1, 2. (a) Abantu bako-Israyeli babehlutshwa yini? (b) Ngobani ababephikisana lo-Elija eNtabeni iKhameli?

U-ELIJA wayelibukele ixuku labantu lisadalala liqansa iNtaba iKhameli. Lanxa kwakusesempondazankomo kwakukhanya ukuthi lapho abantu laba ababevela khona imbiza yayingasabekwa eziko. Mhlawumbe lemizimba yayisithe hluthu ngenxa yesomiso esasesileminyaka emithathu lengxenye sikhona.

² Phakathi kwabo kwakulabaphrofethi bakaBhali abangu-450 ababeziphakamisa, behamba angathi abanyatheli phansi. Babemzonda, bemenyanya u-Elija, owayengumphrofethi kaJehova. INdlovukazi uJezebeli yayizibulele ngobunengi bazo izinceku zikaJehova kodwa u-Elija wayezimisele ukulwisana lokukhonzwa kukaBhali. Lanxa kunjalo, wayezakulwa kuze kube nini? Engxenye labaphristi bakaBhali babembona eyibunyonyo nje besithi kasoze abenze lutho njengoba wayeyedwa. (1 AmaKho. 18:4, 19, 20) INkosi u-Ahabi layo yayikhona, ize ngenqola yayo yesikhosini. Layo yayisithi ingabona u-Elija izwe inhliziyo yayo inyampa.

3, 4. (a) Kuyini okwakungenza ukuthi u-Elija esabe? (b) Sizaphendula yiphi imibuzo?

³ Lanxa umphrofethi u-Elija wayeyedwa, ngelanga lelo kwakuzakwenzakala izinto ayengasoze afa azikhohlwa. Wababukela abantu betheleka, esazi ukuthi mhlalokho kwakuzabacacela ukuthi olamandla nguNkulunkulu yini kumbe ngabantu ababi. Inkunzi zasezithobelene. Wena ubona angathi wayesizwa njani? Kumele ukuthi uvalo lwalumtshaya ngoba laye “wayengumuntu njengathi.” (Bala uJakhobe 5:17.) Phela wayegonjolozelwe ngabantu ababengathembekanga, inkosi eyayihlamukele uJehova kanye labaphristi ababengababulali. Yikho-ke akuthandabuzwa ukuthi wayezibona eyedwa phakathi kwezitha.—1 AmaKho. 18:22.

⁴ Kwakuhambe njani ama-Israyeli aze abe phakathi kwamalahle avutha kangaka? Kanti vele indaba le ingakusiza ngani? Kasizwe ukuthi u-Elija watshengisa njani ukuthi wayelokholo, sibone lokuthi akwenzayo kungasinceda njani lamuhla.

5, 6. (a) Abantu bako-Israyeli babephakathi kwayiphi impikiswano? (b) INkosi u-Ahabi yamcunula njani uJehova?

⁵ Kwasekulesikhathi eside u-Elija ebona abantu besizwe sakibo beninela khatshana into eligugu kulazo zonke ababelazo futhi wayengeke  abavimbe. Abantu bako-Israyeli babephakathi kwempikiswano. Kwakumele bakhethe ukuthi bazakhonza izithombe njengezizwe ezazingomakhelwana kumbe bazakhonza uJehova uNkulunkulu weqiniso. Ngesikhathi sika-Elija khona impikiswano le yayisitshisa.

⁶ INkosi u-Ahabi yayimcunule kakhulu uJehova. Yayitshade loJezebeli indodakazi yenkosi yamaSidoni. UJezebeli wayefuna ukuthi wonke umuntu ko-Israyeli akhonze uBhali ukuze ukukhonza uJehova kusale kuyinganekwane nje. U-Ahabi laye wavuma ukudonswa ngamakhala. Wakhela uBhali unkulunkulu wabahedeni ithempeli kanye le-alithare njalo wakhokhela ekumkhonzeni.—1 AmaKho. 16:30-33.

7. (a) Kungani ukukhonza uBhali kwakuyinto embi kakhulu? (b) Kungani sileqiniso lokuthi iBhayibhili kaliziphikisi endabeni yokuthi isomiso sangesikhathi sika-Elija sathatha isikhathi esinganani? ( Khangela lebhokisi.)

⁷ Kungani ukukhonza uBhali kwakuyinto embi kangaka? Ngoba kwasekuhuga abanengi ko-Israyeli ukuthi batshiye uNkulunkulu weqiniso. Kanti njalo ababekhonza uBhali babesenza izinto ezenyanyekayo futhi belochuku. Emathempelini akhona kwakulezifebe zesilisa lezesifazana, kulemikhosi yokuziphatha okubi kwezemacansini futhi babenikela ngabantwana. Ngakho-ke uJehova wathuma u-Elija ukuthi ayetshela u-Ahabi ukuthi kwakuzakuba lesomiso esasizaqhubeka yena aze atsho ukuthi kasiphele. (1 AmaKho. 17:1) Kwadlula iminyaka ethile, u-Elija wasebuyela ku-Ahabi esiyamtshela ukuthi aqoqele uzulu wonke kanye labaphrofethi bakaBhali eNtabeni iKhameli. *

8. Indaba kaBhali ingasinceda yini lamuhla? Chaza.

⁸ Impikiswano le ingasinceda yini lamuhla? Abanye bangacabanga ukuthi indaba yokukhonzwa kukaBhali kayilani lathi njengoba engasekho amathempeli akhe lama-alithare akhe. Kodwa indaba le kayisiyo mbali nje engancediyo. (Rom. 15:4) Ibala elithi “uBhali” litsho ukuthi “umnikazi” kumbe “inkosi.” UJehova watshela abantu bakhe ukuthi kwakumele bakhethe ukuthi yena abe “ngubhali” wabo, okutsho umyeni wabo. (Isaya. 54:5) Uyakunanzelela yini ukuthi abanye abantu balokhu bekhonza amanye amakhosi hatshi uNkulunkulu uSomandla? Nxa umuntu angadela ukukhonza uJehova abesekhetha ukugijimisana lemali, umsebenzi, ukuzilibazisa, ezemacansini kumbe abanye onkulunkulu esingeke sibabale sibaqede, uyabe ekhethe inkosi yakhe. (Mat. 6:24; bala uRoma 6:16.) Ngamanye amazwi, izinto ezazisenziwa ngabantu ababekhonza uBhali zihambelana lezinto ezenziwa ngabantu lamuhla. Ukucabangisisa ngokuthi abantu kwakumele bakhethe phakathi kukaJehova loBhali kungasisiza ukuthi sikhethe kuhle ukuthi sizakhonza bani.

9. (a) Kungani iNtaba iKhameli yayiyindawo efaneleyo yokuveza ukuthi ukukhonza uBhali kwakungasizi ngalutho? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.) (b) U-Elija wathini ebantwini?

⁹ Nxa umuntu wayesesiqongweni seNtaba iKhameli, wayebona isigodi saseKhishoni esasiphansi khonapho, abone loLwandle Olukhulu olwaluseduze kuze kuyefika lasezintabeni zaseLebhanoni ezazisemkhawulweni owawusenyakatho. * Yikho-ke bonke abantu ababebizwe ngu-Elija babengazibonela ukuthi ilizwe laselonakele. Ilizwe elalivundile uJehova ayelinike izizukulwane zika-Abhrahama laselintshintshe laba yinkangala. Umhlabathi wawusuyisikwakwa njengoba lelanga lalihlala litshisa bhe! Phela abantu bakaJehova babewonile. Babuthana-ke, u-Elija wasesithi kubo: “Lizathandabuza kuze kube nini ngeminakano emibili le na? Nxa uJehova enguNkulunkulu mlandeleni  kodwa nxa uBhali enguNkulunkulu, mlandeleni.”—1 AmaKho. 18:21.

10. Kutshoni ukuthi abantu bangesikhathi sika-Elija ‘babethandabuza ngeminakano emibili,’ njalo yiliphi iqiniso eliqakathekileyo abasebelikhohliwe?

¹⁰ Wayesitshoni u-Elija lapho esithi ‘babethandabuza ngeminakano emibili’? Abantu bako-Israyeli babengakunanzeleli ukuthi kwakumele bakhethe ukuthi babezakhonza uJehova yini loba uBhali. Babebona angathi bangaxotshanisa impala ezimbili ngasikhathi sinye, bathokozise uBhali ngokwenza imicimbicimbi yakhe baphinde bacele ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu ababusise. Mhlawumbe babezitshela ukuthi uBhali wayezababusisa ngenala langezifuyo, uJehova “uNkulunkulu wamabutho” yena abesebavikela ezitheni. (1 Sam. 17:45) Basebekhohlwe iqiniso eliqakatheke kakhulu njalo labanengi lamuhla balokhu bengalizwisisi. UJehova kafuni ukuthi sikhonze abanye onkulunkulu. UnguNkulunkulu olobukhwele futhi nguye yedwa okufanele akhonzwe. Kamamukeli umuntu ozama ukukhonza yena ngapha ekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga, njalo lokhu kuyamcunula.—Bala u-Eksodusi 20:5.

11. Ubona angani lokho u-Elija akukhulumayo eNtabeni iKhameli kungasisiza njani ukuthi sihlale sizihlola?

¹¹ Ama-Israyeli ‘ayethandabuza’ njengomuntu ozama ukuhamba ngezindlela ezimbili ngasikhathi sinye. Abantu abanengi lamuhla benza njalo. Basuka baqakathekise abanye “obhali” kulokuthi bakhonze uNkulunkulu kuphela. Kodwa ukulalela isixwayiso sika-Elija sokuthi singathandabuzi kungasisiza ukuthi sihlale sihlolisisa ukukhonza kwethu kanye lokuthi kuyini okuqakatheke kakhulu kithi.

12, 13. (a) U-Elija wabuya lecebo bani elalizaveza ukuthi uNkulunkulu weqiniso ngubani? (b) Thina singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyamthemba uJehova njengo-Elija?

¹² U-Elija wabuya lecebo elilula lokuveza ukuthi uNkulunkulu weqiniso ngubani. Wathi abaphristi bakaBhali balungise i-alithare, babeke umnikelo phezu kwalo besebekhuleka kunkulunkulu wabo ukuthi alumathise umlilo. U-Elija laye wayezakwenza njalo. Waphinda wathi kubo: “Unkulunkulu ozaphendula ngomlilo—nguyeke uNkulunkulu.” U-Elija wayekwazi mhlophe ukuthi ngubani uNkulunkulu weqiniso. Ukholo lwakhe lwaluqine okokuthi wayengesabi ukwenza ukuthi umsebenzi wezitha zakhe ube lula. Yikho wazivumela ukuthi ziqale zona ukunikela. Zakhetha-ke inkunzi eyayizanikelwa kuBhali, zasezikhuleka kuye. *—1 AmaKho. 18:24, 25.

 ¹³ Lamuhla kasikhangelelanga ukuthi uJehova asenzele izimangaliso. Lanxa kunjalo, kakantshintshi. Yikho-ke kufanele simthembe njengo-Elija. Ngokwesibonelo, nxa abanye bephikisana lokutshiwo liBhayibhili, akumelanga sesabe ukubanika ithuba lokuthi baqale bona ukuveza abakucabangayo. Kumele senze njengo-Elija, sithembe ukuthi uJehova nguye ozalungisa izindaba. Lokhu sikwenza ngokuthemba iLizwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumulelweyo elilungiselelwe ‘ukuqondisa’ izinto, singathembi ukuhlakanipha kwethu.—2 Tim. 3:16.

14. U-Elija wabahoza wathini abaphrofethi bakaBhali, njalo wayebahozelani?

¹⁴ Abaphrofethi bakaBhali bawulungilungisa umnikelo wabo basebebiza unkulunkulu wabo besithi, “We Bhali, sabela bo!” Baklabalala besaklabalala okwamahora amanengi. “Kodwa akubanga lampendulo; kakho owaphendulayo.” Emini enkulu u-Elija waqalisa ukubahoza esithi engxenye uBhali kabaphenduli ngoba ubambekile kumbe uphakathi kohambo loba ulele, yikho efuna ukuvuswa. U-Elija wathi kubongqondongqondo laba: “Klabalalani ngamandla!” Kusegcekeni ukuthi wayebona ukuthi ukukhonza uBhali kwakuyikudlala amandlwane njalo wayefuna kucace ebantwini bakaNkulunkulu ukuthi uBhali wayeyisiphamaso nje.—1 AmaKho. 18:26, 27.

15. Indaba yabaphristi bakaBhali isitshengisa njani ukuthi akusizi ngalutho ukukhonza abanye onkulunkulu?

¹⁵ Lapho-ke abaphrofethi bakaBhali benza angathi sebephambene. “Baklabalala ngamandla baziklaya ngezingqamu langezinkemba, njengoba kwakungumkhuba wabo, kwaze kwajuluka igazi.” Kodwa akuzange kubancede. “Akubanga lalutho, akubanga lampendulo, kakho owazihlupha ngakho.” (1 AmaKho. 18:28, 29) Kwacaca ukuthi kwakungelanto okuthiwa nguBhali. Kwakuyindlela kaSathane yokuhuga abantu ukuthi bacine bengasamkhonzi uJehova. Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi sizadana kakhulu kumbe siyangeke nxa singakhetha ukukhonza omunye unkulunkulu kulokuthi sikhonze uJehova.—Bala iHubo 25:3; 115:4-8.

16. (a) Lapho u-Elija elungisa i-alithare likaJehova eNtabeni iKhameli, abantu bangabe bakhumbulani? (b) U-Elija waphinda watshengisa njani ukuthi wayemthemba uNkulunkulu wakhe?

¹⁶ Ngemva kwemini enkulu, lafika ithuba lika-Elija lokunikela owakhe umhlatshelo. Walungisa i-alithare likaJehova mhlawumbe  elalidilizwe ngabantu ababengafuni lakuzwa ngokukhonza kweqiniso. Wasebenzisa amatshe angu-12. Engxenye wayefuna ukukhumbuza izizwana ezingu-10 zako-Israyeli ukuthi lazo kwakumele ziwulandele uMthetho owaphiwa zonke izizwana zako-Israyeli ezingu-12. Ngemva kwalokho wabeka umnikelo wakhe phezu kwe-alithare, wathi kabalithele ngamanzi kwaze kwaba angathi kusexhaphozini. Mhlawumbe babewathethe eLwandle Olukhulu olwaluseduze. Wathi akugejwe lomgelo ogombolozela i-alithare ugcwaliswe ngamanzi. Ekuqaliseni wayeyenze umsebenzi wabaphrofethi bakaBhali waba lula, kodwa khathesi wayesesenza okaJehova ube lukhuni ngazo zonke izindlela. Wayemthemba sibili uNkulunkulu wakhe!—1 AmaKho. 18:30-35.

17. Umthandazo ka-Elija wakuveza njani ukuthi kuyini okwakuqakathekile kuye, futhi singamlingisela njani nxa sithandaza?

¹⁷ U-Elija wathi eselungise zonke izinto wathandaza. Umthandazo wakhe wawumfitshane kodwa ucacile futhi wawutshengisa ukuthi kuyini ayekuqakathekisa. Okokuqala, wayefuna kucace ukuthi ‘owayenguNkulunkulu ko-Israyeli’ nguJehova hatshi uBhali. Okwesibili, wayefuna wonke umuntu akwazi ukuthi yena wayeyinceku kaJehova njalo udumo lonke lwalumele luye kuNkulunkulu. Okokucina, watshengisa ukuthi wayelokhu ebakhathalela abantu ngoba wayelesifiso esikhulu sokuthi uJehova ‘aguqule izinhliziyo zabo.’ (1 AmaKho. 18:36, 37) Lanxa ukungathembeki kwabo kwakubathele emanyaleni, u-Elija wayelokhu ebathanda. Lathi kuqakathekile ukuthi nxa sithandaza sithobeke njengo-Elija, sithandazele abanye abadinga uncedo kanye lokuthi ibizo likaNkulunkulu lingcweliswe.

18, 19. (a) UJehova wawuphendula njani umkhuleko ka-Elija? (b) U-Elija watshela abantu ukuthi benzeni, njalo kungani kwakungamelanga abaphristi bakaBhali baxolelwe?

¹⁸ Mhlawumbe kulabanengi ababezibuza ukuthi iyozala nkomoni. Kambe uJehova laye wayezakwehluleka yini njengoBhali? Ngemva komthandazo bayithola impendulo. IBhayibhili lithi: “Khonokho umlilo kaJehova wehla watshisa umhlatshelo, inkuni, amatshe lomhlabathi, kwaze kwatsha lamanzi ayesemgelweni.” (1 AmaKho. 18:38) Lesi kwakuyisimanga sezimanga! Manje abantu bathini?

¹⁹ Bonke bavungama bathi: “UJehova—nguye uNkulunkulu! UJehova—nguye uNkulunkulu!” (1 AmaKho. 18:39) Basebelibonile iqiniso. Kodwa babengakatshengisi ukuthi balokholo. Phela ukuvuma ukuthi uJehova nguNkulunkulu weqiniso ngenxa yokuthi basebebone  umlilo uvela ezulwini kwakungenelanga. Yikho u-Elija wabatshela ukuthi benze okwedlula lapho. Wathi kwakumele balalele uMthetho kaJehova owawusithi abaphrofethi bamanga labantu abakhonza izithombe kwakumele babulawe. (Dute. 13:5-9) Lokho kwakumele ukuthi ngabe babekwenze kudala. Abaphristi bakaBhali babeyizitha zikaJehova uNkulunkulu ezazizimisele ukuphikisana lenhloso yakhe loba sekutheni. Kwakumele baxolelwe yini? Kanti bona babebazwela yini abantwana ababengelacala ababebatshisa emlilweni ngesikhathi benikela kuBhali? (Bala iZaga 21:13; Jer. 19:5) Ngakho-ke sasingekho ngitsho isizathu sokubazwela abaphristi laba. U-Elija wahle wathi kabasuselwe amanqe, lakanye kabazange balibone elakusasa.—1 AmaKho. 18:40.

20. Kungani kungaqondanga ukusola ukuthi u-Elija wabulala abaphrofethi bakaBhali?

²⁰ Lamuhla kulabanye abakusolayo ukuthi u-Elija wabulala abaphrofethi bakaBhali eNtabeni iKhameli. Abanye bakhathazwa yikuthi abantu abalentshiseko engelangqondo bangacina besithi kuqondile ukuhlukuluza abantu abangafuni ukwamukela ukholo lwabo ngoba lo-Elija wakwenza. Kuyadanisa ukuthi banengi abakwenzayo lokhu. Kodwa u-Elija wayengenzi okwekhanda lakhe. Wayengummeli kaJehova futhi wayesenza lokho ayemthume khona. Kanti njalo amaKhristu eqiniso ayakwazi ukuthi wona akufanelanga ahlasele abantu ababi esithi alingisela u-Elija. Kodwa alandela umlayo uJesu Khristu awunika abafundi bakhe. Watshela uPhetro wathi: “Buyisela inkemba yakho endaweni yayo, ngoba bonke abakhokha inkemba bazakufa ngenkemba.” (Mat. 26:52) UJehova nguye ozakwahlulela ngendlela efaneleyo esebenzisa iNdodana yakhe.

21. Lokho u-Elija akwenzayo kuwafundisani amaKhristu eqiniso lamuhla?

²¹ Wonke amaKhristu eqiniso kumele aphile ngendlela etshengisa ukuthi alokholo. (Joh. 3:16) Okunye angakwenza yikulingisela abantu ababelokholo njengo-Elija. Wasiza abanye ukuthi bakhonze uJehova njalo kazange akhonze abanye onkulunkulu. Waba lesibindi sokuveza ubumenemene benkolo uSathane ayeyisebenzisa ukuhuga abantu ukuthi bangakhonzi uJehova. Kazange alandele izifiso zakhe futhi kazange athembe iziphiwo zakhe kodwa wathemba ukuthi uNkulunkulu nguye owayezalungisa konke. U-Elija wakulwela sibili ukukhonza kweqiniso. Yikho-ke sonke kasimlingiseleni!