Xelisa Ukholo Lwabo

Wathuthuzelwa NguThixo Wakhe

UELIYA wayebaleka emvuleni njengoko kwakusiya kurhatyela. Kwakuza kufuneka ahambe umgama omde ngaphambi kokuba afike eYizereli, kwaye neminyaka yayisele ihambile. Wabaleka engadinwa, kuba wayexhaswa ‘sisandla sikaYehova.’ Amandla awayenawo wayengazange wanawo ngaphambili. Wade washiya amahashe awayerhuqa inqwelo kaKumkani uAhabhi.—1 Kumkani 18:46.

Ngoku uKumkani uAhabhi wayengabonakali nangotshengele yaye kwakusaza kufuneka ahambe umgama omde. Yiba nomfanekiso ngqondweni kaEliya enethwa yiloo mvula, ecamngca ngesona siganeko sibalulekileyo ebomini bakhe. Ngokungathandabuzekiyo, yayiluloyiso oluzukileyo kuThixo kaEliya, uYehova nakunqulo lokwenyaniso. Ngoku uEliya wayengayiboni intaba yeKarmele, apho uYehova wamsebenzisela ukulwa nonqulo lukaBhahali. Amakhulu abaprofeti bakaBhahali babhencwa njengamaxoki angendawo baza batshatyalaliswa. UEliya wathandaza kuYehova ukuba aphelise imbalela eyayithwaxe ilizwe iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha. Yana imvula!a—1 Kumkani 18:18-45.

Njengoko uEliya wayebaleka loo mgama weekhilomitha ezingama-30 esiya eYizereli, kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayecinga ukuba izinto ziza kutshintsha. Kwakuza kufuneka uAhabhi aguquke. Emva kokuba ebone loo mmangaliso, wayenyanzelekile ukuba aluyeke unqulo lukaBhahali, anqande umfazi wakhe, uIzebhele aze ayeke ukutshutshisa abakhonzi bakaYehova.

Xa izinto zibonakala zisihambela kakuhle, ithemba lethu lomelela ngakumbi. Sisenokucinga ukuba imeko yethu iza kuqhubeka itshintsha mhlawumbi nezona ngxaki zethu zinkulu zidlule. Ukuba uEliya wayecinga ngaloo ndlela, besingayi kothuka, kuba “wayengumntu oneemvakalelo ezinjengezethu.” (Yakobi 5:17) Enyanisweni, iingxaki zikaEliya zazingekazukuphela. Kwiiyure ezingephi uEliya wayeza koyika, adandatheke ngokokude anqwenele nokufa. Kwenzeka ntoni? UYehova wamnceda njani umprofeti wakhe ukuze omelele abe nokholo nenkalipho? Makhe sibone.

Ukutshintsha Kwezinto

Ukufika kuka-Ahabhi kwibhotwe lakhe eYizereli, ngaba waguquka waba ngumntu wokomoya? Sifunda oku: “UAhabhi waxelela uIzebhele konke oko kwakwenziwe nguEliya nendlela awababulala ngayo bonke abaprofeti ngekrele.” (1 Kumkani 19:1) Phawula ukuba xa uAhabhi ethetha ngeziganeko zalo mini akathethi ngoThixo kaEliya uYehova. Ekubeni uAhabhi wayibona ngeliso lenyama imimangaliso eyenzeka ngaloo mini—wathetha ngezinto ‘ezazenziwe nguEliya.’ Kucacile ukuba akazange afunde ukumhlonela uYehova uThixo. Kwaye wasabela njani uIzebhele?

Wayeligqabi ngumsindo! Wathumela esi sigidimi kuEliya: “Mabenjenje oothixo, baze bongeze ngolu hlobo, ukuba ngeli xesha ngomso andiyi kuwenza umphefumlo wakho ube njengomphefumlo wabo ngabanye!” (1 Kumkani 19:2) Esi yayisisisongelo sokufa esingathethekiyo. Kwakungathi uIzebhele wayefunga ngokuba uxolele ukufa ukuba wayengenakubulawa uEliya ngolo suku ngenxa yento awayeyenze kubaprofeti bakaBhahali. Khawube nomfanekiso ngqondweni kaEliya evuswa ebuthongweni ngobo busuku bunoqhwithela eYizereli exelelwa loo myalezo kakumkanikazi woyikisayo. Wamchaphazela njani?

Wonganyelwa Kukudimazeka Noloyiko

Ukuba uEliya wayecinga ukuba iphelile imfazwe nxamnye nabaprofeti bakaBhahali, wayewuphosile umhlola. Akukho nto yayinokumguqula uIzebhele. Inkoliso yoogxa bakaEliya yayisele ibulewe yaye kwakubonakala ukuba naye wayeza kulandela. IBhayibhile ithi: “Woyika.” Ngaba uEliya waba nomfanekiso ngqondweni wendlela awayeza kubulawa ngayo nguIzebhele? Ukuba kunjalo wayefanele ukoyika. Enokuba kuyintoni uEliya “wahamba ngenxa yomphefumlo wakhe”—wabaleka kuba efuna ukusindisa ubomi bakhe.—1 Kumkani 18:4; 19:3.

UEliya wayengeyondoda yokuqala yokholo ukonganyelwa luloyiko. Kamva nompostile uPetros waba nale ngxaki. Ngokomzekelo, xa uYesu wenza uPetros wahamba phezu kwamanzi, umpostile ‘wakhangela kwisaqhwithi somoya.’ Waphelelwa yinkalipho waza watshona. (Mateyu 14:30) Ngaloo ndlela umzekelo kaPetros noEliya usifundisa isifundo esibalulekileyo. Ukuba sifuna ukuhlala sikhaliphile, asimele sisoloko sicinga ngezinto ezisoyikisayo. Kufuneka sicamngce ngoMthombo wethemba lethu.

“Kwanele!”

Esoyika, uEliya wasaba waya emzantsi ntshona weBher-shebha eyayimalunga neekhilomitha ezili-150, idolophu ekumda osemazantsi akwaYuda. Wamshiya apho umlindi wakhe waza waya entlango yedwa. Ingxelo ithi wahamba “uhambo oluthabatha usuku,” sinokuba nomfanekiso ngqondweni wakhe enduluka ukuthi chapha kwelanga, kubonakala ukuba wayengenamphako. Wayedandathekile, esoyika, wafathula kuloo ntlango kwingqatsini yelanga. Njengoko ilanga lalisiya kunina, uEliya waphelelwa ngamandla. Edinwe eyimfe wahlala phantsi komthi—ekuphela komthunzi owawukho kuloo ntlango.—1 Kumkani 19:4.

UEliya wathandaza ephelelwe ngamacebo. Wacela ukufa. Wathi: “Andilunganga ngaphezu kookhokho bam.” Wayesazi ukuba ookhokho bakhe babeluthuli namathambo engcwabeni, babengenakukwazi ukunceda mntu. (INtshumayeli 9:10) UEliya wayeziva engento yanto. Akumangalisi ukuba wakhala wathi: “Kwanele!” Kutheni ndimele ndiqhubeke ndiphila?

Ngaba kufanele kusothuse ukuba indoda enqula uThixo idimazeke kangaka? Akunjalo. Iqela lamadoda nabafazi abathembekileyo ekuthethwa ngabo eBhayibhileni bakhe badimazeka kangangokuba banqwenela ukufa—baquka uRebheka, uYakobi, uMoses noYobhi.—Genesis 25:22; 37:35; Numeri 11:13-15; Yobhi 14:13.

Namhlanje, siphila ‘kumaxesha amanqam ekunzima ukujamelana nawo,’ ngoko akumangalisi ukuba abantu abaninzi, kwanabakhonzi bakaThixo abathembekileyo, beziva bedimazekile maxa wambi. (2 Timoti 3:1) Ukuba wakha waziva ukuloo meko, landela lo mzekelo kaEliya: Phalaza imbilini yakho kuThixo. Kuba uYehova ‘nguThixo wentuthuzelo yonke.’ (2 Korinte 1:3) Ngaba wamthuthuzela uEliya?

UYehova Wamomeleza Umprofeti Wakhe

Ucinga ukuba uYehova wayevakalelwa njani xa esezulwini ebona umprofeti wakhe elele phantsi komthi entlango ecela ukufa? Akuyomfuneko ukuba siqashele. Emva kokuba uEliya ebiwe bubuthongo, uYehova wathumela ingelosi yakhe. Ingelosi yamvusa ngobunono uEliya yaza yathi kuye: “Vuka, udle.” UEliya wavuka, kuba le ngelosi yayimphathele isonka esishushu namanzi. Mhlawumbi akazange ayibulele naloo ngelosi. Ingxelo ithi lo mprofeti watya waza wasela walala kwakhona. Ngaba wayedimazeke gqitha? Ingelosi yaphinda yamvusa okwesibini mhlawumbi xa kusithi qheke ukusa. Yaphinda yathi kuEliya, “Vuka, udle,” yaza yoleka isithi: “Kuba uhambo lude kakhulu kuwe.”—1 Kumkani 19:5-7.

Isebenzisa ulwazi eyayilunikwe nguThixo, le ngelosi yayisazi ukuba wayesiya phi uEliya. Kwakhona yayisazi ukuba uEliya wayengenawo amandla awaneleyo okuhamba loo mgama. Kuthuthuzela ngokwenene ukukhonza uThixo olwaziyo usukelo lwethu neentsilelo zethu. (INdumiso 103:13, 14) Kwamnceda njani uEliya oko kutya?

Sifunda oku: “Wavuka waza wadla wasela, kwaye womelezwa ngamandla eso sondlo iintsuku ezingamashumi amane nobusuku obungamashumi amane ukuya kufikelela entabeni yoThixo oyinyaniso, eHorebhe.” (1 Kumkani 19:8) NjengoMoses kwiinkulungwane ezintandathu ngaphambili noYesu kwiinkulungwane eziphantse zibe lishumi emva kwakhe, uEliya wazila ukutya iintsuku nobusuku obungama-40. (Eksodus 34:28; Luka 4:1, 2) Eso sidlo asizange siziphelise iingxaki zakhe, kodwa samhluthisa ngokungummangaliso ixesha elide. Khawube nomfanekiso ngqondweni wale ndoda esele ikhulile ifathula kuloo ntlango iintsuku ngeentsuku, iiveki ngeeveki phantse inyanga enesiqingatha.

UYehova uyabaxhasa abakhonzi bakhe nanamhlanje, kungekhona ngokutya okungummangaliso, kunoko ngendlela ebaluleke ngakumbi. Abakhonzi bakhe ubabonelela ngokutya kokomoya. (Mateyu 4:4) Ukufunda ngoThixo eLizwini lakhe nakwiimpapasho ezisekelwe eBhayibhileni kuyasomeleza ngokomoya. Ukuzondla ngokutya kokomoya okunjalo akunakuziphelisa zonke iingxaki zethu, kodwa kunokusinceda sinyamezele izinto ebesingenakuzinyamezela ngamandla ethu. Kwakhona kunokusinika “ubomi obungunaphakade.”—Yohane 17:3.

UEliya wahamba iikhilomitha eziphantse zibe ngama-320 wade waya kufika kwiNtaba yeHorebhe, awayekhe uYehova wavela kuMoses kuyo esebenzisa ingelosi etyholweni elivuthayo waza kamva wenza umnqophiso woMthetho noSirayeli. UEliya wahlala emqolombeni.

Indlela UYehova Amthuthuzela Namomeleza Ngayo Umprofeti Wakhe

Kwintaba yeHorebhe, “ilizwi” likaYehova—ekusenokwenzeka ukuba ladluliselwa yingelosi—labuza lo mbuzo: “Uyintoni na apha, Eliya?” Lo mbuzo umele ukuba wabuzwa ngobubele, kuba uEliya wawuthabatha njengethuba lokuzityand’ igila. Wenza kanye loo nto. Wathi: “Bendinekhwele ngokupheleleyo ngoYehova uThixo wemikhosi; kuba oonyana bakaSirayeli bawushiyile umnqophiso wakho, bazichithile izibingelelo zakho, nabaprofeti bakho bababulele ngekrele, kangangokuba ndim kuphela oseleyo; ibe baqalise ukufuna umphefumlo wam ukuze bawuthabathe.” (1 Kumkani 19:9, 10) Impendulo kaEliya iveza izizathu ezithathu ezazimenza adimazeke.

Okokuqala, uEliya wayevakalelwa kukuba usebenzele ilize. Nangona kangangeminyaka ‘wayenekhwele ngokupheleleyo’ ekukhonzeni uYehova, ebeka igama elingcwele likaThixo nonqulo lwakhe kwindawo yokuqala, uEliya wabona ukuba imeko yayisiya isiba mandundu. Abantu babengenalukholo bevukela, ngoxa unqulo lobuxoki lwaluthath’ unyawo. Okwesibini uEliya wayeziva elilolo. Wathi “ndim kuphela oseleyo” ngokungathi nguye kuphela owayekhonza uYehova kolo hlanga. Okwesithathu uEliya wayesoyika. Abanye oogxa bakhe abangabaprofeti babesele bebulewe, yaye wayecinga ukuba uza kulandela. Kwakusenokungabi lula ngoEliya ukuchaza iimvakalelo zakhe kodwa akazange avumele ikratshi okanye ukuziva ehlazekile kumongamele. Ngokuthandaza kuThixo, wabamisela umzekelo bonke abantu abathembekileyo.—INdumiso 62:8.

Wazilungisa njani uYehova izinto ezazixhalabisa uEliya? Ingelosi yaxelela uEliya ukuba eme esangweni lomqolomba. Wathobela engazi ukuba kuza kwenzeka ntoni. Kwabhudla umoya omkhulu. Umele ukuba wazitsho zavaleka iindlebe, kuba wazicanda phakathi iintaba neengxondorha. Yiba nomfanekiso ngqondweni kaEliya ezama ukugquma amehlo njengoko ebambe ingubo eyenziwe ngoboya kuloo moya wawuvuthuza. Wayegxadazela, kuba umhlaba waqalisa ukunyikima—ushukumisa wonke loo mmandla. Izibilini zakhe zazise phezulu xa kwavela umlilo omkhulu, wabuyela emqolombeni ukuze angatshi.—1 Kumkani 19:11, 12.

Kwimeko nganye, le ngxelo isikhumbuza ukuba uYehova wayengafumaneki kuzo zombini ezo zinto zibonisa amandla endalo angummangaliso. UEliya wayesazi ukuba uYehova wayengengothixo oyindalo, njengoBhahali, owayenqulwa ngabanquli bakhe besithi “nguMkhweli waMafu,” okanye umnisi wemvula. UYehova nguMthombo wawo onke amandla akwindalo, kodwa mkhulu kakhulu kunayo yonke indalo ayidalileyo. Namazulu awamlingenanga. (1 Kumkani 8:27) Zamnceda njani uEliya ezi zinto? Khumbula ukuba wayesoyika. Ekubeni wayexhaswa nguYehova onamandla, uEliya wayengafanele amoyike uAhabhi noIzebhele.—INdumiso 118:6.

Emva kwaloo mlilo, kwathi cwaka waza uEliya weva “ilizwi elizolileyo neliphantsi.” Limkhuthaza ukuba aphinde athethe kwakhona, wenjenjalo, ezityand’ igila isihlandlo sesibini.b Mhlawumbi loo nto yamnika esinye isiqabu. Ngokungathandabuzekiyo, uEliya wathuthuzelwa ngamazwi aphinda athethwa leli ‘lizwi lizolileyo liphantsi.’ UYehova waxelela uEliya ukuba wayengengomntu ongento yanto. Njani? UThixo wachaza injongo yakhe yokulwa unqulo lukaBhahali kwaSirayeli. Kucacile ukuba umsebenzi kaEliya wawungelolize, kuba injongo kaThixo yayihambela phambili. Ukongezelela koko, uEliya wayeyinxalenye yaloo njongo kuba uYehova waphinda wamthuma emnika nemiyalelo ecacileyo.—1 Kumkani 19:12-17.

Kuthekani ngokuziva kukaEliya elilolo? UYehova wenza izinto ezimbini ngale meko. Okokuqala, wayalela uEliya ukuba athambise uElisha njengomprofeti owayeza kungena ezihlangwini zakhe. Lo mfana wayeza kuba liqabane likaEliya aze amncedise iminyaka eliqela. Wayeza kuncedakala ngokwenene. Okwesibini uYehova wachaza ezi ndaba zichulumancisayo: “Ndishiye amawaka asixhenxe kwaSirayeli, onke amadolo angaguqanga kuBhahali, nayo yonke imilomo engakhange imange.” (1 Kumkani 19:18) UEliya wayengeyedwanga. Umele ukuba wavuya esakuva ngaloo mawaka abantu abathembekileyo abangazange bamnqule uBhahali. Wayefuneka ngokwenene uEliya kubo ukuze baqhubeke nenkonzo yabo, ababekele umzekelo ongagungqiyo wokunyaniseka kuYehova ngaloo maxesha obunzima. Umele ukuba uEliya wachukumiseka gqitha akuva loo mazwi ngengelosi kaYehova, ‘ilizwi elipholileyo neliphantsi’ likaThixo.

NjengoEliya, sinokoyikiswa ngamandla endalo, sibe sifanele. Indalo ibonakalisa amandla oMdali. (Roma 1:20) UYehova usakuthanda ukusebenzisa amandla akhe ukuze ancede abakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo. (2 Kronike 16:9) Noko ke, uThixo uthetha ngokucacileyo nathi esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe iBhayibhile. (Isaya 30:21) Ngandlela efanayo, iBhayibhile ifana nelo ‘lizwi lipholileyo liphantsi’ alisebenzisayo uYehova namhlanje ukuze asalathise, asilungise, asikhuthaze aze asiqinisekise ukuba uyasithanda.

Ngaba uEliya wayamkela intuthuzelo ayifumana kuYehova kwiNtaba yeHorebhe? Ngokungathandabuzekiyo! Wayebuyela emsebenzini wakhe kwakhona, ekhaliphile, ethembekile njengangokuya wayesilwa nonqulo lobuxoki. Ukuba nathi sithobela amazwi kaThixo aphefumlelweyo, ‘intuthuzelo yeZibhalo,’ siyakukwazi ukuxelisa ukholo lukaEliya.—Roma 15:4.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 19]

UYehova wamsikelela uEliya, ngamaxesha obunzima nobumnandi

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 20]

Edandathekile, uEliya waphalaza imbilini yakhe kuYehova

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 21]

UYehova wasebenzisa amandla akhe ukuze athuthuzele aze akhuthaze uEliya