UJakobe Wathola Ifa

U-Isaka wayeneminyaka engu-40 lapho eshada noRebheka. Wayemthanda kakhulu. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, baba namadodana amabili—amawele.

Igama lendodana endala kwakungu-Esawu kanti encane kwakunguJakobe. U-Esawu wayekuthanda ukuzula futhi ekwazi kahle ukuzingela. Kanti uJakobe wayethanda ukuhlala ekhaya.

Ngalezo zikhathi, indodana endala iyona eyayinikezwa indawo enkulu nemali eningi lapho ubaba wayo efa. Lokho kwakubizwa ngokuthi ifa. Emndenini ka-Isaka, ifa lalihlanganisa nezithembiso uJehova ayezenze ku-Abrahama. U-Esawu wayengenandaba nalezo zithembiso, kodwa uJakobe wayazi ukuthi zibaluleke kakhulu.

Ngolunye usuku, u-Esawu wafika ekhaya ekhathele kakhulu ngemva kokuzingela usuku lonke. Wezwa iphunga lokudla okumnandi okwakuphekwa uJakobe, wabe esethi: ‘Ngaze ngafa indlala! Ngicela ungiphakele leso sitshulu!’ UJakobe wathi: ‘Ngizokuphakela, kodwa ngithembise kuqala ukuthi uzonginika ifa lakho.’ U-Esawu wathi: ‘Anginandaba nefa lami! Lithathe. Into engiyifunayo nje ukudla.’ Ucabanga ukuthi u-Esawu wenza ngokuhlakanipha? Cha, akunjalo. U-Esawu wadela into ebaluleke kakhulu ukuze nje athole isitshulu.

Lapho u-Isaka eseguge kakhulu, kwase kuyisikhathi sokubusisa indodana yakhe endala. Kodwa uRebheka wasiza uJakobe, indodana encane, ukuba kube yiyo ethola isibusiso. Lapho u-Esawu ezwa lokho, wathukuthela kakhulu futhi wafuna ukulibulala iwele lakhe. U-Isaka noRebheka babefuna ukuvikela uJakobe, ngakho bathi kuye: ‘Baleka uyohlala nomalume wakho uLabani, kuze kwehle intukuthelo ka-Esawu.’ UJakobe walalela abazali bakhe futhi wabaleka ukuze asindise ukuphila kwakhe.