This last week saw many western stock markets enter into bear territory.
From the perspective of economists this is a very bad development. However, we see this as a positive development instead of a negative one. The timing of this event, so close to Passover, also hints that this movement in the stock market contains within it an Exodus message.
Bulls and Bears rule the stock market.
In previous posts we have explored the connection of Wall Street’s Charging Bull with ancient Israel’s Golden Calf worship. This connection illustrates that idol worship still occurs today.
The stock market enters bear territory when it plunges 20% from its previous high. As the stock market entered bear territory this week the following verse came to our attention:
And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth young men out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; Go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two of the young men.
2 Kings 2:23-24
Who Were the Young Men from Bethel?
- The young men that mocked Elisha came from Bethel.
- King Jeroboam had placed a Golden Calf at Bethel (1 Kings 12:26-30).
- This calf was still present in Elisha’s day (2 Kings 10:29), indicating that worship at Bethel was corrupted.
These young men were worshippers of the Golden Calf.
The young men’s chant “Go up, Go up,” implies they were aware of Elijah’s ascension in the whirlwind which had occurred just prior to this event. By mocking Elisha in this way the young men were challenging Elisha’s status as a prophet. They were issuing a challenge – setting the god represented by the Golden Calf up against the One True God.
Elisha’s Response to the Challenge
Elisha’s response to this challenge was to curse them in the name of the Lord. As a result…
…two bears came forth out of the wood.
- The Hebrew word used for “wood” is Strong’s 3293 ya’ar. This word means honeycomb, forest, wood.
- Bears dwell in the forest… and they like to eat honeycomb. In Scripture, honeycomb represents the Word of God and Enlightenment – Proverbs 16:24; 1 Samuel 14:27.
- So we can say that the bears came out of the wood, having been filled with the Word (honeycomb).
…filled with the Word the bears tore 42 young men.
- 42 is the number of the Anti-Christ. The Anti-Christ is none other than man in opposition to God. This is what these young men were displaying.
Did the Bears Maul the Young Men?
The common interpretation of the word ‘tare’ used in 2 Kings 2:24 is that these bears mauled, or tore to pieces, the young men. However, there is another explanation.
- The Hebrew word used for “tare” is Strong’s 1234 baqa. This word means to cleave, break open or through.
Here we see a Passover connection, as the very same word baqa is used in Exodus 14:21 when God divided (baqa) the waters of the Red Sea.
So we could say the bears did not maul the young men but rather they broke open a way through the young men. Perhaps so that Elisha could continue on his way?
Creation by Division
One of the lessons we learnt from our trip to Israel last year was that God creates out of chaos.
When we read the creation account in Genesis 1 we see that God creates through a process of division. We see this concept further illustrated in biblical events such as:
- God divided the waters of the Red Sea, thereby creating a path of dry land. This path allowed Israel to pass through the chaos. Life and new opportunity was created – being delivered from bondage Israel could now worship their God.
- In Elisha’s account the bears divide a way through the worshippers of the Golden Calf. This opened a way for Elisha to pass through… commencing his new life and ministry.
Looking at todays events…
As a nation we still worship the Golden Calf.
As bears charge through the stock market the true nature of the bull (Golden Calf) is revealed. The Golden Calf has no power at all.
By revealing the true nature of our false god, God is opening/creating a path for us to walk on – a path which will deliver us from bondage and into life.
At this time of Passover, may this revelation be an encouragement to us all. May God grant us the vision to see this newly created way. May He give us the strength and courage to walk thereon. Not only to be delivered from bondage, but in order to be able to truly worship Him.
The photo at the top of this post is titled “Two Bears Walking in the Grass” by Tambako The Jaguar.
