The First Birth, The First Brothers, The First Murder ||第一次降生,第一对兄弟,第一起谋杀

Apr 21, 2020 | Genesis Notes, Genesis Notes Part 1

                         Article #5 the series: You Are God’s Masterpiece: The Genesis Notes. 
                                           你是神的杰作:《创世记手记》系列第五篇

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If the very first brotherly relationship in the history of the world ended up in murder, what hope do we have to overcome our own feelings of anger and hate? In His mercy, God gives us hope if we listen to His voice and follow His leading to walk in peace with others. 

 

如果人类历史上的第一对兄弟都以谋杀告终,我们还抱有什么希望去克服愤怒和仇恨呢?因着神的怜悯,只要我们听从衪的声音,跟从衪的引领与人和平相处,神必赐我们盼望。

7
Two Brothers 
两兄弟
Adam and Eve began to be fruitful. Eve, “the mother of all people,” bears two son, Cain and Abel. Unfortunately,the first relationship between two brothers results in the first murder. 
亚当和夏娃开始生养后代。“众生之母”的夏娃生了两个儿子:该隐和亚伯。不幸的是,人类第一桩谋杀案正是发生在这两兄弟之间。
The oldest son of Adam and Eve is Cain. He is a farmer who works the land. He gave some of his fruit to the Lord. But God did not look with favor on this offering. As a result, Cain becomes angry and downcast. Abel was the second born son. He was a shepherd and offered to God some of the fat portion of his flock and God looked with favor on this offering. 
该隐是亚当和夏娃的长子。他是个种地的农民,将田里的出产献给 神。但 神没看中他的祭物。结果,该隐变得愤怒沮丧。亚伯是次子。他是牧羊人,将羔羊的脂油献给 神, 神看中了他的祭物。

Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.  She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.  And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 

Genesis 4:1-5 NIV

有一日,那人和他的妻子夏娃同房,夏娃就怀孕,生了该隐,便说:“耶和华使我得了一个男子。”又生了该隐的兄弟亚伯。亚伯是牧羊的,该隐是种地的。有一日,该隐拿地里的出产为供物献给耶和华;亚伯也将他羊群中头生的和羊的脂油献上。耶和华看中了亚伯和他的供物,只是看不中该隐和他的供物。该隐就大大地发怒,变了脸色。

创世纪4:1-5

Cain’s Offering 
该隐的献祭

“By faith Abel offered God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.” 

Hebrews 11:4 NIV

亚伯因着信,献祭与 神,比该隐所献的更美,因此便得了称义的见证,就是 神指他礼物作的见证。他虽然死了,却因这信,仍旧说话。 

希伯来书 11:4

Abel offered the best of what he had. The fat portion was the best part. The fat in meat holds the flavor in and makes the meat taste good. He gave the fat portion of his firstborn of his flocks. The offering Abel made also was an offering which required the shedding of blood. The first offering of this kind was an offering God made to cover the sin of Adam and Eve. We do not know if God had given a regulation to Cain and Abel about the kind of offering to give, but we do know God later described Cain’s action of offering some of his produce as not doing what was right. Apparently, Cain did not give the right kind of offering. Maybe the offering was not the best Cain had to offer. 
亚伯把最好的献给 神,脂油就是羊羔身上最好的部分。肉中的脂肪保留了鲜味,使肉更好吃。亚伯将羊群中头生羊的羊脂献给 神,他所献的祭,也是流血的祭。这种类型的第一个祭物是 神为了遮掩亚当和夏娃的罪而杀的。我们不知道 神是否给该隐和亚伯制定过献祭的规则,但是后来我们知道 神称该隐的献祭为“行得不好”。显然该隐所献的供物不对,可能他并没有把最好的东西当作供物。
God deserves our best. Not just something here or there. When we give something to the Lord, let’s decide to give Him the best we can give and let’s give the Lord what He really requires and desires in an offering. 
神值得我们把最好的献给衪!而不是随便找来的东西。我们献供物给神时,定要将所拥有的最好之物献给衪,也要把 神所需要和喜爱的供物献给衪。
A Sacrificial Offering 
祭品
What kind of offering does God look on with favor? At this moment in the Old Testament, we see that God wanted an excellent offering which required a sacrifice. When Abel gave his offering, he had to kill one of his animals. Blood was shed. A sacrifice was made. 
神到底悦纳什么样的供物呢?从《旧约》得知,每逢此时神想要的最好祭品是需要献上生命的。亚伯献祭时,他必须要杀一个动物,有血流出,才算献祭。
Jesus Christ was the perfect offering God looked upon with favor. Jesus offered Himself up on the cross as a sacrifice to cover the sin of the world. It was the final sacrifice of blood God required. Does God still ask for offerings today? 
耶稣基督就是 神看中的最完美的祭物。耶稣在十字架上献自己为祭,遮盖了世人的罪。这是 神要的最后一个血祭。今天 神还需要我们献祭吗?
Today we do not offer sacrifices of animals, but we are to offer our self as a living sacrifice. 
今天我们不用向 神献动物为祭,但是要献上自己当作活祭。

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” 

Romans 12:1 NIV

所以弟兄们,我以 神的慈悲劝你们,将身体献上,当作活祭,是圣洁的,是 神所喜悦的,你们如此侍奉,乃是理所当然的。 

罗马书  12:1

The Road to Anger 
通往愤怒的路
Did God punish Cain for the poor offering? No. God didn’t favor it. He did not have regard for that offering. The problems came next. Cain’s emotions. The Bible said Cain possessed anger and his face fell. 
神因为该隐献上糟糕的供物而惩罚他了吗?没有,神只是说看不中那个供物,并没有太在意这个事。可接下来的问题却出在该隐的情绪上。圣经上说“该隐大大发怒,变了脸色”。
Cain was the firstborn. He probably felt he should be the favored one. He lost face with God. Maybe he was ashamed, embarrassed. Unfortunately for him this all turned into anger. 
该隐是长子,他可能觉得他理应成为蒙 神悦纳的人。他在 神面前丢了面子,或许感到羞愧和尴尬。不幸的是,这一切让他变得愤怒了。
Often times anger has beginnings in something like shame, guilt, jealousy, pride, entitlement. If you are feeling angry about something quiet your heart and ask yourself and ask God, “Why am I angry? Am I ashamed? Have I lost face? Am I jealous?” Take some time to know your own emotions and find out where they are coming from. Take those emotions to the Lord, ask Him to touch your heart and change you. Don’t let your emotions control you.  
通常情况下,愤怒始于一些其它的情绪,像羞愧、内疚、嫉妒、骄傲和权利。如果你对某事感到愤怒,应该先平静自己的心,问自己且求问 神:我为什么生气?我感到羞耻吗?我丢脸了吗?我在嫉妒吗?花些时间弄清楚自己的情绪,找到源头,然后将这些情绪带到 神面前,求 神触摸你的心,改变你。不要让那些情绪控制你!

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  

Genesis 4:6

耶和华对该隐说:“你为什么发怒呢?你为什么变了脸色呢?你若行得好,岂不蒙悦纳?你若行得不好,罪就伏在门前。它必恋慕你,你却要制伏它。” 

创世记 4:6

God warned Cain about this. God knew Cain’s actions (the poor offering) plus the emotions he was feeling could lead to sin. God painted a good picture of sin as crouching at the door ready to leap. In God’s mercy, He gave Cain an opportunity to master the sin. God did not condemn Cain at this moment. He was actually helping Cain and wanting Cain to overcome the potential for sin. 
神警告过该隐,因为衪知道该隐的所为(糟糕的献祭)加上他的情绪会导致犯罪。神本来为这一切描绘了一幅很美的画-罪要伏在门前,你却要制伏它!神怜悯该隐给他机会制伏罪。神那时并没有责备该隐,实际上是在帮助他,希望他能胜过可能会犯的罪。
Pride, self-pity and stubbornness will stop us from receiving God’s warning or correction. Humility, honesty and eager desire to follow God will make a way for us to receive God’s life-giving correction. 
骄傲、自怜和固执都会阻挠我们领受 神的警告或指正。谦卑、诚实和跟随 神的渴慕会为我们开路,领受 神所赐予对生命的归正。

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 

Hebrews 12:11 NIV

凡管教的事,当时不觉得快乐,反觉得愁苦,后来却为那经练过的人结出平安的果子,就是义。

希伯来书 12:11

Unfortunately, Cain ignored God’s discipline. God told Cain he needed to master the sin, don’t let the sin take over. But Cain completely ignored God and made his own plans. As a result, the first human born on earth became a murderer.  
不幸的是,该隐忽略了 神的管教。神告诉他需要制伏罪,而不是被罪所胜!但该隐却完全地忽视 神,自已制定了计划。其结果就是在地上出生的第一个人却成了杀人犯。

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 

Genesis 4:8 NIV

该隐与他兄弟亚伯说话,二人正在田间,该隐起来打他兄弟亚伯,把他杀了。 

创世记 4:8

Cain’s anger led him to sin. Sin was crouching at his door – murder. 
该隐的怒气将他引向犯罪,就是伏在他门口的罪:谋杀。
How could the emotions of anger so quickly turn into murder? Let’s read Jesus’ teaching on anger and murder. 
愤怒的情绪怎么会这么快就变成谋杀呢?请读耶稣关于怒气和谋杀的教导.

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”  

Matthew 5:21-24 NIV

“你们听见有吩咐古人的话,说,‘不可杀人’,又说,‘凡杀人的,难免受审判’。只是我告诉你们:凡向弟兄动怒的,难免受审判。凡骂弟兄是拉加的,难免公会的审断;凡骂弟兄是魔利的,难免地狱的火。所以,你在祭坛上献礼物的时候,若想起弟兄向你怀怨,就把礼物留在坛前,先去同弟兄和好,然后来献礼物。”

马太福音5:21-24

To Jesus, anger is the same as murder. And if we have anger in our hearts, an offering to God is not acceptable. The most important response is reconciling with another person. 
对主耶稣而言,愤怒就等同于谋杀。心怀愤怒时, 神不接受我们献的祭。这里最重要的是与对方和解。
In the case of Cain and Abel, God wanted the brothers to be reconciled. God gave Cain an opportunity to not let sin be the master and take over. Anger can grow into something very ugly and sinful. We need to not allow anger to take control of our lives like Cain.  
在该隐和亚伯的例子中, 神希望兄弟俩彼此和好。神给了该隐一个机会,不让他被罪掌控和管制。愤怒会滋长成丑陋而又罪恶的东西,我们不能像该隐那样让愤怒掌控自己的生命。
Get Rid of Anger – Be Reconciled 
除去怒气–和好
Do you have any anger in your heart towards someone? A brother like Cain? Or another family member? A coworker or friend? God wants reconciliation between people and relationships restored. 
你是否曾对某人心怀怒气呢?像该隐这样的弟兄?家人?同事或朋友?神希望人与人之间彼此和好,关系被修复。
The first major sin in the Bible (after Adam and Eve) was within the relationship of the first brothers.  Relationships are not easy. Jealousy, shame, anger can lead us to break relationships and even lead to murder. 
圣经(亚当和夏娃之后)中第一桩重罪就是由第一对兄弟之间的关系引起的。关系相处不易,嫉妒、羞耻和愤怒会使关系破裂,甚至发展到谋杀。

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.  Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.  When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.  

Genesis 4:9-16 NIV

耶和华对该隐说:“你兄弟亚伯在哪里?”他说:“我不知道!我岂是看守我兄弟的吗?”耶和华说:“你作了什么事呢?你兄弟的血有声音从地里向我哀告。地开了口,从你手里接受你兄弟的血。现在你必从这地受咒诅。你种地,地不再给你效力;你必流离飘荡在地上。”该隐对耶和华说:“我的刑罚太重,过于我所能当的。你如今赶逐我离开这地,以致不见你面。我必流离飘荡在地上,凡遇见我的必杀我。”耶和华对他说:“凡杀该隐的,必遭报七倍。”耶和华就给该隐立一个记号,免得人遇见他就杀他。于是该隐离开耶和华的面,去住在伊甸东边挪得之地。

创世纪4:9-16

Man and woman were commissioned by God to participate with God in ruling the earth and to bring even more life. Through humans, God would continue the life-giving process. And in order for man and woman to accomplish this incredible responsibility, God blessed them.

神嘱咐所造的男人和女人跟衪一起来管理地球,并且要生养众多。通过人类, 神要继续赐予生命的工作。为了让男人和女人能完成这个重任, 神赐福了他们。

God created this beautiful world for man and woman to enjoy, but this did not mean they would just sit under the trees eating fruit, watching the river flow and enjoying the view. God wanted them to join Him in His creative work. He wanted them to be His partners in overseeing this incredible place. He had made them in His image so He knew they had the ability and desire to be a part of His plans.

神创造了这个美丽的世界给男人和女人享受,并不意味着他们只需坐在树底下享用果子,看着河里的涓涓细流,欣赏风景。神希望他们加入祂的创造之工,神希望他们能跟衪一起同工,来照看这个奇妙的地方。神按照祂自己的形象造了男女,因此神知道他们具备能力也愿意成为祂计划中的一部分。

Join In God’s Work  加入 神的工作

God has made you in His image and He has good works for you to do. He desires for you to participate with Him in His work in this world. The first man and woman were called to oversee God’s creation, and to continue to be creative and bring more life to this world. This command from God was of a very physical nature and we are called to continue this work.

神照着祂的形象造了你,并且为你预备了善工,祂希望你参与衪在这世上所做的工。世上第一个男人和女人被召去照看神其它的创造物,并且持续发挥创造力,生养众多。这个从神而来的命令是自然而然的,我们被呼召要来继续做祂的工。

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:10 NLT

 

我们原是他的工作,在基督耶稣里造成的,为要叫我们行善,就是神所预备叫我们行的。
以弗所书 2: 10

This is also a spiritual work. God continues to separate light from darkness. He continues to bring light and life into the lives of men and women everywhere. And God has commissioned His people to join Him in this glorious work of multiplying the life of Jesus Christ in others, bringing forth spiritual offspring and tending a spiritual garden wherever God leads us.

这也是属灵的工作, 神分离光暗的工从未停歇。他不断地将光和生命赐予全地的人。神已嘱咐衪的子民与衪一同做这荣耀的工作,让耶稣基督的生命加增在他人身上,生出属灵的儿女,在神带领我们去到的地方照管属灵的园子。

How are you participating with God in His work today?

现今你如何参与神的工作?

God has created you. He has brought life and light to you. He has blessed you and He wants you to join Him in His work today.

神造了你,祂为你带来生命和光,祂也赐福予你,并且希望你现在加入与衪同工!

Part Three

  1. How to Find a Husband or Wife Genesis-Style || 如何寻找丈夫或妻子-创世记择偶指南
  2. Cherish our Birthright as Children of God || 珍惜作为 神儿女而拥有的长子权
  3. Got Challenges? || 面临挑战?
  4. Birthright and Blessing || 长子权与祝福
  5. Jacob’s Ladder || 雅各的梯子
  6. Work Diligently and Righteously || 勤勉而诚实地工作
  7. Family Competition || 家庭竞赛
  8. Facing Big Problems || 面对大难题
  9. Jacob Finally Overcomes Fear || 雅各终胜惧怕
  10. The Miracle Moment || 奇迹的时刻
  11. Dinah’s Story || 底拿的故事

Part Four

  1. Purify Yourself || 洁净自己
  2. Getting Positioned by God || 被 神定位
  3. An Uncomfortable Story || 一个让人不适的故事
  4. The Key to Success || 成功的关键
  5. Joseph and Jesus || 约瑟和耶稣
  6. The Big Moment || 重大时刻
  7. Famine and Fear || 饥荒和恐惧
  8. Back to Egypt || 回到埃及
  9. Mercy or Judgment? || 怜悯还是论断?
  10. The Big Reveal: MERCY || 大揭晓:怜悯
  11. God’s Big Plan || 神的大计划
  12. God’s Plans, God’s Promises, Our Work || 神的计划, 神的应许,我们的工作
  13. Future Generations || 后代
  14. The Past and the Future || 过去和未来
  15. Finally! Forgiveness and a Future Hope || 最后!饶恕和未来的希望