1. NgokweyabaseKolose 2:4, 8, uSathane uzama kanjani ukuthumba izingqondo zethu?

USATHANE ufuna ukusiyekisa ukukhonza uJehova. Ukuze akwenze lokhu, uzama ukuthonya indlela esicabanga ngayo ukuze athumbe izingqondo zethu asenze sicabange lokho akufunayo. Usebenzisa izinto esizithandayo ukuze asikhohlise asenzise lokho okufunwa nguye.—Funda eyabaseKolose 2:4, 8.

2-3. (a) Kungani kufanele sisinakisise isixwayiso esikweyabaseKolose 2:8? (b) Yini esizoxoxa ngayo kulesi sihloko?

² Ingabe ngempela sisengozini yokukhohliswa uSathane? Impela! Khumbula, uPawulu wayengabhaleli abantu abangewona amaKristu amazwi akweyabaseKolose 2:8. Wayebhalela amaKristu ayegcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele. (Kol. 1:2, 5) Lawo maKristu ayesengozini ngaleso sikhathi futhi thina namuhla sisengozini enkulu nakakhulu. (1 Kor. 10:12) Kungani? USathane ujikijelwe emhlabeni futhi uzama ngamandla akhe onke ukukhohlisa izinceku ezithembekile zikaNkulunkulu. (IsAm. 12:9, 12, 17) Ngaphezu kwalokho, siphila esikhathini lapho abantu ababi nabakhohlisi “besuka kokubi baye kokubi kakhulu.”—2 Thim. 3:1, 13.

³ Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngendlela uSathane asebenzisa ngayo ‘inkohliso eyize’ ukuze azame ukuthonya indlela esicabanga ngayo. Sizoxoxa ‘nangamaqhinga’ akhe amathathu. (Efe. 6:11) Esihlokweni esilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngendlela yokumelana nanoma iliphi ithonya amaqhinga akhe angase abe nalo endleleni esicabanga ngayo. Nokho, ake siqale ngokuxoxa  ngalokho esingakufunda endleleni uSathane akhohlisa ngayo ama-Israyeli ngemva kokuba esengene eZweni Lesithembiso.

4-6. NgokukaDuteronomi 11:10-15, yiluphi ushintsho ezindleleni zokulima ama-Israyeli okwadingeka alwenze lapho engena eZweni Lesithembiso?

⁴ USathane walinga ama-Israyeli wawenza akhonza izithombe. Wakwenza kanjani lokho? Wayazi ukuthi kudingeka athole ukudla, ngakho wasebenzisa lokho ukuze awenzise lokho ayefuna akwenze. Lapho ama-Israyeli engena eZweni Lesithembiso, kwadingeka abe nenye indlela yokuthola ukudla. Ngesikhathi eseGibhithe, ayesebenzisa amanzi oMfula iNayile ukuze anisele emasimini. Nokho, lapho efika eZweni Lesithembiso ayengeke esanisela ngamanzi asemfuleni owawuzolokhu ugeleza njalo, kodwa ayesezoniselelwa yimvula ayezoyithola ngezinkathi ezithile zonyaka kanye namazolo. (Funda uDuteronomi 11:10-15; Isaya 18:4, 5) Ngakho, ama-Israyeli kwadingeka afunde izindlela ezintsha zokulima. Kwakungeke kube lula lokhu ngoba iningi lalawo ayekwazi ukulima lalifele ehlane.

⁵ UJehova wabachazela abantu bakhe ukuthi izimo zase zishintshile. Wabe esenezela isixwayiso esilandelayo, esingase sizwakale singahlobene nokulima: “Ziqapheleni, funa inhliziyo yenu ihungeke, niphambuke nikhulekele abanye onkulunkulu nibakhothamele.” (Dut. 11:16, 17) Kungani uJehova ayebaxwayisa ngokukhulekela onkulunkulu bamanga kuyilapho ayekhuluma ngokufunda izindlela ezintsha zokulima?

⁶ UJehova wayazi ukuthi ama-Israyeli ayezolingelwa ukuba afunde izindlela zokulima kubantu ababengamkhonzi uJehova. Lab’ omakhelwane babo babenolwazi  oluningi kunabo futhi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babengafunda amakhono awusizo kubo, kodwa babengazifaka engozini. Indlela yokucabanga yabalimi baseKhanani yayithonywe ukukhulekela uBhali. Babebheka uBhali njengomnikazi wesibhakabhaka nemvula. UJehova wayengafuni abantu bakhe bakhohliswe izinkolelo ezinjalo ezingamanga. Nokho, ama-Israyeli akhetha ukukhulekela uBhali ngokuphindaphindiwe. (Num. 25:3, 5; AbaHl. 2:13; 1 AmaKh. 18:18) Phawula indlela uSathane awathumba ngayo ama-Israyeli.

7. Ukholo lwama-Israyeli lwavivinywa kanjani lapho engena eZweni Lesithembiso?

⁷ Iqhinga lokuqala uSathane alisebenzisa kwakuwukusizakala ngesifiso esingokwemvelo sokuthola imvula. Imvula yayingavamile ukuna eZweni Lesithembiso ngasekupheleni kuka-Ephreli kuze kube ngoSepthemba unyaka ngamunye. Ukuze abantu bathole ukudla futhi baphile, babedinga imvula eyayivame ukuqala ngawo-Okthoba. USathane wakhohlisa ama-Israyeli wawenza akholelwa ukuthi ukuze athole ukudla, kwakufanele enze izinto ezazenziwa omakhelwane babo ababengamkhonzi uJehova. Lab’ omakhelwane babekholelwa ukuthi kudingeka bagcine amasiko athile ukuze onkulunkulu babo babalethele imvula. Labo ababengenalo ukholo kuJehova babecabanga ukuthi lena kwakuwukuphela kwendlela yokuqeda isomiso, ngakho babenza amasiko alezo zizwe bakhulekele unkulunkulu wamanga uBhali.

8. Yiliphi iqhinga lesibili uSathane alisebenzisa? Chaza.

⁸ USathane wasebenzisa iqhinga lesibili. Wawayenga ngezifiso zokuziphatha okubi. Ezinye izizwe zazikhulekela onkulunkulu bazo ngokwenza izenzo zocansi ezinyanyekayo. Lolu hlobo lokukhulekela lwaluhlanganisa abesilisa nabesifazane ababefeba ethempelini. Ucansi lwabantu bobulili obufanayo nezinye izinhlobo zokuziphatha okubi zazivunyelwa futhi zamukelwa! (Dut. 23:17, 18; 1 AmaKh. 14:24) Lezo zizwe zazikholelwa ukuthi le mikhuba ikhuthaza onkulunkulu bazo ukuba balethe imvula ukuze umhlaba ukhiqize ukudla. Ama-Israyeli amaningi ayeyithanda imikhuba yokuziphatha okubi ngokocansi yalezo zizwe futhi akhetha ukukhulekela onkulunkulu bamanga. Empeleni, nguSathane owayemuke nawo njengezisulu zakhe.

9. NgokukaHoseya 2:16, 17, uSathane wawenza kanjani ama-Israyeli amkhohlwa uJehova?

⁹ USathane wasebenzisa iqhinga lesithathu. Wenza ama-Israyeli amkhohlwa uJehova. Ngezinsuku zomprofethi uJeremiya, uJehova wathi abaprofethi bamanga babenza abantu bakhe bakhohlwe igama laKhe ‘ngenxa kaBhali.’ (Jer. 23:27) Kubonakala sengathi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayeka ukusebenzisa igama likaJehova basebenzisa elikaBhali, elisho “uMnikazi” noma “iNkosi.” Lokhu kwakuzokwenza kube nzima ngama-Israyeli ukuba abone umehluko phakathi kukaJehova noBhali, kwenze kube lula ngawo ukuxuba imikhuba yokukhulekela uBhali nokukhonza uJehova.—Funda uHoseya 2:16, 17.

10. Yimaphi amaqhinga uSathane awasebenzisayo namuhla?

¹⁰ USathane usebenzisa amaqhinga afanayo nanamuhla. Uthumba abantu ngezifiso zabo ezingokwemvelo, ngokukhuthaza ukuziphatha okubi nangokwenza abantu bamkhohlwe uJehova. Ake siqale sixoxe ngaleli qhinga lesithathu.

11. USathane ubenze kanjani abantu bamkhohlwa uJehova?

 ¹¹ USathane wenza abantu bamkhohlwe uJehova. Ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli bakaJesu, abathile ababethi bangamaKristu baqala ukusakaza izimfundiso ezingamanga. (IzE. 20:29, 30; 2 Thes. 2:3) Lezi zihlubuki zaqala ukufundisa amanga ngoNkulunkulu weqiniso. Ngokwesibonelo, zayeka ukusebenzisa igama lakhe emaBhayibhelini azo, zasebenzisa amagama anjengelithi “Nkosi.” Ngokukhipha igama likaNkulunkulu zifake elithi “Nkosi” esikhundleni salo, izihlubuki zakwenza kwaba nzima ngomuntu ofunda iBhayibheli ukuba abone indlela uJehova ahluke ngayo kwamanye “amakhosi” okukhulunywa ngawo emiBhalweni. (1 Kor. 8:5) Zasebenzisa igama elithi “Nkosi” lapho zibhekisela kuJehova nakuJesu, zakwenza kwaba nzima ukuqonda ukuthi uJehova neNdodana yakhe bangabantu ababili abanezikhundla ezingafani. (Joh. 17:3) Lokhu kudideka kwaba negalelo elikhulu ekusungulweni kwemfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu—imfundiso engekho eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho, abaningi bakholelwa ukuthi kuyinto engenakwenzeka ukwazi uNkulunkulu. Amanga aluhlaza lawo!—IzE. 17:27.

12. Inkolo yamanga ikhuthazani, futhi kube namuphi umphumela njengoba kuchazwe kweyabaseRoma 1:28-31?

¹² USathane usiyenga ngezifiso zokuziphatha okubi. Ezinsukwini zama-Israyeli asendulo, uSathane wasebenzisa ukukhulekela kwamanga ukuze akhuthaze ukuziphatha okubi. Nanamuhla wenza okufanayo. Inkolo yamanga ivumela futhi ikhuthaze ukuziphatha okubi. Ngenxa yalokho, abaningi abathi bakhonza uNkulunkulu bayayeka ukuphila ngokuvumelana nezimiso zakhe zokuziphatha. Encwadini ayibhalela abaseRoma, umphostoli uPawulu wachaza umphumela walokhu. (Funda eyabaseRoma 1:28-31.) “Izinto ezingafanele” zihlanganisa zonke izinhlobo zokuziphatha okubi ngokocansi kanye nokuya ocansini kwabantu bobulili obufanayo. (Roma 1:24-27, 32; IsAm. 2:20) Akuve kubalulekile ukuba sinamathele ezimfundisweni zeBhayibheli ezicacile!

13. Yiliphi elinye iqhinga uSathane alisebenzisayo?

¹³ USathane usiyenga ngezifiso ezingokwemvelo. Sinesifiso esingokwemvelo sokufunda  amakhono angasisiza siziphilise futhi sinakekele imindeni yethu. (1 Thim. 5:8) Ngokuvamile, lawo makhono siwafunda ngokuya ezikoleni nangokuba abafundi abakhuthele. Kodwa kumelwe siqaphe. Izikole emazweni amaningi azifundisi abafundi amakhono nje kuphela kodwa zibafundisa namafilosofi abantu. Abafundi bafundiswa ukuthi uNkulunkulu akekho nokuthi bangalihloniphi iBhayibheli. Batshelwa ukuthi imfundiso yokuziphendukela kwemvelo iwukuphela kwencazelo enengqondo yokuthi savelaphi. (Roma 1:21-23) Izimfundiso ezinjalo zimelene ‘nokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu.’—1 Kor. 1:19-21; 3:18-20.

14. Amafilosofi abantu akhuthazani?

¹⁴ Amafilosofi abantu angqubuzana nezimiso zikaJehova. Awazikhuthazi izithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu, kunalokho akhuthaza “imisebenzi yenyama.” (Gal. 5:19-23) Enza abantu baqhoshe futhi ngenxa yalokho abantu baba “abazithandayo.” (2 Thim. 3:2-4) Lezi zimfanelo ziphambene nobumnene nokuthobeka izikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu ezikhuthazwa ukuba zibe nako. (2 Sam. 22:28) Indlela yokucabanga yamanye amaKristu aphishekela imfundo yaseyunivesithi iye yabunjwa ukucabanga kwabantu kunokukaNkulunkulu. Ake sixoxe ngesibonelo esisodwa salokho okungase kwenzeke.

15-16. Yini oyifundayo kulokho okwenzeka komunye udade?

¹⁵ Udade oseneminyaka engu-15 esenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele uthi: “NjengoFakazi obhapathiziwe, ngafunda futhi ngatshelwa ngezingozi zokuphishekela imfundo  yaseyunivesithi, kodwa angizange ngizinake lezo zixwayiso. Ngangicabanga ukuthi leso seluleko asisebenzi kimi.” Iziphi izinselele abhekana nazo? Uthi: “Ngangichitha isikhathi esiningi ezifundweni zami futhi ngimatasa kakhulu, ngingasitholi isikhathi sokuthandaza kuJehova njengoba ngangivame ukwenza, ngihlale ngikhathele, ngingakwazi ukuxoxa nabanye ngeBhayibheli nokulungiselela kahle imihlangano. Lapho ngiqaphela ukuthi ukuphishekela imfundo ephakeme kuyabulimaza ubuhlobo bami noJehova, ngabona ukuthi kufanele ngiyeke ukufunda. Nangempela ngayeka.”

¹⁶ Imfundo ephakeme yakuthinta kanjani ukucabanga kwalo dade? Uyaphendula: “Nginamahloni okuvuma ukuthi imfundo engangiyiphishekela yangifundisa ukugxeka abanye, ikakhulukazi abafowethu nodadewethu, ukulindela okukhulu kakhulu kubo nokuzihlukanisa nabo. Kwangithatha isikhathi eside ukuyiyeka le ndlela yokucabanga. Leso sikhathi sokuphila kwami sangifundisa indlela okuyingozi ngayo ukungazinaki izixwayiso esizinikezwa uBaba wethu osezulwini ngenhlangano yakhe. UJehova ungazi kangcono kunalokho mina engikwaziyo. Ukube nje ngalalela!”

17. (a) Yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza? (b) Sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁷ Zimisele ukungalokothi ube isisulu sokuthunjwa “ngefilosofi nangenkohliso eyize” yezwe likaSathane. Qhubeka umelana namaqhinga kaSathane. (1 Kor. 3:18; 2 Kor. 2:11) Ungamvumeli akwenze umkhohlwe uJehova. Phila ngokuvumelana nezimiso zakhe zokuziphatha eziphakeme. Ungamvumeli uSathane akwenze ungasinaki iseluleko sikaJehova. Kodwa kuthiwani uma uthola ukuthi usuthonywe ukucabanga kwaleli zwe? Isihloko esilandelayo sizosikhombisa indlela iZwi likaNkulunkulu elingasisiza ngayo sigumbuqele imicabango nemikhuba ‘embelwe ngokuqinile.’—2 Kor. 10:4, 5.