17—Ukusaba Nokuba Yimbacu KukaYakobi

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiGenesis 28 ukuya 31]

Ethenjiswe ngokufa ngengqumbo kaEsawu, uYakobi walishiya ikhaya likayise wabhaca; kodwa wayehamba ethwele intsikelelo kayise; uIsake wayesihlaziyile kuye isithembiso somnqophiso, waza wamndulula, njengendlalifa yaso, ukuba aye kufuna umfazi kubantu bakulonina eMesopotami. Sekunjalo, uYakobi waphuma ngentliziyo ekhathazeke kakhulu ukuya kuhambo lobulolo. Enentonga yakhe kuphela esandleni sakhe, kufuneka ahambe amakhulu eemayile enqumla kwilizwe elimiwe ziintlanga ezindlongondlongo ezazingabantu abajikelezayo. Kwisazela nakubuphakuphaku bakhe, wazama ukubaphepha abantu, hleze azingelwe ngumntakwabo onomsindo. Wayesoyika ukuthi unokuba uyilahle ngonaphakade intsikelelo uThixo awayejonge ukumnika yona; waye ekufuphi uSathana ukuba anyanzele izilingo phezu kwakhe.ANa 183.1

Ubusuku bosuku lwesibini bamfumana ekude kwiintente zikayise. Waziva engolahliweyo, wayazi into yokuba yonke le nkathazo ize phezu kwakhe ngenxa yendlela yakhe engalunganga. Ithunzi lokuncama lathi zinzi phezu komphefumlo wakhe, kwanzima nokuthandaza. Wayelilolo ngokupheleleyo wada waziva eludinga ukhuselo oluvela kuThixo ngaphezu kokuba wakha walufuna ngaphambili. Wathi ngesikhalo nokuzithoba okukhulu, wasivuma isono sakhe, wacengela ukuba afumane ubungqina bokuba akashiywanga ngokupheleleyo. Noko kunjalo, intliziyo yakhe esindwa ngumthwalo ayizange ikhululeke. Wayelilahle lonke ithemba kwisiqu sakhe, esoyikela ukuba uThixo wooyise umlahlile.ANa 183.2

UThixo wayengamshiyanga uYakobi. Inceba yaKhe wayesayolulele kumkhonzi waKhe owonayo, nongathembekanga. UYehova, ngovelwano, watyhila le nto kanye uYakobi wayeyidinga: uMsindisi. Wayonile, kodwa intliziyo yakhe yazaliswa ngumbulelo xa wayebona indlela awayenokuthi ngayo abuyiselwe eluthandweni lukaThixo.ANa 183.3

Wathi ediniwe luhambo, umsabi wangqengqa phantsi emhlabeni, eqamele ngelitye. Wathi elele, wabona ileli, ibengezela ikhanya, iinyawo zayo zimi emhlabeni, lo gama phezulu ifikelele ezulwini. Kule leli, Iingelosi zazinyukazisihla; phezukwayo kwakukho iNkosi yozuko, kwaza ezulwini kwavakala ilizwi: “NdinguYehova, uThixo ka-Abraham uyihlo, uThixo kaIsake.” Umhlaba awayengqengqe kuwo, njengembacu nesibhadubhadu, wayewuthenjisiwe, yena nenzala yakhe, ngesiqinisekiso, “Zisikelelwe ngawe nangembewu yakho zonke izizwe zehlabathi.” Esi sithembiso sasenziwe kuAbraham nakuIsake, ngoku sihlaziywa kuYakobi. Ngoko, ngokubhekisele ngendlela eyodwa kubulolo nokukhathazeka kwexesha elo, kwathethwa amazwi entuthuzelo nenkuthazo: “Yabona, ndinawe; ndiya kukugcina naphi apho uya khona, ndikubuyisele kulo mhlaba; ngokuba andiyi kukushiya, ndide ndikwenze oko ndikuthethileyo kuwe.”ANa 184.1

UYehova wayezazi iimpembelelo ezaziya kumrhangqa uYakobi, kwaneengozi awayeza kujongana nazo. Ngenceba, wayibonisa ixesha elizayo imbacu eguqukayo, ukuze iyiqonde injongo yezulu ngokubhekiselele kuyo, ukuze ikulungele ukumelana nezihendo ezaziqinisekile ukuba ziya kuza kuye xa eyedwa phakathi kwabakhonzi bezithixo, kwanabantu abaceba okubi. Kwakuya kuhlala kukho phambi kwakhe umgangatho ophezulu ekufuneka exunele kuwo; nolwazi ekwakusithi ngaye injongo kaThixo ifikelele ekufezekisekeni, luze luhlale lumkhuthaza ukuba anyaniseke.ANa 184.2

Kulo mbono, icebo lokuhlangulwa landlalwa kuYakobi, lingaphelelanga, kodwa ngeendawo ezazifuneka kuye ngelo xesha. Ileli entsonkothileyo eyatyhilwa ephupheni yayinye naleyo uKristu wabhekisa kuyo kwintetho yaKhe noNathaniyeli. Wathi, “Emveni koku niya kulibona izulu livulekile, nezithunywa zikaThixo zinyuka zisihla phezu koNyana woMntu.” Yohane 1:51. Ukuya kufika kwixesha lovukelo lomntu kulawulo lukaThixo, kwakukho ukuxhumana okukhululekileyo phakathi kukaThixo nomntu. Isono sika-Adam sawahlula umhlaba ezulwini, ukuze umntu angakwazi ukuxhumana noMenzi wakhe. Noko kunjalo, ilizwe alizange lishiywe kwimo yokuba libe lodwa lingenathemba. Ileli imele uYesu, Onyuliweyo ukuba abe sisixhobo sokuxhumana. Ukuba wayengathanga ngokwaKhe ukulunga wawuvala umwonyo owenziwa sisono, iingelosi ezilungiselelayo ngezingazange zixhumane nomntu owileyo. UKristu uhlanganisa umntu kubuthakathaka nokungabi nakuzinceda kunye nethende lamandla angenasiphelo.ANa 184.3

Konke oku kwakutyhiliwe kuYakobi ephupheni lakhe. Nangona ingqondo yakhe yakhawuleza yabamba inxalenye yesityhilelo, iinyaniso zaso ezinkulu neziyimfihlelo, zazizezokufundwa ubomi bonke, zondlaleka ekubeni azazi ngakumbi nangakumbi.ANa 184.4

UYakobi waphaphama ebuthongweni bakhe kwinzulu yobusuku obuzolileyo. Iziqu zasembonweni ezibengezelayo ezikumila komntu zazinyamalele. Kuphela kwakubonakala mfiliba isiphelo seenduli ezimi ngokwamalolo, ngaphezulu kwazo amazulu ekhanya ziinkwenkwezi, awaya waziqwalasela. Wayenayo into ezukileyo ethi, uThixo wayenaye. Ubukho obungabonwayo babanelisa ubulolo bakhe. “Kunjenje ke, uYehova ukho kule ndawo,” watsho, “kanti ke mna bendingazi. . . . yindlu kaThixo le, ayinto yimbi; lisango lamazulu eli.”ANa 187.1

“Wavuka uYakobi kwakusasa, walithabatha ilitye abelibeke phantsi kwentloko yakhe, walimisa lasisimiso, wathulula ioli phezu kwalo.” Ngokuhambelana nesiko lokukhunjulwa kweziganeko ezibalulekileyo, uYakobi wamisa isikhumbuzo senceba kaThixo, ukuze athi, lonke ixesha edlula kuloo ndlela, akhe aphumle kule ndawo ingcwele ukuba anqule uYehova. Wayibiza indawo leyo ukuba yiBheteli, okanye “indlu kaThixo.” Wathi enombulelo onzulu, wasiphinda isithembiso sokuba ubukho bukaThixo buya kuba naye; waza ngoko wenza isifungo esindilisekileyo, esithi, “Ukuba uThixo uthe waba nam, wandigcina kuyo le ndlela ndiyihambayo, wandinika isonka ndadla, nengubo ndambatha, ndabuyela endlwini kabawo ndinoxolo: uYehova woba nguThixo wam, neli litye ndilimisileyo lasisimiso loba yindlu kaThixo; neento zonke othe wandinika, ndokunika isishumi sazo.”ANa 187.2

Apha uYakobi wayengafuni ukubeka imiqathango yakhe kuThixo. UYehova wayesele emthembisile ngenzala, isifungo sakhe saye siphuma kwintliziyo eyayizaliswe ngumbulelo ngenxa yesiqinisekiso senceba nothando lukaThixo. UYakobi weva ngathi uThixo unamabango kuye ekufuneka ewavumile, nokuba imiqondiso eyodwa okuthandwa lizulu ayinikiweyo yayinyanzelisa ukuba abe nembuyekezo. Injalo yonke intsikelelo ebekwe phezu kwethu ukufuna ukuba kuphendulwe kwiMbangi yazo zonke iinceba zethu. UmKristu kufuneka asoloko ebuhlola ubomi bakhe obudlulileyo akhumbule, enombulelo, ukuhlangulwa okuxabisekileyo uThixo awamenzela kona, emxhasa ekulingweni, emvulela iindlela phambi kwakhe xa konke kwakumnyama, kusala, emhlaziya naxa selungele ukuwa. Kufuneka zonke ezo zinto aziqonde njengezibonakaliso zokwaluswa zizithunywa zezulu. Ngenxa yezi ntsikelelo zingenakubalwa, kufuneka azibuze rhoqo, ngentliziyo ethobekileyo nenombulelo, “Ndingambuyisela ngantoni na uYehova konke ukundiphatha kwakhe kakuhle?” Ndumiso 116:12.ANa 187.3

Ixesha lethu, iitalente zethu, iimpahla zethu, zimelwe ukunikelwa njengezingcwele kuYe, Osinike ezi ntsikelelo ukuba sizigcine. Ngalo lonkeixesha kusenziwa uhlangulo ngendlela eyodwangenxa yethu, okanye sinikwe uthando nolungalindelekanga, simele sivume ukulunga kukaThixo, kungekuphela ukwenza umbulelo ngamazwi, kodwa, njengoYakobi, ngezipho neminikelo emsebenzini waKhe. Njengoko sithe rhoqo sisamkela iintsikelelo kuThixo, kufuneka senjenjalo nokuthi rhoqo sinikela.ANa 187.4

“Neento zonke othe wandinika,” watsho uYakobi, “ndokunika isishumi sazo.” Ingaba thina abaxhamla ukukhanya okupheleleyo namalungelo egospile singaneliseka kukunikela ngaphantsi kuThixo kunokuba banikela abo babephila kwixesha elalinokukhanya okunganeno? Nakanye, njengoko iintsikelelo esizixhamlayo zingaphezulu, ingaba okulindeleke kuthi akwandanga ngokulinganayo? Indlela okukuncinane ngayo ukuxabisa kwethu! ukungabinto kokulinganisa kwethu ngokwemithetho yezibalo, ixesha, imali, uthando, xa kuthelekiswa nothando olungako olungenamlinganiselo, kunye nesipho esinexabiso elingako elingazange lacingwa. Izishumi kuKristu! Owu! ukuba kuncinane nokuba ziintloni kwesikubuyisayo ngoko kube nexabiso elingako! Esemnqamlezweni waseKhalvari, uKristu ufuna ukuzinikela okupheleleyo. Konke esinako, nako konke esikuko, kufuneka kunikelwe kuThixo.ANa 188.1

Wathi enokholo olutsha noluzinzileyo kwizithembiso zezulu, enayo nengqiniseko yobukho nobokwaluswa ziingelosi zasezulwini, uYakobi waqhubeka nohambo lwakhe ukuya “ezweni labasempumlanga.” Genesis 29:1. Umahluko ongako wokufika kwakhe koko komthunywa ka-Abraham kwiminyaka elikhulu ngaphambili! Isicaka safika sinomqokozo wabahamba naso bekhwele iinkamela, bephethe izipho zegolide nesilivere; unyana wayengumhambi olilolo, odumbe iinyawo, engenanto ngaphandle kwentonga yakhe yokwalusa. Njengomkhonzi ka-Abraham, uYakobi waphumla ngasequleni, kwaza kwaba lapho awahlangana khona noRakeli, intombazana encinane kaLabhan. YayinguYakobi ngoku owayesebenza, eqengqa ilitye equleni eseza imihlambi. Ekwaziseni kwakhe ukuzalana kwakhe, wamkelwa kwikhaya likaLabhan. Nangona wayefike engenasabelo, engenabo nabakhonzi, iiveki ezimbalwa zalibonisa ixabiso lokukhuthala nobuchule bakhe, waza wakhuthazwa ukuba ahlale. Kwavunyelwana ukuba amnike uLabhan inkonzo yeminyaka esixhenxe ukuze atshate uRakeli.ANa 188.2

Ngamaxesha angaphambili isiko lalifuna ukuba umyeni, phambi kokuba kuqinisekiswe ukunikelwa kokutshata, ahlawule isixa esithile semali okanye impahla elingana nayo, ngokweemeko zakhe, ayinike uyise womfazi wakhe. Le ntlawulo yayithatyathwa njengesikhuselo solwalamano lomtshato. Ooyise babengacingi ukuba kuyinto ekhuselekileyo ukuyekela iintombi zabo kumadoda angenzanga msindleko wokuxhasa usapho. Ukuba babengenalo uqoqosho olwaneleyo kunye namandla okulawulaishishini bazuze iinkomo okanye imihlaba, kwakusoyikelwa ukuba ubomi babo buya kubonakala bungenaxabiso. Wawenziwe wona umsindleko wokuvavanya abo babengenanto yokuhlawulela abafazi babo. Babevunyelwa ukuba basebenzele nzima ooyise abantombi zabo ababezithanda, ubude bexesha bulawulwa lixabiso lekhazi elifunwayo. Ukuba lowo ufuna intombi wayekhuthele emsebenzini wakhe, wazibonakalalisa ukuba nakwezinye iinkalo ufanelekile, wayeyifumana intombi njengomfazi wakhe; kuthi ke ikhazi alifumeneyo uyise, linikwe intombi leyo xa kutshatwayo. Kwimeko yabo bobabini, uRakeli noLeya, uLabhan waligcina ngomona ikhazi awayemele ukubanika; babebhekisa kule nto xa babesithi, kanye phambi kokuba banduluke eMesopotami, “Uthengise ngathi, wamana eyidla nemali yethu.”ANa 188.3

Isiko lakudala, nangona maxa wambi laliphathwa kakubi, njengakuLabhan, laliba neziphumo ezihle. Xa kwakufunwa ukuba umkhwenyana asebenze ukuze amzuze umtshakazi, kwakuthintelwa umtshato okhawulezileyo, nokuqinisekisa ubunzulu bothando lwakhe, kwakunye nokubona isakhono sokuxhasa usapho. Ngala maxesha ethu, ububi obuninzi buyenzeka ngenxa yokulandela khondo limbi. Kuyenzeka ukuba phambi kokuba abantu batshate, babe nethuba elincinane lokuqhela imikhwa kunye nokuthandwa ngomnye, kuthi, ngokwasebomini bemihla ngemihla, ngexesha bezimanya esibingelelweni, babe, ngokwenene, bengaqhelananga. Abaninzi bafumana sekusemva kakhulu ukuba abafanelananga omnye nomnye, ukuze ukumanyana kwabo kube nesiphumo sosizi bonke ubomi babo. Amaxesha amaninzi, umfazi nabantwana babangamaxhoba okudangala nokungasebenzi kakuhle okanye bemikhwa yenkohlakalo yomyeni noyise. Ukuba isimilo somceli kutshatwa sasivavanywe kwaphambi komtshato, ngokwesiko lakudala, ukungonwabi okukhulu ngekwakuthintelwe.ANa 189.1

Iminyaka esixhenxe yenkonzo enyanisekileyo uYakobi awayinikayo ngenxa kaRakeli, neminyaka awayisebenzayo, “yanga yimihla embalwa emehlweni akhe, ngenxa yokumthanda kwakhe.” Sekunjalo, uLabhan owayefunela kuye konke nowayethanda ukurhwaphiliza, ngokulangazelela ukumgcina umncedi oxabiseke kangako, wenza inkohliso ekhohlakeleyo ngokubeka uLeya esikhundleni sikaRakeli. Into yokuba noLeya ngokwakhe abe yinxalenye yokumqhatha, yamenza ukuba uYakobi azive engenako ukumthanda. Ukukhalimela kwakhe uLabhan ngengqumbo, kwahlangatyezwa ngokuthi makanikele enye inkonzo yeminyaka esixhenxe ngenxa kaRakeli. Noko kunjalo, uyise wema kwelokuba uLeya angalahlwa, njengokuba oko kwakuya kuzisa ihlazo ekhayeni. UYakobi waba ubekwa kweyona meko ibuhlungu nesisilingo; kodwa wagqiba ekubeni amgcine uLeya amtshate noRakeli. URakeli wahlalaengoyena amthandakakhulu; kwazaukumxabisa kwakhe kwavusa umona nekhwele, baza ubomi bakhe benziwa baba krakra ngenxa yokungavani koodade abangabafazi [bakhe].ANa 189.2

Amashumi amabini eminyaka uYakobi wahlala eMesopotami, esebenzela uLabhan nzima, owathi, ngokungakhathaleli amaqhina okuzalana, wazimisela ukuzizuzela kuye konke okulungileyo okufumaneka ngokuhlangana kwabo. Wafuna ishumi elinesine leminyaka ngeentombi zakhe; kwaza kwathi ngexesha eliseleyo, umvuzo kaYakobi watshintshwa kalishumi. Sekunjalo, inkonzo kaYakobi yaba yekhutheleyo nenyanisekileyo. Amazwi akhe kuLabhan kwintethwano yabo yokugqibela, akuchaza ngokucacileyo ukukhuthala okungethi mandla awakunikela kokuthandwa yinkosi yakhe eyayimphethe kakubi: “Le minyaka imashumi mabini bendinawe; iimazi zakho zeegusha, neemazi zeebhokhwe aziphunzanga, neenkunzi zempahla yakho emfutshane andizidlanga. Into eqwengiweyo andiyizisanga kuwe, ndayimisela ngokwam; wayibiza esandleni sam nokuba ibiwe emini, nokuba ibiwe ebusuku. Emini ndadliwa bubushushu, ebusuku yingqele; ubuthongo bam, bemka emehlweni am.”ANa 190.1

Kwakufuneka ukuba umalusi awugcine umhlambi imini nobusuku. Wawusengozini yamatutu, nezilwanyana zasendle, ezazininzi zikhohlakele, zikholisa ukwenza isaqunge kwimihlambi engaluswanga ngokuthembekileyo. UYakobi wayenabancedisi abaliqela bokukhathalela umhlambi omkhulu kaLabhan, kodwa uxanduva lokuphendula ngawo wonke lwalukuye ngokwakhe. Ngamaxesha athile onyaka, kwakufuneka ukuba asoloko esemihlambini yena ubuqu, ukuyalusa ngexesha lokunqaba kwamanzi ukuze zingatshabalali lunxano, nangexesha lezona nyanga zibandayo ukuze zingabethwa yiqabaka enzima yasebusuku. UYakobi wayengumalusi oyintloko; abalusi abamsebenzelayo bengabalusi abangaphantsi kwakhe [basemhlabeni]. Ukuba kwakunokulahleka enye yezimvu, umalusi oyintloko wayelahlekelwa; aze abize abalusi obekwe ezandleni zabo umhlambi ukuba awujonge ukuba anike ingxelo engqongqo ukuba ayifunyanwanga ikwimo efanelekileyo.ANa 190.2

Ubomi bomalusi bokukhuthala nokukhathalela [imfuyo], nemfesane yothando kwizidalwa ezingenakuzinceda, ezibekwe kuye ukuba azijonge, zizinto ezasetyenziswayo ngababhali abaphefumlelweyo ukubonisa ezinye zeenyaniso zegospile ezinexabiso. UKristu, kulwalamano lwaKhe nabantu baKhe, uthelekiswa nomalusi. Emva kokuWa, wazibona izimvu zaKhe zijongene nokutshabalala kwiindlela ezimnyamazesono. Ukuzeasindise ezi zibhadulayo, washiya iimbeko nobuqaqawuli bendlu kaYise. Uthi, “Ezilahlekileyo ndiya kuzifuna, ndibuyise eziziintsali, ndibophe ezaphukileyo, ndizomeleze ezifayo.” “Ndowusindisa umhlambi wam, ungabi saba lixhoba;” “angabadli amarhamncwa elizwe.” Hezekile 34:16, 22, 28. Ilizwi laKhe livakala lizibizela kubuhlanti baKhe, “Sibe ngumnquba ongumthunzi emini, ekubaleleni, sibe yindawo yokuzimela nokusithela esiphangweni nasemvuleni.” Isaya 4:6. Ukukhathalela kwaKhe umhlambi waKhe akudinwa. Uyazomeleza ezibuthakathaka, azikhulule ezigulayo, aziwolele ezingalweni zaKhe iimvana, azibeke esifubeni saKhe. Izimvu zaKhe ziyamthanda. “Ke owasemzini azingemlandeli; zosuka zimbaleke, ngokuba zingalazi izwi labasemzini.” Yohane 10:5.ANa 190.3

UKristu wathi, “Umalusi olungileyo, ubomi bakhe ubuncamela izimvu. Ke yena ongumqeshwa, engengumalusi, ezingezizo ezakhe izimvu, uyibona ingcuka isiza, azishiye izimvu, abaleke, ize ingcuka izibambe, izichithachithe izimvu. Umqeshwa lo ke ubaleka ngokuba engumqeshwa, engazikhathalele izimvu. Ndim umalusi olungileyo; ndiyazazi ezam, ndiyaziwa zezam.” Iindima 11-14.ANa 191.1

UKristu, uMalusi oyiNtloko, unikele ukukhathalelwa komhlambi waKhe kubafundisi baKhe njengabalusi basemhlabeni; waye ebathuma ukuba babonise umdla awawubonisayo naYe, bazive benomthwalo womsebenzi awunikele kubo. Ngendlela endilisekileyo, ubayalele ukuba bathembeke, bawondle umhlambi, bomeleze ababuthakathaka, bavuselele abatyhafileyo, babakhusele kwiingcuka eziqwengayo.ANa 191.2

Ukusindisa izimvu zaKhe, uKristu wabubeka phantsi ubomi baKhe; aze akhombise abalusi baKhe ukuba olo thando lwabonakaliswa ngolo hlobo, njengomzekelo abawunikiweyo. Uthi, “Yena ongumqeshwa, . . ., ezingezizo ezakhe izimvu, akanawo ngokwenene umdla kuzo izimvu. Usebenzela nje inzuzo, ukhathalele kuphela isiqu sakhe. Ukhangela eyakhe inzuzo kuphela endaweni yokuba nomdla koko amiswe ukuba akwenze; usuka athi, ngexesha lentlekele okanye ingozi, asuke abaleke, awushiye umhlambi.ANa 191.3

Umpostile uPetros, uyabaluleka abalusi basemhlabeni: “Waluseni umhlambi kaThixo ophakathi kwenu, niwuvelela, kungenga-kunyanzelwa, makube ngokokuzithandela; kungengenxa yenzuzo embi, makube ngokuthumekelela; kungabi njengabazigagamelayo izahlulo zawo, yibani yimizekelo kumhlambi.” 1 Petros 5:2, 3. Athi yenauPawulos, “Zilumkeleni ngoko, nawo wonke umhlambi, athe uMoya Oyingcwele wanimisa ukuba ngabaveleli bawo, ukuba nilaluse ibandla likaThixo, awazizuzelayo ngelilelakhe igazi. Kuba mna ndiyakwazi oku, ukuba emva kokumka kwam, kuya kungena phakathi kwenu iingcuka ezibawayo, zingawucongi umhlambi.” Zenzo 20:28, 29.ANa 191.4

Bonke abawuthabatha njengomsebenzi ongamkelekanga, lo wokukhathalela nokuthwala imithwalo, owenziwa ngumalusi othembekileyo, baya khalinyelwa ngumpostile, uthi: “kungenga-kunyanzelwa, makube ngokokuzithandela; kungengenxa yenzuzo embi, makube ngokuthumekelela.” 1 Petros 5:2. Bonke abakhonzi abanganyanisekanga, uMalusi oyiNtloko uya kubakhulula ngokulula. Ibandla likaKristu lithengwe ngegazi laKhe, kwaye wonke umalusi kufuneka aqonde ukuba, izimvu eziphantsi kweliso lakhe, zithengwe ngombingelelo ongenamda. Kufuneka awuthabathe, ngelithi, [umphefumlo] ngamnye kuwo [umhlambi], ixabiso lawo alinakulinganiswa, ngoko ke, kufuneka ukuba angadinwa kwimizamo yakhe yokuwugcina ukwimeko esempilweni, neqhamayo. Umalusi ozaliswe ngumoya kaKristu, uya kulinganisa umzekelo waKhe ozincamayo, ezingisa ukusebenzela nzima ukuhamba kakuhle komsebenzi wakhe; uze umhlambi ukhule phantsi kwenkathalelo yakhe.ANa 192.1

Bonke kuya kufuneka banike ingxelo engqongqo ngomsebenzi wabo. INkosi iya kubuza kuye wonke umalusi, “Uphi na umhlambi obuwunikiwe, impahla yakho emfutshane entle?” Yeremiya 13:20. Lowo ufunyenwe ethembekile, uya kuzuza umvuzo omhle. “Nothi, akubonakala uMalusi oyintloko, nisifumane isithsaba salo uzuko esingabuniyo.” 1 Petros 5:4.ANa 192.2

Wathi uYakobi, ediniwe yinkonzo abeyinika umkhwe wakhe, wacela ukuba abuyele eKanan, wathi kumkhwe wakhe, “Ndindulule ndiye endaweni yakowethu, ezweni lakowethu. Ndinike abafazi bam nabantwana bam, endikukhonze ngenxa yabo, ndihambe; kuba wena uyayazi inkonzo yam endikukhonze ngayo.” ULabhan wamkhuthaza ukuba ahlale, esithi, “Ndityhilelwe ukuthi ndihlume ndatsho ndasisinhanha ngenxa yokuba uNdikhoyo ekusikelele,” (IBHAYIBHILE). Wabona ukuba impahla yakhe iyanda phantsi kokukhathalelwa ngumkhwenyana wakhe.ANa 192.3

Wathi uYakobi, “Obunayo ndingekafiki yabe imbalwa, ngoku [yandile] yaninzi.” Kwathi ngokuhamba kwexesha, uLabhan wanqwenela impumelelo enkulu kaYakobi, indoda eyaya “yanda . . . kakhulu kunene, yaba nempahla emfutshane eninzi, nabakhonzazana, nabakhonzi, neenkamela, namaesile.” Oonyana bakaLabhan bangenwa ngumona kayise, zaza iintetho zabo ezimbi zavakala ezindlebeni zikaYakobi. Babesithi: “Uzithabathile zonke izinto abenazo ubawo; ubenze ngezinto zikabawoobubutyebi bakhe bonke.WabubonauYakobiubusobukaLabhan, nabo bungenjengezolo nezoloelinyekuye.”ANa 192.4

UYakobi ngewasishiya isizalwana sakhe esinobuqhophololo kwakudala ukuba wayengoyiki ukuhlangana no-Esawu. Waziva ngoku esengozini koonyana bakaLabhan, abathi, ngokukhangela ubutyebi njengobabo, bazama ukubufumana ngobungonyama. Waba nokudideka nokukhathazeka okukhulu, engazi ukuba makabheke ngaphi. Waya wathi ezaliswe yinkumbulo yesithembiso senceba saseBheteli, wawuthwalela umcimbi wakhe kuThixo, wafuna inkokelo yaKhe. Ephupheni, waphendulwa umthandazo wakhe: “Buyela ezweni likayihlo, kwelokuzalwa kwakho; ndoba nawe.”ANa 193.1

Ukungabikho kukaLabhan kwamnika ithuba lokuhamba. Imihlambi yempahla emfutshane neenkomo yaqokelelwa ngokukhawuleza yakhokeliswa phambili, yangabafazi, abantwana, nabakhonzi, uYakobi wanqumla umlambo iEfrata, wahamba ngendlela esinga eGiliyadi, kwimida yeKanan. Emva kweentsuku ezintathu, uLabhan weva ngokusaba kwabo, wasukela, walifumana iqela labo ngosuku lwesixhenxe. Wayevutha ngumsindo, ezimisele ukubanyanzela ukuba babuye, nto leyo awayengethandabuzi ukuba angakwazi angayenza, njengoko ibutho lakhe laliqine kakhulu. Abasabi, ngokwenene, babesengozini enkulu.ANa 193.2

Ukuze angayenzi inkohlakalo awayejonge ukuyenza, kwakungenxa yokuba uThixo ngokwaKhe wangenelela ukukhusela umkhonzi waKhe. “Kusemandleni esandla sam ukunenza ububi,” watsho uLabhan, “ke uThixo kayihlo uthethe nam phezolo, esithi, Zilumkele ungathethi nto noYakobi, nokuba yelungileyo nokuba yembi;” oko kukuthi, akufuneki amnyanzele ukuba abuye, okanye amkhuthaze ngezinto ezikhohlisayo.ANa 193.3

ULabhan wayelibambile ikhazi leentombi zakhe, wasoloko emphethe uYakobi ngamaqhinga nangokumcinezela; kodwa ngokwesiqhelo sakhe sokuzenza into angeyiyo, wamkhalimela ngokuhamba kwakhe emfihlakalweni, nto leyo engazange imnike ithuba, njengoyise, lokuba enze isidlo sokunduluka okanye abulise kwiintombi zakhe nabantwana bazo. Ukuphendula, uYakobi wakubeka kwacaca ukuba, kungenxa yomona kaLabhan nomthetho wakhe okhohlakeleyo, waza wabhenela kwakuye ukuba abe lingqina lokunyaniseka nokuthembeka kwakhe. “Koko uThixo kabawo, uThixo ka-Abraham, Ohlonelwa nguIsake, waba nam,” watsho uYakobi, “inene unge undindulule ndilambatha ngoku. UThixo uzibonile iintsizi zam nokuxelenga kwezandla zam, wakohlwaya phezolo.”ANa 193.4

ULabhan akazange akwazi ukukuphikakonke okuthethwayo, waza ngoku wacebisa ukungena emnqophisweni woxolo. UYakobi walivuma icebiso, kwaza kwabekwa imfumba yamatye yakhiwa yangumqondiso wesivumelwano. Le ntsika, uLabhan wayinika igama lokuba yiMizpha, “imboniselo,” esithi, “Makabonisele uYehova phakathi kwam nawe, sakuba sisithelene.”ANa 194.1

“ULabhan wathi kuYakobi, Yabona le mfumba, yabona esi simiso ndisiphakamisileyo phakathi kwam nawe; ingqina yile mfumba, ingqina sesi simiso, ukuba andiyi kugqitha mna kule mfumba ndiye kuwe, ukuba akuyi kugqitha wena kule mfumba nakwesi simiso uze kum, senzane ububi. UThixo ka-Abraham uThixo kaNahore, uThixo woyise wabo, makagwebe phakathi kwethu. UYakobi wafunga Ohlonelwa nguyise uIsake.” Ukuqinisekisa isivumelwano, amaqela enza isidlo. Ubusuku bachithwa ngobudlelwane bobuhlobo; kwathi ekuseni ngaloo mini, uLabhan neqela lakhe banduluka. Ngoku kwahlukana, lwaba lufikelela esiphelweni lonke uqhagamshelwano phakathi kwabantwana baka-Abraham nabahlali baseMesopotami.ANa 194.2