This lesson teaches children that God keeps His promises, and that the rainbow is His sign of that promise never to flood the whole earth again. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God always keeps His promises. When God makes a promise, He never forgets it, and the rainbow reminds us of His faithful love for every living creature.
Memory Verse
Genesis 9:13
I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.
(WEB)
Have children make a big arch over their heads with both arms, then wiggle their fingers down like rain. Say the verse together while the arms make the rainbow shape, then clap once to show God remembers.
The Story: Genesis 9 for Kids
After the big flood, God gave Noah and his sons a fresh start. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth.” Noah’s family stepped out of the big boat onto dry ground, and the animals went out with them. Everything was new again.
God told Noah that people could now eat animals, but they must never eat the blood, because blood is life. God also said that anyone who hurts another person will answer to God, because every person is made in God’s image. These were rules to help people treat life as precious.
Then God made a promise to Noah, his family, and every living creature. God said, “I will never again send a flood to destroy the earth.” This promise was a covenant, a serious promise that would last forever. God wanted everyone to know that He would keep His word.
To show His promise, God placed a rainbow in the clouds. When the rain falls and the sun shines, the rainbow appears. God looks at it and remembers His promise. Every rainbow is a reminder that God will never forget His word.
Later, Noah planted a vineyard and drank too much wine. He fell asleep in his tent without clothes on. His son Ham saw his father and told his brothers. Shem and Japheth walked in backward with a cloak and covered their father, so they would not look at him.
When Noah woke up, he knew what had happened. He lived for many more years, and then he died. The story shows that even in a hard moment, God’s promises still stand.
Read It Together
Genesis 9:1
God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth.
(WEB)
Point out that God blessed Noah and his family first, before giving any rules. Ask children what they think a blessing means and how God showed love right after the flood.
Genesis 9:8-11
8 God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, 9 “As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the livestock, and every animal of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ship, even every animal of the earth. 11 I will establish my covenant with you: All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood. There will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”
(WEB)
Show children that God made the covenant with Noah and with every living creature. Explain that God’s promise is wide enough to include animals, birds, and people everywhere.
Genesis 9:16
The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”
(WEB)
Point out that God says He will look at the rainbow to remember His promise. Remind children that God never forgets, and that His memory is always perfect.
Talk About It
- What did God promise Noah, and why do you think God wanted to make that promise?
- What do you see when you look at a rainbow, and how can it remind you of God?
- Why do you think God wants people to treat every living creature with care?
- How can you show that you keep your promises to your family and friends?
- When you feel scared, what can you remember about God’s promises?
Activity Ideas
Paper Plate Rainbow Craft
You will need a paper plate, crayons or markers, cotton balls, and glue. Have children draw a rainbow on the plate, using all the colors they like. Then they glue cotton balls at the ends of the rainbow to make clouds. As they work, talk about how God placed the rainbow in the sky as a sign of His promise.
Rainbow Walk Game
You will need a open space and a few chairs or pillows. Call out colors, and children move to touch something of that color around the room. Each time they finish, have them stretch their arms into a rainbow arch and say, “God keeps His promises.” It helps children move and remember the meaning together.
Take-Home Promise Card
You will need index cards, a marker, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a small rainbow on the card and write one promise they want to keep this week, such as helping a sibling or making their bed. Encourage them to put the card somewhere they will see it each day, reminding them of God’s faithfulness.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage shows God renewing His relationship with humanity after judgment. The covenant is unconditional and includes all living creatures, which points to God’s wide care for creation. The rainbow is a sign that God stays committed to His promises, even when humans fail, as the story of Noah’s drunkenness later shows.
Avoid overstating the story’s difficult parts to young children. Keep the focus on God’s promise and faithfulness, and gently explain that Noah’s failure is a reminder that people still need God’s grace, rather than turning the lesson into a discussion of Ham’s sin or the curse on Canaan.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for keeping Your promises every single day. We see the rainbow and remember that You never forget us. Help us keep our promises too, and help us care for everyone You have made. Amen.
