This lesson teaches children that when scary things seem to be coming, God is still in charge and they can trust him. It is made for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is bigger than any scary thing, so we do not need to be afraid of what people say or do. We can trust God, because he is always with us.
Memory Verse
Isaiah 8:13
The LORD of Armies is who you must respect as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread.
(WEB)
Put one hand on your heart and hold it there. Then slowly lift your other hand up high, like you are lifting a flag. Say the verse together while you move your hands, and do it three times so it sticks.
The Story: Isaiah 8 for Kids
Long ago, the people of Judah were scared. Two kings were making plans to attack them, and everyone was worried about what might happen next. God had a message for his prophet Isaiah, and it was not what the people wanted to hear.
God told Isaiah to write a name on a big tablet and to call two honest men to watch him do it. Isaiah also had a son, and God gave the boy a very long name, Maher Shalal Hash Baz, which means something like “quick to the spoil.” God said that before the boy could even say “Daddy” or “Mommy,” the enemy kings would be defeated. God was showing that he was already in control.
But the people were not listening to God. They trusted their own plans more than him. God said that the enemy would come like a huge flood over the land, and that the people would feel like they were drowning. Things were going to get very hard for them.
God then spoke to Isaiah and gave him a special instruction. He said, “Do not be afraid of what these people are afraid of.” Isaiah was told that people should not be scared of threats. Instead, God is the one we should fear and respect, because he is holy and powerful.
Isaiah said he would wait and look for God, even when God seemed to be hiding his face. He trusted God to keep his promises. The chapter ends with a warning that people who look for answers in the wrong places will find only darkness and fear.
Read It Together
Isaiah 8:11-13
11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, 12 “Don’t say, ‘A conspiracy!’ concerning all about which this people say, ‘A conspiracy!’ neither fear their threats, nor be terrorized. 13 The LORD of Armies is who you must respect as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread.
(WEB)
Point out that God told Isaiah not to be afraid of what everyone else was afraid of. Ask the children what they think it means to fear God in a good way, and explain that it means trusting and respecting him more than anything else.
Isaiah 8:17
I will wait for the LORD, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
(WEB)
Show the children that Isaiah kept waiting for God even when it felt like God was far away. Explain that waiting on God means trusting him even when we cannot see what he is doing yet.
Isaiah 8:19-20
19 When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 Turn to the law and to the testimony! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.
(WEB)
Point out that the people wanted answers from fortune tellers and whispering spirits instead of from God. Help the children see that God’s Word is the place to look for truth, not magic or guessing.
Talk About It
- What is something that makes you feel scared sometimes?
- How did God want Isaiah and the people to feel about the enemy kings?
- What can you do when you feel afraid, instead of worrying all day?
- Why do you think the people wanted to ask fortune tellers instead of God?
- How can you remember that God is with you when things feel dark?
Activity Ideas
Trust Flag Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a craft stick or straw for each child. Have each child draw a big flag and write or draw a picture of something that scares them. Then have them add a small picture of God’s hand holding the flag up high. Tape it to the stick and talk about how God is bigger than every fear.
Flood Waters Game
Clear some open space and call it the river. Ask the children to march slowly in place as you say “the waters are coming.” Then have them run to a safe spot, like a chair or a corner, which stands for trusting God. Play a few rounds and talk about how God is our safe place when the waters rise.
Take-Home Reminder Jar
You will need a small jar, slips of paper, and a pen. Ask each child to write one worry on a slip and fold it up. Then have them write Isaiah 8:13 or “God is with me” on another slip and add it to the jar. Encourage the family to pull one slip out each night and pray together about the worry, reminding each other that God is with us.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s people were tempted to trust human alliances and spiritual shortcuts instead of the Lord. Isaiah’s family became living signs of God’s faithfulness, and the chapter invites every reader to fear God rather than the threats of this world, while holding on to hope in him even when he seems hidden.
Avoid overstating to children that God will always protect them from every bad thing that happens. The passage speaks of God’s authority and his faithfulness to his plans, and it does not promise that believers will never face hardship. Focus on God’s presence and trustworthiness rather than guaranteed outcomes.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Lord, thank you that you are bigger than every scary thing. Help us not to be afraid of what others fear, and help us trust you even when we cannot see what you are doing. Teach us to look to you for help every day. Amen.
