In the darkest hours of life, only through the eyes of faith can we see the loving hand of God.

唯有藉着信心的双眼，才能在人生的低谷，
看见天父慈爱的双手。

It was not you who sent me here, but God. Genesis 45:8

差我到这里来的不是你们，乃是上帝。-创世记45章8节

“The perception of favoritism is one of the biggest factors in sibling rivalry,” said Dr. Barbara Howard, a developmental behavioral pediatrician (“When Parents Have a Favorite Child” nytimes.com). An example would be the Old Testament character Joseph, who was his father’s favorite son, which made his older brothers furious (Gen. 37:3–4). So they sold Joseph to merchants traveling to Egypt and made it appear that a wild animal had killed him (37:12–36). His dreams had been shattered and his future appeared hopeless.

研究儿童行为发展的医师芭芭拉·霍华（Barbara Howard）曾说：“孩子们认为父母偏心，往往是造成手足纷争的主要因素。”旧约圣经里的约瑟就是一个例子。约瑟是父亲最钟爱的儿子，也成为哥哥们妒忌的对象（创世记37章3-4节）。结果他哥哥们将他卖给即将前往埃及的商旅，还制造他已被野兽咬死的假象（12-36节）。约瑟的梦碎了，前途一片渺茫。

Yet, along Joseph’s journey of life, he chose to be true to his God and rely on Him even when it seemed to make his situation worse. After being falsely accused by his employer’s wife and imprisoned for something he didn’t do, Joseph struggled with the injustice of his situation but kept trusting the Lord.

然而，约瑟在困境中仍选择忠于上帝，即使这样的选择似乎会让他的处境更加艰困，约瑟依然全心倚靠上帝。他虽然遭到波提乏的妻子诬陷，因莫须有的罪名被关进监狱里，却仍信靠上帝。

Years later his brothers came to Egypt to buy grain during a famine and were terrified to discover that their despised younger brother was now the Prime Minister. But Joseph told them, “Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you . . . . It was not you who sent me here, but God” (45:5, 8).

多年后，约瑟的兄弟们为了度过饥荒，来到埃及购买粮食。当他们发现这位埃及的宰相，竟是他们所蔑视的幼弟时，个个吓得惊惶失措。但约瑟却对他们说：“不要因为把我卖到这里自忧自恨，这是上帝差我在你们以先来，为要保全生命。??差我到这里来的不是你们，乃是上帝。”（45章5、8节）

Joseph’s kind words cause me to wonder if I would be ready for revenge. Or would I be gracious because my heart had confidence in the Lord?

约瑟恩慈的言语，使我不禁再三省思，当我面对同样的情况时，我会想报复，还是能因信靠上帝，而以宽厚仁慈待人呢？

Dear Father, give us the faith to trust You today and the ability to see Your hand of good along our road of life.

亲爱的天父，求祢赐给我们信心全然信靠祢，

并且求祢让我们看见，
祢以良善仁慈引导我们走人生的旅程。

Genesis 45:1-11New International Version (NIV)

Joseph Makes Himself Known

45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.

3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping.7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[a]

8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’

整理：于姊妹