UJOSEFA wayehamba ephasishi elimnyama, econsa umjuluko njengoba enza umsebenzi okhandlayo kule ndawo eshisa bhe. Ngaphandle kwesakhiwo, ilanga laseGibhithe lalithosa itilongo njengohonela wokushisa ubumba noma izitini. Ngezinye izikhathi kwakubonakala sengathi uzazi zonke izitini nemifantu okwakusezindongeni kule ndawo. Kwase kuwukuphela kwendawo ayeyazi lena. Yiqiniso, wayehlonishwa kakhulu kule ndawo. Noma kunjalo, wayeyisiboshwa.

Yeka indlela okufanele ukube wayekukhumbula ngayo ukuphila kwakhe emagqumeni anamadwala aphakeme eHebroni, lapho ayenakekela khona imfuyo kayise! Wayecishe abe neminyaka engu-17 lapho uyise, uJakobe, emthuma ukuba aye endaweni eqhele ngamakhilomitha amaningi. Inkululeko enjalo yayisiyiphupho. Abafowabo bakaJosefa abanomona bafukamela inzondo ebulalayo ngoJosefa futhi bamdayisa njengesigqila. Wayiswa eGibhithe, lapho aqale wakhonza khona endlini yesikhulu saseGibhithe uPotifari. UPotifari wayemthemba kakhulu uJosefa kwaze kwaba yilapho umkaPotifari emmangalela ngamanga ethi umdlwengulile, okwabangela ukuba avalelwe kuleli tilongo. *—Genesise, izahluko 37, 39.

Manje, uJosefa wayeseneminyaka engu-28 futhi esecishe abe neminyaka eyishumi eyisigqila nesiboshwa. Singathi nje, ngaleso sikhathi wayengaphili ukuphila ayekufisa. Ingabe wayeyoke akhululwe? Wayeyophinde ambone yini uyise osekhulile noma umfowabo omncane othandekayo, uBhenjamini? Wayeyovaleleka kuze kube nini kulo mgodi?

Ingabe wake wazizwa ngendlela uJosefa ayezizwa ngayo? Ngezinye izikhathi ukuphila kuba yinto ehluke ngokuphelele kulokho esasikufisa sisakhula. Kuyiqiniso ukuthi izimo ezibuhlungu zingabonakala zithatha isikhathi eside zingapheli futhi kungaba nzima ukuthola indlela yokuphuma kuzo noma yokuzikhuthazelela. Ake sibone ukuthi yini esingayifunda okholweni lukaJosefa.

UJosefa wayazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wakhe, uJehova, wayengamkhohliwe, futhi ngokuqinisekile ukwazi lokho kwamsiza wakhuthazela. Ngisho noma ayesetilongweni kwelinye izwe, uJehova wayelokhu embusisa. Yingakho iBhayibheli lithi: “UJehova waba noJosefa futhi waqhubeka edlulisela kuye umusa wothando futhi emenza ukuba athole umusa emehlweni esikhulu esiyinhloko setilongo.” (Genesise 39:21-23) Njengoba uJosefa ayeqhubeka esebenza kanzima, wayelokhu enikeza uNkulunkulu izizathu zokuba ambusise. Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba kwakumduduza ngayo ukwazi ukuthi uJehova wayelokhu enaye!

Ingabe uJehova wayezovuma ukuba uJosefa ahlale kuleli tilongo unomphela? UJosefa wayengase ayiqagele impendulo futhi ngokuqinisekile wayelokhu elubeka lolu daba kuNkulunkulu wakhe ngomthandazo. Njengoba kuvame ukwenzeka, impendulo yafika ngendlela eyayingalindelekile nhlobo. Ngolunye usuku, kwaba nesiyaluyalu etilongweni njengoba kwakufika iziboshwa ezintsha ezimbili—abantu ababeyizikhulu ezisebenzela uFaro ngokuqondile. Omunye wayeyinduna yababhaki; omunye eyinduna yabaphathindebe.—Genesise 40:1-3.

 Induna yemilindankosi yaphathisa uJosefa ukuba anakekele la madoda amabili ayekade evelele. * Ngobunye ubusuku ngayinye kula madoda yaphupha iphupho elididayo. Lapho uJosefa ewabona ekuseni, waqaphela ukuthi kukhona okwakungahambi kahle. Ngakho wabuza: “Kungani ubuso benu buhwaqabele namuhla?” (Genesise 40:3-7) Mhlawumbe umusa wakhe waqinisekisa la madoda ukuthi kwakuphephile ukukhuluma naye ngezinkinga zawo. UJosefa wayengazi, kodwa leyo ngxoxo yayizoshintsha ukuphila kwakhe. Nokho yayiyoba khona yini leyo ngxoxo, ukube uJosefa akazange akhethe ukubonisa umusa futhi akhathalele abanye? Isinqumo sakhe singase sisishukumisele ukuba sizibuze, ‘Ingabe ngiyalubonisa ukholo lwami kuNkulunkulu ngokuba ngibe nesithakazelo kwabanye?’

La madoda amabili achaza ukuthi ayekhathazwa amaphupho angavamile ayebe nawo—nanokuthi wayengekho umuntu owayengawachaza. AbaseGibhithe babekholelwa kakhulu emaphusheni futhi bethembele kakhulu emadodeni ayethi ayakwazi ukuwachaza. La madoda amabili ayengazi ukuthi amaphupho awo ayevela kuNkulunkulu kaJosefa, uJehova. Kodwa uJosefa wayazi. Wawaqinisekisa: “Izincazelo akuzona yini ezikaNkulunkulu? Ngicela ningilandise lona.” (Genesise 40:8) Amazwi kaJosefa asabalulekile kubo bonke abafundi beBhayibheli abaqotho namuhla. Ukube nje wonke umuntu othanda inkolo ubengabonisa isimo esifanayo sokuthobeka! Kudingeka sizimisele ukuyeka ukuqosha bese sithembela kuNkulunkulu njengoba sifuna izincazelo ezinembile zezwi lakhe!—1 Thesalonika 2:13; Jakobe 4:6.

Kwaqala umphathindebe. Watshela uJosefa iphupho elimayelana nomvini onamahlumela amathathu amila imilibo. Amagilebhisi avuthwa, umphathindebe wabe esewakhamela endebeni kaFaro. Ngosizo lukaJehova, ngaso leso sikhathi uJosefa wayiqonda incazelo yalelo phupho. Watshela umphathindebe ukuthi amahlumela amathathu, ayesho izinsuku ezintathu; phakathi naleso sikhathi, uFaro wayezobuyisela umphathindebe esikhundleni sakhe. Njengoba ubuso bomphathindebe babugcwala injabulo, uJosefa washo lesi sicelo: “Ngicela ungenzele umusa wothando ukhulume ngami kuFaro.” UJosefa wachaza ukuthi wayethunjiwe futhi eboshwe ngaphandle kwesizathu.—Genesise 40:9-15.

Ikhuthazwe izindaba ezinhle ezazitholwe umphathindebe, induna yababhaki nayo yabuza uJosefa incazelo yephupho layo lobhasikidi bezinkwa abathathu kanye nezinyoni ezidla komunye walabo bhasikidi abaphezu kwekhanda layo. UJosefa wayinikwa nencazelo yaleli phupho lesibili. Kodwa le ncazelo yayingemnandi kumbhaki. UJosefa wathi: “Nansi incazelo yalo: Obhasikidi abathathu bayizinsuku  ezintathu. Ezinsukwini ezintathu kusukela manje uFaro nakanjani uzolisusa ikhanda lakho kuwe, akulengise esigxotsheni; izinyoni zidle inyama yakho.” (Genesise 40:16-19) Njengazo zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile, ngesibindi uJosefa wembula imiyalezo kaNkulunkulu, imiyalezo eyizindaba ezinhle neyesahlulelo esizayo.—Isaya 61:2

Ngemva kwezinsuku ezintathu, amazwi kaJosefa agcwaliseka. UFaro wenza umkhosi omkhulu wokuzalwa—umkhosi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bangezikhathi zeBhayibheli ababengawugubhi—futhi wakhipha isahlulelo ezincekwini zakhe ezimbili. Umbhaki walengiswa, njengoba nje uJosefa ayeshilo, kanti umphathindebe wabuyiselwa esikhundleni sakhe. Kodwa ngokudabukisayo, leyo ndoda enganaki yamkhohlwa uJosefa.—Genesise 40:20-23

Kwadlula iminyaka emibili. (Genesise 41:1) Ungayicabanga nje indlela okumelwe ukuba kwakumcindezela ngayo uJosefa lokho! Mhlawumbe wayenethemba lokuthi uzophuma ngemva kokuba uJehova emenze wakwazi ukuqonda amaphupho omphathindebe nombhaki. Njengoba izinsuku ziqhubeka, mhlawumbe uJosefa wayehlale enethemba lokuthi uzokhululwa etilongweni—kodwa waqhubeka edonsa etilogweni. Kungenzeka nokuthi leyo minyaka emibili yaba nzima kakhulu kuJosefa. Nokho, akazange ayeke ukuthembela kuNkulunkulu wakhe, uJehova. Kunokuba aphelelwe yithemba, wayezimisele ukukhuthazela futhi lezo zikhathi ezicindezelayo zamqinisa.—Jakobe 1:4.

Kulezi zikhathi ezinzima, ubani kithi ongathi akudingeki akhuthazele? Ukuze sibhekane nezincindezi zokuphila, kudingeka ukuzimisela, ukubekezela, nokuthula kwangaphakathi esingakunikwa uNkulunkulu kuphela. Njengoba enza kuJosefa, angasisiza silwe nokudangala futhi singaphelelwa ithemba.—Roma 12:12; 15:13

Kungenzeka umphathindebe wamkhohlwa uJosefa, kodwa uJehova yena akazange amkhohlwe. Ngobunye ubusuku, wenza uFaro waphupha amaphupho amabili angasoze awakhohlwa. Kwelokuqala, inkosi yabona izinkomo eziyisikhombisa ezinhle nezikhuluphele ziphuma eMfuleni iNayile, zilandelwa izinkomo eziyisikhombisa ezimbi nezizacile. Izinkomo ezizacile zadla ezikhuluphele. Kamuva, uFaro waphupha izikhwebu zokusanhlamvu eziyisikhombisa ezikhuluphele zihluma ohlangeni. Kodwa kwakhula ezinye ezizacile nezihangulwe umoya, zaqala ukugwinya izikhwebu zokusanhlamvu ezazikhuluphele. Ekuseni, uFaro wavuka ephazamiseke kakhulu ngenxa yala maphupho, ngakho wabiza wonke amadoda akhe ahlakaniphile nabapristi abenza imilingo ukuze bachaze la maphupho. Bonke bahluleka. (Genesise 41:1-8) Asazi ukuthi baphelelwa amazwi yini noma baqhamuka nemibono engavumelani. Kunoma ikuphi, uFaro wadumala—nokho wayefuna ngempela ukuthola incazelo yala maphupho ayindida.

Ekugcineni, umphathindebe wamkhumbula uJosefa! Washaywa unembeza, watshela uFaro ngensizwa ephawulekayo eyayisetilongweni eyachaza ngokunembile iphupho lakhe nelenduna yababhaki eminyakeni emibili edlule. Ngokushesha, uFaro wathumela ukuba kulandwe uJosefa etilongweni.—Genesise 41:9-13.

Ungayicanga nje indlela uJosefa azizwa ngayo njengoba izithunywa zikaFaro zizomlanda. Waphuthuma washintsha izingubo ayezigqokile wagunda—wasusa zonke izinwele ekhanda, njengoba lelo kwakuyisiko laseGibhithe. Akungatshazwa ukuthi wathandaza ngobuqotho ukuze uJehova ambusise njengoba ayeyobonana nenkosi! Ngokushesha wazithola esemi ebukhazikhazini basesigodlweni sasebukhosini, phambi kwenkosi. Siyafunda: “Khona-ke uFaro wathi kuJosefa: ‘Ngiphuphé iphupho, kodwa akekho olichazayo. Manje ngizwile ngawe kuthiwa uyakwazi ukuzwa iphupho ulichaze.’ ” Impendulo kaJosefa yaphinde yabonisa ukuthi wayethobekile futhi enokholo kuNkulunkulu wakhe, wathi: “Angilutho mina! UNkulunkulu uzomemezela inhlalakahle kuFaro.”—Genesise 41:14-16.

UJehova uyabathanda abantu abathobekile nabathembekile, ngakho akumangazi ukuthi wanika uJosefa incazelo eyayihlule amadoda ahlakaniphile nabapristi. UJosefa wachaza ukuthi amaphupho amabili kaFaro ayenencazelo efanayo. Ngokuwuphinda kabili lo myalezo, uJehova wayegcizelela ukuthi lento “imi iqinile”—izogcwaliseka ngempela. Izinkomo ezikhuluphele nezikhwebu zokusanhlamvu zaziyiminyaka eyisikhombisa yenala enkulu eGibhithe, kanti izinkomo ezizacile nezikhwebu zokusanhlamvu ezingenalutho zazimelela iminyaka eyisikhombisa yendlala.  Leyo ndlala yayiyoqothula inala yezwe.—Genesise 41:25-32.

UFaro wayazi ukuthi uJosefa wayelichaze kahle iphupho. Manje yini eyayizokwenziwa? UJosefa wasikisela okwakungenziwa. Kwakudingeka uFaro athole indoda “eqondayo futhi ehlakaniphile” ukuze iqondise ukuqoqelwa kokusanhlamvu kwezwe ezinqolobaneni phakathi neminyaka eyisikhombisa yenala, bese lokho kudla ikwabela abaswele phakathi neminyaka yendlala. (Genesise 41:33-36) Ulwazi lukaJosefa namakhono ayenawo kwamenza wawufanelekela lo msebenzi, nokho akazange aziqhayise. Ukuthobeka nokholo lwakhe kwamenza wangakucabanga nhlobo ukuziphakamisa; wakubona kungafaneleki. Uma sinokholo oluqinile kuJehova, asikho isidingo sokufuna ukuvelela noma ukuziphakamisa. Singaba nokuthula, sishiyele konke ezandleni zakhe ezinamandla!

UFaro nazo zonke izinceku zakhe balibona lihlakaniphile icebo likaJosefa. Inkosi yaqaphela nokuthi ukuhlakanipha kukaJosefa kwakuvela kuNkulunkulu wakhe. Wathi ezincekwini zakhe: “Angatholakala yini omunye umuntu onjengalona, onomoya kaNkulunkulu?” Ngemva kwalokho uFaro wathi kuJosefa: “Njengoba uNkulunkulu ekubangele ukuba wazi konke lokhu, akekho umuntu onokuqonda futhi ohlakaniphe njengawe. Wena ngokwakho uzophatha indlu yami, futhi bonke abantu bami bazokulalela ngokuphelele. Ngizoba mkhulu kunawe ngokuqondene nesihlalo sobukhosi kuphela.”—Genesise 41:38-41.

UFaro wawagcina amazwi akhe. Ngokushesha uJosefa wagqokiswa izembatho zelineni elicolekile. UFaro wamnika umgexo wegolide, indandatho yophawu, inqola yodumo negunya eliphelele ezweni lonke lokwenza icebo lakhe lisebenze. (Genesise 41:42-44) Ngosuku nje uJosefa wayeka ukuba isiboshwa etilongweni wayiswa esigodlweni. Wavuka eyisiboshwa esingelutho, lashona esewumbusi, engowesibili ngokubukhulu embusweni kaFaro. Kuyacaca ngempela ukuthi ukholo lukaJosefa kuJehova uNkulunkulu lwalwamukeleka! UJehova wakubona konke ukungabi nabulungisa inceku yakhe eyabhekana nabo kuyo yonke leyo minyaka. Wakulungisa konke lokho ngesikhathi esifanele nangendlela efanele. UJehova wayengahlosile nje ukulungisa ububi obabenziwe kuJosefa kuphela kodwa wayefuna nokulondoloza isizwe sakwa-Israyeli esasizoba khona. Sizobona ukuthi kwenzeka kanjani lokho ezihlokweni ezilandelayo zalolu chungechunge.

Uma ubhekana nezimo ezinzima, mhlawumbe ukungabi nabulungisa okubonakala kuqhubeka iminyaka eminingi, ungadikibali. Khumbula uJosefa. Ngenxa yokuthi akazange aphelelwe umusa, ukuthobeka, ukukhuthazela kanye nokholo, wanika uJehova izizathu zokuba ekugcineni ambusise.