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Genesis 45:4-8 “So Joseph said to his brothers, 'Come near to me, please.' And they came near. And he said, 'I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”
[36:41]Genesis 45:9-11 “Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.”
[43:00]Genesis 45:26-28 “And they told him, 'Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.' And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. And Israel said, 'It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
[53:30]Observation questions
- 在创世记45:4-8中，约瑟怎样提到哥哥们过去对他所做的事？他又怎样解释自己来到埃及的目的？ [40:34]
- 在创世记45:9-11中，约瑟为父亲和全家作了哪些具体安排？这些安排怎样回应了他们接下来要面对的困难？ [44:32]
- 在创世记45:26-28中，雅各听到消息后的反应有什么变化？儿子们告诉他的话和接他的车辆，在这个过程中起了什么作用？ [57:45]
Interpretation questions
- 约瑟既承认哥哥们曾经出卖他，又看见神借着这件事保全生命。这为什么不等于替哥哥们的罪开脱？这样的眼光怎样帮助一个受伤的人不走向报复？ [42:18]
- 犹大从提议卖掉约瑟，变成愿意代替便雅悯作奴隶。为什么这种愿意体恤别人、付上代价的行动，比自责的话更能显出真实的悔改？ [31:32]
- 约瑟把自己的地位看作神所赐的托付，这怎样影响他对待家人的方式？一个人若把成就只看作自己的本事，对待别人的方式可能有什么不同？ [46:35]
- 神借约瑟的受苦保全一家人的生命，这怎样预表基督的拯救？基督所赐的拯救，与约瑟所带来的帮助有什么重要的不同？ [01:05:54]
Application questions
- 想一想你最近反复面对的一种试探，例如推卸责任、嫉妒或只顾自己的利益。若再次遇到相似的处境，你盼望靠着神作出什么不同的决定？这个决定可能需要你付上什么代价？ [31:05]
- 在你愿意分享的范围内，有没有一段受伤的关系，让你仍想证明自己或让对方付出代价？在不否认伤害和对方责任的前提下，你愿意求神帮助你迈出怎样的一小步，不让报复继续主导你的回应？ [01:01:05]
- 神把能力、资源和位置交给人，是要人用来服事别人。你目前拥有什么可以帮助家人或身边有需要的人？这周你可以为其中一个人作什么具体安排？ [47:04]
- 面对一段仍然不明白原因的困难，你最希望神立刻改变什么？除了求处境改变，你也愿意求神在哪一方面塑造你的生命？小组可以怎样陪伴你，而不是急着替你的苦难下结论？ [01:00:25]
- 雅各在听见消息、看见实际的供应后，重新有了盼望。回顾你自己的经历，有没有一次神借着别人的实际帮助扶持了你？如今，你可以怎样用具体行动陪伴一个灰心的人？ [58:13]
- 基督的拯救不只解决眼前的困难，更赐下永生。你目前最挂心的祈求是什么？当你想到自己需要基督赦罪、更新生命时，你愿意怎样调整祈求和生活中的一个选择？若你还在认识信仰，关于相信耶稣，你最想进一步了解什么？ [01:06:14]
