Umsebenzi KaNkulunkulu, Isimo SikaNkulunkulu, NoNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe II

Emhlanganweni wethu owedlule saxoxa ngesihloko esibaluleke kakhulu. Nisakhumbula ukuthi sasithini? Ake ngisiphinde. Isihloko esasixoxa ngaso ngokwedlule sasithi: Umsebenzi KaNkulunkulu, Isimo SikaNkulunkulu, NoNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe. Ingabe lesi isihloko sibalulekile kini? Iyiphi ingxenye yaso ebaluleke kakhulu kini? Umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, isimo sikaNkulunkulu, noma uNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe? Yikuphi okukukhanga kakhulu? Iyiphi ingxenye enifuna ukuzwa ngayo kakhulu? Ngiyazi kunzima ngani ukuphendula lowo mbuzo, ngenxa yokuthi isimo sikaNkulunkulu singabonakala kuzo zonke izingxenye zomsebenzi Wakhe, futhi isimo Sakhe sihlale sembulwe emsebenzini Wakhe kuzo zonke izindawo, futhi empeleni simelela uNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe; kukho konke ukuqondisa kukaNkulunkulu, umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, isimo sikaNkulunkulu, noNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe konke kuyizinto ezingenakuhlukaniswa.

Umongo wendaba esaxoxa ngayo ngokwedlule owawumayelana nomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, wawuyizinto ezilandiswa iBhayibheli ezenzeka kudala. Kwakuyizindaba ezimayelana nomuntu noNkulunkulu, zenzeka kumuntu futhi zadinga ngesikhathi esisodwa isinyathelo nombono kaNkulunkulu, ngakho lezi zindaba ziqukethe ukwazisa nokubaluleka kokwazi uNkulunkulu. Ngemva nje kokudala isintu, uNkulunkulu waqala ukuxhumana nomuntu wakhuluma naye, isimo Sakhe saqala ukubonakala kumuntu. Ngamanye amazwi, kusukela ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu aqala ngaso ukuxhumana nesintu waqala ukusiveza obala kumuntu, ingqikithi Sakhe nalokho anakho kanye nalokho ayikho. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi abantu bakuqala noma banamuhla bayakwazi ukusibona noma ukusiqonda, ngamafuphi uNkulunkulu ukhuluma nabantu futhi asebenze phakathi kwabo, embule isimo Sakhe futhi aveze ingqikithi Sakhe—okuyiqiniso elingenakuphikwa yinoma imuphi umuntu. Lokhu kuphinde kusho ukuthi isimo sikaNkulunkulu, ingqikithi sikaNkulunkulu, nalokho anakho nayikho kuhlale kuhamba phambili futhi kwembulwa njengoba esebenza futhi exhumana nabantu. Akakaze amfihlele lutho umuntu, kunalokho usenza sibe sobala futhi wenza isimo Sakhe saziwe ngaphandle ngokubamba okuthile. Ngakho uNkulunkulu wethemba ukuthi umuntu angamazi futhi asiqonde isimo nesiqu Sakhe. Akafisi ukuthi umuntu abheke isimo nesiqu Sakhe njengezinto ezingeke ziqondakale kuze kube phakade, futhi akafuni isintu sibheke uNkulunkulu njengempicabadala engasoze yasombululwa. Kulapho isintu sazi khona uNkulunkulu kuphela lapho singazi khona indlela eya phambili futhi sikwazi ukwamukela isiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu, futhi isintu esifana nalesi kuphela esingaphila ngaphansi kokubusa kukaNkulunkulu, ekukhanyeni futhi sithole izibusiso zikaNkulunkulu.

Amazwi nesimo okuhanjiswa phambili futhi kwembulwa uNkulunkulu kumelela intando Yakhe, futhi kumelela ingqikithi Yakhe. Lapho uNkulunkulu exhumana nomuntu, kungakhathaleki ukuthi uthini noma wenzani, noma ukuthi wembula siphi isimo, noma ukuthi umuntu usibheka kanjani ingqikithi kaNkulunkulu nalokho anakho nayikho, bonke bamelela intando kaNkulunkulu—intando kaNkulunkulu ngomuntu. Lokhu akungatshazwa! Intando kaNkulunkulu ngesintu yilokho afuna abantu babe yikho, lokho afuna bakwenze, indlela afuna baphile ngayo, nendlela afuna bakwazi ngayo ukufeza ukugcwaliseka kwentando kaNkulunkulu. Ingabe lezi zinto azinakwehlukaniseka nesiqu sikaNkulunkulu? Ngamanye amazwi, uNkulunkulu uhambisa phambili isimo Sakhe nakho konke anakho nayikho ngesikhathi esisodwa nenza ngaso izimfuno zomuntu. Awekho amanga, ukuzenzisa, ukukhohlisa, nokufekethisa. Kodwa kungani umuntu ehlulwa ukwazi, futhi kungani engakaze asiqonde ngokucacile isimo sikaNkulunkulu? Futhi kungani engakaze ayiqaphele intando kaNkulunkulu? Lokho uNkulunkulu akwembulayo futhi akubeke phambili yilokho uNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe anakho nayikho, futhi kungubude nobubanzi besimo Sakhe seqiniso—ngakho kungani umuntu engaboni? Kungani umuntu engafinyeleli olwazini olunembile? Kunesizathu esibalulekile salokhu. Siyini lesi sizathu? Kusukela esikhathini sendalo, umuntu akakaze abheke uNkulunkulu njengoNkulunkulu. Ezikhathini zakuqala, kungakhathaleki ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayenzani ngomuntu, umuntu ayeqeda kumdala, umuntu wayemphatha ngendlela edlula aphatha ngayo umngani wakhe, njengothile ayencike kuye, owayengenalwazi noma ukuqonda ngoNkulunkulu. Okusho ukuthi, umuntu wayengazi ukuthi busho ukuthini lobu Buntu—lobu Buntu ayencike kubo buhambisana naye—babuyingqikithi kaNkulunkulu, futhi wayengazi ukuthi lobu Buntu yibo obabubusa zonke izinto. Kalula nje, abantu bangaleso sikhathi babengamqapheli nhlobo uNkulunkulu. Babengazi ukuthi amazulu nomhlaba nazo zonke izinto kwakudalwe Nguye, futhi babenganaki ukuthi uvelaphi, nalokho ayeyikho. Yiqiniso, ngaleso sikhathi uNkulunkulu wayengafuni umuntu amazi, noma amqonde, noma aqonde konke akwenza, noma azi intando Yakhe, ngoba lezi kwakuyizikhathi zakuqala endalweni yesintu. Lapho uNkulunkulu eqala ukulungiselela umsebenzi weNkathi Yomthetho, uNkulunkulu wenza izinto ezithile kumuntu, waqala nokumnikeza izimfuno Zakhe, emtshela ukuthi angayenza kanjani iminikelo futhi angamkhonza kanjani uNkulunkulu. Umuntu waqala lapho ukwazi izinto ezithile ngoNkulunkulu, yilapho azi khona umehluko phakathi komuntu noNkulunkulu, nokuthi uNkulunkulu Nguye owadala isintu. Lapho umuntu azi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayenguNkulunkulu nokuthi umuntu wayengumuntu, kwaba negebe elithile phakathi kwakhe noNkulunkulu, kodwa noma kunjalo uNkulunkulu akazange afune ukuthi umuntu abe nolwazi olunzulu noma ukuqonda okujulile Ngaye. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu wenza izimfuno ezingafani kumuntu ngokusekelwe ezigabeni nasezimweni zomsebenzi Wakhe. Nibonani kulokhu? Iziphi izimpawu zesimo sikaNkulunkulu enizibonayo? Ingabe uNkulunkulu ungokoqobo? Ingabe izimfuno zikaNkulunkulu kumuntu ziyafaneleka? Ezikhathi zakuqala zokulandela indalo kaNkulunkulu yesintu, lapho uNkulunkulu esezofeza umsebenzi wokunqoba nokuphelelisa umuntu, futhi engakhulumanga amazwi amaningi kumuntu, wafuna okuncane kubantu. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi umuntu wenzani nokuthi wayeziphatha kanjani—ngisho noma enza izinto ezithile ezicasula uNkulunkulu—uNkulunkulu wakuthethelela konke, futhi wangakunaka konke. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu wayazi ukuthi wayemnikeni umuntu, nokuthi yini eyayikumuntu, futhi ngaleyo ndlela azi izinga lezimfuno okufanele azifune kumuntu. Ngisho noma izinga lezimfuno Zakhe laliphansi kakhulu ngaleso sikhathi, lokhu kwakungasho ukuthi isimo Sakhe sasingesikhulu, noma ukuthi ukuhlakanipha namandla Akhe kwakungamazwi angathi shú. Kumuntu, iyodwa kuphela indlela yokwazi isimo sikaNkulunkulu noNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe: ukulandela izinyathelo zomsebenzi wokuqondisa kaNkulunkulu nowokusindisa isintu, nokwamukela amazwi uNkulunkulu awakhuluma esintwini. Uma azi lokho uNkulunkulu anakho nayikho, nesimo sikaNkulunkulu, ingabe umuntu usayofuna ukuba uNkulunkulu ambonise ubuntu Bakhe obungokoqobo? Umuntu ngeke alinge, ngoba ukuqonda isimo sikaNkulunkulu nalokho anakho nayikho, kuyosho ukuthi wayesembonile kakade uNkulunkulu weqiniso Uqobo Lwakhe, nokuthi wayeyobe esebubonile kakade ubuntu Bakhe obungokoqobo. Lona umphumela ongenakugwenywa.

Njengoba umsebenzi necebo likaNkulunkulu kuzolokhu kuqhubekela phambili, futhi ngemva kokuthi uNkulunkulu emise isivumelwano sothingo nomuntu njengophawu lokuthi ngeke aphinde abhubhise umhlaba ngozamcolo, uNkulunkulu waba nesifiso esinamandla sokuzuza labo abangaba mqondo-munye Naye. Ngakho akakaze abe nesifiso esiphuthuma kanje sokuzuza labo abakwazi ukwenza intando Yakhe emhlabeni, futhi ngaphezu kwalokho, sokuzuza iqembu labantu elizokwazi ukuphunyuka emandleni obumnyama, lingaboshelwa kuSathane, likwazi ukufakaza Ngaye emhlabeni. Ukuzuza iqembu elinjalo labantu kwakuyisifiso esidala sikaNkulunkulu, into ayeyilindile kusukela ngesikhathi sokudala. Ngakho, akunandaba ukusebenzisa kukaNkulunkulu uzamcolo ukuze abhubhise izwe, noma isivumelwano Sakhe nabantu, intando Yakhe, isimo sengqondo, icebo, futhi unethemba lokuthi bonke bazoba yinto eyodwa. Ayefuna ukukwenza, okuyinto ayeyilangazelela isikhathi eside sendalo, kwakuwukuzuza isintu ayefuna ukusizuza—ukuzuza iqembu labantu elizoqonda futhi lazi isimo Sakhe, futhi liqonde intando Yakhe, iqembu elizokwazi ukumkhonza. Iqembu elinjalo labantu likwazi ngempela ukufakaza Ngaye, futhi kungashiwo ukuthi liyizethenjwa Zakhe.

Namuhla, masiqhubeke silandela imigudu kaNkulunkulu futhi silandela izinyathelo zomsebenzi Wakhe, ukuze sembule imicabango nemibono kaNkulunkulu, nazo zonke izinto eziphathelene noNkulunkulu, konke “obekulokhu ekugcinile” sonke lesi sikhathi. Ngazo zonke lezi zinto siyosazi isimo sikaNkulunkulu, siyosiqonda ingqikithi kaNkulunkulu, siyofaka uNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zethu, futhi wonke umuntu kithi uyosondelana kancane kancane noNkulunkulu, sinciphise igebe lethu noNkulunkulu.

Ingxenye yalokhu esikhuluma ngakho ngokudlule yayihlobene nokuthi kungani uNkulunkulu amisa isivumelwano nomuntu. Manje sizoxoxa ngezingxenye zemibhalo engezansi. Ake siqale ngokufunda imiBhalo.

A. U-Abrahama

UNkulunkulu Uthembisa Ukunika U-Abrahama Indodana

UGenesise 17:15-17 Futhi uNkulunkulu wathi ku-Abrahama, NgoSarayi umkakho, ungabe usambiza ngokuthi uSarayi, kodwa igama lakhe sekuzoba uSara. Futhi ngizombusisa, bese ngikunika indodana okungeyakhe naye: yebo, ngizombusisa, futhi kumele abe unina wezizwe; amakhosi abantu ayophuma kuye. U-Abrahama wabe esewa ngobuso, futhi wahleka, futhi wathi enhliziyweni yakhe, Ingabe oneminyaka eyikhulu ubudala angazalelwa umntwana? noSara, oneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye ubudala, angazala?

UGenesise 17:21-22 Kodwa isivumelwano Sami ngiyosimisa no-Isaka, uSara azokuzalela yena ngalesi sikhathi esibekiwe ngonyaka ozayo. Wabe esehamba wamshiya eseqede ukukhuluma naye, futhi uNkulunkulu wanyuka eshiya u-Abrahama.

U-Abrahama Unikela Ngo-Isaka

UGenesise 22:2-3 Wayesethi, Thatha manje indodana yakho, indodana yakho okuwukuphela kwayo u-Isaka, oyithandayo, bese uya ezweni laseMoriya; bese uyonikela ngaye lapho abe umnikelo wokushiswa entabeni ethile engizokutshela yona. Futhi u-Abraham wabe esevuka entathakusa, wase ebophela imbongolo yakhe, futhi wathatha izinsizwa ezimbili, kanye nendodana yakhe u-Isaka, futhi wacanda izinkuni zomnikelo wokushiswa, wabe esephakama, futhi waya kuleyo ndawo uNkulunkulu ayemtshele yona.

UGenesise 22:9-10 Base befika endaweni uNkulunkulu ayemtshele ngayo; futhi u-Abrahama wakha i-altare khona, wase elungisa izinkuni ngendlela efanele, futhi wabopha u-Isaka indodana yakhe, wase emlalisa phezu kwe-altare lezinkuni. U-Abrahama wayeselula isandla sakhe, wase ethatha ummese ukuba ahlabe ngawo indodana yakhe.

Akekho Ongaphazamisa Umsebenzi UNkulunkulu Anqume Ukuwenza

Ngakho senizwile ngendaba ka-Abrahama. Wakhethwa uNkulunkulu ngemva kokuba uzamcolo ubhubhise izwe, igama lakhe kwakungu-Abrahama, futhi lapho eneminyaka eyikhulu, umkakhe uSara enengamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye, uNkulunkulu wabathembisa. Isiphi isithembiso uNkulunkulu asenza kuye? UNkulunkulu wathembisa lokhu imibhalo ekhuluma ngakho: “Futhi ngizombusisa, bese ngikunika indodana okungeyakhe naye.” Zazinjani izimo ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu emthembisa ukuthi uzozala indodana? ImiBhalo isinikeza lokhu kulandisa okulandelayo: “U-Abrahama wabe esewa ngobuso, futhi wahleka, futhi wathi enhliziyweni yakhe, Ingabe oneminyaka eyikhulu ubudala angazalelwa umntwana? noSara, oneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye ubudala, angazala?” Ngamanye amazwi, laba bashadikazi abase bekhulile base beshiywe isikhathi sokuzala izingane. Yini eyenziwa u-Abrahama ngemva kokuba uNkulunkulu enze lesi sithembiso Sakhe kuye? Wawa ngobuso bakhe, wahleka, wathi enhliziyweni yakhe, “Ingabe oneminyaka eyikhulu ubudala angazalelwa umntwana?” U-Abrahama wayekholwa ukuthi akunakwenzeka—okusho ukuthi wayekholwa ukuthi isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sasiyihlaya nje. Ngokombono womuntu, kwakungenakwenzeka lokhu kumuntu, kanjalo nakuNkulunkulu. Mhlawumbe ku-Abrahama kwakuhlekisa: UNkulunkulu wadala umuntu, kodwa kubonakala sengathi akazi ukuthi umuntu omdala kangaka ngeke esakwazi ukuzala abantwana; ubona sengathi angangenza ngithole umntwana, uthi uzonginika indodana—nakanjani lokho ngeke kwenzeke! Ngakho, u-Abrahama wawa ngobuso wahleka, wathi enhliziyweni yakhe: Akunakwenzeka—uNkulunkulu uhlekisa ngami, lokhu akunakuba iqiniso! Akawakholwanga amazwi kaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, u-Abrahama kwakunhloboni yomuntu? (Olungile.) Nifundephi ukuthi wayelungile? Nicabanga ukuthi bonke laba uNkulunkulu athi balungile, baphelele, abantu abahamba noNkulunkulu. Ninamathela emfundisweni! Kumele nibone ngokucacile ukuthi lapho uNkulunkulu echaza umuntu, akakwenzi lokho ngokungemthetho. Lapha, uNkulunkulu akazange athi u-Abrahama wayelungile. Enhliziyweni Yakhe, uNkulunkulu unamazinga akala ngawo wonke umuntu. Nakuba uNkulunkulu engazange asho ukuthi u-Abrahama wayenhloboni yomuntu, mayelana nokuziphatha kwakhe, wayenanhloboni yokholo u-Abrahama kuNkulunkulu? Ingabe lwalukha phezulu? Noma wayenokholo olukhulu? Cha kwakungenjalo! Ukuhleka kwakhe nemicabango yakhe kwakubonisa ukuthi wayengubani, njengoba kunjalo nangenkolelo yenu yokuthi wayelungile kodwa imane iyimicabango nje yenu, iwukusebenzisa imfundiso ngokungaboni, iwumbono onobudedengu. Ingabe uNkulunkulu wabona uhleko luka-Abrahama kanye nezinkulumo zakhe ezingatheni, wazi ngazo? UNkulunkulu wayazi. Kodwa ingabe uNkulunkulu wayezokuguquka lokho ayesekunqumile? Cha! Lapho uNkulunkulu ehlela futhi enquma ukuthi wayezokhetha lo muntu, indaba yase iqediwe kakade. Imicabango yomuntu nokuziphatha kwakhe kwakungeke nakancane kube nomthelela kuNkulunkulu; uNkulunkulu wayengeke amane aguqule icebo Lakhe, futhi wayengeke athikameze icebo Lakhe ngenxa yokuziphatha komuntu, okungenzeka kuwubulima. Yini kanti elotshwe kuGenesise 17:21-22? “Kodwa isivumelwano Sami ngiyosimisa no-Isaka, uSara azokuzalela yena ngalesi sikhathi esibekiwe ngonyaka ozayo. Wabe esehamba wamshiya eseqede ukukhuluma naye, futhi uNkulunkulu wanyuka eshiya u-Abrahama.” UNkulunkulu akazange akunake ngisho nakancane okwakucatshangwa futhi kukhulunywa u-Abrahama. Wayekwenza ngasiphi isizathu lokhu? Ngenxa yokuthi ngaleso sikhathi, uNkulunkulu wayengaceli ukuthi umuntu abe nokholo olukhulu, noma ukuthi abe nolwazi olunzulu ngoNkulunkulu, noma ukuthi akwazi ukuqonda okwakwenziwa nokwakushiwo uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu akacelanga ukuba umuntu akuqonde ngokugcwele lokho ayenqume ukukwenza, noma abantu ayezimisele ukubakhetha, noma imiyalo yezenzo Zakhe, ngoba isimo somuntu sasingenele. Ngaleso sikhathi, uNkulunkulu wayekwazisa konke okwakwenziwa u-Abrahama, nokho yena waziphatha ngendlela ejwayelekile. Akakwenqabanga, kodwa wamane wathi: “USara uzokuzalela u-Isaka ngalesi sikhathi, ngonyaka ozayo.” KuNkulunkulu, ngemva kokusho la mazwi, le ndaba yaba ngokoqobo; emehlweni kaNkulunkulu lokho okwakuzofezwa yicebo Lakhe kwase kwenzekile kakade. Futhi ngemva kokuphothula amalungiselelo ngalokhu, uNkulunkulu wahamba. Okwenziwa umuntu noma akucabangayo, akuqondayo, namacebo omuntu—akukho kulokhu okubandakanya ubuhlobo noNkulunkulu. Konke kwenzeka ngokwecebo likaNkulunkulu, ekuqhubekeni nezikhathi nezigaba zikaNkulunkulu. Njengomyalo womsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu akagxambukeli kunoma yini umuntu ayicabangayo noma ayaziyo, futhi akahlukani necebo Lakhe, noma ashiye umsebenzi Wakhe, ngenxa yokuthi umuntu akakholwa futhi akaqondi. Ngakho amaqiniso afezwa ngokwecebo nomcabango kaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kuqinisekisa lokhu esikufunda eBhayibhelini: UNkulunkulu wabangela u-Isaka ukuba azalwe ngesikhathi ayesibekile. Ingabe amaqiniso abonisa ukuthi ukuziphatha komuntu kwawenza waba nzima umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu? Awuphazamisekanga umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu! Ingabe ukholo oluncane lomuntu kuNkulunkulu, nemibono nemicabango yakhe ngoNkulunkulu kuyawuthinta umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu? Cha, akuwuthinti! Nakancane! Icebo likaNkulunkulu lokuqondisa alithintwa yinoma imuphi umuntu, into, noma indawo. Konke anquma ukukwenza kuyoqedwa futhi kufezwe ngesikhathi esivumelana necebo Lakhe, umsebenzi Wakhe akekho umuntu ongagxambukela kuwo. UNkulunkulu akazinaki ezinye izingxenye zobuwula nokungazi komuntu, ngisho nokunye ukumphika nemibono yabantu Ngaye; kunalokho, enze umsebenzi okumele awenze ngale kwalokho. Lesi isimo sikaNkulunkulu, futhi ukubonakaliswa kwegunya Lakhe.

Umsebenzi Wokuqondisa KukaNkulunkulu Nensindiso Yesintu Uqala Ngokunikela Kuka-Abrahama Ngo-Isaka

Ngokunika u-Abrahama indodana, amazwi uNkulunkulu ayewakhulume ku-Abrahama agcwaliseka. Lokho akusho ukuthi icebo likaNkulunkulu laphelela lapha; ngokuphambene, icebo elimangalisayo likaNkulunkulu lokuqondisa nensindiso yesintu kwakusanda kuqala, futhi isibusiso Sakhe sendodana asinika u-Abrahama sasiyisiqalo sawo wonke umsebenzi Wakhe wecebo lokuqondisa. Ngaleso sikhathi, ubani owayazi ukuthi impi kaNkulunkulu noSathane yayisanda kuqala ngesikhathi u-Abrahama enikela ngo-Isaka?

UNkulunkulu Akanandaba Noma Umuntu Uyisiphukuphuku—Akufunayo Nje Ukuthi Umuntu Abe Neqiniso

Manje, ake sibheke lokho uNkulunkulu akwenza ku-Abrahama. KuGenesise 22:2, uNkulunkulu wanika u-Abrahama lo myalo: “Thatha manje indodana yakho, indodana yakho okuwukuphela kwayo u-Isaka, oyithandayo, bese uya ezweni laseMoriya; bese uyonikela ngaye lapho abe umnikelo wokushiswa entabeni ethile engizokutshela yona.” Injongo kaNkulunkulu yayisobala: Wayetshela u-Abrahama ukuthi anikele ngokuwukuphela kwendodana yakhe u-Isaka, ayeyithanda, ibe umnikelo wokushiswa. Ngokwanamuhla, ingabe umyalo kaNkulunkulu uyangqubuzana nemibono yomuntu? Yebo! Konke uNkulunkulu akwenza ngaleso sikhathi kwakungqubuzana nemibono yomuntu futhi umuntu engakuqondi. Emibonweni yabo, abantu bakholwa yilokhu okulandelayo: Lapho umuntu engakholwa, futhi ecabanga ukuthi akunakwenzeka, uNkulunkulu wamnika indodana, futhi ngemva kokuthola indodana, uNkulunkulu wamcela ukuba anikele ngayo leyo ndodana—yeka isimanga! Yini ngempela uNkulunkulu ayehlose ukuyenza? Yayiyini injongo yangempela kaNkulunkulu? Wamnika ngokungenamibandela u-Abrahama indodana, kodwa futhi wacela u-Abrahama ukuthi naye enze umnikelo ongenambandela. Ingabe lokhu kwakuwukuphaphalaza? Ngokombono womuntu ongahlangene nendaba, lokhu akugcine nje ngokuba ukuphaphalaza kodwa kuphinde kube “ukuzenzela izinkinga ngento engekho.” Kodwa u-Abrahama uqobo wayengakholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayefuna into enkulu kangaka. Nakuba ayenokungabaza, futhi ayenezinsolo ezincane ngoNkulunkulu, wayesakulungele ukwenza umnikelo. Kuleli qophelo, yini oyibonayo eqinisekisa ukuthi u-Abrahama wayezimisele ukunikela ngendodana yakhe? Yini eshiwo kule misho? Umbhalo wokuqala ulandisa ngale ndlela: “Futhi u-Abrahama wabe esevuka entathakusa, wase ebophela imbongolo yakhe, futhi wathatha izinsizwa ezimbili, kanye nendodana yakhe u-Isaka, futhi wacanda izinkuni zomnikelo wokushiswa, wabe esephakama, futhi waya kuleyo ndawo uNkulunkulu ayemtshele yona” (UGenesise 22:3). “Base befika endaweni lapho uNkulunkulu ayemtshele ngayo; futhi u-Abrahama wakha i-altare khona, wase elungisa izinkuni ngendlela efanele, futhi wabopha u-Isaka indodana yakhe, wase emlalisa phezu kwe-altare lezinkuni. Futhi u-Abrahama welula isandla sakhe, wase ethatha ummese ukuba ahlabe ngawo indodana yakhe” (UGenesise 22:9-10). Lapho u-Abrahama elula isandla sakhe, ethatha ummese ukuze ahlabe indodana yakhe, ingabe uNkulunkulu wayekubona lokho ayekwenza? Wakubona. Yonke inqubo—kusukela ekuqaleni, lapho uNkulunkulu ethi u-Abrahama akanikele ngo-Isaka, kuye lapho u-Abrahama ephakamisa khona ummese ukuze ahlabe indodana yakhe—uNkulunkulu wabona inhliziyo ka-Abrahama, kungakhathaleki ukuthi ubuwula bakhe babuyini, ukungazi, nokungamqondi uNkulunkulu, ngaleso sikhathi inhliziyo ka-Abrahama ngoNkulunkulu yayineqiniso, ithembekile, futhi wayezimisele ngempela ngokubuyisa u-Isaka, indodana ayeyinikwe uNkulunkulu, ayibuyisele kuNkulunkulu. Kuye, uNkulunkulu wabona ukulalela—khona kanye ukulalela uNkulunkulu ayekufuna.

Kumuntu, uNkulunkulu wenza okuningi okungaqondakali nokumangalisayo. Lapho uNkulunkulu efisa ukuqondisa othile, lokhu kuqondisa kuvame ukungavumelani nemibono yomuntu, futhi akuqondakali kuye, kodwa futhi yikho kanye lokhu kushayisana nokungaqondi okuyisilingo sikaNkulunkulu novivinyo lomuntu. Nokho, u-Abrahama wayesakwazi ukulalela uNkulunkulu, okwakuyinto eyayibaluleke kakhulu kuye ukuze ahlangabezane nemfuneko kaNkulunkulu. Kulapho kuphela, lapho u-Abrahama akwazi khona ukulalela okufunwa uNkulunkulu, ngesikhathi enikela ngo-Isaka, yilapho uNkulunkulu aqiniseka khona ngempela futhi wasamukela isintu—ngo-Abrahama, ayemkhethile. Kulapho kuphela, lapho uNkulunkulu aqiniseka khona ngokuthi lo muntu ayemkhethile wayeyiqhawe elikhulu elalingafeza isithembiso Sakhe necebo Lakhe lokuqondisa elaliseza. Nakuba kwakuyisilingo novivinyo, uNkulunkulu wajabula, wezwa uthando umuntu analo Ngaye, futhi wazizwa eduduzeka ngesintu ngendlela ayengakaze azizwe ngayo. Ngomzuzu u-Abrahama aphakamisa ngawo ummese wakhe ukuze ahlabe u-Isaka, ingabe uNkulunkulu wamnqanda? UNkulunkulu akamvumelanga u-Abrahama ukuba anikele ngo-Isaka, ngoba uNkulunkulu wayengenazo izinhloso zokuthatha ukuphila kuka-Isaka. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu wamnqanda ngaleso sikhathi u-Abrahama. Ngoba kuNkulunkulu, ukulalela kuka-Abrahama kwamenza waphumelela ovivinyweni, akwenza kwakwanele, futhi uNkulunkulu wayesewubonile umphumela walokho ayehlose ukukwenza. Ingabe lo mphumela wamenelisa uNkulunkulu? Kungashiwo ukuthi lo mphumela wamenelisa uNkulunkulu, ukuthi yilokho okwakufunwa uNkulunkulu, futhi yilokho uNkulunkulu ayelangazelela ukukubona. Ingabe lokhu kuyiqiniso? Nakuba kokunye, uNkulunkulu esebenzisa izindlela ezihlukile ukuze avivinye umuntu ngamunye, ku-Abrahama uNkulunkulu wabona lokho ayekufuna, wabona ukuthi inhliziyo ka-Abrahama yayineqiniso, nokuthi ukulalela kwakhe kwakungenamibandela, futhi yilokhu “kungabi namibandela” uNkulunkulu ayekufuna. Abantu bavame ukuthi, senginikelile ngalokhu, sengidlulile kulokhuya—kungani uNkulunkulu engakaneliseki ngami? Kungani esangihlelela izilingo? Kungani eqhubeka nokungivivinya? Lokhu kufakazela iqiniso elilodwa: UNkulunkulu akakaze abone inhliziyo yakho, futhi akakaze azuze inhliziyo yakho. Okuwukuthi, akakabuboni ubuqotho obunjalo obunjengalapho u-Abrahama ephakamisa khona ummese ukuze ahlabe indodana yakhe ngesandla sakhe futhi ayinikele kuNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu akakakuboni ukulalela kwakho okungenamibandela, futhi akakaduduzwa nguwe. Kungokwemvelo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu aqhubeke ekulinga. Ingabe akulona iqiniso leli? Sizosishiya lapha lesi sihloko. Manje, sizofunda “Isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu ku-Abrahama.”

3. Isithembiso SikaNkulunkulu Ku-Abrahama

UGenesise 22:16-18 Ngizifungile Mina uqobo, kusho uJehova, ngenxa yokuthi ukwenzile lokhu, futhi ungayigodlanga indodana yakho, indodana yakho okuwukuphela kwayo: Ngiyakukubusisa nokukubusisa, futhi ngandise nokwandisa inzalo yakho ibe njengezinkanyezi zezulu, nanjengesihlabathi sasogwini lolwandle; futhi inzalo yakho iyothatha isango lezitha zayo; Futhi ngenzalo yakho zonke izizwe zomhlaba zizobusiswa, ngokuba ulilalele izwi Lami

Lokhu ukulandisa okuphelele kwesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu ku-Abrahama. Nakuba kukufushane, kuqukethe umongo ocebile: Kubandakanya isizathu, nemvelaphi yesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu ku-Abrahama, nokuthi yini ayinika u-Abrahama. Kuphinde kuphuphume injabulo nentokozo uNkulunkulu awasho ngayo la mazwi, kanye nendlela okuphuthuma ngayo ukulangazelela Kwakhe ukuzuza labo abakwazi ukulalela amazwi Akhe. Kulokhu, sibona ukwazisa kukaNkulunkulu, ububele Bakhe, umusa Wakhe ngalabo abalalela amazwi Akhe futhi balandele imiyalo Yakhe. Ngakho nathi, siyalibona yini inani alikhokhayo ukuze azuze abantu, nokukhathalela nemicabango Yakhe ngabo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ingxenye enamazwi athi “Ngizifungile Mina uqobo,” isinikeza umqondo onamandla womunyu nobuhlungu obazwiwa uNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu yedwa, kungaboni muntu emsebenzini Wakhe wecebo lokuqondisa. Yingxenye eshukumisa umcabango, futhi ebaluleke kakhulu, futhi yaba nomthelela omkhulu kwabalandela.

Umuntu Uthola Isibusiso SikaNkulunkulu Ngenxa Yobuqotho Nokulalela Kwakhe

Ingabe isibusiso uNkulunkulu asinika u-Abrahama esifunda ngaso lapha sikhulu? Sikhulu kangakanani? Uwodwa kuphela umusho owumgogodla lapha: “Futhi ngenzalo yakho zonke izizwe zomhlaba zizobusiswa,” obonisa ukuthi u-Abrahama wathola izibusiso ezinganikwanga muntu ngaphambi kwakhe nangemva kwakhe. Lapho, njengoba acelwa uNkulunkulu, u-Abrahama wabuyisela okuwukuphela kwendodana anayo—uzinyo bulala wakhe—kuNkulunkulu (phawula: Lapha asikwazi ukusebenzisa igama elithi “wanikela”; kufanele sithi wabuyisela indodana yakhe kuNkulunkulu), uNkulunkulu akagcinanga nje ngokunqanda u-Abrahama ukuba anganikeli ngo-Isaka, kodwa futhi wambusisa. Wambusisa ngasiphi isithembiso u-Abrahama? Ngesithembiso sokwandisa inzalo yakhe. Babebangaki okwakufanele bandiswe? ImiBhalo ilobe la mazwi: “… njengezinkanyezi zezulu, nanjengesihlabathi sasogwini lolwandle; futhi inzalo yakho iyothatha isango lezitha zayo; Futhi ngenzalo yakho zonke izizwe zomhlaba zizobusiswa.” UNkulunkulu wawasho ngaphansi kwaziphi izimo la mazwi? Okuwukuthi, u-Abrahama wazithola kanjani izibusiso zikaNkulunkulu? Wazithola njengoba nje imiBhalo isho: “ngokuba ulilalele izwi Lami.” Lokho kusho ukuthi, ngenxa yokuthi u-Abrahama walalela umyalo kaNkulunkulu, ngenxa yokuthi wakwenza konke okwashiwo uNkulunkulu, wacelwa futhi wayalwa ngaphandle kokuthi yena akhononde nakancane, ngakho uNkulunkulu wenza leso sithembiso kuye. Lona umusho obucayi kulesi sithembiso othinta imicabango kaNkulunkulu yangaleso sikhathi. Ingabe niwubonile? Kungenzeka anilinakisisanga izwi likaNkulunkulu lapho lithi “Ngizifungile Mina uqobo.” Elikuqondile ukuthi, lapho uNkulunkulu esho la mazwi, wayezifunga Yena. Abantu bafungani lapho benza isifungo? Bafunga iZulu, okusho ukuthi, benza isifungo kuNkulunkulu bafunge uNkulunkulu. Kungenzeka abantu abanakho ukuqonda okutheni ngendlela uNkulunkulu azifunga Ngayo, kodwa nizoqonda lapho ngininika incazelo eshaya emhloleni. Ukubhekana nomuntu ongakwazi kuphela ukuzwa amazwi Akhe kodwa angiyiqondi inhliziyo Yakhe kwaphinde kwenza uNkulunkulu wazizwa eyedwa futhi esele dengwane. Edangele—futhi, kungashiwo nokuthi, enganakile—uNkulunkulu wenza into evame kakhulu: UNkulunkulu wabeka isandla Sakhe enhliziyweni Yakhe futhi, wakhuluma ebhekisele Kuye Ngokwakhe lesi sithembiso ku-Abrahama futhi kulokhu umuntu wezwa uNkulunkulu ethi “Ngizifungile Mina uqobo.” Ngezenzo zikaNkulunkulu, ungase uzicabangele wena. Lapho ubeka isandla sakho enhliziyweni yakho futhi ukhulume wedwa, uyakuqonda ngempela okushoyo? Ingabe umbono wakho uqotho? Ingabe ukhuluma ngobuqotho, ngenhliziyo yakho? Ngakho, siyabona lapha ukuthi lapho uNkulunkulu ekhuluma no-Abrahama, wayeqotho. Ngesikhathi esifanayo nakhuluma ngaso futhi ebusisa u-Abrahama, uNkulunkulu wayephinde akhulume Yedwa. Wazitshela ukuthi: Ngizombusisa u-Abrahama, ngenze inzalo yakhe ibe yiningi ngangezinkanyezi zezulu, futhi ibe yiningi ngangesihlabathi esisogwini lolwandle, ngoba ulalele amazwi ami futhi nguye engimkhethile. Lapho uNkulunkulu ethi “Ngizifungile Mina uqobo,” uNkulunkulu wanquma ukuthi ngo-Abrahama wayezoba nesizwe asikhethile sakwa-Israyeli, ngemva kwalokho ahole laba bantu ngomsebenzi Wakhe. Okusho ukuthi, uNkulunkulu wayezokwenza inzalo ka-Abrahama yenze umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu wokuqondisa, nomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu futhi lokho okwavezwa uNkulunkulu kwakuzoqala ngo-Abrahama, kudlulele enzalweni ka-Abrahama, ibone isifiso sikaNkulunkulu sokuyisindisa. Nithini nina, ingabe lesi akuyona into ebusisekile? Kumuntu, asikho isibusiso esidlula lesi; kungashiwo ukuthi yisibusiso esikhulu. Isibusiso esazuzwa u-Abrahama kwakungekhona ukwandiswa kwenzalo yakhe, kodwa ukuphumelela kukaNkulunkulu ekuqondiseni Kwakhe, umyalo Wakhe, nomsebenzi Wakhe enzalweni ka-Abrahama. Lokhu kusho ukuthi izibusiso ezazuzwa u-Abrahama kwakungezona ezesikhashana, kodwa zaqhubeka njengoba icebo likaNkulunkulu lokuqondisa laliqhubeka. Lapho uNkulunkulu ekhuluma, lapho uNkulunkulu ezifunga Yena, wayesesenzile kakade isinqumo. Ingabe yayiyiqiniso inqubo yalesi sinqumo? Ingabe yayingokoqobo? UNkulunkulu wanquma ukuthi, kusukela lapho kuye phambili, imizamo Yakhe, inani alikhokha, lokho anakho nayikho, konke okwakhe, ngisho nokuphila Kwakhe, kwakuzonikwa u-Abrahama nenzalo ka-Abrahama. Ngakho uNkulunkulu wanquma kanjalo, kusukela kuleli qembu labantu, wayezoveza izenzo Zakhe, avumele umuntu abone ukuhlakanipha Kwakhe, igunya kanye namandla.

Ukuzuza Labo Abazi UNkulunkulu Nabakwazi Ukufakaza Ngaye Yisifiso SikaNkulunkulu Esingaguquki

Ngesikhathi esifanayo nayekhuluma ngaso Yedwa, uNkulunkulu wakhuluma no-Abrahama, kodwa ngaphandle kokuzwa izibusiso uNkulunkulu amnika zona, ingabe u-Abrahama wakwazi ukuqonda izifiso zeqiniso zikaNkulunkulu kuwo wonke amazwi Akhe ngaleso sikhathi? Akakwazanga! Ngakho ngaleso sikhathi, lapho uNkulunkulu ezifunga Yena, inhliziyo Yakhe yayiseyodwa futhi ilusizi. Kwakungakabi bikho ngisho noyedwa umuntu ongaqonda ayekuhlosile noma ayekuhlelile. Ngaleso sikhathi, akekho—ngisho no-Abrahama—owayekwazi ukukhuluma Naye ngokuzethemba, ingasaphathwa eyokubambisana Naye ekwenzeni umsebenzi okufanele awenze. Ngokwendlela izinto ezazibonakala ziyiyo, uNkulunkulu wamzuza u-Abrahama, futhi wazuza othile ongalandela amazwi Akhe. Kodwa eqinisweni, ulwazi lwalo muntu ngoNkulunkulu cishe lwaluyinto engatheni. Ngisho noma uNkulunkulu ambusisa u-Abrahama, inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu yayingakagculiseki. Kusho ukuthini ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayengakagculiseki? Kusho ukuthi ukuqondisa Kwakhe kwakusaqala, kusho ukuthi abantu ayefuna ukubazuza, abantu ayelangazelela ukubabona, abantu ayebathanda, babesaqhelelene Naye; wayedinga isikhathi, kwakudingeka alinde, kwakudingeka ukuthi abekezele. Ngokwaleso sikhathi, ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe, akekho owayazi ukuthi udingani, noma ukuthi wayefisa ukuzuza ini, noma ukuthi wayelangazelela ini. Ngakho, ngesikhathi esifanayo nayejabule kakhulu ngaso, uNkulunkulu wezwa ubuhlungu enhliziyweni. Kodwa akawuyekanga umsebenzi Wakhe, waqhubeka ehlela isigaba esilandelayo salokho okumele akwenze.

Yini eniyibonayo esithembisweni sikaNkulunkulu ku-Abrahama? UNkulunkulu wabeka isibusiso Sakhe esikhulu phezu kuka-Abrahama ngenxa nje yokuthi wawalalela amazwi Akhe. Nakuba lokhu kubonakala kuvamile, eqinisweni kukho sibona inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu: UNkulunkulu ukwazisa kakhulu ukulalelwa umuntu, futhi uyajabula lapho abantu bemqonda futhi beqotho Kuye. UNkulunkulu ubazisa kangakanani lobu buqotho? Ningase ningayiqondi indlela uNkulunkulu abazisa ngayo, kungenzeka futhi ukuthi akekho ongayiqonda. UNkulunkulu wanika u-Abrahama indodana, futhi lapho leyo ndodana isikhulile, uNkulunkulu wacela u-Abrahama ukuba anikele ngendodana kuNkulunkulu. U-Abrahama walandela umyalo kaNkulunkulu osencwadini, walalela izwi likaNkulunkulu, futhi ubuqotho bakhe bajabulisa uNkulunkulu futhi uNkulunkulu wabazisa. UNkulunkulu wabazisa kangakanani? Futhi kungani abazisa? Ngesikhathi okwakungenamuntu ngaso owayeqonda izwi likaNkulunkulu noma eqonda inhliziyo Yakhe, u-Abrahama washo okuthile okwanyakazisa izulu futhi kwazamazamisa umhlaba, futhi kwenza uNkulunkulu wagculiseka ngendlela ayengakaze agculiseke ngayo futhi kwanikeza uNkulunkulu injabulo yokuzuza othile owakwazi ukulalela amazwi Akhe. Lokhu kugculiseka nenjabulo kwavela esidalweni uNkulunkulu ayesidale ngezandla Zakhe, futhi “kwakuwumnikelo” wokuqala umuntu awunika uNkulunkulu naye uNkulunkulu wawazisa kakhulu, kusukela ekudalweni komuntu. UNkulunkulu waba nesikhathi esinzima ngalo mnikelo, futhi wawuphatha njengesipho esibaluleke kakhulu esivela kumuntu, ayemdalile. Kwavezela uNkulunkulu isithelo sokuqala semizamo Yakhe nenani ayelikhokhile, futhi kwamenza waba nethemba ngesintu. Ngemva kwalokho, uNkulunkulu waba nesifiso esinamandla nakakhulu ngeqembu labantu abanjalo ukuba libe seduze Kwakhe, libe qotho Kuye, futhi limkhathalele ngobuqotho. UNkulunkulu waze ngisho waba nethemba lokuthi u-Abrahama wayezoqhubeka ephila, ngoba wayefisa ukuthi inhliziyo enjalo ibe seduze Kwakhe futhi ibe Naye njengoba eqhubeka nokuqondisa Kwakhe. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayefunani, kwakumane kuyisifiso nje, kuwumbono nje—ngoba u-Abrahama wayemane ewumuntu owayengakwazi ukumlandela, futhi wayengenakho ngisho nokuncane ukuqonda nolwazi ngoNkulunkulu. Wayengumuntu owayesilela kakhulu ezingeni lezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu kumuntu: ukwazi uNkulunkulu, ukwazi ukufakaza ngoNkulunkulu, nokuba mqondo munye noNkulunkulu. Ngakho, wayengakwazi ukuhamba noNkulunkulu. Emnikelweni ka-Abrahama ngo-Isaka, uNkulunkulu wabona ubuqotho nokulalela kuka-Abrahama, futhi wabona ukuthi wamelana novivinyo lwakhe. Ngisho noma uNkulunkulu abemukela ubuqotho nokulalela kwakhe, wayengakulungele ukuba isethenjwa sikaNkulunkulu, ukuba umuntu owazi uNkulunkulu, futhi omqondayo, futhi owayazi ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu; wayekude kakhulu nokuba munye noNkulunkulu engqondweni nokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. Ngakho enhliziyweni Yakhe, uNkulunkulu wayeseyedwa futhi ekhathazekile. Lapho uNkulunkulu eba yedwa futhi ekhathazeka kakhudlwana, yilapho ayedinga ukuqhubeka nokuqondisa Kwakhe ngokwengeziwe ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka khona, futhi akwazi ukukhetha nokuzuza iqembu labantu elizofeza icebo Lakhe lokuqondisa futhi ligcine intando Yakhe ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka. Lesi kwakuyisifiso esijulile sikaNkulunkulu, futhi asiguqukanga kusukela siqala kuze kube namhlanje. Kusukela lapho edala umuntu ekuqaleni, uNkulunkulu ubelokhu elangazelela iqembu labanqobi, iqembu elizohamba Naye futhi elikwazi ukuqonda nokwazi isimo Sakhe. Lesi sifiso sikaNkulunkulu asikaze siguquke. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi side kangakanani isikhathi okufanele asilinde, kungakhathaleki ukuthi indlela inzima kangakanani, kungakhathaleki ukuthi imigomo Yakhe iqhele kangakanani, uNkulunkulu akakaze aguquke noma aphonse ithawula kwakulindele kumuntu. Manje njengoba ngisho lokhu, ingabe kukhona enikubonayo esifisweni sikaNkulunkulu? Mhlawumbe lokhu eniqeda kukubona akubalulekile kangako—kodwa kuzoba njalo kancane kancane!

Phakathi nenkathi efana neka-Abrahama, uNkulunkulu waphinde wabhubhisa umuzi. Lo muzi wawubizwa ngokuthi iSodoma. Ngaphandle kokungabaza, abantu abaningi bajwayelene nendaba yaseSodoma, kodwa akekho kulabo bantu ojwayelene nemicabango kaNkulunkulu eyayingemva kokubhubhisa Kwakhe umuzi.

Futhi namuhla, nakuba uNkulunkulu exoxisana no-Abrahama ngezansi, sizofunda imicabango Yakhe ngaleso sikhathi, kuyilapho futhi sifunda ngesimo Sakhe. Okulandelayo, ake sifunde imibhalo elandelayo.

B. UNkulunkulu Kumele Abhubhise ISodoma

UGenesise 18:26 Futhi uJehova wathi, Uma eSodoma ngithola abangamashumi amahlanu abalungileyo ngaphakathi kwedolobha, khona-ke ngizohawukela yonke le ndawo ngenxa yabo.

UGenesise 18:29 Waphinda futhi wakhuluma Kuye, wathi, Mhlawumbe kungenzeka kutholakale abangamashumi amane khona. Wayesethi, angeke ngikwenze.

UGenesise 18:30 Wathi futhi Kuye, Mhlawumbe kungenzeka kutholakale abangamashumi amathathu khona. Wayesethi, angeke ngikwenze.

UGenesise 18:31 Waye sethi, Mhlawumbe kungenzeka kutholakale abangamashumi amabili khona. Wayesethi, angeke ngiyibhubhise.

UGenesise 18:32 Waye sethi, Mhlawumbe kungenzeka kutholakale abayishumi khona. Wayesethi, angeke ngiyibhubhise.

Lawa amavesi ambalwa engiwakhethe eBhayibhelini. Awaphelele. Uma nifuna ukuwabona, ningazifundela wona eBhayibhelini; ukuze ngonge isikhathi, ngikhiphe ingxenye evela emiBhalweni. Lapha ngikhethe kuphela amazwi awumgogodla nemisho, ngashiya imisho eminingi engahlobene kangako nathi namuhla. Kuwo wonke la mavesi nendaba esixoxa ngayo, umgomo wethu awubandakanyi imininingwane mayelana nalezi zindaba, nokuziphatha komuntu kuzo; kunalokho, sikhuluma kuphela ngemicabango kaNkulunkulu nemibono yangaleso sikhathi. Emicabangweni nasemibonweni kaNkulunkulu, sizobona isimo sikaNkulunkulu, futhi kukho konke uNkulunkulu akwenza, sizobona uNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe—futhi kulokhu sizowufeza umgomo wethu.

UNkulunkulu Unendaba Kuphela Nalabo Abakwazi Ukulalela Amazwi Akhe Nokulandela Imiyalo Yakhe

Amazwi angenhla aqukethe into ewumgogodla: izinombolo. Okokuqala, uJehova uNkulunkulu uthe uma ethola abangamashumi amahlanu abalungile emzini, khona-ke uyoyekela indawo yonke ngenxa yabo, okusho ukuthi, wayengeke awubhubhise umuzi. Ngakho ingabe babekhona abangamashumi amahlanu abalungile eSodoma? Babengekho. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, wathini u-Abrahama kuNkulunkulu? Wathi, mhlawumbe kutholakala abangamashumi amane khona? UNkulunkulu wathi, ngeke ngiwubhubhise. Ngemva kwalokho, u-Abrahama wathi, mhlawumbe kutholakala abangamashumi amathathu khona? UNkulunkulu wathi, ngeke ngikwenze. Mhlawumbe abangamashumi amabili? Ngeke ngikwenze. Abayishumi? Ngeke ngikwenze lokho. Ingabe kwakunabayishumi abalungile emzini? Babengelona ishumi—kodwa wayeyedwa. Wayengubani lona oyedwa? KwakunguLoti. Ngaleso sikhathi, wayeyedwa umuntu owayelungile eSodoma, kodwa ingabe uNkulunkulu wayeqinisa kakhulu uma kuziwa kuleli nani? Cha, kwakungenjalo! Ngakho lapho umuntu elokhu ethi, “Kuthiwani ngabangamashumi amane?” “Kuthiwani ngabangamamashumi amathathu?” kuze kube yilapho ethi khona “Kuthiwani ngabayishumi?” UNkulunkulu wathi, “Ngisho noma kunabayishumi kuphela, ngeke ngiwubhubhise umuzi; ngiyowusindisa, ngithethelele abanye abantu ngaphandle kwabayishumi.” Abayishumi babeyodabukisa ngokwanele, kodwa empeleni alibanga bikho ngisho nalelo nani labantu abalungile eSodoma. Ngakho uyabona ukuthi emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, isono nokukhohlakala kwabantu bendawo kwahamba kwaze kwafika ezingeni lokuthi uNkulunkulu kwakungasekho angakwenza ngaphandle kokubabhubhisa. Wayeqonde ukuthini uNkulunkulu lapho ethi ngeke awubhubhise umuzi uma kunabangamashumi amahlanu abalungile? La manani ayengabalulekile kuNkulunkulu. Okwakubalulekile ukuthi umuzi unabo yini abantu abalungile ayebafuna noma cha. Uma umuzi wawunomuntu oyedwa olungile, uNkulunkulu wayengeke avume ukuthi balimale lapho ebhubhisa umuzi. Lokhu kusho ukuthi, kungakhathaleki ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezowubhubhisa umuzi noma cha, kungakhathaleki ukuthi kwakunabalungile abangakanani kuwo, kuNkulunkulu lo muzi owonayo wawuqalekisiwe, futhi kufanele ubhujiswe, kufanele unyamalale emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, kusale abalungile. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi iminyaka ithini, kungakhathaleki ukuthi umuntu ukusiphi isigaba sokukhula, umbono kaNkulunkulu awuguquki: Uyabuzonda ububi, unendaba nabalungile emehlweni Akhe. Lo mbono ocacile kaNkulunkulu uphinde ube isambulo sangempela sesiqu sikaNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yokuthi kwakunomuntu oyedwa emzini, uNkulunkulu akabange esanqikaza. Umphumela waba ukuthi iSodoma lalizobhujiswa. Nibonani kulokhu? Kuleyo nkathi, uNkulunkulu wayengeke awubhubhise umuzi uma kuwo kunabangamashumi amahlanu abalungile, noma kunabayishumi, okusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezonquma ukubathethelela noma abe nesineke ngabantu, noma enze umsebenzi Wakhe wokuqondisa, ngenxa yabambalwa ababemkhonza. UNkulunkulu ubeke okuningi ezenzweni ezilungile zomuntu, kulabo abakwazi ukumkhonza, nakulabo abakwazi ukwenza okuhle phambi Kwakhe.

Kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube manje, ingabe nake nalifunda iBhayibheli likaNkulunkulu elikhuluma ngeqiniso, noma nakhuluma nganoma iyiphi indlela ngoNkulunkulu, kunoma imuphi umuntu? Cha. Amazwi kaNkulunkulu kumuntu esiwafundayo atshela abantu kuphela lokho okufanele bakwenze. Abanye bawenza, abanye abawenzanga; abanye bawakholwa, abanye abawakholwanga. Ayeyikho konke lokho. Ngakho, ukulunga kwaleyo nkathi—labo ababelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu—kwakuyilabo abakwazi ukuzwa izwi likaNkulunkulu balandele umyalo kaNkulunkulu. Babeyizinceku ezafeza izwi likaNkulunkulu phakathi kwabantu. Ingabe labo bantu kwakungathiwa bayamazi uNkulunkulu? Ingabe babengabizwa ngabantu abapheleliswe uNkulunkulu? Cha, babengeke. Ngakho, kungakhathaleki ukuthi bangakanani, ingabe emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laba bantu abalungile babefanele ukubizwa ngezethenjwa zikaNkulunkulu? Ingabe bangabizwa ngofakazi bakaNkulunkulu? Lutho neze! Babengakufanele ukubizwa ngezethenjwa nofakazi bakaNkulunkulu. Ngakho uNkulunkulu wababiza ngani laba bantu? EBhayibhelini, ezingxenyeni zemibhalo esiqeda kuzifunda, kuningi la sibona uNkulunkulu ebabiza khona ngokuthi “Nceku Yami.” Okusho ukuthi ngaleso sikhathi, emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laba bantu abalungile babeyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu, babengabantu abamkhonza emhlabeni. UNkulunkulu wayecabangani ngalokhu? Kungani ababiza kanjalo? Ingabe uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni Yakhe unamazinga abiza ngawo abantu? Ngempela unawo. UNkulunkulu unamazinga, kungakhathaleki ukuthi uthi abantu balungile, baphelele, baqotho noma bayizinceku. Lapho ebiza umuntu ngenceku Yakhe, usuke eqiniseka ngokuthi lowo muntu uyazamukela izithunywa Zakhe, futhi uyakwazi ukulandela imiyalo Yakhe, futhi angakufeza lokho akuyala izithunywa Zakhe. Futhi yini ayifezayo lo muntu? Yilokho uNkulunkulu ayala umuntu ukuthi akwenze futhi akufeze emhlabeni. Ngaleso sikhathi, ingabe lokho uNkulunkulu athi akakwenze futhi akufeze emhlabeni kuyobizwa ngendlela kaNkulunkulu? Cha, ngeke. Ngoba ngaleso sikhathi, uNkulunkulu wacela umuntu ukuthi enze izinto ezilula; wamnika imiyalo embalwa elula, wamtshela izinto okufanele azenze, akukho okunye. UNkulunkulu wayesebenza ngokwecebo Lakhe. Ngoba ngaleso sikhathi, izimo eziningi zazingakabi bikho, isikhathi sasingakalungi, kwakunzima ngabantu ukuhamba endleleni kaNkulunkulu, ngakho indlela kaNkulunkulu yayisazongena ivela enhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu wabona abantu abalungile akhuluma ngabo, labo esibabona lapha—kungakhathaleki ukuthi babengamashumi amathathu noma bengamashumi amabili njengezinceku Zakhe. Lapho izithunywa zikaNkulunkulu zifika kulezi zinceku, ziyokwazi ukuzemukela, zilandele imiyalo yazo, futhi zenze ngokuvumelana namazwi azo. Lokhu yikhona kanye okwakufanele kwenziwe, yizinceku emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu ubahlulela kahle abantu. Akababizanga ngezinceku Zakhe ngenxa yokuthi babenjengoba ninjalo manje - ngenxa yokuthi babezwe izintshumayelo eziningi, bazi lokho uNkulunkulu ayezokwenza, beyiqonda kanzulu intando kaNkulunkulu, futhi beqonda icebo Lakhe lokuqondisa—kodwa ngoba ubuntu babo babuthembekile futhi bekwazi ukuvumelana nezwi likaNkulunkulu; lapho uNkulunkulu ebayala, bakwazi ukubekela eceleni ababekwenza bafeza lokhu uNkulunkulu ayebayale ngakho. Ngakho, kuNkulunkulu enye ingxenye yencazelo esikhundleni^[a] senceku ukuthi babambisane nomsebenzi Wakhe emhlabeni, futhi nakuba babengezona izithunywa zikaNkulunkulu, babengabenzi bezwi likaNkulunkulu emhlabeni. Ngakho niyabona ukuthi lezi zinceku noma abantu abalungile babaluleke kakhulu kangakanani enhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu. Umsebenzi uNkulunkulu awenza emhlabeni wawungeke wenzeke ngaphandle kokuthi abantu babambisane Naye, futhi akukho okwakungangena esikhundleni sezithunywa zikaNkulunkulu. Umsebenzi ngamunye uNkulunkulu ayala lezi zinceku ukuba ziwenze wawubaluleke kakhulu Kuye, ngakho zazingeke zimlahlekele. Ngaphandle kokubambisana kwalezi zinceku noNkulunkulu, umsebenzi Wakhe esintwini ngabe usamile, ngenxa yalokho icebo likaNkulunkulu lokuqondisa namathemba kaNkulunkulu bekuyophenduka ize leze.

UNkulunkulu Unomusa Omkhulu Kulabo Abakhathalelayo, Futhi Unenzondo Enkulu Kulabo Abazondayo Nabalahlayo

Ekulandiseni kweBhayibheli, ingabe zazikhona izinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziyishumi eSodoma? Cha, zazingekho! Ingabe kwakufanele ukuthi umuzi uchithwe uNkulunkulu? Kwakunomuntu oyedwa kuphela emzini—uLoti—wamukela izithunywa zikaNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho kwakunenceku kaNkulunkulu eyodwa kuphela emzini, ngakho uNkulunkulu akukho ayengakwenza ngaphandle kokusindisa uLoti futhi abhubhise umuzi waseSodoma. Lokhu okuphakathi kuka-Abrahama noNkulunkulu kungase kubonakale kulula, kodwa kuqhakambisa into ebaluleke kakhulu: Kunemiyalo ezenzweni zikaNkulunkulu, futhi ngaphambi kokuthi enze izinqumo uzochitha isikhathi ebuka futhi ehlolisisa; singakafiki isikhathi esifanele, asikho isinqumo azosenza futhi azikho iziphetho azofinyelela kuzo. Lokhu okuphakathi kuka-Abrahama noNkulunkulu kusibonisa ukuthi isinqumo sikaNkulunkulu sokubhubhisa iSodoma kwakungekhona ukushiyeka, ngoba uNkulunkulu wayazi ukuthi umuzi wawungenabo abalungile abangamashumi amane, noma abangamashumi amathathu, noma abangamashumi amabili. Babengekho ngisho abayishumi. Okuwukuphela komuntu olungile emuzini kwakunguLoti. Konke okwenzeka eSodoma nezimo zalo kwakubonwa nguNkulunkulu, futhi kuNkulunkulu kwakuvame njengenhlanekela yesandla Sakhe. Ngakho, isinqumo Sakhe sasingeke sibe nephutha. Ngokuphambene, uma kuqhathaniswa namandla amakhulu kaNkulunkulu, umuntu undikindiki, uyisiwula futhi akanaki, akaziboni izinto ngeso elibanzi. Yilokhu esikubona phakathi kuka-Abrahama noNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu ubelokhu ehambisa phambili isimo Sakhe kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube namuhla. Ngakho, lapha sikhona isimo sikaNkulunkulu okufanele sisibone. Izinombolo zilula, futhi azivezi lutho, kodwa lapha sibonakala kakhulu isimo sikaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu wayengeke awubhubhise umuzi ngenxa yabangamashumi amahlanu abalungile. Ingabe lokhu kungenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu? Ingabe kungenxa yothando Lwakhe nokubekezela? Ingabe nike nalubona lolu hlangothi lwesimo sikaNkulunkulu? Ngisho noma kwakunabalungile abayishumi kuphela, uNkulunkulu wayengeke awubhubhise umuzi ngenxa yabayishumi abalungile. Ingabe lokhu akukhona ukubekezela nothando lukaNkulunkulu? Ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu, ukubekezela, nokukhathalela abalungile, wayengeke awubhubhise umuzi. Lokhu kwakuwukubekezela kukaNkulunkulu. Ekupheleni, imuphi umphumela esiwubonayo? Lapho u-Abrahama ethi, “Mhlawumbe kungenzeka kutholakale abayishumi khona,” uNkulunkulu wathi, “angeke ngiyibhubhise.” Ngemva kwalokho, u-Abrahama akashongo lutho—ngoba eSodoma babengekho abayishumi ayebuza ngabo, futhi kwakungekho okunye ayengakusho, futhi ngaleso sikhathi waqonda ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu anquma ukubhubhisa iSodoma. Kulokhu, yisiphi isimo sikaNkulunkulu enisibonayo? Nhloboni yesinqumo uNkulunkulu asenza? Lokhu kusho ukuthi, uma umuzi wawungenabo abalungile abayishumi, uNkulunkulu wayengakuvumeli ukuba khona kwawo, futhi wayewubhubhisa. Ingabe lolu akulona ulaka lukaNkulunkulu? Ingabe lolu laka lumelela isimo sikaNkulunkulu? Ingabe lesi simo siyisambulo sesiqu sikaNkulunkulu esingcwele? Ingabe siyisambulo sokulunga kwesiqu sikaNkulunkulu, umuntu okungamele asithukuthelise? Eseqinisekise ukuthi abekho abayishumi abalungile eSodoma, uNkulunkulu wayezimisele ukubhubhisa umuzi, futhi wayezobajezisa kakhulu abantu abasemzini, ngoba bamelana noNkulunkulu, nokuthi babekhohlakele.

Kungani sihlaziye lezi zingxenye ngale ndlela? Kungenxa yokuthi le misho embalwa isiveza ngokugcwele isimo sikaNkulunkulu somusa omkhulu nolaka. Ngesikhathi esifanayo nokukubheka njengegugu ukulunga, ukuba nomusa kubo, ukubabekezelela, nokubanakekela, kwakunenzondo enkulu enhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu ngabo bonke abaseSodoma ababekhohlakele. Ingabe lokhu kwakungewona umusa nentukuthelo enkulu? UNkulunkulu wawubhubhisa ngayiphi indlela umuzi? Ngomlilo. Kungani awubhubhisa esebenzisa umlilo? Lapho ubona into ishiswa umlilo, noma lapho usuzoshiswa okuthile, uzizwa kanjani ngakho? Kungani ufuna ukuyishisa? Ingabe ubona ukuthi awusayidingi, ukuthi awusafuni ukuphinde uyibone? Ingabe ufuna ukuyishiya? Ukusebenzisa kukaNkulunkulu umlilo ukulaxaza, nenzondo, nokuthi wayengasafisi ukubona iSodoma. Lena into eyenza uNkulunkulu waqothula iSodoma ngomlilo. Lokhu kusetshenziswa komlilo kuveza indlela uNkulunkulu ayethukuthele ngayo. Umusa nokubekezela kukaNkulunkulu kukhona ngempela, kodwa ubungcwele nokulunga kukaNkulunkulu lapho eveza intukuthelo Yakhe kubonisa umuntu nolunye uhlangothi lukaNkulunkulu lokuthi akacasulwa. Lapho umuntu ekwazi ngokugcwele ukulalela imiyalo kaNkulunkulu futhi enze ngokuvumelana nezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu uyoba nomusa omkhulu kubantu; lapho abantu begcwele inkohlakalo, inzondo, nobutha Ngaye, uNkulunkulu uthukuthela kakhulu. Uthukuthela kakhulu kangakanani? Ulaka Lwakhe luyoqhubeka kuze kube yilapho uNkulunkulu engasaboni abantu bemphika futhi bengasekho phambi kwamehlo Akhe. Luyophela lapho kuphela ulaka lukaNkulunkulu. Ngamanye amazwi, akunandaba ukuthi umuntu ungubani, uma izinhliziyo zabo ziqhelelene noNkulunkulu, futhi zimfulathele uNkulunkulu, zingabuyi, khona-ke akunandaba ukuthi imizamo nezifiso zalabo bantu kube yini, bafisa ukukhonza nokulandela nokulalela uNkulunkulu emzimbeni nasemicabangweni yabo, ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuthi izinhliziyo zabo zifulathele uNkulunkulu, ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luyophuma ngokushesha. Kuyoba njengokungathi lapho uNkulunkulu ekhipha ulaka Lwakhe olukhulu, enike umuntu amathuba amaningi, uma eselukhiphile iyobe ingasekho indlela yokulubuyisela emuva, futhi akasoze aba nomusa noma abekezelele umuntu onjalo. Lolu olunye uhlangothi lwesimo sikaNkulunkulu olungabubekezeleli ububi. Lapha, kubonakala kwamukeleka kubantu ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyobhubhisa umuzi, ngoba emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, umuzi ogcwele isono wawungeke uqhubeke ukhona, kwakubalulekile ukuthi ubhujiswe uNkulunkulu. Kodwa kulokho okwenzeka ngaphambi nangemva kokubhujiswa kweSodoma, sisibona ngokuphelele isimo sikaNkulunkulu. Uyabekezela futhi unobubele ezintweni ezinomusa, nezinhle; bese kuthi ezintweni ezingcolile, ezinesono, nezikhohlakele, uthukuthela kakhulu ngezinga lokuthi akabe esakwazi ukubamba ulaka Lwakhe. Lezi izimpawu eziyinhloko nezibalulekile zesimo sikaNkulunkulu, ngaphezu kwalokho, zembulwe uNkulunkulu kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube sekugcineni: umusa omkhulu nentukuthelo enkulu. Abaningi benu babone okuthile ngomusa kaNkulunkulu, kodwa bancane kakhulu kini abaphawule intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu. Umusa kaNkulunkulu nothando Lwakhe kungabonakala kuwo wonke umuntu; okusho ukuthi, uNkulunkulu ubelokhu ebonisa wonke umuntu umusa omkhulu. Kodwa akuvamile—noma kungathiwa akukaze kwenzeke—ukuthi uNkulunkulu athukuthelele kakhulu abantu abathile noma ingxenye yabantu kini. Khululekani! Kungekudala, ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luzobonakala kuwo wonke umuntu, kodwa manje akukabi isikhathi. Kungani kunjalo? Ngenxa yokuthi lapho uNkulunkulu eqhubeka ethukuthelele othile, okusho ukuthi lapho eveza intukuthelo Yakhe kubo, lokho kusho ukuthi kusuke sekuyisikhathi angamthandi futhi amchitha ngaso lowo muntu, akakuthandi ukuba khona kwabo futhi ngeke akubekezelele; ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuveza intukuthelo Yakhe kubo, bayoshabalala. Namuhla, umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu awukafinyeleli lapho. Akekho kini oyokwazi ukumelana nolaka lukaNkulunkulu. Niyabona ukuthi manje, uNkulunkulu nonke unibonisa umusa omkhulu, futhi ima nisazobona intukuthelo Yakhe. Uma kunalabo abangakaqiniseki, ningacela ukuba intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu yehlele kini, ukuze nibone ukuthi uNkulunkulu unayo noma cha intukuthelo, futhi nibone ukuthi sikhona isimo Sakhe esingenakucasulwa. Ningalokotha?

Abantu Bezinsuku Zokugcina Babona Kuphela Ulaka LukaNkulunkulu Emazwini Akhe, futhi Abaluzwa Ngempela Ulaka LukaNkulunkulu

Ingabe lezi zinhlangothi ezimbili zesimo sikaNkulunkulu ezibonakala ezingxenyeni zemibhalo kufanele sixoxe ngazo? Ngemva kokuzwa le ndaba, ingabe senimqonda ngendlela ehlukile uNkulunkulu? Hlobo luni lokuqonda? Kungashiwo ukuthi kusukela ngesikhathi sendalo kuze kube namuhla, alikho iqembu labantu elike lathola umusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu nothando Lwakhe njengeqembu lokugcina. Nakuba esigabeni sokugcina, uNkulunkulu enze umsebenzi wokwahlulela nokusola, futhi enze umsebenzi Wakhe ngamandla amakhulu, ezikhathini eziningi uNkulunkulu usebenzisa amazwi ukuze afeze umsebenzi Wakhe; usebenzisa amazwi ukuze afundise, anisele, anakekele, futhi ondle. Ulaka lukaNkulunkulu, belulokhu lufihliwe, futhi ngaphandle kokubona isimo solaka lukaNkulunkulu emazwini Akhe, bancane kakhulu abantu ababone ulaka Lwakhe ngokoqobo. Lokho kusho ukuthi, phakathi nomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu wokwahlulela nokusola, nakuba intukuthelo eyembulwa ezwini likaNkulunkulu ivumela abantu ukuba babone amandla amakhulu kaNkulunkulu nokungabubekezeleli Kwakhe ububi, le ntukuthelo ayeqeli ngalé kwamazwi Akhe. Ngamanye amazwi, uNkulunkulu usebenzisa amazwi ukuze ayale umuntu, embule umuntu, ahlulele umuntu, asole umuntu—kodwa uNkulunkulu usazosithukuthelela kakhulu isintu, futhi useke wayiveza intukuthelo Yakhe ngaphandle kwamazwi. Ngakho, umusa nothando lukaNkulunkulu okubonwa umuntu kule nkathi kuyisambulo sesimo sangempela sikaNkulunkulu, kuyilapho ulaka lukaNkulunkulu olubonwa umuntu lumane luyindlela yokuzwa amazwi Akhe. Abantu abaningi lokhu bakubheka ngephutha njengokubona ngokoqobo nokuba nolwazi lwangempela ngolaka lukaNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho, abantu abaningi bakholwa ukuthi bawubonile umusa kaNkulunkulu nothando Lwakhe emazwini Akhe, nokuthi bakubonile ukungabubekezeleli kukaNkulunkulu ububi babantu, futhi abaningi bawubonile umusa nokuba nesineke kukaNkulunkulu kubantu. Kodwa akunandaba ukuthi umuntu uziphatha kabi kangakanani, noma ukuthi isimo sakhe sikhohlakele kangakanani, uNkulunkulu ubelokhu ebekezela. Njengoba ebekezela, umgomo Wakhe ukulinda amazwi awakhulumile, umzamo awenzile kanye nenani alikhokhile ukuze afeze umphumela kulabo afisa ukubazuza. Ukulinda umphumela ofana nalona kuthatha isikhathi, futhi kudinga indalo yomuntu yakwenye indawo, ngendlela efanayo nalokho okwenza abantu bangabi badala bezalwa nje; lokho kuthatha iminyaka eyishumi nesishiyagalombili noma eyishumi nesishiyagalolunye, futhi abanye baze badinge ngisho nengamashumi amabili noma engamashumi amathathu ngaphambi kokuvuthwa babe abantu abadala. UNkulunkulu uyalinda ize iphele le nqubo, ulinda size sifike leso sikhathi, futhi ulinda kuze kufike umphumela walokhu. Kuso sonke isikhathi alinda ngaso, uNkulunkulu unomusa omkhulu. Phakathi nenkathi yomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, kubulawa abantu abancane kakhulu, futhi abanye bajeziselwa ukuba nesibindi bamelane noNkulunkulu. Izibonelo ezinjalo ziwubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi isimo sikaNkulunkulu esingalibambi igqubu, futhi buqinisekisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyabekezela ngempela, ubekezelela abakhethiwe. Yiqiniso, kulezi zibonelo, isambulo sengxenye yesimo sikaNkulunkulu kulaba bantu asilithinti lonke icebo lokuqondisa kukaNkulunkulu. Eqinisweni, kulesi sigaba sokugcina somsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu ubekezele kuyo yonke inkathi abelinde ngayo, futhi uguqule ukubekezela nokuphila Kwakhe ngenxa yensindiso yalabo abamlandelayo. Ingabe niyakubona lokhu? UNkulunkulu akaliphazamisi icebo Lakhe ngaphandle kwesizathu. Angaveza ulaka Lwakhe, futhi angaba nomusa; lesi isambulo sezingxenye ezimbili zesimo sikaNkulunkulu. Ingabe lokhu akucacile kahle? Ngamanye amazwi, uma kuziwa kuNkulunkulu, okulungile nokungalungile, okunobulungiswa nokungenabulungiswa, okuhle nokubi—konke lokhu kubonakala ngokucacile kumuntu. Lokho azokwenza, akuthandayo, akuzondayo—konke lokhu kungaboniswa ngokuqondile isimo Sakhe. Izinto ezinjalo zingaba sobala kakhulu futhi zibonakale ngokucacile emsebenzini kaNkulunkulu, futhi azididi noma zivame; kunalokho, zivumela abantu ukuba babone isimo sikaNkulunkulu nalokho anakho nayikho ngendlela ecacile, eneqiniso nengokoqobo. Lona uNkulunkulu weqiniso Uqobo Lwakhe.

Isimo SikaNkulunkulu Asikaze Sifihlwe Kumuntu—Inhliziyo Yomuntu Iphambukile KuNkulunkulu

Ukube angixoxanga ngalezi zinto, akekho kini obeyokwazi isimo sikaNkulunkulu ezindabeni zeBhayibheli. Leli iqiniso. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi, nakuba lezi zindaba zeBhayibheli zilobe okunye kwezinto ezenziwa uNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wakhuluma amazwi ambalwa, futhi akasethulanga ngokuqondile isimo Sakhe noma ayise phambili intando Yakhe kumuntu. Izizukulwane ezalandela zibheke le mininingwane njengezinganekwane, ngakho kubonakala sengathi uNkulunkulu uyazifihla kumuntu, lokho akukhona ukuzifihla kukaNkulunkulu kumuntu, kodwa isimo Sakhe nentando Yakhe. Ngemva kwengxoxo Yami namhlanje, ingabe nisenomuzwa wokuthi uNkulunkulu uzifihle ngokugcwele kumuntu? Ingabe nisakholwa ukuthi isimo sikaNkulunkulu sifihlekile kumuntu?

Kusukela ngesikhathi sokudala, isimo sikaNkulunkulu besilokhu sihambisana nomsebenzi Wakhe. Asikaze sifihlwe kumuntu, kodwa besikhonjiswa ngokusobala futhi sicaciswa kumuntu. Kodwa, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, inhliziyo yomuntu iye yaqhelelana ngisho nakakhulu noNkulunkulu, futhi njengoba inkohlakalo yomuntu yanda, umuntu noNkulunkulu sebeqhelelene kakhulu. Kancane kancane, umuntu uye wanyamalala emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Umuntu akakwazanga “ukubona” uNkulunkulu, okumshiye engazi lutho ngoNkulunkulu; ngakho akazi ngisho nokuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona yini, uphambuka aze aphike ngisho nokuba khona kukaNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho, ukungasiqondi komuntu isimo sikaNkulunkulu nalokho anakho nayikho akukho ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu uzifihlile kumuntu, kodwa kungenxa yokuthi inhliziyo yomuntu imfulathele uNkulunkulu. Nakuba umuntu ekholwa kuNkulunkulu, inhliziyo yomuntu ayinaye uNkulunkulu, futhi ukushaya indiva ukuthanda uNkulunkulu, akafuni ukuthanda uNkulunkulu, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe ayikaze isondelane noNkulunkulu futhi ihlale imgwema uNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho, inhliziyo yomuntu iqhelelene noNkulunkulu. Ngakho ikuphi inhliziyo yakhe? Eqinisweni inhliziyo yomuntu ayiyanga ndawo: Esikhundleni sokuthi ayinike uNkulunkulu noma ayembule ukuze uNkulunkulu ayibone, umuntu uyigcine kuye. Lokhu kungaphezu kweqiniso lokuthi abanye bavame ukuthandaza kuNkulunkulu bathi, “O Nkulunkulu, hlola inhliziyo yami—ukwazi konke engikucabangayo,” futhi abanye baze bafunge ukuthi uNkulunkulu ababheke, nokuthi bajeziswe uma bephula isifungo sabo. Nakuba umuntu evumela uNkulunkulu ukuba abheke ngaphakathi enhliziyweni yakhe, lokhu akusho ukuthi uyakwazi ukulalela ukuqondiswa namalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu, nokuthi akasenawo umphumela nethemba nokuthi akasalawulwa uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, kungakhathaleki ukuthi wenza siphi isifungo kuNkulunkulu noma ukuthi uthini Kuye emehlweni kaNkulunkulu inhliziyo yakho isavaliwe, ngoba uNkulunkulu umvumela kuphela ukuthi ahlole inhliziyo yakho, awumvumeli ukuba ayilawule. Ngamanye amazwi, awukamniki nhlobo uNkulunkulu inhliziyo yakho, futhi ukhuluma amazwi amnandi kuphela ukuze uNkulunkulu awezwe; unezinhloso eziningi zobuqili, uyazifihla kuNkulunkulu, kanye nokuphamba kwakho, ubuqili, namacebo, futhi ubamba amathemba nomphumela ngezandla zakho, wesaba kakhulu ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyokuthatha. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu akazange abone umuntu eqotho Kuye. Nakuba uNkulunkulu ekubona ukujula kwenhliziyo yomuntu, futhi ekwazi ukubona into umuntu ayicabangayo nafisa ukuyenza enhliziyweni yakhe, ebona nokusenhliziyweni yakhe, inhliziyo yomuntu akuyona ekaNkulunkulu, akayinikanga uNkulunkulu ukuze ayilawule. Okusho ukuthi, uNkulunkulu unelungelo lokubona, kodwa akanalo elokulawula. Ekubukeni komuntu ngokwakhe, umuntu akafuni ukuzishiyela emseni kaNkulunkulu. Umuntu akagcinanga nje ngokuqhela kuNkulunkulu, kodwa kunabantu abacabanga ukuthi kunezindlela abangasonga ngazo izinhliziyo zabo, basebenzise amazwi amnandi ukuze bakhe imibono engelona iqiniso bese uNkulunkulu ebathemba, bafihle ubuso babo bangempela ukuze uNkulunkulu angabuboni. Umgomo wabo wokuzifihla ukuthi uNkulunkulu angaboni ukuthi bangabantu abanjani ngempela. Abafuni ukunika uNkulunkulu izinhliziyo zabo, kodwa bafuna ukuzigcina kube ngezabo. Okuqonde ukushiwo ngamazwi asesihlokweni esincane ukuthi lokho umuntu akwenzayo nakufunayo konke kuhlelwa, kubalwe futhi umuntu azinqumele khona mathupha; akafuni ukuthi uNkulunkulu abe nengxenye kukho, ingasaphathwa eyokufuna ukuqondiswa nokuhlelelwa uNkulunkulu. Ngakho ngale kokuyala kukaNkulunkulu, umsebenzi Wakhe, noma izimfuneko uNkulunkulu azenzela umuntu, izinqumo zomuntu zisekelwe ezinhlosweni zakhe nasezintweni azifunayo, nasezimweni zakhe zangaleso sikhathi. Umuntu uhlale esebenzisa ulwazi nokuqonda ajwayelene nakho, nokuhlakanipha kwakhe, ukuze ahlulele futhi akhethe indlela ayithathayo, akafuni uNkulunkulu afake isandla noma amlawule. Lena inhliziyo yomuntu ebonwa uNkulunkulu.

Kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube manje, umuntu kuphela ophikisane noNkulunkulu. Lokho kusho ukuthi, kuzo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo zikaNkulunkulu, umuntu kuphela obelokhu ephikisana noNkulunkulu. Umuntu unezindlebe ezimenza ezwe, namehlo amvumela ukuba abone, unolimi, nemibono yakhe, nenkululeko yokuzinqumela. Unakho konke okungamenza ezwe lapho uNkulunkulu ekhuluma, futhi aqonde intando kaNkulunkulu, amukele umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, ngakho uNkulunkulu ufuna izifiso Zakhe zifezwe umuntu, ufuna umuntu abe nomqondo ohambisana nowakhe, bahambisane. Kusukela aqala ukuqondisa, uNkulunkulu ubelokhu elinde umuntu ukuba amnike inhliziyo Yakhe, avumele uNkulunkulu amhlanze futhi amhlomise, enze umuntu agculiseke ngoNkulunkulu, futhi athandwe uNkulunkulu, amenze ahloniphe uNkulunkulu futhi agweme okubi. UNkulunkulu ubehlale ebheke phambili futhi elinde lo mphumela. Ingabe bakhona abantu abanjalo ezintweni ezilotshwe eBhayibhelini? Okungukuthi, ingabe bakhona emlandweni weBhayibheli abakwazi ukunika uNkulunkulu izinhliziyo zabo? Ingabe bakhona abandulela le nkathi? Namuhla, masiqhubeke sifunde ukulandisa kweBhayibheli futhi sibheke okwenziwa yilo mlingiswa—uJobe—ukuthi kuyahlobana yini nesihloko “sokunika uNkulunkulu inhliziyo yakho” esikhuluma ngaso namhlanje. Make sibone ukuthi uJobe wayegculisekile yini ngoNkulunkulu futhi ethandwa uNkulunkulu.

Nimbheka kanjani uJobe? Uma kucashunwa imibhalo, abanye bathi uJobe “wesaba uNkulunkulu, futhi wagwema okubi.” “Wesaba uNkulunkulu, wagwema okubi”: Lezo izinto eziphawulwa ngoJobe eBhayibhelini. Uma kwakuyinina enibhalayo, naniyothini ngoJobe? Abanye bathi uJobe wayeyindoda eqotho futhi ebonelelayo; abanye bathi wayenokholo lwangempela kuNkulunkulu; abanye bathi wayelungile futhi engumuntu wabantu. Nilubonile ukholo lukaJobe, okusho ukuthi ezinhliziyweni zenu nilubheka njengolubalulekile ukholo lukaJobe. Ngakho namhlanje, ake sihlole ukuthi yini lena engaka uJobe ayenayo, eyajabulisa uNkulunkulu. Masifunde imibhalo engezansi.

C. UJobe

1. Okuphawulwa uNkulunkulu ngoJobe nokuseBhayibhelini

UJobe 1:1 Kwakukhona umuntu ezweni lase-Uzi, ogama lakhe kwakunguJobe; futhi loyo muntu wayengenasici futhi elungile, nowayemesaba uNkulunkulu, futhi egwema ububi.

UJobe 1:5 Kwathi lapho, izinsuku zamadili sezidlulile, uJobe wathumela futhi wawangcwelisa, futhi wavuka entathakusa, wase enikela umnikelo wokushiswa okwakulingana nesibalo sawo onke: ngokuba uJobe wathi, Kungenzeka ukuthi amadodana ami onile, futhi athuka uNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zawo. Wenza njalo uJobe mihla yonke.

UJobe 1:8 Wayesethi uJehova kuSathane, Ingabe uyiqaphele inceku Yami uJobe, ukuthi akekho ofana naye emhlabeni, indoda engasoleki nelungile owesaba uNkulunkulu, nogwema okubi?

Liyini iphuzu eliwumgogodla enilibonayo kula mavesi? La mavesi amathathu amafishane wonke ahlobana noJobe. Nakuba emafishane, abonisa ngokucacile ukuthi wayeyinhloboni yomuntu. Ngendlela akuchaza ngayo ukuziphatha kukaJobe kwansuku zonke, etshela wonke umuntu ukuthi kunokungabi nasisekelo, lokho uNkulunkulu akubona kuJobe kwakunesisekelo esiqinile. Asitshela ukuthi kwakuwumbono womuntu yini noma cha (Jobe 1:1), noma umbono kaNkulunkulu ngaye (Jobe 1:8), kokubili kuwumphumela wezenzo zikaJobe phambi kukaNkulunkulu nomuntu (Jobe 1:5).

Okokuqala, ake sifunde ingxenye yokuqala: “Kwakukhona umuntu ezweni lase-Uzi, ogama lakhe kwakunguJobe; futhi loyo muntu wayengenasici futhi elungile, nowayemesaba uNkulunkulu, futhi egwema ububi.” Umbono wokuqala ngoJobe useBhayibhelini, lo musho uwumbono wombhali ngoJobe. Ngokwemvelo, uphinde umelele lokho uJobe ayeyikho, okuwukuthi “loyo muntu wayengenasici futhi elungile, nowayemesaba uNkulunkulu, futhi egwema ububi.” Okulandelayo, asifunde nakhu okunye ngoJobe: “Akekho ofana naye emhlabeni, indoda engasoleki nelungile, owesaba uNkulunkulu, nogwema okubi” (UJobe 1:8). Kulezi zinto ezimbili, okunye kwavela kumuntu, okunye kwavela kuNkulunkulu; izinto ezimbili ezisho into efanayo. Ngakho kungashiwo ukuthi ukuziphatha kukaJobe kwakwaziwa umuntu, futhi kwakudunyiswa uNkulunkulu. Ngamanye amazwi, ukuziphatha kukaJobe phambi komuntu naphambi kukaNkulunkulu kwakufana; ukuziphatha kwakhe nezisusa zakhe kwakukuNkulunkulu ngaso sonke isikhathi, ukuze konke kuhlolwe uNkulunkulu, futhi wayesaba uNkulunkulu agweme okubi. Ngakho, emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, abantu emhlabeni, uJobe kuphela owayelungile futhi eqotho, nguye owayesaba uNkulunkulu futhi egwema okubi.

Izibonakaliso Eziqondile Zokwesaba KukaJobe UNkulunkulu Nokugwema Okubi Ekuphileni Kwakhe Kwansuku Zonke

Okulandelayo, ake sihlole izibonakaliso eziqondile zokwesaba kukaJobe uNkulunkulu nokugwema kwakhe okubi. Ngaphezu kwamavesi andulelayo nalandelayo, ake siphinde sifunde uJobe 1:5, okungenye yezindlela ezicacile uJobe esaba ngazo uNkulunkulu futhi wagwema okubi. Ulandisa indlela esaba ngayo uNkulunkulu futhi wagwema ngayo okubi ekuphileni kwakhe kwansuku zonke; okukhulu nakakhulu, ukuthi akenzanga njengoba ayefuna ukwenza ngenxa yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi, kodwa wanikela njalo ngeminikelo yokushiswa phambi kukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yamadodana akhe. Wayesaba ukuthi kaningi “babonile, futhi baqalekisa uNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zabo” ngesikhathi sedili. Futhi lokhu kwesaba kwabonakala kanjani kuJobe? Umbhalo ulandisa ngale ndlela: “Kwathi lapho, izinsuku zamadili sezidlulile, uJobe wawathumela futhi wawangcwelisa, futhi wavuka entathakusa, wase enikela umnikelo wokushiswa okwakulingana nesibalo sawo onke.” Ukuziphatha kukaJobe kubonisa ukuthi, kunokuthi kuvele ngendlela yokuziphatha okubonakala ngaphandle, ukwesaba kwakhe uNkulunkulu kwakuvela ngaphakathi enhliziyweni yakhe, futhi ukwesaba kwakhe uNkulunkulu kwakutholakala kuzo zonke izici zokuphila kwakhe, ngazo zonke izikhathi, ngoba akagcinanga nje ngokugwema okubi, kodwa kaningi wenza iminikelo yokushiswa ngenxa yamadodana akhe. Ngamanye amazwi, uJobe wayengesabi nje kuphela ukona uNkulunkulu nokuphikisana noNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yakhe, kodwa wakhathazwa nawukuthi amadodana akhe ona kuNkulunkulu futhi aphikisana naye ezinhliziyweni zawo. Lokhu kuliveza obala iqiniso lokuthi ukwesaba kukaJobe uNkulunkulu kwakuhlolisiswa, futhi akekho umuntu ongakungabaza. Ingabe lokhu wayekwenza ngezikhathi ezithile noma njalo? Amazwi okugcina athi “Wenze njalo uJobe ngokungaphezi.” Incazelo yala mazwi iwukuthi uJobe wayengawabheki amadodana akhe izikhathi ezithile, noma lapho kumjabulisa khona, futhi akavumanga kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo. Kunalokho, wayewathumela njalo, futhi ewangcwelisa amadodana akhe, futhi ewangcwelisa ngeminikelo yokushiswa. Elithi “ngokungaphezi” lana alisho ukuthi wakwenza usuku olulodwa noma ezimbili, noma umzuzu. Lisho ukuthi ukwesaba kukaJobe uNkulunkulu kwakungeyona into yesikhashana, futhi akuphelelanga olwazini noma emazwini akhulunywayo; kunalokho, indlela yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi yaqondisa inhliziyo yakhe, yanquma indlela aziphatha ngayo, futhi yayisenhliziyweni yakhe, iyimpande yokuba khona kwakhe. Ukuthi wenza kanjalo mihla yonke kubonisa ukuthi, enhliziyweni yakhe, wayehlale esaba ukuthi wayezokona uNkulunkulu futhi esaba ukuthi amadodana namadodakazi akhe ayezokona kuNkulunkulu. Kumelela indlela okwakunesisindo ngayo ukwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema ukwenza okubi enhliziyweni yakhe. Wenza kanjalo wangayeka, ngenxa yokuthi enhliziyweni yakhe, wayethukile futhi esaba—esaba ukuthi wenze okubi wona kuNkulunkulu, futhi uphambukile endleleni kaNkulunkulu, kanjalo akamgculisanga uNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, wayekhathazeke ngamadodana akhe namadodakazi akhe, esaba ukuthi athukuthelise uNkulunkulu. Ngakho wayeziphatha kanjalo uJobe nsuku zonke ekuphileni. Yilokhu kuziphatha okuvamile okufakazela ukuthi ukwesaba kukaJobe uNkulunkulu nokugwema ukwenza okubi akuwona nje amazwi angatheni, ukuthi uJobe wayekuphila ngokoqobo. “Wenze njalo uJobe ngokungaphezi”: La mazwi asitshela ngezenzo zikaJobe zansuku zonke phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Lapho elokhu enza kanjalo, ingabe ukuziphatha kwakhe nenhliziyo yakhe kwamfinyelela uNkulunkulu? Ngamanye amazwi, ingabe uNkulunkulu wayehlale ejabula ngenhliziyo yakhe nangokuziphatha kwakhe? Ngakho, kukusiphi isimo lapho uJobe enza kanjalo khona mihla yonke? Abanye bathi kwakungenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu wayevela njalo kuJobe; abanye bathi wenza kanjalo mihla yonke ngenxa yokuthi wayegwema okubi; abanye bathi mhlawumbe wenza kanjalo ngoba wayecabanga ukuthi ingcebo yakhe ayizanga kalula, futhi wayazi ukuthi yayibekwe uNkulunkulu kuye, ngakho wayesaba ukulahlekelwa impahla yakhe ngenxa yokona noma ukucasula uNkulunkulu. Ingabe kukhona okuyiqiniso kulokhu? Ngokusobala akunjalo. Ngoba emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, lokho uNkulunkulu akwamukela futhi akwazisa kakhulu ngoJobe, kwakungekhona nje ukuthi wenza kanjalo mihla yonke; okukhulu nakakhulu kwakuwukuziphatha kwakhe phambi kukaNkulunkulu, komuntu, nakuSathane lapho enikelwa kuSathane futhi evivinywa. Lezi zingxenye ezingezansi zinikeza ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda, ubufakazi obusibonisa iqiniso endleleni uNkulunkulu ayephatha ngayo indaba kaJobe. Manje, make sifunde umbhalo olandelayo.

2. USathane Ulinga UJobe Okokuqala (Imfuyo Yakhe iyantshontshwa Futhi Izingane Zakhe Zehlelwa inhlekelele)

a. Amazwi Akhulunywa UNkulunkulu

UJobe 1:8 Futhi wayesethi uJehova kuSathane, Ingabe uyiqaphele inceku Yami uJobe, ukuthi akekho ofana naye emhlabeni, indoda engasoleki nelungile, owesaba uNkulunkulu, nogwema okubi?

UJobe 1:12 Futhi uJehova wathi kuSathane, Bheka, konke lokhu anakho kusemandleni akho; kuphela kuyena ungabeki isandla sakho. Ngakho uSathane wayesesuka phambi kweNKOSI.

b. Impendulo KaSathane

UJobe 1:9-11 Khona-ke uSathane wabe esephendula uJehova, futhi wathi, Ingabe uJobe uyamesaba uNkulunkulu ngeze na? Awumbiyelanga yini yena, nendlu yakhe, nakho konke okwakhe nxazonke? Wabusisa umsebenzi wezandla zakhe, futhi impahla yakhe yandile emhlabeni. Kepha ake welule isandla Sakho manje, bese uthinta konke anakho, futhi uyokuthuka ebusweni Bakho.

UNkulunkulu Uvumela USathane Ukuba Alinge UJobe Ukuze Ukholo LukaJobe Lupheleliswe

UJobe 1:8 umbhalo wokuqala lapho sibona khona ingxoxo ephakathi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu noSathane. Futhi wathini uNkulunkulu? Umbhalo wokuqala unikeza amazwi alandelayo: “Wayesethi uJehova kuSathane, Ingabe uyiqaphele inceku Yami uJobe, ukuthi akekho ofana naye emhlabeni, indoda engasoleki nelungile, owesaba uNkulunkulu, nogwema okubi?” Lesi kwakuyisimo uNkulunkulu ayenaso ngoJobe phambi kukaSathane; uNkulunkulu wathi wayeyindoda elungile futhi eqotho, eyesaba uNkulunkulu futhi egwema okubi. Ngaphambi kwala mazwi aphakathi kukaNkulunkulu noSathane, uNkulunkulu wayenqume ukuthi wayezosebenzisa uSathane ukuze alinge uJobe—ukuthi wayezonikela ngoJobe kuSathane. Kokukodwa, lokhu kwakuzofakazela ukuthi ukubona kukaNkulunkulu nokuhlolwa kukaJobe kwakunembile futhi kungenaphutha, kwakuzokwenza uSathane abe namahloni ngobufakazi bukaJobe; kwakuzophinde kuphelelise nokholo lukaJobe nokwesaba kwakhe uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, lapho uSathane eza phambi kukaNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu akazange agudle iguma. Wahlala ephuzwini wabuza uSathane: “Ingabe uyiqaphele inceku Yami uJobe, ukuthi akekho ofana naye emhlabeni, indoda engasoleki nelungile, owensaba uNkulunkulu, nogwema okubi?” Embuzweni kaNkulunkulu kunencazelo elandelayo: UNkulunkulu wayazi ukuthi uSathane wayesehambe zonke izindawo, futhi wayesezwile ngoJobe, owayeyinceku kaNkulunkulu. Wayemlinge futhi wamhlasela kaningi, ezama ukuletha incithakalo kuJobe ukuze afakazele ukuthi ukholo lukaJobe kuNkulunkulu nokwesaba kwakhe uNkulunkulu kwakungeke kume kuqine. USathane wayekulungele ukufuna amathuba okucekela phansi uJobe, nokuthi uJ0be aphike uNkulunkulu futhi amsuse ezandleni zikaNkulunkulu. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wahlola inhliziyo kaJobe wabona ukuthi wayelungile futhi eqotho, nokuthi wayesaba uNkulunkulu futhi egwema okubi. UNkulunkulu wasebenzisa umbuzo ukuze atshele uSathane ukuthi uJobe wayelungile futhi eyindoda eqotho eyesaba uNkulunkulu igweme okubi, nokuthi uJobe wayengeke amphike uNkulunkulu alandele uSathane. Ngemva kokuzwa lokhu ngoJobe, kwaqubuka inzondo enkulu kuSathane, futhi wafuna ngazo zonke izindlela ukuhlwitha uJobe, ngoba uSathane akakaze akholwe ukuthi kungaba nomuntu olungile futhi oqotho, ongesaba uNkulunkulu agweme okubi. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, uSathane wazonda indoda elungile futhi eqotho, wazonda nabantu abesaba uNkulunkulu futhi abagwema okubi. Ngakho kulotshiwe kuJobe 1:9-11 ukuthi “Khona-ke uSathane wabe esemphendula uJehova, futhi wathi, Ingabe uJobe uyamesaba uNkulunkulu ngeze na? Awumbiyelanga yini yena, nendlu yakhe, nakho konke okwakhe nxazonke? Wabusisa umsebenzi wezandla zakhe, futhi impahla yakhe yandile emhlabeni. Kepha ake welule isandla Sakho manje, bese uthinta konke anakho, futhi uyokuthuka ebusweni Bakho.” UNkulunkulu wayejwayelene nemvelo kaSathane embi, wayazi kahle kamhlophe ukuthi kwase kuyisikhathi eside uSathane eceba ukonakalisa uJobe, ngakho uNkulunkulu watshela uSathane ukuthi uJobe wayengumuntu olungile futhi oqotho, owesaba uNkulunkulu futhi agweme okubi, kuze abuyise uSathane endleleni, ukuze embule ubuso bangempela bukaSathane ahlasele futhi alinge uJobe. Ngamanye amazwi, uNkulunkulu wakuveza ngenhloso ukuthi uJobe wayelungile futhi eqotho, nokuthi wayesaba uNkulunkulu futhi egwema okubi, futhi ngalokhu wenza uSathane wahlasela uJobe ngenxa yokuthi uSathane kwakumthukuthelisa ukuthi uJobe ulungile futhi uqotho, nokuthi wesaba uNkulunkulu futhi ugwema okubi. Ngenxa yalokho, uNkulunkulu wayeyoletha ihlazo kuSathane ngenxa yokuthi uJobe wayelungile futhi eyindoda eqotho, eyesaba uNkulunkulu igweme okubi, uSathane wayeyohlazeka kakhulu futhi anqotshwe. Ngemva kwalokho, uSathane wayengeke esamngabaza noma ehlasele ukulunga kukaJobe, ubuqotho, ukwesaba uNkulunkulu, noma ukugwema okubi. Ngale ndlela, uvivinyo lukaNkulunkulu nokulingwa uSathane cishe kwakuyinto engenakugwenya. Okuwukuphela komuntu owayengakwazi ukumelana nokuvivinywa uNkulunkulu nokulingwa uSathane kwakunguJobe. Ngemva kwale ngxoxo, uSathane wanikwa imvume yokulinga uJobe. Ngakho kwaqala isiwombe sokuqala sokuhlasela kukaSathane. Umgomo walokhu kuhlasela kwakuyimpahla kaJobe, ngoba uSathane wayenze izinsolo ezilandelayo ngokumelene noJobe: “Ingabe uJobe uyamesaba uNkulunkulu ngeze na? … Wabusisa umsebenzi wezandla zakhe, futhi impahla yakhe yandile emhlabeni.” Ngenxa yalokho, uNkulunkulu wavumela uSathane ukuthi athathe konke uJobe ayenakho—okwakuyinjongo kaSathane yokukhuluma noNkulunkulu kwasekuqaleni. Noma kunjalo, uNkulunkulu wacela into eyodwa kuSathane: “Konke lokhu anakho kusemandleni akho; kuphela kuyena ungabeki isandla sakho” (UJobe 1:12). Lesi isimo esahlelwa uNkulunkulu ngemva kokuvumela uSathane ukuba alinge uJobe futhi wabeka uJobe ezandleni zikaSathane, wambekela umngcele owodwa uSathane: Wayala uSathane ukuba angamlimazi uJobe. Ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi uJobe wayephelele futhi eqotho, futhi wayenokholo lokuthi ukulunga kukaJobe nobuqotho bakhe phambi Kwakhe kwakungangabazeki, futhi kwakungamelana novivinyo; ngakho uNkulunkulu wavumela uSathane ukuba alinge uJobe, kodwa wabekela uSathane umbandela: USathane wayevunyelwe ukuyithatha yonke impahla kaJobe, kodwa wayengakwazi ukumbeka isandla. Kusho ukuthini lokhu? Kusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu akanikelanga ngoJobe ngokuphelele kuSathane. USathane wayengavivinya uJobe nganoma yini ayifunayo, kodwa wayengeke amlimaze uJobe, ngisho nonwele olusekhanda lakhe, ngoba yonke into yomuntu ilawulwa uNkulunkulu, ukuthi umuntu uyaphila noma uyafa kunqunywa uNkulunkulu, uSathane akanalo igunya elinjalo. Ngemva kokuba uNkulunkulu esho la mazwi kuSathane, uSathane wayengasakwazi ukulinda ukuqala umsebenzi. Wayesebenzisa konke ukuze alinge uJobe, futhi kungakabiphi, uJobe wayeselahlekelwe inqwaba yezimvu, nezinkomo nayo yonke impahla ayeyinikwe uNkulunkulu…. Ngakho uvivinyo lukaNkulunkulu lwafika kuye.

Nakuba iBhayibheli lisitshela ngomsuka wokulingwa kukaJobe, ingabe uJobe owayelingwa, wayazi ukuthi kuqhubekani? UJobe wayemane engumuntu wasemhlabeni; ngakho wayengazi lutho ngendaba emayelana naye. Noma kunjalo, ukwesaba kwakhe uNkulunkulu, nokulunga nobuqotho bakhe, kwamenza waqaphela ukuthi uvivinyo luNkulunkulu lwalwehlele kuye. Wayengazi ukuthi kwakwenzekeni ezulwini, nokuthi izinjongo zikaNkulunkulu ngalolu vivinyo zaziyini. Kodwa wayazi ukuthi kungakhathaleki ukuthi kwenzekani kuye, kwakufanele abambelele ngeqiniso ekulungeni nasebuqothweni bakhe, futhi kwakufanele esabe uNkulunkulu agweme okubi. Umbono kaJobe nendlela asabela ngayo kulokhu wayekubonile uNkulunkulu. Wabonani uNkulunkulu? Wabona inhliziyo kaJobe eyesaba uNkulunkulu, ngoba kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube manje, lapho uJobe elingwa, uNkulunkulu wayelokhu eyibona inhliziyo kaJobe, yayenekwe phambi kukaNkulunkulu, futhi uJobe akakuphikanga ukulunga nobuqotho, futhi akakubalekelanga ukwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi—futhi lokho kwamjabulisa uNkulunkulu. Manje, sizohlola izilingo uJobe adlula kuzo, nendlela asabela ngayo kuzo. Ake sifunde imibhalo.

c. Ukusabela KukaJobe

UJobe 1:20-21 Khona-ke uJobe wasukuma, wabe eseklebhula isiphuku sakhe, futhi waphuca ikhanda lakhe, wabe esewela emhlabathini, futhi wakhuleka, Wayesethi, Ngaphuma ngihamba ze esibelethweni sikamama wami, futhi ngiyobuyela kuso ngihamba ze: uJehova iphile, futhi uJehova uthathile; malibongwe igama lika Jehova.

Ukuthi UJobe Ukubeka Emahlombe Akhe Ukubuyisela Konke Anakho Kungenxa Yokwesaba Kwakhe UNkulunkulu

Ngemva kokuba uNkulunkulu ethe kuSathane, “Konke lokhu anakho kusemandleni akho; kuphela kuyena ungabeki isandla sakho,” uSathane wahamba, ngokushesha nje uJobe wahlaselwa ngonya: Okokuqala, izinkomo nezimbongolo zakhe kwebiwa futhi izinceku zakhe zabulawa; ngemva kwalokho, kwaqothulwa izimvu kanye nezinceku zakhe; ngemva kwalokho, kwathathwa amakamela nezinceku zakhe zabulawa; ekugcineni amadodana namadodakazi akhe ashona. Lezi zigcawu ezilandelanayo zaba usizi olukhulu kuJobe ovivinyweni lwakhe lokuqala. Njengoba uNkulunkulu ayala, kulokhu kuhlasela uSathane wayefuna impahla kaJobe nezingane zakhe, kodwa akamlimazanga uJobe. Ngakho, uJobe akabange esaba isicebi esicaphuna kusale, waba umuntu ohlwempu. Akekho owayengamelana nalezo zimo ezibuhlungu, uJobe amelana nazo. Imibhalo iyalandisa: “Khona-ke uJobe wasukuma, wabe eseklebhula isiphuku sakhe, futhi waphuca ikhanda lakhe, wabe esewela emhlabathini, wayesekhuleka.” Lena indlela yokuqala uJobe asabela ngayo ngemva kokuzwa ukuthi uselahlekelwe izingane zakhe kanye nempahla yakhe. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, akabonakalanga emangele, noma ethukile, ingasaphathwa eyokuthi athukuthele noma abe nenzondo. Ngakho uyabona ukuthi enhliziyweni yakhe, wayesebona kakade ukuthi lezi zinhlekelele azenzekanga ngengozi, noma azibangelwanga umuntu, ingasaphathwa eyomvuzo noma eyokujeziswa kwakhe. Kunalokho, uvivinyo lukaNkulunkulu lwalwehlele kuye; kwakunguJehova uNkulunkulu owayefisa ukuthatha impahla nezingane zakhe. UJobe wayezolile futhi enombono ocacile. Ukulunga nobuntu bakhe obuqotho kwamvumela ukuba enze ukwahlulela nezinqumo ezinhle ngalezi zinhlekelele ezazimehlele, futhi ngenxa yalokho wasabela ngendlela engavamile: “Khona-ke uJobe wasukuma, wabe eseklebhula isiphuku sakhe, futhi waphuca ikhanda lakhe, wabe esewela emhlabathini, wayesekhuleka.” Ukuthi “Waklebhula isiphuku sakhe” kusho ukuthi wayengagqokile, engenalutho; Ukuthi “waphuca ikhanda lakhe” kusho ukuthi wayesebuyele esimweni sosana olusanda kuzalwa; Ukuthi “esewela emhlabathini, futhi wakhuleka” kusho ukuthi wafika enqunu kuleli zwe, engenalutho, wabuyiselwa kuNkulunkulu elusana oluncane. Kwakungeke kube yinoma yisiphi isidalwa esingumuntu esasingaba nombono kaJobe. Ukholo lwakhe kuJehova uNkulunkulu lwaba ngaphezu kwenkolo; lokhu kwakuwukwesaba anakho ngoNkulunkulu, nokulalela uNkulunkulu, futhi wayengakwazi nje kuphela ukubonga uNkulunkulu ngokumnika khona, kodwa nangokukuthatha kuye. Okukhulu nakakhulu, ukuthi wayekwazi ukubuyisela lokho ake waba nakho, kuhlanganise nokuphila kwakhe.

Ukwesaba nokulalela kukaJobe uNkulunkulu kuyisibonelo esintwini, futhi ukulunga nobuqotho bakhe yiqophelo lobuntu okufanele umuntu abe nalo. Nakuba engazange ambone uNkulunkulu, wabona ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona ngempela, futhi wamesaba uNkulunkulu—futhi ngenxa yokwesaba uNkulunkulu, wakwazi ukulalela uNkulunkulu. Wanika uNkulunkulu ithuba lokuthatha noma yini ayenayo, kodwa futhi wangakhononda, wawa phambi kukaNkulunkulu wathi, ngaso leso sikhathi, ngisho noma uNkulunkulu ethatha inyama yakhe, uyomvumela ngaphandle kokuba nenkinga, ngaphandle kokukhononda. Konke ukuziphatha kwakhe kwakusekelwe ebuntwini obuphelele futhi obuqotho. Okusho ukuthi, ngenxa yobumsulwa bakhe, ukwethembeka, nomusa, uJobe wayengenalo iso elintengantengayo ngokuba khona kukaNkulunkulu, futhi ngenxa yaleli zinga ayephila ngalo, nezinga lakhe lokucabanga, naziphatha ngalo ezenzweni zakhe phambi kukaNkulunkulu, wayenza ngokuvumelana nesiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu nezenzo zikaNkulunkulu ayezibone phakathi nazo zonke izinto. Ngemva kwesikhathi, izinto azibona zamenza wamesaba ngobuqotho uNkulunkulu futhi wagwema okubi. Lona kwakuwumthombo wobuqotho uJobe awubamba wawuqinisa. UJobe wayenobuntu obethembekile, obumsulwa, futhi obunomusa, esaba noNkulunkulu, elalela uNkulunkulu, futhi egwema okubi, kanye nolwazi lokuthi “uJehova uphile, futhi uJehova uthathile.” Kungenxa yalezi zinto kuphela akwazi ukumelana futhi wanikeza ubufakazi ekuhlaselweni ngonya uSathane, futhi yizo ezamenza wangamdumaza uNkulunkulu wanika uNkulunkulu impendulo egculisayo lapho uvivinyo lukaNkulunkulu luphezu kwakhe. Nakuba ukuziphatha kukaJobe ovivinyweni lokuqala kwakungagwegwesi, izizukulwane ezalandela zaba mathintanyawo ekufinyeleleni kulokho kungagwegwesi ngisho nangaphezu kwemizamo yokuphila konke, futhi zahluleka ukuziphatha njengoJobe ngendlela echazwe ngenhla. Namuhla, lapho ubuka indlela uJobe aziphatha kahle ngayo, uyiqhathanisa nokukhala kanye nesifiso “sokulalela ngokuphelele nokuba qotho kuze kube sekufeni” okuboniswa kuNkulunkulu yilabo abathi bakholwa Kuye futhi bayamlandela, ingabe lokho akunenzi nibe namahloni?

Lapho ufunda ngokuhlupheka kukaJobe emibhalweni, uzizwa kanjani? Ingabe uhluleka ngisho nokukucabanga? Ingabe uyamangala? Ingabe izilingo zikaJobe “ziyethusa”? Ngamanye amazwi, kubi ngokwanele ukufunda ngezilingo zikaJobe ezichazwe emibhalweni, ukungasho lutho ngokuthi bezingaba njani ngokoqobo. Ngakho uyabona ukuthi lokho okwehlela uJobe “kwakungewona umdlalo,” kodwa “kwakuyimpi” yangempela, “enezibhamu” “nezinhlamvu” zangempela. Kodwa isandla sikabani esasingemva kwalezi zilingo? Yiqiniso, zazihlelwe uSathane, zenziwa uSathane ngokuqondile—kodwa zigunyazwe uNkulunkulu. Ingabe uNkulunkulu watshela uSathane ukuthi amlinge ngani uJobe? Cha akamtshelanga. UNkulunkulu wamane wambekela umngcele owodwa, ngemva kwalokho uJobe waqala ukulingwa. Lapho uJobe elingwa, abantu baqaphela ukuthi uSathane mubi futhi ukhohlakele kangakanani, indlela anenzondo enonya ngayo ngabantu, nobutha anabo noNkulunkulu. Kulokhu siyabona ukuthi amazwi awanakuluchaza unya olwaluhambisana nalezi zilingo. Kungashiwo ukuthi indlela enonya uSathane ahlukumeza ngayo umuntu nobubi bakhe bembuleka ngempela ngalowo mzuzu. USathane wasebenzisa leli thuba, ithuba avunyelwa uNkulunkulu kulo, athole kulo imvume kaNkulunkulu, ukuze ahlukumeze uJobe ngonya, ngendlela yokukhohlakala engacabangeki futhi okungekho muntu ongayibekezelela namhlanje. Kunokuthi uJobe walingwa uSathane, nokuthi waqina ovivinyweni lwakhe, kungcono ukuthi uvivinyo aluhlelelwa uNkulunkulu, uJobe waphikelela ekumelaneni noSathane ukuze avikele ukulunga nobuqotho bakhe, futhi aqhubeke esaba uNkulunkulu egwema okubi. Kule nhlekelele, uJobe walahlekelwa imihlambi yezimvu nezinkomo, walahlekelwa yiyo yonke impahla yakhe, futhi walahlekelwa amadodana namadodakazi akhe—kodwa akazange akulaxaze ukulunga kwakhe, ubuqotho, nokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Ngamanye amazwi, kulolu vivinyo lukaSathane, uJobe wancamela ukulahlekelwa impahla yakhe nezingane kunokuthi alahlekelwe ukulunga, ubuqotho, nokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Wancamela ukunamathela kulokho okushiwo ukuba umuntu. ImiBhalo iyilandisa ngendlela ecacile yonke le nqubo yokulahlekelwa kukaJobe yizo zonke izinto zakhe, kanye nokuziphatha kukaJobe phakathi nayo. Lokhu kulandisa okufishane kunikeza umqondo wokuthi uJobe wayengaxhamazeli lapho elingwa, kodwa kwakunesidalwa esidaleke kabusha esinonya esinguSathane—lokhu kwakungeke kube lula njengoba kuchazwe emibhalweni. Isimo sasinonya kakhulu. Linjalo izinga lenkohlakalo nenzondo uSathane aphatha ngayo isintu nabo bonke abamukelwa uNkulunkulu. Ukube uNkulunkulu akashongo ukuthi uSathane angamlimazi uJobe, uSathane ngabe wambulala ngaphandle kokunqikaza. USathane akafuni kube nomuntu okhonza uNkulunkulu, futhi akafisi kube nabalungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu nabaphelele nabaqotho kuye abaqhubeka besaba uNkulunkulu futhi begwema okubi. Ukuze abantu besabe uNkulunkulu futhi bagweme okubi kusho ukuthi kufanele bagweme futhi babalekele uSathane, njengoba uSathane asizakala lapho uNkulunkulu emnika imvume, wavivinya ngonya uJobe. Uyabona ukuthi wezwa ubuhlungu obungakanani uJobe, kusukela engqondweni kuya enyameni, ngaphandle nangaphakathi. Namhlanje, asiboni ukuthi kwakunjani ngaleso sikhathi, singafunda ngakho eBhayibhelini kuphela, amazwibela endlela uJobe azizwa ngayo lapho ehlukunyezwa ngaleso sikhathi.

Ubuqotho BukaJobe Obungantengantengi Bahlaza USathane Futhi Bamenza Wabaleka Ethukile

Yini eyenziwa uNkulunkulu lapho uJobe ehlukunyezwa? UNkulunkulu wabuka, wabheka, walinda umphumela. Njengoba uNkulunkulu ayebhekile, wazizwa kanjani? Akungabazeki ukuthi wabuzwa ubuhlungu. Kodwa ngenxa yosizi Lwakhe, ingabe wazisola ngokuvumela uSathane ukuba alinge uJobe? Impendulo ithi, cha, wayengeke. Ngoba wayeqiniseke kakhulu ngokuthi uJobe ulungile futhi uqotho, wayesaba uNkulunkulu egwema okubi. UNkulunkulu wamane wanika uSathane ithuba lokuzigculisa ngokuthi uJobe ulungile phambi kukaNkulunkulu, nokuthi azembule yena ukuthi ukhohlakele kangakanani. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwakuyithuba lokuthi uJobe afakazele ukuthi ulungile nokuthi wesaba uNkulunkulu futhi ugwema okubi phambi kwabo bonke abantu, kuSathane, ngisho nakubo bonke abesaba uNkulunkulu. Ingabe isiphetho safakazela ukuthi okwakushiwo uNkulunkulu ngoJobe kwakuyiqiniso? Ingabe uJobe wamnqoba uSathane? Lapha sifunda amazwi anohlonze akhulunywa uJobe, amazwi awubufakazi bokuthi umnqobile uSathane. Wathi: “Ngaphuma ngihamba ze esibelethweni sikamama wami, futhi ngiyobuyela kuso ngihamba ze.” Lona umbono uJobe ayenawo ngokulandela uNkulunkulu. Walandela ngokuthi: “UJehova uphile, futhi uJehova uthathile; malibongwe igama likaJehova.” La mazwi akhulunywa uJobe afakazela ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubona okusekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu, ukwazi ukubona ingqondo yomuntu, futhi abonisa ukuthi wayemamukela uJobe, ukuthi lena indoda elungile eyemukelwa uNkulunkulu. “UJehova uphile, futhi uJehova uthathile; malibongwe igama likaJehova.” La mazwi awubufakazi bukaJobe kuNkulunkulu. Yila mazwi ajwayelekile aswabisa uSathane, amthela ngehlazo futhi amenza waba netwetwe, ngaphezu kwalokho, amshaqisa uSathane, wasala ephundlekile. Ngakho la mazwi enza uSathane wasala ezibuza ngezenzo zikaJehova uNkulunkulu, futhi aqhakambisa izinto ezinhle zalowo onenhliziyo esendleleni kaNkulunkulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abonisa uSathane amandla amakhulu indoda engelutho enawo ngenxa yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi. Ngakho wanqotshwa ngomzuliswano wokuqala. Naphezu “kokuqonda kwakhe okunzulu,” uSathane wayengazimisele ngokuvumela uJobe aphunyuke, futhi akaziguqukanga izindlela zakhe zokukhohlakala. USathane wazama ukuqhubeka ehlasela uJobe, ngakho weza phambi kukaNkulunkulu …

Ake sifunde imibhalo lapho uJobe elingwa okwesibili.

3. USathane Uyaphinda Ulinga UJobe (Kumila Amathumba Abuhlungu Kuwo Wonke Umzimba KaJobe)

a. Amazwi Akhulunywa UNkulunkulu

UJobe 2:3 Futhi uJehova wayesethi kuSathane, Ingabe uyiqaphele inceku Yami uJobe, ukuthi akekho ofana naye emhlabeni, uyindoda engenasici nelungile, loyo owesaba uNkulunkulu, nogwema okubi? nokuthi usabambelela ekuthembekeni kwakhe, yize ungivusele, ukumbhubhisa engenacala.

UJobe 2:6 Futhi uJehova wathi kuSathane, Bheka, usesandleni sakho; kepha gcina ukuphila kwakhe.

b. Amazwi Akhulunywa USathane

UJobe 2:4-5 USathane wabe esemphendula uJehova, futhi wathi, Isikhumba ngesikhumba, yebo, konke lokho umuntu anakho uyakunika ngokuphila kwakhe. Kepha lula isandla Sakho manje, futhi uthinte amathambo akhe nenyama yakhe, futhi uyokukuthuka ebusweni Bakho.

c. Indlela UJobe Abhekana Ngayo Nesilingo

UJobe 2:9-10 Khona-ke umkakhe wabe esethi kuye, Namanje usakugcinile ukuthembeka kwakho? thuka uNkulunkulu, bese uyafa. Kepha wathi kuye, Ukhulumisa okukankosikazi oyisiwula. Usho ukuthini? Simukela okuhle okuvela esandleni sikaNkulunkulu, singekwamukela nokubi na? Kukho konke lokhu uJobe akonanga ngomlomo wakhe.

UJobe 3:3 Maluqalekiswe usuku engazalwa ngalo, nobusuku okwashiwo ngalo ukuthi, Kukhulelwe umntwana wesilisa.

Uthando LukaJobe Lwendlela KaNkulunkulu Lulwedlula Lonke

ImiBhalo ilandisa ngengxoxo elandelayo ephakathi kukaNkulunkulu noSathane: “Futhi uJehova wayesethi kuSathane, Ingabe uyiqaphele inceku Yami uJobe, ukuthi akekho ofana naye emhlabeni, uyindoda engenasici nelungile, loyo owesaba uNkulunkulu, nogwema okubi? nokuthi usabambelela ekuthembekeni kwakhe, yize ungivusele, ukumbhubhisa engenacala.” (UJobe 2:3). Kule ngxoxo, uNkulunkulu uphindaphinda umbuzo ofanayo kuSathane. Umbuzo osivezela indlela uNkulunkulu akuphenya ngayo lokho okwaboniswa uSathane nakwenza lapho elinga uJobe okokuqala, futhi akuhlukile endleleni ahlola ngayo uJobe ngaphambi kokulingwa uSathane. Okusho ukuthi, ngaphambi kokuba alingwe, emehlweni kaNkulunkulu uJobe wayelungile, ngakho uNkulunkulu wamvikela nomndeni wakhe, wambusisa; wayekufanele ukubusiswa emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Ngemva kokulingwa, uJobe akazange one ngezindebe zakhe ngenxa yokuthi ulahlekelwe impahla yakhe nezingane zakhe, kodwa waqhubeka edumisa igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu. Ukuziphatha kwakhe kwangempela kwenza uNkulunkulu wajabula ngaye, futhi waziqhenya ngaye. Ngoba emehlweni kaJobe, inzalo yakhe noma izinto anazo kwakunganele kwakungeke kumenze aphike uNkulunkulu. Indawo kaNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yakhe, yayingeke ivalwe abantwana bakhe noma isicucu sempahla. Phakathi novivinyo lokuqala lukaJobe, wabonisa uNkulunkulu ukuthi uthando analo ngaye nendlela amesaba ngayo ngothando nagwema ngayo okubi, kukwedlula konke. Lokhu kwenza uJobe wathola umvuzo ovela kuJehova uNkulunkulu futhi impahla yakhe nezingane zakhe waphucwa khona.

KuJobe, lokhu okwangempela ayedlule kukho okwageza inhliziyo yakhe, kwakuwumbhapathizo wokuphila owagcwalisa ubukhona bakhe, futhi okukhulu nakakhulu, kwakuyidili elimnandi elalivivinya ukulalela kukaJobe, nokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwaguqula isimo sikaJobe sasuka ekubeni indoda ecebile wagcina esewumuntu ongelutho, futhi kwamenza wezwa indlela uSathane ahlukumeza ngayo isintu. Inhlupheko yakhe ayizange imenze enyanye uSathane; kunalokho ezenzweni zonya zikaSathane nokuhlubuka kuNkulunkulu, lokhu kwamgqugquzela ukuthi ahambe endleleni yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi. Wafunga ukuthi wayengeke amshiye uNkulunkulu futhi amelane nendlela kaNkulunkulu ngenxa yezinto ezifana nempahla, izingane noma izihlobo, futhi wayengeke abe isigqila sikaSathane, sempahla, noma somuntu; ngaphandle kukaJehova uNkulunkulu, akekho ongaba iNkosi yakhe, noma uNkulunkulu wakhe. Leyo kwakuyimigomo kaJobe. Ngakolunye uhlangothi lwezilingo, uJobe wazuza okuthile: UNkulunkulu wamnika umcebo omkhulu ngemva kwalezi zilingo.

Phakathi nokuphila kwakhe kwamashumi edlule eminyaka, uJobe wabona izenzo zikaJehova uNkulunkulu futhi wathola izibusiso zikaJehova uNkulunkulu. Yizibusiso ezamshiya edliwa unembeza, ngoba wayekholwa ukuthi akamenzelanga lutho uNkulunkulu, kodwa wanikwa izibusiso ezinkulu kangaka futhi waboniswa umusa omkhulu. Ngenxa yalesi sizathu, wayethandaza kaningi ngenhliziyo, ethemba ukuthi uzokwazi ukubuyisela uNkulunkulu, ethemba ukuthi uzothola ithuba lokufakaza ngezenzo nangobukhulu bukaNkulunkulu, futhi enethemba lokuthi ukulalela kwakhe kuzovivinywa, ngaphezu kwalokho, wayenethemba lokuthi ukholo lwakhe lwaluzohlanzwa kuze kube yilapho ukulalela nokholo lwakhe kwamukelwa uNkulunkulu. Futhi lapho uJobe ehlelwa izilingo, wayekholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayeyizwa imithandazo yakhe. UJobe walibamba ngazo zombili ithuba ngaphezu kwanoma yini enye, ngakho akazange alokothe alithathe kancane, ngenxa yokuphila kwakhe. Ukufika kwaleli thuba kwakusho ukuthi ukulalela kwakhe nokwesaba kwakhe uNkulunkulu kwakungase kuvivinywe, futhi kwakungenziwa kuhlanzeke. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwakusho ukuthi uJobe wayenethuba lokwamukelwa uNkulunkulu, kumsondeze kuNkulunkulu. Phakathi novivinyo, ukholo olunjalo lwamenza walunga nakakhulu, futhi wayiqonda ngokujulile intando kaNkulunkulu. UJobe waphinde wasazisa kakhulu isibusiso nomusa kaNkulunkulu, enhliziyweni yakhe wayezidumisa kakhulu izenzo zikaNkulunkulu, futhi wayemesaba kakhulu uNkulunkulu, elangazelela uthando lukaNkulunkulu, ubukhulu kanye nobungcwele bakhe. Ngalesi sikhathi, nakuba uJobe ayesaba uNkulunkulu futhi egwema okubi emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, mayelana nezinto adlula kuzo, ukholo nolwazi lukaJobe lwafinyelela kulezi zibopho: Ukholo lwakhe lwakhula, ukulalela kwakhe kwaba nesisekelo, nokwesaba uNkulunkulu kwaqina kakhudlwana. Nakuba leli qiniso laguqula ukuphila kukaJobe, uguquko olunjalo alumgculisanga uJobe, futhi aluyinciphisanga intuthuko yakhe. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, ukubala izinto azizuza kulolu vivinyo, nokucabanga ngobuthaka bakhe, wathandaza buthule, walinda ukuba kufike uvivinyo olulandelayo, ngoba wayelulwela ukholo lwakhe, ukulalela nokwesaba uNkulunkulu ukuba kuphakanyiswe ovivinyweni lukaNkulunkulu olulandelayo.

UNkulunkulu ubona imicabango yomuntu nakho konke umuntu akushoyo nakwenzayo. Imicabango kaJobe yafinyelela ezindlebeni zikaJehova uNkulunkulu, futhi walalela imithandazo yakhe, futhi lwafika lapho uvivinyo lukaNkulunkulu olulandelayo ngoJobe kungazelelwe.

Phakathi Kokuhlupheka Okukhulu, UJobe Wabona Indlela UNkulunkulu Anakekela Ngayo Isintu

Ngemva kombuzo kaNkulunkulu ayewubhekise kuSathane, uSathane wajabula ngasese. Lokhu kwakungenxa yokuthi uSathane wayazi ukuthi wayezophinde avunyelwe ukuhlasela indoda eyayiphelele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu—okwakuyithuba eliyivela-kancane kuSathane. USathane wayefuna ukusebenzisa leli thuba ukuze acekele phansi ukholo lukaJobe, ukumenza alahlekelwe ukholo lwakhe kuNkulunkulu engabe esamesaba uNkulunkulu noma abusise igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwakuyonika uSathane ithuba: Noma kuyiphi indawo noma isikhathi, wayezokwazi ukuphendula uJobe into yokudlala ezwa ngaye. USathane akashiyi imikhondo, ngeke wazi ukuthi uza nakuphi ukukhohlakala. Leli qiniso lalicashile lapho ephendula amazwi kaJehova uNkulunkulu, njengoba kulotshiwe emibhalweni: “Futhi uSathane wabe esemphendula uJehova, futhi wathi, Isikhumba ngesikhumba, yebo, konke lokho umuntu anakho uyakunika ngokuphila kwakhe. Kepha lula isandla Sakho manje, futhi uthinte amathambo akhe nenyama yakhe, futhi uyokukuthuka ebusweni Bakho” (UJobe 2:4-5). Akunakwenzeka ukungatholi ulwazi olubalulekile nenkohlakalo kaSathane engxoxweni ephakathi kwakhe noNkulunkulu. Ngemva kokuzwa la manga kaSathane, bonke abathanda iqiniso nabazonda okubi ngokungangabazeki bayomzonda uSathane, bayowenyanya wonke amanga kaSathane, ngesikhathi esifanayo bayomthandazela ngobuqotho uJobe, bethandazela ukuthi lo muntu kanye nabalungile bafinyelele ukuphelela, bafise ukuthi lo muntu esabe uNkulunkulu futhi agweme okubi azinqobe kuze kube phakade izilingo zikaSathane, baphile ekukhanyeni, baphile ngesiqondiso nesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu ngakho bayofisa ukuthi isibindi sikaJobe sibaqinise bonke labo abafuna ukwesaba uNkulunkulu bagweme okubi. Nakuba injongo yenkohlakalo kaSathane ingabonakala kula mazwi, uNkulunkulu wasamukela “isicelo” sikaSathane—kodwa ngaphansi kombandela owodwa: “Usesandleni sakho; kepha gcina ukuphila kwakhe” (UJobe 2:6). Ngoba ngalesi sikhathi, uSathane wacela ukulimaza inyama namathambo kaJobe, uNkulunkulu wathi, “kepha gcina ukuphila kwakhe.” Incazelo yala mazwi ukuthi wanika uSathane inyama kaJobe, kodwa ashiye ukuphila kwakhe. USathane wayengeke akwazi ukuthatha ukuphila kukaJobe, kodwa ngaphandle kwalokhu wayengenza noma yini kuJobe.

Ngemva kokuthola imvume kuNkulunkulu, uSathane waphuthuma waya kuJobe welula isandla sakhe wahlupha isikhumba sakhe, wamenza wamila amathumba abuhlungu umzimba wonke, futhi uJobe wezwa ubuhlungu esikhunjeni sakhe. UJobe wadumisa ubukhulu nobungcwele bukaJehova uNkulunkulu, okuyinto eyamthukuthelisa kakhulu uSathane. Ngoba kwakumjabulisa ukuzwisa umuntu ubuhlungu, uSathane welula isandla sakhe wathinta inyama kaJobe, wenza amathumba akuyo aba makhulu. UJobe wabuzwa ngokushesha ubuhlungu futhi kwakunzima ukubekezelela ubuhlungu obusenyameni yakhe, wayeguqa abambelele ngezandla phansi, njengokungathi lokhu kwakuzonciphisa ubuhlungu ayebuzwa emoyeni nasenyameni. Wabona ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayesohlangothini lwakhe embhekile, wenza okusemandleni akhe ukuze aziqinise. Waphinde waguqa phansi, wathi: Ubheka inhliziyo yomuntu, ubona usizi lwakhe; kungathi ubuthaka bakhe bukuthinta? Malidunyiswe igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu. USathane wazibona izinhlungu zikaJobe, kodwa lokho akumenzanga uJobe walaxaza igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngakho waphakamisa isandla ukuze alimaze amathambo kaJobe, efuna ngazo zonke izindlela ukumephula amalungu omzimba. UJobe wezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu; kwakusengathi inyama yakhe ihlutshuliwe kuvela amathambo, njengokungathi amathambo ayechotshozwa kancane kancane. Lobu buhlungu obukhulu bamenza wacabanga ukuthi kungcono ukufa…. Wayengasakwazi ukubekezela…. Wayefuna ukukhala kakhulu, wayefuna ukusika isikhumba sakhe ukuze anciphise izinhlungu—kodwa wazibamba, akasisikanga isikhumba sakhe, ngoba wayengafuni uSathane abone ubuthaka bakhe. Ngakho waphinde waguqa, kodwa ngalesi sikhathi akakuzwanga ukuba khona kukaJehova uNkulunkulu. Wayazi ukuthi wayehlale ephambi kwakhe, futhi esemva kwakhe, noma eceleni kwakhe. Kodwa phakathi nobuhlungu bakhe, uNkulunkulu akazange ambuke; wafihla ubuso Bakhe, ngoba injongo yokudala Kwakhe abantu kwakungekhona ukubenza bahlupheke. Ngalesi sikhathi, uJobe wayelila, enza okusemandleni akhe ukuze abekezelele isimo, kodwa wayengasakwazi ukuqhubeka ebonga uNkulunkulu: Umuntu uwa ngegalelo lokuqala, ubuthaka futhi akanamandla, mncane futhi akanaki—kungani umkhathalela kangaka futhi unomusa kuye? Ungishayile, kodwa Nawe uzwa ubuhlungu ngokungishaya kwakho. Yini oyikhathalela ngempela kumuntu? Imithandazo kaJobe yafinyelela ezindlebeni zikaNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wayethule, ebuka kuphela engakhulumi…. Ngemva kokuzama wonke amacebo, uSathane wahamba, kodwa lokhu akuzange kuqede uvivinyo lukaJobe. Ngoba amandla kaNkulunkulu ayekuJobe ayengakavezwa obala, indaba kaJobe ayiphelelanga kulesi silingo sikaSathane. Njengoba abanye abalingiswa benokwabo, kuningi okuseza.

Okunye Ukuvezwa Kokwesaba UNkulunkulu KukaJobe Nokugwema Okubi Ngukudumisa Kwakhe Igama LikaNkulunkulu Kuzo Zonke Izinto

UJobe walinyazwa kakhulu uSathane, kodwa akazange alishiye igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu. Umkakhe waba ngowokuqala ukuphumela obala adlale indima kaSathane engabonakala ngokuhlasela uJobe. Imibhalo yokuqala ikuchaza kanjena: “Khona-ke umkakhe wabe esethi kuye, Namanje usakugcinile ukuthembeka kwakho? Thuka uNkulunkulu, bese uyafa” (UJobe 2:9). Lawa amazwi akhulunywa uSathane kumuntu. Ayewukuhlasela, nezinsolo, isilingo kanye nokunyundela. Ngemva kokwehluleka ukuhlasela inyama kaJobe, uSathane wabe esezama ngokuqondile ukuhlasela ubuqotho bukaJobe, efuna ukushiyisa uJobe ubuqotho, amelane noNkulunkulu futhi ayeke ukuphila. Ngakho uSathane wayefuna ukusebenzisa lawo mazwi ukuze alinge uJobe: Uma uJobe washiya igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu, kwakungeke kudingeke abekezelele ukuhlushwa, wayezokhululeka. Eselulekweni somkakhe, uJobe waphendula ngokuthi, “Ukhulumisa okwenye yamakhosikazi ayiziwula. Usho ukuthini? Simukela okuhle okuvela esandleni sikaNkulunkulu, singekwamukele nokubi na?” (UJobe 2:10). UJobe kwase kuyisikhathi eside ewazi la mazwi, kodwa ngalesi sikhathi iqiniso lokuthi uJobe wayewazi lafakazeleka.

Lapho umkakhe ethi akathuke uNkulunkulu afe, wayeqonde ukuthi: UNkulunkulu wakho ukuphatha kanjena, kungani ungamthuki? Usaphilelani? UNkulunkulu wakho akakuphathi kahle, kodwa usathi malibusiswe igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu. Angayiletha kanjani inhlekelele kuwe lapho ubusisa igama Lakhe? Shesha, ulaxaze igama likaNkulunkulu, ungabe usamlandela. Ngale ndlela izinkinga zakho ziyophela. Ngalo mzuzu, kwenzeka ubufakazi uNkulunkulu ayefuna ukububona kuJobe. Akekho umuntu ojwayelekile owayengenza lobu bufakazi, futhi asifundi ngabo kunoma iziphi izindaba zeBhayibheli—kodwa uNkulunkulu wabubona kudala uJobe engakawasho la mazwi. UNkulunkulu wayefuna ukusebenzisa leli thuba ukuze avumele uJobe ababonise bonke ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayeqinisile. Ebhekene neseluleko somkakhe, uJobe akenqabanga nje kuphela ukungabuphuli ubuqotho bakhe kuNkulunkulu, waphinde wathi kumkakhe: “Simukela okuhle okuvela esandleni sikaNkulunkulu, singekwamukele nokubi na?” Ingabe la mazwi anesisindo? Lapha, kuneqiniso elilodwa elinesisindo. Isisindo sala mazwi ukuthi emukelwe uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni Yakhe, ayilokhu okwakufunwa uNkulunkulu, yilokho ayefuna ukukuzwa, awumphumela uNkulunkulu ayelangazelela ukuwubona; la mazwi aphinde abe ingqikithi yobufakazi bukaJobe. Kulokhu, ukulunga kukaJobe, ubuqotho, ukwesaba uNkulunkulu, nokugwema okubi kufakazelwe. Into uJobe ayigugu kuyo, kulapho evivinywa, ngisho nalapho umzimba wakhe ugcwele amathumba, lapho ebekezelela ubuhlungu obukhulu, lapho umkakhe nezihlobo bemeluleka, akawalalelanga amazwi anjalo. Ukukubeka ngenye indlela, enhliziyweni yakhe wayekholwa ukuthi, akunandaba ukuthi isilingo nosizi lungakanani, ngisho nokufa, wayengeke aphike uNkulunkulu, noma alahle indlela yokwesaba uNkulunkulu agweme okubi. Ngakho uyabona ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayenendawo ebaluleke kakhulu enhliziyweni yakhe, nokuthi kwakunoNkulunkulu weqiniso kuphela enhliziyweni yakhe. Yilokhu okusenza sifunde ngaye emiBhalweni izinto ezifana nokuthi: Kukho konke lokho uJobe akonanga ngomlomo wakhe. Akagcinanga nje ngokungoni ngomlomo wakhe, kodwa enhliziyweni yakhe akakhonondanga ngoNkulunkulu. Akashongo amazwi abuhlungu ngoNkulunkulu, futhi akonanga kuNkulunkulu. Futhi umlomo wakhe awugcinanga nje ngokubusisa igama likaNkulunkulu, kodwa nasenhliziyweni yakhe walibusisa igama likaNkulunkulu; umlomo nenhliziyo yakhe kwakuyinto eyodwa. Lona kwakunguJobe wangempela owabonwa uNkulunkulu, futhi lesi kwakuyisizathu esenza uNkulunkulu wazisa uJobe.

Izinto Eziningi Abantu Abaziqonda Ngokungeyikho NgoJobe

Ubunzima obabekezelelwa uJobe kwakungewona umsebenzi wezithunywa ezazithunywe uNkulunkulu, futhi wawungabangelwa isandla sikaNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, wawuhlelwe uSathane ngokuqondile, isitha sikaNkulunkulu. Ngemva kwalokho, izinga lobunzima obabekezelelwa uJobe alinakuqhathaniswa. Kodwa ngalo mzuzu, uJobe walubonisa ngalé kwamahloni, ulwazi lwakhe lwamihla yonke ngoNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yakhe, nendlela abheka ngayo uNkulunkulu—futhi leli iqiniso. Ukube uJobe akazange alingwe, ukube uNkulunkulu akazange alethe izilingo phezu kukaJobe, lapho uJobe ethi, “UJehova uphile, futhi uJehova uthathile; malibongwe igama likaJehova,” ungathi uJobe uwumzenzisi; uNkulunkulu umnike izinto eziningi, ngakho ngokufanele wabusisa igama likaJehova. Ukube ngaphambi kokulingwa, uJobe wayethe, “Simukela okuhle okuvela esandleni sikaNkulunkulu, singekwamukele nokubi na?” ubungathi uJobe unehaba, nokuthi ngeke alishiye igama likaNkulunkulu kusukela abusiswa isandla sikaNkulunkulu. Ukube uNkulunkulu waletha inhlekelele phezu kwakhe, khona-ke nakanjani ngabe walishiya igama likaNkulunkulu. Kodwa lapho uJobe ezithola ngaphansi kwezimo ezingafiswa muntu, noma okungekho ofisa ukuzibona, abantu abangethuka uma zibehlela, uJobe wayesakwazi ukubambelela ebuqothweni bakhe: “UJehova uphile, futhi uJehova uthathile; malibongwe igama likaJehova” futhi “Simukela okuhle okuvela esandleni sikaNkulunkulu, singekwamukele nokubi na?” Bebhekene nokuziphatha kukaJobe ngalesi sikhathi, labo abathanda ukukhuluma amagama amakhulu, futhi abathanda ukukhuluma ngamagama nezimfundiso, basala bekhexile. Labo abadumisa igama likaNkulunkulu ngamazwi kuphela, kodwa abangakaze bamukele uvivinyo lukaNkulunkulu, kudingeka babe qotho njengoJobe, futhi labo abangakholwa ukuthi umuntu angakwazi ukuqina endleleni kaNkulunkulu, bahlulelwa ubufakazi bukaJobe. Bebhekene nokuziphatha kukaJobe phakathi nezilingo kanye namazwi awakhuluma, abanye bayodideka, abanye bakhathazeke, abanye bangabaze, abanye ngeke babe nandaba, bangabunaki ubufakazi bukaJobe ngenxa yokuthi ababoni kuphela uvivinyo olwehlela uJobe phakathi nezilingo, futhi bafunde amazwi akhulunywa uJobe, kodwa futhi babona “nobuthaka” bukaJobe phakathi nalezi zilingo. Lobu “buthaka” bakholwa ukuthi kuwukungapheleli okukhona ekupheleleni kukaJobe, ibala elisendodeni eyayiphelele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Okusho ukuthi, kukholakala ukuthi labo abaphelele, abangenabala, abangenabo ubuthakathaka, abangakaze bezwe ubuhlungu, abakaze bangajabuli noma bazizwe belahliwe futhi abanayo inzondo noma nayiziphi izimo zangaphandle ezinzima; ngenxa yalokho, abantu abaningi abakholwa ukuthi uJobe wayephelele ngempela. Abantu abakwamukeli lokhu kuziphatha phakathi nokulingwa kwakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uJobe elahlekelwa izimpahla kanye nezingane zakhe, akazange, njengoba abantu becabanga, akhihle isililo. Lokho kwenza abantu bacabange ukuthi wayengenamizwa, ngoba akakhalanga izinyembezi, noma wayengawuthandi umndeni wakhe. Lona umbono ongemuhle uJobe aqale wawunika abantu. Indlela aziphatha ngayo kamuva bayithola idida kakhulu: Ukuthi “Waklebhula ingubo yakhe” abantu bakubheka njengokwedelela uNkulunkulu, nokuthi “waphuca ikhanda lakhe” kubhekwe ngokungeyikho njengokwedelela kukaJobe nokumelana noNkulunkulu. Ngaphandle kwamazwi kaJobe athi “UJehova uphile, futhi uJehova uthathile; malibongwe igama likaJehova,” abantu akukho ukulunga abakubonayo okwatuswa uNkulunkulu, ngakho indlela iningi labo elimqonda ngayo uJobe ihlotshaniswa nokungaqondi, ukungabaza, nokuchithwa kanye nokucabanga ukuthi wemukelwe. Akekho kubo owaqonda ngempela futhi owazisayo amazwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu athi uJobe wayeyindoda elungile futhi eqotho, umuntu oyedwa owesaba uNkulunkulu wagwema okubi.

Ngenxa yombono wabo ongenhla ngoJobe, abantu bakungabaza kakhulu ukulunga kwakhe, ngoba izenzo nokuziphatha kukaJobe okulotshwe emibhalweni kwakungezona izinto ezazithinta abantu ngendlela abayifisayo. Akaphuthelwanga nje kuphela izidlo ezinkulu, kodwa futhi waziphala lapho ehlezi emlotheni. Leli qiniso libashiya bekhexile abantu, futhi abalikholwa—baze baliphike—ukulunga kukaJobe, ngesikhathi eziphala uJobe akazange athandaze kuNkulunkulu, noma enze isithembiso kuNkulunkulu; noma akhale izinyembezi ngenxa yobuhlungu. Ngalesi sikhathi, abantu babona kuphela ubuthaka bukaJobe, ngakho ngisho nalapho bezwa uJobe ethi “Simukela okuhle okuvela esandleni sikaNkulunkulu, singekwamukele nokubi na?” akukho lutho nhlobo olubathintayo, futhi abakakwazi ukubona ukulunga kukaJobe emazwini akhe. Umqondo oyisisekelo uJobe awunika abantu phakathi nezilingo zakhe ukuthi wayengadumazekile futhi engazidli. Abantu abayiboni indaba engemva kokuziphatha kwakhe eyayisekujuleni kwenhliziyo yakhe, futhi abakuboni ukwesaba uNkulunkulu okwakusenhliziyweni yakhe noma ukunamathela emyalweni wokugwema okubi. Ukuzotha kwakhe kwenza abantu bacabange ukuthi ukulunga nobuqotho bakhe kumane kungamazwi nje, ukuthi ukwesaba uNkulunkulu kuyinzwabethi; “ubuthaka” abembula ngaphandle yibona ababambelela kubo, bubenza babe “nombono omusha” kanye “nokuqonda okusha” ngomuntu uNkulunkulu athi ulungile futhi uqotho. “Umbono omusha” kanjalo “nokuqonda okusha” kufakazelwa uJobe lapho evula umlomo wakhe eqalekisa usuku azalwa ngalo.

Nakuba izinga lokuhlukunyezwa alubekezelela lungacabangeki futhi umuntu angeke aluqonde, akukhuluma kwakungeyona inzwabethi, kodwa wayemane enciphisa ubuhlungu ayebuzwa emzimbeni wakhe. Njengoba kulotshiwe emiBhalweni, wathi: “Maluqalekiswe usuku engazalwa ngalo, nobusuku okwashiwo ngalo ukuthi, Kukhulelwe umntwana wesilisa” (UJobe 3:3). Mhlawumbe kukhona owake wacabanga ukuthi abalulekile la mazwi, futhi mhlawumbe kunabantu abake bawanaka. Ngokombono wenu, ingabe asho ukuthi uJobe wayephika uNkulunkulu? Ingabe ayisikhalazo esibhekiswe kuNkulunkulu? Ngiyazi ukuthi iningi lenu linemibono ethile ngala mazwi akhulunywa uJobe futhi likholwa ukuthi ukube uJobe wayelungile futhi eqotho, wayengeke aveze izimpawu zokuba buthaka noma zosizi, futhi wayezofuna ukubhekana kahle nokuhlasela kukaSathane, futhi ajabule lapho uSathane emlinga. Kwakungafanele akhathazeke nganoma yiluphi uvivinyo olwalethwa uSathane enyameni yakhe, futhi kwakungafanele ahlukumeze imizwa esenhliziyweni yakhe. Empeleni kwakufanele acele uNkulunkulu enze lezi zilingo zibe namandla. Yile nto okwakufanele ivezwe noma umuntu ongesabi futhi omesaba ngempela uNkulunkulu nogwema okubi okwakufanele abe nayo. Ngemva kwalolu vivinyo olwedlulele, uJobe waluqalekisa usuku azalwa ngalo. Akazange akhononde ngoNkulunkulu, ingasaphathwa eyokuba nezinhloso zokuphikisana noNkulunkulu. Kulula kakhulu ukukusho lokhu kunokukwenza, ngoba kusukela endulo kuze kube manje, akekho owake wavivinywa njengoJobe. Kungani kungakaze kube namuntu oke wabhekana novivinyo olufana nolukaJobe? Ngoba, njengoba kunjalo ngokombono kaNkulunkulu, akekho ongakwazi ukuthwala leso sibopho, akekho ongakwazi ukwenza njengoba kwenza uJobe, futhi akekho ngaphandle kokuqalekisa usuku azalwa ngalo, ongeke alishiye igama likaNkulunkulu futhi aqhubeke ebusisa igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu, njengoba kwenza uJobe lapho ehlelwa izilingo. Ingabe ukhona owayengenza lokhu? Lapho sisho lokhu ngoJobe, ingabe siyakuncoma ukuziphatha kwakhe? Wayeyindoda elungile, futhi ekwazi ukufakaza kanjalo ngoNkulunkulu, futhi ekwazi ukuxosha uSathane, ukuze angaphinde ame phambi kukaNkulunkulu ammangalele—ngakho yini engalungile ngokumncoma? Kungenzeka yini ukuthi ninezinga eliphakeme kunelikaNkulunkulu? Kungenzeka yini ukuthi naniyokwenza kangcono kunoJobe lapho nibhekene nalolu vivinyo? UJobe wadunyiswa uNkulunkulu—kukhona eningavumelani nakho?

UJobe Waqalekisa Usuku Azalwa Ngalo Ngenxa Yokuthi Wayengafuni Ukuzwisa UNkulunkulu Ubuhlungu

Ngivame ukuthi uNkulunkulu uhlola izinhliziyo zabantu, bese abantu bebona indlela abanye abayiyo ngaphandle. Ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu ubona ngaphakathi ezinhliziyweni zabantu, uyayiqonda ingqikithi yabo, kuyilapho abantu bechaza ingqikithi yabantu ngokwalokho abakubona ngaphandle. Lapho uJobe evula umlomo futhi eqalekisa usuku azalwa ngalo, lesi senzo samangalisa zonke izidalwa zomoya, okubandakanya nabangani abathathu bakaJobe. Umuntu wavela kuNkulunkulu, futhi kufanele abonge ngokuphila nangenyama, kanye nosuku lokuzalwa, alunikwa uNkulunkulu, futhi akufanele aqalekise lezo zinto. Lokhu kuyaqondakala kubantu abaningi. Kuwo wonke umuntu olandela uNkulunkulu, lokhu kuqonda kungcwele, kuyiqiniso elingasoze laguquka. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uJobe wephula imithetho: Waqalekisa usuku azalwa ngalo. Lesi isenzo abantu abaningi abacabanga ukuthi siwukweqa imingcele. Akagcini nje ngokungafaneleki ukuqondwa nokuthola uzwelo lwabantu, akafaneleki nokuthethelelwa uNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, ngisho nabantu abaningi bayakungabaza ukulunga kukaJobe, ngoba kubonakala sengathi umusa kaNkulunkulu kuye, wenza uJobe wazazisa, wamenza waba nesibindi esamenza wangagcina ngokubonga uNkulunkulu ngokumbusisa nokumnakekela ekuphileni kwakhe, kodwa wafisa sengathi ngabe wafa ngosuku azalwa ngalo. Kungaba yini lena ngaphandle kokuphikisana noNkulunkulu? Imibono enjalo yenza abantu bamchithe uJobe, kodwa ubani ongazi lokho uJobe ayekucabanga ngempela ngaleso sikhathi? Ubani ongazi into eyenza uJobe wathatha isimo ngaleyo ndlela? UNkulunkulu kuphela kanye noJobe abazi indaba nezizathu ezisekelwe kuyo lapha.

Lapho uSathane elula isandla sakhe ukuze onakalise amathambo kaJobe, uJobe waba namandla, wangafuna indlela yokuphunyuka noma amandla okumelana naye. Umzimba nomphefumulo wakhe kwezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu, futhi lobu buhlungu bamenza waqaphela ubuncane, ubuthaka, kanye nokuntula amandla ukuphila komuntu enyameni okunakho. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, waphinde wathola ukwazisa nokuqonda okukhulu ngokuthi kungani uNkulunkulu efuna ukunakekela isintu. Ezilingweni zikaSathane, uJobe waqaphela ukuthi umuntu, oyinyama negazi, akanamandla futhi ubuthaka. Lapho eguqa ngamadolo akhe futhi ethandaza kuNkulunkulu, wazizwa sengathi uNkulunkulu wayefihla ubuso Bakhe, ngoba uNkulunkulu wayesemshiyele ngokuphelele ezandleni zikaSathane. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, uNkulunkulu waphinde wamkhalela, waba nosizi ngenxa yakhe; uNkulunkulu wabuzwa ubuhlungu ayebuzwa…. UJobe wabuzwa ubuhlungu bukaNkulunkulu, nokuthi uNkulunkulu wayengakwazi ukubuthwala…. UJobe wayengasafuni ukuzwisa uNkulunkulu obunye ubuhlungu, futhi wayengasafuni uNkulunkulu amkhalele, ingasaphathwa eyokuthi kube nguyena ozwisa uNkulunkulu ubuhlungu. Ngaleso sikhathi, uJobe wayengasafuni ukuba umuntu wenyama, wayengasafuni ukuzwa ubuhlungu ayebulethelwa inyama yakhe, ngoba lokho kwakuyokwenza uNkulunkulu ayeke ukuhlushwa ukuzwa ubuhlungu bakhe—kodwa wayengeke, kwadingeka ukuthi angabekezeleli nje kuphela ubuhlungu benyama, kodwa nobuhlungu bokungafisi ukukhathaza uNkulunkulu. Lobu buhlungu obukabili—obenyama, nobomoya—benza uJobe wezwa izinhlungu ezinkulu, wabona izinto inyama engenakuzenza nendlela igazi elingamkhungathekisa ngayo umuntu. Ngaphansi kwalezi zimo, ukulangazelela kwakhe uNkulunkulu kwaba namandla, nenzondo yakhe ngoSathane yajula. Ngalesi sikhathi, uJobe wayefisa sengathi ngabe akazange azalwe ezweni labantu, nokubona uNkulunkulu ekhala izinyembezi futhi ezwa ubuhlungu ngenxa yakhe. Uqale ayizonde kakhulu inyama yakhe, aphelelwe amandla ngosuku lwakhe lokuzalwa nangakho konke okubandakanya yena. Akafisanga nokuthi kube nomunye ozalwa ngosuku olufana nolwakhe, ngakho wavula umlomo wakhe waqalekisa usuku azalwa ngalo: “Maluqalekiswe usuku engazalwa ngalo, nobusuku okwashiwo ngalo ukuthi, Kukhulelwe umntwana wesilisa. Lolo suku malube ngubumnyama; uNkulunkulu makangalunaki ephezulu, nokukhanya kungakhanyi kulo.” (UJobe 3:3-4). Amazwi kaJobe aqukethe inzondo ayenayo ngaye, “Maluqalekiswe usuku engazalwa ngalo, nobusuku okwashiwo ngalo ukuthi, Kukhulelwe umntwana wesilisa,” kanye nendlela ayezisola ngokujulile ngayo ngokuzwisa uNkulunkulu ubuhlungu, “Lolo suku malube ngubumnyama; uNkulunkulu makangalunaki ephezulu, nokukhanya kungakhanyi kulo.” La mavesi amabili aveza indlela uJobe ayezizwa ngayo ngempela ngaleso sikhathi, futhi akuveza obala ukulunga nobuqotho bakhe. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, njengoba nje uJobe ayefisa, ukholo nokulalela kwakhe uNkulunkulu, kanye nokwesaba kwakhe uNkulunkulu, kwakubaluleke kakhulu. Yiqiniso lokhu yikho kanye uNkulunkulu ayekulindele.

UJobe Unqoba USathane Bese Ephenduka Indoda Eqotho Emehlweni KaNkulunkulu

Lapho uJobe edlula ezilingweni okokuqala, waphucwa yonke impahla yakhe kanye nezingane zakhe, kodwa akazange awe noma asho into eyisono kuNkulunkulu. Wazinqoba izilingo zikaSathane, wanqoba nomuzwa wokulahlekelwa impahla yakhe kanye nezingane zakhe, okusho ukuthi wakwazi ukulalela uNkulunkulu futhi wadumisa uNkulunkulu ngenxa yakho. Yiyona ndlela uJobe ayeziphatha ngayo phakathi nesilingo sokuqala sikaSathane, futhi yibona bufakazi obanikezwa uJobe ovivinyweni lokuqala lukaNkulunkulu. Ovivinyweni lwesibili, uSathane welula isandla sakhe ukuze alimaze uJobe, futhi nakuba uJobe ezwa ubuhlungu ayengakaze abuzwe, ubufakazi bakhe babanele ukushiya abantu bebambe ongezansi. Wasebenzisa isibindi, ukholo, nokulalela kwakhe uNkulunkulu, ukuze aphinde anqobe uSathane, futhi uNkulunkulu wakwamukela ukuziphatha kanye nobufakazi abunikeza. Phakathi nalesi silingo, uJobe wasebenzisa ukuziphatha kwakhe ukuze azise uSathane ukuthi ubuhlungu benyama babungeke buguqule ukholo nokulalela kwakhe uNkulunkulu, noma bumenze angazinikeli noma esabe uNkulunkulu; wayengeke amphike uNkulunkulu noma ashiye ukulunga nobuqotho bakhe ngenxa yokwesaba ukufa. Ukuzimisela kukaJobe kwenza uSathane wangenwa amanzi emadolweni, ukholo lwakhe lwashiya uSathane ethuthumela futhi eqhaqhazela, amandla empi yakhe yokuphila nokufa noSathane enza uSathane waba nenzondo enkulu, ukulunga nobuqotho bakhe akumsizanga ngalutho uSathane, ngezinga lokuthi wayeka ukumhlasela nokumangalela uJobe phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwakusho ukuthi uJobe ulinqobile izwe, wayinqoba inyama kanye noSathane, futhi wakunqoba ukufa; wayengumuntu kaNkulunkulu ngokuphelele. Phakathi nalezi zilingo ezimbili, uJobe waqina ebufakazini bakhe, futhi waphila ngokulunga nobuqotho, waphila ngazo zonke izindlela ngomyalo wokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi. Ngemva kokudlula kulezi zilingo, uJobe waba nokuhlangenwe nakho okungeke kwatholakala ndawo, futhi kwamenza wavuthwa, kwamenza waba namandla, nokholo oluqinile, kwamenza wazethemba futhi waba qotho ngenxa yokuqina kwakhe. Ukuvivinya kukaJehova uNkulunkulu uJobe, kwenza uJobe wakuqonda ngokujulile ukukhathazeka kukaNkulunkulu ngomuntu, kwamenza wabona ukuba yigugu kothando lukaNkulunkulu, okuyilapho okwakhula khona uthando lwakhe lukaNkulunkulu ekwesabeni kwakhe uNkulunkulu. Uvivinyo lukaJehova uNkulunkulu alumhlukanisanga Yena noJobe, kodwa lwasondeza inhliziyo yakhe kuNkulunkulu. Lapho izinhlungu zenyama zikaJobe zifinyelela ekugcineni, ukubona uJehova uNkulunkulu ekhathazeka ngaye kwamenza waqalekisa usuku azalwa ngalo. Ukuziphatha okunjalo kwakungeyona into ehleliwe, kodwa ukwambulwa okungokwemvelo kothando ayenalo ngoNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yakhe, kwakuyisambulo esingokwemvelo esasibangelwa uthando lwakhe ngoNkulunkulu. Okusho ukuthi, ngenxa yokuthi uJobe wazizonda, wayengazimisele futhi wayengeke akwazi ukuhlukumeza uNkulunkulu, ngaleyo ndlela uthando lwakhe lwalungenabo ubugovu. Ngalesi sikhathi, kwakubalulekile kuJobe ukuba nobuhlobo obude nokulangazelela uNkulunkulu nokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu kuze kufike ezingeni lokucabangelana nothando. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, wayelubheka njengolubalulekile ukholo nokulalela kwakhe uNkulunkulu nokwesaba uNkulunkulu ngezinga lokumcabangela nokumthanda. Akazange avume ukwenza noma yini eyayingalimaza uNkulunkulu, akazange aziphathe ngendlela engalimaza uNkulunkulu, akavumanga ukwenza uNkulunkulu abe lusizi ngenxa yakhe, ngisho nokuthi angajabuli ngenxa yakhe. Emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, nakuba uJobe ayengakaguquki, ukholo lukaJobe, ukulalela kanye nokwesaba uNkulunkulu, kwenza uNkulunkulu wagculiseka futhi wajabula. Ngalesi sikhathi, uJobe wafinyelela ekulungeni uNkulunkulu ayefuna afinyelele kukho, waba indoda okufanele ngempela kuthiwe “ilungile futhi iqotho” emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Izenzo zakhe ezilungile zamenza wanqoba uSathane futhi wafakaza ngoNkulunkulu. Ngakho izenzo zakhe ezilungile zamenza waphelela, zamenza wakwazisa ukuphila kwakhe, wadlondlobala nakakhulu, waba umuntu wokuqala owayengasahlaselwa futhi alingwe uSathane. Ngenxa yokuthi uJobe wayelungile, wamangalelwa futhi walingwa uSathane; ngenxa yokuthi uJobe wayelungile, wanikelwa kuSathane; futhi ngenxa yokuthi uJobe wayelungile, wamnqoba futhi wamehlula uSathane, wama waqinisa ebufakazini bakhe. Ngenxa yalokho, uJobe waba ngumuntu wokuqala owayengasoze anikelwa kuSathane, weza ngempela ngaphambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu, waphila ekukhanyeni, ngaphansi kwezibusiso zikaNkulunkulu ngaphandle kokonakaliswa uSathane… Waba indoda yeqiniso emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, wakhululwa…

Mayelana NoJobe

Ngemva kokufunda ngendlela uJobe abhekana ngayo nezilingo, abaningi benu bangathanda ukwazi ezinye izinto mayelana noJobe, ikakhulukazi mayelana nemfihlo eyamenza wadunyiswa uNkulunkulu. Ngakho namhlanje, ake sikhulume ngoJobe!

Ekuphileni Kwansuku Zonke KukaJobe Sibona Ukulunga, Ubuqotho, Ukwesaba UNkulunkulu, Kanye Nokugwema Okubi

Uma sizokhuluma ngoJobe, khona-ke kumele sihlaziye izinto uNkulunkulu azisho ngaye: “Akekho ofana naye emhlabeni, indoda engasoleki nelungile, owesaba uNkulunkulu, nogwema okubi.”

Ake siqale sifunde ngokulunga nobuqotho bukaJobe.

Kuyini ukuqonda kwenu ngamagama athi “ukulunga” nelithi “ubuqotho”? Ingabe niyakholwa ukuthi uJobe wayengathukutheli futhi ehloniphekile? Yiqiniso, lokhu kuyoba ukuchaza igama negama lencazelo yelithi “ukulunga” nelithi “ubuqotho.” Into ebalulekile ekuqondeni ukuphila kwangempela kukaJobe—amazwi, izincwadi, nemibono ngeke kusinikeze izimpendulo. Sizoqala ngokubheka ukuphila kukaJobe kwasekhaya, ukuthi wayevame ukuziphatha kanjani. Lokhu kuyositshela ngemiyalo nemigomo yakhe ekuphileni, kanye nobuntu bakhe. Manje, ake sifunde amazwi okugcina kuJobe 1:3: “lo muntu wayengumuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke abantu basempumalanga.” Lokhu la mazwi akushoyo ukuthi igama langempela likaJobe kanye nokuma kwakhe kwakuphakeme kakhulu, nakuba singatshelwa ukuthi wayemkhulu kunabo bonke abantu basempumalanga ngenxa yokuthi wayenempahla eningi, noma ngenxa yokuthi wayelungile futhi eqotho, esaba uNkulunkulu futhi egwema okubi, siyazi ukuthi igama nokuma kukaJobe kwakuyigugu kakhulu. Njengoba kulotshiwe eBhayibhelini, into yokuqala abantu abayazi ngoJobe ukuthi wayelungile, ukuthi wayesaba uNkulunkulu egwema okubi, ukuthi wayenomcebo omkhulu futhi ezakhele igama elihle. Ukuze umuntu ojwayelekile aphile endaweni enjalo nangaphansi kwezimo ezinjalo, izinga lokuphila kukaJobe, nezinto ezihlukahlukene ekuphileni kwakhe ziyoba into abantu abaningi abagxile kuyo; ngakho kumele siqhubeke sifunda imibhalo: “Futhi amadodana akhe ahamba enza amadili ezindlini zawo, ileyo naleyo ngosuku lwayo; ayesethumela futhi abiza odadewabo abathathu ukuba bazodla futhi baphuze nabo. Kwathi lapho, izinsuku zamadili sezidlulile, uJobe wathumela futhi wawangcwelisa, futhi wavuka entathakusa, futhi wanikela umnikelo wokushiswa okwakulingana nesibalo sawo onke: ngokuba uJobe wathi, “Kungenzeka ukuthi amadodana ami onile, futhi athuka uNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zawo. Wenza njalo uJobe mihla yonke” (UJobe 1:4-5). La mavesi asitshela izinto ezimbili: Okokuqala ukuthi amadodana namadodakazi kaJobe ayeba nedili njalo, edla futhi ephuza; okwesibili ukuthi uJobe wayehlale enikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa ngoba wayekhathazekile ngawo, esaba ukuthi ayona, nokuthi izinhliziyo zabo zithuke uNkulunkulu. Kulokhu kuchazwa izinhlobo ezimbili zokuphila kwabantu. Abokuqala, amadodana namadodakazi kaJobe, ayevame ukuba nedili ngenxa yengcebo yawo, ayephuza iwayini adle izidlo aze asuthe, ejabulela ukuphila okusezingeni eliphezulu okwakulethwa umcebo. Ukuphila kanjalo, kwenza kwangagwemeka ukuthi ayezokona bese ecasula uNkulunkulu—kodwa awazange azingcwelise noma anikele iminikelo yokushiswa ngenxa yalokho. Ngakho uyabona ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayengenayo indawo ezinhliziyweni zawo, ukuthi ayengacabangi ngomusa kaNkulunkulu, futhi engakwesabi ukucasula uNkulunkulu, ingasaphathwa eyokwesaba ukuphika uNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zawo. Eqinisweni, asigxilile ezinganeni zikaJobe, kodwa ekutheni uJobe wenzani lapho ebhekene nezinto ezinjalo; lena enye indaba echazwe kuleli vesi, ebandakanya ukuphila kwakhe kwansuku zonke nesiqu sobuntu bakhe. Lapho iBhayibheli lichaza idili lamadodana namadodakazi kaJobe, alikhulumi ngoJobe; limane lithi amadodana namadodakazi kaJobe ayedla futhi aphuze ndawonye. Ngamanye amazwi, wayengabi namadili, noma adle namadodana namadodakazi akhe. Nakuba wayecebile, wayenempahla kanye nezinceku eziningi, ukuphila kukaJobe kwakungenazo izinto eziningi. Wayengakhangwa ubukhazikhazi bendawo ayephila kuyo, futhi wayengenawo umhobholo ngezinto zenyama noma akhohlwe ukunikela iminikelo yokushiswa ngenxa yomcebo wakhe, ingasaphathwa eyokuthi imenze esabe uNkulunkulu kancane kancane enhliziyweni yakhe. Ngokusobala, uJobe wayengenawo umhobholo nomhawu ekuphileni kwakhe, futhi ngenxa yalokho uNkulunkulu wambusisa. Kunalokho, wayethobekile futhi enesizotha, futhi eqaphe okwenzekayo phambi kukaNkulunkulu, wayevame ukucabanga ngomusa nezibusiso zikaNkulunkulu, futhi ehlale emesaba uNkulunkulu. Ekuphileni kwakhe kwansuku zonke, uJobe wayesheshe avuke ukuze anikele umnikelo wokushiswa wamadodana namadodakazi akhe. Ngamanye amazwi, uJobe akagcinanga ngokwesaba uNkulunkulu, kodwa wayenethemba lokuthi izingane zakhe nazo zazizokwesaba uNkulunkulu zingoni. Ingcebo kaJobe yayingenandawo enhliziyweni yakhe, futhi ayingenanga endaweni kaNkulunkulu; kungakhathaleki ukuthi ngenxa yakhe noma yabantwana, ayekwenza uJobe kwakuhlale kubandakanya ukwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema ukwenza okubi. Ukwesaba uJehova uNkulunkulu akuphelelanga emlonyeni wakhe, kodwa wakubonisa ngezenzo, usuku ngalunye nakukho konke ukuphila kwakhe. Lokhu kuziphatha kwangempela kukaJobe kusibonisa ukuthi wayethembekile, futhi ethanda ubulungiswa nezinto ezinhle. Ukuthi uJobe wayevame ukungcwelisa amadodana namadodakazi akhe kusho ukuthi wayengakwemukeli ukuziphatha kwezingane zakhe; kunalokho, enhliziyweni yakhe wayeyichitha indlela ayeziphatha ngayo. Wayephethe ngokuthi ukuziphatha kwamadodana namadodakazi akhe kwakungamjabulisi uJehova uNkulunkulu, ngakho wayevame ukuwabiza phambi kukaJehova, avume izono zawo. Izenzo zikaJobe zisibonisa olunye uhlangothi lobuntu bakhe; ukuthi akakaze ahambe nabantu abonayo nabacasula uNkulunkulu, kodwa wayebagwema. Ngisho noma laba bantu babengamadodana namadodakazi akhe, akazange alaxaze imiyalo yakhe ngenxa yokuthi babeyigazi lakhe, futhi akawavunanga amadodana yakhe ngenxa yalokho ayekucabanga. Kunalokho, wawanxusa ukuba avume ukuze uJehova uNkulunkulu awabekezelele, futhi wawaxwayisa ngokuthi angashiyi uNkulunkulu ngenxa yobugovu bawo. Imiyalo yendlela uJobe aphatha ngayo abanye ayinakuhlukaniswa nemiyalo yokwesaba uNkulunkulu ugweme okubi. Wayekuthanda okwakwemukelwa uNkulunkulu futhi ekwenyanya okwakwenyanywa uNkulunkulu, ebathanda labo abathanda uNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zabo, futhi ezonda abenzi bobubi nalabo abonayo kuNkulunkulu. Uthando nenzondo enjalo kwavela ekuphileni kwakhe kwansuku zonke, futhi yibona buqotho bukaJobe obabonakala emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Ngokwemvelo, lobu ubuntu bukaJobe ekuphileni kwamihla yonke nabanye abantu okumele sifunde ngabo.

Ukuvezwa Kobuntu BukaJobe Phakathi Nezilingo Zakhe (Ukuqonda Ukuphelela KukaJobe, Ubuqotho, Ukwesaba UNkulunkulu, Kanye Nokugwema Okubi Ezilingweni Zakhe)

Ngenhla sikhulume ngezinto ezihlukahlukene zobuntu bukaJobe ezavela ekuphileni kwakhe ngaphambi kovivinyo. Ngaphandle kokuthandabuza, lezi zinto ezihlukahlukene zisenza siqale sijwayelane futhi siqonde ubuqotho bukaJobe, sesabe uNkulunkulu, sigweme okubi, futhi zisenza siqiniseke. Into eyenza ngithi “siqale” ukuthi abantu abaningi abakabuqondi ubuntu bukaJobe nezinga amlalela ngalo uNkulunkulu futhi emesaba. Okusho ukuthi, ukuqonda kwabantu abaningi ngoJobe akudluleli ngalé kwezinto abantu abazithanda ngaye ezichazwe eBhayibhelini, njengokuthi “UJehova uphile, futhi uJehova uthathile; malibongwe igama likaJehova” nethi “Simukela okuhle okuvela esandleni sikaNkulunkulu, singekwamukele nokubi na?” Ngakho kunesidingo esikhulu kithi, sokuthi siqonde ubuntu bukaJobe lapho evivinywa uNkulunkulu; ngale ndlela, ubuntu bangempela bukaJobe buyobonakala kubo bonke abantu.

Lapho uJobe ezwa ukuthi impahla yakhe intshontshiwe, nokuthi amadodana namadodakazi akhe ashonile, nokuthi izinceku zakhe zibulewe, wenza ngale ndlela: “Khona-ke uJobe wasukuma, wabe eseklebhula isiphuku sakhe, futhi waphuca ikhanda lakhe, wabe esewela emhlabathini, futhi wakhuleka” (UJobe 1:20). La mazwi asitshela iqiniso elilodwa: Ngemva kokuzwa lezi zindaba, uJobe akethukanga, akazange akhale noma asole izinceku ezazilethe umbiko, ingasaphathwa-ke eyokuhlola isimo ngokuthi aphenye ukuze athole ukuthi kwenzekeni ngempela. Akazange aveze noma ibuphi ubuhlungu noma ukuzisola ngempahla eyayimlahlekele, noma akhale izinyembezi ngenxa yokushonelwa izingane, ngabantu abathandayo. Ngokuphambene nalokho, waklebhula ingubo yakhe, waphuca ikhanda lakhe, wawela emhlabathini, wakhuleka. Izenzo zikaJobe azifani nezomuntu ojwayelekile. Ziyabadida abantu abaningi, zibenza basole uJobe ngokuba nenhliziyo embi. Ngokulahlekelwa yizinto abanazo kungazelelwe, abantu abajwayelekile bayozwa ubuhlungu obukhulu, noma babe lusizi—futhi abanye bangacindezeleka kakhulu. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi ezinhliziyweni zabo, impahla yabo imele ukuphila kwabo, ukuphila kwabo kuncike kuyo, iyisizathu sokuthi baqhubeke bephila; ukulahlekelwa impahla yabo kusho ukuthi imizamo yabo ibe yize, ukuthi abasenathemba futhi abasenalo ngisho nekusasa. Lona umbono noma yimuphi umuntu anawo ngempahla yakhe nendlela asondelene ngayo eduze nayo, futhi iyinto ebaluleke kunazo zonke emehlweni abo. Ngakho, abantu abaningi iyabadida indlela uJobe angatatazeli ngayo ngokulahlekelwa^[b] impahla yakhe. Namhlanje, sizoqeda konke ukudideka abantu abanakho ngokuchaza okwakwenzeka enhliziyweni kaJobe.

Ingqondo yembula ukuthi ngemva kokuba uNkulunkulu emnike lezo zinto, uJobe kwakufanele ashaywe amahloni ngenxa yokulahlekelwa yilezo zinto, ngoba wahluleka ukuzinakekela izinto ayezinikwe uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, lapho ezwa ukuthi impahla yakhe yebiwe, into yokuqala okwakufanele ayenze kwakufanele aye lapho kwenzeke khona isigameko abale konke okuhambile,^[c] bese ebikela uNkulunkulu ukuze athole ezinye izibusiso. Nokho uJobe akakwenzanga lokhu—futhi wayenezizathu zakhe zokwenza kanjalo. Enhliziyweni yakhe, uJobe wayekholwa ngokuqinile ukuthi konke ayenakho wayekunikwe uNkulunkulu, futhi akakaze akusebenzele. Ngakho akazange azazise lezi zibusiso, waqhubeka ephila ngemiyalo yakhe. Wazazisa izibusiso zikaNkulunkulu, futhi wabonga, kodwa akazange azibheke njengeziyigugu futhi akazange afune ezinye izibusiso. Leyo kwakuyindlela ayebheka ngayo impahla yakhe. Akukho lutho alwenza ukuze athole izibusiso, futhi akazange akhathazeke ngokulahlekelwa izibusiso zikaNkulunkulu; akazange ajabule kakhulu ngezibusiso uNkulunkulu amnika zona, futhi akazange angawunaki umusa uNkulunkulu ambonisa wona ngenxa yezibusiso ayezijabulela mihla yonke. Umbono kaJobe ngempahla yakhe wembula kubantu ubuntu bakhe bangempela: Okokuqala, uJobe wayengesiye umuntu ohahayo, futhi wayengafuni izinto ekuphileni kwakhe. Okwesibili, uJobe akakaze akhathazeke noma esabe ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezothatha konke ayenakho, okwakuwumbono wakhe ngokulalela uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yakhe; okusho ukuthi wayengafuni lutho, futhi engakhonondi ngalokho uNkulunkulu ayezokuthatha kuye, futhi wayengabuzi ukuthi kungani, kodwa wayefuna ukulalela amalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu. Okwesithathu, akakaze acabange ukuthi uyisebenzele impahla yakhe, kodwa wacabanga ukuthi uyiphiwe uNkulunkulu. Lolu kwakuwukholo lukaJobe kuNkulunkulu, futhi kubonisa inkolelo ayenayo. Ingabe ubuntu bukaJobe nezinto ayezifuna njalo kwawenza acaca la maphuzu amathathu ngaye? Ubuntu bukaJobe nezinto ayezifuna kwakubalulekile endleleni ayeziphatha ngayo lapho ebhekene nokulahlekelwa impahla. Yizinto uJobe ayezifuna njalo ezamenza waba nesibindi sokuthi, “UJehova uphile, futhi uJehova uthathile; malibongwe igama likaJehova” phakathi nokuvivinywa kwakhe uNkulunkulu. La mazwi awacatshangangwa ngobusuku obubodwa, futhi awamananga nje afika engqondweni kaJobe. Ayeyilokho ayekubonile futhi wadlula kukho ekuphileni kwakhe. Uma eqhathaniswa nabo bonke labo abafuna izibusiso zikaNkulunkulu, abesaba ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzobathathela ini, futhi bakhononde ngakho, ingabe ukulalela kukaJobe akunalo iqiniso? Uma eqhathaniswa nabo bonke abakholwa ukuthi ukhona uNkulunkulu, kodwa abangakholwa ukuthi uphethe zonke izinto, ingabe uJobe akanakho yini ukwethembeka nobuqotho obukhulu?

Ukuhluzeka KukaJobe

Izinto uJobe adlula kuzo nobuntu bakhe obuqotho nobethembekile basho ukuthi wenza izinqubo ezibonisa ukuhluzeka lapho elahlekelwa impahla kanye nezingane zakhe. Izinqumo ezihluzeke kanjalo zazingenakuhlukaniswa nezinto ayezifuna mihla yonke nezenzo zikaNkulunkulu ayesezazi. Ukwethembeka kukaJobe kwamenza wakholwa ukuthi isandla sikaJehova uNkulunkulu sibusa zonke izinto; inkolelo yakhe yamenza wazi iqiniso ngobukhosi bukaJehova uNkulunkulu kuzo zonke izinto; ulwazi lwakhe lwamenza wazimisela ukulalela ubukhosi bukaJehova namalungiselelo akhe; ukulalela kwakhe kwamenza waba neqiniso nakakhulu ekwesabeni uJehova uNkulunkulu; ukwesaba kwakhe kwamenza wagwema okubi; ekugcineni uJobe waba umuntu olungile ngoba wayesaba uNkulunkulu egwema okubi; ukulunga kwakhe kwamenza wahlakanipha, futhi kwamenza wahluzeka.

Kufanele siliqonde kanjani leli gama elithi “ukuhluzeka”? Ngokwegama negama lisho ukuba nomqondo omuhle, ukusebenzisa ingqondo nokukhalipha lapho ucabanga, ukukhuluma into ezwakalayo, izenzo kanye nokwahlulela, nokuphila kahle kanye nokuba nesimilo esihle. Kodwa ukuhluzeka kukaJobe akuchazeki kalula ngaso sonke isikhathi. Lapho kuthiwa uJobe wayehluzekile, kusuke kukhulunywa ngobuntu nokuziphatha kwakhe phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yokuthi uJobe wayethembekile, wayebukholwa futhi ebulalela ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu, okuyinto eyamnika ulwazi abanye ababengenalo, futhi lolu lwazi lwamenza wakwazi kakhudlwana ukuqonda, ukwahlulela, nokuchaza okwamehlela, okwamenza wakwazi ukukhetha kahle okwakufanele akwenze nokwakufanele akubambisise. Okusho ukuthi amazwi akhe, ukuziphatha, imiyalo okusekelwe kuyo izenzo zakhe, kwakuhlale kucacile, kungafiphele, noma kulawulwe imizwa. Wayazi ukuthi ayithathe kanjani noma yini emehlelayo, wayazi ukuthi azithathe kanjani izinto eziyinkimbinkimbi, wayazi ukuthi abambelele kanjani ngokuqinile entweni efanele, futhi azi ukuthi kufanele akuphathe kanjani lokho uJehova amnika khona nakuthathayo. Lokhu kwakuyikho kanye ukuhluzeka kukaJobe. Yikho lokho kuhluzeka okwenza uJobe wathi, “UJehova uphile, futhi uJehova uthathile; malibongwe igama likaJehova,” lapho elahlekelwa izinto zakhe namadodana namadodakazi akhe.

Lapho uJobe ezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu emzimbeni, nokungemukelwa izihlobo nabangani bakhe, nalapho ebhekene nokufa, ukuziphatha kwakhe kwaveza ubuso bangempela bukaJobe.

Ubuso Bangempela BukaJobe: Iqiniso, Ukuhlanzeka Nokungabi Namanga

Ake sifunde uJobe 2:7-8: “Ngakho uSathane wabe esesuka phambi kukaJehova, futhi washaya uJobe ngamathumba abuhlungu kusukela ematheni onyawo kuze kufike okhakhayini lwakhe. Wayesethatha udengezi ukuba aziphale ngalo; wayesehlala phansi emlotheni.” Lena yincazelo yokwakwenzeka kuJobe lapho kumila amathumba amabi emzimbeni wakhe. Ngalesi sikhathi, uJobe wahlala emlotheni njengoba ayebekezelela izinhlungu. Akekho owayemelapha, akekho owayemsiza adambise izinhlungu emzimbeni wakhe; kunalokho, wayesebenzisa udengezi ukuze enwaye amathumba akhe. Lesi kwakuyisigaba sokulingwa kukaJobe, futhi asihlobene nobuntu bakhe kanye nokwesaba uNkulunkulu, ngoba akukho okwakhulunywa uJobe ukuze aveze indlela ayezizwa ngayo ngaleso sikhathi. Kodwa izenzo zikaJobe nokuziphatha kwakhe zisewukuvezwa kobuntu bakhe. Esahlukweni esedlule sifunde ukuthi uJobe wayengumuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke empumalanga. Kulesi sahluko sesibili, sifunda ukuthi lowo muntu omkhulu usebenzisa udengezi ukuze azenwaye kuyilapho ehlezi ezaleni. Akuwona yini umehluko omkhulu lowo kulezi zincazelo ezimbili? Umehluko obonisa ukuthi uJobe wayengubani ngempela: Igama nesithunzi sakhe, wayengakaze akuthande noma akunake; wayengakhathazeki ngendlela abanye abambheka ngayo, futhi wayengakhathazeki ngomthelela ongemuhle izenzo zakhe ezazingase zibe nawo kwabanye; akazange afune ukuceba, kodwa wazijabulela izinto ezihambisana nakho. Wayekhathazeke ngokubaluleka kokuphila emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. UJobe wayengakhohlisi ngesiqu sakhe: Akazange athande udumo nengcebo, futhi akazange akuphilele; wayeneqiniso, ehlanzekile futhi engenawo amanga.

Ukuhlukanisa KukaJobe Uthando Nenzondo

Olunye uhlangothi lobuntu bukaJobe lubonakala engxonxweni yakhe nomkakhe: “Khona-ke umkakhe wabe esethi kuye, Namanje usakugcinile ukuthembeka kwakho? Thuka uNkulunkulu, bese uyafa. Kepha wathi kuye, Ukhulumisa okwenye yakhosikazi ayiziwula. Usho ukuthini? Simukela okuhle okuvela esandleni sikaNkulunkulu, futhi singekwamukele nokubi na?” (UJobe 2:9-10). Ebona ubuhlungu ayebuzwa, umkaJobe wazama ukweluleka uJobe ukuze aphunyuke ezinhlungwini—kodwa “izinhloso ezinhle” azimenzanga wamukelwa uJobe; kunalokho, zamthukuthelisa, ngoba waluphika ukholo, nokulalela uJehova uNkulunkulu, waphika nokuba khona kukaJehova uNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwakuyinto ayengenakuyibekezelela uJobe, ngoba wayengakaze ayivumele into ephikisa uNkulunkulu noma emzwisa ubuhlungu. Wakwazi kanjani ukungaguquki lapho abanye besho amazwi ahlambalaza uNkulunkulu? Wabiza umkakhe “ngowesifazane oyisiwula.” Umbono kaJobe ngomkakhe wawunentukuthelo nenzondo, kanye nokumsola. Lobu kwakungubuntu bemvelo bukaJobe obehlukanisa uthando nenzondo, futhi kwabumelela kahle ubuntu obuqotho bakhe. UJobe wayenobulungiswa—obamenza wazonda izivunguvungu nomoya omubi, walahla futhi wenqaba inzwabethi, ubuwula, izimpikiswano, nemibono ewubuphukuphuku, wabambelela kweyakhe, imiyalo elungile lapho elahlwa yizinto nabantu ababeseduze naye.

Inhliziyo Enhle Nobuqotho BukaJobe

Ngenxa yokuthi, kusukela ekuziphatheni kukaJobe, sikwazi ukubona izinto eziningi ngobuntu bakhe, yibuphi ubuntu bakhe esibubonayo lapho evula umlomo wakhe eqalekisa usuku lwakhe lokuzalwa? Lesi isihloko ezizoxoxa ngaso ngezansi.

Ngenhla, ngikhulume ngomsuka wokuqalekisa kukaJobe usuku lwakhe lokuzalwa. Nibonani kulokhu? Uma uJobe ayenenhliziyo elukhuni, engenalo uthando, ukube wayengenamizwa, futhi engenabo ubuntu, ingabe wayezokhathazeka ngezifiso zenhliziyo kaNkulunkulu? Ingabe wayezoluqalekisa usuku azalwa ngalo ngenxa yokukhathalela inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu? Ngamanye amazwi, ukube uJobe wayenenhliziyo elukhuni futhi engenabo ubuntu, ingabe babuzomkhathaza ubuhlungu bukaNkulunkulu? Ingabe wayezoluqalekisa usuku azalwa ngalo ngenxa yokuthi wenze uNkulunkulu waba lusizi? Impendulo ithi, Lutho neze! Ngoba wayenenhliziyo enhle, uJobe wayenendaba nenhliziyo kaNkulunkulu; ngoba wayenendaba nenhliziyo kaNkulunkulu, uJobe wayebuzwa ubuhlungu bukaNkulunkulu; ngoba wayenenhliziyo enhle, wabekezelela ubuhlungu obukhulu ngenxa yokuzwa ubuhlungu bukaNkulunkulu; ngenxa yokuthi wezwa ubuhlungu bukaNkulunkulu, waluzonda usuku azalwa ngalo, futhi waluqalekisa. Kwabanye abantu, ukuziphatha kukaJobe kuzo zonke lezi zilingo kuyisibonelo. Ukuqalekisa usuku azalwa ngalo kuphela okuphakamisa umbuzo ngokulunga nobuqotho bakhe, noma okunikeza umbono owehlukile. Eqinisweni, leli kwakuyiqiniso lesiqu sobuntu bukaJobe. Ingqikithi yobuntu bakhe sasingavaliwe, noma sabukezwa omunye umuntu. Lapho eqalekisa usuku azalwa ngalo, wabonisa ukuba nenhliziyo enhle nobuqotho obujulile enhliziyweni yakhe; wayefana nomthombo onamanzi ahlanzekile obona isinqe sawo.

Ngemva kokufunda konke lokhu ngoJobe, abaningi cishe ngeke babe nombono onembile nenjongo yokuhlola ubuntu bukaJobe. Kufanele babe nokuqonda kwangempela, okuthuthukile, kanye nokwazisa ngokulunga nobuqotho bukaJobe okwakhulunywa uNkulunkulu. Nginethemba lokuthi lokhu kuqonda nokwazisa kuyosiza abantu besabe uNkulunkulu futhi bagweme okubi.

Ubuhlobo Phakathi Kokunikela KukaNkulunkulu NgoJobe KuSathane Nezinhloso Zomsebenzi KaNkulunkulu

Nakuba abantu abaningi manje beqonda ukuthi uJobe wayelungile futhi eqotho, nokuthi wayesaba uNkulunkulu egwema okubi, lokhu kuqonda akubenzi bazazi kakhudlwana izinhloso zikaNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi esifanayo nokuba nomona nobuntu nezinto ezifunwa uJobe, bambuza imibuzo elandelayo uNkulunkulu: UJobe wayelungile futhi eqotho, abantu babemazisa kakhulu, ngakho kungani uNkulunkulu amnikela kuSathane futhi wavuma ukuba ahlukunyezwe? Imibuzo enjalo kufanele ibe sezinhliziyweni zabaningi—kunalokho, lokhu kungaba umbuzo osezinhliziyweni zabantu abaningi. Njengoba uhlupha abantu abaningi kangaka, kumele siwundlale etafuleni lo mbuzo, siwuchaze ngendlela efanele.

Konke okwenziwa uNkulunkulu kunesidingo, futhi kubaluleke kakhulu, ngoba konke akwenzayo kumuntu kuthinta ukuphatha Kwakhe nensindiso yesintu. Ngokwemvelo, umsebenzi uNkulunkulu awenza kuJobe awehlukile, nakuba uJobe ayelungile futhi eqotho emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Ngamanye amazwi, kungakhathaleki ukuthi uNkulunkulu wenzani futhi kanjani, kungakhathaleki ukuthi izindleko ziyini, noma imigomo Yakhe, inhloso yezenzo Zakhe ayiguquki. Inhloso Yakhe ukusebenzisa kumuntu izwi likaNkulunkulu, izimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu, nentando kaNkulunkulu ngomuntu; ngamanye amazwi, iwukwenza kumuntu konke lokho uNkulunkulu akholwa ukuthi kuhle ngokuvumelana nezigaba Zakhe, avumele umuntu ukuba aqonde inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu futhi aqonde ingqikithi kaNkulunkulu, nokumvumela ukuba alalele ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu namalungiselelo Akhe, kanjalo enze umuntu esabe uNkulunkulu futhi agweme okubi—konke kuwuphawu olulodwa lwenhloso kaNkulunkulu kukho konke akwenzayo. Olunye uphawu ukuthi, ngenxa yokuthi uSathane uyisembozo futhi uyinhloso yomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, umuntu uvame ukunikelwa kuSathane; lokhu kusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayevame ukuvumela abantu ukuthi babone ububi bukaSathane ngaphambi kokuba uSathane abalinge noma abahlasele, kanjalo evumele abantu ukuba bazonde uSathane futhi bakwazi ukubona uhlangothi lwakhe olubi. Le nqubo ibavumela ukuba bakhululeke kancane kancane ekulawulweni uSathane, nasekumangalelweni uSathane, ekugxambukeleni, nasekuhlaselweni—baze babonge izwi likaNkulunkulu, ulwazi lwabo nokulalela uNkulunkulu, kanye nokholo lwabo kuNkulunkulu nokumesaba; bayathuthumela lapho bemangalelwa uSathane; bayokhululwa lapho kuphela emandleni kaSathane. Ukukhululwa kwabantu kuyosho ukuthi uSathane unqotshiwe, kuyosho ukuthi abasekhona ukudla emlonyeni kaSathane—ukuthi esikhundleni sokubagwinya, uSathane ubalaxazile. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi abantu abanjalo baqotho, banokholo, bayalalela futhi besaba uNkulunkulu, nokuthi bamelene kakhulu noSathane. Bamthela ngehlazo uSathane, bamenza abe igwala, futhi bamnqoba ngokuphelele. Ukholo lwabo ekulandeleni uNkulunkulu, ukulalela kwabo nokwesaba uNkulunkulu kunqoba uSathane, futhi kumenza aphonse ithawula. Abantu abanjalo kuphela abazuzwe uNkulunkulu ngeqiniso, futhi yibo uNkulunkulu ahlose ukubasindisa. Uma befisa ukusindiswa, nokuzuzwa uNkulunkulu ngokuphelele, khona-ke bonke abalandela uNkulunkulu kumele balingwe futhi bahlaselwe uSathane. Labo abamelana nalezi zilingo nokuhlaselwa bakwazi ngokuphelele ukunqoba uSathane, yilabo abasindiswe uNkulunkulu. Okusho ukuthi, labo abasindiswe uNkulunkulu yilabo abadlule ezilingweni, futhi abaye balingwa futhi bahlaselwa uSathane izikhathi eziningi. Labo abasindiswe uNkulunkulu bayayiqonda intando nezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu, futhi bayakwazi ukuzithoba ebukhosini nasemalungiselelweni kaNkulunkulu, futhi abayishiyi indlela yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi ngemva kwezilingo zikaSathane. Labo abasindiswa uNkulunkulu bathembekile, banenhliziyo enhle, benza kube nomehluko phakathi kothando nenzondo, banobulungiswa futhi bahluzekile, futhi bayakwazi ukunakekela uNkulunkulu nokwazisa konke okukaNkulunkulu. Abantu abanjalo uSathane ngeke ahlale ebamangalela futhi ebahlukumeza, bakhululeke ngokuphelele, futhi bakhululwe ngokuphelele. UJobe wayeyindoda ekhululeke kanjalo, futhi lokhu yisizathu kanye esasenze uNkulunkulu wamnikela kuSathane.

UJobe wahlukunyezwa uSathane, kodwa waphinde wathola inkululeko yaphakade, wazuza okulungile wangaphinde wonakaliswa uSathane, wamhlukumeza futhi wammangalela, kunalokho waphila ngokukhululeka ekukhanyeni kukaNkulunkulu, waphila ngemva kokubusiswa uNkulunkulu. Akekho owayengamphuca noma ashabalalise leli lungelo. Lalinikezwe uJobe ngenxa yokholo lwakhe, isifiso, nokulalela nokwesaba uNkulunkulu; uJobe wasikhokha isikweletu sokuphila ukuze athole injabulo emhlabeni, athole ilungelo lokuba notho, athotshelwe yiZulu nomhlaba, akhuleke kuMdali womhlaba ngaphandle kokuphazamiseka. Lowo kwakuwumphumela obuhlungu wezilingo ezabekezelelwa uJobe.

Lapho abantu besazosindiswa, ukuphila kwabo kwakuvame ukulawulwa uSathane. Ngamanye amazwi, abantu abangakaze basindiswe bayiziboshwa zikaSathane, abanayo inkululeko, abakhululiwe kuSathane, abafanelekile futhi abanaso isibopho sokukhonza uNkulunkulu, futhi uSathane ubafuna phansi phezulu uyabahlasela. Abantu abanjalo ayikho injabulo abangakhuluma ngayo, abanalo ilungelo lokukhuluma ngokuphila, futhi asikho isithunzi abangakhuluma ngaso. Kulapho ubhukula ulwa noSathane, usebenzisa ukholo lwakho nokulalela uNkulunkulu, nokwesaba uNkulunkulu njengesikhali sokulwa impi yokufa nokuphila noSathane, lapho uyomnqoba khona ngokugcwele uSathane futhi umenze adle phansi noma nini lapho ekubona, ukuze ayeke ukukuhlasela nokukumangalela—kulapho kuphela lapho uyosindiswa khona, ukhululeke. Uma uzimisele ukuhlukana ngokuphelele noSathane, kodwa ungenazo ikhali ezizokusiza unqobe uSathane, usazoba sengozini; ngokuhamba kwesikhathi lapho usuhlukunyezwa uSathane uyobe ungasenawo amandla asele kuwe, kodwa uyobe usakwazi ukufakaza, uyobe ungakakwazi ukuzikhulula ekuhlaselweni nasekumangalelweni uSathane, khona-ke uyoba nethemba elincane lensindiso. Ekugcineni, lapho kumenyezelwa ukuphela komsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, uyobe usabanjwe uSathane, ungakwazi ukuzikhulula, futhi uyobe ungenalo ithemba. Ngakho umphumela uwukuthi, abantu abanjalo uSathane uyobathumba ngokuphelele.

Yamukela Izivivinyo ZikaNkulunkulu, Nqoba Izilingo ZikaSathane, Bese Uvumela UNkulunkulu Azuze Bonke Ubuwena

Phakathi nomsebenzi Wakhe wokulungisa nokweseka umuntu, uNkulunkulu wembulela umuntu yonke intando nezimfuneko Zakhe, futhi uveza izenzo Zakhe, isimo, nalokho anakho nayikho kumuntu. Inhloso Yakhe ukuhlomisa umuntu, nokuthi amvumele azi amaqiniso amaningi ngoNkulunkulu ngesikhathi emlandela—amaqiniso ayizikhali umuntu azinikwe uNkulunkulu ukuze alwe noSathane. Njengoba ehlonyisiwe, umuntu kumele abhekane novivinyo lukaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu unezindlela eziningi zokuvivinya umuntu, kodwa eziningi zazo, zihlanganisa “ukubambisana” nesitha sikaNkulunkulu: uSathane. Okusho ukuthi, ngemva kokunika umuntu izikhali azolwa ngazo noSathane, uNkulunkulu unikela umuntu kuSathane avumele uSathane ukuba “amvivinye.” Uma umuntu engakwazi ukumelana namaqhinga okulwa kaSathane, uma ephunyuka ephila kuSathane, khona-ke umuntu uyobe uphumelele ovivinyweni. Kodwa uma umuntu ehluleka ukumelana namaqhinga okulwa kaSathane, ezithoba kuSathane, khona uyobe wehlulekile ovivinyweni. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi uNkulunkulu uhlola ini kumuntu, into ayihlolayo ukuthi umuntu uyaqina yini lapho uSathane ehlasela ubufakazi bakhe, nokuthi uyamshiya yini uNkulunkulu azithobe kuSathane ngesikhathi uSathane embamba. Kungashiwo ukuthi ukusindiswa komuntu kuncike ekutheni uyamnqoba yini uSathane, noma ukuthi uyayithola yini inkululeko kuncike ekutheni uyakwazi yini ukuphakamisa izikhali azinikwe uNkulunkulu ukuze anqobe uSathane, enze uSathane ahlukane naye ngokuphelele. Uma uSathane ephelelwa ithemba futhi emshiya, lokho kusho ukuthi uSathane akasoze azama ukuthatha lowo muntu kuNkulunkulu, ngeke aphinde amangalele lowo muntu, ngeke aphinde amhlasele; umuntu onjalo kuphela oyozuzwa uNkulunkulu. Lena inqubo ephelele uNkulunkulu azuza ngayo abantu.

Isixwayiso Nokukhanyiselwa Ubufakazi BukaJobe Obubunika Izizukulwane Ezilandelayo

Ngesikhathi esifanayo nesokuqonda inqubo uNkulunkulu azuza ngayo abantu, abantu nabo bayoqonda izinhloso nokubaluleka kokusebenzisa uSathane ekuvivinyeni uJobe. Abantu abasaphazanyiswa uvivinyo lukaJobe, futhi banemininingwane eminingi emisha ngokubaluleka kwakho. Abasakhathazeki ngokuthi ingabe nabo bayokwazi yini ukuvivinywa njengoJobe, futhi abasaphikisani nokuza kovivinyo lukaNkulunkulu. Ukholo lukaJobe, ukulalela, nobufakazi bakhe ekunqobeni uSathane kuwumthombo wosizo omkhulu ekukhuthazeni abantu. KuJobe babona ithemba ngensindiso yabo, futhi bayabona ukuthi ngokholo, nokulalela nokwesaba uNkulunkulu, kungenzeka kakhulu ukunqoba uSathane, nokumelana noSathane. Bayabona ukuthi, uma nje besazithoba ebukhosini nasemalungiselelweni kaNkulunkulu, futhi babe nesifiso nokholo lokungamshiyi uNkulunkulu ngemva kokulahlekelwa yikho konke, bengamthela ngehlazo futhi bamnqobe uSathane, futhi kufanele bazimisele ukuma baqine ebufakazini babo—ngisho noma kusho ukulahlekelwa ukuphila kwabo—ukuze uSathane abaleke futhi ehlulwe kabuhlungu. Ubufakazi bukaJobe buyisixwayiso ezizukulwaneni ezilandelayo, futhi lesi sixwayiso sizitshela ukuthi uma zingamnqobi, uSathane uyohlale ezimangalela njalo futhi ezinakile, azisoze zaphunyuka ekuhlukunyezweni nasekuhlaselweni uSathane. Ubufakazi bukaJobe bukhanyisele izizukulwane ezizayo. Lokhu kukhanyiselwa kufundisa abantu ukuthi kulapho belungile futhi beqotho yilapho kuphela lapho beyokwazi khona ukwesaba uNkulunkulu bagweme okubi; sizifundisa ukuthi kulapho besaba khona uNkulunkulu futhi begwema okubi lapho beyonikeza khona ubufakazi obunamandla ngoNkulunkulu; uSathane ngeke azilawule uma zinikeza ubufakazi obunamandla, futhi ziphila ngesiqondiso nesivikelo sikaNkulunkulu—kulapho kuphela lapho ziyosindiswa khona ngeqiniso. Ubuntu bukaJobe nezinto ayezifuna ekuphileni kufanele kulingiswe yiwo wonke umuntu ofuna insindiso. Kube yinto ayiphilelayo kukho konke ukuphila kwakhe nendlela aziphatha ngayo phakathi nezilingo kubo bonke labo abesaba uNkulunkulu bagweme okubi.

Ubufakazi BukaJobe Buletha Indunduzo KuNkulunkulu

Uma nginitshela manje ukuthi uJobe uyindoda enothando, ningase ningakwazi ukuthanda incazelo ekula mazwi, futhi ningase ningakwazi ukubamba isizathu sokuthi kungani ngikhulume ngalezi zinto; kodwa lindani kuze kube yilapho nani nibhekana nezilingo ngendlela efanayo nekaJobe, lapho nedlula ezinhluphekweni, lapho senibhekene novivinyo oluhlelwe uNkulunkulu ngokuqondile, nalapho ukhipha konke, futhi ubekezelela ukuhlazeka nobunzima, ukuze ulwe noSathane futhi unikeze ubufakazi ngoNkulunkulu lapho ulingwa—khona-ke uyokwazi ukuthanda incazelo yala mazwi engiwakhulumayo. Ngaleso sikhathi, uyozizwa umncane kakhulu kuJobe, uyobona indlela uJobe anothando ngayo, nokuthi kufanele alingiswe; lapho kufika isikhathi uyobona indlela amazwi akhulunywa uJobe abaluleke ngayo kulabo abonakele abaphila kulezi zikhathi, futhi uyobona ukuthi kunzima kanjani ngabantu namuhla ukufeza izinto ezafezwa uJobe. Lapho unomuzwa wokuthi kunzima, uyokhathazeka ngenhliziyo kaNkulunkulu, uyolazisa inani elikhulu elakhokhwa uNkulunkulu ukuze azuze labo bantu, futhi yeka indlela okubaluleke ngayo lokho uNkulunkulu akwenzela isintu. Manje njengoba seniwazwile la mazwi, ingabe ninakho ukuqonda okunembile nombono ofanele ngoJobe? Emehlweni enu, ingabe uJobe wayeyindoda elungile futhi eqotho, eyesaba uNkulunkulu negwema okubi? Ngikholwa ukuthi nakanjani abantu abaningi bazothi, Yebo. Ngenxa yokuthi amaqiniso embulwa uJobe awanakuphikwa yinoma imuphi umuntu noma uSathane. Awubufakazi obunamandla kakhulu bokunqoba kukaJobe uSathane. Lobu bufakazi banikezwa uJobe, futhi kwakungubufakazi bokuqala obatholwa uNkulunkulu. Ngakho lapho uJobe enqoba izilingo zikaSathane futhi efakaza ngoNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wabona ithemba kuJobe, futhi inhliziyo Yakhe yaduduzwa uJobe. Kusukela ekudalweni kuya kuJobe, kwakungokokuqala ngoNkulunkulu ukuthi aduduzwe umuntu, ezwe ukuthi kusho ukuthini ukududuzwa umuntu, futhi kwakungokokuqala ebona, futhi ezuza, ubufakazi beqiniso owabethulelwa.

Ngethemba ukuthi, lapho senibuzwile ubufakazi bukaJobe, nokulandisa ngezingxenye ezehlukahlukene zikaJobe, abaningi bazoba nezinhlelo ohambweni olusabahlalele. Ngakho, nginethemba lokuthi abantu abakhathazeke kakhulu nabesabayo, kancane kancane bazoqala ukukhululeka emzimbeni nasengqondweni…

Amavesi angezansi nawo alandisa ngoJobe. Ake siqhubeke sifunde.

4. UJobe Uzwe NgoNkulunkulu Ngokuzwa Kwendlebe

UJobe 9:11 Bheka, uyangidlula, futhi ngingamboni: angigudle futhi, kodwa ngingezwa.

UJobe 23:8-9 Bheka, ngiya phambili, kepha akekho; nasemuva, kodwa angimboni: Ngakwesokunxele, lapho esebenza khona, kepha angimboni: uzifihla ngakwesokudla, ukuze ngingamboni.

UJobe 42:2-6 Ngiyazi ukuthi ungenza konke, nokuthi awukho umcabango ongafihlwa Kuwe. Ngubani ofihla iseluleko engenalo ulwazi? ngakho ngikukhulumile lokho engingakuqondi; izimangaliso ezinkulu kunami, ebengingazazi. Ake ungilalele, ngiyakuncenga, futhi ngizokhuluma: Mina ngizokubuza, futhi Wena ungiphendule. Ngangizwile Ngawe ngokuzwa kwezindlebe: kepha manje iso lami liyakubona. Ngalokho ngiyazinenga, futhi ngiyazisola othulini nasemlotheni.

Nakuba UNkulunkulu Engazange Azembule KuJobe, UJobe Uyakholelwa Ebukhosini BukaNkulunkulu

Liyini iphuzu kula mazwi? Ingabe ukhona kini oke wabona ukuthi kuneqiniso elikuwo? Okokuqala, uJobe wazi kanjani ukuthi ukhona uNkulunkulu? Futhi wayazi kanjani ukuthi amazulu nomhlaba nazo zonke izinto kubuswa uNkulunkulu? Kunevesi eliyiphendula yomibili le mibuzo: Ngizwile Ngawe ngokuzwa kwezindlebe: kepha manje iso lami liyakubona. Ngalokho ngiyazinenga, futhi ngiyazisola othulini nasemlotheni (UJobe 42:5-6). Kusukela kula mazwi sifunda ukuthi, kunokuthi abone uNkulunkulu ngamehlo akhe, uJobe wayefunde kudala ngoNkulunkulu. Waqala ngaphansi kwalezi zimo ukuhamba endleleni yokulandela uNkulunkulu, ngemva kwalokho wabona ukuba khona kwakhe empilweni yakhe, phakathi kwezinye izinto. Kuneqiniso elingenakuphikwa lapha—yiliphi? Naphezu kokukwazi ukulandela indlela yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi, uJobe wayengakaze ambone uNkulunkulu. Kulokhu, ingabe wayengafani nabantu namuhla? UJobe wayengakaze abone uNkulunkulu, futhi nakuba ayeke wezwa ngoNkulunkulu, wayengazi ukuthi ukuphi, nokuthi uNkulunkulu unjani, noma ukuthi wayenzani, okungamaqiniso amancane; ukukhuluma iqiniso, nakuba alandela uNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu akazange abonakale kuye noma akhulume naye. Ingabe leli akulona iqiniso? Nakuba uNkulunkulu ayengakaze akhulume noJobe noma amnike imiyalo, uJobe wakubona ukuba khona kukaNkulunkulu, futhi wathobela ubukhosi Bakhe, futhi ezinganekwaneni uJobe ayezizwile ngoNkulunkulu, waqala ukuphila kokwesaba uNkulunkulu, wagwema okubi. Lezo kwakuyiziqalo nezinqubo uJobe alandela ngazo uNkulunkulu. Kodwa kungakhathaleki ukuthi wayemesaba kanjani uNkulunkulu futhi ekugwema kanjani okubi, akunandaba ukuthi waba qotho kangakanani, uNkulunkulu akazange avele kuye. Ake sifunde ivesi. Wathi, “Bheka, uyangidlula, futhi ngingamboni: angigudle futhi, kodwa ngingezwa” (UJobe 9:11). La mazwi akushoyo ukuthi kungenzeka ukuthi uJobe wayezwe uNkulunkulu eduze kwakhe noma wayengamzwanga—kodwa wayengakwazi ukubona uNkulunkulu. Kwakunezikhathi lapho ayezicabanga khona edlula phambi kwakhe, enza noma aqondise umuntu, kodwa akazange azi. UNkulunkulu ufika lapho umuntu engamlindele; umuntu akazi lapho uNkulunkulu esekuye, noma lapho ehlela kuye, ngoba umuntu akakwazi ukubona uNkulunkulu, ngakho uNkulunkulu ufihlekile kumuntu.

Ukholo LukaJobe KuNkulunkulu Aluzanyazanyiswa Ukuthi UNkulunkulu Ufihlekile Kuye

Embhalweni olandelayo, uJobe ube esethi, “Bheka, ngiya phambili, kepha akekho; nasemuva, kodwa angimboni: Ngakwesokunxele, lapho esebenza khona, kepha angimboni: uzifihla ngakwesokudla, ukuze ngingamboni” (UJobe 23:8-9). Kulokhu, sifunda ukuthi ezintweni uJobe adlula kuzo, uNkulunkulu ubelokhu efihlekile kuye; uNkulunkulu akazange avele ngokucacile kuye, futhi akukho lutho ake walukhuluma kuye, kodwa enhliziyweni yakhe, uJobe wayenethemba ngokuba khona kukaNkulunkulu. Wayehlale ekholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uhamba phambi kwakhe, noma ukuthi useceleni kwakhe, nokuthi nakuba engamboni, uNkulunkulu wayeseduze kwakhe eqondisa konke. UJobe wayengakaze abone uNkulunkulu, kodwa wakwazi ukuba qotho okholweni lwakhe, okungekho muntu omunye owayengenza kanjalo. Kungani kunjalo? Kungoba uNkulunkulu akazange akhulume noJobe, noma avele kuye, futhi uma engakaze akholwe kuye ngeqiniso, wayengeke ahambe, futhi wayengeke abambelele endleleni yokwesaba nokugwema okubi. Ingabe lelo akulona iqiniso? Uzizwa kanjani lapho ufunda amazwi kaJobe? Ingabe ucabanga ukuthi ukuphelela nobuqotho bukaJobe, nokulunga kwakhe phambi kukaNkulunkulu, kuyiqiniso futhi akulona ihaba kuNkulunkulu? Nakuba uNkulunkulu aphatha uJobe ngendlela aphatha ngayo abanye futhi engakaze avele noma akhulume naye, uJobe wayesabambelele ngokuqinile ebuqothweni bakhe, wayesakholelwa ebukhosini bukaNkulunkulu, futhi ngaphezu kwalokho, wayehlale enikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa futhi ethandaza kuNkulunkulu ngenxa yokwesaba ukumcasula. Ekwesabeni kukaJobe uNkulunkulu ngaphandle kokumbona, sibona indlela ayezithanda ngayo izinto ezinhle, nendlela ukholo lwakhe olwaluqine futhi lungokoqobo ngayo. Akazange akuphike ukuba khona kukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthi wayengakwazi ukumbona, futhi akazange alahle ukholo lwakhe ngenxa yokuthi wayengakwazi ukumbona. Kunalokho, ngemva kwalo msebenzi kaNkulunkulu ocashile wokubusa zonke izinto, wabona ukuba khona kukaNkulunkulu, futhi wezwa ubukhosi namandla kaNkulunkulu. Akazange aphele amandla ebuqothweni bakhe ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu wayengabonakali, futhi akayekanga ukwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu akazange abonakale kuye. UJobe akakaze acele uNkulunkulu ukuthi avele kuye ukuze aziveze ukuthi ukhona, ngoba kakade wayesebambelele ebukhosini bukaNkulunkulu phakathi kwazo zonke izinto, futhi ekholwa ukuthi uzitholile izibusiso nomusa abanye ababengakakutholi. Nakuba uNkulunkulu ayelokhu engabonakali kuye, ukholo lukaJobe aluzange luzanyazanyiswe. Ngakho wavuna into okwakungekho muntu onayo: Ukuvunywa uNkulunkulu nesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu.

UJobe Ubusisa Igama LikaNkulunkulu Futhi Akacabangi Ngezibusiso Noma Inhlekelele

Kuneqiniso okungakhulunywa ngalo emiBhalweni ngendaba kaJobe, esizogxila kulo namuhla. Nakuba uJobe ayengazange ambone uNkulunkulu noma amuzwe ngezindlebe zakhe, uNkulunkulu wayenendawo enhliziyweni kaJobe. Wawuyini umbono kaJobe ngoNkulunkulu? Wawunjengoba kwashiwo, “malibongwe igama likaJehova.” Ukubusisa Kwakhe igama likaNkulunkulu kwakungenamibandela, kungaqondene nesimo, futhi kungenasizathu. Siyabona ukuthi uJobe wayenike uNkulunkulu inhliziyo yakhe, wayivumela ukuba ilawulwe uNkulunkulu; konke ayekucabanga, konke akunquma, nakho konke ayekuhlelile enhliziyweni yakhe kwakwembuliwe kuNkulunkulu kusobala. Inhliziyo yakhe ayikaze imelane noNkulunkulu, futhi akakaze acele uNkulunkulu ukuthi amenzele noma yini noma amnike okuthile, futhi akazange abe nezifiso zobugovu zokuthi angathola noma yini uma ekhonza uNkulunkulu. UJobe akazange akhulume ngezentengiselwano noNkulunkulu, futhi akenzanga sicelo noma afune okuthile kuNkulunkulu. Ukudumisa kwakhe igama likaNkulunkulu kwakungenxa yamandla negunya likaNkulunkulu ekubuseni zonke izinto, futhi kwakungancikile ekutheni uyazithola izibusiso noma wehlelwa inhlekelele. Wayekholwa ukuthi kungakhathaleki ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyababusisa abantu noma wehlisela inhlekelele kubo, amandla negunya likaNkulunkulu ngeke kuguquke, ngakho kungakhathaleki ukuthi izimo zomuntu ziyini, igama likaNkulunkulu kufanele lidunyiswe. Ukuthi umuntu ubusiswe uNkulunkulu kungenxa yobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu, futhi nalapho ehlelwa inhlekelele kusuke kungenxa yobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu. Amandla kaNkulunkulu negunya lokubusa nokuhlelela umuntu yonke into; izimo ezingenakuguquka engcebweni yomuntu iwukuboniswa kwamandla negunya likaNkulunkulu, kungakhathaleki ukuthi umbono womuntu uyini, igama likaNkulunkulu kufanele lidunyiswe. Yilokhu uJobe abhekana nakho futhi wakwazi ekuphileni kwakhe. Yonke imicabango nezenzo zikaJobe kwafinyelela ezindlebeni zikaNkulunkulu, naphambi kukaNkulunkulu, futhi uNkulunkulu wakubona njengokubalulekile. UNkulunkulu walwazisa ulwazi lukaJobe, futhi wambheka njengoyigugu uJobe ngenxa yenhliziyo yakhe. Le nhliziyo yayihlale ilinda umyalo kaNkulunkulu, futhi kungakhathaleki ukuthi kukuyiphi inkathi noma indawo yayenza noma yini eyalwa ngayo. Akukho uJobe akufuna. Ayekudinga kwakuwukulinda, ukwamukela, ukubhekana, nokulalela wonke amalungiselelo avela kuNkulunkulu; uJobe wayekholwa ukuthi lokhu umsebenzi wakhe, futhi kwakuyilokho okwakufunwa uNkulunkulu. UJobe wayengakaze ambone uNkulunkulu, noma amuzwe ekhuluma, ekhipha imiyalo, enikeza imfundiso, noma emqondisa kunoma yini. Ngamanye amazwi anamuhla, ukuze abe nolwazi nombono onjalo ngoNkulunkulu lapho uNkulunkulu engakaze amnike ukukhanya, isiqondiso, noma ilungiselelo mayelana neqiniso—lokhu kwakuyigugu, futhi ukuveza izinto ezinjalo kwabonisa ukuthi izinto ezinjalo zazingenele kuNkulunkulu, futhi ubufakazi bakhe babuyalwe uNkulunkulu, futhi ebazisa. UJobe wayengakaze ambone uNkulunkulu noma amuzwe ekhipha izimfundiso kuye, kodwa kuNkulunkulu inhliziyo yakhe naye Uqobo yayiyigugu kakhulu kuneyabantu bakhuluma imfundiso phambi kukaNkulunkulu, abakwazi kuphela ukuqhosha, nokunikela imihlatshelo, kodwa abangakaze babe nolwazi ngoNkulunkulu, futhi abangakaze bamesabe ngempela uNkulunkulu. Ngoba inhliziyo kaJobe yayihlanzekile, ingafihlekile kuNkulunkulu, futhi ubuntu bakhe babethembekile bunenhliziyo enhle, futhi ethanda ubulungiswa futhi lokho kwakukuhle. Umuntu ofana nalona kuphela owayenenhliziyo nobuntu obabuhamba endleleni kaNkulunkulu, futhi ekwazi ukwesaba uNkulunkulu, agweme okubi. Umuntu onjalo wayengabubona ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu, wayengalibona igunya namandla Akhe, wayekwazi ukulalela ubukhosi namalungiselelo Akhe. Umuntu ofana nalo kuphela owayengadumisa igama likaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi wayengalindeli ukuthi uNkulunkulu ambusise noma amehlisele inhlekelele, kodwa wayazi ukuthi yonke into ilawulwa isandla sikaNkulunkulu, nokuthi ukuze umuntu akhathazeke kuwuphawu lobuphukuphuku, lokunganaki nokungahluzeki, ukungabaza ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu kuzo zonke izinto, nokungamesabi uNkulunkulu. Ulwazi lukaJobe lwaluyilokho kanye uNkulunkulu ayekufuna. Ngakho, ingabe uJobe wayenolwazi oludlula olwenu ngoNkulunkulu? Ngenxa yokuthi umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu nezinto ngaleso sikhathi kwakumbalwa, kwakungeyona into elula ukuba nolwazi ngoNkulunkulu. Ngakho kukhulu okwaqongelelwa uJobe. Wayengakaze awubone umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, engakaze ezwe uNkulunkulu ekhuluma, noma abone ubuso bukaNkulunkulu. Ukuthi wakwazi ukuba nombono onjalo ngoNkulunkulu kwakuwumphumela wobuntu bakhe nezinto ayezifuna, okuyizinto abantu namuhla abangenazo. Ngakho kule nkathi, uNkulunkulu wathi, “Akekho onjengaye emhlabeni, umuntu ongasoleki nolungile.” Kuleyo nkathi, uNkulunkulu wayesekuqonda kakade lokho ngaye, futhi wayefinyelele kuleso siphetho. Kuyoba iqiniso kangakanani lokho namuhla?

Nakuba UNkulunkulu Efihlekile Kumuntu, Izenzo Zakhe Kuzo Zonke Izinto Zanele Ukuze Abantu Bamazi

UJobe wayengakaze abone ubuso bukaNkulunkulu, noma amuzwe ekhuluma, ingasaphathwa eyokuthi abone mathupha umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, kodwa lokhu kwesaba uNkulunkulu nobufakazi baphakathi nezilingo zakhe kwabonwa yibo bonke, buyathandwa, buyajabulisa, futhi butuswa uNkulunkulu, kanti abantu bayabuhlonipha futhi bayabazisa, futhi babuhubela izingoma zokudumisa. Ayikho into eyayiyinkulu noma ingavamile ngokuphila kwakhe: Njenganoma imuphi umuntu ojwayelekile, waphila kamnandi, uma kuphuma ilanga eya emsebenzi abuye ekhaya uma seliyozilahla kunina. Umehluko ukuthi kula mashumi amaningi eminyaka, wayiqonda indlela kaNkulunkulu, wawabona futhi wawaqonda amandla amakhulu nobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu, ngendlela ongekho umuntu owake wakubona ngayo. Wayengahlakaniphile ukwedlula abanye abantu, ukuphila kwakhe kwakungakhethekile, ngaphezu kwalokho, wayengenawo amakhono akhethekile angabonakali. Kodwa ayenakho, kwakuwukwethemba, inhliziyo enhle, ubuqotho, ubuntu obunothando nokulunga futhi enothando ngezinto ezinhle—okuyinto abantu abaningi abavamile ababengenazo. Wayehlukanisa phakathi kothando nenzondo, wayenobulungiswa, engahoxi, ebelesela futhi ekhuthele emicabangweni yakhe, futhi lapho esemhlabeni, wabona zonke izinto ezingavamile uNkulunkulu ayezenzile, wabona ubukhulu, ubungcwele, nokulunga kukaNkulunkulu, wabona ukukhathazeka kukaNkulunkulu, umusa, nokuvikela Kwakhe umuntu, futhi wabona ukuhlonipheka negunya likaNkulunkulu ophakeme. Into yokuqala eyenza uJobe wathola lezi zinto ezazingatholwa abantu abajwayelekile ukuthi wayenenhliziyo ehlanzekile, futhi inhliziyo yakhe yayingekaNkulunkulu, yayiholwa uMdali. Isizathu sesibili kwakuyizinto ayezifuna: wayefuna izinto ezinhle kakhulu, neziphelele, nomuntu ozohambisana nentando yeZulu, owayethandwa uNkulunkulu, egwema okubi. UJobe wayenazo lezi zinto ngesikhathi engakakwazi ukubona uNkulunkulu noma ukuzwa amazwi kaNkulunkulu; nakuba ayengakaze ambone uNkulunkulu, wayazi indlela uNkulunkulu aphatha ngayo zonke izinto, futhi waqonda nokuhlakanipha uNkulunkulu akusebenzisayo. Nakuba ayengakaze ezwe uNkulunkulu ekhuluma, uJobe wayazi ukuthi izenzo zokuvuza umuntu nokuthatha okomuntu konke kuvela kuNkulunkulu. Nakuba iminyaka yokuphila kwakhe ingahlukile kweyomuntu ojwayelekile, akazange avumele izinto ezingakholakali ekuphileni kwakhe zithinte ulwazi lwakhe ngobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu kuzo zonke izinto, noma ukulandela kwakhe indlela yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi. Emehlweni akhe, imithetho yazo zonke izinto yayigcwele izenzo zikaNkulunkulu, futhi ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu babungabonakala kunoma iyiphi ingxenye yokuphila komuntu. Wayengakaze ambone uNkulunkulu, kodwa wayekwazi ukubona izenzo zikaNkulunkulu kuyo yonke indawo phakathi naso sonke isikhathi sakhe emhlabeni, kukho konke ukuphila kwakhe, wayekwazi ukubona izinto nezenzo ezingavamile zikaNkulunkulu, namalungiselelo amangalisayo kaNkulunkulu. Ukuzifihla nokuthula kukaNkulunkulu akuzange kumthikameze uJobe ekutheni abone izenzo zikaNkulunkulu, futhi akuzange kuthikameze ulwazi lwakhe ngobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu kuzo zonke izinto. Ukuphila kwakhe kwakumayelana nokuqaphela ubukhosi namalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu, owayengabonakali, ekuphileni kwakhe kwansuku zonke. Ekuphileni kwakhe kwansuku zonke wezwa futhi waqonda izwi lenhliziyo namazwi, okwavezwa uNkulunkulu buthule, phakathi nokuqondisa imithetho yazo zonke izinto. Ngakho uyabona ukuthi uma abantu benobuntu obufana nobukaJobe, bengabona futhi babe nolwazi olufana nolukaJobe, bengabuqonda ngendlela efanayo ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu ngaphezu kwazo zonke izinto. UNkulunkulu akazange avele kuJobe noma akhulume naye, kodwa uJobe wakwazi ukulunga, nokuba qotho, nokwesaba uNkulunkulu azonde okubi. Ngamanye amazwi, ngaphandle kokuvela nokukhuluma nomuntu, izenzo zikaNkulunkulu phakathi nazo zonke izinto nobukhosi Bakhe kuzo zonke izinto kwanele ukuze umuntu azi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona, unamandla, kanye negunya, futhi amandla negunya likaNkulunkulu kwanele ukuze kwenze lo muntu alandele indlela yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema ukwenza okubi. Kusukela umuntu ojwayelekile ofana noJobe akwazi ukwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi, wonke umuntu ojwayelekile kufanele akwazi ukwenza kanjalo. Nakuba la mazwi engase azwakale ejwayelekile, lokhu akungqubuzani nemithetho yezinto. Kodwa akukhona lokho ebesikulindele: Ukwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi, kungase kubonakale njengento engagcinwa uJobe kuphela. Uma kukhulunywa “ngokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi,” abantu bacabanga ukuthi lokho kufanele kwenziwe uJobe kuphela, njengokungathi kufakwe igama likaJobe ekwesabeni uNkulunkulu nasekugwemeni okubi. Isizathu salokho sicacile: Ngoba uJobe kuphela owayenobuntu obuthembekile, owayenenhliziyo enhle, eqotho, futhi owayenothando nokulunga futhi ethanda izinto ezinhle, ngakho uJobe kuphela owayengalandela indlela yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi. Nonke kumele niliqonde iphuzu lapha—okuwukuthi akekho onobuntu obuthembekile, onenhliziyo enhle, futhi oqotho, othanda ubulungiswa nokulunga kanye nezinto ezinhle, akekho ongesaba uNkulunkulu agweme okubi, futhi ngeke bekwazi ukuphinde bathole injabulo kaNkulunkulu noma bame baqine ezilingweni. Okusho ukuthi, ngombono kaJobe, bonke abantu bayamesaba uSathane, bonke bayamangalelwa, bayahlaselwa, futhi bahlukunyezwa nguye, futhi labo uSathane azama ukubagwinya, bonke abakhululekile, bayiziboshwa ezithunjwe nguSathane.

Uma Inhliziyo Yomuntu Inobutha NoNkulunkulu, Angamesaba Kanjani UNkulunkulu Futhi Agweme Okubi?

Njengoba abantu namuhla bengenabo ubuntu obufana nobukaJobe, iyini ingqikithi yabo nombono wabo ngoNkulunkulu? Ingabe bayamesaba uNkulunkulu? Ingabe bayakugwema okubi? Labo abangamesabi uNkulunkulu noma abangakugwemi okubi bangafingqwa ngamagama amabili kuphela: izitha zikaNkulunkulu. Nivame ukuwasho la magama amabili, kodwa anikaze nazi incazelo yangempela yawo. Amazwi athi “izitha zikaNkulunkulu” anesiqu: Awayona inkulumo esho ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubheka abantu njengezitha, kodwa ukuthi abantu babheka uNkulunkulu njengesitha. Okokuqala, lapho abantu beqala ukukholwa kuNkulunkulu, ubani ongenazo izinhloso zakhe, nezisusa kanye nezifiso? Nakuba olunye uhlangothi lwabo lukholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona, futhi lukubonile ukuba khona kukaNkulunkulu, inkolelo yabo kuNkulunkulu isenazo lezo zisusa, futhi ekugcineni inhloso yabo ukuthola izibusiso Zakhe nezinto abazifunayo. Ezintweni abantu abadlule kuzo, bavamise ukucabanga, ngidele umndeni nekusasa lami ngenxa kaNkulunkulu, Yena unginikeni? Kumele ngenezele okunye—zikhona izibusiso engizitholile muva nje? Nginikele ngokuningi ngalesi sikhathi, ngigijimile futhi ngahlupheka kakhulu—ingabe kukhona uNkulunkulu athembise ukungibuyisela khona? Ingabe uzikhumbulile izenzo zami ezinhle? Siyoba yini isiphetho sami? Ngingazithola izibusiso zikaNkulunkulu? … Wonke umuntu uhlale enza lezo zibalo enhliziyweni yakhe, futhi efuna izinto ngoNkulunkulu ngezisusa zakhe, nezifiso kanye nemibono yakhe. Okusho ukuthi, enhliziyweni yakhe, umuntu uhlale evivinya uNkulunkulu, uhlale akha amacebo ngoNkulunkulu, futhi uhlale ephikisana ngesiphetho sakhe noNkulunkulu, ezama ukuthola uvo lukaNkulunkulu, ukubona ukuthi uNkulunkulu angamnika yini akufunayo. Ngesikhathi esifanayo nalandela ngaso uNkulunkulu, umuntu akamphathi uNkulunkulu njengoNkulunkulu. Uhlale ezama ukwenza amacebo noNkulunkulu, efuna izinto ezingapheli Kuye, emcindezela kuzo zonke izinyathelo, ezama ukuthola okuthile ngaphambi kokuthatha elinye igxathu. Ngesikhathi esifanayo nazama ngaso ukwenza amacebo noNkulunkulu, umuntu uyaphikisana Naye, futhi kukhona ngisho nabantu okuthi lapho behlelwa izilingo noma bezithola besezimweni ezithile, bavame ukuba buthaka, bathanda ukukhangeza futhi bahudula izinyawo emsebenzi wabo, bahlale bekhononda ngoNkulunkulu. Kusukela ngesikhathi aqala ngaso ukukholwa kuNkulunkulu, umuntu ubebheka uNkulunkulu njengonenala yezinto, bese yena umuntu azibheke njengombolekisi wemali omkhulu, njengokungathi ukuzama ukuthola izibusiso nezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu yinto eyifa nesibopho sakhe, kuyilapho isibopho sikaNkulunkulu kuwukuvikela umuntu nokuthi amnakekele futhi amondle. Lokho ukuqonda okuyisisekelo “ukukholwa kuNkulunkulu” kwalabo abakholwa kuNkulunkulu, nombono wabo ojulile ngokukholwa kuNkulunkulu. Kusukela esiqwini sokwakheka komuntu kuye ezintweni azifunayo, akunalutho oluhlobana nokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Inhloso yomuntu ekukholweni kuNkulunkulu ayikwazi ukungahlanganisi lutho nokukhonza uNkulunkulu. Lokho kusho ukuthi, umuntu akakaze acabange noma aqonde ukuthi ukukholwa kuNkulunkulu kudinga ukwesaba uNkulunkulu, nokumkhonza. Mayelana nezimo ezinjalo, ingqikithi yomuntu sisobala. Iyini ingqikithi yakhe? Ukuthi inhliziyo yomuntu iyakhohlisa, ifukamela inzondo, ayibuthandi ubulungiswa nokulunga, nalokho okuhle, futhi inomhobholo. Inhliziyo yomuntu ingasondelana kakhudlwana noNkulunkulu; akazange nhlobo ayinike uNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu akakaze abone inhliziyo yangempela yomuntu, futhi akakaze akhonzwe umuntu. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi likhulu kangakanani inani uNkulunkulu alikhokhayo, noma ukuthi ungakanani umsebenzi awenzayo, noma ukuthi umnakekela kangakanani umuntu, umuntu akakuboni konke, akaboni mehluko. Umuntu akakaze amnike uNkulunkulu inhliziyo yakhe, ufuna kube nguye olawula inhliziyo yakhe, enze izinqumo zakhe—amazwi asesihlokwaneni abonisa ukuthi umuntu ongafuni ukulandela indlela yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi, noma ukulalela ubukhosi namalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu, futhi akafuni ukukhonza uNkulunkulu njengoNkulunkulu. Lezo izimo zabantu namuhla. Manje ake siphinde sihlole indaba kaJobe. Okokuqala, ingabe wenza isivumelwano noNkulunkulu? Ingabe wayenazo izizathu ezicashile zokubambelela endleni yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi? Ngaleso sikhathi, ingabe ukhona uNkulunkulu akhuluma naye ngesiphelo esizokuza? Ngaleso sikhathi, akekho umuntu uNkulunkulu ayenze isithembiso naye ngesiphelo, futhi uJobe wakwazi ukwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi ngenxa yalezi zimo. Ingabe abantu banamuhla bangaqhathaniseka noJobe? Kunomehluko omkhulu, basemazingeni angafani. Nakuba uJobe ayengenalo ulwazi oluningi ngoNkulunkulu, inhliziyo yakhe wayinika uNkulunkulu futhi yayingekaNkulunkulu. Akazange enze isivumelwano noNkulunkulu, futhi wayengenazo izifiso eziyinqaba noma izinto ayezifuna kuNkulunkulu; kunalokho, wayekholwa ukuthi “UJehova uphile, futhi uJehova uthathile.” Yilokhu ayekubonile futhi ekuthole ekubambeleleni endleleni yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi phakathi neminyaka eminingi ekuphileni. Ngokufanayo, wayethole nomphumela othi “Simukela okuhle okuvela esandleni sikaNkulunkulu, singekwamukele nokubi na?” Le misho emibili yayiyilokho ayekubonile futhi wakwazi njengomphumela wombono wakhe ngokulalela uNkulunkulu phakathi nokuphila kwakhe, futhi yabe iyizikhali ezinamandla ezazinqobe izilingo zikaSathane, nesisekelo sokuma kwakhe aqine ekufakazeni ngoNkulunkulu. Kulokhu, ingabe uJobe nimcabanga ewumuntu onothando? Ingabe niyafisa ukuba umuntu onjalo? Ingabe nesaba ukudlula ezilingweni zikaSathane? Ingabe ninqume ukuthandazela ukuthi uNkulunkulu anihlelele izilingo ezifana nezikaJobe? Ngaphandle kokungabaza, abantu abaningi ngeke balokothe bathandazele izinto ezinjalo. Ngakho kusobala ukuthi ukholo lwenu luncane; uma luqhathaniswa nolukaJobe, ukholo lwenu akufanele nokuthi sikhulume ngalo. Niyizitha zikaNkulunkulu, animesabi uNkulunkulu, anikwazi ukuma niqine ekufakazeni ngoNkulunkulu, futhi anikwazi ukunqoba ukuhlaselwa, ukumangalelwa, nokulingwa uSathane. Yini enenza nifaneleke ukuthola izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu? Ngemva kokuzwa indaba kaJobe nokuqonda izinhloso zikaNkulunkulu ekusindiseni umuntu nasencazelweni yensindiso yomuntu, ingabe manje ninalo ukholo lokwamukela izilingo ezifana nezikaJobe? Ingabe akufanele nenze izinqumo zokulandela ukwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi?

Ungabi Nokusola Ovivinyweni LukaNkulunkulu

Ngemva kokwamukela ubufakazi bukaJobe emva kokuphela kwezilingo zakhe, uNkulunkulu wanquma ukuthi wayezozuza iqembu—noma abangaphezu kweqembu—labantu abafana noJobe, kodwa wanquma ukuthi ngeke aphinde avumele uSathane ahlasele noma ahlukumeze omunye umuntu esebenzisa izindlela amlinga ngazo, wamhlasela futhi wamhlukumeza ngazo uJobe, ngokuqophisana noNkulunkulu; uNkulunkulu akaphindanga wavumela uSathane ukuba enze into enjalo kumuntu, obuthakathaka, ongahlakaniphile, futhi onganaki—kwakwanele ukuthi uSathane walingwa uJobe! Ukungavunyelwa kukaSathane ukuba enze noma yini ehlobene nokuhlukumeza abantu, imenza afise ukuthola umusa kaNkulunkulu. Ngoba uNkulunkulu, kwakwanele ngoJobe ukuhlupheka ngenxa yezilingo nokuhlukunyezwa uSathane. UNkulunkulu akazange amvumele uSathane ukuthi aphinde enze into enjalo, ngoba ukuphila kwabo bonke abantu abalandela uNkulunkulu kubuswa futhi kuqondiswe uNkulunkulu, futhi uSathane akanalo igunya lokonakalisa abakhethwe uNkulunkulu—kufanele linicacele leli phuzu! UNkulunkulu uyakhathazeka ngokukhohlakala kwabantu, uyabuqonda ubuwula nokunganaki kwabo. Nakuba, ukuze umuntu asindiswe ngokuphelele, uNkulunkulu kudingeka ukuthi amnikele kuSathane, uNkulunkulu akazimisele ukubona umuntu ephenduka ithoyizi likaSathane futhi ehlukunyezwa uSathane, futhi akafuni ukubona umuntu ehlupheka. Umuntu wadalwa uNkulunkulu, futhi kusobala ukuthi uNkulunkulu uhlela futhi alawule konke ngomuntu; lesi isibopho sikaNkulunkulu, igunya uNkulunkulu abusa ngalo zonke izinto! UNkulunkulu akamvumeli uSathane ukuba ahlukumeze abantu, akamvumeli uSathane ukuthi aphambukise abantu ngezindlela ezehlukahlukene, ngaphezu kwalokho, akamvumeli uSathane ukuba agxambukele ebukhosini bukaNkulunkulu ngomuntu, futhi akamvumeli ukuba ephule imithetho uNkulunkulu aqondisa ngayo izinto, ukuze angasho lutho ngomsebenzi omkhulu kaNkulunkulu wokuqondisa nokusindisa isintu! Labo uNkulunkulu afuna ukubasindisa, nalabo abakwazi ukufakaza ngoNkulunkulu, bayisizathu nembangela yomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu wecebo lokuqondisa leminyaka eyizinkulungwane eziyisithupha, kanye nenani lemizamo Yakhe emsebenzini weminyaka eyizinkulungwane eziyisithupha. UNkulunkulu angabanikela kanjani kuSathane kalula laba bantu?

Abantu bavame ukukhathazeka futhi besabe uvivinyo lukaNkulunkulu, kodwa ngazo zonke izikhathi baphila ongibeni lukaSathane, nasendaweni abahlaselwa kuyo uSathane—kodwa abesabi, futhi abethukile. Kuqhubekani? Ukholo lomuntu kuNkulunkulu luphelela ezintweni azibonayo kuphela. Akalwazisi nakancane uthando lukaNkulunkulu nokukhathazeka Kwakhe ngomuntu, noma umusa Wakhe nokucabanga Kwakhe ngomuntu. Kodwa ngokwesaba okuncane ngovivinyo lukaNkulunkulu, izahlulelo nokusolwa, namandla amakhulu nolaka, umuntu akanakho ngisho nokuncane ukuqonda kukaNkulunkulu nezinhloso ezinhle. Ekukhulumeni ngezilingo, abantu bacabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu unezinhloso ezicashile, futhi abanye baze bakholwe ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyayizonda imiklamo ekhohlakele, abanakile ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyokwenzani kubo; ngakho, ngesikhathi esifanayo nakhalela ngaso ukulalela ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu namalungiselelo Akhe, benza konke abangakwenza ukuze baphikisane futhi bamelane nobukhosi namalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu phezu komuntu, ngoba bakholwa ukuthi uma bengaqapheli bazokhohliswa uNkulunkulu, ukuthi uma bengawazi umphumela wabo khona-ke konke abanakho kungathathwa uNkulunkulu, bese kuyaphela ngokuphila kwabo. Umuntu uyidlelo likaSathane, kodwa akakaze akhathazeke ngokuhlukunyezwa uSathane, futhi uhlukunyezwa uSathane kodwa akesabi ukuthunjwa uSathane. Ulokhu ethi uyayemukela insindiso kaNkulunkulu, kodwa akamethembi uNkulunkulu noma akholwe ukuthi intando kaNkulunkulu iyomsindisa ngempela umuntu ezidladleni zikaSathane. Uma, njengoJobe, umuntu ekwazi ukwemukela ukuqondisa namalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu, futhi enganikela ngaye ezandleni zikaNkulunkulu, khona-ke ingabe isiphetho ngeke sifane nesikaJobe—isiqinisekiso sezibusiso zikaNkulunkulu? Uma umuntu ekwazi ukwamukela nokuthobela ukubusa kukaNkulunkulu, yini engamlahlekela? Ngakho ngisikisela ukuthi niqaphe izenzo zenu, niqaphe zonke izinto ezizonehlela. Ungaxhamazeli, futhi ungaphathi uNkulunkulu nabantu, nezinto akuhlelele zona kuye nokushisa kwegazi lakho noma ngemvelo yakho noma ngokwemicabango nemibono yakho; kufanele niqaphe izenzo zenu, kufanele nithandaze futhi nifune okuningi, nigweme ukuthukuthelisa uNkulunkulu. Kukhumbuleni lokhu!

Okulandelayo, sizohlola isimo sikaJobe ngemva kwezilingo zakhe.

5. UJobe Ngemva Kwezilingo Zakhe

(UJobe 42:7-9) Futhi kwaba kanjalo, ngemva kokuba uJehova eskhulume lawo mazwi kuJobe, ujehova yathi ku-Elifazi umThemani, Intukuthelo yami ibaselwe wena, nabangani bakho ababili: ngokuba anikhulumanga okuhle Ngami, njengoba inceku Yami uJobe yenzile. Ngalokho thathani manje izinkunzi eziyisikhombisa nezinqama eziyisikhombisa, futhi niye encekwini Yami uJobe, futhi nizinikelele ngazo zibe ngumnikelo wokushiswa; uJobe inceku Yami uyonithandazela: ngokuba ngaye ngizovuma: angiyukwenza kini njengobuwula benu, njengoba ningakhulumanga okulungileyo Ngami, njengenceku Yami uJobe. Ngakho u-Elifazi umThemani noBhilidadi umShuhi noSofari umNahama, futhi benza njengokuyalwa uJehova: uJehova wamamukela noJobe.

UJobe 42:10 Futhi uJehova wambuyisa uJobe ekuhluphekeni, ngesikhathi ekhulekela abangani bakhe: noJehova wanikeza uJobe ngokuphindwe kabili kunalokho ayenakho ngaphambilini.

UJobe 42:12 Ngakho uJehova wabusisa isiphetho sikaJobe ngokwengeziwe kunesiqalo sakhe: ngokuba wayenezimvu eziyizinkulungwane eziyishumi nane, namakamela ayizinkulungwane eziyisithupha, namabhagqa ayizinkulungwane ezinkabi, nezimbongolo zezinsikazi eziyinkulungwane.

UJobe 42:17 Ngakho wafa uJobe, esemdala futhi esenelisiwe izinsuku.

Labo Abesaba UNkulunkulu Futhi Abagwema Okubi UNkulunkulu Uyabazisa Kuyilapho Labo Abayiziwula UNkulunkulu Ebabukela Phansi

KuJobe 42:7-9, uNkulunkulu uthi uJobe uyinceku Yakhe. Ukusebenzisa Kwakhe igama elithi “inceku” kuJobe kubonisa ukubaluleka kukaJobe enhliziyweni Yakhe; nakuba uNkulunkulu engabizanga uJobe ngento ehlonipheke kakhudlwana, lokho kwakungasho lutho ngokubaluleka kukaJobe enhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu. “Inceku” lapho elinye igama uNkulunkulu abiza ngalo uJobe. Ukusho kaningi kukaNkulunkulu ukuthi “inceku yami uJobe” kubonisa ukuthi wayejabula ngoJobe, futhi nakuba engakhulumanga ngencazelo yegama elithi “inceku,” incazelo kaNkulunkulu ngegama elithi “inceku” ingabonakala emazwini Akhe kulo mbhalo. UNkulunkulu waqale wathi ku-Elifazi umThemani: “Intukuthelo Yami ibaselwe wena, nabangani bakho ababili: ngokuba anikhulumanga okuhle Ngami, njengoba inceku Yami uJobe yenzile.” La mazwi angawokuqala lapho uNkulunkulu etshela khona abantu ngokukhululekile ukuthi ukwamukele konke okwashiwo nokwenziwa uJobe ngemva kokuvivinywa kwakhe uNkulunkulu, futhi kungokokuqala eqinisekisa ukunemba kwakho konke uJobe akwenza nakusho. UNkulunkulu wamthukuthelela u-Elifazi nabanye ngenxa yamaphutha abo, ngoba njengoJobe abakwazanga ukubona ukubonakala kukaNkulunkulu noma ukuzwa amazwi awakhuluma ezimpilweni zabo, kodwa uJobe wayenolwazi olunembile ngoNkulunkulu, kuyilapho bona begcina ngokuqagela ngoNkulunkulu, behlukumeza intando kaNkulunkulu futhi bevivinya ukubekezela kwakhe kukho konke abakwenza. Ngemva kwalokho, ngesikhathi esifanayo nemukela ngaso konke okwenziwa futhi kwashiwo uJobe, uNkulunkulu waba nolaka kulaba abanye, ngoba kubo wayengakwazi nje kuphela ukubona ukwesaba uNkulunkulu okungokoqobo, kodwa wayengezwa lutho ngokwesaba uNkulunkulu kwababekusho. Ngakho uNkulunkulu wabe esefuna izinto ezilandelayo kubo: “Ngalokho thathani manje izinkunzi eziyisikhombisa nezinqama eziyisikhombisa, futhi niye encekwini Yami uJobe, futhi nizinikelele ngazo zibe ngumnikelo wokushiswa; uJobe inceku Yami uyonithandazela: ngokuba ngaye ngizovuma: angiyukwenza kini njengobuwula benu.” Kulesi siqephu uNkulunkulu utshela u-Elifazi nabanye ukuba bahlenge izono zabo, ngoba ubuwula babo babuyisono ngokumelene noJehova uNkulunkulu, ngakho kwakufanele benze iminikelo yokushiswa ukuze bahlenge amaphutha abo. Iminikelo yokushiswa yayivame ukunikelwa kuNkulunkulu kodwa yini eyayingavamile ngalena ukuthi yayinikelwa kuJobe. UJobe wamukelwa uNkulunkulu ngoba wafakaza ngoNkulunkulu lapho elingwa. Kodwa laba bangani bakaJobe, bembuleka ngesikhathi elingwa; ngenxa yobuwula babo, uNkulunkulu wabalahla, futhi bazibizela ulaka Lwakhe, kwafanele ukuthi uNkulunkulu abajezise—bajeziswe ngokunikela iminikelo yokushiswa phambi kukaJobe—ngemva kwalokho uJobe wabathandazela ukuze uNkulunkulu engabe esabajezisa futhi engabe esabathukuthelela. Inhloso kaNkulunkulu kwakuwukubathela ngehlazo, ngoba babengesibo abantu abesaba uNkulunkulu begwema okubi, futhi babuchitha ubuqotho bukaJobe. Kokunye, uNkulunkulu wayebatshela ukuthi akakwemukelanga abakwenza kodwa wakwamukela ngezinga elikhulu futhi wajabula ngokwakwenziwa uJobe; kokunye, uNkulunkulu wabatshela ukuthi ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu kuphakamisa umuntu phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ukuthi umuntu umzondwa uNkulunkulu ngenxa yobulima bakhe, futhi ucasula uNkulunkulu ngabo, futhi uphansi emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Lezi izincazelo ezakhishwa uNkulunkulu mayelana nezinhlobo ezimbili zabantu, ziyimibono kaNkulunkulu ngalezi zinhlobo ezimbili zabantu, futhi ziyimibono kaNkulunkulu ngokuma kwalezi zinhlobo ezimbili zabantu. Ngisho noma uNkulunkulu abiza uJobe ngenceku Yakhe, emehlweni kaNkulunkulu le nceku yayithandeka, futhi yamiswa ngegunya lokuthandazela abanye futhi ithethelele amaphutha abo. Le nceku yayikwazi ukukhuluma ngokuqondile noNkulunkulu nokuza ngokuqondile phambi kukaNkulunkulu, yayiphakeme futhi ihloniphekile kunabanye. Lena incazelo yangempela ngegama elithi “inceku” elakhulunywa uNkulunkulu. UJobe wanikwa lolu dumo olukhethekile ngenxa yokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokugwema okubi. Le mibono emibili ehluke kakhulu ngoNkulunkulu iyimibono Yakhe ngalezi zinhlobo ezimbili zabantu: Labo abesaba uNkulunkulu bagweme okubi bemukelwa uNkulunkulu, njengoba kubonakala emehlweni Akhe njengegugu, kuyilapho labo abayiziwula bengamesabi uNkulunkulu, futhi abakugwemi okubi, futhi abakwazi ukuthola umusa kaNkulunkulu; uNkulunkulu uvame ukungabafuni nokubachitha, futhi baphansi emehlweni Akhe.

UNkulunkulu Unika UJobe Igunya

UJobe wathandazela abangani bakhe, futhi ngenxa yemithandazo kaJobe, uNkulunkulu akasebenzelananga nabo ngendlela efanele iziwula—akabajezisanga noma abathathele ezinye izinyathelo. Kungani kwaba njalo? Ngenxa yokuthi imithandazo yabo yenceku kaNkulunkulu uJobe, yafinyelela ezindlebeni Zakhe; uNkulunkulu wabathethelela ngoba wemukela imithandazo kaJobe. Sifundani kulokhu? Lapho uNkulunkulu ebusisa umuntu, umnika imivuzo eminingi, hhayi nje eyenyama kuphela: UNkulunkulu uphinde amnike igunya, nelungelo lokuthandazela abanye, futhi uNkulunkulu uyakhohlwa, engabe esazinaka iziphambeko zalabo bantu ngenxa yale mithandazo. Leli yilo kanye igunya uNkulunkulu alinika uJobe. Ngenxa yemithandazo kaJobe yokukhalela usizo, uJehova wabathela ngehlazo laba bantu abayiziwula—okwakuwukujezisa Kwakhe ngokukhethekile u-Elifazi nabanye.

UJobe Uphinde Uyabusiswa UNkulunkulu, Futhi Akasoze Amangalelwa USathane

Phakathi kwamazwi kaJehova uNkulunkulu kunamazwi athi “anikhulumanga okuhle Ngami, njengoba inceku Yami uJobe yenzile.” Yini eyayikhulunywe uJobe? Kwakuyilokho esikhulume ngakho ekuqaleni, kanye namanye amakhasi amazwi eNcwadi kaJobe, uJobe ayebhale njengayilandisayo. Kuwo wonke la makhasi amazwi, uJobe akazange nakanye akhononde, noma enze iphutha ngoNkulunkulu. Umane alinde umphumela. Yilokhu kulinda okuwumbono wakhe ngokulalela, ngenxa yalokho amazwi awakhuluma kuNkulunkulu, uJobe wemukelwa uNkulunkulu. Lapho ebekezelela izilingo nobunzima, uNkulunkulu wayesohlangothini lwakhe, futhi nakuba ubunzima bakhe bunganciphiswanga ukuba khona kukaNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wabona lokho ayefisa ukukubona, wezwa lokho ayefisa ukukuzwa. Zonke izenzo namazwi kaJobe kwafinyelela emehlweni nasezindlebeni zikaNkulunkulu; uNkulunkulu wezwa, wabona—futhi lokhu kuyiqiniso. Ulwazi lukaJobe ngoNkulunkulu, nemicabango yakhe ngoNkulunkulu ngaleso sikhathi, phakathi naleyo nkathi, kwakungacacile njengokwalabo bantu, kodwa ngokombono wesikhathi, uNkulunkulu esakuqaphela konke ayekusho, ngoba ukuziphatha kukaJobe nemicabango yakhe enhliziyweni yakhe, nalokho akuvezile nakwembulile, kwakwanele ezimfunweni Zakhe. Phakathi nesikhathi uJobe alingwa ngaso, lapho ayecabanga khona enhliziyweni yakhe futhi wanquma ukubonisa uNkulunkulu umphumela, owawugculisa kuNkulunkulu, ngemva kwalokho uNkulunkulu waqeda ukulingwa kukaJobe, uJobe waphumula ezinkingeni zakhe, futhi izilingo zakhe zanyamalala futhi aziphindanga zamehlela. Ngoba kakade uJobe wayesebhekene nezilingo, futhi wama waqina ezilingweni, futhi wamnqoba ngokuphelele uSathane, uNkulunkulu wamnika izibusiso ezimfanele. Njengoba kulotshiwe kuJobe 42:10, 12, uJobe waphinde wabusiswa, wabusiswa kakhulu kunakuqala. Ngalesi sikhathi uSathane wayesebalekile, wayengasasho noma enze lutho, futhi kusukela lapho kuye phambili uSathane akabange esagxambukela noma ahlasele uJobe, futhi uSathane akabange esammangalela uJobe ukuze angabusiswa uNkulunkulu.

UJobe Uchitha Ingxenye Yokugcina Yokuphila phakathi Kwezibusiso ZikaNkulunkulu

Nakuba izibusiso Zakhe zangaleso sikhathi kwakuyizimvu, izinkomo, amakamela, nezinto zenyama, njalo njalo, izibusiso uNkulunkulu ayefuna ukuzinika uJobe enhliziyweni Yakhe zazikudlula kude lokhu. Ngaleso sikhathi, ingabe zazikhona izinhlobo eziqoshiwe zezithembiso zaphakade uNkulunkulu ayefisa ukuzinika uJobe? Ezibusisweni Zakhe ngoJobe, uNkulunkulu akazange athinte isiphetho sakhe, kungakhathaleki ukuthi uJobe wayenakuphi ukubaluleka noma isikhundla enhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu, ngamafuphi uNkulunkulu wayesebenzisa ukuqonda ezibusisweni Zakhe. UNkulunkulu akazange amemezele isiphetho sikaJobe. Kusho ukuthini lokhu? Ngaleso sikhathi, lapho icebo likaNkulunkulu lisazofinyelela eqophelweni lokumenyezelwa kwesiphelo somuntu, icebo lalisazofika esigabeni sokugcina somsebenzi Wakhe, uNkulunkulu akakhulumanga ngesiphetho, wamane wabusisa umuntu. Lokhu kusho ukuthi ingxenye yokugcina yokuphila kukaJobe yayigcwele izibusiso zikaNkulunkulu, okuyisizathu esenza uNkulunkulu wamenza wehluka kwabanye—kodwa njengoba waguga, futhi njenganoma yimuphi umuntu kwafika usuku avalelisa ngalo ezweni. Ngakho kulotshiwe ukuthi “Ngakho wafa uJobe, esemdala futhi esenelisiwe izinsuku” (UJobe 42:17). Isho ukuthini inkulumo ethi “wafa esenelisiwe izinsuku” lapha? Enkathini yangaphambi kokuba uNkulunkulu amemezele ukuphela, uNkulunkulu washo okwakulindelekile ekuphileni kukaJobe, futhi lapho inkathi isifikile, wavumela uJobe ukuba ahambe ngokwemvelo emhlabeni. Kusukela esibusisweni sesibili sikaJobe kuze kube sekufeni kwakhe, uNkulunkulu akazange anezele ubunzima. KuNkulunkulu, ukufa kukaJobe kwakuvamile, futhi kwakudingekile, kwakuyinto evame kakhulu, kwakungekho ngenxa yesahlulelo noma ukulahlwa. Ngesikhathi esaphila, uJobe wakhonza wesaba uNkulunkulu; mayelana nokuthi wayezoba nanhloboni yesiphelo ngemva kokufa, uNkulunkulu akashongo lutho. UNkulunkulu uyahlulela kulokho akushoyo nakwenzayo, futhi umongo nomyalo wamazwi Akhe nezenzo kuvumelana nesigaba somsebenzi Wakhe nenkathi asebenza Ngayo. Hlobo luni lwesiphelo umuntu ofana noJobe aba nalo enhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu? Ingabe uNkulunkulu sikhona isinqumo ayefinyelele kuso enhliziyweni Yakhe? Nakanjani kunjalo! Kumane kuwukuthi lena kwakuyindoda engaziwa; uNkulunkulu wayengafuni ukumtshela, futhi wayengenazo izinhloso zokutshela umuntu. Ngakho ukukhuluma iqiniso, uJobe wafa enezinsuku eziphelele, lokho kwakuwukuphila kukaJobe.

Inani Elaphilwa UJobe Phakathi Nesikhathi Sakhe

Ingabe uJobe waphila ukuphila okubalulekile? Kwakubaluleke kangakanani? Kungani kuthiwa waphila ukuphila okubalulekile? Kumuntu lalithini inani lakhe? Ngokombono womuntu, walethela isintu uNkulunkulu eyefuna ukusisindisa, ekunikezeni ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda ngoNkulunkulu phambi kukaSathane nabantu bomhlaba. Wawufeza umsebenzi ayefuna ukuwufeza njengesidalwa sikaNkulunkulu, wabeka esinye isibonelo, waba isibonelo sabo bonke uNkulunkulu afisa ukubasindisa, wenza wonke umuntu wabona ukuthi kungenzeka ukunqoba uSathane nokuncika kuNkulunkulu. Lalithini inani lakhe kuNkulunkulu? KuNkulunkulu, inani lokuphila kukaJobe lalincike ekhonweni lakhe lokwesaba uNkulunkulu, ukukhonza uNkulunkulu, ukufakaza ngezenzo zikaNkulunkulu, nokudumisa izenzo zikaNkulunkulu, ukulethela uNkulunkulu induduzo nokuthi azokujabulela; kuNkulunkulu, inani lokuphila kukaJobe laliphinde libe mayelana nendlela, ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uJobe adlula ngayo ezilingweni, wanqoba uSathane, wafakaza ngoNkulunkulu phambi kukaSathane nakubantu bezwe, wakhazimulisa uNkulunkulu phakathi kwesintu, waduduza inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu, wabambelela emphumeleni wenhliziyo kaNkulunkulu enogqozi, waba nethemba. Ubufakazi bakhe bakha isisekelo sokukwazi ukuma uqine lapho ufakaza ngoNkulunkulu, nokukwazi ukuthela uSathane ngehlazo ngenxa kaNkulunkulu, nasemsebenzini kaNkulunkulu wokuqondisa isintu. Ingabe leli akulona inani lokuphila kukaJobe? UJobe walethela inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu induduzo, wanambithisa uNkulunkulu injabulo yokudunyiswa, wanikeza isiqalo esihle umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu wokuqondisa. Kusukela kuleli qophelo kuya phambili, igama likaJobe laba uphawu lokudunyiswa kukaNkulunkulu, nophawu lokunqoba kwesintu uSathane. Into uJobe ayiphilela okuwukunqoba uSathane iyohlale yaziswa uNkulunkulu, futhi ukulunga, ubuqotho kanye nokwesaba uNkulunkulu kuyolingiswa izizukulwane ezilandelayo. Uyohlale aziswa uNkulunkulu futhi embheka njengoyigugu!

Manje, ake sibheke umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu phakathi neNkathi Yomthetho.

D. Imithetho YeNkathi Yomthetho

Imiyalelo Eyishumi

Izimiso Zokwakha Ama-Altare

Imithetho Yokuphatha Izinceku

Imithetho Ngokweba Nesinxephezelo

Ukugcina Unyaka Wesabatha Nemikhosi Emithathu

Imithetho Yosuku Lwesabatha

Imithetho Yeminikelo

Iminikelo Yokushiswa

Iminikelo Esanhlamvu

Iminikelo Yokuthula

Iminikelo Yesono

Iminikelo Yecala

Imithetho Yeminikelo YabaPristi (U-Aroni Namadodana Akhe Abayalwa Ukuba Bayigcine)

Iminikelo Yokushiswa YabaPristi

Iminikelo Yokusanhlamvu YabaPristi

Iminikelo Yesono YabaPristi

Iminikelo Yecala YabaPristi

Iminikelo Yokuthula YabaPristi

Imithetho Yokudla Iminikelo YabaPristi

Izilwane Ezihlambulukileyo Nezingcolileyo (Lezo Ezingadliwa Nezingenakudliwa)

Imithetho Yokuhlanjululwa Kwabesifazane Emva Kokubeletha

Izindinganiso Zokuhlola Uchoko

Imithetho Yalabo Abelashwe Ochokweni

Imithetho Yokuhlanza Izindlu Ezingcoliswe Isifo

Imithetho Yalabo Abahlushwa Izifo Ezingavamile

Usuku Olukhulu Lokubuyisana Okufanele Lugcinwe Kanye Ngonyaka

Imithetho Yokuhlaba Inkomo Nemvu

Umthetho Owenqabela Ukulandela Imikhuba Enyanyekayo Yabezizwe (Ukungayi Ocansini Nesihlobo, njalo njalo)

Imithetho Okumele Ilandelwe Abantu (“Kufanele nibe ngcwele: ngoba mina Jehova uNkulunkulu wenu ngingcwele.”)

Ukubulawa Kwalabo Abanikela Ngezingane Zabo KuMoloki

Imiyalelo Yokujezisa Iziphingi

Imithetho Okufanele Igcinwe AbaPristi (Imithetho Yokuziphatha Kwabo Kwamihla Yonke, Imithetho Yokudla Izinto Ezingcwele, Imithetho Yokunikela, njalo njalo)

Imikhosi Okufanele Igcinwe (Usuku Lwesabatha, IPhasika, IPentekoste, Usuku Lokubuyisana, njalo njalo)

Eminye Imiyalelo (Ukukhanyisa Izibani, Unyaka WeJubili, Yokubuyiselwa Komhlaba, Ukwenza Izifungo, Okweshumi, njalo njalo)

Imithetho YeNkathi Yomthetho Iwubufakazi Bangempela Bokuqondisa KukaNkulunkulu Isintu

Ngakho seniyifundile le mithetho yeNkathi Yomthetho, akunjalo? Ingabe imithetho inomqondo osabalele? Okokuqala, ihlanganisa iMiyalelo Eyishumi, ilandelwe imiyalelo yokwakhiwa kwama-altare, njalo njalo. Ilandelwe imithetho yokugcina iSabatha nemikhosi emithathu, bese ilandelwa yimithetho yeminikelo. Ingabe nibonile ukuthi zingaki izinhlobo zeminikelo ezikhona? Kuneminikelo yokushiswa, iminikelo yokuthula, iminikelo yesono, njalo njalo. Ilandelwa yimithetho yeminikelo yabapristi, ehlanganisa iminikelo yokushiswa neminikelo yokusanhlamvu yabapristi, nezinye izinhlobo zeminikelo. Imiyalelo eyisishiyagalombili eyezabelo zeminikelo yabapristi. Futhi kunemithetho yalokho abantu okufanele bakugcine ekuphileni kwabo. Kunemibono ngezici eziningi zokuphila kwabantu, njengemithetho yalokho okufanele nokungafanele bakudle, yokuhlanjululwa kwababelethayo, neyalabo abelashwe ochokweni. Kule mithetho, uNkulunkulu uze akhulume nangezifo, futhi kunemithetho yokuhlatshwa kwezimvu nezinkomo, njalo njalo. Izimvu nezinkomo kwadalwa uNkulunkulu, futhi kufanele nikuhlabe nganoma iyiphi indlela eyalwa uNkulunkulu; ngokungangabazeki kunesizathu ezwini likaNkulunkulu, nakanjani kulungile ukuyalwa uNkulunkulu, futhi kuyabazuzisa abantu! Kwakuphinde kube namadili nemithetho okufanele kugcinwe, njengosuku lweSabatha, iPhasika, kanye nokuningi—uNkulunkulu wakhuluma ngakho konke lokhu. Ake sibheke okokugcina: eminye imithetho—ukukhanyiswa kwezibani, uNyaka WeJubili, ukuhlengwa kwezwe, ukwenza izifungo, okweshumi, njalo njalo. Ingabe lokhu kunomqondo obanzi? Into yokuqala okufanele kukhulunywe ngayo iminikelo yabantu, bese kuba nemiyalelo emayelana nokweba nesinxephezelo, nokugcinwa kosuku lweSabatha…; okubandakanya nemininingwane yokuphila kwawo wonke umuntu. Okusho ukuthi, lapho uNkulunkulu enza umsebenzi osemthethweni wecebo Lakhe lokuqondisa, wabeka imithetho eminingi eyayilandelwa umuntu. Le mithetho yayenzelwa ukuthi umuntu aphile ngendlela ejwayelekile emhlabeni, ukuphila komuntu okungenakuhlukaniswa noNkulunkulu kanye nesiqondiso Sakhe. UNkulunkulu waqale watshela umuntu indlela yokwakha ama-altare, nokuwamisa. Ngemva kwalokho, watshela umuntu ngendlela yokunikela, washo indlela okwakufanele umuntu aphile ngayo—nokwakufanele akunake ekuphileni, okwakufanele anamathele kukho, okwakufanele nokwakungafanele agxile kukho. Konke uNkulunkulu akuhlelela umuntu kwakumangalisa, futhi ngala masiko, imithetho amisa ngayo izinga lokuziphatha kwabantu, waqonda ukuphila nezisusa zabo emithethweni kaNkulunkulu, wabaqondisa ukuthi beze phambi kwe-altare likaNkulunkulu, nokuthi baphile phakathi kwazo zonke izinto zikaNkulunkulu ayezidalele umuntu ngokuhleleka, ukuvama, nangokusesilinganisweni. UNkulunkulu waqala ukusebenzisa le miyalo elula ukuze abekele umuntu imingcele, ukuze umuntu emhlabeni abe nokuphila okujwayelekile akhonze uNkulunkulu, abe nokuphila okujwayelekile komuntu; leyo indlela ekhethekile yesiqalo seminyaka Yakhe eziyizinkulungwane eziyisithupha yecebo lokuqondisa. Imiyalo nemithetho kunencazelo ebanzi, iyiziqondiso eziqondile zikaNkulunkulu esintwini phakathi neNkathi Yomthetho, kufanele yamukelwe futhi ihlonishwe abantu abangaphambi kweNkathi Yomthetho, iyirekhodi lomsebenzi owenziwa uNkulunkulu phakathi neNkathi Yomthetho, futhi iwubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bobuholi nesiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu ngaso sonke isintu.

Isintu Asisoze Sahlukaniswa Nezimfundiso Namalungiselelo KaNkulunkulu

Kule mithetho, sibona ukuthi umbono kaNkulunkulu ngomsebenzi Wakhe, ngokuqondisa Kwakhe, nangesintu ubalulekile, unonembeza, uyacophelela, futhi unokwethenjwa. Wenza umsebenzi okufanele awenze phakathi kwesintu ngokwezinyathelo Zakhe, ngaphandle kwamaphutha, futhi ukhuluma amazwi okufanele awakhulume esintwini ngaphandle kwamaphutha noma kokulibala, avumele umuntu ukuba angakwazi ukuzehlukanisa nobuholi bukaNkulunkulu, ambonise indlela okubaluleke ngayo konke uNkulunkulu akusho nakwenza esintwini. Ngamafuphi, kungakhathaleki ukuthi umuntu uyobe enjani enkathini elandelayo, ngaleso siqalo—phakathi neNkathi Yomthetho—uNkulunkulu wenza lezi zinto ezilula. KuNkulunkulu, imibono yabantu ngoNkulunkulu, ngezwe, nangesintu kuleyo nkathi, yayinzima futhi ifiphele, futhi nakuba babenezinhloso nemibono ethile, bonke babengacacelwe, ngakho isintu sasingenakwehlukaniswa nezimfundiso namalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu ngaso. Abantu basendulo babengazi lutho, ngakho kwadingeka ukuthi uNkulunkulu aqale ngokubafundisa izinto eziyisisekelo ukuze baphile, nemithetho eyisidingo ukuze umuntu aphile, wagcwala lezi zinto enhliziyweni kancane kancane, futhi wanika umuntu ukuqonda ngoNkulunkulu kancane kancane nokwazisa kanye nokuqonda ubuholi bukaNkulunkulu, futhi umbono oyisisekelo wobudlelwane obuphakathi komuntu noNkulunkulu, kule miyalelo, nakule mithetho, kwakungamazwi. Ngemva kokufinyelela lokhu, uNkulunkulu wakwazi ukwenza umsebenzi ayezowenza kamuva, ngakho le mithetho nomsebenzi eyenziwa uNkulunkulu phakathi neNkathi Yomthetho kuyidwala lomsebenzi wokusindisa umuntu, kuyisigaba sokuqala secebo likaNkulunkulu lokuqondisa. Nakuba, ngaphambi komsebenzi weNkathi Yomthetho, uNkulunkulu awukhuluma ku-Adamu, u-Eva, nasenzalweni yabo, leyo mithetho nezimfundiso ngokungacacile njengokungakhishwa umuntu oyedwa, futhi kwakungabhaliwe phansi ngakho akubanga yimithetho. Lokho kungenxa yokuthi, ngaleso sikhathi, icebo likaNkulunkulu lase lihambile; kulapho uNkulunkulu eholela umuntu kulesi sinyathelo kuphela lapho engaqala khona ukukhuluma le mithetho yeNkathi Yomthetho, futhi aqala ukusebenzisa umuntu. Kwakuyinqubo eyisidingo, futhi umphumela wawungenakugwemeka. Lezo zindlela nemithetho kubonisa umuntu izigaba zomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu wokuqondisa nokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu okwembulwe ecebweni Lakhe lokuqondisa. UNkulunkulu uyakwazi elikuqukuthe nendlela yokulisebenzisa, nokuqhubeka nalo, nokuliqeda ukuze azuze iqembu labantu abafakaza Ngaye, angathola iqembu labantu abanomqondo owodwa Naye. Wazi okungaphakathi kumuntu, wazi okufanele akukhiphe, nendlela okufanele ahole ngayo umuntu, wazi nalokho umuntu okufanele akwenze nokungafanele akwenze. Umuntu ufana nonodoli: Ngisho noma engayiqondi intando kaNkulunkulu, nakanjani uzoqondiswa umsebenzisi kaNkulunkulu wokuqondisa, kancane kancane, kuze kube namuhla. Kwakungekho ukuxhamazela enhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu mayelana nalokho okwakufanele akwenze; enhliziyweni Yakhe kwakunecebo elicacile, wawufeza umsebenzi ayefisa ukuwenza ngokwezigaba namacebo Akhe, wakhula kancane kancane wagcina uyinto enkulu. Ngisho noma engakaze awubonise umsebenzi ayezowenza ekugcineni, umsebenzi Wakhe wokugcina usaqhubeka wenziwa ngokuvumelana necebo Lakhe, eliwukuvezwa kwalokho uNkulunkulu anakho nayikho, futhi uyigunya likaNkulunkulu. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi icebo Lakhe lokuqondisa likusiphi isigaba, isimo Sakhe nesiqu Sakhe kumela Yena Uqobo. Lokhu kuyiqiniso ngempela. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi kukuyiphi inkathi, noma isigaba somsebenzi, nhloboni yabantu abathandayo nabazondayo, isimo Sakhe nakho konke anakho nayikho akusoze kwaguquka. Ngisho noma le mithetho emiswe uNkulunkulu phakathi nomsebenzi weNkathi Yomthetho ibonakala ilula futhi ingeyona into etheni kubantu namuhla, futhi nakuba kulula ukuyiqonda nokufinyelela kuyo, kusenokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu, futhi kusenesimo sikaNkulunkulu nalokho anakho nayikho. Ngoba kule miyalo elula kuvezwe isibopho sikaNkulunkulu esintwini, nesiqu semicabango Yakhe, okuvumela umuntu ukuba alibone ngokuqondile iqiniso lokuthi uNkulunkulu ubusa phezu kwazo zonke izinto futhi konke kulawulwa isandla Sakhe. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi isintu sinolwazi olungakanani, noma izimfundiso noma izinganekwane esiziqondayo, kuNkulunkulu akukho kulokhu okungangena esikhundleni samalungiselelo Akhe, nobuholi bakhe ngesintu; isintu asisoze sahlukaniswa nesiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu nomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Lobo ubuhlobo obungenakuhlukaniswa obuphakathi komuntu noNkulunkulu. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukunika umthetho noma ukunika amaqiniso okuqonda intando Yakhe, kungakhathaleki ukuthi wenzani, injongo kaNkulunkulu ukuqondisa umuntu ekusaseni eliqhakazile. Amazwi ashiwo uNkulunkulu nomsebenzi awenzayo kwambula esinye seziqu Zakhe, futhi kuyisambulo sesimo nokuhlakanipha Kwakhe, kuyisinyathelo esibalulekile secebo Lakhe lokuqondisa. Lokhu akumele kushaywe indiva! Intando kaNkulunkulu iyinoma yini ayenzayo; uNkulunkulu akesabi lutho, futhi akayesabi imibono noma imicabango yomuntu Ngaye. Uma wenza umsebenzi Wakhe, futhi aqhubeke nokuqondisa Kwakhe, ngokuhambisana necebo Lakhe lokuqondisa, ungaphoqwe muntu, noma into.

Kulungile, kuphela lapha okwanamuhla. Asibonane ngokuzayo!

9 Novemba, 2013

Imibhalo yaphansi:

a. Umbhalo wokuqala awunawo amagama athi “esikhundleni se…”

b. Umbhalo wokuqala awunawo amagama athi “ukulahlekelwa kwa….”

c. Umbhalo wokuqala awunawo amagama athi “okuhambile…”

Umthombo: IBandla LikaNkulunkulu USomandla