Angry Bear or Fool? Think I'll Take My Chances with the Bear! - Proverbs 17:12

Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. Proverbs 17:12

Here I am standing at a crossroads.  If I go down one path I'll meet a mother bear robbed of her cubs.  To say she is angry about this is the understatement of the century.  She is not subject to reason - but pretty much wants to tear apart anyone of anything that she even considers standing between her and recovering those cubs she so prizes.  That particular path has to be one of the most dangerous known to mankind.  Only a person with a death-wish would ever remotely want anything to do with that path.  Yet as I stand contemplating which to take, I'm seriously considering that path, because to be perfectly honest - the other one is even more dangerous.  What in the world could be on that path?! 

Look down that ominously dangerous path - through the fog as the eerie music plays in the background.  What do you see - a werewolf - a vampire - a hideous monster - a rabid, ravenous beast?  Well, not exactly . . . what you do see is . . . wait for it . . . some fool acting according to his or her foolish thoughts - let's call those thoughts, his folly. 

Really?  You'd rather face a bear robbed of her cubs than that fool acting according to his own folly-filled thoughts?  The answer to that question is a resounding YES.  Proverbs warns us that the fool is considerably more dangerous.  WOW!  Maybe we should investigate just what this means. 

First of all the danger is not just from any fool - a specific one is mentioned.  The fool while in his folly is the dangerous one.  So don't panic if you simply run into a fool - the really dangerous fools are those who are active in their folly.  But what does a fool in his folly look like?

Proverbs 10:8 says a fool babbles - just keeps talking about things that are of no consequence.  They would rather talk than receive any kind of direction or command.  Meet one of these and you are in danger.  By the way - this babbling fool is also mentioned in verse 10 of this same chapter.  In Proverbs 18:2  we see him again wanting to tell everybody what is on his mind instead of listening to others.  This talking/babbling thing is dangerous.  Evidently listening to words that are foolish can be a cause of deep trouble.

Because there is so much said about the fool I'll try to expedite this overview of the fool.  He spreads slander, loves doing wickedness, and is arrogant and careless.  He rejects his father's discipline, doesn't respond to correction, and does not stay away from strife.  His speech is perverse and his eyes are on the ends of the earth rather than on payin attention to his immediate surroundings.  He always loses his temper and trusts his own heart when making decisions - because he considers himself wise in his own eyes. 

Run into someone like this - and you are taking your wisdom and discernment into your own hands.  Better to depart from this man and find far better company.  Spend some time with him and your own views will be warped before long.  Spend a lot of time with him and he will corrupt your character and lead you down a path of destruction from which it will be hard to return.  Believe the Word for it tells you that his map is defective and he is unable to read it anyway.  Examine what has happened to those who met up with him - destruction - devastation - being misled.  Spend enough time examining all the disaster that comes from meeting up with him in his folly - and having that folly become your wisdom - and soon that path with the crazed mother bear is looking better all the time.