[今日經文 Today’s Reading: 創世記 Genesis 46-47]
以色列帶着一切所有的，起程到別是巴去，獻祭給他父親以撒的 神。 2 夜間， 神在異象中對以色列說：「雅各！雅各！」他說：「我在這裏。」 3 神說：「我是 神，你父親的 神。不要害怕下埃及去，因為我必使你在那裏成為大國。 4 我要和你同下埃及去，也必定帶你上來；約瑟要親手合上你的眼睛。」So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”
創世記 Genesis 46:1-3
在雅各和他的全家遷往埃及之前，他在別是巴向上帝獻祭。這正是亞伯拉罕挖井的地方，與亞比米勒立約的地方，也是呼求神名的地方（創 21:31-33）。上帝也是在別是巴向以撒顯現，確認祂與以撒的父親亞伯拉罕所立的約（創 26:23-25）。現在，在雅各生命中的這個關鍵時刻，上帝向他顯現，向他保證同樣的約 ，甚至承諾他會親自和雅各一起去埃及。
我們注意到，正是在這個地方，別是巴，上帝向三代人顯現：亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各，每次都確認了祂的約 。此外，亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各也各自向神獻祭並求告他的名。
我們所事奉的上帝不但是一位守約的神，祂也知道我們的弱點和恐懼，尤其是在我們疑惑的時候。無論我們將面臨什麼，所有的基督徒和他們的家人都應該有一個「別是巴」，我們在那裡“獻祭”並求告我們上帝的名字，上帝也在那裡向我們確認祂與我們世代相傳的約 。上帝永遠不會忘記或拋棄祂的子民；但願我們同樣不會忘記他或拋棄他！讓我們在我們的「別是巴」中“獻祭”給上帝並求告祂的名，最重要的是，延續到後代！
禱告：親愛的主，感謝祢對每一代人的慈愛與信實。願每一代人都能在他們的「別是巴」找到祢！奉耶穌的名，阿們！
Before Jacob and his whole family moved down to Egypt, he offered sacrifices to God at Beersheba. This was the very place that Abraham had dug a well, had made a covenant with Abimelech, and had called on the name of God (Gen. 21:31-33). It was also at Beersheba that God had appeared to Issac to confirm the covenant He had made with Isaac’s father, Abraham (Gen. 26:23-25). Now, at this critical moment in Jacob’s life, God appeared to him to assure him of the same covenant, even promising Jacob that He himself would go down to Egypt with him.
We note that it was at this very location, Beersheba, that God appeared to the three generations: Abraham, Issac and Jacob, each time affirming His covenant. In addition, Abraham, Issac and Jacob each offered sacrifices to God and called on His name.
The God we serve is not just a God who keeps His covenant, He knows our weaknesses and fears, especially in times of uncertainty. No matter what lies ahead of us, all Christians and their families should have a “Beersheba” where we “offer sacrifices” and call on the name of our God, where God assures us of His generational covenant with us. God never forgets or forsakes His people; may we likewise neither forget nor forsake Him! Let us offer right sacrifices and call on His name at our “Beersheba”, most importantly, continuing into the generations that follow!
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for your love and faithfulness to each generation. May each generation find You at their “Beersheba”! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
