Children Bible Overview 72 07/09/08

ELISHA, THE PROPHET WHO BROUGHT OUT THE POWER

OF GOD’S WORD

Teachers to read bible scripture: <2 Ki 2:19 – 4:7>

Children to memorize bible scripture: <1 The 5: 19-20>

Recap
Children, last week, we saw how God brought Prophet Elijah away but gave double anointing to
Prophet Elisha. After Elisha received double blessings and power from the Holy Spirit, he was greatly
used by God to save and help God's people.

Introduction
God greatly used Prophet Elisha, to preach God's word through him. Therefore, as long as the word
was spoken by Elisha, they were all fulfilled. Through Elisha's words, God performed the following
miracles:
(1) When the men of Jericho told Elisha, “The water in the city is bad and the land is unproductive”,
Elisha took a new bowl and put salt into the water in the bowl saying, “God has healed this water!”
From then onwards, the water in the city remained wholesome.
(2) When Elisha went up to Bethel, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him for being
bald. They looked down on God’s prophet, Elisha. Elisha therefore called down a curse on them.
Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the youths.
(3) There was once when the kingdoms of Judah, Israel and Edom (3 kingdoms) were in battle with
the kingdom of Moab, there was no water for the army of the 3 kingdoms. Therefore, the king of
Judah suggested that they sought the advice of Prophet Elisha. As Elisha had a high regard for
the kingdom of Judah, he instructed them to make the valley full of ditches. When they did
according to what Elisha instructed, the land was filled with water by morning. Thereafter the
kingdoms of Judah, Israel and Edom greatly defeated the Moabites.
(4) There was once, the widow of one of the prophet disciples owed a huge debt and she had no
money to repay. So her creditor wanted to take her two sons to be his slaves. The widow hence
cried out to Elisha for help. Elisha asked, “What do you have in the house?” The widow said,
“Other than a jar of oil, there is nothing else in the house.” Elisha told her, “Go borrow as many
empty vessels from all your neighbors as possible. After that, pour the remaining oil in all the
vessels. Therefore, the widow did as the prophet instructed. When the widow poured the oil, the
oil flowed unceasingly until there were no more vessels to fill. The widow told this to the prophet.
Elisha said, “Sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”
Therefore, people all knew that Elisha was a prophet whose words demonstrated God’s power.
Everything he said was fulfilled.

1. In every era, God will search for prophets who will speak words on His behalf
1) God's prophets are those who know God's promise. Elisha knew that the Lord was
His God and the God of Israel. God had chosen them so that they are blessed and
their family, their region and all people are blessed through them.
2) Because Elisha knew God's promise, God told him the perfect will and plan to lead
the Israel and all the Gentiles. Because Elisha spoke according to what God
instructed, all his words were fulfilled.
3) Because the words spoken by Elisha were according to God's heart desire, many
prophets who knew God's word followed Elisha and learnt about God's word from
him. As such, God's word is widely preached through these prophets and disciples.
2. Prophet Elisha’s words brought about miracles, symbolizing the word God wanted
to tell Israel
1) Elisha healed the water from Jericho city: God anticipated the repentance and healing
of Israel (Jericho was a city that was cursed).
2) Elisha called down a curse on 42 youths in Bethel, causing bears to maul them: God
warned those who did not follow and looked down on the words of prophets (God).
Regardless of who these people are, they would all perish (Bethel was originally the
most blessed city).
3) Because Elisha had a high regard for the kingdom of Judah, he saved the 2
kingdoms of Israel and Edom, so that they received the water provided by the Lord,
God and hence defeated the Moabites: God wanted to tell Israel and Edom that the
Lord that the kingdom of Judah worshipped was God. Only He had the right to save
such that the impossible became possible, and the weak triumphed.
4) Elisha resolved the problem of a widow of a prophet disciple: God wants to tell His
people that those who serve the Lord will not be in lack. From what they all have
(although seemingly insufficient), God will add on His help and protection.

3. God’s word would eventually be fulfilled, therefore, those who follow are blessed
1) What was important was not Elisha himself but the word of God spoken by him.
Therefore, those who follow are blessed. [Therefore, when Teachers and Parents tell
us about God’s word, we should not look down or disobey because they are God’s
word.]
2) What is important were not the miracles performed by Elisha but that through the
miracles, God wanted people to see His perfect will and follow Him. [Therefore, when
God does something good in our lives or listens to our prayers, blesses us, helps us,
what is important is that we follow God after that and often listen to God’s word, pray
to seek Him and treat Sunday school with importance.]
3) God performed many miracles through Elisha, and helped many people but the most
blessed person is not the one receiving help but the group of disciples who followed
Elisha. They often learned about God’s words through Elisha and eventually became
prophets who helped Israel.