A Lesson from Elisha

II Kings 2:23-24 tells us about Elisha traveling from Jericho to Bethel and what happens to him on the way. It's a story we're taught in Sunday School as children. In short, some youths from Bethel mock him and say, "Go up you baldhead." Scripture says he, "pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled fourty two of the youths."

Unfortunately when that lesson is taught I think most teachers end it with a laugh and the idea that we shouldn't make fun of preachers and prophets or that Elisha was a mean man. Then they move on to another lesson. I don't think I ever heard any detailed explanation of this event. I covered this in an adult Bible class tonight. Based on the comments I received afterwards I realized many others had the same experience. I'm very glad we covered this in detail tonight. The following is what I discovered about this story and how I believe it can apply to us in the 21st century.

Keep in mind this took place at Bethel. That name means "house of God" or "place of God". It was one of the four cities Samuel held court in as he judged Israel. This was an important city, a spiritual place. By the time this story took place Bethel had become a corrupt city. It was one of two places Jeroboam had set up idols to Baal as the symbol of worship. Hosea, who would minister to Israel after Elisha called it Bethaven which means "house of wickedness". (Hoseas 4:15, 5:8 and 10:5) Even though there is a school of prophets here at the time, Bethel is not a good place.

The youths who mocked Elisha were "naars". That meant they were special. I Samuel 1:24 uses that word for Samuel, that "the naar was a naar". Dr. Randy Cloud says that's like saying the president is the president. He's saying the naar is special. This word is also used to describe Joseph when he was a teenager and later in prison before he interprets the dreams. Benjamin was also called this after he had grown and fathered ten sons. These weren't small boys mocking Elisha but kids old enough to know better. They were special, probably armor bearers, young knights, crowned princes or noblemen.

The word mocked is the Hebrew word galas and means a "scornful belittling" with the attitude of counting as worthless something or someone that is really of great value. Also the word for curse here is the Hebrew galal which means it "expresses a removal or lowering from the place of blessing".

So let's look at this story again with that knowledge. These young men were considered special. They were educated yet Elisha meant nothing to them and certainly neither did God. They "galas"-ed Elisha. They belittled someone of value. When they called him baldheaded they probably wouldn't have known if he was or not. In that part of the world, traveling by foot Elisha probably had his head covered. Even if he didn't, baldness was often associated with leprosy which would obviously make one an outcast. Elisha in turn "galal"-ed the kids. He took from them any blessing. Blessings were important at that time and would especially be soo from a man of God.

Elisha did not make the bears attack these young people. God did. All Elisha did was speak to them in a way that they would know they were not being blessed. It's also interesting to note that they told him to "go up". This would seem that they were telling him that if he were like Elijah he should "go up" to Heaven like his mentor did much like the people told Jesus at the cross that if he could really save Himself He should.

The lesson? God will not be mocked. I think that's the most obvious and important. Also I think it tells us we should be like Elisha. He didn't turn and run when faced with a difficult situation. I think he practiced what Jesus taught in Matthew 7:6. He didn't compromise his belief. I think he personified what James said about facing trials. He also is an example of I Peter 4:12-14 and II Timothy 3:12.

We need to be like Elisha. Stand fast and firm acting in a Christian manner and leaving the results to God. Trust God to make a way and remove the obstacles. To me this is a great example of an Old Testament story teaching and reinforcing New Testament principles.

Is Our Religion Pure and Undefiled?

This was a great day. The weather in my part of the country was sunny and warm with the temperature in the low 70's. This was especially nice since the last few days have been gray and rainy.

My family went to church as we always do on Sunday. I enjoyed a Sunday School class that studied the end of Hebrews 12 and the beginning of chapter 13. We listened to two outstanding lessons from the pulpit. The evening sermon was particularly enjoyable for me. It was based on Psalm 125:1-2 and dealt with the things God surrounds us with; His promise, peace, protection and presense. We lifted our voices in song and took part in the communion meal.

As I sit here at the end of the day though I wonder if that was enough. I mean my heart and mind were right and focused but I wonder if James would have found my actions to be enough. Not just today, but in my everyday walk am I practicing "pure and undefiled religion"? Are any of us?

James wrote in chapter 1, verse 27 of his epistle that, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." I believe (or hope) that most of us are doing the best we can with the second part of this verse, keeping ourselves unspotted. It's the first part that I wonder about.

Most congregations I've been a part of send fruit baskets to widows at Christmas time. Several congregations gather money at different times of the year for orphanages. This is usually done by families taking home cans and depositing change into them. When the can is full or the deadline arrives the can is returned to the church. Someone from the orphanage picks them up. There's nothing wrong with either of those tasks. The problem comes when that's the bulk of what we do.

I'm sure James meant for us to be concerned about these two groups more than once a year. How often are we visiting the widows? How often do we check on their well being? How often do we try to make sure their needs are being met? Most but of course not all widows are elderly. Older folks sometimes keep quiet about their problems. They don't want to feel like they're a burden to anyone. Don't you think it's vitally important for us to make sure these ladies are taken care of?

Remember in Acts 6 the Apostles appointed seven men to look after the widows in the church. That was to be their responsibility. Even if the widows among us have everything they need like transportation, food, safe and secure homes, what kind of priority do we place on visiting them? Older folks often feel lonely. If nothing else I think we should place more importance on that. I know I do.

What about orphans? When was the last time your congregation hosted orphans for a day of fun? How often do you think kids in that situation get to go to baseball games, go to the mountains, have a day of fun activities with other kids their own age? Think of the example it would set for our own children if a congregation decided to set aside one Saturday a month to host an event for the orphans in our community? I'm not saying no one does that. Sadly I will say though I've never seen it happen or heard of it. It's even possible a family in our congregations would meet and get to know a child that they would want to bring into their family.

The more I think about this it's not just the widows and orphans who are neglected. In not being of service to them year 'round, we're also neglecting ourselves, our spiritual growth and personal growth and failing to set the proper example to others. I hope you'll ask yourself the same question I asked myself today; just how pure and undefiled is your religion?