Passages: Isaiah 40-66
Big idea: God has come to bring his people home.
Ages: 5-11
Eights lesson exploring Isaiah chapters 40 to 66.
Note: These lessons are yet to be upgraded to the new Kidswise format. Each lesson contains two parts: K-2 is for children aged 5-7 and 3-5 is for children ages 8-11.
Apart from Psalms, Isaiah is the most quoted book in the New Testament – 66 quotes from a book that’s 66 chapters long. The first half of the book is marked by judgement, the second half by salvation.
God spoke to Isaiah in 740BC and commissioned him to warn the people of Judah (the southern kingdom) to turn back to him. But God’s people continued to ignored the warning. They hardened their hearts, worshipping idols and oppressing the powerless. In Isaiah 39 Isaiah prophesied to King Hezekiah that God would use the Babylonians as an instrument of judgement against his people. Chapter 40 begins with Isaiah speaking to a people yet to be born - 150 years in the future, those in exile in Babylon.
God’s preferred title throughout the book of Isaiah is the Holy One Of Israel. He alone is to be feared. He alone is to be trusted. Israel was supposed to be the servant of the Lord, but they failed to trust God.
In the second half of Isaiah we’re introduced to the true Servant of the Lord (Isaiah 42, 49, 50, 53). This servant is one who suffers for his people. The tension between how God can maintain his justice and yet forgive his people is resolved in this Suffering Servant, who suffers for the failure of his people. This Servant takes the place of his people and sets them free. Isaiah ends with a picture of the New Creation - all the nations coming and enjoying the salvation found only in this Servant of the Lord.
The unit comes complete with stories, pictures, suggested songs/memory verses, games, drama activities, crafts, large and small group activities. A resource pack full of crafts and worksheets is also included.