THURSDAY, AUGUST 25
Scripture: 2 Kings 2:23-25

                2 Kings 2:23-25 says, “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.”  Now we are taught that this is impossible in the New Testament but that is not true.  Paul did it.  He brought down curses on people who were not preaching the gospel.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and this has not changed.  The covenantal biblical proclamation of judicial justice is, in fact, an Old Testament curse.  Elisha was mocked by a bunch of rebellious kids.  He proclaimed covenant justice and bears came and mauled forty-two of the youths.  Isn’t it interesting that this is just casually mentioned in Scripture, and it goes right on as if it is routine.  It is simply our God of War, in action for His people.  The God of War who was in action for Elisha does not seem to be in action for the New Testament church.  Where is the disconnection?  Our culture tells us that war is bad and that it is to be avoided at all costs.  I am glad God does not have that opinion.  When we think that way, we never ask the God of War to intervene against evil.  We should live so we can access covenant justice when needed.  God can intervene against evil.