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创世记生命读经 · 第76篇

破碎之后

After Breaking
1提后三章十六节说，圣经都是神的呼出。你信我们在本篇信息中所要看的创世记三十四章是神的呼出么？我们需要仰望主给我们看见，这段话如何是神的呼出。像创世记三十四章这样的经文，我年轻的时候读过一、两遍，把故事记住以后，就略过不读了。我读旧约圣经，每次到了本章，只记得雅各的女儿受了玷污，他的儿子们无情的杀人，并且掳掠那城，然后就越过这章。然而主已经给我们看见，甚至本章也是生命的呼出。在这段话中有生命，不过需要有经历才会赏识。
1Second Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is God-breathed. Do you believe that Genesis 34, the chapter which we shall consider in this message, is God-breathed? We need to look to the Lord that He would show us how this portion of the Word is the breath of God. When I was young, after I had read chapters like Genesis 34 once or twice and the story had been fixed in my memory, I skipped over them. Whenever I came to this chapter in my reading of the Old Testament, I would remember that Jacob’s daughter was defiled and that his sons mercilessly killed people and plundered the city, and I passed over it. However, the Lord has shown us that even this chapter is the breath of life. Although there is life in this portion of the Word, it takes experience to appreciate it
2要领略三十四章里的生命，我们必须回顾，也必须前瞻。在这一章之前，雅各已经从一切难处中被拯救出来。二十年之久，雅各留在拉班压榨的手下，极其苦恼。最终他不可能再与拉班同处了，就离开舅家。神告诉他，要他回到他祖他父之地。但雅各无法忘记从前在那里所发生的事；因他在那里欺骗了父亲以撒，抓夺了哥哥以扫。他虽然愿意回到他祖他父之地，苏但必须面临一个大难题，就是面对哥哥以扫。虽然如此，他接受主的话，并利用他的技巧和聪明，从拉班那里偷偷逃跑，不告而别。因著从拉班那里偷偷逃跑，他克服了第一个困难，就是拉班压榨的手。但接著有第二个难处：拉班追赶雅各，至终追上了他。但神进来，告诉拉班不可与雅各说好说歹。这样，雅各就从拉班的手中完全被拯救出来。不过最大的难处，就是面对以扫，仍然摆在雅各跟前。因著这事，他和一个身分不明的对手整夜摔跤，这对手实际上就是主自己。但雅各度过了这难关，并且主也拯救他脱离与以扫之间的难题。这事以后，雅各暂时不再有难处。
2In order to apprehend the life in chapter thirty-four, we must look both backward and forward. Prior to this chapter, Jacob had been delivered out of all his troubles. For twenty years, Jacob was retained under Laban’s squeezing hand, and he was very troubled by this. Eventually, it was impossible for Jacob to stay with Laban any longer and he left his uncle’sho me. God had told Jacob that He wanted him to return to the land of his fathers. Jacob, however, could not forget what had happened there, for it was there that he had deceived his father Isaac and had supplanted his brother Esau. Although he was willing to return to the land of his fathers, he had to confront the great problem of facing his brother Esau. Nevertheless, taking the word of the Lord and utilizing his skill and cleverness, he stole away from Laban, not informing him that he was leaving. By stealing away from Laban, he overcame his first difficulty, that of being under Laban’s squeezing hand. But then there was a second trouble: Laban pursued Jacob and finally caught up with him. But God intervened, telling Laban not to say anything either good or bad to Jacob. Thus, Jacob was wholly delivered from the hand of Laban. But the greatest trouble—facing Esau—still lay in front of him. Because of this, he had a long night of wrestling with an unidentified opponent who actually was the Lord Himself. But Jacob passed through this crisis, and the Lord delivered him from the problem with Esau. After this, Jacob had no more difficulties for a while
（a）仅仅回到示剑
1) Having Only Returned to Shechem
3雅各从这一切难处中被拯救出来以后，『就往竦割去，在那里为自己盖造房屋，又为牲畜搭棚。』（创三三。）竦割在约但河东岸。这指明当雅各在竦割时，还未过约但河，进入迦南地的中心。创世记三十三章十七节没有说雅各来到迦南。到下一节才题到迦南地，那里告诉我们，雅各平平安安的到了『迦南地的示剑城。』（创三三18。）在神眼中，当雅各来到竦割，在那里为自己盖造房屋时，他还未回到美地的中心。雅各为自己盖造房屋，又为牲畜搭棚，由此可见他还是多么天然，多么为著自己。他必定忽略了在伯特利所作的梦。雅各逃离以扫之后，作了一个梦，梦中看见一个从地通到天的梯子。他从梦中醒来时，就称那地方为伯特利，并且把油浇在他用来作枕头的石头上，说，『我所立为柱子的石头，也必作神的家（殿）。』（创二八22。）在伯特利雅各向神许了愿，应许那石头必作神的家。换句话说，他应许神，要为神建造一个家。雅各必定忘了这事。我若在那里，我会问他：『雅各，你为甚么回来？神要你为自己盖造房屋，又为牲畜搭棚么？神的家如何呢？』当雅各在异地作客时，我们能同情他，因为任何人寄居异乡都很为难。但他现在已经回到神所应许之地的范围内了。你如果仔细读旧约，你会看见约但河东之地从未被视为美地的上好部分。但以色列的两个半支派来到这地时，却被吸引住了，这使摩西对他们很不喜悦。这两个半支派的确得著了这地，但他们失去了神的一些福分。当亚述人来攻打以色列人时，他们先来到约但河东之地，这两个半支派就首先被掳了。（代上五26。）那些战略城市，像耶路撤冷和伯利恒，都在约但河西的中心地带。所以竦割所在的约但河东之地，不在神所应许之地的中心。雅各住在竦割的事，圣经的记载非常简短。最终，雅各看见竦割不是他与神同住的正确地方，就过了约但河，往示剑去。他在回美地的路上，过了三道河：幼发拉底河、雅博河与约但河。雅各来到示剑，乃是跟随他先祖亚伯拉罕的脚踪。（参创十二5～。）这指明雅各已经被带到正确的路上。在示剑，雅各支搭帐棚，并且18-筑了一座坛。（创三三18～20。）这启示他已经开始过帐棚的生活，有祭坛的见证。这比为自己盖造房屋并为牲畜搭棚好多了。在竦割他没有为神建造甚么。但在示剑刚好相反，他没有为自己或为自己的牲畜建造甚么，却为神筑了一座坛，自己支搭帐棚过生活。他不但跟随先祖的脚踪，并且过帐棚的生活，有祭坛的见证。这是何等的好！
3After he had been delivered out of all these troubles, “Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle” (33:17). Succoth was on the east side of the Jordan. This indicates that while 17 Jacob was at Succoth, he had not yet crossed the Jordan River to enter into the heart of the land of Canaan. Genesis 33:17 does not say that Jacob came to Canaan. The land of Canaan is not mentioned until the next verse, where we are told that Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, “which is in the land of Canaan” (v. 18). In God’s e yes, when Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house there, he had not yet come back to the heart of the good land. By Jacob’s building a house for himself and booths for his cattle, we see how much Jacob was still natural and for himself. He certainly neglected the dream he had had at Bethel. After Jacob had fled from Esau, he had a dream in which he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. When he awoke from that dream, he called the name of that place Bethel and poured oil upon the stone which he had used for a pillow, saying, “This stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’sho use” (28:22). At Bethel, Jacob made a vow to God, promising that the stone would be the house of God. In other words, he promised God that he would build a house for Him. Surely, Jacob forgot about this. If I had been there, I would have asked Jacob, “Jacob, why did you come back? Does God want you to build a house for yourself and booths for your cattle? What about the house of God?” When Jacob was a stranger in a foreign land, we could sympathize with him, for it is difficult for anyone to be an alien. But now he has come back to the territory of the land of God’s promise. If you read the Old Testament carefully, you will see that the territory east of the Jordan was never recognized as being the best part of the good land. But when the two and a half tribes of Israel came to this territory, they were attracted by it. This caused Moses to be unhappy with them. These two and a half tribes did receive this land, but they lost some of God’s blessing. When the Assyrians came to attack the children of Israel, they firstly came to the land east of the Jordan, and these two and a half tribes were the first to be captured (1 Chron. 5:26). The strategic cities, such as Jerusalem and Bethlehem, are in the heart of the land west of the Jordan. Therefore, the territory east of the Jordan, where Succoth was, was not in the heart of the land of God’s promise. The Bible affords us a very brief record of Jacob’s stay at Succoth. Eventually, Jacob realized that Succoth was not the proper place for him to stay with God, and he crossed over the Jordan and journeyed to Shechem. In his journey back to the good land, Jacob crossed three rivers: the Euphrates, the Jabbok, and the Jordan. In coming to Shechem, Jacob was following the footsteps of his forefather Abraham (cf. 12:5-6). This indicates6 that Jacob had been brought on to the right track. In Shechem Jacob erected a tent and built an altar (vv. 20). This reveals that he had begun to live the tent life and to have the altar testimony. This was far better than building a house for himself and booths for his cattle. In Succoth Jacob built nothing for God. In Shechem, on the contrary, he built nothing for himself or for his cattle; rather, he built an altar for God and erected a tent for his living. How good it was that he not only followed the steps of his forefather, but also had the tent life and the altar testimony.
4这很好，但这不是伯特利。你若读创世记十二章就会看见，亚伯拉罕到达示剑以后，又继续前往伯特利。（创十二6～8。）雅各在伯特利作过梦。（创二八10～22。）当主告诉他要回到他祖他父之地，那是指明他该回到伯特利还愿，为神建造一个家。我真不懂得雅各究竟是忘了他的梦，还是不愿意付代价。但他首先来到竦割，然后继续前往示剑。在示剑他开始过蒙召者的生活。在那时之前，他从未过蒙召者的生活。用今日基督徒的说法，雅各从未过基督徒的生活。从前他一直抓夺。那是他出生以后所一直过的生活。他抓夺别人，抓住别人的脚跟。但在以扫来迎接他时，雅各已经被破碎了。虽然以扫以诚实善良的心来见他，但雅各甚至在被破碎之后还在抓夺。雅各抓夺到最后一分钟，平安到达了示剑，在那里他开始过帐棚的生活，有祭坛的见证。雅各在示剑虽然有帐棚同祭坛，但还未达到神的标准。雅各有帐棚，但神没有家。他为神筑了一座坛，但神还没有家。按照旧约，筑坛必定引到建殿。在重建圣殿的时候，首先要恢复的是祭坛。（拉三1～。）在帐幕和圣殿的前面都有祭坛。在我们的经历中也是这样。首先，我们有绝对的奉献，筑了一座坛；然后我们继续往前达到召会－神的家－的建造。
4This was good, but it was not Bethel. If you read chapter twelve you will see that after Abraham arrived at Shechem, he continued onward to Bethel (12:6-8). Jacob had his dream at Bethel (28:10-22). When he was told by the Lord to return to the land of his fathers, that was an indication that he should return to Bethel to fulfill his vow to build a house for God. I simply cannot understand whether he forgot this dream or whether he was unwilling to pay the price. But he firstly came to Succoth and then continued onward to Shechem. In Shechem he began to live as a called one. Before then, Jacob never lived as a called one. Using today’s Christian terms, Jacob never lived the Christian life. Prior to that time, he was supplanting all the time. That was the life he had lived since birth. He supplanted others and held on to their heel. However, by the time Esau came to meet him, Jacob had been broken. Although Esau came to him with an honest and good heart, Jacob, even after he had been broken, was still supplanting. Supplanting until the very last minute, Jacob arrived safely at Shechem, where he began to live a tent life with an altar testimony. Although Jacob had a tent with an altar in Shechem, this fell short of God’s standard. There was a tent for Jacob, but there was no house for God. An altar had been built for God, but God still did not have a house. According to the Old Testament, the building of the altar must bring us to the building of the temple. In the rebuilding of the temple, the first item to be recovered was the altar (Ezra 3:1-3). In 3 front of both the tabernacle and the temple was the altar. It is the same in our experience. Firstly, we have an absolute consecration and build an altar; then we continue until we come to the building of the church, the house of God.
（b）仍需环境中的对付
2) Still Needing the Dealing in His Circumstances
5雅各在示剑所有的虽然很好，但他还需要环境中的对付，（创三四1～31，）因为他还未回到伯特利。雅各在示剑必定十分快乐满足。示剑的意思是『肩膀，』表征力量。亚伯拉罕到示剑后，就得著加强。雅各的经历必定也是一样。雅各甚至在那里买了一块地，在其上支搭帐棚。（创三三。）他的确得了加强，在那里过著蒙神呼召者的生活。但他还未达到神的目标。有一天，有件事突然发生：他的独生女底拿受了玷污。（创三四～2。）那时，雅各有十一个儿子和一个女儿。如果他有十一个女儿、一个儿子，情形必大不相同。十一个女儿中有一个受玷污，比独生女受玷污，分量要轻得多。雅各的独生女受玷污，是一件极其严重的事。
5Although what Jacob had at Shechem was good, he still needed the dealing in his circumstances (34:1-31) because he had not yet come back to Bethel. Jacob must have been very happy and content in Shechem, which means “shoulder” and signifies strength. After Abraham arrived in Shechem, he was strengthened. Jacob’s experience must have been the same. Jacob even purchased a parcel of land there and spread his tent on it (33:19). Surely he was strengthened to live there as 19 one of God’scall ed ones. But he had not yet attained God’s goal. One day, something suddenly happened: his only daughter, Dinah, was defiled (34:1-2). At that time, Jacob had eleven sons and one daughter. If he had had 1 eleven daughters and one son, the situation would have been much different. For one of eleven daughters to be defiled would have meant a great deal less than for his only daughter to be defiled. It was a most serious thing for Jacob’son ly daughter to be defiled.
6这件不寻常且特殊的事件，必定是出于神。底拿出去，要见那地的女子们。（创三四1。）她若不出去，绝不会受玷污。因著出去见那地的女子们，她遇到难处，发生了这不幸的事件。你以为这是意外事件么？雅各和他的家人也许这样想，但在神眼中却不然；这事是在祂主宰的手下发生的。这不是说神要雅各的女儿受玷污，乃是说这不幸的事件在神主宰的手下发生，以成全神所拣选的雅各。今天的原则也是一样。神对雅各有一个目的，而祂对我们每一个蒙召的人必然也有一个目的。神对雅各的目的，不是要雅各跟随他先祖的脚踪，搭棚、筑坛、得著加强、并且定居。这些没有一样是神目的的达成。简单的说，神的目的是要在地上得著一个家，在这地上建造伯特利。示剑对于雅各很好，但绝不能满足神的愿望。所以当雅各定居、满足并快乐的时候，这不幸的事件临到了他。雅各如果有十一个女儿，只有一个儿子，这一个儿子对这事就不能作甚么，不会引起难处。但是当雅各惟一的女儿受了玷污，他所有的儿子们都起来了。（创三四7～31。）他们不能容忍这事。最终，雅各的两个儿子，西缅和利未，杀了示剑城所有的男丁，并且掳掠了那城。请想一想雅各的处境。他是蒙神拣选并呼召的人，他是神在地上的见证。他在跟随蒙神呼召者之先锋的脚踪，住在帐棚里，且凭祭坛敬拜神。他是当时神在地上惟一的见证。但请看发生了甚么事！他的独生女受了玷污。这事怎能发生在一个刚开始过蒙神呼召者的生活，就是帐棚同祭坛的生活的人身上？如果我是雅各，我可能会疑惑，问说，『这是怎么回事？我比以前更爱主。我一开始过正确的生活，跟随亚伯拉罕的脚踪，这事就临到我。为甚么？』
6This unusual and extraordinary happening must have been of God. Dinah went to see the daughters of the land (34:1). If she had not done this, she never would have been defiled. By going to see the daughters of the land, she found herself in difficulty, and this unfortunate event took place. Do you think that this was an accident? Jacob and his household might have thought it was, but in God’s e yes it was not; it took place under His sovereign hand. This does not mean that God intended that Jacob’s daughter be defiled. It means that this unfortunate occurrence transpired under the sovereign hand of God to perfect Jacob, His chosen one. The principle is the same today. God had a purpose with Jacob and He certainly has a purpose with every one of us, His called ones. God’s purpose with Jacob was not that Jacob might follow his forefather’s footsteps, erect a tent, build an altar, be strengthened, and be settled. None of these is the fulfillment of God’s purpose. In brief, God’s purpose is to have His house on earth, to build Bethel here on earth. Shechem was good for Jacob, but it could never satisfy God’s desire. Therefore, while Jacob was settled, satisfied, and happy, this unfortunate event happened to him. If Jacob had had eleven daughters and just one son, the one son would have been unable to do anything about this and could have caused no difficulty. But when the one daughter of Jacob was defiled, all of his sons rose up (vv. 7-31). They could not tolerate this. Eventually, two of Jacob’ss ons, Simeon and Levi, slew all the males in the city of Shechem and plundered the city. Consider Jacob’s situation. He was the one who had been chosen and called by God and he was God’s testimony on earth. He was following the track of the pioneer of God’s called ones, living in a tent and worshipping God by an altar. He was the unique testimony of God on earth. But look at what happened! His only daughter was defiled. How could this happen to a man who had just begun to live the life of God’scall ed ones, the life of a tent with an altar? If I had been Jacob, I probably would have been doubtful, saying, “What is this? I love the Lord more than ever. As soon as I begin to have a proper life, following the footsteps of Abraham, this happens to me. Why?”
7雅各的儿子们倣照他们父亲诡诈的办法，设计报复。他们假意接受了哈抹和示剑的要求，说他们可以娶底拿，只要他们中间所有的男丁都受割礼。（创三四13～17。）这个题议哈抹和示剑都很喜欢，立刻就接受了。（创三四18～19。）于是在第三天，当所有的男丁因受割礼正在疼痛的时候，底拿的两个哥哥，西缅和利未，『各拿刀剑，趁著众人想不到的时候，来到城中，把一切男丁都杀了。又用刀杀了哈抹和他儿子示剑，把底拿从示剑家里带出来，就走了。』（创三四25～26。）这事以后，他们继续掳掠那城，夺了所有的羊群、牛群、驴、货财、妇女和孩子。他们甚至把各房中所有的，都掳掠去了。（创三四27～29。）雅各在创世记四十九章五至七节就是题到这场屠杀。在出埃及三十二章，利未那屠杀的手成了祝福。以色列人拜了金牛犊，摩西说，『凡属耶和华的，都要到我这里来；于是利未的子孙，都到他那里聚集。』（出三二26。）然后摩西说，『你们各人把刀跨在腰间，在营中往来，从这门到那门，各人杀他的弟兄，与同伴，并邻舍。利未的子孙照摩西的话行了。』（出三二27～28。）在创世记三十四章这里，利未同西缅杀了哈抹城中所有的男丁。以后在西乃山附近，利未的子孙杀了拜金牛犊的人。不仅如此，在民数记二十五章七至八节，利未的一个子孙，又杀了淫乱的人。因著在出埃及三十二章的行动，利未人成了神的祭司。请看雅各在本章所面临的处境：他的女儿受了玷污，他的儿子们欺骗了人，杀了他们，掳掠了他们的城。这是蒙神呼召之人的家么？是作神在地上惟一见证之人的家么？这一切为甚么临到雅各？底拿、十一个儿子、并所有被杀的人都是牺牲品，为著成全一个人－雅各。也许你信不来，主会为著你的缘故牺牲很多人。但牺牲很多人来成全一个人，乃是一件大事。在创世记三十四章，这一位乃是惟一的人，使神永远的目的在他身上，凭著他，并藉著他得以达成。底拿、十一个儿子、和示剑城所有的人也许可以免受灾祸，但如果雅各这惟一的人受了破坏，神永远的目的将如何呢？主常常会为著成全你而牺牲别人。我自己曾看见并经历这事。你如果有眼光，就会看见甚至今天主还在牺牲很多人，为著使你得成全。示剑、哈抹、他们同族的人，甚至底拿和雅各的十一个儿子，都为雅各的缘故牺牲了。本章所记的每件事都是为了成全雅各。
7Following their father’s deceptive methods, Jacob’ss ons devised a scheme to get revenge. They accepted the claim of Hamor and Shechem in a deceptive way, saying that Shechem and Hamor could take Dinah on the condition that all the males among them be circumcised (vv. 13-17). This proposal was pleasing to Hamor and Shechem, and they promptly accepted it (vv. 18-19). Then, on the third day, when all the males were sore from the circumcision, Simeon and Levi, brothers of Dinah, “took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’sho use, and went out” (vv. 25-26). After this, they went on to plunder the city and to seize all the sheep, oxen, asses, wealth, wives, and children. They even plundered everything that was in the house (vv. 27-29). Jacob refers to this slaughter in 49:5-7. In Exodus 32 the slaughtering hand of Levi became a blessing. When the children of Israel worshipped the golden calf, Moses said, “Who is on the Lord’ss i de? Let him come unto me,” and “all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him” (Exo. 32:26). Then, when Moses said, “Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses” (Exo. 32:27-28). Here in Genesis 34, Levi, along with Simeon, slaughtered all the males of Hamor’s city. Later, near Mount Sinai, Levi’s descendants slaughtered the worshippers of the golden calf. Furthermore, in Numbers 25:7 and 8 one of Levi’s descendants slaughtered the fornicators. Due to the action taken in Exodus 32, the Levites became priests to God. Consider the situation Jacob faced in this chapter: his daughter was defiled and his sons deceived people, killed them, and plundered their city. Is this the family of God’scall ed one, the family of one who is the unique testimony of God on earth? Why did all this happen to Jacob? Dinah, the eleven sons, and all the slaughtered people were a sacrifice for the perfecting of one man— Jacob. Perhaps you cannot believe that the Lord will sacrifice many for your sake. But to sacrifice many for the perfecting of one is a great thing. In Genesis 34 this one was the unique person in, with, and through whom God’s eternal purpose was to be fulfilled. Dinah, the eleven sons, and all the men in the city of Shechem might have been spared, but if Jacob, the unique one, had been damaged, what would have happened to God’s eternal purpose? Often the Lord will sacrifice others for the sake of perfecting you. I have seen and experienced this myself. If you have the insight, you will be able to see that even today the Lord is sacrificing many others that you might be perfected. Shechem, Hamor, all their countrymen, and even Dinah and Jacob’se lev en sons were sacrificed for Jacob’ss ake. Everything recorded in this chapter was for his perfection
8在创世记三十四章三十节，雅各对西缅和利未说，『你们连累我，使我在这地的居民中，就是在迦南人，和比利洗人中，有了臭名，我的人丁既然稀少，他们必聚集来击杀我，我和全家的人，都必灭绝。』雅各似乎说，『你们把一切事都给我弄糟了，叫我在这地的众民中有了臭名。现在我没有平安，没有安全。如果那些人攻击我们，我们会全部被杀。』雅各是在平安并安全中来到示剑，但现在他处于一种景况－一切的安全都消失了。他也许不能再安睡了。他的女儿受了玷污，现在，由于他儿子们所惹的麻烦，他无法留在示剑了。在创世记三十五章一节，神对雅各说，『起来，上伯特利去住在那里，要在那里筑一座坛给神，就是你逃避你哥哥以扫的时候向你显现的那位。』在本节的开头，原文有一连接词『并且，』指明主对雅各说的这句话，是紧接著前一章的事件。雅各在遭遇过前一章所发生的事以后，无论神要说甚么，他都能接受了。神若早几天对他说同样的话，雅各也许会说，『神会说这话么？这必定是我的想像。我一直跟随先祖的脚踪，过帐棚的生活，并且正确的凭著坛敬拜神。为甚么我必须离开这地？』无疑的，神早就想对雅各说这话。在示剑，一切对于雅各都很好，但这些不能满足神的愿望。在三十四章的难处未发生前，神无法对雅各说话；神若对他说话，雅各不会听。但现在，女儿受了玷污，儿子们惹了麻烦，雅各失去了平安和安全，当他正在考虑如何是好的时候，神进来对他说话，叫他上伯特利去。这一切都发生以后，雅各才能留心神叫他上伯特利的话。不在困难的环境里，我们常常不能听神的话。神没有这么愚昧，对我们徒然说话。反之，祂等候，直到我们遭遇了一些事，才向我们说话。
8In 34:30 Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.” Jacob seemed to be saying, “You have made everything miserable for me. You have caused me to stink among all the people in the land. Now I don’t have any peace or safety. If the people attack us, we will all be killed.” Jacob had come to Shechem in peace and safety. Now he was in a situation where all his safety had vanished. Probably he could no longer sleep well. His daughter had been defiled and now, due to the trouble caused by his sons, he could not remain at Shechem. In 35:1 God spoke to Jacob, saying, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.” Notice the word “and” at the beginning of this verse. This indicates that this word spoken to Jacob by the Lord immediately follows the events of the previous chapter. After what had happened to him, Jacob was able to take in whatever God wanted to say. If God had spoken the same word to him a few days earlier, Jacob might have said, “Would God say this? This must be my imagination. I have been following my forefather’s footsteps, living the tent life and worshipping God with the altar in the proper way. Why must I leave this place?” Undoubtedly, God intended to speak this word to Jacob a lot earlier. In Shechem, everything was good for Jacob, but it could not satisfy God’s desire. Prior to the difficulty in chapter thirty - four, God could not speak to Jacob. If He had spoken to him, Jacob would not have listened. But now, after the daughter had been defiled, after the sons had caused trouble, and after Jacob had lost his peace and safety and was considering what to do, God intervened and spoke to him, telling him to go up to Bethel. After all this had taken place, Jacob could heed God’sword about going up to Bethel. Without being in a difficult environment, we are often unable to listen to the word of God. God is not so foolish as to speak a word to us in vain. Rather, He waits until certain things happen to us.
9神叫雅各上伯特利去。按照地理，伯特利是在示剑以南。伯特利既然在南方，神为甚么不说『下伯特利去』？照著我们天然的观念，我们无法明白这点。神似乎对雅各说，『雅各，你仍然在低处，因为你没有达到我心愿的水平。你必须起来，上伯特利去。』神对雅各说的话很有含意，也很谨慎。祂叫雅各上伯特利去，住在那里，筑一座坛给神，就是当他逃避他哥哥以扫的时候向他显现的那位。这段话很短，但意义深奥。换句话说，神似乎说，『雅各，你忘了你所许的愿。至少你忽略了还愿。你在伯特利作梦以后，会许愿为我建造一个家。现在如何？我叫你回来，把你从拉班手中搭救出来，把你从你与以扫之间的难处中拯救出来，并且把你平平安安的带回你祖你父之地。但我这样作并不是要你定居下来。这不是我的目的。我的目的是要你往从前作梦的地方，就是你许愿为我建造家的地方。不要留在示剑，因为这不该是你居住之地。这不过是往伯特利途中的地方。现在上伯特利去，住在那里，并且给那曾向你显现的神筑一座坛。』不要把这些仅仅看作雅各的故事。你必须把这些当作你的传记。我能见证，我作过与雅各所作同样的事，就是忘了我所许的愿，忘了我的奉献。我信我们都向主奉献过，尤其是在试炼或艰难的时候。我们许愿说，『主阿，你如果把我从这些难处中平安的带过来，我就把自己奉献给你，以你为我的神，并且在这里为你建造家。』原则上，我们都许过类似这样的愿。但你有没有还愿？我们可能没有一个人还过愿。由此可见，我们都是雅各，他的历史实际上就是我们的自传。向主许愿，把自己奉献给主是一回事；但要还愿并完成我们的奉献，也许需要牺牲一个女儿、十一个儿子、一个示剑、一个哈抹、以及许多别的人事物。
9God told Jacob to go up to Bethel. However, according to geography, Bethel is south of Shechem. Since Bethel is southward, why did God not say, “Go down to Bethel”? We cannot understand this according to our natural view. God seemed to be saying to Jacob, “Jacob, you are still down, for you are not up to the level of My desire. You must arise and go up to Bethel.” God spoke to Jacob in a very meaningful and careful way, telling him to go up to Bethel, to dwell there, and to build an altar to the God who had appeared to him when he was fleeing his brother Esau. This word is short, but its significance is profound. In other words, God seemed to be saying, “Jacob, you have forgotten your vow. At the least, you have neglected to fulfill it. After that dream at Bethel, you vowed to build a house for Me. What about it? I asked you to come back, delivered you out of the hand of Laban, rescued you out of your trouble with Esau, and brought you back peacefully and safely to the land of your forefathers. But I did not do this that you might settle down. This is not My purpose. My purpose is that you go to the place where you had the dream, the place where you vowed to build a house for Me. Don’t remain at Shechem, for this should not be your dwelling place. This is merely a place on the pathway to Bethel. Now go up to Bethel, dwell there, and build an altar to the very God who appeared to you.” Do not simply regard this as a story about Jacob. You must take it as your biography. I can testify that I have done the same thing as Jacob. I simply forgot my vow, my consecration. I believe that all of us have made a consecration to the Lord, especially during a time of trial or difficulty. We made a vow, saying, “O Lord, if You will bring me through these difficulties safely, I will consecrate myself to You and take You as my God and build a house in this place for You.” In principle, we all have made a vow similar to this. But have you fulfilled your vow? Probably none of us has. By this we see that we all are Jacobs. His history is actually our autobiography. To make a vow to the Lord and to consecrate ourselves to Him is one thing, but to fulfill our vow and to carry out our consecration may require the sacrifice of a daughter, eleven sons, a Shechem, a Hamor, and many other people and things.
10基督徒的生活常是风暴的生活。当我们刚听福音的时候，会以为作了基督徒以后，我们的生活会平安没有风暴。也许我们以为，我们的船会在基督里平安航行，没有风暴。但在我作基督徒的五十多年中，风暴却一再来袭。至终我领会基督徒的生活是满了风暴。这些风暴有甚么目的？五十年前我不清楚，但今天我非常清楚。实际上，问题不在于平安或风暴，问题完全在于我们是否被变化为著神的建造，以达成神的目的。你的生活所以有风暴，是因为你顽梗，因为你太像雅各。你需要许多风暴，因为你还未变化成为以色列。你也许对自己说，『我在示剑，一切都很安全。让我们平平安安的往前罢。』这平安也许会持续一小段时间，但突然间风暴来了，你的底拿受了玷污，一切都天翻地覆。这是我们的生活。不要怪主，是我们叫祂这样难以作工在我们身上。虽然我们从未祷告过：『主阿，给我们一场风暴，』各样的风暴却来了。但没有一场风暴把我们杀死。经过这么多的风暴以后，我们仍然活著。主的确为著我们的缘故牺牲了许多。亲爱的弟兄姊妹，你们很多人还年轻，你们现在在这条船上，要懊悔并跳出船去已经太迟了。你们需要风暴。在创世记三十四章的遭遇给雅各很深的印象。当他年老给十二个儿子祝福时，他无法忘记西缅和利未所作的。6在四十九章五、六节雅各说，『西缅和利未是弟兄，他们的刀剑是残忍的武器。我的魂哪，不要与他们同谋，我的荣耀阿，不要与他们同伙联络，因为他们趁怒杀害人命，任意砍断牛腿大筋。』（另译。）按照雅各的话，西缅和利未不仅杀人，还砍断牛腿大筋，就是切断牛腿的神经使牛成为残废。雅各从来没有忘记这事，这是他所经历的最大难处，比他与以扫间的难处还重。这事使他大为惊恐，害怕当地的人会来攻击他，杀害他。甚至在雅各给他儿子们祝福的时候，雅各还是无法信任他们。他说，『我的魂哪，不要与他们同谋，』就是要远离他们。西缅和利未给雅各带来的难处，摸著他的深处。那事发生以后，雅各立刻接受主的话，上伯特利去。从那时起，雅各开始被变化。在那时以前，他没有改变。
10The Christian life is often a stormy life. When we first heard the gospel, we might have thought that after becoming a Christian our lives would be peaceful and that there would be no storms. Perhaps we thought that our boat would sail safely in Christ without a storm. But throughout the more than fifty years I have been a Christian, there has been one storm after another. Eventually, I came to realize that the Christian life is full of storms. What is the purpose of these storms? Although I was not clear fifty years ago, I am very clear today. Actually, it is not a matter of storms or peace— it is absolutely a matter of whether or not we are being transformed for God’s building to fulfill God’s purpose. Your life is stormy because you are stubborn, because you are so much like Jacob. You need many storms because you have not yet been transformed into Israel. You may say to yourself, “I am at Shechem and everything is safe. Let us sail on peacefully.” This peace may last a short time, but suddenly a storm comes, your Dinah is defiled, and everything is in turmoil. This is our life. Do not blame Him; it is we who make it so difficult for Him to work on us. Although we never prayed, “Lord, send us a storm,” all kinds of storms have come. But no storm has killed us. After fighting through so many storms, we are still living. The Lord certainly has sacrificed much for our sake. Dear ones, many of you are still young. You are now on the boat and it is too late for you to repent and jump out. You need the storms. What happened to Jacob in chapter thirty-four made a profound impression on him. When he was old and was bestowing his blessing on his twelve sons, he was unable to forget what Simeon and Levi had done. In 49:5 and Jacob said, “Simeon and Levi are brethren; their swords are weapons of violence. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their company, my glory, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self - will they hamstrung oxen” (Heb.). According to Jacob’sword, Simeon and Levi not only killed men but also hamstrung oxen, cutting the nerves to cripple them. Jacob never forgot that. This was the worst trouble he had ever passed through. It was much heavier than his difficulty with Esau. It greatly terrified him, causing him to fear that the people of the land would attack him and kill him. Even at the time of the blessing of his sons, Jacob could put no trust in them. He said, “O my soul, come not thou into their secret,” that is, stay away from them. The trouble Simeon and Levi caused Jacob touched him in the depths of his being. After that happened, Jacob immediately took the word of the Lord to go up to Bethel. From that moment Jacob began to be transformed. Prior to that time, he had had no change.
11雅各离开巴旦亚兰，被拉班追赶，神把他从拉班手中搭救出来。他与以扫之间的难处，也蒙了神的拯救；以后他来到竦割，在那里为自己盖造房屋，为牲畜搭棚。我信雅各留在那里没有平安。因此他继续前往示剑，跟随他先祖的脚踪，开始有正确的帐棚生活，同祭坛的见证，过蒙神呼召者的生活。但他在示剑的生活没有达到神的标准。神的目标是要得著伯特利，就是祂在地上的家。今天许多弟兄姊妹和雅各一样，仍然住在示剑。他们跟随了前面圣徒的脚踪，并且得著加强。他们有帐棚的生活，同祭坛的见证，并过神所呼召者的生活。但因为他们还未达到神的水平，神的心愿就不得满足。因此，不如意的事一再临到他们，为要豫备他们的心来听神的话，叫他们起来，上伯特利去住在那里，并筑一座坛。我们需要看见这一切步骤。在下篇信息中我们要看见，在创世记三十五章，雅各开始被变化。他的变化开始于主向他说话，叫他上伯特利去之后。今天，几乎所有寻求的基督徒都像雅各，在示剑过著美好的生活，而忽略了神在伯特利的目标。但在主的恢复里，祂要我们经过示剑，上伯特利去，经过我们个人的生活，上到团体的召会生活。如果我们还末达到团体的召会生活，我们就还未达到神的目标。这就是为甚么我们在示剑无论多好，仍然没有满足的平安和安全。这迫使我们接受主的话，离开示剑，上伯特利去，在祂地上的家中过正当的召会生活。
11Jacob had left Padan-aram and, having been pursued by Laban, was delivered out of his hand. He was also rescued out of his trouble with Esau, and came to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and booths for his cattle. I believe that Jacob did not have the peace to remain there. Thus, he traveled onward to Shechem, following the steps of his forefather and beginning to have the proper tent life with the altar testimony to live as God’scall ed one. But his life at Shechem was not up to God’s standard. God’s goal is to have Bethel, His house on earth. Like Jacob, many brothers and sisters today are still living in Shechem. They have followed the footsteps of the forerunners and they have been strengthened. They have the tent life with an altar testimony and they are living as God’scall ed ones. But God’s desire is not satisfied because they are not yet up to His level. Because of this, certain unfortunate things happen to them again and again in order to prepare their heart to listen to God’sword to arise, to go up to Bethel, to dwell there, and to build an altar. We need to see all these steps. In the next message we shall see that, in chapter thirty-five, Jacob began to be transformed. His transformation began after the Lord spoke to him about going up to Bethel. Today, nearly all seeking Christians are like Jacob, living a good life in Shechem but neglecting God’s goal in Bethel. But in the Lord’s recovery He wants us to pass through Shechem and go up to Bethel, to pass through our individual life to go up to the corporate church life. If we have not arrived at the corporate church life, we still fall short of God’s goal. This is why however good we are in Shechem, we do not have the satisfying peace and safety. This forces us to take the Lord’sword to leave Shechem and to go up to Bethel to have the proper church life in His house on earth