JOSEFA wahogela umoya lobutsile naloshisako lohambisana neliphunga lelimnandzi letimbali tesiganga kanye naletinye tihlahla letimila emantini. Abeholwa licembu lebatsengisi lebeselendlula lapho umfula iNayili wehlukana khona. Wabone ngeliso lengcondvo emadvodza alandzelana, ahola emakamela awo endlula ngasemfuleni aya kulelinye lidolobha laseGibhithe. Asahamba, kuhle kwetfuka tinyoni letisemaceleni, tindize tibaleke. Josefa waphindze wacabanga ngelikhaya lakubo lelisetintsabeni taseHebroni, lelaselikhashane kakhulu kunalapho abesafike khona; phela abesakulelinye live.

Cabanga ngemsindvo lomkhulu wetingobiyane letivakala tisetulu etihlahleni telusundvu netihlahla temkhiwa. KuJosefa belungevakali lulwimi lobelukhulunywa bantfu lebebahlangana nabo. Kungenteka abezama kuva lamanye emagama nobe imisho. Mhlawumbe bekungamsita nekuvele alufundze lolo lwimi. Abecabanga kutsi angeke asaphindze alibone likhaya lakubo.

Josefa abengakakhuli lokuyaphi​—abeneminyaka lengu-17 nobe lengu-18 budzala, kodvwa wabhekana netinkinga lebetingetfusa ngisho nemadvodza lamadzala. Bomnakabo bamdlela umona ngobe uyise wabo abemtsandza kakhulu, baze bacishe bambulala nekumbulala. Kodvwa bagcine bamtsengise kulelicembu lebatsengisi. (Genesisi 37:2, 5, 18-28) Nyalo, ngemuva kwekutsi sebahambe emaviki, labatsengisi besebajabula kakhulu ngobe besebatawufika edolobheni lelikhulu lapho bebatawutfola khona imali ngekutsengisa Josefa kanye netintfo tabo letiligugu. Yini Josefa layenta kuze kuphelelwa litsemba kungakheki enhlitiyweni yakhe futsi kumcedze emandla emoyeni? Yini tsine lamuhla lesingayenta kuze singavumeli tinkinga tekuphila kanye netiphazamiso kutsi ticedze kukholwa kwetfu? Kunyenti lesingakufundza kuJosefa.

“Ema-Ishmayeli ehla naye Josefa aya eGibhithe, efike amtsengisa kuPhotifari, siphatsimandla saFaro lesasiyindvuna yetingadzi tesigodlo.” (Genesisi 39:1) Kulawo mavi lambalwa, lokulandzisa lokuseBhayibhelini kusisita sibone indlela lelijaha lelahlazeka ngayo ngesikhatsi liphindze litsengiswa. Abesayintfo nje letsengiswako! Singacabanga ngaJosefa alandzela umphatsi wakhe lomusha, siphatsimandla saseGibhithe, bendlula edolobheni leliphitsitelako leligcwele timakethe letinyenti, baya endzaweni letawuba likhaya lelisha laJosefa.

Lelikhaya belehluke kakhulu kunaloko Josefa labekwetayele. Abekhulele emndenini lowawutfutsa kanyenti, uhlala emathendeni futsi unakekela imihlambi yetimvu. Kulendzawo labesafike kuyo, emaGibhithe lanjingile lanjengaPhotifari abehlala etindlini letinkhulu takanokusho, letipendwe ngemibala legcamile. Bososayensi labatsite babika kutsi emaGibhithe asendvulo abetsandza tingadzi letinhle letibiyelwe, letinetihlahla temtfunti kanye netiyalu tekuhlanyela umhlanga, timbali tesiganga kanye naletinye tihlahla letimila emantini. Letinye tindlu betakhiwe ekhatsi kuletingadzi, tinabovulanda lebebentelwe kutsi kuhlalwe khona nawufuna kushaywa ngumoya, tinemafasitelo lasetulu ekungenisa umoya, kanye nemakamelo lamanyenti, lokufaka ekhatsi nelikamelo lelikhulu lekudlela kanye netindlu tetisebenti.

Kwamkhanga yini Josefa kubona lobukhatikhati lobungaka? Kubonakala ngatsi akuzange. Kunaloko kwamenta wabona kutsi vele akasuye walapha.  EmaGibhithe abehlukile kuye ngelulwimi, ngendlela yekugcoka, kanye neyekutilungisa, kodvwa lokukhulu nakakhulu kutsi abehlukile kuye nangenkholo. Abekhonta bonkulunkulu labanyenti labehlukehlukene, asebentisa imimoya lemibi futsi enta imilingo, abephindze atitsandza kakhulu tinkholelo letimayelana nekufa kanye nekuphila ngemuva kwekufa. Kodvwa yinye intfo lebeyivikela Josefa kutsi angabulawa situnge. LiBhayibhelini nalisitjela litsi: “Simakadze waba naJosefa.” (Genesisi 39:2) Asingabati kutsi Josefa wayitfululela kuNkulunkulu inhlitiyo yakhe. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Simakadze usedvute nabo bonkhe labambitako.” (Tihlabelelo 145:18) Nguyiphi lenye indlela Josefa lasondzela ngayo kuNkulunkulu wakhe?

Lelijaha alizange livume kulahlekelwa litsemba, kunaloko lenta umsebenti walo ngekutimisela lokukhulu. Ngako-ke Josefa wenta kutsi kube nalokunyenti Jehova labekangambusisela kona, futsi watfola umusa emehlweni emphatsi wakhe lomusha. Photifari wabona kutsi lenceku yakhe ibusiswa nguJehova, Nkulunkulu webantfu bakuboJosefa, futsi leto tibusiso taletsa imphumelelo lenkhulu nakulomuti walomGibhithe. Kancane kancane lakhula lizinga Photifari labemetsemba ngalo Josefa, kangangekutsi waze wayekelela konkhe labenako etandleni talelijaha lelinelikhono.​—Genesisi 39:3-6.

Josefa ubabekela sibonelo lesihle kakhulu bantfu labasha labakhonta Nkulunkulu lamuhla. Nasi sibonelo: Nabasesikolweni, kungenteka batitfole basesimeni lesingakavami nalesingaketayeleki, batikhandze basemkhatsini webantfu labatsandza kusebentisa imimoya lemibi futsi labagcwele umbono lomubi nalongenalo litsemba ngekuphila. Nangabe ukuleso simo, khumbula kutsi Jehova akakashintji. (Jakobe 1:17) Usakhombisa kutsi uhlale anabo bonkhe labo labahlala betsembekile kuye futsi labatimiselako kwenta ngendlela lemjabulisako. Ubabusisa kakhulu bantfu labanjalo, futsi nawe angakubusisa.

Kwanyalo, lokulandzisa kusitjela kutsi Josefa abechubeka akhula. Lelijaha lakhula laba yindvodza ‘lenhle, lelikhwa.’ Lamagama akhombisa kutsi kwasekusondzela ingoti, ngobe buhle budvonselana emehlo nekunakwa lokungakadzingeki nalokungakalungi.

KuJosefa kwetsembeka bekubalulekile, kodvwa kumkaPhotifari bekungakabaluleki. Naku lesikufundzako: “UmkaPhotifari wafisa Josefa, waze waphahluka watsi kuye: ‘Lala nami.’” (Genesisi 39:7) Josefa wacishe wavuma yini nakancengwa ngulomfati longamkhonti Nkulunkulu? Kute sizatfu liBhayibheli lelisinika sona lesiveta kutsi Josefa betingamtsintsi tifiso netinkhanuko letivamile kumajaha lasemasha nobe kutsi lomfati abengabukeki akhanga, kwatise kutsi abengumfati lophatseke kahle  wesiphatsimandla lesinjingile. Josefa abengacabanga yini kutsi umphatsi wakhe ngeke aze ati ngako? Kucabanga ngemcebo labengawutfola ngekutiphatsa kabi bekungamenta yini alingeke?

Ecinisweni, ngeke sikwati konkhe loko Josefa labekucabanga. Kodvwa sikwati kahle loko lobekusenhlitiyweni yakhe. Kubonakala kahle kunayi imphendvulo yakhe: “Lalela la, inkhosi yami kute lesahlupheka ngako lapha ekhaya, ngobe konkhe ikubeke esandleni sami. Inkhosi ingilinganise nayo kulelikhaya, futsi kute lengigodlele kona ngaphandle kwakho, ngobe ungumkayo. Pho, ngingabenta kanjani lobubi lobungaka, ngone kuNkulunkulu?” (Genesisi 39:8, 9) Libone ngeliso lengcondvo lelijaha likhuluma lawo mavi ngekuciniseka lokukhulu. Bekumlimata ngisho kucabanga nje ngalesento labekafuna kutsi asente. Kungani?

Njengobe Josefa asho, umphatsi wakhe abemetsemba. Photifari abebeke konkhe esandleni saJosefa, angakamgodleli lutfo ngaphandle kwemfati wakhe. Abengamentela njani-ke phansi? Wawenyanya lowo mcabango. Kodvwa intfo labeyenyanya kakhulu nguwona nje lomcabango wekona kuNkulunkulu wakhe, Jehova. Kunyenti Josefa labekufundze kubatali bakhe mayelana nembono waNkulunkulu ngemshado kanye nekwetsembeka. Jehova nguye lowenta umshado wekucala, futsi wayicacisa lapho indlela lativa ngayo. Indvodza nemfati bebayawunamatselana, bese “baba nyamanye.” (Genesisi 2:24) Labo lebebake betama kwehlukanisa buhlobo lobunjalo baba sengotini yekutfola intfukutselo yaNkulunkulu. Sibonelo saloku kutsi labo lebebacishe batsatsa umka-Abrahama, labengukhokho waJosefa, nalabo lebebacishe batsatsa umfati wa-Isaka, labengugogo waJosefa, kwala kancane kutsi behlelwa yinhlekelele. (Genesisi 20:1-3; 26:7-11) Josefa abefundze sifundvo kuloko, futsi abetimisele kusisebentisa ekuphileni kwakhe.

UmkaPhotifari akazange akutsandze loko lakuva. Leni nje? Ase usicabange nje lesisebenti lesiphansi sesala, size sitsi loko lakushoko ‘kububi lobungaka’! Nanome kunjalo, wachubeka amncenga. Kungenteka wativa ahlazekile, lokwamenta wafuna kumvumisa ngenkhani Josefa. Wakhombisa umoya lofana newaSathane, lowalinga Jesu. Imetamo yaSathane nayo ayizange iphumelele, kodvwa kunekutsi aphele emandla, Sathane wamela “lelinye litfuba lelikahle.” (Lukha 4:13) Kungako bantfu labetsembekile nabo kudzingeka batimisele futsi bangagucugucuki. Nguleyo indlela Josefa latiphatsa ngayo. Nanome lesimo besichubeka “onkhe emalanga,” Josefa akazange ashintje. Naku lesikufundzako: “Akazange avume.” (Genesisi 39:10) Nanome kunjalo, umkaPhotifari abetimisele kulala naye.

Wakhetsa sikhatsi lapho tonkhe tisebenti betitawube tingekho ngaso endlini. Bekati kutsi Josefa bekutawudzingeka angene endlini kuze ente umsebenti wakhe. Watsi nakangena, umkaPhotifari wezama kumbamba. Abamba ingubo yaJosefa, waphindze wamcela, watsi: “Lala nami!” Josefa akaphotisanga maseko. Wetama kuphunyula etandleni takhe, wadedela emuva, kodvwa umkaPhotifari wayibamba wayicinisa lengubo. Josefa wayinyomula lengubo, yasala etandleni temkaPhotifari, wase udla phansi!​—Genesisi 39:11, 12.

Loku kungase kusikhumbute seluleko semphostoli Pawula lesiphefumulewe, lesitsi: “Bubalekeleni budlundlulu.” (1 Khorinte 6:18) Josefa wawabekela sibonelo lesihle kakhulu onkhe emaKhristu eliciniso! Kuphila kungase kusiphocelele kutsi sisondzelane nebantfu labangayihloniphi imiyalo yaNkulunkulu yekutiphatsa, kodvwa loko akusho kutsi kufanele bese siyengeleka ekwenteni lokubi. Ngisho nome kungaba namuphi umphumela, kufanele sibaleke.

Endzabeni yaJosefa, umphumela wawumatima. UmkaPhotifari abefuna kutiphindziselela. Wasukeka wamemeta, abita leletinye tisebenti kutsi tingene endlini. Watsi Josefa abezama kumdlwengula kodvwa wase uyabaleka ngesikhatsi amemeta. Wayibeka lengubo njengebufakazi wase umela indvodza yakhe kutsi ibuye. Nakabuya ekhaya Photifari, umfati wakhe wamtjela lawo manga, wamsola ngekutsi nguye labeletse lesihambi endlini yabo. Yini Photifari layenta? Naku lesikufundzako: “Lendvuna yatfukutselela Josefa kamatima.” Yase iyamtsatsa imfaka ejele kuze avalelwe khona.​—Genesisi 39:13-20.

Kuncane lesikwatiko ngemajele aseGibhithe angaleso sikhatsi. Bososayensi batfole tindzala talawo majele​—takhiwo letinkhulu lebetinetitokisi letingetulu kanye naletinye letingephansi kwemhlaba. Josefa wachaza lendzawo ngeligama lelitsi ‘lijele,’ lelitsi nalihunyushwe njengobe linjalo lisho umgodzi, lokusho indzawo lemnyama futsi lokute litsemba  kuyo. (Genesisi 40:15) Encwadzini yeTihlabelelo, sifundza kutsi Josefa waphindze wahlushwa nangalenye indlela: “Tinyawo takhe batibopha ngetinketane, naye lucobo lwakhe waboshwa ngetinsimbi.” (Tihlabelelo 105:17, 18) Ngaletinye tikhatsi, emaGibhithe abebopha tiboshwa ngekuhlanganisa tingcosa tato ngemuva; labanye bebababopha ngetinsimbi entsanyeni. Kufanele kutsi kwakubuhlungu ngaJosefa kuhlushwa kangaka, abe angakoni lutfo!

Lokubuhlungu nakakhulu kutsi loku akuzange kube yintfo yesikhashana. Lokulandzisa kusitjela kutsi Josefa “wahlala khona” lapho ejele. Wacitsa iminyaka kuleyo ndzawo! a Futsi Josefa abengati kutsi utawuke akhululwe. Njengobe lawo malanga akhula aba ngemaviki, ase aba natinyanga, yini leyamenta wangalilahli litsemba futsi wangaphelelwa nangemandla?

Lokulandzisa kusiniketa nayi imphendvulo lesicinisekisako: “Simakadze wajinge waba naye, wamentela umusa.” (Genesisi 39:21) Kute lokungavimbela Jehova kutsi atikhombise umusa tinceku takhe, kungaba tindvonga tasejele, tinketane, nobe titokisi letimnyama letingephansi kwemhlaba. (Roma 8:38, 39) Singase sicabange ngaJosefa atfululela lusizi lwakhe ngemthantazo kuYise wakhe lotsandzekako wasezulwini futsi atfola loluhlobo lwekuthula lolutfolakala kuphela ‘kuNkulunkulu wayo yonkhe indvudvuto.’ (2 Khorinte 1:3, 4; Filiphi 4:6, 7) Yini lenye Jehova layentela Josefa? Sifundza kutsi wachubeka amupha “kutsandzeka emehlweni emgcinijele.”

Kufanele kutsi letiboshwa betiniketwa umsebenti lobekufanele tiwente. Nalapha futsi Josefa wenta lokutsite Jehova labengambusisela kona. Wasebenta kamatima, atimisela kunobe ngumuphi umsebenti labeniketwa wona futsi konkhe lokunye abekushiyela kuJehova. Abusiswa nguJehova, Josefa wetsenjwa futsi wahlonishwa, njengobe kwenteka kanjalo nasemtini waPhotifari. Naku lesikufundzako: “Umgcinijele wabeka tonkhe tiboshwa ngaphansi kwesandla saJosefa; yonkhe imisebenti leyayentiwa ejele yabekwa ngaphansi kwesandla saJosefa. Umgcinijele akazange aphindze ahlupheke ngaloko lokwakungaphansi kwesandla saJosefa, ngobe Simakadze abenaye, futsi konkhe labekwenta Josefa Simakadze abekuphumelelisa.” (Genesisi 39:22, 23) Kwamdvudvuta kakhulu Josefa kwati kutsi Jehova abemnakekela!

Natsi singahlangabetana netinkinga letisicindzetelako ekuphileni, kungaba ngisho nakuphatfwa kabi sibe singakoni lutfo, kodvwa singafundza esibonelweni sekukholwa kwaJosefa. Nangabe sisondzela kuJehova ngemthantazo, silalela imiyalo yakhe, futsi sisebenta kamatima senta lokulungile emehlweni akhe, utawuba nesizatfu sekusibusisa. Endzabeni yaJosefa, Jehova abesetamniketa tibusiso letinyenti, njengobe sitawufundza etihlokweni letilandzelako taloluhlobo.