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Don’t Be Outdone by Envy

2021-06-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 30:1-13.  Let’s go!

Genesis 30:1-2 (NIV)
1  When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
2  Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”

On verses 1-2: Jealous of the fact that her sister Leah had already borne four sons, Rachel idolizes the idea of having children, to the point of saying to her husband Jacob “Give me children or I’ll die!” (v1). Jacob rebukes Rachel for expecting him to be God in her life, since he is not God and can’t control whether they have children or not (v2). 

What can we learn from this? One clue that we have started to put something or someone else in the place of God is when we say things like “I can’t live without ___”. That’s when we begin to look to something or someone else to satisfy us in ways that only God can. Rather than placing your hope in people or circumstances, which can change, put your hope in God, who does not change.

以利和两个儿子

2021-06-15 in , /by

〈撒母耳记上〉 2:30b    因为尊重我的，我必重看他；藐视我的，他必被轻视。

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记上〉  2:12-36

这是发生在祭司家里的事情，让我们不免联想到教会里，会不会有传道人或牧者，也不认识耶和华？你觉得有没有这个可能呢？美国基督长老会在2015年3月17日投票通过，承认同性恋的婚姻，并修改婚姻的定义。你觉得他们认识神吗？还有更多教会在这之前已经接受了同性恋的圣职人员。你会不会奇怪，为什么他们读的《圣经》和我们读的《圣经》，不一样吗？他们信仰的神和我们信仰的神是同一个吗？很可能不是，因为他们已经用自己的看法，人的看法，取代了神的看法。当人不认识神的时候，他们才会「有胆」这样做。

例如，在台湾时，有的计程车司机会叫我们不用绑安全带，因为「警察不会来抓」；但是在温哥华，我们知道「警察一定来抓」。所以我们在温哥华开车坐车，一定乖乖绑安全带。因为温巿的警察无处不在，你一不守法，他就冒出来。我们认识到这里警察的勤快，所以我们都很守法。我们若认识神和祂的权柄，我们就不敢违反《圣经》的教导，去接受人的教导。所以人是否认识神，从他的行事为人，就可以辨认出来。所以，有不认识神的祭司，也有不认识神的牧师。

「恶人」的原文是「比列之子（sons of Belial) 」，比列是撒但的别名，可见他们的作为何等恶劣，竟被拿来和撒旦相提并论了。以利的两个儿子因为不认识神，虽然是祭司的身份，却什么事都敢做，甚至抢取百姓献给耶和华神的祭肉；不准献祭的人先烧脂油，还和会门前伺候的妇人苟合（跟她们睡觉）。在神的会幕里做这些事，根本不把神放眼里，肆无忌惮。他们渺视神，心里没有神。

Living for Your Passion and Living with Your In Laws

2021-06-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 29:15-35.  Let’s go!

Genesis 29:31-35 (NIV)
31  When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32  Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
33  She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.
34  Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.
35  She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

On verses 31-35:  Now both married to the same man Jacob, the two sisters Leah and Rachel begin the most heated rivalry ever recorded in the Bible between two sisters.  Leah is jealous and saddened that Jacob loves Rachel more.  It seems that with each baby she bears for Jacob, Leah somehow hopes it will cause Jacob to love her more.  Leah is desperately longing for her husband’s love and affection, but can’t seem to win it no matter what does.

哈拿的颂祷

2021-06-14 in , /by

〈撒母耳记上〉 2:6    耶和华使人死，也使人活；使人下阴间，也使人往上升。

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记上〉 2:1-11

哈拿曾经在神面前哭求祷告，但是当她再回到会幕时，她的祷告就完全不同了。不同的心情，不同的祷告。每当祷告蒙应允时，你可曾记得回到主的面前，献上你的感谢？或是觉得理所当然，小事一椿？懂得感谢和不懂得感谢的人，在人生的道路上会有决然不同的心情。向上帝发出感恩之情，是人类最基本的感谢。虽然人看不见神，神也不会回应，跟你说：「不要客气了，下次再来。」但是在看不见的前题下，还能向祂感恩，那就是最真实的感情。若是觉得看不见就不用感谢，只要向看得见的人才说谢谢，那是比较虚伪的，是做给人看的。要先会向神感恩，才能对人也有真实的感恩。

哈拿的祷告和耶稣的母亲玛利亚的祷告，有很很多相似的地方。这是玛利亚的祷告：「我心尊主为大，我灵以神我的救主为乐，因为他顾念他使女的卑微。从今以后，万代要称我有福，那有权能的为我成就了大事，祂的名为圣！祂怜悯敬畏他的人，直到世世代代。祂用膀臂施展大能，那狂傲的人正心里妄想就被祂赶散了。祂叫有权柄的失位，叫卑贱的升高； 叫饥饿的得饱美食，叫富足的空手回去。祂扶助了祂的仆人以色列，为要记念亚伯拉罕和祂的后裔，施怜悯直到永远，正如从前对我们列祖所说的话。」（路1:46-55）

两个祷告的开始，都以神为乐，因为耶和华使她们的心快乐。神希望我们快乐，就好像我们希望自己的孩子快乐一样。当我们能够因着神的恩典而喜乐时，神的心何等满足。我们从一个人的声音和讲话就可以感受到他（她）心里的「天气」，是大太阳天或是阴雨不定，甚或雷电交加。所以从哈拿的祷告里，我们可以感受到她心里的快乐和解放。她不再压抑了，毘尼拿已经不能再刺激她了，因为她已经生下撒母耳。神挪走了她的羞辱，让她的敌人噤若寒蝉，所以她的角因耶和华高举，她的口向仇敌张开，因此她因耶和华的救恩为乐。

Joy and Strength to Move Forward

2021-06-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 29:1-14.  Let’s go!

Genesis 29:1 (NIV)
1  Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples.

On verse 1:  The original Hebrew for the words “Jacob continued on” are literally “he lifted up his feet”, which is a unique expression that some scholars believe implies Jacob moving along happily.  Why did Jacob have “happy feet”?  It’s because he had encountered the Lord in the previous chapter.  What can we learn from this?  When you spend time in God’s presence, it will tend to give you the joy – happy feet, if you will – to continue on with your journey.  Even though you may face uncertainties concerning your future as Jacob did, an encounter with God and time in His presence can change your perspective and give you joy to move forward amid the uncertainty.  So make it your habit to draw close to God regularly and experience Him.

Genesis 29:2-3 (NIV)
2  There he saw a well in the field, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large.

We Can’t Control How Others Hurt Us, But…

2021-06-13 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 28:1-22.  Let’s go!

Genesis 28:1-10 (NIV)
1  So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him and commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman.
2  Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.
3  May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples.
4  May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien, the land God gave to Abraham.”……

On verses 1-10:  Pursuant to his father Isaac’s advice, Jacob heads to Paddan Aram for his uncle Laban’s house with the prospect of possibility finding a wife among Laban’s daughters.  Meanwhile, contrary to his father Isaac’s wishes, Esau intentionally marries a Canaanite woman to spite his parents.  Here we see the two brothers, Jacob and Esau, going in very different directions both geographically as well as in marriage.

哈拿祈子

2021-06-13 in , /by

〈撒母耳记上〉 1:28 所以，我将这孩子归于耶和华，使他终身归于耶和华。

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记上〉 1 :1-28 

从〈约书亚记〉一路读来，我们对以法莲山地似乎听很多次了，那究竟是一个什么样的地方，能养出那么多名人，发生那么多大事呢？从大面积来说，以法莲山地包括了玛拿西半个支派和以法莲支派的分地；从小面积来说，就只是指以法莲的分地，北部称为撒玛利亚山地，南部就称为以法莲山地。其山地的高度约在 600 至 900 公尺之间，是自北向南逐渐倾斜，东侧多石，雨量和水源皆很少，十分贫瘠；西侧则多水源，土地相当肥沃，富于各种农产品。

约书亚的地业在以法莲山地的亭拿西拉，他去世后安葬于此；亚伦的儿子以利亚撒死后也葬于此山。士师以笏刺死摩押王 伊矶伦后，在以法莲山地吹角，集合以色列人击杀欺压他们的摩押人。女士师底波拉住在以法莲山地的拉玛和伯特利中间。以法莲人可能因为出了这么多「大人物」，以至他们心高气傲，时时在战后与负责人发生纠纷，例如和基甸和耶弗他。后来因为向耶弗他挑衅，又出言不逊，侮辱基列人，以致被追杀，死了四万两千人，终于一蹶不振。

撒母耳的父母亲也住在以法莲山地，根据〈历代志上〉第六章22-27节的记载，原来以利加拿是利未的儿子哥辖的后裔，是个正统的利未人，也有解经家说他也是属于祭司家族。在以法莲的分地里也有分给利未人的城邑，因此我们知道，原来他们是住在以法莲山地的利未人。可能是这个原因，所以即使在〈士师记〉那样各自为王，各人任意而行的时代里，以利加拿还是按著律法的规定，到耶和华的殿献祭。那时候耶和华的殿指的是放有约柜的会幕，也是摩西在西乃山下做的那个会幕。那时会幕放在示罗，因此以利加拿每年都会到示罗去敬拜祭祀万军之耶和华。

The Way The Father Blesses You

2021-06-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 27:30-46.  Let’s go! 

Genesis 27:30-33 (NIV)
30  After Isaac finished blessing him and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting.
31  He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”
32  His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?” “I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.”
33  Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him–and indeed he will be blessed!”

On verses 30-33:  Esau comes in to present his meal to his father and to receive his father’s blessing, but he is seconds too late, as Jacob has just finished impersonating him and has taken his father’s blessing in his place.  Why couldn’t Isaac just revoke his previous blessing on Jacob and bless Esau instead?  It’s because the kind of blessing at issue was, in Isaac’s culture, not just any blessing, but a special, irrevocable, once in a lifetime blessing from a father to a favoured son that could not be reversed, whether Isaac and Esau liked it or not.

第四封信：给推雅推喇教会(下)

2021-06-11 in , /by

续  (三, 主对他们的责备)

容让耶洗别的结果，引诱他们行奸淫，吃祭偶像之物，他们有两样结果：

A.奸淫──以前亚哈作王的时候，容让耶洗别，结果叫神的子民，犯奸淫。现在推雅推喇教会，也是如此。历史告诉我们，从前天主教所设立的男女修道院，表面看来好像很清洁，神圣不可侵犯，其实他们两方面，后此相通，内里充满污秽。但最要紧的是属灵的奸淫、自从有天主教以来，到路德马丁，在这一千多年，就是犯了属灵的奸淫。就如〈雅各书〉所说：「与世俗为友。」各位亲爱的弟兄姊妹，他们犯了属灵的奸淫，直到大灾难的时候，她是大淫妇。读〈启示录〉十七章，就知道那大淫妇骑在一只兽上，这大淫妇就是代表天主教，何等可怕。

B.拜偶像──他们又引诱人拜偶像。旧约时代亚哈的妻耶洗别带领人拜偶像，今天天主教也是这样。自从中世纪起，教会与世界联婚，把罗马教的偶像搬到教会中，今天没有一个宗教，有如天主教那么多的偶像。天主教为甚么主张拜偶像，有两个原因：

（1）要使全国人民信奉天主教，不能不把一般拜偶像的风俗改变了，立起马利亚、耶稣、彼得等人的像，以迎合全国人的心，皆信天主教。

（2）天主教为甚么要拜马利亚？因为当时各国的宗教多有女神，如希腊教有女神，印度教有观音，埃及教有地下女神，各个外邦宗教均有女神，惟独只有基督教没有女神，所以天主教就把马利亚高举，来跪拜她。亲爱的弟兄姊妹，我们要认清天主教的罪恶，何等可怕。

2.第二责备他们始终不肯悔改：从这节经文可见他们始终不肯悔改，这是最愚拙的事，最悲惨的事。因为神有恩典，要他们悔改，但他们不肯悔改。各位，回头看看教会史，自推雅推喇教会至今天，意大利的沙望拿路拉，英国的唯克礼夫，克利玛，还有许多国的人兴起，就是主要他们悔改。如德国马丁路德的兴起，但他们始终不肯悔改，硬着心。不肯悔改是最悲惨的事。

Receive the Father’s Highest Blessing

2021-06-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 27:15-29.  Let’s go!

Genesis 27:15-29 (NIV)
15  Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob.
16  She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins.
17  Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.
18  He went to his father and said, “My father.” “Yes, my son,” he answered. “Who is it?”
19  Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing.”……

On verses 15-29:  Rebekah dresses Jacob in Esau’s clothes (v15) and places goatskins on his hands and neck to mimic Esau’s hairiness (v16).  Carrying his father’s favourite meal (v17), Jacob then approaches his father Isaac in hopes of getting the blessing that was meant for Esau (v18-19).  Isaac is put off by two things.  First is the fact that the meal he requested was prepared so quickly (v20).  Second, the person approaching him sounds like Jacob but his hands feel like those of Esau (v21-22).  After being reassured by Jacob that the son before him is indeed Esau, Isaac eats the meal presented to him, asks the son before him to give him a kiss, and then blesses him.  Thinking he is blessing Esau, Isaac prays over Jacob a blessing of prosperity (v28), lordship over his brothers (v29) and protection.