Manasseh — The Worst King Comes Home Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.”
Manasseh was only twelve years old when he became king in Jerusalem. Can you count to twelve? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve! He was king for fifty-five years. That is a very, very long time!
Manasseh’s father was King Hezekiah. Hezekiah had trusted in the LORD. But King Manasseh did not follow the LORD. He did many bad things.
His father had broken down the places where people prayed to false gods. But Manasseh built them up again. He built altars for false gods. He even bowed down to the stars in the sky. Stars are beautiful. But God made them. They are not gods.
He put an idol in the LORD’s house. An idol is a statue that people pray to instead of God. But God had said about his house, “In this house I will put my name forever.” It was God’s own house!
And Manasseh led the people away from God. They did even more bad things than the other nations.
The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people. He sent seers to the king. Seers are prophets who tell people God’s words. But they didn’t listen.
So the LORD sent the army of Assyria. Assyria was a strong land with a big army. The captains took Manasseh. They put him in chains. Can you make the sound of heavy chains? Clank, clank! Chains are heavy metal rings, hooked together. They took him far away to Babylon. Babylon was a big city by a great river, far from home.
Far from home, Manasseh was in big trouble. Now he begged the LORD his God for help. He humbled himself greatly. That means he made himself small before God. Maybe he knew now how wrong he had been.
Manasseh prayed to God. And God heard him! God let Manasseh’s prayer touch his heart. He listened to the king’s prayer. Can you fold your hands and bow your head, like Manasseh?
God brought Manasseh back home to Jerusalem, all the way from Babylon. He was king again! Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.
Back home, Manasseh built a new wall around the city. It went all around a hill called Ophel. He made it very, very high. He put brave captains in all the strong towns of Judah.
King Manasseh went to the LORD’s house. He took out the idol. He took away all the false gods and all their altars. Out of the city they went! Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.
He built up the LORD’s altar again. He gave thanks to God there. He told all the people to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.
Manasseh’s prayer was written down in a book. People could read how God listened to him. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.
The LORD heard the prayer of a king who humbled himself, and he brought him home. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Manasseh felt, far away from home in chains?
- What do you think the people said when King Manasseh came back?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw King Manasseh coming home to Jerusalem.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.” — 2 Chronicles 33:13 (Manasseh knew → tap your head; the LORD was God → point up high)
Dear God, thank you that you hear me when I am sorry. Thank you that you always welcome me back. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: No one is ever too far from God
Memory verse: “Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.” — 2 Chronicles 33:13 · WEB
The Bible story
The worst king Judah ever had forgot God completely, until one dark day in a faraway prison he whispered sorry and found he was never too lost to come home.
Talk about it
- How old was Manasseh when he became king of Judah? — Twelve years old
- Who was Manasseh's father, a king who loved God? — Hezekiah
- What did Manasseh build inside God's special temple? — Altars for idols
- Instead of God, what did Manasseh bow down and worship? — The stars in the sky
- How did Manasseh's heart become as he did wrong things? — Hard and proud
- What did God keep doing even while Manasseh disobeyed? — Calling him to come back
Where is Jesus in this story?
Manasseh's story is a little picture of the big rescue God planned for all of us. Just as God welcomed the worst king home when he said sorry, God sent Jesus so that anyone, no matter what they have done, can come home to Him. Jesus told a story about a lost son whose father ran to hug him, and He came to find every lost heart. Because of Jesus, God's arms are always open wide, ready to forgive us and bring us safely home.
What God wants to tell us
Manasseh did more wrong than almost any king before him, yet the moment he turned back with a sorry heart, God was ready to welcome him home. That is how big God's love is. It does not matter how many mistakes we make or how far we feel we have wandered. When we say sorry and turn to God, He hears us, He forgives us, and He brings us close again. You are never too lost, too small, or too naughty for God's amazing love.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You that You never give up on me. When I do wrong, help me to be brave and say sorry, just like Manasseh did. Thank You that You always hear me and always welcome me home. I love You. Amen.
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