KULABANTU abavakatshela ama-Israyeli ngesikhathi esezachapha uMfula uJodani engena elizweni ayelithenjiswe nguNkulunkulu. Abantu laba babengabesifazana abangasima-Israyeli futhi bafika banxusa amadoda angama-Israyeli edilini. Kumele ukuthi amadoda la ezwa angani ayaphupha. Phela kiwo kwakungelanto emnandi njengokuba labangane abatsha, lokugida kanye lokudla izibiliboco. Lanxa imikhuba yabesifazana laba lendlela ababeziphatha ngayo kwakuphikisana loMthetho uNkulunkulu awunika ama-Israyeli, kungenzeka amanye amadoda esizwe leso azitshela ukuthi abesifazana laba babengasoze bawaphambanise lokuthi ayezahlala eqaphile.

 Kodwa kwenzakalani? IBhayibhili lithi: “Amadoda aqala ukuphinga labafazi bamaMowabi.” Abesifazana laba babefuna amadoda ako-Israyeli akhonze onkulunkulu bamanga futhi yikho kanye okwenzakalayo. Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi “uNkulunkulu wabathukuthelela kakhulu” abako-Israyeli.​—Nani. 25:1-3.

Ama-Israyeli la ephula imilayo kaNkulunkulu emibili. Akhothamela izithombe njalo aziphatha kubi kwezemacansini. Kwafa izinkulungwane ngenxa yokungalaleli kwawo. (Eks. 20:4, 5, 14; Dute. 13:6-9) Okwababuhlungu kakhulu yikuthi ephula uMthetho kaNkulunkulu sekuseduze ukuthi angene eLizweni Lesithembiso. Aluba alalela, izinkulungwane ezafayo zazizachapha uJodani zingene eLizweni Lesithembiso ngemva kwensukwana nje.​—Nani. 25:5, 9.

UPhawuli wakhuluma ngendaba le wathi: “Izinto lezi zenzakala kubo ukuze zibe yizibonelo kithi, futhi zabhalwa ukuze zibe yisixwayiso kithi thina esesifikelwe yikuphela komumo wezinto.” (1 Khor. 10:7-11) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uSathane wathaba lapho ama-Israyeli esenza isono esingaka esabangela ukuthi angangeni eLizweni Lesithembiso. Lokhu kumele kube yisixwayiso kithi ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi uSathane uzathokoza okwamagama nxa engaphumelela ukwenza ukuthi singangeni emhlabeni omutsha.

USathane ufuna ukubamba amaKhristu futhi usebenzisa amaqhinga osekulesikhathi eside emsebenzela. Sibonile ukuthi wasebenzisa ukuziphatha okubi kwezemacansini ukuze abambe ama-Israyeli. Lalamuhla ukuziphatha okubi kwezemacansini kulokhu kungumjibila oyingozi njalo iphonografi ngenye indlela engenza sibanjwe ngumjibila lo.

Kudala umuntu owayefuna ukubukela iphonografi kwakumele aye ezindaweni lapho ebukelwa khona kumbe aye lapho okuthengiswa khona amabhuku ephonografi. Kumele ukuthi abantu abanengi babengayi ezindaweni lezo ngoba kwakuyangisa ukubonakala kuzo. Kodwa lamuhla umuntu angabukela iphonografi kungelamuntu ombonayo. Nxa ele-inthanethi angazibukelela nje esemsebenzini loba esemoteni. Emazweni amanengi umuntu angabukela iphonografi ezihlalele endlini.

Kodwa akupheleli lapho. Amafoni lama-tablet aseyenze kwaba lula kakhulu ukuthi abantu babukele iphonografi. Umuntu angayibukela ezihambela emgwaqweni, egade ibhasi loba isitimela.

Iphonografi isilimaze abantu abanengi ukwedlula kudala ngoba sekulula ukuthi bayibukele futhi bafihle ukuthi bayayibukela. Isiphambanise imitshado eminengi, yehlisa isithunzi sabanengi abayibukelayo njalo yaphambanisa lemizwangedwa yabo. Okubi kakhulu ngephonografi yikuthi ingenza umuntu oyibukelayo acine engasenguye mngane kaNkulunkulu. Iyabalimaza sibili abayibukelayo futhi ijayele ukubadalela umonakalo omkhulu okunzima ukuthi ulungiseke.

Lanxa kunjalo, akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi uJehova uyasivikela ukuze singabanjwa ngumjibila lo osetshenziswa nguSathane. Kodwa kumele simlalele ukuze asivikele, singenzi njengamadoda ako-Israyeli angazange ‘alalele.’ (Eks. 19:5) Kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova uyayizonda kakhulu iphonografi. Kungani sisitsho njalo?

Imithetho uNkulunkulu ayinika isizwe sako-Israyeli yayingafanani lemithetho yezinye izizwe ezazikhona ngalesosikhathi. Yayinjengomduli ngoba yayivikela ama-Israyeli ukuthi angaphanjaniswa yizizwe lezo kanye lezenzo zazo ezenyanyekayo. (Dute. 4:6-8) Imithetho le yenza kwacaca ukuthi uJehova uyakuzonda ukuziphatha okubi kwezemacansini.

Ngemva kokukhuluma ngamanyala ayesenziwa yizizwe ezazakhelane lama-Israyeli  uJehova wawatshela wathi: ‘Lingabokwenza abakwenzayo ezweni laseKhenani, lapho engilisa khona. Ilizwe lingcolile; kungakho ngizalijezisa ngesono salo.’ UNkulunkulu ongcwele wama-Israyeli wayebona okwakusenziwa ngabaseKhenani kusenyanyeka okokuthi lelizwe ababehlala kulo wayeselibona lingcolile.​—Levi. 18:3, 25.

Lanxa uJehova wawajezisa amaKhenani, ezinye izizwe zaqhubeka ziziphatha kubi kwezemacansini. Kwathi sekudlule iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-1 500, uPhawuli wakhuluma ngabantu bezizwe amaKhristu ayephila labo esithi ‘kwakungasathi thiki kubo nxa beziphatha kubi.’ Abantu laba ‘basebezinikele ekuxhwaleni ukuthi baqhubeke besenza yonke imihlobo yokungcola besedlulisa amalawulo.’ (Efe. 4:17-19) Lalamuhla abantu abanengi kabaziphathanga futhi kababoni cala ngalokho. Yikho amaKhristu eqiniso kumele alwise sibili ukuthi axwaye izinto eziphathelane lephonografi esezigcwele emhlabeni lo.

Abantu abathanda iphonografi batshengisa ukuthi bayamdelela kakhulu uNkulunkulu. Wadala abantu ngomfanekiso wakhe futhi wenza benelisa ukwazi okulungileyo lokungalunganga. Imithetho ephathelane lezemacansini abanika yona yatshengisa ukuthi uhlakaniphile. Wayehlose ukuthi abatshadileyo bakholise ezemacansini bendawonye. (Gen. 1:26-28; Zaga. 5:18, 19) Kodwa labo abenza izinto eziphathelane lephonografi lalabo abakhuthaza abanye ukuthi bayibukele kabalandaba lemithetho kaNkulunkulu yokuziphatha. Abantu laba kabamhloniphi uJehova yikho uzabahlulela.​—Rom. 1:24-27.

Kuthiwani ngababala kumbe babukele iphonografi? Abanye bangacabanga ukuthi yikuzilibazisa okungelangozi. Kodwa basekela labo abangelandaba lemithetho kaNkulunkulu. Kungenzeka ukuthi lokhu ayisikho ababekuhlosile ngesikhathi beqalisa ukubukela iphonografi. Lanxa kunjalo, iBhayibhili lenza kucace ukuthi izinceku zikaNkulunkulu weqiniso kumele ziyizonde sibili iphonografi. Lithi: “Akuthi bonke abamthandayo, uJehova, bazonde okubi.”​—Hubo. 97:10.

Abanye abafuna ukutshiyana lokubukela iphonografi bakubona kungumqanso ukwenza njalo. Silesono yikho kumele silwise sibili ukuthi  sixwaye izifiso zemacansini ezingcolileyo. Kanti njalo inhliziyo yethu ingasiyenga besesizitshela ukuthi akulanto embi ngokubukela iphonografi. (Jer. 17:9) Kodwa kulabanengi ababebukela iphonografi bengakabi ngamaKhristu asebatshiyana lomkhuba lo. Lokhu kumele kukwenze ungathandabuzi ukuthi lawe ungenelisa ukutshiyana lephonografi nxa ulwisa ukuthi ungayibukeli. Asihlole ukuthi iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lingakunceda njani ukuthi ungabanjwa ngumjibila kaSathane.

Sike sakhuluma ngokuthi ama-Israyeli amanengi avuma ukubuswa yizifiso zawo ezimbi njalo lokho kwawathela emanyaleni. Lokhu kungenzakala lakithi. UJakhobe umfowabo kaJesu wakhuluma ngengozi le wathi: ‘Lowo lalowo udonswa futhi ahugwe yisifiso sakhe. Nxa isifiso leso sesikhulile, sizala isono.’ (Jak. 1:14, 15) Umuntu ongenzi lutho ngesifiso esibi esilokhu sikhula kuye angacina enze isono. Ngakho kumele silwise sibili ukuthi singahlali sicabanga izinto zemacansini.

Nxa uhugwa yizifiso ezingcolileyo ungapholisi amaseko. UJesu wathi: ‘Ngakho nxa isandla sakho kumbe unyawo lwakho kukwenza ukhubeke, kuqume ukulahlele khatshana. Kanti njalo nxa ilihlo lakho likwenza ukhubeke, likopole ulilahlele khatshana.’ (Mat. 18:8, 9) Lapha uJesu wayengatsho ukuthi sikwenze sibili lokho ayekhuluma ngakho. Wasebenzisa umzekeliso lo ukuze atshengise ukuthi kumele sidinge ukuthi imicabango emibi esilayo ibangelwa kuyini besesilungisa masinyane. Amazwi kaJesu angasinceda njani endabeni yephonografi?

Nxa kungathutsha iphonografi wohle ukhangele eceleni. Ungazitsheli ukuthi ayisoze ikuphambanise nxa ungaqhubeka ukhangele. Wohle ucitshe i-TV, ikhompiyutha, ifoni loba i-tablet. Khangela okunye okuhlanzekileyo. Ukwenza njalo kungakunceda ukuthi ungabuswa yizifiso ezimbi.

Ungenzani nxa sewayekela ukubukela iphonografi kodwa ngezinye izikhathi ulokhu ukhumbula owawukubona? Imifanekiso  yephonografi loba imicabango yakhona ihlala isikhathi eside engqondweni futhi ingathutsha loba nini. Nxa lokhu kungenzakala ungezwa sekusithi wenze into engcolileyo njengokutshaya ibhonyaponya. Ngakho woba kwazi ukuthi imicabango yalokho owawukubona ingathutsha ulibele njalo hlala ukulungele ukulwisana layo.

Zimisele kakhulu ukucabanga lokwenza lokho okufunwa nguNkulunkulu. Lingisela umphostoli uPhawuli owayezimisele ‘ukuwutshaya kakhulu umzimba [wakhe] awenze ube yisigqili.’ (1 Khor. 9:27) Ungavumi ukubuswa yizifiso ezingcolileyo. ‘Yekela ukubunjwa ngumumo lo wezinto, kodwa guqulwa untshintshe indlela ocabanga ngayo ukuze uhlolisise uzibonele intando kaNkulunkulu enhle, eyamukelekayo futhi epheleleyo.’ (Rom. 12:2) Khumbula ukuthi ukwenza izinto ezingcolileyo akusoze kukwenze uthokoze. Kodwa ukucabanga lokwenza lokho okufunwa nguNkulunkulu yikho okuzakwenza uthokoze.

Zama ukubamba ngekhanda amanye amavesi ubusuzibamba ngamandla ukuthi ucabange ngawo nxa imicabango emibi ifika engqondweni. Imibhalo enjengoHubo 119:37 lo-Isaya 52:11 loMathewu 5:28 lo-Efesu 5:3 loKholose 3:5 kanye lo-1 Thesalonika 4:4-8 ingakunceda ubone iphonografi ngendlela uJehova ayibona ngayo lokuthi uzwisise ukuthi ukhangeleleni kuwe.

Kodwa kumele wenzeni nxa kwesinye isikhathi usubona angani awusenelisi ukulwisana lesifiso sokubukela iphonografi lemicabango engcolileyo? Landela eduze lokho okwenziwa nguJesu. (1 Phet. 2:21) USathane wamlinga kanengana esebhabhathiziwe kodwa yena wayelokhu esala ukwenza lokho uSathane ayefuna akwenze. Wayesithi nxa esala akhulume amazwi ombhalo othile. Wathi: “Suka Sathane!” njalo uSathane wamtshiya. UJesu kazange avume ukunqotshwa. Lawe akumelanga uvume. (Mat. 4:1-11) USathane lomhlaba wakhe bazaqhubeka bezama ukwenza ukuthi ucabange izinto ezingcolileyo kodwa qhubeka usilwa. Ungayinqoba impi oyilwa lephonografi. UJehova uzakuncedisa ukuthi usinqobe isitha sakho.

Hlala uthandaza kuJehova umcela ukuthi akuncedise. UPhawuli wathi: ‘Bekani izicelo zenu kuNkulunkulu. Nxa lingenza njalo, ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu okwedlula konke ukuzwisisa kuzalinda izinhliziyo zenu lezingqondo zenu ngoKhristu uJesu.’ (Flp. 4:6, 7) UNkulunkulu uzakunika ukuthula okuzakunceda ukuthi ulwisane lesifiso sokwenza okubi. Nxa ungasondela kuJehova ‘laye uzasondela kuwe.’​—Jak. 4:8.

Kumele sibe ngabangane abaseduze loMbusi wendawo yonke ukuze singabanjwa yimijibila kaSathane. UJesu wathi: “Umbusi womhlaba [uSathane] uyeza futhi kalamandla phezu kwami.” (Joh. 14:30) Kuyini okwenza uJesu waqiniseka kangaka? Wake wathi: “Lowo ongithumileyo ulami, kazange angitshiye ngedwa ngoba ngihlala ngisenza izinto ezimthokozisayo.” (Joh. 8:29) UJehova kasoze akutshiye nxa lawe uzama sikhathi sonke ukwenza izinto ezimthokozisayo. Nxa ungadlalela khatshana komjibila wephonografi, uSathane kasoze enelise ukukubamba.