21—UYosefu Nabantakwabo

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiGenesis 41:54-56; 42 ukuya 50.]

Kwasekuqaleni nje kweminyaka yendyebo, kwenziwa amalungiselelo endlala ezayo. Phantsi komyalelo kaYosefu, kwenziwa amalungiselelo abanzi ukuba kugcinwe isivuno esingaphezulu esilindelekileyo. Loo mthetho mnye waqhubeka kwiminyaka esixhenxe yentlutha, wada umyinge wokudla okugciniweyo wangaphaya kokubalwa.ANa 224.1

Yaqala ukufika iminyaka esixhenxe yendlala, ngokwelizwi likaYosefu. “Yabakho indlala kumazwe onke; ke ezweni lonke laseYiputa kwakukho isonka. Lonke ilizwe laseYiputa laba nendlala; abantu bakhalela isonka kuFaro; wathi uFaro kuwo onke amaYiputa, yiyani kuYosefu; athe wakuthetha kuni nize nikwenze. Indlala yaba sezweni lonke; uYosefu wazivula zonke izindlu ezinokudla, wathengisa ngengqolowa kumaYiputa.”ANa 224.2

Indlala yaya kufikelela nasezweni laseKanan, yafikelela ngamandla kwindawo yelizwe apho wayehlala khona uYakobi. Wathi akuva ngomsindleko omninzi owenziwayo ngukumkani waseYiputa, oonyana abalishumi bakaYakobi basinga khona apho ukuya kuthenga ukudla. Ekufikeni kwabo bathunyelwa kwisekela likakumkani, bathi, bekunye nabanye abaze kucela, beza kuziveza phambi komlawuli welizwe. “Baqubuda kuye ngobuso emhlabeni.” “UYosefu wabazi abakhuluwa bakhe; ke bona abamnakananga.” Igama lakhe lesiHebhere lalitshintshwe ngawalinikwa ngukumkani, kwaye kukuncinane ukufana phakathi komlawuli waseYiputa kunye nomfana ababemthengise kuma-Ishmayeli. Wathi uYosefu akubona abantakwabo, begoba bethoba, afika engqondweni yakhe amaphupha akhe, kwathi thaa ngokucacileyo kuye imibono yexesha eladlulayo. Iliso lakhe elibukhali, lakhawuleza ukulifundaiqela, wafumanisa ukuba uBhenjamin wayengekho phakathi kwabo. Ingaba naye waba lixhoba lentiyo engcolileyo yaloo madoda anengcwangu? Wazimisela ukuyifunda inyaniso. “Niziintlola nina,” watsho kalukhuni; “nize kubona ubuze belizwe eli.”ANa 224.3

Baphendula, “Hayi, nkosi; abakhonzi bakho baze kuthenga ukudla. Sonke siphela singoonyana bamfo mnye; siyalungisa, abakhonzi bakho abazizo iintlola.” Wanqwenela ukwazi ukuba ingaba basenala moya wokuziphakamisa njengoko wayese nabo, kwanokufumana kubo ulwazi oluthile ngekhaya labo; kanti wayesazi kakuhle ukuba zisenokuba yinkohliso kangakanani iintetho zabo. Wasiphinda isimangalo, baza baphendula, “abakhonzi bakho balishumi elinababini; siyazalana, singoonyana bamfo mnye ezweni lakwaKanan. Uyabona, omncinane ukubawo namhla, omnye akakho.”ANa 225.1

Ngokuthi uyabuthandabuza ubunyaniso bebali labo, nokubathabatha njengeentlola, umlawuli wathi uza kubavavanya, ngokuthi mabahlale eYiputa ade omnye wabo ahambe abuye nomntakwabo omncinane. Ukuba abakuvumi oku, babeya kuphathwa njengeentlola. Uhlelo olunjalo abazange baluvume oonyana bakaYakobi, njengoko ixesha lokwenza oko laliya kuzilambisa iintsapho zabo; nokuthi, ngubani kubo oya kuhamba yedwa ashiye abantakwabo entolongweni? Angathini khona kuyise phantsi kweemeko ezinjalo? Kwabonakala ingathi banokubulawa okanye benziwe amakhoboka; kanti nokuba uBhenjamin kuziwe naye, iya kuba kukwenza ukuba naye abe nabo kwimeko yabo. Bagqiba kwelokuba bahlale baphatheke kakubi bekunye, kunokuba bayokongeza intlungu kuyise ngokulahleka konyana wakhe ekuphela koseleyo. Ngoko ke, bafakwa entolongweni, apho bahlala khona iintsuku ezintathu.ANa 225.2

Ngeminyaka yokwahlukana kukaYosefu nabantakwabo, aba nyana bakaYakobi babetshintshile esimilweni. Ukuba nomona, ukuba nengxwabangxwaba, ukuba nenkohliso, ukukhohlakala, ukuba nempindezelo, konke kuhlangene, yinto ababeyiyo; kodwa ngoku, xa bevavanywa yimeko embi, babonakala bengatsaleli omnye kuye, benyanisekile omnye komnye, bemthanda uyise, nangona nabo sebengamaqina amadoda, babephantsi kwegunya lakhe.ANa 225.3

Iintsuku ezintathu kwintolongo yaseYiputa zazimbi njengoko abazalwana bacinga ngezono zabo ezadlulayo. Ukuba abamvezanga uBhenjamin, ukubanjwa kwabo njengeentlola kwakubonakala kuqinisekile, laye lilincinane kakhulu ithemba lokuba uyise angakuvuma ukungabikho kukaBhenjamin. Ngosuku lwesithathu, uYosefu wathi mabaziswe phambi kwakheabazalwana. Wayengasafuni ukugqithisa ekubavaleleni. Uyise neentsapho banokuba babesele besifa yindlala. “Yenzani oku, niphile,” watsho; “kuba ndiyamoyika uThixo. Ukuba ninyanisile, omnye umzalwana kuni apha makakhonkxwe endlwini yokugcinwa kwenu, nihambe nina, niyise ingqolowa ngenxa yendlala yezindlu zenu. Umninawa wenu omncinane nimzise kum; okholeka ke amazwi enu, ningafi.” Eli icebiso bavuma ukulamkela, nangona babonisa ukuba lincinane kakhulu kwethemba, phofu yena uYosefu wayethetha nabo ngomguquli wentetho, bengacingi konke ukuba umlawuli uyabeva, baye bethetha ngokukhululekileyo omnye nomnye ekhona. Bazisola ngendlela abaphatha ngayo uYosefu: “Inyaniso, sinetyala ngenxa yomninawa wethu, sabe sikubona nje ukubandezeleka komphefumlo wakhe, oko abetarhuzisa kuthi, asamphulaphula; kungenxa yoko le nto kusifikeleyo oku kubandezeleka.” URubhen owayenze icebo lokumhlangula eDothan, wongeza, “Ndabe ndingatsho na kuni ukuthi, Musani ukumona umfana? Anaphulaphula; yabonani ke, igazi lakhe liyabizwa.” UYosefu, ephulaphule, akazange akwazi ukuzibamba imvakalelo yakhe, waphuma phandle, walila. Ukubuya kwakhe wayalela ukuba uSimon abotshwe phambi kwabo aphinde abuyiselwe entolongweni. Ekuphathweni ngenkohlakalo komntakwabo, uSimon, wayephambili ekuphembeleleni nasekwenzeni, kwaba ngeso sizathu okwenza ukuba iqashiso liwe phezu kwakhe.ANa 225.4

Phambi kokuba abavumele abantakwabo ukuba bahambe, uYosefu wakhupha umyalelo wokuba banikwe ingqolowa, nokuba imali yalowo nalowo ibuyiselwe emlonyeni wengxowa yakhe ngokusemfihlakalweni. Zakhutshelwa nezilwanyana ukutya kwendlela egodukayo. Endleleni, omnye weqela, wathi xa evula ingxowa yakhe, wothuswa kukufumana ingxowa yakhe yesilivere. Wathi akubaxelela abanye, bothuka badideka, bathethana besithi, “Yintoni na le ayenzileyo uThixo kuthi?”—ingaba bangayithabatha njengomqondiso wokulunga ovele kuYehova okanye uyivumele ukuba yenzeke ukuze bohlwaywe ngenxa yezono zabo ukuze bangene nzulu kwintshutshiso? Bavuma ukuba uThixo uzibonile izono zabo, nokuba ngoku uyabohlwaya.ANa 226.1

UYakobi wayelindele esexhaleni ukubuya koonyana bakhe, bathi bakufika wonke umzi wabangqonga ngexesha bebalisela uyise konke okwathi kwenzeka. Ukumangala nexhala kwazizalisa zonke iintliziyo. Ukuziphatha komlawuli waseYiputa kwanika ingqondo yokuba kwakunobubi, lwaza uloyiko lwabo lwaqiniseka xa,bathi bakuvula iingxowa zabo, imali yomntu yafunyanwa kwingxowa nganye. Ekuxinzelekeni kwakhe, utata osele ekhulile wadanduluka, “Nindihluthe abantwana; uYosefu akakho, uSimon akakho, niza kuthabatha noBhenjamin; zikhwele kum zonke ezo zinto.” Waphendula uRubhen, “Babulale bobabini oonyana bam, ukuba andithanga ndimzise kuwe mnikele esandleni sam, ndombuyisela kuwe mna.” Le ntetho ikhawulezileyo ayizange iyikhulule ingqondo kaYakobi. Impendulo yakhe yathi, “Unyana wam akasayi kuhla nani; ngokuba ufile umkhuluwa wakhe, yena usele yedwa. Ukuba uthe wahlelwa yingozi endleleni eniyihambayo, izimvi zam nozithobela kwelabafileyo ndinesingqala.”ANa 226.2

Yaqhubeka imbalela, kwathi ekuhambeni kwexesha, kwabonakala ukuba sele iza kuphela ingqolowa eyayithengwe eYiputa. Oonyana bakaYakobi babesazi kakuhle ukuba kuya kuba lilize ukubuyela eYiputa ngaphandle kukaBhenjamin. Laye lilincinane kubo ithemba lokuba bangasiguqula isigqibo sikayise, baza balinda bethe cwaka. Aya esiba mnyama ngakumbi amathunzi endlala efikayo; kubo bonke abasemzini, ixhego lafunda unxunguphalo ngenxa yentswelo yabo; ekugqibeleni lathi, “Buyani niye kusithengela intwana yokudla.”ANa 227.1

Waphendula uYuda wathi, “Indoda leyo yaqononondisa kuthi, yathi, Aniyi kububona ubuso bam, engabangakho nani umninawa wenu. Ukuba uthe wamthuma umninawa wethu nathi, sohla siye kukuthengela ukudla. Ukuba akuthanga umthume, asiyi kuhla; kuba indoda leyo yathi kuthi, aniyi kububona ubuso bam, engabangakho nani umninawa wenu.” Wathi akubona ukuba isigqibo sikayise siyathingaza, wongeza, “Mthume nam umfana, sisuke sihambe, siphile, singafi thina, nawe, nabantwana bethu;” wazinikela ukuba uya kuba ngummeli womntakwabo nokuthwala ityala ngonaphakade ukuba usilele ukumbuyisela uBhenjamin kuyise.ANa 227.2

UYakobi akazange akwazi ukukubamba ixesha elide ukuvuma kwakhe, waza wabayalela oonyana bakhe ukuba balungiselele ukuhamba. Wabacela ukuba baphathele umlawuli isipho sezinto ezazinokufumaneka kwilizwe elithwaxwe yimbalela--“intwana yamafutha aqholiweyo, nentwana yencindi yobusi, nentlaka emhlophe, nentlaka emnandi, neenkozo zepistasi, nee-amangile,” watsho, “ninduluke, niye kwindoda leyo.” Bathi xa oonyana bakhe beza kuhamba kwindlela yabo enentandabuzo, ubawo osele emdala waphakama, wanyusela izandla zakhe ezulwini, wenza umthandazo, “Ngamana uThixo uSomandla waniphatha ngemfesane phambi kwendoda leyo, ukuba inikhululele omnye umzalwana wenu lowo noBhenjamin. Mna, ukuba ndihluthiwe abantwana, ndihluthiwe.”ANa 227.3

Baphinda bathabatha uhambo ukuya eYiputa, bazimisa phambi kukaYosefu. Athi amehlo akhe akuwa phezu kukaBhenjamin, umntwana kamama wakhe, wachukumiseka kakhulu. Wayifihla imvakalelo yakhe, sekunjalo, kodwa wayalela ukuba basiwe endlwini yakhe, baze balungiselelwe ukuba batye kunye naye. Ekusiweni kwabo kwibhotwe lerhuluneli, abantakwabo bothuka kakhulu, besoyika kuba besithi hleze kuthiwe mabanike ingxelo ngemali eyafunyanwa kwiingxowa zabo. Bacinga ukuba kunokuba yayifakwe apho ngenjongo, ukunika isizathu sokuba benziwe amakhoboka. Ekuxinzelekeni kwabo, bathethana negosa lendlu, belichazela iimeko zotyelelo lwabo lokuqala eYiputa; nokuba ukubonisa ubungqina bobumsulwa babo, balazisa ukuba babuye nayo imali eyafunyanwa ezingxoweni zabo, bekwaphethe nenye imali yokuthenga ukudla; baza bongeza, “Asimazi oyifakileyo imali ezingxoweni zethu.” Yaphendula indoda, “Xolani, musani ukoyika; uThixo wenu, uThixo kayihlo, uninikile ubutyebi ezingxoweni zenu; imali yenu ndayamkela.” Ixhala labo lehla, wathi uSimon owayevalelwe entolongweni akukhululwa, wahlangana nabo, baqonda ukuba uThixo ngokwenene ube nenceba ngakubo.ANa 228.1

Wathi akuphinda ahlangane nabo umlawuli, bamnika izipho zabo baza ngembeko, “[ba]qubuda kuye emhlabeni.” Kwakhona aphinda athi qatha engqondweni yakhe amaphupha akhe, wathi emva kokuba ezibulisile iindwendwe zakhe, wakhawuleza wabuza, “Uyihlo usaphilile na, ixhego enanithethe ngalo? Usadla ubomi na?” “Usaphilile umkhonzi wakho, usadla ubomi,” yatsho impendulo, ngexesha bethoba bequbuda. Ngoko amehlo akhe awa kuBhenjamin, wathi, Nguye na lo umninawa wenu, enibe nithetha ngaye kum?” “ngamana uThixo wakubabala, nyana wam;” kodwa, egunyelwe yimvakalelo yothando, “Wangena engontsini, walila khona.”ANa 228.2

Wathi akuba nokukwazi ukuzibamba, wabuya, baza bonke baya esidlweni. Ngokwemithetho yocalucalulo, amaYiputa ayesalelwa ukuba atye nabantu bolunye uhlanga. Oonyana bakaYakobi baba netafile yabo esecaleni, lo gama umlawuli, ngenxa yesikhundla sakhe esiphezulu, wayesitya yedwa, amaYiputa nawo enetafile yawo. Bathi bakuba behleli bonke, bamangaliswa abazalwana kukubona ukuba bahlaliswe kanye ngokokwalekelana kwabo, ngokweminyaka yabo. UYosefu wabasela “izabelo ezisuka phambi kwakhe;” kodwa esikaBhenjamin sasiphindwe kahlanu kunezabanye. Ngoku kubonisa kwakhe ukumthanda uBhenjamin, wayethembe ukuqinisekisa ukuba lo ungoyenamncinane wayephethwe ngomona nentiyo eyayibonakalaliswe kuye. Besacinga ukuba uYosefu akaluqondi ulwimi lwabo, abazalwana bancokola ngokukhululekileyo omnye nomnye; ngaloo ndlela waba nethuba elihle lokuzifunda ngenene izimvo zabo. Wayesafuna ukubavavanya ngakumbi, wathi phambi kokuba bahambe, wayalela ukuba indebe yakhe yokusela iqhushekwe engxoweni yoyena mncinane.ANa 228.3

Ngovuyo baphuma bebuyela [ekhaya]. U-Simon noBhenjamin babekunye nabo, izilwanyana zisindwa yingqolowa, bonke baziva besindile kwiintlekele ezazibukeka zibangqongile. Bathi nje xa befika emideni yesixeko, bafunyanwa ligosa lomlawuli, elabahlasela ngombuzo obalwisayo, “Yinina ukuba niphindezele okulungileyo ngokubi? Le nto asiyile na inkosi yam isela ngayo, ihlabe nezihlabo ngayo? Yinto embi le nto niyenzileyo.” Le ndebe yayimele ukuba inamandla okucupha yonke into eyityhefu eyayifakwe kuyo. Ngaloo mihla, iindebe ezilolu hlobo zazixatyiswe kakhulu njengezikhusela ekubulaweni ngokutyiswa ityhefu.ANa 229.1

Kwisityholo segosa, abahambi baphendula, “Yini na ukuba inkosi yam ithethe ngokwaloo mazwi? Makube lee kubakhonzi bakho ukwenza ngokwelo lizwi. Uyabona, imali esayifumanayo emlonyeni weengxowa zethu, sayibuyisela kuwe, sivela ezweni lakwaKanan. Singathini na ke ukuba endlwini yenkosi yakho isilivere nokuba yigolide? Osukuba ifunyenwe kuye phakathi kwabakhonzi bakho, makafe; kananjalo thina sibe ngamakhoboka enkosini yam.”ANa 229.2

“Makube njengokwamazwi enu;” latsho igosa, “ke ngoko osukuba ifunyenwe kuye, woba sisicaka sam, ke nina noba msulwa.”ANa 229.3

Kwaqalwa kwangoko ukukhangela. “Bakhawuleza, bathula elowo ingxowa yakhe, bayibeka emhlabeni,” laza igosa lahlola ingxowa nganye, liqala ngekaRubhen, lihamba ngokulandelelana ukuya koyena umncinane. Engxoweni kaBhenjamin, yafunyanwa indebe.ANa 229.4

Abantakwabo bazikrazula iingubo zabo ukubonisa ukukhathazeka kwabo, baza bahamba kancinane ukubuyela esixekweni. Ngokwesithembiso sabo, uBhenjamin waba ugwetyelwe ubomi bokuba likhoboka. Balilandela igosa baya kufika ebhotwe, bafika ekhona umlawuli, bathoba phambi kwakhe emhlabeni. “Sisenzo sini na esi nisenzileyo?” watsho. “Beningazi na ukuba indoda enjengam ibingahlaba izihlabo?” UYosefu wanga angabenza ukuba basifune isono sabo. Wayengazange athi unamandla okuvumisa, kodwa wayenentumekelelo yokubenza bakholwe ukuba unako ukufunda iimfihlelo zobomi babo.ANa 229.5

Waphendula uYuda wathi, “Siya kuthini na enkosini yam? Siya kuthetha ntoni na? Siya kuzihlamba njani na? UThixo ubufumene ubugwenxa babakhonzi bakho; yabona, singabakhonzi benkosi yam, thina aba, nalowa indebe ifunyenwe esandleni sakhe.”ANa 230.1

“Makube lee kum ukwenza loo nto; indoda efunyenwe esandleni sayo indebe, yiyo eya kuba sisicaka kum; ke nina nyukani nixolile, niye kuyihlo.”ANa 230.2

Ngentlupheko enkulu, uYuda wasondela kumlawuli wakhala, “Tarhu, nkosi yam! Makhe athethe ilizwi umkhonzi wakho ezindlebeni zenkosi yam; mawungavuthi umsindo wakho ngakumkhonzi wakho, ngokuba ungangoFaro wena.” Ngamazwi amaninzi achukumisayo, wayichaza intlungu kayise ngokulahleka kukaYosefu kwanokuthingaza kwakhe ukuvumela ukuba uBhenjamin aye nabo eYiputa, njengokuba ekuphela konyana wakhe oseleyo kunina, uRakeli, amthanda kakhulu uyise. “Ngoko ke,” watsho, “ukuba ndithe ndafika kubawo umkhonzi wakho, engenathi umfana (umphefumlo wakhe ubotshiwe ngomphefumlo wakhe nje), kothi, akubona ukuba akakho umfana, afe, nabakhonzi bakho bahlise izimvi zomkhonzi wakho ubawo enesingqala, ziye kwelabafileyo. Kuba umkhonzi wakho lo wammela umfana lowo kubawo, ndisithi, Ukuba andithanga ndimzise kuwe, ndoba netyala kubawo yonke imihla yam. Ngoko makahlale umkhonzi wakho lo esikhundleni somfana, ndibe likhoboka enkosini yam mna; umfana anyuke nabakhuluwa bakhe. Kuba ndingathini na ukunyuka ndiye kubawo, engenam umfana? Hleze ndibubone ububi obomfumana ubawo.”ANa 230.3

UYosefu waneliseka. Wazibona kubakhuluwa bakhe iziqhamo zenguquko yenene. Wathi akuva ukuzinikela okunentlonipho kukaYuda, wanika imiyalelo ukuba bonke abanye abantu babuye umva; waza, egxwala, wakhala esithi, “NdinguYosefu; usaphilile na ubawo?”ANa 230.4

Abakhuluwa bakhe boma, bazizimumu kukoyika nakukumangala. Umlawuli waseYiputa umntakwabo uYosefu, ababenekhwele ngaye, banga bangambulala, baza ekugqibeleni bamthengisa njengekhoboka! Konke ukumphatha kwabo kakubi kwathi thaa phambi kwabo. Bakhumbula indlela abawadelela ngayo amaphupha akhe baza bazama ukukuthintela ukufezeka kwawo. Noko kunjalo baba nenxaxheba ekuwazalisekiseni la maphupha; kwaye ngoku, njengoko besegunyeni lakhe ngokupheleleyo, wayenako, ngokungathandabuzekiyo, ukuphindezela ububi awabufumanayo.ANa 230.5

Wathi akubona ukuphazamiseka kwabo, ngobubele wathi, “Khanisondele kumapha;”bathi bakusondelawaqhubawathi, “NdinguYosefu, umzalwana wenu, enathengisayo ngaye eYiputa. Ngoko musani ukuba buhlungu, ningaziqumbeli, ukuba nathengisa ngam apha; kuba uThixo wandithuma phambi kwenu ukuze ndisindise abantu.” Wathi akubona ukuba beve ubuhlungu ngokwaneleyo ngenkohlakalo yabo ngakuye, ngobunene, wazama ukulugxotha uloyiko nokucutha ubukrakra bokuzigweba.ANa 231.1

“Kuba ngoku iminyaka mibini,” waqhubeka, “indlala ikho phakathi kwelizwe; isemihlanu iminyaka ezayo, ekungayi kubakho kulima nakuvuna ngayo. UThixo undithume phambi kwenu, ukuba ndinimisele amasalela ezweni, ukuba ndisindise ubomi benu, ibe kukusinda okukhulu. Ngoko ke asinini abandithume apha, nguThixo; wandenza uyise kuFaro, nenkosi phezu kwayo yonke indlu yakhe, nomlawuli ezweni lonke laseYiputa. Khawulezani, ninyuke niye kubawo, nithi kuye, Utsho unyana wakho uYosefu ukuthi, UThixo undenze inkosi kuyo yonke iYiputa; yihla uze kum musa ukulibala. Wohlala ezweni laseGoshen, ube kufuphi kum, wena, noonyana bakho, nempahla yakho emfutshane, neenkomo zakho, nezinto zonke onazo; ndikondle khona, kuba isayakuba mihlanu iminyaka yendlala; hleze uhlwempuzeke wena, nendlu yakho, nento yonke onayo. Yabonani, amehlo enu ayabona, namehlo omninawa wam uBhenjamin, ukunga ngumlomo walo uthethayo kuni.” “Wawa entanyeni kaBhenjamin, umninawa wakhe, walila; uBhenjamin walila entanyeni yakhe. Wabanga bonke abazalwana bakhe, walila phezu kwabo. Emveni koko, abazalwana bakhe bathetha naye.” Ngokuthobeka, basivuma isono sabo bamcela ukuba abaxolele. Bekuse kukudala bephethwe lunxunguphalo nokuzisola, ngoku bavuya kuba wayesaphila.ANa 231.2

Iindaba zoko kwenzekayo zakhawuleza zaya kufika kukumkani, owathi, ngolangazelelo lokufuna ukubonisa umbulelo ngakuYosefu, wasiqinisekisa isimemo somlawuli kusapho lwayo, esithi, “Zonke izinto ezilungileyo zelizwe lonke laseYiputa zezenu.” Abantakwabo babuyiselwa ekhaya bethwele into eninzi yomphako, neenqwelo zokuthwala nako konke ekwakufuneka ukususa iintsapho zabo nabasebenzi babo ukubazisa eYiputa. KuBhenjamin, uYosefu wabeka izipho ezinexabiso ukudlula ezabanye. Wathi, esoyikela ukuba kungasuka kubekho ingxabano phakathi kwabo endleleni esinga ekhaya, wabayala ngelithi, “Ize ningaxabani endleleni.”ANa 231.3

Oonyana bakaYakobi babuyelakuyisebeneendaba ezivuyisayo, “UYosefu usahleli; ewe, ungumphathi welizwe lonke laseYiputa.” Ekuqaleni, indoda enkulu zaya zayonganyelwa (ezi ndaba); kwanzima ukuzikholelwa izinto ezivayo; kodwa yathi yakubona umkhosi weengqwelo nezilwanyana ezisindwa yimithwalo, wathi akubona noBhenjamin ekunye nabo, woyisakala, ngovuyo olupheleleyo wadanduluka, “Kwanele. UYosefu unyana wam usahleli. Ndiya kuya ndimbone, ndingekafi.”ANa 232.1

Kwakusasele esinye isenzo sokuzithoba kubazalwana abalishumi. Ngoku babeyivumile kuyise inkohliso nenkohlakalo eyabenza krakra ubomi bakhe kunye nobabo iminyaka. UYakobi wayengazange wabakrokrela kwisono esinjalo ukuba phantsi, kodwa wabona ukuba konke kwakuyekelwe okulungileyo, waza wabaxolela, wabasikelela abantwana bakhe abonayo.ANa 232.2

Utata noonyana bakhe, iintsapho zabo, imihlambi yempahla emfutshane nempahla enkulu, kunye nemfumba yabancedi kungekudala baba sendleleni esinga eYiputa. Ngentliziyo enovuyo, balwenza uhambo lwabo, bathi bakufika eBhatshebha, inyange lanikela imibingelelo yombulelo lamcela uYehova ukuba abanike isiqinisekiso sokuba uya kuhamba kunye nabo. Embonweni wasebusuku, ilizwi lasezulwini lafika kuye: “Musa ukoyika ukuhla uye eYiputa; kuba ndiya kukwenza uhlanga olukhulu khona. Mna ndiya kuhla ndiye nawe eYiputa, ndinyuke nawe.”ANa 232.3

Isiqinisekiso, “Musa ukoyika ukuhla uye eYiputa; kuba ndiya kukwenza uhlanga olukhulu khona,” sasibalulekile. Isithembiso sasenziwe kuAbraham sokuba uya kuba nenzala engenakubalwa ngokweenkwenkwezi, kodwa abantu abanyuliweyo babesanda ngokucothayo. Eyona nto ilizwe laseKanan lalinganiki mhlaba wokukhula kwesizwe njengoko kwakuxeliwe. Lalisezandleni zeentlanga zobuhedeni ezinamandla, ezazingayi kuhluthwa kude kube “kwesesine isizukulwana.” Ukuba umnombo kaIsrayeli apha wawuza kuba ngabantu abaninzi, kuza kufuneka bagxothe abemi belizwe okanye bona bazisasaze phakathi kwabo [abemi]. Le ibekwa kuqala [yokugxotha], ngokucwangcwisa kwezulu, babengayi kuyenza; kanti ke, ukuba bazixube namaKanan, babeza kuba sengozini yokoyiselwa ukuba banqule izithixo. IYiputa, ngoko, yayineemeko ezifunekayo zokuzalisekisa injongo yezulu. Indawo ethile yelizwe, enamanzi amaninzi, ikwatyebile, yayivulekile kubo, ibanika konke okuhle kokubandisa ngokukhawuleza. Intiyo ababenokuyifumana eYiputa, kuba bonke abalusi “balisikizi kumaYiputa,” yayiya kubenza bahlale bethe qelele, bengabantu abahlukileyo ukuze oko, kuncede ekubavaleleni bekude ekubeni nenxaxheba kunqulo lwezithixo zaseYiputa.ANa 232.4

Lathi lakufika iqela eYiputa, lasinga ngqo kwilizwe laseGoshen. Weza apho uYosefu ngenqwelo yakhe yasebukhosini, kunye nehlokondiba lasebukhosini elimkhaphayo. Ubukhazikhazi obabumrhangqile, nembeko yesikhundla sakhe zaba zizinto ezilityelweyo; inye kuphela into ezalise ingqondo yakhe, lulunye ulangazelelo olwaluvuyisa intliziyo yakhe. Watsiba ukuhla kwinqwelo yakhe wakhawuleza wagidimela ukwamkela uyise. “Wawa entanyeni yakhe, walila umzuzu omkhulu entanyeni yakhe. Wathi uIsrayeli kuYosefu, Ndibubonile nje ubuso bakho, ukuba usahleli, mandife ngoku.”ANa 233.1

UYosefu wathabatha abahlanu kubantakwabo ukuba abase phambi kukaFaro ukuba bamkele kuye isipho somhlaba wekhaya labo elizayo. Umbulelo kumlawuli wakhe ngewamenza ukumkani ukuba ababulele ngokubonyulela kwizikhundla zaseburhulumenteni; kodwa uYosefu, enyanisekile kunqulo lukaYehova, wazama ukubasindisa abantakwabo kwizihendo ababeya kukhangelana nazo kwinkundla yobuhedeni; waza ngoko wabacebisa ukuba xa bathe babuzwa ngukumkani, baze bamxelele ngokuphandle umsebenzi wabo. Oonyana bakaYakobi balilandela icebiso lakhe, bekwaqinisekisa ukuba beze njengabaphambukeli elizweni, abezanga ukuze babe ngabemi abazinzileyo apho, ngoko ke, bezigcinela ilungelo lokunduluka nanini bakuva befuna. Ukumkani wabanika ikhaya, njengomnikelo, “kweyona ndawo intle yelizwe,” iGoshen.ANa 233.2

Kungekudala emva kokuba befikile, uYosefu wamzisa uyise ukuba naye avezwe phambi kukakumkani. Inyange lalingaqhelananga neenkundla zasebukumkanini; kodwa phakathi kwemiboniso ezukileyo yendalo, wayeqhelene nokuxhumana neyona Kumkani inamandla; ke ngoku, esengqondweni yobukhulu, waziphakamisa izandla zakhe wamsikelela uFaro.ANa 233.3

Ekubuliseni kwakhe uYosefu okokuqala, uYakobi wathetha ngokungathi, ngesi siphelo simnandi kunxunguphalo nentlungu ende, wayelungele ukufa. Noko kunjalo, yayilishumi elinesixhenxe iminyaka awayeza kuyiphiwa kwindawo yokuphumla ngoxolo yaseGoshen. Le minyaka yayinolonwabo oludlula olo lweyangaphambili. Wabona koonyana bakhe imbonakalo yenguquko yenene; walubona usapho lwakhe lurhangqwe zizo zonke iimeko ezidingekayo ekuhlumiseni uhlanga olukhulu; lwaza ukholo lwakhe lwabamba isithembiso esiqinisekileyo sokuma kwabo eKanan ngexesha elizayo. Yena ngokwakhe wayejikelezwe zizo zonke izibonakaliso zothando nokukhathalelwa okunokunikwa ngumlawuli waseYiputa; onwabile ekuhlaleni nonyana wakhe owalahleka kudala, waza waya kakuhle nangoxolo engcwabeni.ANa 233.4

Wathi xa ebona ukuba ukufa kuyafika, wathumela ukuba kubizwe uYosefu. Esabambelele kwisithembiso sikaThixo esimayela nokuzuza iKanan, wathi, “Uze ungakhe undingcwabe eYiputa, Ke ndiya kulala koobawo; uze undisuse eYiputa, undingcwabe engcwabeni labo.” UYosefu wathembisa ukukwenza oko, kodwa uYakobi akazange aneliseke; wamenza ukuba enze isifungo esinyanisekileyo sokuba uya kumbeka ecaleni kooyise emqolombeni waseMakapela.ANa 234.1

Omnye umcimbi obalulekileyo wawufuna ukujongwa; oonyana bakaYosefu kwakufuneka bamiliselwe phakathi kwabantwana bakaIsrayeli ngokusemthethweni. UYosefu, xa wayesiza kubonana okokugqibela noyise, weza noEfrayim noManase. Aba bafana babehlangene, ngonina, nolona ludidi luphezulu nobubingeleli baseYiputa; kwaye isikhundla sikayise sasibavulele amathuba obutyebi nokubaluleka, ukuba babenokukhetha ukuzihlanganisa namaYiputa. Noko kunjalo, yayilulangazelelo lukaYosefu ukuba bahlangane nabantu bakubo. Walubonakalisa ukholo lwakhe kwisithembiso somnqophiso, ngokuthi oonyana bakhe bancame konke ukuzukiswa okwakunikwa yinkundla yaseYiputa, bathabathe indawo phakathi kweentlanga zabelusi abadelekileyo, ekwakunikelwe kuzo imithetho kaThixo.ANa 234.2

Wathi uYakobi, “Oonyana bakho ababini, owabazalelwayo ezweni laseYiputa, ndingekafiki kuwe eYiputa, ngabam; uEfrayim noManase bayakuba ngabam, njengoRubhen noSimon.” Babeza kwamkelwa njengabakhe, babe ziintloko zeentlanga ezahlukeneyo. Ngaloo ndlela amanye amalungelo obundlalifa, awamphosayo uRubhen, ayeza kuwela kuYosefu, isahlulo esiphindwe kabini sikaIsrayeli.ANa 234.3

Amehlo kaYakobi ayenorhatyazo ngenxa yobudala, kwaye engabaqondi ukuba bakhona abafana; kodwa ngoku, akubava imo yabo emzimbeni, wathi, “Ngoobani na aba?” Wathi akuxelelwa, waqokela wathi, Khawubasondeze kum, ndibasikelele.” Bathi bakusondela, inyange labawola labanga, ngokuzolileyo wabeka izandla zakhe phezu kweentloko zabo ebanika intsikelelo. Emva koko wathandaza, “Ngamana uThixo, abahamba phambi kwakhe oobawo uAbraham noKayin, owandondla kwasekuveleni kwam kwada kwanamhla, osisithunywa esindikhululeyo ebubini bonke, angabasikelela abafana.” Wawungekho umoya wokuxhomekeka kuye, kungekho nokuxhomekeka emandleni omntu okanye amaqhinga ngoku. UThixo wayengumgcini nomxhasi wakhe. Kwakungekho kukhalaza ngemihla emibi eyadlulayo. Izilingo neentlungu zayo zazingasabalwanjengezinto ezazi“chasene” naye. Inkumbulo yabuyisa kuphela inceba nobubele baKhe Owayenaye kuko konke ukuphambukela kwakhe.ANa 234.4

Akuba egqibile ukusikelela, uYakobi wanika unyana wakhe isiqinisekiso, eshiyela izizukulwana eziza kuza, kwiminyaka emide yobukhoboka nentlungu, obu bungqina bokholo lwakhe, “Yabona, ndiza kufa; uThixo uya kuba nani, anibuyisele ezweni looyihlo.”ANa 235.1

Ekugqibeleni, bonke oonyana bakaYakobi bahlanganisana emandlalweni wokufa kwakhe. UYakobi wabizela kuye oonyana bakhe, wathi, “Qukanani, niphulaphule, nyana bakaYakobi, niphulaphule uIsrayeli uyihlo,” “ndinixelele okuya kunihlela ngemihla yokugqibela.” Wayekholisa ukuthi, esexhaleni, acinge ngekamva labo, wazama ukuba abe nombono wembali yeentlanga ezahlukeneyo. Ngoku, njengoko abantwana bakhe babelindele ukwamkela intsikelelo yakhe yokugqibela, uMoya weMpefumlelo wahlala phezu kwakhe, kwandlalwa phambi kwakhe embonweni wobuprofeti, ikamva lomnombo wakhe. Omnye emva komnye, akhankanywa amagama oonyana bakhe, isimilo sakhe ngamnye sachazwa, yaxelwa ngokufutshane kwangaphambili imbali yeentlanga yexesha elizayo.ANa 235.2

“Rubhen, wena mazibulo am,
Mandla am, ngqalo yokuqina kwam,
Ncamisa yokuphakama, ncamisa yegunya.”ANa 235.3

Ngaloo ndlela uyise wazoba umfanekiso wento ekwakuya kuba yiyo ngokwesikhundla sikaRubhen sokuba ngunyana wamazibulo; kodwa isono sakhe esibi e-Adare, samenza ukuba angayifaneli intsikelelo yendlalifa. Waqhubeka uYakobi--ANa 235.4

Uxhaphazelayo njengamanzi,
Akusayi kuba ncamisa kunje.”

Ububingeleli banikelwa kuLevi, ubukumkani nedinga likaMesiya kuYuda, nesahlulo esiphindwe kabini selifa kuYosefu. Uhlanga lukaRubhen aluzange lunyuke lubaluleke kuIsrayeli; lwalungeluninzi njengoYuda, uYosefu, okanye uDan, lwaye lwalukwabokuqala ukusiwa ekuthinjweni.ANa 235.5

Abalandela uRubhen ngobudala yayinguSimon noLevi. Babehlangene kwinkohlakalo yabo ngakumaShekem, kwaye babenetyala elikhulu ngokuthengisa uYosefu. Kwathiwa ngabo:ANa 235.6

“Ndiya kubachithachitha kwaYakobi,
Ndibaphangalalise kwaIsrayeli.”

Ekubalweni kukaIsrayeli, kanye phambi kokuba bangene eKanan, uSimon wayelolona luhlanga luncinane. UMoses kwintsikelelo yakhe yokugqibela, akazange athethe ngoSimon. Ekumiweni kweKanan, olu hlanga lwalunendawo encinane yomhlaba njengoYuda, zaza iintsapho ezinjalo ezathi kamva zaba namandla zaba ngamathanga awahlukeneyo zimi kummandla ongaphandle kwemida yeLizwe eliNgcwele. ULevi naye akafumana lifa ngaphandle kwezixeko ezingamashumi amane anesibhozo ezithe saa kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo zelizwe. Kwimeko yolu hlanga, sekunjalo, ukunyaniseka kwalo kuYehova xa ezinye iintlanga zazikreqa, kwabaqinisekisa ukunyulelwa umsebenzi ongcwele engcweleni, saba ngolo hlobo isiqalekiso sijikwa ukuba sibe yintsikelelo.ANa 236.1

Ezona ntsikelelo ziphezulu zobundlalifa zagqithiselwa kuYuda. Ukubaluleka kwegama, elithetha ukudumisa, kutyhilwe kwimbali yesiprofeto yolu hlanga:ANa 236.2

“Yuda, abazalwana bakho baya kukudumisa,
Isandla sakho sibe sentanyeni yeentshaba zakho;
Baya kuqubuda kuwe oonyana bakayihlo.
Lithole lengonyama uYuda;
Usuke ekuqwengeni, nyana wam,
Waguqa, wabuthuma njengengonyama,
Njengengonyamakazi; ngubani na oya kumvusa?
Intonga ayiyi kumka kuYuda,
Intonga yommisi-mthetho ayiyi kumka
phakathi kweenyawo zakhe,
Ade afike uShilo,
Zimlulamele izizwe.”ANa 236.3

Ingonyama, ikumkani yehlathi, ingumfuziselo ofanelekileyo wolu hlanga, ekwaphuma kulo uDavide, uNyana kaDavide, uShilo, “iNgonyama yohlanga lwakwaYuda” yenene, aya kuthi ekugqibeleni onke amagunya agobe, zithi nezizwe zinike imbeko.ANa 236.4

Kubantwana bakhe abaninzi, uYakobi waxela kwangaphambili ngekamva lempumelelo. Ekugqibeleni, kwafikwa kwigama likaYosefu, yaza intliziyo kayise yaphuphuma ebizela iintsikelelo “ebuchotsheni bobalulweyo kubazalwana bakhe!”:ANa 236.5

“NguGatya lomthi oqhamayo uYosefu,
UGatya lomthi oqhamayo ngasemthonjeni,
Omasebe aqabele eludongeni.
UBamcubunga bamtola,
Bamchasa abatoli;
USihlala sithe nkqi isaphetha sakhe,
UMikhono yezandla zakhe inokusityeda,
Ngezandla zembalasane kaYakobi,
Khona apho akhoyo umalusi, ilitye likaIsrayeli;ANa 236.6

NgoThixo wooyihlo-akuncede,
NgoSomandla-akusikelele,
Ibe ziintsikelelo zamazulu ezivela phezulu,
Iintsikelelo zamanzi enzonzobila alele ezantsi,
Iintsikelelo zamabele, nezesizalo.
Iintsikelelo zikayihlo
Zizigqithile iintsikelelo zomawokhulu,
Zasa nasemdeni weentaba zanini;
Mazibe sentloko kuYosefu,
Ebuchotsheni bobalulweyo kubazalwana bakhe!ANa 237.1

UYakobi wayehleli engumntu onothando olunzulu nolushushu; uthando lwakhe koonyana bakhe lwaluqinile lunobubele, nengxelo yokufa kwakhe kubo yayingeyontetho enomkhethe okanye yentiyo. Wayebaxolele bonke, kwaye wayebathanda bonke kuse kowokugqibela. Uthando lwakhe lobuzali lwalubonakaliswa kuphela ngamazwi enkuthazo nethemba; kodwa amandla kaThixo ahlala phezu kwakhe, wathi, ephantsi kwempembelelo yempefumlelo, wanyanzeleka ukuba avakalise inyaniso, nokuba ibuhlungu kangakanani.ANa 237.2

Akuba ekugqibile ukuthetha iintsikelelo zokugqibela, uYakobi waphinda umyalezo ongendawo yokungcwatywa kwakhe: “Ndiza kuhlanganiselwa kwabakowethu; ndingcwabeni noobawo . . . emqolombeni osentsimini yaseMakapela.” “Bamngcwaba khona apho uAbraham noSara umkakhe; bamngcwaba khona apho uIsake noRebheka umkakhe; ndamngcwaba khona apho uLeya.” Ngaloo ndlela, isenzo sokugqibela sobomi bakhe, sasiza kubonakalisa ukholo lwakhe kwisithembiso sikaThixo.ANa 237.3

Iminyaka kaYakobi yokugqibela yazisa inzolo nophumlo emva kwemini yenkathazo nokudinwa. Amafu ayehlangene amnyama endleleni yakhe, kodwa ilanga lakhe latshona licacile, ukukhanya kwezulu kubengezela kwiiyure zakhe zokunduluka. Sithi isiBhalo, “Kuthi ngexa langokuhlwa kube mhlophe.” Zekariya 14:7. “Gcina ogqibeleleyo, ukhangele othe tye; ngokuba izivela-mva zezomntu woxolo.” Ndumiso 37:37.ANa 237.4

UYakobi wayonile, waza weva ubunzima obukhulu. Iminyaka emininzi yokusebenza nzima, ukukhathala, nentlungu zizinto awaba nazo kususela mhla isono sakhe esikhulu samenza ukuba abaleke ezintenteni zikayise. Waba yimbacu engenakhaya, eyahlukana nonina, engazange iphinde imbone; wasebenza iminyaka esixhenxe ngenxa yalowo waeimthanda, kanti uza kuqhathwa ngendlela engcolileyo; wasebenza nzima amashumi amabini eminyaka kwinkonzo yesizalwana esinomona nesinamaqhinga; [isizalwana] esabona ubutyebi bakhe [Yakobi] busanda, noonyana benyuka besecaleni kwakhe, kodwa efumana uvuyo oluncinane kwikhaya elinengxwabangxwaba nelahlukeneyo; wabanoxinzelelolihlazolentombiyakhe,nayimpindezelo yabanakwabo [bentombazana], ngokufa kukaRakeli, ngesono sikaYuda, ngenkohliso ekhohlakeleyo nobubi obenziwa kuYosefu -- athi ukuba bude nokuba mnyama bemifanekiso yobubi obandlaliweyo ukuba abubone! Waphindaphinda ukuvula isiqhamo soko kona kokuqala. Wathi rhoqo ukubona koonyana bakhe izono naye awayenetyala ngazo. Nangona lube krakra uqeqesho, lwawenza umsebenzi walo. Ukubethwa, nangona kubuhlungu, kwaveza “isiqhamo sobulungisa.” Hebhere 12:11.ANa 237.5

Impefumlelo izibhala ngokunyanisekileyo iingxelo zeziphoso zabantu abalungileyo, abo benziwa babaluleka kukuthandwa nguThixo; ngokwenene, iimposiso zabo zezona kuthethwe ngazo kakhulu kunoko kulungileyo kwabo. Le nto ihleli ingummangaliso omkhulu kwabaninzi, yada yanika iingqola ithuba lokuyigxeka iBhayibhile. Kanti ke, yeyona nto ibubonakalisa ngamandla ubunyaniso besiBhalo, le yokuba iinyaniso aziyekwa zingathethwa, nokuba, izono zabantu abadlala indawo ephambili, azinyathelelwa phantsi. Iingqondo zabantu zilawulwa kangaka likratshi, kangangokuba akulula ukuba iimbali zabantu zingakhethi cala ngokupheleleyo. Ukuba iBhayibhile ibibhalwe ngabantu abangaphefumlelwanga, ngokungathandabuzekiyo, ibiya kusiveza isimilo sabantu abaphakanyisiweyo ngeyona ndlela ikhohlisayo. Ngolu hlobo kulilo, sinengxelo eyiyo yamava abo.ANa 238.1

Abantu uThixo abathandileyo, nawabanika umthwalo omkhulu, ngamanye amaxesha babesoyiswa sisihendo baze benze isono, njengokuba nathi, ngale mihla yangoku, sisilwa, sihexe, maxa wambi siwe emposisweni. Ubomi babo, benazo zonke ezo ziphoso nobuthakathaka, bandlalekile phambi kwethu, ukwenzela ukukhuthazeka nokulumka kwethu. Ukuba babevezwe ngokungathi abanaziphoso, thina, sinale ndalo yethu yesono, besingatyhafa ngenxa yeempazamo nokusilela kwethu. Ngoko ke, xa sibona apho abanye balwa khona benezityhafiso njengathi, apho bawa khona phantsi kwezihendo njengokuba nathi senzile, bathi kunjalo, baqina boyisa ngobabalo lukaThixo, siyakhuthazeka ekuzameni ukwenza ubulungisa. Njengabo, nangona ngamanye amaxesha babebethwa bahlehle, baphinde babheke phambili, baza basikelelwa nguThixo, nathi sinako ukuba ngaboyisi ngamandla kaYesu. Kwelinye icala, ingxelo yobomi babo inokusebenza njengesilumkiso kuthi. Isibonisa ukuba uThixo akasayi kuze abenze msulwa abanetyala. Usibona isono nakwabona abathandayo, asisebenze kubo qatha nangaphezulu kokuba esenza kwabo banokukhanya okuncinane noxanduva olungaphantsi.ANa 238.2

Emva kokungcwatywa kukaYakobi, uloyiko lwaphinda lwazizalisa iintliziyo zabakhuluwa bakaYosefu. Nangona wayenobubele ngakubo, ukwazi ubutyala kwabenza bangathembi babe nokukrokra. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayekulibazisile ukuziphindezela, ngenxa yokucingela uyise, abe ngoku uza kubawisela isohlwayo ekukade silindile ngenxa yesono sabo. Babesoyika nokuvela phambi kwakhe, baza bathumela isigidimi: “Uyihlo wayolela phambi kokufa kwakhe, wathi, Notsho kuYosefu ukuthi, Khawuluxolele ukreqo lwabakhuluwa bakho, nesono sabo sokuba bekwenze into embi; ngoko khawuluxolele ukreqo lwabakhonzi boThixo wooyihlo.” Esi sigidimi samchukumisa uYosefu walila, bathi, bekhuthazwa yile nto, abakhuluwa bakhe beza baguqa phantsi phambi kwakhe, besithi, “Yabona, singabakhonzi bakho.” Uthando lukaYosefu kubakhuluwa bakhe lwalunzulu lungasekeleze nto, waza wabuhlungu kukucinga ukuba bamthabathe njengogcine umoya wempindezelo ngakubo. “Musani ukoyika,” watsho; “ndisesikhundleni sikaThixo yini na? Nina nacinga ububi ngam; ke yena uThixo wacinga okulungileyo, ukuze kuthi, njengoko kwenzekileyo namhla, kusinde abantu abaninzi. Ngoko musani ukoyika; ndonondla nina, nentsapho yenu.”ANa 239.1

Ubomi bukaYosefu buzekelisa ubomi bukaKristu. Yayingumona owasusa abantakwabo uYosefu ukuba bamthengise njengekhoboka; babethembe ukuba baya kumthintela ukuba angabi mkhulu kunabo. Wathi naxa esiwa eYiputa, bazikhohlisa ngokuthi, abasayi kuphinda bahlutshwe ngamaphupha akhe. Noko kunjalo, indlela yabo yoyiswa nguThixo ngokusizisa kanye eso siganeko babezama ukusithintela. Ngokunjalo, ababingeleli bekunye namadoda amakhulu akwaYuda, babe nomona ngakuYesu, besoyika, hleze awutsale umdla wabantu ngakubo. Bambulala, ukuthintela ekubeni abe ngukumkani, kodwa, ngokwenza oko, babezisa kanye esi siphumo.ANa 239.2

UYosefu, ngobukhoboka bakhe eYiputa, waba ngumsindisi kusapho lwakowabo; ukanti le nto ayizange ilinciphise ityala labantakwabo. Ngokunjalo, ukubethelelwa emnqamlezweni kukaKristu zintshaba zaKhe, kwamenza uMhlanguli woluntu, uMsindisi wohlanga oluwileyo, uMlawuli wehlabathi lonke; kodwa, ukwaphulwa komthetho ngababulali baKhe, kwakusathiyeke njengokungathi isandla sokubonelela kukaThixo asizange sizilawule iziganeko zokuzukiswa kwaKhe kunye nokulungelwa komntu.ANa 239.3

Njengoko uYosefu wathengiswa kubahedeni ngabantakwabo, ngokunjalo uKristu wathengiswa kwezona ntshaba zaKhe zinkulu ngomnye wabafundi baKhe. UYosefu watyholwa kuxokwa wagityiselwa entolongweni ngenxa yokuziphatha kwakhe kakuhle; ngokunjalo noKristu wadelwa, walahlwa ngenxa yobomi baKhe obulungileyo, nobuzincamayo obabusisigculelo kwisono; kwathi, naxa engenabutyala bakona, wagwetywa ngobungqina bamangqina angamaxoki. Ukunyamezela nobulali bukaYosefu phantsi kokungabikho kobulungisa kunye nokucinezelwa, ukulungela kwakhe ukuxolela nobubele bakhe obunembeko ngakubantakwabo abahamba nxamnye nemvelo, kumele ukunyamezela koMsindisi, ngaphandle kokukhalaza, inkohlakalo nokuphathwa kakubi ngabantu abakhohlakeleyo, nokuxolela kwaKhe, kungekuphela abo babembulala, kodwa bonke abeza kuYe bezivuma izono zabo befuna ukuxolelwa.ANa 240.1

UYosefu waphila ngaphezu kukayise ngamashumi amahlanu anesine yeminyaka. Waphila wabona “oonyana besesithathu isizukulwana sikaEfrayim, kwanoonyana bakaMakire, unyana kaManase, ababezalelwe emadolweni kaYosefu.” Wakubona ukwanda nempumelelo yabantu bakhe, kwathi kuyo yonke iminyaka, ukholo lwakhe ekubuyiselweni kukaIsrayeli eLizweni leDinga, alwashukunyiswa.ANa 240.2

Wathi akubona ukuba isiphelo sikufuphi, wabizela kuye abazalwana bakhe. Nangona wayephakanyisiwe ezweni looFaro, iYiputa kuye yayiyindawo yakhe yokubhacela; isenzo sakhe sokugqibela yayisesokubonisa ukuba yena ukwicala likaIsrayeli. Amazwi akhe okugqibela athi, UThixo okunene uya kunivelela, aninyuse, niphume kweli lizwe, niye ezweni abelifungele uAbraham, noIsake, noYakobi.” Wabafungisa abantwana bakaIsrayeli ukuba baya kuwathwala amathambo akhe baye nawo elizweni laseKanan. “Wafa ke uYosefu, engominyaka ilikhulu linashumi-nye; bamqhola; wafakwa etyeyeni eYiputa.” Kwathi kwiinkulungwane ezilandelayo, ityeya, isikhumbuzo samazwi okugqibela kaYosefu, yabubungqina kuIsrayeli bokuba, bangabaphambukeli eYiputa, yabenza ukuba bagcine amathemba abo emile kwiLizwe leDinga, kuba ukuhlangulwa, ngokuqinisekileyo, kwakuza kufika.ANa 240.3