In this lesson, children learn that God wants leaders to be fair and honest, and that God sees when people use their power to hurt others. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God loves fairness, and he wants the people in charge to treat everyone kindly and honestly. When leaders do wrong, God sees it and cares about it.
Memory Verse
Micah 3:8
But as for me, I am full of power by the LORD’s Spirit, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin.
(WEB)
Stand up tall with your arms stretched out wide, then bring them down slowly as you say the words together. Ask the children to show you how strong and brave they can look when they stand for what is right.
The Story: Micah 3 for Kids
A long time ago, a prophet named Micah lived in the land of Judah. God sent him to speak to the leaders of his people. These leaders were supposed to be fair and to take care of the people, but many of them were not doing this at all. Micah wanted them to know that God had noticed.
Micah spoke to the rulers and told them that they should know what is fair. He said they hated good things and loved bad things. Some of the leaders were acting as if they wanted to hurt the very people they were supposed to protect. Micah said that these leaders treated God’s people like meat in a pot.
Some of the prophets were also telling lies. They said everything was peaceful, even when they were being paid to say it. They would tell people what they wanted to hear, as long as the money was good. Micah said that God would not be quiet about this.
Micah had a different kind of courage. God had filled him with his Spirit, and Micah was not afraid to tell the truth. He told the leaders their sins were wrong, even when they did not want to hear it. He stood up for the people who were being treated unfairly.
Micah said that the leaders took money to make their decisions, and the priests taught only for pay. The people also believed that nothing bad could happen to them because God was with them. But Micah warned that because of their wrong choices, the city would be broken down. The beautiful places would become piles of rubble.
Read It Together
Micah 3:1
I said, “Please listen, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: Isn’t it for you to know justice?
(WEB)
Point out that Micah begins by asking the leaders to listen carefully. Explain that God wants leaders to remember that fairness is their job, and that listening is the first step to doing it well.
Micah 3:9-11
9 Please listen to this, you heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice, and pervert all equity. 10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. 11 Her leaders judge for bribes, and her priests teach for a price, and her prophets of it tell fortunes for money: yet they lean on the LORD, and say, “Isn’t the LORD among us? No disaster will come on us.”
(WEB)
Show the children how the leaders judged for bribes and taught for money. Explain that God is not fooled by people who pretend to be good while doing wrong things in secret.
Micah 3:12
Therefore Zion for your sake will be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps of rubble, and the mountain of the temple like the high places of a forest.
(WEB)
Help the children see that God takes wrong choices seriously. Explain that Micah’s message was a warning, and that God wanted the people to turn back to him before it was too late.
Talk About It
- What does it mean to be fair to someone, even when it is hard?
- Why do you think Micah was brave to tell the leaders the truth?
- How can a leader show that they care about the people they lead?
- What did the people in the story believe about God, and why was that a mistake?
- How can we tell the truth with kindness when someone does something wrong?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Scale of Justice
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a simple balance scale with two pans, one on each side. On one side, have them draw something good, like a helping hand or a shared toy. On the other side, have them draw something unfair, like a bribe or a lie. Talk about which side God wants us to choose.
Stand Tall for the Truth
You will need a open space in the room and a few chairs. Set the chairs in a row to be the leaders. Ask the children to take turns walking past the chairs carefully, then stopping to stand very tall and say one fair thing they could do at home or school. This helps children practice being brave and honest.
Fair Helpers Card
You will need an index card, a pen, and a small envelope for each child. Ask children to write one way they can be fair this week, such as sharing, listening, or telling the truth. Help them decorate the card and place it in the envelope. Encourage them to read it at bedtime and talk about it with a parent.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Micah 3 shows that God cares deeply about justice, especially from those who lead. Leaders who take bribes, twist the truth, or use their position to harm others are held accountable by God. The chapter also reminds us that religious words can be used falsely when they serve money or power rather than God.
With children, avoid overstating the idea that God will destroy a city because of one bad choice. Keep the focus on God’s love for fairness and his desire for people to turn back to him, rather than on frightening images of destruction.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for loving fairness and for seeing everything we do. Help us to be honest and kind, and help us to stand up for what is right. When we are tempted to do something unfair, remind us that you are always watching with love. Amen.
