The Prophet ElishaEsimerkki

God’s Judgment

[Elisha] “turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.” (2 Kings 2:24)

From Jericho, Elisha went to Bethel. This place was a center of idolatry (see 1 Kings 12:28-29). It seems that Elisha was not welcome in this city and was jeered at by a group of boys when he walked by.

This was not just a personal insult. It was an expression of these people’s rejection of the Lord God and His prophet. God takes that very seriously. So, when Elisha cursed the boys in the name of the Lord, God’s warning from Leviticus 26:21-22 came true: “If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me […] I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children”.

This is a sad and disturbing story. Forty-two boys, probably teenagers, died because they ridiculed a prophet of God.

This story is a reminder for us to take God’s warnings seriously. If we reject and mock Him, He will punish us — finally when we die, and possibly during our earthly lives. This part of the biblical message is not easy to share or to think about. But it is essential for all of us to know, since the consequences of rejecting God are so serious!

What does this story evoke in you? When you talk about Christianity, do you also discuss God’s wrath, or do you just mention His love?