This free children’s sermon lesson and kids Bible lesson follows Elisha and the Syrians “The Battle is the Lord’s!” from 2 Kings 6:8-23. Don’t miss the related Bible crafts on Elisha.
Main Objective: This message uses a somewhat lesser-known Old Testament account to remember that God rescues and saves us, no matter the circumstance. The story of Elisha and the Syrian army demonstrates God’s power in the midst of danger and how we can rely on Him in challenging situations. Just as God came to the aid of Elisha and the Israelites, He comes to us when we call.
Law/Gospel Theme: This message focuses on how people might be saved from scary or life-threatening situations. The Elisha story recounts how God saves His people from enemies. Of course, our savior is Jesus, and He rescues us not from an enemy army, but from sin, death, and the devil.
Note: This lesson is the third in a series on “impossible heroes,” Biblical figures who were able to do amazing and unlikely things only through the power of God.
Optional Materials: Pictures of people who might save or rescue others; life savers candies.
Bible Passage: 2 Kings 6:8-23
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.
Greet children, and talk about what it means to save people.
Hello, children of God!
Do you ever need a life saver? Hold up life saver candies. Well, not this kind of life saver. I mean, have you ever been in a situation that was life-threatening? Hopefully you haven’t personally experienced that, but there are circumstances every day where people find themselves in need of rescue. In those times, they hope that someone can come and save them. Hold up pictures of rescue workers as you describe. Maybe someone gets lost on a hike in the wilderness, and they need a team of search and rescue workers to come find them. Or maybe someone is in deep water, and a lifeguard helps them out. Perhaps someone has a medical emergency and needs a paramedic or EMT to come to their aid. Whatever the case, it’s always good to hear about people in seemingly hopeless situations, with next to no way out, who then find themselves saved.
You know, there are a lot of amazing Biblical accounts that feature that theme. And when we read those, we see that salvation comes through God Himself. There’s one account in particular where someone was rescued by nothing less than a Heavenly army. It’s a story about a man named Elisha. Now, this isn’t Elijah, who actually came right before him (which is a bit confusing). Elisha was a prophet during a time when kings ruled over Israel, but there were a lot of enemies who came in and fought the people of God. One of those enemy nations was the people of Syria. The Syrians wanted to attack the Israelites, but Elisha kept learning where they’d be and warning the Israelites. This made the Syrian king very angry. He decided to get rid of Elisha so that he could more easily attack the Israelite people. So he took his entire army and surrounded the city where Elisha was. Elisha’s servant saw the army closing in, and got pretty worried. He went to Elisha and asked what they should do. It seemed like a pretty bleak and hopeless situation! Just two of them against a whole army. But Elisha told the servant not to worry. He said that there were more with them than against them. Then the servant looked, and saw a heavenly army of chariots of fire ready to protect them! They weren’t alone at all. Then Elisha prayed that God would strike the enemy army with blindness. It happened, and suddenly, none of the Syrians could see! They were totally blind. Elisha asked if they’d like help finding the city they were supposed to go to. Then he led them to Samaria, which just so happened to be right where the Israelite army was! God opened their eyes again, and they realized they were in big trouble. The Israelite king asked Elisha if they should destroy the enemy, but Elisha actually told him not to. Instead, they made a big feast, and served them dinner! Once everyone had eaten and felt full and happy, they decided that they didn’t really want to fight the Israelites after all, and they left.
This is a remarkable true story, because we see how God won the victory, and no one even had to fight or get hurt. God protected Elisha, and saved the Israelites from a messy battle. Elisha trusted God’s power, and used the Lord’s strength to ultimately defeat (and feed!) the enemy. This reminds us that God is with us always. In the book of Romans, it says “if God is for us, who can be against us?” The answer is no one! God is much more powerful than anyone we face. And even though we might not be up against an army, there are still battles that we encounter, and enemies we have. There are still times we might feel sad or worried or uncertain. God is with us through all hard things. He fights for us. And He gives us the greatest “life saver” of all: Jesus! He rescues us from sin, death, and the devil, and fights on our behalf. That’s the greatest rescue story we could ever hope for, and it’s ours!
Let’s pray and thank God for saving us and fighting for us.
Option: after prayer, hand out lifesavers candies.
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for being our life saver
And for sending us Jesus.
Help us to trust in you
Even when things seem hopeless.
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.
As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel. -2 Kings 6:8-23
The Battle is the Lord’s! – Sunday School Lesson on Elisha and the Syrians
This lesson features a somewhat lesser-known story of the Old Testament, but one that is truly remarkable. The prophet Elisha is often overshadowed by his predecessor Elijah, but his life has some pretty amazing moments to explore, as well. In this passage, we see God acting to protect and help His people. This is a story that features victory without anyone even fighting! It’s a great reminder of how God is with us and helps us, even when things seem hopeless.
This lesson is the third in a series on “Impossible Heroes” who experienced victory against the odds with God’s help.
Passage: 2 Kings 6:8-23
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade (See notes for specific age modifications)
Materials Needed: Blindfolds, jumpropes, large soft balls, ink pads, Bibles
Lesson Opening: This lesson features God’s strength, power, protection, and love, along with a clever prophet and wicked enemy. Here are some openers to get kids thinking (select the best ones for your audience and age group):
- Lead the Blind Man: Have students partner up and take turns putting on a blindfold. The seeing partner will lead the “blind” one through a simple obstacle course or across the room to do a task (write name on whiteboard, etc.).
- Protect the Prophet: In this game, children form a circle around one student who will be the “prophet” and another who serves as “bodyguard” or protector. Students on the outside will try to hit the prophet with a SOFT ball or other object. The protector will try to keep the prophet from being hit. The protector can be hit an unlimited number of times, but once the prophet is hit, he/she joins the circle, and the protector becomes the new prophet. Whoever hit the prophet becomes the new protector.
- Chariot Race: In this race, students form groups of two or three, with one child being a “driver” and the other(s) acting as “horses.” The driver will hold one end of a jumprope or jumpropes, and horses will hold the other end. They will then race other teams around the playing field area, staying together as a unit.
- Fingerprints: This story reminds us that God is present everywhere, and we see His mark of presence on things all around us. Invite students to examine their fingerprints and handprints, and compare them with others. We leave our fingerprints on things that we do, and each one is unique and special!
- “Kill them with Kindness”: in the story, the king gave the enemy a feast, rather than hurting them. Provide students with scenarios and invite them to consider ways that they can be kind to others, even if others aren’t kind to them first.
Explain to students that today’s lesson reminds us of God’s presence, even when we can’t see Him, and of how He can protect and provide for us in any situation.
Bible Lesson:
Explain that this story takes place in a time when enemies sought to destroy God’s people, the Israelites. Prophets spoke for God to deliver messages to the people, and often warned them if they weren’t doing what was right. Elisha was a prophet who served God. In this amazing story, Elisha trusts God to save him and the Israelites.
Ask: Have you ever felt like you were in a scary or even hopeless situation? How did it get better?
Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
-2 Kings 6:8-10
Point out that the “man of God” in this case was the prophet Elisha. God was with Elisha, and allowed him to learn the plans of the enemy, the Syrians. So Elisha was able to warn the Israelite king when and where the enemy planned to attack, which saved the people of God because they could prepare for it. However, when the Syrian king learned about this, he was not very happy.
And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. -2 Kings 6:11-14
The measures the king took show that he was not a very brave or rational man, really. Elisha was just one man, but the king took an entire army with chariots, and came in the dark of night to surround the city and capture Elisha. This seems like a bit of “overkill” for one person, but he was clearly desperate to get rid of the prophet.
When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.
-2 Kings 6:15-19
Ask: When do you normally pray? Have you ever prayed in a desperate situation?
Elisha’s servant panicked when he saw the army surrounding them, which certainly made sense given the circumstance. Elisha’s response is interesting. He said that there were more with the two of them than the whole army. The servant was then able to see that they were protected by a heavenly army. Chariots of fire stood ready to fight for them! This reminds us that God is always with us, even when we don’t see Him with our eyes.
Then Elisha prayed that God would strike the enemy blind. He did! No one in the Syrian army could see, which makes it hard to find and capture someone. Elisha told them they were in the wrong place, and that he would bring them to who they needed. However, he led them right to Samaria, which just so happened to be where the Israelite kind and army were!
Ask: Have you ever felt God’s presence, even when you couldn’t physically see Him?
As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel. -2 Kings 6:20-23
Elisha showed mercy here. He could have had the king destroy the army of Syria, but he knew that was not God’s plan. Instead, he had them feed the enemy! They provided them with food and drinks,and then sent them on their way. But the Syrians didn’t try to attack the Israelites. Instead, the left and didn’t come raid Israel again. Sometimes kindness (and food) goes a long way!
Ask: Have you ever been nice to someone who wasn’t nice to you? What happened as a result?
Reflect again on God’s power and presence in our lives. He was with Elisha, and kept the people from battle and harm. Elisha trusted that the Lord would provide, and He did! We can also trust that God will give us all we need, and help us to follow Him when we seek Him.
Review questions about the lesson:
- Why do you think the Syrians trusted Elisha to lead them? How is this another demonstration of God’s power?
- Have you ever experienced God’s help in a time that might have seemed hopeless?
- What do you think is the most surprising or amazing part of this account?
Close with prayer, asking God to help us trust in Him in all circumstances and thanking Him for being with us.
