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迦南受咒詛

創世記 9:20-29

20 挪亞做起農夫來,栽了一個葡萄園。 21 他喝了園中的酒便醉了,在帳篷裡赤著身子。 22 迦南的父親含看見他父親赤身,就到外邊告訴他兩個弟兄。 23 於是閃和雅弗拿件衣服搭在肩上,倒退著進去,給他父親蓋上,他們背著臉就看不見父親的赤身。

有人說挪亞在五百歲生兒育女之後,就開始做起方舟的總工程師;六百歲時變成方舟遊輪的船長;約601歲時,挪亞全家離開方舟,他轉行作農夫,而且做得很好,不僅栽了一個葡萄園,而且還能用葡萄釀酒。可能太興奮了,他一下喝太多,醉了。還好,他是在自己的帳篷裡喝的;不幸的是,他那時沒穿衣服。

本來,在自己的睡房裡有沒有穿衣服,實在跟別人沒關係。國外也有很多人睡覺時不穿衣服。偏偏小兒子不知為何事闖進父親的帳篷,看到了父親的祼體,覺得很好笑,便跑出去告訴兩個哥哥。哥哥們比較懂事,他們拿件衣服搭在肩上,倒退著進去,給父親蓋上,他們背著臉就看不見父親的赤身。這裡就是一個心態上尊重和不尊重的分別,尤其是對長輩。

Afraid of What’s Next?

Life comes with surprises. On our list of fears, the fear of what’s next demands a prominent position.

In John 14:27, on the eve of his death, Jesus promised his followers, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Heaven’s message is clear. When everything else changes, God’s presence never does. As Jesus sends you into new seasons, you journey in the company of the Holy Spirit. So make friends with whatever’s next. Embrace it. Change is not only a part of life; change is a necessary part of God’s strategy. To use us to change the world, God makes reassignments.

立虹為記

創世記 9:1-19

神賜福給挪亞和他的兒子,對他們說:「你們要生養眾多,遍滿了地。 2 凡地上的走獸和空中的飛鳥,都必驚恐,懼怕你們,連地上一切的昆蟲並海裡一切的魚,都交付你們的手。 3 凡活著的動物,都可以做你們的食物,這一切我都賜給你們,如同菜蔬一樣。 4 唯獨肉帶著血,那就是牠的生命,你們不可吃。 5 流你們血,害你們命的,無論是獸是人,我必討他的罪,就是向各人的弟兄也是如此。 6 凡流人血的,他的血也必被人所流,因為神造人是照自己的形象造的。 7 你們要生養眾多,在地上昌盛繁茂。」

滅世的洪水退後,這個世界開始有變化了,以前的天氣可能四季如春,沒有四季,只有一季。在挪亞為耶和華築了一座壇,拿各類潔淨的牲畜、飛鳥獻在壇上為燔祭後,神說:「我不再因人的緣故咒詛地,也不再按著我才行的滅各種的活物了。地還存留的時候,稼穡、寒暑、冬夏、晝夜就永不停息了。(創8:21-22)」神一宣告,稼穡、寒暑、冬夏、晝夜就永不停息了。神不再咒詛地,地才會為人生產作物。這世界上開始有了四季,神不管做什麼都是那麼美好,四季帶給人不同的感受,不同的水果菜肴,人類的生活更豐富了。

與人比較

創世記 4:6

耶和華對該隱說:「你為什麼發怒呢?你為什麼變了臉色呢? 7 你若行得好,豈不蒙悅納?你若行得不好,罪就伏在門前。它必戀慕你,你卻要制伏它。」

回顧……

伊甸園之後,第一個被記錄的罪,不是說謊、偷竊,而是殺人,起因於「比較」!

該隱與亞伯一同向神獻祭,神看中了亞伯和他的供物,只是看不中該隱和他的供物(創世記4:1-16)。經文沒有詳細交代差異的細節,沒有評論「看中或看不中」(雖然我們多所揣測、分析),卻清楚描寫「比較」帶出罪的暈染,該隱就大大地發怒,變了臉色。

神提醒亞伯說:「…你若行得好,豈不蒙悅納?你若行得不好,罪就伏在門前。…」神沒有把亞伯拿來與該隱比較,「比較」並不是神的評量方式,而是人自己在心中設立的法庭。當該隱把亞伯從「弟弟」變成「對手」,世界第一次流血。

「人的比較」往往出現在沒有真理的標準、模糊的表象當中,我們不經意的陷入財富、名位、成就、容貌…,甚至教會服事、領人歸主的「比較」陷阱;接著,罪就悄然進入我們的內心,衍生出不平、憤怒、貪婪、忌妒、爭競…。

Fear of Life’s Final Moment

Maybe you share this deep desire: a desire to face death unafraid. To die without fright or a fight, perhaps even with a smile.

Some say that’s impossible. But Christ promises in John 14:1-3, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (TLB).

Jesus experienced a physical and factual resurrection. And—here it is— because he did, we will too! If Jesus’ tomb is empty, then his promise is not. So let’s die with faith. Jesus grants courage for the final passage, death. No need to dread it or ignore it. Because of Jesus Christ, you can face it.

洪水消落

創世記 8:1-14

 1神記念挪亞和挪亞方舟裡的一切走獸牲畜。神叫風吹地,水勢漸落。 2 淵源和天上的窗戶都閉塞了,天上的大雨也止住了。 3 水從地上漸退,過了一百五十天,水就漸消。 4 七月十七日,方舟停在亞拉臘山上。 5 水又漸消,到十月初一日,山頂都現出來了。

6 過了四十天,挪亞開了方舟的窗戶, 7 放出一隻烏鴉去。那烏鴉飛來飛去,直到地上的水都乾了。 8 他又放出一隻鴿子去,要看看水從地上退了沒有。 9 但遍地上都是水,鴿子找不著落腳之地,就回到方舟挪亞那裡,挪亞伸手把鴿子接進方舟來。 10 他又等了七天,再把鴿子從方舟放出去。 11 到了晚上,鴿子回到他那裡,嘴裡叼著一個新擰下來的橄欖葉子,挪亞就知道地上的水退了。 12 他又等了七天,放出鴿子去,鴿子就不再回來了。

當挪亞六百歲,二月十七日那一天,大淵的泉源都裂開了,天上的窗戶也敞開了, 四十晝夜降大雨在地上。水勢浩大,在地上共一百五十天。水從地上漸退,過了一百五十天,水就漸消。七月十七日,方舟停在亞拉臘山上。水又漸消,到十月初一日,山頂都現出來了。

How to Survive Prosperity

Are you “rich in this present age?” Almost half the world lives on less than $2.50 a day. So, if your income is higher, then you are rich, and your affluence demands double vigilance.

How can a person survive prosperity? Well first, do not be haughty. Do not think for a moment that you had anything to do with your accumulation. Money is an untrustworthy foundation. The United States economy endured ten recessions between 1948 and 2001.

Don’t trust money. Trust God. He owns everything and gives us all things to enjoy. Move from the fear of scarcity to the comfort of provision. “Do good … be rich in good works, ready to give, and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:18 NKJV).

Trust God, the Provider

In Luke 12:19-20, the rich man said to himself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you” (NCV).

The rich fool went to the wrong person— himself. And he asked the wrong question— What shall I do? His error was that his plans did not include God. Jesus did not criticize the man’s affluence. He criticized his arrogance.

Accumulation of wealth is a popular defense against fear. We think the more we have, the safer we are. God does not want his children to trust money. God is the great provider. The great giver. Absolutely generous and utterly dependable. Trust him, not stuff!

挪亞進方舟

創世記 7:1-24

耶和華對挪亞說:「你和你的全家都要進入方舟,因為在這世代中,我見你在我面前是義人。 2 凡潔淨的畜類,你要帶七公七母,不潔淨的畜類,你要帶一公一母, 3 空中的飛鳥也要帶七公七母,可以留種,活在全地上。 4 因為再過七天,我要降雨在地上四十晝夜,把我所造的各種活物都從地上除滅。」 5 挪亞就遵著耶和華所吩咐的行了。

當我們讀這段聖經時,很多人都很好奇,挪亞用什麼方法可以找到那麼多一對一對不潔淨的畜類,甚至是七對七對潔淨的畜類,連空中的飛鳥也要帶七公七母,一對對的昆蟲,何等不易! 但是當我們再仔細讀時,就會發現當洪水氾濫在地上的時候,那些活物是自行到挪亞那裡進入方舟。是神把牠們帶到挪亞那裡,是神引導牠們進入方舟。這些畜類是出於神的揀選,不是挪亞去抓來的。因為祂是創造萬物的神。

人的盡頭

創世記 6:13-22

13 神就對挪亞說:「凡有血氣的人,他的盡頭已經來到我面前,因為地上滿了他們的強暴。我要把他們和地一併毀滅。 14 你要用歌斐木造一隻方舟,分一間一間地造,裡外抹上松香。 15 方舟的造法乃是這樣:要長三百肘,寬五十肘,高三十肘。 16 方舟上邊要留透光處,高一肘。方舟的門要開在旁邊。方舟要分上、中、下三層。 17 看哪,我要使洪水氾濫在地上,毀滅天下,凡地上有血肉、有氣息的活物,無一不死。

亞當Adam“ Man人 ”塞特Seth “ Appointed被注定” 以挪士Enosh“ Mortal不免一死的 ” 該南Cainan “ Sorrow悲哀” 瑪勒列Mahalalel “ The Blessed / Praised God可稱頌的神” 雅列Jared“ Shall come down將要降臨” 以諾Enoch “Teaching教導” 瑪土撒拉Methuselah “ His death shall bring他的死將帶來”拉麥Lamech “ The despairing絕望的”. 挪亞Noah “ Rest, or comfort安慰、安息”