II Kings 2:23-25
Watch The Children

Introduction
1. They Only Know What You Teach Them
2. If you want to know the direction of a nation look at the children.
3. This was the case in Elisha’s day: Bethel was a city in rebellion against God. What can we
learn from our children?

If you want to know the direction of a nation look at the children. What can we learn from our children?
I. THE CLIMATE OF A SOCIETY IN REBELLION AGAINST GOD 2:23a
A. The Privileges And he went from there unto Bethel
1. He is Elisha. Bethel means, ‘the house of God’. Bethel was the home of the sons of
the prophet (v. 3).
2. America has been so blessed: One nation under God…In God We Trust. It was a
nation founded on Judeo-Christian ethics.
B. The Plight
1. Bethel and all of Israel had fallen into idolatry. Bethel became the center for pagan
worship of Baal and for the priest of Baal.
2. Where Did We Go Wrong? James Dobson
3. We have turned our back on God and the things of God. We are bowing before gods
that not only fail, but bring us under the judgment of God.

If you want to know the direction of a nation look at the children. What can we learn from our children?
II. THE CRY OF A SOCIETY IN REBELLION AGAINST GOD 2:23b
Youths…little children (KJV) He forsook the counsel of the older men and counseled with
‘young men’ (I Kings 12:6) It is the same word as here. It was used of Joseph at 17 (Gen.
37:2). These were a rowdy bunch of older teens.
A. Purposeful Cry There came forth youth
1.Outside of Bethel came a rowdy bunch of youth…Came…they came with a purpose.
2.What motivates our youth? Decency, Respect, Love, Kindness, Goodness…to many NO WAY!
3.These were arrogant, spoiled, rebellious and in your face.
4.Look at the heroes and role models of today: Candi B…Nicki Minaj…Miley Cyrus…Kardashians…Rock Bands and their lyrics…Presidents “If it’s o.k. for them”… Politicians: What message has come across? Lying, Adultery, Devalue women, etc. Television: riots, looting, violate laws and there is no punishment.
B. A Productive Cry Out of the city
Where are our youth taking their cues? Educational System… ‘Cancel Culture’…
1.These were a product of all that made up Bethel.
2.Where are our youth taking their cues? They are a product: Culture…Home: “Parents are failing to pass on faith.” Environment: School…Social Media…
Mass Media. We are no longer sensitive.
C. A Prideful Cry They mocked him (God’s man, God’s Authority)
What is the attitude of many youth? What is the authority of youth today?
1.These made fun of the man of God..the voice of God…the authority of God and ultimately God Himself.
2.Out of…they were a byproduct of Home, Society, and Culture.
3.Pride: What is the attitude toward the things of God? What is your authority? We have become a god unto ourselves!
D.A Pitiful Cry Go up thou bald head and they kept repeating it!
1.They Doubted Go up Elijah had been taken away. They thought little of the things of God. The supernatural is a joke. Morality and values have little meaning. They make fun of what they don’t understand.
2.They Despised You bald head. They had little respect for authority, elders or parents. Elisha prophesied for 50 more years. So the loss of hair was not due to age.
3.What are our youth saying? They are merely mirroring what they’ve heard.

If you want to know the direction of a nation, look at the children. What can we learn from our children?
III. THE CURSE OF A SOCIETY IN REBELLION AGAINST GOD 2:24a
A.God Stops He turned back.
B.God Sees He looked at them. He saw them for what they were!
C.God Speaks He cursed them in the name of the Lord.
He sees an arrogant, decadent society. He saw a nation in the action of these young adults. No one related what they were doing with the voice of God. One day…perhaps it has happened: God Stops…God Sees…God Speaks to America.

If you want to know the direction of a nation look at the children. What can we learn from our children?
IV. THE CONDEMNATION OF A SOCIETY IN REBELLION AGAINST GOD 2:24b
And there came forth two she bears and mauled 42 youth of the group.
A.Judgment Is Coming In the name of the Lord (the judgment is from God to wake up those of Israel)
1.That which is Common: No one relates what is going on to God.
2.That which is Chosen: God chose the means. Drive by shooting, drugs, breakup of the home, children killing children, riots in the streets. No one relates: Is this God’s judgment on America with the purpose of driving us back to God. The stock market and jobs is not the indication of God’s blessing. Folks, the bears are coming…if they are not already here.
B.Judgment Is Crucial Tore (Mauled) 42 youth of them ( not all, it must have been a large number in the crowd).
1.We don’t know if 42 were killed.
2.Look at what is happening to our children. They are being torn to pieces.
3.Can you imagine what was said? No one calls for repentance. No one cries out to God. No one gets rid of Baal. No one turns back to God.
4.God is saying “Wake Up” “Israel, Wake Up!” The way you handle the Man of God, the Word of God, the things of God is the way you handle Me.

If you want to know the direction of a nation, look at the children. What can we learn from our children?
V. THE CONCLUSION OF A SOCIETY IN REBELLION AGAINST GOD 2:25
And he went from there.
A.He Walks Away
B.When God leaves we are done! My Spirit will not always strive with man. We could be seeing the beginning of God’s judgment on a nation. Most will never see the hand of God and few will cry unto God!