1, 2. (a) Abandu ba Eliya mubanuba bathi? (b) Eliya abya omwa butsibuki okwa Kithwe Karmeli?

ELIYA mwasamalira endeko y’abandu bangyi ibane mulyatha lhughatha-ghatha bakahethukira okwa Kithwe Karmeli. Nibya n’omwa ngyakya-ngyakya iwukalhua iwalhangira obunakwa n’enzalha ey’abandu aba. Ekyanda ekyabya ikyamabiri ghunza myaka isathu n’embindi kyabya ikyamabiri banubya.

² Omw’ibo mwabya imune abaminyereri 450 ba Baali, ababya bakalyatha omwa miyiheko ibanahithene kutsibu oku Eliya, omuminyereri wa Yehova. Omwami-kali Yezebeli abya iniabir’itha abaghombe ba Yehova bangyi, aliriryo omulhume oyu iyo abya iniabirighana eriramya Baali. Angakolire eki erihika kiroki? Obundi abahereri abo mubalengekania bathi omulhume mughuma oyo anga basaghire neryo inialeghulha. (1 Bam. 18:4, 19, 20) Omwami Ahabu nayu abya iniabiryasa okwa ggali yiwe y’obwami. Nayu syabya anzire Eliya.

3, 4. (a) Busana naki Eliya angabya imwakwa obuba ekiro ekyabya kilindirirwe kikahika? (b) Thukendi kania okwa bibulyo byahi?

³ Omuminyereri oyuwabya iyuwene oyu abya iniakayabana ekithe kyathabya omwa ngebe yiwe. Abandu babere bane muhika, Eliya mwalhangira ku hakayabya obuhaka bunene erikangania obubuya n’obubi. Obuthuku bwabere bunemukya, mbwino mwayowa athi? Angabya imubaha, kundi nayu ‘abya mundu ng’ithwe.’ (Soma Yakobo 5:17.) Ekya thwasi ndeke kiri kithi: Eliya eribya omwakathi-kathi k’abandu babi, omwami wabu mubi, n’abahereri abo abithi, mukyaleka iniayowa ng’ali iyuwene.​—1 Bam. 18:22.

⁴ Aliriryo niki ekya kolhaya Abaisraeli omwa butsibu obu? Kandi nawu omwatsi oyu akuhambireko athi? Thulebaye eky’erileberyako eky’erikirirya lya Eliya kandi nga kyanga thughasira kithi.

5, 6. (a) Ni mibereki eyithuwene eyabya omwa Israeli? (b) Omwami Ahabu abya iniabirihithania athi Yehova ya kutsibu?

⁵ Ahabw’omughulhu muuli, Eliya abya iniabirilhangira ngoku eriramya ly’okwenene likaghanawa n’erilhangira ab’okw’iyo ku  bakahigha-highanibawa kandi isyawithe eky’erikolha. Abaisraeli babya ibamabirighunza buthuku buuli ibabirikwama eriramya ly’amabehi omwakanya k’ery’okwenene, n’eriramya esyonyamuhanga sy’amabehi omwakanya k’eriramya Yehova. Eki ibbwa mukyakanyirira kutsibu omwa buthuku bwa Eliya.

⁶ Omwami Ahabu abya iniabirihithania Yehova ya kutsibu. Mwathahya Yezebeli, mwali w’omwami we Sidoni, kandi Yezebeli abya anzire obuli mundu wosi omwa Israeli iniaramya Baali omwakanya k’eriramya Yehova. Ahabu nayu mwatsuka erighendera okwa bya Yezebeli. Ahabu mwahimbira Baali y’ehekalu n’ekiherero n’eritsuka eriramya enyamuhanga y’amabehi eyo.​—1 Bam. 16:30-33.

7. (a) Ni kyahi ekyaleka eriramya lya Baali iryahithania Yehova? (b) Busana naki ithwa bugha thuthi e Biblia siyiri yighanaya erikwamana n’obuthuku obwa kyanda kyaghunza? (Lebaya  n’akasanduko.)

⁷ Ni kyahi ekyaleka eriramya lya Baali iryahithania Yehova? Mulyalhusya Abaisraeli bangyi oku Nyamuhanga w’okwenene. Kandi omw’iramya eryo abandu ibakakolha eby’esyonye, imwamuli obumalaya okwa hekalu, emisathu ey’esyonye ey’obusingiri, n’erihonga abaana. Neryo Yehova mwathuma Eliya y’oku Ahabu erimubwira ku hakendibya ekyanda ekikendi syabyaho erihika aho omuminyereri wa Nyamuhanga asyabughira athi kihwe. (1 Bam. 17:1) Habere halhaba myaka mingyi, Eliya mwahika oku Ahabu n’erimubwira athi asorokeraye abandu n’abaminyereri ba Baali okwa Kithwe Karmeli. *

8. Omwatsi owahambire oku Baali oyu athuhambireko athi munabwire?

⁸ Aliriryo ebyabya ebi bikathuhambako bithi munabwire? Abandi bangana lengekania bathi omwatsi oyu syathuhambireko kundi sibali lhangira esyohekalu n’ebiherero bya Baali munabwire. Ekyo si kwenene. (Abar. 15:4) Ekinywe “Baali” kikamanyisaya “omwinye kindu” kutse “mukama w’ekindu.” Yehova mwabwira abandu biwe athi bamusombole nga “baali” wabu, kutse mukama wabu, kutse iba wabu. (Isa. 54:5) Mbwino si kwenene indi abandu bakinakolera abandi bakama omwakanya k’erikolera Nyamuhanga Omuthoki w’Ebyosi? Ekya bandu bakathwalha nga ky’ekirengire kutsibu omwa ngebe, mbulha ni sente, omubiiri, eriyitsemesya, eby’obusingiri, kutse esindi nyamuhanga nyingyi esya bandu bakaramaya omwakanya k’eriramya Yehova, ky’ekikabya mukama wabu. (Mt. 6:24; soma Abanya Roma 6:16.) Kwesi, ithwangana bugha thuthi ebyabya bikabya omw’iramya lya Baali na lino bine. Erilengekania okwa buhaka obwabya kera obu ahakathi-kathi ka Yehova na  Baali lyangana thuwathikya erithwamu ndeke nga thukendi kolera ndi.

9. (a) Busana naki Ekithwe kye Karmeli abya mwanya owuwene ow’erikanganiryamu eriramya lya Baali ku ni ry’amabehi? (Lebaya n’omwatsi ahikwa.) (b) Eliya mwabwira abandu athiki?

⁹ Okwa Kithwe kye Karmeli omundu iniakalhangira n’ebiri hali​—erilhua okwa musya we Kisoni erihika okwa Ngetse nene (Engetse Mediterane) n’erihika okwa bithwe bye Lebanoni ebiri hali omwa bitsweka by’eyighulhu. * Aliriryo okwa kiro eki, mubalhua ibalhangira ekithaka ikyabiribya lhukurutsu. Ekithaka ekyanabya mw’omubogha ekya Yehova aha abaana ba Abrahamu kyabya ikyabiryakirira n’eriyithwa nabi. Ebyosi ebi byabya busana n’obuthya-buthya bw’abandu ba Nyamuhanga! Abandu babere banemuyisorokerya haghuma, Eliya  mwaseghera hakuhi nabu n’eribugha athi: ‘Mwasyakolyahi erithika-thika oko mbandi ibiri? Yehova amabya ali Nyamuhanga w’okwenene, mumukwame; nikwa amabya ini Baali, mumukwame.’​—1 Bam. 18:21.

10. Abandu ba Eliya babya ‘bakathika-thika’ bathi “oko mbande ibiri,” kandi ni kindu kyahi kikulhu ekya babya ibabiribirirwa?

¹⁰ Eliya eribugha athi ‘erithika-thika okwa mbandi ibiri’ amanyisayaki? Abandu mubathaminya ngoku batholere erithwamu nga baramaye Yehova kutse Baali. Mubalengekania bathi bangana kolha ebyosi bibiri​—bathi mbwino bangana tsemesya Baali omwa bindu by’esyonye kandi ibabya ibangana saba n’emighisa ya Yehova. Obundi mubalengekania bathi Baali angana tsumulha ebirimwa n’emithungu yabu, ‘n’Omwami Mukulhu ow’emilhondo’ inianemubatheya omwa malhwa. (1 Sam. 17:45) Ng’abandu bangyi abamunabwire, babya ibabiribirirwa ekindu kikulhu indi Yehova syali ghabana eriramya liwe n’owundi mundu wosi-wosi. Anzire kandi yutholere iniaramibwa iyo musa. Syali ligha nahake eritswangania eriramya liwe mw’erindi, kandi nibya ninye okw’iyo!​—Soma Eriluayo 20:5.

11. Ebya Eliya abughira okwa Kithwe Karmeli byanga thuwathikya bithi erilebya ebya thukahira embere omwa ngebe n’emiramirye yethu?

¹¹ Neryo ‘erithika-thika’ ery’Abaisraeli abo, mulyaleka ibabya ng’omundu oyukanza erilhaba omwa nzira ibiri okwa ndambi nguma. N’abangyi munabwire bane mukolha ekiri ng’ekyo, erilighira esindi “baali” eringira omwa ngebe syabu neryo isyabiha okw’iramya Yehova. Ekya Eliya abwira Abaisraeli eki nethu kitholere ikya thuwathikya erilebya ebya thukahira embere omwa ngebe nga ni byahi n’emiramirye yethu.

12, 13. (a) Niki ekya Eliya abugha athi kikolhawe eriminya Nyamuhanga w’okwenene? (b) Thwanga kangania thuthi ku thune n’eriyikethera nga Eliya?

¹² Eriminya Nyamuhanga ow’okwenene nga yo wahi, Eliya mwahiraho eky’erikolha. Abahereri ba Baali babya batholere ibakolha ekiherero n’erihirako ehongo; neryo bendisaba nyamuhanga wabu iyuwakya omuliro. Omuminyereri Eliya nayu ekyo kyangana kolire. Mwabugha athi ‘Nyamuhanga oyukasubiraya omwa muliro, oyo abye Nyamuhanga’ w’okwenene. Eliya iyo abya inianasi Nyamuhanga w’okwenene nga yo wahi. Eribya n’erikirirya erighumire mukyaleka inialighira abaminyereri ba Baali erikolha ekya bangathoka. Neryo mwabugha athi ibo batsuke. Neryo mubimya enume y’ende erihongerayo Baali. *​—1 Bam. 18:24, 25.

 ¹³ Nomwakine indi Yehova syali kolha ebithiko-thiko munabwire, syali athahinduka. Nethu thwangana muyikethera nga Eliya. Ng’eky’erileberyako, abandi bamaghania ebya Biblia yikakangiriraya, isithwa sagha eribaleka bakatsuka eribugha amalengekania wabu. Nga Eliya, nethu thwangana yikethera Nyamuhanga erilhungulha emyatsi. Thukakolha eki omw’ithendi yikethera amalengekania wethu, aliriryo Ekinywe kya Nyamuhanga, ekikolirwe ‘busana n’erihabulha.’​—2 Tim. 3:16.

14. Eliya mwasindibuka athi abaminyereri ba Baali, kandi busana naki?

¹⁴ Abaminyereri ba Baali mubahira ehongo y’okwa kiherero n’eribirikira nyamuhanga wabu. Ibakabera eribirikira bathi ‘Iwe Baali wuthwowe’! Esyosaha n’esyosaha musyalhaba ikubane mubirikira bathya. Aliriryo e Biblia yithi, ‘Muhathabya n’omulenge, kutse oyukasubiraya.’ Bwabere bwabya ithungyi, Eliya mwabasindibuka athi Baali ali okwa yindi mibiiri, kutse awithe ahayire, kutse aghotsere banga mubukya. Mwababwira athi ‘Mulhake kutsibu.’ Iyo abya inianasi ndeke ngoku eriramya lya Baali ni mabehi, kandi anza abandu ba Nyamuhanga bayilhangirire amathebo ayo.​—1 Bam. 18:26, 27.

15. Ebyahika oko bahereri ba Baali bikakanganaya bithi obuthwenge obuli omw’ikolera owundi mukama isi Yehova?

¹⁵ Neryo abahereri ba Baali mubongera erikarama, ‘mubalhaka kutsibu, bamayibbandanga omwa mihamba n’omwa mathumu ng’emitse yabu erihika aho musasi abalhuiramu.’ Aliriryo ebyosi ebi mubithawathikya! Muhathabya “omulenge kutse oyukasubiraya kutse oyukatsomana.” (1 Bam. 18:28, 29) Kwenene, Baali syabya naho. Abya malengekania buyira awa Sitani ahiraho erilhusya abandu b’oku Yehova. Omo kwenene, erikolera owundi mukama athe Yehova, simulilhua kibuya, ni hemuka lisa.​—Soma Esyonyimbo 25:3; 115:4-8.

16. (a) Eliya erikokothya ekiherero kya Yehova okwa Kithwe Karmeli kyangabya imukyibukya abandu baki? (b) Kandi Eliya mwongera erithasya kangania athi eriyikethera liwe omu Yehova?

¹⁶ Bwabere bwabya igholho, endambi yabya iyamahika Eliya nayu eriha obuhere. Mwakokothya ekiherero kya Yehova ekyangabya ikyabya ikyabirisambulhwa n’abakaghana eriramya ly’ekwenene. Mwakolesya amabwe 12, obundi akibukya ab’omwa bihanda 10 bye Israeli ngoku  bakinatholere eritheya Emighambo eyahebawa ebihanda 12. Neryo mwahira ehongo yiwe oko kiherero n’eribugha athi b’uthe kw’amaghetse mangyi, obundi awabatheha oko Ngetse Mediterane eyabya hakuhi. Kandi athi bathakule h’omughende erithimba okwa kiherero n’eryusulya mw’amaghetse. Mwatha bugha athi eki kikolhawe oko kiherero ky’abaminyereri ba Baali, aliriryo akikolha okwa kiherero kya Yehova busana n’eriyikethera ery’abya amuwithemu.​—1 Bam. 18:30-35.

17. Omusabe wa Eliya mwakangania athi eby’akahira embere omwa ngebe yiwe, kandi nethu thwanga mugherererya thuthi omw’isaba lyethu?

¹⁷ Babere babirithegheka obuli kindu, Eliya mwaha omusabe. Omwa musabe wiwe, Eliya mwakangya ndeke-ndeke eby’ahirire embere omwa ngebe yiwe. Okw’itsuka, mwanza kiminyawe ngoku Yehova ya “Nyamuhanga w’Abaisraeli,” butsira Baali. Ekyakabiri, mwanza obuli mundu aminye ngoku ebyosi akabikolha ng’omughombe wa Yehova nuku olhukengerwa n’erisima bighendere Nyamuhanga. Erighunzerera, mwakangania ngoku anatsomene n’ab’okw’iyo kundi mwakangania kw’anzire Yehova ‘iniabindulha emithima yabu.’ (1 Bam. 18:36, 37) Nomubanaleka ihabya ebitsibu binene busana n’obuthowa bwabu, Eliya abya iniakina banzire. Omughulhu thukasaba oku Nyamuhanga, nethu mbwino thwangana kangania eriyikehya ng’eri, eryanza eryuwania erina lya Nyamuhanga, n’erikwira abakayithagha obuwathikya b’obulighe?

18, 19. (a) Yehova mwasubirya athi omusabe wa Eliya? (b) Eliya mwalhaghira abandu athi bakoleki, kandi busana naki abahereri ba Baali sibabya batholere erighanyirwa?

¹⁸ Eliya abere athalyasaba, abandu bangabya ibabya ibanemubulha Yehova nayu ng’akendibya isyaliyo nga Baali. Aliriryo, abere abirisaba, habya isihakiri erithika-thika. E Biblia yithi: ‘Neryo omuliro w’Omwami Mukulhu mwathogha, mwahisirirya obuhere bw’eryokererya, n’esyongwe n’amabwe, n’olhuthuthu, kandi mwalyatsirira n’amaghetse awabya omo mughende.’ (1 Bam. 18:38) Eri ka lyabya isubirya erikasisimulha! Aliriryo abandu mubasubirya bathiki?

¹⁹ Abosi mubalhaka bathi, ‘Yehova yo na Nyamuhanga! Yehova yo na Nyamuhanga!’ (1 Bam. 18:39) Okwa ndambi eyi, mubalhangira ekwenene. Aliriryo babya isibali bakangya erikirirya lyosi-lyosi. Omwa kwenene, eriligha Yehova nga Nyamuhanga w’okwenene busana n’erithalhangira omuliro akalhua elhubulha sikirikanganaya erikirirya  ery’okwenene. Busana n’ekyo Eliya mwababwira athi bakenge Emighambo ya Yehova, ekindu ekya babya batholere erikolha erilhua kera. Emighambo ya Nyamuhanga yabya yikabugha yithi abaminyereri b’amabehi n’abakaramaya esindi nyamuhanga ambi ibithibwa. (Ebi. 13:5-9) Abahereri ba Baali aba babya nzighu sya Yehova, kandi babya ibakakighenderera erihakanisya ebighendererwa biwe. Mbwino banabya batholere erighanyirwa? Ibo ka mubathakangya erighanyira okwa baana abathe kw’olhubanza abo babya bakahisya ibaneho bakabahongera Baali? (Soma Emisyo 21:13; Yer. 19:5) Kwenene, abalhume abo babya isibakitholere erighanyirwa! Neryo Eliya mwalhaghira athi bithawe, neryo mubithibwa.​—1 Bam. 18:40.

20. Busana naki abakatsambulikanaya ebya Eliya akolha okwa bahereri ba Baali si bahikire?

²⁰ Abandi munabwire bangana tsambulikania ekya kolhawa eki okwa Kithwe Karmeli. Abandi bangana sagha bathi abanya dini ab’omuthima owakalire bangana yihambulya omw’eki bakanza erilhwa n’ab’eyindi dini. Kandi eky’obulighe, abandu ng’aba ni bangyi munabwire. Aliriryo, Eliya iyo kw’athabya athya. Iyo aberereraya eritswera lya Yehova erithunganene. Eryongera okw’ekyo, Abakrisitayo ab’okwenene banakyasi ngoku sibanga kolha ekya Eliya akolha eky’erihekera ababi b’omuyali. Aliriryo bakakwama omusingyi owa Yesu ahiriraho abigha biwe akabwira Petero athi: ‘Subaya omuyali w’omwa lhubo lhwagho; kusangwa abosi abakawatha okwa muyali basyahera omwa muyali.’ (Mt. 26:52) Yehova akendi syakolesya Mughalha wiwe eriletha eritswera liwe erithunganene.

21. Busana naki Eliya ni ky’erileberyako ekyuwene okwa Bakristayo ab’okwenene munabwire?

²¹ Olhukwamirwa lhwa Bakristayo ab’okwenene ly’erikangania erikirirya lyabu. (Yn. 3:16) Enzira nguma ey’erikolera mw’eki ly’erigherererya abalhume abathaleghulha nga Eliya. Mwaramya Yehova musa n’erihira omwa bandu mw’omuhwa ow’erikolha ekyo. Omwa buthubaha, mwakangania obuthebya obuli omw’iramya erya Sitani akolesaya erilhusya abandu b’oku Yehova. Kandi mwayikethera Yehova erilhungulha emyatsi omwakanya k’eriyikethera amaaka wiwe. Eliya mwasighika eriramya ly’okwenene. Ithwe bosi ka thugherereraye erikirirya liwe!