出人意料的喜乐
雅各带着恐惧战惊的心把他的孩子们送到了埃及。虽然他有上帝所应许的祝福,他依然感觉到生命中沉重的痛苦和失落。我们可以想像,当他的孩子们离开之后,雅各好几天沉浸在想念、担忧之中,他大概也为他们安全回家逼切祷告。虽然圣经告诉我们约瑟和他的哥哥们之间的团聚与和解(创 43:15-45:15),但他们的父亲需要等到他们回来之后才了解情况。
有时候,等待是神在我们身上做工的关键部份。突然之间,天启的时刻来临,我们才清楚地意识到,其实神一直为了某个目的在工作。
当雅各的儿子们回来告诉他,他们与约瑟的交流,当他看到约瑟送来的车马和各样供应,他才意识到了这一点。他突然有勇气放下自己二十年来失去儿子的哀伤,有勇气离开家园的舒适,踏上一段新的信心旅程。
神喜悦赐给祂孩子美善的恩赐,耶稣十字架的死之后,是祂第三天复活这荣耀的好消息,并且祂的复活能够赐给所有信靠祂的人以更新的生命。
让我们等候神的时间,信靠基督的工作,并从祂那里接受出人意料的喜乐。
主啊,求你开我们的眼睛,看见你在我们里面的工作。求你使我们确实地相信你的恩典是真实的,并且你藉着耶稣在一切的失望和困难中,赐下了盼望和医治。阿们。
创世记 43:15-16; 45:1-7, 16-28
15于是,他们拿着那礼物,又手里加倍地带银子,并且带着便雅悯,起身下到埃及,站在约瑟面前。
16约瑟见便雅悯和他们同来,就对家宰说:“将这些人领到屋里,要宰杀牲畜,预备筵席,因为晌午这些人同我吃饭。”
1约瑟在左右站着的人面前情不自禁,吩咐一声说:“人都要离开我出去!”约瑟和弟兄相认的时候,并没有一人站在他面前。
2他就放声大哭,埃及人和法老家中的人都听见了。
3约瑟对他弟兄们说:“我是约瑟!我的父亲还在吗?”他弟兄不能回答,因为在他面前都惊惶。
4约瑟又对他弟兄们说:“请你们近前来。”他们就近前来。他说:“我是你们的兄弟约瑟,就是你们所卖到埃及的。
5现在,不要因为把我卖到这里自忧自恨,这是神差我在你们以先来,为要保全生命。
6现在这地的饥荒已经二年了,还有五年不能耕种,不能收成。
7神差我在你们以先来,为要给你们存留余种在世上,又要大施拯救,保全你们的生命。
16这风声传到法老的宫里,说:“约瑟的弟兄们来了。”法老和他的臣仆都很喜欢。
17法老对约瑟说:“你吩咐你的弟兄们说:‘你们要这样行:把驮子抬在牲口上,起身往迦南地去,
18将你们的父亲和你们的眷属都搬到我这里来。我要把埃及地的美物赐给你们,你们也要吃这地肥美的出产。’
19现在我吩咐你们要这样行:从埃及地带着车辆去,把你们的孩子和妻子,并你们的父亲都搬来。
20你们眼中不要爱惜你们的家具,因为埃及全地的美物都是你们的。”
21以色列的儿子们就如此行。约瑟照着法老的吩咐给他们车辆和路上用的食物,
22又给他们各人一套衣服,唯独给便雅悯三百银子,五套衣服;
23送给他父亲公驴十匹,驮着埃及的美物,母驴十匹,驮着粮食与饼和菜,为他父亲路上用。
24于是约瑟打发他弟兄们回去,又对他们说:“你们不要在路上相争。”
25他们从埃及上去,来到迦南地他们的父亲雅各那里,
26告诉他说:“约瑟还在,并且做埃及全地的宰相。”雅各心里冰凉,因为不信他们。
27他们便将约瑟对他们说的一切话都告诉了他。他们父亲雅各又看见约瑟打发来接他的车辆,心就苏醒了。
28以色列说:“罢了!罢了!我的儿子约瑟还在,趁我未死以先,我要去见他一面。”
Unexpected Joy
"Israel said, 'I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.'" - Genesis 45:28
Jacob had sent his sons to Egypt with fear and trembling. Though he had been promised God's blessing, he also felt the weight of pain and loss that had built up in his life. We can imagine that Jacob spent long days during his sons' absence reflecting, worrying, and perhaps praying for a safe return. And although the Bible tells us the remarkable story of the brothers' reunion and reconciliation with Joseph (Genesis 43:15-45:15), their father knew none of that until their return.
Waiting is sometimes a key part of God's work in us. But then come moments of revelation when it is suddenly clear that God has been up to something all along.
That happens to Jacob as he hears his sons' account of their interactions with Joseph, and as he sees the carts and provisions that Joseph has sent from Egypt. Jacob suddenly has the courage to set aside twenty years of mourning for his lost son, to leave the comfort of a land that was home, and to set out on a new journey in faith.
God delights to give his children good gifts. The death of Jesus on the cross is followed on the third day by the glorious news that Jesus is alive and that his resurrection means renewed life for all who put their faith in him (Acts 4:10-12).
Wait on God's timing, trust in Christ's work, and receive from him the gift of unexpected joy.
Lord, open our eyes to see your work in us. Convince us that your grace is real and that you supply hope and healing in Jesus for all our disappointments and challenges. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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