Elisha and the Widow's Oil

Elisha and the Widow's Oil by Jennifer Tolbert

This is the story of Elisha and how cared for the widow using overflowing jars of oil. This story can be found in 2 Kings 4:1-7.

Key Concepts: 
1. Show compassion to others
2. If we own a debt to someone, we need to pray to God and ask Him to help us pay our debts back.
​3. Always trust God to provide for our needs.

Memory Verse

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means God with us). Matthew 1: 22-23

Songs

Old Testament Books
Make Me a Servant
This Little Light of Mine
Trust and Obey
​Give Me Oil in My Lamp
LOVE is something if you give it Away

Story

Begin Class with Songs, Games, Table Activity, or Sharing Time
 
Open Class in Prayer

Introducing the Story Ideas
1. Ask the children what a debt is...

2. Ask the children if they have ever borrowed a library book from school. What happens if they don't return that book?

READ 2 Kings 4:1-7 or tell the story of how God provided for the widow through Elisha, using jars of oil.    
EMPHASIZE that:

• God Cares for his people.
• We must show compassion to others, especially to widows and orphans. 
• God's provision is exactly what we need! 

Visual Aid Resources

elisha_and_the_widows_oil__1_.pdf
File Size:	4745 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Video: Elisha and the Widow's Oil

Review Questions

1. What happened to the widow's husband? ( He died)
2. What was the widow with 2 sons sad and concerned about? (She was concerned because she couldn't pay her husband's debt and the owner of the debt was going to take her sons as slaves to pay her debt.
3. What did the widow only have a little of? (Olive oil, which was very important at that time.)
4. What did Elisha tell her sons to go and get from the neighbors? Empty jars
5. What did Elisha tell the widow to do with the jars? (Fill all the jars from her own jar of oil)
​6. What did the widow do with all the jars of oil? Who provided that oil for her?

God is...

Connect the story back to God and his character. For example, God always provides. Explain how this story fits into God's overall story. 

Activity Ideas

Reach out to the Widows and Widowers
Explain to the children what a widow or widower is. Make a card or small gift for all of the widows and widowers at church. 

Oil and Bread
Bring some olive oil and bread to class. Let the children taste it (check for allergies) and put some on their hands. Discuss how olive oil had many uses in Bible times and would have been very valuable. 

Oil and Water Experiment
​Have the children experiment with oil and water using half full water bottles. What happens when you shake the oil and water in the bottle together? Why does this happen?

The Widow's Oil Craft by Trueway Kids
​Directions Video
​Supplies needed: Razor blade, colors, scissors, brad, tape, template

Resources and References

Mission Bible Class
Trueway Kids