Strange Things in the Bible – Elisha and the She-Bears – October 29, 2023

Welcome, Introduction, and Opening Prayer

SHARE – Icebreaker – In this sermon series, we are exploring some of the strange stories in the Bible. This Sunday we are exploring a story about Elisha and the she-bears. Have you ever encountered a bear or a wild animal while hiking in the wilderness?

STUDY - Text: 2 Kings 2:19-25 (NRSV)

19 Now the people of the city said to Elisha, “The location of this city is good, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.” 20 He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it and said, “Thus says the Lord: I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” 22 So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke. 23 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 away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!” 24 When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. 25 From there he went on to Mount Carmel and then returned to Samaria.

Elijah’s predecessor is a younger prophet by the name of Elisha who carries on the mission of his mentor. Who is someone that you consider to be a mentor? How have you followed in their footsteps?

Young men start bullying Elisha and making fun of his bald head. According to a study from 2019, almost one out of every four students (about 25%) report being bullied during the school year.[i] Have you ever experienced the effects of bullying?

The bullies point out Elisha’s deepest insecurity. Elisha responds, like so many others when they are backed into a corner, Elisha hits back. He curses the young men and two she-bear come out of the woods and maul 42 of the young men. Can you think of a time when you responded harshly or overreacted to a situation?

While on the cross, in the face of violence and adversity, Jesus responds with love and forgiveness. He never responds with revenge. What can we learn from Jesus’ example?

SUPPORT - Blessings and Burdens: What has been life-giving for you this week? What has been life-draining for you?

Closing Prayer

[i]. “The NCES Fast Facts Tool Provides Quick Answers to Many Education Questions (National Center for Education Statistics),” National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a Part of the U.S. Department of Education, accessed October 23, 2023, https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=719.