This lesson teaches children that God made the whole world, knows every part of it, and takes care of every creature in it. It is best for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God made everything, He knows everything about it, and He takes care of all of it, even the smallest and the wildest creatures.
Memory Verse
Job 38:4
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
(WEB)
Stand up tall, put your hands on your hips, then slowly lift both arms up over your head like a big stretch. Say the verse together while you stretch, so the motion reminds you that God is the one who built the earth.
The Story: Job 38 for Kids
Job had been having a very hard time. He had lost his children, his animals, and his good health, and his friends kept giving him long speeches about why it was all his fault. Job was confused and sad, and he wanted an answer from God.
Then God spoke to Job from out of a great whirlwind, a huge rushing storm of wind. God did not say sorry or explain every reason, but He asked Job a set of questions instead. He asked, “Where were you when I made the earth?” Job could not answer, because he had not been there at all.
God kept asking Job about the things He had made. He talked about the sea that He kept inside its edges, the morning that comes up every day right on time, and the snow and rain that fall in just the right places. He even asked Job about the lightning and the stars in the sky.
God showed Job that He is wise, powerful, and never confused about anything. He also reminded Job that He cares for the wild animals, like the lions and the ravens. Job learned that God knows far more than he does, and that God is still taking care of everything He made.
Read It Together
Job 38:4-5
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
(WEB)
Point out how God asks Job who measured the earth and who stretched the line across it. Ask the children to imagine a builder with a measuring tape, then explain that God built the whole world with that kind of care and wisdom.
Job 38:16-17
16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep? 17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
(WEB)
Show that God knows even the deep, hidden places of the sea and the shadows of death. Tell the children that nothing is hidden from God, and that means He is never surprised by anything that happens to us.
Job 38:41
Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
(WEB)
Point out that God cares even for the birds, such as the ravens, when they are hungry. Remind the children that if God takes care of the birds, He will also take care of them.
Talk About It
- What is one thing God made that you think is really amazing, and why do you think so?
- Why do you think God asked Job so many questions instead of just explaining everything?
- How does it feel to know that God knows every single part of the world, even the parts we cannot see?
- What are some ways God takes care of animals, and how do you see Him taking care of you?
- When something is hard or confusing, how can remembering that God made everything help you trust Him?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Creation Picture
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw one thing God made, such as a mountain, a star, a bird, or a wave. Let them color it bright and wide, then talk together about why God made that thing and how He takes care of it.
Lion and Raven Freeze Game
You will need an open space and a few small objects to act as dens or nests. Choose one child to be God, who calls out an animal such as a lion, raven, or dove. The children then move like that animal until God calls “Freeze,” and the game repeats. Use the game to talk about how God knows exactly where each animal is.
Take-Home Star Chart
You will need a sheet of paper, a pencil, and a few stickers or crayons. Help each child draw a simple sky with five or six stars on the page. Each night at bedtime, the child can add a sticker to a star and say one thing God made that day, which helps them remember that He is always caring for the world.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God is not required to explain Himself to us in order to be trustworthy. Job asked hard questions about suffering, and God answered by revealing His wisdom and power over all creation, which invites us to rest in His care even when we do not understand our circumstances.
With children, avoid suggesting that God caused the hard things in Job’s life or that suffering is always a punishment. Keep the focus on the fact that God made the world, knows every part of it, and cares for every creature in it.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for making the whole world and everything in it. Thank You that You know every star, every wave, and every bird. Help us remember that You take care of all things, including us. Amen.
