Entries by

God’s Sovereign Choice to Bless You

2021-07-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 48:1-22.  Let’s go!

Genesis 48:1-6 (NIV)
1  Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him.
2  When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.
3  Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me
4  and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and will increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’
5  “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.
6  Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers.

On verses 1-6:  Jacob, nearing his death, gets ready to bless the generations that have come after him.   He decides to begin with Joseph and Joseph’s sons.  What does Jacob mean when he says that Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh will be reckoned as his own “just as Reuben and Simeon are mine” (v5)?  Jacob means that for inheritance purposes he will treat Ephraim and Manasseh as belonging to the same generation as Jacob’s own sons, meaning that Ephraim and Manasseh would each get the same kind of inheritance that their uncles would get.  The effect of this decision was two-fold: 

大衛和亞比該

2021-07-21 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉上 25: 30 我主現在若不親手報仇流無辜人的血，到了耶和華照所應許你的話賜福與你，立你作以色列的王，那時我主必不致心裡不安，覺得良心有虧。耶和華賜福與我主的時候，求你記念婢女。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉上 25:1-44

以色列中集先知、士師和大祭司一身的偉人撒母耳死了。再偉大的人都要面對肉體的死亡，每一個人都要面對肉體的死亡。死了才能蓋棺定論。對於撒母耳本人，他的工作實在可圈可點，值得我們學習的地方甚多。他的一生是以色列人從士師時代轉到王國時代的一座橋。他的順服在於，不得不去做神所不喜悅的事，卻不能做神所喜悅的事。神不喜悅以色列人立王，但是當神叫撒母耳去做時，撒母耳不能不順服。撒母耳的偉大在於他對神的順服和盡忠，他一點沒有私心。只可惜可能因為時間都用在照顧以色列人的事工上，以致和以利一樣，沒能把兒子們教好。但還是一個值我們敬愛和學習的偉人。

大衛在逃亡的過程裡要經歷許多事情，這章經文所寫的故事使我們明白，在掃羅沒有追殺他的日子裡，他們所做的一些事情。因為跟隨大衛的人口眾多，先是四百人，再來是六百人，人數一直在增加。因此大衛不能不想辦法去找口糧，使眾人能夠生存下去。這裡說到在瑪雲有個大財主拿八，他有三千綿羊，一千山羊。他雇了人在迦密看顧他的羊群。但是他不知道，在曠野裡有許多過游牧生活的阿拉伯人，又稱為貝都因人，他們住在可以隨時遷移的帳篷；他們主要的工作是養駝、養羊、狩獵、劫掠。

大衛和跟隨他的人經常要在曠野上跑來跑去，看看有沒有掃羅來的蹤跡，因此看到有人騷擾拿八的羊群，便上前保護，因此使拿八的羊群一無所失。按著拿八一個僕人的說法：“他們晝夜做我們的保障”，表示大衛和從人都很看顧他們，免於被人欺負。

大衛在隱基底

2021-07-20 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉上 24:16 (大衛)對跟隨他的人說：「我的主乃是耶和華的受膏者，我在耶和華面前萬不敢伸手害他，因他是耶和華的受膏者。」

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉上 24:1-22

隱基底位於猶大曠野的盡頭，正在死海的西岸，屬猶大支派的城鎮，是猶大山區的“出入口”。在亞伯拉罕時期是亞摩利人居住的地方。隱．基底En-Gedi由兩個希伯來字組成，“隱”是泉源，“基底”指羔羊，所以，隱基底的意思就是“羔羊之泉”；又因為是野山羊出没之處，又稱為“野羊的磐石”。在曠野和死海一帶，隱基底有如世外桃園的綠洲。在〈雅歌〉裡，所羅門王形容愛人如一束鳳仙花開放在隱基底的葡萄園裡(歌1:14)，非常有詩意。大衛逃避掃羅追殺時，逃到乾旱疲乏無水的猶大曠野，隱基底成為他的避難所。

在這野羊的磐石裡，大衛碰到一個千載難逢的機會。他和從人進入羊圈深處躲避掃羅，沒想到在那樣空曠的地方，那麼多洞穴的地方，掃羅就選中了大衛他們躲的那個羊圈進去大解。是一個報仇的機會，也是一個對大衛的試探。跟隨的人用神的話鼓勵大衛去殺掃羅，大衛偷偷去割下掃羅的衣襟，心裡卻已經感到不對勁了。他立刻對跟隨他的人說：“我的主乃是耶和華的受膏者，我在耶和華面前萬不敢伸手害他，因他是耶和華的受膏者”。大衛的心裡何等敬畏神，在這性命攸關的時刻，也不願意逞一己之快而得罪神。他並且以同樣的話去攔止跟隨的人殺掃羅。

一個好像是神送上來的好機會，然而因著敬畏神，大衛戰勝了這個試探。大衛若此時殺了掃羅，勢必遺臭萬年，成為一個不忠不義的弒君之臣，即使當上了以色列王，又有何面子？到處都會被指責他殺了以色列王，以色列人會忠於他嗎？從歷史上來看，雖然他根本沒有動手加害掃羅，但是在大衛執政的初期，便雅憫族的人都認為大衛是搶了掃羅王位的人，而不肯歸順大衛。

The Riches of Christ’s Righteousness

2021-07-20 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 47:1-31.  Let’s go!

Genesis 47:13-22 (NIV)
13  There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine.
14  Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying, and he brought it to Pharaoh’s palace.
15  When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all Egypt came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? Our money is used up.”
16  “Then bring your livestock,” said Joseph. “I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.”……

On verses 13-22:  The famine in Egypt and Canaan is severe.  On behalf of the Egyptian government, Joseph first sells grain to the Egyptians in exchange for their money.  But when the Egyptians have no more money to give, Joseph agrees to give the Egyptians grain in exchange for their livestock.  When the Egyptians have no more livestock to give, Joseph agrees to give the Egyptians grain in exchange for their real estate.  When the Egyptians’ real estate had all been transferred to the government, the Egyptians still had a need for grain, so Joseph agrees to hire the Egyptians as workers for the Egyptian government.  He gives the Egyptians grain to plant in the ground and allows them to keep 80% of the harvest while giving 20% back to the Egyptian government.  Only the land of the priests was not touched, since the priests received a regular allotment from Pharaoh.

西弗人幫助掃羅

2021-07-19 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉上23:14  大衛住在曠野的山寨裡，常在西弗曠野的山地。掃羅天天尋索大衛，神卻不將大衛交在他手裡。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉上23:14-29

很奇妙啊，掃羅和約拿單都去找大衛，同樣在西弗曠野的樹林裡，約拿單一下子就找著了，掃羅天天尋索大衛卻找不著。這也是天父的幽默感。掃羅作王，不管理國事，一天到晚就想著要除掉大衛；掃羅喜歡到處亂跑，就給他跑個夠，讓他疲於奔命。看他何時才會發現自己的愚蠢！我們若不尋求神的心意，也會變成一個掃羅式的人，為了自以為重要的事忙個不停，到最後才發現所付出的精力和財力都是徒勞無功。

西弗曠野也在猶大支派的領地裡，曠野和樹林都是缺少人煙的地方。西弗ziph的原意是flowing湧流，在曠野或沙漠中有何物會湧流？但是神奇妙的恩典就在這看似沒有希望和前景之地，向大衛湧流出祂的厚愛。像一隻被追逐的動物，大衛不斷地逃，掃羅不停地追；大衛每天要觀望，要逃躲，會不會覺得自己年輕的生命就這樣浪費了？在曠野裡有一餐沒一餐，臥無遮蓋，睡無床舖，餐風露宿，不知何時才到頭？但是在曠野中，約拿單來了。

這個曾經用自己性命保他的王子，約拿單來了。約拿單來看大衛，他說了三件事，使大衛在曠野的生命得到了湧流的祝福。一，他勸告大衛，使他倚靠神得以堅固。彷彿神看到大衛已經開始軟弱疲乏，很想放棄一切時，讓約拿單來鼓勵他，要倚靠神。人都有軟弱的時候，此時我們需要的，是靈裡互相勸勉的朋友，再次提醒我們，要倚靠神得以堅固，不倚靠神就站立不住。

The Activating Power of Faith + Your Inside Man

2021-07-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 46:1-34.  Let’s go!

Genesis 46:1-4 (NIV)
1  So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
2  And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied.
3  “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.
4  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.”

On verses 1-4:  Notice this: Did God speak to Jacob before or after Jacob went in faith and headed for Egypt (Hint: see Genesis 45:48)?  Did God speak to Jacob before or after Jacob offered sacrifices to God (see verses 1-2)?  In both cases, the answer is: after. 

What can we learn from this?  Sometimes people will refuse to move forward unless God first gives them some incredible sign or wonder.  I believe that is a recipe for a stagnant, immature, irresponsible faith.  While it is important to make time and room for God to speak into your life every day, don’t place the burden on God to have to give you sign after sign before you will move forward in faith, especially when God has already given you everything you need to take that next step.  When you know the next step God wants you to take, take it without delay and without making any more excuses.  After you take it, that’s when God will speak to you.  That’s the activating power of faith.

大衛救基伊拉

2021-07-18 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉上 23: 12 大衛又說：「基伊拉人將我和跟隨我的人交在掃羅手裡不交？」耶和華說：「必交出來。」

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉上 23:1-29 

基伊拉位在猶大的高原上，其中有一座堅固的城。它在亞杜蘭南方約五公里之處，離非利士人的迦特大約廿公里。它附近的土地十分肥沃，農產十分豐富；那時正是初夏收割農作物的時候，所以非利士人乘機前來搶奪。禾場是一個空曠地方，農夫將收成的禾榖曝曬及打果實之處；非利士人垂涎這些糧食，想要不勞而獲。這城自古以來就是猶大山地和非利士人的兵家必爭之地，在約書亞時已經劃給猶大支派，但猶大族尚未能制服此地的外邦人。當時基伊拉的居民並非以色列人。

大衛本來偏安在亞杜蘭洞，因為跟隨他的人越來越多，先知迦得勸他回到猶大地，猶大地指的是耶路撒冷以南那片廣大的地區。大衛若在那裡從事活動，可以建立根基，贏得民心，作為他將來的王國基地。所以大衛就帶著跟隨他的人進入猶大地的哈列樹林裡。當有人向大衛報告了非利士人攻擊基伊拉一事，大衛不是立刻做決定。雖然他有“路見不平，拔刀相助”的英雄氣概，但是他和掃羅很大的不同，在於他敬畏耶和華神。他的心裡有事，就立刻去求問耶和華神。他把尋求神的心意作為每一件事的首項要務。不是先和眾人討論，不是自己先定方向，而是先求問神的心意：“可以不可以？”

求問神需要等待神的回應。求問神不是禱告完就算報備了，神就會幫助我了，那叫一廂情願。大衛需要去找祭司，祭司需要潔淨自己，求問神之後，等待神的答覆。有了答案，再去告訴大衛。我們求問神，當然要等候神的回應，神會用各種方法來回應我們，有時藉著環境，有時藉著《聖經》的話語，有時用別人的口，有很多種方法，所以在神還沒有答覆之前，不可採取行動。

The Best Version of You

2021-07-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 45:14-28.  Let’s go!

Genesis 45:14-21 (NIV)
14  Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping.
15  And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
16  When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased.
17  Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan,
18  and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’
19  “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come.
20  Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.'”
21  So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.

On verses 14-21:  Because Joseph served faithfully in Pharaoh’s court, all of Egypt was opened up to Joseph’s family and, in a way, the kingdom of God, represented by Joseph’s entire family, was given room to grow in Egypt.  I believe that is the way God wants us His church to be in this world: that we would serve so well and so faithfully in the world that the people of the world welcome us with their best and are open to the God that we worship.  In your workplace, in your school, in your community, may you serve so faithfully and in such outstanding ways that the people where you serve become open to God’s kingdom and offer their best to bless God’s people.

Sent Ahead for the Saving of Many Lives

2021-07-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 45:1-13.  Let’s go!

Genesis 45:1-8 (NIV)
1  Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.
2  And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
3  Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
4  Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!……

On verses 1-8:  Touched by Judah offering himself as a slave in place of Benjamin, Joseph can hold his secret in no longer.  With everyone else outside the room, Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers.  Joseph tells his brothers not to be distressed or angry with themselves for selling him here.  The reason is because God had a bigger purpose in allowing it to happen: it was so that Joseph could be sent ahead to save many lives, including his own family.  Notice that three times Joseph says that God has “sent” him ahead (v5, 7, 8).

第七封信：給老底嘉教會 (下)

2021-07-16 in , /by

(續) 2.主第二次責備他們：17節「你說，我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺。卻不知你是那困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身的。」老底嘉教會看自己是甚麼？他們看高了自己，以為富足，一樣都不缺。他說我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺。老底嘉教會是怎樣情形呢，教堂建築華麗，教友多。自誇教秩序好，合主心意。自誇教友多，自誇歌詩班好，所唱的詩好聽。自誇牧師傳道夠資格，教友地位高，有學問，有財富。各位，但主不喜歡人自誇。團體自誇，個人自誇主都不歡喜。如〈路加福音〉18章所記載那法利賽人，說到自己如何好，不像別人勒索不義，姦淫，也不像這個稅吏。把自己提得何等高。不知這是中了魔鬼的詭計。你們想想撒但的結局何等可悲。

從前有一個南方人，很羨慕學說北方話，所以他到了北方學說官話，因為記憶力不好，學來學去，只學了六個字，就是「是我」「不錯」「好的。」他認為很滿意，就大搖大擺的回來。來到他的家門前，敲門，他的妻子認不出是誰，不敢開門。就門內問：「誰呀？他用官話回答：「是我。」他的妻子聽了嚇了一跳，以為北洋軍來懼怕得很。但他走是在門外用官話大聲說：「是我，是我，是我……」後來他妻子留心聽，才認出是自己的丈夫，於是快快的開門，把他接入來，知道他學懂了說官話，更歡喜。於是遇見人就說自己的丈夫學懂了說官話。因此周圍的人知道他會說官話。有一天，發生了案，有人被謀殺。官府就來調查，但這官府是北方人，那地方的人於是請他出來代回答官府的問話。官長問他：「誰殺死這個人。」他說：「是我。」又問：「真的是你？」他答：「不錯。」官長說：「你殺死人就要償命。」他說：「好的。」他因此被判了死刑。各位，把自己提得太高，就會有大危險。主怎樣批評他們呢？主說：「卻不知你是那困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身的。」在主的眼睛看來，他們是何等困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼赤身的。

三、主對他們的勸勉──18至20節「我勸你向我買火煉的金子，叫你富足。又買白衣穿上，叫你赤身的羞恥不露出來，又買眼藥擦你的眼睛，使你能看見。凡我所疼愛的，我就責備管教他，所以你要發熱心，也要悔改。看哪，我站在門外叩門，若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裏去，我與他，他與我一同坐席。」這三節經文裏面，給我們見到主對老底嘉教會的勸勉，主對他們有三樣勸勉：