Don't mock your leaders

"Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!” 24Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them."                  2 Kings 2:23

This account tells the story of Elisha being mocked by a group of young men from Bethel as he travelled to the city. They shouted disrespectfully at him calling him 'Baldy' and telling him to 'Go up' which was referring to Elijah's ascension into heaven. This incident highlights the decline towards Elisha and to men and women of God, even today.

Let's look at the background to this. It is unlikely that these young men were below the age of twelve. The Hebrew phrase for 'small boys or young men' refers to adolescents between 12 and 30 years old. It is quite a contentious story, one in which many Christians cannot believe that our loving God would act in this way to people. Let's look at this:

These young men were mocking God's messenger and paid for it with their lives. Let's not forget, there were 42 of these young men attacking Elisha verbally. This may have been quite fearful for him, even though he had God with him. It was a threat to his life. Therefore, it was more of a crowd and crowds can do a lot of damage when they are in protest. Making fun of religious leaders has been a popular sport through the ages. One only has to see what is happening to missionary's around the world at the moment. When we make a stand for God, we become vulnerable to verbal abuse and this was what was happening here to Elisha.

Elisha was not rude to these young men. He saw the threat that he was in. He witnessed to verbal abuse that was being hurled at him and, especially God and so, silently he cursed them in the name of the Lord. This would have been rather like what we would do if we were in a threatening position, he was calling on God to handle the situation. And God did.

In our world today, many evangelists are moved away off the streets just for preaching about Jesus. Some suffer abuse, some are threatened. If you have ever done any street evangelism, you will know what I mean. 

If people show you disrespect concerning your faith on a regular basis, you can count on God to handle the situation because they are insulting Him, not you. Therefore, don't ever be tempted to say anything detrimental about a church leader. God hears all.

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now
Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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