I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. My work schedule has recently changed, meaning that I may not have time every day to complete these. As a result, I am trying to get several days ahead. I hope this does not negatively impact the quality of these posts (if that is possible). If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
In this passage we are told that Jacob wrestled with God. Jacob was not passive in his relationship with God. He struggled against God, but trusted God and did God’s will. God does not ask us to put aside our intellect or our understanding. It is OK to question God. It is even OK to sometimes doubt God. Our walk with God will not always be easy, sometimes we will have to fight with God and with ourselves in order to understand what God’s will for our lives is.
Jesus asked the crowd a rhetorical question. He asked them what sort of man they went out into the wilderness to see when they went out to see John. Then He answered His question. People do not go to gain spiritual guidance from someone who spouts what is popular this week, nor from those whose credentials derive from their economic success. Rather people seek out prophets for spiritual advice. Jesus then points out that the opinion leaders of the day are quick to find fault with those who challenge their lifestyles. If the challenger is frugal and lives an ascetic lifestyle they will condemn him as being too severe. If, on the other hand, the challenger enjoys life’s pleasures they will accuse him of being a hedonist.
We need to remember both of these messages. If we want to reach people for Jesus we need to stand for something and not bend in every wind of popular culture. In addition, if we call people to live according to God’s will, others are going to condemn us for not living the way they think a religious person should…even if that means condemning one person for doing what they condemned another person for not doing.
The psalmist tells us that only fools are able to convince themselves that there is no God. He goes on to tell us that such people are corrupt and evil, even when they are not obviously so. He goes on to tell us that to a degree we have all made the mistake, at some point, of thinking that God will not judge our actions. There is no one who truly does good, which is why we need God’s saving grace. Those who are willing to learn see that the path of wickedness leads to terror. While those who trust God need not fear because God will protect them.
God designed the world with wisdom and understanding. He does not call on us to put our minds in park. He built the world so that it can be understood by those who are willing to think and reason and gave us those abilities so that we can learn to know and love Him.