2 Kings 2
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
It was a long, dusty road. The sun was warm on their backs.
Two men walked along that road. One was old. His name was Elijah. He had a big coat, a mantle, over his shoulders. The other man walked right beside him. His name was Elisha.
Elijah stopped. "Wait here," he said. "You stay. I have to go on."
But Elisha shook his head. "No," he said. "I will not leave you." And he walked along.
They came to a town. Elijah stopped again. "Wait here," he said.
"No," said Elisha. "I will not leave you." And he walked along.
They came to another town. And again Elijah said, "Wait here."
And again Elisha said, "No. I will not leave you."
Step by step, the two walked on together. Until they came to the water. A wide river. Too wide to walk through.
Then Elijah took off his big coat. He rolled it up tight. And he hit the water with it.
Splash!
The water slid apart. To the left, and to the right. And in the middle was dry ground. Two men walked through the river with dry feet.
What Does This Mean?
On the other side, Elijah looked at Elisha. "Ask," he said. "What may I do for you?"
Elisha said, "May I have what you have? Twice as much?"
And while they were walking, and while they were talking, something happened.
Listen.
Wind. A lot of wind. Horses of fire. A wagon of fire. Right between the two of them.
And Elijah went up. Up, and up, into heaven, with the wind.
Elisha stood there all alone. He shouted, "My father! My father!" And he looked, and he looked. But he did not see Elijah anymore.
There, in the sand, lay something. The big coat. Elijah's coat.
Elisha picked it up. He walked back to the water. And he asked out loud, "Where is God? The God of Elijah?"
Then he hit the water with the coat.
Splash!
The water slid apart. To the left, and to the right. And Elisha walked home through the middle. With dry feet.
God was still there. God was with Elisha now.
The Common Thread
God did not leave Elisha alone. Not for one minute.
And later, much later, Jesus came. Jesus says to you: I am with you. Always. Every day.
For You
Elisha went to a town. The people there were sad. "Our water is bad," they said. "You can't drink it."
Elisha said, "Bring me a bowl. With salt in it."
He walked to the well. He threw the salt in. And he said, "God says: this water is better now."
And it was true. The water was clean. Clear and fresh and good to drink.
God made the bad water good again.
Are you ever alone? In your bed, in the dark? God is there too. God sees you.
Talk About It
Elisha said three times: I will not leave you. Who do you never want to leave?
What do you think Elisha heard when the fire horses came?
Praying Together
Dear God, thank You that You stay. When it is dark, You are there. Please hold me tight. Amen.
Questions about 2 Kings 2
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is 2 Kings 2 about?
What does 2 Kings 2 say?
What does 2 Kings 2 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from 2 Kings 2?
Why is 2 Kings 2 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
As they still went on and talked." Not in a temple, not mid prayer. Walking and talking, the way friends do. That's when the fire came and "Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."
Elisha had refused to leave his side, and the last thing he got was a conversation. Whatever ordinary walking you're doing today, someone beside you may be closer to glory than you think. Don't waste the talking.
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
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