1, 2. (a) Yini leyenteka kuJona nakumatilosi ngenca yeliphutsa lakhe? (b) Indzaba yaJona ingasisita njani?

KWAKUNEMSINDVO lomkhulu Jona labefisa kutsi angawubindzisa. Lona kwakungasiwo nje umsindvo wemoya lomkhulu lobewenta tintsambo temkhumbi tibange umsindvo, futsi bekungasiwo wemagagasi lamakhulu labeshaya umkhumbi, ente emapulangwe abange umsindvo. Umsindvo lobewumdzina kakhulu Jona bekukumemeta kwematilosi, kumemeta kwaloyo locondzisa umkhumbi nekwetisebenti, njengobe bebetama kwenta umkhumbi ungacwili. Jona abeciniseka kutsi labantfu bebatawukufa ngenca yakhe!

² Yini leyafaka Jona kulesimo lesibucayi kangaka? Bekente liphutsa lelikhulu kuNkulunkulu wakhe, Jehova. Yini labeyentile? Abengeke yini akhone kuyilungisa? Timphendvulo talemibuto tingasifundzisa lokunyenti kakhulu. Sibonelo saloko kutsi indzaba yaJona isisita sibone kutsi ngisho nalabo labanekukholwa lokucinile bangaphambuka, nekutsi bangawalungisa njani emaphutsa abo.

3-5. (a) Bantfu bavame kunaka ini nabacabanga ngaJona? (b) Yini lesiyatiko ngaJona? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.) (c) Kungani umsebenti waJona wekuba ngumphrofethi bewungasimelula?

³ Nabacabanga ngaJona, bantfu bavame kunaka kakhulu tintfo letimbi, njengekungalaleli kwakhe nekuba nenhloko lelukhuni. Kodvwa kunalokunyenti lesingakufundza kulendvodza. Khumbula kutsi Jona wakhetfwa kutsi abe ngumphrofethi waJehova Nkulunkulu. Jehova abengeke amnike umsebenti lomkhulu kangaka kube abengaketsembeki nobe angakalungi.

⁴ Kuncane liBhayibheli lelisitjela kona ngaJona. (Fundza 2 Emakhosi 14:25.) Abevela eGathi Heferi, lokuyindzawo lengemakhilomitha  lamane kusuka eNazaretha, lidolobha Jesu Khristu labetawukhulela kulo emakhulwini lasiphohlongo eminyaka labetawulandzela. * Jona waba ngumphrofethi ngesikhatsi kubusa iNkhosi Jerobowamu wesibili, yembuso wetive letilishumi taka-Israyeli. Besekwendlule sikhatsi lesidze Elija afa; Elisha lokunguye lowamlandzela, wafa ngesikhatsi kubusa babe waJerobowamu. Nanobe Jehova abesebentise lawo madvodza kutsi acedze kukhontwa kwaBhali, Israyeli abesaphindze waphambuka ngemabomu. Live beseligcwele umoya wenkhosi ‘leyenta lokubi emehlweni aSimakadze.’ (2 Khos. 14:24) Ngako umsebenti waJona bewungasimelula. Nanobe kunjalo, wawenta ngekwetsembeka.

⁵ Ngalelinye lilanga, kuphila kwaJona kwashintja ngendlela lemangalisako. Jehova wanika Jona sabelo labesibona silukhuni kakhulu. Yini Jehova labecela kutsi ayente?

6. Ngumuphi umsebenti Jehova lawunika Jona, futsi kungani bewubonakala umatima?

⁶ Jehova watsi kuJona: “Hamba uye eNineve, lidolobha lelikhulukati, ufike umemetele kubantfu balo utsi bubi babo sebenyukele kimi.” (Jona 1:2) Akusilukhuni kubona kutsi kungani lomsebenti wawubonakala umatima. INineve beyisendzaweni lengemakhilomitha langaba ngu-800 kubheka emphumalanga, lokulibanga lebelingatsatsa inyanga nawuhamba ngetinyawo. Kodvwa kuhamba libanga lelingako kwakungasiyo intfo labekhatsateke ngayo kakhulu. ENineve, Jona bekufanele amemetele sehlulelo saJehova kuma-Asiriya labenebudlova lobukhulu, ngisho nesihluku imbala. Njengobe abebone bantfu baNkulunkulu bangatsatsi sinyatselo, yini-ke lencono labengayilindzela kulabantfu lebebangamkhonti Nkulunkulu? Lenceku yaJehova beyingasindza yini kulendzawo leyagcine ibitwa ngekutsi “lidolobha lengati”?​—Nah. 3:1, 7.

7, 8. (a) Jona abetimisele kangakanani kubalekela umsebenti Jehova labemnike wona? (b) Kungani kungakafaneli siphetse ngekutsi Jona abeligwala?

⁷ Asati kutsi Jona waba nayo yini imicabango lenjalo. Kodvwa lesikwatiko kutsi wabaleka. Jehova abemtjele kutsi akaye emphumalanga, kepha yena waya ekhatsi nenshonalanga. Wahamba waya elugwini, edolobheni lokutsiwa yiJopha, lapho lafike watfola khona umkhumbi loya eThashishi. Letinye tati titsi iThashishi beyiseSpain. Nangabe kunjalo, kusho kutsi Jona waya endzaweni lekhweshelene neNineve ngemakhilomitha langaba ngu-3 500.  Loluhambo lwakhe lobeluya ngasekugcineni kweLwandle Lolukhulu kungenteka belungatsatsa umnyaka. Jona abetimisele kakhulu kubalekela umsebenti Jehova labemnike wona!​—Fundza Jona 1:3.

⁸ Loku kusho kutsi Jona abeligwala yini? Akukafaneli sisheshe siphetse kanjalo. Njengobe sitawubona, abenaso sibindzi lesikhulu. Njengatsi sonkhe, Jona abenesono futsi anemaphutsa lamanyenti. (Hla. 51:5) Ukhona yini kitsi longakake wahlushwa kwesaba?

9. Nguyiphi indlela lesingase sitive ngayo ngaletinye tikhatsi mayelana nemsebenti lesiwunikwa nguJehova, futsi yini lokufanele siyikhumbule ngetikhatsi letinjalo?

⁹ Ngaletinye tikhatsi kungase kubonakale shengatsi Nkulunkulu usicela kutsi sente intfo lematima, nome lesiyibona shengatsi ngeke sesikhone kuyenta. Singase sesabe ngisho nekushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso waNkulunkulu, lokuyintfo emaKhristu lalindzeleke kutsi ayente. (Mat. 24:14) Kumelula kutsi sikhohlwe emavi laliciniso Jesu lawasho nakatsi: “KuNkulunkulu tonkhe tintfo tingenteka.” (Mak. 10:27) Nangabe ngaletinye tikhatsi sikukhohlwa loku, singabucondza bumatima Jona labekubo. Kodvwa yaba yini imiphumela yekubaleka kwakhe?

10, 11. (a) Nguliphi litsemba lokungenteka Jona abenalo njengobe umkhumbi usuka esikhumulweni? (b) Ngiyiphi ingoti leyabehlela njengobe bachubeka neluhambo?

¹⁰ Singambona Jona asekhatsi emkhunjini alungela luhambo, futsi kungenteka kutsi lona bekungumkhumbi waseFenisiya lobewutfwala timphahla. Abebukele njengobe loyo locondzisa umkhumbi kanye nalabo labasebenta kuwo behla benyuka betama kuhambisa lomkhumbi kuze usuke esikhumulweni. Kancane kancane balushiya lugu, futsi Jona abenelitsemba lekutsi sewuyibalekele lengoti labeyesaba. Kodvwa kusenjalo, simo selitulu sashintja.

¹¹ Sivunguvungu lesikhulu senta lwandle lwatfukutsela, lwaba nemagagasi lamakhulu labengaba yingoti ngisho nasemikhunjini yalamuhla. Bekungeke kutsatse sikhatsi lesidze kutsi lomkhumbi lowentiwe ngemapulangwe uphuke njengobe upheshulwa ngulamagagasi lamakhulu. Ngaleso sikhatsi, Jona abekwati yini loko lagcina akubhalile, kutsi “Simakadze watfumela umoya lomkhulu elwandle”? Ngeke siciniseke ngaloko. Nanobe kunjalo, wabona kutsi ematilosi abekhala abita bonkulunkulu bawo labehlukahlukene, futsi bekati kutsi bebangeke babasite. (Lev. 19:4) Wabhala: “Umkhumbi wabasengotini yekwephuka.” (Jona 1:4) Jona abengathantaza kanjani kuNkulunkulu labembalekela?

12. (a) Kungani kungakafaneli sisheshe simehlulele Jona ngenca yekulala ngesikhatsi kunesivunguvungu? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.) (b) Jehova wayembula njani imbangela yalesivunguvungu?

¹² Njengobe kwakute labengasita ngako, Jona wehlela ekhatsi  emkhunjini futsi watfola indzawo labengalala kuyo. Nakefika lapho, walala hhu butfongo. * Lomuntfu locondzisa umkhumbi wakhandza Jona alele, wafike wamvusa, wamcela kutsi athantaze kunkulunkulu wakhe njengobe bonkhe bebenta. Njengobe lamadvodza abeciniseka kutsi kunentfo lengakavami lebangela lesivunguvungu, enta inkatho kuze abone kutsi ngubani labebangela lenkinga. Asingabati kutsi Jona washaywa luvalo njengobe abona kutsi inkatho itawudla yena. Ekugcineni liciniso laphumela ebaleni. Jehova wayembula imbangela yalesivunguvungu, ngobe inkatho yagcina idle Jona!​—Fundza Jona 1:5-7.

13. (a) Yini Jona layivuma kulamatilosi? (b) Wawatjela kutsi enteni, futsi kungani asho njalo?

¹³ Jona wawatjela konkhe lamatilosi. Watsi uyinceku yaJehova Nkulunkulu, longuSomandla. Lona nguNkulunkulu labembalekela futsi labemtfukutselisile, ngaloko wabafaka bonkhe kulengoti lenkhulu. Lamadvodza amangala, futsi Jona wakubona lokwetfuka emehlweni abo. Ambuta kutsi kufanele amente njani kuze kuphephiswe lomkhumbi kanye netimphilo tabo. Watsini Jona? Kungenteka kutsi bekumetfusa kuticabanga amita kulolwandle lolutfukutsele. Kodvwa abengavuma njani kutsi bonkhe labantfu bafe, ibe ikhona indlela yekubasindzisa? Ngako watsi kubo: “Ngitsatseni ningijikijele elwandle, sitawube sesiyabindza lesivunguvungu; ngobe vele ngiyati kutsi ngimi lona lonidvonsele lomkhokha wesivunguvungu.”​—Jona 1:12.

14, 15. (a) Singakulingisa kanjani kukholwa kwaJona lokucinile? (b) Sicelo saJona sawatsintsa njani ematilosi?

¹⁴ Lawo mavi aveta kutsi Jona abengasilo ligwala. Kufanele kutsi kwamjabulisa Jehova kubona sibindzi saJona kanye nemoya wakhe wekutidzela kuleso sikhatsi lesimatima. Loku kusibonisa kucina kwekukholwa kwaJona. Natsi singakulingisa lamuhla ngekutsi sibeke inhlalakahle yalabanye embili kuneyetfu. (Joh. 13:34, 35) Nasibona umuntfu adzinga lusito, kungaba kusitwa ngetidzingo tekuphila, kusitwa emoyeni, nobe ebuhlotjeni naNkulunkulu, siyatidzela yini kuze simsite? Loku kumjabulisa kakhulu Jehova!

¹⁵ Kungenteka kutsi lamatilosi nawo atsintseka, ngobe ekucaleni akazange avume kumjika. Enta konkhe lokusemandleni awo kute alwisane nalesivunguvungu, kepha akazange aphumelele. Kunaloko saba sibi kakhulu. Ekugcineni abona kutsi kute labengakwenta. Abita Jehova Nkulunkulu waJona kutsi abe nemusa kuwo, abese ajikijela Jona elwandle.​—Jona 1:13-15.

16, 17. Chaza loko lokwenteka kuJona ngesikhatsi ajikwa elwandle. (Buka netitfombe.)

¹⁶ Jona wagcumkela kulamagagasi lanemandla. Kungenteka kutsi wetama kuhlamba, wabona nemagwebu lentiwa ngumkhumbi njengobe uhamba. Kodvwa emagagasi amshaya wacala kushona phansi. Wacwila waya phansi futsi naye abesabona kutsi sekuphelile ngaye.

¹⁷ Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Jona wachaza indlela labetiva ngayo ngaleso sikhatsi. Wafikelwa yimicabango leminyenti. Ngesizatfu sekutsi abedzabukile, wacabanga kutsi abengeke aphindze alibone lithempeli lelihle laJehova lebeliseJerusalema. Watibona ehlela phansi elwandle, emajukujukwini emhlaba, futsi abanjwa tihlahla taselwandle. Kwamcacela kutsi abetawufela lapho.​—Fundza Jona 2:2-6.

18, 19. Kwentekani kuJona ngesikhatsi asemajukujukwini elwandle, sasinjani silwane lesefika kuye, futsi ngubani labebangela loku? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.)

¹⁸ Kusenjalo, wabona silwane lesikhulu kakhulu, lesesabekako.  Sasondzela sate sefika kuye. Savula umlomo waso lomkhulu samgwinya.

¹⁹ Jona wabona kutsi besekuphelile ngaye. Kodvwa kunalokutsite lokumangalisako labekuva. Abesolo aphila! Abengakalimali ndzawo futsi abesakhona kuphefumula. Umoya wekuphila wawusekuye, nanobe abesendzaweni lefana nelithuna. Kancane kancane, Jona wefikelwa kumangala. Akungabateki kutsi bekunguNkulunkulu wakhe, Jehova labeletse ‘lenhlanti lenkhulu, leyafike yammita.’ *​—Jona 1:17.

20. Yini lesingayifundza emthantazweni Jona lawenta ngesikhatsi asesiswini senhlanti lenkhulu?

²⁰ Kwendlula imizuzu, kwendlula nema-awa. Lena ekhatsi ebumnyameni, Jona wacabanga futsi wathantaza kuJehova Nkulunkulu. Kunyenti lesingakufundza emthantazweni wakhe lobhalwe wonkhe esehlukweni sesibili sencwadzi yakhe. Uveta kutsi abenelwati lolunyenti lwemiBhalo, ngobe kanyenti ucaphuna Tihlabelelo. Lomthantazo uphindze uvete buntfu bakhe lobuhle, lokukubonga. Jona waphetsa ngekutsi: “Mine ngiyawuhlabela kuwe ngelivi lekubonga, nginikele ngemihlatjelo; loko lengikufungele ngiyawukufeza. Insindziso ivela kuSimakadze.”​—Jona 2:9.

21. Yini Jona layifundza mayelana nensindziso, futsi ngusiphi sifundvo lesibalulekile lokufanele sisikhumbule?

²¹ Kulendzawo labekuyo, ‘esiswini salenhlanti,’ Jona wafundza kutsi insindziso yintfo Jehova langayinika nobe ngubani, nobe kuphi, nobe nini. Ngisho nakuleyo ndzawo, Jehova wayibona inceku yakhe lebeyisenkingeni futsi wayisindzisa. (Jona 1:17) NguJehova kuphela labengagcina umuntfu aphila emalanga lamatsatfu nebusuku lobutsatfu esiswini senhlanti lenkhulu. Lamuhla, kuhle kutsi natsi sikhumbule kutsi Jehova ‘unguNkulunkulu lophetse kuphila kwetfu.’ (Dan. 5:23) Siyaphila futsi sikhona ngenca yakhe. Siyambonga yini ngaloko? Loko akusenti yini kutsi simlalele Jehova?

22, 23. (a) Kubonga kwaJona kwavivinywa njani? (b) Yini lesingayifundza kuJona mayelana nemaphutsa lesiwentako?

 ²² Kutsiwani ngaJona? Wafundza yini kumbonga Jehova ngekutsi amlalele? Yebo. Ngemuva kwemalanga lamatsatfu nebusuku lobutsatfu, lenhlanti yaya elugwini, “yase ihlantela Jona elugwini, emhlabatsini lowomile.” (Jona 2:10) Asewucabange nje, ngemuva kwako konkhe loku, Jona akudzingekanga kutsi atihlambele aye elugwini! Nanobe kunjalo, kwadzingeka atihambele yena kusuka lapho. Kungakendluli sikhatsi lesidze, kubonga kwakhe kwavivinywa. Jona 3:1, 2 utsi: “Livi laSimakadze laphindze lefika kuJona kwesibili, latsi: ‘Hamba, uye eNineve, kulelidolobha lelikhulu, ufike umemetele lesimemetelo lengikunike sona.’” Yini Jona layenta?

²³ Akazange aphotise emaseko. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Ngako-ke wahamba Jona waya eNineve, njengekusho kwelivi laSimakadze.” (Jona 3:3) Jona walalela. Kuyacaca kutsi wafundza emaphutseni akhe. Natsi kudzingeka silingise kukholwa kwaJona kulendzaba. Sonkhe siyona futsi siyawenta emaphutsa. (Rom. 3:23) Kodvwa siphelelwa ngemandla yini, nobe siyafundza emaphutseni etfu bese siyashintja simlalele Nkulunkulu?

24, 25. (a) Ngusiphi sibusiso Jona lasitfola ngesikhatsi asaphila? (b) Ngutiphi tibusiso latawutitfola esikhatsini lesitako?

²⁴ Jehova wambusisa yini Jona ngekulalela kwakhe? Yebo wambusisa. Lesinye sibusiso kwaba kuva kutsi lamatilosi asindza. Lesivunguvungu saphela ngekushesha ngemuva kwekutidzela kwaJona, futsi lamatilosi ‘esaba Simakadze kakhulu’ amentela umhlatjelo kunekutsi awentele bonkulunkulu bawo bemanga.​—Jona 1:15, 16.

²⁵ Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, kwefika lesinye sibusiso lesikhulu. Jesu wasebentisa sikhatsi Jona labesesiswini salenhlanti lenkhulu ngaso kute achaze siphrofetho sesikhatsi lapho yena atawube asethuneni nobe eShiyoli. (Fundza Matewu 12:38-40.) Jona utawujabula kakhulu ngekuva ngaleso sibusiso nakavuselwa ekuphileni emhlabeni! (Joh. 5:28, 29) Jehova ufuna kukubusisa nawe. NjengaJona, utawufundza yini emaphutseni akho, futsi ulalele uphindze utidzele?