Elisha Helped a Woman
2 Kings 4:1-7
Our story comes from the Bible. It is found in the book, or part, of the Bible called “Second Kings” (2 Kings). It is the second book in the Bible that tells about the kings of Israel and Judah.
The Bible tells us about a man named Elisha and a woman who needed help.
The woman's husband had died. He owed money to someone. That man was coming to take away her two boys. They would become his slaves. She needed someone to help her.
Elisha asked, "What do you have in your house?”
The woman sighed. "All I have is a small jar of olive oil."
Elisha told her, "Go to your neighbors. Ask to borrow their empty jars. Get as many as you can. Then go inside your house with your two boys and shut the door. Pour oil from your small jar into all the empty jars you borrowed."
The woman left Elisha. She did just what Elisha had told her to do.
The woman and her son gathered many jars from their neighbors. Then they went inside their house and shut the door.
The woman started to fill the jars with oil. Gurgle, gurgle, splash. One big jar was filled and there was still oil in the small jar.
One of the boys brought another big jar. Gurgle, gurgle, splash. Another jar was filled, but the small jar still had oil! God was keeping the oil flowing to fill the big jars.
The boys kept bringing jars for the woman to fill.
Finally, all the jars were filled.
"Then you can pay the money you owe and buy food for you and your two boys."
Again, the woman did what Elisha told her. She sold the oil, paid the money that she owed, and bought food.
Elisha knew that it was God who showed him how to help. Elisha helped his friend, the woman. Friends help each other.
Bible Paraphrase: A friend loves at all times. (A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. – Proverbs 17:17 NIV)
Text Truth: Friends help each other.
God used the neighbors to help the widow by giving their empty jars. Did they know they were part of a miracle God was doing right there in their neighborhood?
God may be showing us ways to help others. We may be missing some miracles that could be happening right in our own household or neighborhoods because we're not listening to what God wants us to do.
Daily ask the Lord how He can use you to help others. Listen to His promptings. You are the best model for your children as you obediently listen to God and your children watch how you help others.
They will, in turn, learn that God can use them too.
God showed Elisha how to be a good friend to a woman and her sons. Pray with your child this week that God will help you and each one in your family to know the best way to show friendship. Then look for someone who needs help. There might be many ways to respond. Prefer those alternatives that allow your preschooler to have a key role. Reinforce that part.
With friends, encourage your child to draw a picture using sidewalk chalk. Talk about how your child and friend helped each other draw the picture. Affirm the group effort and praise the result.
Help your child make a simple snack or cookies. When your treat is made, wrap them up in single servings, add a thank you note to friends for their help, and give them away.
Review the Bible story using containers of all sizes and water. Have your child gather waterproof containers just like the boys in the story. Then let your child pour water in the containers to represent the oil. Do this activity outside or in the kitchen for easy clean up.
The best way friends can help each other is by praying for each other. During prayer times this week, pray for your child's friends, family friends, and their needs.
-
The above illustrations are the copyright of Richard Gunther and distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerciaI 4.0 International license. Richard has many free Christian resources, cartoons and a creation magazine at www.gunther.net.nz email: shamgar@callsouthnet.nz
Our story comes from the Bible. It is found in the book, or part, of the Bible called “Second Kings” (2 Kings). It is the second book in the Bible that tells about the kings of Israel and Judah.
The Bible tells us about a man named Elisha and a woman who needed help.
So, the woman went to see Elisha, a man who loved God. She said, "You knew my husband. He loved God. But I don't have money to pay what he owed. What can I do?"
Elisha asked, "What do you have in your house?”
The woman sighed. "All I have is a small jar of olive oil."
Elisha told her, "Go to your neighbors. Ask to borrow their empty jars. Get as many as you can. Then go inside your house with your two boys and shut the door. Pour oil from your small jar into all the empty jars you borrowed."
The woman left Elisha. She did just what Elisha had told her to do.
The woman and her son gathered many jars from their neighbors. Then they went inside their house and shut the door.
The woman started to fill the jars with oil. Gurgle, gurgle, splash. One big jar was filled and there was still oil in the small jar.
The boys kept bringing jars for the woman to fill.
Finally, all the jars were filled.
The woman went to see Elisha again. She told him what had happened.
Elisha said, "Now go and sell the oil."
"Then you can pay the money you owe and buy food for you and your two boys."
Again, the woman did what Elisha told her. She sold the oil, paid the money that she owed, and bought food.
Elisha knew that it was God who showed him how to help. Elisha helped his friend, the woman. Friends help each other.
Bible Paraphrase: A friend loves at all times. (A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. – Proverbs 17:17 NIV)
Text Truth: Friends help each other.
Family Devotional
Then he said, "Go, borrow empty containers from of all your neighbors. Don’t borrow just a few containers." — 2 Kings 4:3
God used the neighbors to help the widow by giving their empty jars. Did they know they were part of a miracle God was doing right there in their neighborhood?
God may be showing us ways to help others. We may be missing some miracles that could be happening right in our own household or neighborhoods because we're not listening to what God wants us to do.
Daily ask the Lord how He can use you to help others. Listen to His promptings. You are the best model for your children as you obediently listen to God and your children watch how you help others.
They will, in turn, learn that God can use them too.
Activities You Can Do at Home
Bible Rhyme
The Bible paraphrase is in the third line of the rhyme. Teach the words and actions a line at a time. Have your child repeat each line back to you.
One friend and one friend,
(Hold up one finger on each hand.)
Together they know
(Hold fingers together.)
A friend loves at all times,
(Hug yourself.)
For God made them so.
(Reach arms up.)
Show Friendship
God showed Elisha how to be a good friend to a woman and her sons. Pray with your child this week that God will help you and each one in your family to know the best way to show friendship. Then look for someone who needs help. There might be many ways to respond. Prefer those alternatives that allow your preschooler to have a key role. Reinforce that part.
Chalk Drawing
With friends, encourage your child to draw a picture using sidewalk chalk. Talk about how your child and friend helped each other draw the picture. Affirm the group effort and praise the result.
Thank-You Snacks
Help your child make a simple snack or cookies. When your treat is made, wrap them up in single servings, add a thank you note to friends for their help, and give them away.
Pour and Pour and Pour
Review the Bible story using containers of all sizes and water. Have your child gather waterproof containers just like the boys in the story. Then let your child pour water in the containers to represent the oil. Do this activity outside or in the kitchen for easy clean up.
Pray for Friends
The best way friends can help each other is by praying for each other. During prayer times this week, pray for your child's friends, family friends, and their needs.
The above illustrations are the copyright of Richard Gunther and distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerciaI 4.0 International license. Richard has many free Christian resources, cartoons and a creation magazine at www.gunther.net.nz email: shamgar@callsouthnet.nz
-
Comments
Post a Comment