King Ahab & Prophet Elijah (Pt 2)

1. REVIEW: Kings of Israel

• Review last lesson on Ahab & Elijah (1 Kings 18:18-45)

2. LESSON: King AHAB & Prophet ELIJAH (Pt II): FIERY SHOWDOWN

• 3 years later, God sent Elijah back to the king … saying, “I will send rain on the earth.”
• Go to Ahab? His wife Jezebel had already murdered 100 prophets of God. What if she murders Elijah too?
• But Elijah didn’t argue.
• He went to King Ahab and issued a challenge — Meet him at Mount Carmel with all Israel and the 850 false prophets.
• At Mount Carmel, Elijah spoke to the people. “If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not respond.
• Elijah had two bulls prepared as sacrifices. But no fire was to be used to light them. “You call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD,” he said. “And the God Who answers by fire is the real God.” The people agreed.
• So the false prophets chose one of the bulls. And from morning to noon, the false prophets called upon their false gods and danced around the altar. “Baal, answer us!” But did the false god answer? NO!
• They leaped and danced and cut themselves with knives until they bled. But was there fire? NO!
• Then Elijah asked the people to pour water over his bull. Water! Not once, not twice, but 3 times. The bull was soaking wet! The wood was soaking wet! The altar was soaking wet! How could it catch fire now? Seems impossible!
• But our God is a God of the Impossible!
• Elijah prayed. “O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God …”
• Guess what? Suddenly the fire of the LORD fell.
• It burned up the bull and the wood. Then it burned up the stone altar! Amazing!
• When the people saw it, they cried, “The LORD, He is God!”
• And Elijah said, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them escape!”
• Elijah did what King Ahab should have done long before. He got rid of all the false prophets.
• And to prove that He was really God, Elijah told Ahab that rain was on the way. Could there really be rain after 3 years?
• The sky was empty! How could there be rain?
• But soon, there was a small cloud. Not very big. About the size of a man’s hand.
• In a little while, the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain.
• God sent the rain. God showed the people that Elijah was telling them the truth. God showed that He alone is the true God. Isn’t He great?

Conclusion

• Do you want to know something even greater?
  a. The true God of Elijah is the same God who lives IN us today. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we are made holy and can come near to God; and His spirit can live IN us forever.
  b. Unlike the prophets of Baal, we don’t have to shout or yell all day long for our true God to hear us.
  c. God is NEVER too busy or too far. He never slumbers nor sleep! (Psalm 121:4)
  d. These are the Days of Jesus! Expect God to do great things in us & through us!

(Source: Bible for Children; God of Elijah)

3. ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS

• Memory Verse Activity/Game
  Psalm 116:1 I love the LORD because He hears and answers my prayers.

• Testimony time
  Get kids to come up and share how God answered their prayers.