Growing up, my daddy’s nickname was “The Bear.” Even though small in stature, my daddy could let out a mean growl if he needed to and in that moment, things would come to order. My daddy demanded respect and honor, and this taught my brother and me to fear the Lord. I am reminded of a story in 2 Kings 2:23-24 about the prophet Elisha and how important God views honoring and respecting your elders.
”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.”
Thank God we live under a new covenant of grace and mercy, because the generation in which we live might have many more reports of bear attacks due to dishonor for authority! The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:5:
“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
This is one of the greatest qualities we can instill in this next generation—to honor and respect authority. By doing this we will teach them to honor and fear the Lord and we will produce a generation that is full of wisdom and safe from the enemy.
Be Blessed!