当我们读创世记二十五、二十七及二十八章，我们就看见神主宰的手在雅各身上，为要变化他。然而，那时雅各并不知道他是在神的变化之下。他只知道他哥哥的粗鲁和怀恨，他母亲的聪明，他父亲的简单。实际上他是天天在神的对付之下。他所碰到的每个人，他所遭遇的每件事，都是对付。雅各的确代表我们属灵生命变化的一面。我们若要知道变化是甚么，我们必须一再读雅各的故事。
读了雅各的故事，我完全信服神对付的手。我开始明白这事之后，就了解别人与我之间所发生的每件事，对我都是对付。长老们、弟兄们、姊妹们、我的妻子、我的儿女，都不该受责怪。每件事都在神主宰的手下，作为使我得益处的对付。我需要这一切对付。主知道我们需要怎样的妻子、丈夫、儿女、女婿、媳妇以及孙子。没有一件事是偶然的，每件事都已豫先安排好，并且照神的计画和程序进行。没有一件事太迟或太早，一切都准时发生。至终，我们要说，“父阿，为着你主宰的手，我感谢你。为着你的对付，你的豫先安排，你所作的每件事，我感谢你。现在我知道，一切都在你的主宰之下。我不过是在你手下蒙拣选的雅各。”
你想雅各喜欢到拉班家去么？不，他是被迫去的。他不是被他父亲或母亲打发去的，他是被神主宰的手打发去的。是的，雅各是神所拣选的，神也计画给他长子名分，然而神知道祂所拣选的人需要许多的变化。因此，这不仅是长子名分或祝福的问题；这也是变化的问题。从头一天直到末一天，神的手一直在雅各身上。我们该何等感谢赞美主！祂曾拣选并豫定我们，现在我们是在祂主宰的手下，使我们天天受对付。神藉着各样的人和环境来对付我们。在我们生活中的每一个人，都是神用来变化我们的。
信息重点：雅各当时只看见人的问题，却没有看见神的手。后来他才明白，每一件事都是神主宰的安排。
应用祷告：主耶稣，求你拯救我脱离埋怨和责怪。让我学习在每一件事上认识你的手，并感谢你藉着环境变化我。
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Jacob’s Experience — Being Dealt With (5) — Gen. 28:1-2
When we read Genesis chapters 25, 26 and 27, we see God’s sovereign hand upon Jacob, working to transform him. Yet at that time Jacob did not know he was under God’s transformation. He only knew his brother’s roughness and hatred, his mother’s cleverness, and his father’s simplicity. In reality he was under God’s dealing every single day. Every person he encountered and every event he faced was a dealing. Jacob truly represents the aspect of transformation in our spiritual life. If we want to know what transformation is, we must read Jacob’s story again and again.
Having read Jacob’s story, I am fully convinced of God’s dealing hand. Once I began to understand this, I came to realize that everything that happens between other people and me is a dealing for my benefit. Elders, brothers, sisters, my wife, my children — none of them are to be blamed. Everything is under God’s sovereign hand as a dealing for my benefit. I need all of this dealing. The Lord knows what kind of wife, husband, children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and grandchildren we need. Nothing is accidental; everything has been arranged beforehand and proceeds according to God’s plan and schedule. Nothing happens too late or too early — everything occurs right on time. In the end, we will say, “Father, I thank You for Your sovereign hand. I thank You for Your dealing, Your predestinated arrangement, and everything You have done. Now I know that all things are under Your sovereignty. I am simply the Jacob whom You have chosen and placed under Your hand.”
Do you think Jacob wanted to go to Laban’s house? No — he was forced to go. He was not sent by his father or mother; he was sent by God’s sovereign hand. Yes, Jacob was chosen by God, and God planned to give him the birthright. Yet God knew that the one He had chosen needed much transformation. Therefore, it was not merely a matter of the birthright or the blessing; it was also a matter of transformation. From the first day to the last, God’s hand was upon Jacob without ceasing. How much we ought to thank and praise the Lord! He has chosen and predestinated us, and now we are under His sovereign hand, being dealt with day by day. God deals with us through all kinds of people and circumstances. Every person in our lives is being used by God to transform us.
Message Focus: At the time, Jacob could only see the problems caused by people, but could not see God’s hand. Only later did he come to understand that every single thing was God’s sovereign arrangement.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please deliver me from complaining and blaming. Help me to recognize Your hand in all things and to give thanks to You for transforming me through my circumstances.