1, 2. Yiwuphi umsebenzi olukhunyana okwakumele u-Elija awenze, njalo yiwuphi umahluko owawukhona phakathi kwakhe lo-Ahabi?

U-ELIJA wayefisa ukuthi ake abe yedwa akhulume loYise osezulwini. Kodwa lapho ayekhona kwakungasimuntu kulitshebetshebe lomfula. Bonke babembone ebiza umlilo owehla uvela ezulwini. Yikho-ke kumele ukuthi abanengi basebezidlisa satshanyana kumphrofethi lo weqiniso. Yena nje ayekufuna yikuyafika esiqongweni seNtaba iKhameli, akhuleke kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe. Kodwa kwakulethambo okwakumele aqale aliqhobe leNkosi u-Ahabi. Lokhu kwakungasoze kube lula.

² Phela amadoda la ayetshiyene kakhulu. U-Elija wayezigqokele isembatho sabaphrofethi esingamangalisiyo, mhlawumbe esasenziwe ngesikhumba senyamazana kumbe esaselukwe ngoboya bekamela loba obembuzi. Wayeyindoda eqotho, elokholo futhi elesibindi kakhulu. U-Ahabi yena wayecece ngempahla zasesikhosini ezazizinhle okwamagama. Kodwa wayelihaga, indoda eyayisithathekile yahlamukela uJehova. Okwakwenzakele ngalelolanga kwakutshengise ukuthi womabili amadoda la ayenjani.

3, 4. (a) Izinto zazimhambele njani u-Ahabi kanye labantu ababekhonza uBhali? (b) Sizaxoxa ngayiphi imibuzo?

³ U-Ahabi labantu bakhe ababekhonza uBhali basebezinhlanzi ezitshelwe ngamanzi. Yena leNdlovukazi yakhe uJezebeli babekade bekhankasela ukuthi izizwana ezilitshumi zako-Israyeli zikhonze uBhali. Kodwa abantu basebezibonele ukuthi babebanjiswe ilitshe. Kwasekucacile ukuthi uBhali ngunkulunkulu wamanga. Kwakumehlule ukuphongulumathisa umlilo nje lanxa abaphrofethi bakhe babemncenge baze bahawula, bagida futhi bazisikasika baze bajuluka igazi. Wayengaphi abaphrofethi bakhe abangu-450 bebulawa? Kodwa lokhu okwakumehlule kwakungokuncane kwakhona. Kwasekwedlule iminyaka emithathu abaphrofethi bakhe bemcela ukuthi abophule endlaleni ababekuyo, kodwa yena mpu! Lanxa kunjalo, uJehova wayezalinisa izulu kucace ukuthi yena nguye ingqwele.—1 AmaKho. 16:30–17:1; 18:1-40.

⁴ Pho wayezakwenza nini lokhu? U-Elija yena wayezabe esenzani esalindile? Kanti njalo kuyini esingakufunda endodeni le eyayilokholo?  Kasehlukaniseni imbambo lomgogodla sithole izimpendulo.—Bala u-1 AmaKhosi 18:41-46.

5. U-Elija watshela u-Ahabi ukuthi enzeni, njalo u-Ahabi wazisola yini esebone okwakwenzakele lelolanga?

⁵ U-Elija walanda u-Ahabi wathi kuye: “Hamba, udle unathe, ngoba kuzwakala umdumo wezulu elikhulu.” Kukhona yini inkosi le embi eyayikufundile ngalelolanga? Akulamazwi atshengisa ukuthi wazisola waphenduka lanxa iBhayibhili lingakuthi bhadla. Wamcela yini umphrofethi u-Elija ukuthi amncengele kuJehova ukuze amthethelele? Hatshi, u-Ahabi “wasuka wayakudla njalo wanatha.” (1 AmaKho. 18:41, 42) U-Elija-ke?

6, 7. U-Elija wathandazelani, njalo kungani wenza njalo?

⁶ “U-Elija wakhwela phezu kwentaba yaseKhameli, wagebisa ikhanda lakhe walifaka phakathi kwamadolo akhe.” Kuyakhanya ukuthi ngesikhathi u-Ahabi ezibulala ngokudla, u-Elija yena wayesethole ithuba lokuthandaza kuYise osezulwini. Unanzelele yini ukuthi wayekhothamise ikhanda, ubuso bakhe baphosa bathi ngqe emadolweni? Wayezithoba sibili! Kanti vele wayesenzani? UJakhobe 5:18 usitshela ukuthi u-Elija wake wathandazela ukuthi isomiso siphele.  Ngakho-ke kumele ukuthi ivesi le ikhuluma ngelanga lelo ethandaza esesiqongweni seKhameli.

⁷ UJehova wayeke wathi kuye: “Ngizanisa izulu elizweni.” (1 AmaKho. 18:1) Yikho-ke u-Elija wathandazela ukuthi intando kaJehova yenzakale. Kwathi sekwedlule iminyaka engaba yi-1 000, uJesu laye wafundisa abalandeli bakhe ukuthi bathandazele ukuthi intando kaNkulunkulu yenziwe.—Mat. 6:9, 10.

8. Okwenziwa ngu-Elija kusifundisani ngokuthandaza?

⁸ Okwenziwa ngu-Elija kusifundisa okunengi ngokuthandaza. Okwakuqakatheke kakhulu kuye kwakuyikuthi intando kaNkulunkulu yenzakale. Lathi nxa sikhuleka kumele sikhumbule lokhu: “Uma sicela ulutho ngokwentando yakhe, [uNkulunkulu] uyasizwa.” (1 Joh. 5:14) Siyabona-ke ukuthi kufanele siyazi intando kaNkulunkulu ukuze ayizwe imithandazo yethu. Yikho kuqakathekile ukuthi sitaditshe iBhayibhili nsuku zonke. U-Elija wayefuna sibili ukuthi isomiso siphele ngoba abantu bakibo babethwele qatha. Kumele ukuthi wayesizwa kusithi ambonge ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova ngesimangaliso lesi ayesenzile. Lokhu kusifundisani? Kusifundisa ukuthi nxa sithandaza kumele sihlale simbonga uJehova njalo sibe lendaba lenhlalakahle yabanye.—Bala u-2 Khorinte 1:11; KwabaseFiliphi 4:6.

9. U-Elija wathuma isisebenzi sakhe ukuthi siyekwenzani, njalo sizaxoxa ngani?

⁹ U-Elija wayengathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova wayezasiqeda isomiso kodwa wayengakwazi ukuthi lokhu wayezakwenza nini. Manje umphrofethi lo wayesenzani esalindile? IBhayibhili lithi: “Wathuma isisebenzi sakhe wathi: ‘Hamba uyephosa amehlo akho olwandle.’ Lakanye isisebenzi sahamba sayakhangela. Sathi, ‘Akulalutho laphaya.’ U-Elija watsho kwaze kwaba kasikhombisa esithi, ‘Buyela.’” (1 AmaKho. 18:43) Lokhu kusitshengisa ukuthi wayengumuntu ongathandabuziyo njalo wayehlala ephapheme. Ake sixoxe ngezinto lezi ezimbili sibone ukuthi zisifundisani.

10, 11. (a) U-Elija watshengisa njani ukuthi wayengathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova wayezasigcwalisa isithembiso sakhe? (b) Kuyini okungasenza sibe lokholo oluqinileyo njengo-Elija?

¹⁰ Okokuqala, u-Elija wayeludinga ngabomvu uphawu ngoba wayengathandabuzi lakancane ukuthi uJehova wayesezakwenza ayekuthembisile. Wathuma isisebenzi sakhe esiqongweni sentaba ukuze  siyebona langabe izulu lalithembisa. Kodwa sabuya lombiko odanisayo sathi: “Akulalutho laphaya.” Kumele ukuthi isibhakabhaka sasicwethule, kungela layezi. Kodwa kukhona okungani kuyaphica lapha. Khumbula ukuthi u-Elija wayetshele iNkosi u-Ahabi wathi: “Kuzwakala umdumo wezulu elikhulu.” Kanti manje kungani watsho njalo njengoba kwakungela layezi lezulu?

¹¹ Isithembiso sikaJehova wayesazi mhlophe. Wayengumphrofethi njalo engummeli wakhe. Yikho-ke wayelethemba lokuthi ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lalingasoze liwele phansi. Wayengathandabuzi lakancane okokuthi kuye kwasekufanana lokuthi izulu laselithululeka. Lokhu kusikhumbuza uMosi. IBhayibhili lithi: “Wabekezela ngoba wambona lowo ongabonakaliyo.” Wena useduze loJehova yini okokuthi kuba angathi uyambona? Phela kunengi asinika khona okwenza sibe lokholo oluqinileyo lokuthi uzazigcwalisa izithembiso zakhe.—Heb. 11:1, 27.

12. U-Elija watshengisa njani ukuthi wayephapheme, njalo wenzani esizwa ukuthi kwasekulokuliyezi okukodwa?

¹² Okwesibili esikufundayo yikuthi u-Elija wahlala ephapheme. Isisebenzi sakhe kasithumanga kanye loba kabili kuphela, kodwa wasithuma kwaze kwaba kasikhombisa! Mhlawumbe saze sadakeka ngokube silokhu sisenza into eyodwa. Loba kunjalo, u-Elija kazange adele kodwa waqhubeka esithuma. Ngehlandla lesikhombisa, isisebenzi safika sathi: “Iyezana elincinyane ngangesandla somuntu likhanya liqubuka lisuka olwandle.” Akusibone ngelihlo lengqondo selule ingalo yaso, silinganisa ngesandla ukuthi iyezi lelo elaliqubuka ngasoLwandle Olukhulu lalilincane njani. Engxenye kuso kwakungathi thiki lakancane. Kodwa ku-Elija lalisitsho okukhulu. Kasapholisanga amaseko, wahle wasithuma wathi: “Hamba uyetshela u-Ahabi uthi, ‘Bopha inqola yakho yempi usuke lapho ungakavalelwa lizulu.’”—1 AmaKho. 18:44.

13, 14. (a) Singamlingisela njani u-Elija endabeni yokuhlala siphapheme? (b) Kungani kumele sitshisekele ukukhonza uJehova?

¹³ Khathesi sekuseduze ukuthi uNkulunkulu enze akuhlosileyo. Yikho-ke sithola esinye isifundo esiqakatheke kakhulu endabeni ka-Elija. Wayelindele ukuthi isomiso siphele. Lathi lamuhla silindele ukuthi umumo lo wezinto omubi uphele. (1 Joh. 2:17) Ngakho-ke kufanele sihlale siphapheme njengo-Elija sisamelele ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu agcwalise izithembiso zakhe. UJesu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, waxwayisa abafundi bakhe wathi: “Ngakho lindani ngokuba kalikwazi ukuthi iNkosi yenu izafika ngaluphi usuku.” (Mat. 24:42) Wayesitsho yini ukuthi abafundi bakhe babezabe besemnyameni, bengakwazi lutho mayelana lokuthi ukuphela kwakuzafika nini? Hatshi. Wabatshela okunengi okuphathelane lokuthi nxa ukuphela sekuzafika kwakuzabe kusenzakalani emhlabeni. Sonke  siyazibona izimpawu ezitshengisa ukuthi siphila ‘ekucineni kwesikhathi.’—Bala uMathewu 24:3-7.

¹⁴ Uphawu ngalunye lwesiboniso leso lusinika ubufakazi obucacileyo. Izimpawu ozibonayo ziyakukhuthaza yini ukuthi utshisekele ukukhonza uJehova? Phela u-Elija wathi esizwa ukuthi kwasekuleyezi elilodwa nje, kazange athandabuze ukuthi uJehova wayesezakwenza ayekuthembisile. Kwenzakala yini ayekulindele?

15, 16. Kuyini okwaqala ukwenzakala masinyane, njalo u-Elija wayengabe ecabangani ngo-Ahabi?

¹⁵ Indaba iqhubeka isithi: “Ngalesosikhathi, kwaba mnyama emkhathini ngamayezi, kwaqubuka umoya, kwana izulu elikhulu njalo u-Ahabi wasuka ngenqola waya eJezireli.” (1 AmaKho. 18:45) Izinto zaqala ukwenzakala ngesiphangiphangi. Isisebenzi somphrofethi u-Elija sathi sisamtshela esasesikubonile, amayezi aba manengi, kwagubuzela isibhakabhaka saba mnyama tshu. Kwavunguza umoya omkhulu. Ekucineni lathi tho, sekudlule iminyaka emithathu lengxenye bengalazi izulu ko-Israyeli. Okwakuyizikwakwa kwasekungathi kuzaba ngamaxhaphozi. Lathululeka-ke izulu umfula uKhishoni wagcwala phamu, mhlawumbe waze wagezisa legazi labaphrofethi bakaBhali abasebebulewe. Ama-Israyeli ayesehlanhlathile ayesephiwe ithuba lokuthi atshiyane lokukhonza uBhali, athethelelwe nguJehova.

¹⁶ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi u-Elija wayefisa ukuthi abako-Israyeli bantshintshe. Engxenye wayezibuza lokuthi u-Ahabi wayezathini ebona konke lokhu okwakusenzakala. U-Ahabi wayezaphenduka yini atshiye ukukhonza uBhali? Kwakumele antshintshe sibili ngoba kunengi okwakwenzakele ngalelolanga. Ngeke sitsho ukuthi u-Ahabi wayecabangani. Esikutshelwayo nje kuphela yikuthi inkosi le ‘yasuka ngenqola yaya eJezireli.’ Kukhona yini eyayikufundile? Yayizimisele yini ukuguquka? Okwalandela lapho kwaveza ukuthi wayengazimiselanga ukwenza njalo. Kodwa kukhulu yena lo-Elija ababesazokubona ngalelolanga.

17, 18. (a) Kwenzakalani ku-Elija esemgwaqweni owawusiya eJezireli? (b) Kuyini okwakumangalisa ngokugijima kuka-Elija esuka eKhameli esiya eJezireli? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

¹⁷ Umphrofethi kaJehova laye wangena indlela elandela  u-Ahabi. Emgwaqweni kwasekumnyama tshu, phansi sekuludaka lodwa futhi kwakungumango lapho ayesiya khona. Kodwa kwenzakala isimanga!

¹⁸ “Amandla kaJehova ehlela ku-Elija, njalo uthe ukuba akhwicele isambatho sakhe ebhantini wagijima phambi kuka-Ahabi indlela yonke esiya eJezireli.” (1 AmaKho. 18:46) “Amandla kaJehova” ayephezu kwakhe sibili. IJezireli yayikhatshana ngamakhilomitha angu-30 njalo u-Elija wayesemdala. * Akumbone ekhwinca isambatho sakhe eside, asibophele mfi eqolo ukwenzela ukuthi singamgwenxi, abesegijima emgwaqweni lo owawusugcwele amanzi. Wagijima inyawo zatshaya esiphundu, wayithola inqola yesikhosini, wayidlula kwangathi imile!

19. (a) Yiziphi izibusiso ezizayo esingazikhumbula nxa sicabanga ngamandla kanye lamadlabuzane u-Elija ayeselawo? (b) Kuyini u-Elija ayekwazi mhlophe ngesikhathi egijima esiya eJezireli?

¹⁹ Kwakuyisibusiso esimangalisayo sibili ukuthi u-Elija enelise ukwenza konke lokhu! Kumele ukuthi laye kwakummangalisa ukuzizwa eselamandla njalo eselamadlabuzane angako. Mhlawumbe wayezizwa eseqine ukwedlula ngesikhathi eseselijaha. Lokhu kungasikhumbuza amavesi asitshela ukuthi emhlabeni oliPharadayisi abantu abathembekileyo bazakuba lempilo enhle kakhulu, beqine saka. (Bala u-Isaya 35:6; Luk. 23:43) Wasibathela-ke u-Elija emgwaqweni lo owawusugcwele amanzi, ekwazi mhlophe ukuthi wayethokozisa uYise uJehova, onguye yedwa uNkulunkulu weqiniso.

20. Kufanele senzeni nxa sifuna ukuthola izibusiso ezivela kuJehova?

²⁰ UJehova uzimisele ukusibusisa. Ngakho-ke kasizilalameleni izibusiso afuna sizithole ngoba ziligugu kakhulu. Lathi kumele sibe njengo-Elija, sihlale siphapheme njalo sinanzelele ukuthi okwenzakala esikhathini lesi esinzima kuyinkomba yokuthi selidumela emansumpeni. UJehova usezakwenza sibili akuhlosileyo. Lathi njengo-Elija silabo ubufakazi obeneleyo obenza singathandabuzi ukuthi izithembiso zikaJehova ‘uNkulunkulu weqiniso’ zizagcwaliseka.—Hubo. 31:5.