Children’s Stories - J.C. Ryle Chapter 1

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!" ²⁴ 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. (2 Kings 2:23-24 NKJ)

I. Have you seen a bear? (Circle all that apply)

A. Yes, in a zoo

B. Yes, on tv

C. Yes, loose near me

D. Yes, in pictures

E. Yes, I owned a teddy bear

II. Do you agree with J.C. Ryle’s description of bears?

III. What is the difference between stories in the Bible and all other stories?

IV. What was Elisha’s relationship with Elijah? What can we learn from this relationship?

V. What kind of schools did Elijah and Elisha start? What do you think would have been taught at these schools?

VI. Did the children respect Elijah? Should they have respected him?

VII. Why does Ryle say, the children said, the things they said?

VIII. What opportunity did these children have? What opportunities do we have? How can we best apply ourselves to these?

IX. What does Ryle suggest these children should have said to Elisha? Do you agree?

X. Are godly people, like Elisha, often treated this way? If so, why?

XI. What did Elisha do in response to the children’s taunting? Was he right or wrong to do this?

XII. Why did the two bears come out of the woods and attack these children? (Circle all answers you think might be right)

1. Elisha’s curse brought God’s wrath upon these children.

2. God ordained, predestined the bears to do this.

3. The bears thought their cubs were in danger, due to the children’s yelling.

4. God hates innocent little children.

5. The children’s sinfulness brought this wrath upon them.

6. The children’s parents were to blame, they should have taught their children to respect God and God’s man.

7. These were the Chicago Bears.

XIII. What do you think the headline in the newspaper would be, if “The Prophets of Baal Tribune” wrote the story of this event?

XIV. Does God care about what little children do? Will He punish them if they do wrong?

XV. Does God hear children’s prayers, does He hear and notice us?

XVI. What advice does Ryle give about what children should say to themselves every morning? Is this good advice for adults as well?

XVII. What does Ryle say about mocking the godly? Is godliness mocked or made fun of today? By children? By adults?

XVIII. Are children taught enough today to respect their parents? Their elders?

¹⁷ The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it. (Proverbs 30:17 NKJ)

XIV. What does this chapter say is the consequence of sin? How often is this the case?

XV. What does Ryle say is the way to be happy?

XVI. What does he say is the way to be holy?