NJENGOBA umhlambi wakhe wezimvu uklabe ngokuthula egqumeni, u-Abela uyawubuka. Ngemva kwalokho, mhlawumbe ubuka ngalé kwezimvu zakhe lapho kulokoza ilangabi khona. Wayazi ukuthi lapho kwakunenkemba evuthayo eyayihlale iphenduphenduka, evimbela indlela eya ensimini yase-Edene. Abazali bakhe bake bahlala kuleyo ndawo, kodwa-ke bonke babengasakwazi ukungena. Bona ngeso lengqondo izinwele zika-Abela zipheshulwa umoya wantambama ohelezayo njengoba ebheka phezulu futhi ecabanga ngoMdali wakhe. Ingabe igebe elaliphakathi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu laliyoke livalwe? U-Abela wayefuna livalwe.

U-Abela ukhuluma nawe namuhla. Uyamuzwa yini? Ungase uthi into enjalo ayinakwenzeka. Phela, le ndodana ka-Adamu yesibili yafa kudala. Njengoba isineminyaka engu-6 000 yafa, amathambo ayo asaze aphenduka inhlabathi. Uma likhuluma ngabafileyo iBhayibheli lithi: “Abafileyo bona abazi lutho.” (UmShumayeli 9:5, 10) Ngaphezu kwalokho, akukho lutho olulotshwe eBhayibhelini olwashiwo u-Abela. Ngakho angakhuluma kanjani nathi?

Umphostoli uPawulu waphefumulelwa ukuba athi ngo-Abela: “Usakhuluma, nakuba afa.” (Hebheru 11:4) Kanjani? Ngokholo. U-Abela wayengumuntu wokuqala owaba nale mfanelo evelele. Wabonakalisa ukholo ngendlela evelele kangangokuthi isibonelo sakhe siyaphila, siyakhuthaza futhi singasilingisa nanamuhla. Uma sifunda okholweni lwakhe futhi sizama ukululingisa, khona-ke u-Abela ukhuluma nathi ngendlela engokoqobo nezuzisayo.

Nokho, yini esingayifunda ku-Abela nasokholweni lwakhe nakuba kukuncane kakhulu okushiwo ngaye eBhayibhelini? Ake sibone.

U-Abela wazalwa ekuqaleni komlando wabantu. Kamuva uJesu wahlobanisa u-Abela ‘nokusungulwa kwezwe.’ (Luka 11:50, 51) Lapho uJesu ekhuluma ngezwe, kusobala ukuthi wayesho abantu ababenethemba lokuhlengwa esonweni. Njengoba u-Abela ayengumuntu wesine kwababephila ngaleso sikhathi, kubonakala sengathi wayengumuntu wokuqala uNkulunkulu ambona efanelekela ukuhlengwa. * Kusobala ukuthi u-Abela akakhulelanga endaweni enethonya elihle.

Nakuba izwe lalisanda kusungulwa, umkhaya wesintu wawusugutshuzelwe ifu elimnyama. Abazali baka-Abela, u-Adamu no-Eva, babebahle futhi beyimiqemane. Kodwa babenze iphutha elikhulu ekuphileni futhi bekwazi lokho. Babeke baphelela, futhi benethemba lokuphila phakade. Ngemva kwalokho, bahlubuka kuJehova uNkulunkulu futhi baxoshwa ekhaya labo eliyiPharadesi ensimini yase-Edene. Ngokuzicabangela bona bodwa, nokuhluleka ukucabangela ngisho nabantababo, balahlekelwa ukuphelela nokuphila okuphakade.—Genesise 2:15–3:24.

Njengoba base bexoshiwe ensimini, ukuphila kuka-Adamu no-Eva kwaba nzima kakhulu. Nokho, lapho bezala ingane yabo yokuqala bayetha ngokuthi uKhayini noma “Okuzelwe”, futhi u-Eva wathi: “Ngitholé indoda ngosizo lukaJehova.” Amazwi  akhe asikisela ukuthi kungenzeka wayecabanga ngesithembiso uJehova asenza ensimini, ebikezela ukuthi owesifazane othile wayeyoveza “inzalo” ngolunye usuku eyayiyobhubhisa omubi owayedukise u-Adamu no-Eva. (Genesise 3:15; 4:1) Kungenzeka yini ukuthi u-Eva wayecabanga ukuthi uyilowo wesifazane osesiprofethweni nokuthi uKhayini uyileyo “nzalo” ethenjisiwe?

Uma kunjalo, wayeshaye phansi kwashunqa uthuli. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma u-Adamu no-Eva babelokhu betshela uKhayini lokho lapho ekhula, ngokuqinisekile lokhu kwamane kwamenza wazikhukhumeza. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, u-Eva wathola indodana yesibili, kodwa awekho amazwi okuthopha awasho ngayo. Bayiqamba ngokuthi u-Abela, okusho “Ukukhipha Umoya” noma “Ize.” (Genesise 4:2) Ingabe ukumetha lelo gama kwakubonisa ukuthi babengalindele olutheni ku-Abela kunalokho ababekulindele kuKhayini? Mhlawumbe kunjalo.

Kunoma yikuphi, abazali namuhla bangafunda okuningi kulabo bazali bokuqala. Ngamazwi nangezenzo zenu, kungenzeka yini ukuthi nifaka ukuqhosha, ukuzidla nobugovu kubantwana benu? Noma ingabe nizobafundisa ukuthanda uJehova uNkulunkulu futhi bafune ukuba abangane bakhe? Ngokudabukisayo abazali bokuqala bahluleka ukwenza lokho. Kodwa lalisekhona ithemba ngenzalo yabo.

Njengoba laba bafana ababili bekhula, cishe u-Adamu wabafundisa umsebenzi okufanele wenziwe ukuze banakekele umndeni. UKhayini waba umlimi; u-Abela waba umalusi.

Nokho, u-Abela wenza okuthile okubaluleke kakhulu. Njengoba iminyaka yayiqhubeka, waba nokholo, imfanelo enhle kakhulu uPawulu abhala ngayo kamuva. Cabanga nje. U-Abela wayengenaye umuntu owayengaba isibonelo kuye. Pho-ke, waba kanjani nokholo kuJehova uNkulunkulu? Cabanga ngezinto ezintathu okungenzeka zaba isisekelo esiqinile sokholo lwakhe.

Indalo kaJehova.

Yiqiniso, uJehova wayewuqalekisile umhlaba, ewubangela ukuba uveze ameva namakhakhasi okwenza ukulima kwaba nzima. Noma kunjalo, umhlaba wawusakukhiqiza ukudla okwakugcina u-Abela nomndeni wakubo bephila. Futhi aziqalekiswanga izilwane, kuhlanganise izinyoni nezinhlanzi; izintaba, amachibi, imifula nezilwandle; isibhakabhaka, amafu, ilanga, inyanga nezinkanyezi. Nomaphi lapho u-Abela ayebheka khona, wayebubona ubufakazi bothando, ukuhlakanipha nobuhle bukaJehova uNkulunkulu, okunguye owadala zonke izinto. (Roma 1:20) Ukwazisa izinto ezinjalo nokuzindla ngazo kwaluqinisa ukholo lwakhe.

Ngokuqinisekile u-Abela wazinika isikhathi sokuzindla ngezinto ezingokomoya. Ake umbone ngeso lengqondo elusa umhlambi wakhe. Ukuphila kukamalusi kwakuhilela ukuhamba amabanga amade. Wayehola izilwane ezimnene emagqumeni, zidabule izigodi futhi zinqamule imifula—elokhu efuna amadlelo aluhlaza, imithombo nezindawo zokuphumula ezivikelekile ezingcono kakhulu. Kuzo zonke izilwane ezadalwa uNkulunkulu, izimvu zibonakala  zingakwazi ukuzilwela, njengokungathi zaziklanyelwe ukuba umuntu aziqondise futhi azivikele. Ingabe u-Abela naye wabona ukuthi wayedinga isiqondiso, isivikelo nokunakekelwa Othile ohlakaniphe kakhulu nonamandla kunawo wonke umuntu? Akungabazeki ukuthi wazwakalisa imicabango eminingi enjengaleyo lapho ethandaza, futhi ukholo lwakhe lwaqhubeka lukhula ngenxa yalokho.

Izithembiso zikaJehova.

Kumelwe ukuba u-Adamu no-Eva bawaxoxela amadodana abo okwenzeka ensimini yase-Edene okwabenza bagcina bexoshiwe. Ngakho, u-Abela wayenezinto eziningi ayengazindla ngazo.

UJehova wayethe umhlabathi uqalekisiwe. U-Abela wawubona uveza ameva namakhakhasi njengoba uJehova ayeshilo. UJehova wabikezela nokuthi u-Eva wayeyoba nezinhlungu lapho ekhulelwa noma ebeletha. Njengoba izingane zakubo zizalwa, ngokungangabazeki wakubona nokugcwaliseka kwalawo mazwi. UJehova wakusho kusengaphambili ukuthi u-Eva wayeyonxanela kakhulu uthando nokunakwa umyeni wakhe nokuthi u-Adamu wayeyombusa. U-Abela walibona lelo qiniso elibuhlungu lenzeka phambi kwakhe. Kukho konke, wabona ukuthi izwi likaJehova lithembeke ngokuphelele. Ngakho, u-Abela wayenezizathu eziqinile zokuba nokholo esithembisweni sikaNkulunkulu ‘senzalo’ ngolunye usuku eyayiyolungisa umonakalo owawuqale ensimini yase-Edene.—Genesise 3:15-19.

Izinceku zikaJehova.

U-Abela akazange asithole isibonelo esihle kwabakubo, kodwa abantu babengezona ukuphela kwezidalwa ezihlakaniphile ngaleso sikhathi emhlabeni. Lapho u-Adamu no-Eva bexoshwa ensimini, uJehova waqikelela ukuthi bona nezingane zabo abasangeni ePharadesi lasemhlabeni. Ukuze aqaphe leyo ndawo, uJehova wabeka amakherubi, izingelosi ezisesikhundleni esiphakeme kakhulu, nenkemba yelangabi eyayihlale iphenduphenduka.—Genesise 3:24.

Mbone ngeso lengqondo u-Abela ebona lawo makherubi esengumfanyana. Ngokuqinisekile ayeyizidlakela. Leyo “nkemba,” eyayilokhu ivuthe njalo futhi iphenduphenduka yayimmangaza. Njengoba ekhula, ingabe wake wathola la makherubi enesithukuthezi futhi eshiye isabelo sawo? Cha. Ubusuku nemini, unyaka nonyaka, amashumi ngamashumi eminyaka, lezo zidalwa ezihlakaniphile ezinamandla zazimi njalo kuleyo ndawo. Ngakho u-Abela wafunda ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu unezinceku ezilungile neziqotho. U-Abela wabona ukuthi lawo makherubi aqotho futhi ayamlalela uJehova, into angayibonanga emndenini wakubo. Ngokuqinisekile isibonelo salezo zingelosi saluqinisa ukholo lwakhe.

Ukuzindla ngakho konke uJehova akwembula ngaye ngokwakhe endalweni, izithembiso zakhe nezibonelo zezinceku zakhe, kwenza ukholo luka-Abela lwaqina ngokwengeziwe. Isibonelo sakhe siyakhuluma, akunjalo? Abantu abasha ngokukhethekile kungabaqinisa ukwazi ukuthi bangaba nokholo lwangempela kuJehova uNkulunkulu kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abakubo benzani. Njengoba sizungezwe izimangaliso zendalo, sineBhayibheli eliphelele nentilibathwa yezibonelo zokholo, sinezizathu eziqinile zokwakha ukholo namuhla.

Njengoba ukholo luka-Abela kuJehova lukhula, wafuna izindlela zokulubonisa. Nokho, yini nje umuntu ongelutho angayipha uMdali wendawo yonke? Ngokuqinisekile, uNkulunkulu wayengadingi sipho noma usizo kubantu. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, u-Abela waqonda leli qiniso elibalulekile: Uma—ngesisusa esifanele—enikela kuJehova okungcono kunakho konke ayenakho, uYise osezulwini onothando wayeyojabula.

Ngakho, u-Abela walungiselela ukunikela ngezimvu emhlanjini wakhe. Wakhetha ezingcono kunazo zonke emhlanjini, amazibulo, wayesenikela ngalokho okwakubonakala kungokwekhethelo. NoKhayini wayefuna isibusiso nokwamukelwa uNkulunkulu ngakho walungiselela ukunikela ngezitshalo zakhe. Kodwa izisusa zakhe zazingafani nezika-Abela. Umehluko wacaca lapho lezi zelamani ziletha iminikelo yazo.

Kungenzeka ukuthi womabili amadodana ka-Adamu asebenzisa i-altare nomlilo ukuze enze iminikelo, mhlawumbe phambi kwamakherubi, okwakuwukuphela kwezidalwa ezazimelela uJehova emhlabeni  ngaleso sikhathi. UJehova wasabela! Siyafunda: ‘UJehova wambheka ngomusa u-Abela nomnikelo wakhe.’ (Genesise 4:4) Ukulandisa akusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uyawamukela. Kodwa kungani amukela oka-Abela?

Ingabe kwakungenxa yomnikelo ngokwawo? U-Abela wanikela ngesidalwa esiphilayo esiphefumulayo, okwachitheka igazi laso eliyigugu. Kungenzeka yini ukuthi wayazi ukuthi umhlatshelo onjalo ubaluleke kangakanani? Ngemva kwamakhulu amaningi eminyaka, uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa umhlatshelo wemvu engenasici ukuze afanekisele umhlatshelo weNdodana yakhe ephelele, “iWundlu likaNkulunkulu,” egazi layo elimsulwa laliyochitheka. (Johane 1:29; Eksodusi 12:5-7) Nokho, kungenzeka ukuthi u-Abela wayengakwazi lokho.

Esiqiniseka ngakho yilokhu: U-Abela wanikela ngokungcono kunakho konke ayenakho. UJehova akazange nje amukele umnikelo kuphela kodwa nomnikazi. Eshukunyiswa uthando ngoJehova nokholo lwangempela kuye, u-Abela wenza okuthile.

Kwakungenjalo ngoKhayini. UJehova “akazange neze ambheke ngomusa uKhayini nomnikelo wakhe.” (Genesise 4:5) Umnikelo kaKhayini ngokwawo wawungenankinga; uMthetho kaNkulunkulu kamuva wavumela ukuba kulethwe imikhiqizo yomhlaba. (Levitikusi 6:14, 15) Kodwa iBhayibheli lithi ngoKhayini “imisebenzi yakhe yayimibi.” (1 Johane 3:12) Njengabantu abaningi namuhla, kuyacaca ukuthi uKhayini wayecabanga ukuthi ukubonisa nje ukuthi uzinikele kuNkulunkulu kwakwanele. Ukuntula kwakhe ukholo lwangempela noma uthando ngoJehova kwabonakala ngokushesha kulokho akwenza.

Lapho uKhayini ebona ukuthi uJehova akamamukeli, ingabe wafuna ukufunda esibonelweni sika-Abela? Cha. Wagcwala inzondo ngomfowabo. UJehova wabona ukuthi inhliziyo kaKhayini igaya izibozi futhi wabonisana naye ngesineke. Wamxwayisa ngokuthi uma eqhubeka ngaleyo ndlela, wayeyogcina enze isono esibi, futhi wathembisa ‘ukumphakamisa’ uma eshintsha izindlela zakhe.—Genesise 4:6, 7.

UKhayini akasilalelanga isixwayiso sikaNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, wathi kumfowabo, owayemethemba, abaye endle. Uma befika, uKhayini wamshaya futhi wambulala. (Genesise 4:8) Ngomqondo othile, u-Abela waba isisulu sokuqala sokushushiselwa inkolo, umfel’ ukholo wokuqala. Wafa, kodwa indaba yakhe yayingakezukuphela.

Ngokomfanekiso, igazi lika-Abela lakhalela impindiselo noma ubulungisa kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Futhi uNkulunkulu waqinisekisa ukuthi ubulungisa buyenziwa ngokujezisa uKhayini omubi ngesenzo sakhe sobudlova. (Genesise 4:9-12) Okubaluleke nakakhulu, ukulandisa kuka-Abela kokholo kusakhuluma nanamuhla. Ukuphila kwakhe—mhlawumbe okwaba iminyaka engaba ikhulu—kwakukufushane kulokho okwakuphilwa abantu bangaleso sikhathi, kodwa wakusebenzisa ngokunenzuzo. Wafa azi ukuthi uYise wasezulwini, uJehova, wayemthanda futhi emamukela. (Hebheru 11:4) Ngakho-ke, singaqiniseka ngokuthi ulondekile enkumbulweni kaJehova engenamkhawulo, ulindele ukuvuselwa emhlabeni oyipharadesi. (Johane 5:28, 29) Ingabe uyombona? Ungambona uma uzimisele ukumlalela njengoba ekhuluma futhi ulingise ukholo lwakhe oluvelele.