For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    It was with and by wisdom and understanding that God created the universe. It is for this reason that we can hope to comprehend how and why the world works the way it does.

    I am glad that my preparation of this blog leads me to read this psalm at least once a year. It starts off by telling us that those who think there is no God are fools. It goes on to tell us that people are such fools because they are corrupt and their actions are vile. The most important point in this psalm is that we are all such fools. There is however a chance that we may learn and turn to God.

    In this passage we have another hint that Jesus and John (and their followers) thought of themselves as part of the same movement. Jesus compares the way John and He chose to minister, and people’s reactions to that choice. John was an ascetic who avoided alcohol and fine foods, calling people away from the pleasures of this world to focus on God and righteousness. People accused him of being demon possessed. Jesus, on the other hand, joined people in their pleasures and showed people that they could serve God and have a good time. People accused Him of being a drunkard and a glutton, condemning Him for associating with sinners. This passage is a reminder that the people of this world will find something to accuse us of, no matter how we live our lives.

    The night before Jacob met Esau again for the first time in many years, he was alone in his camp having sent his family and possessions across the river. A man came and the two of them wrestled throughout the entire night. As the sun began to rise, the man struck Jacob on the hip so that Jacob’s hip was dislocated. Jacob demanded the man bless him before he would let him go. The man told Jacob that his name would no longer be Jacob, which means “heel” or “deceiver”. Instead, his name would be Israel, which means “God fights”.
    We do not know who the man was, but Jacob appears to have thought he was God Himself. What is interesting is that Jacob was given the name Israel because he wrestled with both God and with man. There is an implication here that it is not only OK to struggle with God’s will for us, but that it is to be admired that we do not just mindlessly submit. I see this as in contrast with Islam, which says we should just submit to God’s will. I am not quite sure I can state this well, but I will try. We are to do God’s will and serve Him. We understand that all things work according to God’s plan. However, when things seem unjust, or unfair, we should struggle to change them so that justice will be restored. We are not to just fatalistically submit to how things are, we are to struggle to make them better.