In the Verse Kit Box:
Review:
Lesson:
Context for Lesson:
Elijah had just experienced a “mountain top high” by winning the spiritual battle against the false prophets of Baal at Mt Carmel. Baal’s prophets had spent the day calling on the name of their god to burn up their sacrifice (they had even cut themselves until their blood was gushing 1 Kings 18:28), to no avail.
But at evening time, after repairing the altar of the Lord (have kids pretend to build rocks upon rocks),
dousing it with water (have kids pretend to pour water over the rocks),
and a simple prayer (have students bow their head and fold their hands),
God consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust, and the water that was in the trench (have kids do a whooshing sound/action that looks like they’re burning everything up)!
The people responded in awe and worshipped the one true God (have kids bow down in worship).
Elijah directed the people to destroy the prophets of Baal. But the wicked king and queen of Israel were furious (have kids look angry).
They wanted to kill Elijah for what he had done. So Elijah ran! (Have students run in place)
Elijah wound up in a cave (have kids squat). He felt very sorry for himself, because he had done everything right but now they were searching for him to kill him, and he felt very alone (have kids close their eyes).
God spoke to Elijah and told him to go out of the cave and watch (have kids open their eyes and stand up and step forward out of their cave).
First, a strong wind passed by the mountain, so strong it broke rocks (have kids sweep their arms like wind, and then do an exploding motion like rocks are breaking).
But God was not in the wind.
Then an earthquake shook the ground (have kids shake their bodies as they stand in place).
But God was not in the earthquake.
Third, there was a fire [note for adults: don’t you wonder if Elijah half-expected God to be in the fire? That was the miracle God had just completed against the prophets of Baal!] (Have kids weave their fingers and lower arms upward in a flame-like motion.)
But God was not in the fire.
After the fire, there was a still small voice.
When Elijah heard the voice, he wrapped his face in his cloak because he knew it was God (have kids cover their face with their hands).
Ask children how God speaks to us (through His Word, the Bible). Discuss a situation where they might be afraid, and if it is easier to open up and share their feelings when a parent yells loudly at them about their fear, or when their mom or dad sit next to them and quietly ask them what they’re thinking. This is what God was doing for Elijah: quietly talking with Elijah in a personal way.
On the Verse Kit card, have children add “fire” after earthquake, as it was accidentally ommitted.
Have children learn the underlined part.
Threads to Weave into the Lesson:
Note from Miss Andrea: This passage has always amazed me. There’s something awe-inspiring in the fact that God could’ve connected Himself to all the strong displays of nature, yet He chose to use a still, small voice. There’s something here that breathes of parenting and gentleness and the desire to understand the heart of the other person.
It has always made me curious: what did God say? We don’t know. The Bible doesn’t tell us. Was it Elijah’s name? If so, why didn’t God have that recorded? Was it so personal that Elijah never repeated that part to anyone? We only know what God said after Elijah recognized His voice (v 13).
Kit:
Build the pinwheel using the directions below. Talk about the many ways we can use our mouth: eating, chewing gum, singing, blowing pinwheels, etc. Discuss “bad” ways we can use our mouth, and “good” ways that glorify God.
Bible Literacy:
Help your student find 1 Kings 19:11-12. Help them decide if they want to underline the entire verse, or just the 4 incredible ways God used to get Elijah’s attention. Both ways are good!
