自从约瑟被卖到埃及已经过了20年了，雅各依然认为约瑟已经死了，在这个家中发生了很多事情，对约瑟来说也是一样（创 39-41）。如今，一场大的饥荒临到了全地，而只有埃及地有粮食供应让人可以存活。当他让儿子们去籴粮的时候，雅各只是想到食物，他完全没有想到自己的家庭戏剧会如何展开。
但神知道一切。经历一系列的波波折折，神正在恢复雅各破碎的家庭生活。
现在的约瑟已经是埃及的宰相，他会考验他的兄弟的品格；而神也会帮助他们的父亲雅各对人生无助的境地有更多的学习。雅各会学习到神那改变生命的信实。
在一切你想不到的地方，神或许正在教导你要仰望祂的作为，你知道吗？神救赎的戏剧有时候发生在我们很难想像的地方。藉着恩典，神教导我们，我们无法绕过我们的罪性和缺点；但神已经赐下了救主来拯救我们，让我们跟随耶稣，可以存活不至于死。
信实的神，谢谢你一直在为了我们的好处和你的荣耀而做工。求你教导我们来信靠你，明白你的引导，并在耶稣里找到生命。阿们。
创世记 42:1-20
1雅各见埃及有粮，就对儿子们说：“你们为什么彼此观望呢？
2我听见埃及有粮，你们可以下去，从那里为我们籴些来，使我们可以存活，不至于死。”
3于是，约瑟的十个哥哥都下埃及籴粮去了。
4但约瑟的兄弟便雅悯，雅各没有打发他和哥哥们同去，因为雅各说：“恐怕他遭害。”
5来籴粮的人中有以色列的儿子们，因为迦南地也有饥荒。
6当时治理埃及地的是约瑟，粜粮给那地众民的就是他。约瑟的哥哥们来了，脸伏于地，向他下拜。
7约瑟看见他哥哥们，就认得他们，却装作生人，向他们说些严厉话，问他们说：“你们从哪里来？”他们说：“我们从迦南地来籴粮。”
8约瑟认得他哥哥们，他们却不认得他。
9约瑟想起从前所做的那两个梦，就对他们说：“你们是奸细，来窥探这地的虚实。”
10他们对他说：“我主啊，不是的，仆人们是籴粮来的。
11我们都是一个人的儿子，是诚实人，仆人们并不是奸细。”
12约瑟说：“不然！你们必是窥探这地的虚实来的。”
13他们说：“仆人们本是弟兄十二人，是迦南地一个人的儿子，顶小的现今在我们的父亲那里，有一个没有了。”
14约瑟说：“我才说你们是奸细，这话实在不错！
15我指着法老的性命起誓，若是你们的小兄弟不到这里来，你们就不得出这地方，从此就可以把你们证验出来了。
16须要打发你们中间一个人去，把你们的兄弟带来。至于你们，都要囚在这里，好证验你们的话真不真。若不真，我指着法老的性命起誓，你们一定是奸细。”
17于是约瑟把他们都下在监里三天。
18到了第三天，约瑟对他们说：“我是敬畏神的，你们照我的话行就可以存活。
19你们如果是诚实人，可以留你们中间的一个人囚在监里；但你们可以带着粮食回去，救你们家里的饥荒。
20把你们的小兄弟带到我这里来，如此你们的话便有证据，你们也不至于死。”他们就照样而行。
"When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, '. . . Go down there and buy some for us. . . .'" - Genesis 42:1-2
More than two decades had now passed since Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt. Jacob still thought that Joseph was dead, and much had happened in the life of this family, as well as in the life of Joseph (see Genesis 39-41). But now, a great famine had come over the land, and only Egypt had the resources to help keep people alive. So Jacob was focused on food, and he had no idea of the great family drama that would play out when he sent his sons to buy grain.
But God knew. All through the twists and turns of this drama, God was working to restore Jacob's fractured family life.
Joseph, who was now a major ruler in Egypt, would test the character of his brothers, and God would help their father, Jacob, learn more about his helplessness in the face of life's circumstances. Jacob would also learn more about God's life-giving faithfulness.
Where might God be teaching you to watch for his work in unexpected places? The divine drama of redemption sometimes plays out in circumstances we can hardly imagine. In grace, God teaches us that we cannot maneuver around our own sins and shortcomings. But God has provided the Savior to restore us so that by following Jesus we too may "live and not die."
Faithful God, thank you for always working for our good and for your glory. Teach us to trust you, to acknowledge your leading, and to learn to find our life in Jesus. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
