This lesson teaches children that God sees wrong and will make it right, even when the world seems strong. It works well for kids from about 5 to 11 and takes 20 to 30 minutes, with time for a story, a few verses, and an activity.
Big Idea
God is in charge, and he will make wrong things right in the end. We can trust him even when bad things seem to win.
Memory Verse
Isaiah 13:11
I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity. I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will humble the haughtiness of the terrible.
(WEB)
Have the children stand up tall and point up to the sky with one hand while saying the verse together. Then fold your arms and stand still, showing that God is the one who makes things right. Repeat it three times, getting a little quieter each time.
The Story: Isaiah 13 for Kids
A long time ago, the prophet Isaiah received a message from God about the great city of Babylon. Babylon was rich and powerful, and its people were proud. They thought nothing could ever touch them. But God had a message for them, and Isaiah was told to pass it on loudly, so that everyone could hear.
God said that he had called his own helpers to come and do his work. Armies were gathering in the mountains, and the noise of many people filled the air. Isaiah told the people to be afraid of what was coming, because the day of the Lord was near. Everyone would feel weak, and their hearts would melt like wax in the sun.
The sun, moon, and stars would not shine as they should. The sky would look dark and strange. God said, “I will punish the world for their evil.” He would stop the pride of the proud people and make the high and mighty become humble. Even precious gold would seem rare, because people would be so few.
Isaiah told of a sad time, when people would run away from their homes like frightened sheep with no shepherd. Babylon would no longer be a place where people lived. Wild animals would move in, and the city would be left empty for many years. This was God’s answer to the wrong that had been done.
The lesson for us is that God never forgets what is right. He sees every wrong and he will not let it last forever. The people of Babylon thought they were safe, but God was in control the whole time.
Read It Together
Isaiah 13:1
The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
(WEB)
Point out that this chapter starts with a message, which means God was speaking through Isaiah. Ask the children who they think the message was for, and remind them that God cares about what happens to every nation.
Isaiah 13:6
Wail; for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
(WEB)
Explain that the word “wail” means to cry out loudly with sadness or fear. Show the children how someone might look if they were scared, and talk about how God’s day of judgment is serious and should not be taken lightly.
Isaiah 13:19-20
19 Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be like when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20 It will never be inhabited, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. The Arabian will not pitch a tent there, neither will shepherds make their flocks lie down there.
(WEB)
Point out that Babylon was once a famous, beautiful city. Explain that even the strongest and proudest places can be brought low when God acts. Remind the children that pride is never safe.
Talk About It
- What do you think it would feel like to live in a city that everyone thought was safe?
- Why do you think God was upset with the people of Babylon?
- How can you tell when someone is being proud, and what could you do instead?
- What does it mean that God sees everything that happens?
- How can knowing God is in charge help you when you feel scared?
Activity Ideas
Paper City Drawing
Give each child a sheet of paper and some crayons or markers. Ask them to draw a tall city with towers and houses, then add a dark sky above it. Talk about how the city looked proud and strong, and how God’s message reminds us that he is above every city. Let them write one word on the picture about what God is like, such as “fair” or “strong.”
Shepherd and Sheep Game
Choose one child to be the shepherd and the rest to be sheep. The sheep spread out around the room, then run to the shepherd when you call. Then have the shepherd step away and the sheep wander, to show how people scatter when they are afraid. End by having the shepherd call them back together, reminding the children that God cares for his people.
Take-Home Sun and Stars Card
Cut a circle from yellow paper for the sun and a few smaller shapes for stars. Ask each child to glue them onto a card. Explain that God made the sun and stars and that he is the one who keeps the world in order. Encourage the children to show the card to their family at home and tell them one thing they learned today.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter is a sober message about God’s justice against pride and violence. Isaiah speaks against Babylon, a powerful empire that had oppressed others, and he announces that God will bring it down. Read the chapter as a warning to every human power that thinks it can ignore God’s rule, while also trusting God’s faithfulness to his people.
With children, avoid overstating the frightening details, such as the violence described in verses 16 and 18. Keep the focus on God’s justice, his control over every nation, and the reassurance that wrong will not last forever. Let younger children hear the big picture without dwelling on the harsh images.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you that you see everything and you are always in control. Help us to be humble and not proud, and help us trust you when things seem hard. Thank you that you will make all wrong things right in the end. Amen.
