Umbuso wezizwe eziyishumi zakwa-Israyeli waba namakhosi amaningi amabi, kodwa eyayiyimbi kakhulu kwakungu-Ahabi. Washada nowesifazane okhohlakele owayekhonza uBhali. Igama lakhe kwakunguJezebeli. U-Ahabi noJezebeli bagcwalisa izwe ngezikhonzi zikaBhali futhi babulala abaprofethi bakaJehova. Wenzani uJehova ngalokhu? Wathumela umprofethi u-Eliya ukuba anikeze u-Ahabi umyalezo.

U-Eliya watshela inkosi u-Ahabi ukuthi ngenxa yobubi bakhe, ngeke ibekhona imvula kwa-Israyeli. Kwaphela iminyaka emithathu kungamili lutho futhi abantu balamba. UJehova waphinde wathumela u-Eliya ku-Ahabi. Inkosi yathi: ‘Wena uyinkinga! Konke lokhu kubangelwe nguwe.’ U-Eliya waphendula wathi: ‘Akumina obangele lesi somiso. Nguwe osibangele ngokukhonza uBhali. Ukuze sibone ukuthi yimuphi uNkulunkulu weqiniso, qoqela isizwe nabaprofethi bakaBhali phezulu eNtabeni iKarmeli.’

Bahlangana abantu entabeni. U-Eliya wathi: ‘Khethani oyedwa. Uma uJehova enguNkulunkulu weqiniso khonzani yena. Uma kunguBhali, khonzani yena. Khethani. Abaprofethi bakaBhali abangu-450 kufanele balungise umhlatshelo bese bebiza unkulunkulu wabo, nami ngizolungisa umhlatshelo ngibize uJehova. UNkulunkulu ozowushisa umhlatshelo nguye onguNkulunkulu weqiniso.’ Abantu bavuma.

Abaprofethi bakaBhali balungiselela umhlatshelo. Babiza unkulunkulu wabo usuku lonke bethi: ‘O Bhali, siphendule!’ Lapho uBhali engaphenduli, u-Eliya wahlekisa ngaye. Wathi: ‘Memezani kakhulu. Mhlawumbe ulele, kudingeka othile amvuse.’ Abaprofethi bakaBhali bambiza kwaze kwahlwa. Kodwa akaphendulanga.

U-Eliya wabeka umhlatshelo wakhe phezu kwe-altare futhi wawuthela ngamanzi. Wabe esethandaza ethi: ‘O Jehova, ngicela wenze laba bantu bazi ukuthi wena unguNkulunkulu weqiniso.’ Ngokushesha nje uJehova wathumela umlilo uvela ezulwini ukuze ushise umhlatshelo. Abantu bamemeza:  ‘UJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso!’ U-Eliya wathi: ‘Vimbani abaprofethi bakaBhali, ningabavumeli babaleke!’ Ngalolo suku, abaprofethi abangu-450 bakaBhali babulawa.

Lapho kuvela ifu elincane, u-Eliya wathi ku-Ahabi: ‘Imvula iyeza. Gibela inqola yakho uhambe.’ Isibhakabhaka saba namafu amnyama, kwaba nomoya, kwabe sekuna imvula enkulu. Ekugcineni saphela isomiso. U-Ahabi washaya amahhashi akhe ukuze agijime kakhulu. UJehova wasiza u-Eliya wagijima wayidlula inqola ka-Ahabi! Ingabe zonke izinkinga zika-Eliya zase ziphelile? Ake sibone.