创世记生命读经 · 第75篇

被破碎

Being Broken

（三）被破碎

c. Being Broken

1创世记三十二章二十二至三十二节叙述神所拣选的人－雅各－一生中关键性的经历。这实在是神圣话语中很不平常的一段。这是圣经中独一的一处，没有别处和这一处类似。但因著缺少经历，大多数基督徒没有充分留意这部分的经文。因著主的怜悯，在本篇信息中，我们必须来看雅各一生中这紧要的经历，好藉此得著帮助。

1Genesis 32:22-32 relates a crucial experience in the life of Jacob, God’s chosen one. This is truly an extraordinary portion of the Holy Word. It is unique, and there is no other passage in the Bible that is similar to it. However, due to the lack of experience, most Christians have not paid adequate attention to this part of Scripture. By the Lord’s mercy, in this message we must consider this vital experience in Jacob’s life and be helped by it

2雅各在本章的经历非常实际、个人且亲密。和一个人摔跤至少半个晚上，有甚么能比这事更亲密呢？主在人的形状里和雅各摔跤，『直到黎明。』（创三二24。）主神绝不会和陌生人或不信的罪人摔跤。请注意这里没有告诉我们，那人『来』和雅各摔跤。没有一节说，『当雅各独自留在那里思想他的难处时，主来和他摔跤。』不，这里只说，『有一个人和他摔跤，』（创三二24，直译，）指明那人已经在那里，他用不著来。这启示主一直与雅各同在。为甚么主突然开始和雅各摔跤？这必定是有原因的。这是因著雅各的背景。当他返回他父亲之地时，他有两个难题－拉班在后面，以扫在前面。他从拉班篡夺的手里得了释放，现在面临与他哥哥以扫的碰面，这叫他感觉绝望。就在这时候，发生了摔跤的事。雅各所打发的人已经回来报告，以扫带著四百人正迎著他来。雅各听见这报告，就惊吓起来。照著雅各的领会，以扫若是来欢迎他，用不著带四百人。在他看来，以扫好像一个军长带著军队而来。无疑的，雅各以为以扫是来击杀他。雅各相信这事，就被迫祷告。他作了绝佳的祷告之后，就把他给以扫的牲囗礼物分作九群。但他没有平安，因为他的难题还是直接在他面前。所以，创世记三十二章二十二、二十三节说，『他夜间起来，带著两个妻子，两个使女，并十一个儿子都过了雅博渡口。先打发他们过河，又打发所有的都过去。』作了这一切之后，雅各独自一人，也许在考虑进一步的情况。他不知道若是以扫来攻击，他该怎么办。雅各的担子沉重，情况危急，他是绝望的。

2Jacob’s experience in this chapter is very practical, personal, and intimate. What could be more intimate than wrestling with someone for at least half a night? The Lord in the form of man wrestled with Jacob “until the breaking of the day” (v. 24). The Lord God would never wrestle with a stranger or with an unbelieving sinner. Notice that we are not told that the man “came” to wrestle with Jacob. There is no verse which says, “While Jacob remained there alone considering his trouble, the Lord came to wrestle with him.” No, it simply says, “There wrestled a man with him,” indicating that the man was already there and that there was no need for him to come. This reveals that the Lord had been with Jacob all the time. Why did the Lord suddenly begin to wrestle with Jacob? There certainly must have been a reason for it. It was due to Jacob’s background. As he was returning to his father’s land, he had two problems—Laban behind him and Esau in front of him. Having been released from the usurping hand of Laban, he was now desperate as he faced the coming confrontation with his brother, Esau. It was at this time that the wrestling took place. Jacob’s messengers had returned with the report that Esau was coming to meet Jacob with four hundred men. When Jacob heard this report, he was terrified. According to Jacob’s understanding, if Esau was coming to welcome him, there would have been no need of the four hundred men. It seemed to him that Esau was like a captain coming with an army. Undoubtedly, Jacob thought that Esau was coming to smite him. Believing this, Jacob was forced to pray. After praying an excellent prayer, he divided his gift of cattle for Esau into nine droves. But he had no peace, because his problem was still directly in front of him. Therefore, as verses 22 and 23 say, “He rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.” After doing all this, Jacob was alone and was probably considering the situation further and wondering what to do in case Esau would attack him. Jacob’s burden was heavy, his situation was serious, and he was desperate.

3圣经没有指明，雅各独自一人时祷告。很多时候，你没有受到困扰时祷告，但深受困扰时却不祷告。你越受困扰就越少祷告。因为难处深重，情况危急，你简直无法祷告。为甚么？因为你还没有被打倒。无论问题如何严重，你还没有被打倒。我们好像雅各，一面无法向前，另一面却不祷告，反而停留在那里，思考局面，问自己该怎么办。当雅各在考虑如何应付他的难题时，令他大吃一惊的是，有一个人开始和他摔跤。我再说，圣经没有告诉我们那人来和他摔跤，经文只说『有一个人和他摔跤。』（直译。）今天我们读这段话时，立刻知道这人就是神。但在开始摔跤时，雅各并不知道这人就是神。他也许以为攻击他的是以扫四百人中的一个。当这人开始和雅各摔跤时，雅各不肯让他得胜。可能雅各对自己说，『这人来捉拿我，我不会让他捉拿。』在这一点上我们需要问四个问题：第一，为甚么主作了一个人和雅各摔跤？这有甚么需要？主向亚伯拉罕显现的时候，乃是荣耀的神显现；但在这里我们没有看到主向雅各显现，乃是一个人和雅各摔跤。第二，为甚么全能的主会胜不过雅各这小小的人？第三，为甚么主等候那么久才摸雅各的大腿窝？为甚么祂不在起头就这样作？主和雅各摔跤至少六小时，可能在半夜开始，一直继续到黎明。为甚么主容忍这场摔跤这么久？第四，为甚么主不肯把祂的名字告诉雅各？在许多别的场合，主把祂的名字启示人，告诉他们祂是谁。但在这里，雅各要祂启示祂的名，祂却不肯，反将祂的名字保密。对于这一切问题，我虽然不能给与完整的答案，但藉著我们的经历，至少能回答一部分。

3The Bible gives no indication that Jacob prayed when he was alone. Many times, when you are not troubled, you pray, but when you are deeply troubled, you do not pray. The more you are troubled, the less you pray. Because the trouble is difficult and the situation serious, you simply cannot pray. Why? Because you have not yet been knocked down. No matter how serious the problem is, you have not been knocked down. Like Jacob, on the one hand we cannot go on, but on the other hand we do not pray. Rather, we remain there and ponder the situation, asking ourselves what to do. While Jacob was considering how to cope with his problem, much to his surprise, a man began to wrestle with him. I say again that we are not told that the man came and wrestled with him. The text simply says, “There wrestled a man with him.” As we read this portion of the Word today, we immediately realize that this man was the Lord. But at the beginning of the wrestling, Jacob did not realize that the man was God. He might have thought that his assailant was one of Esau’s four hundred men. When this man began to wrestle with him, Jacob refused to let him prevail. Perhaps Jacob said to himself, “This man has come to arrest me, but I will not let him do it.” At this point we need to ask four questions. First, why did the Lord as a man wrestle with Jacob? What was the need of this? When the Lord appeared to Abraham, He did so as the God of glory. But here we do not see that the Lord appeared to Jacob, but that He wrestled with him as a man. Second, why could the Lord, who is the Almighty, not prevail against Jacob, a little man? Third, why did the Lord wait so long before touching the hollow of Jacob’st high? Why did He not do it at the very beginning? The Lord must have wrestled with Jacob for at least six hours, perhaps beginning at midnight and continuing until dawn. Why did the Lord tolerate this wrestling for so long? And fourth, why did the Lord refuse to tell Jacob His name? On many other occasions, the Lord revealed His name to people, telling them who He was. But here, after being asked by Jacob to reveal His name, He declined to tell him, keeping His name a secret. Although I do not claim to be able to give a complete answer to all these questions, we can, through our experience, at least partially answer them

4在这段话里，没有荣耀之神的显现，也没有主的眷临。对亚伯拉罕，主首先显现为荣耀的神。（徒七2。）后来在创世记十八章，主访问他，并和他一同进餐。但雅各这次经历既不是神的显现，也不是主的眷临；乃是一次对付。当你得救的时候，主向你显现，此后你多次有主甜美愉快的眷临。但除了得救时主的显现和交通时主的眷临以外，还有些时候是主对付我们。在这些对付的起头，我们并不领悟主的同在。我们以为是我们的丈夫、妻子、或某位长老在叫我们难堪。至终，我们领悟这不是我们丈夫、妻子、或某位长老的问题，乃是神在这里对付我们。

4In this portion of the Word, we do not have an appearing of the God of glory; neither do we have a visitation from the Lord. To Abraham, the Lord firstly appeared as the God of glory (Acts 7:2). Later, in Genesis 18, the Lord visited him and shared a meal with him. But this experience of Jacob’s was neither an appearance of God nor a visitation from the Lord; it was a dealing. When you were saved, the Lord appeared to you, and many times after that you have had sweet and pleasant visitations of the Lord. But besides the Lord’s appearing at the time of our salvation and His visitation in moments of fellowship, there are times when the Lord deals with us. At the beginning of these dealings, we do not realize that the Lord is present. We think that our husband, our wife, or an elder is affording us a difficult time. Eventually, we realize that it is not a matter of our husband, our wife, or of one of the elders; it is God who is here dealing with us.

5这给我们第一个问题的答案，就是为甚么主在人的形状里和雅各摔跤。神没有用明显的方式，显现为荣耀的神，来对付我们。在每次对付的起头，我们总以为是甚么人在和我们摔跤。这种摔跤常常持续很久。在雅各身上，也许是六小时，但在我们身上，也许是六周，六个月，甚或六年。姊妹们，你们和丈夫摔跤多久了？可能你每天都和他摔跤。你知道基督徒不能分居或离婚，但你必然觉得能随意和他争吵。也许你对自己说，『真不幸，我嫁了这个男人。既然我不能和他离婚，至少我能和他争吵。』有的妻子已经和丈夫摔跤了很久。当然，对我们作丈夫的来说也是一样，因为我们也和妻子摔跤。对于我们许多人，婚姻的生活就是摔跤的生活。虽然我们以为自己是在和我们的丈夫或妻子摔跤，实际上对方不是我们的丈夫、妻子、某位长老、或任何环境；和我们摔跤的乃是主自己。我们在经历中，至终领悟是主在这里。例如，一位姊妹至终会说，『和我摔跤的不是我的丈夫，乃是主。』我们若明白第一个问题的答案，就该能回答其他三个问题了。主为拯救我们而显现的时候，启示祂自己是荣耀的主；但祂对付我们的时候，却把自己隐蔽起来。每当我们经过一次对付，我们以为这是来自人或环境；我们不认为这是来自主。但是每当对付来到，我们必须领悟是主在那里。不要问祂的名字。姊妹们经常问我：『李弟兄，为甚么主给我这样的丈夫？』弟兄们也常说，『李弟兄，主不是知道一切么？祂既知道一切，为甚么不对我妻子作点事？』答案是：主的对付是个秘密。藉著雅各的经历我们能领悟，那和我们摔跤者的名字。对姊妹而言，主的名可能是『丈夫，』对弟兄而言，主的名可能是『妻子。』在有的事例中，主的名可能是『难办的长老。』我们若诚实且敞开，很多人会承认他们对自己的婚姻有疑问。很多人问：『为甚么？』一位弟兄会问：『召会中有许多青年姊妺，为甚么我娶了这一位？』每当我们受对付，起头都不认识这是主的作为。有时我们领悟了，却拒绝承认。我们若真的承认，必然会立刻停止摔跤。所以我们奋斗到底，不肯被征服，反而尽力要征服对方。在多数事例中，我们不领悟我们实际上是在和主摔跤。

5This gives us the answer to the first question concerning the Lord’s wrestling with Jacob in the form of a man. God does not deal with us in an apparent way, appearing as the God of glory. At the beginning of every dealing, we always think that some person is wrestling with us. Often, the wrestling lasts a long time. With Jacob, it might have been six hours, but with us, it may be six weeks, six months, or even six years. Sisters, how long have you been wrestling with your husband? Perhaps you wrestle with him every day. You realize that, as a Christian, there can be no separation or divorce. But you certainly feel free to exchange words with him. Perhaps you say to yourself, “It is unfortunate that I married this man. Since I cannot divorce him, I can at least argue with him.” Some wives have been wrestling with their husbands for a long time. The same, of course, is true with us husbands, for we also wrestle with our wives. With many of us, married life is a wrestling life. Although we may think that we are wrestling with our husband or wife, the other party is actually not our husband, our wife, an elder, or any circumstance, it is the Lord Himself who is wrestling with us. In our experience, we eventually realize that the Lord is here. For example, a sister may eventually say, “It is not my husband who is wrestling with me—it is the Lord.” If we understand the answer to the first question, we should be able to answer the other three questions. In His appearing for our salvation, the Lord reveals Himself as the Lord of glory, but in His dealings with us, He keeps Himself secret. Whenever we undergo a dealing, we think that it comes from a person or a situation; we do not consider it as coming from the Lord. But whenever a dealing comes, we must realize that the Lord is there. Do not ask His name. Frequently, sisters have asked me, “Brother Lee, why did the Lord give me such a husband?” And often brothers have said, “Brother Lee, doesn’tt he Lord know everything? Since He does, why doesn’tHe do something about my wife?” The answer is that the Lord’s dealing is a secret. Through Jacob’s experience we can realize the name of the One who is wrestling with us. For a sister, the Lord’s name might be “husband,” and for a brother, the Lord’s name might be “wife.” In some cases the name of the Lord might be “hard-dealing elder.” If we would be honest and open, many would admit that they have questions about their marriage. Many have asked, “Why?” A brother may ask, “Of all the young sisters in the church, how did I happen to marry this one?” Whenever we are dealt with, we do not recognize at first that it is the Lord’s doing. Sometimes we do realize it, but refuse to admit it. If we did admit it, we would certainly stop wrestling immediately. Therefore, we strive to the uttermost not to be subdued; rather we exert ourselves to subdue the other party, in most cases not realizing that we are actually wrestling with the Lord.

6现在让我们来看第二和第三个问题。如果主立刻征服了我们，我们怎会被暴露？有人会问：『我已经为我的妻子祷告多年，为甚么主不答应我？为甚么她绝不改变？』答案是你需要被暴露。主和雅各摔跤，为要暴露他是何等的天然。这种暴露至少需要半个晚上。我们也需要长时间的难处。我们很多人仍在摔跤。主想要征服你，但你却争战，要征服你的环境。也许你的妻子是主用来征服你的，但你却运用你的力量要打败她。因此摔跤就延续下去。我盼望在本篇信息中，光会在你身上照耀，你就会说，『哦，现在我看见了！多年来我在摔跤。现在我看见，这目的在暴露我是何等的天然。问题不在我的妻子，乃在我天然的力量。我仍然只是一个天然的人。』雅各有甚么错，使主必须和他摔跤？没有甚么错。主和雅各摔跤，是因他还是那么天然。这里不是对付有罪的事物，乃是对付天然的生命，天然的人。我们需要很长的时间来暴露我们天然的生命。在这以前，我们需要一段很长的摔跤时期。藉著这段摔跤的时期，我们的天然，正像雅各的天然，完全被暴露。我们读创世记三十一、三十二、三十三章时，就看见雅各是何等的天然。他曾受对付，受过很多苦，但在创世记三十二章，他还是天然的。他不信靠主，并且完全不能彰显主。他是天然的，他的表现满了自己。

6Let us now consider the second and third questions. If the Lord subdued us immediately, how would we ever be exposed? Some may ask, “I have been praying for my wife for years. Why doesn’tt he Lord answer me? Why does she never change?” The answer is that you need to be exposed. The Lord wrestled with Jacob in order to expose how natural he was. This exposure required at least half a night. We also need a long time of trouble. Many of us are still wrestling. The Lord is attempting to subdue you, but you are fighting to subdue your circumstances. Perhaps your wife is being used by the Lord to subdue you, but you exercise your strength to defeat her. Hence, the wrestling continues. I hope that in this message the light will shine upon you and that you will say, “Oh, now I see! For years I have been wrestling. Now I see that the purpose of this is to expose how natural I am. The problem is not with my wife—it is with my natural strength. I am still just a natural man.” What was wrong with Jacob that the Lord had to wrestle with him? There was nothing wrong. The reason the Lord wrestled with Jacob was because he was still so natural. Here the dealing is not with anything sinful; it is with the natural life, with the natural man. It takes a long time to expose our natural life. We need an extended period of wrestling before this can take place. Through this period of wrestling, our naturalness, like Jacob’s, is utterly exposed. As we read chapters thirty-one, thirty- two, and thirty-three, we see how natural Jacob was. He had been dealt with and he had suffered a great deal, but, in chapter thirty-two, he was still natural. He did not trust in the Lord, and he was absolutely unable to express the Lord. He was natural, and his expression was full of himself.

7在这摔跤的晚上，到了一个时候，主将雅各的大腿窝摸了一把。创世记三十二章二十五节说，『那人见自己胜不过他，就将他的大腿窝摸了一把，雅各的大腿窝，正在摔跤的时候就扭了。』主摸了雅各大腿的筋，大腿筋是我们最强的肌肉。主的用意不是要征服雅各，乃是要暴露他。主暴露雅各天然的生命后，就摸了他的大腿，大腿立刻扭了，他就瘸了。正如三十一节所指出，雅各的『大腿就瘸了。』雅各的大腿扭了以后，也许自己想：『这摔跤者比我大。他没有杀我，但他的确摸了我一把，使我成了瘸子。』雅各领悟这摔跤者比他大，就求他给他祝福。（创三二26。）甚至在这时候，我不信雅各领悟这摔跤者就是神。这摔跤者摸他以后，对雅各说，『天黎明了，容我去罢。』但雅各说，『你不给我祝福，我就不容你去。』（创三二26。）雅各说了这话之后，主问他名叫甚么。（创三二。）主既然已经知道雅各的名，为甚么问他这问题？这是要叫雅各领悟他是谁，并逼他承认他是雅各，那抓夺者。雅各说出他的名后，那摔跤者说，『你的名不要再叫雅各，要叫以色列，因为你与神与人较力，都得了胜。』（创三二28。）以色列这名的意思是『与神摔跤者。』很多基督徒知道以色列的意思是『神的王子，』但最好的辞典和译本指明，这意思是次要的，以色列这名主要的意思乃是『与神摔跤者。』雅各听到他的名已改成以色列，就是『与神摔跤者，』立刻领悟这位摔跤者是神。也许他对自己说，『哦！这位是神，祂已经称我为与神摔跤者。』于是雅各说，『请将你的名告诉我。』主回答说，『何必问我的名？』（创三二29。）主没有把祂的名告诉雅各。在我们的经历里，那对付我们的主，总是个秘密。但主虽然没有将祂的名启示雅各，却给他祝福。祝福以后，圣经没有记载主离开他。主一直与他同在，甚至在摔跤后，祂仍在那里。主既没有来也没有去；祂只是和雅各摔跤。如果那是旧约时代雅各的经历，今天对我们就更为真实。主永不离开我们。甚么时候我们需要对付，祂就把精确的对付加给我们。

7At a certain point during this night of wrestling, the Lord touched the hollow of Jacob’st high. Verse 25 says, “And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’st high was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.” The Lord touched the sinew of Jacob’st high. The sinew of the thigh is our strongest muscle. The Lord’sin tent i on was not to subdue Jacob but to expose him. After exposing his natural life, the Lord touched Jacob’st high. It was immediately dislocated, and Jacob was crippled. As verse 31 points out, Jacob “limped upon his thigh” (Heb.). After his thigh was dislocated, Jacob might have thought to himself, “This wrestler is greater than I am. He has not killed me, but he has certainly touched me and made me limp.” Realizing that this wrestler was greater than he, Jacob asked him to bless him (v. 26). I doubt that even at this time Jacob realized that this wrestler was God. After touching him, the wrestler said to Jacob, “Let me go, for the day breaketh” (v. 26). But then Jacob said, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me” (Heb.). After Jacob said this, the Lord asked Jacob what his name was (v. 27). Since the Lord already knew Jacob’s name, why did He ask 27 him this question? It was to cause Jacob to realize who he was and to force him to admit that he was Jacob, the supplanter. After Jacob divulged his name, the wrestler said, “Thy name shall be no more called Jacob, but Israel; for thou has wrestled with God and with men, and hast prevailed” (v. 28, Heb.). The name Israel means “wrestler with God.” Many Christians know that Israel means “the Prince of God,” but, as the best lexicons and translations make clear, this meaning is secondary. The primary meaning of the name Israel is a “wrestler with God.” After Jacob heard that his name had been changed to Israel, a wrestler with God, he immediately realized that this wrestler was God. Perhaps he said to himself, “Oh! This One is God, and He has called me the wrestler of God.” Then Jacob said, “Tell me, I pray thee, thy name” (v. 29). The Lord replied, “Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?” (v. 29). The Lord did not tell Jacob His name. In our experience, the dealing Lord is always a secret. However, although He did not reveal His name to Jacob, the Lord blessed him. After blessing Jacob, there is no record that the Lord left him. The Lord had been with him all the time and, even after the wrestling, He was still there. The Lord neither came nor went; He simply wrestled with Jacob. If that was Jacob’s experience in Old Testament times, it is even more true with us today. The Lord will never leave us. Whenever we require a dealing, He will render the precise dealing we need.

8创世记三十二章三十节说，雅各便给那地方起名叫毘努伊勒，意思说，我面对面见了神，我的性命仍得保全。』主祝福雅各后，雅各完全领悟那摔跤者就是神，他便给那地方起名叫毘努

8Verse 30 says, “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” After the Lord blessed him, Jacob fully realized that the wrestler was God and he named that place Peniel, which means “the face of God

9伊勒，意思就是『神的面。』

10我们看过雅各在本章的经历后，可能以为他已经因此被变化了。但实际上没有一点变化，因为创世记三十三章启示，雅各还是雅各。他在生活方式上没有改变，他仍旧在计画、分队，并且作一切可能的事去应付局面。他在生活方式上虽然没有改变，但他在生命里确实有了改变，他的生命已经被摸过了。在毘努伊勒的经历以后，他瘸了。在主摸他的前后，他任何事都能作；但在主摸他以后，他所作的一切都是瘸著腿作的。

10After considering Jacob’s experience in this chapter, we may think that he had been transformed by it. Actually, however, there was no transformation at all, for chapter thirty-three reveals that Jacob was still Jacob. There was no change in his way of living. He was still planning, dividing, and doing everything possible to cope with the situation. Although there was no change in his way of living, there definitely was a change in his life, his very life had been touched. After his experience at Peniel, he limped. Both before and after the Lord touched him, he could do anything, but after the Lord touched him, whatever he did was done with a limp

11在我们基督徒身上，有两种的失败和软弱－一种是不瘸腿的，一种是瘸腿的。例如，我们发脾气可能是瘸腿的，也可能是不瘸腿的。我可能对某弟兄发脾气，但甚至在这样的事上，别人也会注意到我是瘸腿的。你若不作甚么，别人看不出你的瘸腿。但雅各作得越多，他的瘸腿就暴露得越多。然而我要说，我们不该想要模倣瘸腿。模倣绝不管用。我们在召会中，在主恢复里的，乃是神所拣选的人。我们是在祂的手中，我们是在祂的路上，我完全确信我们也是在祂的对付之下。无论你是否领悟、认识或承认，事实乃是你在主的对付之下。迟早你会觉得你被祂摸了一把。时候到了，你就知道你瘸了，你永远不会和以前一样了。也许你还有软弱，但你不会和以前一样了。如果你还能一样，就指明你从未经历主的摸。在雅各身上，主的摸是一次永远的。但在我们身上，我们也许被摸过好几次。然而，原则是一样的。我们很多人能见证，从我们爱主的第一天，特别是进入召会生活，开始在祂的恢复里跟从主，我们就发现自己在受对付的环境中。我们一直在摔跤。很长的一段时间，我们不领悟主在对付我们。有一天，主突然摸了我们一把，我们瘸了。此后，我们就不一样了。也许我们仍是天然或软弱的，但我们不一样了。

11With us Christians there are two kinds of failures and weaknesses—those without a limp and those with a limp. For example, we may lose our temper with or without a limp. I may lose my temper with a brother, but even in this losing of my temper, others will notice that I am limping. If you do nothing, others will be unable to perceive your limp. But the more Jacob acted, the more his limp was exposed. Let me say, however, that we should not try to imitate a limp. Imitation never works. We in the churches in the Lord’s recovery are God’s chosen ones. We are in His hand, we are on His way, and I am fully assured that we are also under His dealing. Whether or not you realize it, recognize it, or admit it, the fact is that you are under the Lord’s dealing. Sooner or later, you will have the sense that you have been touched by Him. When that time comes, you will know that you are limp and that you will never be the same. You may still have your weaknesses, but you will not be the same. If you still can be the same, it is an indication that you have never experienced the Lord’s touching. With Jacob, the Lord’s touching was once for all. But with us, there may be several touchings. Nevertheless, the principle is the same. Many of us can testify that since the day we first loved the Lord, especially since we came into the church life and began to follow the Lord in His recovery, we found ourselves in circumstances where we were being dealt with. We were constantly wrestling. For a long time, we did not realize that the Lord was dealing with us. One day, the Lord suddenly touched us, and we came out lame. After that, we were not the same. Perhaps we were still natural or weak, but we were not the same.

12不要期望藉著一摸，你的整个生活就会改变，你就会完全被变化。不，在雅各身上，那一摸发生在创世记三十二章，但成熟乃是四十七章才完全显明。从二十六章至三十二章，有许多的失败、错误和过犯。被神摸过以后，在三十三章，表面上雅各还没有多少改变，但实际上，在生命里他有了很大的改变。在三十二章以前，雅各是天然的，从未被主摸过。但在三十二章以后，无论他作甚么，都是瘸著腿作的。从那时起，他给人的印象大不相同。当他向以扫俯伏的时候，他还是天然的，但他的瘸腿见证主摸过他了。你有没有看到雅各走向以扫，向他俯伏时，是瘸著腿的？以扫没有看见一个完整的雅各，只看见一个瘸腿的雅各。这里我们看见，虽然他在生活上没有改变，但在生命里发生了改变。被主摸过的，不是外面的生活；被主摸过的，乃是里面天然的力量。雅各的大腿筋已经被摸过了。很少基督徒领悟，在这段话里雅各经历的重要意义。很多人专注意对付外面的罪、过犯和世俗，从未想到他们天然的生命、天然的力量必须被摸过。但主不仅关心我们外面生活的改变，祂更要摸著我们天然的生命。无论你有没有和妻子争吵，你天然的生命若没有被摸过，你还是天然的。在神眼中，你对妻子发脾气或控制脾气，并没有多少区别。你若发脾气，你是你；你若控制脾气，你还是你。但雅各一旦被摸过，虽然外面和从前一样，但里面天然的生命已经受了对付。当然，就著人来说，我喜欢看见弟兄姊妹改变他们对配偶的态度；但在里面深处，他们里面的人若依旧一样，我就不欣赏这种外面的改变。你行为不好，主很难将祂自己作到你里面；但你很好，情形也是一样。事实上，因为你这么好，主可能更难将祂自己作到你里面。这不是外面的改变或改良，这是里面的一摸。你里面的筋，你里面天然的力量，必须被主摸著。我们都需要这一摸。

12Do not expect that by one touch your whole living will be changed and that you will be totally transformed. No, with Jacob, the touch occurred in chapter thirty-two, but the maturity, the ripening, was not fully manifested until chapter forty - seven. From chapter twenty - six through chapter thirty-two, there were many failures, mistakes, and wrong doings. After being touched by God, in chapter thirty-three apparently he had not changed very much, but actually, in life, he had had a great change. Prior to chapter thirty-two, Jacob was natural, never having been touched by the Lord. But after chapter thirty-two, whatever he did, he did with a limp. From then on, the impression he gave to people was quite different. When he bowed down to Esau, he was still natural, but his limp testified to the Lord’s touching. Have you ever realized that as Jacob walked toward Esau and bowed down to him, he was limping? Esau did not see a whole Jacob, but a crippled one. Here we see that while there was no change in his living, a change had occurred in his life. It was not the outward living that was touched by the Lord; it was the inward, natural strength that was touched by Him. The sinew of Jacob’st high had been touched. Few Christians realize the crucial significance of Jacob’s experience in this portion of the Word. Most devote their attention to dealing with outward sin, wrong doings, and worldliness, never thinking that their natural life, natural strength, must be touched. But the Lord is not only concerned with changing our outward living; He desires even more to touch our natural life. Whether or not you exchange words with your wife, if your natural life has not been touched, you are still natural. In the eyes of God, there is not much difference between losing your temper with your wife or controlling it. If you lose your temper, you are you, and if you control your temper, you are still you. But once Jacob had been touched, though outwardly he was the same as before, inwardly his natural life had been dealt with. Humanly speaking, of course, I like to see the brothers and sisters change their attitudes towards their spouses. But deep within, if their inward being remains the same, I do not appreciate this outward change. When you behave badly, it is difficult for the Lord to work Himself into you. But when you are good, it is the same. In fact, it may be more difficult for the Lord to work Himself into you because you are so good. It is not a matter of outward change or improvement; it is a matter of inward touching. Your inward sinew, your inward natural strength, must be touched by the Lord. We all need this touch.

13我们跟从雅各，可能会一再被摸，因为在我们身上这摸不是一次永远的。我们摔了一会儿跤，就会深信自己被摸了。主总是在某个关键点上摸我们。甚么时候祂摸了某一特别的部分，我们就瘸了，里面的人再也不能和以前一样了。从此以后，我们就瘸了，不再完整了。在召会生活成千的人中间，有许多不同的类型：聪明的、智慧的、诡诈的，骄傲的、自大的。按宗教说，正确的方法是改变我们外面的行为，但神的方法，生命的方法，却不一样。神没有对雅各说，『雅各，我已经和你摔过跤，摸过你，改了你的名，也将我的祝福给了你。从现在起，你不可运用你的诡诈或用你天然的力量去面对与你哥哥以扫之间的局面。不要再诡诈了。信靠我，让我处理这件事。』圣经没有这样的记载。只有雅各被摸的简单记载。主摸了他的大腿，改了他的名，并将祂的祝福给了他－如此而已。没有对他讲道，给他教导。此后，无论雅各作甚么，就如将家人分为三组，都由著他。常常主摸了我们以后，并没有告诉我们要作甚么。祂听凭我们，让我们作自己喜欢的事。我们若察验我们的经历，就会看见正是这样。那些照顾别人的人，特别是长老，喜欢教导别人。他们经常说，『弟兄，你错了。主既祝福了你，你就不该像以前一样对待你的妻子。当然，为著主荣耀的缘故，你必须改变。』从事牧养的姊妹可能嘱咐别人说，『姊妹，你不该再和你丈夫争吵了。你不该作这，你不该作那。』这是我们的方法，但不是主的方法。主摸了雅各的大腿并给他祝福以后，没有给他教导。祂甚至一句话也没有说。反之，在那一摸之后，雅各仍然自己努力。他似乎对属他的人说，『你们都到后面去，让我前去见我的哥哥以扫。』但是当他走向以扫时，他是一拐一拐的走。我们天然的观念和神的方法是何等不同！宗教的实行和主的一摸是何等不同！

13As we follow Jacob, we may be touched again and again, for with us the touch may not be once for all. After we wrestle for a while, we shall have the deep conviction that we have been touched. The Lord always touches us at a certain crucial spot. Whenever He touches a particular part, we are lame and can no longer be the same in our inward being. From then on, we limp and are no longer whole. Among the thousands of people in the church life, there are many different kinds: the clever, the wise, the crafty, the proud, the arrogant. According to religion, the correct way is to change our outward behavior. But God’sway, the way of life, is different. God did not say to Jacob, “Jacob, I have wrestled with you, touched you, changed your name, and given you My blessing. From now on, you must not exercise your craftiness or use your natural strength to face the situation with your brother, Esau. Don’t be crafty any longer. Trust in Me and let Me take care of this matter.” There is no such account in the Bible. There is simply the record of Jacob’s being touched. The Lord touched his thigh, changed his name, and gave him His blessing—that is all. No sermon, no instruction, was given to him. Whatever Jacob did after that, such as divide his folks into three groups, was up to him. Often, after the Lord touches us, He does not tell us what to do. Instead, He leaves us to ourselves, allowing us to do whatever we like. If we examine our experience, we shall see that this is so. Those, especially the elders, who care for others are fond of instructing people. Frequently they say, “Brother, you were mistaken. Now that the Lord has blessed you, you should not treat your wife the same way. Surely for the sake of the Lord’s glory, you must change.” The sisters who engage in shepherding may charge others, saying, “Sister, you should not exchange words with your husband any longer. You should not do this—you should not do that.” This is our way, but it is not the Lord’sway. After touching Jacob’st high and blessing him, the Lord gave him no instruction. He did not even say a word. Rather, after that touch, Jacob still exercised himself. He seemed to say to his people, “You all stay back. Let me go forward to see my brother Esau.” But as he walked toward him, he did so in a limping way. What a difference between our natural concept and God’sway! What a difference between the religious practice and the Lord’s touching!

14我不愿意听见你们所得的教导；反之，我喜欢看见你们许多人，一位一位被主摸著。常常有姊妹来见我，抱怨她们的丈夫；但是当她们在我面前控诉她们的丈夫时，我很喜乐，因为在她们的控诉中，我看到她们是瘸著腿的。可能就在几天前，她们来见我时还没有被摸过的记号。但现在，虽然她们还是抱怨并控诉她们的丈夫，我却察知她们确实是瘸了。我并不责备这些亲爱的姊妹，因为我很高兴看见她们被摸过了。一摸胜于各种教导。主摸我们天然的生命，胜过一百篇信息。这是我们今天的需要。创世记三十二章三十一节说，『雅各经过毘努伊勒的时候，日头在他上面升起，他的大腿就瘸了。』（另译。）在那一摸之后，日头在雅各上面升起。他虽然瘸了，却在光中。在主的恢复里，任何有光的人必定是个瘸子。没有一个在光下的人仍旧是完整的，每一个在属天光照下的人都是瘸腿的。在黑夜里，雅各很强壮，他的每一部分都是完整的。但在他被摸之后，日头在他上面升起，他就满了光。他是在属天的光照之下，但他是个瘸子。我们很多人都有这种经历，因为我们真是在主手中，并且跟从祂的道路。

14I do not want to hear of instructions that are given to you; rather, I like to see that, one by one, so many of you are touched by the Lord. Often, sisters have come to me complaining about their husbands. However, as they accuse their husbands before me, I am happy because in their accusations I notice that they are limping. Perhaps only a few days earlier they came to me without any sign of having been touched. But now, although they still complain and accuse their husbands, a definite limp is perceivable. I do not rebuke these dear sisters, for I am happy to see that they have been touched. One touch is better than all kinds of instructions. The Lord’s touching of our natural life is much better than a hundred messages. This is our need today. Verse 31 says, “And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he limped upon his thigh” (Heb.). After the touch, the sun rose upon Jacob. He was crippled, but he was in the light. Anyone in the Lord’s recovery who has light must be a crippled one. No one under the light is still whole; everyone under the light of the heavenly shining is lame. In the dark night, Jacob was strong and every part of him was whole. But after he was touched, the sun rose upon him and he was full of light. He was under the shining of the heavenly light, yet he was a crippled man. Because we are truly in the Lord’shan dan dare following His way, many of us are having this kind of experience