📖 Wahusika wa Biblia — Sehemu ya 5: Yusufu — Kutoka Shimoni Hadi Ikulu, Mtu Aliyesamehe📖 Bible Characters — Unit 5: Joseph — From the Pit to the Palace, the Man Who Forgave

Ni maisha machache katika Maandiko yanayoonyesha mkono wa Mungu waziwazi kuliko maisha ya Yusufu. Akiuzwa na ndugu zake mwenyewe, akipelekwa kama mtumwa katika nchi ya kigeni, akishtakiwa kwa uongo na kufungwa gerezani, hatimaye aliinuka akawa wa pili baada ya Farao peke yake — na huko, akiwa na uwezo wa kuwaangamiza watu waliomkosea, aliwasamehe. Hadithi ya Yusufu ni Warumi 8:28 iliyoandikwa kama maisha: "mambo yote hufanya kazi pamoja ... kuwapatia mema" wale wampendao Mungu. Ni hadithi ya maongozi ya Mungu ambayo hakuna shimo linaloweza kuyazuia, na ya msamaha unaobubujika kutokana na kuyaamini maongozi hayo.Few lives in Scripture show the hand of God more clearly than Joseph's. Sold by his own brothers, carried as a slave into a foreign land, falsely accused and locked in prison, he rose at last to stand second only to Pharaoh — and there, with the power to destroy the men who had wronged him, he forgave. Joseph's story is Romans 8:28 written as a life: "all things work together for good to those who love God." It is the story of a providence that no pit can stop and a forgiveness that flows from trusting that providence.

Somo: Yusufu — kutoka shimoni hadi ikulu, mtu aliyesamehe.Subject: Joseph — from the pit to the palace, the man who forgave.

Kiini cha Ujumbe: Kile ambacho wanadamu hukikusudia kwa mabaya, Mungu hukikusudia kwa mema; maongozi yake hutawala kila hatua.Proposition: What men intend for evil, God intends for good; His providence rules every step.

Tutafuatilia hatua tano katika maisha ya Yusufu.We will trace five movements in the life of Joseph.

I. Mwota NdotoI. The Dreamer

Yusufu alikuwa mwana kipenzi wa baba yake Yakobo, na upendeleo huo ulizaa taabu. Yakobo alimpa joho lililopambwa — ambalo kwa desturi hutafsiriwa "kanzu ya rangi nyingi," ingawa msemo huo adimu wa Kiebrania unaweza pia kueleza vazi refu lenye mikono, linalofika hadi viganjani na miguuni — alama ya heshima ambayo ndugu zake hawangeweza kuikosa, nao walimchukia kwa sababu hiyo. Kisha zikaja ndoto. Katika ya kwanza, miganda ya nafaka ya ndugu zake iliuinamia mganda wa Yusufu; katika ya pili, jua, mwezi, na nyota kumi na moja zilimsujudia. Ndoto hizo zilikuwa za kweli, lakini hazikukaribishwa.Joseph was the favored son of his father Jacob, and that favoritism bred trouble. Jacob gave him an ornate robe — traditionally rendered "a coat of many colors," though the rare Hebrew phrase may equally describe a long, sleeved garment reaching to the hands and feet — a mark of honor his brothers could not miss, and they hated him for it. Then came the dreams. In the first, the brothers' sheaves of grain bowed down to Joseph's sheaf; in the second, the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed before him. The dreams were true, but they were not welcome.

Wivu uligeuka kuwa chuki, na chuki ikawa njama. Yusufu alipowajia kondeni, walimvua kanzu yake wakamtupa shimoni. Reubeni alitumaini kumwokoa baadaye, lakini alipokuwa hayupo, wale wengine walimwuza Yusufu kwa msafara wa wafanyabiashara waliokuwa wakipita kuelekea Misri, kwa vipande ishirini vya fedha. Kisha wakaichovya kanzu yake katika damu ya mbuzi wakaipeleka kwa baba yao, naye akararua mavazi yake na kuomboleza, akikataa kufarijiwa. Mwota ndoto alikuwa akishuka chini kabla hajapanda juu kamwe, na baba yake aliamini kwamba amekufa.Envy turned to hatred, and hatred to a plot. When Joseph came to them in the field, they stripped him of his coat and threw him into a pit. Reuben hoped to rescue him later, but while he was away the others sold Joseph to a passing caravan of traders bound for Egypt, for twenty pieces of silver. Then they dipped his coat in goat's blood and carried it to their father, who tore his clothes and mourned, refusing to be comforted. The dreamer was on his way down before he would ever go up, and his father believed him dead.

II. MtumwaII. The Slave

Akipelekwa Misri na kuuzwa katika nyumba ya Potifa, akida wa Farao, Yusufu angeweza kuonekana ameachwa kabisa. Lakini Maandiko yanasema:Carried into Egypt and sold into the house of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, Joseph might have seemed utterly forsaken. But Scripture says:

Hiki ndicho kiini cha hadithi ya Yusufu katika mstari mmoja: Mungu aliijua anwani yake. Hakuna shimo lenye kina kirefu mno, hakuna nchi iliyo mbali mno, hakuna hali iliyo duni mno kiasi cha kuwa nje ya ufikiaji wa Mungu. Yusufu alitumika kwa uaminifu pale Mungu alipomweka, na Bwana akafanikisha kila kitu mkononi mwake, hata Potifa akamweka juu ya nyumba yake yote na kumkabidhi kila kitu. Yusufu hakuipoteza miaka yake ya utumwa kwa kujihurumia; alifanya kazi, na Mungu akaibariki kazi yake.Here is the heart of Joseph's story in a single line: God knew his address. There is no pit so deep, no country so far, no circumstance so low that it lies outside the reach of God. Joseph served faithfully where God had placed him, and the Lord prospered everything in his hand, so that Potiphar set him over his entire household and entrusted everything to him. Joseph did not waste his years as a slave in self-pity; he worked, and God blessed his work.

III. MfungwaIII. The Prisoner

Uadilifu wa Yusufu ulimgharimu. Siku baada ya siku mke wa Potifa alijaribu kumshawishi, na siku baada ya siku alikataa. Jibu lake linafunua mzizi wa tabia yake: "Basi nitawezaje kutenda ubaya huu mkubwa, nikamkosa Mungu?" Aliona kwamba kumkosea bwana wake kungekuwa, juu ya yote, kumkosea Bwana. Hatimaye mwanamke huyo alilikamata vazi lake; Yusufu akakimbia na kuliacha mkononi mwake, naye akalitumia kumshtaki kwa uongo. Kwa sababu ya uaminifu wake Yusufu alitupwa gerezani — akiadhibiwa kwa kutenda haki.Joseph's integrity cost him. Day after day Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him, and day after day he refused. His answer reveals the root of his character: "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" He saw that sin against his master would be, above all, sin against the Lord. At last she seized his garment; he fled and left it in her hand, and she used it to accuse him falsely. For his faithfulness Joseph was thrown into prison — punished for doing right.

Hata hivyo hata huko kiitikio kile kile kinamfuata:Yet even there the same refrain follows him:

Mkuu wa gereza akaja kumwamini na kuweka kila kitu chini ya uangalizi wake. Baada ya muda mnyweshaji na mwokaji wa Farao walitupwa katika gereza lile lile, na kila mmoja aliota ndoto yenye kusumbua usiku mmoja. Yusufu alizifasiri: mnyweshaji angerudishwa kazini, mwokaji angeuawa — na ndivyo ilivyotokea. Yusufu aliomba tu kwamba mnyweshaji amkumbuke atakapokuwa huru. Lakini mnyweshaji alimsahau, na Yusufu akangoja miaka miwili zaidi. Alisahauliwa na wanadamu, lakini si na Mungu. Yusufu anajiunga na mstari mrefu wa wale waliohukumiwa kwa uongo ambao hata hivyo walishikwa imara mkononi mwa Mungu — Danieli katika tundu la simba, Yeremia shimoni, Paulo katika minyororo yake, na juu ya wote Bwana Yesu, aliyehukumiwa na wanadamu na kuthibitishwa haki na Mungu.The keeper of the prison came to trust him and put everything under his care. In time Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker were thrown into the same prison, and each had a troubling dream on the same night. Joseph interpreted them: the cupbearer would be restored, the baker would be executed — and so it came to pass. Joseph asked only that the cupbearer remember him when he was free. But the cupbearer forgot him, and Joseph waited two more years. He was forgotten by men, but not by God. Joseph joins a long line of the falsely condemned who were yet held firmly in God's hand — Daniel in the lions' den, Jeremiah in the pit, Paul in his chains, and above all the Lord Jesus, condemned by men and vindicated by God.

Mfano wa Yusufu unaupinga uongo kwamba kutenda haki daima hulipa papo hapo. Alichagua dhamiri safi kuliko dhambi ya starehe, na ilimgharimu uhuru wake. Hata hivyo BWANA alikuwa pamoja naye hata huko, na gereza lenyewe likawa mahali ambapo Mungu angemwinua kutoka. Uaminifu haupotei kamwe bure, hata thawabu yake inapochelewa kwa muda mrefu.Joseph's example confronts the lie that doing right always pays at once. He chose a clear conscience over a comfortable sin, and it cost him his freedom. Yet the LORD was with him even there, and the very prison became the place from which God would raise him up. Faithfulness is never wasted, even when its reward is long delayed.

IV. MtawalaIV. The Ruler

Hatimaye Farao aliota ndoto zilizomsumbua: ng'ombe saba wanono wakimezwa na ng'ombe saba waliokonda, masuke saba yaliyojaa yakimezwa na masuke saba membamba. Hakuna hata mmoja wa wenye hekima wa Misri aliyeweza kuzifasiri. Ndipo mnyweshaji akamkumbuka yule kijana Mwebrania aliyekuwa gerezani. Katika siku moja Yusufu aliletwa kutoka gerezani hadi ikulu. Farao aliposema amesikia kwamba Yusufu anaweza kufasiri ndoto, Yusufu aliikwepa sifa hiyo: "Si mimi; Mungu atampa Farao jibu la amani." Alisoma katika ndoto za Farao miaka saba ya wingi ikifuatwa na miaka saba ya njaa, akamshauri Farao ahifadhi nafaka katika miaka yote ya wingi ili nchi iweze kuokoka.At last Pharaoh dreamed dreams that troubled him: seven fat cows swallowed by seven gaunt ones, seven full heads of grain swallowed by seven thin ones. None of the wise men of Egypt could interpret them. Then the cupbearer remembered the young Hebrew in the prison. In a single day Joseph was brought from the dungeon to the palace. When Pharaoh said he had heard that Joseph could interpret dreams, Joseph deflected the praise: "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace." He read in Pharaoh's dreams seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine, and he counseled Pharaoh to store grain through the years of plenty so the land could survive.

Farao aliona Roho wa Mungu ndani yake, akamfanya kuwa wa pili baada ya Farao peke yake juu ya Misri yote, akaitia pete yake mwenyewe mkononi mwa Yusufu na kumvika mavazi ya kitani safi. Katika ile miaka saba ya wingi Yusufu alikusanya nafaka kwa wingi kiasi kwamba haikuweza kupimwa. Njaa ilipokuja, kulikuwa na chakula Misri, na watu kutoka mataifa mengi walikuja kununua. Hekima ambayo Mungu alikuwa amempa kijana mmoja Mwebrania aliyedharauliwa sasa iliyaweka hai mataifa mazima. Mfungwa aliyesahauliwa alikuwa amekuwa mwokozi wa ulimwengu wake — sawasawa kabisa na ndoto zilivyosema.Pharaoh saw the Spirit of God in him and made him second only to Pharaoh over all Egypt, setting his own ring on Joseph's hand and clothing him in fine linen. Through the seven years of plenty Joseph gathered grain in such quantities that it could not be measured. When the famine came, there was bread in Egypt, and from many nations people came to buy. The wisdom God had given to one despised young Hebrew now kept whole nations alive. The forgotten prisoner had become the savior of his world — exactly as the dreams had said.

V. Mwenye KusameheV. The Forgiver

Kisha njaa ikafika Kanaani, ikawasukuma ndugu za Yusufu kwenda Misri kununua nafaka. Walimsujudia mtawala wa nchi, bila kujua kwamba ndiye ndugu yao waliyemwuza — na ndoto za zamani zikatimia mbele ya macho yao. Yusufu aliwatambua lakini akawajaribu, akificha utambulisho wake, akitazama kuona kama mioyo yao ilikuwa imebadilika. Alimzuia Simeoni kama dhamana na akawataka wamlete Benyamini, ndugu yake pekee wa baba mmoja na mama mmoja. Kisha akaficha kikombe chake mwenyewe cha fedha katika gunia la Benyamini, na kikombe kilipopatikana na Benyamini akatishiwa utumwa, Yuda — ndugu yule yule aliyekuwa wa kwanza kupendekeza kumwuza Yusufu — alijitokeza akajitoa mwenyewe badala ya Benyamini. Kweli ndugu hao walikuwa wamebadilika. Hatimaye Yusufu hakuweza kujizuia tena. Akilia kwa sauti kubwa hata Wamisri wakamsikia, alisema, "Mimi ni Yusufu." Ndugu zake waliingiwa na hofu kuu, wakiwa na hakika kwamba siku ya kisasi imefika. Lakini hakulipiza kisasi. Alikuwa amejifunza kuuona mkono wa Mungu hata katika dhambi yao:Then the famine reached Canaan, and it drove Joseph's brothers to Egypt to buy grain. They bowed before the governor of the land, not knowing he was the brother they had sold — and the dreams of long ago came true before their eyes. Joseph recognized them but tested them, holding back his identity, watching to see whether their hearts had changed. He kept Simeon as a pledge and required them to bring Benjamin, his only full brother. Then he hid his own silver cup in Benjamin's sack, and when the cup was found and Benjamin was threatened with slavery, Judah — the very brother who had first proposed selling Joseph — stepped forward and offered himself in Benjamin's place. The brothers had indeed changed. At last Joseph could hold back no longer. Weeping so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, he said, "I am Joseph." His brothers were terrified, certain that the day of revenge had come. But he did not take revenge. He had learned to see God's hand even in their sin:

Yusufu aliileta familia yake yote Misri, akaungana tena na baba yake mzee Yakobo, akawatunza katika kipindi chote cha njaa. Lakini jaribu kuu zaidi la msamaha wake lilikuja baadaye. Yakobo alipokufa, ndugu waliogopa kwamba Yusufu alikuwa amejizuia tu kwa ajili ya baba yao na sasa angewalipiza. Walikuja wakitetemeka, naye Yusufu akalia tena akatamka lile neno kuu linalovika taji maisha yake:Joseph brought his whole family to Egypt, was reunited with his aged father Jacob, and provided for them through the famine. But the deepest test of his forgiveness came later. When Jacob died, the brothers feared that Joseph had only restrained himself for their father's sake and would now repay them. They came trembling, and Joseph wept again and spoke the great word that crowns his life:

Hii ndiyo siri ya msamaha wa Yusufu: alimwona Mungu anayetawala juu ya uovu na kuupinda kuwa mema. Hakujifanya kwamba kosa halikuwa kosa; ndugu zake kweli walikuwa wamekusudia mabaya. Lakini aliona mkono mkuu zaidi ukifanya kazi nyuma ya mikono yao. Kweli hiyo hiyo ni yetu katika mstari mmoja:This is the secret of Joseph's forgiveness: he saw a God who rules over evil and bends it to good. He did not pretend the wrong was not wrong; his brothers had truly meant evil. But he saw a greater hand at work behind theirs. The same truth is ours in one verse:

Yusufu aliweza kusamehe kwa sababu aliamini kwamba Mungu alikuwa akifanya kazi wakati wote — shimoni, nyumbani mwa Potifa, gerezani, na kitini mwa enzi. Hakuna kitu kilichopotea bure; hakuna kitu kilichokuwa nje ya mpango wa Mungu. Maisha ya Yusufu yanatufundisha tusihukumu makusudi ya Mungu kwa yale tu tunayoweza kuyaona kwa wakati huo; shimo na gereza vilionekana kama maangamizi, lakini vilikuwa njia yenyewe ya kuelekea kiti cha enzi na kuokolewa kwa taifa. Tunapouona mkono huo, nasi pia tunaweza kuachilia kosa ambalo wengine wametutendea, tukiliacha mikononi mwa Mungu anayeweza kuleta mema hata kutoka katika uovu. Kile ambacho wanadamu hukikusudia kwa mabaya, Mungu hukikusudia kwa mema.Joseph could forgive because he believed that God had been at work the whole time — in the pit, in Potiphar's house, in the prison, and on the throne. None of it was wasted; none of it was outside God's plan. Joseph's life teaches us not to judge God's purposes only by what we can see in the moment; the pit and the prison looked like ruin, but they were the very road to a throne and to the saving of a nation. When we see that hand, we too can release the wrong others have done to us, leaving it in the keeping of a God who can bring good even out of evil. What men intend for evil, God intends for good.