53—Abagwebi Bangaphambili

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kubaBagwebi 6-8; 10.]

Emva kokuba zithe zahlala eKanan, izizwe azizange zenze migungqo ingxamileyo ukugqibezela ukulihlutha ilizwe. Zanelisekile yimimandla eyayizuziwe, inzondelelo yazo yatyhafa, yaza yayekwa imfazwe. “Kwathi, akomelela amaIsrayeli, azenza izicaka zawo ezo zizwe [amaKanan], akazigxotha.” Iinkokheli 1:28 [IBHAYIBHILE].ANa 543.1

UYehova, kwelaKhe icala, wayeyizalisekise ngokuthembeka izithembiso ezazenziwe kuIsrayeli; uYoshuwa wayewaphule amandla amaKanan, wawahlulela izizwe umhlaba. Kwakusele kuzo kuphela, zithembele kwingqiniseko yoncedo lwezulu, ukuwugqiba umsebenzi wokulithabatha ilizwe kubemi balo. Zasilela izizwe ukukwenza oku. Ngokungena kwizivumelwano namaKanan, zawugqitha ngokuphandle umyalelo kaThixo, ngaloo ndlela zasilela ukuzalisekisa imeko awayethembise ngayo ukuthi uya kwenza ukuba iKanan ibe yeyazo.ANa 543.2

Kususela kwasekuqaleni kokuthetha kukaThixo kunye nawo eSinayi, ayelunyukisiwe ngasekunquleni izithixo. Kwakamsinyane emva kokuba kuvakaliswe umthetho, isigidimi saya kuwo ngoMoses ngokubhekisele kwizizwe zaseKanan: “Uze ungabanquli oothixo babo, ungabakhonzi, ungenzi ngokwemisebenzi yabo; uze uzigungxule, uziqhekeze nokuziqhekeza izimiso zabo zamatye. Nize nikhonze uYehova uThixo wenu, asisikelele isonka sakho, namanzi akho; ndisisuse isifo phakathi kwakho. Eksodus 23:24, 25. Isiqinisekiso sanikwa sokuba, lonke ixesha besathobela, uThixo uya kuboyisela iintshaba zabo phambi kwabo: “Ndiya kuzithuma phambi kwakho izothuso zam, ndibadubadube bonke abantu oya kufika kubo, iintshaba zakho zonke ndizenze zikunikele ikhosi; ndithume oonomeva phambi kwakho, bawagxothe amaHivi, namaKanan, namaHiti, asuke phambi kwakho. Andiyi kuwagxotha phambi kwakho ngamnyaka mnye, hleze ilizwe kube senkangala kulo, andeamarhamncwaasendlephezukwakho.Ndiya kuwagxotha kancinane kancinane phambi kwakho, ude wande, ulidle ilifa ilizwe. Ndoyimisa imida yakho, ithabathele kuLwandle oluBomvu ise kulwandle lwamaFilisti; ithabathele entlango, ise kuwo uMlambo; kuba abemi belo lizwe ndiya kubanikela esandleni sakho, ubagxothe phambi kwakho. Uze unganqophisani nabo, kwanoothixo babo; ize bangemi kwelo zwe lakho, hleze bakwenze undone. Xa uthe wabakhonza oothixo babo, inene, oko koba ngumgibe kuwe.” Eksodus 23:27-33. Le yimiyalelo eyaphindaphindwa ngeyona ndlela inendili nguMoses phambi kokufa kwakhe, yaza yaphindwa nguYoshuwa.ANa 543.3

UThixo wayebabeke abantu baKhe eKanan njengongqameko oluphambili lokuthintela umsinga wobubi bokuziphatha, ukuze bungakhukulisi ihlabathi. Ukuba babethembekile kuYe, uThixo wayefuna ukuba uIsrayeli ahambele phambili esoyisa ngokoyisa. Wayeza kuzinikela ezandleni zabo izizwe ezikhulu nezinamandla ngaphezu kwamaKanan. Isithembiso sathi: “Ukuba nithe nawugcina ngenyameko lo mthetho wonke ndiniwiselayo, . . . wozigqogqa uYehova ezo ntlanga zonke phambi kwenu, nigqogqe iintlanga ezinkulu, ezinamandla kunani. Indawo yonke, enyathelwa yintende yonyawo lwenu, yoba yeyenu; kuthabathela entlango, naseLebhanon, nasemlanjeni, emlanjeni ongumEfrata, kuse elwandle lwasentshonalanga, ingumda wenu. Akukho mntu uya kuma phambi kwenu; ukunkwantya nini, nokoyika nina, wokubeka uYehova uThixo wenu ezweni lonke enilinyatheleyo, njengoko wathethayo kuni.” Duteronomi 11:22-25.ANa 544.1

Sesiphezulu sinjalo isiphelo sabo, bakhetha indlela yokonwaba nokuziyekela; bawayeka aphuncuka amathuba okugqiba ukulihlutha ilizwe; kwaza kwizizukulwana ezininzi, bangcungcuthekiswa yintsalela yaba bantu banqula izithixo, abaya bathi, ngokutsho ngenx’ engaphambili komprofeti, baba “ngameva” emehlweni abo, baba “ziimviko” emacaleni abo. Numeri 33:55.ANa 544.2

Abantu bakaIsrayeli “baxubana neentlanga ezo, bafunda izenzo zazo.” Ndumiso 106:35. Beendiselana namaKanan, kwaza ukunqula izithizo kwanda njengesibetho kulo lonke ilizwe. “Bakhonza izithixo zazo, yaba sisirhintyelo kubo. Babingelela ngoonyana babo nangeentombi zabo kwiidemon; . . . lahlanjelwa ilizwe ngamagazi. . . . Wavutha umsindo kaYehova kubantu bakhe, laba lisikizi kuye ilifa lakhe.” Ndumiso 106:36-40.ANa 544.3

Kwaya kufika kwixesha apho isizukulwana esafumana imfundiso kuYoshuwa sayasaphela,unqulolwezithixoluqhubelaphambili kancinane; kodwa abazali babeyilungisile indlela yokreqo lwabantwana babo. Ukungahoyi imiqathango kaYehova kwabo babeze ukuba bahluthe iKanan, kwahlwayela imbewu yobubi eyaqhubeka izala isiqhamo esikrakra kwizizukulwana ezininzi. Imikhwa elula yayiwazuzele amaHebhere impilo yasemzimbeni; kodwa ukunxulumana nabahedeni kwakhokelela ekuziyekeleni elitheni nakwimizwa, eya hlisa kancinane kancinane amandla omzimba, nokudodobalisa amandla engqondo nokuziphatha. Ngezono zawo, amaIsrayeli ahlukana noThixo; amandla aKhe asuswa kuwo, awakwazi ukuzoyisa iintshaba zawo. Ngaloo ndlela baba ngaphantsi kanye kwizizwe ababeya kuzoyisa ngoThixo.ANa 545.1

“Bamlahla uYehova, uThixo wooyise, owabakhuphayo ezweni laseYiputa,” “wabaqhuba njengomhlambi entlango.” “Bamqumbisa ngeziganga zabo, bamkhweletisa ngemifanekiso yabo eqingqiweyo.” Ngenxa yoko, uYehova “wawulahla umnquba waseShilo, intente abeyimise esintwini; wawanikela ekuthinjweni amandla akhe, isihombo sakhe esandleni sombandezeli.” Abagwebi 2:12; Ndumiso 78:52, 58, 60, 61. Kanti ke akazange abashiye kuphele abantu baKhe. Yahlala ikho intsalela eyayinyanisekile kuYehova; kuthi amaxesha ngamaxesha uYehova akhuphe amadoda anyanisekileyo nangamagorha ukuba akusingele phantsi ukunqulwa kwezithixo, awahlangule amaIsrayeli ezintshabeni zawo. Wayesithi akufa umhlanguli, abantu bakhululeke kwigunya lakhe, kancinane babuyele kwizithixo zabo. Lalihambe ngolo hlobo ibali lokuhlehla nokohlwaywa, ukuvuma isono nokuhlangulwa, liphindaphindwe njalo.ANa 545.2

Ukumkani waseMesopotami, ukumkani wamaMowabhi, emva kwabo amaFilisti, namaKanan aseHatsore, ekhokelwa nguSisera, babuya bangabacinezeli bakaIsrayeli. UOteniyeli, uShamgare, noEhude, uDebhora noBharaki bavezwa ukuba babe ngabahlanguli babantu babo. Baphinda “oonyana bakaIsrayeli benza ububi emehlweni kaYehova; wabanikela uYehova esandleni samaMidiyan.” Ukuza kuthi ga kwesi sithuba, isandla somcinezeli sawa kancinane kwizizwe ezazihlala kwimpuma yeYordan, kodwa kwiintlekele zeli xesha, baba ngabokuqala ukuva ubunzima.ANa 545.3

Ama-Amaleki akwiKanan esezantsi, kunye namaMidiyan akumda wasempumalanga, nakwiintlango ezazingaphesheya, ayehleli eziintshaba ezingagungqiyo zikaIsrayeli. Isizwe samaMidiyan kwasalakancinaneukubasingatshatyalaliswa siphelengemihla kaMoses, kodwa emva koko, sakhula kakhulu, sanda, sanamandla. Babengabantu abanxanelwe impindezelo; kwathi ngoku, kuba isandla esikhuselayo sikaThixo sirhoxisiwe kuIsrayeli, lafika ithuba. Kwakungekuphela izizwe ezikwimpuma yeYordan, kodwa lonke ilizwe laphatheka kakubi kukudlavula kwabo. Abemi abandlongondlongo nabanengcwangu basentlango, “benjengeenkumbi ukuba baninzi,” (Abagwebi 6:5), balizalisa ilizwe ngemihlambi kunye nempahla enkulu yabo. Njengesibetho esitshabalalisayo, balingenela lonke ilizwe, besusela kumlambo iYordan ukuya kumathafa amaFilisti. Babefika ngakonje ukuba siqale ukuvuthwa isivuno, bahlale kude kuqokelelwe iziqhamo zomhlaba zokugqibela. Babethabatha yonke imveliso yamasimi, babaphange babaphathe kakubi abemi, bakugqiba babuyele kwiintlango zabo. Ngenxa yoko, amaIsrayeli awayehlala kwilizwe eliphangaleleyo kwanyanzeleka ukuba awancame amakhaya awo abuthelane kwiidolophu ezirhangqwe ziindonga, ukuba afumane igwiba ezinqabeni, okanye afumane inkuseleko emiqolombeni nakwiindawo ezimxinwa ezinamatye ezintabeni. Kwaba yiminyaka esixhenxe iqhubeka le ngcinezelo, kwaza kwathi, bakuba abantu, ekuxinzelekeni kwabo, baye bakululamela ukuthethisa kukaYehova, bazivuma izono zabo, waphinda uThixo wabavusela umncedi.ANa 545.4

UGidiyon wayengunyana kaYowashe, wesizwe sakwaManase. Uhlelo olwalukulo olu sapho lwalungenaso isikhundla esiphezulu, kodwa indlu kaYowashe yayibaluleke ngesibindi nangentlonipheko. Kuthethwa oku ngoonyana bakhe ababomelele, “elowo enesithomo sonyana wokumkani.” Bonke bawa emfazweni namaMidiyan kwasala wamnye; waza yena wenza ukuba igama lakhe loyikwe ngabahlaseli. KuGidiyon kwafika ubizo lwezulu ukuba ahlangule abantu bakhe. Ngelo xesha wayexakeke kukubhula ingqolowa. Kwakukho intwana yengqolowa eyayifihliwe, engakwazi ukuyibhulela apho kufuphi esixovulelweni sewayini; kuba ixesha leediliya ezivuthiweyo lalise kude kakhulu, kwakukuncinane ukuziqaphela izidiliya. Wathi xa uGidiyon esebenza nzima emfihlakalweni ngokuzolileyo, wayicinga wanosizi imeko kaIsrayeli, waza wacinga ngendlela engaphulwa ngayo idyokhwe ephezu kwabantu bakhe.ANa 546.1

Ngequbuliso, “isithunywa sikaYehova” sabonakala sathetha naye amazwi athi, “UYehova unawe, gorhandini linobukroti.”ANa 546.2

“Camagu, Nkosi yam;” yatsho impendulo yakhe, “ukuba uYehova unathi, yini na ukuba kusihlele konke oku? Iphi na yonke imisebenzi yakhe ebalulekileyo, ababesibalisela ngayooobawo, besithi,Sasinganyuswanga nguYehova na eYiputa? Kungoku uYehova usilahlile wasinikela esandleni samaMidiyan.”ANa 546.3

Isithunywa sezulu saphendula, “Hamba ngala mandla akho, uwasindise amaIsrayeli esandleni samaMidiyan. Akuthunywe ndim yini na?”ANa 547.1

UGidiyon walangazelela umqondiso wokuba lo uthetha naye ngoku wayeyingelosi yoMnqophiso, eyathi ngexesha eladlulayo yenzela uIsrayeli izinto. Izithunywa zikaThixo, ezazithetha noAbraham, zaka zahlala ukuba zixhamle kububele bakhe; waza ngoku uGidiyon wacengana noMthunywa wezulu, ukuba ahlale njengondwendwe lwakhe. Waya ngokungxama ententeni yakhe, walungisa, kwinto encinane anayo, ixhwane nezonkana ezingenagwele, wazisa wabeka phambi kwaKhe. Yasuka iNgelosi yamthuma yathi, “Thabatha inyama nezonka ezingenagwele, uzibeke phezu kweli litye, uwuphalazelekulo umhluzi.” UGidiyon wakwenza oko, waza umqondiso awayewulangazelela wanikwa: ngentonga esesandleni sayo, iNgelosi yachukumisa inyama kunye nezonka ezingenagwele, kwaphuma ilangatye elityeni lawudla umbingelelo. Kwathi emva koko, iNgelosi yathi shwaka ayabonakala.ANa 547.2

Uyise kaGidiyon, uYowashe, owaba nesabelo kukreqo lwabantu bakubo, wayakhe eOpra, apho wayehlala khona, isibingelelo esikhulu sikaBhahali, apho abantu bedolophu babenqula khona. UGidiyon wayalelwa ukuba asitshabalalise esi sibingelelo aze amise isibingelelo sikaYehova phezu kwelitye apho umbingelelo wadliwa khona, aze apho enze umbingelelo kuYehova. Umnikelo wombingelelo kuThixo wawunikelwe kubabingeleli, kwaye wawumiselwe ukuba wenziwe kwisibingelelo esiseShilo; kodwa Lowo wayimiselayo le nkonzo, neyalatha kuYe yonke iminikelo yayo, wayenalo igunya lokukuguqula oko kufunekayo kuyo. Ukuhlangulwa kukaIsrayeli kwakufuneka kuhanjelwe phambili luvukelo olunendili ngakunqulo lukaBhahali. UGidiyon kufuneka aqale imfazwe ngasekunqulweni kwezithixo phambi kokuba aye edabini neentshaba zabantu bakhe.ANa 547.3

Umyalelo wezulu wenziwa ngokufanelekileyo. Wathi ngokwazi ukuba uya kuchaswa xa ethe wakwenza oko ekuhleni, uGidiyon wawenza umsebenzi emfihlakalweni; encediswa ngabakhonzi bakhe, bawugqiba wonke ngobusuku. Yaba nkulu ingqumbo yabantu baseOpra ukufika kwabo ngentsasa elandelayo bezokwenza imithandazo yabo kuBhahali. Ngebabembulele uGidiyon ukuba uYowashe, owayexelelwe ngokutyelela kweNgelosi, wayengazange eme ukuba amkhusele unyana wakhe. “Niya kummela uBhahali nina aba na?” watsho uYowashe. “Niya kumsindisa nina aba na? Lowo ummelayo uBhahali makabulawe; makhe kuse. Ukuba unguThixo makazithethele, ngokuba sidiliziwe isibingelelo sakhe.” Ukuba uBhahali akanako ukusikhusela isibingelelo sakhe, angathenjwa njani ukuba akhusele abo bamnqulayo?ANa 547.4

Zonke iingcinga zenkohlakalo ngakuGidiyon zasuswa; wathi akukhalisa ixilongo lemfazwe, amadoda aseOpra aphakathi kwabokuqala ukuhlanganisana phantsi kwebhanile yakhe. Kwathunyelwa abathunywa baya kwisizwe sakhe sakwaManase, nakwa-Ashere, eZebhulon, nakwaNafetali, baza bonke balusabela ubizo.ANa 548.1

UGidiyon akazange azibeke ukuba abe yintloko yomkhosi ngaphandle kokuba kubekho ubungqina bokuba uThixo umbizele kulo msebenzi, nokuba uya kuba naye. Wathandaza, “Ukuba uyawasindisa amaIsrayeli ngesandla sam, njengoko uthethileyo, nanku ndibeke uboya obuchetyiweyo esandeni; ukuba umbethe uthe waba seboyeni bodwa, wonke umhlaba wawomile, ndiya kwazi ke ukuba uya kuwasindisa amaIsrayeli ngesandla sam, njengoko uthethileyo. Kusasa, uboya babumanzi, lo gama umhlaba wawomile. Kwaphinda kwavela okunye ukuthandabuza, njengoko uboya ngokwendalo bubufunxa ubumanzi xa buthe bakho emoyeni; uvavanyo kumele ukuba luqiniseke. Ngenxa yaloo nto, wacela ukuba umqondiso uvele kwelinye icala, wacenga ukuba ukulumka kwakhe kakhulu kungamenzi angaxoli uYehova. Isicelo sakhe samkeleka.ANa 548.2

Wathi akuba ekhuthazeke ngolo hlobo, uGidiyon wayikhokela imikhosi yakhe ukuba iyokulwa edabini nabangeneleli. “Ahlangana ndawonye onke amaMidiyan, nama-Amaleki, nabasempumalanga; awela, amisa emathafeni aseYizereli.” Uwonke umkhosi ophantsi kolawulo lukaGidiyon, ngokwenani, yayingamadoda angamawaka amathathu anambini; kodwa wathi ngoku umkhosi omkhulu wotshaba uthe tshitshilili phambi kwakhe, ilizwi likaYehova lafika kuye: “Baninzi abantu abanawe, kunokuba ndiwanikele amaMidiyan esandleni sabo; hleze amaIsrayeli aqhayise, athi, Sisindiswe sisandla sethu. Khawudanduluke ke ngoko ezindlebeni zabantu, uthi, Owoyikayo nogubhayo makabuye, makanyebeleze emke ezintabeni zeGiliyadi.” Abo babesoyika ukujongana nengozi kunye neenzima, okanye abakuthanda kwabo ihlabathi kwakuya kuzisusa iintliziyo zabo emsebenzini kaThixo, babengayi kongeza mandla kumkhosi kaIsrayeli. Ubukho babo babuya kuba kukuzisa ubuthakathaka.ANa 548.3

Kwakwenziwe kwangumthetho kwaIsrayeli ukuba, phambi kokuba baye edabini, kufuneka kwenziwe esi siphakamiso silandelayo kuwo wonke umkhosi: “Ngubani na umntu owakhe indlu entsha, akayisungula? Makahambe abuyele endlwini yakhe, hleze afe emfazweni, isungulwemntuwumbi.Ngubani na umntu otyale isidiliya, akadla kuso? Makahambe abuyele endlwini yakhe, hleze afe emfazweni, sidliwe mntu wumbi. Ngubani na umntu ogane umfazi, akamzeka? Makahambe abuyele endlwini yakhe, hleze afe emfazweni, azekwe mntu wumbi.” Abaphathi kwakufuneka bongeze phambili ukuthetha nabantu, bathi, “Ngubani na umntu owoyikayo, ontliziyo ithambileyo? Makahambe abuyele endlwini yakhe, inganyibiliki intliziyo yabazalwana bakhe, njengentliziyo yakhe. Duteronomi 20:5-8.ANa 549.1

Ngenxa yokuba amanani ayembalwa kakhulu xa kuthelekiswa nalawo otshaba, uGidiyon warhoxa ekwenzeni isimiso esiqhelekileyo. Wazaliswa kukumangaliswa kukuba kuthiwe umkhosi wakhe wawumkhulu kakhulu. Yena uYehova wabona ikratsi nokungakholwa okusezintliziyweni zabantu baKhe. Bathi ngokususwa zizibheno ezichukumisayo zikaGidiyon, beza ngokukhawuleza; kodwa abaninzi kubo bazaliswa kukoyika bakubona intlaninge yamaMidiyan. Sekunjalo, ukuba uIsrayeli wayenokoyisa, bona abo [babesoyika] babeya kuluthabathela kubo udumo endaweni yokuba bathi uloyiso lolukaThixo.ANa 549.2

UGidiyon wawuthobela umyalelo kaYehova, waza wathi enentliziyo esindwayo, wawabukela amawaka angamashumi amabini, okanye ngaphezu kwezabelo ezibini kwezithathu zomkhosi uphela, zibuyela ezindlwini zazo. Laphinda ilizwi likaYehova lafika kuye: “Abantu basebaninzi. Yihla nabo, uye emanzini, ndikukhethele bona apho; kothi, endithe kuwe, Lo uya kuhamba nawe, maze ahambe nawe yena; bonke endisukuba ndithi kuwe, Lo akayi kuhamba nawe, ize angahambi nawe yena. Abantu bakhokelelwa emanzini, belindele ukuba baza kuhlasela utshaba ngokukhawuleza. Bambalwa abakhawuleza bakha amanzi ngesandla basela bebheka phambili; kodwa phantse bonke abanye bawa ngamadolo, bawasela ngokonwaba amanzi omthombo. Abo bawakha ngezandla amanzi, babengamakhulu amathathu kubantu ababe ngamawaka alishumi; kwaza kwakhethwa bona; bonke abanye bavunyelwa ukuba babuyele ezindlwini zabo.ANa 549.3

Ngezona ndlela zilula, isimilo siyakholiswa ukuvavanywa. Abo bathi ngexesha lobunzithinzithi bafune bona ukwaneza ezabo iimfuno, abangabo abantu bokuthenjwa ngethuba lokuxakeka. UYehova akanayo indawo emsebenzini waKhe yabantu abangamavila nabathanda ukuzenzela. Abantu abanyulayo yimbinana engayi kuvumela ukuba ukufuna kwayo kubalibazise ekwenzeni umsebenzi wabo. Amakhulu amathathu awayekhethiwe ayenganele nje ukuba nesibindi, nokukwazi ukuzilawula, kodwa ayengamadoda okholo. Ayengazingcolisanga ngokunqula izithixo. UThixo wayekwazi ukuwayalela, athi ngawo enze umsebenzi wokuhlangula uIsrayeli. Impumelelo ayixhomekeki emananini. UThixo unakho ukuhlangula ngabambalwa kwanjengabaninzi. Akazukiswa ngamanani amakhulu, ngaphezu kwesimilo sabo bamkhonzayo.ANa 549.4

AmaIsrayeli ayimise kungqameko lwenduli ejonge kwintlambo apho yayimise khona imikhosi yabahlaseli. “AmaMidiyan nama-Amaleki nabasempumalanga bonke babelele entilini benjengeenkumbi ukuba baninzi; neenkamela zawo zibe zingenakubalwa, njengentlabathi yonxweme lolwandle ukuba zininzi.” Abagwebi 7:12. USathana wangcangcazela akucinga ngemfazwe yengomso. Kunjalo, uYehova wathetha naye embonweni wobusuku wamthuma, enoPura umkhonzi wakhe, esithi, yiyani kwinkampu yamaMidiyan, enika ingqondo yokuba uya kuva khona into eya kumkhuthaza. Wahamba, walinda ebumnyameni ethe cwaka, weva isoldathi libalisela iqabane lalo iphupha: “Ndibone kuqengqeleka isonka serhasi sisiza emkhosini wamaMidiyan, sifike ententeni, sibethe iwe, ithi bhukuqu intente, ithi bhuma.” Omnye aphendule ngamazwi awachukumisa intliziyo yalowo uphulaphuleyo ungabonwayo, “Loo nto kunje likrele likaGidiyon, unyana kaYowashe, indoda yakwaIsrayeli; uThixo uwanikele amaMidiyan nomkhosi wonke esandleni sakhe.” UGidiyon waliqonda ilizwi likaThixo elithetha naye ngabo bangamaMidiyan basemzini. Wabuyela kumadoda ambalwa awaphetheyo, wathi, “Vukani, ngokuba uYehova uyinikele impi yamaMidiyan esandleni senu.”ANa 550.1

Ngokukhokelwa lizulu, icebo lokuhlasela walinikwa, awathi ngokukhawuleza walenza. Amakhulu amathathu amadoda ahlulwa angamaqela amathathu. Indoda nganye yanikwa isigodlo, nesibane esifihlwe kwisitya somdongwe. La madoda amiswa ngendlela yokuba ayivelele inkampu yamaMidiyan evela kumacala awahlukeneyo. Enzulwini yobusuku, kwanikwa umqondiso ophuma kuphondo lukaGidiyon lwemfazwe, aza amaqela omathathu avuthela izigodlo zawo; ngelo xesha, aziqhekeza izitya zomdongwe eveza izibane ezitshawuzayo, akhawuleza alungenela utshaba esitsho ngesikhuzo semfazwe, “Ha! Ha! Ikrele likaYehova, likaGidiyon!”ANa 550.2

Umkhosi owawulele,wavuka ngokukhawuleza.Kumacala onke Onke kwakubonakala ukukhanya kwezibane ezivutyayo ezaziphethwe. Macaleni onke kwakuvakala isandi sezigodlo, nemikhuzo yabahlaseli. Athi ekholelwa ukuba asezandleni zomkhosi owagubungeleyo, amaMidiyan athiwa hlasi kukoyika. Athi ekhala ngokukrakra kukothuka, abalekela ukusindisa ubomi bawo, aza athi, ngokuphazamela ekuthini amaqabane awo azintshaba, abulalana omnye nomnye. Zathi zakuvakala iindaba zoloyiso, amawaka amadoda akwaIsrayeli awayebuyiselwe emva emakhayeni awo, abuya ahlanganyela ukusukela iintshaba zawo ezibhacayo. AmaMidiyan ayebalekela ngaseYordan, ethembe ukuba aya kufika kumhlaba wawo, ngaphesheya kweYordan. UGidiyon wathumela abathunywa kuhlanga lwakwaEfrayim, ebavusa ukuba bazirhawule iimbacu kumazibuko angasezantsi. Ngelo xesha linye, ngamakhulu amathathu amadoda akhe, “etyhafile, esasukela noko,” uGideon wanqumla umsinga esukela ngamandla abo babesele beyokufika kwelinye icala. Iinkosana ezimbini, uZebha noZalumuna, ababephethe wonke umkhosi, abaya basinda nomkhosi weshumi elinesihlanu lamawaka, bafunyanwa nguGidiyon waza umkhosi wabo wabethwa wathi saa, zaza iinkokeli zabanjwa zabulawa.ANa 553.1

Kolu loyiso lungumqondiso, abazange babe ngaphantsi kwamawaka alikhulu namashumi amabini abahlaseli [bamaMidiyan] abafayo. Amandla amaMidiyan aqotywa, kangangokuba awazange aphinde akwazi ukulwa namaIsrayeli. Iindaba zokuba uThixo uphinde wabalwela abantu baKhe zasasazeka ngokukhawuleza kuyo yonke indawo. Awakho amazwi angakwazi ukuchaza uloyiko lwezizwe ezingqongileyo zakuva iindlela ezilula ezisebenza ukuchasana namandla abantu abakhaliphileyo nabathanda imfazwe.ANa 553.2

Inkokeli awayinyulayo uThixo ukuba ibhukuqe amaMidiyan yayingenasikhundla sibalulekileyo kwaIsrayeli. Yayingenguye umlawuli, umbingeleli, okanye umLevi. Wayezibona njengoyena umncinane endlwini kaYise. Yena uThixo wabona kuyo indoda enesibindi nehloniphekileyo. Yayiyindoda engazithembanga neyayikulungele ukulandela uYehova. UThixo akakholisi ngokukhethela umsebenzi waKhe iitalente ezizezona zinkulu, kodwa ukhetha abo anokubasebenzisa ngeyona ndlela ilungileyo. “Ngaphambi kozuko lululamo.” Mizekeliso 15:33. UYehova angasebenza ngeyona mpumelelo ngabo bakuqondayo ukungafaneleki kwabo, abo baya kuxhomekeka kuYe njengenkokeli yabo nethende lamandla abo. Uya kubenza bomelele ngokuhlanganisa ubuthakathaka babo namandla aKhe, balumke ngokuhlanganisa ukungazi nto kwabo nobulumko baKhe.ANa 553.3

Ukuba bangathanda ukuthobeka kwenene, uYehova angabenzela okukhulu abantu baKhe; kodwa bambalwa abanokuthenjwa ngokukhulu kuxanduva okanye kwimpumelelo bengakhange babe nokuzithembaokanye bakulibale ukuxhomekeka kwabo kuThixo. Yiyo le nto, ekukhetheni izixhobo zomsebenzi waKhe, uYehova ebadlula abo ihlabathi libazukisa njengabakhulu, abanetalente, okanye abanengqondo. Amaxesha amaninzi basuka babe nekratshi baneliseke ziziqu zabo. Baziva benesakhono sokwenza ngaphandle kwecebiso elivela kuThixo.ANa 554.1

Isenzo esilula sokuvuthela isandi kwisigodlo ngumkhosi kaYoshuwa kujikelezwa iYeriko, nalibutho elincinane likaGidiyon lirhangqe imikhosi yamaMidiyan, senziwa sanempumelelo, ngamandla kaThixo, ukuze kubhukuqwe ukomelela kweentshaba zaKhe. Olona hlelo luphelele kakhulu olwaka lwacetywa ngabantu, ngaphandle kwamandla kunye nobulumko bukaThixo, luyasilela, lo gama, ezona ndlela zingathembisiyo, ziphumelela xa zinyulwe lizulu kwaza kwangenwa kuzo ngokuthobeka nokholo. Ukuthemba uThixo nokuthobela intando yaKhe zizinto ezifunekayo kwimfazwe yasemoyeni yobuKristu njengakuGidiyon noYoshuwa kumadabi abo namaKanan. Ngokuphindaphinda ukubonakalalisa amandla aKhe ngenxa kaIsrayeli, uThixo ubebakhokelela ekubeni babe nokholo kuYe, ngesibindi, bafune uncedo lwaKhe kuyo yonke imeko yengxaki. Nangoku unayo intumekelelo yokusebenza nemizamo yabantu baKhe ngoku ukuze afeze izinto ezinkulu ngezixhobo ezibuthakathaka. Lonke izulu lilindele ukufuna kwethu ngamandla ubulumko namandla alo. “UThixo [u]nako ukwenza okungaphezu kweento zonke ngokugqithiseleyo kakhulu, ngaphezu kwesikucelayo nesinokukuqiqa.” Efese 3:20.ANa 554.2

UGidiyon wabuya ekusukeleni iintshaba zesizwe, wahlangana nokugxekwa nokutyholwa ngabantu bakubo. Ekubizeleni kwakhe amadoda akwaIsrayeli ukuba ahlangane naye ekulweni namaMidiyan, uhlanga lwakwaEfrayim lwasala ngasemva. Bayijonga imizamo njengenyathelo eliyingozi; kwathi kuba uGidiyon engababizanga ngendlela ekhethekileyo, bazinikela kwesi sikhalazo sokungahlangani nabazalwana babo. Sekunjalo, zathi zakufika kuwo iindaba zoloyiso lukaIsrayeli, asuka amaEfrayim anomona kuba engenasabelo kulo. Emva kokunyothulwa kwamaMidiyan amadoda akwaEfrayim athi, ngomyalelo kaGidiyon, awathabatha amazibuko eYordan, ngaloo ndlela ethintela ukuzimela kweembacu. Ngale ndlela, inani elikhulu lotshaba labulawa, phakathi kwalo kukho iinkosana ezimbini, uOrebhe noZebhe. Ke ngoko, aba amadoda akwaEfrayim ayalilandela idabi, anceda ukugqibezela uloyiso. Noko kunjalo, ayenomona ekwanengqumbo, ngokungathi uGidiyon wayekhokelwa yintando yakhe nokubona kwakhe. Abazange basibone isandla sikaThixo ekoyisenikukaIsrayeli,bengazange bawancome amandla nenceba yaKhe kokwabo ukuhlangulwa; yaza le nto kanye yabonisa ukungafaneleki kwabo ukuba bakhethwe njengezixhobo zaKhe ezizodwa.ANa 554.3

Bathi bebuya namaxhoba, bamthethisa uGidiyon benomsindo: “Yintoni na le nto uyenzileyo kuthi, yokuba ungasibizi, ukuya kulwa kwakho namaMidiyan?”ANa 555.1

Ke yena waphendula wathi: “Ukukhwahlaza kenu, maEfrayim, kube nengeniso egqithe le kwisivuno sethu, thina ndlu ka-Abhiyezere. Kaloku uThixo uzinikele ezandleni zenu zombini iinkosi zamaMidiyan, uOrebhe noZebhe. Ngaba yintoni na mna endiyenzileyo egqithe oko nikwenzileyo nina?” [IBHAYIBHILE]ANa 555.2

Umoya womona ngewabhebhetheka ngokulula waba yingxabano eyayinokubanga imfazwe nokuphalala kwegazi; kodwa impendulo enobulali kaGidiyon yawuthomalalisa umsindo kumadoda akwaEfrayim, aza abuyela emakhayeni awo enoxolo. Eqinile engahexi xa kukhangelenwe nomthetho-siseko, emfazweni “[eli] gorha linobukroti,” uGidiyoN wabonakalisa umoya wembeko onqabe kakhulu.ANa 555.3

Abantu bakwaIsrayeli, ekubuleleni kwabo ngokuhlangulwa kumaMidiyan, bamcela uGidiyon ukuba abe ngukumkani wabo, nokuba itrone kufuneka iqiniselwe kwinzala yakhe. Esi sindululo sasichasene ngokupheleleyo nemithetho-siseko yolawulo lukaThixo. UThixo wayengukumkani kaIsrayeli, ngoko ukubeka kwabo umntu etroneni kwakuya kuba kukwala kwabo uBukumkani beZulu. UGidiyon wayiqonda le nto; impendulo yakhe ibonisa indlela ezazinyaniseke neziphakame ngayo iinjongo zakhe. “Andiyi kunilawula mna,” watsho; “akayi kunilawula nonyana wam; nguYehova oya kunilawula nina.”ANa 555.4

Noko kunjalo, uGidiyon wahendwa wangena kwenye impazamo, eyathi yahlisela intlekele indlu yakhe noIsrayeli wonke. Ixesha lokungenzi nto elilandela idabi elikhulu, likholisa ukuba nengozi enkulu kunexesha lemfazwe. Yingozi le awajongana nayo uGidiyon. Umoya ongazinzanga wawumfikele. Ukuza kuthi ga ngoku, wayanelisekile kukufezekisa imiyalelo ayinikwa nguThixo; kodwa ngoku, endaweni yokulinda inkokelo yezulu, waqala ukuceba ngokwakhe. Xa ithe imikhosi kaYehova yazuza uloyiso olubonakalayo, uSathana uyayiphinda-phinda imizamo yakhe yokubhukuqa umsebenzi kaThixo. Ngoko ke, iingcamango namacebo aziswa engqondweni kaGidiyon, abathi ngawo, balahlekiswa abantu bakwaIsrayeli.ANa 555.5

Ngenxa yokuba wayeyalelwe ukuba enze umbingelelo phezu kwelitye apho iNgelosi yavelakuyekhona,uGidiyon wacingaukuba unyulwe ukuba asebenze njengombingeleli. Wathi engakulindelanga ukuvuma kwezulu, wazimisela ukufumana indawo efanelekileyo, nokumisela uhlelo lonqulo olufana nolo lwenziwa emnqubeni. Kwathi kuba umoya wabantu umhle kakhulu ngakuye, akafumana bunzima ukulenza icebo lakhe. Ngokwesicelo sakhe, onke amajikazi egolide awayethatyathwe kumaMidiyan anikelwa kuye njengesabelo sakhe kumaxhoba. Abantu baqokelela nezinye iimpahla zexabiso, kwakunye neengubo zexabiso zeenkosana zamaMidiyan. Kwiimpahla ezaya zaziswa, uGidiyon wenza iefodi nesigcina-sifuba, izinto ezifana nezo zinxitywa ngumbingeleli omkhulu. Le ndlela ayilandelayo yaphela iba ngumgibe kuye nosapho lwakhe, nakuIsrayeli. Unqulo olungagunyaziswanga lwabakhokelela abantu, ekugqibeleni, ukuba bamshiye uYehova ngokupheleleyo, bakhonza izithixo. Emva kokufa kukaGidiyon, abantu abaninzi, kubo kukho abendlu yakhe, bazimanya nolukreqo. Abantu bakhokelelwa kude kuThixo ngulo mntu kanye owakha wakubhukuqa ukunqula kwabo izithixo.ANa 556.1

Bambalwa abayiqondayo indima enkulu edlalwa yimpembelelo yamazwi abo kunye nezenzo zabo. Kukaninzi apho zithi iimpazamo zabazali ziveze ezona ziphumo zibi ebantwaneni babo, nakubantwana babantwana babo, sekukudala bona badlali baya kulala engcwabeni. Wonke ubani unempembelelo kwabanye, kwaye uya kuphendula ngeziphumo zaloo mpembelelo. Amazwi nezenzo zizinto ezinamandla amakhulu, kwaye kuya kuthi sekukudala emva kokuphila kwethu apha, zivele iziphumo. Umda owenziwe ngamazwi nezenzo zethu, ngokuqinisekileyo, uya kubuyela kuthi mhlawumbi uyintsikelelo okanye isiqalekiso. Le ngcamango inika indili eyoyikekayo ebomini, kwaye kufuneka isisondeze kuThixo ngomthandazo othobekileyo ukuze asikhokele ngobaKhe ubulumko.ANa 556.2

Abo bema kwizikhundla eziphezulu, bangalahlekisa. Ezona zilumko ziyona; abona bomeleleyo bangaphazama bakhubeke. Kukho isidingo sokuba ukukhanya kwangasentla kusoloko kukhanya endleleni yethu. Inkuseleko yethu, nekuphela kwayo, ilele ekunikeleni indlela yethu ngokupheleleyo kuYe Lowo wathi, “Ndilandeleni.”ANa 556.3

Emva kokufa kukaGidiyon, “oonyana bakaIsrayeli abamkhumbulanga uYehova uThixo wabo, owabahlangulayo esandleni seentshaba zabo zonke ngeenxa zonke; abayenzela inceba indlu kaYerubhahali, kaGidiyon, ngokokulunga konke awawenzelayo amaIsrayeli.” Bathi bekulibele konke okuhle awabenzela kona uGidiyon, umgwebi nomhlanguli wabo, abantu bakwaIsrayeli bamkela unyana weshweshwe uAbimeleki njengokumkani wabo, owathi, ukuze azuze alimise igunya lakhe, wabulala bonke abantwana bakaGidiyon abazelwe ngokusemthethweni. Xa abantu bekulahla ukumoyika uThixo, abakho kude ekusukeni eluzukweni nasesidimeni. Ukuxabisa inceba kaYehova kukhokelela ekuxabiseni abo bathe, njengoGidiyon, basetyenziswa njengezixhobo zokusikelela abantu baKhe. Indlela ekhohlakeleyo kaIsrayeli ngakwindlu kaGidiyon yinto eyayinokulindeleka kubantu abaya babonisa ukungabi nambulelo kakhulu kuThixo.ANa 556.4

Emva kokufa kuka-Abhimeleki, ulawulo lwabagwebi abamoyikayo uYehova lwasebenza okwethutyana ukunqanda ukukhonzwa kwezithixo, kodwa kungekudala, abantu babuyela kwizenzo zabo zobuhedeni obabubangqongile. Phakathi kwezizwe zangasentla, oothixo beSiriya neTsidon babenabanquli abaninzi. Kumzantsi-ntshona, izithixo zamaFilisti, empuma, abo bamaMowabhi nama-Amnon, bazisusa iintliziyo zikaIsrayeli kuThixo wooyise. Ngenxa yaloo nto, ukreqo olo lwazisa isohlwayo esikhawulezileyo. Ama-Amon azicinezela izizwe ezisempuma aza athi, akuwela iYordan, awungenela umhlaba wakwaYuda nakwaEfrayim. Ngasentshona, amaFilisti asuka kwizithabazi ezingaselwandle, atshisa aphanga kuyo yonke indawo. Waphinda uIsrayeli wabonakala elahlelwe kumagunya entshaba ezingenalusizi.ANa 557.1

Babuya abantu bafuna uncedo kuYe Lowo babemshiyile bamgculela. “Bakhala oonyana bakaIsrayeli kuYehova, bathi, Sikonile, ngokuba simlahlile uThixo wethu, sakhonza ooBhahali.” Sekunjalo, intlungu ayizange isebenze inguquko yenene. Abantu bakhala kuba izono zabo zabazisela imbulaleko phezu kwabo, kungengakuba bengamzukisanga uThixo ngokugqitha umthetho waKhe ongcwele. Inguquko yenene ingaphezulu kobuhlungu ngesono. Ikukugqiba ukubuya ebubini.ANa 557.2

Wabaphendula uYehova ngomnye wabaprofeti baKhe: “Ndibe ndinganisindisanga na kumaYiputa, nakuma-Amori, nakoonyana baka-Amon, nakumaFilisti, nakumaTsidon, nakuma-Amaleki, nakumaMahon, abenixina; nakhala kum, ndanisindisa esandleni sawo? Nindilahlile nina, nakhonza thixo bambi; ngako oko andiyi kuphinda ndinisindise. Hambani niye kukhala koothixo enibanyulileyo; mabanisindise bona ngexesha lokubandezelwa kwenu.”ANa 557.3

La mazwi anendili nawoyikekayo ayithwala ingqondo ayibhekisa phambili komnye umboniso, imini enkulu yomgwebo wokugqibela, xa abayalayo inceba yaKhe beya kuhlangana ubuso ngobuso nobulungisa baKhe. Kuloo nkundla, kuya kufuneka banike ingxelo abo banikele iitalente abazinikwe nguThixo, ezexesha, ubutyebi, okanye ingqondo, ukuba bakhonze oothixo beli hlabathi. Bamshiyile uMhlobo wabo oyinyaniso nonothando, ukuba balandele ukulungelwa neziyolo zehlabathi. Babezimisele ukuba ngexesha elithile baya kubuyela kuThixo; kodwa ihlabathi nobudenge balo kwakunye neenkohliso zalo labathimba ingqondo. Iziyunguma zolonwabo, ukuthanda impahla yokunxiba, ukuziyekela ekuthandeni ukutya, kwazenza lukhuni iintliziyo, zasenza ndindisholo isazela ukuze lingabi nakuvakala ilizwi lenyaniso. Umsebenzi wadelwa. Izinto zexabiso elingapheliyo zajongelwa phantsi, yada intliziyo yalahlekwa lulo lonke ulangazelelo lokubingelela kuLowo wanikela okukhulu kangako ngomntu. Sekunjalo, ngexesha lokuvuna, baya kubutha oko bakuhlwayeleyo.ANa 558.1

Wathi uYehova: “Ngokuba ndinibizile, anavuma, ndolule isandla sam, akwabakho ukhathalayo; nesuka naliyeka necebo lam lonke, anavuma ndakunohlwaya. . . . ekufikeni kokunkwantyiswa kwenu njengesithonga, ekuzeni kokusindeka kwenu njengesaqhwithi, ekufikelweni kwenu yimbandezelo nenkcutheko. Baya kwandula bandibize, ndingaphenduli, bandifune kwakusasa, bangandifumani; ngethuba lokuba bekuthiyile ukwazi, abakunyula ukoyika uYehova; abalivuma icebo lam, basigiba sonke isohlwayo sam: Baya kudla ke isiqhamo sendlela yabo, bahluthe ngamacebo abo.” “Ke yena ondivayo uhleli ekholosile, wonwabile ekunkwantyiseni kobubi.” Mizekeliso 1:24-31, 33.ANa 558.2

AmaIsrayeli ngoku azithoba phambi kukaYehova. “Babasusa oothixo bolunye uhlanga phakathi kwabo, bakhonza uYehova.” Intliziyo kaYehova enothando yababuhlungu—“wakhathazeka umphefumlo wakhe ngokwaphuka kwamaIsrayeli.” Owu, inceba kaThixo wethu ezeka kade umsindo! Bathi abantu baKhe bakuzisusa izono ezazibuvalile ubuso baKhe, wayiva imithandazo yabo, wathi kwangoko waqala ukubasebenzela.ANa 558.3

Kwavela umhlanguli onguYifeta, umGiliyadi, owalwa nama-Amoni, wawatshabalalisa amandla awo ngempumelelo. Isithuba seshumi elinesibhozo leminyaka, ngeli xesha uIsrayeli wabulaleka phantsi kwengcinezelo yeentshaba zakhe, kanti sekunjalo, isifundo esafundiswa ngokubulaleka salityalwa.ANa 558.4

Xa abantu baKhe bebuyela kwiindlela zabo ezimbi, uYehova wabavumela ukuba bacinezelwe zintshaba zaboezinamandla, amaFilisti. Kwaba yiminyaka emininzi bephetheke kakubi, maxa wambi bacinezelwe ngokupheleleyo, sesi sizwe sikhohlakeleyo nesithanda imfazwe. Babezixube nabakhonzi bezithixo, bezimanya kwiziyolo nonqulo, bada babonakala bebanye kunye nabo emoyeni nakwizinto abazithandayo. Emva koko, aba bazibiza ngokuba bangabahlobo, basuka bazezona ntshaba zimbi, nabaya bazama zonke iindlela zokuphumeza intshabalalo yabo.ANa 559.1

NjengoIsrayeli, amaKristu ayakholisa ukuziyekela kwimpembelelo yehlabathi, avumelane nemithetho-sisekelo namasiko ayo, ukuze azuze ubuhlobo nabo bangahloneli-Thixo; kodwa kuya kuthi ekugqibeleni kufumaniseke ukuba aba bazibiza ngokuba bangabahlobo, bazezona ntshaba ziyingozi. IBhayibhile ikufundisa ngokuphandle ukuba akukho kuvumelana phakathi kwabantu bakaThixo nehlabathi. “Musani ukumangaliswa, bazalwana bam, ukuba ihlabathi linithiyile.” 1 Yohane 3:13. UMsindisi wethu uthi, “Yazini ukuba lindithiye kuqala kunani.” Yohane 15:18. USathana usebenza ngabangahloneli-Thixo, ezambathise ngobuhlobo ekuthiwa bubo, ukulobela abantu bakaThixo esonweni, ukuze abahlule kuYe; kuze kuthi xa inkuseleko yabo isusiwe, abakhokele abathunywa bakhe ukuba babajikele baze bazame ukuwufeza umsebenzi wokubatshabalalisa.ANa 559.2