This lesson teaches children that God keeps His promises and gives His people what they need for each new job. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Use a Bible, a few craft supplies, and a little space for movement.
Big Idea
God takes care of His helpers, and He keeps His promises. Elisha trusted God when he followed Elijah, and God gave him what he needed for the work ahead.
Memory Verse
2 Kings 2:9
When they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me.”
(WEB)
Teach the children to cup both hands together as if holding a jar of water, then slowly open them wide like a door swinging open. Say the verse together while you move your hands. Repeat it three times, getting a little quieter each time, until the children can finish it from memory.
The Story: 2 Kings 2 for Kids
Elijah was a prophet of God, and his helper was a young man named Elisha. One day God was ready to take Elijah up to heaven. Elijah and Elisha walked together from town to town, and Elijah kept asking Elisha to stay behind. Each time, Elisha answered, “As the LORD lives, I will not leave you.” So they kept walking together.
At the Jordan River, a group of other prophets watched from a distance. Elijah rolled up his cloak and struck the water. The river split in two, and the two men walked across on dry ground. Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted before he was taken away. Elisha said, “Please let me have a double portion of your spirit.”
Suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire came between them. Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw it happen and cried out, “My father, my father!” Then he tore his own clothes in grief. Elijah’s cloak fell down to the ground, and Elisha picked it up.
Elisha walked back to the bank of the Jordan. He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and asked, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” The water split apart, and Elisha walked across. The other prophets saw this and said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” God was clearly with him.
Later the people of Jericho told Elisha their water was bad and the ground was dry. Elisha asked for a new jar with salt in it. He walked to the spring, threw the salt into the water, and said that God had healed it. From that day on, the water was good to drink.
Read It Together
2 Kings 2:2
Elijah said to Elisha, “Please wait here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
(WEB)
Point out how Elisha said he would not leave Elijah, even when Elijah asked him to stay behind. Ask the children what it means to be loyal to someone who is teaching them. Explain that Elisha was faithful because he wanted to learn from God through Elijah.
2 Kings 2:11-12
11 As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha saw it, and he cried, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” He saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces.
(WEB)
Show the children that God sent a chariot of fire to take Elijah home, and that Elisha saw the whole thing. Explain that God does things that surprise us, but He is always in control. Let the children act out a whirlwind by spinning slowly.
2 Kings 2:21-22
21 He went out to the spring of the waters, and threw salt into it, and said, “The LORD says, ‘I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there any more death or barren wasteland.’” 22 So the waters were healed to this day, according to Elisha’s word which he spoke.
(WEB)
Point to Elisha’s words, “The LORD says, I have healed these waters.” Explain that the water became good because God made it good through Elisha. Remind the children that God can make broken things new.
Talk About It
- What do you think Elisha felt when he watched Elijah go up to heaven?
- Why did Elisha keep saying he would not leave Elijah?
- How did Elisha know that God was still with him after Elijah was gone?
- What is one way you can show loyalty to a teacher or leader God has given you?
- How did God use Elisha to make the bad water good again?
Activity Ideas
Cloak and River Craft
Give each child a sheet of blue paper and a strip of brown or gray paper to represent Elijah’s cloak. Have them glue the cloak in the middle of the blue paper and draw a path of dry ground down the center. Let them add a few crayon waves on each side. Explain that the water parted because God made a way for them to cross.
Follow the Leader Game
Line the children up behind you and walk slowly across the room, saying “I will not leave you” with each step. Then have one child step out and go first while the others follow. Switch leaders several times. Afterward, talk about how it feels to follow someone and how it feels to lead.
Salt and Water Jar Take-Home
Fill a small clear jar with water and give each child a spoonful of salt in a paper cup to take home. Ask them to pour the salt in, stir, and watch it dissolve. As they do this, have them say the memory verse together. Encourage them to share the story with their family at dinner that night.
Teacher Notes
This chapter shows that God keeps His promises and equips the people He calls for each new season. Elisha’s willingness to stay close to Elijah and then to step into his role reminds adults that faithfulness to God often looks like steady, ordinary obedience. God’s power works through people who trust Him, not through their own strength.
Avoid overstating the miracles to children as examples that God will always do exactly what we ask in the same way. Focus instead on God’s faithfulness and His authority, and on the fact that He cares for His people when they are facing big changes.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Lord, thank You for keeping Your promises to us. Help us to be faithful like Elisha, even when we are not sure what comes next. Thank You that You are always with us and that You can make broken things new. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
