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) What does verse 1 appear to signify in terms of the covenant made by God with Abraham?
(2) Jacob was the direct recipient and victim of the harm and hurt inflicted by the favoritism played by Isaac on him and his brother, why then would he repeat the same mistake? Was it because
a. Like father like son?
b. One always values a child born in old age?
c. His deep love for Rachel, the mother of Joseph and so he projected his love on him?
d. Joseph possessed godly quality unequalled by the siblings? Or
e. Any other reason?
Whatever the reason might be, should Jacob play favoritism?
What was the consequence of his action?
(3) Based on what we read about the older sons of Jacob so far, what kind of bad report do you think Joseph had been bringing to the father about his brothers? Should he?
(4) The translations of “a richly ornamented robe” vary considerably and there is no consensus among scholars, except that it would have been a princely garment that distinguished Joseph from his brother and it was not a garment worn at work. Was this garment the real cause for their hatred of Joseph? Jealousy among siblings is not uncommon, why would it lead to hatred in this case? What might be the real cause?
(5) Dreams were significant in ancient times. Why didn’t the two dreams of Joseph require interpretation? Should he have told his brothers and even his father? Did he not know he was hated? What does this tell us about Joseph’s character?
(6) Why did Jacob keep “the matter in mind”? Would he be thinking about God’s choice for the direct succession of the Abrahamic Covenant? Who ended up being this successor? (See Matt. 1)
(7) 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) 這一章頭一節的說話對神應許亞伯拉罕的約有什麼重要性？
(2) 雅各是身受父親偏心之害，為何卻同樣施於自己的兒女呢？
a. 是有其父必有其子嗎？
b. 是年老生子之故？
c. 是因太愛拉結以致愛屋及烏嗎？
d. 是約瑟有與眾不同的品格嗎？
e. 或另有原因？
不論原因何在，雅各應否有所偏愛？偏愛的後果是什麼？
(3) 按照以上幾章有關雅各眾子的記載，你以為約瑟向父親報告哥哥們的惡行會包括些什麼？他應打小報告嗎？為什麼？
(4) 各解經家對「彩衣」的繙譯不一，但一般認為是貴重的衣物，絕非是牧羊、勞動時所穿。你認為這衣是哥哥們仇恨約瑟的主因嗎？兄弟間的妒忌常有，何至成仇恨呢？真正的原因是什麼？
(5) 古時人對夢極其重視。為何約瑟的兩夢不用解夢？他應否直告兄弟和父親？他不曉得哥哥們仇恨他嗎？這給我們曉得他是怎樣的一個年青人？
(6) 為何雅各把話存在心裡？與神對亞伯拉罕的應許有關嗎？在雅各的眾兒子中誰繼承了神與亞伯拉罕所立的約呢？(可參馬太福音第一章)
(7) 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？
As the story of Joseph unfolds, we have come to see a very special young man who was not stained by the company he kept, meaning the 10 brothers whose lives were marked by extreme violence and immorality. But as we were first introduced to him in Genesis 37 as a seventeen-years-old young man, he appeared to be not just a dreamer, but a totally naïve person.
He enjoyed the special favor of his father, to the point that he was probably spared many of the menial labor the other brothers had to shoulder. This naturally invited jealousy. I would be jealous too, if I were one of his siblings.
As we recall, Jacob lined up Joseph and Rachel way back in the rear as they were facing the possible attack of Esau. All his siblings could see with their eyes that they were not important at all to their father. I am afraid that might explain not only their jealousy, but their growing resentment against Joseph.
The making of a special garment, just for Joseph could not be the real reason, compared to the above.
But, as young as he was, did he not sense the resentment of his brothers? The two dreams that he had were so plain for everyone to see. To tell them once was to invite further resentment. To tell them twice would only invite hatred. How naïve Joseph was!
Have you ever come across a person like Joseph — living a life handed to him on a silver platter; not having to go through the hardship of life others have to endure; presumably spending his time dreaming more so than working; and is such a naïve person who rubs people the wrong way all the time without even being aware of it. Frankly, he would not be a person who could gain a lot of friends!
It reminds me to a certain extent of the young Van Gogh who began as a zealous young Christian at an age similar to Joseph. His raw zeal of the Lord put him into troubled waters, and he ended up being rejected by Christian leaders, one after another. They eventually drove him away not only from ministry, but away from God.
Had these mature and experienced Christians leaders (the headmaster of a Christian school and parish priests) not rejected him like the brothers of Joseph, who know, maybe Van Gogh could become a Joseph — a blessing to others even in the field of arts!
約瑟的故事序幕開啟時，我們看見一個非常突出的青年，他絲毫不受與他在一起生活的10位極其暴戾和邪惡的哥哥們所污染。在創世記第37章出場時，他是一個十七歲的年青人，不但常做夢，而且是十分的天真幼稚。
他享受父親對他的偏愛。他很可能不需分擔哥哥們要做的各種體力勞工，這自然招至他們的嫉妒。我若是他其中一個哥哥，也會如此。
回想雅各面對以掃可能的擊殺時，他把約瑟和拉結列在分隊的最後，使他的哥哥們親身感受到他們在父親的心中是何等不重要。我相信這不單引起他們的嫉妒，也形成他們懷恨約瑟的心日漸增長。
若與以上因由相比，因雅各只為約瑟做了一件特別彩衣就不構成哥哥們懷恨他的真正原因了。
不過，他年輕，他感受不到哥哥們對自己的懷恨。他所做的每個夢的含意都是凡聽見的人都能意會到的。向哥哥們提講第一個夢已引來加深的憤恨；再向他們提講第二個夢更只會帶來敵意。約瑟是何等天真幼稚！
你曾遇見過像約瑟這樣的人嗎？他含著銀匙出生，一生舒適奢華，不用像別人那樣要捱世界，他做夢比工作時間還要多；如此天真幼稚的人常得罪人而不自覺。坦白說，他不可能有許多朋友！
這使我想到年輕時的梵高（Van Gogh）。他在大概與約瑟同齡時是個滿有熱心的年青基督徒。他那對主的單純，甚至狂熱的事奉，叫當時的眾教會領袖一一拒絕接受他。最後他們不單令他離開神職崗位，也使他離開神。
倘若當時這些世故又老練的教會領袖（一位基督教學校校長和一些教會的神職人員）不像約瑟的哥哥們那樣拒絕接受他的話，也許梵高會是另一個約瑟，成為別人的祝福，包括繪畫的美術界！
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) What happened previously at Shechem (Gen. 34)? Why did Jacob feel the need to send someone to see if all was well (a distance of about 50 miles)?
(2) Why was Joseph not tending flock with them?
(3) What kind of clothing was he wearing when he went to see his brothers?
(4) Was the plot to kill Joseph something impromptu?
(5) Did either Jacob or Joseph realize the extent of hatred by the brothers? Why not?
(6) In their conversation what was the particular grudge they held against Joseph? Why did Joseph’s dream bother them so deeply?
(7) Why did Reuben want to rescue Joseph? Was he not the one who was so wicked as to lay with his father’s wife (35:22)?
(8) How did Joseph feel when he was suddenly seized and thrown by the brothers into the cistern?
(9) Why did Judah also want to spare Joseph’s life?
(10) Was the passing through of the Ishmaelite caravan a coincidence?
(11) Now that Joseph was sold as a slave to Egypt, what would the future be like, as far as Joseph was concerned?
(12) How great was this change to Joseph?
(13) Did you have as great and sudden a change in your life?
(14) 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) 雅各家曾在示劍發生了什麼事故，以至雅各覺得需要派人去查看兒子們是否平安？(參創34章)
(2) 為何約瑟不是與哥哥們一起放羊？
(3) 約瑟穿什麼衣裳遠行去尋找哥哥們？
(4) 你認為他們要害死約瑟之意是突然產生的嗎？
(5) 你認為雅各和約瑟知道這兄弟十人對約瑟的忌恨有多深嗎？
(6) 從他們的商議，我們曉得他們恨惡約瑟的因由嗎？為何約瑟所分享的夢叫他們如此不悅？
(7) 為何流便要營救約瑟？他豈不也是大惡之人嗎？(35:22)
(8) 你以為突然被兄弟拿住、剝去外衣並丟在坑裡時，約瑟有什麼感受？
(9) 猶大又為什麼要救約瑟的性命？
(10) 以實瑪利的商隊的出現是否偶然的呢？
(11) 既被賣到埃及地，約瑟會怎樣看他的前途和命運？
(12) 這生命的轉變對約瑟而言是有多大？
(13) 你曾否經歷生命的突變？可與約瑟相比嗎？
(14) 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？
The Bible does not makes clear why God passed over Reuben, Simeon and Levi and made Judah the one with the blessing that “The Scepter will not depart from Judah…until He comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is His.” (Gen. 49:10). The Messiah did come from Judah.
Perhaps, the sin of Reuben who slept with his father’s wife was indeed so great that it disqualified him as the successor of the Abrahamic covenant, and Simeon and Levi were so violent in killing the entire city of Shechem that there was no way God could use them. But, Judah was certainly no choir boy.
We would read later in Genesis that he has two sons, Er and Onan, were both very wicked to the point of being put to death by God. While both sons had to answer to their own sins, Judah certainly did not give a godly example at home. After the death of his wife, he purposely sought out a prostitute, not just any prostitute, a shrine prostitute, meaning he did not mind being associated with idol worship.
But God is always gracious and as we have considered previously, His desire is not just to make use of an individual to achieve His mission, but to mold him into someone who knows His heart, someone who is worthy to be His co-worker. Here we have a glimpse of the work of transformation in the life of Judah.
Reuben was the first one who intervened for Joseph, but his intervention was out of a sense of obligation as the oldest of the brothers. As he put it, “The boy isn’t there! How can I go home?” (Wenhem’s translation) His worry might not be for the safety of the boy, but how he could face his father!
But Judah did not have the same obligation, and yet he too sought to intervene and these were his words, “after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood,” While he knew he could not overrule his brothers, he pled on behalf of Joseph based on his conscience. While the rest of the brothers had hearts of stone, Judah, at least, had a conscience that could still be awaken.
His conscience was further awakened by the righteous action of Tamar and eventually, he assumed the role of leader of the brothers (as the first-born) by pledging himself to be a slave to save all his brothers from Joseph. (Gen. 44:33) Perhaps because of this, even our Lord Jesus Christ is called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah”. (Rev. 5:5) What a glorious reward!
聖經沒有說明神為何不揀選流便、西緬和利未，而揀選猶大來接受以下的祝福：「圭（權杖）必不離猶大…直到細羅（就是賜平安者）來到，萬民都必歸順。」（創49:10）。果然，彌賽亞出自猶大。
也許流便與他的父親的妾同眠，罪大惡極，使他喪失繼承亞伯拉罕的約的資格。西緬和利未因擊殺示劍全城男丁的兇狠使神無法重用他們。然而，猶大肯定也不是個乖孩子。
我們其後在創世記讀到他有的兩個兒子珥和俄南，都因行惡以致神叫他們死了。兩個兒子固然要背負自己的罪行；但猶大在家中肯定沒有活出敬畏神的榜樣。妻子死後他急於去找妓女。他要找的倒不是任何一個妓女，而是廟妓。這表示他不介意與拜偶像聯繫。
神常是有恩惠的。正如我曾提到，神的心願不是要用人來成就祂的事工，而是要模造那人成為體貼祂心的人；成為配得與祂同工的人。在這段經文中，我們看見神在猶大的生命進行改變的大工。
流便首先為約瑟求情。身為大哥，他的求情是出自職責。正如他所說：「童子不見了！我怎能回家？」（Wenhem的譯句）。他的愁煩，不是弟弟的安危，而是他該怎樣向父親交代！
至於猶大，雖身沒有負著同樣的職責，仍設法為弟弟求情。他說：「說到底，他是我們的弟弟，我們的骨肉。」當他知道自己無法勝過他的兄弟們，他是憑良知來為約瑟求情。其他的弟兄們鐵石心腸，但猶大的良知最低限度是醒覺的。
他瑪的合情理行為再次喚醒他的良知。最後他承擔身為眾兄弟的領袖職任（就是長子的位份），甘願押己身為奴，為要救其他弟兄脫離約瑟的手（創44:33）。也許因此舉，連我們的主耶穌基督也被稱為「猶大支派中的獅子」（啟5:5）。這是何等榮耀的酬報！
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) What did Reuben do when he found Joseph was not in the cistern? Wenham’s translation of v. 30 is “How can I go home?” What did Reuben mean by this?
(2) What can we tell about the relationship among these ten brothers of Joseph?
(3) How did the sons deceive their father, Jacob?
(4) How did Jacob deceive his father, Isaac? Do you see any resemblances?
(5) “What goes around comes around.” What do you think?
(6) Whose deception was more evil? Why?
(7) What is the historical significance of this selling of Joseph?
(8) What is the significance of him being sold into the household of the captain of the guard of Pharaoh?
(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) 流便在坑中找不到約瑟時怎樣做？Wenham把第30節最後一句譯為：「我怎能回家？」流便這句話是什麼意思？
(2) 你可以怎樣形容這群兄弟之間的關係？
(3) 這些兒子怎樣欺騙父親？
(4) 雅各又是怎樣欺騙他的父親？你看到類同之處嗎？
(5) 你有「以其人之道、還以其人之身」的感受嗎？
(6) 誰的欺騙是更大的惡？為什麼？
(7) 約瑟被賣極具什麼歷史的重要性？
(8) 這歷史事件與他被賣到波提乏家中為奴又有什麼關鍵性？
(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？
There is an English proverb which says, “What goes around comes around” which means that a person’s actions, whether good or bad, will often have consequences for that person., and for bad actions, they would often come full circle and come back to haunt you.
Reading how Jacob was deceived by his sons, using the robe of Joseph and the stained blood of a goat, reminds me of this proverb. It has so many resemblances to how Jacob deceived Isaac.
Jacob deceived his father and now, his sons deceived their father.
Jacob deceived his father through a dress that he put on, pretending to be his older brother. Jacob’s sons deceived their father also through a dress, pretending that their brother was devoured by some ferocious animal.
Jacob deceived his father for his blessing by serving up goat as game. Jacobs’ sons deceived their father to avoid his wrath by serving up Joseph’s robe with the blood of goat.
The parallel is very striking. The master deceiver is now being deceived by his own sons.
Indeed, all our actions do carry consequences. If we think we can get away from our sinful deeds, we are kidding ourselves. Our sins will catch up to us; it is a matter of time. If they catch up to us sooner rather than later, it is the grace of God. The sooner we are made to face our sins, the sooner we may repent and be forgiven. If our sins never catch up to us, then it is a real curse!
You may ask, “What if we sincerely repent of our sins, shouldn’t all their consequences be borne by our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross?” True, as we repent, our sins and their consequences have all been borne by our Lord on the cross and thus we are forgiven and we are reconciled to God. However, it does not mean that we will not have to face the natural consequences of some of our actions in the here and now. Just as David had been forgiven of his sins of murder and adultery because of his sincere repentance (Ps. 51), his immoral actions did leave a horrible impact on the spiritual lives of his children, plunging his family into the tragedy of rape and or murder (2 Sam. 13).
What goes around thus comes around. But the amazing fact is, even in having to face the temporal consequences of his sins, David could testify that “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” Yes, God will see us through even if our wound is self-inflicted.
本篇引用一句諺語為標題，其意思是說：不管人的行為是好或是壞，總會帶來後果給那人的。壞的行為常會帶來壞的後果來折磨你。
讀到雅各怎樣被他的兒子們用約瑟外衣和沾滿的山羊血欺騙，就使我想到這句諺語。因為這與雅各欺騙以撒的事有多處的相同點。
雅各欺騙他的父親；現在他的兒子們欺騙他，他們的父親。
雅各穿上哥哥的衣服假裝是以掃；雅各的兒子們也用弟弟的外衣假裝成弟弟被惡獸吃掉。
雅各用山羊羔製成的美味來騙取父親的祝福；雅各的兒子們用沾滿山羊血的外衣來欺騙父親，逃避他的震怒。
兩者有非常顯著的相同點。善騙人的高手現在被他親生兒子們所騙。
是的，我們所有的行為是必帶來後果的。我們若以為能逃脫自己的罪行所帶來的後果，只是自欺而已。我們的罪必會追上我們，只是時間上的問題而已。後果若是早比遲的追上我們，是神的恩典。早些面對自己的罪，就能早些悔改和蒙赦免。倘若我們的罪從不追上我們，這才是真正的咒詛！
你或會問：「我們若為自己的罪誠心悔改，罪所帶來的後果不是已被十字架上的主耶穌基督所背負了嗎？」對，在悔改時，我們的罪所帶來的後果已被在十字架上我們的主承擔了，我們的罪得赦免，我們可以與神和好。但是，這並非說我們現在就不用面對其中一些罪所帶來的自然後果。正如大衛，在他真誠悔改時（詩51）他所犯的謀殺和姦淫罪都得蒙赦免，但他的罪行在兒女的屬靈生命中留下可怕的影響，以致他的家庭陷入強姦和謀殺的悲劇中（撒下13）。
天理果真循環。不過使人驚訝的是：縱使面對著自己的罪行所帶來的後果，大衛仍能見證：「我一生一世必有恩惠慈愛隨著我。」是的，縱使我們的傷痛是自招的，神仍會幫助我們渡過。
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) For whatever reason, God has chosen Judah as the successor of the Abrahamic Covenant. How did this story of Judah serve to illustrate the continuous threat to destroy God’s covenant?
(2) Why would Judah eventually consider Tamar more righteous than he was? (The better translation is, “She is righteous, not I” (Waltke, 513)
(3) The story falls into two parts: vv. 1-11, beginning with “At the time” and vv. 12-30, starting with “After a long time”:
Vv. 1-11:
a. What did Judah’s action of leaving his brothers (i.e. his father’s family) and moving to, then marrying a Canaanite woman signify, especially given his (unknown-to-him) status of being the chosen heir and the intentional avoidance by Abraham and Isaac to have their son(s) marry Canaanite women?
b. Given the fact that both sons of Judah died because the Lord had put them to death due to their wickedness, how would you describe Judah’s moral and spiritual condition?
c. Why was Onan’s action of keeping on having sex with his sister-in-law and yet keeping on spilling the semen on the ground be considered wicked to the point of punishment of death by the Lord?
d. What did Judah do with his third son? Why did he do that? Why did he eventually recognize such an action as not being righteous?
(4) Vv. 12-30
a. What did Judah do immediately after the death of his wife?
b. What did he do after he had recovered from his grief?
c. In contrast, what did Tamar do during all these years?
d. What option did a normal widow, like Tamar have?
e. Why did she still dress herself daily as a widow?
f. In pretending to be a prostitute, what was she risking?
g. What might be the reason for her having such a determination to bear a child for her husband?
h. In what way was she righteous?
i. The Bible seems to emphasize that Judah “did not sleep with her again”. What might be the significance of this? Waltke remarks that this incident marks the transformation of Judah. Do you agree?
(5) 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。
(1) 無論如何，神是揀選了猶大為與亞伯拉罕所立的約的承繼人。這章所記載的事蹟會怎樣危害神的計劃呢？
(2) 為何猶大最後認為他瑪比他義呢？(38:26應譯作：「她是公義的、我卻不是！」見Waltke, Genesis, 513)
(3) 這一段可分為兩小段，即1-11節：由「那時」開始；12-30節：由「過了許久」開始
第1至11節
a. 猶大雖然不一定意識到自己是神與亞伯拉罕之約的承繼人，但他離開眾兄弟(和父家) ，更娶迦南女子為妻(明顯是亞伯拉罕和以撒希望子孫避免的) 表明了什麼？
b. 猶大二子均為神所惡，甚至被神所擊殺。這叫我們對猶大的家庭有何體會？這些事情對猶大有什麼屬靈的影響？
c. 為何俄南與他瑪同房，便遺在地，在神看來是如此大惡？(按原文之意「同房」是指不斷的意思。)
d. 猶大有見於此，就作出什麼決定？為何如此？為何此舉叫他至終看自己為不義？
(4) 第12至30節
a. 猶大喪妻後立刻的反應是什麼？
b. 在得了安慰後(即哀傷過後) ，他作什麼？
c. 相反地，他瑪在喪偶後，過了這麼久，她仍是怎樣？
d. 他瑪其實可有什麼選擇呢？
e. 她為何仍天天穿寡婦的服裝？
f. 她充作妓女是要冒什麼危險？
g. 她為何要如此堅決的要為丈夫立後？
h. 她之為義的原因何在？
i. 聖經明說：「從此猶大不再與她同寢」是什麼意思？Waltke說這是猶大更新的開始，你同意嗎？
(5) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣用在你的生命中？
One of the special features of the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ is the intentional inclusion of the names of several women which, in ancient Hebrew tradition was odd, as only the fathers would matter when it comes to genealogy. Not only were these women so named not of Semitic in origin their backgrounds were, at best, suspect. Rahab was a known prostitute, Ruth sneaked under the bed of her future husband, and Bathsheba bore Solomon out of an adulterous affair with David. Here, in Genesis 38, Tamar, a Canaanite was drafted into the same sacred genealogy through some questionable circumstances. Yet, through the mouth of Judah, she was declared righteous!
We have to understand that, although the Mosaic Law’s mandate of the obligation of continuing the line of the deceased, childless older brother came much later in Deuteronomy 25:5-6, it was obviously the cultural mandate of the time.
But Tamar had a choice. She could, at her not-so-old age choose to remarry and start a new family, or she could choose to wait till the third son of Judah grows up, which might take another ten years.
As we know, she chose the latter option, and she would make sure that she would not be lured into knowing another man by putting on her widow’s clothes every day. Everybody knew she was a widow and everyone also knew that she wanted to remain a widow. She was not available!
While Judah acted unrighteously, fully intending to deceive his daughter-in-law, depriving her of the opportunity to start a new life with a new family, Tamar acted righteously, fully committing to being the wife of her deceased husband and doing whatever possible to bear a descendent for him within the family of her husband. Her action might seem a little odd in the eyes of the modern, but she risked her life in the process. Her action was an act of faith, nonetheless. And, she was rewarded to be the bearer of the seed that carried on the Messianic line of genealogy.
我們的主耶穌基督的家譜的其中一個獨特處，是著意地記下數名婦女的名字。這在古希伯來的傳統中是不尋常的，因為家譜只提父系的名字。這些被提名的婦女都不是猶太裔人，她們的背景也有點耐人尋味。喇合是人所共知的妓女；路得是悄悄地躺進未來丈夫的睡被下；而拔示巴與大衛通姦後生下所羅門。在創世記第38章，他瑪這個迦南女子經過曲折的情境被徵進同一的神聖家譜中。猶大親口承認：「她比我更有義！」
我們必須認識到兄長若無兒而死，其弟要娶嫂為妻來延續兄長的家系的摩西律法是遲至申命記25:5-6才立定的。我們從創世記這一章看到當時的社會文化明顯早已有這習俗。
不過他瑪是有選擇的。她可以趁年紀還輕選擇再婚，重組新家庭；她也可以選擇等候猶大的三子成長。這起碼要等上十年。
她選擇了後者。她立定心意每天都穿上寡婦的衣服，使自己不受引誘去結識其他男士。人人都知道她是個寡婦；人人都知道她守寡的決心。她無意覓偶！
猶大所為不義。他存心欺哄他的媳婦，剝奪她重新生活重新建立家庭的機會。他瑪所為是義的，因她全心全意要為已死的丈夫盡妻子之責，期望能在夫家中為夫留後。她的所為在現今世代的眼中是有點怪，然而在整個過程中，她是冒著生命的危險的。儘管如此，她的行為是信心之舉。她得到回報，生下兒子，延續了彌賽亞的家譜。
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) If you were a teenager like Joseph, being sold by your brothers into slavery, how would you feel:
a. Towards your brothers
b. Towards God, and
c. About your future?
(2) What does it mean that his master “saw” that the Lord was with him?
(3) Can people “see” that the Lord is with you? How? Can you give a few examples?
(4) What kind of a life must it be for God to be seen in Joseph’s life?
(5) Judging from the way Potiphar trusted Joseph, what did he think of
a. Joseph as a person, and
b. The God of Joseph?
(6) As beautiful as the life of Joseph was, both inside and out, did his “prosperity” last?
(7) If Joseph caved in, what excuses or reasons could he have in sleeping with his master’s wife?
(8) What were the reasons why Joseph, although under tremendous pressure, would not cave in?
(9) What precaution did Joseph take to avoid this temptation?
(10) 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) 如果你是像約瑟這個年紀的青年人，突然被哥哥賣為奴隸，你會怎樣看：
a. 哥哥們？
b. 神？
c. 自己的前途？
(2) 他的主人「見」耶和華與他同在是什麼意思？
(3) 旁人今日是否也「見」神與你同在呢？能舉出二、三個例子嗎？
(4) 約瑟能活出這種生命的要訣是什麼？
(5) 波提乏如此信任約瑟，我們可以曉得他是怎樣看：
a. 約瑟其人，和
b. 約瑟的神？
(6) 雖然約瑟的內、外都如此美，他的好境持續得久嗎？為什麼？
(7) 如果約瑟要對主母有所妥協，他可有什麼藉口？
(8) 約瑟在如此大的壓力之下仍不妥協的原因是什麼？
(9) 約瑟已作了什麼戒備？
(10) 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 have to admire the purity of this young man, Joseph, who could have easily caved into the temptation. After all he was only a slave. However his loyalty to the master, his integrity as a person and his fear of the Lord combined to produce a spiritual giant in him. As young as he was, he was spiritually mature to know that there were temptations that we could deceive ourselves into believing that we could confront. The only way was to flee, and this echoes what Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:22, “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness…”
May I invite you to reflect on the lyrics of this familiar hymn, Yield Not to Temptation, as we seek to emulate Joseph’s example:
Yield not
to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each victory will help you some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue,
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Shun evil
companions, bad language disdain,
God’s Name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain;
Be thoughtful and earnest, kindhearted and true,
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
To him that
o’ercometh, God giveth a crown;
Through faith we shall conquer, though often cast down;
He Who is our Savior our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Refrain
Ask the
Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.
Horatio R. Palmer, 1868
我們敬佩這年青的約瑟。他只不過是個奴僕，容易屈服於引誘下。然而他對主人的忠心，他個人品格的誠實正直，以及他對神的敬畏，組合起來使他成為一個屬靈巨人。他雖年青，卻備靈性的成熟，他認識各類的引誘和試探。然而我們容易自欺，以為靠自己就能抵擋誘惑。其實唯一的方法就是逃避，正如保羅在提摩太後書2:22所說：「你要逃避少年的私慾，追求公義……」。
讓我們一起思想這首熟悉聖詩「求主扶持」的詩詞，一起追求學傚約瑟的榜樣。
1. 切莫順從試探，免落入罪中，
你每次能抵擋，下次更易勝， 勇敢向前爭戰，將罪慾壓制，
常仰望主耶穌，主必助你到底。
2. 遠避不良同伴，慎勿出惡言，
勿妄稱主名字，要心存敬虔， 要同情，要熱誠，要慈愛真實，
常仰望主耶穌，主必助你到底。
3. 凡最後勝利者，得冠冕常賞賜，
你雖屢受挫折，要憑信克敵， 基督是你救主，必加你能力，
常仰望主耶穌，主必助你到底。
副歌：
求主耶穌來扶持，安慰保護賜能力， 主樂意來照顧你，主必助你到底。
Horatio R. Palmer, 1868
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) Given Joseph’s story, how do you understand the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, in which we are to ask our Father in Heaven, “lead us not into temptation”?
(2) What if, Joseph just gave in once to his master’s wife?
(3) Why was Joseph so careless as to leave his cloak in the house?
(4) In her accusation of Joseph, what did she say that would gain sympathy and support from people in the household (who should know all too well that she was promiscuous and hers was probably a lie)?
(5) Who was Joseph to Potiphar? Why in rage would he not simply kill Joseph?
(6) From being the darling with the most noble garment in his father’s house, to being a slave in Egypt, and now a prisoner with no hope of being released:
a. Would you have given up on yourself and your future?
b. What kind of attitude can you detect in Joseph even under this circumstance?
c. How special was Joseph?
(7) 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) 從約瑟的事件，你可以對「主禱文」中：「不叫我們遇見試探」有什麼領會？
(2) 如果約瑟對自己說：「就順她一次罷！」後果會怎樣？
(3) 為何約瑟這樣疏忽，留下衣裳？
(4) 其實家中上下都應知道主母的為人，主母在誣告約瑟時，刻意的用了什麼話去取悅家中的用人？
(5) 為何在盛怒之下，波提乏不置約瑟於死地？
(6) 從父親所疼愛、穿紅著綠的少主人，搖身變成了異鄉的奴隸，現更成為階下囚—終身無望：
a. 若是你，你會否放棄自己？
b. 你察覺到此情、此境的約瑟的態度是消極還是積極的？
c. 為何會如此？
(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？
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his sons lived in the land of Canaan which was not only violent and immoral, but polytheistic. They worshipped many gods. Even in the land of Mesopotamia, the fathers of Abraham were also exposed to the worship of many gods. Interestingly, among the many gods that they worshipped, such as Sin, the moon god, or Baal, the god of fertility, there is the God, El, that they also worshipped and this is the God that they believed to be the Creator. The question is: since they believed that this God, El, is the Creator God, why would they not stick to Him and Him alone.
Being a Chinese who grew up in Hong Kong, I can understand the reason. People in China used to worship many gods for thousands of years and still do. Many of the gods they worship are considered by themselves minor gods, but they still worship them. The reasons include:
- They believe in territorial gods that protect specific areas, and so if they are farmers, they would worship the god of harvest; if they are fishermen, they would worship the god of the sea;
- They also believe that some gods are more powerful than others, and it is like looking for a doctor that works, they would shift from temple to temple to find a god that would hear their specific prayers; and
- Behind all these, they have a sense that the most powerful God is too remote and fearsome that that He may not care, nor would He be accessible!
How then can historians explain that in the midst of this established polytheistic environment in both Mesopotamia and Canaan the sudden emergence of the worship of one God, El, and whose worship has spread so widely throughout a nation called Israel. The only explanation is that the account of Genesis is a true historical record and that this God, El, has revealed Himself to Abraham and his successive generations in such an unmistakable way that has affirmed that He is the only true God and there is no other God.
(Note: As this God, El, appeared to Abraham and his descendants and eventually to Moses, He has made known His name as Yahweh. And perhaps, to distinguish Him as the One True God, before the formal introduction of His name, Yahweh, the Bible uses Elohim, the plural of El, to point to the mystery of the Trinity, and yet uses a singular verb form always, to denote Him as one God.)
I am always amazed that these forefathers, including Joseph, could establish such a firm faith in God with only oral traditions handed down from previous generations and without the 66 book of Scripture that we all have. They should put us to shame.
亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各和他的兒子們住在迦南。當地的人不單殘暴、無道德標準，且是拜多神的。就算在米所波大米亞伯拉罕的先祖也接觸到多神的敬拜。微妙的是，在他們所敬拜的多神中，不但有月神（Sin），生殖神（Baal —巴力），也有神（El）。他們相信神（El）是創造者。問題是：他們既然相信這位神（El）是位創造者，為何他們不摒棄其他的神，單獨拜祂呢？
身為於香港長大的華人，我明白其中的理由。中國數千年以來人民都拜很多的神。他們知道所拜的這些神都是較次要的神，然而他們仍拜。原因包括：
- 他們相信神是地區性的，各自保衛不同的領域。農夫拜豐收神；漁夫拜海神；
- 他們也相信有些神比其他神更有能力。像尋找能醫好自己的病的人那樣，他們到不同的神廟去找一位聆聽和回應他們個別的祈求；以及
- 在這一切的背後，他們感覺那最有能力的神是很遠的和可怕的。祂不關心人，也是遙遙不可及的！
在這米所波大米和迦南地牢建的多神環境中，突然出現了敬拜獨一真神（El），這敬拜藉著稱為以色列的國民擴展得這樣廣，歷史學家如何解說這現象呢？唯一的解釋是：創世記的事蹟是真實的歷史紀錄—這位神（El）確實親自向亞伯拉罕和他的子孫啟示自己：確認祂自己是唯一的真神，除祂以外並無別神。
〔註：這位神（El）向亞伯拉罕和他的後裔顯現，最後向摩西顯現時，宣稱祂的名是耶和華。在未正式介紹祂名為耶和華之前，聖經稱神以羅謙（Elohim - El的複數）這名指向三位一體的奧秘。這複數之名用單數的動詞，標誌著神只有一位。〕
這些列祖包括約瑟只靠代代口傳的事蹟，沒有我們現在的聖經66卷書，仍能對神建立如此堅定的信心，實在使我驚訝。我們真是自愧不如呢！
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) Given the story of the cupbearer and baker, how would you compare life in ancient time and life in modern time in most western world? What might have contributed to such a difference?
(2) We do not know exactly how the two prisoners offended Pharaoh, if you were the cupbearer or the baker, how would you feel being imprisoned by the king?
(3) Which imprisonment was more unjust — the two officials’ or Joseph’s?
(4) How did Joseph demonstrate the difference God’s children should have in times of sufferings or adversities (see 39:21-23)?
(5) From Joseph’s response to their dreams in v.8, do you think Joseph saw the dreams of the two former servants of the king as pure coincidences?
(6) After interpreting the first dream, what did Joseph do in vv. 14-15? Why did he say what he said?
(7) Was Joseph’s prayer answered, according to v. 23?
(8) Why did God not answer his prayer, even though the dreams and their interpretation by Joseph were no coincidences at all?
(9) What happened eventually in 41:9? Do you know how long it had been since the cupbearer was released? (See 41:1)
(10) Do you have unanswered prayers? What have you learned today that can help you give praise to God today?
(11) 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。
(1) 讀到法老的酒政和膳長的遭遇，叫我們想起古時的法治和今天(西方)文明的法治之大分別。這分別的原因何在？
(2) 我們不曉得二人犯的是什麼錯，但被囚在護衛長的監裡的命運會是什麼？他們會有什麼感受？
(3) 你認為約瑟的被囚，與二人的被囚，那一個更不公平？
(4) 約瑟怎樣表現出屬神的兒女在苦難中與世人的不同？
(5) 就約瑟在40:8所言，你認為約瑟為二人解夢是偶然的嗎？
(6) 在解了第一夢之後，約瑟在40:14-15說了什麼話？為何他要如此？
(7) 按40:23，約瑟的禱告是否有按他所希望的蒙應允嗎？
(8) 既然這一切都非偶然，為何神仍不聽他的禱告？
(9) 最後，在41:9發生了什麼事？是約瑟在監裡為二人解夢之後的多久？(參41:1)
(10) 你有尚未蒙應允的禱告嗎？你今天學到什麼能叫你仍讚美神呢？
(11) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣用在你的生命中？
These days, it appears to be fashionable to blame Christianity and Christians for many of the problems of the world, past and present — the brutal crusades, the apparent resistance to science and reasoning, the apparent lack of support of the ecosystem and more.
When I was reading the story of the two jailed officials of Pharaoh in Genesis 40, I could not help but thank God for the democracy and freedom we enjoy today. But many people have forgotten how this precious freedom that we enjoy, especially in the western world, has come about. It has been the result of the gospel.
Apart from the key message of salvation through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the gospel is a gospel that proclaims the equality of all human beings irrespective of gender, color and race. This was unheard of in the world before Christianity. Sure the Romans had a fairly sophisticated legal system, but it did not treat all people as equal.
It was the message of true equality of all people that paved the way for the modern-day justice system and democracy of the West. Not only that, the establishment of universities, labor union, abolition of slavery and child-labor, and hospitals have all been direct products of Christianity.
Jonathan Hill has written a book, What Has Christianity Ever Done for Us, in which he details a lot more of the contribution that Christianity has made in the last 2,000 years, including in the fields of arts and culture. James Hannam, the author of The Genesis of Science also makes a strong case of the contribution of Christianity to science. In other words, the world would definitely not be the same without Christianity. We, in the West, would still live under the totalitarian reign of some kind of Pharaoh. A scary thought!
近日來總有聲音將以往和現今世界各問題都歸咎於基督教和基督徒，如十字軍東征的殺戮，以及似是抗拒科學和理性的說法，不支持生態系統等等。
讀到創世記第40章兩位法老官長被囚的故事，我不禁為我們現今能享受的民主與自由感謝神。許多人都忘記我們享受著的寶貴自由，尤其是在西方世界，是怎樣發生的。它是福音帶來的果效。
福音除了有藉著信接受耶穌基督的死和復活就得救恩這主要信息外，也是一個宣告人類不論性別、膚色和種族生來是平等的福音。這是世界出現基督教以前從未聽過的福音。羅馬人雖然設立了一個相當精通的法律體系，仍未平等地對待所有的人。
這人人真正平等的信息為西方現代的司法制度和民主鋪路。不但如此，大學、工會、醫院的建立，以及奴隸和童工的廢除，都是基督教的直接產品。
Jonathan Hill寫了一本書What Has Christianity Ever Done for Us（基督教曾為我們做了什麼？）。書內詳細提到在過去2000年間基督教對社會還有許多其他的貢獻，包括文學、藝術和科學的範疇。換言之，沒有基督教，這個世界肯定不一樣。我們身在西方國家的人會仍活在類似法老的極權統治下。何等恐怖！