Overview
The God Contest, written by Carl Laferton and illustrated by Catalina Echeverri, tells the story of the contest on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. But it’s also about a more personal decision: choosing who you are going to follow.
The author begins by introducing different types of contests before diving into the biblical account of how Elijah proved that his God is the true God. Then, the book shifts focus to another "God contest," this time proving that Jesus is the true God. At the end, the author asks readers an important question: What will you decide?
I heard about The God Contest from a friend a few years before our daughter was born and have really enjoyed reading it to her! She is only 8 months old so I paraphrase the text, but she loves looking at the pictures and listening to the story.
Bible Topics Covered
The God Contest covers:
- Elijah's victory on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18)
- Jesus's death and resurrection
At the end of the book, the author provides a short summary with Scripture references titled, "How Do We Know About the God Contest?" to reinforce the Biblical foundation of the story.
Artwork & Design
The God Contest is beautifully illustrated! I love the illustrator's style and how she visually depicts the passage of time during the contest on Mount Carmel. One especially fun surprise is the three pages where you have to turn the book vertically! The illustrator also uses historically accurate skin tones and a variety of body shapes and sizes. While the book is visually stunning, some of the artwork is fuzzy and not as sharp as the rest, though this may not be noticeable to most readers.
How True to the Bible is The God Contest?
This book follows the account in 1 Kings 18 very well! Its purpose is to point children to the real God—first Yahweh in the Old Testament, then God in the flesh (Jesus) in the New Testament—ultimately asking them to weigh the evidence and decide who the true God is.
Here are a few things to note:
- The God Contest suggests that Jesus's crucifixion and tomb were on Mount Zion. This is untrue, as Jesus was crucified on Golgotha (Calvary), and the exact location of His tomb is unknown.
- The God Contest uses the name Yahweh instead of God, which may be a little confusing for some children. An explanation is provided for the use of Yahweh instead of God, but you can always choose to say "God" when reading aloud if you prefer!
- I'm not a huge fan of the terms "Team Baal," "Team Yahweh," and "Team Jesus," though I understand this is a simple way for kids to understand choosing sides. But while he doesn't use these exact words, Elijah does challenge Israel to choose whom they will follow. He says in 1 Kings 18:21, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”
- Toward the end of the book, the author lists several historical figures who have proclaimed that "Jesus is God." Among this group are Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, and Brother Yun. While these people believed in God, I'm not sure that any on the list were New Testament Christians, so parents should be aware of this!
- On the first page, there is an illustration of a sewing contest where the girl creates a dress from newspaper. If you look very closely, you may see small printed words that are inappropriate for children and even contradict the Bible. I didn't notice this, but found it in my copy after reading some reviews while writing this. According to the book's Amazon description, the issue has been corrected in newer prints, but older copies may still contain this illustration. It's difficult to see, but something to be aware of!
Rating & Final Thoughts
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am giving The God Contest five out of five stars! While there are a few small changes I would make, this book is fantastic overall and would pair well with my Elijah and Elisha Bible Study Kit. A board book version is available in addition to the hard cover book that we own, and it's hard not to order a copy to put in our diaper bag to look at during worship! The God Contest is part of a series of books called "Tales that Tell the Truth," and there is also a companion activity book available!
I love this book because of its beautiful and engaging illustrations, vivid retelling of a powerful Bible lesson, and strong focus on pointing children to Jesus—the true God who came to earth to save us from our sins!
Have you read The God Contest? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
