1, 2. Kungani kungafanelanga sisole uJehova ngokuhlupheka kwabantu? Nika isibonelo.

 AKE sithi uyindoda esileminyaka eminengi ithokoza emtshadweni wayo. Besekusithi ngelinye ilanga ufika endlini uthole izinto zimahlikilili. Impahla yendlini ibulawe yabulawa, imiganu igcwele yonke indawo, ikhaphethi ivuthukile okokuthi ayisasebenziseki. Indlu yakho eligugu isiphenduke yaba lunxiwa. Ubuzavuka ngolaka yini uthi, “Kanti umkami ubekwenzelani lokhu?” Kumbe ubuzabuza usithi, “Kanti ngubani okwenzileyo?” Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ubuzahle ubuze umbuzo wesibili. Ngani? Ngoba uyakwazi ukuthi umkakho omthandayo ubengasoze aphongusukela impahla ayivuthuze kungelasizathu.

² Lamuhla sibona umhlaba esihlala kuwo ugcwele ingcekeza, udlakela, lokuziphatha okubi. Kodwa siyakwazi ukuthi ngeke kube nguJehova obangela izinhlupho zonke lezi ngoba singabantu abafunda iBhayibhili. Wadala umhlaba lo ukuthi ube lipharadayisi elihle. (Gen. 2:8, 15) UJehova nguNkulunkulu olothando. (1 Joha. 4:8) Ukufunda kwethu iMibhalo kusinceda ukuthi sithole onguye obangela ubunzima obusemhlabeni. Akula omunye ngaphandle kukaSathane uDeveli, “inkosi yalo umhlaba.”​—Joha. 14:30; 2 Kor. 4:4.

3. Ukucabanga kwethu kungaphambaniseka njani?

³ Lanxa kunjalo akutsho ukuthi zonke izinhlupho zethu zibangelwa nguSathane. Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi ezinye izinhlupho zethu zibangelwa yikuphambanisa kwethu. (Bala uDutheronomi 32:4-6.) Lanxa sikuvuma lokhu, indlela esicabanga ngayo ingaphambaniseka besekusenza ukuthi sikhethe indlela engacina isilethele impumela ebuhlungu ngoba singabantu abalesono. (Zaga. 14:12) Njani? Kulokuthi sizisole thina kumbe uSathane ngohlupho oluthile, singaqalisa ukusola uJehova. Singacina ‘sesimthukuthelela uJehova.’​—Zaga. 19:3.

4, 5. Kungenzeka njani ukuthi umKhristu acine ‘esethukuthelela uJehova’?

 ⁴ Kodwa kungenzeka yini ukuthi sicine ‘sesithukuthelele uJehova’? Kuliqiniso ukuthi ukwenza njalo yikudlalisa isikhathi. (Isa. 41:11) Siyabe sisithi sizatholani? Imbongi ethile yake yathi: “Ingalo yakho imfitshane kakhulu ukuthi inganqindana loNkulunkulu.” Kungenzeka ukuthi singaphumiseli ngamazwi ethu ukuthi siyamsola uJehova. Kodwa uZaga 19:3 uthi ubuwula bomuntu “budiliza impilo yakhe, ikanti inhliziyo yakhe ithukuthelela uJehova.” Liqiniso ukuthi umuntu angamthukuthelela uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yakhe. Indlela le yokucabanga ingenzakala ngezindlela ezingakhanyiyo. Umuntu angabambela uJehova isikhwili. Umpumela ubususiba yikuthi umuntu lo azehlukanise lebandla kumbe engasasekeli ngokugcweleyo uhlelo lokukhonza uJehova.

⁵ Kuyini okungenza sicine ‘sithukuthelela uJehova’? Singawubalekela njani umjibila lo? Kuqakathekile ukuthi sikwazi izimpendulo zemibuzo le. Ngani? Ngoba lokhu kuthinta ubuhlobo bethu loJehova uNkulunkulu!

6, 7. Ngesikhathi sikaMosi, kwakutheni abako-Israyeli baze baqalise ukukhonona ngoJehova?

⁶ Kuyini okungenza ukuthi inhliziyo yenceku kaJehova ethembekileyo ibisiqalisa ukukhonona ngoNkulunkulu? Ake sihlole imicijo emihlanu sihluze lezibonelo eziseBhayibhilini ezitshengisa ukuthi abanye endulo bawela njani emjibileni lo.​—1 Kor. 10:11, 12.

⁷ Izinkulumo zabanye ezitshekileyo zingasiyenga. (Bala uDutheronomi 1:26-28.) Abako-Israyeli babesanda kukhitshwa ebugqilini beGibhithe. UJehova wayelethe izinhlupho ezilitshumi ngokuyisimangaliso elizweni leli elalilochuku waphinda wabulala uFaro lebutho lakhe eLwandle oLubomvu. (Eks. 12:29-32, 51; 14:29-31; Hubo. 136:15) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu basebekulungele ukungena eLizweni ababelithenjisiwe. Kodwa ngesikhathi sebezangena nje, abako-Israyeli baqalisa ukukhonona kuJehova. Kuyini okwabangela ukungabi lokholo okunje? Izinhliziyo zabo zaphela amandla ngombiko omubi owalethwa yizinhloli ezazihlola ilizwe. (Nani. 14:1-4) Kwaphetha ngani? Sonke isizukulwana leso asizange sivunyelwe ukungena ‘kulelolizwe’ elihle. (Dute. 1:34, 35) Siyavumela yini kwezinye izikhathi ukuthi izinkulumo zabanye ezitshekileyo zixegise ukholo lwethu sibe sesikhuluma kubi ngendlela uJehova asebenzelana ngayo lathi?

8. Kuyini okwabangela ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu baqalise ukusola uJehova ngesimo ababekuso esikhathini sika-Isaya?

⁸ Izinhlupho lobunzima kungasiqeda amandla. (Bala u-Isaya 8:21, 22.) Ngesikhathi sika-Isaya, abakoJuda babephakathi kobunzima obukhulu. Babehanqwe yizitha. Ukudla kwakukulutshwana. Kwabanengi umangoye wayeselala eziko. Kodwa okwakuqakatheke kakhulu yikuthi kwakulendlala yokuzwa amazwi avela kuNkulunkulu. (Amos. 8:11) Kulokuthi bacele uncedo kuJehova ukuze baxazulule ubunzima lobu, baqalisa ‘ukuthuka’ inkosi yabo loNkulunkulu wabo. Basola uJehova ngezinhlupho zabo. Nxa sesivelelwe yingozi kumbe izinhlupho, lathi singalingeka yini enhliziyweni zethu ukuthi sithi, ‘Ubengaphi uJehova ngesikhathi ngimdinga?’

9. Ngesikhathi sikaHezekheli, kungani abako-Israyeli baqala ukuba lombono ongaqondanga?

⁹ Asilazi lonke iqiniso. Ngenxa yokuthi babengalalo iqiniso eligcweleyo, abako-Israyeli ngesikhathi sikaHezekheli babalomuzwa wokuthi indlela kaJehova “kayilunganga.” (Hez. 18:29) Kwakungani sebezifake esikhundleni sokwahlulela uNkulunkulu, bebona izimiso zabo zokulunga zingcono kulezikaJehova njalo bemahlulela ngezinto ababengazizwisisi ngokugcweleyo mayelana  lokwakusenzakala. Nxa kwesinye isikhathi singaluzwisisi ngokugcweleyo udaba oluthile oluseBhayibhilini kumbe lokho okwenzakala empilweni zethu, singaba lomuzwa yini wokuthi indlela kaJehova ayiqondanga kumbe “kayilunganga”?​—Jobe 35:2, NW.

10. Kungenzakala njani ukuthi abanye balingisele isibonelo sika-Adamu esingalunganga?

¹⁰ Ukuzigeza ecaleni sisola abanye ngezono zethu lokuphambanisa kwethu. Kusanda nje kudalwa abantu, u-Adamu wasola uNkulunkulu ngenxa yesono sakhe. (Gen. 3:12) Wasola uJehova lanxa wayewephule ngabomo umthetho kaNkulunkulu futhi esazi mhlophe impumela yokwenza lokhu. Kufanana lokuthi wayesithi uJehova wamnika umfazi ongalunganga. Kusukela ngesikhathi leso, abanengi balingisela isibonelo sika-Adamu sokusola uNkulunkulu ngokuphambanisa kwabo. Kuhle ukuthi sizibuze, ‘Ukucaphuka lokudana ngenxa yokuphambanisa kwami kungangenza yini ngiqalise ukuthandabuza izimiso zikaJehova?’

11. Sifundani kulokho okwenzakala kuJona?

¹¹ Ukungabi lendaba labanye. Umphrofethi uJona kathokozanga ngesinqumo sikaJehova esasilozwela mayelana leNineve. (Jona. 4:1-3) Ngenxa yani? Kukhanya angani wayelokhu ehlutshwa yikuthi wayezayangeka nxa isimemezelo sakhe sokubhujiswa singasafezekanga. UJona wayekhathazwa yikuthi abantu babezambona angani ngumuntu olamanga, lokhu kwamenza wangabi lesihawu okwakufanele abe laso ngamaNineve ayesephendukile. Kungenzeka yini ukuthi lathi singabi lendaba labanye size sicine ‘sithukuthelela uJehova’ ngokuthi kalethi ukuphela masinyane? Nxa sekulamatshumi eminyaka sitshumayela ngokuthi usuku lukaJehova luseduze, kungenzeka yini ukuthi siphelelwe yisineke uma abanye sebesenza inhlekisa ngokumemezela kwethu umlayezo weBhayibhili?​—2 Pet. 3:3, 4, 9.

12, 13. Kuyini okungamelanga sikuthathe lula nxa inhliziyo yethu isiqalisa ukusola ezinye izindlela zikaJehova?

¹² Kuyini esingakwenza nxa inhliziyo yethu elesono isiqalisa ukusola ezinye izindlela zikaJehova? Khumbula ukuthi yibuthutha ukwenza njalo. IZaga 19:3 zithi “Ubuwula  bomuntu budiliza impilo yakhe, ikanti inhliziyo yakhe ithukuthelela uJehova.” Sisacabanga ngalokhu, ake sikhangele izinto ezinhlanu ezizasinceda ukuthi singaqali ukuvumela izinhlupho esihlangana lazo ekuphileni zisenze sisole uJehova.

¹³ Ungabuthathi lula ubuhlobo bakho loJehova. Singabalekela ukucabanga njengabantu abalesono abathukuthelela uNkulunkulu uma singahlala siqinisa ubungane bethu laye. (Bala iZaga 3:5, 6.) Kumele sithembe uJehova futhi singabi ngabahlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwethu kumbe ukuzifunela okwethu kuphela. (Zaga. 3:7; UmTshu. 7:16) Singenza njalo, kuzaba lula ukuthi singamsoli uJehova nxa izinto ezimbi zisenzakala.

14, 15. Kuyini okuzasinceda ukuthi singaphanjaniswa zinkulumo zabanye ezitshekileyo?

¹⁴ Ungavumeli izinkulumo ezitshekileyo zikuphambule. Ezinsukwini zikaMosi, abako-Israyeli babelobufakazi obeneleyo bokuthi uJehova wayesenelisa ukubakhokhela bayefika eLizweni ababelithenjisiwe. (Hubo. 78:43-53) Kodwa kwathi izinhloli ezilitshumi ezazingathembekanga sezilethe umbiko omubi, abazange ‘bawakhumbule amandla akhe okukhulula.’ (Hubo. 78:42) Yikho-ke nxa singanakana ngezenzo zikaJehova, sikhumbula izinto zonke ezinhle asenzele zona, ubuhlobo bethu laye buzaqina. Umpumela uzaba yikuthi kasisoze sivumele imicabango yabanye etshekileyo isehlukanise loJehova. (Hubo. 77:11, 12)

¹⁵ Kungenzakalani nxa silombono ongalunganga ngalabo esikhonza labo? Ezimeni ezinjalo ubuhlobo bethu loJehova bungaphambaniseka. (1 Joha. 4:20) Ngesikhathi abako-Israyeli besola ukubekwa kuka-Aroni esikhundleni, uJehova wabona isenzo leso siyikukhonona ngaye. (Nani. 17:10) Ngendlela efananayo, lathi nxa sisola futhi sikhonona ngalabo uJehova abasebenzisayo ukuthi baqondise ingxenye yenhlanganiso yakhe esemhlabeni, siyabe sisola uJehova.​—Heb. 13:7, 17.

16, 17. Kuyini okungamelanga sikukhohlwe nxa sehlelwe yizinhlupho?

¹⁶ Khumbula ukuthi uJehova kazibangeli izinhlupho zethu. Lanxa abako-Israyeli ngesikhathi sika-Isaya basebemhlamukele uJehova, yena wayelokhu efuna ukubanceda. (Isa. 1:16-19) Kungaze kube yiluphi uhlupho olungasehlela, singayithola induduzo ngokwazi ukuthi uJehova uyasinakekela njalo uzimisele ukusinceda. (1 Pet. 5:7) Kanti njalo uthembisa ukuthi uzasinika amandla adingakalayo ukuze sime siqinile.​—1 Kor. 10:13.

¹⁷ Nxa sihlupheka ngenxa yokungaphathwa kuhle okuthile, mhlawumbe njengalokho okwenzakala kuJobe, indoda eyayithembekile, kumele singakhohlwa ukuthi uJehova kayisuye okubangelayo. UJehova uyakuzonda ukungalungi, kodwa uthanda ukulunga. (Hubo. 33:5) Kumele senze njengomngane kaJobe, u-Elihu owathi: “Kakube khatshana laye uNkulunkulu ukwenza ububi, khatshana kukaSomandla ukona.” (Jobe 34:10) Kulokuthi asibangele izinhlupho, uJehova usinika “izipho ezinhle lezipheleleyo.”​—Jak. 1:13, 17.

18, 19. Kungani kungamelanga simthandabuze uJehova? Phana isibonelo.

¹⁸ Ungamthandabuzi uJehova. UNkulunkulu uphelele njalo imicabango yakhe iphakeme kuleyethu. (Isa. 55:8, 9) Yikho-ke ukuthobeka lokuzazi ukuthi sicina ngaphi, kumele kusenze sivume ukuthi ukuzwisisa kwethu kuyasilela. (Roma. 9:20) Kukalutshwana ukuthi silazi lonke iqiniso ngesimo esithile. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi usuke wakubona ukuba liqiniso kwalesisaga: “Ecaleni okhuluma kuqala ubonakala enguye olungileyo, kuze kuqhamuke omunye ambuzisise.”​—Zaga. 18:17.

¹⁹ Nxa silomngane esimthembayo owenza into esingayizwisisiyo kumbe esicabanga ukuthi ayijayelekanga, singahle simbeke icala yini ngalokho akwenzayo? Kumbe besingazama ukuthi sikwamukele ukuthi kungaba lesizatho esilengqondo esimenze  wakwenza lokhu ikakhulu nxa bekungumuntu esileminyaka eminengi simazi? Nxa sisenelisa ukuphatha abangane bethu abalesono ngothando olungaka, pho-ke sithini ngokuthemba uBaba wethu osezulwini, olemicabango lezindlela eziphakeme kakhulu kulezethu!

20, 21. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sisole lowo okumele asolwe?

²⁰ Sola lowo okumele asolwe. Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi ezinye izinhlupho siyabe siziphandele. Nxa siphambanisile kumele sivume. (Gal. 6:7) Ungazami ukusola uJehova ngezinhlupho lezo. Kungani ukucabanga okunjalo kungalunganga? Cabanga ngesibonelo lesi: Imota ethile ingabe isenelisa ukugijima ngesiqubu esikhulu. Akunakane ngomtshayeli oyifaka amafutha aze adlulise isiqubu esisemthethweni emgwaqweni olekhona eliyingozi, imota ibhewuke. Ubungasola inkampani eyalungisa imota le yini? Ubungeke! Ngendlela efananayo, uJehova wasidala silenkululeko yokuzikhethela. Kanti njalo usinike izimiso esingazisebenzisa ukwenza izinqumo ezikhaliphileyo. Manje kungani singasola uMdali wethu ngokuphambanisa esikwenzayo?

²¹ Kuliqiniso ukuthi ayisizo zonke izinhlupho ezisehlelayo ezibangelwa yithi ngokwethu kumbe ukuphambanisa kwethu. Ezinye izinhlupho zisehlela ngenxa ‘yesikhathi lezehlakalo esingazikhangelelanga.’ (UmTshu. 9:11, NW) Okuqakathekileyo yikuthi singalahlekelwa liqiniso elisegcekeni lokuthi uSathane uDeveli nguye obangela ububi obunengi esibubonayo. (1 Joha. 5:19; Isam. 12:9) Nguye isitha, hatshi uJehova.​—1 Pet. 5:8.

22, 23. Nxa sesiphela amandla ngezinhlupho zethu kuyini okumele sikukhumbule?

²² Ekuhluphekeni lasebunzimeni, khumbula isibonelo sikaJoshuwa loKhalebi. Amadoda la amabili kazange enze njengezinye izinhloli ezilitshumi, wona afika lombiko omuhle. (Nani. 14:6-9) Atshengisa ukholo kuJehova. Loba kunjalo, azulazula enkangala okweminyaka engu-40 elamanye ama-Israyeli. UJoshuwa loKhalebi bakhonona yini kumbe bacaphuka, belomuzwa wokuthi baphathwe ngendlela engalunganga? Hatshi. Bathembela kuJehova. Babusiswa yini? Akuthandabuzwa! Amadoda la amabili angena eLizweni elalithenjisiwe, kodwa isizukulwana sonke safela enkangala. (Nani. 14:30) Yikho-ke, lathi uJehova uzasibusisa nxa “singadeli” ukwenza intando yakhe.​—Gal. 6:9; Heb. 6:10.

²³ Nxa udaniswa yikuhlupheka, yikusilela kwabanye, loba yisono esilaso, kumele wenzeni? Cabangisisa kakhulu ngezimpawu zobuntu bukaJehova ezinhle. Kubone ngelihlo lengqondo lokho okuthenjiswe nguJehova. Zibuze, ‘Ngabe ngingaphi empilweni yami uJehova engekho?’ Hlala useduze kwakhe, futhi ungaqali ukuvumela inhliziyo yakho imthukuthelele!