Article #17 in the series: You Are God’s Masterpiece: The Genesis Notes.
你是神的工作: 《创世记手记》系列第十七篇
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Let your faith grow as you trust in God’s plan and timing for your life.
相信神对你生命的计划和安排吧，你的信心会随之增长！
Waiting 25 Years
25年的等待
What if I told you I would give you the perfect job of your dreams? But you would have to wait 25 years. What if I told you I found the wife or husband of your dreams? But you would have to wait 25 years. What if God told you He was going to use you in amazing ways? But you would have to wait 25 years. What if something took 25 years. Would you wait?
假如我告诉你，我会给你梦寐以求的完美工作，但是你得等待二十五年，你会怎么做？假如我告诉你 为你找到了梦寐以求的妻子或丈夫，但是你得等待二十五年，你会怎么做？假如 神告诉你 衪打算以一种奇妙的方式来使用你，但你得等待二十五年，你又会怎么做？如果一件事情要耗上二十五年，你愿意等吗？
Today waiting for something seems like a terrible hardship. Like slow customer service. Especially when we have instant communication, incredibly fast shipping, high-speed trains and airplanes to get where we need to go. Fast. We can get tasks completed instantly and we love convenience. But what about waiting? Have we lost the ability to wait?
在现今，等候似乎是一件无比糟糕的难事，比如慢吞吞的客户服务。特别是当我们有了即时聊天工具、便捷快速的轮船、高铁和飞机，可以去到任何要去的地方。真的很快！我们可以立即完成任务，我们都喜欢便利。但是如果要等呢？我们是不是已经失去了等待的能力？
Abram Waiting For The Promise
亚伯兰等候应许
Abram was 75 years old when God gave him the first promise of making him into a great nation. Now 24 years later, he is still waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled. Here is a quick timeline of Abram’s life:
神第一次应许使亚伯兰成为一个大国时，他已经75岁。如今24年过去了，他仍然在等候 神实现衪的应许。以下是亚伯兰一段简短的生平时间轴：
Age 75: Abram called by God and God promised Abram to be the father of a great nation
Age 86: God makes a covenant with Abram
Age 99: God declares the covenant again, gives Abram a new name and makes a sign of the covenant
75岁： 神呼召亚伯兰，且应许他会成为一个大国之父
86岁: 神与亚伯兰立约
99岁：神重申这个盟约，赐给亚伯兰一个新名字，并做立约的证据
Already 24 years have passed. This is a long process. Time is nothing for God.
二十四年过去了，这是一个漫长的过程，时间对 神而言算不得什么。
God Speaks
神说话
Now when Abram is 99 and maybe wondering how God would fulfill His purpose, God comes to Abram and speaks to him clearly. What does God tell Abram?
亚伯兰九十九岁的时候，或许心里正思量着 神会如何实现衪的计划。神找到亚伯兰并清楚地对他说话。神告诉了亚伯兰什么呢？
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”
Genesis 17:1-2 NIV
亚伯兰年九十九岁的时候，耶和华向他显现，对他说：“我是全能的神，你当在我面前作完全人，我就与你立约，使你的后裔极其繁多。”
创世记17:1-2 和合本
El Shaddai אֵל שַׁדַּי
全能的 神
First God says, “I am El Shaddai.” God is declaring who He is. This is a new name. We have never heard this one before. Many biblical scholars agree El Shaddai means “All Sufficient One.” This means God will supply Abram with everything he needs.
首先神说“我是全能的 神”，神在宣告自己的身份。这是一个全新的名字。我们以前从来没听说过这个名字。许多圣经学者都同意El Shaddai是指“充满万有的那一位”。意思是 神必会供应亚伯兰所需要的一切。
When we are concerned about daily needs, we can pray to El Shaddai and trust He will supply us with our needs.
当我们为日常所需而忧虑时，我们可以向这位全能的神祷告，并且相信 衪必会供应我们的一切所需所求。
Walk Before Me and Be Blameless
当在神面前做完全人
God reminds Abram he needs to live his life daily with the Lord. We, too, should stay in sight of God. Are we walking with God on His path?
神提醒亚伯兰 每天要过与主同行的生活。我们也应该常在神的面前。我们是否正与神同行 走在衪的道上呢？
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness, they do not know what makes them stumble.
Proverbs 4:18-19 NIV
但义人的路好像黎明的光，越照越明，直到日午。恶人的道好像幽暗，自己不知因什么跌倒。
箴言 4:18-19 和合本
When we walk on God’s path the path gets brighter and brighter. Easier to follow. But when we go off the path and take our own way all of a sudden, we are in darkness and we may trip and fall. We have no idea what we have fallen over. If you find yourself off the path take a quick step back onto the path with God. You will find when you walk before God the road will become lighter.
当我们行在 神的道上，这道就会越照越明，越容易去跟随。但是，当我们偏离这道，突然走自己的路， 我们就陷入黑暗，可能会绊倒摔跤，却不知自己因何跌倒！如果你发现自己偏离了道，要赶紧回转 与神同行的正道上来！就会发现 当你行在神面前时，道路会变得更加光明。
God also calls us to be blameless, but the reality is we are sinners. When we come to Jesus and ask Him to forgive us we become blameless. What happens if we sin again the next day? There is a sort of on-going washing with Jesus. Does this mean it is useless to try to do the right thing? No, as followers of Jesus we should become more and more like Him every day. To be blameless we will walk on God’s path and daily receive the gift of forgiveness when we stumble.
神也呼召我们做完全人，但事实上我们却是罪人！当我们来到耶稣面前请求他的赦免，我们就成为了完全人。假如我们第二天又犯罪了怎么办？实际上我们会不断被主耶稣洗净。那这是否意味着 我们努力做对的事 就完全没用吗？不是的，身为耶稣的门徒，我们每天都应变得越来越像衪。要成为完全人，我们须行在神的道路上，当我们跌倒时每天都要领受主赦免的礼物。
Consider your life right now. Are you walking before God? Are you seeking to be blameless? Are there areas of your life where you have stepped off the path and gone your own way? How can you get back on the path? Confess your sins to God, repent and receive the gift of forgiveness. Through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we can be made blameless.
思考一下你现在的生活，你是行在主的面前吗? 你想成为完全人吗？你生命中有没有哪个部分让你偏离主的道路，随己意而行呢？你如何回到 神的正路中来？
I Will Confirm My Covenant
我会坚立我的约
When God said He was going to confirm His covenant with Abram it must have been very reassuring because 13 years passed since he last heard from God about the covenant. For 13 years Abram has been living a life of faith waiting for God’s fulfillment. Now God is confirming what He said He would do.
当 神说 衪会坚立与亚伯兰所立的约时，亚伯兰一定感到无比欣慰，因为自从他听到神立约的事，已过去了13年，13年来，亚伯兰凭信心生活，等候神的应许成就。如今 神确认祂将言出必行。
You Will Greatly Increase Your Number
你的后裔会极其繁多
God again tells Abram what He has promised all along.
神再次告诉亚伯兰一直以来所应许的事。
Abram’s Response
亚伯兰的回应
Abram falls to the ground and does not speak. He waits and listens to what else God will say to him.
亚伯兰俯伏在地并未说话，等待聆听 神还会对他说什么。
Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
Genesis 17:3-16 NIV
亚伯兰俯伏在地，神又对他说：“我与你立约，你要作多国的父。从此以后，你的名不再叫亚伯兰，要叫亚伯拉罕，因为我已立你作多国的父。我必使你的后裔极其繁多，国度从你而立，君王从你而出。我要与你并你世世代代的后裔坚立我的约，作永远的约，是要作你和你后裔的神。我要将你现在寄居的地，就是迦南全地，赐给你和你的后裔，永远为业。我也必作他们的神。”神又对亚伯拉罕说：“你和你的后裔必世世代代遵守我的约。你们所有的男子都要受割礼，这就是我与你，并你的后裔所立的约，是你们所当遵守的。你们都要受割礼。这是我与你们立约的证据。你们世世代代的男子，无论是家里生的，是在你后裔之外用银子从外人买的，生下来第八日，都要受割礼。你家里生的和你用银子买的，都必须受割礼。这样，我的约就立在你们肉体上，作永远的约。但不受割礼的男子，必从民中剪除，因他背了我的约。”神又对亚伯拉罕说：“你的妻子撒莱，不可再叫撒莱，她的名要叫撒拉。我必赐福给她，也要使你从她得一个儿子。我要赐福给她，她也要做多国之母；必有百姓的君王从她而出。”
创世记17:3-16 和合本
God Reviews The Covenant and Adds Signs
神重申盟约，且加添证据
God speaks to Abram to review the covenant and to give some serious signs. Abram and his wife, Sarai, will receive new names. Abram and all of the males in his household will be circumcised.
神对亚伯兰说话重申了所立的约，并给他一些非常重要的证据。亚伯兰和他的妻子撒莱会有新名字，亚伯兰和家里所有的男子都要受割礼。
NEW NAME: Abraham – Father of Many
新名字：亚伯拉罕–多国之父
God gives Abram a new name: Abraham which means “Father of Many.” Interesting to note Abram means “Exalted Father” a title he carried with him for many, many years before he even had children.
神赐给亚伯兰一个新名字：亚伯拉罕，意为多国之父。有趣的是，亚伯兰是指至高之父，在他得孩子之前，这个名字伴随了他很长时间。
CIRCUMCISION: Keep the Covenant and a Sign
割礼：守约和证据
After God gives the new name and a wonderful list of promises He gives Abraham a sign of this incredible covenant. This sign would be passed down to all generations of Jews. Even Jews today circumcise their baby boys when they are eight days old. This is a sign God will be the God of Abraham and his descendants.
神赐了新名字和一连串美好的应许之后，衪给亚伯拉罕有关这奇妙盟约的一个证据。这证据要传给世世代代的犹太人，直到如今，犹太人会对刚出生八天的男婴行割礼。这是 神要做亚伯拉罕及其后裔的神的证据。
NEW NAME: Sarah – Mother of Nations
新名字：撒拉–多国之母
Abraham is not the only one who will receive a new name. Sarai becomes Sarah, “Mother of Nations,” and kings will come from her.
并非只有亚伯拉罕一个人领受了新名字。撒莱也变成了撒拉，也就是“多国之母”，君王从她而出。
Abraham’s Response
亚伯拉罕的回应:
When Abraham hears these things from God how does he respond? What does he do, what does he say?
当亚伯拉罕听到 神所说的，他是如何回应的呢？他做了什么，说了什么？
Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”
Genesis 17:17-18 NIV
亚伯拉罕就俯伏在地喜笑，心里说：“一百岁的人还能得孩子吗？撒拉已经九十岁了，还能生养吗？“亚伯拉罕对神说：”但愿以实玛利活在你面前。“
创世记17:17-18 和合本
God Speaks Again
神又说
God is so gracious to Abraham and He responds to his questions. What does God tell Abraham?
神对亚伯拉罕满有恩慈，衪回应了他的问题。神对亚伯拉罕说了些什么？
Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.”
Genesis 17:19-21 NIV
神说：”不然，你妻子撒拉要给你生一个儿子，你要给他起名叫以撒。我要与他坚定所立的约，作他后裔永远的约。至于以实玛利，我也应允你，我必赐福给他，使他昌盛，极其繁多。他必生十二个族长；我也要使他成为大国。到明年这时节，撒拉必给你生以撒，我要与他坚定所立的约。“
创世记 17:19-21 和合本
On the Very Day
正当那日
Abraham responded immediately to God’s Word. He circumcised the entire household and from then on he was never referred to as Abram again.
亚伯拉罕立刻回应了 神的话，他和他的全家都受了割礼，从那时起，他再也没有被称为亚伯兰。
On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was thirteen; Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day. And every male in Abraham’s household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.
Genesis 17:23-27 NIV
正当那日，亚伯拉罕遵着 神的命，给他的儿子以实玛利和家里的一切男子，无论是在家里生的，是用银子买的，都行了割礼。亚伯拉罕受割礼的时候年九十九岁。他儿子以实玛利受割礼的时候年十三岁。正当那日，亚伯拉罕和他儿子以实玛利一同受了割礼。家里所有的人，无论是在家里生的，是用银子从外人买的，也都一同受了割礼。
创世记 17:23-27 和合本
Twenty-Five Years
25年
This has been a long process. God’s plan has been unfolding for 25 years. Abraham was age 75 when God promised a son. Isaac – the promised son – will not come until 25 years later. We see though in this story God is El Shaddai. He will provide everything Abraham will need. Abraham has determined to walk before God and be blameless and he believes in God’s promises.
这是一个漫长的过程。神铺垫自己的计划整整二十五年。亚伯拉罕七十五岁时， 神应许赐给他一个儿子，以撒，这个所应许的儿子直到二十五年后才降生。从这个故事，我们知道 神是全能的 神，祂会供应亚伯拉罕一切所需。亚伯拉罕立定心志要行在 神面前，做一个完全人，他坚信 神的应许。
We also can call God El Shaddai to supply all we need. We are to walk before Him and with Jesus we can be blameless. His promises for us are faithful and true.
我们也可以称 神为全能的 神，求衪供应我们一切所需所求。我们要行在 神面前，靠着主耶稣做完全人。衪赐给我们的应许是信实且真实的。
