世界上每一个机构都需要有领导阶层的人，学校、公司、政府、和教会，都要物色能干和忠心的领导者。怎样的人才算是优秀的领袖呢？才干？远象？样貌？年纪？品格？精明？
每一个家庭，包括神的家，也同样需要有优秀的人来领导。昨天我们看过神怎样拣选亚伯拉罕和他们的后裔，藉着他们，神在这个堕落了的世代重建衪公义的王权。
可是，在创世记后来的故事中，我们看到这个家族渐渐堕入混乱状态。以下便是发生在亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各（以色列）和他十二个儿子身上的故事：恐惧导至不忠；欺诈导至背叛和不信任；偏爱导至嫉妒和憎恨。然而，神却饶恕这家人和一直维系着他们－因为神遵守祂的诺言。在今天创世记49章的经文中，以色列的其中一个儿子犹大，被拣选成为将来君王出生的支派。
新约圣经后来也显明，耶稣是“犹大支派中的狮子”（启示录 5:5），祂就是神应许将会降临的真正君王，祂将要永远恢复神公义的王权。
全能的父，感谢祢差遣“犹大支派中的狮子”耶稣，到来拯救我们脱离混乱和毁灭。求祢以祂的王权引领我们为祢而活、天天遵行祢美善的生活方式。阿们。
创世记 49:8-12
8犹大啊，你弟兄们必赞美你，你手必掐住仇敌的颈项，你父亲的儿子们必向你下拜。
9犹大是个小狮子。我儿啊，你抓了食便上去。你屈下身去，卧如公狮，蹲如母狮，谁敢惹你？
10圭必不离犹大，杖必不离他两脚之间，直等细罗来到，万民都必归顺。
11犹大把小驴拴在葡萄树上，把驴驹拴在美好的葡萄树上。他在葡萄酒中洗了衣服，在葡萄汁中洗了袍褂。
12他的眼睛必因酒红润，他的牙齿必因奶白亮。
"The scepter will not depart from Judah. . . ." - Genesis 49:8
Every human organization needs leadership. Schools, businesses, governments, and churches all seek competent and faithful leaders. What makes for a good leader? Strength? Vision? Good looks? Age? Character? Shrewdness?
Families need good leadership too, including the family of God's people. Yesterday we considered how Abraham and Sarah were chosen, along with their descendants. Through them, God was reestablishing his rule of righteousness in a fallen world.
But the story that follows in Genesis shows a family that gradually descends into chaos. This is what happens in the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel), and his twelve sons: fear leads to unfaithfulness; deception leads to betrayal and broken trust; favoritism leads to envy and hatred. But God spares this family and keeps it together—because God keeps his promises. In our reading today from Genesis 49, Judah, one of Israel's sons, is named as the main tribe from whom kings would come.
The New Testament also reveals later that Jesus is "the Lion of the tribe of Judah" (Revelation 5:5). He is the true King whom God promised would come, and he will restore God's rule of righteousness forever.
Almighty Father, we thank you for sending Jesus, "the Lion of the tribe of Judah," to save us from chaos and destruction. By his rule, guide us to live for you and to follow your good ways each day of our lives. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
