This lesson teaches children that God promised a king from Jesse’s family who would rule with fairness and make the whole world peaceful, and that God keeps his promises. It suits children aged about 5 to 11 and takes 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, questions, and a simple activity.
Big Idea
God keeps his promises, and one day his good king will bring peace to everyone, even to animals that used to be dangerous to each other.
Memory Verse
Isaiah 11:6
The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them.
(WEB)
Hold your arms out like a wolf, then slowly bring your hands together in front of your chest as you say the verse. Ask the children to make a gentle, calm face while they say it so they remember that peace is the point.
The Story: Isaiah 11 for Kids
Long ago, the nation of Israel had a hard time. Many of its people were sad, scared, and far from home. God sent a prophet named Isaiah to tell them something wonderful about the future. Isaiah told them that God had a plan to send a special king.
This king would come from the family of Jesse, who was the father of King David. Isaiah described a small green shoot growing up from an old tree stump. Even when a family tree looks cut down, God can make something new grow from its roots. The king would be filled with God’s own Spirit, so he would be wise, kind, and strong.
This king would not judge people just by how they look or by what they hear from others. He would be fair to the poor and to people who are humble. Isaiah said that the king would speak with honesty and would stand up for what is right. He would be like a good shepherd who protects the weak.
Then Isaiah painted a picture of a peaceful world. Wolves would live with lambs, and leopards would lie down with young goats. A little child would lead a calf and a lion together. Isaiah said, in simple words, that God’s people would not hurt or destroy one another, because the whole earth would be full of knowledge of the Lord.
Isaiah also said that God would gather his scattered people from many places and bring them home. He promised a highway for them to walk home on, just as God had once led their ancestors out of Egypt. God’s promises are sure, and his good king is coming to bring all of this about.
Read It Together
Isaiah 11:2
The LORD’s Spirit will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
(WEB)
Point out that the Spirit of the Lord rests on this king and gives him wisdom and understanding. Explain that the king does not depend on his own strength alone, because God himself helps him do what is right.
Isaiah 11:4
But with righteousness he will judge the poor, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.
(WEB)
Show the children how this verse describes a king who is fair to the poor and the humble. Ask them to think of a time when someone treated them fairly, and remind them that God cares about treating everyone with fairness.
Isaiah 11:9
They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
(WEB)
Point out the picture of a world where no one is hurt or destroyed. Explain that the reason for this peace is that everyone will know the Lord, just as water covers the sea.
Talk About It
- What do you think it would feel like to live in a world where wolves and lambs were friends?
- Why do you think God chose a shoot from a stump to show that something new could grow?
- How does it help you to know that God keeps every promise he makes?
- What is one way you can be fair and kind to someone who feels left out?
- Who is the king that Isaiah was talking about, and how do you think Jesus fits into this story?
Activity Ideas
Drawing a Peaceful Forest
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and cutouts of animals if you have them. Ask each child to draw a big forest or field with animals that don’t usually live together, such as a lamb beside a wolf and a child holding a calf. Talk about how the picture shows the peace that God promised.
Shoot and Stump Game
Gather the children in a open space and have them crouch down like an old tree stump. Then, one at a time, have a child slowly stand up tall like a new green shoot while the others cheer. Explain that God can bring new life from what seems dead, and let each child have a turn.
Peace Promise Card
Give each child an index card and a pencil. Have them write or draw one way they can help make peace at home, such as sharing a toy or saying a kind word. Let them take the card home and place it somewhere they will see it each morning as a reminder.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Isaiah 11 describes a ruler from David’s line who receives the Spirit of God and rules with justice and wisdom. Christians have long read this passage as pointing to Jesus, while Jewish readers have seen it as a promise about a future king of Israel. Either way, the chapter pictures God restoring creation and gathering his people, and it reminds us that God’s kingdom brings peace.
When teaching children, avoid promising that animals will literally sleep beside predators or that every picture in the chapter will happen in a particular way in the near future. Keep the focus on what the chapter clearly says: God is faithful, his king is good, and he will bring peace and justice.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for keeping your promises, even when we find them hard to understand. Thank you for sending your good king to bring peace and fairness to the world. Help us to be kind, to be fair, and to live at peace with the people around us. Amen.
