Leader Guide

Action Game

Forty sheets of recycled paper or cardstock to roll lengthwise into tubes or forty empty paper towel rolls
Optional: tape
Four small boxes, plastic containers, or baking sheets (each must hold ten paper tubes or empty paper towel rolls)
Bible or the Superbook Bible App
See Isaiah Meet in the Middle Game Illustration

If using paper or cardstock, roll each sheet lengthwise into an 11” tube and secure it with strips of tape. Or, to save time, have the children roll the tubes in class before the game. Place ten paper tubes or empty paper towel rolls into each of the four containers. Make four lines, two per team. Each team's lines will be diagonal (staggered) to each other and 15 feet apart, or as far apart as possible. See the diagram. Place each container of tubes on a team line.

Let’s Meet in the Middle: Play a game about Hezekiah’s tunnel.

King Hezekiah knew he must prepare for the enemy’s threatened attack. He fortified and strengthened some parts of Jerusalem’s walls, added towers, and built some new walls. (See 2 Chronicles 32:1–5.)

When an enemy surrounded or attacked a walled city, they would often try to cut off the water supply. This meant that the water supply in that city would be used up, and the people would have no water to drink. Eventually, this could lead them to surrender.

King Hezekiah ordered that a tunnel be built underground, so water could still flow from the spring outside Jerusalem’s walls into the city. At the same time, he stopped up the spring above ground so the enemy would have no water to drink. Scholars believe that the workers who dug the tunnel worked from opposite ends and met somewhere in the middle. Because the workers could not see one another and didn’t have today’s instruments or technology, the tunnel wasn’t built in a straight line.

Optional: Read 2 Chronicles 32:2–4 (NLT):

²When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib also intended to attack Jerusalem, ³he consulted with his officials and military advisers, and they decided to stop the flow of the springs outside the city. ⁴They organized a huge work crew to stop the flow of the springs, cutting off the brook that ran through the fields. For they said, “Why should the kings of Assyria come here and find plenty of water?”

Optional: Read 2 Kings 20:20:

The rest of the events in Hezekiah’s reign, including the extent of his power and how he built a pool and dug a tunnel to bring water into the city, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

Divide the children into two teams, then divide each team in half. The team halves will stand at opposite ends behind the lines and diagonally offset each other. Both teams must have the same number of players. If uneven, have an adult volunteer play.

In this game, you are going to be King Hezekiah’s workers. Hold up a tube. Each tube represents a section of the tunnel. Each team will work together from opposite ends to meet in the middle. Does that sound easy?

If so, remember, King Hezekiah’s men worked underground and could not see or hear the workers at the other end. So, you must make your tunnel with your back toward your teammates on the other side. You will pull the tube container along with you as you lay the tubes down. After three tubes are laid, your teammates can shout directions to help you move to meet the tunnel at the other end.

Once you are next to each other, you can turn and connect the last tubes. It’s okay if you have some tubes left over. Once the tunnels are connected, you must quickly pick up all the tubes and place them in the container again—ten tubes in each. Then you will take the container to the next player on your team. You will continue this way until everyone has played. The first team to do this wins.

There are two important things to remember:

1. You can’t look behind you as you build.

2. Each tube must touch to count as connected. Remember to go as fast as you can because the Assyrian army could attack at any time! Ready? Go!

Conclusion: As king, Hezekiah had to think about keeping his people safe. He was wise in building the tunnel; however, God intervened and defeated the enemy without a fight. It’s wise for us to always be prepared for things we may face; however, God is well able to intervene and protect us!