Elijah and Elisha
2 Kings 2

“I am the Lord… I will not give my glory to another.”  Isaiah 42:8

Dear Parents,

Following God’s great display of power at Mount Carmel, Elijah fled for his life and traveled to Mount Horeb where he encountered God in a soft whisper. God instructed Elijah to anoint a man named Elisha as his successor. Elijah found Elisha plowing a field. Elijah put his cloak over Elisha to show that Elisha would be a prophet like Elijah. Elisha followed Elijah and served him for many years. In time, King Ahab of Israel appointed his son Ahaziah as king. When Ahaziah died, his brother Joram became king.

Elijah’s ministry came to an end, and God took him to heaven in an unusual way. First, Elijah and Elisha traveled from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho and then to the Jordan River. Elijah met with other prophets and their families. Despite Elijah’s insistence otherwise, Elisha did not leave Elijah’s side.

A group of prophets watched as Elijah parted the Jordan River by striking the water with his mantle (cloak) so he could cross. In Elijah’s final moments, Elisha requested, “Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit” (2 Kings 2:9). Elisha wanted power to continue God’s work and confirmation as Israel’s next prophet.

A chariot of fire and horses of fire suddenly appeared and separated the men. Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind, and Elisha cried out after him. When Elijah was out of view, Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak and struck the water of the Jordan River. The water parted—a sign that Elisha had received power from God. Elisha would continue the work of Elijah as a prophet to Israel.

As you talk with your kids this week, remind them that God gave Elisha the same spirit that was in Elijah so Elisha could carry out his mission as a prophet. Years later, Jesus told His followers to wait for the Holy Spirit. God gives believers the Holy Spirit so they can share the gospel with the world. 

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

BIBLE STORY SUMMARY: 

• God chose Elisha to be His prophet after Elijah. 
• A chariot of fire took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. 
• Elisha was given the same spirit that gave Elijah power. 

KEY PASSAGE: Isaiah 42:8 

BIG PICTURE QUESTION: 

• How many gods are there? There is one true God. 

FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: 

• Why did Elisha want the same spirit that was in Elijah?
• How do we know God gave Elisha the same spirit that was in Elijah? 
• Who does God give us to help us share the good news of Jesus with the world? 

FAMILY ACTIVITY: 

• Guide family members to practice sharing the gospel with each other using a resource such as “The Gospel: God’s Plan for Preschoolers” poster found
  at gospelproject.com under “Additional Resources.” 
• Brainstorm times, places, and people you can share the gospel with. 

Elijah at Mount Carmel
1 Kings 18-19

“I am the Lord… I will not give my glory to another.”  Isaiah 42:8

Dear Parents,

King Ahab was an evil king. In fact, “Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kings 16:33). God wanted His people to be faithful to Him, but King Ahab led them away from God.

God chose Elijah to get Ahab’s attention. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah told Ahab that a drought was coming. God prevented rain in the land for three years. For Ahab, a man who worshiped Baal—the false Canaanite god of rain and fertility—the drought sent a strong message about the one true God.

When God was ready to send rain on the earth, Elijah appeared to Ahab and instructed him to gather the Israelites and the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. Elijah challenged the people to choose: Follow God or follow Baal. They couldn’t do both.

Elijah set up a challenge to prove who is the one true God. He faced off against the prophets of Baal. They prepared a bull on an altar and called on their deity to send fire from heaven. The prophets of Baal called and cried and cut themselves, but Baal did not answer.

Elijah poured water on and around his altar. He called to God, and God sent fire from heaven. Everything was burned up! The Israelites could not deny that the God of Elijah is the one true God. Finally, God sent a great rain to end the drought.

Elijah fled from the wrath of Ahab’s wife, Jezebel. He met with God on a mountain, and God revealed Himself to Elijah in a soft whisper. God gave Elijah a friend and successor in Elisha and assured him of 7,000 people in Israel who had not turned to Baal.

The false god Baal had no power. The people who worshiped the false god Baal danced and cried out for hours to show that they loved Baal. But the one true God is not like the false gods. We do not have to work hard to show God we love Him. Instead, He showed His love for us by sending His Son, Jesus. Jesus died to rescue us from sin, and He hears us when we cry out to Him.As you talk with your kids about the Bible story this week, emphasize that only God—the one true God—has power to help His people and to save them. And He saves them through His Son, Jesus.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

BIBLE STORY SUMMARY: 

• Elijah set up a contest to show who the one true God is. 
• The worshipers of Baal called out to him, but no one answered. 
• God showed that He is the one true God by sending fire to Elijah’s altar. 

KEY PASSAGE: Isaiah 42:8 

BIG PICTURE QUESTION: 

• How many gods are there? There is one true God. 

FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS: 

• How did God show that He is the one true God? 
• How is the one true God different from false gods? 
• How did God show His love for us? 

FAMILY ACTIVITY: 

• Invite a few families over to roast marshmallows around a fire pit while you review the Bible story. 
• Read a few stories from the New Testament of Jesus’ power over creation such as Jesus’ walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33), calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41), or feeding the five thousand (John 6:1-14). Talk about how Jesus showed He is God the Son.