This lesson teaches children that God is the one we can truly trust, not the strong nations or powerful people we sometimes look to for safety. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is the only one we can always count on to keep us safe, so we should trust Him and not the things people build or the helpers people hope for.
Memory Verse
Isaiah 20:5
They will be dismayed and confounded, because of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
(WEB)
Have the children stand tall, then slowly sink down to their knees, bowing their heads as they say the words together. Repeat it three times, getting a little quieter each time. The bowing motion helps them picture letting go of what they were leaning on.
The Story: Isaiah 20 for Kids
A long time ago, there was a country called Assyria, and its king was named Sargon. His army was strong and very scary. They marched into a city called Ashdod and took it over. The people of Ashdod had been hoping that a neighboring country, Egypt, would help save them. But Egypt could not protect them.
God had a message for His prophet Isaiah. He told Isaiah to take off his special outer robe and his sandals, and to walk around barefoot and with only his undergarment on. That was not how a prophet usually dressed, so people would have noticed. God wanted everyone to see it. Isaiah did exactly what God asked, and he kept doing it for three whole years.
Why did God ask for something so strange? God told Isaiah that the same thing would happen to the people of Egypt and Ethiopia. The Assyrian king would lead their people away as captives, young and old, with nothing on their feet and no clothes to be proud of. It would be a sad and shameful day for them.
The people of Ashdod had trusted Egypt and Ethiopia to save them. Now they would see that those nations could not save anyone. They would look at each other and ask, “We hoped for help from these places. How will we escape now?” God wanted His people to learn that real safety comes from Him alone.
Read It Together
Isaiah 20:1
In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it…
(WEB)
Point out the names of the places and the powerful king in this verse. Ask the children to notice that the events happened in a real time and place, just like their own lives do. Explain that God spoke to a real person, Isaiah, and used him to share an important message.
Isaiah 20:2-3
2 At that time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loosen the sackcloth from off your waist, and take your shoes from off your feet.” He did so, walking naked and barefoot. 3 The LORD said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia…
(WEB)
Show the children how Isaiah obeyed God even when it felt unusual or embarrassing. Ask them to notice that God called Isaiah His servant. Point out that God sometimes asks us to do things that seem odd, and that we can trust Him to know what He is doing.
Isaiah 20:6
The inhabitants of this coast land will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is our expectation, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria. And we, how will we escape?’”
(WEB)
Read this verse slowly and point out the question the people ask at the end. Explain that they had been counting on the wrong helpers. Help the children see that the people’s question shows what happens when we put our hope in something that cannot save us.
Talk About It
- What did the people of Ashdod hope would save them, and why do you think they chose that?
- How do you think Isaiah felt walking around barefoot for three years, and why do you think he obeyed God anyway?
- What are some people or things that we might be tempted to trust instead of God?
- What is one way you can remind yourself that God is always faithful?
- When you feel scared, what could you say or do to remember who is really in control?
Activity Ideas
Paper Sandal Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Have each child draw a pair of sandals on one piece of paper and a simple heart on another. On the heart, they write or draw one person or thing they trust, then glue or tape the heart to the sandals. Talk about how God is the one we can stand on, while everything else is a feeling of support that cannot always hold us up.
Stand Tall Game
Clear a space in the room and ask the children to stand on one foot like a flamingo. Then call out things like “trust your strong friend” or “trust a pile of cardboard boxes.” When you call out God, everyone stands tall with both feet. Explain that they are learning that only God holds steady no matter what happens.
Take-Home Trust Card
Give each child an index card, a pencil, and a bit of tape or a clip to keep it handy. Ask them to write “God is my safe place” on one side and draw a picture of their family or a favorite safe spot on the other. Encourage them to keep it in a pocket, backpack, or bedroom and read it when they feel worried this week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Isaiah 20 warns that trusting human power or foreign alliances for safety is a fragile hope. The chapter shows that God is sovereign over nations and that He speaks through the actions of His prophet to make His message clear. The real lesson is that God alone is a reliable source of security.
When teaching children, avoid making the story sound like a rule that God will punish any child who trusts a friend or a parent. The point is that human helpers are limited, while God is faithful. Keep the focus on God’s love and steady care rather than on fear of His anger.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, we know that You are the one we can always trust. Help us not to lean on things that cannot save us. Teach us to stand strong in You every day. Thank You for always keeping us safe. Amen.
