1-2. (a) Kungani kungasimangazi ukuthi sibhekana novivinyo? (b) Sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sihloko?

 NJENGABANTU bakaJehova asimangali lapho sibhekana novivinyo. Siyaqaphela ukuthi “kumele singene eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu ngezinsizi eziningi,” njengoba iBhayibheli lisho. (IzE. 14:22) Siyazi nokuthi ezinye zezinkinga ngeke zixazululwe ngokuphelele kuze kube yilapho sesiphila ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu, lapho ‘ukufa kungeke kusaba khona, noma ukulila noma ukukhala noma ubuhlungu kungeke kusaba khona.’​—IsAm. 21:4.

² UJehova akasivikeli ovivinyweni. Noma kunjalo, uyasisiza silukhuthazelele. Phawula lokho umphostoli uPawulu akutshela amaKristu ayehlala eRoma. Waqale wabala uvivinyo oluningana yena nabafowabo ababebhekene nalo. Wabe esebhala: “Siyanqoba ngokuphelele ngalowo owasithanda.” (Roma 8:35-37) Lokho kusho ukuthi uJehova angakwenza uphumelele ngisho nalapho uvivinyo lusakubambile. Ake sibone ukuthi uJehova wamsiza kanjani uJosefa waphumelela nokuthi angakusiza kanjani wena.

3. Yiluphi ushintsho olungalindelekile olwenzeka ekuphileni kukaJosefa?

³ Inhloko yomndeni uJakobe yakwenza kwacaca ukuthi yayiyithanda kakhulu indodana yayo uJosefa. (Gen. 37:3, 4) Lokho kwenza ukuba amadodana kaJakobe amadala abe nomona ngomfowabo. Lapho kuvela ithuba, athengisa uJosefa kubathengisi bakwaMidiyani. Labo bathengisi bathatha uJosefa bahamba naye amakhilomitha amaningi baya eGibhithe, lapho aphinde wathengiswa khona​—manje esethengiselwa uPotifari,  induna yonogada bakaFaro. Akuve kwashintsha ngokushesha ukuphila kukaJosefa, wasuka ekubeni indodana ethandwa kakhulu uyise waba isigqila esiphansi somGibhithe!​—Gen. 39:1.

4. Iyiphi inselele esingase sibhekane nayo ethi ayifane nekaJosefa?

⁴ IBhayibheli lithi “izinto ezimbi zehlela wonke umuntu.” (UmSh. 9:11, Holy Bible​—Easy-to-Read Version) Ngezinye izikhathi sibhekana nobunzima ‘obuvamile kubantu’​—okuwuvivinyo bonke abantu ababhekana nalo. (1 Kor. 10:13) Noma singase sihlupheke ngenxa nje yokuthi singabafundi bakaJesu. Ngokwesibonelo, singase senziwe inhlekisa, siphikiswe noma size sishushiswe imbala ngenxa yokholo lwethu. (2 Thim. 3:12) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ubhekana naluphi uvivinyo, uJehova angakwenza uphumelele. Wakwenza kanjani lokho kuJosefa?

5. Yini uPotifari aphetha ngayo ngokuphumelela kukaJosefa? (Genesise 39:2-6)

⁵ Funda uGenesise 39:2-6. UPotifari waqaphela ukuthi uJosefa wayeyinsizwa ehlakaniphile futhi esebenza kanzima. Wayazi nokuthi kungani ayenjalo. UPotifari wabona ukuthi “konke [uJosefa] ayekwenza uJehova wayekuphumelelisa.” b Ekugcineni, lo mGibhithe wenza uJosefa waba inceku yakhe. Waphinde wammisa ukuba aphathe yonke indlu yakhe. Waba yini umphumela? UPotifari wachuma.

6. Kungenzeka ukuthi uJosefa wazizwa kanjani ngesimo ayekuso?

⁶ Awuzame ukuzifaka ezicathulweni zikaJosefa. Yini ayeyifuna ngaphezu kwakho konke okunye? Ingabe wayefuna ukuqashelwa uPotifari nokuthola umvuzo kuye? Cishe uJosefa wayefuna ukukhululwa ukuze abuyele kubaba wakhe. Phela, naphezu kwawo wonke amalungelo ayenawo emzini kaPotifari, uJosefa wayeseyisigqila senkosi eyayingamkhonzi uJehova. UJehova akazange amenze uPotifari ukuba akhulule uJosefa. Kanti nesimo sikaJosefa sase sizoba sibi nakakhulu.

7. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba isimo sikaJosefa sibe sibi nakakhulu? (Genesise 39:14, 15)

⁷ Njengoba kubonisiwe kuGenesise isahluko 39, umkaPotifari wayemthanda  uJosefa futhi wazama ngokuphindaphindiwe ukumyenga ukuba alale naye. Isikhathi ngasinye wayenqaba uJosefa. Ekugcineni, umkaPotifari wamthukuthelela kakhulu uJosefa kangangokuba wammangalela ngokuthi ubezama ukumdlwengula. (Funda uGenesise 39:14, 15.) Lapho uPotifari ezwa ngalokhu, wafaka uJosefa ejele wahlala lapho iminyaka ethile. (Gen. 39:19, 20) Kwakunjani ukuphila ejele? Igama lesiHebheru uJosefa alisebenzisa lapho ekhuluma ‘ngejele’ lingasho ‘umgodi,’ okubonisa ukuthi indawo ayekuyo yayimnyama imenza aphelelwe ithemba. (Gen. 40:15; mbhw.) IBhayibheli libonisa nokuthi kwaphela isikhathi esithile izinyawo zikaJosefa ziboshwe ngezibopho nentamo yakhe ifakwe ezinsimbini. (IHu. 105:17, 18) Isimo sikaJosefa sasiba sibi nakakhulu. Wasuka ekubeni isigqila esithembekile waba isiboshwa esiphansi.

8. Ngisho noma uvivinyo luba lubi nakakhulu, yini esingaqiniseka ngayo?

⁸ Wake waba sesimweni esicindezelayo esasuka ekubeni sibi saba sibi nakakhulu naphezu kwemithandazo yakho esuka enhliziyweni? Kungenzeka lokho. UJehova akasivikeli ovivinyweni lwaleli zwe elibuswa uSathane. (1 Joh. 5:19) Noma kunjalo, nakhu ongaqiniseka ngakho: UJehova ukwazi kahle obhekene nakho futhi uyakukhathalela. (Math. 10:29-31; 1 Pet. 5:6, 7) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uthembisile: “Angisoze ngakushiya futhi angisoze ngakulahla.” (Heb. 13:5) UJehova angakusiza ukhuthazele ngisho noma isimo okuso sibonakala singenathemba. Ake sibone ukuthi kwenzeka kanjani lokho kuJosefa.

9. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uJehova wayenoJosefa ngesikhathi eboshiwe? (Genesise 39:21-23)

⁹ Funda uGenesise 39:21-23. Phakathi nalesi sikhathi esinzima sokuboshwa, uJehova wenza uJosefa waphumelela. Kanjani? Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, isikhulu esiyinhloko saqala ukumethemba nokumhlonipha uJosefa, njengoba noPotifari ayenzile. Sagcina sibeke uJosefa phezu kwalezi ezinye iziboshwa. Empeleni, iBhayibheli lithi “isikhulu esiyinhloko sejele sasinganakekeli lutho nhlobo olwalunakekelwa uJosefa.” Manje uJosefa wayesenento eyayizogcina ingqondo yakhe imatasa​—umsebenzi okwakumele awenze. Kwakuwushintsho olungalindelekile lolo! Kwakungenzeka kanjani ukuba isiboshwa esasimangalelwe ngokuzama ukudlwengula inkosikazi yesikhulu segceke sinikezwe isikhundla esiphezulu kangaka? Sinye kuphela isizathu. Njengoba uGenesise 39:23 esho, “uJehova wayenoJosefa futhi uJehova wayephumelelisa noma yini ayeyenza.”

10. Chaza ukuthi kungani uJosefa ayengase azibone engaphumeleli kukho konke ayekwenza.

¹⁰ Awuphinde uzame ukuzifaka ezicathulweni zikaJosefa. Ngemva kokumangalelwa ngamanga nokuboshwa, ucabanga ukuthi wayezibona engumuntu ophumelelayo kukho konke ayekwenza? Yini uJosefa ayeyifuna ngaphezu kwakho konke okunye? Ingabe wayefuna ukuthandwa isikhulu esiyinhloko sejele? Cishe uJosefa wayefuna ukuba icala lakhe lesulwe bese eyakhululwa ejele. Waze wacela ngisho nesinye isiboshwa esase sizokhululwa ukuba simkhulumele noPotifari ukuze amkhiphe kulelo jele elalimenza aphelelwe ithemba. (Gen. 40:14) Kodwa le ndoda ayizange imkhulumele ngokushesha noFaro. Ngenxa yalokho, uJosefa wahlala kulelo jele eminye iminyaka emibili. (Gen. 40:23; 41:1, 14) Noma kunjalo, uJehova waqhubeka ephumelelisa noma yini ayeyenza. Kanjani?

11. Yiliphi ikhono elikhethekile uJehova alinika uJosefa, futhi lokhu kwaba nayiphi indima ekufezeni injongo kaJehova?

¹¹ Ngenkathi uJosefa esejele, uJehova wenza ukuba inkosi yaseGibhithe iphuphe amaphupho  amabili ayeyikhathaza. UFaro wayefuna ukwazi ngokushesha ukuthi asho ukuthini. Lapho inkosi ithola ukuthi uJosefa wayekwazi ukuchaza amaphupho, yathi akabizwe. Ngosizo lukaJehova, uJosefa wakwazi ukuchaza la maphupho futhi uFaro wawathanda amacebiso awusizo uJosefa amnika wona. Ebona ukuthi uJehova wayenaye, uFaro wambeka waba umqondisi wokudla kulo lonke elaseGibhithe. (Gen. 41:38, 41-44) Kamuva, kwaba nendlala enkulu, engazange ihlasele eGibhithe kuphela kodwa naseKhanani, lapho kwakuhlala khona umndeni wakubo kaJosefa. Manje uJosefa wayesesethubeni lokusindisa umndeni wakubo, ngokwenza kanjalo alondoloze uhlu lozalo okwakuzovela kulo uMesiya.

12. UJehova wamenza kanjani uJosefa waphumelela?

¹² Cabanga ngezenzakalo ezingavamile ezenzeka ekuphileni kukaJosefa. Ubani owenza ukuba uPotifari aqaphele ngokukhethekile uJosefa, owayemane eyisigqila esiphansi nje? Ubani owenza ukuba isikhulu esiyinhloko sejele sithande uJosefa, owayeyisiboshwa esiphansi? Ubani owenza ukuba uFaro aphuphe amaphupho ayemkhathaza futhi ubani owanika uJosefa ikhono lokuwachaza? Ubani owenza uFaro wabeka uJosefa ukuba abe umqondisi wokudla eGibhithe? (Gen. 45:5) Kusobala ukuthi nguJehova owenza ukuba uJosefa aphumelele kukho konke ayekwenza. Ekugcineni, uJehova washintsha icebo elibi labafowabo bakaJosefa laba yindlela ayengafeza ngayo intando yaKhe.

13. Ingabe uJehova uyangenela kuzo zonke izimo esibhekana nazo? Chaza.

¹³ Sifundani endabeni kaJosefa? Ingabe uJehova uyangenela kuzo zonke izimo esibhekana nazo? Ingabe uyakujika konke okwenzeka ekuphileni kwethu ukuze zonke izinto ezimbi ezenzekayo zibe nesizathu esihle sokwenzeka? Cha, iBhayibheli alikusho lokho. (UmSh. 8:9; 9:11) Kodwa nakhu esikwaziyo: Lapho sivivinywa, uJehova usuke ebona futhi uyasizwa lapho sikhala sicela usizo. (IHu. 34:15; 55:22; Isaya 59:1) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova angasisiza sibukhuthazelele ngokuphumelelayo ubunzima. Kanjani?

14. UJehova usisiza kanjani ngezikhathi ezinzima?

 ¹⁴ Enye indlela uJehova asisiza ngayo ukusinika induduzo nesikhuthazo, ngokuvamile ngesikhathi esifanele. (2 Kor. 1:3, 4) Yilokho okwenzeka ku-Eziz, umzalwane waseTurkmenistan owagwetshwa iminyaka emibili ejele ngenxa yokholo lwakhe. Uthi: “Ekuseni mhlazane kuqulwa icala lami, umzalwane othile wangibonisa u-Isaya 30:15, othi: ‘Niyoba namandla uma nizola futhi ningethemba.’ Leli vesi lalihlale lingisiza ngizole futhi ngithembele kuJehova. Ukuzindla ngalo kwangisiza njengoba ngangiboshiwe.” Sikhona yini isikhathi osikhumbulayo uJehova akusiza ngaso ngokukunika induduzo nesikhuthazo ngaso kanye isikhathi owawusidinga ngaso kakhulu?

15-16. Ufundani kokwenzeka kuTori?

¹⁵ Ngokuvamile kuba yilapho ubunzima sebudlulile lapho sibona khona indlela uJehova asisize ngayo sadlula kubo. Udade okuthiwa uTori uthi kwenzeka kanjalo nakuye. Indodana yakhe, uMason, yayiphethwe umdlavuza iminyaka eyisithupha yaze yashona. UTori wezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu, kube kufanele. Uthi, “Ngicabanga ukuthi abukho ubuhlungu obudlula lobu umama angabuzwa.” Uyanezela, “Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi nabanye abazali bazovumelana nami ngokuthi ukubona ingane yakho igula kubuhlungu ngaphezu kokuba kugule wena.”

¹⁶ Nakuba lolo vivinyo lwalumqeda amandla uTori, kamuva wacabanga ngezindlela uJehova amsiza ngazo wadlula kulo. Uthi: “Uma ngibheka emuva, ngiyayibona indlela uJehova angisiza ngayo phakathi naso sonke isikhathi indodana yami igula. Ngokwesibonelo, ngisho nalapho uMason egula kakhulu engakwazi ukubona izivakashi, abafowethu nodadewethu babehamba amahora amabili beya esibhedlela.  Kwakuhlale kunothile egunjini lokulinda​—elungele futhi ezimisele ukusiza. Sasinakekelwa nangezinto esizidingayo. Ngisho nangezikhathi ezinzima kakhulu, sasingakaze siswele lutho.” UJehova wanikeza uTori lokho ayekudinga ukuze akhuthazele, wenza okufanayo nakuMason.—Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ UJehova Wasinika Lokho Kanye Esasikudinga.”

17-18. Yini ezosisiza sibone futhi sikwazise ukusekelwa uJehova phakathi novivinyo? (IHubo 40:5)

¹⁷ Funda iHubo 40:5. Umgomo womuntu oqwala intaba uwukufika phezulu. Noma kunjalo, njengoba ekhuphuka kunezindawo eziningana angama kuzo abuke ubuhle bendawo. Ngendlela efanayo, zinike njalo isikhathi sokucabanga ngendlela uJehova akwenze waphumelela ngayo ngisho noma usakhuthazelela ubunzima. Ekupheleni kosuku ngalunye, zibuze: ‘UJehova ungibusise kanjani namuhla? Ngisho noma ngisabhekene novivinyo, uJehova ungisiza kanjani ukuba ngikhuthazele?’ Zama ukubona okungenani into eyodwa uJehova akwenzele yona ekwenze waphumelela.

¹⁸ Yiqiniso, kungenzeka uthandazela ukuba luphele uvivinyo. Lokho kuyaqondakala futhi kuyafaneleka. (Fil. 4:6) Kodwa kufanele siziqaphele nezinto uJehova asenzela zona kwamanje. Phela uJehova usithembisa ukuthi uzosiqinisa futhi asisize sikhuthazele. Ngakho, hlale ukwazisa ukuthi uJehova uyakusekela. Uzobe usuyibona indlela uJehova akusiza ngayo uphumelele ngisho nalapho uvivinywa, njengoba enza kuJosefa.​—Gen. 41:51, 52.