1, 2. (a) Ngubani owadalwa kokuthoma, begodu uJehova bekamsebenzisa njani? (b) Yini le etjengisa bona iingilozi zihlelekile?

UJEHOVA umdali wezulu nephasi uhlelekile, zinjalo nezinto azenzileko. Ngaphambi kobana adale zoke izinto, wathoma ngeNdodanakhe okukuphela kwayo ebizwa ngokobana nguLizwi. Ibizwa ngebizweli nje kungebanga lokuthi imkhulumeli kaZimu obadlula boke. ULizwi usebenzele uJehova iminyaka engangeminyaka, ngikho iBhayibheli lithi: “Ekuthomeni bekakhona uLizwi, uLizwi bekanoZimu.” Sitjelwa nokobana: “Koke okukhona kuvele ngaye [uLizwi lo], ayikho nayinye into eyadalwa ngaphandle kwakhe.” Eminyakeni engaba zii-2 000, uZimu wathumela uLizwi ephasini, kulapho-ke enza khona intando kaYise ngokuthembeka, wabizwa ngokuthi nguJesu Krestu, indoda epheleleko.—Jwa. 1:1-3, 14, NW.

² Ngaphambi kobana ize ephasini, iNdodana kaZimu le beyithembekile, isikghwari emsebenzini kaZimu. (IzA. 8:30) Ngaye, uZimu wabumba iingidigidi zeengilozi. (Kol. 1:16) Nelikhuluma ngeengilozezi iBhayibheli lithi: “[UZimu] bekaphahlwe ziinkulungwana ngeenkulungwana, iye, amatjhumitjhumi weenkulungwana bekajame phambi kwakhe.” (Dan. 7:10) IBhayibheli nelikhuluma ngewomakazi leembunjwezi lithi ‘zimabutho’ ahlelekileko.—Rhu. 103:21.

3. Zinengi kangangani iinkwekwezi namaplanethi, begodu zihleleke njani?

 ³ Kuthiwani-ke ngendalwakhe ebonakalako, njengewomakazi leenkwekwezi namaplanethi? Newukhuluma ngeenkwekwezi umbiko we-Chronicle yeHouston, eTexas, uthi “isibalo seenkwekwezi esifunyenwe mvanje simaseksthiliyoni ama-300, isibalo esisidlula kathathu esibalwe bososayensi ngaphambili.” Newusibeka bulula isibalwesi umbiko lo uthi: “Kuhle kuhle isibalwesi singu-3 olandelwa boziro abama-23, namkha amathriliyoni amathathu aphindwe ngamabhiliyoni alikhulu.” Iinkwekwezezi zihleleke ngokweenqhema ezibizwa ngemithala. Uthi umunye umthala ube neenkwekwezi ezimabhiliyoni namkha amathriliyoni, kuhlanganise newomakazi lamaplanethi. Ithi injalo imithala le, ihlelwe ibe ziinqhema, ezinobukhulu obuhlukahlukeneko.

4. Ngibuphi ubufakazi obuveza ukuthi iinceku zakaZimu ephasini kufuze zihlelwe?

⁴ Njengeengilozi ezilungileko, iinkwekwezi namaplanethi ahleleke ngendlela erarako. (Isa. 40:26) UJehova nakakghona ukuhlela izinto ezinjengalezi, ziyini iinceku zakhe zephasina bona angabhalelwa kuzihlela kuhle? UZimu akazwani nesiphithiphithi, ngikho afuna zinqophe njengomsila wekhondlo, begodu lokho kuqakathekile njengombana zinomsebenzi osindisa ipilo yabantu. Yeke, umlando wekadeni wabantu bakaJehova uveza ubufakazi obungagwagwanisiko bokuthi bekasolo anabo nokuthi “akasinguZimu wesiphithiphithi, kodwana ungowokuthula.”—Funda 1 Korinte 14:33, 40.

5. Nakusafuze bona umndeni wabantu uzalise iphasi, izinto zatjharagana njani?

⁵ UJehova wathi nakadala abantu bokuthoma wabatjela ukuthi: “Belethani nande, nizalise iphasi nilibuse; nibuse phezu kweenhlambi zelwandle, iinyoni zomkayi naphezu kwenyabanyaba yoke ekhamba phezu kwephasi.” (Gen. 1:28) Umndeni lo bekufuze ukhule uhlelekile khona uzakuzalisa iphasi loke ulenze libe yiPharadesi. Kwathi kusahlelekile kunjalo, izinto zatjharaganiswa buhlongandlebe baka-Adamu nonakwakhe u-Eva, kodwana lokho bekungokwesikhatjhana. (Gen. 3:1-7) Nekukhamba isikhathi, uJehova wathi nakaqala ephasini “wabona bonyana ubukhohlali bomuntu bukhulu ephasini nokobana imizindlo yehliziywakhe isophe okumbi ngesikhathi soke.” Ngebanga lalokho, “iphasi belonakele phambi kwakaZimu begodu ligcwele umguruguru.” Yeke, uZimu waqeda nehliziywakhe bona uzokuthanyela zoke iinkhohlakali ngomthwalela wephasi loke. —Gen. 6:5, 11-13, 17.

6, 7. (a) Kubayini uNowa wathola umusa emehlweni kaJehova? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.) (b) Kwenzekani ngeenkhohlakali ebeziphila ngesikhathi sakaNowa?

⁶ Nanyana kunjalo “uNowa wafunyana umusa emehlweni kaSomnini” ngebanga lokuthi “gade ayindoda elungileko, angasoleki ebantwini besikhathi aphila kiso.” Ngebanga lokuthi “gade atjhidelene noZimu,” uJehova wamtjela bona akhe umkhumbi omkhulu. (Gen. 6:8, 9, 14-16) Indlela obewakhwe ngayo bewungakghona ukusindisa ipilo yabantu neyeenlwana. “UNowa wenza koke uSomnini amyala ngakho,” begodu abambisene nomndenakhe waphetha umsebenzakhe ngokuhleleka okukhulu kangangobana zoke iimphili zangena ngemkhunjini. “USomnini wavalela uNowa ngaphakathi.”—Gen. 7:5, 16.

⁷ Nekufika uMthwalela ngomnyaka ka-2370, uJehova “wathanyela yoke into egade iphila ebusweni bephasi . . . Kwasala kwaphela uNowa nalabo agade anabo ngemkhunjini.” (Gen. 7:23) Woke umuntu osephasinapha usizukulwana sikaNowa namadodanakhe nabomkabo. Kodwana zoke iinkhohlakali zafela ngaphandle komkhumbi, ngebanga lokuthi khenge zilalele uNowa, “umtjhumayeli wokulunga.”—2 Pit. 2:5.

8. Ngibuphi ubufakazi obutjengisa ukuhleleka lokha uZimu nakanqophisela abantu bakhe eNarheni yesiThembiso?

 ⁸ Kwathi ngemva kwamakhulu abunane weminyaka ngemva koMthwalela, uZimu wathoma wahlela ama-Israyeli wawenza isitjhaba. Nebazakuhleleka kuhle bekufuze bona ukuphila kwabo koke, nokulotjha kwabo uZimu kube semnananeni. Bekungasi baphristi bakwa-Israyeli abamaLevi kwaphela ebekufuze basebenze ethempelini, bekunabafazi ‘ebebasebenza emnyango wetende lokuhlanganela.’ (Eks. 38:8) Nakazakutjela ama-Israyeli ngendaba yokungena eKanana, aqalisele esizukulwaneni esikhohlakeleko uZimu wathi: “Angeze nangena enarheni engafunga bona nizakuhlala kiyo, ngaphandle kwakaKalebi umsa kaJefune noJotjhuwa umsa kaNuni” ngebanga lokuthi baletha umbiko omuhle ngemva kokuhlola iNarha yesiThembiso. (Num. 14:30, 37, 38) UZimu watjela uMosi ukuthi uJotjhuwa nguye omlandela njengomdosi phambili wama-Israyeli. (Num. 27:18-23) Njengombana azokuba mdosi phambili nje, afake isitjhaba sama-Israyeli eKanana, watjelwa ukuthi: “Qina-ke ube nesibindi. Ungabi nevalo namkha uphele amandla ngombana uSomnini uZimakho unawe koke lapha ukhamba khona.”—Jotj. 1:9.

9. URarhabu bekazizwa njani ngoJehova nangabantu bakhe?

⁹ Vele, kwaba njalo, uJehova uZimu bekanoJotjhuwa koke lapha akhamba khona. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka kuma-Israyeli nekasahlome ikampa eduze kwedorobho leKanana iJeriko. Ngo-1473, uJotjhuwa wathumela amadoda amabili bona ayokuhlola inarha, kulapho-ke ebahlangana khona noRarhabu. Wafese wawafihla ephahleni lendlu yakhe khona amasotja athunywe yikosi yeJeriko angazukubabona. URarhabu watjela iinhloli wathi: “Ngiyazi bonyana uSomnini uninikele inarha . . . Kambe sizwile bona uSomnini womisa amanzi welwandle lomGaba phambi kwenu . . . naniphuma eGibhide, godu sezwa nalokho enakwenza emakhosini amabili wama-Amori.” Nakanabako wathi: “USomnini uZimenu unguZimu ezulwini phezulu nephasini  phasi.” (Jotj. 2:9-11) URarhabu bekazivumelanise nehlelo lakaJehova langesikhatheso, ngikho uZimu wamsindisa yena nomndenakhe nekurhayilwa iJeriko. (Jotj. 6:25) URarhabu bekamethemba uJehova ahlonipha nabantu bakhe.

10. Yini le uJesu ayitjela abadosi phambili bamaJuda, begodu kubayini atjho njalo?

¹⁰ Sirholwa nguJotjhuwa, isitjhaba sama-Israyeli sawabetha phasi amadorobho weKanana. Kodwana kwenzekani-ke ekukhambeni kwesikhathi? Izinto zathoma ukugaya ngomunye umhlathi, ama-Israyeli enza izinto eziphambene nomthetho kaZimu, lokho bakwenza amakhulu weminyaka. Ngesikhathi uJehova athumela indodanakhe ephasini, ukubhalelwa kulalela imithetho kaZimu besekurhagele kangangobana uJesu wabiza iJerusalema ngokuthi limbulali wabaphorofidi. (Funda uMatewu 23:37, 38.) Kusukela mhlokho uZimu wabalahla abadosi phambili bamaJuda ngebanga lokungathembeki kwabo kuye. Ngilokho-ke okwenza uJesu wabatjela emehlweni wathi: “Ngiyanitjela bonyana umbuso wezulu uzokususwa kini unikelwe abantu abazokuthela iinthelo zawo.—Mat. 21:43.

11, 12. (a) Ngibuphi ubufakazi obutjengisa bona uJehova wasusa isibusiso sakhe kumaJuda wendabuko wasisa kwenye ihlangano ngeenkhathi zabapostoli? (b) Bobani ebebakha ihlangano etja eyamukelwa nguZimu le?

¹¹ Vele kwaba njalo, uJehova wasilahla isitjhaba sakwa-Israyeli esikhohlakeleko ngesikhathi sabapostoli. Nanyana kunjalo, lokho bekungatjho bona uJehova uzokuhlala anganayo ihlangano yeenceku zakhe ephasini. Yeke-ke, wathoma wakha ihlangano etja emajadu, wayakhela phezu kwesisekelo seemfundiso zakaJesu. Ihlangano leyo yathoma ngePentekoste lomnyaka ka-33 ngeenkhathi zabapostoli. Ngesikhatheso, abafundi bakaJesu abali-120 babuthana eJerusalema, kwathi kusesenjalo “kwaba khona itjhada elivela ezulwini lazwakala njengomoya omkhulu uvunguza, lazala ikumba yoke.” Ngemva kwalokho, “babona amalangabu anjengamalimu ahlukahlukeneko ehlela phezu kwaloyo naloyo wabo. Boke bazala ngomoya ocwengileko bebathoma ukukhuluma ngeenlimi ezitjhili njengombana umoya wabapha ukukhuluma.” (IzE. 2:1-4) Isenzakalo esiyikarisomrarwesi sibufakazi obusebaleni bokuthi uJehova besekasekela ihlangano etja yabafundi bakaJesu.

¹² Ngelangelo ebelithabisa kwamambala, “kwangezeleleka pheze iinkulungwana ezintathu” zabalandeli bakaJesu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, “imihla ngemihla uSomnini wangezelela ebandleni labo abasindiswako.” (IzE. 2:41, 47) Ngendlela umsebenzabo wokutjhumayela ebewuphumulela ngayo batjho “ilizwi lakaZimu laya lirhatjheka lisanda. Inani labafundi eJerusalema landa nenani elinengi labaphristi lamukela ukukholwa.” (IzE. 6:7) Inengi labantu abalungileko lamukela iqiniso ebelitjhunyayelwa malunga wehlangano etja le. Kwathi ngokulandelako uJehova waveza ubufakazi bonobo ngokuletha ‘abatjhili’ ebandleni lobuKrestu.—Funda IzE. 10:44, 45.

13. Ngimuphi umsebenzi uZimu awunikela ihlanganwakhe etja?

¹³ Bekusebaleni bona uZimu nguye onikele abalandeli bakaKrestu umsebenzi wokutjhumayela. UJesu ngokwakhe usibonelo salokho, ngombana uthe angaqeda ukubhajadiswa, watjhinga esimini watjhumayela “ngombuso wamazulu.” (Mat. 4:17) Bewababandula bonyana benze wona umsebenzi loyo. Wathi kibo: “Nizakuba bofakazi bami eJerusalema, kiyo yoke iJudiya neSamariya kufikela emaphethelweni wephasi.” (IzE. 1:8) Abalandeli bakaKrestu bokuthoma bebazwisisa kuhle bona kufuze benzeni. Ngokwesibonelo, e-Antiyorhiya esePhisidiya, uPowula  banoBharinabhasi bawatjela indleb’ ukuzwa amaJuda wendabuko ebekabaphikisa bathi: “Bekufanele bona ilizwi lakaZimu litjhunyayelwe kini qangi. Kodwana njengombana nililahlile benazibona ningakafaneli ipilo engapheliko yelelani, sesiphendukela kabatjhili ngombana nakhu uSomnini asiyale ngakho, ‘Ngikubeka bona ube mkhanyo ezizweni ukuze ulethe isindiso emikhawulweni yephasi.’” (IzE. 13:14, 45-47) Kusukela ngeenkhathi zabapostoli, ingcenye yehlangano kaZimu yephasini beyisolo itjhumayela umlayezo wesindiso.

14. Kwenzekani ngeJerusalema langeenkhathi zabapostoli, begodu bobani abasindako?

¹⁴ Inengi lamaJuda khenge lizamukele iindaba ezimnandi, yeke, beliqalene neembila zithutha, ngombana uJesu nekayelelisa abafundi bakhe wathi: “Lokha nanibona iJerusalema iragelelwe mabutho, nizakwazi bona ukubhujiswa kwayo sekutjhidele. Yeke akuthi labo abaseJudiya babalekele eentabeni, abangaphakathi kwalo abaphume nalabo abasemaphandleni bangangeni kilo.” (Luk. 21:20, 21) Koke okwatjhiwo nguJesu kwenzeka njengombana kunjalo. Ngebanga lokuvukela okwenziwa maJuda ngomnyaka ka-66 eenkhathini zabapostoli, amabutho wamaRoma ebekarhugelwe nguCestius Gallus azomba iJerusalema. Kwathi kusesenjalo, anghala abuyela emva, kodwana lokho bekulithuba elihle labalandeli bakaJesu lokobana babone enganatjani, basuke eJerusalema neJudiya. Ngokwesazimlando u-Eusebius, inengi labo leyama umlambo iJordani layokuthi kithi ePhela esePhereya. Kwathi ngomnyaka ka-70, labuya ibutho lamaRoma lirhugelwa nguMphathi maButho uTitus inga mlambo uthwele iingodo, lalithanyela iJerusalema. Okuhle kukuthi amaKrestu asinda ekurhayilwenokho ngombana alalela isiyeleliso sakaJesu.

15. Isibalo samaKrestu sanda ngaphezu kwaziphi iintjhijilo?

¹⁵ Nanyana bebatlhoriswa, baqalene nobudisi nezinye iinlingo, isibalo samaKrestu sakhula ngendlela erarako ngeenkhathi zabapostoli. (IzE. 11:19-21; 19:1, 19, 20) Baphumelela ngombana bebabusiswa nguZimu.—IzA. 10:22.

16. Nebazakuqina ekukholweni, yini amaKrestu ebekufuze ayenze?

¹⁶ Nekazakuqinisa ukukholwa kwakhe, woke umKrestu bekufuze arorobhe ngokusemandlenakhe. Bekufuze akukhuthalele ukufunda iBhayibheli, aye emihlanganweni yokulotjha uZimu, abe majadu nemsebenzini oqakathekileko wokutjhumayela. Koke lokho bekuqinisa ukukholwa kwakhe, kubophe nabantu bakaJehova babe nyanda yinye ngesikhatheso njengombana kunjalo nanamhlanjesi. Boke labo ebebasebandleni elihlelekilekwelo bazuza khulu ebadaleni bebandla neencekwini ezikhonzako. (Flp. 1:1; 1 Pit. 5:1-4) Uthini ngethabo ebeliba khona nekuvakatjha abajikelezi abanjengoPowula? (IzE. 15:36, 40, 41) Yeke, indlela ibandla lamaKrestu langesikhathi sabapostoli ebelilotjha ngayo uZimu beyiphakeme khulu. Awazi bona simthokoza kangangani uJehova ngendlela ahlela ngayo iinceku zakhe ngesikhatheso nanamhlanjesi! *

17. Sizokucoca ngani esihlokweni esilandelako?

¹⁷ Njengombana iphasi lakaSathana selizokurhirika emihleni yokuphela le, ingcenye esephasini yehlangano kaJehova isebelweni komhlolo. Wena-ke ukhambisana nayo na? Uyathuthuka na etjhebiswaneni lakho noZimu? Isihloko esilandelako sizokudemba yokuthi sikwenza njani lokho.