UGenesise 6:9-14 Lezi izizukulwane zikaNowa: UNowa wayengumuntu olungile nongasoleki esizukulwaneni sakhe, futhi uNowa wayehamba noNkulunkulu. Futhi uNowa wazala amadodana amathathu, uShemi, uHamu noJafete. Umhlaba wase wonakele phambi kukaNkulunkulu, umhlaba wawugcwele ububi. UNkulunkulu wawubuka umhlaba, wawubona futhi, ukuthi wonakele; ngokuba yonke inyama yayonakalisile indlela yayo emhlabeni. UNkulunkulu wayesethi kuNowa, Ukuphela kwenyama yonke kufikile ngaphambi kwami; ngokuba umhlaba ugcwele ubudlova ngenxa yabantu; bheka, ngiyakubabhubhisa kanye nomhlaba. Zakhele umkhumbi ngemithi yegofere; wenze amakamelo emkhunjini, futhi uwuhuqe ngaphakathi kanye nangaphandle.

UGenesise 6:18-22 Kepha ngiyakumisa isivumelwano sami nawe; futhi uzongena emkhunjini, wena, namadodana akho, nomkakho, nabafazi bamadodana akho bekanye nawe. Futhi kukho konke okuphilayo kwenyama, uzongenisa ezimbili kuzo zonke izinhlobo, ukuba uzigcine ziphile nawe; kube ngeyeduna neyensikazi. Kuzo izinyoni nezinhlobo zazo, nakuzo izinkomo nezinhlobo zazo, nakuzo izilwanyana ezinwabuzelayo emhlabeni ngezinhlobo zazo, kuzofika kuwe ezimbili zezinhlobo zonke, ukuba uzigcine ziphila. Futhi uzothatha konke ukudla okudliwayo, ukubuthele kuwe; kuyakuba ngukudla kwakho, kanye nokwazo. Ngakho uNowa wenze njalo; njengakho konke uNkulunkulu amyale ngakho, ngakho wenza kanjalo.

Ingabe manje seniyaqonda ukuthi uNowa ungubani ngemva kokufunda le ngxenye? Uluhlobo olunjani lomuntu uNowa? Umbhalo wokuqala uthi: “UNowa wayengumuntu olungile nongasoleki esizukulwaneni sakhe.” Ngokokuqonda kwabantu bamanje, kwakuwuhlobo olunjani lomuntu indoda eqotho endulo? Indoda eqotho kufanele kube umuntu ophelele. Ingabe niyazi noma le ndoda ephelele, iphelele emehlweni omuntu noma iphelele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu? Ngaphandle kokungabaza, le ndoda ephelele, iphelele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu hhayi emehlweni omuntu. Lokhu kuliqiniso! Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi umuntu uyimpumputhe akaboni, futhi uNkulunkulu kuphela obuka kuwo wonke umhlaba nakuwo wonke umuntu, futhi nguNkulunkulu kuphela uNowa aphelele kuye. Ngakho, icebo likaNkulunkulu lokubhubhisa umhlaba ngozamcolo laqala ngomzuzu abiza ngawo uNowa.

Ngaleso sikhathi, uNkulunkulu wayehlose ukubiza uNowa ukuze enze into ebaluleke kakhulu. Kungani kwadingeka ukuba enze lokhu? Kungenxa yokuthi ngaleso sikhathi, uNkulunkulu wayenecebo enhliziyweni Yakhe. Icebo Lakhe kwakuwukubhubhisa umhlaba ngozamcolo? Kuthiwa lapha: “Umhlaba wase wonakele phambi kukaNkulunkulu, umhlaba wawugcwele ububi.” Ubonani emazwini athi “umhlaba wawugcwele ububi”? Kwakuyisimo esasisemhlabeni lapho umhlaba nabantu bawo kwakukhohlakele ngokwedlulele, okuwukuthi: “umhlaba wawugcwele ububi.” Olimini lwanamuhla, “ukugcwala ubudlova” kusho ukuthi yonke into ixovekile. Kumuntu, kusho ukuthi kuzo zonke izingxenye zokuphila akukho ukuhleleka, futhi kunesixakaxaka okunzima ukusiqondisa. Emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, kusho ukuthi abantu bezwe bakhohlakele kakhulu. Bakhohlakele ngezinga elingakanani? Bakhohlakele ngezinga lokuthi uNkulunkulu ngeke esakwazi ukububheka noma ukububekezelela ububi babo. Bakhohlakele ngezinga lokuthi uNkulunkulu unqume ukubabhubhisa. Lapho uNkulunkulu ezimisela khona ukubhubhisa izwe, wahlela ukuthola othile owayezokwakha umkhumbi. UNkulunkulu wakhetha uNowa ukuba enze lokhu, okuwukuvumela uNowa ukuba akhe umkhumbi. Kungani akhetha uNowa? Emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, uNowa wayeyindoda eqotho, futhi noma yini uNkulunkulu ayemyala ukuba ayenze wayeyenza ngendlela ayalwe ngayo. Kusho ukuthi wayenza konke uJehova athi akakwenze. UNkulunkulu wayefuna ukuthola umuntu onjengalona ukuze asebenze Naye, ukuba afeze ayemphathise khona, nokuba aqede umsebenzi Wakhe emhlabeni. Endulo, ingabe wayekhona omunye umuntu ngaphandle kukaNowa, owayengafeza lo msebenzi? Nakanjani wayengekho! UNowa wayewukuphela komuntu ongawenza, ukuphela komuntu owayengafeza lokho uNkulunkulu amphathise khona, ngakho uNkulunkulu Wakhetha yena. Kodwa ingabe umthamo nezinga likaNkulunkulu lokusindisa abantu lasendulo lisafana nelamanje? Impendulo ithi kunomehluko omkhulu! Kungani ngibuza? UNowa wayewukuphela komuntu owayeqotho kuNkulunkulu ngaleso sikhathi, okusho ukuthi akekho phakathi komkakhe namadodana akhe nowomalokazana bakhe ababengabantu abalungile, kodwa uNkulunkulu wabasindisa laba bantu ngenxa kaNowa. UNkulunkulu akabacelanga ngendlela acela ngayo abantu manje, kunalokho wawagcina ephila wonke amalungu omndeni kaNowa ayisishiyagalombili. Bamukela isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokulunga kukaNowa. Ukube wayengekho uNowa, akekho kubo owayeyofeza lokho uNkulunkulu akuphathise abantu. Ngakho, uNowa wayewukuphela komuntu okwakufanele asinde ekubhujisweni komhlaba kwangaleso sikhathi, futhi abanye bazuza ngenxa kaNowa. Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi enkathini uNkulunkulu aqala ngayo ngokusemthethweni ukwenza umsebenzi Wakhe wokuqondisa, imiyalo namazinga aphatha ngawo abantu ayekhululekile. Kubantu banamuhla, indlela uNkulunkulu aphatha ngayo umndeni kaNowa onamalungu ayisishiyagalombili ibonakala ingenabulungisa. Kodwa uma kuqhathaniswa nomsebenzi omkhulu awenza manje kubantu nesilinganiso esidluliswa yizwi Lakhe kubantu, impatho uNkulunkulu ayinikeza amalungu ayisishiyagalombili omndeni kaNowa, kwakungaphezulu nje komyalo wangaleso sikhathi. Uma kuqhathaniswa, ingabe umndeni kaNowa onamalungu ayisishiyagalombili athola okuningi kuNkulunkulu kunalokhu okutholwa abantu namuhla?

Ukuthi uNowa wabizwa uNkulunkulu iqiniso elilula, kodwa iphuzu eliyinhloko lalokho esikhuluma ngakho—isimo sikaNkulunkulu, intando Yakhe, nesiqu Sakhe kule ndaba—akulula. Ukuze siqonde lezi zinto ezehlukahlukene zikaNkulunkulu, kumele siqale siqonde uhlobo lomuntu uNkulunkulu afisa ukulubiza, futhi ngalokhu, siqonde isimo, intando nesiqu sikaNkulunkulu. Lena indaba ebucayi. Ngakho emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, usuke eluhlobo olunjani lomuntu, umuntu ambizayo? Lona kumele kube umuntu ongalalela amazwi Akhe, ongalandela iziyalezo Zakhe. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, lona kumele kuphinde kube umuntu onokwethenjelwa, umuntu oyokwazi ukuphatha kahle izwi likaNkulunkulu ngokuliphatha njengesibopho noma umsebenzi azibophezele ukuwufeza. Ingabe kuyadingeka ukuthi lo muntu kube othile owazi uNkulunkulu? Cha. Endulo, uNowa wayengazange ezwe okuningi ngezimfundiso zikaNkulunkulu, noma abone umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, lwaluluncane kakhulu ulwazi lukaNowa ngoNkulunkulu. Nakuba kulotshiwe ukuthi uNowa wahamba noNkulunkulu, ingabe walubona uqobo lukaNkulunkulu? Impendulo ngu-cha ongangatshazwa! Ngoba ngalezo nsuku, kwakuyizithunywa zikaNkulunkulu kuphela ezaziza kubantu. Nakuba zazimelela uNkulunkulu ekukhulumeni nasekwenzeni izinto, zazimane zedlulisa intando nezinhloso zikaNkulunkulu. Uqobo lukaNkulunkulu abembulwanga kumuntu ubuso nobuso. Kule ngxenye yemibhalo, okuwukuphela kwento esiyibonayo yilokho uNowa okwakufanele akwenze neziyalezo uNkulunkulu ayemnike zona. Ngakho uNkulunkulu wembula siphi isiqu lapha? Yonke into uNkulunkulu ayenza isuke ihlelwe ngokusezingeni eliphezulu. Lapho ebona isimo noma okuthile kwenzeka, kuzoba nesilinganiso esithile emehlweni akhe, futhi lesi silinganiso siyonquma ukuthi uyaqala yini ukusungula isu lokusingatha leyo nto noma ukuthi uzobhekana kanjani naleso simo naleyo nto. Akayena umuntu ongenandaba noma ongenamizwa ngayo yonke into. Empeleni ungokuphambene kakhulu nalokho. Kunevesi lapho uNkulunkulu athi khona kuNowa: “Ukuphela kwenyama yonke kufikile ngaphambi kwami; ngokuba umhlaba ugcwele ubudlova ngenxa yabantu; bheka, ngiyakubabhubhisa kanye nomhlaba.” Ezwini likaNkulunkulu kulokhu, ingabe wathi uzobhubhisa abantu kuphela? Cha! UNkulunkulu wathi uzobhubhisa zonke izinto eziphilayo zenyama. Kungani uNkulunkulu afuna ukubhubhisa? Kunesinye isambulo sesimo sikaNkulunkulu lapha: Emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, ukubekezelela Kwakhe inkohlakalo yomuntu, ukungcola, ubudlova, nokungalaleli kwayo yonke inyama kunemingcele. Ikuphi imingcele Yakhe? UNkulunkulu wathi: “UNkulunkulu wawubuka umhlaba, wawubona futhi, ukuthi wonakele; ngokuba yonke inyama yayonakalisile indlela yayo emhlabeni.” Asho ukuthini la mazwi athi “ngokuba yonke inyama yayonakalisile indlela yayo emhlabeni”? Asho ukuthi noma yini ephilayo, kuhlanganisa nalabo abalandela uNkulunkulu, labo ababiza igama likaNkulunkulu, labo abake banikela iminikelo eshiswayo kuNkulunkulu, labo abamqaphelayo ngezwi futhi baze bamdumise uNkulunkulu—uma ukuziphatha kwabo kwase kugcwele inkohlakalo kwabonwa uNkulunkulu, kwakuzodingeka ukuthi ababhubhise. Leyo imingcele kaNkulunkulu. Ngakho uNkulunkulu wababekezelela ngezinga elingakanani abantu nayo yonke inyama eyonakele? Ngezinga lokuthi bonke abantu, kungaba abalandeli bakaNkulunkulu noma abangakholwa, babengahambi endleleni efanele. Ngezinga lokuthi kwakungasekhona nje ukuthi umuntu unesimilo esikhohlakele futhi esigcwele ububi, kodwa wayengasekho okholelwa ekutheni uNkulunkulu ukhona, ingasaphathwa-ke eyokuthi kube khona ngisho oyedwa okholelwa ukuthi umhlaba ubuswa uNkulunkulu futhi uNkulunkulu angabaqondisa endleleni efanele abantu. Ngezinga umuntu angakuthandi ngalo ukuba khona kukaNkulunkulu futhi akamvumelanga uNkulunkulu ukuba abe khona. Uma inkohlakalo yomuntu isifinyelele kuleli zinga, kwakumphelela ukubekezela uNkulunkulu. Yini eyayingena esikhundleni sakho? Ukuza kwentukuthelo nesijeziso sikaNkulunkulu. Ingabe leso akusona isambulo sesimo sikaNkulunkulu? Kule nkathi, ingabe usekhona umuntu olungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu? Ingabe usekhona umuntu ophelele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu? Ingabe kule nkathi, ukuziphatha kwayo yonke inyama emhlabeni kukhohlakele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu? Kulolu suku nenkathi, ngaphandle kwalabo uNkulunkulu afuna ukubaphelelisa, labo abangalandela uNkulunkulu futhi bamukele insindiso Yakhe, akukhona yini ukuthi yonke inyama ikubekela inselele ukubekezela kukaNkulunkulu? Akulona yini iqiniso ukuthi yonke into eyenzeka eceleni kwenu, eniyibona ngamehlo enu futhi eniyizwa ngezindlebe zenu, nezinto enizibona imihla namalanga kuleli zwe, akugcwele yini ubudlova? Emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, akufanele yini izwe elinjalo, inkathi enjena, kuqedwe ngayo? Nakuba imvelaphi yenkathi esikuyo yehluke kakhulu kwekaNowa, imizwa nenzondo uNkulunkulu anayo ngokukhohlakala komuntu kusafana ncamashi nokwangaleso sikhathi. UNkulunkulu ukwazi ukubekezela ngenxa yomsebenzi Wakhe, kodwa ngenxa yazo zonke izinhlobo zezimo, leli zwe kufanele ngabe kudala labhujiswa emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Isimo sesihluke kakhulu kulokhu esasiyikho endulo ngesikhathi izwe libhujiswa ngozamcolo. Kodwa uyini umehluko? Lena kuphinde kube yinto eyethusa kakhulu inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu, futhi mhlawumbe okungekho muntu kini ongayazisa.

Lapho ebhubhisa izwe ngozamcolo, uNkulunkulu wabiza uNowa ukuze akhe umkhumbi futhi enze namalungiselelo omsebenzi. UNkulunkulu wabiza umuntu oyedwa—uNowa—ukuze azomenzela lezi zinto eziningi. Kodwa kule nkathi, uNkulunkulu akanamuntu angambiza. Kungani kunjalo? Wonke umuntu olana kungenzeka uyasiqonda futhi usazi kahle isizathu salokho. Ingabe nidinga ukuthi sishiwo Yimi? Ukusimemeza kunganenza niphoxeke futhi wonke umuntu athukuthele. Abanye bangase bathi: “Nakuba singebona nje abantu futhi singebona abantu abaphelele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, uma uNkulunkulu esiyala ukuba senze into ethile, siyokwazi ukuyenza. Ngaphambi kwesikhathi lapho ethi kuza inhlekelele enkulu, saqala ukulungisa ukudla nezinto esasizozidinga ngaleyo nhlekelele. Ingabe lokhu asikwenzanga ngenxa yezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu? Ingabe asibambisani kahle nomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu? Ingabe lezi zinto esizenzile azinakuqhathaniswa nezenziwa uNowa? Ingabe ukwenza lokho esakwenza akukhona yini ukulalela kweqiniso? Ingabe besingalandeli iziyalezo zikaNkulunkulu? Asikwenzanga yini okushiwo uNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthi sinokholo emazwini kaNkulunkulu? Kungani uNkulunkulu esadabukile? Kungani uNkulunkulu ethi akanamuntu angambiza?” Ingabe ukhona umehluko phakathi kwezenzo zenu nezikaNowa? Ukuphi umehluko? (Ukulungisa ukudla ngenxa yenhlekelele ezayo kwakuyizinhloso zethu.) (Izenzo zethu ngeke zifinyelele “ukulunga,” kuyilapho uNowa eyindoda elungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu.) Enikushilo akukubi kakhulu. Okwenziwa uNowa kuhluke kakhulu kulokhu okwenziwa abantu namuhla. Ngesikhathi uNowa enza njengoba uNkulunkulu ayemyalile, wayengazi ukuthi zaziyini izinjongo zikaNkulunkulu. Wayengazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayefuna ukufeza ini. UNkulunkulu wayemnike kuphela umyalo, wamyala ukuba enze okuthile, ngaphandle kwencazelo eyenabile, futhi wahlabela phambili wakwenza. Akazamanga ukuthola izinhloso zikaNkulunkulu ngasese, futhi akamphikanga uNkulunkulu noma abe nenhliziyo embaxambili. Wamane wakwenza ngenhliziyo ehlanzekile nemsulwa. Noma yini uNkulunkulu ayemvumela ukuba ayenze wayenza, futhi ukulalela nokuzwa izwi likaNkulunkulu kwamqinisekisa ukuthi enze lezi zinto. Yileyo ndlela eqondile nelula akusingatha ngayo uNkulunkulu ayemphathise khona. Isiqu Sakhe—isisekelo sezenzo Zakhe kwakuwukulalela, hhayi ukuzama ukumhambela phambili, ukwenqaba, okukhulu nakakhulu, ngisho nokucabanga ngezinto azithandayo, ayengazithola, nezazizomlahlekela. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lapho uNkulunkulu ethi uzobhubhisa izwe ngozamcolo, uNowa akabuzanga ukuthi nini noma abuze ukuthi kuyokwenzekani ngezinto, futhi akambuzanga uNkulunkulu ukuthi wayezolibhubhisa kanjani izwe. Wamane wenza njengoba uNkulunkulu ayemyalile. Nokho uNkulunkulu wayazi ukuthi wayefuna kwenziwe ini futhi yenziwe ngani, wenza njengoba uNkulunkulu ayemcelile futhi waqala ngokushesha ukusebenza ngemva kwalokho. Wenza ngokwemiyalelo kaNkulunkulu enombono wokufuna ukwanelisa uNkulunkulu. Ingabe wayekwenzela ukuba kusizakale yena agweme inhlekelele? Cha. Ingabe wabuza uNkulunkulu ukuthi kwase kusele isikhathi esingakanani ngaphambi kokuba kubhujiswe izwe? Akazange. Ingabe wabuza uNkulunkulu noma ingabe wayazi ukuthi kwakuzothatha isikhathi esingakanani ukwakha umkhumbi? Nalokho futhi wayengakwazi. Wamane walalela, wezwa, futhi wenza njengoba etsheliwe. Abantu banamuhla bona bahlukile: Ngokushesha nje ngemva kokwembula kolwazi oluthile ezwini likaNkulunkulu, ngokushesha uma bephawula inhlekelele, bayogijimela ekwenzeni okuthile, akunandaba ukuthi lokho kuzodinga ini, bazolungisa abazokudla, abazokuphuza, futhi basebenzise leso sikhathi ukuze bazilungiselele indlela yokuphunyuka lapho kugadla inhlekelele. Okuhle nakakhulu ukuthi manje, izingqondo zabantu “sezikhaliphe” kakhulu. Ngaphansi kwezimo lapho uNkulunkulu zingekho iziyalezo azinikezile, umuntu wayehlela konke ngendlela efanele. Ningalisebenzisa igama elithi “ephelele” ukuze niyichaze. Ngokwalokho uNkulunkulu akushoyo, izinhloso zikaNkulunkulu eziyikho, noma lokho okufunwa uNkulunkulu, akekho onendaba futhi akekho ngisho ozamayo ukukwazisa. Ingabe lowo akuwona umehluko omkhulu phakathi kwabantu banamuhla noNowa?

Kule ndaba elotshiwe kaNowa, ingabe niyayibona ingxenye yesimo sikaNkulunkulu? Ukubekezelela kukaNkulunkulu inkohlakalo yomuntu, inzondo, nobudlova kunemingcele. Lapho efinyelela leyo mingcele, ngeke esabekezela futhi uyoqala ukuhlela umsebenzi Wakhe wokuqondisa necebo elisha, uyoqala ukwenza okufanele akwenze, embule izenzo Zakhe nolunye uhlangothi lwesimo Sakhe. Lesi sinyathelo Sakhe, asikona ukubonisa ukuthi akumele acasulwe umuntu noma ukuthi unegunya elikhulu nentukuthelo, futhi akusona esokubonisa ukuthi angasibhubhisa isintu. Kungenxa yokuthi isimo Sakhe nesiqu Sakhe esingcwele ngeke kusakwazi ukubekezelela lolu hlobo lwesintu ukuba luphile phambi Kwakhe, luphile ekubuseni Wakhe. Lokho kungukuthi, lapho sonke isintu simelene Naye, lapho kungenamuntu angamsindisa emhlabeni wonke, ngeke esakwazi ukubekezelela abantu abanjalo, futhi ngaphandle kokuphazama, uyoqala ukusebenzisa icebo Lakhe—abhubhise lolu hlobo lwesintu. Isenzo esinjalo sikaNkulunkulu sinqunywa isimo Sakhe. Lona umphumela odingekayo, futhi umphumela zonke ezidalwa ezibuswa uNkulunkulu okufanele zihlangabezane nawo. Ingabe lokhu akubonisi ukuthi kule nkathi yamanje, uNkulunkulu usejahe ukuqeda icebo Lakhe futhi asindise abantu afuna ukubasindisa? Ngaphansi kwalezi zimo, yini uNkulunkulu anendaba nayo kakhulu? Akuyona indlela labo abangamlandeli noma abamelene Naye abamphatha ngayo noma abamphika ngayo, noma indlela isintu esimqambela amanga ngayo. Unendaba kuphela nalabo abamlandelayo, abantu afuna ukubasindisa ecebweni Lakhe lokuqondisa, abaphelelisile, nokuthi bakwazile yini ukumanelisa. Ngokwabanye abantu ngaphandle kwalabo abamlandelayo, uyobonakalisa inzondo Yakhe ngokubajezisa. Ngokwesibonelo: ama-tsunami, ukuzamazama komhlaba, ukuqhuma kwentaba-mlilo, njalo njalo. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, ubavikela ngokuphelele labo abamlandelayo, futhi uzobasindisa. Isimo sikaNkulunkulu yilesi: Ngakolunye uhlangothi, abantu afuna ukubaphelelisa angababekezelela kakhulu futhi abe nesineke ngabo, abalinde ngokwezinga angakwazi ngalo; ngakolunye uhlangothi, uNkulunkulu ubazonda kakhulu labo bantu abafana noSathane abangamlandeli futhi abamelana Naye. Nakuba engenandaba nokuthi lezi zinhlobo ezifana noSathane ziyamlandela yini noma ziyamkhonza yini, usabazonda nakuba esababekezelele enhliziyweni Yakhe, futhi njengoba ezoqeda ngalezi zinhlobo ezifana noSathane, usalinde ukuqala kwezinyathelo zomsebenzi wecebo Lakhe lokuqondisa.

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