Preschool January 19, 2014 8:45am
Leader BIBLE STUDY The prophet Elijah had just witnessed God s great display of power over the false god Baal. God had sent fire from heaven and then ended a long drought with a great rain. Elijah must have felt a sense of victory; the evil King Ahab could not deny the one true God. But trouble awaited Elijah in the form of Ahab s wife Jezebel. When Jezebel heard what Elijah had done at Mount Carmel, she threatened to kill him. Elijah ran away and hid in the wilderness. What a change Elijah experienced! He went from a man faithfully and confidently praying for God s glory to be displayed at Mount Carmel to a man begging the Lord to take away his life. (See 1 Kings 19:4.) God was merciful to Elijah. An angel of the Lord brought Elijah food and drink while he rested. Then Elijah traveled to Horeb for a personal encounter with God. Horeb another name for Mount Sinai was a familiar place in the history of Israel. It was the place where God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites and where Moses met with God. After the events in 1 Kings 18, Elijah might have expected a grand display of God s presence, but what he experienced was just the opposite. The Lord was not in the wind. The Lord was not in the earthquake. The Lord was not in the fire. God revealed Himself to Elijah in a voice, a soft whisper. Elijah s circumstances were difficult, but God didn t leave him. God gave him Elisha, a friend and successor. God assured Elijah that he was not alone; there were 7,000 people in Israel who had not turned to worship Baal. God s prophets suffered, but their lives and messages pointed forward to the ultimate prophet, priest, and king Jesus Christ who suffered for the sins of the world. Jesus was hated and killed, but His death and resurrection brought victory for God s people. 1 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 3
Preschool Bible study OVERVIEW Session Title: Elijah Ran from Jezebel Bible Passage: 1 Kings 19 Big Picture Question: How does God help in times of trouble? God promises to be with us. Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14 Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God s people to repentance as Christ calls people to repentance. Sin continued to divide and ultimately destroy the Northern Kingdom, but Christ s perfect kingdom is forever. Small Group Opening Large Group Bible Study Small Group Activities Snack and Transition Each child will take home their Journal Page and a Big Picture Card for Families. 2
The BIBLE STORY Elijah Ran from Jezebel 1 Kings 19 God is powerful! Elijah knew this. Elijah was a prophet who saw God send fire from heaven. God showed King Ahab, the Israelites, and all the people who worshiped the false god Baal that God is the one true God. Elijah was probably very happy, but Elijah was about to face some big trouble. King Ahab s wife, Jezebel, was not happy with Elijah. Jezebel did not want the people to worship the one true God. Jezebel killed the men who were prophets for God. Jezebel told Elijah to watch out! She was going to kill him too. Elijah was very afraid! He didn t want Jezebel to kill him. So he ran far away. He went into the wilderness where Jezebel couldn t find him. Elijah said a prayer to God, Everything is going wrong! Lord, take my life. I m ready to die. Then Elijah lay down under a broom tree. He fell asleep. God heard Elijah s prayer, and He sent an angel to help Elijah. The angel touched Elijah. Get up and eat, the angel said. A loaf of hot baked bread and a jar of water was nearby, and Elijah ate and drank. Then he lay down. The angel came and touched Elijah again. Get up and eat, the angel said. Elijah ate and drank. The food gave him strength to travel a very long way to Horeb (HOH reb), the mountain of God. When Elijah got to the mountain, he went into a cave and spent the night there. God spoke to Elijah. God said, What are you doing here, Elijah? God, I tried very hard to do what You said, Elijah said. But your people have not done what You said! They are trying to kill me! Go out and stand on the mountain, God said. Then God passed by. A strong wind rushed by the mountain. Was God in the wind? No, God was not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake! The ground 3 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 3
shook. Was God in the earthquake? No, God was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire! Was God in the fire? No, God was not in the fire. Finally, there was a voice a soft whisper. Elijah heard the whisper. He covered his face and stood at the opening of the cave. What are you doing here, Elijah? a voice asked. God, I tried very hard to do what You said, Elijah said. But your people have not done what You said! They are trying to kill me! Then God said to Elijah, Go back to Damascus. God gave Elijah instructions. God wanted Elijah to make certain men leaders: Hazael (HAZ ay el) would be a king, Jehu (JEE hyoo) would be a king, and Elisha would be a prophet like Elijah. Elijah did what God said. When he found Elisha, Elisha was working in a field. Elisha left his work to follow Elijah and serve him. Christ Connection: Elijah was a special messenger for God. Jezebel did not like Elijah, but God was in charge. God kept Elijah safe. Jesus is God s messenger too. People did not like Jesus, but God was in charge. God used Jesus enemies to carry out His plan to rescue people from sin. 4
Small Group Opening Session Title: Elijah Ran from Jezebel Bible Passage: 1 Kings 19 Big Picture Question: How does God help in times of trouble? God promises to be with us. Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14 Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God s people to repentance as Christ calls people to repentance. Sin continued to divide and ultimately destroy the Northern Kingdom, but Christ s perfect kingdom is forever. Mighty to Save (song) Welcome and Session Starter Play Mighty to Save in the background. LOW PREP Trace Elijah s Trip activity page, 1 per kid crayons play dough Activity Page: Trace Elijah s Trip Where did Elijah go when he ran from Jezebel? Help kids trace his path. Mention that he walked for 40 days. He was a strong man, and God gave him strength for travel! Mount Carmel is where Elijah faced the prophets of Baal. It was near the sea. Mount Horeb is in the wilderness, like the rocky land where God gave the Ten Commandments. Notice the territory change in the maze. Make play dough caves Give each child a lump of play dough to create with as she likes. Suggest making a mountain with a cave in it. Talk about creatures that might be found in caves. (bats, bears, crickets, and so forth) Say In today s Bible story, you will hear that the prophet Elijah spent the night in a cave in a mountain. 5 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 3
Timeline Map Review the timeline Guide kids to recall and tell bits of Bible stories up to Elijah. Review whatever you have time for. In the Beginning God talked with individuals. God s Covenant with People God chose Abraham s family and made promises to them. God Formed His Nation Moses led the people. Joshua Joshua led the nation into the land God had promised Abraham. The Judges God provided the judges to lead when His people needed them. Saul and David God gave the people kings to lead His people. A Kingdom in Trouble The kings, beginning with King Solomon, allowed the people to worship idols, and the nation split in two. Transition to Bible study Transition cue: Clap a simple rhythm for children to copy, and then assemble for Bible study. 6
Large Group Bible Study Session Title: Elijah Ran from Jezebel Bible Passage: 1 Kings 19 Big Picture Question: How does God help in times of trouble? God promises to be with us. Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14 Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God s people to repentance as Christ calls people to repentance. Sin continued to divide and ultimately destroy the Northern Kingdom, but Christ s perfect kingdom is forever. Large Group Bible Study Introduce the Bible story Say If you wanted to go somewhere in a hurry, think about how you would travel. Would anyone like to come here and pretend you are traveling the way you thought of? We will try to guess what it is. Call on two or three volunteers to act out their ideas. Elijah Ran from Jezebel picture Bible Timeline Map Tell the Bible story Say In today s Bible story, Elijah ran and walked many miles to get away from King Ahab s evil wife, Jezebel. The story is here in the Bible, in the Book of First Kings. [Point to it.] Point to the Bible story picture on the timeline. Recall what had happened just before this that made Jezebel so angry at Elijah. Tell the Bible story from your open Bible. Say Remember that the book is called 1 Kings. Who was the king in this story? (Ahab) Is this a true story? (Yes! It s in the Bible.) 7 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 3
Key Passage Poster Big Picture Question Poster Talk about the Bible story Read the key passage. Say Elijah tried to warn King Ahab and Jezebel to quit worshiping Baal. They were in trouble with God because they would not listen to Elijah. They were mad at Elijah. Jezebel wanted to kill Elijah! What did Elijah do? (He ran away to hide.) How did God help Elijah when he was tired and hungry? (God sent an angel with bread and water.) How did God help Elijah on the mountain? (God was in charge. God kept Elijah safe. God spoke to him and encouraged him.) How does God help in times of trouble? God promises to be with us. Jesus is God s messenger too. People did not like Jesus, but God was in charge. God used Jesus enemies to carry out His plan to rescue people from sin. Transition to small groups Do activities one of these ways: as a group, all at the same time in small groups that rotate through each activity set up as centers, allowing preschoolers to browse and choose 8
Small Group Activities Session Title: Elijah Ran from Jezebel Bible Passage: 1 Kings 19 Big Picture Question: How does God help in times of trouble? God promises to be with us. Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14 Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God s people to repentance as Christ calls people to repentance. Sin continued to divide and ultimately destroy the Northern Kingdom, but Christ s perfect kingdom is forever. Small Group Activities paper pencil LOW PREP markers or crayons stickers Decorate footprints Trace each child s foot for him to decorate. Provide materials for kids to decorate their own footprints. As they work, talk about Elijah s long journey. Say Elijah was in danger from Jezebel, and he ran into the wilderness where the ground was rough. He probably wore sandals. God provided food for Elijah and kept him safe. How does God help in times of trouble? God promises to be with us. Match Mountains cards, 2 copies gift bag beanbag Match mountains Two sets of the Match Mountains cards on cardstock (all on the same color paper). Play games such as the memory game, beginning with cards laid out in a 4-by-3-card grid. 9 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 3
For very young preschoolers, begin by laying the cards faceup and guide them in making matches. For another game, spread one set of the cards around the floor and put the other set in a bag. Kids can pull a card out of the bag and toss a beanbag onto its match on the floor. Say Who made the mountains? (God!) Look at the different kinds of mountains. Which do you think looks like the one with the cave where Elijah spent the night? How does God help in times of trouble? God promises to be with us. red and green rhythm sticks Mighty to Save song Keep a rhythm Use rhythm sticks to tap very simple patterns. Make some taps in a simple rhythm loud and some soft. Preschoolers repeat rhythms after you. If you have two colors of sticks, such as red and blue, say, Park the red stick (hold the stick out flat in front of you without moving it) and play with the blue stick. This way the blue stick is doing the work while the red stick is held still, giving a steady central spot to play on. Choose a simple song for kids to play along with, or sing Jesus Loves Me as they tap. They probably can t sing and play at the same time. If you play Mighty to Save, try keeping a steady beat. Point out the line He can move the mountains. Ask how God moved the mountain in today s Bible story. (with an earthquake) Say How does God help in times of trouble? God promises to be with us. 10
various supplies and furniture for building an obstacle course: tape, blue paper, table, and so forth Travel through an obstacle course Build an obstacle course with the help of your preschoolers. Use a strip of tape as a swinging bridge, a strip of blue paper as a stream to hop across, a table to crawl under (like a path through a dense forest), and any other ideas you have, particularly ones that represent mountains. Say Elijah traveled many nights and days to get away from evil Jezebel. God sent food to give him strength, and God spoke to him at a cave of a mountain. How does God help in times of trouble? God promises to be with us. Snack and Transition Take a bathroom break and wash hands. Choose volunteers to help set up for the snack; remind kids during snack time to say please and thank you. Thank God for the snack. Journal Page crayons Transision - Journal Page When a child finishes his snack and throws away the trash, offer the journal page for drawing something related to the Bible story. Suggest drawing a road or a vehicle and remind them that Elijah walked and ran. If parents are picking up their children at this time, tell them something positive about their child s day. Inform incoming leaders if there is something they need to know about a particular child. 11 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 3
Journal Page January 19, 2014 Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14 Session 1: Israel s History of Evil Kings 1 Kings 16 Session 2: Elijah Confronted Evil Ahab 1 Kings 18 Session 3: Elijah Ran from Jezebel 1 Kings 19 Session 4: Elisha and Naaman 2 Kings 5 Session 5: The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed 2 Kings 17:1-23 OK to print
The LORD warned Israel and Judah, Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments. But they would not listen. 2 Kings 17:13-14 UNIT 13 Key Passage Poster (ESV) OK to print
Trace Elijah s Trip Instructions: Where did Elijah go when he ran from Jezebel? Trace his path from Mount Carmel to Mount Horeb. Mount Carmel Beersheba Mount Horeb Unit 13 Session 3 Preschool Activity Pages
Elijah Ran from Jezebel 1 Kings 19
How does God help in times of trouble? God promises to be with us. UNIT 13 Session 3 Big Picture Question OK to print
UNIT 13 Session 3 Elijah Ran from Jezebel OK to print
Match Mountains Cards Instructions: Print two copies of these cards, cut them apart, and glue them to heavyweight paper (all on the same color paper). Laminate them. Lay them out in a 3-by-4-card grid to play a memory game. See leader guide for using the cards in a beanbag game. UNIT 13 Session 3 Match Mountains Cards OK to print Israel, The Northern Kingdom