月度归档： 2026 年 10 月

“I have made the Lord Lord my refuge, so that I may tell you all your deeds.” [Psalm 73:28]

As Joseph said, Egypt had seven years of abundant harvest. Joseph ordered people to expand the granaries and store grain everywhere. His fame soared, and except for the pharaoh, everyone in Egypt submitted to him. Joseph worked diligently, knowing well that God was honoring him. Within seven years, his Egyptian wife bore him two sons: the elder, Manasseh [meaning to forget suffering], and the second, Ephraim [meaning harvest].

Seven years of disaster followed one after another, a severe drought struck across the land, the Nile nearly dried up, the fields were scorched with barren fields, and crops were completely cut off. Within less than two years, the surplus grain in households was all exhausted and turned to the government for grain. Joseph proceeded methodically, slowly opening the granaries to sell grain, and the treasury was quickly replenished.

Joseph ordered the people of all regions to buy quotas from local authorities, which both maintained order and made it easier to coordinate plans. However, those seeking grain from abroad had to personally visit Joseph in the capital, which not only unified the settlement, but also helped prevent corruption and control the total export volume. That day, Joseph was sitting inside the mansion handling paperwork, and the servants reported that foreigners from Canaan were asking for grain outside.

Joseph ordered the servants to come to the house, find the relevant translator, and bring them in to meet him. A moment later, ten middle-aged men entered, their heads bowed in fear. Dust-covered and all dressed as shepherds, the leader was in his fifties, with a graying beard. As they approached, they all prostrated themselves and pleaded for food in Hebrew to Joseph.

The hometown accent I hadn’t heard in twenty years suddenly rang out. In that instant, Joseph’s chest was smashed through like ice on a winter lake by a boulder; Her heart, like a calm river, suddenly plunged off a cliff, stopped instantly, and then began to pound wildly. That local accent instantly transported him back to that afternoon twenty years ago, making him almost jump and run away. Joseph’s forehead was sweating, his face pale, his eyes dark, and after a brief dizziness, he returned to reality and saw ten people on the ground bowing their heads in worship, and the interpreter beside him began to interpret.

Joseph looked again at the ten kneeling men, his instinctive fear replaced by calm anger. They truly were brothers he hadn’t seen in twenty years, who wanted to kill him and ruthlessly sold him to Egypt, making his life worse than death for thirteen years. The dream from twenty years ago has truly come true today—they truly kneel before him.

God, you told me all this twenty years ago. Twenty years have passed. Suffering has made me prematurely weak and withered, my face full of weariness; they no longer recognize me. They too have grown old, their hair streaked with gray, faces weathered by weather, their eyes clouded and their backs curved, but are their hearts even more cruel? Why didn’t my brother Benjamin come? Did they plot against him just like they did against me?

Thinking of his brother’s uncertainty about life or death, Joseph sternly said to his brothers in Egyptian: “You claim to be from Canaan and come here to buy grain, but I see you sneaking around. Clearly, you are taking advantage of Egypt’s severe drought to buy grain under the pretext of scouting Egypt’s strengths and weaknesses!” The ten brothers looked at each other in confusion and hurriedly explained, “We’re not spies, just ten brothers. Because of the drought in our hometown, our father sent us to Egypt to buy grain, so that dozens of our family members wouldn’t starve to death.” “Father is still alive?!” Why didn’t they mention their brother?

Joseph continued to scold them: “Still trying to argue? You are clearly spies investigating the situation! “Sir, we really aren’t spies; we really are twelve brothers. Only one brother died young, and the other was left by his elderly father. “Is my brother really alive?” Perhaps, like the one who deceived the Sword Man years ago, they used a strategy to escape?

Joseph shouted loudly, “You really are spies! You said there were ten brothers just now, and now you say twelve.” Only one of you can go back. If you don’t bring your brother along, if I don’t see it with my own eyes, the nine of you will be trapped here forever, never able to escape until death. But now, someone, lock them all up in the cell. Three days later, Joseph brought his brothers to the house again. His face was haggard from insomnia, and the pain from twenty years ago struck his heart like a sudden downpour.

His voice was hoarse as he said to his brothers, “I fear God and dare not make things difficult for you.” If I let only one of you go back, your families will starve to death.

Today I’m letting all nine of you go back, only keeping one. That way, next time you must bring your brother to see me, and then I’ll let you brothers reunite and go home together.” The ten brothers bowed in thanks to Joseph and discussed among themselves.

The eldest brother Lü said to them, “Today we suffer this calamity all because we once dealt cruelly to our brother Joseph. He begged us to let him go, but you were heartless and refused to listen. I advised you not to harm him, but you ignored me and sold him while I was away. He would surely die a tragic death.

Today, this retribution has finally come upon us. “When Joseph heard this, he rose from his seat, walked to a secluded place outside, and wept silently. Then he wiped away his tears, forced himself to calm down, straightened his clothes, ordered the grain sacks of the ten brothers to be filled, and placed the gold and silver each of them brought on top of the grain and tied the bags tightly.

Then he returned to his residence and sat quietly, sizing up his brothers. The brothers saw his eyes were bloodshot and were so frightened their faces turned pale, thinking Joseph had changed his mind to kill them, so they all fell to the ground. After a moment, Joseph broke the silence, pointed at his second brother Simeon, and shouted, “Guards, bind this fierce-looking and scheming spy and take him to the cell.” Take the other nine out again, put the sacks of grain on their donkey carts, and have them leave Egypt quickly. After Joseph finished speaking, he swept his sleeves and strode away, never looking back at his brothers again.

“O Lord my God! Please watch over me and grant me your word; Make my eyes open so that I will not sleep until death; I will praise the Lord, for He has shown me great kindness. ” [Psalm 13:6]

Suddenly, the dungeon door opened, and the yang gate shone into the sultry, foul darkness. A stranger walked in, the darkness making him dizzy, and the stench made him cough. Seeing this, the warden immediately stood up respectfully, but looked at the newcomer but dared not speak. “Is a Hebrew slave named Joseph locked up here?” “Joseph?” Yes, sir, he has been imprisoned by the Imperial Guards for three years. “Do you know he can interpret dreams?” “Dream interpretation?” … Oh, I remember now, about two years ago, the pharaoh’s cupbearer and chief steward were locked here. Because God greatly blessed Joseph, who was extremely intelligent and capable, I let him serve the two of them.

One night, the cupbearer and the food steward each had a strange dream, feeling restless, and in the morning they told Joseph. With the wisdom God gives, Joseph actually interpreted their dreams, and three days later, they came true. The wine official was reinstated, but the chief steward was beheaded by the pharaoh. ”

“That’s him! The pharaoh also had a strange dream last night, feeling restless, yet none of the ministers or officials could interpret it. Two years ago, the cupbearer who left here remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh Joseph that he could interpret dreams. Pharaoh commanded me to present Joseph to the audience immediately! Joseph was immediately brought out from the dungeon, and the imperial envoy sent people to bathe and dress him. His hair, which had been neglected for three years, was trimmed, his beard shaved, he put on Egyptian court robes, and was brought into the palace.

Inside the grand, magnificent, and resplendent palace, officials stood respectfully on either side, bowing their heads in solemn silence. The pharaoh sat on a jeweled throne, staring intently at the young man who had just been brought up.

He looked to be in his thirties, with a foreign appearance. Unlike Egyptians, who had round eyes, heavy noses, and thick lips, he had narrow eyes, sharp noses, and thin lips. His face was pale, his figure thin, but his eyes were bright and he was handsome and upright. Could this Hebrew slave really be able to interpret my dream from last night? Pharaoh’s voice was not loud but he spoke with imposing authority: “Are you Joseph?” I heard you can interpret dreams.

Last night I had a strange dream, and among all the officials, none could interpret it. I would like to hear your wise advice. ” He had been in Egypt for thirteen years. At seventeen, Joseph was already in his thirties. He was first imprisoned in the home of the Commander of the Guards, then imprisoned in a dungeon, seemingly destined to die silently in darkness, yet he was brought directly before Pharaoh. Not only did he leave the place of confinement for the first time, but he was also taken directly into the palace. Joseph looked up and saw the Pharaoh on the throne wearing a lion’s crown, with two pure gold cobras coiled atop his head. His appearance was dignified but his gaze was deep. Joseph reported and replied, “Your Majesty, the interpretation of dreams is not with me, but with God.”

The God of my ancestor and father will surely give the right answer, so that Pharaoh may be at ease. Upon hearing this, Pharaoh sank back into his throne, still shaken: “Last night I dreamed of standing alone by the banks of the Nile, seeing seven cows, strong and plump, wading ashore and grazing among the reeds.

The other seven cows immediately came ashore, but they were extremely weak and hideous, but their eyes were bloodshot. As they approached the seven fat cows, they actually ate them alive. After the seven lean oxen finished eating, they were as weak as ever, their bellies shriveled, yet still as fast as a fierce lion, wandering around in search of prey. I was terrified and woke up in fright. Later, I drifted off again and saw a single wheat stalk grow seven ears of wheat, plump and beautiful. Then seven new ears of wheat quickly sprouted, but they were withered and withered, scorched by the east wind.

I was puzzled when suddenly the thin, dry wheat ears behind me opened their mouths like people and swallowed the seven ears from before. I woke up in shock and couldn’t fall back asleep. After listening, Joseph remained calm, lowered his head in thought, and remained silent.

Pharaoh stared at him, half believing, waiting for Joseph to speak. The officials remained silent, watching Joseph stand before the lion like a lamb. If Joseph spoke recklessly, he would surely provoke the wrath of the clever but cruel Pharaoh, who would die with no burial place.

Joseph was completely unaware of the grave danger, completely ignoring it. Thirteen years have passed, and after many hardships, he now knows that his life and death are completely under God’s control. After a moment of quiet prayer, he received an answer from God: “Your Majesty Pharaoh, you dreamed twice of the same thing, and God used this to reveal the future to you. You had two dreams in one night because this matter was of great importance, and God had already decreed it to be fulfilled quickly. The seven fat oxen and seven barley symbolize seven years of abundance, while the seven lean oxen and seven barley symbolize seven years of famine.

Behold, the whole land of Egypt will first have seven years of abundance, so that the granaries are overflowing with no room to hold them. But the following seven years of famine became even more terrifying. Without preparation, the earlier harvest would not meet the needs of the famine later, leaving Egypt devastated and starving corpses everywhere. “Although Joseph spoke with an accent, he was neither servile nor arrogant, clear and fluent. The pharaoh and the ministers saw his calm and composed demeanor, responding fluently, and couldn’t help but marvel at him.

He was just a slave, never seen the world—how could he speak so far-sightedly, and how could his dream interpretation be so reasonable? “What you say is absolutely right. From this, I see that your God must be with you.

Since God has asked you to interpret dreams to me, can I only helplessly wait for the people to be displaced? Pharaoh stepped forward, his expression softening, his eyes sharp as he asked Joseph. “Pharaoh, but that’s not the case. The spirits must have made preparations. Pharaoh appointed an official to expand the granaries in each year of abundance, collecting one-fifth of the grain from the granary, but only in return, in preparation for seven years of famine.

When disaster arrives, the disaster victims will surely seek grain. Pharaoh can slowly open the granaries to sell grain, exchanging grain for money. The stored grain can relieve the starving people everywhere, and the world’s treasures will gradually be emptied to the treasury. Pharaoh wanted to appoint a knowledgeable, wise, and wise person to manage this matter. ”

“Truly, these words are true!” I have never seen someone with such divine presence. Everyone, can you find me a second one who looks like him? I have appointed Joseph to this position. What do you think? The Pharaoh swept away the gloom, his eyes sharp, and glanced around at the ministers beneath him. His resonant voice echoed throughout the hall. No one objected; they were shrewd and had long seen through the pros and cons.

Although Joseph gave a clear answer, it was still too early to confirm it—what if he was trying to delay? Only by having him personally take on this role can he see things through and avoid burdening himself. Everyone then cupped their hands and praised him. “If that is so, Joseph, you may take on this position.

Therefore I will give you the name Zaphanath in Egypt, and I will give you Asina, daughter of Potiphela, the priest of An, as your wife. All Egypt is now under your rule; you are under me but above all others.

“This is my seal of the magistrate,” Pharaoh said, then took off the sealed ring from his hand, which the attendant placed on Joseph’s hand, and then hung the gold necklace around his neck. Joseph bowed in gratitude to Pharaoh, tears nearly streaming down his face. The shackles that had weighed on his heart for years were instantly lifted. He silently prayed, “God, you have seen all my suffering over the past thirteen years. When I was nearly in despair, you performed this miracle and set me free in a single day.” I never expected you to promote me so much and make me the prime minister of Egypt.

As dusk approached, Joseph stepped out of the palace and stood atop the grand corridor. Looking into the distance, the Nile sparkled with golden sunset, like a colorful ribbon; The green delta is full of life, seabirds soar farther away; To the east, an endless desert blocked the view.

After pondering for a moment, Joseph walked slowly down the lingering stone steps, where the gilded carriage Pharaoh had sent was already waiting by the roadside. Once Joseph was seated, the carriage shook its reins, and the fine horse lifted its head and stride briskly. Another escort carriage was already ahead, and the armed guards shouted loudly to clear the way: “Silence, make way, kneel!” ”

Joseph sat inside the car, ignoring and hearing nothing, tears quietly streaming down his thin cheeks, completely forgetting where he was.

“A man shackles his feet, and he is bound with iron chains. The word of the Lord tested him until what he said was fulfilled. ” [Psalm 105, Psalms 18-19].

Late at night, with a cool breeze, Joseph stood atop the tall rooftop.

Thousands of households in the imperial city were asleep, and not far away, the grand palace resembled a sleeping lion, its hazy silhouette shimmering under the watery Milky Way starlight. Outside the city, the Nile sparkled like a dream. Further north, the green delta of the lower Nile slips into the night, with only the temple in Ancheng, dedicated to the sun god, flickering with flames, appearing mysterious and ethereal.

To the west, the massive pyramid appears even taller and more magnificent than during the day, blocking a corner of the sky as if piercing through the Milky Way. Every night at this hour, after Joseph and his master fell asleep, he would climb onto the roof and quietly spend some time alone.

This was his only chance to see the outside world, and also the time he spent praying alone. Joseph looked east, his gaze lingering into the deep night. My hometown Hebron, relatives thousands of miles away, how are you doing? Ten brothers, you sold me ten years ago—why fight each other! Have you ever regretted it? You treated me like that, but every time I think of you, why do I still shed tears of family affection? Will you bully your brother the way you bully me? Father, do you know I’m still alive all these years? Do you know how many times I met you again in my dreams? How many pieces did you break your heart when you first learned about my ‘death’? Is your frail body still struggling to survive in the world? Do you and I have to go to the underworld to reunite?

If that happens, how many more years will I have to endure alone? With tears in his eyes, Joseph looked up at the sky. My ancestor Abraham, God of Isaac, only you know I am alive, only you know where I am. You saw all the hardships I endured when I was sold to Egypt ten years ago—my ankles were worn by iron chains, collars often choked me, and I was beaten multiple times for speaking Egyptian incorrectly.

O God of my father Jacob, you once rescued him, and thank you for saving me so that I was bribed by Pharaoh’s captain of the royal guards of Egypt. He respects the gods and shows me kindness, so your blessings come upon him greatly. Though I was a slave, he promoted me to steward. After praying, Joseph quietly went downstairs and passed by Potipha’s bedroom.

The master was to accompany Pharaoh to Ancheng the next day to worship the sun god, but his wife insisted on staying home and insisted on staying home to attend to Joseph, claiming she was ill. Joseph couldn’t help but sigh, his mood growing heavy. Recently, the mistress had been secretly teasing Joseph several times when no one was around.

At first, she praised Joseph’s handsome appearance, and Joseph bowed his head in thanks. Then she lamented that she was left alone in her boudoir, while Joseph remained silent. Later, she deliberately pressed her body against Joseph, so Joseph had no choice but to leave under an excuse. In the end, she simply grabbed Joseph and dragged him to her bed.

Joseph had to admit, “Madam, look, my master doesn’t care about all the big or small matters in your household.” Except for you, he entrusted everything in the house to me to manage. God’s blessings come upon your home greatly. How could I do such a wicked thing with you and offend God? The mistress was furious and speechless, but still looked for an opportunity to tease Joseph. The next day, the master went to the temple, and the luxurious residence quieted down. As usual, Joseph tidied up the rooms one by one. When he entered the master’s bedroom, the door closed from behind. He turned around, and the mistress eagerly rushed over, hugging him, her cheeks flushed, eyes dreamy, her voice trembling as she said, “Come and sleep with me!” I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for so long! Joseph was terrified, as if standing on the edge of a deadly trap. He pulled away, but the mistress still held him tightly, dragging him toward the bedside. He struggled to break free, his outer garment torn like a cicada shedding its shell, leaving only his inner garment.

He ran to the door, opened it, and fled into the courtyard. Looking back, he saw the mistress holding her coat, her eyes blazing with fury from extreme disappointment. Joseph had nowhere to escape and hid in a corner of the courtyard. Night had fallen. After worshipping the sun god, the master Potipha returned home.

As soon as he entered the gate, he heard his wife’s wailing: “Look, this Hebrew servant my husband bought is so bold he dares to harass me.” He sneaked into my room while no one was home, attempting to rape me. I was helpless and could only shout loudly, “Why didn’t you come in to save me? Why didn’t you kill him?” Look, when he saw me calling for help, he fled in panic, and I grabbed his coat as proof.

Wuwu…” Potifa heard this, blood rushing to his head and hair standing on end—this woman was so arrogant. He had long noticed her usual bold look when looking at Joseph, but knowing Joseph was well-behaved, he didn’t pay much attention. He hadn’t expected this woman to be so upset today! He stood behind the crowd, observing. The servants formed a half-circle, silently watching Joseph with sympathy. Joseph bowed his head in silence inside the circle, while the mistress wailed but shed no tears. Her eyes darted around, and when she suddenly saw her husband return, she immediately showed panic and cried even louder.

Botifa saw this and understood it in his heart. He had to come up with a good plan immediately—to clean up his wife’s mess and preserve his own reputation, but he couldn’t let Joseph down too easily. As commander of the Imperial Guards, he could easily kill Joseph and silence him. But he feared the gods and shouted loudly, “Joseph, how dare you! Someone, tie him up and throw him into the royal prison immediately! I will report to Pharaoh and then execute him, so it won’t be too late. ”

Joseph listened and looked up at the sky. God, are you going to end my painful life like this? “Stop!” You must not take your brother’s life! “Joseph heard his elder brother Lyben’s voice, and everyone was stunned. “We cannot shed his blood.” You must first throw him into that dry well, but do not harm him.

You all have lunch first. I’ll go and drive back the sheep that are running around, and then we’ll discuss how to deal with him together. The eldest brother walked away, and the brothers sat down to eat. Joseph wept in the dry well, begging his brothers to pull him up and go home together, and also begging them to give him something to eat. But the brothers ignored him; the violence just now hadn’t fully satisfied the anger and jealousy they had suppressed for years. Their murderous intent had not faded.

In the afternoon, the wind in the wilderness picked up, and the faint sound of camel bells could be heard in the distance. Fourth Brother Judah stood up and looked around, seeing a caravan of merchant travelers slowly approaching from the north. He pondered for a moment, then turned to the other eight brothers and said, “If we kill our own brother and hide his body, what good would it do?”

We shouldn’t harm him, because he is our brother, our flesh and blood. It was better to sell him to these passing Ishmaelite merchants. The other brothers heard this and looked at Joseph in the pit; he no longer had the strength to beg and curled up in a ball for warmth. The caravan had already approached, loaded with spices, frankincense, and myrrh, destined to be sold in Egypt.

“Yes, we sold him and sent him to distant Egypt as a slave. Let’s see how his dream comes true.”

“Good idea. We don’t have to kill him, just make him disappear from our sight forever. You can also earn some money for us to enjoy while having fun. “We sold him twenty taels of silver, and each person got two taels. I spent this money for fun, which would be more satisfying. The sky was gloomy, dusk was near, the wind still blowing, and the caravan slowly moved south. Joseph’s hands and feet were bound, face down, and he was laid across the camel’s back.

He wore only a single shirt, trembling, tears in his eyes already dried. He turned to look at his brothers, who had betrayed him, now shrunk into black dots in the distance. Although they beat him, cursed him, sold him, he desperately hoped he could break free and run back to them. His seventeen-year-old heart still couldn’t fully understand his brothers’ behavior, but he sensed this might be the last time he would see them in his life. He turned to look south; beyond the mountains were his elderly father and younger brother.

Father, are we really going to part forever like this? Under the gloomy dusk, Lü desperately tried to catch up with the caravan heading south, but it was too late—too late. His plan to save Joseph had failed, as he did not expect his brothers to sell Joseph to a passing merchant while he was away.

Judah also bowed his head in thought, feeling guilt beginning to overwhelm him. He decided to leave his brothers behind after returning home and find a local woman to marry and have children. The father taught God’s promises for so many years? Go to it. Does God want to bless the brothers who sold their own brother into slavery?

Joseph, the most likely heir to God’s promise among our brothers, has disappeared. God’s promises have been broken by our own hands. Yes, Jacob’s house seemed to have broken apart just like that. His daughter was raped, his two sons killed innocents, Rachel died young, his eldest son committed incest, Joseph was sold, Judah left home, and Jacob was devastated. Years after leaving home, Judas committed incest with his daughter-in-law and gave birth to twins. Even if God looked after the treacherous but innocent Jacob, how could He possibly bless these ten rebellious sons!

Would God really place the hopes of humanity in this family? What does the Savior of humanity have to do with the son born to Judas by his daughter-in-law?

“Blessed are those whose offenses are forgiven and their sins covered; The Lord is not considered sinful; this man is blessed. It turns out that God’s promise to inherit the world for Abraham and his descendants was not through the law, but through righteousness that comes through faith. [Romans 4: 7-8]

The sky was gloomy, the wind blowing sometimes strong, sometimes slow, but the snow still hadn’t fallen. After walking for about ten days, Joseph was exhausted and hungry. At Shejian, he couldn’t find his brothers; he got lost, ran out of food, and spent all his money. Hearing locals say his brothers might be in the north where the landslide is located, he searched all the way back. After walking for half a day, starving and exhausted, he finally saw the distant pastures and vast fields of cattle and sheep, and also saw his brothers. He quickened his pace.

The brothers also saw Joseph approaching from afar early on. Besides him, who else wore such a striking colorful cotton robe! Besides him, who else can hide at home and eat and drink for free! Besides him, who else would act like a spy and tell Old Father what we did!

Besides him, who else would casually boast about dreams as if they were real! “Look, that sleepwalking guy is here! Didn’t he dream that we were about to bow to him? Today, he finally fell into our hands. “I’ve hated him to the bone for a long time. When his mother was alive, he relied on her favor and did nothing. His mother died, and he actually stayed home quietly taking care of his little brother, leaving us to freeze out in the wild. ”

“His mother bullied our mother more than just one or two years. Are we supposed to be bullied by ten brothers like him? Why don’t we just kill him! “Yes, we killed him!” Isn’t there a dry well there? We threw his body inside. In the wilderness, not only is it invisible to people, but even wild beasts in this dry well can’t come back up. “Alright, let’s do it!” But we must think carefully about how to explain to our father. He’s my father’s lifeline, after all, hmph! ”

“Look, isn’t he wearing that cotton robe he was so proud of? Isn’t he the only one who has it? We stripped it, slaughtered a sheep, and poured blood on it. He took it back to his father, saying he had found it on the road. Ha! “Clever plan! That way, we didn’t have to say anything; my father knew it was the beast that tore him apart and ate him.

Haha! As he spoke, Joseph approached. Excited, he ran among his brothers and after about ten days of travel. Finally, he saw his family. His father no longer had to worry, he no longer had to run wild roads, and he could finally have a decent dinner at night. He seemed to smell the aroma of grilled meat from the campfire.

But the brothers remained silent, the fierce glint in their eyes leaving Joseph puzzled. Joseph was stunned, and his brothers said nothing. They stepped forward, grabbed his arm, threw him to the ground, pinned his hands and feet, and forcefully tore off his cotton robe.

Some slapped him hard in the face, spat on him, and kicked him. Joseph looked at his brothers, his confused soul aching so much that he couldn’t feel the physical wounds. “Brothers, it’s me. I am Joseph. Father sent me to find you because he was afraid you might be in danger. Let’s hurry home together. Why are you hitting me like this? ”

“Shut up. Are you going to teach us a lesson? Today, we make your dreams come true. We all bow down to you. Another heavy slap landed. Someone covered his mouth. The other pair of hands covered his eyes. Joseph seemed to hear the sound of his waist blade being drawn.

“Be careful, lest someone be as immoral and ungodly as Esau. For a momentary appetite, he sold his status as the eldest son. “[Hebrews 12:16]

At forty years old, Isaac met Rebekah in the dusk wilderness and married her. But Rebekah was infertile after marriage. Isaac’s half-brother Ishmael had twelve sons, making the family a prominent clan.

Isaac remembered the promise God had told him to his father Abraham, and seeing that he had no son, he prayed to God. God answered his prayer.

Twenty years after his marriage, when Isaac was 60, Rebekah gave birth to twin sons. The eldest was covered in red hair and was named Yisao [meaning decisive]. When the second child was born, he grabbed his older brother’s heel and called him Jacob [meaning to replace]. When Isaac was 75, his father Abraham, who was 175, passed away.

Before Abraham died, he left all his possessions to Isaac and again entrusted his son to hold onto God’s promise.

Although he labored all his life without seeing God’s promises fulfilled, he returned with faith in God.

Isaac and his brother Ishmael buried their father beside their mother, who had died thirty-eight years earlier, in the cave of Mabilah in Hebron, which their father had bought from the Hittites at the time of their mother’s death. Esau and Jacob grew up, and their personalities were as distinctly different as their appearances.

Issao was reckless and reckless, fond of hunting.

Jacob is shrewd and prefers to be quiet at home. One day, the older brother returned from hunting, exhausted, hot, and hungry. Seeing his brother at home cooking red bean soup, he begged him to share some with him. Jacob said calmly, “If you trade the birthright for me, then eat as much as you want.”

“Brother didn’t hesitate. Since they were twins, the eldest son was only about fifteen minutes old, so he agreed without hesitation.

Time slips away like an hourglass, passing silently. Isaac grew old, his eyes blurred, nearly blind, lying in bed, spending the rest of his life. Though his eyes were blind, his mind became sharper. Looking back on the years gone by, he remembered that the first major event was when he walked with his father for three days to the summit of Mount Moriah, where he met angels and witnessed God’s preparation with his own eyes.

Married at 40, had a child at 60. Later, when famine struck, God instructed him to flee to Geral, several hundred miles northwest, where his wife was nearly taken by the locals. But God blessed him there, and his crops multiplied a hundredfold, his cattle and sheep multiplied, and he became wealthy.

The locals resented him and filled in the well his father had dug in his early years, forcing him to migrate southeast.

Four times in a row, his wells were filled or occupied, and finally he was driven back to Bethsheba, where he had first left, where God appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham.” You need not be afraid, for I am with you. For the sake of my servant Abraham, I will bless you so that your descendants may multiply.

“Though it was morning outside, it was as quiet as late night. Lying in bed, thinking of God’s promise, Isaac couldn’t help but be alert. He knew his days were numbered, and it was time to entrust his two children with their funeral arrangements.

The two children had very different personalities, but he favored Esau because Esau was strong-willed, the exact opposite of his own frail self. Moreover, Esau was skilled at hunting, and the game he made was delicious. God’s blessing should be reserved for the eldest. (Isaac did not know that Esau had given his position as the eldest son to his brother Jacob.) Isaac called Esau to his bedside, instructed him to go hunting in the wild, prepare game for him, and then give Esau the blessing reserved for the eldest son. Yi Sao took his bow and arrows and hurried off.

Less than half an hour later, Isaac heard someone enter the tent and call him “Father.” “I’m here, my son, who are you?” “I am Yisao, returning from hunting, and the game is ready. Father, please eat.”

After eating, bless me. Isaac was puzzled, because the voice was clearly Jacob’s, and how could he return so quickly? Hunting plus cooking would take at least an hour. “Child, come here, let me feel and see if you are my son Isao.” Isaac touched his son’s arm, which was indeed furry, thick like a lamb’s wool. Isaac ate the prepared game, which indeed tasted like Esau, and had his son come forward and kiss his cheek. During the kiss, he smelled the special scent on Esau’s clothes and felt the hair on his son’s neck, so he no longer doubted and blessed him: “The fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of the field blessed by the Lord.

May God grant you heavenly rain, fertile land, and abundant grains and new wine. May all nations bow to you, and all nations bow before you.

May you be master to your brothers, may the son of your mother bow down to you. Cursed is the one who curses you; May he be blessed by you. After the blessing, the son left. Isaac was satisfied and was about to sleep when suddenly someone entered the tent and said, “Father, please eat the game your son has prepared.” After eating, bless me. ”

Isaac was greatly astonished, because he heard Esau’s deep voice, smelled the aroma of the game Esau had prepared, and touched Esau’s arm.

Isaac hurriedly asked, “Who are you?” “Father, I am your eldest son, Esau!” Isaac was shocked and speechless. After a moment, he sighed deeply: “Your brother Jacob just came in, pretending to be you, and took away your blessings. I have already sent him my blessings. God will also fulfill that blessing in the future. Isaac heard Esau cry out loud: “No wonder his name is Jacob. He has deceived me twice—first to gain the birthright, and now to take away my blessing!”

Father, didn’t you leave me any other blessings? Issau wept bitterly.

Isaac pondered silently, recalling God’s prophecy to his wife’s two unborn children years ago: “The older will serve the younger,” and then recalling everything that had happened today. He sighed inwardly, and after Esau’s crying had calmed down a little, he called Esau to his bedside and blessed him, saying, “The place where you live will be far from fertile land, and there will be no rain from heaven.”

You will live by the sword and serve your brother. When you can no longer endure it, you will break free from the yoke of your neck. “Just as he finished speaking, he heard Esao stop crying and rush out the door. When he stepped outside, he saw his mother Rebekah hiding behind the door eavesdropping. Esau glared at his mother with hatred. He knew she favored her brother Jacob and suspected she must have helped him set up today’s scam. He strode away, leaving behind a bold remark: “Sooner or later, I’ll kill him!” Rebekah heard it, his body stiff like a stone. After a moment, tears quietly streamed down.

“You shall join these two wooden staffs together so that they become one in your hand.” [Colossians 37:17]

In early winter, the Hebron wilderness was cold and cold, valleys empty, and the sky gloomy. Jacob sat in his tent, lost in thought by the coal fire, with seventeen-year-old Joseph beside him, watching over his nearly ten-year-old younger brother Benjamin. Seeing their father deep in thought, the two children without a mother quieted down sensibly, listening to the cold wind howling outside the tent. Jacob was old, already 108 years old, and no longer had the energy to herd cattle and sheep. Nearly 40 years have eroded him from a robust man into a white-haired old man.

For the first twenty years, he worked for his uncle; for the last twenty years, he was wandering about, enduring all kinds of hardships and life-and-death separations. Forty years ago, he deceived his father’s blessing; forty years later, his parents were gone, and his beloved Rachel had gone, leaving Joseph and his brother Benjamin behind. But my father’s blessing from years ago still rings in my ears: “May all nations serve you, may all nations bow before you, may you be master of your brothers, may your mother’s descendants bow before you.” ”‭Before I knew it, I had grown old; it is time to offer my blessings to the children.

But how can God’s word be fulfilled? His elder brother Esau married at forty, and now his twelve sons each have many descendants, swelling east of Emin, forming a prominent clan. As for himself, although he had twelve sons, his eldest son Lü was not yet thirty, and his youngest son Ben Yamin was not yet ten.

The whole family set up tents as camps, herding in the mountains and fields, drifting among cattle and sheep. Father, how can your blessing come true? God, how will Your promise be fulfilled? How should I bless my children? How could the eldest Lü deserve the greatest blessing?

After Rachel’s death, while I was grieving, he committed adultery with her maid Bilah. Bila has given birth to two sons for me! How can I bless the second son, Simeon, and the third, Levi, who acted on their own to massacre the city and show their sword, becoming cruel by nature? What about the other children? Didn’t my son Joseph often tell me about their misdeeds? They all make me sad. Thinking of this, Jacob couldn’t help but fix his gaze on the two children inside the tent. They were the flesh and blood of the deceased Rachel, the two youngest children, and the comfort of his later years. Seeing them is like seeing Rachel.

Benjamin was still young, and Joseph was already an adult at seventeen. He balanced firmness and gentleness, was steady in conduct, upright and incorruptible, and simple-hearted—just what I liked. Especially the two strange dreams Joseph had—how can they be explained? The sun, moon, and eleven stars bow to him! Unscrupulous, he told his brothers all his dreams, only to be resented by them. From then on, the second and third brothers saw Joseph like a hungry wolf seeing a lamb—they were only wary of me, an old man, and didn’t dare bully him. But how could I ever feel at ease letting Joseph and them go out to graze?

The wind outside the tent grew even fiercer, causing it to tilt and sway. Jacob’s train of thought was interrupted. Listening to the sounds outside, his previously worried heart turned anxious. Ten children had gone out to herd cattle and sheep, and after more than a month, there was no news of them. Before leaving, they said they would go to Shejian and trade with the merchants. If the weather had been nice, they would have returned long ago.

The weather had been bad these past few days, and with their experience, they should have come back earlier. Why don’t they send a servant back to tell me about their situation? What if they get trapped in the wind and snow? Jacob lifted the tent and looked outside. Dusk was vast and desolate, covering the vast fields, with the cold wind howling, yet not a single living thing was seen.

Jacob returned to the tent, sat down in thought, and after a moment called out to Joseph: “My son Joseph, tomorrow morning you should go out and look for your ten brothers.” They went north to Shechem to graze, leaving the area three hundred li away.

They might be on their way back, so you might run into them halfway. Even if they’re still in the same place, you’ll walk to them in five or six days.

The weather was bad, so I told them to hurry home so I wouldn’t have to worry. “My son, put on the colorful cotton robe I made especially for you; it will keep you from the cold wind.” This cotton jacket is yours alone; your brothers will surely see it from afar and welcome you from afar. “And son, you must not walk at night, because wild animals roam at night.

Set out early in the morning, and by evening be sure to find a place to stay at the household, using the silver here to reward them. When you see your brothers, come back first. That way, I can know they’re all well and see you no longer worrying. Before Jacob could finish, a thunderclap suddenly roared, reaching the clouds. Benjamin instinctively hugged her brother and burst into tears.

“You who speak lies will be destroyed; Those who love to shed blood and deceit are detestable to the Lord. [Psalm 5:6]

Shechem is an ancient city, and also a personal name; it means “stone shoulder,” so named because there are large mountains on both the east and west sides of the city, resembling a pair of shoulders. It is located on a major transportation hub and remains bustling to this day. To the south it connects to Canaan, to the north it reaches Galilee, to the east lies Jordan, and to the west is Shaloon—a strategic location contested by military forces and a route for merchants.

Jacob led his wife, children, and servants outside the city. Seeing the bustling people and endless flow, he saw a business opportunity, and believed the cattle and sheep he raised would soon be converted into gold and silver. He camped outside the city, spent a hundred pieces of silver to buy a piece of land from Shechem’s father, the local leader, as his camp, and dug a well there. Later generations called it Jacob’s Well, which lasted four thousand years and has been preserved to this day.

That day, Jacob’s ten sons went out early to herd sheep, leaving only Jacob and his two wives, along with their beloved youngest son Joseph and only daughter Tina, inside the tent. Joseph had a personality similar to his father Jacob, preferring solitude indoors and disliking herding livestock. Jacob favored Joseph because he was the youngest and Rachel’s only son.

Tina was born to Leah, just a young girl, with beautiful brows and a graceful figure. Because she had 11 brothers but no sisters, she learned to play on her own from a young age and gradually developed a gentle and quiet personality. That day, my brother went out to herd, and the tent quieted down.

She walked outside and looked around inside Shijian City, seeing the streets bustling with men and women dressed in various costumes, pacing back and forth.

She had never seen such a scene before, her eyes widened, and she begged her mother to take her into town to watch the spectacle. Leah paused her sheep-shearing work, looked at her adorable daughter, then looked into the city, sighed softly, called for a maid, and asked her to lead Tina into town, repeatedly reminding them to return before lunch.

Tina happily agreed, smiling as she ran off, with the maid following behind. It was midday, and Jacob was bundling wool outside his tent when suddenly the maid who had entered the town rushed in in panic. Her face was pale, her hair disheveled, eyes brimming with tears, and she knelt before Jacob with a thud, crying loudly.

Jacob looked at her, surprised, and asked, “Where’s Tina?” “She, she, she was wandering the streets when the city leader Shijian saw her and forcibly took her away. I followed closely all the way, and Shijian dragged her into his own house and pushed me outside.

I heard Tina’s screams outside. She—she was raped by Shejian. “Wuwu…” In an instant, Jacob’s chest felt as if pierced by grass, and he opened his mouth in pain but could not utter a sound. After a long while, he forced himself to ask in a calm voice, “Where is Tina?” “He was also locked in the house by the Sword Lock. His household had many soldiers. I had no choice but to come back and tell you this. ”

We were under pressure, but we didn’t break down; Confused and anxious inside, yet not despairing; Persecuted, yet never abandoned; Knocked down, but not dead. “[2 Corinthians 4:9]

In the darkness, someone grabbed Jacob’s shoulder. Jacob was startled and suddenly turned around, seeing under the starlight a tall, handsome man. By intuition, Jacob knew it was an angel sent by God.

The angel suddenly grabbed his shoulders. Did he know he planned to escape in the middle of the night, or was he going to tell him how to deal with his brother? But the angel didn’t speak, just tightly gripped Jacob’s arms, twisted his waist, and tried to knock him to the ground.

Confused, Jacob instinctively countered and wrapped his arms around Angel’s lower back, preventing him from exerting much force, but he also lacked the ability to attack, only stubbornly protecting himself from falling in the stalemate.

In the wilderness, they were locked in a stalemate, like two stone statues. Jacob was dripping with sweat, feeling almost exhausted, but he persisted with determination. The river flows gently and steadily, yet the stars gradually fade away, and dawn appears in the east. Jacob, however, seemed to forget everything—forgot Esau, who led four hundred warriors, forgot his wife and children across the river, and forgot himself in a desperate situation with no way out.

The angel had come to fulfill his mission; he wanted to completely shatter Jacob’s cunning and schemes. In the stalemate, the angel freed one hand, grabbed Jacob’s thigh, spun outward, and with a loud snap, dislocated Jacob’s thigh bone from the hollow. Jacob instantly lost his balance, and the pain made him scream as if a house had collapsed, collapsing to the ground. But on earth, He still clung to the angel’s leg, refusing to let him escape. “Let me go, because it’s already morning.

You need to go see your brother. The angel looked down at Jacob and said, If you don’t bless me, I won’t let you go. “What’s your name?” “My name is Jacob.” “Do not call Jacob anymore; you shall call Israel (meaning war with God), because you have won both the wrestling with God and man.” “Tell me your name?” Jacob still wouldn’t let go. “Why do you know my name?” After the angel finished speaking, he blessed Jacob and then left. Too much

The sun rose, and Jacob limped across the river. Leah and Rachel, waiting by the river, saw their husbands approach, and their anxious expressions eased a little. Because he hadn’t slept all night, his eyes were bloodshot, but the anxiety in his gaze was gone. By midnight, he seemed much thinner, his graying hair wet and greasy covered in dust, his right leg limping as he slowly walked forward leaning on a shepherd’s staff. Jacob divided his wife and children into three groups: at the front were two maidservants and four children, in the middle was Leah and her six sons, and finally Rachel and her son Joseph. Once everything was arranged, Jacob walked at the front, letting the three squads of wives and children follow him.

The sun rose, and a moving pillar of dust rose across the wilderness, moving northward. Esau led four hundred warriors to welcome his brother Jacob. Yesterday, he encountered nine groups of cattle and sheep, and the leading servant of each group repeated the same sentence: “These are the gifts your servant Jacob is giving to his master Esau, and he himself follows behind.” Every time he heard such words, it was like spring river water washing away the ice of resentment he had chilled for twenty years. At first, the ice was as hard as iron. He had never forgotten those twenty years of resentment; otherwise, why would he have led four hundred strong men here? But twenty years later, before they met, the younger brother had actually given him generous gifts nine times. Was it because he was too vengeful for every slightest grudge?

Isn’t the price paid for his brother fugitive twenty years away? Wasn’t it her brother who couldn’t forget her mother before she passed away? When their mother was buried, the younger brother was completely unaware—isn’t that enough to make people lament? Thinking this, Esau and his group approached the banks of the Yabo River. He looked up and saw a lame man with graying hair walking alone on the road, moving slowly. Esau quickened his pace and recognized him as Jacob, his brother whom he hadn’t seen in twenty years. Jacob also recognized his brother. He stood where he was, bowed seven times, and bowed in turn.

Seeing his brother’s travel-worn face, the marks left by twenty years of hardship on his face, and the humble bowing of his brother, Issau was overcome with sorrow and tears streamed down his face. He quickly ran forward, hugged his brother by the neck of the dust-covered brother, helped him up, and burst into tears.

Jacob also wept uncontrollably, his body unsteady from the excitement. Twenty years had passed, and the bond between brothers had been destroyed by his cunning from the past. Their reunion after twenty years was truly heartbreaking.

Yet over these twenty years, God has always reached out to help when we were at our most helpless. After a long while, their emotions gradually calmed down, and Jacob introduced his wife and children to Esau. Esau invited Jacob back to his own territory of Seir. But Jacob said, “My Lord knows the children are still young, and I must care for the nursing cattle and sheep. If they travel all day, the cattle and sheep will exhaust themselves to death.”

It would be better to ask my lord to go first, and I will accommodate the livestock and children to go slowly, and I will meet my lord in Seir. Yisao found it reasonable, so he led the warriors back the way he came.

Jacob stood where he was, watching his brother and his group walk southward. After pondering for a while, he gathered all his servants into a single group, ordered them to head west, cross the north-south Jordan River, cross the valley, continue west, enter Canaan, and return to Shechem, the city-state he had passed through twenty years earlier during his escape. He camped outside the city of Shechem.

Jacob did not expect that although he had schemed to escape his brother Esau’s threat, Shechem, this unfamiliar city-state would face a great disaster before Jacob.