1. Chaza kutsi ingilosi letsite yaba kanjani nguSathane.

EKUCALENI, ingilosi letsite beyinebuhlobo lobuhle naJehova. Kodvwa ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi yafuna kutsi bantfu bayikhonte. Kunekutsi isheshe ilwe nalesifiso lesibi, yasivumela kutsi sikhule yaze yona. (Jakobe 1:14, 15) Asilati ligama lengilosi lebeyibitwa ngalo ekucaleni, kodvwa nyalo siyibita ngekutsi nguSathane. “Akazange ahlale ecinisweni.” Wavukela Jehova futsi waba ‘nguyise wemanga.’—Johane 8:44.

2, 3. Emagama latsi “Sathane,” “Develi,” “inyoka,” nalelitsi “drago” avetani ngesitsa saJehova lesikhulu?

² Kusukela ekuvukeleni kwakhe, Sathane waba sitsa lesikhulu saJehova futsi waba sitsa sabo bonkhe bantfu. Nasibuka indlela liBhayibheli lelimchaza ngayo Sathane, singabona kutsi ukhohlakele kangakanani. Ligama lelitsi Sathane lisho “Umphikisi,” liveta kutsi lengilosi lembi iyabenyanya bukhosi baNkulunkulu futsi ilwisana nabo ngawo onkhe emandla  ayo. Ecinisweni, Sathane ufuna kubucedza bukhosi baJehova.

³ KuSembulo 12:9, Sathane ubitwa ngekutsi nguDeveli, lokusho “Umnyundzeli.” Sathane wedzelele Nkulunkulu ngekumbita ngekutsi ungumcambimanga. Ligama lelitsi “inyoka yekucala” lisikhumbuta indlela Sathane lasebentisa ngayo inyoka kute ayenge Eva. Ligama lelitsi “drago lomkhulu” nalo limchaza kahle Sathane. Unelulaka, unelunya futsi ukhohlakele. Akafuni kutsi injongo yaJehova igcwaliseke futsi ufuna kucedza bantfu baNkulunkulu.

4. Sitawucoca ngani kulesihloko?

⁴ Kuyacaca kutsi Sathane uyingoti kakhulu ekugcineni kwetfu bucotfo. Kungako liBhayibheli lisecwayisa litsi: “Hlalani nisangulukile niphindze nicaphele. Sitsa senu Develi, sihambahamba njengelibhubesi lelibhodlako, lelifuna lotsite lelingamshwabadzela.” (1 Phetro 5:8) Ngako-ke, kulesihloko sitawucoca ngemachinga lamatsatfu aSathane laveta sizatfu lesenta kutsi kudzingeke sitivikele kulesitsa lesibi saJehova nesebantfu baKhe.

5, 6. (a) Shano tibonelo letikhombisa kutsi tingilosi ‘tingemachawe lanemandla.’ (b) Sathane ‘unendlela yekubangela kufa’ ngamuphi umcondvo?

⁵ Tingilosi ‘tingemachawe lanemandla.’ (Tihlabelelo 103:20) Tihlakaniphe kakhulu kunebantfu futsi tinemandla kunabo. Kuliciniso kutsi tingilosi letetsembekile tiwasebentisa kahle emandla ato. Nasi sibonelo: Lenye ingilosi yaJehova yabulala emasotja ema-Asiriya latitsa langu-185 000. Umuntfu abengeke akhone kukwenta yedvwa loko futsi bekungaba matima ngisho nangelibutfo lemphi leliphelele. (2 Emakhosi 19:35) Ngalesinye sikhatsi, lenye ingilosi yasebentisa emakhono ayo kanye nemandla ayo kuze ikhulule baphostoli baJesu ejele. Nanobe bogadzi bebasedvute, abazange babone kutsi lengilosi yavula emasango, yakhulula labaphostoli yaphindze yakhiya.—Imisebenti 5:18-23.

⁶ Tingilosi letetsembekile tiwasebentisa kahle emandla ato, kodvwa Sathane uwasebentisa ngetinjongo letimbi. Akungabateki kutsi naye unemandla lamakhulu nelikhono lekuyenga bantfu. LiBhayibheli limbita ngekutsi ‘ungumbusi walelive’ nangekutsi ‘ngunkulunkulu walelive.’ (Johane 12:31; 2 Khorinte 4:4) Ngetulu kwaloko, Sathane ‘unendlela yekubangela kufa.’ (Hebheru 2:14) Loku akusho kutsi ubulala bonkhe bantfu ngalokucondzile. Ngako kusho kutsini? Kwekucala, lelive ligcwele inzondo nebudlova baSathane. Kwesibili, bonkhe bantfu banesono futsi bayafa ngesizatfu sekutsi Eva wawakholwa emanga aSathane, na-Adamu wangamlaleli Nkulunkulu. (Roma 5:12) Sathane ‘ungumbulali,’ njengobe nje Jesu asho. (Johane 8:44) Usitsa lesinemandla sibili.

7. Emadimoni akhombise njani kutsi anemandla?

⁷ Nasimelana naSathane, ngesikhatsi lesifanako sisuke simelana nabo bonkhe labamsekelako nalabavukela bukhosi  baNkulunkulu. Loko kufaka ekhatsi licembu lelikhulu letingilosi letivukelako, letibitwa ngekutsi ngemadimoni. (Sembulo 12:3, 4) Etikhatsini letinyenti, emadimoni akhombise kutsi anemandla kakhulu kunebantfu aphindze abahlukubeta kakhulu. (Matewu 8:28-32; Makho 5:1-5) Ungacali ukhohlwe kutsi emadimoni nembusi wawo banemandla lamakhulu. (Matewu 9:34) Ngaphandle kwekusitwa nguJehova, ngeke size siphumelele ekulweni naSathane.

8. (a) Uyini umgomo waSathane? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.) (b) Ngekubuka kwakho, lelive liveta njani kutsi linelunya njengaSathane?

⁸ Umphostoli Phetro watsi Sathane ufana ‘nelibhubesi lelibhodlako.’ Lenye incwadzi itsi leligama lesiGriki lelihunyushwe ngekutsi “kubhodla” lisho “kuhhonga kwesilwane lesilambe kakhulu.” Loko kukuchaza kahle kuba nelunya kwaSathane nekukhohlakala kwakhe! Nanobe abusa wonkhe umhlaba, kodvwa loko akumenetisi. Sathane ufana nelibhubesi lelilambele kubamba letinye tinyamatane. (1 Johane 5:19) Ufuna kuhlasela kakhulu labagcotjiwe labasemhlabeni kanye ‘naletinye timvu.’ (Johane 10:16; Sembulo 12:17) Umgomo wakhe kutsi acedze bantfu baJehova. Kuphatfwa kabi kwemaKhristu eliciniso kusukela ngelikhulu lekucala kuze kube ngunyalo, kuyiveta ngalokucacile indlela Sathane lanelunya ngayo.

9, 10. (a) Sathane wasihlasela njani sive sema-Israyeli? (Shano tibonelo.) (b) Kungani Sathane abenesizatfu lesikhetsekile sekuhlasela ema-Israyeli asendvulo? (c) Ucabanga kutsi Develi utiva njani nangabe lenye yetinceku taJehova yenta sono lesikhulu lamuhla?

 ⁹ Sathane uphindze waveta kutsi unelunya ngalenye indlela. Libhubesi lelilambile aliyiveli inyamatane lelifuna kuyibamba. Alibuva buhlungu ngaphambi kwekutsi liyibulale, futsi alitisoli nalapho seliyibulele. Ngendlela lefanako, Sathane akabaveli labo labahlaselako. Nasi sibonelo: Ucabanga kutsi Sathane abetiva njani nakabona ema-Israyeli enta tono letifaka ekhatsi kutiphatsa kabi ngekwelicansi nekuba bukhali? Ngeliso lengcondvo, uyambona yini Sathane ajabula nakabona imiphumela lebuhlungu yekutiphatsa kabi kwaZimri nekuba bukhali kwaGehazi?—Numeri 25:6-8, 14, 15; 2 Emakhosi 5:20-27.

¹⁰ Sathane abenesizatfu lesikhetsekile sekuhlasela ema-Israyeli asendvulo. Khumbula kutsi Mesiya abetawuvela kuleso sive futsi nguye lobekatawupitjita Sathane aphindze afakazele kutsi nguJehova lonelilungelo lekubusa. (Genesisi 3:15) Sathane abefuna kutsi ema-Israyeli angemukeleki kuNkulunkulu, ngako wenta konkhe lokusemandleni akhe kuze awabangele kutsi ente tono. Ungacabangi kutsi Sathane wamvela buhlungu Davide ngesikhatsi aphinga. Ungacabangi nekutsi wamvela Mosi ngesikhatsi alahlekelwa lilungelo lekungena eVeni Lesetsembiso. Ecinisweni Sathane ujabula kakhulu nakabona lenye yetinceku taNkulunkulu yenta sono lesikhulu. Develi ubese usebentisa tintfo letinjalo kuze edzelele Jehova.—Taga 27:11.

11. Kungani kungenteka kutsi Sathane abetimisele kuhlasela Sara?

¹¹ Sathane abebatondza kakhulu bantfu lebebaseluhlwini lwekutalwa kwaMesiya. Nasi sibonelo: Cabanga ngaloko lokwenteka ngemuva kwekutsi Jehova atjele Abrahama kutsi utawuba “sive lesikhulu.” (Genesisi 12:1-3) Ngesikhatsi Abrahama naSara baseGibhithe, Faro watsatsa Sara waya naye esigodlweni sakhe kuze amente umfati wakhe. Nanobe kunjalo, Jehova wamvikela Sara futsi wamkhulula kulesimo lesimatima. (Fundza Genesisi 12:14-20.) Kwenteka lokufanako nasedolobheni laseGerari ngaphambi kwekutsi Isaka atalwe. (Genesisi 20:1-7) Kungenteka yini kutsi tonkhe letimo betibangelwe nguSathane? Khumbula kutsi Sara abeshiye lidolobha lase-Uri lelinjingile wayohlala emathendeni. Ngako kungenteka yini kutsi Sathane abetimisele kumlinga ngetigodlo letinhle taFaro na-Abimeleki? Sathane bekacabanga kutsi Sara utawushiya indvodza yakhe naJehova yini kuze ashade yinye kulamakhosi? LiBhayibheli alisitjeli, kodvwa kungenteka kutsi Develi abetawujabula kakhulu kube Sara walahlekelwa lilungelo lekuba yincenye yeluhla lwekutalwa kwaMesiya. Sathane abengeke atisole kube umshado walomfati lolungile walimala, nobe lidvumela lakhe kanye nebuhlobo bakhe naJehova. Sathane unelunya futsi ukhohlakele sibili!

12, 13. (a) Sathane walukhombisa njani lunya lwakhe ngemuva kwekutalwa kwaJesu? (b) Ucabanga kutsi Sathane utiva njani ngalabasha labatsandza Jehova nalabetama kumkhonta lamuhla?

 ¹² Jesu watalwa emakhulwini eminyaka ngemuva kwa-Abrahama. Ungacabangi kutsi Sathane walutsandza loluswane loluhle. Bekati kutsi loluswane belutawukhula lube nguMesiya lowetsenjisiwe. Jesu abeyincenye yekucala yentalo ya-Abrahama, futsi ngemuva kwesikhatsi lesitsite ‘abetawubhidlita imisebenti yaDeveli.’ (1 Johane 3:8) Sathane abecabanga kutsi kubi kakhulu yini kubulala lomntfwana? Cha. Akanendzaba nekutsi yini lelungile nalengakalungi. Ngekushesha, wetama kubulala Jesu ngesikhatsi asengumntfwana. Njani?

¹³ Ngesikhatsi tati tetinkhanyeti titjela iNkhosi Herodi kutsi kutelwe ‘inkhosi yemaJuda,’ Herodi watfukutsela kakhulu futsi wafuna kulubulala loluswane. (Matewu 2:1-3, 13) Ngako watsi akubulawe bonkhe bafana labaneminyaka lemibili kuya ngephansi labaseBethlehema nasetifundzeni tayo. (Fundza Matewu 2:13-18.) Nanobe Jesu asindza, kodvwa loko kusitjelani ngesitsa setfu lesinguSathane? Develi akanendzaba nekuphila kwebantfu. Akanendzaba ngisho nangebantfwana. Vele Sathane ‘ulibhubesi lelibhodlako.’ Ungacali ukhohlwe kutsi unelunya kangakanani!

14, 15. Sathane ‘utivale njani tingcondvo talabangakholwa’?

¹⁴ Lokukuphela kwendlela Sathane langenta ngayo bantfu kutsi bashiye Jehova longuNkulunkulu wetfu lonelutsandvo, kutsi abakhohlise. (1 Johane 4:8) Sathane ukhohlisa bantfu kuze ‘bangatinakisisi tintfo letiphatselene naNkulunkulu,’ abente bangaboni kutsi bayabudzinga buhlobo naNkulunkulu. (Matewu 5:3) Develi ‘uvale tingcondvo talabangakholwa’ kuze bangalati liciniso ngaJehova.—2 Khorinte 4:4.

¹⁵ Lenye indlela yaSathane lehamba embili yekukhohlisa bantfu yinkholo yemanga. Uyati kutsi Jehova ‘unesikhwele,’ ufuna kukhontwe yena yedvwa. (Eksodusi 20:5) Ngako cabanga indlela Sathane lajabula ngayo nakabona bantfu bakhonta emadloti, indalo, nobe tilwane, lokusho kukhonta nobe yini ngaphandle kwaJehova. Kuyadzabukisa kutsi bantfu labanyenti labacabanga kutsi kukhonta kwabo kuyemukeleka kuNkulunkulu, ecinisweni balawulwa yinkholo yemanga nemisimeto lelite. Ema-Israyeli angesikhatsi sa-Isaya abesesimeni lesifanako. Jehova wawabuta watsi: “Niyicitselani imali kuloko lokungesiso sinkhwa? Niyisebentelani intfo lengenelisi? Lalelani, lalelani kimi, nidle loko lokulungile, nemphefumulo wenu uyawujabula ngekudla lokumnandzi kakhulu.”—Isaya 55:2.

16, 17. (a) Kungani Jesu atsi kuPhetro: “Suka Sathane”? (b) Sathane angasikhohlisa njani kute siyekele kuhlala silindzile?

¹⁶ Sathane angadukisa ngisho netikhonti taJehova letikhutsele. Nasi sibonelo: Cabanga ngaloko lokwenteka ngesikhatsi Jesu atjela bafundzi bakhe kutsi madvutane abetawubulawa. Umphostoli Phetro lobekatsandza Jesu watsi:  “Bani nemusa kuwe Nkhosi; loku ngeke kwenteke kuwe.” Jesu watsi kuPhetro: “Suka Sathane!” (Matewu 16:22, 23) Kungani Jesu abita Phetro ngekutsi “nguSathane”? Kungobe Jesu abekwati loko lobekusetawenteka. Ngekushesha Jesu abetawufa abe ngumhlatjelo loyinhlawulo futsi akhombise kutsi Develi ungumcambimanga. Lesi bekusikhatsi lesibaluleke kakhulu emlandvweni webantfu futsi bekungasiso sikhatsi sekutsi Jesu ‘abe nemusa’ kuye ngekwakhe. Sathane abetawujabula kube Jesu wayekela kuhlala alindzile.

¹⁷ Kuphela kwalelive sekusondzele, ngako natsi siphila esikhatsini lesimatima. Sathane ufuna sibe “nemusa” kitsi ngekusenta sinake kutfola imphumelelo kulelive. Ufuna sikhohlwe kutsi siphila emalangeni ekugcina futsi siyekele nekuhlala silindzile. Ungakuvumeli loko kwenteke kuwe! Esikhundleni saloko, ‘hlala ulindzile.’ (Matewu 24:42) Ungacali uwakholwe emanga aSathane ekutsi kuphela kwalelive kukhashane nobe kutsi ngeke kufike.

18, 19. (a) Sathane angetama njani kusidukisa futsi asente sicabange kutsi alusifaneli lutsandvo lwaJehova? (b) Jehova usisita njani kutsi sihlale silindzile?

¹⁸ Sathane wetama kusikhohlisa nangalenye indlela. Ufuna sikholelwe kutsi alusifaneli lutsandvo lwaJehova nekutsi Nkulunkulu ngeke aze asicolele tono tetfu. Kodvwa lawa ngemanga aSathane. Asewucabange, ngubani vele lolungamfaneli lutsandvo lwaJehova? NguSathane. Ngubani Nkulunkulu langeke aze amcolele? NguSathane. Kodvwa liBhayibheli liyasicinisekisa: “Nkulunkulu akasuye umuntfu longakalungi kutsi angakhohlwa umsebenti wenu nelutsandvo lenibe nalo ngelibito lakhe.” (Hebheru 6:10) Jehova ukujabulela konkhe lesikwentako kuze simjabulise futsi umsebenti lesimentela wona awusilo lite. (Fundza 1 Khorinte 15:58.) Ngako ungadukiswa ngemanga aSathane.

¹⁹ Njengobe sesibonile, Sathane unemandla, unelunya futsi ungumkhohlisi. Singasincoba njani lesitsa? Jehova usinika lusito. LiVi lakhe lisifundzisa ngemachinga aSathane kuze ‘siwati emacebo akhe.’ (2 Khorinte 2:11) Nasiticondza tindlela letehlukahlukene Sathane lasihlasela ngato, kuba melula ngatsi kuhlala silindzile. Kodvwa akukeneli kwati emachinga aSathane. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Nimelane naDeveli, futsi utanibalekela.” (Jakobe 4:7) Sihloko lesilandzelako sitawukhuluma ngetincenye letintsatfu lesingalwa kuto naSathane futsi simncobe.