1, 2. (a) Yiziphi izinto ezingakwenza ubuze ukuthi: “Kuyoze kube nini”? (b) Kungani izibonelo zezinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile zasendulo zingasiduduza?

“KUYOZE kube nini?” Lowo umbuzo owabuzwa abaprofethi abathembekile u-Isaya noHabakuki. (Isaya 6:11; Hab. 1:2) Ngesikhathi iNkosi uDavide ibhala iHubo 13, nayo yabuza umbuzo ofanayo izikhathi ezine: “Kuyoze kube nini?” (IHu. 13:1, 2) Ngisho neNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu yawubuza lo mbuzo lapho ikhuluma nabantu ababengenalo ukholo. (Math. 17:17) Ngakho akufanele simangale lapho nathi ngezinye izikhathi sizibuza umbuzo ofanayo.

² Yini engasenza sibuze ukuthi, “Kuyoze kube nini”? Kungase kube ukungabi nabulungisa esibhekene nabo. Noma ukuhlushwa izinkinga zokuguga nokugula noma izingcindezi zokuphila “kulezi zikhathi ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo.” (2 Thim. 3:1) Noma singase sicindezelwe izenzo ezimbi zabantu esiphila nabo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibhekana nani, ave kusiduduza ukwazi ukuthi izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile zasendulo zawubuza ngokukhululekile lo mbuzo okungenzeka ukuthi uyasikhathaza futhi azijeziswanga ngalokho.

3. Yini engasisiza lapho sibhekana nezimo ezinzima?

 ³ Yini engasisiza lapho sibhekana nalezi zimo ezinzima? Umfundi uJakobe, umfowabo kaJesu, waphefumulelwa ukuba abhale: “Bazalwane, bekezelani kuze kube ukuba khona kweNkosi.” (Jak. 5:7) Sonke kudingeka sibekezele. Kuhlanganisani ukuba nale mfanelo kaNkulunkulu?

4, 5. (a) Kuhlanganisani ukubekezela? (b) Umfundi uJakobe wakufanisa nani ukulinda uJehova? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

⁴ IBhayibheli lithi ukubekezela kuvezwa umoya ongcwele. Ngaphandle kosizo lukaNkulunkulu abantu abangaphelele ngeke bakwazi ukubekezela ngezinga elifanele. Ukubekezela kuyisipho esisiphiwa uNkulunkulu futhi kuyindlela eyinhloko esibonisa ngayo ukuthi siyamthanda. Kuphinde kubonise nokuthi siyabathanda abanye. Ukungakwazi ukubekezela kunciphisa uthando esinalo ngabanye kodwa ukubekezela kuyaluqinisa. (1 Kor. 13:4; Gal. 5:22) Ukubekezela kuhlanganisa nezinye izimfanelo eziningana zobuKristu ezibalulekile. Ngokwesibonelo, kuhlobene kakhulu nokukhuthazela, okusisiza sikwazi ukubhekana nezimo ezinzima sibe sinombono omuhle. (Kol. 1:11; Jak. 1:3, 4) Ukubekezela kungasho nokungaziphindiseleli lapho sihlukunyezwa nokuhlala siqotho kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibhekana nani. Ngaphezu kwalokho, iBhayibheli lisinxusa ukuba sizimisele ukulinda. Le mfanelo yokubekezela ichazwa kahle kuJakobe 5:7, 8. (Funda.)

⁵ Kungani kumelwe sizimisele ukulinda uJehova ngesineke? UJakobe ufanisa isimo sethu nesomlimi. Ngisho noma umlimi engasebenza kanzima kangakanani etshala, ngeke akwazi ukulawula isimo sezulu noma ukukhula kwezitshalo. Ngeke akwazi ukwenza isikhathi sisheshe. Uyakwamukela ukuthi kudingeka asilinde ngesineke “isithelo somhlaba esiyigugu.” Ngendlela efanayo, kunezinto eziningi esingeke sikwazi ukuzilawula njengoba silinde uJehova agcwalise izithembiso zakhe. (Marku 13:32, 33; IzE. 1:7) Njengomlimi, kudingeka silinde ngesineke.

6. Sifundani esibonelweni somprofethi uMika?

⁶ Izimo esibhekana nazo namuhla ziyafana nalezo umprofethi uMika aphila ngaphansi kwazo. Waphila phakathi nokubusa kwenkosi embi u-Ahazi, lapho kwakugcwele khona lonke uhlobo lobubi. Empeleni, abantu babenekhono lokwenza okubi. (Funda uMika 7:1-3.) UMika waqaphela ukuthi ngeke akwazi ukuzishintsha lezi zimo ngamandla akhe. Yini ayengayenza? Uthi: “Kodwa mina, ngizohlala ngibheke uJehova. Ngizobonisa isimo sengqondo sokumlinda uNkulunkulu wensindiso yami. UNkulunkulu wami uzongizwa.” (Mika 7:7) NjengoMika nathi kudingeka sibe ‘nesimo sengqondo sokulinda.’

7. Kungani kudingeka senze okungaphezu nje kokulinda uJehova ukuba agcwalise izithembiso zakhe?

⁷ Uma sinokholo olufana nolukaMika, siyozimisela ukulinda uJehova. Thina asifani nesiboshwa esilinde ukubulawa. Sona siphoqelekile ukuba silinde kodwa asikulangazeleli lokho esikulindile. Okwethu kuhluke kakhulu. Thina sizimisele ukulinda uJehova ngoba siyazi ukuthi uzosigcwalisa isithembiso sakhe sokusinika ukuphila okuphakade ngesikhathi esifanele! Ngakho ‘sikhuthazela ngokugcwele futhi siba ababekezela ngenjabulo.’ (Kol. 1:11, 12) Ukulinda sibe sikhononda ngokuthi uJehova akasheshi ukuthatha isinyathelo ngeke kumjabulise uNkulunkulu.—Kol. 3:12.

8. Yini okudingeka siyikhumbule njengoba sicabangisisa ngamadoda nabesifazane abathembekile basendulo?

⁸ Siyozimisela nakakhulu ukulinda uma sikhumbula amadoda nabesifazane abathembekile basendulo ababekezela, balinda uJehova ukuba agcwalise izithembiso zakhe. (Roma 15:4) Njengoba sicabangisisa ngezibonelo zabo, kuhle sikhumbule ukuthi kwadingeka balinde isikhathi eside kangakanani, kungani babezimisele ukulinda nokuthi yiziphi izibusiso abazithola ngenxa yokubekezela.

9, 10. U-Abrahama noSara kwadingeka balinde uJehova isikhathi eside kangakanani?

⁹ Cabanga ngesibonelo sika-Abrahama noSara. Babephakathi kwalabo okwathi ‘ngokholo nangokubekezela bazuza izithembiso njengefa.’ ImiBhalo isitshela ukuthi “ngemva kokuba u-Abrahama ebonise ukubekezela,” wathola isithembiso sokuthi uJehova uzombusisa futhi andise inzalo yakhe. (Heb. 6:12, 15) Kungani u-Abrahama kwadingeka abe nesineke? Kungenxa yokuthi ukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso kwakuzothatha isikhathi. Isivumelwano uJehova asenza no-Abrahama saqala ukusebenza ngoNisani 14, 1943 B.C.E. Lokho kwenzeka ngesikhathi yena noSara nabendlu yakhe bewela uMfula i-Ewufrathe bengena eZweni Lesithembiso. Ngemva kwalokho u-Abrahama kwadingeka alinde iminyaka engu-25 ngaphambi kokuba indodana yakhe u-Isaka izalwe ngo-1918 B.C.E., kwadingeka alinde eminye iminyaka engu-60 ngaphambi kokuba abazukulu bakhe u-Esawu noJakobe bazalwe ngo-1858 B.C.E.​—Heb. 11:9.

 ¹⁰ U-Abrahama wathola izwe elingakanani? IBhayibheli lithi: “Nokho [uJehova] akamnikanga mpahla eyifa kulo, cha, ngisho nengangonyawo; kodwa wathembisa ukumnika lona libe ngelakhe, nenzalo yakhe ngemva kwakhe, ngesikhathi engakabi namntwana.” (IzE. 7:5) Ngemva kokuwela i-Ewufrathe kwaphela iminyaka engu-430 ngaphambi kokuba inzalo ka-Abrahama ibe isizwe esasiyohlala kulelo zwe.​—Eks. 12:40-42; Gal. 3:17.

11. Kungani u-Abrahama azimisela ukulinda uJehova futhi yiziphi izibusiso ayozithola ngenxa yokubekezela?

¹¹ U-Abrahama wayezimisele ukulinda ngenxa yokuthi wayenokholo kuJehova. (Funda eyamaHebheru 11:8-12.) Kwamjabulisa ukulinda ngisho noma leso sithembiso sagcwaliseka ngokugcwele eseshonile. Kodwa cabanga ngendlela u-Abrahama ayojabula ngayo lapho evuselwa emhlabeni oyipharadesi. Uyomangala lapho ethola ukuthi ingxenye enkulu yeBhayibheli ilandisa ngokuphila kwakhe nenzalo yakhe. * Cabanga nje indlela ayothokoza ngayo lapho eqonda okokuqala ngqa indima yakhe ebalulekile ekugcwalisekeni kwenjongo kaJehova mayelana nenzalo ethenjisiwe! Ngempela uyoqonda ukuthi akalindelanga ize.

12, 13. Kungani uJosefa kwadingeka abekezele futhi kungani singathi wayebheka izinto ngendlela efanele?

¹² Umzukulu ka-Abrahama uJosefa naye wabonisa ukuthi uzimisele ukubekezela. Waphathwa ngendlela engenabulungisa izikhathi eziningi. Okokuqala, abafowabo bamthengisela ebugqilini eneminyaka engu-17. Ngemva kwalokho, waqanjelwa amanga kwathiwa uzame ukudlwengula inkosikazi yenkosi yakhe wabe esevalelwa ejele. (Gen. 39:11-20; IHu. 105:17, 18) Nakuba ayenza izinto ezinhle kwakubonakala sengathi uyajeziswa kunokuba abusiswe. Kodwa ngemva kweminyaka engu-13, izinto zashintsha ngokushesha. Wakhululwa ejele ngemva kwalokho wabekwa waba undunankulu waseGibhithe.​—Gen. 41:14, 37-43; IzE. 7:9, 10.

¹³ Ukuphathwa ngendlela enganabulungisa ingabe kwenza uJosefa waba nenzondo? Ingabe wayeka ukumethemba uNkulunkulu wakhe uJehova? Cha. Yini eyasiza uJosefa wabekezela? Wasizwa ukuba nokholo kuJehova. Wayibona indlela uJehova ayemsekela ngayo. Lokho sikubona endleleni aphendula ngayo abafowabo: “Ningesabi, ngoba ngisesikhundleni sikaNkulunkulu yini? Nina, naningicabangele okubi. UNkulunkulu wayekucabanga ukuba kube kuhle ngenjongo yokuba enze njengakulolu suku, ukuba alonde abantu abaningi.” (Gen. 50:19, 20) UJosefa wabona ukuthi kwamzuzisa ukulinda.

14, 15. (a) Yini ephawulekayo ngokubekezela kukaDavide? (b) Yini eyasiza uDavide walinda?

¹⁴ INkosi uDavide nayo yaphathwa ngendlela engenabulungisa izikhathi eziningi. Nakuba uJehova amgcoba esengumfana ukuba abe inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, kwadingeka uDavide alinde iminyaka engu-15 ngaphambi kokuba abe inkosi yakwaJuda. (2 Sam. 2:3, 4) Phakathi naleso sikhathi, iNkosi uSawule eyayingathembekile yayifuna ukubulala uDavide. * Ngenxa yalokho uDavide kwadingeka aphile njengombaleki, ngezinye izikhathi wayecasha kwelinye izwe noma emihumeni esehlane. Ngisho nalapho ekugcineni uSawule ebulawa empini, uDavide  kwadingeka ukuba alinde cishe iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-7 ngaphambi kokuba abe inkosi yaso sonke isizwe sakwa-Israyeli.​—2 Sam. 5:4, 5.

¹⁵ Kungani uDavide ayezimisele ukulinda? Impendulo siyithola kulo leli hubo abuza kulo izikhathi ezine ukuthi, “Kuyoze kube nini?” Uthi: “Kepha mina, ngithembele emseni wakho wothando; Inhliziyo yami mayijabule ngensindiso yakho. Ngizohlabelelela uJehova, ngoba usebenzelane nami ngendlela enomvuzo.” (IHu. 13:5, 6) UDavide wathembela emseni noma othandweni lukaJehova oluqotho. Wayelangazelela ukusindiswa futhi ezindla ngendlela uJehova ambusise ngayo. UDavide wabona ukuthi ukulinda kwakuzomzuzisa.

16, 17. UJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu basibekele kanjani izibonelo ezinhle mayelana nokuzimisela ukulinda?

¹⁶ Mayelana nokubekezela, uJehova akalindele ukuba senze into abengeke yena ayenze. Uye wasibekela isibonelo esivelele sokuzimisela ukulinda. (Funda eyesi-2 Petru 3:9.) Sekuphele iminyaka eminingi uJehova elindile ukuze kubonakale ukuthi izinsolo ezashiwo uSathane ensimini yase-Edene zazingamanga. ‘Ulinde’ isikhathi lapho igama lakhe liyongcweliswa ngokugcwele. Lokhu kuyobangela ukuba bonke abantu abazimisele ukulinda bathole izibusiso.​—Isaya 30:18.

¹⁷ UJesu naye ubelokhu ezimisele ukulinda. Nakuba ahlala eqotho lapho evivinywa ngesikhathi esemhlabeni futhi wanikela kuNkulunkulu inani lakhe lomhlatshelo wesihlengo ngo-33 C.E., kwadingeka alinde kwaze kwaba u-1914 ngaphambi kokuba aqale ukubusa. (IzE. 2:33-35; Heb. 10:12, 13) Izitha zakhe ziyoze zibhujiswe ngokuphelele ngemva kweMinyaka Eyinkulungwane Yokubusa kwakhe. (1 Kor. 15:25) Kusazodlula isikhathi eside ngempela kodwa siqiniseka ngokuthi ukulinda kuyozuzisa.

18, 19. Yini ezosisiza sikwazi ukubekezela futhi silinde?

¹⁸ Kusobala ukuthi wonke umuntu kudingeka abekezele futhi azimisele ukulinda. Yini ezosisiza? Thandazela umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu. Khumbula ukuthi ukubekezela kungesinye isithelo sezithelo zomoya ongcwele. (Efe. 3:16; 6:18; 1 Thes. 5:17-19) Nxusa uJehova ukuba akusize ubekezele futhi ukhuthazele.

¹⁹ Khumbula nokuthi yini eyasiza u-Abrahama, uJosefa noDavide ukuba balinde ngesineke ukugcwaliseka kwezithembiso zikaJehova. Kwakuwukholo lwabo kuJehova nokuthembela endleleni asebenzelana ngayo nabo. Abagxilanga kubo nasekunethezekeni kwabo. Njengoba sicabangisisa ngezibusiso abazithola nathi siyokhuthazeka ukuba silinde.

20. Kufanele sizimisele ukwenzani?

²⁰ Ngisho noma sibhekana novivinyo nezinkinga, sizimisele ukulinda. Kuyavunywa ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi singase sibuze, “O Jehova, kuyoze kube nini?” (Isaya 6:11) Sisizwa umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu, sonke sizimisele ukusho amazwi kaJeremiya athi: “UJehova uyisabelo sami . . . yingakho ngizobonisa isimo sengqondo sokumlinda.”​—IsiL. 3:21, 24.