This lesson teaches children that the people of Israel had real leaders who could have led them well, but many let the people down, and God cares deeply about how we choose to live. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the verses and one activity.
Big Idea
God sees when leaders and families make bad choices, and he is always faithful even when things fall apart. Choosing to follow God matters, because good choices grow strong and healthy things.
Memory Verse
Ezekiel 19:10
“‘Your mother was like a vine in your blood, planted by the waters. It was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
(WEB)
Have the children sit tall, put one hand on the heart, then slowly spread both arms out like branches. Say the verse together and reach up toward the ceiling on the last words, so the motion helps them remember the picture of a healthy, growing vine.
The Story: Ezekiel 19 for Kids
God gave his prophet Ezekiel a sad song to sing for the leaders of Israel. The song was about a mother lion who lived among the young lions. She was strong, and she cared for her cubs. Her babies grew up, and one of them learned to hunt and to hurt people. The other nations heard about him, caught him in a pit, and took him far away to Egypt.
The mother lion waited and hoped. Then she raised another cub, and he grew up to be a lion too. He walked among the other lions and roared so loudly that the whole land was frightened. He destroyed cities and left the land empty. The nations came after him from every side, trapped him in a net and took him to the king of Babylon, where his voice could no longer be heard.
The song then changed to a picture of a vine. The vine was planted by the water and grew many strong branches, and those branches were used for the rulers. But one day God pulled the vine up in anger. The east wind dried its fruit, and the fire burned its branches until none of them were strong enough to rule.
Ezekiel told the people that this was a sad song, a lament, because the leaders had been like a lion who hurt others and a vine that lost its strength. The people had chosen paths that brought harm, and the nation paid a painful price.
Even in this sad song, we learn that God is watching and that he speaks the truth. The story is a warning and also a call to come back to him.
Read It Together
Ezekiel 19:1-2
1 “Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2 and say, ‘What was your mother? A lioness. She couched among lions, in the middle of the young lions she nourished her cubs.
(WEB)
Point out that the song begins with a question about a mother lion who cared for her cubs. Ask the children what a good mother or father does for their children, and help them see that God wanted the leaders to care for the people like a good parent cares for children.
Ezekiel 19:4
The nations also heard of him. He was taken in their pit; and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.
(WEB)
Show the children that the young lion was caught in a pit. Explain that when people make choices that hurt others, they can end up in trouble they did not expect. Let them know that this verse shows a real consequence of bad choices.
Ezekiel 19:10-12
10 “‘Your mother was like a vine in your blood, planted by the waters. It was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters. 11 It had strong branches for the scepters of those who ruled. Their stature was exalted among the thick boughs. They were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches. 12 But it was plucked up in fury. It was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were broken off and withered. The fire consumed them.
(WEB)
Point to the picture of the vine with its strong branches and fruit. Explain that God planted something good and meant it to grow well. Ask the children to notice the words that show how the vine was hurt, and talk about how God wants his people to stay strong and healthy by staying close to him.
Talk About It
- What do you think a good leader does to help the people around them?
- Why do you think the mother lion kept hoping even after her cub was taken away?
- What is one choice you can make this week that helps your family grow strong?
- How did the vine in the story change when it was pulled up from the ground?
- What do you think God wants us to do when we see that we have made a bad choice?
Activity Ideas
Lion and Vine Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a lion family on one side of the paper and a vine with branches and fruit on the other side. Let them color the strong branches bright green and talk about what makes a family or a leader healthy and strong.
Branch Stretch Game
Ask the children to stand in a circle and pretend to be the vine. Call out words like “strong” or “dry” and have them stretch their arms up high for strong and drop them low for dry. Then say, “God is faithful,” and have everyone wiggle their fingers like new leaves growing back.
Take-Home Promise Card
You will need a small index card and a marker. Have each child write or draw one good choice they will make this week, such as helping at home or telling the truth. Encourage them to place the card on the kitchen table or by their bed so the family can talk about it together during the week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter is a lament, a sad song that God gave Ezekiel to sing over the leaders of Israel. It shows that leaders who abuse their position bring suffering on themselves and on the people they lead. It also reveals God’s faithfulness: he watches, he speaks truth, and he calls his people to repentance even in judgment.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the violence or the details of the nations and their traps. Keep the focus on God’s care, the importance of good choices, and the hope that comes from returning to him, rather than making the story about fear.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank you for caring about us and for showing us how to live. Help us make good choices, help us stay close to you, and help us care for the people around us. When we get things wrong, help us come back to you. Amen.
