Sebaoth refers to a mass of beings (angels, stars, or even the armies of Israel). It means that God has all the resources of heaven and earth at His command. Hannah recognized that the God who rules the vast "armies" of the universe is the same God who cares about the quiet cries of a single heart. In this lesson, your "littles" will learn:

• Big God, Little Me: That the Creator of the stars and the Leader of the angels listens when we whisper our prayers.

• The Ultimate Resource: When we feel like we "don't have enough" (enough strength, enough toys, enough bravery), God has more than enough to help us.

• Team Heaven: That we are never fighting our "battles" alone. God is the Captain of the greatest team ever assembled!

Lets break it down!

Teaching our children YHWH Nissi “The Lord is my Banner” helps shape how they understand both victory and dependence on God from an early age. In a world that often celebrates self-reliance, this truth gently reminds our littles that:

• we are not meant to do life alone,

• God gives us people to support and strengthen us,

• and ultimately, every victory comes from Him.

YHWH Tsidkenu, My Righteousness: This devotional is a wonderful way to get ready for Easter. Long before Jesus was born, God spoke to the young prophet Jeremiah and promised a Savior who would be perfectly righteous. He gave this Savior the name YHWH Tsidkenu “The LORD Our Righteousness.” Through this story, we can help our littles understand what it means that Jesus is our righteousness and show them that God always keeps His promises.

YHWH Mekaddishkem, God Sanctifies: This devotional helps little ones learn that God is YHWH Mekaddishkem, the Lord who makes us holy. We’ll explore big words like “sanctify” and “set apart” in ways kids can grasp. We’ll also remind our little ones that even when we make mistakes, God lovingly works in our hearts to teach us what is right and good, helping us grow and see that we belong to Him.

YHWH Shalom, The Story of Gideon:

This devotional reminds little ones to always be thankful and follow God. The Israelites forgot Him, and life became very hard. Even then, God did not leave them. He came near to Gideon, gave him peace, and miraculously used him to save His people from the enemy. God is our peace, even when we are afraid or forget.

YHWH Rapha, Moses & the Israelites in the wilderness.

It’s easy to praise God when things are going great, right after a big victory or miracle, just like the Israelites did after crossing the Red Sea. But a few verses later, they faced a tough challenge: no water in the desert. That’s hard! They began to question, grumble, and even doubt.

Exploring this passage, we learn that the same God who rescued His people from Egypt is the same God who cares for them in the wilderness. He asks for our trust and obedience, and in return, He promises care, healing, and restoration.

Let’s explore this story with our littles and teach them about the importance of remembering

YHWH Jireh, The Story of Abraham & Issac.

For littles, this lesson gently introduces the idea that God is always good and always keeps His word, even when we don’t understand what He’s doing. It reassures children that God sees, cares, and provides exactly what is needed at the right time. Teaching YHWH Jireh helps lay a foundation of trust, reminding children that they are safe in God’s hands and can rely on Him in every season.

Psalm 23 holds a very special place in my heart. Some of my earliest childhood memories are tied to this verse, it was one of the first verses I ever memorized, and I’ve carried it with me ever since. I’m usually an NIV girl, but for this one I had to use the NKJV because it’s the version I remember best 🙂

It was also one of the first verses I taught my 3-year-old daughter, and as a sweet surprise, she memorized it too! Even now, hearing her recite it out of the blue melts my heart. Let’s go through it together.

The first compound name we will explore is Shammah, which means “The LORD Is There.” This is a perfect opportunity to help littles understand that God’s presence is real and trustworthy. Even when life feels sad or broken, like it did for God’s people after Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and the people felt far from home, God promises to make things new. Teaching children this name helps them grasp that God is not just a story or a distant figure, He is always near and lives not only in a temple, but in their hearts.

Our littles are naturally curious about names. They love discovering why someone is called what they’re called, especially when there’s a special story behind it.

In Exodus 3:14-15, we see the first time God reveals His name. Just like our names carry meaning and story, God’s name tells us something true about who He is. YHWH means “I AM” always was, always is, and always will be present and the same. God wants to be known, remembered, and trusted.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll explore the nine compound names of YHWH. But today, we start at the foundation by focusing on what YHWH means and why knowing God’s name helps our children begin to know God Himself.