1, 2. Tinceku taNkulunkulu titiva njani njengobe tiphila kulelive lelibuswa nguSathane, futsi tinelikhaya lato ngamuphi umcondvo?

 UTIVA ukhululekile yini kulelive lesiphila kulo? Nangabe ungakakhululeki, indlela lotiva ngayo iyafanana nendlela letinye tinceku taNkulunkulu lebetitiva ngayo. Sekuphele sikhatsi lesidze bonkhe bantfu labamtsandza mbamba Jehova bativa batihambi kulelive lelibuswa nguSathane. Nasi sibonelo: Ngesikhatsi tinceku letetsembekile taNkulunkulu ticocoma eveni laseKhenani, tisuka kulenye indzawo tiya kulenye, ‘tavuma kutsi lapha emhlabeni tibafokati netihambi.’—Heb. 11:13.

² Ngendlela lefanako, balandzeli baKhristu labagcotjiwe, labatakhamuti ‘tasezulwini’ batitsatsa ‘njengetihambi nalabendlulako’ kulelive lelibuswa nguSathane. (Fil. 3:20; 1 Phet. 2:11) ‘Naletinye timvu’ taKhristu ‘nato atisito talelive, njengobe [naJesu] abengesiye walelive.’ (Joh. 10:16; 17:16) Nobe kunjalo, bantfu baNkulunkulu akusho kutsi bete “likhaya.” Kuliciniso kutsi sijabulela kuvikeleka lokukhulu ekhayeni letfu, longeke ulibone ngemehlo enyama. Mosi wabhala: “Yebo, Simakadze! Wena ube siphephelo setfu etitukulwaneni nasetitukulwaneni.” * (Hla. 90:1) Jehova ukhombise njani kutsi ‘usiphephelo’ setinceku takhe letetsembekile esikhatsini lesendlulile? ‘Usiphephelo’ njani kubantfu bakhe lamuhla? Utawukhombisa njani kutsi nguye kuphela losiphephelo esikhatsini lesitako?

3. Encwadzini yeTihlabelelo 90:1, ngusiphi sihloko, umfanekiso nentfo lefanana naloyo mfanekiso lokukhulunywa ngayo?

³ Njengemifanekiso leminyenti lokukhulunywa ngayo eBhayibhelini, Tihlabelelo 90:1 tinesihloko,  umfanekiso nentfo lefanana naloyo mfanekiso. Kulombhalo, sihloko lokukhulunywa ngaso, nguJehova. Umfanekiso, siphephelo nobe indzawo yekuhlala. Kunekufana lokunyenti emkhatsini waJehova nendzawo yesiphephelo. Sibonelo saloku kutsi Jehova uyabavikela bantfu bakhe. Loku kuhlobene neliciniso lekutsi ulutsandvo. (1 Joh. 4:8) UnguNkulunkulu wekuthula, futsi wenta tinceku takhe letetsembekile ‘tihlale tiphephile.’ (Hla. 4:8) Cabanga ngendlela lasebentelana ngayo netinceku takhe letetsembekile. Yekucala ngu-Abrahama.

4, 5. Nkulunkulu wakhombisa njani kutsi ‘usiphephelo’ ku-Abrahama?

⁴ Singase sicabange ngendlela Abrahama lativa ngayo ngesikhatsi Jehova amtjela kutsi: “Phuma eveni lakini, nasetihlotjeni takho, . . . uye eveni lengitakukhombisa lona.” Nangabe kungenteka kutsi lamavi amkhatsata Abrahama, siyaciniseka kutsi kukhatsateka kwakhe kwaphela nakeva Jehova atsi: “Ngitakwenta ube sive lesikhulu, ngikubusise, ngente libito lakho libe likhulu . . . Ngitababusisa labakubusisako, ngibacalekise labakucalekisako.”—Gen. 12:1-3.

⁵ Ngalawo mavi, Jehova waba yindzawo yesiphephelo ya-Abrahama netitukulwane takhe. (Gen. 26:1-6) Jehova wasigcwalisa setsembiso sakhe. Sibonelo saloku kutsi wavimbela Faro waseGibhithe neNkhosi Abimeleki yaseGerari kutsi bahlukumete Sara nekutsi babulale Abrahama. Wavikela bo-Isaka naRebheka ngendlela lefanako. (Gen. 12:14-20; 20:1-14; 26:6-11) Siyafundza: “[Jehova] akavumelanga muntfu kutsi abahluphe, ngenca yabo wajezisa ngisho emakhosi. Watsi: ‘Ningabatsintsi labagcotjiwe bami, ningacali nilimate baphrofethi bami.’”—Hla. 105:14, 15.

6. Yini Isaka layitjela Jakobe kutsi ayente, futsi Jakobe kungenteka wativa njani?

⁶ Labo baphrofethi bebafaka ekhatsi umtukulu wa-Abrahama longuJakobe. Nakufika sikhatsi sekutsi Jakobe atsatse umfati, uyise wakhe, Isaka watsi kuye: “Ungamtsatsi umfati kulamaKhenani. Hamba uye eMesophothamiya ekhabonyoko, kaBethuweli, utitsatsele khona umfati emadvodzakatini aLabani.” (Gen. 28:1, 2) Ngekushesha Jakobe wamlalela Isaka. Jakobe washiya tihlobo takhe tengati lebetihlala eKhenani, wahamba yedvwa emakhulu emakhilomitha, alibangise eHarani. (Gen. 28:10) Kungenteka watibuta: ‘Ngitawuhamba sikhatsi lesingakanani? Malume wami utangemukela ngetandla letimhlophe yini aphindze anginike umfati lowesaba Nkulunkulu?’ Nangabe Jakobe abekhatsateke ngaloko, kukhatsateka labenako kwaphela nakefika eLuzi, sekahambe emakhilomitha lacishe abe ngu-100 kusuka eBherisheba. Yini leyenteka eLuzi?

7. Nkulunkulu wamcinisekisa njani Jakobe asebentisa liphupho?

 ⁷ ELuzi, Jehova wabonakala kuJakobe ephusheni atsi: “Ngitawuba nawe ngikulondvolote nome uyaphi, ngikubuyise kulo lelive. Ngobe ngingeke ngikushiye ngingakakwenti loku lesengikwetsembise kona.” (Gen. 28:15) Lamavi lanemusa kufanele kube amcinisekisa Jakobe aphindze amdvudvuta. Ungambona yini ngemehlo engcondvo ashakutela, anesifiso sekubona kutsi Nkulunkulu utaligcwalisa njani livi laKhe? Nangabe ushiye indzawo lowatalelwa kuyo, mhlawumbe ngenjongo yekutsi uyewukhonta kulelinye live, usetfubeni lelihle lekucondza indlela Jakobe labetiva ngayo. Asingabati kutsi ububonile bufakazi bekutsi Jehova uyakunakekela.

8, 9. Jehova wakhombisa ngatiphi tindlela kutsi ‘usiphephelo’ kuJakobe, futsi singafundzani kuloko?

⁸ Jakobe watsi nakefika eHarani, malume wakhe Labani wamemukela ngetandla letimhlophe, ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi wase umnika Leya naRakheli kutsi babe bafati bakhe. Nobe kunjalo, ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Labani wamshayela esakeni Jakobe, wamdlela umholo wakhe ngekuwugucula emahlandla lalishumi. (Gen. 31:41, 42) Jakobe wakubeketelela loko kuphatfwa kabi, anelitsemba lekutsi Jehova utawuchubeka amnakekela—futsi wamnakekela. Ngesikhatsi Nkulunkulu atjela Jakobe kutsi abuyele eKhenani, ‘abesanemihlambi lemikhulu, netincekukati, netinceku, nemakamela, netimbongolo.’ (Gen. 30:43) Jakobe wambonga ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni Nkulunkulu, wadzimate wathantaza watsi: “Umusa wakho awukangifaneli nako konkhe kwetsembeka kwakho lokubonakalise kimi, inceku yakho, akukangifaneli. Ngobe lomfula iJordane ngawewela ngiphetse ludvondvolo lwami lodvwa, manje senginemacembu lamabili.”—Gen. 32:10.

⁹ Wawuliciniso umthantazo waMosi lotsi: “Yebo, Simakadze! Wena ube siphephelo setfu etitukulwaneni nasetitukulwaneni.” (Hla. 90:1) Lawo mavi asebenta ngendlela lefanako lamuhla, ngobe Jehova “lote kugucugucuka” njengesitfunti, uyachubeka ayindzawo yesiphephelo futsi levikelekile yebantfu bakhe labetsembekile. (Jak. 1:17) Ase sibone kutsi ngayiphi indlela.

10. Yini lesenta siciniseke kutsi Jehova utawuchubeka asiphephelo setinceku takhe?

¹⁰ Ase ucabange nganasi simo: Usenkantolo futsi ungufakazi ecaleni lelibekwe inhlangano yetigebengu lesemhlabeni wonkhe. Umholi wayo uhlakaniphile, unemandla, ucala emanga laluhlata futsi ungumbulali. Ungativa njani nasewuphumile kulenkantolo ngemuva kwalelicala? Ungativa uvikelekile yini? Cha, angeke! Ungabe unesizatfu lesihle sekucela kutsi bakuvikele. Lesimo lesisandza kukhuluma ngaso, sifanekisa leso tinceku taJehova letikuso, letifakaza ngesibindzi ngaJehova futsi letingesabi kwembula sitsa sakhe lesikhulu lesiyingoti, lesinguSathane. (Fundza Sembulo 12:17.) Kodvwa Sathane uphumelele yini kuthulisa bantfu baNkulunkulu? Cha, akaphumeleli! Ecinisweni, siyachubeka sinebudlelwane lobuhle naNkulunkulu—lelo liciniso lelinenchazelo yinye: Jehova nalamuhla solo usivikelo ‘nesiphephelo’ setfu, ikakhulukati kulamalanga ekugcina. (Fundza Isaya 54:14, 17.) Nobe kunjalo, Jehova angeke abe siphephelo setfu nangabe sivumela Sathane kutsi asisuse endzaweni yetfu lesiphephelo.

11. Ngusiphi sifundvo lesingasifundza etincekwini letetsembekile tasendvulo?

¹¹ Ase siphindze sifundze lesinye sifundvo ku-Abrahama, Isaka naJakobe. Nanobe bebahlala eKhenani, bebahlukile kubantfu labebahlala lapho, batenyanya tintfo letimbi labebatenta. (Gen. 27: 46) Bebangemadvodza labesebentisa timiso, abengadzingi luhidze lwemitsetfo kute ati lokulungile nalokubi. Loko labekwati ngaJehova nangebunguye bakhe, bekwenele kuwo. Ngesizatfu sekutsi abesiphephelo sawo, abengafuni kuba nebudlelwane nalelive. Esikhundleni saloko, atehlukanisa nalo. Asishiyela sibonelo lesihle kakhulu. Uyetama yini kulingisa sibonelo saletinceku letetsembekile endleleni lokhetsa ngayo bangani netintfo lotijabulisa ngato? Kuyadzabukisa kutsi labanye ebandleni lebuKhristu kunebufakazi bekutsi ngelizinga lelitsite batitfola banetsetekile kulelive laSathane. Nawutiva ngaleyo ndlela, ngisho nje nakancane, thantaza ngalendzaba. Khumbula kutsi lelive libuswa nguSathane. Likhombisa umoya wakhe wekubate lutsandvo nekungabacabangeli labanye.—2 Khor. 4:4; Ef. 2:1, 2.

12. (a) Jehova ubasekela njani bantfu bakhe? (b) Utiva njani ngendlela lasisekela ngayo?

¹² Kute sibalekele bucili baSathane, sidzinga kuzuza kulo lonkhe lusito Jehova laluniketa tinceku takhe. Lolusito luhlanganisa imihlangano yebuKhristu, kukhonta kwemndeni ‘netipho letibantfu’—belusi lababekwe nguNkulunkulu kute basidvudvute futsi basisekele njengobe silwisana netinkinga tekuphila. (Ef. 4:8-12) UMzalwane George Gangas, lobekalilunga leSigungu Lesibusako iminyaka leminyenti, wabhala: “Nangikanye nabo [bantfu baNkulunkulu] ngitiva ngisekhaya nginemndeni wami.” Utiva ngaleyo ndlela yini nawe?

13. Ngusiphi sifundvo lesibalulekile lesingasifundza kuHebheru 11:13?

¹³ Lesinye sifundvo lesibalulekile lesisifundza ku-Abrahama, Isaka naJakobe kutsi akukafaneli sesabe kwehluka kubantfu lesiphila nabo. Njengobe sibonile  esigabeni 1, “bavuma kutsi lapha emhlabeni babafokati netihambi.” (Heb. 11:13) Utimisele yini kuba ngulowehlukile? Kuliciniso kutsi akusimelula kwenta njalo. Kodvwa ngelusito lwaNkulunkulu nelwemaKhristu, ungaphumelela. Khumbula kutsi, awuwedvwa. Bonkhe labafuna kukhonta Jehova kufanele bakulwele kumkhonta. (Ef. 6:12) Singaphumelela kulemphi nangabe setsembela kuJehova futsi simenta abe siphephelo setfu.

14. Tinceku taJehova tatilindze liphi ‘likhaya’?

¹⁴ Lesinye sifundvo lesibalulekile ngulesi: Lingisa Abrahama ngekutsi unake loko lokutawenteka esikhatsini lesitako. (2 Khor. 4:18) Umphostoli Pawula wabhala kutsi Abrahama “abebheke lelo khaya lelinetisekelo, lelimsunguli nemakhi walo kunguNkulunkulu.” (Heb. 11:10) Lelo “khaya” kwabonakala kutsi nguMbuso waMesiya. Kuliciniso kutsi Abrahama bekudzingeka alindze sikhatsi lidzimate  libe khona lelo “khaya”. Tsine asikho sidzingo sekutsi sililindze, ngesizatfu sekutsi nyalo lowo Mbuso uyabusa ezulwini. Kunebufakazi lobunyenti lobukhombisa kutsi masinyane utawubusa nasemhlabeni. Uyakholelwa yini kutsi loyo Mbuso uyintfo lekhona mbamba? Uwenta ute kucala yini ekuphileni kwakho futsi utehlukanise nalelive?—Fundza 2 Phetro 3:11, 12.

15. Banaliphi likusasa labo labetsembele kulelive?

¹⁵ Njengobe lelive lelibuswa nguSathane liya ekupheleni, ‘imihelo’ yalo itawuba mibi kakhulu. (Mat. 24:7, 8) Simo sitawuba matima kakhulu ngesikhatsi sekuhlupheka lokukhulu. Tintfo letinyenti letisemhlabeni titawuphatamiseka futsi bantfu batawesaba kakhulu. (Hab. 3:16, 17) Ngesizatfu sekutsi batawube besaba, batawufuna siphephelo “emigedzeni nasemihumeni emkhatsini wemadvwala etintsaba.” (Semb. 6:15-17) Imigedze nobe imihume angeke ibavikele, ngisho netinhlangano tetepolitiki nemabhizinisi lamakhulu angeke abavikele.

16. Kufanele silitsatse njani libandla lebuKhristu, futsi yini lesibangela sente njalo?

¹⁶ Bantfu baJehova batawuchubeka bajabulela sivikelo ‘sesiphephelo,’ lesinguNkulunkulu Jehova. Njengemphrofethi Habakhuki, ‘batawujabula ngaSimakadze.’ ‘Batawujabula ngaNkulunkulu uMsindzisi wabo.’ (Hab. 3:18) Jehova utawukhombisa ngatiphi tindlela kutsi ‘usiphephelo’ ngaleso sikhatsi lesimatima? Sitawubona nasesifikile leso sikhatsi. Lesingaciniseka ngako nguloku: Njengema-Israyeli ngesikhatsi aphuma eGibhithe, “sicumbi lesikhulu” sitawuchubeka sihlelekile, silalela ticondziso letibuya kuNkulunkulu. (Semb. 7:9; fundza Eksodusi 13:18.) Utawusebentisa libandla kute endlulisele leto ticondziso kitsi. Ngako-ke, emabandla latinkhulungwane lasemhlabeni wonkhe abonakala ‘atindlu’ letisivikelo lokwakhulunywa ngato ku-Isaya 26:20. (Fundza.) Uyakujabulela yini kuba semihlanganweni yelibandla? Usilalela ngekushesha yini sicondziso Jehova lakunika sona asebentisa libandla?—Heb. 13:17.

17. Jehova ‘usiphephelo’ setinceku takhe letetsembekile lesetifile ngayiphi indlela?

¹⁷ Ngisho nalabo labangafa betsembekile kungakefiki kuhlupheka lokukhulu, bachubeka bavikelekile kuJehova, ‘losiphephelo’ sabo. Ngayiphi indlela? Sekwendlule sikhatsi lesidze bo-Abrahama, Isaka naJakobe bafile, Jehova watsi kuMosi: “NginguNkulunkulu . . . wa-Abrahama, naNkulunkulu wa-Isaka, naNkulunkulu waJakobe.” (Eks. 3:6) Ngemuva kwekucaphuna lamavi, Jesu wachubeka watsi: “UnguNkulunkulu walabaphilako, hhayi walabafile; ngobe bonkhe bayaphila kuye.” (Luk. 20:38) KuJehova, tinceku takhe letife tetsembekile kufana nekutsi tiyaphila; ngobe nakanjani titawuvuswa.—Shu. 7:1.

18. Emhlabeni lomusha, Jehova utawukhombisa njani kutsi ‘usiphephelo’ sebantfu bakhe ngendlela lekhetsekile?

¹⁸ Emhlabeni lomusha lotako, Jehova utawuba ‘siphephelo’ sebantfu bakhe nangalenye indlela. Sembulo 21:3 sitsi: “Nalo likhaya laNkulunkulu likubantfu. Nkulunkulu utawuhlala emkhatsini wabo.” Jehova utawusebentisa Jesu Khristu kutsi abuse umhlaba iminyaka leyinkhulungwane. Nakuphela leyo minyaka, Jesu utawubuyisela kuYise uMbuso sekakwente konkhe lokuyinjongo yaNkulunkulu ngemhlaba. (1 Khor. 15:28) Ngemuva kwaloko, bantfu labete sono angeke basamdzinga Jesu njengemkhulumeli wabo; Jehova utawuba nabo. Silindzele likusasa lelihle sibili. Kwanyalo, asilwele kulingisa tinceku letetsembekile tangesikhatsi lesendlulile ngekwenta Jehova abe ‘siphephelo’ setfu.