27—Umthetho unikelwa KuIsrayeli

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiEksodus 19 ukuya kuma-24.]

Ngako nje ukuba kumiswe eSinayi, uMoses wabizwa ukuba anyukele entabeni ukuya kuhlangana noThixo. Eyedwa, wenyuka indledlana emqengqelezi nerhabaxa wasondela kwilifu elaliluphawu lobukho bukaYehova. Ngeli xesha, uIsrayeli wayeza kusondezwa kulwalamano olusondeleyo nolulodwa kOsenyangweni, ukuze enziwe ibandla nesizwe phantsi kolawulo lukaThixo. Isigidimi esanikwa uMoses esiya ebantwini sasisithi:ANa 303.1

“Nina niyibonile into endiyenzileyo kumaYiputa, ukuba ndanithwala ngamaphiko okhozi, ndanizisa kum. Ngoku ke, ukuba nithe naliphulaphula okunene izwi lam, nawugcina umnqophiso wam, noba yinqobo kum kwizizwe zonke, kuba ihlabathi lonke lelam; nibe bubukumkani bababingeleli kum, nohlanga olungcwele.” UMoses wabuyela enkampini, wathi ebizele kuye amadoda amakhulu akwaIsrayeli, wasiphinda kuwo isigidimi sezulu. Impendulo yawo yathi, “Konke akuthethileyo uYehova sokwenza.” Ngaloo ndlela angena kumnqophiso ozukileyo noThixo, enqophisa ukumamkela njengomlawuli wawo, awathi ngawo [umnqophiso lowo], ngendlela eyodwa, aphantsi kwegunya laKhe.ANa 303.2

Kwakhona inkokeli yabo yenyuka intaba wathi uYehova kuyo, “Yabona, ndiyeza kuwe ndiselifini elingqingqwa, ukuze beve abantu ekuthetheni kwam nawe, bakholwe kuwe ngonaphakade.” Bathi bakuhlangana nobunzima endleleni bangenelwa kukukhalaza ngakuMoses noAron, bebatyhola ngokukhupha wonke umkhosi wabantu bakwaIsrayeli eYiputa ukuze babatshabalalise. UThixo wanga angamzukisa uMoses phambi kwabo, ukuze bakhokelelwe ekuyithembeni imiyalelo yakhe.ANa 303.3

UThixo wayenenjongo yokwenza ukuba ithuba lokuwuthetha umthetho waKhe ukuba sibe ngumboniso omhle kakhulu, ngokuhambelana nesimilo saKhe esiphakamileyo. Kwakufuneka abantu befakwe ingqondo yokuba, yonke into ehlangene nenkonzo kaThixo kufuneka iphathwe ngeyonantlonipho inkulu. UYehova wathi kuMoses, “Yiya ebantwini, ubangcwalise namhla nangomso, bazihlambe iingubo zabo, balunge ngomhla wesithathu; kuba ngomhla wesithathu uya kuhla uYehova phezu kwentaba yeSinayi.” Ngezi ntsuku ziphakathi, bonke kufuneka balisebenzise ixesha bezilungiselela ngokundilisekileyo ukuba bavele phambi kukaThixo. Imizimba kunye nempahla yabo kufuneka zibe msulwa kuko konke ukungahlambuluki. Wayeza kuthi uMoses akubabonisa izono zabo, kufuneke ukuba bazinikele ekuzithobeni, ekuzileni, nasekuthandazeni, ukuze iintliziyo zabo zihlanjululwe ebugwenxeni.ANa 304.1

Amalungiselelo enziwa, ngokomyalelo; waza, ngokuthobela omnye umyalelo, uMoses wabayalela ukuba babeke isithintelo sijikeleze intaba, ukuze kungangeni mntu nasilwanyana kwindawo ebiyelweyo engcwele. Ukuba kukho nto ithe yangena, isohlwayo siya kuba kukufa kwangoko.ANa 304.2

Ngentsasa yosuku lwesithathu, xa amehlo abo bonke ayekhangele entabeni, incopho yayo yagqunywa ngelifu elingqingqwa, elaya likhula ngobumnyama nobungqingqwa, lisihla, yada intaba yonke yambathiswa bubumnyama nemfihlakalo eyoyikekayo. Kwaya kwabakho isandi esifana nesexilongo, simemela abantu ukuba bahlangane noThixo; uMoses wabakhokelela ezantsi entabeni. Kwilifu elingqingqwa elimnyama, kwatshawuza imibane eqaqambileyo, lo gama ukundila kwezulu kuphindaphinda ukuvakala kwiindawo ezingqongileyo eziphezulu. “Intaba yeSinayi yaba ngumsi yonke iphela, kuba uYehova wehla phezu kwayo esemlilweni. Umsi wayo wenyuka njengomsi weziko lemfutho, yanyikima kunene yonke intaba.” “Ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova . . . [bu]njengomlilo otshayo encotsheni yentaba” phambi kwesihlwele esihlangeneyo. “Kwabakho isandi sesigodlo esaya sisomelela kakhulu.” Yayisoyikeka kakhulu imiqondiso yobukho bukaYehova kangangokuba isihlwele sikaIsrayeli sangcangcazela kukoyika, sawa ngobuso phambi kukaYehova. NoMoses wakhala, “Ndiyoyika kakhulu, ndiyagubha.” Hebhere 12:21.ANa 304.3

Ngeli xesha zanqumama iindudumo; asabi savakala isigodlo; wazola umhlaba. Kwabakho ithuba lenzolo enendili, kwaza kwavakala ilizwi likaThixo. Ethetha elifini elingqingqwa elalimgqubuthele, ngexesha emi entabeni, erhangqwe zizikhulu zeengelosi ezimkhaphileyo, uYehova wawazisaumthetho waKhe. UMosesuthi,xaechaza lomboniso: “UYehova wavela eSinayi, waphuma kwaSehire phezu kwabo; wabengezela esezintabeni zeParan, weza ephuma kwiingcwele ezimawaka alishumi, ekunene kwakhe ikukubinza komlilo kubo. Inene, uyazithanda izizwe. Bonke abangcwele bakhe basesandleni sakho, bahlala ezinyaweni zakho, besuke ngamazwi akho.” Duteronomi 33:2, 3.ANa 305.1

UYehova wazityhila, kungekuphela kubungangamsha oboyikekayo bomgwebi nomniki-mthetho, kodwanjengomalusi onovelwano lwabantu baKhe: “NdinguYehova uThixo wakho, owakukhupha ezweni laseYiputa, endlwini yobukhoboka.” Lowo babesele bemazi njengoMkhokeli noMhlanguli, owabakhupha eYiputa, wabavulela indlela elwandle, wabhukuqa uFaro nemikhosi yakhe, owazibonakalisa ukuba ungaphezu koothixo bonke baseYiputa, nguYe lo ngoku wayethetha umthetho waKhe.ANa 305.2

Umthetho wawunganikelwa ngeli xesha ukuze ulungele amaHebhere kuphela. UThixo wawanika imbeko ngokuwenza ukuba abe ngabalusi nabagcini bomthetho waKhe, kodwa wawuza kugcinelwa ihlabathi lonke. Imiyalelo yemiThetho eliShumi ilungiselelwe lonke uluntu, kwaye yanikelwa ukufundiswa nokululawula lonke. Imiyalelo elishumi, mifutshane, iphelele, inegunya, iquke konke ekufuneka kwenziwe ngumntu ngakuThixo nakomnye umntu; kwaye yonke imile kumthetho-siseko omkhulu wothando osisiseko. “Uze uyithande iNkosi uThixo wakho ngentliziyo yakho iphela, nangomphefumlo wakho uphela, nangamandla akho ephela, nangengqondo yakho iphela; nommelwane wakho, njengoko uzithanda ngako.” Luka 10:27. Khangela naku-Duteronomi 6:4, 5; Levitikus 19:18. KwimiThetho eliShumi le mithetho-siseko ivezwe yaphelela, yenziwa ukuba isebenze kwisimo nemeko yomntu.ANa 305.3

“Uze ungabi nathixo bambi ngaphandle kwam.”ANa 305.4

UYehova, ongunaphakade, owabakho ngokuzenza, ongadalwanga, inguYe iMvelaphi noMxhasi wako konke, nguYe kuphela ofanelwe yeyona mbeko inkulu nokunqulwa. Umntu uyanqandwa ukuba abeke phambili nantoni eluthandweni nasekuhlonipheni kwakhe. Nokuba yintoni esiyithandayo ekunciphisayo ukuthando kwethu uThixo okanye ephazamisa inkonzo yethu kuYe, loo nto siyenza uthixo.ANa 305.5

“Uze ungazenzeli umfanekiso oqingqiweyo, nokuba ngowayiphi na into emilise esezulwini phezulu, nesemhlabeni phantsi, nesemanzini aphantsi komhlaba. Uze ungaqubudi kwezo nto, ungazikhonzi.”ANa 305.6

Umthetho wesibini uyakwalela ukunqula uThixo wenene ngokusebenzisa imifanekiso eqingqiweyo okanye izinto ezifana nezo. Izizwe ezininzi zabahedeni zibanga ukuba imifanekiso yazo eqingqiweyo yayiyimifanekiso nje yezinto okanye imifuziselo ekuthi ngayo isithixo sinqulwe, kodwa uThixo uthe unqulo olunjalo lusisono. Ukuzama ukubeka endaweni yaLowo ungunaphakade izinto eziphathwayo kuyawuthoba umgangatho wendlela umntu ambona ngayo uThixo. Ingqondo ethe yasuswa kwingqibelelo yokungabi nasiphelo kukaYehova, iya kutsaleleka kwisidalwa endaweni yoMdali. Ngenxa yaloo nto, kuthi, njengoko imbono zakhe ngoThixo zithotyiwe, abe njalo naye umntu ukuhlela phantsi.ANa 306.1

“Mna, Yehova Thixo wakho, ndinguThixo onekhwele.” Ulwalamano olusondeleyo nolungcwele noThixo kubantu baKhe lubonakaliswa ngomfanekiso womtshato. Ukunqula izithixo, okukukrexeza kwasemoyeni, ukungakholiseki kukaThixo kuko, kubizwa ngokufanelekileyo ngokuthi likhwele.ANa 306.2

“Ndibuvelela ubugwenxa booyise koonyana, kwesesithathu nakwesesine isizukulwana sabandithiyileyo.” Iqinisekile into yokuba abantwana bamele ukuchanwa ziziphumo zeziphoso zabazali, kodwa abohlwaywa ngenxa yokona kwabazali, ngaphandle kokuba ke baye babe nenxaxheba ezonweni zabo. Kuye kube njalo, phofu, ukuthi abantwana baye bahambe emanyathelweni abazali babo. Ngemfuza nangomzekelo oonyana baye babe nenxaxheba ezonweni zooyise. Imikhwa emibi, ukuthanda ukutya ngendlela egqwethekileyo, nokuziphatha ngendlela ephantsi, kunye nesifo nokuwa phantsi emzimbeni, zizinto ezigqithiselwa njengelifa ukusuka kuyise ukuya kunyana, kwesesithathu nakwesesine isizukulwana. Le nyaniso yoyikekayo, imele ukuba namandla ngokusulungekileyo ukunqanda abantu ekulandeleni ikhondo lesono.ANa 306.3

“Ndiwenzela inceba amawaka abandithandayo abayigcinayo imithetho yam.” Ekwalelweni kokunqulwa koothixo bobuxoki, umthetho wesibini, ngokuvelwa kwelinye icala, uyalela ukunqulwa kukaThixo wenene. Abo banyaniseke ekumnquleni, bathenjiswe inceba, kungekuphela kwesesithathu nakwesesine isizukulwana, njengoko kuthenjiswe ingqumbo kwabo bamthiyayo, kodwa kumawaka ezizukulwana.ANa 306.4

“Uze ungafumane ulibize igama likaYehova uThixo wakho; kuba uYehova akayi kumenza omsulwa ofumana alibize igama lakhe.”ANa 306.5

Lo mthetho awaneli nje kuphela ukwalela ukwenziwa kwezifungo zobuxoki kunye nokufunga okuqhelekileyo, kodwa walela ukusetyenziswa kwegama likaThixo kwincoko nje eqhelekileyo, ngokubhenela kuYekwimicimbi engenamsebenzi, nangokuthi rhoqo, ngokuthetha nje kungacingwanga, kusoloko kubizwa igama laKhe, asimhloniphi. “Lingcwele, liyoyikeka igama lakhe.” Ndumiso 111:9. Bonke kufuneka bacamngce ngobungangamsha baKhe, ngobunyulu nobungcwele baKhe, ukuze intliziyo ichukunyiswe kukwazi isimilo saKhe esiphakamileyo; ukuze igama laKhe elingcwele likhankanywe ngentlonipho nesidima.ANa 307.1

“Khumbula umhla wesabatha, ukuba uwungcwalise. Wosebenza imihla emithandathu, uwenze wonke umsebenzi wakho; ke wona umhla wesixhenxe uyisabatha kaYehova uThixo wakho. Uze ungenzi namnye umsebenzi ngawo, wena, nonyana wakho, nentombi yakho, nesicaka sakho, nesicakakazi sakho, nezinto zakho ezizitho zine, nowasemzini osemasangweni akho; kuba ngemihla emithandathu uYehova wenza izulu, nomhlaba, nolwandle, neento zonke ezikwezo zinto, waphumla ngomhla wesixhenxe; ngenxa yoko uYehova wawusikelela umhla wesabatha wawungcwalisa.”ANa 307.2

ISabatha ayivezwa njengesimiso esitsha kodwa njengoko yamiselwa kwasekudalweni. Kufuneka ikhunjulwe igcinwe njengesikhumbuzo somsebenzi woMdali. Ithi isalatha kuThixo njengoMenzi wamazulu nomhlaba, ibe isahlula phakathi kukaThixo wenene nabo bonke othixo ababuxoki. Bonke abagcina umhla wesixhenxe babonisa ngesi senzo ukwayama kwabo kuThixo ngalo lonke ixesha kusekho abakhoyo emhlabeni ukuba bamkhonze. Umthetho wesine kuphela kwawo, kuyo yonke elishumi, ekufunyanwa kuwo igama kunye nebango loMniki-mthetho. Kuphela kwawo obonisa Lowo umthetho unikwe ngegunya laKhe. Ngoko ke, unetywina likaThixo, elibekwe emthethweni njengobungqina bobunyani nokubophelela kwegunya lawo.ANa 307.3

UThixo unike umntu iintsuku ezintandathu amakasebenze ngazo, kwaye ufuna umsebenzi wazo wenziwe ngeentsuku ezintandathu zokusebenza. Izenzo ezinyanzelekileyo nezenceba zivunyelwe ngeSabatha, abagulayo nabafayo ngamaxesha onke kufuneka bekhathalelwe; kodwa umsebenzi onganyanzelekanga kufuneka uphetshwe ngamandla. “Ukuba uthe walubuyisa unyawo lwakho kwisabatha, ukuba ungenzi okunanzileyo ngomhla wam ongcwele; wathi ukuyibiza isabatha isisonwabiso, wathi inozuko, wayizukisa ke ngokungenzi iindlela zakho, ngokungafumani okunanzileyo.” Isaya 58:13. Kanti ke akupheleli apho okwalelwayo. “uthethe iintetho ezingeni,” utsho umprofeti. Abo baxoxa imicimbi yokwenza inzuzo kwabo okanye babeke amacebo abo ngeSabatha, bathatyathwa nguThixo ngokungathi baphakathi kanye emsebenzini wabo wengeniso. Ukugcina iSabatha ingcwele, akufuneki nokuba sizivumele iingqondo zethu ukubazigxilekwizintoezinobumebehlabathi. Umthetho ke uquka konkeokusemasangweni ethu. Abobahlalaendlwini kufuneka babeke bucala yonke into abayenzayo [yemicimbi okanye yokubaphilisa] ngeeyure ezingcwele. Bonke kufuneka bahlangane ngentumekelelo ekukhonzeni ngemini yaKhe engcwele.ANa 307.4

“Beka uyihlo nonyoko, ukuze yolulwe imihla yakho emhlabeni akunika wona uYehova uThixo wakho.”ANa 308.1

Abazali bakufanelwe kangangoko ukuthandwa nokuhlonitshwa okumele ukunikwa nomnye umntu. UThixo ngokwaKhe, obeke phezu kwabo umthwalo wemiphefumlo ekufuneka beyijongile, wenze ukuba, kuthi ngemihla yobutsha ebomini, abazali beme endaweni kaThixo kubantwana babo. Lowo ke ungalamkeliyo igunya, elililungelo, labazali bakhe, akamkeli igunya likaThixo. Umthetho wesihlanu ufuna ukuba abantwana, banganeli nje ukuba bahloniphe, bazinikele, babathobele abazali babo, kodwa babanike uthando nobubele, babaxhase kumaxhala abo, baligcine lilihle igama labo, babakhusele babonwabise ebudaleni babo. Ukwahlanganisa nentlonipho kubalungiseleli kwanabalawuli, nabo bonke abo uThixo abanike igunya.ANa 308.2

Uthi umpostile, ” Lo ngumthetho wokuqala onedinga.” Efese 6:2. KuIsrayeli, elindele ukungena eKanan kungekudala, yayisisibhambathiso sokuthobela, sobomi obude kwelo lizwe lilungileyo; kodwa unentsingiselo ebanzi, equka wonke uIsrayeli kaThixo, kwaye uthembisa ubomi obungunaphakade apha emhlabeni wakuba ukhululwe sowukhululwe kwisiqalekiso sesono.ANa 308.3

“Uze ungabulali.”ANa 308.4

Zonke izenzo zokuswela ubulungisa ezikholisa ukucutha ubomi, umoya wentiyo nempindezelo, okanye ukuziyekela nakuyiphina inkanuko ekhokelela kwizenzo eziyingozi kwabanye, okanye ezisenza ukuba sibanqwenelele okubi(kuba “lowo umthiyileyo umzalwana wakhe sisibulala-mntu”); umoya wokuzithanda owenza ukuba bangakhathalelwa abasweleyo okanye ababulalekayo; konke ukuzibhodloza okanye ukuswela okungenasizathu, okanye ukusebenza nzima okudlulisileyo okuye kwenzakalise impilo, zonke ezi zinto, ubukhulu becala, zikukwaphula umthetho wesithandathu.ANa 308.5

“Uze ungakrexezi.”ANa 308.6

Lo mthetho walela hayi kuphela izenzo zokungabinyulu, kodwa neengcinga nolangazelelo lwezesondo, okanye nasiphi isenzo esinento nokuzivuselela. Ubunyulu buyanyanzeliswa, kungekuphela kubomi bangaphandle kodwa ezingontsini ngaphakathi kwanezimvo zentliziyo. UKristu, owafundisa ukunyanzeleka okufikelela kude komthetho, waxela ukuba ingcamango embi okanye ukukhangela okubi kusisono kanye njengesenzo esingekho mthethweni.ANa 308.7

“Uze ungebi.”ANa 308.8

Zonke izono zasekuhleni nezasemfihlakalweni ziqukwe kwesi salelo. Umthetho wesibhozo ugweba ubusela nokushishina ngamakhoboka, ubuye walele neemfazwe zokuza kwabanye. Ugweba ubusela nokuqhatha. Unyanzelisa ukunyaniseka okungqongqo nakwezona zincinane iinkcukacha zobomi. Walela ukugebenga ngamaxabiso emashishinini, ukwafuna nokuhlawulwa ngokufanelekileyo kwamatyala okanye imivuzo. Uvakalisa ukuba, konke ukuzama ukufumana inzuzo ngokusebenzisa ukungazi, ubuthakathaka, okanye ilishwa lomnye umntu, kubhalwa njengobuqhetseba ezincwadini zezulu.ANa 309.1

“Uze ungangqini ubungqina obubuxoki ngommelwane wakho.”ANa 309.2

Ukuthetha ubuxoki nakuwuphi na umcimbi, konke ukuzama okanye injongo yokukhohlisa ummelwane, kuhlanganiswe apha. Injongo yokukhohlisa yiyo eyenza ubuxoki. Ngokuqhwanyaza nje kweliso, ngokushukumisa nje isandla, ukunyakazisa nje ubuso, ubuxoki bungathethwa nje kakuhle ngaphandle kwamazwi. Konke ukubaxa ngenjongo yokukhohlisa, konke ukuchukumisa okanye ukurhesha okubalwe ngendlela yokugqithisa ingcamango engeyiyo okanye ebaxiweyo, nokuba kusekuthetheni iinyaniso ngendlela yokulahlekisa, bubuxoki. Lo mthetho uyalalela lonke ilinge lokungcolisa igama lommelwane wethu ngokuthetha okungekhoyo okanye ukucinga kakubi, ngokuthetha kakubi okanye ukuhambisa ulwimi. Kanti ke, nokuyifihla ngenjongo inyaniso, osiphumo sako sinokulimaza abanye, kukwaphulwa komthetho wethoba.ANa 309.3

“Uze ungawunqweneli umzi wommelwane wakho. Uze ungamnqweneli umfazi wommelwane wakho, nesicaka sakhe, nesicakakazi sakhe, nenkomo yakhe, ne-esile lakhe, nanye into eyeyommelwane wakho.”ANa 309.4

Umthetho weshumi ubetha kanye engcanjini yazo zonke izono, ngokwalela umnqweno wokuzithandela, apho kuphuma khona imithombo yezenzo zesono. Lowo uthi ngokuthobela umthetho kaThixo, asuke ekuzinikeleni kwisono sokunqwenela into eyeyomnye, akayi kuba nobutyala besenzo sokona ngakwabo adalwe kunye nabo.ANa 309.5

Yayinjalo ke imiyalelo engcwele yeMithetho eliShumi, eyathethwa phakathi kwendudumo namalangatye omlilo, nangokubonakaliswa okumangalisayo kwamandla nobungangamsha boMniki-mthetho omkhulu. UThixo wakukhapha ukuvakaliswa komthetho waKhe ngokubonakalisa amandla nobuqaqawuli, ukuze abantu baKhe bangaze bawulibale umbono, nokuze bachukunyiswe bubunzulu bokuhlonipheka kweMbangi yomthetho, uMdali wezulu nomhlaba. Wayekwabonisa bonke abantu ubungcwele, nokubaluleka nokuma ngonaphakade komthetho waKhe.ANa 309.6

Abantu bakwaIsrayeli bazaliswa luloyiko. Igunya eloyikekayo lwentetho kaThixo labukeka lingaphezu kokuba zinokuthwala iintliziyo zabo ezingcangcazelayo. NgexeshaumthethoomkhulukaThixo ubekwa phambi kwabo, babuqonda, ngaphezu kwangaphambili, ububi besimilo sabo sesono, nobutyala babo emehlweni kaThixo ongcwele. Bazifihla kude entabeni ngembeko nentlonipho. Isihlwele sakhala kuMoses, sathi, “Thetha wena nathi, siya kuva; makangathethi nathi uThixo, hleze sife.” Inkokeli yaphendula yathi, “Musani ukoyika; kuba uThixo uze kunilinga, ukuba kubekho ukumoyika ebusweni benu, ukuze ningoni.” Noko ke, abantu bahlalela qelele, bewukhangele ngoloyiko umbono, ngexesha uMoses “wasondela . . . esithokothokweni abekuso uThixo.”ANa 310.1

Iingqondo zabantu, zimfanyekiswe zathotyelwa phantsi bubukhoboka nabubuhedeni, zazingakulungelanga ukuxabisa ngokupheleleyo imithetho-siseko ephezulu yemiyalelo elishumi kaThixo. Ukuze izinyanzeliso zeMithetho eliShumi zibe nokuqondakala zibetheleleke ngokupheleleyo, kwanikwa eminye imiyalelo eyongezekileyo, ebonisa nebhekisele kwiMithetho eliShumi. Le mithetho yayibizwa ngokuba zizigwebo, kuba yayimiswe phezu kobulumko obungapheliyo kunye nokugqibelela nokuba abagwebi kwakuza kufuneka bagwebe ngokukhokelwa yiyo. Ngokungafaniyo neMithetho eliShumi, yona yanikelwa kuMoses ekhusini, yena kuza kufuneka ayidlulise ngokuyixelela abantu.ANa 310.2

Eyokuqala kule mithetho yayibhekiselele kwizicaka. Ngamaxesha akudala, abophuli bomthetho, maxa wambi, babethengiswa ebukhobokeni ngabagwebi; kwezinye iimeko, abanamatyala babethengiswa ngabo banamatyala kubo; nobuhlwempu babuye bubakhokelele abantu ekuzithengiseni okanye bathengise abantwana babo. Sekunjalo, umHebhere wayengathengiswa ukuze abe likhoboka bonke ubomi bakhe. Ixesha lokusebenza kwakhe [njengekhoboka] laliqingqwe layiminyaka emithandathu; kowesixhenxe kwakufuneka ekhululwe. Ubusela bokuba umntu, ukubulala ngabom, nokuvukela igunya lomzali, zizinto ezazigwetywa ngokubulawa. Ukuba namakhoboka angazalwa kwaIsrayeli kwakuvumelekile, kodwa ubomi nobuntu bawo babukhuselwe ngqongqo. Umbulali wekhoboka wayegwetywa; ukulinyazwa kwalo naliphi yinkosi yalo, nokuba akukho ngaphezulu kokulahlekwa nje lizinyo, kwakulinika ilungelo lenkululeko.ANa 310.3

Nawo amaIsrayeli ayesanda kuba zizicaka, kwaza kwathi kuba ngoku ayeza kuba nezicaka phantsi kwawo, kwafuneka ukuba alumkele ukungena kumoya wenkohlakalo nokucinezela awayephantsi kwako kwinkosi zabo ezaziwasebenzisa eYiputa. Inkumbulo yobukrakra bobawo ubukhoboka kwakufuneka ibenze ukuba azibeke kwindawo yesicaka, iwakhokelele ekubeni abe nobubele nemfesane, ekuphatheni abanye njengoko aye langazelela ukuphathwa nawo.ANa 310.4

Amalungelo abahlolokazi neenkedama akhangelwa ngendlela ekhethekileyo, kwamiselwa ukujongwa ngothando kwemeko yabo yokungabi nakuzinceda. “Ukuba uthe wabacinezela nangayiphi na indlela,” watsho uYehova, “bakhala kum, ngokuva ukukhala kwabo; uvuthe umsindo wam, ndinibulale ngekrele; babe ngabahlolokazi abafazi benu, babe ziinkedama abantwana benu.” Abasemzini abazihlanganisa noIsrayeli babeya kukhuselwa ekoniweni okanye ekucinezelweni. “Uze ungamxini umphambukeli, niyawazi nina umphefumlo womphambukeli, kuba naningabaphambukeli nani ezweni laseYiputa.”ANa 311.1

Ukuthabatha inzala kumahlwempu kwaye kwalelwe. Impahla yokunxiba okanye ingubo yomntu olihlwempu ethatyathwe njengesibambiso, kufuneka ibuyiselwe kuye phambi kokuba kufike ubusuku. Lowo unetyala lokuba kwakufuneka abuyisele ngokuphindiweyo. Ukuhlonipha abawisi-mthetho nabalawuli kwamiselwa, baza abagwebi balunyukiswa ukuba bangasigqwethi isigwebo, bencedisana nendlela engeyiyo, okanye bangafumani zinyobo. Ukunyelisa nokuthetha ubuxoki kwakwalelwe, zathi izenzo zobubele zamiliselwa, nangakwabo bazintshaba zakhe umntu.ANa 311.2

Baphinda abantu bakhunjuzwa ngokufaneleka kokugcina ngcwele iSabatha. Izidlo zaminyaka le zamiselwa, apho bonke abantu besizwe kwakufuneka bahlangane phambi kukaYehova, bezisa kuye iminikelo yombulelo kunye nentlahlela yeziqhamo zobutyebi baKhe. Injongo yayo yonke le mithetho yaxelwa: yayingaphumi ekusetyenzisweni nje kwamaqhinga obukhosi, kodwa yonke yayinikelwe ukulungelwa kukaIsrayeli. UYehova wathi, “Noba ngabantu abangcwele kum.”—bakufanele ukwaziwa nguThixo ongcwele.ANa 311.3

Le mithetho kwakufuneka ibhaliwe nguMoses, ize igcinwe ngobunono njengesiseko somthetho wesizwe, uthi, ukunye nemithetho elishumi ababeyinikiwe ukubonakalisa imeko yokuzalisekiswa kwezithembiso zikaThixo kuIsrayeli.ANa 311.4

Ngoku baya basinikwa isigidimi esivela kuYehova: “Uyabona, ndithuma isithunywa phambi kwakho, ukuba sikugcine endleleni, sikufikise endaweni endiyilungisileyo. Silumkele, uliphulaphule izwi laso. Musa ukusiphikisa; kuba asiyi kuluxolela ukreqo lweni; kuba igama lam likuso. Ke ukuba uthe waliva ilizwi laso, wenza konke endikuthethayo, ndoba litshaba kwiintshaba zakho, ndibabandezele ababandezeli bakho.” Kuko konke ukuhamba-hamba kukaIsrayeli, uKristu, ekwintsika yelifu nelomlilo, wayeyiNkokeli yabo. Ngeli lixa kwakho imifuziselo eyalatha kuMsindisi oza kuza, wayekho uMsindisi okhoyo, owayinikela kuMoses imiyalelo eya ebantwini, njengejelo lentsikelelo elalikuphela kwalo.ANa 311.5

Wathi akuba ehlile entabeni, “waya uMoses, wabaxelelaabantu onke amazwi kaYehova, namasiko onke. Baphendula bonke abantu ngazwi-nye, bathi, Onke amazwi awathethileyo uYehova sowenza.” Esi sibhambathiso, kunye namazwi kaYehova esasibabophelela ukuba bawathobele, sabhalwa nguMoses encwadini.ANa 312.1

Kwabuya kwalandela ukulungiswa komnqophiso. Kwakhiwa isibingelelo elunyaweni lwentaba, kwathi kufuphi kuso kwamiswa iintsika “ngokwezizwe ezilishumi elinazibini zakwaIsrayeli,” njengobungqina bokwamkela kwabo umnqophiso. Imibingelelo yanikelwa ngamadodana anyulelwe loo msebenzi.ANa 312.2

Sathi sakuba sitshiziwe isibingelelo ngegazi leminikelo, uMoses “wathabatha incwadi yomnqophiso, wayilesa ezindlebeni zabantu.” Ngaloo ndlela, iimeko zomnqophiso zaphindwa ngendlela enendili, baza bonke bakhululeka ukuba bakhethe ukuba bayithobele okanye bangayithobeli. Babethembisile kuqala ukulithobela izwi likaThixo; kodwa ngoku babeve umthetho waKhe uvakaliswa, kwaye imithetho siseko ize ngqo ukuze bakwazi oko kuqulathwe ngumnqophiso. Kwakhona abantu baphinda ngamxhelo mnye, “Yonke into ayithethileyo uYehova soyenza siyive.” “Kuthe, kwakubon’ ukuba umthetho wonke uxeliwe nguMoses ebantwini bonke ngokomyalelo, walithabatha igazi . . . wafefa incwadi ngokwayo kwanabantu bonke; esithi, Eli ligazi lawo umnqophiso, aniwisele umthetho ngawo uThixo.” Hebhere 9:19, 20.ANa 312.3

Kwenziwa amalungiselelo esimiso esipheleleyo sesizwe esinyuliweyo phantsi kukaYehova njengekumkani. UMoses wafumana umyalelo othi, “Nyuka uye kuYehova, wena noAron, uNadabhi, noAbhihu, namashumi asixhenxe kumadoda amakhulu akwaIsrayeli; ninqule nikude; kusondele uMoses yedwa kuYehova.” Ngeli xesha abantu babenqula ekuqaleni kwentaba, la madoda anyuliweyo abizelwa entabeni. Amashumi asixhenxe ayeza kuncedisana noMoses kulawulo lukaIsrayeli, uThixo wabeka phezu kwawo uMoya waKhe, wawazukisa ngembonakalo yamandla nobukhulu baKhe. “Bambona uThixo wamaIsrayeli; phantsi kweenyawo zakhe kwaye kunjengento eyenziwe ngesafire eqaqambileyo, njengenkqu yezulu lisile.” Abambonanga uThixo, kodwa babona ubuqaqawuli bobukho baKhe. Ngaphambi koku, babengenako ukuwunyamezela umbono; kodwa ukubonakaliswa kwamandla kaThixo kwaboyikisela enguqukweni; babecamngca ngobuqaqawuli baKhe, ubunyulu, kunye nenceba, bada basondela kuYe Lowo waye ngumxholo wokucamngca kwabo.ANa 312.4

UMoses “noYoshuwa, umlungiseleli wakhe” baya babizwa ukuba bahlangane noThixo. Kwathi kuba babeza kuba nexesha elide bengekho, inkokeli yanyula uAron noHure, bencediswa ngamadoda amakhulu, ukuba beme endaweni yayo. “Wenyuka ke uMoses waya entabeni; ilifu layigubungela intaba. Ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova bahlala phezu kwentaba yeSinayi.” Iintsuku ezintandathu ilifu ligubungele intaba njengophawu lobukho bukaThixo ngendlela eyodwa; ukanti kwakungekho ukutyhileka kwaKhe okanye ukugqithiswa kwentando yaKhe. Ngeli xesha, uMoses wahlala elindele ukubizelwa kwindawo akuyo Osenyangweni. Wayeyalelwe kwathiwa, “Nyuka uze kum entabeni, ube khona,” kwathi, nangona umonde nokuthobela kwakhe kwakuvavanywa, akazange adinwe kukulinda, okanye ayishiye indawo yakhe. Eli thuba lokulinda, kuye laba lixesha lolungiselelo, lokuzihlola. Nalo mkhonzi uthandwayo kaThixo, wayengakwazi ukusuka nje avele phambi kobukho baKhe aze akwazi ukunyamezela ukubonakaliswa kobuqaqawuli baKhe. Iintsuku ezintandathu kufuneka zisetyenziselwe ukuzinikela kuThixo ngokuhlola intliziyo, ukucamngca, nomthandazo phambi kokuba akulungele ukuthetha ngqo noMenzi wakhe.ANa 313.1

Ngomhla wesixhenxe, owawuyiSabatha, uMoses wabizelwa efini. Ilifu elingqingqwa lavuleka phambi kwakhe wonke uIsrayeli, baza ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova bavela bunje ngomlilo odlayo. “Wangena uMoses phakathi efini, wenyuka ke intaba uMoses; waba sentabeni apho iimini ezimashumi mane, nobusuku obumashumi mane.” Iintsuku ezimashumi mane zokulinda entabeni zazingaquki iintsuku ezintandathu zokulungiselela. Ngeentsuku ezintandathu, uYoshuwa waye kunye noMoses, bathi bekunye, batya imana basela “emlanjeni obusihla entabeni.” UYoshuwa yena akazange angene noMoses efini. Wahlala ngaphandle, waqhubeka esitya esela yonke imihla lo gama elindele ukubuya kukaMoses, kodwa uMoses wazila ngazo zonke ezo ntsuku zimashumi mane.ANa 313.2

Ngexesha lokuhlala kwakhe entabeni, uMoses wafumana imiyalelo yokuba kwakhiwe ingcwele, apho babuya kubonakala khona ubukho bobungcwele [bukaYehova] ngendlela ekhethekileyo. “[Ma]bandenzele indawo engcwele, ndihlale phakathi kwabo.” (Eksodus 25:8), yayingumyalelo kaThixo. Kwakukokwesithathu kuyalelwa ukugcinwa kweSabatha. “Phakathi kwam noonyana bakaIsrayeli, ngumnqophiso ongunaphakade;” watsho njalo uYehova,” “ukuze nazi ukuba ndinguYehova oningcwalisayo; niyigcine isabatha, kuba ingcwelekuni. . . .Kubabonkeabobasebenza umsebenzi ngayo, loo miphefumlo yonqanyulwa, ingabikho ebantwini bakowayo.” Eksodus 31:17, 13, 14. Imiyalelo yayisanda kunikwa ukuba kwakhiwe kamsinyane umnquba wokukhonzela uThixo; ngoku bagqiba abantu ukuba, ngenxa yokuba into ababefuna ukuyenza yayinento nozuko lukaThixo, nokuba, ngenxa yokudinga kwabo indawo yokumkhonzela, kwakubafanele ukuba bawenze umsebenzi wokwakha nangeSabatha. Ukubathintela ekwenzeni le mpazamo, kwakhutshwa isilumkiso. Ubungcwele kwanokukhawuleza kwalo msebenzi kaThixo, akufuneki kubakhokelele ekwaphuleni umhla waKhe wokuphumla ongcwele.ANa 313.3

Ukususela ngoko abantu babeza kuzukiswa ngokuhlala ngamaxesha onke kukho ubukho boKumkani wabo. “Ndohlala phakathi koonyana bakaIsrayeli, ndibe nguThixo wabo,” “khona apho . . . bangcwaliswe ngobuqaqawuli bam,” (Eksodus 29:45, 43), eso yaba sisiqinisekiso awasinikwayo uMoses. Njengomfuziselo wegunya likaThixo kunye nokunikwa ubuqu intando yaKhe, kwanikelwa kuMoses ikopi yemiThetho eliShumi ikrolwe ngomnwe kaThixo ngokwaKhe emacwecweni amabini amatye (Duteronomi 9:10; Eksodus 32:15, 16), ukuba igcinwe ngcwele ngokufakwa engcweleni, ekwathi xa isenziwa, yayiza kuba yindawo ebonakalayo yokunqula kwesizwe.ANa 314.1

Ukusuka kuhlanga lwamakhoboka, amaIsrayeli aphakanyiswa ngaphezu kwabantu bonke ayinqobo kuKumkani wookumkani. UThixo wayewahlule ehlabathini, ukuze anikele kuwo igugu laKhe elingcwele. Wawenza oovimba bomthetho waKhe, ejonge ukuthi, ngawo, agcine phakathi kwabantu ukwaziwa kwaKhe. Ngalo ndlela, ukukhanya kwezulu kwakuza kukhanya kwihlabathi eligutyungelwe bubumnyama, lize livakale ilizwi libhenela kubo bonke abantu ukuba babuye ekunquleni izithixo beze ekukhonzeni uThixo ophilayo. Ukuba amaIsrayeli ayethe anyaniseka koko akuphathiswayo, ngewaba ligunya elongamileyo emhlabeni. UThixo wayeya kuba lukhuselo lwawo, awanyuse ngaphezu kwazo zonke ezinye izizwe. Ukukhanya kunye nenyaniso yaKhe zizinto ezaziya kutyhilwa ngawo, aze athi qabavu phantsi kobulumko nolawulo olungcwele engumzekelo wokongama konqulo lwaKhe ngaphezu kwalo naluphi uhlobo lokunqulwa kwezithixo.ANa 314.2