In this lesson, children learn that Elihu waited patiently to speak, and that we should listen carefully before we answer someone. This lesson is for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God gives us ears so we can listen well, and wise people take time to hear others before they talk. Listening is a kind of love, and it helps us understand what is really true.
Memory Verse
Job 32:7
I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
(WEB)
Have the children cup their hands behind their ears when they say “Days should speak,” then bring both hands down flat on their lap when they say “wisdom should teach.” This motion reminds them to listen first and speak slowly.
The Story: Job 32 for Kids
Job had been talking with three friends for a long time. They had argued back and forth about why Job was suffering, and none of them had really convinced anyone. Job kept saying he had done nothing wrong, and his friends kept saying he must have sinned. Nobody could find the right words to end the talking.
A young man named Elihu had been sitting quietly and listening the whole time. He was younger than the others, so he had waited his turn out of respect. When he saw that the three friends had run out of things to say, he felt upset that Job had not been properly answered. Elihu also felt angry that the friends had blamed Job without good reason.
Elihu finally spoke up and said, “I am young, and you are old, so I waited to share what I think.” He explained that wisdom does not always come from age alone. He said that God’s breath gives people understanding, and that the great and the old are not always the wisest. He wanted everyone to hear him out before judging anything.
Elihu told them he had paid close attention to every word they said. He had listened hard, but he had not heard anyone give Job a real answer. Now he was ready to speak, because he felt full of words inside him, like a bottle of wine that needed to pour out. He said he would not favor anyone, and he would not give fancy titles just to please people.
This chapter shows us a young man who was patient, respectful, and honest. He waited until it was his turn to talk, and when he spoke, he spoke with care. He wanted to help, not just win an argument. His story helps us see that good listening comes before good speaking.
Read It Together
Job 32:8
But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
(WEB)
Point out that the breath of God helps people understand things. Ask the children where they think understanding comes from, and remind them that God is the giver of all good gifts, including the gift of understanding.
Job 32:11-12
11 “Behold, I waited for your words, and I listened for your reasoning, while you searched out what to say. 12 Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you.
(WEB)
Show the children how Elihu waited and listened closely while others spoke. Explain that paying full attention to someone is a way of showing respect and care for them.
Job 32:21-22
21 Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man. 22 For I don’t know how to give flattering titles; or else my Maker would soon take me away.
(WEB)
Point out that Elihu wanted to speak honestly and fairly, without flattering people. Talk about how telling the truth kindly is something God wants from all of us, big or small.
Talk About It
- What does it feel like when someone listens to you all the way to the end?
- Why do you think Elihu waited so long before he started talking?
- What is one thing you can do this week to listen better at home or at school?
- How can we tell the difference between speaking to help someone and speaking just to win?
- Who is someone in your life who listens to you well, and how can you thank them?
Activity Ideas
Ear Craft Drawing
Give each child a paper plate, crayons, and glue with some yarn or cotton balls. Have them draw and decorate a big ear on the plate, then glue on the yarn as hair or a frame. While they work, talk about how God gave us ears so we can hear and understand. Let them hang their ears on the wall as a reminder to listen.
Listen and Pass Game
Sit the children in a circle and pass a small soft ball or stuffed animal. Only the child holding the item may speak, and each child must wait until the person before them finishes. Every child who speaks should say one kind thing about what they heard. This game helps children practice waiting their turn and listening carefully.
Take-Home Listening Card
Cut index cards in half and write “Listen first, speak second” on each one. Give one card to each child to take home with a crayon and a small piece of tape. Encourage them to place it somewhere they will see it at dinner or bedtime. Ask them to share one time that week when they listened well to someone.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage shows that wisdom is not automatic just because someone is older, and that God can speak through anyone who listens humbly. Elihu’s careful patience models how we should approach conversations about hard questions, especially about suffering. We learn to listen before we judge and to speak with honesty and respect.
Avoid overstating to children that Elihu is a perfect example to copy in every way, since the wider book of Job has many voices and the story ends with God speaking directly. Keep the focus on the simple lesson of listening well and speaking with care.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for giving us ears to hear and hearts that can understand. Help us to listen carefully to others and to wait patiently before we speak. Teach us to speak kindly and honestly, just as you want us to. We love you, and we ask all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
