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Esau hated Jacob for stealing his blessing. Rebekah warned Jacob, “You must leave this place before Esau tries to kill you. Go to your grandfather’s home for a while.” Jacob set out on the long journey. One night, he used a stone for a pillow and fell asleep. In a dream he saw angels climbing up and down a ladder to heaven. God was standing above the ladder. He said, “I will give you the land where you are sleeping. And I will protect you everywhere you go.” When Jacob woke up he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place.” He named the place Bethel, which means, “House of God.” Why did Jacob have to leave his home? What did God say to Jacob in the dream?
Jacob’s Dream
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亚伯拉罕死后，他的儿子以撒继承了他拥有的房产、羊、牲畜、骆驼和仆人。那时，以撒和利百加生了一对双胞胎。长子叫以扫，次子叫雅各，所以以扫会得到更多上帝的恩赐和他父亲的财富。有一天，以扫打猎回来，雅各正在煮红豆汤。以扫说：“嗯！这汤好香呀，我真的好饿，给我喝一点可以吗？”雅各狡猾地说：“当然可以，只要你把继承父亲的那份产权卖给我。”以扫没有珍惜上帝给他的应许，他用一碗汤的代价把未来的财富给卖掉了。 以撒年纪很大，眼睛也瞎了。他叫以扫来，对他说：“在我未死之前，我要把上帝的祝福赐给你。快去猎取一些野味来，给我烧一顿美味的晚餐，饭后我会祝福你。”利百加听见以撒所讲的，她就教雅各怎样骗取以撒要给以扫的祝福。以撒的眼睛看不见，于是雅各就假装成以扫，扮成他的哥哥跑到以撒的帐篷里。以撒说：“以扫，真的是你吗？走进来让我摸一摸。”雅各穿着动物的皮毛，摸起来好像他的皮肤毛茸茸的跟以扫的一样，于是雅各以欺骗以撒的方法取得了他的祝福。 以撒有几个儿子，他们叫什么？ 以扫拿什么换了一碗汤？
Jacob and Esau
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After Abraham died, his son Isaac became the owner of all his tents, sheep, cattle, camels, and servants. Now Isaac and Rebekah had twin boys. Esau was the oldest son and Jacob was the youngest. Being the firstborn, Esau would receive more of his father’s riches and God’s promises. One day, Esau came in from hunting. Jacob was cooking some vegetable soup. “Mmmm, that soup smells good. I am very hungry, can I have some?” asked Esau. “Sure, you can have the soup if I get your part of our father’s wealth”, Jacob said slyly. Esau did not value his birthright and the future blessing that it would bring. So, in haste, he gave them up for a bowl of soup. When Isaac was old and blind, he called for Esau and said, “I want to give you God’s blessing before I die. Go hunting for an animal that is good to eat. Then prepare a tasty meal for me. When I have finished eating the meal, I will bless you.” Rebekah heard what Isaac said to Esau. She made a plan for Jacob so that he could receive the blessing Isaac was going to give to Esau. Isaac could not see, so Jacob pretended to be Esau and went to Isaac’s tent. “Is that really you, Esau? Come closer so I can touch you,” said Isaac. Jacob wore animal skins to make his skin feel hairy like Esau’s. In that way Jacob tricked Isaac into giving him the blessing planned for the firstborn. How many sons did Isaac have? What were their names? What did Esau give up for a bowl of soup?
Jacob and Esau
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以撒已经到了娶妻的年龄，但本地女子都拜假神，亚伯拉罕担心如果以撒娶本地女子为妻，他的子孙也会变成拜偶像的人。 亚伯拉罕对他衷心的仆人说：“回到我的家乡，替以撒挑选一个妻子带回来。”仆人问：“我怎样才能找到这个女子？”亚伯拉罕说：“上帝会派天使帮助你。”于是仆人老远地来到亚伯拉罕从前居住的城镇，他停在一口水井旁边祷告：“上帝啊，请引领我找到那个你所喜悦的女子。”当时，一群年轻女子从城镇里来到井旁打水。仆人祷告：“当我讨水喝时叫那个准备许配给以撒的女子回答我。”这时，一个叫利百加的美貌女子来到井旁，她拿水给仆人喝，还对他说：“让我也拿水给你的骆驼喝。”仆人赞美上帝回应他的祷告：“上帝是慈爱和信实的，利百加配得做以撒终生的伴侣。” 亚伯拉罕为什么派自己衷心的仆人回到自己的家乡？ 亚伯拉罕的仆人为什么祷告？
Isaac Gets a Wife
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It was time for Isaac to find a wife, but the local women worshiped false gods. Abraham was worried. He feared that if Isaac married one of the local women then all his grandchildren might also become idol worshipers. Abraham said to his loyal servant, “Go to my homeland and choose a wife for Isaac and bring her back with you.” “How will I be able to choose the right woman?” the servant asked. “The Most High God will send His angel before you. He will help you,” said Abraham. Then the servant travelled to Abraham’s hometown. He stopped by a well to pray, “Lord God, please lead me to a woman who is right for Isaac.” Just then, a beautiful young woman named Rebekah came to the well. She gave the servant a drink of water and said, “I will water your camels too.” The servant praised God for answering his prayer. “God has been kind and truthful. Rebekah is the right wife for Isaac.” Why did Abraham send his servant back to his homeland? Why did Abraham’s servant pray to God?
Isaac Gets a Wife
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有一天，上帝要考验亚伯拉罕对他的爱。他说：“亚伯拉罕，我要你把唯一的儿子奉献给我，去把以撒绑在坛上献祭给我。”对亚伯拉罕来说这是一件极难的事，亚伯拉罕非常爱以撒，但他信奉上帝。第二天清晨，亚伯拉罕带着以撒到山上去筑了一座坛。以撒说：“爸爸，献祭用的羔羊在哪里？”亚伯拉罕回答：“上帝必有预备。”接着，亚伯拉罕把儿子放在祭坛上，突然，上帝的使者高声呼喊：“亚伯拉罕！亚伯拉罕！不要伤害这孩子，你敬爱上帝，我知道你最爱上帝。”亚伯拉罕又看见一只公羊，它的角被树枝卡住了，亚伯拉罕把公羊抓来当祭物，代替他那唯一的儿子。亚伯拉罕把那地方叫做“上帝必有预备”。因为亚伯拉罕信靠上帝，上帝便大大的赐福给他。 亚伯拉罕信奉上帝吗？ 最后，亚伯拉罕献给上帝的祭是什么？
Abraham and Isaac
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One day God tested Abraham’s love. He said, “Abraham, I want you to give your only son to me. I want you to sacrifice Isaac on an altar.” This was very difficult for Abraham, since he loved Isaac very much. But Abraham trusted God. Early the next morning, Abraham took Isaac to a mountain and built an altar. “Father, where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” Isaac asked. “God will provide!” answered Abraham. Then Abraham laid his son on the altar. Suddenly, an angel of God shouted, “Abraham! Abraham! Do not hurt the boy. Since you have obeyed the Lord God, I now know that your love for God is great!” Then Abraham saw a ram caught by his horns in the bushes. Abraham sacrificed the ram that God had provided instead of his only son. Abraham named that place “The Lord will provide.” The Lord God blessed Abraham with a great reward because he trusted Him. Did Abraham trust God? What did Abraham offer to God at the end?
Abraham and Isaac
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亚伯兰敬拜至高之神，但他的邻舍们都拜假神。上帝对亚伯兰说：“离开这片土地，去一个新的地方，我会赐福给你。”亚伯兰按上帝的吩咐，收拾好自己的行装便离开了。上帝向亚伯兰显现，说：“我会把你看见的土地都赐给你和你的家人。”亚伯兰很感谢上帝。 一天晚上，亚伯兰在异象中听见上帝对他说：“你能数算夜空中的星星吗？我会赐你很多子孙，多到你没法数算。”后来，上帝把亚伯兰的名字改为亚伯拉罕。上帝再一次说：“你要做多人的父。”亚伯拉罕如今九十九岁了，上帝说：“你的妻子撒拉将要生一个儿子。”亚伯拉罕说：“撒拉和我已经老了，不能再生小孩。”上帝说：“难道在我有难成的事吗？”撒拉和亚伯拉罕果然生了一个儿子，取名叫以撒，以撒的意思是：“欢笑之声”。 是谁让亚伯拉罕去一个新的地方？ 亚伯拉罕爱不爱上帝？
God’s Promise to Abraham
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Abram worshipped the Most High God. His neighbours prayed to false gods. God told Abram, “Leave this country. Go to a new land, and I will bless you.” Abram obeyed God. Abram packed all his things and moved. Then God appeared to Abram and said, “I will give all the land you see to you and your family.” Abram thanked God. One night God spoke to Abram in a vision. “Can you count all the stars in the night sky? I will bless you with as many children as there are stars, you will not be able to count them.” Later God changed Abram’s name to Abraham. Again, God said, “You will be the father of many.” At that time Abraham was ninety-nine years old. God said, “Your wife, Sarah, will give birth to a son.” Abraham said, “Sarah and I are too old, we are not able to have children.” “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” said God. Then, just as God had promised, Sarah and Abraham had a son. His name was Isaac, which means “laughter”. Who told Abraham to go to a new place? Did Abraham love God?
God’s Promise to Abraham
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Soon the earth was full of people again. Everyone used the same language to talk. The people said, “Let’s build a city with a tall tower to show how wonderful we are.” These proud people thought they were greater than God. God was not happy. So He confused their language. The people stopped building the tower and scattered to every land. And the city was named Babel, which means “confusion.” From then on, people lived in different lands, each group speaking their own language. Why was God not happy with the people who built the Tower of Babel? Why did God confuse their language?
The Tower of Babel
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那时候，地上住满了邪恶的人，上帝造了后悔人。他说：“我要把地上所有的都毁灭，再重新开始！”但上帝见到一个行为正直的好人，那人叫挪亚。上帝告诉挪亚：“我要叫洪水把大地淹没，如果你造一条大船，就可以逃命。”挪亚照上帝的吩咐，造了一条又高又大的船，他的家人和许多动物都安全地住在里面。挪亚把不同种类的动物都带上了船，狮子、大象、猴子和大熊等动物成双成对地上了船。最后，上帝把舱门紧紧关上。天空电闪雷鸣，开始下大暴雨。暴雨下了四十个昼夜，洪水高涨，连山顶也被淹没，地上所有的都被毁灭了。最后，上帝叫一阵大风把地面吹干，大船搁浅在干地上。挪亚从船上放飞了一只鸽子，鸽子飞回来时，嘴里叼着一片橄榄叶。挪亚知道地面已经差不多干透了。挪亚离开大船后，他筑了一座祭坛，他感谢上帝救了他和他的家人，上帝非常喜悦，他赐福给挪亚。上帝说：“我永远不会再用洪水毁灭大地，天上的那道彩虹就是我给你的见证。” 挪亚为什么要造一条大船？ 上帝拯救挪亚一家人的原因是什么？
Noah and the Big Flood
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The earth was crowded with wicked people. The Most High God was sorry that He made humankind. He said, “I will destroy everything on earth and start again!” But God saw one good man who tried to do right. The man’s name was Noah. God told Noah, “I will drown the earth in a flood of water. You will be saved, if you build a big boat.” Noah did everything God said. He built a boat tall and wide. His family and many animals would hide safely inside. Noah put two of every kind of animal on the boat – lions, elephants, monkeys, and bears; every animal pair marched onto the boat. When it was all ready, God sealed the door shut. Thunder and lightning crashed. Rain poured from the sky. The storm lasted for forty days and forty nights. The water rose high above the mountain peaks, and everything was destroyed. Finally, God sent a wind to dry the earth and the boat touched solid ground. Then Noah sent a dove from the boat. The dove returned with an olive leaf in his beak, then Noah knew the ground was almost dry. When Noah left the boat, he built an altar. He thanked God for saving his family. God was very pleased. He blessed Noah. God said, “I will never again destroy the earth with a flood. A rainbow in the sky will be the sign of my promise to you.” Why did Noah build the ark? Why did God save Noah and his family?
Noah and the Big Flood