God Sent 2 Bears to Maul 42 Boys?

In 2 Kings chapter 2, after Elijah is taken up by chariots of fire, and his protégé, Elisha, succeeds his ministry, we read another popular story only three verses long. But, it has stirred up a lot of controversy with some skeptics.

Verse 23 begins:God Sent 2 Bears to Maul 42 Boys?

He [Elisha] went of from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”

And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.

From there he went up to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria. (2 Kings 2:23-25)

Okay… so really that’s just two verses. But, what’s the deal?

God had two she bears come out of the woods and maul 42 small boys just for calling Elisha bald??

That’s pretty ruthless, right?

Well, here’s the thing: Elisha was going up to Bethel, and that city was the focal point of Israel’s apostasy. The people had become so hostile against God that even their youth would disrespect one of God’s prophets.

Elisha wasn’t just some preacher, remember. He spoke the very words of the Lord. In 1 Kings 19:16, God told Elijah to anoint Elisha “to be prophet in your place.”

The reference to “baldhead” isn’t really understood. But, whatever the meaning, it’s clear that Elisha felt threatened to the point that he cursed them and two bears mauled 42 boys.

But, understand, there wasn’t just 42 of them. That’s only how many the bears nabbed. In fact, there were likely more than 50 running in some kind of pack, threatening Elisha.

What the writers of Kings truly mean to convey is that contempt towards God’s prophets has disastrous consequences.

Indeed, even Jesus said that those who won’t accept the prophets also won’t accept Him. And THAT has the most disastrous consequence of all.

…when we understand the text.

(This video is by WWUTT. Discovered by Christian Podcast Central and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Christian Podcast Central.)