This is The Living Word Bible Study for Sunday, August 6, 2023, which takes a deep dive into the Bible readings for this Sunday in the interdenominational scheme used by both churches and chapels.
Genesis 32:22-31 — Jacob wrestles with a man representing God
Matthew 14:13-21 — God provides abundantly like manna in the desert
Romans 9:1-5 — God’s generosity was experienced by the Jews first
Theme: God’s generosity and abundance
Psalm 17:1-7, 15
A prayer of David
1-2 Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer — it does not rise from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from You; may Your eyes see what is right.
3-4 Though You probe my heart, though You examine me at night and test me, You will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what Your lips have commanded.
5 My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not stumbled.
6-7 I call on You, my God, for You will answer me; turn Your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of Your great love, You who save by Your right hand those who take refuge in You from their foes.
15 As for me, I shall be vindicated and shall see Your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing Your likeness.
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Genesis 32:22-31 — Jacob wrestles with a man representing God
• Having sent his family to safety, Jacob has an encounter which changes him
22-23 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.
“Jabbok” — now Wadi Zerqa which flows west into Jordan 20 miles north of the Dead Sea.
24-25 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
A man — an angel, representing God Himself; or God in the form of an angel, Hosea 12:3-4.
“Wrestled” — a wordplay as the angelic man wrestled, ye’abeq, with Jacob, ya’aqob, by the Jabbok, yabboq. Jacob had struggled, first with Esau, then with Laban. Now, about to enter Canaan, it is not with man but with God he must ‘wrestle’.
“Could not overpower him” — God came to Jacob in the form of a person he could wrestle successfully, then showed that He could disable him at will.
26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
“Unless you bless me” — as the new day dawned, so did Jacob’s realisation of who he had been sparring with, and he held on to obtain God’s blessing.
27-28 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
Then the man said, “‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
What is your name?” — but in effect, “What is your character”? In giving his name, Jacob also acknowledged his ‘heel-grabbing’ way of doing things. On that confession, he received his blessing and a change of identity. Here the nation of Israel was characterised as those who struggle and overcome, both with God and with others.
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But He replied, “‘Why do you ask my name?”’ Then He blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
“Peniel” — meaning ‘face of God’ showing that Jacob recognised the man as a theophany, manifestation of God. If he could meet God like this and be spared, his prayer for deliverance from Esau would surely be granted.
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
Reflection
SUMMARY A word from the Lord had directed Jacob to return to Canaan, but he had received a message that his brother, Esau. was coming to meet him with 400 men. In this episode he sends his entire family and possessions across the Jabbok River and alone there he is visited by an angelic figure in the form of a man. who engages with him in an all night wrestling match in which Jacob prevailed, until his contestant dislocated his hip. And then proceeded to give him another message from God, the new name and to bless him.
APPLICATION This was a turning point for Jacob, who said his name was ‘Deceiver’ and was renamed, and given a new identity, as ‘God fights’. God has to fight with him, before He could fight for him. God’s generosity is seen in giving Jacob a new identity. It was rich in meaning for his descendants and the trials they would face from those that surrounded them — rich enough to become the name of the nation.
QUESTION Why is our identity, in the eyes of God, so important?
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Matthew 14:13-21 — God provides abundantly like manna in the desert
• Jesus reveals Himself in a scene reminiscent of manna in the wilderness
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed Him on foot from the towns.
“When Jesus heard” – about Herod’s hostility, Matthew 14:1-2, He distanced Himself from the threat; His time had not yet come.
14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed those who were ill.
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
“This is a remote place” – or “desolate”, ESV, a scene that recalled the tribes in the wilderness, and how God met their need then with manna.
“Go to the villages” – even many small villages would have nowhere enough bread for such a huge crowd.
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
“You give them…” – getting the disciples to recognise the impossibility, so that they will see the miracle for what it is. Later, it is the disciples who are hands-on and giving out the multiplying food, v.19.
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Five loaves” – small, hard barley rolls, a boy’s portion.
18-19 “Bring them here to Me,” He said. And He told the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
“He gave thanks and broke the loaves” – as any Jewish head of the household would do.
“The disciples gave them to the people” – also stated by Mark and Luke.
• For further study, see Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13.
20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
“Twelve basketfuls… left over” – a reminder of Elisha’s miracle where barley loaves were multiplied, 2 Kings 4:42-44. Also a reminder of Jesus’ earlier teaching on God’s abundance, Matthew 6:11, 25-33.
21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
“The number of those who ate” – amounting to more like 10-15,000 counting the women and children together with the 5,000 men.
Reflection
SUMMARY This story of an astounding miracle of multiplication is told in all four gospels. It shows God ‘s grace and generosity in meeting the needs of a huge crowd — 5,000 men representing a far bigger crowd with women and children — and also revealing God’s salvation purpose in Jesus.
APPLICATION Shortly afterwards, Jesus underlines the significance of the sign by revealing Himself as the true manna or “the bread of life”, John 6:32-35. To people steeped in their history of finding the Promised Land and relying on God’s provision of manna in the desert, this was a powerful and meaningful way of Jesus helping them to work out who He was — and why He is the ultimate gracious gift of God.
QUESTION Why did Jesus involve the twelve disciples in giving out the food and collecting the scraps?
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Romans 9:1-5 — God’s generosity was experienced by the Jews first
• Paul laments those who knew the original promises but did not receive Jesus
1 I speak the truth in Christ — I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit –
“My conscience” – not always a reliable guide unless aligned to the leading of the Spirit.
2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
“I have great sorrow” – because Paul observes that most were unable to believe the Good News about Jesus, and respond to Him to be saved.
3-4 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.
“I could wish… myself… cursed” – not an offer that could be accepted – only Christ can stand in for another’s sin. Following the golden calf rebellion, Moses made a similar plea, Exodus 32:32.
“Theirs is adoption” – in their rescue from Egypt, and the glory of God in the tabernacle, the law which prescribed their life and worship and saving promises through the covenants.
5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, for ever praised! Amen.
Reflection
SUMMARY Paul, by background a Jew, sets out his disappointment that those he identified with knew all about God’s abundant generosity through their chronicled history. But knowing the history and seeing the continuation of it are different, although closely related, views. Paul is saying that he has experienced the fulfilment of the Jewish law, but regrets that so many know the law, but are unable to see how it is fulfilled in Jesus.
APPLICATION Do we see God as gracious and generous, giving to the undeserving and redeeming those who are hopeless cases? A danger is that we (like many Jews that Paul knew) feel ourselves to be entitled in some way. Having known a little of God’s generosity, we think we deserved it or created it, and so unwittingly we distance ourselves from His supply.
QUESTION When disappointments and discouragements come, how should we handle them before God?
PRAYER Father, You so loved the world that You gave… and we experience Your grace and generosity in so many ways.
You invite us to draw near for refreshing, You make provision for us to meet our needs and You are generous in forgiveness when we turn to You.
May we always be open to what You want to do next in our lives. Forgive us our tendency to pride and self-sufficiency, when we are nothing and we have nothing and we can do nothing of enduring value — apart from You.
Thank You so much for sending Jesus, our Saviour, in whose name we pray. Amen.
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