Prophet Elisha helps the 3 kings win a fight against Moab
2 Kings 3
re-told by Debbie Dunn
Story highlights:
* King Joram of Northern kingdom allied with two kings to defeat Moabite rebellion
* King Jehoshaphat of Southern kingdom & King of Edom agreed to alliance
* Elisha helps 3 kings win fight against Moab
Bible story begins:
Raise your hand if you’ve ever called in buddies to help you win a fight!
That is exactly what happened to King Joram. His army was too small to win a fight when he heard that the King of Moab had rebelled against him.
RINGLEADER: Who did he ask to help him?
Group repeats
King Joram contacted 2 of his king buddies: one from the southern kingdom of Judah, and the other from the country of Edom. They both said yes.
RINGLEADER: Was King Joram good or bad?
Group repeats
Well, his parents were the evil King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.
RINGLEADER: Yikes! They tried to kill Prophet Elijah.
Group repeats
They tried but failed. Sadly, they did kill a bunch of God's prophets. .
After Joram took over as king 12 years before, God was pleased that he got rid of his mother's horrible idols called Baal. But God was not pleased that he still had golden calf worship going on at the temple sites in Dan and Bethel.
RINGLEADER: Boo-hiss on idol worship!
Group repeats
RINGLEADER: Who was his 1st king buddy?
Group repeats
For 18 years, this good king ruled Judah, obeying God and rejecting idols. Try to say his name: King Jehoshaphat [jih-HAHSH-uh-fat].
RINGLEADER: King Jehoshaphat [jih-HAHSH-uh-fat].
Group repeats
So, King Joram left Samaria; traveled down south to Judah’s capital city, Jerusalem, and their 2 armies combined and started marching.
RINGLEADER: Did they meet the king of Edom on the way?
Group repeats
They had to march all the way south to reach the desert country of Edom.
RINGLEADER: What hardships did they face?
Group repeats
They spent 7 days marching past the salty waters of the Dead Sea and did not find any water to drink in Edom’s hot desert. They were so thirsty!
RINGLEADER: Oh! We get it! They needed Prophet Elisha.
Group repeats
Yep! When the 3 kings realized God had made sure that Prophet Elisha was nearby, they headed to meet him.
Elisha didn't know Edom's king but respected Jehoshaphat. He frowned at the son of the parents who tried to murder Prophet Elijah, and said:
ELISHA: You idol worshiper, why are you coming to me?
King Joram made a bunch of excuses and pleaded for his help. Elisha said:
ELISHA: I wouldn't even talk to you if I didn't respect good King Jehoshaphat so much. Now, bring me a harp player to play some music.
RINGLEADER: Did the music make it easier for him to pray?
Group repeats
I believe that's right. For while the musical harp was playing, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha. He said:
ELISHA: Dig as many ditches in the valley as possible. In the morning, without wind or rain, you will have plenty of water to drink.
While the soldiers dug ditches, Elisha told them that God would make certain they would win the fight with Moab.
The next morning, they were delighted to find the valley filled with flowing water. Drink up, everyone. You, too, Ringleader.
RINGLEADER: Slurp! Slurp! Yum! Yum!
Group repeats
That same morning, the Moabites had a different experience.
Have you ever seen a red sunrise or sunset and it made a pond of water look like red blood or red Kool-Aid?
The people of Moab looked at that red water and gasped! " Oh, no! It's blood! Hmmm! Those three armies must have killed each other! Let's go grab their treasures!"
The King of Moab launched a surprise attack but lost.
The surviving Moabites fled home, chased by the three kings.
Then, the losing King of Moab did something horrifying.
RINGLEADER: What horrible thing did that king do?
Group repeats
Back then, some people who worshiped idols killed their own babies or half-grown or full-grown sons and daughters.
RINGLEADER: Oh, no! Did he kill his own child?
Group repeats
Sad to say, he did. The king of Moab sacrificed his oldest son, the next in line to be king, as a burnt offering on top of the wide city wall.
RINGLEADER: That’s awful! Idol worship is evil!
Group repeats
So, true! Oddly enough, the people of Moab didn’t blame their own king for doing this. Instead, they blamed the country of Israel.
After that, all four kings took their armies and returned to their own land.
Any questions or comments?
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