1. (a) UJehova usithembiseni? (b) Kutshoni ‘ukulindela uJehova’? (Khangela Ingcazelo Yamabala.)

 UJEHOVA uthembisa labo abamthandayo ikusasa elihle. Sekuseduze ukuthi aqede ukugula losizi lokufa. (Isam. 21:3, 4) Uzancedisa “abathobekileyo” abamlindeleyo ukuthi batshintshe umhlaba ube lipharadayisi. (Hubo. 37:9-11) Uzasenza senelise ukuba ngabangane bakhe abaseduze ukwedlula lokho esiyikho khathesi. Leli lithemba elihle kakhulu! Kodwa kuyini okwenza sikholwe ukuthi izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu zizagcwaliseka? UJehova uhlala ekwenza lokho athembisa ukuthi uzakwenza. Lesi yiso isizatho esenza ‘simlindele.’ * (Hubo. 27:14) Sitshengisa ukuthi simlindele ngokubekezela ngapha sithokoza, sikhangelele ukuthi agcwalise izithembiso zakhe.—Isaya. 55:10, 11.

2. Kuyini uJehova asekwenzile?

² UJehova usesitshengisile ukuthi uhlala ezigcwalisa izithembiso zakhe. Ake sixoxe ngesinye isithembiso asigcwalisayo. Ebhukwini leSambulo uJehova wathembisa ukuthi ngesikhathi sethu wayezamanyanisa abantu abavela kuzo zonke izizwe lezizwana lezindimi ukuze bamkhonze ngendlela ayamukelayo. Lamuhla abantu laba babizwa ngokuthi ‘lixuku elikhulu.’ (Isam. 7:9, 10) Lanxa ixuku leli lilabobaba labomama labantwana abayimihlobo etshiyeneyo, libumba imuli eyodwa emanyeneyo. (Hubo. 133:1; Joh. 10:16) Abexuku elikhulu bakhuthele ekutshumayeleni. Bahlala bekulungele ukuxoxela loba ngubani obalalelayo ngethemba elihle abalalo. (Mat. 28:19, 20; Isam. 14:6, 7; 22:17) Nxa ungowexuku elikhulu kumele ukuthi uyaliqakathekisa ithemba leli.

3. USathane ufunani?

 ³ USathane ufuna ithemba lakho lifiphale. Ufuna ubone angani uJehova kalandaba lawe lokuthi kasoze azigcine izithembiso zakhe. Nxa uSathane angaphumelela ukwenza ukuthi ithemba lethu lifiphale sizaphela amandla besesiyekela ukukhonza uJehova. USathane wazama ukukwenza lokho kuJobe njengoba sizabona.

4. Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi? (UJobe 1:9-12)

⁴ Esihlokweni lesi sizaxoxa ngamacebo uSathane awasebenzisayo ezama ukwenza ukuthi uJobe angabi qotho kuJehova. (Bala uJobe 1:9-12.) Sizaxoxa langalokho esikufunda kuJobe lokuthi kungani kumele sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda njalo uzagcwalisa izithembiso zakhe.

5-6. Yiziphi izinto ezehlela uJobe ngesikhatshana nje?

⁵ Izinto zazimhambela kuhle uJobe. Wayengumngane kaJehova, elemuli enkulu ethokozayo njalo enothe okumangalisayo. (Jobe. 1:1-5) Kodwa ngelanga elilodwa nje, impilo yaphonguthi phendu waphelelwa yinotho yakhe. (Jobe. 1:13-17) Ngemva kwalokho abantwabakhe bonke bafa. Lo kwakungumonakalo sibili. Abazali bazwa ubuhlungu obukhulu nxa bengafelwa ngumntwana. Manje akucabange ukuthi uJobe lomkakhe bona baphelelwa njani lokuthi baba sosizini olunganani sebetshelwe ukuthi abantwababo abalitshumi babedilikelwe yindlu bafa bonke. Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi uJobe wadabula isembatho sakhe, wazilahla phansi.—Jobe. 1:18-20.

⁶ Ngemva kwalokho uSathane wahlasela uJobe ngomkhuhlane omubi kakhulu njalo oyangisayo. (Jobe. 2:6-8; 7:5) Kungakenzakali konke lokhu, uJobe wayeyindoda ehlonitshwayo esigabeni. Abantu babesiya kuye ukuze abacebise. (Jobe. 31:18) Kodwa khathesi babengaselandaba laye. Wahlamukelwa ngabafowabo langabangane bakhe abaseduze, waze wahlamukelwa ngitsho layizisebenzi zakhe.—Jobe. 19:13, 14, 16.

7. (a) UJobe wayecabangani ngalokho okwakumehlele kodwa kuyini angazange akwenze? (b) Kuyini okungehlela umKhristu okuhambelana lalokho okusemfanekisweni?

⁷ USathane wayefuna uJobe acabange ukuthi inhlupho zakhe zazibangelwa yikuthi uJehova umzondele. Ngokwesibonelo, uSathane wenza kwaba lomoya olamandla owadiliza indlu lapho abantwana bakaJobe abalitshumi ababebuthene khona bezidlela. (Jobe. 1:18, 19) Wabangela lokuthi umlilo wehle uvela ezulwini utshise izifuyo zikaJobe lezisebenzi ezazizikhangele. (Jobe. 1:16) Umoya lo wawungajayelekanga njalo umlilo wehla uvela phezulu. Yikho uJobe wacabanga ukuthi izinto lezi zivela kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Wazitshela ukuthi mhlawumbe kukhona ayekwenzile okwakucaphule uJehova. Lanxa kunjalo wala ukuthuka uYise osezulwini. Wacabanga ngezinto ezinengi ezinhle uJehova ayemnike zona, wasezitshela ukuthi njengoba wayeyamukele izinto ezinhle kwakumele azimisele lokwamukela ezimbi. Yikho wathi: “Kalidunyiswe ibizo likaJehova.” (Jobe. 1:20, 21; 2:10) Lanxa uJobe waphelelwa yinotho yakhe, wafelwa ngabantwabakhe njalo wagula, waqhubeka ethembekile kuJehova. Kodwa uSathane wayengakaqedi ngaye.

8. Kuyini okunye okwenziwa nguSathane?

 ⁸ USathane waphinda wasebenzisa amadoda amathathu ayezenza abangane bakaJobe ukuthi amenze azizwe engasimuntu walutho. Amadoda la athi okwakusenza uJobe ahlupheke kangaka yikuthi kulezinto ezinengi ezimbi ayezenzile. (Jobe. 22:5-9) Azama lokumenza acabange ukuthi lanxa wayengaze enze izinto ezinhle kangakanani wayezidlalisela isikhathi ngoba zazingatsho lutho kuNkulunkulu. (Jobe. 4:18; 22:2, 3; 25:4) Amadoda la akhuluma lokhu esenzela ukuthi uJobe athandabuze ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyamthanda lokuthi uzamnakekela njalo ayefuna acabange ukuthi vele akuncedi ukumkhonza. Amazwi awo ayengenza uJobe aphelelwe lithemba.

9. Kuyini okwenza uJobe waba lesibindi njalo wazimisela lanxa wayephakathi kwenhlupho?

⁹ Akumbone uJobe ehlezi esilotheni efuthelwa okuzwayo. (Jobe. 2:8) Amadoda azenza abangane bakhe alokhu esithi ungumuntu omubi futhi athi uJehova kazihluphi ngokuhle ake wakwenza. Kanti njalo uzwa ubuhlungu bokufelwa ngabantwabakhe. Uphakathi kwelitshe lembokodo sibili. Uqala athule okwesikhathi. (Jobe. 2:13–3:1) Nxa amadoda la azithi angabangane bakaJobe ecabanga ukuthi ukuthula lokhu kutsho ukuthi uJobe usezatshiya uJehova, akhe phansi. Kumele ukuthi uvusa ikhanda awathi nhlo ngesikhathi esithi: “Ngizaze ngiyokufa ngingabulandulanga ubuqotho bami.” (Jobe. 27:5) Kuyini okwenza uJobe waba lesibindi njalo wazimisela kangaka lanxa wayephakathi kwenhlupho? Kazange alahle ithemba lokuthi ngelinye ilanga uNkulunkulu wakhe omthandayo wayezabuqeda bonke ubuhlungu bakhe. Wayekwazi lokuthi lanxa engafa uzamvusa.—Jobe. 14:13-15.

10. Sifundani endabeni kaJobe?

¹⁰ Indaba kaJobe isifundisa ukuthi uSathane kenelisi ukusibamba ngamandla ukuthi sitshiye uJehova lokuthi uJehova ubona konke okwenzakalayo. Iyasinceda lokuthi sithole ezinye izifundo. Ake sixoxe ngezinye zakhona.

11. Kuyini okuzakwenzakala nxa singaqhubeka simthemba uJehova? (UJakhobe 4:7)

¹¹ Okwenziwa nguJobe kutshengisa ukuthi nxa singaqhubeka simthemba uJehova, sizaqinisela kuloba yibuphi ubunzima njalo simelane loSathane. IBhayibhili lithi uSathane uzasibalekela nxa singamelana laye.—Bala uJakhobe 4:7.

12. Ithemba lokuthi abafileyo bazavuswa lamnceda njani uJobe?

¹² Kumele sisikholwe sibili isithembiso sokuthi abafileyo bazavuswa. Sibonile esihlokweni esidlulileyo ukuthi uSathane ujayele ukusebenzisa ukwesaba ukufa ezama ukwenza ukuthi silandule ubuqotho bethu. Endabeni kaJobe, wathi inceku kaNkulunkulu le yayingenza loba yini ize iyekele lokukhonza uJehova ukuze iqhubeke iphila. Wayelahlekile sibili ngoba langesikhathi uJobe ecabanga ukuthi usenyenyelwa yikufa wahlala eqotho kuJehova. Kuyini okwamnceda ukuthi aqinisele? Wayengathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova nguNkulunkulu omuhle njalo wayelethemba lokuthi ngelinye ilanga wayezakuqeda konke okwakumzwisa ubuhlungu. Wayekholwa ukuthi nxa engasamenzelanga lokhu esaphila, wayezamvusa esikhathini esizayo. UJobe wayekholwa sibili ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa. Lathi nxa sikukholwa lokho sizahlala siqotho kuJehova lanxa singaze sethuselwe ngokufa.

13. Sifundani kulokho uSathane akwenza uJobe?

¹³ Kumele siwananzelele amaqhinga asetshenziswa nguSathane kuJobe ngoba ulokhu ewasebenzisa lalamuhla. Wathi: “Umuntu [hatshi uJobe kuphela] anganikela loba yini alayo ukusiza impilo yakhe.” (Jobe. 2:4, 5) Lapha uSathane wayesitsho ukuthi kasimthandi sibili uJehova uNkulunkulu njalo sizamtshiya ukuze siqhubeke siphila. Uphinda athi uNkulunkulu kasithandi futhi kalandaba lesikwenzayo ukuze simthokozise. Kasiwakholwa amanga la ngoba siyakwazi lokho uSathane akuhlosileyo.

14. Ubunzima obusehlelayo bungenza sinanzeleleni? Nika isibonelo.

¹⁴ Kumele sibone ubunzima obusehlelayo bulithuba lokufunda okuthile ngathi. UJobe wathi esebunzimeni wananzelela lapho okwakudinga ukuthi alungise khona njalo wakwenza lokho. Ngokwesibonelo wafunda ukuthi kumele athobeke sibili. (Jobe. 42:3) Lathi singananzelela okuthile ngathi nxa sisebunzimeni. Umfowethu okuthiwa nguNikolay * owavalelwa ejele lanxa wayegula kakhulu uthi: “Ukuba sejele kunjengokufakwa ku-X-ray, kukwenza unanzelele izinto ezingaphakathi kwakho ezidinga ukulungiswa.” Nxa singananzelela ukuthi kulalapho okudinga silungisise khona, kumele senze njalo.

15. Ngubani okumele simlalele futhi kungani?

¹⁵ Kumele silalele uJehova hatshi izitha zethu. UJobe walalelisisa ngesikhathi uJehova ekhuluma laye. UNkulunkulu wabonisana loJobe futhi kwakungani uthi: ‘Uyazibona izinto ezimangalisayo engizidalileyo? Ngikwazi konke  okwenzakale kuwe. Ubona angani ngingehluleka yini ukukunakekela?’ UJobe wathobeka waphendula uJehova etshengisa ukuthi uyambonga sibili ngobuhle bakhe. Wathi: “Izindlebe zami zasezizwile ngawe kodwa manje amehlo ami asekubonile.” (Jobe. 42:5) Kungenzeka uJobe wayelokhu esesilotheni, umzimba uphihlika izilonda njalo elokhu elilela abantwabakhe ngesikhathi esitsho amazwi la. Lanxa kunjalo uJehova watshengisa ukuthi uyamthanda uJobe lokuthi wayembona engumuntu olungileyo.—Jobe. 42:7, 8.

16. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo ku-Isaya 49:15, 16, kuyini okumele sikukhumbule nxa sisebunzimeni?

¹⁶ Lalamuhla abantu bangasithethisa njalo basiphathe angathi asibantu balutho. ‘Bangakhuluma yonke imihlobo yezinto ezimbi futhi ezingamanga’ ngathi kumbe ngenhlanganiso yethu. (Mat. 5:11) Endabeni kaJobe sifunde ukuthi uJehova uyasithemba ukuthi sizahlala siqotho kuye lanxa singehlelwa yibunzima. Uyasithanda njalo kasoze abatshiye labo abamthembayo loba sekutheni. (Bala u-Isaya 49:15, 16.) Ungazihluphi ngezinto ezimbi ezikhulunywa yizitha zikaNkulunkulu. Umfowethu okuthiwa nguJames ohlala eTurkey lemuli yakhe behlelwa yibunzima obukhulu. Wathi: “Sananzelela ukuthi ukulalela amanga ayekhulunywa mayelana labantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakusiqeda amandla. Yikho sagxila ethembeni esilalo njalo sahlala sikhuthele ekukhonzeni  uJehova. Lokhu kwenza saqhubeka sithokoza.” Lathi silalela uJehova njengoJobe. Amanga akhulunywa yizitha zethu awasoze enze ukuthi ithemba lethu lifiphale.

17. Ufundani kulokho okwenziwa ngamadoda labesifazana abathembekileyo okukhulunywa ngabo kuHebheru isahluko 11?

¹⁷ UJobe ayisuye yedwa owaqhubeka elesibindi njalo ezimisele ukuhlala eqotho kuJehova ngesikhathi esebunzimeni. Encwadini umphostoli uPhawuli ayibhalela amaHebheru, wakhuluma ngabanye abanengi athi ‘baliyezi labofakazi elikhulu.’ (Heb. 12:1) Bonke badlula phakathi kobunzima obukhulu kodwa bahlala beqotho kuJehova okwempilo yabo yonke. (Heb. 11:36-40) Kambe baqinisela njalo basebenzela ize yini? Ngitsho. Lanxa bengazange babone ezinye izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu zigcwaliseka besaphila, baqhubeka bemlindele. Kanti njalo babekwazi ukuthi babezazibona izithembiso lezo zigcwaliseka ngenxa yokuthi babengathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uyathokoza ngabo. (Heb. 11:4, 5) Abakwenzayo kungasinceda sizimisele ukuqhubeka silindele uJehova.

18. Uzimisele ukwenzani? (UHebheru 11:6)

¹⁸ Izinto emhlabeni ziqhubeka zisonakala. (2 Tim. 3:13) USathane ulokhu ebathwalisa nzima abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Kungelani lobunzima obuzasehlela esikhathini esizayo, asizimiseleni ukuqhubeka simsebenzela nzima uJehova, siqiniseka ukuthi “sibeke ithemba lethu kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.” (1 Tim. 4:10) Phela lokho uJehova akwenzela uJobe kutshengisa ukuthi “ulozwelo kakhulu futhi ulesihawu.” (Jak. 5:11) Lathi asihlaleni siqotho kuJehova, sikholwa sibili ukuthi uyabapha umvuzo “labo abamdinga ngeqiniso.”—Bala uHebheru 11:6.