Use the following thoughts and questions to have a spiritual conversation as a family. Don’t emphasize having the right answer, but focus on spending time discussing the Word as a family. 

SCRIPTURE

2 Kings 2:23-25

SESSION SUMMARY

We are in our new series, Confusing Stories in the Bible. We are going to spend the next couple weeks looking at stories that have been brought up to try to show that God is messed up, abusive, or evil. We will dive into what we don't understand as 21st century westerners and many times understanding eastern Jewish culture makes these stories make way more sense and gives a great awe who God is.

This week we Elishah cursing some boys and them being attacked by 2 bears. But this story is not devoid of context. In order to understand we must look at the context and understand some language nuance. Some just read verses 23-25, but we see a comparison of how two different cities respond the Elisha. The first with honor and respect (Jericho), they get a blessing. The second with mocking Elisha and God (Bethel) they get cursed. Bethel as a place is important because this is the home of Israels worship of the 2 calves that had been going on for generations. They have actively been rejecting God. 

These small boys were not so small either, they were probably anywhere between 15-20 something. Similarly Elisha is probably 20 something or 30. So we don't see an angry old man being mean to little kids. And more so they mock him for being bald (maybe genetic or maybe purposefully done to mark being a prophet). The also keep yelling “go up” this was probably mocking that Elijah had been taken up by God. The youths’ taunt, if we can paraphrase it, was something like, “Hey, your master is gone, how powerful are you now without him? Why don’t you ‘go up’ like he did?We see a much deeper issue of young men from a wicked city mocking God and his chosen messenger and judgment is weighed against them. And a warning for others to repent.

Even in the midst of judgment we see a gracious loving God. God has given Bethel many years to repent, and even in the judgement doesn’t judge the entire city just the men that should be leading in godliness, and now the city is given more time to repent. 

DISCUSSION QUESTION

As a Family Read 2 Kings 2:1-25, Leviticus 26:22

Use these to start a discussion with your students. 

1. How easy is it to take the Bible out of context? 
2. Why do you think these two stories are together? (Elisha and the men of Jericho and the men of Bethel)
3. Who are these men mocking?
4. Did it really have anything to do with hair? 
5. What is God’s greatest goal? 
6. Why is so important we remember that God’s greatest goal is his glory? 
7. How do we see God’s justice/wrath here? 
8. How do we see God’s grace and mercy? 

LIVE IT OUT 

• How can remember your identity this week as a servant of the most holy God? 
• How can you as a family seek God’s glory and righteousness this week? 
• How can you as a family encourage each other in these last 2 questions? 

FOR KEEPS [MEMORY VERSE]

Encourage and/or challenge your teenagers to memorize the Scripture below.

Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 

Thanks for all your prayers for our students and our ministry. Have an amazing week!