Elisha Performed Miracles (2 Kings 4–6)

Dear families,

Miracles are often found in Scripture as a means of God doing what nature cannot explain to show His own power and authority over all things. This portion of 2 Kings 4–6 is no different. But these miracles don’t just teach us about God; they also demonstrate our human nature—to doubt when circumstances appear to leave us with little to no control.

Many of the miracles performed by Elisha in 2 Kings 4–6 come in moments when the human dilemmas of sin, death, fear, worry, and lack are realized and people are overtaken with doubt.

Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever felt as if your back was against the wall, your limits had been reached, and there was no way and no reason for hope in a particular situation? If so, you’re not alone. We all have moments when it seems as if we’re done and there’s no way out.

The reason we all experience these things is because we are humans. Our limitedness leaves us lacking and in moments where that lack prevents us from saving ourselves, we cannot help but feel doubtful.

But God.

It is often in these moments that we are reminded of just how self-reliant we tend to be and just how God-dependent we truly are.

God in these moments of doubt becomes our only hope, our beacon, our help. And though we ought to have some sense of confidence in this all the time, the reality is that we often lose sight of how deeply we need the Lord until He is our only way out.

What if we lived dependent on God to this degree all the time? What if we lived knowing that our only hope was God’s provision, even when it doesn’t feel like we need it? What if we saw that even our own ability to find a way out of a dire situation was a gift from Him?

The mystery that God wants to make known to those around us is this: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Is your confidence so firm in the Lord as provider and sustainer that it demonstrates the hope of Christ to those around you? If not, be reminded today that He isn’t just your help from time to time, but your only hope time and time again.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.


FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

  • Babies & Toddlers: Jesus’ miracles show that He is the Son of God.

  • Younger Preschool: Elisha’s miracles showed that he was a prophet of God. Jesus’ miracles show that He is the Son of God.

  • Older Preschool: Elisha’s miracles showed that he was a prophet of the one true God. In a greater way, Jesus’ miracles show that He is the true Son of God.

  • Kids: Elisha’s miracles showed that he was a prophet of the one true God and that God’s words were true. In a greater way, Jesus’ miracles show that He is the true Son of God.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit. 

  • Younger Preschool: What is idolatry? Idolatry is loving something else more than God.

  • Older Preschool: What is idolatry? Idolatry is loving something else more than God.

  • Kids: What is idolatry? Idolatry is a sin of the heart in which we love and value something else above God.

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit. 

  • Babies & Toddlers: Love the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 6:5

  • Younger Preschool: Love the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 6:5

  • Older Preschool: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5

  • Kids: “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5


** Next week: We Are to Worship God Alone (Isaiah 44)