UGenesise 18:26 Futhi uJehova wathi, Uma eSodoma ngithola abangamashumi amahlanu abalungileyo ngaphakathi kwedolobha, khona-ke ngizohawukela yonke le ndawo ngenxa yabo.

UGenesise 18:29 Waphinda futhi wakhuluma Kuye, wathi, Mhlawumbe kungenzeka kutholakale abangamashumi amane khona. Wayesethi, angeke ngikwenze.

UGenesise 18:30 Wathi futhi Kuye, Mhlawumbe kungenzeka kutholakale abangamashumi amathathu khona. Wayesethi, angeke ngikwenze.

UGenesise 18:31 Waye sethi, Mhlawumbe kungenzeka kutholakale abangamashumi amabili khona. Wayesethi, angeke ngiyibhubhise.

UGenesise 18:32 Waye sethi, Mhlawumbe kungenzeka kutholakale abayishumi khona. Wayesethi, angeke ngiyibhubhise.

Lawa amavesi ambalwa engiwakhethe eBhayibhelini. Awaphelele. Uma nifuna ukuwabona, ningazifundela wona eBhayibhelini; ukuze ngonge isikhathi, ngikhiphe ingxenye evela emiBhalweni. Lapha ngikhethe kuphela amazwi awumgogodla nemisho, ngashiya imisho eminingi engahlobene kangako nathi namuhla. Kuwo wonke la mavesi nendaba esixoxa ngayo, umgomo wethu awubandakanyi imininingwane mayelana nalezi zindaba, nokuziphatha komuntu kuzo; kunalokho, sikhuluma kuphela ngemicabango kaNkulunkulu nemibono yangaleso sikhathi. Emicabangweni nasemibonweni kaNkulunkulu, sizobona isimo sikaNkulunkulu, futhi kukho konke uNkulunkulu akwenza, sizobona uNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe—futhi kulokhu sizowufeza umgomo wethu.

UNkulunkulu Unendaba Kuphela Nalabo Abakwazi Ukulalela Amazwi Akhe Nokulandela Imiyalo Yakhe

Amazwi angenhla aqukethe into ewumgogodla: izinombolo. Okokuqala, uJehova uthe uma ethola abangamashumi amahlanu abalungile emzini, khona-ke uyoyekela indawo yonke ngenxa yabo, okusho ukuthi, wayengeke awubhubhise umuzi. Ngakho ingabe babekhona abangamashumi amahlanu abalungile eSodoma? Babengekho. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, wathini u-Abrahama kuNkulunkulu? Wathi, mhlawumbe kutholakala abangamashumi amane khona? UNkulunkulu wathi, ngeke ngiwubhubhise. Ngemva kwalokho, u-Abrahama wathi, mhlawumbe kutholakala abangamashumi amathathu khona? UNkulunkulu wathi, ngeke ngikwenze. Mhlawumbe abangamashumi amabili? Ngeke ngikwenze. Abayishumi? Ngeke ngikwenze lokho. Ingabe kwakunabayishumi abalungile emzini? Babengelona ishumi—kodwa wayeyedwa. Wayengubani lona oyedwa? KwakunguLoti. Ngaleso sikhathi, wayeyedwa umuntu owayelungile eSodoma, kodwa ingabe uNkulunkulu wayeqinisa kakhulu uma kuziwa kuleli nani? Cha, kwakungenjalo! Ngakho lapho umuntu elokhu ethi, “Kuthiwani ngabangamashumi amane?” “Kuthiwani ngabangamamashumi amathathu?” kuze kube yilapho ethi khona “Kuthiwani ngabayishumi?” UNkulunkulu wathi, “Ngisho noma kunabayishumi kuphela, ngeke ngiwubhubhise umuzi; ngiyowusindisa, ngithethelele abanye abantu ngaphandle kwabayishumi.” Abayishumi babeyodabukisa ngokwanele, kodwa empeleni alibanga bikho ngisho nalelo nani labantu abalungile eSodoma. Ngakho uyabona ukuthi emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, isono nokukhohlakala kwabantu bendawo kwahamba kwaze kwafika ezingeni lokuthi uNkulunkulu kwakungasekho angakwenza ngaphandle kokubabhubhisa. Wayeqonde ukuthini uNkulunkulu lapho ethi ngeke awubhubhise umuzi uma kunabangamashumi amahlanu abalungile? La manani ayengabalulekile kuNkulunkulu. Okwakubalulekile ukuthi umuzi unabo yini abantu abalungile ayebafuna noma cha. Uma umuzi wawunomuntu oyedwa olungile, uNkulunkulu wayengeke avume ukuthi balimale lapho ebhubhisa umuzi. Lokhu kusho ukuthi, kungakhathaleki ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezowubhubhisa umuzi noma cha, kungakhathaleki ukuthi kwakunabalungile abangakanani kuwo, kuNkulunkulu lo muzi owonayo wawuqalekisiwe, futhi kufanele ubhujiswe, kufanele unyamalale emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, kusale abalungile. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi iminyaka ithini, kungakhathaleki ukuthi umuntu ukusiphi isigaba sokukhula, umbono kaNkulunkulu awuguquki: Uyabuzonda ububi, unendaba nabalungile emehlweni Akhe. Lo mbono ocacile kaNkulunkulu uphinde ube isambulo sangempela sesiqu sikaNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yokuthi kwakunomuntu oyedwa emzini, uNkulunkulu akabange esanqikaza. Umphumela waba ukuthi iSodoma lalizobhujiswa. Nibonani kulokhu? Kuleyo nkathi, uNkulunkulu wayengeke awubhubhise umuzi uma kuwo kunabangamashumi amahlanu abalungile, noma kunabayishumi, okusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezonquma ukubathethelela noma abe nesineke ngabantu, noma enze umsebenzi Wakhe wokuqondisa, ngenxa yabambalwa ababemkhonza. UNkulunkulu ubeke okuningi ezenzweni ezilungile zomuntu, kulabo abakwazi ukumkhonza, nakulabo abakwazi ukwenza okuhle phambi Kwakhe.

Kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube manje, ingabe nake nalifunda iBhayibheli likaNkulunkulu elikhuluma ngeqiniso, noma nakhuluma nganoma iyiphi indlela ngoNkulunkulu, kunoma imuphi umuntu? Cha. Amazwi kaNkulunkulu kumuntu esiwafundayo atshela abantu kuphela lokho okufanele bakwenze. Abanye bawenza, abanye abawenzanga; abanye bawakholwa, abanye abawakholwanga. Ayeyikho konke lokho. Ngakho, ukulunga kwaleyo nkathi—labo ababelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu—kwakuyilabo abakwazi ukuzwa izwi likaNkulunkulu balandele umyalo kaNkulunkulu. Babeyizinceku ezafeza izwi likaNkulunkulu phakathi kwabantu. Ingabe labo bantu kwakungathiwa bayamazi uNkulunkulu? Ingabe babengabizwa ngabantu abapheleliswe uNkulunkulu? Cha, babengeke. Ngakho, kungakhathaleki ukuthi bangakanani, ingabe emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laba bantu abalungile babefanele ukubizwa ngezethenjwa zikaNkulunkulu? Ingabe bangabizwa ngofakazi bakaNkulunkulu? Lutho neze! Babengakufanele ukubizwa ngezethenjwa nofakazi bakaNkulunkulu. Ngakho uNkulunkulu wababiza ngani laba bantu? EBhayibhelini, ezingxenyeni zemibhalo esiqeda kuzifunda, kuningi la sibona uNkulunkulu ebabiza khona ngokuthi “Nceku Yami.” Okusho ukuthi ngaleso sikhathi, emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laba bantu abalungile babeyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu, babengabantu abamkhonza emhlabeni. UNkulunkulu wayecabangani ngalokhu? Kungani ababiza kanjalo? Ingabe uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni Yakhe unamazinga abiza ngawo abantu? Ngempela unawo. UNkulunkulu unamazinga, kungakhathaleki ukuthi uthi abantu balungile, baphelele, baqotho noma bayizinceku. Lapho ebiza umuntu ngenceku Yakhe, usuke eqiniseka ngokuthi lowo muntu uyazamukela izithunywa Zakhe, futhi uyakwazi ukulandela imiyalo Yakhe, futhi angakufeza lokho akuyala izithunywa Zakhe. Futhi yini ayifezayo lo muntu? Yilokho uNkulunkulu ayala umuntu ukuthi akwenze futhi akufeze emhlabeni. Ngaleso sikhathi, ingabe lokho uNkulunkulu athi akakwenze futhi akufeze emhlabeni kuyobizwa ngendlela kaNkulunkulu? Cha, ngeke. Ngoba ngaleso sikhathi, uNkulunkulu wacela umuntu ukuthi enze izinto ezilula; wamnika imiyalo embalwa elula, wamtshela izinto okufanele azenze, akukho okunye. UNkulunkulu wayesebenza ngokwecebo Lakhe. Ngoba ngaleso sikhathi, izimo eziningi zazingakabi bikho, isikhathi sasingakalungi, kwakunzima ngabantu ukuhamba endleleni kaNkulunkulu, ngakho indlela kaNkulunkulu yayisazongena ivela enhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu wabona abantu abalungile akhuluma ngabo, labo esibabona lapha—kungakhathaleki ukuthi babengamashumi amathathu noma bengamashumi amabili—njengezinceku Zakhe. Lapho izithunywa zikaNkulunkulu zifika kulezi zinceku, ziyokwazi ukuzemukela, zilandele imiyalo yazo, futhi zenze ngokuvumelana namazwi azo. Lokhu yikhona kanye okwakufanele kwenziwe, futhi kutholwe yilabo ababeyizinceku emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu ubahlulela kahle abantu. Akababizanga ngezinceku Zakhe ngenxa yokuthi babenjengoba ninjalo manje—ngenxa yokuthi babezwe izintshumayelo eziningi, bazi lokho uNkulunkulu ayezokwenza, beyiqonda kanzulu intando kaNkulunkulu, futhi beqonda icebo Lakhe lokuqondisa—kodwa ngoba ubuntu babo babuthembekile futhi bekwazi ukuvumelana nezwi likaNkulunkulu; lapho uNkulunkulu ebayala, bakwazi ukubekela eceleni ababekwenza bafeza lokhu uNkulunkulu ayebayale ngakho. Ngakho, kuNkulunkulu enye ingxenye yencazelo egameni elithi inceku ukuthi babambisane nomsebenzi Wakhe emhlabeni, futhi nakuba babengezona izithunywa zikaNkulunkulu, babengabenzi bezwi likaNkulunkulu emhlabeni. Ngakho niyabona ukuthi lezi zinceku noma abantu abalungile babaluleke kakhulu kangakanani enhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu. Umsebenzi uNkulunkulu awenza emhlabeni wawungeke wenzeke ngaphandle kokuthi abantu babambisane Naye, futhi akukho okwakungangena esikhundleni sezithunywa zikaNkulunkulu. Umsebenzi ngamunye uNkulunkulu ayala lezi zinceku ukuba ziwenze wawubaluleke kakhulu Kuye, ngakho zazingeke zimlahlekele. Ngaphandle kokubambisana kwalezi zinceku noNkulunkulu, umsebenzi Wakhe esintwini ngabe usamile, ngenxa yalokho icebo likaNkulunkulu lokuqondisa namathemba kaNkulunkulu bekuyophenduka ize leze.

UNkulunkulu Unomusa Omkhulu Kulabo Abakhathalelayo, Futhi Unenzondo Enkulu Kulabo Abazondayo Nabalahlayo

Ekulandiseni kweBhayibheli, ingabe zazikhona izinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziyishumi eSodoma? Cha, zazingekho! Ingabe kwakufanele ukuthi umuzi uchithwe uNkulunkulu? Kwakunomuntu oyedwa kuphela emzini—uLoti—wamukela izithunywa zikaNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho kwakunenceku kaNkulunkulu eyodwa kuphela emzini, ngakho uNkulunkulu akukho ayengakwenza ngaphandle kokusindisa uLoti futhi abhubhise umuzi waseSodoma. Lokhu okuphakathi kuka-Abrahama noNkulunkulu kungase kubonakale kulula, kodwa kuqhakambisa into ebaluleke kakhulu: Kunemiyalo ezenzweni zikaNkulunkulu, futhi ngaphambi kokuthi enze izinqumo uzochitha isikhathi ebuka futhi ehlolisisa; singakafiki isikhathi esifanele, asikho isinqumo azosenza futhi azikho iziphetho azofinyelela kuzo. Lokhu okuphakathi kuka-Abrahama noNkulunkulu kusibonisa ukuthi isinqumo sikaNkulunkulu sokubhubhisa iSodoma kwakungekhona ukushiyeka, ngoba uNkulunkulu wayazi ukuthi umuzi wawungenabo abalungile abangamashumi amane, noma abangamashumi amathathu, noma abangamashumi amabili. Babengekho ngisho abayishumi. Okuwukuphela komuntu olungile emuzini kwakunguLoti. Konke okwenzeka eSodoma nezimo zalo kwakubonwa nguNkulunkulu, futhi kuNkulunkulu kwakuvame njengenhlanekela yesandla Sakhe. Ngakho, isinqumo Sakhe sasingeke sibe nephutha. Ngokuphambene, uma kuqhathaniswa namandla amakhulu kaNkulunkulu, umuntu undikindiki, uyisiwula futhi akanaki, akaziboni izinto ngeso elibanzi. Yilokhu esikubona phakathi kuka-Abrahama noNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu ubelokhu ehambisa phambili isimo Sakhe kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube namuhla. Ngakho, lapha sikhona isimo sikaNkulunkulu okufanele sisibone. Izinombolo zilula, futhi azivezi lutho, kodwa lapha sibonakala kakhulu isimo sikaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu wayengeke awubhubhise umuzi ngenxa yabangamashumi amahlanu abalungile. Ingabe lokhu kungenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu? Ingabe kungenxa yothando Lwakhe nokubekezela? Ingabe nike nalubona lolu hlangothi lwesimo sikaNkulunkulu? Ngisho noma kwakunabalungile abayishumi kuphela, uNkulunkulu wayengeke awubhubhise umuzi ngenxa yabayishumi abalungile. Ingabe lokhu akukhona ukubekezela nothando lukaNkulunkulu? Ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu, ukubekezela, nokukhathalela abalungile, wayengeke awubhubhise umuzi. Lokhu kwakuwukubekezela kukaNkulunkulu. Ekupheleni, imuphi umphumela esiwubonayo? Lapho u-Abrahama ethi, “Mhlawumbe kungenzeka kutholakale abayishumi khona,” uNkulunkulu wathi, “angeke ngiyibhubhise.” Ngemva kwalokho, u-Abrahama akashongo lutho—ngoba eSodoma babengekho abayishumi ayebuza ngabo, futhi kwakungekho okunye ayengakusho, futhi ngaleso sikhathi waqonda ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu anquma ukubhubhisa iSodoma. Kulokhu, yisiphi isimo sikaNkulunkulu enisibonayo? Nhloboni yesinqumo uNkulunkulu asenza? Lokhu kusho ukuthi, uma umuzi wawungenabo abalungile abayishumi, uNkulunkulu wayengakuvumeli ukuba khona kwawo, futhi wayewubhubhisa. Ingabe lolu akulona ulaka lukaNkulunkulu? Ingabe lolu laka lumelela isimo sikaNkulunkulu? Ingabe lesi simo siyisambulo sesiqu sikaNkulunkulu esingcwele? Ingabe siyisambulo sokulunga kwesiqu sikaNkulunkulu, umuntu okungamele asithukuthelise? Eseqinisekise ukuthi abekho abayishumi abalungile eSodoma, uNkulunkulu wayezimisele ukubhubhisa umuzi, futhi wayezobajezisa kakhulu abantu abasemzini, ngoba bamelana noNkulunkulu, nokuthi babekhohlakele.

Kungani sihlaziye lezi zingxenye ngale ndlela? Kungenxa yokuthi le misho embalwa isiveza ngokugcwele isimo sikaNkulunkulu somusa omkhulu nolaka. Ngesikhathi esifanayo nokukubheka njengegugu ukulunga, ukuba nomusa kubo, ukubabekezelela, nokubanakekela, kwakunenzondo enkulu enhliziyweni kaNkulunkulu ngabo bonke abaseSodoma ababekhohlakele. Ingabe lokhu kwakungewona umusa nentukuthelo enkulu? UNkulunkulu wawubhubhisa ngayiphi indlela umuzi? Ngomlilo. Kungani awubhubhisa esebenzisa umlilo? Lapho ubona into ishiswa umlilo, noma lapho usuzoshiswa okuthile, uzizwa kanjani ngakho? Kungani ufuna ukuyishisa? Ingabe ubona ukuthi awusayidingi, ukuthi awusafuni ukuphinde uyibone? Ingabe ufuna ukuyishiya? Ukusebenzisa kukaNkulunkulu umlilo ukulaxaza, nenzondo, nokuthi wayengasafisi ukubona iSodoma. Lena into eyenza uNkulunkulu waqothula iSodoma ngomlilo. Lokhu kusetshenziswa komlilo kuveza indlela uNkulunkulu ayethukuthele ngayo. Umusa nokubekezela kukaNkulunkulu kukhona ngempela, kodwa ubungcwele nokulunga kukaNkulunkulu lapho eveza intukuthelo Yakhe kubonisa umuntu nolunye uhlangothi lukaNkulunkulu lokuthi akacasulwa. Lapho umuntu ekwazi ngokugcwele ukulalela imiyalo kaNkulunkulu futhi enze ngokuvumelana nezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu uyoba nomusa omkhulu kubantu; lapho abantu begcwele inkohlakalo, inzondo, nobutha Ngaye, uNkulunkulu uthukuthela kakhulu. Uthukuthela kakhulu kangakanani? Ulaka Lwakhe luyoqhubeka kuze kube yilapho uNkulunkulu engasaboni abantu bemphika futhi bengasekho phambi kwamehlo Akhe. Luyophela lapho kuphela ulaka lukaNkulunkulu. Ngamanye amazwi, akunandaba ukuthi umuntu ungubani, uma izinhliziyo zabo ziqhelelene noNkulunkulu, futhi zimfulathele uNkulunkulu, zingabuyi, khona-ke akunandaba ukuthi imizamo nezifiso zalabo bantu kube yini, bafisa ukukhonza nokulandela nokulalela uNkulunkulu emzimbeni nasemicabangweni yabo, ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuthi izinhliziyo zabo zifulathele uNkulunkulu, ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luyophuma ngokushesha. Kuyoba njengokungathi lapho uNkulunkulu ekhipha ulaka Lwakhe olukhulu, enike umuntu amathuba amaningi, uma eselukhiphile iyobe ingasekho indlela yokulubuyisela emuva, futhi akasoze aba nomusa noma abekezelele umuntu onjalo. Lolu olunye uhlangothi lwesimo sikaNkulunkulu olungabubekezeleli ububi. Lapha, kubonakala kwamukeleka kubantu ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyobhubhisa umuzi, ngoba emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, umuzi ogcwele isono wawungeke uqhubeke ukhona, kwakubalulekile ukuthi ubhujiswe uNkulunkulu. Kodwa kulokho okwenzeka ngaphambi nangemva kokubhujiswa kweSodoma, sisibona ngokuphelele isimo sikaNkulunkulu. Uyabekezela futhi unobubele ezintweni ezinomusa, nezinhle; bese kuthi ezintweni ezingcolile, ezinesono, nezikhohlakele, uthukuthela kakhulu ngezinga lokuthi akabe esakwazi ukubamba ulaka Lwakhe. Lezi izimpawu eziyinhloko nezibalulekile zesimo sikaNkulunkulu, ngaphezu kwalokho, zembulwe uNkulunkulu kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube sekugcineni: umusa omkhulu nentukuthelo enkulu. Abaningi benu babone okuthile ngomusa kaNkulunkulu, kodwa bancane kakhulu kini abaphawule intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu. Umusa kaNkulunkulu nothando Lwakhe kungabonakala kuwo wonke umuntu; okusho ukuthi, uNkulunkulu ubelokhu ebonisa wonke umuntu umusa omkhulu. Kodwa akuvamile—noma kungathiwa akukaze kwenzeke—ukuthi uNkulunkulu athukuthelele kakhulu abantu abathile noma ingxenye yabantu kini. Khululekani! Kungekudala, ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luzobonakala kuwo wonke umuntu, kodwa manje akukabi isikhathi. Kungani kunjalo? Ngenxa yokuthi lapho uNkulunkulu eqhubeka ethukuthelele othile, okusho ukuthi lapho eveza intukuthelo Yakhe kubo, lokho kusho ukuthi kusuke sekuyisikhathi angamthandi futhi amchitha ngaso lowo muntu, akakuthandi ukuba khona kwabo futhi ngeke akubekezelele; ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuveza intukuthelo Yakhe kubo, bayoshabalala. Namuhla, umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu awukafinyeleli lapho. Akekho kini oyokwazi ukumelana nolaka lukaNkulunkulu. Niyabona ukuthi manje, uNkulunkulu nonke unibonisa umusa omkhulu, futhi ima nisazobona intukuthelo Yakhe. Uma kunalabo abangakaqiniseki, ningacela ukuba intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu yehlele kini, ukuze nibone ukuthi uNkulunkulu unayo noma cha intukuthelo, futhi nibone ukuthi sikhona isimo Sakhe esingenakucasulwa. Ningalokotha?

Abantu Bezinsuku Zokugcina Babona Kuphela Ulaka LukaNkulunkulu Emazwini Akhe, futhi Abaluzwa Ngempela Ulaka LukaNkulunkulu

Ingabe lezi zinhlangothi ezimbili zesimo sikaNkulunkulu ezibonakala ezingxenyeni zemibhalo kufanele sixoxe ngazo? Ngemva kokuzwa le ndaba, ingabe senimqonda ngendlela ehlukile uNkulunkulu? Hlobo luni lokuqonda? Kungashiwo ukuthi kusukela ngesikhathi sendalo kuze kube namuhla, alikho iqembu labantu elike lathola umusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu nothando Lwakhe njengeqembu lokugcina. Nakuba esigabeni sokugcina, uNkulunkulu enze umsebenzi wokwahlulela nokusola, futhi enze umsebenzi Wakhe ngamandla amakhulu, ezikhathini eziningi uNkulunkulu usebenzisa amazwi ukuze afeze umsebenzi Wakhe; usebenzisa amazwi ukuze afundise, anisele, anakekele, futhi ondle. Ulaka lukaNkulunkulu, belulokhu lufihliwe, futhi ngaphandle kokubona isimo solaka lukaNkulunkulu emazwini Akhe, bancane kakhulu abantu ababone ulaka Lwakhe ngokoqobo. Lokho kusho ukuthi, phakathi nomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu wokwahlulela nokusola, nakuba intukuthelo eyembulwa ezwini likaNkulunkulu ivumela abantu ukuba babone amandla amakhulu kaNkulunkulu nokungabubekezeleli Kwakhe ububi, le ntukuthelo ayeqeli ngalé kwamazwi Akhe. Ngamanye amazwi, uNkulunkulu usebenzisa amazwi ukuze ayale umuntu, embule umuntu, ahlulele umuntu, asole umuntu—kodwa uNkulunkulu usazosithukuthelela kakhulu isintu, futhi useke wayiveza intukuthelo Yakhe ngaphandle kwamazwi. Ngakho, umusa nothando lukaNkulunkulu okubonwa umuntu kule nkathi kuyisambulo sesimo sangempela sikaNkulunkulu, kuyilapho ulaka lukaNkulunkulu olubonwa umuntu lumane luyindlela yokuzwa amazwi Akhe. Abantu abaningi lokhu bakubheka ngephutha njengokubona ngokoqobo nokuba nolwazi lwangempela ngolaka lukaNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho, abantu abaningi bakholwa ukuthi bawubonile umusa kaNkulunkulu nothando Lwakhe emazwini Akhe, nokuthi bakubonile ukungabubekezeleli kukaNkulunkulu ububi babantu, futhi abaningi bawubonile umusa nokuba nesineke kukaNkulunkulu kubantu. Kodwa akunandaba ukuthi umuntu uziphatha kabi kangakanani, noma ukuthi isimo sakhe sikhohlakele kangakanani, uNkulunkulu ubelokhu ebekezela. Njengoba ebekezela, umgomo Wakhe ukulinda amazwi awakhulumile, umzamo awenzile kanye nenani alikhokhile ukuze afeze umphumela kulabo afisa ukubazuza. Ukulinda umphumela ofana nalona kuthatha isikhathi, futhi kudinga indalo yomuntu yakwenye indawo, ngendlela efanayo nalokho okwenza abantu bangabi badala bezalwa nje; lokho kuthatha iminyaka eyishumi nesishiyagalombili noma eyishumi nesishiyagalolunye, futhi abanye baze badinge ngisho nengamashumi amabili noma engamashumi amathathu ngaphambi kokuvuthwa babe abantu abadala. UNkulunkulu uyalinda ize iphele le nqubo, ulinda size sifike leso sikhathi, futhi ulinda kuze kufike umphumela walokhu. Kuso sonke isikhathi alinda ngaso, uNkulunkulu unomusa omkhulu. Phakathi nenkathi yomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, kubulawa abantu abancane kakhulu, futhi abanye bajeziselwa ukuba nesibindi bamelane noNkulunkulu. Izibonelo ezinjalo ziwubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi isimo sikaNkulunkulu esingalibambi igqubu, futhi buqinisekisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyabekezela ngempela, ubekezelela abakhethiwe. Yiqiniso, kulezi zibonelo, isambulo sengxenye yesimo sikaNkulunkulu kulaba bantu asilithinti lonke icebo lokuqondisa kukaNkulunkulu. Eqinisweni, kulesi sigaba sokugcina somsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu ubekezele kuyo yonke inkathi abelinde ngayo, futhi uguqule ukubekezela nokuphila Kwakhe ngenxa yensindiso yalabo abamlandelayo. Ingabe niyakubona lokhu? UNkulunkulu akaliphazamisi icebo Lakhe ngaphandle kwesizathu. Angaveza ulaka Lwakhe, futhi angaba nomusa; lesi isambulo sezingxenye ezimbili zesimo sikaNkulunkulu. Ingabe lokhu akucacile kahle? Ngamanye amazwi, uma kuziwa kuNkulunkulu, okulungile nokungalungile, okunobulungiswa nokungenabulungiswa, okuhle nokubi—konke lokhu kubonakala ngokucacile kumuntu. Lokho azokwenza, akuthandayo, akuzondayo—konke lokhu kungaboniswa ngokuqondile isimo Sakhe. Izinto ezinjalo zingaba sobala kakhulu futhi zibonakale ngokucacile emsebenzini kaNkulunkulu, futhi azididi noma zivame; kunalokho, zivumela abantu ukuba babone isimo sikaNkulunkulu nalokho anakho nayikho ngendlela ecacile, eneqiniso nengokoqobo. Lona uNkulunkulu weqiniso Uqobo Lwakhe.

Isimo SikaNkulunkulu Asikaze Sifihlwe Kumuntu—Inhliziyo Yomuntu Iphambukile KuNkulunkulu

Ukube angixoxanga ngalezi zinto, akekho kini obeyokwazi isimo sikaNkulunkulu ezindabeni zeBhayibheli. Leli iqiniso. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi, nakuba lezi zindaba zeBhayibheli zilobe okunye kwezinto ezenziwa uNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wakhuluma amazwi ambalwa, futhi akasethulanga ngokuqondile isimo Sakhe noma ayise phambili intando Yakhe kumuntu. Izizukulwane ezalandela zibheke le mininingwane njengezinganekwane, ngakho kubonakala sengathi uNkulunkulu uyazifihla kumuntu, lokho akukhona ukuzifihla kukaNkulunkulu kumuntu, kodwa isimo Sakhe nentando Yakhe. Ngemva kwengxoxo Yami namhlanje, ingabe nisenomuzwa wokuthi uNkulunkulu uzifihle ngokugcwele kumuntu? Ingabe nisakholwa ukuthi isimo sikaNkulunkulu sifihlekile kumuntu?

Kusukela ngesikhathi sokudala, isimo sikaNkulunkulu besilokhu sihambisana nomsebenzi Wakhe. Asikaze sifihlwe kumuntu, kodwa besikhonjiswa ngokusobala futhi sicaciswa kumuntu. Kodwa, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, inhliziyo yomuntu iye yaqhelelana ngisho nakakhulu noNkulunkulu, futhi njengoba inkohlakalo yomuntu yanda, umuntu noNkulunkulu sebeqhelelene kakhulu. Kancane kancane, umuntu uye wanyamalala emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Umuntu akakwazanga “ukubona” uNkulunkulu, okumshiye engazi lutho ngoNkulunkulu; ngakho akazi ngisho nokuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona yini, uphambuka aze aphike ngisho nokuba khona kukaNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho, ukungasiqondi komuntu isimo sikaNkulunkulu nalokho anakho nayikho akukho ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu uzifihlile kumuntu, kodwa kungenxa yokuthi inhliziyo yomuntu imfulathele uNkulunkulu. Nakuba umuntu ekholwa kuNkulunkulu, inhliziyo yomuntu ayinaye uNkulunkulu, futhi ukushaya indiva ukuthanda uNkulunkulu, akafuni ukuthanda uNkulunkulu, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe ayikaze isondelane noNkulunkulu futhi ihlale imgwema uNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho, inhliziyo yomuntu iqhelelene noNkulunkulu. Ngakho ikuphi inhliziyo yakhe? Eqinisweni inhliziyo yomuntu ayiyanga ndawo: Esikhundleni sokuthi ayinike uNkulunkulu noma ayembule ukuze uNkulunkulu ayibone, umuntu uyigcine kuye. Lokhu kungaphezu kweqiniso lokuthi abanye bavame ukuthandaza kuNkulunkulu bathi, “O Nkulunkulu, hlola inhliziyo yami—ukwazi konke engikucabangayo,” futhi abanye baze bafunge ukuthi uNkulunkulu ababheke, nokuthi bajeziswe uma bephula isifungo sabo. Nakuba umuntu evumela uNkulunkulu ukuba abheke ngaphakathi enhliziyweni yakhe, lokhu akusho ukuthi uyakwazi ukulalela ukuqondiswa namalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu, nokuthi akasenawo umphumela nethemba nokuthi akasalawulwa uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, kungakhathaleki ukuthi wenza siphi isifungo kuNkulunkulu noma ukuthi uthini Kuye emehlweni kaNkulunkulu inhliziyo yakho isavaliwe, ngoba uNkulunkulu umvumela kuphela ukuthi ahlole inhliziyo yakho, awumvumeli ukuba ayilawule. Ngamanye amazwi, awukamniki nhlobo uNkulunkulu inhliziyo yakho, futhi ukhuluma amazwi amnandi kuphela ukuze uNkulunkulu awezwe; unezinhloso eziningi zobuqili, uyazifihla kuNkulunkulu, kanye nokuphamba kwakho, ubuqili, namacebo, futhi ubamba amathemba nomphumela ngezandla zakho, wesaba kakhulu ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyokuthatha. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu akazange abone umuntu eqotho Kuye. Nakuba uNkulunkulu ekubona ukujula kwenhliziyo yomuntu, futhi ekwazi ukubona into umuntu ayicabangayo nafisa ukuyenza enhliziyweni yakhe, ebona nokusenhliziyweni yakhe, inhliziyo yomuntu akuyona ekaNkulunkulu, akayinikanga uNkulunkulu ukuze ayilawule. Okusho ukuthi, uNkulunkulu unelungelo lokubona, kodwa akanalo elokulawula. Ekubukeni komuntu ngokwakhe, umuntu akafuni ukuzishiyela emseni kaNkulunkulu. Umuntu akagcinanga nje ngokuqhela kuNkulunkulu, kodwa kunabantu abacabanga ukuthi kunezindlela abangasonga ngazo izinhliziyo zabo, basebenzise amazwi amnandi ukuze bakhe imibono engelona iqiniso bese uNkulunkulu ebathemba, bafihle ubuso babo bangempela ukuze uNkulunkulu angabuboni. Umgomo wabo wokuzifihla ukuthi uNkulunkulu angaboni ukuthi bangabantu abanjani ngempela. Abafuni ukunika uNkulunkulu izinhliziyo zabo, kodwa bafuna ukuzigcina kube ngezabo. Okuqonde ukushiwo ngamazwi asesihlokweni esincane ukuthi lokho umuntu akwenzayo nakufunayo konke kuhlelwa, kubalwe futhi umuntu azinqumele khona mathupha; akafuni ukuthi uNkulunkulu abe nengxenye kukho, ingasaphathwa eyokufuna ukuqondiswa nokuhlelelwa uNkulunkulu. Ngakho ngale kokuyala kukaNkulunkulu, umsebenzi Wakhe, noma izimfuneko uNkulunkulu azenzela umuntu, izinqumo zomuntu zisekelwe ezinhlosweni zakhe nasezintweni azifunayo, nasezimweni zakhe zangaleso sikhathi. Umuntu uhlale esebenzisa ulwazi nokuqonda ajwayelene nakho, nokuhlakanipha kwakhe, ukuze ahlulele futhi akhethe indlela ayithathayo, akafuni uNkulunkulu afake isandla noma amlawule. Lena inhliziyo yomuntu ebonwa uNkulunkulu.

Kucashunwe embhalweni othi “Umsebenzi KaNkulunkulu, Isimo SikaNkulunkulu, NoNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe II” encwadini ethi Izwi Livela Lisenyameni