U-Eliya wezwa lezi zindaba: INkosi u-Ahabi yayifile. Singamcabanga lo mprofethi osekhulile ephulula intshebe yakhe njengoba ecabanga ngeminyaka eminingi ayesebenzelane ngayo nale nkosi embi u-Ahabi. U-Eliya wayekhuthazelele izinto eziningi kakhulu. U-Ahabi nendlovukazi yakhe uJezebeli babesongele u-Eliya, bamzingela futhi bacishe bambulala. Inkosi ayizange imvimbe uJezebeli lapho ethi akubulawe abaprofethi bakaJehova. Ngenxa yomona, bobabili babenze icebo lokubulala indoda engenacala okuthiwa uNabhoti namadodana ayo. Ngenxa yalokho, uJehova wathuma u-Eliya ukuba amemezele isahlulelo ku-Ahabi nakubo bonke abesilisa emndenini wakhe. Manje kwase kwenzeka lokho uNkulunkulu ayekushilo. U-Ahabi wafa ngendlela uJehova ayethe uzofa ngayo.​—1 AmaKhosi 18:4; 21:1-26; 22:37, 38; 2 AmaKhosi 9:26.

 Noma kunjalo, u-Eliya wayazi ukuthi kwakusazodingeka aqhubeke ekhuthazela. UJezebeli wayesaphila, ithonya lakhe elibi lalisabonakala emndenini wakhe nasesizweni sakwa-Israyeli. U-Eliya wayesazobhekana nezinkinga eziningi futhi kuningi okwakusamelwe akufundise u-Elisha umngani wakhe, owayezothatha isikhundla sakhe sokuba umprofethi kaNkulunkulu. Kunezinto u-Eliya okwakusafanele azenze, ake sixoxe ngezintathu zazo. Ukubona ukuthi ukholo lwakhe lwamsiza kanjani ukuba akhuthazele, kuzosisiza sibone ukuthi singaluqinisa kanjani olwethu ukholo kulezi zikhathi ezigcwele izinkinga esiphila kuzo.

 U-Ahaziya, indodana ka-Ahabi noJezebeli, wayeseyinkosi kwa-Israyeli. Kunokuba afunde emaphutheni abazali bakhe, walandela ezinyathelweni zabo ezimbi. (1 AmaKhosi 22:52) Njengabo, naye wayekhonza uBhali. Abantu ababekhonza uBhali babenza izinto ezimbi, njengokudayisa ngomzimba ethempelini nokwenza umhlatshelo ngezingane. Kukhona yini okwakungenza u-Ahaziya ayeke ukwenza izinto ezimbi futhi akhuthaze abantu ukuba bakhonze uJehova?

 Kungazelelwe, le nkosi esencane eqhoshayo yehlelwa isenzakalo esibuhlungu. Yathi ihamba ekamelweni eliphezulu endlini yayo, yakhalakathela embotsheni yawela phansi yalimala kabi. Nakuba ukuphila kwayo kwakusengcupheni, ayizange icele usizo kuJehova. Kunalokho yathumela izinceku zayo e-Ekroni, idolobha lamaFilisti ayeyizitha zika-Israyeli, ukuba ziyobuza kunkulunkulu wakhona uBhalizebhubhe ukuthi yayizosinda yini. Lokho kwamcasula kakhulu uJehova. Wathumela ingelosi ku-Eliya wamtshela ukuba avimbe izinceku ezazithunyiwe. U-Eliya watshela lezi zinceku ukuba zibuyele enkosini yazo ziyitshele umyalezo onzima ovela kuJehova. U-Ahaziya wayenze isono esikhulu ngokwenza sengathi u-Israyeli wayengenaye uNkulunkulu. UJehova wayenqume ukuthi u-Ahaziya wayezogula aze afe.​—2 AmaKhosi 1:2-4.

 U-Ahaziya akazange azisole, kunalokho wabuza izinceku zakhe ngokhahlo wathi: “Ubebukeka kanjani lowo muntu okhuphukile ezonihlangabeza wayesekhuluma la mazwi kini?” Izinceku zakhe zachaza izingubo zomprofethi ezazingezona ezikanokusho, ngaso leso sikhathi u-Ahaziya wathi: “Bekungu-Eliya.” (2 AmaKhosi 1:7, 8) Kuyaphawuleka ukuthi u-Eliya wayephila ukuphila okulula engazithandi izinto eziwubukhazikhazi, kangangokuba wonke umuntu wayeyazi indlela ayegqoka ngayo. U-Ahaziya nabazali bakhe babengenjalo, babengamagovu futhi bethanda izinto. Isibonelo sika-Eliya sisikhumbuza iseluleko sikaJesu sokuba sigcine ukuphila kwethu kulula futhi sigxile ezintweni ezibaluleke ngempela.​—Mathewu 6:22-24.

 U-Ahaziya wafuna ukuziphindiselela, ngakho wathumela amasosha angu-50 ukuba ayobopha u-Eliya. Bamthola “ehlezi esiqongweni sentaba,” a ngendelelo induna yamemeza yathi ‘akehle’ ukuze azobulawa. Cabanga nje! Nakuba ayazi ukuthi u-Eliya ‘wayengumuntu kaNkulunkulu weqiniso,’ lawo masosha amsongela futhi amphatha ngokhahlo. Babeyinyathele emsileni! U-Eliya wathi enduneni: “Uma ngingumuntu kaNkulunkulu, makwehle umlilo emazulwini ukushise wena nezinsizwa zakho ezingu-50.” Nangempela uNkulunkulu wenza kanjalo! “Umlilo wehla uvela emazulwini wayishisa yona kanye nezinsizwa zayo ezingu-50.” (2 AmaKhosi 1:9, 10) Ukufa kabuhlungu kwalawo masosha kusikhumbuza ukuthi uJehova akafuni abantu baziphathe kabi izinceku zakhe noma bangazihloniphi.​—1 IziKronike 16:21, 22.

 U-Ahaziya waphinde wathumela enye induna ihamba namadoda angu-50. Induna yesibili-ke yona yayiyimbi kakhulu kuneyokuqala. Okokuqala, nakuba umlotha wamadoda okuqala angu-51 wawusabonakala entabeni, le nduna ayizange isifunde isifundo kulokho. Okwesibili, ayigcinanga ngokusho amazwi ayindelelo ayeshiwo induna yokuqala athi “yehla,” kodwa yona yanezela nokuthi “ngokushesha”! Kwakuwubuwula obuphindiwe lobo! Yona namadoda ayekanye nayo bafa ngendlela okwakufe ngayo amadoda okuqala. Kodwa umuntu owayengenangqondo kunabo bonke kwakuyinkosi. Ayibanga nandaba yona, yaphinde yathumela iqembu lesithathu lamasosha. Okungenani induna yesithathu yayihlakaniphile. Yazithoba ku-Eliya, yamcela ukuba angayibulali yona namadoda ayekanye nayo. U-Eliya walingisa uNkulunkulu, wayibonisa isihe le nduna ethobekile. Ingelosi kaJehova yatshela u-Eliya ukuba ahambe nawo la masosha. U-Eliya wahamba nawo, wafike watshela inkosi isahlulelo esasivela kuJehova. Njengoba uNkulunkulu ayeshilo, u-Ahaziya wafa. Wayesabuse iminyaka emibili nje kuphela.​—2 AmaKhosi 1:11-17.

 Yini eyasiza u-Eliya wakhuthazela nakuba ayehlala phakathi kwabantu ababenamakhanda aqinile? Ukuthola impendulo yalowo mbuzo kungasisiza nathi namuhla. Awukaze yini uzame ukusiza umuntu omthandayo ukuba agweme ukwenza into engamfaka enkingeni, kodwa angafuni ukukulalela? Singabhekana kanjani naleso simo esidumazayo? Ukucabanga ngendawo amasosha athola kuyo u-Eliya kungasisiza. Wayehlezi “esiqongweni sentaba.” Ngeke sigomele ngokuthi kungani ayehlezi lapho, kodwa siyazi ukuthi njengoba ayeyindoda eyayikukhonzile ukuthandaza, ukuba kuleyo ndawo ethule kwamnikeza ithuba elikahle lokusondelana noNkulunkulu wakhe ayemthanda. (Jakobe 5:16-18) Nathi kufanele senze isikhathi sokukhuluma noNkulunkulu sisodwa, simbize ngegama futhi simtshele izinkinga zethu nezinto ezisikhathazayo. Uma senza kanjalo, siyokwazi ukukhuthazela lapho abantu esiphila nabo benza ngokungacabangi futhi bezifaka enkingeni.

 Kwase kufike isikhathi sokuba u-Eliya adlulisele umsebenzi wakhe komunye umuntu. Phawula ukuthi yini ayenza. Njengoba yena no-Elisha besuka eGiligali, u-Eliya watshela u-Elisha ukuba asale lapho ngoba yena wayezoya eBhethele eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-11. U-Elisha wathi: “Ngifunga uJehova kuwe, ngeke ngikushiye.” Ngemva kokuba befike eBhethele, watshela u-Elisha ukuthi wayezomshiya aqhubeke yedwa aye eJeriko, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-22. U-Elisha wamphendula ngendlela efanayo neyasekuqaleni. Kwenzeka okufanayo naseJeriko ngaphambi kokuba babhekise amabombo eMfuleni iJordani, owawuqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-8. Nalapho futhi, u-Elisha akavumanga ukushiya u-Eliya!​—2 AmaKhosi 2:1-6.

 U-Elisha wabonisa imfanelo ebaluleke kakhulu, uthando oluqotho. Lolu uthando uRuthe ayenalo ngoNawomi, olwenza umuntu anamathele ngokuqinile kumuntu noma entweni ayithandayo futhi angavumi ukuyidedela. (Ruthe 1:15, 16) Zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kudingeka zibe nalo lolu thando—ikakhulukazi namuhla. Njengo-Elisha, ingabe nathi siyakubona ukubaluleka kwalo?

 Kufanele ukuba kwamkhuthaza kakhulu u-Eliya ukubona ukuthi umngani wakhe omncane kunaye umthanda kangakanani. Ngenxa yothando lwakhe, u-Elisha waba nelungelo lokubona isimangaliso sokugcina sika-Eliya. Lapho befika osebeni loMfula iJordani, owawuvame ukuba namanzi amaningi ajulile ezindaweni ezithile, u-Eliya washaya amanzi ngengubo yakhe. Amanzi ahlukana phakathi! Ngesikhathi kwenzeka lesi simangaliso, “amadodana abaprofethi angu-50” ayebukele. Cishe la madoda ayeqeqeshelwa ukuba akwazi ukuqondisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuze bamkhonze ngendlela efanele. (2 AmaKhosi 2:7, 8) Kungenzeka ukuthi u-Eliya uyena owayewaqeqesha. Ngaphambili, kwakube nesikhathi lapho u-Eliya ayezitshela ukuthi babengasekho abanye abantu abathembekile ababesele ngaphandle kwakhe. Kodwa uJehova wayekubusisile ukukhuthazela kwakhe ngokumvumela ukuba abone ukwanda kwabantu ababethembekile kuYe.​—1 AmaKhosi 19:10.

 Ngemva kokuba bewele uMfula iJordani, u-Eliya wathi ku-Elisha: “Cela ofuna ngikwenzele kona ngaphambi kokuba uNkulunkulu angithathe.” U-Eliya wayazi ukuthi sase sifikile isikhathi sokuba ahambe. Akazange abe nomona ngokuthi umngani wakhe omncane wayesezoba nomsebenzi okhethekile nesikhundla esibalulekile. Kunalokho, wayefisa ukumsiza nganoma iyiphi indlela ayengamsiza ngayo. U-Elisha wacela lokhu: “Ngicela ukuba ngithole izingxenye ezimbili zomoya wakho.” (2 AmaKhosi 2:9) Wayengasho ukuthi ufuna umoya ongcwele ophindwe kabili kulowo u-Eliya ayenawo. Kunalokho wayekhuluma ngalokho okwakwenzeka ngokomthetho lapho izibulo lomfana linikwa ifa, noma izingxenye ezimbili zefa, ukuze likwazi ukubhekana nomthwalo walo omusha wokunakekela umndeni. (Duteronomi 21:17) Njengoba ayesezothatha ifa, noma isikhundla sika-Eliya sokwenza umsebenzi awunikwe uNkulunkulu, wabona ukuthi kwakuzodingeka abe nesibindi njengo-Eliya ukuze akwazi ukuwenza lowo msebenzi.

 U-Eliya wathobeka washiyela kuJehova ukuba aphendule u-Elisha. Uma uJehova ayezomvumela u-Elisha ukuba abone u-Eliya ethathwa, lokho kwakuzosho ukuthi wayesamukele isicelo sakhe. Njengoba laba bangani abase bazane isikhathi eside “babehamba bexoxa,” kwenzeka isimangaliso!​—2 AmaKhosi 2:​10, 11.

 Kwaba nokukhanya okungavamile emkhathini okwakulokhu kusondela. Cishe bezwa umsindo omkhulu njengoba kwavele kwaba nesivunguvungu esihambisana nento enkulu eyayiza iqonde kula madoda amabili, iwaphoqa ukuba aqhelelane, mhlawumbe yawenza ahlehla emangele ukuthi kwenzekani. Leyo nto enkulu kwakuyinqola, eyayibenyezela sengathi yenziwe ngomlilo. U-Eliya wayazi ukuthi kwase kuyisikhathi sokuba ahambe. Ingabe wagibela? IBhayibheli alisho. U-Eliya wezwa esekhuphuka, eya phezulu emoyeni ehamba naleso sivunguvungu!

 U-Elisha wayebukele emangele. Ukubona kwakhe lesi simangaliso kwamqinisekisa ukuthi uJehova wayezomnika “izingxenye ezimbili” zomoya owawenza u-Eliya abe nesibindi. Kodwa inhliziyo yakhe yayisebuhlungu kakhulu ukuba wayengacabanga ngalokho. Wayengazi ukuthi umngani wakhe ayemthanda wayeyaphi, kodwa cishe wayengalindele ukuthi wayezophinde ambone. Wamemeza wathi: “Baba, baba! Inqola ka-Israyeli nabagibeli bakhe bamahhashi!” Wabukela njengoba umqeqeshi wakhe ayemthanda enyamalala; ngemva kwalokho u-Elisha wadabula izingubo zakhe ngenxa yobuhlungu ayebuzwa.​—2 AmaKhosi 2:12.

 Njengoba u-Eliya ayenyukela emkhathini, wakuzwa yini ukukhala okubuhlungu komngani wakhe mhlawumbe naye wachiphiza izinyembezi? Esiqiniseka ngakho ukuthi wayazi ukuthi umngani wakhe wayemsizile ukuba akhuthazelele izikhathi ezinzima. Kufanele sifunde esibonelweni sika-Eliya, nathi sikhethe abangani abathanda uNkulunkulu futhi abafuna ukwenza intando yakhe!

 Wayaphi u-Eliya? Ezinye izinkolo zithi waya kuNkulunkulu ezulwini. Kodwa kwakungenakwenzeka lokho. Emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva, uJesu Kristu wathi akekho umuntu owayekhuphukele ezulwini ngaphambi kokuba yena afike emhlabeni. (Johane 3:13) Ngakho lapho sifunda kwamanye amaBhayibheli ukuthi “u-Eliya wakhuphukela ezulwini ngesivunguvungu,” kumele sizibuze ukuthi yimaphi amazulu iBhayibheli elikhuluma ngawo? (2 AmaKhosi 2:11, IBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile) Uma iBhayibheli likhuluma “ngamazulu” lisuke lingakhulumi kuphela ngendawo uJehova ahlala kuyo, kodwa lisebenzisa leli gama ngisho noma likhuluma ngesibhakabhaka esinamafu lapho izinyoni zindiza khona. (IHubo 147:8) U-Eliya wanyukela esibhakabhakeni. Kwabe sekwenzekani?

 UJehova wathatha lo mprofethi wamyisa endaweni ayezoqhubeka kuyo nomsebenzi wakhe, embusweni wakwaJuda. IBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi ngemva kweminyaka engu-7 u-Eliya wayesasebenza kwaJuda. Ngaleso sikhathi kwaJuda kwakubusa inkosi embi, uJehoramu. Wayeshade nendodakazi ka-Ahabi noJezebeli, ngakho ithonya labo elibi lalikhona nakwaJuda. UJehova wathuma u-Eliya ukuba abhale incwadi enesahlulelo esiya kuJehoramu. Njengoba uJehova ayeshilo, uJehoramu wafa kabuhlungu. Okubi nakakhulu, iBhayibheli lithi: ‘Akekho owadabuka lapho eshona.’​—2 IziKronike 21:12-​20.

 Wawumkhulu umahluko phakathi kwale nkosi embi no-Eliya! Asazi ukuthi u-Eliya wafa nini nokuthi kanjani. Kodwa siyazi ukuthi akafanga njengoJehoramu, owafa engasafunwa muntu. U-Elisha wayesamkhumbula umngani wakhe. Nabanye abaprofethi abathembekile babemkhumbula. Cishe eminyakeni engaba ngu-1 000 afa, uJehova wayesamkhumbula u-Eliya ngoba wasebenzisa umfanekiso wakhe embonweni owabonwa uJesu nabafundi bakhe. (Mathewu 17:1-9) Uyafisa yini nawe ukulingisa u-Eliya, ube nokholo oluzokusiza ukhuthazelele ubunzima? Uma ufisa, yiba nabangani abathanda uNkulunkulu, ugxile ekukhonzeni uJehova futhi uthandaze ngokusuka enhliziyweni. Sengathi nawe ungazitholela indawo enhliziyweni kaJehova, ungasuki kuyo!