# What Man Is There of You? explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## What happens

The chapter reflects on the biblical passage about a father who would not give his son a stone when asked for bread, exploring the human experience of doubt and misunderstanding of divine gifts. It questions whether the speaker, in his own doubt, is like the one who would give a stone instead of bread.

## Themes in this chapter

### Spiritual Struggle and Doubt

The speaker wrestles with doubt, fearing that his own prayers are met with stones instead of bread.

### Divine Fatherhood

The chapter centers on the image of God as a loving Father who gives good gifts, contrasting with human failure.

## Character check-ins

### God

Implied as the Father who gives bread, contrasted with human doubt.

### Unknown

The speaker who questions his own faith and compares himself to a flawed father.

## Key lines

> Which father of you, asked for bread, Would give his son a stone?

What father among you, when his son asks for bread, would hand him a stone instead?

_A direct reference to Jesus' teaching on God's generous nature._

> Lord, if I ask in doubt and dread Lest I be left to moan, Am I not he who, asked for bread, Would give his son a stone?

Lord, if I pray with fear and uncertainty, afraid that I will be abandoned to sorrow, am I not like the one who gives a stone when asked for bread?

_The speaker turns the question inward, examining his own faith._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/what-man-is-there-of-you
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters