1, 2. (a) Ndiilili penzi ndibakali kuswaana bantu bakapona muchiindi cha-Elija? (b) Elija wakakazigwa biyeni kuChilundu chaKkarimeli?

 ELIJA ulikulangisisya bantu kabali kuyuminwa kutanta Chilundu chaKkarimeli. Nikuba kuti kwakachili kusiya-siya kuseeni, bantu bakali kuboneka kuti penzi lyakubula chakulya azimwi zintu ziyandikana lyakali kubakataazya. Kwakali kwaba aaminyaka iitatu ahafu kakuli nzala.

² Bantu bakali kutanta chilundu bakali kuswaanizya bapolofita baBbaala bali 450, bakali kulisumpula akumuzonda loko Elija, mupolofita waJehova. Namalelo Jezebbeli wakali wajaya bakombi baJehova biingi loko. Pesi Elija wakachili kukazyania abukombi bwaBbaala. Nikuba oobo, wakali kuzoobukazya kwachiindi chilamfu biyeni? Kulakonzeka kuti bapayizi baBbaala bakali kuyeeya kuti Elija takoozwidilila pe kubakazya nkaambo wakali aalikke pesi bo bakali biingi. (1 Bam. 18:4, 19, 20) Mwaami Ahabbu anguwe wakasika, kagede aangolo yabwaami. Pesi anguwe wakali kumuzonda Elija.

3, 4. (a) Nkamboonzi Elija naakayoowede buzuba buyandikana nibwakasika? (b) Tulalanga-langaanzi muchiiyo eechi?

³ Zyakali kuyoochitika mubuzuba oobu taakali kuzoofwa waziluba pe mupolofita waLeza wakali alikke. Elija wakali kulangisisya chiindi bantu kabalikuza kuChilundu chaKkarimeli, kazi kuti mubuzuba oobu bantu balaziba kuti ngwani ulaamanguzu, nguLeza na naakuti mbantu bachita zibi. Wakamvwa biyeni chiindi nikwakali kuyabucha? Wakali kuyoowa, nkaambo wakali ‘muntu ulimvwa mbuli mbutulimvwa aswebo.’ (Bala Jakkobo 5:17.) Tulazimvwisisisya eezi nkaambo wakazyungulukidwe aabantu bakatalikwe lusyomo, mwaami wakali siluleyo alubo bapayizi bakali bajayi. Zili aantanganana kuti Elija wakali kulimvwa kali alikke.​—1 Bam. 18:22.

⁴ Niinzi chakapa kuti ma-Israyeli asike aachiimo chili boobu? Alubo lwaano oolu lutuyiisyaanzi? Atulange-lange Elija mbaakatondeezya lusyomo akuti chikozyano chakwe chitugwasya biyeni mazubaano.

5, 6. (a) Nkuukuli kukazyania kwakaliwo aakati kachisi chama-Israyeli? (b) Mwaami Ahabbu wakachitaanzi zyakanyemya Jehova?

⁵ Kwakali kwaba chiindi chilamfu Elija kalikubona bantu bakulimbabo kabalikusiya chintu chiyandikana loko, bukombi bwakasimpe.  Kwaminyaka myiingi, ma-Israyeli bakali basiya bukombi bwakasimpe akutalisya kukomba baleza bakubeja bakali kukombwa aazisi zyakabazyungulukide. Muchiindi nchaakapona Elija, bukombi bwakubeja bwakali bwavulisya loko.

⁶ Mwaami Ahabbu wakamunyemya loko Jehova. Wakakwata Jezebbeli, mwana waMwaami wakuSidoni. Jezebbeli wakali kuyanda kuti ma-Israyeli boonse basiye kukomba Jehova, akuti bakombe Bbaala. Alakwe Ahabbu wakazitobelezya eezi. Wakayakila Bbaala tempele achipayililo alubo wakali kunembo mukukomba leza ooyu wakubeja.​—1 Bam. 16:30-33.

7. (a) Nkamboonzi bukombi bwaBbaala nibwakali bubi loko? (b) Nkamboonzi nitwaamba kuti Bbayibbili taakwe nilikazyania pe atala akuti nzala yakachitika muchiindi cha-Elija yakatola chiindi chilamfu biyeni? (Langa  kabbokesi.)

⁷ Nkamboonzi bukombi bwaBbaala nibwakali bubi loko? Bwakali kweena ma-Israyeli kuti baleke kukomba Leza wakasimpe. Bwakali kupa kuti bantu bachite zintu zisesemya azitondeezya lunya, ziswaanizya baalumi abanakazi bakali kuchita bwaamu kutempele, mapobwe akoonana, alubo bakali kupayizya bana. Jehova wakatuma Elija kuli Ahabbu kuti akaambilizye atala anzala yakali kuyoochitika kusika mupolofita waJehova akaambe kuti ilamana. (1 Bam. 17:1) Kwaminyaka myiingi Elija taakwe naakali kubonana pe a-Ahabbu. Bakazoobonana chiindi naakamubuzya kuti abuzye bantu abapolofita baBbaala kuti bakaswaanane kuChilundu chaKkarimeli. a

8. Lwaano luli atala akukomba Bbaala lutuyiisyaanzi mazubaano?

⁸ Kukazyania kwakachitika muchiindi chama-Israyeli kutugwasya biyeni mazubaano? Bamwi bantu bayeeya kuti lwaano lwaBbaala taluchibeleki pe mazubaano, nkaambo takuchikwe matempele azipayililo zyaBbaala pe. Pesi lwaano oolu lutuyiisya zyiingi loko. (Rom. 15:4) Bbala lyakuti “Bbaala” lyaamba kuti “munaacho” naakuti “simalelo.” Jehova wakabuzya bakombi bakwe kuti basale nguwe kuti abe “Bbaala” wabo naakuti mulumi wabo. (Is. 54:5) Ulikuzibona na kuti bantu biingi mazubaano bali kusala zintu zisiyene-siyene kuti zibe basimalelo babo kutali Leza Singuzuzyoonse. Bamwi basala mali, mulimu, zyakulikondelezya, koonana, naakuti baleza basiyene-siyene kuti babe basimalelo babo kutali Jehova. (Mt. 6:24; bala Baroma 6:16.) Zintu zyiingi zyakali kuchitwa mubukombi bwaBbaala mpuzichili mazubaano. Nkinkaako, kuyeeyesesya atala akukazyania nkubakachita ma-Israyeli kuti bakombe Jehova na naakuti Bbaala kulakonzya kutugwasya kuti tusale kabotu.

9. (a) Nkamboonzi Chilundu chaKkarimeli nichakali kugwasya kuti ubone mbubwakali bubi bukombi bwaBbaala. (Langa makani aamunsi.) (b) Elija wakababuzya kutyeni bantu?

⁹ Kuti kuli aajulu aaChilundu chaKkarimeli wakali kukonzya kubona mumpata waKkishoni wakali munsi alubo wakali aafwiifwi aLwizi Lupati (Mediterranean Sea). Alubo kuti walanga kumusanza wakali kukonzya kubona zilundu zyaLebbanoni zyakali kule loko. b Pesi kuti zuba lyatalisya kubala wakali kukonzya kubona kuti nyika eeyi yakali yapambanika. Nyika yakali mbotu loko Jehova njaakapede bana ba-Abbrahamu yakali yayuma akaambo kakupya kwazuba kwakachitika akaambo kakutaswiilila kwabakombi baLeza. Chiindi bantu nibakabungene, Elija wakabasikila akubabuzya kuti: “Ino muladooneka kusikila lili? Ikuti Jehova  kali Leza mwini-mwini, amumutobele we; pele ikuti naa ngu Baala, amutobele nguwe.”​—1 Bam. 18:21.

10. Nkamboonzi Elija naakabuzya bantu bamuchiindi chakwe kuti “muladoneka kusikila lili”?, alubo nkaakali kasimpe kayandikana loko nkibakali baluba?

¹⁰ Elija wakali kwaambaanzi chiindi naakaamba kuti: “Ino muladoneka kusikila lili”? Ma-Israyeli teebakali kuzibona pe kuti bakeelede kusala kuti ngwani ngubakeelede kukomba aakati kaJehova aBbaala. Bakali kuyeeya kuti balakonzya kunookomba boonse, kabanoopila kuli Bbaala kwiinda mukuchita mapobwe aakwe akukumbila lugwasyo kuli Jehova. Amwi bakali kuyeeya kuti Bbaala unoobalongezya kuti bajane zilyo zyiingi akuti lubono lwabo luvule alubo “Jehova wamakamu” kanoobakwabilila kunkondo. (1 Sam. 17:45) Bakali baluba kasimpe kayandikana loko nkibatazi pe bantu biingi nikuba mazubaano. Jehova tayandi pe kuti bukombi bwakasimpe buswaanizigwe abukombi bwakubeja. Uyanda kuti bantu bakombe nguwe alikke. Kufumbwa bukombi buswaanizidwe abukombi bwakubeja, tabutambuli pe alubo ulabuzonda!​—Bala Kulonga 20:5.

11. Majwi a-Elija ngakaamba kuChilundu chaKkarimeli atugwasya biyeni kuti tulilange-lange atala abukombi bwesu azintu nzitubikka mubusena bwakusaanguna?

¹¹ Ma-Israyeli bakali kuzumbuuzya mbuli mwaalumi ulikweezya kweenda munzila zibili aachiindi chimwi. Bantu biingi mazubaano balikuchita mbuli ma-Israyeli kwiinda mukuzumizya zintu zisiyene-siyene kuti zibe baBbaala babo akuleka kukomba Jehova. Zyakaambwa a-Elija zilakonzya kutugwasya kuti tulilange-lange akubona kuti niinzi nzitubikka mubusena bwakusaanguna akuti bukombi bwesu buli biyeni.

12, 13. (a) Ndiilili sunko Elija ndyaakachita? (b) Nga tulatondeezya biyeni kuti tulamusyoma Jehova mbuli mbaakachita Elija?

¹² Elija wakachita limwi sunko lyakali kuyootondeezya aantanganana kuti ngwani leza wakasimpe. Wakabuzya bapayizi baBbaala kuti babambe chipayililo mpawo babikke chipayizyo aalinchicho; kuzwa waawo bakombe kuli Bbaala kuti abeetele mulilo uwumpe chipayizyo. Elija wakali kuyoochita mbubo alakwe, wakaamba kuti: “Leza uutiivwiile kwiinda mukutuma mulilo, ooyo ngo Leza mwini-mwini.” Elija wakalizi kuti ngwani Leza wakasimpe. Wakali aalusyomo lusimide zyakuti wakabawubisizya bapolofita baBbaala. Wakabazumizya kuti basaangune bo. Nkinkaako, bakasaanguna kusala ng’ombe njibakali kuyanda kupayizya mpawo bakasaanguna kukomba kuli Bbaala. c​—1 Bam. 18:24, 25.

 ¹³ Mazubaano, Leza tachichiti zigambyo pe. Nikuba oobo, Jehova tanachincha pe alubo tulakonzya kumusyoma mbuli mbaakali kumusyoma Elija. Muchikozyano, kuti bamwi bantu bakazyania azyaambwa aaBbayibbili tatweelede kuyoowa pe kubazumizya kuti baambe maboneno aabo. Mbuli Elija, tweelede kulangilila Leza kuti abambulule zintu. Tulakonzya kuchita oobo kwiinda mukutalisyoma pesi tusyome Jwi lyakwe nkaambo ndilyo lyakabambilwa “kululamika zintu.”​—2 Tim. 3:16.

14. Elija wakabafubaazya biyeni bapolofita baBbaala, alubo nkamboonzi?

¹⁴ Bapolofita baBbaala bakiinkilila kunembo akubamba chipayizyo chabo mpawo bakasaanguna kukomba kuli leza wabo. Bakakwiila kabaamba kuti: “O Bbaala, kotwiingula!” Bakakomba kwachiindi chilamfu, pesi Bbayibbili lyaamba kuti: “Kwakanyina jwi alimwi kunyina wakali kwiingula pe.” Nilyakaba sikati, Elija wakasaanguna kubafubaazya kaamba kuti: ‘Amukwiilisisye aamwi Bbaala ulijisikini zyakuti takonzyi pe kusandula, amwi waya musokwe naakuti ulikoona uyanda muntu utamubusye.’ Zilaantanganana kuti Elija wakali kukubona kuti kukomba Bbaala nkulimanina chiindi alubo wakali kuyanda kuti bakombi baLeza babone kuti kukomba Bbaala takugwasyi pe.​—1 Bam. 18:26, 27.

15. Zyakachitika kubapayizi baBbaala zitugwasya biyeni kubona kuti kukomba bamwi baleza kutali Jehova takugwasyi pe?

¹⁵ Nibakamvwa oobu bapayizi baBbaala bakabaanga bapenga, bakatalika “koongololesya akulitendaula amapanga amasumo kweelana acilengwa cabo kusikila bulowa bweenda.” Pesi taakwe nchizyakagwasya pe! Nkaambo “kwakanyina jwi alimwi kwakanyina wakali kwiingula; kunyina wakali kubikkila maano pe.” (1 Bam. 18:28, 29) Nisimpe, Bbaala taakaliwo pe. Yakali nzila Saatani njaakali kubelesya kweena bakombi baJehova. Zili aantanganana kuti kusala kukomba chimwi chintu kutali Jehova, takugwasyi pe.​—Bala Intembauzyo 25:3; 115:4-8.

16. (a) Kubambulula chipayililo chaJehova kuChilundu chaKkarimeli nkwaakachita Elija kweelede kuti kwakabayeezyaanzi bantu? (b) Elija wakatondeezya biyeni kuti wakali kumusyoma Leza?

¹⁶ Nilyakaba goko chakasika chiindi chakuti Elija anguwe ape chipayizyo chakwe. Wakabambulula chipayililo chaJehova chakali chadilisigwa, kuyeeyelwa kuti abasinkondonyina babukombi bwakasimpe. Elija wakabelesya mabwe aali 12, kuyeeyelwa kuti wakali kuyanda kuyeezya  misyobo yama-Israyeli iili 10 kuti Mulawo wakapegwa kumisyobo yama-Israyeli iili 12 wakachili kubeleka kulimbabo. Mpawo wakabikka chipayizyo chakwe. Kuzwa waawo, wakachitila maanzi, kuyeeyelwa kuti akali kujanika kulwizi lupati lwakali aafwiifwi. Alubo, wakalayilila kuti kusyiigwe mugelo wakali kuzyunguluka chipayililo. Mpawo wakababuzya kuti batile maanzi mumugelo ooyo. Nikuba kuti Elija wakawubisizya bapolofita baBbaala, wakamuyumisizya Jehova nkaambo wakali kumusyoma amoyo woonse.​—1 Bam. 18:30-35.

17. Munkombyo yakwe, Elija wakatondeezya biyeni kuti niinzi nzyaakali kubikka mubusena bwakusaanguna, alubo ngatulachitobelezya biyeni chikozyano chakwe chiindi nitukomba?

¹⁷ Chiindi Elija naakamaninsya kubamba chipayililo wakakomba nkombyo mfwiifwi loko kuli Jehova. Nkombyo yakwe yakatondeezya zintu nzyaakali kubikka mubusena bwakusaanguna. Chakusaanguna, wakali kuyanda kutondeezya bantu kuti Jehova nguwe wakali “Leza mu Israyeli” kutali Bbaala pe. Chabili, wakali kuyanda kuti bantu bazibe kuti we wakali mubelesi waJehova kupela, nkinkaako, bulemu boonse bwakeelede kwiinka kuli Leza. Chamamanino, wakatondeezya kuti wakali aandaba aabantu, nkaambo wakali kulangilila kubona Jehova kali “kuboozya myoyo” yabo kuli nguwe. (1 Bam. 18:36, 37) Nikuba kuti kutaba aalusyomo kwabantu kwakali kwapa kuti banjile mumapenzi, Elija wakachili kubayanda bantu. Chiindi nitukomba, tweelede kutondeezya kuti tulalibombya kwiinda mukulibikkila maanu zina lyaLeza akubeetelela bamwi bayanda lugwasyo.

18, 19. (a) Jehova wakayisandula biyeni nkombyo ya-Elija? (b) Elija wakabalayilila kuti bachiteenzi bantu, alubo nkamboonzi bapayizi baBbaala nibakateelede kufwidwa luzyalo?

¹⁸ Kulakonzeka kuti Elija katanakomba, bantu bakali kulibuzya kuti Jehova alakwe ulakachilwa na kusandula mbuli mbaachita Bbaala. Pesi, Elija naakamaninsya kukomba, bantu teebakachili kuzumbuuzya pe. Bbayibbili lyaamba kuti: “Mpoonya mulilo wa Jehova wakaboola akucuumpa cakumaninina cituuzyo cuumpwa, antoomwe ankuni, mabwe, bulongo alimwi wakayuminizya maanzi aakali mumugelo.” (1 Bam. 18:38) Eeyi yakali nsandulo iigambya kaka! Pesi bantu bakachita biyeni?

¹⁹ Bantu bakakwiila akwaamba kuti: “Jehova ngo Leza mwini-mwini! Jehova ngo Leza mwini-mwini!” (1 Bam. 18:39) Kumamanino, bantu bakali bakaziba kasimpe, pesi teebakatondeezya pe kuti bakali aalusyomo. Zili aantanganana kuti kuzumina kuti Jehova nguLeza wakasimpe  nibakabona kuti wakasandula nkombyo ya-Elija teechakali chitondeezyo chakuti bakali aalusyomo pe. Nkinkaako, Elija wakabakumbila kuti bachite zintu zyiingi. Wakabakumbila kuti bachite chintu nchibakeelede kuchita kuzwa chiindi, chaamba kutobela Milawu yaJehova. Uumwi Mulawu ngubakeelede kutobela ngwakuti, bapolofita bakubeja abantu bakomba bamwi baleza beelede kujayigwa. (Dt. 13:5-9) Bapayizi baBbaala bakali baba basinkondonyina baJehova Leza alubo bakali kukazyania amakanze aakwe. Bakeelede kufwidwa luzyalo na? Peepe! Nkaambo bo teebakali kubafwida luzyalo pe bana mbibakali kupayizya kuli Bbaala kabali bawumbulu. (Bala Tusimpi 21:13; Jer. 19:5) Baalumi aaba teebakachili kweelela pe kufwidwa luzyalo! Nkinkaako, Elija wakalayilila kuti bajayigwe mpawo bakajayigwa.​—1 Bam. 18:40.

20. Nkamboonzi kusola nkubachita basikukazya atala akuti Elija wakajeya bapolofita baBbaala nikutali kabotu?

²⁰ Bamwi mazubaano balakonzya kusola zyakachitwa a-Elija muChilundu chaKkarimeli kwiinda mukujeya bakombi baBbaala. Bamwi balikukataazikana kabayeeya kuti bantu baziyandisya loko zyabukombi balakonzya kupenzya bamwi bantu bakazyania aamaboneno aabo muli zyabukombi. Chiwusisya nchakuti bantu bali boobo balizwide mazubaano pesi Elija teembaakabede pe. Wakatumidwe aJehova kuti akajaye bapolofita baBbaala. Kuyungizya waawo, maKkristu bakasimpe tabajayi bamwi kababelesya mapanga mbuli mbaakachita Elija. Pesi, batobelezya zyakaambwa aJesu, kapati majwi ngaakabuzya Petro aakuti: “Bweedezya panga lyako aandawu yalyo, nkaambo muntu woonse uubelesya panga, uzoojayigwa aapanga.” (Mt. 26:52) Jehova uzoobelesya Jesu kuti abambulule zintu muchiindi chili kunembo.

21. Nkamboonzi chikozyano cha-Elija nichikonzya kugwasya maKkristu mazubaano?

²¹ MaKkristu bakasimpe beelede kutondeezya kuti bali aalusyomo munzila njibaponaayo. (Joh. 3:16) Imwi nzila njibakonzya kuchita oobo nkutobelezya bantu bakali aalusyomo mbuli Elija. Elija wakali kusyoma Jehova Leza wakasimpe kupela alubo wakasungwaazya bamwi kuti bachite mbuli nguwe. Wakayubununa nzila yakubeja Saatani njaakali kubeenaayo bakombi baJehova. Alubo, wakasyoma Jehova kuti abambulule zintu, kutali maanu aakwe pe. Elija wakayiminina bukombi bwakasimpe. Toonse atutobelezye lusyomo lwa-Elija!