The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Elisha

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Those Who Love God

    “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

    Have you ever had something bad happen to you? According to Romans 8:28, if we are Christians (have Jesus in our hearts and lives), 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. There is a great picture of this lived out in the life of Elijah. Even when the king and queen wanted Elijah dead, God provided for him and took care of him.

    In Elijah’s day, the nation of Israel had already divided into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah. The kingdom of Israel never had a good king. The worst was King Ahab. God called Elijah to speak to wicked King Ahab. God sent Elijah to tell the king there would be no rain in the land; and there was a drought for over three years. God provided for Elijah during the drought. He sent Elijah to the brook Cherith where he had water. God sent ravens to bring him food. When the brook dried up, God sent him to Zarephath where a widow woman took care of him until the end of the drought. After over three years, God sent Elijah back to King Ahab with a great challenge. Elijah told him to have all of Israel to meet on top of Mount Carmel. He called for a decision from the people. Choose who the true God is. After Elijah’s great victory when fire fell from heaven and consumed his offering, the people declared, “The Lord, He is the God.” Because Elijah had all of the false prophets killed, Queen Jezebel, Ahab’s wicked wife, wanted him dead. Elijah ran for his life. We learn that God had not forgotten Elijah, for He showed Himself to Elijah in a still small voice. Elijah thought he was the last one who loved and served God. But God told him that there seven thousand others that had not served the false gods. Therefore, Elijah was not alone. However, more than this reassurance, he gave Elijah a helper – Elisha. Through all of this, we can learn that even though the nation as a whole had forsaken God and turned to idol worship, there were still those who had not forsaken God. Elijah was a great example of God providing for one who was willing to give his life wholly to serve God, obeying His every command. We should remember the encouragement God gave to Elijah when he was greatly discouraged – and even fearful for his life (see 1 Kings 17-20). Remember Romans 8:28: “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.” Especially that all things will work together for good if one is living the life God would have them to live. It is important to trust that God will provide for our every need.

    During days where there are trying times and all seems to be going wrong, stop and look at your heart and life. Seek God to see if you are where you should be, doing what you should be doing. If you seek Him with all of your heart, you can find Him. “11. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD …” (Jeremiah 29: 11-14a).  

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

    Are you living for God, trusting that He will work all things together for good?