This lesson teaches children that God can stop a bad plan and protect His people, even when the plan seems clever and strong. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is in charge, and He can turn even a bad plan into something that helps His people. We can trust Him when things look scary.
Memory Verse
2 Samuel 17:14
Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil on Absalom.
(WEB)
Ask the children to stand tall with their hands on their hearts, then slowly lift both arms up over their heads like a bridge while they say the verse together. Lower the arms slowly as you finish. Repeat it three times, getting quieter each time.
The Story: 2 Samuel 17 for Kids
King David had a son named Absalom, and Absalom wanted to be king in his father’s place. Absalom had a wise helper named Ahithophel, who had good ideas. Ahithophel said, “Let me pick twelve thousand men. We will chase King David tonight while he is tired.” He thought this plan would work well.
Absalom liked the plan. Then he said, “Let us also ask Hushai, and see what he thinks.” Hushai was a friend of King David. He wanted to help David, so he gave Absalom a different plan. Hushai said, “Gather all of Israel and go to battle yourself. Your enemies are strong, and they are hiding.” He was trying to buy time for David.
Absalom and the men of Israel said, “Hushai’s plan is better.” God had caused this to happen. God stopped the bad plan and let the good plan win. Hushai then sent a message to David through two friends, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, who had to hide from Absalom’s men.
A woman in a house hid the two men in a well and covered it with grain so nobody could see them. When Absalom’s men came looking, she said, “They went over the water.” The men believed her and went away. Then Jonathan and Ahimaaz climbed out and told David, “Hurry and cross the river!” David and his people crossed the Jordan River safely by morning.
When Ahithophel saw that Absalom did not follow his plan, he was very sad. He went home and did something very sad. The chapter does not hide how serious this was, so tell the children simply that his plan failed and that he was not happy about it. David then went to a town called Mahanaim, where some kind friends brought food, beds, and water, because the people were hungry and tired.
Read It Together
2 Samuel 17:1-3
1 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David tonight. 2 I will come on him while he is weary and exhausted, and will make him afraid. All the people who are with him will flee. I will strike the king only, 3 and I will bring back all the people to you. The man whom you seek is as if all returned. All the people shall be in peace.”
(WEB)
Point out that Ahithophel’s plan sounded clever and strong. Ask the children how a plan can look good on the outside but still be wrong. Remind them that God sees everything, even when we do not.
2 Samuel 17:21-22
21 After they had departed, they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, “Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.” 22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan. By the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.
(WEB)
Show the children how God used the woman and the two friends to help David escape. Point out that David and his people all got safely across the river because of God’s help. Help them see that God uses ordinary people to do His work.
2 Samuel 17:27-29
27 When David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28 brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans, lentils, roasted grain, 29 honey, butter, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat; for they said, “The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.”
(WEB)
Point out the kind friends who brought food and beds to David. Explain that God often takes care of His people through the help of others. Ask the children who helps them when they are tired or hungry.
Talk About It
- What did Absalom’s helper want him to do, and why do you think it sounded like a good idea?
- How did God make the good plan win instead of the bad plan?
- Who helped David when he was hiding, and how do you think they felt about helping him?
- What is one thing you can do this week to help a friend or family member who is tired or hungry?
- When you feel scared, what can you remember about God that helps you feel brave?
Activity Ideas
Draw the River Crossing
You will need paper, crayons, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw David and his people crossing a blue river in the early morning light. Let them add the friends who helped and the well where Jonathan and Ahimaaz hid. Encourage them to tell you one thing about their picture when they finish.
Stop the Bad Plan Game
You will need a small bean bag or a rolled-up sock and an open space. Have the children stand in a circle. Pass the bean bag around while you call out “Good plan!” and “Bad plan!” When you say “Bad plan!” the children stop and hold up both hands like a stop sign. When you say “Good plan!” they keep passing.
Thank-You Bread Bag at Home
You will need a paper bag, a marker, and a few small snacks like crackers or raisins. Ask each child to decorate the bag with the words “God Helps Us.” Have them fill it with snacks and take it to someone who is tired or busy this week, such as a neighbor or a grandparent. Ask them to say, “God helps us, and we can help you too.”
Teacher Notes
This passage shows that God rules over all human plans, even clever and powerful ones. Absalom’s rebellion failed not because David was stronger, but because God worked through wise counsel, brave messengers, and ordinary kindness to protect His anointed king. For adults, it is a reminder that God’s purposes stand firm when human schemes collapse.
Avoid overstating the darker details of Ahithophel’s end to children. Simply say that his plan failed and that he was very sad, and focus on God’s faithfulness to David and his friends.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You are in charge of everything. When we feel scared or when bad plans come our way, help us to trust You. Thank You for the helpers who care for us. Help us to be helpers too. Amen.
