JOSEFA wakaima mumuunda wakwe waaŋanda kumabbililo aazuba. Andiza naakaimvwi wakabwene zisamu zyamakunka azisamu zimwi zyamicelo, tuzyiba twamaanzi tujisi zisyango zyamumaanzi, alimwi kunze aalubaya lwakwe, kwakali kulibonya ŋanda yamwami ya Farao. Amweezyeezye kuti Josefa umvwide mwanaakwe musankwa Manase kasobana muŋanda amusyoonto wakwe uucili muniini, Efraimu. Josefa wabuyeeyela bukkale mbobubede muŋanda, bakaintu bakwe balaseka-seka nobabona bana babo kabasobana. Kumane wamweta-mweta. Wakalizyi kuti muntu uulelekedwe kapati.

Josefa wakaulika mwanaakwe mutaanzi izina lyakuti Manase nkaambo lyaamba kuluba. (Matalikilo 41:51) Kweelede kuti zilongezyo Leza nzyaakamupede Josefa kusika kuciindi eeci zyakamuumbulizya akumupa kutakuyeeya kapati kuŋanda, banabokwabo, alimwi abausyi. Lusulo ndobakajisi bapati bakwe lwakacinca buumi bwakwe. Bakamucitila calunya akuba amuzeezo wakuti bamujaye, mane buya bakamusambala kuti abe muzike kuli basimakwebo. Kuzwa ciindi eeco, buumi bwakwe bwakali bwakupenga-penga. Kwamyaka iitandila ku 12, wakaliyumya kubuumi bwakuba muzike alimwi wakabikkwa muntolongo kaangidwe nsimbi zyamukuba kwaciindi cili mbocibede. Pele lino aciindi eeci—wakali mweendelezi wabili kuzwa kuli Farao mucisi cilaanguzu ca Egepita! *

Kwamyaka iili mbwiibede, Josefa wakalibonena mbozyakali kuzuzikizyigwa zintu nzyaakasinsima Jehova. Aciindi eeci, cisi ca Egepita cakali mumyaka iili ciloba yabutebuzi bunji iyakasinsimwa, alimwi Josefa ngowakali kulanganya mulimo wakuyobolola maila mucisi. Ciindi eeci, wakajisi bana basankwa bobilo mbaakazyala kumukaintu wakwe, Asenati. Nokuba boobo, zimwi ziindi wakali kuuyeeya mukwasyi wakwe iwakali kulamfwu—kwaambisya musyoonto wakwe Benjamini alimwi abausyi, ba Jakobo. Kweelede kuti Josefa wakali kuyeeya naa bakali kabotu. Alimwi andiza wakali kuyeeya naa bapati bakwe bakacinca nzila zyabo zibi akuti naa wakali kuyooba muluumuno ambabo akuyanzana alimwi amukwasyi wakwe.

Ikuti naa luumuno mumukwasyi wanu lwakanyonganizyigwa akaambo kamunyono, lunya, naa kusulaikwa, nkokuti penzi lyanu lilikozyenye alya Josefa. Ino ncinzi ncotukonzya kwiiya kulusyomo lwa Josefa ciindi naakali kulanganya mukwasyi wakwe?

Josefa wakajisi bubi, aboobo myaka yakali kweenda cakufwambaana. Mbubwenya Jehova mbwaakasinsima muciloto ncaakamutumina Farao, mwaka waciloba wabutebuzi bunji wakamana mpoonya kwakaba kucinca kupati. Zisyango tiizyakacita kabotu. Tiilyakalampa, nzala yakasika akumasi oonse aakeengelede. Nokuba boobo, Bbaibbele lyaamba kuti, “pele mucisi coonse ca Egepita kwakali zyakulya.” (Matalikilo 41:54) Cakutadooneka, ncaakaamba Josefa kuti ciyoocitika alimwi ambwaakali kuzyeendelezya kabotu zintu kwakabagwasya bana Egepita.

Kweelede kuti bana Egepita bakamulumba kapati Josefa alimwi akumulumbaizya akaambo kambwaakali kucita kabotu zintu. Nokuba boobo, Josefa kunyina naakali kunga wayanda kuti bulemu bupegwe  kumuntu uuli woonse pe, pele buyo kuli Leza wakwe, Jehova. Ikuti twabelesya zipego zili zyoonse nzyotujisi mumulimo wa Leza, ulakonzya kupa kuti tuzibelesye munzila njotwatali kuyeeyela.

Mukuya kwaciindi, bana Egepita abalo bakanjililwa nzala. Nobakamulilila Farao kuti abagwasye, wakabaambila kuti: “Kamuya kuli Josefa, alimwi mucite kufwumbwa ncatiimwaambile.” Aboobo Josefa wakajalula matala imwakayobwedwe cakulya, eelyo bantu bakatalika kuula.—Matalikilo 41:55, 56.

Nokuba boobo, muzisi zimbi zyakeengelede bantu bakalipengede. Bamukwasyi wa Josefa abalo bakalipengede ku Kanana. Mudaala Jakobo wakamvwa kuti kwakali cakulya ku Egepita, aboobo wakaambila bana bakwe kuti baunke kuyakuula cakulya.—Matalikilo 42:1, 2.

Jakobo wakatuma bana bakwe bali kkumi, pele ikutali keela, Benjamini. Wakaliyeeyede ciindi naakatumide mwanaakwe uuyandwa Josefa alikke kuti akabone banabokwabo. Eeco ncecakali ciindi camamanino Jakobo ncaakamubona mwanaakwe ooyu musankwa. Banabokwabo Josefa bakalileta jansi lyakwe lyeebeka, kalizapaukide akubija bulowa lyalo ilyakali citondezyo cakuti bausyi bakali kumuyanda kapati. Bakapa kuti bausyi ibakauside kapati basyome kuti Josefa wakaligwa banyama bamusyokwe.—Matalikilo 37:31-35.

Nobakeenda musinzo mulamfwu, bana ba Jakobo bakasika ku Egepita. Nobakabuzya nkobakonzya kuula cakulya, bakaambilwa kuti baunke kuli silutwe mupati wamfwulumende wazina lya Zafenati-panea. (Matalikilo 41:45) Sena nobakamubona bakazyiba kuti ngu Josefa? Peepe. Bakabona buyo kuti mupati-pati mubweendelezi bwabana Egepita, walo iwakeelede kubagwasya. Mbwaanga bakali kumbele lyamweendelezi, bakacita cilengwa ceelede: “Bakaboola kulinguwe akumukotamina ansi.”—Matalikilo 42:5, 6.

Sena walo Josefa wakabazyiba? Inzya, wakabazyiba mbwaakababonena buyo! Naakabona kuti bamukotamina, wakayeeya cakacitikide kacili musyoonto. Cibalo citwaambila kuti “Josefa wakayeeya ziloto nzyaakalotede” eezyo Jehova nzyaakamupa ciindi naakacili musyoonto, iziloto izyakali kwaamba ciindi banabokwabo nobakali kuyoomukotamina—calo ncobakali kucita aciindi eeci! (Matalikilo 37:2, 5-9; 42:7, 9) Ino Josefa wakali kunoocita buti? Sena wakeelede kubakumbata? Naa sena wakeelede kujolela cibi?

Josefa wakalizyi kuti tanaakeelede kucita buyo kufwumbwa ncaakali kuyeeya mumoyo wakwe. Cilalibonya caantangalala kuti, Jehova ngowakali kweendelezya zintu mbozyakali kucitika. Makanze aakwe akalijatikizyidwe. Wakasyomezyede kuti lunyungu lwa Jakobo lwakali kuyooba cisi cipati. (Matalikilo 35:11, 12) Ikuti naa banabokwabo Josefa bakacili alunya, kuliyanda, munyono, nkokuti mamanino aazintu akali kuyoobija! Kunze lyaboobo, ikuti Josefa naakacita nzyaakali kuyeeya, nobatakamulanga munzila yeelede aabo bakasyeede kuŋanda, ambweni naakababikka muntenda bausyi alimwi a Benjamini. Alimwi buya, sena bakacili baumi? Josefa wakasala kutalizyibya kutegwa abasunke banabokwabo alimwi akubona naa bakacinca. Mpoonya wakali kunoozyiba Jehova ncaakali kuyanda kuti acite.

 Ambweni nywebo tamulangilwi kuba mubukkale bukatazya mbuli boobu. Nokuba boobo, kutamvwana akuzwangana mumikwasyi kulidumide kapati mazuba aano. Ciindi buyumuyumu buli boobu nobutusikila, tulakonzya kutobela moyo wesu ncouyanda alimwi akucita buyo caboola kumoyo. Inga cagwasya kwiiya cikozyanyo ca Josefa alimwi akusola kuzyiba mbwayanda Leza kuti twaayendelezye makani. (Tusimpi 14:12) Amuyeeye kuti, mbubonya mbociyandika kuba muluumuno abanamukwasyi, kuba muluumuno a Jehova alimwi a Mwanaakwe kulayandika kapati.—Matayo 10:37.

Josefa wakabasunka banabokwabo munzila ziindene-indene kutegwa abone naa bakacinca ncobeni. Wakatalika kucita oobo kwiinda mukwaambaula ambabo cabukali kubelesya sikusandulula, kabatamikizya kuti mbaasikutwela. Nobakali kusola kulikwabilila, bakamwaambila kujatikizya mukwasyi wabo alimwi akwaamba kuti bakalijisi musyoonto wabo iwakasyeede kuŋanda. Josefa wakasoleka kulisisa kuti wakkomana. Sena masimpe musyoonto wakwe wakacili kupona? Aciindi eeci Josefa wakazyiba ncaakeelede kucita. Wakati: “Mboobu mbomutiisunkwe,” mpoonya wakabaambila kuti wakali kuyanda kumubona ooyo musyoonto wabo. Kumane wakabazumizya kuti bapiluke kuŋanda kuyooleta musyoonto wabo lilikke kuti naa omwe akati kabo wazumina kusyaala mucitolokesi.—Matalikilo 42:9-20.

Ciindi banabokwabo Josefa nobakali kubandika makani aaya, kabatazyi kuti Josefa wakalimvwide ncobakali kwaamba, bakatalika kulipa milandu akaambo kacibi cipati ncobakacita myaka iili 20 yakaindide. Bakali kwaamba kuti, “Masimpe tuli mukusubulwa akaambo kamukwesu, nkaambo twakabona mbwaakapenga mumoyo naakali kutukombelezya kuti tumufwide lubomba, pele tiitwakamuswiilila pe. Nkakaambo kaako twaabona mapenzi aaya aatusikila.” Josefa wakamvwa nzyobakali kwaamba, aboobo wakazwa anze kutegwa bataboni kuti watalika kulila. (Matalikilo 42:21-24) Wakalizyi masimpe kuti, kweempwa kwini-kwini takuyeeme buyo akulimvwa bubi muntu nkwaakonzya kulimvwa kujatikizya cibi ncaakacita. Aboobo wakazumanana kubasunka.

Wakabaleka kuti baunke kuŋanda akubikka Simeoni mucitolokesi. Mpoonya wakabikka mali mumasaka aabo aakajisi zyakulya nzyobakatola kuŋanda. Banabokwabo Josefa bakapiluka kuŋanda, bakasoleka kubakombelezya bausyi kutegwa bamuzumizye Benjamini ngobakali kuyandisya kuti aunke ambabo ku Egepita. Nobakasika ku Egepita, bakaambila mubelesi wa Josefa kujatikizya mali ngobakajana mumasaka aabo, mane bakalilibambilide kwaapilusya oonse. Kulisungula ooko kwakali kubotu, pele Josefa wakali kuyanda kusinizya bwini mbobakabede. Wakabapangila pobwe, pesi tanaakalitondezya kuti wakakkomana akaambo kakubonana a Benjamini, nokuba kuti cakamukatazya kucita boobo. Kumane wakabaleka kuti baunke kuŋanda kabajisi zyakulya, pele mulweendo oolu nkapu yansiliva yakasiswa musaka lya Benjamini.—Matalikilo 42:26–44:2.

Mpoonya Josefa wakakalebula kakole kakwe. Wakalailila kuti banabokwabo batandilwe, baangwe, alimwi akutamikizyigwa kubba nkapu. Noyakajanika nkapu mucisaka ca Benjamini, boonse bakaletwa kuli Josefa. Lino Josefa wakaba acoolwe cakuzyiba bwini mbobakabede banabokwabo. Juda ngowakaba mwiiminizi wabo. Wakakombelezya kuti abafwide luse, mane akulisungula kuti boonse bali 11 babe bazike mu Egepita. Josefa wakaamba kuti Benjamini alikke ngowakeelede kusyaala mu Egepita kuti abe muzike, pele boonse basyaala bakeelede kuunka.—Matalikilo 44:2-17.

Eeci cakapa kuti Juda aingule munzila yeetezya. Juda wakati: “Mwida lyabanyina walo nguwakasyaala alimwi usyi ulamuyanda kapati.” Kweelede kuti majwi aayo akamunjila kapati Josefa, nkaambo ngowakali mupati kubana ba Jakobo mbaakazyala kuli Rakele mukaintu wakwe, walo iwakafwa ciindi naakali kutumbuka Benjamini. Mbubwenya mbuli bausyi, kweelede kuti awalo Josefa wakali kubayeeya banyina, ba Rakele. Andiza eeco ncecakapa kuti Josefa amuyande kapati Benjamini.—Matalikilo 35:18-20; 44:20.

Juda wakazumanana kukombelezya Josefa kuti atamujati buzike Benjamini. Mane wakalisungula kuti walo abe nguwe muzike muciindi ca Benjamini. Kumane wakamanizya amajwi aaya aayetezya aakuti: “Ino inga ndajokela buti kuli taata katako mulombe ooyu? Nkaambo tandikonzyi kuyoolangilila akubona mapenzi aaya kaamucitikila taata!” (Matalikilo 44:18-34) Aawa, nokwakalibonya ncobeni  kucinca kwini-kwini mumwaalumi ooyu. Tanaakatondezya buyo muuya wakweempwa, pele alimwi wakatondezya bube bubotu bwalubomba, kubabikkila maano bamwi, alimwi alweetelelo.

Josefa tanaakacili kukonzya kuliyumya. Kufwundilila kwakwe lino kwakeelede kumupa kutondezya bwini mbwaakali kulimvwa. Nakamana kubatandila anze babelesi bakwe boonse, wakoongolola kulila cakuti ijwi lyakwe lyakalimvwisya kuŋanda yamwami Farao. Mpoonya wakaliyubununa akwaamba kuti: “Ndime Josefa imunyoko.” Wakabakumbata banabokwabo balo ibakagambidwe alimwi wakabalekelela zyoonse nzyobakamucita. (Matalikilo 45:1-15) Aboobo wakatondezya bube bwa Jehova, walo uulekelela cakumaninina. (Intembauzyo 86:5) Sena andiswe tulacita oobo?

Farao naakamvwa makani oonse kujatikizya coongo ncaakamvwa kuŋanda ya Josefa, wakaambila Josefa kuti alonzye bausyi kuboola ku Egepita antoomwe amukwasyi woonse. Aboobo tiikwakainda ciindi, Josefa wakabonana alimwi abausyi mbaakali kuyandisya kapati. Jakobo wakalila akwaamba kuti: “Lino inga ndafwa; nkaambo ndakubona alimwi ndazyiba kuti ucipona.”—Matalikilo 45:16-28; 46:29, 30.

Cikkomanisya ncakuti, Jakobo wakapona myaka iimbi iili 17 mu Egepita. Wakapona kusikila ciindi naakaamba businsimi bwazileleko kujatikizya bana bakwe bali 12. Jakobo wakapa Josefa, imwanaakwe wanamba 11, zibeela zyobilo zyacileleko, eezyo kanji-kanji izyakali kupegwa buyo kumwana mutaanzi. Kwakali kuyoozwa misyobo yobilo kuzwa mulinguwe. Ino mbuti kujatikizya Juda mwana wa Jakobo wane, ooyo iwakaiminina banabokwabo ciindi naakatondezya muuya wakweempwa? Wakatambula cileleko cipati: Mesiya wakali kuyoozwa mumukwasyi wakwe!—Matalikilo, caandaano 48, 49.

Ciindi Jakobo naakafwa kalaamyaka iili 147, banabokwabo Josefa bakayoowa kuti andiza lino musyoonto wabo ulabapilusizya cibi ncobakacita. Pele Josefa tanaakacita oobo pe. Wakatondezya kuti wakali kubayanda mbwaanga akali makanze aa Jehova kuti balongele ku Egepita, aboobo banabokwabo bakeelede kuleka kulimvwa bubi akaambo kazintu nzyobakacita musyule. Kumane wakayungizya akubuzya kuti: “Sena mebo ndili mubusena bwa Leza?” (Matalikilo 15:13; 45:7, 8; 50:15-21) Josefa wakalizyi kuti Jehova ngo Mubetesi uulondokede. Aboobo, ino Josefa wakali ni kuti asubule baabo Jehova mbaakalekela?—Bahebrayo 10:30.

Sena cilamukatazya kulekelela bamwi? Cilakonzya kutuyumina kapati kwaambisya ikuti naa muntu watulubizyila wacita caali. Pele kuti twabalekelela bamwi kuzwa ansi aamoyo aabo ibeempwa ncobeni, tuyoopa kuti babe aluumuno lwamumizeezo alimwi andiswe tuyooba aluumuno lwamumizeezo. Alimwi tuyakwiiya cikozyanyo calusyomo ca Josefa alimwi acikozyanyo ca Usyi siluse, Jehova.