1, 2. (a) UNkulunkulu wamuphani u-Adamu? (b) Kungani uNkulunkulu wanika u-Adamu owesifazana? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

 UJEHOVA kazange awudalele ize umhlaba. “Wawenza ukuba kuhlalwe kuwo.” (Isaya. 45:18) UNkulunkulu waqala ngokudala u-Adamu, umuntu owayephelele, wasemnika isivande sase-Edeni esasisihle kakhulu ukuthi sibe likhaya lakhe. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ­u-Adamu wayekholisa sibili ukubuka izinyamazana, izihlahla ezinhle kakhulu kanye lemifula egelezayo. Kodwa kulokuthile okuqakatheke kakhulu ayengelakho. UJehova wakuqamba lapho esithi: “Kakukuhle ukuba indoda ibe yodwa. Ngizamenzela umsizi omfaneleyo.” Emveni kwalokho, uNkulunkulu wenza u-Adamu walala ubuthongo bokufa, wathatha olunye ubambo lwakhe ‘wasesenza umfazi ngobambo’ lolu. Ubona angani u-Adamu wezwa njani emuthi nhlo owesifazana? Wathi: “Lo manje uselithambo lamathambo ami lenyama yenyama yami.”​—Gen. 2:18-23.

² Owesifazana wayeyisipho esimangalisayo esivela kuNkulunkulu ngoba wayezakuba ngumsizi opheleleyo wendoda. Waphinda waphiwa lesibusiso esiqakathekileyo sokuzala abantwana. Ngakho-ke ­“u-Adamu wamutha umkakhe wathi ngu-Eva, ngokuba wayezakuba ngunina wabo bonke abaphilayo.” (Gen. 3:20) Siyabona-ke ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayephe indoda yokuqala kanye lowesifazana wokuqala isibusiso esibabazekayo. Babesenelisa ukuzala abantwana abangelasono. Lokhu kwakuzakwenza ukuthi umhlaba ucine usulipharadayisi elalizagcwala abantu abangelasono ababezabusa phezu kwezinye izidalwa eziphilayo.​—Gen. 1:27, 28.

3. (a) U-Adamu lo-Eva kwakumele benzeni nxa babefuna ukuthola izibusiso, kodwa bona benzani? (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo esizayiphendula esihlokweni lesi?

 ³ Kodwa u-Adamu lo-Eva kwakumele balalele uJehova njalo bavume ukubuswa nguye nxa babefuna ukuqhubeka bethola izibusiso. (Gen. 2:15-17) Lokho yikho kuphela okwakuzakwenza ukuthi lokho uNkulunkulu ayehlose ukuthi bakwenze kuphumelele. Kodwa kuyadanisa ukuthi bayengwa ‘yinyoka endala,’ uSathane, basebesonela uNkulunkulu. (Isam. 12:9; Gen. 3:1-6) Ukuhlamuka lokhu kwayintshintsha njani impilo yabesifazana? Endulo, kuyini okwenziwa ngabesifazana ababesesaba uNkulunkulu? Lamuhla kungani kuthiwa abesifazana abangamaKhristu “balibutho elikhulu”?​—Hubo. 68:11, NW.

4. Icala elalenziwe yindoda yokuqala lowesifazana wokuqala letheswa bani?

⁴ Lapho u-Adamu ebuzwa ngokuhlamuka kwakhe, wazigeza ngokutsho isizatho esingazwakaliyo wathi: “Umfazi owambeka lapha lami​—ungiphile ezinye izithelo zesihlahla ngazidla.” (Gen. 3:12) U-Adamu kazange avume isono sakhe, kodwa wesulela icala kowesifazana kanye loNkulunkulu olothando owayemnike owesifazana lo. Icala ababelenzile letheswa u-Adamu. Yikho umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala wathi: “Isono sangena emhlabeni ngomuntu oyedwa [u-Adamu], lokufa ngesono.”​—Rom. 5:12.

5. Ukuvumela kukaNkulunkulu ukuthi abantu bazibuse okwesikhathi esithile kucaciseni?

⁵ Abantu bokuqala bayengwa basebecabanga ukuthi bangaziphilela bodwa kulokuthi babuswe nguJehova. Yikho kwavuka umbuzo lo oqakathekileyo ophathelane lobukhosi othi: Ngubani olelungelo lokubusa? UNkulunkulu wavumela ukuthi abantu bazibuse okwesikhathi esithile ukuze impendulo izicacele. Wayekwazi ukuthi okwakuzakwenzakala kwakuzatshengisa ukuthi abantu babengeke baphumelele nxa bezibusa. Abantu sebezibuse okwamakhulu eminyaka kodwa ukuzibusa kwabo kubangele ukuthi kube lobuhlungu obungapheliyo. Ekhulwini eledlulayo, kwabulawa abantu abangaba yi-100 000 000 ezimpini njalo inani leli ligoqela abantu abangonanga lutho abangamadoda, abesifazana kanye labantwana. Yikho-ke kulokhu kusiba lobufakazi obunengi obutshengisa ukuthi “umuntu akusikho kwakhe ukuthi aqondise izinyathelo zakhe.” (Jer. 10:23) Lokhu kusenza sikufune sibili ukubuswa nguJehova.​—Bala iZaga 3:5, 6.

6. Abesifazana baphathwa njani emazweni amanengi?

⁶ Emhlabeni lo obuswa nguSathane, amadoda labesifazana abanengi baphathwa kubi. (UmTshu. 8:9; 1 Joh. 5:19) Ezinye izinto ezibuhlungu ezenzakalayo zigoqela lokuhlukuluzwa kwabesifazana. Emhlabeni wonke, abesifazana abangaba ngamaphesenti angu-30 babika ukuthi sebeke bahlukuluzwa ngomkabo. Kwezinye izindawo abantwana abangabafana bayathandwa kakhulu ngoba kucatshwanga ukuthi bazakhulisa isibongo sakibo lokuthi yibo abazanakekela abazali babo nxa sebeluphele kanye labogogo labokhulu. Kwamanye amazwe, nxa uzele umntwana oyinkazana ufaniswa lomuntu ongazalanga njalo abanengi bakhipha izisu zabantwana abangamankazana ukwedlula ezabafana.

7. UNkulunkulu wenzani ukuze indoda lowesifazana babe lempilo ethokozisayo?

⁷ UNkulunkulu kathokozi nxa ebona abesifazana bephathwa kubi. Yena ubaphatha kuhle njalo uyabahlonipha. U-Eva wadalwa ephelele njalo elezimpawu zobuntu ezazimenza abe ngumsizi ka-Adamu omuhle hatshi ukuthi abe yisigqili sakhe. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyabaqakathekisa kakhulu abesifazana. Yikho ngemva kwamalanga ayisithupha okudala izinto, uNkulunkulu “wakubona konke lokho ayesekwenzile, njalo kwakukuhle kakhulu.” (Gen. 1:31) Kuyacaca sibili ukuthi “konke” uJehova ayekwenzile “kwakukuhle kakhulu.” Indlela adala ngayo indoda kanye lowesifazana yayizakwenza ukuthi bobabili babe lempilo ethokozisayo.

8. (a) Abantu baziphatha njani kulezinsuku? (b) Kusukela kudala, yibaphi abantu abalokhu besekelwa nguNkulunkulu?

⁸ Kusukela abantu bokuqala behlamuka e-Edeni, ukuziphatha kwamadoda labesifazana kwaba kubi kakhulu. Kanti njalo khathesi abanengi sebeziphatha kubi kakhulu ngendlela engakaze ibonakale. IBhayibhili lalivele latsho ukuthi “ezinsukwini zokucina” kwakuzakuba lokuziphatha okubi. Ububi obenziwa ngabantu sebubhahile okokuthi asithandabuzi ukuthi ‘sisezikhathini ezinzima.’ (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Kodwa kusukela kudala, ‘uJehova Wobukhosi’ ubelokhu ewasekela amadoda labesifazana abamthembayo, abalalela imithetho yakhe njalo bevuma ukubuswa nguye.​—Bala iHubo 71:5.

9. Bangaki abantu abasindayo ngesikhathi sikaZamcolo, njalo kungani basinda?

⁹ Ngesikhathi sikaNowa kwasinda abantu abalutshwana kakhulu lapho uNkulunkulu esebenzisa uZamcolo ukuthi atshabalalise abantu ababelodlakela. Nxa kuyikuthi abafowabo bakaNowa kanye labodadewabo babesaphila ngalesosikhathi, labo babulawa ngamanzi. (Gen. 5:30) Kodwa inani labesifazana elasindayo lalilingana lenani lamadoda asindayo. Kwasinda uNowa lomkakhe, amadodana akhe amathathu kanye labomkabo. Basinda ngenxa yokuthi babemesaba uNkulunkulu njalo besenza intando yakhe. Bonke abantu emhlabeni bavela ebantwini labo abaficamibili ababesekelwa nguNkulunkulu.​—Gen. 7:7; 1 Phet. 3:20.

10. Kungani uJehova wayewasekela amakhosikazi ezinhloko zezimuli ayemesaba?

¹⁰ Sekudlule iminyaka eminengi ngemva kukaZamcolo, uNkulunkulu wawasekela amakhosikazi ezinhloko zezimuli ayemesaba. Wayengasoze awasekele nxa kuyikuthi ayengabakhononi, ethanda ukukhalakhala ngayo yonke into empilweni. (Jud. 16) U-Abhrahama lomkakhe uSara basuka elizweni lase-Uri lapho ababengasweli lutho khona, basebesiya kwelinye ilizwe baba yizihambi behlala emathenteni. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uSara owayeyinkosikazi ehloniphayo kazange awuvule langelilodwa umlomo wakhe ekhonona. Kodwa ‘walalela u-Abhrahama wambiza ngokuthi yinkosi yakhe.’ (1 Phet. 3:6) URabheka laye wayeyisipho esihle kakhulu esivela kuJehova njalo waba yinkosikazi eyayiziphatha kuhle. Yikho umkakhe u-Isaka ‘wamthanda; waduduzeka ngemva kokufa kukanina.’ (Gen. 24:67) Lamuhla kuyasithokozisa kakhulu ukuthi phakathi kwethu kulabesifazana abesaba uNkulunkulu abanjengoSara ­loRabheka.

11. Ababelethisi abangamaHebheru ababili batshengisa njani ukuthi babelesibindi?

¹¹ Abako-Israyeli ababeyizigqili eGibhithe babelokhu besanda kakhulu. Yikho uFaro wakhupha umlayo wokuthi bonke abantwana abangabafana abangamaHebheru babulawe besanda kuzalwa nje. Lanxa kunjalo, kwakulababelethisi abangamaHebheru okwakuthiwa nguShifira loPhuwa okumele ukuthi yibo ababekhangela abanye ababelethisi. Babalesibindi sokuphikisana lomlayo kaFaro ngoba babemesaba uJehova. Yikho-ke uJehova wababusisa wabapha ezabo izimuli.​—Eks. 1:15-21.

12. Kuyini okumangalisayo okwenziwa nguDibhora loJayeli?

¹² Omunye owesifazana owayesekelwa nguNkulunkulu ngesikhathi sabahluleli bako-Israyeli ngumphrofethikazi ­uDibhora. Wakhuthaza uMahluleli uBharakhi njalo wancedisa abako-Israyeli ukuthi bangaqhubeki becindezelwa. Kodwa wathi uBharakhi kayisuye owayezathola udumo nxa amaKhenani esenqotshiwe. Wamtshela wathi uNkulunkulu wayezanikela umlawuli webutho uSisera “kowesifazana,” onguye owayezathola udumo. Yikho kanye okwenzakalayo ngoba uSisera wabulawa ngowesifazana okuthiwa nguJayeli owayengayisuye wako-Israyeli.​—Abahlu. 4:4-9, 17-22.

13. IBhayibhili lisitshelani ngo-Abhigeli?

¹³ Ekhulwini lesi-11 B.C.E., kwakulowesifazana okuthiwa ngu-Abhigeli owayesenza  kuhle kakhulu. Yena wayekhaliphile kodwa umkakhe uNabhali wayelesihluku, elobuwula njalo eyisithutha. (1 Sam. 25:2, 3, 25) UDavida labantu bakhe basebelesikhathi bekhangela impahla kaNabhali kodwa bathi sebecela ukudla ‘wabathethisa’ wangabaniki lutho. Lokhu kwamzondisa kakhulu uDavida okokuthi wayesefuna ukuyabulala uNabhali kanye labantu bakhe. U-Abhigeli wathi ekuzwa lokhu wathatha ukudla lokunathwayo wayakupha uDavida labantu bakhe njalo lokhu kwenza ukuthi bangachithi igazi. (1 Sam. 25:8-18) UDavida wathi kuye: “Kadunyiswe uJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, okuthumileyo lamhla ukuzabonana lami.” (1 Sam. 25:32) UNabhali wathi esefile, uDavida watshada lo-Abhigeli.​—1 Sam. 25:37-42.

14. Yiyiphi imisebenzi eyayisenziwa ngamadodakazi kaShalumi, njalo abesifazana abangamaKhristu bakwenza njani lokhu lamuhla?

¹⁴ Lapho amabutho aseBhabhiloni ebhidliza iJerusalema kanye lethempeli ngo-607 B.C.E., amadoda amanengi labesifazana kanye labantwana bafa. Imiduli yedolobho yakhiwa kutsha ngo-455 B.C.E., njalo umsebenzi lo wawukhokhelwa nguNehemiya. Abanye ababencedisa ukwakha kutsha imiduli le kwakungamadodakazi kaShalumi, umbusi wengxenye yeJerusalema. (Neh. 3:12) Babezimisele ukwenza imisebenzi eyayisenziwa ngabantu ababekhangelelwa phansi. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi siyabaqakathekisa kakhulu abesifazana abanengi abangamaKhristu abenza imisebenzi etshiyeneyo nxa kusakhiwa izakhiwo zenhlanganiso.

15. UMariya waphiwa siphi isibusiso?

¹⁵ Kukhanya ikhulu lokuqala C.E., lingakafiki uJehova wabusisa abesifazana abanengi ngokubanika imisebenzi ethile njalo waqhubeka ebabusisa eminyakeni eyalandelayo. Omunye wabo kwakunguMariya, intombi eyayimsulwa. Esathembisane loJosefa ukuthi bazatshada, wazithwala ngendlela eyisimangaliso kwenziwe ngomoya ongcwele. Kungani uNkulunkulu wakhetha yena ukuthi abe ngumama kaJesu? Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi wayelobuntu obuhle obabuzakwenza ukuthi ayikhulise kuhle indodana yakhe eyayizazalwa ingelasono. Kwakuyisibusiso esikhulu sibili ukuba ngumama womuntu owayezakwenza izinto ezinkulu kakhulu emhlabeni.​—Mat. 1:18-25.

16. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi uJesu wayebaphatha kuhle abesifazana?

¹⁶ UJesu wayelomusa kakhulu kwabesifazana. Ngokwesibonelo kwakulowesifazana owayephethwe yikopha sekumhluphe iminyaka engu-12. Wathi ebona uJesu elexuku labantu waziminyezela phakathi kwalo, waze wafika eduze kukaJesu wasethinta ijazi lakhe. UJesu kazange amtshingele kodwa wakhuluma laye kuhle wathi: “Ndodakazi, ukholo lwakho lukusilisile. Hamba ngokuthula ukhululeke ekuhluphekeni kwakho.”​—Mak. 5:25-34.

17. Yisiphi isimangaliso esenzakala ngePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E.?

¹⁷ Abanye abesifazana ababengabalandeli bakaJesu babesebenzisa impahla zabo ukuze bancedise uJesu kanye labaphostoli bakhe. (Luk. 8:1-3) Kanti njalo ngePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E., amadoda labesifazana abangaba yi-120 bagcwaliswa ngomoya kaNkulunkulu ngendlela eyisimangaliso. (Bala imiSebenzi 2:1-4.) UJehova wayevele wakhuluma kudala ukuthi lokhu kwakuzakwenzakala lapho esithi: ‘Ngizathela umoya wami ebantwini bonke. Amadodana enu lamadodakazi enu azaphrofetha. Lakuzinceku zami, ezesilisa lezesifazana, ngizathela umoya wami.’ (Jow. 2:28, 29) UNkulunkulu wasebenzisa isimangaliso lesi ngelanga lePhentekhosti ukuze atshengise ukuthi wayesemlahlile u-Israyeli owayehlamukile lokuthi wayesesekela ‘u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ owayebunjwa ngamadoda labesifazana. (Gal. 3:​28; 6:15, 16) Ekhulwini lokuqala, abanye abesifazana ababengamaKhristu ababetshumayela kwakungamadodakazi amane kaFiliphu owayengumvangeli.​—ImiSeb. 21:8, 9.

18, 19. (a) UNkulunkulu ubanike siphi isibusiso amadoda labesifazana? (b) Umhubi uthini ngabesifazana abatshumayela izindaba ezinhle?

¹⁸ Kusukela kubo-1875, amadoda labesifazana abalutshwana batshengisa ukuthi babekufuna sibili ukuthola iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini. Yibo abaqali besiziba emsebenzini owaphrofethwa nguJesu lapho esithi: “Lelivangeli lombuso lizatshunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba njengobufakazi kuzo zonke izizwe, besekufika ukucina.”​—Mat. 24:14.

¹⁹ Abafundi beBhayibhili baqala beliqenjana elincane kodwa khathesi sebengoFakazi bakaJehova abangaba yi-8 000 000. Ngo-2013 abantu abedlula 11 000 000 babuya eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaJesu esenziwa minyaka yonke betshengisa ukuthi balesifiso sokufunda iBhayibhili lokuthi bayawuqakathekisa umsebenzi esiwenzayo. Emazweni amanengi kwabuya abesifazana abanengi ukwedlula amadoda. Kanti njalo emhlabeni wonke kulabamemezeli boMbuso abasenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcweleyo abedlula 1 000 000 njalo inengi labo ngabesifazana. Kambe ngubani ongaphika ukuthi uNkulunkulu unike abesifazana isibusiso sokugcwalisa amazwi omhubi athi: “UJehova unika umlayo; abesifazana abamemezela izindaba ezinhle balibutho elikhulu”?​—Hubo. 68:11, NW.

20. Yiziphi izindaba elingazikhangela eKukhonzeni Kwemuli kumbe nxa utaditsha uwedwa?

²⁰ Ngeke silandise ngabo bonke abesifazana ababethembekile okukhulunywa ngabo eBhayibhilini ngoba asibunengi babo. Kodwa sonke singabala ngabo eLizwini likaNkulunkulu kanye lasezihlokweni eziphuma emabhukwini ethu. Ngokwesibonelo, singacabangisisa ngokuthembeka kukaRuthe. (Rut. 1:16, 17) Kanti njalo singaqinisa ukholo lwethu ngokubala ibhuku leBhayibhili elibizwa ngebizo leNdlovukazi u-Esta kanye lezihloko ezikhuluma ngayo. Singancedakala kakhulu nxa singahlela ukufunda izinto ezinjengalezi eKukhonzeni Kwemuli kwantambama. Nxa uhlala wedwa, kungakunceda ukuzikhangela ngesikhathi utaditsha.

21. Abesifazana abesaba uJehova batshengisa njani ukuthi bazinikele kuye?

²¹ UJehova uyawubusisa sibili umsebenzi wokutshumayela owenziwa ngabesifazana abangamaKhristu njalo uyabasekela nxa besekulingweni. Ngokwesibonelo ngesikhathi semibuso yamaNazi lamaKhomanisi wasekela abesifazana ababemesaba. Lokhu kwenza benelisa ukuhlala bethembekile lapho behlukuluzwa njalo abanye baze babulawa sibili ngenxa yokulalela kwabo uNkulunkulu. (ImiSeb. 5:​29) Kusukela kudala kuze kube lamuhla, odadewethu labanye abazalwane balokhu bekhetha ukuhlala bebuswa nguNkulunkulu. Yikho-ke uNkulunkulu ulokhu ebasekela njengoba wayesekela ama-Israyeli asendulo. UJehova ubamba isandla sabo sokudla athi kubo: “Ungesabi; ngizakusiza.”​—Isaya. 41:10-13.

22. Yiziphi izibusiso esizilindele ngabomvu?

²² Sekuseduze kakhulu ukuthi amadoda labesifazana abesaba uNkulunkulu bantshintshe umhlaba ube lipharadayisi lokuthi bancede izigidi zabantu ezizavuswa kwabafileyo ukuthi zifunde izinjongo zikaJehova. Sisamelele lokho, sonke kasiqakathekiseni isibusiso sethu sokukhonza uNkulunkulu ‘simanyene.’​—Zef. 3:9.