1, 2. (a) Kuki abantu bo mu gihe cya Eliya bari bababaye cyane? (b) Ni ba nde Eliya yari ahanganye na bo ku musozi wa Karumeli?

ELIYA yitegereje imbaga y’abantu bagendaga bananiwe, bazamuka mu mabanga y’umusozi wa Karumeli. Nubwo hari mu museke, byaragaragaraga ko abo bantu bari abakene batagiraga n’urwara rwo kwishima. Hari hashize imyaka itatu n’amezi atandatu bugarijwe n’amapfa.

² Muri abo bantu harimo abahanuzi 450 ba Bayali bagendaga biyemera cyane bareze agatuza. Abo bahanuzi bangaga urunuka Eliya wari umuhanuzi wa Yehova. Umwamikazi Yezebeli yari yarishe abagaragu ba Yehova benshi, ariko uwo muhanuzi yari yarakomeje guhangana n’abasengaga Bayali. Ariko se yari kuzamara igihe kingana iki ahanganye na bo? Abo batambyi bashobora kuba baratekerezaga ko uwo muhanuzi yari wenyine, bityo akaba atari kuzigera ahangana na bo ngo abatsinde (1 Abami 18:4, 19, 20). Umwami Ahabu na we yari yaje agendera mu igare rye rya cyami. Na we yangaga Eliya.

3, 4. (a) Kuki Eliya ashobora kuba yaragize ubwoba igihe umuseke wari utambitse? (b) Ni ikihe kibazo tugiye gusuzuma?

³ Uwo muhanuzi wari wenyine yari agiye guhura n’ibintu atari yarigeze ahura na byo mu buzima. Nk’uko Eliya yagendaga abibona, hari hagiye kubaho ikintu gihambaye kitari cyarigeze kibaho ku isi, cyari gutuma icyiza gihangana n’ikibi. Yumvise ameze ate igihe umuseke wari utambitse? Kubera ko “yari umuntu umeze nkatwe,” nta kuntu atari kugira ubwoba. (Soma muri Yakobo 5:17.) Icyo twakwemeza tudashidikanya ni uko Eliya yumvise ko yari wenyine koko igihe yari akikijwe n’abantu badasenga Yehova, umwami wabo w’umuhakanyi ndetse n’abatambyi b’abicanyi.​—1 Abami 18:22.

⁴ Ariko se, ni iki cyatumye muri Isirayeli havuka icyo kibazo, kandi se iyi nkuru ikwigisha iki? Nimucyo dusuzume urugero Eliya yadusigiye rwo kwizera n’icyo rutwigisha muri iki gihe.

5, 6. (a) Ni uruhe rugamba rwari rugeze mu mahina muri Isirayeli? (b) Ni mu buhe buryo Umwami Ahabu yarakaje Yehova cyane?

⁵ Eliya yamaze igihe kirekire abona ibintu atashoboraga kugira  icyo akoraho. Abantu bari barateye umugongo gahunda y’ugusenga k’ukuri ndetse barayirwanya kandi ari cyo kintu cy’ingenzi cyarangaga igihugu cye n’abaturage bacyo. Muri Isirayeli hari hashize igihe kirekire hari urugamba rwari rushyamiranyije idini ry’ukuri n’idini ry’ikinyoma. Iyo ntambara yari hagati y’abantu basengaga Yehova Imana n’abasengaga ibigirwamana bo mu mahanga yari akikije Isirayeli. Mu gihe cya Eliya, urwo rugamba rwari rugeze mu mahina.

⁶ Umwami Ahabu yarakaje Yehova cyane. Yari yararongoye Yezebeli, umukobwa w’umwami w’i Sidoni. Yezebeli yari yariyemeje gukwirakwiza gahunda yo gusenga Bayali muri Isirayeli no kuvanaho burundu gahunda yo gusenga Yehova. Ahabu yahise agwa mu mutego w’umugore we. Yubakiye Bayali urusengero n’igicaniro kandi afata iya mbere mu kunamira iyo mana ya gipagani.​—1 Abami 16:30-33.

7. (a) Kuki gusenga Bayali byarakazaga Yehova? (b) Dukurikije igihe amapfa yo mu gihe cya Eliya yamaze, kuki twakwizera ko ibyo Bibiliya ivuga bitavuguruzanya? (Shyiramo n’ibivugwa mu  gasanduku.)

⁷ Kuki gusenga Bayali byarakazaga Yehova? Gusenga Bayali byakuruye Abisirayeli, bituma abenshi muri bo batera umugongo Imana y’ukuri. Nanone iryo dini ryari ryarononekaye kandi ryarangwaga n’urugomo. Abagabo n’abagore basambaniraga mu nsengero, hari ubwiyandarike butagira rutangira, ndetse abantu bakagera n’ubwo batamba abana babo. Yehova yagize icyo akora, atuma Eliya kuri Ahabu ngo ajye gutangaza ko hari kuzaba amapfa, kugeza igihe uwo muhanuzi w’Imana yari kuzategekera ko ayo mapfa ashira (1 Abami 17:1). Hashize imyaka myinshi Eliya atiyereka Ahabu. Nyuma yaho, Eliya yaje kwiyereka Ahabu amusaba guteranyiriza hamwe abaturage n’abahanuzi ba Bayali ku musozi wa Karumeli. *

8. Muri iki gihe, ni irihe somo tuvana ku nkuru ivuga ibyo gusenga Bayali?

⁸ Muri iki gihe, ni irihe somo tuvana ku nkuru ivuga ibyo gusenga Bayali? Bamwe bashobora kuvuga ko inkuru ivuga ibyo gusenga Bayali nta cyo ivuze muri iki gihe, kubera ko nta nsengero cyangwa ibicaniro bya Bayali tubona. Iyi nkuru ntigamije kutubwira amateka y’ibyabayeho gusa (Rom 15:4). Izina “Bayali” risobanurwa ngo “nyir’ikintu” cyangwa “umutware.” Yehova yabwiye abari bagize ubwoko bwe ko bagombaga guhitamo kumukorera bitewe n’uko yari bayali wabo cyangwa umugabo wabo (Yes 54:5). Ese ntiwemera ko no muri iki gihe abantu bakorera abatware benshi, aho gukorera Imana  Ishoborabyose? Koko rero, iyo abantu bakoresheje ubuzima bwabo biruka inyuma y’amafaranga, akazi, imyidagaduro, kwishimisha mu by’ibitsina cyangwa izindi mana zitabarika basenga aho gusenga Yehova, baba bahisemo umutware wabo. (Mat 6:24; soma mu Baroma 6:16.) Mu buryo runaka rero, ibintu byinshi byarangaga gahunda yo gusenga Bayali no muri iki gihe birogeye. Gutekereza kuri iyo nkuru ivuga ibyo guhangana kwabaye kera hagati y’abasengaga Yehova n’abasengaga Bayali, bishobora kudufasha gufata imyanzuro irangwa n’ubwenge ku birebana n’uwo tuzakorera.

9. (a) Kuki byari bikwiriye ko ku musozi wa Karumeli ari ho hagaragarizwa ko gahunda yo gusenga Bayali ari iy’ikinyoma? (Reba n’ibisobanuro ahagana hasi ku ipaji.) (b) Ni iki Eliya yabwiye abantu?

⁹ Mu mpinga y’umusozi wa Karumeli hakunze kuba hari umuyaga. Iyo uhageze, uba ureba neza ikibaya cya Kishoni hafi y’Inyanja Nini (ya Mediterane), kugera mu misozi yo muri Libani ahagana mu majyaruguru. *  Ariko igihe izuba ryari rimaze kurasa kuri uwo munsi wari ukomeye, wabonaga ibintu byifashe nabi muri icyo gihugu. Icyo gihugu cyahoze kirumbuka Yehova yari yarahaye abana ba Aburahamu, nticyari kicyera. Cyari cyarakakaye bitewe n’izuba rikaze. Cyari cyarangijwe n’abari bagize ubwoko bw’Imana bari abapfapfa. Igihe abo bantu bari bamaze guteranira hamwe, Eliya yarabegereye maze arababwira ati “muzahera mu rungabangabo kugeza ryari? Niba Yehova ari we Mana y’ukuri nimumukurikire, ariko niba Bayali ari we Mana y’ukuri, abe ari we mukurikira.”​—1 Abami 18:21.

10. Ni mu buhe buryo abantu bo mu gihe cya Eliya bari ‘baraheze mu rungabangabo,’ kandi se ni irihe hame ry’ibanze bari baribagiwe?

¹⁰ Igihe Eliya yavugaga ko ‘baheze mu rungabangabo,’ yashakaga kumvikanisha iki? Koko rero, abo bantu ntibari baramenye ko bagombaga guhitamo hagati yo gusenga Yehova no gusenga Bayali. Batekerezaga ko bashoboraga gusenga Yehova ari na ko basenga Bayali. Bumvaga ko bashoboraga kugusha neza Bayali binyuriye ku migenzo yabo iteye ishozi, ari na ko basaba Yehova Imana ko yabashyigikira. Birashoboka ko batekerezaga ko Bayali yari kuzaha imigisha imyaka yabo n’imikumbi yabo, naho “Yehova nyir’ingabo” we akabarinda ku rugamba (1 Sam 17:45). Bari baribagiwe ihame ry’ibanze kandi ry’ukuri rivuga ko Yehova atemera ko tumusenga tumubangikanyije n’izindi mana. No muri iki gihe abantu benshi ntibaramenya iryo hame. Yehova adusaba ko tumusenga nta cyo tumubangikanyije na cyo, kandi arabikwiriye. Abantu bose bamusenga bakamubangikanya n’ibindi bintu ntabanga gusa, ahubwo baranamurakaza.​—Soma mu Kuva 20:5.

11. Ibyo Eliya yavugiye ku musozi wa Karumeli byadufasha bite kongera gusuzuma uburyo bwacu bwo gusenga n’ibyo dushyira mu mwanya wa mbere?

¹¹ Ni yo mpamvu abo Bisirayeli ‘baheze mu rungabangabo.’ Bari bameze nk’umuntu ushaka kugendera mu nzira ebyiri icyarimwe. Muri iki gihe, abantu benshi bagwa mu ikosa nk’iryo, bakemera ko izindi bayali zigenga imibereho yabo, maze amaherezo bakazareka gusenga Imana. Kwita ku muburo Eliya yatanze wihutirwa kandi wumvikana neza wo kureka guhera mu rungabangabo, bishobora kudufasha kongera kugenzura ibyo dushyira mu mwanya wa mbere no gusuzuma uburyo bwacu bwo gusenga.

12, 13. (a) Eliya yasabye ko hakorwa iki? (b) Twagaragaza dute ko twiringira Imana nka Eliya?

¹² Umuhanuzi Eliya yasabye ko hagira igikorwa. Byari byoroshye rwose. Abatambyi ba Bayali bagombaga kubaka igicaniro kandi  bagashyiraho igitambo, hanyuma bagasenga imana yabo kugira ngo izane umuriro. Eliya na we ni uko yagombaga kubigenza. Yavuze ko ‘Imana yari busubize yohereza umuriro.’ Eliya yari azi neza Imana y’ukuri iyo ari yo. Yari afite ukwizera gukomeye ku buryo yabwiye abahanuzi ba Bayali ngo abe ari bo babanza gusenga imana yabo. Eliya yemereye abo bantu bari bahanganye na we gukora ibyo bashaka byose, arabareka batoranya imfizi yabo bagombaga gutamba, maze basenga Bayali. *​—1 Abami 18:24, 25.

¹³ Muri iki gihe nta bitangaza bigikorwa. Ariko Yehova ntiyigeze ahinduka. Dushobora kumwiringira nk’uko Eliya yamwiringiraga. Urugero, mu gihe abandi bantu batemeye ibyo Bibiliya yigisha, ntitugomba kubatinya. Turabareka bakaba ari bo babanza kugaragaza ibitekerezo byabo. Kimwe na Eliya, dushobora kwitabaza Imana y’ukuri ikaba ari yo ikemura icyo kibazo. Ibyo tubikora binyuze mu kutiyiringira, ahubwo tukiringira Ijambo ryahumetswe, rigamije “gushyira ibintu mu buryo.”​—2 Tim 3:16.

14. Kuki Eliya yashinyaguriye abahanuzi ba Bayali, kandi yabikoze ate?

¹⁴ Abahanuzi ba Bayali bazanye igitambo cyabo, batakambira imana yabo. Baratakambye karahava, bagira bati “Bayali we, dusubize!” Baratakambye bishyira kera. Bibiliya igira iti “ariko ntihagira ijwi bumva, ntihagira n’ubasubiza.” Ku manywa y’ihangu Eliya yatangiye kubannyega, abashinyagurira ababwira ko Bayali yarimo yiyumvira cyangwa ko hari aho yari yagannye, cyangwa se ko yari yazindutse cyangwa ikaba yari isinziriye, bityo ikaba yari ikwiriye gukangurwa. Yabwiye abo bantu biyemeraga ati “nimuhamagare cyane”! Eliya yiboneye neza ko gahunda yo gusenga Bayali yari iy’abantu b’abapfapfa kandi biyemeraga. Nanone yashakaga ko abari bagize ubwoko bw’Imana na bo bibonera ko iyo gahunda yari iy’ikinyoma koko.​—1 Abami 18:26, 27.

15. Kuki ibyabaye ku batambyi ba Bayali byerekana ko guhitamo gukorera indi mana itari Yehova ari ubupfapfa?

¹⁵ Abo batambyi ba Bayali barasaze barasizora, “bahamagara mu ijwi rirenga, ari na ko bikebaguza ibyuma n’amacumu nk’uko umugenzo wabo wari uri, kugeza aho batangiye kuvirirana.” Ibyo byose bakoze nta cyo byabamariye. Bibiliya igira iti ‘nta jwi bumvise, nta wabashubije cyangwa ngo abiteho’ (1 Abami 18:28, 29). Mu by’ukuri, Bayali ntiyabagaho. Ni uburyo Satani yari yarahimbye kugira ngo ayobye abantu batere Yehova umugongo. Icyo tuzi cyo ni uko turamutse duhisemo gukorera  indi mana itari Yehova, twamanjirwa ndetse tugakorwa n’isoni.​—Soma muri Zaburi ya 25:3; 115:4-8.

16. (a) Uko Eliya yasannye igicaniro cya Yehova cyari ku musozi wa Karumeli byibukije abantu iki? (b) Eliya yongeye kugaragaza ate ko yiringiraga Imana?

¹⁶ Ku gicamunsi, Eliya ni we wari utahiwe. Yasannye igicaniro cya Yehova cyari cyarasenyutse, uko bigaragara kikaba cyari cyarashenywe n’abanzi b’ugusenga k’ukuri. Yakoresheje amabuye 12, wenda akaba yarashakaga kwibutsa abenshi mu bari bagize ishyanga rya Isirayeli ryari rigizwe n’imiryango 10, ko Amategeko yari yarahawe imiryango yose uko yari 12 yari akibagenga. Yatunganyije igitambo cye, ibintu byose byari aho abyuzuzamo amazi. Ayo mazi ashobora kuba yari yavuye mu nyanja ya Mediterane yari hafi aho. Ndetse yacukuye ahari hakikije igicaniro, ahuzuza amazi. Eliya yari yemereye abasengaga Bayali gukora ibintu byose byashoboraga gutuma batamba igitambo bitagoranye, ariko we akora ibintu urebye byari gutuma igitambo cye kidakongorwa n’umuriro mu buryo bworoshye. Ibyo byagaragaje ko yiringiraga Imana ye.​—1 Abami 18:30-35.

17. Isengesho rya Eliya rigaragaza ko ari ibiki yashyiraga mu mwanya wa mbere, kandi se twamwigana dute igihe dusenga?

¹⁷ Eliya amaze gutegura byose, yarasenze. Isengesho rya Eliya ryumvikana kandi ryoroheje, ryagaragaje neza ibyo yashyiraga mu mwanya wa mbere. Mbere na mbere yashakaga kugaragaza ko Yehova ari we ‘Mana ya Isirayeli,’ aho kuba Bayali. Nanone yashakaga ko buri wese amenya ko we yari umugaragu gusa, kandi ko Yehova ari we wagombaga guhabwa ikuzo cyangwa icyubahiro. Nanone kandi, Eliya yashakaga kugaragaza ko yitaga ku bwoko bwa Yehova, kuko yifuzaga ko Yehova yatuma “imitima yabo ihindukira” (1 Abami 18:36, 37). Nubwo bari mu mimerere ibabaje bitewe n’ubuhemu bwabo, Eliya yari akibakunda. Ese mu masengesho dutura Imana, dushobora kugaragaza ko twita ku izina ryayo, tukicisha bugufi nka Eliya ndetse tukagaragaza ko twiteguye kugirira impuhwe abakeneye ubufasha?

18, 19. (a) Yehova yashubije ate isengesho rya Eliya? (b) Eliya yategetse abantu gukora iki, kandi se kuki abatambyi ba Bayali batari bakwiriye kugirirwa imbabazi?

¹⁸ Mbere y’uko Eliya asenga, imbaga y’abantu bari aho bashobora kuba baribazaga niba Yehova yari butenguhe abantu nk’uko Bayali yari yabigenje. Ariko isengesho rya Eliya rirangiye, abantu ntibari bagishidikanya. Iyo nkuru igira iti “umuriro wa Yehova uramanuka utwika igitambo gikongorwa n’umuriro, utwika n’inkwi n’amabuye n’umukungugu, ukamya n’amazi yari yuzuye muri rwa ruhavu” (1 Abami 18:38). Mbega ibintu bitangaje! Abantu bari aho babyifashemo bate?

¹⁹ Bose bariyamiriye bati “Yehova ni we Mana y’ukuri! Yehova ni we  Mana y’ukuri!” (1 Abami 18:39). Amaherezo biboneye ukuri. Ariko nta kwizera bigeze bagaragaza. Tuvugishije ukuri, bemeye ko Yehova ari we Mana y’ukuri bamaze kubona umuriro uturutse mu ijuru bitewe n’isengesho rya Eliya; ntibabyemeye bitewe n’ukwizera bari bafite. Ni yo mpamvu Eliya yabasabye ikindi kintu. Yabasabye gukora ibyo bagombye kuba barakoze imyaka myinshi mbere yaho, ni ukuvuga kumvira Amategeko ya Yehova. Amategeko y’Imana yavugaga ko abahanuzi b’ibinyoma n’abasenga ibigirwamana bagombaga kwicwa (Guteg 13:5-9). Abo batambyi ba Bayali bangaga urunuka Yehova Imana kandi bakarwanya imigambi ye bivuye inyuma. Ese bari bakwiriye kugirirwa imbabazi? Ese bo bari baragiriye imbabazi abana bose b’inzirakarengane batwikaga ari bazima, bakabatambira Bayali? (Soma mu Migani 21:13; Yer 19:5.) Mu by’ukuri, abo bantu ntibari bakwiriye kubabarirwa. Ni yo mpamvu Eliya yategetse ko bicwa, kandi koko barishwe.​—1 Abami 18:40.

20. Kuki abantu bajora Bibiliya bo muri iki gihe bavuga ko kuba Eliya yarishe abatambyi ba Bayali bidakwiriye?

²⁰ Abantu bajora bo muri iki gihe, banenga ibirebana n’uko guhangana kwabereye ku musozi wa Karumeli. Hari abashobora guterwa impungenge n’uko abayoboke b’amadini b’intagondwa babigira urwitwazo rwo kugirira nabi abo batavuga rumwe. Ikibabaje ni uko muri iki gihe hari abafana benshi b’amadini b’abanyarugomo. Ariko Eliya we ntiyari umufana. Yarwaniriraga Yehova ishyaka agaragaza ko kuba abasengaga Bayali baragombaga kurimbuka byari bihuje n’ubutabera. Ikindi kandi, Abakristo b’ukuri bazi ko batagomba gukora nk’ibyo Eliya yakoze. Bityo ntibica abantu babi. Ahubwo bakurikiza ihame rireba abigishwa ba Yesu bose riboneka mu magambo yabwiye Petero. Iryo hame rigira riti “subiza inkota yawe mu mwanya wayo, kuko abafata inkota bose bazicishwa inkota” (Mat 26:52). Mu gihe kiri imbere, Yehova azakoresha Umwana we asohoze ubutabera bwe.

21. Muri iki gihe, kuki Abakristo b’ukuri bakwiriye kwigana urugero rwa Eliya?

²¹ Umukristo w’ukuri agomba kugira imibereho irangwa no kwizera (Yoh 3:16). Uburyo bumwe bwamufasha kubigeraho ni ukwigana abantu babaye abizerwa, urugero nka Eliya. Yasenze Yehova nta kintu amubangikanyije na cyo, anashishikariza abandi kubigenza batyo. Eliya yagize ubutwari bwo gushyira ahabona idini ry’ikinyoma. Satani yifashishije iryo dini kugira ngo ayobye abantu maze bareke gukorera Yehova. Kandi Eliya yari yiringiye ko Yehova ari we wari gukemura ibibazo, aho kwishingikiriza ku bushobozi bwe cyangwa gukora ibyo we yishakiye. Eliya yarwaniriye ugusenga kutanduye. Nimucyo twese twigane ukwizera kwe.