Imithombo Engaqukethe Manzi

EZIKHATHINI zeBhayibheli, imithombo yayiyimigodi eyayenziwa abantu ukuze ngokuyinhloko kugcinwe amanzi. Ngezinye izinkathi, eZweni Lesithembiso, yayiwukuphela kwendlela yokugcina amanzi asetshenziswayo.

Ebhala amazwi kaNkulunkulu, umprofethi uJeremiya wakhuluma ngemithombo ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, wathi: “Kukhona izinto ezimbili ezimbi abantu bami abazenzile: Bangishiyile, yebo mina mthombo wamanzi aphilayo, ukuze bazimbele imithombo, imithombo eqhekekile, engakwazi ukuqukatha amanzi.”—Jeremiya 2:13.

Njengoba ayemshiyile uNkulunkulu wawo, uJehova—‘umthombo wamanzi aphilayo’—ama-Israyeli ayesephendukele ekwakheni imifela-ndawonye entekenteke nezizwe ezingamaqaba nokukhulekela onkulunkulu bamanga nabangelusizo. Uma sisebenzisa umfanekiso kaJeremiya, lezo zinto ababethembe ukuphephela kuzo zavele zafana nemithombo yamanzi evuzayo engenamandla okuvikela noma okusindisa.—Duteronomi 28:20.

Sikhona yini isifundo esisitholayo thina namuhla kulesi sibonelo sakudala? Njengoba kwakunjalo ngosuku lukaJeremiya, uNkulunkulu waphakade, uJehova, usalokhu ewukuphela koMthombo wamanzi anika ukuphila. (IHubo 36:9; IsAmbulo 4:11) Abantu bangathola ukuphila okuphakade kuJehova kuphela, ngeNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu. (Johane 4:14; 17:3) Kodwa, njengabantu besikhathi sikaJeremiya, abantu abaningi namuhla bakhetha ukulenqaba baze baleye izwi likaNkulunkulu njengoba liseBhayibhelini. Esikhundleni salo, bathembela ezixazululweni zezombusazwe ezibonakala sengathi zinosizo, bathembele nasekucabangeni okuyize kwabantu, nasemibonweni namafilosofi ayize ahlazisa uNkulunkulu. (1 Korinte 3:18-20; Kolose 2:8) Ukukhetha kucacile. Wena uyothembelaphi? Uyothembela ‘emthonjeni wamanzi aphilayo,’ uJehova, noma uyothembela ‘emithonjeni eqhekekile, engakwazi ukuqukatha amanzi’?

[Isithombe ekhasini 32]

Isithombe esincane se-“terra-cotta” esibunjiwe sikankulunkulukazi ongumama esatholakala ethuneni lakwa-Israyeli

[Umthombo]

Photograph taken by courtesy of the British Museum