Children Bible Overview 68 10/08/08

ELIIJAH, THE PROPHET WHO APPEARED IN THE DARKEST ERA

Teachers to read bible scripture: <1 Ki 17:1-24>

Children to memorize bible scripture: <Mt 24:35>

Recap
Children, last week, we saw the most wicked king, King Ahab appeared in Israel. He married a lady
that God disliked the most, Jezebel and brought idols into Israel, causing God’s people to worship
false gods like Baal and Asherah. Jezebel also had 850 false prophets and she killed off all the Lord’s
prophets in Israel.

Introduction
The word of God came to a person named Elijah who lived in Gilead, telling him, “Go and tell King
Ahab that because of the sins that he and the whole Israel committed, there will be famine in this land
and there will be neither dew nor rain until you pray.” Elijah hence told King Ahab these words. After
he left, there was famine in the whole of Israel. Many Israelites died in the famine due to hunger. King
Ahab tried to look for Elijah but to no avail. God brought Elijah to a place where there was a brook
with water to drink and ravens to bring food for him. Some time later, the brook dried up, God brought
Elijah to a widow’s house. When he reached the widow’s place, he asked the widow to give him a
little water and a piece of bread. If she did that, she and her sons would not die of hunger in the
famine. The widow only had a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in the jug, but she believed the
words of Prophet Elijah and did what Elijah told her to do. Thereafter, the jar of flour was not used up
and the jug of oil did not run dry. Some time later, the son of the widow became seriously ill and
eventually died. The widow went to Prophet Elijah in grief, knowing that her son died because of her
sins. Prophet Elijah stretched himself out on the son three times and prayed to the Lord, God. The
Lord, God heard Elijah’s cry and the son’s life was returned to him. The widow hence knew that
Prophet Elijah was a man of God and that the word of the Lord from his mouth was the truth.

1. The word of God came to Prophet Elijah

1) Not because Prophet Elijah was great or that he had special ability/ foresight but
when the word of God came to him, he knew what God wanted to fulfill through him.
When Elijah did what he was instructed by God, God’s power was naturally revealed
= Similarly, it is not that the Pastor or Sunday school teachers are important but that
the word of God that the Pastor or Sunday school teachers speak is important.
2) Why was it that Prophet Elijah could hear God’s word and direction? This was
because Prophet Elijah knew the promise (4 Gospelization) that the Lord, God had
written in the books of the Law, decrees and laws (God’s perfect will), commands
(love God, love people). But there was no more Holy Temple in the land of Israel.
Therefore, the Israelites could no longer hear God’s promise, laws, decrees and
commands.
3) Therefore, God’s word by itself is a great power! Regardless of whether King Ahab or
the Israelites believed or not, God’s words will be fulfilled eventually. Not one person
can go against the word of God = Similarly, when we have God’s words, situations,
problems and the whole world will not be able to triumph over us. [Therefore children,
do you all like to learn more about God’s word?]

2. The word of God is to save and heal the people whom God loves and to punish
those who do not believe Him
1) When the word of God was announced through Prophet Elijah, the disbelieving King
Ahab and the Israelites who relied on false gods were punished. Because of the
 famine, they had no water to drink or food to eat. Therefore, many of the Israelites
died of hunger.
2) However, when the word of God was announced through Prophet Elijah, the whole
family of the widow who believed and submitted received blessings. Even though she
had sinned (she could have worshipped false gods in the past), and her child died,
God had compassion for her nonetheless. Through the prayer of Prophet Elijah, her
son although died, he later lived again. Therefore the word of God is to save and
heal the people whom God loves.
3) Therefore, when the word of God is announced, we must treat it with importance!
Today, God speaks to us through the Pastor and Sunday school teachers. When we
submit, we are like the widow. Regardless of how bad our situation is (nothing to eat,
no money, no friends, nobody loves me, or even the death of our child), God is able
to change that situation into blessings.

3. In the darkest era, it only takes one person who can really hear God’s word to
appear that all the problems can become blessings
1) Regardless of how bad the situation is, or how big the problem is, when a person
who knows God’s words and also knows God’s perfect will appears, problems
become blessings immediately and critical moments become opportunities. Evil and
sins will bring about grace. [This was because Israel was in darkness that God raised
up Prophet Elijah who had so much power, to help God’s people.]
2) Therefore, when problems happen, we must not be fearful. We only need to hold on
God’s promise and examine to see God’s perfect will, have a heart that loves God
and people, then we will be the Elijah of today. Through that problem, God will surely
call us to be central characters. E.g. When there are problems at home like brothers
and sisters falling ill, find out how you can be your parent’s help to comfort your
brothers and sisters?
E,g, When everyone is selfish and quarrel over toys, ponder how you can take out
and share your toys and cause everyone to be happy?
3) When we see many people not knowing God, and get deceived by Satan daily, our
hearts will desire to save them. We will respond to God, saying, “God, use me to
save and heal your people, just like Prophet Elijah.” God will surely listen!