1, 2. Niketa tibonelo tebantfu Jehova latsatsa njengebangani bakhe.

NGUMUNTFU lonjani longamkhetsa kutsi abe ngumngani wakho? Cishe bewungakhetsa umuntfu locabanga ngendlela nawe locabanga ngayo, lotsakasela tintfo kanye netimiso lotitsakaselako. Kuyasondzeleka kumuntfu lonetimfanelo letihle letinjengekwetsembeka nemusa.

² Emlandvweni wonkhe, Nkulunkulu wakhetsa bantfu labatsite kutsi babe bangani bakhe. Nasi sibonelo: Jehova wabita Abrahama ngekutsi ngumngani wakhe. (Isaya 41:8; Jakobe 2:23) Nkulunkulu waphindze wabita Davide ngekutsi “ungumuntfu wenhlitiyo yami” ngekutsi abe luhlobo lwemuntfu lolutsandvwa nguJehova. (Imisebenti 13:22) Jehova abetsatsa umphrofethi Danyela ‘njengemuntfu lotsandzekako.’—Danyela 9:23.

3. Kungani Jehova akhetsa bantfu labatsite kutsi babe bangani bakhe?

³ Kungani Jehova atsi Abrahama, Davide, kanye naDanyela bangani bakhe? Naku lakutjela Abrahama: “Ulalele livi lami.” (Genesisi 22:18) Ngako Jehova usondzelana nebantfu labatitfobako futsi bente loko labatjela kona. Nkulunkulu watjela ema-Israyeli loku: “Ngilaleleni, mine-ke ngiyawuba nguNkulunkulu wenu, nine nibe sive sami.” (Jeremiya 7:23) Nangabe ulalela Jehova, nawe ungaba ngumngani wakhe.

4, 5. Jehova uwabonisa njani emandla akhe etikhontini takhe?

⁴ Ase ucabange kutsi bungani naNkulunkulu busho kutsini. LiBhayibheli litsi Jehova ubuka sikhatsi lapho ‘atawucinisa labo labatinhlitiyo tabo titinikele kuye ngalokuphelele.’ (2 Tikhronike 16:9) Jehova angawabonisa njani emandla akhe ngenca yakho? Lenye indlela ivetwe kuTihlabelelo 32:8, lotsi: “Mine [Jehova] ngiyawukufundzisa ngikukhombise indlela lofanele kuhamba ngayo, ngikweluleke, liso lami lingesuki kuwe.”

⁵ Lawa ngemavi lajabulisako labonisa kukhatsalela kwaJehova. Utakuniketa ticondziso lotidzingako futsi akuvikele njengobe utisebentisa. Nkulunkulu ufuna kukusita ukwati kubeketelela tilingo neluvivinyo. (Tihlabelelo 55:22) Ngako nangabe ukhonta Jehova ngenhlitiyo lephelele, ungaciniseka njengemhlabeleli lowatsi: “Emehlo ami ayawunamatsela kuSimakadze [Jehova] phakadze naphakadze. Yena ungasesandleni sami sangesekudla, ngiyawuhlala kuye ngitinte.” (Tihlabelelo 16:8; 63:8) Jehova angakusita kutsi uphile ngendlela lejabulisa yena. Kodvwa, njengobe wati, kunesitsa saNkulunkulu lesifuna kukuyekelisa kwenta loko.

6. Ngukuphi kumangalela Sathane lakusho macondzana nebantfu?

⁶ Sehluko 11 salencwadzi sichazile kutsi Sathane Develi ubuhlasele kanjani bukhosi baNkulunkulu. Sathane wamangalela Nkulunkulu ngemanga watsi Jehova akalungi ngobe akabavumelanga bo-Adamu na-Eva kutsi batincumele kutsi ngukuphi lokulungile nalokungakalungi. Ngemuva kwekuba bo-Adamu na-Eva sebonile futsi nemhlaba ucala kugcwala intalelwane yabo, Sathane wayisola indlela bantfu labakhonta Jehova lebebaphila ngayo. Wabamangalela ngekutsi: ‘Bantfu abamkhonti Nkulunkulu ngobe bamtsandza. Nangingatfola litfuba, ngingakwati kwenta bantfu kutsi bangamkhonti Nkulunkulu.’ Loko lokwenteka kuJobe kukhombisa kutsi  nguloko Sathane abekukholelwa. Abengubani Jobe, abehlobene ngani nensayeya yaSathane?

7, 8. (a) Yini leyenta Jobe waba ngumuntfu lokhetsekile kunabo bonkhe bantfu labebaphila ngesikhatsi sakhe? (b) Sathane watisola njani tisusa taJobe?

⁷ Jobe waphila eminyakeni lengu-3 600 lendlulile. Abeyindvodza lelungile, ngako Jehova watsi ngaye: “Kute namunye umuntfu longamtfola emhlabeni lofanana naye; umsulwa, ucotfo ngenhlitiyo, ungumuntfu lowesaba Nkulunkulu nalokubalekelako lokubi.” (Jobe 1:8) Jobe abemjabulisa Nkulunkulu.

⁸ Sathane wasisola sisusa saJobe sekukhonta Nkulunkulu. Ngako watsi kuJehova: “Awukambiyeli ngelutsango yini Jobe kanye nemndeni wakhe nako konkhe lanako? Uwubusisile umsebenti wakhe wetandla, waze wamupha ngisho nemhlambi yetifuyo lesetigcwele kulo lonkhe lelive. Kodvwa ase welulele sandla sakho kuko konkhe lanako, ubone kutsi angeke yini akwetfuke.”—Jobe 1:10, 11.

9. Wasabela njani Jehova esilingweni saSathane, futsi kungani?

⁹ Sathane waphikisa watsi Jobe ukhonta Nkulunkulu ngenca yaloko lamnika kona. Ngako Develi watsi nangabe Jobe angavivinywa, angayekela kukhonta Nkulunkulu. Yini Jehova layisho ngalokumangalela kwaSathane? Njengobe lendzaba beyitsintsa tisusa taJobe, Jehova wamvumela Sathane kutsi avivinye Jobe. Ngalendlela, kwakuyobonakala kutsi Jobe uyamtsandza yini Nkulunkulu nobe cha.

10. Ngutiphi tilingo letehlela Jobe, futsi wenta njani?

¹⁰ Ngekushesha Sathane wavivinya Jobe ngetindlela letinyenti. Kwekucala, imfuyo yaJobe yebiwa, nelinyenti letisebenti takhe tabulawa. Loku kwambangela tinkinga temnotfo. Lolunye lusizi lwamehlela Jobe lapho bantfwana bakhe labalishumi babulawa ngumoya lomkhulu. Ngetulu kwato tonkhe letinhlekelele “Jobe akazange one ngekutsi asole Nkulunkulu.”—Jobe 1:22.

11. (a) Yini kwesibili Sathane lakwenta kuJobe, futsi Jehova yena wenta njani? (b) Wentani Jobe ngemuva kwekuba asangenwe sifo lesibuhlungu?

 ¹¹ Sathane akaphelelwanga ngemandla. Kungenteka wacabanga kutsi nobe Jobe akwatile kubeketelela kulahlekelwa imfuyo, tinceku takhe, kanye nebantfwana bakhe, utamshiya Nkulunkulu nakangase agule. Jehova wavumela Sathane kutsi ashaye Jobe ngesifo lesibuhlungu kakhulu. Kodvwa ngisho naloko akumentanga Jobe waphelelwa kukholwa kuNkulunkulu. Kunaloko watsi: “Ngiyawuze ngife ngingakehlukani nebucotfo bami.”—Jobe 27:5.

12. Jobe wayiphendvula njani insayeya layibekelwa nguDeveli?

¹² Jobe abengati kutsi lona lombangela tonkhe letinkinga nguSathane. Njengobe abengakwati konkhe loko abekushito Develi, Jobe wacabanga kutsi nguNkulunkulu lobangela tinkinga letatimphetse. (Jobe 6:4; 16:11-14) Nobe kunjalo, wachubeka agcine bucotfo bakhe kuJehova. Kwetsembeka kwaJobe kwafakazela kutsi kusho kwaSathane kutsi abekhonta Jehova ngetisusa letimbi, kwakungemanga.

13. Yini leyenteka ngekutsi nje Jobe abetsembekile kuNkulunkulu?

¹³ Kwetsembeka kwaJobe kwaniketa Jehova imphendvulo lenemandla ekusoleni kwaSathane. Vele Jobe abengumngani waJehova, futsi Nkulunkulu wambusisa ngekwetsembeka kwakhe.—Jobe 42:12-17.

14, 15. Yini lesenta sitsi insayeya Sathane layibekela Jobe isitsintsa sonkhe?

¹⁴ Indzaba lemayelana nekugcina bucotfo kuNkulunkulu leyashiwo nguSathane yayingakacondziswa kuJobe kuphela. Nawe uyangena kuyo. Loku kubonakala kahle kuTaga 27:11, lapho emavi aJehova atsi: “Ndvodzana yami, hlakanipha, khona ngitewujabula, ngitekwati kuphendvula nome ngabe ngubani longedzelelako.” Lamavi labhalwa sekwendlule emakhulu eminyaka Jobe afa, akhombisa kutsi Sathane solo usola Nkulunkulu kanye netinceku Takhe. Nangabe siphila ngendlela lejabulisa Jehova, sisuke simniketa imphendvulo  yekuphendvula tinsolo letingemanga taSathane, futsi senta nenhlitiyo yakhe ijabule. Utiva njani wena ngaloko? Ngeke yini kube kuhle kutsi uyingene lendzaba ngekuwaveta ebaleni emanga aDeveli, ngisho nobe loko kusho kwenta lushintjo lolutsite ekuphileni kwakho?

¹⁵ Caphela kutsi Sathane watsi: “Umuntfu angalahlekelwa nguko konkhe lanako ngenca yemphilo yakhe.” (Jobe 2:4) Ngekutsi atsi “umuntfu,” Sathane wakwenta kwacaca kutsi loko abekusho kwakungakacondziswa kuJobe kuphela, kodvwa kubantfu bonkhe. Lelo liphuzu lelibalukile. Sathane ungabata bucotfo bakho kuNkulunkulu. Develi angatsandza kukubona ungamlaleli Nkulunkulu futsi ushiya indlela lelungile nakuvela bumatima. Angetama njani kukwenta loko?

16. (a) Sathane usebentisani kute etame kwenta bantfu bashiye Nkulunkulu? (b) Angatisebentisa njani letindlela takhe kuwe?

¹⁶ Njengobe sifundzile eSehlukweni 10, Sathane usebentise tindlela letinyenti kwetame kwenta bantfu bashiye Nkulunkulu. Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi, uhlasela ‘njengelibhubesi lelibhodlako, utfungatsa langase ammite.’ (1 Phetro 5:8) Umoya lafakana wona Sathane ungabonakala lapho bangani, tihlobo, nobe labanye bamelene nemetamo yakho yekufundza liBhayibheli nekulandzela lelikushoko. * (Johane 15:19, 20) Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi, Sathane ‘uchubeka atigucula abe yingilosi yekukhanya.’ (2 Khorinte 11:14) Develi angasebentisa tindlela tebucili kukwekudukisa futsi akwente ushiye indlela yekuphila lejabulisa Nkulunkulu. Angasebentisa ngisho nekudvumateka, mhlawumbhe utive ungafaneleki kujabulisa Nkulunkulu. (Taga 24:10) Nobe ngabe Sathane uta “njengelibhubesi lelibhodlako,” nobe utenta ‘ingilosi yekukhanya,’ kusola kwakhe kuseloku kunjalo nje, kwekutsi: Lapho nje uvivinywa nobe ulingwa, utawuyekela kukhonta Nkulunkulu. Ungayiphendvula  njani lensayeya loyibekelwe nguSathane futsi ubonise kutsi ugcina bucotfo kuNkulunkulu, njengaJobe?

17. Ngusiphi sizatfu lesiyinhloko lesenta silalele imiyalo yaJehova?

¹⁷ Ungayiphendvula insayeya yaSathane ngekuphila ngendlela lejabulisa Nkulunkulu. Loko ungakwenta njani? LiBhayibheli liyaphendvula: “Tsandza Simakadze [Jehova] Nkulunkulu wakho, ngayo yonkhe inhlitiyo yakho, nangawo wonkhe umphefumulo wakho, nangawo onkhe emandla akho.” (Dutheronomi 6:5) Njengobe lutsandvo lwakho ngaNkulunkulu lukhula, utawuba nesifiso sekwenta loko lakufunako kuwe. Umphostoli Johane wabhala: “Ngobe kutsandza Nkulunkulu kugcina imiyalo yakhe.” Nangabe utsandza Jehova ngenhlitiyo yakho yonkhe, utawutfola kutsi ‘imiyalo yakhe ayimatima kuwe.’—1 Johane 5:3.

18, 19. (a) Ngumiphi leminye yemiyalo yaJehova? (Fundza libhokisi lelisekhasini 122.) (b) Sati njani kutsi Nkulunkulu akaceli lokungetulu kwemandla etfu?

¹⁸ Ngumiphi imiyalo yaJehova? Leminye yayo ihlanganisa imikhuba lokufanele siyigweme. Sibonelo saloku, buka  libhokisi lelisekhasini 122, lelinesihloko lesitsi “Tecwaye Tintfo Jehova Latenyanyako.” Lapho utawutfola luhla lwemikhuba liBhayibheli leliyilahla ngalokuphelele. Nawumane nje utsi laphalati kuleminye yalemikhuba lekuloluhla, ekucaleni ungayibona ingesiyo lemibi kangako. Kodvwa ngemuva kwekuzindla ngalemibhalo lekhonjiwe, utawubona kuhlakanipha kwemiyalo yaJehova. Kwenta lushintjo endleni lophila ngayo kungaba yintfo lelukhuni loke wabhekana nayo. Kodvwa-ke, kuphila ngendlela lejabulisa Nkulunkulu kuletsa kweneliseka lokukhulu kanye nenjabulo. (Isaya 48:17, 18) Loku ungakwati kukwenta. Sikwati njani loko?

¹⁹ Jehova akakuceli lokungetulu kwaloko lesingakwati kukwenta. (Dutheronomi 30:11-14) Ukwati ncono kunatsi loko lesingakhona kukwenta naloko lokungasehlula. (Tihlabelelo 103:14) Ngetulu kwaloko, Jehova angasiniketa emandla langasenta sikwati kumlalela. Umphostoli Pawula wabhala: “Kepha  Nkulunkulu wetsembekile, yena angeke avume kutsi nilingwe ngalokungetulu kwemandla enu. Ngesikhatsi sekulingwa utaninika emandla ekuma, anentele nendlela yekuphepha.” (1 Khorinte 10:13) Kute akusite ubeketele, Jehova angakupha ‘emandla lamakhulu.’—2 Khorinte 4:7.

20. Ngutiphi timfanelo letifanana netaNkulunkulu lokufanele utihlakulele, futsi kungani tibalulekile?

²⁰ Kuliciniso, kudzingeka sente lokungetulu kwekumane  nje sibalekele tintfo Jehova latenyanyako kute simjabulise. Kudzingeka sitsandze naloko lakutsandzako. (Roma 12:9) Awutiva yini udvonselekela kulabo labacabanga njengawe, labatsakaselela tintfo nawe lotitsakaselako futsi nalabanetimiso letifanana netakho? Jehova naye unjalo. Ngako fundza kutsandza tintfo Jehova latitsandzako. Letinye tato tichazwe kuTihlabelelo 15:1-5, lapho sifundza ngalabo Nkulunkulu lababheka njengebangani bakhe. Bangani baJehova babonisa loko liBhayibheli lelikubita ngekutsi ‘titselo temoya.’ Tifaka ekhatsi “lutsandvo, nekujabula, nekuthula, nekubeketela, nebubele, nekulunga, nekwetsembeka,  nekutfobeka, nekutibamba.”—Galathiya 5:22, 23, catsanisa ne-NW.

21. Yini lengakusita kutsi uhlakulele timfanelo letifanana netaNkulunkulu?

²¹ Kufundza liBhayibheli onkhe malanga kuyokusita kutsi uhlakulele timfanelo letifanana netaNkulunkulu. Kufundza ngaloko Nkulunkulu lakufunako kutakusita ukwati kuvumelanisa kucabanga kwakho nekwakhe. (Isaya 30:20, 21) Njengobe uchubeka, lutsandvo lwakho ngaJehova lutawuba nemandla, sitawukhula nesifiso sakho sekufuna kuphila ngendlela lemjabulisako.

22. Yini lotayifeza nawuphila ngendlela lejabulisa Nkulunkulu?

²² Kudzingeka umetamo kute uphile ngendlela lejabulisa Jehova. LiBhayibheli lifananisa kugucula kuphila kwakho nekukhumula umuntfu lomdzala bese wembatsa umuntfu lomusha. (Kholose 3:9, 10) Kodvwa mayelana nemitsetfo yaJehova, umhlabeleli wabhala: ‘Lowo loyigcinako unemvuzo lomkhulu.’ (Tihlabelelo 19:11) Ngendlela lefananako, nawe utawutfola kutsi kuphila ngendlela lejabulisa Nkulunkulu kunemvuzo lomkhulu. Ngekwenta njalo, utawuphendvula insayeya leyaphakanyiswa nguSathane futsi wente nenhlitiyo yaJehova ijabule.