1, 2. Niinzi zyakachitika mubuzuba oobo Elija nzyaakatali kuzoofwa waluba?

 ELIJA wakachijaana kalikuwidwa mvula ooku kakusiya. Kwakali musinzo mulamfu kuti akasike kuJezriyeli alubo wakali wachembaala. Wakachijaana katakatali pe nkaambo “janza lya Jehova lyakaboola” alinguwe. Wakali aamanguzu ngaakatakwawo pe naakachili muniini. Nkamboonzi nitwaamba oobo? Nkaambo wakachijaana zyakuti wakasiya mabbiza aakali kudonsa ngolo yaMwaami Ahabbu.​—Bala 1 Bami 18:46.

² Elija wakali alikke munzila. Mubone kali kuchijaana kali kufwinya kuti atatowegwi aamalosi aamvula alubo kali kuyeeya atala azintu zyakachitika mubuzuba oobo. Tatuzumbuuzyi pe kuti Jehova Leza waElija wakali wazunda abukombi busalala. Wakali waba kule aChilundu chaKkarimeli ooko Jehova nkwaakabelesya Elija kuti anyonyoone bukombi bwaBbaala munzila yachigambyo. Alubo chilundu eechi teechakachili kuboneka pe akaambo kakuti mvula yakali kuwa. Bapolofita baBbaala bakali bayubununwa kuti mbakubeja alubo bakali bajayigwa. Elija wakali wakomba kuli Jehova kakumbila kuti nzala yakali yaba aminyaka iitatu ahafu kiiliwo imane. Jehova wakayisandula nkombyo yakwe kwiinda mukuwisya mvula.​—1 Bam. 18:18-45.

3, 4. (a) Nkamboonzi Elija naakali aabulangilizi bwakuti zintu zileenda kabotu chiindi naakali kuya kuJezriyeli? (b) Njiili mibuzyo njitutalange-lange?

³ Elija wakachijaana kwamakkilomita aali 30 kaya kuJezriyeli. Wakali kulangilila kuti zintu zilakonzya kuchincha. Wakali kuyeeya kuti kwakali kuyooba aakuchincha kupati mbukunga bapolofita baBbaala bakali bajeegwa. Ahabbu wakeelede kuchincha akaambo kazintu nzyaakabona buzuba oobo. Wakeelede kuleka kukomba Bbaala akukasya mwanakazi wakwe Jezebbeli kuti akombe baleza bakubeja akupenzya bakombi baJehova.

⁴ Kuti zintu zyeenda mbuli mbutwali kuyanda zili mulindiswe kuti tube aabulangilizi. Chimwi chiindi, tulakonzya kuyeeya kuti zintu zilazumanana kweenda kabotu mubuumi akuyeeya kuti mapenzi eesu amana. Kuti kakuli Elija wakali kuyeeya oobo, tazitugambyi pe nkaambo alakwe “wakali muntu mbuli ndiswe.” (Jak. 5:17) Nikuba oobo, mapenzi aa-Elija taakali amana pe. Muchiindi chifwiifwi chakatobela, Elija wakasaanguna kuyoowa, kumana manguzu zyakuti wakalombozya  kufwa. Niinzi chakali chachitika, alubo Jehova wakamugwasya biyeni Elija kuti abe aalusyomo achibindi? Atubone.

5. Nizyakamana zintu zyakachitika kuChilundu chaKkarimeli, Ahabbu wakayiya kulemeka Jehova na, alubo tuzizi biyeni?

⁵ Chiindi Ahabbu naakasika kung’anda yakwe kuJezriyeli wakali watondeezya kuchincha na? Tubala kuti: “Ahabu wakaambila Jezebeli zintu zyoonse Elija nzyaakacita alimwi ambwaakajaya basinsimi boonse apanga.” (1 Bam. 19:1) Wabona na kuti chiindi Ahabbu naakali kwaamba atala azyakachitika mubuzuba oobu taakwe naakaamba atala aLeza waElija, Jehova? Ahabbu wakabona zintu “Elija nzyaakacita” mubuzuba oobo mbuli kuti zyakachitwa aamuntu. Eezi zitondeezya kuti Ahabbu taakwe naakayiya kulemeka Jehova Leza pe. Ani mwanakazi wakwe wakali aalunya wakachita biyeni?

6. Nguuli mulumbe Jezebbeli ngwaakatuma kuli Elija, alubo wakali kwaambaanzi?

⁶ Jezebbeli wakanyema loko zyakuti wakatuma mulumbe ooyu kuli Elija: “Baleza bakandisubule kapati ikuti naa aciindi cino juunza nditakakuciti kuba mbubonya mbuli umwi aumwi wabasinsimi mbookajaya!” (1 Bam. 19:2) Mulumbe ooyu wakali kwaamba lufu. Mulaamwi majwi, Jezebbeli wakali wakonka kuti wakali kukonzya kufwa kuti Elija taajayigwa mubuzuba oobo akaambo kakuti wakali wajaya bapolofita baBbaala. Amuyeeyele kamubwene Elija kalikusinsimuka kuzwa kung’onzi mung’anda yabeenzu yakali kuJezriyeli mubusiku bwakali aaguwo mpawo wamvwa mulumbe uuyoosya wakali kuzwa kuli namalelo. Zyakamujata biyeni eezi?

7. Nzyaakaamba Jezebbeli zyakapa kuti Elija amvwe biyeni, alubo wakachitaanzi?

⁷ Kuti kakuli Elija wakali kulangilila kuti bukombi bwaBbaala bulamana, bulangilizi bwakwe bwakamana mukulaba kwaliso. Jezebbeli takayinachincha pe. Bapolofita baJehova biingi basyomeka bakali bajayigwa alubo wakali kulangilila kuti Elija nguwe wakali kutobela kujayigwa. Nzyaakaamba Jezebbeli zyakapa kuti Elija amvwe biyeni? Bbayibbili lyaamba kuti: “Wakayoowa.” Elija wakatalisya kuyeeya atala alufu luyoosya na ndwaakali kuyoomuchita Jezebbeli? Kuti kakuli kuti wakali kuyeeya atala andulo zilaantanganana kuti zyakapa kuti amane manguzu. Kufumbwa zyakachitika Elija “wakanyamuka akutija, ikuyoowa kujaigwa.”​—1 Bam. 18:4; 19:3.

8. (a) Penzi lyakaswaana Petro likozyenie biyeni alyakaswaana Elija? (b) Twiiyaanzi kuzwa kuli Elija aPetro?

⁸ Elija teenguwe pe alikke mukombi waJehova uusyomeka wakazundwa aapenzi lyakuyoowa. Mukuya kwachiindi, mwaapostoli Petro anguwe wakazooswaana penzi eeli. Muchikozyano, chiindi Jesu  naakagwasya Petro kuti anguwe ayende aajulu aamaanzi, mwaapostoli ooyu wakasaanguna ‘kulanga guwo.’ Wakamana manguzu mpawo wakasaanguna kubbila mumaanzi. (Bala Mateyo 14:30.) Chikozyano chaElija aPetro chituyiisya chiiyo chibotu loko. Kuti katuyanda kukkala katuli aachibindi, tatweelede kukkala katuyeeya atala amapenzi eesu nkaambo kulakonzya kutumana manguzu. Tweelede kubikkila maanu kuli Jehova uutupa manguzu abulangilizi.

9. Pandulula lweendo lwaElija ambaakali kulimvwa chiindi naakali kuyabuchija.

⁹ Akaambo kakuyoowa, Elija wakachijila kumusanza nkwiili kububbila kwamakkilomita aasika ku150 kaya kuBberishebba kadolopo kali kumusanza waJuda. Naakasika nkuko wakasiya mubelesi wakwe, mpawo wakaya munkanda alikke. Bbayibbili lyaamba kuti wakeenda musinzo weendwa kwabuzuba bumwi. Yeeya atala aElija kalikutalisya lweendo lwakwe kuseeni-seeni alubo katakwe chintu nchabwezede pe. Kakataazikene alubo kayoowede wakali kuyoobweenda munkanda zuba kalili kugwisya twaande mumaanzi. Nilyakabbila zuba alubo kakuli kwatalisya kusiya-siya, Elija wakali wakatala. Kali wakatala katachikonzyi pe kweenda wakakkala munsi aachisamu.​—1 Bam. 19:4.

10, 11. (a) Nkombyo yaElija yakali kwaambaanzi? (b) Kubelesya magwalo abikkidwe, pandulula mbubakalimvwa bamwi bakombi baLeza basyomeka nibakamana manguzu.

¹⁰ Kakataazikene Elija wakakomba. Wakakumbila kuti afwe biyo. Wakaamba kuti: “Tandili mubotu kwiinda bamatata.” Wakalizi kuti bamawisi bakali baba tufuwa abulongo mutubaanda alubo kabatachikonzyi kuchita chimwi chintu naakuti kugwasya umwi muntu. (Muk. 9:10) Elija wakalibona katachigwasyi pe. Eezi nzizyo zyakapa kuti aambe kuti: “Mbubo lino cabonwa!” Ndichiponenaanzi?

¹¹ Zilagambya na kumvwa kuti mukombi waJehova uusyomeka wakali wamana manguzu? Tazigambyi pe. Baalumi abanakazi basyomeka baambidwe muBbayibbili ambabo bakali bamana manguzu zyakuti bakalombozya kufwa. Bantu aaba baswaanizya Ribbekka, Jakkobo, Mozesi aJobu.​—Matl. 25:22; 37:35; My. 11:13-15; Job. 14:13.

12. Kuti walimvwa kuli wamana manguzu, kujana wachitobelezya biyeni chikozyano chaElija?

¹² Mazubaano, tuli kupona muziindi “ziyumu, zikataazya kupona mulinzizyo.” Nkinkaako, tazigambyi pe kuti bakombi baLeza biingi basyomeka balakonzya kulimvwa kabatakwe manguzu pe. (2 Tim. 3:1) Kuti walimvwa oobo, tobelezya chikozyano chaElija kwiinda mukubuzya  Jehova zyoonse zili aansi amoyo wako. Kwiinda zyoonse, Jehova nguLeza “siluumbulizyo loonse.” (Bala 2 Bakkorinte 1:3, 4.) Wakamuumbulizya na Elija?

13, 14. (a) Kabelesya ngilozi Jehova wakatondeezya biyeni kuti ulamuyanda akuti ulamubikkila maanu mupolofita wakwe wakakataazikene? (b) Nkamboonzi nikutuumbulizya kuziba kuti Jehova ulimwizi umwi awumwi wesu kuswaanizya amputugolela?

¹³ Jehova wakamvwa biyeni chiindi naakabona mupolofita wakwe uusyomeka kalede munkanda, munsi aachisamu alubo kalikulombozya kufwa? Tatweelede kuyeeyela biya pe. Bbayibbili lyaamba kuti chiindi Elija naakalede, Jehova wakatuma ngilozi yakwe. Ngilozi yakabusya Elija, akumubuzya kuti: “Buka ulye.” Elija wakabuka, mpo ngilozi yakamupa chakulya chiswaanizya chinkwa chikasala amaanzi. Elija wakayilumba na ngilozi eeyo? Bbayibbili lyaamba kuti: “Mupolofita wakabuka akulya mpawo wakalala lubo.” Wakali wakataazikana loko na zyakuti taakachili kukonzya pe kwaambuula? Kufwumbwa zyakachitika, ngilozi yakazoobola lubo kachibili. Amwi nikwakacha. Yakabuzya Elija kuti: “Buka ulye,” mpawo yakayungizya majwi aakuti: “Nkaambo musinzo ulakulampila kapati.”​—1 Bam. 19:5-7.

¹⁴ Tulamulumba Leza kwiinda mukugwasya ngilozi kuti izibe nkwaakali kuya Elija. Wakalizi kuti Elija taakali kuyookonzya pe kumanisya lweendo lwakwe kabelesya manguzu aakwe. Kulawumbulizya kuziba kuti Leza ulaazi makanze eesu amputugolela, kwiinda mbutuzi swebo! (Bala Intembauzyo 103:13, 14.) Chakamugwasya biyeni Elija chakulya nchaakalya?

15, 16. (a) Chakulya nchaakapegwa aJehova chakamugwasya biyeni Elija? (b) Nkamboonzi nitulumba akaambo kanzila Jehova njabagwasyaayo bakombi bakwe mazubaano?

¹⁵ Bbayibbili lyaamba kuti: “Wakabuka, walya akunywa, eelyo wakaba anguzu zyakukonzya kweenda lweendo lwakamutolela mazuba aali 40 syikati amasiku, mane wakaakusika ku Horebu icilundu ca Leza mwini-mwini.” (1 Bam. 19:8) Elija wakalimya kulya kwamazuba aali 40 sikati a mansiku. Eezi nzizyo zyakachitwa aaMozesi muminyaka iili 600 yakali yayinda alubo nzizyo zyakachitwa aaJesu muminyaka iisika ku1 000 yakazootobela. (Kul. 34:28; Lk. 4:1, 2) Chakulya nchaakalya Elija teechakamaninsya mapenzi aakwe pe, pesi chakamugwasya munzila iigambya. Yeeya mwaalumi wakali waba mudaala kayabweenda munkanda mutaakwe nzila, buzuba abuzuba, mviki amviki kwamazuba aali 40!

¹⁶ Mazubaano, Jehova ulabagwasya bakombi bakwe kutali kwiinda mukubapa chakulya chakumubili munzila iigambya pesi ubagwasya munzila iiyandikana loko. Ubapa chakulya chabukombi. (Mt. 4:4) Kwiiya atala a Leza kuzwa muJwi lyakwe amabbuku aapandulula Bbayibbili  kulatugwasya muzintu zyabukombi. Chakulya chabukombi tachimanisyi mapenzi eesu pe, pesi chilatugwasya kuti tulisimye nikuba kumapenzi abonekaanga mayumu. Alubo chipa kuti tukajane “buumi butamani.”​—Joh. 17:3.

17. Nkuukuli Elija nkwaakayinka, alubo nkamboonzi busena oobu nibwakazibinkene loko?

¹⁷ Elija wakeenda musinzo uulampa makkilomita asika ku 320, mane wakusika kuChilundu chaHorebbu, naakuti Chilundu chaSinayi. Kwakali busena buzibinkene loko nkaambo Jehova kwiinda mungilozi wakalibonia kuli Mozesi muchiteyo chamaavwa chakali kuyaka mulilo, alubo nkuko Jehova nkwaakali wapangana chizuminano ama-Israyeli. Elija wakajana busena bwakukkala mumpangala.

18, 19. (a) Ngilozi yaJehova yakabuzya Elija mubuzyo wakutyeni, alubo Elija wakavwila biyeni? (b) Ntuutuli twaambo tutatu twakali kupa kuti Elija amane manguzu?

¹⁸ Kali kuChilundu chaHorebbu, “iJwi” lyaJehova kweelede kuti kwiinda mungilozi lyakabuzya Elija kuti: “Ino ucita nzi okuno Elija?” Mubuzyo ooyu weelede kuti wakabuzigwa munzila iilikabotu nkaambo wakapa kuti Elija awambe zyoonse zyakali mumoyo wakwe. Wakati: “Ndakusungwaalila cakumaninina O Jehova Leza wamakamu; akaambo kakuti bana Israyeli basiya cizuminano cako, zipaililo zyako bazimwaya alimwi bajaya basinsimi bako apanga, aboobo ndasyaala buyo endikke. Lino balandiyandaula kuti bandijaye.” (1 Bam. 19:9, 10) Majwi aElija akatondeezya twaambo tutatu twakali kupa kuti amane manguzu.

¹⁹ Kaambo kakusaanguna, Elija wakalimvwa kuti wakali kubelekela mahhala. Nikuba kuti wakali watola minyaka ‘kalikusungwaalila chakumaninina’ kubelekela Jehova, kubikka zina lyakwe abukombi bwakwe mubusena bwakusaanguna, chiimo chakwe chakali buya bwiindilila kubija. Bantu teebakalikwe lusyomo pe, bakali kupapila alubo bukombi bwakubeja bwakali kusumpuka kapati. Kaambo kachibili, Elija wakalibona kali alikke. Wakaamba kuti “ndasyaala buyo endikke,” zitondeezya kuti Elija wakali kulibona kuti nguwe kupela alikke wakachili kukomba Jehova munyika. Kaambo kachitatu, Elija wakaliyoowede. Bapolofitanyina biingi bakali bajayigwa alubo wakali aachoonzyo kuti anguwe wakali kuyanda kujayigwa. Kweelede kuti kwakali kuyumu kuti Elija alisimye kuzyiimo eezi. Pesi taakwe naakalisumpula pe alubo taakaba abweeme pe kuti abuzye Jehova. Kwiinda mukubuzya Jehova zyoonse zyakali mumoyo wakwe munkombyo, Elija wakasiila bakombi baLeza basyomeka chikozyano chibotu.​—Int. 62:8.

20, 21. (a) Pandulula zintu Elija nzyaakabona naakali aamulyango wampangala kuChilundu chaHorebbu. (b) Elija wakayiyaanzi kunzila Jehova njaakatondeezyaayo manguzu aakwe?

²⁰ Jehova wakamugwasya biyeni Elija kuti atayoowi? Ngilozi  yakabuzya Elija kuti ayimikile aamulyango wampangala. Elija wakaswiilila nkaambo taakazi pe kuti niinzi chakali kuyanda kuchitika. Kwakaza guwo pati! Kweelede kuti lyakali amusindo nkaambo lyakali pati zyakuti lyakakwamuna zilundu amabwe mapati. Yezya kubona Elija kalikweezya kujala kumeso akaambo kaguwo, alubo kajisi jansi lyakwe demu lipangidwe aboya kuti litayinki aaguwo. Alubo ulikukachilwa kwiimikila kabotu nkaambo nyika yakali kuzungana akaambo kamuzuzumo wanyika wakachitika mubusena oobo. Katanakonzya kwiimikila kabotu, kwakasika mulilo mupati wakapa kuti anjile mumpangala kuchitila kuti atapyi.​—1 Bam. 19:11, 12.

²¹ Bbayibbili lyaamba kuti Jehova taakwe naakalimo muzintu zyoonse eezi zili aamanguzu nzyaakabona Elija. Elija wakalizi kuti Jehova taakali muzintu eezi zigambya, mbuli Bbaala ooyo wakali kwaambwa abakombi bakwe kuti “weendelezya mayoba,” alubo nguwisya mvula. Jehova nguwe Kasensa kamanguzu oonse alubo mupati kwiinda zintu zyoonse nzyaakalenga nikuba majulu aboneka takonzyi pe kukkwana muli ngawo! (1 Bam. 8:27) Jehova wakamugwasya biyeni Elija? Mutalubi kuti wakaliyoowede. Akaambo kakuti Elija wakali aJehova kubbazu lyakwe, Leza uuli amanguzu kwiinda zintu zyoonse kwiinda nzyaakabona, Elija takwe naakeelede kuyoowa Ahabbu aJezebbeli pe!​—Bala Intembauzyo 118:6.

22. (a) Jwi “libombe lyaansaansi” lyakamusungwaazya biyeni Elija kubona kuti taakabelekela mahhala pe? (b) Kweelede kuti ijwi “libombe lyaansaansi” lyakali kuzwa kuliini? (Langa makani aamunsi.)

²² Mulilo niwakayinda kwakawumuna zwii, mpawo Elija wakamvwa jwi “libombe lyaansaansi” lyakagwasya Elija kuti awambe zyakali mumoyo wakwe. Elija wakachita mbubo, wakaamba kachibili zintu zyoonse zyakali mumoyo wakwe. a Kweelede kuti eezi zyakapa kuti Elija alimvwe mbubo-mbubo. Zili aantanganana kuti Elija wakawumbulizigwa loko atala azintu zyakazoowambwa aajwi “libombe lyaansaansi.” Jehova wakasungwaazya Elija kuti taakali kubelekela mahhala pe. Wakamusungwaazya biyeni? Leza wakamutondeezya mbaakachili kubulwana bukombi bwaBbaala bwakali kuchitika muIsrayeli. Zili aantanganana kuti Elija taakabelekela mahhala pe nkaambo Jehova wakachili kwiinkilila kunembo kulwana bukombi bwaBbaala. Kwiinda zyoonse, Elija wakachili kubelesegwa mumulimu  ooyu nkaambo Jehova wakamutuma kuti akabeleke lubo mulimo wakwe kwiinda mukumupa amwi malayilile.​—1 Bami 19:12-17.

23. Nziizili nzila zibili Jehova mwakamugwasya Elija atala apenzi lyakulimvwa kali alikke?

²³ Jehova wakamugwasya biyeni atala akulimvwa kali alikke nkwaakali kuchita Elija? Jehova wakamugwasya munzila zibili. Yakusaanguna, wakabuzya Elija kuti akananike Elisha kuti abe mupolofita wakali kuzootobela kuzwa nguwe. Mwaalumi ooyo wakachili muniini wakaba mweenzinyina waElija alubo wakamugwasya kwaminyaka miingi. Eezi zyakamuumbulizya loko Elija. Chabili, Jehova wakamubuzya majwi awumbulizya loko aakuti: “Ndicijisi bantu bali 7,000 mu Israyeli, boonse aabo ibatakamufwugamina Baala alimwi ibatakamumyonta amilomo yabo.” (1 Bam. 19:18) Elija taakali alikke pe. Kweelede kuti zyakamubotezya loko Elija kumvwa kuti kwakachili bakombi baLeza basyomeka biingi loko bakali kukaka kukomba Bbaala. Bantu aaba bakali kuyanda kuti Elija azumanane kusyomeka mumulimu wakwe akubasiila chikozyano chibotu loko chakuzumanana kusyomeka kuli Jehova muziindi zikataazya. Kweelede kuti Elija wakawumbulizigwa loko kumvwa majwi aaya aakali kuzwa kumutumwa waJehova chaamba jwi “libombe lyaansaansi.”

24, 25. (a) Mazubaano tuliswiilizya biyeni ijwi lyaJehova “libombe lyaansaansi”? (b) Nkamboonzi nituli aachoonzyo chakuti Elija wakalutambula luumbulizyo lwaJehova?

²⁴ Mbuli Elija, tulakonzya kugamba kubona manguzu aajanika muzintu zyakalengwa. Nisimpe mbutweelede kuchita. Zintu zyakalengwa zitondeezya manguzu ngalaawo Mulengi wesu. (Rom. 1:20) Jehova uchiyanda kubelesya manguzu aakwe kugwasya bakombi bakwe basyomeka. (2 Mak. 16:9) Nikuba oobo, Jehova waambuula andiswe kabelesya Jwi lyakwe, Bbayibbili. (Bala Isaya 30:21.) Munzila iikozyenie, Bbayibbili lilakonzya kuba mbuli jwi “libombe lyaansaansi” kuti twalizumizya kuti lituzulwide mazubaano. Kabelesya Bbayibbili, Jehova ulatululamika, kutusungwaazya akututondeezya kuti ulatuyanda.

²⁵ Elija wakalutambula na luumbulizyo ndwaakapegwa aJehova kuChilundu chaHorebbu? Tatuzumbuuzyi biya pe! Kakutanayinda chiindi mupolofita ooyu uusyomeka wakasaanguna lubo kubeleka kali aachibindi kulwana bukombi bubi bwakubeja. Munzila iikozyenie, kuti twaswiilila majwi akasololelwa aLeza chaamba ‘luumbulizyo luzwa muMagwalo,’ andiswe tuyootobelezya chikozyano chaElija chakuba aalusyomo.​—Rom. 15:4.