UJOSEFA udosa umoya otjhisako kabuhlungu, khonapho uzwa iphunga lamathuthumbo we-lotus nezinye iintjalo zemanzini. Udoswa phambili liwoma labathengisi abakhamba ngamakamela, lilungele ukuyama umsele omkhulu weNayile wemangweni othabaleleko. Khesucabange ngomjeje wamadoda akhamba namakamelawo, akhamba magegana nendlela yamanzi ewadosela ngedorobheni leGibhide, nekusesenjalo nako aziphosa phezu kweenyoni, azithuse ziphaphe. UJosefa unande acabanga ngendawo yekhabo egade isendaweni esepakameni ye-Rhebroni, ebetha umoya, ekude ngamakhilomitha amakhulu, kodwana nje sekasephasini elinye.

Akhesucabange ngeemfene nanziya phezulu emakarini wemithi emide neyamafeye ziyahlebelana zinande zibanga netjhada. KuJosefa, ilimi ebelikhulunywa babantwaba belingazwakali kuhle. Mhlamunye naye bekalinga ukudobha amezwanyana angakghona ukuwezwa. Naye bekafuna ukufunda okuthileko. Bekazi kuhle ukuthi nakulikhaya lakhe yinto angeze asayibona leyo.

UJosefa bekasesemsana, bekaneminyaka eli-17 nofana eli-18 ubudala. Kodwana into aqalana nayo beyingadula phasi amadoda amanengi khulu amadala kunaye. Abanakwabo besele baphehlwa mumona ngebanga lokuthi uJosefa bekayintakadokazi kayise, abanakwabo babe baphez’ kumbulala. Kunalokho-ke, bakhetha ukumthengisela abathengisi. (Genesisi 37:2, 5, 18-28) Kwathi ngemva kwekhambo elathatha iimveke, abathengisaba bathoma ukuthaba njengombana besele batjhidela edorobheni elikhulu, ebekuyindawo ebebazokufika babulale imali enengi ngokuthengisa uJosefa nezinye izinto zabo eziligugu. UJosefa wakghona njani ukuhlula amatlhuwo asehliziywenakhe abuye godu alwisane nomoyakhe? Thina-ke namhlanjesi singakghona njani ukuqalana neentjhijilo neenqabo ezingabulala ikholo lethu? Singafunda okunengi kuJosefa.

“UJosefa gade asiwe eGibhide. Kwathi ama-Itjhimayeli nakafika lapho, uJosefa wathengiselwa uPothifara umGibhide ogade ayinduna ekulu kaFaro begodu amphathi wobuzimba.” (Genesisi 39:1) Emezwini lawo, ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kusisiza sibone ihlazo lesokaneli njengombana labuye lathengiswa godu. Bekamane ayipahlo nje! Singacabanga ngoJosefa alandela umphathakhe omutjha, induna ekulu emGibhide, edorobheni elineentarada eziphithizelako ezizele ngeentolo ezinengi hlanu kwalapho esele kuzokuba likhaya lakhe elitjha.

Nakulikhaya lona! Besele kuyinto ehluke khulu kunaleyo uJosefa ebeka sele ahlala kilo. Wakhulela emndenini ebewuhlala ematendeni, bewuhlala uthutha ukhamba nomhlambawo wezimvu koke lapho uyakhona. Lapha-ke, uPothifara bekumGibhide onjingileko obekahlala emabayibayini, izindlu zakhona bezipendwe ngombala omuhle okhanyako. Abarhubhululi bathi amaGibhide wekadeni bewaneentoni ezihle, iingadi ezikantjelweko zitjalwe nemithi yomthunzi namadamu ebekutjalwa kiwo isitjalo se-papyrus, lotus nezinye iintjalo zemanzini. Eminye imizi beyakhiwe eengadini, kuneminyango eminengi ebethisa umoya omanandi, amafesidere amakhulu angenisa umoya opholileko, namakamaro amanengi kuhlanganise nekamaro elikhulu lokudlela kunye namakamaro weensebenzi.

Kghani uJosefa wathathwa bukhazikhazobu?  Akubonakali kunjalo. Kinanyana yini, kungenzeka bona bekazizwa anesuzungu begodu ayedwa? Abantu beGibhide bebakhuluma ilimi angalaziko, indlela ebebambatha ngayo, nokuzilungisa kwabo ingasaphathwa yeenkolelo zabo. Bekubabantu abalotjha abozimu abahlukahlukeneko, benza imilingo, basebenzelana nemimoya begodu bathanda khulu izinto ezihlobene nokufa, nokuphila kwangemva kokufa. Nanyana kunjalo, kunento eyodwa eyasiza uJosefa bona angakholwa sizungu. Ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kuyasitjela: “[UJehova, NW] gade anoJosefa.” (Genesisi 39:2) UJosefa wathululela isifuba sakhe kuZimakhe. IBhayibheli lithi, “[uJehova, NW] useduze nabo boke abambizako.” (IRhubo 145:18) Ngikuphi okhunye ebekwenza uJosefa atjhidele kuZimu?

Isokaneli belikubalekela ukuhlala litlhuwile, kunalokho belenza koke elingakwenza emsebenzinalo. Lokho ngikho ebekwenza uJehova ambusise, kungasikade uJosefa wathandwa mphathakhe omutjha. UPothifara walemuka bonyana isokaneli belibusiswa nguJehova, uZimu wabantu bekhabo lakaJosefa, begodu iimbusiswezo zaletha ipumelelo emzini wamaGibhide. UJosefa bekasolo athandeka kumphathakhe bekwafikela lapho uPothifara anikela zoke izinto ezandleni zesokaneli.—Genesisi 39:3-6.

UJosefa ubabekela isibonelo esiqakathekileko abantu abatjha abalotjha uZimu namhlanjesi. Ngokwesibonelo, abantu abatjha nabasesikolweni, ngasikhathi bangazifumana basebujamweni obubenza bazizwe bangamukeleki, ephasini elizele ngezinto zokusebenzelana nemimoya begodu elinganawo umnqopho. Nangabe usebujamweni obunjalo, khumbula ukuthi uJehova akakatjhuguluki. (Jakopo 1:17) UJehova soloko usese nabo labo abahlala bathembekile kuye nabafuna ukumsebenzela ngakho koke ukwenzela ukumthabisa. Ubabusisa ngokunothileko, begodu nakuwe uzokwenza into efanako.

Okwanje, ukulandisa kusitjela ukuthi, uJosefa bekasolo akhula ngeminyaka. Isokaneli lakhula laba yindoda, ‘enejamo begodu ehlamazana.’ Amezwi la asitjela ukuthi bekunengozi ekhukhuthako, kanengi ubuhle bangaphandle buletha ukunakwa okungatlhogeki nokungakafaneli.

UJosefa bekakwazisa khulu ukuthembeka, nanyana kunjalo, umkaPothifara yena bekangayingeni leyo. Siyafunda: “Umfazi womphathakhe wathatheka ngoJosefa lo wathi kuye: ‘Yewize ulale nami!’” (Genesisi 39:7) Kghani uJosefa walingeka ngomfazi omrhedeni lo? IBhayibheli ayisinikeli iinzathu ezingenza siphethe ngokuthi uJosefa bekagonyiwe eemfisweni nemizweni ebakhona ebantwini abatjha, namkha zokuthi umfazi womphathi lo onjingileko nomosakeleko bekangaqaleki vele. Kghani uJosefa bekangaphetha ngokuthi umphathakhe angeze  azilitho ngesenzwesi? Kungenzeka na ukuthi walingwa kucabanga ngeenzuzo ezingokwemali okungenzeka azifumane ngokuziphatha okumbokhu?

Kuliqiniso, asazi ukuthi yini eyafika engqondweni kaJosefa. Kodwana siyakwazi ukubona ngokhanyako obekusehliziywenakhe. Kubonakala ependulwenakhe: “Njengombana ngiphethe lapha nje, umphathami akazitshwenyi ngalitho ngokungendlini. Koke anakho ukubeke ezandleni zami. Ungenze ngalingana naye emzinakhapha, yeke akukho nokuncani angidime khona ngaphandle kwakho ngombana wena umkakhe. Alo-ke ngingakwenza njani ukukhohlakala okungako ngone kuZimu na?” (Genesisi 39:8, 9) Akhesucabange ngesokaneli litjho amezwi la ngokuthembeka nangetjiseko. Kwamzwisa ubuhlungu khulu ukucabanga ngesenzo umfazi lo ebekafuna ukusenza. Kubayini kunjalo?

Kunjengombana uJosefa atjho, umphathakhe bekamthemba. UPothifara gade abeke koke okungendlinakhe ezandleni zakaJosefa, ayikho into amdima yona ngaphandle komkakhe. UJosefa bekangakuphula njani ukuthenjwa okunjalo? Bekawunyenya khulu umkhumbulo onjalo. Kodwana bekunokhunye okungaphezu kwalokho: ukucabanga ngokona kuZimakhe, uJehova. UJosefa bekafunde okunengi ebabelethini bakhe ngombono kaZimu ngomtjhado nangokuthembeka kiloyo otjhade naye. UJehova wenza umtjhado wokuthoma, wabe waveza namazizwakhe ebaleni. Indoda nomfazi bekufuze banamathelane, babe “nyamanye.” (Genesisi 2:24) Labo abalinga ukulwisana nobuhlobobu bazibizela ilaka lakaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, amadoda ebekafuna ukutlhorisa umfazi ka-Abrahamu, obegade angukhokhwakhe lakaJosefa, nomka-Isaka, ongugogo kaJosefa bekakhasela eziko. (Genesisi 20:1-3; 26:7-11) UJosefa wasifunda kuhle isifundweso begodu bekazimisele ukuphila ngaso.

UmkaPothifara akhenge kumthabise lokho akuzwako. Kubayini, akhesucabange nje inceku nasi ibhala ukulala naye, kuhlekuhle ithi kuye ingakwenza njani “ukukhohlakala okungaka”! Nanyana kunjalo, waragela phambili. Mhlamunye ukuzikhakhazisa kwakhe kwamzwisa ubuhlungu, kwamenza wazimisela ukwenza uJosefa bona avume ukulala naye. Wabuye watjengisa umoya ofana tswe newakaSathana, owalinga uJesu. Imizamo kaSathana nayo yahluleka, kunokobana alise, uSathana “walinda bekwaba ngesinye isikhathi esifaneleko.” (Lukasi 4:13) Abantu abathembekileko kufuze bazimisele bebaqine. Leyo yindlela uJosefa aziphatha ngayo. Nanyana ubujamobu baragela phambili “imihla namalanga,” akhenge atjhentjha embonwenakhe. Siyafunda: “UJosefa wala.” (Genesisi 39:10) Nokho, umkaPothifara bekazimisele ukumganukeja.

Wasebenzisa ithuba lokha iinsebenzi zoke ziphumile ngendlini. Bekazi ukuthi uJosefa uzokuza ngendlini azokwenza umsebenzakhe. Nekangena ngendlini, walinga ukumbamba. Abambe isembatho sakhe, wamncenga kokugcina: “Ngiyakubawa hle, lala nami!” UJosefa akhenge ariyade. Waphunyurha ezandleni zakhe, kodwana umfazi lo wakakarela isembatho sakhe. Wapirinyika, watjhiya isembatho sakhe ezandleni zakhe. Wadla phasi!—Genesisi 39:11, 12.

Lokhu kungasikhumbuza isiluleko sakaPowula esiphefumulelweko esithi: “Balekelani imikhuba yokuziphatha kumbi ngokomseme.” (1 Korinte 6:18) UJosefa uwabekela isibonelo esihle khulu woke amaKrestu weqiniso! Ipilo ingasigandelela bona sitjhidelane nalabo abangayihloniphi imithetho kaZimu yokuziphatha, kodwana lokho akutjho bona kufuze nathi sizinikele ezenzweni ezimbi. Nanyana umphumela ungaba yini, kufuze sibaleke.

Endabeni kaJosefa, ubujamo bebubizela khulu. UmkaPothifara bekafuna ukuzibuyiselela. Msinyana wathoma ukurhuwelela, wabizela ezinye iinsebenzi ngendlini. Wathi uJosefa bekalinga ukumkata, nekathoma ukurhuwelela, wabaleka. Wahlala nesambatho sakaJosefa, walinda indodakwakhe beyafika. Lokha uPothifara nakafika ekhaya, umkakhe wamtjela amanga afanako, watjho nokuthi koke lokhu kungebanga lendodakwakhe ngokuletha isikhambesi endlinabo. Wasabela njani uPothifara? Siyafunda: “Wabhoka ngobukhali.” Waphosela uJosefa ngejele bona abe sibotjhwa.—Genesisi 39:13-20.

Kuncani esikwaziko ngobujamo bamajele weGibhide wangeenkhathezo. Abarhubhululi bafumane iinsalela zeendawezo—imakhiwo emikhulu enamakamerwana wejele angemigodini. Kamva uJosefa wahlathulula indawo le ngebizo elitjho ukuthi ‘umgodi,’  elitjho indawo enzima tshu enganathemba. (Genesisi 40:15) Encwadini yamaRhubo, sifunda ngokuthi uJosefa wahlunguphazwa: “Baminyezela iinyawo zakhe ngamakhamandela, intamakhe yafakwa ikholoro yesimbi.” (IRhubo 105:17, 18) Ngezinye iinkhathi amaGibhide bewabekela iimbotjhwa imibandela, bazibophe imikhonwazo ngemuva eendololwaneni; ezinye bebazifaka iinkholoro zesimbi eentanyeni zazo. Qala bona uJosefa waphathwa kumbi kangangani kunganalitho alenzileko!

Ngaphezu kwalokho, lokhu bekungasi yinto yesikhatjhana. Ukulandisa kuthi uJosefa ‘wahlala ejele.’ Wahlala iminyaka eminengi endaweni embi leyo! * UJosefa bekangazi ukuthi uzakhe atjhatjhululwe. Njengombana amalanga athusako lawo adosa, afikelela eemvekeni, abaziinyanga, wenza njani bona angalahlekelwa lithemba?

Ukulandisokhu kusinikela ipendulo esiqinisekisako: “[UJehova, NW] gade anaye. Waba nesisa kuye.” (Genesisi 39:21) Ayikho imithangala yejele, iinsimbi, nemigodi enzima tshu engavimbela ithando lakaJehova bona lifikelele eenkhonzini zakhe. (Roma 8:38, 39) Singamcabanga uJosefa athululela ubuhlungu bakhe kuBabakhe wezulwini ngomthandazo abuye godu afumane ukuthula nokuzola okulethwa ‘nguZimu wenduduzo yoke.’ (2 Korinte 1:3, 4; Filipi 4:6, 7) Khuyini enye uJehova ayenzela uJosefa? Sifunda ukuthi waragela phambili ‘ngokumenzela umusa phambi komphathijele.’

Kuyakhanya bona iimbotjhwa bezinikelwa umsebenzi okufuze ziwenze, uJosefa wanikela uJehova into okwakufuze ayibusise godu. Wasebenza budisi, wenza koke okusemandlenakhe kunanyana ngimuphi umsebenzi anikelwe wona, watjhiyela koke ezandleni zakaJehova. Ngesibusiso sakaJehova, uJosefa wafumana ukuthenjwa nehlonipho, njengombana ayifumana emzini kaPothifara. Siyafunda: “Umphathijele wabeka uJosefa bona abe yinduna phezu kwazo zoke iimbotjhwa. Wabekwa bonyana atjheje koke okwenziwa ngapho. Umphathijele azange azitshwenye ngokutjhejisisa nanyana yini ebeyingaphasi kwelihlo lakaJosefa ngombana [uJehova, NW] gade anoJosefa begodu amphumelelisa kinanyana yini agade ayenza.” (Genesisi 39:22, 23) Kufuze bona kwamduduza uJosefa ukwazi bona uJehova bekamtlhogomela!

Ipilo ingasilethela ukudana, isisengapha nangapha, siqalane ngitjho nokungabi nobulungiswa obumbi khulu, kodwana singafunda ekholweni lakaJosefa. Nasitjhidela kuJehova ngomthandazo, sihlala sithembekile emiyalwenakhe, begodu silwele ukwenza okulungileko emehlwenakhe, sizomnikela okuthileko azokubusisa. Endabeni kaJosefa, uJehova gade ambekele iimbusiso ezinengi, njengombana sizokubona eenhlokweni ezizokulandela zomlandelande lo.