Ukuzuza Emseni KaJehova Wothando

‘Ubani ohlakaniphile? Uyozibonakalisa engozinakayo izenzo zikaJehova zomusa wothando.’—IHUBO 107:43. *

1. Inkulumo ethi “umusa wothando” iqala kuphi ukusetshenziswa eBhayibhelini, futhi yimiphi imibuzo esizoyihlola ephathelene nale mfanelo?

EMINYAKENI engaba ngu-4 000 edlule, indodana yomfowabo ka-Abrahama, uLoti, yathi ngoJehova: ‘Ukhulisa umusa wakho wothando.’ (Genesise 19:19) Lena yindawo yokuqala eBhayibhelini lapho kuvela khona inkulumo ethi ‘umusa wothando.’ UJakobe, uNawomi, uDavide, nezinye izinceku zikaNkulunkulu, nabo bakhuluma ngale mfanelo kaJehova. (Genesise 32:10; Ruthe 1:8; 2 Samuweli 2:6) Empeleni, inkulumo ehunyushwa ngokuthi “umusa wothando” ivela izikhathi ezingaba ngu-250 kuyi-New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Kodwa uyini umusa kaJehova wothando? Waboniswa kobani esikhathini esidlule? Futhi thina namuhla sizuza kanjani kuwo?

2. Kungani kunzima kangaka ukuchaza igama lesiHeberu elihunyushwa ngokuthi “umusa wothando,” futhi iyiphi enye indlela efanelekayo elingase lihunyushwe ngayo?

² EmiBhalweni, inkulumo ethi “umusa wothando” ihumusha igama lesiHeberu elinencazelo eyenabe kangangokuthi izilimi eziningi azinalo igama elilodwa eliwunikeza ngokunembile wonke umqondo walo. Ngakho, ukulihumusha ngamagama anjengathi “uthando,” “isihe,” nelithi “ukwethembeka” akuwudluliseli ngokugcwele wonke umqondo walo. Nokho, inkulumo ethi “umusa wothando” ibanzi futhi idlulisela izici eziningi zencazelo yalelo gama. I-New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References isho ngakhona ukuthi enye indlela yokuhumusha igama lesiHeberu elihunyushwa ngokuthi “umusa wothando” kungaba “uthando oluqotho.”—Eksodusi 15:13; IHubo 5:7; umbhalo waphansi.

Awufani Nothando Nobuqotho

3. Umusa wothando uhluke kanjani othandweni?

³ Umusa wothando, noma uthando oluqotho, uhlobene eduze nemfanelo yothando neyobuqotho. Kodwa futhi uhluke ngezindlela ezibalulekile kulezi zimfanelo. Ake ubheke indlela umusa wothando ohluke ngayo othandweni. Uthando lungaboniswa ezintweni nasemiqondweni ethile. IBhayibheli likhuluma ‘ngokuthanda iwayini namafutha’ ‘nangokuthanda ukuhlakanipha.’ (IzAga 21:17; 29:3) Kodwa umusa wothando usebenza kubantu, hhayi emiqondweni noma ezintweni ezingaphili. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho u-Eksodusi 20:6 ethi uJehova ‘ubonisa umusa wothando esizukulwaneni senkulungwane’ kukhulunywa ngabantu.

4. Umusa wothando uhluke kanjani emfanelweni yobuqotho?

⁴ Igama lesiHeberu elihunyushwa ngokuthi “umusa wothando” libanzi futhi kunanegama elithi “ubuqotho.” Kwezinye izilimi, igama elithi “ubuqotho” livame ukusetshenziswa esimweni sengqondo okufanele umuntu asibonise kothile ophakeme kunaye. Kodwa njengoba kusho umcwaningi othile, ngokombono weBhayibheli, umusa wothando “ngokuvamile ubhekisela ebuhlotsheni obuphambene nalobo: onamandla uba qotho kobuthakathaka, noma oswele, noma oncike kuye.” Ngakho iNkosi uDavide yayinganxusa uJehova: “Yenza ukuba ubuso bakho bukhanye encekwini yakho. Ngisindise ngomusa wakho wothando.” (IHubo 31:16) UJehova,  onamandla, ucelwa ukuba abonise umusa wothando noma uthando oluqotho koswele, uDavide. Njengoba abaswele bengenagunya phezu kwabanamandla, umusa wothando oboniswa esimweni esinjalo uboniswa ngokuzithandela, hhayi ngokuphoqwa.

5. (a) Yiziphi izici zomusa kaNkulunkulu wothando ezivelele eZwini lakhe? (b) Yikuphi ukubonakaliswa komusa kaJehova wothando esizokuhlola?

⁵ “Ubani ohlakaniphile?” kubuza umhubi. ‘Uyozibonakalisa engozinakayo izenzo zikaJehova zomusa wothando.’ (IHubo 107:43) Umusa kaJehova wothando ungaphumela ekukhululweni nasekusindisweni. (IHubo 6:4; 119:88, 159) Uyisivikelo nesici esiletha impumuzo ezinkathazweni. (IHubo 31:16, 21; 40:11; 143:12) Ngenxa yale mfanelo, umuntu angalulama esonweni. (IHubo 25:7) Ngokubukeza ukulandisa okuthile kwemiBhalo siphawule neminye imibhalo yeBhayibheli, sizobona ukuthi umusa kaJehova wothando (1) ubonakaliswa ngezenzo eziqondile, futhi (2) utholwa yizinceku zakhe ezithembekile.

Ukukhululwa—Ukubonakaliswa Komusa Wothando

6, 7. (a) UJehova wawukhulisa kanjani umusa wakhe wothando kuLoti? (b) Kwakwenze njani lapho uLoti ekhuluma ngomusa kaJehova wothando?

⁶ Mhlawumbe indlela engcono kakhulu yokubona ukwenaba komusa kaJehova wothando iwukuhlola ukulandisa kwemiBhalo okuhilela le mfanelo. KuGenesise 14:1-16, sithola ukuthi uLoti, indodana yomfowabo ka-Abrahama, wathunjwa amabutho ezitha. Kodwa u-Abrahama wamhlenga uLoti. Ukuphila kukaLoti kwaphinde  kwaba sengozini lapho uJehova enquma ukubhubhisa umuzi omubi waseSodoma, uLoti nomkhaya wakhe ababehlala kuwo.—Genesise 18:20-22; 19:12, 13.

⁷ Ngaphambi nje kokubhujiswa kweSodoma, izingelosi zikaJehova zabamba uLoti nomkhaya wakhe zabakhipha kulowo muzi. Ngaleso sikhathi, uLoti wathi: “Inceku yakho itholé umusa emehlweni akho waze wakhulisa umusa wakho wothando, ongibonise wona ukuba ulonde umphefumulo wami.” (Genesise 19:16, 19) Ngala mazwi uLoti wayevuma ukuthi uJehova wayebonise umusa wothando ongavamile ngokumhlenga. Kulokhu, umusa kaNkulunkulu wothando wabonakaliswa ngokukhulula nokusindisa abantu.—2 Petru 2:7.

Umusa KaJehova Wothando Nesiqondiso Sakhe

8, 9. (a) Inceku ka-Abrahama yathunywa ukuba iyokwenzani? (b) Kungani inceku yathandazela umusa kaNkulunkulu wothando, futhi kwenzekani lapho isathandaza?

⁸ KuGenesise isahluko 24, sifunda ngokunye futhi ukubonakaliswa komusa wothando waphezulu, noma uthando oluqotho. Ukulandisa kuthi u-Abrahama wathuma inceku yakhe ukuba iye ezweni lezihlobo zika-Abrahama iyotholela indodana yakhe, u-Isaka, umfazi. (Amavesi 2-4) Lona kwakuwumsebenzi onzima, kodwa inceku yaqinisekiswa ukuthi ingelosi kaJehova yayiyoyiqondisa. (Ivesi 7) Ekugcineni inceku yafika emthonjeni ngaphandle ‘komuzi kaNahori’ (okungaba yiHarana noma indawo eseduze) lapho nje kuqhamuka abesifazane bezokukha amanzi. (Amavesi 10, 11) Lapho ibabona besondela abesifazane, yazi ukuthi kwase kufike isikhathi esibalulekile sohambo lwayo. Kodwa yayizokwazi kanjani ukukhetha owesifazane ofanele?

⁹ Iqaphela ukuthi idinga usizo lwaphezulu, inceku ka-Abrahama yathandaza: “Jehova Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abrahama, siza ukwenze kwenzeke phambi kwami namuhla futhi uyenzele umusa wothando inkosi yami u-Abrahama.” (Ivesi 12) UJehova wayezowubonisa kanjani umusa wakhe wothando? Inceku yacela isibonakaliso esiqondile eyayizoyibona ngaso intokazi ekhethwe nguNkulunkulu. (Amavesi 13, 14) Owesifazane othile wenza njengoba nje inceku yayicelile kuJehova. Awu, kwakungathi iwuzwile umthandazo wenceku! (Amavesi 15-20) Inceku ‘yayigqolozela imangele,’ ikhexe umlomo. Kodwa kwakunezinto ezibalulekile okwakusafanele izitholisise. Ingabe lo phuma langa sikothe wayengesinye sezihlobo zika-Abrahama? Ingabe wayengakashadi? Ngakho inceku yaqhubeka ‘ithule ukuze yazi ukuthi uJehova wayeluphumelelisile yini uhambo lwayo noma cha.’— Amavesi 16, 21.

10. Kungani inceku ka-Abrahama yaphetha ngokuthi uJehova wayebonise umusa wothando enkosini yayo?

¹⁰ Ngemva nje kwalokho, le ntokazi yazichaza ukuthi “iyindodakazi kaBhetuweli indodana kaMilka, ayizalela uNahori [umfowabo ka-Abrahama].” (Genesise 11:26; 24:24) Inceku yabona lapho ukuthi uJehova wayewuphendulile umthandazo wayo. Isakhexile, yakhothama yathi: “Makatuswe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abrahama, ongayekanga ukubonisa umusa wakhe wothando nokuthembeka kwakhe enkosini yami. Ngisendleleni, uJehova ungiholele endlini yabafowabo benkosi yami.” (Ivesi 27) Ngokunikeza isiqondiso, uNkulunkulu wabonisa umusa wothando enkosini yaleyo nceku, u-Abrahama.

Umusa KaNkulunkulu Wothando Uletha Impumuzo Nesivikelo

11, 12. (a) UJosefa wayebhekene nakuphi ukulingwa lapho ethola umusa kaJehova wothando? (b) Umusa kaNkulunkulu wothando wabonakaliswa kanjani kuJosefa?

¹¹ Manje ake sibheke isahluko 39 kuGenesise. Sigxilé endodaneni yomzukulu ka-Abrahama, uJosefa, eyathengiselwa ebugqilini eGibithe. Nokho, “uJehova waba noJosefa.” (Amavesi 1, 2) Empeleni, ngisho nenkosi kaJosefa eGibithe, uPotifari, yaphetha ngokuthi uJehova wayenaye uJosefa. (Ivesi 3) Nokho, uJosefa wabhekana novivinyo olunzima. Wamangalelwa ngamanga ngokuzama ukunukubeza umkaPotifari, waboshwa. (Amavesi 7-20) ‘Wayesemgodini wetilongo’ lapho ‘izinyawo zakhe bezihlupha ngezibopho, umphefumulo wakhe ungena ezinsimbini.’—Genesise 40:15; IHubo 105:18.

¹² Kwenzekani phakathi naleso sikhathi esivivinya kakhulu? “UJehova waba noJosefa futhi waqhubeka edlulisela kuye umusa wothando.” (Ivesi 21a) Isenzo esithile somusa wothando saqala izenzakalo kamuva ezaholela ekubeni uJosefa akhululeke ezinkathazweni ayebhekene nazo. UJehova wenza ukuba uJosefa “athole umusa emehlweni esikhulu esiyinhloko setilongo.” (Ivesi 21b) Ngakho, lesi sikhulu sanika uJosefa isikhundla esiphakeme. (Ivesi 22) UJosefa wabe esehlangana nendoda eyagcina imenze waqapheleka kuFaro, umbusi waseGibithe. (Genesise 40:1-4, 9-15; 41:9-14) Inkosi nayo yamkhuphula uJosefa yambeka esikhundleni sokuba ngumbusi wesibili eGibithe, kwaphumela ekubeni enze umsebenzi owasindisa ukuphila ezweni laseGibithe elalikhungethwe yindlala. (Genesise 41:37-55) Ukuhlupheka kukaJosefa kwaqala eneminyaka engu-17 ubudala, kwaqhubeka iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-12! (Genesise 37:2, 4; 41:46) Kodwa phakathi nayo yonke leyo minyaka yosizi nokuhlupheka, uJehova uNkulunkulu wabonisa umusa wakhe wothando kuJosefa  ngokumvikela ekuhluphekeni okwedlulele nangokumgcinela indima ebalulekile enjongweni yaphezulu.

Umusa KaNkulunkulu Wothando Awupheli Nanini

13. (a) Yikuphi ukubonakaliswa komusa kaJehova wothando okutholakala kumaHubo 136? (b) Uyini umusa wothando?

¹³ UJehova wawubonakalisa ngokuphindaphindiwe umusa wakhe wothando kuma-Israyeli njengesizwe. IHubo 136 lilandisa ukuthi ngomusa wakhe wothando, wawakhulula (Amavesi 10-15), wawaqondisa (Ivesi 16) futhi wawavikela. (Amavesi 17-20) UNkulunkulu uye wawubonisa nakubantu ngabanye umusa wakhe wothando. Umuntu obonisa umusa wothando kwabanye abantu uwubonisa ngezenzo zokuzithandela, ehlosé ukwanelisa isidingo esibalulekile. Mayelana nomusa wothando, enye incwadi ecubungula iBhayibheli ithi: “Uyisenzo esilondoloza noma esichumisa ukuphila. Uwukungenela ukuze usize umuntu obhekene nokuhlupheka noma usizi.” Esinye isazi siwuchaza ngokuthi “uthando oluboniswa ngesenzo.”

14, 15. Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi uLoti wayeyinceku kaNkulunkulu eyamukelekayo kuye?

¹⁴ Ukulandisa kukaGenesise esesikuhlolile kusibonisa ukuthi uJehova akehluleki nanini ukubonisa umusa wothando kulabo abamthandayo. ULoti, u-Abrahama noJosefa babephila ngaphansi kwezimo ezingafani futhi babhekana nokulingwa okuhlukene. Babengabantu abangaphelele, kodwa babeyizinceku zikaJehova ezamukelekayo kuye, futhi babedinga usizo lwaphezulu. Kungasiduduza ukwazi ukuthi uBaba wethu wasezulwini onothando ubonisa umusa wothando kubantu abanjalo.

¹⁵ ULoti wenza izinqumo ezithile ezingahlakaniphile ezaholela ezinkingeni. (Genesise 13:12, 13; 14:11, 12) Nokho, wabonisa nezimfanelo ezitusekayo. Lapho kufika izingelosi ezimbili zikaNkulunkulu eSodoma, uLoti wazamukela ngemfudumalo. (Genesise 19:1-3) Ngokholo, waxwayisa abakhwenyana bakhe ngokubhujiswa kweSodoma okwakuseduze. (Genesise 19:14) Kweyesi-2 Petru 2:7-9 sithola indlela uNkulunkulu ayembheka ngayo uLoti, lapho sifunda khona: ‘UJehova wakhulula uLoti olungileyo, owayecindezeleke kakhulu ngokuzitika kwabantu abadelela umthetho ekuziphatheni okuxekethile—ngoba lowomuntu olungileyo ngalokho akubona nakuzwa ngesikhathi esahlala phakathi kwabo usuku nosuku wayehlupha umphefumulo wakhe olungileyo ngenxa yezenzo zabo zokungabi namthetho—uJehova uyayazi indlela yokukhulula ekulingweni abantu abanokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.’ Yebo, uLoti wayeyindoda elungile, futhi amazwi asetshenziswe lapha asikisela ukuthi wayengumuntu onokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Njengaye, nathi sithola umusa kaNkulunkulu wothando njengoba senza ‘izenzo zokuziphatha ezingcwele nezenzo zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.’—2 Petru 3:11, 12.

16. Yimaphi amazwi amahle iBhayibheli elichaza ngawo u-Abrahama noJosefa?

 ¹⁶ Ukulandisa okukuGenesise isahluko 24 kwenza kucace ukuthi u-Abrahama wayenobuhlobo obuseduze noJehova. Ivesi lokuqala lithi “uJehova wayembusisile u-Abrahama kukho konke.” Inceku ka-Abrahama yabiza uJehova ngokuthi “uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abrahama.” (Amavesi 12, 27) Futhi umfundi uJakobe uthi u-Abrahama kwathiwa “ulungile” futhi “wabizwa ngokuthi ‘umngane kaJehova.’” (Jakobe 2:21-23) Kungokufanayo nangoJosefa. Ubuhlobo obuseduze phakathi kukaJehova noJosefa bugcizelelwa kuso sonke isahluko 39 sikaGenesise. (Amavesi 2, 3, 21, 23) Ngaphezu kwalokho, umfundi uStefanu wathi ngoJosefa: “UNkulunkulu wayenaye.”—IzEnzo 7:9.

17. Yini esingayifunda esibonelweni sikaLoti, u-Abrahama noJosefa?

¹⁷ Abantu abathola umusa wothando waphezulu esisanda kuxoxa ngabo babengabantu abanobuhlobo obuhle noJehova uNkulunkulu futhi báfeza injongo yaphezulu ngezindlela ezithile. Babebhekene nezingqinamba ababengenakuzinqoba bebodwa. KuLoti, ukuphila kwakhe kwakusengozini; ku-Abrahama, ukuqhubeka kohlu lozalo lwakhe; kanti kuJosefa, ukulondolozwa kwendima yakhe. NguJehova kuphela owayenganelisa izidingo zala madoda ayemhlonipha, futhi wenza kanjalo ngokungenela ngezenzo zomusa wothando. Ukuze sithole umusa wothando kaJehova uNkulunkulu kuze kube phakade, nathi kumelwe sibe nobuhlobo obuseduze naye, futhi kumelwe siqhubeke senza intando yakhe.—Ezra 7:28; IHubo 18:50.

Izinceku ZikaNkulunkulu Zibusisekile

18. Imibhalo yeBhayibheli ehlukahlukene ibonisani ngomusa kaJehova wothando?

¹⁸ Umusa kaJehova wothando “ugcwalisé umhlaba,” futhi yeka indlela esiyazisa ngayo le mfanelo kaNkulunkulu! (IHubo 119:64) Siwenanela ngenhliziyo yonke amazwi omhubi athi: “O abantu mabambonge uJehova ngenxa yomusa wakhe wothando nangenxa yemisebenzi yakhe emangalisayo kubantwana babantu.” (IHubo 107:8, 15, 21, 31) Siyajabula ngokuthi uJehova uzibonisa umusa wakhe wothando izinceku zakhe ezamukelekayo—kungaba ngabantu ngabanye noma njengeqembu. Lapho ethandaza, umprofethi uDaniyeli wabiza uJehova ngokuthi ‘uNkulunkulu weqiniso, Omkhulu, Owesabekayo, ogcina isivumelwano nomusa wothando kulabo abamthandayo nakulabo abagcina imiyalo yakhe.’ (Daniyeli 9:4) INkosi uDavide yathandaza: “Qhubekisela umusa wakho wothando kulabo abakwaziyo.” (IHubo 36:10) Yeka indlela esibonga ngayo ngokuthi uJehova ubonisa izinceku zakhe umusa wothando!—1 AmaKhosi 8:23; 1 IziKronike 17:13.

19. Yimiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁹ Ngempela, sibusisekile njengabantu bakaJehova! Ngaphezu kokuzuza othandweni uNkulunkulu alubonisa isintu sisonke, sithola izibusiso ezikhethekile ngenxa yomusa wothando kaBaba wethu osezulwini, noma uthando lwakhe oluqotho. (Johane 3:16) Sizuza ngokukhethekile kule mfanelo eyigugu kaJehova lapho siswele. (IHubo 36:7) Kodwa singawulingisa kanjani umusa wothando kaJehova uNkulunkulu? Ingabe thina ngabanye siyayibonisa le mfanelo ephawulekayo? Le mibuzo neminye ehlobene nayo kuzoxoxwa ngayo esihlokweni esilandelayo.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Uyakhumbula?

• Iyiphi enye indlela yokuhumusha inkulumo ethi “umusa wothando” emiBhalweni?

• Umusa wothando uhluke kanjani emfanelweni yothando neyobuqotho?

• UJehova wawubonisa ngaziphi izindlela umusa wothando kuLoti, u-Abrahama noJosefa?

• Ukubonakalisa kukaJehova umusa wothando ezikhathini ezidlule kungasiqinisekisa ngani?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Isithombe ekhasini 13]

Uyazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wambonisa kanjani uLoti umusa wothando?

[Izithombe ekhasini 15]

Ngomusa wakhe wothando, uJehova waqondisa inceku ka-Abrahama

[Izithombe ekhasini 16]

UJehova wabonisa umusa wothando ngokuvikela uJosefa