U-Elija wezwa ukuthi iNkosi u-Ahabi yayisifile. Akumbone ngelihlo lengqondo u-Elija ephulula indevu zakhe, ingqondo yakhe ikhatshana, eminyakeni eminengi eyadlulayo lapho ayethwaliswe nzima yinkosi embi u-Ahabi. U-Elija wabekezelela okunengi sibili! Phela u-Ahabi lendlovukazi yakhe uJezebeli babeke bamzingela u-Elija, bemsongela futhi befuna ukumsusela amanqe. INkosi u-Ahabi yaphongugoqa izandla ngesikhathi uJezebeli ebulala abaphrofethi abanengi bakaJehova. U-Ahabi loJezebeli babebumbe lecebo lokubulala indoda elungileyo uNabothi kanye labantwabakhe. Konke lokhu bakwenza ngenxa yokuthi babeyizihwaba. Lokhu yikho okwenza u-Elija wabatshela umlayezo ovela kuJehova owawukhuluma ngobunzima obabuzakwehlela u-Ahabi lemuli yakhe yonke. Khathesi amazwi kaNkulunkulu ayesegcwaliseka ngoba u-Ahabi wafa ngayo kanye indlela uJehova ayethe uzakufa ngayo.​—1 AmaKhosi 18:4; 21:1-26; 22:37, 38; 2 AmaKhosi 9:26.

Lanxa kunjalo u-Elija wayekwazi mhlophe ukuthi kwakumele aqhubeke ebekezela. UJezebeli wayesawadla amabele futhi wayelokhu ebadonsa ngamakhala abemuli yakhe kanye lesizwe sonke. U-Elija wayezahlangana lobunye ubunzima futhi kwakumele afundise u-Elisha okunengi. U-Elisha nguye owayezathatha isikhundla sika-Elija. Yikho asixoxeni ngezinto ezintathu okwakumele u-Elija azenze engakatshiyeli u-Elisha umsebenzi. Ukubona ukuthi ukholo luka-Elija lwamnceda njani ukuthi abekezele kuzasinceda sibone ukuthi singaluqinisa njani olwethu ukholo ukuze senelise ukubekezela ezinsukwini lezi ezinzima.

U-Ahaziya indodana ka-Ahabi loJezebeli, nguye owayeseyinkosi yako-Israyeli. Wenza izinto ezimbi ezenziwa ngabazali bakhe. (1 AmaKhosi 22:52) Wakhonza uBhali njengabo. Ukukhonza uBhali kwakusenza abantu benze izinto ezimbi ezifanana lokufeba ethempelini kanye lokunikela ngabantwana. Kukhona yini okwakungenza ukuthi u-Ahaziya atshiye okubi ayekwenza futhi ancede abantu ukuthi bangawoneli uJehova.

Inkosi le eyayisesencane futhi izigqaja yawelwa yingozi. Yawa isuka ephahleni lwesigodlo sayo futhi yalimala kakhulu. Lanxa impilo ka-Ahaziya yayisilenga ngomnxeba, kazange acele uncedo kuJehova. Kulokuthi enze njalo wathuma abantu edolobheni laseFilisti okwakuthiwa yi-Ekhroni ukuthi bayembuzela kunkulunkulu uBhali-Zebhubhi ukuthi wayezasila yini. Idolobho leli laliyisitha sako-Israyeli. Lokhu kwamcaphula kakhulu uJehova. Wathuma ingilosi ku-Elija ukuthi ayehlangabeza abantu labo ababethunywe ngu-Ahaziya. U-Elija wabaphendukisa wabapha umlayezo obuhlungu okwakumele bawubikele inkosi. U-Ahaziya wayewone kakhulu ngokwenza angani ko-Israyeli akula Nkulunkulu. UJehova wayesevele watsho ukuthi u-Ahaziya wayengasoze asile ekuguleni kwakhe.​—2 AmaKhosi 1:2-4.

U-Ahaziya kazange azisole, wabuza wathi: “Ngumuntu onjani lowo olihlangabezileyo waselitshela lokho?” Izithunywa zamchazela ukuthi umphrofethi lowo wayegqoke izigqoko ezingamangalisiyo. U-Ahaziya wahle wathi: “Ngu-Elija.” (2 AmaKhosi 1:7, 8) U-Elija wayephila impilo engamangalisiyo futhi ephatheke ngokukhonza uNkulunkulu okokuthi wayesaziwa ngezigqoko zakhe ezingaduliyo. Wayetshiyene kakhulu lo-Ahaziya kanye labazali bakhe ababeyizihwaba ezithanda inotho. Isibonelo sika-Elija sisikhumbuza iseluleko sikaJesu esokuthi siphile impilo elula futhi siphatheke ngezinto eziqakathekileyo.​—UMathewu 6:22-24.

U-Ahaziya wafuna ukuphindisela ku-Elija yikho wathuma induna yebutho kanye lamasotsha angu-50 ukuthi bayembopha. Bathi bethola u-Elija ‘ephezu koqaqa,’ * induna yebutho yamhalada imtshela ukuthi inkosi ithe ‘kehle,’ okukhanya kusitsho ukuthi kwakufanele ayebulawa. Lanxa amasotsha lawo ayesazi ukuthi u-Elija “ngumuntu kaNkulunkulu,” akubona kuqondile ukuthi amethusele. Babekhuthe ugatsha! U-Elija watshela induna yebutho wathi: “Nxa ngingumuntu kaNkulunkulu, kakwehle umlilo ovela ezulwini ukuqothule wena kanye labantu bakho abangamatshumi amahlanu.” UNkulunkulu wasesenza okuthile! “Kwehla umlilo uvela ezulwini wayiqothula induna yebutho kanye labantu bayo.” (2 AmaKhosi 1:9, 10) Okwehlela amasotsha lawo kusikhumbuza ukuthi uJehova kathokozi ngitsho lakancane nxa abantu beseyisa izikhonzi zakhe.​—1 ImiLando 16:21, 22.

U-Ahaziya wathuma enye induna yebutho kanye lamasotsha ayo angu-50. Induna yesibili yayidelela ukudlula eyakuqala. Kayizange ifunde isifundo ngokufa kwamadoda lawo angu-51 lanxa kungenzeka ukuthi umlotha wawo wawulokhe ukhona eqaqeni. Yatsho amazwi ayetshengisa ukwedelela ayekhulunywe yinduna yakuqala, kodwa kayiphelelanga lapho. Yaphinda yasebenzisa lebala elithi “khathesi.” Lobu kwakuyibuthutha obuphindwe kabili! Yikho induna leyo lamasotsha ayo bafa ngendlela efanana leyeqembu lokuqala. Kodwa inkosi yiyo eyaba yisithutha sokucina. Kayizange ibe lendaba lokwakwenzakele, yaphinda yathuma iqembu lesithathu lamasotsha. Kodwa okwabangcono yikuthi induna yesithathu yayihlakaniphile. Yaya ku-Elija yamncenga ukuthi angababulali. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi umuntu kaNkulunkulu u-Elija watshengisa isihawu sikaJehova lapho elalela induna leyo ethobekileyo. Ingilosi kaJehova yathi u-Elija ahambe lamasotsha lawo. U-Elija walalela futhi wafika watshela inkosi leyo embi lokho okwakutshiwo nguJehova. U-Ahaziya wafa njengokwakutshiwo nguNkulunkulu. Wayebuse okweminyaka emibili nje kuphela.​—2 AmaKhosi 1:11-17.

Kuyini okwanceda u-Elija ukuthi abekezele lanxa abantu babeyiziqholo futhi behlamukela uJehova? Umbuzo lo uqakathekile lalamuhla. Wake wezwa ucaphuka yini ngesikhathi umuntu omthandayo esala ukulalela okuqondileyo njalo eqinisa ikhanda esenza okubi? Kuyini okungasinceda esimeni esinjalo? Singafundani endaweni lapho amasotsha athola khona u-Elija, “phezu koqaqa”? Asingeke sitsho ukuthi kungani u-Elija wayephezu koqaqa, kodwa singaba leqiniso ukuthi njengoba wayeyindoda yomthandazo, wabona indawo leyo imnika ithuba elihle lokusondela eduze loNkulunkulu wakhe amthandayo. (UJakhobe 5:16-18) Lathi singahlala sidinga isikhathi sokukhuluma loNkulunkulu sisodwa, sibize ibizo lakhe futhi simtshele konke okusihluphayo. Lokho kuzasinceda ukuthi senelise ukubekezela nxa abanye besenza okubi.

Sasesifikile isikhathi esingaliyo sokuthi u-Elija atshiyele omunye umsebenzi wakhe. Zwana ukuthi wenzani. Njengoba u-Elija lo-Elisha basebephuma edolobheni leGiligali, u-Elija watshela u-Elisha ukuthi asale edolobheni yena ahambe yedwa eBhetheli okwakungaba ngamakhilomitha angu-7 ukufika khona. U-Elisha waphendula wathi: “Njengoba uJehova ephila njalo njengoba lawe uphila, angiyikutshiyana lawe.” Bathi befika eBhetheli u-Elija watshela u-Elisha ukuthi wayezahamba yedwa eJerikho eyayingaba ngamakhilomitha angu-22 ukufika khona. U-Elisha waphendula njengasekuqaliseni. Kwenzakala okufananayo futhi bengakayi emfuleni uJodani owawungaba ngamakhilomitha angu-8 ukufika kuwo. Lalapha indoda le yala yemba phansi ukutshiya u-Elija.​—2 AmaKhosi 2:1-6.

U-Elija watshengisa ukuthi ulothando oluqotho, ubuntu obuqakatheke kakhulu. Lolu yilo uthando olwatshengiswa nguRuthe kuNawomi, olunamathela entweni ethile, lugagadlele kuyo kumnyama kubomvu. (URuthe 1:15, 16) Lezinsuku kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi izinceku zikaJehova zibe lothando olunje. Siyakubona yini ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuba lothando oluqotho njengo-Elisha?

Kwamthinta kwamancane u-Elija ukubona ukuthi indoda le esakhulayo yayilothando oluqotho. Ngenxa yalokho u-Elisha waba lesibusiso sokubona isimangaliso sokucina sika-Elija. U-Elija watshaya amanzi ngejazi lakhe ekhunjini lomfula uJodani, amanzi ehlukana. Abanye abasibonayo isimangaliso lesi ‘ngamadoda angamatshumi amahlanu exukwini labaphrofethi’ okukhanya babengabanye ababefundiswa ukukhokhela ekukhonzeni kweqiniso elizweni lelo. (2 AmaKhosi 2:7, 8) Kukhanya u-Elija nguye owayekhangela ukufundiswa kweqembu lelo. Kwake kwaba lesikhathi eminyakeni eyayedlule lapho u-Elija ayecabanga ukuthi kwasekunguye yedwa umuntu olungileyo elizweni. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi uJehova wambusisa ngenxa yokubekezela kwakhe, wamenza wabona inani labantu abakhonza uJehova liqansa.​—1 AmaKhosi 19:10.

Ngemva kokuchapha umfula uJodani u-Elija wathi ku-Elisha: “Kuyini engingakwenzela khona ngingakasuswa kuwe?” U-Elija wayekwazi ukuthi sasesifikile isikhathi sokuthi ahambe. Kazange abe lomhawu ukuthi umngane wakhe wayesezakuba lesikhundla kodwa wayelesifiso sokumncedisa ngazo zonke izindlela. Okwacelwa ngu-Elisha yilokhu kuphela: “Ngicela isabelo esiphindwe kabili somoya wakho.” (2 AmaKhosi 2:9) Wayengatsho ukuthi ufuna umoya ophindwe kabili kulowo owawuphiwe u-Elija. U-Elisha wayecela isabelo esifanana lesezibulo elalithola isabelo esikhulu kumbe esiphindwe kabili ngokomthetho kuhambelana lemisebenzi elalisiba layo emulini. (UDutheronomi 21:17) Njengoba u-Elisha wayeyindlalifa ka-Elija ekukhonzeni wabona kufanele ukuthi athole umoya wokuba lesibindi njengo-Elija ukuze afeze umsebenzi ayewuphiwe.

U-Elija wazehlisa walindela ukuthi uJehova aphendule. Nxa uJehova wayezavumela u-Elisha ukuthi abone u-Elija ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu emthatha, kutsho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezabe evumile. “Besahamba belokhu bekhuluma” kwenzakala into emangalisayo.​—2 AmaKhosi 2:10, 11.

Kwaba lokukhanya okukhulu esibhakabhakeni okwakulokhe kusondela eduze. Ungawabona ngelihlo lengqondo amadoda la amabili ebuyela emuva ngenxa yokumangala njengoba kwakusiza isivunguzane sihuba silento ecazimulayo eyayigijima ngesiqubu esikhulu iqonde kubo. Kwakuyinqola eyayicazimula angani yenziwe ngomlilo. U-Elija wayekwazi ukuthi isikhathi sakhe sasesifikile. Wagada yini? IBhayibhili alikutsho lokhu. Loba kunjalo, kufanele ukuthi wazizwa elokhe eqansa esiya phezulu isivunguzane sihamba laye.

U-Elisha wasala engelankani. Wayekwazi mhlophe ukuthi uJehova wayemzamnika “isabelo esiphindwe kabili” somoya ka-Elija wokuba lesibindi njengoba wayezibonele ngawakhe isimanga lesi. Kodwa wayekhathazekile kakhulu ngenxa yokuthi wayengakwazi ukuthi umngane wakhe uyangaphi futhi engacabangi lokuthi uzaphinde ambone futhi u-Elija. Wamemeza wathi: “Baba! Baba! Izinqola zokulwa labamabhiza okulwa ako-Israyeli!” Wabukela njengoba umngane wakhe wayelokhu esithela, wadabula izigqoko zakhe ngenxa yosizi ayesephakathi kwalo.​—2 AmaKhosi 2:12.

U-Elija wamuzwa yini umngane wakhe embiza ephakathi kosizi mhlawumbe zaze zehla ngesikhathi eqansa esiya phezulu? Kuloba yikuphi okwenzakalayo okusalayo yikuthi wayekwazi ukuthi ukuba lomngane onjengo-Elisha kwamnceda ukuthi abekezelele izikhathi ezinzima. Kuhle ukuthi sifunde esibonelweni sika-Elija njalo sibe labangane abathanda uNkulunkulu futhi abafuna ukwenza intando yakhe.

Wayangaphi u-Elija? Amanye amasonto afundisa ukuthi wahamba ezulwini ukuyahlala loNkulunkulu. Kodwa lokhu akusiloqiniso. Ngemva kweminyaka eminengi uJesu wathi akulamuntu owake waya ezulwini yena engakabuyi emhlabeni. (UJohane 3:13) Ngakho nxa sibala ukuthi “u-Elija waya ezulwini ngesivunguzane,” kumele sizibuze ukuthi yiliphi izulu aya kulo. Akusikho ukuthi nxa iBhayibhili likhuluma “ngezulu” liyabe lisitsho indawo lapho okuhlala khona uJehova kuphela. Izulu lingatsho emkhathini, esibhakabhakeni lapho okuphapha khona inyoni lalapho okulamayezi khona. (IHubo 147:8) Lawo yiwo amazulu u-Elija ahamba kuwo. Kwasekusenzakalani?

UJehova wathatha umphrofethi wakhe othandekayo wamnika umsebenzi elizweni elingumakhelwana lakoJuda. Imbali eseBhayibhilini itshengisa ukuthi u-Elija wasebenza elizweni lelo okweminyaka engadlula eyisikhombisa. Owayebusa koJuda yinkosi embi uJehoramu. Watshada lendodakazi ka-Ahabi loJezebeli yikho walandela okubi ababekwenza. UJehova watshela u-Elija ukuthi abhale incwadi ekhuza uJehoramu. UJehoramu wafa kabuhlungu njengoba kwakuphrofethiwe. Indaba yakhe iphetha ngokuthi: “Wafa engakhalelwa muntu.”​—2 ImiLando 21:12-20.

U-Elija loJehoramu babetshiyene kakhulu. Asikwazi ukuthi u-Elija wafa njani futhi nini kodwa esikwaziyo yikuthi kafanga njengoJehoramu ongazange akhalelwe langubani. U-Elisha wayemkhumbula umngane wakhe njalo labanye abaphrofethi babemkhumbula u-Elija. UJehova laye wayelokhu emqakathekisa u-Elija. Lanxa kwasekuleminyaka engu-1 000 wafa, wamsebenzisa njengomzekeliso ngesikhathi uJesu ekhazinyuliswa. (UMathewu 17:1-9) Uyafuna yini ukufunda esibonelweni sika-Elija futhi uhlale ulokholo oluqinileyo lanxa uhlangana lezinhlupho? Nxa kunjalo ungakhohlwa ukuba labangane abathanda uNkulunkulu kanye lokuqakathekisa ukukhonza futhi uthandaze zikhathi zonke okusuka enhliziyweni. Sengathi uJehova angakuthanda lawe njengo-Elija!