約伯記1:13-22

 

1:13 有一天，約伯的兒女正在他們長兄的家裡吃飯喝酒，
1:14 有報信的來見約伯，說：「牛正耕地，驢在旁邊吃草，
1:15 示巴人忽然闖來，把牲畜擄去，並用刀殺了僕人；惟有我一人逃脫，來報信給你。」
1:16 他還說話的時候，又有人來說：「上帝從天上降下火來，將群羊和僕人都燒滅了；惟有我一人逃脫，來報信給你。」
1:17 他還說話的時候，又有人來說：「迦勒底人分作三隊忽然闖來，把駱駝擄去，並用刀殺了僕人；惟有我一人逃脫，來報信給你。」
1:18 他還說話的時候，又有人來說：「你的兒女正在他們長兄的家裡吃飯喝酒，
1:19 不料，有狂風從曠野颳來，擊打房屋的四角，房屋倒塌在少年人身上，他們就都死了；惟有我一人逃脫，來報信給你。」
1:20 約伯便起來，撕裂外袍，剃了頭，伏在地上下拜，
1:21 說：「我赤身出於母胎，也必赤身歸回；賞賜的是耶和華，收取的也是耶和華。耶和華的名是應當稱頌的。」
1:22 在這一切的事上約伯並不犯罪，也不以上帝為愚妄（或譯：也不妄評上帝）。

 

¹³ One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁸ While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

²⁰ At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship ²¹ and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.^[c]
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”

²² In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

 

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    約伯苦難開始於家產和兒女的失去，在人看來這是突然來的無妄之災，但這一切的打擊讓約伯失去現在和將來的財富的倚靠，會讓人想到約伯這下怎樣活下去，因他從富有，一下變成一無所有了！就靈恩派之豐盛生命信靠者而言，約伯的遭遇是被上帝咒詛，所以才會變成貧窮！

 

    可是約伯在遭遇這樣的變故仍然敬畏上帝，沒有埋怨上帝，也不認為自己被上帝咒詛，失去了上帝的賜福，被上帝離棄！他仍然信靠上帝，還說敬拜上帝：「我赤身出於母胎，也必赤身歸回；賞賜的是耶和華，收取的也是耶和華。耶和華的名是應當稱頌的。」

 

    約伯的表現，是要讓我們知道，即使失去一切的財富和兒女，上帝仍然還是我們的上帝，我們不可因為這樣而離開上帝，我們仍然要敬為上帝，至少上帝還讓我們活命，還是有機會改變人生，不然我們還有永生，今生可能因一無所有而離世，但是靠著上帝在基督裡的救恩，透過死亡讓我們進入上帝的永生！死亡不是可悲的事，想想主耶穌說的乞丐他撒路，死後到亞伯拉罕的懷中，是多麼有福的事呢！

 

    所以，親愛的弟兄姊妹，無論遇到什麼事，不要懷疑上帝在我們身上的恩典，上帝不離棄我們，我們更不可中魔鬼詭計而離棄上帝，要呼求主名，讓主來幫助我們！