1, 2. (a) Ninji pikhathabusa anthu mu ntsiku za Eliya? (b) Ndi kutcingwa kupi kudathimbana na Eliya pa Phiri ya Karmelo?

ELIYA akhayang’ana mwinji wa anthu mbukakwira mwakunentseka pa Phiri ya Karmelo. Ngakhale na nkhungu yakumacibese, pikhali pyakukhonda nentsa kuona kuthabuka kwa anthu anewa. Iwo akhathabuka thangwi ya cilala ca pyaka pitatu na hafu.

² Mwa anthu anewa, mukhagumanika aprofeta a Bhaale 450 akuti akhali akugaya na akudzikuza mbaida kakamwe mprofeta wa Yahova, Eliya. Nyanyi Yezabhele akhadapha atumiki azinji a Yahova, mbwenye Eliya nee asiya kuthimbana na anthu anewa akulambira Bhaale. Kodi iye mbadakwanisa kuakunda? Panango anyantsembe anewa akhanyerezera kuti munthu m’bodzi basi nee mbadakwanisa. (1 Ama. 18:4, 19, 20) Mambo Akabu akhaendambo pa phiri ineyi na gareta yace yaumambo. Pontho iye nee akhakomerwambo na Eliya.

3, 4. (a) Thangwi yanji panango Eliya akhagopa pang’ono mukhaeca kunja? (b) Ndi mibvundzo ipi inafuna kudzadinga ife?

³ Mprofeta Eliya akhali ekha pontho ntsiku ineyi ikhali yakunentsa kakamwe mu umaso wace. Pikhaona iye anthu mbakakwira pa Phiri ya Karmelo, adziwa kuti mbapadaoneka kuti mbani wamphambvu kakamwe pakati pa Mulungu na anthu anewa akuipa. Kodi iye akhapibva tani mukhaeca kunja? Nakuti akhali ‘munthu wa mabvero ninga athu,’ Eliya akhagopa. (Lerini Tyago 5:17.) Mbwenye tinakwanisa kudziwa cinthu cibodzi: Mukuzungulirwa na anyantsembe ausumankha anewa, anthu akusowa cikhulupiro na mambo wawo wakupanduka, Eliya apibva kuti akhali ekha.—1 Ama. 18:22.

⁴ Mphapo ninji cidacitisa Aisraele kugumanika pa nyatwa ineyi? Kodi cakucita ceneci cisatipfundzisanji? Tendeni tione citsandzo ca cikhulupiro ca Eliya, mbationa kuti cinatiphedza tani lero.

5, 6. (a) Kodi Aisraele akhali pa nkhondo ipi? (b) Mambo Akabu akhadacita cinthu cakuipa kakamwe pamaso pa Yahova munjira ipi?

⁵ M’pyaka pizinji pya umaso wace, Eliya akhaona ulambiri wandimomwene mbukapwazwa na iye nee mbadakwanisa kucinja makhaliro anewa. Mu ndzidzi uzinji, Aisraele akhali pa nkhondo toera kusankhula ulambiri wandimomwene peno wauthambi, kulambira Yahova Mulungu peno alungu  authambi akhalambirwa na anthu a madziko akuendekana nawo. Mu ntsiku za Eliya, ulambiri wauthambi ukhadanjipa kakamwe.

⁶ Mambo Akabu akhadacita cinthu cakuipa kakamwe pamaso pa Yahova thangwi yakumanga banja na Yezabhele mwana wa mambo wa ku Sidhoni. Yezabhele akhadatonga kumwaza ulambiri wa Bhaale n’dziko ya Israele na kumalisa ulambiri wa Yahova. Mwakukhonda dembuka, Akabu atowererambo maonero a nkazace. Iye amanga templo na guwa ya ntsembe kuna Bhaale mbatsogolera anthu toera kulambira mulungu unoyu wauthambi.—1 Ama. 16:30-33.

7. (a) Ninji cidacitisa ulambiri wa Bhaale kukhala wakuipa kakamwe? (b) Thangwi ya ndzidzi wa cilala ca mu ntsiku za Eliya, thangwi yanji tinakwanisa kunyindira kuti pinalonga Bhibhlya pisabverana? (Phatanizanimbo  bokosi.)

⁷ Ninji cidacitisa ulambiri wa Bhaale kukhala wakuipa kakamwe? Ulambiri unoyu ukhanyengerera Aisraele azinji toera kusiya kulambira Mulungu wandimomwene. Pontho ukhali ulambiri wakunyanyasa kakamwe na wausumankha, thangwi anthu akhalambira Bhaale akhacitambo pyaulukwali ninga tsendzo na kupereka ntsembe za ana. Na thangwi ineyi, Yahova atuma Eliya toera kadziwisa Akabu kuti kunadzaoneka cilala mpaka mprofeta wa Mulungu kulonga ntsiku yakumala. (1 Ama. 17:1) Pakupita pyaka pizinji, Eliya aenda pontho kuna Akabu mbampanga kuti agumanye mbumba na aprofeta a Bhaale pa Phiri ya Karmelo. *

8. Kodi cakucitika cinalonga pya ulambiri wa Bhaale cisabvekanji kwa ife lero?

⁸ Kodi cakucitika ceneci cisabvekanji kwa ife lero? Anango asanyerezera kuti cakucitika cinalonga pya ulambiri wa Bhaale ndi cakusowa basa, thangwi nee tisaona matemplo na maguwa a Bhaale lero. Mbwenye cakucitika ceneci nee ndi cakusowa basa. (Aroma 15:4) Fala yakuti ‘Bhaale’ isabveka “mwanaciro” peno “mbuya.” Yahova apanga mbumba yace kuti akhafunika kusankhula iye ninga ‘bhaale’ peno ninga mamuna wawo. (Iza. 54:5) Kodi nee musatawira kuti anthu akupitiriza kutumikira ambuya anango azinji kusiyapo Mulungu Wamphambvu Zonsene? Munjira inaphatisira anthu umaso wawo toera kukhala na kobiri, basa, tsendzo na kucita ulukwali peno kulambira alungu azinji kusiyapo Yahova, iwo akusankhula mbuya. (Mat. 6:24; lerini Aroma 6:16.) Munjira inango, makhundu mazinji a ulambiri wa Bhaale asapitiriza mpaka lero. Kunyerezera kuthimbana kudacitika pakati pa Yahova na Bhaale kunatiphedza toera kucita pisankhulo pyandzeru thangwi ya ule anafuna ife kutumikira.

9. (a) Thangwi yanji makhaliro a Phiri ya Karmelo akhali akuthema kupangiza kuti Bhaale ndi mulungu wauthambi? (Onanimbo cidzindikiro capantsi.) (b) Kodi Eliya alonganji kuna mbumba?

⁹ Na pa Phiri ya Karmelo mphyakukwanisika kuona mbuto zizinji—kubulukira ku thawala ya Kisoni mpaka ku Bara Ikulu (Bara ya Mediteraniya) yakuti ikhali cifupi na mapiri a Libano kukhundu ya kunkwiriro. * Mu ndzidzi ukhabuluka dzuwa, pikhaoneka pakweca kuti nzinda ukhali pa nyatwa ikulu. Mataka a ndimu akhadapaswa Aisraele na Yahova nee akhabulukabve pinthu. Cincino akhali mataka akuuma na dzuwa, pyonsene ndi thangwi ya upswiru wa mbumba ya Mulungu! Mukhagumanyikana anthu, Eliya aafendedzera mbalonga: ‘Munapenula mpaka lini? Khala Yahova ndi Mulungu wandimomwene, ntowerereni; mbwenye khala ndi Bhaale ntowerereni.’—1 Ama. 18:21.

10. Kodi anthu a mu ntsiku za Eliya ‘akhapenula’ munjira ipi, pontho ndi undimomwene upi ukhadaduwala iwo?

 ¹⁰ Kodi Eliya akhafuna kulonganji na fala yakuti ‘kupenula’? Mwandimomwene, anthu anewa nee akhakwanisa kusiyanisa pakati pa kulambira Yahova na kulambira Bhaale. Iwo akhanyerezera kuti mbadakwanisa kucita pinthu piwiri—kukomeresa Bhaale mukucita misambo yakuipa, mu ndzidzi ubodzi ene mbaphemba ciphedzo kuna Yahova Mulungu. Panango akhanyerezera kuti Bhaale mbadapasa nkhombo pyakulima na pifuyo pyawo, mu ndzidzi ubodzi ene ‘Yahova wa anyankhondo’ mbaatsidzikiza kunkhondo. (1 Sam. 17:45) Mbwenye iwo akhadaduwala undimomwene wakufunika, wakuti azinji lero nee asaubvesesa: Yahova nkhabe kugawana ulambiri wace na munthu unango. Iye asaphemba na athema ulambiri wakukhonda gawika. Ulambiri onsene unacitirwa iye, mbubvungazika na unango nee asautawira, pontho usantsukwalisa!—Lerini Eksodo 20:5.

11. Kodi pidalonga Eliya pa Phiri ya Karmelo pinatiphedza tani toera kudinga pinthu pinaikha ife pa mbuto yakutoma na ulambiri wathu?

¹¹ Natenepa, Aisraele ‘akhapenula’ ninga munthu anayesera kutowerera njira ziwiri mu ndzidzi ubodzi ene. Azinji lero asacitambo madawo mabodzi ene, mukutawirisa kuti “abhaale” acite khundu mwapang’o-pang’ono mu umaso wawo, mbasiya kulambira Mulungu. Kubvera cenjezo yakufunika ya Eliya yakukhonda kupenula kunatiphedza toera kudinga pinaikha ife pa mbuto yakutoma na ulambiri wathu.

12, 13. (a) Kodi ndi mayesero api adanyerezera Eliya? (b) Tinapangiza tani kuti tisanyindira Yahova ninga pikhacita Eliya?

¹² Buluka penepo, Eliya anyerezera kucita mayesero toera kupangiza kuti mbani athema kulambirwa. Anyantsembe a Bhaale akhafunika kukhunganya guwa mbaikhapo ntsembe; buluka penepo akhafunika kucita phembero kuna mulungu wawo toera kupisa ntsembe. Eliya akhafunikambo kucita pibodzi pyene. Iye alonga: ‘Mulungu anatawira mukuphatisira moto ndiye Mulungu wandimomwene.’ Eliya akhadziwa mwadidi kuti mbani Mulungu wandimomwene. Cikhulupiro cace cikhali cakuwanga kakamwe kwakuti nee anyinyirika kupasa mwai anyamalwa ace. Iye apanga aprofeta a Bhaale toera atome. Natenepa, iwo asankhula ng’ombe yawo yadidi mbatoma kuphemba Bhaale. *—1 Ama. 18:24, 25.

¹³ Lero, pirengo nee pisacitikabve. Mbwenye Yahova nee acinja. Ife tinakwanisa kukhala na cinyindiro consene kuna iye ninga cikhali na  Eliya. Mwacitsandzo, anango angakhonda pinapfundzisa Bhibhlya, ife nee tisafunika kugopa kuasiya toera atome kulonga maonero awo. Ninga Eliya, ife tinakwanisa kunyindira Mulungu wandimomwene toera kutsalakana nkhani ineyi. Tisacita pyenepi, tayu mukunyindira mphambvu zathu, mbwenye mukuphatisira Mafalace akupumirwa, akuti ali na cifuniro ‘cakulungamisa pinthu.’—2 Tim. 3:16.

14. Kodi Eliya asingirira tani aprofeta a Bhaale, pontho thangwi yanji?

¹⁴ Aprofeta a Bhaale atoma kukhunganya ntsembe mbaphemba mulungu wawo. Iwo akhaphemba mwakubwereza-bwereza, ‘Bhaale, tibvesere!’ Iwo acita pyenepi mu ndzidzi uzinji. Mbwenye Bhibhlya isalonga: ‘Nee pabveka fala, pontho nee m’bodzi aatawira.’ Acita pyenepi mpaka masikati, natenepa Eliya atoma kuasingirira mukulonga mwakupwaza kuti panango Bhaale aphatika na pinango, peno aenda kucimbudzi, peno ali pa ulendo, peno akugona na asafuna munthu toera kumulamusa. Mbalonga pontho kuna iwo kuti: “Khuwisani mafala.” Mwandimomwene, Eliya akhadziwa kuti ulambiri wa Bhaale ndi wauthambi, pontho akhafuna kuti Aisraele adzindikire okhene pyenepi.—1 Ama. 18:26, 27.

15. Kodi pidacitikira anyantsembe a Bhaale pisapangiza tani kuti ndi kusowa ndzeru kusankhula mbuya unango kusiyapo Yahova?

¹⁵ Natenepa, anyantsembe a Bhaale aipirwa, mbatoma ‘kukhuwa kakamwe, mbacekeka-cekeka na mipeni na pida pyawo pinango mwakubverana na misambo yawo, mpaka ciropa kuyerera m’manungo mwawo.’ Mbwenye pyonsene pikhali kulemba m’madzi thangwi nee ‘pabveka fala, pontho nee m’bodzi aatawira peno kuabvesera.’ (1 Ama. 18:28, 29) Mwandimomwene, Bhaale nee akhalipo. Iye akhaphatisirwa na Sathani toera kupeusa atumiki a Yahova. Undimomwene ndi wakuti kusankhula mbuya unango kusiyapo Yahova kusabweresa nyatwa, ngakhale manyadzo.—Lerini Masalmo 25:3; 115:4-8.

16. (a) Kodi munjira ikhakhunganya Eliya guwa toera kupereka ntsembe kuna Yahova pa Phiri ya Karmelo, pyakumbusanji Aisraele? (b) Kodi Eliya apangiza tani kuti akhanyindira Mulungu wace?

¹⁶ Namaulo, wafika ndzidzi toera Eliya apereke ntsembe. Iye akhunganya guwa toera kupereka ntsembe kuna Yahova yakuti ikhadafudzwa na anyamalwa aulambiri wandimomwene. Iye aphatisira miyala 12, panango toera kukumbusa madzindza 10 a mbumba ya Israele kuti akhafunika kupitiriza kubvera Mwambo wa Mose. Buluka penepo aikha  ntsembe mbaitotesa na madzi akuti panango aatunga m’Bara ya Mediteraniya yakuti ikhali cifupi na mbuto ineyi. Pontho akumba nkhundu-nkhundu mwa guwa mbadzadza madzi. Eliya akhadapasa mwai aprofeta a Bhaale toera kucita pyonsene pinakwanisa iwo toera moto ugake. Mbwenye kwa iye acita pinthu pyakunentsa, thangwi akhanyindira Mulungu wace.—1 Ama. 18:30-35.

17. Kodi phembero ya Eliya yapangiza kuti akhaikha pa mbuto yakutoma pinthu pipi, pontho tinatowezera tani citsandzo cace m’maphembero athu?

¹⁷ Pidamala iye kucita pyonsene, Eliya acita phembero yakuphata ntima, mbipangiza pakweca pikhaikha iye pa mbuto yakutoma. Cakutoma, iye akhafuna anthu adziwe kuti Yahova akhali “Mulungu wa Israele,” tayu Bhaale. Caciwiri, akhafuna anthu onsene adziwe kuti iye akhali basi ene ntumiki wa Yahova; mbwenye mbiri na kusimbwa konsene pikhafunika kupaswa Mulungu. Cakumalisa, apangiza kuti akhapitiriza kutsalakana mbumba ya Yahova, thangwi akhafuna kakamwe kuona Yahova mbakacitisa anthu ‘kucinja mitima yawo.’ (1 Ama. 18:36, 37) Mwakukhonda tsalakana madodo awo na kukhonda khulupirika kwawo, Eliya akhapitiriza kuafuna. Kodi m’maphembero athu kwa Mulungu, tisapangizambo kucepeseka kubodzi kwene, mukudzudzumika thangwi ya dzina ya Mulungu na kubvera ntsisi ale anafuna ciphedzo?

18, 19. (a) Kodi Yahova atawira tani phembero ya Eliya? (b) Kodi Eliya apanga anthu toera acitenji, pontho thangwi yanji anyantsembe a Bhaale nee akhafunika kubverwa ntsisi?

¹⁸ Eliya mbadzati kucita phembero, panango anthu akhanyerezera kuti Yahova nee mbadakwanisa kugasa moto, ninga pidacita Bhaale. Mbwenye pakumala kucita phembero, kupenula kwawo kwamala. Bhibhlya isalonga: ‘Penepo pene wabwera moto wa Yahova, mbupisa ntsembe, nkhuni na miyala ene; mbuumisambo madzi akhali n’djenje.’ (1 Ama. 18:38) Unoyu ukhali ntawiro wakumalisa kuketesana. Kodi mbumba yacitanji?

¹⁹ Onsene akhuwa: ‘Yahova ndi Mulungu wandimomwene! Yahova ndi Mulungu wandimomwene!’ (1 Ama. 18:39) Natenepa anthu anewa adzindikira undimomwene. Mbwenye nee akhadzati kupangiza cikhulupiro. Mwakukhonda penula, kulonga kwawo kuti Yahova ndi Mulungu wandimomwene pakuona moto wakubuluka kudzulu thangwi ya phembero, nee cikhali cipangizo cakuti ali na cikhulupiro. Ndi thangwi yace Eliya aaphemba kuti apangize cikhulupiro cawo munjira inango.  Iye aaphemba kuti acite pikhafunika iwo kucita kale—kubvera Mwambo wa Yahova. Mwambo wa Mulungu ukhalonga kuti aprofeta authambi na anyakulambira alungu apezi akhafunika kuphiwa. (Deut. 13:5-9) Anyantsembe anewa a Bhaale akhali anyamalwa a Yahova Mulungu, pontho akhacita pinthu pyakukhonda komeresa Yahova mwacakhomo. Kodi iwo akhathema kubverwa ntsisi? Nkhabe, thangwi iwo nee akhabvera ntsisi ana akusowa mathangwi akhapisa iwo mbali maso ninga ntsembe kuna Bhaale. (Lerini Misangani 21:13; Yer. 19:5) Mwakukhonda penula, amuna anewa nee akhadathema kubverwa ntsisi! Natenepa, Eliya atonga kuti aphiwe, natenepa aphiwadi.—1 Ama. 18:40.

20. Thangwi yanji pinalonga anyakupokanya thangwi ya Eliya kupha kwace anyantsembe a Bhaale ndi pyakusowa basa?

²⁰ Anyakupokanya ntsiku zino anakwanisa kulonga kuti kuphiwa kwa aprofeta a Bhaale pa Phiri ya Karmelo nee pikhali pyakulungama. Anango asadzudzumika kuti pidacitika pa phiri ineyi pinakwanisa kucitisa anthu anango kuphatisira cakucitika ceneci toera kuthabusa anthu auphemberi unango. Pontho mphyakutsukwalisa kuti pana mauphemberi mazinji lero akuti asathabusa andzawo. Mbwenye Eliya akhali wakusiyana. Iye akhaphedzera kutonga kwakulungama kwa Yahova. Kusiyapo pyenepi, Akristu andimomwene asadziwa kuti nkhabe funika kutowezera pidacita Eliya mukuphata cida toera kupha anthu akuipa. M’mbuto mwace, iwo asatowezera n’dida wa anyakupfundza onsene a Yezu unagumanika m’mafalace kuna Pedhru: ‘Ikha pontho supada yako pa mbuto pace, thangwi anthu onsene anakwata supada, anadzafa na supada.’ (Mat. 26:52) Yahova anadzaphatisira Mwanace toera kubweresa ulungami ntsogolo.

21. Thangwi yanji citsandzo ca Eliya ndi cakuthema kutowezerwa na Akristu andimomwene lero?

²¹ Basa ya Akristu andimomwene ndi kupangiza cikhulupiro kubulukira m’makhaliro athu. (Jwau 3:16) Njira ibodzi toera kucita pyenepi ndi kutowezera amuna akukhulupirika ninga Eliya. Iye akhalambira Yahova basi na kuphedza anango toera kucitambo pibodzi pyene. Mwacipapo, iye apangiza pakweca kuti uphemberi ukhaphatisira Sathani toera kupeusa mbumba ya Yahova ukhali wauthambi. Pontho akhanyindira Yahova toera kusasanyira pinthu, mbuto mwakunyindira maluso na cifuno cace. Eliya atsidzikiza ulambiri wandimomwene. Natenepa, tonsene tisafunika kutowezera cikhulupiro cace!