12—UAbraham EKanan

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiGenesis 13 ukuya kwi-15; 17:1-16; 18.]

UAbraham wabuyela eKanan “esisityebi kunene ngemfuyo, nangesilivere, nangegolide.” ULote wayesahleli naye, baza babuyela eBheteli, bamisa iintente ngakwisibingelelo abasimisa ngaphambili. Bafumanisa ukuba impahla yabo eyandileyo iyayandisa inkathazo. Phakathi kobunzima nezilingo, bahlala kunye bevana, kodwa kwimpumelelo yabo babesengozini yengxabano phakathi kwabo. Idlelo lalingayanelanga imihlambi yezimvu neenkomo zabo bobabini, zaye iingxabano phakathi kwabelusi zisiziswa ezinkosini zabo ukuba zizisombulule. Kwakucacile ukuba kufuneka bohlukane. UAbraham wayengaphambili kuLote ngeminyaka, emkhulu ngokuzalana, ngobutyebi, nangesikhundla; kanti ke, waba ngowokuqala ukuza namacebo okugcina uxolo. Nangona umhlaba wonke wawunikwe yena nguThixo ngokwaKhe, walibekela bucala elo lungelo.ANa 132.1

“Makungabikho mbambano kaloku,” watsho, “phakathi kwam nawe, naphakathi kwabalusi bam nabalusi bakho, ngokuba singamadoda azalanayo. Aliphambi kwakho na ilizwe lonke? Khawahluke kum; ukuba uya ekhohlo, ndoya ekunene, ukuba uya ekunene, ndoya ekhohlo.”ANa 132.2

Apha, umoya wobunene nowokungatsaleli kuye uAbraham, wabonakala. Bangaphi ababeya kuthi phantsi kweemeko ezinjalo, nokuba kuhla ntoni, babambelele kumalungelo abo nokukhetha kwabo! Mangaphi amakhaya ahlukene phakathi! Mangaphi amabandla aqhekekileyo, eyenza intlekisa inyaniso nesigculelo phakathi kwabakhohlakeleyo!ANa 132.3

“Makungabikho mbambano kaloku phakathi kwam nawe, watsho uAbraham, “ngokuba singamadoda azalanayo;” kungengokwegazi kuphela, kodwa nanjengabakhonzi boThixo wenyaniso. Abantwana bakaThixoemhlabeniwonkebalusaphoolunye, kwayekufuneka balawulwe ngumoya omnye wothando noxolelaniso umele ubalawule. “Mayela nothando olu lobuzalwana, ndithi yenzelanani ububele; mayela nembeko leyo, phangelanani” (Roma 12:10), leyo yimfundiso yoMsindisi. Ukukhulisa intlonipho efanayo, intumekelelo yokwenza kwabanye njengoko besingathanda ukuba benze kuthi, kungaphelisa ngaphezu kwesiqingatha iinkohlakalo zobomi. Umoya wokufuna ukuzanelisa ngumoya kaSathana; kodwa intliziyo apho luhleli khona uthando lukaKristu, iya kuba nothando olungafuni okukokwalo. Abanjalo baya kuwuthobela umyalelo wezulu othi, “Makangathi elowo axunele kwezakhe izinto zodwa, elowo makaxunele nakwezabanye.” Filipi 2:4.ANa 132.4

Nangona uLote wayizuza impumelelo yakhe kuba ehlangene noAbraham, wabonakalalisa ukungabi nambulelo kulowo ongumncedi wakhe. Ubunene ngebamxelela ukuba umele ukuyekela kuAbraham ukuba akhethe kuqala, kodwa endaweni yoku, ngomona, wazama ukurhwaphiliza konke okulungileyo. “Waphakamisa amehlo akhe, wawukhangela ummandla waseYordan ngokuba ubunamanzi wonke, . . . injengomyezo kaYehova, unjengelizwe laseYiputa, usingise eTsohare.” Eyona ndawo yayityebile kuyo yonke iPalestina yintili yeYordan, ibakhumbuza abayikhangeleyo ngeParadesi eyalahlekayo, ikwa lingana nobuhle nokutyeba kwemimandla yomNayile ababesanda kuyishiya. Kwakukho nezixeko, ezityebileyo nezihle, zinomtsalane kubarhwebi abafumana inzuzo kwiimalike zazo ezixineneyo. Enxiliswe ingqondo kukubona inzuzo yehlabathi, uLote wakhangela ngaphaya kobubi bokuziphatha nobasemoyeni awayeza kuhlangana nabo khona apho. Abemi bommango “bengaboni abakhulu kuYehova;” kodwa wayengayazi le nto, okanye, eyazi, kodwa wayithabatha kancinane. “Wanyula wonke ummandla waseYordan, . . . wayisondeza eSodom intente yakhe.” Indlela awazibona zizincinane ngayo iziphumo ezibi zoko kukhetha ngomona!ANa 133.1

Emva kokwahlukana noLote, uAbraham waphinda wafumana kuYehova isithembiso selizwe lonke. Kwakamsinyane emva koko, wasuka waya eHebron, wamisa khona intente yakhe phantsi kwemioki yaseMamre, wenza nesibingelelo sikaYehova apho ecaleni layo. Kwimpepho emnandi yezo ndawo ziphakamileyo, ezinamagcume emioki nezidiliya, amasimi awo ayokozela uhlaza, namadlelo abanzi eenduli ezijikelezileyo, wahlala enelisekile bubomi obulula bendoda enkulu, eshiya uLote kubunewu-newu obuyingozi bentili yeSodom.ANa 133.2

UAbraham wahlonitshwa zizizwe ezimngqongileyo njengeTshawe eliligorha nenkosi enobulumko nenesakhono. Akazange ayibandeze impembelelo yakhe kubamelwane bakhe. Ubomi bakhe nesimilo sakhe,zichasene zinjalo nezabo babengabakhonzi bezithixo, zaba nempembelelo enkulu ekuthandweni kwenkolo yenene. Ukwayama kwakhe kuThixo kwakungagungqi, lo gama ububele nesisa izizinto eziphembelela ukuthenjwa nobuhlobo, nobukhulu bakhe obungenakuhluthwa, zisenza intlonipho nokuzukiswa.ANa 133.3

Inkolo yakhe yayingagcinwanga njengegugu elinexabiso ekufuneka lijongwe ngeliso lomona ukuze kuxhamle kuphela lowo lilelakhe. Inkolo ayinako ukugcinwa ngolu hlobo, kuba umoya onjalo uchasene nemithetho—siseko yeendaba ezilungileyo. Lonke ixesha uYesu ehleli entliziyweni, kunzima ukukufihla ukukhanya kobukho baKhe, okanye ukuba oko kukhanya kube luzizi. Ngokwelinye icala, kuya kukhula ngokubengezela, kanye njengoko imihla ngemihla iinkungu zokuzithandela kunye nesono ezigubungele umphefumlo zigxothwa yimitha yokukhanya kweLanga loBulungisa.ANa 134.1

Abantu bakaThixo bangabameli baKhe emhlabeni, kwaye ulangazelela ukuba babe zizikhanyiso kubumnyama bokuziphatha kweli hlabathi. Bethe saa kulo lonke ilizwe, ezidolophini, ezixekweni, nasezilalini, bangamangqina kaThixo, amajelo ekuthi ngawo agqithisele kwihlabathi elingakholwayo ulwazi lwentando yaKhe nemimangaliso yobabalo lwaKhe. Licebo laKhe ukuba bonke abanenxaxheba kusindiso olukhulu babe ngabavangeli baKhe. Ubungcwele bomKristu benza umgangatho abathi ngawo abehlabathi bagwebe iindaba ezilungileyo. Izilingo ezithwelwe ngomonde, iintsikelelo ezamkelwe ngombulelo, ubulali, ububele, inceba, nothando, izinto ezikholisa ukubonakaliswa ngokwesiqhelo, zizibane ezikhanyayo esimilweni phambi kwehlabathi, zaye zityhila okuchaseneyo nobumnyama obuphuma ekuzithandeleni kwentliziyo yemveli.ANa 134.2

Etyebile elukholweni, ezukile ngobubele, engagqwidizi ekuthobeleni, ethobekile kubomi bakhe obuphantsi bokuphambukela, uAbraham wayekwalumkile kubuchule bokuphatha abantu, enesibindi nobuchule emfazweni. Nangona wayesaziwa njengomfundisi wenkolo entsha, abazalwana abathathu basebukhosini, abalawuli bemimandla yama-Amori apho wayehlala khona, babonakalisa ubuhlobo babo ngokummema ukuba azimanye nabo ukuze kubekho inkuseleko enkulu; kuba ilizwe lalizaliswe bubundlobongela nengcinezelo. Lakhawuleza lavela ithuba lokuba azinikele kolu manyano.ANa 134.3

UKedorlahomere, ukumkani wakwaElam, wayegqugqise iKanan kwiminyaka elishumi elinesine eyadlulayo, wayenza ukuba inikele kuye irhafu. Iinkosana eziliqela zaya zavukela, waza ukumkani wakwa-Elam, enamahlakani, waphinda walingenela ilizwe ukuze alinyanzele ukuba lizinikele kuye. Iikumkani ezintlanu zamaKanan zahlanganisa imikhosi yazo,zahlangananabagqugqisikwintlamboyeSodom,aphozaya zabhukuqwa ngokupheleleyo. Inxalenye enkulu yomkhosi yanqunqwa yazizicwili, baza abo basindileyo babaleka baya kuzimela ezintabeni. Aboyisi bazigqugqisa izixeko ezisentilini bemka nexhoba elikhulu kunye nemfumba yabathinjwa, ekwakukho phakathi kwabo uLote nosapho lwakhe.ANa 134.4

UAbraham, wayezihlalele eseluxolweni kwizigcume zemioki eMamre, weva ngenye indoda eyayisaba ngebali ledabi nentlekele eyehlela umtshana wakhe. Wayengazange wazihlupha ngokungabi nambulelo kukaLote. Lwavuka lonke uthando lwakhe ngakuye, wazimisela ekubeni ahlangulwe. Wathi efune kuqala icebiso lezulu, uAbraham walungiselela imfazwe. Kwabo bantu bakhe wabizela kuye amakhulu amathathu aneshumi elinesibhozo abakhonzi abaqeqeshiweyo, amadoda aqeqeshelwe ukoyika uThixo, emsebenzini wenkosi yawo, nasekusebenziseni izixhobo. Abo wayezimanye nabo, uMamre, uEshkoli noAnere. Bahlangana naye namabutho abo, bathi bebonke basukela abahlaseli. Bethe phithi luloyiso, bengoyiki kuhlaselwa zintshaba zabo abazoyisileyo, abahlaseli bazinikela ekuzonwabiseni. Indoda enkulu yawahlula umkhosi wayo ukuze uvele kumacala awahlukeneyo, bafika apho kwakumiswe khona ngobusuku. Uhlaselo lwakhe, lungamandla lwaye lungalindelekanga, lwaba neziphumo zoloyiso olukhawulezileyo. Ukumkani wakwa-Elam wabulawa aza amabutho akhe azaliswe ngumothuko agxothwa ngokupheleleyo. ULote nosapho lwakhe, nentimbo eninzi, wawela ezandleni zabanqobi. KuAbraham, ephantsi kukaThixo, lwabalelwa kuye uloyiso. Umkhonzi kaYehova, wayenganelanga kwenza umsebenzi omkhulu nje kodwa, kodwa wazibonakalalisa ukuba uyindoda enobukroti. Kwabonakala ukuba ubulungisa asibubo ubugwala, nokuba inkolo ka-Abraham yamenza wanesibindi ekugcineni okulungileyo nokukhusela abacinezelweyo. Isenzo sakhe sobugorha samzisela impembelelo ebanzi phakathi kweentlanga ezazimgqongile. Ekubuyeni kwakhe, ukumkani waseSodom weza nehlokondiba labamkhaphayo ukuza kunika imbeko umeyisi. Wamcela ukuba amkele iimpahla, ecenga ukuba oku kwabathinjwa bakhululwe babuyiselwe. Ngokusebenzisa imfazwe, amaxhoba ayeba ngawabo boyisileyo; kodwa uAbraham wayengene kweli phulo engenanjongo yanzuzo, waza wala ukwamkela isisulu sabaseshweni, exela ukuba abo azimanye nabo bamele ukwamkela kuphela oko kubafaneleyo.ANa 135.1

Bambalwa abathi bakujongana novavanyo olunjalo, babenakho ukubonakala benesidima esinjengeso sika-Abraham. Bambalwa ababenokumelana nesihendo sokwamkela ubutyebi obungako bentimbo. Umzekelo wakhe ungumgqwaliso kwabathanda ukutsalela kubo, benomoya wokuqeshwa. UAbraham wawahlonipha amabango obulungisa kunye noluntu. Ukuziphatha kwakhe kubonisa isaci esiphefumlelweyo, “Uze umthande ummelwane wakho ngoko uzithanda ngako.” Levitikus 19:18. “Isandla sam ndisiphakamisele kuYehova,” watsho, “uThixo Osenyangweni, uMninimazulu nehlabathi, ukuba andiyi kuthabatha nosinga, nokuba ngumtya wembadada, ukuba andiyi kuthabatha kuko konke kwakho; ukuze ungatsho ukuthi, Mna ndimtyebisile u-Abram.” Akazange afune ukubanika ithuba lokuba bacinge ukuthi wangena emfazweni ngenjongo yokuzuza, okanye bathi ubutyebi bakhe buphuma kwizipho zabo, okanye kwinceba yabo. UThixo wayethembise ngokumsikelela uAbraham, kukuYe ke ekufuneka kuye ukudunyiswa.ANa 136.1

Omnye owezayo ukuba amkele inyange eloyisileyo nguMelkitsedeki, ukumkani waseSalem, oweza nesonka newayin ukuze ahlaziye umkhosi wakhe. Njengo“mbingeleli kaThixo Osenyangweni,” wamsikelela uAbraham, wenza umbulelo kuYehova, owazisa uloyiso olukhulu kangako ngomkhonzi waKhe. Yena uAbram “wamnika isishumi seento zonke.”ANa 136.2

Ngovuyo uAbraham wabuyela ezintenteni zakhe nakwimihlambi yakhe, kodwa ingqondo yakhe yayiphazanyiswa ziingcinga ezathi gqolo zimhlasela. Waye eyindoda yoxolo, waye ebuphepha kangangoko ubutshaba nembambano; athi, enamasikizi, acinge ngombono wendyikityha awubonileyo. Izizwe awoyisa imikhosi yazo, ngokuqinisekileyo zaziya kuluvuselela uhlaselo lweKanan, zize zimenze abelixhoba eliphambili lempindezelo yazo. Ukubandakanyeka kwiingxwaba-ngxwaba zobuzwe, ukuphola okunoxolo kubomi bakhe kungonakala. Ngaphaya koko, wayengaqalisanga ukuyithimba iKanan, engenalo nethemba lendlalifa ngoku, eliya kuzalisekiswa kuyo idinga.ANa 136.3

Labuya lavakala iLizwi lezulu embonweni wasebusuku. “Musa ukoyika, Abram;” lawo yayingamazwi eNkosi yeenkosi; “ndiyingweletshetshe yakho, umvuzo wakho omkhulu kunene.” Ingqondo yakhe yayixinaniswe zizinto ezinxubisayo ezenza ukuba ngoku angakwazi ukulibamba idinga ngengqiniseko engenantandabuzo njengakuqala. Wathandazela ubungqina obuphathekayo bokuba liya kuzaliseka. Laliza kuzaliseka njani idinga, xa sasisabanjiwe isipho sonyana? “Wondinika ntoni na,” watsho, “ndihamba ndingenamntwana?” Wagqiba kwelokuba athabathe isicaka sakhe esithembekileyo uEliyezere njengonyana wakhe noya kubayindlalifa lako konke anako. Kwathi kunjalo, waqinisekiswa ukuba iya kuba ngumntwana ongowakhe indlamafa yakhe. Wakhokelelwa ngaphandle kwentente, kwathiwa makakhangele iinkwenkwezi ezingenakubalwa ezibengezela esibhakabhakeni; wathi akukwenza oko, kwathethwa amazwi athi, “Iya kuba njalo ke imbewu yakho” “Wakholwa uAbraham kuThixo, kwaza oko kwabalelwa kuye ebulungiseni.” Roma 4:3.ANa 136.4

Sekunjalo, inyange lacela umqondiso obonakalayo ukuqinisekisa ukholo lwalo, ube kwabubungqina kwizizukulwana ezilandelayo sokuba iinjongo zenceba ngakubo ziya kuzalisekiswa. UYehova wehla wangena emnqophisweni nomkhonzi waKhe, esebenzisa iintlobo ezaziqhelekile phakathi kwabantu ukuqinisekisa esi senzo sizukileyo. Ngokuyalelwa lizulu, uAbraham wabingelela ithokazi, ibhokhwe yesikhomokazi, nenkunzi yegusha, nganye kuzo ziminyaka-mithathu ubudala, ezicanda-canda imizimba aze abeke izicwili zithe qelele esinye kwesinye. Wongeza apha kuzo ihobe elikhulu nelincinane, awayengawahlula-hlulanga wona. Kwakuba kwenziwe oku, ngentlonipho wayedlula phakathi kweziqwenga zombingelelo, esenza isifungo esindilisekileyo kuThixo sokuthobela ngonaphakade. Ephaphile, eqinile, wahlala ngakule mizimba ifileyo lada laya ekutshoneni ilanga, eqaphele ukuba ingangcoliswa okanye itshatyalaliswe ziintaka ezitya inyama. Lathi xa litshonayo ilanga, wahliwa bubuthongo obunzulu; wafikelwa “kukothuka nabubumnyama obukhulu.” Lavakala ilizwi likaThixo, limyalela ukuba angalindeli ukulifumana kwakamsinyane iLizwe leDinga, laye lisalatha phambili ekubulalekeni kwenzala yakhe phambi kokuba imiliselwe eKanan. Icebo lokuhlangula landlalwa phambi kwakhe, ekufeni kukaKristu, umbingelelo omkhulu, nokubuya kwaKhe esebuqaqawulini. UAbram wawubona nomhlaba ubuyiselwe kubuhle bawo base-Eden, uza kunikelwa kuye ukuba ubengowakhe ngonaphakade, njengenzaliseko yokugqibela nepheleleyo yedinga.ANa 137.1

Njengomqondiso walo mnqophiso kaThixo nabantu, iziko eliqhumayo nesibane esivuthayo, imifuziselo yobukho bezulu, yanqumla phakathi kwamaxhoba acakaciweyo, yawadla yawagqiba. Laphinda lavakala ilizwi kuAbraham, liqinisekisa isipho somhlaba waseKanan kwinzala yakhe, “Imbewu yakho ndiyinike eli lizwe, lithabathele emlanjeni waseYiputa, lise emlanjeni omkhulu emlanjeni ongumEfrata.”ANa 137.2

Wathi akuba esondele kumashumi amabini anesihlanu eminyaka eKanan, uYehova wabonakala kuye, wathi, “NdinguThixo uSomandla; hamba phambi kwam ubengogqibeleleyo.” Ngentlonipho, inyange lawa phantsi ngobuso, saqhuba isigidimi: “Mna, yabona umnqophiso wam unawe; uya kuba nguyise wengxokolo yeentlanga.” Njengomqondiso wokufezekiswa kwalo mnqophiso, igama lakhe, ukuza kufikelela ngoku, elalinguAbram, laguqulwa languAbraham, elithi “uyise wengxokolo yeentlanga.” Igama likaSarayi languSara—“inkosazana;” kuba, latsho iLizwi lezulu, uya kuba ngumama wezizwe; “kuphume ookumkani bezizwe kuye.”ANa 138.1

Ngeli xesha, inkonzo yolwaluko yanikelwa kuAbraham njenge“tywina lokuqinisa ubulungisa bokholo abenalo esekungalukini.” Roma 4:11. Yayiza kugcinwa linyange nenzala yalo njengomqondiso wokuba bazinikele ekukhonzeni uThixo ngaloo ndlela bahluke kwabo banqula izithixo, nokuba uThixo ubamkele njengegugu elinqabileyo. Ngale nkonzo babenqophisa ukuzalisekisa kwelabo icala, iimeko zomnqophiso owenziwe noAbraham. Babengasayi kungena emitshatweni nabahedeni, kuba ngokwenza njalo babeya kulahlekwa kukumhlonela uThixo nomthetho wakhe ongcwele; babeya kulingwa ukuba bafumaneke kwizenzo zezono zezinye izizwe, baze bawexulelwe ekunquleni izithixo.ANa 138.2

UThixo wamthi jize ngewonga elikhulu uAbraham. Izithunywa zezulu zazihamba zincokola naye njengomhlobo nomhlobo. Kwathi xa kuza kuthululwa izibetho phezu kweSodom, ayizange ifihlwe loo nto kuye, waza wangummeli waboni kuThixo. Ukuthethathethana neengelosi kukwaveza nethuba elihle lokwenza ububele. Ngemini etshisayo yehlobo, inyange lalihleli emnyango wentente yalo okhangele kude emathafeni, labona qelele kuvela abahambi abathathu. Bathi bengekafiki ententeni yakhe, aba basemzini bema, ngokungathi babonisana ngento amabayenze. Wathi engabalindanga ukuba bacele nto kuye, wasuka uAbram ngokukhawuleza, bathi xa bejika imibombo besiya kwelinye icala, wakhawuleza emva kwabo, wathi, ngembekokazi, wabacela ukuba bamhloniphe ngokuba bakhe bahlale bafumane into etyiwayo. Weza namanzi ngezakhe izandla ukuba bahlambe uthuli lwendlela ezinyaweni zabo. Yena ngokwakhe wakhetha ukutya kwabo, baza bathi, lo gama bephumle emthunzini opholileyo, kwalungiswa ukutya, waza wema ngentlonipho ecaleni kwabo ngexesha bexhamla kububele bakhe. Esi senzo sibaluleke kakhulu ukude sibhalwe eLizwini laKhe (uThixo); kwaza kwathethwa ngaso emva kwewaka leminyaka ngumpostile ophefumlelweyo: “Musani ukukulibala ukubuka iindwedwe; kuba ngokwenjenjalo inxenye ibuke izithunywa zezulu, ingazi.” Hebhere 13:2.ANa 138.3

UAbrahamwazibonelanjeabahambiabathathuabadiniweyo,engakhange acinge nokuba phakathi kwabo kukho Lowo amele ukumnqula engenasono. Ngeli xesha, esona similo sezithunywa zezulu satyhilwa. Nangona zazihamba njengabalungiseleli bengqumbo kodwa kuAbraham, indoda yokholo, zathetha kuqala ngeentsikelelo. Nangona uThixo engqongqo ekuphawuleni ubugwenxa nokohlwaya ulwaphulo-mthetho, akakonwabeli ukuba nempindezelo. Umsebenzi wokutshabalalisa “ngumsebenzi ongaqhelekanga” kuYe Yena onothando olungenasiphelo.ANa 139.1

“Ukucweya kukaYehova kunabamoyikayo; ubazisa umnqophiso wakhe.” Ndumiso 25:14. UAbraham wamzukisa uThixo waza noThixo wamzukisa, emfaka egquguleni laKhe, ezityhila kuYe iinjongo zaKhe. “Ndomfihlela na uAbraham into endiza kuyenza?” watsho uYehova. “Isikhalo saseSodom neGomora sisikhulu nje, nesono sayo sinzima kunene nje, ndiya kukha ndihle, ndikhangele ukuba baphelelisile na ngokwesikhalo sayo esifikileyo kum; ukuba akunjalo, ndazi.” UThixo wayewazi kakuhle umlinganiselo wobutyala beSodom; kodwa wathetha njengendlela yokuthetha kwabantu, ukuze buqondwe ubulungisa bokwenza kwaKhe. Phambi kokuba azise isigwebo phezu kwabophuli bomthetho, uya kuya ngokwaKhe, ukuya kwenza uvavanyo lwendlela yabo; ukuba abadlulanga kwimida yenceba yezulu, uya kubanika ithuba lokuba baguquke.ANa 139.2

Ababini kubathunywa basezulwini bahamba, bemshiya uAbraham eyedwa naLowo waya wamazi ukuba unguNyana kaThixo. Le ndoda yokholo yacengela abemi baseSodom. Ngaphambili, wayebasindise ngekrele, ngoku wayezama ukubasindisa ngomthandazo. ULote nendlu yakhe babesahlala khona apho; uthando olungafuni okwalo olwamqhuba uAbraham ukuba abahlangule kumaElam, ngoku lwalufuna ukubasindisa, ukuba kwakuyintando kaThixo, kuqhwithela lwesigwebo sezulu.ANa 139.3

Ngentlonipho nokuzithoba okukhulu wasifaka isicengo sakhe: “Sendide ndathetha eNkosini ndiluthuli nothuthu.” Kwakungeko kuzithemba, nakuqhayisa ngobulungisa bakhe. Akazange abange kuthandwa ngenxa yokuthobela kwakhe, okanye ngenxa yemibingelelo awayenzayo ngenxa yentando kaThixo. Yena engumoni, wacenga endaweni yomoni. Kufuneka babenomoya onjalo bonke abavela phambi kukaThixo. UAbraham wabonakalalisa ukuthemba komntwana ecenga uyise amthandayo. Wasondela kuMthunywa wasezulwini, wasinyanzela ngenzondelelo isicelo sakhe. Nangona uLote waya wangumhlali eSodom, akazange athabathe nxaxheba kubugwenxa babemi bakhona. UAbraham wacinga ukuba, kweso sixeko sasizele ngabantu, banokubaANa 139.4

bakhona abanqula uThixo wenene. Ngenxa yoku wacenga wathi, “Makube lee kuwe ukwenza ngokwendawo enjalo ukubulala olilungisa kunye nongendawo: . . . makube lee kuwe: Umgwebi wehlabathi lonke akayi kwenza okusesikweni yini na?” UAbraham akazange acele nje kube kanye, kodwa amaxesha amaninzi. Waya eqina ngokuqina xa ebona ukuba izicelo zakhe ziyamkeleka, waqhuba wada wazuza inggqinisekiso yokuba, nokuba balishumi abantu abangamalungisa kuyo (iSodom), eso sixeko siya kusindiswa.ANa 139.5

Uthando lwemiphefumlo etshabalalayo lwaphembelela umthandazo ka-Abraham. Nangona wayezithiyile izono ezonakalisa isixeko, walangazelela ukuba aboni basindiswe. Umdla wakhe omkhulu ngeSodom ubonakalisa indlela esimele ukuba sibe nonxunguphalo ngenxa yabantu abangafuniyo ukuguquka. Kufuneka sisoloko sisithiyile isono, kodwa sibe novelwano nothando ngomoni. Sijikelezwe yimiphefumlo esinga entshabalalweni engenathemba, nembi, njengaleyo yehlela abaseSodom. Yonke imihla inceba kwabanye iyavalwa. Kwiyure nganye abanye bafikelela ngaphandle komda wenceba. Aphi na amazwi okulumkisa nokucenga ukuba abize umoni ayibaleke le ntshabalalo yoyikekayo? Ziphi na izandla ezolulelwe ukumtsala ukuba abuye ekufeni? Baphi abo bathi ngokuzithoba nokholo olunenzondelelo bacengane noThixo ngenxa yakhe (umoni)?ANa 140.1

Umoya ka-Abraham yayingumoya kaKristu. UNyana kaThixo ngokwaKhe unguMmeli omkhulu endaweni yomoni. Lowo wahlawula ixabiso eliphezulu ngenxa yomphefumlo uyalazi ixabiso lomphefumlo womntu. Ngentiyokazi enkulu ngakwisono efumaneka kuphela kwindalo enyulu nengenachaphaza, uKristu wabonakalalisa kumoni uthando olukhawulwa kuphela kukulunga okungenasiphelo. Kwiintlungu zokubethelelwa, Yena ethwele ubunzima oboyikekayo bezono zehlabathi lonke, wathandazela abo babemgculela nababembulala, “Bawo, baxolele; kuba abayazi into abayenzayo.” Luka 23:34.ANa 140.2

Kubhalwe kwathiwa ngoAbraham, “sisihlobo sikaThixo,” “nguyise wabo bonke abakholwayo.” Yakobi 2:23; Roma 4:11. Ubungqina bukaThixo ngeli nyange lithembekileyo buthi, “UAbraham waliphulaphulayo izwi lam, wasigcina isigxina sam, nemithetho yam, nemimiselo yam, nemiyalelo yam.” Aphinde athi, “Kuba ndaze yena, ukuze abawisele umthetho abantwana bakhe, nendlu yakhe emva kwakhe, bagcine indlela kaYehova, benze ubulungisa nokusesikweni, ukuze uYehova amenzele uAbraham into ayithethileyo kuye.” Yimbeko enkulu awabizelwa kuyo uAbraham, eyokuba abe nguyise wabantu abathi,kwiinkulungwane,bagosiswabagcinelaihlabathiinyaniso kaThixo. Kukwabo bantu ezaziya kusikeleleka zonke izizwe ngokufika kukaMesiya. Lowo walibizayo inyange walibona ukuba lifanelekile. NguThixo othethayo. Owazi iingcinga ekude, aze abeke uqikelelo olufanelekileyo ebantwini, uthi, “Ndiyamazi.” Kwakungazi kubakho kuAbraham ukuyihlazisa inyaniso ngeenjongo zokuzithandela. Wayeza kuwugcina umthetho enze okusesikweni nobulungisa. Wayengayi kwanela kukumoyika nje uYehova yena yedwa, kodwa wayeza kukhulisa inkolo ekhayeni lakhe. Wayeza kuluqeqesha usapho lwakhe ngobulungisa. Umthetho kaThixo wawuza kuba ngumthetho wendlu yakhe.ANa 140.3

Indlu ka-Abraham yayinabantu abadlulileyo ewakeni. Abo babekhokelwa ziimfundiso zakhe ukuba bakhonze uThixo ekuphela kwaKhe, babefumana ikhaya eminqubeni yakhe; kwaye kulapha, njengasesikolweni, apho bafumana khona ingqeqesho yokubalungiselela ukuba babe ngabameli benkolo yenene. Ngaloo ndlela, umthwalo omkhulu wawuphezu kwakhe. Wayeqeqesha iintloko zamakhaya, zaye iindlela zakhe ziya kubonakala kwizindlu iintloko ezo ezaziyongamele.ANa 141.1

Ngamaxesha akuqala, utata wayengumlawuli nombingeleli kusapho lwakhe, enegunya kubantwana bakhe, naxa bethe banezabo iintsapho. Isizukulwana sakhe sasifundiswa ukuba sikhangele kuye njengentloko yaso, kwizinto zenkolo nakwimicimbi yasekuhlaleni. Olu cweyo lolawulo lomntu oyindoda, uAbraham wazama ukulenza ukuba luqhube lungaze luphele, njengoko lwalujonge ukugcina ukwaziwa kukaThixo. Lwalufuneka ekugcineni amalungu osapho eyimbumba, ukuze kwakhiwe umqobo wokunqanda ukunqulwa kwezithixo okwakunwenwile kuneengcambu. UAbraham wafuna zonke iindlela anokuba nokufikelela kuzo ukuba akhusele abo babephantsi kweentente zakhe ukuba bangahlangani nabahedeni babe nenxaxheba kwizenzo zabo zonqulo lwezithixo, kuba wayesazi ukuba ukuqhelana nobubi kuya kuthi ngendlela ephuthileyo konakalise imithetho-siseko. Wakuqinisekisa kakhulu ukuthintela naluphi unqulo olugwenxa, nokubethelela engqondweni ubukhulu nozuko loThixo ophilayo njengeyona nto efanele ukuba phambili kunqulo lwenene.ANa 141.2

Olu lulungiselelo oluhlakaniphileyo, awalwenzayo uThixongokwaKhe, ukuze ababekele kude kakhulu, kangangoko, abantu baKhe ekuhlanganeni nabahedeni, ebenza ukuba bahlale bodwa, bangabalelwa phakathi kweentlanga. Wamahlula uAbraham kubazalwana bakhe abanqula izithixo, ukuze inyange likwazi ukuqeqesha lifundise usapho lwalo likude kwiimpembelelo ezilahlekisayo ezaziya kuba zibangqongile eMesopotami, nokuze inkolo yenene igcinwe inyulu yinzala yakhe kwizizukulwana ngezizukulwana.ANa 141.3

Ukuthanda kuka-Abaraham abantwana bakhe nendlu yakhe iphela kwamkhokelela ekubeni ahlale eyiqaphele into yenkolo nokukholwa kwabo, nokugqithisela kubo ulwazi lwemimiselo engcwele, kuthi ngabo konke kudluliselwe ehlabathini. Bonke bafundiswa ukuba baphambi kolawulo lukaThixo wezulu. Kwakungafuneki kubekho ngcinezelo eyenziwa ngabazali, nokungathobeli ebantwaneni. Umthetho kaThixo wabeka kulowo nalowo umsebenzi wakhe, kwaye kuphela kusekuwuthobeleni ekwakuya kuthi kubekho ulonwabo okanye impumelelo.ANa 142.1

Owakhe umzekelo, impembelelo ezolileyo yobomi bakhe bemihla ngemihla, wawuthe gqolo usisifundo. Isidima esingagungqiyo, ububele nentlonipho engenabubi, izinto ezatsala ukuthandwa ziikumkani, zazibonakala ekhaya. Kwakukho ivumba elimnandi ebomini, imbeko nokuthandeka kwesimilo, izinto ezatyhilela wonke ubani ukuba wayeqhagamshelene neZulu. Wayengamlibali noyena mntu ungumkhonzi ophantsi. Kwindlu yakhe wawungekho umthetho ojonge kophetheyo kuze kubekho owesicaka; kungeko ndlela yokuphatha ngokwenkosi osisityebi nenye kolihlwempu. Bonke babephethwe ngobulungisa nangovelwano, njengeendlalifa zobabalo lobomi kunye naye.ANa 142.2

“Uya kuyiyalela indlu yakhe.” Wayengayi kuba nesono sokutyeshela ukunqanda abantwana bakhe ekuziyekeleni kwiinkanuko ezimbi, kungayi kubakho ukukhetha ekubathandeni okuba kuba bubuthakathaka, bube nokungalumki okanye kubekho ukuyekelela; kwaye kungayi kubakho ukurhuqelwa phantsi kwenkolo yakhe ngamabango othando oluphum’ ecaleni. UAbraham wayengayi kunika kuphela imfundiso elungileyo, kodwa wayeza kuligcina igunya lemithetho enobulungisa nelungileyo.ANa 142.3

Kazi bangakanani ukuba mbalwa kule mihla yethu abalandela lo mzekelo! Kubazali abaninzi kukho uthando olumfamekileyo nolunomona, ekuthiwa luthando, olubonakaliswa ngokubayekela abantwana ukuba balawulwe ngokwentando yabo ngeli xesha bengakwazi nokwenza izigqibo ezizizo, bekwalawulwa ziinkanuko ezingafundisekanga. Le yinkohlakalo yenene ngakulutsha nemposiso enkulu ngakwihlabathi. Ukuziyekela kwabazali kubangela isiphithiphithi emakhayeni nasekuhlaleni. Kuqinisekisa kubantu abatsha ukwenza unothanda, endaweni yokuziyekela kwizidingo zezulu. Ngaloo ndlela bakhula bechasene nokwenza intando kaThixo, baze bawudlulisele lo moya wokungakholwa nokungathobeli kwabo kubantwana babo nakubantwana babantwana babo. NjengoAbraham, abazali kufuneka baziyalele izindlu zaboukuba zilandele bona. Ukuthotyelwa kwegunya labazali makufundiswe kunyanzelwe njengenyathelo lokuqala ekuthobeleni igunya likaThixo.ANa 142.4

Indlela othatyathwa lula ngayo umthetho kaThixo, kwaziinkokeli zenkolo, ingunozala wobubi obukhulu. Imfundiso eyande kakhulu, le yokuba imithetho engcwele ayisababopheleli abantu, iyafana nonqulo lwezithixo ngempembelelo kwindlela yokuziphatha kwabantu. Abo bafuna ukunciphisa amabango omthetho kaThixo ongcwele, babetha kanye kwisiseko solawulo lwamakhaya nezizwe. Abazali abakholwayo, xa besilela ukuhamba emimiselweni yaKhe, abaziyaleli izindlu zabo ukuba zigcine indlela kaYehova. Umthetho kaThixo awenziwa ukuba ube lulawulo lobomi. Abantwana, xa besakha awabo amakhaya, abaziva benyanzelekile ukuba babafundise ababo abantwana into nabo abangazange bayifundiswa. Ngunobangela lo wokuba kubekho iintsapho ezininzi ezingamhloneliyo uThixo; unobangela wobukho benkohlakalo enzulu kuyo yonke indawo.ANa 143.1

Bengekade abazali bahambe ngokwabo emthethweni kaYehova ngeentliziyo ezigqibeleleyo, abangekhe babayalele abantwana babo ukuba babalandele. Luyafuneka uhlaziyo kulo mba—uhlaziyo oluya kuba nzulu lube banzi. Kufuneka abazali bahlaziyeke; abafundisi bahlaziyeke; bonke bayamdinga uThixo emakhayeni abo. Ukuba banga bangazibona ngolunye uhlobo izinto, kufuneka bazise ilizwi laKhe kwiintsapho zabo balenze ukuba libe ngumcebisi wabo. Kufuneka babafundise abantwana babo ukuba lilizwi likaThixo elibhekisa kubo, kwaye kufuneka lithotyelwe ngokupheleleyo. Kufuneka babafundise abantwana babo ngomonde, ngobubele, bangadinwa ukubafundisa indlela yokuphila ukuze bamkholise uThixo. Abantwana bekhaya elinjalo bakulungele ukuqubisana nobuciko babangakholwayo. Bayamkele iBhayibhile njengesiseko sokholo lwabo, kwaye banaso isiseko esingekhe sitshayelwe ngumsinga wentandabuzo abajongene nayo.ANa 143.2

Kumakhaya amaninzi, umthandazo uyatyeshelwa. Abazali baziva bengenalo ixesha lomthandazo wasekuseni nowangokuhlwa. Abakwazi ukuchitha imizuzwana bebulela uThixo ngeenceba zaKhe ezininzi: ilanga elisikelelekileyo, nemvula, ekhulisa utyani budubule, nenkuseleko eza ngezithunywa zezulu ezingcwele. Abanalo ixesha lokunyusa umthandazo wokuba izulu libancede libakhokele kunye nobukho bukaYesu ekhayeni labo. Baphuma bayokusebenza njengokuba isenza inkomo okanye ihashe, kungekho nanye ingcinga ngoThixo okanye izulu. Banemiphefumlo exabiseke kakhulu kangangokuba, endaweni yokuba bayekwe balahleke ngaphandle kwethemba, uNyana kaThixo wanikela ubomi baKhe ukuba bubeyintlawulelo yabo; kodwaumbulelo wabongokulungakwaKhe okukhulu ungaphezulwana nje kancinane kowezilwanyana ezitshabalalayo.ANa 143.3

Njengamanyange akudala, abo bathi bayamthanda uThixo, kumele ukuba bamise isibingelelo kuYehova kuyo yonke indawo abamisa intente yabo kuyo. Ukuba lakha lakho ixesha apho lonke ikhaya kufuneka libe likhaya lomthandazo, lingoku. Ootata noomama kufuneka bathi rhoqo ukuzinyusela kuThixo iintliziyo zabo ngomthandazo othobekileyo ngenxa yabo nabantwana babo. Utata, njengombingeleli kwindlu yakhe, makabeke phezu kwesibingelelo sikaThixo umbingelelo kusasa nangokuhlwa, lo gama inkosikazi nabantwana behlangana ekuthandazeni nasekudumiseni. Kwikhaya elinjalo, kulapho uYesu angathanda ukuphumla khona.ANa 144.1

Kwikhaya lomKristu ngalinye kumele kuphume ukubengezela kokukhanya okungcwele. Uthando lutyhilwe zizenzo. Kufuneka lunkcenkceze kuko konke ekwabelwana ngako ekhaya, luzibonakalise kububele obunenkathalo, kubulali, nentlonipho engasekelezanga nzuzo. Akho amakhaya apho ufumaneka khona lo mthetho-siseko; amakhaya apho uThixo anqulwa khona, ekulawula kuwo olona thando lwenene. Kula makhaya, umthandazo wakusasa nangokuhlwa unyuka usiya kuThixo njengevumba elimnandi, zize iinceba neentsikelelo zaKhe zihle phezu kwabacelayo njengombethe wentsasa.ANa 144.2

Ikhaya elinolawulo oluhle libubungqina obunamandla ngakubunyaniso benkolo yobuKristu--ubungqina obungenako ukuphikwa nayingqola. Bonke bayayibona ukuba ikho impembelelo esebenzayo elusatsheni ethi ingene ebantwaneni, nokuba, uThixo ka-Abraham unabo. Ukuba amakhaya abo bazibiza ngokuba bangamaKristu ebenesixovulelo esilungileyo senkolo, ebeya kuba nempembelelo enkulu yokulungileyo. Ngokwenene ebeya kuba “kukukhanya kwehlabathi.” UThixo wezulu uthetha naye wonke umzali othembekileyo amazwi awawathetha kuAbraham: “Kuba ndaze yena, ukuze abawisele umthetho abantwana bakhe, nendlu yakhe emva kwakhe, bagcine indlela kaYehova, benze ubulungisa nokusesikweni, ukuze uYehova amenzele uAbraham into ayithethileyo kuye.”ANa 144.3