Ilanga Liyama

KHANGELA uJoshuwa. Uthi: ‘Langa, mana uthi mpo!’ Lakanye ilanga liyama lithi mpo. Lima khonapho phakathi laphakathi kwesibhakabhaka ilanga lonke. NguJehova owenza lime! Kodwa ake sibone ukuthi kungani uJoshuwa efuna ukuthi ilanga liqhubeke likhanya.

Lapho amakhosi amahlanu amabi aselizweni laseKhenani eqalisa ukulwa lamaGibheyoni, ama-Gibheyoni athuma enye indoda ukuthi iyecela uncedo kuJoshuwa. Ithi: ‘Woza ngapha kithi ngokuphangisa. Sincede! Amakhosi wonke aselizweni lezintaba asebuye ukuzokulwa lezinceku zakho.’

UJoshuwa lamadoda akhe empi bahle basuke bahambe. Bahamba ubusuku bonke. Lapho befika eGibheyoni, amasotsha amakhosi amahlanu ayesaba njalo aqalisa ukubaleka. UJehova wenza ukuthi kune amatshe amakhulu avela ezulwini, kufa amasotsha amanengi ngenxa yokutshaywa ngamatshe kulabulawa ngamabutho kaJoshuwa.

UJoshuwa unanzelela ukuthi ilanga selizatshona. Sekuzaba mnyama njalo amasotsha amanengi amakhosi amahlanu amabi azabaleka. Yikho uJoshuwa ethandaza kuJehova esithi: ‘Langa, mana mpo!’ Ngenxa yokuthi ilanga liyaqhubeka likhanya, ama-Israyeli enelisa ukuqedisa ukunqoba kwawo empini.

Kulamanye amakhosi amanengi amabi aseKhenani azonda abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Kuthatha uJoshuwa lebutho lakhe phose iminyaka eyisithupha ukuthi banqobe amakhosi angu-31 awelizwe lelo. Sekwenziwe lokhu, uJoshuwa uhlela ukuthi ilizwe laseKhenani labelwe izizwana ezingakabi lendawo yokuhlala.

Kudlula iminyaka eminengi, uJoshuwa abesesifa eseleminyaka engu-110. Abantu bayamlalela uJehova lapho uJoshuwa labangane bakhe besaphila. Kodwa lapho amadoda la alungileyo esifa, abantu baqalisa ukwenza izinto ezimbi njalo bangena phakathi kohlupho. Yikho lapho asebedinga khona kakhulu uncedo lukaNkulunkulu.