VERSES: 2 Kings 2:1-18
MEMORY VERSE: 2 Kings 2:11 "...and Elijah went up by a whirlwind of fire."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review the books of the Old Testament through Daniel until everyone knows them.
PRAYER: Pray that we might have the zeal and enthusiasm about spiritual things as Elisha had.
SPECIAL SONG: Elijah (see March - Songs We Sing In bible Class #4 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: Make a large "Elijah Goes Up To Heaven In A Chariot Of Fire In A Whirlwind" Spinner.
LESSON POINTS:
- The Bible says that there have only been two people who did not die. In Genesis 5:24, it tells about Noah's great-grandfather whose name was Enoch and he did not die "for God took him." The only other man who did not die is someone we have talked a lot about in our studies--Elijah! Elijah did not die; God took him. But, oh! how God took him is a very interesting story!
- Remember Elisha? No, not Eli-JAH. Eli-SHA! Their names sound a lot alike, don't they? Remember God told Eliijah to anoint Elisha with oil because Elisha would be taking Elijah's place as a prophet of God.
- It was close to the time when the LORD was going to take Elijah up into heaven in a whirlwind and Elijah and Elisha were walking from a city named Gilgal. Elijah told to Elisha to wait there because the LORD wanted Elijah to go to Bethel. But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they both went down to Bethel. When they arrived in Bethel, a group of prophets came out to meet them and they said to Elisha, "Did you know that the LORD is going to take your master away from you today?" Elisha replied, " Yes, I know. Hold your peace."
- Then Elijah told Elisha to wait there because the LORD wanted Elijah to go to Jericho. But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they both went down to Jericho. When they arrived in Jericho, a group of prophets came out to meet them and they said to Elisha, "Did you know that the LORD is going to take your master away from you today?" Elisha replied, " Yes, I know. Hold your peace."
- Then Elijah told Elisha to wait there because the LORD wanted Elijah to go to Jordan. But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they both went down to Jordan. When they arrived in Jordan, there were 50 prophets who watched from afar. Elijah and Elisha stood alone by the river Jordan. Elijah took off his mantle or cloak, wrapped it together, and struck the water. Do you know what happened to the water?? It divided just like when Moses hit the waters of the Red Sea and they divided! Some of the water was on one side and the rest of the water was on the other side, and ELijah and Elisha walked through on dry ground--just like the children of Israel walking through the Red Sea! And who was watching all this? That's right! The group of 50 prophets, but they were watching from far away, but they could see what was happening.
- When Elijah and Elisha had passed over to the other side of the river, Elijah turned to Elisha and asked him " Before I am taken away, what shall I do for you?" That was a nice thing to say! Do you know what Elisha wanted? He wanted a double portion of Elijah's spirit. He didn't want a horse or food or money, all Elisha wanted was twice as much Elijah's spirit as Elijah had! Elijah said that his request was a hard thing to do, but if Elisha saw Elijah go up into heaven then, yes, Elisha would receive a double portion of Elijah's spirit.
- As the two men walked on, talking, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire that went right between Elijah and Elisha and Elijah went up into heaven in the chariot of fire! Did Elisha see it happen? Yes, he did! Did Elisha receive his request? Yes, he did! Elisha said, "My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horses!" And Elisha didn't see Elijah anymore.Elisha was sad that he would not see Elijah anymore and how did people express their sadness and grief back then? They tore their clothes and that is what Elisha did because he was sad. Then Elisha looked down and what did he see on the ground? The mantle! It had fallen from Elijah! He picked it up and went and stood on the bank of the Jordan River.
- Then Elisha did what Elijah did. He struck the waters and said, "Where is the LORD God of Israel?" and the waters divided again! Elisha went across the river on dry ground and guess who was watching? Yes! Those fifty men who standing far away had seen it all! They said, "The spirit of Elijah now rests on Elisha." They went to meet him and bowed before him. The men wanted fifty strong men that were with them to go and search for Elijah, but Elisha said not to go. After much begging by the prophets, Elisha finally let them go, but they could not find Elijah just like Elisha had said. And that's how Elisha's journey began.
- What a way to go up into heaven! A whirlwind of fire in a chariot of fire and horses of fire! And Elisha got to see it all! In fact, it went right between Elijah and Elijah. How could he have missed it?? As excited as Elisha was about seeing what had happened, he still was saddened about losing Elijah and, no doubt, missed him. But--there are exciting times ahead for Elisha, as we shall see!
Materials needed: 4 1.2" x 18" piece of red shiny paper (I used metallic gift wrap), three or four clear transparencies, scrap of blue paper, scrap of tan paper, string, tape, marker, scissors, glue, crayons, hole punch..
- Hand out one transparency.
- Cut around and around in a circle without cutting it in to two pieces. This is the whirlwind.
- Set aside whirlwind.
- Hand out red paper.
- Fold red paper in half and in half again, cuting on each fold, so there are four pieces of paper.
- Cut a horse of fire out of one piece of red paper.
- Cut another horse of fire out of another piece of red paper
- Cut a simple chariot of of the third piece of red paper.
- Fold last piece of red paper in half.
- Cut on fold.
- Cut into two wheels.
- Hand out a second transparency.
- Cut transparency in half.
- Glue each horse on a separate half-sheet of transparency.
- Set horses aside.
- Hand out a third transparency.
- Glue the chariot and wheels on the third transparency.
- Cut around chariot.
- Set chariot aside.
- Take small piece of tan paper and cut a small 1" circle. This is Elijah's head.
- Hand out blue scrap of paper.
- Cut out a large triangle for Elijah's robe.
- Glue head on robe.
- Color Elijah's face and hair.
- Glue Elijah inside chariot.
- Tape two horses, a chariot with Elijah in it and tape to transparency that is cut into a spiral. (see top picture).
- Take a scrap of transparency or paper--whatever is leftover--and write "Elijah goes up in a chariot of fire in a a whirlwind." and "2 Kings 2".
- Tape words anywhere on clear spiral.
- Punch a hole through the middle of the spiral.
- Tie string through hole.
- Spinner should go around with a little bit of help from wind or student.