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Bible Object Lesson 

This Bible object lesson uses an umbrella to demonstrate how our submission and obedience to God's will actually is for our own benefit.  When we are willing to step under, He covers us with His love and protection!

Photo by Victoria Borodinova @ Pexels




God's Umbrella
A Bible Object Lesson

Jesus often taught with parables.  A Bible object lesson is similar in that it takes an earthly object and uses it to teach a spiritual lesson.  


Bible Lesson: Obedience to God brings great benefits!

Lesson Title:  God's Umbrella

Object:  An umbrella

Primary Scriptures: Job 22:21-22, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:5 

Main Point:  When we step under God's will, He covers us with His care and protection.


Bible Object Lesson on Obedience

Demonstrate Bible Object lesson

Hold up an umbrella and ask:

  • What is this and what is it used for?
  • Do I have to use an umbrella when it rains?
  • Are there other times it would be good to have an umbrella over you?

Ask for a volunteer.  Open the umbrella, but have the volunteer stand outside of its cover.  Ask if this would help that person if it was raining.

Hold the umbrella above them over their head.  Ask again if this would help if it was raining.

Stay where you are holding the umbrella and ask if the person under it could step out from under it.  What would happen then if it were raining?


Scripture for Bible Object Lesson

Have students look up the three Bible verses below and.  Have find the word that is in all three verses - "submit".  Depending on the age you are teaching you can tell them the word to look for or have them figure it out in pairs or groups.

You could also write these on a white board and have them spot the word, raise their hand and call it out.



“Submit to God and be at peace with him;

in this way prosperity will come to you.

Accept instruction from his mouth

and lay up his words in your heart."

Job 22:21


"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

James 4:7


"In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5


Ask if anyone knows what the word "submit" means.  Allow time for answers; you could also write these on the board.

The word “submit” speaks of - accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person. 

Think of an officer in the military who has authority over a group of soldiers.  His authority isn't for his own pride and benefit, but it's to give leadership for the whole group's benefit and protection.

For youth and older kids, you can also include the Greek - 

It comes from the Greek word “hypotasso” which means:

  1. to arrange under, to subordinate
  2. to subject, put in subjection
  3. to subject one's self, obey
  4. to submit to one's control
  5. to yield to one's admonition or advice
  6. to obey, be subject


Photo by Engin Akyurt @ Pexels

Bible Object Lesson Discussion

So in using the Bible object lesson of our umbrella, "submit" means to come up under the authority or will of another for the purpose of protection and care.

Imagine your parent or someone who cares about you opens an umbrella for you to step under for protection from the rain. Yes, they have control and authority over where the umbrella moves, but they are holding it in order to provide care. You know you can trust them.

Peter also addresses that God has placed people in our lives, older and wiser than us to help guide us when we will listen and heed what they say. 

Ask students to try naming a few such as parents, grandparents, teachers, government, etc.  These all may have rules they want us to follow, but they are for our good.  You may want to allow time for students to mention certain rules like this.

God is the same way; He loves and cares for us more than anyone! It is safe to walk beneath His authority and will.  His rules are for our good and protection too.

God has given each of us a free will though.  He will not force us to obey or submit to His will and authority; it is our choice every day to come up under His protection, wisdom and love.

The next time we step out into a rainy day, let's be reminded that a wonderful, loving God offers to walk with us covering us with His love and protection when we are willing to "submit," "obey", "come under" His will and authority.


Bible Object Lesson Story

Use the Bible story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-32 to reinforce this picture of God being our protective Father.  When the son left the care of his father's authority, he found himself in dire straits - the pig pen starving!

And yet God is our loving Father who always awaits our return to Him  even if we do wander away and disobey.  He holds His umbrella of love and protection waiting for us to come back under close to Him where it's safe.

"He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  1 John 1:9

More Scripture for this Bible Object Lesson 

Have different students volunteer ahead of class to look up and read the following verses.  You could also put them in groups to read and summarize what they say for the class.

2 Chronicles 30:8

Ephesians 5:15-27

Colossians 3:15-24


Prayer time 
Bible Object Lesson

  • Print off an outline of an umbrella to give to each student.  Have them write people God has placed in their life as "umbrellas" and take time to thank Him for each of them and pray for them.
  • Hold your umbrella up and open.  Have students step under it with you one at a time as you pray over them that they may learn to know, love and obey God better and better each day.


 © Copyright 2022 Susan Smart


You could also use Jan Brett's book - The Umbrella as a fun read aloud!

Affiliate Link below:

242155: The Umbrella The Umbrella
By Jan Brett / Penguin Random House

We also have a Godprints Bible devotion "God's Umbrella" you can use with adults or for yourself.


An object lesson captures attention from the beginning and also helps lock the lesson into our memory.  We have almost 100 other object lessons available in alphabetical order for your use in teaching others about Jesus!


Special note: We do preview the websites to which we link, but are unable to peruse them completely. We try to check others' faith statements and make sure they do profess Jesus Christ as God's Son and salvation is found only in Him. It must, however, be your responsibility to personally dig into God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to be your first and final teacher on all subjects.

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