1, 2. Abako-Israyeli babekuyiphi ingozi ngesikhathi besiya eLizweni Lesithembiso ngo-1513 B.C.E., futhi uJehova wabaqinisa njani?

 ABAKO-ISRAYELI babesengozini enkulu ngesikhathi besiya eLizweni Lesithembiso ngo-1513 B.C.E. Kwakumele badabule phakathi ‘kwenkangala enkulu njalo eyesabekayo, elezinyoka eziyingozi lenkume.’ (UDutheronomi 8:15) Babesengozini yokuhlaselwa yizitha endleleni. UJehova nguye owayethe abantu bakhe bahambe ngendlela leyo. Wayezakwenelisa yini ukubavikela njengoba wayenguNkulunkulu wabo?

² UJehova wabaqinisa wathi: “Lizibonele ngawenu lokho engikwenze kumaGibhithe ukuze ngiliphakamise ngamaphiko ezinkozi [loba ezingqungqulu] ngililethe kimi.” (U-Eksodusi 19:4) Amazwi la akhumbuza abantu bakhe ukuthi wayebakhulule ebantwini baseGibhithe, kwaba angathi uthume ingqungqulu ukuthi zibathwale zibase endaweni evikelekileyo. Kodwa kulezinye izizatho ezenza ukuvikela kukaNkulunkulu kufaniswe ‘lamaphiko’ engqungqulu.

3. Kungani indlela uNkulunkulu avikela ngayo ifaniswa ‘lamaphiko’ engqungqulu?

³ Ingqungqulu ilamandla futhi ilamaphiko amakhulu. Amaphiko ayo angedlula amamitha amabili nxa iwelulile. Nxa ilanga litshisa, iyawavikela amaphuphu ayo ukuze angatshiswa lilanga. Ngezinye izikhathi ingqungqulu iyafaka amaphuphu ayo ngaphansi kwamaphiko ukuze iwavikele emoyeni oqandayo. UJehova laye wavikela isizwe sako-Israyeli njengengqungqulu evikela amaphuphu ayo. Lasenkangala wayezaqhubeka ebavikela ngamaphiko akhe  alamandla nxa babezahlala bethembekile. (UDutheronomi 32:9-11; IHubo 36:7) Kodwa uNkulunkulu uyasivikela yini lalamuhla?

4, 5. Kungani singathemba ukuthi uJehova uzasivikela?

⁴ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uJehova uyenelisa ukuvikela izinceku zakhe. ‘UnguNkulunkulu uSomandla’ okutsho ukuthi ulamandla amakhulu kakhulu. (UGenesisi 17:1) Akulamuntu ongavimba uJehova ukuthi asebenzise amandla akhe njengoba nje kungelamuntu ongavimba amagagasi olwandle. Uyenelisa ukwenza loba yini ayifunayo. Kodwa uJehova uyafuna yini ukusebenzisa amandla akhe ukuthi avikele abantu bakhe?

⁵ Ye uyafuna sibili. UJehova uyasiqinisekisa ukuthi uzabavikela abantu bakhe. IHubo 46:1 lithi: “UNkulunkulu ungamandla ethu lendawo yethu yokucatsha, uyaphangisa ukusinceda nxa sisebunzimeni.” Singamthemba uJehova ukuthi uzasivikela ngenxa yokuthi ‘ngeke aqambe amanga.’ (KuThithusi 1:2) Asixoxeni ngeminye imizekeliso esetshenziswa nguJehova ukuze achaze indlela asivikela ngayo.

6, 7. (a) Umelusi wayezivikela njani izimvu zakhe? (b) Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uzimisele ukusivikela?

⁶ UJehova unguMelusi futhi thina “singabantu bakhe lezimvu ezisemadlelweni akhe.” (IHubo 23:1; 100:3) Izimvu yizifuyo ezingenelisi ukuzivikela. Endulo umelusi kwakumele abe lesibindi ukuze enelise ukuvikela izimvu zakhe ukuthi zingadliwa yizilwane, lempisi lamabhere lokuthi zingatshontshwa ngamasela. (1 USamuyeli 17:34, 35; UJohane 10:12, 13) Kodwa kwakulezikhathi lapho okwakumele abe lozwelo nxa evikela izimvu zakhe. Kwakusithi imvu ingazalela khatshana lesibaya, umelusi wayeyilinda ukuze ingahlaselwa zinyamazana, abesethwala izinyane layo alise esibayeni.

 ⁷ UJehova uzifanisa lomelusi ngoba ufuna sizwisise ukuthi uzimisele ukusivikela. (UHezekheli 34:11-16) ESahlukweni 2 sebhuku leli sixoxe ngo-Isaya 40:11 othi: “Uzakwelusa umhlambi wakhe njengomelusi, aqoqe imvana, azithwale esifubeni sakhe.” Izinyane lemvu lifika njani “esifubeni” sikamelusi? Izinyane lingaya kumelusi, mhlawumbe lifike lithinte kancane unyawo lwakhe, umelusi abesekhothama aliphakamise alifake esifubeni sakhe. Lokho kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uMelusi wethu omkhulu uzimisele ukusivikela.

8. (a) Ngobani abavikelwa nguJehova futhi sikubona njani lokhu Zaga 18:10? (b) Kumele senzeni ukuze ibizo likaJehova lisivikele?

⁸ UNkulunkulu kathembisi ukuthi uzavikela loba ngubani, kodwa uvikela labo abasondela kuye. IZaga 18:10 zithi: “Ibizo likaJehova liyinqaba eqinileyo. Olungileyo ugijimela kulo avikelwe.” Endulo inqaba zazisakhiwa enkangala ukuze zibe zindawo ezivikelekileyo zokucatsha. Kodwa umuntu wayengeke avikeleke nxa engabalekelanga kuzo. Manje kumele senzeni ukuze ibizo likaJehova lisivikele? Kumele sifunde ngaye, simazi njalo simthembe siphinde silandele lemilayo yakhe. Ibizo likaNkulunkulu ngeke lisivikele ngendlela eyisimangaliso. Yikho ukuphongulibiza nje akusoze kusincede. UJehova uyasithanda sibili yikho ethembisa ukuthi nxa singathembela kuye uzasivikela, kube angathi siphakathi kwenqaba evikelekileyo!

9. UJehova watshengisa njani ukuthi kapheleli ekuthembiseni abantu bakhe ukuthi uzabavikela?

⁹ UJehova uyabavikela abantu bakhe, kapheleli ekubathembiseni nje kuphela. IBhayibhili lisitshela ngezinye indlela eziyisimangaliso avikela ngazo abantu bakhe. Wavikela ama-Israyeli ezitheni zawo ‘ngesandla’ sakhe esilamandla. (U-Eksodusi 7:4) Waphinda wasebenzisa amandla akhe ukuthi avikele ezinye izinceku zakhe.

10, 11. Yiziphi izibonelo eziseBhayibhilini ezitshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulamandla okuvikela umuntu ngamunye?

 ¹⁰ AmaHebheru amathathu okwakuthiwa nguShadrekhi, loMishekhi, lo-Abhedinikho ayala ukukhothamela isithombe segolide esasenziwe nguNebhukhadinezari, inkosi eyayilamandla kulawo wonke amakhosi emhlabeni. UNebhukhadinezari wazonda kakhulu wathi baphoselwe esithandweni somlilo esivuthayo. Weyisa uNkulunkulu esithi: “Libona angani ukhona yini unkulunkulu ongalikhulula esandleni sami?” (UDanyeli 3:15) Lanxa uNkulunkulu engazange awatshele amajaha la ukuthi uzawavikela, ayengathandabuzi ukuthi ulawo amandla okuwasindisa esithandweni somlilo. Ngakho aphendula uNebhukhadinezari athi: “Nxa singaphoselwa esithandweni somlilo ovuthayo uNkulunkulu wethu esimkhonzayo ngeke ehluleke ukusikhulula.” (UDanyeli 3:17) Isithando somlilo leso sasikhwezelwe satshisa okuphindwe kasikhombisa, kodwa uNkulunkulu wabavikela ngoba yena unguSomandla. Inkosi yacina ivuma yodwa yathi: “Kakho omunye unkulunkulu owenelisa ukuhlenga njengaye.”—UDanyeli 3:29.

¹¹ UJehova waphinda watshengisa ukuthi ulamandla amangalisayo ngokuthatha ukuphila kweNdodana yakhe elizibulo ezulwini wakufaka esiswini sentombi engumJuda okuthiwa nguMariya. Ingilosi yatshela uMariya ukuthi ‘wayezazithwala abelethe indodana.’ Yachasisa yathi: “Umoya ongcwele uzakwehlela phezu kwakho, amandla oPhezukonke akugubuzele.” (ULukha 1:31, 35) Manje uJehova wayezayivikela njani iNdodana yakhe? Isono sikaMariya sasizakwenza ukuthi umntwana lo azalwe elesici yini? USathane wayezakwenelisa yini ukubulala kumbe ukulimaza umntwana lo engakazalwa? Wayengeke enelise! Kusukela uMariya esanda kuzithwala, uJehova wamvikela ukuze kungabi lalutho olwalungalimaza umntwana lo owayesesiswini sakhe. Waba leqiniso lokuthi uyamvikela ukuze  azalwe engelasono njalo angabulawa. UJehova waqhubeka emvikela uJesu langesikhathi ekhula. (UMathewu 2:1-15) Wamvikela kwaze kwafika isikhathi sokuthi anikele ngokuphila kwakhe.

12. Kungani uJehova wayevikela abanye abantu okukhulunywa ngabo eBhayibhilini?

¹² Kungani kwezinye izikhathi uJehova wayevikela izinceku zakhe? Wayevikela abanye abantu ukuze lokho akuhlosileyo kugcwaliseke. Phela ukugcwaliseka kwenhloso yakhe kuqakatheke ukwedlula loba yini. Ngokwesibonelo okwenza uJehova wavikela uJesu yikuthi wayefuna injongo yakhe yokuthi abantu baphile phakade igcwaliseke. Zinengi izindaba eziseBhayibhilini ezitshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulamandla okuvikela abantu bakhe. Izindaba lezi “zabhalelwa ukuthi kufundiswe thina. Lokho kwenza sibe lethemba ngoba iMibhalo le isinceda ukuthi siqinisele njalo iyasiduduza.” (KwabaseRoma 15:4) Izibonelo lezi zenza sibe lokholo oluqinileyo kuNkulunkulu wethu uSomandla. Kodwa yiziphi indlela uNkulunkulu angasivikela ngazo lamuhla?

13. UJehova kumele asenzele izimangaliso yini? Chasisa.

¹³ Lanxa uNkulunkulu ethembisa ukusivikela, akutsho ukuthi usezahlala esenzela izimangaliso. UNkulunkulu wethu kasithembisi ukuthi asisoze sehlelwe zinhlupho esikhathini lesi esiphila kuso. Izinceku zikaJehova zehlelwa zinhlupho ezitshiyeneyo ezigoqela ubuyanga, izimpi, ukugula lokufa. UJesu watshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi babengabulawa ngenxa yokholo lwabo. Yikho wagcizelela ukuthi kumele umuntu aqinisele kuze kube sekucineni. (UMathewu 24:9, 13) Nxa uJehova ubengasebenzisa amandla akhe ukuthi avikele abantu bakhe kuzo zonke izinto ezimbi, uSathane ubezakuthi asimthandi uJehova kodwa simkhonza ngenxa yokuthi uyasivikela.—UJobe 1:9, 10.

14. UNkulunkulu uvikela izinceku zakhe ngendlela efananayo yini?

 ¹⁴ IBhayibhili lisitshela ngabanye abantu uJehova angazange abavikele ukuthi bangabulawa. Ngokwesibonelo, umphostoli uJakhobe wabulawa nguHerodi phose ngo-44 C.E., kodwa ngemva nje kwalokhu uJehova wathuma ingilosi yakhe ukuthi ikhulule uPhetro “esandleni sikaHerodi.” (ImiSebenzi 12:1-11) UJohane umnewabo kaJakhobe yena waphila isikhathi eside kuloPhetro loJakhobe. Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi ngeke sikhangelele ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu avikele zonke izinceku zakhe ngendlela efananayo. Kanti njalo bonke abantu “bafikelwa yisikhathi lezehlakalo ezibajuma belibele.” (UmTshumayeli 9:11) Pho uJehova usivikela njani lamuhla?

15, 16. (a) Yibuphi ubufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyabavikela abantu bakhe beliqembu? (b) Kungani singaba leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uzazivikela izinceku zakhe khathesi ‘lasekuhluphekeni okukhulu’?

¹⁵ UJehova uyenelisa ukuvikela izinceku zakhe. Kasoze avumele ukuthi zonke izinceku zakhe zitshabalaliswe. USathane “umbusi womhlaba” lo kafuni kube loyedwa nje umuntu okhonza uJehova. (UJohane 12:31; ISambulo 12:17) Ngakho aluba uJehova ubengasivikeli, uSathane ubezasiqeda sonke. Abanye ohulumende abalamandla ukwedlula bonke emhlabeni sebeke bazama ukuvimba umsebenzi wethu wokutshumayela lokutshabalalisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Lanxa kunjalo, abantu bakaJehova baqhubeka beqinile futhi betshumayela! Kuyini okwenze izizwe lezi ezilamandla zehluleka ukumisa umsebenzi wokutshumayela lanxa usenziwa liqembu lamaKhristu elikhanya lilincane futhi lingelamandla? Kungenxa yokuthi uJehova usivikele ngamaphiko akhe alamandla kakhulu!—IHubo 17:7, 8.

¹⁶ Kodwa uJehova uzasivikela yini ngesikhathi ‘sokuhlupheka okukhulu’? IBhayibhili lithi: “UJehova uyakwazi  ukubahlenga ekulingweni abantu abazinikele kuye lokugcinela abantu abangalunganga ukubhujiswa ngosuku lokwahlulela.” (ISambulo 7:14; 2 UPhetro 2:9) Yikho akumelanga sesabe ukuthi kuzakwenzakalani kithi nxa uJehova esesahlulela ababi. Esingaqiniseka ngakho yikuthi uJehova kasoze avumele ukuthi izinceku zakhe ezithembekileyo zitshabalaliswe lokuthi uzazinika umvuzo wokuphila okungapheliyo emhlabeni omutsha olokulunga. Lanxa abanye bengabulawa, uJehova uzabakhumbula abavuse.—UJohane 5:28, 29.

17. UJehova usivikela njani esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe?

¹⁷ UJehova uphinda asivikele esebenzisa “ilizwi” lakhe eliphilayo futhi elilamandla. Liyasinceda ukuthi sitshintshe impilo zethu njalo sithokoze. (KumaHebheru 4:12) Nxa singasebenzisa izimiso zalo, kasisoze senze izinto ezingasilimaza. U-Isaya 48:17 uthi: ‘Mina Jehova nginguNkulunkulu wakho okufundisayo ukuze uncedakale.’ Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ukulalela okutshiwo liLizwi likaNkulunkulu kungenza sibe lempilakahle futhi siphile isikhathi eside. Ngokwesibonelo, iBhayibhili lithi sibalekele ubufebe njalo sizihlambulule ezintweni zonke. Nxa singalandela lokho elikutshoyo, asisoze senze izinto ezingcolileyo futhi ezilimazayo ezenziwa ngabantu abanengi abangakhonzi uNkulunkulu. (ImiSebenzi 15:29; 2 KwabaseKhorinte 7:1) Siyambonga kakhulu uNkulunkulu ngendlela asivikela ngayo esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe!

18. UJehova usivikela njani ekukhonzeni?

¹⁸ Okuqakatheke ukwedlula konke yikuthi uJehova uyasivikela ukuze singawi ekukhonzeni. UNkulunkulu wethu osithandayo uyasincedisa ukuthi senelise ukubekezelela izilingo futhi sihlale singabangane bakhe. Lokhu akusincedi khathesi kuphela kodwa kuzakwenza ukuthi sithole impilo  engapheliyo esikhathini esizayo. Yiziphi ezinye izinto uJehova asinike zona ukuze sihlale singabangane bakhe?

19. Umoya kaJehova ungasincedisa njani?

¹⁹ UJehova ‘uyayilalela imithandazo’ yethu. (IHubo 65:2) Nxa inhlupho esilazo sezisikhulela, ukuthululela uJehova isifuba kuzakwenza sihlaliseke. (KwabaseFiliphi 4:6, 7) Lanxa engazisusanga inhlupho zethu, angaphendula imithandazo yethu ngokusipha inhlakanipho esinceda ukuthi senelise ukulwisana lazo. (UJakhobe 1:5, 6) Enye indlela uJehova asincedisa ngayo yikusinika umoya ongcwele nxa singawucela. (ULukha 11:13) Umoya lo uzakwenza sibe ‘lamandla amakhulu futhi angajayelekanga.’ Lokhu kuzakwenza senelise ukubekezelela inhlupho esiyabe siphakathi kwazo kuze kube yilapho uJehova ezikhipha zonke emhlabeni omutsha.—2 KwabaseKhorinte 4:7.

20. UJehova usivikela njani esebenzisa abazalwane?

²⁰ Kwezinye izikhathi uJehova angasebenzisa abafowethu esikhonza labo ukuthi asivikele. Sonke sadonswa nguJehova wasiletha enhlanganisweni yakhe saba ‘ngabazalwane.’ (1 UPhetro 2:17; UJohane 6:44) UJehova usipha umoya wakhe ongcwele osisiza ukuthi sibe lothando lomusa  futhi senzele abanye okuhle. (KwabaseGalathiya 5:22, 23) Ngakho kumele sibonge uJehova nxa omunye esikhonza laye angaseluleka kumbe asikhuthaze nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho.

21. (a) UJehova usinakekela njani esebenzisa “inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo”? (b) Wena kukuncede njani lokho uJehova asinika khona ukuze siqhubeke singabangane bakhe?

²¹ UJehova uphinda asivikele ngokusifundisa izinto ezenza sihlale silokholo oluqinileyo. Unike “inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo” umsebenzi wokusincedisa ukuthi sizwisise iLizwi lakhe. Inceku le isipha ‘ukudla ngesikhathi esifaneleyo’ isebenzisa amabhuku labomagazini okuthiwa yi-Nqabayokulinda le-Vukani! futhi isilungisele iwebhusayithi okuthiwa yi-jw.org. Iphinda ihlele lokuthi kube lemihlangano yebandla leyesiqinti kanye leyesabelo. (UMathewu 24:45) Kukhona yini owake wakuzwa emihlanganweni yebandla okwakuqinisayo futhi kwakukhuthaza? Mhlawumbe kwakuyimpendulo, inkulumo loba umthandazo. UJehova wakunika amandla ngaso kanye isikhathi owawuwadinga ngaso. Sewake wancedwa ngokunye owakubala emabhukwini ethu yini? Khumbula ukuthi izipho zonke lezi siziphiwa nguJehova ukuze siqhubeke singabangane bakhe.

22. UJehova uwasebenzisa njani amandla akhe okuvikela futhi lokhu kuzasinceda njani?

²² UJehova “ulihawu labo bonke abaphephela kuye.” (IHubo 18:30) Siyakuzwisisa ukuthi khathesi kasivikeli kuzo zonke izinto ezimbi ezingasehlela. Kodwa usebenzisa amandla akhe okuvikela ukuze agcwalise inhloso yakhe. Lokhu kuzakwenza abantu bakhe bathole impilo engapheliyo esikhathini esizayo. Nxa singasondela kuJehova futhi sihlale sisethandweni lwakhe, sizakholisa impilo emhlabeni omutsha. Ukucabanga ngethemba lelo kuzakwenza sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi inhlupho esilazo khathesi ‘ngezesikhatshana futhi kazitsho lutho.’”—2 KwabaseKhorinte 4:17.