38. Elijah

1 Kings 17

Lesson Prep

Background Scripture (read 2-3 times during the week)

1 Kings 16-17

Story Summary

Elijah was the first major prophet after the kingdom of Israel had divided. Remember that 10 tribes split off to become the Northern Kingdom and were known as Israel. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained together as the Southern Kingdom known as Judah. Elijah prophesied to the Northern Kingdom, because all of their kings were evil. 

The drought begins and Elijah is fed by ravens

Ahab was one of the bad kings of Israel. In fact, in 1 Kings 16:30, the Bible tells us that he was one of the worst kings of all. He married a woman named Jezebel. Elijah gave a message to Ahab that there would be no rain in the land of Israel for several years, until Elijah came back and told him there would be rain.  

So, while there was a drought in the land, God send Elijah to a valley east of the Jordan River where he provided ravens to bring food for Elijah. They brought him bread and meat in the morning and the evening and there was a brook nearby where Elijah was able to drink. Talk about room service!

Elijah and the widow

There was still no rain in the land of Israel, and the brook that Elijah was drinking from finally dried up. So God sent Elijah to a widow who could provide him food and drink. This widow was very poor. See, in those days, a widow would have no one to provide for her and her son. So when Elijah asked her for a drink, she got a drink for him. But when he asked her for some bread, she told Elijah that she was on her last bit of flour. "I'll make one last meal for myself and my son. We'll eat it. After that, we'll die." (1 Kings 17:12).

But Elijah knew God was up to something. He told her not to be afraid, but to go ahead and make the meal anyway. To her amazement, she made the meal and there was still some flour and oil left! Every day, she made the bread, and every day, there was still some flour and oil left. God was miraculously providing food for Elijah, the widow, and her son.

Elijah and the widow's son

Some time later, the widow's son became very sick. Eventually, he stopped breathing and the widow thought he was dead. Elijah asked for her son, and he took him upstairs. Elijah prayed to God that God would give the boy his life back and God did! Elijah took the widow's son back downstairs to his mother.

What You Will Need

Snack Suggestion
pretzels (see Clothespin Raven Snack reinforcement activity)

Video Option

God's Story - God Provides for Elijah

From Crossroads Kids Club

Resource Sheet

Elijah and the Ravens Coloring Sheet

This coloring sheet depicts Elijah at the brook being fed by ravens

Lesson

1. Warm Up get your kids talking and engaged

Have you ever had food delivered to your house? Who brought your food to you? Was it a person or a bird that delivered your food?

I'm guessing it wasn't a bird! Well, today, we are going to learn about a story in the Bible when a man named Elijah had food brought to him by ravens!

2. Teach the Story teach a holistic story

Read story from a Children's storybook Bible for younger children.

For older children, read story from an age-appropriate Children's storybook Bible or tell the story yourself.

3. Bible Mastery give them basic Bible skills

Scripture for Kids to Read Aloud 1 Kings 17:1-24

4. Comprehension Questions make sure they understand the story

First, ask the children if they have any questions about the story. What to do if you don't know the answer?

  • Were the kings of Israel, or the Northern Kingdom, good or bad?
  • Bad
  • How did God punish King Ahab and Israel for their wickedness?
  • He sent a drought
  • When was the drought going to be over?
  • When Elijah said it would
  • Where did Elijah go to live during the drought?
  • At a poor widow's house, with her son
  • Why did the widow not want to feed Elijah?
  • She was down to her last meal
  • What miracle did God do for the widow?
  • He made it so that no matter how much bread she baked, she still had flour and oil left over
  • What other miracle did God do for the widow?
  • He allowed Elijah to heal her son when he died

5. Faith Questions open up a conversation about faith and the gospel; close with prayer

  • In this story, we see several miracles that God performed for Elijah.
  • Did you know that God can perform miracles in your life too? Have you ever asked God to work in your life?

6. Memory Verse hide God's Word in their heart

Your heart will be where your riches are. Luke 12:34

Reinforcement Activities

Raven Mobile

Scripture And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 1 Kings 17:6
Supplies large popsicle sticks, hot glue, string, raven patterns,
  • Hot glue two popsicle sticks together in an x pattern.
  • Cut out 4 raven pictures.
  • Color black.
  • Punch a hole in the top of each raven.
  • Tie string to each raven and attach one to each end of the posicle stick x.
  • Make a mobile of ravens and bread
Raven picture

Baking Bread

Scripture For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, - 'The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.' And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 1 Kings 17: 14-15
Supplies mixing bowl, measuring utensils, flour, water, extra virgin live oil, cookie sheet, parchment paper, oven
  • 2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Combine ingredients together. Place on floured surface. Roll out to about 1/8" thick.
  • Place on a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  • Cook for 20 minutes on 350 degrees.

Clothespin Raven Snack

Scripture And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 1 Kings 17:6
Supplies black paint, yellow paint, black construction paper, glue, wooden clothespins, paint brushes, pretzels
  • Paint a wooden clothespin black.
  • Paint a beak on the end with the yellow paint
  • Cut wings out of black construction paper and glue them onto the clothespin
  • Put dots of glue onto the clothespin for eyes
  • Allow to dry
  • Use the raven to pick up pretzels and feed yourself a snack.
Clothespin Raven Snack Example

Fed by Ravens Relay

Scripture And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 1 Kings 17:6
Supplies clothespins, pretzel rods or some snack
  • The basic idea here is to have the children feed each other using a clothespin, as if they were a raven feeding Elijah.
  • You could have a relay:
    • 2 from each team run from the starting line to the feeding line.
    • One lays down with their mouth open while the other takes a clothespin, puts the snack in it, holds the clothespin by their chin and tries to drop the snack into the mouth of the person laying down.
    • Once they successfully do that, switch.
    • Once both have finished, they run back and tag their teammates for another pair to run down to the feeding line and do it.
  • For younger ages, you could have them take turns trying to feed the teacher or each other.
  • You could also use the clothespin that was created in the "Clothespin Raven Snack" activity as the clothespin for this activity.

Paper plate Raven

Scripture And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 1 Kings 17:6
Supplies large paper plates, small paper plate, stapler, googly eyes, yellow construction paper, black pipe cleaners, black crayon or paint, small plastic bags, bread, jerkey
  • Take a large paper plate and cut it in half.
  • Staple the half plate onto a large paper plate. This will create a pouch.
  • Staple a small paper plate onto the top to make the bird's head.
  • Make wings out of card stock and staple to each side.
  • Use googly eyes and yellow construction paper for eyes and a beak.
  • Use black pipe cleaners to make legs. Staple to bottom of bird.
  • Make the bird black with crayons, markers or paint.
  • Place bag of bread and jerkey in pouch.

Saltine Challenge

Scripture Elijah was from Tishbe in the land of Gilead. He said to Ahab, "I serve the Lord. He is the God of Israel. You can be sure that he lives. And you can be just as sure that there won't be any dew or rain on the whole land. There won't be any during the next few years. It won't come until I say so." 1 Kings 17:1
Supplies saltine crackers
  • Give each student 6 saltines.
  • Have them try and eat them in 60 seconds, without getting a drink.
  • The saltines absorb all of the saliva and make it difficult to swallow the crackers.
  • God sent a drought to the land. There was no water.
  • Have students imagine a land without water, being like their dry mouths without saliva.