Article #1 in the series: You Are God’s Masterpiece: The Genesis Notes.
你是神的工作: 《创世记手记》系列第二十七篇
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How has God blessed you today?
今天神如何赐福予你？
God Bless You!
神祝福你！
We often wish one another blessings and God’s blessings. What do you think it means to be blessed?
我们经常彼此祝福，也希望蒙受 神的赐福。你认为受祝福是什么意思呢？
Birthright and Blessing
长子的名分与祝福
Jacob has taken Esau’s birthright in chapter 25. Now in chapter 27 Jacob takes Esau’s blessing. In the times of Genesis, the birthright was a special position of being the firstborn son. This privilege resulted in receiving the entire family inheritance. Esau had this privilege as the firstborn son. But he sold his legal rights to the inheritance when he thought he was going to starve to death.
在二十五章中，雅各夺了以扫长子的名分；在二十七章这里，雅各又夺了以扫的祝福。
在创世记里，长子的名分即是头生儿子特殊的地位，这个特权使长子获得整个家族的产业。以扫作为头生的儿子，曾经拥有这个特权，但是，当他觉得快要饿死的时候，却卖掉了他继承产业的合法权利。
The blessing is a proclamation of favor, success, well-being and happiness. God had given Abraham a special blessing which was then passed down to Isaac. Isaac held this special blessing and was preparing to pass it along to his son, Esau.
祝福即昭示着恩惠、成功、福祉和幸福。神给了亚伯拉罕一个特别的祝福，再传给了以撒，以撒拥有这个特别的祝福，而且准备继续传给他的儿子以扫。
But Esau despised his birthright and he missed his blessing. In the meantime, Jacob strongly desired the birthright and strongly desired and received the blessing. As a result, Jacob received both the birthright, which would result in the inheritance, and he received the blessing.
但是以扫轻视了他长子的名分，也错过了对他的祝福。与此同时，雅各很想得到长子的名分，也非常渴望领受祝福。结果，雅各不但得到了能使他继承产业的长子名分，也得到了祝福。
Let’s read the story of the blessing Isaac passed on to Jacob. As we read the story ask yourself, do I desire God’s blessing on my life as strongly as Jacob desired his father’s blessing?
我们来读以撒祝福雅各的故事。一边读一边自问，我是否渴望神对我一生的祝福，犹如雅各 渴望他父亲的祝福一般呢？
When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” he answered. Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death. Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die.” Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, ‘Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.’ Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.” Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin. What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing.” His mother said to him, “My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say; go and get them for me.” So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it. Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made. He went to his father and said, “My father.” “Yes, my son,” he answered. “Who is it?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.” Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” “The Lord your God gave me success,” he replied. Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.” Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he proceeded to bless him. “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked. “I am,” he replied. Then he said, “My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.” Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here, my son, and kiss me.” So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed.
Genesis 27:1-27 NIV
以撒年老，眼睛昏花，不能看见，就叫了他大儿子以扫来，说：“我儿。”以扫说：“我在这里。”他说：“我如今老了，不知道哪一天死。现在拿你的器械，就是箭囊和弓，往田野去为我打猎，照我所爱的做成美味，拿来给我吃，使我在未死之先给你祝福。”以撒对他儿子以扫说话，利百加也听见了。以扫往田野去打猎，要得野味带来。利百加就对她儿子雅各说：“我听见你父亲对你哥哥以扫说：‘你去把野兽带来，做成美味给我吃，我好在未死之先，在耶和华面前给你祝福。’现在，我儿，你要照着我所吩咐你的，听从我的话。你到羊群里去，给我拿两只肥山羊羔来，我便照你父亲所爱的，给他做成美味。你拿到你父亲那里给他吃，使他在未死之先给你祝福。”雅各对他母亲利百加说：“我哥哥以扫浑身是有毛的，我身上是光滑的，倘若我父亲摸着我，必以我为欺哄人的，我就招咒诅，不得祝福。”他母亲对他说：“我儿，你招的咒诅归到我身上；你只管听我的话，去把羊羔给我拿来。”他便去拿来，交给他母亲，他母亲就照他父亲所爱的做成美味。利百加又把家里所存大儿子以扫上好的衣服给她小儿子雅各穿上。又用山羊羔皮包在雅各的手上和颈项的光滑处，就把所做的美味和饼交在她儿子雅各的手里。雅各到他父亲那里说：“我父亲！”他说：“我在这里。我儿，你是谁？”雅各对他父亲说：“我是你的长子以扫，我已照你所吩咐我的行了。请起来坐着，吃我的野味，好给我祝福。”以撒对他儿子说：“我儿，你如何找得这么快呢？”他说：“因为耶和华你的神使我遇见好机会得着的。”以撒对雅各说：“我儿，你近前来，我摸摸你，知道你真是我的儿子以扫不是。”雅各就挨近他父亲以撒。以撒摸着他说：“声音是雅各的声音，手却是以扫的手。”以撒就辨不出他来，因为他手上有毛，像他哥哥以扫的手一样，就给他祝福。又说：“你真是我儿子以扫吗？”他说：“我是。”以撒说：“你递给我，我好吃我儿子的野味，给你祝福。”雅各就递给他，他便吃了；又拿酒给他，他也喝了。他父亲以撒对他说：“我儿，你上前来与我亲嘴。”他就上前与父亲亲嘴。他父亲一闻他衣服上的香气，就给他祝福，说：“我儿的香气如同耶和华赐福之田地的香气一样。
创世记27:1-27
Let’s continue the story to find out what blessing Isaac passed on to Jacob. We will also see what happened to Esau, the one who had despised his birthright.
我们继续往下读，看看以撒给了雅各什么祝福，也会看到那轻看长子名分的以扫遭遇了什么。
May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.” After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.” His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?” “I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.” Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!” When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me—me too, my father!” But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.” Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?” Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?” Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud. His father Isaac answered him, “Your dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck.” Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides. When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?” Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”
Genesis 27:29-46 NIV
愿多民侍奉你，多国跪拜你；愿你作你弟兄的主，你母亲的儿子向你跪拜。凡咒诅你的，愿他受咒诅；为你祝福的，愿他蒙福。”以撒为雅各祝福已毕，雅各从他父亲那里才出来，他哥哥以扫正打猎回来，也做了美味，拿来给他父亲，说：“请父亲起来，吃你儿子的野味，好给我祝福。”他父亲以撒对他说：“你是谁？”他说：“我是你的长子以扫。”以撒就大大地战兢说：“你未来之先，是谁得了野味拿来给我吃呢？我已经吃了，为他祝福，他将来也必蒙福。”以扫听了他父亲的话，就放声痛哭，说：“我父啊，求你也为我祝福！”以撒说：“你兄弟已经用诡计来将你的福分夺去了。”以扫说：“他名雅名岂不是正对吗？因为他欺骗了我两次，他从前夺了我长子的名分；你看，他现在又夺了我的福分。”以扫又说：“你没有留下为我可祝的福吗？”以撒回答以扫说：“我已立他为你的主，使他的弟兄都给他作仆人，并赐他五谷新酒可以养生。我儿，现在我还能为你做什么呢？”以扫对他父亲说：“父啊，你只有一样可祝的福吗？我父啊，求你也为我祝福！”以扫就放声而哭。他父亲以撒说：“地上的肥土必为你所住；天上的甘露必为你所得。你必倚靠刀剑度日，又必侍奉你的兄弟；到你强盛的时候，必从你颈项上挣开他的轭。”以扫因他父亲给雅各祝的福，就怨恨雅各，心里说：“为我父亲居丧的日子近了，到那时候，我要杀我的兄弟雅各。”有人把利百加大儿子以扫的话告诉利百加，她就打发人去，叫了她的小儿子雅各来，对他说：“你哥哥以扫想要杀你，报仇雪恨。现在，我儿，你要听我的话：起来，逃往哈兰我哥哥拉班那里去，同他住些日子，直等你哥哥的怒气消了。你哥哥向你消了怒气，忘了你向他所做的事，我便打发人去把你从那里带回来。为什么一日丧你们二人呢？”利百加对以撒说：“我因这赫人的女子，连性命都厌烦了；倘若雅各也娶赫人的女子为妻，像这些一样，我活着还有什么益处呢？”
创世记27:29-46
As children of God, we also have a birthright and a blessing. Do we strongly desire this birthright and blessing?
作为神的儿女，我们也拥有长子的名分和祝福，我们是否特别渴望得到这个长子的名分和祝福呢？
Our Birthright, Our Inheritance, Our Blessing
我们长子的名分、产业和祝福
According to Ephesians chapter one we have the birthright which leads to an inheritance and blessing. Read the verses below and notice the words adoption, sonship, inheritance and blessing.
根据以弗所书第一章所述，我们拥有长子的名分，且让我们获得产业和祝福。读下面的经文，注意“收养”，“儿子的名分”，“产业”和“祝福”这几个词。
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
Ephesians 1:3 NIV
“愿颂赞归于我们主耶稣基督的父 神！他在基督里曾赐给我们天上各样属灵的福气。”
以弗所书 1:3
“He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will…”
Ephesians 1:5 NIV
“又因爱我们，就按着自己意旨所喜悦的，预定我们借着耶稣基督得儿子的名分。
”
以弗所书 1:5
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of His glory.”
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV
“你们既听见真理的道，就是那叫你们得救的福音，也信了基督，既然信他，就受了所应许的圣灵为印记。这圣灵是我们得基业的凭据，直等到 神之民被赎，使他的荣耀得着称赞。”
以弗所书 1:13-14
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people … ”
Ephesians 1:18 NIV
“并且照明你们心中的眼睛，使你们知道他的恩召有何等指望，他在圣徒中得的基业有何等丰盛的荣耀。”
以弗所书 1:18
What is the inheritance we have as children of God? What are the blessings we have as children of God? Look for all of the blessings mentioned in Ephesians chapter one.
作为 神的儿女，我们拥有什么产业？作为 神的儿女，我们蒙受哪些祝福？找出以弗所书第一章提到的所有祝福。
As children of God who have an inheritance from our Father we have many blessings. We have been chosen as sons (ladies, we have the same birthright as an ancient son), we are forgiven, redeemed and we have a future with God in heaven. How can we daily seek the blessings of God?
作为神的儿女，我们从父那里得了产业，有许多的祝福。我们被拣选为儿子(女士们，我们拥有和古代儿子们一样的长子名分)，我们被赦免，被救赎，我们有一个与神同住天堂的未来。我们怎样才能每天寻求神的祝福呢?
Asking for a Blessing
寻求祝福
Can we ask God to bless us? Jabez is a man in the Old Testament who asked for a blessing. There are only two verses about him in the Bible, but we can learn something important from his life.
我们可以求 神祝福我们吗？雅比斯是旧约中的一个人物，他祈求 神的赐福。在圣经中只有关于他的两句经文，但是我们可以从他的生命中学习一些重要的事情。
“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.”
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NIV
“雅比斯比他众弟兄更尊贵，他母亲给他起名叫雅比斯，意思说：‘我生他甚是痛苦。’雅比斯求告以色列的 神说：‘甚愿你赐福与我，扩张我的境界，常与我同在，保佑我不遭患难，不受艰苦。神就应允他所求的。’”
历代志上4:9-10
Jabez started life with a terrible name: PAIN. He must have felt pain in his life, as well, because he is asking God to bless him so he would be free from pain. The Bible says Jabez was very honorable.
雅比斯的一生始于一个不幸的名字：痛苦，他也极有可能在生命中感受到了痛苦，因为他当时求 神赐福他，以使他不遭患难，不受艰苦。圣经记载，雅比斯非常尊贵。
What are the five requests Jabez made to God? Jabez asked for God’s favor, God’s leading, God’s protection, and Jabez wanted to be an influence on others and he wanted to be free from pain. God gave these blessings to him.
雅比斯向 神求哪五件事？雅比斯求 神赐给他恩惠、带领、保护，他想成为一个对别人有影响力的人，并且不想再遭受患难和艰苦。神把这些都赐给了他！
We Can Ask
我们可以祈求
Is there a blessing you would seek from God? Ask Him.
你想要 神祝福你什么呢？向祂祈求吧！
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Luke 11:9-10 NIV
“我又告诉你们，你们祈求，就给你们；寻找，就寻见；叩门，就给你们开门。因为，凡祈求的，就得着；寻找的，就寻见；叩门的，就给他开门。”
路加福音 11:9-10
Do we strongly desire God’s birthright and blessing? Just like Jacob strongly desired the birthright and blessing? Or are we letting it go like Esau who was more focused on his own personal desires (as we see in his attitude towards food and marriage)?
我们非常渴望 神长子的名分和祝福吗？是否就像雅各那样强烈地渴望得到长子的名分和祝福？还是像以扫那样放弃了，却更在乎他的私欲？（我们从他对食物和婚姻的态度可以看出！）
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
“ 神能照着运行在我们心里的大力充充足足的成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。但愿他在教会中，并在基督耶稣里，得着荣耀，直到世世代代，永永远远。阿们！”
以弗所书 3:20-21
