Isithembiso SikaYifeta

AmaSirayeli aphinda amlahla uYehova aza akhonza oothixo bobuxoki. Xa ama-Amoni alwa namaSirayeli, abo thixo abazange bawancede. AmaSirayeli aphathwa kakubi iminyaka emininzi. Ekugqibeleni athi kuYehova: ‘Sonile. Sicela usisindise kwiintshaba zethu.’ AmaSirayeli abatshabalalisa oothixo bawo aza aphinda akhonza uYehova. UYehova wayengasafuni kuphinda awabone esengxakini.

Kwakhethwa ijoni elinguYifeta ukuba likhokele amaSirayeli aye kulwa nama-Amoni. Wathi kuYehova: ‘Ukuba usincede soyisa, ndithembisa ukuba xa ndibuyela ekhaya, ndiza kukunika umntu endiza kuhlangatyezwa nguye kuqala.’ UYehova wawumamela umthandazo kaYifeta waza wamnceda woyisa.

Xa efika ekhaya, umntu wokuqala owamhlangabezayo yintombi yakhe, umntwana okuphela kwakhe. Wayedanisa ebetha negubu. Wayeza kuthini uYifeta? Wakhumbula isithembiso sakhe kuYehova waza wathi: ‘Awu ntombi yam! Uyaphule intliziyo yam. Ndithembise uYehova. Ukuze ndisigcine isithembiso sam, kufuneka ndikuthumele eShilo ukuze ukhonze kwintente yakhe engcwele.’ Kodwa intombi yakhe yathi: ‘Tata, ukuba uthembise uYehova, gcina eso sithembiso. Ndicela ukuya konwaba neetshomi zam ezintabeni iinyanga nje eziyi-2. Emva koko, ndiza kuhamba.’ Intombi kaYifeta yakhonza ngokuthembeka ententeni engcwele ubomi bayo bonke. Unyaka nonyaka, abahlobo bayo babesiya kuyibona eShilo.