Manna issue 76 - Zaphnath-Paaneah 法老賜名給約瑟，叫撒發那忒巴內亞
How Joseph witnessed the unfolding of God’s beautiful will. 約瑟見証神如何把祂美好的旨意實現
K.C. Tsai—Toronto, Canada 加拿大多倫多 蔡恆忠 執事
Zaphnath-Paaneah was the
Egyptian name bestowed upon
Joseph by Pharaoh (Gen 41:45).
It means “the man who reveals
mysterious matters,” for Joseph was
able to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams
and to foretell future events. To
Pharaoh, Joseph was a Hebrew
man of unknown background; he
was as mysterious as the mysterious
matters he revealed. Nevertheless,
the dreams that Joseph interpreted
allowed Pharaoh to see God’s will
and God’s determination to bring
them to pass (Gen 41:32). For this
reason, he was willing to put the lives
of the Egyptians and his own life into
Joseph’s hands, for Joseph was a man
“in whom [was] the Spirit of God”
(Gen 41:38).
撒發那忒巴內亞是法老賜給約瑟的埃及名字 (創 41：45)。
它的意思是，"這個人可以解開神秘的事"，因為約瑟可以為法老解夢，並且預言將要發生的事情。
對法老而言，約瑟不過是一個人不知道背景來歷的希伯來人；
他就像他所解開神秘的事件一樣，也相當的神秘。
然而，約瑟解開了法老的夢，讓法老有機會看見神的旨意，並且神是決心讓這些事情來發生。(創 41：32)
因為這個理由，他願意把埃及人和自已的生命，放在約瑟的手中，因為約瑟是"一個有神的靈同在"的人。(創 41：38)
Hebrew shepherds were an
abomination to the Egyptians (Gen
46:34), and the Egyptians disdained
eating together with them at the
same table (Gen 43:32). When
Joseph was brought before Pharaoh,
he was not only a Hebrew, but a
criminal, newly shaven; a stranger
whom others would not trust easily.
希伯來的牧羊人一向被埃及人厭惡(創 46：34)，並且埃及人會討厭和他們在同一張桌子上一起吃飯(創 43：32)。
當約瑟被帶到法老面前的時候，他不只是一個希伯來人，而且還是一個罪犯，才剛剛稍為整理自已的儀容而已；
對其他人來說，他是一個不容易讓人信任的陌生人。
Yet Pharaoh was willing to believe
him, and elevated him to the position
of governor. As a result, the whole of
Egypt was delivered from the famine.
Most people would have attributed
Egypt’s survival to Pharaoh’s
wisdom—how he recognized
Joseph’s extraordinary talents and
appointed him to steer them through
potential disaster. But Joseph, with
his spiritual insight, was able to see
the “sending” of God (Gen 45:5–8).
然而法老卻願意去相信他，抬高他的身份，成為一個宰相。
結果，整個埃及都在飢荒中，得到拯救。
大部份的人可能都會把埃及的存活，歸功給法老的智慧 -
他可以辨認出約瑟那不尋常的天賦，並且指定他來帶領他們全部的人來渡過可能的大災害。
但是約瑟因為有屬靈的眼光，就可以看見神的差派。(創 45：5-8)
Yes, God had sent him to go
through the hatred and betrayal of
his elder brothers, and into thirteen
years of injustice and shame. But
eventually, through his tenacity,
Joseph was able to manifest the
beautiful will of God.
是的，神派遣他走過仇恨，和他哥哥們的背叛，讓他陷入了13年的不公平的情況和羞辱。
但是到最後，透過他不屈不撓的耐心，約瑟終於可以表現出神美好的旨意。
When Joseph was sold to Egypt
and became a servant in Potiphar’s
house, the Bible records that God was
with him (Gen 39:2). When he was
tempted by his master’s wife, framed
and imprisoned, the Scriptures
continue to say that God was with
him (Gen 39:21). It was God’s
abidance that gave him the strength
to remain strong and pure amidst the
shame of slavery and the temptation
to sin. God’s constant presence
sustained him and prevented him
from giving up on himself in the face
of all these humiliations.
當約瑟被賣到埃及去，成為波提乏家中的一個僕人，聖經裡面記載，神與他同在(創 39：2)。
當他被女主人引誘失敗，並且無辜地被陷害，下到監牢去，聖經又接著說，神與他同在(創 39：21)。
因為有神的同在，讓他有力量，可以讓他在奴役之中的差辱和罪惡的引誘之中，保守他的堅強和信仰的純正。
神不斷的同在，支持著他，在他面對這所有一切的羞恥之時，讓他不會放棄自已。
God was with Joseph, not just for
a moment, but throughout his whole
life. He walked with him through
good times and bad times.
神與約瑟同在，不是一小段短短的時間而已，而是長久跟著他一生之久。
祂和約瑟不論在好時光，或是壞時機，都一起行走。
Likewise, you only realize that God
has been walking you through the
difficult times when you pause to
look back in time. That is when you
see that you could not have made it
through without God. Having God
with you does not equate to having
a smooth life. Rather, it is like a pilot
flame that continues to burn red in
the lamp during life’s dark times—a
flame that will eventually light up a
beautiful and vibrant life.
同樣的道理，當你停下腳步及停回頭看時，你才會了解，一直以來神都一直和我們一起行走，渡過全部困難的時間。
這就是當你知道，你是不可能沒有神的幫助來通過困難的情況，你才會了解這一切。
有神與你同在，並不等同於你會有平順的一生。
反而這就好像是，在生命裡最黑暗的時刻中，燈籠裡面的火苗持續燃燒 -
這火最後會點亮一個美好又會活力的生命。
Forgiveness and compassion are
important themes in the Bible. For
example, the people of God rebelled
against Him time and again, yet God
would forgive and accept them as
long as they were willing to return
to Him. But His salvation grace was
prepared not only for the elect, but
also for the people of the world
who are living in sin. The Lord Jesus
repeatedly exhorted His followers
with teachings of forgiveness and,
eventually, He forgave those who
crucified Him. He also said that if
a person wishes to receive God’s
forgiveness, he must first learn to
have compassion and forgive others
(Mt 18:33–35).
聖經裡面，饒恕和同情都是重要的主題。
例如，神的子民違抗祂的命令一次又一次，然而神卻願意繞恕他們，
並且再度接受他們，只要他們願意來回轉歸向祂。
但是，祂救贖的恩典並非只有為了選民而準備，而且也為活在世上，在罪中生活的世人提供了得救的機會。
主耶穌重覆勸告他的跟隨者，要教導他們去繞恕別人，直到最後，他要赦免了那些把祂釘十架的人。
祂也說過，若是有人想要得到神的赦免，首先他一定要有同情心，願意去繞恕別人(太 18：33-35)。
Nevertheless, Joseph’s willing
forgiveness of his elder brothers was
no ordinary feat. They had sold him
to Egypt, where he was enslaved,
imprisoned, and made to endure
injustice and shame.
然而，約瑟可以作到去繞恕他全部的哥哥們，並不是一件平常的事蹟。
過去他們被他賣到埃及去，在那裡他變成別人的奴隸，被關到監牢裡，要去忍受一切的不公平的事情和伴隨而來的羞辱。
During the famine, Joseph’s
brothers came to Egypt to buy grain.
When they were brought before
him, Joseph immediately recognized
his brothers. However, they were
unaware that he was the brother
they had betrayed. It was then
that Joseph remembered what he
had dreamed in his youth, and was
enlightened (Gen 42:6–9). Through
these two dreams, God had foretold
him of what was to happen. Long
before Joseph had left home, God
had already paved the way for him
(Gen 45:5–8). He sent Joseph to be
sold, framed, and imprisoned; to be
forgotten by the butler; and finally to
become the governor of Egypt, thus
delivering his father’s household and
continuing the bloodline of Abraham.
在飢荒的期間，約瑟的兄弟們來到埃及來買糧。
當他們被帶到約瑟面前的時候，約瑟立刻就認出他們來。
然而，他們並沒有認出來，這個人就是他們曾經背叛的兄弟。
就在那個時候，約瑟才記起來，他小時候曾經作過的夢，而且也因為看到他們覺得很高興。(創 42：6-9)
因為有這兩個夢，神已經預先告訴他，將來會發生什麼事。
早在約瑟還沒離開家之前，神已經為他鋪好了一生的道路。(創 45：5-8)
祂讓約瑟被賣掉，被陷害，並且最後被下到監獄裡面去；被管家遺忘；最後變成埃及的宰相，
因為才可以拯救他父親的全家，並且讓亞伯拉罕的後裔可以延續下去。
It was at this moment that Joseph
saw clearly the beautiful will of
God, that there was a purpose for
everything that had happened in his
life. This sudden understanding of
God’s will empowered him, enabling
him to unreservedly forgive his
brothers. It was the moment of his
Peniel (Hebrew: “the face of God,”
or to see God face to face). His
forgiveness did not come from human
effort, nor was it out of compulsion.
It was made possible only through
the understanding of God’s perfect
will. Joseph finally realized that all
those humiliations and adversities
were part of God’s unyielding love
for him and his forefathers. By the
end of Genesis, when his father
passed away, Joseph even comforted
his brothers when they were haunted
by how they had wronged him in the
past (Gen 50:15–21).
也就是在那個時刻，約瑟才可以看清神美好的旨意，總而言之就是，
在他一生中所發生的每一件事，都有神美好的目的。
在這剎那之間，他突然明白神的旨意，讓他能夠有力量，能夠毫無保留的繞恕他的兄弟們。
這個時候就是專屬他的毗努伊勒(希伯來文："神的面"，或是面對面親眼看見神)。
他可以繞恕弟兄，並不是來自於屬於他自已人的努力，也不是來自於他是被別人強迫要去繞恕他的弟兄。
只有因為明白神美好的旨意之後，才有可能來繞恕他的弟兄。
所以最後約瑟明白了，這一切所有的羞辱和困難，都只是對他，以及他的先祖們，不離不棄愛的一部份。
在創世記的後面，當他的父親雅各死去之後，約瑟甚至安慰他的兄弟們，
因為他們都一直被過去，所作的錯事一直困擾著他們。(創 50：15-21)
Therefore, it is only when you are
willing to let go of your emotions and
calmly seek the will of God in things
that befall you that you can receive
the peace and strength God has long
prepared for you. This will be the
moment of your personal Peniel. You
will know why things happened as
they did. And you will be victorious
over the challenge of any misfortune.
所以，只有當你願意拋棄過去的悲情，能夠冷靜下來，在你所面對的事情中，尋求神的旨意，
這麼一來，你才能得到神在很久之前，就為你準備好的所有平安和力量。
這就變成，屬於你自已個人，所謂的毗努伊勒的時刻。
你就會了解，為什麼事實會這麼的發展。
然後，你就能夠勝過任何在你面前不幸的挑戰。
When Pharaoh appointed
Joseph as governor, he gave him an
Egyptian name and fine Egyptian
garments. He put a signet ring on
his hand and a gold chain around
his neck, and even gave him the
daughter of an Egyptian priest to be
his wife. He made Joseph, this lowly
Hebrew slave, into an honorable
Egyptian.
當法老指定約瑟成為宰相的時候，他賜給他一個埃及的名字，和上好的埃及的服飾。
並且給他手上戴上王印的戒指，脖子上戴上金項練，而且甚至賜給他一位埃及祭司的女兒為妻。
他使約瑟，一個低位地下的希伯來奴僕，變成一位地位尊貴的埃及人。
When his first son was born, Joseph
named him Manasseh, meaning
“causing to forget”: “For God has
made me forget all my toil and all
my father’s house” (Gen 41:51). He
then named his second son Ephraim,
saying, “God has caused me to be
fruitful in the land of my affliction”
(Gen 41:52). He thought he was
ready to accept reality, forget his
father’s household, and assume a
new life as an Egyptian noble. He was
even ready to establish an Egyptian
family and to govern the land of
Egypt, his new home.
當他的長子出生之後，約瑟叫他瑪拿西，意思是"使之忘了"：神使我忘了一切的困苦和我父的全家。(創 41：51)
然後他的次子取名叫作以法蓮，意思是，"神使我在受苦的地方昌盛。"(創 41：52)
他以為，他準備要接受現在的事實，忘記他以前的父家，並且接受這個新生活，成為埃及的貴族。
他甚至準備要建立自已埃及的家，好好管理埃及全地，和他自已的新家。
This being so, why did he give his
two sons Hebrew names? Perhaps he
could never truly forget everything
that was in his father’s house. Why?
Because God was in his father’s
household! This was the God who
established a covenant with his great
grandfather, his grandfather and
his father. His father’s house was
the root from which his connection
with God stemmed. How could he
possibly forget or give it up?
即然如此，但為何他給他兩個兒子取了希伯來的名字呢？
或許，他從來沒有忘記過，任何過去在他父家中所發生的事。為什麼呢？
因為神就在他父親的家中。
就是這位神，祂和約瑟的曾祖父，祖父和父親立約。
父親的家才是他的根源，從這個根源開始，他才和神有所連接。
所以他怎麼有可能去忘記，或是放棄自已的神呢？
Eventually, Joseph brought his
father and all his father’s household
out of the famine and moved them
to Egypt. When Jacob was on his
deathbed, Joseph brought his two
sons before their grandfather. Jacob
blessed them, saying, “Behold, I
am dying, but God will be with
you and bring you back to the land
of your fathers” (Gen 48:21). But
how could Manasseh and Ephraim
enjoy, or even appreciate, their
grandfather’s blessing? They led the
life of princes in Egypt. Their father
was the second most powerful man
in Egypt, and they lacked nothing.
Their grandfather’s blessing meant
that they would return to the land of
their forefathers to lead a nomadic
life dwelling in tents—what was so
good about that?
最後，約瑟把他父親和他父親的全家，帶離飢荒之地，並向埃及地移居。
當雅各最後快死躺在床上的時候，約瑟把他的兩個兒子，帶到他們的祖父面前。
雅各祝福他們說，"我要死了，但神必與你們同在，領你們回到你們列祖之地。"(創 48：21)
但是，瑪拿西和以法蓮怎麼會喜歡，或是感謝他們祖父的祝福呢？
他們過著埃及王子般的生活。
他們的父親是在埃及裡，第二個最有權力的人，他們一無所缺。
他們祖父的祝福，意思是他們將要回去他們祖先的土地，住在帳棚裡，過著遊牧民族的生活 -
那樣的生活，那裡有看起來像是很好的祝福呢？
But through God’s sending and
the blessing of his father, Joseph saw
what he truly wanted: he wanted to
return! This desire, and his ability to
see God’s beautiful plan, allowed him
to let go of the grandeur of Egypt.
但是經由神的差派和他父親的祝福，約瑟才看清楚什麼才是他自已真的所想要的：他想要回家！
這個願望，以及他有能力來明白神美好的計劃，讓他可以放棄埃及之地的華麗。
It is always very difficult to forgive
a person who has mistreated you, or
come to terms with past suffering.
However, Joseph was willing to
overlook his own afflictions for the
wonderful will of God, and follow
through to accept whatever would
happen. Consequently, it was the
sending of God that allowed Joseph
to look beyond the splendor of his
achievements in Egypt and toward
the precious covenant God had
established with his forefathers. He
was willing to let go of Egypt, which
God had placed in his hands, and
requested for his bones to be returned
to the land God had promised to his
forefathers (Gen 50:2–25).
要原諒一個虐待你的人，或是要甘心樂意承受過去困難的經歷，總是非常不容易的。
然而，約瑟因為神美好的旨意，而願意去忽略他自已的痛苦，並且順從安排，去接受不論將要發生什麼事。
有這樣的結果是因為神的差派，讓約瑟可以看透徹自已在埃及所成就的榮華，並且去選擇神與他祖先所立寶貴的約。
他願意放棄埃及的一切，而這一切神已經放在他的手中，並且最後的遺囑，要把他的骨骸，帶回神所應許他祖先之地。(創 50：2-25)
Hence, Joseph took an oath from
the children of Israel, saying, “God
will surely visit you, and you shall
carry up my bones from here.” Even
if he was unable to return during his
remaining years, his bones would go
back to the promised land after his
death (Gen 50:24–25).
25約瑟叫以色列的子孫起誓說：神必定看顧你們；你們要把我的骸骨從這裡搬上去。
在他剩餘的日子裡，即使他不能回歸，在他死後，他的骨頭將被帶回應許之地。(創 50：24-25)
Hebrews 11 records: “Now faith
is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen…
[And] without faith it is impossible
to please Him” (vv. 1, 6). The author
also describes the extraordinary acts
of faith of the ancient saints. Joseph’s
life of faith is summed up as follows:
“By faith Joseph, when he was dying,
made mention of the departure
of the children of Israel, and gave
instructions concerning his bones”
(Heb 11:22). Joseph’s extraordinary
act of faith was his desire to depart
from Egypt and the instructions he
gave concerning his bones.
希伯來畫11章記載："
1信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據。
6人非有信，就不能得神的喜悅。(來 1-6)
作者也描述古聖徒，因著信心，而有許多奇妙的行為。
就約瑟的信心生活，可以用以下來總結：
"22約瑟因著信，臨終的時候，提到以色列族將來要出埃及，並為自己的骸骨留下遺命。" (來 11：22)
約瑟特別信心的行為，就是希望可以離開埃及，也就有關他遺骨的指示。
In Egypt, Joseph had everything,
and he had the ability to take care
of his relatives. The children of Israel
established their homes in Egypt,
and could thus lead a peaceful life
and enjoy their work (Gen 47:27).
However, Joseph knew that this was
not the land given to them by God
(Gen 50:24). They needed to return
to the promised land. As for himself,
his heart had taken off. He yearned
for that promise.
在埃及，約瑟有一切的事物，而且他也有能力來照顧他的親人。
以色列人的子孩在埃及建立了他們的家，因此就能過都平靜的生活，享受他們工作的成果(創 47：27)。
然而，約瑟知道這不是神給他們的地(創 50：24)
他們要回到應許之地。
至於他自已本身，他的內心已經出發往家鄉去了。
因為他渴望那應許的家。
Four hundred years later, Moses
took Joseph’s bones out of Egypt
(Ex 13:19). And after another forty
years, when Joshua led the people
to conquer Canaan, the Israelites
buried Joseph’s bones in Shechem
(Josh 24:32), the land which his
father Jacob had given to him almost
five hundred years before. This was
the fulfillment of God’s promise to
his forefathers: “[T]o you and your
descendants I give all these lands”
(Gen 26:3b; Gen 15:18).
四百年以後，摩西帶著約瑟的骨骸離開埃及 (出 13：19)。
再另一個四十年之後，當約書亞帶領百姓征服迦南，以色列人把約瑟的骨頭葬在示劍，(書 24：32)
那塊土地，是他父親在幾乎500年前，就已經給他的地。
這就成全了神對他祖先的應許："因為我要將這些地都賜給你和你的後裔。" (創 26：3b；創 15：18)
When the meaning of his two
dreams unfolded before him, Joseph
experienced Peniel in his life—he saw
the traces of God’s work. Hence, he
was willing to entrust himself to the
Lord and to continue to accept His
sending. This commission did not end
when he became the governor. Egypt
was only the means through which
Joseph realized the unbreakable tie
between his father’s household and
God.
當兩個夢的意思在他面前展開之時，約瑟終於在他的生活中，體驗到毗努伊勒 - 他看見了神作工所走過的痕跡。
因此，他願意把自已交託給神，繼續接受他的帶領。
當他成為宰相之後，這個交託並不是就結束了。
進入埃及不過就是神的一種手段而已，經由這些事，約瑟才了解，神和他父親的全家有著不可分割的連結。
Oh Zaphnath-Paaneah, what
mystery have you revealed?
喔！撒發那忒巴內亞啊！
你揭開了什麼樣的秘密呢？
Return to your homeland! You
desire a much better homeland in
heaven (Heb 11:15–16). You have
transcended the glory and prosperity
of Egypt, to see the true promise of
God, and by faith, you have received
the promise before passing away
(Heb 11:13).
回到你的家鄉！羨慕一個更美的家鄉，就是在天上的。(來 11：15-16)
你已經超越了埃及的榮美和富裕，看見了神的真應許，並且藉著信心，在過逝之前，你已經領受了應許。(來 11：13)
“Therefore God is not ashamed to
be called [your] God…”
(Heb 11:16b)
所以神被稱為他們的神，並不以為恥，
(來 11：16b)
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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