[今日經文 Today’s Reading: 創世記 Genesis 39-41]
2 約瑟在他埃及主人的家中，耶和華與他同在，他是一個通達的人。 3 他主人見耶和華與他同在，又見耶和華使他手裏所辦的事都順利，… 21 但耶和華與約瑟同在，向他施恩，使他在監獄長的眼前蒙恩。… 23 任何交在約瑟手中的事，監獄長一概不察，因為耶和華與約瑟同在，耶和華使他所做的都順利。
創世記 Genesis 39:2-3;21;23
2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands…. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison…. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.
約瑟十七歲時被賣到埃及。 “[他]在埃及王法老面前侍立的時候年三十歲為。” （41:46）約瑟如何能夠忍受十三年的背叛、艱辛和孤獨？ 關鍵是神一路與約瑟同在。 人們可能會忘記我們，但上帝永遠不會離開我們，也不會丟棄我們！ （希伯來書 13:6）
不僅上帝與約瑟同在，上帝的恩寵也與他同在，以致“耶和華使他所做的都順利”。 即使約瑟夫在監獄裡也是如此。 上帝與約瑟同在，因為約瑟逃避了年少時的私慾，立志不“行大惡得罪上帝”。 （創世記 39:9）當我們不讓自己被罪纏身時，上帝的恩寵就能在我們身上彰顯。
我們永遠不孤單，因為無論我們身在何處，上帝都與我們同在。 無論我們在什麼情況下，我們仍然可以成為神完成祂旨意的器皿！
禱告：親愛的神，感謝祢無論我們身在何處都與我們同在。 幫助我們不僅在困難時期信任你，而且努力在任何情況下都被祢使用。 奉耶穌的名，阿們。
Joseph was sold to Egypt when he was seventeen years old; “[he] was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (41:46) How was Joseph able to endure thirteen years of betrayal, hardship, and loneliness? The key was that God was with Joseph all the way. People may forget about us, but God will never leave us nor forsake us! (Hebrews 13:5)
Not only was God with Joseph but God’s favor was also with him, so that “whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed”. This was the case even when Joseph was in prison. God was with Joseph because Joseph had fled from youthful lust, setting in his heart not to “do great wickedness and sin against God.” (Gen. 39:9) When we do not allow ourself to be entangled with sin, then God’s favor can be shown through us.
We are never alone because God is with us no matter where we are. No matter what situation we are in, we still can be an instrument for God to fulfill His purposes!
Prayer: Dear God, Thank You for being with us no matter where we are. Help us not only to trust You during our times of difficulty but also to endeavor to be used by You in whatever situation we are. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
