Elijah
ELIJAH
Possible Lesson Plan:
- Open with prayer.
- Scripture Reference: 3 Kingdoms/I Kings 17-19, 22, 4 Kingdoms/II Kings 1-2. The prophet Elijah arose during the reign of the evil King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. The people of Israel turned to worship Baal, and Elijah had to stand up for God against formidable odds. But, later, Elijah ran from Jezebel’s anger. Have each student (or a group) read one chapter. Ask him or her to summarize the chapter with a single drawing on a sheet of paper. Have each student (or group) explain its drawing. What 2 miracles occurred in Zarephath? Why did Elijah go to speak to King Ahab? What was God’s curse on Israel? Why did Elijah destroy all the prophets of Baal after he won the challenge? Why did Elijah run from Jezebel? Was he cowardly? Why or why not? When Elijah was in the wilderness, why did he want to die? What made him willing to return and face Ahaziah, Ahab’s successor?
- History: We are entering a very confusing period in Jewish history and one with which few Christians have much acquaintance. Therefore, with each of the next several lessons, we will attempt to keep track of the kings, prophets, and events and see the interconnection between them. So far, we’ve seen the kingdoms of Saul, David, and Solomon. After the death of Solomon, the kingdom was divided – Israel in the north with its capital of Samaria under Jeroboam and Judah in the south with Jerusalem as its capital under Rehoboam. There followed in both kingdoms a series of mostly wicked kings, while in the rest of the world Assyria was rising to power. Finally we reach Ahab, king of Israel and the worst so far, while Judah was ruled by Jehoshaphat, one of the best ever. These were the times into which Elijah was born and during which he prophesied. I have included after this lesson a summary of the kings and prophets; use it frequently as a reference.
- Service References: The most striking reference to Elijah is at the feast of the Transfiguration, where he appears with Moses talking to Jesus (at vespers): “Talking with Christ, Moses and Elijah showed that He is Lord of both the living and the dead, the God who spake of old through the Law and the prophets.” And “Moses who saw God and Elijah who rode in the chariot of fire, passing across the heavens unconsumed, beheld Thee in the cloud at Thy Transfiguration…” The story of Elijah and the “still, small voice” is read at vespers of the Transfiguration. Why was Elijah chosen of all the prophets?
John the Baptist is in his synaxis called “a new Elijah, like him displaying before the world an immaterial life; and with boldness thou hast openly reproved the transgressions of the King and Queen.” Which king and queen for Elijah? For John? In what way was John like Elijah returned?
But several of Elijah’s other miracles are also the subject of the hymnographers. His flaming chariot gets mention at Pentecost: “Of old the fire-breathing, zealous Elijah did mount with joy the all-flaming chariot. Wherefore, this sign did explain the rising of the gentle breeze illuminating the Apostles from on High, through which they were lighted, making known to all the Trinity.” How was the chariot like the flames of Pentecost? The story of the resurrection of the widow’s son in I Kings 17 is read on Holy Saturday – a type of the Resurrection of the Lord. Elijah passed through the Jordan on dry land before his death, just as Moses passed through the Red Sea; this story from II Kings 2 is read at Theophany. Why? The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal is read on Theophany at vespers, and at the blessing of the water at Theophany, God is referred to as “our God who by water and fire through Elijah hast brought back Israel from the error of Baal”. Why is this important?
- Discussion: Elijah stood up for what he believed, but he struggled with opposition. Have each student think of an issue that he feels strongly about – at school, at home, in the church, in the world. This could be something as personal as cheating in school or as far-reaching as abortion. Have the student write a “Letter to the Editor” of the paper discussing the reasons for his concern, potential consequences, and suggestions for improving the issue. Why is this issue so important to you? Are there other ways we can stand up for something we believe in? Can you write a letter from Elijah to Ahab’s newspaper?
Are there any times when you have stood up for what you believed in even when others were opposed? What happened? Are there consequences? Is there any occasion when you had strong feelings about something and remained silent? What happened?
- Close with prayer: Have each student identify something he has strong feelings about and pray for the courage to stand even when others are opposed.
KINGS AND PROPHETS: A reference for this difficult time in Jewish history
DATES KING OF ISRAEL KING OF JUDAH PROPHETS OTHER KINGS
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933 BC Death of Solomon and division into northern and southern Ahijah Shishak (Egypt)
kingdoms – concubines and idolatry
33 BC Jeroboam (22 years) – Bad Rehoboam (17 years) – bad Shemaiah
915 BC Abijah (3 years)–bad mostly
912 BC Asa (41 years) – good
911 BC Nadab (2 years) – bad
910 BC Baasha (24 years) – bad
900 BC Rise of Assyria to world power Assur-nasipal II
887 BC Elah (2 years) – bad
886 BC Zimri (7 days) – bad
886 BC Omri (12 years) – horrible
875 BC Ahab (22 years) – the worst Elijah Shalmaneser II
874 BC Jehoshaphat (25 yrs.)–good Ben-hadad (Syria)
855 BC Ahaziah (2 years) – bad Elijah Mesha (Moab)
854 BC Joram (12 years) – bad mostly Elisha Hazael (Syria)
850 BC Jehoram (8 years) – bad
843 BC Jehu (28 years) – bad mostly Ahaziah (1 year) – bad Elisha
843 BC Athaliah (6 years) – horrible
843 BC Joash (40 yrs.)-good mostly Joel
820 BC Jehoahaz (17 years)—bad
806 BC Joash (16 years) – bad
803 BC Amaziah (29yrs)–gd mostly
790 BC Jeroboam II (41 years)-bad Jonah
787 BC Uzziah (52 years) – good Amos
749 BC Jotham (16 years) – good Hosea
748 BC Zechariah (6months) – bad Isaiah
748 BC Shallum (1month) – bad Micah
748 BC Menahem (10 years) – bad
741 BC Ahaz (16 years) – wicked Rezin (Syria)
738 BC Pekahiah (2 years) – bad
748 BC Pekah (20 years) – bad Tilgath-pileser II
730 BC Hoshea (9 years) – bad
721 BC Northern Kingdom Fell. Sargon II
726 BC Hezekiah (29 years) – best Sennacherib
697 BC Manasseh (55 years) –worse Esar-Haddon
641 BC Amon (2 years) – the worst Assur-banipal
639 BC Josiah (31 years) – the best Zephaniah
608 BC Jehoahaz (3 months) – bad Nahum
608 BC Jehoiakim (11 yrs) –wicked Jeremiah Necha II (Egypt)
607 BC Fall of Assyria and Rise of Babylon Habakkuk Nabopolassar
597 BC Jehoiachin (3 months)–bad Nebuchadnezzar
597 BC Zedekiah (11 years) – bad Obadiah
586 BC Fall of Judah.
606-536 The Captivity Daniel Belshazzar
Ezekiel
536 BC Fall of Babylon and Rise of Persia Cyrus
536 BC Return from Captivity
Joshua Haggai
Zerubabbel Zechariah Darius I
485 BC Esther Xerxes I
457 BC Ezra Artaxerxes I
444 BC Nehemiah Malachi
