神创造人的目标
创世记一章二十六节启示，神创造人的目标是要人照着祂的形像彰显祂，并有祂的管治权代表祂。虽然在亚伯拉罕身上我们看到属神的东西，但在他身上我们没有看到多少神的形像。并且无论在亚伯拉罕或以撒身上，我们都看不到神的管治权。即使在雅各本人身上，我们也几乎看不到神的管治权。神的管治权是在约瑟身上看到的。在雅各同约瑟身上，神的形像和管治权清楚的启示出来。至终，雅各称为以色列，神的王子。他的名字包含了神的名字。在雅各变化过的名字中有神的名字。因为雅各已经真正被变化成神的形像，在他这人里面就有神的彰显。雅各有形像，而约瑟有管治权。因此，他们是一个完整的单位，彰显神并代表神。
从雅各身上看到神的对付
在亚伯拉罕身上，我们看不见多少神的对付。在以撒身上，我们也看不见神的对付。雅各的一生才是代表受神对付的生命。一次又一次，神不让雅各过去，神一直把祂的手放在他身上。
在创世记二十九章，雅各到了拉班家后，就被摆在变化室里。我们看过，以撒、利百加和以扫，联合起来迫使雅各逃离他的家乡。以撒简单、随和、不善于辨别。这是他的性情和特性。然而，利百加却聪明、灵巧、善于管理。她是个很强的妻子和母亲，管理全家。哥哥以扫不很机灵，但体格强壮。他似乎说，“雅各，我不知道如何像你那样运用心思，但我知道如何用拳头。你也许很精明，但有一天我要杀你”。这三人联合成一队把雅各赶走，迫使他离开慈母和父家。雅各看见他的表妹拉结时，“放声而哭”（创二九11），由此我们知道雅各在旅途上受了苦。雅各曾经非常寂寞。他来到拉班家以前所经历的一切，就是要把他送进变化室。在创世记二十九章，雅各进入了这变化室。
信息重点：神创造人的目的，是要人彰显祂并代表祂。然而，要达到这个目的，天然的人必须经过变化。
应用祷告：主耶稣，求你帮助我接受你为我安排的环境，使我愿意留在你的“变化室”里，直到你的形像更多成形在我里面。
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Jacob’s Experience — Being Dealt With — Gen. 29:9-10
God’s Goal in Creating Man
Genesis 1:26 reveals that God’s goal in creating man was for man to express Him according to His image and to represent Him with His dominion. Although we see something of God in Abraham, we do not see much of God’s image in him. And neither in Abraham nor in Isaac do we see God’s dominion. Even in Jacob himself, we can hardly see God’s dominion. It is in Joseph that God’s dominion is seen. In Jacob and Joseph together, God’s image and dominion are clearly revealed. Ultimately, Jacob was called Israel — the prince of God. His name contains God’s name. In Jacob’s transformed name there is God’s name. Because Jacob had truly been transformed into God’s image, there was an expression of God within this man. Jacob has the image, and Joseph has the dominion. Together they form a complete unit, expressing God and representing God.
God’s Dealings Seen in Jacob
In Abraham, we do not see much of God’s dealings. In Isaac, we also do not see God’s dealings. Jacob’s entire life represents a life of being dealt with by God. Again and again, God would not let Jacob pass through unchallenged — God continually kept His hand upon him.
In Genesis chapter twenty-nine, after Jacob arrived at Laban’s household, he was placed in a transformation chamber. We have seen how Isaac, Rebekah and Esau together combined to drive Jacob away from his homeland. Isaac was simple, easygoing and not discerning — such was his temperament and character. Rebekah, however, was clever, skillful and capable of management. She was a strong wife and mother who ran the whole household. Elder brother Esau was not very clever, but was physically powerful. He seemed to say, “Jacob, I don’t know how to use my mind the way you do, but I know how to use my fists. You may be very shrewd, but one day I will kill you.” These three combined to drive Jacob away, forcing him to leave his beloved mother and father’s house. When Jacob saw his cousin Rachel, he “wept aloud” (Gen. 29:11), which tells us that Jacob had suffered greatly on the journey. Jacob had been very lonely. Everything he had gone through before arriving at Laban’s house was meant to send him into the transformation chamber. In Genesis chapter 29, Jacob entered that transformation chamber.
Message Focus: God’s purpose in creating man is for man to express Him and represent Him. However, to reach this goal, the natural man must go through transformation.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to accept the circumstances You have arranged for me, and make me willing to remain in Your “transformation chamber” until Your image is more fully formed within me.