1, 2. Eliya abya w’erikolha kindu kyahi ekikalire, kandi abya athi wa mbaghane oku Ahabu?

ELIYA mwayowa inianzire erisaba Thatha wiwe w’elhubulha ahathe bandu. Aliriryo abandu banene babya ibakina muthimbireko, kandi babya imubanamabiri lhangira omuminyereri w’okwenene oyu akabirikira omuliro erilhua elhubulha, neryo ahathe erithika-thika abangyi banza abasime n’eribatsumulha. Eliya athali ahethukira okwa Kithwe Karmeli eriyasaba Yehova iniane eyuwene, aby’atholere iniatsuka erikania n’Omwami Ahabu, ekindu ekyabya kikalire erikolha.

² Eliya abya wa mbaghane oku Ahabu. Ahabu oyuwabya ambere esyongyimba esy’amapambu esy’obwami, abya w’omururu, oyuwabiri ghana Nyamuhanga, kandi iniakathebibawa lhuba-lhuba. Eliya iyo abya ambere ekyambalhu ky’abaminyereri, ekithe ky’amapambu, obundi ekikolirwe omwa lhuhu kutse omwa bweya bw’ekisoro. Abya mulhume muthubaha, muthaleghulha, kandi abya n’erikirirya. Ebyabya ibyamabiribya okwa kiro ky’obuhaka eki, byabya ibyamabiri kangania embaghane eyiri ahakathi-kathi k’abalhume babiri aba.

3, 4. (a) Ahabu n’abandi baramya ba Baali mubahemuka bathi? (b) Ni bibulyo byahi ebya thukendi kaniako?

³ Ahabu n’abandi baramya ba Baali babya ibamabiri hemuka okwa kiro eki. Eriramya ly’amabehi erya Ahabu na mukali wiwe Yezebeli babya bakasighika omwa bihanda ikumi bya Israeli, lyabya iryamabirisambulhwa kundi Baali mwakanganibwa ku yabya enyamuhanga eyitheho. Enyamuhanga eyo muyalemwa eriakya n’omuliro buyira, nibya n’abaminyereri bayo ibabirilhakirayo kutsibu, eriyisumbanga, n’eriyisaranga. Kandi Baali mwalemwa eritheya abandu biwe abo 450 bakithibwa. Aliriryo habya ihane ekindi ekya enyamuhanga y’amabehi eyi yabya iyabirilemwako. Ahabw’emyaka eyilhabire okw’isathu, abaminyereri ba Baali babya ibabirimulhakira bathi aghunze h’ekyanda ekyabya ikyabiritsandya ekihugho ekyo, aliriryo Baali mwalemwa. Omwa buthuku obuthe bwahali, Yehova abya iniakayakanganaya obukulhu bwiwe omw’ighunza h’ekyanda.​—1 Bam. 16:30–17:1; 18:1-40.

⁴ Yehova Nyamuhanga anga yirire eky’akakolha mughulhu wahi?  Na Eliya angabere inianemukolhaki erihika obuthuku obo? Kandi ni kyahi ekya thwang’ighira okwa mulhume w’erikirirya oyu? Thulebaye ngoku byabya byabere.​—Soma 1 Abami 18:41-46.

5. Eliya mwabwira Ahabu athi akoleki, kandi ebyabya ibyabiribya, mbwino mubyan’eghesya Ahabu y’erisomo?

⁵ Eliya mwahika oku Ahabu n’erimubwira athi: ‘Wuhethuke, wulye, wupulhaye; kusangwa hali omulenge w’embulha nyingyi.’ Ebyabya ibyabiribya, mubyan’eghesya omwami mubi oyu y’erisomo? E Biblia siyirikibugha, nibya kandi simuli ah’akanganiraya eriyisubamu kutse eribugha n’omuminyereri athi amuwathikaye erisaba Yehova y’ekighanyiro. Aliriryo Ahabu iyo ‘mwahethuka amayalya n’eripulya.’ (1 Bam. 18:41, 42) Ibbwa kandi Eliya iyo?

6, 7. Eliya asabaki, kandi busana naki?

⁶ ‘Eliya nayu mwahethukira endatha okwa kithwe kye Karmeli neryo mwathulhama okwa kithaka, mwahira obusu bwiwe omwa kathi-kathi k’amarwe wiwe.’ Ahabu abere akayalya, Eliya iyo mwabana akaghisa ak’eriyasaba Thatha wiwe w’elhubulha. Ngoku kikanganibwe hano, Eliya erikolha ekindu ky’eriyikehya​—eryunamya omuthwe wiwe n’obusu bwiwe hakuhi n’amarwe, mbwino abya iniakakolhaki?  E Biblia yikathubwira omu Yakobo 5:18 yithi Eliya mwasabira ekyanda erihwaho. Oyu angabya iw’omusabe owasabira okwa kithwe Karmeli.

⁷ Yehova abya iniabiri yilhagha athi: ‘Ngendi thuma embulha okwa kithaka.’ (1 Bam. 18:1) Neryo Eliya mwasaba athi erisonda lya Yehova libererere, ngoku Yesu anakangiriraya abigha biwe erisaba, emyaka nga rukumi enyuma waho.​—Mt. 6:9, 10.

8. Eky’erileberyako kya Eliya kikathweghesayaki okw’isaba?

⁸ Eky’erileberyako kya Eliya kikathweghesaya bingyi okw’isaba. Ekya Eliya abya akalengekaniako kutsibu lyabya iry’eribererera ery’erisonda lya Nyamuhanga. Omughulhu thukasaba, kyuwene eryibuka indi: ‘Thwamasaba kindu omw’isonda lya Nyamuhanga, akathwowa.’ (1 Yn. 5:14) Busana n’ekyo, emisabe yethu ery’owibwa, thutholere ithwaminya erisonda lya Nyamuhanga nga ni lyahi, kandi eyi y’enzumwa eyangaleka ithwayeghesya e Biblia buli kiro. Kandi ahathe erithika-thika, Eliya abya iniananzire erilhangira ekyanda kikahwaho kundi abandu ab’omwa kihugho kiwe babya ibabiriaghalhwa kutsibu. Omuthima angabya imw’osulha mw’erisima linene busana n’ekithiko-thiko eky’alhangira Yehova akakolha okwa kiro ekyo. Kwesi nethu thutholere ithwaha Nyamuhanga y’ewasingya n’erilengekania okwa bandi omwa misabe yethu.​—Soma 2 Abanya Korinto 1:11; Abanya Filipi 4:6.

9. Ni kyahi ekya Eliya abwira omughombe wiwe athi akole, kandi ni mibere yahi ibiri eyathukendi lebya?

⁹ Eliya abya inianasi ndeke ngoku Yehova anga ghunzireho ekyanda, aliriryo mwathaminya nga ni mughulhu wahi. Neryo analindirire eki, omuminyereri oyu mwabya inianemukolhaki? Thuthalebya ekya Biblia yikabugha: ‘Neryo mwabwira omughombe wiwe athi, Wuhethuke lino eriyalebya okwa lhuhandi lhw’engetse.’ Neryo mwahethuka, mwaya lebya, n’eribugha athi: ‘Sihali kindu.’ Kandi Eliya mwathasyabugha athi, ‘Wuyeyo kandi, esyongendo musanju.’ (1 Bam. 18:43) Eky’erileberyako kya Eliya kikathweghesaya bindu nga bibiri. Eky’erimbere, mwayikethera Yehova. N’ekindi, abya inianatheghirye.

10, 11. (a) Eliya mwakangania athi eriyikethera liwe omwa milhaghe ya Yehova? (b) Busana naki nethu ithwabya n’eriyikethera ng’eri?

¹⁰ Kundi Eliya mwayikethera omulhaghe wa Yehova, mwabya iniana lindirire ekyosi-kyosi ekyanga kangenie ngoku Yehova akisiya  iniayira eky’akakolha. Mwathuma omughombe wiwe y’okwa kithwe ahangalhangirire ebyanga kanganirye ngoku embulha yikisiya iyawa. Omughombe wiwe abere akalhuayo mwasa n’omwatsi owathuwene athi: ‘Sihali kindu.’ Olhubulha lhwabya ilhuna henirye isikuli n’akathu. Aliriryo ekikaswekaya, Eliya abya iniamabiribwira Omwami Ahabu athi: ‘Hali omulenge w’embulha nyingyi.’ Omuminyereri mwathoka athi eribugha eki isyalhangire n’ekithu ky’embulha?

¹¹ Eliya abya inianasi eriyilhagha lya Yehova. Ng’omuminyereri wa Yehova kandi mwimaniri wiwe, abya inianasi ndeke-ndeke ngoku Nyamuhanga wiwe akendi berererya ekinywe kiwe. Eliya mwayisigha Yehova ya kutsibu indi amayowa n’embulha nga yabirinatsuka eriwa. Eki kikaleka ithwibuka ebya Biblia yikakanaya oku Musa bino: ‘Mwayiyinia iniakalhangira Oyuthelholhawako.’ Nawu wukana yowa ng’oyunalhangire Nyamuhanga? Esyonzumwa ni nyingyi esyangaleka ithwahira erikirirya eriri ng’eri omw’iyo n’omwa milhaghe yiwe.​—Ebr. 11:1, 27.

12. Eliya mwakangania athi ngoku anatheghirye, kandi mwakolhaki akabwirwa ngoku yine ekithu kike?

¹² Ekindi, thalebya ngoku Eliya abya inianatheghirye. Mwabwira omughombe wiwe athi ayeyo kandi, neryo mwayayo butsira ngendo nguma nyisa, aliriryo ngendu musanju! Thalengekania omughombe oyu iniabirilhuha busana n’erighenda n’erisubulha, aliriryo Eliya mwabya inianalindirire ekikendi kangania embulha kwa yikayawa kandi mwathabikyako. Erighunzerera, enyuma w’engendo y’omusanju, omughombe mwabwira Eliya athi: ‘Lebaya! Ekithu kike kikalhua omo ngetse, ekike ekingene n’ebyalha by’omundu.’ Thathera akasasani omughombe akakolesya ebyalha biwe eribya ng’oyukalenga ekithu kike eki ekikasira eyiri engetse! Ekithu kike eki kyangabya imukithaha omughombe nibya y’amaha w’embulha. Aliriryo oku Eliya, ekithu eki kyabya ky’omughaso munene. Neryo mwalhua iniaha omughombe wiwe y’omubiiri owa lhuba-lhuba athi: ‘Wuhethuke wubwire Ahabu wuthi, Wutheghekanaye eggali yawu wandaghale embulha siyikulhibiraye!’​—1 Bam. 18:44.

13, 14. (a) Thwanga theya thuthi nga Eliya? (b) Ni kyahi ekyangaleka ithwakolha omwa byalhuba?

¹³ Kandi hano Eliya awithe eky’akathasyathweghesaya. Nethu thuli omwa buthuku obwa Nyamuhanga akisiya iniaberererya ekighendererwa kiwe. Eliya mwalindirira erihwaho ly’ekyanda, n’abaghombe ba Nyamuhanga munabwire bakalindirira erihwaho ly’omughulhu mubi ono. (1 Yn. 2:17) Erihika aho Yehova akendi syakolera eki, thutholere ithwabya ithunatheghirye nga Eliya. Yesu, Mughalha wa Nyamuhanga, mwahabulha abigha biwe athi: ‘Neryo mutheghaye! Kusangwa simwasi nga ni kiro kyahi Omukama wenyu asyasa.’ (Mt. 24:42) Mbwino Yesu amanyisaya athi abigha biwe banga  kwamire kyabya omwa mwirima, isibanga minya omughulhu enduli yanga hikire? Eyihi, kundi mwasoborera buuli ebyangabere omwa kihugho enduli yithe yahika. Ithwe bosi thunalhangire eribererera ly’ekiminyikalho ‘ky’erihwererera ly’emighulhu.’​—Soma Matayo 24:3-7.

¹⁴ Obuli katsweka k’ekiminyikalho eki kakakanganaya obwema obulhangirikire. Mbwino obwema ng’obu sibwanga leka thukakolha omubiiri wa Yehova omwa byalhuba? Ekithu kike ekyalhangirawa mukyaleka Eliya iniaminya ngoku Yehova akisiya iniayira eky’akakolha. Omuminyereri muthaleghulha oyu mwanahwa mani?

15, 16. Emyatsi muyalhua iyahinduka yithi, kandi Eliya angabya imwayibulya athiki oku Ahabu?

¹⁵ E Biblia yikabugha yithi: ‘Neryo oko kathambi kake, olhubulha mulhwakina omo bithu n’erihunga, neryo embulha nene muyawa. Na Ahabu mwaghenda okwa ggali yiwe mwaya e Yezreeli.’ (1 Bam. 18:45) Neryo emyatsi muyalhua iyahinduka. Omughombe wa Eliya abere akinabwira Ahabu y’omwatsi w’omuminyereri, ekithu kike ekyo mukyakanya n’erikina okwa lhubulha. Ekiyagha kinene mukyahitha. Erighunzerera, embulha muyawa e Israeli, eyabya isiyiriyathawa ahabw’emyaka isathu n’embindi. Amathondi w’embulha mwabulirana omwa kithaka ekyabya ikyabiriumirana. Embulha yabere yikayongera, olhusi lhwe Kisoni mulhusulha, ahathe erithika-thika erisendya omusasi w’abaminyereri ba Baali ababya ibabir’ithibwa. N’Abaisraeli abayisamambulha mubahebwa akaghisa ak’erilhusyaho eriramya lya Baali omwa Israeli.

¹⁶ Kandi kwenene, Eliya abya iniane n’amaha athi bakendi kolha ekyo! Obundi mwayibulya Ahabu ng’akendi kolhaki busana n’ebinemughenda bikabya ebi. Mbwino Ahabu angana yisubiremu n’erileka eriramya lya Baali? Ebyabya ekiro ekyo byabya ibyabiri kangania ndeke-ndeke ekyangaleka esyombinduka ng’esi isyakolhwa. Aliriryo, sithwanga minya ekyabya omwa malengekania wa Ahabu okwa ndambi eyo. E Biblia yikathubwira yithi omwami ‘mwaghenda okwa ggali yiwe, mwaya e Yezreeli.’ Mwanayira eky’ak’igha? Mbwino mwanathwamu erikolha esyombinduka? Ebya kwamako bikakanganaya ngoku mwathakolhaki. Oku Ahabu na Eliya, emyatsi yabya iyikinalholha embere ekiro ekyo.

17, 18. (a) Ni kyahi ekyahika oku Eliya omwa nzira eye Yezreeli? (b) Ni kyahi ekikaswekaya okw’ithibitha lya Eliya erilhua e Karmeli erihika e Yezreeli? (Lebaya n’omwatsi ahikwa.)

 ¹⁷ Omuminyereri wa Yehova nayu mwatsuka olhughendo, erilhaba omwa nzira eya Ahabu alhabamu. Lhwabya lhughendo lhuuli, obuthuku ibwabiri kinirana, n’embulha iyinemuwa. Aliwe abere ane mughenda, muhabya ekindu ekithe kya buli kiro.

¹⁸ ‘Ebyalha by’Omwami mukulhu mubyahika oku Eliya, neryo mwaboha embindi yiwe mwathibitha embere sya Ahabu mwamuthanga erihika e Yezreeli.’ (1 Bam. 18:46) Omo kwenene, ‘ebyalha bya Yehova’ byabya ibine oku Eliya. Erihika e Yezreeli syabya kilomita 30, kandi nibya Eliya abya musyakulhu. * Thalengekania omuminyereri inianemubohera esyongyimba siwe nyiri-nyiri sy’omwa mbindi nuku athoke erithibitha ndeke omwa nzira eyabya iyabiriwa mw’embulha, n’eriyalhaba okwa ggali y’Omwami!

19. (a) Akaghalha ako Nyamuhanga aha Eliya, kangana thwibukya maminyereri wahi? (b) Ni kyahi ekya Eliya abya inianasi ndeke akathibitha e Yezreeli?

¹⁹ Oyu k’angabya imwabya mughisa munene owa Eliya abana! Eribana akaghalha ng’aka​—obundi nibya akalengire akabya nako omwa bunyethu bwiwe​—kyangabya imukyamutsemesya kutsibu. Eki kyangana thwibukya amaminyereri awakabugha athi abathaleghulha bakendi syabya n’amaghalha awuwene omwa kihugho Paradiso ekikasa. (Soma Isaya 35:6; Lk. 23:43) Eliya abere anemuthibitha omwa nzira eyiri mw’ebyondo eyo, abya inianasi ndeke ngoku abirisimwa na Thatha wiwe, Yehova, Nyamuhanga mughuma musa ow’okwenene!

20. Thwanga kolhaki erithoka eribana emighisa ya Yehova?

²⁰ Yehova anayitheghekire erithuha emighisa. Kwesi thulengeho erikolha kutsibu nuku thubane emighisa eyi. Nga Eliya, thutholere ithwabya ithunatheghirye, erilebya ndeke obwema obulhangirikire obukakanganaya ngoku Yehova akisiya iniayira eky’akakolha omwa biro ebikalire bino. Nga Eliya, ni bingyi ebyangaleka ithwayikethera kutsibu emilhaghe ya Yehova, “Nyamuhanga w’ekwenene.”​—Esy. 31:5.