1, 2. (a) Ubani oyindalo kaNkulunkulu yokuqala, futhi uJehova wamsebenzisa kanjani? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi izingelosi zihlelekile?

UJEHOVA, uMdali wendawo yonke, wenza izinto ngendlela ehlelekile. Indalo yakhe yokuqala yiNdodana yakhe yomoya ezelwe yodwa, ebizwa ngokuthi “uLizwi” ngoba ingumkhulumeli oyinhloko kaNkulunkulu. ULizwi usekhonze uJehova iminyaka eminingi, ngoba iBhayibheli lithi: “Ekuqaleni wayekhona uLizwi, uLizwi wayenoNkulunkulu.” Lisitshela nokuthi: “Zonke izinto zaba khona ngaye [uLizwi], futhi ayikho neyodwa into eyaba khona ngaphandle kwakhe.” Eminyakeni ethi ayibe ngaphezu kwengu-2 000 edlule, uNkulunkulu wathumela uLizwi emhlabeni, lapho afike wenza khona intando kaYise njengomuntu ophelele, uJesu Kristu.—Joh. 1:1-3, 14.

² Phakathi nokuphila kwayo kwangaphambi kokuza emhlabeni, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu yakhonza ngokwethembeka ‘njengesisebenzi sakhe esiyingcweti.’ (IzAga 8:30) UJehova wadala ngayo izigidi zezinye izidalwa zomoya ezulwini. (Kol. 1:16) Ngokuphathelene nalezo zingelosi, okunye ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kuyasitshela: “Kwakukhona izinkulungwane eziyinkulungwane ezazilokhu zimkhonza [uJehova], nezinkulungwane eziyishumi eziphindwe kazinkulungwane eziyishumi ezazilokhu zimi khona kanye phambi kwakhe.” (Dan. 7:10) Kubhekiselwa kulolu quqaba  lwezidalwa zikaNkulunkulu zomoya ngokuthi “amabutho” kaJehova ahlelwe kahle.—IHu. 103:21.

3. Zingaki izinkanyezi namaplanethi, futhi zihlelwe kanjani?

³ Singathini ngendalo ebonakalayo, njengezinkanyezi ezingenakubalwa namaplanethi? Ngokuphathelene nezinkanyezi, i-Chronicle yaseHouston, eTexas, ibika ukuthi ucwaningo lwamuva lusikisela ukuthi “zingu-300 sextillion, noma zisiphinda kathathu isibalo esasicatshangelwa ososayensi.” Umbiko uyanezela: “Leli nani lingu-3 olandelwa o-zero abangu-23. Noma izigidi eziyizigidi ezintathu eziphindwe ngezigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu.” Izinkanyezi zihlelwe zaba imithala, ngamunye unezinkanyezi eziyizinkulungwane zezigidi noma eziyizigidi zezigidi kanye namaplanethi amaningi. Imithala eminingi ihlelwe yaba ngamaqembu angamaqoqo namaqoqokazi.

4. Kungani kunengqondo ukuphetha ngokuthi izinceku zikaNkulunkulu emhlabeni nazo zaziyohlelwa?

⁴ Njengezidalwa zomoya ezilungile ezulwini, amazulu abonakalayo nawo ahlelwe kahle kakhulu. (Isaya 40:26) Ngakho-ke, kunengqondo ukuphetha ngokuthi uJehova wayeyozihlela izinceku zakhe emhlabeni. Ufuna zihlale zihlelekile, futhi akuve kubalulekile lokho ngoba zinomsebenzi obaluleke kakhulu okumelwe ziwenze. Umlando omuhle kakhulu wenkonzo yokwethembeka wabakhulekeli bakaJehova besikhathi esidlule nabamanje uwubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi uJehova ubelokhu enabo nokuthi ‘akayena uNkulunkulu wesiyaluyalu.’—Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 14:33, 40.

5. Ilungiselelo elihlelekile lokuba umkhaya wabantu ugcwalise umhlaba laphazamiseka kanjani?

⁵ Lapho uJehova edala abantu bokuqala, wabatshela: “Zalani nande nigcwalise umhlaba niwunqobe, nithotshelwe yizinhlanzi zolwandle nezidalwa ezindizayo zamazulu nazo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo ezihamba phezu komhlaba.” (Gen. 1:28) Umkhaya wabantu wawuzokhula ngendlela ehlelekile ukuze ugcwalise umhlaba futhi unwebe iPharadesi lize ligcwale emhlabeni wonke. Ukungalaleli kuka-Adamu no-Eva kwakuphazamisa okwesikhashana ukufezeka kwalelo lungiselelo elihlelekile. (Gen. 3:1-6) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, “uJehova wabona ukuthi ububi bomuntu babudlangile emhlabeni futhi konke ukuthambekela kwemicabango yenhliziyo yakhe kukubi ngaso sonke isikhathi.” Ngenxa yalokho, “umhlaba wonakala emehlweni kaNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi umhlaba wagcwala ubudlova.” Ngakho-ke, uNkulunkulu wahlosa ukuletha uzamcolo wembulunga yonke owawuzobhubhisa abantu abangamesabi.—Gen. 6:5, 11-13, 17.

6, 7. (a) Kungani uNowa athola umusa kuJehova? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.) (b) Yini eyenzeka kubo bonke abantu abangathembekile besikhathi sikaNowa?

⁶ Nokho, “uNowa wathola umusa emehlweni kaJehova” ngoba “wayeyindoda elungile” ‘engabanga naphutha phakathi kwabantu besikhathi sakhe.’ Ngenxa yokuthi “uNowa wahamba noNkulunkulu weqiniso,” uJehova wamyala ukuba akhe umkhumbi omkhulu. (Gen. 6:8, 9, 14-16) Wawuklanywe ngendlela yokuthi ukwazi ukulondoloza ukuphila kwabantu nezilwane. UNowa walalela ‘wenza njengakho konke uJehova ayemyale ngakho,’ futhi umkhaya wakhe wabambisana naye, wawuqeda umsebenzi wokwakha ngendlela ehlelekile. Ngemva kokuba izidalwa eziphilayo sezingeniswe emkhunjini, “uJehova wavala umnyango.”—Gen. 7:5, 16.

⁷ Lapho kufika uZamcolo ngo-2370 B.C.E., uJehova “waqeda nyá yonke into eyayikhona ebusweni bomhlaba,” kodwa wamlonda uNowa othembekile nomkhaya wakhe emkhunjini. (Gen. 7:23) Wonke umuntu ophilayo namuhla uyinzalo kaNowa namadodana akhe nomkabo. Kodwa bonke abantu abangabanga nokholo ababengaphandle  komkhumbi babhubha ngoba benqaba ukulalela uNowa, “umshumayeli wokulunga.”—2 Pet. 2:5.

8. Ibuphi ubufakazi obubonisa ukuthi kwakunokuhleleka okuhle kwa-Israyeli lapho uNkulunkulu eyala abantu bakhe ukuba bangene eZweni Lesithembiso?

⁸ Eminyakeni engaphezu kwengamakhulu angu-8 uZamcolo aba khona, uNkulunkulu wahlela ama-Israyeli aba isizwe. Kwakudingeka ukuhleleka okuhle kuzo zonke izici zokuphila kwawo, ikakhulu ekukhulekeleni kwawo. Ngokwesibonelo, ngaphezu kwenqwaba yabapristi bama-Israyeli namaLevi, kwakunabesifazane ‘ababenza inkonzo ehleliwe emnyango wetende lokuhlangana.’ (Eks. 38:8) Nokho, lapho uJehova uNkulunkulu eyala ama-Israyeli ukuba angene eKhanani, leso sizukulwane asibanga nokholo, ngakho wawatshela: “Nina, ngeke ningene ezweni engiphakamise isandla sami ngifunga ukuhlala nani kulo, ngaphandle kukaKalebi indodana kaJefune noJoshuwa indodana kaNuni” ngoba bona baletha umbiko omuhle ngemva kokuhlola iZwe Lesithembiso. (Num. 14:30, 37, 38) Ngokuvumelana nesiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu, kamuva uMose wamisa uJoshuwa njengozongena esikhundleni sakhe. (Num. 27:18-23) Lapho uJoshuwa esezohola ama-Israyeli awangenise eKhanani, watshelwa lokhu: “Yiba nesibindi uqine. Ungethuki noma wesabe, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho unawe nomaphi lapho uya khona.”—Josh. 1:9.

9. URahabi wazizwa kanjani ngoJehova nangabantu bakhe?

⁹ UJehova uNkulunkulu waba noJoshuwa ngempela nomaphi lapho ayeya khona. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka njengoba ama-Israyeli ekanise eduze komuzi wamaKhanani waseJeriko. Ngo-1473 B.C.E., uJoshuwa wathuma amadoda amabili ukuba ayohlola iJeriko, futhi ahlangana noRahabi owayeyisifebe. Wawathukusa ophahleni lwendlu yakhe, ewafihla kubantu ababethunywe inkosi yaseJeriko ukuba bazowabamba. URahabi watshela izinhloli zama-Israyeli: “Ngiyazi ukuthi ngokuqinisekile uJehova uzoninika lona leli zwe . . . , ngoba siyizwile indlela uJehova omisa ngayo amanzi oLwandle Olubomvu  phambi kwenu . . . nangalokho enakwenza emakhosini amabili ama-Amori.” Wanezela: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu unguNkulunkulu emazulwini phezulu nasemhlabeni phansi.” (Josh. 2:9-11) Ngenxa yokuthi uRahabi wama nenhlangano kaJehova yangaleso sikhathi, uNkulunkulu waqinisekisa ukuthi yena nabendlu yakubo bayasinda lapho ama-Israyeli enqoba iJeriko. (Josh. 6:25) URahabi wabonisa ukholo, wesaba uJehova, wahlonipha nabantu bakhe.

10. Yini uJesu ayitshela abaholi benkolo bamaJuda bosuku lwakhe, futhi kungani asho lawo mazwi?

¹⁰ Eholwa uJoshuwa, ama-Israyeli anqoba inqwaba yemizi yaseKhanani abe esehlala kuyo. Kodwa kwenzekani kamuva? Phakathi namakhulu eminyaka, ama-Israyeli ephula imiyalo kaNkulunkulu ngokuphindaphindiwe. Ngesikhathi uJehova ethumela iNdodana yakhe emhlabeni, ukungalaleli kwawo uNkulunkulu nabakhulumeli bakhe kwase kukubi ngendlela yokuthi uJesu wabiza iJerusalema ngokuthi ‘umbulali wabaprofethi.’ (Funda uMathewu 23:37, 38.) UNkulunkulu wabalahla abaholi benkolo bamaJuda ngenxa yokungathembeki kwabo kuye. Ngenxa yalokho, uJesu wabatshela: “Niyophucwa umbuso kaNkulunkulu unikwe isizwe esithela izithelo zawo.”—Math. 21:43.

11, 12. (a) Yini ebonisa ukuthi uJehova wasisusa isibusiso sakhe esizweni samaJuda ngekhulu lokuqala wasidlulisela kwenye inhlangano? (b) Inhlangano entsha uNkulunkulu ayeseyamukela yayakhiwa obani?

¹¹ Ngekhulu lokuqala C.E., uJehova wasilahla isizwe sakwa-Israyeli esingathembekile. Nokho, lokho kwakungasho ukuthi wayengasenayo inhlangano yezinceku ezithembekile emhlabeni. UJehova wadlulisela isibusiso sakhe enhlanganweni enamandla entsha egxile kuJesu Kristu nasezimfundisweni zakhe. Yaqala ngosuku lwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. Ngaleso sikhathi, abafundi bakaJesu abangaba ngu-120 babebuthene endaweni ethile eJerusalema lapho “kungazelelwe [kuzwakala] umsindo uvela ezulwini ufana nje nowesivunguvungu esinamandla, wagcwala yonke indlu ababehlezi kuyo. Kwabonakala kubo okunjengamalangabi, kwasakazeka, ngakunye kwahlala phezu kwalowo nalowo kubo, bonke bagcwala umoya ongcwele, baqala ukukhuluma ngezinye izilimi, njengoba nje umoya wawubanika ukuba bakhulume.” (IzE. 2:1-4) Lesi senzakalo esikhexisayo sanikeza ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi uJehova wayeyisekela le nhlangano entsha, eyayakhiwa abafundi bakaKristu.

¹² Ngalolo suku oluvusa amadlingozi, “kwanezelwa imiphefumulo ecishe ibe yizinkulungwane ezintathu” enanini labalandeli bakaJesu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, “uJehova waqhubeka enezela kubo nsuku zonke abasindiswayo.” (IzE. 2:41, 47) Umsebenzi walabo bashumayeli bangekhulu lokuqala waphumelela kangangokuthi “izwi likaNkulunkulu laqhubeka landa, isibalo sabafundi saqhubeka siphindaphindeka kakhulu eJerusalema.” Ngisho ‘nesixuku esikhulu sabapristi salalela ukholo.’ (IzE. 6:7) Ngakho, abantu abaningi abaqotho bamukela amaqiniso ayemenyezelwa amalungu ale nhlangano entsha. Kamuva, uJehova wanikeza ubufakazi obufanayo bokuthi uyayisekela lapho eqala ukuletha “abantu bezizwe” ebandleni lobuKristu.—Funda izEnzo 10:44, 45.

13. Wawuyini umsebenzi wenhlangano kaNkulunkulu entsha?

¹³ Kwakungekho kungabaza ngokuthi imuphi umsebenzi uNkulunkulu ayewunike abalandeli bakaKristu. UJesu ngokwakhe wayebabekele isibonelo, ngoba ngemva nje kokubhapathizwa kwakhe, waqala ukushumayela ‘ngombuso wamazulu.’ (Math. 4:17) UJesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe ukuba benze umsebenzi ofanayo. Wabatshela: “Nizoba ofakazi bami eJerusalema nakulo lonke elaseJudiya neSamariya nasezingxenyeni ezikude kakhulu zomhlaba.” (IzE. 1:8) Akungabazeki ukuthi abalandeli bakaKristu  baqonda ukuthi yini eyayilindeleke kubo. Ngokwesibonelo, e-Antiyokiya yasePhisidiya, uPawulu noBarnaba babatshela ngesibindi abaphikisi babo abangamaJuda: “Kwakudingekile ukuba izwi likaNkulunkulu likhulunywe kini kuqala. Njengoba nilikhaphela kude nani futhi ningazahluleli njengabakufanelekelayo ukuphila okuphakade, bhekani! siphendukela ezizweni. Eqinisweni, uJehova ubeke umyalo phezu kwethu ngala mazwi, ‘Ngikumisé ukuba ube ukukhanya kwezizwe, ukuba ube yinsindiso kuze kube semkhawulweni womhlaba.’ ” (IzE. 13:14, 45-47) Kusukela ekhulwini lokuqala, ingxenye esemhlabeni yenhlangano kaNkulunkulu iye yamemezela ilungiselelo lakhe lensindiso.

14. Kwenzekani ngeJerusalema langekhulu lokuqala, kodwa obani abasinda?

¹⁴ Iningi lamaJuda alizange lizamukele izindaba ezinhle, futhi lalizokwehlelwa inhlekelele, ngoba uJesu wayexwayise abafundi bakhe: “Lapho nibona iJerusalema lihaqwe amabutho akanisile, khona-ke yazini ukuthi ukuchithwa kwalo sekusondele. Khona-ke labo abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni, abaphakathi kwalo baphume, abasemaphandleni bangangeni kulo.” (Luka 21:20, 21) Lokho uJesu akubikezela kwenzeka. Ngenxa yokuvukela kwamaJuda, amabutho amaRoma ayeholwa uCestius Gallus ahaqa iJerusalema ngo-66 C.E. Nokho, lawo mabutho ahoxa kungazelelwe, futhi lokho kwanika abalandeli bakaJesu ithuba lokuphuma eJerusalema naseJudiya. Ngokwesazimlando u-Eusebius, abaningi babalekela ngaphesheya koMfula iJordani baya ePhela nasePhereya. Ngo-70 C.E., amabutho amaRoma ayeholwa uJenene Titus abuya futhi alibhubhisa iJerusalema. Nokho, amaKristu athembekile asinda ngoba alalela isixwayiso sikaJesu.

15. UbuKristu bachuma naphezu kwani?

¹⁵ Naphezu kobunzima, ushushiso nolunye uvivinyo lokholo abalandeli bakaKristu ababhekana nalo, ubuKristu bachuma ekhulwini lokuqala. (IzE. 11:19-21; 19:1, 19, 20) Lawo maKristu okuqala achuma ngokomoya ngoba uNkulunkulu wayewabusisa.—IzAga 10:22.

16. Yini eyayidingeka kumKristu ngamunye ukuze aqhubeke ephilile ngokomoya?

¹⁶ Ukuze umKristu ngamunye aqhubeke ephilile ngokomoya, kwakudingeka azikhandle. Kwakudingeka ukuba ngamunye atadishe imiBhalo ngenkuthalo, abe khona njalo emihlanganweni yokukhulekela futhi ahlanganyele ngentshiseko emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Leyo misebenzi yaba nengxenye empilweni engokomoya nasebunyeni babantu bakaJehova ngaleso sikhathi njengoba nje kunjalo nanamuhla. Ababehlanganyela namabandla okuqala ayehlelwe kahle bazuza kakhulu emizamweni ewusizo yokuzithandela yababonisi nezinceku ezikhonzayo. (Fil. 1:1; 1 Pet. 5:1-4) Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba amabandla ayejabula kanjani lapho ehanjelwe abadala abajikelezayo abanjengoPawulu! (IzE. 15:36, 40, 41) Kunokufana okuphawulekayo phakathi kokukhulekela kwethu nokwamaKristu ekhulu lokuqala. Yeka ukuthi sibonga kanjani ngokuthi uJehova wazihlela izinceku zakhe ngaleso sikhathi njengoba kunjalo nanamuhla! *

17. Sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁷ Njengoba izwe likaSathane lisondela esiphelweni salo kulezi zinsuku zokugcina, ingxenye esemhlabeni yenhlangano kaJehova yendawo yonke iqhubekela phambili ngesivinini esenyuka njalo. Uyahambisana yini nayo? Ingabe ubulokhu uthuthuka ngokomoya? Isihloko esilandelayo sizobonisa indlela yokwenza lokhu.