This lesson teaches children that God cares about rest and freedom for every person and for the land, and that he takes care of his people. It is written for children about 5 to 11 years old and takes 20 to 30 minutes, including a short story, a few Bible verses, a discussion, and an activity.
Big Idea
God gives rest and freedom, and he takes care of us when we trust him. Every seventh year and every fiftieth year were gifts from God, not chores.
Memory Verse
Leviticus 25:10
You shall make the fiftieth year holy, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee to you; and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family.
(WEB)
Hold both arms out wide, like you are opening a gate. Then bring your hands together in front of your heart. Say “Freedom!” as you open your arms, and “God’s gift” as you close them.
The Story: Leviticus 25 for Kids
God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. He told Moses to tell the children of Israel something important. Soon they would enter the land God was giving them, and God wanted them to remember that the land belonged to him. Every seventh year, the fields had to rest. No one planted seeds or pruned the grapevines. God said, “The land shall keep a Sabbath to the LORD.”
Think about that. The farmers could not work for a whole year, but God promised to take care of them. He said, “I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, and it shall bear fruit for three years.” Moses told the people they could trust God to provide. The servants, the strangers, and even the animals could eat whatever grew on its own during the rest year.
After seven sets of seven years, something special came. That was the fiftieth year, called the Year of Jubilee. A loud trumpet sounded on the Day of Atonement. God said, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.” People who had lost their land got it back. Families who had been sold into service went home to their own families.
God also taught the people to treat each other kindly. If a poor brother needed help, they were to help him and not take advantage of him. God said, “You shall not rule over him with harshness, but shall fear your God.” The people were not to see one another as property. They belonged to God, because he had rescued them from slavery in Egypt.
So this chapter shows us a God who cares about the land, about families, and about people who are poor. He wants his people to rest, to be free, and to be generous. These rules were a way for the people to show that they belonged to the God who had brought them out of Egypt.
Read It Together
Leviticus 25:4
But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.
(WEB)
Point out that God gave the land its own Sabbath rest. Ask the children what they think it would feel like to wait a whole year without working in the field, and why God wanted that rest.
Leviticus 25:35-36
35 “‘If your brother has become poor, and his hand can’t support himself among you; then you shall uphold him. He shall live with you like an alien and a temporary resident. 36 Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God; that your brother may live among you.
(WEB)
Show the children that God told his people to help a brother who had become poor. Point out the words “uphold him” and “that your brother may live among you,” and talk about ways we can help people who need it today.
Leviticus 25:55
For to me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
(WEB)
Read this last verse slowly. Explain that God reminded his people they were his servants because he had rescued them. Help children see that God is the one who brings us freedom.
Talk About It
- Why do you think God wanted the land to rest every seventh year?
- What did God promise the farmers would happen when they trusted him to take care of them?
- How did the Year of Jubilee give families a fresh start?
- What are some ways we can help someone who is having a hard time?
- Why did God remind his people that he had rescued them from Egypt?
Activity Ideas
Jubilee Trumpet Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a trumpet and write or draw one thing they would want to be set free from or given back, like a toy, a friend, or a feeling. Let them show their drawings and explain them to the group. Keep it simple and let the children talk about freedom in their own words.
Seventh-Year Rest Game
Play a simple game of “Freeze and Rest.” Set up a play area and have the children walk, skip, or dance. When you call “Rest year!” everyone freezes and stays still for a count of ten. Explain that God gave the people a time to stop working and trust him. Play a few rounds, and end by asking how it felt to rest.
Take-Home Helping Card
You will need an index card or a small piece of paper, a pen, and a sticker if you have one. Ask each child to write or draw one way they will help someone this week, like sharing a snack or cleaning up without being asked. They can put the card on the fridge or in their backpack. Pray over the cards together as a reminder that God cares for everyone.
Teacher Notes
This chapter shows that God owns everything, including the land and the people, and that he calls his people to rest, justice, and generosity. For adults, it reveals God’s concern for the poor, the stranger, and the vulnerable, and it points forward to the freedom and care found in Christ. Read the whole chapter before teaching so you understand how the rules connect.
Avoid suggesting to children that the Year of Jubilee is a rule we must follow today in the same way. Some details are specific to ancient Israel’s land and society. Focus instead on what the chapter teaches about God’s character: he is faithful, generous, and the one who sets people free.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for giving us rest and for taking care of us. Thank you for setting us free and for showing us how to help others. Help us to trust you every day and to be kind to the people around us. Amen.
