It doesn't surprise me when I read in Genesis 32-33 that Jacob was not entirely perfect. Although shown as a person who deceives for personal gain, these passages show that even characters in the Bible showed many "human" characteristics. Such as bribing someone of higher power, displaying nicety on the surface but harvesting mistrust underneath. nepetism. Yet Jacob's name became Israel. Was his wrestling with God brought on by the stress that he was feeling because he thought he was going to be slain by his brother who was coming to meet him? Again, the chosen, God's elite, don't always abide by a higher standard of holiness or righteousness. Or at least that's how it's been recorded in the Bible.

Psalm 14 is more of a commentary on mankind as a whole. There is no one that is good in God's eyes. But it goes on to say that God protects the poor and that His plans will always triumph over the evil nature of man. It seems to be a bad time and David write yearningly for God to restore order. That is my prayer today.

Matthew 6 is a contrast to the previous chap[ter. Instead of referring to the old laws and then putting a "modern" spin on it, it seems that Jesus is now providing specific instructions on Christian living, such as giving to the needy and how to pray. Seems like such a simple task to give to the poor, yet I think that this passage is speaking to our innate sense of pride and the desire to be pleasing to others. How does one train not to be proud when doing these noble things? Is it innate or can one modify it? The Lord's prayer given seems very structured and liturgical, just like the laws found in the Old Testament. Look at how different formulas for prayer have developed. I'm certain that there is much commentary on how even the Lord's prayer should be "modernized", just like Jesus attempted to modernize the old laws.

Cool. Acts 8 smacks of teleporation. Now, since this book was written by a physician, I would think that he didn't include this small detail without thinking about it. How does one get taken away by the Holy Spirit and then appear somewhere else? Was he there and saw it, or was it a recounted story? How did he validate its credibility?