This lesson teaches children that God sees every wrong thing people do and that He keeps His promises, even when they seem far away. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, verses, and activity.
Big Idea
God sees what is done to His people, and He always keeps His word. Nothing hidden from Him is forgotten, and nothing He has said will fail.
Memory Verse
Ezekiel 35:4
I will lay your cities waste, and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
(WEB)
Teach the children to hold both hands up in front of them, palms facing out, then slowly bring them together to make a clap on the words “Then you will know.” Repeat the verse together three times, getting a little quieter each time, so the children learn it by heart.
The Story: Ezekiel 35 for Kids
Long ago, God gave a message to His prophet Ezekiel. God told Ezekiel to face a mountain called Mount Seir and speak to it. Mount Seir was the home of the people of Edom, who were neighbors to Israel. Ezekiel was a messenger, so he did what God asked, even though it was a strange thing to do.
The people of Edom had been very unkind to Israel. When Israel was in trouble, Edom did not help. Instead, they were glad to see Israel hurt, and they wanted to take Israel’s land for themselves. They said, “These two countries will be ours.” God heard every word they spoke, and He was not pleased.
God told Ezekiel to say that Edom would be made empty and sad, just as they had wanted Israel to be. Their cities would be left empty, and their land would be a place of ruin. God said that the people would know He is the LORD when this happened. He was not ignoring their unkindness. He was watching all along.
God was not being cruel for no reason. He was being fair. He wanted His people to know that He cares about how they are treated. He also wanted Edom to understand that they could not hurt God’s people and get away with it. God always keeps His word, whether it is a promise to bless or a promise to judge.
Read It Together
Ezekiel 35:5
“‘“Because you have had a perpetual hostility, and have given over the children of Israel to the power of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time of the iniquity of the end…
(WEB)
Point out that the people of Edom had kept a long-standing anger against Israel. Ask the children how it feels when someone is mean to them over and over. Explain that God notices this kind of hurt and does not overlook it.
Ezekiel 35:10-11
10 “‘“Because you have said, ‘These two nations and these two countries will be mine, and we will possess it;’ whereas the LORD was there: 11 therefore, as I live,” says the Lord the LORD, “I will do according to your anger, and according to your envy which you have shown out of your hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.
(WEB)
Show the children that the people of Edom were saying things that were not true, claiming land that belonged to God’s people. Explain that God knows what is in every heart, and He answers what people say and do.
Ezekiel 35:12-13
12 You will know that I, the LORD, have heard all your insults which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They have been laid desolate. They have been given us to devour.’ 13 You have magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and have multiplied your words against me. I have heard it.”
(WEB)
Point out that God heard every insult and every boast. Help the children see that God is not too far away to hear our words, whether they are kind or unkind. This is a good moment to talk about being careful with our own words.
Talk About It
- What is something mean that someone might say about another person, and how do you think it makes that person feel?
- Why do you think the people of Edom were glad when Israel was in trouble, and what could they have done instead?
- What does it tell us about God that He heard every word the people of Edom spoke?
- How can you show kindness to someone who is having a hard time, like Israel was?
- When has someone kept a promise to you, and how did that make you feel about them?
Activity Ideas
Mountain and Valley Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a tall mountain on one side of the page and a green valley below it. Then ask them to draw one kind thing they could do for someone, like sharing a toy or helping with chores. Let them talk about their drawings, and remind them that God sees each small kindness just as clearly as He saw the unkindness of Edom.
Hands Up, Hands Down Game
Gather the children in an open space. Tell them that when you say “Mountain,” they should raise both arms high over their heads, and when you say “Kind word,” they should give a gentle clap. Mix up the words quickly, and have them move with you. At the end, say the memory verse together. This game helps children move their bodies while they practice the words of God’s truth.
Promise Card for Home
You will need an index card, a pen, and a small piece of tape or a magnet. Help each child write or draw a simple promise they can keep this week, such as “I will help my sister” or “I will say kind words at dinner.” Tape the card to the fridge or a bedroom door. Encourage them to check it each day, and remind them that God always keeps His promises, and He wants us to keep ours too.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God takes seriously how people treat one another, especially how they treat His people. Edom’s cruelty and their gloating over Israel’s trouble drew God’s direct response. The passage also affirms that God hears every word and knows every heart, and that His word of judgment, like His promises of blessing, will come true.
When teaching children, avoid making this chapter sound like God is angry or eager to punish. Keep the focus on His faithfulness and fairness, and on the call to kindness. Be careful not to suggest that any particular nation or group of people today is the same as Edom, since that could lead children to unfair or hurtful assumptions.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for seeing everything we do, both the good and the hard. Help us to be kind to people who are sad or in trouble, and help us to keep our promises. Thank You that You always keep Your word, and that You are always fair. We love You, and we trust You. Amen.
