Background Scripture (read 2-3 times during the week)
Story Summary
Who Were Elijah and Elisha?
Elijah and Elisha were prophets in the Old Testament, chosen by God to hold Israel and their evil kings accountable for breaking God's laws, oppressing God's people, and leading them into idolatry. Elijah and Elisha were involved in some of the most amazing (and strange!) miracle stories in the Old Testament. Elijah came first and God told him to tap Elisha to be his successor or disciple.
Elijah's Ministry
Elijah had a full life of ministry. He was God's chosen prophet who brought God's word to the evil kings of the Northern Kingdom.
Right after the altar contest on Mount Carmel with the prophets of Baal, Elijah had to flee. You see, Ahab's wife Jezebel was a very evil woman. She was none too happy to find out about what Elijah did to the prophets of the false gods of Baal and so she sent a messenger to Elijah to tell him that she was going to kill him. So Elijah fled to a place called Horeb. Horeb was another name for Mount Sinai, the very place God spoke to Moses. On the way, Elijah became very discouraged and he thought that would be the end of his life. But God sent an angel to feed Elijah and give him the strength to get to Horeb (it took him 40 days to walk there).
God Speaks to Elijah in a Gentle Whisper
This is the context of the story today. This story is pretty straightforward, and you can read it in 1 Kings 19:10-21. God spoke to Elijah and told him to choose Elisha (most confusing transition in Bible history) to replace him after he died. This story has such great detail (the wind, fire, and earthquake did not contain the word of the Lord, but only in the still small voice). It is a great reminder to us that as we learn about all these amazing stories in the Old Testament, knowing the One who performs the miracles is more important than knowing about the miracles!
Elijah Calls Elisha
One of the things God told Elijah in his gentle whisper was to appoint Elisha to be his replacement. So Elijah went and found Elisha plowing in a field. To signify his calling, Elijah threw his cloak (or coat) over Elisha. Elisha first asked to go say goodbye to his parents and Elijah gave him permission. (Read Luke 9:61-62 for a very interesting parallel to this from Jesus!)
Later on, as Elijah was nearing the end of his time on earth, his cloak once again became an important symbol. In 2 Kings 2:8, Elijah took his coat and struck the Jordan River with it, the waters parted, and Elijah and Elisha crossed back over the Jordan out of the Promised Land.
Elijah asked Elisha if he wanted anything from him before he was taken from him. Elisha asked for a double-portion of his spirit. It seems Elisha was asking for a similar ministry and for the same kind of effectiveness and ability to perform miracles, if not more!
Elijah is Taken Up to Heaven
As they were talking, a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire between Elijah and Elisha. Elijah was taken up to the heavens in a whirlwind. Who was driving the chariots? Where exactly did Elijah go? The story doesn't answer these questions.
Elijah was one of two people in the Bible who did not die. See the story of Enoch in Genesis 5:23-24 for the other one. For some inspiration as you are studying this lesson, listen to the Rich Mullins song called "Elijah".
Elisha Succeeds Elijah
Elisha knew that Elijah was gone and that the double-portion of Elijah's spirit was his when he saw that Elijah left his cloak behind. Elisha put on his cloak and continued Elijah's ministry.
My Notes
Video Options
From Crossroads Kids Club. This video includes the part of the story where God speaks to Elijah in the gentle whisper.
From Saddleback Kids Hey-O Series
From Kids on the Move
Resource Sheet
This coloring sheet depicts the angel of the Lord feeding Elijah on his way to Mount Horeb. This is significant, because if God did not provide food for Elijah, he would have died before reaching Horeb and before he heard from God.
1 Warm Up get your kids talking and engaged
As you start the lesson, start speaking to the children using a soft whisper. This is actually a great way to get children to be quiet, but has special meaning for this lesson. Tell them (in a whisper) that we are going to learn about a time when God spoke to Elijah in a whisper.
2 Teach the Story teach a holistic story
Read story from a Children's storybook Bible for younger children.
For older children, read story from an age-appropriate Children's storybook Bible or tell the story yourself.
3 Bible Mastery give them basic Bible skills
Scripture for Kids to Read Aloud 1 Kings 19:10-18, 2 Kings 2:1-18
4 Comprehension Questions make sure they understand the story
First, ask the children if they have any questions about the story. What to do if you don't know the answer?
- Who was Elijah running away from?
- Jezebel, because she was mad at him for defeating the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel
- Where did he run to?
- Mount Horeb, about 40 days away
- How did God feed Elijah on the way to Mount Horeb?
- An angel brought him water and a hot cake
- What came to Elijah on the mountain before God came?
- A powerful wind, earthquake and fire
- How did God come to Elijah?
- With a soft whisper
- What did God tell Elijah?
- To anoint two new kings over Israel and Aram, and to appoint Elisha as a prophet to replace him
- What happened when Elijah hit the Jordan River with his coat?
- It parted and they were able to cross on dry land
- Did Elijah die?
- No
- How did Elijah get to heaven?
- God sent horses, chariots, fire and a whirlwind
- What did Elisha ask of Elijah before he went up to heaven?
- To give him a double portion of his spirit, to do the same work Elijah did as a prophet
- How did Elijah respond to Elisha?
- He told him that only the Lord could give him that
- What did Elijah leave for Elisha?
- His coat
- What happened when Elisha hit the Jordan River with Elijah's coat?
- It split in two - this was God's confirmation that Elisha should carry on Elijah's work and that his Spirit would be with Elisha
5 Faith Questions open up a conversation about faith and the gospel; close with prayer
- Elijah was taken to heaven by God with a chariot of fire.
- Do you know how to go to heaven?
6 Memory Verse hide God's Word in their heart
Listen Closely
- Gather different items that have a familiar sound when dropped on a table.
- Place items in a brown bag, so students can not see them.
- Have students place their chairs with the back up against the table, so they are facing the opposite direction.
- Drop the items, one at a time on the table and have the students guess what the item is by listening.
- fork
- crayon
- matchbox car
- Lego piece
- scissors
Homemade Pinwheel
- Follow directions to make a homemade pin wheel
Make Elijah's Cloak
- Make a cloak for each student.
- Allow them to decorate cloak with fabric markers.
- Older students can sew around the edge of the cloak.
- If they do not finish during class time, they can take it home and complete or work on it during the next Elisha lesson (lesson 41).
Hide and Seek
- Elijah was running from Jezebel after the Baal prophets were struck dead.
- Play Hide and Seek.
Telephone Whisper Game
- Line the kids up.
- Whisper "The Lord is about to pass by" to the first kid.
- Have each of them whisper it down the row.
- The last person says out loud what they heard.
- Repeat with longer phrases, if they get the first one correct.
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
- Listen to song.
- Swing low, Sweet Chariot is an African American spiritual.
- It was written by Wallace Willis, a formerly enslaved African American.
Homemade Seismograph
- Follow directions to make a seismograph.
Wish Paper Chariot
- Draw a chariot onto the wish paper.
- Draw a picture of Elijah. (A stick figure is fine)
- Crumble up the paper, then open it back up.
- Roll it into a cylinder around your finger and put it on the ground or table
- Light the top on fire with a lighter and watch it fly up.
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