1-2. (a) Kungani singamangali nxa sihlangana lobunzima? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi?

 LANXA singabantu bakaJehova akusimangalisi ukuhlangana lobunzima. Siyakwazi ukuthi iBhayibhili lithi “kumele sidlule phakathi kwenhlupho ezinengi ukuze singene eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu.” (Imiseb. 14:22) Siyakwazi lokuthi ezinye inhlupho zethu azisoze ziphele. Zizaphela nxa sesisemhlabeni omutsha kaNkulunkulu lapho ‘ukufa okungasoze kuphinde kube khona, loba ukulila loba ukukhala loba ubuhlungu.’—Isam. 21:4.

² UJehova kasivikeli ukuthi singehlelwa yibunzima. Kodwa uyasincedisa ukuze senelise ukuqinisela. Nanzelela ukuthi umphostoli uPhawuli wathini kumaKhristu ayehlala eRoma. Waqala walandisa ngezinhlupho ezinengi yena labanye abazalwane ababephakathi kwazo, wasesithi: “Kukho konke lokhu siyanqoba ngokupheleleyo ngalowo owasithandayo.” (Rom. 8:35-37) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova angakunceda ukuthi uphumelele lanxa usesephakathi kohlupho. Ake sibone ukuthi uJehova wamncedisa njani uJosefa ukuthi aphumelele lokuthi lawe angakuncedisa njani.

3. Yiluphi utshintsho olwenzakala empilweni kaJosefa engakhangelelanga?

³ UJakhobe wayeyithanda kakhulu indodana yakhe uJosefa waze wayinika isipho esihle. (Gen. 37:3, 4) Lokhu kwabangela ukuthi abafowabo bakaJosefa babe lomhawu. Bathi bethola  ithuba nje bahle bathengisa uJosefa kubathengisi bakoMidiyani. Abathengisi laba bathatha uJosefa bahamba laye umango omude kakhulu besiya eGibhithe lapho afika athengiselwa khona kuPhothifa, induna yabalindi bakaFaro. Impilo kaJosefa yatshintsha ngokucwayiza kwelihlo. Wayengaseyindodana kayise ayeyithanda kakhulu kodwa wayeseyisigqili samaGibhithe esiphansi.—Gen. 39:1.

4. Yiziphi izinhlupho ezingasehlela?

⁴ IBhayibhili lithi “izinto ezimbi zingenzakala kuloba ngubani.” (Umtshu. 9:11, Holy Bible—Easy-to-Read Version) Kwezinye izikhathi siba lezinhlupho “ezijayelekileyo ebantwini,” okutsho inhlupho ezehlela abantu bonke. (1 Khor. 10:13) Kwezinye izikhathi singahlupheka ngenxa nje yokuthi singabafundi bakaJesu. Ngokwesibonelo singahlekwa, siphikiswe loba sihlukuluzwe ngenxa yalokho esikukholwayo. (2 Thim. 3:12) UJehova angakwenza uphumelele kungelani lokuthi ulohlupho olunjani. Wakwenza njani lokhu kuJosefa?

5. UPhothifa wananzelelani ngokuphumelela kukaJosefa? (UGenesisi 39:2-6)

⁵ Bala uGenesisi 39:2-6. UPhothifa wananzelela ukuthi uJosefa wayelijaha elikhaliphileyo futhi elikhutheleyo. Wayekwazi ukuthi kungani uJosefa wayenjalo. Phela wazibonela ukuthi “uJehova wayesenza ukuthi konke ayekwenza kuphumelele.” b Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uPhothifa wenza uJosefa waba yisisebenzi sakhe esithenjiweyo. Wambeka ukuthi akhangele indlu yakhe yonke. Lokhu kwenza uPhothifa waphumelela.

6. UJosefa wayengabe esizwa njani ngalokho okwakusenzakala kuye?

⁶ Ubona angani uJosefa wayesizwa njani kusenzakala konke lokhu? Kuyini yena ayekufisa kakhulu? Kambe ukuthi wayefuna uPhothifa ambone abesemnika umvuzo? Kumele ukuthi uJosefa wayefuna ukuthi akhululwe ukuze abuyele kuyise. Phela lanxa wayephiwa okuyizikhundla endlini kaPhothifa, wayelokhu eyisigqili futhi elenkosi eyayingamkhonzi uJehova. UJehova kazange enze ukuthi uPhothifa amkhulule uJosefa. Kanti njalo uJosefa wayesazokubona okukhulu.

7. Kwenzakalani kuJosefa okutshengisa ukuthi izinto zaba zimbi kakhulu kuye? (UGenesisi 39:14, 15)

⁷ KuGenesisi isahluko 39 sithola ukuthi umkaPhothifa wayemhawukela uJosefa njalo wazama kanengi ukumhuga. Lanxa wayelokhu ezama ukulala laye uJosefa kazange avume. UmkaPhothifa wacina esemzondele kakhulu uJosefa waze wamqambela amanga wathi ubezama ukumbamba iganyavu. (Bala uGenesisi 39:14, 15.) UPhothifa wathi ekuzwa lokhu waphosela uJosefa ejele lapho ahlala khona okweminyaka ethile. (Gen. 39:19, 20) Ijele lakhona lalinjani? Ibala lesiHebheru uJosefa alisebenzisayo kwelithi ijele lingatsho igodi kumbe indawo etshonayo okutshengisa ukuthi lapho uJosefa ayekhona kwakumnyama futhi wayengasela lathemba. (Gen. 40:15; amabala angaphansi.) Kanti njalo iBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi okwesikhathi esithile uJosefa wayebotshwe enyaweni ngamaketane wabotshwa lasentanyeni ngensimbi. (Hubo. 105:17, 18) Izinto zazilokhu zisiba nzima ngoba uJosefa waqala waba yisigqili esithenjwayo wasecina eseyisibotshwa esiphansi.

8. Kuyini okungamelanga sikuthandabuze lanxa ubunzima esikubo buqhubekela phambili?

⁸ Sewake wakhuleka usakhuleka ngenxa yohlupho owawuphakathi kwalo kodwa lwaqhubeka lusiba nzima kakhulu? Kungenzakala sibili lokho. UJehova kasivikeli ukuthi singehlelwa zinhlupho emhlabeni lo obuswa nguSathane. (1 Joh. 5:19) Lanxa kunjalo nanku okungamelanga ukuthandabuze: UJehova uyabubona bonke ubunzima ongabe uphakathi kwabo futhi ulendaba lawe. (Mat. 10:29-31; 1 Phet. 5:6, 7) Kanti njalo nanku asithembisa khona: “Angisoze ngikutshiye loba sekutheni, angisoze ngikulahle loba sekutheni.” (Heb. 13:5) UJehova angakuncedisa ukuthi uqhubeke uqinisela lanxa kukhanya kumnyama phambili lasemuva. Ake sibone ukuthi wamncedisa njani uJosefa.

9. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova wayelaye uJosefa ngesikhathi esejele? (UGenesisi 39:21-23)

⁹ Bala uGenesisi 39:21-23. UJehova wenza uJosefa waphumelela lanxa wayephakathi kobunzima evalelwe ejele. Kwenzakala njani lokho? Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi umphathijele wacina emthemba uJosefa futhi emhlonipha njengalokho okwakwenziwe nguPhothifa ngesikhathi uJosefa esamsebenzela. Kungakayi ngaphi umphathijele wabeka uJosefa ukuthi akhangele ezinye izibotshwa. IBhayibhili lithi “umphathijele wayengazihluphi ngokukhangela loba yini eyayisezandleni zikaJosefa.” UJosefa wayeselomsebenzi owawungamnceda ukuthi angacabangi kakhulu ngenhlupho zakhe. Kumele ukuthi laye wayengakukhangelelanga ukuthi uzathola umsebenzi lo. Kambe kwakungenzakala njani ukuthi isibotshwa ebesimangalelwa ngokuthi besizama ukubamba inkosikazi yenkosi yaso iganyavu siphiwe isikhundla esiphezulu kangako? UGenesisi 39:23 uyasiphendulela umbuzo lo. Uthi: “UJehova wayelaye uJosefa njalo uJehova wayesenza ukuthi konke ayekwenza kuphumelele.”

10. Chasisa ukuthi kungani uJosefa wayengabe engaziboni ephumelele kukho konke.

¹⁰ Akucabange ukuthi uJosefa wayesizwa njani konke lokho kusenzakala. Ubona angani ngesikhathi uJosefa emangalelwa ngamanga futhi ephoselwa ejele wayezibona ephumelela kukho konke yini? Kuyini uJosefa ayengabe ekufuna ngabomvu? Kambe wayefuna ukuthi athandwe ngumphathijele? Kumele ukuthi wayefuna ukuthi ahlulelwe kuhle abesekhitshwa ejele. Ngakho wacela esinye isibotshwa esasesizaphuma ejele ukuthi simkhulumele loFaro ukuze aphume ejele. (Gen. 40: 14) Kodwa isibotshwa lesi asizange sihle sifike sikhulume loFaro, uJosefa wasehlala ejele okweminye iminyaka emibili. (Gen. 40:23; 41:1, 14) Kodwa uJehova waqhubeka esenza ukuthi uJosefa aphumelele. Njani?

11. UJehova wamncedisa njani uJosefa njalo lokho kwakuzanceda njani ukuthi okuhloswe nguJehova kuphumelele?

¹¹ UJosefa wathi esejele uJehova wabangela ukuthi inkosi yaseGibhithe ibe lamaphupho amabili ayikhathazayo. UFaro wayeyidinga phansi phezulu ingcazelo yamaphupho la. Inkosi yathi isizwa ukuthi uJosefa uyenelisa ukuchasisa amaphupho yathi kabizwe. UJosefa wachasisa amaphupho encediswa nguJehova njalo uFaro wathaba ngoba wamtshela lokho ayengakwenza. UFaro wathi ebona ukuthi uJehova wayeloJosefa wambeka ukuthi abe nguye okhangela ezokudla kulo lonke elaseGibhithe. (Gen. 41:38, 41-44) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwaba lendlala enkulu eGibhithe kanye laseKhenani lapho abangakibo bakaJosefa ababehlala khona. UJosefa wayesesenelisa ukuthi ancede abangakibo lokuthi alondoloze usendo lapho okwakuzavela khona uMesiya.

12. Kuyini uJehova akwenzayo ukuze uJosefa aphumelele?

¹² Cabanga ngezinto ezimangalisayo ezenzakala empilweni kaJosefa. Ngubani owenza uPhothifa wananzelela uJosefa yena eyisigqili nje? Ngubani owenza umphathijele waba lomusa kuJosefa yena wayeyisibotshwa esiphansi nje? Ngubani owenza uFaro waba lamaphupho akhathazayo wasesenza ukuthi uJosefa enelise ukuwachasisa? Ngubani owenza uFaro wakhetha uJosefa ukuthi abone ngezokudla kwelaseGibhithe? (Gen. 45:5) Kusegcekeni ukuthi uJehova nguye owenza uJosefa waphumelela kukho konke ayekwenza. Abafowabo bakaJosefa babefuna ukumenzela umoya omubi kodwa uJehova wakutshintsha lokho ukuze lokho akuhlosileyo kuphumelele.

13. UJehova uyasilamulela yini kubo bonke ubunzima esihlangana labo? Chasisa.

¹³ Kuyini esingakufunda endabeni kaJosefa? UJehova uyangenela yini kubo bonke ubunzima obusehlelayo? Nxa singaba lobunzima empilweni yethu, wenza okuthile yini ukuze yonke into embi esehlelayo ibe  lesizatho esihle? Hatshi, ayisikho okufundiswa liBhayibhili lokho. (Umtshu. 8:9; 9:11) Esikwaziyo nanku: Nxa sisebunzimeni uJehova uyabona futhi uyezwa ukukhala kwethu nxa sicela uncedo. (Hubo. 34:15; 55:22; Isaya. 59:1) Kanti njalo uJehova angasincedisa ukuthi siqinisele nxa siphakathi kobunzima. Ukwenza njani lokho?

14. UJehova usincedisa njani nxa sisebunzimeni?

¹⁴ Eyinye indlela uJehova asincedisa ngayo yikusiduduza lokusikhuthaza futhi kanengi lokhu ukwenza ngesikhathi esifaneleyo. (2 Khor. 1:3, 4) Lokhu kwenzakala ku-Eziz, umfowethu waseTurkmenistan owagwetshwa iminyaka emibili ejele ngenxa yokholo lwakhe. Uthi: “Ngelanga engangizathonisiswa ngalo omunye umfowethu wangitshengisa umbhalo ka-Isaya 30:15 othi: ‘Lizakuba lamandla nxa lingahlaliseka futhi lingithembe.’ Ivesi le yayihlala inginceda ukuthi ngihlaliseke futhi ngithembe uJehova kukho konke. Ukucabangisisa ngayo kwanginceda ngesikhathi ngibotshiwe.” Uyasikhumbula yini isikhathi lapho uJehova akuncedisa khona ngokukududuza langokukukhuthaza ngesikhathi izinto zinzima kakhulu empilweni yakho?

15-16. Ufundani kulokho okwenzakala kuTori?

¹⁵ Izikhathi ezinengi sibona indlela uJehova abesincedisa ngayo nxa sesiphumile phakathi kobunzima. Udadewethu okuthiwa nguTori wakubona lokhu. Indodana yakhe okuthiwa nguMason yagula i-cancer okweminyaka eyisithupha yasitshona. Lokhu kwamzwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu uTori. Uthi, “Angiboni ukuthi kulobunye ubuhlungu engizaphinda ngibuzwe njengalobo obokulahlekelwa yindodana yami.” Waphinda wathi, “Ngileqiniso lokuthi abanye abazali bangavumelana lami ukuthi ukubona umntanakho egula kubuhlungu kakhulu, uyabe ususithi aluba nguwe ogulayo.”

 ¹⁶ Lanxa uTori wayesebuhlungwini, ngemva kwesikhathi wacabangisisa ngendlela uJehova ayemncedise ngayo ebunzimeni ayekubo. Uthi: “Nxa ngicabanga ngesikhathi leso ngiyabona ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu olothando wayengiphathisa ngesikhathi indodana yami igula. Ngokwesibonelo lanxa uMason wayeyabe egula kakhulu kungayenzi ukuthi abantu bambone, abafowethu labodadewethu babedrayiva okwamahola amabili besiya esibhedlela ukuze bancedise ngaloba yini. Kanti njalo babesincedisa ngakho konke esasingabe sikudinga. Lanxa izinto zazingaba zimbi njani sasingasweli lutho.” UJehova wanika uTori konke ayekudinga ukuze aqinisele njalo wancedisa lendodana yakhe uMason.—Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ UJehova Wasinika Khona Kanye Esasikudinga.”

17-18. Kuyini okuzasinceda sibone indlela uJehova ayabe esisekela ngayo phakathi kobunzima? (IHubo 40:5)

¹⁷ Bala iHubo 40:5. Umuntu oqansa intaba uyabe efuna ukuyafika esiqongweni sayo. Lanxa kunjalo kulezindawo ezinengi angahamba esima kuzo ukuze abuke izinto ezinhle ayabe ezibona. Lawe zinike isikhathi sokuthi ume ucabangisise ngokuthi uJehova ukuncedisa njani ukuthi uphumelele lanxa uphakathi kobunzima. Nsuku zonke zibuze: ‘UJehova ungibusise njani lamuhla? Lanxa uhlupho lwami lungakapheli uJehova ungincedisa njani ukuthi ngiqinisele?’ Nsuku zonke zama ukubona into eyodwa uJehova ayabe ekubusise ngayo ukuze akwenze uphumelele.

¹⁸ Nxa uthandazela ukuthi ubunzima ophakathi kwabo buphele kuyazwisiseka lokhu njalo kuqondile. (Flp. 4:6) Kodwa akumelanga sikhohlwe izibusiso esilazo. Phela uJehova usithembisa ukuthi uzasiqinisa asincedise ukuthi siqinisele. Yikho hlala ubonga uJehova ngokuthi uyakusekela. Ungenza njalo uzabona indlela uJehova akuncedisa ngayo ukuthi uphumelele lanxa uphakathi kobunzima njengoba nje ancedisa uJosefa.—Gen. 41:51, 52.