Rev Xi An Poon
「願我祖亞伯拉罕和我父以撒所事奉的神，就是一生牧養我直到今日的神，救贖我脫離一切患難的那使者，賜福與這兩個童子。」——創世記48:15–16
創世記48章記載雅各人生接近終點時的一個重要時刻。約瑟聽見父親病了，便帶着兩個兒子瑪拿西和以法蓮來見他。這時的雅各已經年老，身體衰弱，眼睛昏花，不能清楚看見。這個畫面使人想起雅各的父親以撒。創世記27章記載，以撒年老、眼睛昏花。當時，雅各與母親利百加利用以撒身體的限制，讓雅各冒充以掃，取得長子的祝福。
如今，雅各也走到父親昔日的處境：同樣年老，同樣眼睛昏花，同樣要面對長子和次子的祝福次序。然而，現在的雅各已經不再是從前那個靠自己的方法抓取祝福的人。約瑟按照傳統，把長子瑪拿西安排在雅各右手的位置，把次子以法蓮安排在左手的位置；但雅各卻故意交叉雙手，把右手按在以法蓮頭上。當約瑟以為父親弄錯了，想要移開他的手時，雅各回答：「我知道，我兒，我知道。」——創世記48:19
雅各沒有糊塗，也沒有弄錯。他的肉眼雖然昏花，屬靈的辨識卻比從前更加清楚。經過一生的破碎、管教和塑造，他不再靠自己的方法抓取祝福，而是學習伏在神的主權之下，讓自己的生命與神對齊。
一、數算神的恩典
「就是一生牧養我直到今日的神，救贖我脫離一切患難的那使者。」——創世記48:15–16
雅各曾經對法老說，自己一生的年日「又少又苦」。他經歷過逃亡、欺騙、家庭衝突、拉結離世、約瑟失蹤、饑荒和寄居。但到了人生最後的階段，他不再只看見苦，而是承認神是「一生牧養我直到今日的神」。這並不是雅各否認自己曾經受苦，而是他不再讓痛苦成為自己一生最後的總結。
他曾經被拉班欺騙，但神保守他平安離開；他曾經以為約瑟已經死去，但神不但保存約瑟，也藉着約瑟拯救全家；他曾經在饑荒中面對死亡的威脅，但神早已在埃及預備道路。雅各沒有忘記人生的苦，卻更加記得神的信實。生命的成熟，不是我們從此沒有困難，而是當我們回望人生時，能夠在每一段道路中認出神的手。當我們開始數算神的恩典，苦難便不再是生命唯一的解釋；神的牧養和信實，才成為我們最終的見證。
二、明白神的心意
「以色列年紀老邁，眼睛昏花，不能看見。」——創世記48:10
雅各的身體已經衰弱，但他的屬靈辨識並沒有迷失。約瑟按照人的傳統，把長子瑪拿西安排在雅各右手下面，希望他領受更大的祝福。然而，雅各卻交叉雙手，把右手按在次子以法蓮頭上。
聖經說：「約瑟見他父親把右手按在以法蓮的頭上，就不喜悅。」——創世記48:17
約瑟不是沒有愛，也不是故意反對父親；但他已經在心裏認定，事情應該按照自己所理解的次序發生。長子應當得到右手的祝福，瑪拿西應當放在以法蓮之上。所以，當雅各的手沒有照着他的安排放下去時，約瑟第一個反應就是不喜悅。很多時候，我們也像約瑟一樣。
當事情按照我們所期待的方向發展，我們很容易接受，也很容易相信神正在帶領；但當事情不符合我們的計劃，不按照我們所認為合理的次序發生，我們第一個反應可能就是不喜悅。
我們可能會想：
- 「為甚麼不是這樣？」
- 「明明這個安排更加合理。」
- 「事情本來就應該照我的方法發生。」
甚至在還沒有安靜尋求神以前，我們已經急着想把事情改回自己認為正確的位置。約瑟就是這樣。他想把父親的手從以法蓮頭上移到瑪拿西頭上，並對父親說：「我父，不是這樣。這本是長子，求你把右手按在他的頭上。」——創世記48:18
但雅各回答：「我知道，我兒，我知道。」——創世記48:19
雅各知道人的傳統，也知道約瑟為何這樣安排；但他沒有讓人的次序取代神的主權。這段經文提醒我們，很多時候，我們的不喜悅，不一定是因為事情真的錯了，而是因為事情沒有按照我們所期待的方式發生。與神對齊，不只是知道一些屬靈道理，更是在事情不符合自己期待時，願意停下來，不急着抗拒，也不急着把事情改回自己的安排，而是先尋求神：「主啊，在這件事情裏，祢的心意是甚麼？」
從前的雅各，曾經利用父親眼睛昏花，用自己的方法取得祝福；如今，他自己眼睛昏花，卻不再靠自己的手段行事。年輕時的雅各，肉眼看得見，心裏卻不一定看得清楚；年老時的雅各，肉眼看不清楚，生命卻越來越懂得伏在神的帶領之下。與神對齊，不是任意推翻人的次序，也不是拒絕一切合理安排，而是不讓自己的期待、傳統和判斷取代神的主權。
一個成熟的生命，不再只是問：「為甚麼事情沒有照我的意思發生？」而是學習問：「神要藉着這件事情，使我看見甚麼？」「神的心意是甚麼？」當我們願意把自己的不喜悅帶到神面前，放下急着改變事情的手，學習安靜察驗，我們才有可能真正明白神的心意。
三、成為祝福的管道
「我想不到得見你的面，不料，神又使我得見你的兒子。」——創世記48:11
雅各曾經以為約瑟已經死去。他不但想不到自己能再次看見約瑟，更想不到神使他看見約瑟的兩個兒子。從前的雅各常常想辦法為自己抓取祝福；但到了人生晚年，他不再只是想着自己能得到甚麼，而是讓神所賜給他的恩典，藉着自己的生命流向別人。雅各不是祝福的源頭，神才是祝福的源頭；但當他的生命與神對齊，他便成為神祝福別人的管道。
他禱告說：「願我祖亞伯拉罕和我父以撒所事奉的神……賜福與這兩個童子。」——創世記48:15–16
雅各沒有把人的目光停留在自己身上，而是把他們帶到那位牧養他一生、救贖他脫離患難的神面前。
他最後對約瑟說：「我要死了，但神必與你們同在。」——創世記48:21
雅各知道自己不能永遠陪伴他們，也不能親自完成神所有的應許；但他深信，即使自己離開，神仍然與他們同在。真正成為祝福的管道，不是使人依賴我們，而是藉着我們的生命，使人更加認識神、信靠神，並找到從神而來的方向。成為祝福的管道，不只限於父母對兒女，也不只屬於有家庭、有孩子的人。一句合宜的鼓勵，可以扶持灰心的人；一次真誠的禱告，可以托住正在困難中的人；一個順服神的選擇，可以成為別人的榜樣；一個被神改變的生命，可以幫助身邊的人看見神的信實。當一個人的生命與神對齊，他就不再只是接受祝福，也會讓神所賜的恩典、安慰、信心和盼望，藉着自己流向別人。
總結
雅各的一生並不完美。他曾經抓取、欺騙、逃避，也因自己的選擇承受許多痛苦；但神沒有放棄他。漫長的歲月成為神塑造他的過程。到了人生最後的階段，雅各學會數算神的恩典，不再讓痛苦成為人生最後的總結；他學會明白神的心意，不再只按自己的方法和期待行事；他也從一個抓取祝福的人，成為神祝福別人的管道。
與神對齊，不是一刻的感動，而是一生被神塑造的結果。當我們在過去中數算神的恩典，在事情不符合自己期待時仍願意察驗神的心意，我們就能在有限的人生中，成為神祝福別人的管道。
省察
- 回望我的人生，我是否能在困難中數算神一路的恩典？
- 當事情不按照我的期待發生時，我第一個反應是不喜悅、抗拒，還是願意停下來尋求神的心意？
- 今天，神可以藉着我的生命，把甚麼恩典和祝福帶給身邊的人？
禱告
親愛的天父，感謝祢是一生牧養我們直到今日的神。 求祢幫助我們在過去的患難中，看見祢從未離開的恩典，不再讓痛苦成為生命最後的總結。當事情不符合我們的期待時，求祢幫助我們不急着抗拒，也不急着把事情改回自己的安排，而是願意停下來，察驗並順服祢的心意。願我們的生命與祢對齊，不再只是接受祝福，而是成為祢祝福別人的管道，使人因着我們，更加認識祢、信靠祢，並看見祢的榮耀。奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
創世記 48
1 這事以後，有人告訴約瑟說：「你的父親病了。」他就帶著兩個兒子瑪拿西和以法蓮同去。 2 有人告訴雅各說：「請看，你兒子約瑟到你這裡來了。」以色列就勉強在床上坐起來。 3 雅各對約瑟說：「全能的神曾在迦南地的路斯向我顯現，賜福於我， 4 對我說：『我必使你生養眾多，成為多民，又要把這地賜給你的後裔，永遠為業。』 5 我未到埃及見你之先，你在埃及地所生的以法蓮和瑪拿西這兩個兒子是我的，正如魯本和西緬是我的一樣。 6 你在他們以後所生的就是你的，他們可以歸於他們弟兄的名下得產業。 7 至於我，我從巴旦來的時候，拉結死在我眼前，在迦南地的路上，離以法他還有一段路程，我就把她葬在以法他的路上。」以法他就是伯利恆。
8 以色列看見約瑟的兩個兒子，就說：「這是誰？」 9 約瑟對他父親說：「這是神在這裡賜給我的兒子。」以色列說：「請你領他們到我跟前，我要給他們祝福。」 10 以色列年紀老邁，眼睛昏花，不能看見。約瑟領他們到他跟前，他就和他們親嘴，抱著他們。 11 以色列對約瑟說：「我想不到得見你的面，不料，神又使我得見你的兒子。」 12 約瑟把兩個兒子從以色列兩膝中領出來，自己就臉伏於地下拜。 13 隨後，約瑟又拉著他們兩個——以法蓮在他的右手裡，對著以色列的左手，瑪拿西在他的左手裡，對著以色列的右手——領他們到以色列的跟前。 14 以色列伸出右手來，按在以法蓮的頭上，以法蓮乃是次子；又剪搭過左手來，按在瑪拿西的頭上，瑪拿西原是長子。 15 他就給約瑟祝福說：「願我祖亞伯拉罕和我父以撒所侍奉的神，就是一生牧養我直到今日的神， 16 救贖我脫離一切患難的那使者，賜福於這兩個童子。願他們歸在我的名下和我祖亞伯拉罕，我父以撒的名下，又願他們在世界中生養眾多。」 17 約瑟見他父親把右手按在以法蓮的頭上，就不喜悅，便提起他父親的手，要從以法蓮的頭上挪到瑪拿西的頭上。 18 約瑟對他父親說：「我父，不是這樣。這本是長子，求你把右手按在他的頭上。」 19 他父親不從，說：「我知道，我兒，我知道。他也必成為一族，也必昌大。只是他的兄弟將來比他還大，他兄弟的後裔要成為多族。」 20 當日就給他們祝福說：「以色列人要指著你們祝福說：『願神使你如以法蓮、瑪拿西一樣。』」於是，立以法蓮在瑪拿西以上。 21 以色列又對約瑟說：「我要死了，但神必與你們同在，領你們回到你們列祖之地。 22 並且我從前用弓用刀從亞摩利人手下奪的那塊地，我都賜給你，使你比眾弟兄多得一份。」
“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads.” — Genesis 48:15–16, NKJV
Introduction
Genesis 48 records an important moment near the end of Jacob’s life. When Joseph heard that his father was sick, he brought his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to see him. By this time, Jacob was old, physically weak, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see clearly. This scene reminds us of Jacob’s father, Isaac.
Genesis 27 tells us that Isaac was old and his eyes were dim. At that time, Jacob and his mother Rebekah took advantage of Isaac’s weakness. Jacob pretended to be Esau and received the blessing of the firstborn.
Now Jacob had come to the same stage of life as his father. He was also old. His eyes were also dim. He was also facing the matter of blessing an older son and a younger son. But Jacob was no longer the same man.
Joseph placed Manasseh, the firstborn, near Jacob’s right hand, and Ephraim, the younger son, near his left hand. But Jacob deliberately crossed his hands and placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head.
When Joseph thought his father had made a mistake and tried to move his hand, Jacob answered: “I know, my son, I know.” — Genesis 48:19, NKJV
Jacob was not confused, and he had not made a mistake. Although his natural eyes were dim, his spiritual discernment had become clearer than before.
After a lifetime of brokenness, discipline, and shaping, he no longer tried to take blessings by his own methods. He had learned to submit to God’s sovereignty and bring his life into alignment with God.
- Count God’s Grace
“The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil.” — Genesis 48:15–16, NKJV
Jacob once told Pharaoh that the days of his life had been “few and evil.” He had experienced escape, deception, family conflict, Rachel’s death, the loss of Joseph, famine, and a life of living as a stranger. But near the end of his life, Jacob no longer saw only the pain. He confessed that God was “the God who has fed me all my life long to this day.”
This does not mean that Jacob denied his suffering. It means that he no longer allowed suffering to be the final summary of his life. Laban had deceived him, but God protected him and brought him out safely. He thought Joseph was dead, but God preserved Joseph and used him to save the whole family. He faced the danger of famine, but God had already prepared a way in Egypt. Jacob did not forget the pain of his life, but he remembered God’s faithfulness even more.
Spiritual maturity does not mean that we no longer face trouble. It means that when we look back, we begin to recognise the hand of God in every part of our journey. When we count God’s grace, suffering is no longer the only explanation of our lives. God’s care and faithfulness become our final testimony.
- Understand God’s Will
“Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see.” — Genesis 48:10, NKJV
Jacob’s body had become weak, but his spiritual discernment had not been lost. According to tradition, Joseph placed Manasseh, the firstborn, under Jacob’s right hand so that he would receive the greater blessing. But Jacob crossed his hands and placed his right hand on Ephraim, the younger son.
The Bible says: “Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him.” — Genesis 48:17, NKJV
Joseph did not lack love, and he was not trying to oppose his father. But in his heart, he had already decided how things should happen. The firstborn should receive the blessing of the right hand. Manasseh should be placed above Ephraim. So when Jacob’s hand did not follow Joseph’s arrangement, Joseph’s first reaction was displeasure.
Many times, we are like Joseph. When things happen according to our expectations, it is easy for us to accept them. It is also easy for us to believe that God is leading. But when things do not follow our plans, or do not happen in the order that seems reasonable to us, our first reaction may be displeasure. We may think: “Why is it not happening this way?” “This arrangement is clearly more reasonable.” “Things should happen according to my plan.”
Before we have even taken time to seek God, we may already be trying to move things back into the position that we believe is right.
Joseph did exactly this. He tried to move his father’s hand from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head and said: “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.” — Genesis 48:18, NKJV
But Jacob answered: “I know, my son, I know.” — Genesis 48:19, NKJV
Jacob understood the tradition, and he understood why Joseph had arranged the sons in that way. But he did not allow human order to replace God’s sovereignty. This passage reminds us that sometimes our displeasure is not because something is truly wrong, but because it is not happening in the way we expected.
To align with God is not only to know spiritual truths. It is also to stop when things do not meet our expectations. Instead of resisting immediately or trying to put everything back into our own arrangement, we first seek God and ask: “Lord, what is Your will in this situation?”
In the past, Jacob took advantage of his father’s dim eyes and used his own method to obtain the blessing. Now Jacob’s own eyes were dim, but he no longer acted according to human schemes. When Jacob was young, his natural eyes could see, but his heart did not always see clearly. When Jacob was old, his natural eyes were dim, but his life had learned to submit to God’s leading. To align with God does not mean that we reject every reasonable arrangement or overturn every tradition. It means that we do not allow our expectations, traditions, and judgments to replace God’s sovereignty.
A mature life no longer asks only: “Why did this not happen according to my wishes?” Instead, it learns to ask: “What does God want me to see through this?” “What is God’s will?” When we are willing to bring our displeasure before God, stop trying to control the situation, and quietly seek Him, then we can begin to understand His will.
- Become a Channel of Blessing
“For I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!” — Genesis 48:11, NKJV
Jacob once thought that Joseph was dead. He never expected to see Joseph again, and he certainly never expected that God would also allow him to see Joseph’s two sons. In the past, Jacob often tried to take blessings for himself.
But near the end of his life, he was no longer thinking only about what he could receive. He allowed the grace that God had given him to flow through his life to others.
Jacob was not the source of blessing. God was the source of blessing. But when Jacob’s life came into alignment with God, he became a channel through whom God could bless others.
He prayed: “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked… bless the lads.” — Genesis 48:15–16, NKJV
Jacob did not draw people’s attention to himself. He brought them before the God who had fed him all his life and redeemed him from all evil.
He later said to Joseph: “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you.” — Genesis 48:21, NKJV
Jacob knew that he could not remain with them forever. He also knew that he could not personally fulfil all of God’s promises. But he believed that even after he was gone, God would still be with them. To become a channel of blessing does not mean making people depend on us. It means allowing our lives to help others know God, trust God, and find direction from God.
Becoming a channel of blessing is not only for parents or for people who have children. Whatever stage of life we are in, God can use us to bless the people around us. A timely word of encouragement can strengthen someone who is discouraged. A sincere prayer can support someone who is going through difficulty. A decision to obey God can become an example to others. A life that has been changed by God can help people see His faithfulness.
When a person’s life is aligned with God, that person no longer only receives blessings. God’s grace, comfort, faith, and hope can also flow through that life to others.
Conclusion
Jacob’s life was not perfect. He had taken, deceived, and escaped. He also suffered because of many of his own choices. Yet God did not give up on him. The long years of his life became the process through which God shaped him. Near the end of his life, Jacob learned to count God’s grace and no longer allowed pain to be the final summary of his life. He learned to understand God’s will and no longer acted only according to his own methods and expectations. He also changed from a man who tried to take blessings into a man who became a channel of God’s blessing.
Aligning with God is not only a moment of emotion. It is the result of a lifetime of being shaped by God. When we count God’s grace in the past, and when we are willing to seek His will even when things do not meet our expectations, we can become channels of His blessing in our limited lives.
Reflection
- When I look back on my life, can I count God’s grace even in times of difficulty?
- When things do not happen according to my expectations, is my first reaction displeasure and resistance, or am I willing to stop and seek God’s will?
- What grace and blessing does God want to bring to others through my life today?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being the God who has cared for us all our lives to this day. Help us to see Your grace in the difficulties of the past, and not allow pain to become the final summary of our lives. When things do not meet our expectations, help us not to resist immediately or try to force everything back into our own plans. Teach us to stop, seek Your will, and submit to You.
May our lives be aligned with You. Let us not only receive blessings, but also become channels of Your blessing. May people know You, trust You, and see Your glory through our lives. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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