2 Chronicles 14-20, 26, 30 Teaching Activities and Insights
- Benjamin Wilcox
- 2 days ago
- 31 min read
TEACHING ACTIVITIES AND INSIGHTS
LESSON #1 TELL ME WHAT I WANT TO HEAR: DIRECTION OR CONFIRMATION (2 Chronicles 18)
TRUTH:
Prophetic counsel is meant to reveal God’s will, not merely confirm mine. When it challenges what I want, faith means being willing to change my course.
FIRE IN THE BONES:
I get a fire in the bones for this lesson for two main reasons. One, it’s just fun. It’s got great characters, humor, drama, sarcasm, and a surprise ending. Two, it’s very relevant. In this story, Ahab didn’t really want direction, instead he wanted confirmation of what he already desired. He had already chosen his course and surrounded himself with voices that supported it. That is what makes this story so valuable. Believing in prophets is easy when their counsel matches what we already want; the real test comes when it challenges our plans, preferences, or assumptions. This lesson can help our students see that prophets are not sent merely to echo our preferences and assumptions, but to help us see farther, hear what we may need to hear, and trust God enough to change course.
OBJECT:
For an object, you could bring in a carbon monoxide detector and ask if anyone enjoys the sound it makes. Of course not. Then give them a hypothetical situation: Imagine the alarm begins sounding in the middle of the night, but you cannot see or smell anything unusual. The noise is irritating, so you just decide to remove the battery and go back to bed. The sound stops—but has the danger disappeared? Carbon monoxide detectors warn us about something we may not be able to detect for ourselves. Their alarm may interrupt us, frighten us, or force us to change what we are doing, but the warning is not the danger, the carbon monoxide is. In today’s scripture story, a king named Ahab is about to hear an alarm. He will not like its sound, and he will not be able to see the danger for himself. But as we follow the story, watch what he does with the warning, and we’ll see if it can teach us anything about what to do when we are in similar circumstances.
ICEBREAKER:
That object lesson could serve as the icebreaker, or you might consider telling the following true story.
The night before the space shuttle Challenger was scheduled to launch, engineers warned that the unusually cold temperature could cause an important rubber seal to fail. They recommended delaying the launch. But the mission had already been delayed several times, pressure was building, and leaders wanted to move forward. Eventually, the warning was overruled. The next morning, Challenger launched—and seventy-three seconds later it broke apart, killing all seven people aboard. The engineers had not been trying to stop space exploration. They were trying to protect the mission and its crew. Sometimes the voice that interrupts our plans is not working against us. It may be the voice trying to save us.
Now both the carbon monoxide detector and the Challenger story teach a similar principle, so I would suggest choosing whichever one best fits your class rather than using both.
SEARCH ACTIVITY:
So for this story, which is a little longer, and sometimes needs a little interpretive help, I would suggest a teacher narrate, pause, student search, kind of pattern this time around. Here’s how I might approach that.
Narration #1—2 Chronicles 18:1-3
The story begins with Ahab, the king of Israel, wanting to go to war to reclaim a place called Ramoth-gilead. But before going, he tries to persuade Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, to join him and Jehoshaphat agrees. In fact, he commits himself pretty strongly. He tells Ahab, in effect, “My people are your people and we are with you.” But then Jehoshaphat makes an interesting suggestion in verse 4.
Student Search #1—2 Chronicles 18:3-4
What’s interesting about the order of those two verses?
And what you’re going to want to help your students to notice is that they decided to go to war first, they made the plan, and THEN they decide to ask God if they should.
You might explain: Sometimes we do the same thing. We make the decision, become attached to the plan, and then ask the Lord to bless it. But there’s a big difference between asking God for direction and asking Him to confirm what we have already decided.
Narration #2 – 2 Chronicles 18:5-6
So Ahab gathers about four hundred false prophets and asks them whether he should go up to battle and every single one of them gives him the answer he wants to hear: “Yes Ahab, Go up. You will succeed.”
One of them, Zedekiah, even made iron horns and acted out how the kings would defeat their enemies. It was confident. It was dramatic. And everybody agreed.
But Jehoshaphat still seems uneasy. And so he asks in verse 6, “Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, (a prophet of Jehovah) that we might enquire of him?”
And Ahab admits that there is, there’s this one prophet of the Lord in his kingdom, man named Micaiah that they could ask, but he says something very interesting about him.
Student Search #2 –-2 Chronicles 18:7.
Ask: How did Ahab feel about Micaiah and why?
Students should notice that Ahab hates Micaiah. But why? Because “he never prophesies good for him, only evil.” Meaning, he never tells me what I want to hear. He doesn’t say that Micaiah is dishonest. He doesn’t say he’s a false prophet. He hates him because he doesn’t like the messages Micaiah gives him.
Narration #3—2 Chronicles 18:8-13
Jehoshaphat insists that a true prophet be consulted. So a messenger is sent to bring Micaiah to the kings. On the way, the messenger gives Micaiah some advice. He tells Micaiah that all the other prophets are giving the kings the same positive message, and that he should too. Just tell him what he wants to hear Micaiah. Everybody else is saying yes. Don’t be the one person who ruins it.”
And I love Micaiah’s response in verse 13. He says, “As the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.” And I just love Micaiah’s courage. He refused to give into the peer pressure. He refused to become an echo. His loyalty was not to the crowd, the king, or the message that the king wants. His loyalty was to God. And yeah, it’s hard to be the only NO when there are 400 YES’s screaming around you. But that doesn’t matter to Micaiah. He’s determined to tell the king the truth.
Student Search #3—2 Chronicles 18:14-17
So our question becomes: What does Ahab’s reaction reveal about him?
Now, this is so fun. Micaiah comes in and the king asks whether they should go to Ramoth-gilead to battle. And Micaiah says, sure Ahab, “Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.” But he must have said it in such a sarcastic or overly dramatic way that Ahab immediately knows that it’s not his real answer. And so he says in verse 15, “How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the Lord?”
And it’s as if Micaiah is saying, “Oh, so it’s the truth you want. Really? I thought you just wanted me to say what YOU wanted me to say. Ok. Here’s the truth.”
“I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.” In other words, “Ahab, if you go to battle, you will die. And Israel will become as a flock of sheep without a shepherd, a master, without a king.”
And how does Ahab respond. See Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?”
What does that reveal about Ahab?
Help students to see the irony of that situation. Ahab recognized the false answer when he heard it and demanded the truth. But when the truth didn’t match his plan, he rejected it. He wanted honesty only if honesty told him what he wanted to hear.
Narration #4—2 Chronicles 18:18-24
And this next part is really kind of fun too. Micaiah keeps going, and he narrates to the king this story about a counsel between the Lord and his angels in heaven. And the Lord basically says, “How can I get rid of wicked King Ahab down there?” And the angels get together and discuss a few ideas, until one angel comes forward and says, “I’ve got the perfect idea. I will go down and convince his false prophets that he should go to battle. I mean, he always listens to them! And then he’ll go to battle, die, and we’ll be rid of him!” And the Lord says, “Great idea, let’s try that.” Now is that actually a true story of what happened, or was it just a rhetorical device Micaiah is using to make a point to Ahab. I lean to that latter explanation. The Joseph Smith Translation clarifies that the Lord did not place a lying spirit in the prophets; rather, those false voices were permitted to deceive the king who had repeatedly chosen flattering counsel over God’s word. But even then, by telling the story, the Lord is not leaving Ahab without a warning. Micaiah is standing in front of him and exposing the deception before he goes into battle. Micaiah and the Lord are giving him an opportunity to listen and turn. He’s trying to save him.
Student Search #4 2 Chronicles 18:25- 28. How does King Ahab react to Micaiah’s warning?
Answer: He throws Micaiah in prison, and says feed him with the bread and water of affliction until I get back, victorious in battle. To which Micaiah says, “If you return, then I’ll admit that I’m not a true prophet, but you won’t return.” And Ahab leaves and goes to battle.
Narration #5 –- 2 Chronicles 18:29-34.
Now you can tell your students what the final outcome was for Ahab. Before he goes to battle, he makes an interesting request of Jehoshaphat, the other King, King of Judah. And says, “Why don’t you wear my clothes? Dress up like you’re me” to which Jehoshaphat surprisingly agrees. Maybe Jehoshaphat wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed that day.
But you could ask your students: What does that reveal about how King Ahab felt about Micaiah’s warning?
Answer: He kind of believes him, doesn’t he. There’s a part of him that knows Micaiah is a true prophet, but he just can’t shake his desire to do what he wants. He’s a poster child for self-deception.
Continue the narration. They go out to battle, and the enemy captain says, “Kill King Ahab, that’s who we want most! And his soldiers see Jehoshaphat and they do think he’s the Ahab and start to chase him. And you can just imagine Ahab over there chuckling to himself, “Ha, ha, my plan worked. They’re going to go after him, not me.” But Jehoshaphat cries out, and they perceive that it’s not King Ahab, and so they stop pursuing him. What happens next?
33 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, (which means “at random”, just some soldier shoots an arrow into the crowd) and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.
Wo. Micaiah was right. And I wonder, as he slowly bled to death there in his chariot, if he thought back to that conversation with the Micaiah and said, “I should have listened to prophet of God.” See, Micaiah was really his best advisor, that had his own safety in mind, but he saw him as the enemy. The 400 false prophets were his true enemies who really didn’t care about his well-being, they only wanted his approval. But he saw them as his friends.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
What do you think the Lord wants us to learn from this story?
And just let them run with that. They’re very likely to come up with some powerful lessons and messages from the story. If not, here are a few more discussion questions and insight that you might use to guide that discussion with your class.
Why are agreeable voices often easier to trust than corrective ones?
What is the difference between wanting direction and wanting confirmation?
To me, that’s the main issue of the lesson. Ahab never really wanted direction from the prophets, he wanted to be told exactly what he wanted to hear. He has already made the decision to go, before he ever even consulted the prophets. Do we ever do the same thing? Do we go to the gospel or the words of the prophets and only support or accept those things that jibe with our own social, political, or spiritual opinions and views. Or do we spend more time filling our minds and content feeds with voices that support our foregone conclusions. I believe we need to be careful of those voices. And I think that’s a real issue nowadays. And I might ask:
What influences in our lives might play the same role as Ahab’s four hundred prophets?
Possible answers include social media feeds that are carefully shaped around our opinions and interests. Influencers that make selfish choices sound normal. Online communities that reinforce only one point of view. Entertainment that makes sin look harmless or appealing. Friends who always agree with us. News outlets that we keep looking through until we find the answer we want. Or, sometimes it just our own excuses and rationalizations. These things can become a kind of echo chamber for the things that are pleasing to us, pleasing to the natural man, but not always necessarily true or good for us. For youth, the discussion may turn to how they see what the media and their peers say verses the counsel of their parents and church leaders. Sometimes parents and leaders give warnings and instructions that aren’t always popular with the youth. Whereas peers and media might say, “Oh, that’s not a big deal. Everybody does that. That’s an old-fashioned idea. What do they know? They’re just trying to control you.” And then, that youth starts to see their parents as the enemy, the church as the enemy, when those are the people who truly do love them most, and want the best for them. While their friends and the media, probably don’t really have their best interest at heart.
Another possible question:
What are some consequences we may not see at the beginning of a choice, but the Lord may be trying to help us avoid?
And here, you may want to have a story or illustrative example of that principle. Perhaps one of your own (although, don’t confess your sins), or someone you know, or a story you’ve heard where someone ignored prophetic direction, and it led to an undesirable conclusion or consequence.
TAKE IT TO HEART:
For the take it to heart portion of the lesson, I would just have them ask themselves the following question and just ponder it. No sharing. The goal is honest examination, not public confession.
Have you ever encountered a prophetic counsel that was difficult to accept or did not immediately match your preference?
Let them ponder, then ask:
What should we do when prophetic counsel challenges us? When it feels more corrective than comforting?
And you do want them to share their thoughts on that question
I WILL GO AND DO/HANDOUT:
For the I will go and do, you could provide them with the following handout that you could encourage them to use the next time they encounter an issue like that. The next time they find themselves in Ahab’s shoes. And it’s just a little card that could help guide their thoughts through that uncomfortable personal conversation. And we want this to feel like a calm, rational guide, not a loyalty test. This should help students slow down, examine their reaction, study honestly, and remain open to the Lord.
So it says:
WHEN PROPHETIC COUNSEL IS HARD TO HEAR
1. PAUSE
What is my first reaction?
Am I resisting this because it is untrue OR because it is uncomfortable, inconvenient, or different from what I wanted?
2. CHECK MY HEART
Am I honestly seeking direction, or am I looking for confirmation?
Have I already decided that only one answer will be acceptable?
Am I willing to let the Lord correct or redirect me?
3. SEEK THE LORD
What do the scriptures and other prophetic teachings say?
Have I prayed sincerely for understanding?
Is there a trusted parent, leader, or teacher who could help me understand?
4. KEEP MOVING IN FAITH
What part of this counsel do I understand clearly enough to act on now?
Can I remain faithful while some questions are still unresolved?
5. REMEMBER
Difficulty hearing counsel is not the same as refusing it.
The warning is not the danger.
God’s prophets are not sent merely to confirm what I already want.
Seek direction, not confirmation.
I think that could be a helpful, realistic approach to dealing with these understandably difficult issues and questions.
TAKEAWAY:
Our takeaway slide visually reminds our students of Ahab’s conundrum. A road cuts through a desert landscape with a clear road marker pointing toward a safer road, but a royal chariot continues in the opposite direction toward a dark battlefield. The caption reads: Seek Direction, Not Confirmation. With the subtext: Trust God enough to change your course. You could conclude by reminding them that Ahab stood at a spiritual crossroads. On one side were four hundred voices telling him that the road he had already chosen was exactly the right one. On the other side stood one prophet asking him to turn. Ahab decided to ignore that voice because it stood in opposition to his desired plan. But the prophet was not the danger. He was the warning. The arrow was the danger.
You may occasionally hear prophetic counsel that is difficult, inconvenient, or different from what you hoped to hear. That does not mean that you’re faithless. Faith does not require you to pretend that every message is easy. You can study it. You can pray about it. You can wrestle with it. But keep your heart open to the possibility that God sees farther down the road than you do.
Before the arrow was ever fired, the Lord sent a warning. Ahab still had time to turn. And when the Lord invites you to change course, the turn is still available for you too. Don’t ask God merely to confirm the road you have already chosen. Seek His direction and trust Him enough to turn.
OPTIONAL LESSON ENHANCEMENTS:
VIDEO:
A suggested video for this lesson? You could show “A Secure Anchor” It does a good job of reinforcing the principle that following prophetic counsel provides security.
QUOTE:
From Ezra Taft Benson:
“You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. . . . Your safety and ours depends upon whether or not we follow. . . . Let's keep our eye on the President of the Church.
(The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 139)
LESSON #2 THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS: TRUSTING GOD WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO (2 Chronicles 20)
TRUTH:
When I do not know what to do, I can turn my eyes toward God, trust Him to lead me, and take the next faithful step He gives me.
FIRE IN THE BONES:
I get a fire in the bones for this lesson because Jehoshaphat’s prayer is so honest. He doesn’t pretend to feel fearless, possess the strength, or know the solution. He simply admits, “We have no might” and “neither know we what to do.” But not knowing what to do does not leave him with nothing to do. He knows where to look. And when the Lord gives him the next step, he takes it, even though he still can’t see how the final solution or how the battle will end. That is such a needed message for students who feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or responsible for fixing something beyond their control. We are all going to experience times in our lives when we don’t know what to do, and in those moments, God will often respond, “the battle is not yours, but God’s”. But he doesn’t stop there. He gives them the next step and asks them to act, “Go ye out against them,” he says. Faith doesn’t always mean knowing how everything will work out. Sometimes it means turning our eyes toward God, taking the next faithful step, and trusting Him with the part of the battle we cannot carry.
ICEBREAKER:
For an icebreaker, you could use a Four Corners activity. Begin by asking students to silently think of a specific time when they genuinely did not know what to do. For youth, you could invite them to think about a decision, a friend situation, fear, or responsibility. For adults, broaden the application to family, work, health, and service. Assure them that they will not be asked to share the details. Then invite them to move to the corner that best describes why that situation felt so difficult. Before class, place one of the following statements in each corner of the room:
“I didn’t know which choice was right,”
“I thought I knew what to do, but I was afraid to do it,”
“The outcome depended on someone else’s choices,” and
“The problem felt bigger than I could handle.”
Once they are there, allow some of them to briefly discuss why someone might feel stuck in that kind of situation without revealing their own personal experience. Then explain that Jehoshaphat faced nearly all four of these challenges at once. He was afraid, badly outnumbered, unable to control what his enemies would do, and uncertain about his next step. Invite students to keep their own situation in mind as they study how Jehoshaphat responded.
SEARCH ACTIVITY:
Now we’re going to approach this story differently than the Micaiah and Ahab one because this story is fairly easy to follow and contains so many memorable lines. Because of that you might approach the search activity a little more openly than usual. Briefly introduce the threat facing Judah in verses 1-2. Tell them that three different nations decide to gang up on the tiny and basically defenseless kingdom of Judah. The king at the time is a man named Jehoshaphat, and he knows that there is no possible way that they can fight and win against three different nations at once. He’s in a tough spot, and verse 3 tells us that he’s afraid, as is to be expected. But in that terrifying, uncertain situation, let’s see what they do and what happens.
Invite students to read 2 Chronicles 20:3–21 and choose one line, verse, or moment that stands out to them. Ask them to be prepared to explain what it teaches and why someone facing uncertainty might need that message today. If your class needs more support, place several key phrases on the board, while making it clear that students may choose any verse or idea from the story.
Afterward, invite them to share what they chose and their answers to the questions with a partner or small group. Then invite them to share with the class and just allow their observations to guide the discussion. This story is simple enough that students can do much of the discovering themselves.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
To help guide you through the discussion portion of the lesson, allow me to provide you with some additional questions and insights that I see in this story.
Jehoshaphat was afraid, but what did he do with his fear?
And there are a lot of phrases that are instructive here for those that find themselves in fearful situations. He set himself to seek the Lord, he proclaimed a fast, he gathered people around him, he asked for the help of the Lord, and he prays in the house of the Lord, the temple. Jehoshaphat didn’t allow fear to become the leader of his story. He allowed it to turn his attention toward God. Fear may be our gut reaction, first response, but it doesn’t have to become our only response.
Another question. What impresses you about Jehoshaphat’s prayer in verses 6-12?
And one verse I would want to be sure to mention would be verse 12. I just love how honest AND faithful it is. Notice that he doesn’t say “I’m sure I can handle this,” or “Nothing bad could possibly happen,” he just honestly states that he doesn’t know what to do. But he doesn’t end there. He expresses faith in the same breath, “but our eyes are upon thee.” Sometimes we think faith means confidently announcing that we know everything will work out exactly the way we want. Jehoshaphat shows us another kind of faith. Faith can say, “I don’t have the strength. I don’t know what to do. But I do know one thing. I know where to look.” And he turns the situation over to God. We can do the same.
For that you might also ask: What makes “we know not what to do” a statement of faith rather than failure?
For God’s answer that comes through the prophet, I would ask my students to look for the following two things. What did the Lord promise to do? And What did He still ask Judah to do? You might even put two columns on the board to illustrate this.
And for God’s Part they might identify
• The battle belongs to Him
• He will be with them.
• He will provide deliverance
But that wasn’t it. He wanted them to do some things as well.
So for Their part:
Don’t be afraid or dismayed.
Go down against them,
Go out against them.
Believe in the Lord your God
Believe his prophets
Then ask: If the battle was God’s, why did He still tell them to go toward it?
Some possible insights. Faith still requires obedience and it still requires action. He asked them to move forward without knowing the final outcome. Their job wasn’t to create the miracle, but the Lord did ask them to show up for it, not just hide behind the walls of Jerusalem. And you can imagine how much faith that would have taken them. March towards a giant army made up of three nations knowing you are outnumbered and basically defenseless. God never showed them the entire explanation. He gave them enough direction for the next step—and then another step after that. Their responsibility was not to understand the whole route. Their responsibility was to trust the Guide.
Therefore, if I were to summarize the lesson of “What to do, when you don’t know what to do”.
Look to God (Our eyes are upon thee)
Seek his direction (set himself to seek the Lord)
Move forward in faith (go out against them)
Trust Him with the outcome (the battle is not yours, but God’s)
THE RESULTS
Then, after that discussion, you can take them to the miraculous outcome. As the teacher, you could narrate the final outcome from verses 22-25. And this is just fantastic. Jehoshaphat and the people, with great faith, march towards the oncoming armies. Horribly outnumbered, they go forth with unwavering faith in God’s promise that He would fight for them. So you can imagine the drama in that moment, three giant armies coming this direction, and King Jehoshaphat and little Judah, singing and praising God as they come, marching from this direction . . . and eventually these two groups are going to converge. And what happens? As they crest the hill, and look down into the valley, they encounter an incredible site. Now read verse 24 to them: 24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
What?! They’re already dead! The battle is over! And here’s what happened. Verse 23 explains:23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
In other words, the three nations all start arguing with each other about who is going to get the spoils from Judah, and who deserves what. That arguing turns to active fighting and by the time Jehoshaphat gets there, they’ve destroyed each other. They never even end up fighting. And then, on top of that, look at verse 25:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.So they get all the riches of those three nations to boot. They walk away, not only with the victory, but great wealth as well.
This is what can happen when you trust the Lord without knowing the final outcome. Their story doesn’t promise that every problem will disappear this dramatically, but it does show that God can see possibilities and provide help that we cannot yet imagine. They could not see how the Lord would solve the problem. They only knew the next faithful step, and that was enough.
TAKE IT TO HEART:
Ask students to consider a situation in their lives where they honestly don’t know what to do. Then have them consider the following three questions:
1. Where have my eyes been focused?
2. What is the next faithful step I can take?
3. What part of the outcome do I need to stop carrying?
Another question to consider: When have you moved forward in faith without knowing the outcome and later recognized the Lord’s hand?
I WILL GO AND DO:
How might you apply the lesson of 2 Chronicles 20 to your own life?
Suggestions:
Bring one unresolved concern to the Lord and honestly say: “I do not know what to do, but my eyes are upon Thee.”
Stop demanding the entire route and instead ask: “What is one faithful thing I can do today?” Then do it.
Put down the outcome: Write down one result you cannot control and consciously place it in the Lord’s hands.
Set yourself to seek the Lord. Fast, pray, go to the temple, and ask the Lord for help.
TAKEAWAY:
Then you can display the takeaway slide. It reminds our students that when they don’t know what to do, to be sure to remember where to look. Eyes up, feet forward. That’s the great lesson of 2 Chronicles 20. Acknowledge to your students that they may face battles that are bigger than them. They may not know how to fix the situation, what someone else will choose, or how the story will end. But that doesn’t mean that they’ve failed, and it certainly doesn’t mean that God has abandoned them. We are not responsible for controlling the entire battle. But we can turn our eyes toward Him. Listen for the direction He gives. And then take the next faithful step.
OPTIONAL LESSON ENHANCEMENTS:
OBJECT:
A possible object lesson you could add here would be to bring in a backpacking backpack and a partially covered topographic map. You might begin by explaining:
Whenever I prepare for a backpacking trip, I like to know the entire plan. I want to know the mileage, elevation gain, water sources, campsites, trail junctions, weather, and exactly where I am going to end up. I would not feel very comfortable if someone covered the map and said, “You can see this first turn, but I’m not going to show you the rest yet.”
But, life with God does not always work like a fully revealed backpacking itinerary. Sometimes we want Him to show us the entire route—how the problem will end, when the answer will come, what everyone else will choose, and exactly how He is going to help us. But often He gives us enough direction for the next step.
That does not mean faith is reckless or unprepared. Jehoshaphat did not wander blindly toward the enemy. The Lord told him where to go, when to go, and where to stand. What He did not explain was how the victory would happen.
VIDEO:
For a video, you might show “Wrong Roads.” In it, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland tells about a time when he and his son prayed for direction, chose a road, and soon discovered that it was the wrong one. At first, that answer seemed confusing. But looking back, they realized that the Lord had allowed them to take that road so they could quickly eliminate it, turn around, and move forward with greater confidence. The video fits this lesson beautifully because it reminds us that faith does not always mean seeing the whole route or immediately understanding why God has led us a certain way. Sometimes He gives us enough light for the next step, teaches us as we move, and helps us recognize the right path only after we have acted in faith. After the video, you might ask: “What did Elder Holland have to do before he understood how the Lord was guiding him?”
QUOTE:
A quote and story from Elder Boyd K. Packer fits well with this lesson. He shared:
“Shortly after I was called as a General Authority, I went to Elder Harold B. Lee for counsel. He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way possible for me to do as he counseled me to do.
“I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, ‘The trouble with you is you want to see the end from the beginning.’ I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime: ‘You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you.’ Then he quoted these 18 words from the Book of Mormon:
“‘Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith’” (Ether 12:6).
(“The Edge of the Light,” BYU Magazine, Mar. 1991, magazine.byu.edu.)
HANDOUT:
For a handout activity, you could give your students this story-sequencing sheet and invite them to place the major events of 2 Chronicles 20 in the correct order. This works well either before your discussion as a way to help students become familiar with the flow of the story, or after reading as a way to review and reinforce it. And the correct order here is:
B, a messenger telling the king that they are under attack.
D, the king and the people turning to God in prayer.
F, the prophet telling the people God’s answer and instructions
C, the people marching forward with faith towards the battle
E, the other army fighting amongst themselves
A, the people of Judah gathering the spoils from the war.
LESSON #3 UNTIL HE WAS STRONG (2 Chronicles 26)
TRUTH:
Success becomes spiritually dangerous when I forget who helped me become strong.
FIRE IN THE BONES:
I get a fire in the bones for this lesson because Uzziah’s story warns us about a danger we may not expect. Most of us recognize that hardship can test our faith. But sometimes success tests it even more. Uzziah began as a young king who sought God, listened to wise counsel, and was “marvelously helped.” He became powerful, respected, innovative, and successful. None of that was bad. In fact, God helped him become strong. The tragedy is found in the turning point of the story: “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction.”
There is a lesson here for all of us. When we feel weak, we often pray, seek help, listen carefully, and recognize our dependence on God. But when we become experienced, talented, knowledgeable, successful, or respected, we may slowly begin to act as though we no longer need the God who helped us to get there. This lesson can help our students to recognize and hopefully avoid that danger.
OBJECT:
For an object lesson, bring a small sturdy box, or step stool and place it at the front of the class. Explain that that object could be described in two different ways: it could be a platform or it could be a pedestal.
A platform gives us a place from which to work, serve, lift, and bless others. A pedestal elevates us so that we can be admired. The same success, talent, knowledge, or position can become either one. It can become a platform from which we thank God and bless others, or it can become a pedestal upon which we begin to elevate ourselves. I would use this object lesson later in the lesson after you’ve searched and discussed Uzziah’s story.
ICEBREAKER:
For an icebreaker, you might do a “Scripture Hot Takes” activity. And if you’re not familiar with that expression, a “hot take” is a strong or surprising opinion designed to get people thinking and talking. So for the activity, you number your students from one to four, and assign each number one of the following statements:
1. Failure can be better for us than success.
2. Having less can be better than having everything we want.
3. Being average at something can be safer than being extraordinarily talented.
4. Being overlooked can be safer than being admired.
Now, explain that they don’t have to personally agree with their assigned statement. Their job is to defend it by identifying the possible disadvantages or spiritual dangers of success, wealth, talent, or admiration. Give them a minute or two to think, and then have them share their defense with a partner. Afterward, call on at least one student from each number to present their strongest arguments to the class. Once they have shared, clarify that success, ability, influence, and abundance are not bad. God often gives those things as blessings for righteousness. But the real question here is what those blessings can possibly do to an individual’s character or heart that may not always be positive. Then transition to the scriptures by saying: “Today we’re going to study a king whose greatest spiritual test didn’t come when he was failing. It came when he was succeeding.”
SEARCH ACTIVITY:
Introduce the story by explaining that in 2 Chronicles 26, Judah crowns a new king named Uzziah when he is just 16 years old. Imagine inheriting that kind of responsibility at such a young age. Then tell them that his life story has good and bad in it. Invite them to listen to verses 3-21 marking or identifying good things that Uzziah does. And, in a different color, mark or identify bad things that Uzziah does. And here’s a quick teaching idea that I like to use on occasion in my classes. Tell them that as a class, you’re just going to listen to the story as they follow along. In the church’s Gospel Library app, if you go to your digital scriptures, there is a little headphones icon that if you push, your phone or computer will narrate the scriptures to you. Play the narration as your students follow along and look for examples of good and bad. When they are finished, here are some of the things that they might identify.
For the good:
He did what was right in the sight of the Lord
He sought God.
He listened to Zechariah.
God made him prosper.
God helped him against his enemies.
His name spread, meaning his reputation and fame
He built towers and strengthened Jerusalem.
He cared for fields, vineyards, cattle, and wells.
He organized and equipped a powerful army.
He encouraged invention and preparation.
And then this excellent description in verse 15
He was “marvelously helped.”
Now for the bad:
His heart was lifted up to his destruction
He transgressed against the Lord his God
He went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
He is withstood by the valiant priests of the Lord
He gets wroth or angry when they try to correct him
He gets leprosy
The Lord smote him
He dwelt in a separate house as a leper
He was cut off from the house of the Lord.
Now as they look at those two lists, and if they’ve marked these things in two colors, they’re going to notice something. All the good is at the beginning and all the bad is at the end.
Now ask them the following. Which phrase do you feel is the “turning point” phrase in this story? Where does Uzziah start to go wrong?
And more than likely, they are going to identify the first phrase in verse 16.
“But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction”
Now you ask: What words or phrases in verses 3–15 reveal the source of Uzziah’s success?
And they should see things like:
:5 God made him to prosper
:7 and God helped him
:15 for he was marvelously helped (and I would add “by who?” By the Lord of course.)
And I would make the point here that Uzziah gets some credit as well here. He does some great things. He seeks God, he works hard, he prepares, and uses his gifts wisely. We don’t have to choose between personal effort and divine help. Uzziah prepared, built, organized, and worked, BUT God was still the source of his opportunities, victories, abilities, and blessings.
But, things changed in verse 16. And I would ask: What does his decision to enter the temple and burn incense reveal about how he now saw himself?
And I think it reveals that Uzziah thought he was pretty hot stuff. He’d earned that right. His problem wasn’t that he performed the wrong task. His position and success had apparently convinced him that he was entitled to step beyond a boundary God had established. He was now victim to one of the most dangerous spiritually dangerous temptations mortals face: PRIDE.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
Why might success sometimes be a more difficult spiritual test than failure?
My thoughts? When we’re struggling, we usually know that we need help. It can humble us and keep us focused on God. But success can create the illusion that we are self-sufficient. It may convince us that we no longer need counsel, boundaries, prayer, or correction. We may start to look at ourselves as the sole source of our blessings and success. And that’s a very spiritually dangerous position to put ourselves in.
Where do we see the same attitude today—the belief that talent, position, experience, or success makes someone exempt from rules or boundaries?
Possible examples might include:
A talented athlete believing team rules do not apply.
A popular student treating others poorly.
An experienced Church member refusing counsel.
A leader believing no one should question a decision.
A knowledgeable person becoming dismissive of others.
Someone believing past success guarantees future spiritual safety.
How can we tell the difference between healthy confidence and pride?
Which do you feel is harder: seeking God when you feel weak, or continuing to seek Him after you have become strong?
And, maybe this isn’t the greatest example of this principle. So ignore it if it doesn’t fit your style. But I’ve always admired the way basketball player Steph Curry carries his success and fame. He is extraordinarily gifted, but his success is also the result of years of focused work and preparation. At the same time, he has often spoken openly about his faith and acknowledged God as the source of his opportunities and abilities. Curry reminds us that the lesson of Uzziah is not, “Do not become strong, talented, or successful.” The lesson is, “Do not forget God when you do.”
Our modern-day Apostles are also good examples of becoming strong without forgetting the source of their strength. Many of them were highly successful in business, education, medicine, law, or other professions before their callings. Yet when they teach, they don’t draw attention to their accomplishments. Instead, they point to the Lord, acknowledge His hand in their lives, and use their influence to serve. Their example reminds us that success does not have to lead to pride. It can become a platform from which we glorify God and bless others.
TAKE IT TO HEART:
Invite students to think privately about one area in which they feel capable, successful, experienced, talented, or trusted. This may be a sport, school subject, friendship, calling, leadership responsibility, artistic ability, job, gospel topic, or personal quality.
Then ask them to consider:
1. Who helped me become strong in this area?
2. Have I become more grateful or more self-sufficient?
3. Am I using this strength as a platform to serve or a pedestal to elevate myself?
I WILL GO AND DO:
What could you do this week to remain humble and close to God in an area where you are becoming strong?
Suggestions:
· Thank God specifically for one ability, opportunity, or success you have experienced.
· Ask the Lord how you can use one of your strengths to serve someone.
· Seek God’s direction in an area where you have begun relying only on yourself.
· Finish this sentence: “Because God has helped me become strong, I will use that strength to __________.”
TAKEAWAY:
Our takeaway slide hearkens us back to the object lesson I suggested. Platforms not Pedestals. The subtitle encourages us to “Remember who makes us strong”. You could conclude the lesson by reminding your students that every blessing, ability, and success can become either a platform from which we serve God or a pedestal upon which we elevate ourselves. Uzziah’s story is not a warning against becoming strong, talented, rich, or admired. God was the One who helped him become strong. And Uzziah himself built, prepared, led, created, and accomplished remarkable things. The tragedy came when he began treating God-given strength as evidence that he no longer needed God’s direction, boundaries, or correction. May we avoid the King Uzziah trap.
OPTIONAL LESSON ENHANCEMENTS:
QUOTE:
From Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“We can be grateful for our health, wealth, possessions, or positions, but when we begin to inhale it—when we become obsessed with our status; when we focus on our own importance, power, or reputation; when we dwell upon our public image and believe our own press clippings—that’s when the trouble begins; that’s when pride begins to corrupt.”
(Conference Report, Oct 2010 “Pride and the Priesthood”)
HANDOUT/GAME:
If you wanted to add a game element to this lesson, you could invite them to do a relay race activity with the following handout. I’ve explained how this works many times before on this channel, so rather than going through all of the instructions again, I’ll just provide you with a link in the video description that will take you directly to another video where I go into more depth on how this activity works. But in a nutshell, you challenge your students to work together on teams to find answers to questions from this scripture story. The first team to answer all of the questions correctly the quickest, wins.
Link to Relay Race Instructions: https://youtu.be/Er_pYYdUy-4?si=-07o2ST95qrSj7_o&t=988
ANSWERS:
1. How old was Uzziah when he became king, and how long did he reign?He was 16 years old and reigned for 52 years.(2 Chronicles 26:3)
2. What two choices helped Uzziah begin well?He did what was right in the sight of the Lord and sought God.You could also accept that he listened to the spiritual guidance of Zechariah.(2 Chronicles 26:4–5)
3. List three accomplishments or successes that happened during Uzziah’s reign.Accept any three of the following:
Defeated the Philistines and other enemies
Built cities
Built towers in Jerusalem and in the wilderness
Dug many wells
Developed agriculture, vineyards, and livestock
Organized a large, powerful army
Equipped soldiers with weapons and armor
Created military inventions for defending the city
Became famous and powerful
(2 Chronicles 26:6–15)
4. According to verses 7 and 15, who was the real source of Uzziah’s strength and success?God helped him. He was “marvelously helped.”(2 Chronicles 26:7, 15)
5. What did Uzziah try to do in the temple that had not been assigned to him?He tried to burn incense upon the altar of incense; a responsibility God had assigned to the priests.(2 Chronicles 26:16–18)
6. What do you think Uzziah had begun to believe about himself that made him feel entitled to do this?Accept reasonable answers such as:
He believed the rules no longer applied to him.
He believed his power gave him authority to do whatever he wanted.
He thought being king made him greater than God’s boundaries.
He had become proud, entitled, or unteachable.
7. How did Uzziah respond when the priests corrected him?He became angry or wroth with them.(2 Chronicles 26:19)
8. What happened to Uzziah as a result of his pride and disobedience?He was struck with leprosy, was removed from the temple, lived in a separate house, and was cut off from the house of the Lord and from the people.(2 Chronicles 26:20–21)
9. Name one way success can become spiritually dangerous.Accept answers such as:
It can lead to pride.
It can make someone feel self-sufficient.
It can make a person stop seeking God.
It can create entitlement.
It can make correction harder to receive.
It can tempt someone to ignore rules or boundaries.
It can lead someone to look down on others.
10. Name one habit that can help a successful person remain humble.Accept answers such as:
Pray regularly.
Thank God.
Give others credit.
Serve people.
Seek counsel.
Accept correction.
Remember those who helped.
Respect God’s commandments and boundaries.
Use talents to lift others.
