UEliya weva iindaba zokuba uKumkani uAhabhi uswelekile. Sisenokuba nombono walo mprofeti ukhulileyo ephulula iintshebe zakhe, ebonakala ukuba ucinga kude, kwiminyaka emininzi eyadlulayo, ngexesha awayejamelene ngalo nalo kumkani ungendawo. UEliya wanyamezela izinto ezininzi! UKumkani uAhabhi nokumkanikazi uIzebhele babefuna uEliya, bemgrogrisa amaxesha amaninzi ibe wade waphants’ ukufa. Ukumkani akazange amnqande uIzebhele xa wayeyalela ukuba kubulawe abaprofeti bakaYehova abaninzi. UAhabhi nenkosikazi yakhe uIzebhele, babulala nendoda elilungisa uNabhoti kunye noonyana bayo ngenxa nje yokunyoluka. UEliya wadlulisela isigwebo sikaYehova kuAhabhi nakubo bonke ubukhosi bakhe ngenxa yento awayeyenzile. Ngoku, izinto ezazithethwe nguThixo zazisenzeka. UAhabhi wafa ngendlela uYehova awayethe uza kufa ngayo.​—1 Kumkani 18:4; 21:1-26; 22:37, 38; 2 Kumkani 9:26.

Kodwa ke, uEliya wayeyazi ukuba kwakusafuneka aqhubeke enyamezela. UIzebhele wayesaphila ibe wayeqhubeka esenza intsapho yakhe nohlanga lucinge ngendlela engafanelekanga awayecinga ngayo. UEliya wayeza kuba neengxaki ezininzi ibe kwakukho nezinto ekwakufuneka azifundise uElisha, owayeza kuba ngumprofethi emva kwakhe. Makhe sithethe ngemisebenzi emithathu yokugqibela ekwakufuneka yenziwe nguEliya. Njengoko sibona ukuba ukholo lwakhe lwamnceda wanyamezela, sisenokubona indlela esinokulomeleza ngayo olwethu ukholo kwezi ngxaki zingaka sinazo namhlanje.

Ngoku, uAhaziya unyana ka-Ahabhi noIzebhele yaba nguye ukumkani wakwaSirayeli. Endaweni yokuba afunde kwiimpazamo zabazali bakhe, yaba yinto engeyongxaki kuye ukuhamba ezonweni zabo. (1 Kumkani 22:52) Naye wayekhonza uBhahali njengabo. Unqulo lukaBhahali lwalubangela abantu ukuba benze izinto ezimbi, kwakukho oonongongo basetempileni ibe kwakubingelelwa nangabantwana. Ngaba ikhona into eyayinokubangela ukuba uAhaziya atshintshe iindlela zakhe, aze ayalele abantu bakhe ukuba bayeke ukwenza izinto ezingafunwayo nguYehova?

Lo kumkani unekratshi, wehlelwa yinto ebuhlungu. Wawa eluphahleni lwegumbi lakhe waza wonzakala kakhulu. Nangona wayesengozini yokufa, akazange acele ukuncedwa nguYehova. Endaweni yoko, wathumela abathunywa kwisixeko samaFilisti iEkron ukuze babuze uthixo uBhahali-zebhubhi enoba wayeza kuphila na. UYehova wayesele onele ngulo kumkani. Wathumela ingelosi kuEliya ukuze imxelele ukuba ahlangabeze abo bathunywa. Umprofeti wabathumela kukumkani nomyalezo owawunamazwi ahlabayo. UAhaziya wona kakhulu ngokwenza ngathi uSirayeli akanaThixo. UYehova wathi uAhaziya akayi kuvuka kwibhedi awayelele kuyo.​—2 Kumkani 1:2-4.

UAhaziya, owayengacingi tu ukuguquka, wathi: “Ibinjani imbonakalo yendoda eye yeza kunihlangabeza yaza yathetha la mazwi kuni?” Abathunywa bamxelela ngohlobo lwempahla engekho mbejembeje awayeyinxibile umprofeti ibe ngoko nangoko, uAhaziya wathi: “IbinguEliya.” (2 Kumkani 1:7, 8) Qaphela ukuba uEliya wayenezinto azidingayo kuphela kuba eyona nto wayezimisele kuyo kukukhonza uThixo, kangangokuba wade waziwa ngempahla engekho mbejembeje awayeyinxiba. Ngokuqinisekileyo, ayinakuthethwa loo nto ngoAhaziya nabazali bakhe ababethanda izinto. Umzekelo kaEliya usikhumbuza ukuba nathi namhlanje kubalulekile ukuba siphile ngokwamazwi kaYesu, sibe nezinto nje esizidingayo size sizimisele ukwenza ezona zinto zibalulekileyo.​—Mateyu 6:22-24.

UAhaziya wayefuna ukuziphindezela, ngoko wathumela amajoni ayi-50 nentloko yomkhosi ukuze kubanjwe uEliya. Xa afika uEliya “ehleli phezulu entabeni,” * intloko yomkhosi, iyalelwe ngukumkani, yathi kuEliya, “yihla” mhlawumbi yayimbizela ukuze abulawe. Khawufan’ ucinge! Nangona ayeyazi ukuba uEliya ‘ngumntu kaThixo oyinyaniso,’ la majoni ayeyibona iyinto efanelekileyo ukuba amphathe kakubi aze amoyikise. Yayimbi le nto ayeyenza. UEliya wathi kwintloko yomkhosi: “Eneneni, ukuba ndiyindoda yakwaThixo, makuhle umlilo emazulwini ukudle ukugqibe wena namashumi amahlanu akho.” UThixo wayenza loo nto. “Kwehla umlilo emazulwini wayidla wayigqiba namashumi amahlanu ayo.” (2 Kumkani 1:9, 10) Indlela afa kabuhlungu ngayo la majoni isikhumbuza ukuba uYehova akayithathi lula into yokudelelwa kwabakhonzi bakhe.​—1 Kronike 16:21, 22.

UAhaziya wathumela enye intloko yomkhosi namadoda ayi-50. Le yesibini yayikhohlakele kuneyokuqala. Akazange afunde nto kwindlela afa ngayo amadoda ayi-51, nangona kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayelubonile uthuli lwezidumbu ezafela ezantsi kwentaba. Eny’ into, akazange aphelele ekuphindeni amazwi awathethwa yintloko yomkhosi yokuqala athi, “yihla” kodwa wongeza nelithi, “ngokukhawuleza.” Yayisisidenge nyhani ke le inkokheli! Ngoko yena neqela lakhe bafa ngendlela efanayo neqela lokuqala. Kodwa, oyena mntu wayengabhadlanga kakhulu, yayingukumkani. Engenalo nosizi, wathumela iqela lamajoni lesithathu. Iindaba ezimnandi kukuba, le ntloko yomkhosi yesithathu yayisisilumko. Yazithoba, yaza yacela uEliya ukuba yona neqela layo basindiswe. UEliya, indoda kaThixo, yabonisa inceba kaYehova xa yasiphendula isicelo sentloko yomkhosi. Ingelosi kaYehova yayalela uEliya ukuba ahambe nala majoni. UEliya wathobela waza waphinda wathetha ngesigwebo aza kusizisa uYehova kukumkani ongendawo. Njengokuba uThixo wayetshilo uAhaziya wafa. Walawula iminyaka emibini nje kuphela.​—2 Kumkani 1:​11-​17.

Wakwazi njani ukunyamezela uEliya nangona abantu awayephakathi kwabo babeneenkani ibe bevukela? Ngumbuzo ofanele ukubuzwa nanamhlanje lowo, andithi? Akakho umntu omkhathaleleyo owakhe wakuxhalabisa kuba engafuni ukumamela into eza kumnceda, aze anyanzelise ukwenza into eza kumfaka engxakini? Ungenza njani ukuze unyamezele ukuphoxeka ngolo hlobo? Ikho into esinokuyifunda ngendawo awafunyanwa kuyo uEliya ngamajoni, “phezulu entabeni.” Asinakusichaza isizathu sokuba uEliya abe pha, kodwa njengendoda eyayikuthanda ukuthandaza, kusenokwenzeka ukuba laa ndawo ngenxa yokuzola kwayo, yayimenza akwazi ukusondela kuThixo. (Yakobi 5:16-18) Nathi, sinokuzenzela ixesha lothetha noThixo rhoqo, simbize ngegama lakhe size simxelele ngezinto ezisikhathazayo. Xa sisenza loo nto, siza kukwazi ukunyamezela xa abantu esiphila phakathi kwabo beneenkani naxa besenza izinto eziza kubafaka engxakini.

Lalifikile ixesha lokuba uEliya awuyeke owona msebenzi wayewenza. Jonga into awayenzayo. Njengoko yena noElisha babeshiya isixeko iGiligali, uEliya wacela uElisha ukuba ashiyeke ngoxa yena wayesiya eBheteli ekumgama oziikhilomitha eziyi-11. UElisha wathi: “Njengoko uYehova ephila nomphefumlo wakho uphila, andiyi kukushiya.” Emva kokuba befikile eBheteli, uEliya wathi kuElisha uza kuya yedwa eYeriko, ekumgama oziikhilomitha eziyi-22. UElisha waphendula njengakuqala. Le nto yaphinda yenzeka okwesithathu eYeriko ngaphambi kokuba bafike ngakuMlambo iYordan, okumgama oziikhilomitha eziyi-8. Kwakhona, uElisha akazange avume. Wayengafuni ukwahlukana noEliya!​—2 Kumkani 2:1-6.

UElisha wayebonisa ukuba unophawu olubalulekileyo, uthando olungagungqiyo. Le yindlela uRute awayemthanda ngayo uNahomi ibe engafuni nokwahlukana naye. (Rute 1:​15, 16) Bonke abakhonzi bakaYehova kufuneka babe nalo olu phawu ngoku kakhulu kunakuqala. UElisha wayibona indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukuba nothando, ngaba nathi siyayibona?

Ngokuqinisekileyo, kwamkhuthaza uEliya ukubona indlela awayethandwa ngayo nguElisha, ibe loo nto yabangela ukuba uElisha awubone ummangaliso wokugqibela kaEliya. Ngakunxweme loMlambo iYordan, oqukuqela amanzi noneendawo ezinzulu, uEliya wabetha amanzi ngengubo yakhe. Amanzi ohlukana! Abanye ababebukele lo mmangaliso ‘kwakungoonyana babaprofeti ababengamashumi amahlanu,’ ababeqeqeshelwa ukukhokela kunqulo lokwenyaniso. (2 Kumkani 2:7, 8) UEliya wayekhokela kolu qeqesho. Kwiminyaka engaphambi koko, uEliya wayekhe wavakalelwa ngathi nguye yedwa indoda ethembekileyo emhlabeni. Ukususela ngoko, uYehova wamnceda uEliya, waza wabona nokuba bakhona abaKhonzi bakhe ababeqhuba kakuhle.​—1 Kumkani 19:10.

Emva kokuba bewele iYordan, uEliya wathi kuElisha: “Cela into emandikwenzele yona ngaphambi kokuba ndithatyathwe kuwe.” UEliya wayesazi ukuba kufuneka ahambe. Akazange ammonele umhlobo wakhe osemtsha ngemisebenzi awayeza kuyenza. Endaweni yoko, uEliya wayefuna ukumnceda kangangoko kunokwenzeka. UElisha wacela le nto kuphela: “Ndicela ukuba iinxalenye ezimbini zomoya wakho zize kum.” (2 Kumkani 2:9) Wayengathethi ukuba ufuna umoya oyingcwele ophindaphindwe kabini kunalowo wayenawo uEliya. Ngokomthetho unyana wokuqala wayefumana ilifa eliphindaphindwe kabini kunelabanye kuba yayiza kuba nguye intloko ntsapho, ngoko uElisha wayecela elo lifa kuEliya. (Duteronomi 21:17) UElisha wayeyindlalifa kaEliya kuba babedityaniswa kukuthanda uThixo. Ngoko wabona ukuba ukuze awenze kakuhle lo msebenzi kwakufuneka abe nesibindi njengoEliya.

UEliya wayekela uYehova ukuba aphendule isicelo sikaElisha. Ukuba uElisha wayeza kumbona uEliya xa ethathwa nguYehova, loo nto yayiza kuthetha ukuba uYehova usivumile isicelo sikaElisha. Zange kugqithe xesha lide emva koko, ‘besahamba bethetha’ aba bahlobo, kwenzeka into emangalisayo!​—2 Kumkani 2:10, 11.

Kwabakho ukukhanya okungaqhelekanga esibhakabhakeni ibe kwakusiya kusondela ngokusondela. Sisenokucinga ngomoya obhudla ngamandla, nento ethile ekhanyayo eyayisiya isondela kula madoda ize iwohlukanise ibe kusenokwenzeka ukuba le nto bayibonayo yabothusa. Babona inqwelo eyayikhanya ngokungathi yenziwe ngomlilo. UEliya waqonda ukuba ixesha lakhe lalifikile. Ngaba wazikhwelela kule nqwelo? IBhayibhile ayitsho. Kodwa ke, waziva ukuba unyuselwa phezulu ngulo moya unamandla!

Yamothusa uElisha le nto. Watsho waqiniseka ukuba uYehova uza kumnika “iinxalenye ezimbini” zomoya kaEliya. Kodwa uElisha wayekhathazeke kakhulu. Wayengazi ukuba umhlobo wakhe omdala uyaphi, futhi wayengalindelanga ukuphinda ambone kwakhona. Wakhwaza wathi: “Bawo, bawo, nqwelo yokulwa kaSirayeli nabakhweli-mahashe bakhe!” Wayebukele njengoko umntu obemfundisa esimka ejongile; waza wakrazula isambatho sakhe ekhathazekile.​—2 Kumkani 2:​12.

Njengoko uEliya wayenyukela esibhakabhakeni, ngaba wasiva isikhalo somhlobo wakhe okanye naye mhlawumbi wayekhala? Nokuba yintoni eyayisenzeka, ngokuqinisekileyo wayesazi ukuba umhlobo wakhe wamnceda wanyamezela xa kwakunzima. Nathi sizawube senza kakuhle xa sizenzela abahlobo abamthandayo uThixo nabazimisele ukumsebenzela!

Wayaphi uEliya emva kokuba ethathwe yinqwelo? Ezinye iicawa zifundisa ukuba uEliya wenyukela ezulwini waba kunye noThixo. Kodwa yayingenakwenzeka loo nto. Emva kwexesha elide, uYesu Kristu wachaza ukuba akukho namnye umntu oye wanyukela ezulwini ngaphandle kokuba eze emhlabeni. (Yohane 3:​13) Ngoko ke xa sisiva ukuba “uEliya wanyukela ezulwini ngesaqhwithi somoya,” sifanele sizibuze ukuba awaphi amazulu? (2 Kumkani 2:​11) IBhayibhile xa isebenzisa igama elithi “amazulu” ayithethi ngendawo apho kuhlala uYehova kuphela, ikwasebenzisa eli gama naxa ithetha ngesibhakabhaka esinamafu nalapho kubhabha iintaka. (INdumiso 147:8) UEliya wanyukela ezulwini​—esibhakabhakeni. Emva koko kwathini?

UYehova wamfudusa umprofethi wakhe uEliya ukuba ayokwenza umsebenzi wakhe kwenye indawo, kwelakwaYuda. IBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba uEliya waqhubela emsebenzela, mhlawumbi kwiminyaka eyi-7 eyadlulayo emva kokuba enyuke ngenqwelo. KwaYuda ngeloxesha kwakulawula uKumkani uYehoram ongendawo. Wayetshate intombi kaAhabhi noIzebhele, kuyabonakala ukuba babeqhubeka nokwenza ububi njengoAhabhi noIzebhele. UYehova wayalela uEliya ukuba abhale ileta eyayixela ukuba uYehoram wayeza kutshabalala. Njengokuba uYehova wayetshilo, uYehoram wafa kabuhlungu. Okubuhlungu nangakumbi, iBhayibhile ithi: “Ekugqibeleni wemka kungekho bani umnqwenelayo.”​—2 Kronike 21:12-​20.

Kucacile ukuba uYehoram noEliya babengafani tu! Asiyazi ukuba wafa njani okanye nini uEliya. Kodwa siyazi ukuba yena wafa ethandwa. UElisha wayemkhumbula umhlobo wakhe. Nabanye abaprofethi abathembekileyo babemkhumbula. UYehova wabonisa ukuba usamthanda uEliya nasemva kweminyaka eyi-1 000 eswelekile, xa wayekhona kumbono wokwenziwa kumila kumbi kanyana wakhe. (Mateyu 17:​1-9) Ngaba uyafuna ukufunda kuEliya uze nawe ube nokholo olomeleleyo nokuba kunzima kangakanani? Ungalibali ukwenza abahlobo abathanda uYehova, uhlale uzimisele ekukhonzeni uYehova, uthandaze rhoqo ngokusuka entliziyweni. NjengoEliya, nawe sebenzela ukuhlala ukhunjulwa nguYehova, kwaye ahlale ekuthanda!