與神較力

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與神較力


創世記 32:22-23
「『你的名不要再叫雅各,要叫以色列,因為你與神與人較力,都得了勝。』」 -創 32:28

雅各是一個與生俱來的陰謀家,他的母親是一個陰謀家,他的父親也是(參看《創世記》 26-27章)。詭計多端是他的家族基因的一部份。

多年前雅各曾以詭計欺騙了哥哥以掃(《創世記》 27章),現今在返回家園途中,雅各不知道哥哥會怎樣接待他。在某個晚上,雅各獨自一人時,他遇到那位他不能智取的神。那天晚上,雅各與神較力。

或許我們視這次與神較力,只是發生在一個晚上的事而已。然而雅各豈不是好像一生都在較力嗎?雅各曾在生命中很多境況中較力,這些全部都是在神的掌控之下發生的。舉個例子,他的哥哥以掃是父親所偏愛的,雅各以詐騙來處理這個情況。雅各也在掙扎尋找愛,不知道以後還能否返回家園。

我們可能認為與神較力,跟以尋求神來認識神,從祂身上學習,剛剛相反的。然而,在這件事上,與神較力成為雅各通往新生之路,得一個新的名字就是証明了。因著那天晚上的事,被命名為以色列的雅各,從此就以瘸腿渡餘生。然而,他瘸了的腿,卻成為神已臨到他身上的記號,神在他面對一個不明確的將來時賜福給他。

就是像雅各這樣的陰謀家,神也會出面看顧呢。

禱告

主啊,感謝你願意與雅各較力,我們看到你也願意與我們較力。求你賜我們所需的,好讓我們能跟從你。阿們。


創世記 32:22-23

22 他夜間起來,帶著兩個妻子、兩個使女並十一個兒子,都過了雅博渡口。 23 先打發他們過河,又打發所有的都過去,

与神较力


创世记 32:22-23
“‘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 32:28

雅各是一个与生俱来的阴谋家,他的母亲是一个阴谋家,他的父亲也是(参看《创世记》 26-27章)。诡计多端是他的家族基因的一部份。

多年前雅各曾以诡计欺骗了哥哥以扫(《创世记》 27章),现今在返回家园途中,雅各不知道哥哥会怎样接待他。在某个晚上,雅各独自一人时,他遇到那位他不能智取的神。那天晚上,雅各与神较力。

或许我们视这次与神较力,只是发生在一个晚上的事而已。然而雅各岂不是好像一生都在较力吗?雅各曾在生命中很多境况中较力,这些全部都是在神的掌控之下发生的。举个例子,他的哥哥以扫是父亲所偏爱的,雅各以诈骗来处理这个情况。雅各也在挣扎寻找爱,不知道以后还能否返回家园。

我们可能认为与神较力,跟以寻求神来认识神,从祂身上学习,刚刚相反的。然而,在这件事上,与神较力成为雅各通往新生之路,得一个新的名字就是证明了。因着那天晚上的事,被命名为以色列的雅各,从此就以瘸腿渡余生。然而,他瘸了的腿,却成为神已临到他身上的记号,神在他面对一个不明确的将来时赐福给他。

就是像雅各这样的阴谋家,神也会出面看顾呢。

祷告

主啊,感谢你愿意与雅各较力,我们看到你也愿意与我们较力。求你赐我们所需的,好让我们能跟从你。阿们。


创世记 32:22-23

22 他夜间起来,带着两个妻子、两个使女并十一个儿子,都过了雅博渡口。 23 先打发他们过河,又打发所有的都过去,

WRESTLING WITH GOD


Genesis 32:22-23
“Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” —Genesis 32:28

Jacob was a schemer. It came naturally. His mother was a schemer, and so was his father (see Genesis 26-27). Scheming was part of the family DNA.

Jacob was returning home and wondering what kind of reception he would have from his brother, Esau, whom he had schemed against many years earlier (Genesis 27).

But then one night when Jacob was all alone, he faced the one who could not be outwitted. Jacob wrestled that night with God.

We might think of this wrestling with God as being for one night, but wasn’t it more like for a lifetime? Jacob had wrestled through lots of situations in his life, all of which were in the hands of God. For example, Esau, his elder brother, was the favored son of his father, and Jacob dealt with that by scheming. Jacob also wrestled with finding love and wondering if he could ever return home.

We might think of wrestling with God as the opposite of seeking to know and learn from God, but in this case the wrestling became a pathway to a new life signified by a new name. Jacob, now known as Israel, would go through life limping because of that night, but he would have in that limp a sign that God had come to him and blessed him as he faced an uncertain future.

God showed up even for a schemer like Jacob.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for being willing to wrestle with Jacob. We can see you are willing to wrestle with us too. Give us what we need in order to follow you. Amen.