1. Chaza indlela ingelosi ethile eyaba ngayo uSathane.

YAKE yaba nobuhlobo obuhle noJehova. Kodwa kamuva, le ngelosi yafuna ukuba abantu bakhulekele yona. Kunokuba isenqabe ngokushesha lesi sifiso esingafanele, yasivumela sakhula yaze yona. (Jakobe 1:14, 15) Asilazi igama layo lokuqala, kodwa manje siyibiza ngokuthi uSathane. ‘Ayizange ime iqine eqinisweni.’ Yavukela uJehova, yaba ‘uyise wamanga.’—Johane 8:44.

2, 3. Amagama athi “uSathane,” “uDeveli,” “inyoka” nelithi “udrako” abonisani ngesitha sikaJehova esikhulu kunazo zonke?

² Kusukela avukela, uSathane uye waba isitha sikaJehova esikhulu kunazo zonke nesitha saso sonke isintu. Ukuthi uSathane ukhohlakele kangakanani ngempela singakubona endleleni iBhayibheli elimchaza ngayo. Elithi uSathane lisho ukuthi “uMphikisi,” okubonisa ukuthi le ngelosi embi iyakuzonda ukubusa kukaNkulunkulu futhi ilwa nakho ngawo wonke amandla ayo. Into uSathane afuna ngempela  ukuyibona yenzeka, ukuphela kokubusa kukaJehova.

³ KusAmbulo 12:9, uSathane ubizwa ngokuthi uDeveli, okusho ukuthi “uMnyundeli.” USathane uye wahlambalaza uNkulunkulu ngokumbiza ngomqambimanga. Inkulumo ethi “inyoka yokuqala” isikhumbuza indlela uSathane asebenzisa ngayo inyoka ekukhohliseni u-Eva. Inkulumo ethi “udrako omkhulu” nayo imchaza kahle uSathane. Unolaka, unonya futhi mubi. Ufuna ukubhuntshisa injongo kaJehova nokuqothula abantu bakaNkulunkulu.

4. Sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sihloko?

⁴ Kusobala ukuthi uSathane uwusongo olukhulu ebuqothweni bethu. Yingakho iBhayibheli lisixwayisa: “Hlalani nisangulukile, qaphani. Isitha senu, uDeveli, sihambahamba njengengonyama ebhongayo, efuna engamshwabadela.” (1 Petru 5:8) Ngakho-ke, lesi sihloko sizodingida izici ezintathu zikaSathane ezibonisa ukuthi kungani kudingeka sizivikele kulesi sitha esibi sikaJehova nabantu baKhe.

5, 6. (a) Nikeza izibonelo ezibonisa ukuthi izingelosi ‘zinamandla amakhulu.’ (b) USathane ‘unendlela yokubangela ukufa’ ngamuphi umqondo?

⁵ Izingelosi ‘zinamandla amakhulu.’ (IHubo 103:20) Zihlakaniphile futhi zinamandla kunabantu. Izingelosi ezithembekile ziwasebenzisa kahle amandla azo. Ngokwesibonelo, enye yezingelosi zikaJehova yabulala amasosha esitha ase-Asiriya angu-185 000. Umuntu oyedwa wayengeke akwazi ukwenza lokhu futhi kwakungaba nzima nangalo lonke ibutho lempi ukukwenza. (2 AmaKhosi 19:35) Ngesinye isikhathi, ingelosi yasebenzisa ikhono namandla ayo ukuze ikhulule abaphostoli bakaJesu etilongweni. Nakuba abaqaphi babeseduze, ababonanga ukuthi ingelosi yayivule iminyango, yadedela abaphostoli, yayisiyivala lapho sebephumile!—IzEnzo 5:18-23.

⁶ Izingelosi ezithembekile ziwasebenzisa kahle amandla azo, kodwa uSathane uwasebenzisa kabi awakhe. USathane unamandla nethonya elikhulu ngempela. IBhayibheli limbiza ngokuthi “umbusi waleli zwe” nangokuthi “unkulunkulu walesi simiso sezinto.” (Johane 12:31; 2 Korinte 4:4) USathane ‘unanendlela yokubangela ukufa.’ (Hebheru 2:14) Lokhu akusho ukuthi ubulala bonke abantu ngokuqondile. Pho, kusho ukuthini? Okokuqala, leli zwe ligcwele isimo sengqondo sikaSathane senzondo nobudlova. Okwesibili, ngenxa yokuthi u-Eva wawakholwa amanga kaSathane futhi wangamlalela uNkulunkulu, bonke abantu bayona futhi bayafa. (Roma 5:12) USathane ‘ungumbulali wabantu,’ njengoba nje uJesu ambiza kanjalo. (Johane 8:44) Uyisitha esinamandla ngempela.

7. Amademoni abonise kanjani ukuthi anamandla?

⁷ Lapho simelana noSathane, simelana nanabo bonke abamsekelayo nabavukela ukubusa kukaNkulunkulu. Bahlanganisa neqembu elikhulu lezinye izingelosi  ezivukelayo, ezibizwa ngokuthi amademoni. (IsAmbulo 12:3, 4) Zibonise kaningi ukuthi zinamandla amakhulu kunabantu ngokubahlukumeza kakhulu. (Mathewu 8:28-32; Marku 5:1-5) Ungalokothi ukhohlwe indlela amademoni nombusi wawo abanamandla ngayo ngempela. (Mathewu 9:34) Ngaphandle kosizo lukaJehova, besingeke neze sinqobe empini yethu noSathane.

8. (a) Uyini umgomo kaSathane? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.) (b) Ngokwalokho osukubonile, leli zwe limfuze kanjani uSathane ngokuba nonya?

⁸ Umphostoli uPetru wafanisa uSathane ‘nengonyama ebhongayo.’ Enye incwadi ithi igama lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi “ebhongayo” lisho “ukuhewula kwesilwane esilambe kakhulu.” Yeka ukuthi lokho kuluchaza kahle kanjani unya nobubi bukaSathane! Nakuba elawula lonke izwe, akanelisekile. USathane unjengengonyama elambele izinyamazane ezengeziwe. (1 Johane 5:19) Ngokuyinhloko, uhlasela abagcotshiweyo abasesemhlabeni, abasekelwa “ezinye izimvu.” (Johane 10:16; IsAmbulo 12:17) Umgomo kaSathane uwukuqothula abantu bakaJehova. Ukushushiswa kwamaKristu eqiniso kusukela ekhulwini lokuqala kuze kube manje kuyifakazela kahle indlela uSathane anonya ngayo.

9, 10. (a) USathane wasihlasela kanjani isizwe sakwa-Israyeli? (Nikeza izibonelo.) (b) Kungani uSathane ayenesizathu esikhethekile sokuhlasela u-Israyeli wasendulo? (c) Ucabanga ukuthi uDeveli uzizwa kanjani lapho enye yezinceku zikaJehova yenza isono esibi namuhla?

⁹ Kunenye futhi indlela uSathane  alubonise ngayo unya lwakhe. Ingonyama elambile ayiyihawukeli inyamazane. Ayiyizweli ngaphambi kokuyibulala, futhi ayizizwa inecala ngemva kokuyibulala. Ngokufanayo, uSathane akabazweli labo abahlaselayo. Ngokwesibonelo, ucabanga ukuthi uSathane wayezizwa kanjani isikhathi ngasinye lapho ama-Israyeli enqotshwa izono ezinjengokuziphatha okubi kobulili nokuhaha? Ungambona yini ngeso lengqondo uSathane ehalalisa njengoba ebuka imiphumela edabukisayo yokuziphatha okubi kukaZimri nokuhaha kukaGehazi?—Numeri 25:6-8, 14, 15; 2 AmaKhosi 5:20-27.

¹⁰ USathane wayenesizathu esikhethekile sokuhlasela u-Israyeli wasendulo. Khumbula ukuthi uMesiya wayeyovela kuleso sizwe nokuthi nguye owayeyochoboza uSathane futhi abonise ukuthi nguJehova onelungelo lokubusa. (Genesise 3:15) USathane wayengafuni ukuba ama-Israyeli amukeleke kuNkulunkulu, ngakho wenza konke okusemandleni ukuze awonakalise ngokuwenza one. Ungacabangi ukuthi uSathane wamdabukela uDavide lapho ephinga. Ungacabangi nokuthi wamzwela uMose lapho ephunyukwa ithuba lokungena eZweni Lesithembiso. Empeleni, uSathane ujabula afe lapho ebona enye yezinceku zikaNkulunkulu yenza isono esibi. Eqinisweni, uDeveli uyamklolodela uJehova lapho enqobe ngalezi zindlela.—IzAga 27:11.

11. Cishe kungani uSathane ahlasela uSara?

¹¹ USathane wayewuzonda ngokukhethekile umndeni uMesiya ayezovela kuwo. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka ngemva kokuba uJehova etshele u-Abrahama ukuthi wayezoba “isizwe esikhulu.” (Genesise 12:1-3) Ngenkathi u-Abrahama noSara beseGibhithe, uFaro wathatha uSara wamyisa ekhaya lakhe, efuna ukuba abe umkakhe. Nokho, uJehova wamvikela uSara, wamsindisa kuleso simo esinzima. (Funda uGenesise 12:14-20.) Kwenzeka into ethi ayifane emzini waseGerari ngaphambi kokuzalwa kuka-Isaka. (Genesise 20:1-7) Kungenzeka yini ukuthi nguSathane owayebangela lezo zimo? Khumbula ukuthi uSara wayeshiye umuzi ocebile wase-Uri wayohlala ematendeni. Ngakho, kungenzeka yini ukuthi uSathane wayefuna ukumlinga ngokunethezeka kwasesigodlweni sikaFaro nesika-Abhimeleki? Ingabe uSathane wayecabanga ukuthi uSara wayeyolahla umyeni wakhe ngisho noJehova, ashade nenye yalawo makhosi? IBhayibheli alisho, kodwa cishe uDeveli wayeyojabula kakhulu ukube uSara walahlekelwa ithuba lokuba sohlwini lozalo lukaMesiya. USathane wayengeke abe nawo nhlobo umuzwa wecala ukube umshado walona wesifazane oqotho wachitheka futhi konakala idumela lakhe nobuhlobo bakhe noJehova. Yeka indlela uSathane anonya namubi ngayo!

12, 13. (a) USathane walubonisa kanjani unya lwakhe ngemva kokuzalwa kukaJesu? (b) Ucabanga ukuthi uSathane uzizwa kanjani ngentsha ethanda uJehova ezama ukumkhonza namuhla?

¹² UJesu wazalwa sekwaphela amakhulu eminyaka u-Abrahama afa. Ungacabangi ukuthi uSathane wayebona umntwana omuhle noma othandekayo. USathane wayazi ukuthi lo mntwana  wayeyokhula abe uMesiya othenjisiwe. UJesu wayeyingxenye eyinhloko yenzalo ka-Abrahama, futhi kamuva ‘wayezobhidliza imisebenzi kaDeveli.’ (1 Johane 3:8) Ingabe uSathane wayezocabanga ukuthi ukubulala umntwana kuwunya olwedlulele? Cha. Akanandaba nokulungile nokungalungile. Wathatha isinyathelo ngokushesha wazama ukumbulala lo mntwana onguJesu. Kanjani?

¹³ Lapho iNkosi uHerode izwa ngababhula ngezinkanyezi ukuthi kwakuzelwe “inkosi yamaJuda,” yathukuthela kakhulu futhi yafuna ukumbulala lo mntwana. (Mathewu 2:1-3, 13) Ngakho, yayala ukuba kubulawe bonke abafana abaneminyaka emibili nangaphansi eBhetlehema nasezifundeni zalo. (Funda uMathewu 2:13-18.) UJesu wasinda kulokho kucekwa kwabantwana okubuhlungu, kodwa lokhu kusitshelani ngesitha sethu, uSathane? UDeveli akakwazisi ukuphila komuntu. Akanandaba ngisho nanezingane. USathane ‘uyingonyama ebhongayo’ ngempela. Ungalokothi ukhohlwe indlela anonya ngayo!

14, 15. USathane ‘uziphuphuthekise kanjani izingqondo zabangakholwa’?

¹⁴ Ukuphela kwendlela uSathane angahlubula ngayo abantu kuNkulunkulu wethu onothando, uJehova, ukubakhohlisa. (1 Johane 4:8) USathane ukhohlisa abantu ukuze ‘bangasiqapheli isidingo sabo esingokomoya,’ okungukuthi, bangaqapheli ukuthi bayakudinga ukuba babe nobuhlobo noNkulunkulu. (Mathewu 5:3) UDeveli uye “waphuphuthekisa izingqondo zabangakholwa” ukuze bangaliboni iqiniso ngoJehova.—2 Korinte 4:4.

¹⁵ Enye yezindlela zikaSathane zokukhohlisa abantu eziphumelela kakhulu yinkolo yamanga. Uyazi ukuthi uJehova ‘ufuna ukuzinikela kuye kuphela.’ (Eksodusi 20:5) Cabanga-ke ukuthi kumelwe ukuba uSathane ujabula kanjani lapho ebona abantu bekhulekela amadlozi, noma imvelo, noma izilwane, ngamanye amazwi, noma yini nanoma ubani ngaphandle kukaJehova. Ngokudabukisayo, ngisho nabaningi abacabanga ukuthi ukukhulekela kwabo kuyamukeleka kuNkulunkulu empeleni balawulwa izinkolelo zamanga namasiko angasizi ngalutho. Ama-Israyeli osuku luka-Isaya ayesesimweni esifanayo. UJehova wawabuza: “Kungani niqhubeka nikhokha imali ngalokho okungesona isinkwa, futhi kungani ukukhandleka kwenu kungokwalokho okungaphumeli ekwanelisekeni? Ngilalelisiseni, nidle okuhle, futhi umphefumulo wenu mawuthole injabulo enkulu ngokukhuluphala.”—Isaya 55:2.

16, 17. (a) Kungani uJesu athi kuPetru: “Yana emva kwami, Sathane”? (b) USathane angasikhohlisa kanjani bese siyeka ukuqapha?

¹⁶ USathane angakhohlisa ngisho nezinceku zikaJehova ezishisekayo. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka lapho uJesu etshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi uzobulawa maduze. Umphostoli uPetru, owayemthanda uJesu, wathi: “Yiba nomusa kuwe, Nkosi; ngeke neze ube nalesi siphetho.” UJesu wathi  kuPetru: “Yana emva kwami, Sathane!” (Mathewu 16:22, 23) Kungani uJesu abiza uPetru ‘ngoSathane’? Kungoba wayekwazi okwase kuzokwenzeka. Maduze, uJesu wayezofa njengomhlatshelo oyisihlengo futhi abonise ukuthi uDeveli ungumqambimanga. Lesi kwakuyisikhathi esibucayi emlandweni wesintu, kungesona esokuba uJesu ‘abe nomusa’ kuye ngokwakhe. USathane wayeyojabula kakhulu ukube uJesu wayeka ukuqapha.

¹⁷ Ukuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto kuseduze, ngakho nathi siphila esikhathini esibucayi. USathane ufuna ‘sibe nomusa’ kithi ngokusenza sigxile ekubeni abaphumelelayo kuleli zwe. Ufuna sikhohlwe ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina futhi siyeke ukuqapha. Ungakuvumeli lokho kwenzeke kuwe! Kunalokho, ‘hlale ulindile.’ (Mathewu 24:42) Ungalokothi uwakholwe amanga kaSathane athi ukuphela kusekude noma ngeke kufike nhlobo.

18, 19. (a) USathane angase azame kanjani ukusikhohlisa, asenze sicabange ukuthi asilufanelekele uthando lukaJehova? (b) UJehova usisiza kanjani ukuba sihlale siqaphile?

¹⁸ Kukhona nenye indlela uSathane azama ukusikhohlisa ngayo. Ufuna sikholelwe ukuthi asilufanelekele uthando lukaJehova nokuthi uNkulunkulu akasoze azithethelela izono zethu. Kodwa lokhu kungamanga avela kuSathane. Cabanga ngakho, ubani ngempela ongalufanelekele uthando lukaJehova? Nguye uSathane. Ngubani uNkulunkulu angasoze amthethelela? NguSathane. Ngokuphathelene nathi, iBhayibheli lithi: “UNkulunkulu akayena ongalungile ukuba akhohlwe umsebenzi wenu nothando enalubonisa kulo igama lakhe.” (Hebheru 6:10) UJehova ukwazisa konke esikwenzela ukumjabulisa, futhi inkonzo yethu kuye akwenzeki ibe yize. (Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 15:58.) Musa-ke ukukhohliswa amanga kaSathane!

¹⁹ Njengoba sibonile, uSathane unamandla, unonya futhi uyakhohlisa. Singayinqoba kanjani impi yethu yokulwa nesitha esinjengalesi? UJehova usinikeza usizo. IZwi lakhe liyasifundisa ngezindlela zikaSathane ukuze singabi “abangenalwazi ngamacebo akhe.” (2 Korinte 2:11) Lapho siziqonda izindlela ezihlukahlukene uSathane asihlasela ngazo, kuba lula ngokwengeziwe ukuba sihlale siqaphile. Kodwa akwanele ukugcina ngokuzazi izindlela zikaSathane. IBhayibheli lithi: “Melanani noDeveli khona-ke uyonibalekela.” (Jakobe 4:7) Isihloko esilandelayo sizodingida izici ezintathu esingalwa noSathane kuzo futhi sinqobe.