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创世记生命读经 · 第119篇

成熟的以色列掌权的一面（七）

Being Matured-
1我们已经多次指出，创世记几乎包含了圣经中一切真理的种子。我们若要进入约瑟生平记载的深处，必须找出撒在那里的种子，并看见这段记载中关于掌权生命的叙述。在我们来看四十五至四十七章的种子和掌权生命以前，我们需要进一步来看关于约瑟豫表基督的两个点。
1As we have pointed out many times, the book of Genesis contains the seeds of nearly all the truths in the Scriptures. If we would get into the depths of the record of Joseph’s life, we must find the seeds sown there and see that this record contains an account of a reigning life. Before we consider the seeds and the reigning life found in chapters forty-five through forty-seven, we need to consider two further points regarding Joseph as a type of Christ
《17》基督向悔改的以色列人启示祂的高举和荣耀
q) Christ’s Revealing His Exaltation and Glory to Repentant Israel
2当一切的试验过去，时机成熟时，约瑟就向他的弟兄们显示自己，以及他的高举和荣耀。（创四五8，。）这豫表有一天，基督要向以色列遗民启示祂自己。基督这位被高举在天上的，有祂的个性。祂知道必须作甚么来试验以色列人，也知道试验该持续多久。在适当的时候，以色列人的试验就要结束。在一切的圣徒被提，基督审判台前的审判完成以后，基督要同著得胜的圣徒从天上显现，以色列的遗民要看见祂。那时他们就要晓得拿撒勒人耶稣是谁，并且说，『拿撒勒人耶稣是我们的弥赛亚。祂已经被高举，登宝座，成了万有的主。』
2When all the tests were over and the time was ripe, Joseph revealed himself and his exaltation and glory to his brothers (45:8, 13). This typifies that one day Christ will reveal Himself to the remnant 13 of Israel. Christ, the exalted One in the heavens, has His own temperament. He knows what He has to do to test Israel, and He knows how long the test should last. At the right time, the trial of Israel will end. After all the saints have been raptured and after the judgment at the judgment seat of Christ has been carried out, Christ, with the overcoming saints, will be revealed from the heavens, and the remnant of Israel will see Him. At that time they will realize who Jesus of Nazareth is and say, “Jesus of Nazareth is our Messiah. He has been exalted and enthroned as Lord of all.”
3当约瑟向他的哥哥们显示他自己时，他们看见是他，并记起从前向他所作的，无疑是非常的吃惊。然而，约瑟向他们显示他自己，完全是恩典的事。照样，基督向以色列的遗民启示祂自己，也是恩典的事。就在适当的时候，基督要启示祂已经被高举，宇宙中没有一人高过祂。当约瑟向他的弟兄们显示自己时，他说神已经立他作法老的父，作他全家的主，并埃及全地的宰相。（创四五8。）甚至法老也受约瑟的指导。当基督在祂的荣耀里向以色列的遗民启示祂自己时，犹太人要看见，祂比他们所期待于弥赛亚的大得多。
3When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, they no doubt were shocked to see him and to remember what they had done to him. However, Joseph’s revealing himself to them was wholly a matter of grace. Likewise, as a matter of grace, Christ will reveal Himself to the remnant of Israel. At exactly the right time, Christ will reveal that He has been exalted and that no one in the universe is higher than He. When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he said that God had made him a father to Pharaoh, the lord of all his house, and the ruler throughout all the land of Egypt (45:8). Even Pharaoh was under Joseph’s instruction. When Christ will reveal Himself in His glory to the remnant of Israel, the Jews will realize that He is far greater than they expected their Messiah to be.
《18》以色列人有分于基督掌权的享受
(r) Israel Participating in the Enjoyment of Christ’s Reign
4基督向以色列的遗民启示祂自已以后，就要开始祂千年国的掌权。在千年国期间，犹太人要有分于基督掌权的享受，正如约瑟的弟兄们有分于他掌权的享受一样。（创四五18，四七4～6。）约瑟的弟兄们享受了埃及最好的地。这是千年国的豫表，犹太人要在其中享受地上最好的事物。照著撒迦利亚十四章十六至十九节，埃及人和其他国家的人必须在耶路撒冷献祭给主。列国若不带著给主的祭物上耶路撒冷，必无雨降在他们的地上。因为犹太人与神是一，凡献给神的，就成为他们的分和享受。照著旧约，凡献给神的，就成为祭司的分。照样，在那一千年的期间，凡献给神的，也要成为犹太人的分；他们是祭司，要指导地上的万民，特别是埃及人，如何敬拜神。我相信在千年国期间，许多埃及人要为他们今世对以色列人的对待悔改。埃及人会对犹太人说，『我们悔改了。我们不知道你们是这样的子民。凡我们所有的，你们要就尽管拿去。』这要照著旧约里的豫言和豫表发生。现在我们再来到有关生命的一段插进的话。要记得，在创世记，几乎每件事都是种子。新约第一卷书，马太福音。一面启示基督，另一面启示神的国。马太福音也清楚指明，我们是藉著否认己认识神的国。在马太十六章，基督、召会和国度都启示出来了。在这一章里，主耶稣告诉门徒说，若有人要跟从祂，就必须否认己。在创世记末了，我们看见否认己这真理的种子。在创世记末了几章，约瑟豫表基督，以色列家豫指国度。因为约瑟否认己，神的国就得以实际的实现。整个宇宙都属于神，而神渴望一个国度。虽然是法老在埃及统治，神的国却藉著约瑟的掌权得以实现出来。约瑟的掌权就是神的国，这国是为著达成神的目的。照著出埃及记，神的目的乃是要在地上得著一个居所。但在创世记末了，我们看见神国的小影。
4After Christ reveals Himself to the remnant of Israel, He will begin His millennial reign. During the millennium, the Jews will participate in the enjoyment of Christ’s reign, just as Joseph’s brothers participated in the enjoyment of his reign (45:18; 47:4-6). Joseph’s brothers enjoyed the best portion of the land in Egypt. This is a type of the millennium in which the Jews will enjoy the best things of earth. According to Zechariah 14:16-19, the Egyptians and those from the other nations will be required to present offerings to the Lord in Jerusalem. If a nation refuses to go up to Jerusalem with offerings for the Lord, no rain will fall upon their land. Because the Jews will be one with God, whatever is offered to Him will be their portion and enjoyment. According to the Old Testament, what was offered to God became the portion of the priests. In like manner, what is offered to God during the thousand years will become the portion of the Jews, who will be the priests instructing the people on earth, especially the Egyptians, in the way to worship God. I believe that during the millennium many Egyptians will repent for the way they dealt with Israel in this age. The Egyptians may say to the Jews, “We repent. We didn’t know that you were such a people. Whatever we have that you want, just take it.” This will take place according to the prophecy and the type in the Old Testament. Now we come, once again, to a parenthesis regarding the matter of life. Remember, nearly everything in the book of Genesis is a seed. The first book of the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew, reveals Christ on the one hand and the kingdom of God on the other hand. Matthew also clearly indicates that we realize God’s kingdom by denying ourselves. In Matthew 16 Christ, the church, and the kingdom are all revealed. In this chapter the Lord Jesus told His disciples that if anyone would follow Him, this one would have to deny himself. At the end of Genesis we find a seed of the truth of self- denial. In the closing chapters of Genesis, Christ is typified by Joseph, and the kingdom is foreshadowed by the house of Israel. Because Joseph denied himself, the kingdom of God could be realized in a practical way. The entire universe belongs to God, and God desires a kingdom. Although Pharaoh was ruling in Egypt, the kingdom of God was nonetheless realized through the reign of Joseph. The reigning of Joseph was the kingdom of God, which is for the fulfillment of God’s purpose. According to the book of Exodus, the purpose of God is to have a dwelling place on earth. But at the end of Genesis we see a miniature of God’skin gdom.
5在历史中，我们找不到任何人能与约瑟相比。虽然他的哥哥们得罪他到了极点，但他不想报复。约瑟没有报复的思想。反之，他否认自己，给他的万哥们适当且必需的管教。约瑟管教他的哥哥们，不是为著自己的缘故，乃是为著他们的缘故。他没有报复的思想，只关心他的哥哥们能得成全并建造，使他们得以生活在一起，成为团体的人。约瑟嘱咐他们不要在回家的路上相争，显示他对他们的关心。（创四五24。）约瑟的心愿乃是他的弟兄们能成为一同生活的子民，作神在地上的见证。约瑟似乎对他们说，『我已经为你们作了每件事，你们也得著了所需要的一切。现在带著对神的感谢回去见我父亲，并且把他接到我这里来。但我担心你们会在路上彼此相争。』约瑟说到相争的话，也指明他管教他的哥哥们。他对九个哥哥的管教是一般的，对西缅的管教是特殊的。藉此我们看见他的管教是清明的，不是由于怒气的推动。约瑟是否认己的人。无论他作甚么，都是基于否认己的原则。我不知道有谁被人得罪到约瑟所受的那样程度，而丝毫没有报复的意欲。当他向他的弟兄们显示自己时，他们都很惊惶。（创四五3。）然而，约瑟不仅赦免他们，并且还接纳他们，安慰他们。他说，『现在不要因为把我卖到这里，自忧自恨，这是神差我在你们以先来，为要保全生命。』（创四五5。）这里我们看见，被人得罪的安慰得罪人的。基督徒赦免人的时候，常常说，『是的，我赦免你，但我也要题醒你，你所作的是何等严重。』这样的赦免没有甚么意义，因为事实上这根本不是赦免。当约瑟赦免他的哥哥们时，他安慰他们，并且告诉他们不要自忧自恨，乃要忘了已往对他所作的。他说他们把他卖为奴仆，乃是神的作为，为要保全生命。约瑟没有为他哥哥们所作的责备他们；反之，他认为他们是神的帮手。他们帮助神把他送到埃及。
5In all of history we cannot find anyone to match Joseph. Although he was offended by his brothers to the uttermost, he did not seek revenge. With Joseph, there was no thought of revenge. Rather, he denied himself and rendered the adequate and necessary discipline to his brothers. Joseph did not discipline his brothers for his own sake, but for their sake. Having no thought of revenge, he was concerned that his brothers might be perfected and built up so that they might live together as a collective people. The fact that Joseph charged them not to quarrel on the way home reveals his concern for them (45:24). The desire of Joseph’she art was that his brothers would be a people living together as God’s testimony on earth. Joseph seemed to say to them, “I have done everything for you, and you have all you need. Now go back with thanksgiving to God to see my father and bring him back to me. But I am concerned that you might quarrel with one another on the way.” Joseph’sword about quarreling also indicates that he disciplined his brothers. He disciplined nine of the brothers in a general way and Simeon in a specific way. By this we see his discipline was sober; it was not motivated by anger. Joseph was a person who denied himself. Whatever he did was based upon the principle of self-denial. I do not know of any other person who was offended to the degree Joseph was, yet who had not the slightest desire for revenge. When he revealed himself to his brothers, they were terrified (45:3, Heb.). Joseph, however, not only forgave them, but received them and comforted them. He said, “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life” (45:5). Here we see that the offended one comforted the offending ones. Often when Christians forgive someone, they say, “Yes, I forgive you, but I also want to remind you of the seriousness of what you have done.” This kind of forgiveness does not mean anything, for actually it is not forgiveness at all. When Joseph forgave his brothers, he comforted them and told them not to be angry with themselves, but to forget what they had done to him. He said that their selling him into slavery was God’s doing to preserve life. Joseph did not blame his brothers for what they had done; rather, he regarded them as God’s helpers. They had helped God to get him to Egypt.
6在七节约瑟说，『神差我在你们以先来，为要给你们存留余种在世上，又要大施拯救，保全你们的生命。』繙作『余种』的希伯来文，也可译为『遗民。』神的目的需要遗民。祂的心意乃是要亚伯拉罕、以撒，雅各的后裔给祂建造一个帐幕，使祂能在地上建立祂的国。倘若遗民被剪除了，神的目的就无法达成。若是那样，创世记就是圣经最后一卷书了。神知道饥荒会除灭住在迦南地的每个人，就为被选并蒙召族类的遗民豫备了延续生存的路。约瑟能安慰他的哥哥们，因为他晓得把他差到埃及的是神，不是他们。他也许曾说，『谢谢你们卖了我。你们若没有那样作，今天我怎能在这里？』我们赦免不赦免别人，在于我们的异象和体认。倘若我们知道，我们在这里是为著主的恢复，我们就不会在意别人多么得罪我们。我们会体认，人越得罪我们，结果越美好。约瑟的哥哥们若没有把他卖为奴仆，他的梦怎能应验？他的梦是藉著恨他的人应验的。约瑟对这有透彻的体认，因此能赦免他哥哥们如何苦待过他。今天在召会生活中，我们也该这样。倘若我们晓得，我们在这里是为著主的目的，为著主的恢复，那么我们就会知道，无论在我们身上发生甚么事，都是为著神的目的。罗马八章二十八节说，『我们晓得万有都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按祂旨意被召的人。』约瑟爱神，所以，无论在他身上发生甚么事，都是叫他得益处。不愿赦免得罪你的人，指明你近视。你若看透神所作之事的深处，就绝不会想报复。你总是愿意赦免得罪你的人。你会说，『赞美主！无论在我身上发生甚么事，都是叫我得益处，不仅为著我，也为著神的子民。无论在我身上发生甚么事，都是为著神国的益处效力。』
6In verse 7 Joseph said, “God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” The Hebrew word rendered “posterity” is better translated “remnant.” God’s purpose required a remnant. His intention was that the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would build Him a tabernacle so that He might establish His kingdom on earth. If the remnant had been cut off, God’s purpose could not have been fulfilled. In that case, the book of Genesis would have been the last book of the Bible. Knowing that the famine would have terminated everyone living in the land of Canaan, God prepared a way for the remnant of the chosen and called race to continue to exist. Joseph was able to comfort his brothers because he realized that God, not they, had sent him to Egypt. He might have said, “Thank you for selling me. If you had not done that, how could I be here today?” Whether or not we forgive others depends upon our vision and realization. If we know that we are here for the Lord’s recovery, we shall not care how much others offend us. We shall realize that the more we are offended, the more good will result. If Joseph’s brothers had not sold him into slavery, how could his dreams have been fulfilled? His dreams were fulfilled through the ones who hated him. Joseph had a thorough realization of this and thus he could forgive his brothers for the way they mistreated him. It should be the same with us today in the church life. If we realize that we are here for the Lord’s purpose, for the Lord’s recovery, then we shall know that whatever happens to us is for God’s purpose. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to the purpose.” Joseph loved God; therefore, whatever happened to him was for good. To be unwilling to forgive those who have offended you indicates that you are shortsighted. But if you see into the depth of what God has done, you will never seek revenge. Instead, you will always be willing to forgive those who have offended you. You will say, “Praise the Lord! Whatever happened to me was for good, not only for me, but for God’sp eople. Whatever happens to me works good for the kingdom of God
7约瑟晓得是神差他到埃及，这是在罗马八章二十八节所看到之真理的种子。约瑟的一生是这一节的说明，也是一切事如何为爱神之人的益处效力的榜样。撒在创世记的种子，在罗马八章二十八节长大，在启示录十五章收成，那里我们看见站在玻璃海上的得胜者；玻璃海表征试炼、试验和苦难。约瑟的哥哥们帮助他登上宝座。倘若他们没有把他卖为奴仆，他就无法来到埃及。因此，他们的出卖把他引到宝座上。不要抱怨你的妻子或丈夫，或召会中的圣徒对你所作的。对那些爱神的人，一切事都互相效力，叫他们得益处。这里关键的问题乃是我们爱不爱神。你若爱祂，甚至灾难也为你效力，叫你得益处。你若不爱祂，甚至大学毕业，有博士学位，也不为你的益处效力。这些年来，我受了许多苦，但一切事都为我的益处效力，我因这事实得了安慰。每当我经历苦难的时候，我想起罗马八章二十八节，就立刻得了安慰。当约瑟是十七岁的青年人时，他需要经历试炼和试验。因为约瑟是他父亲雅各所宠爱的，他生活在舒适的环境里，不可能有甚么苦难。他总是在父亲的保护之下。但有一天，照著主的主宰，雅各打发他到哥哥们那里，他们就把他卖为奴仆。结果苦难临到约瑟，藉此将他训练成为宰相。在这件事上，我们看见神的智慧。首先，约瑟作梦看见他的弟兄们向他下拜。要这异象得应验，约瑟必须经历许多苦难，特别要在最亲近的人手中受苦。约瑟从十七岁的时候就受苦，一直到三十岁。约瑟需要经过这一切苦难，使他能得成全，有资格。神差遣约瑟到埃及，为要保全生命，使遗民能存留，以达成祂的目的。不要被约瑟受苦的这段话吓住了。也许你曾求主使你成为今日的约瑟。主要藉著使你经历一些苦难，答应你的祷告。在受苦的期间，你也许会说，『主阿，要到几时呢？别人的梦已经应验了，我的梦几时应验呢？』最终，你要得著释放。约瑟既忍耐，又否认己。他所作的，不是为著自己的享受。乃是为著管教并成全他的哥哥们。
7Joseph’s realization that God was the One who had sent him to Egypt is a seed of the truth found in Romans 8:28. Joseph’s life is an illustration of this verse and an example of how everything works for good for those who love God. The seed sown in the book of Genesis grows in Romans 8:28 and is harvested in Revelation 15, where we see the overcomers standing on the sea of glass, which signifies trials, tests, and sufferings. Joseph’s brothers helped him come to the throne. If they had not sold him into slavery, he could not have come to Egypt. Hence, their selling of him ushered him to the throne. Do not complain about what your wife or husband or the saints in the church do to you. For those who love God, everything works together for good. The crucial matter here is whether or not we love God. If you love Him, even an accident works good for you. But if you do not love Him, not even graduating from a university with a doctorate will work good for you. I have suffered much throughout the years, but I have been comforted by the fact that everything works good for me. Whenever I undergo suffering, I remember Romans 8:2 8 and I am comforted immediately. As a young man of seventeen years of age, Joseph needed to undergo trials and testings. Because Joseph was the favorite of his father Jacob, he lived in a pleasant environment, and there was no way for him to suffer anything. He was always under his father’s protection. But one day, according to the Lord’s sovereignty, Jacob sent Joseph to his brothers, and they sold him into slavery. Through the sufferings that came upon him as a result of this, Joseph was trained to be a ruler. In this matter we see God’s wisdom. Firstly, Joseph had the dreams in which he saw his brothers bowing down to him. But in order for this vision to be fulfilled, Joseph had to undergo a great deal of suffering, especially at the hands of those closest to him. Joseph suffered constantly from the time he was seventeen until he was thirty. Joseph needed to pass through all these sufferings so that he might be perfected and qualified. God had sent Joseph to Egypt to preserve life so that a remnant might remain for the fulfillment of His purpose. Do not be frightened by this word regarding Joseph’s sufferings. Perhaps you have asked the Lord to make you today’s Joseph. The Lord will answer this prayer by causing you to undergo certain sufferings. During times of suffering you may say, “How long, O Lord? The dreams of others have been fulfilled, but where is the fulfillment of my dream?” Eventually, you will be released. Joseph was patient and denied himself. He did not do anything for his own enjoyment, but for the discipline and perfection of his brothers.
8为著加强他的哥哥们，约瑟向他们显示他的高举和荣耀，并且告诉他们，神已经立他作法老的父。在四十五章十三节他说，『你们也要将我在埃及一切的荣耀…都告诉我父亲。』约瑟的弟兄们看他如同法老一样。但约瑟似乎说，『我是法老的父。我比你们所认识的更高，因为神已经立我为法老的父。你们已经看见我一切的荣耀。回去将你们所看见的一切，告诉我父亲。』约瑟不是在炫耀。他乃是加强他的弟兄们，使他们能把父亲接到他那里。约瑟受苦十三年之后，登上宝座，成为全地的宰相。他确实渴望见到他父亲。我们也许会希奇，当他登上宝座时，为甚么不立刻作些事来满足这渴望。他能从埃及差遣车辆，把父亲接到他那里。然而，他一直等到九年后才把雅各接到他那里。约瑟有能力和地位作一些事，但他没有作。倘若我是约瑟，我会立刻作。我会带著一队车队，去探访我的父亲。倘若他已经去世，我会去看他的坟墓。约瑟作这样的事，定规是正常的。约瑟九年之久没有作甚么，这意思不是他不想念父亲。约瑟不是石头或木头，乃是满了情感的活人，是非常爱父亲的人。他与父亲分别了多年，必然非常想念他。也许他晓得埃及和他在迦南地的父家相距不远。他知道那段路程只需要几天。然而，因他是在神的主宰之下，他没有作甚么。约瑟宁愿留在神主宰的手下，不发起任何事情。他也许曾祷告说，『主，是你差遣我到这里，带我经过一切的苦难，并且把我摆在宝座上。主，是你使我离开父亲。主，我晓得这一切都是出于你。因此，我不敢作甚么。我愿等候你主宰的时间。』我确信约瑟曾这样祷告过。这显示他是个否认己的人。虽然他已经登上宝座，成为全地的宰相，然而他没有为自己或自己的享受作甚么。他是完全为著神的权益。约瑟的生活，乃是等候神主宰时间的生活。他没有自己发起和父亲接触的事，反而一直留在神的主宰之下，祷告说，『主，你来作。除非你作，我就不作甚么。』青年弟兄姊妹们，我盼望主为著祂的恢复，用你们作许多事。但你们必须学一个功课，不凭自己往前。不要凭自己作甚么。反之，要保守自己在神的主宰之下，让祂发起事情。无论需要作甚么，都必须由祂发起。
8In order to strengthen his brothers, Joseph revealed to them his exaltation and glory, and he told them that God had made him a father to Pharaoh. In 45:13 he said, “And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt.” Joseph’s brothers considered him like Pharaoh. But Joseph seemed to say, “I’mt he father of Pharaoh. I am even higher than you realize, for God has made me the father of Pharaoh. You have seen all my glory. Go back and tell my father all you have seen.” Joseph was not being showy. Rather, he was strengthening his brothers so that they might bring their father to him. After suffering for thirteen years, Joseph was enthroned to be the ruler of the earth. He certainly longed to see his father. We may wonder why he did not do something to satisfy this longing as soon as he was enthroned. He could have sent chariots from Egypt to bring his father to him. However, it was nine years before he had Jacob brought to him. Joseph had the power and the position to do something, but he did not do anything. If I had been Joseph, I would have done something immediately. I would have taken an army of chariots and gone to visit my father. Had I found that he had died, I would have visited his sepulcher. Certainly it would have been normal for Joseph to do such a thing. The fact that Joseph did nothing about this for nine years does not mean that he had no thought of his father. Joseph was not stone or wood, but a living person full of emotion, a person who loved his father very much. Having been separated from his father for many years, he must have thought about him a great deal. He probably realized how close Egypt was to his father’sho me in the land of Canaan. He knew that the journey there would take just several days. Nevertheless, because he was under the sovereignty of God, he did not do anything. Joseph preferred to remain under God’s sovereign hand and not to initiate anything. He might have prayed, “Lord, it was You who sent me here, brought me through all the sufferings, and put me on the throne. It was You, Lord, who kept me from my father. Lord, I realize that all this has been of You. Thus, I dare not do anything. Rather, I would like to wait for Your sovereign time.” I definitely believe that Joseph prayed this way. This reveals that he was a self - denying person. Although he had been enthroned to be the ruler of the earth, he nevertheless did nothing for himself or for his own enjoyment. He was wholly for God’sin te rest. Joseph’s life was a life that waited for God’s sovereign timing. Instead of initiating the contact with his father himself, he remained continually under God’s sovereignty, praying, “Lord, You do it. Unless You do it, I will not do anything.” Young brothers and sisters, I expect the Lord to do much with you for His recovery. But you must learn the lesson not to go ahead by yourselves. Don’t do anything on your own. Rather, keep yourself under God’s sovereignty and let Him initiate something. Whatever needs to be done must be initiated by Him.
9约瑟生平的记载是何等的甜美！因为约瑟完全在神的引导之下，他就不需要为他所作的任何事懊悔。约瑟是新约所启示之事活的说明。他是个否认自己的人，他没有自己的兴趣，自己的享受，自己的感觉，自己的野心，或自己的目标。每件事都是为著神，为著神的子民。所以，等适当的时候到了，他就热诚的邀请父亲到他那里。我们思想约瑟的一生，可以学到许多功课。约瑟作过梦，他解释自己的梦，也解释别人的梦。这些梦都应验了。然而，约瑟晓得他仍缺少一件事，就是他父亲的同在。按人来说，除了父亲的同在，没有甚么别的能满足约瑟。然而，他没有凭自己作甚么，以得著父亲的同在。他是忍耐著，一直等候适当的时候。九年之久，他没有作甚么。最后，机会来了。但是看见他的哥哥们还没有得成全，他仍然不作甚么。直等他的哥哥们得了造就，他才发出邀请。这邀请是神主宰的手发起的。神主宰的豫备了环境，指明约瑟差人接他父亲的时候到了。当约瑟真的差人去接他父亲时，他自己没有去。这事的原因是甚么？我们不能说他没有时间，因为在他父亲死的时候，他有时间去埋葬他。要答覆这问题，我们需要发掘圣经所没有说的。（这是研读圣经的方法之一。）约瑟没有去的原因是他受到约束。他不愿照著他的情感作甚么。反之，他的情感受到约束。约瑟没有离开埃及去见他父亲；他也没有差人去看车队回来了没有。事实上，雅各『打发犹大先去见约瑟，请派人引路往歌珊去。』（创四六28。）雅各似乎对犹大说，『犹大，你去告诉约瑟我来了，请他指引我们到他那里。』
9How sweet is the record of Joseph’s life! Because Joseph was fully under God’s guidance, there was no need for him to regret anything he did. Joseph is a living illustration of what is revealed in the New Testament. He was a self-denying person who had no self - interest, self - enjoyment, self - feeling, self - ambition, or self-goal. Everything was for God and for God’s people. Therefore, when the time was right, he extended a warm invitation for his father to come to him. We can learn many lessons by considering Joseph’s life. Joseph had dreams and he interpreted his dreams and the dreams of others. All these dreams were fulfilled. Nevertheless, Joseph realized that he still lacked one thing, and that one thing was his father’s presence. Humanly speaking, nothing could satisfy Joseph except the presence of his father. However, he did nothing of himself to secure his father’s presence. Instead, he was patient, constantly waiting for the right time. For nine years he did nothing. Finally an opportunity came to do something. But, realizing that the perfection of his brothers had not yet been accomplished, he still did nothing. Only when his brothers had been edified did he extend the invitation. This invitation was initiated by God’s sovereign hand. God sovereignly prepared the environment to indicate that the time was right for Joseph to send for his father. When Joseph did send for his father, he himself did not go to get him. What was the reason for this? We cannot say that he did not have the time, for when his father died he had the time to bury him. In order to answer this question we need to discover what the Bible does not say. (This is one of the ways to study the Bible.) The reason Joseph did not go was that he was restricted. He did not want to do anything according to his emotion. Rather, his emotion was restricted. Joseph did not leave Egypt to see his father; neither did he send someone to find out whether or not a caravan was coming. In fact, Jacob “sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen” (46:28). Jacob seemed to be saying to Judah, “Judah, go to Joseph and tell him that I’m coming and ask him to direct us to him.”
10不要以为约瑟不急于见他父亲。他必然渴望见他父亲。但甚至在他父亲到达的那天，约瑟仍在家里。他没有特别出门，到途中迎接他父亲。我再说，约瑟是完全在神约束之下的人。当他听见他父亲已经到达歌珊，『及至见了面，就伏在父亲的颈项上，哭了许久。』（创四六29。）这证明约瑟非常有情感，并且有心为著父亲。但他没有照著他的情感行动；他总是在神的约束之下行动。因此，他能作宰相。你若不能管治自己，就不能作优秀的统治者。假定你想要发脾气就发脾气。那你在圣灵的管治上就了了。我们若在那灵的管治之下，当我们觉得自己将要发脾气的时候，就会求主怜悯我们。惟有在神的约束之下，我们才能管治别人。在神的约束之下，乃是豫备在来世作王的最佳训练。没有一个幼稚的人，没有一个不受约束的人，会在要来的国度里作王。在约束之下生活，这件事叫我们看见生命的成熟。愿这话对所有爱主、爱主的恢复、并爱召会生活的人是个帮助。在主的恢复里有来自不同背景，个性和观念各异的人。因这一切的不同，我们需要受约束。我们若不受约束，随便表达我们的情感，就会造成损害。我们后来会懊悔自己所作的，但那时也许太迟了。你也许会说，『我有权利这样表达我的感觉。』不错，你有权利这样作，但你会损害别人。你要正确的召会生活么？倘若要，你就需要在神的约束之下。再看看约瑟的图画。他惟有成为否认己的人，才能带进国度。他若照著自己的感觉，不照著神的引导行动，一切就要弄糟了。但约瑟是完全在神约束之下的人，所以神的国能藉著他带进来。要实际的实现国度，需要有生活在约束之下并否认己的人。
10Do not think that Joseph was not eager to see his father. He certainly longed to see him. But even on the day of his father’s arrival, Joseph was still at home. He did not make a special trip to meet his father on the way. Again I say that Joseph was a person fully under God’s restriction. However, when he heard that his father had arrived in Goshen, he “presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while” (46:29). This proves that Joseph was very emotional and that he had a heart for his father. But he did not act according to his emotion; rather, he always acted under God’s restriction. Because of this, he was able to be the ruler. If you cannot rule yourself, you cannot be a good ruler. Suppose you lose your temper whenever you feel like it. If so, then you are through with the rulership of the Holy Spirit. But if we are under the rulership of the Spirit, we shall ask the Lord to have mercy on us when we sense that we are about to lose our temper. Only by being under God’s restriction can we rule others. To be under God’s restriction is the best discipline to prepare us for kingship in the coming age. No childish person, no one who has not been restricted, will be a king in the coming kingdom. In this matter of living under restriction, we see the maturity of life. May this word be a help to all who love the Lord, the recovery, and the church life. In the Lord’s recovery we have people from different backgrounds with different dispositions and concepts. Because of all these differences, we need to be restricted. If we are not restricted but express our emotion freely, we shall cause damage. We may regret later what we have done, but it may be too late. You may say, “I have the right to express my feelings like this.” Yes, you have the right to do so, but you damage others. Do you want a proper church life? If you do, then you need to be under God’s restriction. Consider again the picture of Joseph. He could bring in the kingdom only by being a person who denied himself. If he had acted according to his feelings and not according to God’s guidance, everything would have been spoiled. But Joseph was a person wholly under God’s restriction. Therefore, the kingdom of God could be brought in through him. In order for the kingdom to be realized in a practical way, there had to be a person who lived under restriction and who denied himself.
11今天我们也是这样。你要有喜乐的召会生活么？那么你必须在约束之下，并且否认己。我们都需要学习这点。假定约瑟不是否认己的人，在这样的情况里，神的国就不可能带进来，并且实际的实现。约瑟的否认己，并他在神主宰的手下受约束，乃是国度生活实行之钥。为著约瑟否认己的生活，我们感谢神。藉著这样的生活，神的目的得以达成，国度得以带进、实现并实行。藉著这个达成，以色列人就有分于国度的享受。约瑟有地位和能力作他所想要作的。然而，他没有为自己作甚么。四十多年前，我听见人说，最刚强的事，就是能不作你所能作的事。你有能力、地位和机会作一件事，但你仍然不作。许多年前，我就熟悉约瑟的故事。但已往我没有看见，约瑟登宝座成为埃及的宰相以后，没有利用他的权力去见父亲。约瑟登宝座以后，即使与父亲分别十三年之久，仍不作甚么以拯救自己脱离孤寂。当哥哥们头一次下来见他，他仍然不作甚么。约瑟有能力和地位为他的情况作一些事，但他没有作他有能力作的事。这指明他是最有能力的人，他有力量不作他所能作的事。约瑟是这样的人，因为他在神的手下，在神的约束之下。在约瑟治理埃及的前九年，他必定一再的接触神。也许他向主祷告探访父亲的可能性，主就指示他不要作甚么。约瑟也许一周又一周的祷告：『主，现在是我作一些事，把父亲接到这里来的时候么？』我相信主对他说，『不，现在不是时候。你不需要作甚么来应验你的梦。只要等候，让我来作。』藉著祷告，约瑟也许得了坚固，相信他的梦是出于神，神自己要叫这些梦得应验。因为不需要约瑟作甚么，他就保持沉默。他有力量不作他有能力作的事。当他的哥哥们第一次来到埃及，他没有作甚么，把父亲接到他那里。甚至他父亲来埃及见他的时候到了，约瑟也没有出去，在途中迎接他。我相信这是他受主约束的结果。约瑟知道他不需要作甚么，来应验他的梦。这是真正的否认己，真实的背十字架。
11It is the same with us today. Do you want to have a pleasant church life? Then you must be under restriction and deny yourself. We all need to learn this. Suppose Joseph had not been a self-denying person. In such a case it would have been impossible for the kingdom of God to be brought in and realized in a practical way. Joseph’s self-denial, his restriction under God’ss ove reign hand, was the key to the practice of the kingdom life. Thank God for Joseph’s self-denying life. Through such a life God’s purpose was fulfilled, and the kingdom was brought in, realized, and practiced. Through this fulfillment, the children of Israel shared in the enjoyment of the kingdom. Joseph had the position and the power to do whatever he desired. However, he did not do anything for himself. More than forty years ago, I heard someone say that the strongest thing is to be able not to do something that you can do. You have the power, the position, and the opportunity to do a certain thing, yet you still do not do it. I became familiar with the story of Joseph many years ago. But in the past I did not see that after Joseph had been enthroned to be the ruler of Egypt, he did not use his power to see his father. After Joseph was enthroned, he did nothing to rescue himself from being alone, even though he had been separated from his father for thirteen years. When the brothers first came down to him, he still did not do anything. Joseph had the power and the position to do something about his situation, but he did not do what he had the power to do. This indicates that he was the most powerful person, one who has the strength not to do what he is able to do. Joseph was such a person because he was under God’s hand, under God’s restriction. During the first nine years of his rule in Egypt, Joseph must have contacted the Lord again and again. Perhaps as he prayed to the Lord regarding the possibility of visiting his father, the Lord instructed him to do nothing about it. Week after week Joseph might have prayed, “Lord, is now the time for me to do something to have my father brought here?” I believe that the Lord said to him, “No, this is not the time. There is no need for you to do anything to fulfill your dream. Simply wait and allow Me to do it.” By means of his prayer Joseph might have been confirmed in believing that his dreams were of God and that God Himself would fulfill them. Because there was no need for him to do anything, Joseph remained silent. He had the strength not to do what he had the power to do. When his brothers came to Egypt the first time, he did nothing to have his father brought to him. Even when the time was right for his father to come to him in Egypt, Joseph did not go out to meet him on the way. I believe that this was the result of his being under the Lord’s restriction. Joseph knew that there was no need for him to do anything to fulfill his dreams. This is the real denial of the self and the genuine bearing of the cross.
12背十字架的意思就是抑制不作你有能力作的事。你有资格和能力作一切必需的事，以满足你的愿望，但你抑制不作。这样的人是最刚强的人。最刚强的人不是能作甚么的人，乃是能不作他所能作之事的人。这种否认己，乃是引进国度并实现国度生活惟一的路。在下篇信息中我们要看见，国度生活藉著约瑟能不作他所能作之事而来临。今天我们需要成为这样的人。毫无疑问，我们若在自己里面，就不能成为这样的人。我们的生命不是那种生命，有能力不作所能作的事。当我们有机会作甚么，我们就作了。但基督的生命有能力不作所能作的。这事实是四福音和主耶稣生活的关键。祂常常有地位、能力和适当的环境作许多事，但祂也有能力不作那些事。例如，祂能求父派遣十二营的天使来救祂；但祂有力量不作这事。（太二六53。）这种否认己、背十字架的生命，乃是引进国度的生命。
12To bear the cross means that you refrain from doing what you have the power to do. You are qualified and empowered to do everything necessary to fulfill your desire, yet you refrain from doing so. A person like this is the strongest person. The strongest person is not the one who is able to do something, but the one who is able not to do what he has the power to do. This self- denial is the unique way to usher in God’skin gdom and to realize the kingdom life. As we shall see in the next message, the kingdom life came in through Joseph’s ability not to do what he had the power to do. We need to be such people today. There is no doubt that, in ourselves, we cannot be such people. Our life is not the kind of life that has the power not to do what it is able to do. When we have the opportunity to do something, we simply do it. But the life of Christ has the power not to do what it is capable of doing. This fact is the key to the four Gospels and to the life of the Lord Jesus. Often He had the position, the power, and the right environment to do many things, but he also had the power not to do those things. For example, He could have asked the Father to send twelve legions of angels to rescue Him; yet He had the strength not to do this (Matt. 26:53). This life of self-denial, of bearing the cross, is the life that ushers in the kingdom