Great Gospel Events In the Lives of Elijah and Elisha by Mark G. Zarling Leader s Guide Lesson One God Steps In to Rescue... 2 Lesson Two God Steps In to Do the Impossible... 8 Lesson Three God Steps In to Heal... 13 Lesson Four God Steps In to Speak... 19 Lesson Five God Steps In to Call... 25 Lesson Six God Steps In to Protect... 31 Lesson Seven God Steps In to Discipline... 38 All rights reserved. Second printing, 2008 Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI 53226-3284 2003 by Northwestern Publishing House Published 2003 Printed in the United States of America ISBN 978-0-8100-1569-2 Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Great Gospel Events Leader s Guide Page 2 Great Gospel Events Lesson One God Steps In to Rescue 1 Kings chapter 20 Worship Help me! The urgent shout may come from a person trapped in a burning house. Or it might come from a critically injured accident victim. To rescue someone from danger and harm requires commitment of compassion and caring. It also demands that the rescuer have the ability and power to carry out the rescue. Scripture is God s marvelous record of his commitment of love and his gracious power to rescue. Read responsively select verses from Exodus chapter 15. A: The LORD is my strength and my song; B: He has become my salvation. A: The LORD is a warrior; B: The LORD is his name. A: Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. B: Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy. A: Who is like you B: Majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? A: In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. B: In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. A: The LORD will reign for ever and ever. B: Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Prayer: When in the hour of utmost need We know not where to look for aid, When days and nights of anxious thought Nor help nor counsel yet have brought, Then is our comfort this alone That we may meet before your throne; To you, O faithful God, we cry For rescue in our misery. For you have promised, Lord, to heed Your children s cries in time of need Through him whose name alone is great, Our Savior and our advocate. Amen. (Christian Worship 413:1-3) Introduction After a fierce dogfight, a fighter pilot went down over open water. A furious squall was blowing in, yet the search and rescue team immediately went into action. At great risk to the crew, the helicopter skimmed the towering waves looking for the downed airman. As commander of the ship, you launched the search and rescue team to rescue a fellow countryman. But if that downed airman was the pilot of an enemy fighter, would you still
Great Gospel Events Leader s Guide Page 3 have ordered the search and rescue team to go out? Why or why not? Answers will vary. On the one hand, all human life is precious. As the commander, you might view the downed airman as an intelligence source. On the other hand, the weather conditions would threaten the lives of the crew. The enemy airman might still try to resist if brought on board. The purpose of the introduction is to have the class expose the deep-seated troubles our old Adam has whenever we talk about helping someone who has meant us harm. God s grace, however, does not struggle to decide. We don t deserve to have God rescue us, for we were born his enemies, and our sinful minds were hostile to God. God still sent his Son on a rescue mission that would cost him his life. The lesson before us shows God s grace and power in action in the history of his people, rescuing them and their unfaithful leader. Set the context What do you remember about Ahab? Recall the account of Naboth s vineyard. Ahab married Jezebel and worshiped Baal. Ahab and his wife took idolatry to deeper depths. It is stated in 1 Kings 16:33, Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him. What do you know about Ahab s wife, Jezebel? Jezebel was a thoroughly impenitent idolater. We are told in 1 Kings 18:4 that she actively murdered God s prophets. Verse 19 of that same chapter shows us that she used state tax dollars to support and encourage the false prophets of Baal. Jezebel did all she could to introduce and incorporate Baal worship as the state religion of the Northern Kingdom. See 1 Kings 16:29-32. What can you conclude about Ahab s and Jezebel s spiritual leadership of Israel? The king and queen were purposefully trying to wipe out worship of the true Lord God. They were hardened enemies of the Lord. Yet for the sake of his promise and the faithful in Israel, God came to Ahab s aid. Where were Israel and Aram (Syria) located? Aram is a country to the northeast of Israel, a land that stood between Israel and Assyria. Assyria was a superpower on the rise. Perhaps Ben-Hadad was worried about the Assyrian threat and decided to neutralize any possible problems to his south. Note: Although we cannot be certain, ben-hadad appears to be a royal title passed down from king to successor, much like the term pharaoh was used in Egypt. What is a prophet? In 1 Kings chapter 20 we are introduced to a nameless prophet. God showed his grace and mercy by continually providing prophets to preach the Word to the people, even though the people did not always want to hear it. A prophet had to proclaim the message the Lord gave him. That message contained knowledge
Great Gospel Events Leader s Guide Page 4 about future events or was simply a sermon of law and gospel. Study God s Word Read 1 Kings 20:1-21. 1. Describe the desperate situation in which Ahab and the people of Israel found themselves. Ben-Hadad had 32 minor kings on his side, and Ahab stood alone. The Arameans were camped around Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom. If the enemy was able to march straight into the center of the country and surround the capital, you know that things were not good. 2. Why is it amazing that God would send a prophet at this time to Israel and its king? In 1 Kings chapter 18, God displayed awesome power at the pray-off on Mount Carmel. Then the Lord ended the three-year drought. Despite these miracles, Ahab and Jezebel did not repent and turn from Baal worship. Jezebel was even scheming to kill Elijah. Israel was in a state of persistent spiritual rebellion. God had every right to withdraw his grace and favor and no longer communicate his Word and will to this apostate royal couple and the nation of Israel. 3. A casual reader of verses 19-21 might conclude that the Israelites were lucky. A skeptic who denies the supernatural might say that the Israelite warriors were evidently fierce fighters. Yet a Bible-believing Christian can defend this statement: There can be no other explanation for the victory except for God s miraculous intervention. Explain. A vast army, a coalition of 32 kings, opposed Israel. Opposite were seven thousand Israelites not much of a standing army for a nation at war. Furthermore, the enemy army was better equipped, having horses and chariots. God said the young officers would start the battle, the soldiers with less experience. A weaker army attacked the stronger army, again flying in the face of conventional military wisdom. But the battle quickly became a rout. 4. God stepped in to rescue Ahab and the Israelites even though they didn t deserve it. What message did he want them to learn? (verse 13) Then you will know that I am the LORD. Note the name for God that is used in this phrase. The name is the Hebrew word Jehovah, or Yahweh. This special Old Testament name emphasizes the Lord s free and constant grace. God is a Lord who keeps his covenant with his people. He cannot go back on his promises. Read 1 Kings 20:22-30. 1. Explain the rationale of the Aramean generals as they prepared for a new invasion. Verse 23 shows us the typical pagan view of that time. Different gods controlled different areas. Verse 24 shows another common practice fire the losers. The Arameans thought they needed new blood and new officers, people who knew how to win. Verse 25 shows a reliance on the best equipment and technology of that time. 2. What is significant about the new battle site as compared with the previous one? The Arameans were no longer in the mountains but on the plains. The war
Great Gospel Events Leader s Guide Page 5 would be waged on Aram s territory. The Aramean soldiers would fight with more determination since they were defending their fatherland. 3. List reasons why the outcome of this battle is clearly a miracle performed by our gracious God. Verse 27 uses a vivid picture to show the tremendous numerical advantage the Arameans had over the Israelites. Two small flocks of goats aren t very threatening. Verse 29 gives a casualty report. God provided a tremendous victory once again. If the armies fought all day, and if we use ten hours for the time of daylight, that means 166 enemy soldiers were being killed each minute. Verse 30 shows how God intervened. The walls of Jericho are not the only walls to come tumbling down in Scripture. God s judgement fell upon 27,000 soldiers who could not escape the Lord s vengeance. 4. Consider an Israelite observing this battle and an Aramean observing it. What message does each take away? To Israel, the Lord displayed himself as Jehovah, the Lord, who is a saving God faithful to his promises. The Israelites, despite their idolatry and immorality and despite their tolerance toward Baal worship, were still recipients of the Lord s amazing grace. To the Arameans, God gave witness that he is not some local deity limited to the hill country. He is Lord of all, the only true God, who does indeed take action and intervene for the benefit of his people. Read 1 Kings 20:31-43. 1. Why did Ahab let Ben-Hadad live? In verse 32 Ahab calls Ben-Hadad my brother. Ahab publicly elevates the vanquished to the position of equal. Why? Perhaps verse 34 provides the rationale. Ahab is interested in the economic opportunities of increased international trade. Greed is a powerful motivator. 2. Why did Ahab sin in letting Ben-Hadad live? The nations around Israel were not just national enemies but spiritual enemies, intent on spreading their idolatry in Israel. God did not give Ahab victory only to have him squander it. He should have destroyed this king and his army, who had dared to wage war against God s people. Life focus 1. Agree or disagree. It should have been easier for Ahab to believe than for us, after all, he had a prophet to tell him about future events. The statement is best answered by disagree. Unbelief rejects even the obvious. God graciously sent a prophet to proclaim a divine message to this unworthy king. One would imagine that the king would be eager to hear such good news about victory over enemies. Yet Ahab persisted in rebellion. God has given us even more than he gave Ahab. We have the entire written
Great Gospel Events Leader s Guide Page 6 revelation of God in Holy Scripture. God has told us all we need to know about preparing for the final and glorious return of our Lord Jesus. Yet often we also doubt and wonder. 2. At Aphek the Lord won a great victory for Israel. Where is our Aphek? The cross of Christ is our Aphek. So are our baptisms. God achieved a tremendous victory for us when he buried our old sinful nature in the waters of Holy Baptism. He raised us up as glorious and victorious people of faith. Christ s resurrection victory is now ours. We are victors over Satan, standing triumphant over that old evil foe, thanks to the power and grace of Christ. We also may have personal Apheks, where God performed some obvious miracle to deliver us, a loved one, or our congregation from some impossible situation. 3. Humanly speaking, believers face overwhelming odds and persistent attacks on their faith. Prepare a scouting report on the enemies that threaten our spiritual health. Which enemy makes you feel the weakest? The devil, the world, and our sinful flesh is a good summary. Have the class explore each enemy in a little more detail. Satan is a roaring lion prowling about, ready to devour hapless souls. He is the father of lies, quick with a forked tongue to deceive and trick. Devil means trickster. Satan means the opponent, or adversary. The Bible also calls him that ancient serpent, an obvious reference to his deceit in the garden. He is also described as one masquerading as an angel of light. He seeks to destroy and will never call a truce. The world presents many temptations and allures. Ask the class to name some. Our sinful nature is always with us. We are born with original sin, born dead in sin, corpses before God. Paul also says that our nature is at war with God, eager to listen to Satan and loath to hear the Word. The sinful mind is hostile to God (Romans 8:7). Jesus describes the world as an ardent enemy: If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you (John 15:19). Help God s people see that this side of heaven we can expect to be under constant spiritual attack by a variety of enemies, all seeking to have us question the awesome and eternal love of God. 4. Read Luke 4:1-12. Why is this section, like 1 Kings chapter 20, a divine rescue operation and not just a how-to-fight-temptation manual for believers? Christ went toe-to-toe with the tempter and won! Christ is not teaching us some lesson in how to fend off the devil. In the desert wilderness, Jesus went to war for us. The apostle John tells us, The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil s work (1 John 3:8). Christ Jesus overcame every temptation that Satan threw at him. Summary The Lord showed his grace to the Israelites by delivering them from the Arameans. He showed the Arameans that he was no local god but the God of the whole world.
Great Gospel Events Leader s Guide Page 7 God has stepped into our lives through Baptism and sealed for us the victory that Jesus Christ won over all evil forces, both temporal and spiritual. God still speaks through the Word and promises to rescue us from every evil attack. During the week Read Exodus 14:10-31. 1. Chart the similarities of this rescue event with the one in 1 Kings chapter 20. a) an undeserving people b) a God who predicts the future c) impossible odds and a hopeless situation d) God s miraculous intervention e) the message the rescue sends 2. Explain how Exodus 14:14 could be used by a pastor visiting a hospitalized parishioner. Answers: 1. (a) The Israelites whined and complained, demonstrating an incredible forgetfulness of God s recent intervention through the plagues. (b) Through Moses, God called the shots and clearly pointed to the remarkable victory he would win through the waters of the Red Sea. (c) The Israelites felt they were hemmed in and surrounded: on the one side, the surging sea; on the other side, the ranks upon ranks of the most powerful and best-equipped army of that time. (d) A simple reading of the biblical account leaves readers amazed. God acted. In one night more than one million people traversed the Red Sea, and the army of Pharaoh was all washed up on the shores. (e) Two verses from the chapter help us see the message God wanted the Egyptians to receive and the message he sent to the Israelites. I will harden Pharaoh s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD (verse 4). When the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant (verse 31). 2. There is an old saying about being in the hospital. When flat on your back, you can only look up. At the time of a health crisis, a person s mortality hits home hard. The individual can do nothing to manufacture good health. The skills and efforts of the doctors and staff are out of his or her hands. A Christian pastor comes with the comforting news of the gospel. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Jesus is our Great Physician. He and he alone can bless the work of the medical profession. He and he alone can bring healing to the body. More important, Jesus has brought healing to our souls. Even when believers face death, they can be still. Jesus has fought for us, defeated Satan, buried our sins, and emptied our tombs.