Local social media has been buzzing with reports of black bears in town. It’s that time of year; the bears are trying to fatten up for winter.
We had a similar issue when we lived in Clearwater, BC. The community sits next to Wells Gray Park and hundreds of thousands of acres of forest land. Black bear sightings in the community happened almost daily, and they were often near or in our yard. There were also frequent grizzly bear sightings in the general area.
Kathy and I drove along a local forest service road on a spring day and saw 23 bears in 25 km (some were mothers with multiple cubs). That was an unusually large number, but we seldom ventured out without seeing a bear or two.
All the bear sightings locally got me thinking of bears in the Bible. Bears appear 12 times in the Bible. Actual/literal bears or bear imagery show up in 10 verses, and in Revelation and Daniel we see them as symbolic beasts.
One bear account in the bible has always puzzled me somewhat. Elisha the prophet is traveling towards Bethel, an area known for its idol worship.
He went up 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. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys. 2 Kings 2:23-24 ESV
That always seemed to me to be a bit excessive, so I did some digging. The word translated “boys” in some translations (“youths”) in others also applies equally to young men. This isn’t a group of young kids teasing a traveler; it’s a mob of young men harassing and insulting a prophet of God.
The bears tore into 42 of the young men, so it’s likely there were more, although we simply can’t know for sure.
Baldness in those days carried a great deal of social stigma. Here, it seems to suggest a rejection of Elisha’s call to leadership and a mockery of God’s power, demonstrated through Elijah’s ascension. Maybe they were challenging him to rise up to heaven in a chariot as Elijah had done. Whatever the specifics, this unruly mob was harassing and insulting the man of God and paid a heavy price.
The Scriptures give clear warning
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. Galatians 6:7 ESV
God is both gracious and just. Sometimes we pay the penalty for our sin later; other times God judges on the spot (e.g., Korah and the rebels in Numbers, or Ananias and Sapphira in Acts).
It’s highly unlikely that you or I will be mauled by bears for mocking a prophet, but we do need to be cautious of the words that leave our mouths. Yes, as Christians, we are forgiven the eternal consequences of sin, but we may still face earthly consequences and God’s discipline.
The next time you see a bear, pause for a moment and give God thanks for your salvation. We might not be in a mob harassing a prophet, but we are all just as guilty of sin.
Be blessed,
Kevin
Today’s image is a reader submission from years ago.
SUMMARY
Local black bear sightings got me thinking about the bears that mauled the young men who mocked Elisha in 2 Kings 2. It’s a sobering reminder that our words carry real consequences, even under grace.
TAKEAWAY
We need to be cautious of the words that leave our mouths.
We’re forgiven the eternal consequences of our sin, but we may still face earthly consequences and God’s discipline.
The next time you see a bear, pause and give God thanks for your salvation.
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