7 Mar 2018, Gen 33 创33章, The Return of Jacob 雅各的回归

Posted on Feb 2, 2018 in Devotions, Genesis |

Scripture Reading        : Gen 33

Theme                            : The Return of Jacob

 

Jacob had seen God and been given a new name, but the benefits of his experience didn’t appear immediately. Sometimes he acted like Jacob (“the heel-catcher”) and sometimes like Israel (“the prince with God”). Many of God’s people fail to live up to their new life in Christ because they don’t claim what they have by faith. God had to give Jacob a limp to encourage him to walk by faith.

In his attempt to appease Esau, the old schemer used several devices: bowing (vv. 1–7), bribery (vv. 8–11), outright lying (vv. 12–16), and then moving off in another direction (vv. 17–20). Esau went south and Jacob went east! Princes are not supposed to bow, and what about God’s promise in Genesis 25:23 and 27:29?

One mistake often leads to another. Jacob ceased to be a pilgrim, purchased the land already given by God, built a house, and settled down. He built an altar and called on “God, the God of Israel” (note the new name); but that didn’t prevent him from getting into trouble with the neighbors. Far better had he pressed on to Bethel. [1]

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. Jacob had seen the angels (32:1–2), and he had even seen God face-to-face (v. 30), but when he saw Esau and his four hundred men, he seemed to lose all the spiritual progress he had made and returned to his old self. It’s one thing to be blessed on the mountaintop with God and quite something else to carry that blessing down into the valley. Let’s pray that we are not mountaintop Christians but able to face day-to-day challenges with the strength God gives us.
  1. The fact that Esau ran to his brother, embraced him, kissed him, Jacob was given an opportunity to talk with Esau about the past and get family matters straightened out. But instead of confessing his sins and giving witness to God’s grace in his life, Jacob spent the time begging Esau to accept his gifts. Jacob had seen God face-to-face, but he said nothing to Esau nor did he give God the glory. Let’s pray that we are brave enough to share our spiritual awakening to our family rather than insincere and cheap talk.
  1. God’s command was that Jacob return to Bethel (31:13) and then to his home where Isaac still lived, which was Hebron (35:27). Instead, he tarried first at Succoth and then settled near Shechem. (33:18) At Succoth, the pilgrim who was supposed to live in a tent (Heb. 11:9–16) but he built a house for himself. When he moved near Shechem, Jacob purchased a piece of property and became a “resident alien” in the land. He was settling down in the land. It’s obvious that Jacob wasn’t in a hurry to obey God and return the Bethel. We commend him for erecting an altar and giving public witness of his faith in the Lord, but sacrifice is no substitute for obedience (1 Sam. 15:22).

[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Ge 33:1–34:1.

 
 
 

经文：创33章

主题：雅各的回归

 

雅各见过神，被赋予了新的名字，但我们没有马上看见这给雅各带来的好处。有时候，他就像雅各，有时像以色列（“与神同在的王子”）。许多神的子民辜负了他们在基督里的新生命，因为他们不按自己的信心。神使雅各瘸脚为的是要鼓励他凭信心行事。

为要安抚以扫，雅各那老阴谋家，试图使用几个伎俩：鞠躬（1-7节）、行贿（8-11节）、说谎（12-16节），然后往另一个方向移动（17-20节）。以扫往南，雅各就往东！王子是不应该向别人低头的，那神在创世记25:23和27:29的应许又是什么呢？

一个错误往往导致另一个错误。雅各不再是一个旅居者，他购买了神所赐的土地、盖起了房子并安顿下来。他筑了一座祭坛，称它为“神，以色列的神”（新的名称），但是这并没有阻止他与邻居惹上麻烦。

 

用经文祷告

  1. 雅各见过天使（32:1-2），他甚至与神脸对脸（30节），但是当他看到以扫和他的四百人时，他似乎失去了所有属灵上的成长，并从返回到以前的自已。在山顶上受到神的祝福是一回事儿，但把这祝福带下山又是另一回事儿。让我们祈祷让我们不是山顶上的基督徒，乃是凭着神给我们的力量面对每一天的挑战。
  1. 事实上，以扫跑向弟弟、拥抱他、亲吻他时，是雅各向以扫理清过去和家庭事务的一个很好的机会。但雅各不但没有承认自己的罪、见证神在他的生命中的恩典，反倒花大量的时间祈求以扫接受他的礼物。雅各曾与神脸对脸，但他什么也没有对以扫说，也没有把荣耀归给神。让我们祈祷，我们有足够的勇气，与家人分享我们属灵的觉醒，而不是说一些虚伪、毫无意义的空谈。
  1. 神的命令是要雅各返回到伯特利（31:13），然后才回到以撒仍然居住的希伯伦（35:27）。然而，雅各先到疏割，然后在附近示剑城定居。（33:18）在疏割，这旅居者应该为自己搭建帐篷（希11:9-16），但他却为自己盖房子。当他搬到示剑城时，雅各购买一块土地，并成为当地的“永久居民”。他想要在这里安顿下来。很显然，雅各不急于服从神的命令返回伯特利。我们赞扬他竖立了一座坛，并公开给予他对主信心的见证，但祭物是不可替代顺服的（撒上15:22）。