‘UJehova Ulamandla Amakhulu’

1, 2. Yiziphi izinto ezimangalisayo u-Elija ayeke wazibona, kodwa kuyini okumangalisa kakhulu akubona esebhalwini lwentaba iHorebhi?

U-ELIJA wayeke wabona izinto ezimangalisayo. Wabona amawabayi emphathela ukudla kabili ngelanga ngesikhathi ecatshile. Ngesikhathi kulendlala ifulawa kayizange iphele embizeni enkulu, lamafutha kawazange aphele embizeni encane. Waphinda wabona uNkulunkulu ephendula umthandazo wakhe ngokwenza ukuthi umlilo wehle uvela ezulwini. (1 AmaKhosi, izahluko 17, 18) Kodwa u-Elija wayesazobona okukhulu ukwedlula lokhu.

² Wathi esentubeni yobhalu lwentaba iHorebhi, wabona izimanga. Kwaqala kwavunguza umoya olamandla kwaba lomsindo omkhulu. Kwadabuka izintaba futhi amatshe aqhekeka. Ngemva kwalokho kwaba lokuzamazama komhlaba okulamandla, kwasekulavuka umlilo. Kungenzakala ukuthi umlilo lo wathi udlula lapho u-Elija ayekhona wezwa ukutshisa okukhulu.—1 AmaKhosi 19:8-12.

3. Kuyini okwabonwa ngu-Elija okutshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulamandla njalo thina singawabona ngaphi amandla akhe?

³ Konke lokhu okwabonwa ngu-Elija kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu ulamandla amakhulu. Kodwa akudingeki ukuthi size sizibonele ngawethu izimangaliso zakhe ukuze sizwisise ukuthi ulamandla. Kusegcekeni ukuthi ulawo. IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi izinto ezidaliweyo zitshengisa ukuthi uJehova ‘ulamandla angapheliyo lokuthi unguNkulunkulu sibili.’ (KwabaseRoma 1:20) Cabanga ngokuphazima kombane, ukuduma okukhulu kwezulu, impophoma zamanzi kanye lobuhle besibhakabhaka esigcwele izinkanyezi! Konke lokhu kusitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulamandla amakhulu. Kodwa abantu abanengi abakunanzeleli lokhu. Lanxa kunjalo bakhona abawabonayo amandla kaNkulunkulu. Ukuzwisisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulamandla kuyasinceda ukuthi sisondele kuye. Esahlukweni lesi sizafunda okunengi ngamandla kaJehova amakhulu.

UJehova Ulamandla Amangalisayo

4, 5. (a) Ibizo likaJehova liveza njani ukuthi mkhulu futhi ulamandla? (b) Kungani kuqondile ukuthi inkunzi imele amandla kaJehova?

⁴ Kakho olamandla anjengakaJehova. UJeremiya 10:6 uthi: “Kakho onjengawe Jehova, wena umkhulu, lebizo lakho likhulu futhi lilamandla.” Unanzelele yini ukuthi ivesi le ithe ibizo likaJehova likhulu futhi lilamandla? Usakhumbula yini ukuthi ibizo lakhe litshoni? Litsho ukuthi, “Wenza Ukuthi Kube Khona.” UJehova wasebenzisa amandla akhe ngesikhathi edala zonke izinto futhi yiwo awasebenzisayo ukuthi enze loba yini ayifunayo. Akulalutho uJehova angehluleka ukulwenza kumbe olungamvimba ukuthi enze intando yakhe. Ngeke sibuchasise kuhle ubuntu bukaJehova singazange sikhulume ngamandla akhe.

⁵ UJehova usebenzisa imizekeliso ukuze asincede sizwisise ukuthi amandla akhe makhulu kangakanani. Sibonile ukuthi inkunzi imela amandla akhe. (UHezekheli 1:4-10) Lokho kuqondile sibili ngoba inkunzi yisifuyo esilamandla. Endulo isifuyo lesi yiso esasisaziwa silamandla ukwedlula zonke elizweni lePalestine. Kodwa kwakulenkunzi yeganga eyayisesabeka ukwedlula le efuywayo. Khathesi umhlobo wenkunzi leyo kawusekho. (UJobe 39:9-12) UMbusi weRoma uJulius Caesar wathi inkunzi lezo zaziphosa zilingane lendlovu. Wabhala wathi: “Zilamandla amangalisayo futhi zilesiqubu esikhulu.” Cabanga ukuthi ubungazibona umncane kangakanani nxa ubungama eceleni kwenyamazana engako.

6. Kungani uJehova kunguye yedwa obizwa ngokuthi ‘nguSomandla’?

⁶ Sibancane kakhulu nxa siqathaniswa loJehova uNkulunkulu olamandla. Ngitsho lezizwe ezilamandla zinjengothuli olusezikalini. (U-Isaya 40:15) UJehova yena kafanani laloba kuyini akudalayo, ulamandla angapheliyo yikho kunguye yedwa obizwa ngokuthi ‘nguSomandla.’a (ISambulo 15:3) ‘Ulamandla amakhulu futhi amangalisayo.’ (U-Isaya 40:26) Amandla akhe awapheli futhi kadingi kuphiwa amandla ngomunye umuntu ngoba wonke ‘amandla ngawakhe.’ (IHubo 62:11) Manje uwasebenzisa njani amandla akhe?

Indlela UJehova Asebenzisa Ngayo Amandla Akhe

7. Kuyini umoya ongcwele, futhi atshoni amabala esiHebheru lesiGrikhi ahunyutshwe ngokuthi “umoya”?

⁷ Umoya ongcwele ovela kuJehova awupheli. Ungamandla kaNkulunkulu awasebenzisayo. Amabala esiHebheru lesiGrikhi ahunyutshwe ngokuthi “umoya” kwezinye izindawo angahunyutshwa ngokuthi “umoya ovunguzayo” kumbe “umoya esiwuphefumulayo.” Ezinye izikhwicamfundo zithi amabala la esiHebheru lawesiGrikhi angatsho amandla angabonakaliyo. Asingeke sawubona umoya ovunguzayo kodwa lokho okwenzayo siyakubona. Unjalo lomoya kaNkulunkulu, asingeke sawubona kodwa imisebenzi yawo siyayibona.

8. EBhayibhilini umoya kaNkulunkulu ubizwa ngokuthini futhi kungani ubizwa njalo?

⁸ UJehova angasebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuthi enze loba yini ayifunayo. Yikho eBhayibhilini umoya kaNkulunkulu ubizwa ngokuthi ‘ngumunwe’ wakhe loba ‘isandla sakhe esilamandla’ kumbe ‘ingalo yakhe eyeluliweyo.’ (ULukha 11:20; UDutheronomi 5:15; IHubo 8:3) Njengoba nje umuntu engasebenzisa izandla zakhe ukwenza imisebenzi etshiyeneyo, loNkulunkulu usebenzisa umoya wakhe ukuze enze loba yini afuna ukuyenza. Ngokwesibonelo wadala into encane njenge-athomu, wehlukanisa amanzi eLwandle Olubomvu njalo wenza amaKhristu akuqala akhuluma izindimi zakwamanye amazwe.

9. Amandla kaJehova okubusa makhulu kangakanani?

⁹ Okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulamandla yindlela abusa ngayo. Phela nguye uMbusi wendawo yonke. Ubusa izinceku zakhe ezinengi kakhulu futhi zizimisele ukwenza loba yini ayifunayo. Abantu bakhe abamkhonzayo babizwa ngokuthi balibutho. (IHubo 68:11; 110:3) Kodwa abantu kabalamandla afanana lawezingilosi. Ngokwesibonelo ngesikhathi ibutho lama-Asiriya lihlasela abantu bakaNkulunkulu, ingilosi eyodwa nje kuphela yabulala amasotsha angu-185 000 ngobusuku obubodwa! (2 AmaKhosi 19:35) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi izingilosi zikaNkulunkulu ‘zilamandla amakhulu.’—IHubo 103:19, 20.

10. (a) Kungani uSomandla ebizwa ngokuthi nguJehova wamabutho? (b) Ngubani olamandla ukwedlula konke okwadalwa nguJehova?

¹⁰ Kulezingilosi ezingaki? UDanyeli wabona umbono otshengisa ukuthi zinengi kakhulu. Wabona izingilosi ezedlula 100 miliyoni zimi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaJehova. Kodwa lokhu akutsho ukuthi wabona zonke izingilosi ezisezulwini. (UDanyeli 7:10) Ngakho kungenzakala ukuthi kulezingilosi ezingamakhulu ezigidi. Yikho uNkulunkulu ebizwa ngokuthi nguJehova wamabutho. Ibizo leli lokuhlonipha litshengisa ukuthi zonke izingilosi zingaphansi kwakhe. Izingilosi lezi zilamandla futhi zihlelwe kuhle. Kodwa kulengilosi eyodwa ayibeke ukuthi ikhokhele zonke ezinye. Ingilosi le nguJesu iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo, ‘izibulo kukho konke okwadalwayo.’ (KwabaseKholose 1:15) UJesu ulamandla kulakho konke okwadalwa nguJehova. Uyinduna yazo zonke izingilosi, okugoqela amaserafi lamakherubhi.

11, 12. (a) Kutshoni ukuthi ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lilamandla? (b) Kuyini okwatshiwo nguJesu okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulamandla amakhulu?

¹¹ UJehova usebenzisa amandla akhe ngenye futhi indlela. UHebheru 4:12 uthi: “Ilizwi likaNkulunkulu liyaphila njalo lilamandla.” Uyakuzwisisa yini ukuthi ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lilamandla kangakanani? Ilizwi lakhe lingasiqinisa, liqinise lokholo lwethu futhi lisincede sitshintshe indlela esiphila ngayo. Umphostoli uPhawuli waxwayisa labo ayekhonza labo ukuthi bangabi lobudlelwano labantu abaziphatha kubi. Wasesithi: “Kodwa abanye benu babenjalo.” (1 KwabaseKhorinte 6:9-11) “Ilizwi likaNkulunkulu” labanceda batshintsha ngoba lilamandla.

¹² Amandla kaJehova makhulu kakhulu okokuthi akulalutho olungamvimbela ukuthi awasebenzise. UJesu wathi: “KuNkulunkulu zonke izinto ziyenzeka.” (UMathewu 19:26) Yiziphi ezinye izinto uJehova azenzayo esebenzisa amandla akhe?

UJehova Uwasebenzisa Kuhle Amandla Akhe

13, 14. (a) UJehova ungumthombo wamandla nje kuphela yini? Chasisa. (b) UJehova uwasebenzisa njani amandla akhe?

¹³ Umoya kaJehova ulamandla ukwedlula loba yiwaphi amandla emvelo. UJehova ungumthombo wamandla sibili kodwa akutsho ukuthi uphonguwasebenzisa kungelanhloso. Ulemizwa yikho uyacabangisisa engakawasebenzisi. Kodwa uwasebenzisa ukwenzani?

¹⁴ UNkulunkulu usebenzisa amandla akhe ukudala, ukubhubhisa, ukuvikela lokubuyisela izinto kulokho ebeziyikho kuqala. Ngamafitshane singathi uwasebenzisa ukwenza loba yini ayihlosileyo. (U-Isaya 46:10) Ngezinye izikhathi uJehova usebenzisa amandla akhe nxa efuna ukusifundisa ukuthi unguNkulunkulu onjani lokuthi ufuna siphile njani. Kodwa okuqakatheke ukwedlula konke yikuthi uzawasebenzisa ukungcwelisa ibizo lakhe. Lokhu uzakwenza esebenzisa uMbuso kaMesiya futhi kuzatshengisa ukuthi nguye okufanele abuse abantu. Akulalutho olungamvimba ukugcwalisa inhloso yakhe.

15. Yiphi enye indlela uJehova asebenzisa ngayo amandla akhe futhi isibonelo sika-Elija sikutshengisa njani lokho?

¹⁵ UJehova uphinda asebenzise amandla akhe ukuze ancede umuntu ngamunye. U-2 ImiLando 16:9 uthi: “Amehlo kaJehova ayakuhlolisisa konke okwenzakala emhlabeni, ukuze atshengise amandla akhe ngokunceda labo abazinikele kuye ngenhliziyo yonke.” Lokhu yikho akwenza ku-Elija. Ekuqaliseni kwesahluko lesi sibonile ukuthi uJehova wamtshengisa amandla akhe ngendlela emangalisayo. Wayekwenzelani lokhu? Indlovukazi eyayilesihluku okwakuthiwa nguJezebheli yayifunge ukuthi izabulala u-Elija. Yikho umphrofethi lo wabaleka ukuze angabulawa. Wayesesaba futhi edanile, esebona angathi wayesesele yedwa lokuthi ukusebenza kwakhe nzima kwakungancedanga ngalutho. UJehova waduduza u-Elija ngokumkhumbuza ukuthi unguNkulunkulu olamandla. Wenza kwavunguza umoya olamandla, kwaba lokuzamazama komhlaba futhi kwaba lomlilo omkhulu. Lokhu kwenza u-Elija wabona ukuthi uNkulunkulu olamandla wayelaye. Yikho kwakungelasizatho sokuthi esabe uJezebheli.—1 AmaKhosi 19:1-12.b

16. Kungani kusiduduza ukwazi ukuthi uJehova ulamandla amakhulu?

¹⁶ Lamuhla uJehova kazenzi izimangaliso ezifanana lalezi kodwa lokhu akutsho ukuthi usetshintshile. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 13:8) Ulokhu ekuthanda ukusebenzisa amandla akhe ukuze ancede labo abamthandayo. Lanxa ehlala ezulwini kakho khatshana lathi. Siyenelisa ukusondela kuye ngoba angasinika amandla akhe lanxa esezulwini. IBhayibhili lithi “uJehova useduze labantu bonke abambizayo.” (IHubo 145:18) Ngesikhathi umphrofethi uDanyeli ecela ukuthi uJehova amncede, ingilosi yafika engakaqedi ngitsho lokuthandaza! (UDanyeli 9:20-23) Akulalutho olungavimbela uJehova ukuthi ancede futhi aqinise labo abathandayo.—IHubo 118:6.

Amandla KaNkulunkulu Enza Simesabe Yini?

17. Kumele simesabe yini uNkulunkulu? Chasisa.

¹⁷ Kumele amandla kaNkulunkulu asenze simesabe yini? Ye kumele simesabe sibili. Kodwa ukumesaba lokhu ngokokumhlonipha njengoba sibonile esahlukweni esidlulileyo. IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi ukwesaba uJehova “yikuqala kokuhlakanipha.” (IHubo 111:10) Lanxa kunjalo akumelanga amandla kaNkulunkulu asenze sesabe ukusondela kuye.

18. (a) Kungani abantu abanengi bengabathembi abantu abalamandla? (b) Sikwazi njani ukuthi uJehova ngeke awasebenzise kubi amandla akhe?

¹⁸ Ngo-1887 indoda okwakuthiwa nguLord Acton eyayikwezombusazwe eBritain yabhala yathi: “Umuntu angaphiwa amandla ucina esenza izinto ezimbi, angaba lamandla amakhulu ucina esenza okubi kakhulu.” Abantu abanengi bayavumelana lamazwi akhe ngoba bayazibonela ukuthi aliqiniso sibili. Abantu abalesono bandise ukusebenzisa kubi amandla abo. (UmTshumayeli 4:1; 8:9) Lokhu kwenza abantu abanengi bangabathembi abantu abasezikhundleni futhi bangafuni ukuba seduzane labo. Manje njengoba uJehova elamandla ukwedlula loba ngubani, sekusitsho ukuthi uwasebenzisa kubi amandla akhe yini? Ngitsho lakancane! Phela uNkulunkulu ungcwele, yikho ngeke enze loba yini embi. UJehova kafanani labantu abalesono abawasebenzisa kubi amandla abo. Kakaze awasebenzise kubi amandla akhe futhi kasoze enze njalo.

19, 20. (a) Indlela uJehova asebenzisa ngayo amandla akhe ihlala itshengisani? (b) Yiwuphi umzekeliso ongawusebenzisa otshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyazibamba, futhi kungani lokhu kukwenza ufise ukusondela kuye?

¹⁹ Kunengi esesikufundile ngamandla kaJehova kodwa kusamele sifunde okunye futhi ngobuntu bakhe. Sizafunda ngothando lwakhe, inhlakanipho yakhe kanye lokwahlulela kwakhe okuhle. Kumele sikhumbule ukuthi impawu zikaJehova ziyakhanya kuloba yini ayenzayo. Ezahlukweni ezilandelayo sizabona ukuthi indlela uJehova asebenzisa ngayo amandla akhe ihlala itshengisa ukuthi ulothando, uhlakaniphile lokuthi wahlulela kuhle. Okunye futhi okwenza ukuthi uJehova angafanani labantu abanengi abasezikhundleni yikuthi yena uyazibamba.

²⁰ Ubungezwa njani nxa ubungahlangana lenkalakatha yendoda eqinileyo? Mhlawumbe ubungaqhuqha ngenxa yokwesaba. Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ubusunanzelela ukuthi indoda le ibaphatha kuhle abanye. Ihlala inceda futhi ivikela abanye, ikakhulu labo abakhanya bengelamandla. Kayiwasebenzisi kubi amandla ayo. Lanxa abanye abantu bengakhuluma kubi ngayo kayiphindiseli loba ibaphathe ngesihluku, kodwa iqhubeka ilomusa. Uyazibuza ukuthi aluba lawe ubulamandla njengendoda le, ubuzazibamba yini wenelise ukubaphatha kuhle abanye. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ukubona ubuntu bayo obuhle kuzakwenza ufise ukusondela kuyo. UJehova laye unjalo. Lanxa enguSomandla silezizatho ezinhle kakhulu ezisenza sisondele kuye. Cabanga ngevesi okuthethwe kuyo isihloko sesahluko lesi. Ithi: “UJehova uyaphuza ukuthukuthela njalo ulamandla amakhulu.” (UNahume 1:3) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyabekezela, umnene futhi ulomusa. Uze abekezelele labantu abenza izinto ezimbi kakhulu. “Uyaphuza ukuthukuthela” lanxa abantu beqhubeka besenza izinto ezimbi.—IHubo 78:37-41.

21. Kungani uJehova engabambi bantu ngamandla ukuthi benze intando yakhe njalo lokhu kusifundisani ngaye?

²¹ Ake sibone ukuzithiba kukaJehova ngenye indlela. Aluba ubulamandla amakhulu, ucabanga ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi ubungalingeka yini ukuthi wenze abantu benze intando yakho? UJehova ulamandla amakhulu kodwa kabambi bantu ngamandla ukuthi bamkhonze. Lanxa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kuyiyo yodwa indlela engenza sithole ukuphila okungapheliyo, uJehova kasibambi ngamandla ukuthi simkhonze. Kulokwenza njalo, usenza sizizwe silesithunzi ngokusinika inkululeko yokuzikhethela. Uyasixwayisa ngempumela yokwenza izinqumo ezimbi kanye lomvuzo wokwenza izinqumo ezinhle. Kodwa usitshiyele umlandu wokuthi sizenzele izinqumo. (UDutheronomi 30:19, 20) UJehova kakuthandi ukuthi simkhonze ngoba sibanjwe ngamandla loba ngenxa yokuthi sesaba amandla akhe amakhulu. Udinga abazamkhonza ngokuzithandela ngoba bemthanda.—2 KwabaseKhorinte 9:7.

22, 23. (a) Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyakuthanda ukunika abanye amandla? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esahlukweni esilandelayo?

²² Asiboneni esinye isizatho esenza singesabi ukusondela kuNkulunkulu lanxa enguSomandla. Izikhathi ezinengi abantu abalezikhundla abafuni ukuthi abanye labo babe lezikhundla. Kodwa uJehova kancitshani lamandla akhe. Unike iNdodana yakhe amandla amakhulu. (UMathewu 28:18) Kanti njalo uphinda anike lezinceku zakhe amandla eziwadingayo. IBhayibhili lithi: ‘Awu Jehova, ngobakho ubukhulu lamandla lobuhle lenkazimulo kanye lobukhosi ngoba konke okusemazulwini lokusemhlabeni ngokwakho. Isandla sakho silamandla amakhulu njalo siyenelisa ukwenza ukuthi abantu bonke babe bakhulu futhi babe lamandla.’—1 ImiLando 29:11, 12.

²³ Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyathokoza nxa enika abanye amandla. Ubapha “amandla amakhulu futhi angajayelekanga” labo abafuna ukumkhonza. (2 KwabaseKhorinte 4:7) Sonke siyafuna sibili ukusondela kuNkulunkulu ngoba indlela asebenzisa ngayo amandla akhe itshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda. Esahlukweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngendlela uJehova asebenzisa ngayo amandla akhe ngesikhathi edala izinto.