The account of a flood is written into the history of many ancient peoples, and the results of a flood are seen in many places on the earth. Jesus believed in the Flood (Matt. 24:37–39), and so did Peter (1 Pet. 3:20) and the author of Hebrews (11:7).
许多古人都有把洪水的事件记载于他们的历史中,而我们今日仍可目睹许多洪水对地球的影响。耶稣接受洪水的发生(太24:37-39),彼得(彼前3:20)和《希伯来书》的作者亦也一样(11:7)。
- The Holiness of God 神的圣洁 (6:1–7)
God saw a world of people who were inwardly corrupt, outwardly violent, and upwardly rebellious. Noah was the tenth generation from Adam. It didn’t take long for sin to spread in the human race. When the world is again as it was in Noah’s day, watch for the return of the Lord (Matt. 24:37–39).
神在世上看见了一群内心败坏、充满暴力和叛逆神的人。诺亚是亚当的第十代后裔。罪不需要多久就已散布至全人类。当世界再次堕落至挪亚的时代时,我们谨慎,警醒主的再来(太24:37-39)。
- The Grace of God 神的恩典 (6:8–7:10)
Noah was saved just as any sinner is saved, by grace (Gen. 6:8), through faith (Heb. 11:7). See Eph. 2:8–9. He heard God’s Word, believed God’s promise of protection, and proved his faith by his works. There was only one way to be saved from destruction, and that was by entering the ark; and the ark had only one door. It is a picture of the salvation we have in Christ.
挪亚的拯救就像任何罪人得救一样,是本乎恩(创6:8),也因着信(来11:7)。请阅读《以弗所书》2章8至9节。挪亚听信神的话,相信神将保护的应许,并以行为证明了自己的信心。他进入方舟是不被消灭的唯一方法;而方舟也只有一道门。这亦代表了我们在基督里的救恩。
- The Wrath of God 神的忿怒 (7:11–24)
God was very patient and gave the world at least 120 years to be saved (Gen. 6:3; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:5). The world refused Noah’s witness and rejected God’s grace up to the very day Noah and his family went into the ark. God waited another week (how the neighbors must have laughed at Noah!), but then the judgment came. As David proclaimed, “The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood” (Ps. 29:10). He is sovereign in all things! The next worldwide judgment will be with fire, not water (2 Pet. 3:1–12).
神非常有耐心地给予世人至少120年的时间来悔改(创6:3;彼前3:20;彼后2:5)。然而,世界拒绝了挪亚的见证,也拒绝了神的恩典,直至挪亚和家人进入方舟的那一日。神又等了一周(想想邻舍嘲笑挪亚的样子!),但审判终究临到。正如大卫宣告:“洪水泛滥之时,耶和华坐着为王。”(诗篇29:10)万事皆有主的掌权!全球的审判再次来临时将是以火,不再是水了(彼后3:1-12)。
- The Faithfulness of God 神的信实 (8:1–22)
Noah had faith in God’s promises, and God did not disappoint him. (See 1 Kings 8:56.) True faith does not get in a hurry (Isa. 28:16); Noah waited until the word of God told him what to do. The first thing Noah and his family did on the cleansed earth was to worship the God who had faithfully cared for them (Ps. 116:12–19; Rom. 12:1–2). God gave them a covenant that assured them of the continuity of creation despite man’s evil heart. This covenant makes possible the sustaining of life on earth. God has been faithful to His covenant, but man has not been faithful in his stewardship of the earth. (See Rev. 11:18).
挪亚相信神的应许,而神并没有让他失望(参见列上8:56)。属实的信心做起事来并不仓促(赛28:16);挪亚一直等待,直到神告诉他当如何行。当挪亚和一家踏上被洁净的陆地时,他们首先做的事就是敬拜那位眷顾他们的信实之神(诗116:12-19;罗12:1-2)。神与他们立约,应许他们尽管人类的心邪恶败坏,但大地会持续循环不息。这约使世界上的生物可以不断繁衍生长。神一直忠于祂所立的约,但人却没有尽自己应当管理世界的本分(见启11:18)。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Gen 6:5) It is a shocking statement. The Lord is not only angry at the outward actions but every thought of the heart. The LORD sees not as man sees: “man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1Sa 16:7) How is your health of the inner thoughts? No one can see but the Lord can. Pray that we keep ourselves pure as the Lord is constantly looking at our hearts.
“耶和华见人在地上罪恶很大,终日所思想的尽都是恶”(创6:5)。这是一句令人震惊的话。耶和华不只因人外在的行为,更因人们心里的每一给思想而感到愤怒。“耶和华不像人看人:人是看外貌;耶和华是看内心”(撒上16:7)。你的内心世界是否健康呢?除了主,无人晓得。请祷告神使我们能保持自己的纯洁,因为主时刻知道我们心中的思绪。
- Noah had never seen a flood before yet he believed God’s word and was saved. In the same way, God warned us about the coming judgment. Let’s pray that we believe His word also.
挪亚从来没有见过洪水但仍然相信神的话,因此得救。同样的,神告诫我们将来必有审判的到来。让我们祷告神使我们也相信他的话并且得救。