28—Unqulo Lwezithixo ESinayi

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiEksodus 32-34.]

Ngexesha uMoses wayengekho, yaba lixesha lokulinda nokuxhalaba kuIsrayeli. Abantu babesazi ukuba unyuke waya entabeni noYoshuwa, nokuba wangena efini lobumnyama obungqingqwa elalibonakala emazantsi entilini, lihleli encotsheni yentaba, limana likhanyiswa amaxesha ngamaxesha kukukhanya noBukho obungcwele. Bakulindela ngenzondelelo ukubuya kwakhe. Kuba eYiputa babeqhelene nezinto eziphathekayo ezimele uThixo, kwaba nzima kubo ukuthemba umntu ongabonakaliyo, baza baxhomekeka kuMoses ukuxhasa ukholo lwabo. Ngoku wayesusiwe kubo. Kwaba yimini emva kwemini, neveki emva kweveki, akabuya noko. Nangona ilifu lalisabonakala, kwaba ngathi eminqubeni inkokeli yabo ibashiyile, okanye igqitywe ngumlilo odlayo.ANa 315.1

Ngeli xesha lokulinda, babenalo ixesha lokucamngca ngomthetho kaThixo ababewuvile, nokulungiselela iintliziyo zabo ukwamkela ezinye izityhilelo awayeza kuzenza kubo. Ixesha ababenalo lalingelininzi kakhulu ukuba liwanele lo msebenzi; kwaye ukuba babefuna ukukuqonda ngakumbi okufunwa nguThixo, bazithobe iintliziyo zabo phambi kwaKhe, ngebabekhuselekile esihendweni. Abazange bakwenze oku, basuka bakhawuleza ukungakhathali, ukungamameli, nokungabi namthetho. Kwaya kwagqithisa kwimeko yendibandiba emxube. Babephelelwe ngumonde wokuba sendleleni esinga eZweni leDinga—ilizwe elibaleka ubisi nobusi. Umqathango wokuzuzwa kwelizwe elithenjisiweyo yayikukuthobela, kodwa abazange bayibone yonke loo nto. Babekho ababecebisa ukuba kubuyelwe eYiputa, uninzi lwabantu lwalungasazimisele ukumlindela ngaphezulwana uMoses.ANa 315.2

Bathingokuzivabengenaluncedongaphandle kwenkokeliyabo, babuyela kwizikhalazo zabo ezidala. Indiba-ndiba emxube yaba yeyokuqala ukuziyekela ekukrokreni nasekuphelelweni ngumonde, yaza yahamba phambili ekukreqeni okwalandelayo. Phakathi kwezinto ezazixatyisiwe ngamaYiputa njengemifuziselo kathixo [wabo] kwakuyinkomo okanye ithole; kwaza, kwangecebiso labo babelwenza olu hlobo lokunqula izithixo eYiputa, kwenzeka ukuba ngoku kwenziwe ithole elaya lanqulwa. Abantu banqwenela umfanekiso othile ukuba umele uThixo, nokuba uhambe phambi kwabo esikhundleni sikaMoses. UThixo akazange anike naluphi na uhlobo lomfuziselo waKhe, kanti wayalele nasiphi isixhobo esimele injongo enjalo. Imimangaliso yamandla eYiputa nakuLwandle oluBomvu yayilungiselelwe ukumilisela ukholo kuYe njengoMncedi kaIsrayeli ongenakubonwa, nonamandla onke, uThixo wenene ekuphela kwaKhe. Ulangazelelo lokubonakaliswa koBukho baKhe ngendlela ebonakalayo kwakunikwe kwintsika yelifu neyomlilo eyayikhokela imikhosi yabo, nasekutyhilweni kobuqaqawuli baKhe phezu kweNtaba yeSinayi. Kanti ke, kuthe ngoku ilifu loBukho lisephambi kwabo, babuya umva ngeentliziyo zabo basinga kunqulo-zithixo lwaseYiputa, bafuzisela ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo ongabonwayo ngomfuziselo wenkomo!ANa 316.1

Ngexesha uMoses engekho, igunya lokulawula lalinikelwe kuAron, yaza inginginya yabantu yabuthelana ententeni yakhe ikhwaza, “Sukume, usenzele uthixo oya kuhamba phambi kwethu; kuba lo Moses, le ndoda yasinyusayo ezweni laseYiputa, asazi ukuba uhlelwe yintoni na.” [*Bona iSihlomelo, Inqaku 4.] Batsho besithi, ilifu elalikade libakhokela, ngoku lihleli umphelo entabeni; alisayi kuphinda libakhokele kuhambo lwabo. Kufuneka babe nomfanekiso endaweni yalo; kwaye ukuba, ngokwecebiso, kufuneka begqibe ukuba babuyele eYiputa, baya kufumana ukwamkeleka kumaYiputa ngokubeka lo mfanekiso phambi kwabo bewuvuma ukuba unguthixo wabo.ANa 316.2

Intlekele enjalo yayifuna indoda enokuqina, eba nesigqibo, nesibindi esingashukunyiswa nto; indoda ekubeka ukuzukiswa kukaThixo ngaphezu kwako konke ukuthandwa ngabantu bonke, ukhuseleko lwayo, okanye nobomi ngokwabo. Ngelishwa, inkokeli kaIsrayeli eyayikho ngeli xesha yayingenguye umntu onesimilo esinjalo. UAron, wabanokuthamba ekungxoliseni kwakhe abantu, baza ukungazinzi nokuba mbuna ngexesha elibi kangaka kwabenza kwakukona abantu bazimiselayo. Kwakhula isiphithiphithi. Impambano enobumfama nengaqiqiyo yasithi hlasi ngamandla isihlwele. Bakho bona abahlala benyanisekile kumnqophiso wabo noThixo, kodwa uninzi lwabantu lwazimanya nokreqo.Abambalwa abazinikela ekuchaseni ukucetywa kokwenziwa komfanekiso njengokunqulwa kwesithixo, bagculelwa baphathwa kakubi, kwathi kuloo mbhodamo nehlombe, ekugqibeleni balahlekana nobomi babo.ANa 316.3

UAron woyikela inkuseleko yakhe, wathi endaweni yokuba amele uzuko lukaThixo ngesidima, wayekela kwiimfuno zesihlwele. Isenzo sakhe sokuqala saba kukuyalela ukuba amajikazi egolide asezindlebeni aqokelelwe kubo bonke abantu aziswe kuye, enethemba lokuba ikratshi liya kubakhokelela ekubeni bale ukude bancame kangako. Basuka bakuvuyela ukuwanikela loo majikazi waza ngawo wenza ithole elinyityilikisiweyo, ngokomfuziselo woothixo baseYiputa. Abantu bakhwaza bathi, “Nanko uthixo wakho, Israyeli, okunyusileyo ezweni laseYIputa!” UAron ngendlela ephantsi wasivumela esi sigculelo sibhekiswa kuYehova. Wenza ngaphezu koko. Akubona indlela abaneliseka ngayo ukwamkela uthixo wegolide, wakha isibingelelo phambi kwakhe, wavakalisa wathi, “Ngumthendeleko kuYehova ngomso.” Isaziso savakaliswa ngamaxilongo kumaqela ngamaqela kuyo yonke inkampu. “Bavuka kusasa ngengomso, banyusa amadini anyukayo, basondeza imibingelelo yoxolo; bahlala phantsi abanu badla basela, besuka bema, badlala.” Phantsi kokukhohlisa ngokungathi benza “umthendeleko kuYehova,” bazinikela ekudleni nasekuzonwabiseni ngokurheletya.ANa 317.1

Kukangakanani, nakule yethu imihla, ekuthi ukuthanda iziyolo kuzibonakalise njengo“kumila kokuhlonela uThixo”! Inkolo evumela abantu, ngeli xesha begcine iinkonzo zokunqula, ukuba bazinikele ekwenzeni abakuthandayo okanye ekwaneliseni iinkanuko, kuze oko kuzanelise izihlwele ngoku njengoko kwakunjalo ngemihla kaIsrayeli. Basekhona ooAron ababhetyebhetye, abathi ngoku bebambe izikhundla zegunya ebandleni, bayekele kwiimfuno zabangangcwalisekanga, ngaloo ndlela babe bayabakhuthaza esonweni.ANa 317.2

Kwakudlule nje iintsuku ezimbalwa emva kokuba amaHebhere enze umnqophiso onendili noThixo ukuba aya kulithobela izwi laKhe. Ayemi engcangcazela enoloyiko phambi kwentaba, ephulaphule amazwi kaYehova, “Uze ungabi nathixo bambi ngaphandle kwam.” Kwathi, nangona ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo busephezu kweSinayi, phambi kwayo yonke intlanganiso, basuka babuya umva, bafuna abanye oothixo. “Benza ithole eHorebhe, baqubuda emfanekisweni otyhidiweyo. Balwananisa uzuko lwabo ngento emilise okwenkomo edla utyani.” Ndumiso 106:19, 20. Yeyiphi enye indlela ekwakunokuboniswa ngayo ukungabi nambulelo okukhulu, okanye isinyeliso esikhulu, kuLowo owaziveza kubo njengoyise onothando nokumkani onamandla onke!ANa 317.3

UMoses entabeni walunyukiswa ngokreqo olusenkampini wayalelwa ukuba ajike ngokukhawuleza. “Hamba uhle; ngamazwi kaThixo; “kuba abantu bakho, owabanyusayo ezweni laseYiputa, bonakalisile; batyeke msinya endleleni endabawisela umthetho ngayo; bazenzele ithole elityhidiweyo, balinqula.” UThixo ngewayesinqande ngokukhawuleza esi senzo; kodwa wasiyeka ukuze sifikelele kweli nqanaba ukuze abafundise isifundo ngokohlwaya uvukelo-mbuso nokukreqa.ANa 318.1

Umnqophiso kaThixo nabantu baKhe, (ngakwicala labo), wawucinyiwe wanje ngongazange ubekho, waza (uThixo) wathi kuMoses, “Kaloku ndiyeke, uvuthe umsindo wam kubo, ndibadle, ndenze wena uhlanga olukhulu.” Abantu bakwaIsrayeli, ngakumbi indibandiba emxube, babeya kuhlala besenza uvukelo ngakuThixo. Babeya kukrokra ngakwinkokeli yabo, baze bayenze buhlungu ngokungakholwa kunye neenkani zabo, kuze kube ngumsebenzi onzima kakhulu nozamazamana nomphefumlo ukubakhokelela kwiLizwe leDinga. Izono zabo zazisele zabenza bakuncama ukuthandwa kwabo nguThixo, kwaza kwafuneka ubulungisa bomthetho ukuba batshatyalaliswe. UYehova, ke ngoko, waceba ukuba abatshabalalise, aze amenze uMoses isizwe esikhulu.ANa 318.2

Ndiyeke, . . . ndibadle,” yayingamazwi kaThixo. Ukuba uThixo wayegqibe ukuba amtshabalalise uIsrayeli, ngubani owayeza kubathethelela? Uninzi lweenkokeli ngezabayekela aboni kwintshabalalo yabo! Uninzi lweenkokeli zaziya kukuvuyela ukutshintshwa komsebenzi omninzi nonzima kunye nomthwalo nombingelelo, obuyekezwa ngokungabikho kombulelo kunye nokukrokra, ngesikhundla sokuphola nokuphakanyiswa, xa inguThixo ngokwaKhe ozisa ukukhululeka.ANa 318.3

Noko kunjalo, uMoses wabona umhlaba wethemba apho kwakubonakala kuphela ukutyhafisa nengqumbo. Amazwi kaThixo athi, “Ndiyeke,” wawaqonda njengamazwi angamaleliyo kodwa akhuthaza ukungenelela, into ethetha ukuthi, akukho nto ngaphandle kwemithandazo kaMoses enokusindisa uIsrayeli, nokuthi, ukuba angacengwa njalo, uThixo uya kuba sindisa abantu baKhe. “Wambongoza uYehova uThixo wakhe, wathi, Yini na, Yehova ukuba uvuthe umsindo wakho kubantu bakho, obakhuphileyo ezweni laseYiputa ngamandla amakhulu, nangesandla esithe nkqi?”ANa 318.4

UThixo wayebonakalise ukuba uya balahla abantu baKhe. Wayethethe ngabo kuMoses ngokuthi, “abantu bakho, owabanyusayo ezweni laseYiputa.” Kanti ke kunjalo, noMoses, ngokuzithoba, wakulandula ukuba uyinkokeli kaIsrayeli. Babengengabo abakhe, kodwa babe ngabakaThixo--“kubantubakho,obakhuphileyoezwenilaseYiputa ngamandla amakhulu,nangesandla esithe nkqi. Yini na,” wacenga, “ukuba amaYiputa atsho ukuthi, Wabakhuphela ububi, ukuze ababulalele ezintabeni, abagqibezele bemke emhlabeni?”ANa 319.1

Ngeenyanga ezimbalwa kususela ukuba uIsrayeli wayishiyayo iYiputa, ingxelo emangalisayo yokuhlangulwa kwabo yafikelela kuzo zonke izizwe ezibangqongileyo. Uloyiko nokunxuba okukhulu kwazinza phezu kwabahedeni. Bonke babekhangele ukuba babone ukuba uThixo kaIsrayeli uya kubenzela ntoni abantu baKhe. Ukuba bangatshatyalaliswa ngoku, iintshaba zabo zingaba zoyisile, noThixo alahlekwe luzuko lwaKhe. AmaYiputa angabanga ukuba izityholo zawo zaziyinyaniso: endaweni yokukhokelela abantu baKhe ukuba baye kubingelela entlango, ubenze ukuba babingelelwe. Babengayi kuzibona izono zikaIsrayeli; ukutshabalala kwabantu (uThixo) awayebazukise ngokuncamisileyo, kwakuya kuzisa ukugculelwa kwigama laKhe. Ubukhulu bomthwalo phezu kwabo uThixo abazukisileyo kakhulu, ukuba benze ukuba igama laKhe lidunyiswe emhlabeni! Indlela ekufuneka belumke ngayo ukuba bangenzi sono, ukuze bazibizele izigwebo zaKhe, balenze negama laKhe ukuba libe sisigculelo kwabo bangahloneli Thixo!ANa 319.2

Ngexesha uMoses ethethelela uIsrayeli, ukunkwantya kwakhe kwanyamalala ngenxa yomdla nothando lwakhe kwabo awathi, ezandleni zikaThixo, wasisixhobo sokubenzela okukhulu kakhulu. UYehova wakuva ukucenga kwakhe, wakwenza okufunwa ngumthandazo wakhe ongasekelezanga okwakhe. UThixo wayemvavanyile umkhonzi waKhe; wakulinga ukunyaniseka kwakhe nothando lwakhe kwabo bantu bonayo bangenawo nombulelo, wathi ngesidima wakuthwala ukulingwa. Umdla wakhe kuIsrayeli wawungaphumi kwinjongo yokuzithandela. Impumelelo yabantu abanyuliweyo nguThixo yayithandeka kuye ngaphezu kokuphakanyiswa kwakhe, kuthandeka ngaphezu kwelungelo lokuba nguyise wohlanga olunamandla. UThixo waneliseke kukunyaniseka kwakhe, ukunganqabi kwentliziyo yakhe, kunye nesidima sakhe, waza wamnika,njengomalusi othembekileyo, umsebenzi omkhulu wokukhokelela uIsrayeli kwiLizwe leDinga.ANa 319.3

Ngexesha uMoses noYoshuwa babesihla entabeni, uMoses ethwele “amacwecwe esingqino,” beva imikhwazo namayeyeye esihlwele esivuyileyo, kucaca ukuba sikwimo yobundlongo-ndlongo. KuYoshuwa olisoldati, into yokuqala eyafika engqondweni yeyokuba kukho uhlaselo oluphuma kwiintshaba zabo. “Lilizwi lemfazwe eminqubeni,” watsho. UMoses wayazi kakuhle imvelo yesiphithiphithi. Ingxolo yayingeyiyo eyokulwa. “Asilizwi lakuduma kwabeyisayo; asilizwi lakukhala kwabeyiswayo; lilizwi labahlabelayo nabadumayo, endilivayo mna.”ANa 319.4

Ngokuya besondela eminqubeni, bababona abantu bekhwaza bengqungqa bejikeleza isithixo sabo. Yayingumbono wobundlobongela bobuhedeni, ofana naxa kunqulwa izithixo zaseYiputa; kodwa, hayi ukungafani nesidima nentlonipho yonqulo lukaThixo! UMoses woyisakala. Wayesanda kusuka phambi kobukho kobuqaqawuli bukaThixo, wathi nangona wayelunyukisiwe ngento eyenzekayo, yayinto engumbono ombi ohlazisayo kaIsrayeli angakhange awulindele. Wavutha umsindo wakhe. Ukubonakalisa kwakhe intiyo yakhe yokwaphula kwabo umthetho, wawalahla phantsi amacwecwe amatye, ophuka, abantu bonke bekhangele, ngaloo ndlela ebonisa ukuba, njengoko bewaphule umnqophiso wabo noThixo, noThixo uwaphule umnqophiso nabo.ANa 320.1

Wangena enkampini, wanqumla phakathi kwesihlwele sabadlali, wasithabatha isithixo, wasiphosa emlilweni. Emva koko wasisila sangumgubo, wathi akuba ewulahlele kumsinga owawusihla usuka entabeni, wabenza abantu ukuba bawusele. Ngoko wayebonisa indlela angenaxabiso ngayo konke uthixo ababemnqula.ANa 320.2

Inkokeli enkulu yambiza umkhuluwa wayo onetyala yambuza kabukhali, isithi, “Benze ntoni na aba bantu kuwe, ukuba ubazisele isono esikhulu kangaka?” UAron wazama ukuzikhusela ngokuchaza isikhalo sabantu; nokuthi, ukuba ebengenzanga ngokweminqweno yabo, ngebabembulele. “Umsindo wenkosi yam mawungavuthi,” watsho; “wena uyabazi aba bantu ukuba banobubi. Bathi kum, Senzele uthixo oya kuhamba phambi kwethu; kuba lo Moses, le ndoda yasinyusayo ezweni laseYiputa, asazi ukuba uhlelwe yintoni na. Ndathi kubo, Ubani onegolide makayiqhawule; bandinika ke. Ndayiphosa emlilweni kwaphuma eli thole.” Wayenga angamkhokela uMoses ukuba akholelwe ukuba kwenzeke ummangaliso—wokuba igolide iphoswe nje emlilweni, kwathi ngamandla avela ngasentla, yatshintshwa yalithole. Noko kunjalo, izizathwana zakhe nokukhohlisa kwakhe akuzange kusebenze nto. Waphathwa kanye ngohlobo olufanele umoni omkhulu.ANa 320.3

Into yokuba uAron wayesikelelwe wazukiswa kakhulu ngaphezu kwabantu yiyo eyasenza sathiyeka kakhulu isono sakhe. YayinguAron “ongcwele kaYehova” (Ndumiso 106:16), owenza umfanekiso oqingqiweyo wavakalisa nesidlo. Nguye owanyulwa ukuba athethele uMoses, nawathi ngaye uThixo ngokwaKhe wangqina esithi, “Ndiyazi ukuba yena uyakwazi ukuthetha” (Eksodus 4:14),loosileleyo ukunqanda abanquli bezithixo kwinjongo yabo yokudelela okubi. Yena lowo uThixo wazisa ngaye izibetho kumaYiputa kunye noothixo bawo, waphulaphula engachukumiseki yimikhwazo phambi komfanekiso otyhidiweyo, “Nanko uthixo wakho, Israyeli, okunyusileyo ezweni laseYiputa!” Yayinguye owayenoMoses entabeni, apho wabona ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova, owabonayo ukuba kuloo mbonakalo yobo buqaqawuli akukho nto ingumfanekiso inokwenziwa; nguye lo owatshintsha obo buqaqawuli ngokwenza umfanekiso wenkomo. Yena lowo uThixo wanikela ulawulo lwabantu ngexesha engekho uMoses, wafunyanwa evumela uvukelo lwabo. “UYehova wamfuthela kunene uAron ukuba amtshabalalise.” Duteronomi 9:20. Sekunjalo, ukuphendula ekutarhuzeni okunyanisekileyo kukaMoses, ubomi bakhe basindiswa; wathi ngokuguquka nokuzithoba ngenxa yesono sakhe esikhulu, wabuyiselwa eluthandweni lukaThixo.ANa 323.1

Ukuba uAron wayenaso isibindi sokumela into elungileyo, nokuba zithini iziphumo, ngewaluthintela olo kreqo. Ukuba wayemi akagungqa kokwakhe ukuthembeka kuThixo, ukuba wayebaxelele abantu iingozi zaseSinayi, wabakhumbuza ngomnqophiso wabo noThixo wokuba, baya kuwuthobela umthetho waKhe, ububi ngebabunqandiwe. Ukuvumelana kwakhe neminqweno yabantu nengqinisekiso ezolileyo awaya wawenza ngayo amacebo abo, kwabanika isibindi ukuba bahlabele mgama kwisono sabo kunokuba babesicingile ngaphambili.ANa 323.2

Akuba uMoses ebuyele eminqubeni, ukuthethisa kwakhe abavukeli, ukungxola kwakhe okuqatha kunye nengqumbo awayibonakalisa ngokwaphula amacwecwe angcwele omthetho, abantu bakuthelekisa nentetho emyoli nendlela enesidima yomkhuluwa wakhe, baza banemfesane ngakuAron. Ukuzithethelela kwakhe, uAron wazama ukubeka ityala ebantwini ngenxa yobuthakathaka bakhe ngokubavumela kwisinyanzelo sabo; nangona kunjalo, babezaliswe kukuthanda ubulali bakhe nomonde wakhe. Noko kunjalo, uThixo akaboni njengokubona komntu. Umoya oyekelelayo ka-Aron kunye nokulangazelela kwakhe ukukholisa (abantu) kwamfamekisa kubukhulu bobubi bolwaphulo-mthetho awaluvumelayo. Indlela yakhe yokunikela ngempembelelo yokuba koniwe nguIsrayeli, yabangela ukulahlekisa kwamawaka emiphefumlo. Athi ubukhulu bomahluko woku kwinto eyenzeka kuMoses owathi ngexesha enika izigwebo zikaThixo ngokunyaniseka, wabonisa ukuba ukuphatheka kakuhle kukaIsrayeli kubaluleke kuye ngaphezu kwempumelelo okanye ukuphakanyiswa okanye ubomi.ANa 323.3

Kuzo zonke izono aya kuzohlwaya uThixo, azikho ezibi kakhulu emehlweni aKhe ukudlula ezokukhuthaza abanye ekwenzeni ububi. UThixo unga abakhonzi baKhe bangakubonakalisa ukunyaniseka kwabo ngokuthembeka ekukhalimeleni kwabo ulwaphulo-mthetho, nokuba ukwenza oko kuya kuba buhlungu kangakanani. Abo baphakanyiswe ngokunikwa umsebenzi ongcwele akufuneki babe ngamabhetyebhetye, abahambisi bexesha abalala bephethuka. Akufuneki basebenzele ukuziphakamisa, okanye bayiphephe imisebenzi engamkelekanga, kodwa bawenze umsebenzi kaThixo ngokunyaniseka okungagungqiyo.ANa 324.1

Nangona uThixo wawuva wawuphendula umthandazo kaMoses ngokumsindisa uIsrayeli entshabalalweni, ukreqo lwakhe kwakufuneka lohlwaywe ngendlela ebonakalayo. Ukungabi namthetho nokungathobeli awabavumela ukuba bawe kuko uAron, ukuba abunyhashwanga ngokukhawuleza, buya kuba yinkohlakalo eyenza isidubedube, ize isizwe isifake kwintshabalalo engekuba irhoxisiwe. Ububi kufuneka bususwe ngeyona ndlela ingqongqo kakhulu. Wathi emi esangweni le nkampu, uMoses wathetha nabantu, “OngakuYehova makeze kuma apha.” Abo bangakhange babe yinxalenye yolo kreqo kwafuneka ukuba beme ngasekunene kukaMoses; abo babe nobutyala kodwa baguquka, beme ngasekhohlo. Umyalelo wathotyelwa. Kwafumaniseka ukuba isizwe sikaLevi asizange sibe nenxaxheba kunqulo lwezithixo. Kwezinye izizwe ayemakhulu amanani abantu abathi, nangona bonayo, ngoku babonakalisa ukuguquka kwabo. Noko kunjalo, iqela elikhulu ngakumbi kwindibandiba emxube eyaphembelela ukwenziwa kwethole, laba neenkani liqhubeka nokuvukela kwalo. Egameni “likaYehova uThixo kaIsrayeli,” uMoses wayalela ukuba abo bangasekunene kuye, abazigcina bemsulwa ekunquleni izithixo, bakhuphe amakrele abo babaxabele abo babeqhubeka novukelo. “Kwawa ebantwini loo mini ngathi ngamawaka omathathu amadoda.” Kwathi kungahlonitshwanga sikhundla, ukuzalana, nobuhlobo, iinkokeli zonke zanqanyulwa; kodwa zonke abaguqukayo zazithoba, zasindiswa.ANa 324.2

Abo babesenza lo msebenzi mbi wokugweba, babesenza ngegunya elingcwele, besenza isigwebo sikaKumkani wezulu. Abantu kufuneka bayilumkele indlela abathi, ebumfameni bobuntu babo, bagwebe, balahle abazalwana babo; kodwa xa athe uThixo wayalela ukuba benze ngokwesigwebo sakhe ebugwenxeni, kufuneka athotyelwe. Abo babesenza esi senzo sibuhlungu, babebonakalisa ukucekiseka kovukelo nokunqula izithixo, baza bazinikela bona ngokupheleleyo ngakumbi emsebenzini kaThixo wenene. UYehova wakuzukisa ukunyaniseka kwabo ngokuthi jize ngewonga elilodwa uhlanga lwabaLevi.ANa 324.3

AmaIsrayeli ayenobutyala bokuvukela ubukumkani, ngolo hlobo aba achasene noKumkani owayebaxakathisa iintsikelelo negunya laKhebathi ngokuzithandela babhambathisa ukubabaya kulithobela. Ukuze ulawulo olungcwele lugcinwe, kufuneka ubulungisa bomthetho bubafikele abangcatshi. Noko kunjalo, nalapha, inceba yabonakaliswa. Lo gama ephakamisa umthetho waKhe, wanikeza inkululeko yokuzikhethela kunye nethuba lokuguquka kubo bonke. Kuphela ngabo babesusiwe abaqhubeka novukelo.ANa 325.1

Kwakunyanzelekile ukuba esi sono sohlwaywe, njengobungqina kwizizwe ezingqongileyo kokungakholiswa kukaThixo kukunqulwa kwezithixo. Ngokwenza ngokwesigwebo kwabo banobutyala, uMoses, njengesixhobo sikaThixo, kufuneka eshiye kwingxelo inkcaso engagungqiyo nephandle ngasekwaphuleni kwabo umthetho. Njengoko amaIsrayeli ayeza kuthi kamva akugwebe ukunqulwa kwezithixo ziintlanga eziwangqongileyo, iintshaba zawo zaziya kubuyisela kuwo isityholo sokuba abantu ababanga uYehova njengoThixo wabo benza ithole baqubuda kulo eHorebhe. Kwakuya kuthi ke ngoko, naxa kufuneka ivunywe inyaniso ehlazisayo, uIsrayeli ebeya kukwazi ukwalatha kwisiphelo esibi sabo bawophulayo umthetho, njengesibonakaliso sokuba isono sabo asizange sivunyelwe okanye sibethwe ngoyaba.ANa 325.2

Uthando olungekho nganeno kobulungisa bomthetho lwalufuna ukuba, ngenxa yesi sono, kufuneka kunikwe isigwebo. UThixo ungumalusi ekwa ligunya kubantu baKhe. Uya basusa abo bazimisele ukuqhuba uvukelo, ukuze bangakhokeleli abanye entshabalalweni. Ekusindiseni ubomi bukaKayin, uThixo wayibonisa yonke iyunivesi ukuba sinokuba yintoni isiphumo sokuvumela isono ukuba siqhube ngaphandle kwesohlwayo. Impembelelo ebekwe phezu kwenzala yakhe yindlela yokuphila kwakhe kunye nemfundiso yakhe yakhokelela kwimo yenkohlakalo eyabanga ukutshatyalaliswa kwawo wonke umhlaba ngonogumbe. Imbhali yabantu ababephila phambi kukanogumbe ingqina ukuba ubomi obude abuyiyo intsikelelo kumoni; ukunyamezela okukhulu kukaThixo, akuzange kuyilungise inkohlakalo yabo. Okona abantu baphila ixesha elide, kokona baya bekhohlakala.ANa 325.3

Lwaba njalo ke ukreqo eSinayi. Ukuba ukwaphulwa komthetho kwakungohlwaywanga ngokukhawuleza, iziphumo ezifanayo zaziya kuphinda ukubonakala. Umhlaba ubuya kukhohlakala njengakwimihla kaNowa. Ukuba aba boni babesindisiwe, ububi ngebalandela, bubukhulu kunobo bathi babakho ngokusindiswa kukaKayin. Yinceba kaThixo eyenza ukuba kubethwe amawaka, ukuthintela isidingo sokuba kohlwaywe izigidi. Ukuze kusinde abaninzi, kufuneka ohlwaye abambalwa. Ngaphezu koko, njengoko abantu bakulahla ukuthemba kwabo uThixo, baphulukana nokhuselo lwezulu, bathi, belahlekene nokhuseleko lwabo, sonke isizwe sasesichengeni kwigunya leentshaba zabo. Ukuba ububi babungasuswanga ngokukhawuleza, babeya kuba lixhobakwiintshabazabo ezininzinezinamandlangokukhawuleza. Kwakunyanzelekile, ukuba, ukuze kulunge kuIsrayeli, nokunika isifundo kuzo zonke izizukulwana ezilandelayo, kufuneke ulwaphulo-mthetho lohlwaywe ngokukhawuleza. Kwaye kungakuko ukungabi nanceba ngakuboni ukuba banqanyulwe kwindlela yabo yobubi. Ukuba ubomi babo babugciniwe, kwalo moya wawubakhokelele ekuvukeleni uThixo ngewawubonakele kwintiyo nembambano phakathi kwabo, baze, ekugqibeleni, batshabalalisane. Kwakungothando ehlabathini, uthando kuIsrayeli, nakuboni ngokwabo, okwenza ukuba ukwaphulwa komthetho kohlwaywe ngobungqongqo obukhawulezileyo nobubuhlungu.ANa 325.4

Njengoko abantu bavuswa ukuba babubone ubukhulu betyala labo, ukoyika kwangena kuyo yonke inkampu. Kwakusoyikwa hleze wonke umoni anqanyulwe. Ngemfesane, ngenxa yoxinzelelo lwabo, uMoses wathembisa ukuba uya kuphinda acenge uThixo ngenxa yabo.ANa 326.1

“Nonile nina, nenza isono esikhulu;” watsho, “ndiya kunyuka ngoku ndiye kuYehova; mhlawumbi ndingacamagusha ngenxa yesono senu.” Waphuma, wathi, ekuvumeni kwakhe phambi kukaThixo, “Yoo! Aba bantu bonile, benza isono esikhulu bazenzela uthixo ngegolide. Khawusixolele ngoko isono sabo; ukuba akunakuba njalo, wose undicima encwadini yakho oyibhalileyo.” Impendulo yathi, “Ubani osukuba onile kum, ndiya kucima yena encwadini yam. Ke ngoko hamba ubalathise abantu, baye kuloo ndawo ndathethayo ngayo kuwe. Yabona, isithunywa sam sohamba phambi kwakho; ke mini ndivelelayo, ndiya kusivelela isono sabo kubo.”ANa 326.2

Emthandazweni kaMoses, iingqondo zethu zikhokelelwa kwiingxelo zasezulwini apho amagama abo bonke abantu akrolwe khona, nezenzo zabo, nokuba zilungile okanye zibi, zigcinwe ngokunyanisekileyo engxelweni. Incwadi yobomi inamagama abo bonke abakha bangena ekukhonzeni uThixo. Ukuba ubani uthi emke kuYe, athi, azingise ukuhlala esonweni, ekugqibeleni uthi abelukhuni ngakwiimpembelelo zikaMoya Oyingcwele, amagama abanjalo aya kuthi emgwebeni acinywe kuyo incwadi yobomi, baze bona banikelwe entshabalalweni. UMoses wayiqonda ukuba soyikeka kangakanani isiphelo somoni; ukanti, ukuba abantu bakwaIsrayeli babeya kwaliwa nguYehova, walangazelela ukuba igama lakhe licinywe kunye nawabo; wayengenako ukunyamezela ukubona izigwebo zikaThixo zisiwa phezu kwabo babehlangulwe ngenceba. Ukungenelela kukaMoses endaweni kaIsrayeli kubonisa ukuthethelela kukaKristu abantu abonileyo. Noko kunjalo, uYehova akazange amvumele uMoses ukuba athwale, njengoko wenzayo uKristu, ubutyala bomaphuli womthetho. “Ubani osukuba onile kum,” watsho, “ndiya kucima yena encwadini yam.”ANa 326.3

Ngosizi olukhulu, abantu babangcwaba ababo abafileyo. Amawaka amathathu awa ngekrele; isibetho safika kwakamsinyane enkampini; saza safika isigidimi kubo sokuba uBukho obungcwele abusayi kuba sahamba nabo kwiihambo zabo. UYehova wathi, “Andisayi kunyuka phakathi kwenu nina; kuba ningabantu abantamo ilukhuni, hleze ndiniphelise endleleni.” Waya wanikwa umyalelo othi, “Zikhululeni izivatho zenu, ndize ndazi endokwenza kuni.” Kwabakhona ukumbambazela kuyo yonke inkampu. Ngokuguquka nokuzithoba, “Bazijaca oonyana bakaIsrayeli izivatho zabo, beqalela entabeni yaseHorebhe.”ANa 327.1

Ngomyalelo ongcwele, intente eyayisetyenziswe njengendawo yokunqula yasiwa “kude neminquba.” Noku yayisekukubonisa ukuba uThixo ububuyisile uBukho baKhe kubo. Wayeya kuzityhila kuMoses, kodwa hayi kubantu abanje ngabo. Ukukhalima kwavakala kakhulu, kwaza kwathi kwisihlwele esilinyazwe isazela, kwavakala ngokungathi kuhlola intlekele enkulu. Ingaba uThixo wayengamahluli uMoses enkampini ukuze abatshabalalise kuphele? Noko kunjalo abazange bashiywe bengenathemba. Intente yamiswa ngaphandle kweminquba, kodwa uMoses wayibiza ngokuthi “yintente yokuhlangana.” Bonke ababeguqukile ngokwenene, baza balangazelela ukubuyela kuYehova, babeyalelwa ukuba baye kuyo bavume izono zabo bafune inceba yaKhe. Bathi bakubuyela ezintenteni zabo, uMoses wangena emnqubeni. Abantu balindela ngomdla onentlungu ukubona umqondiso wokuba ukubathethelela kwakhe kwamkelekile. Ukuba uThixo wayenokuhla ahlangane naye, babeya kuthemba ukuba abasayi kugqitywa ngokupheleleyo. Wathi wakuhla umqulu welifu, wema ekungeneni komnquba, abantu bakhala luvuyo, “besuka bema bonke abantu, baza baqubuda, elowo esemnyango wentente yakhe.”ANa 327.2

UMoses wayekwazi kakuhle ukugqwetheka nobumfama babantu ababephantsi kweliso lakhe; wayebazi ubunzima awayejongene nabo. Sekunjalo, wayefunde ukuba, ukuze aboyise abantu, kufuneka afumane uncedo kuThixo. Wacengela ukuba afumane intyilelo ecace ngakumbi yentando kaThixo nengqinisekiso yoBukho baKhe: “Uyabona uthi kum, Nyusa aba bantu; ke wena akundazisanga lowo uya kundithuma naye; kanti ke uthe, Ndikwazile ngegama, kananjalo ndikubabale. Ngoko ukuba undibabale, khawundazise indlela yakho,, ukuze ndikwazi, ukuze undibabale, ukhumbule ukuba olu hlanga lungabantu bakho.”ANa 327.3

Impendulo yathi, “Ubuso bam bohamba nawe, ndikunike ukuphumla.” Noko kunjalo, uMoses akazange aneliseke. Kwabakho into enyanzelisayo emphefumlweni wakhe ngeziphumo ezibi ukuba uThixo angamshiya uIsrayeli eqaqadekile engaguqukanga. Wayengayi kuyinyamezela into yokuba oko akufunayo kwahlulwe koko kwabazalwana bakhe, waza wathandazela ukuba uthando lukaThixo lubuyiselwe kubantu baKhe, nokuba umqondiso woBukho baKhe buqhubeke buyalela iihambo zabo: “Ukuba ubuso bakho abuhambi nathi, musa ukusinyusa, simke apha. Kuya kwaziwa ngantoni na khona, ukuba undibabale mna nabantu bakho? Akungokuthi na uhambe nathi, sibaluleke thina, mna nabantu bakho, ebantwini bonke abaphezu komhlaba?”ANa 328.1

Wathi uYehova, “Nale nto uyithethileyo ndiya kuyenza; kuba ndikubabale, ndikwazile ngegama.” Kunjalo, umprofeti akayeka ukucenga. Yonke imithandazo yayiphendulwe, kodwa wayenxanelwe imiqondiso emikhulu yothando lukaThixo. Wenza ngoku isicelo esingazange senziwa mntu ngaphambili: “Khawundibonise ubuqaqawuli bakho.”ANa 328.2

UThixo akazange asikhalimele njengesinobuganga esi sicelo; kodwa wathetha amazwi abonisa inceba, “Ndiya kukudlulisa konke ukulunga kwam ebusweni bakho.” Ubuqaqawuli obungagqunywanga bukaThixo, akakho umntu kule meko yokufa onakho ukubukhangela abuye aphile; kodwa uMoses waqinisekiswa ukuba uya kubona ubuqaqawuli kangangoko anakho ukunyamezela. Wabuya wayalelwa ukuba anyuke aye encotsheni yentaba; saza isandla esenza ihlabathi, eso sandla “[si]shenxisa iintaba zingazi” (Yobhi 9:5), sathabatha esi sidalwa sothuli, le ndoda iligorha lokholo, sayifaka emfanteni yeliwa, lo gama ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo nako konke ukulunga kudlula phambi kwayo.ANa 328.3

La mava,--ngaphezu kwako konke okunye okwakuthenjiswe buBukho obungcwele obuya kuba naye—kuMoses kwaba sisiqinisekiso sempumelelo kumsebenzi owawuphambi kwakhe; wakubala konke ukuba kulixabiso elikhulu elingenasiphelo ngaphezu kwako konke ukufunda kwaseYiputa okanye konke awakwenzayo njengendoda ebalulekileyo esizweni okanye inkokeli emkhosini. Alikho igunya emhlabeni okanye ubuchule okanye imfundo enokuma endaweni yoBukho bukaThixo obuhlala buhleli.ANa 328.4

Kulowo ungumgqithi-mthetho yinto eyoyikekayo ukuwa ezandleni zikaThixo ophilayo; kodwa uMoses wema yedwa phambi kwaLowo uSisimakade, engoyiki; kuba umphefumlo wakhe wawuhambelana nentando yoMenzi wakhe. Uthi umdumisi, “Ukuba bendisekeleze ubutshinga ngentliziyo yam, iNkosi yam ibingayi kuphulaphula.” Ndumiso 66:18. Kanti ke, “ukucweya kukaYehova kunabamoyikayo; ubazisa umnqophiso wakhe.” Ndumiso 25:14.ANa 329.1

UThixo wazazisa ngokwaKhe, “UYehova, uYehova, uThixo onemfesane, onobabalo, ozeka kade umsindo, omninzi ngenceba nenyaniso; olondolozela amawaka inceba, oxolela ubugwenxa, nokreqo, nesono; ongakhe amenze msulwa onetyala.”ANa 329.2

“Wakhawuleza uMoses, wathoba emhlabeni, waqubuda kuye.” Waphinda ukumcenga uThixo ukuba abuxolele ubugwenxa babantu baKhe, abamkele njengelifa laKhe. Wamkeleka umthandazo wakhe. UYehova wathembisa ngenceba ukuba uya kuluhlaziya uthando lwaKhe kuIsrayeli, athi, ngenxa yabo, enze imimangaliso engazange yenziwa “ehlabathini lonke nasezintlangeni zonke.”ANa 329.3

Iintsuku ezimashumi mane nobusuku bazo, uMoses wahlala entabeni; kwathi ngalo lonke eli xesha, njengakuqala, waxhaswa ngendlela engummangaliso. Akuzange kuvunyelwe mntu ukuba ahambe kunye naye, nokuba, ngexesha lokungabikho kwakhe, kungabikho mntu uyayo entabeni. Ngokomyalelo kaThixo, kwakufuneka elungise amacwecwe amabini amatye, aze anyuke nawo ukuya encotsheni yentaba; waphinda uYehova “wawabhala emacwecweni amazwi omnqophiso, la mazwi alishumi.” [* Khangela ISIHLOMELO, Inqaku 5.]ANa 329.4

Ngexesha elide elichithwe kuthethwa naye nguThixo, ubuso bukaMoses babonakalisa ubuqaqawuli boBukho obungcwele; engazi yena, ubuso bakhe babukhanya kukukhanya okubengezelayo ukuhla kwakhe entabeni. Oku kukhanya okwakhanyisa imbonakalo kaStefano xa wayeziswe phambi kwabagwebi; “bonke ababehleli entlanganisweni yamatyala, beqwalasele kuye, babubona ubuso bakhe, ngathi bubuso besithunywa sezulu.” Zenzo 6:15. UAron naye, njengabanye abantu, woyika ukusondela kuMoses, kuba bebonke, “boyika ukusondela kuye.” Wathi akukubona ukuphazamiseka noloyiko lwabo, engazi yena ukuba kubangwa yintoni, wabacela ukuba basondele. Wolulela kubo isibhambathiso soxolelaniso lukaThixo, wabaqinisekisa ngothando lwaKhe olubuyiselweyo. Baba nento abayiphawulayo elizwini lakhe, uthando nocengo, baza, ekugqibeleni, banesibindi sokuza kuye. Wathi, enoloyiko olukhulu ukubaangathetha, ngokuzola walatha kwimbonakalo kaMoses, walatha nasezulwini. Inkokeli enkulu yayiqonda into ayithethayo. Kwisazela sabo esinobutyala, beziva bephantsi kokungamkeleki phambi kwezulu, abazange bakwazi ukumelana nokukhanya kwezulu, okwakuya kuthi, ukuba babemthobela uThixo, kubazalise ngovuyo. Lukho uloyiko ekubeni nobutyala. Umphefumlo ongenasono awusayi kulangazelela ukuzifihla ekukhanyeni kwezulu.ANa 329.5

Kuninzi awayenako uMoses ukuba akuthethe kubo; kodwa ngovelwano ngenxa yokoyika kwabo, wabeka isigqubuthelo ebusweni bakhe, waza wasoloko esenza njalo lonke ixesha ebuyela eminqubeni evela kuthetha noThixo.ANa 330.1

Ngoku kubengezela, uThixo wayefuna ukubethelela kuIsrayeli isimilo esingcwele nesiphakamileyo somthetho waKhe, nobuqaqawuli beendaba ezilungileyo ezityhilwe ngoKristu. Lo gama uMoses wayesentabeni, uThixo wamnika, kungekuphela amacwecwe omthetho, kodwa necebo losindiso. Waqinisekisa ukuba umbingelelo kaKristu ubonakalalisiwe kuzo zonke iintlobo nemifuziselo yesizukulwana sobuYuda; kwaye yayikukukhanya kwezulu okwakuphuma eKhalvari, kungekho nganeno kubuqaqawuli bomthetho kaThixo, okwakunike ukubengezela ebusweni bukaMoses. Oko kukhanya kungcwele kwakufuzisela ubuqaqawuli bexesha apho uMoses waye engumthetheli obonwayo, omele uMthetheli oyinyaniso oyedwa ekuphela kwaKhe.ANa 330.2

Ubuqaqawuli obabubonakala kwimbonakalo kaMoses bubonakalisa iintsikelelo ezinokufunyanwa ngabantu abagcina imithetho ngokuthethelela kukaKristu. Bungqina ukuba okona sinoqhagamshelano olusondeleyo kuThixo, nokukona sinokukwazi ngokucacileyo ngakumbi akufunayo, kuya kuba kokona uqinisekiswa ngokupheleleyo umfanekiso ongcwele, nokuba siya kukulungela ngakumbi ukuba ngamadlelane endalo engcwele.ANa 330.3

UMoses wayeluhlobo [umfuziselo] lukaKristu. Ngohlobo umthetheli kaIsrayeli awaye gqubuthela ngalo imbonakalo yakhe, kuba abantu bengakwazi ukumelana nokukhangela kubuqaqawuli bakhe, ngokunjalo noKristu, uMmeli ongcwele, wabugquma ubuThixo baKhe ngobuntu xa wayesiza emhlabeni. Ukuba wayeze embathiswe ngokukhanya kwezulu, ngewayengazange wakwazi ukungena ebantwini kwimeko yabo yesono. Ngebabengazange bakwazi ukumelana nobuqaqawuli boBukho baKhe. Kungoko ke, wathi wazithoba, enziwe wabonakala “efana nenyama elawulwa sisono,” (Roma 8:3), ukuze afikelele kuhlanga loluntu oluwileyo, aluphakamise.ANa 330.4