We shall continue with the study of the Book of Genesis this week. Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below each day.
(1) “The Lord has blessed him in every way”
a. Was this an over-statement? Why or why not?
b. Why was Abraham’s life so blessed?
c. Can the same be said of your life? Why or why not?
(2) In making his servant to swear by the Lord, why did Abraham call the Lord, “the God of heaven and the God of the earth”?
(3) Why did he have to get his son a wife from his homeland and not from the Canaanites?
(4) Why did he emphasize that the servant should not take his son back to the homeland? What was the significance of this command?
(5) How did Abraham know that the God would send His angel before his servant?
(6) He was prepared to release his servant from the oath, should the would-be wife of Isaac refuse to go with him. Was it a sign of little faith? A sign of submission? Or a sign of commitment?
(7) How did Abraham show his faith and commitment to the Covenant of God through this decision?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
本週我們繼續研讀創世記。請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 「向來在一切事上耶和華都賜福給他。」這句話是否有誇張之處？其真義是什麼？
a. 為什麼亞伯拉罕的生命如此蒙福？
b. 你的生命又如何？原因是什麼？
(2) 為何他要求僕人起誓時，稱耶和華為「天地的主」？
(3) 為何囑咐一定要在本地本族，不能從迦南地中為兒子娶妻？
(4) 為何堅持不可把兒子帶回原居地？其重要性何在？
(5) 為何亞伯拉罕肯定神必差遣使者在僕人的面前？
(6) 為何若女子不肯跟僕人回來，那誓言就終止？是亞伯拉罕缺乏信心，還是順服或信心的表現？為何不叫他為兒子找到女子為止？
(7) 這個決定如何反映亞伯拉罕對神應許的態度？
(8) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
In Genesis 24, we read that Abraham, at his old age, worries about whether his son would marry a local Canaanite woman, and so he made his servant take a very long journey back to his homeland in Mesopotamia, hoping to find a Semitic wife for Isaac. His fear was not unfounded, as his grandson, Esau, took in two local women as his wives at the end of chapter 26, and the Bible says, “They were a source of grief of Isaac and Rebekah.” (26:35)
Why did the two Hittite women become a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah? Did Isaac and Rebekah hold some kind of racial discrimination? For sure, living with people of a different culture always poses a challenge, it may cause inconvenience and even misunderstanding, but it does not necessarily lead to grief. Grief signifies something deeper, and in this case, the hearts of Isaac and Rebekah were hurt. This certainly was caused by a major difference in their value system. The Hittites worshiped idols and were polytheistic, but Isaac and Rebekah followed the footstep of Abraham in worshipping the Lord. They were monotheistic. As we can see in Isaac’s life, he meditated and prayed (24:63), and Rebekah had learned to consult the Lord when she needed direction (25:22). They were a people of faith in the Lord.
With Abraham, it was even more than this. He knew that his son was the chosen “seed” to accomplish God’s covenant in bestowing blessings to all nations. His son was to be a man of faith in order to be used by God for such a mission. The marrying of someone with a pagan belief would jeopardize God’s mission.
Some might argue that, Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah did not appear to have done any good to God’s program. Esau ended up causing them grief, and Jacob was no better, being a con man.
But the fact that Jacob, in spite of his many failures, ended up putting his fate in the hand of the Lord (Gen. 32) was an ultimate testimony of the family influence and heritage.
The Apostle Paul commands us, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Co. 6:14) for the same reason. Like Isaac, we have become heirs of Abraham, and God is counting on us to be channels of blessings to this lost world, including through our union in marriage which bears witness to the union between Christ and His church (Eph. 5:32). A marriage between a believer and an unbeliever defeats this purpose of a Christian marriage.
亞伯拉罕因為不希望兒子娶當地的迦南女子為妻，故派僕人遠渡而回米所波大米的故鄉，找一個自己「本地本族」的女子為兒媳。他的顧慮並非無因的，看看後期他的孫兒以掃娶了兩個赫人的女子就知道了。
創世記26:35告訴我們這二人「常使以撒和利百加心裡愁煩。」是以撒和利百加有種族歧視嗎？事實上與不同種族的人同住確會帶來很多的不便，甚至磨擦，但卻不至心裡愁煩。「心裡愁煩」直譯為「靈裡憂傷」。明顯那是與生命價值觀念的不同有關。赫人拜偶像和信奉多神；以撒和利百加卻是跟隨著亞伯拉罕的腳踪，敬拜獨一的真神耶和華的。以撒更是個禱告的人(創24:63) ，利百加也學曉把心事向神傾訴(創25:22) 。他們是敬畏神的。
亞伯拉罕當然更看重對神的敬畏。他知道以撒是神所揀選的後裔，要成為萬國祝福的器皿。所以，他明白以撒需要信靠神以完成他的使命。如果他娶了迦南的女子為妻，便會成為他使命的攔阻。
對，以撒和利百加的家庭並不完美。以掃固然娶了迦南女子，使雙親愁煩；雅各也非好人，一生過著欺騙的人生。但雅各至終全然的信靠神(見創32章) ，證明了雙親屬靈的遺產和影響。
使徒保羅也吩咐我們，信與不信不能同負一軛(林後6:14) ，其原因也是一樣。像以撒一樣，我們是亞伯拉罕屬靈的後裔，承受了使萬民得福的使命，作基督耶穌的見證。基督徒的婚姻，更是要見證基督與教會的聯合(弗5:32) 。若信與不信結為夫婦，如何能作基督與教會聯合的見證呢！
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
Here is a good passage for character study — of both the servant and of Rebekah. It was a long, long journey back to the north western part of Mesopotamia: an impressive entourage with ten camels.
(1) What would you say about the total strategy of this servant:
a. Having waited at the well toward the evening: what kind of a girl was he looking for in principle?
b. Having to pray for success (the first time such a prayer for specific guidance was recorded in the Bible): what was the basis of his prayer in v. 12?
c. Specifying how he would discern God’s choice: was he not being presumptuous? Why or why not?
d. More specifically, with his specific approach, what kind of a girl was he looking for his master’s son?
(2) What does “before he had finished praying” mean to you?
(3) Was the meeting and greeting of Rebekah a chance occurrence? Why or why not?
(4) How did Rebekah demonstrate that she was worthy to be the bearer of the seed of the Abrahamic Covenant, through
a. “quickly lowering the jar” to quench the thirst of a stranger
b. voluntarily watering the camels (each could drink 25 gallons of water)
c. running back and forward to fill the trough with enough water?
d. offering hospitality of room and board for the whole entourage, including the camels?
What kind of a girl was she?
(5) If you were the servant, how would you react to this encounter?
(6) How did the servant react to this encounter?
(7) What has he learned more personally about this God of his master?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
僕人帶著十匹駱駝的篷車隊，長途跋涉走到米所波大米的西北部，亞伯拉罕的故鄉，為以撒覓女子為妻：
(1) 僕人定下的策略是值得我們思考的：
a. 在傍晚靜候來打水的女子：原則上，他是要為以撒尋找那一類的女子為妻？
b. 他把定下的計劃獻為禱告(這是聖經首次記載尋求神指引的禱告) ：他禱告的基礎是什麼？
c. 定下了計劃再禱告：這樣的禱告是否對呢？
d. 這樣詳細的計劃反映他心目中要為以撒找的是怎樣的一個女子？
(2) 「話還沒有說完」，這句話對你有什麼意思？
(3) 這樣的遇上利伯加是否巧合？何以見得？
(4) 接著所形容的，如何叫我們看到利伯加配得成為以撒這被揀選的後裔的妻子：
a. 「急忙拿下瓶子」去解陌生人的渴；
b. 更自動為駱駝打水(每匹可飲25加侖) ；
c. 是「跑」著倒水在槽裡；
d. 願意款待人與畜生過宿。
你可以怎樣形容這樣的一個女子?
(5) 如果你是那僕人，看見這情景，你立刻的反應會是什麼？
(6) 這僕人立刻的反應又是什麼？
(7) 這事件使這僕人對「主人的神」有什麼認識？
(8) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
We like to say that God has no grandchildren in pointing out that ultimately, even in a Christian family, each one of us has to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in order to have eternal life. We cannot become a Christian simply because our parents are Christians. In a similar way, the story of the search for a wife for Isaac has turned out to be the personal faith journey of this chief servant of Abraham.
In more than one occasion, the servant whose name was not even mentioned referred to God as “God of my master”. As Abraham sent him on this journey, he had made clear to the servant that this was going to be a faith journey, in that God “will send His angel” before him. The doubt raised by the servant in 24:5 indicated he lacked the faith that Abraham had. He might have witnessed all that the Lord had done in the life of Abraham; his faith might have remained on the level of “hearsay”. But this journey has made this faith personal.
As much as he prayed, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham” as he set out to test which girl might be the chosen one, this miraculous encounter has taught him that the Lord is not simply the God of his master, but his God as well, as he responded to God’s miraculous leading by bowing down and worshipping the Lord, at least twice himself (Gen. 24:26, 52). And the greeting by Laban affirmed to him that this God was his, as he said, “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord.” (24:31)
Faith is contagious!
我們常常說，神是沒有孫兒的。用意是要指出，我們每一個人需要個別的藉著信耶穌成為神的兒女。我們決不能因父母是基督徒，自然也是基督徒。亞伯拉罕吩咐僕人遠道去娶兒媳也見證這信仰必須是個人性的。
在創世記24章所描述的旅程中，我們多次讀到這僕人稱耶和華為「我主人亞伯拉罕的神」這句話。他在24:5對這使命作出失敗的打算，叫我們知道他是缺乏信心的。雖然，他一定聽過主人與神的對話，又見證到神在主人身上所行的神蹟奇事，但他對神的信心可以說是間接的，並沒有個人的認識和經歷。
雖然，他也學曉向「主人的神」禱告，把這差事交托神，但這尋索的經歷郤使他認識到耶和華並非單是他主人的神，更是他的神。他自己兩次向神俯伏下拜，是個人經歷神、認識神的表現。拉班雖然可能是隨口的對他說：「你這蒙耶和華賜福的。」(創24:31)，但他的話卻道出了這僕人信心的果效。
信心是具感染力的。
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
While Bethuel’s name was mentioned, he was properly incapacitated or too old and his son was the one in charge of the family.
(1) Referring to Laban, the brother of Rebekah, the Bible says, “As soon as he had seen the nose ring and the bracelets…” What is being depicted by the Bible with these words?
(2) From later events, including how Laban lied to Jacob and had idols in his household, what do you make of his greeting in v. 31?
(3) Why would Abraham’s servant refuse to eat after possibly a very long and tired day? What kind of a message was he trying to convey to Laban’s household with this gesture?
(4) His speech from vv. 34-49 was aimed to convince Laban’s household in allowing Rebekah to marry the son of Abraham. Try to read it carefully, and see what emphases or angles the servant used to achieve his goals (before considering the following questions).
(5) Highlight the points he made in pointing out that it was God’s hand through and through.
(6) Highlight the points he made about the wealth of Abraham.
(7) Highlight the points he made about Isaac, his sole heir rights, his approximate age, the unlikeliness of him finding concubines in Canaan.
(8) If you were Laban,
a. What reason might you have in accepting this marriage proposal?
b. What reason might you have in refusing this marriage proposal?
(9) Did the servant of Abraham make this proposal one that could be negotiated?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
比士利雖尚在，似乎因年老，家族已由拉班主持：
(1) 聖經特別提到拉班「看見金環…金鐲」有什麼意思？
(2) 從後來的記載，我們知道拉班多次欺騙雅各和他是拜偶像的。那麼在第31節他對僕人的稱呼叫我們知道他的為人是怎樣的？
(3) 為何僕人長途跋涉的來到，一定是又疲倦、又饑餓的，卻拒絕立刻進食。何故？
(4) 在第34-39節中，這僕人是要說服拉班一家，讓他帶走利百加。請細讀這段話，看看他是用什麼的角度來說服他們。
a. 他怎樣指出這是神的旨意？
b. 他怎樣論到亞伯拉罕的家？
c. 他怎樣指出亞伯拉罕已將一切給了以撒？
d. 他又怎樣暗示以撒不會另娶的呢？
(5) 如果你是拉班：
a. 你會同意這段婚事嗎？
b. 為什麼？
(6) 僕人在第49節其實說了一句很有力的話。你認為是嗎？
(7) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣用在你的生命中？
As we reflect on the journey of faith that Abraham had invited his servant into, may I invite you to reflect on the lyrics of the hymn below which is a paraphrase of Psalm 121 penned by John Campbell (1845-1914), the 4th Governor General of Canada.
Unto the hills around do I lift up
my longing eyes
O whence for me shall my salvation come, from whence arise?
From God, the Lord, doth come my certain aid,
From God, the Lord, who heaven and earth hath made.
He will not suffer that thy foot be
moved: safe shalt thou be.
No careless slumber shall His eyelids close, who keepeth
thee.
Behold, He sleepeth not, He slumbereth
ne’er,
Who keepeth Israel in His holy care.
Jehovah is Himself thy Keeper true,
thy changeless Shade;
Jehovah thy Defense on thy right hand Himself hath made.
And thee no sun by day shall ever smite;
No moon shall harm thee in the silent night.
From every evil shall He keep thy soul,
from every sin;
Jehovah shall preserve thy going out, thy coming in.
Above thee watching, He Whom we adore
Shall keep thee henceforth, yea, forevermore.
亞伯拉罕藉著為兒子娶妻，帶來了僕人經歷神、認識神的機會。讓我們藉著以下前任加拿大會督John Campbell所意譯的詩篇121篇的歌詞，作為我們個人信心歷程的反思：
我要向山，我要舉目向山，欣慕主宰；
我的幫助，是從何處而來，是從主來；
我的幫助是從耶和華來，
祂是創造天地的大主宰。
主耶和華，不使你腳搖動，賜你平安；
祂的眼睛，時時看顧著你，必不打盹；
昔日保護，以色列眾百姓，
祂看顧你，也必晝夜常醒。
主耶和華，保守你到萬世，永不改變；
祂必在你，右邊將你庇蔭，賜你安然；
白日炎熱，太陽必不傷你，
夜間恬靜，月亮必不害你。
主耶和華，要保護你平安，免受災害；
你出你入，主必要看顧你，與你同在；
主保護你，使你性命安全，
祂保守你，從今直到永遠。
(中譯歌詞：角聲114)
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) On what basis did Bethuel and Laban make their decision? Why?
(2) If you were the servant, how would you react to their answer?
(3) How did he react to their answer? What can you learn from this servant?
(4) Why did her brother and her mother try to stall the parting of Rebekah? Her mum might miss her, what about the possible motive of the brother? What does deferring to Rebekah to decide tell us about their motives? (In ancient times, did the girl have anything say about the matter?)
(5) What did they expect Rebekah to say? What did she say?
(6) What does it say about Rebekah?
(7) This story ended with a very touching scene in Negev:
a. Isaac went to the field in the evening to meditate (the Aramaic version of the OT says “in order to pray”)
b. He loved Rebekah, and
c. He was comforted after his mother’s death
What can you learn about the person of Isaac?
Did Abraham know that Isaac was lonely and hurt after his mother’s death?
(8) What is the main message to you today?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
拉班和彼土利是基於什麼作出決定的？
(1) 如果你是僕人，你會怎樣回應他們的決定？
(2) 這僕人立刻的回應是什麼？
(3) 為何拉班和他的母親及後又想延誤這行程？
(4) 為何把決定交給利百加？(在古時女兒有權作出這種決定嗎？他們以為利百加會怎樣說？)
(5) 利百加的決定是什麼？何故？
(6) 這故事的末段是很感人的：
a. 以撒在傍晚到田間默想(舊約Aramiac譯 本譯作“in order to pray”-- 為要禱告) ；
b. 「並且愛她」；
c. 「這纔得了安慰」。
從這段我們可以對以撒有什麼認識？
你以為亞伯拉罕知道兒子喪母之後的心境嗎？
(7) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣用在你的生命中？
We do not know a whole lot about Rebekah, but based on the little we know from the Bible, she was a rather unusual woman.
We were introduced to her at the well, the evening when the servant of Abraham was praying about meeting the chosen woman in Isaac’s life.
Rebekah was one of the girls drawing water from the well that evening, and to a certain extent, it shows that she, in spite of the relative wealth of her family (which was able to send a nurse to accompany her journey back to Canaan), was used to menial labor. She was not the kind that was pampered by the family. More impressive was how she immediately attended to the servant and all 10 camels; each could drink up to 25 gallons of water. It appeared that she did it all by herself, and did it very quickly, running back and forth. It was a picture of a young woman who was kind, hospitable and hard working.
From later records in the book of Genesis, we would come to know that Laban’s household worshipped pagan gods, as was common at their time (the moon god was the main god of the land). She might have heard of Yahweh and His calling of Abraham. But the story told by the servant of Abraham would be her first and first-hand account of the faithfulness and might of this God of Abraham. I think Laban was counting on Rebekah to refuse to follow the servant back to Canaan right away as he deferred such a decision to her (24:57). But her answer must have caught them by surprise. A kind, hospitable and hard working girl like her must be very attached to her family, and yet she wanted to leave with the servant right away. We may not know the real answer, but I believe this miraculous encounter with the servant and the testimony of the faithfulness of Yahweh must have meant a lot to her. Her eventual faith in the Lord proves not to be a second-hand faith, as we read of how she inquired of the Lord because of the jostling of the two babies in her womb (Gen. 25:22).
No wonder she became the comfort of Isaac (Gen. 24:67).
我們對利百加所知的不多，但就聖經所給我們的資料，她確是一位難得的女子。
我們遇到她的時候，是她在傍晚到井旁準備打水。她的家庭是富裕的(至少她有乳母陪行) ，但她卻親作打水勞動的工作，不是個嬌生慣養的女子。不但如此，一聽到這陌生人的請求，她是「急忙」的拿水瓶給他，更自動的要為十匹駱駝打水，每匹可飲用25加侖水。故此，她是跑來跑去的倒水在槽中。這裡所描寫的利百加是一位好客、善良、勤勞的女子。
從創世記後來的記載，我們曉得拉班的家庭是拜偶像的。相信像拉班一樣利百加是聽過耶和華的名字的，也可能聽過耶和華呼召亞伯拉罕的事蹟。但是僕人給他們詳述神給亞伯拉罕的福，和祂如何奇妙的帶領自己找到她的見證，是她對神和祂奇妙、信實的作為第一身和第一次的經歷。我相信拉班以為妹妹會像他一樣，不大願意離開家庭，所以提議任由利百加作決定。誰知，她卻願意立刻跟僕人離去。我們雖然不能肯定她這決定的原因，但相信是與經歷神奇妙安排自己遇見這僕人有關的。這僕人述說神在亞伯拉罕身上的作為，也肯定吸引了她。結果，她的信心與這僕人一樣，成為個人化了。這是她因胎兒在腹中相爭時，曉得向神直接求問所證明的。
無怪，她能成為以撒的安慰！(24:67)
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) Biblical scholars, in general, tend to view the re-marriage of Abraham occurred much earlier on, and Calvin even suggested that it occurred after Sarah forced Abraham to divorce Hagar. The Bible, in fact, has not given us any clue as to its timing. Why do you think people are so concerned whether Abraham married Keturah before Sarah’s death? Are you? Should you be?
(2) What did Abraham do to ensure that Isaac remained the sole heir to God’s promise?
(3) Abraham lived a long life of 175 years (he would have lived 15 more years after Jacob and Esau were born — see 21:5; 25:7 & 26). It is perhaps fitting that we use some time to remember him:
a. What caused him to uproot from his homeland?
b. What were the hurdles he needed to overcome in such a move?
c. What were the major mistakes he made in his life that the Bible chooses to reveal so openly?
d. What were the results of these mistakes?
e. When God chose him, what were the blessings being foretold? How important was his role in the ultimate plan of salvation for the whole humankind?
f. What was the key of success in Abraham being able to fulfill his role in this plan?
g. What were the important milestones in his journey of faith?
h. What were the potential events that could have derailed God’s plan of salvation through him?
i. Write a short eulogy for Abraham, as if you were at his funeral.
(4) Why does the Bible choose to give details of his other wife and children and their descendants, including that of Ishmael together with the account of his death? What kind of a legacy did Abraham leave?
(5) What then is the essential message of today and how may you apply it in your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 一般聖經學者認為亞伯拉罕再娶是在較早之前的事，而加爾文認為可能在撒拉逐夏甲以後發生的。聖經其實沒有清楚的在這方面交代。你以為為何學者對他再婚的時間如此著重？你是否也看重這事？為什麼？
(2) 亞伯拉罕一早把產業分給各兒子的原因是什麼？
(3) 亞伯拉罕共活了175歲。他死時，以掃和雅各出生了沒有？(參創21:5；25:7, 26)
(4) 讓我們在此，回想亞伯拉罕的一生：
a. 他整家拔根遷移的原因是什麼？
b. 此舉要面對和克服的困難和障礙包括什麼？
c. 聖經誠實的記載亞伯拉罕所犯的嚴重錯誤包括什麼？
d. 這些錯誤帶來了什麼後果？
e. 神揀選他時，對他的吩咐和祝福包括什麼？
f. 他的被揀選與神終極的拯救計劃有什麼關係？
g. 亞伯拉罕之能完成他被揀選的使命的因素是什麼？
h. 你可以列出他信心旅程主要的里程碑嗎？
i. 在他的一生中，有那些事情足以讓(魔鬼) 破壞神這揀選的計劃呢？
j. 請為亞伯拉罕寫出一簡短的「述史/eulogy」。
(5) 為何聖經在此一起列出亞伯拉罕的死，他的再娶，他的後裔和以實瑪利的死和後裔？你認為亞伯拉罕留下的是什麼遺產/legacy？
(6) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣用在你的生命中？
I have to admit I was disturbed when I discovered that the bulk of the conservative commentaries that I have consulted in, trying to make sense of Abraham’s marriage to Keturah, opine that it probably took place before the death of Sarah. Even the leading Reformer, John Calvin, leaned towards this view (Calvin, Genesis, 33), based on the fact that Abraham’s body was as good as dead and that the birth of Isaac was through and through a miracle.
I was disturbed because that would have made Abraham guilty of polygamy, and John Calvin was right, “This (is) worthy of grave censure.” And he went on to say, “We know it to be not uncommon for men to be rendered bold by excessive license. Thus, Abraham having once transgressed the law of marriage, perhaps, after the dispute respecting Hagar, did not desist from the practice of polygamy. It is also probable that his mind had been wounded, by the divorce which Sarah had compelled him to make with Hagar. Such conduct indeed was disgraceful, or, at least, unbecoming in the holy patriarch.” That’s exactly my point, he was the holy patriarch, the father of faith!
These commentators also see that the reason why Moses chose to recount his re-marriage at this point was to avoid distracting us unnecessarily “from the promise of Isaac and its fulfillment,” (Wenham, 158)
True, as I was reading his journey of faith, this was not the first incident that disturbed me: his twice betrayal of Sarah with his lies to both Pharaoh and Abimelech, his taking of Hagar as a concubine, his driving away and deserting of Hagar and Ishmael in a sure-death situation and now his taking of another wife! But I have to admit, all these flaws and failures paled into insignificance when I read how he willingly offered his only beloved son on the altar at Mount Moriah. And when God cried out in heaven, “Now I know you fear me”, I could almost hear God say in His own heart, “Since you did not spare your only beloved son for me, I would not spare mine either for you.”
He loved and feared God in a way, probably no other human has ever or can ever duplicate!
我得承認，在我翻閱一些保守派的解經書時，發現他們一般認為亞伯拉罕再娶基土拉是在撒拉生前發生的事，我覺得有點不安。甚至加爾文也是如此解釋，認為亞伯拉罕如同已死的身軀，加上其他的原因，不可能在生以撒之後，再娶妻生子的。
我覺得有點不安是因為這樣的解釋，豈不是說亞伯拉罕是多妻的嗎！正如加爾文說：「確是值得嚴加譴責的。」(Calvin, Genesis, 33) 他繼續的說：「我們知道一錯是會再錯的。亞伯拉罕既然已因夏甲而破壞了婚姻，在夏甲(被逐) 之餘，他沒有禁止自己再納多妾。或許，撒拉強迫夏甲的離去，創傷了他的心。(但) 這種行為是可恥的，是與這樣神聖的先祖不配的。」對，這豈與這位信心之父匹配呢！
這些解經家亦認為摩西之所以揀選在亞伯拉罕臨終前才記載這事，是要避免我們失去對「神對以撒的應許和應驗」的焦點。(Wenham, 158)
其實在細讀亞伯拉罕的生平時，這並非叫我感到不安的惟一事件：他為要自保，兩次撒謊稱妻子為妹妹；他聽命於撒拉而娶夏甲為妻；及後卻殘忍的驅逐夏甲和兒子以實瑪利離家；現在更另娶基土拉！但我得同時承認，這一切的過犯和輭弱，在我讀到他在摩利亞山獻上心愛、獨生的兒子時，完全消失了。當神從天上呼叫：「現在我知道你敬畏我」時，我彷彿聽到神說：「你既然不留下你獨生的兒子獻給我，我為你和你的後裔也不留下我獨生愛子，把祂成為贖罪的羔羊。」
恐怕在世上，再沒有一人像亞伯拉罕這樣敬畏神，愛神的了！
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) Barrenness continues to be the theme of these matriarchs. How significant was barrenness in the ancient culture? What was its added significance concerning both Sarah and Rebekah?
(2) How did Isaac deal with Rebekah’s almost 20 years of infertility? How different was he from Abraham in dealing with his wife’s barrenness?
(3) Why did Rebekah bring the jostling of the babies in her womb to the Lord? Would you? What does this say about Rebekah?
(4) In answer to Rebekah’s inquiry, what prophecy did God make about the future of the two brothers?
(5) Does this prophecy necessarily mean that Esau will not be able to live a life pleasing to God? Does it mean the Jacob will necessarily be able to live a life pleasing to God?
(6) What were the professions of the two brothers? Does it mean that a stay-at-home, quiet child is better than an outgoing child?
(7) What’s wrong with Isaac and Rebekah in their parenting?
(8) In the case of Esau, what did his birthright entail? How important was it, apart from “possibly” inheriting double portion of estate, as mandated by the Law of Moses subsequently almost a thousand years later? (It should be natural that both brothers would have been told of the Covenant made by God with Abraham, their grandfather.)
(9) Did Jacob happen to think of cheating the birthright from Esau?
(10) Do you think birthright could be sold? Was it officially sold by Esau to Jacob and recognized by the parents?
(11) What was the actual, serious consequence of Esau’s action according to v. 34? What spiritual significance did it have?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 不能生育似乎繼續是列祖的妻子的挑戰。古時無子對已婚的女子有多大影響？對撒拉和利百加帶來了什麼額外的挑戰？
(2) 以撒如何面對利百加二十年的不生育呢？他與亞伯拉罕在處理這挑戰中有什麼分別？
(3) 利百加怎樣處理腹中孩子們的相爭？這給我們對她有什麼了解？
(4) 在回答利百加時，神對兩個兒子作出了什麼預言？
(5) 這是否意味著以掃的生命不會討神的喜悅，而雅各就恰恰相反呢？
(6) 二人的職業分別是什麼？是否安靜的孩子就比好動的孩子好？
(7) 以撒和利百加在教養孩子上犯了什麼錯？引致了什麼後果？
(8) 「長子的名份」一般包括什麼？(可參申21:17) 對作為以撒的長子則具什麼特殊的意義(這是以掃該知道的)？
(9) 你認為雅各是早有預謀的嗎？
(10) 其實「長子的名份」真是可以買賣的嗎？他們的父母有否真的承認這交易呢？
(11) 第34節，以掃所作帶出了什麼嚴重的屬靈意義和後果？
(12) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣用在你的生命中？
In defending God’s sovereignty, the Apostle Paul cites God’s choice of Jacob over Esau by quoting from Malachi 1:2-3 as he writes in Roman 9:13 that “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
But the context of Malachi “indicates it is the nation Israel and Edom, rather than their individual ancestors Jacob and Esau, that are in view.” (Bruce, TNTC, Romans, 182)
In fact, as Rebekah inquired of the Lord about the jostling babies in the womb, the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger” (Gen. 25:23)
The context is clearly about two nations, not two individuals. In fact, it was Jacob who ended up bowing down to Esau seven times. (Gen. 33:3)
It is true that Esau, who should know very well the importance of the Abrahamic Covenant and that he, as the older son, would be assuming the role of the continuation of the line of the “seed”, despised his birth-right. Clearly he was not a man of faith. But it has nothing to do with the prophecy. The fact that God has not chosen you as the continuous bearer of His Covenant does not mean that you could not lead a life pleasing to the Lord. Of the sons of Jacob, God has chosen Judah, not Joseph. But this has not prevented Joseph from becoming a man of faith and a blessing to the family.
Esau has no one to blame — not predestination, nor parental favoritism — but himself for his spiritual apathy. It was his choice to despise his birth-right and to marry the Hittite women.
Likewise, when a person turns away from God, it is always his or her own choice — no one can blame their family, society or even the church!
在為神的主權辯護時，保羅引用瑪拉基書1: 2-3的話說：「雅各是我所愛的，以掃是我所惡的。」(羅9:13)
但瑪拉基書的話是「指著以色列和以東兩國而說的，並非指兩位先祖雅各和以掃個人而說的。」(Bruce, TNTC, Romans, 182)
其實，當神回答利百加的求問時，祂說：「兩國在你腹內，兩族要從你身上出來，這族必強於那族，將來大的要服事小的。」(創25:23)
這句話是清楚指著兩國，非兩人而言的。何況事實上，雅各後來曾經七次向以掃下拜。(33:3)
對，以掃確是輕看了他長子的名份。他應該是清楚知道神與亞伯拉罕所立的約，明白自己長子的身份是神聖的，是非同小可的。明顯的，他不是憑著信乃是憑著眼見而活。但這與先前神所說的預言無關。他沒有被神揀選為約的後裔，並不等如他不能過信靠、討神喜悅的生活。就如約瑟，神所揀選的不是他，而是他的哥哥猶大。但他絕對沒有讓神這揀選成為他過信靠神的生活，和成為別人祝福的管道的攔阻。
以掃祇能怪責自己，因為他沒有過討神喜悅的生活全是自己的選擇，與神的預定無關、與父親的偏愛無關。是他自己選擇去娶異邦的女子為妻的！
照樣，當一個人離開神，是這人個人的選擇—與家庭、與社會、與教會無關！
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) What reason did God give in telling Isaac not to go to Egypt in spite of the famine?
(2) What did Isaac do in order to face the famine?
(3) Why did God tell Isaac not to go Egypt, while He did not appear to have warned Abraham under a similar situation before (Gen. 12:10)?
(4) This Abimelech was likely the son of the king who took Sarah as wife for a time. Why did Isaac lie? Did he not learn from his father’s mistake?
(5) From the rebuke of Abimelech, how would you describe the actual moral condition of Abimelech and the people of the land?
(6) In spite of his lack of faith in God’s protection, how did God honor his obedience not to go to Egypt in spite of the famine?
(7) When the Philistines plugged up all the wells dug by Abraham’s servant, what was the message to Isaac? Did they not break the treaty made between Abraham and King Abimelech back in Genesis 21:30-31?
(8) How did Isaac react to their threat?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 神吩咐以撒不可下埃及的原因是什麼？
(2) 以撒結果怎處理饑荒的挑戰？
(3) 為什麼神要如此干預，卻沒有在同樣的危機時干預亞伯拉罕呢？(見12:10)
(4) 一般認為這亞比米勒乃是與亞伯拉罕訂和約的那位王的兒子。為什麼以撒要撒謊？他豈不應從父親的錯誤學了功課嗎？
(5) 從亞比米勒的責備中，我們可以看到當地社會的道德情況有多少？
(6) 以撒的謊言帶來了什麼後果？試與亞伯拉罕同一事件作比較。(參20:1-18)
(7) 非利士人為何塞住了亞伯拉罕僕人所挖的井呢？這豈不是違反了亞伯拉罕和先王在21:30-31所定的約嗎？
(8) 以撒怎樣處理這紏紛呢？
(9) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣用在你的生命中？
In many ways, we find that the life of Isaac resembles that of Abraham. It appears that history has a way of repeating itself.
Both had a wife who was barren, both were blessed by God and their wealth increased in their land of their sojourn, and both faced famine. All these examples happen to be a source of testing of their faith in the Lord.
Abraham and Sarah responded to the barrenness by trying to usher into God’s promise by their own means. Isaac, however, might have learned from Abraham’s mistake, and took it in prayer to the Lord, and thereby avoided making the same mistake.
Both were blessed with great wealth, and both handled this materialistic blessing humbly, without making wealth a source of their security or a goal to pursue.
Both faced famine. Abraham made the mistake of moving away from the Promised Land into Egypt, but in the case of Isaac, God intervened to prevent him from making the same mistake. But Isaac made the same mistake as Abraham, lying about who his wife was for fear of his own life — a sign of faithlessness. But both, in spite of their mistakes, received something far more precious — they experienced the grace of God.
The lives of these two patriarchs show us that crisis in life does happen to everyone. Whether in failure or success, crisis always serves to draw those who love God closer to God and stronger in Him.
Lot, too, faced many crises in life. But they have done him no good. What is the difference? Unlike Abraham and Isaac, his heart was attracted to the worldly city of Sodom, a sign that his first love was not the Lord.
The Apostle Paul is right, “in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” (Rom. 8:28)
以撒平生的遭遇有點像亞伯拉罕，或許是有其父必有其子。
兩人都有一位長期不能生育的妻子；兩人都蒙神賜福成為大富；兩人都遭到饑荒。這些都成為他們信心的試煉。
亞伯拉罕和撒拉在無子的危機中，錯用了自己的方法去成就神的應許。以撒是同受應許的，他似乎從亞伯拉罕的失敗中學到功課，把這危機用禱告帶到神的面前，並沒有犯父親同樣的錯誤。
兩人在過帳棚的生涯都蒙神賜財物之福，成為大富，但二人卻沒有因此而心存驕傲，沒有把財富成為他們的倚靠和人生追求的對像。
兩人都同遭饑荒的危機。亞伯拉罕沒有求問神而南遷，離開應許之地，到埃及求助。因神直接的干預，以撒免去犯父親同一的錯誤。不過，及後以撒卻像父親一樣，為求自保而撒謊，在信心的試驗上跌了一跤。然而，他們二人在這錯誤中得到更寶貴的，就是經歷到神憐憫的恩典。
這兩位先祖的遭遇，叫我們曉得生命是常會遭試驗和面對危機的。無論是站立得住，或有跌倒之時，對於愛神的人，都是引我們更親近神、更認識祂的機會。
羅得同樣經歷了不少的試驗，但這些都似乎沒有帶給他任何的益處。為何會如此呢？全因他的心早已被所多瑪的花花世界所吸引，他沒有先愛神的心。
使徒保羅勉勵我們：「我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處……」(羅8:28)