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Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Rev Xi An Poon

創世記32章記載雅各走在回家的路上。上一章，雅各離開了拉班，結束了二十年在外寄居的生活；但回家的路並不只是回到一個地方，更是要面對過去留下來的問題。

雅各要見哥哥以掃。二十年前，他曾用自己的方法取得父親的祝福，使兄弟關係破裂。如今他要回到父家，心裡自然充滿懼怕。當他聽見以掃帶著四百人迎著他來，經文說他「甚懼怕，而且愁煩」。

雅各不是完全沒有信心，因為他知道神吩咐他回去，也向神禱告；但他裡面仍然很容易回到舊有的方式，想用安排、禮物和方法去解決問題。

到最後，神把他帶到夜間獨處的地方，在雅博渡口親自與他相遇，使他不再只是抓住自己的方法，而是抓住神的祝福。

第一，帶著懼怕回到神的路上

創世記32:1-2 雅各仍舊行路，神的使者遇見他。雅各看見他們就說：「這是神的軍兵。」於是給那地方起名叫瑪哈念。

創世記32:7 雅各就甚懼怕，而且愁煩，便把那與他同在的人口和羊群、牛群、駱駝分做兩隊。

雅各正在走神吩咐他走的路，但他心裡仍然懼怕。神先讓他看見神的軍兵，提醒他不是孤單前行；但當他聽見以掃帶著四百人來，他裡面的恐懼仍然被觸動。

這提醒我們，走在神的路上，不代表心裡完全沒有懼怕。有時候，我們知道神與我們同在，卻仍然害怕人的反應、過去的問題和未知的結果。

但雅各沒有因為害怕就停下來。神也不是等他完全剛強才與他同行。神在他懼怕的路上，仍然顯明祂的同在。

抓住神的祝福，第一步就是：不要讓懼怕攔阻我們走在神的帶領中。

第二，放下靠方法補救的心

創世記32:9-12 雅各說：「耶和華我祖亞伯拉罕的神，我父親以撒的神啊，你曾對我說：『回你本地本族去，我要厚待你。』你向僕人所施的一切慈愛和誠實，我一點也不配得；我先前只拿著我的杖過這約旦河，如今我卻成了兩隊了。求你救我脫離我哥哥以掃的手；因為我怕他來殺我，連妻子帶兒女一同殺了。你曾說：『我必定厚待你，使你的後裔如同海邊的沙，多得不可勝數。』」

創世記32:20 因雅各心裡說：「我藉著在我前頭去的禮物解他的恨，然後再見他的面，或者他容納我。」

雅各預備禮物送給以掃，希望藉著禮物解他的恨。這顯出雅各很自然地想用人的方法去補救過去造成的問題。

這並不是說安排、修復和負責任是不需要的；但問題是，我們的心是否把方法當作真正的倚靠。

雅各一生都很懂得用方法。他曾經用方法抓祝福，也用方法保護自己。但神在這裡要帶他學習：真正的平安不是來自人的安排，而是來自神的同在和應許。

雅各在禱告中承認自己的懼怕，也重新抓住神曾說過的話：「我必定厚待你。」這是他從人的方法轉向神應許的開始。

抓住神的祝福，第二步就是：該負責的仍然負責，該處理的仍然處理，但不再把人的方法放在神之上。

第三，在獨處中抓住神的祝福

創世記32:24-28 只剩下雅各一人。有一個人來和他摔跤，直到黎明。那人見自己勝不過他，就將他的大腿窩摸了一把，雅各的大腿窩正在摔跤的時候就扭了。那人說：「天黎明了，容我去吧！」雅各說：「你不給我祝福，我就不容你去。」那人說：「你名叫什麼？」他說：「我名叫雅各。」那人說：「你的名不要再叫雅各，要叫以色列；因為你與神與人較力，都得了勝。」

整章最深的轉折，是「只剩下雅各一人」。

所有可以安排的，他都安排了；所有可以送出的禮物，他都送出了；但神仍然把他帶到一個獨自面對祂的地方。

那一夜，神沒有先改變以掃，而是先改變雅各。神摸了雅各的大腿窩，使他不能再像以前一樣靠自己的力量站立和前行。

但就在被神摸著的時候，雅各說：「你不給我祝福，我就不容你去。」這一句話顯出他的生命方向開始改變。從前他抓住人的東西，抓住自己的方法，抓住自己的安全感；現在，他開始抓住神的祝福。

神問他：「你名叫什麼？」雅各回答：「我名叫雅各。」這就好像他承認自己過去一直靠抓取、靠方法、靠自己去得著。

然後神說：「你的名不要再叫雅各，要叫以色列。」

這不是普通的改名，而是身份的更新。雅各不是靠禮物變成新的人，也不是靠安排變成新的人，而是在神面前被摸著、被改名、被祝福。

抓住神的祝福，第三步就是：在神面前放下舊的自己，領受祂給的新生命。

創世記32章讓我們看見，雅各回家的路，不只是回到父家的路，更是回到神面前的路。

他帶著懼怕走在神的路上，神卻讓他看見屬天的同在；他想用方法補救過去的問題，神卻把他帶回禱告和應許中；他最後獨自留下，神就在那裡親自摸著他，使他從「雅各」成為「以色列」。

神不是只要雅各解決以掃的問題，神要雅各不再用舊的方式活下去。

今天，神也邀請我們，不再只是抓住自己的方法、人的接納、外面的結果，而是在懼怕中仍然走神的路，在壓力中把心帶回神面前，在獨處中抓住神的祝福。

今天，我們可以把心帶到神面前，簡單察看三件事：

我是否因為懼怕，就停下了神要我走的路？

我是否仍然想用自己的方法，控制一個只有神才能掌管的結果？

我是否願意在神面前放下舊的自己，重新抓住祂的祝福？

神不是要我們逃避責任，而是要我們不再被懼怕和方法掌管。祂要帶領我們從舊的自己，進入祂所賜新的生命。

天父，我們來到祢面前，承認很多時候我們像雅各一樣，心裡有懼怕，也容易先抓住自己的方法。

求祢幫助我們，在懼怕中仍然走祢的路，在壓力中回到祢面前，在獨處中抓住祢的祝福。

主啊，求祢摸著我們生命中最需要被更新的地方，使我們不再靠自己抓取，而是倚靠祢的同在、應許和祝福。

求祢帶領我們從舊的自己，進入祢所賜新的生命。

奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。

創世記 32

1 雅各仍舊行路，神的使者遇見他。 2 雅各看見他們就說：「這是神的軍兵。」於是給那地方起名叫瑪哈念。 3 雅各打發人先往西珥地去，就是以東地，見他哥哥以掃， 4 吩咐他們說：「你們對我主以掃說：『你的僕人雅各這樣說：我在拉班那裡寄居，直到如今。 5 我有牛、驢、羊群、僕婢，現在打發人來報告我主，為要在你眼前蒙恩。』」 6 所打發的人回到雅各那裡，說：「我們到了你哥哥以掃那裡，他帶著四百人，正迎著你來。」 7 雅各就甚懼怕，而且愁煩，便把那與他同在的人口和羊群、牛群、駱駝分做兩隊， 8 說：「以掃若來擊殺這一隊，剩下的那一隊還可以逃避。」 9 雅各說：「耶和華我祖亞伯拉罕的神，我父親以撒的神啊，你曾對我說：『回你本地本族去，我要厚待你。』 10 你向僕人所施的一切慈愛和誠實，我一點也不配得。我先前只拿著我的杖過這約旦河，如今我卻成了兩隊了。 11 求你救我脫離我哥哥以掃的手，因為我怕他來殺我，連妻子帶兒女一同殺了。 12 你曾說：『我必定厚待你，使你的後裔如同海邊的沙，多得不可勝數。』」

13 當夜，雅各在那裡住宿，就從他所有的物中拿禮物要送給他哥哥以掃： 14 母山羊二百隻，公山羊二十隻；母綿羊二百隻，公綿羊二十隻； 15 奶崽子的駱駝三十隻，各帶著崽子；母牛四十隻，公牛十隻；母驢二十匹，驢駒十匹。 16 每樣各分一群，交在僕人手下，就對僕人說：「你們要在我前頭過去，使群群相離，有空閒的地方。」 17 又吩咐儘先走的說：「我哥哥以掃遇見你的時候，問你說：『你是哪家的人？要往哪裡去？你前頭這些是誰的？』 18 你就說：『是你僕人雅各的，是送給我主以掃的禮物。他自己也在我們後邊。』」 19 又吩咐第二、第三和一切趕群畜的人說：「你們遇見以掃的時候也要這樣對他說。 20 並且你們要說：『你僕人雅各在我們後邊。』」因雅各心裡說：「我藉著在我前頭去的禮物解他的恨，然後再見他的面，或者他容納我。」 21 於是禮物先過去了，那夜雅各在隊中住宿。

22 他夜間起來，帶著兩個妻子、兩個使女並十一個兒子，都過了雅博渡口。 23 先打發他們過河，又打發所有的都過去， 24 只剩下雅各一人。有一個人來和他摔跤，直到黎明。 25 那人見自己勝不過他，就將他的大腿窩摸了一把，雅各的大腿窩正在摔跤的時候就扭了。 26 那人說：「天黎明了，容我去吧。」雅各說：「你不給我祝福，我就不容你去。」

27 那人說：「你名叫什麼？」他說：「我名叫雅各。」 28 那人說：「你的名不要再叫雅各，要叫以色列，因為你與神與人較力，都得了勝。」 29 雅各問他說：「請將你的名告訴我。」那人說：「何必問我的名？」於是在那裡給雅各祝福。 30 雅各便給那地方起名叫毗努伊勒，意思說：「我面對面見了神，我的性命仍得保全。」 31 日頭剛出來的時候，雅各經過毗努伊勒，他的大腿就瘸了。 32 故此，以色列人不吃大腿窩的筋，直到今日，因為那人摸了雅各大腿窩的筋。

Genesis 32 records Jacob on his journey home. In the previous chapter, Jacob left Laban and ended twenty years of living away from home. But this journey home was not just about returning to a place; it was also about facing the unresolved issues of his past.

Jacob had to meet his brother Esau. Twenty years earlier, he had used his own method to obtain his father’s blessing, and that had broken the relationship between the two brothers. Now, as he returned to his father’s house, fear naturally rose within him. When he heard that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men, the Bible says Jacob was “greatly afraid and distressed.”

Jacob was not without faith. He knew that God had told him to return, and he did pray to God. Yet deep inside, he still easily returned to his old way of living. He tried to use plans, gifts, and human methods to solve the problem.

In the end, God brought him to a place of being alone at night. At the ford of Jabbok, God met him personally. There, Jacob was no longer just holding on to his own methods. He began to hold on to God’s blessing.

First, return to God’s path even with fear

Jacob was walking on the path God had told him to take, but fear was still in his heart. God first allowed him to see the angels of God, reminding him that he was not walking alone. Yet when Jacob heard that Esau was coming with four hundred men, his fear was still stirred up.

This reminds us that walking in God’s path does not mean we will never feel afraid. Sometimes we know that God is with us, yet we still fear people’s reactions, unresolved issues from the past, and uncertain outcomes.

But Jacob did not stop because of fear. God also did not wait until Jacob was completely strong before walking with him. Even on the road of fear, God still revealed His presence.

The first step in holding on to God’s blessing is this: do not let fear stop us from walking in God’s leading.

Second, let go of the heart that relies on methods to fix everything

Jacob prepared gifts for Esau, hoping to calm his anger. This shows how naturally Jacob wanted to use human methods to fix the problem caused by his past.

This does not mean that planning, repairing relationships, and taking responsibility are unnecessary. The real question is whether our hearts have made human methods our true security.

Jacob had always been good at using methods. He used methods to obtain blessing, and he used methods to protect himself. But here, God was teaching him that true peace does not come from human arrangements. True peace comes from God’s presence and God’s promise.

In his prayer, Jacob admitted his fear and returned to what God had spoken: “I will surely treat you well.” This was the beginning of Jacob turning from human methods back to God’s promise.

The second step in holding on to God’s blessing is this: we still take responsibility, and we still deal with what needs to be dealt with, but we no longer place human methods above God.

Third, hold on to God’s blessing in the place of being alone

The deepest turning point in this chapter is this: “Jacob was left alone.”

Everything that could be arranged had been arranged. Every gift that could be sent had been sent. Yet God still brought Jacob to a place where he had to face Him alone.

That night, God did not first change Esau. God first changed Jacob. God touched the socket of Jacob’s hip, so that he could no longer stand and walk in the same old way, relying on his own strength.

But at the very moment when Jacob was touched by God, he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me.” This showed that the direction of his life was beginning to change. In the past, he held on to human things, his own methods, and his own security. Now, he began to hold on to God’s blessing.

God asked him, “What is your name?” Jacob answered, “Jacob.” It was as if he was acknowledging that his past life had been marked by grasping, striving, and trying to gain things through his own ways.

Then God said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel.”

This was not just a change of name. It was a renewal of identity. Jacob did not become a new person through gifts or arrangements. He was touched, renamed, and blessed before God.

The third step in holding on to God’s blessing is this: lay down the old self before God, and receive the new life He gives.

Genesis 32 shows us that Jacob’s journey home was not only a journey back to his father’s house. It was also a journey back to God.

He walked on God’s path with fear, but God allowed him to see the heavenly camp. He tried to use methods to fix the problems of his past, but God brought him back to prayer and promise. At last, when he was left alone, God met him there, touched him, and changed him from Jacob to Israel.

God did not only want Jacob to solve the problem with Esau. God wanted Jacob to stop living in his old way.

Today, God is also inviting us not to hold only on to our own methods, people’s acceptance, or outward results, but to walk in His path even with fear, bring our hearts back to Him under pressure, and hold on to His blessing in the place of being alone.

Today, we can bring our hearts before God and reflect on three simple questions:

Am I stopping on the path God wants me to walk because of fear?

Am I trying to use my own methods to control an outcome that only God can truly hold?

Am I willing to lay down the old self before God and hold on to His blessing again?

God is not asking us to avoid responsibility. He is teaching us not to be ruled by fear and methods. He wants to lead us from the old self into the new life He gives.

Father, we come before You and confess that many times we are like Jacob. There is fear in our hearts, and we easily hold on to our own methods first.

Help us to keep walking in Your path even with fear, to return to You under pressure, and to hold on to Your blessing in the place of being alone.

Lord, touch the places in our lives that need to be renewed, so that we no longer rely on our own striving, but on Your presence, Your promise, and Your blessing.

Lead us from the old self into the new life You have given us.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Genesis 32

1 So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. 5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.” ’ ”

6 Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” 7 So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. 8 And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”

9 Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. 11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. 12 For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”

13 So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. 16 Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.” 17 And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’ ” 19 So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; 20 and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ ” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.

22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”

But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

27 So He said to him, “What is your name?”

He said, “Jacob.”

28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”

And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.

30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.