Have you ever had a best friend or a teacher who was so awesome that you never wanted to leave their side?
That is exactly how a man named Elisha felt about his teacher, Elijah.
Elijah was one of God’s most famous prophets. A prophet is like God’s special messenger. Whenever God had a message for the people, Elijah would deliver it. He had spent his whole life doing incredible things for God—like calling down fire from heaven to prove God was real and praying for rain to stop a giant drought!
But Elijah was getting very old, and God had a spectacular, mind-blowing plan for how Elijah’s time on Earth would end. He wasn’t going to die like a normal person. Instead, God was going to give him a ride straight to heaven!
Bible Passage: 2 Kings 2
Main Idea: God is always preparing the next generation for a greater measure of His power, but walking in that calling requires loyalty, focus, and a willingness to pick up the mantle.
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Craft Ideas: Elijah Taken Up to Heaven
The Road Trip of a Lifetime
One sunny day, Elijah turned to his helper, Elisha, and said, “Hey, the Lord has told me to go to the city of Bethel. You stay here and rest.”
But Elisha shook his head. He knew something big was about to happen. “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you!” he promised.
So, they walked to Bethel together. When they got there, a group of young prophets pulled Elisha aside and whispered, “Hey, do you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied. “But shhh! Don’t talk about it.”
Then, Elijah tried to get Elisha to stay behind again so he could go to the city of Jericho. But Elisha said, “No way! I am sticking with you!”
Everywhere they went, people kept whispering that today was the day Elijah would leave. Elisha’s heart was sad because he was going to miss his best friend, but he refused to look away for even a second. He wanted to be there until the very end.
The Rushing River Miracle
Finally, the two men walked down to the edge of the big, deep Jordan River. Fifty other prophets stood on a faraway hill, watching to see what would happen next.
There was no bridge and no boat. How were they going to get across?
Elijah smiled. He took off his heavy cloak (a big coat called a mantle). He rolled it up tight, just like a rolled-up newspaper, and WHACK! He struck the water with it.
Suddenly, a massive miracle happened! The river split right down the middle. The water piled up like two giant walls on the left and the right, leaving a perfectly dry path right through the mud. Elijah and Elisha walked across the riverbed to the other side without even getting their shoes wet!
A Big, Bold Wish
As they walked along the dry ground on the other side of the river, Elijah looked at his faithful young friend. He knew his time was running out.
“Tell me,” Elijah said. “What can I do for you before I am taken away?”
Elisha didn’t ask for a million dollars, a giant mansion, or a fancy crown. He knew that being God’s messenger was a tough job, and he wanted to be brave and strong just like Elijah.
“Please,” Elisha said boldly. “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.” He was asking to become God’s next champion storyteller and miracle worker!
Elijah looked at him seriously. “You have asked for a very hard thing,” Elijah said. “But if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours. If you look away, you won’t get it.”
From that moment on, Elisha kept his eyes glued to Elijah. He didn’t blink. He didn’t look at his phone. He didn’t look at the scenery. He kept his eyes locked on his master!
The Fiery Chariot Arrives!
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the sky tore open with a sound louder than thunder!
A roaring whirlwind swooped down from the clouds, and right in the middle of it was something nobody had ever seen before: a chariot made of blazing, glowing fire, pulled by horses made of pure flame!
The fiery chariot raced right between the two men, separating them. The wind blew wildly, and the heat was immense. Elisha shielded his face, but he kept his eyes wide open.
As he watched, Elijah didn’t fall to the ground. He stepped into the whirlwind, and whoosh! He was carried right up into the sky inside the fiery vortex!
Elisha looked up and yelled at the top of his lungs, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
He watched and watched until the fiery horses and the blazing chariot became a tiny twinkling dot in the sky, and then—poof—Elijah was gone, all the way into heaven.
A Special Gift from the Sky
The sky grew quiet again. The wind stopped blowing. Elisha stood all alone in the quiet field. He was so sad to lose his mentor that he tore his clothes to show his grief.
But as he looked down at the dusty ground, he saw something special.
It was Elijah’s heavy cloak! It had fallen out of the chariot and drifted through the sky, landing right at Elisha’s feet. It was a sign that God had answered his prayer.
Elisha picked up the cloak and walked back to the giant Jordan River. He rolled it up, just like Elijah had done, and struck the water.
“Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he called out.
CRASH! The water split right down the middle again! Elisha walked across on dry land. When the other fifty prophets saw him, they gasped and said, “The spirit of Elijah is now living in Elisha!”
3 Awesome Lessons from this Story:
1. God is Super Powerful: God controls the wind, the water, and even the stars! He can make a path through a river and send chariots of fire from heaven.
2. Be a Faithful Friend: Elisha promised he wouldn’t leave Elijah, and he kept his promise. God loves it when we are loyal and helpful to others.
3. Ask God for Big Things: Elisha wasn’t afraid to ask for a “double portion” of spiritual strength. When you want to serve God, don’t be afraid to ask Him for the courage and strength to do big things!
Craft Ideas for Kids Ministry
The “Whirlwind” Paper Plate Chariot
Best for: Toddlers & Preschoolers Since kids love things that move, this craft lets them simulate Elijah spinning up into heaven inside the whirlwind.
- What You Need: White paper plates, markers or crayons (orange, red, yellow), scissors, yarn/string, and a printout of a little cartoon Elijah.
- How to Make It:
- Have the kids color the entire front of the paper plate with fiery colors (red, orange, yellow).
- Help them cut the paper plate in a continuous spiral, starting from the outside edge and stopping at the very center circle.
- Color and cut out the little paper Elijah. Glue him right to the center circle of the plate.
- Punch a hole in the top of the outermost loop of the spiral and tie a piece of yarn to it.
- How it Works: When kids hold the string and let the plate hang, it drops down into a 3D “whirlwind” spiral. When they twist the string, Elijah looks like he is spinning up to heaven!
2. The Parting of the Jordan River Water Slide
Best for: Preschool to Early Elementary This interactive craft helps kids retell the miracle of the river splitting apart using a paper plate or construction paper.
- What You Need: Blue construction paper (or a paper plate painted blue), popsicle sticks, a printout or drawing of Elijah/Elisha, scissors, and glue.
- How to Make It:
- Cut a straight slit right through the middle of the blue paper or paper plate (leaving the outer edges intact). This represents the river.
- Have kids color and cut out small figures of Elijah and Elisha holding the mantle.
- Glue the paper figures to the very top of a popsicle stick.
- How it Works: Kids can slide the popsicle stick up through the slit from underneath. They can slide Elijah down the riverbank, “strike” the water, and slide him all the way to the other side!
3. Tissue Paper Chariot of Fire Canvas
Best for: Elementary Age This makes a beautiful, vibrant piece of art that looks like roaring fire and stands out on a display board.
- What You Need: Black construction paper (as the background), squares of red, orange, and yellow tissue paper, liquid glue or glue sticks, and a printed silhouette of a horse and chariot.
- How to Make It:
- Give each child a sheet of black construction paper.
- Have them crumple up the squares of fiery tissue paper and glue them in a giant swirling shape across the page to create the whirlwind.
- Cut out the black silhouette of the chariot and horses and glue it right over the top of the tissue paper fire.
- Why it’s great: The contrast of the bright tissue paper flame against the black background makes the chariot look like it’s truly glowing.
4. Wearable “Mantle” & Scroll Lesson Reminder
Best for: All Ages This craft focuses on the end of the story where Elijah passes his cloak down to Elisha, representing God passing on His strength and mission.
- What You Need: Brown felt sheets (or large pieces of brown construction paper), yarn, and markers.
- How to Make It:
- Cut the brown felt or paper into a small rectangle that can be draped over a child’s shoulders like a mini-cape or cloak.
- Punch two holes at the top corners and thread a piece of yarn through to loosely tie it around their neck (ensure it’s safe and loose!).
- On the inside of the cloak (or on a paper scroll attached to it), have kids write the 3 key takeaways from the lesson: God is Powerful, Be a Faithful Friend, Ask God for Big Things.
- Why it’s great: Kids love wearing things! They can wear their “mantles” home to proudly show their parents and retell the story.
