13—Ukuvavanywa Kokholo

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiGenesis 16; 17:18-20; 21:1-14; 22:1-19.]

UAbraham wasamkela ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo isithembiso sonyana, kodwa akazange amlindele uThixo ukuba alizalise ilizwi laKhe ngexesha laKhe nangendlela yaKhe. Kwabakho ukulibazisa, ukuze kuvavanywe ukholo lwakhe kumandla kaThixo; waza wasilela ukumelana novavanyo. Ecinga ukuba akunakwenzeka ukuba anikwe umntwana ngenxa yokuba sele emdala, uSara wacebisa, njengecebo injongo eyayiya kuzalisekiswa ngayo injongo yezulu, ukuba esinye sezicakazana zakhe sithatyathwe nguAbraham njengenkosikazi yakhe yesibini. Ukuba nabafazi abaninzi kwakwande kangangokuba kwada kwayeka ukuba kuthatyathwe njengesono, nangona kwakungekho siganeko sokwaphulwa komthetho kaThixo, kwaye kuyingozi kubungcwele noxolo kubudlelwane bosapho. Ukutshata kuka-Abraham noHagare, kwaba nesiphumo esibi, kungekuphela kwindlu yakhe, kodwa nakwizizukulwana ezilandelayo.ANa 145.1

Wathi, ekhohliswe kukubekelwa phezulu kwisikhundla esitsha njengenkosikazi ka-Abraham, wasuka uHagare wanekratshi nokuqhayisa, wayidelela inkosikazi yakhe. Ukumonelana kwaluphazamisa uxolo kwikhaya elalifudula lonwabile. Wathi enyanzelekile ukuba aphulaphule izikhalazo zabo bobabini, uAbraham wazama ukuyibuyisela imvisiswano, kodwa kwaba lilize. Nangona yayikukucenga okunyanisekileyo kukaSara okwenza ukuba atshatwe uHagare, ngoku uSara wamlwisa (uAbraham) ngokungathi nguye onetyala. Wafuna (uSara) ukumgxotha lowo umelene naye; kodwa uAbraham wakwala ukukuvumela oko; kuba uHagare wayeza kuba ngumama womntwana wakhe, ngokweqikili awayenalo, unyana wedinga. Wayengumkhonzazana kaSara, waza wamyekela apho ekulawulweni yinkosikazi yakhe. Umoya wempakamo kaHagare awuzange ukwazi ukunyamezela ubungqwabalala obabangelwa kukusa kwakhe. “USarayi wamcinezela, wabaleka wemka ebusweni bakhe.”ANa 145.2

Wahamba wasinga entlango, wathi ephumle ngasemthonjeni, elilolo engenamhlobo, ingelosi kaYehova, ikwimo yomntu, yavela kuye. Yathetha noHagare imbiza ngokuthi, “Hagare, mkhonzazana kaSarayi,” ukumkhumbuza ngendawo yakhe kunye nomsebenzi wakhe, yamyalela ngelithi, “Buyela kwinkosikazi yakho, uzithobe phantsi kwesandla sayo.” Nasekukhalimeni apho, kwakukwahlanganiswe namazwi entuthuzelo. “UYehova uzivile iintsizi zakho.” “Ndiya kuyandisa kakhulu imbewu yakho, ingabalwa ngenxa yobuninzi.” Njengesikhumbuzo esingunaphakade, kwathiwa makambize umntwana ngegama elinguIshmayeli, “UThixo uyeva.”ANa 146.1

Wathi akusondela kwikhulu leminyaka uAbraham, saphindwa kuye isithembiso sonyana, sinengqinisekiso yokuba indlalifa yexesha elizayo iya kuba ngumntwana kaSara. Noko kunjalo, uAbraham wayengekasiqondi isithembiso. Ingqondo yakhe yakhawuleza yabuyela kuIshmayeli, isabambelela kwinkolo yokuba ngaye, iinjongo zikaThixo ezinobubele ziya kuzaliseka ngaye. Ngothando ngakunyana wakhe, wadanduluka wathi, “Wanga uIshmayeli angadla ubomi phambi kwakho!” Saphinda sanikwa kwakhona isithembiso, ngamazwi angenako ukuphazanywa: “USara umkakho uya kukuzalela unyana, umbize ngegama lokuba nguIsake; ndiwumise umnqophiso wam naye.” UThixo wayengayekanga ukuwuqaphela umthandazo kayise. “Ngokusingisele kuIshmayeli,” watsho, “ndikuvile; uyabona, ndimsikelele, . . . ndimenze uhlanga olukhulu.”ANa 146.2

Ukuzalwa kukaIsake, okwazisa, emva kokulinda ixesha elide, ukuzaliseka kwawona mathemba athandekayo, kwazizalisa iintente zika-Abraham noSara ngovuyo. KuHagare, esi siganeko saba kukubhukuqwa kweminqweno awayesoloko esonwatyiswa yiyo. UIshmayeli, sele elityendyana ngeli xesha, wayebonwa ngabo bonke emzini njengendlalifa yobutyebi buka-Abraham ekwayindlalifa yeentsikelelo ezadingwa yinzala yakhe. Ngoku, wabekelwa bucala ngokukhawuleza, kwathi ekudanisweni kwabo, umama nomntwana bamthiya umntwana kaSara. Uvuyo olwalukho kumntu wonke, lwawukhulisa umona wabo, wada uIshmayeli wasigxeka ekuhleni isithembiso sikaThixo. USara waphawula ukuba imeko exubayeleyo kaIshmayeli iya kuhlala isisizekabani sokungavani, waza wabhenela kuAbraham, emnyanzela ukuba uHagare no-Ishmayeli bemke emzini wabo. Inyange laba noxinzelelo olukhulu. Angamgxotha njani unyana wakhe, esamthanda kakhulu? Ekudidekeni kwakhe, wacela inkokelo yezulu. UYehova, ngengelosi engcwele, wamyalela ukuba enze ngokomnqweno kaSara; ukuthanda kwakhe uIshmayeli okanye uHagare kungemi endleleni, kuba kuphela kwendlela angabuyisela ngayo imvisiswano nolonwabo kusapho lwakhe. Ingelosi yamnika isithembiso esiyintuthuzelo sokuba, naxa ahlukene nekhayalikayise,uIshmayeli akasayi kushiywanguThixo;ubomi bakhebuyakugcinwa, abe nguyise wohlanga olukhulu. UAbraham walithobela ilizwi lengelosi, kodwa kwakungelula. Intliziyo yomzali yasindwa yintlungu engathethekiyo ngexesha emhambisa uHagare nonyana wakhe (yena Abraham).ANa 146.3

Imfundiso enikwe uAbraham ngobungcwele bolwalamano emtshatweni, yayiya kuba sisifundo kuzo zonke izizukulwana. Ithi, amalungelo nokonwaba kolu lwalamano, zizinto ekufuneka ziqatshelwe, nokuba umbingelelo ungakanani. USara wayekuphela komfazi wenene ka-Abraham. Amalungelo akhe njengomfazi nomama, akakho omnye umntu ekufuneka abelane naye ngawo. Wayemhlonipha umyeni wakhe, kwaye ngenxa yoku, uvezwa kwiTestamente eNtsha njengomzekelo ofanelekileyo. Wayengenayo intumekelelo yokubona uthando luka-Abraham lunikwa omnye, noYehova akamngxolisa ngokucela ukuba utshaba olungulowo abangisana naye lugxothwe. Bobabini, uAbraham noSara, abazange bawathembe amandla kaThixo, yaza yaba yile mposiso eyakhokelela ekutshateni noHagare.ANa 147.1

UThixo wambiza uAbraham ukuba abe nguyise wabakholwayo, ngoko ubomi bakhe kwakufuneka bume bube ngumzekelo wokholo kwizizukulwana ezilandelayo. Noko ke, ukholo lwakhe lwalungagqibelelanga. Wabonakalisa ukungamthembi uThixo ekufihleni kwakhe ukuba uSara waye ngumkakhe, kwakhona nasekutshateni kwakhe uHagare. Ukuze afikelele kowona mgangatho uphezulu, uThixo wamyekela kolunye uvavanyo, olona lusondele kakhulu ekwakha kwafuneka ukuba lunyanyezelwe ngumntu. Embonweni wasebusuku, wayalelwa ukuba aqonde kwilizwe laseMoriya, aze khona apho anikele unyana wakhe njengombingelelo otshisiweyo phezu kwentaba awayeza kuyiboniswa..ANa 147.2

Ngexesha lokufumana lo myalelo, uAbraham wayefikile kubudala obulikhulu elinamashumi amabini eminyaka. Wayethatyathwa njengomntu omdala, nakwisizukulwana sakhe. Kwiminyaka yobutsha bakhe wayomelele ukuba angamelana nobunzima nokujongana nengozi, kodwa ngoku ubushushu bobutsha babudlule. Umntu, xa esemandleni obutsha, ngesibindi, angahlangabezana neenzima kunye neentshutshiso ezazinokuyenza ukuba intliziyo isilele kamva ebomini, xa iinyawo zigqwidiza ukusinga engcwabeni. Noko kunjalo, uThixo wamgcinela uAbraham olunye uvavanyo nolunzima nolokugqibela wada wanzima umthwalo weminyaka phezu kwakhe, xa sele elangazelela ukuphumla exhaleni nasekusebenzeni nzima.ANa 147.3

Indoda enkulu, (uAbraham), yayihlala eBhershebha, ingqongwe yimpumelelo nokuhlonitshwa. Yayityebe kakhulu, ihlonitshwa njengenkosi eligorha ngabalawuli belizwe. Amawaka eegusha neenkomo zazizalise imimango eyayidlule ngaphaya kweminquba yakhe. Macaleni onke kwakukho iintente zabaphathi bakhe, ikhaya lamawaka ezicaka ezinyanisekileyo. Unyana wesithembiso wakhula wafikelela ebudodeni esecaleni kwakhe. Izululabonakala lithwese isithsabangentsikelelo yalo ubomi bombingelelo owathi wathwala ngomonde ithemba elilityazisiweyo.ANa 147.4

Ekuthobeleni ngokholo, uAbraham walishiya ilizwe lokuzalwa; washiya amangcwaba ooyise nekhaya labazalwana bakhe. Wahamba-hamba njengowasemzini kwilizwe elililifa lakhe. Wayelindele ixesha elide ukuzalwa kwendlalifa yesithembiso. Ngokuyalelwa nguThixo, wamndulula unyana wakhe uIshmayeli. Ngoku, xa umntwana owayelangazelelwa ixesha elide engena ebudodeni, nenyange lisibona isiqhamo samathemba alo, nanko phambi kwakhe, kukho phambi kwakhe uvavanyo olukhulu ukudlula lonke olwakha lwakho ngaphambili.ANa 148.1

Umyalelo wabekwa ngamazwi awayeyikrunqula ngentlungu intliziyo yomzali: “Khawuthabathe unyana wakho, emnye kuwe, omthandayo, . . . umnyuse khona abelidini elinyukayo.” UIsake wayekukukhanya ekhayeni lakhe, eyintuthuzelo ebuxhegweni bakhe, ngaphezu koko, wayeyindlalifa yentsikelelo eyayithenjisiwe. Ukulahleka konyana onjalo ngengozi okanye isifo bekuya kuyikrazula intliziyo kayise onothando; bekuya kuzisa usizi phezu kwentloko yakhe engwevu; kodwa wayeyalelwe ukuba aphalaze igazi laloo nyana ngesakhe isandla. Le nto yakhangeleka kuye iyinto engenako ukwenzeka neyoyikekayo.ANa 148.2

USathana wayekho ukuba amcebise ukuba angakhohliswa, kuba umthetho ongcwele uyalela ngelithi, “Uze ungabulali,” ngoko ke, uThixo akanako ukufuna into awayeyalele. Ephume ngaphandle kwentente yakhe, uAbraham wakhangela kwisibhakabhaka esizolileyo esingenalo nelifu, wakhumbula isithembiso esasenziwe phantse kumashumi amahlanu eminyaka eyadlulayo, esithi, imbewu yakhe ayiyi kubaleka njengeenkwenkwezi. Ukuba esi sithembiso kufuneka sizaliseke ngoIsake, angabulawa njani? UAbraham walingeka ukuba acinge ukuba uphantsi kolahlekiso. Ekuthandabuzeni nasentlungwini, wathoba emhlabeni wathandaza, ngendlela angazange wathandaza ngayo ngaphambili, ethandazela ukuba kuqinisekiswe lo myalelo ukuba kufuneka esenzile esi senzo sibi. Wakhumbula iingelosi ezazithunyelwe ukuba zimtyhilele injongo kaThixo yokutshabalalisa iSodom, nezamphathela isithembiso salo nyana mnye, waza waya kuloo ndawo apho wayekholisa ukuhlangana khona nezithunywa zezulu, enethemba lokuphinda ahlangane nazo, ukuze afumane omnye umyalelo; kodwa akuzange kubekho uzisa uncedo. Wakhangeleka egutyungelwe bubumnyama; kodwa umyalelo kaThixo wona uvakala ezindlebeni zakhe, “Khawuthabathe unyana wakho, emnye kuwe, omthandayo.” Loo myalelo kwakufuneka uthotyelwe, kwaye kwakufuneka engalibazisanga. Kwaye kusisa, naye kufuneka ehambile.ANa 148.3

Wabuyela ententeni yakhe, waya kwindawo apho wayelele khona uIsake, ekobunzulu, obungaphazanyiswa nto ubuthongobetyendye elimsulwa. Okomzuzwana, uyise wakhangela ebusweni bonyana wakhe amthandayo, wesuka wamshiya ebindekile. Waya ngakuSara, naye owayelele. Amvuse, ukuze akhe amgone kwakhona umntwana wakhe? Amxelele into efunwa nguThixo? Wanqwenela ukuyithululela kuye intliziyo yakhe, abelane naye ngalo mthwalo ubuhlungu; kodwa wabanjwa luloyiko lokuba hleze amnqande. UIsake wayeluvuyo negugu lakhe; ubomi bakhe babuqamangelene nobakhe, nto leyo eyayiya kwenza ukuba uthando lukamama luwale umbingelelo.ANa 151.1

Ekugqibeleni, uAbraham wambiza unyana wakhe, emxelela ngomyalelo wokubingelela kwintaba ethe qelele. UIsake wayeqhele ukuhamba noyise bayokunqula kwezinye zezibingelelo ezahlukeneyo ezaziphawula ukujikeleza kukayise, lwaza olu bizo alweza nanto intsha imangalisayo. Akhawuleza agqitywa amalungiselelo ohambo. Zalungiswa iinkuni zabekwa phezu kwe-esile, baza banduluka benabakhonzi ababini abangamadoda.ANa 151.2

Bahamba kunye uyise nonyana bethe cwaka. Inyange, licamngca ngemfihlelo enkulu, lalingafuni kukhupha lizwi. Iingcinga zalo zazikunina (womfana) oneqhayiya nothando, kunye nemini aya kubuyela ngayo kuye ekhaya ehamba yedwa. Wayesazi kakuhle ukuba, xa ebulala unyana wakhe, uya kuba uhlabanisela intliziyo yakhe [unina].ANa 151.3

Loo mini—eyona yakha yande kwiimini awakha wazibona-yatsala kancinane ukuya ekupheleni. Ngexesha unyana wakhe nabanye abafana belele, yena wachitha ubusuku ethandaza, esenethemba lokuba singafika isithunywa sezulu sithi uvavanyo lwanele, nokuthi, umfana angabuyela kunina engalimalanga. Akuzange kufike ukukhululwa kumphefumlo othuthunjiswayo. Waba nenye imini ende, nobunye ubusuku bokungcungcutheka, nomthandazo, uhleli njalo umyalelo owawuza kumshiya engenamntwana unkenteza ezindlebeni zakhe. USathana wayesecaleni esebeza intandabuzo nokungakholwa, kodwa uAbraham wamelana neengcebiso zakhe. Bathi xa beza kuqala uhambo ngosuku lwesithathu, inyange liqwalasele ngasentla, labona umqondiso obuthenjisiwe, ilifu lozuko lijinga phezu kweNtaba yeMoriya, lazi ukuba ilizwi elathethwayo kulo laliphuma ezulwini.ANa 151.4

Nangeli xesha alizange limkhalazele uThixo, kodwa lawuqinisa umphefumlo walo ngokuhlala kwizibonakaliso zokulunga nokunyaniseka kukaYehova. Lo nyana wafunyanwa engalindelekanga; wayengenalo na Lowo ubenike isipho esiligugu ilungelo lokukubizela kuYe oko kwaKhe? Ukholo lwaliphinda idinga, “Imbewu yakho iya kubakho ngoIsake” —imbewu engenakoukubalwanjengentlabathi yolwandle. UIsake wayengumntwana wommangaliso, amandla awayemnike ubomi ebengenako na ukumbuyisela? Wathi ekhangele ngaphaya koko kubonwayo, uAbraham walibamba ilizwi lezulu, “ecamanga ngokuthi uThixo unako ukuvusa nakwabafileyo.” Hebhere 11:19.ANa 151.5

Akakho omnye ngaphandle kukaThixo owayebuqonda ubukhulu bawo umbingelelo kayise ekunikeleni unyana wakhe ekufeni; walangazelela uAbraham ukuba ibe nguThixo kuphela omakawubone lo mbono wokwahlukana. Wabacela abakhonzi bakhe ukuba basale ngasemva, esithi, “Mna nomfana lo soya phaya, sinqule, sibuye size kuni.” Iinkuni zabekwa phezu kukaIsake, lo wayeza kunikelwa, uyise wathabatha imela nomlilo, baza bebobabini benyuka baya encotsheni yentaba, umfana ethe cwaka, emangele ukuba, kuloo ndawo ikude nemihlambi yezimvu neenkomo, uya kuvela phi umnikelo. Ekugqibeleni wathetha, “Bawo, . . . nangu umlilo neenkuni, iphi na ke imvu yedini elinyukayo?” Owu, ubukhulu bolu vavanyo! Indlela amazwi othando athi, “Bawo,” amhlabe ngayo entliziyweni uAbraham! Wayengekabi nako ngoku ukumxelela. “Nyana wam,” watsho, “uThixo wozibonela imvu yedini.”ANa 152.1

Endaweni enyuliweyo, bakha isibingelelo, babeka iinkuni phezu kwaso. Ngelizwi elingcangcazelayo, uAbraham wasandlala isigidimi sezulu kunyana wakhe. Ngoloyiko nomothuko, uIsake weva ngesiphelo sakhe, kodwa akaxhathisa. Wayenako ukuzisindisa kweso siphelo, ukuba wayekhethe ukwenza njalo. Ingwevu ebethwe yintlungu, iqotywe lidabi leentsuku ezintathu ezimbi, yayingenako ukumelana netyendye elisemandleni. UIsake wayeqeqeshelwe kwasebuntwaneni ukuhlala elungele ukuthobela okuthembayo, yaza yathi yakubekwa phambi kwakhe injongo kaThixo, wayekela ekuvumeni ngentumekelelo. Wayesabelana noAbraham ngokholo, waziva ephakanyisiwe ngokubizelwa ukuba ancame ubomi bakhe bube ngumnikelo kuThixo. Ngothando, wafuna ukuyiphungula intlungu kayise, wakhuthaza izandla ezasezomile ukuba zimqamangele ngeentambo zimbeke phezu kwesibingelelo.ANa 152.2

Ngeli xesha, kuthethwa amazwi othando okugqibela, kuhla iinyembezi zokugqibela, kuwolwana okokugqibela. Uyise uphakamisa imela ukuba ambulale unyana wakhe, kuthi ngequbuliso sibanjwe isandla sakhe. Ingelosi kaThixo iphuma ezulwini, iyalibiza inyange, “Abraham, Abraham!” Waphendula ngokukhawuleza, “Ndilapha.” Laphinda lavakala ilizwi, “Musa ukusisa isandla sakho kumfana, musa ukumenza nto, kuba ndiyazi ngoku ukuba uyamoyikauThixo; akunqabanga nonyana wakho kum, emnye kuwe.”ANa 152.3

Kwangoko, uAbraham wabona “inkunzi yegusha ngasemva, ibambeke ngeempondo etyholweni,” wakhawuleza walizisa ixhoba elitsha, walinikela “esikhundleni sonyana wakhe.” Eluvuyweni nakumbulelo wakhe, uAbraham wayinika igama elitsha loo ndawo ingcwele—“Jehovahjireh,” “Yehova ozibonelayo.”ANa 153.1

Kwintaba yeMoriya, uThixo waphinda wawuhlaziya umnqophiso waKhe, eqinisekisa ngesifungo esingcwele intsikelelo kuAbraham nakwimbewu yakhe kuzo zonke izizukulwana: “Ndizifungile, utsho uYehova ngenxa enokuba uyenzile le nto, akwanqaba nonyana wakho, emnye kuwe; ukuba ndiya kukusikelela ndikusikelele; ndiya kuyandisa ndiyandise imbewu yakho njengeenkwenkwezi zezulu, nanjengentlabathi eselunxwemeni lolwandle; imbewu yakho ilidle ilifa isango leentshaba zayo; zisikelelwe ngembewu yakho zonke iintlanga zehlabathi, ngenxa enokuba uliphulaphule ilizwi lam.”ANa 153.2

Isenzo esikhulu sika-Abraham simi njengentsika yokukhanya, ekhanyisa indlela yabakhonzi bakaThixo kuzo zonke izizukulwana. UAbraham akazange azame ukukuphepha ukwenza intando kaThixo. Ngeentsuku ezintathu zohambno, wayenethuba elaneleyo lokuzathuza athi, ukubulala unyana wakhe kuya kwenza ukuba abonwe njengombulali, uKayin wesibini; nokuba oko kuya kwenza imfundiso yakhe yaliwe, ijongelwe phantsi, kuze oko kutshabalalise amandla akhe okwenzela abantu bakhe okulungileyo. Wayenako nokucenga ngelithi, ubudala bakhe bunako ukumthethelela ekuthobeleni.Noko kunjalo, inyange alizange libhenele nakwesinye kwezo zizathwana zokuzithethelela. UAbraham wayengumntu; imizwa yakhe nokubambana nabanye kwakufana nokwethu; kodwa akazange eme abuze ukuba isithembiso siya kuzalisekiswa njani xa uIsake ebulewe. Akazange ahlalele ukubonisana nentliziyo yakhe ebuhlungu. Wayemazi uThixo ukuba ulilungisa, enokulunga kuzo zonke iimfuno zaKhe, waza wawuthobela umyalelo kuko konke okuthethiweyo.ANa 153.3

“Wakholwa ke uAbraham nguye uThixo; kwaza oko kwabalelwa ebulungiseni kuye, wabizwa ngokuba sisihlobo sikaThixo.” Yakobi 2:23. UPawulos uthi, “Abaselukholweni, ngabo abo abangoonyana baka-Abraham.” Galati 3:7. Ukholo luka-Abraham lwenziwa lwabonakala ngemisebenzi. “ Akagwetyelwanga na ngokwasemisebenzini, akumnikela uIsake, unyana wakhe, phezu kwesibingelelo? Uyabona ukuba ukholo lwalusebenzisana nemisebenzi yakhe, lwenziwa lwagqibelela ukholo ngokwasemisebenzini? Yakobi 2:21, 22. Baninzi abasilelayo ukukuqonda ukuhambelana phakathi kokholo nemisebenzi. Bathi, “Kholwa kuphelakuKristu,ubeukhuselekile.Akunanto yakwenza nokugcina umthetho.” Noko kunjalo, ukholo lwenene luya kubonakala ngokuthobela. Wathi uKristu kumaYuda angakholwayo, Ukuba nibe ningabantwana baka-Abraham, ninge niyenza imisebenzi ka-Abraham” Yohane 8:39. Ngokubhekisele kuyise wabakholwayo uYehova uthi, “[Kuba uAbraham waliphulaphulayo izwi lam, wasigcina isigxina sam, nemithetho yam, nemimiselo yam, nemiyalelo yam” Genesis 26:5. Yena umpostile uYakobi uthi, “Ukholo, ukuba luthi lungabi namisebenzi, lufile ngokukokwalo.” Yakobi 2:17. UYohane yena, ogxile ngokupheleleyo eluthandweni, uthi kuthi, “Kuba ukumthandauThixokuko ukuthi,siyigcine imithetho yakhe.” 1 Yohane 5:3.ANa 153.4

Ngomzekelo nangedinga, uThixo [wa]zishumayela ngenxa engaphambili iindaba ezilungileyo kuAbraham.” Galati 3:8. Ukholo lwenyange lwamiliselwa kuMhlanguli owayeza kuza. Wathi uKristu kumaYuda, “UAbraham, uyihlo, wagcobela ukuwubona umhla wam; wawubona, wavuya.” Yohane 8:56. Inkunzi yegusha eyanikelwa esikhundleni sikaIsake yayimele uNyana kaThixo, owayeza kubingelelwa esikhundleni sethu. Xa umntu wayemelene nokufa ngenxa yokwaphula umthetho kaThixo, uYise, ekhangele kuNyana waKhe, wathi kumoni, “Phila: Ndiyifumene intlawulo.”ANa 154.1

Yayikukuzisa engqondweni ka-Abraham ubunyaniso beendaba ezilungileyo, kwakunye nokuvavanya ukholo lwakhe, okwenza ukuba uThixo athi makabulale unyana wakhe. Intlungu awayinyamezelayo ngexesha leentsuku ezimnyama zoko kulingwa koyikekayo yavunyelwa ukuze abuqonde ngawakhe amava ubukhulu bombingelelo owenziwa nguThixo ongenakufa ukuze kuhlangulwe umntu. Alukho olunye uvavanyo olwalunokumxhela ngolo hlobo emphefumlweni njengokunikela ngonyana wakhe. UThixo wanikela uNyana waKhe ekufeni kwentlungu nehlazo. Iingelosi ezakubonayo ukuhlaziswa nokuthuthunjiswa komphefumlo woNyana kaThixo azizange zivunyelwe ukuba zingenelele ngokunqanda, njengakwimeko kaIsake. Akuzange kubekho lizwi likhalayo lithi, “Kwanele.” Ukusindisa uhlanga oluwileyo, uKumkani wozuko wancama ubomi baKhe. Sesiphi isiqinisekiso esinamandla esinokunikwa ngemfesane engapheliyo kunye nothando lukaThixo? “Lowo, gxebe, ungamconganga owakhe uNyana, wesuka wamnikela ngenxa yethu sonke, angathini na ukuba angasibabali ngazo zonke ezo zinto?” Roma 8:32.ANa 154.2

Umbingelelo owawufunwe kuAbraham wawungakhangelanga ukulungelwa kwakhe kuphela, okanye ube yinzuzo kwizizukulwana ezilandelayo kuphela; kodwa wawukwajonge nokufundisa nezinye izidalwa ezingenasono zasezulwini nakwamanye amazwe. Ibala lempikiswano phakathi koKristu noSathana, ibala apho icebo lokuhlangulwalenziwakhona,liyincwadi yokufundwayiyunivesi yonke. Ngenxa yokuba uAbraham wabonisa ukungabi nalukholo kwizithembiso zikaThixo, uSathana wammangalela phambi kwezithunywa naphambi kukaThixo njengosileleyo ukuthobela iimeko zomnqophiso, ngoko ke ongazifanelanga iintsikelelo zawo. UThixo walangazelela ukukubonisa ukunyaniseka komkhonzi waKhe phambi kwalo lonke izulu, ukubonisa ukuba ayikho into engaphantsi kokuthobela ngokugqibeleleyo enokwamkeleka, nokulityhila ngokupheleleyo ngakumbi icebo losindiso.ANa 155.1

Izidalwa zasezulwini zazingamangqina omboniso xa ukholo luka-Abraham nokuvuma kukaIsake kwakuvavanywa. Uvavanyo lwalungaphezulu kakhulu kolwanikwa uAdam. Ukuvumelana nokwalelwa okwakunikwe abazali bethu bokuqala kwakungaqukanga intlungu, kodwa umyalelo owawusiya kuAbraham wawufuna umbingelelo oneyona ntlungu inkulu. Izulu lonke lakubona limangalisiwe, lakuncoma ukuthobela okungaphazamiyo kuka-Abraham. Izulu lonke lalucima ukholo lwakhe. Izityholo zikaSathana zavezwa ukuba zibubuxoki. UThixo wavakalisa wenjenje kumkhonzi waKhe, “Ndiyazi ngoku ukuba uyamoyika uThixo [nangona uSathana wayemmangalela]; akunqabanga nonyana wakho kum, emnye kuwe.” Umnqophiso kaThixo, uqinisekiswe ngesifungo phambi kwezidalwa zamanye amazwe, waba bubungqina bokuba abo bathobekileyo baya kuvuzwa.ANa 155.2

Kwaba nzima nakwizithunywa ukuyibamba imfihlelo yokuhlangulwa — ukuqonda ukuba uMkhokeli womkhosi wezulu, uNyana kaThixo, umele ukufela umntu onetyala. Xa umyalelo wawunikwa uAbraham ukuba anikele unyana wakhe, wafakwa phakathi wonke umdla wezidalwa zezulu. Ngokunyaniseka okukhulu, zabukela inyathelo ngalinye ekuzalisweni kwawo lo myalelo. Xa kumbuzo kaIsake othi, “Iphi imvu yedini?” uAbraham waphendula wathi, “uThixo wozibonela imvana;” naxa isandla sikayise sibanjwa sele eza kumbulala unyana wakhe, yaza inkunzi yegusha awayikhuphayo uThixo yanikelwa esikhundleni sikaIsake, ngelo xesha kwawiswa ukukhanya phezu kwemfihlelo yokuhlangulwa, zatsho nezithunywa zawuqonda ngokucacileyo ngakumbi umsindleko omangalisayo uThixo awawenzela ukusindiswa komntu. 1 Petros 1:12.ANa 155.3