1, 2. Live lashintja kanjani kusukela emalangeni aNowa, futsi Abrama wativa njani?

ABRAMA wabuka etulu, emehlo akhe atse njo embhoshongweni labewubona asedolobheni lakubo i-Uri. * Bekunemsindvo futsi kushunca intfutfu. Baphristi bankulunkulu wenyeti besebaphindze benta imihlatjelo yabo. Asewumbone Abrama agucuka, anikina inhloko, futsi aswaca. Njengobe alibangise ekhaya endlula ticumbi tebantfu emgwacweni, kungenteka kutsi abecabanga ngekukhonta titfombe lobekugcwele e-Uri. Lolo hlobo lwekukhonta lolungcolile beselwandze kakhulu emhlabeni kusukela emalangeni aNowa.

² Nowa wafa eminyakeni lemibili ngembikwekutsi kutalwe Abrama. Ngesikhatsi Nowa nemndeni wakhe baphuma emkhunjini ngemuva kwaZamcolo, wentela Jehova Nkulunkulu umhlatjelo, futsi Nkulunkulu waveta umushi wenkosazana. (Gen. 8:20; 9:12-14) Ngaleso sikhatsi kuphela kwenkholo lebeyikhona emhlabeni kwakuyinkholo lehlantekile. Kodvwa-ke njengobe besekuphila situkulwane selishumi ngemuva kwaNowa, futsi sigcwala emhlabeni wonkhe, inkholo lehlantekile beseyiyindlala. Kuyo yonkhe indzawo, bantfu bebakhonta bonkulunkulu bemanga. Ngisho naThera, uyise wa-Abrama abekhonta titfombe, futsi kungenteka kutsi abetakha.​—Josh. 24:2.

3. Njengobe kuphila kwa-Abrama kuchubeka, yini leyamenta wehluka, futsi singafundzani kuloko?

³ Abrama yena abehlukile. Njengobe kuphila kwakhe kuchubeka, wehluka kakhulu ngenca yekukholwa kwakhe. Ecinisweni, ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi umphostoli Pawula waphefumulelwa kutsi ambite ngekutsi ‘unguyise wabo bonkhe lababa nekukholwa’! (Fundza Roma 4:11.) Asesibone kutsi yini Abrama layenta kute abe nekukholwa. Natsi singafundza lokunyenti mayelana nendlela lesingakhula ngayo ekukholweni.

4, 5. Ngubani lokungenteka kutsi Abrama wafundza kuye ngaJehova, futsi kungani singaphetsa kanjalo?

⁴ Abrama wafundza kanjani ngaJehova Nkulunkulu? Siyati kutsi Jehova abenato tinceku letetsembekile emhlabeni ngalawo malanga. Shemi abengulenye yato. Nanobe abengasiyo indvodzana lendzala emadvodzaneni aNowa lamatsatfu, nakukhulunywa ngawo uvame kubalwa kucala. Mhlawumbe loku kwakubangelwa kutsi Shemi abenekukholwa lokukhulu. * Esikhatsini lesitsite ngemuva kwaZamcolo, nakakhuluma ngaJehova, Nowa watsi: ‘UnguNkulunkulu waShemi.’ (Gen. 9:26) Shemi abemhlonipha Jehova kanye nekukhonta lokuhlantekile.

⁵ Abrama abemati yini Shemi? Kungenteka kutsi abemati. Asewumcabange Abrama asengumfana. Kwammangalisa kakhulu kwati kutsi abenakhokho lobesaphile iminyaka lengetulu kwalengemakhulu lamane. Shemi abebubonile bubi bangaphambi kwaZamcolo, wabona ngesikhatsi Zamcolo uhlanta umhlaba, wabona lapho bantfu bacala kwandza emhlabeni, futsi wasibona nesikhatsi lesibi sekuvukela kwaNimrodi eMbhoshongweni waseBhabheli. Shemi abetsembekile futsi akazange ahlanganyele kulokuvukela, ngako ngesikhatsi Jehova asanganisa lulwimi lwalabo lebebakha umbhoshongo, Shemi nemndeni wakhe bachubeka bakhuluma lulwimi lwekucala lwebantfu, lobekululwimi lebelukhulunywa nguNowa. Lomndeni waShemi bewuhlanganisa na-Abrama. Ngako-ke Abrama wakhula amhlonipha kakhulu Shemi. Ngetulu kwaloko, esikhatsini lesidze sekuphila kwa-Abrama, Shemi abesolo aphila. Ngako kungenteka kutsi loko Abrama lakufundza ngaJehova wakutfola kuShemi.

6. (a) Abrama waveta njani kutsi abetfole sifundvo lesikhulu kuZamcolo? (b) Bekunjani kuphila kwabo-Abrama naSarayi?

⁶ Kunobe ngukuphi, Abrama wacabangisisa ngesifundvo lesikhulu labesitfole kuZamcolo. Watimisela kuhamba naNkulunkulu njengobe Nowa enta. Kungako Abrama akulahla kukhonta titfombe futsi wahlala ehlukile e-Uri, ngisho nasemndenini wakubo. Kodvwa ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi watfola umfati lotsandzekako. Washada naSarayi, umfati lobekangahambi embili ngebuhle nje kuphela, kodvwa nangekuba nekukholwa lokukhulu kuJehova. * Nanobe bebete bantfwana,  asingabati kutsi bebajabula kakhulu ngekukhonta Jehova ndzawonye. Bakhulisa Loti, indvodzana yemnakabo-Abrama lebeyiyintsandzane.

7. Balandzeli baJesu kufanele bamlingise njani Abrama?

⁷ Abrama akazange amshiye Jehova kute akhonte titfombe tase-Uri. Yena naSarayi bebatimisele kuhlala behlukile emkhatsini webantfu lebebakhonta titfombe. Kute natsi sibe nekukholwa kweliciniso, kufanele sitimisele kwenta lokufanako. Kufanele sihlale sehlukile. Jesu watsi balandzeli bakhe bebangeke babe ‘yincenye yelive,’ futsi ngenca yaloko, live belitawubatondza. (Fundza Johane 15:19.) Nangabe kwenteka uva buhlungu bekungemukelwa ngumndeni wakho nobe bantfu basemmangweni wakini ngenca yesincumo sakho sekukhonta Jehova, khumbula kutsi awusiwedvwa. Uhamba naNkulunkulu, njengobe kwenta Abrama naSarayi.

8, 9. (a) Yini leyenteka ku-Abrama labengeke ayikhohlwe? (b) Bewutsini umlayeto waJehova lobewuya ku-Abrama?

⁸ Ngalelinye lilanga, kwenteka intfo Abrama labengeke ayikhohlwe. Watfola umlayeto lobewuvela kuJehova Nkulunkulu. LiBhayibheli alisitjeli lokunyenti ngaloku, kodvwa liyasho kutsi “Nkulunkulu wenkhatimulo” wabonakala kulendvodza leyetsembekile. (Fundza Imisebenti 7:2, 3.) Mhlawumbe ngengilosi, Abrama wanambitsa inkhatimulo lemangalisako yeMbusi wendzawo yonkhe. Singacabanga nje ngendlela Abrama lamangala ngayo nakabona umehluko lokhona emkhatsini waNkulunkulu lophilako netitfombe letingaphili lebetikhontwa bantfu bangesikhatsi sakhe.

⁹ Bewutsini lomlayeto waJehova lobewuya ku-Abrama? “Phuma eveni lakini nasetihlotjeni takho, uye eveni lengitakukhombisa lona.” Jehova akazange asho kutsi nguliphi lelive labekhuluma ngalo, kodvwa wamane nje watsi utawumkhombisa lona. Kwekucala lobekufanele Abrama akwente, kwakukushiya live lakubo netihlobo takhe. Ngekwelisiko laseMphumalanga Lesekhatsi yasendvulo, umndeni bewubaluleke kakhulu. Kutsi umuntfu ashiye tihlobo takhe futsi ahambe aye khashane bekutsatfwa njengentfo lembi kakhulu; labanye bebaze batsi kubi kakhulu kwendlula kufa!

10. Kungani kwaba kutidzela ngabo-Abrama naSarayi kutsi bashiye likhaya labo lebelise-Uri?

¹⁰ Bekudzingeka kutsi Abrama atidzele kute ashiye live lakubo. I-Uri beyilidolobha leliphitsitelako nalelinjingile. (Fundza libhokisi lelitsi  “Lidolobha Bo-Abrama NaSarayi Labalishiya.”) Nakumbiwa kwentiwa lucwaningo kutfolakele kutsi e-Uri yasendvulo bekunemakhaya akanokusho; lamanye abenemakamelo lamanyenti labesetjentiswa ngemalunga emndeni netisebenti, futsi onkhe abenemabala layiliwe. Bekunetintfo lebetenta kuphila kube melula lebetifaka  ekhatsi imitfombo yemanti, tindlu tangasese, nekulahlwa kwadodi. Khumbula nekutsi bo-Abrama naSarayi besebakhulile; kungenteka Abrama abeseminyakeni yabo-70 budzala, Sarayi yena aseminyakeni yabo-60 budzala. Abrama abefuna kutsi Sarayi aphile kahle futsi anakekeleke, lokuyintfo nobe nguyiphi indvodza lekahle leyifunela umkayo. Asewubacabange bacoca ngalesabelo, futsi cabanga ngemibuto kanye nekukhatsateka lokungenteka baba nako. Kufanele kutsi Abrama wajabula kakhulu lapho Sarayi asemukela lesabelo. Njenga-Abrama, Sarayi abetimisele kushiya imphilo lemnandzi labeyiphila.

11, 12. (a) Ngumaphi emalungiselelo netincumo lebekufanele batente ngembikwekutsi bahambe e-Uri? (b) Ungakuchaza kanjani loko lokwenteka ngelilanga labahamba ngalo?

¹¹ Ngemuva kwekwenta sincumo, bo-Abrama naSarayi bebanemsebenti lomnyenti lobekufanele bawente. Bekufanele bapakishe futsi bahlele tintfo letinyenti. Bebatibuta ngekutsi yini lebebatayiphatsa kuloluhambo loluya endzaweni labangayati, nekutsi yini labatawuyishiya. Lobekubaluleke kakhulu bekutihlobo tabo. Bebatawukwenta njani ngaThera labesamdzala? Bakhetsa kutsi bamtsatse futsi bamnakekele endleleni. Kungenteka kutsi naye wavuma ngenhlitiyo yonkhe ngobe lokulandzisa kusitjela kutsi njengenhloko yemndeni, watsatsa umndeni wakhe baphuma e-Uri. Kufanele kutsi abesakuyekelile kukhonta titfombe. Loti, indvodzana yemnakabo Abrama naye abetawuhamba nabo.​—Gen. 11:31.

¹² Ekugcineni lefika lilanga lekutsi bahambe. Ngemehlo engcondvo asewubone labantfu sebahlangana ngephandle kwelidolobha nangale kwemsele lomkhulu wase-Uri. Emakamela netimbongolo abetfwaliswe imitfwalo, imihlambi ime ngemumo, emalunga emndeni netisebenti sebakulungele kuhamba, futsi bonkhe besebalindzele loko lobekutawulandzela. * Kungenteka kutsi bonkhe babuka Abrama, balindzele kutsi abatjele nasekufike sikhatsi sekuhamba. Ekugcineni lesikhatsi lebebasilindzele sefika futsi bahamba, bayishiya unomphela i-Uri.

13. Lamuhla, tinceku letinyenti taJehova tiwubonisa njani umoya lofana newa-Abrama naSarayi?

¹³ Lamuhla, tinceku taJehova letinyenti tikhetsa kutfutsa tiye lapho kunesidzingo lesikhulu sebashumayeli beMbuso. Labanye bakhetsa kufundza lolunye lulwimi kute bandzise umsebenti wabo. Labanye bona bakhetsa kwetama lolunye luhlobo lwekushumayela labangakaze balwetame futsi labakutfola kulukhuni kulwenta. Kwenta tincumo letinjalo kudzinga kutidzela, lokusho kulungela kulahlekelwa tintfo letitsite. Uyancomeka umoya lonjalo, futsi uyafana newabo-Abrama naSarayi. Nangabe sinekukholwa lokunjalo, singaciniseka  kutsi Jehova utawuhlala asinika lokunyenti kakhulu kunaloko lesingamnika kona. Akwenteki ehluleke kubanika umvuzo labo labanekukholwa. (Heb. 6:10; 11:6) Wakwenta yini loko ku-Abrama?

14, 15. Belunjani luhambo lolusuka e-Uri luya eHarani, futsi yini lokungenteka yabangela Abrama kutsi ahlale eHarani sikhashana?

¹⁴ Kancane kancane, labantfu bebasolo bachubeka neluhambo lwabo. Singabacabanga bo-Abrama naSarayi bashintjana, lomunye ahle agibela kulesilwane kantsi lomunye ahambe ngetinyawo, futsi njengobe bacoca bekuvakala nemsindvo wetinsimbi lebetilenga etintsanjeni lebebabophe ngato letilwane. Kancane kancane, ngisho nalabo labebangati kangako ngekutsatsa luhambo bakwetayela kumisa nekudzilita emathende kanye nekusita Thera labesamdzala kutsi ahlaliswe kahle etikwelikamela nobe embongolweni. Bachubeka bahamba baya ngasenyakatfo lesenshonalanga, bagudla uMfula iYufrathe. Kwendlula emalanga, nawo aba ngemaviki solo bahamba.

¹⁵ Ekugcineni, ngemuva kwekuhamba emakhilomitha langaba ngu-960, befika etindlini letimise kwaboguca sithantaze, letiseHarani, lokulidolobha lelinotsile lebelisendzaweni lapho kuhlangana khona umzila wetekutsengiselana webaseMphumalanga nebaseNshonalanga. Bafika bema lapho, futsi bahlala sikhashana. Kungenteka Thera abesaguge kakhulu kutsi angachubeka neluhambo.

16, 17. (a) Ngusiphi sivumelwane lesamangalisa Abrama? (b) Jehova wambusisa njani Abrama ngesikhatsi aseseHarani?

 ¹⁶ Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Thera wafa aneminyaka lengu-205. (Gen. 11:32) Abrama wadvudvuteka kakhulu ngaleso sikhatsi sekushonelwa, ngobe Jehova waphindze wakhuluma naye. Waphindze washo loko labekusho ku-Abrama ngesikhatsi asese-Uri, futsi wachaza tetsembiso labetentile. Abrama abetawuba “sive lesikhulu,” futsi yonkhe imindeni lesemhlabeni beyitawutfola tibusiso ngaye. (Fundza Genesisi 12:2, 3.) Lesivumelwane Nkulunkulu lasenta naye sammangalisa Abrama futsi samkhutsata kutsi achubeke nendlela.

¹⁷ Kodvwa-ke ngaleso sikhatsi besetitinyenti tintfo lebekufanele ahambe nato ngobe Jehova abembusisile ngesikhatsi aseseHarani. Kulandzisa kusitjela ngato tonkhe ‘timphahla tabo lebesebatigcogcile, netisebenti lebesebatitfole eHarani.’ (Gen. 12:5) Kute abe sive, Abrama abetawudzinga kuba netintfo letinyenti kanye netisebenti, lokungumndeni lomkhulu. Jehova akahlali enta tinceku takhe tinjinge, kodvwa utinika nobe yini letiyidzingako kute tifeze intsandvo yakhe. Njengobe abesatfole emandla, Abrama wachubeka ahamba nebantfu bakhe aya eveni langalati.

18. (a) Abrama wefika nini esikhatsini lesibaluleke kakhulu emlandvweni wekusebentelana kwaNkulunkulu nebantfu baKhe? (b) Ngutiphi letinye tintfo letibalulekile letenteka ngaNisan 14 eminyakeni leyalandzela? (Fundza libhokisi lelitsi “ Lilanga Lelibalulekile Emlandvweni WeliBhayibheli.”)

¹⁸ Ngemuva kwekuhamba emalanga lambalwa basuka eHarani, basondzela eKhakhemishi, lapho bantfu labanyenti bebavame kuyewela khona iYufrathe. Mhlawumbe kukulendzawo lapho Abrama efika khona esikhatsini lesibaluleke kakhulu emlandvweni wekusebentelana kwaNkulunkulu nebantfu baKhe. Kungenteka kutsi kwakungu-1943 B.C.E., ngelilanga lesi-14 lenyanga leyagcina ibitwa ngekutsi nguNisan, lapho Abrama ewela khona lomfula akanye nalabo labehamba nabo. (Eks. 12:40-43) Ngaseningizimu kwakunalelive Jehova labetsembise kulikhombisa Abrama. Ngalelo langa, sivumelwane Nkulunkulu labesente na-Abrama sacala kusebenta.

19. Setsembiso Jehova lasenta ku-Abrama besikhuluma ngani, futsi kungenteka samkhumbutani?

¹⁹ Abrama wabheka ngaseningizimu yalelive, futsi bema ngasetihlahleni letinkhulu  taseMore, edvute naseShekhemu. Kuleyo ndzawo, Jehova waphindze wakhuluma na-Abrama. Lesetsembiso Nkulunkulu lasenta ngalesikhatsi besimayelana nentalo lebeyitawuhlala kulelive. Abrama wacabanga yini ngesiphrofetho Jehova labekhulume ngaso e-Edeni, leso lesasikhuluma ‘ngentalo,’ nobe intalelwane, lebekutawutsi ngalelinye lilanga ikhulule bantfu? (Gen. 3:15; 12:7) Kungenteka. Mhlawumbe wacala kubona kancane kutsi abeyincenye yenjongo lenkhulu Jehova labenayo.

20. Abrama wakukhombisa njani kubonga ngelilungelo Jehova labemnike lona?

²⁰ Abrama walijabulela kakhulu lilungelo Jehova lamnika lona. Njengobe achubeka ahamba kulelive, kungenteka abehamba ngekunaka ngobe bekusahlala bantfu baseKhenani. Abrama wema kute akhele Jehova emalati, wacale wema ngasetihlahleni letinkhulu taseMore, waphindze wema ngaseBetheli. Wabita libito laJehova, futsi abeveta kubonga kwakhe kuNkulunkulu lokusuka enhlitiyweni njengobe abecabanga ngelikusasa lentalo yakhe. Kungenteka nekutsi abeshumayela kubomakhelwane bakhe labangemaKhenani. (Fundza Genesisi 12:7, 8.) Kuliciniso kutsi kukholwa kwa-Abrama bekutawuvivinywa kakhulu njengobe kuphila kwakhe kuchubeka. Ngekuhlakanipha, Abrama akazange abuke emuva ekhaya lakhe lebelise-Uri nasetintfweni labetishiye emuva. Abebuke embili. Nayikhuluma nga-Abrama, incwadzi yemaHebheru 11:10 itsi: “Abelindzele lidolobha lelinetisekelo leticinile, lelisungulwe laphindze lakhiwa nguNkulunkulu.”

21. Lwati lwetfu ngeMbuso waNkulunkulu singalucatsanisa njani nalolo Abrama labenalo, futsi loko kukukhutsata kutsi wenteni?

²¹ Tsine lesikhonta Jehova lamuhla sati lokunyenti kakhulu kwendlula Abrama mayelana nalelo dolobha lelingumfanekiso, lokunguMbuso waNkulunkulu. Siyati kutsi loMbuso uyabusa ezulwini futsi ngekushesha utawucedza lelive lelibi, nekutsi iNtalo ya-Abrama lebeyetsenjisiwe, lokunguJesu Khristu iyabusa kuloMbuso. Kutawuba lilungelo lelikhulu kakhulu ngatsi kubona lapho Abrahama asavusiwe futsi sekayicondza injongo yaNkulunkulu lebekati lokuncane kakhulu ngayo. Ungatsandza yini kubona lapho Jehova asagcwalisa tonkhe tetsembiso takhe? Nakunjalo, chubeka wenta loko Abrama lakwenta. Tidzele, ulalele, futsi ngemthantazo ubonge emalungelo Jehova lakunike wona. Nawulingisa kukholwa kwa-Abrama, ‘longuyise wabo bonkhe lababa nekukholwa,’ ngemcondvo lotsite utawuba nguyise nakuwe.