Athaliah, a Wicked Queen

Teacher, this is the most delicate lesson of the quarter. The text of 2 Kings 11 has a queen who did terrible things to children — and none of that is going to be told in the classroom. Do not describe it, do not explain it, do not act it out. For a three-year-old child, one sentence settles it: "Queen Athaliah did very bad things and made everyone sad." Period. Not another word.

The entire weight of the lesson goes to the other side: the auntie who hid the baby and Heavenly Father who kept the little boy safe. If the child leaves the classroom afraid, the lesson has failed, even if the doctrine is right. If the child leaves saying "Heavenly Father keeps me safe," the lesson succeeded.

Keep three sentences in mind and repeat them all morning: "Athaliah planted bad things," "Auntie hid the baby," and "Heavenly Father kept Joash safe."

One more caution with the verse. Planting and reaping can easily turn into a bargain — "if you are good, God will give you things." That is not what it means. Good choices make the heart glad; wrong choices make the heart sad. And God keeps us safe because He is good, not because we paid for it.

I — Arrival: the little box with the two bananas

Welcome each child by name, down at eye level. Ask calmly: "How is your family? Are Mommy and Daddy doing well?" If a child does not live with their parents, ask about the person they live with — and treat that answer with the same joy as all the others.

Then show a closed box and make it a mystery:

— What could be inside here? Shall we count to three? One... two... three!

Open it and take out two bananas: one pretty and bright yellow, the other very dark and mushy. Let everyone look.

— If you were going to eat one, which banana would you choose?

They will point to the yellow one right away, and they will go "yuck!" at the other. Make the most of it:

— That's right! We choose the good one. The Bible, the Book of God, teaches something very important: what we plant, we reap. Whoever plants obedience, kindness, and "I'll share with you" reaps joy, just like this sweet banana. Whoever plants fighting and tantrums reaps sadness.

Do the prayer of thanks and the offering with a single sentence: "Thank You, Heavenly Father, because You take care of my family."

🏛 Curiosity — what is a refuge? A refuge is a good hiding place: a place where we go in and stay safe. Make a little tent with your hands over your head and say: "The Bible says that God is our refuge and our strength, always near to help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). That means Heavenly Father is our hiding place. Close to Him, we are safe."

II — The story: Auntie hid the baby and Heavenly Father kept him safe

Sit the children in a circle, right close to you, with the pictures from the quarterly in your hand. Remind them first: "What was the name of the king who did not want to ask for forgiveness? A-HAB!" Clap your hands on the syllables.

We are learning the stories of the kings and queens that are in the Bible, the Book of God. Today there is a queen. Her name is Athaliah. Shall we say it together, clapping our hands? A-THA-LI-AH.

Did she love Heavenly Father? (Let the children answer. Listen to all of them attentively.)

No. Athaliah did not love Heavenly Father and did not obey Him. Athaliah planted bad things. She did very bad things and made everyone sad. Shall we make a sad face together? (Everyone pouts. Move on right away — do not linger here.)

In that castle lived a very cute baby. His name was Joash. Shall we say it together? JO-ASH. He was tiny, the size of a baby you hold in your arms, and Heavenly Father loved Joash very much.

But look what a wonderful thing Heavenly Father prepared! The baby had a very brave auntie. Her name is Jehosheba. Shall we say it slowly? JE-HO-SHE-BA.

Auntie Jehosheba picked baby Joash up in her arms, wrapped him in a very soft sheet, and walked away quietly, on tiptoe, so no one would hear. Shall we walk on tiptoe with Auntie? (Everyone standing, little finger on their lips, "shhh," light little steps. Then sit back down.)

And do you know where Auntie took the baby? To Heavenly Father's House! To the Temple. Inside it was warm, it was bright, it was safe. And baby Joash stayed living there, tucked away in hiding.

Heavenly Father took care of baby Joash. He took care of him by day and took care of him by night. Shall we count on our little fingers how many years Joash lived in the House of God? (Raise your hands and count very slowly.) One, two, three, four, five, six years!

And when Joash turned seven years old — shall we hold up seven little fingers? — the celebration came: they put a shiny crown on his head, and Joash became the new king! Let's clap our hands for King Joash! Heavenly Father helped Joash be a good king who loved the House of God.

And Queen Athaliah? She planted bad things and reaped sadness. She was left without the throne, left with nothing, and left all alone. What a pity, isn't it? If only she had planted good things...

Now the most important part of all. Heavenly Father kept Joash safe. And Heavenly Father keeps you safe too. In the morning, in the afternoon, and at night. In your house, in your little bed, right here at church.

Repeat with the children, clapping your hands: "Athaliah planted bad things! Auntie hid the baby! Heavenly Father kept Joash safe!"

❤ For the child's heart. You are deeply loved. Heavenly Father does not sleep, does not blink, and does not forget you for a single minute. Whenever you feel afraid — of the dark, of thunder, of being alone — talk to Him: "Heavenly Father, take care of me." And if anything happens that scares you or hurts you, tell Daddy, Mommy, or your classroom teacher right away. Speaking up is the right thing to do.

III — Singing, planting, and keeping it in the heart

Sing. A short song with gestures, three times in a row: "Heavenly Father keeps me safe, by day and by night." Hands like a little tent over the head on "keeps me safe," little eyes closed on "by night."

The verse with gestures. One piece at a time, always the same way: what we plant (dig a little hole in the air with your finger and drop the little seed in) we reap (open both arms wide like a big tree). Explain with an example their size: "If you plant 'here, you can play with my toy car,' you reap a little friend and joy."

Marching and hide-and-seek. Everyone standing, no one sitting, no one singled out. When you clap your hands fast, everyone marches in place lifting their knees high, like the Temple guards. When you stop clapping, everyone crouches down and makes a little tent with their hands over their head — "tucked away in hiding like baby Joash." Wait three little seconds in silence and say out loud: "Found you! Heavenly Father keeps me safe!" Everyone stands up laughing. Repeat as many times as time allows. No one loses, no one is out, no one is left behind.

The class tree. Spread a large sheet of paper on the floor with the drawing of a tree without leaves and without fruit. Hand out the colored pencils and let each child draw leaves and little fruits wherever they want — crooked, smudged, and colorful is great. While they draw, speak very slowly: "obeying Mommy is a good little seed... sharing a toy is a good little seed... praying is a good little seed... singing to Heavenly Father is a good little seed. Those little seeds grow and turn into a tree full of fruit."

Crafts and goodbye. In the quarterly, help the children trace the dotted lines and color the heart on the right — say only that Athaliah's heart was sad because she planted bad things. Then show the numbers, count on your fingers, and ask them to color the 7, reminding them that Joash became king when he was seven years old and that Heavenly Father kept him safe the whole time. Put the supplies away together while singing the class song. Review with the three sentences, pray, and say goodbye to each child by name.

Christ in the Lesson

This story looks like a story of luck. It is not. It is the story of a promise being kept.

God had promised David: "Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever." (2 Samuel 7:16) From that family the Savior would come. When Athaliah tried to wipe out the royal family of Judah, it was not just a political crime — the promise of the Messiah was at stake. And it was right there, with a baby wrapped in a sheet and an aunt walking on tiptoe, that God kept the whole promise safe. The thread of the Savior's lineage fit in Jehosheba's arms. God does not fail to fulfill what He promises — and He uses ordinary people to do it.

There is also the verse of the lesson. "Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return." (Galatians 6:7) is good news and hard news at the same time. Hard because, if the account were only that, all of us would have a spoiled harvest to receive — no one has planted only good things. Good because Jesus reaped on the cross what He did not plant: He took our bad harvest and gave us His. That is what the law of sowing and reaping cannot do on its own, and that is what the Gospel does.

To the child, say it simply: "Heavenly Father kept baby Joash safe because, a long time later, Jesus was going to be born from that family. And Jesus came to make our hearts clean and to take care of you."

Practical Application

Planting comes in child-sized steps. Sharing a toy, holding hands, obeying the first time, putting shoes away, saying "good morning" — these are little seeds. Name them on the spot: "look at the good little seed you just planted!" A young child learns from what is repeated, not from what is explained.

No bargaining with God. Be careful with "if you are good, Heavenly Father will give you a present." Correct it gently: "God takes care of you because He loves you. And Jesus has already paid what we owed."

The church is a safe place. Baby Joash grew up in the House of God. Speak fondly of the church at home, in front of the child: someone who loves the House of God from age three rarely abandons it later.

The adult handles it; the child tells. Teach the child to tell a trusted adult whenever something scares or hurts them. Never teach them to handle it alone, and never tell them to confront anyone. The adult is the one who takes care of things — and that is how Heavenly Father does it.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You because You kept baby Joash safe in Your House and You keep every child in this classroom safe, by day and by night. Help these children to plant good things — kindness, obedience, a shared toy — and to run to You whenever they feel afraid. Thank You because You never forget a promise, and that is why Jesus came to save us. In His name, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria — Scripture governs; everything else, on its knees.

Teacher's Guide

Essence of the class

What we plant, we reap — and Heavenly Father kept baby Joash safe in His House, the same way He keeps you safe.

Map of the class

Time	Stage
0–7 min	Arrival, the little box with the two bananas + prayer of thanks and offering
7–12 min	Song with gestures + verse with motions
12–20 min	The story of Athaliah, Jehosheba, and Joash with the pictures
20–27 min	Class activity "marching and hide-and-seek"
27–33 min	The class tree with colored pencils
33–40 min	Snack + activities in the quarterly
40–45 min	Prayer, review, and goodbye

Start like this

Come in holding the closed box and make it a mystery: "What could be inside here? Shall we count to three?" Open it and show the two bananas — the pretty one and the spoiled one. Ask: "Which banana would you eat?" They will point to the yellow one and go "yuck!" at the other. That is the answer you want. Close like this: "What we plant, we reap. Today our story has a queen who planted bad things — and a brave auntie who planted love." Leave the two bananas in plain sight for the whole class.

Point 1 — What we plant, we reap

• In the quarterly: the Bible section, with the verse from Galatians 6:7 and the little box with the two bananas.
• What to teach: good choices and wrong choices bear different fruit. Use examples the size of the child: sharing a toy, obeying Mommy, not hitting a little friend. Never turn this into a bargain with God — whoever plants good reaps joy, but God loves and takes care of us freely, by grace.
• Anchor verse (BSB): "Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return." (Galatians 6:7)
• Key question: "Which banana would you want to eat?"
• Likely answers (+ going deeper): "the yellow one!", "this one!", "yuck!", or just a little finger pointing. Go deeper: "And what makes our heart look pretty just like the good banana?"
• If no one speaks: point to them yourself, make a big exaggerated "yuck" face at the spoiled one and a "mmm" for the good one. At this age, an imitated gesture is already an answer.

Point 2 — Auntie hid the baby in the House of God

• In the quarterly: the story section, starting from the picture of Auntie taking the baby to the Temple.
• What to teach: Queen Athaliah did very bad things — and that is all the child needs to hear, without any detail. Tell them that Auntie Jehosheba wrapped the baby in a sheet, walked on tiptoe, and hid him in Heavenly Father's House, where he lived safely. Use a calm voice, no scared face, no heavy suspense.
• Anchor verse (BSB): "And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land." (2 Kings 11:3)
• Key question: "Have you ever played hide-and-seek? Where do you hide?"
• Likely answers (+ going deeper): "behind the couch," "under the bed," "in the closet," "with Mommy." Go deeper: "And it feels nice and cozy inside the hiding place, doesn't it? Baby Joash stayed in a hiding place just like that, in the House of God."
• If no one speaks: make the little tent with your hands over your head and say "shhh, no one can find me." Everyone will copy you.

Point 3 — Heavenly Father keeps you safe

• In the quarterly: the story section, in the part where Joash is crowned, and the number 7 activity in the student section.
• What to teach: God kept the boy safe for six years and made him king at seven. Count on your fingers with the children — seven years old is very close to their own age, and that delights them. Always finish right here: the same God who kept Joash safe keeps every child in the classroom safe, by day and by night.
• Anchor verse (BSB): "Joash was seven years old when he became king." (2 Kings 11:21)
• Key question: "How old are you? Shall we show it on our fingers?"
• Likely answers (+ going deeper): three little fingers, four little fingers, a whole open hand, or a sibling's age. Go deeper: "Joash was a little boy just like you — and Heavenly Father took care of him the whole time."
• If no one speaks: hold up your own fingers counting from one to seven very slowly and let them copy you. Counting together is already participating.

Class activity

• Goal: to help them feel in their bodies the idea that God hides and keeps us safe — without scares, without competition, without anyone being singled out, and without anyone touching anyone.
• Materials: none (just hands and the classroom space).
• Step by step: everyone standing, spread out. When you clap your hands fast, everyone marches in place lifting their knees high, like the Temple guards. When the clapping stops, everyone crouches down and makes a little tent with their hands over their head — "tucked away in hiding like baby Joash." Count three little seconds in silence and say out loud and joyfully: "Found you! Heavenly Father keeps me safe!" Everyone stands up laughing. Repeat as many times as time allows, always with everyone participating.
• Wrap-up (back to the text): "Auntie hid baby Joash in the House of God and he stayed safe. Heavenly Father is our hiding place — He keeps you safe by day and by night."

Wrap-up + challenge of the week

• Wrap-up: "Queen Athaliah planted bad things and reaped sadness. Auntie Jehosheba planted love and baby Joash was kept safe in the House of God. And do you know why Heavenly Father kept that baby safe? Because from that family Jesus, our Savior, was going to be born. He kept Joash safe, and He keeps you safe."
• Challenge: ask the parents at the door: draw a tree without leaves together on a sheet of paper and hang it in a low spot. Every time the child shares something with someone this week — a toy, a snack, a colored pencil — draw a little leaf on the tree together and say: "I planted a good little seed." The goal is five little leaves by Sunday. On Sunday, ask them to bring the paper and ask each child what they shared.

Teacher's kit

• Before: read 2 Kings 11 with your Bible open alongside the story section in the quarterly. Memorize the three anchor sentences and practice your voice: the part about Athaliah is very short and calm; the part about Auntie and the hiding place is long and joyful.
• Bring: a box with the two bananas (one good and one very overripe), the large sheet of paper with the tree drawn on it, colored pencils, and the quarterly.
• Good to know: the quarterly writes the aunt's name as Joseba; in the Bible she appears as Jehosheba, wife of the priest Jehoiada (2 Kings 11:2). Either one works in the classroom.
• Safety: do not tell what the queen did, do not use a scary voice, do not play heavy suspenseful music, and never say "Heavenly Father is going to punish you." If a child gets scared, stop the story right away, go back to making the little tent with your hands, and repeat "Heavenly Father keeps me safe" until they smile. If any child shares something serious from home, welcome them warmly without asking for details in front of the others and bring it to church leadership that very day.
• Pray beforehand: ask the Lord for a gentle voice and a peaceful heart. In this lesson, the teacher's tone teaches more than the words.

Homework

Your mission for the week

Mommies and Daddies, this activity is for you to do together with your child. Draw a tree without leaves on a sheet of paper and hang it in a low spot, at your child's height. Every time your child shares something with someone this week — a toy, a snack, a colored pencil, a spot on the couch — stop everything, draw a little leaf on the tree together, and say out loud: "I planted a good little seed."

Why

The Bible says: "Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return." (Galatians 6:7) Athaliah planted bad things and reaped sadness; Auntie Jehosheba planted love and baby Joash was kept safe. A three-year-old child does not understand a sermon about sowing and reaping — but understands a tree that fills up with leaves every time they share.

How to know you did it

Five little leaves on the tree by Saturday. If your child runs to put a little leaf up on their own after sharing, you did it.

On Sunday, come back with the story

Bring the tree paper to the classroom and tell what your child shared this week. On Sunday, come back with the story.