This lesson teaches children that God is in charge of every nation, even the ones we might not expect, and that He wants all people to know Him. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is the Lord over all the nations, and He can bring even enemies to know Him and worship Him. Nothing is too far from His reach.
Memory Verse
Isaiah 19:20
It will be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of Armies in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and he will send them a savior and a defender, and he will deliver them.
(WEB)
Hold both hands out in front of you, then slowly bring them together at your chest as you say the verse aloud. Repeat it three times, getting a little louder each time, until the class can say it with you.
The Story: Isaiah 19 for Kids
Long ago, the prophet Isaiah spoke a message from God about Egypt. Egypt was a big, powerful country, and its people trusted in their idols and their wise men. God wanted them to know that He was the true Lord.
God said that He would come to Egypt like a rider on a fast cloud. The people would be shaken, and their rivers would dry up. Egyptians would even start fighting each other, city against city. The people had been relying on their own wisdom, but God showed that their plans were foolish.
But God’s story did not end with trouble. He said that in that day, there would be an altar to the Lord right in the middle of Egypt. The Egyptians would cry out to the Lord when they were hurting, and He would send them a savior who would rescue them. God told them, “Egypt, you will know Me.”
God also said that Egypt and Assyria, who were enemies, would one day travel the same road and worship together. Israel would be a blessing along with them. God said, “Blessed be Egypt, My people, Assyria, the work of My hands, and Israel, My inheritance.” Even the nations that had been far apart would belong to God.
Read It Together
Isaiah 19:1
The burden of Egypt. “Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, and comes to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence; and the heart of Egypt will melt within it.
(WEB)
Point out that God comes to Egypt on a swift cloud. Ask the children what it means that God is so powerful that He can travel anywhere He wants, even to a country that did not follow Him.
Isaiah 19:21-22
21 The LORD will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day. Yes, they will worship with sacrifice and offering, and will vow a vow to the LORD, and will perform it. 22 The LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing. They will return to the LORD, and he will be entreated by them, and will heal them.
(WEB)
Show how the Egyptians come to know the Lord, and how He hears their cries and heals them. Explain that God loves to help people turn back to Him when they call on Him.
Isaiah 19:25
Because the LORD of Armies has blessed them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.”
(WEB)
Point out the words “my people” and “my inheritance.” Explain that God calls these nations His own, which shows that He cares about everyone, not just one family or one country.
Talk About It
- What did the Egyptians trust in before God spoke to them, and why do you think those things could not save them?
- How do you think God felt when He wanted the Egyptians to know Him?
- What does it tell us about God that He can be known by people who once did not follow Him?
- Why do you think the people in Egypt cried out to the Lord when they were in trouble?
- Who is someone in your life who might need to know God, and how can we pray for them?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Land with an Altar
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a simple map of Egypt with a river running through it. Then have them draw a small altar in the middle of the land, with a sun or a cloud above it to remind them that God sees and rules over every place.
Cloud Ride Game
You will need a open space and a soft ball or a folded towel. Have the children stand in a circle and pass the ball, saying “The Lord comes on a swift cloud” each time they pass it. When you call out “Egypt!”, the child holding the ball gets to raise both arms and say “God is Lord of Egypt!” before passing again.
Take-Home Memory Card
You will need index cards, a marker, and a pen. Write Isaiah 19:20 on one side of the card and draw a small cloud on the other side. Let each child decorate it, then take it home and show it to a family member, saying the verse together before dinner or bedtime.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s sovereignty extends over every nation, and that His plans include even the nations that once opposed Israel. It also reveals His heart to heal and to bring people into worship, which means God’s mercy is wider than we often imagine.
With children, avoid suggesting that God is only concerned with the nations today in the same way He was in Isaiah’s time. Keep the focus on what the chapter clearly says about God’s power, His call to worship, and His faithfulness to rescue people who cry out to Him.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You that You are powerful over every country and every people. Thank You that You hear when we call to You and that You want all people to know You. Help us to pray for others and to trust You with the things we cannot see. Amen.
