1, 2. (a) Vanhu vaEriya vaitambura munzira ipi? (b) PaGomo reKameri Eriya akasangana nevanhu vapi vaimuvenga?

ERIYA akatarisa boka revanhu sezvavaifamba zvakaneta-neta vachikwidza makata eGomo reKameri. Kunyange zvazvo aiva mangwanani-ngwanani kusati kwanyatsochena, zvaioneka kuti vanhu ava vakanga vatambura neurombo nenzara. Makore matatu nehafu ekusanaya kwemvura akanga avasakadza.

² Pakati pavo paiva nevaprofita vaBhaari 450 vaikakanyara, vanhu vaidada uye vainyanya kuvenga Eriya, muprofita waJehovha. Mambokadzi Jezebheri ainge auraya vashumiri vaJehovha vakawanda, asi murume uyu akanga achiri kupikisa zvakasimba kunamatwa kwaBhaari. Asi aizoramba achidaro kwenguva yakareba sei? Zvimwe vapristi ivavo vakafunga kuti Eriya aizovatya obva akundwa. (1 Madz. 18:4, 19, 20) Mambo Ahabhi akanga auyawo, ari mungoro yake yeumambo. Naiyewo aisafarira Eriya.

3, 4. (a) Nei Eriya angave akanzwa kakutya zuva rinokosha zvarakanga rasvika? (b) Tichakurukura mibvunzo ipi?

³ Kumuprofita iyeye aingova oga, zuva iri raizenge rakasiyana nemamwe mazuva ose muupenyu hwake. Sezvaakanga akatarisa vanhu vachikwidza Gomo reKameri, Eriya akaziva kuti pasina nguva vaizonyatsoona kuti ndiani aiva nesimba, Mwari wechokwadi kana kuti vanhu vakaipa. Akanzwa sei zuva racho zvarakanga rasvika? Zvaakanga “ari munhu aiva nemanzwiro akafanana needu,” Eriya aitombotyawo. (Verenga Jakobho 5:17.) Tinogona kuva nechokwadi neizvi: Eriya akanyatsonzwa kuti aiva oga zvaainge akapoteredzwa nevanhu vasina kutenda, mambo wavo akanga atsauka pakutenda, uye vapristi vaiva mhondi.—1 Madz. 18:22.

⁴ Zvisinei, chii chakanga chaita kuti Israeri ave mudambudziko iri? Uye nyaya iyi inei chokuita newe? Funga nezvemuenzaniso waEriya wokutenda uye kuti ungashanda sei kwatiri mazuva ano.

5, 6. (a) Inyaya yei yainetsa muIsraeri? (b) Mambo Ahabhi akanga agumbura sei Jehovha zvikuru?

⁵ Kwenguva yakareba muupenyu hwake, Eriya akaona kuti kunamata kwechokwadi kwakanga kuchiregeredzwa uye kuchitsikirirwa pasi uye  aisakwanisa kuchinja mamiriro iwayo ezvinhu. Unoonaka, kwenguva refu vaIsraeri vakawanda vakanga vasarudza chitendero chenhema panzvimbo pechitendero chakachena uye vainamata vanamwari venhema vemarudzi akanga akavapoteredza pane kunamata Jehovha Mwari. Muzuva raEriya, kunamata vanamwari venhema kwakanga kwakora muto.

⁶ Mambo Ahabhi akanga agumbura Jehovha zvikuru. Akaroora Jezebheri, mwanasikana wamambo weSidhoni. Jezebheri akanga akatsunga kuparadzira kunamatwa kwaBhaari munyika yeIsraeri uye kuparadza kunamatwa kwaJehovha. Pasina nguva Ahabhi akanga ava kuita zvaidiwa naJezebheri. Ahabhi akavakira Bhaari temberi neatari uye aiva pamberi pakukotamira mwari uyu wechihedheni.—1 Madz. 16:30-33.

7. (a) Chii chakaita kuti kunamata Bhaari kuve chinhu chinonyangadza zvikuru? (b) Kana totaura nezvekureba kwenguva yekusanaya kwemvura muzuva raEriya, nei tingava nechokwadi chokuti Bhaibheri haritauri zvinhu zvinopesana? (Batanidza nebhokisi.)

⁷ Chii chakaita kuti kunamata Bhaari kuve chinhu chinonyangadza zvikuru? Kwakanyengedza Israeri, uye kwakaita kuti vanhu vakawanda vasiye Mwari wechokwadi. Chaivawo chitendero chinosemesa uye chaiva neutsinye. Chaisanganisira chipfambi chepatemberi chaiitwa nevanhurume uye nevanhukadzi, mitambo yezvepabonde yakanyanyisa uye kunyange kupa vana sezvibayiro. Jehovha akabva atuma Eriya kuna Ahabhi kuti azivise nezvenguva yekusanaya kwemvura yaizovapo kusvikira muprofita waMwari azivisa nezvokuguma kwayo. (1 Madz. 17:1) Makore anoverengeka akapfuura Eriya asati aenda kuna Ahabhi kunomuudza kuti aunganidze vanhu nevaprofita vaBhaari kuGomo reKameri. *

8. Nyaya iyi ine chokuita nokunamata Bhaari inorevei kwatiri mazuva ano?

⁸ Zvisinei, nyaya iyi inorevei kwatiri mazuva ano? Vamwe vangafunga kuti nyaya ine chokuita nokunamata Bhaari mazuva ano haina zvainoreva kwatiri, sezvo tisingaoni temberi neatari dzaBhaari. Asi nyaya iyi haisi nhoroondowo zvayo yakaitika kare kare. (VaR. 15:4) Shoko rokuti “Bhaari” rinoreva kuti “muridzi” kana kuti “tenzi.” Jehovha akaudza vanhu vake kuti vaifanira kumusarudza sa“bhaari” wavo, kana kuti murume wavo. (Isa. 54:5) Haubvumi here kuti vanhu vachiri kushumira vanatenzi vakasiyana-siyana kunze kwaMwari Wemasimbaose? Kunyange vanhu vakararamira kudzingirirana nemari, mabasa, varaidzo, mafaro ezvepabonde, kana kuti chero mumwe wavanamwari vasingaverengeki vanonamatwa panzvimbo paJehovha, vanenge vachisarudza tenzi. (Mat. 6:24; verenga VaRoma 6:16.) Nekumwe kutaura, zvinhu zvainyanya kuitwa pakunamata Bhaari zvichine  simba mazuva ano. Kufungisisa nyaya iyoyo yekare kare yokuti anofanira kunamatwa ndiani pakati paJehovha naBhaari kunogona kutibatsira kusarudza nokuchenjera kuti ndiani watichashumira.

9. (a) Mamiriro ezvinhu aivapo akaita kuti Gomo reKameri rive sei nzvimbo yakakodzera pakufumura kunamatwa kwaBhaari? (Onawo mashoko omuzasi.) (b) Eriya akatii kuvanhu vacho?

⁹ Vari pamusoro peGomo reKameri vanhu vainyatsoona nyika yeIsraeri—kubva kumupata une rukova weKishoni uri muzasi kusvika kuGungwa Guru (Gungwa reMediterranean) riri pedyo uye kusvika kumakomo eRebhanoni ari kure kuchamhembe. * Asi zuva zvarakanga rakwira musi uyu unokosha, zvakava pachena kuti zvinhu zvakanga zvisina  kumira zvakanaka munyika yacho. Nyika yaimbova yakaorera iyo Jehovha akanga apa vaIsraeri zvino yakanga isingacharatidziki zvakanaka. Yakanga yava nyika yakaomeswa nezuva raigocha, yakashatiswa noupenzi hwevanhu vaMwari! Vanhu ivavo pavakaungana, Eriya akaswedera pavari akati: “Mucharamba muine mwoyo miviri kusvikira rini? Kana Jehovha ari iye Mwari wechokwadi, muteverei; asi kana ari Bhaari, muteverei.”—1 Madz. 18:21.

10. Vanhu vaEriya vaiva sei “nemwoyo miviri,” uye vakanga vakanganwa chokwadi chipi?

¹⁰ Eriya akaudzirei vaIsraeri kuti ‘vaiva nemwoyo miviri’? Vanhu ivavo havana kunzwisisa kuti vaifanira kusarudza kunamata Jehovha kana kunamata Bhaari. Vaifunga kuti vaigona kuita zvose zviri zviviri—kufadza Bhaari netsika dzavo dzaisemesa uku vachikumbira kubatsirwa naJehovha Mwari. Zvichida vaifunga kuti Bhaari aizokomborera zvirimwa nezvipfuwo zvavo, uku “Jehovha wemauto” achizovadzivirira muhondo. (1 Sam. 17:45) Vakanga vakanganwa chokwadi chichiri kunetsa vakawanda kunzwisisa mazuva ano. Jehovha haadi kunamatwa pamwe chete nemumwe mwari chero upi zvake. Anoda kuti vanhu vazvipire kwaari zvakazara uye akakodzerwa nazvo. Kumunamata chero kupi zvako kwakavhengana nekumwe kunamata hakugamuchiriki kwaari, kunotomusembura!—Verenga Eksodho 20:5.

11. Unofunga kuti zvakataurwa naEriya paGomo reKameri zvingatibatsira sei kuongororazve zvinhu zvinokosha muupenyu hwedu uye kunamata kwedu?

¹¹ Saka vaIsraeri ivavo vaiita semunhu anoedza kutevera nzira mbiri panguva imwe chete. Vanhu vakawanda mazuva ano vanoita chikanganiso chakadaro, vachibvumira vamwe “vanabhaari” kuti vaverevedze vachipinda muupenyu hwavo vosundira padivi kunamatwa kwaMwari. Kufungisisa kuteterera kwaEriya kuti vanhu varege kuva nemwoyo miviri kunogona kutibatsira kuongororazve zvatinokoshesa uye manamatiro edu.

12, 13. (a) Eriya akati chii chaifanira kuitwa chaizoratidza kuti Mwari wechokwadi ndiani? (b) Tingaratidza sei kuti tine chivimbo sezvainge zvakangoita Eriya?

¹² Eriya akazoti ngatirege kuyera nyoka negavi iyo iripo. Yaiva nzira iri nyore yokuratidza kuti ndiani ainge akarurama. Vapristi vaBhaari vaifanira kugadzira atari voisa chibayiro pairi uye vaizofanira kunyengetera kuna mwari wavo kuti abatidze moto. Eriya aizoitawo saizvozvo. Akati ‘Mwari anopindura nomoto ndiye Mwari wechokwadi.’ Eriya ainyatsoziva kuti ndiani aiva Mwari wechokwadi. Kutenda kwake kwakanga kwakasimba zvokuti haana kuzeza kuita kuti zvinhu zvose zvive nani kuvavengi vake. Akaita kuti vaprofita vaBhaari ivavo vatange. Saka vakasarudza nzombe yavo yokupa sechibayiro ndokushevedza Bhaari. *—1 Madz. 18:24, 25.

 ¹³ Hatisi kurarama munguva yezvishamiso. Zvisinei, Jehovha haana kuchinja. Tinogona kungova nechivimbo maari sezvainge zvakangoita Eriya. Semuenzaniso, vamwe pavasingabvumirani nezvinodzidziswa neBhaibheri, hatifaniri kutya kuvarega vachitanga ivo kutaura zvavanofunga. Kufanana naEriya, tinogona kutarisira kuti Mwari wechokwadi agadzirise nyaya yacho. Tinoita izvozvo, tisingazvivimbi, asi tichivimba neShoko rake rakafuridzirwa, iro rakagadzirirwa “kururamisa zvinhu.”—2 Tim. 3:16.

14. Eriya akaseka vaprofita vaBhaari sei, uye akazviitirei?

¹⁴ Vaprofita vaBhaari vakaenderera mberi nokugadzira chibayiro chavo ndokushevedza mwari wavo. Vakashevedzera vashevedzerazve vachiti, “Haiwa Bhaari, tipindurei!” Vakaramba vachishevedzera kubva mangwanani kusvika masikati. Bhaibheri rinoti, “Asi kwakanga kusina inzwi, uye hapana aipindura.” Ava masikati Eriya akatanga kuvaseka, achitaura achitsvinya kuti Bhaari aifanira kunge akabatikana zvikuru kuti avapindure, kuti akanga achizvibatsira muchimbudzi, kana kuti akanga akarara uye mumwe munhu aifanira kumumutsa. “Shevedzerai kwazvo,” Eriya akakurudzira vanyengeri ivavo. Zviri pachena kuti akaona kunamata Bhaari uku sounyengeri husina musoro uye aida kuti vanhu vaMwari vazive izvozvo.—1 Madz. 18:26, 27.

15. Zvakaitika kuvapristi vaBhaari zvinoratidza sei upenzi hwokusarudza tenzi chero upi zvake kunze kwaJehovha?

¹⁵ Vapristi vaBhaari vakabva vatowedzera kuita manyemwe vachi“shevedzera kwazvo, vachizvicheka nemapanga nemapfumo marefu maererano netsika yavo, kusvikira vaita kuti ropa riyerere pavari.” Zvose izvi hazvina zvazvakabatsira! “Kwakanga kusina inzwi, hapana aipindura, uye hapana aiteerera.” (1 Madz. 18:28, 29) Chokwadi, kwakanga kusina Bhaari. Iye aiva chinhu chakatangwa naSatani kuti anyengedze vanhu kuti vabve kuna Jehovha. Chokwadi ndechokuti, kusarudza tenzi chero upi zvake kunze kwaJehovha kunoita kuti munhu aore mwoyo, kunyange kunyara.—Verenga Pisarema 25:3; 115:4-8.

16. (a) Kugadziridza kwakaita Eriya atari yaJehovha paGomo reKameri kungadaro kwakayeuchidza vanhu nezvechii? (b) Eriya akaratidzazve sei kuvimba kwaaiita naMwari wake?

¹⁶ Zuva parakanga rorereka chijana chaEriya chakasvika chokuti ape chibayiro. Akagadziridza atari yaJehovha iyo pasina mubvunzo yakanga yaputswa nevanhu vaivenga kunamata kwakachena. Akashandisa matombo 12, zvimwe achiyeuchidza vakawanda verudzi rwaIsraeri  rwemadzinza gumi kuti Mutemo wakapiwa madzinza ose ari 12 wakanga uchiri kushanda kwavari. Akabva aisa chibayiro chake paatari ndokuita kuti zvose zvidirwe mvura, zvimwe yakatorwa muGungwa reMediterranean raiva pedyo. Akatoita kuti mugero ucherwe uchipoteredza atari ndokuuzadza nemvura. Sezvaakanga aita kuti zvinhu zvive nani kuvaprofita vaBhaari, akaita kuti kuna Jehovha zvinge zvakati ipei, zvichiratidza kuvimba kwaaiita naMwari wake.—1 Madz. 18:30-35.

17. Munyengetero waEriya wakaratidza sei zvaaikoshesa, uye tingatevedzera sei muenzaniso wake patinonyengetera?

¹⁷ Zvinhu zvose pazvakanga zvapera kugadzirwa, Eriya akanyengetera. Munyengetero waEriya wakabudisa chokwadi chinokosha nenzira iri nyore uye wakanyatsoratidza zvinhu zvaaikoshesa. Chekutanga uye chinonyanya kukosha ndechokuti aida kuti zvizivikanwe kuti Jehovha ndiye aiva “Mwari pakati paIsraeri,” kwete Bhaari uyu. Chechipiri, aida kuti munhu wose azive kuti iye aishanda semushumiri waJehovha; mbiri yose nokukudzwa zvaifanira kuenda kuna Mwari. Chekupedzisira, akaratidza kuti akanga achine hanya nevanhu vake, nokuti aida chaizvo kuona Jehovha ‘achidzosa mwoyo yavo.’ (1 Madz. 18:36, 37) Pasinei nekutambura kwose kwavakanga vakonzera pamusana pokushaya kwavo kutenda, Eriya akanga achiri kuvada. Patinonyengetera kuna Mwari, tingaratidza kuzvininipisa kwakadaro here, kuva nehanya nezita raMwari uye kunzwira vamwe tsitsi vanenge vachida kubatsirwa?

18, 19. (a) Jehovha akapindura sei munyengetero waEriya? (b) Eriya akarayira vanhu kuti vaitei, uye nei vapristi vaBhaari vakanga vasina kukodzera kunzwirwa ngoni?

¹⁸ Eriya asati anyengetera, mapoka evanhu aivapo angangodaro ainetseka kana Jehovha aizova mwari wenhema, sezvakanga zvaita Bhaari. Zvisinei, apedza kunyengetera, pakanga pasisina nguva yokuti vanetseke nokuda kuziva. Nhoroondo yacho inoti: “Moto waJehovha wakabva waburuka, ukapisa chinopiwa chinopiswa nehuni nematombo neguruva, ukananzva mvura yaiva mumugero.” (1 Madz. 18:38) Yaiva mhinduro inoshamisa kwazvo! Uye vanhu vacho vakati kudini?

¹⁹ Vose vakashevedzera vachiti: “Jehovha ndiye Mwari wechokwadi! Jehovha ndiye Mwari wechokwadi!” (1 Madz. 18:39) Pakupedzisira vakazoona chokwadi. Zvisinei, vakanga vasati varatidza kutenda. Kutaura zvazviri, kubvuma kuti Jehovha ndiye Mwari wechokwadi pashure  pokuona moto uchiburuka kudenga semhinduro yomunyengetero haisi nzira yokunyatsoratidza nayo kutenda. Saka Eriya akakumbira kuti vaite zvinopfuura izvozvo. Akavakumbira kuti vaite zvavaifanira kunge vakaita makore akawanda akanga adarika—kuteerera Mutemo waJehovha. Mutemo waMwari waiti vaprofita venhema nevanamati vezvidhori vaifanira kuurayiwa. (Dheut. 13:5-9) Vapristi ava vaBhaari vaiva vavengi vaJehovha Mwari uye vaiita nemaune zvinhu zvinopesana nezvinangwa zvake. Vainge vakakodzera kunzwirwa ngoni here? Kuti ivo vakanga vambonzwirawo ngoni here vana vose vasina mhosva vaipiswa vari vapenyu sezvibayiro kuna Bhaari? (Verenga Zvirevo 21:13; Jer. 19:5) Varume ivavo vakanga vasisina kukodzera kunzwirwa ngoni! Saka Eriya akarayira kuti vaurayiwe, uye vakabva vaurayiwa.—1 Madz. 18:40.

20. Nei kunetseka kunoita vatsoropodzi vemazuva ano nezvekuuraya kwakaita Eriya vapristi vaBhaari kusina pakwakavakirwa?

²⁰ Vatsoropodzi vemazuva ano vangatsoropodza zvakasimba zvakaguma zvaitika paGomo reKameri. Vamwe vanhu vanganetseka kuti vanhu vanonyanyisa mune zvechitendero vanofunga kuti chiitiko ichi chinovapa mvumo yokurwisa vanhu vezvimwe zvitendero. Uye zvinosuruvarisa kuti mazuva ano kune vakawanda vanonyanyisa mune zvechitendero vanoita mhirizhonga. Zvisinei, Eriya akanga asinganyanyisi. Akanga achimiririra Jehovha paakauraya vanhu ivavo. Uyezve, vaKristu vechokwadi vanoziva kuti havagoni kutevedzera Eriya nokutora bakatwa kuti vauraye vanhu vakaipa. Pane kudaro, vanotevedzera zvinodiwa kuti vadzidzi vose vaJesu vaite sezviri mumashoko aKristu kuna Petro anoti: “Dzorera bakatwa rako munzvimbo yaro, nokuti vose vanotora bakatwa vachaparara nebakatwa.” (Mat. 26:52) Jehovha achashandisa Mwanakomana wake kuti aite kuti pave nokururamisira munguva yemberi.

21. Muenzaniso waEriya wakakodzera sei kuvaKristu vechokwadi mazuva ano?

²¹ MuKristu wechokwadi anofanira kuratidza kutenda mumararamiro ake. (Joh. 3:16) Imwe nzira yokuita izvozvo ndeyokutevedzera varume vakatendeka vakaita saEriya. Ainamata Jehovha chete uye aikurudzira vamwe kuti vaitewo saizvozvo. Noushingi akafumura unyengeri hwechitendero chaishandiswa naSatani kunyengedza vanhu kuti vabve kuna Jehovha. Uye panzvimbo pokuti Eriya avimbe nemano ake uye zvaaigona kuita nesimba rake, iye aivimba kuti Jehovha aizogadzirisa zvinhu. Eriya akatsigira kunamata kwakachena. Dai tose zvedu tikatevedzera kutenda kwake!