“Siya Kukhonza Uyehova Uthixo Wethu”
“Ke mna nendlu yam siya kukhonza uYehova.”—YOSHUWA 24:15.
1. Incwadi kaYoshuwa ilukhuthazo nenkuselo njani kuthi?
IZIGANEKO ezikhwankqisayo zencwadi kaYoshuwa zibhalelwe “okwethu ukufundiswa” yaye ‘zinjengemifuziselo’ yokusikhuthaza nokusikhusela “thina aba, bafikeIweyo ziziphelo zawo amaphakade.” (Roma 15:4; 1 Korinte 10:11) limpawu zokuhlonel’ uThixo, ezinjengonyamezelo, ukholo nokuthobela, ziyabalaseliswa. “Ngokholo zawa iindonga zaseYeriko, zakuba zijikeleziwe iimini ezisixhenxe. Ngokholo uRahabhi ihenyukazi akatshabalalanga nabo bangevayo, akuba ezamkele iintlola ngoxolo.” (Hebhere 11:30, 31) Ukholo lukaYoshuwa, lukaRahabhi nolwabanye abanyanisekileyo emva apho lufanele lusishukumisele ukuba sibe nenkalipho size somelele, ukuze siwugqibe umsebenzi kaThixo namhlanje.—Yoshuwa 10:25; Yohane 4:34.
2. (a) UYoshuwa wayibonisa njani intobelo kwanakwinkcukacha yokugqibela? (b) Kwenzeka ntoni entabeni yase-Ebhali neyaseGerizim?
2 Emva koloyiso olugqibeleleyo eAyi, uYoshuwa wanikela ingqalelo kwimiyalelo engokweenkcukacha ebhalwe kwiDuteronomi 27:1-28:68. ENtabeni ye-Ebhali wakha isibingelelo samatye, ibe apho wadlulisela lo myalelo: “Ubingelele imibingelelo yoxolo, udle khona, uvuye phambi koYehova uThixo wakho.” Amanye amatye amiswa njengesikhumbuzo, aqatywa ifutha yaye kwabhalwa kuwo amazwi omyalelo. Izizwe ke zahlulahlulwa, elinye iqela lema eNtabeni yeGerizim ‘ukuze lisikelele abantu’ yaye elinye ‘ukuze liqalekise, eNtabeni ye-Ebhali.’ Ngezwi elikhulu abaLevi bavakalisa iziqalekiso zokungathobeli, yaye bonke abantu bavuma ngokuthi, “Amen.” Kwandula ke kwavakaliswa iintsikelelo zokuthobela. Kodwa ilishwa lalijinga ukuba amaSirayeli ayenokuthi asilele ‘ukuphumeza onke amazwi omyalelo nokoyika igama likaYehova uThixo elizukileyo neloyikekayo’!—Yoshuwa 8:32-35.
3, 4. (a) Sisiphi isifundo esinamandla ikhondo lamaSirayeli elisinikelayo kuthi namhlanje? (b) Kutheni singafanele sidinwe kukuva izinto ezikwanye ngokuphindaphindiweyo? (c) Yintoni efunekayo ukuze singene “ngesango elimxinwa”?
3 Ngaba amaSirayeli aqhubeka ewathobela ‘amazwi omyalelo’? Phezu kwazo nje izibongozo zikaMoses eziphindaphindwe ngokufuthi, yaye kamva nezikaYoshuwa, asilela ngokulusizi. Esinjani sona ukuba namandla isifundo oku okusinikelayo kuthi namhlanje! Phezu kwazo nje izilumkiso ezizingisileyo, kusoloko kukho abathile abacinga ukuba banokungazikhathaleli iimfuno zikaThixo, ‘bahambe ngabayibonayo’ baze sekunjalo basinde. Obunjani bona ubudenge! Ebhekisela emva kumava kaSirayeli, uPawulos wathi: “Lowo uba umi, makalumke angawi.”—1 Korinte 10:12; INtshumayeli 2:13.
4 Bambi abantu bakaThixo baye bazigxeka izilumkiso eziye zanikelwa, besithi bayakruquka kukuva into enye ngokuphindaphindiweyo. Kodwa aba badla ngokuba ngabokuqala ukuwela kumgibe kaSathana. Incwadi ephefumlelweyo yeBhayibhile yeDuteronomi (Mish·neh’ hat·to·rahʹ ngesiHebhere gama elo elithetha, “Ukuphindaphindwa koMthetho”) ngokuyintloko iqulethe iintetho ezine zikaMoses; ezi ntetho zakwenza kwacaca kumaSirayeli ukuba ayemele athobele imithetho kaYehova eyayichazwe ngaphambili. Izihlandlo ezingaphezu kwezine uMoses wasebenzisa amagama amaninzi ekulumkiseni ngokungathobeli ‘neziqalekiso’ ezaziya kuba ngumphumo woko njengokuba wazisebenzisa ngokuhlobene ‘neentsikelelo.’ Entabeni ye-Ebhali, kwakhona uYoshuwa wawakhumbuza amaSirayeli ukuba ayemele athobele. Ngaba oku akusibonisi indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukuzabalazela “ukungena ngesango elimxinwa”?—Mateyu 7:13, 14, 24-27; 24:21, 22.
5. Luluphi umanyano olwajongana namaSirayeli, yaye yiyiphi imeko efana nale esiyibonayo namhlanje?
5 Ngoku kwakusenzeka imbonakaliso egqibeleleyo. Udonga Iwesixeko saseYeriko lwaludiliziwe, kanye njengokuba unqulo lobuxoki luza kutshatyalaliswa xa “imbandezelo enkulu” iqalisa. IAyi yawa. Kodwa ngoku “bonke ookumkani abanganeno kweYordan ezintabeni, nasezihlanjeni, nangaselwandle lonke olukhulu, kwasingisa eLebhanon, amaHeti, nama-Amori, namaKanan, namaPerizi, namaHivi, namaYebhusi, babuthelana ndawonye, ukuba balwe ngamxhelomnye noYoshuwa namaSirayeli.” (Yoshuwa 9:1, 2) Kumzekelo wanamhlanje woku, sizifumana iintlanga zomhlaba zibuthelene ndawonye njengezo zibizwa ngokuba ziZizwe Ezimanyeneyo. Ngokwendlela yazo zizifunela uxolo nonqabiseko lwazo kodwa ‘ziye zabhunga ngoYehova nangomthanjiswa wakhe,’ uYoshuwa Omkhulu. (INdumiso 2:1, 2) Uya kuba yintoni umphumo?
Ukwenza Izinto Ngobuqili
6, 7. (a) AmaGibheyon abonisa umdla entwenini, ibe bubuphi ubuchule bokulwa awabamkelayo? (b) UYoshuwa wawugweba njani lo mcimbi?
6 NjengoRahabhi owayephambi kwabo, abanye ababengengomaSirayeli baqalisa ukubonakalisa umdla ekusindeni. Aba yayingabemi baseGibheyon, isixeko esikhulu kumntla weYebhusi, okanye iYerusalem. Babevile ngezenzo zikaYehova zobugorha baza bazimisela ukuba babeya kufuna uxolo nonqabiseko lukaYehova. Kodwa njani? Bathumela ententeni yamaSirayeli eyayiseGiligali amadoda awayethwele ukudla okomileyo nokungundileyo neengxowa ezonakeleyo neentsuba zewayini ezonakeleyo yaye benxibe iingubo neembadada ezikrazukileyo. Esondela kuYoshuwa, la madoda athi: “Bavela kwelikude kakhulu ilizwe abakhonzi bakho, ngenxa yegama likaYehova uThixo wakho; kuba siluvile udumo lwakhe.” Ekuva oku, “wenza uxolo nabo uYoshuwa, wabamisela umnqophiso wokubasindisa.”—Yoshuwa 9:3-15.
7 Phofu ke, kungekudala amaSirayeli aqonda ukuba enyanisweni amaGibheyon ‘ayehleli kwaphakathi kwawo’! UYoshuwa walijonga njani icebo lawo lobuqili? Wasihlonela isifungo esasenziwe nawo ngaphambilana, ‘sokuba adle ubomi; abe ngabathezi beenkuni nabakhi bamanzi bebandla lonke.’—Yoshuwa 9:16-27; thelekisa iDuteronomi 20:10, 11.
8. AmaGibheyon asifanekisela kwangaphambili ngaziphi iindlela “isihlwele esikhulu”?
8 Kunokwenzeka ukuba abakhonzi betempile abaninzi, abathi kwiminyaka kamva bakhonza etempileni kaYehova, babengabenzala yamaGibheyon. Ngaloo ndlela amaGibheyon ngokufanelekileyo asenokuba afanekisela kwangaphambili “isihlwele esikhulu” ngoku ‘esikhonza uThixo imini nobusuku etempileni yakhe.’ (ISityhilelo 7:9, 15) Nangona bephila kwihlabathi elinjengelamaKanan, aba banenkalipho “abangabo abehlabathi.” Ngaphambili, kwafuneka ukuba banyamezele amalungiselelo okomoya ‘angundileyo,’ njengalawo afunyanwa kwiicawa zeNgqobhoko, yaye babengenayo ‘iwayini’ yovuyo. Xa bathi badibana nabantu bakaThixo, baye baqonda ukuba uYehova wenza izenzo zobugorha ngamangqina akhe. Baye bahamba uhambo olude ukusuka kwihlabathi likaSathana ukuze batshintshe ‘iingubo’ ezikrazukileyo baze bafaniswe ngokutsha njengabakhonzi bakaYehova abathobekileyo, abambathe ubuntu obutsha.—Yohane 14:6; 17:11, 14, 16; Efese 4:22-24.
Inkxaso Engokwentlangano
9. (a) Liliphi ixesha lobunzima elavelayo ngokulandelayo? (b) UYoshuwa wasabela njani kulo, yaye ngasiphi isiqinisekiso?
9 Xa uAdoni-tsedeki, ukumkani waseYerusalem, wevayo ukuba amaGibheyon ayenze uxolo namaSirayeli, ‘woyika kunene, kuba ngumzi omkhulu iGibheyon, njengomnye wemizi yobukumkani, namadoda ayo onke angamagorha.’ Wathelela imikhosi nabanye ookumkani abane, baza bayingqinga iGibheyon. Ngokukhawuleza, amaGibheyon abongoza uYoshuwa athi: “Nyuka uze kuthi ngokukhawuleza, usisindise, usincede.” Engaphozisanga maseko, uYoshuwa wasabela, ibe uYehova wamqinisekisa, esithi: “Musa ukuboyika; kuba ndibanikele esandleni sakho; akuyi kuma ndoda kubo phambi kwakho.” UYoshuwa namadoda akhe akhaliphileyo nanobukroti ‘benyuka bonke ubusuku’ ukuze baluhlasele ngokupheleleyo utshaba lungalindelanga.—Yoshuwa 10:1-9.
10. (a) Luluphi uhlobo lwesenzo namhlanje olungumzekelo wokungqingwa kweGibheyon? (b) Luluphi uzimiselo amaGibheyon anamhlanje aluvakalisayo?
10 Njengabo kumkani bahlanu, zimbi iintloko zorhulumente namhlanje ziba nomsindo kukubona abantu bazo abaninzi—“kwanabanamandla”—bemela uYoshuwa Omkhulu noBukumkani bakhe bobulungisa bazwenibanzi. Aba balawuli bakholelwa kwelokuba imida yobuhlanga ifanele igcinwe, nakubeni iintlanga zisoloko zixabana yaye zisilwa olunye nolunye. Ngenxa yoko zizama ukukunqumamisa ukudla kokomoya okuvela ‘kwisihlwele esikhulu’ esithanda uxolo, zizama ukuzibhangisa iintlanganiso apho sifumana khona oku “kudla” nokusinqumamisa ekuthetheni nabanye ngemicimbi yokomoya. Kodwa la maGibheyon anamhlanje eme ngokunyanisekileyo namaSirayeli okomoya, esithi: “Siya kuhamba nani.”—Zekariya 8:23; thelekisa IZenzo 4:19, 20; 5:29.
11. Namhlanje amaNgqina kaYehova azisingatha njani iinzima?
11 Xa “isihlwele esikhulu” sibhenela kwintlangano “enguma” waso ukuze sifumane uncedo, olu ncedo lunikelwa ngokukhawuleza yaye ngomlinganiselo olungileyo. Isantya amaNgqina kaYehova azenza ngaso izinto sikwabonwa nangezinye iindlela ezininzi—ezinjengokuhlangula ngokukhawulezileyo emva kweentlekele zokwemvelo nasekwakheni ngokukhawuleza iiHolo zoBukumkani ezifunekayo nezinye iindawo zokuhlanganisana ukuze kusasazwe “ukudla.” Xa ngoJuni odluleyo kwalungiselelwa indibano eYankee Stadium, eNew York, abacoci bokuzithandela bafika ezinzulwini zobusuku emva komdlalo webaseball; elo bala alizange likhangeleke licoceke ngaphezu kokuba lalinjalo ebudeni beentsuku ezine ezalandelayo. Abadala abaneembopheleleko abangamaNgqina kaYehova bayakhawuleza ukusingatha ubunzima obuphakamayo ekushumayeleni iindaba ezilungileyo.—Filipi 1:6, 7.
UYehova Ulwela AmaSirayeli
12. Yiyiphi imimangaliso uYehova ayenzayo njengoko esilwela amaSirayeli ukuze akhusele amaGibheyon? (Thelekisa uHabhakuki 3:1, 2, 11, 12.)
12 Kodwa ngoku, khawukhangele eGibheyon. UYehova uyayidubaduba loo mikhosi yotshaba. AmaSirayeli ayayisukela eyibulala kakhulu. Ibe yintoni esiyibona iphoselwa phantsi iphuma ezulwini? Ngamatye amakhulu esichotho! Emininzi ibulawa ngala matye makhulu esichotho kunaleyo ibulawa yimikhosi yamaSirayeli. Ngoku, phulaphula. UYoshuwa uthetha noYehova, yaye yintoni ayithethayo “emehlweni amaSirayeli”? Uthetha oku: “Langa, nqumama eGibheyon, nawe nyanga, entilini yeAyalon.” Nangu omnye ummangaliso owoyikekayo! “Malunga nemini yonke,” ilanga likhanyisa kwelo thafa ledabi, de impindezelo kaThixo ibe iphunyezwe ngokupheleleyo. Asikokwethu ukuba sithethe ngendlela uYehova awawenza ngayo loo mmangaliso, njengokuba singenakubuza ngendlela ‘awazenza’ ngayo izikhanyiso ezibini ukuba zikhanyise ‘ngosuku’ lwakhe lwesine lokudala. (Genesis 1:16-19; INdumiso 135:5, 6) Le ngxelo iqukumbela ngokuthi: “Akuzanga kubekho mini injengaleyo, phambi kwayo nangasemva kwayo, ngokokude uYehova aliphulaphule izwi lomntu; ngokuba uYehova wawalwela amaSirayeli.”—Yoshuwa 10:10-14.
13. UYoshuwa ubakhuthaza njani ngokubhekele phaya abaphathi bakhe, ibe ngawuphi umphumo wokugqibela?
13 Uloyiso olupheleleyo kufikelelwa encotsheni yalo ngokubulawa kookumkani abahlanu, ekuthi ngelo xesha uYoshuwa athi kubaphathi bakhe: “Musani ukoyika, musani ukuqhiphuka umbilini: yomelelani, nikhaliphe, ngokuba uYehova uya kwenjenjalo kwiintshaba zenu zonke enilwa nazo.” Oku besekungqineke kuyinyaniso ngokubhekisele kookumkani abasixhenxe baseKanan, yaye kuqhubeka kuyinyaniso njengokuba elinye inani elipheleleyo lookumkani abangama-24 bebhukuqwa. Emva koko, kufika ithuba lasemva kweminyaka emithandathu yemfazwe, elithi ilizwe liphumle.—Yoshuwa 10:16-25; 12:7-24.
14. IArmagedon sifanele sijongane nayo ngasiphi isimo sengqondo nentembelo?
14 Namhlanje, njengokuba sijongene nemfazwe yokugqibela yeArmagedon, kwanga singakhalipha size somelele njengokuba wayenjalo uYoshuwa, amadoda akhe anobukroti nabo bonke ababesezintenteni ezinkulu zamaSirayeli. Sinokuba nentembelo yokuba, kanye njengokuba uYehova wangenisa izigidi eziliqela zamaSirayeli kwiLizwe Ledinga zingenzakalanga, ngoko unokwenza imimangaliso eyoyikeka ngakumbi ekuhlanguleni izigidi zabantu bakhe abangoyikiyo ukutyhubela iArmagedon ukusa kwinkqubo yakhe entsha.—ISityhilelo 7:1-3, 9, 14; 19:11-21; 21:1-5.
Isigqibo Sethu
15. Luhlobo luni lwezabelo “ezinye izimvu” olunokuzilindela kwinkqubo entsha kaThixo?
15 Nangona ngoku wayesondela kubudala beminyaka engama-90, uYoshuwa wajongana nomnye umsebenzi omkhulu—lowo wokwahlula ilizwe phakathi kwezizwe zikaSirayeli. Oku kwakungathethi ukuba ubomi babuza kuba lula kumaSirayeli. Enyanisweni, uKalebhi wacela umhlaba oseHebron, apho ama-Anaki aziingxilimbela ayehlala khona; wafuna ukuqhubeka etshabalalisa iintshaba zokugqibela zikaYehova. Oku akuyombonakaliso yokuba ebudeni boLawulo Lwewaka Leminyaka lukaKristu phezu komhlaba kuya kubakho iintshaba ezingabantu. Kodwa kuya kubakho umsebenzi ekufuneka wenziwe. Kwinkqubo entsha yezinto, asifanele silindele indlela yobomi elula neyobuvila. Emva kokufumana izabelo zazo “kumhlaba omtsha,” “ezinye izimvu” zeNkosi ziya kuba nomsebenzi omkhulu kwiphulo elikhulu lokwenza lo mhlaba ube mhle nokuwuguqulela ekubeni ube yiParadisi yokoqobo.—Yoshuwa 14:6-15; Marko 10:29, 30; Roma 12:11.
16. Yintoni namhlanje efanekiselwa lilungiselelo likaYehova “lemizi yokusabela”?
16 Ekwahlulahluleni ilizwe, uYoshuwa wabekela ecaleni imizi emithandathu yabaLevi ukuba ibe ‘yimizi yokusabela,’ imithathu kwicala ngalinye laseYordan. Eli yayililungiselelo likaYehova lokukhusela umbulali owayebulele ngempazamo owayenokusabela komnye wale mizi. Umbulali onjalo kwakufuneka angqine ukuba wayenesazela esicocekileyo phambi koThixo, ibe oku wayekwenza ngokuhlala kuloo mzi de kufe umbingeleli omkhulu. Ngokukwanjalo, ngenxa yokunxulumana kwaso kwangaphambili neli hlabathi linetyala legazi, namhlanje “isihlwele esikhulu” simele sifune isazela esilungileyo noThixo. Siyasizuza eso sazela silungileyo ngokuvuma izono zaso, ngokuguquka, ngokubuya, ngokuzahlulela kuYehova nangokubhaptizwa ngamanzi. Ngoko simele sikulondoloze oko kuma. “Isihlwele esikhulu” kufuneka sihlale ‘emzini’ de uYesu afe ngokufuziselayo ngokubhekisele kumsebenzi wakhe wokuba ngumbingeleli omkhulu, ekupheleni koLawulo lwakhe Lweminyaka Eliwaka.—Yoshuwa 20:1-9; ISityhilelo 20:4, 5; 1 Korinte 15:22, 25, 26.
17. Nguwuphi umphumo ovuyisayo esiwulindeleyo namhlanje?
17 Hayi indlela uYehova awabasikelela ngokumangalisayo ngayo abantu bakhe abangamaSirayeli! Indlela yayinzima, yaye kwakukho izilingo ezininzi. Kodwa ekugqibeleni bafika kwiLizwe Ledinga yaye bahlala kulo. Hayi indlela ekumele ukuba iintliziyo zabo zazaliswa ngayo ngumbulelo kuYehova! Yaye xa sizingqina sithembekile kuThixo wethu, sinokuba novuyo olufanayo njengokuba singena kwinkqubo yakhe entsha, equka “umhlaba omtsha.” Ngenene, oku kuya kuba yinyaniso ngathi, njengokuba kwaba yinyaniso ngomhla kaYoshuwa: “Akuwanga zwi phantsi, emazwini onke alungileyo awawathethayo uYehova kwindlu kaSirayeli; enzeka onke.” (Yoshuwa 21:45) Kwanga unganesabelo esivuyisayo kuyo!
18. (a) UYoshuwa wababalisela ntoni abantu abakhulu bakwaSirayeli? (b) Nguwuphi umnqweno esifanele sibe nawo ngokubhekisele kwinkqubo entsha kaYehova?
18 Ekugqibeleni, kwiminyaka eli-110 ubudala, uYoshuwa wahlanganisela ndawonye amadoda amakhulu akwaSirayeli. Wawabalisela kwakhona indlela emangalisayo uYehova awabasikelela ngayo abantu bakhe abathembekileyo ukususela kwixesha lika-Abraham ukuza kuthi ga kuloo mhla. UYehova wabaxelela oku: “Ndaninika ilizwe eningaxhamlekanga ngalo, nemizi eningayakhanga, nahlala ke kuyo; nezidiliya, nezinquma eningazityalanga niyazidla ke.” Ngenxa yeli lungiselelo lezinto eziyintabalala, ngokuqinisekileyo amaSirayeli kwakuya kufuneka ‘amoyike uYehova, amkhonze ngokugqibeleleyo, nangenyaniso’ ngalo lonke ixesha. Yaye njengoko sikhangele phambili kwinkqubo entsha ezukileyo kaYehova ngalo mhlaba, ngokuqinisekileyo ngamnye wethu ufanele abe nomnqweno ofanayo.—Yoshuwa 24:13, 14.
19. (a) Luluphi ukhetho uYoshuwa awalubeka ebantwini, yaye baphendula njani? (b) Sifanele sifune ukuba njengoobani? (c) Luluphi ukhetho esifanele silwenze, yaye ngasiphi isigqibo?
19 Wandula ke uYoshuwa wabacacisela ngokuphandle abantu wathi: “Ke ukuba kubi emehlweni enu ukumkhonza uYehova, zinyuleleni namhla oyena niya kumkhonza. . . . KE MNA NENDLU YAM SIYA KUKHONZA UYEHOVA.” Ngaba ngamnye wethu ngokomntu ngamnye unokuwaphinda la mazwi, ngamalungu akholwayo eentsapho zethu, ngamabandla ethu, ‘yindlu kaThixo’ yazwenibanzi? Ngokuqinisekileyo banako! (Efese 2:19) Ngomhla kaYoshuwa abantu bamphendula, besithi: “Siya kukhonza uYehova uThixo wethu, siliphulaphule ilizwi lakhe.” (Yoshuwa 24:15, 24) Kodwa, okulusizi kukuba, kwiminyaka kamva basilela ukwenjenjalo. Asifuni ukuba njengabo basilelayo. Sifuna ukuba njengoYoshuwa nendlu yakhe, sifuna ukuba njengoKalebhi, sifuna ukuba njengamaGibheyon yaye sifuna ukuba njengoRahabhi. Ewe, “SIYA KUKHONZA UYEHOVA.” Kwanga oku singakwenza ngenkalipho nangentembelo epheleleyo yokuba akukho nto iya “kuba nako ukusahlula thina eluthandweni lukaThixo, olukuye uKristu Yesu, iNkosi yethu.”—Roma 8:39.
Yintoni Esiyifunda Kwincwadi KaYoshuwa—
◻ Ngokubhekisele ekungenelweni kwizilumkiso eziphindaphindwayo?
◻ Ngokubhekisele ekunyamekeleni amaGibheyon anamhlanje?
◻ Ngokubhekisele kwindlela uYehova aya kulwa ngayo eArmagedon?
◻ Ngokubhekisele kwimfuneko yokusabela ‘kumzi wokusabela’?
◻ Ngokubhekisele ekukhetheni lowo simele simkhonze?