10th Sunday After Pentecost. August 6th, 2023. Series

Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 17:1-7, Psalm 17:15, Isaiah 55:1-5, Psalm 145:8-9, Psalm 145:14-21, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21

A). A METAPHOR FOR PRAYER.

Genesis 32:22-31.

“The ford Jabbok” (Genesis 32:22) is significant, first, in that it was the border of the land of promise (cf. Numbers 21:24). Second, it was here that Jacob had a lifechanging encounter with God, and had his name changed from Jacob to Israel (Genesis 32:28).

In anticipation of his (much feared) encounter with his estranged brother Esau, Jacob sent his family over the brook, along with “all that he had” (Genesis 32:23; cf. Genesis 32:13-21). Jacob was left “alone.” But he was not entirely alone since there was Another with him (Genesis 32:24).

Jacob's wrestling, whilst factual and historical, is nevertheless a metaphor for prayer. The place name, Jabbok, means pouring out, or emptying. This reminds me of the self-emptying of Christ (Philippians 2:7-8). It also reminds me of Jesus' prayer life, as portrayed in the Gospels.

Jabbok was a ford, a crossing place, but also, incidentally, a place where God and man met. There Jacob wrestled with a man. Surely indeed, he wrestled with the Lord, in a prayer of disciplined endurance (Genesis 32:24).

When God meets with us, it puts us all out of joint - until Jesus puts us back together again. For Jacob this was not just metaphorical, but literal: a prayer of painful perseverance (Genesis 32:25). We need to exercise a certain tenacity in prayer, not easily giving up.

Jacob was persistent in prayer, refusing to let his opponent go until he procured the desired blessing (Genesis 32:26). Thereby Jacob - whose name means 'usurper' - had power to prevail with God and man. Jesus the great intermediary has power with God and man, and empowers US to prevail with God and man.

Jacob received a new name, Israel, which means 'a prince with God' (Genesis 32:27-28). There is a new name written in Christ's kingdom for those who overcome (Revelation 2:17). Such outpouring of ourselves, painful perseverance, tenacity in prayer - will cause us also to prevail. Thus, like Jacob, we will procure the blessing (Genesis 32:29).

Jacob called the place “Penuel” = “the face of God.” It is with some astonishment that he had “seen God face to face, and my life is preserved” (Genesis 32:30; cf. Exodus 33:20; Judges 13:22; Isaiah 6:5; Luke 5:8). It is good for us that we may ‘boldly approach the throne of grace’ (Hebrews 4:16), in the name and by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, without any fear that it might cost us our lives!

The sun arose that morning as a lone figure passed over Penuel, “halting upon his thigh” (Genesis 32:31). Jacob emerged from his encounter a changed man. Such is the power of prayer.

B). AN APPEAL IN HOPE.

Psalm 17:1-7, Psalm 17:15.

PSALM 17:1. How can a man, born dead in trespasses and sins, plead with the LORD to “hear the right?” Well, it is as Abraham said, ‘Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?’ (Genesis 18:25). When we use this Psalm, we are not appealing to our own self-righteousness, but to ‘the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ’ (cf. Romans 3:22-23).

“My cry” comes first, and then “my prayer.” The parent hears the cry of the child, and will respond to them, even before those cries have been articulated into a known language. The LORD knows the sorrows of His people, and hears their cry (cf. Exodus 3:7). The Lord hears and answers the prayers of His righteous people (cf. 1 Peter 3:12).

PSALM 17:2. The Psalmist makes his appeal to the highest court of all, and is bold to call upon God to vindicate him. This is faith indeed: ‘if I have done any wrong, then let me hear sentence from the mouth of God.’ We can be so bold, because we know that God holds the scales of justice, and that the blood and righteousness of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, far outweighs all of our sins (cf. Romans 3:25).

PSALM 17:3. It is the LORD who searches the heart (cf. Jeremiah 17:10). We can make our plea with Peter, ‘Thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee’ (John 21:17). If we have the love of God in our hearts, then the judge Himself will be our vindicator (cf. Job 23:10).

PSALM 17:4. The desire of the believer is that we should keep ourselves away from “the works of (carnal) men.” The grace of God within us enables us to accomplish this by applying “the word of His lips” (Scripture) to keep us from “the paths of the destroyer.”

PSALM 17:5. Having forsaken the paths of evil, we can call upon God to uphold us in His paths. The Lord keeps our feet from slipping, and shall at last ‘present us faultless before the presence of His glory’ (cf. Jude 1:24-25).