1, 2. Nguwuphi umsebenzi onzima ekwakufuneka awenze uEliya, yaye wayehluke ngaziphi iindlela kuAhabhi?

UELIYA wayekulangazelela ukuba kunye noBawo wakhe wasezulwini. Kodwa isihlwele sabantu esasimngqongile sasibona umprofeti wokwenyaniso obiza umlilo ezulwini yaye uninzi lwabo babezithandisa kuye. Ngaphambi kokuba uEliya anyuke aye kwiNtaba yeKarmele aze athethe noYehova uThixo ngasese ngomthandazo kwakufuneka enze umsebenzi onzima. Kwakufuneka athethe noKumkani uAhabhi.

² UAhabhi noEliya babengafani. UAhabhi wayenxiba iimpahla ezintle zokumkani, engumntu obawayo nomwexuki ongenamqolo. UEliya wayenxiba ingubo yomprofeti—engekho mbejembeje, isambatho esenziwe ngesikhumba sesilwanyana, esenkamela okanye ngoboya bebhokhwe. Wayeyindoda eyayikhaliphe gqitha, egcina ingqibelelo nenokholo. Usuku ekwakumbovu ukuba lufike lwatyhila okuninzi ngobuntu bala madoda.

3, 4. (a) Yintoni eyayisenza olu ibe lusuku olubi kuAhabhi nabanqulil bakaBhahali? (b) Siza kuhlolisisa yiphi imibuzo?

³ KuAhabhi nabanye abanquli bakaBhahali olu yayilusuku olubi. Unqulo lobuhedeni olwaluxhaswa nguAhabhi nenkosikazi yakhe uKumkanikazi uIzebhele lwezizwe ezilishumi zobukumkani bakwaSirayeli lwangqineka lububuxoki. UBhahali kwafumaniseka ukuba uliqothaqikili. Lo thixo ungaphiliyo akazange akwazi nokuzisa nje umlilo nakuba abaprofeti bakhe babembongoza, bengqungqa yaye bezicenta de kwatsaza igazi. UBhahali akazange abakhusele abantu abangama-450 xa babebulawa nto leyo yayibafanele. Kodwa lo thixo wobuxoki wayesilele nakwenye into yaye lo nto yayisele iza kutyhilwa. Ngaphezu kweminyaka emithathu, abaprofeti bakaBhahali babongoza uthixo wabo ukuba aphelise imbalela eyayithwaxa ilizwe, kodwa uBhahali akazange akwazi. Kungekudala, uYehova wayeza kubabonisa ukuba wayenguThixo wokwenyaniso ngokuyiphelisa imbalela.—1 Kum. 16:30–17:1; 18:1-40.

⁴ UYehova wayeza kukwenza nini oko? UEliya wayeza kuziphatha njani de kube lelo xesha? Yaye sinokufunda ntoni kule ndoda  yokholo? Makhe sibone njengokuba siza kuhlolisisa le ngxelo.—Funda eyoku-1 yooKumkani 18:41-46.

5. Wathini uEliya kuAhabhi, yaye ikho into eyafundwa ngulo kumkani ungendawo kwezi zinto zenzekayo?

⁵ UEliya waya kuAhabhi waza wathi: “Hamba, uye kudla usele; kuba kuvakala isandi sengxokozelo yezantyalantyala zemvula.” Ngaba ikho into eyafundwa ngulo kumkani ungendawo kwezi zinto zenzekayo? Le ngxelo ayitsho ngokungqalileyo, kodwa siphawula apha ukuba kwakungekho mazwi abonisa inguquko, akukho sicelo asenzileyo kumprofeti ukuze athethe noYehova aze acele uxolo. Akunjalo, uAhabhi “wenyuka waya kudla wasela.” (1 Kum. 18:41, 42) Kuthekani ngoEliya?

6, 7. Wathandazela ntoni uEliya, yaye ngoba?

⁶ “Yena uEliya, wenyuka waya encotsheni yeKarmele waza wabuthuma emhlabeni wafaka nobuso bakhe phakathi kwamadolo akhe.” Ngoxa uAhabhi wayesaye kufumana into etyiwayo, uEliya wafumana ithuba lokuthandaza kuYise osezulwini. Phawula indlela echazwa ngayo indlela awayeme ngayo—uEliya esemhlabeni intloko yakhe wayigoba kangangokuba ubuso bakhe babukufuphi  namadolo akhe. Wayesenza ntoni uEliya? Akuyomfuneko ukuba siqashele. EBhayibhileni, kuYakobi 5:18 isichazela ukuba uEliya wathandazela ukuba imbalela iphele. Lo mthandazo wayewenzela encotsheni yeKarmele.

⁷ Ngaphambilana, uYehova wayethe: “Ndizimisele ukunisa imvula phezu komhlaba.” (1 Kum. 18:1) Ngoko ke, uEliya wayethandazela ukuba ukuthanda kukaYehova kwenzeke, kanye njengokuba noYesu wafundisa abalandeli bakhe ukuba bakuthandazele emva kweminyaka eliwaka.—Mat. 6:9, 10.

8. Umzekelo kaEliya usifundisa ntoni ngomthandazo?

⁸ Umzekelo kaEliya usifundisa okuninzi ngomthandazo. Eyona nto wayecinga ngayo uEliya kukwenzeka kokuthanda kukaThixo. Xa sithandaza kuhle ukukhumbula ukuba: “Kungakhathaliseki ukuba yintoni na esiyicelayo ngokuvumelana nokuthanda kwakhe [uThixo], uyasiva.” (1 Yoh. 5:14) Licacile elokuba kufuneka sikwazi ukuthanda kukaThixo ukuze imithandazo yethu iviwe—isizathu esivakalayo sokuba ukufunda iBhayibhile kube yinxalenye yobomi bethu. Ngokuqinisekileyo uEliya wayefuna ukuyibona imbalela iphela ngenxa yobunzima ababejamelene nabo abantu belizwe lakhe. Kwakhona wambulela uYehova emva kommangaliso awawenzayo ngalo mini. Sifanele sithandazele impilo-ntle yabanye abantu size simbulele uYehova.—Funda eyesi-2 yabaseKorinte 1:11; eyabaseFilipi 4:6.

9. Yintoni uEliya awathi umlindi wakhe makayenze, yaye ziziphi izifundo ezimbini esiza kuziqwalasela?

⁹ UEliya wayeqinisekile ukuba uYehova wayeza kwenza okuthile ukuze aphelise imbalela kodwa wayengaqinisekanga ukuba wayeza kukwenza nini. Ngoko ke, wenza ntoni lo mprofeti njengokuba wayesalindile? Phawula indinyana 43, ithi: “Wathi kumlindi wakhe: ‘Nceda unyuke. Khangela kwicala elingaselwandle.’ Ngoko wenyuka wajonga waza wathi: ‘Akukho nto konke konke.’ Yaye wahlabela mgama wathi, ‘Buyela kwakhona,’ kwada kwaba zizihlandlo ezisixhenxe.” (1 Kum. 18:43) Umzekelo kaEliya usifundisa ubuncinane izinto ezimbini. Okokuqala, phawula indlela lo mprofeti awayeqiniseke ngayo. Okwesibini phawula ukuba wayebukele.

10, 11. (a) Wabonisa njani uEliya ukuba uthembele kuYehova? (b) Ngaba nathi sinako ukuba nentembelo efanayo?

¹⁰ Kuba uEliya wayemthembile uYehova, ngolangazelelo wayefuna ubungqina boko wayeza kukwenza. Wathumela umlindi  wakhe kwindawo ephakamileyo ukuze ajonge esibhakabhakeni nantoni na engumqondiso wokuba kwakuza kuna. Emva kokuba ebuyile, umlindi weza nendaba ezimbi: “Akukho nto konke konke.” Kwakuzole nasebukhweni bezinja yaye kwakungekho mafu esibhakabhakeni. Ngaba ikho into oyiphawulayo engaqhelekanga? Khumbula ukuba uEliya wayesand’ ukuchazela uAhabhi esithi: “Kuvakala isandi sengxokozelo yezantyalantyala zemvula.” Lo mprofeti wayeyithatha phi le nto wayeyithetha kuba kwakungekho mafu abonisa ukuba kwakuza kuna?

¹¹ UEliya wayesazi isithembiso sikaYehova. Njengomprofeti nommeli kaYehova wayeqinisekile ukuba uThixo wayeza kuwazalisekisa amazwi Akhe. UEliya wayeqinisekile—kangangokuba wayengathi uyayiva imvula isina. Sisenokukhumbula indlela iBhayibhile emchaza ngayo uMoses: “Waqhubeka eqinile ngokungathi uyambona Lowo ungabonakaliyo”. Ngaba uThixo ungumntu wokwenene kuwe? Unezizathu eziliqela zokuba abe nokholo kuThixo nakwizithembiso zakhe—Heb. 11:1, 27.

12. UEliya wabonisa njani ukuba wayebukele, yaye wasabela njani emva kokuvela kwelifu elincinci?

¹² Phawula indlela uEliya awayebukele ngayo. Waphinda wamthumela umlindi wakhe kungekhona isihlandlo esinye okanye ezibini kodwa izihlandlo ezisixhenxe! Khawufan’ ucinge indlela lo mlindi awayedinwe ngayo kukuquqa ebuyelela esenza into enye, kodwa uEliya wayefun’ umqondiso yaye akazange anikezele. Ekugqibeleni emva kwesihlandlo sesixhenxe, umlindi wabuya nengxelo ethi: “Khangela! Kukho ilifu elincinane elinjengentende yomntu linyuka liphuma elwandle.” Ngaba unomfanekiso ngqondweni womlindi olule ingalo esebenzisa intende yesandla ukulinganisa ubungakanani belifu elincinane elinyuka liphuma kuLwandle Olukhulu? Lo mlindi kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayecinga ukuba eli lifu lincinane lalingabalulekanga. Kodwa kuEliya ela lifu lalibaluleke kakhulu. Ngoku unika umlindi wakhe umyalelo ongxamisekileyo: “Nyuka, uthi kuAhabhi, ‘Bopha! Uze uhle ukuze izantyalantyala zemvula zingakubambezeli!’”—1 Kum. 18:44.

13, 14. (a) Singaluxelisa njani uphawu lukaEliya lokubukela? (b) Bubuphi ubungqina esinabo obusenza sibe nemvo yongxamiseko?

¹³ Kwakhona uEliya usimisela umzekelo omhle. Nathi siphila kwixesha laxa uThixo kungekudala aza kuzalisekisa injongo yakhe. UEliya walindela ukuphelisa imbalela; abakhonzi bakaThixo namhlanje balindele ukupheliswa kwale nkqubo yezinto. (1 Yohane 2:17) De uYehova akwenze oko, kufuneka sihlale silindile njengokuba wenzayo uEliya. UNyana kaThixo uYesu wacebisa abalandeli bakhe esithi: “Hlalani nilindile, ngenxa yokuba aniwazi umhla eza ngawo iNkosi yenu.” (Mat. 24:42) Ngaba uYesu wayethetha ukuba  abalandeli bakhe babengazukwazi nowathwethwa ngexesha esasiza kufika ngalo isiphelo? Akunjalo, kuba waxela kwangaphambili ngokuba ihlabathi laliza kuba njani ngaphambi kokuba kufike isiphelo. Sonke sinokufunda ngomqondiso oyintlanganisela “wokupheliswa kwenkqubo yezinto.”—Funda uMateyu. 24:3-7.

¹⁴ Nxalenye nganye yalo mqondiso inikela ubungqina. Ngaba obo bungqina busenza sibe nemvo yongxamiseko ekukhonzeni kwethu uYehova? Ilifu elinye elincinane elinyuka liphuma elwandle lalanele ukweyisela uEliya ukuba uYehova kungekudala wayeza kuthabatha inyathelo. Ngaba lo mprofeti uthembekileyo waphoxeka?

15, 16. Ziziphi iziganeko ezenzekayo ngokukhawuleza, yaye yintoni ukusenokwenzeka ukuba uEliya wayenqwenela uAhabhi ayenze?

¹⁵ Le ngxelo isixelela oku: “Kwathi ngelo xesha amazulu aba mnyama ngamafu nomoya kwaza kwana izantyalantyala zemvula. Yaye uAhabhi waqhubeka ekhwele waya eYizereli.” (1 Kum. 18:45) Iziganeko zenzeka ngokukhawuleza. Ngoxa umlindi kaEliya wayedlulisela isigidimi somprofeti kuAhabhi, ilifu elincinane laba ngamafu amaninzi, azalisa isibhakabhaka yaye kwaba mnyama. Kwabakho isivunguvungu somoya. Ekugqibeleni, emva kweminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha imvula yana kumhlaba wakwaSirayeli. Umhlaba obharhileyo wawudada emanzini. Njengokuba le mvula yayizizantyalantyala umlambo iKishon wawuzele yaye wawusimka negazi labaprofeti bakaBhahali abafileyo. AmaSirayeli atenxileyo nawo anikwa ithuba lokuba alusiphule nengcambu unqulo lukaBhahali kwelo lizwe.

¹⁶ UEliya wayeqinisekile ukuba kuza kuba njalo! Mhlawumbi wayezibuza ukuba uAhabhi wayeza kugqiba kwelithini emva kokubona loo mimangaliso isenzeka phambi kwakhe. Ngaba uAhabhi wayeza kuguquka aze alushiye unqulo olungacocekanga lukaBhahali? Iziganeko zolo suku zisinika izizathu ezivakalayo zokwenza utshintsho. Kakade ke, asinakukwazi ukuba wayecinga ntoni uAhabhi ngelo xesha. Ingxelo isixelela nje ukuba ukumkani “waqhubeka ekhwele waya eYizereli.” Ngaba kukho awakufundayo?  Ngaba wayezimisele ukutshintsha iindlela zakhe? Okwenzekayo kamva kubonisa ukuba akuzange kube njalo. Usuku lwalungekapheli kuAhabhi—noEliya.

17, 18. (a) Yintoni eyenzeka kuEliya kwindlela eya eYizereli? (b) Yintoni eyayimangalisa ngokubaleka kukaEliya esuka eKarmele esiya eYizereli? (Funda nombhalo osemazantsi.)

¹⁷ Umprofeti kaYehova wahamba indlela enye noAhabhi. Indlela yayisende yaye ngaphambili kwakugxovugxovu. Kodwa kwenzeka into engaqhelekanga.

¹⁸ “Isandla sikaYehova saba noEliya, wabhinqa esinqeni sakhe waza wabaleka phambi kuka-Ahabhi waya kutsho eYizereli.” (1 Kum. 18:46) Kucacile ukuba “isandla sikaYehova” sasiphezu koEliya ngendlela emangalisayo. IYizereli yayikude malunga neekhilomitha ezingama-30 yaye uEliya wayengelotyendyana. * Yiba nomfanekiso-ngqondweni walo mprofeti ebhinqa esinqeni sakhe izambatho zakhe ezide, esenzela ukuba akwazi ukubaleka, ebaleka kuloo ndlela igxovugxovu—ukuze ayifumane aze ayidlule inqwelo yasebukhosini!

19. (a) Amandla kaEliya awawanikwa nguThixo asikhumbuza ziphi iziprofeto? (b) Njengokuba uEliya wayebalekela eYizereli, yintoni awayeqiniseke ngayo?

¹⁹ Wayesikelelwe ngokwenene uEliya! Ukuziva enamandla—mhlawumbi angaphezu kwawayenawo xa wayeseyidyongwana—ngamava achukumisayo. Sisenokukhumbula iziprofeto ezisiqinisekisa ngokungabikwa hlaba nokomelela kwabo bathembekileyo kwiParadesi ezayo. (Funda uIsaya 35:6; Luka 23:43) Njengokuba uEliya wayebaleka kuloo ndlela igxovugxovu, ngokuqinisekileyo wayesazi ukuba wayekholekile emehlweni kaYise, ekuphela koThixo oyinyaniso, uYehova!

20. Sinokuzifumana njani iintsikelelo zikaYehova?

²⁰ UYehova uyakulangazelela ukusisikelela. Ukuze sizifumane, kufuneka senz’ okuthile. NjengoEliya, simele sihlale silindile sihlole ubungqina obubonisa ukuba uYehova uza kuthabatha amanyathelo kula maxesha anzima namaxhaphetshu. NjengoEliya sinezizathu zokuba siqiniseke ngezithembiso zikaYehova, ‘uThixo wenyaniso.’—INdu. 31:5.