This lesson teaches children that God keeps his promises even when his people keep forgetting him. It works well for ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, a few verses, and one activity.
Big Idea
God loves his people and keeps his promises, even when they turn away from him. He always wants them to come back home to him.
Memory Verse
Ezekiel 20:19
I am the LORD your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them.
(WEB)
Have children stand up and walk in place as they say the verse together, then sit down slowly on the last words. Ask them to pretend their feet are walking God’s path, so they remember that God wants us to walk in his ways.
The Story: Ezekiel 20 for Kids
A long time ago, some leaders of Israel came to visit the prophet Ezekiel. They wanted to ask God a question. But God told Ezekiel to tell them something important first. God reminded them of the day he chose their family and rescued them from Egypt.
God had made a promise to bring his people into a good land, a land full of milk and honey. He told them to throw away the idols they had picked up in Egypt. He wanted them to trust only him and to obey him.
But the people did not listen. They kept their idols, and they did not keep God’s Sabbath day holy. God was angry, but he did not give up on them. He chose to protect them and spare them from being destroyed completely.
God told the children in the desert, “Walk in my ways. Keep my commands. Make my Sabbath day holy.” But the children did not listen either. They also turned away from God and followed the ways of their parents.
God was still faithful. He told his people that he would bring them back home to their own land one day. He said that they would remember how they had turned away, and they would be sorry for the wrong things they did.
Read It Together
Ezekiel 20:5
Tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord the LORD: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God;’
(WEB)
Point out that God says “I am the LORD your God” before he tells the people anything else. Explain that God first reminds them who he is, and then he tells them what to do. Children can understand that God always introduces himself as their caring Lord.
Ezekiel 20:7
I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
(WEB)
Show children that God asked his people to throw away anything that took the place of him in their hearts. Explain that things we love more than God can be like idols. Ask them to think about what they might need to set aside to love God better.
Ezekiel 20:40
For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord the LORD, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.
(WEB)
Point to the picture of God gathering his people together on his holy mountain. Explain that God’s plan always ends with his people worshiping him with joy. Remind children that God is working to bring his family home.
Talk About It
- What did God remind the people about before he asked them to obey him?
- What were some of the idols the people kept, and what do you think we might sometimes choose instead of God?
- How did God show that he still loved his people even when they disobeyed him?
- Why do you think God wanted his people to keep the Sabbath day holy?
- How can you remember that God keeps his promises when you feel like you have made a mistake?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Path Home
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a winding path with a house at the end. Along the path, they can draw things that make it hard to follow God, and then draw a friendly arrow pointing them back toward home. Talk together about how God’s promise leads us home.
Walk the Wilderness Game
You will need a open space and some masking tape or string. Lay out a long winding path on the floor. Have children walk the path while you call out “Keep my commands” or “Make my Sabbath holy,” and they step forward. When you call “Turn away,” they step back and try again. End with everyone walking the path to the finish line together.
Milk and Honey Snack Take-Home
You will need plain yogurt, a little honey, and small cups or sandwich bags. Mix a small spoonful of honey into each cup of yogurt and send it home with a card that says “God keeps his promises.” As children eat it at home, encourage them to tell someone one thing God promised us. This helps the lesson stay with them through the week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God is holy and patient at the same time. He is faithful to his covenant even when his people repeatedly turn to other gods and ignore his commands. The passage reminds us that God’s ultimate purpose is to restore his people and be honored among the nations.
With children, avoid making the consequences of sin sound like a list of punishments or suggesting that God is quick to be angry. Focus on his mercy, his desire to bring his people home, and his faithfulness, since that is the heart of the passage.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for keeping your promises to us. Help us to remember who you are, and help us to throw away anything that takes your place in our hearts. Lead us home to you, and teach us to walk in your ways every day. Amen.
