bekhuphuka iNtaba iSinayi futhi bebona umbono wenkazimulo kaJehova, kungenzeka uJoshuwa wayenabo. Njengenceku, wakhuphuka noMose baya phezulu entabeni futhi kubonakala sengathi wahlala lapho buqamama ngesikhathi uMose engena efwini elalifanekisela ukuba khona kukaJehova. Ngokuphawulekayo, kubonakala sengathi uJoshuwa wahlala izinsuku ezingu-40 entabeni. Ngokwethembeka, walinda inkosi yakhe ukuba ibuye, ngoba lapho uMose eqala ukwehla ephethe izibhebhe zobuFakazi, uJoshuwa wamhlangabeza.—Eksodusi 24:1, 2, 9-18; 32:15-17.

Ngemva kwesenzakalo sokukhulekela kwama-Israyeli ithole legolide, uJoshuwa waqhubeka eyinceku kaMose etendeni lokuhlangana ngaphandle kwekamu. UJehova wakhuluma lapho noMose ubuso nobuso. Kodwa lapho uMose ebuyela ekamu, uJoshuwa ‘akaphumanga etendeni.’ Mhlawumbe kwakudingekile abe khona ukuze ama-Israyeli angangeni etendeni njengoba ayengahlanzekile. Yeka indlela uJoshuwa awuthatha ngokungathí  sina ngayo umthwalo wakhe!—Eksodusi 33:7, 11.

Kumelwe ukuba ubudlelwane bakhe noMose, owayemdala ngeminyaka engu-35, ngokusho kwesazi-mlando uJosephus, baluqinisa kakhulu ukholo lukaJoshuwa. Ubuhlobo babo buye babizwa ngokuthi “ukuhlangana kokuvuthwa nobusha, komfundi nomfundisi,” okwenza uJoshuwa waba “yindoda egxilile, enokwethenjelwa.” Asinabo abaprofethi abanjengoMose namuhla, kodwa emabandleni abantu bakaJehova bakhona asebekhulile abawumthombo wamandla nesikhuthazo ngenxa yolwazi nengokomoya labo. Ingabe uyabazisa? Ingabe uyazuza ekubeni phakathi kwabo?

Uba Inhloli EKhanani

Isehlakalo esibalulekile ekuphileni kukaJoshuwa senzeka ngemva nje kokuba ama-Israyeli ethole uMthetho. Wakhethwa ukuba amelele isizwe sakubo ekuhloleni iZwe Lesithembiso. Leyo ndaba yaziwa kahle. Zonke izinhloli ezingu-12 zavuma ukuthi ngempela izwe ‘lalichichima ubisi nezinyosi,’ njengoba nje uJehova ayethembisile. Nokho, zintula ukholo, eziyishumi zaba novalo lokuthi ama-Israyeli ayengeke akwazi ukuzephuca izwe izakhamuzi zakhona. NguJoshuwa noKalebi kuphela abanxusa abantu ukuba bangavukeli ngenxa yokwesaba, ngoba nakanjani uJehova wayezoba nabo. Inhlangano yonke yabe isibhikisha yasho ukubakhanda ngamatshe laba ababili. Mhlawumbe yayiyobakhanda ukube uJehova akangenelanga ngokubonakalisa inkazimulo yakhe. Ngenxa yokuntula kwayo ukholo, uNkulunkulu wathi abekho kwababhalisile kwa-Israyeli abaneminyaka esukela ku-20 kuya phezulu ababezophila baze bangene eKhanani. Kulaba, nguJoshuwa, uKalebi namaLevi kuphela abasinda.—Numeri 13:1-16, 25-29; 14:6-10, 26-30.

Babengazibonanga bonke yini abantu izenzo zikaJehova zamandla eGibithe? Pho, yini eyenza uJoshuwa waba nokholo lokuthi uNkulunkulu wayezobasiza kuyilapho iningi lingabaza? Kumelwe ukuba uJoshuwa wahlala ekukhumbula konke uJehova ayekuthembisile wakwenza, futhi wazindla ngakho. Ngemva kweminyaka wayengathi ‘akuphuthanga nento eyodwa kuzo zonke izinto ezinhle azikhuluma uJehova ku-Israyeli; kwakwenziwe konke.’ (Joshuwa 23:14) Ngakho uJoshuwa wayenokholo lokuthi zonke izithembiso uJehova ayezenzile ngokuphathelene nekusasa nazo zaziyogcwaliseka ngokuqinisekile. (Heberu 11:6) Lokhu kufanele kwenze umuntu azibuze: ‘Mina-ke? Ingabe ukuzikhandla kwami ekutadisheni nasekuzindleni ngezithembiso zikaJehova kungiqinisekisile ukuthi zithembekile? Ngiyakholwa yini ukuthi uNkulunkulu angangivikela kanye nabantu bakhe osizini olukhulu oluzayo?’

UJoshuwa akagcinanga ngokuba nokholo kodwa futhi wabonisa isibindi. Yena noKalebi bahluka bodwa, yonke inhlangano yasho ukubakhanda ngamatshe. Wawuyozizwa kanjani wena? Wawuyokwesaba? UJoshuwa akesabanga. Yena noKalebi bakusho ngokuqiniseka ababekukholelwa. Ukuthembeka kuJehova kungase kudinge ukuba senze okufanayo ngolunye usuku.

Indaba yezinhloli isitshela nanokuthi igama likaJoshuwa lashintshwa. Egameni lakhe, elithi Hosheya, elisho “iNsindiso,” uMose wanezela ilunga elisho igama likaNkulunkulu wayesemetha ngokuthi uJehoshuwa, noma uJoshuwa—“UJehova Uyinsindiso.” I-Septuagint ilibhala ngokuthi “Jesu” igama lakhe. (Numeri 13:8, 16) Ngokuvumelana nalelo gama elihle kakhulu, uJoshuwa wakumemezela ngesibindi ukuthi uJehova uyinsindiso. Akunakwenzeka ukuthi igama likaJoshuwa lamane nje lashintshwa. Ukushintshwa kwalo kwabonisa indlela uMose ayeyihlonipha ngayo le ndoda enguJoshuwa futhi kwakuhambisana nendima evelele uJoshuwa ayeyoyifeza ngokuholela isizukulwane esisha eZweni Lesithembiso.

Njengoba oyise befa, ama-Israyeli azulazula ehlane iminyaka engu-40 ekhathazayo. Akukho esikwaziyo ngoJoshuwa ngaleyo nkathi. Nokho, kumelwe ukuba yamfundisa okuningi. Kungenzeka wabona isahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu ezihlubukini ezingoKora, uDathani no-Abiramu nabalandeli bazo nakulabo abahileleka ekukhulekelweni okonakele kukaBali Peyori. Akungabazeki ukuthi uJoshuwa wadabuka  kakhulu lapho ezwa ukuthi ngenxa yokuthi uMose akamngcwelisanga uJehova ngokuphathelene namanzi aseMeriba, naye wayengeke angene eZweni Lesithembiso.—Numeri 16:1-50; 20:9-13; 25:1-9.

Umiswa Ukuba Alandele UMose Esikhundleni

Lapho kusondela ukufa kwakhe, uMose wacela uNkulunkulu ukuba amise owayezomlandela ukuze u-Israyeli angabi “njengezimvu ezingenamalusi.” UJehova wenzenjani? UJoshuwa, “umuntu onomoya,” nguye owayezobekwa phambi kwayo yonke inhlangano. Kwakufanele imlalele. Yeka ukukhulunyelwa okuhle! UJehova wayelubonile ukholo nekhono likaJoshuwa. Akekho owayengafaneleka kangcono ukubekwa ukuba ahole u-Israyeli. (Numeri 27:15-20) Noma kunjalo, uMose wayazi ukuthi uJoshuwa wayezobhekana nezinselele ezinkulu. Ngakho uMose wamkhuthaza ukuba ‘aqine, ame isibindi,’ ngoba uJehova wayezoqhubeka enaye.—Duteronomi 31:7, 8.

UNkulunkulu ngokwakhe wasiphinda lesi sikhuthazo kuJoshuwa, wanezela: “Uqaphele ukwenza ngokomthetho wonke akuyala ngawo uMose inceku yami, ungaphambuki kuwo ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo ukuba ube nempumelelo nomaphi lapho uya khona. Le ncwadi yomthetho mayingasuki emlonyeni wakho, kepha wozindla ngayo imini nobusuku ukuba uqaphele ukwenza njengakho konke okulotshwé kuyo, ngokuba lapho uyakuhlahlamelisa indlela yakho, uphumelele kahle. Angikuyalile na? Qina, ume isibindi, ungesabi, ungabi naluvalo, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho unawe nomaphi lapho uya khona.”—Joshuwa 1:7-9.

UJoshuwa wayengangabaza kanjani njengoba amazwi kaJehova ayenkeneneza ezindlebeni zakhe futhi esebone konke ayekubonile? Kwakuqinisekile ukuthi babezolinqoba izwe. Yiqiniso, zazizoba khona izinkinga, enye yazo okwakuyinselele yokuqala, ukuwela uMfula iJordani udla izindwani. Nokho, uJehova ngokwakhe wayeyalile: “Suka uwele leli Jordani.” Pho kwakungaba nayiphi inkinga?—Joshuwa 1:2.

Izenzakalo ezalandela ekuphileni kukaJoshuwa—ukunqotshwa kweJeriko, ukunqotshwa kwezitha zabo ngokulandelana kwazo, nokwabiwa kwezwe—zembula ukuthi akazange azikhohlwe izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu. Esezokufa, lapho uJehova esemphumuzile u-Israyeli ezitheni zakhe, uJoshuwa wabutha abantu ukuba abukeze lokho uNkulunkulu ayebenzele khona futhi abanxuse ukuba bamkhonze ngenhliziyo yonke. Ngenxa yalokho, u-Israyeli wasivuselela ngokuzimisela isivumelwano sakhe noJehova, futhi ngokungangabazeki eshukunyiswa isibonelo somholi wakhe, “u-Israyeli wamkhonza uJehova zonke izinsuku zikaJoshuwa.”—Joshuwa 24:16, 31.

UJoshuwa uyisibonelo esihle kithi. AmaKristu namuhla abhekene nezinto eziningi ezivivinya ukholo. Ukuzinqoba kubalulekile ukuze siqhubeke samukelwa uJehova futhi ekugcineni sizuze lokho akuthembisile. Ukuphumelela kukaJoshuwa kwakuxhomeke okholweni lwakhe oluqinile. Yiqiniso, asizange sizibone izenzo zikaJehova zamandla uJoshuwa azibona, kodwa uma umuntu engabaza, incwadi yeBhayibheli ebizwa ngegama likaJoshuwa inikeza ubufakazi bokwethembeka kwezwi likaJehova obunikezwa umuntu owazibonela. Nathi, njengoJoshuwa siqinisekiswa ngokuhlakanipha nempumelelo uma sifunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu nsuku zonke futhi siqikelela ukwenza elikushoyo.

Ingabe ngesinye isikhathi kukuzwisa ubuhlungu ukuziphatha kwamanye amaKristu? Cabanga ngokukhuthazela kukaJoshuwa iminyaka engu-40 okwadingeka ayizulazule ehlane nabantu abangenalukholo, kungephutha lakhe. Ingabe ukuthola kunzima ukumelela okukholelwayo? Khumbula lokho uJoshuwa noKalebi abakwenza. Ngenxa yokholo nokulalela kwabo, bathola umvuzo omuhle. Yebo, uJoshuwa wayekholelwa ngempela ukuthi uJehova wayeyozigcwalisa zonke izithembiso zakhe. Sengathi kungaba njalo nangathi.—Joshuwa 23:14.

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Ubudlelwane bakhe noMose baluqinisa ukholo lukaJoshuwa

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UJoshuwa noKalebi babethembele emandleni kaJehova

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Ukuhola kukaJoshuwa kwenza abantu banamathela kuJehova