1, 2. Kwenzakalani eNtabeni iKhameli ngelanga u-Elija abona ngalo izinto ayengakaze azibone?

U-ELIJA waqhubeka egijima esiya eJezireli. Izulu lalilokhu lithululeka lomkhathi untshintsha usibamnyama. Kwakukhatshana lapho ayesiya khona, singasayiphathi eyokuthi wayesekhulile. Kodwa wayegijima engapheli umoya ngoba “amandla kaJehova” ayephezu kwakhe. Kumele ukuthi wayengakaze azizwe elamadlabuzane angako selokhu wathwetshulwa yingwe. Phela wayesanda kutshiya amabhiza ayedonsa inqola yeNkosi u-Ahabi.—Bala u-1 AmaKhosi 18:46.

² Khathesi wayesekhangelane lomgwaqo omude. Uyambona yini elokhu ecwayiza okungapheliyo amathonsi ezulu ejuluka ebusweni bakhe ngapha ecabanga izinto ayengakaze azibone ezazenzakale lelolanga? UJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Elija wayekuveze egcekeni ukuthi nguye uNkulunkulu weqiniso njalo wayekulwele ukukhonza kweqiniso. INtaba iKhameli yayingasakhanyi ngitsho ngenxa yesiphepho. Yikho lapho uJehova enza khona isimangaliso esatshengisa ukuthi uBhali wayengunkulunkulu wamanga. Kwakhanya ukuthi abaphrofethi bakaBhali abangu-450 babengamaqili njalo bathola isigwebo sokufa esasibafanele. U-Elija wakhuleka kuJehova ecela ukuthi isomiso esasihlasele abantu okweminyaka emithathu lengxenye siphele. Lakanye izulu lana okuzwayo!—1 AmaKho. 18:18-45.

3, 4. (a) Kuyini okungabe kwenza ukuthi u-Elija abe lethemba ngesikhathi esiya eJezireli? (b) Sizaphendula yiphi imibuzo?

³ Kungenzakala ukuthi u-Elija wayelethemba lokuthi izinto zasezizantshintsha sibili ngesikhathi egijima amakhilomitha angu-30 ngapha izulu limnetha okuzwayo. Mhlawumbe wayecabanga ukuthi ukukhonza kwamanga kwasekuzakuthi hemu. U-Ahabi kwasekumele azinuke amakhwapha! Ngemva kwalokhu okwakwenzakele lelolanga kwakumele atshiye ukukhonza uBhali, akhuze indlovukazi yakhe uJezebeli njalo atshiyane lokuhlukuluza izinceku zikaJehova.

⁴ Nxa kukhanya izinto zisiya ngasifudlana, kujayelekile ukuthi sihambele emayezini. Singabona angathi akuselalutho oluzaphinda luhambe kubi, mhlawumbe size sicabange lokuthi sizahlala siphakathi komhlane lembeleko. Engxenye u-Elija laye wacabanga njalo ngoba phela “wayengumuntu njengathi.” (Jak. 5:17) Kodwa okudanisayo yikuthi wayesazokubona okukhulu. Phela lingakatshoni elamhlalokho wayesethithibele, esehlulukelwe esefisa lokuthi umhlaba umginye.  Kwasekutheni? UJehova wamsiza njani umphrofethi wakhe ukuthi aphinde abe lesibindi kanye lokholo? Ake sibone.

5. Ngemva kwesimangaliso saseNtabeni iKhameli, u-Ahabi wayesemhlonipha yini uJehova? Chaza.

⁵ Lapho u-Ahabi efika esigodlweni sakhe, akwenzayo kwatshengisa yini ukuthi wayeseguqukile? IBhayibhili lithi: “U-Ahabi wasetshela uJezebeli ngakho konke okwakwenziwe ngu-Elija kanye lokuthi wababulala njani abaphrofethi ngenkemba.” (1 AmaKho. 19:1) Uyananzelela yini ukuthi u-Ahabi kazange ayithi vu eyokuthi izimanga zazenziwe nguJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Elija? Kuyakhanya ukuthi indoda le yayingamnaki uNkulunkulu ngoba yathi konke lokho ‘kwakwenziwe ngu-Elija.’ Kuyazicacela ukuthi yayilokhu ingamhloniphi uJehova uNkulunkulu. Manje uJezebeli wayezayiyekela yini idlule indaba le?

6. UJezebeli wathumela u-Elija umbiko othini, njalo wayesitshoni?

⁶ UJezebeli wazonda wadla amalahle! Yikho-ke wathumela u-Elija umbiko othi: “Onkulunkulu kabangihlanekele ngokwengezelelweyo nxa ngingakubulalanga kuze kube kusasa, njengoba usubulele abaphrofethi.” (1 AmaKho. 19:2) UJezebeli wayefunga ukuthi zazizaphapha zimsuthi u-Elija ngenxa yokuthi wayebulele abaphrofethi bakaBhali. Wayesithi kungangcono kufe yena kulokuthi u-Elija alibone elakusasa. Akumcabange u-Elija evuka kokuyindlu ayecatshise kukho ikhanda ngalobobusuku. Ubona angathi wezwa njani lapho isithunywa sendlovukazi simtshela umbiko owesabeka kangaka?

7. U-Elija wezwa njani etshelwa ukuthi uJezebeli wayefuna ukumbulala, njalo wenzani?

⁷ Mhlawumbe u-Elija wayezitshela ukuthi impi yakhe labantu abakhonza uBhali yayisiphelile, kodwa wasuka wananzelela ukuthi wayekhe phansi. UJezebeli wayelokhu ezimisele ukulwa. Phela wayevele esebulele abaphrofethi beqiniso abanengi. Yikho u-Elija wakubona ukuthi laye wayesezabalandela. Wezwa njani etshelwa ukuthi uJezebeli umfuna phansi phezulu? IBhayibhili lithi: ‘Wesaba.’ Engxenye u-Elija wayesenakana ngokuthi wayezabulawa njani. Nxa kuyikuthi waqhubeka ecabanga ngesihluku ababezamenza sona, akumangalisi ukuthi isibindi sakhe saphela du. Esikwaziyo yikuthi “wasuka wabaleka” ukuze angaficwa yikufa lokhu okwasekumzulela.—1 AmaKho. 18:4; 19:3.

8. (a) Uhlupho lukaPhetro lwaluhambelana njani loluka-Elija? (b) Singafundani kuPhetro lo-Elija?

⁸ U-Elija kayisuye yedwa umuntu owayelokholo owake wakhulelwa yikwesaba. Kwathi sekwedlule iminyaka eminengi, umphostoli uPhetro laye wakhulelwa yikwesaba. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uJesu emvumela ukuthi amhlangabeze ehamba phezu kwamanzi,  umphostoli lo wathi ‘esebona umoya’ waqalisa ukwesaba. Lwamtshaya lwamvavatha uvalo, nango eqala ukucwila! (Bala uMathewu 14:30.) Kulesifundo esiqakathekileyo esisithola ku-Elija loPhetro. Sifunda ukuthi nxa sifuna ukuhlala silesibindi akumelanga silale singalele sinakana ngezinto ezimbi ezingasehlela. Kumele sihlale sizikhumbuza ukuthi uJehova nguye osipha amandla kanye lethemba.

9. Lwalunjani uhambo luka-Elija, futhi wayesizwa njani ngesikhathi ebaleka?

⁹ Uvalo selumtshaye lwameqa, u-Elija wahamba amakhilomitha angaba ngu-150 ebalekela edolobheni okwakuthiwa yiBherishebha, elaliseduze lomngcele wakoJuda owawuseningizimu. Wafika lapho watshiya inceku yakhe, wasetsholobela eyedwa engena enkangala. IBhayibhili lithi wahamba “okwelanga elilodwa.” Akumbone ngelihlo lengqondo esuka ekuseni edanile engathwalanga lutho. Nango ephaphatheka umhedehede usumphethe, edabula endaweni elugwadule ngapha lelanga lingatshisi nje lidobha ubunyonyo! Kuthi selibantubahle ukudinwa kumkhulele, afike azilahle ngaphansi kwesihlahla, okuyiyo yodwa indawo ayengaphumula kuyo enkangala leyo.—1 AmaKho. 19:4.

10, 11. (a) Umthandazo ka-Elija wawusitshoni? (b) Sebenzisa imibhalo esendimeni ukuze uchaze ukuthi ezinye izinceku ezithembekileyo zazizwa njani.

¹⁰ U-Elija wakhuleka ecela ukuthi ahle azifele aphumule. Wathi: “Angingcono kulabokhokho.” Wayekwazi ukuthi okhokho bakhe ababesemalibeni basebeluthuli lamathambo nje njalo babengeke basize muntu. (UmTshu. 9:10) U-Elija laye wayezibona eyinto engelancedo nje. Wayezibuza ukuthi wayesaphilelani. Yikho waze wakhala esithi: “Kwanele.”

¹¹ Kumele kusimangalise yini ukuthi indoda eyayilokholo oluqinileyo yayingadana ize iphelelwe lithemba kangaka? Hatshi. Banengi abantu abathembekileyo esifunda ngabo eBhayibhilini abahlulukelwa baze bafisa ukufa. Abanye babo nguRabheka, uJakhobe, uMosi kanye loJobe.—Gen. 25:22, NW; 37:35; Nani. 11:13-15; Jobe. 14:13.

12. Ungamlingisela njani u-Elija nxa usudane waze waphelelwa lithemba?

¹² Khathesi siphila ‘ezikhathini ezinzima’ yikho abantu abanengi okugoqela lezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekileyo bedana kwezinye izikhathi. (2 Tim. 3:1) Nxa lawe ungazithola usuphakathi kwelitshe lembokodo, lingisela u-Elija. Mtshele uNkulunkulu ukuthi uzwa njani. Phela uJehova ‘nguNkulunkulu wenduduzo yonke.’ (Bala u-2 Khorinte 1:3, 4.) Wamduduza yini u-Elija?

13, 14. (a) UJehova wayisebenzisa njani ingilosi ukuze atshengise ukuthi wayemthanda umphrofethi wakhe owayephakathi kosizi? (b) Kungani kududuza ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyakwazi konke okumayelana lawe kanye lezinto ongeke wenelise ukuzenza?

¹³ Ucabanga ukuthi uJehova wezwa njani ekhonale ezulwini ebona umphrofethi wakhe ayemthanda elele ngaphansi kwesihlahla ebubula esithi kungangcono azifele? IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi u-Elija uthe esabubhuqa ubuthongo uJehova wathuma ingilosi yakhe. Ingilosi le yamthinta, yamvusa kuhlekuhle yathi: “Vuka udle.” Lakanye u-Elija wavuka wathatha iqebelengwana elalisatshisa kanye lamanzi okunatha ayewaphiwe. Wayibonga yini ingilosi le? IBhayibhili kalisitsheli, kodwa lithi wadla, wanatha waphinda walala. Wayemdambiyana yini okokuthi wayesesehluleka lokukhuluma? Kasikwazi, kodwa esikutshelwayo yikuthi ingilosi yaphinda yamvusa, mhlawumbe sekusemathathakusa. Yakhuluma laye okwesibili yathi: “Vuka udle.” Yamtshela lamazwi la aqakathekileyo yathi: “Uhambo lude luzakukhulela.”—1 AmaKho. 19:5-7.

¹⁴ Ingilosi yayikwazi kuhle ukuthi u-Elija wayesiyangaphi ngenxa yenhlakanipho eyayiyiphiwe nguNkulunkulu. Yayikwazi lokuthi wayengeke aluphutshe ngamandla akhe uhambo lolu olwalulude kangaka. Siyabona-ke ukuthi uNkulunkulu esimkhonzayo nguye ozazi ngcono kulathi izifiso zethu kanye lalokho esingeke sikwenelise. Lokhu kuyasiduduza kakhulu. (Bala iHubo 103:13, 14.) Pho ukudla akuphiwayo kwamsiza ngani u-Elija?

15, 16. (a) Ukudla akuphiwa nguJehova kwamsiza ngani u-Elija? (b) Kungani kumele sikuqakathekise lokho uJehova asenzela khona ukuze siqhubeke simkhonza?

¹⁵ IBhayibhili lithi: “Wavuka, wadla njalo wehlisa ngamanzi. Eseqiniswe yilokhokudla wahamba izinsuku ezingamatshumi amane lobusuku obungamatshumi amane waze wayafika eHorebi intaba kaNkulunkulu.” (1 AmaKho. 19:8) U-Elija wazila ukudla okwezinsuku ezingu-40 lobusuku obungu-40. Lokhu kwakuke kwenziwa nguMosi eminyakeni engaba ngu-600 eyayisidlulile njalo uJesu laye wakwenza ngemva kweminyaka ephose ibe ngu-1 000. (Eks. 34:28; Luk. 4:1, 2) Ukudla akudlayo akuqedanga izindubo zakhe kodwa kwamsiza ukuthi abhensele ubunzima ngendlela eyisimanga. Akuyicabange indoda le ekhulileyo ikhasabula enkangala imihla lamalanga kungelandlela eyilandelayo, kudlule amaviki, inyanga iphele kuze kuchaphele kweyesibili.

¹⁶ Lakhathesi uJehova uyazincedisa izinceku zakhe, kodwa kaziniki ukudla ngendlela eyisimanga. Uzinika okunye okuligugu okuzisiza ukuthi zibe lobuhlobo obuhle laye. (Mat. 4:4) Ukufunda ngoNkulunkulu eLizwini lakhe lasemabhukwini akhuluma ngokuseBhayibhilini kunjengokudla ukudla okusiqinisayo ngoba kusisiza ukuthi siqhubeke simkhonza. Lokhu kakusoze kuziqede zonke izindubo zethu kodwa  kuzasinceda ukuthi siqhubeke sibhensela ubunzima obungakhanya buphezu kwamandla ethu. Kanti njalo kuzasisiza lokuthi sithole “ukuphila okungapheliyo.”—Joh. 17:3.

17. U-Elija waqonda ngaphi, njalo kuyini okwakuke kwenzakala endaweni le?

¹⁷ U-Elija waqanqabula amakhilomitha aphose abe ngu-320 waze wayafika eNtabeni iHorebi. Wafika wahlala ebhalwini. ENtabeni iHorebi kwakuke kwenzakala izinto eziqakatheke kakhulu. UJehova uNkulunkulu wayeke wakhuluma loMosi esihlahleni esasibhebha esebenzisa ingilosi njalo kulapho enza khona isivumelwano soMthetho labako-Israyeli.

18, 19. (a) Ingilosi kaJehova yambuza wuphi umbuzo u-Elija, njalo yena waphendula wathini? (b) Emazwini ka-Elija sithola ziphi izinto ezintathu ezabangela ukuthi ahlulukelwe?

¹⁸ Entabeni iHorebi u-Elija wezwa “ilizwi” lisithi: “Kanti wenzani khonapha, Elija?” Kumele ukuthi umbuzo lo wabuzwa yingilosi eyayithunywe nguJehova. Mhlawumbe yabuza ngelizwi elipholileyo ngoba u-Elija wahle wakhululeka ukutsho konke okwakusenhliziyweni yakhe. Wathi: “Bengikutshisekela kakhulu, wena Jehova, Nkulunkulu wamabandla, ngoba abantu bako-Israyeli basephule isivumelwano sakho, badiliza ama-alithare akho, babulala abaphrofethi bakho ngenkemba; yimi ngedwa esengisele, kodwa bayangizingela badinga ukungibulala.” (1 AmaKho. 19:9, 10) Lapha sithola izinto ezingaba zintathu ezabangela ukuthi u-Elija ahlulukelwe.

¹⁹ Okokuqala, u-Elija wayebona angathi wayesebenzele idonki efileyo. Wayeseleminyaka ‘etshisekela’ ukukhonza uJehova, eqakathekisa ibizo lakhe elingcwele kanye lenkonzo yakhe ukwedlula loba yini. Kodwa izinto zazikhanya zisonakala zisiya phambili. Abantu babelokhu bengelakholo njalo behlamukela uJehova, ngapha ukukhonza kwamanga kulokhu kumemetheka. Okwesibili, u-Elija wayebona kungelamuntu omsekelayo, waze wathi: “Yimi ngedwa esengisele.” Kuye kwakungathi esizweni sonke nguye yedwa zwi owayelokhu ekhonza uJehova. Okwesithathu, wayesesaba. Abanye abaphrofethi basebebulewe, yikho laye wayesekubona ukufa kumnyenyela. U-Elija kazange azikhukhumeze kumbe abe lenhloni zokutshela uJehova ukuthi wayezizwa njani lanxa kwakungabe kunzima ukwenza njalo. Wathandaza wamtshela konke okwakusenhliziyweni yakhe. Lathi kumele simlingisele ngoba indlela ibuzwa kwabaphambili.—Hubo. 62:8.

20, 21. (a) U-Elija wabonani emi entubeni yobhalu eNtabeni iHorebi? (b) Lokhu uJehova akwenzayo ukuze atshengise ukuthi ulamandla kwamsiza ngani u-Elija?

²⁰ UJehova wamncedisa njani u-Elija ukuthi abe lesibindi njalo angakhathazeki? Ingilosi yatshela u-Elija ukuthi ame entubeni yobhalu.  Laye wavuma engazi ukuthi kukhulu okwakusiza. Kwaqubuka umoya owawuvunguza ngamandla. Kumele ukuthi wawulomdumo ovimba indlebe njengoba wawudabula izintaba uqhekeza lamadwala. Mcabange u-Elija ezama ukuvikela amehlo akhe ngapha egagadlele isambatho sakhe soboya sesiphetshulwa yisivunguzane. Umhlaba lawo waqalisa ukuzamazama kwanyikinyeka yonke into isiyale lale, u-Elija wadiyazela ezama ukuqhubeka emile. Wathi esathi ngikubonile kwaqhamuka umlilo omkhulu, wabaleka ebuyela ebhalwini ukuze angahangulwa ngamalangabi esabekayo.—1 AmaKho. 19:11, 12.

²¹ Kwakhanya ukuthi imvelo ilamandla amangalisayo kodwa iBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi uJehova wayengekho phakathi kwakho konke lokhu. U-Elija wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova wayengayisuye nkulunkulu wemvelo ongaqedakaliyo njengoBhali owayedunyiswa yizikhonzi zakhe zisithi ugada amayezi, zisitsho ukuthi nguye oletha izulu. Wonke amandla amangalisayo akhona ezintweni ezidaliweyo avela kuJehova kodwa yena mkhulu khatshana kulazo. Phela mkhulu kulezulu eliphakemeyo ngokwalo. (1 AmaKho. 8:27) Manje konke lokhu akubonayo kwamsiza ngani u-Elija? Khumbula ukuthi wayesesaba. Yikho-ke nxa wayesekelwa nguJehova uNkulunkulu olamandla amakhulukazi, u-Ahabi loJezebeli babeyini kambe ukuthi atshone ebesaba?—Bala iHubo 118:6.

22. (a) ‘Ilizwi elipholileyo elalinyenyeza’ lamnceda njani u-Elija ukuthi abone ukuthi wayeqakathekile? (b) ‘Ilizwi elipholileyo elalinyenyeza’ lalingabe livela kubani? (Khangela amabala angaphansi.)

²² Umlilo wathi usucitshile kwathula cwaka, u-Elija wesesizwa “ilizwi elipholileyo linyenyeza.” Lambuza umbuzo owenza ukuthi aphinde akhulume konke okwakumkhathaza. * Engxenye ukukhuluma okwakumkhathaza kwenza ukuthi azwe angathi wethulwe umthwalo osindayo. Akuthandabuzwa-ke ukuthi lokho ‘ilizwi elipholileyo elalinyenyeza’ elamtshela khona kwamduduza kakhulu. UJehova wamsiza u-Elija ukuthi angathandabuzi ukuthi wayeyinceku yakhe eqakathekileyo. Njani? Wamtshengisa ukuthi wayezimisele ukususa bonke ababekhonza uBhali ko-Israyeli. Kwacaca ukuthi u-Elija wayengasebenzelanga mahala ngoba lokho uNkulunkulu ayekuhlosile kwakuzaphumelela  loba sekutheni. UJehova waphinda wamnika omunye umsebenzi, futhi lokhu kwakusitsho ukuthi wayefuna ukuqhubeka emsebenzisa umphrofethi lo.—1 AmaKho. 19:12-17.

23. Yiziphi izinto ezimbili uJehova azenzayo ukuze ancede umphrofethi wakhe owayesezibona esele yedwa?

²³ Khumbula ukuthi u-Elija wayesezibona esele yedwa qekele. Manje uJehova wamsiza njani? Okokuqala, watshela u-Elija ukuthi ayegcoba u-Elisha owayezathatha isikhundla sakhe sokuba ngumphrofethi. Ijaha leli lalizasebenza lo-Elija futhi libe ngumsizi wakhe okweminyaka eminengi. Kumele ukuthi kwamduduza sibili u-Elija ukuba lomuntu ayezasebenza laye. Okwesibili, uJehova wamtshela izindaba lezi ezimnandi: “Ngizaphephisa abako-Israyeli abazinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa abangazange bakhothamele uBhali njalo abandebe zabo azizange zimange.” (1 AmaKho. 19:18) Babesesekhona ababethembekile njengo-Elija. Kumele ukuthi kwamthokozisa ukuzwa ukuthi kwakulabantu abanengi ababengazange bathatheke ngokukhonza uBhali. Yikho-ke ngesikhathi leso esasinzima u-Elija kwakumele aqhubeke esenza inkonzo yakhe ukuze bafunde kuye ukuthi babengahlala njani beqotho kuJehova. Pho u-Elija wezwa njani lapho isithunywa sikaJehova sikhuluma ‘ngelizwi elipholileyo elalinyenyeza’? Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi akuzwayo kwamthinta kwamancane.

24, 25. (a) Lamuhla singalilalela njani “ilizwi elipholileyo linyenyeza”? (b) Sikwazi njani ukuthi u-Elija kazange aqhubeke ehlulukelwe uJehova esemduduzile?

²⁴ Lathi singamangala kakhulu njengo-Elija nxa sibona ukuthi izinto ezidaliweyo zilamandla angakanani. Zisitshengisa ukuthi uMdali ulamandla esabekayo. (Rom. 1:20) Lalamuhla uJehova uyakuthanda ukusebenzisa amandla akhe ukuze ancedise izinceku zakhe ezithembekileyo. (2 ImiLan. 16:9) Kodwa sifunda okunengi ngaye eLizwini lakhe iBhayibhili. (Bala u-Isaya 30:21.) Ngamanye amazwi, nxa singavumela ukuthi iBhayibhili lisiqondise lingaba ‘njengelizwi elipholileyo elinyenyezayo.’ Ngesikhathi silibala sithola ilizwi likaJehova lisikhuza, lisikhuthaza njalo lisinceda ukuthi singathandabuzi ukuthi uyasithanda.

²⁵ UJehova wathi esemduduzile u-Elija eNtabeni iHorebi, kazange aqhubeke ehlulukelwe. Kodwa wahle wabuyela emsebenzini wakhe eselesibindi ayelaso ekuqaliseni ngesikhathi elwisana lokukhonza kwamanga. Nxa lathi singawalalela ngenhliziyo yonke amazwi kaNkulunkulu njalo sivume ukududuzwa loba ‘ukukhuthazwa yiMibhalo,’ sizakwenelisa ukumlingisela u-Elija.—Rom. 15:4.