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.