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Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Rev Xi An Poon

主題經文：「約瑟十七歲與他哥哥們一同牧羊。」創世記37:2上

創世記37章一開始，不是單單介紹約瑟這個人，而是說：「雅各的記略如下。」這提醒我們，約瑟的故事不是孤立的故事，而是發生在雅各這個承受應許的家裏。

雅各是承受亞伯拉罕、以撒之約的人。他已經回到迦南地，就是他父親寄居的地方。從外面看，雅各好像已經站在神應許的位置上；但經文很快讓我們看見，這個承受應許的家庭，仍然有很多未被整理的地方。

家中有父親的偏愛，有哥哥們的嫉妒，也有兄弟之間不能說和睦話的關係。約瑟就是在這樣的家中長大。他被父親特別愛護，也在這個熟悉的環境中成長。

所以當經文特別提到「約瑟十七歲」時，這不是一個普通的年齡記錄，而是一個生命轉折。十七歲以前，約瑟在雅各家中長大；十七歲之後，他被帶離熟悉的環境，走上一條他不能控制的路。

這條路表面上是被哥哥恨惡、被剝下彩衣、被丟進坑裏、被賣到埃及；但在神的計劃裏，這卻是約瑟開始走進神同在的路。

一、在熟悉的環境中，看見生命仍需被塑造

雅各已經住在迦南地，就是神應許給亞伯拉罕和以撒後裔的地方。從外面看，他是在應許的位置上。但經文馬上讓我們看見，雅各家裏面仍有很多未被整理的地方。雅各愛約瑟過於眾子，並為他做了一件彩衣。哥哥們看見父親偏愛約瑟，就恨他，不與他說和睦的話。這提醒我們，熟悉的環境不一定代表生命已經成熟。承受應許，不代表生命不需要被塑造；在神的祝福中，也不代表所有問題都已經被處理。神愛我們，不是讓我們停留在原來的光景裏；神揀選我們，是要繼續塑造我們，使我們更深走在祂的路上。

二、在不能控制的轉折中，學習走上神的道路

雅各差約瑟去看哥哥們和羊群是否平安。約瑟就順服父親的差遣出去。從人的角度看，這只是一次普通的差遣；但從約瑟的人生來看，這次離開成為他很大的轉折。這一次出去之後，他沒有立刻回到父家。哥哥們遠遠看見他，就商量要害他。他們剝下他的彩衣，把他丟在坑裏，後來又把他賣到埃及。約瑟不是自己選擇這條路，也不是自己安排要去埃及。他是在完全不能控制的處境中，被帶離熟悉的一切。

但不能控制的轉折，不等於神失去掌權；離開熟悉的地方，也不等於神離開。創世記37章還沒有明說「耶和華與約瑟同在」，但到了創世記39章，經文清楚說：「耶和華與約瑟同在。」這讓我們回頭看見，神從來沒有離開約瑟。有些路，我們一開始看不明白；有些改變，不是我們自己選擇；有些轉折，讓我們好像失去安全感。但神常常就在這些不能控制的轉折中，帶我們走進更深的同在。

三、在失去與破碎之中，相信神仍然同在

約瑟被賣到埃及。對約瑟來說，這是極大的失去。他失去了彩衣，失去了家，失去了自由，也失去了熟悉的一切。對雅各來說，這也是極大的破碎。哥哥們把約瑟的彩衣染上血，拿回去給父親看。雅各以為約瑟被惡獸撕碎，就悲哀多日，不肯受安慰。整個創世記37章，表面上看見的是失去、欺騙、破裂和眼淚。但這章最後說，約瑟被帶到埃及，賣給法老的內臣、護衛長波提乏。從人看，是被賣；從後面經文看，是神把約瑟帶進下一個階段。哥哥們以為可以終止約瑟的夢，但人的惡意不能攔阻神的手。雅各以為約瑟已經失去，但神仍然保守他的生命。神的同在不只是停留在安穩熟悉的環境中；神的同在也在坑裏，也在被賣的路上，也在去埃及的途中。約瑟還沒有明白將來會怎樣，但神已經在他的路上。

總結：

創世記37章提醒我們，約瑟十七歲是一個生命轉折。十七歲以前，他在熟悉的環境中成長；十七歲之後，他被帶進一條不能控制的路。這條路表面上是失去、被剝奪、被出賣；但在神的計劃裏，這是約瑟開始走進神同在的路。今天，我們也要相信：神不是只在順利、穩定、熟悉的時候與我們同在；當我們面對轉折、失去和看不明白的路，神仍然與我們同在。

承受應許，不代表生命不需要被塑造。走在神的路上，不代表每一步都容易明白。但神沒有丟下祂的應許，也沒有放開祂所揀選的人。

我是否只在順利和熟悉的環境中，才相信神與我同在？當人生進入不能控制的轉折時，我是否仍願意相信神沒有離開？今天，讓我們不只停留在熟悉的環境裏，也願意在神的帶領中，走進祂更深的同在。

禱告回應：

主啊，感謝祢在我們人生每一段路上都沒有離開我們。求祢幫助我們在不能控制的轉折中，仍然信靠祢；在失去和破碎裏，仍然相信祢的同在。主啊，帶領我們不只是停留在熟悉的地方，而是走進祢更深同在的路。奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。

創世記 37

1 雅各住在迦南地，就是他父親寄居的地。 2 雅各的記略如下。約瑟十七歲與他哥哥們一同牧羊。他是個童子，與他父親的妾辟拉、悉帕的兒子們常在一處。約瑟將他哥哥們的惡行報給他們的父親。 3 以色列原來愛約瑟過於愛他的眾子，因為約瑟是他年老生的，他給約瑟做了一件彩衣。 4 約瑟的哥哥們見父親愛約瑟過於愛他們，就恨約瑟，不與他說和睦的話。

5 約瑟做了一夢，告訴他哥哥們，他們就越發恨他。 6 約瑟對他們說：「請聽我所做的夢： 7 我們在田裡捆禾稼，我的捆起來站著，你們的捆來圍著我的捆下拜。」 8 他的哥哥們回答說：「難道你真要做我們的王嗎？難道你真要管轄我們嗎？」他們就因為他的夢和他的話越發恨他。 9 後來他又做了一夢，也告訴他的哥哥們說：「看哪，我又做了一夢，夢見太陽、月亮與十一個星向我下拜。」 10 約瑟將這夢告訴他父親和他哥哥們，他父親就責備他說：「你做的這是什麼夢！難道我和你母親、你弟兄果然要來俯伏在地，向你下拜嗎？」 11 他哥哥們都嫉妒他，他父親卻把這話存在心裡。

12 約瑟的哥哥們往示劍去放他們父親的羊。 13 以色列對約瑟說：「你哥哥們不是在示劍放羊嗎？你來，我要打發你往他們那裡去。」約瑟說：「我在這裡。」 14 以色列說：「你去看看你哥哥們平安不平安，群羊平安不平安，就回來報信給我。」於是打發他出希伯崙谷，他就往示劍去了。 15 有人遇見他在田野走迷了路，就問他說：「你找什麼？」 16 他說：「我找我的哥哥們，求你告訴我他們在何處放羊。」 17 那人說：「他們已經走了，我聽見他們說要往多坍去。」約瑟就去追趕他哥哥們，遇見他們在多坍。

18 他們遠遠地看見他，趁他還沒有走到跟前，大家就同謀要害死他， 19 彼此說：「你看，那做夢的來了。 20 來吧，我們將他殺了，丟在一個坑裡，就說有惡獸把他吃了。我們且看他的夢將來怎麼樣！」 21 魯本聽見了，要救他脫離他們的手，說：「我們不可害他的性命。」 22 又說：「不可流他的血，可以把他丟在這野地的坑裡，不可下手害他。」魯本的意思是要救他脫離他們的手，把他歸還他的父親。 23 約瑟到了他哥哥們那裡，他們就剝了他的外衣，就是他穿的那件彩衣， 24 把他丟在坑裡。那坑是空的，裡頭沒有水。

25 他們坐下吃飯，舉目觀看，見有一夥米甸的以實瑪利人從基列來，用駱駝馱著香料、乳香、沒藥，要帶下埃及去。 26 猶大對眾弟兄說：「我們殺我們的兄弟，藏了他的血有什麼益處呢？ 27 我們不如將他賣給以實瑪利人，不可下手害他，因為他是我們的兄弟、我們的骨肉。」眾弟兄就聽從了他。 28 有些米甸的商人從那裡經過，哥哥們就把約瑟從坑裡拉上來，講定二十舍客勒銀子，把約瑟賣給以實瑪利人。他們就把約瑟帶到埃及去了。

29 魯本回到坑邊，見約瑟不在坑裡，就撕裂衣服， 30 回到兄弟們那裡，說：「童子沒有了！我往哪裡去才好呢？」 31 他們宰了一隻公山羊，把約瑟的那件彩衣染了血， 32 打發人送到他們的父親那裡，說：「我們撿了這個，請認一認是你兒子的外衣不是？」 33 他認得，就說：「這是我兒子的外衣，有惡獸把他吃了！約瑟被撕碎了！撕碎了！」 34 雅各便撕裂衣服，腰間圍上麻布，為他兒子悲哀了多日。 35 他的兒女都起來安慰他，他卻不肯受安慰，說：「我必悲哀著下陰間，到我兒子那裡。」約瑟的父親就為他哀哭。 36 米甸人帶約瑟到埃及，把他賣給法老的內臣護衛長波提乏。

Key Scripture: “Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers.” Genesis 37:2a

Genesis 37 does not begin by simply introducing Joseph as an individual. It begins by saying, “This is the history of Jacob.” This reminds us that Joseph’s story is not an isolated story. It happened within the family of Jacob, the family that carried God’s promise.

Jacob was the one who inherited the covenant promise given to Abraham and Isaac. He had returned to the land of Canaan, the land where his father had lived as a stranger. Outwardly, Jacob seemed to be standing in the place of God’s promise. But the Scripture quickly shows us that this family, though carrying God’s promise, still had many areas that needed to be dealt with.

There was favouritism from the father, jealousy among the brothers, and a broken relationship where they could not speak peaceably to Joseph. Joseph grew up in this kind of family. He was specially loved by his father, and he grew up in a familiar environment.

So when the Bible specifically tells us that Joseph was seventeen years old, this is not just a simple record of his age. It marks a turning point in his life. Before seventeen, Joseph grew up in Jacob’s house. After seventeen, he was taken away from the familiar environment and began to walk on a road he could not control.

Outwardly, this road looked like hatred, loss, being stripped of his tunic, being thrown into a pit, and being sold to Egypt. But in God’s plan, this was the beginning of Joseph walking into the road of God’s presence.

First, in the familiar environment, we see that life still needs to be shaped. Jacob was already living in the land of Canaan, the land promised to the descendants of Abraham and Isaac. Outwardly, he was in the place of promise. But the Scripture immediately shows us that there were still many unresolved things in Jacob’s family.

Jacob loved Joseph more than all his sons and made him a tunic of many colours. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than them, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

This reminds us that a familiar environment does not always mean that life is already mature. Carrying God’s promise does not mean that our life no longer needs to be shaped. Living in God’s blessing does not mean that every issue has already been dealt with.

God loves us, not so that we can remain in the same condition. God chooses us so that He may continue to shape us and lead us deeper into His way.

Second, in an uncontrollable turning point, we learn to walk on God’s road. Jacob sent Joseph to see whether his brothers and the flock were well. Joseph obeyed his father and went. From a human point of view, this was just an ordinary errand. But in Joseph’s life, this became a major turning point. After this journey, he did not immediately return to his father’s house.

His brothers saw him from a distance and planned to harm him. They stripped him of his tunic, threw him into a pit, and later sold him to Egypt. Joseph did not choose this road for himself. He did not arrange to go to Egypt. He was taken away from everything familiar in a situation he could not control. But an uncontrollable turning point does not mean that God has lost control. Leaving a familiar place does not mean that God has left.

Genesis 37 does not yet clearly say, “The Lord was with Joseph.” But in Genesis 39, the Scripture clearly says, “The Lord was with Joseph.” When we look back at Genesis 37, we can see that God had never left Joseph.

Some roads are not clear to us at the beginning. Some changes are not chosen by us. Some turning points make us feel as if we have lost our sense of security. But very often, it is in these uncontrollable turning points that God leads us into a deeper experience of His presence.

Third, in loss and brokenness, we believe that God is still with us. Joseph was sold to Egypt. For Joseph, this was a great loss. He lost his tunic, his home, his freedom, and everything familiar to him. For Jacob, this was also a deep brokenness. The brothers dipped Joseph’s tunic in blood and brought it back to their father. Jacob thought Joseph had been torn apart by a wild beast, and he mourned for many days, refusing to be comforted.

Throughout Genesis 37, what we see on the surface is loss, deception, brokenness, and tears. But at the end of the chapter, Joseph was brought to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard. From man’s point of view, Joseph was sold. But from the later chapters, we see that God was bringing Joseph into the next stage.

His brothers thought they could stop Joseph’s dream. But human evil cannot stop the hand of God. Jacob thought Joseph was lost, but God was still preserving his life.

God’s presence is not only found in stable and familiar places. God’s presence is also in the pit, on the road of being sold, and on the way to Egypt.

Joseph did not yet understand what would happen in the future, but God was already with him on the road.

Conclusion:

Genesis 37 reminds us that Joseph being seventeen years old was a turning point in his life. Before seventeen, he grew up in a familiar environment. After seventeen, he was brought into a road he could not control.

Outwardly, this road looked like loss, being stripped, and being sold. But in God’s plan, this was the beginning of Joseph walking into the road of God’s presence.

Today, we also need to believe that God is not only with us when life is smooth, stable, and familiar. When we face turning points, loss, and roads we do not understand, God is still with us.

Carrying God’s promise does not mean that our life no longer needs to be shaped.
Walking on God’s road does not mean that every step is easy to understand.
But God has not abandoned His promise, and He has not let go of the people He has chosen.

Do I only believe that God is with me when life is smooth and familiar? When life enters an uncontrollable turning point, am I still willing to believe that God has not left me? Today, let us not only remain in familiar places. Let us also be willing to walk, under God’s leading, into a deeper experience of His presence.

Prayer Response:

Lord, thank You that You have never left us in every season of our lives. Help us to trust You in uncontrollable turning points, and to believe in Your presence even in loss and brokenness. Lord, lead us not only to remain in familiar places, but to walk into the deeper road of Your presence. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Genesis 37

1 Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 This is the history of Jacob.

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”

10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” 11 And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

12 Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.”

So he said to him, “Here I am.”

14 Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.

15 Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?”

16 So he said, “I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.”

17 And the man said, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan.

18 Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. 19 Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! 20 Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

21 But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.

23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. 24 Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

25 And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. 26 So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

29 Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes. 30 And he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?”

31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. 32 Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?”

33 And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.

36 Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.