Elisha, Elijah and the Chariot of Fire
Cooking Workshop
Summary of Lesson Activities:
As you tell the story you and the children will put together Elijah’s chariot wheel. The action of doing so will help them retain the information of the story that you want them to remember.
I got this idea from a book I just discovered for the cooking workshop and I have just today put it’s information in the Cooking Section “More Than Cookies & Punch”.
On page 28-29 is “Chariot Wheels” – Crossing the Red Sea and the idea is also noted as working with Elijah and The Chariot of Fire (2 Kings 2).
So using just the ingredients suggested I’ve come up with this lesson that might be useful to you.
Leader Preparation:
- Read the scripture ahead of time
- Gather the ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Round Rice Cakes (one for each child)
- Cheese Slices (2 for each child)
- Candy Corn (1 for each child)
- Plates & plastic knives
Presentation
Opening-Welcome and Lesson introduction:
Greet the children and introduce yourself.
Today we are going to learn the story of Elijah passing his mantle to Elisha.
Hand out paper plates and knives.
Dig-Main Content and Reflection:
Lesson Plan
(have ready one cheese slice for each child)
Doe anyone know what a mantle is? Explain mantle to the children. Have each child take their plastic knife and cut out the shape of the mantle they think Elijah may have worn and leave in center of their plate.
Does anyone have any idea where we can find the story about Elijah’s mantle in the bible?
(have rice cakes ready)
Yes, it’s found in the Old Testament, I’m going to give you each a round rice cake and I want you to place it on top of your mantle.
What shape is the rice cake in? A circle. What letter does the circle represent? An “O”. Which reminds us the story can be found in the Old Testament.
(Have 2nd cheese slice ready)
Now to continue our story I’m going to give you each a slice of cheese which I want you to cut into 5 equal slices (about ¼” wide). Once everyone has sliced his or her cheese continue.
Elijah and Elisha had been traveling together and they stopped at the city of Bethel, have children place one cheese slice down center of rice cake.
Wherein Elijah said, “Tarry here, I pray you; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.”
And Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”
(Have children repeat after you)
Next they traveled to Jericho, have children place another cheese slice sideways across rice cake, making a cross.
Upon reaching Jericho, Elijah said, “Tarry here, I pray you; for the Lord has sent me as far as Jericho.”
And Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”
(Have children repeat after you.)
Next they traveled to Jordan, have children place another cheese slice across rice cake, between pieces already placed, intersecting at the center.
Wherein Elijah said, “Tarry here, I pray you; for the Lord has sent me as far as Jordan.”
Have children take remaining cheese slices and place around the outside top edge of the rice cake to represent the Jordan River.
Upon reaching the Jordan River, Elijah removed his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water of the Jordan River, and much to Elisha’s surprise and wonder the waters parted. And he thought to himself with wonder how God’s spirit and power was unleashed through that mantle.
So for a moment let’s think of our rice cake as the Jordan River and take one cheese slice, we’ll roll it up, place it on the edge of our rice cake (around 3-4 o’clock) and unroll it across the Jordan River, look we’ve now parted the Jordan River.
Upon crossing the Jordan River, Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted from him before he left him as his time to be with God was near. Well, Elisha thought for a moment and then asked, “I pray you, let me inherit a double share of your spirit.”
(have candy corn ready)
Here explain to the children what Elisha was asking for, once that is done add the candy corn to represent the spirit to the center of your rice cake.
Well, Elijah pondered Elisha’s request and told him he had asked a hard thing. But, that should Elisha see him leave to join God, his request would be granted.
Suddenly, a chariot of fire, pulled by horses of fire, swept down from the sky, carrying off Elijah before Elisha’s very eyes!
Now, if we look at what we’ve created we see Elijah’s chariot wheel with flames leaping from the hub of the wheel.
Now, who normally wears a crown? Yes, a king. Our chariot wheel could also represent a royal crown. Our story today can be found in the bible book of Kings and because our wheel spokes are in pairs of twos. We know our story can be found in 2 Kings: Chapter 2. So to find the story in the bible just picture the wheel in your head anytime you want.
Going back to our story, Elisha watched as Elijah was carried off in a whirlwind by a speeding chariot of fire and he yelled after him, “My Father, my Father. The chariot of Israel and its horseman!” And Elijah disappeared from view.
But, what’s that…, something drifted from the sky falling gently at Elisha’s feet.
Can anyone tell me what would have fallen from the sky?
Yes, Elijah mantle and if you all pick up your Chariot wheel, there it is!
Review Questions:
Do prior to children eating their creation. (could use extra candy corn for correct answers).
- What was the name of today’s story?
- Was it found in the Old or New Testament?
- In which book of the Old Testament is our story found in?
- Is it Kings 1 or Kings 2?
- What is a mantle?
- What does “inherit double share of your spirit mean”?
Etc.
Hmmm, you could read the story directly from the bible but, do the inserts I’ve written above. I’ve not included the whole text or meanings, this is just ideas as they came off the top of my head as I write this. Details such as mantle, inherit double share…, etc. I imagine will be explained in the bible background being done by the writing team.
Closing:
End with a prayer.
A lesson written by Luanne Payne from: Hampton United Church
Hampton, Ontario, Canada
A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.