1, 2. Kwenzekani ngelanga eliqakatheke khulu ekuphileni kwaka-Elija?

 U-ELIJA wagijima ezulwini njengombana isibhakabhaka siba nzima. Bekasese nekhambo elide ngaphambi kobana afike eJizreyeli, begodu besele akhulile. Nokho, waragela phambili agijima, ngombana “isandla sakaJehova” besinaye. Bekanamandla amanye angakhenge akhe abe nawo ekuphileni kwakhe. Wagijima watjhiya iimpera ebezidosa ikoloyana yebukhosini yeKosi u-Ahabi!—Funda 1 AmaKhosi 18:46.

² Kwanje uqalene nekhambo elide. Akhe ucabange ngo-Elija apanyapanya amehlo ukususa amathosi wezulu njengombana agijima, acabanga emva ngelanga eliqakatheke khulu ekuphileni kwakhe. Ngokunganakuzaza, bekukuthumba okukhulu ngoZimu ka-Elija, uJehova, nangokukhulekela kweqiniso. Emva le, bekangasakghoni ukubona iNtaba iKarmeli ngebanga lamawuruwuru nokobana besele akude khulu nayo, lapho uJehova amsebenzisa khona bona enze ikarisomraro ukutjengisa bona ukukhulekela uBhali kumamala. Amakhulu wabaporofidi bakaBhali avezwa epepeneneni njengabakhulekeli bamala begodu abafanelwe kubulawa. Bese u-Elija wathandaza kuJehova bona isomiso esathinta inarha iminyaka emithathu nesiquntu siphele. Izulu lana!—1 AmaKhosi 18:18-45.

3, 4. (a) Kubayini amathemba ka-Elija akhula njengombana aya eJizreyeli? (b) Ngimiphi imibuzo esizoyicabangela?

³ Njengombana u-Elija aphahlazela emanzini amakhilomitha ama-30 la ukuya eJizreyeli, kungenzeka bona amathembakhe akhula. Kuye bekubonakala kwanga ekugcineni izinto sele zizokugaya ngomunye umhlathi. U-Ahabi nakanjani bekazokutjhuguluka! Ngemva kwalokho akubonako, kwamambala bekanganakho ukuzikhethela kodwana bekufuze alise ukukhulekela uBhali; alisise nendlovukazakhe, uJezebheli; alise nokutlhorisa iinceku zakaJehova.

⁴ Izinto nezibonakala zisikhambela kuhle, ngokwemvelo amathembethu ayakhula. Singacabanga bona izinto ezinengi ekuphileni kwethu zizokuthuthuka, mhlamunye besicabange bona imirarwethu iphelile. Nengabe u-Elija wacabanga njalo, lokho akusirari, ngombana “bekamumuntu ofana nathi.” (Jak. 5:17) Nokho, eqinisweni,  u-Elija bekazokuragela phambili anemiraro eminengi. Eqinisweni, kungakapheli nama-awara amangaki u-Elija bekazokuthukwa khulu, umoyakhe ube phasi kangangobana akhanuke nokufa. Kwenzekani, begodu uJehova wamsiza njani umporofidakhe bona avuselele ikholo lakhe nesibindi? Akhe sibone.

5. U-Ahabi wafunda ukuhlonipha uJehova ngokungeziweko na ngemva kwesenzakalo seNtabeni iKarmeli, begodu sazi njani?

⁵ U-Ahabi nekafika esigodlweni sakhe eJizreyeli, watjhuguluka na? Siyafunda: “U-Ahabi watjela uJezebheli koke u-Elija akwenzileko nokuthi ubabulele njani boke abaporofidi ngesabula.” (1 Kho. 19:1) Tjheja bona u-Ahabi nekalandisa ngokwenzeka mhlokho akhenge akhulume litho ngoZimu ka-Elija uJehova. Indoda engokwenyama, u-Ahabi wabona iinkarisomraro zamhlokho ngelihlo elingokwenyama kwaphela—wabona lokho “okwenziwa ngu-Elija.” Ngokukhanyako, akhenge afunde ukuhlonipha uJehova uZimu. Umkakhe onamavunda lo yena wasabela njani?

6. Ngiwuphi umlayezo uJezebheli awuthumela u-Elija, begodu bewutjho ukuthini?

⁶ UJezebheli wasilingeka khulu! Akwate adlhabhaza wathumela umlayezo naku ku-Elija: “Kwanga bangenza njalo nabozimu, begodu kwanga bangangezelela njalo kikho, nengabe ngesikhathesi kusasa angekhe ngenze umphefumulo wakho ube njengomphefumulo waloyo naloyo kibo!” (1 Kho. 19:2) Lokhu kusongela okumbi khulu okwakhe kwenziwa. Eqinisweni, uJezebheli bekafunga bona dumba kufe yena nengabe u-Elija akabulawa mhlokho bona abuyiselele abaporofidi bakaBhali. Akhe ucabange u-Elija avuswa ebuthongweni endlwaneni ebekalele kiyo eJizreyeli ngobusuku bamawuruwurwobo—bona ezwe isithunywa sendlovukazi sikhuluma amezwi abuhlungu layo. Wathinteka njani?

7. Ngiwuphi umphumela ukuthusela kwakaJezebheli okwaba nawo ku-Elija, begodu wenzani?

⁷ Nengabe u-Elija bekacabanga bona ipi yokukhulekela uBhali iphelile, msinyana wabona bonyana ubethe phasi. UJezebheli bekangakatjhuguluki. Abanengi babaporofidi abathembekileko besele babulewe ngokuvumelana nesinqophiso sakhe, begodu kwanje, kubonakala kwanga kuzokulandela yena. Ngiwuphi umphumela ukuthusela kwakaJezebheli okwaba nawo ku-Elija? IBhayibhili iyasitjela: “Wathukwa.” Kghani u-Elija wacabanga ngokufa okuneswili uJezebheli egade amrerele khona? Nengabe wahlala emcabangweni onjalo, akusirari bona waphelelwa mamandla. Kinanyana ngikuphi, u-Elija “wasuka wakhamba ngebanga lomphefumulwakhe”—wabaleka.—1 Kho. 18:4; 19:3.

8. (a) Umraro kaPitrosi bewufana njani newaka-Elija? (b) Ngiziphi iimfundo esingazifunda ku-Elija noPitrosi?

 ⁸ U-Elija bekungasi kuphela kwendoda yekholo eyakhe yangenwa mamanzi emadolweni. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, umphostoli uPitrosi waba nomraro ofanako. Isibonelo, uJesu nekathi uPitrosi akhambe Naye phezu kwamanzi, umpostoli lo wathoma ‘wabona umoya obukhali.’ Waphelelwa lithemba wathoma ukutjhingela. (Funda uMatewu 14:30.) Ngalokho isibonelo saka-Elija noPitrosi sisifundisa isifundo esiqakathekileko. Nengabe sifuna ukuhlala sinesibindi, akukafuzi sivumele iingqondo zethu zihlale eentweni ezisithusako. Sitlhoga ukudzimelela emThonjeni wethemba lethu namandla.

9. Hlathulula ikhambo laka-Elija nendlela ebekazizwa ngayo njengombana abaleka.

⁹ Ngebanga lokusaba, u-Elija wabalekela esewulatjhingalanga amakhilomitha ali-150 waya eBeritjheba, idorobho eliseduze nomkhawulo osesewula yakwaJuda. Lapho watjhiya isikhonzi sakhe emva waya emangweni yedwa. Umbiko uthi “ikhambo lelanga,” ngalokho singamcabanga athoma ikhambo lakhe neliveza ihloko, ngokukhanyako angakaphathi litho. Agandelelekile, agcwele ukusaba, wakhamba wahlahlatha emangweni likhipha unokghadanyana ngemgodini. Njengombana ilanga elitjhisakwelo seliyokutjhinga, u-Elija waphelelwa mamandla. Adinwe afile, wahlala ngaphasi komthana—okukuphela komthunzana egade angawufumana emangweni loyo.—1 Kho. 19:4.

10, 11. (a) Bewutjho ukuthini umthandazo ka-Elija kuJehova? (b) Usebenzisa imitlolo edzubhuliweko, hlathulula amazizo wezinye iinceku zakaZimu ezakhe zadana.

¹⁰ U-Elija wathandaza atshwenyeke khulu. Wabawa ukufa. Wathi: “Angikho ngcono kunabokhokho bami.” Bekazi bona abokhokho bakhe bebalithuli kwaphela, bangasenasizo. (Mtj. 9:10) U-Elija wazizwa angasililitho. Akusirari ukulila kwakhe athi: “Kwanele!” Kubayini kufanele ngiragele phambili ngiphila?

¹¹ Kufuze kusirare na bona indoda yekholo le ingadana kangaka? Awa akukafuzi kusirare. Inengi lamadoda nabafazi abathembekileko emlandweni weBhayibhili bahlathululwa badane khulu kangangobana bafuna nokufa—hlangana nabo sinoRibeka, uJakobho, uMosisi noJobhi.—Gen. 25:22; 37:35; Num. 11:13-15; Job. 14:13.

12. Nengabe uzifumana umoyakho uphasi khulu, kufuze usilingise njani isibonelo saka-Elija?

¹² Namhlanje, siphila “eenkhathini ezibudisi khulu,” ngalokho  akurari bona abantu abanengi, ngitjho neenceku zakaZimu ezithembekileko, zizifumana zidane khulu ngezinye iinkhathi. (2 Thi. 3:1) Newuzifumana usebujamweni obunjalo, landela isibonelo saka-Elija: Thululela isifuba sakho kuJehova. Ngaphezu kwakho koke uJehova “nguZimu okuvela kuye yoke indunduzo.” (Funda 2 Korinte 1:3, 4.) Wamduduza na u-Elija?

13, 14. (a) Ngengilozakhe, uJehova wakutjengisa njani ukukhathalela kwethando ngomporofidakhe otshwenyekileko? (b) Kubayini kududuza ukwazi bona uJehova wazi koke ngathi, kuhlanganise nokulinganisela kwethu?

¹³ Ucabanga bona uJehova wazizwa njani nekaqala phasi asezulwini abona umporofidakhe othandekako alele ngaphasi komuthi emangweni athandazela ukufa? Akukafuzi siraye. Ngemva kobana u-Elija alele pu, uJehova wathumela ingilozi kuye. Ingilozi le yasikinya u-Elija ngesineke yathi: “Vuka, goma.” U-Elija wenza njalo, ngombana ingilozi le yamnikela ukudla okulula—uburotho obutjhisako namanzi amatjha. Wayithokoza na ingilozi? Umbiko umane uthi umporofidi wadla wasela wayokulala godu. Kghani bekadane khulu bona angakhumbula ukuthokoza? Kinanyana ngikuphi, ingilozi yamvusa kwesibili mhlamunye nekusako. Godu, yabawa u-Elija, “Vuka, goma” begodu yangezelela ngamezwi aqakathekileko naka, “ngombana ikhambo lingaphezu kwamandlako.”—1 Kho. 19:5-7.

¹⁴ Siyakuthokoza ukuhlakanipha kwakaZimu, ingilozi beyazi bona u-Elija uyaphi. Godu beyazi bona ikhambweli belizokuba budisi ku-Elija bona alikhambe ngamandlakhe. Qala bona kududuza kangangani ukukhonza uZimu owazi iminqophwethu nokulinganisela kwethu ngaphezu kwendlela esizazi ngayo! (Funda IRhalani 103:13, 14.) U-Elija wazuza njani ekudlenokho?

15, 16. (a) Ukudla okuvela kuJehova kwenza u-Elija wakwazi ukwenzani? (b) Kubayini kufuze sithokoze indlela uJehova aqinisa ngayo iinceku zakhe namhlanje?

¹⁵ Siyafunda: “Wavuka wadla, begodu waragela phambili akhamba ngamandla awathole ekudlenokho amalanga amatjhumi amane nobusuku obumatjhumi amane bewafika entabeni kaZimu wamambala eHorebhe.” (1 Kho. 19:8) NjengoMosisi owaphila emakhulwini weminyaka asithandathu ngaphambi kwakhe noJesu owaphila pheze eminyakeni emakhulu alitjhumi ngemva kwakhe, u-Elija wazila ukudla amalanga ama-40 nobusuku obuma-40. (Eks. 34:28; Luka 4:1, 2) Ukudla okukodokho akhenge kususe yoke imirarwakhe, kodwana kwamqinisa ngendlela esimanga. Cabanga ngekhehlelo lihlahlatha emangweni ilanga nelanga, iveke neveke, pheze inyanga nesiquntu!

¹⁶ UJehova uyaziqinisa iinceku zakhe nanamhlanje, ingasi ngokudla okungokwenyama okusimanga, kodwana ngendlela eqakatheke khulu. Uzondla ngokomoya. (Mat. 4:4) Ukufunda ngoZimu  eliZwini lakhe neencwadini ezisekelwe eBhayibhilini kuyasiqinisa ngokomoya. Ukudla ukudla okungokomoya okunjalo kungenzeka kungayisusi yoke imiraro yethu, kodwana kungasisiza sikghodlhelelele into ebengekhe sikwazi ukuyikghodlhelelela. Godu kusirholela ‘ekuphileni okungapheliko.’—Jwa. 17:3.

17. Wayaphi u-Elija, begodu kubayini indawo leyo iqakathekile?

¹⁷ U-Elija wakhamba pheze amakhilomitha ama-320 bewafika eNtabeni iHorebhe. Bekuyindawo enomlando oqakathekileko, ngombana lapho uJehova uZimu ngengilozi iminyaka eminengi ngaphambili wavela kuMosisi emthini ovuthako begodu lapho kulapho ngokukhamba kwesikhathi uJehova enza khona isivumelwano somThetho nama-Israyeli. U-Elija wafumana umthunzi erharheni.

18, 19. (a) Isithunywa sakaJehova esingokomoya sabuza muphi umbuzo, begodu u-Elija wasabela njani? (b) Ngimaphi amabanga amathathu u-Elija athi ambangela ukudana?

¹⁸ EHorebhe, “ilizwi lakaJehova”—ngokukhanyako elathulwa sithunywa esingokomoya—laphakamisa umbuzo olula naku: “Wenzani la Elija?” Umbuzo lo kungenzeka wabuzwa ngesineke, ngombana u-Elija wawuqala njengesimemo sokuthulula amazizwakhe. Wawathulula-ke! Wathi: “Nginomona wamambala ngoJehova uZimu wamabutho; ngombana amadodana ka-Israyeli asitjhiyile isivumelwano sakho, babhuruze ama-aldare wakho, begodu babulele abaporofidi bakho ngesabula, kangangabona sekusele mina ngedwa; begodu bathome ukufuna umphefumulo wami bona bawususe.” (1 Kho. 19:9, 10) Amezwi ka-Elija aveza okunganani amabanga amathathu wokudana kwakhe.

¹⁹ Kokuthoma, u-Elija wazizwa kwanga usebenzele ilize. Naphezu kweminyaka yokuba ‘nomona kwamambala’ ekukhonzeni uJehova, ukubeka ibizo lakaZimu elicwengileko ngaphezu kwakho koke, u-Elija wabona ubujamo kwanga buyarhagala. Abantu bebasolo banganakholo begodu bavukela, kungilapho ukukhulekela kwamala kwanda. Kwesibili, u-Elija wazizwa atjhiywe yedwana. Wathi, ‘kusele mina ngedwa,’ kwanga bekuyindoda yokugcina esitjhabeni esakhonza uJehova. Kwesithathu, u-Elija bekasaba. Abaporofidi abanengi ebebanaye besele babulewe, begodu bekazi bona kulandela yena. Bekungasilula ngo-Elija bona amukele indlela ebekazizwa ngayo, kodwana akhenge avumele ukuzikhukhumeza namtjhana iinhloni zimvimbele ukuthulula isifuba sakhe kuZimu. Ngokuthululela isifuba sakhe kuZimu ngomthandazo, wabekela boke abantu abathembekileko isibonelo esihle.—Rha. 62:8.

20, 21. (a) Hlathulula okwabonwa ngu-Elija nekasemnyango werharha eNtabeni iHorebhe. (b) Ukubonisa kwakaJehova amandla kwamfundisani u-Elija?

²⁰ UJehova wakuqeda njani ukusaba nokutshwenyeka kwaka-Elija?  Ingilozi yatjela u-Elija bona ajame emnyango werharha. Walalela, angazi bona kuzokwenzekani. Msinyana kwaba nomoya omkhulu! Kungenzeka bona kwaba netjhada elikhulu, bewunamandla kangangobana waphadlhula iintaba nemibundu phakathi. Cabanga ngo-Elija alinga ukuvikela amehlwakhe kungilapho akakarele isambatho sakhe soboya esibudisi nesinganamikghabiso eminengi njengombana umoya usiphembethela kuye. Bekubudisi ukudzimelela, ngombana iphasi ngokwalo lathoma ukusikinyeka—kwaba nokusikinyeka kwephasi endaweni leyo! Kungakabiphi, kwadlula umlilo omkhulu, owamenza wabuyela erharheni bona azivikele ekurhabukeni.—1 Kho. 19:11, 12.

²¹ Kiwo woke amahlandla la, umlando usikhumbuza bona uJehova bekangekho ekubonakalisweni kwamandla wemvelo amakhulu la. U-Elija bekazi bona uJehova bekangasuye uzimu wendalo weentolwaneni njengoBhali, obekaqalwa bakhulekeli bakhe ‘njengokhwele amafu’ namtjhana onisa izulu. UJehova mThombo wamambala wawo woke amandla amakhulu afumaneka endalweni, kodwana mkhulu khulu kunanyana yini ayibumbileko. Ngitjho namazulu angekhe akwazi ukumthwala! (1 Kho. 8:27) Koke lokhu kwamsiza njani u-Elija? Khumbula ukusaba kwakhe. AnoZimu ofana noJehova, uZimu onawo woke amandla amakhulu layo, u-Elija bekanganayo into okufuze ayisabe ku-Ahabi noJezebheli!—Funda IRhalani 118:6.

22. (a) ‘Ilizwi elipholileko neliphasi’ lamqinisekisa njani u-Elija bona uqakathekile? (b) Kungenzeka bekungubani umthombo ‘welizwi eliphasi nelipholileko?’ (Qala umtlolo waphasi.)

²² Ngemva kobana umlilo ucime, kwathula du begodu u-Elija wezwa “ilizwi elipholileko neliphasi.” Lathi u-Elija aveze amazizwakhe godu, wenza njalo, wathulula isifuba sakhe kwesibili. a Mhlamunye lokho kwamlethela ukutjhaphuluka okungeziweko. Nokho, ngokunganakuzaza, u-Elija wafumana induduzo ekulu kilokho ‘ilizwi elipholileko neliphasi’ elamtjela khona. UJehova waqinisekisa u-Elija bona uqakathekile. Njani? UZimu wambula umnqophwakhe wesikhathi esizako malungana nokulwa nokukhulekela uBhali kwa-Israyeli. Ngokukhanyako, umsebenzi ka-Elija akhenge uwele phasi, ngombana  umnqopho kaZimu malungana nabakhulekeli bakaBhali bewusazokuzaliseka. Ngaphezu kwalokho, u-Elija bekaseseyingcenye yomnqopho loyo, ngombana uJehova wamthumela emva bona ayokwenza umsebenzi wamnikela neenqophiso ezikhethekileko.—1 Kho. 19:12-17.

23. Kungaziphi iindlela ezimbili uJehova aqeda ngazo amazizo ka-Elija wokusala yedwa?

²³ Kuthiwani ngokuzizwa kwaka-Elija asele yedwa? UJehova wenza izinto ezimbili. Kokuthoma, watjela u-Elija bona azese u-Elitjha njengomporofidi ozomlandela. Isokaneli belizokuba mkhambisani ka-Elija nomsizakhe iminyaka eminengi. Qala bona induduzo le beyisebenza kangangani! Kwesibili, uJehova waveza iindaba ezithabisakwezi: “Ngivumele abaziinkulungwana ezilikhomba bona basale kwa-Israyeli, woke amadolo angazange aguqe kuBhali, nayo yoke imilomo engazange immange.” (1 Kho. 19:18) U-Elija bekangasiyedwa. Kungenzeka wazizwa aduduzekile ngokuzwa ngeenkulungwana zabantu abathembekileko abala ukukhulekela uBhali. Bebatlhoga bona u-Elija aragele phambili nekonzwakhe yokuthembeka, ukubeka isibonelo sokuthembeka esinganyakaziswako kuJehova ngeenkhathi ezibudisezo. Kungenzeka u-Elija wathinteka khulu ukuzwa amezwi layo ngesithunywa sakaJehova, ‘ilizwi elipholileko neliphasi’ lakaZimakhe.

24, 25. (a) Singalilalela njani ilizwi lakaJehova ‘elipholileko neliphasi’? (b) Kubayini siqiniseka bona u-Elija wamukela induduzo evela kuJehova?

²⁴ Njengo-Elija, singakarwa bubuhle bamandla wemvelo esibubona endalweni, kube kufanele. Indalo iwaveza ngokukhanyako amandla womBumbi. (Rom. 1:20) UJehova usasebenzisa amandlakhe amakhulu ukusiza iinceku zakhe ezithembekileko. (2 Mil. 16:9) Nokho, uZimu ukhuluma nathi ngeliZwi lakhe, iBhayibhili. (Funda u-Isaya 30:21.) Ngalokho, iBhayibhili ingafana ‘nelizwi elipholileko neliphasi’ nengabe silivumela lisinqophise namhlanje. Ngayo, uJehova uyasilungisa, asikhuthaze asiqinisekise nangethando lakhe.

²⁵ U-Elija wayamukela na induduzo uJehova amduduza ngayo eNtabeni iHorebhe? Asinakuzaza ngalokho! Msinyana wabuyela emsebenzini, asele anesibindi godu, umporofidi othembekileko owajamelana nokukhulekela kwamala okumbi. Nengabe nathi silithathela ehloko ilizwi lakaZimu eliphefumulelweko, ‘sikhuthazwa Ngilo,’ sizokwazi ukulingisa ikholo laka-Elija.—Rom. 15:4.