Isaiah 36 teaches children that God is faithful even when enemies say mean and scary things. This lesson is for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, a discussion, and an activity.
Big Idea
When people say God cannot help us, we can still trust Him. God is stronger than any enemy, and He never stops listening to His people.
Memory Verse
Isaiah 36:7
But if you tell me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar?’”
(WEB)
Cup both hands over your ears when you say the word “trust,” then open them wide and hold them up to the sky like you are receiving a gift from God. Say the verse together three times, getting a little louder each time.
The Story: Isaiah 36 for Kids
A long time ago, a king named Sennacherib ruled the powerful country of Assyria. He had a big army, and he went from city to city, capturing the towns of Judah one by one. Then he sent a loud and bossy man named Rabshakeh to the city of Jerusalem, where a good king named Hezekiah lived.
Rabshakeh walked up to the wall of Jerusalem and began to shout. He wanted all the people to hear him. He told them that their king could not save them, and that their friends in Egypt could not save them either. He said that no god in any other land had ever saved its people from Assyria.
King Hezekiah’s helpers were worried. They tore their clothes, which was something people did when they were very sad. They went to tell the king what Rabshakeh had said. The enemy had said that the God of Israel could not protect His people, and that was not true.
Rabshakeh’s words were loud and unkind, but the people of Jerusalem did not answer him back. They were quiet on the wall, and they kept their eyes on God. The story is not finished in Isaiah 36, but it shows us that even scary words cannot change who God is.
Read It Together
Isaiah 36:4
Rabshakeh said to them, “Now tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, “What confidence is this in which you trust?
(WEB)
Point out that Rabshakeh is trying to make God’s people feel small and scared. Ask the children to notice how he speaks about the king and the people, and talk about how bullies often use big words to frighten others.
Isaiah 36:15
Don’t let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, “The LORD will surely deliver us. This city won’t be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”’
(WEB)
Show the children that Rabshakeh is trying to convince the people not to trust God. Explain that his words were a lie, and that we can always tell the truth from a lie by remembering who God really is.
Isaiah 36:21
But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king’s commandment was, “Don’t answer him.”
(WEB)
Point out that the people stayed quiet instead of arguing. Talk about how sometimes the best answer to a mean word is a calm heart that keeps trusting God, even when we do not have the right words to say.
Talk About It
- What did Rabshakeh want the people of Jerusalem to believe about God?
- How do you think King Hezekiah felt when he heard those loud words?
- Why do you think the people stayed quiet instead of shouting back?
- When someone says something mean about you, what is one way you can remember that God is still with you?
- What is one thing you can do this week to trust God when you feel scared?
Activity Ideas
Paper Wall Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and tape. Have each child draw a tall wall with a strong gate on one sheet of paper. Then ask them to draw a small picture of God standing behind the wall, and tape the finished picture to the classroom or fridge as a reminder that God protects His people.
Quiet Shield Game
You will need a few pillows or cushions. Set them in a line to make a wall. Call out a silly “bossy” phrase, and have the children hold up one hand like a shield while they stay quiet and calm. Then have them say the memory verse together. This helps children practice staying steady when voices are loud.
Take-Home Trust Card
You will need an index card, a pen, and a rubber band. Help each child write “God is with me” on the card and decorate it. Ask them to keep it in a pocket or on their bedside table. Encourage them to read it aloud whenever they feel scared, and to tell someone in the family what it means to them.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that enemies can use confident and threatening language to pressure God’s people, but their words do not determine God’s faithfulness. Hezekiah’s response, which is to bring the matter to the Lord, models a steady kind of trust. The chapter also reminds us that God’s people belong to a long story in which He keeps His promises.
Avoid promising children that God will always rescue them from every frightening situation in the exact way the story describes. Instead, focus on the truth that God is trustworthy and near, and that He cares for us even when life feels unsafe.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You that You are stronger than any enemy and that You always hear us. When people say unkind things, help us stay calm and trust You. Be near to us this week, and help us remember that You are with us. Amen.
