12 Feb 2018, Gen 13 创13章, A New Beginning 全新的开始

Posted on Jan 31, 2018 in Devotions, Genesis |

Scripture Reading        : Gen 13

Theme                            : A New Beginning

 

A new beginning (1–4).

God chastened Abram in Egypt, and Abram returned to the land he never should have left. He was a very wealthy man, but his tent and altar were the most valuable things he possessed. When we fail, the Lord is ready to forgive and restore (1 John 1:5–2:2). “The victorious Christian life is a series of new beginnings,” said Alexander Whyte.

A new burden (5–13).

While in Egypt, Lot acquired wealth and a taste for the world, and his temporal interests were partly Abram’s fault. God forgave Abram’s sin, but He did not prevent the sad consequences. We reap what we sow, even after we are forgiven. Abram’s first test of faith came from a famine; his second test came from his own family. Family tests are the hardest tests of all. Abram was a peacemaker because he lived by faith; Lot was a troublemaker because he lived by sight. Abram chose a heavenly city (Heb. 11:13–16); Lot chose an earthly city, and a wicked one at that. The city appeared to be ideal, but it was headed for destruction. You can move your tent nearer and nearer to sin,  but you cannot take your altar with you. Lot left God behind and destroyed his home.

A new blessing (14–18).

The man of faith always receives a special word from God after a time of testing. Let others take what they want; our God gives us far more than they can ever imagine (Pss. 16:5; 33:12). Abram lifted up his eyes and saw the land. He lifted up his feet and claimed it by faith (Josh. 1:3). Then he lifted up his heart and worshiped God. Lot had broken Abram’s heart, but God blessed Abram’s heart—and made him a blessing. [1]

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. Yes, faithful men sometimes failed and fell. But the Lord is gracious to bring them out of their difficult situations. Abraham learned his lesson, repented, and “went up” out of Egypt (13:1). Let’s pray that we quickly repent and return to God when we realized we have failed and fell.
  1. Because of Abraham’s sin, Lot developed a taste for the world. He liked Jordan Valley because it was “like the land of Egypt” (Gen 13:10) and later Lot moved his tent closer and closer to Sodom. (Gen 13:12). Yes, the Lord does forgive us and save us from His future judicious punishment but we still have to bear the consequences sin brings. An AIDS patient can be forgiven of his sin yet he’ll still died of AIDS. A gambler can be forgiven yet he cannot get back the fortune he gambled away. Let’s pray that we do not treat sin lightly but see the truth and consequences that sin brings.
  1. Abraham is truly a man walked by faith not by sight. Of course Abraham, like Lot, saw that Jordan Valley was well watered, like the garden of the LORD (Gen 13:10). Yet he gave up the material gain. Can you give up material gains for the sake of holiness? Let’s pray that our eyes are not attracted to the world but by the Lord who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. (1Ti 6:17)

[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Ge 13:1.

 
 
 

经文：创13章

主题：全新的开始

 

一个全新的开始 (1–4)

神在埃及惩罚了亚伯兰，亚伯兰就回到了他原来不应该离开的地方。他是一个非常富有的人，但他的帐篷和祭坛是他最宝贵的东西。当我们跌倒的时候，主必原谅和恢复我们（约壹1:5-2:2）。亚历山大·怀特说：“真正得胜的基督徒生活是一系列新的开始”。

一个全新的负担 (5–13)

罗得在埃及获得财富并接触到了世俗的环境。他对世俗的兴趣，亚伯兰也有责任。神是赦免了亚伯兰的罪，但祂并没有阻止悲剧的后果。种瓜得瓜，即使我们被神赦免，我们也必须承担后果。亚伯兰第一次信心的试炼就是自饥荒，第二试炼却是来自他自己的家庭。家庭的试炼是最严峻的考验。亚伯兰因信心是一个和事使者；罗得却是一个闹事者，因为他凭着眼所见的。亚伯兰选择一个的天上的城邑（希11:13-16）；罗得却选择了一个世俗和邪恶的城市。那城市表面看似理想，但它正朝着被销毁的命运。您可以将你的帐篷越扎越靠近罪，但你不能把你的祭坛带去。罗得最终背离神，最后也摧毁了自己的家。

一个全新的祝福 (14–18).

信心的人在经过试炼后，必从神得到话语。让别人拿走他们想要的吧，我们的神所赐的是远远超乎人所能想像的（诗16:5；33:12）。亚伯兰抬起头看见了土地。他举起他的脚，凭信心得到了那土地（书1:3）。然后，他高举自己的心来敬拜神。罗得的确使亚伯兰悲伤，但神却赐福亚伯兰的心，并使亚伯兰成为别人的祝福。

 

用经文祷告

  1. 是的，信主的人有时也会失败跌倒。但主是满有恩典的，祂将他们从困境中带出来。亚伯拉罕吸取了教训，就悔改，从埃及回转（13:1）。让我们祈求神，当我们意识到自己失败、跌倒时，让我们能迅速悔改并归回神，
  1. 由于亚伯拉罕的罪，罗得对世俗产生了兴趣。他喜欢约旦河的平原因为它像“埃及的土地”那样（创13:10），后来罗得开始将自己的帐篷搬至越来越靠近所多玛 （创13:12）。是的，主赦免我们，救我们脱离他未来的审判，但我们仍然要承担罪所带来的后果。一个艾滋病患者的罪是可以被赦免的，但他仍然还是会死于艾滋病。一个赌徒是可以被赦免，但他再也讨不回之前所输光的财富。让我们祷告神使我们不轻看罪恶，同时认出罪所带来的后果。
  1. 亚伯拉罕是一个真正凭着信心不是凭眼见的人。当然亚伯拉罕就如罗得一样，也看到了约旦河的平原，犹如耶和华的花园。（创13:10）然而，他放弃物质利益。你能为了圣洁的缘故放弃物质的利益吗？让我们祷告，使我们的眼睛不被世俗吸引过去，而是定睛于那提供一切丰富让我们享受的主。 （提前6:17）