This lesson teaches children that God sees and knows everything, and that He invites us to come close to Him instead of pretending He isn’t watching. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including a short story, a verse, and an activity.
Big Idea
God sees everything we do, and He wants us to come back to Him, be honest with Him, and trust Him to do what is right.
Memory Verse
Job 22:21
“Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you.
(WEB)
Put your hand over your heart as you say the verse, then open both hands slowly, as if you are opening a gift from God. Have the children do it with you three times until they know it by heart.
The Story: Job 22 for Kids
Job had many friends, and one of them was named Eliphaz. Job was very sad and hurting, and his friends kept talking to him. Eliphaz thought he knew why Job was suffering. He believed Job must have done something very wrong to make God so upset with him.
Eliphaz asked Job a question. He wanted to know if a person could do anything useful for God, and then he answered his own question. He said a wise person helps himself, but God does not need anything from us. Eliphaz also said that Job had been unkind to people who were poor and in need. He said Job had taken things from people who had nothing and had not given food or water to the tired and hungry.
Eliphaz wanted Job to think about God in the high heavens, far above the earth. He pointed up at the stars and said, “Look how high they are!” Then he told Job that God sees through the darkness and that nothing is hidden from Him. Eliphaz was trying to say that God is always watching and always knows the truth.
Then Eliphaz gave Job some advice. He told him to get to know God, to listen to what God says, and to put away wrong behavior. He said that if Job came back to God with a humble heart, God would lift him up and bring peace. Eliphaz was not always right about everything he said, but his words point us to a big truth: God is good, God is near, and God wants His people to come back to Him.
Read It Together
Job 22:3
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect?
(WEB)
Point out that Eliphaz asks a question that the children can think about. Ask them what they think God wants from us. Explain that God does not need our help to be strong, but He loves when we do what is right, and that He is pleased with us when we follow Him.
Job 22:12
“Isn’t God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are!
(WEB)
Show the children how high the sky is by pointing up or stretching their arms high. Explain that God is higher than the stars and that nothing is too high or too far for Him to see and care about what happens on earth.
Job 22:27
You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows.
(WEB)
Explain that prayer is talking to God and that He listens. Let the children know that God hears them when they pray, whether they are happy, sad, or scared, and that He wants to hear from them every day.
Talk About It
- What is one thing you think God sees when you are at home or at school?
- Why do you think Job’s friend thought Job had done something wrong?
- How does it feel to know that God can see everything, even in the dark?
- What can you do this week to show God that you want to follow Him?
- What is one thing you would like to talk to God about in prayer?
Activity Ideas
Star Drawing Craft
You will need a sheet of dark blue or black paper, white crayons or chalk, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a few stars high up on the paper, then write or draw one thing that God sees them doing. Talk about how God sees the stars and also sees each child. Let the children take their pictures home to remind them that God is always watching with love.
Look Up Game
Gather the children in an open space. Call out “God sees you!” and have everyone stretch their arms high above their heads. Then call out “God hears you!” and have them cup their hands around their ears. Mix up the commands and keep it lively. Afterward, remind the children that God is high above us and close to us at the same time.
Prayer Jar at Home
You will need an empty jar, paper slips, and a pen. Each day, encourage the child to write a short prayer or a thing they are thankful for on a paper slip and place it in the jar. Let the child know that God hears every prayer in the jar. At the end of the week, read the slips together and thank God for each one.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows a conversation between Job and his friend Eliphaz. Eliphaz speaks with confidence but is mistaken about why Job is suffering. The wider book of Job teaches that God’s ways are bigger than our simple explanations, and that God is faithful even when we do not understand what is happening. Eliphaz’s picture of God as one who sees everything and invites us back to Him is true, even though his accusations against Job were not.
Be careful not to suggest to children that suffering always means someone has done something wrong. Job was innocent, and the book of Job challenges that idea. Keep the focus on God’s presence, His seeing and hearing, and His kindness toward those who come to Him humbly.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You for seeing us and knowing everything about us. Thank You that You are high above the stars and also close to us when we pray. Help us to come to You honestly and to trust You every day, even when we do not understand. Thank You for listening to us. Amen.
