Elijah
Text: I Kings 18: 17-40

Memory Verse: I Kings 18: 39 “And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.’”

Material in this lesson set:

Background

Temple - Archaeology dig

Drama - “Elijah and the Prophets of Baal”
& “Elijah and the Widow”

Video - Animated Stories from the Bible: “Elijah” and “Elisha”

Games - 5 stations relay race

************************************************
Elijah Background

Elijah was one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament. He began his ministry around 875 B.C. Elijah was a prophet during a time when the people of Israel had turned their backs on God and had begun worshipping the heathen god named Baal (like bail). There were no priests brave enough to disagree with this big movement to worship Baal. No one wanted to stand up to King Ahab, that is until Elijah came along.
Because of Israel’s rebellion, God caused a drought to come over the land. There was no rain for 3 years. Elijah stood up to King Ahab and told him of the coming drought. Then God told Elijah to hide East of the Jordan River. There he ate bread and meat that the ravens bought to him and drank from the brook.
When the brook dried up, God told Elijah to find the widow of Zarephath and she would feed him during the time of the drought. The widow had only a handful of flour and a bit of olive oil left. Elijah told her that if she would share the last of her food with him, God would provide for them until the rains came and the drought was over. In faith, she made some bread for Elijah first, and God kept His promise! From then on they always had more than enough to eat! This is where we first see that Elijah was a true man of God. (I Kings 17:8-16)
While Elijah was staying with the widow, her son became sick and died. The widow became angry and asked Elijah why he had come, to kill her son? Elijah took the dead boy and prayed to God to bring him back to life. The Lord answered his prayers and the son started breathing again and all was well. (I Kings 17: 17-24)
Elijah had made King Ahab and Queen Jezebel angry because Elijah said they were worshipping a false god. They wanted to kill Elijah. So Elijah ran for his life. He ran into the wilderness. There he prayed to God to take his life for he felt like everything that was going on was too much. He fell asleep under a tree. Then, the angel of the Lord came and provided bread and water to Elijah to prepare him for God’s next plan and the journey ahead (I Kings 19:1 – 8)
God told Elijah to find a man named Elisha to take over as God’s prophet. So Elijah went and found Elisha plowing in the field with his oxen. Elijah gave Elisha his cloak (or mantle) and turned to leave. Elisha left his fields, said goodbye to his father, had a great feast with the other workers, then left to be a prophet with Elijah. (I Kings 19: 19-21)
Elisha and Elijah knew Elijah’s time would soon be up and he would be taken to heaven. 50 of God’s prophets watched from afar. Elijah struck the cloak to the river and parted the water with God’s help. Elijah and Elisha passed to the other side. Elisha asked to have twice the power of Elijah. He would get double the power if he saw Elijah go to heaven. (He did.) Then Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind in a chariot of fire. Elisha was left behind to continue God’s work as a prophet. (II Kings 2:1 –12)

Let’s now read our Bible story about Elijah and the Baal Prophets. (I Kings 18: 17-40)

************************************************
Temple Workshop: Archaeology Dig

Read: “Bible Background” plus I Kings 18: 17 – 40

Practice: The memory verse - I Kings 18:39 Props:
Child’s wading pool
Shredded newspaper (or sand)
Small piece of pottery (oil)
Piece of bright cloth (Jezebel)
Black feather and/or plastic/stuffed bird (raven)
wet sand in zip lock baggie (water over the sacrifice)
Plastic/stuffed bull/animal (sacrifice) Match (fire)
Rock (wilderness hiding place)
Wooden figure (Baal)
Plastic boy (boy)
Doll size robe (Baal Prophets)
Black cloth (widow)
Small flour sack (flour)
Stuffed heart (God cares for us)
Tiny wagon (chariot)
Jewel (King’s crown)

Getting started:
· Write this list on the black board: Oil, King’s crown, Jezebel, raven, water over the sacrifice, sacrifice, fire, wilderness hiding place, Baal, boy, Baal prophets, widow, flour, God cares for us.
· Discuss what symbolism and representation means. (The cross symbolizes Jesus - The manger symbolizes baby Jesus – The cup symbolizes the wine of communion – The apple represents sin/Adam and Eve) When we see those objects, it makes us think of a story or event.
· Think about what you learned today about Elijah. What objects would help you remember the different parts of the story?
· Discuss the meaning of archaeology. (The study of past human life as revealed by relics left by ancient peoples.)

Archaeology Dig:
· Set up the plastic pool filled with shredded newspaper (We thought this would be easier and less messy than using sand.)
· Hide the objects in the packing peanuts.
· Today we will be digging for relics that help remind us about the story of Elijah.
· Have one child “dig” into the archaeology site and extract one object or artifact.
· Let them tell the story of the artifact and how it pertains to Elijah – may refer to the list on the blackboard. (If they are unable to find a relationship to anything on the list, have the class assist. If nobody can come up with the answer, help him or her out.)
· Alternate turns.
· Continue until all objects are found.

Discussion Questions:
· Elijah had many challenges to face – a King that wanted to kill him – hiding in the wilderness during a drought – people that believed in false gods/Baal. What kinds of challenges might someone your age need God’s help to overcome? (Telling the truth, being patient with brothers or sisters, not giving into peer pressure)
· Do you think Elijah was frightened when standing up to King Ahab, hiding in the wilderness, or facing the Baal prophets? When have you faced something that frightened you? (Performing in front of a group, parents divorcing, a friend moving away.)
· Baal was an idol that Elijah had to deal with. (An idol is a false god or an object of passionate devotion.) What are some of the idols in your life today? (Clothes, popularity, video games, money, having the neatest bike)
· Elijah remained strong in his faith because he knew that his God was the only true God. How do we remain strong when we have difficulty in our lives? (Prayer, friends, parents, pastor, reading the bible)
Revised by Linda Norem and Rachel Haugland

If time permits: ELIJAH BINGO
Supplies: bingo cards, wrapped candy for marking bingo cards
Bingo pictures – Elijah – a prophet of God
Rain – God told Elijah it wouldn’t rain for several years
Raven – the ravens brought food to Elijah during the drought
Oil – God filled the widow’s jar with oil
Fire – fire fell from heaven to prove that the Lord is God
Cloak – Elijah gave his cloak to the next prophet, Elisha
Chariot - God sent a chariot of fire and carried Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind
Crown – King Ahab (bad King)
Altar – used for the sacrifice
Flour – God provided plenty of four for the widow
Water – poured over the altar 3 times before God sent the fire
Sacrifice – bull used on the altar
Heart – God cares for Elijah and you
Widow – God sent the widow to care for Elijah during the drought
Elisha – received the cloak from Elijah and became the next prophet

· Teacher calls out descriptions of the pictures
· Students cover the pictures with the candy
· First student to get 4 in a row – wins (When they say Bingo, have them explain how each Bingo square fits in with the Elijah story – can have the class help)
· After playing as many times as you want, the kids may eat their candy.

************************************************
Drama - The Prophets of Baal
(I Kings 16: 29 – 18:39)

Characters: Narrator (1, 2, 3), King Ahab, Queen Jezebel, Elijah, Baal Prophets (more than one), People (more than one), “Fire” carrier

Supplies: 2 crowns, Robes for everyone, 4 water pitchers, wood for 2 “altars”, 2 stuffed animals (bulls), 12 stones, shovel/garden trowel, “ball of fire”

Narrator 2: Our skit today is about Elijah and the prophets of Baal. It is from I Kings chapter 16.

Narrator 1: Way back when, there was an evil King named Ahab.

King Ahab: That’s me!

Narrator 2: King Ahab married a bad woman named Jezebel.

Jezebel: Hello!

Narrator 3: King Ahab sinned against the Lord God. He and his wife Jezebel worshipped a false god named Baal. They were evil.

Jezebel: Hey! What’s the problem with that?

King Ahab: Yeh! All I did was build a temple to the gods of Baal. So what if I don’t believe in your God. He isn’t real anyway.

Narrator 1: The Lord God sent a prophet named Elijah to talk with King Ahab.

Elijah: (to Ahab) My God said to tell you that there wouldn’t be any rain for 2 or 3 years.

King Ahab: What? You can’t do that.

Elijah: I’m not withholding the rain. The Lord God of Israel is sending the drought to punish you for your wickedness.

Jezebel: That’s not fair. Let’s get him. (Jezebel and Ahab chase Elijah off stage)

Narrator 2: The Lord commanded Elijah to hide by a river. (pause while Elijah kneels) God provided food and water to him. After 3 years of no rain, God told Elijah to go find King Ahab and talk to him. (Elijah stands)

Elijah: You-who - - - King Ahab

King Ahab: (points at Elijah) There you are - you troublemaker. I’ve been looking all over for you.

Elijah: I’m not the troublemaker – you are. You are the one that disobeys God and worships the idols of Baal instead. The Lord God challenges you. Take your prophets of Baal and meet me on the top of Mt. Carmel.

King Ahab: Whatever!

Narrator 3: So Ahab called all the people of Israel and the Baal prophets together. They went up to Mt. Carmel. Elijah spoke to everyone.

Elijah: You guys have to decide - who is the real God – Baal or the God of Israel? I’m the only prophet of God left. The rest have been killed. There are 450 of you Baal prophets.

Narrator 1: So Elijah and the Baal prophets each made an altar to sacrifice on. (Baal prophets make the altar – Elijah waits) There was wood (pause) and a bull (pause), but no fire.

Elijah: You guys pray to Baal to send a flame down to light your altar on fire. I’ll do the same to the Lord. Who’s ever altar is on fire first – wins. That God is God.

Baal prophets: (Huddle with arms around each other, then turn to Elijah and say,) Deal!

Narrator 2: The people prayed to Baal all morning long.

Baal prophets: (dancing around their altar) “Baal, send us a flame. Baal, send us a flame”

Narrator 3: But no answer came. At noon, Elijah started making fun of them.

Elijah: (Be mocking and laugh) Your god must be napping. Maybe you should wake him up. Maybe Baal is on vacation. Have you tried his cell phone?

Narrator 1: The Baal prophets just prayed louder. They prayed into the middle of the afternoon.

Baal prophets: (dancing around their altar) “Baal, send us a flame. Baal, send us a flame.”

Narrator 2: But nothing happened. Then Elijah gathered the people closer together. (pause) He took 12 stones – one for each of the 12 tribes of Israel (pause) He dug a trench around it (pause)and placed the wood and the bull on it. This was his altar to the Lord.

Elijah: (to the people) Fill 4 jars with water and pour them on the altar. (People pour water on altar)

Elijah: Do it again. (People pour water)

Elijah: Do it again. (People pour water)

Narrator 3: The altar and the bull were soaking wet. The water even ran down and filled the trench. Now, Elijah prayed.

Elijah: God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – prove you are God. Send us your fire!

Narrator 1: (have someone send the ball of fire down to Elijah’s altar) And the Lord God sent down a fire to Elijah’s altar so hot that it burned everything – the bull, the wood, the water and even the stones. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said,

People: (throw themselves on the ground) The Lord, He is God. The Lord, He is God. We believe!

Narrator 2: The end.


By Rachel Haugland – Randall, IA (Today’s English Version and the Amplified Bible)
(May be used for non-profit use only)

************************************************
Drama - Elijah and the Widow
(I Kings 17: 1-24)

Characters: Narrator 1 and 2, God, Elijah (strong to carry son), Widow, Son (no speaking), Ravens (No speaking), King Ahab, Queen Jezebel (No speaking)

Props: Food (loaf of bread and package of jerky), 2 crowns, sticks, black coat/shirts and stocking hats for ravens, Robe for Elijah, Black scarf for widow, Flour, oil, stretcher/bed

Narrator 2: Our story today is about Elijah and the widow. It comes to us from I Kings chapter 17.

Narrator I: Way back in the days of Elijah, there was a nasty King named Ahab and his Queen Jezebel. (Pause while Ahab and Jezebel walk onto stage) They disobeyed God and worshipped Baal- a false God. They built a temple and an altar to Baal.

Narrator 2: This made God very angry.

God: (hidden – only hear the voice) I am so very angry!

Narrator I: God sent the prophet Elijah to talk to the bad King and Queen.

Elijah: In the name of the Lord whom I serve, He says there shall be no dew or rain for 2 or 3 years.

King Ahab: What? That’s not fair! (Exit Ahab and Jezebel)

Narrator 2: Then God spoke to Elijah.

God: I will take care of you. Leave this place. Go East and hide yourself by a brook. You will drink water from the brook. I have told the ravens to bring you food.

Narrator 1: (Elijah sits down – Ravens enter saying “caw”, “caw”, flapping their wings) So the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and again in the evening. After a while the brook dried up because there was no rain. And God spoke to Elijah:

God: Arise and go to Zarephath (ZAIR-uh-fath) and live there. I have told a widow to provide for you.

Narrator 2: (Widow gathering sticks) So Elijah went to the city and found a widow at the gate gathering sticks.

Elijah: (turning to the widow) Excuse me, ma’am. Would you please bring me some water to drink? (She turns to leave) Oh, and some bread, too?

Widow: (looking sad) Sir, as the Lord lives, I only have a handful of flour and a bit of olive oil left. I am going to bake it for my son and I. (Enter son to stand by his mother) This is all we have. Then we will starve to death.

Elijah: Don’t worry. God will provide for us. Go and prepare the meal. Make a small loaf of bread for me, and then fix the rest for you and your son. For thus says the Lord:

God: The bowl will not run out of flour, nor the jar run out of oil before the day that I, the Lord, send the rain.

Narrator 2: The widow did as Elijah told her. She baked the bread and shared it with Elijah. (Widow gives Elijah a loaf of bread.) They all had enough to eat for many days. The flour and the oil never ran out. (Widow and son need to be standing close together)

Narrator 1: Some time later the widow’s son got sick and died. (Son quickly collapses to the floor – widow kneels by his side and gathers him in her arms)

Widow: (to Elijah) Man of God! Why did you do this to me? Have you come to kill my son?

Elijah: Give me your son.

Narrator 1: Elijah took the boy from his mother and carried him upstairs and laid him on the bed. There he prayed to God.

Elijah: Oh, Lord, why have you done such a terrible thing? This woman has been kind to me and now you kill her son.

Narrator 2: Elijah stretched himself out over the boy three times and prayed.

Elijah: Oh Lord, my God, restore this child to life.

Narrator 1: The Lord heard the voice of Elijah and the child started breathing again. (Boy sits up and stretches) He was alive! Elijah took the boy back to his mother.

Elijah: Look, your son is alive.

Widow: Now, I know that you really are a man of God. The Lord does speak through you! Praise God!

Narrator 2: The end.

By Rachel Haugland (Today’s English Version and the Amplified Bible)(For non-profit use only)

************************************************
Games Workshop - Relay Race
(I Kings 18: 17 – 40 - plus others)

Divide into two or three teams.
This activity should be done in a large room or outside.
The relay race is broken into 5 “stations”. At each station they must do something related to Elijah, run to the next station, until all 5 are completed. (Tape the directions/sayings to a chair – spread the chairs/stations out around the room)
The first person starts out with Elijah’s cloak (mantel) draped or tied around his/her shoulders.
The next person in line cannot start their race until the last teammate has completed all the stations and passed the cloak of Elijah to them. Time each team with a stop watch/clock.

Supplies: stop watch/clock, sticks (wood), Stuffed animal (bull), 5 chairs , glass (one for each child), bread (cut into ¼ - one for each child), pitcher of water, cloak or mantel (blanket/towel/cape), scooter (tricycle/big wheel), plastic pail (or very large container), Ken doll/Elisha, packing peanuts (or shreaded newspaper), black scarf (or fabric), plastic jar – (“olive oil” written on it - small amount water in it – lid tight), zip lock baggie with small amount of flour (“flour” written on it), 3 x 5 cards with sayings on them (Make the directions in black on one card and what they have to say in red on another card – Tape these to the back of your stations/chairs)

1) Place a black scarf over your hair. Pick up a jar of oil and a sack of flour and say, “God won’t let my oil or flour run out!”
2) Build an “altar” on the floor with sticks and place an animal on top of it. Throw your hands in the air and say, “O Lord, light my bull on fire!”
3) Run backwards around a chair 2 times saying, “Jezebel and Ahab are after me. O Lord, I can’t go on!” Collapse, eat a piece of bread (first) and drink a glass of water (second).
4) Find a Ken doll/Elisha in a pail, then say, “Elisha, I anoint you to be a prophet when I’m gone.”
5) Ride a scooter around a chair 2 times shouting, “I’m Elijah - going up to heaven in a chariot of fire!”

Extra time - have the kids walk to each station and explain how the activity relates to the story of Elijah.

Station #1- The widow
Activity: Place a black scarf over your hair. Pick up a jar of olive oil and a sack of flour and say, “God won’t let my oil or flour run out!”
I Kings 17: 8 – 16 God told Elijah to hide east of the Jordan. There he ate bread and meat that the ravens bought to him and drank from the brook. When the brook dried up, God told Elijah to find the widow and she would feed him during the time of the drought. The widow had only a handful of flour and a bit of olive oil left. Elijah told her that if she would share the last of her food with him, God would provide for them until the rains came and the drought was over. She shared – and neither her bowl of flour nor her jar of oil ran out. God provided for them.

Station #2 - Mt Carmel
Activity: Pile a bunch of sticks together and place a stuffed animal on it and shout “O Lord, light my bull on fire.”
I Kings 18: 17 -40 God brought a drought upon Israel and King Ahab because they worshipped Baal, a false god. Elijah went to meet King Ahab’s prophets. Elijah threw out a challenge to them - the Baal prophets against Elijah (God’s prophet). Whoever could burn their sacrifice at the altar first - won. They would pray to their God to have him light the fire under their altar. The Baal prophets prayed all day without any results. At the end of the day, Elijah placed 12 stones around his altar to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. Then, water was poured over Elijah’s altar repeatedly. Elijah prayed to God for his altar to be lit on fire. God sent a fire. It burned Elijah’s altar so much that it burned the bull, all the wood, the water, and even the stones. It incinerated everything.

Station #3 - Running away
Activity: Run backwards in a circle around a chair three times saying “Jezebel and Ahab are after me. O Lord I can’t go on.” Collapse and eat a piece of bread and drink a cup of water.
I Kings 19:1 – 8 Elijah had made King Ahab and Queen Jezebel angry because Elijah said they were worshipping a false god. They wanted to kill Elijah. So Elijah ran for his life. He ran into the wilderness. He prayed to God to take his life for he felt like everything that was going on was too much. He fell asleep under a tree. Then, the angel of the Lord came and provided bread and water to Elijah to prepare him for God’s next plan and the journey ahead.

Station #4 - Go find Elisha
Activity: Find a Ken doll hidden in a plastic kid’s pool filled with crumpled newspaper. Say “Elisha, I anoint you to be a prophet when I’m gone.”
I Kings 19: 19-21 Elijah went and found Elisha plowing in the field with his oxen. Elijah gave Elisha his cloak (or mantle) and turned to leave. Elisha left his fields, said goodbye to his father, had a great feast with the other workers, then left to be a prophet with Elijah.

Station #5 - Chariots of fire
Activity: Ride a scooter (tricycle or big wheel) around a chair three times shouting “I’m Elijah - going up to heaven in a Chariot of fire.” Then take Elijah’s cloak to the next teammate.
II Kings 2:1 -12 Elisha and Elijah knew Elijah was going to be taken to heaven. 50 prophets watched from afar. Elijah struck the cloak to the river and parted the water with God’s help. Elijah and Elisha passed to the other side. Elisha asked to have twice the power of Elijah. He would get double the power if he saw Elijah go to heaven. (He did.) Then Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind in a chariot of fire. Elisha was left behind to continue God’s work as a prophet.

By Neil MacQueen
Revised by Rachel Haugland

************************************************
Video Workshop

Pop the popcorn. Have the juice ready to go.

Read: The Bible background and I Kings 18:17-40

Practice: the memory verse, I Kings 18: 39

Watch the videos: “Elijah” And the first part of “Elisha” - (stop after parting the river)

Source of Videos: Animated Stories from the Bible – Family Entertainment Network (6100 Colwell Blvd Irving TX 75039 – 1-800-447-5958 – good videos, but expensive) The second video is showing the passing of the mantel to Elisha. (These were borrowed from the Lutheran Resource Center)

-----
Exchange Volunteer modified title for clarity and improved readability.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CreativeCarol,