Speaker 1: Hello again and welcome back to kids' Bible Stories. Today's
Speaker 1: story is called Elisha and the Invisible Army. This is
Speaker 1: Elisha Part eleven and comes from Second Kings, Chapter six,
Speaker 1: verses eight through twenty three. Today's episode is made possible
Speaker 1: thanks to the generosity from the following families. Thank you
Speaker 1: to five year old Anthony from Illinois and his brothers
Speaker 1: Zach and Joey also playing a part. Our newest Patreon
Speaker 1: members Katherine and Mary, and thanks Zoe Zaier and Aaliyah.
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Speaker 1: show notes. Okay, listeners, we have two groups we need
Speaker 1: to know about for today's episode, so let's do a
Speaker 1: quick who's who moment before we start. First, we have.
Speaker 2: The King of Israel, Hydel, who ruled over God's chosen people,
Speaker 2: the Israelites, and we have the second group.
Speaker 1: The King of Syria.
Speaker 3: Why hello, that's me who ruled.
Speaker 1: Over a kingdom that was often at war with Israel.
Speaker 1: And of course we have the prophet we've been talking
Speaker 1: about in the past episodes. What's his name, listeners? Ilusha?
Speaker 1: Very good, Okay, let's go ahead and jump right into
Speaker 1: today's story. The land of Israel was in trouble. The
Speaker 1: King of Syria, a powerful enemy, was planning attacks against them.
Speaker 1: He would gather his commanders and whisper, we.
Speaker 4: Will set up camp here and surprise Israel.
Speaker 1: But no matter how carefully he planned, something strange kept happening.
Speaker 1: Israel always knew exactly where he was going to attack. Well,
Speaker 1: there was a man an Israel named you guessed it, Elisha,
Speaker 1: a prophet of God. God would tell Elisha the enemy's plans,
Speaker 1: and Elishah would send this message to the King of Israel.
Speaker 4: Be careful, don't go near that place. The Syrians are
Speaker 4: going down there.
Speaker 1: Time after time, Israel avoided their enemies attacks because of this. Obviously,
Speaker 1: this made the King of Syria furious. None of his
Speaker 1: attacks were working. How in the world was this happening.
Speaker 1: He could only think of one reason. Slamming his fist
Speaker 1: on the table. He shouted at his officers.
Speaker 3: Someone in this room is a traitor who is telling
Speaker 3: the King of Israel my plans.
Speaker 1: One of his officers nervously stepped forward. Oh my lord,
Speaker 1: it is not one of us, he said. It is Elisha,
Speaker 1: fit of Israel. He knows everything, even the words you
Speaker 1: whisper in your bedroom. The King's eyes narrowed in anger,
Speaker 1: and sternly.
Speaker 3: He replied, find him, Find Elisha. I will send my
Speaker 3: army to capture him.
Speaker 1: Off the King's spies went in search of Elisha. They
Speaker 1: returned with this report. Excuse me, sir, we know where
Speaker 1: he is. Elisha is in Dothan. That night, under the
Speaker 1: cover of darkness, the king sent it's a mighty army, chariots, horses,
Speaker 1: and soldiers marching to Dothan. They surrounded the city while
Speaker 1: everyone slept. Early the next morning, Elisha's servant yawned, stretched
Speaker 1: and stepped outside ah. But when he looked up, his
Speaker 1: heart stopped. All around the city, glinting in the early
Speaker 1: morning sun, were soldiers, chariots, horses. The enemy had completely
Speaker 1: surrounded them. His hands trembled as he ran back inside.
Speaker 4: Elisha, Or what do we do? Or trapped.
Speaker 1: Elisha, calm as ever, placed a hand on his servant's
Speaker 1: shoulder and smiled.
Speaker 4: Don't be afraid, he said, there are more with us
Speaker 4: than there are with them.
Speaker 1: The servant blinked more with them. That didn't make sense.
Speaker 1: What was Elisha talking about? There were only two of them. Listeners,
Speaker 1: hold up two fingers. Good. It was Elisha and himself
Speaker 1: one two against an entire army. Keep listening, you'll understand
Speaker 1: what Elisha's talking about. Then, Elisha prayed.
Speaker 4: Lord, please open his eyes so he may see.
Speaker 1: Suddenly, the servant gasped his eyes wide in wonder. All
Speaker 1: around them he saw on the mountains horses and chariots
Speaker 1: of fire, a heavenly army standing guard around Elisha. The
Speaker 1: servant's fear melted away. God was protecting them. The enemy
Speaker 1: soldiers moved toward Elisha.
Speaker 4: Elisha prayed, Lord, please strike them with blindness.
Speaker 1: Suddenly, the soldiers they couldn't see. They stumbled, confused and helpless.
Speaker 1: Elisha walked right up to them. Listeners, tell me again,
Speaker 1: why could Elisha do this without getting hurt?
Speaker 2: God blinded them, Yes.
Speaker 1: So remember they can't see that it's Elisha. Okay, let's
Speaker 1: listen to hear what Elisha does. Next, Elisha told the soldiers.
Speaker 4: You're in the wrong place. Follow me and I'll take
Speaker 4: you to the man you seek.
Speaker 1: Blind and unsure, the army followed Elisha right into Samaria,
Speaker 1: where the King of Israel was waiting. When they arrived,
Speaker 1: Elisha prayed.
Speaker 4: Lord, now please open their eyes that they may see.
Speaker 1: The soldiers looked left and right, their mouths hung open
Speaker 1: in shock and fear. Oh, they were surrounded. They had
Speaker 1: walked right into Israel City. The King of Israel turned
Speaker 1: to Elisha and asked, shall I strike them down? But
Speaker 1: Elisha shook his.
Speaker 4: Head, no, would you strike down those you've captured? Instead,
Speaker 4: feed them, give them some bread and some water, and
Speaker 4: send them back home.
Speaker 1: So the King of Israel prepared a great feast for
Speaker 1: his enemies. After they ate and drank, he sent them
Speaker 1: back to their home, and from that day on, the
Speaker 1: Syrians didn't come to attack the land of Israel again.
Speaker 1: Well that is it for our story today. But before
Speaker 1: we go, let's think about what we just heard. Tell
Speaker 1: me how loud? Why was the King of Syria so
Speaker 1: mad at Elisha?
Speaker 3: Elisha kept telling the Almy's plans, So as a king
Speaker 3: of Syria couldn't win.
Speaker 1: Thanks for sharing.
Speaker 2: Well.
Speaker 1: Eventually, the King of Syria does find Elisha and has
Speaker 1: his huge army surround him and his servant. When Elisha's
Speaker 1: servant sees this, what does he think? He was scared? Yeah,
Speaker 1: I mean there's only two of them versus a massive army.
Speaker 1: I think how he felt is pretty normal. I bet
Speaker 1: most of us would be a little scared. But then
Speaker 1: Elisha reminds him of the truth, which we do not
Speaker 1: always see so clearly, dew we when God allows this
Speaker 1: to really see the truth, what does he see?
Speaker 2: He saw chariots of fire, he sees.
Speaker 1: The heavenly army. Yes, and it works out great for
Speaker 1: Israel and Elisha. But let's remember whose amazing power was
Speaker 1: it that kept them safe.
Speaker 2: God's power.
Speaker 1: That's right, God's power. This week, you and I probably
Speaker 1: won't face armies, but we may face other things that
Speaker 1: seem scary or impossible. Maybe it's doing show and tell
Speaker 1: in front of your class. Maybe you were learning to
Speaker 1: read or do speech therapy and it just seems impossible
Speaker 1: and a little scary. I want you to remember what
Speaker 1: we heard to say day. Remember that the god we
Speaker 1: heard about in today's scripture. Well, that's the same God
Speaker 1: who loves you and knows you. God shows us that
Speaker 1: even when things seem scary or impossible, his power is
Speaker 1: even stronger. Well that is it for our story today.
Speaker 1: A special thanks to Ryan Coteney with cross Formed Kids
Speaker 1: for being our wonderful guest playing the part of the
Speaker 1: King of Syria today. Check out the show notes to
Speaker 1: learn more about cross Formed Kids and they're amazing resources
Speaker 1: that help in discipling your family. Listeners. Stay tuned for
Speaker 1: the next episode to see what happens next in our
Speaker 1: Elisha series. Thanks again everybody, and as always, bye for now.