一個美麗的故事 A beautiful Story A beautiful Story 1

哈蘭的訪客 (Visitors to Haran) 時間: 大約距今四千年前 (about 4000 years ago) 地點: 兩河流域的哈蘭城, 現今的敘利亞 (in the current Syria) 事件: 從迦南來了一群駱駝旅客, 帶領之人名叫以利以謝 (They came all the way from Cannon) 從迦南來了一群駱駝旅客, 2

2. 父親的安排 (創24: 1-10) (Gen 24: 1-10) 原由: 亞伯拉罕年邁, 想為兒子以撒選媳 Abraham was old, and want to get a wife for Isaac 方法: 差信任之以利以謝到故鄉去選 He sent his chief servant to NW Mesopotamia to find one 條件: 必須是本族本家的女子 (創24: 4) must be from Abraham’s own country and his own relative 沒有提到年齡,容貌,身高,體重 no mentioning requirements on age, height or appearance 選中之人若不肯來迦南, 以利以謝便可以罷手(創24: 8)

(Gen 24: 10-11) Faithful servants 3. 忠實的僕人 (創24: 10-11) (Gen 24: 10-11) Faithful servants 路程八百多公里 (need to travel 800+ kilo meters) 駱駝日行百里共需八九天 (the trip will take camels 8-9 days) 十匹駱駝戴了金銀財物 (10 camels carry all kinds of good things) 翻山越嶺可能遇盜賊 (dangerous trip vulnerable to bandits) 沒人捲款潛逃全體平安到達 (all servants arrived safely)

4. 獨特的禱告 (創24: 12-14) (Gen 24:12-14) An unique prayer by the chief servant 24:12  他 說 、 耶 和 華 我 主 人 亞 伯 拉 罕 的 　 神 阿 、 求 你 施 恩 給 我 主 人 亞 伯 拉 罕 、 使 我 今 日 遇 見 好 機 會 。 (為主人代禱求 神施恩) (為自己求神賜好機會) (Then he prayed, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.) 24:13  我 現 今 站 在 井 旁 、 城 內 居 民 的 女 子 們 正 出 來 打 水. 24:14  我 向 那 一 個 女 子 說 、 請 你 拿 下 水 瓶 來 、 給 我 水 喝 。 他 若 說 、 請 喝 、 我 也 給 你 的 駱 駝 喝 、 願 那 女 子 就 作 你 所 預 定 給 你 僕 人 以 撒 的 妻 、 這 樣 、 我 便 知 道 你 施 恩 給 我 主 人 了 。 (依經驗目測篩選) (尋找非凡的人) (13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.) １哈蘭的訪客 時軟 7

5.利百加出現 (創24: 15-16) 禱告未完便己出現 她是亞伯拉罕兄弟拿鶴的孫女 是未婚的處女 非常的美麗 (Gen 24:15-16, Rebekah came out for water) 禱告未完便己出現 (Before the servant finished his prayer) 她是亞伯拉罕兄弟拿鶴的孫女 (She is the granddaughter of Nahor) 是未婚的處女 非常的美麗 (She is a very beautiful virgin)

6. 非凡的品質 (創24: 17-20) 以利以謝向利百加要水喝 (Rebekah’s extraordinary quality) 以利以謝向利百加要水喝 (She not only offered water to the servant) 利百加主動供水讓駱駝喝足 (She will water the camel also) 十匹駱駝一共可喝多少水? (How much water can 10 camel drink?) 10x20加侖x0.3=60 加侖=五百多磅的水 (1700 pounds, or 500 pounds if they are 70% full)

24:20    她 就 急 忙 把 瓶 裡 的 水 倒 在 槽 裡 、 又 跑 到 井 旁 打 水 、 就 為 所 有 的 駱 駝 打 上 水 來 (Gen 24:20) So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 24:21 那 人 定 睛 看她、 一 句 話 也 不 說 、 要 曉 得 耶 和 華 賜 他 通 達 的 道 路 沒 有 。 (Gen 24:21) Without saying a word, these servants were watching her closely

由此可見利百加過人的品質: 樂於助人, 愛及於動物 (She is very helpful, even to the animals) 主動勤勞, 不需人開口 (She offered help proactively) 健康有耐力 (She must be very healthy) 溫柔不怨言 (Gentle and does not complain) 內在與外表同樣的美麗 (Her inner beauty is the same as her appearance)

7. 敬虔的忠僕(創24:21-27) (Gen 24:21-27) 以利以謝知道利百加是主人本族本家的女子, 又見她有如此過人的品質 (The servant now know she is the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor) 就拿一個金環，重半舍客勒，兩個金鐲，重十舍客勒，給了利百加 (現值約$7,200) (When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels) 就低頭向耶和華下拜, 說：耶和華─我主人亞伯拉罕的神是應當稱頌的，因他不斷地以慈愛誠實待我主人。至於我，耶和華在路上引領我，直走到我主人的兄弟家裡。(Then the servant bowed down and worshiped the LORD)

Intelligent statement (Gen 24:28-48) 8. 睿智的陳述 (創24:28-48) Intelligent statement (Gen 24:28-48) 利百加哥哥拉班見了妺妺所得禮物, 急忙跑到井邊邀以利以謝到家中;以利以謝向他說明來意: Rebekah’s brother saw the gift she got, hurried out to the spring to invite the servant to house; the servant told him the intention. 神賜福亞伯拉罕使他昌大繁榮 (嫁入豪門) Lord blessed Abraham abundantly with wealthy. (Marry to a rich family) 亞伯拉罕交待為獨子娶妻 (不分財產) Abraham commended to get a wife for his only son. (Undivided property) 選中的女子若不肯到迦南, 就責任己盡 (把握機會) Picked woman not willing to Canaanites still the duty served. (Hold chance) 神必差使者與以利以謝同去 (神的旨意) Lord would sent angel to go with the servant. (Lord’s will) 向神的請求都印証在利百加身上 (不可違背) All pleas to Lord got substantiated on Rebekah. (Can’t disobey)

9.爽快的決定(創24:49-60) (Gen 24:49-60) 拉班和彼土利說：這事乃出於 神, 我們不能向你說好說歹 (Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you”) 亞伯拉罕的僕人聽見他們這話，就向 神俯伏在地。 (The servant bowed down to the ground before the LORD) 拿出金器、銀器，和衣服送給利百加，又將寶物送給他哥哥和他母親 (He gave costly gifts to Laban and Bethuel ) 利百加的哥哥和他母親要利百加離開前再住至少十天 (They asked Rebekah to stay for 10 more days) 但利百加答應以利以謝第二天便啟程往迦南 (But Rebekah left the next day as the servant had requested)

(Gen 24:62-65, A beautiful love story) 10. 美麗的愛情 (Gen 24:62-65, A beautiful love story) 一天傍晚, 以撒剛從庇耳‧拉海‧萊回來,出來在田間默想，舉目一看，見來了利百加一行人的駱駝 利百加看見以撒，就急忙下了駱駝， 問這田間走來迎接的人是誰﹖ 僕人說：是我的主人。利百加就拿帕子蒙上臉 (Rebekah took her veil and covered herself when she first met Isaac)

Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 僕人就將所辦的一切事都告訴以撒 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 以撒娶了利百加為妻，並且愛他。以撒自從他母親不在了，這才得了安慰 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. The servant told Isaac all things aisakeaisake married Rebekah to wife, and love him. Isaac since his mother is gone, this comfort 16

11. 結論及回應 Conclusion and response 歷史上極重大的事件, 以色列民族因此產生故事主角的共同特色: Important events in history of Israel people, created general characteristic of leading roles in story: 亞伯拉罕: 相信神的應許必然實現 信任僕人必完成所託 Abraham: Believed in Lord’s promise must fulfill, Trusted in servant to finish his entrust. 以利以謝: 信靠主人所信的神 信任主人的安排判斷 Eliezer: Rely on the God that master believed in, Trusted in judging arrangement of master. 利百加: 相信出於神的必是正確選擇 信任忠僕外嫁遠方 Rebekah: Believed in correct choice must come from Lord, Trusted in the loyal servant to get married remotely. 以撒: 信任父親的婚姻安排 不必出力即得美眷 Isaac: Trusted in the marriage arrangement from his father, Without making any efforts but get a beautiful wife.

四個信心的偉人, 成就了一段美麗的婚姻, 產生了以色列民族. (希11:6) 人 非 有 信 ， 就 不 能 得 神 的 喜 悅 ； 因 為 到 神 面 前 來 的 人 必 須 信 有 神 ， 且 信 他 賞 賜 那 尋 求 他 的 人. (Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him) 四個信心的偉人, 成就了一段美麗的婚姻, 產生了以色列民族. (A beautiful marriage was made possible by the four people with great faith. This is the origin of the nation of Israel.)