“我要和你同下埃及去，也必定带你上来。” – 创 46:4
雅各，也就是现在的以色列，已经与哥哥以扫和好，回到迦南居住（创世记 32-33章）。但在那里住了多年之后，他又开始了迁徙。他以为已经死去的儿子约瑟，如今成为了埃及的统治者（创世记 37章）。加上当地发生了大饥荒（创世记 41-45章），于是雅各前往埃及安渡余生。
有时，上帝会以意想不到、令人惊讶的方式带领我们。一个新的工作机会向我们走来。我们长大成人的孩子搬到了美国的另一个地方，我们也跟着搬家。搬家是一件困难的事：我们要离开熟悉的地方，而我们要去的新地方——即使是令人兴奋的地方——也是未知的、无法预测的。
在前往埃及的途中，雅各花时间敬拜神。他需要确认神会与他同在，神的应许在这个新地方也将继续有效。他表示愿意听从神的吩咐——他说：“我在这里。”上帝应许会再次把雅各的家族带回他们在迦南的家。
当我们在生活中遇到意想不到的机会时，我们是否会在敬拜和祷告中寻求神的旨意？作为基督的跟随者，我们行走在圣灵中，确信主将永远与我们同在。因此，无论我们走到哪里，都带着神的应许。
祷告
赐下全新机会的神，感谢你赐予我们意想不到的机会，去到意想不到的地方事奉你。求你帮助我们分辨你的旨意和引领，奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
创世记 46:1-7
1以色列带着一切所有的，起身来到别是巴，就献祭给他父亲以撒的神。
2夜间，神在异象中对以色列说：“雅各！雅各！”他说：“我在这里。”
3神说：“我是神，就是你父亲的神。你下埃及去不要害怕，因为我必使你在那里成为大族。
4我要和你同下埃及去，也必定带你上来。约瑟必给你送终。”
5雅各就从别是巴起行。以色列的儿子们使他们的父亲雅各和他们的妻子、儿女都坐在法老为雅各送来的车上。
6他们又带着迦南地所得的牲畜、货财来到埃及。雅各和他的一切子孙都一同来了。
7雅各把他的儿子、孙子、女儿、孙女，并他的子子孙孙，一同带到埃及。
Seeking God’s Will For The Journey
“I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.” – Genesis 46:4
Jacob, who was now called Israel, had reconciled with his brother, Esau, and was living back in Canaan (Genesis 32-33). But after staying there for many years, he was on the move again. His son, Joseph, whom he had thought was dead (Genesis 37), had become a ruler in Egypt. And there was a great famine in the land (Genesis 41-45), so Jacob went to Egypt to live out the rest of his days.
Sometimes God moves us in unexpected and surprising ways. A new job opportunity comes our way. Our grown children move to a different part of the country, and we follow. Moving can be difficult: we leave behind what is familiar, and the new place we go—even if it’s exciting—is unknown and unpredictable.
Jacob spends time with God in worship on his way to Egypt. He needs to know that God will be with him, that God’s promises will be valid in this new place as well. He expresses his readiness to do whatever God tells him: “Here I am,” he says. And God promises to bring Jacob’s family back to their home in Canaan again.
When we face unexpected opportunities in life, do we seek God’s will in worship and prayer? As followers of Christ walking in step with his Spirit, we are assured that the Lord will always be with us. So we can journey with God’s promises—no matter where we go.
Prayer
God of new opportunities, thank you for unexpected places and opportunities in which to serve you. Help us to discern your will and leading, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
