A “through the bible” devotion from 2 Kings 2.
The news got around quickly. Elijah had been swept up into heaven. Elisha has assumed his role as prophet.
The ridicule begins immediately. “Young boys came out from the city and ridiculed [Elisha] and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead!” (2 Kings 23).
More than just making fun of Elisha’s lack of hair, the boys rejected the prophet of God as well. Not a good move on either front. Elisha “Cursed them in the name of the Lord” (2:24). That’s kind of like a preacher yelling, “Go to hell!”
The Lord has Elisha’s back and “two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two of the boys” (2:24).
I didn’t see that coming! Neither did they. And I’m pretty sure no one made fun of Elisha after this. Don’t mess with God’s prophets.
The only other place bears are mentioned in scripture is Isaiah 59:11. “All of us growl like bears, and moan sadly like doves; we hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.” Someday you’ll win bible trivia night with that fact.
Waite for it... 