1, 2. (a) UJona labagwedli bomkhumbi behlelwa yini? (b) Singafundani endabeni kaJona?

UJONA wayefisa ukuthi avale indlebe angawuzwa umsindo lo owawusubambe nki. Kwakuphenquke isiphepho, kwavunguza umoya owawungathi uzaphosela amaseyili khatshana le! Lwadla amahabula ulwandle, inkalakatha zamagagasi zatshaya umkhumbi zawuzungeza kungathi uzathi kle wehlukane phakathi. Kodwa okwakumzwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu yikuzwa abagwedli kanye lenduna yomkhumbi beklabalala, besenza konke abangakwenza ukuze umkhumbi ungacwili. UJona wayesekubona ukuthi impilo yamadoda la yayisilenga ngomnxeba lokuthi babengafa ngenxa yakhe.

² Kwakutheni kanti uJona aze abe phakathi kwesigameko esingaka? Wayemphambanisele uJehova, uNkulunkulu wakhe. Kuyini sibisibili ayekwenzile? Kambe ayesechithekile yini okokuthi ayengasabutheki? Izimpendulo esizazithola zizasifundisa okunengi. Ngokwesibonelo, indaba kaJona isitshengisa ukuthi abantu abalokholo oluqinileyo labo bangawenza amaphutha. Iphinda isifundise lokuthi akugobo lingeqondiswe.

3-5. (a) Nxa abantu abanengi besizwa ngoJona bacabangani? (b) Kuyini esikwaziyo ngomdabuko kaJona? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.) (c) Kungani umsebenzi kaJona wawunzima futhi ungahlabusi?

³ Nxa abantu abanengi besizwa ngoJona bacabanga ngamaphutha akhe, ngokwesibonelo ukungalaleli kwakhe kanye lokuthi wayeke abe yisiqholo. Kodwa kunengi okuhle okwakusenziwa yindoda le. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wayeyikhethile ukuthi ibe ngumphrofethi wakhe. Kambe uJehova wayezayikhetha yini ukuthi yenze umsebenzi lo omkhulu aluba yayingathembekanga futhi isenza izinto ezimbi?

⁴ IBhayibhili lisitshela okulutshwana mayelana lomdabuko kaJona okusinceda ukuthi simzwisise. (Bala u-2 AmaKhosi 14:25.) Wayedabuka eGathi Heferi eyayiqhelelane leNazaretha ngamakhilomitha amane. INazaretha yayilidolobho uJesu Khristu akhulela kulo eminyakeni engaba  ngu-800 eyalandelayo. * UJona wayengumphrofethi ngesikhathi izizwana ezilitshumi zako-Israyeli zibuswa yiNkosi uJerobhowami Wesibili. Umphrofethi u-Elija kwasekukudala wafa futhi u-Elisha owayethethe isikhundla sakhe sokuba ngumphrofethi wayefe ngesikhathi kubusa uyise kaJerobhowami Wesibili. UJehova wayesebenzise amadoda la ukuthi athanyele aqede abantu ababekhonza uBhali. Kodwa khathesi abako-Israyeli basebephinde baphambuka. Kanti njalo okudanisayo yikuthi basebebuswa yinkosi eyaqhubeka ‘isenza ububi phambi kukaJehova.’ (2 AmaKho. 14:24) Siyabona-ke ukuthi umsebenzi kaJona wawunzima futhi ungahlabusi. Lanxa kunjalo, waqhubeka ewenza.

⁵ Kodwa ngelinye ilanga kwenzakala okuthile okwantshintsha impilo kaJona. UJehova wamnika umsebenzi owawuzamginqisa okuzwayo. Kwakungumsebenzi bani?

6. UJehova wathuma uJona ukuthi enzeni, njalo kuyini okwakungenza ukuthi uJona awubone unzima kakhulu umsebenzi lo?

⁶ UJehova wathi kuJona: “Hamba uye edolobheni elikhulu laseNineve utshumayele ngokulisola kakhulu, ngokuba ububi balo sebufinyelele kimi.” (Jona. 1:2) Kunengi okwakungenza ukuthi uJona awubone unzima kakhulu umsebenzi lo. Ukuya eNineve kwakungamthatha inyanga yonke nxa ekhasabula ngenyawo ngoba umango wakhona wawungaba ngamakhilomitha angu-800. Loba kunjalo, kulokunye okwakumlalisa engalele. Kwakumele afike atshele abantu base-Asiriya ukuthi uJehova wayezabajezisa. Abantu laba babelodlakela njalo belesihluku esitshwaqisa igazi. Mhlawumbe uJona wayezibuza athi, ‘Nxa abantu bakithi abamaziyo uNkulunkulu bengaphenduki, amahedeni la angantshintsha yini?’ Kambe nxa inceku kaJehova eyodwa nje yayingazama ukumisana leNineve eyacina ibizwa ngokuthi ‘lidolobho legazi,’ kwakungasoze kufanane yini lokuzama ukumisa umfula othelayo ngombundu wetshebetshebe?—Nahu. 3:1, 7.

7, 8. (a) Kuyini okuveza ukuthi uJona wayezimisele ukubalekela umsebenzi ayewuphiwe nguJehova? (b) Kungani kungamelanga siphethe ngokuthi uJona wayeligwala lendoda?

⁷ Asingeke sitsho ukuthi kuyini sibisibili uJona ayetshukana lakho engqondweni yakhe. Kodwa esikwaziyo yikuthi wathi ethunywa, wacela ezinyaweni ebalekela umsebenzi ayewuphiwe. UJehova wayethe aqonde empumalanga, kodwa yena nango eziyela entshonalanga, etshona phansi njengomswenya. Waya edolobheni okuthiwa yiJopha elalisekhunjini lolwandle lapho afika khona wanombela emkhunjini owawuqonda  eThashishi. Ezinye izazi zithi iThashishi yayiseSpain. Nxa kunjalo, kutsho ukuthi uJona wayehlose ukuya endaweni eyayikhatshana leNineve ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-3 500. Uhambo lolu olwaludabula eLwandle Olukhulu lwalungathatha umnyaka wonke. Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi kumnyama kubomvu, uJona wayezimisele ukuwubalekela umsebenzi ayewuphiwe nguJehova.—Bala uJona 1:3.

⁸ Manje sesingahle siphethe ngokuthi uJona wayeligwala lendoda yini? Okungcono yikuthi singabambi inhlwa ngekhanda. Esihlokweni lesi sizabona ukuthi uJona wenzani okwakutshengisa ukuthi wayelesibindi. Kanti njalo okumele sikunanzelele yikuthi laye wayelesono njengathi futhi wayesenza amaphutha amanengi. (Hubo. 51:5) Ukhona yini umuntu ongakaze esabe?

9. Lokho uJehova asicela ukuthi sikwenze kungakhanya kunjani ngezinye izikhathi, njalo yiwaphi amazwi aqakathekileyo okungamelanga siwakhohlwe nxa sekunjalo?

⁹ Ngezinye izikhathi kungakhanya kunzima ukwenza lokho uNkulunkulu asicela ukuthi sikwenze, mhlawumbe size sicabange lokuthi asingeke safa sakwenelisa. Singakubona kunzima ukutshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu lanxa sikwazi ukuthi amaKhristu kumele awenze umsebenzi lo. (Mat. 24:14) Kulula kakhulu ukuthi sikhohlwe amazwi la aqakathekileyo atshiwo nguJesu athi: “Zonke izinto ziyenzakala ngoNkulunkulu.” (Mak. 10:27) Nxa kuyikuthi lathi kuyake kusithwalise nzima ukulalela amazwi la, singamzwisisa uJona. Kodwa uJona waphumelela yini ukubalekela umsebenzi ayewuphiwe?

10, 11. (a) UJona wayengabe ezitshela ukuthini ngesikhathi umkhumbi usuka ekhunjini? (b) Yiphi ingozi eyehlela umkhumbi labantu abebekuwo?

¹⁰ Engxenye uJona wafika wadinga indawo ayengahlala kuyo emkhunjini lo owawuthwala impahla okumele ukuthi wawungoweKhenani. Wayikhangela induna yomkhumbi lababesebenza layo bedidizela belungiselela ukuthi umkhumbi usuke ekhunjini lolwandle. Lakanye umkhumbi wasuka, wasolobela udliwa ngumango. Mhlawumbe uJona wayesezitshela ukuthi wayesephunyukile emsebenzini ayewesaba kakhulu ayethunywe ukuthi awenze. Kodwa bathi besalibele umkhathi waphonguthi phendu!

¹¹ Kwaqubuka umoya olamandla, ulwandle lwaphenduka into eyesabekayo, kwaba lenkalakatha zamagagasi ayengagqibela lemikhumbi yalezinsuku emikhulu. Ngesikhatshana nje umkhumbi wabo wawusukhanya usumncinyane njengokulihlamvu okuphakathi komfula, okulokhu kuphoselwa le lale ngamagagasi. Manje uJona wahle wakunanzela khonapho yini ukuthi ‘nguJehova owayethumele isiphepho elwandle’? Kasikwazi kodwa nguye owabhala amazwi la. Wababona abagwedli bomkhumbi beqalisa ukukhala kubonkulunkulu babo njalo uJona wayekwazi ukuthi babezidlalisela isikhathi nje. (Levi. 19:4) IBhayibhili lithi  isivunguzane ‘sasingathi sizawubhidliza umkhumbi.’ (Jona. 1:4) Kambe uJona wayengakhuleka sibili kuNkulunkulu ayembalekela?

12. (a) Kungani kungamelanga sithi ukulala kukaJona kwakutshengisa ukuthi wayengelandaba lokwakusenzakala emkhunjini? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.) (b) UJehova wamveza njani umuntu owayebangele ukuthi kube lesiphepho?

¹² UJona wakubona ukuthi wayengeke ahlomulele muntu engozini le, wasesiyacambalala endlwaneni eyayingaphansi emkhunjini. Wafika wajunywa yibuthongo, walala obukabhuka. * Kodwa induna yomkhumbi yamfukula, yamtshela ukuthi laye kakhuleke kunkulunkulu wakhe njengabanye bonke. Amadoda ayesebenza emkhunjini akubona ukuthi isiphepho lesi sasingajayelekanga, asesithi kungcono enze inkatho ukuze abone ukuthi ngubani owayebathele emanyaleni la. Kumele ukuthi uJona wezwa uvalo lumhaqaza ebona inkatho iceza abanye bonke. Ekucineni iqiniso lavela mgceke. UJehova nguye owayesenza ukuthi kube lesiphepho njalo nguye owayesenza ukuthi inkatho ibaceze bonke abanye, idle uJona.—Bala uJona 1:5-7.

13. (a) Kuyini uJona angazange akufihlele abagwedli bomkhumbi? (b) UJona watshela abagwedli bomkhumbi ukuthi benzeni, njalo kungani watsho njalo?

¹³ UJona kazange abafihlele lutho abagwedli bomkhumbi. Wabatshela ukuthi wayeyinceku kaNkulunkulu uSomandla. Wayemcunulile uJehova njalo nguye ayembalekela. Lokhu yikho okwakubangele isiphepho leso. Amadoda la atsha amathe, loJona laye wazibonela ukuthi ayeselomhedehede. Ambuza ukuthi manje kwakufanele amenzeni yena ukuze bonke abasemkhunjini bangapheleli elwandle. UJona wathini? Engxenye wawakhangela amagagasi olwandle, wazicabanga esecwila emanzini lawo ayeqanda mo, wazizwa engenwa ngamakhaza. Kodwa wezwa kumalela ukubukela amadoda wonke lawo efela amafufu njengegundwane yena esazi ukuthi angawasiza. Yikho-ke wathi kuwo: “Ngiqukulani lingiphose elwandle, luzathula. Ngiyazi ukuthi kungumlandu wami okwenze isiphepho esikhulu kangaka sehlela phezu kwenu.”—Jona. 1:12.

14, 15. (a) Singatshengisa njani ukuthi silokholo olunjengolukaJona? (b) Abagwedli benzani uJona esebatshele ukuthi bamphosele elwandle?

¹⁴ Kambe kulegwala elalingakhuluma amazwi anjalo? Kufanele ukuthi uJehova wathokoza ebona ukuthi uJona wayelesibindi futhi ezimisele ukufela abanye. Lapha watshengisa ukuthi wayelokholo oluqinileyo sibili. Lathi singamlingisela ngokuqakathekisa inhlalakahle yabanye kulokuthi sizicabange thina sodwa. (Joh. 13:34, 35) Nxa singabona umuntu oswelayo, okhathazekileyo loba osekhonza nzima, akumelanga sigoqe izandla simbukele ehlupheka. UJehova uyajabula kakhulu nxa sisiza abanye!

¹⁵ Kungenzeka ukuthi abagwedli kwabasinda ukwenza lokho uJona  ayebatshele khona. Yikho baqala bala. Basebenza belume owangaphansi bezama ukuthi bagwedlele emhlabathini kodwa kwala. Ulwandle lwaselusidla amahabula ukwedlula kuqala. Ekucineni bazibonela ukuthi kwakungasela ngenye indlela. Bakhala becela ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu kaJona abathethelele, basebemphakamisa uJona bamphosela elwandle.—Jona. 1:13-15.

16, 17. Chaza ukuthi kwenzakalani kuJona esejikelwe elwandle. (Khangela lemifanekiso.)

¹⁶ UJona wabhudlukela elwandle lolu olwalulamagagasi esabekayo. Mhlawumbe wazama ukutshaya ibhamu elwisa ukuthi angasibekelwa zimpophoma zamanzi, kodwa wabona nankuya umkhumbi uqhelelana laye. Wabeyathe uyazama ukuntsheza, amagagasi lawo athi ngikhonapho. Wacwila kancane kancane, ezibonela laye ukuthi wayengeke esawadla amabele.

¹⁷ Endabeni yakhe waloba ukuthi wayesizwa njani ngesikhathi esegalula. Wanakana lokhu lalokhuya. Wazizwa ehloba ecabanga ngokuthi uNkulunkulu wayesemlahlile ngenxa yokungalaleli kwakhe. Wezwa ukuthi wayelokhu ecwila esiya enzikini yolwandle, khonale lapho izintaba  eziqalisela khona. Esesekujuleni, utshani bolwandle bamthandela. Wayesebona angathi yikho lapho okwakuzakuba lengcwaba lakhe khona.—Bala uJona 2:2-6.

18, 19. Kuyini okwenzakala kuJona esekujuleni kolwandle, yisilo bani adibana laso, njalo ngubani owayebangele ukuthi konke lokhu kwenzakale? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

¹⁸ Kusenjalo kwenzakala isimanga! Thutshu inkalakatha yesilo esimnyama. Sasondela kancane kancane, nanso sihahabela uJona! Savula umlomo waso omkhulu, samginya.

¹⁹ Engxenye uJona wahle wazitshela ukuthi kwasekuphelile ngaye. Kodwa wamangala ezizwa elokhu esaphefumula. Wayezizwa elokhu enguye sibili, engahlephukanga lanxa kwasekumele ukuthi ngabe seyinganekwane nje. Wasala engelankani! Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi nguJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe ‘owayelethe inhlanzi enkulukazi yamginya.’ *—Jona. 1:17.

20. Umthandazo kaJona ephakathi kwenhlanzi enkulu ungasifundisani?

²⁰ Kwakumnyama tshu esiswini senhlanzi. Kwadlula imizuzu, kwadlula amahora. Elapho, uJona wathola isikhathi sokucabangisisa kanye lokukhuleka kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Umthandazo kaJona esiwuthola eBhayibhilini esahlukweni sesibili sebhuku lakhe usifundisa okunengi ngaye. Usitshengisa ukuthi wayeyazi engayiphumputhi iMibhalo ngoba okunengi okukuwo wayekuthatha kumaHubo. Umthandazo lo uphinda uveze lokuthi wayengumuntu obongayo. Wathi ewuphetha wathi: “Kodwa mina, ngizakuthi ngihlabela ingoma yokubonga ngenze umhlatshelo kuwe. Engikufungileyo ngizakugcwalisa. Insindiso ivela kuJehova.”—Jona. 2:9.

21. UJona wafundani, futhi yikuphi okuqakathekileyo okumele sihlale sikukhumbula?

²¹ ‘Ephakathi kwenhlanzi,’ uJona wafunda ukuthi uJehova angazisindisa izinceku zakhe loba nini, kungelani lokuthi zingaphi. UJehova wayibona ikhonale inceku yakhe eyayikhathazekile, waseyisindisa. (Jona. 1:17) Nguye yedwa owayengenelisa ukulondoloza umuntu ephila okwamalanga amathathu lobusuku obuthathu esiswini senkalakatha yenhlanzi.  Lawe kungaba kuhle ukuthi uhlale ukhumbula ukuthi uJehova nguye “uNkulunkulu ophethe ukuphila kwakho.” (Dan. 5:23) Siyaphefumula nje nguye, njalo sikhona ngenxa yakhe. Yikho-ke kumele simlalele ngoba nxa sisenza njalo siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyambonga. Wena uyambonga yini?

22, 23. (a) UJona walithola yini ithuba lokutshengisa ukuthi uyabonga? Chaza. (b) Singafundani kuJona nxa kuyikuthi sesenze iphutha?

²² Kukhona yini uJona akufundayo? Wakubona ukuthi kwakumele alalele uJehova ukuze kukhanye ukuthi wayembonga. Ngemva kwamalanga amathathu lobusuku obuthathu, inhlanzi ‘yamhlanza uJona emhlabathini owomileyo.’ (Jona. 2:10) Uyabona yini ukuthi uJehova wamenzela impilo yakhe yaba lula? Kwakungasadingeki ukuthi abhukutshe esiya ekhunjini lolwandle. Lanxa kunjalo, kwakumele azibonele ukuthi wayezaqonda ngaphi esuka lapho. Ngemva kwesikhatshana, uJona wathola ithuba lokutshengisa ukuthi wayesephendukile yini sibisibili. UJona 3:1, 2 uthi: “Ilizwi likaJehova laselifika kuJona ngokwesibili lathi: ‘Hamba uye edolobheni elikhulu laseNineve uyotshumayela kulo ilizwi engikunika lona.’” Wenzani uJona?

²³ Kazange acabange kabili. IBhayibhili lithi: “UJona walilalela ilizwi likaJehova, waya eNineve.” (Jona. 3:3) Kuyakhanya ukuthi kazange ephulele izigodo endlebeni. Amaphutha akhe ayemfundise okunengi! Lathi kumele silwise ukuba lokholo olunjengolwakhe. Sonke siyona futhi siyawenza amaphutha. (Rom. 3:23) Kodwa akulahlwa mbeleko ngokufelwa. Akumelanga sivume ukuthi amaphutha ethu asibuyisele emuva kodwa kumele sifunde kuwo besesimlalela uNkulunkulu.

24, 25. (a) Yisiphi isibusiso esatholwa nguJona esaphila? (b) UJona uzathola siphi isibusiso nxa esevusiwe kwabafileyo?

²⁴ UJehova wambusisa uJona ngenxa yokuthi wayelalela. Mhlawumbe wacina esekwazi ukuthi abagwedli bomkhumbi basila. UJona wathi esezidelile waphoselwa elwandle, isiphepho saphela njalo abagwedli ‘bamesaba kakhulu uJehova.’ Kabasanikelanga imihlatshelo kubonkulunkulu bamanga kodwa banikela kuJehova.—Jona. 1:15, 16.

²⁵ Kulokunye uJona azakwazi nxa esevusiwe kwabafileyo. (Joh. 5:28, 29) UJesu wathi izinsuku uJona ayezihlale enhlanzini enkulu zaziyisiphrofetho esasitshengisa izinsuku yena ayezazihlala engcwabeni. (Bala uMathewu 12:38-40.) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi kuzamthokozisa kakhulu ukuzwa lokhu. Lawe uJehova uzimisele ukukubusisa. Ngakho-ke lingisela uJona ngokungavumeli ukuthi amaphutha akho akubuyisele emuva. Hlala umlalela uNkulunkulu njalo ubathande abanye.