1, 2. (a) Abantu b’omu Isiraeri baali mu mbeera ki? (b) Baani abaali bazze okwaŋŋanga Eriya ku Lusozi Kalumeeri?

ERIYA yatunuulira ekibiina ky’abantu abaali basonnyontoka nga bambuka Olusozi Kalumeeri. Wadde ng’obudde bwali tebunnatangaala bulungi, omuntu yali asobola okukiraba nti abantu abo enjala yali ebakosezza nnyo era nti baali baavu nnyo. Ekyeya ekyali kimaze emyaka esatu n’ekitundu kyali kibalese mu mbeera mbi nnyo ddala.

² Mu bantu abo mwalimu ne bannabbi ba Bbaali 450 ab’amalala, era nga bo baali batambula bagaaga. Bannabbi abo baali tebaagalira ddala Eriya, nnabbi wa Yakuwa. Wadde nga Yezeberi muka Kabaka Akabu yali asse abaweereza ba Yakuwa bangi, Eriya yali akyagenda mu maaso n’okuvumirira abo abaali basinza Bbaali. Oboolyawo bannabbi abo baali balowooza nti olw’okuba bo baali bangi, tewaali ngeri yonna omusajja oyo omu gye yali ayinza okubawangula. (1 Bassek. 18:4, 19, 20) Ne Kabaka Akabu yaliwo, ng’ajjidde mu ggaali lye, era okufaananako ba nnabbi ba Bbaali abo, naye yali tayagalira ddala Eriya.

3, 4. (a) Lwaki Eriya ayinza okuba nga yalimu okutya ku lunaku olwo olwali olw’ebyafaayo? (b) Bibuuzo ki bye tugenda okwekenneenya?

³ Olunaku olwo lwali lugenda kuba lwa byafaayo nnyo eri nnabbi Eriya. Ng’atunuulira abantu abo abaali bambuka ku lusozi, yali akimanyi nti baali bagenda kutegeera ani eyali asinga amaanyi—Katonda oba abantu ababi. Eriya yali awulira atya? Olw’okuba “yali muntu nga ffe,” oboolyawo yalimu okutya. (Soma Yakobo 5:17.) Era ateekwa okuba nga yali awulira ennaku ya maanyi okuba nti yaliwo yekka okwaŋŋanga bannabbi abo abaali abatemu, n’abantu abataalina kukkiriza, awamu ne kabaka waabwe eyali avudde ku kusinza okw’amazima.—1 Bassek. 18:22.

⁴ Naye Isiraeri yatuuka etya okuba mu mbeera embi ennyo bw’etyo? Ebyo ebyaliwo bikukwatako bitya? Ka twetegereze engeri Eriya gye yayolekamu okukkiriza era n’engeri gye tuyinza okumukoppa leero.

5, 6. (a) Mbeera ki embi eyali mu Isiraeri? (b) Biki kabaka Akabu bye yakola ebyanyiiza ennyo Yakuwa?

⁵ Eriya yali amaze ebbanga ddene ng’alaba okusinza okw’amazima kujolongebwa, era nga n’abo abaali bakwenyigiramu bayigganyizibwa. Naye wadde nga Abaisiraeri bangi baali bamaze ekiseera kiwanvu nga basinza bakatonda ab’amawanga agaali gabeetoolodde mu kifo ky’okusinza Yakuwa Katonda, mu kiseera kya Eriya baali bagenze wala nnyo mu kusinza bakatonda abo ab’obulimba.

⁶ Kabaka Akabu alina bye yakola ebyanyiiza ennyo Yakuwa. Yawasa Yezeberi muwala wa kabaka w’e Sidoni, era Yezeberi yali ayagala abantu bonna mu Isiraeri basinze Bbaali. Akabu yatandika okukolera ku biragiro bya Yezeberi. Yazimbira Bbaali yeekaalu n’ekyoto, era naye kennyini n’atandika okusinza Bbaali.—1 Bassek. 16:30-33.

7. (a) Lwaki kyanyiiza nnyo Yakuwa abantu bwe basinza Bbaali? (b) Lwaki tuyinza okugamba nti ebyo Bayibuli by’eyogera ku myaka ekyeya eky’omu kiseera kya Eriya gye kyamala tebikontana? (Laba  akasanduuko.)

⁷ Lwaki kyanyiiza nnyo Yakuwa abantu bwe baasinza Bbaali? Kyamunyiiza kubanga kyaleetera abantu okumuvaako. Era mu kusinza okwo abantu beenyigiranga mu bikolwa ebibi ennyo. Baasaddaakanga abaana, baabanga ne bamalaaya b’omu yeekaalu abasajja n’abakazi, era baabeeranga n’ebinyumu mwe baakoleranga ebikolwa eby’obuseegu. Eyo ye nsonga lwaki Yakuwa yatuma Eriya eri Akabu amutegeeze nti waali wagenda kubaawo ekyeya okutuusa nnabbi wa Katonda oyo lwe yandirangiridde nti kikomye. (1 Bassek. 17:1) Oluvannyuma lw’ebbanga ddene, Eriya yaddayo eri Akabu n’amugamba agambe abantu era ne bannabbi ba Bbaali bakuŋŋaanire ku Lusozi Kalumeeri. *

8. Ebyo ebikwata ku kusinza Bbaali Bayibuli by’etutegeeza bitukwatako bitya?

⁸ Ebyaliwo ebyo birina makulu ki gye tuli leero? Abamu bayinza okukitwala nti tebitukwatako leero olw’okuba ebyoto bya Bbaali n’ebifo mw’asinzizibwa tebikyaliwo. Ebintu ebyo ebyaliwo edda birina kye bituyigiriza. (Bar. 15:4) Ekigambo “Bbaali” kitegeeza “nnannyini” oba “mukama wa.” Yakuwa Katonda yali ayagala abantu be basalewo okumuweereza nga “baali” waabwe, oba mukama waabwe. (Is. 54:5) Ne leero tokiraba nti abantu balina bakama baabwe bangi be baweereza mu kifo ky’okuweereza Katonda Omuyinza w’Ebintu Byonna? Ekyo abantu kye batwala okuba nga kye kisingayo obukulu mu bulamu bwabwe, ka zibeere ssente, omulimu, eby’amasanyu,  okwegadanga, oba okusinza omu ku bakatonda abalala, kye kiba kifuuse mukama waabwe. (Mat. 6:24; soma Abaruumi 6:16.) Bwe kityo nno, ebya mbyone ebyakolebwanga mu kusinza Bbaali ne leero bikyakolebwa. Bwe tulowooza ku lutalo olwo olwaliwo wakati wa Yakuwa ne Bbaali kituyamba okusalawo ani gwe tulina okuweereza.

9. (a) Lwaki Olusozi Kalumeeri kyali kifo kirungi okulagirako nti Bbaali katonda wa bulimba? (Laba n’obugambo obuli wansi.) (b) Kiki Eriya kye yagamba abantu?

⁹ Omuntu bwe yayimiriranga ku Lusozi Kalumeeri, yalinga asobola okulengera ekitundu kinene eky’ensi ya Isiraeri—okuva ku kiwonvu ky’e Kisoni okutuuka ku Nnyanja Ennene (Ennyanja Meditereniyani), era ng’asobola okulengera ensozi za Lebanooni eziri mu bukkika ddyo. *  Mu kiseera ekyo ensi ya Isiraeri yali mu mbeera mbi nnyo, era abantu abaali waggulu ku lusozi olwo baali bakiraba. Ensi eyo yali ngimu nnyo Yakuwa we yagiweera Abaisiraeri, naye kati yali erabika ng’eddungu. Obusirusiru bw’abantu ba Katonda bwe bwali buviiriddeko ekyo! Eriya yasembera awaali ekibiina ky’abantu abaali bakuŋŋaanye n’abagamba nti: “Mulituusa wa okutta aga n’aga nga mulowooza wabiri? Mukama oba ye Katonda, mumugoberere: naye oba [Bbaali,] kale mumugoberere ye.”—1 Bassek. 18:21.

10. Mu ngeri ki abantu b’omu kiseera kya Eriya gye baali ‘batta aga n’aga,’ era kintu ki ekikulu ennyo kye baali beerabidde?

¹⁰ Eriya yali ategeeza ki bwe yabuuza abantu nti, “mulituusa wa okutta aga n’aga nga mulowooza wabiri”? Abantu abo baali tebakimanyi nti baalina okulondawo gwe balina okusinza, Yakuwa oba Bbaali. Bo baali balowooza nti basobola okusinza bombi. Oboolyawo baali balowooza nti Bbaali yali asobola okubawa omukisa ebimera byabwe n’ebisolo byabwe ne byala, ate ‘Yakuwa ow’eggye’ n’abawanguza entalo. (1 Sam. 17:45) Okufaananako abantu bangi leero, baali beerabidde ekintu ekikulu ennyo—nti abasinza Yakuwa tebalina kusinza katonda mulala yenna. Yakuwa yekka y’agwanidde okusinzibwa. Tayagalira ddala kumugattika na bakatonda balala!—Soma Okuva 20:5.

11. Ebyo Eriya bye yagamba Abaisiraeri ku Lusozi Kalumeeri bisobola bitya okutuyamba okwekebera okulaba biki bye tukulembeza mu bulamu era n’okulaba obanga kinnoomu tusinza mu ngeri emusanyusa?

¹¹ Abaisiraeri abo baali ‘batta aga n’aga’ ng’omuntu alowooza nti asobola okutambulira mu makubo abiri mu kiseera kye kimu. Abantu bangi bakola ensobi y’emu leero. Bakulembeza “bakatonda abalala” mu bulamu bwabwe, ebyo ebikwata ku kusinza Katonda ne babissa mu kifo eky’okubiri! Ekyo Eriya kye yagamba Abaisiraeri naffe kyandibadde kituleetera okwekebera okulaba biki bye tukulembeza mu bulamu, n’engeri gye tutwalamu okusinza kwaffe.

12, 13. (a) Kiki Eriya kye yagamba kikolebwe okusobola okulaga ani eyali Katonda ow’amazima? (b) Okufaananako Eriya, naffe tuyinza tutya okukyoleka nti twesiga Yakuwa?

¹² Okusobola okumanya ani ku bo eyali asinza Katonda ow’amazima, Eriya yaleeta ekiteeso. Yagamba bakabona ba Bbaali bazimbe ekyoto era bakisseeko ssaddaaka oluvannyuma basabe katonda waabwe agikumeko omuliro. Eriya naye yali wa kukola kye kimu. Yabagamba nti: ‘Katonda anaddamu n’omuliro oyo nga ye Katonda ow’amazima.’ Eriya yali amanyi bulungi ani eyali Katonda ow’amazima. Okukkiriza kwe kwali kwa maanyi nnyo ne kiba nti yaleka bannabbi ba Bbaali okukola kyonna kye baali bawulira nti kye kyandisobozesezza katonda waabwe okukuma omuliro ku ssaddaaka. Yabaleka bo be baba basooka, era  bwe batyo beeroboza ente ey’okusaddaaka, ne batandika okusaba katonda waabwe Bbaali. *—1 Bassek. 18:24, 25.

¹³ Wadde Yakuwa takola byamagero mu kiseera kino, takyukanga. Tusaanidde okumwesiga nga Eriya bwe yakola. Ng’ekyokulabirako, abantu bwe baba bawakanya ebyo Bayibuli by’eyigiriza, tetulina kutya kubaleka kuwa ndowooza yaabwe. Okufaananako Eriya, naffe tuba n’obwesige nti Katonda ow’amazima ajja kutusobozesa okubalaga ekituufu. Tetwesigama ku ndowooza zaffe, wabula twesigama ku Kigambo kye ekyaluŋŋamizibwa ekisobola ‘okutereeza ebintu.’—2 Tim. 3:16.

14. Eriya yaduulira atya bannabbi ba Bbaali, era lwaki yabaduulira?

¹⁴ Bannabbi ba Bbaali baateeka ssaddaaka yaabwe ku kyoto era ne batandika okukoowoola katonda waabwe. Baamukaabirira okumala essaawa eziwerera ddala nga bagamba nti: “Ai [Bbaali,] tuwulire.” Bayibuli egamba nti: “Naye ne wataba ddoboozi newakubadde addamu n’omu.” Awo mu ttuntu Eriya yatandika okuduulira bannabbi ba Bbaali abo ng’abagamba nti Bbaali ateekwa okuba nga yalina by’akola, era ng’eyo ye nsonga lwaki yali tabaddamu, oba nti yali agenze kweteewuluza, oba nti yali yeebase nga yeetaaga kumuzuukusa. Yabagamba nti, “Mwogerere waggulu.” Eriya yali akimanyi bulungi nti okusinza Bbaali bwali butaliimu, era yali ayagala abantu ba Katonda abaaliwo awo nabo bakitegeere.—1 Bassek. 18:26, 27.

15. Ebyo ebyaliwo nga bakabona ba Bbaali basaba biraga bitya nti kiba kya busiru nnyo okuweereza katonda omulala yenna?

¹⁵ Bakabona ba Bbaali baatandika ‘okwogerera waggulu ne beesala n’obwambe n’amafumu ng’enkola yaabwe bwe yali, okutuusa omusaayi lwe gwakulukuta.’ Naye ebyo byonna tebyabayamba! Bayibuli egamba nti, ‘Tewaali ddoboozi newakubadde addamu n’omu newakubadde assaayo omwoyo.’ (1 Bassek. 18:28, 29) Mazima ddala, katonda ayitibwa Bbaali teyaliiyo. Sitaani ye yali aleetedde abantu okuloowoza nti eriyo katonda ayitibwa Bbaali, bw’atyo abaggye ku Yakuwa. Nga bwe kyali mu kiseera ekyo, ne leero omuntu bw’aweereza katonda omulala yenna mu kifo ky’okuweereza Yakuwa ebivaamu tebiba birungi n’akamu.—Soma Zabbuli 25:3; 115:4-8.

16. (a) Kiki amayinja 12 Eriya ge yakozesa ng’addaabiriza ekyoto kya Yakuwa kye gayinza okuba nga gajjukiza abantu? (b) Eriya yakola ki ekirala ekiraga nti yalina obwesige bwa maanyi mu Katonda we?

¹⁶ Awo olw’eggulo, ekiseera kyali kituuse Eriya naye aweeyo ssaddaaka ye ku kyoto. Yasooka kuddaabiriza kyoto kya Yakuwa abalabe b’okusinza okulongoofu kye baali baayonoona. Yakozesa amayinja 12, oboolyawo asobole okujjukiza abantu abo ab’omu bwakabaka bwa Isiraeri obw’ebika ekkumi nti baali bakyali wansi w’Amateeka agaaweebwa ebika byonna 12. Oluvannyuma yateeka ssaddaaka ye ku kyoto era n’alagira bagiyiweko amazzi, oboolyawo nga bagaggya ku Nnyanja Meditereniyani etaali wala okuva awo we baali. Yasima n’olusalosalo okwetooloola ekyoto, nalwo n’alujjuza amazzi. Nga bwe yali awadde bannabbi ba Bbaali akakisa okukola buli kye baali balowooza nti kyandiyambye katonda waabwe, yakola buli kyonna omuntu ky’ayinza okulowooza nti kyandiremesezza Yakuwa—era nga kino kyali kyoleka obwesige obw’amaanyi bwe yalina mu Katonda we.—1 Bassek. 18:30-35.

17. Eriya bwe yali asaba yayoleka atya bye yali asinga okutwala ng’ebikulu, era tuyinza kumukoppa tutya?

¹⁷ Ng’amaze okukola ebyo byonna, Eriya yasaba. Essaala ye yali ya makulu era ng’eyoleka bulungi bye yali asinga okutwala ng’ebikulu. Okusooka, yali ayagala bonna bakimanye nti Yakuwa ye yali “Katonda mu Isiraeri,” so si Bbaali. Eky’okubiri, yali ayagala buli omu akimanye nti ye yali muweereza buweereza, era ng’ekitiibwa kyonna n’ettendo byali birina kudda eri Katonda. N’ekisembayo, yakiraga nti yali akyalumirirwa abantu be; yali ayagala Yakuwa ‘akyuse emitima gyabwe.’ (1 Bassek. 18:36, 37) Wadde ng’obutali bwesigwa bwabwe bwali buleeseewo emitawaana mingi, Eriya yali akyabaagala. Naffe tusaanidde okwoleka obwetoowaze mu kusaba kwaffe, era n’okulaga nti twagala erinnya lya Katonda ligulumizibwe. Ate era tusaanidde n’okujjukira abo abali mu bwetaavu.

18, 19. (a) Yakuwa yaddamu atya okusaba kwa Eriya? (b) Kiki Eriya kye yalagira abantu okukola, era lwaki bakabona ba Bbaali baali tebagwanira kulagibwa kisa?

¹⁸ Nga Eriya tannasaba, abantu bayinza okuba nga baali beebuuza obanga Yakuwa naye yali katonda wa bulimba nga Bbaali. Kyokka Eriya bwe yamala okusaba, baategeera ekituufu. Bayibuli egamba nti: “Awo omuliro gwa Mukama ne gugwa ne gwokya ekiweebwayo ekyokebwa n’enku n’amayinja n’enfuufu, ne gukombera ddala amazzi agaali mu lusalosalo.” (1 Bassek. 18:38) Yakuwa yaddamu okusaba kwa Eriya mu ngeri eyeewuunyisa! Naye abantu bo baakola ki?

 ¹⁹ Bonna baayogerera wamu nti: “Yakuwa ye Katonda ow’amazima! Yakuwa ye Katonda ow’amazima!” (1 Bassek. 18:39, NW) Kyaddaaki ekituufu baakitegeera. Kyokka baali tebannakolawo kintu kyonna kiraga nti baalina okukkiriza. Okugamba obugambi nti Yakuwa ye Katonda ow’amazima olw’okuba baali balabye omuliro oguva mu ggulu, ku bwakyo kyali tekiraga nti baalina okukkiriza. Bwe kityo Eriya yabagamba balage okukkiriza kwabwe mu ngeri endala. Yabalagira bakole ekintu kye bandibadde baakola edda—ekyo Amateeka ga Yakuwa kye gaali galagira. Amateeka ga Katonda gaali gagamba nti bannabbi ab’obulimba n’abasinza ebifaananyi baalina okuttibwa. (Ma. 13:5-9) Bakabona ba Bbaali abo baali balabe ba Yakuwa Katonda lukulwe. Bbaali bagwana okulagibwa ekisa? Ani eyandibakwatiddwa ekisa nga bo baalemwa okukwatirwa ekisa abaana be baasaddaakanga eri Bbaali? (Soma Engero 21:13; Yer. 19:5) Abasajja abo baali tebasaana kulagibwa kisa kyonna. N’olwekyo Eriya yalagira battibwe, era ne battibwa.—1 Bassek. 18:40.

20. Lwaki abantu baba bakyamu okuvumirira ekikolwa kya Eriya eky’okutta bakabona ba Bbaali?

²⁰ Abantu abamu leero bavumirira ekikolwa ekyo eky’okutta bakabona ba Bbaali. Abamu balowooza nti bannalukalala bayinza okukyekwasa ne batta abantu ab’amadiini ge bataagala. Kya nnaku nti leero waliwo bannalukalala abatta abantu mu ngeri efaananako bw’etyo. Kyokka Eriya teyali nnalukalala. Yalagira bakabona abo battibwe olw’okuba ekyo amateeka ga Yakuwa kye gaali galagira. Abakristaayo ab’amazima bakimanyi nti tebasobola kukwata kitala kulwanyisa babi nga Eriya bwe yakola. Bagoberera ekiragiro Yesu kye yawa abagoberezi be bonna bwe yagamba Peetero nti: “Zzaayo ekitala kyo mu kifo kyakyo kubanga abo bonna abakwata ekitala balittibwa na kitala.” (Mat. 26:52) Yakuwa ajja kusindika Omwana we azikirize abo bonna Katonda b’asalidde omusango.

21. Eriya yateerawo atya Abakristaayo ekyokulabirako ekirungi?

²¹ Abakristaayo ab’amazima tulina okwoleka okukkiriza mu byonna bye tukola. (Yok. 3:16) Ekimu ku bisobola okutuyamba kwe kukoppa ekyokulabirako kya Eriya. Yasinza Yakuwa Katonda yekka, era yakubirizanga n’abalala okukola kye kimu. Yayanika eddiini ey’obulimba Sitaani gye yali akozesa okusendasenda abantu okuva ku Yakuwa. Teyakulembezanga ye bye yali ayagala oba bye yali alowooza, wabula yeesiganga Yakuwa. Mazima ddala, Eriya yalwanirira okusinza okw’amazima. Ka buli omu ku ffe ayoleke okukkiriza ng’okwa Eriya!