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创世记生命读经 · 第67篇

受对付（一）

Being Dealt With (1)
1创世记包括九位伟大人物的传记：亚当、亚伯、以挪士、以诺、挪亚、亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各以及约瑟。最长的记载是雅各的生平，几乎占了全书的一半。为甚么创世记用这么长的篇幅记述这个人？你若细读创世记，会看见雅各的记载不像亚伯拉罕的记载，其中包含许多细节。以诺的传记不及半章长，以挪士的传记只占了几节。挪亚虽然是个重要人物，然而创世记没有给他多少篇幅。雅各的记载这样长，原因是在生命的经历上，没有一件事像变化需要这么长的时间。我们在瞬间蒙召，即刻得救，不到一分钟就蒙赦免、得重生。然而变化需要我们的一生。自从我们得救那天，我们就一直经历变化的过程。在亚伯拉罕身上，我们看到神的呼召和称义。在以撒身上，我们看到一个一直享受神恩典的人。以撒似乎不要知道甚么，也不自己作甚么。当雅各欺骗他的时候，他知道有问题，因为他说，『声音是雅各的声音，手却是以扫的手。』（创二七22。）我若是以撒，在祝福之前会花很长的时间研究。以撒怀疑究竟是不是以扫。虽然以撒认得两个儿子的声音，也明明听见雅各的声音，却『辨不出他来。』（创二七23。）这意思是以撒不喜欢运用他的辨别力。他在吃的事上不懒惰，然而他懒于运用辨别力。在创世记中没有多少篇幅用来记述以撒的一面。
1The book of Genesis contains the biographies of nine great persons: Adam, Abel, Enosh, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. The longest record is that of Jacob’s life, occupying nearly half of the book of Genesis. Why does the book of Genesis devote so many pages to this person? If you read Genesis carefully, you will see that Jacob’s record, unlike Abraham’s, includes many details. Enoch’s biography is less than half a chapter in length, and the biography of Enosh occupies only a few verses. Although Noah was an important person, Genesis does not give him very many pages. The reason Jacob’s record is so long is that in the experience of life nothing takes as long a time as transformation does. We were called in an instant, saved in a moment, and forgiven and regenerated in less than a minute. Transformation, however, requires our whole lifetime. Since the day we were saved, we have been undergoing the process of transformation. In Abraham we see God’scall ing and justification. In Isaac we see a person who was always enjoying God’s grace. It seems that Isaac did not want to know anything, nor exercise anything of himself. When Jacob deceived him, he knew that something was wrong, for he said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau” (27:22). If I had been Isaac, I would have studied the matter for a long time before blessing anyone. Isaac doubted whether it was Esau. While Isaac knew the voices of his sons and distinctly heard Jacob’s voice, “he discerned him not” (27:23). This means that Isaac did not like to exercise his discernment. He was not lazy in eating, but he was idle in exercising his discernment. Not much space in the book of Genesis is devoted to the aspect of Isaac
（二） 受对付
b. Being Dealt With
2在雅各身上，我们看不见神的呼召或称义，也看不见恩典的享受。相反的，我们看见他怎样受神对付。（创二五19～三二21。）甚至雅各还在母腹中，神就对付他。他一生不断在神的对付之下。神的对付是为著要变化他。雅各生来是个抓夺者，抓脚跟的人，然而神的心意是要得著神的王子。这样一个抓夺的人怎样能变成神的王子？只有藉著变化。改变物质的建筑容易，然而把一个抓夺的人改变成神的王子不容易。这不能一夜完成，乃需要一生之久。因著雅各代表变化的一面，所以他有这样长的传记。
2In Jacob we do not see God’s calling or justification; neither do we see the enjoyment of grace. Rather, we see how he was dealt with by God (25:19—32:21). Even when Jacob was in his mother’s womb, God dealt with him. Throughout his life he was constantly under God’s dealing. God’s dealing was for his transformation. Jacob was born a supplanter, a heel holder. God’sin tent i on, however, was to have a prince of God. How could such a supplanter become a prince of God? Only by transformation. It is easy to change a material building, but it is difficult to change a supplanter into a prince of God. This cannot be done overnight; it takes a lifetime. Because Jacob represents the aspect of transformation, he has such a long biography.
3在创世记二十五章十九至三十四节，二十七章一至四十六节以及二十八章一至五节，我们看见四个人－雅各、以扫、以撒和利百加－每一个都与别人不同。虽然雅各和以扫是双生子，他们彼此却完全不同。『以扫善于打猎，常在田野；雅各为人安静，常住在帐棚里。』（创二五27。）雅各安静、狡猾、富有计谋；而以扫狂野、粗鲁、体格强壮。当雅各和以扫在母腹中相争时，以扫因著力大得胜了。雅各争著要先出来，以扫似乎说，『你在作甚么？让我先出去。』雅各心思慧黠，以扫身体强壮。当以扫知道雅各骗了他，威胁要杀他，以扫似乎说，『雅各，你抓夺了我。我的心思斗不过你，但有一天我要杀你。』在此我们看见，雅各和以扫完全不同。以撒和利百加也不同。利百加聪明、机智、灵巧，能操纵全家。她一面发展雅各的诡诈，一面指引她的丈夫。以撒完全在利百加的操纵之下。在她操纵之下，以扫和以撒都被抓夺。他们不仅被雅各抓夺，也被利百加抓夺。以撒送走雅各的时候，也许以为这是他出的主意，实际上这是利百加的主意。利百加向以撒说了几句话后，他就打发雅各到拉班那里去。（创二八1～5。）利百加在这件事上操纵了以撒。以撒、利百加和以扫一同为雅各的益处效力。神用他们三个人来变化雅各。在此我们看见，万有都互相效力，叫蒙神呼召的人得益处。（罗八28。）以后我们要看见，拉班和雅各的妻子、使女、儿子、女儿，都被神用来变化雅各。在雅各一生的记载里，每一个环境、情况以及人物，都被用来把这个抓夺的人变化为神的王子。
3In 25:19-34; 27:1-46; and 28:1-5, we see four persons— Jacob, Esau, Isaac, and Rebekah—each of whom is distinct from the others. Although Jacob and Esau were twins, they were absolutely different from one another. “Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents” (25:27, Heb.). Jacob was quiet, subtle, and crafty, and Esau was wild, rude, and physically strong. As Jacob and Esau were fighting in their mother’s womb, Esau won because of his strength. While Jacob was struggling to get out first, Esau seemed to say, “What are you doing? Let me go first.” Jacob was crafty in the mind, and Esau was strong in the body. When Esau learned that Jacob had cheated him, he threatened to kill him. Esau seemed to be saying, “Jacob, you have supplanted me. My mind cannot defeat your mind, but one day I will kill you.” In this we see that Jacob and Esau were absolutely different. Isaac and Rebekah were also different from one another. Rebekah was clever, ingenious, skillful, and capable of manipulating the whole family. She both developed Jacob’s craftiness and directed her husband. Isaac was fully under Rebekah’s manipulation. As a result of her manipulation, both Esau and Isaac were supplanted. They were not only supplanted by Jacob but also by Rebekah. When Isaac sent Jacob away, he might have thought that he initiated it. Actually, this was initiated by Rebekah. After she had spoken a few words to Isaac, he sent Jacob away to Laban (28:1-5). Rebekah manipulated Isaac in this matter. Isaac, Rebekah, and Esau worked together for Jacob’s good. God used the three of them to transform Jacob. In this we see that all things work together for the good of those who are called by God (Rom. 8:28). Later we shall see that Laban as well as Jacob’s wives, maids, sons, and daughter were used by God to transform him. Every circumstance, situation, and person found in the record of Jacob’s life was used to transform this supplanter into a prince of God
4我们找不出一个故事，像雅各的故事告诉我们这么多关于变化的事。雅各已经蒙了拣选并豫定；神对这个蒙拣选之人的目的，乃是要把他变化为神的王子。神不喜欢变化善良、简单、正直、诚实、高级的人。祂喜欢变化像雅各这样的抓夺者。你是怎样的人？你是善良、正直、诚实的么？或者你是一个雅各？我们众人，包括姊妹们，都是雅各。你没有抓夺过别人么？姊妹们，你们可能抓夺过母亲、丈夫和孩子。有些作岳父的抓夺过女婿，有的伯叔抓夺过姪子。不要以为你是那么好。我不认为自己像亚伯拉罕或以撒那么好。不，我认为自己是雅各。知道我们是雅各，这对我们是个鼓励。不要说，『哦，我太败坏了，太低下了。我不是个高级的人。』你若是这样，就要赞美主，你正是一个可以认识神怜悯和恩典的人。
4We cannot find a story telling us as much about transformation as the story of Jacob does. Jacob had been chosen and predestinated. God’s purpose with this chosen one was to transform him into a prince of God. God does not like to transform good, simple, straight, honest, high - level people. He prefers to transform supplanters like Jacob. What kind of person are you? Are you good, straight, and honest, or are you a Jacob? We all, including the sisters, are Jacobs. Have you not supplanted others? Sisters, you have probably supplanted your mother, husband, and children. Some fathers-in-law have supplanted their sons-in-law, and some uncles have supplanted their nephews. Do not think that you are so good. I do not consider myself to be good like Abraham or Isaac. No, I think of myself as a Jacob. Knowing that we are Jacobs should be an encouragement to us. Do not say, “Oh, I’m so bad and low. I’m not a high-level person.” If you are like this, praise the Lord. You are the right person to know God’s mercy and grace.
5神没有拣选好人。如果我们来拣选，我们可能都会拣选以扫，而不拣选雅各。比较的说，以扫要比雅各好。他从来没有欺骗或抓夺过甚么人。但神没有拣选以扫；神拣选雅各。每一个被神拣选的人都是顽皮的。如果你很好，那你必不会蒙神拣选。亚伯拉罕是本于信得称义的表样，雅各是蒙拣选的表样。你已经蒙拣选了么？那你必是个雅各，因为神只拣选雅各。神是神，我们必须敬拜祂是神。祂主宰的拣选了雅各这样一个抓夺者。
5God has not chosen the good people. If we had made the choice, probably all of us would have chosen Esau instead of Jacob. Comparatively speaking, Esau was better than Jacob. He never cheated or supplanted anyone. But God did not choose Esau; He chose Jacob. Everyone who has been chosen by God is a naughty one. If you are good, then you must not be chosen by God. While Abraham is the example of justification by faith, Jacob is the example of being chosen. Have you been chosen? Then you must be a Jacob, because God only chooses Jacobs. God is God, and we must worship Him as God. He has sovereignly chosen Jacob, the one who was such a supplanter
（1） 生为老二
1) Being Born the Second
6神主宰的安排了雅各一生的环境和境遇。当雅各和以扫还在母腹中，他们就争著谁先出生。（创二五22～26。）雅各很狡猾，似乎说，『我们都在母腹中，谁先出去，谁就是头生的，有长子名分。我绝不失去长子名分。』所以雅各开始争斗。在神的主宰下，雅各有聪明的头脑，却没有强壮的身体。以扫刚好相反，虽然不很聪明，但身体强壮，就打败了弟弟，不让他先出生。以扫虽然受雅各头脑的欺骗，雅各却被以扫的力气打败了。如果雅各头脑聪明又体力充沛，以扫就毫无办法，雅各就可以为所欲为。但神非常有智慧，祂似乎说，『雅各，我要让你有聪明的头脑，但我不给你很多的体力。你的哥哥也许愚钝，但我要叫他比你强壮。你要有聪明的头脑，他要有强壮的身体。』因此，雅各在出生之前，就被以扫打败，生为老二。
6God sovereignly arranged the environment and circumstances pertaining to Jacob’s life. When Jacob and Esau were in their mother’s womb, they fought over who would be born first (25:22-26). Jacob was subtle and seemed to be saying, “We are both in the womb. Whoever gets out first will be the firstborn and have the birthright. I must not lose the birthright.” Thus, Jacob began to fight. Under God’s sovereignty, Jacob had a smart mind, but he did not have much physical strength. Esau, on the contrary, was not so intelligent, but he was physically strong and defeated his brother, not allowing him to be born first. Although Esau suffered the cheating of Jacob’s mind, Jacob was defeated by Esau’s strength. If Jacob had had both a smart mind and great physical strength, Esau could not have done anything and Jacob could have had whatever he wanted. But God was very wise and seemed to say, “Jacob, I’ll let you have a smart mind, but I will not give you much physical strength. Your brother may be dull, but I shall make him stronger than you. You will have a smart mind, and he will have a strong body.” Thus, even before he was born, Jacob was defeated by Esau and was born the second
7虽然雅各被打败了，他却不认输，反而抓住以扫的脚跟，（创二五26，）这指明他拒绝承认失败。今天我们也是这样。许多时候我们被我们的以扫打败，但我们不承认失败，还抓住他的脚跟。有时候姊妹们被她们的丈夫打败，但她们不承认失败，还抓住丈夫的脚跟。有时候丈夫被他们的妻子打败，他们也成了抓脚跟的人。也许就在今天，你就有过这样的经历。我们都是雅各，神已经拣选了我们，而我们都在神对付的手下。
7Although Jacob was defeated, he would not admit that he had been defeated. Instead, he held on to Esau’s heel (25:26), indicating that he refused to admit defeat. The same is true with us. Many times we are defeated by our Esau, but we do not admit it and still hold on to his heel. Sometimes the sisters are defeated by their husbands, but, refusing to admit defeat, they hold on to the husband’s heel. At other times, the husbands are defeated by their wives and they become the heel holders. Perhaps even today you have had such an experience. We all are Jacobs. God has chosen us, and we are under His dealing hand.
8让我告诉你们一点我自己的经历。我在过很多的地方召会，每个召会的长老们都觉得他们在我的对付之下，但我觉得我在受他们的对付。在头两三个地方，我不清楚，但后来我就非常清楚神对付的手。我开始知道某位长老是我的以扫，另一位是我的以撒，还有一位是我的利百加，而我是他们的雅各。他们都是我所需要的。神永不会错。所有的同工、长老、带头的姊妹，凡神所给我的，总是与我对立。比方，我喜欢有个谨慎的人，但神不给我。然而每一个对付对我都是益处。每一事件都帮助我多变化一点。当某些事情临到时，我对那些亲爱的以撒、利百加和以扫不高兴，但我在心的深处能说，『赞美主，我为每个人、每件事感恩。』雅各从以撒与利百加而生，以扫是他的哥哥，这事不是偶然的。这一切都是父豫先安排为要变化雅各的。雅各从他在母腹里的时候，就需要一个身体比他强壮的人。我们常说双生子是相同的。然而，雅各和以扫若是相同的，雅各就绝不会受到对付了。雅各是个安静的人，总是运用心思。以扫是个猎人，常常运用体力。因此，以扫正是雅各所需要的。不要对你的婚姻生活不满意，因为你的丈夫或妻子是你最好的配偶。一百位已婚的人中，可能没有一个丈夫会说，他满意他的妻子；也可能没有一个妻子会说，她满意她的丈夫。我们在结婚之前，对婚姻生活都有一个梦想。至终，我们的婚姻生活却与我们的梦想相反。然而不论我们的丈夫或妻子怎样，他或她总是神给我们的礼物，并且正是我们所需要的。我一生从来没有见过一个人离婚后再婚，会比第一次婚姻更好的。我知道有人结过四次婚，他说，每一次婚姻都比前一次差。神所拣选之人的婚姻，是在神的主宰之下。利百加被带到以撒那里，成了以撒的妻子。不论她是好是坏，她是以撒的定命。他别无选择。我在属灵生活、为人生活、以及婚姻生活中，有许多经历。我能忠告你，不要自己选择。你若自己选择，你会受苦。
8Let me share something from my own experience. I have been in a number of local churches. In every church the elders felt that they were under my dealing, but I felt that I was suffering their dealing. In the first two or three places I was not clear, but later I became very clear about God’s dealing hand. I came to realize that one of the elders was my Esau, that another was my Isaac, that still another was my Rebekah, and that I was their Jacob. I needed all of them. God can never be wrong. All the co - workers, elders, and leading sisters whom God has given me have always been my opposite. For example, when I preferred to have a careful person, God did not give me one. But every dealing has been a profit to me. Every incident has helped to transform me a little more. When certain things happened, I was unhappy with all the dear Isaacs, Rebekahs, and Esaus. But deep in my heart I could say, “Praise the Lord. I am thankful for everyone and everything.” It was no accident that Jacob was born to Isaac and Rebekah and that Esau was his brother. All this was prearranged by the Father for Jacob’s transformation. From the time he was in his mother’s womb, Jacob needed one to be physically stronger than he was. We often say that twins are the same. But if Jacob and Esau had been the same, Jacob could never have been dealt with. Jacob was a quiet man who always exercised his mind, and Esau was a hunter who exercised his physical strength. Thus, Esau was exactly what Jacob needed. Do not be dissatisfied with your married life, for your husband or wife is the best one for you. Out of a hundred married people, probably not one husband would say that he is satisfied with his wife, and probably not one wife would say that she is satisfied with her husband. Before we were married, we all had a dream about married life. Eventually, our marriage turned out to be the opposite of our dream. But whatever our husband or wife is like, he or she is God’s gift to us and is exactly what we need. Throughout my whole life I have never seen a person whose second marriage, after remarrying following a divorce, was better than the first. I know of some who were married four times and who have said that each marriage was worse than the preceding one. The marriage of those who have been chosen by God is under His sovereignty. Rebekah was brought to Isaac and she became his wife. Whether she was good or bad, she was Isaac’s destiny. He had no choice. I have had much experience in spiritual life, in human life, and in married life, and I can advise you not to take your choice. If you make your own choice, you will suffer.
（2） 被迫离开慈母和父家
2) Being Forced to Leave the Loving Mother and the Father’sHo me
9看一看雅各经历的图画。以扫作他的哥哥，以撒和利百加作他的父母，都不是他的选择。父亲以撒，母亲利百加，哥哥以扫，都切合雅各的需要。我们看过，雅各在母腹中挣扎，并在神主宰的手对付之下。他从一生的开端就被打败。那就是他变化的开始。
9Look at the picture of Jacob’s experience. It was not his choice that Esau be his brother, nor that Isaac and Rebekah be his parents. The father Isaac, the mother Rebekah, and the brother Esau were all an exact match for Jacob’s need. As we have seen, when Jacob was in his mother’s womb, he struggled and was under the dealing of God’ss ove reign hand. From the very beginning of his life, Jacob was defeated. That was the start of his transformation
10雅各的父亲是个享受的人，他不太运用辨别力。他是个简单的人，只是成天享受恩典。他不喜欢思想、考虑或操劳。他甚么事都不喜欢作。当他在田间默想时，利百加来到他面前。以撒单单享受。天空晴朗或阴暗，对他没有甚么两样。他只要能吃，能享受，就满足了。当雅各装作以扫来到他面前，他也不运用辨别力。当利百加担心雅各会娶赫人的女子为妻，（创二七46，）以撒就叫雅各来，嘱咐他不要娶迦南的女子为妻，并且打发他到他母舅拉班那里去。以撒的简单是为了雅各的益处。以撒若不是这么简单，而施行更多的管制，雅各便很难取得长子名分并领受祝福。我们已经指出，利百加与以撒相反，她满有思想。她可能日夜思想，怎样为雅各取得长子名分。她可能一直观察，看以撒如何对待以扫。她若没有观察，怎能听到以撒和以扫关于祝福的谈话？（创二七～5。）当她听到以后，立刻叫雅各来，告诉他怎么作。（创二七6～13。）因著以撒和利百加是那样不同，雅各才得了长子名分，并且承受了祝福。
10Jacob’s father was an enjoying person who did not exercise much discernment. Being a simple person, he just enjoyed grace all day long. He did not like to think, consider, or exercise himself very much. He did not like to do anything. As he was meditating in the field, Rebekah came to him. Isaac simply enjoyed. Whether the sky was clear or cloudy did not make any difference to him. As long as he could eat and enjoy, he was satisfied. When Jacob came to him disguised as Esau, Isaac did not exercise his discernment. When Rebekah was concerned that Jacob might marry one of the daughters of Heth (27:46), Isaac called him, charged him not to take a wife of the daughters of Canaan, and sent him to Laban, his mother’s brother. Isaac’s simplicity was for Jacob’s benefit. If Isaac had not been so simple but had exercised more control, it would have been difficult for Jacob to get the birthright and receive the blessing. As we have already pointed out, Rebekah was the opposite of Isaac. She was full of consideration. She might have exercised her mentality day and night considering how to obtain the birthright for Jacob. She might have been constantly watching to see how Isaac was dealing with Esau. If she had not been watching, how could she have overheard the conversation between Isaac and Esau regarding the blessing (27:1-5)? 1 After overhearing this conversation, she immediately called Jacob in and told him what to do (27:6-13). Because Isaac and Rebekah were so different from one another, Jacob obtained the birthright and received the blessing.
11以扫是个粗心的人。关于长子名分，他似乎说，『雅各，你要长子名分么？这对我没有多大意义，你若给我一些东西吃，我就将长子名分给你。』由此我们知道，以扫是个粗鲁大意的人。简单的父亲、精明的母亲、粗鲁大意的哥哥，使雅各受苦，并且受对付。雅各抓夺了长子名分，（创二五27～，）和父亲的祝福后，（创二七5～29，）以扫恨他，想要杀他。（创二七。）这事给利百加知道了，她就叫雅各到舅父拉班那里去，直到以扫的怒气消了。（创二七42～45。）她这样告诉雅各以后，马上操纵作父亲的把雅各打发走。这样就把雅各带进神变化的坑中。要叫雅各离开慈母和父家，是很困难的事，他是被迫逃走的。（创二七42～二八5。）他别无选择，他被迫逃到异乡。以后我们要看见，当雅各在拉班的家中，他是在火炉里。拉班、利亚、拉结、使女、以及所有的儿女，都被神用来在各面烧雅各。雅各从各个角度、在每个角落、在每一方面都受苦。神把他放在这样一种环境中，为要使他变化。当我们读创世记二十五、二十七及二十八章，我们就看见神主宰的手在雅各身上，为要变化他。然而，那时雅各并不知道他是在神的变化之下。他只知道他哥哥的粗鲁和怀恨，他母亲的聪明，他父亲的简单。实际上他是天天在神的对付之下，没有一天浪费。他所碰到的每个人，他所遭遇的每件事，都是对付。雅各的确代表我们属灵生命变化的一面。我们若要知道变化是甚么，我们必须一再读雅各的故事。
11Esau was a careless person. Regarding the birthright, he seemed to say, “Jacob, do you want the birthright? It doesn’t mean very much to me. If you give me something to eat, I’ll give it to you.” By this we see that Esau was rude and careless. The simple father, the ingenious mother, and the rude and careless brother caused Jacob to suffer and to be dealt with. After Jacob had supplanted the birthright (25:27-34) and the father’s blessing (27:5-29), Esau hated 34 him and intended to kill him (27:41). When Rebekah learned of this, she told Jacob to go to her brother 41 Laban until Esau’s fury had turned away (27:32-45). After telling Jacob this, she manipulated the father to send Jacob away. This brought Jacob into the pit of God’s transformation. Although it was difficult for Jacob to leave his loving mother and his father’sho me, he was forced to escape (27:42—28:5). He had no choice. He was forced to flee into a strange land. Later on we shall see that when Jacob was in Laban’sho me, he was in the oven. Laban, Leah, Rachel, the maids, and all the children were used by God to burn Jacob on every side. Jacob suffered from every angle, in every corner, and in every aspect. God placed him in such a situation that he might be transformed. As we read Genesis 25, 27, and 28, we see that God’ss ove reign hand was upon Jacob to transform him. At that time, however, Jacob did not realize that he was under God’s transformation. He only knew his brother’s rudeness and hatred, his mother’s cleverness, and his father’s simpleness. Actually, he was under God’s dealing day after day. Not one day was wasted. Every person he met and everything that happened to him was a dealing. Jacob surely represents the aspect of transformation in our spiritual life. If we would know what transformation is, we must read Jacob’s story again and again.
12读了雅各的故事，我完全信服神对付的手。我开始明白这事之后，就了解别人与我之间所发生的每件事，对我都是对付。长老们、弟兄们、姊妹们、我的妻子、我的儿女，都不该受责怪。每件事都在神主宰的手下，作为使我得益处的对付。我需要这一切对付。也许明天我需要另一个对付。主知道我们需要怎样的妻子、丈夫、儿女、女婿、媳妇以及孙子。没有一件事是偶然的，每件事都已豫先安排好，并且照神的计画和程序进行。没有一件事太迟或太早，一切都准时发生。至终，我们要说，『父阿，为著你主宰的手，我感谢你。为著你的对付，你的豫先安排，你所作的每件事，我感谢你。现在我知道，一切都在你的主宰之下。我不过是在你手下蒙拣选的雅各。』
12By reading Jacob’s story, I have become fully convinced regarding God’s dealing hand. After I began to comprehend this, I realized that everything that happens between others and myself is a dealing for me. The elders, the brothers and sisters, my wife, and my children are not to blame. Everything is under God’ss ove reign hand as a dealing for my profit. I have needed it all. Perhaps tomorrow I shall need another dealing. The Lord knows what kind of wife, husband, children, in-laws, and grandchildren we need. Nothing is accidental. Everything has been prearranged and happens according to God’s plan and schedule. Nothing is either too late or too early. Everything occurs on time. Eventually, we shall say, “Father, thank You for Your sovereign hand. Thank You for Your dealing, for Your prearrangement, and for everything You have done. Now I know that everything has been under Your sovereignty. I am just a chosen Jacob under Your hand.”
13你想雅各喜欢到拉班家去么？不，他是被迫去的。他不是被他父亲或母亲打发去的，他是被神主宰的手打发去的。是的，雅各是神所拣选的，神也计画给他长子名分，然而神知道祂所拣选的人需要许多的变化。因此，这不仅是长子名分或祝福的问题；这也是变化的问题。从头一天直到末一天，神的手一直在雅各身上。我们该何等感谢赞美主！祂曾拣选并豫定我们，现在我们是在祂主宰的手下，使我们天天受对付。神藉著各样的人和环境来对付我们。从前有位弟兄对我说，『在我生活中的每一个人都是神安排的，只有我的妻子不是。』我对他说，『弟兄，你的妻子是神为你安排的头一个人。』没有例外，在我们生活中的每一个人，都是神用来变化我们的。
13Do you think that Jacob liked to go to Laban’sho me? No, he was forced to go. He was not sent by his father or mother; he was sent by the sovereign hand of God. Yes, Jacob was God’s choice, and God planned to give him the birthright. Nevertheless, God knew that His chosen one required a great deal of transformation. Thus, it was not merely a matter of the birthright nor of the blessing; it was also a matter of transformation. From the first day until the last, God’s hand was upon Jacob. How we must thank and praise the Lord! He has chosen and predestinated us, and now we are under His sovereign hand that we might be dealt with day after day. God is dealing with us through all kinds of persons and circumstances. In the past, a brother said to me, “Everyone in my life has been arranged by God except my wife.” I said to him, “Brother, your wife is the number one person whom God has arranged for you.” Without exception, every person in our life is used by God for our transformation
（3） 神的主宰完成祂拣选的定旨
3) God’s Sovereignty in Fulfilling the Purpose of His Selection
14现在我们必须来看，神的主宰完成祂拣选的定旨。首先，我们需要来看以扫轻看并出卖长子名分。（创二五～34。）神要给祂选民的长子名分，包含三件事：彰显神、代表神、以及有分于神的国。我们都已蒙拣选，在祂的形像里彰显神，用祂的管治权代表神，并且有分于祂的国。今天神实际的国是在召会生活中。藉著我们的重生，我们都得著了长子名分，无论在今日的召会中，或在将来的国度里，都可以在祂的形像里彰显祂，在祂的管治权里代表祂，并且有分于祂的国。每一个重生的人，都有这个长子名分。以扫因著贪爱物质的享受，也就是贪爱世界和属世的享受，就轻看他的长子名分。（来十二16～17。）出卖长子名分的人，不该责怪买的人。虽然雅各狡猾的买得这名分，但以扫是甘心出卖的。这交易不是单靠一方就能作成的。许多重生的基督徒就像以扫一样，轻看他们的长子名分，贪爱属世的享受，不关心神长子名分的宝贵。今天多半的基督徒都是这样。他们不关心彰显神，代表神，也不关心活在召会生活中神的国里。因此，当国度来到时，他们不会有分。在他们今日的生活里，他们已经出卖了长子名分。因著享受物质的事物，他们轻忽并轻看了他们的长子名分。他们若关心神的彰显、代表以及国度，他们必会留在神今天的国度－正当的召会生活里。
14Now we must consider God’s sovereignty in fulfilling the purpose of His selection. Firstly, we need to see that Esau despised and sold the birthright (25:30-34). The birthright, which God intends to give to His 30 chosen people, includes three things: expressing God, representing God, and participating in the kingdom of God. We all have been chosen to express God in His image, represent Him with His dominion, and participate in His kingdom. The practical kingdom of God today is in the church life. By our second birth we all have obtained the birthright that we might express God in His image, represent Him in His dominion, and participate in His kingdom, both in the church today and in the kingdom in the future. Every regenerated person has this birthright. Due to his love of physical enjoyments, that is, his love for the world and the worldly enjoyments, Esau despised his birthright (Heb. 12:16-17). The seller of the birthright should not blame the buyer. Although Jacob was subtle in buying it, Esau was willing to sell it. The deal could not have been consummated by one party alone. Like Esau, many regenerated Christians have despised their birthright, loving the worldly enjoyments and not caring for the preciousness of God’s birthright. Most of today’s Christians are like this. They do not care to express God, to represent Him, nor to be in God’skin gdom in the church life. Thus, when the kingdom comes, they will have no share in it. In their life today they have sold their birthright. Due to the enjoyment of the physical things, they have neglected and despised their birthright. If they cared for God’sex press i on, representation, and kingdom, they would stay in the proper church life, which is God’skin gdom today.
15我们何等感谢主，在今天堕落的情况中，祂把我们带进召会生活中。在这里，我们实际的在神的国里；在这里，我们正在操练如何彰显神并代表神。在神实际的国里，我们正享受我们的长子名分。若有甚么事阻挠我们彰显神，或妨碍我们代表神，我们就不快乐。若有甚么事使我们离开正当的召会生活，我们就感觉不愉快。如果你这个基督徒，不在神今天实际的国里操练彰显并代表神，你就很可能是轻看长子名分的人。要小心！我们不该轻看我们的长子名分，为一点物质的享受就放弃了长子名分。反之，我们必须轻看今天世上的一切。没有一件事像我们的长子名分那样宝贵。没有一件事比彰显神，代表神，并有分于神的国更有价值。我们若留在召会生活中，享受我们的长子名分，我们就要有分于要来的国度，在那里我们要为著祂的旨意彰显祂并代表祂。这就是我们的长子名分。但愿我们都是今日的雅各，而不是今日的以扫。我们应该为著主的拣选赞美祂，并且为著祂的变化感谢祂！然而我们必须受警告，要尊重并看重我们的长子名分。在以扫轻看并出卖长子名分，利百加智巧偏爱，以及以撒盲目祝福的事上，神是主宰一切的。以扫、利百加和以撒所是所作的一切，一同为雅各的益处效力，使神能主宰的完成祂拣选的定旨。为著神的主宰赞美祂！为著主在每一情况中给我们的对付，感谢祂！
15How we thank the Lord that in the midst of today’s degradation He has brought us into the church life, where we are practically in God’skin gdom and where we are practicing how to express God and to represent Him. Here in the practical kingdom of God we are enjoying our birthright. We are unhappy with anything which frustrates us from expressing God or hinders us from representing Him, and we feel badly about anything that keeps us from the proper church life. If you are a Christian who is not practicing the expression of God and the representation of God in the practical kingdom of God today, then you are probably one who is despising your birthright. Be careful! None of us should despise our birthright, giving it up for a little enjoyment of the physical things. Rather, we must despise all the things of today’s world. Nothing is as precious as our birthright. Nothing is more valuable than expressing God, representing God, and participating in the kingdom of God. If we remain in the church life enjoying our birthright, we shall share in the coming kingdom where we shall express God and represent Him for His purpose. This is our birthright. May we all be today’s Jacobs, not today’sE sa us. We should praise the Lord for His selection and thank Him for His transformation. Yet, we must be warned to honor and respect our birthright. God was sovereign in Esau’s despising and selling of the birthright, in Rebekah’sin gen i o usness in her partial love, and in Isaac’s blindness in blessing. All that Esau, Rebekah, and Isaac were and did worked together for Jacob’s good, that God might sovereignly fulfill the purpose of His selection. Praise God for His sovereignty! And thank the Lord for His dealing with us in every situation