1, 2. Noa nemhuri yake vaiita basa rei, uye ndeapi mamwe matambudziko avaisangana nawo?

NOA akatwasanudza musana wake nemhasuru dzake dzairwadza. Ita seuri kumuona akagara pazidanda, achimboti zororei pabasa rake sezvaanotarisa areka hombe yaari kuvaka. Munhuhwi wetara inopisa waiva mumhepo; ruzha rwematurusi rwaiita maungira. Ari painge akagara, Noa aigona kuona vanakomana vake vachishanda nesimba pazvikamu zvakasiyana-siyana zvechivako chakakura chemapuranga. Vanakomana vake, madzimai avo, uye mudzimai wake waaida, vose vainge vava nemakumi emakore vachishanda naye pabasa iri. Kwavakanga vabva kure, asi mutambo wakanga uchiripo!

² Vanhu vemunharaunda yacho vakafunga kuti vose vaiva mapenzi. Noa nevanakomana vake pavaivaka areka, vanhu vaiseka pfungwa yokuti kwaizouya mafashamo aizofukidza nyika yose. Njodzi yavaigara vachinyeverwa naNoa yaiita sokuti yaisazombofa yakaitika! Vaitadza kunzwisisa kuti sei munhu aizotambisa upenyu hwake, uye hwemhuri yake achiedza kuita zvinhu zvakadaro zvisina musoro. Zvisinei, Mwari waNoa, Jehovha, aimuona nenzira yakasiyana zvikuru.

3. Noa akafamba naMwari mupfungwa ipi?

³ Shoko raMwari rinoti: “Noa akafamba naMwari wechokwadi.” (Verenga Genesisi 6:9.) Izvozvo zvairevei? Zvaisareva kuti Mwari akafamba panyika, kana kuti Noa akaenda kudenga. Zvaireva kuti Noa aiteerera Mwari wake zvikuru uye aimuda zvakadzama zvokuti zvaiita sokuti iye naJehovha vaifamba pamwe chete seshamwari. Papera zviuru zvemakore, Bhaibheri rakati nezvaNoa: “Nokutenda [kwake] akapa nyika mhosva.” (VaH. 11:7) Akapa nyika mhosva sei nokutenda kwake? Mazuva ano tingadzidzei pakutenda kwake?

4, 5. Muzuva raNoa, nyika yakanga yabva sei pakuipa ichienda pakuipisisa?

⁴ Noa akakurira munyika yaikurumidza kubva pakuipa ichienda pakuipisisa. Yakanga yakaipa mumazuva atateguru vake Inoki, mumwezve murume akarurama akafamba naMwari. Inoki akanga afanotaura kuti zuva rokutongwa raizouya pavanhu venyika yacho vasingadi Mwari. Panguva ino, muzuva raNoa, uipi hwakanga hwanyanyisa.  Kutaura zvazviri, mumaonero aJehovha, nyika yakanga yashatiswa, nokuti yakanga yazara nechisimba. (Gen. 5:22; 6:11; Jud. 14, 15) Chii chakanga chaitika kuti zvinhu zviipe zvakanyanya kudaro?

⁵ Pakanga paita dambudziko rakakura pakati pevanakomana vaMwari vemudzimu, ngirozi. Mumwe wavo akanga atopandukira Jehovha, achiva Satani Dhiyabhorosi kuburikidza nokutaura nhema pamusoro paMwari uye kunyengera Adhamu naEvha kuti vaite chivi. Muzuva raNoa, dzimwe ngirozi dzakatanga kupandukira utongi hwaJehovha hwakarurama. Dzakasiya nzvimbo yadzo yadzakapiwa naMwari mudenga, dzikauya panyika, dzikava nemiviri yevanhu, ndokutora vakadzi vakanaka kuti vave madzimai adzo. Ngirozi dzakapanduka idzodzo uye dzaiva noudyire dzainyengera vanhu zvikuru.—Gen. 6:1, 2; Jud. 6, 7.

6. VaNefirimu vakaita kuti zvinhu zvimire sei munyika, uye Jehovha akasarudza kuitei?

⁶ Uyezve, vakadzi nengirozi dzacho vakabereka vanakomana vakakurisa uye vaiva nesimba risingaiti. Bhaibheri rinovati vaNefirimu, zvinoreva kuti “Vawisi”—vaya vanoita kuti vamwe vawe. VaNefirimu, avo vaiva neutsinye, vakaita kuti zvinhu zvitonyanya kuipa munyika yacho. Nemhaka yaizvozvo Musiki akaona kuti, “kuipa kwomunhu kwakanga kuri kuzhinji panyika uye zvose zvaidiwa nepfungwa dzomwoyo wake zvakanga zvakangoipa nguva dzose.” Jehovha akasarudza kuti aizoparadza vanhu ivavo vakaipa pakupera kwemakore 120.—Verenga Genesisi 6:3-5.

7. Noa nemudzimai wake vakasangana nedambudziko ripi pakudzivirira vanakomana vavo pauipi hwemuzuva racho?

⁷ Fungidzira uchiedza kurera vana munyika yakadaro! Asi Noa ndozvaakaita. Akawana mudzimai akanaka. Pashure pokunge Noa asvitsa makore 500, mudzimai wake akamuberekera vanakomana vatatu  vaiti Shemu, Hamu naJafeti. * Pamwe chete, vabereki vacho vaifanira kudzivirira vanakomana vavo pauipi hwakanga hwakavapoteredza. Vakomana vechiduku vanowanzoyemura ‘vanhu vane simba’ uye ‘varume vane mukurumbira,’—saka vana vangangodaro vaiyemura vaNefirimu. Noa nemudzimai wake vaisagona kuita kuti vana vacho vasanzwa mashoko ose aitaurwa pamusoro pezvaiitwa nehofori idzodzo, asi vaikwanisa kudzidzisa chokwadi chinotora mwoyo pamusoro paJehovha Mwari, uyo anovenga uipi hwose. Vaifanira kubatsira vanakomana vavo kuti vaone kuti Jehovha airwadziwa chaizvo nechisimba uye kupanduka zvaiva munyika.—Gen. 6:6.

8. Mazuva ano vabereki vakachenjera vangatevedzera sei muenzaniso waNoa nemudzimai wake?

⁸ Mazuva ano vabereki vanganzwisisawo zvakasangana naNoa nemudzimai wake. Nyika yatiri yakazarawo nechisimba uye kusateerera. Maguta anowanzozara nezvikwata zvevechiduku vane unhubu. Kunyange zvinovaraidza zvinogadzirirwa vana vaduku zvinogona kunge zvakazara nechisimba. Vabereki vakachenjera vanoita zvose zvavanogona kuti vakurire zvinhu zvakadaro nokudzidzisa vana vavo nezvaMwari werugare, Jehovha, uyo achagumisa chisimba chose rimwe zuva. (Pis. 11:5; 37:10, 11) Vanogona kubudirira! Noa nemudzimai wake vakabudirira. Vanakomana vavo vakakura kuva varume vakanaka, uye vakaroora madzimai aidawo kuisa Mwari wechokwadi, Jehovha, pakutanga muupenyu hwawo.

9, 10. (a) Murayiro upi wakabva kuna Jehovha wakachinja upenyu hwaNoa? (b) Jehovha akazivisei Noa nezvekugadzirwa kweareka uye chinangwa chayo?

⁹ Rimwe zuva upenyu hwaNoa hwakachinja zvachose. Jehovha akataura nomushumiri wake uyu waaida ndokumuudza nezvechinangwa chake chokugumisa nyika yepanguva iyoyo. Mwari akarayira Noa kuti: “Gadzira areka nomuti unobudisa zvinonama.”—Gen. 6:14.

¹⁰ Areka iyi yakanga isiri ngarava sezvinofungwa nevamwe. Yakanga yakasiyana nezvikepe zvatinoziva. Yaingova zibhokisi zihombe. Jehovha akaudza Noa nezvekureba, kufara uye kukwirira kweareka yacho, kugadzirwa kwayo, uye akamurayira kuti ainame netara mukati nokunze. Uye akaudza Noa chikonzero chacho achiti: “Ndiri kuunza mafashamo emvura panyika . . . Zvose zviri panyika zvichafa.” Zvisinei, Jehovha akaita sungano iyi, kana kuti chibvumirano, naNoa: “Pinda muareka, iwe nevanakomana vako nomudzimai wako nemadzimai evanakomana vako vauinavo.” Noa aizofanirawo kupinza dzimwe mhuka kubva pamarudzi ose emhuka. Zviya chete zvaizenge zviri muareka ndizvo zvaizopukunyuka Mafashamo aiuya!—Gen. 6:17-20.

11, 12. Noa aifanira kuita basa ripi rakakura chaizvo, uye akaita sei kunyange rakanga rakaoma?

 ¹¹ Noa aifanira kuita basa rakakura chaizvo. Areka iyi yaifanira kuva hombe—yakareba mamita 133, yakafara mamita 22 uye yakakwirira mamita 13. Yainge yakapfuura nekure ngarava dzemapuranga dzakakura zvikuru dzakagadzirwa kunyange mazuva ano. Noa akaedza kunzvenga basa iri, kunyunyuta nezvekuoma kwaro, kana kuti kuchinja magadzirirwo acho kuti zvimuitire nyore here? Bhaibheri rinopindura kuti: “Noa akaita maererano nezvose zvaakanga arayirwa naMwari. Akaita izvozvo chaizvo.”—Gen. 6:22.

¹² Basa racho rakatora makumi emakore, zvichida makore 40 kusvika ku50. Paiva nemiti yaida kurigwa, matanda aida kuzvuviwa, uye mapuranga aida kutsemurwa, kuvezwa uye kubatanidzwa. Areka yacho yaifanira kuva nenhurikidzwa nhatu, makamuri akati kuti, uye musuo parutivi payo. Zviri pachena kuti nechepamusoro yaiva nemahwindo, uyewo denga rainge rakati simukurei nechepakati kuitira kuti mvura ikwanise kuyerera.—Gen. 6:14-16.

13. Chikamu chipi chebasa raNoa chingangodaro chainge chakaoma kupfuura kuvaka areka, uye vanhu vakaita sei?

¹³ Makore zvaaifamba uye areka yava kuoneka zvayakaita, Noa anofanira kunge aifara chaizvo kuti mhuri yake yaimutsigira! Paiva nechimwe chikamu chebasa racho chingangodaro chakanga chakatooma kupfuura kuvaka areka. Bhaibheri rinotiudza kuti Noa aiva “muparidzi wokururama.” (Verenga 2 Petro 2:5.) Saka neushingi Noa akatungamirira pakuedza kunyevera vanhu ivavo vainge vakaipa, vasingadi Mwari nezvekuparadzwa kwaiuya. Vanhu vacho vakaita sei? Jesu Kristu akazotaura nezvenguva iyoyo, achiti vanhu ivavo “havana kucherechedza.” Akati vaiva vakabatikana chaizvo nokuita zvinhu zvezuva nezuva zvakadai sokudya, kunwa uye kuroora nokuroorwa zvokuti havana kuteerera Noa. (Mat. 24:37-39) Hapana mubvunzo kuti vakawanda vaiseka Noa nemhuri yake; vamwe vangadaro vaimutyisidzira uye vachimupikisa zvakasimba. Vangangodaro vakatoedza kuvhiringidza kuvaka kwacho.

14. Mhuri dzechiKristu mazuva ano dzingadzidzei kubva kuna Noa nemhuri yake?

¹⁴ Asi Noa nemhuri yake havana kumbokanda mapfumo pasi. Vakaramba vachivaka areka kunyange zvazvo vanhu vainge vakavapoteredza vaifunga kuti kwaiva kutamba nenguva, kwainge kuri kurasika kana kuti kwaiva kupenga. Mazuva ano mhuri dzechiKristu dzinogona kudzidza zvakawanda kubva pakutenda kwaNoa nemhuri yake. Tiri kurarama panguva inonzi neBhaibheri “mazuva okupedzisira” enyika ino. (2 Tim. 3:1) Jesu akati nguva yatiri kurarama yaizenge yakaita seyaNoa paaivaka areka. Kana nyika ikasakendenga pamusoro pemashoko oUmambo hwaMwari, ikaseka, kunyange kuita zvechisimba, vaKristu vanofanira kuyeuka Noa. Havasi vekutanga kusangana nematambudziko akadaro.

15. Noa akarasikirwa naani paakanga ava pedyo nokusvitsa makore 600?

¹⁵ Makumi emakore akapfuura, uye zvishoma nezvishoma areka yakaoneka zvayaizenge yakaita pakupedzisira. Noa zvaakanga ava pedyo nokusvitsa makore 600, akarasikirwa nevanhu vaaida. Baba vake, Rameki, vakafa. * Papera makore mashanu, baba vaRameki, sekuru vaNoa Metusera, vakafa vava nemakore 969—zvichigumisa upenyu hwemunhu akararama kupfuura vose vanotaurwa muBhaibheri. (Gen. 5:27) Metusera naRameki vakanga vararama panguva imwe chete nemunhu akatanga kusikwa, Adhamu.

16, 17. (a) Mugore rake rechi600, Noa akaudzwa mamwe mashoko okutii? (b) Rondedzera chiitiko chisingakanganwiki chakaonekwa naNoa nemhuri yake.

¹⁶ Mugore rake rechi600, tateguru Noa akaudzwa mamwe mashoko naJehovha Mwari okuti: “Pinda muareka, iwe neimba yako yose.” Mwari akaudzawo Noa kuti apinze mhuka dzakasiyana-siyana muareka—nomwe nomwe pane dzakachena, dzainge dzakakodzera kushandiswa pakupa zvibayiro, uye mbiri mbiri pane dzimwe dzose.—Gen. 7:1-3.

¹⁷ Chinofanira kunge chaiva chiitiko chisingakanganwiki. Mhuka  dzine zviuru dzakapinda muareka—dzichifamba, dzichibhururuka, dzichikambaira uye dzimwe dzichinanaira. Zvaishamisa kuona kuti dzaiva nemiviri yakakura zvakasiyana-siyana, uye dzimwe dzaipengereka uye dzimwe dzainge dzakapfava. Hatifaniri hedu kufungidzira Noa achiedza kuvakira mhuka dzomusango idzodzo mukoto, kukikiritsana nadzo kana kudzinyengetedza kuti dzipinde munzvimbo yadzo muareka. Nhoroondo yacho inoti ‘dzakapinda kuna Noa mukati meareka.’—Gen. 7:9.

18, 19. (a) Tingapindura sei mibvunzo inobvunzwa nevamwe pamusoro pezviitiko zvomunyaya yaNoa? (b) Tinoona sei uchenjeri hwaJehovha munzira yaakasarudza nayo kuponesa mhuka dzake dzaakasika?

¹⁸ Vamwe vangabvunza kuti: ‘Zvinhu zvakadaro zvingaitika sei? Uye mhuka dzose idzodzo dzaigona sei kugara pamwe chete murugare muareka?’ Funga izvi: Chaizvoizvo kana achida hake, Musiki wezvinhu zvose angatadza here kudzora mhuka dzake dzaakasika, kunyange kutodziita kuti dzikwanise kugara nevanhu uye dzisatyisa? Yeuka kuti Jehovha ndiye Mwari akasika mhuka. Pave paya, akazopatsanurawo Gungwa Dzvuku uye akaita kuti zuva rimire. Aizotadza here kuita zviitiko zvose zvinorondedzerwa munyaya yaNoa? Chokwadi haaimbotadza uye ndozvaakaita!

¹⁹ Kutaura zvazviri, Mwari aigona kunge akasarudza kuponesa neimwe nzira mhuka dzake dzaakasika. Zvisinei, nekuchenjera akasarudza nzira inotiyeuchidza basa rinokosha raakapa vanhu pakutanga rokuti vatarisire zvinhu zvose zvipenyu zviri panyika ino. (Gen. 1:28) Saka vabereki vakawanda mazuva ano vanoshandisa nyaya yaNoa kudzidzisa vana vavo kuti Jehovha anokoshesa mhuka nevanhu zvaakasika.

20. Noa nemhuri yake vangangodaro vainge vakabatikana zvakadini muvhiki yokupedzisira Mafashamo asati auya?

 ²⁰ Jehovha akaudza Noa kuti Mafashamo aizouya pashure pevhiki imwe. Mhuri yacho inofanira kunge yakaita chipatapata. Fungidzira basa rokuita kuti mhuka dzose pamwe chete nezvokudya zvadzo nezvemhuri yacho zvive zvakarongeka uye kutakura zvinhu zvemhuri zvichipinda muareka. Mudzimai waNoa nemadzimai aShemu, Hamu, naJafeti vangangodaro vainge vakanyanya kubatikana nokuita kuti mhuri yacho izogara zvakanaka muareka iyoyo.

21, 22. (a) Nei tisingafaniri kushamiswa nokusakendenga kwevanhu muzuva raNoa? (b) Kusekwa kwaiitwa Noa nemhuri yake kwakaguma rini?

²¹ Vanhu vakanga vakavapoteredza vakaitei? ‘Havanazve kucherechedza’ kunyange zvazvo zvaiva pachena kuti Jehovha aikomborera Noa nezvose zvaaiedza kuita. Vakatoona mhuka dzichidirana kupinda muareka. Asi hatifaniri kushamiswa nokusakendenga kwavo. Saizvozvowo, mazuva ano vanhu havacherechedzi uchapupu hunonyatsooneka hwokuti tava kurarama mumazuva okupedzisira enyika ino. Uye sezvakafanotaurwa nemuapostora Petro, vaseki vave vachiuya nokuseka kwavo, vachinyomba vaya vanoteerera nyevero yaMwari. (Verenga 2 Petro 3:3-6.) Saizvozvowo, vanhu vaiseka Noa nemhuri yake.

²² Kuseka kwacho kwakaguma rini? Nhoroondo yacho inotiudza kuti Noa paakangopinza mhuri yake nemhuka muareka, “Jehovha akavhara suo.” Kana paiva nevaseki vaiva pedyo, hapana mubvunzo kuti zvakaitwa naMwari izvozvo zvakaita kuti vati zii. Kana zvisina kudaro, mvura yakaita kuti vanyarare, nokuti yakanaya! Yakaramba ichingotsvotsvoma, ichizadza nyika yose sezvakanga zvataurwa naJehovha.—Gen. 7:16-21.

23. (a) Tinoziva sei kuti Jehovha haana kufarira kufa kwevanhu vakaipa vemuzuva raNoa? (b) Nei kuri kuchenjera kuti titevedzere kutenda kwaNoa mazuva ano?

²³ Jehovha akafarira here kufa kwevanhu ivavo vakaipa? Kwete! (Ezek. 33:11) Panzvimbo pezvo, akanga avapa mukana wakakwana wokuchinja mararamiro avo voita zvainge zvakarurama. Vaikwanisa here kuita kudaro? Mararamiro akaita Noa akapindura mubvunzo iwoyo. Nokufamba naJehovha, achiteerera Mwari wake muzvinhu zvose, Noa akaratidza kuti zvaiita kuti vanhu vapone. Mupfungwa iyoyo, kutenda kwake kwakapa nyika yepanguva yake mhosva; kwakanyatsobudisa pachena uipi hwevanhu vakararama panguva imwe chete naye. Kutenda kwake kwakamuchengetedza iye nemhuri yake. Kana ukatevedzera kutenda kwaNoa, ungazviponesawo iwe nevaya vaunoda. Kufanana naNoa, unogona kufamba naJehovha Mwari seShamwari yako. Uye ushamwari hwacho hunogona kugara nokusingaperi!