1-3. (a) Yiluphi usongo ama-Israyeli ayebhekene nalo kwabaseGibhithe? (b) UJehova wabalwela kanjani abantu bakhe?

 AMA-ISRAYELI ayebhajiwe​—ebhajwe phakathi kwamawa okungadluleki kuwo nolwandle olungaweleki. Ibutho laseGibithe, ibutho elinesihluku elalibulala abantu abaningi, lalisezithendeni zawo, lizimisele ukuwaqothula. a Noma kunjalo, uMose wanxusa abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuba bangalilahli ithemba. Wabaqinisekisa: “UJehova ngokwakhe uzonilwela.”​—Eksodusi 14:14.

² Naphezu kwalokho, kusobala ukuthi uMose wabiza uJehova, futhi uNkulunkulu waphendula: “Kungani ulokhu ungikhalela? . . . Phakamisa induku yakho welulele isandla sakho phezu kolwandle uluhlukanise phakathi.” (Eksodusi 14:15, 16) Ake ukubone ngeso lengqondo lokho okwenzeka. UJehova ube eseyala ingelosi yakhe masinyane, bese insika yefu iya ngemuva kuka-Israyeli, mhlawumbe yendlaleke njengodonga ivimbe abahlaseli baseGibhithe. (Eksodusi 14:19, 20; IHubo 105:39) UMose welula isandla. Umoya onamandla wenza ulwandle luhlukane phakathi. Ngandlela-thile amanzi ayajiya ame njengezindonga, kuvuleke indlela ebanzi ngokwanele ukuba isizwe sonke sikwazi ukuhamba kuyo siwele!​—Eksodusi 14:21; 15:8.

³ Ebhekene namandla angaka, uFaro kufanele atshele amabutho akhe ukuthi awaphonse ithawula. Kunalokho, uFaro oqhoshayo uthi mawashone khona. (Eksodusi 14:23) AbaseGibhithe bangena olwandle bejaha ama-Israyeli, kodwa ngokushesha ukuhlasela kwabo kuphenduka isiphithiphithi  njengoba amasondo ezinqola zabo eqala ukukhumuka. Lapho ama-Israyeli esewelele ngaphesheya, uJehova uyala uMose: “Yelulela isandla sakho phezu kolwandle ukuze amanzi abuyele phezu kwabaseGibhithe, izinqola zabo zempi namabutho abo agibele amahhashi.” Izindonga zamanzi ziyawa, zimboza uFaro namabutho akhe!​—Eksodusi 14:24-28; IHubo 136:15.

4. (a) UJehova wazibonakalisa eyini oLwandle Olubomvu? (b) Abanye bangase basabele kanjani kule ndlela achazwa ngayo uJehova?

⁴ Ukukhululwa kwesizwe sakwa-Israyeli oLwandle Olubomvu kwakuyisenzakalo esiyingqopha-mlando emlandweni wokusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu nesintu. Lapho, uJehova wabonisa ukuthi “uyiqhawe elinamandla.” (Eksodusi 15:3) Kodwa kukuthinta kanjani wena ukuchazwa kukaJehova ngale ndlela? Kuyavunywa ukuthi impi iye yalethela isintu ubuhlungu nosizi olukhulu. Kungenzeka yini ukuthi ukusebenzisa kukaNkulunkulu amandla okubhubhisa kuyakuqhelisa kuye kunokuba kukukhuthaze ukuba usondele kuye?

5, 6. (a) Kungani kufaneleka ukuba uNkulunkulu abizwe ngokuthi ‘uJehova wamabutho’? (b) Izimpi zikaNkulunkulu zihluke kanjani kwezabantu?

⁵ EmiBhalweni YesiHebheru uNkulunkulu ubizwa ngokuthi ‘uJehova wamabutho’ cishe izikhathi ezingu-260, kanti emiBhalweni YesiGreki ubizwa kanjalo kabili. (1 Samuweli 1:11) Njengoba enguMbusi Wendawo Yonke, uJehova ulawula amabutho amaningi ezingelosi. (Joshuwa 5:13-15; 1 AmaKhosi 22:19) Amandla okubhubhisa aleli butho ayesabeka. (Isaya 37:36) Akumnandi ukucabanga ngokubhujiswa kwabantu. Kodwa kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi izimpi zikaNkulunkulu azifani nezabantu ezingenanjongo. Abaholi bezepolitiki nabezempi bangase bazame ukwenza izimpi zabo zibonakale zinezinhloso ezinhle. Kodwa izimpi zabantu njalo zibangelwa ukuhaha nobugovu.

 ⁶ Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uJehova akaqhutshwa imizwelo engenangqondo. UDuteronomi 32:4 uthi: “UyiDwala, uphelele umsebenzi wakhe, konke akwenzayo kunobulungisa. UnguNkulunkulu wokwethembeka, okungenzeki angabi nabulungisa; ulungile futhi uqotho.” IZwi likaNkulunkulu liyayilahla intukuthelo engalawuleki, isihluku nobudlova. (Genesise 49:7; IHubo 11:5) Ngakho, uJehova akalokothi athathe isinyathelo ngaphandle kwesizathu. Amandla akhe okubhubhisa akawasebenzisi noma kanjani futhi uwasebenzisa njengesinyathelo sokugcina. Kunjengoba asho ngomprofethi wakhe uHezekeli: “‘Kukhona yini okungijabulisayo ngokufa komuntu omubi?’ kusho iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova. ‘Angithandi yini ukuba aphenduke ezindleleni zakhe aqhubeke ephila?’”​—Hezekeli 18:23.

7, 8. (a) Isiphi isiphetho esiyiphutha uJobe asifinyelela ngokuhlupheka kwakhe? (b) U-Elihu wakulungisa kanjani ukucabanga kukaJobe mayelana nalokhu? (c) Yisiphi isifundo esingasifunda kokwenzeka kuJobe?

⁷ Kungani-ke uJehova esebenzisa amandla okubhubhisa? Singakaphenduli, masikhumbule indoda elungile uJobe. USathane wabeka inselele yokuthi uJobe​—empeleni noma imuphi umuntu—​wayeyohlala eqotho yini ngaphansi kovivinyo. UJehova waphendula leyo nselele ngokuvumela uSathane ukuba avivinye ubuqotho bukaJobe. Ngenxa yalokho, uJobe wagula, walahlekelwa ingcebo nabantwana bakhe. (Jobe 1:1–2:8) Engazazi izimpikiswano ezazihilelekile, uJobe wenza iphutha lokuphetha ngokuthi ukuhlupheka kwakhe kwakuyisijeziso esingamfanele esivela kuNkulunkulu. Wabuza uNkulunkulu ukuthi kungani ‘amagalelo aKhe ayewabhekise kuye’ noma emenza ‘isitha.’​—Jobe 7:20; 13:24.

⁸ Insizwa okuthiwa u-Elihu yaliveza iphutha lokucabanga kukaJobe, ithi: “Ingabe ngempela ucabanga ukuthi ulungile kangangokuba uze uthi, ‘Ngilunge ngaphezu kukaNkulunkulu’?” (Jobe 35:2) Yebo, kuwubuwula ukucabanga ukuthi sazi kangcono kunoNkulunkulu, noma ukuthatha ngokuthi uNkulunkulu wenze ngendlela engenabulungisa. U-Elihu wathi: “UNkulunkulu weqiniso akakucabangi nokukucabanga  ukwenza okubi, uMninimandla Onke akakucabangi ukwenza okungalungile!” Kamuva wathi: “Ngeke sikwazi ukuqonda uMninimandla Onke; unamandla amakhulu, futhi akalokothi ahlanekezele ubulungisa bakhe nokulunga kwakhe okukhulu.” (Jobe 34:10; 36:22, 23; 37:23) Singaqiniseka ngokuthi lapho uNkulunkulu elwa, usuke enesizathu esizwakalayo sokulwa. Sinalokhu engqondweni, ake sihlole ezinye zezizathu ezenza uNkulunkulu wokuthula alwe ngezinye izikhathi.​—1 Korinte 14:33.

9. Kungani uNkulunkulu ongcwele elwa?

⁹ Ngemva kokutusa uNkulunkulu ngokuthi “uyiqhawe elinamandla,” uMose wathi: “Ubani onjengawe, Jehova, phakathi konkulunkulu? Ubani onjengawe, omkhulu ngobungcwele?” (Eksodusi 15:11) Umprofethi uHabakuki naye wabhala: “Amehlo akho ahlanzeke kakhulu ukuba angabheka okubi, awukwazi ukubekezelela ububi.” (Habakuki 1:13) Nakuba uJehova enguNkulunkulu wothando, ubuye abe uNkulunkulu wobungcwele, wokulunga nowobulungisa. Ngezinye izikhathi lezi zimfanelo ziyamphoqa ukuba asebenzise amandla akhe okubhubhisa. (Isaya 59:15-19; Luka 18:7) Ngakho uNkulunkulu akabungcolisi ubungcwele bakhe lapho elwa. Kunalokho, ulwa ngoba engcwele.​—Eksodusi 39:30.

10. Iyiphi okuwukuphela kwendlela eyayingaqedwa ngayo inzondo eyabikezelwa kuGenesise 3:15, futhi sizuze kanjani isintu esilungile?

¹⁰ Cabanga ngesimo esaba khona lapho abantu bokuqala ababili, u-Adamu no-Eva, behlubuka kuNkulunkulu. (Genesise 3:1-6) Ukube wakushalazela ukungalungi kwabo, uJehova wayeyobe wehlisa isikhundla sakhe njengoMbusi Wendawo Yonke. NjengoNkulunkulu olungile, wabopheka ukuba abagwebele ukufa. (Roma 6:23) Esiprofethweni sokuqala seBhayibheli, wabikezela ukuthi kwakuyoba nenzondo phakathi kwezinceku zakhe nabalandeli ‘benyoka,’ uSathane. (IsAmbulo 12:9; Genesise 3:15) Ekugcineni, le nzondo yayingaqedwa kuphela  ngokuchoboza uSathane. (Roma 16:20) Kodwa lokho kwahlulelwa kukaSathane kwakuyosilethela izibusiso ezinkulu isintu esilungile, kuqede ithonya likaSathane emhlabeni, kuvule nendlela eya epharadesi emhlabeni wonke. (Mathewu 19:28) Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, labo abachema noSathane babeyolokhu bewusongo olungapheli enhlalakahleni yabantu nasebuhlotsheni babo noNkulunkulu. Kwakuyodingeka uJehova angenele ngezikhathi ezithile.

11. Kungani uNkulunkulu azizwa ephoqelekile ukuba alethe uzamcolo emhlabeni wonke?

¹¹ UZamcolo wosuku lukaNowa uyisibonelo sokungenela kwakhe. UGenesise 6:11, 12, uthi: “Umhlaba wawusuwonakele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi wawusugcwele ubudlova. UNkulunkulu wabuka umhlaba futhi wawonakalisiwe; bonke abantu babenza izinto ezimbi kakhulu emhlabeni.” Ingabe uNkulunkulu wayeyovumela ukuba ababi bacishe inhlansi yokugcina yezimiso zokuziphatha eyayisasele emhlabeni? Cha. UJehova wazizwa ephoqelekile ukuba alethe uzamcolo emhlabeni wonke ukuze aqothule abantu ababethanda ubudlova futhi beziphethe kabi.

12. (a) UJehova wabikezelani ‘ngenzalo’ ka-Abrahama? (b) Ayezobulawelwani ama-Amori?

¹² Kwakungokufanayo nangesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu kwabaseKhanani. UJehova wembula ukuthi ngo-Abrahama kwakuzovela inzalo, imindeni yomhlaba eyayizozibusisa ngayo. Ngokuvumelana naleyo njongo, uNkulunkulu wamemezela ukuthi isizukulwane sika-Abrahama sasiyonikezwa izwe laseKhanani, izwe okwakuhlala kulo abantu okwakuthiwa ama-Amori. UNkulunkulu wayengabeka ziphi izizathu ezizwakalayo zokuxosha laba bantu ezweni labo? UJehova wabikezela ukuthi kwakusazodlula iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-400 ngaphambi kokuba baxoshwe​—kuze kube yilapho ‘isono sama-Amori sesifinyelele ekugcineni.’ b (Genesise 12:1-3; 13:14, 15; 15: 13, 16; 22:18) Phakathi naleso sikhathi, ama-Amori ayelokhu engena shi ekuziphatheni okubi. IKhanani laba yizwe elikhonza izithombe, elichitha igazi, nelinemikhuba engcolile yocansi. (Eksodusi 23:24; 34:12, 13; Numeri 33:52) Izakhamuzi zakuleli zwe zazize zibulale ngisho nezingane ngokuzenza imihlatshelo emililweni. Ingabe uNkulunkulu ongcwele wayengabafaka ebubini obunjalo abantu bakhe? Lutho neze! Wathi: “Izwe lingcolile, ngizolijezisa ngenxa yesiphambeko salo, futhi leli zwe lizobahlanza abakhe kulo.” (Levitikusi 18:21-25) Kodwa uJehova akazange nje abulale laba bantu ngokunganaki. Asinda amaKhanani ayethanda okuhle, njengoRahabi nabaseGibheyoni.​—Joshuwa 6:25; 9:3-27.

13, 14. (a) Kungani uJehova ayebophekile ukuba angcwelise igama lakhe? (b) UJehova wasisusa kanjani isihlamba egameni lakhe?

¹³ Ngenxa yokuthi uJehova ungcwele, negama lakhe lingcwele. (Levitikusi 22:32) UJesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe ukuba bathandaze: “Malingcweliswe igama lakho.” (Mathewu 6:9) Ukuhlubuka kwase-Edene kwalingcolisa igama likaNkulunkulu, kwalenza langabazeka idumela likaNkulunkulu nendlela yakhe yokubusa. UJehova wayengeke akuthethelele ukunyunda nokuhlubuka okunjalo. Wayebophekile ukuba asuse isihlamba egameni lakhe.​—Isaya 48:11.

¹⁴ Phinde ucabange ngama-Israyeli. Uma nje ayeseyizigqila eGibhithe, sasibonakala singenakugcwaliseka isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu ku-Abrahama sokuthi ngenzalo yakhe yonke imindeni yomhlaba iyobusiswa. Kodwa ngokuwakhulula nangokuwamisa njengesizwe, uJehova wasusa isihlamba egameni lakhe. Ngakho lapho ethandaza kuNkulunkulu wakhe, umprofethi uDaniyeli wathi: “Jehova Nkulunkulu wethu, wena owakhipha abantu bakho ezweni laseGibhithe ngesandla esinamandla, wazenzela igama.”​—Daniyeli 9:15.

15. Kungani uJehova awakhulula amaJuda ekuthunjweni eBhabhiloni?

¹⁵ Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi uDaniyeli wathandaza ngale ndlela ngesikhathi amaJuda efuna ukuba uJehova aphinde  awenzele okuthile ngenxa yegama laKhe. AmaJuda angalaleli ayethunjiwe, manje ayesethunjelwe eBhabhiloni. Inhloko-dolobha yawo, iJerusalema, lalingamanxiwa. UDaniyeli wayazi ukuthi ukubuyisela amaJuda ezweni lawo kwakuyophakamisa igama likaJehova. Ngakho, uDaniyeli wathandaza: “O Jehova, thethelela. O Jehova, naka futhi uthathe isinyathelo! Ungalibali, ngenxa yegama lakho Nkulunkulu wami, ngoba idolobha lakho nabantu bakho kubizwa ngegama lakho.”​—Daniyeli 9:18, 19.

16. Chaza ukuthi kungani ukufuna kukaJehova ukuvikela igama lakhe kungasho neze ukuthi akanandaba nabantu nokuthi unobugovu.

¹⁶ Ingabe ukukhathalela kukaJehova ukuvikela igama lakhe kusho ukuthi akanandaba nabantu futhi unobugovu? Cha, ngoba ngokuthatha isinyathelo esihambisana nobungcwele bakhe nokuthanda kwakhe ubulungisa, uvikela abantu bakhe. Cabanga ngoGenesise isahluko 14. Lapho, sifunda ngamakhosi amane ahlasela futhi athumba umshana ka-Abrahama, uLoti, kanye nomndeni wakhe. Ngosizo lukaNkulunkulu, u-Abrahama wawabulala wonke amabutho ayenamandla kakhulu! Indaba yalokhu kunqoba cishe ingeyokuqala ‘encwadini yeziMpi ZikaJehova,’ okuyincwadi enezinye izindaba zezimpi ezingabhaliwe eBhayibhelini. (Numeri 21:14) Kwakuzolandela okunye ukunqoba okuningi.

17. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uJehova wawalwela ama-Israyeli ngemva kokungena kwawo ezweni laseKhanani? Nikeza izibonelo.

¹⁷ Ngaphambi nje kokuba ama-Israyeli angene ezweni laseKhanani, uMose wawaqinisekisa: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uzohamba phambi kwenu anilwele, njengoba nje enza eGibhithe phambi kwenu.” (Duteronomi 1:30; 20:1) Kusukela kuJoshuwa, owalandela uMose, kuqhubeke kuze kube sezikhathini zabaHluleli nasekubuseni kwamakhosi akwaJuda athembekile, uJehova wayebalwela ngempela abantu bakhe, ebenza bazinqobe ngendlela emangalisayo izitha zabo.​—Joshuwa 10:1-14; AbaHluleli 4:12-17; 2 Samuweli 5:17-21.

18. (a) Kungani singabonga ngokuthi uJehova akashintshile? (b) Kuyokwenzekani lapho ubutha obuchazwe kuGenesise 3:15 bufika emvuthwandaba wabo?

 ¹⁸ UJehova akakashintshi; kanti ayikashintshi nenjongo yakhe yokwenza lo mhlaba ube ipharadesi elinokuthula. (Genesise 1:27, 28) UNkulunkulu usabuzonda ububi. Kanti ubathanda kakhulu abantu bakhe futhi ngokushesha uzothatha isinyathelo ngenxa yabo. (IHubo 11:7) Eqinisweni, maduze nje kulindeleke ukuba ubutha obuchazwe kuGenesise 3:15 bufike emvuthwandaba omangalisayo nonobudlova. Ukuze uJehova angcwelise igama lakhe futhi avikele abantu bakhe, uzophinde abe “iqhawe elinamandla”!​—Zakariya 14:3; IsAmbulo 16:14, 16.

19. (a) Yisho umfanekiso obonisa ukuthi kungani ukusebenzisa kukaNkulunkulu amandla okubhubhisa kungasisondeza kuye. (b) Ukuzimisela kukaNkulunkulu ukulwa kufanele kusithinte kanjani?

¹⁹ Cabanga ngalo mfanekiso: Ake sithi umndeni othile uhlaselwa isilwane esiyingozi kakhulu, bese ubaba elwa naso asibulale. Ubungalindela ukuba lesi senzo senze umkakhe nezingane bamhlamuke? Cha, ungalindela ukuba uthando lokuzidela analo ngabo lubenze bathinteke. Ngendlela efanayo,  ukusebenzisa kukaNkulunkulu amandla akhe okubhubhisa akufanele kusenze simhlamuke. Ukuzimisela kwakhe ukulwa ukuze asivikele kufanele kusenze simthande nakakhulu. Kufanele siwahloniphe nakakhulu amandla akhe angenamkhawulo. Ngaleyo ndlela, “singanikela . . . inkonzo engcwele ngendlela eyamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu ngokwesaba nangokuthuthumela.”​—Hebheru 12:28.

20. Lapho sifunda izindaba eziseBhayibhelini zempi yaphezulu okungenzeka asiziqondi kahle, kufanele sisabele kanjani, futhi kungani?

²⁰ Yebo, iBhayibheli aliyichazi ngazo zonke izikhathi yonke imininingwane ngezinqumo zikaJehova ngempi yaphezulu. Kodwa nakhu esingahlale siqiniseka ngakho: UJehova akalokothi asebenzise amandla okubhubhisa ngendlela engenabulungisa, ngaphandle kwesizathu, noma ngendlela enonya. Ukucabangela umongo wendaba yeBhayibheli noma isizinda esithile kungasisiza sibe nombono ofanele ngezinto. (IzAga 18:13) Ngisho noma singenayo yonke imininingwane, ukumane sifunde okwengeziwe ngoJehova futhi sizindle ngezimfanelo zakhe eziyigugu kungasisiza siqede konke ukudideka okungasifikela. Uma senza kanjalo, siyobona ukuthi sinezizathu zokumethemba uNkulunkulu wethu, uJehova.​—Jobe 34:12.

21. Yize ngezinye izikhathi eba “iqhawe elinamandla,” uJehova unjani ngempela?

²¹ Yize uJehova eba “iqhawe elinamandla” uma isimo simphoqa ukuba enze kanjalo, akusho ukuthi uyayithanda impi. Embonweni kaHezekeli wenqola yasezulwini, uJehova ubonakala elungele ukulwa nezitha zakhe. Kodwa uHezekeli wabona uNkulunkulu ehaqwe uthingo​—uphawu lokuthula. (Genesise 9:13; Hezekeli 1:28; IsAmbulo 4:3) Ngokusobala, uJehova uzolile futhi unokuthula. “UNkulunkulu uluthando,” kubhala umphostoli uJohane. (1 Johane 4:8) Zonke izimfanelo zikaJehova ziphelele. Yeka ilungelo esinalo-ke lokukwazi ukusondela kuNkulunkulu onamandla kangako kodwa onothando!