UDanyeli Emgodini Wezilwane

KUKHANYA angani uDanyeli usengozini enkulu. Kodwa izilwane kazimlimazi! Uyakwazi ukuthi kungani? Ngubani ofake uDanyeli lapha lezilwane zonke lezi? Ake sibone.

Indoda okuthiwa nguDariyu yiyo esiyinkosi yaseBhabhiloni. Uyamthanda uDanyeli ngoba ulomusa njalo uhlakaniphile. UDariyu ukhetha uDanyeli ukuthi abe ngumongameli embusweni wakhe. Lokhu kwenza amanye amadoda asembusweni abe lomhawu ngoDanyeli, nanku abakwenzayo.

Baya kuDariyu besebesithi: ‘Sesivumelene, O nkosi, ukuthi wenze umthetho othi okwamalanga angu-30 kakulamuntu okumele athandaze komunye unkulunkulu ngaphandle kokuthandaza kuwe, O nkosi. Nxa kulomuntu ongawulaleliyo, kumele aphoselwe emgodini wezilwane.’ Kodwa uDariyu kakwazi ukuthi kungani amadoda la efuna ukuthi umthetho lo wenziwe. Ucabanga ukuthi licebo elihle, yikho-ke, uyawubhala phansi umthetho. Khathesi umthetho lo kawusantshintsheki.

Lapho uDanyeli ewuzwa umthetho lo, uya endlini yakhe afike athandaze njengenjayelo. Amadoda angalunganga ayekwazi ukuthi uDanyeli wayengasoze ayekele ukuthandaza kuJehova. Bayathaba ngoba icebo labo lokususa uDanyeli likhanya angani liyaphumelela.

Lapho iNkosi uDariyu isizwa ukuthi kungani amadoda la ebefuna ukwenza umthetho lo, iyazisola kakhulu. Kodwa ayingeke iwuntshintshe umthetho, yikho-ke kumele inike umlayo wokuthi uDanyeli aphoselwe emgodini wezilwane. Lanxa kunjalo, inkosi itshela uDanyeli ukuthi: ‘Sengathi uNkulunkulu wakho omkhonzayo angakukhulula.’

UDariyu udane kakhulu okokuthi uze ehluleke lokulala ebusuku. Ngelanga elilandelayo ekuseni, ugijimela emgodini wezilwane. Uyambona yini ekhonale? Uyamemeza athi: ‘Danyeli, nceku kaNkulunkulu ophilayo! UNkulunkulu omkhonzayo wenelisile yini ukukusindisa ezilwaneni?’

UDanyeli uyaphendula: ‘UNkulunkulu uthume ingilosi yakhe yavala imilomo yezilwane yikho zingangilimazanga.’

Inkosi iyathaba kakhulu. Ithi uDanyeli akhitshwe emgodini. Isuka lapho ithi amadoda wonke azama ukususa uDanyeli kawaphoselwe emgodini wezilwane. Engakafiki laphansi, izilwane zihle ziwagame ziwafohloze, amathambo azo abe yizicucu.

Sekwenzakele lokhu, iNkosi uDariyu ibhalela bonke abantu abasembusweni wayo: ‘Ngikhipha umlayo wokuthi wonke umuntu kumele ahloniphe uNkulunkulu kaDanyeli. Wenza izimangaliso ezinkulu. Umsindisile uDanyeli ukuze angadliwa yizilwane.’