“…And a little child shall lead them.” – Isaiah 11:6d ESV
Common (Mis)usage:
Whether it’s stated as “a child shall lead them” or “a child shall lead the way,” the phrase that’s taken from this passage of Scripture is usually meant to communicate a child’s capability within a Christian context. The implication is that children have their role in God’s kingdom (and they certainly do), and, at times, it’s their role to lead. However, using this passage or phrase as such fails to meet the context of Isaiah 11.
Basic Context & Meaning:
Isaiah 11 has an escatological (end times) flavor to it, speaking of Messiah’s prominence, character, and influence. Here’s how the entire verse reads in context, with verses before and after cited:
“Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.” – Is. 11:5-8 (ESV)
With the surrounding context in view, it seems clear that this passage is not emphasizing the leadership capabilities of a small child. In fact, it’s actually emphasizing the restoration of pre-Fall life, when man interacted with animals unrestrained and without fear of attack. Isaiah is prophesying of Messiah’s reign and how conventional elements of life on earth (a Fallen earth) will flip upside down. The picture is one of wolves dwelling with lambs and lions eating straw as an ox. Even, vulnerable animals (lamb, young goat, calf) will live in harmony with ferocious animals which once saw them as prey (wolf, leopard, lion). That a “little child” will lead these hostile animals or will play near venomous snake dwellings as part of Messiah’s reign is a mark of how significant the change will be in the age to come. It will truly be a time of peace, a peace not known since the days of Adam prior to the Fall.
Suggested Usage/Application:
This entire passage of Scripture is reassuring to all who are weary with the troubles of this life but have hope of a better future under Jesus’s reign. Even in its time, the northern kingdom, Israel, would need such a hope since their sin and disobedience produced God’s judgment in the form of Assyrian captivity and displacement from their land. With all this context in mind, Bible followers shouldn’t overemphasize the specific animals nor the child referenced in Isaiah 11:6, especially since I don’t hear people advocating for children to play near cobra nests as Isaiah 11:8 indicates. Overall, the premise is to communicate a new, widespread, lasting peace and to communicate the inauguration of a fundamentally different world than it currently exists.
If seeking to emphasize children’s usefulness in God’s kingdom, there are Scriptures that communicate such (e.g., Ps. 8:2; Lk. 18:16). If seeking to highlight children being in charge or leading, there is going to be less Scriptural support, as it’s either discouraged (rf. 1 Tim. 3:6, where being a novice in the faith eliminates one from pastoral ministry) or a sign of judgment in Scripture (rf. Is. 3:4-5, where inexperienced youthful leaders reflect the state of affairs in God’s judgment). Finally, we have a blessed hope to which we can anticipate, and taking this verse/passage out of context limits the true emphasis: Christ (Messiah).