This lesson teaches children that God is not a lucky charm we can make or buy to get what we want, and that He is the one we should truly follow. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
Only the true God is worth following, and we cannot make Him into something we control with our own hands or ideas.
Memory Verse
Judges 17:6
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did that which was right in his own eyes.
(WEB)
Say the words slowly while you point to your own heart on the word “right.” Then cross your arms over your chest like a little box to show that people did what seemed right to themselves, and shake your head gently to show it was not God’s way.
The Story: Judges 17 for Kids
Long ago, in the hill country of Ephraim, there lived a man named Micah. One day Micah took eleven hundred pieces of silver from his mother. His mother had been very upset about the missing money and had spoken a curse over whoever took it. Later, Micah became afraid of his mother’s words, so he told her the truth. He said, “I took the silver. Here it is.”
Micah’s mother was surprised. Instead of being angry, she said, “May the LORD bless my son!” She gave the silver back to Micah, but she said she wanted to dedicate it to the LORD. She had a silversmith use two hundred pieces of silver to make a carved image and a molten image. These were statues made by human hands, and they were placed in Micah’s house.
Micah also built a house of gods. He made a special robe called an ephod and some small household idols called teraphim. Then he chose one of his own sons to serve as his priest. At that time there was no king in Israel, and everyone did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
Soon a young Levite named from Bethlehem in Judah came walking through the hill country looking for a place to live. He stopped at Micah’s house. Micah asked him where he came from. The Levite answered, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem, and I am looking for a place to stay.”
Micah said, “Stay with me. Be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten pieces of silver every year, a set of clothes, and your food.” The Levite agreed and moved in. Micah then made him his personal priest. Micah was happy and said, “Now I know that the LORD will do good to me, since I have a Levite as my priest.”
Read It Together
Judges 17:1-2
1 There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 He said to his mother, “The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me. I took it.” His mother said, “May the LORD bless my son!”
(WEB)
Point out that Micah’s mother gave her son a blessing right after he confessed to stealing from her. Ask children to notice that the money came back, but the family still did not truly honor God with it.
Judges 17:5
The man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
(WEB)
Show children how Micah built his own house of gods and chose his own priest. Explain that this was Micah’s own plan, not the plan God had given to His people.
Judges 17:12-13
12 Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. 13 Then Micah said, “Now know I that the LORD will do good to me, since I have a Levite as my priest.”
(WEB)
Point to the phrase where Micah says he now knows God will do good to him. Explain that Micah was wrong to think a priest he picked himself would make God pleased with him.
Talk About It
- What did Micah do with the silver that his mother had given back to him?
- Why do you think Micah wanted his own priest instead of following God’s way?
- How can we tell when we are trying to use God like a good luck charm?
- What does it mean to do what is right in God’s eyes rather than in our own eyes?
- How can your family show that the true God matters more than our own ideas about Him?
Activity Ideas
Draw Your Own Idol Versus the True God
Give each child a sheet of paper and crayons. Ask them to draw a picture of something people sometimes trust instead of God, such as a lucky charm or a favorite toy. Then have them draw a simple picture of God as the one who never changes. Talk about the difference between the two drawings and let children explain their pictures.
Follow the Leader With Right and Wrong
Gather the children in an open space and choose one child to be the leader. The leader makes simple movements, like clapping or jumping, and the others copy. Then stop the game and say that God is the true leader we follow, not our own ideas of what looks good. Play again, this time having children follow only the words you say from God’s Word. This helps them see that we are meant to follow God, not make up our own rules.
Take-Home Promise Card
Cut a piece of cardstock into a small rectangle for each child. Ask them to write or draw one way they will follow God this week, such as sharing or helping at home. Encourage them to put the card somewhere they will see it each morning, like on the bathroom mirror or inside a shoe. Explain that this helps them remember that God, not their own ideas, leads them.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows what happens when people try to create their own version of God and worship it in a way that suits them. Micah’s story reveals how a household can drift from God’s truth even while using religious language. The chapter reminds us that God calls His people to listen to His Word and not to shape Him according to our desires.
With children, avoid overstating the idea that every family must have a specific religious object or ritual in order to please God. Keep the focus on the simple truth that God is real and worth trusting, and that we should not invent our own versions of Him.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, we want to follow You and not make up our own ideas about who You are. Help us to listen to Your Word and do what is right in Your eyes. Thank You that You are the true God who never changes. Help us to trust You every day. Amen.
