UELIYA wayehamba kwiNtlambo yaseYordan. Wayesele eneeveki etyhutyha ukusuka kwiNtaba yeHorebhe esiya emntla. Wathi akufika kwaSirayeli, wabona indlela elitshintshe ngayo eli lizwe lakowabo. Yayisiya iphela imiphumo yembalela. Imvula yasekwindla yayisele iqalile, ibe abalimi babesele belima amasimi abo. Kumele ukuba kwathi ngco ngaphakathi kulo mprofeti xa ebona eli lizwe litshintshile, noko ke, umele ukuba wayecinga ngabantu balapho. Babengenabo kwaphela ubuhlobo noThixo. Kwakusekuninzi ekwakusafuneka ekwenzile uEliya kuba abantu balapho babesanqula uBhahali. *

Kufutshane nedolophu iAbheli-mehola, uEliya wabona iqela labantu libila lisoma lilima. Kwakukho iinkabi zeenkomo ezingamashumi amabini anesine, zibotshwe ngambini edyokhweni zisebenza njengamaqela ayi-12 asebenza onke ngaxeshanye, zivula iifolo kuloo mhlaba ufumileyo. UEliya wayefuna indoda eyayiqhuba iinkomo ezimbini ezisekugqibeleni. Igama layo yayinguElisha, ibe uYehova wayemkhethe ukuba angene ezihlangwini zikaEliya. UEliya umele ukuba wayefuna ukude adibane nale ndoda, kuba wayekhe wacinga ukuba nguye yedwa obesoloko ekhonza uThixo ngokunyaniseka.—1 Kumkani 18:22; 19:14-19.

Ngaba uEliya wayemadolw’ anzima ukunika uElisha eminye yemisebenzi namalungelo akhe, kuba esoyika ukuba unokumthathel’ indawo? Asinakuqiniseka; mhlawumbi zaziye zithi qatha ezo zinto engqondweni yakhe. Kaloku naye “wayengumntu oneemvakalelo ezinjengezethu.” (Yakobi 5:17) Enoba wayecinga okanye engacingi ngezo zinto, iBhayibhile ithi: “UEliya wawelela kuye waza wamphosela umnweba wakhe.” (1 Kumkani 19:19) Umnweba kaEliya—ekusenokwenzeka ukuba wawenziwe ngesikhumba segusha okanye sebhokhwe—wawusithiwa wambu emagxeni, ibe wawufanekisela ukumiselwa ngokukhethekileyo nguYehova. Ukombathisa ngawo uElisha kwakuyinto enkulu kakhulu. UEliya wamthobela uYehova waza wamisela uElisha ukuba angene ezihlangwini zakhe. UEliya wamthemba uThixo wakhe, waza wamthobela.

Kwelinye icala, lo mfana wayekulangazelela ukuncedisa lo mprofeti ukhulileyo. UElisha wayengaz’ ukukhawuleza angene ezihlangwini zikaEliya. Kunoko, kangangeminyaka emithandathu wasebenza ngokuthobekileyo ekhapha yaye encedisa lo mprofeti ukhulileyo, kangangokuba wade waziwa njengalowo ‘wayegalela amanzi esandleni sikaEliya.’ (2 Kumkani 3:11) UEliya wayevuya kukuba nomncedisi oluncedo kangako! La madoda mabini amele ukuba aba ngabahlobo abasenyongweni. Ngokuqinisekileyo, ukukhuthazana kwabo kwabanceda bakwazi ukunyamezela okungekho sikweni okwakugquba kwelo lizwe. Ngokukodwa ububi bukaKumkani uAhabhi obabusiya buqatsela.

Wena, awukhe uphathwe ngokungekho sikweni? Phantse sonke oku kuyasehlela kweli hlabathi lonakeleyo. Ukuba nomhlobo omthanda nyhani uThixo kungakunceda unyamezele. Kwakhona unokufunda okuninzi kukholo lukaEliya xa uphethwe ngokungekho sikweni.

UEliya noElisha babemaxhaphetshu benceda abantu babe nobuhlobo obuhle noThixo. Kuyabonakala ukuba ngabona babeqeqesha abanye abaprofeti ekusenokwenzeka ukuba babehlulahlulwe bangamaqela. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, uEliya wafumana isabelo esitsha esivela kuYehova: “Phakama, yihla uye kuhlangabeza uAhabhi ukumkani wakwaSirayeli.” (1 Kumkani 21:18) Wayenze ntoni uAhabhi?

Lo kumkani wayesele engumwexuki, ibe ngelo xesha kwakungazange khe kubekho ukumkani ombi njengaye kwaSirayeli. Watshata noIzebhele, nto leyo eyabangela ukuba unqulo lukaBhahali lunwenwe okomlilo wedobo, ibe lo kumkani wayekolo nqulo naye. (1 Kumkani 16:31-33) Unqulo lukaBhahali lwaluquka ukubhiyozelwa kwenzala, ukuhenyuza kunye nokubingelela ngabantwana. Ngaphezu koko, uAhabhi akazange awuthobele umyalelo kaYehova wokubulala uKumkani ombi waseSiriya, uBhen-hadadi. Kuyabonakala ukuba uAhabhi akazange athobele kuba wayejonge amaqithi-qithi. (1 Kumkani, isahluko 20) Lo kumkani nomfazi wakhe uIzebhele baya beqatsela ekunyolukeni, ekuthandeni izinto eziphathekayo nakubundlobongela.

UAhabhi wayenebhotwe eSamariya—lalilikhulu yaye lisithi ndijonge! Wayenelinye eYizereli, ekumgama oziikhilomitha eziyi-37 ukusuka apho. Ecaleni kweli bhotwe lakhe lesibini, kwakukho isidiliya. UAhabhi wayewunyolukele loo mhlaba wendoda enguNabhoti. UAhabhi wambiza waza wathi makamthemngisele isidiliya sakhe okanye batshintshiselane. UNabhoti wathi: “Makube lee kum, ngenxa kaYehova, ukuba ndikunike ilifa lookhokho bam.” (1 Kumkani 21:3) Ngaba uNabhoti wayeneenkani? Engacingi kakuhle? Abaninzi baye bacinga njalo. Inyani kukuba wayethobela uMthetho kaYehova, owawungawavumeli amaSirayeli ukuba awuthengise ngokupheleleyo umhlaba olilifa lentsapho yawo. (Levitikus 25:23-28) UNabhoti wayengacingi nokucinga ngokwaphula uMthetho kaThixo. Wayeyindoda enokholo nenesibindi kuba wayesazi ukuba kwakuyingozi ukungayenzi into ethethwa nguAhabhi.

UAhabhi wayengenamsebenzi naMthetho kaYehova. Wagoduka “engatyhilekanga yaye edakumbile” kuba izinto zingamhambelanga kakuhle. Sifunda oku: “Walala kwisingqengqelo kwaye wahlala ebujikile ubuso bakhe, akadla sonka.” (1 Kumkani 21:4) Xa uIzebhele wabona umyeni wakhe equmbe oku komntwana osileyo, wakhawuleza wacinga iqhinga elaliza kumnceda afumane into ayifunayo—nelaliza kucim’ igama intsapho elungileyo.

Xa ufunda ngeli yelenqe lakhe, awusoze ungothuswa yindlela elalingcole ngayo. UKumkanikazi uIzebhele wayesazi ukuba uMthetho kaThixo wawufuna ubungqina babantu ababini ukuze isityholo sibe nesihlahla. (Duteronomi 19:15) Ngoko wabhala ileta egameni lika-Ahabhi, eyalela amadoda amakhulu aseYizereli ukuba akhangele amadoda amabini anokukwazi ukutyhola uNabhoti ngokunyelisa ukuze abulawe. Icebo lakhe lasebenza. Ngokwenene “amadoda amabini angamatshivela” amtyhola uNabhoti, waza waxulutywa ngamatye de wafa. Zange kuphelele apho—noonyana bakaNabhoti  babulawa! * (1 Kumkani 21:5-14; Levitikus 24:16; 2 Kumkani 9:26) UAhabhi wabutyeshela ubuntloko bakhe, waza wavumela umfazi wakhe ukuba enze unothanda nokuba acim’ igama abantu abamsulwa.

Khawucinge nje indlela awayemele ukuba wayevakalelwa ngayo uEliya xa uYehova wamxelela konke oko kwenziwe ngulo kumkani nokumkanikazi. Kuyatyhafisa ukubona abantu abangendawo bephumelela kunabamsulwa. (INdumiso 73:3-5, 12, 13) Kule mihla siphila kuyo yinto yomhla nezolo ukubona abantu besenza okungekho sikweni—nkqu nabo bahlonitshiweyo, abathi bathunywe nguThixo. Kodwa ke, eli bali linokusithuthuzela. Apha iBhayibhile isikhumbuza ukuba akukho nto ifihlakeleyo kuYehova, ubona yonke into. (Hebhere 4:13) Wenza ntoni xa ebona izenzo ezibi?

UYehova wathumela uEliya kuAhabhi. UThixo wathi: “Usesidiliyeni sikaNabhoti.” (1 Kumkani 21:18) Xa uIzebhele waxelela uAhabhi ukuba ngoku esi sidiliya sesakhe, wahamba ngoko nangoko wayokusibuka. Zange ithi qatha kuye eyokuba uYehova umjongile. Khawube nombono wakhe ejikeleza kweso sidiliya, ezele ngamabhongo, ecinga ngegadi entle aza kuyenza kuso. Kusenjalo, kuthi gqi uEliya! UAhabhi watshintsha ebusweni wanomsindo waza wathi: ‘Undifumene, lutshaba lwam!’—1 Kumkani 21:20.

Kula mazwi ka-Ahabhi siphawula izinto ezimbini ngaye. Okokuqala, ngokuthi kuEliya, ‘undifumene,’ wayebonisa ukuba wayengacingi ngoYehova. UYehova wayesele ‘emfumene.’ Wambona xa ethatha umhlaba kaNabhoti waza wavuyela imiphumo yeqhinga elibi likaIzebhele. UThixo wabona ukuba intliziyo ka-Ahabhi yayithanda izinto eziphathekayo ngaphezu kokuba nenceba, okusesikweni kunye novelwano. Okwesibini, xa wathi kuEliya, ‘lutshaba lwam!’ wayebonisa indlela ayicaphukela ngayo le ndoda yayingumhlobo kaYehova uThixo neyayinokumnceda alungise iindlela zakhe.

Sinokufunda izifundo ezibalulekileyo kula mazwi ka-Ahabhi. Singaze silibale ukuba uYehova uThixo ubona yonke into. NjengoBawo onothando, uyasibona xa siphuma endleleni elungileyo, ibe ulangazelela ukusibona silungisa kwakhona. Ukuze asincede, usebenzisa abahlobo bakhe abafana noEliya,  abasixelela amazwi akhe. Ingayimpazamo enkulu ukuba singacinga ukuba abo bahlobo bakaThixo ziintshaba zethu!—INdumiso 141:5.

Khawube nombono kaEliya ephendula uAhabhi esithi: “Ndikufumene.” Wayemazi ukuba ungumntu onjani uAhabhi—isela, umbulali kunye nomvukeli kaYehova uThixo. Kwakufuneka abe nesibindi ukuze athethe naloo ndoda imbi! Wachazela uAhabhi indlela uThixo aza kumohlwaya ngayo. UYehova wayeyibona kakuhle into eyayisenzeka—ububi bentsapho ka-Ahabhi babuchaphazela nabanye abantu. UEliya wachazela uAhabhi ukuba uThixo uza ‘kubutshayela’ aze abuphelise tu ubukhosi bakhe. UIzebhele naye wayeza kohlwaywa.—1 Kumkani 21:20-26.

UEliya zange acinge ukuba abantu bangenza izinto ezimbi baze bangohlwaywa. Abantu abaninzi badla ngokucinga njalo namhlanje. Eli bali leBhayibhile lisikhumbuza ukuba uYehova uThixo akapheleli nje ekuboneni okungekho sikweni okwenzekayo, kodwa uza kukulungisa ngexesha lakhe. ILizwi lakhe lisixelela ukuba kuseza ixesha laxa eza kukususa neengcambu okungekho sikweni! (INdumiso 37:10, 11) Usenokuzibuza: ‘Ngaba ukugwetywa nguThixo kusoloko kuthetha ukohlwaywa? Ngaba kukhe kuthethe izenzo zenceba?’

Inoba yamothusa uEliya indlela awasabela ngayo uAhabhi kwisigwebo sikaThixo. IBhayibhile ithi: “Kwathi kamsinya nje akuba uAhabhi ewavile la mazwi, wazikrazula izambatho zakhe wabeka amarhonya enyameni yakhe; wazila ukutya waza waqhubeka elele phantsi emarhonyeni ehamba ematshekile.” (1 Kumkani 21:27) Ngaba uAhabhi wayeguquka kwiindlela zakhe?

Singatsho noko ukuba wayezama. UAhabhi wazithoba—ngokuqinisekileyo kwakungekho lula kuba wayenekratshi. Kodwa ngaba wayeguquke ngokwenene? Khawucinge ngomnye ukumkani owalawula emva kuka-Ahabhi, ekusenokwenzeka ukuba wayemodlula ekwenzeni okubi—uManase. Xa uYehova wohlwaya uManase, wazithoba waza wacela uncedo kuYehova. Kodwa yena zange aphelele apho. Watshintsha indlela awayephila ngayo, wasusa imifanekiso yezithixo, waza wasebenza nzima ukuze akhonze uYehova ekhuthaza nabanye ukuba benze okufanayo. (2 Kronike 33:1-17) Ngaba wakwenza yena uAhabhi oko? Zange aqalise.

Ngaba uYehova akazange ayibone indlela awasabela ngayo uAhabhi? UYehova wathi kuEliya: “Umbonile na indlela azithobe ngayo uAhabhi ngenxa yam? Ngenxa yokuba ezithobile ngenxa yam, andiyi kuyizisa intlekele ngemihla yakhe. Ndiya kuyizisela intlekele indlu yakhe ngemihla yonyana wakhe.” (1 Kumkani 21:29) Ngaba uYehova wayemxolela uAhabhi? Akunjalo, wayeza kunikwa loo nceba ukuba wayeguquke ngokwenene. (Hezekile 33:14-16) Noko ke, ekubeni uAhabhi wabonisa ukuzisola ukuya kumkhamo othile, uYehova wambonisa inceba elingana nokuzisola kwakhe. UAhabhi wayengazukubona xa intsapho yakhe itshatyalaliswa.

Nangona kunjalo, zange sitshintshe isigwebo sikaYehova. UYehova wacela enye yeengelosi zakhe ukuba iqhathe uAhabhi ukuba aye emfazweni, apho wayeza kufela khona. Kungekudala emva koko, uYehova wasiphumeza isigwebo sakhe kuAhabhi. Engxwelerheke kuloo mfazwe, wopha de wafa ekwinqwelo yakhe. Eli bali lisixelela ukuba kwenzeka le nto ibuhlungu: Emva kokuba inqwelo yasebukhosini yahlanjwayo, igazi lakhe lalencwa zizinja. Ngale ndlela, azaliseka amazwi kaYehova awawathetha kuEliya ngoAhabhi esithi: “Endaweni ezixhaphele kuyo izinja igazi likaNabhoti, ziya kulixhaphela khona izinja igazi lakho, wena lo.”—1 Kumkani 21:19; 22:19-22, 34-38.

Isiphelo sika-Ahabhi sasiqinisekisa uEliya, uElisha nabo bonke abanye abantu bakaThixo abathembekileyo ukuba uYehova akazange asilibale isibindi nokholo lukaNabhoti. UThixo wokusesikweni akaze angabohlwayi abenzi bobubi, enoba kungoku okanye kwixa elizayo; ibe akaze alibale ukubonisa imfesane xa kuyimfuneko ukuba enze oko. (Numeri 14:18) Esi yaba sisifundo esibalulekileyo kuEliya, owanyamezela ulawulo olungendawo lwalo kumkani kangangamashumi eminyaka! Ngaba wakha waphathwa ngokungekho sikweni? Awunqweneli ukubona xa uThixo elungisa oko? Uya kuba wenza kakuhle ukuba uxelisa ukholo lukaEliya. Ekunye nomhlobo wakhe othembekileyo uElisha, waqhubeka evakalisa isigidimi sikaThixo enyamezele okungekho sikweni!