The word of the LORD; II Kings 2:23….”And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. {2:24} And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.”
Now….your everyday unsaved person who hates the LORD will accuse GOD of unjust murder…”Look how your so called God butchered little children!” They exclaim.
No….look how a bunch of wicked children who dared to mock GOD and his appointed prophet got what they deserved! A prophet is the chosen representative of GOD to the children of Israel. Word of the LORD Deuteronomy 18:18-19….”I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”
GOD’s holy prophet was chosen to keep and teach the word of the LORD throughout all Israel and his authority from the LORD was backed up by the power of GOD…”The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” Deuteronomy 18:15.
The holy prophet was to be obeyed and his office to the people Israel was made terribly clear unto them and all respect due to him was to be accorded as it was to all mighty GOD.
Now we know in II Kings chapter 2 that Elisha’s establishment was solidified by the time he came to Bethel so by now even the young children of Bethel should have known how to behave before the prophet of GOD. The word of the LORD; Deuteronomy 31:12-13….”Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that [is] within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: {31:13} And [that] their children, which have not known [any thing,] may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”
But what do we see from these children of Bethel? Disrespect, disobedience, blasphemy, mockery. They mock Elisha, they mock Elijah, they mock GOD. They believe not that Elijah was taken up to heaven, they assault the prophet and when they do not stop? Elisha brings down the wrath of GOD on their heads!
The word of GOD; Deuteronomy 28:26….”And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray [them] away.” The children were of NO EXCUSE! Children ARE NOT excused from the knowledge or respect for the authority of GOD! a gang of wicked brats dared to mock GOD and a gang of wicked brats had their bodies ripped to shreds by vicious bears. Today...foolish children don’t have bears waiting to take their lives and drag them to hell...they have a lion who waits among the tall grasses of their wicked stupidity. Children are not immune or excused from knowing GOD or respecting GOD or following GOD.
Be warned wicked children...Christ loves but he loves with authority and justice. You live to hate him and you walk a living death on the broad road to hell.