This lesson teaches children that God sees everything, and that people who turn away from Him cannot hide from Him forever. It is written for children about 5 to 11 years old and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God knows the truth about every person, and He is never fooled. Nobody can hide from Him, even when they think they are safe.
Memory Verse
Job 18:5
“Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, The spark of his fire shall not shine.
(WEB)
Hold both hands up like a little flame, then slowly lower them until they close into a fist as if putting out the light. Say “The light goes out” as you do it, so children connect the picture to the words.
The Story: Job 18 for Kids
Job was a good man who had lost almost everything. His friend Bildad was not very kind to him. Bildad thought Job must have done something very bad to deserve his trouble, and he kept talking about it. He said that people who do wrong are like a lamp that gets put out in the dark.
Bildad described a man who makes bad choices and walks straight into trouble, like someone stepping into a hidden net or a trap set on the path. Bildad said that fear would chase this man everywhere he went. His family and his home would not last, and people would be shocked by what had happened to him.
Bildad was wrong about Job. God did not treat Job the way Bildad said. But Bildad was right about one thing: God sees everything, and He knows the truth about every heart. Bildad’s words were about how a person who does not follow God can end up in a sad place.
Bildad finished by saying that this is the place of a person who does not know God. He wanted Job to believe that Job was that kind of person. But Job knew that his trust was in God, even when he could not understand what was happening to him.
Read It Together
Job 18:14
He shall be rooted out of the security of his tent. He shall be brought to the king of terrors.
(WEB)
Point out how the verse describes a person being pulled out of a safe place. Explain that Bildad was describing what he believed happens to people who turn away from God, and ask children what makes a place feel safe.
Job 18:21
Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous. This is the place of him who doesn’t know God.”
(WEB)
Show children that the last part of the chapter says this is the place of a person who does not know God. Remind them that knowing God means trusting Him and talking with Him every day.
Job 18:4
You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?
(WEB)
Point out that Bildad is speaking in anger and is tearing himself down with his words. Ask children how they feel when someone speaks unkindly to them, and talk about choosing kind words instead.
Talk About It
- What did Bildad think had happened to Job, and why do you think he thought that?
- Why can nobody hide from God, even in a dark room or a quiet place?
- How can we tell the difference between a safe place and a place that only feels safe?
- What are some kind words we can say to a friend who is going through a hard time?
- How can you get to know God better this week?
Activity Ideas
Lamp in the Dark Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a flashlight. Have children draw a small lamp with a bright flame in the middle of a dark sheet of paper. Then turn off the room lights and shine the flashlight on their pictures, reminding them that God can see every part of their hearts even in the dark.
Net and Trap Game
You will need a soft ball, a few cardboard boxes, and some yarn. Lay the yarn in loops across the floor as a pretend net, and place the boxes around the room as traps. Children take turns walking through the room while one leader calls out “Watch your step!” and everyone practices careful, safe walking, talking about how God helps us avoid the traps of bad choices.
Take-Home Promise Card
You will need index cards, a pencil, and a marker. Ask each child to write or draw one way they can show God they trust Him this week, such as praying before bed or sharing a kind word. Let them take the card home and place it somewhere they will see it each morning as a reminder that God sees them and loves them.
Teacher Notes
In Job 18, Bildad speaks as one of Job’s friends who wrongly assumes that Job’s suffering is a sign of hidden sin. His description of the wicked is a general picture of how people who reject God can end up in trouble, but the chapter does not tell us that Job himself is one of them. Adults can see that the passage shows the danger of judging others harshly when we do not know the whole story.
When teaching children, avoid suggesting that bad things happen to people only because they have done something wrong. Children may start to believe that suffering always means punishment, which can be frightening or unfair. Instead, focus on God’s knowledge and faithfulness.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for seeing everything and knowing our hearts. Help us to trust You, to speak kindly to others, and to stay close to You every day. Keep us safe in Your care. Amen.
