Children's Sunday School Summary September 22, 2019

After Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind, his successor Elisha continued Elijah’s work as a prophet to Israel. God used him, like Elijah, to perform miracles —multiplying the oil of a poor widow, raising a Shunammite woman’s son from the dead, purifying a poisoned pot of stew, and more.

At this time, Israel was ruled by King Joram. The land of Aram to the northeast (located in present-day Syria) was ruled by King Ben-hadad. In 2 Kings 5, Naaman—the commander of the army for the king of Aram—sought out Elisha for healing of a skin disease. Naaman recognized the one true God (2 Kings 5:15), but Aram was an enemy of Israel and waged war against the people.

Each time the king of Aram made plans to attack Israel, God revealed the plans to Elisha and he alerted Israel’s king so Israel could thwart their enemy’s plans. When Aram’s king discovered Elisha was to blame, he was determined to kill God’s prophet and sent an army to surround the place where Elisha was hiding. Elisha’s servant saw the enemy army and was afraid, but Elisha could see something the servant couldn’t see: an army of the Lord outnumbering the Arameans covered the mountain, ready to protect Elisha.

God blinded the enemy army, and Elisha led them to Samaria where the king of Israel could have killed them. Instead, Elisha told the king to feed the men and send them home. Those raiders did not come into Israel’s land again.

This story in 2 Kings 6 reveals that the world is not limited to what is seen. As you talk with your kids this week, emphasize that God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant so he could see God’s protection. God is always with us. Jesus came to earth as the visible image of our invisible God. God’s protection from sin and death is given to everyone who trusts in Jesus.