Bible Story - God speaks to Elijah (1 Kings 19) Bible Point - God has the power to comfort. Key Verse - "He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others." (2 Corinthians 1:4)
Cliff, this cute, cuddly marmot, has a really soft coat and is our Bible Memory Buddy for lesson 2. He reminds us of how soft, cozy, and warm "comfort" feels. Cliff reminds us that God has the power to comfort. ("Hold On")
Did You Know...
As Elijah fled fro King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, Elijah hit one of the lowers points in his life - he even told God he had had enough and asked God to end his life! NO wonder Elijah desperately needed God's comfort. Jezebel, the powerful queen of Israel, wanted to kill him; he was the only prophet in Israel serving God, as Jezebel tried to have all the other prophets of God killed, and the few who were left were in hiding; and even after God had demonstrated his great power. Jezebel still wouldn't worship God.
Instead of appearing in the mighty wind, earthquake, or fire, God presented himself in a gentle whisper. Why? God had just shown his great power to the people of Israel by withholding the rain to create a significant drought and by sending down fire to consume the sacrifice offered by Elijah at Mount Caramel. But God revealed that he is more than just a powerful God who can control the elements of nature - he is a God who is always present, sometimes revealed in overwhelmingly astounding ways and sometimes in the quiet.
Why It Matters...
Our world is an imperfect place, and it's filled with things that make kids scared or sad or fearful - hurtful words from a child at school, a frightening storm, a fight between parents. Kids find comfort in things like a warm hug, an encouraging word, or a cozy stuffed animal, but nothing compares to the comfort of knowing God is always by their side - they are never alone! At VBS we shared with kids the encouraging message of God's peace and his ability to comfort us no matter what we might face in life.