Gcina UJehova Ephambi Kwakho Njalo
Gcina UJehova Ephambi Kwakho Njalo
“Ngimbeké njalo uJehova phambi kwami.”—IHU. 16:8.
1. Izindaba eziseBhayibhelini zingaba naliphi ithonya kithi?
IZWI LIKAJEHOVA elilotshiwe linomlando omuhle kakhulu wokusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu nesintu. Likhuluma ngabantu abaningi abaye baba nengxenye ekufezekeni kwenjongo kaNkulunkulu. Yiqiniso, amazwi nezenzo zabo eziseBhayibhelini akubhalelwanga nje ukusijabulisa. Kunalokho, lezi zindaba zingasisondeza kuNkulunkulu.—Jak. 4:8.
2, 3. Kufanele siwaqonde kanjani amazwi eHubo 16:8?
2 Sonke singafunda okuningi kulokho okwenzeka ekuphileni kwabantu baseBhayibhelini abaziwayo—u-Abrahama, uSara, uMose, uRuthe, uDavide, u-Esteri, umphostoli uPawulu nabanye. Nokho, izindaba zabantu abangavelele kangako nazo zingasizuzisa. Ukuzindla ngezindaba eziseBhayibhelini kungasisiza ukuba senze ngokuvumelana nala mazwi omhubi: “Ngimbeké njalo uJehova phambi kwami. Ngeke ngintengantengiswe, ngoba yena ungakwesokunene sami.” (IHu. 16:8) Kufanele siwaqonde kanjani la mazwi?
3 Ngokuvamile isosha laliphatha inkemba yalo ngesandla sokunene, okwakwenza ukuba lolo hlangothi lungavikelwa isihlangu elisibambe ngesobunxele. Kodwa lalivikeleka uma kwesokunene salo kukhona uzakwabo. Uma sihlale sicabanga ngoJehova futhi senze intando yakhe, uyosivikela. Ngakho, make sibone indlela ukucabangela izindaba eziseBhayibhelini okungaqinisa ngayo ukholo lwethu ukuze sigcine ‘uJehova ephambi kwethu njalo.’
UJehova Uyayiphendula Imithandazo Yethu
4. Nikeza isibonelo esisemiBhalweni esibonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyayiphendula imithandazo.
4 Uma sigcina uJehova ephambi kwethu, uyoyiphendula imithandazo yethu. (IHu. 65:2; 66:19) Sinobufakazi balokhu endabeni yenceku ka-Abrahama endala kunazo zonke, okungaba u-Eliyezeri. U-Abrahama wayithumela eMesophothamiya ukuba iyotholela u-Isaka umfazi owesaba uNkulunkulu. U-Eliyezeri wathandaza wacela isiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu futhi lapho uRebheka ephuzisa amakamela akhe, wabona ukuthi uJehova wayemqondisile. Ngenxa yokuthi wathembela emthandazweni, u-Eliyezeri watholela u-Isaka umfazi amthanda. (Gen. 24:12-14, 67) Yiqiniso, inceku ka-Abrahama yayiphathiswe isabelo esikhethekile. Noma kunjalo, akufanele yini nathi siqiniseke ngokufanayo ukuthi uJehova uyayizwa imithandazo yethu?
5. Kungani singase sithi ngisho nomthandazo omfushane, oshiwo ngenhliziyo ungasebenza?
5 Ngezinye izikhathi, kungase kudingeke sithandazele usizo lukaNkulunkulu ngokushesha. Ngesinye isikhathi, inkosi yasePheresiya u-Aritahishashita yaphawula ukuthi umphathindebe wayo, uNehemiya, wayehwaqabele. Inkosi yambuza: “‘Yini le ofuna ukuyenza?’ Ngaso leso sikhathi [uNehemiya wathandaza] kuNkulunkulu wamazulu.” Kwadingeka enze umthandazo omfushane futhi kusobala ukuthi wathandaza ngenhliziyo. Noma kunjalo, uNkulunkulu wawuphendula ngoba inkosi yamnikeza usizo ukuze ayokwakha kabusha izindonga zaseJerusalema. (Funda uNehemiya 2:1-8.) Yebo, ngisho nomthandazo omfushane, oshiwo ngenhliziyo ungasebenza.
6, 7. (a) U-Ephafra wabeka siphi isibonelo ngokuqondene nomthandazo? (b) Kungani kufanele sithandazele abanye?
6 Sinxuswa ukuba ‘sithandazelane,’ ngisho noma singabuboni ngokushesha ngazo zonke izikhathi ubufakazi bokuthi leyo mithandazo iyaphendulwa. (Jak. 5:16) U-Ephafra, “isikhonzi sikaKristu esithembekile,” wabathandazela ngobuqotho ayehlobene nabo okholweni. EseRoma, uPawulu wabhala: “U-Ephafra, ophuma phakathi kwenu [nina baseKolose], inceku kaKristu Jesu, uyakhonza kini, ezikhandla ngaso sonke isikhathi ngenxa yenu emithandazweni yakhe, ukuze ekugcineni nime niphelele futhi niqiniseka ngayo yonke intando kaNkulunkulu. Ngempela ngiyamfakazela ukuthi wenza umzamo omkhulu ngenxa yenu nalabo abaseLawodikeya nalabo abaseHiyerapholi.”—Kol. 1:7; 4:12, 13.
7 IKolose, iLawodikeya neHiyerapholi kwakuyimizi esendaweni eyodwa e-Asia Minor. AmaKristu aseHiyerapholi ayehlala phakathi kwabakhulekeli bakankulunkulukazi uCybele, awaseLawodikeya esengozini yokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo kanti awaseKolose ayesengozini yokuthonywa amafilosofi abantu. (Kol. 2:8) Yingakho u-Ephafra, owayevela eKolose, ‘azikhandla emthandazweni’ ngenxa yamakholwa ayekulowo muzi. IBhayibheli alisho ukuthi imithandazo ka-Ephafra yaphendulwa kanjani, kodwa akayekanga ukuthandazela ayekholwa nabo; nathi akufanele siyeke. Nakuba singebona ‘ogaxekile ezindabeni zabanye abantu,’ mhlawumbe kunelungu lomkhaya noma umngane esaziyo ukuthi ubhekene novivinyo olukhulu lokholo. (1 Pet. 4:15) Yeka ukuthi bekungaba okufaneleka kanjani ukumfaka emithandazweni yethu yangasese! UPawulu wasizwa imithandazo yabanye yokumnxusela. Neyethu ingenza lukhulu.—2 Kor. 1:10, 11.
8. (a) Sazi kanjani ukuthi abadala base-Efesu babekuqonda ukubaluleka komthandazo? (b) Isiphi isimo sengqondo okufanele sibe naso ngokuthandaza?
8 Ingabe abanye basibheka njengamadoda noma abesifazane abawazisayo umthandazo? Ngemva kokuba uPawulu ehlangene nabadala base-Efesu, “waguqa phansi nabo bonke wathandaza.” Ngemva kwalokho “bonke bakhala kakhulu impela, bawela entanyeni kaPawulu bamanga ngothando, ngoba babezwa ubuhlungu ikakhulukazi ngezwi ayelikhulumile lokuthi babengeke besabubona ubuso bakhe.” (IzE. 20:36-38) Asiwazi amagama abo bonke labo badala, kodwa kusobala ukuthi babekuqonda ukubaluleka komthandazo. Ngokuqinisekile, kumelwe silazise leli lungelo lokuthandaza kuNkulunkulu futhi kufanele ‘siphakamise izandla ezithembekile’ sinokholo lokuthi uBaba wethu osezulwini uzosiphendula.—1 Thim. 2:8.
Lalela UNkulunkulu Ngokuphelele
9, 10. (a) Isiphi isibonelo esabekwa amadodakazi kaZelofehadi? (b) Ukulalela kwamadodakazi kaZelofehadi kungase kuwuthinte kanjani umbono womKristu ongashadile ngomshado?
9 Ukuhlale sicabanga ngoJehova kuyosisiza ukuba simlalele, umphumela ube ukuthola izibusiso. (Dut. 28:13; 1 Sam. 15:22) Lokhu kudinga sibe nomoya wokulalela. Cabanga ngesimo sengqondo sezelamani ezinhlanu, amadodakazi kaZelofehadi, ezaziphila ngosuku lukaMose. Kwa-Israyeli, ngokwesiko ngamadodana ayethola ifa koyise. UZelofehadi wafa engenawo amadodana, futhi uJehova wayala ukuba lonke ifa lakhe linikwe laba besifazane abahlanu—ngaphansi kombandela owodwa. Kwakudingeka bashade namadodana akwaManase ukuze lelo fa lihlale esizweni esisodwa.—Num. 27:1-8; 36:6-8.
10 Amadodakazi kaZelofehadi ayekholelwa ukuthi izinto zazizohamba kahle uma elalela uNkulunkulu. IBhayibheli lithi: “Njengoba uJehova ayemyalile uMose, yileyo ndlela amadodakazi kaZelofehadi enza ngayo. Ngokuvumelana nalokho, uMahila, uTiriza noHogila noMilka noNowa, amadodakazi kaZelofehadi baba ngabafazi bamadodana abafowabo bakayise. Baba ngabafazi bakweminye yemindeni yabantwana bakwaManase indodana kaJosefa, ukuze ifa lawo liqhubeke lisesizweni somndeni kayise.” (Num. 36:10-12) Labo besifazane abalalelayo benza njengoba uJehova ayeyalile. (Josh. 17:3, 4) Enokholo olufanayo, amaKristu angashadile avuthiwe ngokomoya alalela uNkulunkulu ngokushada “kuphela eNkosini.”—1 Kor. 7:39.
11, 12. UKalebi wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayemethemba uNkulunkulu?
11 Kudingeka silalele uJehova ngokuphelele njengoba kwenza uKalebi ongumIsrayeli. (Dut. 1:36) Ngemva kokukhululwa kwama-Israyeli eGibhithe ngekhulu le-16 B.C.E., uMose wathumela amadoda angu-12 ukuba ayohlola iKhanani, kodwa yizinhloli ezimbili kuphela—uKalebi noJoshuwa—ezanxusa abantu ukuba bathembele kuNkulunkulu ngokuphelele futhi bangene kulelo zwe. (Num. 14:6-9) Eminyakeni engaba amashumi amane kamuva, uJoshuwa noKalebi babesaphila, besalandela uJehova ngokuphelele, futhi uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa uJoshuwa ukuba aholele ama-Israyeli eZweni Lesithembiso. Nokho, kusobala ukuthi izinhloli eziyishumi ezingenalukholo zafa phakathi nohambo lwama-Israyeli lweminyaka engu-40 ehlane.—Num. 14:31-34.
12 Njengomunye wabantu asebekhulile ongazange afe ehlane, uKalebi wayengama phambi kukaJoshuwa athi: “Ngamlandela ngokuphelele uJehova uNkulunkulu wami.” (Funda uJoshuwa 14:6-9.) UKalebi oneminyaka engu-85 wacela ukunikezwa isifunda sezintaba ayesithenjiswe uNkulunkulu, nakuba sasihlala izitha ezazinemizi emikhulu enezivikelo eziqinile.—Josh. 14:10-15.
13. Naphezu kwezimo ezivivinyayo esibhekana nazo, siyobusiswa uma senzani?
13 NjengoKalebi othembekile nolalelayo, nathi uJehova uyosisekela uma ‘simlandela ngokuphelele.’ Uma sibhekana nezingqinamba ezinkulu, siyobusiswa lapho ‘silandela uJehova ngokuphelele.’ Kodwa kungaba inselele ukwenza lokhu ukuphila kwethu konke njengoKalebi. Nakuba iNkosi uSolomoni yaba nesiqalo esihle, abafazi bayo bachezukisa inhliziyo yayo ukuba ikhonze onkulunkulu bamanga lapho isigugile, ‘yangamlandela ngokuphelele uJehova njengoDavide uyise.’ (1 AmaKh. 11:4-6) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibhekana naziphi izimo ezivivinyayo, kwangathi singahlale silalela uNkulunkulu ngokuphelele, simgcine ephambi kwethu njalo.
Thembela KuJehova Ngaso Sonke Isikhathi
14, 15. Lokho okwenzeka kuNawomi kukufundiseni ngesidingo sokuthembela kuNkulunkulu?
14 Kudingeka sithembele kuNkulunkulu ikakhulu lapho sicindezelekile ngoba ikusasa lethu libonakala lifiphele. Cabanga ngoNawomi osekhulile: Isitha esiwukufa samphuca umyeni namadodana akhe amabili. Lapho ebuyela kwaJuda evela kwaMowabi, wabalisa: “Ningangibizi ngokuthi nginguNawomi [“Injabulo Yami”]. Ngibizeni ngokuthi nginguMara [“Omunyu”], ngoba uMninimandla onke wenze kwaba munyu kakhulu kimi. Ngangigcwele lapho ngihamba, kodwa uJehova ungenzé ngabuya ngilambatha. Kungani kufanele ningibize ngokuthi nginguNawomi, lapho kunguJehova ongilulazile futhi kunguMninimandla onke ongibangele inhlekelele?”—Ruthe 1:20, 21.
15 Nakuba uNawomi ayecindezelekile, lapho uyifunda ngokucophelela incwadi kaRuthe uyothola ukuthi waqhubeka ethembele kuJehova. Yeka indlela isimo sakhe esashintsha ngayo! Umalokazana kaNawomi, uRuthe, naye owayengumfelokazi, waba umkaBhowazi wayesezala indodana. UNawomi waba umzanyana, futhi ukulandisa kuthi: ‘Abesifazane abangomakhelwane bayetha igama, bethi: “UNawomi uzalelwe indodana.” Bayiqamba ngokuthi u-Obede. Inguyise kaJese, uyise kaDavide.’ (Ruthe 4:14-17) Lapho uNawomi evuswa kwabafileyo, uyokwazi ukuthi uRuthe, naye oyobe evusiwe, waba ukhokhokazi kaJesu, uMesiya. (Math. 1:5, 6, 16) NjengoNawomi, asinakuqiniseka ukuthi siyoba yini isiphetho sezimo ezimbi esibhekene nazo. Ngakho, masithembele kuNkulunkulu ngaso sonke isikhathi, njengoba nje izAga 3:5, 6 zisikhuthaza: “Thembela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, ungenciki kokwakho ukuqonda. Mqaphele kuzo zonke izindlela zakho, yena uyokwenza izindlela zakho ziqonde.”
Ncika Emoyeni Ongcwele
16. Umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu wawasiza kanjani amadoda amadala athile kwa-Israyeli wasendulo?
16 Uma sigcina uJehova ephambi kwethu njalo, uyosihola ngomoya wakhe ongcwele. (Gal. 5:16-18) Umoya kaNkulunkulu waba phezu kwamadoda amadala angu-70 ayekhethelwe ukusiza uMose “ekuthwaleni umthwalo wabantu” bakwa-Israyeli. Ngu-Elidadi noMedadi kuphela esitshelwa amagama abo, kodwa umoya wawasiza wonke la madoda ukuba afeze imisebenzi yawo. (Num. 11:13-29) Akungabazeki ukuthi ayenekhono, esaba uNkulunkulu, ethembekile futhi eqotho njengalawo ayekhethwe ekuqaleni. (Eks. 18:21) Abadala abangamaKristu namuhla babonisa lezo zimfanelo.
17. Umoya ongcwele kaJehova waba nayiphi indima ekwakhiweni kwetabernakele?
17 Umoya ongcwele kaJehova waba nendima ebalulekile ekwakhiweni kwetabernakele ehlane. UJehova wamisa uBhezaleli njengengcweti nomakhi oyinhloko wetabernakele, wathembisa ‘ukumgcwalisa ngomoya wakhe ekuhlakanipheni nasekuqondeni nasolwazini nakuzo zonke izinhlobo zobungcweti.’ (Eks. 31:3-5) Amadoda ‘anenhliziyo ehlakaniphile’ asebenza noBhezaleli nomsizi wakhe, u-Oholiyabe, ekufezeni leso sabelo esimangalisayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, umoya kaJehova washukumisa abantu abanenhliziyo ethandayo ukuba banikele ngesandla esivulekile. (Eks. 31:6; 35:5, 30-34) Lowo moya ofanayo ushukumisa izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zanamuhla ukuba zenze konke ezingakwenza ekuthuthukiseni izithakazelo zoMbuso. (Math. 6:33) Kungenzeka sinamakhono athile, kodwa kudingeka sithandazele umoya ongcwele futhi siwuvumele ukuba usihole ukuze sifeze umsebenzi uJehova awunike abantu bakhe namuhla.—Luka 11:13.
Mhloniphe Njalo UJehova Wamabutho
18, 19. (a) Umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu wenza sibe nesimo sengqondo esinjani? (b) Yini oyifundile esibonelweni sikaSimeyoni nesika-Ana?
18 Umoya ongcwele wenza sibe nesimo sengqondo sokuhlonipha uJehova esenza ahlale ephambi kwethu njalo. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu basendulo batshelwa: “UJehova wamabutho—nguYe okufanele nimphathe njengongcwele.” (Isaya 8:13) EJerusalema langekhulu lokuqala kwakunabantu ababili abase bekhulile ababehlonipha uNkulunkulu, uSimeyoni no-Ana. (Funda uLuka 2:25-38.) USimeyoni waba nokholo eziprofethweni eziphathelene noMesiya futhi ‘wayelindele induduzo ka-Israyeli.’ UNkulunkulu wathululela umoya ongcwele kuSimeyoni futhi wamqinisekisa ngokuthi wayeyophila aze abone uMesiya. Nembala kwaba njalo. Ngolunye usuku ngonyaka ka-2 B.C.E., usana olunguJesu lwalethwa ngabazali balo ethempelini, uMariya noJosefa. Eqhutshwa umoya ongcwele, uSimeyoni washo amazwi ayisiprofetho ngoMesiya, wabikezela nosizi uMariya ayezobhekana nalo, futhi lwamehlela lapho uJesu ebethelwa esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa. Kodwa cabanga ngenjabulo enkulu uSimeyoni aba nayo lapho egona “uKristu kaJehova”! Yeka isibonelo esihle sokuba nenhlonipho ngoNkulunkulu uSimeyoni asibekela izinceku zaKhe namuhla!
19 U-Ana, umfelokazi ohlonipha uNkulunkulu oneminyaka engu-84 ubudala, “wayengakaze aphuthe ethempelini.” Wayenikela inkonzo engcwele kuJehova ubusuku nemini “ngokuzila ukudla nangokunxusa.” Naye wayekhona lapho usana olunguJesu lulethwa ethempelini. Yeka ukuthi wakwazisa kangakanani ukubona lowo owayezoba uMesiya! Yebo, “wabonga kuNkulunkulu futhi wakhuluma ngomntwana kubo bonke ababelindele ukukhululwa kweJerusalema.” U-Ana akakwazanga ukuzibamba, wazitshela abanye lezi zindaba ezinhle! NjengoSimeyoni no-Ana, amaKristu asekhulile namuhla ajabula kakhulu ngokuthi abantu bangakhonza uJehova njengoFakazi bakhe kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sebebadala kangakanani.
20. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibadala kangakanani, yini okudingeka siyenze, futhi ngani?
20 Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibadala kangakanani, kudingeka sigcine uJehova ephambi kwethu njalo. Uma senza kanjalo uyoyibusisa imizamo yethu emincane yokutshela abanye ngobukhosi nangemisebenzi yakhe emangalisayo. (IHu. 71:17, 18; 145:10-13) Nokho, ukuze sidumise uJehova kumelwe sibonise izimfanelo ezimjabulisayo. Yini esingayifunda ngalezo zimfanelo lapho sihlola ezinye izindaba eziseBhayibhelini?
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
• Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJehova uyayizwa imithandazo?
• Kungani kufanele silalele uNkulunkulu ngokuphelele?
• Kungani kufanele sithembele kuJehova ngaso sonke isikhathi ngisho nalapho sicindezelekile?
• Umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu ubasiza kanjani abantu bakhe?
[Imibuzo Yesifundo]
[Isithombe ekhasini 4]
Umthandazo kaNehemiya wasebenza
[Isithombe ekhasini 5]
Ukukhumbula indlela izimo zikaNawomi ezashintsha ngayo kuyosisiza ukuba sithembele kuJehova