1, 2. (a) Muunzila nzi bantu ba Eliya mobakapenga? (b) Ino Eliya wakakazyigwa buti ku Cilundu ca Karimeli?

ELIYA wakalanga makamu aabantu aakali kutanta Cilundu ca Karimeli. Nokuba kuti kwakali mudima wakubucedo, bantu aabo bakali kulibonya kuti mbacete alimwi mbaasinzala. Ciyumayuma icakaliko kwamyaka yotatwe acisela cakapa kuti bantu bapenge kapati.

² Akati kabo kwakali basinsimi bali 450 ba Baala ibakali kweenda cakulisumpula alimwi tiibakali kumuyanda Eliya musinsimi wa Jehova. Jezebeli, mukaintu wamwami wakajaya babelesi banji ba Jehova, pele mwaalumi ooyu wakaima nji kukazya bukombi bwa Baala. Ino mwaalumi ooyu wakali kuyakukazya kusikila lili? Ambweni bapaizi aabo bakali kuyeeya kuti mbwali alikke takonzyi kubazunda boonse. (1 Bam. 18:4, 19, 20) Mwami Ahabu wakaboola awalo, katantide nkalaki yakwe yabwami. Awalo tanaakali kumuyanda Eliya.

3, 4. (a) Nkaambo nzi keelede kuti nkekakapa kuti Eliya ayoowe buzuba buyandika nobwakaswena? (b) Ino mibuzyo nzi njotutiilange-lange?

³ Kwakali zyintu zikankamanisya izyakali kulangilwa kumucitikila mubuumi bwakwe musinsimi ooyo iwakali kusumpula bukombi busalala aciindi eeco. Eliya naakali kulangilila, kwakasyeede buyo ciindi cisyoonto kuti kucitike cintu cipati cimwi cibotu naa cibi citanacitikide munyika. Ino wakalimvwa buti ciindi nocakaswena afwaafwi? Wakayoowa mbwaanga, “wakali muntu uulya maila ooyo iwakali kulimvwa mbubonya mbotulimvwa aswebo.” (Amubale Jakobo 5:17.) Tulakonzya kusyoma cintu comwe: Akaambo kakuti wakalizingulukidwe abantu batasyomi, mwami wabo muzangi alimwi abapaizi bajayi, Eliya wakalitenga.—1 Bam. 18:22.

⁴ Pele ncinzi cakapa kuti bana Israyeli babe mupenzi lili boobu? Alimwi ncinzi ncomunga mwaiya mazuba aano kucibalo eeci? Atulange-lange cikozyanyo ca Eliya iwakajisi lusyomo alimwi ambocikonzya kutugwasya mazuba aano.

5, 6. (a) Ino mapenzi nzi ngobakajisi bana Israyeli? (b) Mbuti Mwami Ahabu mbwaakamunyemya kapati Jehova?

⁵ Kukomba Jehova ncecakali cintu cipati mubuumi bwa Eliya,  pele kunyina nokwakabikkilwa maano alimwi kwakali kudyaamininwa. Kwaciindi cilamfwu bana Israyeli bakajisi buyumuyumu bwakusala akati kabukombi busalala abwakubeja, akati kakukomba Jehova Leza akukomba mituni iyakali muzisi zyakabazingulukide. Mumazuba Eliya ngaakali kupona, penzi eeli lyakaindila kubija.

⁶ Mwami Ahabu wakamunyemya kapati Jehova. Wakakwata Jezebeli mwana wamwami waku Sidoni. Jezebeli wakali kuyanda kuti kukomba Baala kuzwidilile mucisi ca Israyeli alimwi akukasya bantu kukomba Jehova. Kakutanainda ciindi, Jezebeli wakatalika kumuyunga Ahabu. Wakayaka tempele alimwi acipaililo ca Baala, alimwi ngowakali kusololela mukukomba leza ooyu wabamasi.—1 Bam. 16:30-33.

7. (a) Ncinzi cakapa kuti bukombi bwa Baala kabusesemya? (b) Kujatikizya bulamfwu bwaciyumayuma mumazuba aa Eliya, nkaambo nzi ncotukonzya kuba masimpe kuti Bbaibbele talilikazyi? (Amubikkilizye akabbokesi.)

⁷ Ncinzi cakapa kuti bukombi bwa Baala kabusesemya? Bwakapa kuti bana Israyeli banji baleke kukomba Leza wakasimpe. Alimwi bwakali bukombi bubi alimwi bwabujayi. Kwakali bamakaintu abasankwa bakali kuvwuula atempele, koonana kutaambiki alimwi nokuba kupaizya bana. Jehova wakatuma Eliya kuli Ahabu kuti akaambilizye ciyumayuma icakali kuyooba kusikila musinsimi wa Leza akaambe nociyakumana. (1 Bam. 17:1) Kwakainda myaka minji Eliya katanasika kuli Ahabu akumwaambila kuti abunganye bantu abasinsimi ba Baala ku Cilundu ca Karimeli. *

8. Ino cibalo eeci icijatikizya bukombi bwa Baala caamba nzi kulindiswe mazuba aano?

⁸ Ino penzi eeli litujatikizya buti mazuba aano? Bamwi balakonzya kwaamba kuti makani aakukomba Baala taacibeleki lino, mbwaanga tatuboni matempele azipaililo zya Baala. Pele makani aaya taali buyo makani aakaindi. (Lom. 15:4) Ibbala lyakuti “Baala” lyaamba “mukamwini” naa “simalelo.” Jehova wakaambila bantu bakwe kuti bamusale kuba “baala,” naa mulumi wabo. (Is. 54:5) Sena tamuzumini kuti bantu bacikomba basimalelo baindene-indene muciindi cakukomba Leza Singuzuzyoonse? Masimpe, kufwumbwa naa bantu babelesya buumi bwabo kuyandaula mali, mulimo, zyakulikondelezya, kulikkomanisya mukoonana naa kukomba baleza banji muciindi cakukomba Jehova, basala simalelo. (Mt. 6:24; amubale Baloma 6:16.) Munzila imwi, zyintu izitondezya bukombi bwa Baala nkozili amazuba aano. Kuyeeya cibalo caamba kukazyanya  kwakaliko akati kakukomba Jehova naa Baala kulakonzya kutugwasya kusala camaano kujatikizya ngotweelede kukomba.

9. (a) Nkaambo nzi Cilundu ca Karimeli ncobwakali busena bweelela kuyubununa bukombi bwa Baala? (Amubone amajwi aamunsi.) (b) Ncinzi Eliya ncaakabaambila bantu?

⁹ Cilundu ca Karimeli mpocili atala cakali kupa kuti cikonzyeke kucibona kabotu cisi—kuzwa kukkuti lya Kisoni lili kunselelo kusikila ku Lwizi Lupati (Lwizi lwa Mediterranean) luli afwaafwi alimwi akusika kumalundu aa Lebano aali kunyika. * Pele nolyakali kupola zuba  mubuzuba oobu, nyika tiiyakali kabotu pe. Nyika yakajisi mbolezi eeyo Jehova njaakapede bana ba Abrahamu lino yakalisampukide kapati. Nyika yakanyonyooka akaambo kazuba ilyakali kubala kapati alimwi abufwubafwuba bwabantu ba Leza. Bantu aabo nobakabungana, Eliya wakabasikila akubabuzya kuti: ‘Ino mulaleka lili kuya busunkuta amyoyo yobilo? Naa Jehova ngo Leza mwini-mwini, amumutobele. Naa Baala ngo Leza mwini-mwini, amutobele nguwe.’—1 Bam. 18:21.

10. Mbuti bantu ba Eliya mbobakali ‘kusunkuta amyoyo yobilo,’ alimwi makani nzi aakasimpe ngobakalubide?

¹⁰ Ncinzi Eliya ncaakali kupandulula naakaamba majwi aakuti ‘kusunkuta amyoyo yobilo’? Aabo bantu tiibakalizyi kuti bakeelede kusala akati kakukomba Jehova akukomba Baala. Bakali kuyeeya kuti bakali kukonzya kukomba boonse bobilo—kukkomanisya Baala azilengwa zyabo akulomba kuti batambulwe a Jehova Leza. Ambweni bakali kuyeeya kuti Baala ulakonzya kulongezya zisyango alimwi abutanga bwabo, kakuli “Jehova wamakamu makamu” ulakonzya kubakwabilila munkondo. (1 Sam. 17:45) Bakalilubide kaambo kayandika aako bantu banji naaba mazuba aano nkobatamvwisyi kakuti Jehova tayandi kuti bakombi bakwe bakombe leza uumbi. Uyanda buyo kukombwa alikke. Kukomba kuvwelene abukombi bumwi takuzumini pe, kulamucima.—Amubale Kulonga 20:5.

11. Mbuti makani ngaakaamba Eliya a Cilundu ca Karimeli mbwaakonzya kutugwasya kulanga-langa zyintu nzyotweelede kubikka mubusena bwakusaanguna alimwi abukombi?

¹¹ Aboobo, bana Israyeli aabo bakali ‘kusunkuta’ mbuli muntu uuyanda kweendela munzila nzyobilo aciindi comwe. Bantu banji mazuba aano abalo balalubizya mbubwenya oobo, bazumizya “ba-baala” kubeendelezya akuleka kukomba Leza. Kutobela majwi ngaakaamba Eliya aakuti bantu baleke kuba amyoyo yobilo kulakonzya kutugwasya kulanga-langa zyintu nzyotweelede kubikka mubusena bwakusaanguna alimwi abukombi.

12, 13. (a) Ino musunko nzi Eliya ngwaakaamba kuti ube? (b) Mbuti mbotukonzya kutondezya kuti tulaalusyomo mbubwenya mbuli Eliya?

¹² Eliya wakaamba kuti kube musunko. Musunko wakali muuba-uba. Bapaizi ba Baala bakeelede kuyaka cipaililo akubikka cipaizyo; mpoonya bakeelede kupaila kuli leza wabo kutegwa acuumpe. Awalo Eliya wakeelede kucita mbubwenya oobo. Wakati: “Leza uusi pe mulilo, ngonguwe Leza mwini-mwini.” Eliya wakalimuzyi iwakali Leza mwini-mwini. Wakalijisi lusyomo luyumu cakuti tanaakawayawaya kwaambila basinsimi ba Baala kuti basaangune mbabo kupaila kuli leza wabo kutegwa alete mulilo. Wakabapa coolwe basinkondonyina  cakuti basaangune mbabo kusala musune wakupaizya akulomba Baala. *—1 Bam. 18:24, 25.

¹³ Tupona muciindi maleele naatacitiki. Nokuba boobo, Jehova tanaacinca. Tulakonzya kumusyoma mbubwenya mbwaakacita Eliya. Mucikozyanyo, bamwi nobakazya ncoliyiisya Bbaibbele, tatweelede kuyoowa kubapa ciindi cakwaamba mbobalimvwa. Mbuli Eliya, tulakonzya kusiya makani oonse mumaanza aa Leza mwini-mwini. Tulacita oobo kwiinda mukutalisyoma pele kusyoma Ijwi lyakwe lyakasololelwa amuuya lyalo likonzya ‘kululamika zyintu.’—2 Ti. 3:16.

14. Ino Eliya wakabafwubaazya buti basinsimi ba Baala, alimwi nkaambo nzi?

¹⁴ Basinsimi ba Baala bakabamba cipaizyo akutalika koongolola kuli leza wabo. ‘O Baala kotuswiilila,’ bakoongolola oobo cakwiinduluka-induluka. Bakacita oobo kwamawoola. Ibbaibbele lyaamba kuti: “Pele katakwe ijwi neliba lyomwe ilyakavuugwa pe.” Masikati Eliya wakatalika kubafwubaazya, akubaambila kuti Baala weelede kuti ujisi bubi, ambweni uli kusyokwe naa uloona akuti kuyandika muntu kuti akaakumubusye. Eliya wakaambila basikukazya kuti “Amukwiilisye.” Cakutadooneka, wakabona kuti bukombi oobu bwa Baala bunyina mulimo alimwi wakali kuyanda kuti bantu ba Leza babone kuti masimpe bukombi oobo bwakali bwakubeja.—1 Bam. 18:26, 27.

15. Mbuti makani aajatikizya bapaizi ba Baala mbwaatondezya ncocitali camaano kusala simalelo uumbi kunze lya Jehova?

¹⁵ Mpoonya bapaizi ba Baala bakatalika kupilingana, “bakakwiilisya loko, akulitenzya mapanga amasumo mbubonya mbubakazibila, mane bulowa bwabo bwakatikaikila ansi.” Kunyina cakacitika pe! “Pele katakwe ijwi niliba lyomwe naba sikuvuwa naba sikuswiilila.” (1 Bam. 18:28, 29) Masimpe, kwakanyina Baala. Cakali buyo cintu cakabambwa a Saatani kucenga bantu kutegwa bazwe kuli Jehova. Masimpe ngakuti, ikusala simalelo uumbi kunze lya Jehova takugwasyi alimwi kupa kuusa.—Amubale Intembauzyo 25:3; 115:4-8.

16. (a) Ino kuyakulula cipaililo ca Jehova nkwaakacita Eliya a Cilundu ca Karimeli kweelede kuti kwakabayeezya nzi bantu? (b) Mbuti Eliya mbwaakatondezya lusyomo lwakwe muli Leza?

¹⁶ Kumazuba kwini, ciindi ca Eliya lino cakasika cakuti atuule cituuzyo. Wakayakulula cipaililo ca Jehova icakamwaidwe abasinkondo  babukombi busalala. Wakabelesya mabwe aali 12 ambweni kutegwa ayeezye misyobo iili kkumi yabana Israyeli kuti Mulawo iwakapegwa kumisyobo yoonse iili 12 wakacili kubeleka kulimbabo. Mpoonya wakabikka cipaizyo alimwi zyoonse zyakatilwa maanzi ambweni aakatekwa ku Lwizi lwakali afwaafwi lwa Mediterranean. Alimwi wakasya mugelo mumbali aacipaililo akuuzuzya amaanzi. Kajisi lusyomo muli Leza, Eliya wakacita zyintu munzila yakali kuboneka mbuli kuti bapaizi ba Baala balakonzya kuzwidilila akuti Jehova ulaalilwa.—1 Bam. 18:30-35.

17. Mbuti mupailo wa Eliya mbowakatondezya zyintu nzyaakali kubikka mubusena bwakusaanguna, alimwi mbuti mbotukonzya kwiiya cikozyanyo cakwe mumipailo yesu?

¹⁷ Zyintu zyoonse nozyakakkwana, Eliya wakapaila. Mumupailo wakwe, Eliya wakabelesya majwi maubauba kutondezya zyintu izyakali kuyandika kapati kulinguwe. Cakusaanguna, wakali kuyanda kuzyibya bantu kuti Jehova ngowakali “Leza wa Israyeli” ikutali Baala. Cabili, wakali kuyanda kuti bantu boonse bazyibe kuti mulimo wakwe wakali wakuba mubelesi wa Jehova; bulemu boonse bwakeelede kuya kuli Leza. Camamanino, wakatondezya kuti wakacili kubabikkila maano bantu aaba, nkaambo wakali kuyandisya kuti Jehova ‘apilusye myoyo yabo.’ (1 Bam. 18:36, 37) Nokuba kuti kutasyomeka kwabo kwakabaletela mapenzi, Eliya wakacili kubayanda. Mumipailo yesu kuli Leza, sena inga twatondezya kubikkila maano kuzyina lya Leza, kulicesya akufwida bantu lubomba ibayanda kugwasyigwa?

18, 19. (a) Mbuti Jehova mbwaakawiingula mupailo wa Eliya? (b) Ncinzi Eliya ncaakaambila bantu kucita, alimwi nkaambo nzi bapaizi ba Baala ncobatakali kuyandika kufwidwa luse?

¹⁸ Eliya katanapaila, ambweni makamu aabantu akali kuyeeya kuti Jehova ulaba mbuli Baala sikubeja. Naakamana kupaila, kwakanyina ciindi cakudooneka. Cibalo caamba kuti: “Mpoonya awo mulilo wa-Jehova wakaloka, walya cituuzyo azisamu zyoonse, amabwe, abulongo, akumyankuta maanzi aakali mululindi.” (1 Bam. 18:38) Eelo kaka oobu bwakali bwiinguzi bukkomanisya! Pele ncinzi bantu ncobakacita?

¹⁹ Bantu boonse bakoongolola kuti, ‘Jehova ngo Leza mwini-mwini! Jehova ngo Leza mwini-mwini!’ (1 Bam. 18:39) Kumamanino bakakabona kaambo. Nokuba boobo, tiibakaningatondezya lusyomo luli loonse. Ikuzumina caantangalala kuti Jehova ngo Leza mwini-mwini nobakabona mulilo kauzwa kujulu kwiingula mupailo, tacaambi kuti  bakali alusyomo. Aboobo, Eliya wakabaambila kuti batondezye lusyomo munzila imwi. Wakabaambila kucita ncobakeelede kucita kuzwa kaindi—kutobela Mulawo wa Jehova. Mulawo wa Leza wakali kwaamba kuti basinsimi bakubeja abasikukomba mituni bakeelede kujaigwa. (Dt.13: 5-9) Aaba bapaizi ba Baala bakali basinkondonyina ba Jehova Leza alimwi bakali kucitila caali kukazya makanze aakwe. Sena bakali kuyandika kufwidwa luse? Bapaizi aaba kunyina nobakeelede kufwidwa luse nkaambo balo tiibakali kufwida lubomba bana basyoonto batakajisi mulandu nobakali kupaizyigwa kuli Baala. (Amubale Tusimpi 21:13; Jer. 19:5) Baalumi aabo tiibakali kuyandika kufwida luse pe! Aboobo, Eliya wakalailila kuti bajaigwe, alimwi oobo mbocakaba.—1 Bam. 18:40.

20. Nkaambo nzi ncozitagwasyi nzyobaamba basikukazya bamazuba aano kujatikizya Eliya mbwaakajaya bapaizi ba Baala?

²⁰ Basikukazya bamazuba aano balakonzya kukazya mbowakamana musunko ooyu iwakacitika a Cilundu ca Karimeli. Bantu bamwi balakonzya kulibilika kuti basizikombelo ibaciindizya balakonzya kubelesya musunko ooyu kucita micito mibi yabujayi. Alimwi cuusisya ncakuti, kuli lunya lunji lucitwa mazuba aano abasizikombelo ibaciindizya. Pele Eliya tanaakali kuciindizya. Wakabelekela Jehova mulimo wakunyonyoona bantu cabululami. Kuyungizya waawo, Banakristo beni-beni balizyi kuti tabakonzyi kwiiya Eliya mukujaya basizibi amapanga. Muciindi caboobo, batobela malailile basikwiiya ba Jesu boonse ngobatobela aajanika mumajwi Kristo ngaakaambila Petro aakuti: “Pilusya panga lyako muciyobwedo calyo, nkaambo boonse aabo babweza panga bayoofwa kupanga.” (Mt. 26:52) Jehova uyoobelesya Mwanaakwe kucita bululami bwakwe kumbele.

21. Mbuti cikozyanyo ca Eliya mbocili cibotu ku Banakristo bakasimpe mazuba aano?

²¹ Munakristo mwini-mwini ujisi mukuli wakupona buumi bwakusyomeka. (Joh. 3:16) Nzila imwi mbotukonzya kucita oobo, nkwiiya baalumi basyomeka mbuli Eliya. Wakali kukomba buyo Jehova alikke alimwi wakakulwaizya bamwi kucita mbubwenya. Cabusicamba wakayubununa kutasyomeka kwacikombelo ncaakali kubelesya Saatani kucenga bantu kuti bazwe kuli Jehova. Alimwi wakasyoma Jehova kuti abambe zyintu muciindi cakulisyoma. Masimpe, Eliya wakasumpula bukombi busalala. Aboobo, toonse buyo atwiiye lusyomo lwakwe!