Elisha and the Chariots of Fire
2 Kings 6:8-23 Old Testament PrincipleCourage
The king of Aram sent a huge army to capture Elisha. In the morning, Elisha's servant saw soldiers all around the city and was terrified. Elisha said, "Don't be afraid! Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." God opened the servant's eyes, and the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire. God is with us, so we can be brave.
God surrounds His people with His power and presence, even when we can't see it. Because God is with us, we can have courage.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
2 Kings 6:16 BSB
Christ Connection · God’s character
Elisha knew God's army surrounded him even when no one could see it. In Jesus, God came closer still: He is Immanuel, "God with us" (Matthew 1:23), and He promises, "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).
Matthew 1:23; Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:31
The Big Story · Redemption
In a world broken by sin, God's people often feel surrounded. But God has never left them, and in Jesus, God came to be "God with us" forever.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Not alone
- Ellie’s Lab (science experiment): The blind spot
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Chariots of fire
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
God is with me. I am brave!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Open my eyes!, Color the chariots of fire
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
An enemy army surrounded the city where Elisha was staying, and his servant was scared. Elisha said, "Don't be afraid!" God opened the servant's eyes to see hills full of horses and chariots of fire. God is always with us, so we can have courage.
Start here
Ask, "Have you ever been scared and then found out someone was with you the whole time?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today a young man was very scared. Then God showed him who was with him."
Bible story 6 min
The king of Aram wanted to fight Israel. But God told Elisha all of the king's plans!
The king was mad. "Go get Elisha!" he said. He sent horses, chariots and a big army.
They came at night to a town called Dothan. They went all the way around it.
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: Red and orange construction paper
- Choose the king, Elisha and the servant. Some kids are soldiers; everyone else holds paper flames as the chariots of fire.
- Act out the skit. The chariots of fire jump up when Elisha prays.
- Switch so more kids get a turn.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
Surrounded by an enemy army, Elisha's servant panicked, but Elisha saw what God saw. God opened the servant's eyes to hills full of horses and chariots of fire, then used Elisha to show mercy to the enemy. God's presence is real even when we can't see it, so we can have courage.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Three prayers about eyes, Chariots of fire
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Surrounded at Dothan, Elisha's servant saw only the enemy, while Elisha saw the LORD's fiery army. Through three prayers about sight, God revealed His protection, disarmed the enemy and turned a raid into a feast. Courage comes from seeing reality as God sees it. His presence surrounds His people.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Seeing what's real, Open my eyes
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, online and on screens, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Courage
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Deborah and BarakJudges 4:1-24; Judges 5:1-31A cruel king with 900 iron chariots ruled over Israel. God told Deborah that Barak should lead an army against him, and God would give them the victory. Barak was afraid to go alone, but he went. God sent a storm, and the chariots got stuck in the mud! We can be brave because God goes before us.Old TestamentCourage
Seeing God's WorldWhy Am I Here?Esther 4:1-17; Esther 5:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-10When an evil plan threatened God's people, Mordecai told Queen Esther, "Who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther bravely went to the king, and God used her to save His people. God made each of us on purpose, for good works He prepared ahead of time, and He gives us courage to do them.Old TestamentCourage
Baby Moses in the BasketExodus 1:15-2:10; Hebrews 11:23Pharaoh ordered that Israel's baby boys be thrown into the Nile. But Moses' mother bravely hid him, then put him in a waterproof basket by the river. God protected him through his sister Miriam and even Pharaoh's own daughter. God is with us, so we can be brave.Old TestamentCourage
Esther Saves Her PeopleEsther 2:1-9:32; Hebrews 4:16Wicked Haman planned to destroy all of God's people. Queen Esther was afraid, but she asked her people to fast and pray, then bravely went to the king. God was quietly at work all along, and He turned the whole plan upside down to save His people.Old TestamentCourage
The Church BeginsPeter and John Heal a ManActs 3:1-4:31; Isaiah 35:5-6Peter and John healed a man who couldn't walk, in the name of Jesus. When leaders told them to stop talking about Jesus, they bravely said, "We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."New TestamentCourage
To an Unknown God: Paul in AthensActs 17:16-34While Paul waited in Athens, he was upset to see the city full of idols. He talked about Jesus and the resurrection in the synagogue and the marketplace, and the city's thinkers brought him to a council called the Areopagus. Paul bravely stood up and said, "I found an altar that says, 'To an unknown god.' I will tell you who He is." He told them God made the world and gives everyone life and breath, and He raised Jesus from the dead. Some laughed, some wanted to hear more and some believed. God gives us courage to tell others about Him.New TestamentCourage