To The Word – Day 14

₁Kaloku, mawethu, yikhumbuleni into eyabehlelayo ookhokho bethu ababekhokelwa nguMosis. Xa bebonke babekhuselwe lilifu, baza basinda baluwela uLwandle oluBomvu. ₂Ukungena kwabo kwelo lifu nokuwela kwabo ulwandle kwaba bubungqina bokuba bangabalandeli bakaMosis. ₃Bonke batya ukutya koMoya, ₄baza basela isiselo soMoya. Babesela kwelo liwa likaThixo lalisoloko likho. Lona ke iliwa elo lalatha uKrestu. ₅Kodwa ke nangoko uThixo akaneliswanga luninzi lwabo, ngenxa yaloo nto ke izidumbu zabo zathi saa entlango.

₆Ngoku ke zonke ezi zinto ziyimizekelo kuthi ukuze singanqweneli izinto ezimbi njengabo, ₇futhi singanquli izithixo njengoko yênzayo inxalenye yabo. Kaloku *iziBhalo zithi: “Abantu bahlala phantsi batya basela, baza baphakama badlala.” ₈Masingarheletyi njengokuba babesenjenjalo abanye babo, kwaza ngamini-nye kwafa amawaka angamashumi amabini anesithathu. ₉Masingamlingi uKrestu njengokuba babesenjenjalo abanye babo, baza babulawa ziinyoka. ₁₀Musani ukukrokra njengoko babesenjenjalo abanye babo, waza uThixo wabatshabalalisa.

₁₁Zonke ezi zinto zabahlelayo ziyimizekelo. Zabhalelwa ukuba zibe sisilumkiso kuthi, thina sidla ubomi kumaxesha okugqibela.

₁₂Nabani na ozicingela ukuba umile makalumke angawi. ₁₃Nasiphi na isilingo esikuhlelayo siyinto eqhelekileyo emntwini. Yena ke uThixo, ngokuba ethembekile, akayi kukuyekela ulingwe ngokungaphezu kwamandla akho. Hayi, wosuka akuvulele ikroba lokuphuncula, ukuze ube nako ukunyamezela.

₁₄Nani ke, zihlobo zam, kucezeleni ukunqula izithixo. ₁₅Ndithetha nani njengabantu bengqiqo, ngoko ke yicaluleni ngokwenu le nto ndiyithethayo kuni. ₁₆Xa sidumisa uThixo ngokuthatha indebe engumqondiso weentsikelelo zakhe, ngaba loo nto ayithethi kuthi sinenxaxheba kwigazi likaKrestu? Khona xa siqhekeza isonka, ngaba loo nto ayithethi kuthi sinenxaxheba kumzimba kaKrestu? ₁₇Kuba kaloku sinye qha isonka; nathi nangona sibaninzi nje, simzimba mnye, kuba sonke sabelana ngeso sonka sinye.

₁₈Khanikhe nicinge ngenkqubo yamaJuda. Abo balityayo idini baba nodlelwano noThixo, lo lenzelwa yena eqongeni lamadini. ₁₉Ngaba ke ndithetha ukuthini? Ngaba ndithi makube kukho nto siyiyo isithixo? Okanye makube ndithi idini elenzelwa sona liba yinto enexabiso? ₂₀Hayi, anditsho. Ndithi amadini enziwa ziintlanga akenzelwa Thixo, enzelwa iindimoni. Yaye andifuni nibe nanxaxheba neendimoni. ₂₁Aninako ukusela indebe yeNkosi, niphinde nisele eyeendimoni, ningenakuthatha nxaxheba esithebeni seNkosi, ze niphinde nibe nenxaxheba nakweseendimoni. ₂₂Makube sifuna iNkosi ikhwelete? Sinamandla thina kunayo kakade?

₂₃“Sivumelekile ukwenza nayiphi na into,” kukho abatshoyo. Ewe kunjalo kambe, kodwa azilunganga zonke izinto. Ewe: “Sivumelekile ukwenza nayiphi na into,” kodwa izinto azakhi zonke. ₂₄Makungabikho bani ufuna ukulungelwa yedwa; elowo makakhathalele nokwabanye.

₂₅Ningatya nantoni na eniyithenge esilarheni, ningazidubanga ngakuziphengulula sazela ngemibuzo, ₂₆kuba, njengoko zitshoyo iziBhalo: “Ihlabathi leleNkosi nako konke okukulo.”

₂₇Ukuba nimenywa ngumntu ongelokholwa, nize isimemo eso nisamkele, yityani into ebekwe phambi kwenu, ningazidubi ngokuphengulula isazela ngemibuzo. ₂₈Kodwa ukuba kukho onithele thsuphe ukuba nitya ukutya kwedini, musani ukukutya ke oko kutya, ngenxa yalowo unixeleleyo, nangenxa yesazela. ₂₉Anditsho esenu, ndixela esakhe. “Ke, ingathini inkululeko endinayo yokuzikhethela into emandiyenze ukulawulwa sisazela somnye umntu?” Ubani angabuza atsho, ₃₀aqhube ngelithi: “Ukuba ndiyambulela uThixo ngesabelo sam esidlweni, ndisagxekelwani ngokutya endimbulela ngako uThixo?”

₃₁Nokuba ke nenza ntoni na, nokuba niyatya, nokuba niyasela, yenzelani udumo lukaThixo. ₃₂Ziphatheni ngohlobo lokuba ningaphazamisi bani, nokuba ngumJuda, nokuba ngumGrike, nokuba ngowebandla likaThixo. ₃₃Xelisani mna, mna ndizama ukwanelisa wonke ubani ngento endiyenzayo. Andenzeli kulungelwa kwam phofu, koko ukulungelwa komntu wonke, ukuze bonke basindiswe.

₁Umbingeleli omkhulu wabhekisa kuStefano wathi: “Khanyela watyholwa!”

₂Waza uStefano wathetha nentlanganiso wenjenje: “Mawethu nani bobawo, khanindiphulaphule. UThixo, eyona ngangalala, wabonakala kukhokho wethu uAbraham ngexesha awayehlala eMesopotami, ngaphambi kokuba aye kuhlala eHaran, ₃wathi kuye: ‘Suka, umke apha, uzishiye izizalwana zakho, kunye nelizwe lakowenu, uye kumhlaba endiya kukubonisa wona.’ ₄Waza ke ngoko wawushiya umhlaba wamaKaledi, waya kuhlala eHaran. Emveni kokufa kukayise, uThixo wathi uAbraham makafudukele kweli lizwe nikulo nani ngoku. ₅Ngelo xesha uThixo akamnikanga nendawana le uAbraham kulo mhlaba, ukuba ayime: hayi, nditsho nomhlathana lo womhlaba! Kodwa kananjalo uThixo wamthembisa uAbraham ukuba uya kumnika loo mhlaba, awume yena nezizukulwana zakhe emva kwakhe. Ukusenza kwakhe uThixo esi sithembiso uAbraham wayengekazali mntwana. ₆UThixo wathetha ngolu hlobo kuye: ‘Isizukulwana sakho siya kufuduka, siye kuhlala elizweni lasemzini, apho siya kuba ngamakhoboka, sibandezeleke iminyaka engamakhulu amane. ₇Kodwa mna ndiya kubagweba abo bantu siphantsi kwabo; kuze kuthi emva kwelo thuba, babuye kwelo lizwe, beze kundikhonza kule ndawo.’ ₈Waza uThixo wamnika ulwaluko uAbraham ukutywina loo mnqophiso. UAbraham ke wamolùsa uIsake ngosuku lwesibhozo ezelwe, waza ngokukwanjalo uIsake wamolùsa uYakobi, noYakobi wenza kwaloo nto kookhokho abalishumi elinambini.

₉“Oobawo bammonela uJosefu, bamthengisa waba likhoboka eJiputa. Kodwa uThixo waba naye, ₁₀wamweza kuzo zonke iinkxwaleko awaba kuzo. Akusiwa phambi kokumkani waseJiputa, uThixo wamenza wathandeka uJosefu, wampha nobulumko. Ukumkani wammisela uJosefu wayirhuluneli yelaseJiputa nekomkhulu lakhe. ₁₁Kwabakho indlala enkulu kulo lonke elaseJiputa nelaseKanana, ababi nakufumana nokutya oku ookhokho, ikati ilele eziko. ₁₂Akuva uYakobi ukuba eJiputa kukho ukudla, wabathumela okokuqala oonyana bakhe; ngookhokho kuthi ke abo. ₁₃Kutyelelo lwabo lwesibini uJosefu wazazisa kubantakwabo, waza wamxelela ukumkani ngamawabo lawo. ₁₄UJosefu wamema uyise uYakobi ukuba aye kuhlala eJiputa nomzi wakhe wonke. Babengamashumi asixhenxe anesihlanu bebonke. ₁₅Wehla ke uYakobi, waya eJiputa, apho yena nookhokho bethu bafela khona. ₁₆Imizimba yabo yasiwa eShekem, apho yangcwatywa kwingcwaba elathengwa nguAbraham koonyana bakaHamori.

₁₇“Ekusondeleni kwexesha lokuba uThixo asizalisekise isithembiso awasenza kuAbraham, abantu bakuthi ababeseJiputa babesebande kakhulu. ₁₈Ekuhambeni kwethuba kwavela kumkani wumbi, owayengamazi uJosefu, wangumlawuli weJiputa. ₁₉Wabenzela ubutshijolo abantu bakowethu, wabakhohlakalela ookhokho bethu, ebanyanzela ukuba babalahle abantwana babo, ukuze babe sesichengeni sokufa. ₂₀Wazalwa ngeli xesha ke uMosis engumntwana omhle kakhulu. Wakhuliselwa ekhayeni lakhe iinyanga ezintathu; ₂₁waza wathi naye akulahlwa, wacholwa yintombi yokumkani waseJiputa, yazikhulisela yena. ₂₂Wabufunda bonke ubulumko bamaJiputa, waza waba yingcaphephe ekuthetheni nasekwenzeni.

₂₃“Akuba neminyaka engamashumi amane uMosis, watyelela amawabo amaSirayeli. ₂₄Wabona uwabo edlakathiswa ngumJiputa, waza wamnceda, waphindezela ngokumbulala umJiputa lowo. ₂₅Wayecinga ukuba amawabo oqonda ukuba uThixo ufuna ukusebenzisa yena ekuwakhululeni, kodwa akazange aqonde. ₂₆Ngenye imini wagagana namaSirayeli amabini esilwa, waza wazama ukuwohlula, esithi kuwo: ‘Khangelani, madoda, niyazalana; kungani ukuba nilwe ke?’ ₂₇Kodwa lo wayevuyelela omnye, watyhalela uMosis bucala, wabuza wathi: ‘Ngubani okwenze induna nomgwebi phezu kwethu? ₂₈Nam ufuna ukundibulala njengalaa mJiputa umbuleleyo izolo?’ ₂₉Akuyiva le ntetho uMosis, wabaleka, waya kuhlala kumhlaba waseMidiyan. Apho wazala oonyana ababini.

₃₀“Emva kwamashumi amane eminyaka, kwabonakala isithunywa seNkosi kuMosis sisemalangatyeni etyholo elivuthayo entlango ngakwintaba yeSinayi. ₃₁Lo mbono wammangalisa uMosis, wasondela etyholweni apho ukuba aliqwalasele. Suka weva ilizwi leNkosi lisithi: ₃₂‘Mna ndinguThixo wookhokho bakho, uThixo ka-Abraham, kaIsake, noYakobi.’ UMosis wankwantya kukoyika, akabi saba nako ukulikhangela. ₃₃INkosi yathi kuye: ‘Khulula iimbadada ezo, kuba indawo le umi kuyo ingcwele. ₃₄Ndiyibonile ingcinezelo nentlupheko yabantu bam eJiputa; ndisivile isikhalo sabo; ke ngoku ndize kubahlangula. Yiza ke, ndikuthume eJiputa.’

₃₅“Lo ngulaa Mosis ambukulayo amaSirayeli esithi: ‘Ngubani okwenze induna nomgwebi phezu kwethu?’ Kanti ke lo Mosis unguyena mntu uThixo amthume ukuba abe ngumlawuli nomsindisi, esebenzisa isithunywa sezulu eso uMosis wasibona etyholweni elivuthayo. ₃₆Wabakhokela ke abantu ukuphuma eJiputa, wenza imiqondiso nemimangaliso, eJiputa nakuLwandle oluBomvu, kananjalo nasentlango, iminyaka emashumi mane. ₃₇Nguloo Mosis wathi kumaSirayeli: ‘UThixo uya kunithumela *umshumayeli ophuma kwalapha kumawenu njengam.’ ₃₈Nguye lowa wayekunye nebandla likaSirayeli entlango. Wayekhona apho nookhokho bethu, ekwakunye nesithunywa sezulu esasithetha naye entabeni yeSinayi. Wamkela kuThixo imiyalelo ephilileyo ukuba ayidlulisele kuthi.

₃₉“Kananjalo ookhokho bethu bala ukumthobela, bambukula, besithi kubhetele baphindele kwaseJiputa. ₄₀Kungoko bathi kuAron: ‘Senzele *oothixo bokusikhokela, kuba asiyazi into emngeneyo laa Mosis wasikhupha eJiputa.’ ₄₁Kungeli thuba ke apho baziqingqela umfanekiso wethole, baza balenzela umbingelelo, benza netheko lokuzivuyisa ngenxa yaloo nto yayenziwe zizandla zabo. ₄₂Ngenxa yaloo nto uThixo wabafulathela, wabayeka ukuba banqule iinkwenkwezi zezulu, njengoko kubhaliweyo encwadini *yabashumayeli kwathiwa:

₄₄“Ookhokho bethu bona babenaso entlango *isibingelelo esingqina ubukho bukaThixo. Sasakhiwe ngokomfanekiselo lowo uThixo wawubonisa uMosis. ₄₅Emva koko ookhokho bethu abasamkelayo isibingelelo kooyise, bahamba naso, kwada kwaza kuthi gaa ngexesha likaYoshuwa, xeshikweni bawuthathayo umhlaba wezizwe abazigxothelwa nguThixo. Sahlala ke isibingelelo eso kwada kwayimihla kaDavide. ₄₆Yena wathandeka kuThixo, waza wacela ukuba uThixo amvumele akhele inzala kaYakobi indlu yokunqula. ₄₇Kodwa yona indlu leyo yakhiwa nguSolomon.

₄₈“Phofu yena uThixo uPhezukonke akahlali zindlwini zakhiwe ngabantu; njengoko atshoyo umshumayeli:

₅₁“Bantundini baneenkani, abantliziyo ziqaqadekileyo, hayi ubuthulu benu emyalelweni kaThixo! Nifuz' ooyihlo! Nani nasoloko nimgiba uMoya oyiNgcwele! ₅₂Nguwuphi umshumayeli abangamtshutshisanga ooyihlo? Bazibulala izigidimi zikaThixo, ezathi kwangaphambili zakuvakalisa ukuza kwalowo uliLungisa. Kungokunje nimngcatshile namgebenga. ₅₃Umthetho kaThixo owaziswa zizithunywa zezulu, wamkelwa nini kanye – kodwa anikawuthobeli unangoku!”

₅₄Athi amalungu *eBhunga akuziva ezi zinto zithethwa nguStefano, acaphuka kangangokuba ade abe ngathi osuka amthi qwenge-qwenge. ₅₅Kodwa uStefano yena ezele nguMoya oyiNgcwele, wakhangela ezulwini, waza wabubona ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo, noYesu emi ewongeni ngakuThixo. ₅₆Waqhuba wathi: “Khawukhangele! Amazulu ndiwabona evulekile, *noNyana woLuntu emile ngasekunene kukaThixo!”

₅₇Kwesi sithuba basuka bazivingca iindlebe zabo, bahlahlamba kwathi nkxwe, baza basuka indulumbane phezu kwakhe. ₅₈Bamkhuphela ngaphandle kwedolophu, bamxuluba ngamatye. Abamangaleli bakaStefano bazigcinisa iimpahla zabo kumfana ogama linguSawule. ₅₉Bemxuluba njalo ngamatye, uStefano yena wakhala eNkosini esithi: “Nkosi Yesu, wamkele umoya wam!” ₆₀Waguqa ngamadolo, wadanduluka wathi: “Nkosi, musa ukubabeka tyala ngesi sono!” Akukhov' ukutsho, wafa ke.

₁Ukukholwa ke kukuqiniseka ngezinto esinethemba lazo; kukwakukuqiniseka nangobukho bezinto esingaziboniyo. ₂Abantu bamandulo bagqwesa ngenxa yokuthembela kwabo kuThixo.

₃Ngokholo siyaqonda ukuba indalo yavela ngelizwi likaThixo, zaza izinto ezibonakalayo zabakho kungekho nto ibonakalayo adala ngayo.

₄Ngokholo lagqwesa kuThixo elika-Abheli idini kunelikaKayin. Ngokholo uAbheli wamkelwa nguThixo waba lilungisa, kuba uThixo ngokwakhe wakholiswa ngumnikelo wakhe. Ngako ukukholwa kwakhe ke, naxa afileyo nje uAbheli, usathetha.

₅Ngokholo uInoki wathwetyulwa engakhange afe. *IziBhalo zithi: “Akazange aziwe bani apho akhoyo, kuba wayethathwe nguThixo.” Futhi ziyangqina iziBhalo ukuba uInoki wamkholisa uThixo ngaphambi kokuba athathwe. ₆Lungekho ke ukholo akukho ukumkholisa uThixo. Kaloku wonke ubani ozayo kuye kufuneka akholwe ukuba ukho uThixo, yaye uyabavuza abo bamlangazelelayo.

₇Ngokholo uNowa, xa wayexelelwa nguThixo ngezinto ezaziza kuhla, waphulaphula wakha inqanawa, walusindisa usapho lwakhe. Ngokholo lwakhe wabudandalazisa ubugwenxa behlabathi, waza wenziwa ilungisa nguThixo ngenxa yokuthembela kwakhe kuye.

₈Ngokholo uAbraham walusabela ubizo lokuya kuma kwilizwe elalithenjiswe nguThixo kuye nakwinzala yakhe. Walishiya elakowabo, engazi nokuba makabheke ngaphi na. ₉Ngokholo wahlala engumphambukeli kwilizwe lesithembiso. Wayehlala ezintenteni. Benjenjalo nooIsake noYakobi abakwaziindlamafa zeso sithembiso. ₁₀Kaloku wayenxubile elindele elo lizwe liziseko zingagungqiyo, lakhiwe nguThixo.

₁₁Ngokholo nkqu noSara owayengazali, naxa wayeselegugile nje, wafumana amandla, wakhawula, kuba wathemba ukuba uThixo lo uthembisileyo wosigcina isithembiso sakhe. ₁₂Yiyo ke loo nto kuthe kwindoda enye, naxa yayiselifana nofileyo nje kukwaluphala, kwavela inzala ebuninzi bungangeenkwenkwezi, ingenakubalwa okwentlabathi elunxwemeni lolwandle.

₁₃Bonke aba bantu bafa benokholo. Babengekazixhamli iziqhamo zesithembiso. Kodwa naxa zazikude babezibona, bezilangazelela, bevuma ukuba bona baziindwendwe nje ezidlulayo kweli lizwe. ₁₄Abantu abenjenje ukuthetha kucace mhlophe ukuba bafuna elakowabo, ₁₅bengalikhumbuli ilizwe abalishiyileyo. Kaloku ngebabebuyele ukuba kwakunjalo. ₁₆Koko sibabona benxubele ilizwe elihle – izulu. Yiyo ke loo nto angenazintloni uThixo xa kuthiwa unguThixo wabo; kaloku ubalungiselele isixeko.

₁₇Ngokholo uAbraham wamnikela uIsake akuvavanywa nguThixo. Lo Abraham zazenziwe kuye izithembiso, nguye kanye lo wayeselemnikela unyana okwakukuphela kwakhe; ₁₈lo kanye kwakuthiwe ngaye: “Inzala yakho yokwaziwa ngomlibo kaIsake.” ₁₉Kaloku uAbraham yena wayeqonda ukuba uThixo unako ukubavusa abafileyo – ngathi ke uThixo wamvusa kwabafileyo noIsake.

₂₀Ngokholo uIsake walisikelela ikamva looYakobi noEsawu.

₂₁Ngokholo uYakobi wabasikelela bonke ngabanye, ngaphambi kokuba abhubhe, oonyana bakaJosefu. Wangqiyama ngomsimelelo wakhe, wanqula uThixo.

₂₂Xa wayeselukhukweni lokufa, uJosefu ngokholo wayolela ngemfuduko yamaSirayeli eJiputa, wayaleza namathambo akhe.

₂₃Ngokholo abazali bakaMosis bamfihla iinyanga ezintathu emva kokuba ezelwe. Kaloku wayelusana oluthandekayo, baza ke àbasithobela isimiselo sekumkani ngokwenza loo nto.

₂₄Ngokholo, akuba mdala uMosis, akazange avume ukuba kuthiwe ungunyana wentombi yokumkani waseJiputa. ₂₅Wakhetha ukuhlupheka kunye nabantu bakaThixo kunokuba axhamle isono nokuba ngumzuzwana nje. ₂₆Ingcikivo kaKrestu wayithatha njengento ebaluleke ngaphezu kwabo bonke ubutyebi baseJiputa, kuba wayenethemba lomvuzo ozayo.

₂₇Ngokholo uMosis wayishiya iJiputa, phofu kungengakuba wayesoyika umsindo wekumkani. Wayefunzele phambili ngokungathi wayembona uThixo ongabonwayo. ₂₈Ngokholo wamisela isidlo *sePasika. Wayalela ukuba makutshizwe imigubasi ngegazi, khon' ukuze isithunywa sokufa singawatshabalalisi amazibulo amaSirayeli.

₂₉Ngokholo amaSirayeli aluwela uLwandle oluBomvu ngokungathi ahamba emhlabeni owomileyo, kodwa wona amaJiputa eyela akuwalinganisa.

₃₀Lukholo olwadiliza iindonga zeJeriko, akuba amaSirayeli ezijikeleze iintsuku zasixhenxe. ₃₁Lukholo olwasindisa ihenyukazi uRahabhi ekutshabalaleni kunye nabo bangamthobeliyo uThixo, kuba lona lazamkela ngobubele iintlola.

₃₂Ndibalisa ntoni na? Lingaphela tu ixesha ndithetha ngoGidiyon, noBharaki, noSamson, uJafta, noDavide, uSamweli, *nabashumayeli bamandulo. ₃₃Ngokholo bona babhukuqa izikumkani, benza ubulungisa, bazuza izinto ezazithenjiswe nguThixo. Babevingca imilomo yeengonyama ezigqumayo, ₃₄bacime imililo edwanguzayo, basinde ekufeni ngekrele. Baphiwa amandla xa babengenawo. Babengamagorha emfazweni; babezichitha iintshaba zibe ziintsalu. ₃₅Ngokholo abafazi babebuyiselwa abafileyo babo bevuswe ekufeni. Abanye bâla ukukhululwa, bafa ngokungxwelerhwa, khon' ukuze bavukele kobona bomi. ₃₆Bambi babesenziwa intlekisa, bekatswa, bekhonkxwa ngamatyathanga, bevalelwa entolongweni. ₃₇Babekhandwa ngamatye, besarhwa kubini, bebulawa ngekrele. Babehamba benxibe iimfele zeegusha nezikhumba zeebhokhwe, beswele, betshutshiswa, bephethwe gadalala. ₃₈Babengafanelanga ukuhlala kweli hlabathi linje, ngenxa yokulunga kwabo. Babezizibhadu-bhadu ezazihamba zihlala koozintlango nasezintabeni, koomiqolomba nasemingxunyeni phantsi komhlaba.

₃₉Bayakhunjulwa bonke ngabanye aba, ngenxa yokugqwesa kokholo lwabo. Kambe ke abazizuzanga izinto ezathenjiswayo nguThixo, ₄₀kuba kaloku uThixo ube nacebo limbi lilungileyo: uthande ukuba bangazixhamli izithembiso zakhe ngaphandle kwethu.