Ingabe Ukuphila Kwakho Kulawulwa Yizinkanyezi?

UMA ubheka isibhakabhaka ngobusuku obucwathile, ungaphazanyiswa ukukhanya kukagesi, sifana nengubo emnyama enezinkulungwane zamadayimane amancane abenyezelayo. Abantu baze baqaphela eminyakeni engu-350 edlule ukuthi izinkanyezi zinkulu kangakanani nokuthi ziqhele kakhulu kangakanani kithi. Empeleni yimá siqala ukwazi ngamandla amakhulu alawula indawo yonke.

Kusukela kudala, abantu baye babuka ilanga liphuma lize liyozilahla kunina kanye nezinkanyezi nenyanga ebusuku. Baye babona nendlela ezishintsha ngayo indawo ezima kuyo esibhakabhakeni phakathi nezinkathi zonyaka. (Genesise 1:14) Abaningi baye bazwakalisa imizwa efana neyenkosi yakwa-Israyeli uDavide, owabhala la mazwi eminyakeni engaba ngu-3 000 edlule: “Lapho ngibona amazulu akho, imisebenzi yeminwe yakho, inyanga nezinkanyezi okulungiselele, uyini umuntu ofayo ukuba umkhumbule?”—IHubo 8:3, 4.

Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siyakuqaphela lokhu noma cha, izinto ezisemkhathini nokuhamba kwazo kulawula ukuphila kwethu ngezindlela eziningi esingaziboni. Ilanga, inkanyezi enkulu ezungezwa umhlaba, ilawula isikhathi—ubude bosuku nobude bonyaka. Umsebenzi wenyanga ‘ukuhlukanisa izinkathi.’ (IHubo 104:19; iBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile) Izinkanyezi zona ziyiziqondiso eziwusizo ematilosini ukuba athole indlela, ngisho nosomkhathi bathembela kuzo lapho beqondisa umkhumbi-mkhathi. Ngenxa yalesi sizathu, abanye baye bazibuze: Ingabe izinkanyezi zingenza okungaphezu kokusitshela izikhathi nezinkathi zonyaka nokujulisa ukwazisa kwethu ngendalo kaNkulunkulu? Zingalibikezela yini ikusasa lethu noma zisixwayise ngezinto ezimbi ezizosehlela?

Umsuka Nenjongo Yokufundwa Kwezinkanyezi

Umkhuba wokubheka emazulwini ukuze kutholwe amabika angase aqondise ukuphila emhlabeni kwaqala eMesophothamiya yasendulo, cishe ngenkulungwane yeminyaka yesithathu B.C.E. Abafundi bezinkanyezi bokuqala babewatadisha ngokucophelela amazulu. Isayensi yokufundwa kwezinkanyezi yaqala ngenxa yemizamo yabo yokuthola ukuthi izinto ezisemkhathini zihamba kanjani, ukuthola imizila yezinkanyezi, ukwenza amakhalenda nokubikezela ukuthi ilanga lizosithwa nini yinyanga. Kodwa umkhakha wokufundwa kwezinkanyezi awugcini nje ngokuthola indlela ilanga nenyanga okuwulawula ngayo umhlaba esihlala kuwo. Izazi zokufundwa kwezinkanyezi zigomela ngokuthi indawo okumi kuyo ilanga, inyanga, amaplanethi, izinkanyezi nemilaza ayigcini  nje ngokuthonya izinto ezinkulu ezenzeka emhlabeni, kodwa futhi ilawula nokuphila kwabantu ngabanye. Ngaziphi izindlela?

Ezinye izazi zifunda izinkanyezi ukuze zithole izimpawu ezithile noma izixwayiso ngekusasa. Abantu abazi lezo zimpawu babe sebezisebenzisa futhi bazuze kuzo ngezindlela eziningi. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi empeleni izinkanyezi zisitshela izinto esazimiselwa kusengaphambili ukuba sizenze. Banomuzwa wokuthi zingasisiza nokuba sibone ukuthi yisiphi isikhathi esikahle sokwenza noma sokuqala izinto ezithile. Kuthiwa lolo lwazi lutholakala ngokubheka ukuma kwelanga, inyanga nezinkanyezi emkhathini bese “kuhlaziywa” ukuthi zihlobana kanjani zizodwa kanye nomhlaba. Kuthiwa ithonya lazo kumuntu lixhomeke ekutheni zazime futhi ziqhelelene kangakanani ngesikhathi ezalwa.

Izazi zezinkanyezi zokuqala zazicabanga ukuthi umhlaba uphakathi nendawo nokuthi amaplanethi nezinkanyezi kwakuphakathi kwezinye izindikimba eziyimbulunga ezinkulu ezizungeza umhlaba. Zazicabanga nokuthi ilanga lithubeleza phakathi kwezinkanyezi nemilaza emzileni othile unyaka ngamunye. Zabiza leyo ndlela yelanga ngokuthi yi-ecliptic futhi zayihlukanisa izigaba ezingu-12. Isigaba ngasinye zasetha ngomlaza ilanga elalidlula kuwo. Izimpawu ezingu-12 zezinkanyezi zavela kanjalo. Lezi zigaba, noma “imizi yasezulwini,” zazibhekwa njengendawo ehlala onkulunkulu abathile. Yebo, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwabakhanyela ososayensi ukuthi akulona ilanga elizungeza umhlaba, kodwa umhlaba ozungeza ilanga. Ukutholakala kwalawo maqiniso kwenza yangabazeka isayensi yokufundwa kwezinkanyezi.

Umkhuba wokufundwa kwezinkanyezi waqala eMesophothamiya futhi wasakazeka cishe kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba kodwa wasetshenziswa ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene kuwo wonke amazwe phakathi nomlando. Ngemva kokuba iPheresiya inqobe iBhabhiloni, ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kwenabela eGibhithe, eGrisi naseNdiya. Abashumayeli bevangeli abangamaBuddha basuka nakho eNdiya bakuyisa e-Asia Ephakathi, eChina, eTibet, eJapan naseNingizimu-mpumalanga ye-Asia. Nakuba kungaziwa ngempela ukuthi kwafika kanjani eMaya, abantu bakhona bangaleso sikhathi bakusebenzisa kakhulu ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi njengoba kwenza abaseBhabhiloni. Indlela “yanamuhla” yokufundwa kwezinkanyezi kubonakala sengathi yaqala eGibhithe elalithonywe amasiko aseGrisi, futhi yathonya izinkolelo zenkolo yobuJuda, ubuSulumane neLobukholwa.

Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba sidingiselwe eBhabhiloni ngekhulu le-7 B.C.E., isizwe sakwa-Israyeli sase sithonyiwe umkhuba wokufundwa  kwezinkanyezi. IBhayibheli lisitshela ngemizamo yenkosi ethembekile uJosiya yokuqeda umkhuba wokwenza imihlatshelo eyiswa ‘elangeni enyangeni nasemilazeni yezinkanyezi zomgamu wezulu nakulo lonke ibutho lamazulu.’—2 AmaKhosi 23:5.

Imvelaphi Yokufundwa Kwezinkanyezi

Ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kusekelwe emaphutheni amakhulu ngokuqondene nokwakheka nokusebenza kwendawo yonke. Ngakho, kusobala ukuthi akuveli kuNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yokuthi izimfundiso zako zisekelwe emangeni, akunakuba umthombo othembekile wokwazi ngekusasa. Ukuhluleka kwako kwabonakala kahle ezenzakalweni ezimbili ezithakazelisayo ezenzeka endulo.

Ngesikhathi sokubusa kukaNebukhadinezari, inkosi yaseBhabhiloni, abapristi nababhula ngezinkanyezi behluleka ukuchaza iphupho lenkosi. UDaniyeli, umprofethi kaNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova, wachaza ukuthi yayikuphi inkinga: “Imfihlo inkosi eyibuzayo, abantu abahlakaniphile, abalumbi, abapristi abenza imilingo nababhula ngezinkanyezi abakwazi ukuyibonisa inkosi. Nokho, kukhona uNkulunkulu emazulwini onguMambuli wezimfihlo, futhi uyazisile iNkosi uNebukhadinezari okuyokwenzeka engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku.” (Daniyeli 2:27, 28) Yebo, uDaniyeli wafuna usizo kuJehova uNkulunkulu, ‘uMambuli wezimfihlo’—hhayi elangeni, enyangeni noma ezinkanyezini—futhi wanikeza inkosi incazelo enembile.—Daniyeli 2:36-45.

Ukuhlaziya nokutadishisisa izinkanyezi akuzange kuyisize iMaya ngoba yawa ngekhulu le-9 C.E. Lokho kwehluleka akubonisi nje kuphela ukuthi ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kuyaphambukisa nokuthi akukwazi ukubikezela ngokunembile, kodwa kwembula nenjongo yako yangempela: ukudedisela abantu kude noNkulunkulu, kanjalo bangalufuni kuye usizo lokuthola ukwaziswa okunembile ngekusasa.

Ukwazi ukuthi ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kusekelwe emangeni kusisiza nokuba sibone ukuthi ngubani ngempela owakusungula. UJesu wathi ngoDeveli: “Akazange ame aqine eqinisweni, ngoba iqiniso alikho kuye. Lapho ekhuluma amanga, ukhuluma ngokuvumelana nesimo sakhe, ngoba ungumqambimanga noyise wamanga.” (Johane 8:44) USathane wenza sengathi ‘uyingelosi yokukhanya’ futhi amademoni azenza “izikhonzi zokulunga.” Eqinisweni, bangabakhohlisi abafuna ukubamba abantu ngenkohliso. (2 Korinte 11:14, 15) IZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi ‘imisebenzi yamandla nezibonakaliso zamanga nezimangaliso kuwukusebenza kukaSathane.’—2 Thesalonika 2:9.

Isizathu Sokuba Ukugweme

Ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kusekelwe emangeni, ngakho kuyanengeka kuNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova. (IHubo 31:5) Yingakho iBhayibheli likulahla ngokucacile futhi linxusa abantu ukuba bahlukane nakho. KuDuteronomi 18:10-12, uNkulunkulu ukubeka ngokucacile lokhu: ‘Akufanele kutholakale kuwe noma ubani ofuna amabika noma umthakathi, noma obuza konemimoya noma umbikezeli wezenzakalo nanoma ubani obuza kwabafileyo. Ngoba wonke umuntu owenza lezi zinto uyinto enengekayo kuJehova.’

Njengoba kunguSathane namademoni abagqugquzela  ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi, ukufunda ngakho nokukukholelwa kuchaya umuntu ethonyeni lawo. Njengoba nje ukudla izidakamizwa kungabangela ozidlayo ukuba alawulwe abashushumbisi bazo, nokufunda izinkanyezi kungabangela umuntu ukuba alawulwe umkhohlisi omkhulu, uSathane. Ngakho-ke, labo abathanda uNkulunkulu neqiniso kumelwe bakulahle ngokuphelele ukufunda izinkanyezi, futhi balalele iseluleko seBhayibheli esithi: “Zondani okubi, nithande okuhle.”—Amose 5:15.

Okubangela ukuba umkhuba wokufunda izinkanyezi uthandeke kangaka ukuthi abantu bafuna ukwazi ikusasa. Umuntu angakwazi yini ukwazi ikusasa lakhe? Uma kunjalo, angakwazi kanjani? IBhayibheli lithi asinakwazi ukuthi kusasa, ngenyanga ezayo noma ngonyaka ozayo siyokwehlelwa yini. (Jakobe 4:14) Nakuba kunjalo, liyasembulela lokho okuzokwenzeka kubantu esikhathini esizayo esiseduze. Lisazisa ukuthi maduze nje uzofika uMbuso esiwuthandazelayo okukhulunywa ngawo emthandazweni othi Baba Wethu. (Daniyeli 2:44; Mathewu 6:9) Lisitshela nokuthi ukuhlupheka kwabantu kuzophela maduze futhi ngeke kuphinde kube khona. (Isaya 65:17; IsAmbulo 21:4) Kunokuba abamisele kusengaphambili, uNkulunkulu umema abantu kuyo yonke indawo ukuba bafunde ngaye nangalokho azobenzela khona. Sikwazi kanjani lokhu? IBhayibheli libonisa ngokucacile ukuthi intando yakhe iwukuba “zonke izinhlobo zabantu zisindiswe futhi zifinyelele olwazini olunembile lweqiniso.”—1 Thimothewu 2:4.

Amazulu ababazekayo nakho konke okukuwo akudalelwanga ukuba kulawule ukuphila kwethu. Kunalokho, kubonisa amandla kaJehova nelungelo lakhe lokubusa. (Roma 1:20) Kungasisiza ukuba senqabe amanga futhi sivumele ukuthola isiqondiso esingasethemba kuNkulunkulu naseZwini lakhe ukuze siphumelele ekuphileni. “Thembela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, ungenciki kokwakho ukuqonda. Mqaphele kuzo zonke izindlela zakho, yena uyokwenza izindlela zakho ziqonde.”—IzAga 3:5, 6.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 19]

AbaseMaya babefunda futhi bekholelwa kulokho ababecabanga ukuthi kushiwo yizinkanyezi

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 20]

Ukuhlaziya nokutadishisisa izinkanyezi akuzange kuyisize iMaya ngoba yawa ngekhulu le-9 C.E.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 20]

‘Kukhona uNkulunkulu emazulwini onguMambuli wezimfihlo, futhi ukwazisile okuyokwenzeka engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku’

[Isithombe ekhasini 19]

EL Caracol observatory, Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, Mexico, 750-900 C.E.

[Imithombo Yesithombe ekhasini 19]

Pages 18 and 19, left to right: Stars: NASA, ESA, and A. Nota (STScI); Mayan calendar: © Lynx/Iconotec com/age fotostock; Mayan astronomer: © Albert J. Copley/age fotostock; Mayan observatory: El Caracol (The Great Conch) (photo), Mayan/Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico/Giraudon/The Bridgeman Art Library