USARA nanguya uthewukele emsebenzinakhe, unande aqala ummango. Ubambisene neenceku zakhe ezihlakaniphileko nezikhutheleko bathabe! NoSara naye udlala yakhe indima njengombana amfazi owaziwa ngokukhuthala. Akhumbone ngamehlengqondo nangu uhlikihla izandla abe azilule nemisipha. Mhlamunye bekathunga itjhuba ebelidabuke etendeni ebahlala kilo. Nawumqalako nokuluphala sekuzipha amandla, isambatho sakhe esenziwe ngoboya bembuzi sesibhabhukile ngebanga lokutjhisa kwelanga nezulu. Koke lokhu kukhumbuza uSara ukuthi isikhathi sikhambe kangangani solo babafuduki. Sekumalangantambama, nawuqala nelanga seliyokutjhinga. Solo bagcinene ekuseni bano-Abrahamu.  * Amehlwakhe solo aqale lapho u-Abrahamu atjhinge khona ekuseni nakakhambako. Nangu abobotheka njengombana abona indodakwakhe iqaqada umbundu oseduze kwalapha bahlala khona.

Besekudlule iminyaka elitjhumi yoke u-Abrahamu afuduka nomndenakhe omkhulu bayama uMlambo iYufrathe baya eKanana. USara wayisekela ngakho koke indodakwakhe, ngoba bekazi ukuthi kunendima eqakatheke khulu kuJehova ebekufanele ayidlale. Bekufuze abelethe umntwana okhethekileko, obekazokuveza isitjhaba esibusisekileko. Kodwana bekuzokwenzeka njani lokho? Phela sikhuluma ngomfazi oyinyumba, oneminyaka ema-75 yoke. Kungenzeka naye bekazibuza ukuthi, ‘Ngingasizalisa njani isithembiso sakaJehova njengombana ngingasililitho ngaphandle kokuba mfazi ka-Abrahamu?’ Kuyazwisiseka bona bekatshwenyekile ngendaba le.

Nathi ngasikhathi khesizibuze ukuthi iinthembiso zakaZimu zizakhe zizaliseke na? Akusilula ukuba nesineke, khulukhulu nasilindele ukuzaliseka kwethemba esililulukele. Khuyini esiyifundako esibonelweni somfazi oveleleko lo?

Bekungasikade umndeni lo ubuye eGibhide. (Genesisi 13:1-4) Bebahlala ematendeni emibundwini esepumalanga yeBhethe-Eli, amaKanana bekajayele ukuyibiza ngeLuzi. USara bekathi nakajame endaweni le, ayibone kuhle iNarha yesiThembiso. Bekunemizi yamaKanana neendlela ezikhamba ziyokufika kezinye iinarha ezikude. Nanyana bekukuhle njalo endaweni leyo, kodwana nakulidorobha lekhaboSara beliphuma phambili. Wakhulela e-Uri esedorobheni leMesopotamiya, bekulibanga eliyi-1 900km ukuya khona. Wasukela iinhlobo zakhe emva, ipilo elula yedorobhenelo, iintolo ezihlukahlukeneko, amamakethe kunye nekhaya elimabothobotho elifulelwe kuhle nelinamaboda aqinileko, kungenzeka nendluleyo beyitjhubhelwe ngamaphayiphu wamanzi. Akhesithi kuyenzeka nangu uSara utlhuwile ukhumbula emva ekhabo, sekalulukela ipilo ebekayiphila asesemntwana, bekuzokuba yindaba ezakuthiwani?

Tjheja okwatjhiwo mpostoli uPowula nakatlolako eminyakeni ezi-2 000 eyadlulako. Nakakhuluma  ngokukholwa kwaka-Abrahamu noSara, wathi: “Nangathana bebahlala bakhumbula inarha abaphuma kiyo, bebazakuba nethuba lokubuyela emva.” (Hebheru 11:8, 11, 15) Akakho namunye kibo bobabili owakhumbula emva. Ngathana bebazicabangela bona kwaphela, bebangabuyela lapho bavela khona. Ukubuyela kwabo e-Uri bekuzobaphundisa ngelungelo uJehova ebekabaphe lona. Imikhumbulwabo beyizokufadalala bangasaba ziimbonelo zokukholwa ezikghwathe iinhliziyo zabanengi.

Kunokuqala emva, uSara waqala phambili. Waraga nokusekela indodakwakhe ekhambwenelo, ayisiza nakuphuthwa amatende, kukhanjwe nemihlambi kubuywe kuhlonywe amatende kabutjha. Wakghodlhelela iintjhijilo namatjhuguluko amanengi. UJehova wavuselela isithembiso asenza no-Abrahamu, kodwana ngakuSara kusathe du!—Genesisi 13:14-17; 15:5-7.

Lafika elingaliko, uSara wafikelwa mcabango wokuthi akhulume no-Abrahamu ngeqhinga ebelisolo lisengqondwenakhe. Akhumbone ngamehlwengqondo, nawumqalako uhlangahlangene, athi ku-Abrahamu: “Uthi uyabona nje bona uZimu ungivale isibeletho na?” Alo bekungaba njani nawungabelethisa incekwami uHagari umntwana ukwazi ukuba ngubaba? Cabanga ngobuhlungu abuzwako nakabawa indodakwakhe into enjalo. Isibawo esinje singazwakala siyinto elumelako ebantwini banamhlanjesi, nokho, ngesikhatheso bekuyinto ejayelekileko ukuthi indoda ithathe umfazi wesibili ukwenzela bona ibe nedlalifa. * Kghani uSara bekacabanga ukuthi ngiyo ihloso kaZimu le yokuthi u-Abrahamu uzakuba nesitjhaba. Kinanyana ngikuphi, bekazimisele ukuzidela ngalendlela. U-Abrahamu wayithini indaba le? IBhayibheli lithi, “walalela [uSara].”—Genesisi 16:1-3.

Alo isenzo sakaSaresi sitjho ukuthi bekatjhukunyiswa nguJehova? Akusinjalo. Lokhu bekumane kuveza indlela abantu abacabanga ngayo. USara bekacabanga ukuthi nguZimu omnikelele ngobuhlungobu, bekangazi nokuthi uZimu unehloso ngaye. Ngikho iqhinga alenzakwela lambangela ubuhlungu namatlhuwo. Nanyana kunjalo, into ayenza le beyitjho khona ukuthi akasimarhamaru. Ephasini abantu bafuna yoke into engcono ibe ngeyabo, kodwana uSara wenza into ebukwako. Nasingahlala sibeka uZimu phambili kuneemfiso zethu, singakghona ukulingisa ukukholwa kwakaSara.

Bekungakabiphi uHagari azithwele umntwana ka-Abrahamu. Kungenzeka bekazitjela ukuthi ukuzithwala kwakhe kuzomenza aqakatheke ukudlula uSara bewathoma nokumnyefula. USara wasala  abambe ongenzasi! Kuthi kusese njalo, uSara sekufanele akhalime uHagari, uZimu no-Abrahamu bamvumela bona enze njalo. UHagari wabeletha indodana u-Itjhimayeli, bese kwakhamba iminyaka. (Genesisi 16:4-9, 16) USara nakana-89, indodakwakhe inama-99 bafumana umlayezo ovela kuJehova. Umlayezo loyo wabarara tle!

UJehova wabuye godu wathembisa umnganakhe u-Abrahamu bona uzokwandisa iinzukulwana zakhe. Wamtjhugulula nebizo ebekaziwa ngalo ekuthomeni elithi Abramu, wamnikela ibizo elithi Abrahamu elitjho ukuthi, “uYise weZizwe eziNengi.” Watjhugulula nebizo lakaSarayi ekungenzeka belitjho ukuthi “ukuPhikisana,” wamupha elithi Sara, nathi ngilo ibizo esimazi ngalo. Alo litjho ukuthini ibizweli? Litjho ‘iKosazana!’ UJehova wahlathulula nokuthi kubayini amuphe ibizweli umfazi lo. Wathi: “Ngizambusisa, ngikuphe indodana ngaye. Iye, ngizambusisa bona abe ngunina wezizwe; amakhosi wezizwe azakuvela kuye.”—Genesisi 17:5, 15, 16.

Isivumelwano sakaJehova sokuletha isizukulwana esizokubusisa izizwe zoke, besizokuzaliswa yindodana kaSara. Umsanyana ebekazokubelethwa lo yena uZimu wamupha ibizo elithi-Isaka, okutjho “ukuHlekwa.” Ilanga u-Abrahamu ezwa ngalo ukuthi uJehova ubusise uSara ngomntwana ongowakhe, “wahloma ihloko phasi kodwana wahleka.” (Genesisi 17:17) Into le yamrara beyamkara. (Roma 4:19, 20) USara yena?

Kwafika amadoda amathathu etendeni laka-Abrahamu. Bekusemini ekulu. Abatjhadikazaba bangasabuza bathome batinazelele iimvakatjhi ezifikileko. U-Abrahamu athi kuSara: “Rhaba uthathe upumpana weflowuru esefiweko, uyibhice wenze iimphaphatha.” Phela ukwemukela iimvakatjhi bekuyinto ekulu ngesikhatheso. U-Abrahamu azange apanele uSara kube nguye owenza umsebenzi ayedwa, wagijima naye wayokuhlaba ikunzana elikonyana, walungisa ukudla nokuselwako kwaba kunengi. (Genesisi 18:1-8) “Amadoda” la bekuziingilozi zakaJehova. Kungenzeka umpostoli uPowula bekanesenzakalwesi engqondwenakhe nakatlolako wathi: “Ningalibali ukwamukela abayeni ngombana ngokwenza njalo abanye bangenisa iingilozi bangalemuki.” (Hebheru 13:2) Ungakghona na ukulingisa isibonelo esihle sokwamukela abayeni njengo-Abrahamu noSara?

Ingilozi nayibuyelela ihlathululela u-Abrahamu ngesithembiso sakaZimu ngokuthi uSara uzokubeletha indodana, uSara bekajame ngemva komnyango wetende alalele. Amezwi lawo aba yinto engakholwekiko kuye. Wahlulwa kuzibamba wazihleka wathi: “Njengombana ngimdala ngiphelile nje, nomyenami naye selaluphele kangaka, uthi ngingabe ngisakitwakitwa yindoda na.” Ingilozi imbuze msinyana ithi: “Kungabe kukhona okungabhalela [“uJehova,” NW] na?” Kungokwemvelo bonyana abantu bazizwe ngendlela uSara azizwa ngayo le. Wafikelwa kukwesaba wathi: “Azange khengihleke mina.” Ingilozi yaphinda yathi: “Hawu, Sara uhlekile.”—Genesisi 18:9-15.

Kghani ukuhleka kwakaSara lokhu bekutjho ukuthi akanakho ukukholwa? Akusinjalo. IBhayibheli lithi: “Ngokukholwa u-Sara wafumana amandla wokubeletha selaluphele nanyana bekayinyumba ngombana bekasazi bonyana uthembekile owathembisako.” (Hebheru 11:11) USara bekazi ukuthi uJehova angazalisa nanyana ngisiphi sithembiso asifunako. Ngubani ongathi akakutlhogi ukukholwa okunjalo? Senza kuhle nangokulwela ukwazi uZimu weBhayibheli ngcono. Sizokugcina sesibonile ukuthi ligadango elihle elathathwa nguSara. UJehova uthembekile uzifeza zoke neenthembiso zakhe, lokho angakwenza nangendlela engasirara besizihleke!

Nakaneminyaka eli-90 ubudala, uSara kwakhani athatjiswa sikhathi ebekasolo asilindile bewaluphala. Wabelethela ubabakwakhe indodana, u-Abrahamu besele anekhulu leminyaka. U-Abrahamu wathiya umntwanakhe ngo-Isaka namkha “uMhlekwa” njengokutjho kwakaZimu. Mbone engqondwenakho uSara adiniwe kodwana uthabile, athi: “UZimu ungilethele isihleko; woke okuzwako lokhu  uzokuhleka nami.” (Genesisi 21:6) Le bekuyikarisomraro evela kuJehova, wahlala athabile bekwafika lapho ahlongakala khona. Nokho, isibusiswesi besikhambisana nomsebenzi.

U-Isaka nakaneminyaka emihlanu ubudala, umndeni wamenzela umnyanya wokuthi alunyulwe ebeleni. Kodwana bekukhona okungakhambi kuhle. Sifunda ngokuthi uSara “wabona” iziga ebezenziwa ngu-Itjhimayeli, indodana kaHagari. Isokaneli belineminyaka eli-19 ubudala likokomeja u-Isaka osemncani. Into le beyingasikudlala nje. Umpostoli uPowula waphefumulelwa bona atlole ukuthi isenzo saka-Itjhimayelesi bekukutlhorisa. USara bekayibone kuhle into le, bekusisenzo esibeka ukuphila kwendodanakhe engozini. USara bekazi kuhle bonyana u-Isaka bekaligugu elingaphezu kokumane abe yindodanakhe. Bekazokufeza indima kaJehova. Waqina isibindi wakhuluma no-Abrahamu. Wambawa bona aqothe uHagari no-Itjhimayeli.—Genesisi 21:8-10; Galatiya 4:22, 23, 29.

U-Abrahamu wayithini indaba le? IBhayibheli lithi: “Lokhu kwamtshwenya u-Abrahamu ngombana u-Itjhimayeli naye bekuyindodanakhe.” Bekamthanda u-Itjhimayeli, bekangakghoni ukuyimukela indaba le ehliziywenakhe. UJehova bekayizwisisa kuhle indaba, ngalokho wayingenela. IBhayibheli lithi: “UZimu wathi ku-Abrahamu: ‘Ungatshwenyeki ngomsana nekhobokakazi lakho. Yenza koke uSara akutjela khona ngombana iinzukulwana zakho zizokuthiyelelwa ngo-Isaka.’” UJehova waqinisekisa u-Abrahamu ngokuthi uHagari nendodanakhe uzabatlhogomela. U-Abrahamu walalela.—Genesisi 21:11-14.

USara waba mfazi wamambala ku-Abrahamu. Akhenge amane atjele indodakwakhe lokho ebekufanele ikuzwe. Wathi nakabona kuphakama umraro ebewuzokuliya umndenakhe nengomuso labo, wakhuluma nendodakwakhe ngesineke. Bekungasikho ukudelela akwenzakokhu. Ngitjho nompostoli uPitrosi njengombana bekayindoda ethetheko, waqalisela kuSara njengomfazi osibonelo esiphuma phambili nowahlonipha indodakwakhe ngokuzikileko. (1 Korinte 9:5; 1 Pitrosi 3:5, 6) Ekhabolakhona, ngathana uSara wathula ngendaba le, bekuzokutjho khona ukuthi ubhalelwe kuhlonipha u-Abrahamu. Lokho bekuzokufaka umndeni woke emrarweni. Ngehlonipho uSara wenza ebekufuze akwenze.

Abafazi abanengi basihlonipha khulu isibonelo sakaSara. Bafunde ukuveza okuseenhliziyweni zabo batjele amadodabo, bafunda nokukhuluma nabo nangehlonipho. Abanye abafazi bangafisa nokuthi thana uJehova angangenela nakeyabo imitjhado ngendlela enza ngayo endabeni kaSara. Khonapho basafunda kuSara ngesibonelo sakhe sethando, ukukholwa nesineke.

Nanyana umfazi othandekako lo bekabizwa “ngeKosazana” nje, kodwana yena bekangakalindeli ukuphathelwa phezulu. Akusirari nokuthi nakahlongakalako besele aneminyaka eli-127 ubudala. “U-Abrahamu wangena ngetendeni lakaSara bona amhloboke abe amlilele.” * (Genesisi 23:1, 2) Kufanele ukuthi bekayikhumbula ‘ikosazanakhe.’ UJehova uZimu naye uyamhlulukela umfazi wokukholwa lo, uzimisele nokumvusa ephasini elitjha, epharadesi. Iimbusiso ezingapheliko zilindele uSara nabo boke abalingisa ukukholwa kwakhe.—Jwanisi 5:28, 29.