Article #18 in the series: You Are God’s Masterpiece: The Genesis Notes.
你是神的工作: 《创世记手记》系列第十八篇
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Are you facing impossible situations in your life? Can you trust that God are you actively waiting on His plan?
你是否正面临着生命中绝无可能的境况？你会相信在神的计划中就是要积极地等候衪吗?
If you saw God on the road would you recognize Him? What would you do? Would you fix Him dinner? What would you serve?
如果你在路上遇见 神，你会认出衪吗？你会如何做？邀请衪共进午餐？你会如何服侍衪?
The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
Genesis 18:1-8 NIV
耶和华在幔利橡树那里，向亚伯拉罕显现出来。那时正热，亚伯拉罕坐在帐棚门口，举目观看，见有三个人在对面站着。他一见，就从帐棚门口跑去迎接他们，俯伏在地。说：“我主，我若在你眼前蒙恩，求你不要离开仆人往前去。容我拿点水来，你们洗洗脚，在树下歇息歇息。我再拿一点饼来，你们可以加添心力，然后往前去。你们既到仆人这里来，理当如此。”他们说：“就照你说的行吧！”亚伯拉罕急忙进帐棚见撒拉，说：“你速速拿三细亚细面调和做饼。”亚伯亚罕又跑到牛群里，牵了一只又嫩又好的牛犊来，交给仆人，仆人急忙预备好了。亚伯拉罕又取了奶油和奶，并预备好的牛犊来，摆在他们面前，自己在树下站在旁边，他们就吃了。
创世记 18:1-8 和合本
Abraham’s Home: Mamre
亚伯拉罕的家：幔利
Where is Abraham’s tent pitched? Mamre. This is where he has been living ever since he went to Egypt and came back. The name Mamre means strength, vigor, fatness. Abraham has been in this same spot waiting on the Lord for many years. Now something remarkable happens.
亚伯拉罕的帐篷安置在哪里？幔利。这是他从埃及回来后一直定居的地方。幔利这个名字的意思是力量、活力，脂油。亚伯拉罕一直在这个地方等候 神多年。现在重要的事情发生了。
Abraham’s Visitors
亚伯拉罕的客人
It was the hot part of the day – probably between 12:00 and 2:00 – time for eating and resting. Abraham received some visitors. Who are these three men? One is the Lord and two are angels. Are they the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? I don’t know. We are not sure, but we do know at least one of them was the Lord.
正当一天中最热的时候，或许是中午 12点到下午2点之间，正是吃午餐和休息的时间，亚伯拉罕迎来了几位客人。这三位男子是谁？一位是主，另外两个是天使。难道他们就是圣父、圣子和圣灵吗？我不知道。我们都不确定，但至少知道，其中一位是主。
Alert and Urgent
警觉和紧迫
Fortunately, Abraham wasn’t asleep. He was alert and as soon as he saw them, he jumped into action. He was very urgent. He was hospitable, respectful and moved quickly. The finest flour was made into bread and the choicest calf was prepared. Abraham wanted to give them his best.
幸运的是亚伯拉罕没有睡着。他很警觉，一看到这些客人，就立即行动起来。他的心情无比急切，表现得热情好客，尊重客人，并且行动迅速。他用上好的细面做成饼，并且预备又嫩又好的牛犊。亚伯拉罕想用最好的东西来招待贵客。
Where Is Sarah?
撒拉在哪里？
After the meal they asked for Abraham’s wife by name. By her new name. Abraham did not ask how they knew her name, he just answered them. She was in the tent. The tent was not far away and Sarah was listening to their conversation. After acknowledging Sarah, God gives the prophecy about the promised child not once, but twice:
吃完饭，他们直呼其名要找亚伯拉罕的妻子，且唤的是她的新名字。亚伯拉罕没有问客人们如何得知她的名字，只是回答：她在帐篷里。撒拉的帐篷离得并不远，她正在听他们之间的谈话。确认撒拉之后， 神不是一次，而是两次预言撒拉会生个孩子。
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
Genesis 18:9-15 NIV
他们问亚伯拉罕说：“你妻子撒拉在哪里？”他说：“在帐棚里。”三人中有一位说：“到明年这时候，我必要回到你这里，你的妻子撒拉必生一个儿子。”撒拉在那人后边的帐棚门口也听见了这话。亚伯拉罕和撒拉年纪老迈，撒拉的月经已断绝了。撒拉心里暗笑，说：“我既已衰败，我主也老迈，岂能有这喜事呢？”耶和华对亚伯拉罕说：“撒拉为什么暗笑，说：’我既已年老，果真能生养吗？‘耶和华岂有难成的事吗？到了日期，明年这时候，我必回到你这里，撒拉必生一个儿子。”撒拉就害怕，不承认，说：“我没有笑。”那位说：“不然，你实在笑了。”
创世记 18:9-15 和合本
We are reminded at this point (again as if we forgot) Abraham and Sarah are very old. Sarah laughs to herself. Even though she has heard this promise over and over, she still is laughing and not sure she can really believe the news. And God calls her on it. But He uses this moment of Sarah’s laughing to say something important.
这一点提醒了我们（好像我们又忘记了）亚伯拉罕和撒拉已经很老了。撒拉不禁暗自喜笑，尽管已不止一遍听到这个应许，她还是笑了，不确定自己是否真的能相信这个消息。神在这事上呼召她。但神借着撒拉笑的这一刻，说出了一些重要事情。
Is Anything Too Hard?
在神岂有难成的事吗？
God reminds Abraham and Sarah who is in charge: The God of the universe who can do anything. God then declares there is an appointed time for this baby to be born. There is a specific time God had already chosen. Isaac would not come one day early or one day late. God had chosen the day. Abraham and Sarah could not change the day. They thought this was about them (too old), but God reminds them this son is not about them – it is about God and His plan. His appointed day. He states for the second time the prophecy: Sarah (not Hagar) will have a son.
神提醒亚伯拉罕和撒拉掌权的是谁：就是宇宙中无所不能的神。接着 神宣告那个应许之子会在衪所定的日子降生。神已经命定了一个特别的时间。以撒的出生不早也不晚。选定日子的在乎 神，这是亚伯拉罕和撒拉无法改变的。他们以为生孩子只是为了他们自己（已经年迈），但 神却提醒他们，所生的儿子并不只是为了他们-是为了 神和祂的计划。在神所定的日子，祂第二次声明这个预言：撒拉（而不是夏甲）会生一个儿子。
We might look at the situations surrounding our life and think, “There is no way God’s promises can come out of this. ” But remember there is nothing too hard for God. Is there a situation in your life right now where you think, “There is no way God can help me with this?” Remember God is in charge.
我们可能会看着周遭的环境，然后想“ 神的应许肯定无法实现！”但我们要谨记在 神没有难成的事。此刻你生命中是否正在经历这样的事情，你会想“在这个事情上，神没法帮到我吧？” 请记住，神在掌管一切。
Reminder of the Big Plan
重大计划提醒
God reminds Abraham and Sarah again: It is not about YOU. This is a big big plan much bigger than you. He reminds Abraham of the things God had told him almost 25 years ago.
神再次提醒亚伯拉罕和撒拉：这不是为了你们！这是一个比你们更加重要的宏伟计划。神提醒亚伯拉罕大约二十五年前曾对他说过的话。
When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
Genesis 18:16-19 NIV
三人就从那里起行，向所多玛观看，亚伯拉罕也与他们同行，要送他们一程。耶和华说：“我所要做的事岂可瞒着亚伯拉罕呢？亚伯拉罕必要成为强大的国，地上的万国都必因他得福。我眷顾他，为要叫他吩咐他的众子和他的眷属遵守我的道，秉行公义，使我所应许亚伯拉罕的话都成就了。”
创世记 18:16-19 和合本
Subject Change
话锋一转
Now all of a sudden the conversation makes an abrupt subject change. God decides to tell Abraham about what He will do in Sodom and Gomorrah. In Genesis 18:18-19 God describes Abraham as a man who will direct his children to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. This is a big contrast to how God describes Sodom and Gomorrah. To God their sin is grievous.
他们正说着话，突然话锋一转， 神决定告诉亚伯拉罕祂将在所多玛和蛾摩拉要做的事。创世记 18:18-19节这样描述亚伯拉罕，他会吩咐他的众子 遵守神的道，秉公行义。他的行为跟 神所描述的所多玛和蛾摩拉截然相反。在 神看来，这两座城的罪甚大。
Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.” Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.” Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
Genesis 18:20-33 NIV
耶和华说：“所多玛和蛾摩拉的罪恶甚重，声闻于我。我现在要下去，察看他们所行的，果然尽像那达到我耳中的声音一样吗？若是不然，我也必知道。”二人转身离开那里，向所多玛去，但亚伯拉罕仍旧站在耶和华面前。亚伯拉罕近前来说：“无论善恶，你都要剿灭吗？假若那城里有五十个义人，你还剿灭那地方吗？不为城里这五十个义人饶恕其中的人吗？将义人与恶人同杀，将义人与恶人一样看待，这断不是你所行的。审判全地的主岂不行公义吗？”耶和华说：“我若在所多玛城里见有五十个义人，我就为他们的缘故饶恕那地方的众人。”亚伯拉罕说：“我虽然是灰尘，还敢对主说话。假若这五十个义人短了五个，你就因为短了五个毁灭全城吗？”他说：“我在那里若见有四十五个，也不毁灭那城。”亚伯拉罕又对他说：“假若在那里见有四十个怎么样呢？”他说：“为这四十个的缘故，我也不做这事。”亚伯拉罕说：“求主不要动怒，容我说，假若在那里见有三十个怎么样呢？”他说：“我在那里若见有三十个，我也不做这事。”亚伯拉罕说：“我还敢对主说话，假若在那里见有二十个怎么样呢？”他说：“为这二十个的缘故，我也不毁灭那城。”亚伯拉罕说：“求主不要动怒，我再说这一次，假若在那里见有十个呢？”他说：“为这十个的缘故，我也不毁灭那城。”耶和华与亚伯拉罕说完了话就走了；亚伯拉罕也回到自己的地方去了。
创世纪 18:20-33 和合本
Private Conversation
私密对话
Abraham is alone with God for a private and very bold conversation. Abraham is almost bargaining with God. He reminds God He is just. What if there are righteous people there in Sodom? Abraham knows very well his nephew, Lot, and family are there. So they are probably on Abraham’s mind. I don’t think he is thinking about the King of Sodom. So Abraham asks, “What if you find 50 righteous people in the city? Will you still destroy it?” God says He would spare the city. Now Abraham goes to work. What about 45 people? 40? 30? 20? 10? Even for 10 people God says He will spare the city. At this point God leaves and Abraham goes home.
亚伯拉罕独自在 神面前时，向 神说了一番隐秘又大胆的话，他几乎是在跟 神讨价还价。他提醒 神是行公义的，倘若那城里有义人该怎么办？亚伯拉罕清楚地知道自己的侄子罗得及全家居住在那里，所以他很可能是想到了他们。我认为那时他没有想起所多玛王。因此亚伯拉罕问道，假若那城里有五十个义人呢？你还剿灭那地方吗？神说会饶恕他们。亚伯拉罕继续追问，假若有四十五个呢？四十个？三十个？二十个？十个？神说哪怕只有 十个义人，祂也会因他们的缘故饶恕这地。至此， 神离开了，亚伯拉罕也回家去了。
The Time Is Coming
时候到了
Abraham and Sarah are getting closer and closer to the fulfillment of the promise of a son. As they are getting closer, God’s communication is coming more often and more clearly. He is reminding them of His big purpose and plan. It is not about their perfect little family (she will be a very old mother). It is about God’s plan and God’s appointed time which is the best time. There is a reason why the baby will come on that day. Abraham and Sarah do not know why, and they don’t have to. They just need to believe and trust God. It is not about them. It is about God and His wonderful plan for their lives. He will use them to bless the nations of the world.
亚伯拉罕和撒拉离他们应许之子的实现越来越近了。随着日子临近， 神的话语也越来越频繁和清晰。神正在提醒他们 神那宏大的目标和计划，并不是为了他们美好的小家庭（撒拉将会是个很年迈的母亲！），而是为了 神的计划和衪所定的日子，就是最好的日子。神选定孩子那天降生是有原因的，亚伯拉罕和撒拉却不知道是为什么，他们也不必知道。他们只需相信，信靠 神。因为这一切并不是为了他们，是为了 神和 神对他们生命的奇妙计划，神要使用他们来祝福万国！
As Abraham is waiting he is actively waiting. He is alert and ready to go. He is not sleeping but watching and has a sense of urgency. Are we actively waiting upon the Lord’s perfect timing and plan for our lives? As we wait on the Lord and His appointed days in our lives, let’s not be asleep, but be alert and keep a sense of urgency. When God comes to town I don’t want to miss Him.
亚伯拉罕积极地等待着，他保持警觉，随时准备行动。他不打瞌睡，而是时刻观看，并且有一种紧迫感。我们是否也在积极地等待 神完美的时间和为我们生命所定的计划呢？我们等候 神和衪选定的日子来临之时，千万不要打瞌睡，而要保持警醒和紧迫，当 神来到，我们就不会错过衪！
What are some things you can do now to actively wait for God’s plan in your life? How can you be alert and watch for God’s presence in your life?
你现在可以做些什么来积极等候 神将成就在你生命中的计划呢？你如何能保持警觉，并看到 神出现在你生命中呢？
