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创世记生命读经 · 第116篇

约瑟对付他的哥哥们

Joseph’s dealing with his brothers
1进的话，我们要回到约瑟个人生活的线。我爱这条生活的线，过于爱约瑟豫表基督的线。当我用祷告的灵接触主时，主就给我看见四十二章有关约瑟个人生活的点；我们在本篇信息中要来看这些点。
1we come back to the line of Joseph’s personal life. I love the line of life even more than the line of Joseph as a type of Christ. As I was contacting the Lord with a praying spirit, the Lord showed me the points in chapter forty-two regarding Joseph’s personal life which we shall cover in this message
I. JOSEPH NOT OUT OF CONTROL
１ 约瑟看见他的梦应验时，仍能克制自己
IN SEEING HIS DREAMS FULFILLED
2约瑟看见他的梦应验，必定非常喜乐。四十二章启示他的哥哥们来到他面前，向他下拜。约瑟作梦的时候是十七岁。他在三十岁被高举，治理埃及地。大约九年后，约瑟的哥哥们向他下拜。这就是说，当约瑟的哥哥们来到他面前时，他可能是三十九岁。因此，大约在约瑟作梦后二十二年，直到他被出卖、被监禁以后，他才看见这些梦应验。他在监牢中度过多年，最终被高举登了宝座。但那时约瑟还没有看见他的梦应验。他为狱中同伴和法老解梦，那些梦的应验是他自己的梦必然应验的有力印证。然而，约瑟必须经过长期的试验。在我们看来，他的忍耐也许会用尽。你能为你梦的应验等候二十二年么？约瑟这样等候了。然后有一天，他的哥哥们来了，向他下拜。倘若我们是约瑟，我们会无法克制自己。我们会跳起来喊说，『阿利路亚！你们岂不知我是约瑟么？我真高兴看见你们！』我们会激动得忘形。我们中间的姊妹们若是在那里，她们首先会哭泣，然后会拥抱所有的哥哥们。然而，约瑟看见他的梦应验，并没有失去控制。他很镇静，他克制自己的激动。他能这样克制自己，因为他是受那灵管治的人。
2Joseph must have been very happy to see the fulfillment of his dreams. Chapter forty-two reveals that his brothers came to him and bowed down to him. Joseph was seventeen years old when he had his dreams. At the age of thirty he was exalted to rule over the land of Egypt. About nine years later Joseph’s brothers bowed themselves down to him. This means that Joseph would have been probably thirty-nine years of age when his brothers came to him. Thus, about twenty-two years after his dreams, Joseph saw them fulfilled, but not until he had been betrayed and imprisoned. Then he spent many years in the dungeon and eventually was elevated to the throne at the time of his exaltation. But still Joseph did not see the fulfillment of his dreams. He had interpreted the dreams of his companions in prison and the dreams of Pharaoh, and the fulfillment of those dreams was a strong confirmation that his own dreams would be fulfilled. Nevertheless, Joseph had to pass through a long period of testing. It may seem to us that his patience would have been exhausted. Could you have waited twenty-two years for the fulfillment of your dreams? Joseph did. Then on a certain day his brothers came and bowed down to him. If we had been Joseph, we would not have been able to contain our excitement. We would have jumped up and shouted, “Hallelujah! Don’ty ou know that I am Joseph? How happy I am to see you!” We would have been beside ourselves with excitement. If the sisters among us had been there, they would have first wept and then embraced all the brothers. Joseph, however, was not out of control when he saw the fulfillment of his dreams. Rather, he was calm and his excitement was under control. He was able to control himself in such a way because he was a person with the rulership of the Spirit
3你若无法克制自己的激动，就不能成为正确的统治者。成熟生命掌权的一面，乃是甚至在最激动的情景中，还知道如何镇静。你也许说，『约瑟看见他的哥哥们，不是哭过么？』是的，他哭过。约瑟是满了感情和正常感觉的人，他不是木头或石头。然而，甚至在他哭的时候，我们也看见他是管治自己的人。除了约瑟，没有一个人能在这样激动的情景中克制自己。但他外面的表现好像没有事情发生。这是统治的生命，得胜的生命。
3If you cannot control your own excitement, you cannot be a proper ruler. The ruling aspect of the mature life knows how to be calm, even in the most exciting situation. You may say, “Didn’t Joseph weep when he saw his brothers?” Yes, he did. Joseph was a human being full of sentiment and normal feelings, not stone or wood. Nevertheless, even in his weeping we see that he was a person who ruled himself. Apart from Joseph, no one else could have controlled himself in such an exciting situation. But he conducted himself outwardly as if nothing had happened. This is the ruling life, the victorious life.
4我们常常需要克制自己的激动。当亚伦的两个儿子在神面前被击杀，摩西对亚伦说的话含示他不该哭，亚伦立刻抑制他的眼泪。（利十1～7。）许多时候，我们也必须抑制眼泪，将自己置于那灵的管治之下。有句箴言说，『治服己灵的，强如取城。』（箴十六32，直译。）约瑟在那灵的管治下保持镇静，证明他有资格完成这样重大的行政。甚至在最激动的情况中，他仍不为激动所摸著，反而保持镇静、清醒。理智。
4Often it is necessary for us to hold back our excitement. When Aaron’st wo sons were killed in the presence of God, Moses’ words to Aaron implied that he should not weep, and immediately Aaron held back his tears (Lev. 10:1-7). Many times we also must hold back our tears and place ourselves under the rulership of the Spirit. A proverb says one who rules his spirit is better than one who takes a city (Prov. 16:32). The fact that Joseph remained calm under the rulership of the Spirit proved that he was the one qualified to carry out such a vast administration. Even in the most exciting of circumstances, he was not touched by any excitement. On the contrary, he remained calm, sober, and reasonable
2 约瑟不急于
II. JOSEPH NOT HASTY
向他的哥哥们显示荣耀
TO SHOW HIS GLORY TO HIS BROTHERS
5当约瑟看见他的哥哥们向他下拜，他并不急于向他们显示荣耀。（参创四五13。）直到他哥哥们第三次回来，他才向他们显示自己，并向他们揭示他的荣耀。隐藏我们的荣耀，比克制我们的激动更难。你也许能成功的约束你的激动，但几乎没有人能不揭示他的荣耀。然而，约瑟在这件事上成功了。他没有立刻向他的哥哥们显示荣耀。这是约瑟代表成熟生命掌权一面的另一个原因。他的确有作宰相的资格。我们的己和天然的人必须彻底受过对付，我们才能不向别人显示荣耀。约瑟是彻底受过对付，并活在那灵管治之下的人。因此，他有资格成为成熟生命掌权的一面。我在本篇信息中的负担，不是仅仅传递教训，乃是要帮助你们看见创世记里的生命，并认识生命的路。在约瑟的故事里所表显的生命，不是人的生命，更不是堕落的生命。不仅如此，这甚至也不是善良的天然生命。这是复活的生命，神的生命。虽然约瑟是在激动的情景中，但他没有表现得放松。这是生命。在约瑟身上，我们不仅看见生命，也看见生命的路，这路使我们自己受到控制。绝不要以为约瑟不是人。他满了人的感觉和感情，但他把自己和一切的感觉摆在那灵的管治之下。所以，我们在约瑟身上，不仅看见成熟的生命，也看见掌权的生命，以及这掌权生命的路。我们众人，尤其是青年人，需要这样的生命和这样的路，就是成熟的人掌权的一面。这生命不容易激动，也不显示荣耀。这生命在激动中仍保持镇静，克制自己，并且隐藏荣耀。
5When Joseph saw his brothers bowing down to him, he was not hasty to reveal his glory to them (cf. 45:13). Not until his brothers’ third trip did he reveal himself to them and expose his glory to them. Concealing our glory is even more difficult than holding back our excitement. You may be successful in restraining your excitement, but it is virtually impossible for anyone not to expose his glory. Joseph, however, was successful in this matter. He did not reveal his glory to his brothers immediately. This is another reason Joseph represents the reigning aspect of the mature life. He certainly had the qualifications of a ruler. Not until our self and our natural man have been thoroughly dealt with can we keep from revealing our glory to others. Joseph was a man who had been thoroughly dealt with and who was living under the rulership of the Spirit. Thus, he was qualified to be the reigning aspect of the mature life. My burden in these messages is not merely to pass on teachings. It is to help you see the life in the book of Genesis and to know the way of life. The life manifested in the story of Joseph is not the human life, much less the fallen life. Moreover, it is not even the good natural life. Rather, it is the resurrection life, the life of God. Although Joseph was in an exciting situation, he did not display any looseness. This is life. With Joseph we see not only life, but also the way of life, which is to keep ourselves under control. Never think that Joseph was not human. He was full of human feelings and sentiments, but he kept himself with all his feelings under the rulership of the Spirit. Therefore, in Joseph we see not only the mature life, but a reigning life and the way of this reigning life. We all, especially the young people, need such a life and such a way that is the reigning aspect of a mature person. This life is not easily excited, and it does not reveal its glory. Instead, in the midst of excitement it remains calm, controls itself, and conceals its glory.
3 约瑟以智慧
III. JOSEPH BEING WISE
6约瑟对付他的哥哥们，非常有智慧。他一点也不放松。倘若我是约瑟，我会对他们说，『阿利路亚，让我们跳舞坐席罢！让我们一同快乐。』但约瑟没有这样作。反之，他很镇静、清明、智慧。约瑟没有说，『流便，犹大，你们作得对。但是西缅，你错了，因为你领头把我丢在坑里。你需要为此受罚。』约瑟没有说这样的事，他至少在三方面是智慧的。
6Joseph was very wise in dealing with his brothers. He was not at all loose. If I had been Joseph, I would have said to them, “Hallelujah, let us dance and have a feast! Let us be happy together.” But Joseph did nothing like this. On the contrary, he was calm, sober, and wise. Joseph did not say, “Reuben and Judah, you did what was right. But you, Simeon, were wrong, because you took the lead to put me into the pit. You need to be punished for this.” Instead of saying such things, Joseph was wise in at least three ways
ａ使他们看见恨他卖他的罪
A. Causing Them to Realize Their Guilt in Hating and Selling Him
7约瑟把所有的哥哥们下在监里三天。他这样作，目的是要使他们看见恨他卖他的罪。（创四二21。）倘若我是约瑟，我会只把他们下在监里三小时。我会太激动，不能把他们留在那里。我会迫不及待的与哥哥们一同坐席。即使我的哥哥们能忍耐，我也没有耐心等三天。然而，三小时不足以叫约瑟的哥哥们看见他们的罪。他们需要在狱中三天。在那三天里，他们必定谈论了许多他们对约瑟所作的事。他们以为约瑟不懂得他们，甚至在约瑟面前说到他们对他所作的事。但约瑟懂得他们所说的。约瑟的哥哥们何等懊悔他们对他所作的事！但约瑟似乎对自己说，『光说还不彀。我该把他们下在监里，使他们能清醒。让他们在狱中彼此交通三天三夜。』这是约瑟使他的哥哥们彻底看见罪过的作法。我们在舒适的环境中，很难看见自己的罪而悔改。但我们若下在监里，就很容易悔改并且定罪自己。
7Joseph put all his brothers into prison for three days. He did this for the purpose of causing them to realize their guilt in hating him and in selling him (42:21). If I had been Joseph, I would have put them into prison for three hours. I would have been too excited to keep them there any longer. I would not have been able to wait until I could feast with my brothers. Even if my brothers could have been patient, I would not have had the patience to wait three days. Three hours, however, would not have been adequate for Joseph’s brothers to realize their guilt. They needed to be in prison for three days. During those days, they must have talked a great deal about what they had done to Joseph. Thinking that Joseph was not able to understand them, they even spoke in Joseph’s presence about what they had done to him. But Joseph knew what they were talking about. How Joseph’s brothers regretted what they had done to him! But Joseph seemed to say to himself, “Talk is not adequate. I should put them into prison so that they can become sober. Let them fellowship with one another in prison for three days and three nights.” This was Joseph’sway to cause his brothers to have a thorough realization of their guilt. When we are in a pleasant situation, it is difficult to realize our guilt and to repent. But if we are cast into prison, it is easy for us to repent and to condemn ourselves.
ｂ管教西缅
B. Disciplining Simeon
8约瑟管教西缅，也很有智慧。在创世记四十二章十九、二十节，约瑟对他的哥哥们说，『你们如果是诚实人，可以留你们中间的一个人囚在监里，但你们可以带粮食回去，救你们家里的饥荒；把你们的小兄弟带到我这里来。』起初约瑟想打发一个哥哥去把弟弟带来，其余的都留在监里。但三天后约瑟改变了心意，决定只留一个人在监里，其余的回去把弟弟带到他那里。所以，他『从他们中间挑出西缅来，在他们眼前把他捆绑。』（创四二24。）我相信从前是西缅领头谋害约瑟。我也相信从前是西缅领头捆绑约瑟，把他丢在坑里。正如四十九章五至七节启示，西缅是怒气暴烈的人。因此，约瑟把他捆绑，下在监里。你认为西缅在监里会想些甚么？我相信他会懊悔到极点，悔恨他所作的。他可能说，『为甚么这人选中我？为甚么他定睛在我身上？也许是因为我领头谋害约瑟。』西缅被指控为奸细，在狱中至少半年。这是严重的罪，有丧命的可能。不要以为约瑟这样对待西缅，残忍没有怜悯。反之，他是满了怜悯。那十个哥哥该在狱中三天，西缅该受较长期的监禁。约瑟这样作是智慧的。他受一种生命的控制，这生命给他清明的鉴别。无论约瑟对他的哥哥们作了甚么，都是对的。他对他们所作的，没有不及，也没有太过。我们在召会生活中需要有这样鉴别的生命。我们若有这种鉴别，就会知道怎样对待弟兄姊妹。我们会知道和他们同行到甚么程度，以及需要在那里约束自己。
8Joseph was also wise in his discipline of Simeon. In 42:19 and 20 Joseph said to his brothers, “If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry grain for the famine of your houses: but bring your youngest brother unto me.” At first Joseph thought that one brother should be sent to bring the youngest brother and that all the rest should remain in prison. But after three days Joseph changed his mind and decided that only one should stay in prison and that the others should go to bring the youngest brother to him. Therefore, he “took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes” (42:24). I believe that it was Simeon who took the lead in plotting to murder Joseph. I also believe that Simeon took the lead to bind Joseph and to cast him into the pit. As 49:5-7 reveals, Simeon was a person given to anger. Thus, Joseph had him bound and put into prison. What do you suppose Simeon thought about there in prison? I believe that he repented to the uttermost and regretted what he had done. Perhaps he said, “Why did this man choose me? Why did he set his eyes upon me? Maybe it was because I took the lead in the plot against Joseph.” Simeon was in prison for at least half a year, having been accused of being a spy. This was a serious crime and it could have cost him his life. Do not think that Joseph was cruel and merciless for treating Simeon in this way. On the contrary, he was full of mercy. The ten brothers deserved their three days in prison, and Simeon deserved a longer period of imprisonment. Joseph was wise in doing this. He was controlled by a life that gave him a sober discernment. Whatever Joseph did to his brothers was right. He did neither too little to them nor did he do too much. We in the church life need to have such a life of discernment. If we have this discernment, we shall know what to do with the brothers and the sisters. We shall know how far we can go with them and where we need to restrain ourselves.
ｃ在便雅悯的事上试验他们
C. Testing Them with Respect to Benjamin
9不仅如此，约瑟在便雅悯的事上试验他的哥哥们，也表现出他的智慧。（创四二15，20，36～37。）在四十二章十五节，约瑟吩咐他们把小兄弟便雅悯带到他那里。约瑟这样挑出便雅悯，藉以帮助他的哥哥们想到约瑟自己。倘若我是约瑟，我会说，『不要忘了你们对约瑟所作的。』然而，约瑟智慧的说到便雅悯。他一说到便雅悯，就使他的哥哥们想起约瑟。这必定摸著他们的良心。在四十二章十三节他们对他说，『仆人们本是弟兄十二人，是迦南地一个人的儿子，顶小的现今在我们的父亲那里，有一个没有了。』倘若我是约瑟，我会问:『你们所说没有了的那个人在那里？他发生了甚么事？』约瑟用智慧摸著他哥哥们的良心。
9Furthermore, Joseph displayed his wisdom in testing his brothers with respect to Benjamin (42:15, 20, 36-37). In 42:15 Joseph commanded that the youngest brother, Benjamin, be brought to him. By singling out Benjamin in this way, Joseph helped his brothers to think about Joseph himself. If I had been Joseph, I would have said, “Don’t forget what you did to Joseph.” Joseph, however, wisely referred to Benjamin. As soon as he referred to Benjamin, his brothers were reminded of Joseph. This must have touched their consciences. In 42:13 they said to him, “Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.” If I had been Joseph I would have asked, “Where is that one whom you say is not? What happened to him?” In his wisdom, Joseph touched his brothers’ consciences
4 约瑟向他的哥哥们施慈爱
IV. JOSEPH SHOWING LOVE TO HIS BROTHERS
10约瑟的哥哥们在他的控制之下，他可以任意对待他们。他若要将他们砍头，他有权柄下这命令。他若愿意，也能与他们一同坐席。但约瑟代表成熟生命掌权的一面，对每个人都行得恰到好处。因为他的哥哥们不都是同样的，他就没有用同样的作法对待他们。最邪恶的需要最彻底的管教。约瑟是基督的豫表，他怎样对待他的哥哥们，将来基督也要怎样对待以色列国。首先，约瑟管教他们。就一面来说，他吓唬他们。我作小孩子的时候，读到这事，希奇约瑟为甚么不向他的哥哥们施慈爱。我认为他应当立刻说，『我是约瑟，你们是我的哥哥。让我们拥抱、跳舞、坐席罢。』我希奇约瑟为甚么不向他的哥哥们施慈爱，反而把他们下在监里。约瑟作每件事都很清明，且有鉴别。但这意思不是说，他不爱他的哥哥们。反之，他对他们有丰富的爱。然而，当时他不能公开表露对他们的爱。他必须在暗中向他们施慈爱。他把钱归还他们，又给他们路上用的食物。（创四二25。）因为约瑟的哥哥们不明白他智慧的对付，所以他们被他暗中的爱吓坏了。
10Joseph’s brothers were under his control, and he could have done whatever he wanted with them. If he had wanted them beheaded, he had the authority to command it. He also could have feasted with them if he had wanted to do that. But as one representing the reigning aspect of the mature life, Joseph behaved in a proper way toward everyone. Because not all his brothers were the same, he did not treat them all in the same way. The one who was the most evil required the most thorough discipline. As a type of Christ, Joseph did the same thing to his brothers that Christ will do to the nation of Israel in the future. First, Joseph disciplined them. In a sense, he terrified them. When I read about this as a child, I wondered why Joseph did not show love to his brothers. I thought that he should have immediately said, “I am Joseph, and you are my brothers. Let us embrace, dance, and have a feast.” I wondered why, instead of showing love for his brothers, Joseph put them into prison. Joseph did everything soberly and with discernment. But this did not mean that he had no love for his brothers. On the contrary, he had a great deal of love toward them. However, at the time he could not openly display his love for them. Rather, he had to extend love to them in a secret way. He did this by restoring their money and by giving them provision for their journey (42:25). Because Joseph’s brothers did not understand his wise dealing with them, they were frightened by his secret love
11关于这些事，我盼望圣灵对你们说话，过于我所能说的。在召会生活中，我们需要学习镇静，约束自己。我们也需要学习不显扬自己的荣耀。不仅如此，我们必须学习在行事上不随便、不愚昧，乃是清明的、有鉴别的。最终，我们也必须对弟兄们有爱，甚至对那需要管教的有爱。这是约瑟的生命。在召会生活中，我们需要镇静的生命，清明的生命，鉴别的生命。我们若有这样的生命，就知道如何与弟兄姊妹相处。但无论我们作甚么，都必须以暗中的爱，不能公开显示的爱为基础。四十二章二十八节说，『他们就提心吊胆，战战兢兢的彼此说，这是神向我们作甚么呢？』这是约瑟的哥哥们发现钱在他们的口袋里而有的反应。他们发现钱在他们的口袋里，就提心吊胆，也就是说，他们的心极其忧虑。他们不了解在埃及发生的是甚么事。他们被那里发生的事吓坏了。约瑟是非常清明的人。我不相信别人能作他所作的事。创世记四十二章九节说，约瑟想起从前所作关于他哥哥们的梦。如今在二十二年后，他的梦应验了。我们若是约瑟，看见我们的梦应验，会激动的忘记一切。我们会说，『既然我们的梦应验了，让我们忘掉一切，欢喜快乐罢。』但约瑟若这样作，极度享受梦的应验，他就不能作甚么来帮助他的哥哥们。就他而论，他已豫备好享受梦的应验。他不再需要管教。然而，他的哥哥们确实需要管教。因此，约瑟所作的不是为著自己，乃是为著他的哥哥们。他为著他们的缘故，情愿暂时牺牲因梦的应验而有的享受。
11I hope that the Spirit will speak more to you regarding these matters than I am able to utter. In the church life we need to learn to be calm and to restrain ourselves. We also need to learn not to show our glory. Moreover, we must learn to do things not in a careless and foolish way, but in a sober and discerning way. Finally, we also must have love for the brothers, even for those who require discipline. This is the life of Joseph. In the church life we need a calm life, a sober life, and a discerning life. If we have such a life, we shall know how to relate to the brothers and sisters. But whatever we do must be underlined with a secret love, a love that cannot be shown openly. Verse 28 says, “And their heart went out, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?” (Heb.). This was the response of Joseph’s brothers when they found their money in the mouth of their sacks. When they found the money in their sacks, their heart went out, that is, their heart was exercised. They might have wondered about what had taken place in Egypt. They were terrified of what had happened there. Joseph was a very sober person. I do not believe that anyone else could have done what he did. Genesis 42:9 says that Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed of his brothers. Now, after twenty- two years, his dreams were fulfilled. If we had been Joseph, we would have forgotten everything in our excitement at seeing our dreams fulfilled. We would have said, “Now that our dreams have been fulfilled, let us forget everything else and be happy.” But if Joseph had done this, enjoying to the uttermost the fulfillment of his dreams, he would not have been able to do anything to help his brothers. As far as he was concerned, he was ready to enjoy the fulfillment of his dreams. He did not need any more discipline. His brothers, however, certainly did need discipline. Thus, Joseph did not act for himself, but for his brothers. Rather, for their sake he was willing to sacrifice the enjoyment of the fulfillment of his dreams for a period of time.
12约瑟的梦在他哥哥们到他那里，在他面前下拜时，就得了应验。倘若约瑟仅仅要享受梦的应验，他可以对哥哥们说，『我是约瑟，我很高兴看见你们。让我们一同吃喝。然后你们回去，把父亲接到这里。』甚至在古时，他们回到家里，再与父亲一同来，也不会超过几星期。约瑟可以说，『我迫不及待要与父亲在一起。我已经离开他二十多年了。现在我要享受与他在一起。我要尽速看到他。』毫无疑问，约瑟切切想见他的父亲。但为著他哥哥们的缘故，他情愿延后他的享受。约瑟牺牲这种享受，使他至少又延迟了六个月，才享受梦的应验。他的哥哥们必须回家，吃尽粮食的供应，再回来籴粮。最终。他们的父亲到埃及来见约瑟。
12Joseph’s dreams were fulfilled in his brothers’ coming to him and bowing down before him. If Joseph had intended merely to enjoy the fulfillment of his dreams, he could have said to his brothers, “I am Joseph, and I am so happy to see you. Let us eat together. Then you go back and bring my father here.” Even in ancient times it would not have taken more than a few weeks for them to return home and to come back with their father. Joseph could have said, “I cannot wait any longer to be with my father. I’ve been away from him for more than twenty years. Now I want to enjoy his presence. I want to see him as soon as possible.” No doubt Joseph desperately desired to see his father. But for the sake of his brothers he was willing to postpone his enjoyment. Joseph’s sacrifice of this enjoyment caused him to delay the enjoyment of the fulfillment of his dreams for at least another six months. The brothers had to go home, exhaust the food supply, and return for more grain. Eventually, their father came to Egypt to see Joseph.
13假定你是约瑟，你能等候这样久么？身为宰相，约瑟能作必要的事，立刻将他的父亲接到他那里。但他牺牲自己见到父亲的享受，以管教他的哥哥们，叫他们得益处。我再说，约瑟是清明、受过管教的人。他个人的脾气和感情，完全受到生命的控制。他没有随著自己的感觉行事。反之，他的感情受到复活生命的控制。所有在召会中领头的人，都需要这样的生命。没有这样的生命，我们就不知道如何帮助别人。我们若没有这样的生命，就会照著我们的感觉，照我们的忧喜接触人。但约瑟对付他的哥哥们，不是照著他的感情，乃是照著他们的需要。他若照著要见父亲的愿望行动，就会立刻把父亲接到他那里。但为了管教他的哥哥们，他将见到父亲的享受，至少延迟了六个月。他为著哥哥们的益处，牺牲他和父亲立刻同在的享受。表面看来，约瑟对待他的哥哥们很严厉。那九个哥哥回到家里，会说，『天哪，那人对我们真是严厉！他真是苦待我们！他不但误会我们，并且苦待我们。』他们回到父亲那里，虽然得著了所需要的粮食，但并不快乐。他们告诉父亲，他们在埃及所遭遇的伤心故事。他们不晓得约瑟暗中爱他们。我们已经看见，约瑟在暗中爱他们，把钱归还他们，又给他们路上彀用的食物。约瑟没有报复的思想。他只想到怎样对他未受管教的哥哥们有益处。甚至在享受梦的应验上，他也不自私。他没有顾到自己，却顾到他的哥哥们，付了极大的代价来成全他们。
13Suppose you were Joseph. Could you have waited such a long time? As the ruler, Joseph could have done what was necessary to have his father brought to him immediately. But he disciplined his brothers for their good at the sacrifice of his own enjoyment of seeing his father. I repeat, Joseph was a sober, disciplined person. His personal temperament and sentiment were absolutely controlled by life. He did not go along with his own feelings. Instead, his sentiments were under the control of resurrection life. All those who take the lead in the church need such a life. Without this kind of life we do not know how to help others. If we do not have such a life, we shall contact people according to our feelings, according to whether we are happy or sad. But Joseph did not deal with his brothers according to his sentiments, but according to their need. If he had acted according to his desire to see his father, he would have had his father brought to him immediately. But in order to discipline his brothers, he delayed his enjoyment of seeing his father for at least six months. He sacrificed his enjoyment of the immediate presence of his father for his brothers’ good. Apparently Joseph was treating his brothers in a rough way. As the nine brothers were returning home, they might have said, “My, that man really was rough with us! How he mistreated us! We were not only misunderstood by him, but also mistreated.” When they returned to their father, they did not return joyfully, although they had the food they required. Then they told their father the sad story of what had happened to them in Egypt. They did not realize that Joseph loved them in a hidden way. As we have seen, he loved them in a secret way by restoring their money and by affording them sufficient provision for their journey. Joseph had no thought of revenge. He considered only what would be good for his undisciplined brothers. Even in the enjoyment of the fulfillment of his dreams, he was not selfish. He did not care for himself, but for his brothers, and he paid a great price to perfect them.
14那些在神儿女中间领头的人，需要学习这功课。我们在召会生活中接触圣徒，不该照著我们的感情，乃该照著他们的需要。我们接触圣徒，该像约瑟对待他的哥哥们一样，既不严厉，也不放松。不要以为约瑟对他的哥哥们很严厉。为要成全他们，他对待他们很清明，但并不严厉。他也不放松，说，『我赦免你们大家。我不在意你们所作的，因为我知道是神差遣我到这里。让我们赞美主罢！』约瑟若这样对待他们，就不会有成全。照著约瑟天然的性情，他很难把他的哥哥们下在监里三天。他不是那样的人。他这样作，乃是违反他善良的性情。然而，为了应付他哥哥们受管教的需要，他这样作了。在召会生活中，我们不该一直十分仁慈。有时候，领头的人需要严厉。不过，你若对人严厉，需要严厉得正确。否则，你的严厉会杀死人。这里的点是，我们不该照著我们的脾气、感情或天然的所是对待别人。我们也不该照著自己的享受对待他们。反之，我们必须照著别人的需要接触他们。约瑟可能对自己说，『为著我哥哥们的缘故，我必须严厉，对他们说厉害的话。我必须把他们下在监里三天。』我们都必须像约瑟一样，学习照著别人的需要对待他们，不照著我们的感觉对待他们。召会生活很像婚姻生活。照著神的命定，不该有离婚。在婚姻生活或召会生活中，都不该有离婚。在神眼中，召会生活没有逃路，没有安全门。你若说召会不再是召会，意思就是与召会生活离婚。五年前你说这是召会，今天怎能说这不是召会？倘若已过几年你和一个男人同居，今天怎能宣称他不是你的丈夫？在召会生活中，有各式各样的人。不但我们不容易留在一起，连丈夫与妻子长期共处也很困难。凡是结婚的人都能告诉你，这不容易。因这缘故，美国满了离婚的事件。我曾读过统计数字，指明加州的离婚事件几乎和结婚事件同样多。但在召会生活中的青年人，不应该离婚。在召会中的青年人应该有主的恩典，学习不照自己的个性，乃照复活的生命对待配偶。
14Those who take the lead among the children of God need to learn this lesson. We should not contact the saints in the church life according to our sentiments, but according to their need. Like Joseph in his dealing with his brothers, we should be neither strict nor loose in contacting the saints. Do not think that Joseph was strict with his brothers. He was sober in dealing with them in order to perfect them, but he was not strict with them. Neither was he loose, saying, “I forgive you all. I don’t care about what you did, for I know that God sent me here. Let us just praise the Lord.” If Joseph had treated them like this, there would have been no perfection. According to his natural being, it was difficult for Joseph to put his brothers into prison for three days. He simply was not that kind of person. For him to do this was to go against his good nature. Nevertheless, in order to meet his brothers’ need for discipline, he did this. In the church life we should not always be so kind. At certain times the leading ones need to be rough and tough. However, if you are rough with someone, you need to be rough in the right way. Otherwise, your toughness will kill him. The point here is that we should not deal with others according to our temperament, sentiment, or natural being. Neither should we deal with them according to our own enjoyment. Rather, we must contact others according to their need. Perhaps Joseph said to himself, “For the sake of my brothers, I must be tough and talk to them in a rough manner. I must put them into prison for three days.” Like Joseph, we all must learn to deal with others according to their need and not according to our feelings. The church life is similar to married life. According to God’so rd i nation, there should be no divorce. Neither in married life nor in the church life should there be divorce. In the eyes of God, there is no escape, no emergency exit, from the church life. If you say that the church is no longer the church, it means that you are divorcing the church life. If five years ago you said that this was the church, how can you say that it is not the church today? How could you claim that a certain man is not your husband if you have been living with him for the past several years? There are many different kinds of people in the church life. It is not only difficult for us to remain together, but it is hard for a man to stay with his wife for a long period of time. Anyone who has done so can tell you that it is not easy. For this reason, this country is full of divorces. I once read statistics which indicated that in California there were nearly as many divorces as marriages. But there are no divorces among the young people married in the church life. We can boast to the demons that among the young people in the churches there is no divorce. Because the Lord’s grace has been with these young people, they have learned to deal with their spouse, not according to their disposition, but according to resurrection life. In this matter of marriage we have enjoyed great success.
15在召会生活中，我们也必须有同样的学习。在召会生活中，领头的人有时没有正确的接触别人。我们接触别人没有一直照著他们的需要，却照著我们的感情、感觉和享受。在要来的年间，我们中间有许多青年人会被主兴起来领头。他们在领头的时候，必须学习不照著他们的感情，乃照著受复活生命控制而来的鉴别。他们若这样作，就会照著圣徒的需要，不照著自己的感情来接触他们。他们会像约瑟一样，照著他哥哥们的需要来对待他们，即使他的行动违反自己的愿望，叫他不能享受梦的应验。约瑟对付他的哥哥们，甚至违反了他天然的性情。照著他天然的组成，他不是那种对别人严厉的人。但因为哥哥们需要这样的对待，他就这样对付他们。约瑟照著他哥哥们的需要作每件事。他所作的事，没有一件是照著他的愿望、享受、爱好或感情。甚至在梦的应验这件事上，他也不顾自己的感觉，只顾到他的哥哥们，以及怎样对他们有益处。在召会生活中领头的事上，我们还没有完全成功。我所说的领头，不仅是指长老，乃是指一切领头帮助别人的人。这包含那些与牧养有关的人。当我们以牧养来帮助别人时，我们不可照著自己的感觉，而当照著别人的需要。学习这事，乃是一个很大的功课。约瑟是个正确领头的绝佳榜样。他是个不照著自己的需要、愿望、个性或感情而行的领头人。他是照著别人的需要，为著他们的益处来作每件事。当他严厉的对哥哥们说话，那是为著他们的益处。当他把他们下在监里三天，那是为著他们的益处。当他捆绑西缅，把他留在监里较长的时间，那是为著他的益处。我们已经看见，约瑟爱他的哥哥们到了极点。然而，他不是放纵的爱他们，乃是清明的照著他哥哥们的需要，为著他们的益处爱他们。今天我们在召会生活中都需要实行这事。
15In the church life, however, we must admit that we have shortcomings. Although we have no divorces in our married life, in the church life sometimes the leading ones do not contact others in a proper way. We do not always contact them according to their need, but according to our sentiment, feeling, and enjoyment. In the coming years many young ones among us will be raised up by the Lord to take the lead. When they assume the lead, they must learn not to take the lead according to their sentiment, but according to the discernment that comes from being controlled by resurrection life. If they do this, they will contact the saints according to their needs and not according to their own sentiments. They will be like Joseph who dealt with his brothers according to their needs, even if he had to act contrary to his own desire for the enjoyment of the fulfillment of his dreams. In his dealing with his brothers, Joseph even went against his natural being. According to his natural constitution, he was not the kind of person to be rough with others. But because the brothers needed this kind of treatment, he dealt with them in this way. Joseph did everything according to the need of his brothers. Not one thing he did was according to his desire, enjoyment, preference, or sentiment. Even in the matter of the fulfillment of his dreams, he ignored his feelings and took care of his brothers and of what would be good for them. With respect to the leadership in the church life, we have not been altogether successful. By leadership I refer not only to the elders, but to anyone who takes the lead to help others. This includes those involved in shepherding. As we contact others in the way of shepherding, we must not do so according to our feelings. Rather, it should be according to the need of others. To learn this is to learn a great lesson. Joseph is an excellent example of proper leadership. He was a leader who did not act according to his need, desire, disposition, or sentiment. On the contrary, he did everything according to the need of others and for their good. When he spoke roughly to his brothers, it was for their good. When he put them into prison for three days, it was for their good. When he bound Simeon and kept him in prison for a longer period of time, it was for his good. We have seen that Joseph loved his brothers to the uttermost. However, he did not love them in a loose way, but in a sober way according to his brothers’ need and for their good. We all need to practice this in the church life today.