Listen up, little ones
Listen for the word Elisha
Reading
2 Kings 4:1-7, 38-44—Multiplication of Miracles.
Keys for kids
- Elisha, like Elijah, did many miracles.
- The miracles point us to the power of God.
- The miracles point us to Jesus.
Questions
- What miracle worker are we to follow?
- How can miracles happen?
- What are three things these miracles tell us about God?
Notes
We come now to one of the two main “speaking prophets” in 2 Kings. Both Elijah and Elisha are miracle workers whose lives and ministries in many ways point to our Savior. And, as with all Old Testament saints, they are presented to us as examples. However, far more than following these saints, we are to follow Jesus.
Elisha followed after Elijah. Before Elijah was taken up into heaven (2:11-12), Elisha had asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit to be put on himself. While the full significance of that is unclear, by many counts we have recorded twice as many miracles by Elisha as by Elijah.
Two of the three miracles in our text today are multiplying miracles. The widow’s oil was multiplied so she could sell it and pay her debts. The barley loaves were multiplied to feed one hundred men. Ellsworth notes that the miracles of the Lord are intended to point us to the God of the miracles. We are to look beyond them to the Lord himself. The miracles of the purified stew and the multiplied food drive us to draw three conclusions. God is real and living. God can do the impossible. God has genuine compassion for human need.
Do you believe these things about God?
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 105a, 133a
Prayer
- Give thanks to God that he cares for people, including you.
- Pray for the preparation for preaching God’s word this Sunday.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.