The God Contest: The True Story of Elijah, Jesus, and the Greatest VictoryBy Carl Laferton and Catalina Echeverri

This article was first published in French at TPSG.

Not long ago, I received a copy of “The God Contest,” which I sat down and read with my 9 year-old daughter right away. Like any good sermon, the author begins by building a bridge between the ancient text and the modern audience. Most children can relate to a spelling bee, a singing competition, or a race. But this competition the Bible speaks of would prove to all present who the one true God was. Sounds serious, right? My daughter Evangeline was hooked.

Ahab, Jezebel & Baal vs. Elijah and the One True God

In a brief and simple way, he sets the stage by introducing us to Ahab and Jezebel, the apostate king and queen of the northern kingdom of Israel. Their idolatry of Baal has brought confusion among the people. Whom are they to believe, the God of their king and queen or the God who delivered their ancestors from Egypt? In comes Elijah, who proposes a simple contest to answer this most important of questions. 

In vivid yet accessible terms, Laferton recounts the ensuing drama and God’s stunning victory over the non-existent god Baal. The people of Israel see with their own eyes that the LORD is indeed the one true God. But they soon turn away from him anyway, going after Baal. 

How this Account Leads us to Christ

Usually, that’s where the story ends. Even we grown-ups may miss the scarlet thread that leads us to Christ in this account. But this charming book reveals the connection between that prophet of old and the promised Deliverer. Both preached the message of faith in the one true God. Both faced their greatest foe on a mountaintop. And both prevailed over the enemy. By triumphing over the grave, Jesus proves once and for all that he is the LORD. And he invites all people to follow, love, and walk with him. Yet many since have rejected him as well. 

A host of men and women of God ever since have borne witness to that truth. Laferton leaves his little readers with this challenge: “Everyone must decide. Will they join team Jesus? And you, what will you decide?”

Some Pluses of this Book

This book comes with an accompanying art and activity book. For some kids, colouring may be just what they need to stimulate a different part of their brain than that which comes from reading or listening alone. Great idea!

As usual, Catalina Echeverri does a superb job bringing to life the story told so well in words. She highlights each major event in the narrative with a two-page vertical mega-illustration that forces the reader to turn the book sideways and take note of the significance of the events: God’s victory over Baal, God’s sending his Spirit on his Son at his Baptism, and Jesus’ resurrection. 

Another strength of this book is that is intentional to depict men, women, and children of a variety of ethnic backgrounds. I especially love the final illustration of saints from the annals of church history, which includes both men and women of various nationalities who testified to the world that Jesus is God. This piqued my daughter’s curiosity so that we began a history lesson to discover who some of these less well-known figures were. Which reminds me, I want to go study them some more!

Conclusion

I really enjoyed reading this book with my daughter – or rather, having her read it to me! Although it is ideal for children 3-6, from it provides an example on how to interpret Scripture christocentrically. Kids love the great stories of the Old Testament, be it the parting of the Red Sea, David and Goliath, or Daniel in the lion’s den. But the beauty of these stories lies not merely in their gripping details, but in the way in which they point us to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. May The God Contest and other kids books like it be a pedagogical tool to aid us in helping our children find and delight in Christ in all of Scripture. 

(Find it here).