1, 2. (a) Iziphi izipho uNkulunkulu azinika u-Adamu? (b) Kungani uNkulunkulu anika u-Adamu umfazi? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

UJEHOVA wadala umhlaba ngenjongo. “Wawubumba ukuze uhlalwe.” (Isaya 45:18) U-Adamu, indalo yakhe yokuqala engumuntu, wayephelele, futhi uNkulunkulu wamnika ikhaya elihle kakhulu—insimu yase-Edene. Kumelwe ukuba kwakumjabulisa u-Adamu ukubona imithi emihle emikhulu, imifudlana eyayigeleza nezilwane ezazitshakadula kuleyo nsimu. Kodwa wayentula okuthile okubaluleke kakhulu. UJehova wabonisa lokho ayekuntula lapho ethi: “Akukuhle ukuba umuntu ahlale yedwa. Ngizomenzela umsizi, abe umphelelisi wakhe.” UNkulunkulu wabe esehlisela u-Adamu ubuthongo obukhulu, wathatha olunye lwezimbambo zakhe, “wabe eselwakha ubambo . . . lwaba ngowesifazane.” Yeka indlela u-Adamu ajabula ngayo lapho ephaphama! Wathi: “Ekugcineni usekhona oyithambo lamathambo ami nenyama yenyama yami. Lo uzobizwa ngokuthi yiNdodakazi, ngoba uthathwe endodeni.”—Gen. 2:18-23.

² Isipho sowesifazane uNkulunkulu asinika u-Adamu sasiyingqayizivele ngoba wayezoba umsizi oyiphelelisa ngempela le ndoda. Wayezoba nanelungelo elikhethekile lokuzala izingane. Eqinisweni, “u-Adamu waqamba umkakhe ngokuthi u-Eva, ngoba wayezoba ngunina wabo bonke abantu abaphilayo.” (Gen. 3:20) Yeka isipho esimangalisayo uNkulunkulu asinika umbhangqwana wokuqala ongabantu! Babenelungelo lokuveza abanye abantu abaphelele. Ngale ndlela, umhlaba wawuyogcina usuyipharadesi elinabantu  abaphelele abathotshelwa yizo zonke ezinye izinto eziphilayo.—Gen. 1:27, 28.

3. (a) Ukuze uNkulunkulu ababusise, yini okwakudingeka ukuba u-Adamu no-Eva bayenze, kodwa kwenzekani? (b) Imiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo?

³ Ukuze bathole izibusiso ezazibekwe phambi kwabo, kwakudingeka ukuba u-Adamu no-Eva balalele uJehova futhi baqaphele ubukhosi bakhe. (Gen. 2:15-17) Babezokwazi ukufeza injongo kaNkulunkulu ngabo kuphela ngokuqaphela leyo mibandela. Nokho, kuyadabukisa ukuthi bathonywa “inyoka yokuqala,” uSathane futhi bona kuNkulunkulu. (IsAm. 12:9; Gen. 3:1-6) Lokho kuhlubuka kwabathinta kanjani abesifazane? Yini eye yafezwa abesifazane abesaba uNkulunkulu besikhathi esidlule? Kungani abesifazane abangamaKristu banamuhla bengase babizwe ngokuthi “bayibutho elikhulu”?—IHu. 68:11.

4. Ubani owabekwa icala ngesono sombhangqwana wokuqala?

⁴ Lapho ebizwa ukuba alandise ngokuhlubuka kwakhe, u-Adamu wanikeza lezi zaba ezingathi shu: “Owesifazane onginike yena ukuba abe nami, unginikile isithelo somuthi ngadla.” (Gen. 3:12) U-Adamu akazange nje ehluleke ukuphendula ngesono sakhe kodwa wazama nokusola owesifazane uNkulunkulu amnike yena—ngisho nokusola uMuphi onothando! Bobabili u-Adamu no-Eva babonile, kodwa ngu-Adamu owabekwa icala ngokona kwabo. Yingakho umphostoli uPawulu aloba ukuthi “ngomuntu oyedwa [u-Adamu] isono sangena ezweni nokufa kwangena ngesono.”—Roma 5:12.

5. Ukuvumela kukaNkulunkulu ukuba ukuzibusa komuntu kuqhubeke isikhathi esithile kuye kwabonisani?

⁵ Umbhangqwana wokuqala ongabantu wanxenxelwa ukuba ucabange ukuthi awumdingi uJehova njengoMbusi wawo. Lokho kwaphakamisa lo mbuzo obalulekile ngobukhosi bendawo yonke: Ubani onelungelo lokubusa? Ukuze awuphendule kanye kube ukuphela, uNkulunkulu wavumela abantu ukuba bazibuse isikhathi esithile. Wayazi ukuthi babeyobona kokuhlangenwe nakho kwabo ukuthi ukuzibusa akuphumeleli. Kuwo wonke amakhulu eminyaka ukuzibusa komuntu kuye kwafaka isintu ezinhlekeleleni eziningi. Ekhulwini leminyaka eledlule lodwa, kuye kwafa abantu abangaba izigidi eziyikhulu ezimpini—futhi bahlanganisa izigidi zamadoda, abesifazane nezingane ezingenacala. Ngakho, sebukhona ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi “akukona okomuntu ohambayo ngisho nokuqondisa isinyathelo sakhe.” (Jer. 10:23) Ngenxa yokuqaphela leli qiniso, sibheka uJehova njengoMbusi wethu.—Funda izAga 3:5, 6.

6. Emazweni amaningi, abesifazane baphathwa kanjani?

⁶ Kokubili amadoda nabesifazane baye baphathwa kabi kuleli zwe elisemandleni kaSathane. (UmSh. 8:9; 1 Joh. 5:19) Ezinye zezenzo ezinonya kakhulu emlandweni ziye zabandakanya ukuhlukunyezwa kwabesifazane. Emhlabeni wonke, abesifazane abangaba amaphesenti angu-30 babika ukuthi baye bahlaselwa abangane babo besilisa. Kweminye imiphakathi, abesilisa baphathwa kangcono ngoba kucatshangwa ukuthi bayokhula baqhubekisele phambili uzalo futhi banakekele abazali babo abakhulayo kanye nokhulu. Emazweni athile, izingane zamantombazane zibhekwa njengezingathandeki, futhi kukhishwa izisu zezingane zamantombazane eziningi kakhulu kunezabafana.

7. UNkulunkulu wanika amadoda nabesifazane isiqalo esinjani?

⁷ Ukuphathwa kabi kwabesifazane akumthokozisi neze uNkulunkulu. Uphatha abesifazane ngobulungisa futhi uyabahlonipha. Ukuthi uJehova uyabazisa abesifazane kubonakala eqinisweni lokuthi u-Eva wadalwa ephelele futhi enezici ezazimenza angabi isigqila kodwa abe umphelelisi omuhle kakhulu ka-Adamu. Lesi esinye sezizathu ezenza ukuba ekupheleni kosuku lwesithupha lokudala, uNkulunkulu ‘abone konke ayekwenzile, bheka! kwakukuhle kakhulu.’ (Gen. 1:31) Yebo, “konke” uJehova ayekwenzile  “kwakukuhle kakhulu.” Wanika amadoda nabesifazane isiqalo esihle kakhulu!

8. (a) Chaza ukuziphatha kweningi labantu. (b) Kuwo wonke umlando, obani uNkulunkulu aye wababonisa umusa?

⁸ Ukuziphatha kweningi lamadoda nabesifazane kuye kwawohloka ngemva kokuhlubuka kwase-Edene, futhi kuye kwaba kubi nakakhulu phakathi nekhulu leminyaka eledlule. IBhayibheli labikezela ukuthi ukuziphatha okubi kwakuyodlanga “ezinsukwini zokugcina.” Ububi bomuntu busakazeke kakhulu kangangokuthi akungatshazwa ukuthi lezi ngempela ‘ziyizikhathi ezibucayi.’ (2 Thim. 3:1-5) Nokho, kuwo wonke umlando wesintu, ‘iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova’ iye yabonisa umusa kokubili emadodeni nakwabesifazane abaye bathembela kuyo, balalela imithetho yayo futhi bazithoba kuyo njengoMbusi wabo.—Funda iHubo 71:5.

9. Bangaki abantu abasinda kuZamcolo, futhi kungani?

⁹ Lapho uNkulunkulu ebhubhisa izwe lasendulo eligcwele ubudlova ngoZamcolo ezinsukwini zikaNowa, bambalwa kakhulu abantu abasinda. Uma kuwukuthi abafowabo nodadewabo bakaNowa babesaphila ngaleso sikhathi, nabo bafa kulowo zamcolo. (Gen. 5:30) Kodwa inani lamadoda asinda kuZamcolo liyalingana nelabesifazane. Abasinda kwakunguNowa, umkakhe, amadodana akhe amathathu nomkawo. Basinda ngoba babesaba uNkulunkulu futhi benza intando yakhe. Izigidi zabantu eziphilayo manje zivela kulabo bantu abayisishiyagalombili ababesekelwa uJehova.—Gen. 7:7; 1 Pet. 3:20.

10. Kungani uJehova awasekela amakhosikazi amesabayo ezinzalamizi ezithembekile?

¹⁰ Eminyakeni eminingi kamuva, uNkulunkulu wawasekela namakhosikazi amesabayo ezinzalamizi ezithembekile. Kwakungeke kube njalo ukube ayengabantu abakhonondayo ngezimo ayebhekana nazo ekuphileni. (Jude 16) Asikucabangi nakukucabanga ukuthi uSara, inkosikazi ka-Abrahama ehloniphayo, wake washo amazwi okukhononda ngezindebe zakhe lapho beshiya ukunethezeka kwase-Uri futhi beba izakhamuzi zesikhashana ezihlala ematendeni kwelinye izwe. Kunalokho, ‘uSara wamhlonipha u-Abrahama, embiza ngokuthi “nkosi.”’ (1 Pet. 3:6) Cabanga nangoRebheka, owayeyisibusiso esivela kuJehova futhi waba inkosikazi enhle kakhulu. Akumangalisi ukuthi umyeni wakhe, u-Isaka “wamthanda, futhi . . . waduduzeka ngemva kokushona kukanina.” (Gen. 24:67) Yeka ukuthi sijabula kanjani namuhla ngokuthi phakathi kwethu kunabesifazane abesaba uNkulunkulu abanjengoSara noRebheka!

11. Ababelethisi ababili abangamaHebheru basibonisa kanjani isibindi?

¹¹ Ngesikhathi eyizigqila eGibhithe, ama-Israyeli anda kakhulu futhi uFaro wayala ukuba zonke izingane zesilisa zamaHebheru zibulawe lapho zizalwa. Nokho, cabanga ngababelethisi abangamaHebheru, uShifira noPhuwa, cishe abebephethe ababelethisi. Ngenxa yokuthi babemesaba ngokujulile uJehova, baba nesibindi sokwenqaba ukubulala izinsana. Ngenxa yalokho wabavuza ngokubanika eyabo imikhaya.—Eks. 1:15-21.

12. Yini eyayiphawuleka ngoDebora noJayeli?

¹² Omunye wabesifazane abasekelwa uNkulunkulu wangezinsuku zabahluleli bakwa-Israyeli, kwakungumprofethikazi uDebora. Wakhuthaza uMahluleli uBharaki futhi waba neqhaza ekusizeni ama-Israyeli ukuba azikhulule ekucindezelweni, kodwa wabikezela ukuthi udumo lokunqoba amaKhanani lwalungeke lube olukaBharaki. Kunalokho, uNkulunkulu wayeyonikela induna yempi yamaKhanani, uSisera, “esandleni sowesifazane.” Yilokho kanye okwenzeka lapho owesifazane ongeyena umIsrayeli uJayeli embulala.—AbaHl. 4:4-9, 17-22.

13. IBhayibheli lisitshelani ngo-Abhigayili?

¹³ U-Abhigayili wayengowesifazane ophawulekayo owaphila ekhulwini le-11 B.C.E. Wayenokuqonda, kanti umyeni wakhe, uNabali, wayenokhahlo, engelusizo lwalutho futhi engenangqondo. (1 Sam. 25:2, 3, 25) UDavide namadoda akhe bavikela imfuyo kaNabali isikhathi esithile, kodwa kwathi lapho  becela ukuba abanike ukudla, ‘waklabalasa ebathuka’ futhi wangabanika lutho. Lokhu kwamthukuthelisa kakhulu uDavide kangangokuthi wahlela ukumbulala uNabali namadoda endlu yakhe. Lapho eyizwa le ndaba, u-Abhigayili wathatha ukudla neziphuzo waya nakho kuDavide namadoda akhe, wakunqanda ngaleyo ndlela ukuchitheka kwegazi. (1 Sam. 25:8-18) Kamuva uDavide wathi kuye: “Makatuswe uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, okuthumele kulolu suku ukuba ungihlangabeze!” (1 Sam. 25:32) Ngemva kokufa kukaNabali, uDavide washada no-Abhigayili.—1 Sam. 25:37-42.

14. Amadodakazi kaShalumi abamba iqhaza kumuphi umsebenzi, futhi abesifazane abangamaKristu benza okufanayo ngayiphi indlela namuhla?

¹⁴ Inqwaba yamadoda, abesifazane nabantwana yafa lapho amabutho aseBhabhiloni ebhubhisa iJerusalema nethempeli lalo ngo-607 B.C.E. Izindonga zalo muzi zakhiwa kabusha ngo-455 B.C.E. ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaNehemiya. Phakathi kwalabo abasiza ekulungiseni lezo zindonga kwakunamadodakazi kaShalumi, isikhulu esasiphethe ingxenye yesifunda saseJerusalema. (Neh. 3:12) Enza umsebenzi ophansi ngokuzithandela. Yeka ukuthi sibazisa kanjani abesifazane abaningi abangamaKristu abasekela ngenjabulo imisebenzi yokwakha izakhiwo ezingokwasezulwini ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene namuhla!

15. Iliphi ilungelo uNkulunkulu alinika owesifazane ogama lakhe linguMariya?

¹⁵ Ngandlela-thile, ngaphambi kwekhulu lokuqala C.E. naphakathi nalo, uJehova wabusisa abesifazane abaningi ngamalungelo amahle kakhulu. Omunye wabo kwaba intombi egama layo linguMariya. Ngesikhathi isathembisene umshado noJosefa, yakhulelwa ngokuyisimangaliso ngomoya ongcwele. Kungani uNkulunkulu ayikhetha ukuba ibe unina kaJesu? Akungabazeki ukuthi kwakungenxa yokuthi yayinezimfanelo ezingokomoya ezazidingeka ekukhuliseni indodana ephelele kusukela ebuntwaneni ize ibe indoda evuthiwe. Yeka ukuthi kwakuyilungelo elingakanani ukuba unina womuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke abayoke baphile emhlabeni!—Math. 1:18-25.

16. Nikeza isibonelo esibonisa isimo sengqondo sikaJesu ngabesifazane.

¹⁶ UJesu wayenomusa kakhulu kwabesifazane. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngowesifazane okwase kuyiminyaka eyishumi nambili ehlushwa umopho. Weza ngemuva kuJesu esesixukwini, wathinta ingubo yakhe. Esikhundleni sokumthethisa, ngomusa uJesu wathi kuye: “Ndodakazi, ukholo lwakho lukuphilisile. Hamba ngokuthula, uphile kahle ekuguleni kwakho okubi.”—Marku 5:25-34.

17. Isiphi isenzakalo esiyisimangaliso esenzeka ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E.?

¹⁷ Abanye abesifazane ababengabafundi bakaJesu baba nelungelo lokumkhonza yena nabaphostoli bakhe. (Luka 8:1-3) NgePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., amadoda nabesifazane abangaba ngu-120 bathola umoya ongcwele ngendlela ekhethekile. (Funda izEnzo 2:1-4.) UJehova wayebikezele ukuthululwa kwalowo moya ongcwele ngala mazwi: “[Ngiyothululela] umoya wami phezu kwayo yonke inhlobo yenyama, amadodana enu namadodakazi enu ngokuqinisekile ayoprofetha . . . ngiyothululela umoya wami ezincekwini nasezincekukazini.” (Joweli 2:28, 29) Ngaleso simangaliso sangosuku lwePhentekoste, uNkulunkulu wabonisa ukuthi wayeseyekile ukusekela u-Israyeli oyisihlubuki nokuthi manje wayesesekela “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu,” owakhiwa amadoda nabesifazane. (Gal. 3:28; 6:15, 16) Phakathi kwabesifazane abangamaKristu abahlanganyela enkonzweni ekhulwini lokuqala kwakunamadodakazi amane kaFiliphu umvangeli.—IzE. 21:8, 9.

18, 19. (a) Ngokuphathelene nokukhulekela kweqiniso, iliphi ilungelo uNkulunkulu alinike kokubili amadoda nabesifazane? (b) Umhubi ubabiza ngokuthini abesifazane abamemezela izindaba ezinhle?

¹⁸ Ngasekupheleni kwawo-1800, idlanzana  lamadoda nabesifazane laba nesithakazelo esijulile ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. Lalandulela labo manje abahlanganyela ekugcwalisekeni kwamazwi kaJesu ayisiprofetho: “Lezi zindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.”—Math. 24:14.

¹⁹ Lelo qembu elincane labaFundi BeBhayibheli selikhule laba oFakazi BakaJehova abangaba ngu-8 000 000 namuhla. Kunabanye abantu abangaphezu kuka-11 000 000 ababonisa ukuthi bayalithanda iBhayibheli nomsebenzi wethu ngokuba khona eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaJesu saminyaka yonke. Emazweni amaningi, iningi lalabo ababa khona ngabesifazane. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abesifazane abakha isibalo esikhulu sabamemezeli boMbuso besikhathi esigcwele abangaphezu kwesigidi emhlabeni wonke. Ngempela uNkulunkulu uye wanika abesifazane abathembekile ilungelo lokuhlanganyela ekugcwalisekeni kwamazwi omhubi: “UJehova ngokwakhe unika izwi; abesifazane abalandisa izindaba ezinhle bayibutho elikhulu.”—IHu. 68:11.

20. Ikuphi ukwaziswa okungaba okufanelekayo ukuba sikufunde?

²⁰ Isikhathi asisivumeli ukuba sixoxe ngezibonelo eziningi zabesifazane abathembekile abasembhalweni ogciniwe weBhayibheli. Kodwa sonke singafunda ngabo eZwini likaNkulunkulu nasezihlokweni ezinyatheliswe ezincwadini zethu. Ngokwesibonelo, singazindla ngobuqotho bukaRuthe. (Ruthe 1:16, 17) Ukufunda incwadi yeBhayibheli ebizwa ngegama leNdlovukazi u-Esteri nezihloko eziphathelene naye kungase kuluqinise ukholo lwethu. Singazuza ngokuhlela ukufunda izincwadi zalolu hlobo ngobusuku bokuKhulekela kwethu Komkhaya. Uma sihlala sodwa, singafunda izihloko ezinjalo ngesikhathi sesifundo somuntu siqu.

21. Abesifazane abesaba uNkulunkulu baye bakubonisa kanjani ukuzinikela kwabo kuJehova ezikhathini ezinzima?

²¹ Ngokuqinisekile uJehova uyawubusisa umsebenzi wokushumayela wabesifazane abangamaKristu futhi uyabasekela ezikhathini zobunzima. Ngokwesibonelo, ngosizo lwakhe, abesifazane abesaba uNkulunkulu balondoloza ubuqotho babo ngesikhathi sokubusa kwamaNazi nokwamaKhomanisi lapho abaningi babo bahlushwa khona futhi abanye baze babulawa ngenxa yokulalela uNkulunkulu. (IzE. 5:29) Namuhla njengasesikhathini esedlule, odadewethu nabo bonke abakhulekeli esikanye nabo basekela ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu. Empeleni njengoba enza kuma-Israyeli asendulo, uJehova ubamba isandla sabo sokunene futhi athi: ‘Ningesabi. Ngizonisiza mina mathupha.’—Isaya 41:10-13.

22. Yimaphi amalungelo esingabheka phambili ekuwajabuleleni esikhathini esizayo?

²² Esikhathini esizayo esiseduze, amadoda nabesifazane abesaba uNkulunkulu bayoguqula lo mhlaba ube ipharadesi futhi basize izigidi zabavusiweyo ukuba zifunde ngezinjongo zikaJehova. Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi singamadoda noma abesifazane, masazise ilungelo lethu eliyigugu lokumkhonza ‘silinganisene ihlombe nehlombe.’—Zef. 3:9.