We shall continue with the study of the Book of Genesis this week. Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below each day.
As incredible as it was, for Sarah to be taken into the harem of a king in her 90’s, this incident directly endangered not only God’s promise to Abraham, but more importantly to His plan of salvation through the seed of Abraham.
(1) Why did Abraham lie again? What does it say about this man of faith:
a. His constant fear?
b. His willingness to embark on this journey in the beginning, knowing he would constantly be living in fear?
(2) His lie was a half-truth, does it make him right? Why or why not?
(3) While Abraham judged that, “there is surely no fear of God in this place” (v. 11), how does Abimelech’s reply to God show what kind of a king he was?
(4) In what ways has God “kept” Abimelech from sinning against Him?
(5) How long do you think Sarah had remained in the king’s harem (v. 17)?
(6) God called Abraham a prophet (v. 7). In this incident, how did Abraham act in the role of a prophet?
(7) What benefits did Abraham gain from this incident?
(8) Why would God bless him so richly, in spite of his terrible, faithless action? (A thousand shekels is about 25 lbs.)
(9) What can you learn about God’s character and the way He treats His servants?
(10) What has this incident meant to Abraham?
(11) As still a barren woman, what has this incident meant to Sarah?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
本週我們繼續研讀創世記。請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
雖然年逾九十的撒拉仍招來被王徵入宮之災是難以相信的，但這遭遇卻直接危害神給亞伯拉罕的應許，更影響神要藉著他的後裔帶來全人類救恩的計劃，故是非同小可的：
(1) 為什麼亞伯拉罕再次撒謊？他是否真有信心的呢？ (他似乎在這漫長的客旅生涯中常活在恐懼中，但仍堅持要踏上旅程，絕不回頭！)
(2) 他自辯說，他對王所說的一半是真話(half truth) 。這也算錯嗎？
(3) 亞伯拉罕在第11節的判斷是否正確？王對神的回答顯示他是個怎樣的王？
(4) 神怎樣「攔阻了」王，免得他得罪祂？
(5) 你看撒拉被接入宮中有多久？(20:17)
(6) 神稱亞伯拉罕為「先知」(20:7) ，你感到意外嗎？在這事件，他怎樣實施先知的工作呢？
(7) 亞伯拉罕從這事件得了什麼好處？
(8) 亞伯拉罕實在是做錯了，為何神卻如此賜福給他呢？從這事件，你可以怎樣領會神的性情和祂是怎樣對待祂的僕人的呢？
(9) 這事件對亞伯拉罕有什麼意義？
(10) 這事情的終結對仍無生育的撒拉有何意義？
(11) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
Although Joel has clearly told us, pointing to the End-time that God “will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions” (Joel 2:28), and Peter affirms that this has come to be fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:16), many Christians doubt whether such a phenomenon should be confined to the period of the first church. On the one hand, I cannot find any indication in the Bible to support such a view, and on the other hand, I think we put too great an emphasis on the prophesying and seeing visions as evidence of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Even in the Old Testament, the work of a prophet was not confined to seeing in advance and delivering prophecy as such on God’s behalf. As God introduced Abraham as a “prophet” (quite surprising to us) to Abimelech, He said, “for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live” (Gen. 20:7). This first even-mentioned office of a prophet was not to prophecy, but to intercede.
Back in Genesis 18, Abraham was already exercising his office of a prophet, by interceding for Lot and the city of Sodom. And, as much as he was clearly at fault, because of his office as a prophet, he would pray for Abimelech and his family so that they could have children again (Gen. 20:17).
Samuel understood this important function of his role as a prophet very well indeed, and he told the Israelites, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you” (1 Sam. 12:23).
I am afraid, we have spent too much time arguing about if the office of prophet has ceased after the apostolic era, and too little time in interceding, which I believe is the most noble and important function of a prophet. As this is so vital to the body of Christ that every believer should assume such a ministry, in that sense, we can all be prophets.
雖然先知約珥清楚的告訴我們，在末後的日子，神「要將（祂）的靈澆灌凡有血氣的。你們的兒女要說預言；你們的老年人要做異夢，少年人要見異象」(珥2:28) 。彼得在五旬節聖靈降臨的時刻見證這預言的應驗。不過有一部份解經者卻懷疑這現像只限於初期教會的時代。我們在聖經中找不到直接支持這論調的教訓。我覺得我們可能太過著重了聖靈的工作在說預言和給人異夢這兩方面的彰顯了。
就是在舊約時代，先知的工作並非局限於見異象、說預言這兩方面。當神向亞比米勒稱亞伯拉罕為先知時，祂說：「因為他是先知，他要為你禱告」(創20:7)。這是聖經首次提到先知，而所刻劃的先知的工作不是說預言，乃是代禱。
其實早在創世記第18章，亞伯拉罕已實行了這先知的位份，為所多瑪城代求。在撒拉這事上，明顯是亞伯拉罕做錯了，他向亞比米勒撒謊；但他的先知身份沒有改變，他仍為亞比米勒一家禱告，以致他們能繼續生育(創20:17) 。
撒母耳同樣明白他作先知代禱的位份的重要，故此他向以色列百姓說：「至於我，斷不停止為你們禱告，以致得罪耶和華」(撒上12:23) 。
我恐怕在著重討論說預言、見異象之餘，我們忽略了作先知極重要的代求工作；這工作是每個服事主的人都可以作的，也是該作的事奉。
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) “Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah…” the original Hebrew verb means “visited”. How does this add to your understanding of God’s grace to Sarah?
(2) Sarah has until now been very much in the background of this journey of faith and obedience. From what she said at the birth of her son, what can you learn about her spiritual growth, especially in light of what she said previously in 16:2?
(3) How significant was Isaac’s circumcision? (See Lk. 2:21 as well.)
(4) It is believed that, in more ancient time, the “rite of passage from the dangerous stage of infancy to childhood usually occurred at about three years of age” (Waltke, 293). While the birth of Isaac was highlighted with laughter, Ishmael, the non-elected son (the natural seed) laughed malevolently (the meaning of the word, mock).
a. Why did this 16-year old boy mock while his father laughed?
b. What did his mocking laugh lead to?
c. Why was the consequence so severe?
d. What does Isaac represent?
(5) Although Ishmael was in essence mocking at God, His plan and His miraculous work, was Sarah’s wrath based on a godly passion? Could she have reacted differently, even though her recognition of Isaac being the “seed” of the Abrahamic covenant was justified?
(6) What can we learn about the folly of polygamy from this story?
(7) Why did God ask Abraham to listen to Sarah?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 這一段開始時告訴我們神「眷顧」撒拉，原文是「visited/到訪」撒拉。原文的意思怎樣加深你認識到神對撒拉的眷顧呢？
(2) 直到現在，撒拉在這信心之旅祇屬配角而已，但從她在產子之後所說的話，我們可以看到她的信心增長嗎？(參16:2)
(3) 亞伯拉罕也為以撒行割禮。這兒子的割禮有何重要意義？(參路2:21)
(4) 一般解經家相信古時「以出生後到三歲為止是嬰兒生命最脆弱的時期」，故此相信亞伯拉罕是在孩子滿三歲時為他擺設筵席的。
a. 為何當父親在高興歡笑時，以實瑪利(該是16歲了)卻在戲笑(原文是帶著惡毒的笑之意) ？
b. 他的戲笑帶來了什麼後果？
c. 為何後果是如此嚴厲？
d. 以撒在神的計劃中站什麼地位？
(5) 以實瑪利的戲笑固然在實質上是戲笑神、祂救恩的計劃和祂大能的彰顯。但是撒拉的反應就是對的嗎？她雖然是要維護以撒為承受應許的那位「後裔」，按古代一家之母的權勢，她有其他可行的方法嗎？
(6) 你可以看到「齊人之福」是容易享的嗎？
(7) 為何亞伯拉罕竟聽從撒拉之言？
(8) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
If we read the account of the sending away of Hagar and Ishmael by itself, we would wonder how Abraham could be so cruel to them.
In the desert environment and in the setting of his days, to send Hagar and Ishmael away with some food and a skin of water amounted to sentencing to death. If they did not encounter thieves and robbers, they would certainly die of starvation. It was that obvious. Why then could Abraham do this to his concubine and his son?
The Bible tells us that this matter distressed Abraham “greatly” because it concerned “his son” (Gen. 21:11). As much as he now had a miracle-baby in Isaac, the fact remained, Ishmael was his son, and he loved Ishmael as his son. I do not think Abraham loved Ishmael any less than Isaac. As a result, in sending them away, he was not so much listening to Sarah (which he did not want to obviously, otherwise God would not have intervened), but to God. His obedience was directed to God and he was willing to sacrifice Ishmael, purely for the sake of God.
Had he not been willing to sacrifice Isaac later on, we would accuse Abraham of brutality and cruelty. But the fact that he was willing to sacrifice Isaac, we know that he did not play favoritism. For the love of God, he was willing to sacrifice the dearest things in his life, even both of his sons.
By the way, both incidents were prefaced with the same words, “Early the next morning” (Gen. 21:14; 22:3). I do not think they were coincidental.
如果單單看亞伯拉罕趕走夏甲和以實瑪利這事件，我們一定覺得他所作的有點過份，甚至是殘忍。
在那些日子，祇給二人一點水和食物，就放逐他們在曠野中自生自滅，是如同判他們死刑一樣。不是嗎？他們就是沒有遇到盜賊，也一定死於炎熱的沙漠中！為何亞伯拉罕會如此忍心？
聖經告訴我們，亞伯拉罕很憂愁(Wenhan指出原文帶出他火爆般的反應) ，是「因他兒子的緣故」(創21:11) 。雖然他現在有了以撒這miracle baby，但以實瑪利仍是他親生的骨肉，他豈能不愛！我不相信亞伯拉罕是會厚此薄彼的。故此，當他放逐二人時，他不是真的聽從撒拉的話，乃是願意聽從神的吩咐。他願意犧牲以實瑪利，完全是為愛神之故。
如果，及後他拒絕獻上以撒，我們可以指摘他在趕走以實瑪利的事上是偏心和殘忍。事實上，他日後同樣的願意犧牲以撒，就證明他並沒有偏私。為著愛神，他甘願獻上他所愛的兒子，不是一個，乃是兩個！
在記載他獻上兩位兒子的經文中，兩段都以這句話作開始：「亞伯拉罕清早起來」。我相信這並非是偶然的！
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) As much as God told Abraham to listen to “whatever Sarah tells” him, sending Hagar and Ishmael away like this was a sure death penalty. Did Abraham not have any other option?
(2) How would Hagar and the boy feel toward Sarah, Abraham and God?
(3) How desperate did their situation become?
(4) What might Hagar have learned from her previous experience in chapter 16?
(5) In the entire story, the Bible does not mention a word of complaint by Hagar. In what way may she be an example to us?
(6) Did not being the chosen seed render Ishmael any less blessed than Isaac?
(7) What have Hagar and the boy learned about God?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 雖然神是說：「凡撒拉對你說的，你都該聽從」，但以當時的世代和背景，把二人趕出去是如同把他們謀殺一樣。亞伯拉罕沒有選擇的餘地嗎？
(2) 夏甲和兒子對(a) 撒拉、(b) 亞伯拉罕、和 (c) 神會有什麼想法？
(3) 結果被趕逐帶來了怎樣的絕境？
(4) 這並非夏甲第一次遭難，在第16章她曾學到什麼功課？
(5) 在描寫整個過程中，聖經沒有提到夏甲對神說出一句埋怨或反駁的話。在這方面，我們可以怎樣從她的身上學個榜樣？
(6) 以實瑪利沒有被神揀選為亞伯拉罕的約之「後裔」，是他的錯嗎？他是否就從神得不到真正的福呢？
(7) 到這事件的終結時，夏甲和兒子該對神有什麼特別的認識？
(8) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣用在你的生命中？
As we reflect on the plight of Hagar and her son, I invite you to reflect on the lyrics of this familiar hymn which has touched the lives of untold believers in their trials.
1. Be not dismayed whate'er betide,
God will take care of you;
beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
2. Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
when dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
3. All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
4. No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.
Refrain:
God will take care of you,
through every day, o'er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
Civilla D. Martin, 1866-1948
The author, Civilla Martin explained that she was confined to a sick bed in a Bible school in Lestershire, New York. ‘God Will Take Care of You’ was written one Sunday afternoon while her husband, Martin, was to preach in a town some distance from the school. Since Civilla became unable to attend because of sickness, he wanted to cancel his trip. While it was being discussed, their nine year old son said, “Father, don't you think that if God wants you to preach today, He will take care of Mother while you are away?” Martin kept his appointment, and when he returned that evening, he found his wife greatly improved. Mrs. Martin had written a new hymn based on her son’s faithful remark earlier that day, and within an hour, Mr. Martin wrote the melody of this hymn.
今日的經文描述夏甲和以實瑪利的遭遇。讓我們細思以下一首詩歌，歌詞曾幫助無數在試煉中的信徒：
1. 任遭何事不要驚怕,
天父必看顧你;
必將你藏祂恩翅下,
天父必看顧你。
2. 有時勞苦, 心中失望,
天父必看顧你;
危險臨到, 無處躲藏,
天父必看顧你。
3. 凡你所需祂必供應,
天父必看顧你;
凡你所求祂必垂聽,
天父必看顧你。
4. 無論你遇何種試煉,
天父必看顧你;
軟弱疲倦靠祂胸前,
天父必看顧你。
副歌:
天父必看顧你,
時時看顧,處處看顧,
祂必要看顧你,
天父必看顧你。
作者Civilla Martin (1866-1948)告訴我們，她因患病叫丈夫擔心。Martin先生原要赴會去傳講信息，但因妻子患病的原故打算取消這行程。就在此時，他們九歲大的兒子說：「爸爸，神豈不是要你今天傳信息的嗎？祂豈不會在你離家時看顧媽媽嗎？」Martin先生聽到兒子的話就決定赴會。當晚回到家中時，妻子的病情已好轉了不少。Martin太太被兒子所說的話所感動，就寫了以上的詩歌。
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
It is interesting to note that both the verb “to swear” and the numeral “seven” derive from the same Hebrew root.
(1) What kind of a life was Abraham leading that would enable others to see that God was with him in everything he did?
(2) How can we emulate Abraham in this respect?
(3) What kind of stature has this shepherd attained as reflected by the fact that a powerful king and his commander had to seek a peace treaty with him?
(4) Water was the life-line to desert dwelling, especially in those days. Without a treaty, what other recourses Abraham might have in dealing with the dispute?
(5) Scholars have different opinions as to whether the bringing of the ewes was a gift from a lesser party to the stronger party in the treaty, or vice-versa. What do you think was the case?
(6) Read Proverbs 16:7 and see how has the life of Abraham exemplified this biblical truth?
(7) What might be the purpose of planting a tree in Beersheba? What might be the significance of calling God the Eternal God in wrapping up this incident?
(8) What is the main message to you today?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
註，按希伯來原文「起誓」這動詞和數字「七」是同一個字根的：
(1) 亞比米勒從何看到「凡你(指亞伯拉罕) 所行的事，都有神的保佑」？這是與亞伯拉罕所得的福，還是與他生命的表現有關？
(2) 我們可以從亞伯拉罕的生命有什麼學習？
(3) 一個強大的王帶同軍長主動與一位身為牧羊、寄居的平民(alien) 立和約，你可以意會到亞伯拉罕當時在當地的身份嗎？
(4) 水井是那時代生存的命脈，如果沒有已定立的和約，亞伯拉罕有何能處理與亞比米勒水井之爭的方法或途徑？
(5) 亞伯拉罕主動送上七隻母牛羔，是弱者之表現與否，聖經學者的意見不一。你的意見如何？
(6) 請參箴言16:7，你認為合用於亞伯拉罕嗎？為什麼？
(7) 亞伯拉罕一般在求告耶和華時，是會建一座壇的。這裡說他栽上一棵樹；其意義何在？
(8) 為何在此他特稱耶和華為「永生神」？
(9) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣用在你的生命中？
We have seen Abraham erecting an altar and calling upon the name of the Lord before, often to commemorate certain important milestones of his journey of faith, and as his expression of worship and commitment of faith to the Lord.
As he established a treaty with the local, powerful king of the land of Philistines, he now erected, not an altar, but a tree and as usual, called upon the name of the Lord, and called Him the Eternal God.
Since the Bible related the calling of the name of the Lord to the planting of the tree, it has the same significance to the setting up of an altar. For sure, unlike pagan worship, the tree he planted was not the altar, but the planting of a tree appears to have significance beyond the altar. A planting of a tree signifies the planting of one’s dwelling. Yes, Abraham will move on from Beersheba northward to Hebron later on, but the planting of this tree followed the securing of a well, which was the lifeline of any community of the time. As Wenham points out, “By granting Abraham rights to a well, Abimelech had made it possible for Abraham to live there permanently and had acknowledged his legal rights at least to water. In other words, after so many delays the promises of land and descendants at last seem on their way to fulfillment” (Wenham, 94).
It was out this affirmation and gratitude that Abraham called on the name of God, worshipping Him as the Eternal God, because he understood that it was just the beginning of the fulfillment of His promises. The best has yet to come. Just as his hope was for the eternal city, he knew that the blessings that would be bestowed through his seed would be of eternal consequences.
在創世記我們常讀到亞伯拉罕到了一個地方，往往就築壇，在那裡求告耶和華的名。特別是在經歷神的信實時，藉著築壇來敬拜神，向神表達他的信心。
在第21章與亞比米勒王訂定了和約之後，他亦求告耶和華的名。聖經卻沒有提到他築壇，卻告訴我們他栽了一棵樹，並稱神為「永生的神」！
聖經把他求告耶和華與栽樹相提並論，故此，這樹與築壇一樣有重要的意義。當然，亞伯拉罕不會隨從迦南地拜偶像的習俗，故此那樹並非祭壇。他栽樹，是要藉此表明他相信神賜地的應許。像栽樹一樣，他和他的後裔是會植根在神所賜的這土地上。他及後北遷到希伯崙，並在此獲得水井權(水井是當時生存的命脈) 。他栽樹表明對神應許的相信。正如解經家Wenham所言：「藉著給予亞伯拉罕水井權，亞比米勒也給了他的一家長期居留權了，最低限度是給了他食水權！換句話來說，雖然神應許的地和後裔，似乎在時間上有所延遲，但現在正邁向應驗了」(Wenham, 94) 。
亞伯拉罕於是出於感恩和信心，在求告耶和華時，稱神為「永生的神」。他明白到此時是應許應驗的開始階段，神對他最美的承諾，日後也必實現，就如他真實的盼望乃在乎那永遠的家鄉。他知道所得的福，是會藉著他的後裔帶來永恆的果效的！
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) The Bible makes it clear that it was a test initiated by God. Why did God have to test Abraham? What was He trying to achieve?
(2) What did God command Abraham to do?
(3) Given the background of the story, how special was Isaac to Abraham, apart from the fact that he was his son?
(4) Before Abraham could ask any question or lodge any complaint, why did God make clear to Abraham that He knew the following:
a. That Isaac was his son
b. The only son,
c. Whom he loved
(5) God has distinguished Himself from other gods as a God who upholds the sanctity of life and would not allow human sacrifice (Deut. 12:31). Why would He contradict His character in this case?
(6) God is Omnipresent, He could have asked Abraham to offer Isaac at Beersheba. Why did He ask Abraham to take a three-day journey to Moriah? What might be the significance of a three-day journey? What would Abraham be doing, apart from walking?
(7) From the actions described from vv. 3-5, can you detect how Abraham did not leave room for any excuse for not having to go through with his obedience?
(8) When Abraham told his servants (young men, as the original Hebrew suggests) that “we” would return. Was he lying? (See Heb. 11:19)
(9) Was Abraham ready for the question asked by his son in v. 7?
(10) How would you have answered?
(11) How did Abraham answer and what did he mean, as testified by Hebrews 11:19?
(12) Since he believed that God will raise the dead, does it mean that he did not have to kill Isaac and burn him alive?
(13) What then is the essential message of today and how may you apply it in your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 聖經清楚的說明「神要試驗亞伯拉罕」。為何神要試驗他？目的何在？
(2) 神吩咐亞伯拉罕作什麼？
(3) 按整件事的背景來看，除了以撒是他的兒子之外，這吩咐帶給亞伯拉罕的掙扎是有多麼的困難呢？
(4) 為何在亞伯拉罕能作任何回答(或發問) 之前，神刻意的告訴他，祂知道以撒是他的兒子、是他獨生的兒子、是他所愛的呢？
(5) 神特別在申命記12:31指出祂與別神不同，不准人將兒女經火為祭。為何在此卻作出如此相反的吩咐？
(6) 神是無所不在的。為何祂特要亞伯拉罕走三天的路程到摩利亞山去獻祭？這三天的路程對亞伯拉罕有何重要？你可以想像到他在這三天的路程中，心中經歷了什麼爭戰？
(7) 從22:3-5的描寫，你可以看到亞伯拉罕是怎樣作出各樣「不留藉口」的順服功夫嗎？
(8) 當亞伯拉罕告訴他同行的僕人(原文是指年青人，且是眾數) ，他和童子是會再回到他們那裡；你以為他在說謊嗎？(參來11:19)
(9) 你以為亞伯拉罕早已為兒子在22:7所發的問題作好了準備嗎？
(10) 若換了你，你會怎樣作答？
(11) 亞伯拉罕怎樣作答？按希伯來書11:19，他的答案是什麼意思？
(12) 他雖然信神會叫以撒復活，這是否說他就不用殺以撒呢？
(13) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣用在你的生命中？
Only very late do we learn the price of the risk of believing, because only very late do we face up to the idea of death.
This is what is difficult: believing truly means dying. Dying to everything: to our reasoning, to our places, to our past, to our childhood dreams, to our attachment to earth, and sometimes even to the sunlight, as at the moment of our physical death.
That is why faith is so difficult. It is so difficult to hear from Jesus a cry of anguish for us and our difficulties in believing, “Oh, if only you could believe!”
Because not even he can take our place in the leap of Faith; it is up to us. It is like dying! It is up to us, and no one is able to take our place.
This mature act of faith is terribly, uniquely personal. Its risk involves us down to the core; the truest and greatest prototype of this act of faith that we, as the People of God, possesses is the biblical account of the trial of Abraham. “God said, ‘Take your son Isaac, your only one whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you.” (Gen. 22:2).
That is a leap of pure faith proposed to Abraham!
It is a personal act, and it is an act of death.
Without love it is impossible to understand such a proposal; on the contrary, it is scandalous.
But for anyone who loves?
Seeing God wrapt round the colossal figure of this patriarch, alone in the desert beside his tent…no, this is no scandal, but quite the contrary.
God want to communicate with the depths of Abraham’s being and tear him from himself and his involvement with his own problems, which are like self-centered possessions; he wants to make this creature of his “more his”, his man who is destined not for the tents of earth, but for those of Heaven. So God asks of him an absurd trial, as love is absurd for anyone who does not live it, but as true relentless as love for anyone who possesses it. “Take your son…’” (Gen. 22:2)
(Excerpt from Carlo Carretto’s The God Who Comes)
我們通常要到晚年才懂得信心的代價，因為往往在晚年時，我們才會面對死亡的陰影。
信心難是難在它真正的意義是死亡，向一切死亡：向我們的意志、地方、過往、孩兒時的夢想、屬地的依附、和甚至是向陽光死亡—就如肉身死亡的時刻一樣。
故此，信心是難的。當我們聽到主耶穌歎息的說：「阿，如果你們願意相信！」這也是難聽的！
因為連主耶穌也不能代替我們踏出信心的腳步。惟有我們自己才能，就像死亡一樣！是我們自己要面對的，別人不能代替！
這信心的成長是極之個人的！所要付出的代價，是關乎每個人生命的核心，而聖經所記載這方面的最佳的例子莫過於亞伯拉罕信心的試驗了。
神說：「你帶著你的兒子，就是你獨生的兒子，你所愛的……」(創22:2)
這需要純粹信心的跳躍！這是一個個人的回應，是死亡的回應！若是與愛無關，這要求是狂妄的！是不可思議的！但若是由最所愛的人發出呢……
看見神怎樣懷抱著這偉大的先祖，在他單獨在帳棚旁邊……恰恰相反，這絕非狂妄！
神是向亞伯拉罕心靈的深處說話，要把他從他自己、從纏著他的困難—就好像自我中心所擁有的東西—分割出來。祂要把這被造的變成「更多屬祂」……這位非為屬地的帳棚而造，乃為天上的帳棚而造的人。在此，神向他發出不合理的要求，就像愛對沒有愛的人是不合理一樣，但對有愛的人，是沒有保留的。祂說：「帶你的兒子……」(創22:2)
(摘譯自Carlo Carretto之The God Who Comes)
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) Isaac was probably a young teenager by then, how could Abraham, who was over a hundred years old, be able to bind him up on the altar? What does it tell you about Isaac himself?
(2) Although he was stopped by God, Abraham did mean to slay his only beloved son with his own hand. How will you define the kind of faith God desires in this context?
(3) How has this faith of Abraham changed your opinion about him, given his failures in the previous chapters?
(4) As God stopped Abraham from hurting his son, God said, “Now I know that you fear God…” Can you define what it means to “fear God” as exemplified by Abraham?
(5) But God is Omniscient, how could He not know Abraham feared Him? In this incident, who indeed has gained a far deeper knowledge of whom?
(6) As God provided a ram in the place of Isaac, what does it symbolically point to?
(7) We have been made in the image of God and it is God’s desire that we may be like Him and know His heart. In the sacrifice of his son, in what way has Abraham come close to being like God and in knowing the heart of God?
(8) When God spoke to Abraham the second time, He reiterated the covenant made before. Why did God feel necessary to reiterate it and how special was this reiteration?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 一般相信以撒已是少年人了，一個年逾百歲的老翁何能綁起這少年人呢？這件事叫我們對以撒有什麼認識？
(2) 雖然神及時制止，但亞伯拉罕實在以為自己是要用刀殺死兒子的。此舉怎樣給神所要試驗的「信心」下一定義？
(3) 我們在過去幾章常踫到亞伯拉罕的輭弱。現在你對他的判斷有何不同？
(4) 當神阻止他傷害兒子時，神說：「現在我知道你是敬畏神的了」。亞伯拉罕又怎樣給敬畏神下一定義呢？
(5) 難道神不是早已知曉他敬畏祂嗎？其實藉著這事件，是誰更認識誰？
(6) 神為亞伯拉罕預備了羊來代替以撒。這有什麼重大意義呢？
(7) 我們都是按神的形像造的，神的心意是希望我們像祂和知道祂的心。藉著獻上以撒這事，亞伯拉罕怎樣酷肖神？他又如何更得知神的心？
(8) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣用在你的生命中？
I believe that at dawn that morning the angels from every corner of Heaven were busy preparing the mountain on which a man was about to carry out such a tragic and radical rite of love!
I believe that at sunrise on that eastern morning the space around Abraham was quilted by the invisible eyes of all who had died before him, wanting to see what the ending would be!
What a drama was in the poor heart of that man! God had asked the supreme sacrifice. If Abraham had had to turn the knife on himself it would have been easier!
An act of pure faith is the death of what we love most so it may be offered to the loved one because only love is stronger than death…
At the ultimate moment of trial, when we try to pierce the invisible, with the sharpened spear of every possibility we can find, we realize that the three theological virtues — faith, hope and charity — are really only one, and they have such a power of penetration that they could disrupt the entire universe.
On Mount Moriah, in the trial of Abraham, humankind embraced God as never before. The experience of this embrace reverberates through the religious history of the world as an epic of love greater than our endless frailty.
(Excerpt from Carlo Carretto’s The God Who Comes)
在那天的清晨，我相信天堂每一個角落的天使都在忙碌的為這山作準備—準備這人作出愛的不可思議、悲慘的回應。
或許在這東方的山上，日出時已佈滿了他的先祖的眼睛，要看看事情終局的究竟。
阿，看這可憐的人心中的爭戰！神要求的是最終極的祭。如果是要亞伯拉罕舉刀自殺，這還容易呢！
真正信心的回應，是向我們的心愛作出死亡的回應，為要獻給我們所至愛的，因為惟有愛比死亡更堅……
在試驗的高峰，當我們嘗試用盡自己所能要刺破那看不見的，會突然領略到，那三個神學的美德：信、望、愛，原來是一；它們擁有的力量，能刺穿並震撼極個宇宙。
在摩利亞山，亞伯拉罕的試驗、是人類前所未有擁抱神的時刻。這擁抱震撼的人類信心的歷史，證明愛遠勝我們無盡的輭弱。
(摘譯自Carlo Carretto之The God Who Comes)
Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.
(1) Sarah is the only Patriarch’s wife whose age at death is recorded. At her death, it is fitting that we reflect on her life.
a. What were the trials she had to go through in life?
b. How good and blessed a life did she have?
(2) How would you eulogize her? (Spend some time reflecting on her life and refer to Heb. 11:11 & 1 Pet. 3:6 to see how the NT remembers her.)
(3) They were not a perfect couple, but there were positive things that we can learn from them. Try to name them.
(4) Abraham had great wealth that could have enabled him to buy land, but he never did until now. Why was he content to be “an alien and a stranger” all his life? (Heb. 11 gives us much insight in this respect.)
(5) Now, out of necessity, he needed to have a burial plot for his wife:
a. What stands out to you in this 3-phase negotiation?
b. From the negotiation, can we tell how the people of the land viewed Abraham?
c. Why did they offer the burial plot free to him?
d. Why did he refuse?
(6) Why did he pick that particular field of Ephron? (23:17)
a. What was its significance to Abraham and Sarah? (Look up Gen. 13:18; 14:13, 24; 18:1)
b. What was its significance to his descendants? (Look up Gen. 25:9; 35:27; 49:30; 50:13)
(7) How did this first piece of land owned by Abraham speak to God’s promise to Abraham?
(8) Reflect on the words of Hebrews 11:13-16 on what Abraham ultimately considered as God’s promise.
(9) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 在列祖的配偶中，撒拉是惟一被提及她的壽終年歲的。或許我們在此回想她的一生是合宜的：
a. 她一生遭受信心的磨煉有多少？
b. 她一生所蒙的福又包括些什麼？
(2) 你會在她的追思會中怎樣替她述史？(現在就用些時間思想她的生平，並參考來11:11和彼前3:6對她的評價) 。
(3) 亞伯拉罕和撒拉不是完美的夫妻，但他們的婚姻有什麼是我們可以學效的呢？
(4) 亞伯拉罕算得上是極富有的人，但他一直沒有購置田產，直到如今。為何他安於作客旅、作寄居的呢？(參來11)
(5) 現他因為妻安葬的實際需要去買地：
a. 三次的商議最突出之處是什麼？
b. 你可見赫人以弗崙是怎樣看亞伯拉罕的呢？
c. 為何他甚至願意免費給亞伯拉罕用土地之權？
d. 為何亞伯拉罕卻拒絕呢？
(6) 亞伯拉罕為什麼特意要揀選以弗崙的那塊地？(23:17)
a. 這地對他與撒拉有何意義？(參13:18; 14:13, 24; 18:1)
b. 這地對後人又有何意義？(參25:9; 35:27; 49:30; 50:13)
(7) 他這首次買地與神給他的應許有何關係？
(8) 細思希伯來書11: 13-16，看看他是怎樣看神的應許的。
(9) 今天你得到的主要信息是什麼？你會怎樣用在你的生命中？
It is more than obvious that Abraham, the father of faith, overshadows his wife, Sarah, as he was chosen by God to be the blessing of all the people on earth, through his seed, the Messiah — Christ Jesus.
But Sarah was chosen as well, not only in the bearing the seed, but also as the wife of the father of faith. We often like to say, behind each great man is a great woman. This is, in essence, the eulogy by the Apostle Peter as he says, “You are her daughters if you do what is right and did not give way to fear.” In other words, in the expression of her faith, Sarah did what was right and did not give way to fear. And indeed, there was much to fear as the wife of Abraham.
It is true that this matriarch was not a weak woman, and unfortunately she was often remembered for her harsh treatment of her maidservant Hagar and her child, Ishmael. But given ancient customs, she could have treated her maidservant far more severely for her disrespect. As much as she must have exerted pressure on Abraham, she did defer to Abraham for the final decision. Peter testifies, “Sarah…obeyed Abraham, and called him her master.”
Indeed, we should remember Sarah for her obedience to Abraham:
1. Willing to uproot from their homeland and probably sold everything they had
2. Willing to believe in her husband’s incredible word about a vision in moving to what he had no idea would be the final destination
3. As they grew in wealth, willing not to settle and buy land, but to continue to live in tents for her entire life
4. Willing to go through the most dangerous territories and ended up being taken as a concubine twice by kings, potentially sacrificing her own sexual purity for the sake of protecting her husband’s life
5. And, though she’d probably know after the fact, having to risk losing her only son, the son she loved, as her husband obeyed the most outrageous demand of God.
To follow such a crazy husband takes incredible faith!
Since Abraham is called the father of faith, shouldn’t her obedience make her the mother of faith!
不錯，亞伯拉罕這位信心之父的生平蓋過了他的妻子撒拉，因為他是神所揀選的，神要藉著他的「後裔」(即耶穌基督) 成為全人類的祝福。
不過，撒拉也是被神揀選的，因為惟有從撒拉生的才算是被揀選的後裔。她是信心之父的妻子。我們常說，在一位偉大的男人的背後，一定有一位偉大的女性！彼得在他的書信中就這樣論到撒拉：「就如撒拉聽從亞伯拉罕，稱他為主。你們若行善，不因恐嚇而害怕，便是撒拉的女兒了」(彼前3:6) 。換言之，撒拉藉著信心行了當行的(是善的意思) ，也沒有因恐嚇而害怕。其實，作為亞伯拉罕的妻子，是有很多值得害怕的時刻的！
當然，這位女先祖並非是個弱者。不過往往在我們提起她時，總是想起她怎樣對待夏甲和以實瑪利。其實，作為一個大家族的女主人，按照當時的習俗，她可以把侮辱她的女僕怎樣辦都可以。對，她是向亞伯拉罕施加壓力，但至終她仍把決定權交給丈夫。故此，彼得說得對：「撒拉聽從亞伯拉罕，稱他為主」。
我們應該記念撒拉對亞伯拉罕的順服：
- 她願意離鄉別井，賣掉一切，連根拔起；這對女性是絕不容易的事；
- 她願意信任丈夫是聽到神的呼召，一家人跑到那目的地也不曉得的遠處；請問有多少個太太願意如此呢！
- 在他們成為大富後，仍願意一生居住帳棚，過著繼續漂流的生活；
- 她也願意不斷走到危險之地，兩次被當地的王搶去為妻，險遭污辱，單是為要保存丈夫的性命；
- 雖然可能是事後才知獻以撒之事，她是險些兒要失去惟一的至愛、獨生的兒子。
她一生貞忠的跟隨這位「信心之父」是要自己也有極大的信心的。故此，稱她為信心之母，或許也不太過份罷！