This lesson teaches children that God is stronger than any enemy, even when the enemy shouts very loudly. It works well for ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including a short story, a memory verse, and one simple activity.
Big Idea
When people say scary things, we can keep trusting God, because nothing is too big for him to handle.
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)
Put your hand on your heart when you say the words, then hold both hands up high like a strong wall. Say the verse together three times, getting a little louder each time, as if you are shouting back at a bully who is trying to scare you.
The Story: Isaiah 36 for Kids
A long time ago, there was a king named Hezekiah who ruled the city of Jerusalem in the land of Judah. The mighty king of Assyria, Sennacherib, had already captured many of the strong cities nearby. Now he sent a loud, proud officer named Rabshakeh to Jerusalem with a huge army behind him.
Rabshakeh walked up to the city wall and started shouting so everyone could hear. He told the people not to trust their king, Hezekiah. He said, “Don’t let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, because no god has ever saved anyone from the king of Assyria!” The people listening felt very worried.
King Hezekiah’s helpers were scared too. They came back to the king with their clothes torn, which was a sign of deep sadness and fear. They told him everything the officer had said, and their hearts were heavy.
Hezekiah did not panic. He had God on his side, and the story keeps going in the next chapter, where we see God answer. For today, remember that the enemy’s words were loud and cruel, but they were only words.
Children, it can feel scary when people say mean or untrue things about us or about God. But the enemy’s shouting does not make God any smaller. God is still in charge, and we can talk to him whenever we feel afraid.
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 the officer was speaking loudly to frighten the people. Ask the children how it feels when someone tries to make them feel small or worried, and help them notice that the words were meant to scare, not to help.
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 the officer tried to talk the people out of trusting the LORD. Explain that this is the lie the enemy wanted everyone to believe, and that God’s people can say no to lies by holding onto what is true.
Isaiah 36:20
Who are they among all the gods of these countries that have delivered their country out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”
(WEB)
Ask the children to listen for the question the officer asked and the answer they already know. Point out that the officer was boasting about his own power, but the real power belongs to God, who is far greater than any other gods or armies.
Talk About It
- What did the officer say to the people on the wall, and how do you think they felt when they heard it?
- Why did King Hezekiah’s helpers tear their clothes, and what does that tell us about how they felt?
- What are some scary words people might say to us, and what can we remember when we hear them?
- How can we tell the difference between a true thing and a lie that someone is trying to get us to believe?
- What is one thing you can say to God when you feel afraid?
Activity Ideas
Strong Wall Craft
You will need paper cups, markers, tape, and a few small paper squares. Let each child decorate a cup to look like a stone or brick, then tape them together into a tower. Talk about how God is a strong wall and a safe place, just as the city had strong walls to keep people protected.
Shout and Freeze Game
Choose one child to be the loud officer who shouts a scary sentence, while everyone else stands tall and says the memory verse together in a calm voice. When the officer shouts, the children freeze, then keep saying the verse until the game ends. This helps children practice staying calm when someone tries to frighten them.
Take-Home Trust Card
You will need an index card, a pencil, and a small sticker or drawing supplies. Write the memory verse on the card and ask the child to draw a picture of something that helps them feel safe. Encourage them to keep the card in a pocket or backpack and read it aloud whenever they feel worried during the week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s people can face intimidating threats from powerful enemies, and that the pressure to doubt God is real. The officer’s words are full of arrogance and deception, yet Hezekiah’s response points toward turning to the LORD in prayer rather than trusting human strength. Adults can see how faith is tested by the voices of fear and pride around us.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the idea that God always rescues us from every frightening situation in the way we expect. Instead, help children understand that God is faithful and strong, and that we can trust him even when we are scared. Be careful not to promise specific outcomes, and keep the focus on God’s character and our trust in him.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, we know that some words can feel very loud and scary. Help us remember that you are stronger than any enemy and that you are always with us. When we feel afraid, help us trust you and talk to you. Amen.
