38—Uhambo Olujikeleze iEdom

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiNumeri 20:14-29; 21:1-9.]

Apho uIsrayeli wamisa khona eKadeshe kwakukufuphi kwimida yakwaEdom, waza uMoses kunye nabantu balangazelela ukulandela indlela ecanda kweli lizwe ukuya kwiLizwe leDinga; ngoko ke, bathumela isigidimi, njengoko uThixo wayebayalele, kukumkani wakwaEdom:ANa 422.1

“Utsho umzalwana wakho uIsrayeli ukuthi, Wena uyakwazi konke ukuxhamleka esafumanana nako. Behla oobawo, baya eYiputa, sahlala eYiputa imihla emininzi. Asiphathe kakubi amaYiputa, thina noobawo bethu sakhala kuYehova, waliva ilizwi lethu; wathuma isithunywa, sasikhupha eYiputa. Nanku ke siseKadeshe, umzi osekupheleni komda wakho. Makhe sicande ezweni lakho. Asiyi kucanda masimini nasezidiliyeni. Asiyi kusela manzi amaqula. Sohamba ngomendo wenkosi; asiyi kuthi gu bucala siye ekunene nasekhohlo, side sicande emdeni wakho.”ANa 422.2

Kwesi sicelo sithobekileyo, kwabuya isilandulo esoyikisayo: “Uze ungacandi kum, hleze ndiphume ndinekrele, ndikuhlangabeze.”ANa 422.3

Zimangaliswe koku kugxothwa, iinkokeli zakwaIsrayeli zathumela isicelo sesibini kukumkani, sinesithembiso, “Sonyuka ngomendo. Ukuba sithe sasela amanzi akho, mna nemfuyo yam, ndokuhlawulela. Akukho nto, ndocanda nje kodwa, ndihamba ngeenyawo.”ANa 422.4

“Uze ungacandi,” yatsho impendulo. Amabutho axhobileyo amaEdom ayesele ebekwe kwiingxingwa ezinzima, ukuze nakuphina ukubheka phambili, kuseluxolweni phofu, ngakwelo cala kube nzima, abe wona amaHebhere engavunyelwe ukuba abhenele ekulweni. Kwafuneka ukuba athabathe uhambo olude olubetha ecaleni kwilizwe lamaEdom.ANa 422.5

Ukuba babethe abantu bakufika ekulingweni, bamthemba uThixo, uMphathiwomkhosikaYehova ngewayebakhokele ukucanda kwaEdom, kwaye ukoyikwa kwabo ngekwabafikela abemi belizwe, ukuze, endaweni yokubonisa inkohlakalo ngebababonisa uthando. Eyona nto, amaIsrayeli awazange alenze ngokukhawuleza ilizwi likaThixo, kwathi besalibele kukukhalaza nokukrokra, ladlula ithuba elifanelekileyo. Bathi, ekugqibeleni, bakuba bekulungele ukwenza isicelo sabo kukumkani, asamkelwa. Kususela ukuba bemka eYiputa, uSathana wayethe chu esebenza ebeka izithintelo nezihendo endleleni yabo, ukuze bangayidli ilifa iKanan. Ngokungakholwa kwabo bathi rhoqo ukumvulela ucango (uSathana) ukuba amelane nenjongo kaThixo.ANa 423.1

Kubalulekile ukukholwa lilizwi likaThixo nokulenza ngokukhawuleza, ngexesha iingelosi zaKhe zilindele ukusisebenzela. Xa ukwazelelela kukaThixo kubayalela abantwana baKhe ukuba babheke phambili, xa elungele ukubenzela izinto ezinkulu, uSathana uyabalinga ukuba bangamkholisi uThixo ngokuzilazila balibazise; ufuna ukuphemba umlilo wengxabano okanye ukuvusa ukukrokra okanye ukungakholwa, ngokwenjenjalo abahluthe iintsikelelo uThixo afuna ukubathululela zona. Abakhonzi bakaThixo kufuneka babe ngoomabizw’asabele, bahlale belungele ukusuka ngokukhawuleza ngexesha ukubonelela kwaKhe kuvula indlela. Ukulibazisa kwabo kunika uSathana ixesha lokusebenza ukuze aboyise.ANa 423.2

Kwimiyalelo eyayinikelwe kuMoses kuqala engokunqumla kwaEdom, emva kokuba kuvakaliswe ukuba kufuneka amaEdom amoyike uIsrayeli, uYehova wabalela abantu baKhe ukuba balisebenzise eli thuba ukubachasa. Nokuba amandla kaThixo ayesetyenziswa kuIsrayeli, nokoyika kwamaEdom kube kuya kuwenza abe ngamaxhoba alula, kwakungafuneki ukuba amaHebhere, ngeso sizathu, abazingele. Umyalelo ababewunikiwe wawusithi, “Ize nizilumkele ke kunene. Ize ningabambani nabo; kuba ezweni labo andiyi kuninika nendawo engangokunyathela kwentende yonyawo; ngokuba ndimnikile uEsawu intaba yakwaSehire ukuba ayime.” Duteronomi 2:4, 5. AmaEdom ayeyinzala ka-Abraham noIsake, kwaza ngenxa yeso sizathu sabo bakhonzi baKhe, uThixo wabonisa uthando kubantwana bakaEsawu. Wayebanike iNtaba iSehire ukuba ibe yeyabo, ngoko ke kwakungafuneki ukuba baphazanyiswe ngaphandle kokuba bangathi ngenxa yezono zabo bazibeke kude neemfefe zaKhe. AmaHebhere kwakufuneka abahluthe abatshabalalise abemi baseKanan, ababewuzalisile umlinganiso wobugwenxa babo, kodwa amaEdom ayesephantsi kwabenzelwe inceba,ngenxayokokwakufuneka bephethwe ngenceba.Ufundisa uIsrayeli ukuba asindise abantu bakwaEdom, phambi kokuba batshabalalise abemi baseKanan.ANa 423.3

Oomawokhulu bakwaEdom nabakwaIsrayeli babezalwa ngumntu omnye, ngoko ke kufuneka ukuba uthando lobuzalwana nembeko zikho phakathi kwabo. AmaIsrayeli alelwa, ngelo xesha okanye nangaliphi ixesha elisezayo, ukuba aziphindezele kunyeliso alufumanayo xa enganikwa indlela yokuba acande elizweni. Akufuneki ukuba alindele ukuba aya kuba nento ayithabathayo kwilizwe lakwaEdom. Nangona amaIsrayeli ayengabantu abanyuliweyo nabathandiweyo nguThixo, kufuneka bayithobele imiqathango ayibekileyo phezu kwabo. UThixo wayebathembise ilifa elihle; kodwa kwakungafuneki bacinge ukuba ngabo kuphela abanamalungelo emhlabeni, bafune ukubagxotha bonke abanye. Babeyalelwe, kuko konke ukuhlangana kwabo namaEdom, ukuba balumke ukwenza ngenkohlakalo. Babenako ukwenza ushishino nabo, bathenge izinto ezifunekayo ngokwesidingo, bakuhlawulele kwangoko konke abakufumeneyo. Ukumkhuthaza uIsrayeli ukuba athembele kuThixo alithobele izwi laKhe, bakhunjuzwa, “UYehova, uThixo wakho, ukusikelele; . . . akuswelanga nto.” Duteronomi 2:7. Babengaxhomekekanga kumaEdom, kuba babenoThixo onazo zonke izinto. Akufuneki ukuba bathi, ngamandla okanye ngobuqhinga, bafune nantoni na eyeyabo; kodwa bathi, kuko konke ukuhlangana kwabo, babonakalise umthetho-siseko womthetho ongcwele, “Uze umthande ummelwane wakho ngoko uzithanda ngako.”ANa 424.1

Ukuba babethe ngolu hlobo bacanda kwaEdom, ngokwenjongo kaThixo, indlela ngeyaba yintsikelelo, kungekuphela kubo, kodwa nakubemi belizwe; kuba yayiya kuba ibanike ithuba lokuba baqhelane nabantu bakaThixo nonqulo lwaKhe, nokungqina ukuba uThixo kaYakobi wabaphumelelisa njani abo bamthandayo nabamoyikayo. Konke oko, kwathintelwa kukungakholwa kukaIsrayeli. UThixo wayebanikile abantu baKhe amanzi ukusabela kwisikhalo sabo, kodwa wakuvumela ukungakholwa kwabo ukuba kubaphathele isohlwayo. Kwakhona kufuneka banqumle intlango baze baphelise unxano lwabo kwimithombo yemimangaliso, ekwakuya kuthi, ukuba bebeye bathembela kuYe, bangaphindi bayidinge.ANa 424.2

Ngokunjalo, imikhosi kaIsrayeli yaphinda yabuya yasinga ngasezantsi, yahamba kwiindawo eziyimiqwebedu, ezazibonakala zisithukuthezi ngakumbi emva kokubona amabala aluhlaza phakathi kweenduli neentlambo zakwaEdom. Ukususela kulundi olwalongamele intlango engenabomi, kuvele iNtaba iHore, encopho yayo yayiza kuba yindawo yokufela nokungcwatywa kuka-Aron. Athi amaIsrayeli akufika kule ntaba, uMoses wanikwa umyalelo wezulu:ANa 424.3

“Thabatha uAron noElazare unyana wakhe, ubanyuse entabeni yeHore; umhlube uAron iingubo zakhe, uzambathise uElazare unyana wakhe. UAron wohlanganiselwa kwabakowabo, afele khona.”ANa 425.1

Zombini ezi ngwevu, nenye eselula, zatsala nzima zinyuka intaba. Iintloko zikaMoses noAron zazimhlophe likhephu lobusika bekhulu elinamashumi amabini. Ubomi babo obude nobuzele ziziganeko babuneempawu zokulingwa ngendlela eyodwa nezona mbeko zaka zafunyanwa ngabantu. Baye bengamadoda esakhono esikhulu sendalo, aye onke amandla abo ekhulile, encomeka, benesidima esiphuma ekuqhagamshelaneni nOngenasiphelo. Ubomi babo babuchithwe ekusebenzeleni uThixo nabanye abantu ngendlela engenamona; inkangeleko yabo inika imbonakalo yamandla amakhulu engqondo, nobubele obukhulu.ANa 425.2

Kwakuyiminyaka emininzi uMoses noAron bemi kunye begudlana ngamacala kwiinkathazo zabo nasekusebenzeni kunye kwabo. Bafumbatha kunye iingozi ezingenakubalwa, babelana kunye ngentsikelelo kaThixo engumqondiso; kodwa ixesha lalifikile ukuba bahlukane. Bathi chu kancinane, kuba umzuzu ngamnye bekunye wawuxabisekile. Iqhina lalingumnqantsa, linzima; babemana besima, bephumla, bethetha ngezinto ezidlulileyo nezizayo. Phambi kwabo, ngokwalapho lalinokufikelela khona iliso, kwakuthe thaa umbono weehambo zabo zasentlango. Kwintili esezantsi kwakuthe thande imikhosi kaIsrayeli, awathi la madoda anyuliweyo achitha ubuninzi bobomi bawo ngayo [imikhosi leyo]; nawaziva enomdla omkhulu kakhulu wokufuna ukulungelwa kwayo, aza aba nokuzincama kakhulu. Ngaphaya kwentaba zakwaEdom, kwakukho indlela eya kwiZwe leDinga — ilizwe uMoses noAron ababengayi kuzixhamla iintsikelelo zalo. Akuzange kufumaneke mvakalelo yakuvukela ezintliziyweni zabo, kungekho ntetho yakukrokra eyaphuma emilebeni yabo; ukanti imbonakalo yabo yayibonisa usizi olundilisekileyo xa bekhumbula oko kwenzekayo ukuze kubavalele ngaphandle kwilifa looyise.ANa 425.3

Umsebenzi ka-Aron wawugqityiwe. Kumashumi amane eminyaka eyadlulayo, ebudala bungamashumi asibhozo anesithathu, uThixo wambiza ukuba ahlangane noMoses kumsebenzi wakhe omkhulu nobalulekileyo. Wasebenzisana nomntakwabo ekukhokeleni abantwana bakaIsrayeli ekuphumeni eYiputa. Wayeziphakamisile izandla zenkokeli enkulu xa imikhosi yamaHebhere yayisilwa nama-Amaleki. Wavunyelwa ukuba anyuke iNtaba yeSinayi, ukuze avele phambi kobukho bukaThixo, nokuba abone ubuqaqawuli obungcwele. UYehova wayebeke phezu kwendluka-Aron kwendluka-Aron umsebenzi wobubingeleli, wamenzela imbeko ngongcwaliso olungcwele lokuba abe ngumbingeleli omkhulu. Wayemxhasile kulo msebenzi ungcwele ngokubonakalaliswa okoyikekayo kogwebo lwezulu ekutshatyalalisweni kukaKora neqela lakhe. Kwakungenxa yokuthethelela kuka-Aron ukuze sithintelwe isibetho. Ukubulawa koonyana bakhe ababini ngokutyeshela umyalelo owawucace gca kaThixo, akazange avukele okanye akhalaze. Kanti ke ingxelo yobomi bakhe obunesidima yangcoliswa. UAron wenza isono esibi akuyekela ekukhaleni kwabantu, wenza ithole legolide eSinayi; waphinda, xa wayehlangana noMiriyam ekunqweneleni nasekukrokreni ngakuMoses. Yena, kunye noMoses, bamona uYehova eKadeshe ngokungathobeli umyalelo wokuthetha neliwa ukuba likhuphe amanzi.ANa 425.4

UThixo wayefuna ukuba ezi nkokeli zinkulu zabantu baKhe zibe ngabameli bakaKristu. UAron wayethwele amagama kaIsrayeli esifubeni sakhe. Wabaxelela nabantu intando kaThixo. Wangena kwingcwele kangcwele ngemini yoCamagushelo, “engangeni ngaphandle kwegazi,” njengomthetheli wakhe wonke uIsrayeli. Waphuma kuloo msebenzi waza kusikelela ibandla, njengoko uKristu eya kuphuma ukuba asikelele abantu baKhe abamlindeleyo xa umsebenzi waKhe wokubacamagushela uya kuba ugqityiwe. Yayisisimilo esiphakamileyo saloo msebenzi ungcwele njengommeli woMbingeleli oMkhulu owenza ukuba isono sika-Aron eKadeshe sibe sikhulu kakhulu.ANa 426.1

Wathi esentlungwini enkulu, uMoses wazisusa kuAron izinxibo ezingcwele wazibeka phezu kukaElazare, owaba ngumlandeli ka-Aron, ngokunyulwa lizulu. Ngenxa yesono sakhe eKadeshe, uAron walivinjwa ilungelo lokusebenza njengombingeleli omkhulu kaThixo eKanan, ukuba anikele umbingelelo wokuqala kwilizwe elihle, abe ngokwenza njalo ungcwalisa ilifa likaIsrayeli. UMoses wayeza kuqhubeka ethwele uxanduva lwakhe ekukhokeleleni abantu emideni kanye yeKanan. Kwakufuneka afike kanye ekuliboneni kakuhle iZwe leDinga, kodwa angalingeni. Ukuba ezi zicaka zikaThixo, ngexesha zazimi phambi kweliwa eKadeshe, zaluthwala zingakrokri uvavanyo olwaluziswe phezu kwazo, laliya kuba nomahluko onjani ikamva lazo! Isenzo esiphuthileyo asikwazi ukucima. Kuba njalo nakumsebenzi wobomi bonke, ukungakwazi ukubuyisa okulahlwe sisenzo nje somzuzu omnye wesilingo okanye ukwenza kungacingwanga.ANa 426.2

Ukungabikho enkampini kweenkokeli ezinkulu zombini, kwanokuba zazikhatshwe nguElazare, ekwakusaziwa kakuhle ukuba uza kulandela uAron kwisikhundlaesingcwele, kwavusaimvakalelo yokuxhalaba, kwaza ukubuya kwabo kwalindelwa ngexhala. Bathi abantu bakukhangela kubo, ebandleni lonke elikhulu, baphawula ukuba bonke abantu abadala ababephume eYiputa batshabalala entlango. Bonke baziva bephetheke kakubi, bakukhumbula isigwebo esivakaliswe phezu kukaMoses noAron. Abanye babeyiqonda injongo yolo hambo lwaluyimfihlelo olwalusinga encotsheni yeNtaba iHore, kwaza ukunxunguphala kwabo ngenxa yeenkokeli kwanyuswa ziinkumbulo ezimbi kwanokuzibeka ityala.ANa 427.1

Ekugqibeleni, yabonakala imithinzi kaMoses no-Elazare isiza, bethe chu kancinane ukuhla ecaleni lentaba, kodwa engekho kubo uAron. UElazare wayembethe iingubo ezingcwele, nto leyo eyayibonisa ukuba umlandele uyise kwisikhundla esingcwele. Bathi abantu bakubuthelana kwinkokeli yabo, beneentliziyo ezizele bubuhlungu, uMoses wabaxelela ukuba uAron ufele ezingalweni zakhe kwiNtaba iHore, nokuba baye bamngcwabela khona apho. Ibandla lonke lakhala, isililo esibuhlungu, kuba bonke babemthanda uAron nangona bakholisa ukumenza buhlungu. “Bamlilela uAron imihla emashumi mathathu, yonke indlu yakwaIsrayeli.”ANa 427.2

Ngokungcwatywa kombingeleli omkhulu kaIsrayeli, iziBhalo zinika kuphela ingxelo elula, “Wafa apho uAron, wangcwatyelwa khona.” Duteronomi 10:6. Umahluko omkhulu kangako kwizithethe zanamhlanje owaba nguwo lo mngcwabo, owaqhutywa ngokomyalelo ongqalileyo kaThixo. Kumaxesha angoku, iinkonzo zomngcwabo wendoda ekwisikhundla esiphezulu zenziwa ukuba zibe sisiganeko esikhulu nobuqheleqhele obunenkcitho. Ukufa kuka-Aron, enye yamadoda abalaseleyo akhe aphila, baba babini kuphela abahlobo bakhe abasondele kakhulu ukuba bakubone ukufa kwakhe nokuba babekho emngcwabeni wakhe. Elo ngcwaba lakhe lilodwa phezu kweNtaba iHore lafihlakala apho, ukuba lingazange libonwe nguIsrayeli. UThixo akazukiswa kubuqheleqhele obenziwayo ngenxa yofileyo, nenkcitho ekungenwa kuyo ekubuyiselweni kwemizimba yabo eluthulini.ANa 427.3

Ibandla lonke lababuhlungu ngenxa ka-Aron, ukanti babengenakho ukubuva ubunzulu belahleko njengoMoses. Ukufa kuka-Aron kwanyanzelisa ukukhumbula kukaMoses ukuba nesakhe isiphelo sasikufuphi; kodwa, naxa limele ukuba libe lifutshane ixesha lokuhlala kwakhe emhlabeni, kwamhlabanisela ukulahlekwa kwakhe liqabane elalisoloko linaye, elabelana naye ngovuyo neentlungu, amathemba akhe noloyiko, iminyaka emininzi kakhulu. Kuza kufuneka ngoku uMoses aqhubeke nomsebenzi eyedwa; kodwa wayesazi ukuba uThixo waye engumhlobo wakhe, waza, kuYe wayama kakhulu ngakumbi.ANa 427.4

KungekudalaemvakokubaishiyiweiNtabaiHore,amaIsrayeli oyiswa edabini noArad, omnye wookumkani baseKanan. Athi ngokufuna uncedo ngenzondelelo kuThixo, alunikwa uncedo lwezulu, azitshabalalisa iintshaba zawo. Olu loyiso, endaweni yokuba luphembelele umbulelo, nokubakhokelela abantu ukuba bakuve ukuxhomekeka kwabo kuThixo, lwasuka lwabenza baqhayisa, bazithemba. Kungekudala, babuyela kumkhwa omdala wokukrokra. Ngoku, babenganeliswanga kuba imikhosi kaIsrayeli ingazange ivunyelwe ukuba ingene eKanan kanye emva kovukelo lwabo ngenxa yengxelo eyayize neentlola phantse kumashumi amane eminyaka eyadlulayo. Bathi ukubhadula kwabo entlango kwaba kukulibazisa okwakungafuneki, bezathuza besithi, ngelo xesha ngebabezoyise lula iintshaba zabo, njengangoku.ANa 428.1

Baqhubeka nohambo lwabo olusinga ngasezantsi, indlela yabo inqumla kwintlambo eshushu, enentlabathi, nengenawo umthunzi kwanotyani lungekho. Indlela yakhangeleka inde inzima, baza babethwa kukudinwa nokunxanwa. Baphinda boyiswa kukunyamezela uvavanyo lokholo kunye nomonde wabo. Ngokusoloko behleli kumava amnyama obomi babo, baya bezikhwelelisa kude ngakumbi nangakumbi kuThixo. Balahlekwa kukubona ukuba, ukuba kwakungengakuba bakrokra kwakuphela amanzi eKadeshe, ngebabesindile kuhambo olujikela ngaphaya kwe-Edom. UThixo wayeneenjongo zezinto ezilungileyo ngabo. Iintliziyo zabo ngezazizaliswe ngumbulelo kuYe kuba wasohlwaya kancinane isono sabo. Endaweni yoku, bazikhohlisa ngelithi, ukuba uThixo noMoses babengakhange baphazamise, ngoku ngebabekwiZwe leDinga. Emva kokuba bezizisele inkathazo, besenza ukuba kubenzima kubo ngaphezu kokuba uThixo wayecebile, basuka balibeka lonke ityala lamashwa abo phezu kwaKhe. Baba neengcinga ezimbi ngokubaphatha kwaKhe, ekugqibeleni abaneliswa yiyo yonke into. IYiputa yakhangeleka ikhanya ngcono, ilangazeleleka kunenkululeko kunye nelizwe uThixo abakhokelela kulo.ANa 428.2

Athi amaIsrayeli akuziyekela kumoya wokunganeliseki, kwalula ukuzibeka esichengeni sokuba afumane imposiso nakwiintsikelelo anazo. “Bathetha abantu ngoThixo nangoMoses, bathi, Yini na ukuba nisinyuse eYiputa, size kufela entlango? Ngokuba tu isonka, tu namanzi; umphefumlo wethu ukruqukile sesi sonka sinkatshunkatshu.”ANa 428.3

Ngokunyaniseka okukhulu, uMoses wasibeka phambi kwabantuisono sabo. Yayingamandla kaThixo yedwa awabagcinayo “entlango enkulu eyoyikekayo,eneenyoka ezinobuhlungu noonomadudwane, nebalelelwe lilanga, engenamanzi.” Duteronomi 8:15. Yonke imihla yeehambo zabo, babegcinwe ngummangaliso wenceba yezulu. Kuyo yonke indlela yokukhokela kukaThixo, babewafumana amanzi ahlaziyayo kwabanxaniweyo, isonka sasezulwini ukwanelisa ukulamba kwabo, uxolo nokunqaba phantsi kwethunzi lelifu nentsika yomlilo ebusuku. Iingelosi zazibalungiselela xa babekhwela imiqhokro yamatye okanye bejikajika kwiindledlana ezimbi zentlango. Nangona kwakukho iinzima abazinyamezelayo, kwakungekho ubuthakathaka phakathi kwabo. Iinyawo zabo azizange zidumbe kuhambo lwabo olude, azaguga neempahla zabo. UThixo wazithothisa izilwanyana zasendle ezikhohlakeleyo nezidla inyama kunye nezasehlathini nezasentlango ezirhubuluzayo nezinetyhefu. Sezikho zonke ezi mpawu zothando lwaKhe, abantu baqhubeka nokukhalaza, uYehova kwakufuneka alurhoxise lonke ukhuselo lwaKhe bade bafike apho babeya kuyixabisa inkathalo yaKhe ezaliswe yinceba, baze babuyele kuYe ngenguquko nokuzithoba.ANa 429.1

Ngenxa yokuba babekhuselwe ngamandla ezulu, abazange baziqonda iingozi ezazingenakubaleka ababesoloko bengqongwe zizo. Ekusweleni kwabo umbulelo nokungakholwa, babelindele ukufa, waza ngoku uYehova wakuvumela ukufa ukuba kubafikele. Iinyoka ezinobuhlungu ezazizalise intlango, zazisaziwa ngokuba ziinyoka zomlilo, ngenxa yobubi obenzekayo zakuba zilumile, kuba kwakubakho ukudumba nokufa okukhawulezileyo. Sathi isandla esikhuseleyo sikaThixo sakususwa kuIsrayeli, amanani aphezulu abantu ahlaselwa zezi zidalwa zinobuhlungu.ANa 429.2

Ngoku kwabakho uloyiko nesiphithiphithi kuyo yonke inkampu. Phantse kuyo yonke intente kwakukho abafayo okanye obafileyo. Abakho ababekhuselekile. Kwakholisa ukuba inzolo yasebusuku, iphazanyiswe sisikhalo esikrakra esasixela ngamaxhoba amatsha. Bonke babexakekile belungiselela abagulayo, okanye, ngokonga okunencwina, bezama ukukhusela abo babengekalunywa. Ngoku, kwakungekho kukrokra kuphuma mntwini. Xa kuthelekiswa noku kufa kwangoku, ezokuqala iinzima nezilingo zazikhangeleka zingafanele nokucingwa.ANa 429.3

Ngoku abantu bazithoba phambi kukaThixo. Beza kuMoses bevuma izono bekwamcenga. “Sonile,” batsho, “ngokuba sithethe ngoYehova nangawe.” Kancinane ngaphambi koko, babemtyhole ngokuba lolona lutshaba lukhulu, nembangi yako konke ukuxinzeleleka kwabo nembandezelo yabo. Kwathi amazwi abo esesemilebeniyabo,baziukuba isityholo sasibubuxoki;yathi yakufika inkathazo yenene, babalekela kwakuye njengokuphela kwakhe onokubathethelela kuThixo. “Thandaza kuYehova, azisuse kuthi iinyoka ezo.”ANa 429.4

UMoses wayeyalelwe lizulu ukuba enze inyoka yobhedu ifuzisele ezo ziphilayo, nokuba ayiphakamise phakathi kwabantu. Kule, bonke ababelunyiwe, kwakufuneka bakhangele, baze bazuze ukukhululeka. Wakwenza oko, zaza iindaba ezimnandi zavakaliswa kuyo yonke inkampu ukuze bonke abalunyiweyo bakhangele kwinyoka yobhedu baze baphile. Baninzi ababesele befile, waza wathi uMoses akuyixhoma esibondeni, abanye abakholwa ukuba ngokujonga nje kumfanekiso wentsimbi bangaphila; baza ke aba batshabalala ngokungakholwa kwabo. Bakwabaninzi kanti ababa nokholo kumsindleko awawenzayo uThixo. Ootata, oomama, oobhuti, noosisi, bonke babexakekile besexhaleni bencedisa abahlobo babo ababegula, besifa, ukuba bamilisele amehlo abo atyhafileyo enyokeni. Ukuba aba, noxa babese bebuthakathaka besifa, babengathi krwaqu nje kube kanye, babebuyiselwa empilweni ngokupheleleyo.ANa 430.1

Abantu babesazi kakuhle ukuba kwakungekho mandla enyokeni yobhedu anokwenza utshintsho olunjalo kwabo babekhangela kuyo. Amandla aphilisayo ayevela kuThixo yedwa. Ebulumkweni baKhe, wanyula le ndlela ukubonisa amandla aKhe. Ngale ndlela ilula, abantu benziwa ukuba baqonde ukuba le mbandezelo yaziswa kubo zizono zabo. Baya baqinisekiswa ukuba, lonke ixesha bemthobela uThixo, babengenaso isizathu sokoyika, kuba wayeya kubalondoloza.ANa 430.2

Ukuphakanyiswa kwenyoka yobhedu kwakuza kumfundisa uIsrayeli isifundo esibalulekileyo. Babengenako ukuzisindisa kwisiphumo esibulalayo sobukho betyhefu emanxebeni abo. NguThixo kuphela owayenakho ukubaphilisa. Sekunjalo, babelindeleke ukuba babonise ukholo lwabo kumsindleko (uThixo) awayewenzile. Kufuneka bakhangele ukuze baphile. Lukholo lwabo olwalamkelekile kuThixo, kwaye ngokukhangela enyokeni ukholo lwabo lwalubonakala. Babesazi ukuba kwakungekho nto enyokeni ngokwayo, kodwa yayingumfuziselo kaKrisu; kwaye nokufuneka kokukholelwa kubuhle baKhe, ngolo hlobo kwabekwa ezingqondweni zabo. Ukuza kufikelela kweso sithuba, abaninzi babezise iminikelo yabo kuThixo, banengqondo yokuba benze ucamagushelo olwaneleyo ngenxa yezono zabo. Abazange baxhomekeke kuMhlanguli ozayo, eyayimifuziselo yaKhe le minikelo. UYehova wayenga ngoku angabafundisa ukuba, imibingelelo yabo, ngokwayo nje, yayingenawo amandla okanye okuhle ngaphezu kweenyoka zobhedu, kodwa, ngokunjalo, yayinakho ukuzikhokelela iingqondo zabo kuKristu, umnikelo wesono omkhulu.ANa 430.3

“Njengokuba uMoses wayiphakamisayo inyoka entlango,” ngokunjalo waphakanyiwa “uNyana woMntu; ukuze bonke abakholwayo kuye bangatshabalali, koko babe nobomi obungunaphakade.” Yohane 3:14, 15. Bonke abakha baphila phezu komhlaba baluva ulwamvila olubulalayo lwayo “inyoka yakudala, leyo kuthiwa nguMtyholi, uSathana ke.” IsiTyhilelo 12:9. Iziphumo ezibulalayo zesono zingasuswa kuphela ngomsindleko owenziwe nguThixo. AmaIsrayeli abusindisa ubomi bawo ngokukhangela kwinyoka eyayixhonyiwe. Oko kukhangela kwakuthetha ukholo. Aphila kuba akholelwa elizwini likaThixo, athembela kwindlela awayibekayo yokuphiliswa kwawo. Ngokunjalo, umoni unokukhangela kuKristu, aphile. Ufumana ukuxolelwa ngokholo kumbingelelo ocamagushelayo. Ngokungafaniyo nomfuziselo ongashukumiyo ongenabomi, uKristu unawo amandla nesakhono kuYe sokuphilisa umoni oguqukayo.ANa 431.1

Nangona umoni engenakho ukuzisindisa ngokwakhe, isekho into ekufuneka eyenzile ukuze alubambe usindiso. “Nozayo kum,” utsho uKristu, “andisayi kukha ndimlahle.” Yohane 6:37. Eyonanto, kufuneka size kuYe; kwaye, xa siguquka ezonweni zethu, kufuneka sikholwe ukuba uyasamkela asixolele. Ukholo sisipho esivela kuThixo, kodwa amandla okusisebenzisa ngawethu. Ukholo sisandla othi ngaso umphefumlo ubambe okuphiwa lizulu kobabalo nenceba.ANa 431.2

Akukho nto, ngaphandle kukaKristu, enokusinika ibango kwezinye zeentsikelelo zomnqophiso wobabalo. Baninzi abakade belangazelela bekwazama ukuzuza ezi ntsikelelo, kodwa abaze bafikelele kuzo, kuba benengqondo ethi, bangakwazi ukuzenzela ulutho lokubenza ukuba bazifanele. Abakhangelanga kude ku-mna, ngokwabantu abakholelwa ukuba uYesu unguMsindisi onako konke. Akufuneki ukuba sicinge ukuba okwethu okuhle kungasisindisa; nguKristu okuphela kwethemba lethu losindiso. “Kuba akukho gama limbi phantsi kwezulu, linikiweyo phakathi kwabantu, esimele ukusindiswa ngalo.” Zenzo 4:12.ANa 431.3

Xa simthemba ngokupheleleyo uThixo, xa sixhomekeka kubuhle bukaYesu njengoMsindisi oxolela isono, siya kufumana lonke uncedo esilulangazelelayo. Makungabikho okhangela kwisiqu sakhe, ngokungathi unamandla okuzisindisa. UYesu wasifela kuba sasingakwazi ukuzenzela oku. KuYe kukho ithemba lethu, ukugwetyelwa kwethu, nobulungisa bethu. Xa sizibona ukuba sinesono, akufuneki ukuba sincame soyike kuba sisithi asinaMsindisi, okanye sithi akanazingcinga zanceba ngakuthi. Ngeli xesha kanye, uyasimema ukuba size kuYe sinokungabi naluncedo, ukuze sisindiswe.ANa 431.4

AmaIsrayeli amaninzi abona kungekho luncedo kwiyeza elibekwe lizulu. Abafileyo nabafayo babethe saa kuyo yonke indawo, baye besazi ukubangaphandle koncedo lwezulu, isiphelo sabo sasiqinisekile, kodwa baqhubeka bekhala ngamanxeba abo, ngeentlungu zabo, ngokufa kwabo okuqinisekileyo, bada baphelelwa ngamandla, ada amehlo abo abona luzizi, ukanti ngebabephile ngephanyazo. Ukuba siyaziqonda iintswelo zethu, akufuneki siwachithele onke amandla ethu ekulileni ngenxa yazo. Lo gama siyiqonda imeko yethu engenakuncedakala ngaphandle kukaKristu, akufuneki siziyekele ekutyhafeni, kodwa masixhomekeke kokuhle okukuMsindisi wethu owabethelelwayo wabuya wavuka. Khangela ubone. UYesu uthembise ngelizwi laKhe; uya kubasindisa bonke abeza kuYe. Nangona izigidi ezidinga ukuphiliswa ziya kuyala inceba yaKhe ayinikayo, akukho noyedwa othembela kubuhle baKhe oya kuyekwa atshabalale.ANa 432.1

Baninzi abangafuniyo ukwamkela uKristu ide yonke imfihlelo yecebo losindiso yenziwe ibacacele. Bayala ukukhangela ngokholo, nangona bebona ukuba amawaka akhangele aza akuva ukusebenza kukukhangela emnqamlezweni kaKristu. Abanye bazula kwimijikelezo yolwazi, befuna izizathu nobungqina, izinto abangasayi kuze bazifumane, lo gama besala ubungqina ekukholiseke kuThixo ukuba abanike. Bayala ukuhamba ekukhanyeni kweLanga loBulungisa, kuba befuna kude kuchazwe isizathu sokukhanya kwalo. Bonke abathe rhoqo ngale ndlela baya kusilela ukufikelela ekuyazini inyaniso. UThixo akasayi kuze alisuse ithuba lokuthandabuza. Unika ubungqina obaneleyo ekunokumiswa phezu kwabo ukholo, kwaye ukuba oku akwamkelwanga, ingqondo isala ebumnyameni. Ukuba abo babetyiwe ziinyoka babelibele kukuthandabuza nokubuza phambi kokuba bavume ukukhangela, ngebatshabalala. Luxanduva lwethu, kuqala, ukukhangela; kwaye ukukhangela kokholo kuya kusinika ubomi.ANa 432.2