1, 2. Kwenzekani ngosuku olwaba ingqophamlando ekuphileni kuka-Eliya?

U-ELIYA wayegijima emvuleni sekuqala nokuhwalala. Wayesahlalelwe uhambo olude ngaphambi kokuba afike eJizreyeli, neminyaka yayisihambile. Kodwa wayelokhu egijima engaphumuli ngoba “isandla sikaJehova” sasiphezu kwakhe. Ekuphileni kwakhe konke, wayengakaze abe namandla angaka. Phela, wayesanda kwedlula amahhashi ayedonsa inqola yasebukhosini eyayineNkosi u-Ahabi!—Funda eyoku-1 amaKhosi 18:46.

² Lwaluselude ukhalo. Mbone ngeso lengqondo u-Eliya njengoba egijima, emanzi te ebusweni yimvula, ecabanga ngezigigaba zangalolo suku. Ngokungangabazeki kwakuwukunqoba okumangalisayo kuNkulunkulu ka-Eliya, uJehova, nasekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. Wayesehambe ibanga elide, futhi ngenxa yefu elimnyama elalibangelwe isiphepho, wayengasakwazi nokubona amagquma eNtaba iKarmeli, lapho uJehova amsebenzisa khona ukuba enze isimangaliso esinamandla esadalula ukukhulekelwa kukaBhali. Amakhulu abaprofethi bakaBhali badalulwa njengabagcwele inkohlakalo futhi babulawa. U-Eliya wabe esethandaza kuJehova ecela ukuba kuphele isomiso esase sihluphe iminyaka emithathu nesigamu ezweni. Nangempela imvula yana!—1 AmaKh. 18:18-45.

3, 4. (a) Kungani amathemba ka-Eliya ayengase aphakame njengoba ayelibangise eJizreyeli? (b) Imiphi imibuzo esizoyicabangela?

³ Njengoba kwakukhala ubuxhaphaxhapha u-Eliya egijima amakhilomitha angu-30 elibangise eJizreyeli, kungenzeka amathemba akhe ayesephakeme. Kungenzeka wayebona sengathi ekugcineni izimo zase zizoshintsha. U-Ahabi kwakuzodingeka ashintshe! Ngemva kokuzibonela okwenzeka, kwase kumelwe nakanjani ayeke ukukhulekela uBhali; anqande uJezebeli indlovukazi yakhe; aqede nokushushiswa kwezinceku zikaJehova.

⁴ Lapho kubonakala sengathi izinto zisihambela kahle, kungokwemvelo ukuba amathemba aphakame. Singase sibe nomuzwa wokuthi izinto ziyolokhu zisihambela kahle, mhlawumbe size sicabange nokuthi izinkinga ezinkulu esinazo seziphelile. Uma u-Eliya ayecabanga kanjalo, ngeke simangale ngoba “wayengumuntu onemizwa efana neyethu.” (Jak. 5:17) Empeleni izinkinga zakhe zazingakapheli. Eqinisweni,  ngemva nje kwesikhashana u-Eliya wayezogcwala ukwesaba acindezeleke kangangokuthi wayezofisa nokufa. Kwenzekani, futhi uJehova wamsiza kanjani umprofethi wakhe ukuba avuselele ukholo nesibindi? Ake sizwe.

5. Ngemva kwezehlakalo zaseNtabeni iKarmeli, ingabe u-Ahabi wayesefundile ukuhlonipha uJehova, futhi sazi kanjani?

⁵ Lapho u-Ahabi efika esigodlweni sakhe eJizreyeli, ingabe kukhona okwakubonisa ukuthi usephendukile? Siyafunda: “U-Ahabi watshela uJezebeli konke u-Eliya ayekwenzile nakho konke ngokuphathelene nendlela ayebulele ngayo bonke abaprofethi ngenkemba.” (1 AmaKh. 19:1) Phawula ukuthi ukulandisa kuka-Ahabi ngokwenzeka ngalolo suku akumphathi uNkulunkulu ka-Eliya, uJehova. Njengoba ayengumuntu ongokwenyama, u-Ahabi wabheka lezo zimangaliso ngamehlo enyama—lokho “u-Eliya ayekwenzile.” Ngokusobala wayengakafundi ukuhlonipha uJehova uNkulunkulu. Wasabela kanjani umkakhe owayegcwele impindiselo?

6. Imuphi umyalezo uJezebeli awuthumela ku-Eliya, futhi wawusho ukuthini?

⁶ Wayethukuthele egane unwabu uJezebeli! Engqangqa, wathumela lo myalezo ku-Eliya: “Kwangathi bangenza kanjalo nonkulunkulu, futhi kwangathi bangenezela kanjalo kukho, uma kungukuthi ngalesi sikhathi kusasa angiyukwenza umphefumulo wakho ube njengomphefumulo walowo nalowo kubo!” (1 AmaKh. 19:2) Lokhu kwakuwukumsongela ngokufa okubi kakhulu. Eqinisweni uJezebeli wayefunga ukuthi kwakungamane kufe yena kunokuba lishone elangakusasa u-Eliya esaphila ukuze aphindiselele abaprofethi bakhe bakaBhali. Mbone ngeso lengqondo u-Eliya evuswa ezilalele kuleyo ndlwana ephansi eJizreyeli ngalobo busuku obabunesiphepho—evuselwa ukuzwa amazwi ahlabayo ayelethwe isithunywa sendlovukazi. Wathinteka kanjani?

7. Zaba namuphi umthelela izinsongo zikaJezebeli ku-Eliya, futhi yini eyenziwa yilo mprofethi?

⁷ Ngalowo mzuzu ashabalala wonke amathemba u-Eliya ake aba nawo okuthi yayisinqotshiwe impi yokulwa nokukhulekelwa kukaBhali. UJezebeli wayengakavumi ukugoba uphondo. Baningi abaprofethi ababesebenzisana no-Eliya abase bebulewe njengokuyala kwale ndlovukazi, futhi manje kwakubukeka sengathi uyena owayesezolandela. Waba yini umphumela wezinsongo zikaJezebeli ku-Eliya? IBhayibheli liyasitshela: “Wafikelwa ukwesaba.” Ingabe u-Eliya wazibona esebulawa ngendlela enonya njengesifiso sikaJezebeli? Uma ahlala kuleyo micabango, akumangazi ukuthi waqala ukungenwa amanzi emadolweni. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi wenzani, u-Eliya “wasuka wahamba ngenxa yomphefumulo wakhe”—wabaleka ukuze asindise ukuphila kwakhe.—1 AmaKh. 18:4; 19:3.

8. (a) Inkinga kaPetru yayifana kanjani neka-Eliya? (b) Isiphi isifundo esingasifunda ku-Eliya noPetru?

 ⁸ U-Eliya wayengekuphela kwendoda yokholo eyanqotshwa ukwesaba. Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi, nomphostoli uPetru waba nenkinga efanayo. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uJesu evumela uPetru ukuba ahambe naye emanzini, lo mphostoli waqala ‘ukubheka isivunguvungu.’ Wabe esenqotshwa ukwesaba waqala ukucwila. (Funda uMathewu 14:30.) Ngakho izibonelo zika-Eliya noPetru zisifundisa isifundo esibalulekile. Uma sifuna ukulondoloza isibindi, akumelwe sivumele izingqondo zethu zigxile ezintweni ezisesabisayo. Kudingeka sigxilise ukunaka kwethu eMthonjeni wethemba namandla ethu.

9. Chaza uhambo luka-Eliya nesimo sakhe sengqondo ngesikhathi ebaleka.

⁹ Ngenxa yokwesaba, u-Eliya wabalekela eningizimu-ntshonalanga endaweni eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-150 waya eBheri-sheba, umuzi oseduze komngcele wakwaJuda oseningizimu. Washiya khona isikhonzi sakhe, yena waya endaweni eyihlane yedwa. Ukulandisa kuthi wahamba “uhambo losuku,” ngakho singambona ngeso lengqondo ephuma kanye nenhlamvu yelanga, ngokusobala engaphethe mpahla. Ecindezelekile, ekhungathekiswe ukwesaba, watotoba endaweni ehhedlezelayo ngaphansi kwelanga elishisa bhe. Njengoba ilanga lase liyozilahla kunina, u-Eliya wayesekhathele kakhulu ukuba angaqhubeka nokuhamba. Eyimvithi, wahlala ngaphansi kwesihlahla sonwele—okwakuwukuphela komthunzi kulolo gwadule.—1 AmaKh. 19:4.

10, 11. (a) Wawusho ukuthini umthandazo ka-Eliya kuJehova? (b) Usebenzisa imiBhalo ekhonjiwe, chaza imizwa yabanye abesaba uNkulunkulu abadangala.

¹⁰ Ekhungethwe ukucindezeleka, u-Eliya wathandaza. Wacela ukufa. Wathi: “Angingcono kunokhokho bami.” Wayazi ukuthi okhokho bakhe base bemathamb’ amhlophe emathuneni, kungasekho okuhle abangakwenzela umuntu. (UmSh. 9:10) U-Eliya naye wazizwa engelusizo lwalutho kanjalo. Akumangalisi ukuthi wakhala: “Kwanele!” Wayesaphilelani vele?

¹¹ Kufanele yini kusethuse ukuthi umuntu kaNkulunkulu angadangala ngale ndlela? Asikho isidingo. Ekulandiseni kweBhayibheli maningi amadoda nabesifazane bokholo abadabuka baze bafisa nokufa—phakathi kwabo uRebheka, uJakobe, uMose noJobe.—Gen. 25:22; 37:35; Num. 11:13-15; Jobe 14:13.

12. Uma uzizwa udangele kakhulu, kufanele usilingise ngaziphi izindlela isibonelo sika-Eliya?

¹² Namuhla, siphila ‘ezikhathini ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo,’ ngakho akumangazi ukuthi abantu abaningi, ngisho nezinceku  ezithembekile zikaNkulunkulu, zizithola zidangele ngezinye izikhathi. (2 Thim. 3:1) Uma nawe uzithola ukuleso simo esingesihle, lingisa isibonelo sika-Eliya: Thulula isifuba sakho kuNkulunkulu. UJehova ‘unguNkulunkulu wenduduzo yonke.’ (Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 1:3, 4.) Ingabe wamduduza u-Eliya?

13, 14. (a) Esebenzisa ingelosi, uJehova wakubonisa kanjani ukukhathalela kothando ngomprofethi wakhe owayesenkingeni? (b) Kungani kududuza ukwazi ukuthi uJehova wazi konke ngathi, kuhlanganise nokulinganiselwa kwethu?

¹³ Ucabanga ukuthi uJehova wazizwa kanjani lapho ebuka phansi esezulwini futhi ebona umprofethi wakhe othandekayo elele ehlane phansi kwesihlahla, ecela ukufa? Akudingeki siqagele. Ngemva kokuba u-Eliya ezunywe ubuthongo, uJehova wathumela ingelosi kuye. Ingelosi yafike yamvusa kamnandi, yayisithi: “Vuka, udle.” U-Eliya wavuka, ngoba ingelosi yayimlungiselele ukudla okulula—isinkwa esishisayo esasisanda kwenziwa namanzi. Ingabe wazihlupha ngokuyibonga ingelosi? Ukulandisa kusitshela kuphela ukuthi lo mprofethi wadla, waphuza waphinde walala. Ingabe wayekhathazeke kakhulu ukuba angakhuluma? Noma ngabe ikuphi, ingelosi yamvusa okwesibili, mhlawumbe entathakusa. Yaphinde yamnxusa: “Vuka, udle,” yayisinezela la mazwi aphawulekayo, “ngoba lolu hambo lungaphezu kwamandla akho.”—1 AmaKh. 19:5-7.

¹⁴ Ngenxa yokuqonda eyayikunikwe uNkulunkulu, ingelosi yayazi ukuthi u-Eliya ulibangisephi. Yayazi nokuthi lolo hambo lwalulude kakhulu ukuba u-Eliya angaluhamba ngamandla akhe. Yeka induduzo okuyiyo ukukhonza uNkulunkulu oyazi kangcono kunathi imigomo nokulinganiselwa kwethu! (Funda iHubo 103:13, 14.) Kwamsiza kanjani u-Eliya lokho kudla?

15, 16. (a) Ukudla okuvela kuJehova kwamenza wenzani u-Eliya? (b) Kungani kufanele siyazise indlela uJehova aqinisa ngayo izinceku zakhe namuhla?

¹⁵ Siyafunda: “Wavuka wadla waphuza, waqhubeka ehamba ngamandla alokho kudla izinsuku ezingamashumi amane nobusuku obungamashumi amane waze wafika entabeni kaNkulunkulu weqiniso, iHorebe.” (1 AmaKh. 19:8) NjengoMose owaphila eminyakeni engaba ngu-600 ngaphambi kwakhe, noJesu owaphila eminyakeni ebalelwa kweyinkulungwane ngemva kwakhe, u-Eliya wazila ukudla izinsuku nobusuku obungu-40. (Eks. 34:28; Luka 4:1, 2) Leso sidlo esisodwa asizishabalalisanga zonke izinkinga zakhe, kodwa samqinisa ngokuyisimangaliso. Ibone ngeso lengqondo le ndoda endala ihamba idavuza ehlane usuku nosuku, isonto nesonto, kwaze kwacishe kwaphela inyanga nesigamu!

¹⁶ Nanamuhla uJehova usaziqinisa izinceku zakhe, hhayi ngokudla okungokwenyama okuyisimangaliso, kodwa ngendlela ebaluleke nakakhulu. Uzondla ngokomoya. (Math. 4:4) Ukufunda ngoNkulunkulu eZwini lakhe nasezincwadini ezisekelwe ngokucophelela  eBhayibhelini, kuyasiqinisa ngokomoya. Ukudla lokho kudla kungase kungaziqedi zonke izinkinga zethu, kodwa kungasisiza sikhuthazelele izinto ebezingase zibonakale zingenakukhuthazeleleka. Kuholela ‘nasekuphileni okuphakade.’—Joh. 17:3.

17. Waya kuphi u-Eliya, futhi kungani yayibalulekile leyo ndawo?

¹⁷ U-Eliya wahamba amakhilomitha cishe angu-320 waze wagcina efikile eNtabeni iHorebe. Kwakuyindawo eyayibaluleke kakhulu ngoba yilapho uJehova uNkulunkulu, eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambili, asebenzisa khona ingelosi ukuze abonakale kuMose esihlahleni somunga esivuthayo futhi kulapho uJehova kamuva enza khona isivumelwano soMthetho no-Israyeli. U-Eliya wathola indawo yokufihla ikhanda emhumeni.

18, 19. (a) Isithunywa sikaJehova esingumoya sabuza muphi umbuzo, futhi wasabela kanjani u-Eliya? (b) U-Eliya wembula ziphi izizathu ezintathu zokudangala kwakhe?

¹⁸ EHorebe, “izwi” likaJehova—ngokusobala elalethwa ingelosi—labuza lo mbuzo olula: “Wenzani lapha, Eliya?” Cishe lo mbuzo wabuzwa ngendlela emnene, ngoba wenza u-Eliya waveza imizwa yakhe. Wakhipha nengonyuluka! Wathi: “Benginomhawu ngokuphelele ngoJehova uNkulunkulu wamabutho; ngoba abantwana bakwa-Israyeli basishiyile isivumelwano sakho, badilize ama-altare akho, futhi babulele abaprofethi bakho ngenkemba, kangangokuba kusele mina kuphela; futhi sebeqala ukufuna umphefumulo wami ukuze bawususe.” (1 AmaKh. 19:9, 10) Amazwi ka-Eliya embula okungenani izizathu ezintathu zokudangala kwakhe.

¹⁹ Esokuqala, u-Eliya wayenomuzwa wokuthi usebenzele ize. Ngaphezu kweminyaka yokuba “nomhawu ngokuphelele” ekukhonzeni uJehova, ebeka igama elingcwele likaNkulunkulu nokumkhulekela ngaphezu kwakho konke okunye, u-Eliya wabona sengathi izimo ziba zimbi nakakhulu. Abantu babelokhu bengenalo ukholo futhi bevukela, kuyilapho ukukhulekela kwamanga kwakudlanga. Esesibili, u-Eliya wayenomzwangedwa. Wathi: “Kusele mina kuphela,” njengokungathi kuleso sizwe wayesewukuphela komuntu owayesakhonza uJehova. Esesithathu, u-Eliya wayesaba. Abaprofethi abaningi ayesebenza nabo base bebulewe kakade, futhi wayeqiniseka ngokuthi wayezolandela. Kungenzeka kwakungelula ngo-Eliya ukuvuma ukuthi uzizwa kanjalo, kodwa akavumelanga ukuzazisa noma ukwesaba ukuphoxeka kumenze afele ngaphakathi. Ngokuthululela uNkulunkulu wakhe isifuba ngomthandazo, wabekela bonke abanokholo isibonelo esihle.—IHu. 62:8.

20, 21. (a) Chaza lokho u-Eliya akubona esemnyango womhume eNtabeni iHorebe. (b)  Ukubonakalisa kukaJehova amandla kwamfundisani u-Eliya?

²⁰ UJehova wakusingatha kanjani ukwesaba kuka-Eliya nezinto  ezazimkhathaza? Ingelosi yathi u-Eliya makame emlonyeni womhume. Walalela, engazi ukuthi kwakuzokwenzekani. Kwaqubuka isivunguvungu esinamandla! Kumelwe ukuba sasinomsindo omkhulu ngoba sasinamandla kangangokuthi sadabula izintaba saqhekeza namadwala. Mbone ngeso lengqondo u-Eliya ezama ukuvikela amehlo akhe ebe ebambe nengubo yakhe yesikhumba esindayo njengoba ipheshulwa isishingishane. Kwakumelwe azabalazele ukungawi, ngoba nomhlaba wawusuqala ukunyakaza—kwaba nokuzamazama komhlaba kuleyo ndawo! Esasanganiswe yilokho, kwaqubuka umlilo omkhulu, wamphoqa ukuba angene emhumeni ukuze angashi.—1 AmaKh. 19:11, 12.

²¹ Kukho konke lokhu, ukulandisa kusikhumbuza ukuthi uJehova wayengekho kulokho kubonakaliswa okumangalisayo kwamandla endalo. U-Eliya wayazi ukuthi uJehova akayena unkulunkulu wendalo oyinsumansumane, njengoBhali, owayebizwa abakhulekeli bakhe abakhohlisiwe ngokuthi “umgibeli wamafu,” noma oletha imvula. UJehova unguMthombo wangempela wawo wonke amandla amangalisayo asendalweni, kodwa futhi mkhulu kakhulu kunazo zonke izinto azenzile. Ngisho namazulu ngokwawo awakwazi ukumthwala! (1 AmaKh. 8:27) Kwamsiza kanjani u-Eliya konke lokhu? Khumbula ukuthi wayesaba. EnoNkulunkulu onjengoJehova ngakuye, uNkulunkulu owayenawo wonke lawo mandla amangalisayo, u-Eliya wayengenaso isizathu sokwesaba u-Ahabi noJezebeli!—Funda iHubo 118:6.

22. (a) “Izwi eliphansi elizolile” lamqinisekisa kanjani u-Eliya ngokuthi waziswa kakhulu? (b) Kungenzeka lalivela kubani “izwi eliphansi elizolile”? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)

²² Ngemva kokuba umlilo usunqamukile, kwathula kwathi cwaká, u-Eliya wezwa “izwi eliphansi elizolile.” Lalimcela ukuba aphinde aveze imizwa yakhe, naye wenza kanjalo, wazisho zonke izinto ezimkhathazayo. * Mhlawumbe lokho kwamlethela impumuzo eyengeziwe. Nokho, akungabazeki ukuthi u-Eliya wathola induduzo eyengeziwe kulokho “izwi eliphansi elizolile” elabe selimtshela khona. UJehova wamqinisekisa ngokuthi umazisa kakhulu. Kanjani? Wembula okuningi ngenjongo yakhe yesikhathi esizayo ephathelene nokulwa nokukhulekelwa kukaBhali kwa-Israyeli. Kuyacaca ukuthi umsebenzi  ka-Eliya wawungelona ize, ngoba injongo kaNkulunkulu yayisazofezeka futhi akukho okwakungayivimba. Ngaphezu kwalokho, u-Eliya wayesazosetshenziswa ekufezeni leyo njongo, ngoba uJehova wambuyisela emsebenzini wamnika neziqondiso eziqondile.—1 AmaKh. 19:12-17.

23. Iziphi izindlela ezimbili uJehova asingatha ngazo imizwa ka-Eliya yomzwangedwa?

²³ Kuthiwani ngemizwa ka-Eliya yomzwangedwa? UJehova wenza izinto ezimbili ngayo. Okokuqala, watshela u-Eliya ukuba agcobe u-Elisha njengomprofethi owayezogcina ethathe isikhundla sakhe. Le nsizwa yayizoba umngane nomsizi ka-Eliya iminyaka eminingana. Yeka induduzo! Okwesibili, uJehova wembula nazi izindaba ezijabulisayo: “Ngivumelé ukuba kusale abayizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa kwa-Israyeli, wonke amadolo angazange aguqe kuBhali, nayo yonke imilomo engazange imange.” (1 AmaKh. 19:18) U-Eliya wayengeyedwa neze. Kumelwe ukuba kwamduduza ukuzwa ngalezo zinkulungwane zabantu abathembekile abenqaba ukukhulekela uBhali. Babemdinga u-Eliya ukuba aqhubeke nenkonzo yakhe yokwethembeka, abeke isibonelo esingenakunyakaziswa sobuqotho kuJehova ngalezo zinsuku ezibucayi. Kumelwe ukuba u-Eliya wathinteka ngokujulile lapho ezwa lawo mazwi ngesithunywa sikaJehova, “izwi eliphansi elizolile” likaNkulunkulu wakhe.

24, 25. (a) Singalilalela ngamuphi umqondo “izwi eliphansi elizolile” likaJehova namuhla? (b) Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi u-Eliya wayamukela induduzo ayinikwa uJehova?

²⁴ Njengo-Eliya, singase sithuthumeliswe amandla amakhulu emvelo esiwabona endalweni, futhi kube kufanele. Indalo iwabonisa ngokucacile amandla oMdali. (Roma 1:20) UJehova usathanda ukusebenzisa amandla akhe angenamkhawulo ukuze asize izinceku zakhe ezithembekile. (2 IziKr. 16:9) Nokho, izikhathi eziningi uNkulunkulu ukhuluma nathi ngeZwi lakhe iBhayibheli. (Funda u-Isaya 30:21.) Ngandlela-thile, iBhayibheli lingaba njengalelo “zwi eliphansi elizolile” uma silivumela lisiqondise namuhla. Emakhasini alo ayigugu, uJehova uyasilungisa, asikhuthaze asiqinisekise nangothando lwakhe.

²⁵ Ingabe u-Eliya wayamukela induduzo ayinikwa uJehova eNtabeni iHorebe? Yebo! Ngokushesha wayeseprofetha futhi, esephinde waba yilowaya mprofethi onesibindi nothembekile owayemelane nobubi bokukhulekela kwamanga. Uma nathi sizindla ngamazwi aphefumulelwe kaNkulunkulu, ‘induduzo evela emiBhalweni,’ siyokwazi ukulingisa ukholo luka-Eliya.—Roma 15:4.