A retelling of the book of Nehemiah
See “In Defense of the Poor” for another story on Nehemiah’s life.
In the fifth century BC, I, Nehemiah, served in the honored position of royal cupbearer entrusted to bring unpoisoned drink to King Artaxerxes of Persia. This was at the time when God’s chosen people had been carried away into captivity as a punishment for their sins and rebellion against God.
A retelling of Nehemiah 5
See “The Man Who Built a Dream” for another story on Nehemiah’s life.
It was the year 444 BC, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, that Nehemiah, who was royal cupbearer to the king, embarked on a mission to rebuild Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the city of his fathers and the once-great capital of Israel. Because of their sins and rebellions against God, the Jews had been conquered and forced to serve as slaves of Babylon for many years. Then the Medes and Persians under King Cyrus overthrew Babylon, establishing a vast empire, which lasted for more than two hundred years. Cyrus, who was both a friend and patron of the Jews, issued a decree in the first year of his reign that the Jews could begin their return to their homeland, Israel.
A retelling of 2 Kings, chapter 6
During the time of the prophet Elisha, the neighboring king of Syria had declared war on Israel. However, something went wrong with his campaign. Every time he planned an attack or an ambush, the king of Israel heard about it and prepared for it.
This happened not once or twice, but so many times that the king of Syria was sure he had a traitor in his camp. Sending for his officers, he said to them angrily, “Who is spying for the king of Israel?”
“Not one of us, O king. It is Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, who tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your private quarters,” replied one of his servants who had somehow heard of the power of Elisha's God.
Now the problem seemed easy to the king—get Elisha, and all the trouble would be over. The king ordered horses, and chariots, and a great army to go to Dothan, where Elisha was staying, to fetch this man who knew too much.
Thinking to take Elisha by surprise, the army arrived by night and surrounded the city. There seemed no way of escape for the man of God.
“Level 2 Lesson Plan: Hero of the Month: Elijah” is now posted in the Parents and Teachers section. This lesson plan on Elijah highlights the following lesson objectives: “Learn of more of the lives of the great men and women of the Bible; learn of importunity in prayer, and how there are times when God expects one to persevere in prayer before He brings the answer.” (Christian Life and Faith: Witnessing and Missionary Training: Great Men and Women of God-2a; Christian Life and Faith: A Personal Connection with Jesus: Prayer-2d)
Fire from Heaven
A retelling of 1 Kings 18:1–45
See “Make Me a Cake” for another story on the prophet Elijah’s life.
Three years had passed since the prophet Elijah stood in King Ahab's court and announced the coming of the great drought. He had spent part of that time by the brook Cherith and part of it with the widow of Zarephath. Many times during those long days, he must have wondered what God was planning to do next for His people. Had the people of Israel learned their lesson yet? Were they ready to turn from their idols? Someday the Lord would end the drought—but how and when?
“Go, show yourself to Ahab,” the Lord said to Elijah. “And I will send rain to the earth.”
A retelling of 1 Kings 17
See “Fire from Heaven” for another story on the prophet Elijah’s life.
This story takes place in Israel, around 850 BC. It was a sad and difficult time for a nation that was suffering under the worst king it had ever had, King Ahab. His wicked wife, Jezebel, greatly influenced King Ahab and he had adopted her religion of Baalism, the worship of the pagan devil-god, Baal. Under King Ahab and Jezebel’s rule, the prophets of the true God were systematically slaughtered and Baalism became the official state religion.
To show His displeasure, God sent His prophet Elijah to King Ahab with an ominous message: “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”
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