復 原 耶 穌 基 督 教 會 台 灣 佈 道 所
The Church of Jesus Christ Taiwan Restoration Mission
March 8th, 2015 (長老法蘭克 Elder Frank Van Fleet)
約瑟的彩衣-2：恩典 Joseph's color coat (II)：Grace
[回顧]上週我們談到的約瑟,本來是受父親寵愛,並擁有一件彩衣的快樂青年,因約瑟連做兩個夢,不管是傾斜的稻草堆,還是眾星拱月,都是意謂著弟兄們需向他行跪拜禮(對君王或大臣的覲見之禮),更加深弟兄們對他的恨意.終遭妒嫉弟兄們的背叛,而被賣身到埃及為奴.
他的弟兄們,遠在野外幫父親放牧,約瑟受父親囑咐前往探視,也給弟兄們陷害他的良機.本意想殺死他,有人心軟求情,最後將他賣給路過到埃及的以實瑪利商人.弟兄們將彩衣抹上動物的血,稟告父親謊報約瑟已出意外身亡,並嫁禍給野獸逞兇.
創世記 Genesis 39:1-6; 7-15 ;19-23
1 約瑟被帶下埃及去．有一個埃及人是法老的內臣、護衛長波提乏、從那些帶下他來的以實瑪利人手下買了他去。
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
2 約瑟住在他主人埃及人的家中．耶和華與他同在、他就百事順利。
The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.
3 他主人見耶和華與他同在、又見耶和華使他手裡所辦的盡都順利。
When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did,
4 約瑟就在主人眼前蒙恩、伺候他主人、並且主人派他管理家務、把一切所有的都交在他手裡。
Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.
5 自從主人派約瑟管理家務、和他一切所有的、耶和華就因約瑟的緣故、賜福與那埃及人的家．凡家裡和田間一切所有的、都蒙耶和華賜福。
From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.
6 波提乏將一切所有的、都交在約瑟的手中、除了自己所喫的飯、別的事一概不知．約瑟原來秀雅俊美。
So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
約瑟被以實瑪利商人以奴隸的身份,賣給法老王的護衛長波提乏為家奴.因耶和華與他同在,所以凡事順利.波提乏既欣賞也友善的對待約瑟,並委以重任,掌管府中一切大小事.雖名為家奴,實則為管理波提乏府的總管.
7 這事以後、約瑟主人的妻以目送情給約瑟、說、你與我同寢罷。
and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!"
8 約瑟不從、對他主人的妻說、看哪、一切家務、我主人都不知道、他把所有的都交在我手裡。
But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.
9 在這家裡沒有比我大的、並且他沒有留下一樣不交給我、只留下了你、因為你是他的妻子、我怎能作這大惡、得罪 神呢。
No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"
10 後來他天天和約瑟說、約瑟卻不聽從他、不與他同寢、也不和他在一處。
And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
11 有一天、約瑟進屋裡去辦事、家中人沒有一個在那屋裡。
One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside.
12 婦人就拉住他的衣裳說、你與我同寢罷．約瑟把衣裳丟在婦人手裡、跑到外邊去了。
She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
13 婦人看見約瑟把衣裳丟在他手裡跑出去了、
When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house,
14 就叫了家裡的人來、對他們說、你們看、他帶了一個希伯來人、進入我們家裡、要戲弄我們．他到我這裡來、要與我同寢、我就大聲喊叫．
she called her household servants. "Look," she said to them, "this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.
15 他聽見我放聲喊起來、就把衣裳丟在我這裡、跑到外邊去了。
When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house."
但是波提乏的夫人,從原本對他友好,最後卻與之敵對,只因約瑟不願特意做取悅她的事.她向丈夫告狀,為取信於丈夫,污衊約瑟一些莫須有的罪狀,並把約瑟關進大牢.清白無辜的約瑟,又該如何與來自全國的重大案件的罪犯們和平相處呢?
19 約瑟的主人聽見他妻子對他所說的話、說、你的僕人如此如此待我、他就生氣．
When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, "This is how your slave treated me," he burned with anger.
20 把約瑟下在監裡、就是王的囚犯被囚的地方．於是約瑟在那裡坐監。
Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison,
21 但耶和華與約瑟同在、向他施恩、使他在司獄的眼前蒙恩。
the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
22 司獄就把監裡所有的囚犯、都交在約瑟手下、他們在那裡所辦的事、都是經他的手。
So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.
23 凡在約瑟手下的事、司獄一概不察、因為耶和華與約瑟同在、耶和華使他所作的盡都順利。
The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
當約瑟坐監時,法老王又送了倆個人進監獄,一位是酒政,供應敬奉美酒給法老王的官員,另一位則是膳政,提供珍饈佳餚給法老王的官員,只因為他們沒有取悅法老王,就被捉下獄.他們被分配歸約瑟管理,約瑟對他們很是禮遇,因為他們仍是當朝為官的人.
創世記 Genesis 40:1-4; 6-8; 9-20; 21-23
1 這事以後、埃及王的酒政和膳長、得罪了他們的主埃及王、
Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt.
2 法老就惱怒酒政和膳長這二臣．
Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,
3 把他們下在護衛長府內的監裡、就是約瑟被囚的地方。
and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined.
4 護衛長把他們交給約瑟、約瑟便伺候他們．他們有些日子在監裡。
The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time,
一天,約瑟發現他們倆人很是沮喪,遂趨前問候,為什麼如此沮喪?他們說前一晚,各自做了一個夢,但是問遍獄中卻無人能解.
6 到了早晨、約瑟進到他們那裡、見他們有愁悶的樣子。
When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected.
7 他便問法老的二臣、就是與他同囚在他主人府裡的、說、他們今日為甚麼面帶愁容呢。
So he asked Pharaoh's officials who were in custody with him in his master's house, "Why are your faces so sad today?"
8 他們對他說、我們各人作了一夢、沒有人能解．約瑟說、解夢不是出於 神麼、請你們將夢告訴我。
"We both had dreams," they answered, "but there is no one to interpret them." Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."
約瑟要他們把夢境說出,想幫他們禱告、解夢.
9 酒政便將他的夢告訴約瑟說、我夢見在我面前有一棵葡萄樹、
So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, "In my dream I saw a vine in front of me,
10 樹上有三根枝子、好像發了芽、開了花、上頭的葡萄都成熟了。
and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes.
11 法老的杯在我手中、我就拿葡萄擠在法老的杯裡、將杯遞在他手中。
Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup and put the cup in his hand."
12 約瑟對他說、他所作的夢是這樣解、三根枝子就是三天．
"This is what it means," Joseph said to him. "The three branches are three days.
13 三天之內、法老必提你出監、叫你官復原職、你仍要遞杯在法老的手中、和先前作他的酒政一樣。
Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.
14 但你得好處的時候、求你記念我、施恩與我、在法老面前提說我、救我出這監牢。
But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.
15 我實在是從希伯來人之地被拐來的、我在這裡也沒有作過甚麼、叫他們把我下在監裡。
For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon."
約瑟對酒政說：禱告後的解夢是這樣的,你將在三天內獲釋,並官復原職.膳長見約瑟解得一個好夢,也要求約瑟幫他禱告解夢.但是,膳長的夢卻是個惡耗,因繕長即將被處以吊刑.
16 膳長見夢解得好、就對約瑟說、我在夢中見我頭上頂著三筐白餅．
When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, "I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread.
17 極上的筐子裡、有為法老烤的各樣食物、有飛鳥來喫我頭崆筐子裡的食物。
In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."
18 約瑟說、你的夢是這樣解、三個筐子就是三天．
"This is what it means," Joseph said. "The three baskets are three days.
19 三天之內、法老必斬斷你的頭、把你挂在木頭上、必有飛鳥來喫你身上的肉。
Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat away your flesh."
20 到了第三天、是法老的生日、他為眾臣僕設擺筵席、把酒政和膳長提出監來．
Now the third day was Pharaoh's birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials:
21 使酒政官復原職、他仍舊遞杯在法老手中。
He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh's hand,
22 但把膳長挂起來、正如約瑟向他們所解的話。
but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.
23 酒政卻不記念約瑟、竟忘了他。
The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
三天才過,如約瑟所說,法老王果然差人領走酒政,並且官復原職.臨走希望酒政不要忘記,在法老王面前替他說項,說他是個無辜清白的人.同時帶走的還有被處以吊刑的繕長.
事後得知,酒政果然忘記了約瑟所囑託的事.
創世記 Genesis 41:1-36; 46-49;
1 過了兩年法老作夢．夢見自己站在河邊。
When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile,
2 有七隻母牛從河裡上來、又美好、又肥壯在蘆荻中喫草。
when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds.
3 隨後又有七隻母牛從河裡上來、又醜陋、又乾瘦、與那七隻母牛一同站在河邊。
After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank.
4 這又醜陋、又乾瘦的七隻母牛、喫盡了那又美好、又肥壯的七隻母牛．法老就醒了。
And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5 他又睡著、第二回作夢．夢見一棵麥子長了七個穗子、又肥大、又佳美。
He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk.
6 隨後又長了七個穗子、又細弱、又被東風吹焦了。
After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted--thin and scorched by the east wind.
7 這細弱的穗子、吞了那七個又肥大又飽滿的穗子．法老醒了、不料是個夢。
The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.
8 到了早晨、法老心裡不安、就差人召了埃及所有的術士和博士來．法老就把所作的夢告訴他們、卻沒有人能給法老圓解。
In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
9 那時酒政對法老說、我今日想起我的罪來．
Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.
10 從前法老惱怒臣僕、把我和膳長下在護衛長府佈的監裡。
Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.
11 我們二人同夜各作一夢、各夢都有講解。
Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.
12 在那裡同著我們有一個希伯來的少年人、是護衛長的僕人、我們告訴他、他就把我們的夢圓解、是按著各人的夢圓解的。
Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.
13 後來正如他給我們圓解的成就了．我官復原職、膳長被挂起來了。
And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged."
就這樣又過了整整兩年,仍在獄中的約瑟也已經30歲了.此時,法老王連做了兩個奇怪的夢,召集國內外能人異士,卻無人能解法老王詭異的夢.
法老王直覺將要有大事發生,卻苦於百思不得其解.這時候酒政,忽然想起約瑟這個人,趕緊向法老王稟報推薦,並說起他和膳長兩年前出獄前,約瑟神準的解夢一事,對照如今已天人永隔的酒政與膳長,直呼是神準的解夢.
15 法老對約瑟說、我作了一夢沒有人能解、我聽見人說、你聽了夢就能解。
Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
16 約瑟回答法老說、這不在乎我、 神必將平安的話回答法老。
"I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."
17 法老對約瑟說、我夢見我站在河邊．
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,
18 有七隻母牛從河裡上來、又肥壯、又美好、在蘆荻中喫草。
when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.
19 隨後又有七隻母牛上來、又軟弱、又醜陋、又乾瘦、在埃及遍地、我沒有見過這樣不好的。
After them, seven other cows came up--scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt.
20 這又乾瘦、又醜陋的母牛、喫盡了那以先的七隻肥母牛。
The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first.
21 喫了以後、卻看不出是喫了、那醜陋的樣子仍舊和先前一樣．我就醒了。
But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22 我又夢見一棵麥子、長了七個穗子、又飽滿、又佳美．
"In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk.
23 隨後又長了七個穗子、枯槁細弱、被東風吹焦了。
After them, seven other heads sprouted--withered and thin and scorched by the east wind.
24 這些細弱的穗子、吞了那七個佳美的穗子．我將這夢告訴了術士、卻沒有人能給我解說。
The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none could explain it to me."
25 約瑟對法老說、法老的夢乃是一個、 神已將所要作的事指示法老了。
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 七隻好母牛是七年．七個好穗子也是七年．這夢乃是一個。
The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream.
27 那隨後上來的七隻又乾瘦、又醜陋的母牛是七年、那七個虛空被東風吹焦的穗子也是七年．都是七個荒年。
The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.
28 這就是我對法老所說、 神已將所要作的事顯明給法老了。
"It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.
29 埃及遍地必來七個大豊年．
Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
30 隨後又要來七個荒年、甚至埃及地都忘了先前的豊收、全地必被饑荒所滅。
but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.
31 因那以後的饑荒甚大、便不覺得先前的豊收了。
The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.
32 至於法老兩回作夢、是因 神命定這事、而且必速速成就。
The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
33 所以法老當揀選一個有聰明有智慧的人、派他治理埃及地。
"And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.
34 法老當這樣行、又派官員管理這地．當七個豊年的時候、征收埃及地的五分之一．
Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.
35 叫他們把將來豊年一切的糧食聚斂起來、積蓄五穀、收存在各城裡作食物、歸於法老的手下。
They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.
36 所積蓄的糧食、可以防備埃及地將來的七個荒年、免得這地被饑荒所滅。
This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine."
法老王一聽酒政所做見證的話,趕緊差人到監獄提領約瑟到殿堂前待命.年已30歲的約瑟聽完法老王的夢境,就說我會禱告祈求天父幫忙解夢.不久約瑟又來到殿堂,回覆法老王說：你所做兩個夢,意義都一樣,七年大豐收,緊接著七年大饑荒,可見是必定要發生的事,而且是就要發生了.
約瑟向法老王解夢說完,法老王就委任他擔當搶救糧食抗饑荒的重責大任,因為,法老王認為 神肯將如此重大的訊息,託付約瑟來傳達,想必是 神所揀選的人,這 神所揀選的人還能有錯嗎?
屯糧救荒,事不宜遲,法老王除將印信交由約瑟掌管,並賜錦衣、金鍊、車輦,一如法老王出巡般的陣仗,此時的約瑟可說是一人之下,萬人之上,號令全埃及的權臣.
46 約瑟見埃及王法老的時候、年三十歲．他從法老面前出去遍行埃及全地。
Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt.
47 七個豊年之內、地的出產極豊極盛。〔原文作一把一把的〕
During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully.
48 約瑟聚歛埃及地七個豐年一切的耀食、把糧食積存在各城裡、各城周圍田地的糧食、都積存在本城裡。
Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it.
49 約瑟積蓄五穀甚多、如同海邊的沙、無法計算、因為穀不可勝數。
Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
今天談到這裡,想想十三年間,約瑟由一個莫名入監的少年郎,幾年間的歷練,讓他成長為能獨當一面、號令全國的執行長.
神真的沒有忘記約瑟,自他的兩個夢開始,他堅定不移的信心,和完全的遵循誡律,就是 神一直欣賞與賜福的主要原因.
精彩的故事,真的很難以三言兩語來說清楚,下一次,我們再繼續來探討第三部份,這會是個怎麼樣的大結局呢?敬請期待.(想不到長老法蘭克,在緊要關頭也會賣起關子來,呵呵呵!)
(Those Who Came : Paul Lin; Belinda Kao; Eric Ho, Eileen Chen; Jimmy Hsu; Sharon Wu; Wayne Lan)(Ruby Chen; Tom Lin)
(Skype to : Frank Van Fleet; Adam Brendel; Jared Brotherton; Elizabeth Woodward; <Lade> Nancy, Sarah, Amanda, Anna, David, Joseph; Maggie, Sashy, Uncel; Jai-yu, Joshua)
謝謝這兩禮拜供應美味午餐的 Wayne 和 Jimmy.
Thanks for sharing delicious lunch > Wayne & Jimmy.
留言列表
