2019年11月29日星期五

智慧人生何处寻

列王纪上三2-15
所罗门王梦中向上帝求智慧
以色列第一任王是扫罗,第二王是大卫。大卫的儿子所罗门登位当第三任的王。当时所罗门还年幼,大概十多岁。
所罗门爱耶和华,遵行他父亲大卫的律例,只是还在邱坛献祭烧香。有一天,所罗门王上基遍去献祭,因为在那里有极大的邱坛。他在那坛上献一千祭牲作燔祭。在基遍,夜间中梦中耶和华向所罗门显现,对他说:『你愿我赐你什么?你可以求。』
所罗门向上帝陈明:『你仆人我父亲大卫用诚实、公义、正直的心行在你面前,你就向他大施恩典;又为他存留大恩,赐他一个儿子坐在他的位上,正如今日一样。耶和华我的神啊,如今你使仆人接续我父亲大卫作王,但我是幼童,不知道应当怎样出入。仆人住在你所拣选的民中,这民多得不可胜数。所以求你赐我智慧,可以判断你的民,能辨别是非。不然,谁能判断这众多的民呢?』
所罗门因为求这事,就蒙主喜悦。神对他说:『你既然求这事,不为自己求寿求富,也不求灭绝你仇敌的性命,单求智慧可以听诉讼,我就应允你所求的,赐你聪明智慧,甚至在你以前没有像你的,在你以后也没有像你的。你所没有求的,我也赐给你,就是富足、尊荣,使你在世的日子,列王中没有一个能比你的。你若效法你父亲大卫,遵行我的道,仅守我的律例、诫命、我必使你长寿。』
所罗门醒了,不料是个梦。他就回到耶路撒冷,站在耶和华的约柜前,献燔祭和平安祭,有为他的臣仆摆设筵席。
敬畏神和谦卑是智慧的开端
经文说,『所罗门爱耶和华,遵行他父亲大卫的律例』(节)。这『大卫的律例』就是耶和华的律例典章。接着提到所罗门王上基遍献祭给上帝。这表明所罗门已经是拥有敬畏上帝的心,因此上帝就显现,问他希望得到什么。旧约的智慧文学强调敬畏上帝乃是智慧的开端。
所罗门也非常诚实。他向神承认他还是年少,不懂得管理这么多人民。这显出所罗门有一颗谦卑受教的心。
一般人看来,财富、尊荣和长寿才是首要的,谁会想到求智慧呢?
所以严格来说,所罗门本来就拥有智慧,知道应该向神求什么。他的智慧乃是出自他那谦卑和敬畏神的心。他一心要做个胜任的神的仆人去管理国家,而上帝就应允赐给他更加多的聪明智慧。
所罗门不是求本身的好处,而是求智慧去管理国家神的工作。神特别喜悦他的动机,连他没有求的长寿,财富和战胜敌人,国土太平都赐给他。
今天我们若把神和他的工作放在首位,他必会满足我们深层的需要,给我们祝福满满。
今天我们要有聪明智慧和明辨的心,必须首先拥有敬畏上帝和谦卑的心。
一个敬畏上帝的人必然是尊重上帝话语,尊重上帝主权的人,也就是懂得去聆听上帝话语的人。
许多人将『神学家』看为洪水猛兽,其实他们不知道,神学的开端乃是聆听神的话,而聆听的态度就是指谦卑恭听的意思。当人以敬畏,谦卑受教的心去聆听上帝的话语时,上帝的心意,上帝的法则就向他敞开。久而久之,他就从上帝那里领受许多智慧。
所罗们看见自己的年少,缺乏经验和难以胜任时,证明他是一个谦卑的人!很多时候,人不是忽略谦卑,而是不知道怎么去实际上活出谦卑!
有一些基督徒非常狂热地拥抱本身的教会,领袖或信仰系统。他们不愿意去明白,研究,与自己不同的信仰系统。这些人对教会历史,个别教会传统或信仰系统采取关闭的态度。这其实是缺乏谦卑的心。这必然衍生『我对、你错』 的结论。
结果这种人变得行事怪诞、愚昧、单调,根本无法盛载生命实际的多元性。那里谈得上什么智慧呢?
这样的人也很容易掉入一相情愿的属灵观,喜欢操纵上帝去满足自己的意愿,不愿意尊重上帝的主权。这又那来敬畏上帝的心呢?
原来敬畏上帝和保持谦卑,不能只挂在口里就可以。人必须实实在在去聆听各方的意见和教导,这样一个智慧的人生才能够建立起来。
福音信仰的教会拥有一些正统的神学院和书店。如果某一个人,或某一个信仰体系是反对会友多涉猎这些神学院和书店的话,或者反对会友从中学习和深造,那实在是很没有智慧的生命。
你的信仰体系有否鼓励你去认识和欣赏别的福音信仰传统呢?别掉入一言堂!
杜绝『懒人的智慧』
所罗门求智慧的举动不是来自一时的心血来潮。他是祈望获得更多智慧去明辨是非,好管理国家。最后他成功治理国家,井井有条,进入强盛的黄金时代。这里看到所罗门拥有的是一种行动的智慧或动态的智慧。
然而,今天一些人跌入一种『懒人的智慧』或静态的智慧,却沾沾自喜!『行动的智慧』和『懒人的智慧』,分别在哪里呢?
所罗门王日处万机,接见各国大使,并且与各国通商。他吸收各方的知识和勤力学习。那么智慧是什么呢?智慧就是就一种『实践上的聪明』,帮助他有敏锐,明辨的能力,将本身的知识或学问恰当的使用出来,好叫难题迎刃而解!所以这是行动的智慧。
与此相反,许多人抓住一句话:『属灵人能够参透万事』,因此他们不开放自己,不采取积极的态度去学习各方的知识。他们将『智慧』灵意化。他们以为透过禁食祷告,事奉,传福音就会成为有智慧的人。这是『懒人的智慧』。
禁食祷告、服事和灵修,可以叫人亲近神,身心灵被神的同在更新,使自己更对神的心意敏锐,信心更坚强,更有能力与恩膏去做服事。这是属灵生命必须有的操练,但并不足够给人智慧去参透万事necessary but not sufficient)。
属灵人若要有智慧去参透万事,还必须加上许多方面学习和阅读,让自己更明白事物发生的来龙去脉、掌握思考方法以及一些专业操作规定和原则。若不是这样,属灵人很容易生出傲慢和愚昧,自己却不知道!这样属灵人变成『属零人』!
还有一些人读神学时候态度马马虎虎,做功课和考试一拖再拖,理由堂而皇之是『忙于事奉』,因此没有时间读书和做功课。还遇见一些人,在台上口沫横飞,声嘶厉色的批评,斥责天下事,天下人,然而本身是不学无术之辈。
所罗门王的智慧被传颂和仰慕,乃是因为他的是『行动的智慧』。这种智慧乃是叫人更加聪明和勤劳吸收学问,不是叫人懒惰,闭门造车。换句话说,智慧和知识,勤劳学习是紧扣在一起的。我们无法想像有人是很有智慧,却是缺乏知识。
什么是属灵人,知识人,智慧人?这是值得大家去慎重思考的。当你愿意认真反省时,这就是有智慧的行动了!
结语
所罗门王年少登基,面临巩固王位,民生和政治外交的问题。他需要上帝的智慧来帮他处理得当。他没有求神代他做那些工作。
我们不也应当求神代替我们做事。神要借着我们去完成工作。我们应当求神赐智慧,让我们知道当做的事,以及如何去做得好。我们还要求神赐给我们勇气去完成这工作。最后自己也当积极和谦卑的多放学习和尝试,好吸收经验和知识。
无论面临新的岗位,工作、事奉、人生里任何的变迁,包括时代革命等大事,我们都可以祈求上帝赐下智慧,帮助我们做出正确的判断和妥当处理。
圣灵的恩膏不单给我们能力去行神迹奇事,讲道说预言。他也可以恩膏我们智慧能力去处理教会的管治,文字艺术和各种文化创作等活动。旧约圣经说,圣灵恩膏比撒列,好叫他能够手作出各样巧工,去负责圣所的建造(出三十一1-3)。
今天你正在面临什么新的挑战呢?

我们来仿效所罗门,带着敬畏,谦卑聆听的态度来祈求上帝赐下圣灵浇灌我们,恩膏我们智慧和勇气去明辨事理,在各行各业,在各个岗位做到最好,为社会人群谋求福利,荣神益人。

2019年11月25日星期一

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith



Genesis 12:1-5; Romans 1:17
God called Abraham Out of Ur
God called Abram to leave his native country, his relatives, and his father’s family, and go to the land that God would show him (Gen 12:1).
God later changed Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “father of all nations” (Gen 17:5). God wanted to extend His promise and blessings to all nations through Him.
Abraham encountered several critical trials in his lifetime, and one of the trials was to choose between Ur and Canaan.
Ur was located between two fertile river banks, where Mesopotamia was, in today’s Iraq, where Basrah was located nearby. This city was richly endowed with geographical advantages, and it became one of the most ancient civilized and prosperous metropolitan cities of the day.
According to the information provided by archaeological discovery, Ur was a place which produced many gold and jewellery, and was rich with architecture buildings, sculpture art, canal, arithmetic chart (an arithmetic formula that used to calculate square and cubic roots) and it used to be well-known globally.
Such was a great and rich city that was the dream city for many people. But God called Abraham to leave Ur and head toward a foreign place which was unknown to him, a place where he had never heard before.
This was indeed a decision that was hard to make. It was definitely a journey of faith from Ur to Canaan. We can ponder upon this from three perspectives:
Seeing from the Perspective of Missions
Why did God want Abraham to come out from Ur?
It was a place full of idolatry under the context of those days. The record found from the mud tablets shows that the highest god they worshipped was known as Nanna, a moon god, which was called Sin in Semitic language.
The Bible does not inform us under what circumstances that Abraham had come to believe in the One and Only God. But something that was for sure, that God only called Abraham to leave Ur after he had come to believe in Monotheism. Abraham was 75 by then.
In another word, his departure from Ur was more than passively leaving an idolatrous environment, but God's will was that, through this father of faith, the belief in Monotheism could be spread to all nations.
God made a promise to Abraham when He called him to leave his country and his father’s family, and He said to Abraham, “And all peoples of the earth shall be blessed through you.” Gen 12:3
God gave three promises to Abraham: First, He would make his descendants a great nation; Second, He would make his name great; and third, He would make him a channel of blessings to all peoples on earth.
It was a universal plan. Out of a family, a nation was born. And out of a nation, a Saviour was born. It would eventually bring forth salvation to all mankind.
The two women (Rahab and Ruth) who were recorded in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in New Testament happened to be Gentiles. It highlighted their faith that caused them to receive the gift of God, as well as God's predestination for the Gentiles to receive His salvation.
The Lord Jesus Christ has given the Great Commission to the Church before His Ascension.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
Salvation has come upon us today, but it is not to remain on us only. The Gospel has to be spread by us, in order for all men to be blessed. The work of missions has been entrusted to us. How then can we keep it for ourselves?
Let’s preach the Gospel from today onwards with the burden, passion and courage from above. God will surely be with us, giving us all kinds of gifts in order to serve others. God will surely bless us greatly, as how He had blessed Abraham
Seeing from the Perspective of Identity
Leaving Ur signified a change in his identity. From a resident he became a sojourner. From a big house in a settled place he had to move around making tents.
The Bible tells us that from the time Abraham left Ur at the age of 75, until he left the world at the age of 175, he led a simple lifestyle and lived in tents made by the camel’s skin.
He had never owned a big house throughout those 100 years. Though he possessed great wealth, he never loved all these treasures. He lived a simple and unmaterialistic lifestyle.
After his death, men carried his body from his tent and buried him with Sarah in the cave of Mechpelah.
Abraham has two marks in his life: Altar and Tent.
“Altar building” indicated that he remembered to worship God wherever he was, and he made God the most trusted One in his life. It was also to declare God's sovereignty over his life and his inheritance of the land God had given to him.
“Tent” signified that the world was not a place he desired, for he was only a sojourner who lived there temporarily, and what he did look forward was a daily walk with God to follow His leading.
He was looking forward to live in a more beautiful home in heaven, “the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” Hebrews 11:10).
To us Christians, the world is not our home, for our home is in heaven. No matter how wonderful the world is, it is not for us to stay permanently. We are sojourners. We are traveling on a heavenly journey. Hence, we need to learn to leave and to let go.
Think about it. Is your current environment too comfortable for you causing you to be entangled by many things until you are unable to see the eternal destiny and forget about your identity?
The Bible says that, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes in Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
Seeing from the Perspective of Time
Leaving Ur and going to Canaan according to the instructions of God was a process that would not be accomplished in a short while. God wanted Abraham to wait upon His instructions in every step he took. He was unaware of any happenings ahead of him, until the very last moment.
Therefore, only one type of people will be able to accomplish such a task, and they have to keep persevering as they progress in time.
The book of Hebrews said that, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8
There are two words in the scripture, “obeyed” and “did not know”.
“Obeyed” was a courageous action that was taken, and he would not give up easily even until the very last minute. “Did not know“ highlighted the reality of one's faith.
Just like what is said in the Bible. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
Real faith does not grow from knowing to unknown, but from unknown to knowing. Real faith takes time to develop and it produces effectiveness after trials. Time is the tool God uses to temper us. Most of the people used by God have gone through the test of time.
MosesHe was trained by God for eighty years, especially during the time he shepherded the flock in the wilderness. God called him after that.
Joshua: Though he was passionate the time he spied the land of Canaan, God allowed him to wait for 40 years before he started conquer it.
CalebHis faith stayed unaffected by his age. Even when he had reached the age of 85, he remained unwavering in his spirit and did not retire at his old age.
DavidHe was anointed by Samuel as king while he was a shepherd boy, but God wanted him to be king after Saul’s death. By then he was already 30 years old.
PaulPaul met the Lord in Damascus, and he received a special mission. But he had to withdraw himself 14 years in the wilderness before he was officially an apostle, and before he went on missions and planted churches everywhere.
Life has so called “three experiences”: The youth strives to study well; the success of those middle age depends largely on their encounters; and the old are assessed by their record of sicknesses.
However, for Christians, God values our spiritual journey with Him.
Conclusion
God called Abraham to leave Urand it was the start of his journey of faith. Every step he took, there was God's blessing and guidance for him. Abraham walked with God for 100 years, and his faith was intact consistently. Thereforehe fulfilled God's plan for him.
We have to emphasize a point here: It was not the self-confidence of Abraham that made God’s promise a reality. God’s promise was in fact a reality, and this reality caused Abraham to have faith in God.
Only such faith will be able to overcome any threats, temptations, and all kinds of hardships, and enable one to accomplish the mission entrusted by God.
Man’s faith must be built upon God's promises. Otherwise, we will be easily discouraged whenever we face trials and changes in our environment.
Others will only have faith by sight. However, we who are descendants of Abraham walk by faith even when we can’t see by sight. Faith is not a slogan, but an action. Faith is not to blindly follow, but to obey God. Faith is not the result of an experience, but a fruit of trial.
“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.” (Hebrews 11:6

Somewhere Over the Rainbow


Genesis 8:15-9:17
God Covenanted with Noah
Genesis tells us that the hearts of men were filled with all kinds of evil and sinful thoughts since the time of Cain until Enoch and even right unto the day of Noah. The world was plagued with sins and thus, God sent the flood.
Genesis 6:5-7: “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So, the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.
The Lord sent the flood to wipe out all the creatures of the earth. Only Noah found favour in His eyes. Noah followed God’s instruction to build an ark, and he brought in his family members and all kinds of animal, so that they would not be destroyed by the flood.
After the flood had receded, Noah came out from the ark, and he called out to God and offered sacrifices to Him.
The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Gen 8:21-22
God Keeps the World in Its Proper Order and Function
God promised to not destroy all living creatures on earth because of men’s sin against Him. God also promised to keep normal the circles and changes of season. Animals would be allowed to keep on living.
God would maintain the environment and weather that the creatures on earth needed. Water that was needed in seasons for seeds to grow until harvest time, as well as day and night, they shall never cease.
Though the inclination of the hearts of men were still evil after the flood, and they deserved nothing but punishment, yet God made the promise to take care of them.
God’s covenanted parties include the earth, all the living creatures on earth, Noah and his sons and all the human races that came from their lines. God promised to keep, to sustain and to rule over the earth, and all the human races and the living creatures on it.
This covenant is not a covenant of salvation, and the promise included therein is not a promise to deliver someone out of his sin or curses, but to keep the world in its natural order, so that life can be preserved continually.
God Established a New Order for the World
After the flood had destroyed the world, God commanded Noah and his descendants to be fruitful and increase in number, multiply on earth and increase upon it.
 “Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them⋯⋯As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.” (Gen 9:1,7
 It was from Noah’s times that God allowed man to hunt animals for food, and man and animals feared each other since then.
 “The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.” (Gen9:2-4)
God gave all things to be food for Noah. Noah could eat all kinds of animal and vegetable. This rule implies that there is a need for man to work, as man needs to plant and to rear animals in order to have animals and vegetables as his food. All the hard work is his channel to get his food.
So, God has determined that work be a good and necessary component in the lives of human being.
But God allows man to eat only meat without blood and life. Prior to this, man ate only plant and vegetables (Gen 1:29). Later, when Moses declared the dietary law (Leviticus 17:11), the Israelites were forbidden to eat certain meat and food.
It was until the time of New Testament that the law of Christ teaches us to eat all food (Rom 14:14; 1 Tim 4:3).
God forbade Noah and his descendants to kill others based on the same reason – not to shed innocent blood.
“And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.” (Gen 9:5-6)
God values each and every one of our lives, because man is created in the image of God. God declares that whoever shed the life of another human being, his blood will be shed too. It indicates that killing is something wrong, and it deserves punishment of death.
All these rules are bases for God to establish government and law. The government is empowered by its citizens to rule over their society, especially to protect the lives of its people, possession and freedom.
Though the inclination of the thoughts of man’s heart was still evil since young even after the flood, yet God has put His natural law in the conscience of man (Romans 2:14-15). Man is then capable of walking rightly, and that they are without excuse when they are judged by God.
God uses Noahic covenant to be the base and He rules the world through the natural law, and He creates an awareness in the hearts of men towards this law, so that men will not be utterly evil. God regulates all aspects of civil society through the Noahic covenant.
The Noahic Covenant and the Sign
Even though the hearts of men were evil, God confirmed that man was made in the image of God and he shall be God’s representative on earth through the covenant He made with Noah.
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So, God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” (Gen 9:12-17)
Noahic Covenant is God’s love for the world, which is manifested through His covenant with them. The rainbow is the sign of the covenant. Wherever we are, and whenever we see the rainbow in the sky, we are reminded of His promise (Gen 9:13-14), that He will not destroy again all the living creatures on earth with the flood (Gen 9:11).
“Noahic Covenant” includes the following characteristics: (1) It is unconditional (Gen 9:9), and God has emphasized it again in verse 15-16 that He will keep His promise;(2) It is universal (Gen 9:11); (3) It is everlasting (Gen 9:12). 
In conclusion, the “Noahic Covenant” in the Old Testament reveals the way God gives grace to mankind.  God made His covenant with men after He had done His judgment on earth, and He turned His judgment into His grace, that by Noah and His family and all the animals that were preserved in the ark, the world was granted a new beginning. 
In Genesis chapter 9, God promised that He shall bless all mankind, and He made new regulations. He promised to be faithful to the mankind, and He forbade killing, and He gave His sign (rainbow on sky) as a promise to not destroy by flood all that He had created.
The Noahic Covenant and the New Testament
God gave common grace to all human beings through His covenant with Noah, regardless of what religions they chose to believe in. But in Christ, God has given us a special saving grace. It is the saving grace God gives to His elect.
The special grace in Christ includes the blessings of being born again, justification, to be called the children of God, etc. (Romans 8: 28-30)
God does not give His blessings of saving grace in Christ to those in the world who are yet to be born again. Therefore, this is the uniqueness of the new covenant which is made in Christ.
How does the Noahic Covenant – the common grace – be relevant to the Christian living?
Firstly, rainbow reminds us that God will keep alive all lives on earth until Christ comes again. We are comforted for we are assured that nothing is to disrupt the salvation plan of God. Therefore, we do not fear rumours about the end of the world, whether Mars will hit the Earth, or invasions from some outer space creatures.
Secondly, God promised not to destroy the world but to give common grace to all creatures of the earth. It explains the reasons why people from many non-Christian cultures and civilisations are blessed too, and why they have successfully built their lives and civilization which are full of glamour.
God also shows his compassion towards non-Christians, and He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous, or those that do not believe in Him.
Non-believers also have God-endowed conscience and wisdom to build their lives. Their achievement might be far more excellent than many of the believers. Nevertheless, they do not have Christ’s salvation in their inner beings. Hence, they are deprived of inner contentment as well as the ultimate hope of their life’s journey.
Their civilisation also lacks the redemptive power to break through the national vicious, bloody circle. Their literary imagination also lacks the Ultimate God and man, vertical relationship.  
Thirdly, God promised never to destroy the earth again. He gives common grace to all the creation of the world so that time and other objective conditions are provided for us to propagate His salvation plan—Christ’s gospel.
The common grace will end once Christ returns in the clouds.

Therefore, now we can rest assured on earth, to build and to evangelize in order to save souls, until the day Christ returns. Non-Christians ought to take hold of their opportunities to receive Christ’s salvation now, so that they can live a life that is full of joy, peace and meaning and to enter into the eternal rest in life to come by trusting in Christ.

2019年11月24日星期日

我的野蛮丈夫

创世记十二10-20
亚伯拉罕不认妻
亚伯拉罕原来的名字是『亚伯兰』,而妻子撒拉,原来称为『撒莱』。
亚伯兰以信心回应上帝的呼召,离开父家吾珥迁移到迦南地。他顺服上帝的呼召,跟从上帝的带领,到达了应许之地迦南。然而,他在应许之地却经历严重的饥荒,地没有生产。
这遭遇叫人费解!面临这人生难关,亚伯兰下到埃及,寄居在那里一段日子(10节)。圣经没有提到亚伯兰『下埃及』是否求问过上帝。他下埃及的行动,是否讨上帝的喜悦呢?
亚伯兰的儿子以撒遇见饥荒时,上帝吩咐他不要下到埃及(创二十六2);亚伯兰的孙,雅各下埃及前,先献祭给上帝,而上帝在异象中肯定他的举动(创四十六2-3)。
亚伯兰出吾珥乃是先有上帝的呼召,现在他出迦南,下到埃及却没有寻求上帝的指示在先。日后他在埃及发生『不认妻』的『小信』行径,当中充满反讽和负面的描述,也足以证明亚伯兰此行乃是错误之举。
亚伯兰在埃及时候,为了保护自己的性命,就使计谋,吩咐撒莱认自己是哥哥。他的计谋似乎是好的,却是弄巧反拙,因为埃及人真的以为撒莱是亚伯兰的妹子,就把她交给法老当妃子。
在紧要关头,上帝出手使到法老家生病,很可能也同时向法老启示,告诉他撒莱原本是亚伯兰的『妻子』,被丈夫当作一粒求生存的『棋子』。
故事结尾,法老把亚伯兰叫来,然后大义凛凛地教训他一顿。法老接着把亚伯兰两夫妻和许多财物一齐遣返迦南。
亚伯兰『下埃及』到『从埃及被送走』,从主动到被动,显示他凭自己的聪明行事,最后落得惨淡下场!撒莱有如沉默的羔羊,任由亚伯兰摆布,自愿牺牲自己去配合丈夫的计谋。
这下埃及事件乃是亚伯兰一手造成,因为他看见应许之地没有『出产』,就离开了。这预示日后撒莱因为看见自己不能『生产』,也错误行动把埃及人婢女,夏甲,交给亚伯兰做妾士。
然而,上帝不缄默,他为撒莱出手,保住她的贞节,最后让他们安全离开埃及,还带着许多财物离开。亚伯兰在法老面前被责骂,反而显得『缄默』,表现示出自己理亏,乃是以小人之心度君子之腹!
上帝是我们的保障和避难所
亚伯兰抵达应许之地,迦南,居住了若干年,但他不是从此生活无忧无虑,因为人必然遇见难题和挑战。
亚伯兰在迦南地支搭帐幕,过游牧生活,但是好景不常,他遇见饥荒。饥荒是古代社会,人们面对大自然运作,无从掌控的逆境。亚伯兰选择迁移,就下到埃及,打算暂时寄居在那里。
亚伯兰为自己的生存机会谋算,以便在埃及人当中存活,他不惜使出手段,叫撒拉认自己是哥哥。撒莱差点因为这样,就成为法老的妃子,必须长久居住在埃及。
生命有许多未知数,不测之风云。许多的横祸和逆境突然杀到,出乎人所意料。我们准备了许多计划去克服这些危机,以为自己能够掌控大局,然而,人算不如天算,我们的计划终于落空。
寻根究底,亚伯兰首先因为『害怕』地不出产,没有食物,就下到埃及去。他也因为『害怕』埃及人会杀了他,抢去撒莱,就叫太太认自己是哥哥(12-13节)。
对付『害怕』,最有效的就是学习信靠上帝。『害怕』是『信心』的反面,『信心』是医治『害怕』的良药。
在面对人生许多的不确定性,许多逆境时,让我们回到上帝面前祷告,交托给上帝。应当知到,我们可以策划许多可行的步骤,但是不能百分百保障成功的。上帝才是我们的保障,避难所。我们必须顺服他的带领,听从他的指示。上帝是信实的,他会出手摆平。
今天你是否面对个人生命的『饥荒』?你选择『下埃及』,采取一个不光彩,不讨上帝喜悦的方法去克服困难吗?
上帝说:『回转吧孩子!依靠我,我必然为你开路!』
信心伟人也有『小信』的时候
上帝呼召亚伯兰从吾珥出来,为了使他成为万国的祝福,万国之父。这是上帝拯救世界的救恩计划。现在亚伯兰下到埃及,为了求生,称自己是撒莱的哥哥,差点因此损害了妻子的贞操。
法老对亚伯兰的控诉提出真相,如果亚伯兰一开始就说出真话,他不一定被杀害,然后老婆被别人抢去,原来亚伯兰误解了同时代的埃及人。
亚伯兰的『小信』没有使人蒙福,反而使法老家受到咒诅。法老为自己辩护,控诉亚伯兰(1819节),然而他又善待亚伯兰,给后者礼物,显得自己比亚伯兰更加公义。在法老面前,亚伯兰哑口无言!『信心伟人』也有『小信』的时候。
人总是有软弱和错失,最敬虔的人也不是无懈可击。亚伯兰凭信心回应上帝,从吾珥出来,进到应许之地是荣耀之举动。现在他做错事,被法老从埃及送出去,乃是带着羞耻。
我们必须警醒,保持起初的信心。世上没有任何『绝对属灵,信心爆棚』的人。环境在改变,当一个全新的环境出现时,人们的信心就受到考验了。
亚伯兰就在这时候跌倒,他从(1-9节)的信心高峰,跌落至(10-20节)的低谷。我们容易犯上自负,内心骄傲,而忽略人性的脆弱和不逮。
人应当认识清楚人性的软弱,使自己懂得谦卑,懂得依靠上帝,而不至于过度自信。 
如果亚伯兰老早说出真相,他不会如其所料被埃及人所杀。这展示了人性另一个软弱,就是容易『多心』,产生不必要的忧虑和猜疑。这种态度使人活在恐惧,有如惊弓之鸟,没有平安,最后引发许多极端,错误,于事无补的行动。这错在过度谨慎,对上帝『小信』。
今天你是活在『过度自信』还是『过度的谨慎』呢?
我们应当看自己合乎中道,而且把目光聚焦在上帝身上,以敬拜,祈求和感恩作为每天活动的基础。
人的『不是』,显出上帝的『恩典』
亚伯兰夫妇沦落埃及,上帝及时插手干预,最后显出上帝的大能和荣耀。
纵然亚伯兰是软弱,上帝却是信实和怜悯,向他施恩惠,保护他,兑现自己的应许。如果撒莱成了法老的妃子,或者亚伯兰在埃及遇害,那么上帝的计划就不能够实现了。亚伯兰的权宜之计失算,但是上帝的计划永不落空。通过亚伯兰的『不是』,显出上帝的『恩典』。
我们每个人都曾经做错过,失败过,可能悔恨太迟。然而,不必感到沮丧,上帝的恩典够我们用。我们的计划落空了,但是上帝有恩惠慈爱,他保守我们不至于到了万劫不复的地步。上帝一出手施行拯救,超乎人所意料,令人感到惊讶。上帝能够化腐朽为传奇,帮助我们反败为胜!
亚伯兰终于得回撒莱,又带着许多牲畜和财物离开埃及。我们应当继续信靠上帝,以敬畏的心等候上帝出手。纵然人们在生命里的某些裂缝被卡住了,也一定能够脱颍而出,得到突破。上帝是体恤人的软弱,为人预备丰富的恩典。
如果你跌倒了,上帝要扶你起来,为你补救破口,使你能够重新上路,与上帝一同奔向人生的高峰!

2019年11月12日星期二

彩虹下的约定



创世记八15–17
神与挪亚立约
在创世记第六章之前,我们看见从该隐时代(四章)至以诺(五章),再到挪亚(六章)的日子,人心内充满了邪恶和犯罪的意念,世界彻底泛滥着罪恶,所以神降下洪水。
“耶和华看见人在地上的罪恶很大,终日心里思念的,尽都是邪恶的。于是,耶和华后悔造人在地上,心中忧伤。耶和华说:‘我要把我创造的人,从地上消灭;无论是人或牲畜,是爬行的动物或是天空的飞鸟,我都要消灭,因为我后悔造了他们。’”(创6:5-7
耶和华神就降下洪水灭绝地上全部的生物,唯有挪亚在他眼前蒙恩。挪亚顺从神的指示,造了一个方舟,使他一家人以及各种动物进入方舟里,在洪水泛滥时候不至于灭亡。
洪水退后,挪亚步出方舟,呼求神、献祭给神(创8:15-20)。
一.神在维持世界的正常运行(8:21-22
神悦纳了挪亚的祭,就心里说:“我必不再因人的缘故咒诅这地(因为人从小时开始心中所想的都是邪恶的);我也必不再照着我作过的,击杀各样的活物。大地尚存之日,播种、收割,寒暑、冬夏、白昼和黑夜必然循环不息。”(创8:21-22
神应许不会再因人犯罪的缘故毁灭全地。神也应许维持正常的季节循环更替。动物会继续存活。神会维护地上生物所需的环境和气候。季节的更替使种子成长至收割所需的雨水,以及昼夜的循环都会继续维持下去。
尽管洪水之后人类心中所想的还是邪恶,他们应得惩罚,神依旧立下这个应许照顾他们。神立约对象包括:大地、地上一切活物、以及从挪亚及其儿子们而出的全人类。神应许要维持、托住、治理全地,及其上的人类和活物。
这个约不是救赎性的约,其中的应许不是要拯救某方面脱离罪和咒诅,而是要维系世界自然秩序,好叫生命可以继续存在。
二.神设立世界新秩序(9:1-7
洪水毁灭世界后,神吩咐挪亚及他后代生育繁殖。
“神赐福给挪亚和他的儿子,对他们说:“你们要繁衍增多,充满大地⋯⋯你们要繁衍增多;要在地上滋生、增多。”(创9:1,7
自挪亚开始,神让人狩猎动物以作食物,人与动物之间便互相惧怕。
“地上各样的走兽,空中各样的飞鸟,甚至地上各样爬行的动物,和海里各样的鱼类,都要对你们惊恐惧怕;这一切都已经交在你们手里了。所有活着的动物都可以作你们的食物,我把这一切都赐给你们,好像我把青菜赐给了你们一样。唯独带着生命的肉,就是带着血的肉,你们却不可吃。”(创9:2-4
神要求挪亚和他儿子们生养众多。神透过人类和动物的生长来维持世界的秩序。
神又把万物赐给挪亚作食物。挪亚可以吃所有的动物和植物。这项规定暗示了人需要工作,因为要吃动物和菜蔬,人必须耕种和畜牧。这些劳动是取得食物的必要管道。神定意工作是人类生活中美好和必要的部分。
但神只容许人吃不带血且没有生命的肉。在此之前,人只吃植物菜疏(创1:29)。后来,摩西订立的饮食律例(利17:11)仍禁止以色列人吃某些肉类和食品。直至新约时代,基督的律法才教导我们什么食物都可以吃。(罗14:14;提前4:3
神禁止挪亚和他的后裔杀害他人,也是基于同一道理—不可流他人之血。
“流你们的血、害你们生命的,我必向他们追偿;无论是走兽或人类,甚至各人自己的兄弟,我必要他偿命。流人血的,人也必流他的血;因为神造人,是按着他自己的形象。”(创9:5-6
神重视每一个人的生命,正因人是按照神的形象而造。神宣布无论谁流别人的血,他的血也被人所流。这表明杀人是错的,而且可以报以死刑的惩罚。
这些规定是神设立政府和法律的基础。政府获得公民授权治理社会,特别是保护人民的性命财产自由。
尽管洪水过后,人还是从小心中怀着恶念,但神把自然律法放在人的良心里(罗二14-15)。人就可以秉公行事,在受到神的审判时,无可推诿。
神以挪亚之约作为基础,透过自然律法管理世界,并在堕落人心里保存对这律法的意识,好叫人不至于作恶到极点。神在挪亚之约里规范了人类公共生活的各个层面。
三.立约和印记(9:8-17
纵使人心偏恶,神仍借着与挪亚立约再次确认人是带有神的形象的,是神在地上的代表。
神说:“这就是我与你们,与一切跟你们同在有生命的活物所立之约的记号,直到万代;我把天虹放在云彩中,作我与大地立约的记号。我使云彩遮盖大地时,彩虹出现云彩中,我就记念我与你们和一切有生命的活物所立的约:水不再成为洪水,来毁灭凡有生命的。彩虹在云彩中出现,我看见了就记念我与地上一切有生命的活物,所立的永约。”神对挪亚说:“这就是我与地上凡有生命的立约的记号。”(创9:12-17
“挪亚之约”是神以盟约的形式展现祂对世人的爱。彩虹是立约的印记,无论我们身在何方,每当看见它横空出现,便记起神的应许(创9:13-14),永不再以洪水之灾毁灭世上一切的生命(创9:11)。
“挪亚之约”包含以下特点:(1)是无条件的(创9:9),并且在1516节一再强调祂会信守承诺;(2)是普世性的(创9:11);(3)是直到永远的(创9:12)。
总括来说,旧约中的“挪亚之约”彰显了神如何施恩予人类。在地上施行审判后,神与人立约,把审判变成恩典—借着挪亚一家和方舟内保存的动物,给世界一个重新的开始。
神在创世记第九章应许祂会赐福人类,设立新的规律。祂应许对人信实,祂禁止杀人,并且赐下记号(天虹),应许不再以洪水毁灭祂创造的一切。
四.挪亚之约与新约
神透过挪亚之约,赐下普遍恩典给全人类,不论他们信仰什么宗教。但神在基督里赐给我们特殊的救赎性恩典。这是神赐给选民的救赎恩惠。在基督里的特殊恩典的福分包括重生、称义、得儿女名分等(罗八28-30)。
神没有把蒙基督救赎的福分赐给那些世上未重生的人。所以这是基督立的新约是特殊性的。
为何挪亚之约普遍性恩典对基督徒的生活很重要?
第一、彩虹提我们,神会维护这世界各层面的存活生息,直到基督再来。这给予我们安慰,向我们确保没有任何事物可以阻扰神的救恩计划。所以我们不怕世界末日,火星撞地球,外太空生物来袭的谣言。
第二、神之应许不毁灭世界,给世界万物普遍恩典,解释了为什么许多非基督信仰文化的人也可以蒙福,成功打造灿烂光辉的文明和生命。神也怜悯非基督徒,降下雨给好人,坏人,或不相信他的人。
非信徒也有天赋良知和智慧去打造他们的生命。他们的成就可能比许多信徒更加出色。然而,他们的内在生命还是缺乏了基督的救赎,因此缺乏内在的满足感和人生命途的终极盼望。
第三、神之应许不毁灭世界,给世界万物普遍恩典,是要提供时间和其他客观条件来推展他的救赎计划。等到基督驾着云再来时,普遍恩典就会结束了。
所以现在我们可以安心在世上搞建设以及传福音,拯救灵魂,直到基督再来那天。而非信徒应该趁抓紧机会接受,现在就接受基督的救恩。这样在今生能够依靠基督活出有喜乐,平安和意义的生命;在来生能够与主进入永恒的安息了。