10/08/2026
Welcome to “I Thirst” Thursdays, a devotional to help get you through the week! Have any of you heard about the Old Testament passage where children get mauled by two bears for calling a man bald? Yikes! That passage is found in II Kings 2:23-24 and depending on the translation, we will turn there and that is exactly what we will find. Like anyone who reads this, four words will stand out: children mauled by bears. This passage has been used to call God a moral monster. Unbelievers will take this passage, set it in front of a Christian, and watch them squirm. A statement runs through everyone’s mind, “how could God do this?” So here is the question. What do we, as believers in Christ, do with this passage? If someone brings this up, how do we respond? And if all of scripture points to Christ’s redemptive work for our sins, how does a bear mauling fit into all of this? Well today, family, let’s dig deeper into God’s word and find out what is really going on. This will be a long read, but I pray that we are blessed by this teaching.
To understand this passage, we need to go way before the bear attack and go to I Kings Chapter 12. Immediately after the death of King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel split into two: the ten tribes formed the northern kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam, and the two tribes formed the southern kingdom of Judah under Rehoboam. King Jeroboam had a major problem. The citizens of the northern kingdom would have to go to the southern kingdom multiple times a year to worship, go to festivals, and participate in animal sacrifices. Why is that? Because the temple was in the southern kingdom! Thus, the fear of Jeroboam was that his people would make the trip to the south and never return. So, Jeroboam, after talking with his counsel, built two golden calves and said this in I Kings 12:28, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” Big dog, what are we doing?! But wait, it gets worse. I King 2:29-33 tells us the Jeroboam set up one the golden calves in Beth-el, appointed a new temple with said golden calf as the focal point, appointed new priests who were not Levites, made new festivals which God did not appoint, and made sacrifices to the golden calf! So now, Beth-el, which means “House of God”, was filled with idol worship. Are we starting to see a problem?
Let’s fast forward to II Kings Chapter 2 where we meet the prophet, Elisha. Elisha just watched his forerunner Elijah be taken up in a whirlwind to heaven and had been bestowed into the office of prophet for about a day. As he is going to Bethel, Elisha is encountered by “some small boys” or “little children”, depending on the translation. Let’s take a small pause here. This passage is one of the reasons why digging deep into God’s word is so important rather than skimming it and moving on. The modern idea of “children” is constructed on word choices from the 1600s and not the original Hebrew, which is not as specific. The Hebrew word “na’ar” means boy, youth, or servant; more of a subordinate male. This word has a wide range, spanning from baby Moses in Exodus 2 to the cupbearer calling Joseph, who was 28, a “young Hebrew” in Genesis 41:12. For the best example of the range of this word, let’s look at Solomon in I Kings 3:7, “And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.” At this point, Solomon was already chosen, married, and reigned; certainly not a toddler. So, this word combination points to a male's low standing in society. Also, a roaming band of at least 40 preschoolers doesn’t make much sense.
Ok, so the picture now is a band of younger men exit the calf shrine and go to meet the prophet. II Kings 2:23 tells us that these men “jeered” or mocking Elisha, reducing him to his physical appearance. This word in the Hebrew was more than just teasing; it was contempt and to treat one as worthless. Remember, the prophet was the messenger of God’s word. Thus, when one insulted the messenger, one also insulted the one who sent the message. They insulted him because they didn’t care what he had to say nor what God had to say. In response, Elisha turned around and cursed them. Elisha put these people in God’s hands and judgement fell.
I’m sure you are thinking. “That’s understandable, but why bears?” Well, here is the answer; because God told them that would happen. Leviticus 2:21-22 reads, “Then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins. 22 And I will let loose the wild beasts against you, which shall bereave you of your children and destroy your livestock and make you few in number, so that your roads shall be deserted.” These men didn’t get attacked because they called Elisha bald. They were judged because they abandoned God’s word. You see, for two generations, there had not been a consequence for breaking their covenant with God. A covenant of abounding blessings but they chose the curses and their own way. They chose their wickedness over God’s holiness. Because of that, the verdict was cast that day.
Ok, how does a bear mauling have to do with Jesus Christ? Well, there are two things we need to look at. First, there are fourteen recorded miracles that the Lord did through Elisha with only two of them being judgements. Elisha parted the Jordan River, purified the waters of Jericho, multiplied the widow’s oil, raised the Shunammite’s son, healed Naaman’s leprosy, and more. Therefore, we can see that Elisha’s ministry was one of mercy, not judgement. Even in the Old Testament, we see that God brings righteous judgment and brings underserved mercies and blessings upon those who had nothing. Second, there was another crowd that mocked another servant of God centuries later. As He was being crucified, Jesus Christ was mocked at Golgotha by passersby, chief priests, scribes, roman soldiers, and the criminals being crucified beside Him. The mockery at Golgotha is the same as the mockery at Bethel. However, the outcome is different. Jesus could have called down anything and every right to, but he didn’t. Instead, Luke 23:34 states, “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Scour was met with mercy; an appeal for forgiveness for those mocking Him.
You see, the weight of our sin, our contempt for God’s word, our idolatry must fall somewhere. For those men in II Kings, God’s just verdict fell on them. But with the cross, the weight of our sin will fall on Christ if we repent and believe in Him. Here’s the thing, the next thing I’m about to say will make some uncomfortable and others at peace. God’s judgement is always correct. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Like those men at Beth-el, our sin has a consequence. Whether we acknowledge it or not, everyone commits sin and no one wants to be sinned against. People will steal then call the police when someone steals from them. The liar becomes enraged when someone lies to them. So, if we hate sin against us, imagine how the righteous judge of creation feels about sin. It must be and will be dealt with. But God, who is rich in mercy, provided Christ to take our due punishment. Through Christ, God provided the thing that we all want yet do not deserve; grace. Thus, to my readers, repent and believe today that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus Christ, He who has a legion of angels at his righteous call, extends His bloodied, pierced hand to all who would believe. The judge is offering mercy today. Will you receive it?
To believers, understand that this passage is just as important to our faith as the Gospels. Why? Because a god that takes his words seriously is the only one who’s promises we can trust. If God didn’t act in II Kings, how could we trust Him on the cross? But glory to God because when He speaks, He acts! When He makes a promise, He fulfills (Numbers 23:19)! When He said He forgives you, He meant it. When He said He loves you, He meant it. When He said that He would never abandon you, He meant it. When He said that He would be our provision, He meant it. When He promised eternal life, He meant it. We can trust in God’s promises because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. So today, let’s rest in the truth of God’s word. Here the word, dig deeper, and read it somemore! Never let the world define God. Let God define Himself through His word. Let’s live today like we have a promise from our all-powerful God. Why? Because Family, a word that can’t fall is a word that can’t hold.
At River City Church, we are simply a group of people who have been radically changed by God’s grace, and we desperately want others to hear the Gospel as well. Beloved, how can we pray for you today?
đź“Ť2037 Noble St, Pittsburgh, PA 15218
⏰10:30am Sunday Service
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