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Elijah Hears the Gentle Whisper

1 Kings 19:1-21 Old Testament PrincipleHope

Elijah stands at the mouth of a cave on the mountain, his cloak over his face, listening to God's gentle whisper.

After God sent fire on Mount Carmel, Queen Jezebel threatened Elijah, and he ran away, tired and afraid. He felt so hopeless that he wanted to give up. God sent an angel with food and let him rest. Then on Mount Horeb, God came to him, not in a wind, an earthquake or a fire, but in a gentle whisper. God gave Elijah new hope, new work and a new friend.

When we feel worn out and hopeless, God cares for us gently, comes near and reminds us that we are not alone. Our hope is in Him, because He is always at work.

  1. CreationGod made it
  2. FallWe broke it
  3. RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
  4. RestorationJesus makes it new

Memory verse

“But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31 BSB

Christ Connection · God’s character

God met worn-out Elijah with food, rest and a gentle whisper. Jesus shows the same heart. "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. … I am gentle and humble in heart" (Matthew 11:28-29). "A bruised reed He will not break" (12:20). When we feel like Elijah, Jesus is gentle with us and gives us hope.

Matthew 11:28-29; Matthew 12:20; Romans 11:2-5

The Big Story · Redemption

God keeps a people for Himself, even when it looks like everyone has turned away. He cares for His tired servants and carries His plan forward. In Jesus, He invites everyone who is weary to come to Him and find rest.

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Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade

After the fire on Mount Carmel, a mean queen wanted to hurt Elijah. He ran far away. He was so tired and sad that he wanted to give up. God sent an angel with food and let him rest. Then God came to Elijah in a gentle whisper. God gave him new hope, a job and a friend.

Memory verse

“Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength.”

Adapted from Isaiah 40:31

Start here

Ask, "Have you ever felt so tired and grumpy that everything seemed bad?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today God's prophet Elijah felt like that. Let's see what God did."

Bible story 6 min

God sent fire on Mount Carmel. Everyone shouted, "The LORD is God!" But Queen Jezebel was angry. She said, "I will hurt Elijah!"

Elijah was afraid. He ran far away into the desert.

He sat under a bush. He was very tired and sad. "I've had enough, LORD," he said. He wanted to give up. Then he fell asleep.

The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.

Try an activity

Act it out 10 min

You’ll need: Blankets or mats

  1. Choose Elijah, the angel, the voice of God and Elisha. Everyone else makes the wind, earthquake and fire sounds.
  2. Act out the skit.
  3. Switch so more kids get a turn.
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In the BeginningThe First Sin and God’s PromiseGenesis 3:1-24Sin broke God's good world, but God came looking for His people and promised a Rescuer.Old TestamentHopeThe Church BeginsJesus Makes All Things NewRevelation 21:1-7; Revelation 22:1-5, 20; Genesis 2:8-10God showed John a vision of the future. Jesus will make a new heaven and a new earth, with no more tears, sickness or death. God will live with His people forever, and they will see His face.New TestamentHopeJesus Raises LazarusJohn 11:1-53Jesus' friend Lazarus got sick and died. When Jesus came, He cried with Lazarus's sisters. Then He stood at the tomb and called, "Lazarus, come out!" and Lazarus walked out alive. Jesus is the resurrection and the life, so we have hope even when someone dies.New TestamentHopeGet Up and Walk: Jesus Heals at the Pool of BethesdaJohn 5:1-15In Jerusalem there was a pool called Bethesda, with five covered walkways where many sick people lay. One man had been unable to walk for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him and asked, "Do you want to get well?" The man said no one would help him into the water when it was stirred. Jesus didn't take him to the pool. He said, "Get up, pick up your mat, and walk." At once the man was healed! Our hope isn't in a pool or a helper. Our hope is in Jesus.New TestamentHopeJesus the KingJesus Is Alive!Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18On the third day, the women found Jesus' tomb empty. Angels said, "He is not here; He has risen!" Jesus is alive, and because He lives we have hope.New TestamentHopeThe Road to EmmausLuke 24:13-35On the first Easter afternoon, two of Jesus' followers walked sadly from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus. They thought their hope had died with Jesus. Jesus Himself came and walked with them, but they didn't recognize Him. He explained how all the Scriptures, from Moses to the prophets, pointed to Him. When He broke bread at their table, they suddenly saw it was Jesus! They ran back to Jerusalem to tell everyone. God's Word gives us hope because it shows us Jesus.New TestamentHope