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Free Bible lesson for kids · Elijah and Elisha

Horses and Chariots of Fire

The king of Syria sent horses, chariots and a great host by night to surround the city of Dothan and take Elisha. In the morning Elisha’s servant was afraid, but Elisha prayed, and the LORD opened the young man’s eyes to see the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire. Then Elisha led the Syrian soldiers to Samaria and told the king to feed them and send them home instead of harming them.

Bible passage
2 Kings 6:8–23
Big idea
God is with His people, and His help is greater than anything against us.
Memory verse
And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 2 Kings 6:16 (KJV)
Ages
Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
Time
About 45 minutes
Included, free
Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game

The story

When Syria warred against Israel, Elisha kept warning Israel’s king where the Syrians would be (2 Kings 6:8–10). So the Syrian king sent horses, chariots and a great army by night to surround Dothan (2 Kings 6:13–14). In the morning Elisha’s servant saw them and said, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15).

Elisha answered, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16). He prayed, and the LORD opened the young man’s eyes to see the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha (2 Kings 6:17). The LORD struck the soldiers blind, and Elisha led them to Samaria (2 Kings 6:18–19). There he told the king to feed them and send them home (2 Kings 6:22–23).

Read it in the Bible: 2 Kings 6:8–23 (KJV)

8Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 10And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 12And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. 13And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 18And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 20And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? 22And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. 23And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

Questions to ask

  1. What did the servant see when he went out early in the morning?

    An host with horses and chariots compassing the city (2 Kings 6:15).

  2. What did the servant see when the LORD opened his eyes?

    The mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha (2 Kings 6:17).

  3. What did Elisha tell the king to do with the enemy soldiers?

    Set bread and water before them and let them go home (2 Kings 6:22).

What this story teaches

  • God’s help is greater than anything against us (2 Kings 6:16).
  • God protects His people even when we cannot see it (2 Kings 6:17).
  • We can pray to God when we are afraid (2 Kings 6:17).
  • God wants us to show kindness even to our enemies (2 Kings 6:22).
  • Kindness can turn enemies away from fighting (2 Kings 6:23).

Jesus Is Always With Us

Elisha’s servant saw that God’s help was all around him. Jesus promises to be with His followers always, even unto the end of the world.

Matthew 28:20

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 minWelcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to help us remember that He is with us, and to be kind even to people who are against us.
10 minThe story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next.
10 minTalk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God is with His people, and His help is greater than anything against us.” What does that mean for us?
5 minMemory verse. Say 2 Kings 6:16 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone.
10 minActivity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions).
5 minPray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week.
  • Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
  • Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
  • Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.

Game time

For kids · game · indoors · about 10 minutes

Hidden Picture

You need: Hidden-picture puzzles (printed), crayons

  1. Give each child a hidden-picture puzzle.
  2. Find all the hidden objects.
  3. Talk: the servant couldn’t see God’s army until God opened his eyes.

Elisha prayed, “LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes,” and the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire.

For youth group · activity · indoors · about 20 minutes

Illusions Night

You need: Optical illusions on a screen or printed

  1. Show optical illusions one at a time and vote on what people see.
  2. Reveal the truth of each one.
  3. Talk: “they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” What do we miss when we only trust our eyes?

God’s protection is real even when we can’t see it. Faith sees what God says is true.

Pray

Ask God to help us remember that He is with us, and to be kind even to people who are against us.

Questions people ask

What did the servant see when he went out early in the morning?

An host with horses and chariots compassing the city (2 Kings 6:15).

What did the servant see when the LORD opened his eyes?

The mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha (2 Kings 6:17).

What did Elisha tell the king to do with the enemy soldiers?

Set bread and water before them and let them go home (2 Kings 6:22).