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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: 

大卫和亚比该

2021-07-21 in , /by

〈撒母耳记〉上 25: 30 我主现在若不亲手报仇流无辜人的血，到了耶和华照所应许你的话赐福与你，立你作以色列的王，那时我主必不致心里不安，觉得良心有亏。耶和华赐福与我主的时候，求你记念婢女。

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记〉上 25:1-44

以色列中集先知、士师和大祭司一身的伟人撒母耳死了。再伟大的人都要面对肉体的死亡，每一个人都要面对肉体的死亡。死了才能盖棺定论。对于撒母耳本人，他的工作实在可圈可点，值得我们学习的地方甚多。他的一生是以色列人从士师时代转到王国时代的一座桥。他的顺服在于，不得不去做神所不喜悦的事，却不能做神所喜悦的事。神不喜悦以色列人立王，但是当神叫撒母耳去做时，撒母耳不能不顺服。撒母耳的伟大在于他对神的顺服和尽忠，他一点没有私心。只可惜可能因为时间都用在照顾以色列人的事工上，以致和以利一样，没能把儿子们教好。但还是一个值我们敬爱和学习的伟人。

大卫在逃亡的过程里要经历许多事情，这章经文所写的故事使我们明白，在扫罗没有追杀他的日子里，他们所做的一些事情。因为跟随大卫的人口众多，先是四百人，再来是六百人，人数一直在增加。因此大卫不能不想办法去找口粮，使众人能够生存下去。这里说到在玛云有个大财主拿八，他有三千绵羊，一千山羊。他雇了人在迦密看顾他的羊群。但是他不知道，在旷野里有许多过游牧生活的阿拉伯人，又称为贝都因人，他们住在可以随时迁移的帐篷；他们主要的工作是养驼、养羊、狩猎、劫掠。

大卫和跟随他的人经常要在旷野上跑来跑去，看看有没有扫罗来的踪迹，因此看到有人骚扰拿八的羊群，便上前保护，因此使拿八的羊群一无所失。按著拿八一个仆人的说法：“他们昼夜做我们的保障”，表示大卫和从人都很看顾他们，免于被人欺负。

大卫在隐基底

2021-07-20 in , /by

〈撒母耳记〉上 24:16 (大卫)对跟随他的人说：「我的主乃是耶和华的受膏者，我在耶和华面前万不敢伸手害他，因他是耶和华的受膏者。」

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记〉上 24:1-22

隐基底位于犹大旷野的尽头，正在死海的西岸，属犹大支派的城镇，是犹大山区的“出入口”。在亚伯拉罕时期是亚摩利人居住的地方。隐．基底En-Gedi由两个希伯来字组成，“隐”是泉源，“基底”指羔羊，所以，隐基底的意思就是“羔羊之泉”；又因为是野山羊出没之处，又称为“野羊的磐石”。在旷野和死海一带，隐基底有如世外桃园的绿洲。在〈雅歌〉里，所罗门王形容爱人如一束凤仙花开放在隐基底的葡萄园里(歌1:14)，非常有诗意。大卫逃避扫罗追杀时，逃到干旱疲乏无水的犹大旷野，隐基底成为他的避难所。

在这野羊的磐石里，大卫碰到一个千载难逢的机会。他和从人进入羊圈深处躲避扫罗，没想到在那样空旷的地方，那么多洞穴的地方，扫罗就选中了大卫他们躲的那个羊圈进去大解。是一个报仇的机会，也是一个对大卫的试探。跟随的人用神的话鼓励大卫去杀扫罗，大卫偷偷去割下扫罗的衣襟，心里却已经感到不对劲了。他立刻对跟随他的人说：“我的主乃是耶和华的受膏者，我在耶和华面前万不敢伸手害他，因他是耶和华的受膏者”。大卫的心里何等敬畏神，在这性命攸关的时刻，也不愿意逞一己之快而得罪神。他并且以同样的话去拦止跟随的人杀扫罗。

一个好像是神送上来的好机会，然而因着敬畏神，大卫战胜了这个试探。大卫若此时杀了扫罗，势必遗臭万年，成为一个不忠不义的弑君之臣，即使当上了以色列王，又有何面子？到处都会被指责他杀了以色列王，以色列人会忠于他吗？从历史上来看，虽然他根本没有动手加害扫罗，但是在大卫执政的初期，便雅悯族的人都认为大卫是抢了扫罗王位的人，而不肯归顺大卫。

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.

西弗人帮助扫罗

2021-07-19 in , /by

〈撒母耳记〉上23:14  大卫住在旷野的山寨里，常在西弗旷野的山地。扫罗天天寻索大卫，神却不将大卫交在他手里。

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记〉上23:14-29

很奇妙啊，扫罗和约拿单都去找大卫，同样在西弗旷野的树林里，约拿单一下子就找著了，扫罗天天寻索大卫却找不着。这也是天父的幽默感。扫罗作王，不管理国事，一天到晚就想着要除掉大卫；扫罗喜欢到处乱跑，就给他跑个够，让他疲于奔命。看他何时才会发现自己的愚蠢！我们若不寻求神的心意，也会变成一个扫罗式的人，为了自以为重要的事忙个不停，到最后才发现所付出的精力和财力都是徒劳无功。

西弗旷野也在犹大支派的领地里，旷野和树林都是缺少人烟的地方。西弗ziph的原意是flowing涌流，在旷野或沙漠中有何物会涌流？但是神奇妙的恩典就在这看似没有希望和前景之地，向大卫涌流出祂的厚爱。像一只被追逐的动物，大卫不断地逃，扫罗不停地追；大卫每天要观望，要逃躲，会不会觉得自己年轻的生命就这样浪费了？在旷野里有一餐没一餐，卧无遮盖，睡无床舖，餐风露宿，不知何时才到头？但是在旷野中，约拿单来了。

这个曾经用自己性命保他的王子，约拿单来了。约拿单来看大卫，他说了三件事，使大卫在旷野的生命得到了涌流的祝福。一，他劝告大卫，使他倚靠神得以坚固。仿佛神看到大卫已经开始软弱疲乏，很想放弃一切时，让约拿单来鼓励他，要倚靠神。人都有软弱的时候，此时我们需要的，是灵里互相劝勉的朋友，再次提醒我们，要倚靠神得以坚固，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.

大卫救基伊拉

2021-07-18 in , /by

〈撒母耳记〉上 23: 12 大卫又说：「基伊拉人将我和跟随我的人交在扫罗手里不交？」耶和华说：「必交出来。」

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记〉上 23:1-29 

基伊拉位在犹大的高原上，其中有一座坚固的城。它在亚杜兰南方约五公里之处，离非利士人的迦特大约廿公里。它附近的土地十分肥沃，农产十分丰富；那时正是初夏收割农作物的时候，所以非利士人乘机前来抢夺。禾场是一个空旷地方，农夫将收成的禾榖曝晒及打果实之处；非利士人垂涎这些粮食，想要不劳而获。这城自古以来就是犹大山地和非利士人的兵家必争之地，在约书亚时已经划给犹大支派，但犹大族尚未能制服此地的外邦人。当时基伊拉的居民并非以色列人。

大卫本来偏安在亚杜兰洞，因为跟随他的人越来越多，先知迦得劝他回到犹大地，犹大地指的是耶路撒冷以南那片广大的地区。大卫若在那里从事活动，可以建立根基，赢得民心，作为他将来的王国基地。所以大卫就带着跟随他的人进入犹大地的哈列树林里。当有人向大卫报告了非利士人攻击基伊拉一事，大卫不是立刻做决定。虽然他有“路见不平，拔刀相助”的英雄气概，但是他和扫罗很大的不同，在于他敬畏耶和华神。他的心里有事，就立刻去求问耶和华神。他把寻求神的心意作为每一件事的首项要务。不是先和众人讨论，不是自己先定方向，而是先求问神的心意：“可以不可以？”

求问神需要等待神的回应。求问神不是祷告完就算报备了，神就会帮助我了，那叫一厢情愿。大卫需要去找祭司，祭司需要洁净自己，求问神之后，等待神的答复。有了答案，再去告诉大卫。我们求问神，当然要等候神的回应，神会用各种方法来回应我们，有时借着环境，有时借着《圣经》的话语，有时用别人的口，有很多种方法，所以在神还没有答复之前，不可采取行动。

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：给老底嘉教会 (下)

2021-07-16 in , /by

(续) 2.主第二次责备他们：17节「你说，我是富足，已经发了财，一样都不缺。却不知你是那困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的。」老底嘉教会看自己是甚么？他们看高了自己，以为富足，一样都不缺。他说我是富足，已经发了财，一样都不缺。老底嘉教会是怎样情形呢，教堂建筑华丽，教友多。自夸教秩序好，合主心意。自夸教友多，自夸歌诗班好，所唱的诗好听。自夸牧师传道够资格，教友地位高，有学问，有财富。各位，但主不喜欢人自夸。团体自夸，个人自夸主都不欢喜。如〈路加福音〉18章所记载那法利赛人，说到自己如何好，不像别人勒索不义，奸淫，也不像这个税吏。把自己提得何等高。不知这是中了魔鬼的诡计。你们想想撒但的结局何等可悲。

从前有一个南方人，很羡慕学说北方话，所以他到了北方学说官话，因为记忆力不好，学来学去，只学了六个字，就是「是我」「不错」「好的。」他认为很满意，就大摇大摆的回来。来到他的家门前，敲门，他的妻子认不出是谁，不敢开门。就门内问：「谁呀？他用官话回答：「是我。」他的妻子听了吓了一跳，以为北洋军来惧怕得很。但他走是在门外用官话大声说：「是我，是我，是我……」后来他妻子留心听，才认出是自己的丈夫，于是快快的开门，把他接入来，知道他学懂了说官话，更欢喜。于是遇见人就说自己的丈夫学懂了说官话。因此周围的人知道他会说官话。有一天，发生了案，有人被谋杀。官府就来调查，但这官府是北方人，那地方的人于是请他出来代回答官府的问话。官长问他：「谁杀死这个人。」他说：「是我。」又问：「真的是你？」他答：「不错。」官长说：「你杀死人就要偿命。」他说：「好的。」他因此被判了死刑。各位，把自己提得太高，就会有大危险。主怎样批评他们呢？主说：「却不知你是那困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的。」在主的眼睛看来，他们是何等困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼赤身的。

三、主对他们的劝勉──18至20节「我劝你向我买火炼的金子，叫你富足。又买白衣穿上，叫你赤身的羞耻不露出来，又买眼药擦你的眼睛，使你能看见。凡我所疼爱的，我就责备管教他，所以你要发热心，也要悔改。看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我一同坐席。」这三节经文里面，给我们见到主对老底嘉教会的劝勉，主对他们有三样劝勉：