Scripture reference: – Proverbs 17:12
"Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly."
Proverbs 17:12
My daily reading of Proverbs found me in chapter seventeen, and I felt led to turn today’s devotional into a look at verse twelve.
“Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.” A “she-bear bereaved” (see also 18:14; 28:15; 30:21) is the best translation of this passage and this bereavement is best understood as relating to being robbed of her bear cubs.
While running into the average bear might not normally be considered a major problem, meeting a mother bear “robbed of her cubs” would be scary.
Several years ago, Cynthia, Marshall and I were out on one of our many off-road adventurers with our 4-Runner. On some crooked road out in the middle of nowhere, a black bear cub suddenly flung itself right across the road in front of us. We could see him walking around on the other side of the road.
It only took a second for me and Cynthia to realize that where there is a wandering cub, there is a momma bear very close that would no doubt not be happy with our company around her baby. I’ve heard enough stories, so let’s just say we high-tailed it out of there.
Solomon is telling us in the verse before us that running into an angry momma bear is still not as precarious as it would be running into a “fool in his folly” – doing his stupid fool stuff. No one would have to tell us twice to avoid that bear. Yet, many of us somehow think it is okay to hang out with that fool because it won’t be that bad.
Bad move. You can’t talk any more sense to the fool than you can with the bear! Better get away, because the carnage will be even worse than running into that bear.
The book of Proverbs is part of what is called “Wisdom Literature” in the Bible. Then it should be of no surprise that not only does the book speak of those who are wise, but also its antagonist, the fool. In fact, the word fool or fools is mentioned 99 times in the book's 31 chapters. Perhaps we should pay attention.
When I first started in the ministry back in the early 70’s, we spent a great deal of time memorizing and studying the book of Proverbs. Fifty years later, many of these nuggets of truth have been ingrained into my memory.
I remember some very important counsel that I never forgot. It was this; if there were ever two things you NEVER wanted to be associated with your name, it was someone who was “lazy” or “a fool.”
Newton’s first law of motion states that an object in motion tends to remain in motion, and an object at rest tends to remain at rest. This law applies to people. While some are naturally driven to complete projects, others are apathetic, requiring motivation to overcome inertia. Laziness, a lifestyle for some, is a temptation for all.
But the Bible is clear that, because the Lord ordained work for man, laziness is sin. “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise." (Proverbs 6:6-11)
Fools are dangerous. Wise men will avoid them. It is a universal fact that a mother bear robbed of her cubs is very dangerous. But such a ferocious animal is less trouble than a fool pursuing his perverse ideas. Solomon condemned fools and their brutish lusts by his knowledge of bears. The wisdom is to identify dangerous fools and avoid them.
Likewise, the Bible has much to say about fools. The word fool today usually means “a senseless fellow, a dullard.” The biblical definition has the added dimension of “someone who disregards God’s Word.”
The Bible lists many characteristics of such a person, often contrasting him with one who is wise. Ecclesiastes 10:2 says, “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.”
A fool is one whose wayward heart turns continually toward foolishness. “Fools speak foolishness and make evil plans” (Isaiah 32:6). Proverbs 26:11 says, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.”
Fools do not learn their lessons from the mistakes they make. They continue doing the same foolish things over and over again, to their own destruction (Proverbs 18:7).
Some fools are merely lazy or stupid, so they are not very dangerous (Pr 17:16; 21:20; Eccl 10:15). While irritating and troublesome, they are not a great threat to a righteous man. Their folly will do them more harm than anyone else. And the folly of children and Christians can be corrected (Pr 22:15; 29:15; Luke 24:25-26; I Cor 15:36; Gal 3:1).
But other fools are malicious and scornful; they are very dangerous (Pr 21:24; 26:12; 27:3; 29:20,22). The wickedness of incorrigible fools cannot be corrected, no matter what you do (Pr 17:10; 27:22; 29:9). The Bible calls these profane fools, “sons of Belial,” or evil personified (I Sam 25:3,17; II Sam 23:6-7; I Kings 21:10,13).
They are brute beasts to be destroyed (II Pet 2:10-12). Wise men stay far from these wicked fools (Pr 9:6-8; 14:7)
A fool is in his folly when out of control and acting by base and profane passions. Rage is the anger of a fool (Pr 14:29; 29:22; Eccl 7:9). Consider Cain killing Abel (Gen 4:1-12), Potiphar’s wife accusing Joseph of attempted rape (Gen 39:7-20), Simeon and Levi destroying a city against their father’s word (Gen 49:5-7), Doeg killing God’s priests (I Sam 22:9-19), Absalom committing adultery with his father’s concubines (II Sam 16:20-22), and the Jews screaming for the blood of Jesus of Nazareth (Matt 27:22-25).
What bear was ever as merciless and violent as these examples? Angry bears are brutishly stupid and vicious, but such profane fools are worse. Reader, it is your duty to learn to identify them and take pains to avoid them.
And it is your duty to rule your lusts and passions to avoid being like a bear yourself. Consider how close the sweet psalmist of Israel came to destroying a household for one scornor's ignorant remarks (I Sam 25).
There are three American brown bears – the grizzly, the Alaskan, and the Kodiak. A male Kodiak bear may weigh 1500 pounds or more. It is 10 feet tall when standing on its back legs. If you try to run, it can reach 35 mph, which you cannot. If you put up a fence, remember it can bite through ½” steel bolts. Will you climb a tree? It can also climb trees, if needed. Will you hide underground? It can dig much faster than you can shovel.
But Solomon did not use just any bear in this proverb. Most bears retreat at the presence of a man, if they are not disturbed or provoked. He compared a fool in his folly to a female bear robbed of her cubs.
This creature, though smaller than the males, is much more aggressive and dangerous. She will ferociously and fearlessly attack any threat to her cubs. The proverb is designed to frighten. Such bears and such fools are dangerous.
David’s friend Hushai kept Absalom from pursuing his father by comparing David and his chafed mind to a bear robbed of her whelps (II Samuel 17:8). And it was two such bears that tore 42 children that mocked Elisha (II Kings 2:23-24).
A wicked ruler over poor people is like a raging bear, a hungry bear leaving its territory to find food (Pr 28:15). God compared His judgment of Israel to a female bear robbed of her cubs (Hos 13:8).
You know what bears look like and where they live. You easily avoid them. But can you spot dangerous fools as well? They show no fear of God: they are not holy; they are profane in speech and action; they are arrogant and selfish; they despise authority and scorn correction; they justify anything they wish; they are earthly minded; they are unmerciful; they are without natural affection; and they have a violent temper.
How can so-called Christians engage in angry yelling and temper tantrums in the privacy of their automobile or home? How can they furiously send text messages and write emails filled with venom?
While called to follow the Lamb in speech and actions, they show themselves the children of the lion from hell (I Pet 2:21-25; John 8:44). And if they say, “That is just the way I am,” you know you have found a son of Belial. Get away!
Separating may be painful at times, but it is God’s order to avoid fools, especially the angry, scornful, and vicious kind (Pr 9:6-8; 14:7; 22:24-25; 23:9; 29:9; Matt 7:6; I Cor 15:33; II Thess 3:2). They do not deserve delight or honor (Pr 19:10; 26:1,8; II Kings 3:14; Ps 15:4). Great men cut them off, even if they are family or friends (Ps 101:4-8).
These wicked men that cause so much grief to parents, wives, children, neighbors, and church members have their day coming, when Jesus Christ will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire to eternally correct all the inequities of these brute beasts (II Thess 1:6-9; Jude 1:14-15). Are you ready and waiting for His appearance?
Final Thought
All men by nature are religious fools, no matter how their parents trained them (Ep 2:1-3; 4:17-19; Rom 1:18-32). Even Paul, who had the best religious training, admitted he had been foolish before (Tit 3:3). How can a spiritual fool be made wise? By the regenerating power of God, Who sovereignly causes him to be born again (John 1:13; 3:8; Titus 3:5).
This powerful work of creation by God gives a man a new spiritual nature for him to see, hear, know, and do things to please God (Jn 3:3; 8:43,47; I Cor 2:14; Rom 8:7-8; Phil 2:12-13). This new nature is truly wise (I Cor 2:15). A person must be born again first to hear and obey the gospel (John 5:24; 10:26; I Cor 1:24; II Cor 4:3-4; Acts 13:48).
It is heresy to think changing the environment will make fools wise (Is 26:10). It is heresy to think that new evangelistic methods will work (Luke 16:31). Remember, Only God can make a wise man out of a fool (Pr 20:9; Job 14:4; John 3:6).
It is your duty and privilege to fear God, humble yourself before teachers and counselors, and reject the proud rebellion that enslaves the hearts and minds of fools. It is easier to learn this way than to be brayed with a pestle in a mortar, which the Lord Jesus Christ has done and will do to both foolish children and enemies (Heb 12:5-13; Matt 21:42-44).
If there was one Proverb worth memorizing over all these, it is one I’ve used countless times over the years in prison ministry. Many men are in prison today because they violated this nugget of wisdom. You can take this one to the bank and put it in your safety deposit box...
"He who walks with wise men will be wise...
...But the companion of fools will be destroyed."
Proverbs 13:20
From: Fight the good fight of faith & life journal: By Gregg Harris
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