1, 2. Ndi basa ipi ikhacita Nowa na banjace, pontho athimbana na pinentso pipi?

NOWA akhala pantsi mbadzongola nsana wace. Nyerezerani kuti Nowa akhala pa tabwa ikulu mbakapuma mu ndzidzi unayang’ana iye bote ikulu inamanga iye. Khwema ya alkatrau yakupisa ikhabveka; nakutali kukhabvekambo dzumbi ya maferamentu akusema matabwa. Pa mbuto ikakhala iye, akhakwanisa kuona anace mbakaphata basa mwaphinga m’makhundu akusiyana-siyana a bote. Papita pyaka pizinji, ana a Nowa, akwenyace na nkazace mbakaphata basa pabodzi na iye. Akhadacita basa izinji, mbwenye ikhadasala khundu ikulu toera kumalisa!

² Anthu a pacisa akhaona Nowa na banjace ninga akusowa ndzeru. Mu ndzidzi wakuti bote ikhali cifupi na kumala, anthu akhapitiriza kuseka maonero akuti madzi mbadadzadza dziko yonsene. Kwa anthu azinji, cenjezo ya cidengwa ikhalonga Nowa ikhali ninga yakusowa basa, yakuti nkhabe citika! Iwo nee akhabvesesa kuti munthu mbadakwanisa tani kubvunga umaso wace—umaso wa banjace—m’basa yakuti nee ikhali na mabvekero. Mbwenye Yahova, Mulungu wa Nowa akhali na maonero akusiyana.

3. Ndi munjira ipi Nowa afamba na Mulungu?

³ Mafala a Mulungu asalonga: ‘Nowa afamba na Mulungu wandimomwene.’ (Lerini Genesi 6:9.) Pyenepi pisabvekanji? Nee pisabveka kuti Nowa afamba na Mulungu pa dziko yapantsi peno kuti Nowa aenda kudzulu. M’mbuto mwace, Nowa abvera Mulungu wace na akhanfuna kakamwe kwakuti kwakhala ninga iye na Yahova akhafamba pabodzi ninga axamwali. Mukupita kwa pyaka, Bhibhlya yalonga pya Nowa: ‘Thangwi ya cikhulupiro cace, iye atcunyusa dziko yapantsi.’ (Aheb. 11:7) Nowa atcunyusa tani dziko kubulukira ku cikhulupiro cace? Tinapfundzanji lero kubulukira ku cikhulupiro cace?

4, 5. Mu ntsiku za Nowa, kodi uipi wadzathimizirika tani pa dziko yapantsi?

⁴ Nowa akula n’dziko yakuti ikhabuluka pakuipa kuenda pakutekera. Dziko ikhali yakuipa mu ntsiku za mbuyace Enoki, mamuna unango wakulungama wakuti afamba na Mulungu. Enoki alonga mwanyapantsi kuti anthu akukhonda lemedza Mulungu anadzatongwa. Mbwenye mu ntsiku za Nowa, anthu akukhonda lemedza  Mulungu akhadatekera. Mwandimomwene, m’maonero a Yahova, dziko ikhadafudzika thangwi ikhadadzala na uphanga. (Gen. 5:22; 6:11; Yuda 14, 15) Ninji pidacitika toera uipi uthimizirike kakamwe?

⁵ Paoneka nyatwa ikulu pakati pa ana auzimu a Mulungu, aanju. M’bodzi mwa ana anewa apandukira Yahova, mbadzakhala Sathani Dyabo mukupambizira Mulungu na kunyengeza Adhamu na Eva toera kucita madawo. Mu ntsiku za Nowa, aanju anango atomambo kupandukira utongi wakulungama wa Yahova. Asiya mbuto zidapaswa iwo na Mulungu kudzulu, abwera pa dziko yapantsi, abvala manungo aunyama mbakwata akazi akubalika ninga akazi awo. Aanju anewa akudzikuza, akucenama na akupanduka akhacitisa anthu kucita pinthu pyakuipa.—Gen. 6:1, 2; Yuda 6, 7.

6. Kodi Anefili akhuya tani makhaliro pa dziko yapantsi na Yahova atonga kucitanji?

⁶ Kusiyapo pyenepi, aanju adabvala manungo aunyama mbamanga banja na akazi pa dziko, adzabala ana akulapha kakamwe na amphambvu zikulu. Bhibhlya isaacemera ‘Anefili,’ nkhubveka kuti ‘Anyakufudza’—ale anagwisa anango. Anefili akhathusa anthu mwausumankha mbacitisa dziko kukhala yakuipa kakamwe. Si pyakudzumisa tayu kuti m’maonero a Nciti, ‘uipi wa anthu ukhadanjipa pa dziko yapantsi, pontho ndzidzi onsene manyerezero a mitima yawo akhali akuipa.’ Yahova atonga kuti mbadadzafudza anthu anewa akuipa m’pyaka 120.—Lerini Genesi 6:3-5.

7. Kodi Nowa na nkazace athimbana na cinentso cipi mukhatsidzikiza iwo anawo ku uipi wa ntsiku zawo?

⁷ Nyerezerani kuti mbipidakhala pyakunentsa tani kutsalakana banja n’dziko ninga ineyi! Mbwenye Nowa acita pyenepi. Iye agumana nkazi wadidi. Pikakhala iye na pyaka 500 pyakubalwa nkazace abala  ana atatu—Semu, Hamu na Yafeti. * Mu uwiri mwawo, iwo akhafunika kutsidzikiza anawo ku uipi ukhaazungulira. Anang’ono ali na cipendamiro cakudzumatirwa na kulemedza anthu amphambvu na amuna ambiri—Anefili akhali anthu ninga anewa. Nowa na nkazace nee mbadakwanisa kutsidzikiza anawo ku pinthu pyonsene pyakuipa pikhacita pimphona, mbwenye mbadakwanisa kuapfundzisa undimomwene wa Yahova Mulungu, wakuti asaida uipi onsene. Iwo akhafunika kuphedza anawo kudziwa kuti Yahova nkhabe komerwa na uphanga, pontho na upanduki n’dziko.—Gen. 6:6.

8. Kodi anyakubala andzeru lero anakwanisa tani kutowezera citsandzo ca Nowa na nkazace?

⁸ Lero anyakubala ali m’makhaliro mabodzi ene ninga akhali na Nowa na nkazace. Dziko yathu yadzalambo na uphanga pabodzi na upanduki. Kazinji kene, mizinda isadzala na misoka ya aphale akupanduka akuti asafuna kucita basi ene pinafuna iwo. Ngakhale ubalangazi unacitirwa anag’ono wadzala na pinthu pyauphanga. Anyakubala andzeru asacita pyonsene pinakwanisa iwo toera kutsidzikiza anawo ku pinthu pyenepi pyakuipa mukuapfundzisa pya Mulungu wa ntendere, Yahova, wakuti anadzamalisa uphanga onsene. (Masal. 11:5; 37:10, 11) Anapiana anakwanisa kucita pyadidi ngakhale n’dziko ino yakuipa! Nowa na nkazace apembera mukucita pyenepi. Anawo akula mbadzakhala amuna adidi mbamanga banja na akazi akuti akhafunambo kuikha Mulungu wandimomwene, Yahova, pa mbuto yakutoma mu umaso wawo.

9, 10. (a) Ndi ntemo upi udapereka Yahova kuna Nowa wakuti wacinja umaso wace? (b) Kodi Yahova alonganji thangwi ya maonekero na cifuniro ca bote?

⁹ Ntsiku inango, umaso wa Nowa wacinja kwenda na kwenda. Yahova alonga kuna ntumiki unoyu wakufunika thangwi ya cifuniro Cace cakufudza dziko ya mu ntsiku zenezi. Mulungu apanga Nowa: ‘Sasanya bote yako ya matabwa a n’njale.’—Gen. 6:14.

¹⁰ Bote ineyi nee ikhali xitima ninga munanyerezera anthu anango. Iyo nee ikhali ninga mabote anaona ife ntsiku zino. Basi ene ikhali ninga bokosi. Yahova apasa Nowa midida ya bote ninga mukhafunikira iyo kumangwa na pitsogolero pyakupswinga alkatrau kunja na nkati mwa bote. Pontho Yahova apanga Nowa kuti thangwi yanji akhafunika kumanga bote: ‘Ndinadzabweresa cigumula pa dziko yapantsi, pyonsene piri pa dziko pinadzamala.’ Mbwenye Yahova acita cibverano ici na Nowa: ‘Unadzapita m’bote iwe, anako, nkazako na akazi a anako.’ Nowa akhafunikambo kukwata ntundu onsene  wa pinyama. Basi ene ale akhafuna kugumanika m’bote ndiwo akhafuna kupulumuka pa Cigumula!—Gen. 6:17-20.

11, 12. Ndi basa ipi ikulu ikhali na Nowa, pontho iye aicita tani?

¹¹ Nowa akhali na basa ikulu kakamwe. Bote ineyi ikhali ikulu kakamwe—cifupi na makhono 133 aulaphi, 22 augugumi na 13 a cengo. Ikhali ikulu kakamwe kupiringana maxitima a m’madzi a ntsiku zino. Kodi Nowa akhonda basa ineyi mbatoma kudungunya thangwi ya pinentso, peno thangwi ya unyomonyomo udapaswa iye? Bhibhlya isatawira: ‘Nowa acita pyonsene ninga mudapangwa iye na Mulungu. Iye acitadi tenepo.’—Gen. 6:22.

¹² Basa yamala pyaka pizinji, panango 40 peno 50. Akhafunika kutema miti, kuituta na kuceka matabwa. Bote ikhafunika kukhala na maandari matatu, makwartu na nsuwo. Ikhafunikambo kukhala na majanela n’dzulu na ntsoi ya ramada toera madzi akhonde kupita nkati.—Gen. 6:14-16.

13. Ndi basa ipi inango ikhali na Nowa yakuti mbidakhala yakunentsa kupiringana kumanga bote na anthu acitanji?

¹³ Mukhapita pyaka na mukhamala basa yakumanga bote, panango Nowa akhakomerwa kakamwe na ciphedzo ca banjace! Pakhali na basa inango yakuti mbidakhala yakunentsa kupiringana kumanga bote. Bhibhlya isalonga kuti Nowa akhali ‘m’mwazi mphangwa waulungami.’ (Lerini 2 Pedro 2:5.) Natenepa, mwacipapo iye atsogolera basa yakucenjeza anthu akuipa na akukhonda kulemedza Mulungu pya kufudzwa kwakuti kukhali cifupi. Kodi anthu acitanji pidabva iwo cenjezo? Patsogolo pace, Yezu Kristu alonga kuti anthu anewa ‘nee acita cinthu.’ Iye alonga kuti akhadzudzumika kakamwe na pinthu pya umaso wa ntsiku na ntsiku—kudya, kumwa na kumanga banja—mbakhonda kubvesera Nowa. (Mat. 24:37-39) Mwakukhonda penula, azinji asingirira Nowa na banjace; mphyakukwanisika kuti anango anthusa na kumpingiza munjira zizinji. Panango iwo ayesera kupingiza basa yakumanga bote.

14. Kodi mabanja Acikristu lero anapfundzanji kubulukira kwa Nowa na banjace?

¹⁴ Mbwenye Nowa na banjace cipo abwerera nduli. Maseze akhali n’dziko yakuti anthu akhaazungulira akhanyerezera kuti basa yawo ikhali yakusowa basa peno yakubvunga ndzidzi, iwo apitiriza kuicita mwakukhulupirika. Natenepa, mabanja Acikristu lero anakwanisa kupfundza pizinji kubulukira ku cikhulupiro ca Nowa na banjace. Lero, tikukhala m’midzidzi inalongwa m’Bhibhlya kuti ndi ‘ntsiku zakumalisa’ za makhaliro ano a pinthu. (2 Tim. 3:1) Yezu alonga kuti ntsiku zathu mbizidakhala ninga ntsiku zidamanga Nowa bote. Anthu angakhonda kufuna kubva mphangwa za Umambo wa Mulungu, angasingirira, peno kutcinga, Akristu anacita pyadidi kukumbuka ndzidzi wa Nowa. Iwo nee ndi akutoma kuthimbana na pinentso pyenepi.

15. Ninji cidacitikira Nowa mukhali iye na pyaka cifupi na 600?

¹⁵ Mudapita pyaka, pang’ono na pang’ono bote ikhamala. Mukhali Nowa cifupi na pyaka 600, iye aluza anyakufunika ace anango. Babace Lameki alowa. * Pakupita pyaka pixanu, baba wa Lameki wakuti akhali yavu wa Nowa Metuzalemu alowa na pyaka 969—mbafungisa ndandanda wa anthu analongwa m’Bhibhlya kuti akhala pyaka pizinji. (Gen. 5:27) Metuzalemu na Lameki akhala maso mu ndzidzi wa mamuna wakutoma, Adhamu.

16, 17. (a) Ndi mphangwa zipi zidatambira Nowa pikhali iye na pyaka 600? (b) Fokotozani cakucitika cakukhonda duwalika cidaona Nowa pabodzi na banjace.

¹⁶ Pikhali Nowa na pyaka 600, atambira mphangwa zipswa za Yahova Mulungu: ‘Pita m’bote iwe na onsene ali na iwe.’ Mu ndzidzi ubodzi ene, Mulungu apanga Nowa toera kupitisa ntundu onsene wa pinyama m’bote— pyakuthema kuperekwa ntsembe pikhafunika kupitiswa pinomwe, mbwenye pinango pikhafunika kupitiswa piwiri-piwiri.—Gen. 7:1-3.

¹⁷ Pisaoneka kuti cikhali cakucitika cakukhonda duwalika. Nakutali kukhaoneka pikwi na pikwi pya pinyama—pinango pikhafamba, kumburuka na kunumpha—pyonsene pikhali na thunga yakusiyana, pontho pinango pikhali pyaukali na pinango pyakupfulika. Mbwenye  ife tisadziwa kuti Nowa nee athimbana na pinyama pyenepi pya ntsanga, peno kupinyengerera toera pipite m’mbuto ineyi yakucepa ya bote. Bhibhlya isalonga kuti pinyama pyonsene pyapita ‘m’bote pabodzi na Nowa.’—Gen. 7:9.

18, 19. (a) Tinakwanisa tani kuphedza anyakupokanya anacita mibvundzo thangwi ya mbiri ya Nowa? (b) Kodi tisaona tani udziwisi udaphatisira Yahova toera kupulumusa pinyama pidacita iye?

¹⁸ Anyakupokanya anango anabvundza: ‘Pinthu ninga pyenepi pinacitika tani? Pontho pinyama pyenepi pyonsene mbipidakhala tani mwantendere m’mbuto yakucepa?’ Nyerezerani ipi: Kodi Nciti nkhabe mphambvu yakutonga pinyama pidacita iye, ngakhale kupicitisa kukhala pyakupfulika pingakhala pyakufunika? Kumbukani, Yahova ndi Mulungu adacita pinyama. Mukupita kwa ndzidzi, agwanda Bara Yakufwira na kucitisa dzuwa kulimira. Kodi iye nee mbadakwanisa kucita pyonsene pidalongwa m’mbiri ya Nowa? Mwandimomwene mbadakwanisa na ndi pyenepi pidacita iye!

¹⁹ Ndimomwene kuti Yahova mbadakwanisa kupulumusa pinyama pyace munjira inango. Mbwenye mwandzeru iye asankhula njira yakuti isatikumbusa basa idapasa iye anthu akutoma yakutsalakana pinthu pyonsene pya umaso pa dziko yapantsi. (Gen. 1:28) Natenepa, anyakubala azinji lero asaphatisira mbiri ya Nowa toera kupfundzisa anawo kuti Yahova asapasa ntengo pinyama na anthu adacita iye.

20. Kodi Nowa na banjace akhali akuphatika tani nkati mwa sumana ikhafuna kubwera Cigumula?

²⁰ Yahova apanga Nowa kuti Cigumula mbicidabwera nkati mwa sumana ibodzi. Panango banja ya Nowa yakhala yakuphatika kakamwe pa ndzidzi unoyu. Nyerezerani basa yakupitisa pinyama  pyonsene, pyakudya toera kupasa pinyama na banjace pabodzi na pinthu pyawo. Nkazi wa Nowa, Semu, Hamu na Yafeti panango akhali akuphatika kakamwe toera kusasanyira bote kuti ikhale yakutsandzayisa kukhalamo.

21, 22. (a) Thangwi yanji nee tisafunika kukhala akudzudzumika na anthu adakhonda kupangiza cifuno mu ntsiku za Nowa? (b) Ndi ndzidzi upi udasiya anthu kusingirira Nowa na banjace?

²¹ Kodi anthu a ntsiku za Nowa acitanji? Iwo apitiriza kukhonda ‘kucita cinthu’—maseze akhaona pidzindikiro pizinji pya nkhombo zikhapaswa Nowa na Yahova thangwi yakuwangisira kwace. Iwo nee aphedza, mbwenye akhaona pinyama mbapikapita m’bote. Natenepa, nee tisafunika kudzudzumika thangwi yakusowa kwawo cifuno. Munjira ibodzi ene anthu lero, nee asacita cinthu maseze asaona pidzindikiro pizinji pyakuti tikukhala mu ntsiku zakumalisa. Ninga pidalongeratu mpostolo Pedhru, mbapadadzaoneka anyakusingirira, mbaseka ale anabvera macenjezo a Mulungu. (Lerini 2 Pedro 3:3-6.) Mwakukhonda penula, anthu asingirirambo Nowa na banjace.

²² Kodi kusingirira kweneku kwadzamala lini? Bhibhlya isalonga kuti mudapita Nowa na banjace m’bote pabodzi na pinyama, ‘Yahova afunga nsuwo.’ Khala anyakusingirira akhali cifupi, kufunga nsuwo kudacita Yahova, mwakukhonda penula kwaamatamisa. Khala nkhabe, madzi acita pyenepi—thangwi iwo abvumbadi! Pontho iwo apitiriza kubvumba mpaka kudzadza dziko yonsene ninga mukhadalonga Yahova.—Gen. 7:16-21.

23. (a) Tisadziwa tani kuti Yahova nee akomerwa na kufa kwa anthu akuipa mu ntsiku za Nowa? (b) Thangwi yanji mphyandzeru kutowezera cikhulupiro ca Nowa lero?

²³ Kodi Yahova akomerwa na kufa kwa anthu anewa akuipa? Nkhabe! (Ezek. 33:11) M’mbuto mwace, iye akhadaapasa miyai mizinji toera kucinja makhaliro awo mbacita pinthu pyadidi. Kodi iwo acita pyenepi? Umaso wa Nowa watawira mbvundzo unoyu. Mukufamba pabodzi na Yahova, kubvera Mulungu wace m’pinthu pyonsene, Nowa apangiza kuti kupulumuka mbukudakwanisika. Munjira ineyi, cikhulupiro cace catcunyusa dziko ya ntsiku zace; capangiza pakweca uipi wa anthu anewa. Cikhulupiro cace capulumusa iye na banjace. Mungatowezera cikhulupiro ca Nowa, munakwanisambo kupulumusa umaso wanu na wa ale anafuna imwe. Ninga Nowa, munakwanisa kufamba na Yahova Mulungu ninga Xamwali wanu. Pontho uxamwali unoyu unakwanisa kukhala kwenda na kwenda!