Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文：「我聽見埃及有糧，你們可以下去，從那裏為我們糴些來，使我們可以存活，不至於死。」——創世記42:2
引言：弟兄姊妹，昨天我們先讀了《創世記》43章，看見猶大開始承擔責任，願意為便雅憫作保；也看見雅各雖然仍然不捨和害怕，最後卻開始學習放手，讓兒子們再次下到埃及。昨天我們所看見的，是一個家庭開始改變的表現。
但當我們再回頭思想時，就會發現，43章裏面的改變並不是突然發生的。猶大為甚麼從一個曾經提議把約瑟賣掉的人，變成願意為便雅憫承擔責任的人？雅各為甚麼從一個緊緊抓住便雅憫、不願意讓他離開的人，漸漸學習把兒子交託出去？
這些改變，其實早在42章已經開始。
所以，今天我們回到《創世記》42章，不是把故事倒轉，也不是重複昨天的信息，而是要回到生命改變的起點。
昨天43章讓我們看見改變所結出的果子；今天42章則讓我們看見，是神先開始在人心裏工作。
在42章裏，神藉着饑荒，使雅各一家不能再停留在原來的地方；又藉着下埃及買糧的旅程，使約瑟的哥哥們重新面對多年以前所犯的罪；同時，也使約瑟在敬畏神中，重新面對那些曾經傷害他的人。
他們以為自己只是為了尋找糧食而下到埃及，卻不知道神正在藉着這次旅程，處理整個家庭裏多年沒有面對的恐懼、罪疚和傷痛。
神所要給他們的，不只是維持身體生命的糧食，更是一條使家庭重新恢復、使生命重新回到應許的道路。
原來，神有時會先讓我們看見生命改變的果子，再帶我們回到改變的根源，使我們明白：真正的改變，不是突然發生的，而是神一步一步在人心裏工作。
過渡：
有時候，我們以為神只是在處理眼前的困難，但祂所要作的，往往比我們所看見的更深。
雅各一家以為他們只是面對饑荒和缺乏，神卻正在藉着這些環境，使他們離開恐懼、面對偏離，並在敬畏祂的道路上重新前行。
一、離開恐懼中的停滯
「雅各見埃及有糧，就對兒子們說：你們為甚麼彼此觀望呢？」
——創世記42:1
埃及已經有糧，但雅各的兒子們仍然彼此觀望。他們不是不知道應該怎樣做，卻沒有人願意先踏出一步。
對他們來說，埃及並不只是一個買糧的地方。多年以前，他們正是把約瑟賣給前往埃及的商人。當埃及再次被提起時，也可能觸動了他們一直沒有面對的過去。
雅各也仍然活在恐懼裏。他讓十個兒子下埃及，卻不肯讓便雅憫同行，因為他說：
「恐怕他遭害。」
——創世記42:4
雅各已經失去約瑟，他害怕再失去便雅憫。
恐懼使人只看見可能失去甚麼，卻看不見神已經預備了甚麼。
雅各害怕失去便雅憫，卻不知道約瑟正在埃及；哥哥們害怕面對埃及，卻不知道神正在那裏預備全家得以存活的道路。
有時候，我們不是沒有道路，而是恐懼使我們不敢踏出去。
要重新走向生命的應許，第一步就是離開恐懼中的停滯。
二、勇敢面對生命的偏離
「我們在兄弟身上實在有罪。」
——創世記42:21
約瑟的哥哥們本來只是到埃及買糧，卻沒有想到，神會藉着這次旅程，使他們重新面對二十多年前所犯的罪。
當他們被查問、被扣留，又看見西緬被留下時，他們終於說：
「我們在兄弟身上實在有罪。」
二十多年過去了，他們可能一直沒有再提約瑟，也以為事情已經過去。
但事情沒有再被提起，不代表事情已經得到處理；時間過去了，也不代表良心已經得到釋放。
神藉着環境，喚醒了他們沉睡多年的良心。
神讓我們重新面對過去，不是為了羞辱我們，也不是要把我們永遠留在罪疚裏，而是要使我們停止逃避，開始回轉。
昨天43章裏，猶大能夠說：「我為他作保」，是因為在42章裏，他和眾弟兄已經先承認：
「我們實在有罪。」
42章是承認自己的偏離；43章是開始承擔別人的生命。
真正的改變，就是從誠實面對自己的問題開始。
要重新走向生命的應許，我們需要勇敢面對生命曾經偏離的地方。
三、在敬畏神中重新前行
「我是敬畏神的。」
——創世記42:18
約瑟如今掌握哥哥們的生死。他有權報復，也有能力使他們為從前所作的事付出代價。
但約瑟沒有說：「因為你們曾經傷害我，所以我要報復你們。」
他所說的是：
「我是敬畏神的。」
約瑟今日的選擇，不再由哥哥們從前怎樣對待他來決定，而是由他與神的關係來決定。
約瑟並不是沒有傷痛。當他聽見哥哥們談論從前所犯的罪時，他轉身退去，哭了一場。
但他沒有讓傷痛成為報復的理由。
他雖然嚴厲地試驗哥哥們，卻仍然把糧食給他們，也把銀子放回他們的口袋，供應他們路上的需要。
約瑟不是沒有傷痕，而是不再讓傷痕掌管自己。
真正的自由，不是從此沒有人再傷害我們，而是即使曾經受過傷害，我們仍然可以因着敬畏神，選擇按照神的心意回應。
要重新走向生命的應許，我們需要在敬畏神中重新前行。
總結：
昨天43章讓我們看見生命改變所結出的果子：
猶大開始承擔，雅各開始放手，整個家庭開始再次前行。
今天42章則讓我們看見生命改變的根源：
神先使他們離開恐懼，面對偏離，並重新選擇敬畏祂。
43章讓我們看見人開始改變；42章讓我們看見，是神先開始在人心裏工作。
神帶我們重新面對過去，不是要把我們帶回過去；祂揭開生命的問題，也不是要把我們留在定罪裏。
祂是要使我們離開恐懼，不再逃避自己的偏離，也不再讓傷痛控制我們，在敬畏祂的道路上重新前行。
當我們願意讓神處理生命裏的恐懼、罪疚和傷痕，祂就能帶領我們重新走向祂為我們預備的生命與應許。
省察：
我的生命是否仍然停在某一種恐懼裏，不敢踏出下一步？
有沒有一些過去的錯誤或偏離，是神正在提醒我要誠實面對的？
面對曾經傷害我的人和事情時，我是被傷痛控制，還是願意因敬畏神而作出選擇？
禱告：
親愛的天父，求祢使我不再停留在恐懼和逃避裏。幫助我誠實面對生命曾經偏離的地方，也醫治我裏面的傷痕。求祢使我不再被過去控制，不讓恐懼攔阻我，也不讓傷痛決定我的反應。帶領我在敬畏祢中重新前行，重新走向祢為我預備的生命與應許。奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
創世記 42
1 雅各知道埃及有糧食，就對兒子們說：「你們為什麼還在這兒互相觀望呢？ 2 我聽說埃及有糧食，你們快到埃及去買些糧食回來吧，免得我們餓死。」 3 於是，約瑟的十個哥哥下到埃及買糧。 4 雅各不肯讓約瑟的弟弟便雅憫與他們同去，恐怕他會遭害。 5 以色列的兒子們加入了買糧的行列，因為迦南也鬧饑荒。
6 那時，約瑟治理埃及，負責賣糧。約瑟的哥哥們來到他面前，向他俯伏下拜。 7 約瑟一眼就認出了他們，卻不動聲色。他疾言厲色地問道：「你們從哪裡來？」他們回答說：「我們是從迦南來買糧食的。」 8 約瑟認得他哥哥們，但他哥哥們卻認不出他來。 9 約瑟想起了自己從前做的兩個夢，就對他們說：「你們是奸細，是來探聽我們虛實的！」 10 他們說：「我主啊，不是的！僕人們是來買糧的。 11 僕人們都是弟兄，是誠實人，不是奸細。」
12 約瑟說：「不對，你們是來探聽我們虛實的。」 13 他們說：「僕人們共有弟兄十二人，父親住在迦南，最年幼的弟弟留在父親身邊，還有一個已經去世。」 14 約瑟說：「我說你們是奸細一點不錯。 15 我以法老的性命起誓，你們最小的弟弟不來這裡，你們都不能走，這是對你們的驗證。 16 你們派一個人回去把你們的弟弟帶來，其他人都要被囚禁在這裡，我要看看你們說的是真還是假。要是你們說的是假話，我以法老的性命起誓，你們一定是奸細。」 17 於是，約瑟把他們囚禁了三天。
18 到了第三天，約瑟對他們說：「我是敬畏上帝的人，你們照我的話做就能活命。 19 如果你們是誠實人，就把一個人留在監裡，其他人帶糧食回去接濟你們的家人。 20 但你們一定要帶你們最小的弟弟回來，以證實你們說的是實話，這樣你們就不會被處死。」他們同意了， 21 彼此議論說：「我們一定是在遭報應。從前我們的弟弟苦苦地哀求我們，我們卻不理會，現在這場痛苦臨到我們了。」 22 呂便說：「我不是勸你們不要犯罪害那孩子嗎？你們不聽，現在我們必須償還血債了。」 23 他們不知道約瑟聽得懂他們的話，因為約瑟是通過翻譯跟他們談話。 24 約瑟聽後轉身出去哭了，然後又回來跟他們談話，從他們中間選了西緬，當著他們的面把西緬捆綁起來。
25 約瑟又吩咐人把他們的袋子裝滿糧食，把各人買糧的錢放在他們的口袋中，還為他們預備了路上的食物。僕人一一辦妥了。 26 約瑟的哥哥們把糧食馱在驢上，啟程回去了。 27 他們來到一處住宿的地方，其中一人打開口袋拿飼料餵驢，卻發現裡面有錢， 28 就對其他弟兄說：「你們看，我的錢又回來了，在我的口袋裡！」他們心驚膽戰地彼此議論說：「上帝這樣對待我們是什麼意思呢？」
29 他們回到迦南父親雅各那裡，把事情的經過告訴了他， 30 說：「埃及的宰相對我們說話很凶，還把我們當成奸細。 31 我們對他說，『我們是誠實人，不是奸細。 32 我們有十二個同胞弟兄，其中有一個已經去世，年紀最小的跟父親留在迦南。』 33 那人卻對我們說，『我要看看你們是不是誠實人，你們把一個弟兄留在我這裡，其他人帶糧食回去接濟家人吧。 34 但你們要把最小的弟弟帶來見我，這樣我便知道你們不是奸細，是誠實人。我就會釋放你們的弟兄，你們也可以在這裡自由地買賣。』」
35 後來他們倒口袋時，發現每個人買糧的錢袋都在自己的口袋裡，他們和父親見此情形，都害怕起來。 36 雅各說：「你們使我連連失去兒子，約瑟沒了，西緬沒了，你們還要帶走便雅憫！災禍都落在了我頭上！」 37 呂便對父親說：「要是我不把便雅憫帶回你身邊，你就殺了我的兩個兒子吧！請你把便雅憫放心地交給我，我一定會把他帶回你身邊。」 38 雅各說：「我的兒子不可跟你們去。他哥哥已經死了，現在只剩下他。要是他在路上遇到什麼意外，你們會使我這白髮蒼蒼的老人淒淒慘慘地進墳墓。」
Key Verse:
“I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.”
— Genesis 42:2, NKJV
Introduction:
Brothers and sisters, yesterday we read Genesis 43 first. We saw Judah beginning to take responsibility and offering himself as a guarantee for Benjamin. We also saw Jacob, although still afraid and unwilling to let go, slowly beginning to release his sons and allow them to return to Egypt.
Yesterday, we saw the visible fruit of change in this family.
But when we look back carefully, we discover that the changes in Genesis 43 did not happen suddenly.
Why did Judah change from being the one who once suggested selling Joseph into someone who was willing to take responsibility for Benjamin?
Why did Jacob change from holding tightly to Benjamin into someone who slowly learned to release him?
The beginning of these changes can already be seen in Genesis 42.
Therefore, today we return to Genesis 42. We are not going backwards in the story, and we are not repeating yesterday’s message. We are returning to the starting point of their change.
Genesis 43 shows us the fruit of change. Genesis 42 shows us that God was already beginning to work in their hearts.
In Genesis 42, God used the famine to move Jacob’s family from where they were. He used the journey to Egypt to bring Joseph’s brothers face to face with the sin they had hidden for many years. At the same time, God also led Joseph to face those who had hurt him, not through revenge, but through the fear of God.
They thought they were only going to Egypt to find food. They did not know that God was using this journey to deal with the fear, guilt, and pain that had remained in their family for many years.
God wanted to give them more than food for their physical survival. He wanted to lead the whole family toward restoration and back onto the path of His promise.
Sometimes God allows us to see the fruit of change first, and then He brings us back to the root of that change.
True change does not happen suddenly. It begins when God works step by step in the human heart.
Transition:
Sometimes we think God is only dealing with the problem in front of us, but His work is often much deeper than what we can see.
Jacob’s family thought they were only facing famine and lack. But God was using these circumstances to lead them out of fear, to face their wrong choices, and to walk again in the fear of the Lord.
- Leave the Place Where Fear Keeps You Stuck
“When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, ‘Why do you look at one another?’”
— Genesis 42:1, NKJV
There was grain in Egypt, but Jacob’s sons were still looking at one another.
They knew there was a problem, and they knew something had to be done, but no one was willing to take the first step.
For them, Egypt was not only a place where food could be found.
Many years earlier, they had sold Joseph to traders who were going to Egypt. Therefore, when Egypt was mentioned again, it may have touched the past they had never truly faced.
Jacob was also still living in fear.
He allowed ten sons to go to Egypt, but he would not allow Benjamin to go with them, because he said:
“Lest some calamity befall him.”
— Genesis 42:4, NKJV
Jacob had already lost Joseph, and he was afraid of losing Benjamin as well.
Fear causes us to see only what we may lose, but it prevents us from seeing what God has already prepared.
Jacob was afraid of losing Benjamin, but he did not know that Joseph was already in Egypt.
The brothers may have feared going to Egypt, but they did not know that God had already prepared a way there for the whole family to survive.
Sometimes the problem is not that there is no way forward. The problem is that fear makes us afraid to take the next step.
To walk again toward the promise of life, we must first leave the place where fear keeps us stuck.
- Courageously Face Where Life Has Gone Wrong
“We are truly guilty concerning our brother.”
— Genesis 42:21, NKJV
Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt only to buy grain, but they did not expect that God would use this journey to make them face the sin they had committed more than twenty years earlier.
When they were questioned, kept under guard, and saw Simeon taken from them, they finally said:
“We are truly guilty concerning our brother.”
Many years had passed. Perhaps they had stopped speaking about Joseph and believed the matter was already over.
But silence does not mean that something has been dealt with. Time passing does not mean that the conscience has been set free.
God used their circumstances to awaken their conscience.
God does not bring us face to face with the past in order to shame us or leave us in guilt. He does it so that we will stop running away and begin to turn back to Him.
In Genesis 43, Judah was able to say, “I myself will be surety for him,” because in Genesis 42, he and his brothers had first admitted:
“We are truly guilty.”
Genesis 42 is the beginning of confession.
Genesis 43 is the beginning of responsibility.
True change begins when we honestly face where our lives have gone wrong.
To walk again toward the promise of life, we must courageously face the places where we have turned away from God.
- Move Forward Again in the Fear of God
“Do this and live, for I fear God.”
— Genesis 42:18, NKJV
Joseph now had power over his brothers. He had the authority to punish them and to make them suffer for what they had done to him.
But Joseph did not say, “Because you hurt me, I will now hurt you.”
Instead, he said:
“I fear God.”
Joseph’s decisions were no longer controlled by how his brothers had treated him. His decisions were now shaped by his relationship with God.
Joseph was not without pain.
When he heard his brothers speaking about what they had done to him, he turned away from them and wept.
His pain was real, but he did not allow his pain to become a reason for revenge.
Although he tested his brothers firmly, he still gave them grain. He also returned their money to their sacks and provided food for their journey.
Joseph was not without wounds. He simply refused to let his wounds rule his life.
True freedom does not mean that no one will ever hurt us again. True freedom means that even when we have been hurt, we can still choose to respond according to God’s will.
To walk again toward the promise of life, we must move forward in the fear of God.
Conclusion:
Yesterday, Genesis 43 showed us the fruit of change:
Judah began to take responsibility.
Jacob began to let go.
The whole family began to move forward again.
Today, Genesis 42 shows us the root of that change:
God first led them out of fear.
He caused them to face their wrong choices.
He taught them to walk again in the fear of the Lord.
Genesis 43 shows us that people were beginning to change.
Genesis 42 shows us that God was the One who first began to work in their hearts.
God brings us face to face with the past, not to take us back into the past.
He reveals the problems in our lives, not to leave us under condemnation.
He wants to lead us out of fear, away from avoidance, and beyond the pain that has controlled us.
When we allow God to deal with our fear, guilt, and wounds, He can lead us again toward the life and promise He has prepared for us.
Reflection:
Is there a fear that is still keeping me from taking the next step?
Is God reminding me of a past mistake or wrong choice that I need to face honestly?
When I think about people or situations that have hurt me, am I controlled by my pain, or am I willing to respond in the fear of God?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, help me not to remain in fear or avoidance. Give me courage to face the places where my life has gone wrong, and heal the wounds within me. Do not let my past control me. Do not let fear stop me, and do not let pain decide how I respond. Lead me to move forward again in the fear of the Lord and to walk toward the life and promise You have prepared for me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Genesis 42
1 When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 2 And he said, “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.”
3 So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “Lest some calamity befall him.” 5 And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6 Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth. 7 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, “Where do you come from?”
And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”
8 So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 9 Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!”
10 And they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men; your servants are not spies.”
12 But he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.”
13 And they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.”
14 But Joseph said to them, “It is as I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’ 15 In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!” 17 So he put them all together in prison three days.
18 Then Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God: 19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. 20 And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.”
And they did so. 21 Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.”
22 And Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.” 23 But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter. 24 And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.
25 Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them. 26 So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there. 27 But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack. 28 So he said to his brothers, “My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!” Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, “What is this that God has done to us?”
29 Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying: 30 “The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan.’ 33 Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone. 34 And bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will grant your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’ ”
35 Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.”
37 Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.”
38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.”
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
Leave a comment