14—Ukutshatyalaliswa KweSodom

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiGenesis 19.]

Esona sasisihle kwizixeko kwiNtili yeYordan yayiyiSodom, sakhiwe kummandla owawunje“ngomyezo kaYehova” ngokutyeba nobuhle. Apha, kwakuchume izityalo ezihle ezibalasela kwimo yetropiki. Le yindawo yesundu, umnquma kunye nomdiliya; iintyatyambo zikhupha ivumba lazo elimnandi unyaka wonke. Izivuno ezityebileyo zambese amasimi, nemihlambi yempahla emfutshane neenkomo ithe tshitshilili kwiinduli ezingqongileyo. Ubuchule norhwebo zizinto ezinegalelo kwindyebo yezixeko ezikula mathafa. Amagugu aseMpuma ayehombise amabhotwe ayo, nemiqodi yasentlango izisa kumashishini ayo izinto ezinqabileyo kumashishini ayo. Kwaye kukuncinane ukucinga okanye ukusebenza nzima, kodwa yonke into efuneka ekuphileni yayifumaneka, kwaye unyaka wonke wawufana nombhiyozo ongapheliyo.ANa 156.1

Ubuninzi bento yonke obabukho bazisa ukonwaba nempakamo. Ukungenzi nto nobutyebi buyenza lukhuni intliziyo engazange yacinezeleka yintswelo okanye ibe nomthwalo wosizi. Ukuthanda iziyolo kwakukhuliswa bubutyebi nokonwaba, nabantu bazinikela ekuziyekeleni kwimikhwa emibi. “Nabu ke ubugwenxa beSodom umsakwenu; yabe ilikratshi, nokuhlutha sisonka, nokuchulumanca, yona namagxamesi ayo; ayabamba ngesandla abaziintsizana nabangamahlwempu. Babezidla, besenza amasikizi phambi kwam; ndabasusa, ndakukubona oko.” Hezekile 16:49, 50. Ayikho into elangazelelwaluluntungaphezukobutyebinolonwabo,kanti ezi zinto zizala izono ezazisa intshabalalo kwizixeko zala mathafa. Ubomi babo bokungabi namsebenzi nobobuvila babenza amaxhoba ezilingo zikaSathana, bawuguqula umfanekiselo kaThixo, wanentiyo endaweni yokuba ngcwele. Ukungasebenzi sesona siqalekiso sikhulu esinokuhla emntwini, kuba ububi nolwaphulo lomthetho kulandelana nako. Kuyenza buthakathaka ingqondo, kuyigqwethe ingqiqo, kuwenziseizintoezimbiumphefumlo.USathana uhleli elalele, elungele ukutshabalalisa abo bangakhuselekanga, abalonwabo lwabo lumnika ithuba lokuzithandisa ngokuzifihla njengento enomtsalane. Uphumelela kakhulu xa esiza ebantwini ngamathuba okungenzi nto kwabo.ANa 156.2

ESodom kwakuyimivuyo nemihlali, ukudla nokunxila. Ezona nkanuko zimbi nezikhohlakeleyo zazingalawulwa. Abantu babemdelela ekuhleni uThixo kunye nomthetho waKhe, besonwatyiswa zizenzo zabo zenkohlakalo. Nangona wawukho phambi kwabo umzekelo welizwe laphambi kukaNogumbe, besazi ukuba yabonakaliswa njani ingqumbo kaThixo kwintshabalalo yabo, baqhubeka belandela kwa-elo khondo lenkohlakalo.ANa 157.1

Ngexesha lokusuka kukaLote esiya eSodom, inkohlakalo yayingekaligqibi ilizwe, noThixo, kwinceba yaKhe, esayivumele imitha yokukhanya ukuba ibengezele phakathi kobumnyama bendlela yokuziphatha. Ngexesha uAbraham wayehlangula abathinjwa kumaElam, ingqwalasela yabantu yabuyiselwa kwinkolo yenyaniso. UAbraham wayengenguye owasemzini kubantu baseSodom, nokunqula kwakhe uThixo ongabonwayo kwakuyinto yokuhlekisa phakathi kwabo; kodwa uloyiso lwakhe kwimikhosi eyayimikhulu, nesisa sakhe ngakubathinjwanamaxhoba, konke kwavuselela ukumangala nokumthanda. Nangona kwakuphakanyiswa ubuchule nobugorha bakhe, kwakungekho unokuyiphepha into yokuba ngamandla ezulu awamenza umoyisi. Umoya wakhe wobunene nongenamona, ongaqhelekanga kubemi abatsalela kubo baseSodom, wawubobunye ubungqina bokuba phezulu kwenkolo awayiphakamisayo ngesibindi nokunyaniseka kwakhe.ANa 157.2

UMelkitsedeke, ekusikeleleni kwakhe uAbraham, wavuma ukuba uYehova ulithende lamandla nembangi yoloyiso: “Makasikelelwe uAbram nguThixo Osenyangweni, uMninimazulu nehlabathi! Makabongwe uThixo Osenyangweni obanikeleyo ababandezeli bakho esandleni sakho.” Genesis 14:19, 20. UThixo wayethetha kwabo bantu ngokwazelelela kwaKhe, kokwa umtha wokugqibela wokukhanya waliwa njengayo yonke (imitha) eyayingaphambili.ANa 157.3

Ngoku kwakufika ubusuku bokugqibela beSodom. Amafu empindezelo ayephosa amathunzi awo phezu kwesixeko esizinikeleyo (ebubini). Abantu abazange baqonde. Ngeli xesha iingelosi zisondela zikumsebenzi wazo wentshabalalo, abantu babephupha ngempumelelo nolonwabo. Imini yokugqibela yayifana nayo neyiphi eyakha yafika yadlula. Ubusuku bawufikela umboniso wokuthandeka nenkuseleko. Umhlaba obuhlebawo bungenako ukuthelekiswa nanto, wagqunywa yimitha yelanga elitshonayo. Impepho yorhatya yabakhupha abemi besixeko, nezihlwele ezifuna iziyolo zisihla zinyuka, zijonge ulonwabo lwelo xesha.ANa 157.4

Ngongcwalazi, kwasondela esangweni lesixeko, abantu basemzini ababini. Babebukeka bengabahambi abeza ukuba baphumle ubusuku. Kwakungekho unokubona kwabo bahambi bathobekileyo abathwali bendaba yogwebo lwezulu; isihlwele esonwabileyo, nesingakhathaliyo singenalo nofifi lokuba, ekuphatheni kwabo aba bathunywa basezulwini ngobo busuku baya kufikelela kwincopho yobutyala obuthetha ukuphela kwesixeko sabo esiziphakamisileyo. Wayekho umntu omnye owabonakalisa ukubaqaphela ngobubele abahambi, waza wabamemela ekhayeni lakhe. ULote wayengabazi ukuba bakumila kuni ngokwenene, kodwa imbeko nobubele zizinto ezaziqhelene naye; zaziyinxalenye yenkolo yakhe, izifundo awayezifunde kumzekelo ka-Abraham. Ukuba wayengazange wakhulisa umoya wembeko, ngewaye wasala ukuba atshabalale nabanye baseSodom. Amakhaya amaninzi, ngokuvalela ngaphandle abantu basemzini, avalele abathunywa bakaThixo, ababenokuza nentsikelelo, nethemba noxolo.ANa 158.1

Sonke isenzo sobomi, nokuba sincinane, sinegalelo kokulungileyo okanye kokubi. Ukunyaniseka okanye ukutyeshela kwizinto ezibukeka ziyimithwalo emincinane, kungavulela ucango kubomi bezona ntsikelelo zityebileyo okanye kwezona ntlekele zinkulu. Zizinto ezincinane ezivavanya isimilo. Zizenzo ezingazenzisiyo zokuzilandula zemihla ngemihla, ezenziwa ngentliziyo eyonwabileyo nenentumekelelo, athi azincumele uThixo. Akufuneki siziphilele, kodwa siphilele abanye. Kusekuzilibaleni kuphela, ngokuba nomoya onothando, oluncedo, esinokuthi sibenze ubomi bethu bube yintsikelelo. Ukuqaphela okuncinane, iimbekwana ezincinane nezilula, kuhamba indawo ende ukwenza ukuba ubomi bubonke bube lulonwabo, kanti ukukutyeshela oku, alilincinane igalelo lako ekuphathekeni kalusizi koluntu.ANa 158.2

Wathi akubona impatho-mbi abajongene nayo abasemzini eSodom, uLote waluthabathela kuye uxanduva lokubakhusela ekungeneni kwabo, ngokubamkela nokubabuka endlwini yakhe. Wayehleli esangweni ngethuba lokuvela kwabahambi, waza wathi akubabona, wasukuma endaweni yakhe ukuba abahlangabeze, wathoba ngentlonipho, wathi, “Khanibone, zinkosi zam! Khaniphambukele endlwini yomkhonzi wenu, nilale” Babangathi bayabulandula ububele bakhe, bathi, “Hayi, solala esitratweni.” Injongo yabo kule mpendulo, yayintlantlu-mbini: ukuvavanya ukunyaniseka kukaLote kunye nokuba babonakalebemsulwakumadodaaseSodom, ngokungathi bacinga ukuba kukhuselekile ukuhlala esitratweniebusuku.Impendulo yabo yamenza uLote ukuba azimisele ngakumbi ukungawayeki ukuba abe zizisulu zesiqhu. Wasinyanzelisa isimemo sakhe ada avuma, amkhapha ukuya endlwini yakhe.ANa 158.3

Wayethembe ukuba uya kuyifihla injongo yakhe kwabalova basesangweni ngokubazisa ngandlela yimbi abasemzini ekhayeni lakhe; kodwa ukuthingaza nokulibazisa kwabo, kunye nokunyanzelisa kwakhe okuzingileyo, kwabenza ukuba baqatshelwe, kwathi phambi kokuba baphumle ebusuku, kwahlanganisana isihlwele esingumbhodamo endlwini yakhe. Yayiliqela elikhulu, ulutsha namadoda amadala ngokufanayo bevutha zezona nkanuko zimbi. Abasemzini babebuzisa ngesimilo sesixeko, waza uLote wabalumkisa ukuba bangake baphume kumnyango wakhe ngobo busuku, ngelixa ukukhwaza nokugculela kwesihlwele kuvakala, sifuna ukuba aziswe phandle kuso loo madoda.ANa 159.1

Ngokwazi ukuba, ukuba baxhokonxelwe kububhovubhovu, bangaqhekeza lula ukuba bangene endlwini yakhe, waza uLote waphuma ukuba azame ukubacenga. “Ndiyanikhunga bazalwana,” watsho, “musani ukwenza into embi,” esebenzisa isaci “bazalwana” ngendlela yabamelwane, ethemba ukuba uya kubaxolisa abenze babeneentloni ngenxa yeenjongo zabo ezimbi. Amazwi akhe asuka afana ne-oli egalelwe phezu kwamalangatye omlilo. Umsindo wabo waba njengesandi sesaqhwithi. Amgculela uLote njengozenza umgwebi phezu kwawo, athembisa ukumphatha kakubi kakhulu kunokuba beza kwenza kwiindwendwe zakhe. Bamwela, kangangokuba ngebamdlakaza waba zizicwili ukuba wayengahlangulwanga ziingelosi zikaThixo. Abathunywa bezulu “[ba]solula isandla sabo, bamngenisa uLote kuwo endlwini, baluvala ucango.” Iziganeko ezalandelayo, zasityhila isimilo seendwendwe awazibukayo. “Awabetha ngobumfama amadoda abesemnyango wendlu, ethabathela kwencinane esa kwenkulu, azidinisa ke ukufuna umnyango.” Ukuba ayengafikelwanga bubumfama obuphindiweyo, njengoko ayeziyekele kubulukhuni beentliziyo zawo, ubetho lukaThixo ngelwabenza boyika, babuye kumsebenzi wabo okhohlakeleyo. Ubusuku bokugqibela baba nezono ezikhulu ngokufanayo nobuninzi bexesha langaphambili; kodwa inceba, ekukudala ityeshelwa, ekugqibeleni yakuyeka ukucenga kwayo. Abemi baseSodom babedlulile kwimida yokunyamezela kwezulu — “umda ofihlakeleyo phakathi komonde kaThixo nengqumbo yaKhe.” Imililo yempindezelo yaKhe yayisondele ukuba iphenjwe kwintili yeSidim. Iingelosi zayityhila kuLote injongo yohambo lwazo: “Siya kuyonakalisalendawo,ngokubasikhulu isikhalosabo ebuswenibukaYehova. UYehova usithumile ukubasiyonakalise.” Abahambi awazama ukubakhusela uLote, baya bathembisa ukumkhusela, nokusindisa amalungu osapho lwakhe aya kusaba naye kwisixeko esikhohlakeleyo. Isihlwele sazidinisa saza sahamba, waza uLote waphuma ukuya kulumkisa abantwana bakhe. Wawaphinda amazwi eengelosi, “Sukani, niphume kule ndawo; ngokuba uYehova uya kuwonakalisa lo mzi.” Wasuka wangathi kubo uyahlekisa. Bayihleka into abathi luloyiko lweenkolo. Iintombi zakhe zaphenjelelwa ngabayeni bazo. Zazihleli kakuhle kakhulu apho zazikhona. Zazingaboni mqondiso wangozi. Yonke into yayinje ngoko yayinjalo. Babeneempahla ezininzi, baza abayikholelwa into yokuba iSodom entle ngolo hlobo ingatshatyalaliswa.ANa 159.2

ULote wabuyela endlwini yakhe elusizi walixela ibali lokusilela kwakhe. Iingelosi zamyalela ngoko ukuba asukume athabathe inkosikazi yakhe kunye neentombi zakhe ezimbini ezazisesendlwini yakhe, basishiye isixeko. Wazilazila uLote. Nangona mihla le wayenoxinzelelo kukubona izenzo zenkohlakalo, wayengenawo ngokupheleleyo owona mfanekiso uyinene wobugwenxa obucekisekayo nobuhlazisayo obabusenzeka kweso sixeko sikhohlakeleyo. Akazange akuqonde ukufuneka okubuhlungu bezigwebo zikaThixo ukunqanda isono. Abanye babantwana bakhe babambelela eSodom, nenkosikazi yakhe yala ukuhamba ngaphandle kwabo. Ingcinga yokushiya abo abathanda kakhulu emhlabeni yakhangeleka inzima kakhulu ukuba ingathwalwa. Kwakunzima ukushiya ikhaya elihle nabo bonke ubutyebi obafunyanwa ngokusebenza nzima ubomi bakhe bonke, ahambe ayokuba ngumhambi obhadulayo. Wathi edengiswe yintlungu, wazilazila, ekuthiyile ukuhamba. Ukuba zazingekho izithunywa zikaThixo, bonke ngebatshabalala ekubhujisweni kweSodom. Abathunywa basezulwini bambamba yena nomfazi wakhe kunye neentombi zakhe babakhokelela ngaphandle kwesixeko.ANa 160.1

Iingelosi zabashiya apha, zabuyela eSodom ukuya kugqibezela umsebenzi wentshabalalo. Enye, Leyo uAbraham wayecengana nayo, yasondela kuLote. Kuzo zonke izixeko zaloo mmango, kwakungafumaneki neshumi labantu abangamalungisa; kodwa ukuphendula umthandazo wenyange, oyedwa owayemoyika uThixo waxhwilwa kwintshabalalo. Umyalelo wanikwa ngamandla awothusayo: “Zisindise ngenxa yomphefumlo wakho. Musa ukubheka emva kwakho, musa ukuma kuwo wonke lo mmandla; zisindise ngokuya entabeni, hleze ubhebhethwe.” Ukuzilazila okanye ukulibazisa ngoku kwakuya kuba kukufa. Ukuthi krwaqu nje kwisixeko esizinikele (ebubini), ukuma nje umzuzwana ngenxayobuhlungu bokushiya ikhaya elihle kangako, kwakuya kwenza balahlekane nobomi babo. Isaqhwithi sesibetho sezulu sasilindele nje ukuba ezi mbacu zilusizi zisinde.ANa 160.2

ULote wathi edidekile esoyika, wacinga ukuba akakwazi ukwenza njengoko elindelekile hleze ahlelwe bububi afe. Ukuhlala kweso sixeko sikhohlakeleyo, phakathi kwabantu abangakholwayo, ukholo lwakhe lwaya ludodobala. INkosi yezulu yayisecaleni kwakhe, kodwa wacengela ubomi bakhe ngokungathi uThixo, owayebonakalise inkathalo enkulu nothando kuye, akanako ukumgcina. Kwakufuneka ethembele ngokupheleleyo kuMthunywa wezulu, anikele intando yakhe nobomi bakhe ezandleni zikaYehova ngaphandle kwentandabuzo okanye umbuzo. njengabanye abaninzi, wazama ukuzilungiselela: “Khawubone, lo mzi ukufuphi, ukuba kubalekelwe kuwo, mncinane; ndanga ndingazisindisa ngokuya kuwo (awumncinane na?) usinde umphefumlo wam.” Isixeko esikhankanywa apha yiBhela, eyabizwa kamva ngokuthi yiTsohare. Sasikwiimayile ezimbalwa ukusuka eSodom, saye, njengayo, sasonakele sijongene nentshabalalo. ULote wacela ukuba sisindiswe, esithi sisicelo esincinane (eso asenzayo); sanikezwa isicelo sakhe. UYehova wamqinisekisa, ngelithi, “Yabona, ndikunonelele nangale nto, ukuba ndingawubhukuqi lo mzi uthethe ngawo.” Owu, ubukhulu benceba kaThixo kwizidalwa zaKhe ezonayo!ANa 161.1

Kwakhona, umyalelo onesidima wanikwa ukwenza ukuba bakhawulezise, kuba isaqhwithi somlilo sasiza kulityaziswa okomzuzwana. Omnye weembacu wakhangela ngasemva kwisixeko esitshabalalayo, wabalilitye lesikhumbuzo somgwebo kaThixo. Ukuba uLote ngokwakhe wayengabonisanga ukuthandabuza ekuthobeleni isilumkiso sengelosi, kodwa abalekele ezintabeni ngenene, engakhange enze izwi lokucenga okanye ukukhalima, inkosikazi yakhe ngeyayisindile. Impembelelo yomzekelo wakhe ngeyayimsindisile kwisono esatywina intshabalalo yakhe (umfazi). Ukuzilazila kwakhe nokulibazisa kwamenza ukuba asithabathe lula isilumkiso sezulu. Nangona umzimba wakhe wawusethafeni, intliziyo yakhe yayibambelele eSodom, waza watshabalala nayo (iSodom). Wavukela uThixo kuba izigwebo zaKhe zahlanganisa konke okwakhe kunye nabantwana bakhe kwintshabalalo. Nangona wayenzelwe inceba enkulu nokubizwa ukuba aphume kwisixeko esikhohlakeleyo, waziva ngathi waya waphathwa kakubi, kuba ubutyebi obabuthabathe iminyaka ukubuqokelela kwakufuneka bushiyiwe butshabalale. Endaweni yokwamkela ukuhlangulwa ngombulelo, wasuka wacinga ngokukhangela emva ekunqweneleni ubomi babo bakwalayo ukulumkisakwezulu. Isono sakhesabonisa ukungabufaneli kwakhe ubomi, awaba nombulelo omncinane kakhulu ngokugcinwa kwabo.ANa 161.2

Kufuneka sikulumkele ukuyithabatha lula imisindleko kaThixo yokusindiswa kwethu. Akho amaKristu athi, “Andikukhathalele ukusindiswa ngaphandle kokuba iqabane lam nabantwana bam basindiswa nam.” Ingathi kubo izulu aliyi kuba lizulu ngaphandle kobukho babo babathanda kakhulu. Ingaba abo baziva ngolo hlobo babuqonda kakuhle ubudlelwane babo noThixo, mayela nokulunga kwaKhe okukhulu nenceba ngakubo? Ingaba balibele ukuba baqanyangelwe ngamaqhina awomeleleyo othando, nozuko nokunyaniseka emsebenzini woMdali noMhlanguli? Izimemo zenceba zibhekiswa kubo bonke; kungathi kuba abahlobo bethu belwala uthando olucengayo loMsindisi, sisuke nathi simke? Ukuhlangulwa komphefumlo kuxabisekile. UKristu uhlawule ixabiso elingenamda ngosindiso lwethu, ngoko akakho onombulelo ngexabiso lalo mbingelelo mkhulu oya kuyidela inceba ayinikayo uThixo kuba abanye bekhetha ukwenza oko. Kwale nto yokuba abanye bewatyeshela amabango aKhe afanelekileyo, imele ukusivusela ekukhuthaleni okukhulu, ukuba simzukise thina ngokwethu uThixo, sibakhokele bonke esinokuba nempembelelo kubo, ukuba balwamkele uthando lwaKhe.ANa 162.1

“Ilanga lalise liphumile phezu kwehlabathi, ukufika kukaLote eTsohare.” Imitha ekhanyayo yentsasa yayingathi ithetha kuphela ngempumelelo noxolo kwizixeko ezisemathafeni. Ukunyakazela kobomi kwaqala ezitratweni; abantu babesiya ngeendawo zabo ezahlukeneyo, bezimisele ukwenza imicimbi okanye iziyolo zemini. Abakhwenyana bakaLote babezonwabisa ngoloyiko nezilumkiso zexhego elinengqondo engasebenzi kakuhle. Ngequbuliso, kungalindelekanga njengokuduma kwezulu kwisibhakabhaka esingenamafu, kwavuka isaqhwithi. UYehova wanisa isalfure nomlilo; kumabhotwe neetempile, kwizindlu zexabiso, kwizitiya namabhoma, nezihlwele ezonwabileyo ezifuna iziyolo, ezaya zagculela abathunywa basezulwini, bonke bagqitywa. Umsi womlilo otshabalalisayo wenyuka njengomsi wedike lomlilo. Intili entle yeSidim yaba ngumqwebedu, indawo eyayingasayi kuphinda yakhiwe okanye imiwe; ubungqina kuzo zonke izizukulwana bokuqiniseka kwezigwebo zikaThixo ngenxa yokreqo.ANa 162.2

Amalangatye awadla izixeko zamathafa athwala ukukhanya kwawo esilumkiso ukuza kufika kweli lethu ixesha. Sifundiswa isifundo esoyikekayo nesindilisekileyo, sokuba, lo gama inceba kaThixo isamnyamezeleumoni,ukho umda abangayi kudlula kuwo abantu besona. Xa uthe wafikelelwa umda lowo, zithi izibabalo zenceba zirhoxiswe, kuze kuqale ulungiselelo logwebo.ANa 162.3

UMhlanguli wehlabathi uthi, kukho izono ezikhulu kunezo iSodom neGomora zatshatyalaliswa ngenxa yazo. Abo basivayo isimemo seendaba ezilungileyo sibizela aboni enguqukweni, baze bangasihoyi, banobutyala phambi kukaThixo obungaphezulu kunobo babemi kwintili yeSidim. Sikhulu ukudlulisa ngakumbi esabo bathi bayamazi uThixo nokuba bayayigcina imithetho yaKhe, ukanti bayamkhanyela uKristu esimilweni sabo nangobomi babo bemihla ngemihla. Xa kukhangelwe kwisilumkiso soMsindisi, isiphelo seSodom sisiyalo esinendili, kungengakuphela kwabo banobutyala bokwenza isono, kodwa kubo bonke abadlalisa ngokukhanya namathuba athunyelwe lizulu.ANa 165.1

INgqina eliyiNyaniso lathi kwibandla lase-Efese: “Noko ke ndinale nto ngakuwe, yokuba uthando lwakho lokuqala walushiyayo. Khumbula ngoko apho uwe usuka khona, uguquke, wenze imisebenzi yokuqala; okanye ndoza kuwe kamsinya, ndisishenxise isiphatho sesibane sakho endaweni yaso, ukuba akuthanga uguquke.” IsiTyhilelo 2:4, 5. UMsindisi ulindele impendulo kwizipho zaKhe zothando noxolelo, ngovelwano olungaphezulu kunolo lushukumisa intliziyo yomzali wasemhlabeni ekuxoleleni unyana olahlekileyo, nohluphekayo. Uyamkhwaza obhadulayo, “Buyelani kum, ndibuyele kuni.” Malaki 3:7. Ukuba lowo wonayo uyaqhubeka nokwala ukulinyamekela ilizwi elimbizayo ngothando olucengayo nolunovelwano, ekugqibeleni uya kushiywa ebumnyameni. Intliziyo ekukade iyidelela inceba kaThixo, iyaqina esonweni, ingabi sayamkela impembelelo yobabalo lukaThixo. Siyoyikeka isiphelo saloo mphefumlo ekuya kuthi ekugqibeleni ukucenga koMsindisi kuthi ngawo, “ubophene nezithixo; myekeni.” Hoseya 4:17. Kuya kuba nokunyamezeleka ngemini yomgwebo okwezixeko zasemathafeni kunokwabo balwazileyo uthando lukaKristu, kodwa bemka bakhetha iziyolo zehlabathi lesono.ANa 165.2

Wena udelela izipho zenceba, cinga ngodederhu lwezenzo ezifumbayo ezichasana nawe ezincwadini zezulu; kuba kukho ingxelo egciniweyo yazo zonke izenzo ezingengcwele zezizwe, zeentsapho, nezabantu ngabanye. UThixo uyanyamezela ngeli lixa ingxelo iqhubeka, waye ebizela enguqukweni ekwalungele ukunika noxolelo; kanti liyeza ixesha xa ingxelo iya kuzala; xa umphefumlo uya kuba usenzile isigqibo; xa, kuya kuthi, ngokukhetha kwakhe umntu,isiphelo sakhe simiselwe. Ngelo xesha kuya kunikwa umqondiso wokuba umgwebo wenziwe.ANa 165.3

Ukhona unobangela wokuba kubekho ukothuka kwinkolo yehlabathi namhlanje. Inceba kaThixo kudlalwe ngayo. Izihlwele zabantu ziwenze into engento umthetho kaYehova, “befundisa iimfundiso eziyimithetho yabantu.” Mateyu 15:9. Ukungakholwa kuyalawula kumabandla amaninzi ezweni lethu; ingekuko ukungakholwa ngendlela ebanzi, njengokukhanyela iBhayibhile ngokuphandle, kodwa ikukukhanyela okwambathiswe ngengubo yobuKristu, ngexesha isingela phantsi ukholo eBhayibhileni njengesiTyhilelo esivela kuThixo. Ukuzinikela okuzingileyo nobungcwele obubalulekileyo bunike indawo ubungqongqo emthethweni obungaphethe nto. Isiphumo, ukreqo nokrexezo luyalawula. UKristu wathi, “Njengoko kwaye kunjalo ngemihla kaLote, . . . kuya kuba kwanjengoko ngemini atyhileka ngayo uNyana woMntu.” Luka 17:28, 30. Ingxelo yamihla le yeziganeko ezidlulayo ingqina ukuzaliseka kwamazwi aKhe. Ilizwe liyakhawuleza ukuvuthwa lilungela intshabalalo. Kungekudala, izibetho zikaThixo ziza kuthululwa, isono naboni batshatyalaliswe.ANa 166.1

UMsindisi wathi: “Zilumkeleni ke, hleze zisindwe iintliziyo zenu kukuzingxala, nakukunxila, nangamaxhala obu bomi, ize loo mini inifikele ngebhaqo. Kuba iya kubazela njengomgibe bonke abahleliyo phezu kwehlabathi lonke”—kubo bonke abamdla wabo umile kweli hlabathi. “Phaphani ngoko, amaxesha onke nikhunga, ukuze kuthiwe nikufanele ukuzisaba zonke ezo zinto ziza kuhla, nokumiswa phambi koNyana woMntu.” Luka 21:34-36.ANa 166.2

Phambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweSodom, uThixo wathumela isigidimi kuLote, “Zisindise ngenxa yomphefumlo wakho. Musa ukubheka emva kwakho, musa ukuma kuwo wonke lo mmandla; zisindise ngokuya entabeni, hleze ubhebhethwe.” Kwalona elo lizwi lesilumkiso laviwa ngabafundi bakaKristu phambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem: Xa nithe nayibona iYerusalem irhawulwe yimikhosi, yazini oko ukuba kusondele ukuphanza kwayo. Ngelo xa mabathi abakwelakwaYuda basabele ezintabeni.” Luka 21:20, 21. Akufuneki balibale bethabatha kwiimpahla zabo, kodwa balisebenzise ngendlela ithuba ukuba basinde.ANa 166.3

Kwakukho ukuphuma, ukwahlukana okucacileyo nabakhohlakeleyo, ukusinda komphefumlo. Kwakunjalo ngemihla kaNowa; ngokunjalo nakuLote; ngokunjalo nakubafundi phambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem; kwaye kuya kuba njalo ngemihla yokugqibela. Kwakhona,ilizwi likaThixoliyavakalakwisigidimi sokulumkisa, libiza abantu ukuba bazahlule kubugwenxa obukhoyo.[166]ANa 166.4

Imeko yenkohlakalo nokreqo eya kubakho ngemihla yokugqibela kwilizwe lenkolo, yaboniswa umprofeti uYohane embonweni weBhabheli, “[loo] mzi mkhulu, ulawula ookumkani bomhlaba.” IsiTyhilelo 17:18. Phambi kokutshatyalaliswa kwawo kuza kubakho ubizo oluphuma ezulwini, “Phumani kuyo, bantu bam, ukuze ningadlelani nayo ngezono zayo, nokuze ningamkeliswa kwizibetho zayo.” IsiTyhilelo 18:4. Njengoko kwakunjalo ngemihla kaNowa noLote, kumele kubekho ukwahlukana nesono kunye naboni. Akumele kubakho ukuvumelana phakathi kukaThixo nehlabathi, kungekho kubuyela emva kuzuzwe ubutyebi behlabathi. “Aninako ukukhonza uThixo nobutyebi.” Mateyu 6:24.ANa 167.1

Njengabahlali kwintili yeSidim, abantu baphupha ngempumelelo noxolo. “Zisindise ngenxa yomphefumlo wakho,” sisilumkiso esiphuma kwingelosi kaThixo; kodwa amanye amazwi avakala esithi, “Musa ukuba nexhala, akukho sizathu sokothuka.” Izihlwele zithi, “Luxolo nokunqaba,” ngeli xesha izulu livakalisa ukuba intshabalalo ekhawulezileyo iza kufika phezu kwabophuli bomthetho. Ngobusuku baphambi kwentshabalalo yazo, izixeko zamathafa zazinxilisa ngeziyolo zagculela uloyiko nezilumkiso zomthunywa kaThixo; kodwa abo bagxeki batshabalala emalangatyeni; ngobo busuku, ucango lwenceba lwavala ngonaphakade kubemi baseSodom abakhohlakeleyo nabangakhathaliyo. UThixo akusayi kusoloko kuhlekiswa ngaYe; akasayi kwenziwa into engento ixesha elide. “Yabona, imini kaYehova iyeza, inobujorha, iphuphuma umsindo, ishushu, ukuba ilenze libe senkangala ilizwe, ibatshabalalise aboni balo kulo.” Isaya 13:9. Inyambalala enkulu yabantu ayiyi kuyifuna inceba kaThixo, ize igutyungelwe yintshabalalo ekhawulezileyo engenakubuyiswa umva. Abo banyamekela isilumkiso baya kuhlala “esitheni lOsenyangweni, [ba]zilalise emthunzini kaSomandla.” Inyaniso yaKhe iya kuba likhaka nengweletshetshe. Banikwe isithembiso, “Ndimanelise ngemihla emide, ndimbonise ukusindisa kwaM.” Ndumiso 91:1, 4, 16.ANa 167.2

ULote wahlala ixesha elifutshane eTsohare. Babakho ubugwenxa nalapho njengaseSodom, waza woyika ukuhlala, hleze isixeko sitshatyalaliswe. Kuthe kungekudala emva koko, iTsohare yagqitywa, ngokwenjongo kaThixo. ULote wahamba waya ezintabeni, wahlala emqolombeni, ehlutywe konke anako, awathi ngenxa yako wafaka usapho lwakhe kwiimpembelelo zesixeko esikhohlakeleyo. Isimilo seentombi zakhe esizele sisono saba sisiphumo sokuzimanya nabantu ababi bala ndawo ikhohlakeleyo. Ukonakalakokuziphatha kwakuthungelene nesimilo sazo kangangokuba zazingakwazi ukwahlula phakathi kokulungileyo nokubi. Isizukulwana sikaLote esikuphela kwaso, amaMowabi nama-Amori, sasingcolile, iintlanga ezinqula izithixo, abavukeli ngakuThixo nentshaba ezimbi zabantu bakaThixo.ANa 167.3

Indlela owawubanzi ngayo umahluko wobomi buka-Abraham kobo bukaLote! Babekhe bangamaqabane, benqula kwisibingelelo esinye behlala omnye ecaleni komnye kwiintente zabo zokuphambukela; kodwa, indlela abohlukana ngayo ngoku! ULote wakhetha iSodom ngenxa yeziyolo zayo nenzuzo yayo. Eshiya isibingelelo sika-Abraham kunye nombingelelo wemihla ngemihla kuThixo ophilayo, wabavela abantwana bakhe ukuba bazixube nabantu abonakeleyo abanqula izithixo; kanti noko wayekugcinile entliziyweni yakhe ukumoyika uThixo, kuba ngaye kuthiwa esiBhalweni uyindoda “elilungisa;” umphefumlo wakhe olungileyo wawucatshukiswa yincoko ebolileyo eyayifika ezindlebeni zakhe yonke imihla, nobundlobongela nokwaphulwa komthetho awayengenawo amandla okubunqanda. Ekugqibeleni wasindiswa njenge“sikhuni esirholwe emlilweni” (Zekariya 3:2), sele ehlutywe zonke izinto awayenazo, ehlungiswe ngenkosikazi nabantwana, ehleli emiqolombeni, njengesilwanyana sasendle embathiswe ngehlazo ebudaleni bakhe, wanikela ehlabathini, hayi uhlanga lwabantu abalungileyo, kodwa izizwe ezibini ezinqula izithixo, ngokuchaseneyo noThixo, esilwa nabantu baKhe, yada yazala indebe yobugwenxa babo, babekelwa intshabalalo. Athi ukuba zibi kweziphumo ezalandela inyathelo elinye elingenabulumko!ANa 168.1

Indoda esisilumko ithi, “Musa ukuzidinisa ngokufuna ubutyebi; yeka okwakho ukuqonda.” “Uyihlisela ishwangusha indlu yakhe obawela inzuzo embi; ke yena othiya isicengo, uya kuphila.” Mizekeliso 23:4; 15:27. Umpostile uPawulos yena uthi, “Ke abo banga bangaba zizityebi, beyela ekuhendweni, nasesibatheni, nasezinkanukweni ezininzi ezibubudenge ezenzakalisayo; zona zibatshonisayo abantu ekonakaleni, nasekutshabalaleni.” 1 Timoti 6:9.ANa 168.2

Ngexesha uLote engena eSodom, wayezimisele ngokupheleleyo ukuba uya kuzigcina emsulwa kubugwenxa nokuthi uya kuyilawula indlu yakhe emva kwakhe. Noko kunjalo, wasilela ngokuncamisileyo. Impembelelo eyonakalisayo eyayimrhangqile yaba negalelo kanye phezu kokholo lwakhe, kwaza ukuhlangana kwabantwana bakhe nabemi baseSodom bawuqamangela umdla wakhe ngandlela ithile kunye nowabo (abemi). Isiphumo siphambi kwethu.ANa 168.3

Baninzi abasayenzayo impazamo enjalo. Ekukhetheni ikhaya bakhangela kakhulu okulungileyo abanokukuzuza emhlabeni, kuneempembelelo zokuziphatha nasekuhlaleni eziya kurhangqa bona neentsapho zabo. Bakhetha indawo entle netyebileyo, okanye bafudukele kwisixeko esikhulayo, ngethemba lokuzuzaenkulu yona impumelelo; kodwa abantwana babo bajikelezwe sisilingo, kuze kuthi amaxesha amaninzi bazenzele amaqabane angafanelekanga ekukhuliseni ubungcwele nokwakhiwa kwesimilo esilungileyo. Umoya wokuziphatha okuyekelelweyo, unomkhwa wokuchasana nempembelelo yabazali. Imizekelo yovukelo ngakubazali kunye negunya lezulu isoloko ikho phambi kolutsha; abaninzi baqhogana nabangenankolo nabangakholwayo, bazibandakanye neentshaba zikaThixo.ANa 169.1

Ekukhetheni ikhaya, uThixo ufuna ukuba siqaphele, kuqala, iimpembelelo zokuziphatha nenkolo eziya kusirhangqa thina neentsapho zethu. Sisenokubekwa kwizikhundla ezisilingayo, kuba abaninzi abanako ukufumana okubarhangqileyo kuyile nto bayifunayo; kuthi lonke ixesha umsebenzi usifuna, uThixo enze ukuba sibe nako ukuma singonakali, ukuba sithi siphaphame sithandaza, sithembele kubabalo lukaKristu. Sekunjalo, akufuneki ukuba sizaneke ngokwezidenge kwiimpembelelo ezingavumelaniyo nokwakhiwa kwesimilo sobuKristu. Xa sithi ngokuzithandela sizibeke kwimo yokuthanda ihlabathi nokungakholwa, asimkholisi uThixo kwaye sizigxothela kude iingelosi emakhayeni ethu.ANa 169.2

Abo bafumanela abantwana babo ubutyebi behlabathi nozuko lwalo bencama izinto ezibalulekileyo ezingunaphakade, baya kufumanisa ukuba ekugqibeleni ezi zinto zintle ziyilahleko enkulu. NjengoLote, abaninzi bababona abantwana babo besonakala, kubanzima ukuyisindisa imiphefumlo yabo. Umsebenzi wobomi babo ulahlekile; ubomi babo bukukusilela okulusizi. Ukuba bebesebenzise ubulumko benyaniso, abantwana babo bebeyakuqinisekiswa ngentlonipho kwilifa elingafiyo.ANa 169.3

Ilifa uThixo athembise ngalo abantu baKhe alikho kulo mhlaba. UAbraham wayengenanto emhlabeni, “kwanendawo engangonyawo.” Zenzo 7:5. Wayenezinto ezininzi, wazisebenzisa ukuzukisa uThixo nokulungelwa kwabazalwana bakhe; akalikhangela eli lizwe njengekhaya lakhe. UYehova wayembizile ukuba ashiye abantu bezwe lakhe ababekhonza izithixo, enesithembiso selizwe laseKanan njengeliya kuba lelakhe ngonaphakade; ukanti yena nonyana wakhe, nonyana wonyana wakhe, abazange balizuze. Wathi xa uAbraham efuna indawo yokungcwabela abakhe abafileyo, kwafuneka eyithenge kumaKanan. Into ekuphela kwayo awayenayo kwilizwe leDinga yayilingcwaba elixholwe etyeni emqolombeni kaMakapela.ANa 169.4

Noko ke, ilizwi likaThixo alisilelanga; futhi lingekafiki ekufezekeni ngokumiwakweKananngabantuabangamaYuda. “Enziwa ke kuye uAbraham amadinga, nakuyo imbewu yakhe.” Galati 3:16. UAbraham naye wayeza kwabelana (nabanye) ngelifa. Ukuzaliseka kwesithembiso sikaThixo kungakhangeleka kulibele ixesha elide, kuba “imini enye injengeminyaka eliwaka, neminyaka eliwaka injengemini enye” (2 Petros 3:8); ingaba ngathi iyalibala; kodwa ngexesha elimisiweyo“uya kuza, awuyi kubuya umva.” Habhakuk 2:3. Isipho esanikwa uAbraham asaneli kuba lilizwe laseKanan, kodwa ngumhlaba wonke uphela. Uthi ngoko umpostile, “Ukumbeka ngedinga uAbraham, nokuba yimbewu yakhe, lokuba yindlalifa yalo ihlabathi, bekungengamthetho; bekungobulungisa bokholo.” Roma 4:13. IBhayibhile ifundisa ngokucacileyo ukuba amadinga awenziwa kuAbraham aya kuzalisekiswa ngoKristu. Bonke abakuKristu “yimbewu ka-Abraham ngoko, nendlalifa ngokwedinga,”-- iindlalifa “[ze]lifa elingenakonakala, elingenakudyobheka, elingenakuguga” umhlaba ongenaso isiqalekiso sesono. Galati 3:29; 1 Petros 1:4. Kuba “ubukumkani, negunya, nobukhulu bezikumkani phantsikwamazulu onke, buya kunikwa abantu abangcwele bOsenyangweni;” “[a]balulamileyo baya kulidla ilifa ilizwe, baziyolise ngobuninzi boxolo.” Daniyeli 7:27; Ndumiso 37:11.ANa 170.1

UThixo wamnika uAbraham umbono weli lifa lingenakonakala, waza waneliswa leli themba. “Ngokholo waba ngumphambukeli emhlabeni wedinga, wanga ukowasemzini, ehleli eminqubeni, ndawonye noIsake noYakobi, beziindlalifa zalo elo dinga ndawonye naye; kuba wayewulindele umzi lo uneziseko, ungcibi, umbangi wawo, inguThixo. Hebhere 11:9, 10.ANa 170.2

Ngenzala ka-Abraham kubhaliwe kwathiwa, “Aba bonke bafa ngokokholo, bengawafumananga amadinga; besuka bawabona kude, bakholosa, bathakazela bavuma ukuba bangabasemzini, balundwendwe emhlabeni.” Indima 13. Simele ukuba sihlale njengabahambi nabasemzini apha ukuba sifuna ukuzuza “elona lilungileyo, oko kukuthi, kwelasemazulwini.” Indima 16. Abo bangabantwana baka-Abraham baya kufuna isixeko awayekhangele kuso, “ungcibi, umbangi wawo, inguThixo.”ANa 170.3