1, 2. Nyika yakanga yachinja sei kubva panguva yaNoa, uye zvakaita kuti Abramu anzwe sei nezvazvo?

ABRAMU akasimudza musoro, maziso ake ari kushongwe yaiva refu kupfuura zvivako zvose zvaiva muguta raaigara reUri. * Ikoko kwaiva nemheremhere, uye utsi hwaikwira. Vapristi vamwari wemwedzi vainge vachipa zvibayiro zvakare. Fungidzira Abramu achitenderuka uye achizunguza musoro wake, achifinyamisa chiso chake. Sezvaaifamba achienda kumba achipinda nepakati pevanhu vakawanda vaiva mumigwagwa, angangodaro akafunga nezvekunamata zvidhori kwakanga kwazara muUri. Kunamata ikoko kwakashata kwakanga kwapararira zvikuru munyika kubva panguva yaNoa!

² Abramu akaberekwa Noa ava nemakore maviri chete afa. Noa nemhuri yake pavakabuda muareka pashure peMafashamo makuru, tateguru iyeye akapa chibayiro kuna Jehovha Mwari, uyo akabva aita kuti muraraungu uoneke. (Gen. 8:20; 9:12-14) Panguva iyoyo, kunamata kwakachena ndiko chete kwaiva panyika. Asi pari zvino, chizvarwa chechigumi kubva kuna Noa zvachaipararira nenyika, vainamata Jehovha vaienda vachiita vashoma. Kwose kwose vanhu vainamata vanamwari vechihedheni. Kunyange Tera, baba vaAbramu, ainamatawo zvidhori, zvimwe achitogadzira zvidhori.—Josh. 24:2.

3. Upenyu hwaAbramu zvahwaienderera mberi, unhu hupi hwakanyanya kuoneka paari, uye tingadzidzei pane izvozvo?

³ Upenyu hwaAbramu zvahwaienderera mberi, akawedzera kusiyana nevamwe vepanguva yake nemhaka yekutenda kwake. Chokwadi, pave paya muapostora Pauro akafemerwa kumudana kuti “baba vevaya vose vanotenda”! (Verenga VaRoma 4:11.) Ngationei zvakabatsira  kuti kutenda kwaAbramu kukure. Isu pachedu tinogona kubva tadzidza zvakawanda kuti tingakura sei mukutenda.

4, 5. Abramu angangodaro akadzidza nezvaJehovha kubva kuna ani, uye nei tingati zvinoita kuti tidaro?

⁴ Abramu akasvika sei pakudzidza nezvaJehovha Mwari? Tinoziva kuti Jehovha aiva nevashumiri vakatendeka panyika mumazuva iwayo. Shemu aiva mumwe wacho. Kunyange zvazvo aisava wokutanga pavanakomana vatatu vaNoa, ndiye anowanzotanga kutaurwa. Zvichida paiva pamusana pekuti Shemu aiva nokutenda kwakakura. * Imwe nguva pashure peMafashamo, Noa akataura nezvaJehovha sa“Mwari waShemu.” (Gen. 9:26) Shemu airemekedza Jehovha uye kunamata kwakachena.

⁵ Abramu aiziva Shemu here? Zvinoita kuti titi aimuziva. Fungidzira Abramu ari mukomana. Zvinofanira kunge zvaimufadza zvikuru kuziva kuti aiva natateguru mupenyu ainge ararama makore anopfuura 400! Shemu akanga aona uipi hwenyika yaivapo Mafashamo asati aitika, akanga aona Mafashamo makuru akachenesa nyika, kuvambwa kwemarudzi ekutanga vanhu zvavaiwanda panyika uyewo akanga aona mazuva akaipa ekupanduka kwaNimrodhi paShongwe yeBhabheri. Shemu uyo ainge akatendeka haana kubatanidzwawo pakupandukira kwacho, saka Jehovha paakavhiringidza mutauro wevavaki veshongwe, Shemu nemhuri yake vakaramba vachitaura mutauro wekutanga wevanhu, rurimi rwaNoa. Mhuri iyoyo yaisanganisira Abramu. Saka zvechokwadi Abramu akakura achiremekedza Shemu zvikuru. Uyezve, Shemu akaramba ari mupenyu muchikamu chikuru chemakore akawanda akararama Abramu. Saka Abramu angangodaro akadzidza nezvaJehovha kubva kuna Shemu.

6. (a) Abramu akaratidza sei kuti akanga anyatsofungisisa chidzidzo chikuru cheMafashamo? (b) Abramu naSarai vakararama upenyu hwakaita sei pamwe chete?

⁶ Chero zvazvingava, Abramu akanyatsofungisisa chidzidzo chikuru cheMafashamo. Akaedza kufamba naMwari sezvakanga zvaita Noa. Ndokusaka Abramu akaramba kunamata zvidhori ndokuva akasiyana nevamwe vaiva muUri, zvimwe kunyange nehama dzake dzepedyo. Zvisinei, akasvika pakuwana shamwari yakanaka kwazvo muupenyu.  Akaroora Sarai, mukadzi akanga akasiyana nevamwe kwete chete nemhaka yerunako rwake asiwo nemhaka yokutenda kwake kukuru muna Jehovha. * Kunyange zvazvo vaisava nemwana, hapana mubvunzo kuti vaviri ivavo vakawana mufaro mukuru pakushumira Jehovha pamwe chete. Vakarerawo Roti, mwana wemukoma waAbramu uyo aiva nherera.

7. Vateveri vaJesu vanofanira kutevedzera sei Abramu?

⁷ Abramu haana kumbobvira asiya Jehovha kuti anamate zvidhori zvainamatwa muUri. Iye naSarai vaida kuva vakasiyana nevanhu veguta iroro vainamata zvidhori. Kana tichizova nokutenda kwechokwadi, tinofanira kunge tichida kuita zvimwe chetezvo. Isuwo tinofanira kuda kuva vanhu vakasiyana nevamwe. Jesu akati vateveri vake ‘vaisazova venyika’ uye kuti izvozvo zvaizoita kuti nyika ivavenge. (Verenga Johani 15:19.) Kana ukazorwadziwa nemhaka yekuti vemumhuri mako kana kuti vemunharaunda vakuramba pamusana pekuti wakasarudza kushumira Jehovha, yeuka kuti hausi wega. Uri kutevedzera muenzaniso wakanaka waAbramu naSarai avo vakashumirawo Jehovha vakatendeka.

8, 9. (a) Chii chakaitika kuna Abramu chisingakanganwiki? (b) Jehovha akaudza Abramu kutii?

⁸ Rimwe zuva, pane zvakaitika kuna Abramu zvisingakanganwiki. Ane mashoko aakaudzwa naJehovha Mwari! Bhaibheri haritauri zvakawanda nezvekuti akaudzwa sei, asi rinoti “Mwari wokubwinya” akazviratidza kumurume iyeye ainge akatendeka. (Verenga Mabasa 7:2, 3.) Zvichida pachishandiswa ngirozi yaimiririra Mwari, Abramu akaratidzwa zvishoma zvakaita kubwinya kunoshamisa kwaChangamire wezvinhu zvose. Tinogona kungofungidzira kufara kwakaita Abramu achiona kusiyana kwakaita Mwari mupenyu nezvidhori zvisina upenyu zvainamatwa nevanhu vepanguva yake.

⁹ Jehovha akaudza Abramu kutii? “Buda munyika yako uye ubve kuhama dzako, uende kunyika yandichakuratidza.” Jehovha haana kutaura kuti aifunga nezvenyika ipi, asi akangoti aizoiratidza Abramu. Zvisinei, kutanga Abramu aizofanira kusiya nyika yake nehama dzake. Mutsika dzekuMiddle East yekare, mhuri yaikosha zvikuru. Zvaionekwa serushambwa kuti murume asiye hama dzake achienda kure; kune vamwe zvainge zvakaipa kupfuura rufu chairwo!

10. Nei zvaifanira kunge zvakaoma kuti Abramu naSarai vasiye musha wavo waiva muUri?

¹⁰ Zvainge zvakaomera Abramu kuti asiye zvinhu zvakanaka zvaiva muUri. Uchapupu hunoratidza kuti Uri raiva guta rakapfuma raiva  nechipatapata. (Ona bhokisi rakanzi  “Guta Rakasiyiwa naAbramu naSarai.”) Zvakafukunurwa zvinoratidza kuti Uri yekare yaiva nedzimba dzakanaka chaizvo; dzimwe dzaiva nemakamuri 12 kana kupfuura emhuri nevashandi, ose achitenderera chivanze chakawaridzwa matombo kana zvidhinha zvakanaka. Zvinhu zvakanaka zvaiwanikwa muguta rose zvaisanganisira mvura yemupombi, zvimbuzi uye pombi dzinorasa tsvina. Yeukawo kuti Abramu naSarai vainge vasisiri vaduku; Abramu angangodaro aiva nemakore ari kuma70, Sarai ari kuma60. Abramu anofanira kunge aida kuti Sarai agare zvakanaka uye anyatsochengetwa—zvinhu zvinodiwa nemurume akanaka chero upi zvake kuti aitire mudzimai wake. Fungidzira mibvunzo nezvinhu zvaivanetsa zvavangangodaro vakakurukura nezvazvo. Abramu anofanira kunge akafara zvikuru Sarai paakabvuma kuenda! Kufanana naAbramu, Sarai aida kusiya zvinhu zvose zvakanaka zvaiva muguta ravaigara.

11, 12. (a) Ndezvipi zvaifanira kurongwa uye kusarudzwa vasati vabva muUri? (b) Ungarondedzera sei zvakaitika zuva ravakasimuka?

¹¹ Chisarudzo pachakaitwa, Abramu naSarai vakava nezvakawanda zvokuita. Vaiva nezvakawanda zvekurongedza uye kuronga. Chii chavaizotakura parwendo urwu rwokuenda kwavainge vasingazivi uye chii chavaizosiya? Zvisinei, chainyanya kukosha ihama dzavo nevashandi vavo. Vaizoitei naTera uyo ainge akwegura? Vakasarudza kuenda naye vakamuchengeta kusvikira afa. Anofanira kunge akabvumirana nazvo nemwoyo wose nokuti nhoroondo yacho inoti Tera ndiye akabuda muUri nemhuri yake. Zvinoita sokuti ainge asisanamati zvidhori. Roti mwana wemukoma waAbramu aizoendawo navo.—Gen. 11:31.

¹² Pakupedzisira zuva rekusimuka rakasvika. Fungidzira boka racho richiungana kunze kwemasvingo eguta reUri. Ngamera nemadhongi zvainge zvatakudzwa mikwende, zvipfuwo zvainge zvaunganidzwa, mhuri yacho nevashandi vainge vagadzirira, uye vose vainge vachifarira kuenda. * Zvichida vose vaitarisa Abramu, vachimirira kuti avape chiratidzo chokuenda. Pakupedzisira, nguva yacho yakasvika, uye vakasimuka, vachisiya Uri zvachose.

13. Mazuva ano, vashumiri vaJehovha vakawanda vanoratidza sei mafungiro akafanana neaiva naAbramu naSarai?

¹³ Mazuva ano, vashumiri vaJehovha vakawanda vanosarudza kutamira kunodiwa vaparidzi voUmambo vakawanda. Vamwe vanosarudza kudzidza mumwe mutauro kuti vawedzere ushumiri hwavo. Kana kuti vanosarudza kuedza nzira dzakasiyana-siyana dzokuparidza dzavanenge vasina kumboedza kana kuti dzinenge dzisiri nyore kwavari. Kazhinji zvisarudzo zvakadaro zvinoda kuti munhu azvipire—kuda kurega zvimwe zvinhu zvinenge zvakamunakira. Mafungiro akadaro anorumbidzwa zvikuru, uye akafanana neakaratidzwa naAbramu naSarai!  Kana tikaratidza kutenda kwakadaro, tingava nechivimbo chokuti Jehovha achagara achitipa zvakawanda zvikuru kupfuura zvatinomupa. Haambotadzi kupa mubayiro vane kutenda. (VaH. 6:10; 11:6) Ndizvo zvaakaitira Abramu here?

14, 15. Rwendo rwokubva kuUri kuenda kuHarani rwainge rwakaita sei, uye nei Abramu angangodaro akasarudza kumbogara muHarani?

¹⁴ Zvishoma nezvishoma vanhu nezvipfuwo zvavo vakasvika pakujairana nerwendo rwacho. Tinogona kufungidzira Abramu naSarai vachiti vakambotasva mhuka vombofamba netsoka, mashoko avaitaura achisangana nekurira kwemabhero airembera pamahanesi emhuka. Zvishoma nezvishoma, kunyange vaya vaisava neruzivo rwakawanda pakufamba vakasvika pakuva nyanzvi pakumisa musasa nepakuuputsa uye kubatsira mukweguru Tera kuti agare zvakanaka pamusoro pengamera kana dhongi. Vakafamba vakananga kuchamhembe kwakadziva kumadokero, vachitevera rwizi rwaYufratesi. Vakaramba vachifamba.

¹⁵ Pakupedzisira, pashure pemakiromita 960 vachifamba, vakasvika padzimba dzeHarani, guta rakabudirira raiva pamharadzano yemigwagwa yaishandiswa pakutengeserana nevanhu vekuMabvazuva nevekuMadokero. Mhuri yacho yakamira muHarani, ikambogara imomo.  Zvichida Tera akanga asisina kusimba zvokuti arambe achipfuurira nerwendo.

16, 17. (a) Abramu akafadzwa nesungano ipi? (b) Jehovha akakomborera sei Abramu paaigara muHarani?

¹⁶ Nokufamba kwenguva, Tera akazofa ava nemakore 205. (Gen. 11:32) Abramu akanyaradzwa zvikuru Jehovha paakataurazve naye. Akadzokorora zvaakanga ambomuudza achiri muUri, uye akawedzera mamwe mashoko pazvipikirwa zvake. Abramu aizova “rudzi rukuru,” uye mhuri dzose dzepanyika dzaizokomborerwa nemhaka yake. (Verenga Genesisi 12:2, 3.) Afadzwa nesungano iyi pakati pake naMwari, Abramu akaziva kuti yakanga yava nguva yokuti aenderere mberi.

¹⁷ Zvisinei, panguva iyi paiva nezvakatowanda zvokurongedza, nokuti Jehovha ainge akomborera Abramu paaigara muHarani. Nhoroondo yacho inotaura “zvinhu zvose zvavakanga vaunganidza nemweya yavakanga vawana muHarani.” (Gen. 12:5) Kuti ave rudzi, Abramu aizofanira kuva nezvinhu zvekurarama nazvo nevashandi—mhuri yakakura. Jehovha haagari achipfumisa vashumiri vake, asi anovapa chero zvavanoda kuitira kuti vaite kuda kwake. Asimbiswa kudaro, Abramu akaenderera mberi nokufamba achienda kwaainge asingazivi.

18. (a) Abramu akasvika rini panguva inokosha munhoroondo yemabatiro anoita Mwari nevanhu vake? (b) Ndezvipi zvimwe zviitiko zvinokosha zvakaitika musi waNisani 14 mumakore akazotevera? (Ona bhokisi rakanzi “ Musi Unokosha Munhoroondo yeBhaibheri.”)

¹⁸ Pashure pekufamba kwemazuva akati kuti kubva kuHarani munhu aisvika kuKakemishi, uko mapoka evanhu aiwanzoyambuka rwizi rwaYufratesi. Zvichida paiva panzvimbo iyi Abramu paakasvika panguva inokosha munhoroondo yemabatiro anoita Mwari nevanhu vake. Zvinoita sokuti paiva pazuva rechi14 remwedzi wakazonzi Nisani, muna 1943 B.C.E., Abramu paakatungamirira boka rake kuyambuka rwizi rwacho. (Eks. 12:40-43) Nyika iyo Jehovha akanga avimbisa kuratidza Abramu yaienda nechokumaodzanyemba. Musi iwoyo, sungano yaMwari naAbramu yakatanga kushanda.

19. Chipikirwa chaJehovha kuna Abramu chaisanganisirei, uye chingangodaro chakayeuchidza Abramu nezvei?

¹⁹ Abramu akaenda nechekumaodzanyemba  munyika yacho, uye vanhu nezvipfuwo vakamira pedyo nemiti mikuru yeMore, pedyo neShekemu. Ikoko Jehovha akataurazve kuna Abramu. Chipikirwa chaMwari panguva ino chakataura nezvembeu kana kuti vana vaAbramu, avo vaizotora nyika yacho. Abramu akafunga uprofita hwakanga hwataurwa naJehovha muEdheni here, huya hwaitaura nezvembeu kana kuti “mwana,” uyo rimwe zuva aizonunura vanhu? (Gen. 3:15; 12:7) Zvichida akafunga nezvahwo. Angangodaro akatanga kunzwisisa kuti aibatanidzwa muchinangwa chikuru icho Jehovha aifunga nezvacho.

20. Abramu akaratidza sei kuonga ropafadzo yaakapiwa naJehovha?

²⁰ Abramu akaonga zvikuru ropafadzo yaakapiwa naJehovha. Sezvaaifamba munyika yacho akangwarira, nokuti vaKenani vakanga vachiri kugaramo, Abramu aimbomira achivakira Jehovha atari, kutanga pedyo nemiti mikuru yeMore, ndokuzovaka imwe pedyo neBheteri. Akadana zita raJehovha, zvimwe achiratidza kuonga kwaaiita Mwari wake nemwoyo wose sezvaaifungisisa remangwana revana vake. Angangodarowo akaparidzira vavakidzani vake vechiKenani. (Verenga Genesisi 12:7, 8.) Zvechokwadi, miedzo yokutenda kwaAbramu yaizovapo nokufamba kwenguva muupenyu. Abramu haana kuisa pfungwa dzake pazvinhu zvaaimbova nazvo muUri. Aifunga zvaakanga apikirwa naJehovha. VaHebheru 11:10 inoti nezvaAbramu: “Akanga achimirira guta rine nheyo chaidzo, iro Mwari ari muvaki nomuiti waro.”

21. Kuziva kwatinoita nezvoUmambo hwaMwari tingakuenzanisa sei nekwaiita Abramu, uye unokurudzirwa kuti uitei?

²¹ Isu tinoshumira Jehovha mazuva ano tinoziva zvakawanda nezveguta iroro rokufananidzira—Umambo hwaMwari—kupfuura zvaiita Abramu. Tinoziva kuti Umambo hwacho huri kutonga mudenga uye nokukurumidza huchagumisa nyika ino, uye tinoziva kuti Mwana waAbramu akanga agara apikirwa, Jesu Kristu, ava kutonga Umambo ihwohwo. Zvechokwadi ichava ropafadzo yakakura kwatiri kuona Abramu achiraramazve uye achizonyatsonzwisisa chinangwa chaMwari chaaingoziva zvishoma nezvacho! Ungada kuona Jehovha achizadzisa zvinangwa zvake zvose here? Kana zvakadaro zvinokosha kuti urambe uchiita zvose zvakaitwa naAbramu. Ratidza chido chokurega zvimwe zvinhu zvakakunakira kuti ushumire Jehovha, ratidza kuti unoteerera, uye ratidza kuti unoonga zvikuru chero basa raanokupa. Sezvaunotevedzera kutenda kwaAbramu, “baba vevaya vose vanotenda,” mupfungwa yakati, achavawo baba vako!