Amandla Okubhubhisa—“UJehova Uliqhawe Elilamandla”

1-3. (a) Yibuphi ubunzima ama-Israyeli ayesephakathi kwabo? (b) UJehova wabalwela njani abantu bakhe?

AMA-ISRAYELI ayevinjezelwe phakathi kwezintaba ezinde lolwandle olungachaphekiyo. Ibutho laseGibhithe elalilikhulu kakhulu laliwaxotshanisa lifuna ukuwaqeda wonke.a Lanxa kunjalo, uMosi watshela abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuthi bangalahli ithemba. Wathi: “UJehova yena ngokwakhe uzalilwela.”—U-Eksodusi 14:14.

² UMosi wacela ukuthi uJehova abancedise, uJehova wasemphendula wathi: ‘Kungani ulokhu ukhala kimi? Phakamisela intonga yakho phezu kolwandle ulwehlukanise ukuze abako-Israyeli badabule phakathi kwalo emhlabathini owomileyo.’ (U-Eksodusi 14:15, 16) Kwasekusenzakalani? UJehova wathuma ingilosi yakhe, iyezi laselisuka phambi kwama-Israyeli layakuma ngemva kwawo, laba njengomduli ovalela abaseGibhithe ukuthi bangahlaseli. (U-Eksodusi 14:19, 20; IHubo 105:39) UMosi welula isandla sakhe, kwavunguza umoya olamandla ulwandle lwehlukana phakathi. Amanye amanzi aya kwesokudla amanye aya kwesenxele, kwavuleka indlela enkulu eyayisenela ukuthi isizwe sonke sama-Israyeli sidlule!—U-Eksodusi 14:21; 15:8.

³ Esebone amandla amakhulu kangaka, uFaro kwakumele atshele ibutho lakhe ukuthi liphenduke. Kodwa yena walitshela ukuthi lihlasele ngoba wayezigqaja. (U-Eksodusi 14:23) AbaseGibhithe bazithela elwandle befuna ukuhlasela, kanti sebezithezele olulenkume. Amaviri ezinqola zabo aqalisa ukukhumuka baswela lokuthi benzeni. Ama-Israyeli athe esechaphile ulwandle, uJehova wathi kuMosi: “Yelulela isandla sakho phezu kolwandle ukuze amanzi ambokothe amaGibhithe lezinqola zawo zempi kanye labagadi bawo bamabhiza.” Lakanye amanzi abuyela endaweni yawo, ambokotha uFaro lebutho lakhe!—U-Eksodusi 14:24-28; IHubo 136:15.

4. (a) Lokho uJehova akwenza eLwandle Olubomvu kusifundisani ngaye? (b) Indlela uJehova asebenzisa ngayo amandla akhe ingenza abanye bazwe njani?

⁴ Indlela uJehova avikela ngayo ama-Israyeli eLwandle Olubomvu isifundisa okunengi ngaye. Kwacaca ukuthi uJehova “uliqhawe elilamandla.” (U-Eksodusi 15:3) Kodwa wena uzwa njani nxa ufunda ukuthi kwezinye izikhathi uJehova uyasebenzisa amandla akhe ukulwa izimpi? Phela izimpi zibangele ukuthi abantu abanengi bahlupheke. Yikho indlela uJehova asebenzisa ngayo amandla akhe ukuze alwe izimpi ingenza abanye besabe ukusondela kuye.

Umehluko Phakathi Kwezimpi ZikaNkulunkulu Lezabantu

5, 6. (a) Kungani uNkulunkulu ebizwa ngokuthi ‘nguJehova wamabutho’? (b) Izimpi zikaNkulunkulu zehlukene njani lezabantu?

⁵ EBhayibhilini uNkulunkulu ubizwa langokuthi ‘nguJehova wamabutho.’ (1 USamuyeli 1:11) Ibizo leli lokuhlonipha litholakala izikhathi ezingaba yi-260 eMibhalweni yesiHebheru futhi litholakala kabili eMibhalweni yamaKhristu yesiGrikhi. UJehova ulebutho elikhulu lezingilosi ngenxa yokuthi unguMbusi Wendawo Yonke. (UJoshuwa 5:13-15; 1 AmaKhosi 22:19) Ibutho leli lilamandla okubhubhisa izitha zakhe. (U-Isaya 37:36) Lanxa kungathokozisi ukubona abantu bebulawa, kumele sikhumbule ukuthi izimpi zikaNkulunkulu kazifanani lezabantu. Abezombangazwe labakhokheli bamabutho bangathi balezizatho ezinhle zokulwa. Kodwa izikhathi ezinengi izimpi zabo zibangelwa yibuhwaba lokungabi lendaba labanye abantu.

⁶ Izimpi zikaJehova zona azibangelwa yibuhwaba. UDutheronomi 32:4 uthi: “Yena uliDwala, wonke umsebenzi wakhe uphelele, ngenxa yokuthi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile. UnguNkulunkulu othembekileyo, kakwenzi okungalunganga, ulungile futhi uqotho.” ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lisitshela ukuthi akuqondanga ukuba lolaka, lesihluku kanye lodlakela. (UGenesisi 49:7; IHubo 11:5) Ngakho uJehova kalwi engelasizatho esihle. Amandla akhe okubhubhisa kaphonguwasebenzisa nje, uwasebenzisa nxa kungasela enye indlela yokulungisa uhlupho. Yikho watshela umphrofethi wakhe uHezekheli wathi: “‘Ngiyathokoza yini ngokufa komuntu owenza okubi?’ kutsho iNkosi Enkulu uJehova. ‘Mina engikufunayo yikuthi umuntu omubi atshiye konke okubi akwenzayo aqhubeke ephila.’”—UHezekheli 18:23.

7, 8. (a) UJobe wayecabanga ukuthi ukuhlupheka kwakhe kubangelwa ngubani? (b) U-Elihu wamncedisa njani uJobe? (c) Okwenzakala kuJobe kusifundisani?

⁷ Manje kungani uJehova esebenzisa amandla akhe ukuthi abhubhise? Singakaphenduli umbuzo lo asikhulumeni ngendoda elungileyo okwakuthiwa nguJobe. USathane wathi uJobe labo bonke abantu ngeke bahlale beqotho nxa belingwa. Yikho uJehova wavumela uSathane ukuthi alinge uJobe ukuze abone ukuthi uqotho yini. USathane wenza uJobe walahlekelwa yinotho yakhe yonke, wafelwa ngabantwana futhi wagula. (UJobe 1:1–2:8) UJobe wayengakwazi okwakubangela inhlupho zonke lezo ezazimehlela, yikho wacabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayemjezisa lanxa yena wayengonanga lutho. Wabuza uNkulunkulu ukuthi kungani ‘wayekhethe ukuhlasela yena’ lokumphatha “njengesitha” sakhe.—UJobe 7:20; 13:24.

⁸ Ijaha okwakuthiwa ngu-Elihu lanceda uJobe wabona ukuthi ayekucabanga kwakungayisikho. Lathi kuye: “Ubona angathi uqondile sibili ukuthi usungaze uthi, ‘Ngilungile ukwedlula uNkulunkulu’?” (UJobe 35:2) Amazwi ka-Elihu atshengisa ukuthi akuqondanga ukuzitshela ukuthi sazi ngcono kuloNkulunkulu kumbe ukucabanga ukuthi okwenziwe nguNkulunkulu akulunganga. U-Elihu wathi: “UNkulunkulu weqiniso ngeke enze okubi, uSomandla kakwenzi okungalunganga!” Waphinda wathi: “Ngeke senelise ukuzwisisa konke ngoSomandla. Ulamandla amakhulu, uhlala esahlulela kuhle futhi esenza okulungileyo.” (UJobe 34:10; 36:22, 23; 37:23) Ngakho singaba leqiniso lokuthi nxa uNkulunkulu ebhubhisa abantu, uyabe elesizatho esihle sokwenza njalo. Khathesi kasikhangeleni izizatho ezenza uJehova alwe izimpi lanxa enguNkulunkulu olokuthula.—1 KwabaseKhorinte 14:33.

Okwenza UNkulunkulu Wokuthula Alwe

9. Kungani uNkulunkulu ongcwele esilwa izimpi?

⁹ UMosi wadumisa uJehova wathi “uliqhawe elilamandla.” Ngemva kwalokho wathi: “Awu Jehova, ngubani onjengawe phakathi kwabonkulunkulu? Kambe ngubani onjengawe, otshengisa ukuthi ulobungcwele obumangalisayo?” (U-Eksodusi 15:11) Umphrofethi uHabakhukhi laye wabhala wathi: “Amehlo akho ahlanzeke kakhulu, ngeke akhangele okubi. Ngeke ubekezelele izinto ezimbi.” (UHabakhukhi 1:13) UJehova uNkulunkulu ulothando, ungcwele, ulungile futhi wahlulela kuhle. Lokhu yikho okwenza ukuthi kwezinye izikhathi asebenzise amandla akhe ukubhubhisa izitha zakhe. (U-Isaya 59:15-19; ULukha 18:7) Ukulwa kwakhe izimpi akutsho ukuthi kakho ngcwele, yikho okutshengisa ukuthi ungcwele.—U-Eksodusi 39:30.

10. Ukuzondana okukhulunywa ngakho kuGenesisi 3:15 kuzaphetha ngani futhi lokhu kuzabanceda njani abantu abalungileyo?

¹⁰ U-Adamu lo-Eva bahlamukela uNkulunkulu ensimini ye-Edeni. (UGenesisi 3:1-6) Lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi ababuhloniphi ubukhosi bakhe. Yikho kwasekumele abajezise ngenxa yokuthi yena unguMbusi Wendawo Yonke. Njengoba enguNkulunkulu owahlulela kuhle, wabagwebela ukufa. (KwabaseRoma 6:23) Esiphrofethweni sokuqala esiseBhayibhilini, uJehova wathi kwakuzakuba lokuzondana phakathi kwezikhonzi zakhe labalandeli ‘benyoka,’ okutsho uSathane. (ISambulo 12:9; UGenesisi 3:15) Labo abasekela uSathane babezaqhubeka behlasela abantu bakaNkulunkulu befuna ukubayekelisa ukumkhonza. Lokhu yikho okwenza ukuthi kwezinye izikhathi uJehova alwe ngoba uyabe efuna ukuvikela abantu bakhe. UJehova uyakwazi ukuthi ukubhubhisa uSathane yikho okuzaqeda uhlupho lolu. (KwabaseRoma 16:20) Nxa uSathane esesusiwe, abantu abalungileyo bazathola izibusiso ezinengi futhi umhlaba wonke uzakuba lipharadayisi.—UMathewu 19:28.

UNkulunkulu Ubhubhisa Abantu Abenza Okubi

11. Kungani uNkulunkulu waletha uZamcolo emhlabeni?

¹¹ Ngesikhathi sikaNowa uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa amandla akhe ukuze alwele abantu bakhe. UGenesisi 6:11, 12 uthi: “Umhlaba wawusuwonakele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu weqiniso njalo wawusugcwele udlakela. UNkulunkulu wakhangela umhlaba wabona ukuthi wawusuwonakele sibili; bonke abantu emhlabeni basebesenza izinto ezimbi kakhulu.” UNkulunkulu kazange avumele ukuthi abantu ababi batshabalalise abalutshwana ababelungile. Waletha uZamcolo ukuze abhubhise labo ababelodlakela futhi ababeziphethe kubi.

12. (a) Kuyini uJehova ayekutshele u-Abrahama mayelana lenzalo yakhe? (b) Kungani kwakumele ama-Amori abhujiswe?

¹² Abanye uJehova ababhubhisayo ngenxa yokuthi babesenza okubi ngabantu beKhenani. UJehova wayetshele u-Abrahama ukuthi wayezabusisa zonke izizwe esebenzisa inzalo yakhe. Ngakho wathembisa ukuthi wayezanika izizukulwane zika-Abrahama ilizwe laseKhenani. Elizweni leli kwakuhlala abantu okwakuthiwa ngama-Amori. Manje kwakuqondile yini ukuthi uNkulunkulu asuse abantu labo elizweni labo? UJehova wayetshilo ukuthi ama-Amori ayengasoze asuswe elizweni lawo kuze kudlule iminyaka engu-400 ngenxa yokuthi ‘isikhathi sokuthi ajeziselwe isono sawo sasiyabe singakafiki.’b (UGenesisi 12:1-3; 13:14, 15; 15:13, 16; 22:18) Phakathi leminyaka leyo, ama-Amori aqhubeka eziphatha kubi kakhulu. Ayekhonza izithombe, ebulala abantu futhi efeba. (U-Eksodusi 23:24; 34:12, 13; AmaNani 33:52) Ayeze atshise labantwana emlilweni esenza imihlatshelo. Kambe uNkulunkulu wayezavuma yini ukuthi abantu bakhe bahlale labantu abenza izinto ezimbi kangaka? Hatshi wayengasoze avume ngoba yena ungcwele. Wathi: ‘Ilizwe lingcolile njalo ngizalijezisa ngenxa yecala lalo futhi lizabahlanza abahlala kulo.’ (ULevi 18:21-25) Kodwa uJehova kazange abulale wonke umuntu. Ngokwesibonelo uRahabi labantu baseGibhiyoni basinda ngenxa yokuthi babemthanda uNkulunkulu.—UJoshuwa 6:25; 9:3-27.

Ulwela Ibizo Lakhe

13, 14. (a) Kungani kwakumele uJehova angcwelise ibizo lakhe? (b) UJehova walingcwelisa njani ibizo lakhe?

¹³ Ibizo likaNkulunkulu lingcwele ngenxa yokuthi yena ungcwele. (ULevi 22:32) UJesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi bathandaze bathi: “Kalingcweliswe ibizo lakho.” (UMathewu 6:9) Phela uSathane walingcolisa ibizo likaNkulunkulu. Wakhuluma amanga ngoJehova wenza kwakhanya angathi ubusa kubi, futhi u-Adamu lo-Eva bamkholwa basebehlamukela uJehova. UJehova wayengeke abayekele bengcolisa ibizo lakhe yikho kwasekumele alingcwelise.—U-Isaya 48:11.

¹⁴ Langesikhathi sama-Israyeli uJehova walingcwelisa ibizo lakhe. Wayethembise u-Abrahama ukuthi zonke izimuli ezisemhlabeni zazizabusiswa ngenzalo yakhe. Kodwa lokhu kwakungasoze kwenzakale ama-Israyeli eyizigqili eGibhithe. Ngakho uJehova wawakhulula wawenza aba yisizwe sakhe. Lokhu kwalingcwelisa ibizo lakhe. Yikho umphrofethi uDanyeli wathandaza wathi: “Awu Jehova Nkulunkulu wethu, wena owakhipha abantu bakho elizweni laseGibhithe ngesandla sakho esilamandla, wenza ukuthi ibizo lakho laziwe.”—UDanyeli 9:15.

15. Kungani uJehova wakhulula amaJuda eBhabhiloni?

¹⁵ UDanyeli wakhuluma amazwi la ngesikhathi amaJuda ethunjiwe eBhabhiloni. Idolobho lawo elikhulu iJerusalema laselilunxiwa. UJehova kwasekumele aphinde angcwelise ibizo lakhe. UDanyeli wayekwazi ukuthi ukubuyiselwa kwamaJuda elizweni lawo kwakuzadumisa ibizo likaJehova. Ngakho wakhuleka wathi: “Awu Jehova ngicela usithethelele. Awu Jehova ngicela ulalelisise, usincede. Ungaphuzi ngoba lokhu ukwenzela wena Nkulunkulu wami, idolobho lakho labantu bakho kubizwa ngebizo lakho.”—UDanyeli 9:18, 19.

Ulwela Abantu Bakhe

16. Ukulwela kukaJehova ibizo lakhe kutsho ukuthi kalandaba labantu yini? Chasisa.

¹⁶ Sesibonile ukuthi uJehova uyalilwela ibizo lakhe. Kodwa lokhu kutsho ukuthi ulendaba lebizo lakhe kuphela yini? Hatshi, labantu ulendaba labo. Nxa engcwelisa ibizo lakhe futhi esahlulela abenza okubi uyabe evikela abantu bakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, kuGenesisi isahluko 14 sitshelwa ngamakhosi amane athumba uLothi lemuli yakhe. ULothi wayezalwa ngumfowabo ka-Abrahama. U-Abrahama wawanqoba amakhosi la lanxa ayelamandla kulaye ngoba wayencediswa nguNkulunkulu. Kungenzakala ukuthi indaba le yaba ngeyokuqala ukubhalwa ‘ebhukwini lezimpi zikaJehova’ futhi kukhanya ibhuku leli lalilezinye izindaba zempi ezingazange zibhalwe eBhayibhilini. (AmaNani 21:14) Zinengi ezinye izimpi ezanqotshwa ngabantu bakaJehova.

17. Yiziphi izibonelo ezitshengisa ukuthi uJehova wayewalwela ama-Israyeli elizweni leKhenani?

¹⁷ Kwathi ama-Israyeli esezangena elizweni leKhenani, uMosi wawatshela wathi: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uzahamba phambi kwenu njalo uzalilwela njengoba nje wenza eGibhithe lizibonela ngawenu.” (UDutheronomi 1:30; 20:1) UJehova wabalwela sibili abantu bakhe ngesikhathi uJoshuwa engumkhokheli wabo langesikhathi sabahluleli kanye lesamakhosi athembekileyo akoJuda.—UJoshuwa 10:1-14; ABahluleli 4:12-17; 2 USamuyeli 5:17-21.

18. (a) Kungani kuthokozisa ukuthi uJehova katshintshanga? (b) Isiphrofetho esikuGenesisi 3:15 sizagcwaliseka njani ngesikhathi esizayo?

¹⁸ UJehova katshintshanga, ulokhu ehlose ukwenza umhlaba lo ube lipharadayisi elilokuthula. (UGenesisi 1:27, 28) Kanti njalo ulokhu ekuzonda okubi. Sekuseduze ukuthi alwele abantu bakhe ngoba uyabathanda kakhulu. (IHubo 11:7) Isiphrofetho esikuGenesisi 3:15 sizagcwaliseka ngendlela emangalisayo. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu bazahlaselwa ngendlela abangakaze bahlaselwe ngayo. Ngalesosikhathi uJehova uzaphinda atshengise ukuthi “uliqhawe elilamandla” ngokuvikela abantu bakhe langokungcwelisa ibizo lakhe!—UZakhariya 14:3; ISambulo 16:14, 16.

19. (a) Yiwuphi umzekeliso ongasinceda sizwisise ukuthi amandla kaJehova okubhubhisa kumele asenze sisondele kuye? (b) Ukuzimisela kukaNkulunkulu ukusilwela kumele kusifuqe ukuthi senzeni?

¹⁹ Ukwazi ukuthi uJehova ulamandla okubhubhisa kumele kusenze sesabe ukusondela kuye yini? Hatshi. Cabanga ngomzekeliso lo. Ake sithi imuli ethile ihlaselwa yinyamazana eyingozi kakhulu, uyise wabantwana abesesilwa layo ayibulale. Umkakhe labantwabakhe bazamesaba yini ngenxa yokuthi bambone ebulala inyamazana leyo? Hatshi kabasoze bamesabe kodwa bazambonga ngoba utshengise ukuthi uyabathanda kakhulu. Lathi akumelanga simesabe uNkulunkulu nxa etshengisa ukuthi ulamandla okubhubhisa. Kumele simthande kakhulu futhi simhloniphe ngoba uzimisele ukusilwela. Singenza njalo ‘sizakwenzela uNkulunkulu inkonzo engcwele ngokumesaba langenhlonipho enkulu.’—KumaHebheru 12:28.

Sondela KuNkulunkulu Wethu ‘Oliqhawe Elilamandla’

20. Kumele senzeni nxa kulendaba esingayizwisisiyo eBhayibhilini futhi lokhu kuzasinceda njani?

²⁰ Kwezinye izikhathi iBhayibhili kalisichasiseli ukuthi kungani uJehova ekhetha ukusebenzisa amandla akhe okubhubhisa. Kodwa esingaqiniseka ngakho yikuthi uJehova kasebenzisi amandla akhe ngendlela engaqondanga kumbe elesihluku. Izikhathi ezinengi okungasinceda yikubala indaba yakhona yonke ukuze sizwisise ukuthi kungani uJehova wakhetha ukusebenzisa amandla akhe ngaleyondlela. (IZaga 18:13) Nxa silokhu singazwisisi, okungasinceda yikufunda okunengi ngoJehova lokucabangisisa ngobuntu bakhe obuhle. Lokhu kuzakwenza simthembe ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu.—UJobe 34:12.

21. Lanxa kwezinye izikhathi uJehova esiba ‘liqhawe elilamandla,’ ulobuntu obunjani?

²¹ Lanxa kwezinye izikhathi uJehova esiba ‘liqhawe elilamandla,’ akutsho ukuthi uthanda izimpi. UHezekheli wabona umbono wenqola yasezulwini owawutshengisa uJehova elungele ukulwa lezitha zakhe. Kodwa okunye uHezekheli akubonayo ngumchilowamakhosikazi owawugombolozele uNkulunkulu. Umchilowamakhosikazi umela ukuthula. (UGenesisi 9:13; UHezekheli 1:28; ISambulo 4:3) Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi uJehova nguNkulunkulu olokuthula. Umphostoli uJohane wathi, “uNkulunkulu uluthando.” (1 UJohane 4:8) UJehova usebenzisa amandla akhe ngendlela evumelana lobuntu bakhe obuhle. Kuyisibusiso esikhulu sibili ukuba ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu olamandla futhi osithandayo!