提要
雅各注意到他兒子們從埃及買回來的食物快要吃光了，由於那地仍在鬧饑荒，雅各便要他的兒子再下埃及去買食物。猶大向父親解釋，由於埃及總理已訂下條件，他們此次若不帶著便雅憫同行，恐將徒勞而返。猶大承諾一定將便雅憫帶回，否則他就永遠擔罪（意指願受咒詛）。由於急需食物，也為了使西緬獲釋，雅各終於同意讓他最小（可能廿五歲左右）的兒子下埃及。他們臨走前，雅各祈求全能的上帝保護他們。不過，由於缺乏信心，雅各最後還是以悲觀的語氣作結論（43：14）。
當約瑟看見便雅憫與他的哥哥同來，他便將他的計畫付諸行動。他的哥哥再次在他面前下拜，應驗約瑟許久以前所作的夢。當約瑟的親弟弟便雅憫進入約瑟的屋裡，約瑟的情緒很激動，他一定很渴望立刻上前去擁抱便雅憫，但他克制住自己，因為他想先看看他的哥哥們是否已經改變並悔改了。約瑟的兄長在懼怕中先向約瑟的家宰表明無辜，他們說並不知道頭一次離開埃及時留在口袋裡的銀子是誰放的。家宰向他們保證無事，要他們安心，所說的話好像他也是真神上帝的信徒。約瑟一定曾經告訴家宰有關他祖宗之上帝的事。有關我主的大好消息我們不應保持緘默。別人需要知道！
在晚餐的筵席上，約瑟的兄長很驚訝的發現他們的座次竟完全符合他們的長幼順序。不過他們還是沒有認出這位埃及的總理是誰，儘管約瑟問了好幾次他們的父親是否健在。約瑟在席間對便雅憫特別好，可能是要看其他人的反應如何。他們是否像以前看見約瑟得父親寵愛一樣妒火中燒﹖不，他們非常快樂高興（43：34），顯示他們的心地可能已經有了改變。但真正的試驗還在後頭呢！
約瑟不能接受他父親和兄弟的錢，所以又和第一次一樣，把食物和他們的錢都放在他們的口袋裡，只是這次他還放了一個銀杯在便雅憫的袋中。後來，當銀杯從便雅憫的口袋裡被搜出來，約瑟的哥哥們嚇壞了。他們撕裂衣服表示憂傷，並與家宰回到約瑟那裡。約瑟當然不會用他的杯子來占卜或算命，他是在演一齣他哥哥渾然不覺的戲。猶大是他們兄弟中間的發言人，他起初慌得不知該說什麼話。想起他們從前對小兄弟約瑟所做的事，他說：「上帝已經查出僕人的罪孽了……我們都是我主的奴僕。」
約瑟仍在演戲，他冷靜的回答，只有拿走杯子的人要作他的奴僕，其餘的人可以「平平安安的上去」（44：17）。但他們不能留下便雅憫在埃及，否則他們的父親會憂傷而死。從前帶頭提議將約瑟賣為奴隸（37：26）的猶大一定已經改變了。那時他們冷酷無情的對待約瑟，現在他們對父親和最小的弟弟表現出愛和關切。這一連串發生的事已驚醒他們沈睡的良心，他們看見自己的罪，也真誠的悔改了。猶大為他的弟弟代求，願意替便雅憫留在埃及（44：33）。現在我們在猶大身上看見自我犧牲和真心代求的精神，這些正是他的後裔，彌賽亞耶穌最明顯的特質。約瑟現在也確定他的哥哥已經改變了。他們通過了這場試驗。
上帝愛你並且要你得到最好的，在每一件事上上帝都有祂的目的。祂或許用試驗來教導我們，使我們知罪，引我們悔改。如果你需要悔改，別猶豫。上帝有恩典、有憐憫，祂一定願意赦免你。
|
Overview
Jacob (or Israel) noticed the supply of food his sons had brought back from Egypt was almost depleted and, since the famine was still in the land, he told them to go down once more to buy food. Judah explained that because of the conditions set by the prime minister, it would be in vain for them to go without Benjamin. He promised his father he would bring him back, otherwise he would be forever guilty, implying a curse would be upon him. In need of food and to get Simeon back, Jacob agreed to let his youngest son (probably in his mid-twenties) travel to Egypt. Before they departed, he prayed to “El Shadai”, the God Almighty, a prayer of protection over them. However he, lacking faith, ended with a note of pessimism (43:14).
When Joseph saw Benjamin had come with his brothers, he put his plan into action. Once again his brother bowed down before him, fulfilling his dream of long ago. Joseph was filled with emotion when Benjamin his only full brother, came to his home. He must have longed to go and immediately embrace him but restrained himself because he first wanted to see if his other brothers were changed and repentant. In fear, they spoke with Joseph’s steward to express their innocence concerning the money that had been in their sacks on leaving after their first visit. The steward reassured them not to worry, speaking as though he were a believer in the true God. Joseph must have told the steward about the God of his fathers. The great news about our Lord is not something we should be quiet about. Others need to know!
Surprisingly, at the dinner the brothers found they were sitting in the exact order of their ages. Yet they had not figured out who the prime minister was even though he had asked them about their father several times, wondering if he was still alive. Then he showed favoritism to Benjamin, possibly to see how the others would react. Would they be jealous as they had been of him when he was shown favoritism by their father? No, they were happy and in good spirits (43:34), which might indicate a change of heart. But the real test was still to come.
Joseph, still acting, coldly replied that only the one who had the cup would be his slave and the others could “go up in peace” (44:17). They could not leave Benjamin or else their father would die. Judah, the leader and advisor for selling Joseph into slavery (37:26), had certainly changed. In Joseph’s case, they had been cold-hearted and cruel, now they showed love and concern for their father and young brother. From the shock of all that had happened to them, their sleeping consciences were awakened. They say their guilt and were sincerely repentant. Judah interceded on his young brother’s behalf and asked that he remain as a substitute in place of Benjamin (44:33). We now see in Judah the spirit of self-sacrifice and true intercession, qualities which would become most evident in his descendant, Jesus, the Messiah. Joseph now was sure his brothers were changed. They had passed that test.
God loves you and wants what id best for you, and in everything the Lord has a purpose. God may use trials to teach us, convict us, and bring us to repentance. If you are in need of repentance, do not hesitate. The Lord is merciful and kind and willing to forgive.
|
