This lesson teaches children that God is always faithful, even when His people turn away from Him. Kids ages 5 to 11 can follow along in about 20 to 30 minutes, and the story is best told with a Bible open on the table so children can see where each part comes from.
Big Idea
God loves His people and warns them when they go the wrong way. When they keep choosing their own path, He still keeps His word, and He is always worth trusting and obeying.
Memory Verse
Deuteronomy 6:5
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.
(WEB)
Stand tall with your arms stretched wide, then bring both hands to your heart as you say the verse slowly. Let the children copy you, and say it together three times, getting a little quieter each time until you whisper the last words.
The Story: 2 Kings 17 for Kids
Once upon a time, a king named Hoshea ruled the northern kingdom of Israel. He did some things that were wrong in God’s eyes, but he was not as bad as the kings who came before him. Still, Hoshea made a mistake. He stopped paying the tribute he had promised to the powerful king of Assyria, and he sent secret messages to Egypt for help.
The king of Assyria was angry. He came with his army, surrounded the city of Samaria, and kept it under siege for three long years. In the end, the Assyrians captured Samaria and took many of the Israelites away from their homes to faraway places. This was a sad day for the people of Israel.
Why did this happen? God had brought His people out of Egypt and made a special promise with them. He told them, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments.” But the people would not listen. They built idols, bowed down to statues made of metal, and did many things that hurt God’s heart. God sent prophets again and again to call them back, but they hardened their hearts.
After the Israelites were taken away, the Assyrians brought other people to live in the land. These new people did not know how to worship the God of Israel. God sent lions among them, and the people were frightened. The king of Assyria sent back one of the priests to teach them how to honor the Lord. Even then, the new people mixed their worship with their own gods, so they did not truly know the Lord.
This chapter is a serious story, but it ends with God’s truth still standing. He is faithful, and He always gives His people a way back to Him. Children can learn that God wants our whole hearts, not just a little bit of our attention.
Read It Together
2 Kings 17:7
It was so because the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods…
(WEB)
Point out that the people had forgotten God, who had rescued them from Egypt. Ask the children to think about a time someone rescued them, and how it felt to be thankful.
2 Kings 17:13
Yet the LORD testified to Israel, and to Judah, by every prophet, and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.”
(WEB)
Show the children that God did not leave His people without warning. He sent prophets to speak His words, which shows how patient and loving He is toward His people.
2 Kings 17:39
But you shall fear the LORD your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.”
(WEB)
Explain that God invites His people to fear Him and trust Him. Help children see that God is strong enough to protect us from our enemies and loving enough to want us close.
Talk About It
- What do you think it means that God rescued His people from Egypt, and why would they want to remember that?
- Why do you think the people stopped listening to God’s messengers?
- What are some things that might pull our hearts away from God today?
- How can we tell someone else about God’s love without being bossy or unkind?
- What is one way you can show God that you want to follow Him this week?
Activity Ideas
Heart Collage Drawing
Give each child a sheet of paper, crayons or markers, and a few old magazines to cut up. Ask them to draw a big heart in the middle and fill it with pictures and words of things that help them love God more. Talk about how we protect our hearts by filling them with good things.
Follow the Leader Walk
Choose one child to be the leader and let them make simple movements, like hopping, clapping, or touching their toes. The others must copy only when the leader’s movement is a good one, and stop when it is not. Afterward, explain that the people in the story did not follow God’s way, and remind the children that God’s ways are always good.
Take-Home Prayer Card
Give each child an index card and a pencil. Have them write the words “God is faithful” on one side and draw a small picture of something that reminds them of God on the other. Encourage them to place the card on their bedside table or by the front door so they can see it each day as a reminder to trust God.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows the serious results of turning away from God and the way idolatry takes the place of trust in Him. It also shows that God is patient, sending prophets again and again, and that His justice and faithfulness are consistent. The story points forward to God’s enduring promise of restoration and a Savior who calls people back to Himself.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the details of the Assyrian exile or the lions in the land, since the story is heavy and can frighten young listeners. Keep the focus on God’s love, His warnings, and His faithfulness rather than on the judgment itself.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for being faithful to us every day. Help us to remember how You rescued us, and help us keep our hearts close to You. When we are tempted to look away, remind us that You are always good and always worth following. Amen.
