1-2. Siza kuthetha ngantoni kweli nqaku?

NGAMANYE amaxesha sisenokucinga ukuba ubomi bethu bufutshane kwaye ‘bugcwele ziinkathazo.’ (Yobhi 14:1) Loo nto ikhe isityhafise. Nabakhonzi bakaYehova abaninzi ekuthethwa ngabo eBhayibhileni babekhe batyhafe. Abanye babede bafune nokufa. (1 Kum. 19:2-4; Yobhi 3:1-3, 11; 7:15, 16) Kodwa uYehova, uThixo ababemthembile, wayesoloko ebathuthuzela aze abanike amandla. Izinto ezenzeka kubo zabhalelwa ukusithuthuzela nokusifundisa.​—Roma 15:4.

² Kweli nqaku, siza kuthetha ngabakhonzi bakaYehova abakhe banyamezela iingxaki ezazibenza batyhafe; uYosefu unyana kaYakobi, umhlolokazi uNahomi kunye nomolokazana wakhe uRute, umLevi owabhala iNdumiso 73 kunye nompostile uPetros. Wabomeleza njani uYehova? Sinokufunda ntoni kwizinto ezenzeka kubo? Iimpendulo zale mibuzo zisenza siqiniseke ukuba “uYehova usondele kwabo baphuke iintliziyo, uyabasindisa abo batyhafileyo.”​—INdu. 34:18, umbhalo osemazantsi.

3-4. Yintoni eyenzekayo kuYosefu esengumfana?

³ Xa wayeneminyaka eyi-17, uYosefu waphupha amaphupha amabini awayevela kuThixo. La maphupha ayethetha ukuba ngenye imini wayeza kuhlonitshwa yintsapho yakowabo. (Gen. 37:5-10) Kungabanga xesha lide ewaphuphile, ubomi bakhe batshintsha kakhulu. Kunokuba bamhloniphe, abantakwabo bamthengisa, wayoba likhoboka lendoda eyayihlonitshwa ngamaYiputa, uPotifare. (Gen. 37:21-28) Ngexesha nje elifutshane, ubomi bakhe batshintsha ngokupheleleyo. Wayeka ukuba ngunyana owayethandwa ngutatakhe, wayoba likhoboka  elingabalulekanga laseYiputa, elalisebenzela indoda eyayingamazi uYehova.​—Gen. 39:1.

⁴ UYosefu wayeseza kwehlelwa zizinto ezibuhlungu. Umfazi kaPotifare wamtyhola ngokuba ebezama ukumdlwengula. Engakhange azame nokuqonda ukuba yinyani kangakanani leyo, uPotifare wathi uYosefu makayovalelwa etrongweni, apho wafika wabotshelelwa ngamatsheyina. (Gen. 39:14-20; INdu. 105:17, 18) Khawucinge indlela anokuba wayeziva ngayo lo mfana xa wayetyholwa ngento angayenzanga, kusithiwa ebezama ukudlwengula. Khawucinge nangezinto ezimbi ezazinokuthethwa ngabantu ngoThixo kaYosefu, uYehova, xa besiva loo nto. Ngoko, uYosefu wayefanele ukutyhafa!

5. Yintoni awayenzayo uYosefu ukuze angatyhafi?

⁵ Xa wayelikhoboka naxa wayesetrongweni, akukho nto wayenokuyenza uYosefu ukuze atshintshe obo bomi. Yintoni eyamncedayo? Endaweni yokuba abe ecingana nobomi awayengenakukwazi ukubutshintsha, wazimisela ukuwenza ngendlela efunekayo umsebenzi ekwakuthiwe makawenze. Oyena Mntu wayehlala ebalulekile ebomini bakhe nowayefuna ukumvuyisa, nguYehova. Ngenxa yaloo nto, uYehova wasikelela yonke into awayeyenza.​—Gen. 39:21-23.

6. Inoba amthuthuzela njani amaphupha akhe uYosefu?

⁶ Kusenokwenzeka ukuba enye into eyayimomeleza uYosefu, yayikukucinga ngala maphupha ayevela kuYehova. Ayethetha ukuba wayeza kuphinda ayibone intsapho yakhe, yaye ubomi bakhe babuza kutshintsha. Yenzeka nyhani loo nto. Xa wayeneminyaka eyi-37, izinto awayeziphuphile zenzeka ngendlela emangalisayo.​—Gen. 37:7, 9, 10; 42:6, 9.

7. U-1 Petros 5:10, uthi yintoni enokusinceda sinyamezele xa kunzima?

⁷ Sifunda ntoni? Ibali likaYosefu lisikhumbuza indlela elikhohlakele ngayo eli  hlabathi nendlela abanguzukusiphatha kakuhle ngayo abantu balo. Sinokude siphathwe kakubi nangumzalwana okanye udadewethu. Kodwa ukuba iLiwa lethu neNdawo Esibalekela kuyo nguYehova, soze sityhafe okanye siyeke ukumkhonza. (INdu. 62:6, 7; funda u-1 Petros 5:10.) Khumbula kaloku, mhlawumbi uYosefu wayeneminyaka eyi-17 ukufumana kwakhe amaphupha avela kuYehova. Le nto isenza siqiniseke ukuba uYehova uyabathemba kwanabakhonzi bakhe abaselula. Baninzi abantu abaselula abafana noYosefu nanamhlanje. Nabo banokholo kuYehova. Abanye babo baye bavalelwa bengenzanga nto imbi, kodwa ngenxa nje yokuba bengagungqi ekukhonzeni uThixo.​—INdu. 110:3.

8. Yintoni eyenzeka kuNahomi noRute?

⁸ Ngenxa yendlala eyayininzi kakhulu kwaYuda, uNahomi nentsapho yakhe balishiya ikhaya labo, baya kuhlala kwilizwe lakwaMowabhi. Belapho, umyeni kaNahomi, uElimeleki wasweleka, emshiya noonyana ababini. Ukukhula kwabo aba nyana, batshata neentombi zakwaMowabhi, uRute no-Orpa. Kwiminyaka eyi-10 betshatile, nabo basweleka, beshiya abafazi babo bengenabantwana. (Rute 1:1-5) Khawucinge intlungu abamele ukuba babenayo aba bafazi bathathu! URute no-Orpa babesenokuphinda batshate. Kodwa ngubani owayeza kuhoya uNahomi owayesele emdala? Yamtyhafisa kakhulu le nto uNahomi kangangokuba wade wathi: “Sanukuthi Nahomi xa nindibiza. Yithini Mara, kuba uSomandla ubenze krakra ubomi bam.” Akwehlelwa zezi zinto zibuhlungu, wabuyela eBhetelehem, uRute wahamba naye.​—Rute 1:7, 18-20.

9. KuRute 1:16, 17, 22, uRute wamnceda njani uNahomi?

⁹ Wancedwa yintoni uNahomi? Luthando olungagungqiyo. Ngokomzekelo, uRute wahamba noNahomi kuba wayemthanda ngokungagungqiyo. (Funda uRute 1:16, 17, 22.) Ukufika kwabo eBhetelehem, wasebenza nzima echolachola irhasi ukuze batye. Loo nto yamenzela igama elihle kakhulu kuba wonke umntu wayebona ukuba ngumfazi olungileyo nosebenza nzima.​—Rute 3:11; 4:15.

10. Yintoni eyabonisa ukuba uYehova uyabathanda abantu abangenanto njengoNahomi noRute?

¹⁰ UYehova wayenike amaSirayeli umthetho owawubonisa ukuba uyabavela abantu abangenanto njengoNahomi noRute. Waxelela abantu bakhe ukuba xa bevuna, ze bangavuni ekupheleni kwamasimi ukuze abantu abasokolayo bafumane. (Lev. 19:9, 10) Loo nto yenza ukuba uNahomi noRute bangahambi becela ukutya.

11-12. Yintoni eyenziwa nguBhohazi eyavuyisa uNahomi noRute?

¹¹ Umnikazi wamasimi awayecholachola kuwo uRute yindoda eyayisisityebi, uBhohazi. Wayithanda kakhulu indlela uRute awayenyaniseke nawayemthanda ngayo umazala wakhe uNahomi. Ekuhambeni kwexesha watshata noRute waza wathenga umhlaba owawungowakuloNahomi, owaba lilifa labantwana bakaRute. (Rute 4:9-13) Baba nomntwana abamthiya igama lokuba nguObhedi. Waba ngutatomkhulu kaKumkani uDavide.​—Rute 4:17.

¹² Khawube nombono wendlela anoba wayevuya ngayo uNahomi xa wayefunqule olu sana, ethandaza ebulela uYehova. UNahomi noRute baza kuvuya kakhulu xa bevuswa emangcwabeni baze beve ukuba uObhedi waba ngukhokho kaMesiya owayethenjisiwe, uYesu Kristu.

13. Ziintoni ezibalulekileyo esinokuzifunda kwibali likaNahomi noRute?

¹³ Sifunda ntoni? Xa sineengxaki, sisenokutyhafa okanye sikhathazeke kakhulu.  Mhlawumbi sinokude singaboni nendlela ezinokulunga ngayo iingxaki esinazo. Lelo xesha kanye esimele simthembe kakhulu uTata wethu osezulwini, size sisondele kubazalwana noodadewethu. Inyaniso yona kukuba, uYehova akasoloko eziphelisa iingxaki esinazo, njengokuba engazange amvuse ekufeni umyeni kaNahomi noonyana bakhe. Kodwa uza kusinceda sikwazi ukunyamezela, mhlawumbi esebenzisa abazalwana noodadewethu abanobubele.​—IMize. 17:17.

14. Yintoni eyakha yatyhafisa omnye umLevi?

¹⁴ INdumiso 73 yabhalwa ngumLevi. Wayenomsebenzi obalulekileyo awayewenza kwindlu ekunqulwa kuyo uYehova. Kodwa naye wayekhe watyhafa. Wayetyhafiswa yintoni? Wayemonela abantu ababesenza izinto ezimbi nabaziphakamisileyo. Wayengafuni ukwenza izinto ezimbi njengabo, kodwa wayebamonela kuba kwakubonakala ngathi yonke into ibahambela kakuhle ebomini. (INdu. 73:2-9, 11-14) Babengathi banayo yonke into efunekayo; bazizityebi, baphila kamnandi kwaye abanaxhala lanto. Le nto yayimtyhafisa kangangokuba wade wathi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo bekulilize ukuyigcina imsulwa intliziyo yam nokuhlamba izandla zam ngobumsulwa.” Kucacile ukuba wayenokude ayeke nokukhonza uYehova.

15. INdumiso 73:16-19, 22-25, ithi yintoni eyanceda umLevi owabhala iNdumiso wayeka ukutyhafa?

¹⁵ Funda iNdumiso 73:16-19, 22-25. UmLevi ‘wangena kwingcwele ezukileyo kaThixo.’ Ukufika kwakhe apho kusenokwenzeka ukuba waba kunye nabanye abakhonzi bakaYehova. Wakwazi ukuyicinga kakuhle ingxaki yakhe, ezolile, waza wayithandazela kuYehova. Watsho wabona ukuba ucinga ubudenge obunokumenza ahlukane noYehova. Waqonda nokuba abantu abenza izinto ezimbi ‘bakwindawo emtyibilizi’ yaye ‘baza kutshabalala.’ Ukuze angaphindi abe nomona nokuze angatyhafi, lo mLevi kwafuneka ajonge izinto njengoYehova. Wathi akuyenza loo nto, wayeka ukukhathazeka, wonwaba. Wathi: “Ayikho enye into endiyifunayo emhlabeni ngaphandle kwakho [Yehova].”

16. Sifunda ntoni kumLevi?

 ¹⁶ Sifunda ntoni? Singaze sibamonele abantu ababi ababonakala ngathi bonwabile. Oko konwaba kwabo kuza kuphela kwaye abazukuphila ngonaphakade. (INtshu. 8:12, 13) Ukuba siyabamonela, siza kutyhafa side siyeke nokuba ngabahlobo bakaYehova. Ngoko, ukuba uzibona sele umonela abantu ababi, yenza into eyenziwa ngumLevi. Thobela icebiso olinikwa nguThixo okuthandayo uze ube ngumhlobo wabantu abenza izinto azithandayo. Ukuba uYehova umthanda ngaphezu kwayo nantoni na, uza konwaba. Awusoze uyishiye indlela eya ‘kubomi benene.’​—1 Tim. 6:19.

17. Ziintoni ezamenza watyhafa uPetros?

¹⁷ Umpostile uPetros wayekhuthele; kodwa wayesiso nesingxami esasikhe sithethe singacinganga. Loo nto yayimenza ngamany’ amaxesha athethe okanye enze izinto aze azisole. Ngokomzekelo, xa uYesu wayexelela abapostile bakhe ukuba wayeza kuphathwa kakubi aze afe, wamnqanda esithi: “Soze zenzeke kuwe ezi zinto.” (Mat. 16:21-23) UYesu wamlungisa. Xa igquba labantu leza kubamba uYesu, engakhange acinge uPetros waqhawula indlebe yekhoboka lombingeleli omkhulu. (Yoh. 18:10, 11) UYesu waphinda wamlungisa. Waphinda waqhayisa esithi nokuba abanye abapostile bangamshiya uYesu, yena akasoze. (Mat. 26:33) Kodwa kuyabonakala ukuba wayengomelelanga ngendlela awayecinga ngayo kuba ngobo busuku woyika kakhulu, wamkhanyela kathathu uYesu. Emva koko watyhafa, “waphuma phandle waza wakhala kabuhlungu.” (Mat. 26:69-75) Inoba wayezibuza ukuba UYesu angamxolela na ngale nto ayenzileyo.

18. UYesu wamnceda njani uPetros wayeka ukutyhafa?

¹⁸ Nangona watyhafayo uPetros, zange ayeke ukukhonza uYehova. Emva kwazo zonke iimpazamo awazenzayo, waqhubeka ekhonza uYehova kunye nabanye abapostile.  (Yoh. 21:1-3; IZe. 1:15, 16) Wancedwa yintoni? Wakhumbula ukuba uYesu wayekhe wamthandazela ukuba angaphelelwa lukholo, waza wamcela ukuba emva kokuba eguqukile abuye, omeleze abazalwana. UYehova wawuphendula loo mthandazo uphum’ entliziyweni. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, uYesu wabonakala kuPetros, mhlawumbi eze kumkhuthaza. (Luka 22:32; 24:33, 34; 1 Kor. 15:5) Wabonakala nakubo bonke abapostile emva kokuba belobile baza abafumana ntlanzi. Ngoku, wanika uPetros ithuba lokuba amxelele indlela amthanda ngayo. Wamxolela lo mhlobo wakhe amthandayo waza wamnika omnye umsebenzi.​—Yoh. 21:15-17.

19. INdumiso 103:13, 14 isinceda njani siyibone into uYehova ayicingayo ngathi xa simonile?

¹⁹ Sifunda ntoni? Indlela uYesu awamphatha ngayo uPetros ibonisa ukuba unenceba njengoTata wakhe. Ngoko xa sisenza iimpazamo, masingacingi ukuba uYehova akasoze asixolele. Masingalibali ukuba nguSathana ofuna sicinge njalo. Endaweni yokucinga ngolo hlobo, masicinge indlela uYehova asithanda ngayo, nokuba uyazi ukuba sinezinto esingakwaziyo ukuzenza. Masazi ukuba uyafuna ukusixolela. Nathi simele sifane naye xa abantu besenza izinto ezisikhathazayo.​—Funda iNdumiso 103:13, 14.

20. Yintoni esiza kuyibona kwinqaku elilandelayo?

²⁰ Izinto ezenzeka kuYosefu, uNahomi noRute, umLevi noPetros zisenza siqiniseke ukuba “uYehova usondele kwabo baphuke intliziyo.” (INdu. 34:18) Ukhe asiyekele ebunzimeni de sityhafe ngamanye amaxesha. Kodwa xa simcela asincede sikwazi ukubunyamezela obo bunzima, ukholo lwethu luyaqina. (1 Pet. 1:6, 7) Kwinqaku elilandelayo, siza kubona nezinye iindlela abanceda ngazo abakhonzi bakhe abangagungqiyo ekumkhonzeni xa betyhafile, mhlawumbi ngenxa yokungafezeki kwabo okanye ngenxa yobunzima abajongene nabo.