Elijah Taken Up to Heaven - Youth Sunday School Lesson on 2 Kings 2:1-18

Brief: God often follows a pattern so that we can recognize what He’s doing.

(Printable Student Sheet)

 

Scripture: Read 2 Kings 2:1-18

Why does Elijah keep telling Elisha to stay behind?  

Elisha knows what is going to happen.  This is a final test for Elisha.  It is a test of his determination and devotion.  He knows that God is about to do something, but Elijah tries to dissuade him.  As Elisha’s earthly authority, Elijah is placing an obstacle in Elisha’s path to see how committed he is.

 

Why does Elisha keep disobeying the command?

Elisha knows that people of God need to be people of determination.  We need to deeply want to see God working.  We cannot let any obstacle other than God Himself to get in our way.

 

Has God ever parted water before like happens in this passage?

This miracle of Elijah is reminiscent of Moses’ parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14.

 

What does Elisha mean when he says he wants to inherit a double portion of Elijah’s spirit?

Deuteronomy 21:15-17 mentions giving a double portion of inheritance to firstborn sons.  This simply means that when a man died, he divided the inheritance among his male children but gave twice as much to his oldest son.  In asking for this right of Elijah, Elisha is putting himself in the role of Elijah’s firstborn son.  When a man died, his sons would take over their business and take their father’s place in the community.  Now that Elisha has identified himself as Elijah’s son, he is requesting that he be able to take over for Elijah when Elijah is gone.

 

Has anyone else ever been taken to heaven directly like Elijah was?

In Genesis 5:18-24 and Hebrews 11:5-6, we read that God miraculously took Enoch away to Heaven. Jesus also ascended into Heaven after His resurrection (Acts 1:1-11).

 

What is Elisha referring to when he says, “My father!  My father!  The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” ?

Elisha is saying that Elijah is the true strength of Israel, not the country’s chariots and horses. Someone else calls Elisha the chariots and horsemen of Israel in 2 Kings 13:14. The phrase reminds us that true strength is found in those who follow the Lord.

 

Why is it is significant that Elisha parted the water just as Elijah did?

In Joshua 3, Joshua divides the waters of the Jordan.  Joshua, “God Saves,” is peculiarly close to Elisha, “The Lord Saves.”  Now, we see the parallel between Moses and Joshua and Elijah and Elisha.  As Joshua took over for Moses, so Elisha takes over for Elijah.  

 

Why would the prophets think that God picked Elijah up and put him down somewhere else? 

In 1 Kings 18:10-12, Obadiah refers to this concept of God picking someone up and putting him down somewhere else.  In Acts 8:36-40, Philip actually is picked up somewhere and dropped off somewhere else.