NOA nemhuri yake vakaungana pamwe chete mvura payaitsvotsvoma. Chimbofungidzira uchivaona, vakavhenekerwa nechiedza cherambi remafuta, vakanyatsovhura maziso pavanenge vachiteerera ruzha rwemvura iri kudirana padenga reareka uye iri kurova mativi eareka. Ruzha rwacho runofanira kunge rwaityisa.

Hapana mubvunzo kuti Noa aionga zvikuru mumwoyo make sezvaaitarira zviso zvevanhu vemumhuri yake vaaida zvikuru, mudzimai wake akatendeka uye vanakomana vake vaimutsigira zvikuru pamwe chete nemadzimai avo. Panguva yakanga yakaoma saizvozvo, Noa anofanira kunge akasimbiswa zvikuru nokuona kuti aiva pamwe chete nevadiwa vake. Vose vaiva vakachengeteka. Zvechokwadi, akatungamirira mhuri yake pakunyengetera achionga, achikwidza izwi rake kuitira kuti mhuri yake imunzwe paruzha rwaiitika.

Noa aiva nekutenda kwakakura. Kutenda kwaNoa ndiko kwakaita kuti Mwari wake, Jehovha ade kumuchengetedza pamwe chete nemhuri yake. (VaHebheru 11:7) Asi vakanga vasisafaniri kuva nekutenda here mvura payakatanga kunaya? Kwete, vaitofanira kuva nekutenda kwakasimba mumazuva akaoma aitevera. Ndizvo zvatinofanira kuitawo munguva dzino dzakaoma zvikuru. Saka ngationei kuti tingadzidzei pakutenda kwaNoa.

Kunze kweareka, mvura yakaramba ichidirana “kwemazuva makumi mana nousiku makumi mana.” (Genesisi 7:4, 11, 12) Mvura yacho yakaramba ichingokwira. Payaidaro, Noa aiona kuti Mwari wake, Jehovha akanga achichengetedza vakarurama uye achiranga vakaipa.

Mafashamo akagumisa kupandukira kwakaitwa nedzimwe ngirozi. Ngirozi dzakawanda dzakatevedzera unhu hweudyire hwaSatani uye dzakasiya “nzvimbo yadzo yokugara yakakodzera” kudenga kuti dzigare nevakadzi, pachizoberekwa mazivana aiva akakura ainzi vaNefirimu. (Judha 6; Genesisi 6:4) Hapana mubvunzo kuti Satani akafara zvikuru ngirozi dzacho padzaipanduka, nokuti izvi zvakawedzera kushatisa vanhu avo vanova zvisikwa zvaJehovha zvinokosha pane zvose zvepanyika.

Zvisinei, mvura yemafashamo zvayairamba ichikwira, ngirozi dzakanga dzapanduka dzaifanira kubvisa miviri yadzo yenyama dzodzokera kudenga, uye dzaisazombokwanisa zvakare kupfeka miviri yenyama. Dzakasiya madzimai adzo nevana kuti vafe nemafashamo pamwe chete nevanhu vakaipa.

Kubvira mumazuva aInoki, makore anenge 700 izvi zvisati zvaitika, Jehovha akanga anyevera vanhu kuti aizoparadza vakaipa vasingadi Mwari. (Genesisi 5:24; Judha 14, 15) Kubvira panguva iyoyo, vanhu vakatowedzera kuipa, vachiparadza nyika uye vachiizadza nechisimba. Iye zvino vakanga vava kuparadzwa. Noa nemhuri yake vakafara here nokufa kwevanhu ivavo?

Kwete! Uye Mwari wavo ane ngoni haana kufarawo. (Ezekieri 33:11) Jehovha akanga aita zvose zvaidiwa kuti aponese vakawanda sezvaikwanisika. Akanga aita kuti Inoki anyevere vanhu, uye akanga arayira Noa kuti avake areka. Noa nemhuri yake vakanga vashanda zvakaoma pakuvaka areka kwemakumi emakore, vanhu vose vachizviona. Uyewo Jehovha akanga arayira Noa kuti ashande se“muparidzi wokururama.” (2 Petro 2:5) Kungofanana naInoki, Noa akanyevera  vanhu nezvekutongwa kwaizoitwa nyika. Vanhu vacho vakaita sei? Jesu, uyo aiona izvi zvichiitika paaiva kudenga akazotaura nezvevanhu vemunguva yaNoa achiti: “Havana kucherechedza kusvikira mafashamo auya akavakukura vose.”—Mateu 24:39.

Chimbofungidzira kuti zvakanga zvakamira sei kuna Noa nemhuri yake mumazuva 40 ekutanga, Jehovha paakanga avhara suo reareka. Mvura payairamba ichitsvotsvoma ichirova areka siku nesikati, vanhu vemumhuri yaNoa vanofanira kunge vakatojaira kurarama vari muareka vachiita mabasa akasiyana-siyana, kutarisirana, kutarisira musha wavo, uye kuona kuti mhuka dzine zvinodiwa here madzaigara. Chivako chacho chaiva chakakura chakangoerekana chava kuzungunuka. Areka yakanga yava kufamba! Sezvo mvura yakanga ichikwira, areka yacho yakatanga kusimudzwa, “ikayangarara pamusoro penyika.” (Genesisi 7:17) Apa Jehovha Mwari Wemasimbaose akaratidza simba rake nenzira inoshamisa zvechokwadi!

Noa anofanira kunge akaonga zvikuru kuti iye nemhuri yake vakanga vakachengeteka, uyewo kuti Jehovha akanga aratidza ngoni nokuvashandisa kunyevera vanhu vakazoparara vari kunze kweareka. Makore avakanga vashanda nesimba aiita sevaishandira pasina panguva yacho. Vanhu vakanga vasingateereri! Pafunge, Noa anofanira kunge aiva nevakoma, vanin’ina, hanzvadzi, nevazukuru; asi hapana akambomuteerera kunze kwemhuri yake yepedyo chete. (Genesisi 5:30) Iye zvino, mweya misere iyi payakanga yakachengeteka muareka, zvechokwadi vainyaradzwa nokufunga nezvenguva yose yavakapedza vachipa vanhu mukana wokupona.

Jehovha haana kuchinja kubvira panguva yakararama Noa. (Maraki 3:6) Jesu Kristu akatsanangura kuti nguva dzatiri kurarama mazuva ano dzakafanana chaizvo nezvakanga zvakaita “mazuva aNoa.” (Mateu 24:37) Tiri kurarama munguva yematambudziko akakura achaguma nokuparadzwa kwemamiriro ezvinhu akaipa. Mazuva ano, vanhu vaMwari vari kunyeverawo vaya vanoda kuteerera. Uchateererawo here mashoko iwayo? Kana wakatogamuchira chokwadi chemashoko iwayo anoponesa upenyu, uchaaudzawo vamwe here? Noa nemhuri yake vakatisiyira tose zvedu muenzaniso.

Areka payaiyangarara pamusoro pemvura yairamba ichikwira, vaya vaiva mukati mayo vainzwa  mapuranga akashandiswa pakuvaka achirira. Noa ainetseka here kuti areka yacho yaizoparadzwa nemafungu? Kwete. Vanhu vanoshora vemazuva ano ndivo vangatonetseka nezvazvo, asi Noa akanga asingashori. Bhaibheri rinoti: “Nokutenda Noa . . . akavaka areka.” (VaHebheru 11:7) Aiva nekutenda muchii? Jehovha akanga aita sungano, kana kuti chibvumirano chokuti aizochengetedza Noa nevose vaaiva navo paMafashamo. (Genesisi 6:18, 19) Musiki wezvinhu zvose nenyika uye zvinhu zvipenyu zviri pairi aizotadza here kuita kuti areka isaparara? Aisambotadza! Noa aivimba naJehovha kuti aizozadzisa zvaakavimbisa. Uye zvechokwadi, iye nemhuri yake ‘vakatakurwa vakachengeteka nomumvura.’—1 Petro 3:20.

Pashure pemazuva 40 neusiku 40, mvura yakazomira kunaya. Maererano nekarenda yemazuva ano, maiva muna December 2370 B.C.E. Asi mhuri yaNoa yakanga isiri kuzobuda muareka nokukurumidza. Areka yacho yakanga yakazara nezvisikwa yaiyangarara iri yega pamusoro pemvura yakanga yafukidza nyika nemakomo. (Genesisi 7:19, 20) Tinogona kufungidzira Noa achironga kuita basa rinorema kuitira kuti iye nevanakomana vake Shemu, Hamu, naJafeti vachengete mhuka dzacho dziine zvokudya, dzakachena uye dziine utano. Zvechokwadi, Mwari mumwe chete akanga aita kuti mhuka idzodzo dzomusango dziteerere dzopinda muareka, aikwanisa kuita kuti dzirambe dzichiteerera panguva yose yaiitika Mafashamo. *

Zviri pachena kuti Noa akanyatsochengetedza mashoko ezvose zvaiitika. Nhoroondo yacho inotaura pakatanga kunaya mvura nepayakamira. Inotaurawo kuti mvura yakanga yakafukidza nyika kwemazuva 150. Pakupedzisira, mvura yakazotanga kuserera. Rimwe zuva areka yakazogara zvakanaka pamusoro “pemakomo eArarati” ari kuTurkey yemazuva ano. Munofanira kunge makanga mava muna April wa2369 B.C.E. Misoro yemakomo yakazoonekwa papera mazuva 73, muna June. Pashure pemwedzi mitatu, muna September, Noa akasarudza kubvisa chimwe chikamu chedenga reareka. Kushanda nesimba kwavakaita kwakabatsira nokuti muareka makava nechiedza nemhepo yakachena. Izvi zvisati zvaitika, Noa akanga atanga kuedza kuona kana zvakanga zvava kuita kuti vabude muareka. Akabudisa gunguo iro raibhururuka richienda nokudzoka, zvimwe richimbopota richimhara paareka; uye akazobudisa njiva iyo yakaramba ichidzoka kwaari kuzosvikira yawana pokuzororera.—Genesisi 7:24–8:13.

Hapana mubvunzo kuti Noa ainyanya kukoshesa zvokunamata kupfuura zvimwe zvose zvaaiita. Tinogona kutofungidzira mhuri yake ichiungana pamwe chete nguva dzose kuti vanyengetere uye vakurukure nezvaBaba vavo vokudenga vaivadzivirira. Noa aivimba naJehovha pazvisarudzo zvose zvinokosha zvaaiita. Kunyange paakaona kuti nyika yakanga “yaoma,” pashure pokugara muareka kwerinopfuura gore, haana kuvhura suo ndokuita kuti zvose, vanhu nemhuka zvibude muareka yacho. (Genesisi 8:14) Akamirira kuti Jehovha amuudze zvokuita!

Vanababa vanogona kudzidza zvakawanda kubva kumurume iyeye aiva akatendeka. Aiva munhu akarongeka, anoshanda nesimba, ane mwoyo murefu, uye aidzivirira vose vemhuri yake. Asi ainyanya kukoshesa zvaidiwa naJehovha Mwari kupfuura zvimwe zvose. Kana tikatevedzera kutenda kwaNoa pane zvose izvi, tichaita kuti vose vaya vatinoda vawane zvikomborero.

Jehovha akazopa murayiro. Akaudza Noa kuti, “Buda muareka, iwe nomudzimai wako nevanakomana vako nemadzimai evanakomana vako vauinavo.” Mhuri yacho yakateerera ndokubuda muareka, uye mhuka dzose dzakateverawo. Sei? Dzaitsikirirana dzichiedza kubuda dzose panguva imwe chete here? Kwete! Nhoroondo yacho inotaura kuti, “maererano nemarudzi azvo zvakabuda muareka.” (Genesisi 8:15-19) Pavakanga vabuda, vachifema mhepo yakachena yemugomo uye vachitarira vari pamusoro pemakomo eArarati, Noa nemhuri yake vakaona nyika yakanga yacheneswa. Pakanga pasisina vaNefirimu, chisimba chose, ngirozi dzakapanduka, uye vanhu vose vakaipa! * Vanhu vakanga vava kukwanisa kutanga patsva.

Noa aiziva zvokuita. Akatanga nokuita zvinhu zvokunamata.  Akavaka atari uye akashandisa dzimwe dzemhuka dzainzi naMwari dzakachena, dzavakanga vapinza muareka dziri “nomwe nomwe,” uye akapa chibayiro chinopiswa kuna Jehovha. (Genesisi 7:2; 8:20) Jehovha akafadzwa nazvo here?

Bhaibheri rinopindura nemashoko anokurudzira richiti: “Jehovha akanzwa kunhuhwirira kwakanaka.” Kurwadziwa kwakanga kwaita Mwari mumwoyo, vanhu pavaizadza nyika nechisimba kwakazotsiviwa nemufaro wekuona mhuri yevanamati vakatendeka panyika avo vakanga vakatsunga kuita zvaanoda. Jehovha akanga asingatarisiri kuti vabve vaita sevanhu vasina kana chivi. Ndima yacho inopfuurira ichiti: “Zvinodiwa nomwoyo womunhu zvakaipa kubvira achiri muduku.” (Genesisi 8:21) Chimbofunga kuti Jehovha akazoratidza sei mwoyo murefu netsitsi kuvanhu.

Mwari akabvisa kutukwa kwakanga kwaitwa nyika. Panguva yakapanduka Adhamu naEvha, Mwari akanga atuka nyika, zvichiita kuti kurima kuome zvikuru. Baba vaNoa, Rameki, vakanga vatumidza mwanakomana wavo kuti Noa, izvo zvinogona kureva kuti “Zororo,” kana kuti “Kunyaradza,” uye vakanga vafanotaura kuti mwanakomana wavo aizotungamirira vanhu kuti vazorore pakutukwa kwacho. Noa anofanira kunge akafara paakaziva kuti aizoona uprofita hwacho huchizadzika uye nyika yaizoita zviri nani pakurima kwayaizoitwa. Ndokusaka Noa akabva atanga kurima!—Genesisi 3:17, 18; 5:28, 29; 9:20.

Panguva iyoyo, Jehovha akapa vanakomana vose vaNoa mitemo yakajeka uye iri nyore yaizovatungamirira muupenyu, yaisanganisira kuti vaisafanira kuponda uye kushandisa ropa zvisina kukodzera. Mwari akaitawo sungano nevanhu, achivimbisa kuti aisazombounza mafashamo zvakare kuti aparadze zvipenyu zvose zviri panyika. Jehovha akabudisa muraraungu wokutanga sechiratidzo chokuti aizozadzisa mashoko ake. Nanhasi pose patinoona muraraungu tinoyeuchidzwa nezvevimbiso yaJehovha yerudo.—Genesisi 9:1-17.

Kudai nyaya yaNoa yaingovawo ngano zvayo, ingadai yakangoperera pakubuda kwemuraraungu. Asi Noa aiva munhu chaiye, uye upenyu hwake hwaisangova nyore. Panguva iyoyo, vanhu pavakanga vachiri kurarama kwemakore akawanda, murume akatendeka iyeye aifanira kutsungirira mamwe makore 350, uye mazana emakore iwayo akamuunzira marwadzo akawanda. Akaita chikanganiso chakakura pane imwe nguva paakadhakwa, uye chikanganiso ichocho chakazowedzera, muzukuru wake Kenani paakazoita chivi chakatokura, chivi chakaunza migumisiro yakatoipa pamhuri yaKenani. Noa akararama makore akawanda zvokuti akaona vana nevazukuru vake vachiita zvivi zvakadai sokunamata zvidhori uye kuita zvechisimba mumazuva aNimrodhi. Asi, Noa akaonawo mwanakomana wake Shemu achigadzirira mhuri yake muenzaniso wakasimba wokutenda.—Genesisi 9:21-28; 10:8-11; 11:1-11.

Kungofanana naNoa, tinofanira kuramba takatendeka pasinei nematambudziko atingasangana nawo. Vamwe pavanoramba kuteerera Mwari wechokwadi, kana kuti pavanorega kumushumira, tinofanira kuramba takatendeka sezvakaita Noa. Jehovha anokoshesa zvikuru vaya vanotsungirira voramba vakatendeka. Sezvakataurwa naJesu Kristu, “anenge atsungirira kusvikira pakuguma ndiye achaponeswa.”—Mateu 24:13.