A Young Girl and the Proud General
King David ruled over Israel for a long time. Soon, he died. His son Solomon became King. For a while, it looked like Solomon would be an even greater King than David was. Solomon was given great wisdom. He built a magnificent temple for God.
But then Solomon married all sorts of wives and gave into worshiping their fake gods. Because Solomon led himself and God's people away from the Lord, things began to get worse. God's people broke up into two nations. Very few kings cared about God. Most served fake gods, because they were more interested in their power than the good of the people.
During this sad time, most people did whatever was right in their own eyes/ And it led people to hurt themselves and others. Still, some people still trusted God and followed Him. And God did not stop speaking to His people. He spoke through prophets like Elijah and Elisha.
In difficult times like the days we see in our stories today, it is tough to be content. But, God's never-stopping, never-giving-up, unbreaking, always and forever love help us be thankful. Even when we are cooped up at home or struggling with school or sad because of the loss of a loved one, God loves us. And, if you have trusted in Jesus Christ, Christ can give you strength no matter what is going on.
Intro
After David died, things got much worse in Israel. Still, God spoke through prophets like Elisha.
Watch Today's Lesson: A Young Girl and the Proud General
God gives grace. We only need to accept it.
Read the Story for Yourself!
2 Kings 5
Take a sec to read the story directly from God's Word! You can find it in 2 Kings 5.
A great way to read it is in the International Children's BIble (ICB) translation. It's a simple and accurate Bible translation designed for kids. Adults, like me, like it too!
Click here to read 2 Kings 5 in the ICB on Bible Gateway.
Click here to buy the same ICB Prayer Bible that I use to prep for lessons!
QUIZ TIME!
Extra Time
Naaman traveled to Israel for his healing. But he ALMOST missed out on it.
Verse for the Week
"The Lord has laid on him the sin of us all."
Isaiah 53:6
Sample Prayer
Father God, I don't deserve your grace. I can't earn it. But I thank you for the grace you have shown me in Jesus. AMEN.
Review Activity
Click the button below to access the review activity for this week's lesson. It might be a good idea to print this out and complete it mid-week to help remember the lesson!
God gives grace. We only need to accept it.
Naaman was an enemy of Israel. But a little slave girl told him about Elisha anyway. Naaman thought he needed his important letter to be healed. He thought it might take an impressive uniform or expensive gifts. Elisha showed Naaman that God's grace does not work that way. None of us can earn it. None of us deserve it. God simply gives it. And we must accept it.
Naaman nearly walked away from the healing, because he needed to be healed in a more impressive way. His importance had to make him worth healing. Fortunately, he turned back. He accepted God's grace and was healed from leprosy. What was more valuable is that he realized that God alone was worth living for.
You and I might be tempted to bring out importance before God. We may be tempted to try to earn it or deserve it. But that's not the way God's grace works. It is a gift. We only accept it.
The good news for all of man is that God gave us grace in Jesus. Jesus took the punishment for our sin. And, if we accept that good news, we have nothing to fear any longer.