1, 2. Ngisiphi isabelo esingathabisiko u-Elija ebekaqalene naso, begodu bekahluke njani ku-Ahabi?

 U-ELIJA bekafuna ukuba yedwa noYise wezulwini. Kodwana iwoma ebelimbhodile belisandukubona umporofidi weqiniso lo abiza umlilo ovela ezulwini, begodu inengi labantu belifuna ukumbona nokumdumisa khona azalamukela. Ngaphambi kobana u-Elija anyukele phezu kweNtaba iKarmeli ayokukhuluma noJehova uZimu ngemsitheleni, wafumana isabelo esingathabisiko. Bekufuze akhulume neKosi u-Ahabi.

² Amadoda amabili la gade ahluke khulu. U-Ahabi, bekambatha izambatho zebukhosini ezikghatjisiweko, amarhamaru, asihlubuki esidoswa ngepumulo. U-Elija bekambatha isambatho somporofidi—esinganamikghabiso, isambatho esenziwe ngesikhumba sesilwana namtjhana ngoboya bekamela namtjhana bembuzi obulukiweko. Bekayindoda enesibindi khulu, ethembekileko nenekholo. Ilanga ebelitjhidela lambula okunengi ngobuntu bamadoda la.

3, 4. (a) Kubayini kwaba lilanga elimbi ku-Ahabi nakwabanye abakhulekeli bakaBhali? (b) Ngimiphi imibuzo esizokucoca ngayo?

³ Bekulilanga elimbi khulu ku-Ahabi nakwabanye abakhulekeli bakaBhali. Ikolo yoburhedeni u-Ahabi nomkakhe iNdlovukazi uJezebheli ebebayikhuthaza embusweni weentjhaba ezilitjhumi zakwa-Israyeli yahlaziswa kabuhlungu. Ubuzenzisi bakaBhali bambulwa. Usingazimu loyo wabhalelwa kuphemba umlidlwana ukuphendula isibawo sokutshwenyeka, ukujida, nokuzibenga okulisiko kwabaporofidi bakhe. UBhali wabhalelwa ukuvikela amadoda ama-450 layo ekubulaweni ebekuwafanele. Kodwana usingazimu loyo wabhalelwa nakenye godu into, begodu ukubhalelokho besele kuzokufika evuthondaba. Iminyaka engaphezu kwemithathu, abaporofidi bakaBhali babawa uzimabo bona aqede isomiso esitshwenya abantu, kodwana uBhali wabhalelwa. Msinyana uJehova ngokwakhe bekazokutjengisa bona nguZimu weqiniso ngokuqeda isomiso.—1 Kho. 16:30–17:1; 18:1-40.

⁴ Nokho, uJehova bekazokwenza nini lokhu? U-Elija bekazoziphatha njani hlangana nesikhatheso? Begodu khuyini esingayifunda  endodeni yekholo le? Akhe sibone njengombana sihlola umlando lo.—Funda 1 AmaKhosi 18:41-46.

5. U-Elija watjela u-Ahabi bona enzeni, begodu kubonakala kwanga kukhona u-Ahabi akufundako ezenzakalweni zamhlokho?

⁵ U-Elija waya ku-Ahabi wathi: “Khuphuka, ugome usele; ngombana kunetjhada lokuduma kwezulu elikhulu.” Kghani ikosi embi le kunento eyayifundako ezenzakalweni zamhlokho? Umlando awukuvezi ngokukhanyako lokho, kodwana la asifumani mezwi wokutjhuguluka, asifumani nesibawo eyasenzako sokobana umporofidi ayisize ithandaze kuJehova ibawe ukulitjalelwa. Awa, u-Ahabi wamane ‘wakhuphuka wadla wasela.’ (1 Kho. 18:41, 42) Kuthiwani ngo-Elija?

6, 7. U-Elija wathandazelani, begodu kubayini?

⁶ “U-Elija yena, wanyukela eNtabeni iKarmeli waguqa phasi wafaka ihloko hlangana namadolo.” Njengombana u-Ahabi asayokugoma, u-Elija waba nethuba lokuthandaza kuYise wezulwini. Tjheja ubujamo bomzimba bokuzithoba obuhlathululwe la—u-Elija aguqe phasi akhothamise ihloko kangangobana ubuso bakhe buhlangana namadolo. Bekenzani u-Elija? Akukafuzi siqagele. IBhayibhili  kuJakobosi 5:18 isitjela bona u-Elija wathandazela ukuthi isomiso siphele. Ngokunokwenzeka bekenza umthandazo loyo phezu kweNtaba iKarmeli.

⁷ Ngaphambidlana, uJehova wathi: “Ngizimisele ukunisa izulu ephasini.” (1 Kho. 18:1) Ngalokho u-Elija wathandazela ukuzaliseka kwentando kaJehova njengombana uJesu afundisa abalandeli bakhe bona bayithandazele eminyakeni engaba yikulungwana eyalandelako.—Mat. 6:9, 10.

8. Isibonelo saka-Elija sisifundisani ngomthandazo?

⁸ Isibonelo saka-Elija sisifundisa likhulu ngomthandazo. Into yokuthoma emthandazweni ka-Elija bekukuzaliseka kwentando kaZimu. Nesithandazako, kuhle ukukhumbula bona: “[UZimu] uyasizwa nasimbawa nayini emalungana nentando yakhe.” (1 Jwa. 5:14) Ngokukhanyako, kufuze sazi bona iyini intando kaZimu bonyana sithandaze ngokwamukelekako—ibanga elihle lokwenza isifundo seBhayibhili sibe yingcenye yokuphila kwethu kwaqobe langa. Ngokuqinisekileko u-Elija naye bekafuna ukubona ukuphela kwesomiso ngebanga lokutlhaga kwabantu bekhabo. Ihliziywakhe yathokoza khulu ngemva kokubona ikarisomraro eyenziwe nguJehova mhlokho. Nathi ngokufanako sifuna bona imithandazwethu itjengise ukuthokoza okusuka ehliziyweni nokutshwenyeka ngehlalakuhle yabanye.—Funda 2 Korinte 1:11; Filipi 4:6.

9. U-Elija wathi isikhonzi sakhe senzeni, begodu ngiziphi iimfanelo ezimbili esizozicabangela?

⁹ U-Elija bekaqiniseka bona uJehova uzokuthatha igadango lokuqeda isomiso, kodwana bekangazi bona uzokwenza nini lokho. Ngalokho, umporofidi lo bekenzani ngesikhatheso? Tjheja lokho okutjhiwo kulandisokhu: “Wathi esikhonzini sakhe: ‘Ngibawa ukhuphuke. Qala elwandle.’ Ngalokho sakhamba saqala bese sathi: ‘Akunalitho.’ Ngalokho waragela phambili wathi, ‘Buyela,’ iinkhathi ezilikhomba.” (1 Kho. 18:43) Isibonelo saka-Elija sisifundisa okunganani iimfundo ezimbili. Sokuthoma, tjheja ukuqiniseka komporofidi lo. Sesibili, cabangela ukulinda nokutjheja kwakhe.

10, 11. (a) U-Elija wakutjengisa njani ukuthembela eenthembisweni zakaJehova? (b) Kubayini singaba nethemba elifanako?

¹⁰ Ngombana u-Elija bekaqiniseka ngeenthembiso zakaJehova, waragela phambili nokufuna amabanga atjengisa bona uJehova sele  azokuthatha igadango. Wathumela isikhonzi sakhe endaweni ephakemeko bona siyokuqala kude ukuthi akunatshwayo lezulu elizako na. Nesibuyako, isikhonzi sanikela umbiko odondisako naku: “Akunalitho.” Isibhakabhaka besihlaza tlabha. Kwanje ikhona na into engakajayeleki oyibonako? Khumbula, u-Elija bekaqeda ukutjela iKosi u-Ahabi ukuthi: “Kunetjhada lokuduma kwezulu elikhulu.” Umporofidi angayitjho njani into enjalo kungekho nelifu elilodwa esibhakabhakeni?

¹¹ U-Elija bekasazi isithembiso sakaJehova. Njengomporofidi nomjameli kaJehova, bekaqiniseka bona uZimakhe uzosizalisa isithembiso Sakhe. U-Elija bekaqiniseka—kangangobana bekungasuthi selezwa izulu elikhulu. Kungenzeka sikhumbula indlela iBhayibhili ehlathulula ngayo uMosisi: ‘Wanyamezela sengathi umbona ngamehlo Loyo ongabonwako.’ UZimu umumuntu wamambala ngendlela leyo nakuwe? Usinikela amabanga azwakalako wokobana sibe nekholo elinjalo kuye neenthembisweni zakhe.—Heb. 11:1, 27.

12. U-Elija wakutjengisa njani ukutjheja, begodu wasabela njani nekezwa bona kunelifu elilodwa elincani?

¹² Ngokulandelako, qala indlela u-Elija ebekatjheje ngayo. Wabuyisela isikhonzi sakhe emva, ingasi kanye namtjhana kabili, kodwana iinkhathi ezilikhomba! Singacabanga indlela isikhonzesi ebesidineke ngayo ngokubuyelela into eyodwa, kodwana u-Elija yena bekasolo atjhisekela ukubona itshwayo. Emaswapheleni, ngemva kokubuyelela iinkhathi ezilikhomba, isikhonzi sabika: “Qala! Kunelifu elincani elilingana netende yesandla somuntu elikhuphuka elwandle.” Ungasibona ngelihlo lengqondo na isikhonzeso sithabulula umkhono begodu sisebenzisa itende yesandla ukumeda ubukhulu belifu elilodwa elincani ebelinyuka kude le eLwandle Elikhulu? Kungenzeka isikhonzeso sacabanga bona ilifu elincanelo belingakaqakatheki. Nokho, ku-Elija, ilifelo beliqakathekile. Wanikela isikhonzi sakhe isinqophiso esirhabako: “Khuphuka, uthi ku-Ahabi, ‘Bophela! Yehla bona izulu elikhulu lingakuliyi!’”—1 Kho. 18:44.

13, 14. (a) Singakulingisa njani ukutjheja kwaka-Elija? (b) Ngimaphi amabanga esinawo wokuthatha amagadango arhabako?

¹³ Godu, u-Elija wasibekela isibonelo esinamandla. Nathi siphila eenkhathini lapho msinyana uZimu azokuthatha khona igadango lokuzalisa umnqophwakhe. U-Elija walinda ukuphela kwesomiso; iinceku zakaZimu namhlanje zilindele ukuphela kwephasi lakaSathana elonakeleko. (1 Jwa. 2:17) Bekube kulapho uJehova uZimu athatha igadango, kufuze sihlale sitjhejile njengombana kwenza u-Elija. INdodana kaZimu uJesu, yayelelisa abalandeli bayo: “Hlalani-ke niqalile, ngombana anazi bona iKosi yenu izabuya nini.” (Mat. 24:42) Kghani uJesu bekatjho bona abalandeli bakhe bebazokuhlala bangazi bona ukuphela kuzokufika  nini? Awa, ngombana wakhuluma khulu ngokobana iphasi lizokuba njani nesele kutjhidele ukuphela. Soke singatjheja ukuzaliseka kwamatshwayo abonakalako la wokobana ‘iphasi selifike emaphelelweni.’—Funda uMatewu 24:3-7.

¹⁴ Ingcenye ngayinye yetshwayo isinikela ubufakazi obunamandla nobukholisako. Ubufakazi obunjengalobu banele na bona busenze sithathe amagadango arhabako ekonzwenethu kuJehova? Ilifu elilodwa belanele ukwenza u-Elija akholwe bona uJehova selazokuthatha igadango. Kghani umporofidi othembekileko lo wadana?

15, 16. Ngiziphi izenzakalo ezambulwa msinyana, begodu khuyini u-Elija ebekazibuza yona ngo-Ahabi?

¹⁵ Ukulandisa kuyasitjela: “Khonokho amazulu aba nzima ngamafu, kwaba nomoya begodu kwathoma ukuna izulu elikhulu. U-Ahabi waragela phambili nekhambo lakhe lokuya eJizreyeli.” (1 Kho. 18:45) Izenzakalwezi zenzeka ngokuphazima kwelihlo. Njengombana isikhonzi saka-Elija sithula umlayezo womporofidi ku-Ahabi, ilifanelo laba likhulu lazalisa isibhakabhaka begodu kwaba mnyama. Kwavunguza umoya omkhulu. Ekugcineni, ngemva kweminyaka emithathu nesiquntu, kwana izulu elikhulu kwa-Israyeli. Ihlabathi eyome kere leyo yaginya amathosi layo. Njengombana izulu lirhatjha, umlambo iKishoni wagcwala swi, akunakuzaza bona wahlanza iingazi zabaporofidi bakaBhali ababulawako. Nama-Israyeli angakathembeki anikelwa ithuba lokususa ukukhulekelwa kwakaBhali enarhenawo begodu alitjalelwe nguJehova.

¹⁶ Kwamambala u-Elija bekakhanuka ngathana ama-Israyeli angenza njalo! Mhlamunye wazibuza bona u-Ahabi uzokusabela njani ezenzakalweni ezisakondlwezi ezimbulwako. U-Ahabi bekazokutjhuguluka, atjhiye ukukhulekela uBhali okusilapheleko? Izenzakalo zamhlokho zamnikela amabanga anamandla wokwenza amatjhuguluko anjalo. Liqiniso, asikwazi ebekusemkhumbulweni ka-Ahabi ngesikhatheso. Ukulandisa kumane kusitjela bona ikosi “yakhwela yaya eJizreyeli.” Kodwana ikhona na into ayifundako? Wazimisela ukwenza amatjhuguluko? Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi izenzakalo zitjengisa bona akhenge atjhuguluke. Nokho, ilanga belingakapheli ku-Ahabi—ngitjho naku-Elija.

17, 18. (a) Kwenzekani ku-Elija endleleni eya eJizreyeli? (b) Khuyini erarako ngokugijima kwaka-Elija ukusuka eKarmeli ukuya eJizreyeli? (Qala umtlolo waphasi.)

 ¹⁷ U-Elija wathoma ukukhamba ngendlela u-Ahabi akhamba ngayo. Wakhamba emnyameni nendleleni enedaka. Kodwana ngokulandelako kwenzeka into engakajayeleki.

¹⁸ “Isandla sakaJehova saba phezu kwaka-Elija, wabopha idini lakhe begodu wagijima phambi kwaka-Ahabi yoke indlela eya eJizreyeli.” (1 Kho. 18:46) Ngokukhanyako, “isandla sakaJehova” besisebenza ngamandla angaphezu kwajayelekileko ku-Elija. IJizreyeli beyikude ngamakhilomitha ama-30, begodu u-Elija besele akhulile. a Akhe ucabange ngomporofidi loyo afoya izambatho zakhe ezide, azibopha edinini bona akghone ukukhamba lula, ngemva kwalokho wagijima indlela ede nenedaka—agijima ngebelo kangangobana wafumana, wadlula begodu watjhiya ikoloyana yebukhosini leyo!

19. (a) Amandla u-Elija awanikelwa nguZimu asikhumbuza ngaziphi iimporofido? (b) Njengombana u-Elija agijimela eJizreyeli, khuyini ebekayazi kuhle?

¹⁹ Qala bona lokhu kwaba sibusiso kangangani ku-Elija! Bona abe namandla anjalo—mhlamunye adlula negade anawo ebutjheni—kungenzeka kwaba ngokuhlangabezanwe nakho okuthabisako. Singakhumbula iimporofido ezisiqinisekisa ngepilo epheleleko namandla kwabathembekileko ephasini eliyiParadeyisi elizako. (Funda u-Isaya 35:6; Luka 23:43) Njengombana u-Elija agijima endleleni emanzi leyo, bekazi kuhle bona uyamukeleka kuYise, okukuphela kwakaZimu weqiniso, uJehova!

20. Singazifikelela njani iimbusiso zakaJehova?

²⁰ UJehova uzimisele ukusibusisa. Asilweleni ukufumana iimbusiso zakhe; zifanele nanyana ngiwuphi umzamo esingawenza. Njengo-Elija, kufuze sitjheje, sihlole ubufakazi obunamandla obutjengisa bona uJehova selazokuthatha igadango esikhathini esiyingozi nesirhabilekwesi. Njengo-Elija, sinamabanga amanengi wokuba nethemba elipheleleko eenthembisweni zakaJehova, ‘uZimu weqiniso.’—Rha. 31:5.