This lesson teaches children that God can provide what His people need even when they cannot see how, and that He keeps His promises. It is designed for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God keeps His promises, even when we cannot see how He will do it. When we trust Him and obey Him, He can give us what we need, even in dry places.
Memory Verse
2 Kings 3:17
For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind, neither will you see rain, yet that valley will be filled with water, and you will drink, both you and your livestock and your other animals.
(WEB)
Have the children stand and cup their hands together like a bowl. Then slowly raise their arms and wiggle their fingers down like rain falling. Say the verse together, and do the motion every time you say the word “water.”
The Story: 2 Kings 3 for Kids
A long time ago, there was a king of Israel named Jehoram. He was not a good king. He did many things that made God sad. Jehoram had a neighbor, the king of Moab, named Mesha. Mesha had to pay Israel a big yearly gift of sheep and lambs. But after King Ahab died, Mesha stopped paying and decided to fight.
King Jehoram gathered his army. He asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah to join him, and Jehoshaphat said yes. The king of Edom came along too. Together the three kings and their armies marched through a hot desert for seven days. Soon they had no water left, not for the soldiers and not for the animals.
King Jehoram was scared. He cried out, “Alas! Has the LORD called us here just to hand us over to Moab?” King Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the LORD here, so we can ask God what to do?” A servant said, “Yes, Elisha is here.” So the three kings went to find him.
Elisha was not happy to see King Jehoram. He told him, “Go to the false prophets your parents worshiped.” But Elisha cared about King Jehoshaphat, who was a faithful king. Elisha asked for a musician to play music. As the music played, God spoke to Elisha.
God told the people to dig ditches all over the dry valley. Even though there would be no wind and no rain, God said the valley would fill with water. And it did! The next morning, water came pouring in from the direction of Edom, and the whole land was full of water. When the Moabites looked at the water in the sunrise, it looked red like blood, and they thought the three kings had destroyed each other. But the three kings had not fought each other at all. God had won the victory.
Read It Together
2 Kings 3:15
But now bring me a musician.” When the musician played, the LORD’s hand came on him.
(WEB)
Point out that Elisha asked for music before he heard from God. Explain that music can help us quiet our hearts so we can listen for God’s voice. Ask the children what helps them feel calm and ready to pray.
2 Kings 3:18
This is an easy thing in the LORD’s sight. He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.
(WEB)
Show the children that God said this was an easy thing for Him to do. Remind them that nothing is too hard for God. Ask them to think of a time when something seemed impossible but God still helped.
2 Kings 3:22-23
22 They rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood. 23 They said, “This is blood. The kings are surely destroyed, and they have struck each other. Now therefore, Moab, to the plunder!”
(WEB)
Explain that the Moabites saw the water and got the wrong idea about what had happened. Point out that God can use even the things we see every day, like sunshine on water, to bring about His plans. Tell the children that God always knows what is really going on.
Talk About It
- Why do you think the kings were so scared when they ran out of water?
- What did King Jehoshaphat do when the kings were in trouble, and why was that a good choice?
- Why do you think God asked the people to dig ditches before the rain came?
- How did the Moabites get the wrong idea when they looked at the water?
- What is one thing you can trust God to do for you this week?
Activity Ideas
Water Ditch Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a cup of water. Have each child draw a dry, sandy valley with a few ditches in it. Then have them color a blue stripe in each ditch to show that God filled the valley with water. As they draw, talk about how God keeps His promises even when we cannot see how He will do it.
Pour the Water Game
You will need a large bowl, a small cup, and a few kitchen towels. Have the children stand in a line and pass the cup from one to the next, pouring water from the cup into the bowl. Each child takes a turn, and the bowl slowly fills up. Explain that just as the water filled the valley little by little, God often works step by step as we trust and obey Him.
Trust Jar at Home
You will need a clear jar, a few small slips of paper, and a pen. Ask each family member to write one thing they are trusting God for on a slip of paper and drop it into the jar. Keep the jar on the kitchen table. Each week, read a few slips aloud and thank God together for what He has already done.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s people sometimes suffer for choices made by their leaders, as Israel and Judah did under Jehoram. Yet God still shows mercy and keeps His word. Elisha’s honor for the faithful King Jehoshaphat reminds us that God notices those who seek Him, even when others do not.
Be careful not to make God’s provision sound like a promise that every prayer will be answered in the exact way we ask. The story teaches that God is faithful and sovereign, not that He will always give us what we want on our timeline. Keep the focus on trusting God’s character.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You that You keep Your promises, even when we cannot see how You will do it. Help us trust You when our wells feel dry and our hearts feel thirsty. Teach us to listen for Your voice and to obey You, just as Elisha did. Thank You that nothing is too hard for You. Amen.
