读经：创四七7，10，四八15~16，四九28。
Scripture Reading: Gen. 47:7, 10; 48:15-16; 49:28
Scripture Reading: Gen. 47:7, 10; 48:15-16; 49:28
壹
创世记三十七至四十五章，乃是雅各成熟过程的记载：
Genesis 37—45 are a record of the process of Jacob's maturity:
Genesis 37—45 are a record of the process of Jacob's maturity:
一
在二十七章我们看见一个抓夺的人，在三十七章我们看见一个变化的人，在四十五章末了我们看见一个成熟的人。
In chapter twenty-seven, we see a supplanter; in chapter thirty-seven, a transformed man; and at the end of chapter forty-five, a mature person.
In chapter twenty-seven, we see a supplanter; in chapter thirty-seven, a transformed man; and at the end of chapter forty-five, a mature person.
二
变化是我们天然的生命有新陈代谢的改变，而成熟是我们被那改变我们的神圣生命所充满─来六1：
To be transformed is to be metabolically changed in our natural life, whereas to be matured is to be filled with the divine life that changes us—Heb. 6:1:
To be transformed is to be metabolically changed in our natural life, whereas to be matured is to be filled with the divine life that changes us—Heb. 6:1:
１
变化的最后阶段乃是成熟，也就是生命的丰满：
The last stage of transformation is maturity, the fullness of life:
The last stage of transformation is maturity, the fullness of life:
ａ
神永远的定旨只能借着我们的变化和成熟而达到─创一26，西一28，二19，弗四13。
God's eternal purpose can only be accomplished through our transformation and maturity—Gen. 1:26; Col. 1:28; 2:19; Eph. 4:13.
God's eternal purpose can only be accomplished through our transformation and maturity—Gen. 1:26; Col. 1:28; 2:19; Eph. 4:13.
ｂ
成熟乃是我们一再得着神生命的分赐，直到我们有了生命的丰满─约十10下，林后五4下。
Maturity is a matter of having the divine life imparted into us again and again until we have the fullness of life—John 10:10b; 2 Cor. 5:4b.
Maturity is a matter of having the divine life imparted into us again and again until we have the fullness of life—John 10:10b; 2 Cor. 5:4b.
２
神要主宰的用人事物倒空所充满我们的一切，除去我们先入的一切东西，使我们的度量增加，好被神充满─路一53，太五6：
God will sovereignly use persons, things, and events to empty us of everything that has filled us and to take away every preoccupation so that we may have an increased capacity to be filled with God—Luke 1:53; Matt. 5:6:
God will sovereignly use persons, things, and events to empty us of everything that has filled us and to take away every preoccupation so that we may have an increased capacity to be filled with God—Luke 1:53; Matt. 5:6:
ａ
雅各要成熟，首先必须失去他心头的宝贝─约瑟─创三七31~35：
In order to become mature, Jacob first had to suffer the loss of Joseph, the treasure of his heart—Gen. 37:31-35:
In order to become mature, Jacob first had to suffer the loss of Joseph, the treasure of his heart—Gen. 37:31-35:
㈠
惟一不能从雅各取去的，就是神的同在。
The only thing that could not be taken away from Jacob was God's presence.
The only thing that could not be taken away from Jacob was God's presence.
㈡
借着失去约瑟，雅各成了一个完全向神敞开的瓶子，让属天的雨水不断的降到他里面。
Through the loss of Joseph, Jacob became a jar that was absolutely open to God, and the heavenly rain was continually falling into him.
Through the loss of Joseph, Jacob became a jar that was absolutely open to God, and the heavenly rain was continually falling into him.
㈢
在希伯仑那段时间，雅各天天在神面前，被神的生命充满。
In this period of time at Hebron, Jacob was daily in the presence of God, being filled with the divine life.
In this period of time at Hebron, Jacob was daily in the presence of God, being filled with the divine life.
ｂ
雅各为饥荒所袭─创四二5：
Jacob was struck with famine—42:5.
Jacob was struck with famine—42:5.
ｃ
因着饥荒，雅各被迫打发十个儿子去埃及籴粮─创四二1~3节。
Because of the famine, Jacob was forced to send his ten sons to Egypt to buy grain—vv. 1-3.
Because of the famine, Jacob was forced to send his ten sons to Egypt to buy grain—vv. 1-3.
ｄ
雅各的儿子们从埃及带着粮食回来的时候，雅各得知西缅被留在埃及─创四二24，36节。
When Jacob's sons returned from Egypt with the grain, Jacob learned that Simeon had been detained in Egypt—vv. 24, 36.
When Jacob's sons returned from Egypt with the grain, Jacob learned that Simeon had been detained in Egypt—vv. 24, 36.
ｅ
由于饥荒甚大，雅各只好打发他最小的儿子同他哥哥们去埃及籴粮─创四二4，36节，创四三1~15。
Due to the severity of the famine, Jacob was forced to send his youngest son with his brothers to Egypt to buy grain—vv. 4, 36; 43:1-15.
Due to the severity of the famine, Jacob was forced to send his youngest son with his brothers to Egypt to buy grain—vv. 4, 36; 43:1-15.
３
我们所遭遇的每件事，都在神的主宰之下，叫我们被变化，得成熟。没有一件事是偶然的：
Everything that happens to us is under God's sovereignty for our transformation and maturity; nothing is accidental:
Everything that happens to us is under God's sovereignty for our transformation and maturity; nothing is accidental:
ａ
成熟的信徒学知神是怜悯的，也是全足的，能在每一种情况中应付他的需要─创四三11节，创四三13~14，创十七1，腓一19~21上，腓四11~12，参提前四6~7。
A mature believer has learned that God is merciful and all-sufficient to meet his needs in every kind of situation—vv. 11, 13-14; 17:1; Phil. 1:19-21a; 4:11-12; cf. 1 Tim. 4:6-7.
A mature believer has learned that God is merciful and all-sufficient to meet his needs in every kind of situation—vv. 11, 13-14; 17:1; Phil. 1:19-21a; 4:11-12; cf. 1 Tim. 4:6-7.
ｂ
他的信靠和安息完全在于全足之神的怜悯，不在于他自己和他的能力─罗九16。
His trust and rest are altogether in the mercy of his all-sufficient God, no longer in himself or in his ability—Rom. 9:16.
His trust and rest are altogether in the mercy of his all-sufficient God, no longer in himself or in his ability—Rom. 9:16.
贰
在创世记末了，我们能看见雅各成熟的表显：
At the end of Genesis we can see the manifestation of Jacob's maturity:
At the end of Genesis we can see the manifestation of Jacob's maturity:
一
他听见约瑟在埃及活着的消息时，没有责备他的儿子们；他的心麻木，他的灵却苏醒─创四五21~28，参来四12，利十1~2。
He did not blame his sons when he heard the news about Joseph's being alive in Egypt; instead, his heart became numb, but his spirit was revived—Gen. 45:21-28; cf. Heb. 4:12; Lev. 10:1-2.
He did not blame his sons when he heard the news about Joseph's being alive in Egypt; instead, his heart became numb, but his spirit was revived—Gen. 45:21-28; cf. Heb. 4:12; Lev. 10:1-2.
二
他去见约瑟以前，在别示巴献祭给神─创四六1。
Before going to see Joseph, he offered sacrifices to God at Beer-sheba—Gen. 46:1.
Before going to see Joseph, he offered sacrifices to God at Beer-sheba—Gen. 46:1.
三
他见到约瑟时不显得兴奋，表明没有放松自己─创四六28~30节。
He displayed no excitement, showing looseness of self, at seeing Joseph—vv. 28-30.
He displayed no excitement, showing looseness of self, at seeing Joseph—vv. 28-30.
四
雅各到达埃及以后，没有要求什么。
After Jacob arrived in Egypt, he did not beg for anything.
After Jacob arrived in Egypt, he did not beg for anything.
五
雅各住在埃及时，没有为自己从事什么活动。他体认他的定命和生存，完全在牧养的神手中─创四八15~16。
Jacob did not engage in any activity for himself while living in Egypt, but he realized that his destiny and existence were absolutely in the hands of the shepherding God—48:15-16.
Jacob did not engage in any activity for himself while living in Egypt, but he realized that his destiny and existence were absolutely in the hands of the shepherding God—48:15-16.
六
雅各成熟最有力的标记，是他祝福别人─创四七7，10，创四八14~16，来七7：
The strongest sign of Jacob's maturity was his blessing others—Gen. 47:7, 10; 48:14-16; Heb. 7:7:
The strongest sign of Jacob's maturity was his blessing others—Gen. 47:7, 10; 48:14-16; Heb. 7:7:
１
生命的丰满就是祝福，将神这生命满溢到人里面─约七38，约壹五16。
The fullness of life is blessing, which is the overflow of God as life into others—John 7:38; 1 John 5:16.
The fullness of life is blessing, which is the overflow of God as life into others—John 7:38; 1 John 5:16.
２
神的满溢是借着祂的祭司带给百姓，祭司消除了神与人之间的距离，将人带到神面前，有份于对神的享受─创十四18~20，来五6，出二八9~12，15~21，林后五20。
The overflow of God is brought to people through His priests, who eliminate the distance between God and the people, bringing people into the presence of God to share in the enjoyment of God—Gen. 14:18-20; Heb. 5:6; Exo. 28:9-12, 15-21; 2 Cor. 5:20.
The overflow of God is brought to people through His priests, who eliminate the distance between God and the people, bringing people into the presence of God to share in the enjoyment of God—Gen. 14:18-20; Heb. 5:6; Exo. 28:9-12, 15-21; 2 Cor. 5:20.
３
祭司在神圣三一的神圣分赐里用三一神祝福人，使他们得着享受─民六22~27，林后十三14。
The priests bless people with the Triune God in the divine dispensing of His Divine Trinity for their enjoyment—Num. 6:22-27; 2 Cor. 13:14.
The priests bless people with the Triune God in the divine dispensing of His Divine Trinity for their enjoyment—Num. 6:22-27; 2 Cor. 13:14.
４
我们要用祝福申言，就必须是被神所构成的人，屦行四个条件─创四九1~28，参林前七10，12，25，40：
In order to prophesy with blessing, we must be God-constituted persons who fulfill four requirements—Gen. 49:1-28; cf. 1 Cor. 7:10, 12, 25, 40:
In order to prophesy with blessing, we must be God-constituted persons who fulfill four requirements—Gen. 49:1-28; cf. 1 Cor. 7:10, 12, 25, 40:
ａ
我们必须认识神─腓三10。
We must know God—Phil. 3:10.
We must know God—Phil. 3:10.
ｂ
我们必须认识人─林前二15，林后五16，参歌七4下。
We must know people—1 Cor. 2:15; 2 Cor. 5:16; cf. S. S. 7:4b.
We must know people—1 Cor. 2:15; 2 Cor. 5:16; cf. S. S. 7:4b.
ｃ
我们必须有神的丰富─弗三8，林后六10。
We must have the riches of God—Eph. 3:8; 2 Cor. 6:10.
We must have the riches of God—Eph. 3:8; 2 Cor. 6:10.
ｄ
我们必须有刚强、活泼的灵─林前十四32，参提后一6~7。
We must have a strong, active spirit—1 Cor. 14:32; cf. 2 Tim. 1:6-7.
We must have a strong, active spirit—1 Cor. 14:32; cf. 2 Tim. 1:6-7.