1, 2. (a) Bantfu bakubo-Elija bebahlupheka ngayiphi indlela? (b) Ngukuphi kuphikiswa Elija lahlangabetana nako eNtsabeni iKhameli?

ELIJA wabuka sicumbi sebantfu njengobe sikhuphuka eNtsabeni iKhameli. Ngisho nobe bekusemnyama, indlala nekweswela kwalesicumbi sebantfu bekusebaleni. Somiso lebesesitsetse iminyaka lemitsatfu nencenye besibe nemiphumela lemibi kakhulu.

² Emkhatsini waso bekunebaphrofethi baBhali labangu-450 lebebahamba batigcabha baphindze batigabatisa, futsi nenzondo yabo nga-Elija umphrofethi waJehova beyivutsa. Indlovukazi Jezebeli beseyibulele tinceku letinyenti taJehova, kodvwa Elija abesolo amelene ngalokucinile nekukhontwa kwaBhali. Kepha loku abetawukwenta sikhatsi lesidze kangakanani? Kungenteka labaphristi bebacabanga kutsi ngeke akwati kumelana nabo. (1 Khos. 18:4, 19, 20) INkhosi Ahabi beyilapho, igibele inkalishi yayo yasebukhosini. Nayo beyimtondza Elija.

3, 4. (a) Kungani kungenteka kutsi Elija abetfuke kakhulu njengobe kucala lilanga lelibalulekile? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo?

³ Lomphrofethi labesolo ahleti yedvwa abelindzelwe lilanga lelehluke kunawo onkhe ekuphileni kwakhe. Njengobe abuka labantfu, bekati kutsi masinyane bebatawubona ngalokucacile kutsi ngubani lonemandla emkhatsini waNkulunkulu nebantfu lababi. Wativa njani ngesikhatsi sekuphakama lilanga? Kufanele kutsi abetfuke kakhulu ngobe “abengumuntfu lonemiva lefana neyetfu.” (Fundza Jakobe 5:17.) Lesingaciniseka ngako kutsi: Njengobe abetungeletwe bantfu labangakholwa, atungeletwe yinkhosi yabo lehlubukile, kanye nebaphristi labababulali, kufanele kutsi Elija wativa ayedvwa.​—1 Khos. 18:22.

⁴ Yini lebeyente sive saka-Israyeli saba kulenhlekelele lengaka? Lendzaba isitsintsa njani tsine? Cabanga ngesibonelo sekukholwa sa-Elija nekutsi singasisita njani lamuhla.

5, 6. (a) Nguyiphi inkinga sive saka-Israyeli lebesibhekene nayo? (b) INkhosi Ahabi beyimtfukutselise njani Jehova?

⁵ Kuko konkhe kuphila kwakhe, Elija watibona tiphela tintfo letinhle  ngelive lakubo nangebantfu bakubo, futsi kute labengakwenta. Sive saka-Israyeli besisenkingeni lenkhulu​—lokuyimphi emkhatsini wenkholo lehlantekile neyemanga, nasemkhatsini wekukhontwa kwaJehova Nkulunkulu nekukhonta bonkulunkulu baletinye tive. Emalangeni a-Elija, lenkinga beseyiyinkhulu kakhulu.

⁶ INkhosi Ahabi beyimtfukutselise kakhulu Jehova. Yashada Jezebeli, indvodzakati yenkhosi yaseSidoni. Jezebeli abetimisele kusakata kukhontwa kwaBhali eveni laka-Israyeli futsi afuna kucedza kukhontwa kwaJehova. Ngekushesha, Ahabi naye wahungeka kuloku. Wakha lithempeli nelilati laBhali, futsi wahamba embili ekukhonteni lonkulunkulu wemanga.​—1 Khos. 16:30-33.

7. (a) Yini lebeyenta kutsi kukhontwa kwaBhali kube kubi kangaka? (b) Mayelana nebudze besikhatsi sesomiso emalangeni a-Elija, kungani singaciniseka ngekutsi liBhayibheli alitiphikisi? (Fundza  nelibhokisi.)

⁷ Yini lebeyenta kukhontwa kwaBhali kube kubi kangaka? Kungenca yekutsi bekuhunge ema-Israyeli, kwawenta amshiya Nkulunkulu weliciniso. Lenkholo beyenyanyeka futsi icitsa ingati. Bekunalabadvuna nalabasikati lebebatingwadla tasethempelini, futsi beyifaka ekhatsi imicimbi yekulalana, ngisho nekunikelwa kwebantfwana njengemihlatjelo. Jehova watsatsa sinyatselo ngekutsi atfumele Elija ku-Ahabi kute amemetele somiso lebesitawuchubeka sikhona kuze kube ngulapho umphrofethi waNkulunkulu akhipha simemetelo sekuphela kwaso. (1 Khos. 17:1) Kwendlula iminyaka leminyenti ngembikwekutsi Elija aye ku-Ahabi futsi amtjele kutsi abutsele bantfu ndzawonye kanye nebaphrofethi baBhali eNtsabeni iKhameli. *

8. Indzaba yekukhontwa kwaBhali isitsintsa njani lamuhla?

⁸ Isho kutsini-ke lenkinga kitsi lamuhla? Labanye bangase bacabange kutsi indzaba lemayelana nekukhontwa kwaBhali ayisasebenti lamuhla ngenca yekutsi awekho emathempeli nemalati aBhali esikhatsini setfu. Kodvwa-ke lendzaba ayisiwo umlandvo nje longasho lutfo. (Rom. 15:4) Ligama lelitsi “Bhali” lisho “umnikati” nobe “inkhosi.” Jehova watjela bantfu bakhe kutsi bakhetse yena njengenkhosi nobe umnikati wabo. (Isa. 54:5) Awuvumi yini kutsi bantfu basachubeka bakhonta emakhosi lehlukahlukene esikhundleni sekutsi bakhonte Nkulunkulu Somandla? Ngisho nobe bantfu bangasebentisa kuphila kwabo kute baphishanekele imali, umsebenti, kutijabulisa, inkhanuko yekuya ecansini, nobe bakhonte labanye bonkulunkulu esikhundleni saJehova, basuke batikhetsela loko njengenkhosi. (Mat. 6:24; fundza Roma 6:16.) Ngemcondvo lotsite, tintfo letibalulekile lebetentiwa nakukhontwa Bhali tisabonakala kakhulu  nalamuhla. Kucabanga ngebantfu basendvulo lebekufanele bakhetse emkhatsini waJehova naBhali kusisita sente tincumo letihlakaniphile mayelana nekutsi ngubani lesitawumkhonta.

9. (a) Simo seNtsaba iKhameli sayenta njani kutsi ibe yindzawo lekahle yekwembula kukhontwa kwaBhali? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.) (b) Yini Elija layisho kubantfu?

⁹ Kuphakama kweNtsaba iKhameli bekwenta kube melula kubona letinye tindzawo​—kusukela esihosheni saseKhishoni kuya entansi eLwandle Lolukhulu (Lwandle iMedithera) lolusedvute, nasetintsabeni taseLebhanoni letisenyakatfo. * Kodvwa njengobe besekusile ngalelolanga lelibalulekile, kwacaca kutsi simo salendzawo besingasisihle.  Lendzawo lenotsile Jehova labeyinike bantfwana ba-Abrahama beyisibekelwe litfunti lekufa. Nyalo bese kulive lelomile ngenca yekushisa kwelilanga, futsi beyoniwe bubi bebantfu baNkulunkulu. Kwatsi lapho labantfu sebabutsana ndzawonye, Elija wasondzela kubo watsi: ‘Kuyawuze kube ngunini solomane nidziyatela emkhatsini wemicondvo lemibili? Nangabe Simakadze anguNkulunkulu, landzelani yena; kodvwa nangabe Bhali anguNkulunkulu, landzelani yena.’​—1 Khos. 18:21.

10. Bantfu bangesikhatsi sa-Elija ‘bebadziyatela emkhatsini wemicondvo lemibili’ ngayiphi indlela, futsi nguliphi liciniso lelibalulekile lebebalikhohliwe?

¹⁰ Abesho kutsini Elija ngalamavi latsi ‘kudziyatela emkhatsini wemicondvo lemibili’? Labantfu bebangaboni kutsi bekufanele bakhetse emkhatsini wekukhonta Jehova nekukhonta Bhali. Bebacabanga kutsi bangakwenta kokubili, bajabulise Bhali ngekwenta imikhosi leyenyanyekako bese kutsi ngesikhatsi lesifanako, bacele lusito kuJehova Nkulunkulu. Mhlawumbe bebacabanga nekutsi Bhali abetawubusisa labakulimako kanye nemfuyo yabo, bese “Nkulunkulu wemabutfo” ubavikela emphini. (1 Sam. 17:45) Bebakhohlwe liciniso lelibalulekile, lelo labanyenti lamuhla labasolo bangalicondzi. Jehova akafuni kutsi nakakhontwa ahlanganiswe nalabanye. Ufuna kukhontwa yedvwa futsi ukufanele loko. Nobe nguluphi luhlobo lwekumkhonta loluhlanganiswa naletinye tinhlobo tekukhonta alwemukeleki kuye, futsi luyenyanyeka.—Fundza Eksodusi 20:5.

11. Ucabanga kutsi emavi Elija lawasho eNtsabeni iKhameli angasisita njani kutsi siphindze sihlole tintfo letibalulekile kitsi kanye nekukhonta kwetfu?

¹¹ Lama-Israyeli ‘abedziyatela’ njengemuntfu lowetama kuhamba etindleleni letimbili ngesikhatsi sinye. Bantfu labanyenti lamuhla benta liphutsa lelifanako, bavumela lamanye emakhosi kutsi alawule kuphila kwabo, futsi akukhweshisele eceleni kukhonta Nkulunkulu. Kulalela sikhutsato sa-Elija lebesiphutfuma sekuyekela kudziyatela kungasisita kutsi siphindze sihlole tintfo letibalulekile kitsi kanye nekukhonta kwetfu.

12, 13. (a) Nguluphi luvivinyo Elija latsi alwentiwe? (b) Singaveta njani kutsi sinelitsemba njenga-Elija?

¹² Elija wabese utsi akwentiwe luvivinyo. Bekuluvivinyo lolumelula. Baphristi baBhali bekufanele bente lilati bese babeka umhlatjelo wabo kulo; ngemuva kwaloko bekufanele bathantaze kunkulunkulu wabo bamtjele kutsi okhele umlilo. Elija naye abetakwenta intfo lefanako. Watsi: “Lonkulunkulu loyawuphendvula ngemlilo, nguyena anguNkulunkulu sibili.” Bekati kahle kutsi ngubani longuNkulunkulu weliciniso. Kukholwa kwakhe kwakucine kakhulu kangangekutsi akazange esabe kunika baphikisi bakhe litfuba lelincono kakhulu. Wavuma kutsi labaphrofethi baBhali kube ngibo labacalako. Ngako  bakhetsa inkunzi lebebatayinikela base bakhuluma naBhali. *​—1 Khos. 18:24, 25.

¹³ Tsine asiphili esikhatsini setimangaliso. Nanobe kunjalo, Jehova akakashintji. Singametsemba ngendlela Elija labemetsemba ngayo. Sibonelo saloku kutsi nangabe labanye baphikisana naloko lokufundziswa liBhayibheli, akukafaneli sesabe kubavumela kutsi basho loko labakucabangako. Njenga-Elija, kufanele setsembele kuNkulunkulu weliciniso kutsi nguye longasilungisa simo. Loko singakwenta ngekutsi singatetsembi tsine, kodvwa setsembele eVini lakhe leliphefumulelwe lelibhalelwe ‘kulungisa’ tintfo.​—2 Thim. 3:16.

14. Nguyiphi indlela Elija lahlekisa ngayo ngebaphrofethi baBhali, futsi kungani enta njalo?

¹⁴ Baphrofethi baBhali bawulungisa umhlatjelo wabo base bamemeta nkulunkulu wabo. Bebasolo bamemeta batsi: “Hhawu, Bhali, siphendvule!” Kwaphela imizuzu leminyenti kanye nema-awa solo bamemeta. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Kodvwa kwabate imphendvulo; kute lowaphendvula.” Emini, Elija wacala kuhlekisa ngabo, ngekuphukuta watsi mhlawumbe Bhali umatasatasa kakhulu kutsi angabaphendvula, uyatikhulula endlini yangasese nobe uphumulile futsi lotsite kufanele amvuse. Watjela labakhohlisi watsi: “Memetani kakhulu!” Kuyacaca kutsi kukhonta Bhali wakubona njengentfo yekukhohlisa, futsi abefuna bantfu baNkulunkulu bakubone kutsi kukukhonta kwemanga.​—1 Khos. 18:26, 27.

15. Indzaba yebaphristi baBhali ibuveta njani bulima bekukhetsa lenye inkhosi ngaphandle kwaJehova?

¹⁵ Nabeva loku, baphristi baBhali bachubeka “bamemeta kakhulu, batisika ngemikhwa nangetinkemba njengekwelisiko labo, baze bopha ingati.” Kodvwa konkhe loko akuzange kubasite! “Kwabate imphendvulo, kute lowaphendvula, kute nalowanaka.” (1 Khos. 18:28, 29) Kwavele kwacaca kutsi Bhali abeyintfo lengekho. Abemane ayindlela yaSathane yekuyenga bantfu kute bashiye Jehova. Liciniso likutsi kukhetsa lenye inkhosi ngaphandle kwaJehova kuyajabhisana, futsi kuyahlazana.​—Fundza Tihlabelelo 25:3; 115:4-8.

16. (a) Kuvuselela kwa-Elija lilati laJehova eNtsabeni iKhameli kungenteka kwabakhumbutani bantfu? (b) Elija waveta njani kutsi uyametsemba Nkulunkulu wakhe?

¹⁶ Ntsambama, sefika sikhatsi sekutsi Elija anikele umhlatjelo wakhe. Wavuselela lilati laJehova lebelidzilitiwe, lokungenteka  ladzilitwa bantfu labangakufuni kukhonta lokuhlantekile. Wasebentisa ematje langu-12, mhlawumbe afuna kukhumbuta bantfu labanyenti betive letilishumi taka-Israyeli kutsi uMtsetfo lowawunikwe tive letingu-12 wawusasebenta nakubo. Wabese ulungisa umhlatjelo wakhe futsi konkhe wakutsela ngemanti, lokungenteka kutsi abewatfole eLwandle LwaseMedithera lobelusedvute. Wagubha nemsele lowatungeleta lelilati futsi wawugcwalisa ngemanti. Njengobe abevumele baphrofethi baBhali kutsi batfole konkhe lokuncono, akazange ente kanjalo ngaJehova, ngobe abemetsemba kakhulu Nkulunkulu wakhe.​—1 Khos. 18:30-35.

17. Umthantazo wa-Elija wakuveta njani loko lokwakubalulekile kuye, futsi singasilingisa njani sibonelo sakhe nasithantaza?

¹⁷ Ngesikhatsi konkhe sekulungile, Elija wathantaza. Nanobe umthantazo wakhe bewumelula, wasebenta ngobe wakuveta ngalokucacile loko lokwakubalulekile kuye. Kwekucala, abefuna bantfu bati kutsi Jehova nguye ‘longuNkulunkulu wema-Israyeli,’ hhayi Bhali. Kwesibili, abefuna bonkhe bati kutsi yena uyinceku yaJehova futsi lonkhe ludvumo nekubonga kufanele kuye kuNkulunkulu. Kwekugcina, waveta kutsi abebakhatsalela bantfu bakubo, ngobe abelangatelela kubona Jehova ‘agucula tinhlitiyo tabo.’ (1 Khos. 18:36, 37) Nangetulu kwako konkhe lokubi lebebakwentile ngenca yekungakholwa kwabo, Elija abesolo abatsandza. Nasithantaza kuNkulunkulu, singakuveta yini kutfobeka lokufanako, kukhatsateka kwetfu ngelibito laKhe kanye neluvelo lesinalo ngalabo labadzinga lusito?

18, 19. (a) Jehova wawuphendvula njani umthantazo wa-Elija? (b) Yini Elija latsi bantfu abayente, futsi kungani baphristi baBhali bebangakufaneli kuboniswa umusa?

¹⁸ Ngaphambi kwekutsi Elija athantaze, kungenteka bantfu labebalapho bebatibuta kutsi Jehova naye abetawubonakala ayintfo lengekho yini njengobe kwaba njalo ngaBhali. Kodvwa kwatsi nasathantazile, kwababete sidzingo sekutibuta. Lokulandzisa kutsi: “Umlilo waSimakadze wehlela etikwalomhlatjelo, wawushisa wawucedza kanye netinkhuni, nematje, nemhlabatsi, wakhotsisisa onkhe emanti labelapho emseleni.” (1 Khos. 18:38) Leyo kwaba yimphendvulo lemangalisako! Yini bantfu labayenta nababona loko?

¹⁹ Bonkhe bamemeta batsi: “Simakadze unguNkulunkulu! Simakadze unguNkulunkulu!” (1 Khos. 18:39) Ekugcineni balibona liciniso. Kodvwa-ke bebangakakubonisi kukholwa. Ecinisweni, kuvuma kutsi Jehova unguNkulunkulu weliciniso ngemuva kwekubona umlilo wehla ezulwini ngenca yemthantazo lowentiwe, bekungaveti kutsi banekukholwa  lokucinile. Ngako Elija wacela kutsi bente lokungetulu kwaloko. Wabacela kutsi bente loko lebekufanele ngabe bakwenta eminyakeni leminyenti lendlulile​—kulalela uMtsetfo waJehova. UMtsetfo waNkulunkulu bewutsi baphrofethi bemanga kanye nebantfu labakhonta titfombe bekufanele babulawe. (Dut. 13:5-9) Labaphristi baBhali bebatitsa taJehova Nkulunkulu futsi bebaphikisana nenjongo yakhe ngemabomu. Bebakufanela yini kuboniswa umusa? Bona bebawubonisile yini umusa kubantfwana labete licala lebebabashisa baphila njengemihlatjelo yaBhali? (Fundza Taga 21:13; Jer. 19:5) Labo bantfu bebangakufaneli nakancane kuboniswa umusa. Ngako Elija watsi ababulawe, futsi nguloko lokwenteka.​—1 Khos. 18:40.

20. Yini leyenta kutsi kukhatsateka bantfu balamuhla labaphikisako labanako mayelana nekutsi Elija wabulala baphristi baBhali kubete ingcondvo?

²⁰ Bantfu balamuhla labaphikisako bangase bakungabate loko lokwenteka eNtsabeni iKhameli. Labanye bangase bakhatsateke ngekutsi bantfu labashisekela inkholo bangasebentisa lendzaba njengemvume yekulwisana nebantfu baletinye tinkholo. Kuyadzabukisa kutsi lamuhla kunebantfu labanyenti labashisekela inkholo ngebudlova. Kodvwa Elija abengasinjalo. Abesebentela Jehova kute kukhishwe sehlulelo lesilungile. Ngetulu kwaloko, emaKhristu eliciniso ayati kutsi ngeke alingise Elija ngekutsi atsatse inkemba alwe nalababi. Esikhundleni saloko, alandzela umyalo lowanikwa bonkhe bafundzi baJesu Khristu ngesikhatsi yena akhuluma naPhetro atsi: “Buyisela inkemba yakho endzaweni yayo, ngobe labo labasebentisa inkemba bayawubhujiswa ngenkemba.” (Mat. 26:52) Jehova utawusebentisa iNdvodzana yakhe kuze aletse kulunga esikhatsini lesitako.

21. Kungani sibonelo sa-Elija sisebenta kumaKhristu eliciniso lamuhla?

²¹ UmKhristu weliciniso kufanele aphile ngekukholwa. (Joh. 3:16) Lenye indlela yekwenta njalo kulingisa sibonelo sebantfu labetsembekile njenga-Elija. Wakhonta Jehova kuphela futsi wakhutsata nalabanye kutsi bente lokufanako. Ngesibindzi, wayembula inkholo Sathane labeyisebentisa kute ayenge bantfu kutsi bashiye Jehova. Wametsemba Jehova kutsi abetawulungisa simo kunekutsi atetsembe yena kanye naloko lakutsandzako. Elija wakumelela kukhonta lokuhlantekile. Shengatsi sonkhe singakulingisa kukholwa kwakhe.