Bible Stories for Adults

Elisha

2 Kings 2-9, 13

Next Week - Joash of Judah (2 Kings 11-12, 2 Chronicles 17-24)
Bible Words to Remember:
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Why did God send Elijah to Israel during Ahab's reign?
1 Kings 18:21 = To turn the people back to Him, away from Baal
What did Elijah's name mean and why was it significant?
1 Kings 18:39 = Elijah means Yahweh is God. He came to show this
How was Elijah's life on earth ended?
2 Kings 2:11 = Chariot of fire took him to heaven in a whirlwind
Did Elijah's power and role in God's plan mean he was more than just a man?
James 5:16-18 = No, he was a faithful man who prayed

Who selected Elijah's successor and who was it?
1 Kings 19:15a, 16b = God sent Elijah to anoint Elisha as successor

Was Elisha an experienced prophet & how did Elijah tell him he was chosen?
1 Kings 19:19 = A successful farmer's son; Threw cloak on him (no words) & kept walking
Did Elisha understand what Elijah had done?
1 Kings 19:20 = Yes, took action like he HAD to go & follow Elijah
How did Elisha respond to Elijah's comment letting him choose to go or not?
1 Kings 19:21 = Offered sacrifice of praise for selection & went

How faithful of a servant was Elisha?
2 Kings 2:2 = He stayed with Elijah from Gilgal, Bethel & Jericho
Did anyone know Elijah was leaving?
2 Kings 2:3,7-8 = Other prophets knew, 50 watched E & E cross Jordan

What did Elisha want when Elijah asked if there were any last requests before he left?
2 Kings 2:9-10 = Inherit Elijah's role as God's prophet to Israel
Did God allow Elisha to see Elijah leave & thereby inherit the role of God's prophet?
2 Kings 2:11-12 = Yes
How was it made known that Elisha was now Elijah's successor?
2 Kings 2:13-15 = Elisha repeated the miracle of parting the Jordan

Was Elijah ever able to convince Ahab that Jahweh is God?
1 Kings 21:27 = Yes, Ahab mourned the punishment for his rejection of the Lord
What other truth about the Lord did Israel miss? = Elisha means God is Salvation
1 Kings 22:6-8 = Ahab turns to Baal prophets (not God's) for advice in fighting Aram
2 Kings 1:2 = Ahaziah calls on Baal-Zebub in response to injuries

How did Elisha immediately make his point that salvation is from God?
2 Kings 2:19-22 = Miracle where the Lord healed poisonous water
How did Elisha also show that without God there is no salvation?
2 Kings 2:23-25 = Sent bear to youths who profaned God's prophet
What was so bad about the youths calling Elisha names?
2 Chronicles 36:16 = Mocking God's messenger will arouse the wrath of the Lord

What did Joram (Ahab's son) plan in response to Moab refusing to be subject to Israel?
2 Kings 3:5-6 = To take them back by force
Did Joram look to God for help in this effort? = Pass thru Judah & Edom to attack from south
2 Kings 3:7 = No, he turned to Jehoshaphat of Judah (also to Edom)
What happened to the armies that showed the need for God's salvation?
2 Kings 3:9-10 = Ran out of water after marching 7 days (long way around Dead Sea)

How did Elisha respond to Joram's request for salvation?
2 Kings 3:11-14 = Go ask your Baal prophets (Jehoshaphat's idea to see Elisha)
What miracle did Elisha use to show God's salvation?
2 Kings 3:16-18, 20 = Dig ditches in desert, they filled with water
How did God use this to save Israel from the Moabites?
2 Kings 3:22-24 = Water looked like blood to Moabites, killed when trying to plunder

How did Elisha show God's salvation to a widow about to lose her sons?
2 Kings 4:1-5, 7 = Paid debts with everflowing oil

How did Elisha show God's salvation to the barren Shunammite woman?
2 Kings 4:8, 13-17 = He gave her a son - she had no other needs

What happened that gave Elisha another opportunity to help the woman?
2 Kings 4:18-20 = The boy died
What did Elisha do that showed God's salvation?
2 Kings 4:32-35 = He prayed and brought him back to life

How did Elisha show God's salvation to a group of starving prophets?
2 Kings 4:38-41 = He made poisonous stew edible
Which of Jesus' miracles did Elisha perform a small version?
2 Kings 4:42-44 = Fed 100 with 20 loaves (Feeding of 5000)

Who was Naaman and what was his problem?
2 Kings 5:1 = Commander of Aram army, had leprosy (any of a variety of skin diseases)
How did a servant girl direct Naaman to the Lord?
2 Kings 5:2-3 = Told that prophet in Israel could cure his leprosy
How did Joram misinterpret the letter sent by the king of Aram?
2 Kings 5:6-7 = Thought Aram was picking a fight by asking for the impossible

What was Elisha's solution for Naaman's problem?
2 Kings 5:10 = Wash 7 times in the Jordan
How was Naaman's cleansing like our cleansing from the leprosy of sin?
Acts 2:38 = Be baptized ... for the forgiveness of your sins

How excited was Naaman about this miracle answer from God?
2 Kings 5:11-12 = Angry at stupid suggestion, expected magic & to see Elisha
Was Elisha's instruction foolish?
1 Corinthians 1:25 = Foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom

How does Naaman's response remind us of our own questioning?
John 4:48 = Unless you people see miraculous signs & wonders you will never believe
What was the main purpose of Elisha's solution?
Hebrews 11:1 = To build Naaman's faith
Did Elisha's solution have the desired effect?
2 Kings 5:13-17 = Yes, he confessed his faith & promised to follow only God

Why wouldn't Elisha accept Naaman's gift?
Acts 8:20 = Can't buy God's gift of saving grace
How was Elisha's servant punished for his faith in wealth instead of God?
2 Kings 5:20, 24-27 = He was given Naaman's leprosy

How did Elisha show God's salvation while prophets built a meeting place?
2 Kings 6:5-7 = Made a borrowed axhead float

How did Elisha protect the king of Israel from personal threats by Aram?
2 Kings 6:8-10 = Told him where king of Aram would be camping
What plan the king of Aram make to eliminate this intelligence leak?
2 Kings 6:11-13 = Capture Elisha
Why wasn't Elisha afraid when Aramean forces came to capture him?
2 Kings 6:15-17 = He saw God's larger & more powerful army
How did Elisha "single-handedly" capture the Aramean troops?
2 Kings 6:18-20 = God blinded them & Elisha led them into Samaria
What was the fate of these men and how did this affect the war?
2 Kings 6:21-23 = They were fed & released, Aram withdrew

What caused a famine in Samaria and how bad did it get?
2 Kings 6:24-26, 28-29 = Besieged by Aram, Costly donkey heads & seed pods, ate kids
Who did King Joram blame the famine on?
2 Kings 6:31 = Elisha (His father Ahab had blamed famine on Elijah)
What did Elisha promise that would show God's salvation?
2 Kings 7:1-2 = Lots of food would be real cheap within 24 hours
How did God make this happen?
2 Kings 7:3, 5-7, 16 = God made Arameans hear great army & they ran away leaving camp

How did Elisha protect the Shunammite woman from another famine?
2 Kings 8:1, 3, 6 = Sent her away, land returned when she came back

How did Elisha show God's salvation to Israel from his death bed?
2 Kings 13:14, 17 = Had Jehoash shoot arrow out window for victory over Aram at Aphek
How did Elisha affect other victories over the Arameans?
2 Kings 13:18-19 = Had Jehoash strike ground, once for each victory
How did Elisha's body show God's salvation from death well after his death?
2 Kings 13:20-21 = Dead man revived when body touched Elisha's bones