在创世记二十五章十九至三十四节，二十七章一至四十六节以及二十八章一至五节，我们看见四个人－雅各、以扫、以撒和利百加－每一个都与别人不同。虽然雅各和以扫是双生子，他们彼此却完全不同。“以扫善于打猎，常在田野；雅各为人安静，常住在帐棚里”（创二五27）。雅各安静、狡猾、富有计谋；而以扫狂野、粗鲁、体格强壮。当雅各和以扫在母腹中相争时，以扫因着力大得胜了。雅各争着要先出来，以扫似乎说，“你在作甚么？让我先出去。”雅各心思慧黠，以扫身体强壮。当以扫知道雅各骗了他，威胁要杀他，以扫似乎说，“雅各，你抓夺了我。我的心思斗不过你，但有一天我要杀你。”在此我们看见，雅各和以扫完全不同。
以撒和利百加也不同。利百加聪明、机智、灵巧，能操纵全家。她一面发展雅各的诡诈，一面指引她的丈夫。以撒完全在利百加的操纵之下。在她操纵之下，以扫和以撒都被抓夺。他们不仅被雅各抓夺，也被利百加抓夺。以撒送走雅各的时候，也许以为这是他出的主意，实际上这是利百加的主意。利百加向以撒说了几句话后，他就打发雅各到拉班那里去（创二八1-5）。利百加在这件事上操纵了以撒。
以撒、利百加和以扫一同为雅各的益处效力。神用他们三个人来变化雅各。在此我们看见，万有都互相效力，叫蒙神呼召的人得益处（罗八28）。以后我们要看见，拉班和雅各的妻子、使女、儿子、女儿，都被神用来变化雅各。在雅各一生的记载里，每一个环境、情况以及人物，都被用来把这个抓夺的人变化为神的王子。
我们找不出一个故事，像雅各的故事告诉我们这么多关于变化的事。雅各已经蒙了拣选并豫定；神对这个蒙拣选之人的目的，乃是要把他变化为神的王子。神不喜欢变化善良、简单、正直、诚实、高级的人。祂喜欢变化像雅各这样的抓夺者。你是怎样的人？我们众人，包括姊妹们，都是雅各。
信息重点：以撒、利百加、以扫、拉班，雅各所遇见的每一个人，都是神用来变化他的工具。神藉着各样的人和环境完成祂的工作。
应用祷告：主啊，赐我属灵的眼光，看见你正在使用我周围的人和环境。让我不只看人的作为，更看见你主宰的手在我身上工作。
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Jacob’s Experience — Being Dealt With (2) — Gen. 25:33-34
In Genesis 25:19-34, 27:1-46 and 28:1-5, we encounter four individuals — Jacob, Esau, Isaac and Rebekah — each entirely different from the others. Though Jacob and Esau were twins, they were completely unlike each other. “Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents” (Gen. 25:27). Jacob was quiet, shrewd and full of schemes; Esau was wild, rough and physically powerful. When the two struggled in the womb, Esau prevailed by sheer strength. Jacob was pressing to come out first, as if Esau said, “What are you doing? Let me out first.” Jacob was sharp of mind; Esau was strong of body. When Esau learned that Jacob had deceived him and threatened to kill him, Esau seemed to say, “Jacob, you have grasped from me. Your mind is beyond mine, but one day I will kill you.” Here we see that Jacob and Esau were completely different.
Isaac and Rebekah were also different from each other. Rebekah was clever, resourceful, and skillful, able to manage the whole household. On one hand she developed Jacob’s cunning; on the other she directed her husband. Isaac was entirely under Rebekah’s control. Under her manipulation, both Esau and Isaac were grasped. They were not only grasped by Jacob, but also by Rebekah. When Isaac sent Jacob away, he may have thought it was his own idea, but in reality it was Rebekah’s. After Rebekah said a few words to Isaac, he sent Jacob off to Laban (Gen. 28:1-5). Rebekah controlled Isaac in this matter.
IIsaac, Rebekah and Esau all worked together for Jacob’s benefit. God used these three to transform Jacob. Here we see that all things work together for good to those who are called according to God’s purpose (Rom. 8:28). Later we will see that Laban, Jacob’s wives, maidservants, sons and daughters were all used by God to transform Jacob. In every aspect of Jacob’s life — every circumstance, situation and person — God was using it all to transform this grasping man into a prince of God.
We cannot find another story that tells us as much about transformation as Jacob’s story. Jacob had already been chosen and predestinated; God’s purpose for this chosen man was to transform him into a prince of God. God does not delight in transforming those who are good, simple, upright, honest, and refined. He delights in transforming graspers like Jacob. What kind of person are you? All of us — brothers and sisters alike — are Jacob.
Message Focus: Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, Laban — every person Jacob encountered was a tool God used to transform him. God accomplishes His work through all kinds of people and circumstances.
Prayer: Lord, grant me spiritual insight to see how You are using the people and circumstances around me. Let me look beyond the actions of others and see Your sovereign hand at work in my life.