1, 2. Chii chakaitika pazuva risingakanganwiki muupenyu hwaEriya?

ERIYA akamhanya kuchinaya denga zvaraiwedzera kusviba. Painge pachine daro refu kuti azosvika kuJezreeri, uye akanga asisiri jaya. Zvisinei, akaramba achimhanya nekuti “ruoko rwaJehovha” rwaiva paari. Simba raaiva naro rainge rakasiyana zvikuru neraaichimbova naro munguva yakanga yapfuura. Ainge achangobva kupfuura mabhiza aikweva ngoro yeumambo maiva naMambo Ahabhi!—Verenga 1 Madzimambo 18:46.

² Iye zvino Eriya akanga ava oga uye aiva nerwendo rurefu. Fungidzira Eriya achibwaira kuti madonhwe emvura adonhe pamaziso ake zvaaimhanya, achifunga zvainge zvaitika pazuva risingakanganwiki muupenyu hwake. Hapana mubvunzo kuti Mwari waEriya, Jehovha, ainge akunda zvine mutsindo uye kunamata kwechokwadi kwainge kwabudirira. Zvaainge ava kure uye denga rakati zvii nemakore, Eriya akanga asingachaoni Gomo reKameri raiva kumashure uko Jehovha akanga amushandisa kuita chishamiso chikuru chinoratidza kuti kunamatwa kwaBhaari kwaiva kwenhema. Mazana evaprofita vaBhaari akafumurwa sevanyengeri vakaipa ndokuurayiwa zvakarurama. Eriya akabva anyengetera kuna Jehovha kuti agumise kusanaya kwemvura kwakanga kwatambudza nyika kwemakore matatu nehafu. Mvura yakaturuka!—1 Madz. 18:18-45.

3, 4. (a) Nei Eriya angangodaro aitarisira kuti zvinhu zvaizochinja sezvaaienda kuJezreeri? (b) Tichakurukura mibvunzo ipi?

³ Eriya zvaaimhanya nemumachakwi kwemakiromita 30 iwayo akananga kuJezreeri, angadaro akafunga kuti zvinhu zvakanga zvava kuzochinja. Angangodaro akafunga kuti zvinhu zvaizonyatsochinja nekuti vaprofita vaBhaari vakanga vaurayiwa. Ahabhi aizofanira kuchinja! Pashure pezvaakanga aona, chokwadi Ahabhi aitofanira kusiya kunamata Bhaari; kudzora mambokadzi wake, Jezebheri; uye kumisa kutambudzwa kwevashumiri vaJehovha.

⁴ Zvinhu pazvinoita sezviri kutifambira, zviri muropa kuti tione sekuti zvicharamba zvichiita nani. Tingafungidzira kuti zvinhu zvicharamba zvichivandudzika muupenyu hwedu, zvichida kutofunga kuti matambudziko edu aitionesa ndondo azopera. Hazvitishamisi kana Eriya akafunga saizvozvo, nekuti “akanga ari munhu aiva nemanzwiro  akafanana needu.” (Jak. 5:17) Zvisinei, chaizvoizvo matambudziko aEriya akanga asati apera. Kutaura zvazviri, mumaawa mashomanana aizotevera Eriya aizobatwa nekutya kukuru uye aizoora mwoyo zvikuru zvokuti aizoshuva kufa. Chii chakazoitika, uye Jehovha akabatsira sei muprofita wake kuti avezve nekutenda uye ushingi? Ngationei.

5. Pashure pezvakanga zvaitika paGomo reKameri, Ahabhi akanga adzidza kuremekedza Jehovha zvakawedzera here, uye tinoziva sei?

⁵ Ahabhi paakasvika kumuzinda wake muJezreeri, ane zvaakaita here zvairatidza kuti akanga achinja? Tinoverenga kuti: “Ahabhi akaudza Jezebheri zvose zvakanga zvaitwa naEriya uye zvose zvokuti akanga auraya sei vaprofita vose nebakatwa.” (1 Madz. 19:1) Cherechedza kuti Ahabhi paakarondedzera zvakanga zvaswera zvichiitika, haana kutaura nezvaMwari waEriya, Jehovha. Ahabhi akaratidza kuti aiva munhu wenyama, nekuti akafunga kuti zvishamiso zvakaitika musi wacho “zvakanga zvaitwa naEriya.” Zviri pachena kuti akanga asina kudzidza kuremekedza Jehovha Mwari. Uye mudzimai wake uyo aida zvekutsiva akaita sei?

6. Jezebheri akatumira Eriya mashoko okutii, uye airevei?

⁶ Jezebheri akashatirwa kwazvo! Afufutirwa nehasha, Jezebheri akatumira mashoko aya kuna Eriya: “Vanamwari ngavaite saizvozvo, uye ngavawedzere pazviri saizvozvo, kana mangwana panguva ino ndisingazoiti kuti mweya wako uve somweya womumwe nomumwe wavo!” (1 Madz. 19:2) Uku kwaiva kutyisidzira kwakaipisisa zvikuru kwokuti aizomuuraya. Kutaura zvazviri, Jezebheri akanga achipika kuti aifanira kufa kana aizotadza kuita kuti Eriya aurayiwe zuva raitevera racho risati rapfuura kuti atsive vaprofita vake vaBhaari. Fungidzira Eriya achimutswa ari muimba isingashamisiri yaiva muJezreeri usiku ihwohwo pakwaiva nemvura ine mhepo yakasimba—onzwa nhume yamambokadzi ichimuudza mashoko iwayo anotyisa. Eriya akanzwa sei?

7. Eriya akanzwa sei paakatyisidzirwa naJezebheri, uye akaita sei?

⁷ Kana Eriya akafunga kuti hondo yekurwisana nekunamatwa kwaBhaari yakanga yazopera, akabva aona kuti yakanga ichiripo. Jezebheri akanga asina kuchinja pasinei nezvakanga zvichangobva kuitika. Vaprofita vakawanda vakatendeka vakanga vatourayiwa sezvakanga zvarayirwa naJezebheri, uye iye zvino zvaiita sekuti Eriya ndiye akanga ava kuzotevera. Eriya akanzwa sei paakatyisidzirwa naJezebheri? Bhaibheri rinotiudza kuti: “Akatya.” Mupfungwa dzake Eriya akaona here rufu runotyisa rwaainge arongerwa naJezebheri? Kana akaramba achifunga zvakadaro, hazvishamisi kuti ndokusaka akakundikana kuva neushingi. Chero zvazvingava, Eriya “akatiza kuti aponese mweya wake”—akatiza neupenyu hwake.—1 Madz. 18:4; 19:3.

8. (a) Dambudziko raPetro rainge rakafanana papi neraEriya? (b) Tinogona kudzidzei pana Eriya naPetro?

 ⁸ Eriya akanga asiri iye ega murume aiva nekutenda akakurirwa nekutya. Pave paya, muapostora Petro akava nedambudziko rakafanana. Semuenzaniso, Jesu paakaita kuti Petro akwanise kufamba pamusoro pemvura sezvaaiita, muapostora wacho akatanga ‘kutarira dutu.’ Petro akabva ashayiwa ushingi ndokutanga kunyura. (Verenga Mateu 14:30.) Nokudaro, mienzaniso yaEriya naPetro inotidzidzisa chidzidzo chinokosha. Kana tichida kuramba tiine ushingi, hatifaniri kuita kuti pfungwa dzedu dzirambe dzichifunga nezvengozi dzinotityisa. Tinofanira kuita kuti pfungwa dzedu dzirambe dzichifunga nezvekunobva tariro yedu nesimba redu.

9. Rondedzera rwendo rwaEriya uye manzwiro aangangodaro aiita paaitiza.

⁹ Achitya, Eriya akatiza akananga kumaodzanyemba kwakadziva kumadokero anenge makiromita 150 achienda kuBheeri-shebha, taundi raiva pedyo nemuganhu weJudha wokumaodzanyemba. Akasiya mushandi wake ikoko ndokuenda kurenje ari ega. Nhoroondo yacho inoti akaenda “rwendo rwezuva rimwe chete,” saka tingafungidzira Eriya achisimuka zuva rava kubuda, zviri pachena kuti pasina chaainge akatakura. Zvaainge akaora mwoyo, Eriya akatamburira kufamba nemusango achigochwa nezuva zvichikonzerwa nekutya kwaaiita. Zuva zvarakatanga kunyura, Eriya akanga asisina simba rokuti arambe achifamba. Arukutika, akagara pasi pemuti womutsvairo—nzvimbo chete yaaigona kuvanda zuva murenje iroro.—1 Madz. 19:4.

10, 11. (a) Munyengetero waEriya kuna Jehovha wairevei? (b) Uchishandisa magwaro akaratidzwa, rondedzera manzwiro evamwe vanhu vaitya Mwari vakamboora mwoyo.

¹⁰ Eriya akanyengetera semunhu ainge anyatsopererwa. Akakumbira kufa. Akati: “Handisi nani kupfuura madzitateguru angu.” Aiziva kuti madzitateguru ake akanga angova guruvawo zvaro nemapfupa zvaiva mumakuva, ainge asisina kana chiyamuro kuna chero ani zvake. (Mup. 9:10) Eriya akanzwawo sekuti akanga asina maturo. Ndokusaka akazoti: “Zvakwana!” Nei ndichifanira kuramba ndichirarama?

¹¹ Zvinofanira kutishamisa here kuziva kuti munhu waMwari anogona kuora mwoyo zvikuru? Hazvifaniri hazvo kutishamisa. Varume nevakadzi vakatendeka vakati kuti vanotaurwa muBhaibheri vanorondedzerwa sevainzwa kusuruvara kwakanyanya zvokushuva kufa—vamwe vacho ndiRibheka, Jakobho, Mosesi, uye Jobho.—Gen. 25:22; 37:35; Num. 11:13-15; Job. 14:13.

12. Kana ukanzwa kuora mwoyo zvakanyanya, unofanira kutevedzera sei muenzaniso waEriya?

 ¹² Mazuva ano, tinorarama mu“nguva dzinonetsa dzakaoma kubata nadzo,” saka hazvishamisi kuti vanhu vakawanda, kunyange vashumiri vaMwari vakatendeka, dzimwe nguva vanoora mwoyo. (2 Tim. 3:1) Kana ukava mumamiriro ezvinhu anorwadza zvakadaro, tevedzera muenzaniso waEriya: Durura manzwiro ako kuna Mwari. Jehovha ndi“Mwari wokunyaradza kwose.” (Verenga 2 VaKorinde 1:3, 4.) Akanyaradza Eriya here?

13, 14. (a) Achishandisa ngirozi, Jehovha akaratidza sei kuti aiva nehanya nemuprofita wake aishushikana? (b) Nei zvichinyaradza kuti Jehovha anoziva zvose nezvemumwe nemumwe wedu, kusanganisira zvatisingakwanisi kuita?

¹³ Unofunga kuti Jehovha akanzwa sei zvaakatarisa ari kudenga ndokuona muprofita wake waaida akarara pasi pemuti iwoyo murenje achikumbira kuti afe? Hatifaniri hedu kuita zvekufungidzira. Eriya paakanga ava kudzipfodora, Jehovha akamutumira ngirozi. Ngirozi yacho yakabata Eriya ndokumumutsa zvinyoronyoro ichiti: “Muka udye.” Eriya akamuka akadya, nekuti ngirozi yacho yakanga yamuvigira zvokudya zvisingashamisiri—chingwa chaidziya pamwe chete nemvura. Akatombotenda ngirozi yacho here? Nhoroondo yacho inongotaura kuti muprofita wacho akadya akanwa ndokurarazve. Ainge akanyanya kuora mwoyo zvokutadza kutaura here? Chero zvazvingava, ngirozi yacho yakamumutsa kechipiri, zvichida mangwanani-ngwanani. Yakaudzazve Eriya kuti, “Muka udye,” uye yakawedzera mashoko aya anokosha, “nokuti rwendo rwacho rwakanyanya kukurebera.”—1 Madz. 19:5-7.

¹⁴ Nemhaka yenjere dzayainge yapiwa naMwari, ngirozi yacho yakaziva kwaiendwa naEriya. Yakazivawo kuti rwendo rwacho rwaizenge rwakanyanya kurebera Eriya kuti arufambe nesimba rake pachake. Zvinonyaradza zvikuru kushumira Mwari anotipfuura pakuziva zvinangwa zvedu uye zvatisingakwanisi kuita! (Verenga Pisarema 103:13, 14.) Eriya akabatsirwa sei nezvokudya izvozvo?

15, 16. (a) Zvokudya zvakabva kuna Jehovha zvakabatsira Eriya kuti aite sei? (b) Nei tichifanira kuonga nzira iyo Jehovha anotsigira nayo vashumiri vake mazuva ano?

¹⁵ Tinoverenga kuti: “Akamuka, akadya, akanwa, akaramba achienda nesimba rezvokudya izvozvo kwemazuva makumi mana nousiku makumi mana kusvikira kuHorebhi, gomo raMwari wechokwadi.” (1 Madz. 19:8) Kufanana naMosesi akararama makore anenge 600 Eriya asati aberekwa uye Jesu akazorarama makore anoda kusvika 1 000 Eriya afa, Eriya akatsanya kwemazuva 40 neusiku 40. (Eks. 34:28; Ruka 4:1, 2) Zvokudya izvozvo hazvina kubva zvapedza matambudziko ake ose, asi zvakamutsigira nenzira inoshamisa. Fungidzira murume iyeye ati kurei achitamburira kufamba murenje risina kana nzira zuva nezuva, vhiki nevhiki, kweunoda kusvika mwedzi nehafu!

 ¹⁶ Jehovha anotsigirawo vashumiri vake mazuva ano, kwete nokuvapa zvokudya nenzira inoshamisa, asi nenzira inotonyanya kukosha. Anopa vashumiri vake zvokudya zvokunamata. (Mat. 4:4) Kudzidza nezvaMwari muShoko rake uye muzvinyorwa zvakanyatsovakirwa paBhaibheri kunotitsigira mune zvokunamata. Kudya zvokudya zvokunamata zvakadaro kungasaita kuti matambudziko edu ose apere, asi kunogona kutibatsira kutsungirira zvinhu zvingaita sezvisingatsungiririki. Kunotungamirirawo ku“upenyu husingaperi.”—Joh. 17:3.

17. Eriya akaenda kupi, uye nei nzvimbo iyoyo yaikosha?

¹⁷ Eriya akafamba anoda kusvika makiromita 320 kusvikira azosvika kuGomo reHorebhi. Yakanga iri nzvimbo inokosha zvikuru, nekuti kwemakore akawanda ainge apfuura, Jehovha Mwari akazviratidza kuna Mosesi ipapo achishandisa ngirozi iri mugwenzi reminzwa raibvira moto uye ipapo Jehovha akazoita sungano yeMutemo naIsraeri. Eriya akagara mubako.

18, 19. (a) Ngirozi yaJehovha yakabvunza kuti kudii, uye Eriya akapindura sei? (b) Eriya akataura zvikonzero zvipi zvitatu zvakaita kuti aore mwoyo?

¹⁸ PaHorebhi, “shoko” raJehovha—zviri pachena kuti rakataurwa nengirozi—rakamubvunza kuti: “Eriya, uri kuitei pano?” Mubvunzo wacho ungangodaro wakabvunzwa neunyoro, nekuti Eriya akautora semukana waakanga apiwa wokuti adurure manzwiro ake. Uye akabva adurura manzwiro ake! Akati: “Ndave ndichishingairira kwazvo Jehovha Mwari wemauto; nokuti vanakomana vaIsraeri vakasiya sungano yenyu, vakaputsa atari dzenyu, vakauraya vaprofita venyu nebakatwa, zvokuti ini ndoga ndini ndasara; zvino votsvaka mweya wangu kuti vauuraye.” (1 Madz. 19:9, 10) Mashoko aEriya anoratidza zvikonzero zvitatu zvakaita kuti aore mwoyo.

¹⁹ Chekutanga, Eriya ainzwa sekuti akanga ashandira pasina. Pasinei ‘nokushingairira’ kushumira Jehovha kwemakore, achikoshesa zita dzvene raMwari nekunamatwa kwake kupfuura zvimwe zvose, Eriya akaona kuti zvinhu zvaingoita sezvakanga zvatowedzera kuipa. Vanhu vacho vakanga vachiri kuratidza kusava nekutenda uye vachiri kupandukira, ukuwo kunamata kwenhema kuchiramba kuchipararira. Chechipiri, Eriya akanzwa sekuti ndiye ega ainge asara. Akati, “Ini ndoga ndini ndasara,” sekunge kuti munyika iyoyo ndiye akanga ari wokupedzisira akanga achiri kushumira Jehovha. Chechitatu, Eriya aitya. Vamwe vaprofita vakawanda vakanga vatourayiwa, uye iye aiva nechokwadi chekuti ndiye aizotevera. Zvingadaro zvaisava nyore kuna Eriya kubvuma kuti aiva nemanzwiro iwayo, asi haana kurega kudada kana kuti kunyara kuchimutadzisa kuzvitaura. Nokudurura mwoyo wake kuna Mwari wake mumunyengetero, Eriya akaratidza muenzaniso wakanaka kuvanhu vose vakatendeka.—Pis. 62:8.

20, 21. (a) Rondedzera zvakaonekwa naEriya ari pasuo rebako paGomo reHorebhi. (b) Kuratidza kwakaita Jehovha simba kwakadzidzisa Eriya chii?

 ²⁰ Jehovha akabatsira sei Eriya pane zvaaitya uye zvaimunetsa? Ngirozi yacho yakaudza Eriya kuti amire pasuo rebako. Akateerera, asingazivi kuti chii chaida kuitika. Mhepo ine simba yakangoerekana yavhuvhuta! Inofanira kunge yaidzivira nzeve, nekuti yainge yakasimba zvikuru zvekuti yakatsemura makomo nematombo. Fungidzira Eriya achiedza kuvhara maziso ake panguva imwe chete achibata nguo yake yemvere yairema sezvo mhepo yaiita kuti nguo yacho imurove. Zvadaro aifanira kurwisa kuti arambe akamira, nekuti pasi pakatanga kuzunguzika—nharaunda yacho yakadengenyeka! Akanga achakavhiringidzika pakapfuura moto mukuru, uchiita kuti adzokere mubako kuti azvidzivirire pakupisa kwacho kwakanyanyisa.—1 Madz. 19:11, 12.

²¹ Nhoroondo yacho inotiudza kuti Jehovha akanga asiri mune chimwe nechimwe chezvinhu izvi zvinoshamisa zvinoratidza simba rezvakasikwa. Eriya aiziva kuti Jehovha akanga asiri mwari wekufungidzira saBhaari, uyo airumbidzwa se“mutasvi wemakore,” kana kuti munayisi wemvura nevanamati vake vainge vakatsauka. Kuna Jehovha ndiko chaiko kunobva simba rese rinotyisa rinowanikwa muzvinhu zvakasikwa, asi iyewo mukuru zvikuru kupfuura chero chii zvacho chaakasika. Haagoni kukwana kunyange mumatenga! (1 Madz. 8:27) Zvese izvi zvakabatsira sei Eriya? Yeuka kutya kwaaiita. Aina Mwari akaita saJehovha parutivi pake, Mwari aiva nesimba rakakura zvakadaro, Eriya akanga asina chokutya kubva kuna Ahabhi naJezebheri!—Verenga Pisarema 118:6.

22. (a) “Inzwi rakanga rakadzikama, raiva pasi pasi” rakaita sei kuti Eriya ave nechokwadi chekuti akanga asiri munhu asina maturo? (b) “Inzwi rakanga rakadzikama, raiva pasi pasi” ringangodaro rakabva kuna ani? (Ona mashoko omuzasi.)

²² Pashure pekunge moto waenda, pakabva pati zii uye Eriya akanzwa “inzwi rakanga rakadzikama, raiva pasi pasi.” Rakaita kuti Eriya ataurezve manzwiro ake, uye akabva ataura, achidurura zvaimunetsa kechipiri. * Zvichida izvozvo zvakawedzera kumuzorodza. Zvisinei, hapana mubvunzo kuti Eriya akatowedzera kunyaradzwa nezvaakazoudzwa ne“inzwi rakanga rakadzikama, raiva pasi pasi.” Jehovha akaita kuti Eriya ave nechokwadi chekuti akanga asiri munhu asina maturo. Akazviita  sei? Mwari akazivisa zvakawanda nezvechinangwa chake chemunguva yemberi chaiva nechokuita nokurwisa kunamatwa kwaBhaari muIsraeri. Zviri pachena kuti Eriya akanga ashandira zviripo, nekuti chinangwa chaMwari chakanga chichifambira mberi pasina chinochimisa. Uyezve, Jehovha aizoramba achishandisa Eriya semuprofita, nekuti akamutuma kuti adzokere kunoshanda achiita zvaakanga arayirwa.—1 Madz. 19:12-17.

23. Jehovha akabatsira Eriya munzira dzipi mbiri paainzwa kusurukirwa?

²³ Zvakadini nekunzwa kusurukirwa kwaiita Eriya? Jehovha ane zvinhu zviviri zvaakaita. Chokutanga, akaudza Eriya kuti azodze Erisha semuprofita aizomutsiva. Murume uyu wechiduku aizoshanda pamwe chete naEriya ari mubatsiri wake kwemakore akati kuti. Izvozvo zvakamunyaradza zvechokwadi! Chechipiri, Jehovha akataura mashoko aya anofadza anoti: “Ndasiya zviuru zvinomwe pakati paIsraeri, mabvi ose asina kupfugamira Bhaari, nemiromo yose isina kumutsvoda.” (1 Madz. 19:18) Eriya akanga asiri ega. Zvinofanira kunge zvakamunyevenutsa mwoyo kunzwa nezvezviuru izvozvo zvevanhu vakatendeka vakaramba kushumira Bhaari. Vaida kuti Eriya arambe achishumira akatendeka, kuti aratidze muenzaniso wokuvimbika kwakasimba kuna Jehovha munguva idzodzo dzainge dzakaoma chaizvo. Eriya anofanira kunge akabayiwa mwoyo zvikuru kunzwa mashoko iwayo kuburikidza nengirozi yaJehovha, “inzwi rakanga rakadzikama, raiva pasi pasi” raMwari wake.

24, 25. (a) Mazuva ano tingateerera ‘inzwi raJehovha rakadzikama, riri pasi pasi’ munzira ipi? (b) Nei tingava nechokwadi chekuti Eriya akabvuma kunyaradzwa kwaakaitwa naJehovha?

²⁴ Kufanana naEriya, tingangoomeswa mate mukanwa nesimba rakakura rinooneka muzvinhu zvakasikwa, uye ndizvo zvatinofanira kuita. Zvinhu zvakasikwa zvinoratidza zvakajeka simba reMusiki. (VaR. 1:20) Jehovha achiri kuda kushandisa simba rake risina parinogumira kuti abatsire vashumiri vake vakatendeka. (2 Mak. 16:9) Zvisinei, Mwari anotaura nesu zvizere achishandisa Shoko rake, Bhaibheri. (Verenga Isaya 30:21.) Nekumwe kutaura, Bhaibheri rinogona kuita se“inzwi [riya] rakanga rakadzikama, raiva pasi pasi,” kana tikaita kuti rititungamirire mazuva ano. Mumapeji aro anokosha, Jehovha anotiruramisa, anotikurudzira, uye anotiratidza rudo rwake.

²⁵ Eriya akabvuma here kunyaradzwa kwaakaitwa naJehovha paGomo reHorebhi? Hongu! Pasina nguva, akanga ava kushumirazve Mwari noushingi uye kunyevera vanhu kuti vasiyane nekunamata vanamwari venhema. Kana isuwo tikafungisisa mashoko akafuridzirwa aMwari, “kunyaradza kunobva muMagwaro,” tichakwanisa kutevedzera kutenda kwaEriya.—VaR. 15:4.