UJehova wayethe kwakuzakuba lendlala okweminyaka ethile embusweni ka-Ahabi, inkosi embi yako-Israyeli. U-Elija esememezele ukuthi kuzakuba lendlala, uNkulunkulu wamfihla ukwenzela ukuthi u-Ahabi angamboni njalo wanika umphrofethi lo isinkwa lenyama ngendlela eyisimangaliso. Ukudla lokhu wayekuphathelwa ngamawabayi. UJehova wasesithi ku-Elija: “Suka khathesi uye eZarefathi yeSidoni uyehlala khona. Sengilungisile khona ukuthi umfelokazi uzakulungisela abe ekupha ukudla.”​—1 AmaKho. 17:1-9.

Umfelokazi wayekwazi ukuthi u-Elija wayengum-Israyeli owayesesaba uNkulunkulu. Lokhu kukhanya ngamazwi akhe athi, “ngeqiniso lanjengoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ephila.” Kukhanya angani wayelolwazi oluthile ngoNkulunkulu wako-Israyeli kodwa lwalungakabi banzi okokuthi wayengabiza uJehova athi “nguNkulunkulu wakhe.” Wayehlala eZarefathi, idolobho ‘leSidoni’ kumbe elalingabe lingaphansi kwayo. Kumele ukuthi eZarefathi kwakuhlala abantu ababekhonza uBhali. Kodwa uJehova wayebone okuthile okuhle kumfelokazi lo.

Umfelokazi waseZarefathi ongumyanga wayelokholo lanxa wayakhelane labantu ababekhonza izithombe. UJehova kazange amtshiye enjalo umfelokazi lo yikho wathuma u-Elija ukuthi aye kuye ukuze abanakekele bobabili. Kulokuthile okuqakathekileyo esingakufunda endabeni le.

EZarefathi kwakugcwele abantu ababekhonza uBhali kodwa kayisibo bonke ababehlala khona ababesenza izinto ezimbi. Lapho uJehova ethuma u-Elija ukuthi ayebona umfelokazi lo, wayetshengisa ukuthi uyababona abantu abaqotho abangakamkhonzi. Kuliqiniso ukuthi, “[uNkulunkulu] wamukela abantu benhlanga zonke abamesabayo, abenza okulungileyo.”​—ImiSeb. 10:35.