Isaiah 47
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Long, long ago there was a big city. The city was called Babylon. Babylon was very rich. And very proud.
The people in Babylon thought they were the best. Better than everyone. They said, "Nobody can touch us! We sit high up. We are like a queen on a throne."
But God saw it. God saw everything.
God said something to Babylon. God said, "Come down from your throne. Sit in the dust. You are not a queen anymore."
Ouch. That sounded hard. But listen carefully to why.
Babylon had been mean. Very mean. They had hurt God's people. They laughed at them. They did not care.
And Babylon had another problem. They did not want to listen to God. They said, "We do not need God. We know everything ourselves. We look at the stars. We are so clever!"
But you cannot do without God. Nobody can. Not even a big, rich city.
What Does This Mean?
God sees when people are proud. God sees when people are mean. And God says something about it.
God is not scared of a big city. God is not scared of anyone. God is the greatest.
And God cares about people who get hurt. He does not forget them. Never.
The Common Thread
God loves people who are small. People who bow their heads. People who say, "God, I need You."
Later, much later, Jesus came. Jesus was gentle. Jesus was not proud, even though He is the King of everything. Jesus knelt down. Jesus washed feet. Jesus helped small people, sick people, sad people.
Jesus said, "Come to Me. I am gentle."
That is very different from Babylon. Babylon said, "Look at me!" Jesus says, "Look at God."
For You
Do you know what is nice? You do not have to be big. You do not have to be the best. You do not have to shout, "Look at me!"
You may be small. You may say, "God, help me." God loves that. God bends down to listen. Really.
And when someone else is sad, you can be gentle too. Just like Jesus. You can share. You can say a kind word. You can give a hug.
That is much better than being like Babylon.
Talk About It
Have you ever felt very big and important? What was that like?
Jesus is gentle. What is something gentle you can do today for someone else?
Praying Together
Dear God,
You are so big. And I am small. That is okay. Thank You that You bend down. Thank You that You listen. Help me to be gentle. Just like Jesus.
Amen.
Questions about Isaiah 47
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Isaiah 47 about?
What does Isaiah 47 say?
What does Isaiah 47 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Isaiah 47?
Why is Isaiah 47 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
Babylon whispers two things in the same breath: "No one sees me," and "I am, and there is no one else besides me." Hiddenness first, then self worship. It always goes that way. What you do in the dark slowly convinces you that you are the center.
But those words, "I am, and there is no one else," belong to God alone. He said them first. Whose line are you borrowing when no one is watching?
Babylon's ruin began quietly: "You said, 'I will be a princess forever,' so that you didn't lay these things to your heart, nor did you remember the results." She never weighed where her choices were leading. Comfort made her careless. What have you stopped laying to heart lately, simply because life still feels secure?
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
Open in the Children's Bible tool
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