『父親的影響』 Father's influence

（箴Pro22:6）教養孩童、使他走當行的道、就是到老他也不偏離。Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (弗Eph6:4)你們作父親的、不要惹兒女的氣、只要照著主的教訓和警戒、養育他們。Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (西Col3:21)你們作父親的、不要惹兒女的氣、恐怕他們失了志氣。Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

1.以利 Eli 舊約聖經中，有一段記載讓人很傷心，但可供我們深深反思。 就是士師時代中，祭司有時要依情況身兼數職，有時要扮演先知的角色， 有時又要扮演領袖的角色，非常辛苦； 但是最重要的是帶領人敬拜神，所以是以色列民的牧者！

作了四十年祭司的以利，在這方面出了大問題，因為他在帶領家庭信仰上，是一個心昏眼花的牧者。 (撒上1Sam2:12-17) 12以利的兩個兒子是惡人、不認識耶和華。 Eli's sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD. 13這二祭司待百姓是這樣的規矩．凡有人獻祭、正煮肉的時候、祭司的僕人就來、手拿三齒的叉子、Now it was the practice of the priests with the people that whenever anyone offered a sacrifice and while the meat was being boiled, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand.

14將叉子往罐裡、或鼎裡、或釜裡、或鍋裡一插、插上來的肉、祭司都取了去．凡上到示羅的以色列人、他們都是這樣看待。He would plunge it into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot, and the priest would take for himself whatever the fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. 15又在未燒脂油以前、祭司的僕人就來對獻祭的人說、將肉給祭司叫他烤罷．他不要煮過的、要生的。But even before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give the priest some meat to roast; he won't accept boiled meat from you, but only raw."

16獻祭的人若說、必須先燒脂油、然後你可以隨意取肉．僕人就說、你立時給我、不然我便搶去。If the man said to him, "Let the fat be burned up first, and then take whatever you want," the servant would then answer, "No, hand it over now; if you don't, I'll take it by force." 17如此、這二少年人的罪在耶和華面前甚重了、因為他們藐視耶和華的祭物。This sin of the young men was very great in the LORD'S sight, for they were treating the LORD'S offering with contempt

2.大衛 David 大衛原本是一個牧童，之後變成一個非常偉大的國王。 他生了一個兒子叫押沙龍，俊美非常，是全國之最（撒下十四25）。 但到大衛晚年，大兒子押沙龍竟然起軍要殺他父親，奪取王位。 《列王記上》記載大衛是如何地疼愛這個大兒子。

3.以撒 Isaac 在舊約聖經中的族長時代裏，以撒的兩個兒子以掃和雅各，為了得到長子的祝福而反目，甚至幾乎要鬧出人命來， 做父親的以撒要為此負起大多數的責任， 因為他無論是在處理人與神，以及人與人（包括父子與兄弟）的關係上都出現了不平衡的狀況。

27兩個孩子漸漸長大、以掃善於打獵、常在田野．雅各為人安靜、常住在帳棚裡。 (創Gen25:27-34) 27兩個孩子漸漸長大、以掃善於打獵、常在田野．雅各為人安靜、常住在帳棚裡。 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. 28以撒愛以掃、因為常喫他的野味．利百加卻愛雅各。Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29有一天、雅各熬湯、以掃從田野回來累昏了。Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30以掃對雅各說、我累昏了、求你把這紅湯給我喝．因此以掃又叫以東。He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31雅各說、你今日把長子的名分賣給我罷。Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."

32以掃說、我將要死、這長子的名分於我有甚麼益處呢。"Look, I am about to die," Esau said 32以掃說、我將要死、這長子的名分於我有甚麼益處呢。"Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" 33雅各說、你今日對我起誓罷．以掃就對他起了誓、把長子的名分賣給雅各。But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34於是雅各將餅和紅豆湯給了以掃、以掃喫了喝了、便起來走了．這就是以掃輕看了他長子的名分。Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

接著利百加吩咐自己所偏愛的小兒子雅各，假裝成哥哥以掃去騙取長子的祝福（創廿七5～29）， 後來以掃想求父親祝福，但已來不及。 導致兄弟之間的仇恨，雅各只好離家出走到異鄉寄人籬下，從此一家人分散四方。 由此可知父親的角色是家庭穩定的重心，也是家庭蒙福的重要根源。

神人關係的平衡和人際關係的平衡都不可忽視，這也是十字架上愛的道理之內涵。 在一個家庭中要完成這樣的道理，父親的角色正處於主導的地位。 箴Pro17:6子孫為老人的冠冕．父親是兒女的榮耀。 箴Pro17:25愚昧子使父親愁煩、使母親憂苦。 箴Pro19:13愚昧的兒子、是父親的禍患．妻子的爭吵、如雨連連滴漏。

箴Pro19:26虐待父親、攆出母親的、是貽羞致辱之子。