26—Ukusuka KuLwandle OluBomvu Ukuya ESinayi

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiEksodus 15:22-27; 16 ukuya 18.]

Ukusuka kuLwandle oluBomvu imikhosi yamaIsrayeli yaqhubeka nohambo lwayo, phantsi kokukhokelwa yintsika yomlilo. Umbono owawubangqongile yayingoweyona nkqantosi — eze, enentaba ezize, amathafa abharhileyo, nolwandle olunabele kude, unxweme luthe saa imizimba yeentshaba zabo; kanti ke babezaliswe luvuyo ngokucinga ngenkululeko, yaza yonke ingcamango yokunganeliseki yaphela cwaka.ANa 291.1

Bahamba iintsuku ezintathu, abafumana manzi. Umphako ababewuphethe waphela. Kwakungekho nto yakuluphelisa unxano olutshisayo ngexesha bezirhuqa benqumla amathafa abaswe lilanga. UMoses, owayeqhelene nale ngingqi, wayesazi into engaziwayo ngabanye, le yokuba, eMara, eyona ndawo eyayinemithombo, ikufupi, amanzi ayengakufanelanga ukusetyenziswa. Wathi enexhala elikhulu, wakhangela kwilifu elikhokelayo. Ngentliziyo ebuhlungu, wabeva abantu bekhwaza ngovuyo. “Amanzi! Amanzi!” wahlokoma wonke umngcelele. Amadoda, abafazi, nabantwana bengxamile benovuyo, batyhudisana emthonjeni, kodwa, naso isikhalo sentlungu sithulwa phezulu ngumkhosi wonke — amanzi ayekrakra.ANa 291.2

Kuloyiko lwabo nasekuphelelweni lithemba, bamgculela uMoses ngokubakhokelela kwindlela enjalo, bengasakhumbuli ukuba ubukho bezulu kwilifu elingaziwayo lilo elalibakhokela, yena kunye nabo. Kwintlungu yakhe ngoxinzelelo lwabo, wenza oko bona babekulibele ukukwenza; wakhalela uncedo ngokuzingileyo kuYehova. “UYehova wambonisa umthi; wawuphosa emanzini, aba mnandi.” Apha, uIsrayeli wanikwa isithembiso ngoMoses, “Ukuba uthe waliphulaphula izwi likaYehova uThixo wakho, wenza okuthe tye phambi kwakhe, wayibekela indlebe imithethoyakhe,wayigcinayonke imimiselo yakhe; andiyikubeka nasinye isifo phezu kwakho endisibekileyo phezu kwamaYiputa; kuba ndinguYehova, igqirha lakho.”ANa 291.3

Ukusuka eMara, abantu bahamba baya kufika e-Elim, apho bafumana khona “imithombo yamanzi elishumi elinamibini, nemithi yesundu engamashumi osixhenxe.” Apha bahlala iintsuku eziliqela phambi kokuba bangene kwintlango yeSin. Bathi bakuba benenyanga bengasekho eYiputa, bamisa okokuqala entlango. Umphako wabo wawuqala ukuphela. Lwalunqongophele utyani entlango, yaye nemihlambi yabo icutheka. Kwakuza kuvela phi ukutya kwale nginginya? Intandabuzo yazalisa iintliziyo, baphinda kwakhona bakhalaza. Nabalawuli, kunye namadoda amakhulu, bahlangana ekukhalazeni ngakwiinkokeli ezinyulwe nguThixo: “Akwaba besife sisandla sikaYehova ezweni laseYiputa, xa sasihleli ngasezimbizeni zenyama, sisidla isonka sada sahlutha; ngokuba nisikhuphele kule ntlango, ukuze nisibhubhise sonke esi sikhungu ngendlala.”ANa 292.1

Babengekafi yindlala; konke ababekuswele ngelo xesha kwakusa fumaneka, kodwa babesoyikela ixesha elizayo. Babe ngaqondi ukuba inginginya enjalo ingaxhaswa ekuhambeni kwabo entlango, baza, ekucingeni kwabo, bababona abantwana babo bebulawa yindlala. UYehova wazivumela iinzima ukuba zibajikeleze macala, nokuba umphako wokudla ucutheke, khon’ ukuze iintliziyo zabo zibuyele kuYe, owayenguMhlanguli wabo ukuza kufika kule ndawo. Ukuba kwintswelo yabo bebengabiza Yena, wayesaya kubanika imiqondiso ebonakalayo yothando nokukhathala kwaKhe. Wayethembise ukuba, ukuba bathobela imithetho yaKhe, akukho sifo siya kubafikela, kwaye kwakusisono sokungakholwa ngakwicala labo okwenza ukuba bona okanye abantwana babo babe banokufa yindlala.ANa 292.2

UThixo wayethembise ukuba uya kuba nguThixo wabo, ukubathabathela kuYe njengabantu, nokubakhokelela kwilizwe elikhulu nelihle; kodwa babekulungele ukutyhafa kuso sonke isikhubekiso abahlangana naso endleleni eya kwelo lizwe. Ngendlela emangalisayo wabakhupha ebukhobokeni babo eYiputa, ukuze abaphakamise abazukise abenze babe yinto yokunconywa emhlabeni. Kwakubalungele, ke kodwa, ukuba bahlangane neenzima, banyamezele ukuhlupheka. UThixo wayebasusa kumgangatho wokusingelwa phantsi ebenza bafanele ukuhlala kwindawo ehloniphekileyo phakathi kwezizwe bafumane ukuthenjwa okubalulekileyo nokungcwele. Ukuba babeye banokholo ngakuYe, akuba ekwenze konke awabenzela kona, babeya kukuthwala ngovuyo ukungaphatheki kakuhle, ukuswela, nokuphatheka kakubi ngenene; kodwa babengenantumekelelo ukumthemba uYehova ngaphaya kokutyhilwa kwamandla abonwa ngamehlo. Bawalibala amava abo akrakra okusebenza nzima eYiputa. Bakulibala ukulunga namandla kaThixo awabonakaliswa ngenxa yabo ekubahlanguleni ebukhobokeni. Bayilibala indlela abantwana babo abasindiswa ngayo xa ingelosi etshabalalisayo yayibulala onke amazibulo aseYiputa. Bawulibala umboniso omkhulu wamandla ezulu kuLwandle oluBomvu. Balibala ukuba, ngexesha bona babenqumla besindile, imikhosi yeentshaba zabo, eyayizama ukubalandela, yonganyelwa ngamanzi olwandle. Babona, beva kuphela izinto ezingabahambeli kakuhle ngelo xesha kunye nezilingo zelo xesha; endaweni yokuba bathi, “UThixo usenzele izinto ezinkulu; nangona sibe singamakhoboka, usenza uhlanga olukhulu,” bathetha ngobunzima bendlela, bemangala ukuba lophela nini na uhambo oludinisayo.ANa 292.3

Imbali yobomi bukaIsrayeli basentlango yakrolelwa ukulungelwa kukaIsrayeli kaThixo kuse ekupheleni kwexesha. Ingxelo yokuphatha kukaThixo abo babezula entlango kuko konke ukubamba kwabo besihla benyuka, ekulambeni, ekunxanweni, ekudinweni, nakwezinye izibonakaliso zamandla kaThixo ezothusayo ukuze bakhululeke, izele zizilumkiso nemfundiso kubantu baKhe kuzo zonke izizukulwana. Amava awahlukeneyo amaHebhere, ayesisikolo sokuwalungisela ikhaya labo ababelithenjisiwe eKanan. UThixo unga abantu baKhe bangathi ngentliziyo ethobekileyo nomoya ofundisekayo bakuphinde ukufunda ngezilingo awadlula kuzo uIsrayeli wakudala, ukuze bafundiswe ekulungiseleleni kwabo iKanan yasezulwini.ANa 293.1

Abaninzi bakhangela emva kuIsrayeli, bamangaliswe kukungakholwa nokukrokra kwabo, beziva ngokungathi bona babengayi kubanjalo ukungabi nambulelo; kodwa xa ukholo lwabo luvavanywa, nazizilingo ezincinane, babonakalisa ukholo okanye ukunyamezela okungadluliyo kolukaIsrayeli wakudala. Bathi xa befika kwiindawo ezimxinwa, bakhalaze ngendlela uThixo anyule ukubenza nyulu ngayo. Nangona iimfuno zabo zeli xesha zisanezwa, uninzi alunantumekelelo ukumthemba uThixo ngekamva labo, baze bahlale besexhaleni hleze bangafikelwa bubuhlempu, abantwana babo basale betsala nzima. Abanye basoloko belindele ububi okanye bebabaza iinzima ezikhoyo ngokwenene, ukuze amehlo abo angaziboni iintsikelelo ezininzi ezidingaumbulelo wabo. Izikhubekiso abahlangananazo, endaweni yokuba zibakhokelele ukuba bafune uncedo kuThixo, ekuphela kwaKhe ithende lamandla, ziyabasusa kuYe, kuba zivusa ukungonwabi nokusola.ANa 293.2

Ingaba siyalungisa na ukungakholwa ngolo hlobo? Kungani ukuba singabi nambulelo, singathembi? UYesu usisihlobo sethu; lonke izulu linomdla ekuhlaleni kwethu kakuhle; kwaye ixhala lethu nokoyika kwethu liwenza buhlungu uMoya Oyingcwele kaThixo. Akufuneki siziyekele kwinkathalo esenza umsindo nesonakalisayo, yakugqiba ingasincedi ukuba sithwale izilingo. Mayingabikho indawo enikelwa kokuya kungathenjwa uThixo okusikhokelela ukuba ukulungiselela imfuno yexesha elizayo kube kokona kuphambili esikusukelayo ebomini, ngokungathi uvuyo lwethu luxhomekeke kwizinto zasemhlabeni. Asiyiyo intando kaThixo ukuba abantu baKhe basindwe lixhala. Kunjalo nje, INkosi yethu ayithi azikho iingozi endleleni yethu. Ayicebisi ukuba iza kubasusa abantu emhlabeni wesono nobubi, kodwa isalathisa kwisiphephelo esingasayi kuze sisilele. Ubiza abadiniweyo, abasindwa ngumthwalo, “Yizani kum nonke nina nibulalekayo, nisindwayo ngumthwalo, ndoninika ukuphumla.” Yisuseni idyokhwe yexhala nokukhathalela okwehlabathi enithe nakubeka entanyeni yenu. “Thabathani idyokhwe yam niyithwale, nifunde kum; ngokuba ndinobulali, ndithobekile ngentliziyo; noyifumanela ukuphumla imiphefumlo yenu.” Mateyu 11:28, 29. Sinako ukukufumana ukuphumla noxolo kuThixo, siwaphose onke amaxhala ethu kuYe; kuba usikhathalele. (Khangela ku-1 Petros 5:7).ANa 294.1

Uthi umpostile uPawulos, “Lumkani, bazalwana, hleze kubekho kubani wenu intliziyo engendawo, engakholwayo, enokumka kuThixo ophilileyo.” Hebhere 3:12. Xa sikhangele konke uThixo asenzele kona, ukholo lwethu lumele ukuqina, luphile, lunyamezele. Endaweni yokukrokra nokukhalaza, okuthethwa yintlizyo yethu kumele ukuthi, “Mbonge uYehova, mphefumlo wam, ilibonge igama lakhe elingcwele into yonke engaphakathi kwam. Mbonge uYehova, mphefumlo wam, ungayilibali yonke impatho yakhe entle.” Ndumiso 103:1, 2.ANa 294.2

UThixo wayengalahlekwanga engqondweni yaKhe ziintswelo zikaIsrayeli. Wayethe kwiinkokeli zabo, “Ndiya kuninisela isonka sivela ezulwini.” Yanikwa imiyalelo ebantwini ukuba babuthe oko kunikwayo yonke imihla, kodwa ngokuphindwe kabini ngemini yesithandathu, ukuze ukugcinwa ngcwele kweSabatha kugcinwe.ANa 294.3

UMoses wayiqinisekisa intlanganiso ukuba iimfuno zabo ziya kwaneziswa: “UYehova aninike inyama ngokuhlwa, nidle isonka kusasa, nihluthe.” Wongezawathi,“Ke thinasingoobani na? Anikrokreli Anikrokreli thina, nikrokrela uYehova.” Waqhubeka wayalela uAron ukuba athi kubo, “Sondelani phambi koYehova; kuba ukuvile ukukrokra kwenu.” Kwathi uAron esathetha, “bakhangela entlango, nabo ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova bubonakala efini.” Ubuqaqawuli abangazange babubona, babufuzisela uBukho bezulu. Ngezibonakaliso ezazibhekiswa kwizimvo zabo, babeza kuba nokumazi uThixo. Kwakufuneka befundiswe ukuba Osenyangweni, wayeyinkokeli yabo, nokuba kufuneka baloyike balithobele ilizwi laKhe.ANa 295.1

Ngokuhlwa iminquba yagutyungelwa yimihlambi yentabalala yezagwityi, zanele ukuba kufumane wonke umntu okhoyo. Kusasa, kwakulele emhlabeni “intwana apha ecolekileyo, ejiyileyo, encinanana njengeqabaka emhlophe.” “Yayinjengembewu yekoriyandire, imhlophe.” Abantu bayibiza ngokuthi yi“mana.” UMoses wathi, “Sesi sonka aninika sona uYehova, ukuba sibe kukudla.” Abantu bayibutha imana, bafumanisa ukuba ininzi, yanele wonke umntu. Bayibutha ukuze “bayisile ematyeni, okunye bayingqushe ngezingqusho, bayipheke ngeembiza, benze amaqebengwana ngayo.” Numeri 11:8. “Isongo sayo saye sinjengezonkana ezinobusi.” Babeyalelwe ukuba babuthe yonke imihla kangangehomere umntu ngamnye; baze bangayishiyi kude kube yintsasa elandelayo. Abanye bazama ukuyigcina abayibuthileyo kude kube ngemini elandelayo, kodwa yafumaneka ingakufanelanga ukutyiwa. Umsindleko wemini kwakufuneka ubuthwe kusasa; kuba yonke eseleyo emhlabeni yayinyibilika elangeni.ANa 295.2

Ekuyibutheni kwabo imana, kwafunyaniswa ukuba abanye babutha kakhulu baza abanye babutha kancinane kunomlinganiselo owawubekiwe; kodwa “balinganisela ngehomere; akagqithisa obuthe kakhulu; akasilela obuthe kancinane.” Ingcaciso yesi siBhalo, kwanesifundo esiphathekayo esifumaneka kuso, inikwe ngumpostile uPawulos kwileta yesibini eya kwabaseKorinte. Uthi, “Kuba andithi mabaphumle abanye, nibandezeleke nina; ndithi, ukuze kubekho ukulingana ngexesha lakalokunje, ukuphuphuma kwenu makufikelele ekusileleni kwabo; ukuze nokuphuphuma kwabo kufikelele ekusileleni kwenu, ukuze ke kubekho ukulingana; njengokuba kubhaliwe kwathiwa, Owabutha kakhulu akabanga nakusalelayo; nowabutha kancinane akabanga nakusilela.” 2 Korinte 8:13-15.ANa 295.3

Ngemini yesithandathu abantu babutha iiomere ezimbini umntu ngamnye. Abalawulibakhawuleza bamxelelaokokwenzekileyo. Impendulo yakhe yathi, “Yiyo loo nto ayithethileyo uYehova, Ngomso luphumlo; yisabatha engcwele kuYehova; yosani enikosayo, phekani enikuphekayo, zibekeleni yonke into eseleyo, igcinwe kude kuse.” Benza njalo, bafumanisa ukuba iye yahlala ayonakala. “Wathi uMoses, Yidleni namhla; kuba namhla yisabatha kuYehova; namhla aniyi kuyifumana endle. Noyibutha imihla emithandathu; ngomhla wesixhenxe yisabatha; ayi kubakho ngawo.”ANa 296.1

UThixo ufuna ukuba imini yaKhe engcwele igcinwe ingcwele ngoku njengoko kwakunjalo ngexesha likaIsrayeli. Umyalelo owanikwa amaHebhere kufuneka uthatyathwe ngawo onke amaKristu njengomyalelo kaYehova kuwo. Imini ephambi kweSabatha kufuneka yenziwe imini yokulungiselela, ngokuthi yonke into ibe ilungele iiyure ezingcwele. Akufuneki ukuba imicimbi yethu ivunyelwe ukuba iyokungena kwixesha elingcwele. UThixo uyalele ukuba abagulayo nabo basezintlungwini bakhathalelwe; umsebenzi ofunekayo ukubenza bonwabe ngumsebenzi wenceba, awukuko ukwaphulwa kweSabatha; kodwa wonke omnye umsebenzi ongadingekiyo kufuneka uphetshwe. Abaninzi baye bathi ngokungakhathali babeke bucala izinto ezincinane zokwenziwa kude kufike ukuqala kweSabatha kanti bezinokwenziwa ngosuku lokulungiselela. Akumele kube njalo. Umsebenzi oye wayekwa kwada kwaqala iSabatha kufuneka uyekwe ungenziwanga ide idlule. Eli khondo lingayinceda inkumbulo yaba bangakhathaliyo, libenze ukuba bakhathalele ukuwenza umsebenzi ngeentsuku ezintandathu zokusebenza.ANa 296.2

Ngazo zonke iiveki zohambo lwabo olude entlango, amaIsrayeli awubona ummangaliso ontlantlu-ntathu, owalungiselelwa ukubethelela ezingqondweni zawo ukubaluleka kweSabatha: ukuwa kwezahlulo ezibini zemana ngemini yesithandathu, ukungabikho kwayo ngemini yesixhenxe, nokuhlala imnandi ihlambulukile leyo ekwakufuneka igcinelwe iSabatha, lo gama yayisithi xa igciniwe yashiyeka ngelinye ixesha ingakufaneli ukutyiwa.ANa 296.3

Kwiziganeko ezihlangene nokunikwa kwemana, sinobungqina obupheleleyo bokuba, iSabatha ayizange imiselwe [eSinayi], njengoko abaninzi besitsho, xa umthetho wawunikwa eSinayi. Phambi kokuba amaIsrayeli afike eSinayi, ayeyiqonda iSabatha ukuba inyanzelekile kuwo. Ekunyanzelekeni ukuba kuthi ngoLwesihlanu [usuku lwesithandathu evekini] kubuthwe izahlulo ezibini zemana ukulungiselela iSabatha, xa yayingayi kuwa, ubungcwelebendalobeminiyophumlo,babubethelelwakuwo. Bathi xa abanye abantu bephuma ngeSabatha ukuya kubutha imana, uYehova wabuza, “Kuya kuda kube nini na, ningavumi ukuyigcina imithetho yam nemiyalelo yam?”ANa 296.4

“Bayidla oonyana bakaIsrayeli imana iminyaka emashumi mane, bada bafika ezweni elimiweyo; bayidla imana bada bafika emdeni welizwe lakwaKanan.” Iminyaka emashumi mane babekhunjuzwa mihla le ngalo msindleko ungummangaliso, ngenkathalo kaThixo engapheliyo kunye nothando lwaKhe olunobubele. Ngokwamazwi oMdumisi, uThixo “wabanika batya ukutya kwaphezulu. Ewe, abantu batye ukutya kwezithunywa zezulu.” (Iindumiso 78:24, 25, IBHAYIBHILE)—oko kukuthi, ukutya ababekuphathelwa zizithunywa zezulu. Ngokuxhaswa “yingqolowa yasezulwini” babefundiswa yonke imihla ukuba, ukuba nesithembiso sikaThixo, babekhuseleke kuyo yonke intswelo njengaxa berhangqwe ngamasimi engqolowa ababulisayo kumathafa atyebileyo aseKanan.ANa 297.1

Imana eyayisiwa ezulwini ukuba ixhase uIsrayeli, yayingumfuziselo waLowo wayeza kuhla evela kuThixo ukuba anikele ubomi ehlabathini. Wathi uYesu, “Ndim isonka sobomi. Ooyihlo bayidla imana leyo entlango, bafile noko. Isonka sona esihla emazulwini. . . . Ukuba ubani uthe wasidla esi sonka, wodla ubomi ngonaphakade; ke isonka endiya kumnika sona mna, siyinyama yam, endiya kuyinikela ubomi behlabathi.” Yohane 6:48-51. Phakathi kwezithembiso zentsikelelo kubantu bakaThixo ngobomi bexesha elizayo, kubhaliwe, kwathiwa, “Lowo weyisayo ndiya kumnika ukuba adle kuyo imana efihlakeleyo.” IsiTyhilelo 2:17.ANa 297.2

Emva kokuba beyishiyile intlango yaseSin, amaIsrayeli amisa eRefidim. Apha ayengekho amanzi, baphinda abakuthemba ukubonelela kukaThixo. Kubumfama babo nasekuzicingeleni, abantu beza kuMoses, bawafuna ngenkani besithi, “Sinike amanzi sisele.” Yena akazange aphelelwe kukubanyamezela. “Yini na ukuba nibambane nam?” watsho. Yini na ukuba nimlinge uYehova?” Bakhala besemsindweni, “Yini na ukuba usinyuse siphume eYiputa nosapho lwethu nemfuyo yethu, uze kusibhubhisa ngenxano?” Ngexesha babenikwe imfumba yokutya, bakukhumbula baneentloni ukungakholwa nokukhalaza kwabo, baza bathembisa ukuthembela kuYehova kwixesha elizayo; kodwa bakhawuleza basilibala isithembiso sabo, basilela kwasekulingweni kokuqala kokholo lwabo. Intsika yelifu eyayibakhokela yaba ngathi igqume imfihlelo eyoyikekayo. UMoses, ngubani yena? babuza njalo, khona yayiyintoni injongo yakhe yokubakhupha eYiputa? Ukukrokra nokungathembi kwazizalisa iintliziyo zabo, bamtyhola phandle ngokuceba ukubulalabona nabantwana babo,ngokubaphuca konke abanako nokubatsalisa nzima ukuze azityebise yena ngezinto zabo. Kule ngxokolo yengqumbo nomsindo babese befuna ukumxuluba ngamatye.ANa 297.3

Waba noxinzelelo olukhulu uMoses, wakhala kuYehova, “Ndiya kubathini na aba bantu?” Wayalelwa ukuba athabathe amadoda amakhulu kunye nentonga awenza ngayo imimangaliso eYiputa, aye phambi kwabantu. Wathi uYehova kuye, “Yabona, ndiya kuma phambi kwakho khona, phezu kweliwa eHorebhe; uze ulibethe iliwa; kophuma amanzi kulo, basele abantu.” Wathobela, aphuma amanzi etsaza angumsinga ophilayo owanika amanzi amaninzi eminqubeni. Endaweni yokuyalela uMoses ukuba aphakamise intonga yakhe kubekho isibetho esibi, njengezo zaseYiputa, phezu kweenkokeli koku kukrokra kubi, uYehova, ngenceba yaKhe enkulu, wayenza intonga isixhobo saKhe sokwenza umsebenzi wokuhlangula.ANa 298.1

“Walicanda iliwa entlango. Wabenza amanzi anzongonzongo kakhulu; wavelisa imiqukuqela yamanzi engxondorheni, wahlisa amanzi njengemilambo.” Ndumiso 78:15, 16. UMoses wabetha iliwa, kodwa yayinguNyana kaThixo owathi, egqunywe yintsika yelifu, wema ecaleni kukaMoses, wenza ukuba kumpompoze amanzi anika ubomi. AsinguMoses kuphela kunye namadoda amakhulu, kodwa nentlanganiso yonke eyayimi mgama, ababona ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova; kodwa ukuba ilifu lalisusiwe, ngebabebulewe kukukhanya okukhulu kwaLowo wayehleli apho phakathi (efini). Ekunxanweni kwabo, abantu bamlinga uThixo, bathi, “Ukhona uYehova phakathi kwethu, akakho kusini na?”--“Ukuba uThixo usizise apha, kutheni engasiniki amanzi kunye nesonka?” Ukungakholwa okwabonakaliswa apho kwaye bukukwaphulwa komthetho, waza uMoses woyika hleze izigwebo zikaThixo zibe phezu kwabo. Waya walibiza igama laloo ndawo ngokuthi yiMasa, “isilingo,” neMeribha, “ukubambana,” njengesikhumbuzo sesono sabo.ANa 298.2

Kwaya kwakho enye ingozi entsha ebasukelayo. Ngenxa yokukrokrela kwabo uThixo, uYehova wabayekela ukuba bahlaselwe ziintshaba zabo. Ama-Amaleki, awoyikekayo, uhlanga oluthanda imfazwe olwaluhlala kuloo ngingqi, lwaphuma ukuba lubachase lubulale abo bathi ngokutyhafa nokudinwa bawa ngasemva. UMoses, ngokwazi ukuba abantu abalungelanga dabi, wayalela uYoshuwa ukuba akhethe kwiintlanga ezahlukeneyo iqelalamasoldati, alikhokele ngemini elandelayo ekulweni notshaba, lo gama yena ngokwakhe eza kuma kwindawo ebonakalayo kufutshane enentonga kaThixo esandleni sakhe. Njengoko athethileyo, ngengomso uYoshuwa neqela lakhe baluhlasela utshaba, lo gama uMoses noAron noHure bemi endulini ekhangele kumhlaba kafayayo. Izandla zakhe wayeziphakamisele phezulu, uMoses wathandazela impumelelo yemikhosi kaIsrayeli. Ngeli xesha idabi laliqhubeka, kwabonakala ukuba, lonke ixesha izandla zakhe ziphakanyiselwe phezulu, uIsrayeli wayephumelela, kodwa zithi zakuthotywa, loyise utshaba. Wathi akudinwa uMoses, uAron noHure bazixhasa ukuba ziphakame izandla lada lehla ilanga, ixesha olwabaleka ngalo utshaba.ANa 298.3

Ngokuxhaswa kwezandla zikaMoses nguAron noHure, kwababonisa abantu umsebenzi wabo wokumxhasa kumsebenzi onzima lo gama yena efumana kuThixo ilizwi emalithethwe kubo. Isenzo sikaMoses sasibalulekile, sibonisa ukuba uThixo usiphethe isiphelo sabo ezandleni zaKhe; ngalo lonke ixesha bemthembile, uya kubalwela azoyise iintshaba zabo; kodwa ukuba bayayeka ukubambelela kuYe, baya kubabuthakathaka ukudlula abo bangenalwazi ngoThixo, zize neentshaba zabo ziboyise.ANa 299.1

Njengoko amaHebhere ayesoyisa xa uMoses eziphakamisele ezulwini izandla zakhe, ebathethelela, ngokunjalo uIsrayeli kaThixo uyoyisa xa bethe, ngokholo, babambelela kumandla oMncedi wabo oligorha. Noko kunjalo, amandla ezulu kufuneka ahlangane nomzamo womntu. UMoses akazange akholwe ukuba uThixo uya kuloyisa utshaba lwabo lo gama uIsrayeli ehleli engenzi nto. Ngeli xesha inkokeli enkulu yayicenga uYehova, uYoshuwa nabalandeli bakhe abakhaliphileyo babesenza konke abanako ukuzigxotha iintshaba zikaIsrayeli noThixo.ANa 299.2

Emva kokoyiswa kwama-Amaleki, uThixo wayalela uMoses, esithi, “Kubhale oku kube sisikhumbuzo encwadini, ukuthethe ezindlebeni zikaYoshuwa; ngokuba ndiya kusicima impela isikhumbuzo sika-Amaleki phantsi kwamazulu.” Kanye phambi kokuba ife, inkokeli enkulu yabanika abantu bayo umngeni onendili: “Khumbula loo nto wayenzayo uAmaleki kuwe endleleni, ekuphumeni kwenu eYiputa; owakuhlangabezayo ngendlela wabetha kuwo umqosheliso wakho, bonkeabapheleleyoabasemva kuwe, utyhafile, udiniwe; akamoyika uThixo. . . .Usicime isikhumbuzo sika-Amaleki phantsi kwezulu, uze ungalibali.” Duteronomi 25:17-19. Ngokubhekiselele kubantu abakhohlakeleyo, uYehova wathi, “Isandla [sika-Amaleki] siphakanyiselwe kuYehova.” Eksodus 17:16.ANa 299.3

Ama-Amaleki ayengengobantu bangaziyo ngesimilo sikaThixo okanye ngobukhosi baKhe, kodwa endaweni yokoyika phambi kwaKhe, azimisela ukuba aza kulidela igunya laKhe. Imimangaliso eyenziwa nguMoses phambi kwamaYiputa yaba yinto yokuhlekisa ngama-Amaleki, kwahlekiswa nangokoyika kwezizwe ezingqongileyo. Afunga ngoothixo bawo ukuba aya kuwatshabalalisa amaHebhere, ukuze kungasindi namnye, atsho ezigwagwisa ngokuthi, uThixo wamaIsrayeli akanawo amandla okumelana nawo [ama-Amaleki]. Awazange alinyazwe okanye oyikiswe ngamaIsrayeli. Ukuhlasela kwawo kwakungenasizathu santsusa. Yayikukubonisa nje intiyo nokudela uThixo okwenza ukuba afune ukutshabalalisa abantu baKhe. Ama-Amaleki kwakukudala aba ngaboni abangqongqo, nolwaphulo-mthetho lwabo kwakukade lukhalela ukuba lugwetywe, ukanti inceba yaKhe, [uThixo] yayisababizela enguqukweni; kodwa, athi amadoda ama-Amaleki akuwela kwizintlu zikaIsrayeli ezidiniweyo nezingenako ukuzilwela, yaba itywiniwe intshabalalo yesizwe sawo. Inkathalo kaThixo iphezu kwabona babuthakathaka kubantwana baKhe. Asikho isenzo senkohlakalo okanye sengcinezelo esingaphawulwanga liZulu. Phezu kwabo bonke abamthandayo nabamoyikayo, isandla saKhe solulwe njengekhaka; mabalumke abantu bangasibethi eso sandla; kuba siphethe ikrele lobulungisa.ANa 300.1

Kungekude kakhulu apho amaIsrayeli ayemise khona ngoku, kwakukho ikhaya likaYitro, umkhwe kaMoses. UYitro weva ngokuhlangulwa kwamaHebhere, waza waphuma ngeli xesha ukuba awatyelele, abuyisele kuMoses inkosikazi yakhe nabantwana baKhe ababini. Le nkokeli inkulu yaxelelwa ngabathunywa ngokufika kwabo, yaza yaphuma ngovuyo ukuba ibahlangabeze, yathi yakuba igqityiwe imibuliso yokuqala, yabakhokelela ententeni yayo. Intsapho yakhe wayeyibuyisele kowayo ngexesha wayesiya kujongana neengozi zokukhokela uIsrayeli ukuphuma eYiputa, kodwa ngoku, wayenokonwabela ukukhululeka nokonwaba kokuba kunye nabo. Wambalisela uYitro ngokuphathwa ngendlela emangalisayo nguThixo kaIsrayeli, laza inyange lavuya lambonga uYehova, lathi likunye noMoses namadoda amakhulu, bahlangana benza umbingelelo banaso nesidlo ukukhumbula inceba kaThixo.ANa 300.2

Ekuhlaleni kwakhe eminqubeni, uYitro, kungekudala waqaphela ubunzima bemithwalo ebekwe phezu kukaMoses. Ukugcina ulungelelwano nocwangco phakathi kwenginginya ebanzi, engazinto, engaqeqeshekanga,ngokwenene,yayingumsebenzi omkhulu kakhulu. UMoses yayinguye ohlonitshwayo oyinkokeli nomgwebi, kungekuphela kwizinto ezinomdla ekuhlaleni jikelele kunye nemithwalo yabantu, kodwa, neembambano ezazibakho phakathi kwabo, zaziziswa kuye. Wayeyivumele le nto kuba yayimnika ithuba lokubafundisa, ngokutsho kwakhe, “ndibazise imimiselo kaThixo nemiyalelo yakhe.” Noko kunjalo, uYitro wamthethisa ngelithi, “Lo msebenzi unzima kuwe, akunakuwenza wedwa.” “Uya kuzigqiba uphele amandla,” waza wamcebisa uMoses ukuba anyule abantu abafanelekileyo njengabalawuli bamawaka, abanye babe ngabalawuli bamakhulu, abanye babe ngabamashumi. Kufuneka “amadoda anobunkunkqele ekuthetheni amatyala, amoyikayo uThixo, amadoda anyanisekileyo, ayithiyileyo inzuzo embi.” Aba babeza kugweba kuyo yonke imicimbi emincinane, lo gama eyona inzima neyona ibalulekileyo isaza kuziswa phambi kukaMoses, owayeza kuthi ebantwini abe, ngokutsho kukaYitro, “ngumlomo wabantu kuThixo, uzise izinto zabo kuThixo; ubafundise imimiselo yemiyalelo, ubazise indlela abaya kuhamba ngayo, nomsebenzi abaya kuwenza.” Eli qhinga lamkeleka, alanela nje ukuzisa ukukhululeka kuMoses, kodwa lanesiphumo sokumiselwa kocwangco olugqibelele ngakumbi phakathi kwabantu.ANa 301.1

UYehova wamphakamisa kakhulu uMoses, wenza imimangaliso ngesandla sakhe; kodwa into yokuba wayenyulwe ukuba afundise abanye ayizange imenze ukuba agqibe kwelithi yena akakudingi ukufundiswa. Inkokeli enyuliweyo yakwaIsrayeli yaphulaphula ngovuyo kumacebiso ombingeleli wakwaMidiyan owoyika uThixo, walimisela icebo lakhe njengolungiselelo olulumkileyo.ANa 301.2

Ukusukela eRefidim abantu baqhubeka nohambo lwabo belandela ukuhamba kwentsika yelifu. Indlela yabo yakhokelelwa ekunqumleni kumathafa angumqwebedu, ekunyukeni emiqhokrweni, nakwiingxingwa ezinamawa. Ngamanye amaxesha babesithi behamba kumathafa anentlabathi, babone phambi kwabo iintaba ezinde, zikhangeleka zizizithintelo, ziphakamile phambi kwabo kwindlela abayihambayo, kubonakale ngokungathi akuyi kubhekwa phambili. Babesithi kodwa xa besondela, babone kuvulekile apha naphaya entabeni, basuke babone kwicala elingaphaya elinye ithafa. Bakhokelwa badlula kumwonyo othile, onzulu nonendlela embi. Umbono wona wawumhle unomtsalane. Phakathi kwamawa anyuke amakhulu eenyawo macala omabini, kwaqengqeleka umsinga ophilayo, ohamba ufike apho iliso liphelelwa khona, iyimikhosi kaIsrayeli nemihlambi kunye neenkomo zayo. Ngoku ke, kwakuvele phambi kwabo, enkulu nendilisekileyo, iNtaba yeSinayi, iphakamile, ibanzi ngaphambili. Intsika yelifu yahlala phezu kwencopho yayo, baza abantu bazandlala iintente zabokwithafa elisezantsi. Lalizakubalapha ikhayalabo, phantse unyaka. Ngokuhlwa intsika yomlilo yayibaqinisekisa inkuseleko yezulu, bathi ngeli xesha belele, isonka sezulu siwe kancinci eminqubeni.ANa 301.3

Intatha-kusa yaleka ngokukhanya okugolide iincopho zeentaba, yathi imitha yelanga ebugolide yahlaba kwimiwonyo enzulu, yaye, kwabo bahambe badinwa, ifana nemitha yenceba ephuma etroneni kaThixo. Kulapha apho ingqondo yachukumiseka lundiliseko nokoyikeka. Umntu wenziwa ukuba akuve ukungazi nto kwakhe nobuthakathaka bakhe phambi kwaKhe “wazilinganisa iintaba ngesilinganiso, neenduli ngesikali.” Isaya 40:12. Apha uIsrayeli wayeza kwamkela eyona ntyilelo ingummangaliso eyakha yenziwa nguThixo emntwini. Apha uYehova wayebahlanganisele abantu baKhe ukuba abethelele kubo ubungcwele bemiyalelo yaKhe ngokuvakalisa ngelaKhe ilizwi umthetho waKhe ongcwele. Lwaye lulukhulu lukwagqibelele utshintsho ekwakufuneka lwenzekile kubo; njengoko iimpembelelo ezihlazisayo zobukhoboka nonxulumano olude nabanquli bezithixo lwalushiye uphawu kwimikhwa nesimilo. UThixo wayesebenzela ukubanyusela kumgangatho ophezulu ekuziphatheni ngokuzazisa kubo.ANa 302.1