How should we teach the Ten Commandmemts to children? If we aren’t under the law, how can we point them to Christ? This book begins with the prologue to the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:1–2, “And God spoke all these words: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.'” Natasha Kennedy, illustrator of all things FatCat, fuses together the scene of Hebrews putting the blood of a lamb on their doorpost with the scene of Jesus the Lamb of God on the cross. God rescued his people out of Egypt and gave them his law because he loved them. We, like Israel of old, are to show our love and devotion for God by obeying him.
Harold Senkbeil—who authored the volume The Lord’s Prayer—draws out the Trinitarianism nature of these scenes by reminding us that “the Lord” is Father, Son, and Spirit. As well, it was God the Father who both delivered Israel out of Egypt and who delivers us from our sins by the blood of Jesus on the cross. Two great exoduses from one great triune God.
The next verse comes from Exodus 20:3, “You shall have no other gods before me,” and interestingly, the picture to that text is of baby Jesus in the manger. The Lord our God gives us “the gift of himself” in his Son Jesus. We are to worship him as our God. He gives us what is good—“forgiveness, life, and salvation—unlike the false gods we often flee toward.
Each picture points to a scene in the life of Jesus. I expected pictures of OT Israelites either following or disobeying these commands with illustrations of what that might look like. But this was much better! Do not worship an idol; worship Jesus, the Son of God who died on the cross for us! Don’t misuse God’s name; we carry it with us wherever we go! He is with us! Do not murder; care for your neighbor’s body and life as the good Samaritan did.
Each spread reminds us of God’s good work with the repetition of the line “O Lord, my God, you take away my sin and give me life in Jesus.” The following line turns the theme of that verse into a prayer, calling on God for help. Because God takes away our death-dealing sin and gives us eternal life in his Son, we can pray, “Help me always use my body for your glory,” “Help me use what you have given me to help those in need,” and “Help me give thanks for everything you have given my neighbors!” Amen!
The book ends with a page about how families are little churches, a three-page a family prayer, and a final note to parents on how the Ten Commandments are numbered, the use of these commandments in worship and devotion, the use of the word “chastity,” and finally a note about illustrating each commandment and the desire to show how Jesus fulfilled each one.
Recommended?
This is another wonderful and fun book in the FatCat series. It takes the Ten Commandments, part of God’s good and holy law, and helps breathe life into our biblical imaginations. Instead of seeing an old man with a big beard holding two large stones on a flannel board, we see the Son of God teaching, caring, and loving people in page after page, living out God’s law (which Moses probably tried to do too, we just don’t usually see those scenes on flannel graphs). This is another volume I can’t wait to read to my kids.
Other FatCat Reviews:
- The Apostles’ Creed — Kennedy/Myers
- The Lord’s Prayer — Kennedy/Senkbeil
- The King of Christmas — Kennedy/Hains
Lagniappe
- Illustrator: Natasha Kennedy
- Author: Harold Senkbeil
- Hardcover: 40 pages
- Age Range: 4–8 years
- Publisher: Lexham Press (January 10, 2024)
Pre-order it on Amazon or from Lexham Press!
Disclosure: I received this book free from Lexham Press. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.
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