Special Reading from Genesis 32:22-31 and Matthew 14:13-21

Voice 1: When Jesus heard about John, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.

When the crowds learned this, they followed him on foot from the cities.

Voice 2: Jacob got up during the night, took his two wives, his two women servants, and his

eleven sons, and crossed the Jabbok River’s shallow water. He took them and everything

that belonged to them, and he helped them cross the river. But Jacob stayed apart by

himself, …

Voice 1: When Jesus heard about John, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.

…When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them and healed those

who were sick.

Voice 2: …[H]e helped them cross the river. But Jacob stayed apart by himself, …

Voice 1: That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s

getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for

themselves.”

But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to

eat.”

Voice 2: …Jacob stayed apart by himself, and a man wrestled with him until dawn broke.

When the man saw that he couldn’t defeat Jacob, he grabbed Jacob’s thigh and tore a

muscle in Jacob’s thigh as he wrestled with him. The man said, “Let me go because dawn is

breaking.”

But Jacob said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”

Voice 1: But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them

something to eat.”

Voice 2: But Jacob said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”

Voice 1: They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish.”

Voice 2: He said to Jacob, “What’s your name?” and he said,” Jacob.”

Voice 1: He said, “Bring them here to me.” He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.

Voice 2: Then he said, “Your name won’t be Jacob any longer, but Israel, because you

struggled with God and with men and won.”

Voice 1: He took the five loaves of bread and two fish, looked up to heaven…

Voice 2: Then he said, “Your name won’t be Jacob any longer, but Israel, because you

struggled with God and with men and won.” Jacob also asked and said, “Tell me your

name.” But he said, “Why do you ask for my name?” and he blessed Jacob there.

Voice 1: …[He]blessed them and broke the loaves apart and gave them to his disciples.

Then the disciples gave them to the crowds. Everyone ate until they were full, and they

filled twelve baskets with the leftovers.

Voice 2: Jacob named the place Peniel, “because I’ve seen God face-to-face, and my life has

been saved.”

Voice 1: Everyone ate until they were full, and they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers.

About five thousand men plus women and children had eaten.

Voice 2: The sun rose as Jacob passed Penuel, limping because of his thigh.