23—Izibetho ZaseYiputa

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwi-Eksodus yesi-5 ukuya kwi-10.]

UAron, eyalelwe ziingelosi, waya kuhlangana nomntakwabo, awayehlukene naye ixesha elide; bahlangana entlango kwindawo engenabantu, ngaseHorebhe. Apha, bathetha kunye, wamxelela uMoses uAron, “onke amazwi kaYehova abemthume wona, nemiqondiso yonke abemwisele umthetho ngayo.” Eksodus 4:28. Bahamba kunye ukuya eYiputa; bathi bakufika eGoshen, bahlanganisela ndawonye amadoda amakhulu akwaIsrayeli. UAron wakuxela konke ukumphatha kukaThixo uMoses, yathi yonke imiqondiso uThixo awayinika uMoses yaboniswa phambi kwabantu. “Bakholwa abantu, beva ukuba uYehova ubavelele oonyana bakaIsrayeli wazibona iintsizi zabo, bathoba baqubuda.” Indima 31.ANa 257.1

UMoses wayephathiswe isigidimi esiya kukumkani; umntu nomntakwabo bobabini bangena ebhotwe kukumkani uFaro njengabameli bakaKumkani wookumkani, bathetha egameni laKhe: “Utsho uYehova, uThixo kaIsrayeli, ukuthi, Bandulule abantu bam, bandenzele umthendeleko entlango.”ANa 257.2

“Ngubani na uYehova, ukuba ndiphulaphule izwi lakhe, lokuba ndindulule uIsrayeli?” wafuna ukuqonda ukumkani; “andimazi uYehova, kananjalo andiyi kumndulula uIsrayeli.”ANa 257.3

Impendulo yabo yathi, “UThixo wamaHebhere uhlangene nathi; makhe sihambe entlango uhambo lweentsuku ezintathu, sibingelele kuYehova uThixo wethu, hleze asiqwele ngendyikitya yokufa nangekrele.” Iindaba zabo kunye nomdla abawuvusayo ebantwini zasezifikile kukumkani. Wavutha umsindo wakhe. “Yinina, nina Moses noAron, ukuba nibakhulule [nibanqande] abantu emisebenzini yabo?” watsho. “Yiyani emithwalweni yenu.” Ubukumkani babuse bulahlekelwengenxayokuphazamisakwaba basemzini.Wathi akucinga loo nto, wongeza wathi, “Yabonani, baninzi abantu belizwe ngoku, ke nina niyabaphumza emithwalweni yabo.”ANa 257.4

Ebukhobokeni bawo, amaIsrayeli aya anokulahlekwa kukuwazi umthetho kaThixo, aza emka emiyalelweni yawo [umthetho]. ISabatha yayingananzwanga, kwaye izinyanzeliso zabaqhubi bawo zenza kwaba nobunzima ukuba ingagcinwa. Noko kunjalo, uMoses wayebabonisile abantu ukuba, ukuthobela uThixo kwakuyinto yokuqala ekukhululweni; aza amalinge awenziwayo ukubuyisela ukugcinwa kweSabatha aqatshelwa ngabacinezeli bawo [amaIsrayeli]. [Bona Isihlomelo, Inqaku 1.]ANa 258.1

Ukumkani, ekuqaphele ngokukodwa oku, warhanela ukuba amaIsrayeli aceba uvukelo emsebenzini wakhe. Inkcaso yayisisiphumo sokungenzi nto; waqinisekisa ukuba alifumaneki ixesha lokuceba okuyingozi. Kwangoko wamisa imiqathango yokuqinisa amakhamandela nokuxinzelela phantsi umoya wokukhululeka. Ngaloo mini, waphuma umyalelo wokuba umsebenzi wawo mawukhohlakale,ucinezele ngakumbi. Ezona zixhobo zokwakha ezazifumaneka lula yayizizitena ezomiswa lilanga; iindonga zezona zakhiwo zihle zazenziwe ngazo, kuze kubekwe ilitye phambi kwazo [izitena]; kwaye ukwenziwa kwezitena kwakufuna amanani amakhulu amakhoboka. Kwakuhlanganiswa iindiza nodongwe, ukuze zihlangane, kwaye zazininzi kakhulu iindiza ezisetyenziswayo; kufuneka abasebenzi bazifunele, phofu lingahlanga lona inani lezitena ekufuneka zenziwe.ANa 258.2

Lo myalelo wazisa uxinzelelo olukhulu kumaIsrayeli kulo lonke ilizwe [laseYiputa]. AmaYiputa awayengabasebenzisi bamaIsrayeli ayemise kwa-amaHebhere ukuba abe ngamagosa aphatha abasebenzi, aye la magosa enoxanduva lokuqinisekisa ukuba uyenziwa umsebenzi ngabo babengaphantsi kwawo. Kwathi xa kufuneka kwenziwe ngokomyalelo kakumkani, kwafuneka athi saa amaIsrayeli efuna umququ endaweni yeendiza; aza akufumana kunzima ukuwugqiba umsebenzi wesiqhelo. Ayesithi akoyiswa, abethwe kakhulu amagosa amaHebhere.ANa 258.3

Amagosa la ayecinga ukuba ingcinezelo iphuma kubasebenzisi kungekuko kukumkani; aza aya kukumkani nezikhalazo zawo. Inkcaso yahlangatyezwa ngukumkani ngelihlaselayo lisithi, “Kuhiliza nina, niyahiliza, kuko le nto nithi, Masiye sibingelele kuYehova.” Bayalelwa ukuba babuyele emsebenzini wabo, ngelithi, imithwalo yabo ayisayi kwenziwa lula. Ekubuyeni kwabo, bahlangana noMoses noAron, bakhala kubo, “UYehova makanikhangele, agwebe; ekubeni nilinukisile ivumba lethu phambi koFaro, naphambi kwabakhonzi bakhe, ukuba kubekwe ikrele lokusibulala esandleni sabo.”ANa 258.4

Wathi akuziva ezi zigculelo uMoses, wakhathazeka kakhulu. Ukubulaleka kwabantu kwakukhule kakhulu. Kulo lonke ilizwe kwakuphuma izikhalo zokuncama kwabadala nakwabancinane, bonke behlangene ngokubeka ityala loku kuguquka kwemeko phezu kwakhe. Wabakrakra umphefumlo wakhe, waya phambi koYehova ekhala esithi, “Nkosi yam, yini na ukuba ubaphathe kakubi aba bantu? Yini na le nto uthume mna? Kususela koko ndangenayo kuFaro, ndithetha egameni lakho, yena ubaphethe kakubi aba bantu; akubahlangulanga nokubahlangula abantu bakho.” Impendulo yathi, “Uya kukubona ngoku endiya kukwenza kuFaro, uya kubandulula, abagxothe ezweni lakhe ngesandla esithe nkqi.” Waphinda wakhunjuzwa ngomnqophiso uThixo awawenza nooyise, waza waqinisekiswa ukuba uya kuzaliseka.ANa 259.1

Kuyo yonke iminyaka yokukhonza eYiputa, kwaye kukho phakathi kwamaIsrayeli abo babebambelele kunqulo lukaYehova. Aba babekhathazeke kakhulu kukubona, yonke imihla, abantwana babo bebona amasikizi abahedeni, bade nabo baqubude koothixo babo ababuxoki. Ekubandezelekeni kwabo, bakhala kuYehova ukuba bakhululwe kwidyokhwe yaseYiputa, ukuze bakhululeke kwiimpembelelo ehlazisayo yokunqulwa kwezithixo. Abazange bayifihle inkolo yabo, koko bawaxelela amaYiputa ukuba bona banqula uMenzi wezulu nomhlaba, uThixo ekuphela kwaKhe oyinyaniso nophilayo. Babuphindaphinda ubungqina bobukho baKhe namandla, kususela ekudaleni kuse kwimihla kaYakobi. Ngenxa yoko, amaYiputa alifumana ithuba lokuqhelana nenkolo yamaHebhere; kodwa ngokucaphukela ukufundiswa ngamakhoboka abo, bazama ukubawexula abakhonzi bakaThixo ngokubathembisa izipho, kuthi kwakungenzeki oku, kusuke kube kukubatyityimbisela umnwe nokubakhohlakalela.ANa 259.2

Amadoda amakhulu akwaIsrayeli azama ukuluxhasa ukholo olufadalalayo lwabazalwana bawo ngokusoloko ephindaphinda izithembiso ezenziwa kooyise, namazwi obuprofeti kaYosefu phambi kokuba afe, exela kwangaphambili ngokukhululwa eYiputa. Abanye babesiva bakholwe. Abanye, bathi ngokujonga iimeko ezibarhangqileyo, bangafuni ukuba nethemba. AmaYiputa, ngokwaziswa ngento eyenzeka phakathi kwamakhoboka awo, akugculela oko akulindeleyo, awakhanyela ngokuwanyelisa amandla kaThixo wawo [amakhoboka]. Akhomba kwimeko yawo njengesizwe samakhoboka, abagezela esithi, “Ukuba uThixo wenu ulungile, ezele yinceba, enamandla ngaphezu koothixo bamaYiputa, kungani ukuba anganikhululi?”Babuye babakhangelise kweyabo imeko. babakhangelise kweyabo imeko. Babenqula izithixo awayesithi amaIsrayeli ngoothixo ababuxoki, kanti basisizwe esityebileyo nesinamandla. Batsho besithi, oothixo babo babasikelele ngempumelelo, babanika amaIsrayeli njengezicaka zabo, bababaza amandla okucinezela nokutshabalalisa abanquli bakaYehova. UFaro ngokwakhe wayeqhayisa ngokuba uThixo wamaHebhere engakwazi ukuwahlangula esandleni sakhe.ANa 259.3

Amazwi anje alitshabalalisa ithemba kumaIsrayeli amaninzi. Imeko yayibonakala kanye injengoko ayeyibeka amaYiputa. Yayiyinyaniso into yokuba ayengamakhoboka, kwaye kufuneka ekunyamezele konke oko abaqhubi bawo abakhohlakeleyo babethanda ukuwangcungcuthekisa ngako. Abantwana bawo babezingelwa babulawe, nobabo ubomi bungumthwalo. Kanti ke wona ayenqula uThixo wasezulwini. Ukuba ke ngoko uYehova ngokwenene wayengaphezu kwabo bonke oothixo, ngokuqinisekileyowayengeke abayekele ekubeni babe ngamakhoboka kubanquli-zithixo. Abo babenyanisekile kuThixo babeqonda ukuba, kwakungenxa yokumka kukaIsrayeli kuThixo, ngenxa yokuzinikela kwabo ekwendiselaneni nezizwe zabahedeni, baze ngolo hlobo bakhokelelwe ekunquleni izithixo, athe ngoko uYehova wabavumela ukuba babe ngamakhoboka; baza, ngesibindi, babaqinisekisa abazalwana babo ukuba, kungekudala, [uThixo] uza kuyaphula idyokhwe yomcinezeli.ANa 260.1

AmaHebhere ayethembe ukuyifumana inkululeko yawo ngaphandle kokulingwa okukhethekileyo kokholo lwawo okanye ukuphatheka kakubi okanye ukutsala nzima. Xa kunjalo, ayengakulungelanga ukukhululwa. Ayenokholo oluncinane kuThixo, aye engenayo intumekelelo yokunyamezela iimbandezelo zawo ade abone kufanelekile ukuba awasebenzele. Amaninzi ayanelisekile kukuhlala ebukhobokeni endaweni yokuhlangana neenzima ezihamba nokususwa kwawo ezweni lasemzini; kanti ke imikhwa yamanye yayise ifana naleyo yamaYiputa, nto leyo eyenza ukuba akhethe ukuhlala eYiputa. Ngenxa yoko, uYehova akazange awahlangule kwasekuqalekeni kokubonakaliswa kwamandla aKhe phambi koFaro. Wazilawula iziganeko ngokupheleleyo ukuze kuphuhle umoya wogonyamelo kwikumkani yaseYiputa nokuze, Yena, azibonakalise kubantu baKhe. Xa bathe babubona ubulungisa baKhe, amandla aKhe, uthando lwaKhe, baya kukhetha ukuyishiya iYiputa bazinikele ekusebenzeni kwaKhe. Umsebenzi kaMoses ngewawube lula kakhulu ukuba abaninzi kumaIsrayeli babengonakalanga kangangokuba bangabi nawo umdla wokuyishiya iYiputa.ANa 260.2

UYehova wamyalela uMoses ukuba abuyele ebantwini abaphindele isithembiso sokukhuluwa, ngengqiniseko ehlaziyekileyo yokuthandwa nguYehova. Wahamba njengoko wayeyalelwe; kodwa abazange baphulaphule. Sithi isiBhalo, “Abamphulaphulanga . . . ngenxayokukhathazeka,nangenxayomsebenzi onzima.” Saphinda sabuya kwakhona isigidimi sezulu kuMoses, “Yiya uthethe kuFaro ukumkani waseYiputa, abandulule oonyana bakaIsrayeli, baphume ezweni lakhe.” Wathi edakumbile, waphendula, “Yabona, oonyana bakaIsrayeli abandiphulaphulanga; wothini na ke uFaro ukundiphulaphula.” Kwathiwa makathabathe uAron ahambe naye ukuya phambi kukaFaro, uphinde umyalele ukuba “abandulule oonyana bakaIsrayeli, baphume ezweni lakhe.”ANa 260.3

Waxelelwa ukuba ukumkani akasayi kuze avume ade uThixo ayihambele ngezigwebo iYiputa aze amkhuphe uIsrayeli ngokubonakalisa amandla aKhe. Ngaphambi kokubandezelwa ngesibetho ngasinye, uMoses kwakufuneka achaze ubume baso kunye negalelo laso, nokuba ukumkani angazisindisa kuso ukuba uthanda njalo. Isohlwayo ngasinye esaliweyo sasiya kulandelwa sesinye esithe chatha, ide intliziyo yakhe ezaliswe likratshi ithobeke, amvume uMenzi wezulu nomhlaba njengoThixo oyinyaniso nophilayo. UYehova wayeya kuwanika amaYiputa ithuba lokubona ukungabinto kobulumko bamadoda awo anobukroti, nobuthakathaka boothixo bawo, xa bechasene nemiyalelo kaYehova. Wayeza kubohlwaya abantu baseYiputa ngenxa yokunqula kwabo izithixo akuphelise ukuqhayisa kwabo ngeentsikelelo abazifumana kwizithixo ezingeva nto. UThixo wayeza kulizukisa igama laKhe, ukuze zive nezinye izizwe ngamandla aKhe zingcangcazele kwizenzo zaKhe zobugorha, baze abantu baKhe bakhokhelelwe ukuba babuye ekunquleni kwabo izithixo baze bamnike [uYehova] unqulo olunyulu.ANa 263.1

Kwakhona uMoses noAron bangena kumagumbi azukileyo okumkani waseYiputa. Apho, erhangqwe ziintsika ezinde nobumenyemenye bemihombiso, imizobo yexabiso nemifanekiso eqingqiweyo yoothixo babahedeni, phambi kokumkani wobona bukumkani bunamandla obakha bakho, bema abameli bohlanga lwamakhoboka, ukuba baphinde umyalelo kaThixo wokuba akhululwe uIsrayeli. Ukumkani wafuna ummangaliso, ukubonisa ukuthunywa kwabo lizulu. UMoses noAroni bebeyalelwe ukuba baze benze ntoni ukuba kuye kwakho imfuno enjalo, waza uAron wathabatha intonga yakhe wayiphosa phantsi phambi kukaFaro. Yajika yaba yinyoka. Ukumkani wathi makubizwe “izilumko nabakhafuli,” elowo “waphosa phantsi intonga yakhe, yaba yinyoka; yasuka intonga ka-Aron yaziginya iintonga zabo.” Ukumkani, ezimisele kunangaphambili, wathi abemilingo bakhe bayalingana ngamandla noMoses noAron; wabasingela phantsi abakhonzi bakaYehova njengamabhedengu, waziva ekhuselekile ekwaleni kwakhe oko babefuna akwenze. Sekunjalo, walelwa ngamandla ezulu ukuba angabenzakalisi.ANa 263.2

Yayisisandla sikaThixo, ingeyiyo impembelelo yomntu okanye amandla kaMoses noAron, awenza imimangaliso abayibonisa phambi kukaFaro. Loo miqondiso nezimanga yayilungiselelwe ukumoyisela uFaro ukuba aqonde ukuba u-“Ndinguye” omkhulu umthumile uMoses, nokuba yayiluxanduva lukakumkani ukumkhulula uIsrayeli, ukuze bakhonze uThixo ophilayo. Iinkunkqela zobugqi nazo zabonisa imiqondiso nemimangaliso; kuba nazo zazingenzi ngobazo ubuchule bodwa, kodwa ngamandla kaThixo wazo, uSathana, owayezinceda ukuba zilinganise umsebenzi kaYehova.ANa 264.1

Abanobugqi abazange bazenze iintonga zabo zibe ziinyoka ngokwenene; kodwa bathi ngobugqi, bencedwa ngumkhohlisi omkhulu, bakwazi ukwenza ukuba ibekho imbonakalo enjalo. Kwakungaphezu kwamandla kaSathana ukuguqula iintonga zibe ziinyoka eziphilayo. Itshawe lobubi, nangona linabo bonke ubulumko namanga engelosi eyawayo, alinawo amandla okudala, okanye okunika ubomi; eli lilungelo likaThixo kuphela. Into ekuphela kwayo anokuyenza uSathana, wayenza; wenza unomgogwana. Emehlweni abantu, iintonga zaguqulwa zaba ziinyoka. Kwakholelwa oko nguFaro nenkundla yakhe. Akukho nto yayizahlula kwimbonakalo yazo naleyo yavezwa nguMoses. Nangona uYehova wenza ukuba inyoka yenene iziginye ezi zicekisekayo, noku akuzange kwathatyathwa nguFaro njengomsebenzi wamandla kaThixo, kodwa njengesiphumo sohlobo lobugqi obungaphezulu kobo bezicaka zakhe.ANa 264.2

UFaro walangazelela ukubuthethelela ubulukhuni bentliziyo yakhe ekumelaneni kwakhe nomyalelo wezulu, nto leyo eyamenza ukuba afune isizathu sokungayikhathaleli imimangaliso uThixo awayenza ngoMoses. USathana wamnika lento kanye wayeyifuna. Ngomsebenzi awawenza ngabanobugqi, wenza ukuba kubonakale kumaYiputa ukuba uMoses noAron babenobugqi bengabakhafuli, nokuba isigidimi ababesiza naso sasingadingi kuhlonitshwa ngokungathi siphuma kumntu ongasentla. Ngaloo ndlela, unomgogwana kaSathana wayifeza injongo yokuwanika isibindi amaYiputa kuvukelo lwawo, nokwenza ukuba uFaro ayenze lukhuni intliziyo yakhe ekoyisakaleni. USathana wayethembe ukuba uya kulushukumisa ukholo lukaMoses noAron ngakubungcwele bemvelaphi yesigidimi ababesithunyiwe, ukuze izixhobo zakhe [uSathana] zoyise. Wayengakulungelanga konke ukuvuma ukuba abantwana bakwaIsrayeli bakhululwe ebukhobokeni ukuze bakhonze uThixo ophilayo.ANa 264.3

Itshawe lobubi lalinenjongo enzulu yokubonisa imimangaliso yalo ngamadoda anobugqi. Lalisazi kakuhle ukuba uMoses, ekwaphuleni idyokhwe yobukhoboka kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli, wayefuzisela, ngenx’ engaphambili,uKristu,owayezakwaphulaulawulo lwesono phezu kosapho loluntu. Wayesazi ukuba, akubonakala uKristu, kuya kubakho imimangaliso emikhulu eya kubakho ukuze ihlabathi lifumane ubungqina bokuba uThixo umthumile [uKristu]. USathana wangcangcazela ngenxa yegunya lakhe. Ngokwenza unomgogwana womsebenzi kaThixo ngoMoses, wayethembe, hayi kuphela ukuthintela ukukhululwa kukaIsrayeli, kodwa ukunyanzela impembelelo eyayiya kuthi kwizizukulwana ezizayo iyitshabalalise imimangaliso kaKristu. USathana uhleli efuna ukuwenza unomgogwana umsebenzi kaKristu nokumisa elakhe igunya namabango akhe. Ukhokela abantu ukuba bayibalele kubo imimangaliso kaKristu ngokwenza ukuba ibonakale ngokweziphumo zobuchule namandla omntu. Kwiingqondo ezininzi, ngolo hlobo uyaluchitha ukholo kuKristu njengoNyana kaThixo, azikhokelele ekwaleni izipho zobabalo lwenceba engecebo lokuhlangulwa.ANa 265.1

UMoses noAron bayalelwa ukuba baye ngasemlanjeni ngentsasa elandelayo, apho ukumkani wayekholisa ukuphumla khona. Umlambo womNayile wawulithende lokutya nempilo yeYiputa yonke, ingumlambo owawunqulwa njengothixo, ukumkani wayesiza kuwo yonke imihla ukuza kunqula. Kulapha apho abazalwana ababini basiphinda khona kuye isigidimi, baza bolula intonga babetha phezu kwamanzi. Umthombo ongcwele wabaleka igazi, iintlanzi zafa, umlambo wanesankqange sevumba. Amanzi asezindlwini, amanzi agcinwe emaquleni, nawo atshintshwa aba ligazi. Sekunjalo, “zenjenjalo ke nezazi zaseYiputa ngobugqi bazo,” waza wahamba “uFaro, waya edlwini yakhe, akayibekela ntliziyo nale nto.” Saqhuba iintsuku ezisixhenxe isibetho, akwabakho nto itshintshayo.ANa 265.2

Kwakhona intonga yaphakanyiswa phezu kwamanzi, kwaphuma amasele emlanjeni athi saa kuwo wonke umhlaba. Agubungela izindlu, azalisa kwiindawo zokulala, angena ezitovini nakwizitya zokuxova izonka. Isele lalithatyathwa njengento engcwele ngamaYiputa, ngoko benganakho ukuwatshabalalisa, kodwa ezi zinto zinyekenyeke azizange zibe nakunyamezeleka. Zazalisa kwibhotwe likaFaro, waza ukumkani akakwazi ukunyamezela ukungasuswa kwawo. Abanobugqi bakhangeleka ngathi bayazama ukuwenza amasele, kodwa abakwazi ukuwasusa. Wathi akuyibona le nto uFaro, waba ngathi unokuzithoba. Wathumela ukuba kubizwe uMoses noAron, wathi, “Mthandazeni uYehova, awasuse amasele kum nasebantwini bam; ndobandulula abantu baye kubingelela kuYehova.” Emva kokuba bemkhumbuzile ukumkani ngokuziphakamisa kwakhe kwangaphambili, bamcela ukuba abanike ithuba lokuthandaza ukuba sisuswe isibetho. Wabamisela imini elandelayo, ethembe ngasese ukuba,aphaethubeni,amasele aya kunyamalala ngokwawo, aze abe uyasinda ekuthobekeni okubi bokuzinikela kuThixo kaIsrayeli. Isibetho sona saqhubeka kwada kwalilixa elibekiweyo, ekwathi kuyo yonke iYiputa afa amasele, yathi imizimba yawo ebolileyo, eyasalayo, yawungcolisa umoya.ANa 265.3

UYehova wayenokuwenza ukuba abuyele eluthulini ngomzuzwana; kodwa akazange akwenze oko hleze kuthi emva kokuwasusa asuke ukumkani nabantu bakhe bathi oko kwenziwe ngabakhafuli okanye abathakathi, njengomsebenzi wabenzi bobugqi. Afa amasele, aza aqokelelwa azinqumba. Apha, ukumkani nawo onke amaYiputa aba nobungqina obungenakuphikwa lulwazi lwabo, bokuba lo msebenzi awenziwanga ngabugqi, kodwa yayisisigwebo sikaThixo wezulu.ANa 266.1

“Uthe ke uFaro akuba nethuba lokuphefumla, wayenza lukhuni intliziyo yakhe.” Ngomyalelo kaThixo, uAron wasolula isandla sakhe, lwaza uthuli lomhlaba lwaziintwala kulo lonke ilizwe laseYiputa. UFaro wabiza amadoda obugqi ukuba enze loo nto, kodwa abakwazi. Umsebenzi kaThixo wabonakala ungaphezulu kulowo kaSathana. Amadoda obugqi avuma esithi, “Ngumnwe kaThixo.” Ukumkani akazange ashukunyiswe nto.ANa 266.2

Ukubhena nokulumkisa akuzange kwenze nto, kwaza kwabethwa ngesinye isigwebo. Ixesha lokwenzeka kwaso laxelwa kwangaphambili, ukuze kungathiwa sibekho ngethamsanqa. Izibawu zazalisa izindlu, zafumba phezu komhlaba, kangangokuba “lonakala ilizwe zizibawu.” Ezi zibawu zazizikhulu zinobuhlungu, ukuluma kwazo kwakubuhlungu kakhulu kubantu nasezilwanyaneni. Njengoko kwakuxeliwe, esi isibetho asizange sifike kumhlaba waseGoshen.ANa 266.3

UFaro wawanika imvume yokuba enze imibingelelo eYiputa amaIsrayeli, kodwa ala ukwamkela iimeko ezilolo hlobo. “Akulungisile ukwenjenjalo;” watsho uMoses, “kuba soba sibingelela amasikizi kumaYiputa phambi kwawo, osixuluba ngamatye.” Izilwanyana ezaziza kubingelelwa ngamaHebhere zaziyinxalenye yezo zazithatyathwa ngokuba zingcwele ngamaYiputa; kwaye yayinjalo intlonipho ezaziphethwe ngayo ezi zilwanyana, kangangokuba ukusixhela, nokuba kungengozi, yayikukwaphula umthetho okohlwaywa ngokufa. Kwakungenako ukwenzeka ukuba amaHebhere anqule eYiputa engakhange azikhubekise iinkosi zawo. UMoses waphinda wacebisa ukuba akhe ahambe aye entlango iintsuku ezintathu. Wavuma ukumkani, wabacenga abakhonzi bakaThixoukubabamthandazeukuba asisuse isibetho. Bathembisa ukukwenzaoku,kodwa bamlumkisa ukuba angenzi ngenkohliso ngakubo. Sathi nqumama isibetho, kodwa intliziyo kakumkani yenziwa lukhuni luvukelo oluthe rhoqo, waza wala ukunikezela.ANa 266.4

Kwaya kwabakho olunye uswazi oluthe kratya—isifo samathumba kuzo zonke iinkomo ezisemadlelweni. Izilwanyana ezingcwele nezilwanyana zomthwalo, abantu neenkomo nezimvu, amahashe neenkamela, nama-esile, zonke zatshatyalaliswa. Yayixelwe ngokucacileyo into yokuba amaHebhere ayengazi kuchaphazeleka; waza uFaro ngokuthumela abathunywa kumakhaya amaIsrayeli, wayingqina inyaniso yesi sindululo sikaMoses. “Ezinkomeni zabantwana bakwaIsrayeli akubangakho nanye efayo.” Waqhubeka enenkani ukumkani.ANa 267.1

UMoses waphinda wayalelwa ukuba athabathe uthuthu lweziko “aluphose phezulu esibhakabhakeni phambi kukaFaro.” Esi senzo sasibaluleke kakhulu. Kwiminyaka engamakhulu amane eyadlulayo, uThixo wambonisa uAbraham ingcinezelo yabantu baKhe yexesha elizayo, phantsi komfuziselo weziko eliqhumayo nesibane esivuthayo. Wayetshilo ukuthi uya kubavelela ngezigwebo abacinezeli babo, aze abakhuphe ekuthinjweni benento eninzi. EYiputa, uIsrayeli wahlala ixesha elide kwiziko longcungcutheko. Esi senzo sikaMoses sasibaqinisekisa ukuba, kuThixo wawungalibalekanga umnqophiso waKhe, nokuba lalifikile ixesha lokuhlangulwa kwabo.ANa 267.2

Lwathi lwakuphoswa phezulu uthuthu, iinkozwana zalo zathi saa kulo lonke ilizwe laseYiputa, kwaza kwathi kuyo yonke indawo ezifike kuyo zaba “ngamathumba athe qwele ngamaqhakuva ebantwini, nasezinkomeni.” Ababingeleli nabanobugqi, ukuza kuthi ga kwesi sithuba, babesoloko bemkhuthaza uFaro kwiinkani zakhe, kodwa ngoku isibetho safikelela nakubo. Bakubethwa sisifo esibi nesibuhlungu, amandla ababezigwagwisa ngawo awenza ukuba badeleke, abazange bakwazi ukulwa ngawo kuThixo kaIsrayeli. Isizwe sonke senziwa ukuba kwakulilize ukuthembela kwabo banobugqi, xa bona ngokwabo bengakwazi ukuzikhusela.ANa 267.3

Sekunjalo, yaya iba lukhuni intliziyo kaFaro. UYehova wamthumela isigidimi, esithi, “Ngesi sihlandlo ndithuma zonke izibetho zam entliziyweni yakho, nakubakhonzi bakho nakubantu bakho, ukuze wazi ukuba akukho unjengam ehlabathini lonke. . . . Noko ke ndikumisele eli thuba lokuba ndiwabonakalalise amandla am kuwe.” Kwakungengakuba uThixo wamenza ukuba abekho ngenxa yale njongo, kodwa ngokuba ukwazelela kwaKhe kuyazilawula iziganeko ukuze abekwe etroneni kanye ngexesha elibekelwe ukuhlangulwa kukaIsrayeli. Nangona lo mphathi ugonyamelayo wathi ngokwaphula kwakhe umthetho okuninzi waphulukana nenceba kaThixo, ukanti ubomi bakhe balondolozwa ukuze kuthi, kwezo nkani zakhe, uYehova abonakalise imimangaliso yaKhe elizweni laseYiputa. Ukwenzeka kweziganeko yayikukwenzelela kukaThixo. Wayenakho ukubeka etroneni ikumkani enenceba, eyayingayi kuqala imelane nokubonakalaliswa kwamandla ezulu. Kwimeko enjalo, iinjongo zikaYehova ngezazingazange zifezekiswe. Abantu baKhe bayekelwa kumava enkohlakalo ecolisisayo yamaYiputa, ukuze bangabi nakukhohliswa ngempembelelo ehlazisayo yokunqulwa kwezithixo. Ekumphatheni kwaKhe uFaro, uYehova wabonisa ukuluthiya kwaKhe unqulo lwezithixo kwanokuzimisela kwaKhe ukohlwaya inkohlakalo nengcinezelo.ANa 267.4

UThixo wayethethe wathi ngoFaro, “Ndiya kuyenza lukhuni intliziyo yakhe, angabandululi abantu.” Eksodus 4:21. Kwakungekho kusetyenziswa kwamandla angaphezu kwemvelo ukwenza lukhuni intliziyo kakumkani. UThixo wamnika uFaro obona bungqina bukhulu bamandla ezulu, kodwa ukumkani ngeenkani wala ukuthobela ukukhanya. Konke ukubonakaliswa kwamandla angenamda okwaliwa ngumntu, kumenza ukuba azimisele ngakumbi kuvukelo lwakhe. Imbewu yovukelo awayihlwayelayo xa wayesala ummangaliso wokuqala, yavelisa isivuno. Xa wayebheka phambili kweyakhe indlela, esiya enyuka kumanqanaba eenkani, intliziyo yakhe yaya iqina ngokuqina, wada wanyanzeleka ukuba akhangele ubuso obubandayo, obufileyo bamazibulo.ANa 268.1

UThixo uthetha nabantu ngabakhonzi baKhe, enika izilumkiso neziyalo, nokukhalimela isono. Unika elowo ithuba lokulungisa iziphoso zakhe phambi kokuba zimile ngokuqinileyo esimilweni; kodwa ukuba ubani uyala ukulungiswa, amandla ezulu awangeneleli ukuba amelane nomkhwa wesenzo sakhe. Uyenza lukhuni intliziyo yakhe ngakwimpembelelo kaMoya Oyingcwele. Ukwala ukukhanya okungaphezu koko, kumbeka apho nempembelelo enamandla angaphezulu ithi ingakwazi ukwenza mahluko obonakalayo.ANa 268.2

Lowo uye waziyekela kwaba kanye esilingweni kuya kubalula ukuziyekela okwesibini. Konke ukuphindaphinda isonokuyawacutha amandla akhe okuma ale, kuyawamfamekisa amehlo akhe, kuyifuthanisele ingqiqo. Yonke imbewu yokuziyekela ehlwayelwayo iya kuthwala isiqhamo. UThixo akenzi mmangaliso ukuthintela isivuno. “Into athe wahlwayela yona umntu, wovuna kwayona.” Galati 6:7. Lowo ubonakalalisa ubungqola bokungakholwa, ukungakhathali okuqinileyo ngakwinyaniso yezulu, uvuna isivuno saloo nto wayeyihlwayele ngokwakhe. Kuba njalo kwiinkulungwane eziphulaphula ngeentliziyo ezilukhuni nezingakhathaliyo iinyaniso ezazikhe zayichukumisa imiphefumlo yazo. Zahlwayela ukungakhathali nokumelana nenyaniso, sinjalo ke nesivuno abasivunayo.ANa 268.3

Abo basithulisayo isazela sobutyala ngengcinga yokuba bangabe bayitshintshe indlela yobubi xa bethanda, nokuba bangabe bedlala ngezimemo zenceba, kanti basoloko bevuselelwa rhoqo, bakwenza oku bebeka ubomi babo engozini. Bacinga ukuba, emva kokulahlela kwicala lomvukeli omkhulu yonke impembelelo yabo, baya kuthi ngomzuzwana wokugqibela, xa berhangqwe yingozi, bathi ngoko batshintshe iinkokeli. Loo nto ayenzeki lula. Amava, imfundo, ukulawula ubomi bokuziyekela esonweni, kusiqulunqe isimilo kangangokuba abanako, ngelo xesha, ukwamkela umfanekiselo kaYesu. Ukuba kwakungazange kubekho ukukhanya endleleni yabo, izinto bezingayi kufana. Inceba ibiya kungenelela, ibanike ithuba lokwamkela ukuhlabela kwayo; kodwa emva kokuba ukukhanya kwaliwe kwadelwa ithuba elide, ekugqibeleni kuya kurhoxiswa.ANa 269.1

Isibetho sesichotho esalandelayo ukukhathaza uFaro, sinesilumkiso esithi, “Thumela ngoku, ukhawuleze, uhlanganise imfuyo yakho, neento zakho zonke onazo ezindle; bonke abantu neenkomo ezifunyenwe endle zingahlanganiselwanga ekhaya, zohlelwa sisichotho, zife.” Imvula okanye isichotho sasingaqhelekanga eYiputa, kanti nesaqhwithi esinjengeso sasixelwa kwangaphambili asizange sabonwa. Ingxelo eyakhawulezayo ukuhanjiswa, nabo bonke abakholwayo lilizwi likaYehova bazihlanganisa iinkomo zabo, lo gama abakudelayo ukulunyukiswa baziyeka emadlelweni. Ngaloo ndlela, phakathi kwesigwebo eso, inceba kaYehova yatyhilwa, abantu bavavanywa, baza babonakala ukuba bangaphi abaya bamoyika uThixo ekubonakalaliseni kwaKhe amandla aKhe.ANa 269.2

Isaqhwithi safika njengoko bekuxeliwe ngaphambili—indudumo nesichotho, zihlangene nomlilo, “sinzima kunene, ekungazanga kubekho singangaso ezweni lonke lamaYiputa, kususela oko laba luhlanga. Isichotho sayibetha yonke into esendle ezweni lonke laseYiputa, kwathabathela emntwini kwesa enkomeni; sayibetha isichotho yonke imifuno yasendle, sayaphula yonke imithi yasendle.” Intshabalalo nembubhiso zabonakala endleleni yengelosi etshabalalisayo. Ngumhlaba waseGoshen kuphela owasindayo. Kwakuboniswa amaYiputa ukuba umhlaba uphantsi kolawulo lukaThixo ophilayo,nokuba iziqalelo zithobela ilizwi laKhe,nokuba inkuseleko ekuphela kwayo isekuthobeleni Yena.ANa 269.3

Yonke iYiputa yathuthumela ebusweni bokuthululwa okoyikekayo kwesigwebo sezulu. UFaro wakhawulezisa ukuthi makubizwe isibini esizalanayo [uMoses nomkhuluwa wakhe], wadanduluka esithi, “Ndonile okwesi sihlandlo. UYehova ulilungisa, ke mna nabantu bam asindawo. Thandazani kuYehova; kwanele ukubakho kweendudumo zikaThixo nesichotho; ndonindulula ningabi sahlala.” Impendulo yathi, “Ekuphumeni kwam phakathi komzi, ndozolulela kuYehova izandla zam ziyeke iindudumo, nesichotho singabi sabakho, ukuze wazi ukuba umhlaba lo ngokaYehova. Ke wena nabakhonzi bakho, ndiyazi ukuba aniyi kwandula nimoyike uYehova uThixo.”ANa 270.1

UMoses wazi ukuba ukhuphiswano aluphelanga. Ukuvuma kukaFaro nezithembiso zakhe zazingezizo izibonakaliso zengqondo okanye intliziyo eguqukileyo, kodwa zakhanywa ukuphuma kuye kukoyika nentlungu. UMoses wathembisa, sekunjalo, ukuba uya kusenza isicelo sakhe; kuba uya kumnika ithuba lokuba neenkani kwakhona. Umprofeti waphuma, engaphazanyiswa yingqumbo yesaqhwithi, waza uFaro nawo wonke umkhosi wakhe bawangqina amandla kaYehova okumgcina umthunywa waKhe. Wathi akuba ephume ngaphandle kwesixeko, uMoses “wazolulela izandla zakhe kuYehova, zayeka iindudumo nesichotho, yathula imvula emhlabeni.” Wathi nje esathi phaka ukumkani kuloyiko lwakhe, yabe intliziyo yakhe ibuyele ebugwenxeni bayo.ANa 270.2

UYehova wabuya wathi kuMoses, “Yiya kuFaro; kuba mna ndiyiqaqadekisile intliziyo yakhe, nentliziyo yabakhonzi bakhe, ukuze ndibonakalalise le miqondiso yam phakathi kwalo ilizwe; ukuze ubalise, ezindlebeni zonyana wakho nezonyana wonyana wakho, izenzo ezincamisileyo endizenzileyo kumaYiputa, nemiqondiso yam endiyibonakalalisileyo phakathi kwawo, ukuze nazi ukuba ndinguYehova.” UYehova wayebonakalalisa amandla aKhe, ukuqinisa ukholo lukaIsrayeli kuYe njengoThixo ekuphela kwaKhe oyinyaniso nophilayo. Wayeya kubanika ubungqina obungenakuphazanyiswa bomahluko okhoyo phakathi kwabo namaYiputa, aze azenze zonke izizwe ukuba zazi ukuba amaHebhere, ezithe zawadela zawacinezela, ayephantsi kokhuselo lukaThixo wezulu.ANa 270.3

UMoses wamlumkisa ukumkani ukuba, ukuba usaqhubeka neenkani, kuya kuthunyelwa isibetho seenkumbi, eziya kugquma ubuso bomhlaba zitye yonke into eluhlaza ekhoyo; zizalise izindlu, nebhotwe ngokwalo; saye isibetho esinjalo, watsho, [iinkumbi] “ezingabonwanga ngooyihlo noonyokokhulu, kususela kwiimini ababekho ngazo emhlabeni, unanamhla.”ANa 270.4

Abacebisi bakaFaro bema bemangalisiwe. Isizwe sasesilahlekelwe kakhulu ngokufa kweenkomo zabo. Abantu abaninzi babebulewe sisichotho. Amahlathi ayewe phantsi, nezityalo zitshatyalalisiwe. Babelahlekelwa kakhulu kuko konke ababekuzuzile ngokusebenza kwamaHebhere. Ilizwe lonke lalijongene nendlala. Iinkosana namadoda asenkundleni bonke basondela kukumkani babuza besemsindweni, “Koda kube nini na, lo engumgibe kuthi? Bandulule abantu, baye kukhonza uYehova uThixo wabo. Akukazi na, kuhleliwe nje, ukuba iYiputa iza kutshabalala?.”ANa 271.1

UMoses noAron baphinda babizwa, wathi ukumkani kubo, “Hambani, niye kukhonza uYehova uThixo wenu; kuhamba oobani noobani ke?”ANa 271.2

Impendulo yathi, “Siya kuhamba nolutsha neengwevu zakowethu, sihambe noonyana bethu neentombi zethu, nempahla yethu emfutshane neenkomo zethu; kuba kuthi ngumthendeleko kaYehova.”ANa 271.3

Ukumkani wazaliswa ngumsindo. “UYehova makabe nani,” wakhala, “njengokuba ndinindulula nina nentsapho yenu. Khangelani, kukho ububi phambi kwenu. Makungabinjalo; makuhambe nina bangamadoda, niye kukhonza uYehova; kuba nibe nifuna oko. Bagxothwa, baphuma ebusweni bukaFaro.” UFaro wayezame ukuwatshabalalisa ngomsebenzi onzima amaIsrayeli, kodwa ngoku wenza ngokungathi unomdla omkhulu ekulungelweni kwawo nasekuphatheni ngobubele abantwana bawo. Eyona njongo yakhe yayikukugcina abafazi nabantwana njengesiqinisekiso sokubuya kwamadoda.ANa 271.4

UMoses wayolula intonga phezu komhlaba, kwavuthuza umoya wasempumalanga, wazisa iinkumbi. “Zininzi Kunene; ekungazanga phambi kwazo kubekho zinkumbi zingako, kwabe emva kwazo kungayi kubakho zinjalo.” Zasizalisa isibhakabhaka lada lamnyama ilizwe zanqunqutha yonke into eluhlaza eshiywe sisichotho. UFaro wathumela ukuba kubizwe abaprofeti ngokukhawuleza, wathi, “Ndonile kuYehova uThixo wenu nakuni. Kaloku khanisixolele isono sam okwesi sihlandlo sodwa, nithandaze kuYehova uThixo wenu, akususe kum oku kufa kodwa.” Bakwenza oko, waza umoya onamandla wasentshonalanga wazithwalela kulwandle oluBomvu iinkumbi. Waya waqhubeka ukumkani nesigqibo sakhe seenkani.ANa 271.5

Abantu baseYiputa basele belungele ukuncama. Izibetho ezaseziwile phezu kwabo zabonakala zingaphaya kokuba zinganyamezelwa, baza bazaliswa luloyiko lwexesha elizayo. Isizwe sasinqula uFaro njengommeli wothixowaso,kodwa abaninzibaboyisakelengoku ukuba wayezichaselisa kuLowo wenza onke amagunya endalo ukuba abe ngabalungiseleli bentando yaKhe. Amakhoboka amaHebhere, ethandwe ngendlela emangalisayo, ayesiya eqiniseka ngokukhululwa kwawo. Abaqhubi bawo babengasakwazi ngoku ukuwacinezela njengokwangaphambili. Kuyo yonke iYiputa, kwakukho uloyiko olufihlakeleyo lokuba uhlanga olucinezelweyo lungavuka luziphindezele ngokoniwa kwalo. Kuyo yonke indawo, abantu babebuza ngomoya othobileyo, Yintoni eza kulandela?ANa 272.1

Ngequbuliso, kwathi zinzi isithokothoko sobumnyama phezu komhlaba; ubumnyama obungqingqwa ngathi bungabanjwa ngesandla. Abantu babenganelanga kuvinjwa nje ukukhanya, kodwa nomoya wawunzima kakhulu, kuphefumleka nzima. “Ababonana; akwasuka bani endaweni yakhe imihla emithathu; ke kubo bonke oonyana bakaIsrayeli kwabakho ukukhanya emakhayeni abo.” Ilanga nenyanga zizinto ezazinqulwa ngamaYiputa; kwathi kobu bumnyama buyimfihlelo, abantu noothixo babo ngokufanayo, babethwa ligunya elalithabathele kulo ingxaki yamakhoboka. [*Bona Isihlomelo, Inqaku 2.] sisoyikeka sinjalo, esi sigwebo sibubungqina bemfesane kaThixo nokungabi nentumekelelo kwaKhe ukutshabalalisa. Ubanika abantu ixesha lokucinga nokuguquka phambi kokuba ahlise phezu kwabo esokugqibela nesona sibi kwizibetho.ANa 272.2

Uloyiko lwakhama okunye ukuvuma kuFaro. Ekupheleni kosuku lwesithathu lobumnyama, wathi makubizwe uMoses, wavuma ukuba bahambe abantu, esithi, makusale imihlambi namaqela emfuyo. “Akuyi kusala nophuphu olunye;” waphendula watsho umHebhere onesigqibo. “Asazi ukuba somkhonza ngantoni na uYehova, side sifike khona.” Wadubula umsindo kakumkani, akaba nakubambeka. “Hamba umke kum,” wahlahlamba, “uze uzigcine, ungaphindi ububone ubuso bam; kuba mhlana ububonileyo ubuso bam, uya kufa.”ANa 272.3

Impendulo yathi, “utyaphile utsho; andisayi kuphinda ndibubone ubuso bakho.”ANa 272.4

“Indoda leyo inguMoses yayinkulu kunene ezweni laseYiputa kubakhonzi bakaFaro nasebantwini.” UMoses wayehlonitshwa ngamaYiputa. Ukumkani wayengake akwazi ukumchukumisa,kuba abantu babekhangele kuye njengokuphela kwakhe onokuzisusa izibetho. Babelangazelela ukuba amaIsrayeli avunyelwe ukuba ayishiye iYiputa. Ngukumkani nababingeleli bakhe abakuchasa kwada kwasekugqibeleni okwakufunwa nguMoses.ANa 272.5