This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in 2 Kings 8:7-15, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Once there was a man named Elisha who was a man of God. He went to a place called Damascus where there was a sick king named Ben-hadad who was the king of Syria. The king heard that Elisha had come to town, so he sent a man named Hazael to go and ask Elisha if he would recover from his sickness.
Hazael brought Elisha a big present, and he asked him if the king would get better. Elisha told Hazael to go back to the king and tell him that he would recover from his sickness. But Elisha also knew that the king would actually die soon. Hazael was confused and asked Elisha why he was crying. Elisha told him that he was crying because he knew that Hazael would become king and do terrible things to the people of Israel.
Hazael was shocked and asked Elisha why he would do such things. Elisha said that God had shown him that Hazael would become the king of Syria and he would set fire to their fortresses and kill Israel’s young men with the sword. He would dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women. These were terrible things that would cause much pain and suffering to the people of Israel. Hazael didn’t think he was important enough to become a king and do such things. But Elisha knew that it was God’s plan.
Hazael went back to Ben-hadad and lied to him, saying that Elisha had told him that he would recover from his sickness. But the next day, Hazael suffocated the king with a wet blanket and became the new king of Syria.
Biblical Lessons
- Honesty is important, and lying can have serious consequences.
- We must always be aware of the impact our actions may have on others and strive to make choices that honor God and show kindness and compassion to others.
- God sees everything, even the things we try to hide, and He will hold us accountable for our choices and actions.
- It is important to trust in God’s plan, even when we don’t fully understand it, and to have faith that He is working all things for our good and His glory.