This lesson teaches children that God keeps his promises, even when his people go wrong. Leviticus 26 is a chapter of promises and warnings from God to the people of Israel, and it works well for children aged 5 to 11. Plan for about 20 to 30 minutes, including a short story, a few Bible readings, a discussion, and a simple activity.
Big Idea
God loves his people, he keeps his word, and he always invites us back to him. When we make wrong choices, God is still faithful to us. He wants us to come back to him with sorry hearts.
Memory Verse
Leviticus 26:12
I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you will be my people.
(WEB)
Teach the children to cup their hands over their hearts, then open their arms wide on the words “I will walk among you.” Say the verse together three times, getting a little quieter each time, and finish with a big, open-armed hug in the air.
The Story: Leviticus 26 for Kids
God gave Moses many rules for his people, the children of Israel, on Mount Sinai. The people had just been rescued from slavery in Egypt, and God wanted them to know how to live as his special family. In this chapter, God told them that he would be their God and that they would be his people. He promised to give them rain at the right time so their fields would grow and their bellies would be full.
God also told them to make no idols. An idol is a statue or carved picture that people might bow down to instead of God. God said, “I am the LORD your God,” and he wanted his people to worship only him. He asked them to keep the Sabbath day holy, which means a day of rest set apart for God.
Then God gave them a warning. He said that if they chose to ignore him and broke his promises, there would be hard times. Their harvests would fail, and their enemies would win battles against them. God was sad about this, because he loved them and did not want them to be hurt.
But God did not stop there. He said that even if his people were scattered far away in other lands, he would remember his promises. He would remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the men who had come before them. God said, “I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them.” His love for them would never end.
The people had a choice to make. They could turn away from God and suffer the consequences, or they could turn back to God with humble hearts. God was always ready to welcome them home. That is the heart of this chapter: God is faithful, even when we are not.
Read It Together
Leviticus 26:3-4
3 “‘If you walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; 4 then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
(WEB)
Point out that God begins with “If you walk in my statutes.” Ask the children what it looks like to walk with God each day, such as talking to him, being kind, and obeying his word. Then show how God answers with good gifts, like rain and fruitful fields.
Leviticus 26:11-12
11 I will set my tent among you, and my soul won’t abhor you. 12 I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you will be my people.
(WEB)
Help the children notice how close God wants to be with his people. He says he will set his tent among them and walk among them. Explain that God’s presence was a real comfort to Israel, and that God wants to be close to us too.
Leviticus 26:44-45
44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God; 45 but I will for their sake remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the LORD.’”
(WEB)
Read these verses slowly and point out that God says he will not reject his people, even when they have done wrong. Remind the children that God remembers his promises. Explain that this is good news, because God never gives up on the people he loves.
Talk About It
- What are some ways we can show God that we love him and want to follow him?
- Why do you think God gave the people rules to help them live well?
- What does it feel like when someone keeps a promise to you?
- How did God show that he still loved his people, even when they made bad choices?
- What is one thing you can do this week to walk closer with God?
Activity Ideas
Rainbow Promise Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a rainbow and write or draw one promise that God has made, such as “I will walk among you” or “I will never reject you.” Let them decorate the rainbow with colors and small pictures of rain or fields. Talk about how God’s promises are always faithful, just like the rain that comes in its season.
Follow the Leader Walk
Clear a space in the room or outside. Choose one child to be the leader, and everyone else follows, copying their movements. Stop every minute or so and say, “God walks with us!” Then have everyone link arms or hold hands. Explain that walking with God means following him closely and staying near him, just as Israel was called to do.
Promise Card for Home
Give each child an index card or a small piece of cardstock. Help them write “God keeps his promises” on one side and draw a small heart on the other. They can place the card on the kitchen table, in a school bag, or on a bedside table. Encourage them to read the card each morning and remember that God is with them every day.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Leviticus 26 shows that God’s covenant with Israel came with real blessings for obedience and real consequences for turning away. Yet the chapter ends with hope, because God promises to remember his covenant and restore his people when they humble themselves and confess their sins. The main message is that God’s faithfulness does not depend on our perfection.
When teaching children, avoid making the warnings sound like God is cruel or waiting to punish them. Keep the focus on God’s love and his desire to bring his people back to himself. The warnings are real, but the chapter’s final message is one of mercy and hope.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank you for keeping your promises to us. Help us to walk with you each day and to listen to your voice. When we make mistakes, help us come back to you with sorry hearts. Thank you that you never stop loving us and that you are always ready to welcome us home. Amen.
