Why a Mother Bear’s Wrath Beats a Fool’s Folly.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
-Proverbs 17:12 – KJV
A mother bear with her cubs (whelps) is often considered the most dangerous type of bear encounter for a person. She will do whatever it takes to defend her cubs, and if you enter her territory, she may perceive you as a direct threat to them.
Take the grizzly bear, for example: a female grizzly bear has a 50–100 square mile range.
If you stumble into a mother grizzly’s range and get too close to her cubs (say, within 100 yards or less), she’s likely to react defensively. She won’t chase you across her 50–100 square miles, but if you surprise her or linger near her cubs, she might charge or attack to neutralize the threat. Grizzlies are responsible for most fatal bear encounters in North America, often tied to cub defense.
With that said, the Bible tells us that it is better to encounter a bear robbed of her cubs. It’s important to note that the most dangerous bear encounters involve a mother bear with her cubs. However, the Scripture specifically mentions a mother bear that has been robbed of her cubs, which makes the encounter even more dangerous. A mother bear in this state will likely be in a savage mode because her cubs are missing. Nonetheless, meeting her is still better than engaging with a fool in his folly. In short, a mother bear without her cubs is a brief, predictable danger— but a fool in his folly brings chaos that’s unpredictable and lasting.
The definition of folly is:
1. Lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight, e.g., his folly in thinking he could not be caught.
2. Criminally or tragically foolish actions or conduct; (b) obsolete: evil, wickedness, especially lewd behavior.
3. A foolish act or idea: The prank was a youthful folly.
A fool has no limits when it comes to destruction, acting recklessly in ways that can damage relationships, reputations, or even lives. They may harm you—either intentionally or unintentionally—if you become involved with them. Their words can be deceptive, their actions can cause pain, and their lack of wisdom can draw others into chaos.
As the Bible states, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” – Proverbs 13:20
Whatever foolishness surrounds you, reject it and keep your distance. Nothing good will come from it, and it could lead to your own downfall.
Reflective Questions:
• Have I been part of foolish conversations and brushed it off like it wasn’t a big deal?
• Am I surrounding myself with people who encourage wisdom or pull me toward folly?
• How have I responded when I’ve recognized foolishness in my own actions or words?
• What steps can I take to distance myself from situations or influences that lead to folly?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, for the times that I’ve been about foolishness, forgive me and lead me not in the path of folly. Keep it far from me, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you for reading. God bless you!
All Scripture in Steps Towards Eternity Daily Devotional is from the King James Bible. (KJV)
Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain in The United States. Pathway365 is based in the United States and is governed by its laws. Outside of the United States, you’ll need to check the copyright laws in your country before use.
Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press