The Loneliest Man 最孤单的人

[Dexu Xia]

While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness. Genesis 39:20–21

Genesis 39:11–22

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped out of their lunar landing module and became the first humans to walk on the surface of the moon. But we don’t often think about the third person on their team, Michael Collins, who was flying the command module for Apollo 11.

After his teammates clambered down the ladder to test the lunar surface, Collins waited alone on the far side of the moon. He was out of touch with Neil, Buzz, and everyone on earth. NASA’s mission control commented, “Not since Adam has any human known such solitude as Mike Collins.”

There are times when we feel completely alone. Imagine, for instance, how Joseph, Jacob’s son, felt when he was taken from Israel to Egypt after his brothers sold him (Genesis 37:23–28). Then he was thrust into further isolation by being thrown in prison on false charges (39:19–20).

How did Joseph survive in prison in a foreign land with no family anywhere nearby? Listen to this: “While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him” (vv. 20–21). Four times we’re reminded of this comforting truth in Genesis 39.

Do you feel alone or isolated from others? Hold on to the truth of God’s presence, promised by Jesus Himself: “Surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). With Jesus as your Savior, you’re never alone.

By:  Dave Branon

When do you feel most alone? How does God remind you that He’s with you in your times of isolation?

Dear heavenly Father, please help me know, as You’ve promised in the Scriptures, that You’re with me as You were with Joseph.

于是约瑟在那里坐监。但耶和华与约瑟同在，向他施恩。—创世记39章20-21节

在1969年7月20日，太空人尼尔 · 阿姆斯壮（Neil Armstrong）和巴兹 · 艾德林（Buzz Aldrin）踏出登月舱，成为首批行走在月球表面的人类，一时名声大噪。但很少人会想到这个团队中的第三位队员麦可 · 柯林斯（Michael Collins），他当时正驾驶着阿波罗11号的指挥舱。

当柯林斯的队友爬下梯子，测试月球表面时，他独自一人在月球的背面待命，无法联系阿姆斯壮、艾德林以及地球上的任何人。美国太空总署（NASA）的评论说：“在亚当之后，没有人比麦可 · 柯林斯更明白这种孤单了。”

我们偶尔会感到极其孤单。比方雅各的儿子约瑟被自己的哥哥们卖掉，迫使他离开迦南前往埃及（创世记37章23-28节），你可以想像一下他的感受。后来，他遭人诬陷，被扔进大牢中（39章19-20节），更加孤立无援。

约瑟身边没有任何亲人，如何在异乡的监狱里存活呢？看看这句话：“约瑟在那里坐监。但耶和华与约瑟同在”（20-21节）。在创世记39章，四次提醒我们这安慰人心的真理。

你也感到孤单或被人孤立吗？当持守一个真理：上帝与你同在，正如耶稣已应许：“我就常与你们同在”（马太福音28章20节）。有耶稣作你的救主，你就永远不会孤单。

作者：  白德夫

你在什么时候最容易感到孤单？
当你孤立无助时，上帝如何提醒你，祂与你同在？

亲爱的天父，求祢帮助我谨记祢的应许，祢一直与我同在，就像祢与约瑟同在一样