Why did God slaughter these children?

[just-want-peace]

Perhaps the passage is to be interpreted allegorically. The prophet is a picture of the church and because he is bald indicates the church has lost its power (similar to the hair cutting and the Nazarite vow) the two bears are a type of Magog being split into two different groups of nations in the last days and the 42 youth who are mauled is a sign of what Magog will do to the Middle eastern nations who come against him in the last days.

I love allegory as opposed to literal cause it makes a much better story. (I am being sarcastic here :wavey: )

Hey, this explains an awful lot about the modern "concepts" of the Word!!
Make it say anything you want it to.

 

[Rebel]

Hey, this explains an awful lot about the modern "concepts" of the Word!!
Make it say anything you want it to.

The other side of that would be: Don't read with any discernment or in context.

 

[Aaron]

I am at a loss as to why God allowed this, but since I believe in His sovereignty I trust He did the best thing, for without the instant deaths, all of the youths would have grown up and gone to hell when they died, so the mauling was an act of grace.

What is your take on this account? This is not a passage that you hear much if at all in churches these days. But its a lesson to be learned on God's Holiness and his sovereignty over everything.

My question. Why did God allow the slaughter of the innocents after the visit of the Magi? There's no question of their innocence and age there.

But then why a blessing pronounced on those that bash Babylonian infants' brains out on the rocks?

There is no innocence in the youths that heckled Elisha. They weren't men. There is no such thing as an age of accountability, and it's hardly Calvinistic (which means it's hardly biblical) to assume that young children start out either not needing salvation, or start out saved then get lost, then need saved again. Grabbing at marginal definitions to allow one's carnal sense of justice a foot in the door is hardly good exegesis.

My take, Elisha was a type of Christ, the seed of Abraham. Those who curse Him will be cursed, and those who bless Him will be blessed, and there is no respect of persons with God. Very simple. If you ain't shakin' in your boots, you don't understand the passage.

 

[Marooncat79]

How about this?

They were rebellious teenagers who were mocking -the man of God whom God had appointed as His own personal messenger. God raised up the bears to show how serious it is to mock the things of God including those whom He sends to deliver His Word, and do His Work especially in the OT as they were the "covenant people of God"

Honestly, I am amazed that God does not do this more and did not do it more. It is meant as a warning to all men

 

[Aaron]

:thumbs: :thumbs:

 

[OldRegular]

2 Kings 2:23-25. I read it in the NIV, ESV, and KJV. NIV says youth, ESV says boys, and KJV Little children, so with the translations I am confused if the crowd that was jeering Elisha was boys, little children, or youth. Elisha then calls on a curse and two bears (perhaps female) came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the youths/children/little boys. I am at a loss as to why God allowed this, but since I believe in His sovereignty I trust He did the best thing, for without the instant deaths, all of the youths would have grown up and gone to hell when they died, so the mauling was an act of grace.

SO!!!!???? Just when did GOD make you judge of all the earth, or was it just the 42 youths/children/little boys? May I also say that it is very gracious of you to conclude that the mauling was

an act of grace.

 

[OldRegular]

SO!!!!???? Just when did GOD make you judge of all the earth, or was it just the 42 youths/children/little boys? May I also say that it is very gracious of you to conclude that the mauling was

And Scripture does not say that the bears killed any of the 42 youths/children/little boys! Does it?

 

[Bro. James]

The answer as to why God does what He does is beyond our puny reprobate minds. Why did God not allow Moses to go to the promised land? Moses seems to have been more faithful than not. He disobeyed God. Did He fall from grace? No. He lost some rewards.

Re: slaughtering of innocents. God is sovereign. He created everything. He has Sovereign Will and Permissive Will. He allowed Satan to fall. He allowed Adam to fall. He allows the Prince of the Power of the Air to continue. This is all according to Divine Plan. Most of us have not a clue. We are conformed to this world--which is about to melt with fervent heat--with everything in it.

Wrong, Mr. Darwin, nothing happens by chance. We have a creator and must give an account. Without Jesus as our propitiation(punished in stead of), we will go to Hell. God is not fair--thank Him for Grace, Mercy, and Longsuffering. What have we done with Jesus? I am glad God is not fair--I deserve hell.

The rules have not changed: the saved go to heaven, the lost go to hell. There is no "purge-atory". Jesus paid it all.

God said what He meant and meant what He said--are we listening?

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Bro. James