Is it Because There is No God in Israel? - Youth Sunday School Lesson on 2 Kings 1

Brief: God is near to each of us and answers our prayers.

(Printable Student Sheet)

 

Scripture: 2 Kings 1; Matthew 12:24-28; Acts 17:27-29; 1 Corinthians 10:19-20

Read 2 Kings 1 and Matthew 12:24-28 

What connection can you make between the names “Baal-Zebub” and “Beelzebub”?  Why is the name of one of the chief demons sound so much like the name of this idol?

Serving or worshiping anything other than the one true God is the same as serving Satan or a demon.  We must put God first – above ourselves and everything and everyone else.

 

Read 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 

What does Paul say about idol worship?

Serving idols is the same as serving a demon.  The demons pretend to be gods to make people believe in them.

 

Read Acts 17:27-29 

Ahaziah has sent messengers to an idol in Ekron, a city in another country.   What do you think Paul would have said to Ahaziah about him wanting to ask for advice from a god that was so far away? 

Paul says that “God is not far from each one of us” and would criticize Ahaziah for sending to a foreign country to consult an idol when the one true God was already next to him, waiting to be asked.

 

Why do you think Ahaziah sent the army to Elijah after hearing that Elijah had prophesied Ahaziah’s death?

Ahaziah wanted to make Elijah reverse the “curse” that he had pronounced.  He did not have faith in God and so, did not accept that his death sentence had come from God.

 

Why did Elijah call down fire from heaven to kill the first two army units, but then, agreed to go with the third?

In sending the army, Ahaziah was trying to bring Elijah into subjection to him.  By not showing respect to Elijah, the first two captains were not showing respect for God because God was behind Elijah’s actions.  The third captain showed the proper respect and humility and so was not punished.

 

God has killed 101 people in this passage.  What do you think about that?

God created life and has the right to take it away.  We are His possession to do with what He wills.  God has the right to punish sin.  He does so to protect His servants and to scare others away from sinning.

 

What evidence do we see in this passage of God communicating with people?

God sent his angel to speak to Elijah and sent Elijah to speak to the king and his messengers.