MBONE ngeso lengqondo uSara, owesifazane waseMpumalanga Ephakathi, emi phakathi nendlu yakhe eyibuka ngamehlo akhe amahle. Ingabe kukhona okubonisa ukudangala ebusweni bakhe? Uma kukhona angeke kube nzima ukuqonda ukuthi kungani. Le ndlu yabo yayinomlando omude. Yena nomyeni wakhe u-Abrahama babebe nezikhathi ezimnandi kule ndlu. * Ndawonye bayenza yaba yikhaya.

Babehlala e-Uri, indawo eyayidume ngobuciko nabadayisi abaningi. Ngakho nabo babenezinto eziningi ezinhle. Umuzi kaSara wawubaluleke kakhulu kuye ungeyona nje indawo yokugcina izinto zakhe. Kuwo yena nomyeni wakhe babebe nezikhathi ezijabulisayo nezingajabulisi. Babekhuleke kuNkulunkulu wabo abamthandayo, uJehova, izikhathi eziningi kulo muzi. USara wayenezizathu eziningi zokuyithanda le ndawo.

Noma kunjalo, uSara wayezimisele ukuyishiya le ndawo. Nakuba ayeneminyaka engaba ngu-60, wayezoya endaweni ayengazi lutho ngayo aphile kanzima, lingekho ithemba lokubuyela emuva. Yini eyamenza wakhetha lokho kuphila? Singafundani okholweni lwakhe?

Cishe uSara wakhulela e-Uri. Namuhla lelo dolobha alisekho, sekwasala amanxiwa nje kuphela. Ngesikhathi uSara esahlala e-Uri, izikebhe zabadayisi zazingena ziphuma kuleli dolobha elithuthukile zihamba emfuleni i-Ewufrathe, ziphethe izimpahla eziyigugu ezivela ezindaweni ezikude. Kuleli dolobha, abantu babephithizela emigwaqweni, imikhumbi ingena iphuma nezimpahla zitheleka ezimakethe. Mcabange uSara ekhulela kule ndawo, ejwayelana nabantu abaningi bakhona. Kungenzeka nabo babemazi uSara ngenxa yokuthi wayemuhle kakhulu. Wayenanomndeni omkhulu owawuhlala kule ndawo.

EBhayibhelini uSara waziwa ngokuba nokholo kodwa wayengakholelwa kunkulunkulu wenyanga owayekhonzwa e-Uri, owayenzelwe isakhiwo esasibonakala kulo lonke idolobha. Kunalokho wayekhonza uNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova. ImiBhalo ayisitsheli ukuthi wasizwa yini ukuze akholelwe kuJehova. Okwesikhathi esithile ubaba kaSara wayekhonza izithombe. USara wayeshade no-Abrahama owayemdala kunaye ngeminyaka eyishumi. * (Genesise 17:17) Kamuva waziwa ngokuthi ‘unguyise wabo bonke abanokholo.’ (Roma 4:11) U-Abrahama noSara babenomshado ojabulisayo, babehloniphana, bekhulumisana kahle futhi bezimisele ukuxazulula izinkinga. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, into eyayibahlanganisile ukuthi babemthanda uNkulunkulu.

 USara wayemthanda umyeni wakhe, baba nomuzi eduze kwezihlobo zabo e-Uri. Nokho, kwakukhona okungahambi kahle. IBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi uSara “wahlala eyinyumba; engenamntwana.” (Genesise 11:30) Ngaleso sikhathi, kwakubuhlungu ukuba yinyumba. Kodwa uSara wahlala ethembekile kuNkulunkulu nakumyeni wakhe. Umshana wabo uLoti waba njengendodana kubo. Ukuphila kwaqhubeka kwaze kwaba yilapho izinto zishintsha.

U-Abrahama wafika kuSara echichima injabulo. Wayengakukholwa okwakusanda kwenzeka. UNkulunkulu wabo wayebonakale kuye, wakhuluma naye esebenzisa ingelosi. Lapho uSara ezwa lokho wabuza: “Utheni? Ngicela ungitshele!” Njengoba elindele impendulo, amehlo akhe ayethe njo kuye. Mhlawumbe u-Abrahama wahlala phansi ezama ukubuyisa ingqondo; wabe esemtshela lokho uJehova akushilo: “Phuma ezweni lakini nasezihlotsheni zakho uye ezweni engizokutshengisa lona.” (IzEnzo 7:2, 3) Lapho sebeqedile ukuhalalisa, baxoxa ngesabelo ababesinikwe uJehova. Babezoshiya ukuphila kwabo okuntofontofo, bahambe behlala! Wayezokwenzenjani uSara? Cishe u-Abrahama wambukisisa umkakhe elindele ukuzwa ukuthi ucabangani. Wayezomsekela yini kulolu shintsho olukhulu kangaka ekuphileni kwabo?

Isinqumo uSara okwakufanele asenze singezwakala sidida kithi namuhla. Singase sicabange, ‘UNkulunkulu akakaze athi mina noma engishade naye asenze into efana nale!’ Noma kunjalo, akwenzeki yini sonke kudingeke senze isinqumo esifanayo? Siphila ezweni elenza sinake kakhulu ukunethezeka, izinto esinazo nenhlala-kahle yethu ngaphezu kwezinye izinto. Kodwa iBhayibheli lithi ubuhlobo bethu noNkulunkulu nokufuna ukumjabulisa kumele kube yizinto ezibaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwethu. (Mathewu 6:33) Njengoba sicabanga ngalokho uSara akwenza, singase sizibuze, ‘Yisiphi isinqumo engizosithatha ngokuphila kwami?’

Njengoba uSara eqoqa izimpahla zakhe, wayebhekene nenkinga yokuthi akazi ukuthi ashiyeni athatheni. Izimpahla imbongolo engeke ikwazi ukuzithwala nezazingadingeki endaweni ababeya kuyo, kwakufanele azishiye. Cishe izinto zabo eziningi kwakuyodingeka bazidayise noma baphisane ngazo. Ukuphila ntofontofo, ukuhlala edolobheni eliphithizelayo, ayengathenga kulo okusanhlamvu, inyama, izithelo, izingubo zokugqoka nezinye izidingo wayesezokuzwa ngendaba.

Kufanele ukuba kwakunzima ngoSara ukuvele ashiye umuzi wakhe. Uma umuzi kaSara wawunjengaleyo  abacwaningi abayithole e-Uri, uSara walahlekelwa ukunethezeka kwangempela. Eminye yaleyo mizi yayinamagumbi amaningi nemithombo yamanzi ayekwazi ukungena ezindlini ngamapayipi. Ngisho nezindlu ezazisezingeni eliphansi zazinophahla oluqinile, izindonga kanye nezicabha ezivaleka ngci. Itende lalingabavikela yini ngendlela efanayo ezigebengwini, emabhubesini, nasezimpisini okwakuvamile ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli?

Wayezokwenzenjani ngomndeni wakhe? Obani uSara ayezobashiya ngemuva? Kufanele ukuba wawunzima kuye umyalo kaNkulunkulu othi, “Phuma ezweni lakini nasezihlotsheni zakho.” Lona wesifazane onobungane kufanele ukuba wayenobhuti nosisi nezingane zabo kanye no-anti nomalume ayesondelene nabo okwakungenzeka angaphinde ababone. Noma kunjalo, uSara walungela ukuhamba.

Nakuba kwakunzima, uSara wayekulungele ukuhamba ngosuku olwalubekiwe. UThera, ubaba wabo, owayeneminyaka engaba ngu-200, wahamba nabo. (Genesise 11:31) Kwakuzofanele uSara amnakekele ngoba wayesekhulile. Balalela uJehova ‘baphuma ezweni lamaKhaledi’ bekanye noLoti.—IzEnzo 7:4.

Bahamba ibanga elingaba amakhilomitha angu-960 bebheke eHarana enyakatho-ntshonalanga belandela umfula i-Ewufrathe. Bahlala khona isikhashana. Kungenzeka ukuthi ngenxa yokugula kwase kunzima ngoThera ukuqhubeka nohambo. Bahlala eHarana kwaze kwaba yilapho uThera eshona eseneminyaka engu-205. Kusenjalo, uJehova wakhuluma no-Abrahama emtshela ukuthi baye ezweni ayezobabonisa lona. Kulokhu, uJehova wamthembisa: “Ngizokwenza isizwe esikhulu ngawe.” (Genesise 12:2-4) Ngesikhathi besuka eHarana, u-Abrahama wayeneminyaka engu-75, uSara enengu-65 futhi babengenabo abantwana. Kwakuzokwenzeka kanjani ukuba kuphume isizwe ku-Abrahama? Ingabe wayezofuna omunye umfazi? Sasivamile isithembu esikhathini sabo ngakho kungenzeka uSara wazibuza ukuthi u-Abrahama uzothatha omunye umfazi yini.

Balifulathela iHarana baqhubeka nohambo lwabo. Nokho, qaphela ukuthi obani ababehamba nabo. IBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi u-Abrahama nomndeni wakhe bahamba bephethe ingcebo kanye ‘nabantu ababebathole eHarana.’ (Genesise 12:5) Obani labo bantu? Cishe kwakuyizisebenzi zabo. Akungabazeki ukuthi u-Abrahama noSara babashumayeza labo ababefuna ukulalela. Abanye ababhali bakudala abangamaJuda bathi abantu okukhulunywa ngabo kula mavesi abantu abase bekhonza uJehova bekanye no-Abrahama noSara. Uma kunjalo, akungabazeki ukuthi ukholo lukaSara lwamenza wabathonya abantu lapho ekhuluma nabo ngoNkulunkulu kanye nethemba ayenalo. Namuhla kungasisiza ukulingisa uSara ngoba siphila esikhathini lapho ukholo nethemba kuyivela kancane. Lapho ufunda okuthile eBhayibhelini, ungakwazi ukuxoxela othile ngakho?

Ngemva kokuwela umfula i-Ewufrathe, cishe ngoNisani 14, 1943 B.C.E., balibangisa eningizimu bebheke ezweni uJehova ayebathembise lona. (Eksodusi 12:40, 41) Awumcabange uSara eqalaza ngapha nangapha ebuka leli zwe elihle, elinezinto ezinhlobonhlobo kanye nesimo sezulu esihle. Eduze kwemithi emikhulu kaMore eduze kwaseShekemi, uJehova wabonakala okwesibili ku-Abrahama wathi: “Leli zwe ngiyolinika inzalo yakho.” Igama elithi “inzalo” lalinencazelo ejulile ku-Abrahama! Cishe kwamenza wacabanga emuva ensimini yase-Edene lapho uJehova athi khona kuyoba nenzalo eyayiyobhubhisa uSathane. UJehova wayesemtshelile u-Abrahama ukuthi isizwe sakhe sasiyoba indlela yokuba bonke abantu emhlabeni babusiswe.—Genesise 3:15; 12:2, 3, 6, 7.

Noma kunjalo, lo mndeni wawusazobhekana nezinkinga. Kwaba nendlala ezweni laseKhanani ngakho u-Abrahama wanquma ukuya eGibhithe nomndeni wakhe. Nokho, kukhona ayekwesaba. Ngakho wathi kuSara: “Siza! Ngazi kahle ukuthi ungowesifazane omuhle ngakho nakanjani kuzothi lapho amaGibhithe ekubona athi, ‘Lo ngumkakhe.’ Futhi ngokuqinisekile azongibulala, kodwa wena akulonde. Siza uthi ungudadewethu, ukuze kungihambele kahle ngenxa yakho, futhi umphefumulo wami ngokuqinisekile uyophila ngenxa yakho.”  (Genesise 12:10-13) Kungani u-Abrahama acela into engavamile kanje?

Abagxeki bathi u-Abrahama wayenamanga futhi eyigwala kodwa akunjalo. Vele uSara wayengudadewabo. Wayenesizathu esihle sokuqapha. U-Abrahama noSara babazi ukuthi ayikho into eyayibaluleke njengenzalo eyayithenjisiwe kanye nesizwe esasiyovela ngo-Abrahama, ngakho kwakusemqoka ukuthi aphephe. Abacwaningi bayakufakazela ukuthi kwakuyinto evamile ukuba izikhulu zaseGibhithe zithathe umfazi womuntu bese zibulala indoda. U-Abrahama wahlakanipha futhi uSara wazithoba esinqumweni sakhe.

Kungakabiphi kwabonakala ukuthi u-Abrahama wayeqinisile; ezinye zezikhulu zikaFaro zaqala ukuqaphela ukuthi uSara wayemuhle kakhulu, okwakuyinto engavamile ngoba wayesemdala. Zatshela uFaro ngoSara wabe esethi makalethwe kuye! Kunzima ukucabanga ubuhlungu u-Abrahama ayebuzwa nendlela uSara ayethuke ngayo. Nokho, kubonakala sengathi uSara waphathwa njengesitatanyiswa hhayi isigqila. Kungenzeka ukuthi uFaro wayehlose ukudlisela kuye ngengcebo yakhe bese exoxa no-Abrahama ngokuthi angamthatha yini abe umakoti wakhe.—Genesise 12:14-16.

Mcabange uSara emi phezulu esigodlweni ebuka iGibhithe. Wayezizwa kanjani njengoba esehlala esakhiweni esinezindonga, esifulelwe, kunezibiliboco phambi kwakhe? Ingabe wakhangwa ubukhazikhazi baseGibhithe okungenzeka babubudlula kude obase-Uri? Cabanga indlela okwakuyomjabulisa ngayo uSathane ukube uSara wamlaxaza u-Abrahama wabe eseshada noFaro! Kodwa akakwenzanga lokho. Wahlala eqotho kumyeni wakhe nakuNkulunkulu wakhe. Bekungaba ngcono ukube wonke umuntu oshadile kuleli zwe elonakele ubengaba qotho njengoSara. Ungamlingisa yini uSara ngokuba qotho lapho usebenzelana nabantu obathandayo kanye nabangane bakho?

UJehova wamvikela uSara ngokuthumela izinhlupho kuFaro nakulabo ayehlala nabo. Lapho uFaro ethola ukuthi uSara wayeyinkosikazi ka-Abrahama, wamphindisela kumyeni wakhe wacela wonke umndeni ukuba uhambe eGibhithe. (Genesise 12:17-20) U-Abrahama wajabula kakhulu ngokuphinde athole umkakhe! Khumbula ukuthi wayethe kuye: “Ngazi kahle ukuthi ungowesifazane omuhle.” Kodwa wayembona emuhle nangenye indlela—ubuhle obungaphezu kwalobo ayebubona ngamehlo. USara wayenobuhle bangaphakathi, lobo uJehova abuthandayo. (1 Petru 3:1-5) Lobu ubuhle sonke esingaba nabo. Uma sithanda uNkulunkulu ngaphezu kwezinye izinto, sishumayela silalela nemiyalo yakhe lapho sisebunzimeni, siyobe silingisa uSara.