Indlala Ebulalayo Ngesikhathi Senala
“Izinceku zami ziyakudla, kepha nina niyakulamba.”—ISAYA 65:13.
1, 2. (a) Iyiphi inkinga izizwe ezilwa nayo kodwa kungabi namphumela? (b) IBhayibheli likhomba kuliphi ithemba elingokoqobo?
UKUSONGELA kwendlala kulengela phezu komhlaba wonke! Ekhuluma ngalolusizi, umhleli weThe Boston Globe wathi: “Njengoba umhlaba unabantu abacishe babe yizigidi eziyinkulungwane okwala kancane babulawe yindlala kumelwe uthole izindlela zokusiza izizwe ezimpofu kakhulu ukuba zijabulele okuthile okusondela enaleni evunwa yizizwe ezicebe kakhulu.” Nokho, ngisho nezizwe okuthiwa zithuthukile kwezobuchwepheshe azinakusho ukuthi ukuntuleka kokudla akuzithinti ngokuphelele. Lezi nazo zihlulekile ukuza nesimiso sokuqinisekisa ukuthi zonke izakhamuzi zazo zizokondliwa. Abantu abanendaba abakhathalela izidingo zabantu balwa nalenkinga ekhulayo. Ingabe likhona ikhambi?
2 Umhleli ocashunwe ngenhla wavuma: “Isici esidumaza kakhulu sokungondliwa kahle . . . siwukuthi ngokusobala umhlaba ungakwazi ukondla wonke umuntu.” Nokho ubhadane lwendlala luyaqhubeka lukhula. Kungani lokhu kunjalo? UMdali wethu onothando uye walungiselela okwanele ngazo zonke izigidi zezinkulungwane ezigcwalisa umhlaba. Ekulungiseleleni umhlaba njengekhaya lomuntu, wawenza waba sesimweni sokukhiqiza inala, okungaphezu kokwanele ngabo bonke. (IHubo 72:16-19; 104:15, 16, 24) Ngisho nakulezikhathi ezinezinkathazo, siyaqiniseka ukuthi uMlungiseleli wethu oMuhle uzonikeza ukudla okwanele ngalabo ababheka eMthonjeni oqondile. NgaLowo amlungiselela njengoMphathi Wokudla omkhulu, uyasitshela: “Funani kuqala umbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe, khona konke lokhu [izidingo zokuphila ezibonakalayo] kuyakwenezelwa nina.”—Mathewu 6:33; 1 Johane 4:14.
Indlala Ebulalayo
3. Iyiphi indlala enokubaluleka okukhulu kakhulu, futhi yabikezelwa kanjani?
3 Indlala embi engokomoya inokubaluleka okukhulu kakhulu emhlabeni namuhla. Ihlangene ngokuqondile nokuntuleka kokuthula. Isintu sixakekile, ngokukhungatheka sifuna indlela yokuphuma. Emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka edlule uNkulunkulu umninimandla onke wabangela umprofethi wakhe ukuba alobe ngalesimo, ethi: “Bhekani, izinsuku ziyeza, isho iNkosi uJehova, lapho ngiyakuthuma indlala ezweni, kungabiyindlala yesinkwa, kungabi-ngukomela amanzi, kepha kube-ngeyokuzwa amazwi kaJehova. Bayakuzulazula kusukela elwandle kuze kube-selwandle, kusukela enyakatho kuze kube-sempumalanga, bahambahambe ukufuna izwi likaJehova, kepha abayikulifumana.”—Amose 8:11, 12.
4, 5. (a) Kungani abanye bengamtholi uNkulunkulu nakuba bemfuna? (b) UJesu wayehluke kanjani kubaholi benkolo bosuku lwakhe? (Mathewu 15:1-14)
4 Nokho, ingabe ikhona indlela yokuphuma kulongqí-ngetshe? Umphostoli uPawulu uphendula ngoyebo, esikhuthaza ngalamazwi: “UNkulunkulu owenza umhlaba . . . wamisa izikhathi ezinqunyiweyo nemikhawulo yokuhlala kwazo, ukuze zifune uNkulunkulu, ingabe zingamuzwa, zimfumane; ingani kakude kulowo nalowo kithi.”—IzEnzo 17:24-27.
5 Uma uNkulunkulu ‘engekude kulowo nalowo kithi,’ kungani abaningi bemfuna, kodwa bengamtholi? Kungoba bamfuna ezindaweni okungeyizo. Bangaki abazibiza ngamaKristu abayisebenzisa ngokomuntu siqu incwadi eyisisekelo yobuKristu, iBhayibheli eliNgcwele? Bangaki ababizwa ngokuthi “abelusi” abasebenzisa iZwi likaNkulunkulu ekufundiseni “izimvu”? (Qhathanisa noHezekeli 34:10.) UJesu watshela abaholi benkolo abaqhoshayo bosuku lwakhe ukuthi ‘babengayazi imibhalo namandla kaNkulunkulu.’ (Mathewu 22:29; Johane 5:44) Nokho, uJesu wayeyazi imiBhalo futhi wayifundisa kubantu, aba nesihe ngabo ‘ngoba babekhathazekile, behlakazekile njengezimvu ezingenamalusi.’—Mathewu 9:36.
Kukanjani Kuyisikhathi Sendlala?
6. Ngokuqondene nenala engokomoya uJehova uziqinisekisa kanjani izinceku zakhe?
6 UJehova uphinde aqinisekise futhi akhuthaze labo abafuna ngobuqotho ukumazi. Ekusoleni abelusi benkolo yamanga, uthi ngomprofethi wakhe uIsaya: “Bhekani, izinceku zami ziyakudla, kepha nina niyakulamba; bhekani, izinceku zami ziyakuphuza, kepha nina niyakoma; bhekani, izinceku zami ziyakuthokoza, kepha nina niyakujabha.” (Isaya 65:13, 14) Kodwa uJehova uzilungiselela kanjani izinceku zakhe inala? Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sihlanganyele ngenjabulo elungiselelweni lakhe lokulondoloza ukuphila, naphezu kwendlala yanamuhla engokomoya?
7. Iyiphi idrama yasendulo eyanikezwa ngothando ngenjongo yesikhuthazo sethu namuhla?
7 Njengoba ukusinda kuncike ngokuphelele ekwazini kwethu izimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu nasekwenzeni ngokholo ngazo, kumelwe siye eZwini likaNkulunkulu ngenjabulo, sifune ukwazi intando yakhe ngathi nokuqonda indlela yakhe yokusebenzelana nathi. (Johane 17:3) Khona-ke, manje sizocabangela idrama engokweBhayibheli enomfuziselo walokho okwenzekayo namuhla. Umlingiswa oyinhloko kuledrama yinzalamizi uJosefa. Njengoba ngoJosefa uJehova enzela abantu baKhe ilungiselelo lokuhlakanipha, ngaleyondlela uhola ngothando labo abamfunayo namuhla.—Qhathanisa nabaseRoma 15:4; 1 Korinte 10:11, umbhalo waphansi weReference Bible (*); Galathiya 4:24.
UJosefa, Umlondolozi Wokuphila
8, 9. (a) Imiphi imifuziselo esiyitholayo kamuva ngoJosefa noJakobe nangoFaro? (b) Thina ngokwethu singahileleka kanjani ekugcwalisekeni?
8 Njengomlondolozi wokuphila, uJosefa indodana kaJakobe wafeza indima ephawulekayo. Ingabe lokhu kufanekisela okuthile okwakuzokwenzeka kamuva? Nokho, cabanga ngokukhuthazelela kukaJosefa ukuphathwa abafowabo ngendlela eyayingamfanele, ukubhekana kwakhe novivinyo kwelinye izwe, ukholo lwakhe olungantengantengi, ukugcina kwakhe ubuqotho, nokukhushulelwa kwakhe esikhundleni sokuba umphathi ohlakaniphile ngesikhathi sendlala embi. (Genesise 39:1-3, 7-9; 41:38-41) Ingabe asiwuboni umfuziselo enkambweni yokuphila kaJesu?
9 UJesu waba iSinkwa Sokuphila phakathi kwezwe elilambele ‘ukuzwa amazwi kaJehova’ ngokudlula ekuhluphekeni. (Amose 8:11; Heberu 5:8, 9; Johane 6:35) Ebuhlotsheni babo noJosefa, bobabili uJakobe noFaro basikhumbuza ngoJehova nalokho akufezayo ngeNdodana yakhe. (Johane 3:17, 34; 20:17; Roma 8:15, 16; Luka 4:18) Kwakunabanye futhi abahlanganyela kuledrama yokuphila okungokoqobo, futhi sizocabangela izingxenye zabo ngesithakazelo. Akungabazeki ukuthi sizokhunjuzwa ngokuncika kwethu kuJosefa oMkhulu, uKristu Jesu. Yeka indlela esibonga ngayo ngokuthi uyasilondoloza endlaleni ebulalayo phakathi ‘nalezinsuku zokugcina’ eziya ziba zimbi!-2 Thimothewu 3:1, 13.
Idrama Iyaqala
10. (a) UJosefa wayilungiselelwa kanjani indima ebalulekile ayezoyifeza? (b) Yiziphi izimfanelo azibonisa ngaphambili ekuphileni kwakhe?
10 Osukwini lukaJosefa, akekho umuntu owayengakwazi kusengaphambili lokho uJehova ayekugcinele abantu baKhe. Kodwa ngesikhathi uJosefa ebizelwa ukufeza indima yakhe ebalulekile, uJehova wayesemqeqeshile kakade futhi wamphelelisa ngokuqondene nezimfanelo zakhe. Ngokuqondene nokuphila kwakhe esemusha, ukulandisa kufundeka kanje: “UJosefa eseneminyaka eyishumi nesikhombisa wawalusa umhlambi kayise enabafowabo; engumfana nje wayekuwo amadodana kaBiliha nakuwo amadodana kaZilipa omkayise; uJosefa waletha kuyise imibiko emibi ngabo.” (Genesise 37:2) Wabonisa ukwethembeka ezithakazelweni zikayise njengoba nje noJesu aba nokwethembeka okungantengantengi ekwaluseni umhlambi kaYise phakathi ‘kwesizukulwane esingakholwayo nesiphambeneyo.’—Mathewu 17:17, 22, 23.
11. (a) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba abafowabo bakaJosefa ngamzali-munye bamzonde? (b) Yisiphi isimo esifanayo esasihilela uJesu?
11 Uyise kaJosefa, uIsrayeli, wamthanda ngaphezu kwabo bonke abafowabo futhi wambonisa umusa ngokumenzela ingubo ende, emithende enemikhono. Ngenxa yalokhu, abafowabo bakaJosefa ngamzalimunye “bamzonda, bengenakukhuluma kuye ngokuthula.” Bathola esinye isizathu sokumzonda lapho esechaze amaphupho amabili abawachaza ngokuthi ayesho ukuthi wayezobabusa. Ngendlela efanayo, abaholi bamaJuda bamzonda uJesu ngenxa yokwethembeka kwakhe, ukufundisa kwakhe okunethonya, kanye nesibusiso sikaJehova esisobala kuye.—Genesise 37:3-11; Johane 7:46; 8:40.
12. (a) Kungani uJakobe ayekhathazekile ngenhlala-kahle yamadodana akhe? (b) Yimuphi umfuziselo esiwutholayo phakathi kwenkambo kaJosefa nekaJesu?
12 Ngesinye isikhathi, abafowabo bakaJosefa babelusa izimvu ngaseShekemi. Uyise kaJosefa wayekhathazeke ngokufanelekile ngoba kwakuyilapho lapho uShekemi ona khona uDina, uSimeyoni noLevi, kanye nabafowabo, baze babulala amadoda alowomuzi. UJakobe wacela ukuba uJosefa aye khona ayobona inhlala-kahle yabo abuye ambikele. Naphezu kwenzondo yabafowabo ngaye, uJosefa waya kubo ngokushesha. Ngendlela efanayo, uJesu wasamukela ngenjabulo isabelo sikaJehova lapha emhlabeni, ngisho nakuba kwakuyosho ukuhlupheka okukhulu phakathi nokupheleliswa kwakhe njengeNkosi yensindiso. Ekukhuthazeleni kwakhe, yeka isibonelo esihle uJesu aba yiso kithi sonke!—Genesise 34:25-27; 37:12-17; Heberu 2:10; 12:1, 2.
13. (a) Abafowabo bakaJosefa ngamzalimunye bayibonisa kanjani inzondo yabo? (b) Ukudabuka kukaJakobe kungaqhathaniswa nani?
13 Abafowabo bakaJosefa ngamzali munye abayishumi bambona eza ekude. Ngokushesha bamthukuthelela, futhi benza icebo lokwahlukana naye. Okokuqala baceba ukumbulala. Kodwa uRubeni, enokwesaba ngenxa yomthwalo wakhe wemfanelo njengezibulo, wanquma ukuba uJosefa aphonswe emgodini wamanzi owomile, ngenjongo yokubuya kamuva amkhulule. Nokho, ngalesosikhathi uJuda waphoqelela abafowabo ukuba bamthengise njengesigqila kumaIshmayeli ayedlula ngenqola. Khona-ke abafowabo bathatha ingubo ende kaJosefa bayicwilisa egazini lempongo futhi bayithumela kuyise. Lapho uJakobe eyihlola, wakhala: “Yiyo ingubo yendodana yami; isilwane esibi simdlile; yebo, uJosefa udatshuliwe nokudatshulwa.” Kumelwe ukuba uJehova wezwa usizi olufanayo ngokuhlupheka kukaJesu njengoba ayefeza isabelo sakhe emhlabeni.—Genesise 37:18-35; 1 Johane 4:9, 10.
UJosefa EGibithe
14. Ledrama yasendulo ingasizuzisa kanjani namuhla?
14 Akumelwe siphethe ngokuthi ukugcwaliseka kwezenzakalo ezisadrama ezihilela uJosefa zenzeka ngokulandelana kwezikhathi ngokuthe ngqó. Kunalokho, emuva lapho sithola uchungechunge lwe zenzakalo ezingezemfundo nesikhuthazo sethu namuhla. Njengoba umphostoli uPawulu esho: “Konke okwalotshwa ngaphambili kwalotshelwa ukufundiswa kwethu, ukuze ngokubekezela nangenduduzo yemibhalo sibe-nethemba. Kepha uNkulunkulu wokubekezela nowenduduzo makaniphe nibe-nokuqonda kunye phakathi kwenu ngokukaKristu Jesu, ukuze nganhliziyonye nidumise ngamlomo munye uNkulunkulu uYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.”—Roma 15:4-6.
15. Kungani uJosefa nendlu kaPotifari kwachuma?
15 UJosefa wayiswa eGibithe, futhi lapho wathengiswa kum Gibithe ogama lakhe linguPotifari, induna yabalindi bakaFaro. UJehova wabonakala enoJosefa, owaqhubeka ephila ngezimiso ezinhle uyise ayezifake kuye, ngisho nakuba ayekude kakhulu nendlu kayise. UJosefa akazange akushiye ukukhulekela kukaJehova. Inkosi yakhe, uPotifari, yazazisa izimfanelo ezivelele zikaJosefa futhi yambeka phezu kwayo yonke indlu yayo. UJehova waqhubeka ebusisa indlu kaPotifari ngenxa kaJosefa.—Genesise 37:36; 39:1-6.
16, 17. (a) UJosefa wabhekana kanjani nolunye uvivinyo lobuqotho? (b) Okuhlangenwe nakho kukaJosefa ejele kubonisa kuphi ukuqondiswa kwezindaba?
16 Kulapho lapho umkaPotifari azama khona ukuyenga uJosefa. Wayelokhu ala. Ngolunye usuku wabamba ingubo kaJosefa, kodwa wabaleka, wayishiya esandleni sakhe. Phambi kukaPotifari, wamangalela uJosefa ngokuzama ukumyengela ekuziphathe ni okubi, futhi uPotifari wayala ukuba uJosefa aboshwe. Okwesikhashana waboshwa ngamaketanga ensimbi. Kodwa kulo lonke usizi lokuhlangenwe nakho kwakhe kwasejele, uJosefa waqhubeka ebonakalisa ukuthi wayengumuntu oqotho. Kanjalo, umgcini wejele wambeka phezu kwazo zonke iziboshwa.—Genesise 39:7-23; IHubo 105:17, 18.
17 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, induna yabaphathizitsha nenduna yababhakizinkwa bakaFaro zamenyelisa futhi zaboshwa. UJosefa wabelwa ukuzikhonza. Nalapha, uJehova wahlela izindaba. Izinduna ezimbili zaphupha amaphupho azihlupha. Ngemva kokugcizelela ukuthi ‘ukuchaza ngokukaJehova,’ uJosefa wazitshela ukuthi amaphupho ayesho ukuthini. Futhi njengoba nje uJosefa ayeshilo, ezinsukwini ezintathu kamuva (ngosuku lokuzalwa kukaFaro) umphathizitsha wabuyiselwa esikhundleni sakhe, kodwa induna yababhakizinkwa yaphanyekwa.—Genesise 40:1-22.
18. (a) UJosefa wakhunjulwa kanjani? (b) Wawuyini umongo wamaphupho kaFaro?
18 Nakuba uJosefa ayecele umphathi-zitsha ukuba amnxusele kuFaro, kwadlula iminyaka emibili ngaphambi kokuba lendoda imkhumbule uJosefa. Ngisho nalapho, lokhu kwakungenxa nje yokuphupha kukaFaro amaphupho amabili amhlupha ngobusuku obubodwa. Lapho zingekho izanusi ezazingacacisa incazelo yawo, umphathizitsha watshela uFaro ukuthi uJosefa wayengawachaza amaphupho. Ngakho uFaro wathumela ukuba kulandwe uJosefa, owakhomba ngokuzithoba eMthonjeni wezincazelo zeqiniso, ethi: “UNkulunkulu uzakumphendula kahle uFaro.” Khona-ke umbusi waseGibithe wamlandisa uJosefa amaphupho, wathi:
“Bheka, ngangimi ogwini lomfula; bheka, kwase kukhuphuka emfuleni izithole eziyisikhombisa ezikhulupheleyo ezibukeka kahle; zadla emhlangeni. Nazo ezinye izithole eziyisikhombisa zenyuka emva kwazo, zizacile, zibukeka kabi kakhulu, zondile, engingazange ngibone ezimbi njengalezo ezweni lonke laseGibithe. Izithole ezondileyo ezimbi zadla eziyisikhombisa zokuqala ezikhulupheleyo. Lapho sezingene eziswini zazo, akwabonakala ukuthi zingene eziswini zazo; zazisabukeka zizimbi njengakuqala. . . .
“Futhi ngabona ephusheni lami, bheka, kwahluma izikhwebu eziyisikhombisa ezeleni linye, ziphelele, zizinhle. Bheka, nezikhwebu eziyizintshwamu ezincane, ezihamukile ngumoya wasempumalanga, zahluma emva kwazo. Izikhwebu ezincane zagwinya izikhwebu eziyisikhombisa ezinhle; ngakulandisa izanusi, kepha sasingekho esingangazisa khona.”—Genesise 40:23–41:24.
19. (a) UJosefa wakubonisa kanjani ukuzithoba? (b) Yisiphi isigijimi esasidluliselwa yincazelo yamaphupho?
19 Yeka amaphupho ayinqaba! Umuntu wayengawachaza kanjani? UJosefa wawachaza, kodwa hhayi ngenxa yodumo lwakhe. Wathi: “Iphupho likaFaro linye; lokho uNkulunkulu azakukwenza . . . ukubonakalisile kuFaro.” Khona-ke uJosefa waqhubeka embula isigijimi esinamandla esingokwesiprofetho salawomaphupho, ethi:
“Bheka, kuyeza iminyaka eyisikhombisa yenala enkulu ezweni lonke laseGibithe. Emva kwayo iyakuvela iminyaka eyisikhombisa ye_ ndlala; iyakukhohlakala inala yonke ezweni laseGibithe; indlala iyakuliqeda izwe. . . . Lokhu ukuthi iphupho liphindwe kabili kuFaro, kungokuba lento inqunywe nguNkulunkulu, futhi uNkulunkulu uyakushesha ayenze.”—Genesise 41:25-32.
20, 21. (a) UFaro wasabela kanjani esixwayisweni? (b) Kulokhu, uJosefa noJesu bangaqhathaniswa kanjani?
20 Yini uFaro ayengayenza ngalendlala eyayiza? UJosefa watusa ukuba uFaro ayilungiselele ngokubeka indoda eqondayo nehlakaniphile phezu kwezwe ukuze igcine isivuno esisalayo seminyaka emihle. Manje uFaro wayeseziqaphelile izimfanelo zikaJosefa ezivelele. Ekhipha indandatho yakhe enophawu esandleni sakhe futhi eyifaka esandleni sikaJosefa, kanjalo uFaro wammisa phezu kwalo lonke izwe laseGibithe.—Genesise 41:33-46.
21 UJosefa wayeneminyaka engamashumi ama-30 lapho ema phambi kukaFaro, iminyaka elingana nekaJesu Kristu lapho ebhapathizwa futhi eqalisa inkonzo yakhe enikeza ukuphila. Isihloko esilandelayo sizobonisa indlela uJosefa asetshenziswa ngayo uJehova ekufuziseleni “iNkosi nomsindisi” kaJehova ngesikhathi sendlala engokomoya nokusebenza okukhethekile osukwini lwethu.—IzEnzo 3:15; 5:31.
Uphendula Kanjani?
◻ Kungaziphi izindlela ezimbili indlala iwusongo namuhla?
◻ Yiziphi izimfanelo ezinhle uJosefa azihlakulela esenabafowabo ngamzalimunye?
◻ Yini esingayifunda kokuhlangenwe nakho kUkaJosefa kwangaphambili eGibithe?
◻ Kusiqinisekisa ngani ukukhathalela kukaJehova ngoJosefa nabantu abakhungethwe yindlala?
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 13]
Umhleli weThe Sunday Star (eToronto, ngoMarch 30, 1986) wathi ngalokho okuthiwa amasonto amakhulu: “Lapho ehluleka kakhulu khona kusekuhlangabezaneni nendlala enkulu engokomoya yamadoda anamuhla, abesifazane nentsha”