Abantu bakwaJuda babeshiya uJehova ngokuphindaphindiwe beyokhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. UJehova wazama iminyaka eminingi ukubasiza. Wathumela abaprofethi abaningi ukuze abaxwayise kodwa abamlalelanga. Kunalokho, babehlekisa ngabaprofethi. UJehova wakuqeda kanjani ukukhulekela kwabo izithombe?

INkosi yaseBhabhiloni uNebukhadinezari, yayinqoba izizwe isuka kwesinye iya kwesinye. Ngesikhathi inqoba iJerusalema okokuqala, yathumba iNkosi uJehoyakini, izikhulu, amaqhawe nezingcweti, bonke yabayisa eBhabhiloni. Yathatha yonke ingcebo esethempelini likaJehova. Ngemva kwalokho uNebukhadinezari wamisa uZedekiya ukuba abe inkosi yakwaJuda.

Ekuqaleni, uZedekiya wamlalela uNebukhadinezari. Kodwa izizwe ezingomakhelwane nabaprofethi bamanga beluleka uZedekiya ukuba avukele iBhabhiloni. UJeremiya wamxwayisa ethi: ‘Uma uvukela, kuzobulawa abantu, kube nendlala nezifo kwaJuda.’

Ngemva kokubusa iminyaka engu-8 uZedekiya wanquma ukuvukela iBhabhiloni. Wacela ibutho laseGibhithe ukuba limsize. UNebukhadinezari wabe esethumela ibutho lakhe ukuba liyohlasela iJerusalema, lafika lavimbezela idolobha. UJeremiya wathi kuZedekiya: ‘UJehova uthi uma uzinikela kwabaseBhabhiloni, kuzosinda kokubili wena naleli dolobha. Kodwa uma ungazinikeli, abaseBhabhiloni bazolishisa iJerusalema bakuthathe ube yisiboshwa.’ UZedekiya wathi: ‘Ngeke ngizinikele!’

 Ngemva konyaka nengxenye, ibutho laseBhabhiloni langena eJerusalema futhi lalishisa. Lashisa ithempeli labulala abantu abaningi futhi lathatha abaningi labenza iziboshwa.

UZedekiya wabaleka eJerusalema, kodwa abaseBhabhiloni bamjaha. Bambamba eduze kwaseJeriko bamletha kuNebukhadinezari. Inkosi yaseBhabhiloni yaphoqa uZedekiya ukuba abuke njengoba kubulawa amadodana akhe. Yabe isikhipha uZedekiya amehlo yamfaka ejele lapho afela khona. Nokho uJehova wathembisa abantu bakwaJuda wathi: ‘Ngemva kweminyaka engu-70, ngizonibuyisela eJerusalema.’

Kwakuzokwenzekani ngezingane ezazithathwe njengeziboshwa zayiswa eBhabhiloni? Ingabe zaziyohlala ziqotho kuJehova?