約瑟──一個最像基督的人
創世記三十七章1至10節
1雅各住在迦南地，就是他父親寄居的地。
2雅各的記略如下：約瑟十七歲與他哥哥們一同牧羊。他是個童子，與他父親的妾辟拉、悉帕的兒子們常在一處。約瑟將他哥哥們的惡行報給他們的父親。
3以色列原來愛約瑟過於愛他的眾子，因為約瑟是他年老生的；他給約瑟做了一件彩衣。
4約瑟的哥哥們見父親愛約瑟過於愛他們，就恨約瑟，不與他說和睦的話。
5約瑟做了一夢，告訴他哥哥們，他們就越發恨他。
6約瑟對他們說：“請聽我所做的夢：
7我們在田裡捆禾稼，我的捆起來站著，你們的捆來圍著我的捆下拜。”
8他的哥哥們回答說：“難道你真要作我們的王嗎？難道你真要管轄我們嗎？”他們就因為他的夢和他的話，越發恨他。
9後來他又做了一夢，也告訴他的哥哥們說：“看哪！我又做了一夢，夢見太陽、月亮與十一個星向我下拜。”
10約瑟將這夢告訴他父親和他哥哥們，他父親就責備他說：“你做的這是甚麼夢！難道我和你母親、你弟兄果然要來俯伏在地，向你下拜嗎？”
信息分享
此外，我們對約瑟的人生遭遇和經歷過的試探，有許多地方都可以感同身受。年少的他，因為向家人分享神給他的異象，而惹來嚴峻的試煉。連他父親對他的特殊寵愛，也似乎對他有害無益。
其後，在他工作的地方，他也接連遭到試探，並總是以悲劇告終。到了後來，他終於擢升高位，擁有很大的權力。許多處於這樣高位的人，都很容易被各種試探所迷惑。以上每一種情況，都是今天的基督徒會隨時遇到的，其險惡的程度也不減當年。
當讀到約瑟少年時的異夢，你有甚麼想法呢？假如他把神在夢中向他啟示的異象藏在心中，不告訴任何人，是否會較好呢？若我們的家人並非信徒，我們向他們分享我們的屬靈經歷，並很容易造成大家的隔膜。他們未必會明白，而造成的隔膜卻可能要用很長時間才能消除。
是甚麼因素造成約瑟與兄長之間的問題？是兄長對他的妒忌嗎？但不管兄長怎樣待他，約瑟始終沒有報復。即使在他的少年時代，他與神之間似乎已有一種特殊的關係。縱然他不知道夢境最終會如何應驗，但他卻一直信靠神。他只知道，神掌管了他的人生和各種處境。我們今天有這份信心嗎？
我信靠你，主耶穌，
唯獨你會帶領我，
並每時每刻供應我。
JOSEPH-THE MAN MOST LIKE CHRIST
Genesis 37:1-10
1 Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
2 This is the history of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors.
4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.
5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.
6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed:
7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”
8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”
10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?”
Message
But we can also identify with him personally in many of his true-to-life situations and temptations. As a teenager he was tested severely when he tried to share his God-given visions with his own family. Even his father's special love for him seems to have hindered rather than helped.
Then he was tempted frequently in his place of employment, a sad story with a traumatic ending. Much later he moved into an upper-income bracket and a place of enormous power. Many men have succumbed to the temptations which come with such a position. Each of these situations can be the experience of many Christians today and are still as dangerous as they were back there in Joseph's day.
As you read the story of Joseph's teenage dreams, what did you think? Would he have been better off to keep quiet about what God was revealing to him? It is sometimes easy isn't it, to alienate our own family when telling them about our spiritual experiences if they are not believers. They may not understand and barriers can be built up which may take a long time to break down.
What was the root of the brothers' problem? Jealousy? But no matter how his brothers treated him, Joseph did not retaliate. Even as a teenager he seems to have had a special link with God. Joseph knew what it was to trust him, although the way ahead with its ultimate fulfillment of his dreams was not clearly seen. All he knew was that God was in control of his life and circumstances. Can't we take that same position today?
I am trusting Thee Lord Jesus,
Thou alone shalt lead.
Every day and hour supplying
All my need.
Frances R Havergal.