This lesson teaches children that God is still in charge even when big, scary things happen in the world. Children aged about 5 to 11 can learn it in 20 to 30 minutes, using a short story, a memory motion, and a simple activity.
Big Idea
Even when a whole country is sad and scared, God knows what is happening, and He is still in charge. We can tell Him how we feel.
Memory Verse
Isaiah 15:1
The burden of Moab. For in a night, Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing. For in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing.
(WEB)
Teach the children to hold both hands flat in front of them, then slowly lower them like a curtain closing. Say the words together as the hands come down, then lift them back up as you say “God is still there.”
The Story: Isaiah 15 for Kids
Long ago, there was a land called Moab. It sat east of the Dead Sea, and its people lived in towns with names like Ar, Kir, and Dibon. The prophet Isaiah shared a sad message about this land. He told the people that something terrible was coming very quickly.
Isaiah said that in just one night, the city of Ar would be destroyed. Then Kir would be destroyed too. Everything the people had built would be gone. Can you imagine waking up to find your home was gone?
The people of Moab were so upset that they went up to the high places to cry. They shaved their heads and cut their beards as a sign of sadness. They put on rough, scratchy cloth called sackcloth. Everyone in the streets was weeping loudly.
Isaiah felt sorry for them. He said, “My heart cries out for Moab!” He loved these people, even though they were not part of God’s own family. The sadness was so great that the sound of crying traveled from town to town.
Even the rivers and the grass dried up in that sad land. Isaiah’s words remind us that big troubles can touch everything around us. But even in the middle of this story, God is still watching over all the nations.
Read It Together
Isaiah 15:2
They have gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep. Moab wails over Nebo and over Medeba. Baldness is on all of their heads. Every beard is cut off.
(WEB)
Point out how the people went up to cry and show their sadness. Ask the children what they do when they feel really sad and whether they know they can talk to God about it.
Isaiah 15:5
My heart cries out for Moab! Her nobles flee to Zoar, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for they go up by the ascent of Luhith with weeping; for on the way to Horonaim, they raise up a cry of destruction.
(WEB)
Show the children how Isaiah’s heart felt sad for the people of Moab. Explain that caring about others, even people who are different from us, is something God wants us to do.
Isaiah 15:6
For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate; for the grass has withered away, the tender grass fails, there is no green thing.
(WEB)
Talk about how the grass and the water dried up, leaving nothing green. Remind the children that God made the earth and can bring new life, even when things look empty.
Talk About It
- How do you think the people of Moab felt when their city was destroyed?
- What is one thing you do when you feel scared or sad?
- Why do you think Isaiah felt sorry for the people of Moab?
- What can you tell God when you are worried about something big?
- How can you show care to someone who is hurting this week?
Activity Ideas
Paper Plate Hearts Drawing
You will need paper plates, crayons or markers, scissors, and glue. Have each child draw a heart in the middle of a paper plate and write or draw one person they want to pray for. Cut out the heart shape and glue it to a sticky note with the words “God is still in charge.” Let the children take their plates home to remind them that God hears our prayers.
Stop and Stand Game
You will need an open room and a timer or a clap. Call out a word like “waters,” “grass,” or “city,” and have the children stand tall like a strong tree. When you call out “sad,” they should bend down low like the sad people of Moab. When you call “God is still there,” they stand up tall again. Play a few rounds, then talk about how God lifts us up after sad times.
Take-Home Prayer Jar
You will need an empty jar, paper slips, and a pencil. Ask each child to write one worry or one thing they want to pray for on a slip of paper and fold it into the jar. Encourage them to take a slip out each night at bedtime and pray about it with a family member. This simple habit helps children see that God listens to them every day.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Isaiah 15 is a prophecy of judgment against Moab, a neighboring nation that often opposed Israel. The chapter shows the grief and loss that come with destruction, and Isaiah’s own sorrow shows that God’s messengers can feel compassion even toward enemies. Adults can also see in this passage that God’s sovereignty extends over all nations, not just Israel.
Avoid overstating to children that every nation or disaster is a direct punishment for specific sins, since the passage is focused on the particular situation of Moab in its historical setting. Keep the focus on the simple truths of God’s care, Isaiah’s compassion, and the importance of bringing our feelings to God.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You are still in charge when things feel scary or sad. Help us to care about other people, even when they are very different from us. When we feel worried, help us remember that we can always talk to You. Thank You that You hear every prayer we pray. Amen.
