1, 2. Yintoni eyenzeka ngosuku olwalubalulekile ebomini bukaEliya?

UELIYA wayebaleka emvuleni njengoko kwakusiya kurhatyela. Kwakuza kufuneka ahambe umgama omde ngaphambi kokuba afike eYizereli, kwaye neminyaka yayisele ihambile. Wabaleka engadinwa, kuba wayexhaswa ‘sisandla sikaYehova.’ Amandla awayenawo wayengazange wanawo ngaphambili. Wade washiya amahashe awayerhuqa inqwelo kaKumkani uAhabhi.—Funda eyoku-1 yeziKumkani 18:46.

² Kwakuseza kufuneka ahambe umgama omde. Yiba nomfanekiso-ngqondweni kaEliya enethwa yiloo mvula, ecamngca ngolona suku luzaliswe ziziganeko ebomini bakhe. Ngokungathandabuzekiyo, yayiluloyiso oluzukileyo kuThixo kaEliya, uYehova, nakunqulo lokwenyaniso. Ngoku uEliya wayengasayiboni intaba evuthuza umoya yeKarmele, apho uYehova wamsebenzisela ukulwa nonqulo lukaBhahali. Apho, amakhulukhulu abaprofeti bakaBhahali abhencwa njengamaxoki angendawo aza atshatyalaliswa. UEliya wathandaza kuYehova ukuba aphelise imbalela eyayithwaxe ilizwe iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha. Yana imvula!—1 Kum. 18:18-45.

3, 4. (a) Njengoko uEliya wayesiya eYizereli, yintoni emel’ ukuba yayimenza abe nethemba lokuba izinto ziza kutshintsha? (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo esiza kuthetha ngayo?

³ Njengoko uEliya wayebaleka loo mgama weekhilomitha ezingama-30 esiya eYizereli, kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayenethemba lokuba izinto ziza kutshintsha. Mhlawumbi wayezixelele ukuba kuza kuba bhetele ngoku. UAhabhi wayemele aguquke nakanjani! Emva kokuba ebone loo mmangaliso, wayenyanzelekile ukuba aluyeke unqulo lukaBhahali; anqande umfazi wakhe uIzebhele; aze ayeke ukutshutshisa abakhonzi bakaYehova.

⁴ Xa izinto zibonakala zisihambela kakuhle, iqhelekile into yokuba sibe nethemba. Sisenokucinga ukuba imeko yethu iza kuqhubeka itshintsha, mhlawumbi nezona ngxaki zethu zinkulu zidlule. Ukuba uEliya wayecinga ngaloo ndlela, besingayi kothuka, kuba “wayengumntu oneemvakalelo ezinjengezethu.” (Yak. 5:17)  Enyanisweni, iingxaki zikaEliya zazingekazukuphela. Kwiiyure ezingephi uEliya wayeza koyika, adandatheke ngokokude anqwenele nokufa. Kwenzeka ntoni, ibe uYehova wamnceda njani umprofeti wakhe ukuze omelele abe nokholo nenkalipho? Makhe sibone.

5. Ngaba uAhabhi wayefunde ukumhlonela uYehova emva kweziganeko ezenzeka kwiNtaba iKarmele, yaye sikwazi njani oku?

⁵ Ukufika kuka-Ahabhi kwibhotwe lakhe eYizereli, ngaba wabonakalisa inguquko? Sifunda oku: “UAhabhi waxelela uIzebhele konke oko kwakwenziwe nguEliya nendlela awababulala ngayo bonke abaprofeti ngekrele.” (1 Kum. 19:1) Phawula ukuba xa uAhabhi ethetha ngeziganeko zalo mini akathethi ngoThixo kaEliya uYehova. Ekubeni uAhabhi wayibona ngeliso lenyama imimangaliso eyenzeka ngaloo mini—wathetha ngezinto ‘ezazenziwe nguEliya.’ Kucacile ukuba akazange afunde ukumhlonela uYehova uThixo. Kwaye wasabela njani umfazi wakhe?

6. UIzebhele wathumela umyalezo othini kuEliya, yaye wawuthetha ukuthini?

⁶ UIzebhele waba ligqabi ngumsindo! Wathumela esi sigidimi kuEliya: “Mabenjenje oothixo, baze bongeze ngolu hlobo, ukuba ngeli xesha ngomso andiyi kuwenza umphefumlo wakho ube njengomphefumlo wabo ngabanye!” (1 Kum. 19:2) Esi yayisisisongelo sokufa esingathethekiyo. Kwakungathi uIzebhele wayefunga ngokuba uxolele ukufa ukuba wayengenakubulawa uEliya ngolo suku, ngenxa yento awayeyenze kubaprofeti bakaBhahali. Khawube nomfanekiso ngqondweni kaEliya evuswa ebuthongweni ngobo busuku bunoqhwithela eYizereli exelelwa loo myalezo kakumkanikazi woyikisayo. Wamchaphazela njani?

7. Isisongelo sikaIzebhele samenza ntoni uEliya, yaye wenza ntoni?

⁷ Ukuba uEliya wayecinga ukuba iphelile imfazwe nxamnye nabaprofeti bakaBhahali, wayewuphosile umhlola. Akukho nto yayinokumguqula uIzebhele. Inkoliso yoogxa bakaEliya yayisele ibulewe yaye kwakubonakala ukuba naye wayeza kulandela. Isisongelo sikaIzebhele samenza ntoni uEliya? IBhayibhile ithi: “Woyika.” Ngaba uEliya waba nomfanekiso ngqondweni wendlela awayeza kubulawa ngayo nguIzebhele? Ukuba kunjalo wayefanele ukoyika. Enokuba yayiyintoni na esengqondweni yakhe, uEliya “wahamba ngenxa yomphefumlo wakhe”—wabaleka kuba efuna ukusindisa ubomi bakhe.—1 Kum. 18:4; 19:3.

8. (a) Ingxaki kaPetros yayifana njani nekaEliya? (b) Sisiphi isifundo esinokusifunda kuEliya noPetros?

⁸ UEliya wayengeyondoda yokuqala yokholo ukonganyelwa  luloyiko. Kamva nompostile uPetros waba nale ngxaki. Ngokomzekelo, xa uYesu wenza uPetros wahamba phezu kwamanzi, lo mpostile ‘wakhangela kwisaqhwithi somoya.’ Waphelelwa yinkalipho waza watshona. (Funda uMateyu 14:30.) Ngaloo ndlela umzekelo kaPetros noEliya usifundisa isifundo esibalulekileyo. Ukuba sifuna ukuhlala sikhaliphile, asimele sisoloko sicinga ngezinto ezisoyikisayo. Kufuneka sicamngce ngoMthombo wethemba lethu.

9. Chaza ukuba lwalunjani uhambo lukaEliya nendlela awayevakalelwa ngayo njengoko esaba.

⁹ Esoyika, uEliya wasaba waya emzantsi ntshona weBher-shebha eyayimalunga neekhilomitha ezili-150, idolophu ekumda osemazantsi akwaYuda. Wamshiya apho umlindi wakhe waza waya entlango yedwa. Ingxelo ithi wahamba “uhambo oluthabatha usuku,” sinokuba nomfanekiso ngqondweni wakhe enduluka ukuthi chapha kwelanga, kubonakala ukuba wayengenamphako. Edandathekile yaye esoyika, wafathula kuloo ntlango kwingqatsini yelanga. Njengoko ilanga lalisiya kunina, uEliya waphelelwa ngamandla. Edinwe eyimfe wahlala phantsi komthi—ekuphela komthunzi owawukho kuloo ntlango.—1 Kum. 19:4.

10, 11. (a) Umthandazo kaEliya kuYehova wawuthetha ntoni? (b) Chaza iimvakalelo zabanye abakhonzi bakaThixo abadimazekayo usebenzisa izibhalo ezicatshuliweyo.

¹⁰ UEliya wathandaza ephelelwe ngamacebo. Wacela ukufa. Wathi: “Andilunganga ngaphezu kookhokho bam.” Wayesazi ukuba ookhokho bakhe babeluthuli namathambo engcwabeni, babengenakukwazi ukunceda mntu. (INtshu. 9:10) UEliya wayeziva engento yanto. Akumangalisi ukuba wakhala wathi: “Kwanele!” Wayesaphilela ntoni?

¹¹ Ngaba kufanele kusothuse ukuba indoda enqula uThixo idimazeke kangaka? Akunjalo. Iqela lamadoda nabafazi abathembekileyo ekuthethwa ngabo eBhayibhileni bakhe badimazeka kangangokuba banqwenela ukufa—baquka uRebheka, uYakobi, uMoses noYobhi.—Gen. 25:22; 37:35; Num. 11:13-15; Yobhi 14:13.

12. Ukuba uziva udandathekile, unokuwuxelisa njani umzekelo kaEliya?

¹² Namhlanje, siphila ‘kumaxesha amanqam ekunzima ukujamelana nawo,’ ngoko akumangalisi ukuba abantu abaninzi,  kwanabakhonzi bakaThixo abathembekileyo, beziva bedimazekile maxa wambi. (2 Tim. 3:1) Ukuba wakha waziva ukuloo meko, landela lo mzekelo kaEliya: Phalaza imbilini yakho kuThixo. Kuba uYehova ‘nguThixo wentuthuzelo yonke.’ (Funda eyesi-2 kweyabaseKorinte 1:3, 4.) Ngaba wamthuthuzela uEliya?

13, 14. (a) UYehova wayibonisa njani inkxalabo ngomprofeti Wakhe esebenzisa ingelosi? (b) Kutheni sisithuthuzela isibakala sokuba uYehova wazi ngamnye wethu, kuquka iintsilelo zethu?

¹³ Ucinga ukuba uYehova wayevakalelwa njani xa esezulwini ebona umprofeti wakhe elele phantsi komthi entlango ecela ukufa? Akuyomfuneko ukuba siqashele. Emva kokuba uEliya ebiwe bubuthongo, uYehova wathumela ingelosi yakhe. Ingelosi yamvusa ngobunono uEliya yaza yathi kuye: “Vuka, udle.” UEliya wavuka, kuba le ngelosi yayimphathele isonka esishushu namanzi. Mhlawumbi akazange ayibulele naloo ngelosi. Ingxelo ithi lo mprofeti watya waza wasela walala kwakhona. Ngaba wayedimazeke gqitha? Ingelosi yaphinda yamvusa okwesibini mhlawumbi xa kusithi qheke ukusa. Yaphinda yathi kuEliya, “Vuka, udle,” yaza yoleka isithi: “Kuba uhambo lude kakhulu kuwe.”—1 Kum. 19:5-7.

¹⁴ Isebenzisa ulwazi eyayilunikwe nguThixo, le ngelosi yayisazi ukuba wayesiya phi uEliya. Kwakhona yayisazi ukuba uEliya wayengenawo amandla awaneleyo okuhamba loo mgama. Kuthuthuzela ngokwenene ukukhonza uThixo olwaziyo usukelo lwethu neentsilelo zethu. (Funda iNdumiso 103:13, 14.) Kwamnceda njani uEliya oko kutya?

15, 16. (a) Ukondliwa nguYehova kwamnceda kwintoni uEliya? (b) Kutheni simele siyixabise indlela uYehova abondla ngayo abakhonzi bakhe namhlanje?

¹⁵ Sifunda oku: “Wavuka waza wadla wasela, kwaye womelezwa ngamandla eso sondlo iintsuku ezingamashumi amane nobusuku obungamashumi amane ukuya kufikelela entabeni yoThixo oyinyaniso, eHorebhe.” (1 Kum. 19:8) NjengoMoses kwiinkulungwane ezintandathu ngaphambili, noYesu kwiinkulungwane eziphantse zibe lishumi emva kwakhe, uEliya wazila ukutya iintsuku nobusuku obungama-40. (Eks. 34:28; Luka 4:1, 2) Eso sidlo asizange siziphelise iingxaki zakhe, kodwa samhluthisa ngokungummangaliso ixesha elide. Khawube nomfanekiso ngqondweni wale ndoda esele ikhulile ifathula kuloo ntlango iintsuku ngeentsuku, iiveki ngeeveki phantse inyanga enesiqingatha.

¹⁶ UYehova uyabaxhasa abakhonzi bakhe nanamhlanje, kungekhona ngokutya okungummangaliso, kunoko ngendlela ebaluleke ngakumbi. Abakhonzi bakhe ubabonelela ngokutya kokomoya.  (Mat. 4:4) Ukufunda ngoThixo eLizwini lakhe nakwiimpapasho ezisekelwe eBhayibhileni kuyasomeleza ngokomoya. Ukuzondla ngokutya kokomoya okunjalo akunakuziphelisa zonke iingxaki zethu, kodwa kunokusinceda sinyamezele izinto ebesingenakuzinyamezela ngamandla ethu. Kwakhona kunokusinika “ubomi obungunaphakade.”—Yoh. 17:3.

17. Waya phi uEliya, yaye yintoni eyayisenza loo ndawo ibaluleke?

¹⁷ UEliya wahamba iikhilomitha eziphantse zibe ngama-320 wade waya kufika kwiNtaba yeHorebhe. Yindawo eyayibalulekile, kuba apho uYehova wayekhe wavela kuMoses esebenzisa ingelosi etyholweni elivuthayo waza kamva wenza umnqophiso woMthetho noSirayeli. UEliya wahlala emqolombeni.

18, 19. (a) Umthunywa kaYehova ongumoya wabuza wuphi umbuzo, yaye uEliya waphendula wathini? (b) UEliya wabonisa ziphi izizathu ezithathu zokudandatheka kwakhe?

¹⁸ Kwintaba yeHorebhe, “ilizwi” likaYehova—ekusenokwenzeka ukuba ladluliselwa yingelosi—labuza lo mbuzo: “Uyintoni na apha, Eliya?” Lo mbuzo umele ukuba wabuzwa ngobubele, kuba uEliya wawuthabatha njengethuba lokuzityand’ igila. Wenza kanye loo nto! Wathi: “Bendinekhwele ngokupheleleyo ngoYehova uThixo wemikhosi; kuba oonyana bakaSirayeli bawushiyile umnqophiso wakho, bazichithile izibingelelo zakho, nabaprofeti bakho bababulele ngekrele, kangangokuba ndim kuphela oseleyo; ibe baqalise ukufuna umphefumlo wam ukuze bawuthabathe.” (1 Kum. 19:9, 10) Impendulo kaEliya iveza izizathu ezithathu ezazimenza adimazeke.

¹⁹ Okokuqala, uEliya wayevakalelwa kukuba usebenzele ilize. Nangona kangangeminyaka ‘wayenekhwele ngokupheleleyo’ ekukhonzeni uYehova, ebeka igama elingcwele likaThixo nonqulo lwakhe kwindawo yokuqala, uEliya wabona ukuba imeko yayisiya isiba mandundu. Abantu babengenalukholo bevukela, ngoxa unqulo lobuxoki lwaluthath’ unyawo. Okwesibini uEliya wayeziva elilolo. Wathi “ndim kuphela oseleyo,” ngokungathi nguye kuphela owayekhonza uYehova kolo hlanga. Okwesithathu, uEliya wayesoyika. Abanye oogxa bakhe abangabaprofeti babesele bebulewe, yaye wayecinga ukuba uza kulandela. Kwakusenokungabi lula ngoEliya ukuchaza iimvakalelo zakhe kodwa akazange avumele ikratshi okanye ukuziva ehlazekile kumongamele. Ngokuthandaza kuThixo, wabamisela umzekelo bonke abantu abathembekileyo.—INdu. 62:8.

20, 21. (a) Chaza into eyabonwa nguEliya ngasesangweni lomqolomba kwiNtaba yeHorebhe. (b) Amandla kaYehova amfundisa ntoni uEliya?

 ²⁰ Wazilungisa njani uYehova izinto ezazixhalabisa uEliya? Ingelosi yaxelela uEliya ukuba eme esangweni lomqolomba. Wathobela engazi ukuba kuza kwenzeka ntoni. Kwabhudla umoya omkhulu! Umele ukuba wazitsho zavaleka iindlebe, kuba wazicanda phakathi iintaba neengxondorha. Yiba nomfanekiso ngqondweni kaEliya ezama ukugquma amehlo njengoko ebambe ingubo eyenziwe ngoboya kuloo moya wawuvuthuza. Wayegxadazela, kuba umhlaba waqalisa ukunyikima—ushukumisa wonke loo mmandla. Izibilini zakhe zazise phezulu xa kwavela umlilo omkhulu, wabuyela emqolombeni ukuze angatshi.—1 Kum. 19:11, 12.

²¹ Kwimeko nganye, le ngxelo isikhumbuza ukuba uYehova wayengafumaneki kuzo zombini ezo zinto zibonisa amandla endalo angummangaliso. UEliya wayesazi ukuba uYehova wayengengothixo oyindalo njengoBhahali, owayenqulwa ngabanquli bakhe besithi “nguMkhweli waMafu,” okanye umnisi wemvula. UYehova nguMthombo wawo onke amandla akwindalo, kodwa mkhulu kakhulu kunayo yonke indalo ayidalileyo. Namazulu awamlingenanga. (1 Kum. 8:27) Zamnceda njani uEliya ezi zinto? Khumbula ukuba wayesoyika. Ekubeni wayexhaswa nguYehova onamandla, uEliya wayengafanele amoyike uAhabhi noIzebhele.—Funda iNdumiso 118:6.

22. (a) “Ilizwi elizolileyo neliphantsi” lamqinisekisa njani uEliya ukuba wayengengomntu ongento yanto? (b) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba yayingubani eli ‘lizwi lizolileyo neliphantsi’? (Funda umbhalo osemazantsi.)

²² Emva kwaloo mlilo, kwathi cwaka waza uEliya weva “ilizwi elizolileyo neliphantsi.” Limkhuthaza ukuba aphinde athethe kwakhona, wenjenjalo, ezityand’ igila isihlandlo sesibini. * Mhlawumbi loo nto yamnika esinye isiqabu. Ngokungathandabuzekiyo, uEliya wathuthuzelwa ngamazwi aphinda athethwa leli ‘lizwi lizolileyo liphantsi.’ UYehova waxelela uEliya ukuba wayengengomntu ongento yanto. Njani? UThixo wachaza injongo yakhe yokulwa unqulo lukaBhahali kwaSirayeli. Kucacile ukuba umsebenzi kaEliya  wawungelolize, kuba injongo kaThixo yayihambela phambili. Ukongezelela koko, uEliya wayeyinxalenye yaloo njongo kuba uYehova waphinda wamthuma emnika nemiyalelo ecacileyo.—1 Kum. 19:12-17.

23. Ziziphi iindlela ezimbini uYehova awamthuthuzela ngazo uEliya kuba elilolo?

²³ Kuthekani ngokuziva kukaEliya elilolo? UYehova wenza izinto ezimbini ngale meko. Okokuqala, wayalela uEliya ukuba athambise uElisha njengomprofeti owayeza kungena ezihlangwini zakhe. Lo mfana wayeza kuba liqabane likaEliya aze amncedise iminyaka eliqela. Wayeza kuncedakala ngokwenene! Okwesibini uYehova wachaza ezi ndaba zichulumancisayo: “Ndishiye amawaka asixhenxe kwaSirayeli, onke amadolo angaguqanga kuBhahali, nayo yonke imilomo engakhange imange.” (1 Kum. 19:18) UEliya wayengayedwanga. Umele ukuba wavuya esakuva ngaloo mawaka abantu abathembekileyo abangazange bamnqule uBhahali. Wayefuneka ngokwenene uEliya kubo ukuze baqhubeke nenkonzo yabo, ababekele umzekelo ongagungqiyo wokunyaniseka kuYehova ngaloo maxesha obunzima. Umele ukuba uEliya wachukumiseka gqitha akuva loo mazwi ngengelosi kaYehova, ‘ilizwi elipholileyo neliphantsi’ likaThixo.

24, 25. (a) Sinokuliphulaphula ngayiphi indlela ilizwi likaYehova “elipholileyo neliphantsi” namhlanje? (b) Kutheni sinokuqiniseka ukuba uEliya wayamkela intuthuzelo evela kuThixo?

²⁴ NjengoEliya, sinokoyikiswa ngamandla endalo, sibe sifanele. Indalo ibonakalisa amandla oMdali. (Roma 1:20) UYehova usakuthanda ukusebenzisa amandla akhe ukuze ancede abakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo. (2 Kron. 16:9) Noko ke, uThixo uthetha ngokucacileyo nathi esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe iBhayibhile. (Funda uIsaya 30:21.) Ngandlel’ ithile, ukuba siyayivumela, iBhayibhile inokufaniswa nelo ‘lizwi lipholileyo liphantsi.’ Lisetyenziswa nguYehova namhlanje ukuze asalathise, asilungise, asikhuthaze aze asiqinisekise ukuba uyasithanda.

²⁵ Ngaba uEliya wayamkela intuthuzelo ayifumana kuYehova kwiNtaba yeHorebhe? Ngokungathandabuzekiyo! Wabuyela emsebenzini wakhe kwakhona, ekhaliphile, ethembekile njengaxa wayesilwa nonqulo lobuxoki. Ukuba nathi sithobela amazwi kaThixo aphefumlelweyo, ‘intuthuzelo yeZibhalo,’ siya kukwazi ukuxelisa ukholo lukaEliya.—Roma 15:4.