1, 2. UJefitha lendodakazi yakhe bahlangana labuphi ubunzima?

ISILINDE yalinda indodakazi kaJefitha. Ithi mehlo suka ibone nango uyise ethutsha evela empini. Kuthi gidi kuyo! Iyagijima imhlangabeze njalo isithabe kayisazazi ngoba uyise usenqobile. Kulokuthi uyise ahlabele agide layo yena udabula izigqoko zakhe ezigcwele igazi abesehlaba umkhosi esithi: “O! Ndodakazi yami! Usungidabule wangenza ngaba lusizi.” Ngemva kwalokho akutshoyo kuhle kuyintshintshe impilo yendodakazi yakhe, kutshabalalise lakho konke engabe ifisa ukukwenza empilweni. Kodwa intombazana le imphendula ngelithobileyo uyise imkhuthaze ukuthi asigcwalise isithembiso asenze kuJehova. Amazwi ayo atshengisa ukuthi ilokholo oluqinileyo. Kayithandabuzi ukuthi izathola izibusiso nxa ingenza lokho okufunwa nguJehova. (Abahlu. 11:34-37) Uyise uyaziqhenya ngayo ngoba uyakwazi ukuthi ukuzimisela kwayo ukusekela isifungo asenzileyo kuyamthokozisa uJehova.

² UJefitha lendodakazi yakhe babengathandabuzi ukuthi  indlela uJehova enza ngayo izinto iqondile. Yikho babemthemba ngenhliziyo yonke lanxa kwakunzima ukwenza njalo. Bakubona ukuthi ukuthokozisa uJehova kungcono ukwedlula loba yiwuphi umnikelo ababengawenza.

3. Kungani isibonelo sikaJefitha lendodakazi yakhe singaba lusizo kithi lamuhla?

³ Sonke siyakwazi ukuthi akulula ukuthi umuntu ahlale ethembekile kuJehova. Iqiniso elikhona yikuthi kumele ‘sikulwele ukukholwa.’ (Jud. 3) Ukuze lathi sihlale sithembekile, ake sihlole ukuthi uJefitha lendodakazi yakhe baphumelela njani lapho belwisana lobunzima abahlangana labo. Benelisa njani ukuhlala bethembekile kuJehova?

4, 5. (a) UJehova wawanika wuphi umlayo ama-Israyeli ngesikhathi engena eLizweni Lesithembiso? (b) IHubo 106 litshengisa ukuthi ukuhlamuka kwama-Israyeli kwaba lempumela bani?

⁴ Kungenzakala ukuthi uJefitha lendodakazi yakhe babenakana nsuku zonke ngempumela emibi eba khona nxa umuntu engamlaleli uJehova. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-300 eyayisanda kwedlula okhokho babo babetshelwe ukuthi babhuqe zonke izizwe ezazingamkhonzi uJehova ezazihlala eLizweni Lesithembiso. (Dute. 7:1-4) Ama-Israyeli kawazange awulalele umlayo lo yikho aqalisa ukulandela izindlela ezimbi zabantu baseKhenani. Lokhu kwabangela ukuthi akhonze onkulunkulu bamanga njalo enze lemikhuba yokuziphatha enyanyekayo.—Bala iHubo 106:34-39.

⁵ Ukuhlamuka kwama-Israyeli lokhu kakuzange kumthokozise uJehova, ngakho kazange esawavikela. (Abahlu. 2:1-3, 11-15; Hubo. 106:40-43) Kumele ukuthi kwakunzima ngalesosikhathi ukuthi izimuli ezazikhonza uNkulunkulu zihlale zithembekile kuye. Lanxa kunjalo, iBhayibhili liveza ukuthi bakhona abantu abaqhubeka bethembekile. Abanye babo nguJefitha lendodakazi yakhe, u-Elikhana, uHana kanye loSamuyeli.—1 Sam. 1:20-28; 2:26.

6. Siphila labantu abanjani lamuhla, njalo kumele sizimisele ukwenzani?

⁶ Lamuhla lathi siphila labantu abanjengabaseKhenani, baqakathekisa inotho, ubudlwangudlwangu kanye lezemacansini. UJehova usinika izixwayiso ezicacileyo ukuze asivikele ebantwini ababi njengoba wenza kuma-Israyeli. Akumelanga senze iphutha elenziwa ngabako-Israyeli. (1 Khor. 10:6-11) Kumele sizame ngamandla wonke ukulahla yonke imicabango emibi efanana leyabantu baseKhenani. (Rom. 12:2) Wena uyakwenza yini lokhu?

7. (a) UJefitha waphathwa njani ngabantu bakibo? (b) Yena wenzani ngakho lokhu?

⁷ Ukungalaleli kwama-Israyeli ngesikhathi sikaJefitha kwabangela ukuthi acindezelwe ngamaFilisti lama-Amoni. (Abahlu. 10:7, 8) Kodwa ubunzima uJefitha ayephakathi kwabo babungaveli ezizweni ezaziyizitha kuphela kodwa kubafowabo lakubakhokheli bako-Israyeli. Abafowabo babemzonda uJefitha njalo belomhawu, bamxotsha basebemthathela lelifa lakhe lanxa wayelizibulo. (Abahlu. 11:1-3) UJefitha wahlala ethembekile, kazange avumele ukuthi ukuphathwa kubi kumntshintshe. Lapho ecelwa ngabakhokheli bako-Israyeli ukuthi azokuba ngumlawuli wamabutho, kazange atshile izikeyi. (Abahlu. 11:4-11) Kuyini okwenza uJefitha watshengisa ukuthi uyindoda elokholo oluqinileyo?

8, 9. (a) Yiziphi izimiso ezaziseMthethweni kaMosi ezingabe zanceda uJefitha? (b) Kuyini okwakuqakatheke kakhulu kuJefitha?

 ⁸ UJefitha wayeliqhawe lamaqhawe, eyazi imbali yako-Israyeli kanye loMthetho kaMosi. Ulwazi ayelalo ngembali yako-Israyeli lwamsiza ukuthi akwazi okuqondileyo lokungaqondanga phambi kukaJehova. (Abahlu. 11:12-27) Izimiso zikaNkulunkulu ezaziseMthethweni kaMosi zangena zahlala engqondweni lasenhliziyweni kaJefitha. Wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova wayefuna abantu bakhe bathandane hatshi ukuthi babambelane izikhwili. UMthetho wawusithi kwakumele bancedane, baze bancede lalabo ‘ababazondayo.’—Bala u-Eksodusi 23:5 loLevi 19:17, 18.

⁹ UJosefa waba lomusa kubafowabo lanxa ‘babemzonda.’ Kungenzakala ukuthi isibonelo sakhe sakhuthaza uJefitha ukuthi laye aphathe abafowabo kuhle. (Gen. 37:4; 45:4,5) Ukucabangisisa ngesibonelo lesi kungabe kwamnceda ukuthi aphile impilo ethokozisa uJehova. Kuliqiniso sibili ukuthi indlela abafowabo abamphatha ngayo yayibuhlungu kodwa kayizange imenze ayekele ukukhonza uJehova lokuncedisa isizwe sakibo. (Abahlu. 11:9) Okwakuqakatheke kakhulu kuJefitha yikulwela ibizo likaJehova ukwedlula indlela ayezizwa ngayo. Wayezimisele ukuhlala ethembekile kuJehova futhi lokhu kwenza ukuthi yena lesizwe sakibo bathole izibusiso.—Heb. 11:32, 33.

10. Ungamlingisela njani uJefitha?

¹⁰ Uzamlingisela yini uJefitha? Mhlawumbe sewake wadaniswa kumbe waphathwa kubi ngomunye umzalwane ebandleni. Nxa kunjalo, ungavumeli izinto lezi zikwenze ungasayingeni imihlangano kumbe ukhalale ukukhonza uJehova. Kodwa yenza njengoJefitha, vumela izimiso zikaJehova zikusize ukuthi ulwisane lokudaniswa ngabantu futhi uqhubeke usiba yisibonelo esihle kwabanye.—Rom. 12:20, 21; Kol. 3:13.

11, 12. UJefitha wenza siphi isithembiso, njalo sasisitshoni?

¹¹ UJefitha wayekunanzelela ukuthi wayewadinga amandla kaNkulunkulu ukuze akhulule ama-Israyeli kuma-Amoni. Ngakho wathembisa uJehova ukuthi nxa wayengamsiza ukuthi anqobe empini, umuntu owayezaphuma kuqala endlini yakhe emhlangabeza wayezamnikela “njengomhlatshelo wokutshiswa.” (Abahlu. 11:30, 31) Wayesitshoni uJefitha?

¹² Sonke siyakwazi ukuthi ukwenza umhlatshelo ngomuntu yinto enyanyekayo kuJehova. Ngakho kusegcekeni ukuthi uJefitha wayengakhulumi ngokunikela ngomuntu emlilweni. (Dute. 18:9, 10) UMthetho kaMosi wawusithi wonke umhlatshelo wokutshiswa uphiwa uJehova, ngakho uJefitha wayesitsho ukuthi umuntu ayezanikela ngaye wayezakuyasebenzela uNkulunkulu ethabanikeli okwempilo yakhe yonke. Lakanye uJehova wawamukela umhlatshelo lo futhi wambusisa uJefitha wamsiza ukuthi anqobe izitha zakhe. (Abahlu. 11:32, 33) Kodwa ngubani kambe owayezanikelwa “njengomhlatshelo wokutshiswa” kuNkulunkulu?

13, 14. Amazwi kaJefitha akuBahluleli 11:35 atshengisani ngaye?

¹³ Khumbula ukuthi lapho uJefitha evela empini wahlangabezwa yindodakazi yakhe eyiyo yodwa futhi ayeyithanda. Manje wayezakuthini? Wayezasigcwalisa yini isithembiso ayesenzile anikele ngendodakazi yakhe ukuthi iyesebenza ethabanikeli okwempilo yayo yonke?

¹⁴ Lalapha zaphinda zamnceda futhi izimiso zikaNkulunkulu ukuthi angasephuli  isithembiso sakhe. Engxenye wacabanga amazwi aku-Eksodusi 23:19 ayekhuthaza abako-Israyeli ukuthi bazimisele ukunika uJehova okuhle kakhulu kulokho ababelakho. UMthetho wawugcizelela ukuthi umuntu angenza isithembiso kuJehova kwakumele asigcwalise. Wawusithi: ‘Nxa indoda isenza isifungo akumelanga yephule isithembiso sayo kodwa kumele isigcwalise ngokwenza konke ekutshiloyo.’ (Nani. 30:2) UHana okungenzakala ukuthi waphila ngesikhathi sikaJefitha wasigcina isithembiso sakhe. UJefitha laye kwasekumele asigcine esakhe isithembiso lanxa wayekwazi ukuthi sasizantshintsha ikusasa lakhe lelendodakazi yakhe. Wayelendodakazi eyodwa qekele, yiyo yodwa ayezathola ngayo isizukulwane esasizakhulisa ibizo lakhe njalo sigcine lelifa lakhe. (Abahlu. 11:34) Kodwa kuBahluleli 11:35 uJefitha waphetha ngokutsho amazwi la: “Ngifunge isifungo kuJehova engingeke ngisephule.” Ukuthembeka kwakhe lanxa wayezalahlekelwa kakhulu kwenza uNkulunkulu wathokoza njalo wambusisa. Lawe wawuzakwenza njengaye yini?

15. Yisiphi isithembiso esasenzayo, njalo singenzani ukuze sitshengise ukuthi sithembekile?

¹⁵ Lathi sazinikela kuJehova samthembisa ukuthi sizakwenza intando yakhe loba sekutheni. Sasikwazi ukuthi ukwenza isithembiso lesi kwakusitsho ukuthi kasisoze senze lokho okufunwa yithi. Kodwa-ke kakulula lokhu ikakhulu nxa sesicelwe ukuthi senze into esingayithandiyo. Lanxa kunjalo, siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi sithembekile nxa singazinikela ukwenza lokho esiyabe sikuceliwe loba kunzima. Izibusiso esizazithola zinengi ukwedlula ubunzima esingabe sihlangane labo. (Mal. 3:10) Kodwa indodakazi kaJefitha yona yenzani?

16. Indodakazi kaJefitha yenzani lapho uyise eyitshela ngesithembiso ayesenzile? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

¹⁶ Kumele ukuthi kwakunzima ukuthi indodakazi kaJefitha ikwamukele ukuthi isithembiso esasenziwe nguyise sasizantshintsha ukuphila kwayo. Isithembiso leso sasingafanani lesikaHana owanikela ngendodana yakhe  uSamuyeli ukuthi iyekuba ngumNaziri ethabanikeli. (1 Sam. 1:11) Phela umNaziri wayengenelisa ukutshada abe lemuli. Kodwa indodakazi kaJefitha yona yayizanikelwa “njengomhlatshelo wokutshiswa,” okutsho ukuthi yayingeke itshade kumbe ibe labantwana. (Abahlu. 11:37-40) Njengoba uyise wayeliqhawe futhi engumkhokheli wako-Israyeli, kwakungaba lula ukuthi indodakazi yakhe itshade lendoda emadodeni. Kodwa khathesi yayisizakuba yincekukazi ethabanikeli. Manje yathini? Yakhuluma amazwi atshengisa ukuthi yayikuqakathekisa kakhulu ukukhonza uJehova. Yathi: “Baba, wethule ilizwi lakho kuJehova. Kimi yenza njengoba uthembisile.” (Abahlu. 11:36) Yadela ukutshada lokuba labantwana yaqakathekisa ukuzinikela kuJehova. Pho thina singayilingisela njani?

17. (a) Singalulingisela njani ukholo lukaJefitha lendodakazi yakhe? (b) Amazwi akuHebheru 6:10-12 akukhuthaza njani ukuthi wenze okunengi emsebenzini kaJehova?

¹⁷ Khathesi kulamaKhristu amanengi asakhulayo akhetha ukungatshadi kumbe ukungabi labantwana ukuze azinikele ngokugcweleyo emsebenzini kaJehova. Kanti njalo bakhona lasebekhulile abadela ukutshona labantwababo kanye labazukulu ukuze bancedise ukwakhiwa kwezakhiwo zenhlanganiso kumbe ukuthi bangene iSikolo Sabavangeli BoMbuso kanye lokuyakhonza lapho okulabamemezeli abalutshwana khona. Abanye njalo bahlela kuhle izimo zabo ukuze benelise ukwengezelela inkonzo yabo ngesikhathi seSikhumbuzo. Konke lokhu okwenziwa ngabazalwane kuyamthokozisa uJehova njalo kasoze awukhohlwe umsebenzi abawenzayo lothando abamtshengisa lona. (Bala uHebheru 6:10-12.) Kukhona yini lawe ongakwenza ukuze wenze okunengi enkonzweni kaJehova?

18, 19. Sifundeni endabeni kaJefitha lendodakazi yakhe, njalo singabalingisela njani?

¹⁸ Lanxa uJefitha wahlangana lobunzima obunengi empilweni yakhe, wavumela ukuthi uJehova amqondise kukho konke ayekwenza. Kazange athatheke ngezinto ezimbi ezazisenzakala ngesikhathi sakhe. Waqhubeka ethembekile kuJehova lanxa abantu babemphatha kubi. Ukuzinikela kukaJefitha lendodakazi yakhe kwenza ukuthi uJehova ababusise futhi abasebenzise ukuthi bathuthukise ukukhonza kweqiniso. Yena lendodakazi yakhe banamathela ezimisweni zikaNkulunkulu lanxa abanye abantu ababephila labo basebehlamukile.

¹⁹ IBhayibhili lisikhuthaza ukuthi “silingisele labo okwathi ngokukholwa langokubekezela bathola ilifa lalokhu okwakuthenjisiwe.” (Heb. 6:12) Ngakho-ke kasizimiseleni ukulingisela uJefitha lendodakazi yakhe, sisazi ukuthi ukuthembeka kwethu kuyamjabulisa uNkulunkulu.