Jehova Ubeketelela Jona

Bantfu basedolobheni lase-Asiriya lelibitwa ngekutsi yiNineve bebenta tintfo letimbi. Jehova watjela Jona umphrofethi wakhe kutsi aye eNineve ayotjela labantfu kutsi bashintje tindlela tabo. Kodvwa Jona wabaleka waya kulenye indzawo. Wagibela umkhumbi loya eThashishi.

Ngesikhatsi lomkhumbi uselwandle kwahhusha umoya lomkhulu, futsi bantfu labasebenta emkhunjini bacala kwesaba. Bathantaza kubonkulunkulu babo batsi: ‘Ubangelwa yini lomoya lomkhulu kangaka?’ Ekugcineni Jona watsi kubo: ‘Ngimi lonibangele loku. Angikayi lapho Jehova abengitfume khona. Ngijikijeleni elwandle, futsi lomoya utawuthula.’ Labantfu labasebenta emkhunjini bebangafuni kujika Jona elwandle kodvwa watsi abamjike. Atsi nabamjika elwandle, umoya wathula.

Jona abecabanga kutsi utawufa. Njengobe abecwila ashona phasi, wathantaza kuJehova. Jehova wabese utfumela imfishi lenkhulu. Lemfishi yagwinya Jona kodvwa akazange afe. Asekhatsi esiswini sayo Jona wathantaza watsi: ‘Ngiyetsembisa kutsi ngitawuhlale ngikulalela.’ Jehova wamvikela Jona ngesikhatsi asesiswini semfishi futsi wahlala emalanga lamatsatfu yase imhlantela emhlabatsini lowomile.

Njengobe Jehova abemsindzisile Jona, loko bekusho kutsi abengeke yini asaya eNineve? Cha. Jehova waphindze watsi kuJona akaye khona. Jona wamlalela Jehova. Wahamba wafike watsi kulabantfu lababi: “Sekusele emalanga langu-40 kutsi iNineve ibhujiswe.” Kwase kwenteka intfo lengakalindzeleki, baseNineve balalela futsi bashintja. INkhosi yaseNineve yatsi kubantfu bayo: ‘Khalani kuNkulunkulu, futsi niphendvuke. Mhlawumbe angeke asibhubhise.’ Ngesikhatsi Jehova abona kutsi labantfu sebaphendvukile, wabese akasayibhubhisi iNineve.

Jona watfukutsela ngobe lelidolobha alizange libhujiswe. Cabanga: Jehova wambeketelela Jona futsi waba nemusa kuye, kodvwa Jona akazange abe nemusa kulabantfu baseNineve. Esikhundleni saloko waphuma kulelidolobha wahamba wayohlala ngaphasi kwesihlahla semhlafutfo wabuka iNineve. Lesihlahla sabuna futsi Jona watfukutsela. Ngako Jehova watsi kuye: ‘Usivela buhlungu lesihlahla, kodvwa uyehluleka kubavela bantfu baseNinive. Ngibavele buhlungu ngase angisababhubhisi.’ Bekamfundzisa siphi sifundvo? Bantfu baseNineve bebabaluleke kakhulu kwendlula nobe ngusiphi sihlahla.