Ingilosi KaJehova Yamvikela UHezekhiya

Umbuso wako-Israyeli owezizwana ezingu-10 wawusuthethwe ngama-Asiriya. Inkosi yase-Asiriya okuthiwa nguSenakheribhi yayisifuna ukuthatha umbuso wakoJuda wezizwana ezimbili. Yaqalisa ukuthatha amadolobho akoJuda kancane kancane. Idolobho eyayilifuna kakhulu yiJerusalema. Kodwa yayingakwazi ukuthi uJehova wayelivikela idolobho lelo.

UHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda yabhadala uSenakheribhi imali enengi ukuze angalithathi iJerusalema. Lanxa uSenakheribhi wayithatha imali, wathumela amasotsha akhe alamandla ukuthi ayekulwa leJerusalema. Abantu eJerusalema basebesesaba. UHezekhiya wabatshela wathi: ‘Lingesabi. Ama-Asiriya alamandla, kodwa uJehova uzasenza sibe lamandla kulawo.’

USenakheribhi wathuma umkhokheli wamabutho ukuthi ayekwethusela abantu eJerusalema. Umkhokheli wamabutho wama phandle kwedolobho wamemeza wathi: ‘UJehova ngeke alincede. Lingavumi ukuqilwa nguHezekhiya. Akulankulunkulu ongalivikela kithi.’

UHezekhiya wabuza uJehova ukuthi enzeni. UJehova wathi: ‘Ungethuswa yilokho okutshiwo ngumkhokheli wamabutho ase-Asiriya. USenakheribhi kasoze alithathe iJerusalema.’ UHezekhiya waphinda wathola izincwadi zivela kuSenakheribhi. Izincwadi lezo zazisithi: ‘UJehova ngeke akusindise.’ UHezekhiya wakhuleka wathi: ‘Jehova, ngicela usincede ukuze abantu bazi ukuthi nguwe wedwa uNkulunkulu weqiniso.’ UJehova wathi kuye: ‘Inkosi yase-Asiriya ayisoze ingene eJerusalema. Ngizalivikela idolobho lami.’

USenakheribhi wayezitshela ukuthi uzalithatha idolobho lelo loba sekutheni. Kodwa ngobunye ubusuku, uJehova wathuma ingilosi enkambeni yamasotsha ase-Asiriya eyayingaphandle kweJerusalema. Yabulala amasotsha alamandla angu-185 000. Wehlulwa uSenakheribhi wasebuyela elizweni lakibo. UJehova wamvikela uHezekhiya kanye leJerusalema njengoba nje wayethembisile. Aluba wawuseJerusalema, wawuzamthemba yini uJehova?