The Biblical Path of Life

Author: mjross

  • Lesson 8: 2 Kings 13:9 – 15:15: Jehoash – Shallum: Wickedness Punished

    For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

    —Psalm 86:5

    Key Verse Thought: Have you ever thought about how good God really is? He is always ready to forgive — any who will call upon Him (remember Romans 10:13). In our Key Verse see that mercy means “kindness, love, or mercy shown. Even when men may prove unfaithful to this relationship, God’s mercy to His people is everlasting.”

    Emphasis: We are to understand God’s faithfulness and mercy to His people — even when they forget Him.

    Lesson Summary: As we continue with our study today, do not get confused by the king’s name; Jehoash is often called Joash. Keep in mind that they are the same person as you read through 2 Kings 13–15. We also will learn of the Prophet Elisha’s death.

    While Jehoash is king, he is challenged by the king of Judah (after he won a great victory against the Edomites) which led to the defeat of Judah. After King Jehoash died, Jeroboam II became king and reigned for 41 years. Because the kings had continually allowed the worship of the golden calves in Bethel and Dan, God permitted the enemies around to oppress Israel. God revealed to them that they had used all of their resources, tried everything they could, and still needed help. God never left them; they left God. One continual theme we can see as we study our lesson today is the same as our memory verse: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86:5). In spite of Israel’s continual state of sin, because they were God’s people, He continually saved them from their enemies. Even though King Jeroboam II continued in the same sin of the previous kings, God allowed him to restore much of Israel’s land that had been lost to enemies around. We also remember back to Amos as he delivered God’s warning to Israel. Especially recognize Amos’ tenacity to continue preaching God’s Words to Israel even after being confronted by a priest of Bethel named Amaziah.

    After King Jeroboam II died, his son Zachariah reigned. We conclude our lesson today with God’s promise to King Jehu being fulfilled. If you remember, God promised that King Jehu’s children to the fourth generation would sit upon the throne of Israel because he destroyed Ahab’s family as God had commanded him. Remember the generations after Jehu: Jehoahaz, Jehoash (Joash), Jeroboam II, and Zachariah. Zachariah was the fourth generation to sit upon the throne after King Jehu. We conclude our history today with Shallum, the son of Jabesh, who conspired against Zachariah and killed him to reign in his stead.

    Y2Q1 Lesson 8 Questions

    Y2Q1 Lesson 8 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are doing these lessons and would like a craft idea, see the following:

    For this lesson we used a frame we decorated to look like a Bible Times house to hold the verse: “And the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.” 2 Kings 14:27

  • Faith and Hope

    “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
    Romans 15:4

    Watching events in the world today, do you ever wonder why God allows some things to happen? Have you noticed the crime, injustices, wickedness, violence, strife, and so much more that happens continually? Does it seem like ungodliness is constantly in your face, yet there is nowhere to turn and hide from it? Believe it or not, this is nothing new. This has all happened before.

    Remember back for a minute to a small book in the Old Testament named after a prophet who had much of the same question for God. He asked God, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!” (Habakkuk 1:2). He wanted to know why he could see so many living in such sin and wickedness, knowing that God was displeased, and why God was allowing it to continue without doing anything about it.

    God answered Habakkuk. “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you” (Habakkuk 1:5). God proceeded to tell Habakkuk that He was about to do something so mighty that it would be hard to believe such a thing could happen. God’s people had been living contrary to God for so long, and they had chosen instead to involve themselves wholly in idolatry. Because of their rejection of God and His ways, God was going to allow the enemy to come into the country, steal a select group away, and destroy the rest of the people and nation. The enemy that was coming to destroy was a “terrible and dreadful” people. God was going to use this wicked people to come into Judah and destroy. However, because God knows the heart of all people, He knew whom he would allow to be spared from the wrath of His judgment upon His people. This group of people would be taken into the enemy’s land that was wholly given over to idolatry. Hearing this, Habakkuk was greatly trouble. He did not know or understand that in that place, this group of people would be cured of idolatry forever. It would be then that God would allow them to go back to their homeland and rebuild.

    When Habakkuk did not understand, he still waited to hear from God. Once again, God answered him. God wanted him to write it down for all to know and understand, because if God says something is going to happen, be assured it will happen! The greatest verse in this book, the verse that is the most instructive is found next. “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). No one who places faith in anyone or anything besides God is “upright” in God. Remember: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). The most important faith a person can have is the saving faith in Jesus. “8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once one has the saving faith of Jesus, that person is able to “live by his faith.” “16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth … 17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17). In the world, people think seeing is believing. God wants us to understand that believing is seeing.

    How did Habakkuk respond to this thought of living by his faith in God and His Word? The entirety of chapter three in Habakkuk is a prayer that turns into a song. Habakkuk remembered what God had done for His people in the past, and the hope God gave for the future. God had never left them. This comforted Habakkuk and gave him hope. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

    Habakkuk put into practice what we should know to do: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). When Habakkuk sought God, God answered and encouraged Habakkuk.

    Does God’s Word comfort you, encouraging you to live a life of faith in this world?

  • Lesson 7: Amos: The Prophet from the Country

    Key Verse

    And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

    —Jeremiah 29:13

    Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. Do you know what it is to seek for God? Use the following definitions to help you understand this verse:

    • seek: to search out – specifically in prayer or worship; to enquire, ask, beseech
    • search: to follow in pursuit; to search; to worship; make inquisition
    • find: to find or acquire; to meet
    • heart: the mind; understanding

    God promises that if we will actively pursue Him in prayer or worship, we will meet Him. But only if we will follow in pursuit until we find Him with our mind and understanding. It obviously takes work. In this lesson, we will see that the people of Israel did not seek God – even when God told them to seek Him.

    Emphasis: We should consider Amos’ question. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). We cannot live as the Israelites lived, disregarding God’s commands. We should then heed Amos’s warning to “Seek the LORD, and ye shall live…” (Amos 5:6).

    Lesson Summary: Amos was a contemporary of Jonah, whom we studied in our last lesson. Although they spoke around the same time, they spoke God’s Word to different groups of people. If you remember, God sent Jonah to a city, Nineveh, in a Gentile nation, Assyria. Amos was from an area just south of Jerusalem, in Judah. But God sent him to speak – mostly to Israel. He spoke during the reign of King Jeroboam II.

    Amos was known as a prophet from the country. He was only a herdsman, yet when God called him, he obeyed God (Amos 7:14–15). Amos told of the impending judgment on the nations around, ending with the judgment that would fall upon Israel for their sin against God. He asked a pertinent question. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

    After many warnings to “[s]eek the LORD, and ye shall live …”, Amos warned of the discipline God would allow upon the people of Israel if they refused to turn back to Him. When the people refused to heed correction, God showed Amos several things that revealed the judgment that would come to God’s people. He saw: grasshoppers, a plumb line, a basket of summer fruit, and finally God standing at the altar. Nevertheless, even with the impending doom, God left His people with words of hope and restoration.

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 7 Questions

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 7 Children’s Worksheets

    If you teach this to children, here is a craft idea:

    You could have your students make a picture of a sheep to remember Amos was a herdsman. Have them glue cotton, draw a face on the sheep, and add the verse Amos 1:1a.

  • Lesson 6: Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet

    For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. —Titus 2:11

    Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. Use the following definitions help you understand it:

    • grace: the divine influence upon the heart;
    • appeared: become visible; able to be known.

     Today we are going to study a prophet that God sent to a Gentile nation (they were not Israelites, God’s chosen people). God makes His salvation known to all who need it.

    Emphasis: Be encouraged to know where God wants you to be, and to be where God wants you to be. Also, to be a faithful witness wherever you may be. 

    Lesson Summary: As we continue studying the Historical Books, we will intermittently study a book of the Prophets as close to the timeframe in history we are studying as we can. We have learned of the deplorable condition of the nation Israel as they only had bad kings. None of them led the nation in reformation back to the one, true God. We have remembered two very influential prophets of the Lord, Elijah and Elisha. Today we will look at another prophet, Jonah. Unlike Elijah and Elisha who spoke the Word of the Lord to the people of Israel, God sent Jonah to a nation that was the enemy of Israel. King Joash (Jehoash) was the last king in Israel of which we read (we will continue with his reign in Lesson 8). Jonah came upon the scene after King Joash (Jehoash) and during the reign of the next king of Israel, Jeroboam II (who we will study in Lesson 8 — see 2 Kings 14:23, 25).

    Jonah is a book in the Bible that is very familiar. One in which many people could probably relate without even having to go back and reread the book of Jonah. With that thought in mind if you are teaching a group, prepare to teach your students something about Jonah they may have never considered before. Be encouraged to never become so familiar with an account in the Bible that you don’t want to “hear it again.”

    Understand and know that the events that transpired in Jonah really happened. Jesus even compared Himself to the prophet Jonah (called Jonas in the Greek). “39. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here” (Matthew 12:39–41). Proof enough to anyone that Jonah was a real prophet who spent three days and three nights in the belly of a whale.

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 6 Questions

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 6 Children’s Worksheets

    There are many options to show the events from the book of Jonah. I had extra stickers from other projects and made my own picture to remember what happened to Jonah.

  • Faithful Stewards

    “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
    1 Corinthians 4:2

    There are many people in our lives with whom we become acquainted. However, one must be cautious that those we spend the most time with have a true knowledge of Jesus and a love for God’s Word. We are to understand that words alone do not make one a child of God. A very dangerous position in which to be is to be one who does not hold the truth of salvation. What is the condition of those who do not have a true knowledge of Jesus? “12. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13. Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever” (Jude 1:12-13). When one does not hold the truth of salvation, they might just look and sound like a Christian, yet they have never known the truth of the Gospel message. What a sad place to be! Remember the warning Jesus gave: “21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23).

    Remember an event in the New Testament to help one understand this better.

    Paul had met a couple, Aquila and Priscilla, while on his second missionary journey in the city of Corinth. Paul taught in the synagogue every Sabbath, teaching the people that Jesus was the Christ (the Messiah that had come to take away the sin of anyone who would believe). Eventually, the chief ruler of the synagogue “believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed” (see Acts 18:8). Paul stayed there for a time, teaching the Word of God to the people. When he left Corinth, Priscilla and Aquila went with him until he reached Ephesus where they stayed while Paul continued on his journey.

    While Priscilla and Aquila were there, a man came. “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus” (Acts 18:24). See what else God’s Word says of Apollos. “This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25). One has to stop for a minute to remember what it means by the “baptism of John.” John (also known as John the Baptist) was preaching repentance, calling for people to be baptized, preparing them to receive Jesus when He came. John the Baptist’s job was to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (see Luke 1:17b). This meant that he was to introduce Jesus to the people as the Messiah (the Christ) for whom they had been waiting. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Somehow, Apollos missed that part of the message. He only knew of the baptism to repentance, but missed that Jesus was the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. He had knowledge of much of the Scripture, but he was missing the key part – Jesus. Repentance of sin was important, but it was meaningless unless one understood that Jesus was the One who took the sin from the individual, giving salvation.

    What was Apollos doing with the information of the baptism to repentance that was taught by John the Baptist? “And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26). When Aquila and Priscilla heard that what Apollos was teaching was missing the most important part (Jesus), they went to him and “expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” What does that mean? They explained to Apollos that Jesus was the Christ. “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31). They had to tell Apollos about Jesus. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). That was the key part of the message that Apollos had not yet heard. However, when Apollos heard, he believed in Jesus. How do we know that he received the message and believed in Jesus? “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ” (Acts 18:28). Because Aquila and Priscilla were faithful stewards of God’s Word, not only did Apollos believe, but he proceeded to tell others that Jesus was the Christ, too.

    Have you told others that Jesus is the Christ, and that by believing they can have life through His name?

    How to be Saved

  • Lesson 5: 2 Kings 9:11–13:9: Jehu – Jehoahaz

    Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

    —Proverbs 4:23

    Key Verse Thought: As you read the Key verse for this lesson, use the following definitions to help you understand it a little better.

    • keep:  guard; protect; preserve
    • heart:  the center; the totality of man’s inner nature; the place where wisdom and understanding reside

     We are to be very careful of what we allow into our hearts. We should protect not only the nature (character, or attributes) but also the wisdom that we allow into our hearts. Why? What we allow into our heart is the source for the kind of life we live; the kind of person we become. That is one reason why when someone becomes saved; we say they have asked Jesus into their heart.

    Be encouraged to consider your heart as the place where a special treasure is kept — a place to be well guarded. It would also be good to understand the importance of placing God’s Word into your heart (see Psalm 119:11).

    Emphasis: We are to learn from the failings of King Jehu. We are to keep our hearts with all diligence — always continuously hiding God’s Word in our hearts so we will know what to do (unlike King Jehu).

    Lesson Summary: As we begin this lesson, we must remember that Jehoram (also called Joram) reigned in Israel. Elisha had sent one of the prophets to anoint a new king of Israel, Jehu, even while Jehoram was still king. When Jehu was anointed, he was also given a very grave message. He was to kill Ahab’s entire household.

    We will see the process that Jehu followed being established as the new king of Israel. Jehu went to Jezreel and killed King Jehoram (and Ahaziah, king of Judah, who was visiting King Jehoram). He continued by having Jezebel killed. Ahab had 70 sons living in Samaria, and they were also killed. Jehu did not stop there, he continued by killing every Baal worshiper in Israel. He then had all of the images burned, and they broke down the house of Baal. When Jehu died, we find his son, Jehoahaz, becomes the twelfth king of Israel. He reigned for 17 years in Israel, and “followed the sins of Jeroboam.” It was a greatly oppressed nation while he was king. When he died, his son, Joash (Jehoash), became the thirteenth king of Israel.

    As we read about all of the good that Jehu did, we will find an area in which he miserably failed. This is to be a lesson to us.

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 5 Questions

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 5 Children’s Worksheets

    You could have them make a journal including verses reminding them the importance of fearing the Lord and walking in His ways. That was Jehu’s failure – although he did much for God, he did not walk in God’s ways.

  • Lesson 4: 2 Kings 3 – 9:10: Elisha

    Key Verse

    For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. —Hebrews 10:36

    Key Verse Thought: After you read the Key Verse, use the following definitions to help you understand it better. 

    • patience: endurance; perseverance or constancy under suffering in faith and duty
    • will: purpose; God’s law; decree
    • promise: salvation in Christ

    Does one really understand patience? Does it take patience to do something that doesn’t always make sense? For example (here are a few examples, or you may thing of some better ones!):

    • Making your bed when you’re going to sleep in it that night — it keeps your room neat and your covers straight;
    • Going to bed at a regular bedtime even though you still have work to do — keeps you from always being tired or rundown which allows you to get sick easier;
    • Eating foods that are good for you, as opposed to junk food all of the time — also keeps you healthier;
    • Submitting to your authority, even though you think you know best!

    Today we will see many people who were asked to do things that didn’t necessarily make sense to them at the time. The important thing for them to learn was to do what the prophet of the Lord told them to do, obeying God’s Words. We will also see what happened for those who patiently did the will of God and see what God gave them.

    Emphasis: In this lesson, we should learn to obey God’s Word, patiently, even if it seems too hard or it does not necessarily make sense to us. Be encouraged to put your faith and trust in Jesus and to live your life according to God’s Word.

    Lesson Summary: In this lesson, we will continue learning the history of the nation Israel, the Northern Kingdom. Once we saw Elijah taken, we read Elisha established as the prophet of the Lord. Elisha had requested Elijah to give him a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. In this lesson, we will see that this is just what Elisha received. Not only did he have dealings with many Israelites, but we will also see that he took the Word of the Lord to the kings. His fame even spread by an Israelite maiden taken captive into the home of a captain in the Syrian army. His name was Naaman. Because he obeyed the words spoken by the prophet of the Lord, Elisha, Naaman was healed of his leprosy. Notice the many different, and even unusual things, people were asked to do, obeying the words of the prophet of the Lord. It would also be good to notice the blessings, and even the salvation from the enemies, the people received when they obeyed.

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 4 Questions

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 4 Children’s Worksheets

    You could let your students make a coloring book of their own using pictures of Naaman, the Leper, and Elisha.

  • The Heart of the Matter

    “6. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
    Isaiah 55:6-7

    Hezekiah was the greatest king Judah ever had (see 2 Kings 18:5). He was compared back to King David, the man after God’s own heart. Hezekiah made great reformations in Judah, eliminated idols and reinstated worship of the one true God. His heart was right before God. “And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:21). Hezekiah led the people to follow God.

    Hezekiah had a great sickness, and Isaiah told him that God said Hezekiah would die of that sickness. Hezekiah prayed. God healed. God did a great sign to show Hezekiah he would live. The Babylonians came when they heard Hezekiah was sick. He showed them all of the treasures of Judah. We can read that his heart was lifted up (2 Chronicles 32:25). He was prideful of all he had. He should have given God the credit for all of the treasures of Judah. He should have been a vocal witness to the Babylonians. “Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chronicles 32:31). God knew what was in Hezekiah’s heart, but now all knew what was really in Hezekiah’s heart: Pride. “Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah” (2 Chronicles 32:26). Hezekiah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem humbled themselves before the Lord, and God’s wrath was delayed.

    Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, became the worst king Judah had. “But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel” (2 Chronicles 33:2). One can read a listing of his wickedness in 2 Chronicles 33:3-9. One terrible thing he did was “to cause his children to pass through the fire,” which is child sacrifice. God went on to declare that Manasseh did worse than the heathen whom the Lord had removed before the children of Israel. God sent men to warn Manasseh and the people, but they would not listen. Isaiah was a prophet of God during Hezekiah’s reign and even into Manasseh’s reign. Read something recorded in Isaiah that we can still read today: “6. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7).

    Because of the wickedness of Manasseh, God allowed the enemy to take him captive into Babylon. “And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers” (2 Chronicles 33:12). While in Babylon, Manasseh sought the Lord and humbled himself before Him. After calling upon the Lord, Manasseh forsook his way, and turned unto the Lord. God heard his supplication and had mercy on this wicked king. God pardoned him, allowed him to return to Judah, and even sit upon the throne once again. “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

    Manasseh proceeded to do much good: he reinforced the city, took away the strange gods, idols, and altars he built in the house of the Lord, and cast them out of the city. He repaired the altar of the Lord and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel. “Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places …” (2 Chronicles 33:17a). In Hezekiah’s day, the people humbled themselves before the Lord with Hezekiah. In Manasseh’s day, the people continued in their false worship even after Manasseh turned his heart to God. God’s wrath would come.  

    Remember, God sees the heart. “20. If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; 21. Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:20-21).

    Do you understand God knows the secrets of the heart?

  • Lesson 3: 2 Kings 1-2: Elijah and Elisha

    Key Verse

    Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised) —Hebrews 10:23

    Key Verse Thought: After reading the verse, understand that the word faithful means “constant in the performance of duties or services — like a faithful servant.” In this verse, faithful also means “as God with his promises.”

    When we understand the faithfulness of God, it helps us as we “hold fast the profession of our faith.” That means we have and retain the faith we have of the Gospel message of Jesus (that He died to cleanse us from our sins). Moreover, that we do it without “wavering.” Wavering means “steady, without giving way.” In this lesson, we will continue looking at the life of Elijah, and we will begin to learn about Elisha. Both of these prophets of God held fast, knowing God would be faithful.

    Emphasis: Just as Elijah was faithful in doing what God asked of him (no matter how difficult we may think it might have been), we, too, are to remain faithful doing what God asks of us (no matter how hard it may seem!).  

    Lesson Summary: After the people of Israel professed, “The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God” (1 Kings 18:39), there continued to be idol worship in the land. We begin today with Ahab’s son, Ahaziah, as king of Israel, seeking the answer to his question from Baalzebub, the god of Ekron. When the king was injured (he fell through a lattice), instead of inquiring an answer from God, he inquired for a word from a false god. So God sent Elijah with a word for the king – words that the king did not receive (for he did not like the message). The king sent captains with their fifties to bring Elijah to the king. Two times Elijah called fire down from heaven that consumed them. On the third time, because of the captain’s words, he and his men lived. Elijah returned with a message for the king himself. The king would die from his injury — and he did. We will then look back to the call of Elisha as the servant of Elijah, soon to be the one to replace the prophet Elijah (I Kings 19:16). As we remember Elijah’s life, we find he knew he was about to leave the earth. Recall the familiar events of Elijah taken alive into heaven by a chariot of fire and horses of fire as Elisha stood as a witness. Don’t just recall the familiar events, read them again with the intention of learning more about just what really happened. Especially think about the faithfulness displayed, as Elisha never left Elijah’s side — even when Elijah told him to stay. Notice the reward Elijah, and even Elisha, received for their faithfulness. See what the 50 men of the sons of the prophets recognized about Elisha.

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 3 – Questions

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 3 – Children’s Worksheets

    You could cut out the shape of a coat from foam and let the children lace it. This could remind them of Elijah’s mantle that Elijah picked up and kept.

  • Lesson 2: 1 Kings 16:29 – 22:53: Ahab and Elijah

    Key Verse

    And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. —Romans 8:28

    Key Verse Thought: Have you ever had something bad happen to you? According to this verse, if we are Christians (have Jesus in our heart), and are living according to God’s Word doing what God wants us to do with our lives, everything will work out for good — even if it seems like something bad at the time. In this lesson, we will see this lived out in Elijah’s life. Even when the king and queen wanted Elijah dead, God provided for him and took care of him.

    Emphasis: If we will obey God, God will provide for us and take care of us — no matter what.     

    Lesson Summary: Now that we have seen the nation of Israel divide into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, we will begin by studying the nation Israel. We will continue with Judah afterward. In our last lesson, we began by learning about the first three kings of Israel — Jeroboam, Nadab, and Baasha. Israel never had a good, or godly, king. In this lesson, we will continue with the next six kings — including one of the worst kings and his wicked queen.

    After seeing four more wicked kings (Elah, Zimri, Tibni, and Omri), we come to the worst king yet — King Ahab. After he became king, God sent His prophet, Elijah, to speak to wicked King Ahab. Elijah told the king that there would be no rain in the land; and there was a drought for over three years. God provided for Elijah during the drought and sent him back to King Ahab after three years with a great challenge. Elijah had all of Israel to meet on top of Mount Carmel to call for a decision from the people. Choose who the true God is. After Elijah’s mighty victory, he ran for his life. We see God had not forgotten him, but He showed himself to Elijah in a still small voice. He then gave Elijah a helper, Elisha. We will learn more about him in our next lesson.

    We will continue with King Ahab’s wicked reign as Benhadad, king of Syria, besieged Israel. God mightily delivered — twice. However, because King Ahab spared the enemy king’s life, God would require King Ahab’s life.

    We see more of Queen Jezebel’s wickedness as she kills to acquire Naboth’s vineyard for her husband, King Ahab. When Elijah told King Ahab of God’s displeasure about this event, we will see the compassion God had upon King Ahab when he was sorry for sin. When King Ahab joined with the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, to enter into battle with Syria, a prophet of God told King Ahab that he would die in battle — and he did. King Ahab’s son, Ahaziah, became the next king of Israel. He, too, was a wicked king.

    Year Two Quarter One Questions

    Year Two Quarter One Student Worksheets

    You could have your students make their own coloring book about Elijah.