40—UBhileham

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiNumeri 22 nama-24.]

Ukubuyela kwawo eYordan evela koyisa iBhashan, amaIsrayeli, ekulungiseleleni ukuhlasela iKanan ngokukhawuleza, amisa ngasemlanjeni, kufuphi nechweba apho ungena khona kuLwandle oluBomvu, indawo eyayijongene nesithabazi seYeriko. Babekwimida yakwaMowabhi, aye amaMowabhi ezaliswe luloyiko ngenxa yokusondela kwabangeneleli.ANa 438.1

Abantu bakwaMowabhi babengazange bahlutshwe nguIsrayeli, kodwa bakubukela benoloyiko konke okwakusenzeka kumazwe abangqongileyo. Ama-Amori, ekwakunyanzelekile ukuba bawabaleke, awoyisiwe ngamaHebhere, wathi umhlaba owawuhluthwe ngama-Amori kumaMowabhi wathatyathwa ngamaIsrayeli ngoku. Imikhosi yakwaBhashan yanikezela kumandla ayimfihlelo awayegqunywe kwintsika yelifu, zaza iinqaba ezinkulu zahlalwa ngamaHebhere. AmaMowabhi ayengakucingi ukuwahlasela; ukubhenela kwizixhobo kungenaluncedo phambi kwabathunywa baphezulu ababebasebenzela. Sekunjalo, azimisela, amaMowabhi, njengoko wenzayo uFaro, ukufuna amandla abantu abanobugqi ukuba bamelane nomsebenzi kaThixo. Babeza kuzisa isiqalekiso phezu kukaIsrayeli.ANa 438.2

Abantu bakwaMowabhi babeqhagamshelene kakhulu namaMidiyan, ngamaqhina obuzwe nenkolo. UBhalaki, ukumkani wakwaMowabhi, waluvusa uloyiko lwabantu, waza wakwazi ukusebenzisana nabo kumacebo abo ukuchasa uIsrayeli ngesigidimi esithi, “Ngoku esi sikhungu siya kukukhotha konke okungeenxa zonke kuthi, njengoko inkomo ilukhothayo uhlaza lwasendle.” UBhileham, ummi welaseMesopotami, (umhlaba ophakathi kwemilambo), owayesaziwa ngokuba unamandla aphezulu, udumo lwakhe lwafikelela kwizwe lakwaMowabhi. Kwagqitywa ukuba abizwe azokunceda. Kwangoko, kwakhutshwa “amadoda amakhulu akwaMowabhi, namadoda amakhulu akwaMidiyan,” athunywa ukuba afumane kuye okwakhe ukuvumisa enze nezihlabo ngakuIsrayeli.ANa 438.3

Oonozakuzaku basusela kwangoko kuhambo lwabo olude oluqabela ezintabeni, lucande iintlango ukuya eMesopotami; bathi bakumfumana uBhileham, bamnika isigidimi sikakumkani wabo: “Yabona, kuphume abantu eYiputa, nabo bebugubungele ubuso belizwe, behleli malungana nam. Khawuze ke, undiqalekisele aba bantu, ngokuba banamandla kunam; mhlawumbi ndingaba nako ukubabulala, ndibagxothe kweli lizwe; ngokuba ndiyazi ukuba omsikelelayo usikelelwe, omqalekisayo uqalekisiwe.”ANa 439.1

UBhileham wakha wayindoda elungileyo nengumprofeti kaThixo; kodwa yakreqa yazinikela ukubaweni; kanti ke ebesazibiza ngokuba ungumsebenzi wOsenyangweni. Wayengaswele lwazi ngokusebenzela kukaThixo uIsrayeli; baza bathi abathunywa bakuxela abakuhambeleyo, wazi kakuhle ukuba yayiluxanduva lwakhe ukwala izipho zikaBhalaki nokubandulula abathunywa. Noko kunjalo, wadlalisana nesilingo, wabacela abathunywa ukubabahlale kunye naye ngobo busuku, esithi, akakwazi ukunika impendulo etsolileyo ade abonisane noYehova. UBhileham wayesazi ukuba isiqalekiso sakhe asinakumenza nto uIsrayeli. UThixo wayengakwicala labo, kwaye, lonke ixesha besanyanisekile kuYe, akukho gunya lichasayo emhlabeni okanye esihogweni linokuboyisa. Ikratshi lakhe lona lakhohliswa ngamazwi abathunywa, “omsikelelayo usikelelwe, omqalekisayo uqalekisiwe.” Ukuthengwa ngezipho zexabiso nokuphakanyiswa okulindelekileyo, kwakunyusa ukubawa kwakhe. Wazamkela ngokubawa izipho azinikwayo, waza wathi, nangona ezibiza ngokuthobela ngqongqo intando kaThixo, wazama ukuvumelana neminqweno kaBhalaki.ANa 439.2

Embonweni wasebusuku, ingelosi kaThixo yeza kuBhileham inesigidimi, “Uze ungahambi nawo, ungabaqalekisi abo bantu, kuba basikelelwe.”ANa 439.3

Kwathi kwakusa, uBhileham wamadol’ anzima ukubandulula abathunywa, kodwa akabaxelela oko uYehova wayekuthethile. Wathi, enomsindo kuba imibono yakhe yenzuzo nozuko ichithwe ngokukhawuleza, wadanduluka, enesicefecefe, “Yiyani ezweni lenu; ngokuba uYehova uyala ukundivumela ndihambe nani.”ANa 439.4

UBhileham “wathanda umvuzo wokungalungisi.” 2 Petros 2:15. Isono sokubawa, uThixo athi kukunqula isithixo, samenza ukuba abe ngumkhonzi wexesha, kwathingalemposisoinye, uSathana wakuzuza konke ukumlawula. Oku kwaba ngunobangela wentshabalalo yakhe. Umlingi usoloko ebeka inzuzo nozuko ukuloba abantu ukuba babuye ekusebenzeleni uThixo. Ubaxelela ukuba kukuzikhathaza kwabo kakhulu okubenza ukuba bangabi nampumelelo. Ngaloo ndlela abaninzi boyiselwa ukuba baphume kwindlela yemfezeko engqongqo. Inyathelo elinye elibhudayo lenza ukuba libe lula elilandelayo, baze abantu bacingele bona ngakumbi nangakumbi. Baye benze benesibindi izinto ezimbi kakhulu ngako nje ukuba bazinikele ekubaweni nasekufuneni igunya. Abaninzi baziqhatha ngelithi bangasuka kwindlela yemfezeko engqongqo okwethutyana, ngenxa yokuhle okuthile kwehlabathi, nokuthi, xa bathe bakuzuza oko bajonge kuko, bangayitshintsha indlela yabo xa bethanda. Abo baziqamangela ngezibophelelo zikaSathana, kwaye kunqabile ukuba baphuncuke.ANa 440.1

Bathi abathunywa xa benika uBhalaki ingxelo yokwala kukamprofeti ukubakhapha, abayikhankanya into yokuba uThixo umalele. Ecinga ukuba ukulibazisa kukaBhileham yayikukufuna umvuzo omkhudlwana noko, ukumkani wathumela izikhulu ezingaphezulu ngenani kunezakuqala, zinezithembiso zeembeko ezingaphezulu, zinalo negunya lokuvuma nayiphi imiqathango anokuyifuna uBhileham. Isigidimi sikaBhalaki esikhawulezayo ukuya kufika kumprofeti sathi, “Musa ukukha unqandwe nto ukuza kum; kuba ukukuzukisa kona ndiya kukuzukisa kunene, ndikwenze konke ondixelela kona; khawuze undiqalekisele aba bantu.”ANa 440.2

UBhileham wavavanywa okwesibini. Ukuphendula ekucengeni kwabathunywa wathetha ngokuba nenkathalo nemfezeko kwakhe okukhulu, ebaqinisekisa ukuba akukho buninzi bagolide nesilivere obunokumwexula ukuba enze okuchaseneyo nentando kaThixo. Kunjalo, wayelangazelela ukuvumelana nesicelo sikakumkani; kwathi, nangona intando kaThixo ebesele eyazisiwe, wabakhuthaza abathunywa ukuba bakhe bahlale naye balinde, ukuze aphinde abuze kuThixo; ngokungathi Ongenasiphelo ungumntu ukuba acengwe.ANa 440.3

Embonweni wasebusuku uYehova wavela kuBhileham wathi, “Ukuba la madoda afike kuwe eza kukubiza, suka uhambe nawo; ke ilizwi endolithetha kuwe, uze wenze lona lodwa.” Kwaphela apho ukuba uYehova amvumele uBhileham ukuba alandele intando yakhe [Bhileham], kuba wayezimisela kuloo nto. Akazange afune ukwenza intando kaThixo, kodwa wakhetha eyakhe indlela, waza wazama ukufumana imvume kaYehova.ANa 440.4

Maninzi amawakananamhlanjealandelaelokhondolifanayo. Bebengayi kubanangxaki ukuwuqonda umthwalo wabo ukuba ubuhambelana noko bakekelele kuko. Kubekwe ngokucacileyo phambi kwabo eBhayibhileni okanye kuboniswe ngokucacileyo ziimeko kunye nezizathu. Kuthi ngenxa yokuba obu bungqina buchasene nolangazelelo lwabo kunye nokuthanda kwabo, bakholise ukuthi rhoqo bebubeka ecaleni babe nobuganga bokuya kuThixo ukuya kuqonda ngomsebenzi wabo. Ngento ebonakala ngathi yinkathalo enkulu, benza uzungu lomthandazo, bezimisele, befuna ukukhanya. Phofu Yena uThixo akangowokudlala. Uye abavumele abantu abanjalo ukuba balandele iminqweno yabo baze bafumane iziphumo. “Abantu bam abaliva izwi lam, . . . Ndabanikela ebungqoleni beentliziyo zabo; bahamba ngawabo amaqhinga.” Ndumiso 81:11, 12. Xa ubani ewubona ngokucacileyo umsebenzi, makangenzi ngokungathi uya kuThixo abe enomthandazo wokuba akhululwe ekuwenzeni. Endaweni yoko, kufuneka ngomoya othobekileyo, novumayo, acele amandla ezulu nobulumko ukuba akwazi ukuwenza.ANa 441.1

AmaMowabhi ayengabantu abakumgangatho ophantsi, abakhonza izithixo; ukanti, ngokokukhanya abakufumanayo, ityala labo lalingekho likhulu, emehlweni eZulu, njengelo likaBhileham. Njengoko wayezibiza ukuba ungumprofeti kaThixo, ngenxa yoko, konke awayefanele ukukuthetha kwakufuneka kube kuthethwa ngegunya lezulu. Yiyo le nto engazange avunyelwe ukuba athethe njengoko wayefuna, kodwa kwafuneka ahambise isigidimi uThixo awayeza kumnika sona. “Ilizwi endolithetha kuwe, uze wenze lona lodwa,” yayingumyalelo wezulu.ANa 441.2

UBhileham wayeyifumene imvume yokuhamba nabathunywa bakwaMowabhi ukuba babefike kusasa beze kumbiza. Kwathi kuba babekhathazwe kukulibazisa kwakhe, babe belindele okunye ukulandula, babuya, bathabatha uhambo olugodukayo bengahlangananga naye. Konke ukuzithethelela ngokuvumelana nesicelo sikaBhalaki kwakususiwe ngoku. Sekunjalo, uBhileham wazimisela ukuwuzuza umvuzo; wathi, ethabatha isilwanyana awayeqhele ukusiqabela, waluthabatha uhambo. Wayesoyika ukuba nangoku imvume yezulu ingarhoxiswa, wanyanzelisa ukubheka phambili, ephelelwe ngumonde, hleze ngandlela ithile asilele ukuzuza umvuzo awunqwenelayo.ANa 441.3

“Sema isithunywa sikaYehova endleleni ukuba simchase.” Isilwanyana sabona isithunywa sezulu, esasingabonwa ngumntu, sathi gu bucala saphuma endleleni saya ethafeni. Ngokusibetha enomsindo, uBhileham wasibuyisela endleleni isilwanyana; kodwa kwakhona, kwindawo emxinwa evalwe ziindonga, yavela ingelosi, saza isilwanyana, ngokuzama ukuphepha imbonakalo eyothusayo, sagudla unyawolwenkosi yaso eludongeni. UBhileham waya wanobumfama akakubona Ukungenelela kwezulu, engazi ukuba uThixo wayeyivala indlelayakhe. Indoda yacaphuka, yalibetha ngokungenasisini iesile, yalinyanzela ukuba libheke phambili.ANa 441.4

Kwakhona “endaweni exineneyo, apho bekungekho ndlela yakucezela ekunene nasekhohlo” savela isithunywa, njengaphambili, ngendlela eyothusayo; usizi lwesilwanyana, singcangcazela sisoyika, sema ngqi, sawa emhlabeni phantsi komkhweli waso. Ingqumbo kaBhileham yavutha ngokungenamda, wasibetha ngentonga isilwanyana ngenkohlakalo engaphezu kweyakuqala. UThixo ngoku wavula umlomo waso, “lathi iesile lingenakuthetha nje, lathetha ngezwi lomntu, lamalela umprofeti lowo ukuba angabi nxamnye nengqondo.” 2 Petros 2:16. “Ndikwenze ntoni na,” latsho, “ukuba undibethe la maxesha mathathu?”ANa 442.1

Wathi enomsindo kukuthintelwa ngolo hlobo kuhambo lwakhe, uBhileham wasiphendula isilwanyana ngohlobo abeya kwenza ngalo xa ethetha nomntu oqondayo, “Kungokuba ufekethe ngam; akwaba bendiphethe ikrele ngesandla sam; inene, ngendikubulele ngoku!” Yiyo le indoda eyaziwa ngobugqi, isendleleni eya kuqalekisa abantu bonke ngenjongo yokubethisa amandla, ngoku yona ingenawo namandla okubulala isilwanyana eyayikhwele kuso!ANa 442.2

Amehlo kaBhileham ngoku avulwa, wabona ingelosi kaThixo imi irhole ikrele ukuba imbulale. Esoyika, “wathoba, waqubuda ngobuso bakhe.” Ingelosi yathi kuye, “Ulibethele ntoni na iesile lakho la maxesha mathathu? Yabona, kuphume mna ukuza kukuchasa; ngokuba ekuboneni kwam le ndlela iseyelisela. Landibona i-esile, lacezela phaya kum la maxesha omathathu; koko lacezela phaya ngenxa yam, okanye ngendikubulele ngoku wena, ndalisindisa lona.”ANa 442.3

UBhileham waxhomekeka ekugcinweni kobomi bakhe kusizi lwesilwanyana awasiphatha ngenkohlakalo. Indoda eyayibangaukuba ingumprofeti kaYehova, eyathi amehlo ayo avuliwe, yabona “umbono wOnamandla onke,” yamfamekiswa kakhulu kukubawa nokunomnqweno kangangokuba ayizange ikwazi ukuyiqonda ingelosi kaThixo ebonakala kwisilwanyana sayo. “Uthixo weliphakade wazimfamekisa ngaphakathi kwabo iingqiqo zabangakholwayo.” 2 Korinte 4:4. Bangaphi abamfamekiswe ngolo hlobo! Bagijimela kwiindlela ezalelweyo, besaphula umthetho ongcwele, bangakwazi ukuqonda ukuba, uThixo neengelosi zaKhe bachasene nabo. NjengoBhileham, babanomsindo ngakwabo bazama ukuthintela intshabalalo yabo.ANa 442.4

UBhileham wanika ubungqina bomoya omlawulayo, ngendlela awaphatha ngayo isilwanyana sakhe. “Ilungisa liyawazalelela umphefumlo wenkomo yalo; osukelananento engento uswele intliziyo.” Mizekeliso 12:10. Bambalwa abakuqondayo ukuba sisono ukuphatha kakubi izilwanyana okanye ukuziyeka zibulaleke kukungakhathalelwa. Lowo wazidalayo nezilwanyana eziphantsi, “imfesane yaKhe ikuzo zonke izenzo zaKhe.” Ndumiso 145:9. Izilwanyana zadalelwa ukuba zikhonze umntu, kodwa akanalo ilungelo lokuzivisa ubuhlungu ngokuziphatha kakubi okanye ngokuzikhohlakalela.ANa 443.1

Kungenxa yesono somntu ukuba ibe “yonke indalo iyancwina, inenimba kunye, unangoku.” Roma 8:22. Intlungu nokufa kwabotshelelwa, kungekho kuphela phezu kohlanga lwabantu, kodwa naphezu kwezilwanyana. Ngokuqinisekileyo, ngoko, kuba semntwini ukufuna ukuwuthula, endaweni yokuwandisa, umthwalo wentlungu okuthe ukwaphulwa komthetho kwawuzisa phezu kwezidalwa zikaThixo. Lowo uphatha kakubi izilwanyana kuba ziphantsi kwamandla akhe uligwala elinogonyamelo. Ukuba nesimilo sokubanga intlungu, nokuba kusemntwini okanye kwisilwanyana esingazi nto, kukuba nenkohlakalo. Abaninzi abayiqondi into yokuba inkohlakalo yabo iya kuze yaziwe, kuba iintsizi zezilwanyana ezingathethiyo azisokuze ziyityhile. Ukuba nje kodwa amehlo aba bantu ebengathi, njengalawo kaBhileham, avulwe, bebeya kubona ingelosi kaThixo imile ibukele, ukuze ingqine ngabo kwiinkundla zaphezulu. Ingxelo iya ezulwini, kwaye imini iyeza xa isigwebo siya kuvakaliswa ngakwabo baphatha kakubi izilwanyana zikaThixo.ANa 443.2

Wathi akusibona isithunywa sikaThixo, uBhileham wakhala esoyika, “Ndonile, kuba bendingazi ukuba wena uze kundimela endleleni; ngoko, ukuba kubi emehlweni akho, ndobuya.” UYehova wamyeka ukuba aqhubeke nohambo lwakhe, kodwa wamnika ukuba aqonde ukuba amazwi akhe kuya kufuneka alawulwe ngamandla ezulu. UThixo wayeza kunika ubungqina kuMowabhi bokuba, amaHebhere ayephantsi kokwaluswa liZulu, kwaye oku wakwenza ngempumelelo xa wawabonisa indlela uBhileham angenawo ngayo amandla nawokuthetha isiqalekiso esichasene nawo ngaphandle kwemvume yezulu.ANa 443.3

Ukumkani wakwaMowabhi, akuba exelelwe ngokufika kukaBhileham, waphuma eneqela elikhulu labamphahlileyo, beza kwimida yobukumkani bakhe, ukuza kumamkela. Wathi akuvakalisa ukumangala kwakhe kukulibazisa kukaBhileham, abe enemivuzo emikhulu emlindeleyo, impendulo yomprofeti yathi, “Uyabona, ndifikile kuwe; ndinako na ke ngoku ukuthetha into eyiyo? Ilizwi alibekayo uThixo emlonyeni wam, ndiya kuthetha lona.” UBhileham wababuhlungu kakhulu ngulo mqathango; waye esoyika, hleze injongo yakhe ingenzeki, kuba amandla kaYehova alawulayo aye ephezu kwakhe.ANa 443.4

Kwathi ngobuyokoyoko obukhulu, ukumkani, ekunye nezikhulu zobukumkani bakhe, bamkhapha uBhileham bamsa “ezigangeni zikaBhahali,” apho wayeya kuwubona kakuhle umkhosi wamaHebhere. Yiba nombono womprofeti emi kwindawo ephakamileyo, ekhangele kwinkampu yabantu bakaThixo abanyuliweyo. Kuncinane kangakanani okwaziwa ngamaIsrayeli oko kwenzekayo kufutshane kangako kuwo! Indlela azi kancinane ngayo ngenkathalo kaThixo, ayinikwa imini nobusuku! Indlela enobudenge ngayo ingqondo yabantu bakaThixo! Indlela abathatha kade ngayo, kuzo zonke izizukulwana, ukubuqonda ubukhulu bothando nenceba yaKhe! Ukuba bebengawaqonda amandla ahlala ewasebenzisa uThixo ngenxa yabo, ingaba bezingayi kuzaliswa ngumbulelo na iintliziyo zabo ngenxa yobungangamsha baKhe kwakunye namandla aKhe?ANa 444.1

UBhileham wayenalo ulwazi oluthile ngeminikelo yemibingelelo yamaHebhere, waza wathemba ukuba, ngokwenza ngaphezu kwayo ngezipho ezinexabiso, angayizuza intsikelelo kaThixo aze aqiniseke ngokuphumelela komsebenzi wakhe wenkohlakalo. Ngaloo ndlela izimvo zamaMowabhi angabanquli bezithixo zazisiya ziyilawula ingqondo yakhe. Ubulumko bakhe basuka babubudenge; umbono wakhe wasemoyeni wawuba mfiliba; wayezise ubumfama phezu kwakhe ngokuziyekela kwigunya likaSathana.ANa 444.2

Ngomyalelo kaBhileham, zakhiwa izibingelelo ezisixhenxe, wanikela umbingelelo phezu kwaso ngasinye. Wabuyela “eluqhayini,” ukuba ahlangane noThixo, ethembisa ukuba uza kumazisa uBhalaki konke uYehova aya kukutyhila.ANa 444.3

Wathi enamadoda amakhulu akwaMowabhi, ukumkani wema ngasesibingelelweni, ephahlwe yinginginya, elindele ukubuya komprofeti. Wafika ekugqibeleni, baza abantu balindela amazwi awayeza kwethisa ngonaphakade loo mandla angaqhelekanga asetyenziswa ekuncedeni amaIsrayeli athiyekileyo. Wathi uBhileham:ANa 444.4

“UBhalaki ukumkani wamaMowabhi,
undithabathe kwa-Aram,
Ezintabeni zasempumalanga, esithi,
Yiza ubhavumele uIsrayeli.
Ndothini na ukuqalekisa angamqalekisiyo uThixo?
Ndothini na ukubhavumela angambhavumeliyo uYehova?
Ngokuba, ndisencotsheni yamawa, ndiyambona;
Ndisezindulini, ndibonisela yena.
Yabona, ngabantu abahlala bodwa,
Ababalelwa phakathi kwazo iintlanga.
Ngubani na ongalubalayo uthuli lwakwaYakobi,
Nesahlulo sesine sakwaIsrayeli ngokwenani?
Umphefumlo wam mawufe ukufa kwabathe tye,
Ukuphela kwam kube njengokwabo!”ANa 444.5

UBhileham wavuma ukuba wayeze ngenjongo yokuqalekisa uIsrayeli, kodwa amazwi awawathethayo achasene ngokupheleleyo noluvo lwentliziyo yakhe. Wanyanzeleka ukuba avakalise iintsikelelo, ngoku umphefumlo wakhe wawuzele ziziqalekiso.ANa 447.1

Wathi uBhileham akukhangela iintente zikaIsrayeli, wabona, emangalisiwe, ubungqina bempumelelo yabo. Kwakuthethwe ngabo kuye njengabantu abakrwada, isihlwele esingaqoqekanga, esizalisa ilizwe ngokwezinambuzane ezingamaqela ajikelezayo, ahluphayo, nayinkathazo kwizizwe eziwajikelezileyo; kodwa imbonakalo yabo yayingayithethi yonke loo nto. Wabubona ububanzi nokuma ngendlela kwenkampu yabo, zonke izinto zibonisa iimpawu zolawulo olungqongqo kunye nocwangco. Waboniswa indlela anemfesane ngayo uThixo kuIsrayeli, nesimilo sabo esahlukileyo njengabantu baKhe. Kwakungafuneki bame kumgangatho omnye nezinye izizwe, kodwa bona baphakanyiswe ngaphezu kwazo zonke. “Ngabantu abahlala bodwa, ababalwa phakathi kwazo iintlanga.” Ngexesha kuthethwa la mazwi, uIsrayeli wayengenayo indawo ezinzileyo yokuhlala, saye isimilo sabo esingaqhelekanga, iindlela zabo zokuziphatha nezithethe, zaye zingaqhelekanga kuBhileham. Indlela emangalisayo esaya sazaliseka ngayo esi siprofeto kwimbali yamva kaIsrayeli! Kuyo yonke iminyaka yokubasekuthinjweni kwabo, kuzo zonke izizukulwana kususela ukuba babesasazwe ezizweni, bahlala bengabantu abahlukileyo. Ngoko ke, abantu bakaThixo, uIsrayeli wenene, nangona besasazeke kuzo zonke izizwe, bangabaphambukeli emhlabeni, bangabemi basezulwini.ANa 447.2

UBhileham akazange aboniswe kuphela imbali yabantu bamaHebhere njengesizwe, kodwa wabona ukwanda nempumelelo kaIsrayeli wenene kaThixo kuse ekupheleni kwexesha. Wabona imfesane eyodwa yOsenyangweni inabo bamthandayo nabamoyikayo. Wababona bexhaswa yingalo yaKhe naxa bengena kumfula omnyama wethunzi lokufa. Wababona bephuma emangcwabeni abo, bethwele uzuko, nembeko, nokungafi. Wababona abahlangulweyo kubuqaqawuli obungapheliyo bomhlaba owenziwe wamtsha. Wathi akuwukhangela lo mbono, wakhala esithi, “Ngubani ongalubalayo uthuli lwakwaYakobi, nesahlulo sesine sakwaIsrayeli?” Wabona isithsaba sobuqaqawuli kwibunzi ngalinye, uvuyo lukho kwimbonakalo nganye, wakhangela phambili kubomi obungapheliyo bolonwabo olungaxutywanga nanto, wenza umthandazo onendili, “Umphefumlo wam mawufe ukufa kwabathe tye, ukuphela kwam kube njengokwabo!”ANa 447.3

Ukuba uBhileham wayenayo ingqondo yokwamkela ukukhanya okwakuvela kuThixo, ngoku ngewawenza ayinyaniso amazwi akhe; wayeya kuluqhawula kwangoko uqhagamshelwano noMowabhi. Wayengayi kuqhubeka eyicingela inceba kaThixo, kodwa ngewabuyela kuye enokuguquka okunzulu. Eyona nto, uBhileham wathanda umvuzo wokungalungisi, waza wazimisela ukuba uza kuwufumana.ANa 448.1

UBhalaki, ngethemba elikhulu, wayelindele isiqalekiso esasiya kuba nempembelelo efana nokutshaza kotyani, phezu kukaIsrayeli; kodwa wathi akuva amazwi omprofeti, wakhala wathi, “Yintoni na le nto undenze yona? Ndikuthabathele ukuba uziqalekise iintshaba zam, nanku umana ukuzisikelela.” UBhileham, ngokuzama ukulungisa oko kwakufuneka, wathi uthethe njengonenkathalo othe ngokukhathalela intando kaThixo, wathetha amazwi aye anyanzelwa ukuba aphume emilebeni yakhe ligunya lezulu. Impendulo yakhe yathi, “Oko akubekileyo uYehova emlonyeni wam, mandingakugcini na, ndikuthethe?”ANa 448.2

UBhalaki wayengafuni kuyiyeka nangoku injongo yakhe. Wagqiba ukuba umbono oveleleyo wobubanzi benkampu yamaHebhere yamothusa uBhileham kangangokuba akakwazi ukuvumisa ngokubachasa. Ukumkani wazimisela ukuba amthabathe amse kwenye indawo apho wayeya kubona inxenye nje encinane yomkhosi. Ukuba uBhileham ebenokwenziwa ukuba abaqalekise bengamaqela ngamaqela, kwakamsinyane, inkampu yonke ingaba inikelwe entshabalalweni. Encotsheni yentaba ephakamileyo iPisga, kwenziwa enye inzame. Kwakhona, kwakhiwa izibingelelo ezisixhenxe, apho kwabekwa khona iminikelo efanayo njengakuqala. Ukumkani namadoda akhe amakhulu bahlala ngasemibingelelweni, lo gama uBhileham waya kuhlangana noThixo. Kwakhona umprofeti wanikwa isigidimi sezulu, awayengenawo amandla okusiguqula okanye angasithethi.ANa 448.3

Wathi akufika kwiqela elixhalabileyo, elilindeleyo, wabuzwa, “Uthethe ntoni na uYehova?” Impendulo efana neyangaphambili, yazalisa ngoloyiko intliziyo kakumkani nezezikhulu:ANa 448.4

“UThixo akamntu ukuba athethe amanga,
Akanyana waluntu ukuba azohlwaye.
Etshilo nje yena, akayi kwenza na?
Ethethile nje, akayi kufeza na?
Yabona, ndamkele ukusikelela;
Usikelele, ke andinakukubuyisa.
Akaboni butshinga kuYakobi,
Akaboni bubi kuIsrayeli.
UYehova uThixo wakhe unaye,
Ukuduma kokumkani kuphakathi kwakhe.”ANa 448.5

Eqhiphuke umbilini zezi zityhilelo, uBhileham wakhala, “Akukho zihlabo ngoYakobi, akukho kuvumisa ngoIsrayeli.” Umkhwitsi omkhulu wayezamile ngamandla akhe ukufumana izihlabo, ngokolangazelelo lwamaMowabhi; kodwa ngokwesi siganeko, kwakunokuthiwa ngoIsrayeli, “Loo nto ayenzileyo uThixo!” Lonke ixesha besengaphantsi kokhuselo lwezulu, akukho bantu okanye sizwe, nokuba sincediswa ngawo onke amandla kaSathana, sinokuboyisa. Wonke umhlaba unokuxakwa ngumsebenzi omangalisayo wezulu ude uthethe, endaweni yeziqalekiso, ezona zithembiso zityebileyo nezixabisekileyo, ngolwimi lokubonga olusulungekileyo noluzele yimvakalelo. Imfesane kaThixo ngelixesha ebonakaliswe kuIsrayeli yayiza kuba sisiqinisekiso senkathalo yaKhe ekhuselayo kwabo bantwana bathobelayo, banyanisekileyo kuzo zonke iinkulungwane. Xa uSathana ephembelela abantu abakhohlakeleyo ukuba baxoke, bahlasele, batshabalalise abantu bakaThixo, esi siganeko [sikaBhileham] baya kusikhunjuzwwa size siqinise isibindi sabo nokholo lwabo kuThixo.ANa 449.1

Ukumkani wakwaMowabhi, etyhafile enokuxinzeleka, wadanduluka wathi, “Uze ungabi sabaqalekisa, uze ungabi sabasikelela.” Yayisekho phofu intwana yethemba entliziyweni yakhe, waza wazimisela ukwenza elinye ilinge. Ngoku wamthabatha uBhileham wamkhokelela kwintaba iPehore, apho kwakukho itempile ebekelwe bucala unqulo lombulo kaBhahali, uthixo wabo. Nalapha kwenziwa inani elifanayo lezibingelelo njengakuqala, kwenziwa kwa-elo nani lemibingelelo; kodwa uBhileham wahamba yedwa, njengamanye amaxesha, ukuya kuva intando kaThixo. Akazange akhohlise ngokuvumisa, kodwa, wathi emi ngasezibingelelweni, wakhangela ngaphesheya kwiintente zikaIsrayeli. Kwakhona uMoya kaThixo wahlala phezu kwakhe, isigidimi sezulu sasemilebeni yakhe:ANa 449.2

“Azizintle ngako iintente zakho, Yakobi!
Neminquba yakho, Israyeli
Zitwabulukile njengezihlambo,
Njengamasimi aphezu komlambo,
Njengemihlaba etyalwe nguYehova,
Njengemisedare ephezu kwamanzi.
Aya kumpoza amanzi emiphandeni yakhe,
Imbewu yakhe ingasemanzini amaninzi.
Ukumkani wakhe makabe ngaphezulu koAgagi,
Buziphakamise ubukumkani bakhe. . . .
Waguqa, wabuthuma njengengonyama,
Njengengonyamakazi; ngubani owomvusa?
Mabasikelelwe abakusikelelayo,
Baqalekiswe abakuqalekisayo.”ANa 449.3

Impumelelo yabantu bakaThixo apha imelwe yeminye yemifuziselo emihle kakhulu efumaneka endalweni. Umprofeti ufanisa uIsrayeli nentlambo etyebileyo egqunywe zizivuno ezikhulu; nezitiya ezityatyambayo ezinkcenkceshelwa yimithombo engatshiyo; nomthi onevumba elimnandi, nomsedare omile ngesidima. Umfuziselo onikwe ekugqibeleni ngobona buhle bukhulu, nofanelekileyo ofumaneka elizwini eliphefumlelweyo. Umsedare waseLebhanon wawuhlonitshwa ngabo bonke abantu basempuma. Udidi lwemithi okulo lufumaneka naphi na apho umntu ahambe khona kuwo wonke umhlaba. Ukusuka kwiindawo eziphaya phezulu, ezibandayo, kuse kwezishushu, yonwabela ubushushu, kodwa imelane nokubanda; ikhula ibe mihle ngasemilanjeni, ukanti ikhula ibheke phezulu nakwiindawo ezomileyo ezingenamanzi. Izimilisela iingcambu zayo phakathi kwamatye eentaba ime izinze seyijongene noqhwithela. Amagqabi ahlala ephilile eluhlaza xa konke okunye kutshabalala ngumoya wobusika. Ngaphezu kwayo yonke eminye imithi, umsedare waseLebhanon ubaluleke ngokomelela, ukuqina kwawo, namandla angaboliyo; uthi ke usetyenziswe njengomfuziselo wabo ubomi babo “bufihlakele ndawonye noKristu kuye uThixo,” Kolose 3:3. Sithi isiBhalo, “Amalungisa . . . aya kukhula njengomsedare.” Ndumiso 92:12. Isandla sezulu sawuphakamisa umsedare njengokumkani wehlathi. “Imisipres ayifananga neembaxa zakhe, nemipleyini ayibanga njengamahlamvu akhe” (Hezekile 31:8); nawo nawuphi na umthi emyezweni kaThixo. Umsedare usetyenziswa rhoqo njengomfuziselo wobukhosi, kwaye ukusetyenziswa kwawo esiBhalweni ukuba kumele amalungisa kubonisa indlela iZulu elibona ngayo abo benza intando kaThixo.ANa 450.1

UBhileham waprofeta ukuba uKumkani kaIsrayeli uya kuba mkhulu kakhulu abe namandla ngaphezu kuka-Agage. Eli yayiligama elinikwa ookumkani bama-Amaleki, ngeli xesha awayesisizwe esinamandla kakhulu; kodwa uIsrayeli, ukuba wayenyanisekile kuThixo, wayeza kuzoyisa zonke iintshaba zakhe. UKumkani kaIsrayeli yayinguNyana kaThixo; kwaye itrone yaKhe yayiza kumiswa ngenye imini emhlabeni, lize igunya laKhe liphakanyiswe ngaphezu kwazo zonke izikumkani zomhlaba.ANa 450.2

Ngexesha ephulaphule amazwi omprofeti, uBhalaki wazaliswa lithemba elidanisiweyo, luloyiko nengqumbo. Wayenengqumbo kuba uBhileham wayengakwazi nokumnika nenkuthazo encinane yempendulo, ngexesha zonke izinto zazichasene naye. Wayithabatha njengempoxo indlela yomprofeti ekrokrisayo nekhohlisayo. Ukumkani wathetha esemsindweni, “Khwelela ngokunje, uye endaweni yakho. Bendithe ndokuzukisa kakhulu;yabona uYehova Ukuvimbile uzuko.” Impendulo yathi ukumkani wayexelelwe kwangaphambili ukuba uBhileham uya kuthetha kuphela isigidimi asinikiweyo sivela kuThixo.ANa 450.3

Phambi kokuba abuyele ebantwini bakhe, uBhileham wathetha esona siprofeto sihle nesizukileyo ngoMhlanguli wehlabathi nokutshatyalaliswa kokugqibela kweentshaba zikaThixo:ANa 451.1

Ndiyayibona, kungekhona ngoku,
Ndiyikhangele, ingekufuphi.
Inkwenkwezi iphuma kwaYakobi;
Intonga ivela kwaIsrayeli,
Iwaphaluse amaMowabi emacaleni omabini,
(Abafohloz’ oonyana bakaSeti,ANa 451.2

[IBHAYIBHILE])”.

Wavala ngokuxela kwangaphambili ngokutshatyalaliswa kukaMowabhi ne-Edom, ama-Amaleki namaKeni, emshiya ukumkani wakwaMowabhi engenayo nentwana yethemba.ANa 451.3

Edanisiwe kumathemba akhe obutyebi nokuphakanyiswa, ekungathandweni ngukumkani, nokwazi ukuba wenze okungamvuyisiyo uThixo, uBhileham wabuya kumsebenzi abezikhethele wona. Akuba efikile kwikhaya lakhe, amandla alawulayo oMoya kaThixo amshiya, kwathi ukubawa kwakhe, obekusabanjiwe, kwamoyisa. Wayelungele ukubhenela nakweyiphi into ukuze azuze umvuzo othenjiswe nguBhalaki. UBhileham wayesazi ukuba impumelelo kaIsrayeli yayixhomekeke ekuthobeleni kwabo uThixo, nokuba ayikho indlela enokubangela ukubhukuqwa kwabo ngaphandle kokuba batyhalelwe ukuba bone. Wagqiba ngeli xesha ukuba afumane imfesane kaBhalaki ngokucebisa amaMowabhi ngendlela emayilandelwe ukuzisa isiqalekiso phezu kukaIsrayeli.ANa 451.4

Wakhawuleza wabuyela kwilizwe lakwaMowabhi, wawandlala amacebo akhe phambi kukakumkani. Nawo amaMowabhi ngokwawo ayeqinisekile ukuba lonke ixesha uIsrayeli esahleli enyanisekile kuYe, uThixo uya kuba likhaka labo. Icebo elinikiweyo nguBhileham lalijonge ukubasusa kuThixo ngokuboyisela ekunquleni izithixo. Ukuba bangakhokelelwa kunqulo lombulo lukaBhahali noAshtarothe, uMkhuseli wabo, usomandla, uya kuba lutshaba lwabo, baze babe lixhoba kwiziswe ezikhohlakeleyo, nezithanda imfazwe ezibangqongileyo. Eli cebo lamkelwa ngokulula ngukumkani, waza yena uBhileham wahlala ukuze ancede ukuba lenziwe liphumelele.ANa 451.5

UBhileham wayibona impumelelo yecebo lakhe elingendawo. Wasibona isiqalekiso sikaThixo sifikela abantu baKhe, aza amawaka awa phantsi kwesibetho saKhe; kodwa ubulungisa bezulu obaya bohlwaya isono kuIsrayeli abuzange buvumele abalingi ukuba basinde. Kwimfazwe kaIsrayeli namaMidiyan, uBhileham wabulawa. Wayeziva enokunxuba kuba kwakungathi isiphelo sakhe sikufuphi, xa wayesithi, “Umphefumlo wam mawufe ukufa kwabathe tye, ukuphela kwam kube njengokwabo!” Nokokunjalo, akazange anyule ukuphila ubomi belungisa, saza isiphelo sakhe samiselwa neentshaba zikaThixo.ANa 451.6

Isiphelo sikaBhileham sifana neso sikaYuda Sikariyoti, nezimilo zabo zinako ukufana. Omabini la madoda azama ukuhlanganisa umsebenzi kaThixo nobutyebi, aza asilela ngokuphandle. UBhileham wamqonda uThixo oyinyaniso, wafuma ukumsebenzela; uYuda Sikariyoti kwakholelwa kuYesu njengoMesiya, wazihlanganisa nabalandeli baKhe. UBhileham yena wayethembe ukwenza ukusebenzela uThixo inqwanqwa lokuzuza ubutyebi nozuko lwehlabathi; wathi akusilela koku, wakhubeka wawa phantsi, wophuka. UYuda Sikariyoti wayelindele ukuba ngokuhlangana kwakhe noKristu wayeza kuzuza ubutyebi nokunyuselwa kubukumkani basemhlabeni awayecinga, ngokukholwa kwakhe, ukuba uMesiya wayeza kubumisa. Ukungaphumeleli kwamathemba akhe, kwamgxothela ekukreqeni nasentshabalalweni. Bobabini, uBhileham noYuda Sikariyoti babekufumene ukukhanya okukhulu, bawonwabela amalungelo, kodwa isono esinye esithandwayo saba yityhefu kuso sonke isimilo sabangela intshabalalo yabo.ANa 452.1

Yinto eyingozi kakhulu ukuvumela ukuba isimo esingesiso esobuKristu siphile entliziyweni. Isono esinye esonwatyelweyo siya kuthi, kancinane kancinane, sisithobe isimilo, sizise onke amandla abekekileyo phantsi kolawulo lweminqweno emibi. Ukususwa komlindi oyedwa kwisazela, ukuyekelwa komkhwa omnye ombi, ukutyeshelwa nje okunye kwamabango omsebenzi, kudiliza izikhuselo zomphefumlo, kuvulele uSathana indlela yokungena asilahlekise. Indlela enye ekuphela kwayo eyokusinda, kukuba sinyuse imithandazo yethu yonke imihla iphuma kwintliziyo enyanisekileyo, njengoDavide, “Imikhondo yam ibambe iindlela zakho, azashukuma iinyawo zam.” Ndumiso 17:5.ANa 452.2