Famine and Fear || 饥荒和恐惧

Article #42 in the series: You Are God’s Masterpiece: The Genesis Notes.

你是神的工作: 《创世记手记》系列第四十二篇

Famine – Again
饥荒又来

Famine. No food. Jacob and his sons are in a very bad situation. A situation their forefathers have also faced. This seems to be a common thread in this family – every generation has faced a famine.

饥荒，没有食物。雅各和他儿子们所处的情况非常糟糕。他们的祖先也曾面临这样的景况。这似乎是这个家族的共同点 – 每一代人都曾面临饥荒。

1. Abraham faced a famine and he went to Egypt where he lied about his wife, Sarah, causing a big problem.
2. saac faced a famine. God told Isaac to not go to Egypt. Isaac went to Gerar, but when he was there he lied about his wife. Another problem.
3. Jacob faces a famine. He sends his sons to Egypt.

 

1. 亚伯拉罕面临饥荒，去到埃及，在那里他就妻子撒莱一事撒了谎，引发了一个大麻烦。
2. 以撒面临饥荒 – 神告诉以撒不要去埃及。以撒去了基拉尔，但他在那里，也就妻子一事撒了谎。又一个麻烦！
3. 雅各面临饥荒 – 他派儿子们到埃及。

We might think – how odd. Every generation faced a famine. Fortunately, most of us will never face a famine. But we do face problems in our everyday lives. When these difficulties come up we shouldn’t think they are strange. Actually, difficulties, conflict and problems are all a part of normal life. Jesus said we would face many trials and we would grow in the trials. It is in the difficult problems of life we grow and learn to trust more in God. And it is usually in the difficult times we spiritually mature. We become more like Jesus.

我们可能会想 – 太怪异了！每一代人都面临过饥荒！幸运的是，我们大多数人永远不必面对饥荒。但我们在日常生活中确实面对很多麻烦。当这些困难出现，我们不应该觉得它们很奇怪。事实上，各种困难，冲突和麻烦都是正常生活的一部分。耶稣说我们将面临许多试炼，我们会在这些试炼中成长。我们正是在生活的困境中成长，学会更加信靠 神。往往是在这些艰难时刻，我们的灵命越发成熟，更像耶稣。

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4 NIV

 

“我的弟兄们，你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐。因为知道你们的信心经过试验就生忍耐。但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全完备，毫无缺欠。”
雅各书 1:2-4

What is the positive result of trials according to James 1:2-4? For those facing trials due to their faith in Jesus, we are encouraged to rejoice.

依据雅各书 1:2-4，试炼的正面结果是什么？对于因信耶稣而面临试炼的人，我们为之鼓舞而喜乐。

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ; you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
1 Peter 4:12-14 NIV

 

“亲爱的弟兄阿，有火炼的试验临到你们，不要以为奇怪，（似乎是遭遇非常的事）。倒要欢喜。因为你们是与基督一同受苦，使你们在他荣耀显现的时候，也可以欢喜快乐。你们若为基督的名受辱骂，便是有福的。因为 神荣耀的灵，常住在你们身上。”
彼得前书4:12-14

Jacob’s Famine – Food For The Family
雅各的饥荒 – 家族所需的食物

When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
Genesis‬ 42:1-2‬ NIV

 

雅各见埃及有粮，就对儿子们说：“你们为什么彼此观望呢？我听见埃及有粮，你们可以下去，从那里为我们籴些来，使我们可以存活，不至于死。”
创世记42:1-2‬‬

Now it is time for Jacob to face his famine. But he is an old man, he cannot go out and get the food so he looks at his sons. In the face of the famine, what are his sons doing? Nothing. We don’t know why they are not doing anything, but we see Jacob is a little annoyed with them. “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” The sons are NOT facing the problem. They are NOT acting to keep their families alive. They are just looking at each other. Why do you think they are not doing anything? They seem to be stuck. Maybe we will find out.

现在轮到雅各来面对饥荒了。但他已年迈，不能出去找食物，所以他看着他的儿子们。面对饥荒，他的儿子们在做什么？什么都没有做！我们不知道为什么他们什么也不做，但我们看到雅各对他们有点生气。“你们为什么彼此观望呢？”儿子们没有去面对这个困难。他们没有为了家人的存活而采取行动。他们只是彼此观望。为什么你认为他们什么也没做？他们似乎陷入了困境。或许我们会搞清楚的。

10 Brothers To Egypt
十个兄弟到埃及

Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also. Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.” Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.
Genesis‬ 42:3-8‬ NIV

 

于是，约瑟的十个哥哥都下埃及籴粮去了。但约瑟的兄弟便雅悯，雅各没有打发他和哥哥们同去，因为雅各说：“恐怕他遭害。”来籴粮的人中有以色列的儿子们，因为迦南地也有饥荒。当时治理埃及地的是约瑟，粜粮给那地众民的就是他。约瑟的哥哥们来了，脸伏于地，向他下拜。约瑟看见他哥哥们，就认得他们，却装作生人，向他们说些严厉话，问他们说：“你们从哪里来？”他们说：“我们从迦南地来籴粮。”约瑟认得他哥哥们，他们却不认得他。
创世记42:3-8

The 10 brothers followed their father’s instruction and went to Egypt. They joined the many people who were all walking to Egypt in the midst of the famine. When they arrived in Egypt, they were probably happy to know they would be able to face the governor of Egypt and talk to him personally. They had no idea this governor was their brother, Joseph. Joseph is now over 37-years-old meaning it has been over 20 years since his brothers sold him as a slave. In Egypt he dressed like an Egyptian and talked like an Egyptian. (And quite possibly walked like an Egyptian.) His brothers did not recognize him. But he knew who they were.

十个兄弟遵照父亲的指示前往埃及。在饥荒期间他们与众人一起去到埃及。当抵达埃及时，他们可能非常高兴的得知，他们能够面见埃及宰相并当面与他交谈！他们完全不知道这个人是他们的兄弟约瑟。约瑟现年已过了三十七岁。这意味着自从他的兄弟们将他卖为奴隶，已经过去二十多年了。在埃及，他穿得像个埃及人，说话像个埃及人（非常有可能连走路也像埃及人）。他的兄弟们认不出他来，但他知道他们是谁。

Honest Men
诚实人

Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.” “No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food. We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.” “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.” But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.” Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies! And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” And he put them all in custody for three days. On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do. They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.” Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.
Genesis‬ 42:9-23‬ NIV

 

约瑟想起从前所做的那两个梦，就对他们说：“你们是奸细，来窥探这地的虚实。”他们对他说：“我主啊，不是的，仆人们是籴粮的。我们都是一个人的儿子，是诚实人；仆人们并不是奸细。”约瑟说：“不然，你们必是窥探这地的虚实来的。”他们说：“仆人们本是弟兄十二人，是迦南地一个人的儿子，顶小的现今在我们的父亲那里，有一个没有了。”约瑟说：“我才说你们是奸细，这话实在不错。我指着法老的性命起誓，若是你们的小兄弟不到这里来，你们就不得出这地方，从此就可以把你们证验出来了。须要打发你们中间一个人去，把你们的兄弟带来。至于你们，都要囚在这里，好证验你们的话真不真。若不真，我指着法老的性命起誓，你们一定是奸细。”于是约瑟把他们都下在监里三天。到第三天，约瑟对他们说：“我是敬畏神的，你们照我的话行就可以存活。你们如果是诚实人，可以留你们中间的一个人囚在监里，但你们可以带着粮食回去，救你们家里的饥荒。把你们的小兄弟带到我这里来，如此，你们的话便有证据，你们也不至于死。”他们就照样而行。他们彼此说：“我们在兄弟身上实在有罪。他哀求我们的时候，我们见他心里的愁苦，却不肯听，所以这场苦难临到我们身上。”吕便说：“我岂不是对你们说过，不可伤害那孩子吗？只是你们不肯听，所以流他血的罪向我们追讨。”他们不知道约瑟听得出来，因为在他们中间用通事传话。
创世记42:9-23‬‬

When Joseph saw his brothers, he gave them a test. He accused them of being spies. What was their response? They said, “No. We are honest men.” Were they telling the truth? Actually, they were liars who had been hiding a 20-year-old lie. Over 20 years ago they lied to their father about Joseph. At this moment they are standing in front of the one they lied about and said, “We are honest men.”

当约瑟看到他的兄弟时，给了他们一个考验。他指责他们是奸细。他们的回答是什么？他们说：“不！我们是诚实人！“他们说的是实话吗？事实上，他们是一群掩藏了一个二十年谎言的骗子。20多年前，他们就约瑟的事情对父亲撒了谎。此刻，他们站在那个说了他谎话的人面前称：“我们是诚实人！”

They tried to make their story sound more honest and added they were actually 12 brothers. One younger brother (Benjamin) is at home. And another (Joseph) is no more. Notice they did not say he was dead. Joseph says he wants proof of the younger brother and he puts the 10 men in jail for three days.

他们试图让自己的故事听上去更真诚，补充说他们实际上是 十二个兄弟。一个年幼的弟弟（便雅悯）在家。而另一个（约瑟）已没有了。注意他们没说他死了！约瑟说他想要小兄弟存在的证据，将这十个兄弟关进了监狱三天。

The Past Comes Back
往事重现

At this point what is the first thought coming to the brothers’ minds? Their former sin. The memory of selling Joseph is so clear to them. They can still remember how distressed he was and how he pleaded with them to save his life. But they had not listened to him.

在这个时刻，兄弟们脑中闪现的第一件事是什么？他们以前的罪。卖掉约瑟的记忆对他们来说非常清晰。他们还记得他是多么痛苦，他如何恳求他们饶命。但他们没有听他的话。

They remember this like it was yesterday, the memory is forever in their mind. And now among one another in the hearing of Joseph, the one they sold, they bring up a very old story. What do you guess are the emotions the brothers are feeling now?

他们记得这事仿佛昨日才发生一样，这个记忆永远刻在他们脑海里。此刻，被他们卖掉的约瑟在一旁听着，兄弟们讲出了一件很久以前的往事。你可以猜想一下，这些兄弟们此刻的感受如何呢？

The Bad Memory Still There
糟糕的记忆仍在

Unresolved conflict. Unrepentant sin. You can hide it, but it is still there. Over 20 years later and this memory is still fresh in these men’s minds. They are still distressed and they feel they are still paying the price and suffering the consequences for their sin.

尚未解决的冲突。没有悔改的罪。你可以隐藏它，但它依然存在。二十年后，在这些人心中仍然记忆犹新。他们仍然觉得很痛苦，他们仍然觉得在为自己的罪付出代价 并且还在承受罪的后果。

Joseph Remembers, Too
约瑟也记得

What emotions does Joseph experience?
约瑟经历了什么样的情绪起伏？

He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.
Genesis‬ 42:24‬ NIV

 

约瑟转身退去，哭了一场，又回来对他们说话，就从他们中间挑出西缅来，在他们眼前把他捆绑。
创世记42:24‬‬

He weeps. But he does not act towards his brothers in anger. At this moment he actually has compassion on them. He releases them and only keeps Simeon.

他哭了。但他并没有向哥哥们发怒。此刻他实际上对他们有恻隐之心。他释放了他们，只扣留了西缅。

Simeon Retained In Jail
西缅留在监狱里

Why Simeon? What do we know about Simeon? He is the second born after Reuben. Reuben is the oldest. Simeon is also Leah’s son. Simeon and his brother, Levi, were the two who killed all of the people in Shechem. At the end of his life Jacob blessed Simeon in this way:

为什么是西缅？我们对西缅有什么了解？他是继流便之后生的第二个孩子。流便是最年长的。西缅也是利亚的儿子。西缅和他的兄弟利未杀了示剑所有男子。在他生命的最后，雅各以这种方式祝福西缅：

“Simeon and Levi are brothers – their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce and their fury, so cruel. I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.”
Genesis 49:5-7 NIV

 

“西缅和利未是弟兄。他们的刀剑是残忍的器具。我的灵阿，不要与他们同谋。我的心哪，不要与他们联络。因为他们趁怒杀害人命，任意砍断牛腿大筋。他们的怒气暴烈可咒。他们的忿恨残忍可诅。我要使他们分居在雅各家里，散住在以色列地中。”
创世记49:5-7

Maybe Joseph kept Simeon because he was #2 brother. And #1 brother Reuben was the one who tried to save Joseph. Maybe Simeon’s violent behavior is coming back to him.

也许约瑟留下西缅，因为他是第二个哥哥。长兄流便试图搭救过约瑟。也许西缅的暴力行为正归到他身上。

Nine Heading Home
九个兄弟回家

Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left. At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.” Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?” When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said, “The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land. But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.’ “Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go. But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’ ” As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!” Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.” But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.”
Genesis‬ 42:25-38‬ NIV

 

约瑟吩咐 人把粮食装满他们的器具，把各人的银子归还在各人的口袋里，又给他们路上用的食物。人就照他的话办了。他们就把粮食驮在驴上，离开那里去了。到了住宿的地方，他们中间有一个人打开口袋，要拿料喂驴，才看见自己的银子仍在口袋里，就对弟兄们说：“我的银子归还了，看哪，仍在我口袋里！”他们就提心吊胆，战战兢兢地彼此说：“这是神向我们做什么呢？”他们来到迦南地 他们的父亲雅各那里，将所遭遇的事都告诉他，说：“那地的主对我们说严厉的话，把我们当作窥探那地的奸细。我们对他说：‘我们是诚实人，并不是奸细。我们本是弟兄十二人，都是一个父亲的儿子，有一个没有了，顶小的如今同我们的父亲在迦南地。’“那地的主对我们说：‘若要我知道你们是诚实人，可以留下你们中间的一个人在我这里，你们可以带着粮食回去，救你们家里的饥荒。把你们的小兄弟带到我这里来，我便知道你们不是奸细，乃是诚实人。这样，我就把你们的弟兄交给你们，你们也可以在这地做买卖。’”后来他们倒口袋，不料，各人的银包都在口袋里；他们和父亲看见银包就都害怕。他们的父亲雅各对他们说：“你们使我丧失我的儿子：约瑟没有了，西缅也没有了，你们又要将便雅悯带去；这些事都归到我身上了。”吕便对他父亲说：“我若不带他回来交给你，你可以杀我的两个儿子。只管把他交在我手里，我必带他回来交给你。”雅各说：“我的儿子不可与你们一同下去！他哥哥死了，只剩下他，他若在你们所行的路上遭害，那便是你们使我白发苍苍、悲悲惨惨地下阴间去了。”
创世记42:25-38‬‬

Joseph allows the other nine to go, but he returns their money. When they discover the money, they are afraid. They know this could bring major trouble. When they arrive home they tell their father, Jacob, everything.

约瑟允许其他九个人离开，但他把钱还给了他们。当他们发现这些钱时，就害怕了。他们知道这可能会带来大麻烦。当他们回到家时，就把所有一切事都告诉了父亲雅各。

Everything Against Him
一切都对他不利

Jacob feels everything is against him. He has lost Joseph and Simeon and now he believes he will lose Benjamin. Reuben, as the firstborn son, steps in and offers his own sons in the place of Benjamin. But Jacob will not give up Benjamin. He would rather leave Simeon in jail and face the famine than lose Benjamin.

雅各觉得一切都对他不利。他失去了约瑟和西缅，现在他相信他会失去便雅悯。作为长子的流便介入此事，并用自己的儿子替代便雅悯。但雅各不愿放弃便雅悯。他宁愿把西缅留在监狱里面对饥荒也不愿失去便雅悯。

Jacob is not trusting God at this moment. He is looking only at his circumstances, his loss. He feels everything is against him. All of them feel they are in an impossible situation. Famine, loss of sons, memory of past hidden sin. Fear, guilt and shame are all over this story.

雅各此刻并不信靠 神。他只关注自己的处境，自己的损失。他觉得一切都是对他不利的。他们全都觉得处在不可能的状况里。饥荒，丧子，过去藏着罪的记忆。这个故事里到处都有恐惧，内疚和羞耻。

Only Joseph knows the truth.
只有约瑟知道真相。

Painful Past
痛苦的过去

Have you ever felt like these brothers? You have something hidden in your past and it keeps coming up again and again? Do you feel like Jacob? Everything is against you and you are afraid to lose more?

你有过和这些兄弟们一样的感受吗？隐藏在你过去的一些事，一次又一次地出现？你觉得自己像雅各？一切都不利于你，你害怕会失去更多？

We are in the middle of the story here – we are in the dark moment. There seems to be no end. Simeon is in jail for a long time. Jacob holds onto fear and it stops his family from getting more food and it prevents Simeon from being free. This chapter ends in a hopeless way.

这时故事讲了一半 – 我们此刻处在黑暗中。似乎看不到尽头。西缅在监狱里待了很长时间。雅各抓住恐惧不放，阻碍了他的家人去获取更多的食物，也阻碍了西缅获得自由。本章在无望中结束了。

If we stopped here, we would be very disappointed. We would have no hope, no happy ending. Just one brother in jail, nine brothers ashamed, a father full of fear and grief and a whole family starving. But there is one man who can change everything. Who is he?

如果我们停在这里，会非常失望。没有希望，没有幸福的结局。只有一个在监狱里的兄弟，九个感到羞愧的兄弟，一个充满恐惧和悲恸的父亲，和一个挨饿的家族。但是有一个人可以改变一切，他是谁？

Joseph.

约瑟.

Power to Change
改变的力量

Joseph has the power to do something amazing with this family. But the family has to go through the dark time first. They are being tested. Joseph gave them what they needed for today – food. He even returned their money so the food was free. And now he is giving them an opportunity to put things right in the family. He is looking ahead to reconciling with his brothers, but they have to be ready to do this. It does not seem they are quite ready yet. They are still walking through this dark time and have not come to a point of repenting. To Joseph and to their father they continuously proclaim, “We are honest men.” Until they are willing to confess their sin, repent and be reconciled, they will be in this dark moment. But the reconciliation and forgiveness will come; it is on the way.

约瑟有能力与这个家族一起做一些奇妙惊人的事情。但这个家族必须先度过黑暗时期。他们正在被试炼。约瑟给了他们今天所需要的东西 – 食物。甚至退还了钱，所以食物是免费的。现在，他正在给他们一个机会，纠正家里的事，他期待与兄弟们和睦相处，但他们必须为此做好准备。他们似乎还没准备好，他们仍然走在黑暗中，还没有开始悔改。他们不断向约瑟和父亲宣称“我们是诚实人！”。在他们愿意认罪，悔改与和解之前，他们将一直处在黑暗时刻。但和解和饶恕将会到来，已经在路上了。

Jesus Has the Power to Change Everything
耶稣有能力改变一切

Maybe you feel you are in the middle of a dark moment, too, and you wish you had a Joseph who could fix everything. Good news, you do. You have someone who is even greater than Joseph. Jesus will give you the food you need, the forgiveness you desire and a new life. But you must come to Him to receive.

也许你觉得自己正处在黑暗时刻，你希望有一个约瑟可以修复一切。好消息是，你有的。你有一个比约瑟更伟大的人。耶稣会赐给你所需的食物，你渴望的饶恕和新生命。但你必须来到他面前才能领受。