Elisha And The Two Bears Series

So, I’m sure Elisha wasn’t exactly expecting a warm welcome when he got there but these people thought they’d just make fun of him and obviously, the level of disrespect he received was typical of the attitude of the general population in Bethel toward anyone who spoke for God.

And this is not the first time this happened because scripture tells us in 2 Chronicles 36:16 that the Lord warned Judah before they went into exile and it says, ‘But they mocked God’s messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.’

It says they scoffed at His prophets and the word translated "scoffer" in English can mean "one who mocks, ridicules, or scorns the belief of another." In Hebrew, the word "scoffer" or "mocker" can also mean "ambassador."

So, a scoffer is one who not only disagrees with something but considers himself to be an ambassador for the opposing idea and he can’t rest until he demonstrates the foolishness of any idea that’s not his own. A scoffer voices his disagreement, ridicules all who stand against him, and actively recruits others to join his side. In the Bible, scoffers are those who choose to disbelieve God and His Word. They say in their hearts, "There is no God" (Psalm 14:1), and make it their ambition to ridicule those who follow Him.

The Bible has a lot to say about scoffers. Proverbs 3:34 says that God "scoffs at the scoffers, yet He gives grace to the afflicted." We are warned not to even waste time with those who ridicule our faith. Proverbs 13:20 says, "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."

I know we can’t totally escape scoffers because they were not only active in Jesus' day and they’re still here today. Jesus told His disciples in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you"

We’re told ‘to be ready to answer anyone who asks a reason for the hope we have within us’ but when we’re no longer communicating the word and become the one who are being influenced by others, we need to shake the dust off our feet and move on.

We shouldn’t be surprised at people scoffing or making fun of our faith because second Peter 3:3 warns us that "in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires." And 2 Timothy warns us that scoffing is going to increase as we near the time of Jesus return.

I’m always amazed at how anyone feels free to belittle Christians in the media but we never hear a word about Muslims or any other religion.

What are we to do with scorners and scoffers? We are to ignore them. Proverbs 9:7 says, “He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.”