1, 2. (a) Kasi ŵanthu mu nyengo ya Eliya ŵakasuzgika na vichi? (b) Kasi Eliya wakakumana na ŵanthu wuli pa Phiri la Karimeli?

ZUŴA linyake mulenjilenji, Eliya wakalaŵiska ŵanthu awo ŵakakweranga Phiri la Karimeli. Nangauli kukaŵa kachidima, kweni ŵanthu aŵa ŵakawonekerangathu kuti ŵakaŵa ŵakavu kweniso ŵanjara. Ŵanthu aŵa ŵakasuzgika nthena chifukwa cha chilangalanga icho chikachitika vyaka vitatu na hafu.

² Pakati pa ŵanthu aŵa pakaŵa ntchimi za Baala zakukwana 450 izo zikaŵa zakujitemwa kweniso zikamutinkhanga chomene Eliya, ntchimi ya Yehova. Fumukazi Yezebeli yikaŵa kuti yakoma kale ŵateŵeti ŵanandi ŵa Yehova, kweni Eliya wakasunkhunyika yayi pakwimikana na kusopa Baala. Kweni kasi wakima kwa utali wuli? Panyake ŵasembe ŵa Baala ŵakaghanaghananga kuti munthu yumoza wangaŵaluska yayi. (1 Mathe. 18:4, 19, 20) Themba Ahabu nalo likiza pa gileta lake lachifumu. Ahabu nayo wakamutinkhanga Eliya.

3, 4. (a) Chifukwa wuli Eliya wakwenera kuti wakachita wofi apo zuŵa lapadera likafika? (b) Kasi tiwonenge mafumbo wuli?

³ Pa nyengo iyi, Eliya yekha ndiyo wakasopanga Chiuta waunenesko, ndipo wakaŵa pafupi kukumana na vinthu ivyo vikaŵa kuti vindamuchitikirepo. Apo Eliya wakawonanga ŵanthu ŵakukwera phiri, wakamanya kuti nyengo yakwana yakuti uyo ngwankhongono wamanyikwe, pakati pa Chiuta na ŵanthu ŵaheni ŵara. Kasi wakajipulika wuli nyengo yira yikati yakwana? Eliya wakawopa, chifukwa nayo “wakaŵa munthu nga ndise.” (Ŵerengani Yakobe 5:17.) Icho tikumanya ntchakuti Eliya wakawonanga kuti wali yekha, chifukwa wakazingilizgika na ŵanthu ŵambura chipulikano, themba lawo lakugaluka, na ŵasembe awo ŵakakomanga ŵanthu.—1 Mathe. 18:22.

⁴ Kasi chikachitika ntchivichi kuti Ŵaisrayeli ŵaŵe mu suzgo? Ndipo kasi nkhani iyi yikumukhwaskani wuli imwe? Wonani umo Eliya wakalongolera chipulikano kweniso umo nase chingatovwilira mazuŵa ghano.

5, 6. (a) Kasi Ŵaisrayeli ŵakaŵa na suzgo wuli? (b) Kasi Themba Ahabu likachita vichi ivyo vikamukwiyiska Yehova?

⁵ Nyengo yitali, Eliya wakawona kuti ŵanthu ŵakuŵikako mahara  yayi ku kusopa kwaunenesko. Ŵaisrayeli ŵakatondekanga kusankha pakati pa chisopa chaunenesko na chautesi. Ŵakasopanga ŵachiuta ŵatesi, kuleka Yehova Chiuta. Mu nyengo ya Eliya, kusopa vikozgo kukafika paheni chomene.

⁶ Themba Ahabu likamukwiyiska chomene Yehova. Likatora Yezebeli, mwana wa themba la Sidoni. Yezebeli wakakhumbanga kuti ŵanthu wose mu charu cha Israyeli ŵasopenge Baala, ŵaleke kusopa Yehova. Ahabu wakakaŵa yayi kupusikika na muwoli wake. Wakazengera Baala tempile na jotchero, ndipo ndiyo wakaŵa panthazi kusindamira ngoza uyu.—1 Mathe. 16:30-33.

7. (a) Chifukwa wuli Chiuta wakatinkhanga chisopa cha Baala? (b) Kasi Baibolo likujisuska pakuyowoya vya utali wa nyengo iyo kukaŵa chilangalanga mu nyengo ya Eliya? Longosorani. (Yowoyanipo fundo za mu  bokosi.)

⁷ Chifukwa wuli Chiuta wakatinkhanga chisopa cha Baala? Chisopa cha Baala chikapuluska Ŵaisrayeli, ndipo ŵakamuleka Chiuta waunenesko. Kweniso chikaŵa chisopa chakuseluska na chankhaza. Chikachiskanga ŵanalume na ŵanakazi kuŵa mahule gha pa tempile, pakaŵanga chifwilimbiti cha kugonana, kweniso ŵakapelekanga ŵana kuŵa sembe. Yehova wakatuma Eliya kwa Ahabu kukamuphalira kuti kuŵenge chilangalanga m’paka apo ntchimi ya Chiuta iyi yizamuyowoyera kuti vula yiwe. (1 Mathe. 17:1) Pakati pajumpha vyaka vinandi, Eliya wakiza kwa Ahabu na kumuphalira kuti wawunganye ŵanthu pamoza na ntchimi za Baala pa Phiri la Karimeli. *

8. Kasi nkhani ya kusopa Baala yikutikhwaska wuli mazuŵa ghano?

⁸ Kasi ise tikusambirapo vichi pa suzgo ilo Ŵaisrayeli ŵakaŵa nalo? Ŵanthu ŵanyake ŵangaghanaghana kuti nkhani ya kusopa Baala yilije ntchito mazuŵa ghano. Ŵangati lero kulije matempile na majotchero gha Baala. Kweni nkhani iyi ni mbiri waka yayi. (Rom. 15:4) Lizgu lakuti “Baala” likung’anamura “mweneko” panji “bwana.” Lekani Yehova wakaphalira ŵanthu ŵake kuti ŵamusankhe kuŵa “baala” wawo, panji mfumu wawo. (Yes. 54:5) Kasi muli kuwonapo kuti ŵanthu ŵakuteŵetera mabwana ghanandi m’malo mwa Chiuta Wankhongonozose? Chilichose icho munthu wakuŵikapo mtima chomene, kwali ni ndalama, ntchito, vyakusanguluska, vyakugonana, panji ŵachiuta, m’malo mwa kusopa Yehova, chinthu icho ndicho ni bwana wake. (Mat. 6:24; ŵerengani Ŵaroma 6:16.) Panji tiyowoye kuti, vinandi ivyo vikachitikanga pakusopa Baala, vichali kuchitika mazuŵa ghano. Ntheura tingachita makora  kusambira nkhani ya kusopa Yehova na Baala iyo yikaŵapo, chifukwa vitovwirenge kuti tisankhe makora uyo timuteŵeterenge.

9. (a) Chifukwa wuli Phiri la Karimeli ghakaŵa malo ghawemi ghakususkirako awo ŵakasopanga Baala? (Wonaniso mazgu ghamusi.) (b) Kasi Eliya wakayowoya vichi ku ŵanthu?

⁹ Para munthu wimilira pachanya pa Phiri la Karimeli wakawonanga tunandi. Wakawonanga dambo la Kishoni ilo likaŵa musi mwa phiri m’paka ku Nyanja Yikuru (Nyanja ya Meditereniyani) iyo yikaŵa kufupi. Kweniso wakawonanga mapiri gha Lebanoni cha kumpoto. * Kweni apo zuŵa likakweranga, vikawoneka kuti charu chikaŵa mu  suzgo. Charu ichi pakwamba chikaŵa chiwemi chomene ndipo Yehova wakachipeleka ku ŵana ŵa Abrahamu, kweni sono chikanangika. Charu chikawomira uheni na muhanya, chifukwa cha uchindere wa ŵanthu ŵa Chiuta. Ŵanthu ŵara ŵakati ŵawungana, Eliya wakiza pafupi na kuyowoya kuti: “Kasi mukolenge manthanga m’paka pawuli? Usange Yehova ni Chiuta waunenesko, mulondezgani. Kweni usange ni Baala, mulondezgani.”—1 Mathe. 18:21.

10. Kasi ŵanthu mu nyengo ya Eliya ‘ŵakakora wuli manthanga,’ ndipo ŵakaluwa fundo wuli yakuzirwa?

¹⁰ Kasi Eliya wakang’anamurangachi pakuyowoya kuti “mukolenge manthanga m’paka pawuli”? Ŵanthu ŵara ŵakamanyanga yayi kuti ŵakeneranga kusankhapo chimoza, kusopa Yehova panji Baala. Iwo ŵakawonanga kuti ŵangachita vyose nyengo yimoza. Ŵakatenge ŵangakondweska Baala pakuchita ivyo wakakhumbanga, kweniso ŵangapempha Yehova Chiuta kuti waŵawovwire. Panyake ŵakaghanaghananga kuti Baala watumbikenge mbuto zawo na viŵeto vyawo, ndipo “Yehova wa mawumba” waŵavikilirenge pa nkhondo. (1 Sam. 17:45) Ŵakaluwa fundo yakuzirwa iyo m’paka sono ŵanthu ŵanandi ŵakuyimanya yayi. Fundo yake njakuti, Yehova wakukhumba yayi kuti ŵanthu ŵasopenge iyo na munthu munyake panyengo yimoza. Yehova wakukhumba kuti ŵanthu ŵasopenge iyo pera. Wakukwiya chomene usange munthu uyo wakumusopa, wakusopaso munthu panji chinthu chinyake.—Ŵerengani Ekisodo 20:5.

11. Kasi ivyo Eliya wakayowoya pa Phiri la Karimeli vingatovwira wuli?

¹¹ Ŵaisrayeli ‘ŵakakora manthanga,’ ŵakaŵa nga ni munthu uyo wakukhumba kwenda pa nthowa ziŵiri nyengo yimoza. Ndivyo ŵanthu ŵanandi ŵakuchita mazuŵa ghano. Ŵakuzomerezga ‘ŵabaala’ ŵanyake kunjira mu umoyo wawo na kuŵapatuska pakusopa Chiuta. Fundo iyo Eliya wakaphalira Ŵaisrayeli yingatovwira kuwona umo ise tikuchitira vinthu pa umoyo withu kweniso pakusopa.

12, 13. (a) Kasi Eliya wakaphalira ŵanthu ŵakusopa Baala kuti ŵachite vichi? (b) Kasi tingalongora wuli kuti tikuthemba Chiuta nga ni Eliya?

¹² Pamanyuma, Eliya wakaphalira ŵanthu ŵara chinthu icho chingawovwira kuti Chiuta waunenesko wamanyikwe. Wakaŵaphalira chinthu chipusu waka. Wakaphalira ŵasembe ŵa Baala kuti ŵazenge jotchero na kuŵikapo nyama yakuti ŵapeleke sembe. Kufuma apo, ŵalombe kwa chiuta wawo kuti watume moto uwotche sembe yira. Eliya wakayowoya kuti ndivyo nayo wachitenge. Wakayowoya kuti “Chiuta uyo wazgorenge na moto ndiyo ni Chiuta waunenesko.” Eliya wakamumanyanga kale uyo ni Chiuta waunenesko. Wakaŵa na chipulikano chikuru chomene, lekani wakaphalira ŵasembe ŵa Baala kuti ŵayambe ndiwo kupeleka sembe. Ntheura ŵasembe ŵara ŵakasankha ng’ombe  yakupeleka sembe na kwamba kulomba kwa Baala. *—1 Mathe. 18:24, 25.

¹³ Minthondwe yikuchitikaso yayi mu nyengo yithu. Kweni Yehova wandasinthe. Nase tingaŵa na chigomezgo mwa iyo nga ni Eliya. Para ŵanthu ŵanyake ŵakususka ivyo Baibolo likuyowoya, tikuŵaleka kuti ŵayowoye dankha maghanoghano ghawo. Nga ni Eliya, tikumanya kuti Yehova wanozgenge vinthu. Tikujithemba yayi, kweni tikuthemba Mazgu gha Chiuta, agho ghali kulembeka kuti ‘ghanyoloske vinthu.’—2 Tim. 3:16.

14. Kasi Eliya wakaziseka wuli ntchimi za Baala, ndipo chifukwa wuli?

¹⁴ Ntchimi za Baala zikanozga sembe yawo na kwamba kuchema kwa chiuta wawo. Ŵakakolomoka kanandi waka kuti: “Baala we, utipulike!” Pakajumpha maora ghanandi ŵachali kuchema. Baibolo likuti: “Kweni kukaŵavya lizgu panji munthu wakuzgora.” Muhanya pakati, Eliya wakamba kuŵaseka. Mwachimwazga, wakaŵaphalira kuti panyake Baala watangwanika chomene, wakujovwira panji wali mu tulo ndipo munthu wakamuwuske. Eliya wakaŵaphalira ŵanthu ŵatesi ŵara kuti: “Chemerezgani chomene!” Wakawona kuti kusopa Baala nkhwawaka, ndipo wakakhumbanga kuti ŵanthu ŵa Chiuta ŵajiwonere ŵekha.—1 Mathe. 18:26, 27.

15. Kasi ivyo vikachitikira ŵasembe ŵa Baala vikulongora wuli kuti mbuchindere kuleka Yehova na kusankha bwana munyake?

¹⁵ Ŵasembe ŵa Baala ŵakaŵa nga ŵafuntha, “ŵakachemerezga chomene na kujicheka na vimayi na mikondo, kuyana na kaluso kawo, m’paka ndopa sulululu thupi lawo lose.” Kweni ŵakaphyokapo waka. “Kukaŵavya lizgu panji munthu wakuzgora. Kukaŵavya wakuŵikako mahara.” (1 Mathe. 18:28, 29) Nadi, Baala kukaŵavya. Wakaŵa waka chinthu icho Satana wakapanga kuti wapatuske ŵanthu kwa Yehova. Fundo njakuti, para munthu wakuleka Yehova na kusankha bwana munyake, paumaliro wakukhozgeka soni.—Ŵerengani Salimo 25:3; 115:4-8.

16. (a) Kasi Ŵaisrayeli ŵakwenera kuti ŵakakumbuka vichi Eliya wakati wanozga jotchero la Yehova pa Phiri la Karimeli? (b) Kasi Eliya wakalongoraso wuli kuti wakagomezganga chomene Chiuta?

¹⁶ Kumise, nyengo yakuti Eliya wapeleke sembe yake yikakwana.  Wakanozga jotchero la Yehova ilo likwenera kuti likabwangandulika na ŵalwani ŵa kusopa kwaunenesko. Wakazengera malibwe 12, panyake kuti wakumbuske ŵanthu ŵa mu ufumu wa mafuko 10 kuti Dango ilo Chiuta wakapeleka ku mafuko 12 lichali kugwira ntchito pa iwo. Kufuma apo, wakaŵikapo nyama ya sembe yake na kuthirapo maji ghanandi. Panji maji agha ŵakanegha mu Nyanja ya Meditereniyani. Kweniso wakajimiska ngalande kuzingilizga jotchero, na kuzuzgamo maji. Wakachita vyose ivi chifukwa wakamugomezga chomene Yehova.—1 Mathe. 18:30-35.

17. Kasi lurombo lwa Eliya lukalongora kuti mu mtima wake mukaŵa vichi, ndipo nase tingamuyezga wuli para tikulomba?

¹⁷ Vyose vikati vyanozgeka, Eliya wakalomba kwa Chiuta wake. Mu lurombo ulu wakayowoya fundo zakuzirwa izo zikaŵa mu mtima wake. Chakwamba, wakakhumbanga kuti ŵanthu ŵamanye kuti Yehova ndiyo wakaŵa “Chiuta mwa Israyeli,” Baala yayi. Chachiŵiri, wakakhumbanga kuti wose ŵamanye kuti iyo ni muteŵeti wa Yehova. Ntheura uchindami wose na ntchindi vikwenera kuluta kwa Chiuta. Chachitatu, wakalongora kuti wakaŵatemwanga ŵanthu ŵakwake, chifukwa wakakhumbanga kuti Yehova ‘wawezge mitima yawo.’ (1 Mathe. 18:36, 37) Nangauli ŵakasuzgika chomene chifukwa cha kugaluka kwawo, kweni Eliya wakaŵatemwanga nipera. Para tikulomba kwa Chiuta, nase tikwenera kulongora kuti tili ŵakujiyuyura, tikufipira mtima zina la Chiuta, kweniso tikuchitira chitima ŵanyithu awo ŵakusuzgika.

18, 19. (a) Kasi Yehova wakazgora wuli lurombo lwa Eliya? (b) Kasi Eliya wakalangura vichi, ndipo chifukwa wuli ŵasembe ŵa Baala ŵakaŵa ŵakwenelera yayi kuŵalengera lusungu?

¹⁸ Pambere Eliya wandalombe, panyake ŵanthu ŵakaghanaghananga kuti Yehova nayo watondekenge kuzgora nga umo Baala wakachitira. Kweni Eliya wakati walomba, pakaŵavya chifukwa cha kukayikira. Baibolo likuti: “Penepapo moto wa Yehova ukasolomoka kufuma kuchanya, ukamyangura sembe yakotcha, nkhuni, malibwe, na fuvu, ndipo ukamyanga maji ghose mu ngalande.” (1 Mathe. 18:38) Chiuta waunenesko wakamanyikwa nadi. Kasi ŵanthu ŵakachita wuli?

¹⁹ Wose ŵakachemerezga kuti: “Yehova ndiyo ni Chiuta waunenesko! Yehova ndiyo ni Chiuta waunenesko!” (1 Mathe. 18:39) Sono ndipo ŵakabanuka kumaso. Kweni palije ukaboni wakuti ŵakaŵa na chipulikano. Ŵanthu ŵara ŵakazomera kuti Yehova ni Chiuta waunenesko pamanyuma pakuti ŵawona moto wakufuma kuchanya. Ntheura tingayowoya yayi kuti uwu ukaŵa ukaboni wakuti ŵakaŵa na  chipulikano. Eliya wakaŵapempha kuti ŵachite chinthu chinyake kuti ŵalongore usange ŵali na chipulikano. Wakaŵapempha kuti ŵapulikire Dango la Yehova, ilo ŵakeneranga kulipulikira kumanyuma kose. Dango la Chiuta likati ntchimi zitesi na awo ŵakusopa vikozgo ŵakomeke. (Doto. 13:5-9) Ŵasembe ŵa Baala ŵakaŵa ŵalwani ŵa Yehova Chiuta, ndipo ŵakachitanga vinthu mwakuti ŵatondeske khumbo lake. Kasi ŵakeneranga kuŵalengera lusungu? Kasi iwo ŵakachitiranga lusungu ŵana ŵambura mulandu awo ŵakaŵawotchanga ŵamoyo kuŵa sembe kwa Baala? (Ŵerengani Zintharika 21:13; Yer. 19:5) Ŵanthu ŵara ŵakaŵa ŵakwenelera yayi kuŵalengera lusungu. Ntheura Eliya wakalangura kuti ŵanthu ŵara ŵakomeke, ndipo ŵakakomeka nadi.—1 Mathe. 18:40.

20. Kasi ŵanthu ŵanyake ŵakufipa mtima na vichi para ŵakuŵazga ivyo Eliya wakachita na ntchimi za Baala? Ndipo chifukwa wuli ivyo ŵakufipa navyo mtima vilije ukaboni?

²⁰ Ŵanthu ŵanyake ŵangati ivyo vikachitika pa Phiri la Karimeli vikaŵa viheni. Ŵakufipa mtima kuti ŵanthu ŵanyake ŵangasangirapo mwaŵi na kwamba kusuzga ŵanyawo mu zina la visopa. Chachitima ntchakuti mazuŵa ghano nkhaza zinandi zikuchitika mu zina la chisopa. Kweni ivyo Eliya wakachita zikaŵa nkhaza yayi. Iyo wakachita waka ivyo Yehova wakamutuma. Nakuti Ŵakhristu ŵaunenesko ŵakumanya kuti ŵangakoma ŵanthu yayi, nga umo Eliya wakachitira. Ŵakulondezga fundo iyo Yesu wakaphalira Petrosi, yakuti: “Wezgera lupanga lwako mu malo ghake, pakuti wose awo ŵakukora lupanga ŵafwenge na lupanga.” (Mat. 26:52) Yehova wazamutuma Mwana wake kuti wazakapeleke cheruzgo chake munthazi.

21. Chifukwa wuli Eliya ni munthu uyo Ŵakhristu ŵaunenesko ŵangasambirako mazuŵa ghano?

²¹ Mkhristu waunenesko wakwenera kuchita vinthu vyakulongora kuti wali na chipulikano. (Yoh. 3:16) Nthowa yimoza yakuchitira ivi nkhuyezga chipulikano cha ŵanthu nga ni Eliya. Eliya wakasopanga Yehova pera ndipo wakachiskanga ŵanyake kuti nawo ŵachitenge nthena. Mwachikanga, wakavumbura chisopa chautesi icho Satana wakagwiliskiranga ntchito kuti wapatuske ŵanthu kwa Yehova. Wakagomezganga kuti Yehova ndiyo wanozgenge vinthu, m’malo mwa kuthemba mahara ghake. Eliya wakimilira nganganga pa kusopa kwaunenesko. Mphanyi tose taŵa na chipulikano nga ntchake.