Abantu baseYiputa, ukuze bakwazi ukufumana ukutya ngexesha lendlala, bathengisa kukumkani iinkomo nemihlaba yabo, baza ekugqibeleni bazibophelela ebukhobokeni obungenasiphelo. UYosefu, ngobulumko, wenza umsindleko wokubakhulula; wabavumela ukuba babe ngabahlali bakwakumkani, bayibambele ukumkani imihlaba yabo, bahlawule irhafu engangenxenye kwezintlanu kwisivuno abasifumeneyo ngokusebenza kwabo.ANa 241.1

Abantwana bakaYakobi akuzange banyanzeleke ukuba babe phantsi kwemeko emiselwe amaYiputa. Ngenxa yomsebenzi owenziwe nguYosefu kwisizwe saseYiputa, bona abazange banele ukunikwa nje inxenye yelizwe njengekhaya, kodwa bakhululwa nasekuhlawuleni irhafu, banikwa nokutya simahla ngalo lonke ixesha kusekho indlala. Ukumkani wayazisa esidlangalaleni into yokuba, kungokungenelela ngenceba kukaThixo kaYosefu okwenza ukuba iYiputa ixhamle ubutyebi ngeli lixa ezinye izizwe zitshabalala yindlala. Wabona kwakhona ukuba ukulawula kukaYosefu kwazisa ubutyebi kakhulu ebukumkanini, waza umbulelo wakhe wagubungela lonke usapho lukaYosefu ngothando lobukumkani.ANa 241.2

Kuthe ngokuqengqeleka kwexesha, indoda enkulu eyayixhomekeke kakhulu kuyo iYiputa, nesizukulwana sasikeleleka yimisebenzi yayo, yadlulela engcwabeni. “Kwavela ukumkani omtsha phezu kweYiputa, owayengamazi uYosefu.” Kwakungathethi ukuba wayengazi nto ngemisebenzi kaYosefu esizweni, kodwa wayenga akangeyihloniphi, aze, kangangoko anako, ayiphose kwelokulibala. “Wathi ebantwini bakhe, Yabonani, abantu oonyana bakaIsrayeli baninzi, banamandla kunathi, Yizani sibalumkise, hleze bande; bathi, xenikweni kuthe kwehla imfazwe, bathelele nabo kwintshaba zethu, balwe nathi, banyuke baphume ezweni.”ANa 241.3

Abantu bakwaIsrayelibabesuke babaninzi kakhulu;“baqhama, banyakazela, banda, baba namandla kakhulu kunene; lazala ilizwe ngabo.” Phantsi kokukhathalelwa nguYosefu, nokuthandwa ngukumkani owayelawula ngelo xesha, basasazeka ngokukhawuleza kuwo wonke umhlaba. Sekunjalo, babezigcine beluhlanga olwahlukileyo, bengenanto yabo ifanayo namasiko okanye inkolo yamaYiputa; aza amanani abo awandayo avusa uloyiko kukumkani nabantu bakhe, hleze kuthi xa kukho imfazwe basuke bancedise iintshaba zeYiputa. Umthetho wona wawungakuvumeliukugxothwa kwabo elizweni. Abaninzi kubo yayingabasebenzi abanesakhono kunye nolwazi, kwaye babe negalelo elikhulu kwindyebo yesizwe; nokumkani wayebafuna abasebenzi abanjalo ekwakhiweni kwamabhotwe neetempile zakhe ezintle kakhulu. Ngeso sizathu, wabamisa kwinqanaba elinye namaYiputa awazithengisa wona kunye nezinto zawo ebukumkanini. Kungekudala, kwabekwa phezu kwabo abaqhubi babasebenzi, ngolo hlobo baba buphelele ubukhoboka babo. “AmaYiputa ke abakhonzisa oonyana bakaIsrayeli ngokutyumzayo; abenza bakrakra ubomi babo ngomsebenzi olukhuni, ngodaka nangezitena, nangentlobo zonke zomsebenzi wasendle; yonke imisebenzi abasetyenziswa yona yayiyetyumzayo.” “Okukhona babacinezelayo, kokukhona bandayo, kokukhona baphangalalayo.”ANa 242.1

Ukumkani namaphakathi akhe babethembe ukuba baya kuwacudisa amaIsrayeli ngomsebenzi onzima, ukuze oko kuwacuthe amanani awo kuwutyumze nomoya wawo wenkululeko. Bathi bakusilela ukuyifezekisa injongo yabo, badlulela kwimiqathango ekhohlakele ngaphezulu. Imiyalelo yaphuma ukuya kubafazi ababenokukwenza okuyalelweyo, ukutshabalalisa abantwana abangamaduna bamaHebhere xa bezalwa. USathana yayinguye umsunguli walo mcimbi. Wayesazi ukuba umhlanguli wayeza kuphuma kumaIsrayeli; kwaye ngokukhokelela ukumkani ekutshabalaliseni abantwana bawo, wayethembe ukoyisa injongo yezulu. Sekunjalo, abafazi babe moyika uThixo, abakwazi ukuwenza umyalelo okhohlakeleyo. UYehova wayamkela indlela yabo, waza wabaphumelelisa. Ukumkani, ezaliswe ngumsindo ngokuphanza kwecebo lakhe, wakhupha umyalelo ongxame kakhulu nobanzi. Isizwe sonke sabizwa ukuba sizingele sibulale amaxhoba akhe angenakuzinceda. UFaro wabawisela umthetho abantu bakhe bonke, wathi, Bonke oonyana abathe bazalwa, baphoseni emlanjeni; ke zonke iintombi zisindiseni.”ANa 242.2

Kuthe kanye ngeli xesha kanye lo mthetho usebenza ngamandla, kwazalwa unyana nguAmram noYekobhede, amaIsrayeli ohlanga lukaLevi azinikele kakhulu. Usana “lwaluthandeka,” [IBHAYIBHILE]; bathi abazali bakhe, bekholelwa ukuba ukukhululwa kukaIsrayeli kuyasondela,nokubauThixo uzakumvezaumhlanguliwabantu baKhe, bazimisela ukuba usana lwabo lungabulawa. Ukholo lwabo kuThixo lwazomeleza iintliziyo zabo, “abasoyika isimiselo sokumkani.” Hebhere 11:23.ANa 242.3

Umama waphumelela ekulufihleni usana lwakhe iinyanga ezintathu. Emva koko, kwakubonakala ukuba kunzima ukulugcina lukhuselekile, wenza umkhombe omncinane ngemizi, wawenza ukuba ungangeni manzi, kuba “wawutyabeka ngebhitumene netywina, wamfaka kuwo umntwana, wawubeka engcotyeni, elunxwemeni lomlambo.”Akazange akwazi ukuhlala ukuba amjonge,hleze ubomi bomntwana kunye nobakhe bulahleke; kodwa udade wabo, uMiriyam, wajikeleza kufuphi, engathi akahoyanga nto, kodwa ekhangele ngomdla ukuba kuya kwenzeka ntoni kumnakwabo. Babekho nabanye ababini ababukeli. Imithandazo kanina ezingileyo yayimnikele umntwana wakhe kwinkathalelo kaThixo; neengelosi, ezingabonwayo, ziphaphazela phezu kwale ndawo yakhe yokuphumla iphantsi. Iingelosi zayikhokelela kwelo cala intombi kaFaro. Umdla wayo ukwazi watsalelwa kwingobozi encinane, yathi yakukhangela ngaphakathi kuyo, yajongana nosana oluhle, kwangoko yayifunda ivaliwe. Iinyembezi zosana zayivuselela imfesane yayo, uvelwano lwayo lwaya kunina ongaziwayo owayebhenele kule ndlela ukuze asindise ubomi bosana lwakhe oluthandekayo. Yazimisela kwelithi umele ukuba asindiswe; iya kumthabatha abe ngumntwana wayo.ANa 243.1

UMiriyam wayeyiqwalasele ngasese yonke intshukumo; wathi akubona ukuba umntwana wamkelwe ngobubele, wanesibindi sokusondela kakhulu ngakumbi, ekugqibeleni, wathi, “ndiye kukubizela na umfazi wamaHebhere onokwanyisa, akwanyisele umntwana?” Yanikezelwa imvume.ANa 243.2

Udade wabo wakhawuleza ukuya kunina ephethe iindaba ezimnandi, wathi, engalibazisanga wabuya esiza naye phambi kwentombi kaFaro. “Thabatha lo mntwana umanyise; ndokunika umvuzo wakho mna,” yatsho inkosazana.ANa 243.3

UThixo wayewuvile umthandazo kanina; ukholo lwakhe lwaluvuziwe. Wawuqala umsebenzi wakhe okhuselekileyo nowonwabisayo enombulelo omkhulu. Walisebenzisa kakuhle eli thuba ngokunyanisekileyo ukuqeqeshela uThixo umntwana wakhe. Waziva eqinisekile ukuba [umntwana] ugcinelwe umsebenzi omkhulu, wazi ukuba kungekudala kuza kufuneka enikelwe kunina wasebukhosini, apho aya kurhangqwa ziimpembelelo ezaziya kumkhokelela kude kuThixo. Konke oku kwamenza ukuba akhuthale ngakumbi nangokunonophela ekumqeqesheni nangaphezu kwabanye abantwana bakhe.Waphumelelaukuyizalisa ingqondo yakhengokoyika uThixo nokuthanda inyaniso nobulungisa, wathandazangokwenene ukuba agcinwe ekhuselekile kuyo yonke impembelelo eyonakalisayo. Wambonisa ubudenge bobubi bokunqula izithixo, wamfundisa eselula ukuthoba aguqe phantsi athandaze kuThixo ophilileyo, ekuphela kwaKhe onako ukumva amncede kuyo yonke ingxaki yakhe.ANa 243.4

Wamgcina umfana ixesha elide ngokwaneleyo, kodwa wanyanzeleka ukuba amnikezele akuba eneminyaka elishumi elinesibini ubudala. Ukusuka kumnquba othobekileyo olikhaya lakhe, wasiwa kwibhotwe likakumkani, kwintombi kaFaro, “waba ngunyana wayo.” Wathi ke, nangona elapho, akalahlekwa yimibono awayizuza ebuntwaneni bakhe. Izifundo awazifumana ecaleni kukanina zazingenako ukulibaleka. Zazilikhaka ekuziphakamiseni, ekunganyanisekini, nakububi obabuqhamile kwibhotwe elinento yonke.ANa 244.1

Athi, indlela eyaba neziphumo ezihamba indawo ende, impembelelo yaloo nkosikazi iyodwa yomHebhere, eyayisezweni lasemzini ilikhoboka! Lonke ikusasa lobomi bukaMoses, umsebenzi omkhulu awayewuthunyiwe waza wawufeza njengenkokeli kaIsrayeli, konke kungqina ngokubaluleka komsebenzi womama ongumKristu. Awukho omnye umsebenzi ongalingana nalo. Ngendlela emangalisayo, umama uphethe ezandleni zakhe isiphelo sabantwana bakhe. Uphethe umsebenzi wokwakha iingqondo nezimilo, engasebenzeli nje kuphela okweli xesha, kodwa esebenzela unaphakade. Uhlwayela imbewu eza kuthwala isiqhamo, sokulungileyo okanye sokubi. Akenzi umzobo elaphini okanye, akaxonxi elityeni, kodwa unika umphefumlo womntu umfanekiso wokungcwele. Kuthi ngakumbi kwiminyaka esesezantsi, umthwalo ube phezu kwakhe ukuba abumbe isimilo sabantwana bakhe. Umbhalo owenziweyo ngeli xesha kwiingqondo zabo ezisakhulayo, uya kuhlala kubo bonke ubomi babo. Abazali kufuneka bayikhokele imfundiso nengqeqesho yabantwana babo beselula kakhulu, bayise kwisiphelo sokuba babe ngamaKristu. Babekwe ezandleni zethu ukuba baqeqeshwe, ukuze bangabi zindlalifa zetrone zobukumkani basemhlabeni, kodwa njengeekumkani kuThixo, ukuze balawule kwizizukulwana ezingenasiphelo.ANa 244.2

Wonke umama makazive enamathuba angenakulinganiswa ngexabiso; umsebenzi wakhe uya kuvavanywa ngemini ezukileyo yokunikwa kweengxelo. Ngelo xesha kuya kufunyanwa ukuba ukusilela okuninzi, ulwaphulo-mthetho ngamadoda nabafazi kwakusisiphumo sokungazi nokutyeshela kwabo yayingumthwalo wabo ukukhokela iinyawo zabo ezinobuntwana kwindlela elungileyo. Kanti ke, kuya kufunyanwa ukuba abaninzi ababe yintsikelelo emhlabeni ngokukhanya kobuchule nenyaniso nobungcwele, bayizuza kumama owayethandaza, ongumKristu.ANa 244.3

Kwibhotwe likaFaro, uMoses wafumana eyona ngqeqesho iphezulu ekulawuleni nasemkhosini. Ukumkani wayezimisele ukumenza umzukulwana amamkeleyo ukuba abe ngumlandeli wakhe etroneni, waza ke lo mfana wasiqeqeshelwa eso sikhundla. “Waqeqeshwa ke uMoses kubo bonke ubulumko bamaYiputa; waye ke eyinkunkqele ngamazwi nangemisebenzi.” Zenzo 7:22. Isakhono sakhe njengomkhokeli emkhosini samenza ukuba athandwe yimikhosi yaseYiputa, ethatyathwa njengomntu obalaseleyo. USathana woyiswa kwinjongo yakhe. Lo mthetho kanye wawugwebele abantwana bamaHebhere ukufa, waguqulelwa nguThixo ekuqeqesheni nakwimfundo yenkokeli yabantu baKhe yexesha elizayo.ANa 245.1

Amadoda amakhulu akwaIsrayeli ayefundiswe ziingelosi ukuba ixesha lokukhululwa lalikufuphi, nokuba uMoses yayinguye umntu uThixo awayeza kumsebenzisa ukuwufeza lo msebenzi. Iingelosi zamfundisa uMoses ukuba uYehova umnyule ukuba aqhawule amatyathanga obukhoboka babantu baKhe. Wathi, ngokucinga ukuba kufuneka beyifumene inkululeko ngokusebenzisa izigalo, walindela ukukhokela umkhosi wamaHebhere ngakwimikhosi yamaYiputa, wathi enale mbono, wahlala elwalusile uthando lwakhe, hleze kuthi ngokwayama kakhulu kumama wakhe owamcholayo okanye kuFaro wayengasuka angakhululeki ukuyenza intando kaThixo.ANa 245.2

Ngokwemithetho yaseYiputa, bonke abahlala kwitrone yooFaro, kwakufuneka babe ngamalungu onqulo lobubingeleli; waza uMoses, njengendlalifa elindeleyo, kwafuneka afundiswe iimfihlelo zenkolo yesizwe. Lo mthwalo wanikelwa kubabingeleli. Wathi, nangona wayengumfundi onenzondelelo nongadinwayo, akavuma ukoyiselwa ukuba abe nenxaxheba kunqulo loo thixo. Wathenjiswa ngokulahlekelwa sisithsaba, watyityinjiselwa umnwe ngokulahlwa yinkosazana ukuba uqhubeka nokubambelela kwinkolo yobuHebhere. Akazange agungqe ekuzimiseleni ukunika imbeko nakubani ongomnye ngaphandle kukaThixo, uMenzi wezulu nomhlaba. Wabonisana nababingeleli nabanquli, ebonisa ubudenge benkolo yokunika imbeko kwizinto ezingenamsebenzi. Abakho ababekwazi ukuziphikisa iintetho zakhe okanye ukumtshintsha kwinjongo yakhe, ukanti, okwexeshana, ukuma aqine kwakhe kwanyamezelwa ngenxa yesikhundla sakhe esiphezulu nendlela awayethandwa ngayo ngukumkani kunye nabantu.ANa 245.3

“Ngokholo uMoses uthe, akuba mkhulu, akavuma ukubizwa ngokuthi ungunyana wentombi kaFaro; enyula kanye ukuba aphathwe kakubi, ndawonye nabantu bakaThixo, kunokuba axhamle izono okomzuzwana; ekubalele ukungcikivwa kukaKristu kububutyebi obungaphezu kobutyebi baseYiputa, kuba wayekhangele ukwamkela umvuzo.” Hebhere 11:24-26. UMoses wayekulungele ukuthabatha indawo ephezulu phakathi kwabantu abakhulu behlabathi, aqaqambe kwiinkundla zobukumkani balo obuqaqambileyo, aphathe igunya lolawulo lwalo. Ukuphakama kwengqondo yakhe kwakumbeka ngaphezulu kumadoda amakhulu azo zonke izizukulwana. Njengombhali-wembali, imbongi, inzululwazi, umphathi wemikhosi, nomlawuli, umi engenantanga. Lathi seliphambi kwakhe lonke ihlabathi, wakwazi ukuba namandla okuzilawula ekulanduleni yonke imbonakalo yempumelelo yobutyebi nobukhulu nodumo, “enyula kanye ukuba aphathwe kakubi, ndawonye nabantu bakaThixo, kunokuba axhamle izono okomzuzwana.”ANa 246.1

UMoses wayefundiswe ukuba umvuzo wokugqibela uya kunikwa abakhonzi bakaThixo abathobekileyo nabathobelayo, yaza inzuzo yehlabathi yanyamalala yasithela ekungabalulekini okuyifaneleyo xa kuthelekiswa [neyezulu]. Ukubalasela kwebhotwe likaFaro netrone kakumkani wayezibekelwa njengomnatha wokumtsala uMoses; kodwa wayesazi ukuba iziyolo zesono ezenza ukuba abantu bamlibale uThixo zazilapho kumabhotwe aphezulu. Wakhangela ngaphaya kobuqheleqhele bebhotwe, ngaphaya kwesithsaba sikakumkani, kwiimbeko ezinkulu eziya kunikwa abangcwele bOsenyangweni ebukumkanini obungadyojwanga sisono. Ngokholo wabona isithsaba esingenakonakala aya kusibeka uKumkani wezulu phezu kwentloko yalowo woyisayo. Olu kholo lwamkhokelela kude kwabo bahloniphekileyo basemhlabeni aze azimanye nabathobekileyo, abahluphekileyo, isizwe esideliweyo esikhethe ukuthobela uThixo kunokuba sikhonze isono.ANa 246.2

UMoses wahlala kwikomkhulu wada wanamashumi amane eminyaka ubudala. Iingcamango zakhe zazisoloko zikwimeko embi yabantu bakubo, wasoloko ebatyelela abazalwana bakhe ebukhobokeni babo, ebakhuthaza ngesiqinisekiso sokuba uThixo uya kukusebenza ukuhlangulwa kwabo. Maxa wambi, ehlatyaniselwa ade abe nentiyo kukubona ukusweleka kobulungisa kunye nengcinezelo, wayevutha kusithi makakuphindezele ukona kwawo [amaYiputa]. Ngenye imini, esahambele apho ngaphandle, wabona umYiputa ebetha umIsrayeli, wamtsibela, wambulala umYiputa. Ngaphandle komIsrayeli, akakho omnye owasibonayo eso senzo, waza uMoses wakhawuleza wawungcwaba umzimba entlabathini. Ngoku wayezibonakalisa ukuba ukulungele ukumelana nemeko yabantu bakhe, wathemba ukubabona bephakama ukuba bazuze inkululeko yabo. “Wayeba ke yena boqonda abazalwana bakhe ukuba uThixo ebeya kubasindisa ngesandla sakhe; abaqondanga ke bona.” Zenzo 7:25. Babe ngekayilungeli inkululeko. Ngemini elandelayo,uMoses wabona amaHebhere amabini esilwa, kucacile ukuba omnye wayonile. UMoses wamngxolisa lo wonileyo, owakhawuleza wakuphendula ukungxoliswa, esala ilungelo lakhe lokungenelela, wathi, ngokumdelela, wamtyhola ngesenzo sokwaphula umthetho: “Umiswe ngubani na ukuba ube ngumthetheli nomgwebi phezu kwethu?” watsho. “Uza kundibulala na nam, usitsho nje, njengokuba umbulele umYiputa?”ANa 246.3

Sonke esi siganeko sakhawuleziswa ukuxelwa kumaYiputa, kwathi, kuba sibabazwe kakhulu, sakhawuleza ukufikelela ezindlebeni zikaFaro. Kukumkani esi senzo sasithetha lukhulu; ukuba uMoses wayeceba ukukhokela abantu bakhe ekuchaseni amaYiputa, ukubhukuqa ulawulo, nokuzibeka phezu kwetrone; nokuba alusayi kuze lubekho ukhuseleko ebukumkanini esaphila yena. Kwagqitywa kwangoko ngukumkani ukuba umelwe kukufa [uMoses]; kodwa, wathi akuyiqonda ingozi akuyo, wazimela wabalekela eArabha.ANa 247.1

UYehova wayikhokela indlela yakhe, wafumana ikhaya kwaJetro, umbingeleli nenkosi yakwaMidiyan, owayekwanqula noThixo. Emva kwexesha uMoses watshata enye yeentombi zikaJetro; waza, apha ekusebenzeleni umkhwe wakhe, njengomalusi, wahlala iminyaka emashumi mane.ANa 247.2

Ngokubulala kwakhe umYiputa, uMoses wawa kanye kwimposiso eyenziwa ngooyise, yokuthabathela ezandleni zabo umsebenzi uThixo awayethembise ukuwenza. Yayingeyiyo intando kaThixo ukubakhulula abantu baKhe ngemfazwe, njengokuba uMoses wayecinga, kodwa ngawaKhe (uThixo) amandla amakhulu, ukuze uzuko lunikwe Yena kuphela. Nesi senzo zingxamileyo saya songanyelwa nguThixo ukuze azalisekise iinjongo zaKhe. UMoses wayengawulungelanga umsebenzi wakhe omkhulu. Kwakusafuneka efunde isifundo sokholo esafundiswa uAbraham noYakobi — esokuba bangaxhomekeki kumandla nobulumko bomntu, kodwa phezu kwamandla kaThixo ukuzalisekisa izithembiso zaKhe. Zazikhona nezinye izifundo ekwakufuneka uMoses azifumane eyedwa phakathi kweentaba. Esikolweni sokuzincama nobunzima, kwakufuneka efunde umonde, nokuzibamba izimvo zakhe. Phambi kokuba abe nokulawula ngobulumko, kufuneka eqeqeshelwe ukuthobela. Intliziyo yakhe kufuneka ihambelane ngokupheleleyo noThixo phambi kokuba afundise ukwaziwa kwentando yaKhe kuIsrayeli. Ngawakhe amava kufuneka ekulungele ukubonakalisa ukukhathala komzali kubo bonke ababefuna uncedo lwakhe.ANa 247.3

Umntu ngewalisusa elo xesha lide lokusebenza nzima nokuba sekhusini, alibalele ekuthini yilahlelo enkulu. UBulumko obungenasiphelobambizalowowayezakubayinkokeliyabantu bakhe ukuba achithe amashumi amane eminyaka kumsebenzi ophantsi wokuba ngumalusi. Imikhwa yokukhathalela, eyokuzilibala, nokuthanda ukusoloko eyedwa nomhlambi wakhe owawusanda kakhulu, kwakuza kumlungiselela ukuba abe ngumalusi kaIsrayeli onemfesane, nonyamezelayo. Akukho okuhle okwakunokunikwa luqeqesho lomntu okanye inkcubeko yakhe, okwakunokuma endaweni yala mava.ANa 248.1

UMoses wayefunde okuninzi ekwakufuneka ohlukene nako. Impembelelo eyayimngqongile eYiputa — uthando lukamama wakhe owayemchole, isikhundla sakhe njengomzukulwana kakumkani, ukurheletya macala onke, ukuchubeka, ubugcisa, nokukholelwa ukuba ubulumko nengqondo zizinto ezivela kwinkolo ebubuxoki, ubuqheleqhele bonqulo lwezithixo, ubuhle obuzukileyo bezakhiwo nezithixo eziqingqiweyo — konke kwakunegalelo elinzulu ekukhuleni kwengqondo kwaye kuyakhe kakhulu imikhwa nesimilo sakhe. Ixesha, ukuguquka kokumngqongileyo, nokuxhumana noThixo, kwakunako ukuziguqula ezi mbono. Kwakuza kuxhomekeka kuMoses ngokwakhe ukulwela ukuphila ukuze akwazi ukuzishiya ezi mposiso, amkele inyaniso, kodwa uThixo wayeza kuba ngumncedi wakhe xa idabi lilikhulu kakhulu ukuba liliwe ngamandla omntu.ANa 248.2

Kubo bonke abanyulelwe ukuba bawugqibe umsebenzi kaThixo, buyabonakala ubuntu. Sekunjalo, babengengabo abantu bemikhwa nezimilo ezihamba ngomgca wempuku, ababaneliswe kukuhlala benjalo. Babelangazelela ngokwenene ukuzuza ubulumko obuvela kuThixo nokufunda ukumsebenzela. Uthi umpostile, “Ukuba ubani kuni uswele ubulumko, makacele kuThixo, onika bonke engenakumbi, engangcikivi; wobunikwa.” Yakobi 1:5. Sekunjalo, uThixo akasayi kubanika abantu ukukhanya kwezulu lo gama besanelisekile kukuhlala ebumnyameni. Ukuze alufumane uncedo lukaThixo, umntu kufuneka abuqonde ubuthakathaka bakhe nokuba nentswelo kwakhe; kufuneka ingqondo yakhe ayimilisele kwinguquko enkulu ekufunekayenzekile kuye; kufuneka aphaphamele ukuthandaza nokuzama ngokunyanisekileyo nangokuzingisileyo. Imikhwa engeyiyo nezithethe eziphuthileyo zizinto emazivuthululwe zisuke; kuphela kungokuzama okuzimiseleyo ukuzilungisa ezi ziphoso nokuvumelana nemithetho-siseko elungileyo ekunokuthi lube nokuzuzeka uloyiso. Abaninzi abafikeleli kwindawo ebafaneleyo, kuba balindela kuThixo ukuba abenzele oko abanikileyo amandla ukuba bazenzele. Bonke abafanele ukuba lulutho kufuneka beqeqeshwe ngeyona inzima ingqeqesho yengqondo nokuziphatha, aze uThixo abancede ngokuhlanganisa amandla ezulu nemizamo yomntu.ANa 248.3

Evalelekile kwinkuseleko yeentaba, uMoses waye eyedwa noThixo. Iitempile ezintle nezinkulu, ngenkolo nobuxoki bazo, zazingasenawo umtsalane engqondweni yakhe. Kubuhle obunendili beenduli ezingunaphakade, wabona ubungangamsha bOsenyanweni, wathi akukhangela kwelinye icala, wabona ukungabi namandla nokungabaluleki koothixo baseYiputa. Kuyo yonke indawo, kwakubhalwe igama loMdali. UMoses wazibona ngathi umi phambi kwaKhe ambethe amandla aKhe. Kulapha apho ukuziphakamisa kwakhe nokwaneliseka kwakhe koko wayekuko, kwasuswa khona. Kubulula ajongene nabo bobomi basentlango, zathi shwaka iziphumo zobomi obulula nobumnandi baseYiputa. UMoses waba nomonde, nembeko nokuzithoba, “[e]lulamile kunene kunabantu bonke abasemhlabeni.” (Numeri 12:3), ukanti omelele ekukholweni kuThixo kaYakobi oligorha.ANa 251.1

Ngokuqengqeleka kweminyaka, xa wayejikeleza nemihlambi yakhe kwiindawo ezizodwa, ecamngca ngemeko yokucinezelwa kwabantu bakhe, wasoloko ehlaziya ukuphatha kukaThixo ooyise kunye nezithembiso ezazililifa kuhlanga olunyuliweyo, nemithandazo yakhe inyuka imini nobusuku ngenxa kaIsrayeli. Izithunywa zezulu zazimrhangqa ngokukhanya macaleni onke. Kulapha, apho wathi ephantsi kwempefumlelo kaMoya Oyingcwele, wabhala incwadi yeGenesis. Iminyaka emide awayichitha entlango eyedwa, yaba nentsikelelo enkulu, kungekuphela kuMoses nabantu bakhe, kodwa nakwihlabathi kwizizukulwana ezilandelayo.ANa 251.2

“Kwathi emva kwaloo mihla mininzi wafa ukumkani waseYiputa. Bancwina oonyana bakaIsrayeli ngenxa yomsebenzi, bakhala; kwenyuka ukuzibika kwabo, kwaya kuThixo, ngenxa yomsebenzi. Wakuva uThixo ukugula kwabo, wawukhumbula uThixo umnqophiso wakhe noAbraham, noIsake, noYakobi. UThixo wababona oonyana bakaIsrayeli, wabazi uThixo.” Ixesha lokuhlangulwa kukaIsrayeli lalifikile. Noko kunjalo, injongo kaThixo yayiza kufezeka ngendlela eyayiza kukubeka phantsi ukuzigwagwisa komntu. Umhlanguli kwakufuneka abe ngumalusi othobekileyo, ephethe intonga kuphela esandleni sakhe; aze uThixo ayenze loo ntonga ibe ngumfuziselo wamandla aKhe. Wathi ekhokela imihlambi yakhe kufuphi neHorebhe, “entabeni kaThixo,” uMoses wabona ityholo lisitsha, amasebe, amagqabi, nesikhondo, zonke zisitsha, kodwa likhangeleka lingapheli. Wasondela ukuba abone lo mbono umangalisayo, kwaza kwaphuma ilizwi kwidangatye limbiza ngegama. Ngemilebe ebebezelayo, waphendula, “Ndilapha.” Walunyukiswa ukuba angasondeli ngendlela engenantlonipho:“Khulula iimbadada zakho ezoezinyaweni zakho, kubaloo ndawoANa 251.3

umi kuyo ingumhlaba ongcwele. . . .NdinguThixo kayihlo, uThixo ka-Abraham, uThixo kaIsake, uThixo kaYakobi.” NguYe Lowo, owathi, njengeNgelosi yomnqophiso, wazityhila kooyise kwizizukulwana ezadlulayo. “Wabusithelisa uMoses ubuso bakhe; kuba ebesoyika ukukhangela kuThixo.”ANa 251.4

Intobeko nembeko kufuneka zibonakale ekuziphatheni kwabo bonke abeza phambi kukaThixo. Egameni likaYesu, sinako ukuza phambi kwakhe ngesibindi, kodwa akufuneki size kuYe ngesibindi sokuzithemba, ngokungathi ukumgangatho omnye nathi. Bakho abo bathi xa bethetha noThixo omkhulu, onamandla onke nongcwele, ohlala ekukhanyeni okungasondelwa lula kuko, babengathi bathetha nentanga yabo, okanye nongaphantsi kwabo. Bakho nabo baziphatha endlwini yaKhe ngendlela abangeke benze ngayo xa bephambi komlawuli wasemhlabeni egumbini lakhe. Aba kufuneka bakhumbule ukuba baphambi kwaLowo iiserafi zimdumisayo, phambi kwaLowo iingelosi zibugqumayo ubuso bazo. UThixo mkhulu, umelwe ukuhlonitshwa; bonke ababuqonda ngokwenene ubukho baKhe, baya kugoba ngokuzithoba phambi kwaKhe, baze, njengoYakobi esembonweni kaThixo, bakhale bathi, “Asikuko nokuba iyoyikeka le ndawo; yindlu kaThixo le, ayinto yimbi; lisango lamazulu eli.”ANa 252.1

Wathi uMoses esalinde ngembeko nokoyika phambi kukaThixo, aqhuba amazwi: “Ndizibonile okunene iintsizi zabantu bam abaseYiputa, nokukhala kwabo ndikuvile, ngenxa yabo babaqhuba kalukhuni; kuba ndiyawazi umvandedwa wabo. Ndihlile ke; ndize kubahlangula esandleni samaYiputa, ndibanyuse baphume kwelo lizwe, baye ezweni elilungileyo, elibanzi, ezweni elibaleka amasi nobusi. . . . Hamba ngoku, ndikuthume kuFaro, ubakhuphe eYiputa abantu bam, oonyana bakaIsrayeli.”ANa 252.2

Wathi emangalisiwe, ewoyika lo myalelo, uMoses wahlehla, esithi, “Ndingubani na ukuba ndingade ndiye kuFaro, ukuba ndibakhuphe eYiputa oonyana bakaIsrayeli?” Impendulo yathi, “Ndiya kuba nawe. Nangu umqondiso wokuba ndikuthumile mna: ekubakhupheni kwakho abantu eYiputa, niya kumkhonza uThixo kule ntaba.”ANa 252.3

UMoses wacinga ngobunzima aza kuhlangana nabo, ngobumfama, ngokungazi, nangokungakholwa kwabantu bakhe, abaninzi kubo bephantse kulahlekelwa kukumaziuThixo.“Uyabona,“watsho, “ukuba ndiya koonyana bakaIsrayeli, ndithi kubo, UThixo wooyihlo undithumile kuni, baze bathi kum, Ngubani na igama lakhe? Ndothini na kubo?” Impendulo yathi—“NDINGUYE ENDINGUYE.” “Wotsho koonyana bakaIsrayeli ukuthi, uNDINGUYE undithumile kuni.”ANa 252.4

UMoses wayalelwa ukuba ahlanganise amadoda amakhulu akwaIsrayeli, awona abekekileyo nangamalungisa phakathi kwabo, ekwakukade ebuhlungu ngenxa yobukhoboka babo, ukuze avakalise kuwo isigidimi esivela kuThixo, esinesithembiso sokuhlangulwa. Emva koko kwakuza kufuneka aye nawo la madoda makhulu phambi kukakumkani, athi kuye:-ANa 253.1

“UYehova uThixo wamaHebhere uhlangene nathi; ngoku makhe sihambe entlango uhambo lweentsuku ezintathu, sibingelele kuYehova uThixo wethu.”ANa 253.2

UMoses wayelunyukiswe kwangaphambili ukuba uFaro uya kusala isibheno sokuba akhulule uIsrayeli ahambe. Noko kunjalo, isibindi somkhonzi kaThixo kwakufuneka singehli; kuba uYehova wayeza kulisebenzisa eli thuba ukubonisa amandla aKhe phambi kwamaYiputa naphambi kwabantu baKhe. “Ndiya kusolula isandla, ndiyibethe iYiputa ngemisebenzi yam yonke ebalulekileyo, endiya kuyenza phakathi kwayo, andule ke ukunindulula.”ANa 253.3

Umyalelo wawunikiwe mayela nomsindleko ababeza kuwenza ukulungiselela uhambo. UYehova wathi, “Xa nithe nemka, ningemki nize. Intokazi iya kucela kwengummelwane wayo, nakwengumphambukeli endlwini yayo, impahla yesilivere, nempahla yegolide, neengubo.” AmaYiputa ayetyetyiswe kukusebenza nzima okwakunyanzeliswa kumaIsrayeli, kwathi, njengokuba aba [amaIsrayeli] babeza kuqala uhambo ukuya kwikhaya labo elitsha, kwalilungelo labo ukubanga umvuzo weminyaka yokusebenza kwabo nzima. Kwakufuneka bafune izinto zexabiso, ezazinokuthwalwa, kwaye uThixo wayeza kubenza bathandeke emehlweni amaYiputa. Imimangaliso emikhulu eyenziwayo ukubakhulula yayiza kwenza kubekho ukoyika kubacinezeli, ukuze izicelo zamakhoboka zamkeleke.ANa 253.4

UMoses wabona ubunzima obabukhangeleka bungeke budlulwe. Bungqina buni anokubunika abantu bakhe ukubonakalisa ukuba uThixo umthumile ngokwenene? “Uyabona,” watsho, “abayi kukholwa ndim, abayi kuliphulaphula izwi lam; kuba baya kuthi, UYehova akabonakalanga kuwe.” Ubungqina obuza kuba nentsingiselo engqondweni yakhe banikezwa ngoku. Kwathiwa makaphose intonga yakhe emhlabeni. Wathi akuyenza loo nto, “yasuka yaba yinyoka;wayibaleka uMoses.” Kwathiwa makayibambe, esandleni sakhe yajika yaba yintonga. Kwathiwa makafake isandla sakhe esifubeni sakhe. Wathobela, wathi “akusirhola isandla sakhe, naso sineqhenqa, simhlophe njengekhephu.” Emva kokuba eyalelwe ukuba asibuyisele esifubeni kwakhona,[wenza njalo], kodwa xa ephinda esibuyisa, wafika sifana nesinye. Ngale miqondiso, uYehova wayemqinisekisa uMoses ukuba abantu baKhe, kunye noFaro, bamelwe ukoyiseka ukuba Lowo unamandla kunokumkani waseYiputa, ubonakele phakathi kwabo.ANa 253.5

Nangona kunjalo, umkhonzi kaThixo wayesagutyungelwe yingcamango yomsebenzi ongaqhelekanga nomangalisayo ophambi kwakhe. Ekuxinzelekeni nasekoyikeni kwakhe, wacenga ebeka njengesizathu ukungakwazi kwakhe ukukhawulezisa ukuthetha: “Camagu, Nkosi yam! Andindoda imazwi maninzi nanini na, oko wathethayo kumkhonzi wakho lo; kuba ndingokuthetha kunzima, ndikwanzima nolwimi.” Wayemke ixesha elide kakhulu kumaYiputa kangangokuba, wayengenalo ngokucace kakuhle ulwazi, nokuba nako ukulusebenzisa ulwimi lwawo ngohlobo awayelulo esephakathi kwawo.ANa 254.1

Wathi uYehova kuye, “Ngubani na owenze isidenge, nesithulu, nobonayo, nemfama? Asindim na, mna Yehova?” Kwaphindwaapha kongezwa esinye isiqinisekiso soncedo lwezulu: “Ngoko ke hamba, ndoba nomlomo wakho mna, ndikubonise into oya kuyithetha.” UMoses wayesacengela ukuba kukhethwe umntu onesakhono kunaye. Ezi zizathwana zaziphuma ekuthobekeni nasekungazithembini kuqala; kodwa emva kokuba uYehova ethembise ukuzisusa zonke iinzima, nokumnika impumelelo ekugqibeleni, konke ukubuya umva okulandelayo nokukhalaza ngokungafaneleki, kwakubonisa ukungamthembi uThixo. Kwakunika ingqondo yokoyikela ukuba uThixo akakwazi ukumenza awufanele umsebenzi omkhulu ambizela kuwo, okanye wenza impazamo (uThixo) ngokumkhetha.ANa 254.2

Ngeli xesha, uMoses wayalelwa ukuba aye kuAron, umkhuluwa wakhe, owayekwazi ukuluthetha ngokusulungekileyo ulwimi lwamaYiputa kuba wayelusebenzisa yonke imihla. Waxelelwa ukuba uAron uyeza ukuba ahlangane naye. Amazwi alandelayo avela kuYehova aye ngumyalelo ongafuni kucaciswa:ANa 254.3

“Wothetha kuye, ubeke amazwi emlonyeni wakhe; mna ndoba nomlombo wakho nomlomo wakhe, ndinibonise into eniya kuyenza. Yena wokuthethela ebantwini, athi yena abe ngumlomo kuwe, uthi wena ube nguThixo kuye. Ke, le ntonga yiphathe ngesandla sakho; uya kwenza imiqondiso leyo.” Akazange aphinde ale, kuba wonke umhlaba wokuzilandulela wawususiwe.ANa 254.4

Umyalelo wezulu owawunikwe uMoses wamfikela engenakuzithemba, ethintitha, embuna. Yamongamela into yokuba engenakukwazi ukuba ngumlomo kaThixo kuIsrayeli. Ngako nje ukuba awamkele umsebenzi, wangena kuwo ngentliziyoepheleleyo, ekubeke kuYehova konke ukuthembela kwakhe. Ubukhulu bomsebenzi awuthunyiweyo babufuna ukuba asebenzise awona mandla alungileyo engqondo yakhe. UThixo wakusikelela ukuthobela kwakhe, wanobuciko, wazaliswa lithemba, waqina, wawufanela kakuhle umsebenzi owaka wamkhulu kweyakha yanikwa umntu. Lo ngumzekelo wento uThixo ayenzayo ukomeleza isimilo sabo bamthembayo ngokupheleleyo baze bazinikele ngokungenakuzibamba kwimiyalelo yaKhe.ANa 255.1

Umntu ufumana amandla nesakhono xa esamkela imithwalo uThixo ayibeka phezu kwakhe, aze, ngomphefumlo wakhe wonke, afune ukuzenza ukuba akufanele ukuyithwala ngendlela eyiyo. Nokuba sithobeke kangakanani isikhundla sakhe okanye sincinane kangakanani isakhono sakhe umntu, uyafikelela kubukhulu benene, lowo uthembela kumandla ezulu, alangazelele ukuwenza umsebenzi wakhe ngokunyaniseka. Ukuba uMoses wayethembele kwawakhe amandla nobulumko, waza wawamkela ngenzondelelo umsebenzi omkhulu, wayeya kuba ubonakalise ukungawufaneli kwakhe konke umsebenzi lowo. Into yokuba umntu azive ebuthakathaka, noko iyabonakalisa ukuba uyabuqonda ubukhulu bomsebenzi anyulelwe wona, nokuba uya kumenza uThixo abe ngumcebisi wakhe namandla akhe.ANa 255.2

UMoses wabuyela kumkhwe wakhe wamxelela ngolangazelelo lwakhe lokubuyela kubazalwana bakhe eYiputa. Imvume kaJetro yafumaneka, wamnika nentsikelelo yakhe, “Hamba ngoxolo.” Ehamba nomfazi nabantwana, uMoses waluthabatha uhambo. Akazange ayivakalise injongo yohambo lwakhe, hleze bangavunyelwa ukuba bahambe naye. Phambi kokuba afike eYiputa, wabuya wacinga kwangokwakhe, ukuba, ukuze bakhuseleke, kuhle ukuba abathumele emva kwaMidiyan.ANa 255.3

Ukoyika uFaro namaYiputa okufihlakeleyo, njengoko babenomsindo owaphembeka ukuba bamchase kwiminyaka engamashumi amane eyadlulayo, kwamenza uMoses ukuba akrikrize ngakumbi ukubuyela eYiputa; kodwa emva kokuba ephumile ukuba alulamele umyalelo wezulu, uYehova wamtyhilela ukuba iintshaba zakhe zafa. Kwindlela esinga kwaMidiyan, uMoses wafumana isilumkiso esothusayo nesibi sokunganeliseki kukaYehova. Ingelosi yavela kuye ngendlela eyoyikisayo, ngokungathi ingasuka imtshabalalise ngoko. Akukho nkcazo yanikwayo; kodwa uMoses wakhumbula ukuba waya watyeshela omnye wezinto eziyalelwe nguThixo; ngokuyekela ekucengweni ngumfazi wakhe, watyeshela ukwenza inkonzo yokwalusa unyana wakhe oyena mncinane. Wasilela ukuthobela imeko awayeza kuthi ngayo umntwana abe nelungelo lokuzuza iintsikelelo zomnqophiso kaThixo noIsrayeli; kwaye oko kutyeshela kwenziwa yinkokeli yabo enyuliweyo kwakuza kulihlisa igunya lemithetho yezulu ebantwini. UTsiphora, ngokoyikela ukuba umyeni wakhe angabulawa, wayenza ngokwakhe loo nkonzo [yokwalusa], yaza ngoko ingelosi yamvumela uMoses ukuba aqhubeke nohambo lwakhe. Ekuthunyweni kwakhe kuFaro, uMoses wayeza kubekwa kwingozi enkulu; ubomi bakhe babungayi kukhuseleka; kuba wayengayi kukhuselwa ziingelosi zikaThixo.ANa 255.4

Ngexesha lembandezelo, kanye phambi kokuba eze uKristu, amalungisa ayakugcinwa ngokulungiselela kwezithunywa zezulu; kodwa akusayi kubakho kukhuseleka kulowo waphula umthetho kaThixo. Izithunywa azinako ukukhusela abo bangawukhathaleliyo omnye wemithetho yezulu.ANa 256.1

21—UYosefu Nabantakwabo

23—Izibetho ZaseYiputa