1, 2. Kuyini okwasekuntshintshile emhlabeni kusukela ngezikhathi zikaNowa, njalo u-Abhrahama kwakumphatha njani lokhu?

U-ABHRAHAMA wakhangela phezulu, amehlo akhe ethe nhlo emphotshongweni owawusedolobheni ayehlala kulo, i-Uri. * Kwakuthunqa intuthu njalo umsindo wawubambile. Abaphristi bakankulunkulu wenyanga babenikela imihlatshelo yabo njengenjayelo. Akumbone ngelihlo lengqondo u-Abhrahama etshibilika enikina ikhanda, ibunzi selimavinqovinqo ngokuhwaqa. Nango engena indlela ehamba ephambana lamaxuku abantu ayesemgwaqweni. Kumele ukuthi wayecabanga ngomkhuba wokukhonza izithombe owawusugcwele e-Uri. Inhlansi yokukhonza kwamanga eyayikhona ngezikhathi zikaNowa yayisimemetheke njengomlilo weganga ebusika.

² UNowa wanikela umhlatshelo kuJehova uNkulunkulu lapho yena lemuli yakhe bephuma emkhunjini ngemva kukaZamcolo. UJehova wasesenza ukuthi kuvele umchilowamakhosikazi. (Gen. 8:20; 9:12-14) Ngalesosikhathi kwakulokukhonza kweqiniso kuphela emhlabeni. Kodwa ngemva kweminyaka engu-350, uNowa wafa. U-Abhrahama wazalwa ngemva kweminyaka emibili lokhu kwenzakele. Khathesi-ke abantu basebesanda emhlabeni futhi ukukhonza kweqiniso kwasekulilihlo lentwala. Yonke indawo kwasekukhonzwa onkulunkulu bamanga. Loyise ka-Abhrahama okwakuthiwa nguThera wayekhonza izithombe, mhlawumbe ezibaza lokuzibaza.—Josh. 24:2.

3. Kuyini okwaqhubeka kucaca empilweni ka-Abhrahama, njalo kuyini esingakufunda kuye?

³ U-Abhrahama wayengafanani labantu laba. Yena wayelokholo njalo lokhu kwaqhubeka kucaca empilweni yakhe. Umphostoli uPhawuli waze waphefumulelwa ukuthi athi “unguyise wabo  bonke abakholwayo.” (Bala uRoma 4:11.) Ake sibone ukuthi kuyini okwanceda u-Abhrahama ukuthi abe lokholo olunjalo. Kunengi esingakufunda mayelana lokuthi lathi singaluqinisa njani ukholo lwethu.

4, 5. Ngubani okumele ukuthi wafundisa u-Abhrahama ngoJehova, futhi kungani singaphetha ngokutsho njalo?

⁴ Ngubani owafundisa u-Abhrahama ngoJehova uNkulunkulu? Siyakwazi ukuthi ngalesosikhathi uJehova wayelabo abantu ababethembekile ababemkhonza. Omunye wabo kwakunguShemu. Nxa kukhulunywa ngamadodana kaNowa amathathu, nguye ojayele ukuqanjwa kuqala lanxa kwakungayisuye olizibulo. Kumele ukuthi uqanjwa kuqala ngoba wayeyindoda eyayilokholo oluqinileyo. * Ngemva kukaZamcolo, uNowa wabiza uJehova ngokuthi ‘nguNkulunkulu kaShemu.’ (Gen. 9:26) UShemu wayemhlonipha uJehova futhi wayelandela ukukhonza kweqiniso.

⁵ U-Abhrahama wayemazi yini uShemu? Kungenzakala ukuthi wayemazi. Akumcabange u-Abhrahama esesemncane. Kumele ukuthi kwamthokozisa kakhulu ukuzwa ukuthi wayelokhokho owayesephile okweminyaka edlula engu-400. UShemu wayekubonile ukuxhwala okwakukhona abantu bengakabhujiswa, wambona loZamcolo omkhulu owahlanza umhlaba. Wayekhona kusungulwa izizwe zakuqala ngesikhathi abantu besanda emhlabeni, waphinda wabona lezinsuku ezimbi zokuhlamuka kukaNimrodi eMphongolweni waseBhabheli. Kodwa yena wayethembekile njalo kazange ahlamuke labantu laba. Yikho-ke lapho uJehova esenza ukuthi ababesakha umphongolo bakhulume izindimi ezitshiyeneyo ukuze bangazwanani, uShemu lemuli yakhe baqhubeka bekhuluma ulimi olwalukhulunywa nguNowa futhi olwaluvele lukhulunywa ekuqaleni. Elinye ilunga lemuli le kwakungu-Abhrahama. Yikho-ke akuthandabuzwa ukuthi wayengamthontisi uShemu. Kanti njalo kumele ukuthi wayemjayele kakhulu uShemu ngoba waze wafa yena esemdala. Ngakho-ke kumele ukuthi nguye owafundisa u-Abhrahama ngoJehova.

6. (a) U-Abhrahama watshengisa njani ukuthi wayehlala ecabangisisa ngayekufundile kuZamcolo? (b) Chaza ukuthi impilo ka-Abhrahama loSara yayinjani.

⁶ Kungelani lokuthi u-Abhrahama wafunda njani ngoJehova, wayehlala  ecabangisisa ngayekufundile kuZamcolo. Wazimisela ukuthi abambelele kuNkulunkulu njengoNowa. Yikho okwenza ukuthi angakhonzi izithombe wasekhanya eyindlubu ewele ephokweni, mhlawumbe lakumalunga emuli yakhe. Kodwa wathola umuntu owayemsekela. Kwakungowesifazana atshada laye okwakuthiwa nguSara owayeyisiqamulamayezi futhi elokholo oluqinileyo kuJehova. * Kufanele ukuthi kwakubathokozisa kakhulu ukukhonza uJehova bendawonye lanxa babengelabantwana. Kanti njalo bondla uLothi owayezalwa ngumnewabo ka-Abhrahama.

7. Abalandeli bakaJesu bangamlingisela njani u-Abhrahama?

⁷ U-Abhrahama kazange akhonze izithombe zase-Uri kodwa waqhubeka ekhonza uJehova. Yena loSara babezimisele ukuthi bangafanani labanengi ababekhonza izithombe. Lathi nxa sifuna ukuba lokholo oluqinileyo kumele sizimisele ukuthi singalandeli abantu abenza okubi lanxa bebanengi. UJesu wathi abalandeli bakhe babengasoze babe ‘ngabomhlaba’ yikho wawuzabazonda. (Bala uJohane 15:19.) Nxa kuyikuthi amalunga emuli yakho kumbe abantu emphakathini bakuphatha ngendlela ekuzwisa ubuhlungu ngenxa yokuthi usukhethe ukukhonza uJehova, hlala ukhumbula ukuthi kawuwedwa. Uyabe ubambelele kuNkulunkulu njengo-Abhrahama loSara.

8, 9. (a) Yiphi into emangalisayo eyenzakala ku-Abhrahama? (b) UJehova wamtshelani u-Abhrahama?

⁸ Ngelinye ilanga kwenzakala into emangalisayo u-Abhrahama ayengeke afa ayilibala. UJehova uNkulunkulu wakhuluma laye. IBhayibhili alisitsheli okunengi ngokuthi wakhuluma laye njani kodwa lithi “uNkulunkulu wenkazimulo” waziveza endodeni le eyayithembekile. (Bala imiSebenzi 7:2, 3.) Mhlawumbe ingilosi eyayimela uNkulunkulu yenza u-Abhrahama wayithi tshazi inkazimulo emangalisayo yoMbusi wendawo yonke. Kumele ukuthi kwamthokozisa kakhulu u-Abhrahama ukubona umahluko phakathi kukaNkulunkulu ophilayo lezithombe ezingelampilo ezazikhonzwa ngosowabo.

⁹ UJehova wamtshelani u-Abhrahama? Wathi: “Tshiya ilizwe lakini labantu bakini uye elizweni engizakutshengisa lona.” Kazange amtshele ukuthi ilizwe lelo kwakuyiliphi kodwa wamtshela ukuthi wayezamtshengisa lona kuphela. Lanxa kunjalo, u-Abhrahama kwakumele aqale atshiye ilizwe lakibo kanye labantu bakibo. Endaweni ayehlala kuyo abosendo babeqakathekiswa kakhulu. Kwakuthiwa nxa indoda ingatshiya izihlobo zayo iyehlala khatshana lazo yayizakuba lomnyama, njalo abanye babesithi ukwenza njalo kuyesabeka ukwedlula ukufa.

10. Kungani kwakungabe kunzima ukuthi u-Abhrahama loSara batshiye umuzi wabo owawuse-Uri?

 ¹⁰ Kukhanya edolobheni lase-Uri kwakuhlala izipatsha futhi kulokunengi okwakusenzakala kulo. (Khangela ibhokisi elithi  “Idolobho Elatshiywa Ngu-Abhrahama LoSara.”) Yikho-ke kumele ukuthi kwakungalula ukusuka edolobheni lelo. Abacubungula izinto zasendulo baveza ukuthi izindlu zase-Uri zazizinhle okwamagama. Ezinye zazizinkulu kakhulu okokuthi izihlobo lezisebenzi zazingahlala khona njalo emagumeni akhona iphansi lalicandwe ngamatshe. Okunye okwakusenza impilo ibe lula yikuthi kwakulezimpompi zamanzi, kulezambuzi kanye lamaphayiphi okukhipha ingcekeza. Khumbula lokuthi u-Abhrahama loSara basebekhulile. U-Abhrahama wayengabe esedlulise iminyaka engu-70, futhi uSara wayengabe eseleminyaka ephezu kwengu-60. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi wayefuna uSara ahlale kuhle ngoba phela akulandoda elothando engafuniyo ukuthi umkayo ahlale buntofontofo. Uyababona yini bexoxa ngalokho uNkulunkulu ayethe bakwenze, bekhathazekile futhi bezibuza lokhu lalokhuya? Kumele ukuthi u-Abhrahama wathokoza kakhulu lapho uSara evuma ukutshiya i-Uri. Laye wayezimisele ukutshiya impilo emnandi ayeyiphila.

11, 12. (a) Kuyini okwakumele u-Abhrahama loSara bakulungiselele futhi bacabange ngakho bengakasuki e-Uri? (b) Chaza ukuthi kwakungabe kunjani ngelanga abasuka ngalo.

¹¹ Manje u-Abhrahama loSara kwasekumele benzeni njengoba basebekhethe ukuhamba? Kwakulezinto ezinengi okwakufanele bazipakitshe njalo kunengi okwakumele bakuhlele. Pho babezathwalani njengoba babesiya endaweni ababengayazi? Kuyini ababezakutshiya? Ingasaphathwa eyokuthi babezakuthini ngabemuli yabo. Babezakuthini ngoThera owayeseluphele? Bakhetha ukuhamba laye lokumnakekela okwempilo yakhe yonke. Kufanele ukuthi laye uThera wasukumela phezulu ngoba kuthiwa nguye owasuka lemuli yakhe elizweni lase-Uri njalo kumele ukuthi wayeseyekelile ukukhonza izithombe. ULothi laye wahamba labo.—Gen. 11:31.

¹² Lafika elingaliyo! Akucabange sebebuthene bonke phandle kwemiduli yedolobho lase-Uri ekuseni. Impahla zaseziphezu kwamakamela labobabhemi, izifuyo sezilaphaya njalo lezisebenzi sezilungele ukuhamba; sekubaphuzele ukusuka. * Mhlawumbe amehlo abo ayesethe nhlo ku-Abhrahama, sebelindele ukuthi atsho ukuthi sekuhanjwa. Sasesifikile isikhathi, njalo basuka balifulathela kokuphela idolobho lase-Uri.

13. Lamuhla izinceku zikaJehova ezinengi zenzani ukuze zilingisele u-Abhrahama loSara?

¹³ Lamuhla izinceku zikaJehova ezinengi zikhetha ukuthuthela lapho okulabamemezeli boMbuso abalutshwana. Abanye bakhetha ukufunda  olunye ulimi ukuze benze eminye imisebenzi yenkonzo. Kanti njalo abanye bayazama ukutshumayela ngezinye izindlela abangazijayelanga. Kumele umuntu azidele ukuze enelise ukwenza lokhu, okutsho ukuthi azimisele ukutshiya ezinye izinto. Bonke abazidelayo bayabe belingisela u-Abhrahama loSara futhi kuhle kakhulu abakwenzayo. Nxa singaba lokholo olunjengolwabo, uJehova uzasinika okunengi ukwedlula lokho esiyabe simuphe khona. Kayekeli ukubanika umvuzo abalokholo. (Heb. 6:10; 11:6) Wamupha yini u-Abhrahama?

14, 15. Lwalunjani uhambo luka-Abhrahama esuka e-Uri esiyafika eHarani, futhi kuyini okungabe kwabangela ukuthi ahlale eHarani okwesikhathi eside?

¹⁴ Kancane kancane bakujayela ukuba semangweni. Uyababona yini o-Abhrahama loSara begade amakamela abo, bake behle bazihambele ngenyawo bezixoxela ngapha kukhenceza amaklogo? Engxenye lababengawujayelanga umango omude bacina sebezintshantshu zokwakha izihonqo lokuzidiliza, futhi nxa kuhanjwa babencedisa loThera owayeseluphele ukuthi ahlale kuhle phezu kwekamela loba ubabhemi. Baqonda enyakatho-ntshonalanga besekele uMfula uYufrathe. Kwadlula amalanga lamaviki belokhu betshova besiya phambili.

¹⁵ Bathi sebehambe amakhilomitha angaba ngu-960, bafika eHarani. Kwakulidolobho elalinothile elalisemahlukanweni emigwaqo  eyayisetshenziswa ngabantu beMpumalanga labaseNtshonalanga nxa bethengiselana. Bahlala khona okwesikhathi eside. Mhlawumbe umzimba kaThera wawungasavumi ukuthi baqhubeke ngohambo.

16, 17. (a) Yisiphi isivumelwano esamthinta kwamancane u-Abhrahama? (b) UJehova wambusisa ngani u-Abhrahama ngesikhathi eseHarani?

¹⁶ UThera watshona eseleminyaka engu-205. (Gen. 11:32) Kuyini okwaduduza u-Abhrahama ngesikhathi sosizi olungaka? UJehova wakhuluma laye emtshela imilayezo ayeke amtshela yona esese-Uri, futhi waphinda wamthembisa ukuthi wayezakuba “yisizwe esikhulu” njalo bonke abantu emhlabeni babezabusiswa ngenxa yakhe. (Bala uGenesisi 12:2, 3.) Isivumelwano lesi esasiphakathi kwakhe loNkulunkulu samthinta kwamancane, wahle wabona ukuthi kwasekumele zibotshwe.

¹⁷ Kodwa khathesi kwasekukunengi okwakumele bakuthwale ngoba uJehova wayembusisile ngesikhathi eseHarani. Endabeni ka-Abhrahama sitshelwa ‘ngempahla yakhe yonke ababeyizuzile kanye labantu ababebatholile eHarani.’ (Gen. 12:5) Phela ukuze u-Abhrahama abe yisizwe kwakumele aqale abe lemuli enkulu, abe lempahla ezinengi kanye lezisebenzi. Ayisikho ukuthi uJehova uhlala esenza ukuthi abantu bakhe banothe, kodwa uyabanika zonke izinswelo zabo ukuze benelise ukwenza intando yakhe. Yikho-ke esehlome waphelela, u-Abhrahama wakhokhela abantu bakhe, baqhubeka ngohambo lwabo besiya elizweni ababengalazi.

18. (a) Kunini lapho okwenzakala khona into eqakatheke kakhulu ebantwini bakaNkulunkulu? (b) Kuyini okunye okuqakathekileyo okwenzakala ngoNisani 14 eminyakeni eyalandelayo? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Ilanga Eliqakathekileyo Embalini Yabantu BakaNkulunkulu.”)

¹⁸ Sebehambe okwezinsuku besuka eHarani, bafika eKharikhemishi lapho abantu ababejayele ukuchapha khona uYufrathe. Mhlawumbe yikho lapho okwenzakala khona into eqakatheke kakhulu ebantwini bakaNkulunkulu. Kukhanya angani u-Abhrahama leqembu lakhe bachapha uYufrathe ngo-1943 B.C.E., mhlaka-14 ngenyanga eyacina isibizwa ngokuthi nguNisani. (Eks. 12:40-43) Eningizimu kwakulelizwe uJehova ayethembise ukumtshengisa lona. Mhlalokho isivumelwano esasiphakathi kukaNkulunkulu lo-Abhrahama saqalisa ukusebenza.

19. UJehova wamthembisani u-Abhrahama, njalo lokhu kungabe kwamkhumbuzani?

 ¹⁹ U-Abhrahama labantu bakhe baqonda eningizimu baze bayakuma duze lezihlahla ezinkulu zaseMore, phansi kweShekemu. Elapho, uJehova wakhuluma laye wamthembisa ukuthi inzalo yakhe yayizalithatha lelolizwe. Mhlawumbe u-Abhrahama wakhumbula isiphrofetho esakhulunywa e-Edeni esasiphathelane ‘lenzalo’ eyayizahlenga abantu. (Gen. 3:15; 12:7) Engxenye waqalisa ukukuzwisisa kancane ukuthi kukhona laye ayezakwenza ukuze lokho uNkulunkulu ayekuhlosile kugcwaliseke.

20. U-Abhrahama watshengisa njani ukuthi wayesiqakathekisa okwamagama isibusiso ayesiphiwe nguJehova?

²⁰ U-Abhrahama wayesiqakathekisa okwamagama isibusiso uJehova ayemuphe sona. Ilizwe ayekulo lalisahlala amaKhenani, yikho kumele ukuthi wayesenza izinto ngonanzelelo. Loba kunjalo, wayehamba esakhela uJehova ama-alithare. Elokuqala walakha eduze lezihlahla ezinkulu zaseMore njalo elinye walakha eduze laseBhetheli. Wadumisa ibizo likaJehova njalo kumele ukuthi wayembonga ngenhliziyo yakhe yonke nxa wayecabangisisa ngekusasa lenzalo yakhe. Kungenzakala-ke ukuthi wayetshumayeza omakhelwana bakhe ababengamaKhenani. (Bala uGenesisi 12:7, 8.) Lanxa babukhona ubunzima ayesazohlangana labo, kazange acabange ngempilo emnandi ayeyiphila e-Uri. Wayekhangele phambili. UHebheru 11:10 uthi: “Wayelindele idolobho elilezisekelo, elimcandi walo lomakhi walo nguNkulunkulu.”

21. Yiwuphi umahluko okhona phakathi kwesikwaziyo ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu lalokho okwakusaziwa ngu-Abhrahama, futhi wena uzimisele ukwenzani?

²¹ U-Abhrahama wayesazi okulutshwana mayelana ledolobho lelo elilezisekelo, okutsho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa thina sazi okunengi ngalo. Siyakwazi ukuthi uMbuso usubusa ezulwini kanye lokuthi sekuseduze ukuthi utshabalalise umumo wezinto lo omubi. Siyakwazi lokuthi uJesu Khristu, oyiNzalo ka-Abhrahama eyayisilesikhathi eside ithenjisiwe, nguye obusayo eMbusweni lo. Kuzabe kuyisibusiso sibili ukubona u-Abhrahama esevusiwe futhi esekuzwisisa ngokugcweleyo lokho uNkulunkulu ayekuhlosile. Uyafuna yini ukubona uJehova egcwalisa zonke izithembiso zakhe? Nxa ufuna, qhubeka umlingisela u-Abhrahama. Kumele uzidele, ulalele futhi uziqakathekise kakhulu zonke izibusiso oziphiwa nguJehova. Nxa ungalingisela u-Abhrahama ‘owayenguyise wabo bonke abakholwayo,’ uyabe esenguyihlo sibili!