Genesis 46:1-34

In Genesis 46, Jacob-Israel begins his journey to Egypt, bringing everything he has.  But before going to Egypt, he stops at Beersheba to offer sacrifices to God and to seek God’s will concerning the future.  This is more evidence of Jacob’s faith in God.
Although leaving a famine was a reasonable decision, he refused to go further until he had confirmation that this move was in God’s Will.
Remember in Genesis 26:2, God had forbid Isaac- Jacob’s father- to go to Egypt.  Jacob may have been considering this as he made his way to Beersheba to seek God’s direction.  We too, should be so faithful to seek God’s direction for our lives, even when the direction seems obvious and good before we ask.

God loves Jacob and speaks to him in a vision: “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.  I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”

God’s always keeps His promises and 430 years later, when the nation of Israel left Egypt, they had grown to more than 600,000 men plus women and children.  We see the death of Jacob at the end of Chapter 49 and in Genesis 50:1 we read “Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him.” – further fulfillment of God’s promises made to Jacob in Beersheba.

Jacob carefully recorded the 66 members of his family with him, plus his son’s wives.  Judah went ahead to get directions.  Such careful record keeping was used by the Israelites much later in the dividing of the land and keeping each family’s inheritance clear for the years of Jubilee.  The listing of Jacob’s family reminds us of God’s listing of names in the Book of Life.  If you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of your life and your Savior from sin, then your name is recorded in the Lamb’s book of life.  Praise God!!

Joseph came out to meet his father.  He threw his arms around Jacob and wept for a long time.  I cannot imagine the emotions flowing through father and son as God gave them back to each other after so much time, suffering and sadness.  I wonder if this is a little like how Jesus feels when a lost ‘sheep’ finds Him and receives Him as Lord and Savior.  Praise God!!

Joseph gets the family settled in Goshen and we end this beautiful, precious chapter of  family reunion.               —- Mary Mauderer

 

创世记 45:1-28

约瑟与兄弟相认

约瑟自从被卖到埃及地，历尽磨难，依靠神，他已经是一人之下、万人之上的宰相了，位高权重。而此刻他面对自己的亲兄弟，“情不自禁”，“放声大哭”，与兄弟相认，这是《创世纪》里约瑟生平的高潮。
哥哥们20年前因嫉妒恨而加害约瑟，把他卖到埃及，此时约瑟有充分的理由惩罚甚至报复哥哥们的恶行，他也有能力这样做，但他选择了一“哭”泯恩仇。
这是因为他这些年修身养性长进了变成“好”人了么？或是他如今功成名就、富可敌国变得宽容了么？
从人的观点看外表或许是，但圣经通过他自己的话告诉我们是他的宽容来自于神，他坚信这一切都是神的安排、神的作为，“这是神差我在你们以先来，为要保全生命”，“这样看来，差我到这里来的不是你们，乃是神”！

我们自己也往往是别人对自己的好很快会忘记，但别人对自己的一点点小仇可以记恨一辈子，特别是最亲近的人的伤害更可以是刻骨铭心，仇恨甚至可以传几代人。
如何消除仇恨呢？在人来看往往很难，但我们基督徒有一位可以信靠的神，要常常寻求神的心意，相信神一定有计划有安排，人可以做的是顺乎神的心意去解决，像约瑟那样，历经20年才得以圆满解决，这个例子是圣经的一个启示，是个很好的范例，我们读圣经正是要从这些启示范例中领会神在我们每个人身上的计划，学会去如何面对仇恨、仇人，如何和解。

创世纪45章后半段约瑟安排众弟兄回迦南地把父亲以色列接到埃及来奉养，这又是一个好的范例。
尽管当时还没十诫，但历世历代以色列人传承下来的传统多是神的启示，后来摩西按神旨意颁十诫，第五诫是“当孝敬父母，使你的日子，在耶和华你神所赐你的地上，得以长久”，这是第一条带应许的诫命。圣经新约里保罗在写给以弗所教会的书信里（6：2）也重申了这条诫命。
我们中华传统就视奉养老人为美德，作为基督徒就更应该照神的诫命而行，孝敬父母。 —- Yong Shao

創世記44:1-34

约瑟：此时约瑟再也不是那个不谙世事的青涩少年，他现在是埃及的宰相，一人之下，万人之上，在世人眼中，他已达到人生巅峰。
然而，他心里还是有个结，就是他想忘又忘不掉的父家。（他给长子取名玛拿西，意思是使忘记。）他不知道十几年来他父亲为什么没来找他；也不知道他的小弟弟便雅悯会不会被哥哥们嫉妒而遭害。现在机会来了，他的哥哥们来找他买粮食救命，于是他设立一个计谋，让哥哥们把小弟便雅悯带到他身边，他要亲眼见到他最亲爱的弟弟是安全的。

雅各：老雅各这时已垂垂老矣，然而，他依旧精明，家里事还是他做主；而且他依旧是个偏心的父亲，他因为爱拉结而偏爱拉结所生幼子便雅悯。他觉得他已经失去了约瑟，如果再失去便雅悯，他就活不下去了。
这就是为何他一开始坚决不同意让便雅悯去埃及，后来因着老四犹大用自己的性命担保，另外如果再不去买粮，全家就要饿死，所以他才勉强放行。

约瑟的哥哥们：哥哥们在这两次去埃及买粮的过程中，心情想必是非常忐忑不安的，他们完全没有想到当年约瑟的梦变成了现实；他们把自己遭遇的麻烦事归咎于他们当年所犯下的罪—卖约瑟。他们在整个事件中也有悔罪的表现，如犹大。

在这个故事中，我们看到，约瑟因信靠上帝，不因逆境而自暴自弃，自怜自艾，反而奋发图强，忠心事主，最后位极人臣，并保全了以色列全家族的性命。
作为基督徒，我们一定要尽力不犯罪，否则罪的阴影便会伴随我们的一生，就像约瑟的哥哥们一样。 —- Jenny Yang

创世记43章1-34

今天我们要分享的是在43章关于约瑟与他的兄弟的故事，我们可以初初一瞥约瑟身上的伟大品质。

不知大家有没有经历过，被生命中最重要的一些人背叛的时候。也许是同事、朋友，也许，甚至是父母兄弟。也许这样的人曾经在你的生命中占有很重要的位置，而因为这样的背叛，也许会产生更深的仇恨与裂痕，因为陌生人的恶意，也许没有缘由，却也是预料之中；亲密之人的背叛，这样的意外，会带来剧烈刺骨的疼痛。也许有人会想象过这些人落在自己手中的时候，会想：那个时候，我一定会把我所遭受的加倍奉还！

原来约瑟几乎被兄弟杀死，卖到埃及后，经过努力和奋斗，在牢狱之灾后，位极人臣，一人之下万人之上。中间的艰辛，岂是只言片语可以说得清楚。

原来的兄弟们可以仗着年纪随意待约瑟，却在饥荒之中，不得不低头来到埃及求粮。原本草肥水美牛羊壮的迦南，只剩下遍地饥荒。

在约瑟被卖到埃及为奴之后，似乎他和兄弟之间不会再有交集。他的兄弟们也许也是这样想的。
然而一场饥荒却把约瑟的兄弟送到约瑟的手中。彼时童子苦苦哀求，却不得怜惜；此时兄长“脸伏与地，向他下拜”（42：6）。当初童子梦中象征兄弟向约瑟跪拜的场景，如此戏剧化的实现了。
此情此景，掌握生死大权之人和苦苦寻求活命之人依然都还在，只是双方却互换了一下角色。

对于约瑟来说，加倍奉还的时候到了。
也许约瑟应该立时显露身份，下令捉拿哥哥们，将他们下监，使他们死罪可免，活罪难逃。
也许约瑟应该拒绝给粮，一顿棍棒轰出，将绝望和饥饿留给他的兄弟们。
也许约瑟应该只给他的父亲和便雅悯留粮，而将兄弟们留作奴仆苦力—就像他们待他一样。

这样的做法，在任何电视剧中，都是如此的合情合理，有仇必报，有恶必还。公平又公义。
然而，约瑟并没有这样做。在天经地义的机会中，在位高权重的情况下，约瑟早早地放下他心中的仇恨，圣经中甚至没有提到约瑟一丝的愤怒与仇恨。
在设计使兄弟们带回同胞兄弟便雅悯之后，圣经在埃及43章说道：
“约瑟说：小兒啊，愿神慈恩给你！约瑟爱弟之情发动，就急忙寻找可哭之地，进入自己的屋里，哭了一场。约瑟也为其余的兄弟摆饭，并且按着长幼的次序”。

约瑟下过深坑，当过奴隶，做过管家，下过监狱，如此的仇恨，却是以兄弟之情来回报这群恶毒的兄长。
有仇报仇有怨报怨当然痛快，只是若是这样，世上也许便再无以色列十二支派，再无犹大，再无后裔的延续，再无救恩的应许。
虽有仇恨与不公，约瑟却看到神在他身上的作为，50章20节约瑟说：“从前你们的意思是要害我，但神的意思原是好的，要保全许多人的性命，成就今日的光景。”原本最弱小最被仇恨之人，却成为最强大最懂得宽宥之人。

约瑟的宽恕，使得雅各的家族得以延续，改变了人类的历史，这当然更是神的保守与带领。
而我们呢，能够放下多少心中的不平和仇恨呢？
背叛和仇恨，若是他日那人有落在自己手里的可能，能让这样的机会从指间溜走吗？
只是，若是有仇报仇，有怨报怨，全凭公义正直判断，谁能在神面前站立得住呢？谁能逃脱祂公义的审判呢？谁能使公义的神竟差遣自己的爱子为众人舍了呢？

耶稣说：“你们饶恕人的过犯，你们的天父也必饶恕你们的过犯。”
保罗在哥林多前书13章说道：“如今常存的有信，有望，有爱这三样，其中最大的是爱。”
最伟大的品格，不是有仇报仇的自由，而是选择饶恕的爱。正如我们的天父如此在基督里饶恕我们的过犯一样，正如约瑟选择饶恕害他的兄弟一样。
请让我再说一遍，在基督里，最大的是爱。

诗篇11篇1-7

我们在创世记中分享到，约瑟如此的饶恕，然而我们却也知道，饶恕不代表无条件对罪恶的纵容：因为神是公义的神。
诗篇11篇说道：他要想恶人密布网罗，有烈火、硫磺、热风，作他们杯中的份。
“杯”一直是神愤怒或着慈爱的象征，而这里，显然是象征着神的愤怒。
我们也确切地知道，将来在审判的那日，公义的神要审判一切不义之人。
祂的愤怒彰显时，没有人逃脱。
感谢神，在主耶稣基督里，我们都得以称义，得以脱离神的愤怒与审判。愿我们既渴慕祂饶恕的爱，却也渴慕祂的真理与公义。          —- Ken Chen

Genesis 42:1-38

When Joseph brothers (except Benjamin) faced the fact that they had to go down to Egypt for food. When they heard the word Egypt from old Jacob, they just looked at each other.(Genesis 42:1) Why?  It is probably because “Egypt” brought a painful reminder of their past evil act by selling their brother Joseph to Egypt as a slave.
However, they did not have any choice but to go down to Egypt, the only place that still had food for sell.

When they were in Egypt, Joseph was the governor in charge of the food. He accused them of spying the land. They were put in custody for three days.
During their hardship, they reflected on what they had done to Joseph and treated this ordeal as punishment from God.
From Genesis 42:21, they said to one another “Surely, we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on use.”
A lot of time, God uses hardship to help us to awake and clean our consciences so that we can turn to him for rescue.

Later on, Joseph changed his mind from keeping nine of them in custody and release one back. He softened to keep one in custody and sending the nine home, so that they could carry enough food back home. Joseph also returned the silver back into their sack.
Why would Joseph put the silver back to their sack? It is purely an act of loving grace by Joseph.
It parallels for what God has done for us.
“His grace shines through when He blesses us when we know we deserve punishment.” (Bible.org) Joseph brothers did not deserve such a kind treatment, but Joseph showed his loving grace toward his brothers because God is with Joseph.

“When given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.” (Quote from the movie Wonder)          —- Alan Yam

 

Genesis 41:1-57

Key Verses: Gen 41:51-52

Being a slave and a prisoner in a foreign country, there’s no way that Joseph could get in front of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and interpret his dream about the future of the nation, let alone be appointed to be in charge of the land of Egypt and administer the largest government disaster relief program ever at his time.

How could he? As he said in verse 16, “I cannot do it, but God will…“.
We know from the scriptures that Joseph found favor in the Lord, and we also know that from Hebrew 11:6b “And without faith it is impossible to please God,”
His faith and the practice of faith provided testimony of God’s grace and faithfulness. Step by step, God revealed His plan and salvation.
Through Joseph, God delivered the people of Egypt (and many people in the area, including Israel’s family) from the famine and preserved lives.

Being a slave and a prisoner of sin and death, there’s no way that we could save ourselves from the dungeon. We are no better than Joseph.
How could we be spared from the wrath and even better, be a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (I Pet 2:9)? It is the mystery of Gospel (Eph 3).
Through Jesus Christ, we are saved and have access to the Father by one Spirit. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, may our lives become the testimony of your grace and faithfulness while we are practicing our faith walking with you day by day.
May your will be done.  Amen.           —- Ivy Lin

 

 

Genesis 39:1-23;  40:1-23

In Genesis 39-40, God returns to the story of Jacob’s 11th son, Joseph.  As we previously read in chapter 37, Joseph’s jealous brothers had sold him as a slave to the Ishmaelites. Now, in chapter 39, we begin to learn more of Joseph’s suffering as a slave. That suffering in God’s Will produced great spiritual fruit – not only for Joseph, but later for the nation of Israel.

Upon his arrival in Egypt, the Ishmaelites sold Joseph to Pharaoh’s official Potiphar. Potiphar was the captain of Pharaoh’s guard.  Things seemed to be going very bad for Joseph.

However, under God’s hand, Joseph became successful in his tasks as a slave.  Potipher took notice of Joseph and placed him in charge of his house.  And because of God’s favor on Joseph, the household of Potipher also did well.

Potipher was not the only one to notice how God blessed Joseph.  Potipher’s wife began to pursue Joseph too.  Joseph refused the temptation and the temptress as we see in verses 8 and 9:  “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. ⁹ No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

After many days of refusal from Joseph, Potiphar’s wife lied and accused Joseph of attacking her. Joseph was sent to prison based on this false accusation.

Now imprisoned, we see Joseph receiving success from God again and in time, Joseph was put in charge of those held captive along side of him.

In conclusion of the study of Chapter 39, while we see that Joseph was successful under God’s hand in Potipher’s house and in prison, we also see that obeying God sometimes resulted in his unjust suffering.  Before becoming chief of staff in Potipher’s home and then becoming chief prisoner, Joseph must have suffered greatly.  But he never turned his back on God.  In fact, these verses say multiple times that the Lord was with Joseph.

We too, can experience unjust suffering.  God does not guarantee our life will be easy.  Sometimes obeying God leads to trouble.  We face trials and the temptation that can come in the middle of trials.  Often it can seem that disobeying God will make our life better.  But God will always provide a way for us to do the right thing.  1 Corinthians 10:13 says “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”  This continued to be true in Joseph’s life and is true for us as well.

In Chapter 40, Pharaoh put his cupbearer and baker in the prison that Joseph was confined to.  Joseph was not self-absorbed. He was sympathetic to those around him and asked the cupbearer and baker why they looked so sad.

Verse 8 says “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”
Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
Joseph explained their dreams and his interpretations came true.  Joseph asked the cupbearer to remember him and show him kindness in front of Pharaoh.  But the cupbearer did not remember Joseph.

Chapter 40 ends here with Joseph still in prison.  We will see the cupbearer and Joseph again.  God’s timing for the cupbearer to remember Joseph is described in the next chapter.

Joseph’s suffering was used by God to develop perseverance, character and hope in him.  God produces the same results for us as we trust in Him and remain faithful during the trials that we experience.  God faithfully blessed and taught Joseph through great suffering, equipping Joseph for the next assignment he would be given.  God, in His love, uses suffering to equip all His children.         —- Mary Mauderer

創世記38:1-30

在三十八章里记载了雅各第四个儿子犹大的第一代。
雅各的前三个儿子因为行耶和华眼中看为恶的事或者流他人血太多而失去了长子的名份。
在这一章里，犹大生了三个儿子。他为长子珥娶了妻子，但是珥却是非常坏，所以被神击杀。他的长子死后，按着以色列的规矩或习惯，如果哥哥娶了妻子，没有生下孩子就死了，弟弟就要把他的嫂嫂娶过来，生下来头一个儿子就归给他哥哥的名下，以后的孩子才归他自己。
申命记25:5-6 弟兄同居，若死了一个，没有儿子，死人的妻不可出嫁外人，她丈夫的兄弟当尽弟兄的本分，娶她为妻，与她同房。妇人生的长子必归死兄的名下，免得他的名在以色列中涂抹了。
犹大的第二个儿子俄南不甘心作这事，以免失去长子的产业，就不让嫂子怀孕，所以在神眼中也看为恶，因为没有接受神的带领。
神又让他死了，这样犹大就剩下一个小儿子示拉。他就想，若是小儿子和二儿子一样再被神击杀，那就无后了。所以他不甘愿把小儿子给他的大媳妇。他就让他媳妇回娘家，他说，“等我儿子长大了，我才叫你回来。” 这是犹大的一个借口，因为 犹大一直没有履行这一件事。
所以他的媳妇他玛后来用了一个计谋为他生下了两个儿子。这两个儿子，一个就叫法勒斯，一个就叫谢拉。这在人看看来很不光彩的事，可神却纪念。在马太福音基督耶稣家谱里记载他玛。
马太福音1: 1-3 亚伯拉罕的后裔，大卫的子孙，耶稣基督的家谱。亚伯拉罕生以撒。以撒生雅各。雅各生犹大和他的弟兄。犹大从他玛氏生法勒斯和谢拉。

这给我们有甚么启示呢？为什么圣经中把这么不光彩的事情记载得这么清楚？
我们人若写家谱，都写光彩的一面，丑的一面就不要写了。
这里告诉我们人都是有罪的。就像主耶稣跟众人说，你若无罪就拿起石头打那犯了奸淫的妇女，而众人都一个一个低着头地走了。 神乃是要拯救罪人。
因此， 在这里就没有忌讳，把犹大和他玛乱伦的这个事情记下来了，这就看见神的救恩就临到罪人的身上。          —- Haiyue Nie

創世記37:1-36

从本章起，我们开始读到约瑟的故事。
从经文中可以看出，约瑟虽从小被父亲宠爱，但并未恃宠而骄，反而是很顺从父亲，友爱哥哥。他那时单纯，幼稚，毫无心机，有什么说什么，以致于得罪了哥哥他都不知道。雅各对约瑟的偏爱和约瑟无心之言为约瑟被哥哥们卖掉埋下了祸根。
从经文中也能看出，嫉妒会使人罔顾亲情，哥哥们竟然恨不得杀了亲弟弟，人性的丑恶实在太可怕。

感谢主，虽然雅各和他的子女们都有各自的罪性，都是不完美的人，但神依然爱他们，借着各样环境试炼他们，使用他们，完善他们，让我们这些神的儿女，这些蒙恩的罪人因着信耶稣而有与神和好的盼望。           —- Jenny Yang

创世记36:1-43

这段经文虽然记载了以扫开始的后人的族谱，但其中有一些细节值得注意。
首先是第二句话说的，以扫娶了迦南地的女子为妻，这与以撒的吩咐是相违背的，同时这也与兄弟雅各的经历相违背。然后就是以扫主动离开迦南，离开了应许之地。
我想，这些都是以扫自己选择离开神的应许和福分的表现。
这与前面以扫自己卖了长子名分的情况是一致的，在这些方面，雅各却是紧紧地“抓住”这些福分，
这也是让我们看到，两个原来都不怎么样的兄弟，是怎么样在不同的人生轨迹上渐行渐远，一个行走上神的祝福和应许中，一个慢慢离开了神的祝福和应许。对我们来说，最大的学习就是如何能够认识到要保持与神的关系，努力“抓住”神的应许，也盼望神能够一直“抓住”我们。

诗篇10:1-18

神是公义的神，也是会“观看”一切的神。
祂会保护受欺压的，追究恶者，
神也会听谦卑人的祈求，

愿我们都能远离恶事，谦卑地寻求祂。          —- Ken Chen