Impossible Mercy

2 Kings 2:23-25
Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”
So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.
Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

What does this story teach us about God, Elisha and the prophetic ministry?

This teaches that God is serious about defending His servants. I have heard some say that these “youths” were more like a street gang of teenagers that were not just mocking Elisha but threatening him also. Whether this is true or not I think this shows that those who serve God have authority to defend themselves.

I am going through a situation right now where I feel very wronged by someone and I am struggling with forgiving them without forgetting what they have done. It is so unfair when we give so much to others and yet sometimes it feels like all they have for us is a closed fist when we are in need.

Perhaps this is how Elisha felt in this situation. He was a servant of God serving his fellow man and all they have for him is mockery. He lost his temper at this point and I don’t blame him. He just lost it. I have felt this way at times. I just give, give and give some more and all I get for it is selfish behavior from others. Yet I know that God is much more merciful than we are. This doesn’t mean He will not judge others, but that His mercy is much greater before He does so. Perhaps these youths had used up all of God’s mercy.

The prophetic ministry is a very important ministry, one that God obviously does not take lightly. I have often realized that nothing will stand in the way of God’s purposes and that anyone who stands in the way will be removed quickly. This just shows the sovereignty of God.

What do you think would happen if God defended His servants today in a similar manner whenever they were ridiculed or persecuted? Why doesn’t He do that? (Or does He?)

Today, I believe things work a little differently because this makes me recall the story of the disciples wanting to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans when they rejected Jesus.

Luke 9:54-56
And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”
But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.

I feel like now we are called to higher levels of mercy than we were before the coming of Jesus. Now that we have the Holy Spirit, it allows us to be more merciful because we have the Spirit of the Living God in us. We are called to higher levels and much harder things than those who lived in the Old Testament times. This makes me recall the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus , the part where He says if someone takes away your cloak, give them your tunic also.

Luke 6:29
“To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.”

We are called to impossible levels of mercy that are possible only through the Holy Spirit in us. I have struggled tremendously with this, offering mercy and generosity at all times, even in the worst times when I feel the most taken advantage of. This is what Jesus did. This is the Spirit He had. Even at His most vulnerable, as He was being nailed to the cross and killed by those He came to save, He said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Jesus struggled with anger just as we do at the mistreatment He received from people and yet He never sinned. Amazing! This is what we are called to do.


Matthew 19:26

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”