You will not save the world, a lesson from Elisha

I thought about how to title this post for a while because there is so much to learn from Elisha, more than just an Elisha Sunday School lesson, but the lessons I most need to learn right now come from his time with Namaan, when Namaan is healed of leprosy, but I’ll go through all of Elisha’s life, just for kicks.

Elijah and Elisha: two stubborn prophets

A side note before we get into the Elisha lesson, let’s move back to Elijah.  At the end of last lesson’s story Elijah is told he will get a student who will be the next prophet of Israel.  Elijah doesn’t want to teach and doesn’t want someone following him around.  I have to admit there are times I feel like that.

All right, it’s the end of Elijah’s life and God has told Elijah today is the day he’s going home.  Apparently, he wants to be alone with God for this because he keeps trying to get rid of Elisha, and Elisha just won’t listen.  Eventually, Elijah gives up and asks what Elisha wants.  Elisha answers “To serve God and be THE prophet of Israel,” pretty audacious request, isn’t it?  Here’s what I learn here:

1. Sometimes you need to be tenacious and don’t give up.  Notice no matter what he is told, Elisha doesn’t give up.
2. God rewards audacious requests.  He doesn’t always, but in this instance, God gives Elisha what he wants.  Dream big and pray big for God’s kingdom, and God will always outstrip your dreams. (both of these points are ones I brought up in my Elisha Sunday School lesson because it’s good for 3/4 graders to hear)

Elisha and Namaan

I mentioned Elisha and Namaan at the beginning of this post because Namaan’s attitude is rather like mine right now, so let’s see what happens here.

This is a long bit of story-telling, but essentially Namaan is a Syrian with an Israelite slave.  His slave girl says Elisha can heal Namaan of his leprosy if he goes to him.  Through several steps, he gets there and is told by a servant to bathe in the Jordan River.  Let’s stop and think about that, he’s one of the most important people in Syria and Elisha doesn’t come to see him.  Then Namaan raves on and on about how the Jordan River is filthy, and he doesn’t want to bathe in a dirty river, it’s way too simple of an act.  There is so much to learn in these few verses:

1. If God wants you to find Him, it will happen.  Everyone Namaan went to for directions had no clue where to go.  It took Elisha knowing what was going on for Namaan to be found.
2. Sometimes it is the simplest and most common instructions that are hard to follow.  I want to do great deeds, save lives, change the world.  I don’t want to clean toilets, or fold laundry.  Those are mundane everyday tasks, yet that is what God has called me to do.
3. You can’t buy God.  After Namaan is healed he tries to give large amounts of money, large amounts.  Elisha just laughs at him, “what does God need with your money?”  God acts because God chooses, no amount of money will change that.

Elisha on the Run

Now comes the part that amuses me.  God just has a great sense of humor, and when God protects His people, it really shines.

The king of Syria forgets how Elisha healed his general and was rather made Elisha kept ruining his plans.  The king decides to capture Elisha and surrounds the city of Dothan. (This is a favorite part of the Elisha lesson because giant warriors with flaming swords)

{side note my kids LOVED making the giant warriors, and constructing the city Elisha was in, and the enemy camp)

Elisha’s servant is convinced they’re going to die until Elisha puts his hand on the servant’s soldier and the man sees how God protected them.

1. My big takeaway, we don’t always see how God protects us.  We wonder why we missed that bus or why we couldn’t buy that house, or marry that man.  Sometimes we see later on how that was God protecting us.  Sometimes we don’t, but it all is part of God’s Greater Plan.
2. God has a sense of humor.  I mean come on, GIANT FLAMING SOLDIERS, how is that not funny and incredibly cool.

Oh, and he finished the rescue plan by blinding the enemy army and Elisha leads them back to the king of Israel and they get ransomed back to Syria, again how is that not funny?

Again Syria tries to capture Elisha, and again they surround the city.  This time, the people of Samaria are starving and the king is willing to give Elisha to them just to save himself.  The captain gives the bad news, and Elisha says, “God will save us, but you will not eat the food he brings, you will die after hearing the good news.”

And just as Elisha had said, the Israelites were saved.  The army was gone, and they went out to eat, but the captain of the guard was killed by the stampeding crowd.

{Side note, this is one of those stories boys love because it has lots of gross details, rather like the Othneil, Ehud, and Shamgar story}

1. Again, we see it doesn’t pay to try and go against God.  You will lose.
2. God does not take the way we expect to save people.  He always has His own plans.

Supplies used for our Elisha Sunday School lesson

• peg dolls (I buy mine from Casey’s Wood Supply with various other wood supplies, but this is a similar price, here’s how to make peg dolls)
• Jumbling Towers* (I have 2 or 3 sets, that are used solely for building, found on clearance at stores, and some random other blocks from Casey’s Wood Supply)
• LEGO Hero Factory* (for the soldiers)
• Blue Painter’s Tape* (to represent leprosy)
• One Pound Felt Sheet Pack* (today I used fabric from my stash, but I’ve used felt sheets before, I love how easily they store)
• Elisha, God’s servant lesson, by clicking on the link OR on the picture below.

 

And for about 20 other Elisha ideas (including some amazing Namaan activities) check out my Kings and Chronicles Pinterest board.

Oh, and I’m waiting on a couple of pictures to post all about New Mexico, for those who are wondering.  Next up: Jonah and the whale