Abaprofeti Nookumkani

10—Ilizwi Lokukhalima okubukhali

[Esi sahluko sisekwe ku-1 Kumkani 17:8-24; 18:1-19.]

Kwaba lithuba uEliya ehleli ezimele kwiintaba ezingakumlanjana iKeriti. Elapho iinyanga ezininzi, wondliwa ngendlela engummangaliso. Kamva, xa, ngenxa yokuqhubeka kwembalela, umlanjana waya woma, uThixo wamyalela umkhonzi wakhe ukuba afumane igwiba kumhlaba wentlanga. “Suka,” wamyalela, “uye eTsarfati, [kwiTestamente eNtsha yaziwa ngokuba yiSarepta], yaseTsidon, uhlale khona, uyabona, ndimwisele umthetho khona umfazi ongumhlolokazi, ukuba akuxhase.” AN 129.1

Lo mfazi wayengenguye umIsrayeli. Wayengazange wanawo amalungelo neentsikelelo ezaxhanyulwa ngabantu bakaThixo abanyuliweyo; kodwa wayekholelwa kuThixo wenyaniso kwaye wayehamba kuko konke ukukhanya okwakukhanya endleleni yakhe. Ngoku, xa lwalungekho ukhuseleko kuEliya elizweni lakwaIsrayeli, uThixo wamthumela kulo mfazi ukuba afumane indawo yokukhuseleka ekhayeni lakhe. AN 129.2

“Wesuka ke waya eTsarfati, wafikaesangwenilomzi; nanko umfazi ongumhlolokazi echola iinkuni; wambiza, wathi, Khawundikhelele intwana yamanzi ngesitya, ndisele. Waya kuwakha; wambiza, wathi, Khawundiphathele neqhekeza lesonka ngesandla.” AN 129.3

Eli khaya lalibethwa bubuhlwempu, indlala yayilicinezele kakhulu, noko kuncinane ngendlela elusizi sekuza kuphela. Ukufika kukaEliya kanye ngale mini, xa umhlolokazi enexhala lokuba kuza kufuneka akuncame ukuzama ukuxhasa ubomi, kwaluvavanya kwada kwesa ekugqibeleni ukholo lwakhe kumandla kaThixo ophilayo ukwaneza iintswelo zakhe. Kuthe nangona ekweyona meko yokugqibela, walubonakalisa ukholo lwakhe ngokuvuma kwisicelo sowasemzini owayemcela ukuba abelane naye ngentwana yokugqibela yokutya kwakhe. AN 130.1

Ukuphendula isicelo sikaEliya sokutya nento eselwayo, umhlolokazi waphendula, wathi, “Ehleli nje uYehova, uThixo wakho, andinasonka; ngumgubo ongazalisa isandla emphandeni, nentwana yeoli eselweni; uyabona ke, ndichola iinkuni ezimbini, ukuba ndiye ndenzele mna nonyana wam, sidle, sife. Wathi uEliya kuye, Musa ukoyika; yiya, wenze ngokwelizwi lakho; kodwa ke ndenzele isonkana ngawo kuqala, undizisele, uzenzele ke wena nonyana wakho emveni koko. Ngokuba utsho uYehova, uThixo wakwaIsrayeli, ukuthi, Umphanda womgubo awuyi kuphela, neselwa leoli aliyi kuminyelelwa, ide ifike imini aya kuyinisa ngayo imvula uYehova phezu komhlaba” AN 130.2

Alukho uvavanyo lokholo olunokuba lukhulu ukudlula olu olwalungafuneka. Ngoku, sekukho ukuphatheka kakubi okwakuya kuba sisiphumo esiya kubakho kuye nomntwana wakhe, ethembe uThixo kaIsrayeli ukuhlangabeza zonke iintswelo zakhe, wamelana nolu vavanyo lukhulu lobubele ngokwenza “ngokwelizwi likaEliya.” AN 130.3

Buyamangalisa ububele obabonakaliswa kumprofeti kaThixo ngulo mfazi ungumFenike, lwaza ngendlela emangalisayo lwavuzwa ukholo nobubele bakhe. “Wadla yena, naye, nendlu yakhe, zaziintsuku. Umphanda womgubo awuphelanga, iselwa leoli alaminyelelwa, ngokwelizwi likaYehova, awalithethayo ngoEliya. AN 131.1

“Kwathi emveni kwezo zinto, wahliwa sisifo unyana waloo mfazi ungumnikazindlu; sathi isifo sakhe saba nzima kakhulu, kwada akwabakho kuphefumla kuye. Wathi kuEliya, Yintoni na enam nawe, mfo wakwaThixo? Uze kum, ukuba undikhumbuze ubugwenxa bam, umbulale unyana wam? AN 131.2

“Wathi kuye, Ndinike unyana wakho. Wamthabatha ke esifubeni sakhe, wenyuka naye, waya egumbini eliphezulu abehlala kulo, wamlalisa phezu kwesingqengqelo sakhe. . . . Wazolula phezu komntwana izihlandlo zazithathu, wanqula uYehova. . . . Waliva uYehova ilizwi likaEliya; wabuyela phakathi kwakhe umphefumlo waloo mntwana, waphila. AN 131.3

“Wamthabatha uEliya umntwana, wehla naye egumbini eliphezulu, waya endlwini, wamnika unina; wathi uEliya, Uyabona, uphilile unyana wakho. Wathi loo mfazi kuEliya, Kaloku ke ndiyazi ukuba ungumfo wakwaThixo wena, nelizwi likaYehova elisemlonyeni wakho liyinyaniso.” AN 131.4

Umhlolokazi waseTsarefati wabelana noEliya ngokutya kwakhe, imbuyekezo yoko, ubomi bakhe kunye nobonyana wakhe basindiswa. Kubo bonke,abathi ngexeshalokulingwanentswelo,nabonise uvelwano noncedo kwabanye abasweleyo, uThixo uthembise intsikelelo enkulu. Akaguqukanga. Amandla aKhe awakho ngaphantsi ngoku kunemihla kaEliya. Asiqinisekanga nganeno ngoku kunaxa sasithethwa nguMsindisi wethu isithembiso, esithi, “Lowo wamkela umprofeti egameni lomprofeti, uya kwamkela umvuzo womprofeti.” Mateyu 10:41. AN 132.1

“Musani ukukulibala ukubuka iindwendwe; kuba ngokwenjenjalo inxenye ibuke izithunywa zezulu, ingazi.” Hebhere 13:2. La mazwi awalahlekwanga nalisuntsu lamandla ngenxa yokuhamba kwexesha. UBawo wethu osemazulwini usaqhubeka nokubeka endleleni yabantwana baKhe amathuba ayintsikelelo efihlakeleyo; baye abo bawakhulisayo la mathuba bazuza uvuyo. “[Ukuba uthe] wamvukelisa olambileyo ngento oyidlayo, wawuhluthisa umphefumlo wocinezelweyo: kophumela ke ukukhanya kwakho emnyameni nesithokothoko sakho sibe njengemini enkulu. Uya kuhlala ekwalathisa uYehova, awuhluthise umphefumlo wakho ekubaleleni kwelanga, omeleze amathambo akho, ube njengomyezo onyakanyiswa yimvula, nanjengendawo ephuma amanzi, emanzi angatshiyo.” Isaya 58:10, 11. AN 132.2

Kubakhonzi baKhe abathembekileyo namhlanje, uKristu uthi, “Lowo wamkela nina, wamkela mna, nalowo wamkela mna, wamkela owandithumayo.” Akukho senzo sobubele esenziwa egameni laKhe esiya kungabonwa sivuzwe. Kwangako oko kuqonda kunye kunothando, uKristu uhlanganisa nabona babuthakathaka nabasezantsi kusapho lukaThixo. “Nothe waseza,” uthi, “noko amnye waba bangabona bancinane”—abo banje ngabantwana elukholweni lwabo nasekumazini kwabo uKristu—“indebe yodwa yamanzi abandayo egameni lomfundi, inene ndithi kuni, akayi kukha alahlekelwe ngumvuzo wakhe.” Mateyu 10:40, 42. AN 132.3

Kwiminyaka emide yembalela, uEliya wayethandaza ezingisile ukuba iintliziyo zamaIsrayeli zingabuya ekunquleni izithixo ziye ekuhloneleni uThixo. Ngomonde, walinda umprofeti, lo gama isandla sikaYehova sithe zinzi ngamandla elizweni elibethiweyo. Xa wayebona ubungqina bokubulaleka nentswelo isanda macala onke, intliziyo yakhe yaqobeka yintlungu, wanqwenela amandla okuzisa uhlaziyo ngokukhawuleza. Noko kunjalo, uThixo ngokwaKhe wayesebenza icebo, kwaye into ekuphela kwayo eyayinokwenziwa ngabakhonzi baKhe kukuqhubeka bethandaza ngokholo balindele ixesha lokwenziwa kwesigqibo. AN 133.1

Ukreqo olwalukho ngemihla ka-Ahabhi lwalusisiphumo seqela leminyaka yokwenza okubi. Inyathelo ngenyathelo, umnyaka emva komnyaka, uIsrayeli wayesimka endleleni elungileyo. Isizukulwana emva kwesizukulwana, abantu babesala ukuzenzela iindlela ezilungileyo iinyawo zabo, ekugqibeleni, isininzi sabantu saziyekela kwinkokhelo yamagunya obumnyama. AN 133.2

Kwadlula kangangenkulungwane kususela ukuba, phantsi kwenkokhelo kaDavide, uIsrayeli wayemanyene enovuyo ekuvumeni iingoma zokudumisa Osenyangweni, evuma ukuxhomekeka kwabo kuYe ngeenceba zemihla ngemiha. Yiva amazwi abo okudumisa xa babevuma: AN 133.3

“Thixo osisindisayo, . . .
Umemelelisa ukuvela kokusa nokuhlwa.
Uwuvelele umhlaba, wawunyela,
Wawutyebisa kakhulu
Umjelo kaThixo uzele ngamanzi:
Walungisa ingqolowa yabo,
ngokuba uwenjenje ukuwulungisa.
Useza ihluthe imisele yawo;
Unyakamisa imiqela yawo.
Uthambisa ngeziphango;
Usikelela izilimo zawo.
Uwuthwesile umnyaka wokulunga kwakho,
Imikhondo yakho itsitsa ukutyeba.
Ayatsitsa amakriwa imihlambi yeenkomo;
Iintili zambethe ingqolowa.
Yonke into iyaduma, yonke into iyavuma.” AN 134.1

Indumiso 65:5, 8-13.

UIsrayeli wamvuma uThixo njengo“waliseka ihlabathi phezu kwemimiso yalo.” Ukubonisa ukholo lwabo baya bavuma: AN 134.2

“Waligubungela ngamanzi
anzongonzongo njengesambatho,
Ema amanzi phezu kweentaba.
Ekukhalimeni kwakho asaba,
Ezwini lendudumo yakho
abaleka buphuthuphuthu;
Kwenyuka iintaba, kwehla izihlambo,
Aya kuloo ndawo ubuwasekele yona.
Wamisa umda ukuba angegqithi,
Angabuye awugubungele umhlaba.” AN 134.3

Indumiso 104:5-9.

Kungamandla amakhulu aLowo ungenamida ekuthi indalo emhlabeni naselwandle nasesibhakabhakeni zigcinwe kwimida yayo. Ezi ziqalelo [Onamandla onke] uzisebenzisela ukonwaba kwezidalwa zaKhe. “Uvimba wakhe olungileyo” uchithwa ngokukhululekileyo ukuba “[a]nike imvula . . . ngexesha layo, awusikelele wonke umsebenzi” wezandla zomntu. Duteronomi 28:12. AN 134.4

“Ulothuma imithombo iye ezihlanjeni;
Ihamba phakathi kweentaba;
Iseza zonke iinyamakazi zasendle;
Amaesile asendle aqabula inxano lawo.
Kuhlala phezu kwayo iintaka zezulu,
Zitsholoza phakathi kwamasebe; . . .
Ulontshulisela iinkomo utyani,
Nomfuno wokunceda umntu;
Ukuze kuphume isonka emhlabeni.
Iwayini iyivuyise intliziyo yomntu;
Bukhazimle ubuso ngeoli,
Isonka siyixhase intliziyo yomntu. . . .
“Hayi, ukuba zininzi izenzo zakho, Yehova!
Zonke ziphela uzenze ngobulumko;
Uzele umhlaba zizidalwa zakho.
Nalo ulwandle lukhulu, lubanzi ngeenxa zombini;
Kulapho kuzinambuzane zingenakubalwa,
Ezincinane kwanezikhulu izinto eziphilileyo. . . .
Zonke ezo nto ziphela zikhangele kuwe,
Ukuba uzinike ukudla kwazo ngexesha elililo.
Uyazinika, ziyachola;
Uyasivula isandla sakho,
Ziyahlutha kokulungileyo.” AN 135.1

Indumiso 104:10-15, 24-28.

UIsrayeli wayenesizathu esikhulu sokuba novuyo. Ilizwe uYehova awayebazise kulo lalibaleka ubisi nobusi. Ngexesha lokubhadula kwabo entlango, uThixo wayebaqinisekisile ukuba ubakhokelela elizweni apho babengayi kuba nabunzima bakufumana mvula. “Kuba ilizwe elo uya kulo, usiya kulihlutha,” wabaxelela, “alinjengelizwe laseYiputa, elo naphuma kulo, apho wayihlwayelayo imbewu yakho, waza wayinkcenkcesha ngonyawo lwakho, njengomyezo wemifuno. Ke lona ilizwe eniwelela kulo, nisiya kulihlutha, lilizwe leentaba nezihlambo, elisela amanzi emvula yezulu; lilizwe alikhathaleleyo uYehova uThixo wakho, ahlala ekulo amehlo kaYehova uThixo wakho, ethabathela ekuqaleni komnyaka, ade ase ekupheleni komnyaka.” AN 135.2

Isithembiso semvula eninzi sasinikwe phantsi kwemeko yokuba kuya kuthotyelwa imithetho. “Kothi,” wathi uYehova, “ukuba nithe nayiphulaphula ngenyameko imithetho yam endiniwiselayo namhla, yokuba nimthande uYehova uThixo wenu, nimkhonze ngentliziyo yenu yonke, nangomphefumlo wenu wonke: ndininike imvula yelizwe lenu ngexesha layo, ethambisayo nevuthisayo, uhlanganise ingqolowa yakho, newayini yakho entsha, neoli yakho; ndizinike utyani iinkomo zakho, emadlelweni akho, udle uhluthe. AN 136.1

“Zigcineni,” uYehova wabayala abantu baKhe, “hleze ikhohliseke intliziyo yenu, nityeke, nikhonze thixo bambi, nibanqule, uvuthe umsindo kaYehova kuni, alivingce izulu kungabikho mvula, umhlaba ungayivelisi indyebo yawo, nibhubhe kamsinya, ningabikho ezweni elihle, aninika lona uYehova.” Duteronomi 11:10-17. AN 136.2

“Ke kothi, ukuba uthe akwaliphulaphula izwi likaYehova uThixo wakho, ukuba uyigcine imithetho yakhe nemimiselo yakhe,” alunyukiswa amaIsrayeli, “izulu lakho eliphezu kwentloko yakho loba lubhedu, umhlaba ophantsi kwakho ube sisinyithi. UYehova woyenza imvula yelizwe lakho ibe luthuthu nothuli, ihle ezulwini phezu kwakho ude utshabalale.” Duteronomi 28:15, 23, 24. AN 136.3

Ezi yayiziziyalo zikaYehova kuIsrayeli wakudala. “La mazwi am nize niwabekele intliziyo yenu nomphefumlo wenu,” wabayalela abantu baKhe abanyuliweyo, “niwabophe esandleni senu, abe ngumqondiso, abe zizikhumbuzo phakathi kwamehlo enu; niwafundise oonyana benu, uthethe ngawo ekuhlaleni kwakho endlwini yakho, nasekuhambeni kwakho ngendlela, nasekulaleni kwakho, nasekuvukeni kwakho.” Duteronomi 11:18, 19. Yayicacile le miyalelo, kodwa, kwathi ngokudlula kweenkulungwane, nesizukulwana emva kwesizukulwana zilahlekwa ngumbono womsindleko owenzelwa ukuhlala kakuhle kwabo kwasemoyeni, iimpembelelo ezitshabalalisayo zokreqo zawutyhalela bucala umqobo wobabalo lwezulu. AN 137.1

Yiloo nto kwenzeka ukuba ngoku uThixo abandwendwele abantu baKhe ngezona ziqatha izigwebo zaKhe. Ukuxela kwangaphambili kukaEliya kwakuhlangana nokuzaliseka okoyikekayo. Iminyaka emithathu umthunywa wentlekele wayezingelwa kwisixeko nesixeko, nakwisizwe ngesizwe. Ngemvume ka-Ahabhi, abalawuli abaninzi babefungile ukuba, umprofeti onqabileyo akafumaneki kwimihlaba yabo. Kanti ke, lwaqhubeka uzingelo, kuba uIzebhele nabaprofeti bakaBhahali babemthiye uEliya ngentiyo yokubulala, baza abayeka nalinye ilinge lokumbuyisa elinokufikelelwa ngamandla abo. Sekunjalo, ayabikho imvula. AN 137.2

Ekugqibeleni, “emva kwemihla emininzi,” lafika ilizwi likaYehova kuEliya, “Hamba uye kubonana noAhabhi, ndinise imvula phezu komhlaba.” AN 137.3

Ukuthobela umyalelo, “Wahamba waya kubonana uEliya noAhabhi.” Kwisithuba sexesha umprofeti awaluqala ngalo uhambo lwakhe oluya kwaSamari, uAhabhi wacebisa uObhadiya, umlawulo wendlu yakhe, ukuba benze ugqogqo olucokisekileyo kwimithombo nemilanjana yamanzi, ngethemba lokufumana amadlelo emfuyo, impahla emfutshane nezilwanyana ezikhulu. Nasebhotwe ifuthe lembalela eyaqhuba ixesha elide lalivakala kakhulu. Ukumkani, ekhathala kakhulu ngembonakaloyabendluyakhe,wagqibaukuzimanya naye ekuzingeleniiindawoezifanelekileyoapho anokuba khona amadlelo. “Balahlula ilizwe phakathi kwabo, ukuba bacande kulo; uAhabhi wahamba ngenye indlela yedwa, uObhadiya wahamba ngenye indlela yedwa.” AN 137.4

“Kwathi ke, esendleleni uObhadiya, wabonakala uEliya emkhawulela, wamazi, wawa ngobuso, wathi, Nguwe na lo, nkosi yam Eliya?” AN 138.1

Ngexesha lokreqo lukaIsrayeli, uObhadiya wasala enyanisekile. Inkosi yakhe, ukumkani, ayizange ikwazi ukumsusa ekunyanisekeni kwakhe kuThixo ophilayo. Ngoku uyazukiswa ngomyalelo ophuma kuEliya, “Hamba uye kuthi enkosini yakho, Nanku elapha uEliya.” AN 138.2

Enoloyiko olukhulu, uObhadiya wakhala, “Ndenze sono sini na, ukuba umnikele umkhonzi wakho esandleni sika-Ahabhi ukuba andibulale?” Ukusa isigidimi esinje kuAhabhi yayikukubamba ukufa okuqinisekileyo. “Ehleli nje uYehova uThixo wakho, wachaza watsho kumprofeti, “akukho luhlanga nabukumkani, apho ingathumelanga khona inkosi yam, ikufuna; bakuthi, Akakho, yabafungisa ubukumkani nohlanga olo, ukuthi akafumanekanga. Kaloku ke uthi, Hamba uye kuthi enkosini yakho, Nanku elapha uEliya. Kothi ndithe ndemka kuwe, uMoya kaYehova akuthwalele apho ndingaziyo; ndiye ndixelele uAhabhi, angakufumani, andibulale.” AN 138.3

Enyanisekile, uObhadiya wamcenga umprofeti ukuba angamnyanzeli. “Umkhonzi wakho lo,” wacenga, “umoyike uYehova kwasebuncinaneni bam. Bekungaxelwanga na enkosini yam endakwenzayo ekubabulaleni kukaIzebhele abaprofeti bakaYehova, ndazimeza ikhulu lamadoda kubaprofeti bakaYehova,ngamashumi ngamahlanu, emqolombeni, ndabondla ngesonka nangamanzi? Kaloku ke uthi, Hamba uye kuthi enkosini yakho, Nanku elapha uEliya; ukuze indibulale.” Ngesifungo esinendili, uEliya wamthembisa uObhadiya ukuba uhambo lwakhe aluyi kuba lilize. Ehleli nje uYehova wemikhosi, endimiyo phambi kwakhe,” watsho, “inene, namhlanje ndiya kubonana naye.” Eqinisekiswe kanjalo, “uObhadiya waya kumkhawulela ke uAhabhi, wamxelela.” AN 138.4

Ngokumangala okuxutywe nokoyika, ukumkani wasiphulaphula isigidimi esivela kwindoda awayeyoyika nawayeyithiyile, nawayeyifuna engasadinwa. Wayesazi kakuhle ukuba uEliya wayengenakuze abubeke engozini ubomi bakhe ngokufuna nje ukuhlangana naye. Ingaba kunokwenzeka ukuba umprofeti wayeza kuthetha uYeha ngakuIsrayeli? Intliziyo kakumkani yathiwa hlasi luloyiko. Wakhumbula ingalo eyomayo kaYarobheham. UAhabhi wayengakwazi ukuluphepha ubizo, engakwazi nokuba nesibindi sokuphakamisa isandla sakhe ngakumthunywa kaThixo. Ngoko ke, ekhatshwa ngamasoldati amjongileyo, ikumkani engcangcazelayo yaya kuhlangana nomprofeti. AN 139.1

Ukumkani nomprofeti bema bejongene ubuso ngobuso. Nangona uAhabhi ezaliswe yimvakalelo yentiyo, wasuka wema phambi kukaEliya ethezeke amandla, ephelile. Ngamazwi akhe okuqala agqwidizayo, “Ulapha na wena, uwahlisele intlekele amaIsrayeli?” engaqondanga, waveza iimvakalelo ezisenzulwini yentliziyo yakhe. UAhabhi wayesazi ukuba kwakungelizwi likaThixo awathi amazulu afana nesinyithi, kanti ke, wayefuna ukubeka phezu komprofeti ityala lezigwebo ezinzima ezaziphezu kwelizwe. AN 139.2

Kuqhelekile ukuba umoni alibeke phezu kwabathunywa bakaThixo ityala leentlekele eziza zisisiphumo sokumka endleleni yobulungisa. Abo bazibeka egunyeni likaSathana abakwazi ukuzibona izinto ngohlobo uThixo azibona ngalo. Xa isipili senyaniso siphakanyiswe phambi kwabo, basuka babe nomsindo bakucinga ukuba kufuneka bafumane isohlwayo. Bathi bemfamekiswe sisono, bale ukuguquka; bave ngathi abakhonzi bakaThixo babajikele nokuba bafanele [abakhonzi] ukuthethiswa kalukhuni. AN 140.1

Emi enesazela esimsulwa phambi kuka-Ahabhi, uEliya akazami kuzithethelela okanye ukumqhatha ukumkani. Akazami nokuyiphepha ingqumbo kakumkani ngeendaba ezilungileyo zokuba imbalela seyiza kuphela. Akanasingxengxezo asinikayo. Ecaphukile, enekhwele ngenxa yozuko lukaThixo, ukubuyisela kuye [uAhabhi] ukubekwa ityala nguAhabhi, ngokungoyikiyo esithi kukumkani zizono zakhe, kumkani, nezono zooyise, ezizise kuIsrayeli le ntlekele imbi. “Andiwahliselanga ntlekele amaIsrayeli,” watsho ngesibindi uEliya, “nguwe nendlu kayihlo, ngokuyishiya kwenu imithetho kaYehova, walandela ooBhahali.” AN 140.2

Namhlanje sikho isidingo selizwi elikhalima ngamandla; kuba izono zibahlule abantu kuThixo. Ukungathembeki kuyaphangisa ukuqheleka. “Asithandi ukuba lo abe ngukumkani phezu kwethu,” yinto ethethwa ngamawaka. Luka 19:14. Iintshumayelo ezigudileyo ezishunyayelwa rhoqo azenzi mda uhlalayo; ixilongo aliniki sandi siqinisekileyo. Abantu abahlatywa kuse entliziyweni ziinyaniso ezicacileyo nezibukhali zelizwi likaThixo. AN 140.3

Baninzi abazibiza ngoKristu abanokuthi, ukuba bebengayixela eyona ndlela beva ngayo, Yintoni efuna ukuba kude kuthethwe phandle ngolu hlobo? Bebenokusuka babuze, bathi, Kungani ukuba uYohane umBhaptizi anyanzeleke ukuba athi kubaFarisi, “Nzalandini yamarhamba, ngubani na owanibonisayo, ukuba niyibaleke ingqumbo ezayo?” Luka 3:7. Kwakungani ukuba axhokonxele engqumbeni uHerodiya ngokuxelela uHerode ukuba akukho mthethweni ukuba ahlalisane nomfazi womntakwabo? Lo wayehambe phambi kukaKristu walahlekwa bubomi bakhe ngokuthetha kwakhe phandle. Kwakutheni ukuze angasuki ayeke engakhange abakhathaze abo babehlala esonweni? AN 141.1

Ngoko ke, abantu ekufuneka beme njengabalindi abathembekileyo bomthetho kaThixo, basuka bathi, uya kude umgaqo uthabathe indawo yokuthembeka, isono siya kuyekwa singakhalinyelwanga. Liya kuvakala nini kwakhona ilizwi lokukhalima okunyanisekileyo ebandleni? AN 141.2

Axoxa atsho njalo amadoda amele ukuma njengabalindi bomthetho kaThixo, ukuba umgaqo awude uthabathe indawo yokunyaniseka, isono sivunyelwa ukuba siqhubeke singakhalinyelwa. Liya kuphinda livakale nini kwakhona ilizwi elikhalimayo? AN 141.3

“Loo ndoda nguwe.” 2 Samuel 12:7. Amazwi acace ngokungenako ukuphazanywa njengala athethwe nguNathan kuDavide awakholisi ukuvakala emaqongeni okushumayela anamhlanje, anqabile ukuwabona emaphepheni kawonke-wonke. Ukuba ebenganqabanga kangaka, besiya kuwabona ngakumbi amandla kaThixo ebonakaliswa phakathi kwabantu. Abathunywa beNkosi akufuneki bakhalaze ngelithi amalinge abo awanaziqhamo bade baguquke kokwabo ukuthanda iimvume nolangazelelo lwabo lokukholisa abantu, nto leyo ekhokelela ekubeni bayicinezelele phantsi inyaniso. AN 141.4

Abo bafundisi bathanda ukukholisa abantu, abathi, Luxolo, luxolo, abe uThixo engathanga luxolo, kungakuhle ukuba bangazithoba iintliziyo zabo phambi kukaThixo, bacele uxolo ngokunganyaniseki kwabo nokuswela isibindi sokuziphatha. Asikuba bethanda abamelwane babo okwenza ukuba basigudise isigidimi abasiphathisiweyo, kodwa kungokuba kwabona bathanda ukuziyekelela nokonwaba. Uthando lwenene lufuna ukuba kuqala kuzukiswe uThixo kusindiswe imiphefumlo. Abo banalo olu thando abayi kuyiphepha inyaniso kuba bezisindisa bona kwiziphumoezingonwabisiyo zokuthetha ngokuphandle. Xa imiphefumlo Isengozini, abafundisi bakaThixo abasayi kucinga ngeziqu zabo, kodwa baya kuthetha ilizwi abalinikiweyo ukuba balithethe, bangavumi ukuthethelela okanye ukuyayaza ububi. AN 141.5

Akwaba wonke umfundisi ebengabuqonda ubungcwele besikhundla sakhe nobungcwele bomsebenzi wakhe, abonise isibindi esaboniswa nguEliya! Njengabathunywa abanyulwe lizulu, abafundisi bakwisikhundla somthwalo owoyikekayo. Kufuneka [babe] ba“yohlwaya, [be]khalimela, [be]vuselela, [be]nako konke ukuzeka kade umsindo.” 2 Timoti 4:2. Besendaweni kaKristu, kufuneka basebenze njengamagosa eemfihlelo zezulu, bebakhuthaza abathobelayo, bebalumkisa abangathobeliyo. Kubo umgaqo wehlabathi akufuneki ube nobunzima. Akufuneki baze bagungqe endleleni uYesu abayalele ukuba bahambe kuyo. Kufuneka babheke phambili ngokholo, bekhumbula ukuba bajikelezwe lilifu lamangqina. Akufuneki bathethe awabo amazwi, kodwa amazwi aLowo mkhulu kunezikhulu zomhlaba othe mabawathethe. Isigidimi sabo kufuneka sibe ngu-“Utsho uYehova.” UThixo ubiza amadoda afana noEliya, uNathan noYohane umBhaptizi—amadoda ayakuthwala isigidimi saKhe ngokuthembeka, nokuba zithini iziphumo; amadoda aya kuthetha inyaniso ngokukhalipha, nangona ithi mabancame konke abanako. AN 142.1

UThixo akanako ukusebenzisa amadoda athi, ngexesha lengozi, xa kufuneka amandla, isibindi, nempembelelo, asuke oyike ukuma aqine kokulungileyo. Ubiza amadoda aya kulilwa ngokuthembekileyo idabi nokungalunganga, alwe neziphatha-mandla namagunya, nabalawuli bobumnyama beli hlabathi, balwe nenkohlakalo kweziphezulu iindawo. Kukwabanjalo aya kuthetha kubo amazwi, athi: “Hee ke, mkhonzi ulungileyo, uthembekileyo! . . . ngena eluvuyweni lwenkosi yakho.” Mateyu 25:23. AN 142.2