1, 2. (a) Ni mu buryo ubuhe abantu b’iwabo na Eliya bari bamerewe nabi? (b) Eliya yarwanijwe gute ku Musozi Karumeli?

ELIYA yaritegereje isinzi ry’abantu bariko baraduga bukebuke Umusozi Karumeli. Naho hari hakiri mu bucagucagu, vyaraboneka neza ko abo bantu bari bamerewe nabi kandi bakenye ibifungurwa. Uruzuba, urwari rumaze imyaka itatu n’igice rwaka, rwari rwarabasesereje.

² Muri abo bantu harimwo abahanuzi 450 ba Bayali batambukana ubwishime, bakaba bari buzuye ubwibone be n’urwanko rukomeye bari bafitiye Eliya umuhanuzi wa Yehova. Umwamikazi Yezebeli yari yaricishije abasavyi ba Yehova benshi, ariko uwo mugabo we akaba yari akirwanya yivuye inyuma ugusenga Bayali. Ubwo none ntiyohavuye ateshwa agata? Kumbure abo baherezi biyumvira yuko uwo muntu umwe atari gushobora kuguma ashikamye akabananira bose uko bangana. (1 Abm. 18:4, 19, 20) Umwami Ahabu na we nyene yari yajanye na bo, agendera mu mukogote wiwe wa cami. Na we nyene nta rukundo yari afitiye Eliya.

3, 4. (a) Ni kubera iki Eliya ashobora kuba yarumvise akoba uko umusi uhambaye watera utamanzura? (b) Ni ibibazo ibihe tuza kurimbura?

³ Uwo muhanuzi yatamba yirorera yari yimirije kubona umusi w’imbonekarimwe mu buzima bwiwe. Magingo Eliya yariko aritegereza ivyariko biraba, ikibanza cari kigiye kuberamwo ugusekana kw’iciza n’ikibi gukomeye kuruta ukundi kwose isi yari imaze kubona, cari kiriko kirategurwa. None yumva amerewe gute uko uwo musi wagenda wegereza gutamanzura? Ntiyabuze kugira ubwoba, narirya yari “umuntu yiyumva nk’uko twiyumva.” (Soma Yakobo 5:17.) Ico dushobora kudakekeranya namba coco ni iki: Kubera yuko Eliya yari akikujwe n’abantu batagira ukwizera, umwami wabo w’umuhuni be n’abo baherezi b’abicanyi, yariyumvisemwo cane ko yari nyamwigendako.​—1 Abm. 18:22.

⁴ Ariko none, ni igiki cari catumye ivyo bintu bishikira Isirayeli? Vyongeye, ni ibiki ushobora kwigira kuri iyo nkuru? Rimbura akarorero ka Eliya k’ukwizera be n’ukuntu gashobora kutubera ngirakamaro muri iki gihe.

5, 6. (a) Isirayeli yari mu rugamba uruhe? (b) Ni gute Umwami Ahabu yari yarababaje cane Yehova?

⁵ Mu kiringo kinini c’ubuzima bwiwe, Eliya yari yaritegereje ata co ari bufashe ukuntu ikintu ciza gusumba ibindi vyose mu gihugu ciwe be no  ku bantu b’iwabo, cariko kirashirwa ku ruhande congera gifatwa minenegwe. Urabona, Isirayeli yari imaze igihe kirekire iri mu rugamba, urwo rukaba rwari urugamba rwari hagati y’ugusenga gutyoroye be n’ugusenga kw’ikinyoma, ni ukuvuga hagati y’ugusenga Yehova Imana be n’ugusenga ibigirwamana kwagirwa mu mahanga yari akikuje Isirayeli. Mu gihe ca Eliya, urwo rugamba rwari rumaze gufata intumbero mbi bimwe bidasanzwe.

⁶ Umwami Ahabu yari yarababaje cane Yehova. Yari yarabiriye Yezebeli umukobwa w’umwami w’i Sidoni. Yezebeli yari yariyemeje gukwiragiza ugusenga Bayali mu gihugu ca Isirayeli be no kuzimanganya ugusenga Yehova. Ahabu ntiyatevye gutwarwa n’akosho ka Yezebeli. Yarubakiye Bayali urusengero be n’igicaniro yongera aja imbere y’abandi mu vyo kwunamira ico kimana c’igipagani.​—1 Abm. 16:30-33.

7. (a) Ni igiki catuma ugusenga Bayali kuba ukubabaje cane? (b) Ku bijanye n’ikiringo uruzuba rwo mu gihe ca Eliya rwamaze, ni kubera iki twemera tudakeka ko Bibiliya itivuguruza? (Shiramwo n’ibiri mu  ruzitiro.)

⁷ None ni igiki catuma ugusenga Bayali kuba ukubabaje cane? Ni uko kwakwegakweze Abisirayeli, kukonkora benshi ku Mana y’ukuri. N’ikindi kandi, iryo ryari idini ryononekaye kandi ryatuma abantu baba inkazi. Muri ukwo gusenga harajamwo ubumaraya bwo ku rusengero bwagirwa ku bagabo be no ku bagore, hakagirwa imisi mikuru yakorerwamwo ubuhumbu bw’agahomerabunwa, eka mbere n’abana bagatangwako ibimazi. Yehova yaragize ico akoze mu kurungika Eliya ngo aje kumenyesha Ahabu ko hoteye uruzuba gushika igihe uwo muhanuzi w’Imana yomenyeshereje ko ruheze. (1 Abm. 17:1) Haciye haca imyaka itari mike imbere y’uko Eliya asubira kwiyereka Ahabu maze akamubwira ko yokoraniriza abantu be n’abahanuzi ba Bayali ku Musozi Karumeli. *

8. Inkuru ijanye n’ugusenga Bayali itwigisha iki muri kino gihe?

⁸ Ariko none, ivy’urwo rugamba bitwigisha iki muri kino gihe? Hari aboshobora kuvuga yuko iyo nkuru yerekeye ugusenga Bayali ata co yotumarira muri kino gihe, narirya ata nsengero za Bayali canke ibicaniro vyiwe tubona aho tubaye. Mugabo iyo nkuru si iyigana gusa ibintu vyabaye kera. (Rom. 15:4) Ijambo “Bayali” risobanura “nyene ikintu” canke “databuja.” Yehova yabwiye abasavyi biwe yuko bari bakwiye kumuhitamwo ngo abe “bayali” wabo, ni ukuvuga umugabo wabo. (Yes. 54:5) Ubwo none ntiwemera yuko abantu bagikorera abandi ba shebuja batandukanye uretse Imana Mushoboravyose? Mu gihe abantu bakoresheje ubuzima bwabo mu kwihebera ugukurikirana amahera, akazi, ukwinezereza, ukwiryohererwa mu bijanye n’ivy’igitsina, canke iyindi mana iyo ari yo yose mu mana nyinshi cane abantu basenga mu gishingo co gusenga Yehova, baba bariko barahitamwo uwobabera shebuja. (Mat. 6:24; soma Abaroma 6:16.) Mu buryo bunaka, vyinshi mu bintu bikurubikuru vyaranga ugusenga Bayali biguma vyongerekana muri  kino gihe. Kuzirikana kuri urwo rugamba rwabaye kera hagati ya Yehova na Bayali birashobora kudufasha kugira ihitamwo riranga ubukerebutsi ku bijanye n’uwo dukwiye gusukurira.

9. (a) Ni gute ukuntu ibintu vyari vyifashe ku Musozi Karumeli vyatuma kiba ikibanza kibereye co kwerekanirako yuko ugusenga Bayali kwari ukw’ikinyoma? (Raba kandi akajambo k’epfo.) (b) Ni igiki Eliya yabwiye abantu?

⁹ Umuntu ari kw’isonga ry’Umusozi Karumeli, yarashobora kubona ahantu hanini, ni ukuvuga kuva epfo mu mwonga Kishoni gushika ku Kiyaga Kinini (Ikiyaga Mediterane) kiri hafi y’uwo mwonga be no gushika ku misozi y’i Lebanoni iri hirya cane ibuheramaso mu buraruko. * Ariko rero uko izuba ryaseruka kuri uwo musi udasanzwe, ishusho umuntu yabona ari kuri uwo musozi ntiyari nziza na gato. Ico gihugu cari cahoze cimbuka Yehova  yari yahaye abakomoka kuri Aburahamu, cari caramaze gusinzikara. Cari gisigaye caraturagajwe n’uruzuba rukaze, ivyo vyose bikaba vyavuye ku bupfu bw’abo basavyi b’Imana ubwabo. Igihe abo bantu bariko baratororokana, Eliya yarabegereye maze ababwira ati: “Muzogeza ryari gucumbagira ku vyiyumviro bibiri bitandukanye? Nimba Yehova ari we Mana y’ukuri, nimumukurikire; nimba na ho ari Bayali, nimuyikurikire.”​—1 Abm. 18:21.

10. Ni gute abantu b’iwabo na Eliya “[ba]cumbagira ku vyiyumviro bibiri bitandukanye,” kandi ni ukuri ukuhe kw’ishimikiro bari baribagiye?

¹⁰ Eliya yoba yashaka kuvuga iki igihe yakoresha imvugo ngo “gucumbagira ku vyiyumviro bibiri bitandukanye”? Mu vy’ukuri, abo bantu yariko arabwira ntibabona ko bategerezwa guhitamwo hagati y’ugusenga Yehova be n’ugusenga Bayali. Biyumvira yuko bashobora gufadikanya ukwo gusenga, ni ukuvuga bagahoyahoya Bayali biciye ku migenzo yabo isesemye bagatako bagasaba Yehova Imana ngo abagirire ubutoni. Kumbure biyumvira yuko Bayali yohezagiye ibiterwa vyabo be n’amasho yabo, bakiyumvira ko “Yehova nyen’ingabo” na we yobakingiye mu ntambara. (1 Sam. 17:45) Bari baribagiye uku kuri kw’ishimikiro, ukwo abantu benshi muri kino gihe na bo nyene bakinanirwa gutahura: Yehova ntasangira ugusengwa kwiwe n’iyindi mana n’imwe. Adusaba kumwihebera wenyene gusa, kandi arabibereye. Ukumusenga ukwo ari ko kwose kuvanze n’ubundi bwoko bw’ugusenga ntakwemera, mbere kuramubabaza.—Soma Kuvayo 20:5.

11. Wibaza ko ari gute ivyo Eliya yavuze ku Musozi Karumeli bishobora kudufasha gusubira gusuzuma ivyo dushira imbere mu gusenga kwacu?

¹¹ Abo Bisirayeli rero, bariko ‘baracumbagira’ nka kurya kw’umuntu yogerageza guca mu nzira zibiri icarimwe. Ese ukuntu abantu benshi muri kino gihe bagira amakosa nk’ayo, bakareka abokwitwa ba bayali bandi bakigarurira buhorobuhoro ubuzima bwabo, ivyo bigatuma bashira ku ruhande ugusenga Imana! Kwumvira akamo kihutirwa kandi gatomoye Eliya yateye ko guhagarika gucumbagira, birashobora kudufasha gusubira gusuzuma ugusenga kwacu be n’ivyo dushira imbere.

12, 13. (a) Eliya yaseruye iciyumviro c’uko hoba irihe suzuma? (b) Twokwerekana gute ko dufise ukwizigira nk’ukwa Eliya?

¹² Ubukurikira, Eliya yaseruye iciyumviro c’uko hoba isuzuma. Iryo suzuma ubwaryo cari ikintu coroshe. Abaherezi ba Bayali bategerezwa gushinga igicaniro maze bakagishirako ikimazi, bagaca basenga imana yabo kugira ngo iheze icane umuriro. Na Eliya yari kugira gutyo nyene. Yavuze ati: “Imana . . . iza kwishura biciye ku muriro izoba ari yo Mana y’ukuri.” Eliya yari azi neza Imana y’ukuri iyo ari yo. Yari afise ukwizera gukomeye ku buryo atahigimanze kureka abo bansi biwe ngo bakore ikintu cose cari kuborohereza. Yararetse ngo abo bahanuzi ba Bayali abe ari bo batangura. Baciye rero bihitiramwo ikimasa co gutangako ikimazi maze barasenga imana yabo Bayali. *​—1 Abm. 18:24, 25.

 ¹³ Ego ni ko, tubayeho mu gihe ata bitangaro bigikorwa. Ariko rero, Yehova ntiyahindutse. Turashobora kumwizigira nka kurya nyene Eliya yamwizigira. Nk’akarorero, igihe abandi batemeye ivyo Bibiliya yigisha, ntidukwiye gutinya kubareka ngo abe ari bo batangura guserura ivyiyumviro vyabo. Nka kumwe kwa Eliya, turashobora guhanga amaso Imana y’ukuri ngo ibe ari yo itunganya ico kintu. Ivyo tubigira mu kutiheka ku bushobozi bwacu ariko tukiheka kw’Ijambo ry’Imana ryahumetswe, irigenewe “kugorora ibintu.”—2 Tim. 3:16.

14. Ni mu buryo ubuhe Eliya yatwenze abahanuzi ba Bayali, kandi kubera iki?

¹⁴ Abahanuzi ba Bayali barashize ku gicaniro ikimazi cabo maze baca batangura kwambaza imana yabo. Basemereye incuro n’izindi bavuga bati: “Ewe Bayali, nutwishure!” Bagumye basemerera iminuta irakunkumuka, mu nyuma amasaha na yo nyene arakunkumuka. Bibiliya ivuga iti: “Mugabo ntihagira ijwi ryumvikana, kandi ntihagira uwishura.” Ku mutaga, Eliya yaciye atangura kubatwenga, ababwirana agahemo yuko Bayali ategerezwa kuba yari afatiriwe ku buryo atashobora kubishura, ko yoba yari yagiye kwa surwumwe kwitabara, canke ko yoba yari asinziriye akaba rero yari akeneye umuntu aja kumukangura. Eliya yahimirije abo bahumvyi ati: “Hamagare n’ijwi ryanyu ryose.” Biragaragara yuko yabona ko ukwo gusenga Bayali kwari ukw’ikinyoma kandi guteye isoni, akaba rero yashaka ko abasavyi b’Imana bavyibonera vy’ukuri.—1 Abm. 18:26, 27.

15. Ni gute ivyashikiye abaherezi ba Bayali vyerekana ko ari ubujuju guhitamwo uwundi databuja atari Yehova?

¹⁵ Abo baherezi ba Bayali baciye barushiriza kuba abasazi, batangura “guhamagara n’ijwi ryabo ryose no kwikebaguza intambi n’amacumu nk’uko umugenzo wabo wari, gushika bivishije amaraso.” Yamara ivyo vyose vyabaye ubusa! Iyo nkuru ibandanya iti: “Ntihagira ijwi ryumvikana, ntihagira uwishura, kandi ntihaboneka ukwitabwaho na kumwe.” (1 Abm. 18:28, 29) Muri make, Bayali ntiyabaho. Uwo Bayali cari ikintu ciyumviriwe na Shetani kugira ngo azimize abantu abakure kuri Yehova. Ico womenya ni uko umuntu ahisemwo uwundi shebuja uwo ari we wese uretse Yehova, bimushikana ku gutaha zirayoye, mbere akamaramara.​—Soma Zaburi 25:3; 115:4-8.

16. (a) Ukuntu Eliya yasanasanye igicaniro ca Yehova ku Musozi Karumeli bishobora kuba vyibukije iki abantu? (b) Ni gute Eliya yarushirije kwerekana ko yizigiye Imana yiwe?

¹⁶ Ku mugoroba, igihe c’uko Eliya na we atanga ikimazi cari kigeze. Yarasanasanye igicaniro ca Yehova cari carahomvorewe hasi, ata gukeka ivyo bikaba vyari vyagizwe n’abansi b’ugusenga gutyoroye. Yakoresheje amabuye 12, kumbure akaba yashaka kwibutsa benshi mu bantu bo muri bwa bwami bwa Isirayeli bwari bugizwe n’imiryango 10 yuko bari bakigengwa  na rya Tegeko ryari ryahawe imiryango yose uko ari 12. Yaciye ashira ikimazi ciwe kuri ico gicaniro maze abwira abantu ngo basuke amazi ku kintu cose cari kuri ico gicaniro, ayo mazi bikaba bishoboka ko bayakuye mu Kiyaga Mediterane cari hafi yaho. Mbere yaranababwiye ngo bace umuvo ukikuje ico gicaniro maze bawuzuze amazi. Nka kurya nyene yari yararetse abahanuzi ba Bayali bagakora ikintu cose cari kuborohereza, yararetse abantu barakora ikintu cose cari gutuma Yehova bitamworohera kudomeka uwo muriro, ivyo akaba yabigize kubera yuko yizigira Imana yiwe bimwe bikomeye.​—1 Abm. 18:30-35.

17. Ni gute isengesho rya Eliya rishira ahabona ivyari bihambaye kuri we ivyo ari vyo, kandi twokwigana gute akarorero kiwe mu masengesho yacu?

¹⁷ Igihe ibintu vyose vyari bimaze gutungana, Eliya yaciye atura isengesho. Iryo sengesho Eliya yatuye atadidinganya mugabo mu buryo bworoheje, ryarerekanye ibintu vyari bihambaye kuri we ivyo ari vyo. Ica mbere ari na co kiruta vyose, yipfuza ko abantu bamenya yuko uwo Bayali atari we yari “Imana muri Isirayeli,” ahubwo ko Yehova ari we yari Imana yabo. Ikigira kabiri, Eliya yipfuza yuko uwo ari we wese amenya ko uruhara uwo muhanuzi yariko ararangura rwari urwo kuba umusuku wa Yehova, ko ubuninahazwa bwose be n’ubushobozi bwose vyari bikwiye guhabwa Imana. Ica nyuma, yarerekanye ko yari acitwararika abantu b’iwabo, kuko yari ashashaye kubona Yehova “[agarukana] umutima wabo.” (1 Abm. 18:36, 37) Eliya yari akibakunda naho bariko barashikirwa n’ayo magorwa yose bikwegeye bivuye ku buhemu bwabo. Nk’ukwo Eliya yabigize, ubwo mu masengesho dutura Imana ntitwari dukwiye kugaragaza ko twicisha bugufi, ko twitwararika ibijanye n’izina ry’Imana, tukongera tukagaragaza ukwumvira ikibabarwe abandi bantu bakeneye gufashwa?

18, 19. (a) Yehova yishuye gute isengesho rya Eliya? (b) Eliya yategetse abantu gukora iki, kandi ni kubera iki abaherezi ba Bayali batari babereye kugirirwa imbabazi?

¹⁸ Imbere yuko Eliya atura isengesho, iryo sinzi ry’abantu rishobora kuba ryaribajije nimba Yehova atari guhava agaragara ko ari umuhumvyi, nk’uko vyari vyagaragaye kuri Bayali. Ariko rero, amaze gutura iryo sengesho, nta mwanya wo gukekeranya wiriwe uraboneka. Iyo nkuru ivuga iti: “Nuko umuriro wa Yehova urakoroka maze urigata nya shikanwa riturirwa, na nya nkwi, na ya mabuye, n’umukungugu, ufyeta na ya mazi yari mu muvo.” (1 Abm. 18:38) Ese ukuntu iyo yari inyishu itangaje! None abantu bavyakiriye gute?

¹⁹ Bose baciye biha akamo bati: “Yehova ni we Mana y’ukuri! Yehova ni we Mana y’ukuri!” (1 Abm. 18:39) Bari bagiye bamenya ukuri. Ariko ntiwumve, n’ico gihe nyene ntibari bwagaragaze ko bafise ukwizera. Tuvugishije ukuri, umuntu yemeye ko Yehova ari we Mana y’ukuri ari uko abonye umuriro utibuka uvuye mw’ijuru bwa nyishu y’isengesho ryatuwe,  si ikintu cerekana ko uwo muntu afise ukwizera kudasanzwe. Ni co gituma Eliya yabasavye gukora ikintu kiruta ivyo. Yabasavye gukora ikintu bari kuba baramaze gukora imyaka myinshi imbere y’aho, ico na co kikaba ari ukugamburuka ico Itegeko rya Yehova ryasaba. Itegeko ry’Imana ryavuga yuko abahanuzi b’ibinyoma be n’abasenga ibigirwamana bari bakwiye kwicwa. (Gus. 13:5-9) Abo baherezi ba Bayali bari abansi katwa ba Yehova Imana, kandi bararwanya n’ibigirankana imigambi yiwe. None boba bari bakwiye kugirirwa imbabazi? Mbega bobo, hari imbabazi bagirira ba bana bose ataco bazira baturirwa bakibona kugira ngo babe ibimazi bihabwa Bayali? (Soma Imigani 21:13; Yer. 19:5) Abo bantu ntibari babereye kugirirwa imbabazi! Ni co gituma Eliya yategetse yuko bicwa, kandi baciye bicwa bidatevye.​—1 Abm. 18:40.

20. Ni kubera iki uguhagarika umutima kw’abihweza ibintu n’ibindi bo muri kino gihe ku bijanye n’ukuntu Eliya yishe abaherezi ba Bayali kutagira ishingiro?

²⁰ Abihweza ibintu n’ibindi bo muri kino gihe boshobora kunebagura ukuntu iryo suzuma ryabereye ku Musozi Karumeli ryasozerewe. Hari abantu bohagarika umutima kubera yuko batinya ko abanyamadini b’ishaka rirenze bohava bakoresha iyo nkuru kugira ngo basigure igituma vyumvikana kubona hagirwa ibikorwa vy’ubukazi bivuye ku kwinubana gushingiye ku madini. N’ikibabaje, ni uko muri kino gihe abo banyamadini b’inkazi bafise ishaka rirenze ari benshi cane. Ariko rero, Eliya ntiyari umunyedini w’ishaka rirenze. Yariko akora ashigikira umugambi wa Yehova mu gushitsa urubanza rugororotse. N’ikindi kandi, abakirisu b’ukuri barazi yuko badakwiye kwigana Eliya mu gufata inkota kugira ngo barwanye abansi. Ahubwo barakurikiza ingingo ngenderwako igenga abigishwa ba Yezu bose nk’uko tuyisanga mu majambo Kristu yabwiye Petero, ayagira ati: “Subiza inkota yawe mu kibanza cayo, kuko abafata inkota bose bazokwicwa n’inkota.” (Mat. 26:52) Yehova azokoresha Umwana wiwe kugira ngo ashitse imanza ziwe ziranga ubutungane, ivyo akaba azobigira muri kazoza.

21. Ni gute akarorero ka Eliya kabereye ku bakirisu b’ukuri muri iki gihe?

²¹ Ibanga ryega umukirisu w’ukuri ni ukubaho agaragaza ko afise ukwizera. (Yoh. 3:16) Uburyo bumwe bwo kubigira ni ukwigana abantu bagaragaje ukwizera, nka Eliya. Yasenga Yehova wenyene gusa akongera agahimiriza abandi kubigira. Abigiranye uburindutsi, yarashize ku kabarore idini Shetani yakoresha kugira ngo yonkore abantu kuri Yehova, arerekana ko ryari iry’ikinyoma. Vyongeye, aho kwiheka ku bushobozi bwiwe bwite canke ku vyo we ubwiwe agomba, yarizigira ko Yehova ari we yari gutunganya ibintu. Eliya yaraburaniye ugusenga gutyoroye. Ese twese twokwigana ukwizera kwiwe!