This article is a part of a series called “Spiritual Waimai Voices” where we welcome our friends to share some spiritual food with us in their own voice. This Spiritual Waimai was written and recorded by our friend Noah. This message is a part of a series entitled “The Father’s Heart” where Noah shares with us lessons he has learned about his Heavenly Father through his experiences raising his own two young children.
本文是《属灵外卖之声》系列文章之一，该系列里我们欢迎朋友们用自己的声音来分享灵粮。这篇属灵外卖的写作来自我们的朋友Noah。本文是《属灵外卖之声》系列文章之一，该系列里我们欢迎朋友们用自己的声音来分享灵粮。这篇属灵外卖的写作和录音均来自我们的朋友Noah。这篇是《父亲的心》系列文章之一，Noah分享养育两个孩子的经验，并由此更认识天父。
中文和英文版本语音
Listen to the Chinese or English Audio
Has God ever called you to follow or serve Him? How did you respond?
神曾呼召过你来跟随或者服侍祂吗？你如何回应呢？
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I am that type of Dad who loves to give my kids candies. One day, I came back home with some nice candies secretly tucked in my pocket. I decide to not tell my kids and rather give them a surprise later. It was time for dinner. I decided that I would call them to the dinner table and when they came, I would reward with the candies for their quick response to my beckoning of them.
我是一个喜欢给孩子糖吃的父亲。有一天，我偷偷的买了一些糖藏在口袋里回家。我没告诉他们，想找个时机给他们惊喜。正好是晚饭的时候了，刚好我可以叫他们来吃晚饭，他们可以很快过来，这样我就有机会给他们奖励了。
So I called them, “Micah! Chasida! Come to the table for dinner please!” They were focused on watching cartoon and ignored me. I called to them again for dinner. Nobody responded. I called them a third time. No response. Finally I shouted “Come for dinner else I will set the 30 minute alarm!” In my family, we have a rule for dinner, if they don’t eat their dinner well, I will set an timer for 30 minutes. If they cannot finish their dinner before the alarm goes off, they will be in trouble. When they heard my threat of setting a 30 minute alarm, they jumped up and ran to the bathroom like the superhero Flash. They finally were quick to move, but because they didn’t obey me at the beginning, sadly, there would be no candy reward. They had no idea what they had lost – yummy candies that they love.
我以我喊他们，“Micah! Chasida! 来吃晚饭啦！” 他们那时在很专心的看动画片，没有理会我。我再一次喊了他们。没有回应。我第三次喊了他们。没有回应。最后，我喊道：“快来吃晚饭，要不然我就给你们设一个30分钟闹钟！” 如果他们在闹钟响之前没吃饭完饭的话，他们会有麻烦的。他们听到了我要设闹钟，然后就跳起来，跑到了洗手间洗手 – 那速度和闪电侠有得比！他们的动作是很快，但是因为最开始没有听我的话。很不幸，他们没有糖作为奖励。他们也不知道自己失去了什么 – 他们最爱吃的糖。
I probably don’t have to tell you that as a father it really doesn’t feel good when I call my kids and get no response. Especially when I have prepared a surprise for them.
不用我说，你也知道，作为父亲，在喊孩子得不到回应的时候不是那么好受的，特别是在我为他们准备了惊喜的时候。
Why doesn’t it feel good? Not because they have lost what I prepared for them. Not because I expected them to repay my generosity with their love. I know they still love and respect me. But at that moment it is clear that they love something else more than me.
为什么不好受呢？不是因为他们失去了他们的惊喜。也不是因为我期望他们回应我的爱。我知道他们爱我也尊重我。但是那个时候，显然他们爱其他的东西更甚于爱我。
At this moment sitting at the dinner table with the candies still in my pocket and my children next to me, God reminded me of the worship song: Hi Ne Ni. This Hebrew phrase is the title of a worship song. He Ne Ni means, “Here I am.”
这时，我和我的孩子同桌而坐，口袋里藏着糖。神用一首歌提醒了我 — 《Hi Ne Ni》。这首歌的名字使用的希伯来文，意思是“我在这里”。
In the Bible the Hebrew words Hi Ne Ni appeared many times as a response to God’s calling. When these great people answered God’s calling, God raised them up, blessed them, and used them to proclaim His Word. These people are Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, Isaiah and Ananias.
在圣经中，希伯来语“Hi Ne Ni”出现过很多次，是许多伟大人物回应神呼召时使用的。神兴起他们，祝福他们并且使用他们宣告祂的话语。这些人是亚伯拉罕、雅各、摩西、撒母耳、以赛亚还有亚拿尼亚。
Let’s read the stories of these great people answering God’s calling and see how they can inspire us to also say, Hi Ne Ni, Here I Am.
让我们来一起读一下这些伟人是如何回应神的，看看他们如何启发我们也对神说“Hi Ne Ni，我在这里”。
Abraham said, ‘Here I am” and became the father of many nations
亚伯拉罕说“我在这里”，成为了多国的父
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
(Gen 22:1-2 NIV)
这些事以后，神要试验亚伯拉罕，就呼叫他说：「亚伯拉罕！」他说：「我在这里。」 神说：「你带著你的儿子，就是你独生的儿子，你所爱的以撒，往摩利亚地去，在我所要指示你的山上，把他献为燔祭。」(创世记 22:1-2)
“I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
(Gen 22:16-18 NIV)
「耶和华说：『你既行了这事，不留下你的儿子，就是你独生的儿子，我便指著自己起誓说： 论福，我必赐大福给你；论子孙，我必叫你的子孙多起来，如同天上的星，海边的沙。你子孙必得著仇敌的城门， 并且地上万国都必因你的後裔得福，因为你听从了我的话。』」
(创世记 22:16-18)
Abraham was blessed with descendants who conquered their enemies and were a blessing to all of the nations of the earth. And it all started with Abraham’s reply, “Here I am.” What would have happened if Abraham hadn’t responded. Or worse, replied, “I am busy taking care of my only beloved son. Call me later.”
亚伯拉罕被祝福子孙多起来，得着仇敌的城门，地上万国都因他得福。都是因为最开始亚伯拉罕回应了“我在这里”。如果亚伯拉罕没有回应，或者更糟糕的，他回应“我在忙着照顾孩子，等会再呼召我。”会怎么样呢？
Jacob said, “Here I am” and became a great nation
雅各回应“我在这里”，成为大族
The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.'”
(Gen 31:11-13 NIV)
神的使者在那梦中呼叫我说：『雅各。』我说：『我在这里。』 他说：『你举目观看，跳母羊的公羊都是有纹的、有点的、有花斑的；凡拉班向你所做的，我都看见了。 我是伯特利的神；你在那里用油浇过柱子，向我许过愿。现今你起来，离开这地，回你本地去吧！』」(创世记 31:11-13)
Jacob left his uncle whom he worked for and took with him a great flock of the best sheep. When God called to Jacob he responded, “Here I am.” Can you imagine what would have happened if he ignored God or if he had said, “I am too busy with my work, I need to raise more spotted sheep.”?
雅各离开他的舅舅，带走了大群最好的羊。在神呼召雅各的时候，他回应“我在这里”。可以想象吗，如果雅各忽视了神或者他说“我太忙了，我需要配出更多带斑点的羊”会怎么样呢？
Later in his life, God called again to Jacob.
再后来，神再次呼召了雅各。
And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.
(Gen 46:2-3 NIV)
夜间，神在异象中对以色列说：「雅各！雅各！」他说：「我在这里。」 神说：「我是神，就是你父亲的神。你下埃及去不要害怕，因为我必使你在那里成为大族。(创世记 46:2-3)
Because Jacob responded “Here I am” to God, the family of Israel survived famine by going to Egypt. What if he had not replied to God or said, “I am good to stay in the land you gave me, I don’t need to go to Egypt.”?
因为雅各向神回应“我在这里”，以色列一家去了埃及，免受饥荒。如果雅各没有回应神，或者说：“我在你赐我的土地住着挺好的，我不需要去埃及”会怎么样呢？
Moses said, “Here I am” and rescued the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt
摩西说“我在这里”并且将希伯来人从埃及的奴役中拯救出来
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground…And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
(Exo 3:4-5, 9-10NIV)
耶和华 神见他过去要看，就从荆棘里呼叫说：「摩西！摩西！」他说：「我在这里。」 神说：「不要近前来。当把你脚上的鞋脱下来，因为你所站之地是圣地」；现在以色列人的哀声达到我耳中，我也看见埃及人怎样欺压他们。 故此，我要打发你去见法老，使你可以将我的百姓以色列人从埃及领出来。」
(出埃及记 3:4-5, 9-10)
Israel was rescued out of slavery because Moses responded to God. And Moses became a great leader bringing the Law and leading the people of Israel to the Promised Land. What if Moses had run away from that burning bush or said, “I have finally found a peaceful place where on one wants to kill me. I have a wife and a wealthy father. My life is perfect, please don’t bother me.” ?
因着摩西回应神，神将以色列人从奴役中拯救出来。摩西也成为了将以色列人带进应许之地的伟大领袖。如果摩西从燃烧的荆棘旁跑掉，或者回应说：“我总算找到了一个平静的地方，没有人要杀我。我有老婆和富有的岳父。我的生活太完美了，别来烦我了。”会怎样呢？
Samuel said, “Here I am” and became a mighty prophet who anointed the first two kings of Israel
撒母耳回应说“我在这里”，成为了大能的先知，并膏抹了以色列的前两任王
Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” …The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.” … The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 1 Samuel 3:4, 10-11, 19 NIV
耶和华呼唤撒母耳。撒母耳说：「我在这里！」…耶和华又来站著，像前三次呼唤说：「撒母耳啊！撒母耳啊！」撒母耳回答说：「请说，仆人敬听！」 耶和华对撒母耳说：「我在以色列中必行一件事，叫听见的人都必耳鸣。…撒母耳长大了，耶和华与他同在，使他所说的话一句都不落空。
(撒母耳记上 3:4, 10-11,19)
Samuel was chosen by God to be a prophet, but first he had to answer, “Here I am.” Samuel’s response to God led him to become a powerful prophet who anointed both Saul and David as king. What if Samuel had said, “I have a great job serving the famous priest Eli in the temple, I am busy serving God, please call someone else.”?
撒母耳被神呼召成为先知，但是他必须先回答“我在这里”。撒母耳对神的回应使他成为有能力的先知，他膏抹扫罗王和大卫王。如果撒母耳回答说：“我现在在服侍一位非常有名的祭司以利，我的工作很忙，我要服侍神，找别人吧。”会怎样呢？
Isaiah said, “Here I am and saw the Lord in a vision on His throne and prophesied the coming Messiah
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.” Isaiah 6:8-9 NIV
我又听见主的声音说：「我可以差遣谁呢？谁肯为我们去呢？」我说：「我在这里，请差遣我！」 他说：「你去告诉这百姓说：你们听是要听见，却不明白；看是要看见，却不晓得。(以赛亚书 6:8-9)
Isaiah was chosen to be a great prophet. He prophesied the coming of the Messiah. What if Isaiah had kept silence or replied “Please send someone else to proclaim this hard message.”?
以赛亚被神拣选成为伟大的先知。他也预言了弥赛亚的降临。如果以赛亚没有回应，或者回应说“找别人去宣告这种危险的预言吧。”那会怎么样？
Ananias said, “Here I am” and shared the gospel with Saul who became the Apostle Paul who brought the good news to the nations and wrote the majority of the New Testament
亚尼拿亚说“我在这里”，和扫罗传福音，使他成为使徒保罗。保罗将福音传向万邦，并且写了新约的主要书籍。
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” Acts 9:10-12 NIV
当下，在大马色有一个门徒，名叫亚拿尼亚。主在异象中对他说：「亚拿尼亚。」他说：「主，我在这里。」 主对他说：「起来！往直街去，在犹大的家里，访问一个大数人，名叫扫罗。他正祷告， 又看见了一个人，名叫亚拿尼亚，进来按手在他身上，叫他能看见。」
(使徒行传 9:10-12)
It was Ananias who received Paul and prayed for him. After that meeting, Paul was able to meet other Christians and be baptized and go on to become the great Apostle bringing the message of Christ to the surrounding nations and writing letters that became the great teachings we still read today in the New Testament. What if Ananias hadn’t replied to God or rather said, “You know that this Pharisee has a reputation of putting people like me in jail! Why would I want to visit him/ No thank you.”
亚拿尼亚接待了保罗，为他祷告。他们见面后，保罗终于能见到了其他的基督徒，并且受洗成为使徒。为外邦带去福音，并且写了许多伟大的教导书信，成为我们今天读的新约。如果亚拿尼亚没有回应或者回应“你知道那个法利赛人，他迫害我们这样的基督徒可出名了，我会进监狱的。你为什么让我去找他啊？不用，谢谢。”会怎样呢？
Would you say, “Here I am”?
你愿意说“我在这里”吗？
Each of these people laid down their own lives, families, cariers, safety, homeland and comfort when they responded “Here I am” to God. What was the result? God blessed them greatly and raised them up to do mighty things in His name. If God told you that He would give you a great reward such as a nation of people, would you leave your comfortable home and respond, “Here I am”? You might be willing to leave everything behind knowing that God was giving you something greater. But what if God didn’t tell you what you would receive by following His call? What if you had no idea what the result would be. Would you still say, “Here I am”? Or would you ignore Him or hide from Him.
这些人放下了他们自己的生命、家庭、事业、安全、故乡和舒适的生活并且回应神“我在这里”。结果是什么呢？神大大地祝福他们，并且兴起他们去奉神的名去做大事。如果神告诉你，祂会给你奖励给你—例如一个国家，你愿意放下你正享受的舒适家园去回应“我在这里”吗？在你知道神会给你更大的奖励的时候，你应该会愿意放下一切去跟随神。但是如果神没有告诉你祂会给你奖励呢？如果你根本不知道结果会如何呢？你愿意说“我在里”吗？你会忽略或者躲藏祂的面吗？
The man who hid from God
躲藏神的人
But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” Genesis 3:9-10 NIV
耶和华 神呼唤那人，对他说：「你在那里？」 他说：「我在园中听见你的声音，我就害怕；因为我赤身露体，我便藏了。」
(创世记 3:9-10)
Why did Adam ignore and hide from God? It was his sin. Why are we afraid to answer God’s call? Could it possibly be sin in our lives that compels us to hide from God?
为什么亚当忽视并且躲藏神？因为他的罪。为什么我们会害怕回应神的呼召？是因为我们的罪迫使我们躲藏神吗？
Brothers and sister, has God called you? Have you ever experienced God calling you to do something? Maybe it is calling you into deeper study of the Bible, more committed prayer, joining a worship team or serving in your fellowship. Did you answer His call? Or did you ignore it because you were too busy or tired from work. Or maybe you were shy or too busy with your own pleasures. So you ignored the sense of God calling. I’ve done that before. But God has taught me that if I obey Him, I will receive great blessings.
弟兄姐妹们，神曾经呼召过你们吗？你经历过神曾经叫你做一些事吗？或许是呼召你更深的学习圣经，或者更多的祷告，加入敬拜队或者其他团契服侍？你回应了神的呼召吗？你因为太繁忙或者太累而忽略祂吗？或者也许你太害羞或者忙于自己的欢乐而忽略神？我有过这样的经历。但是神教会了我来顺服祂，我会收到更大的祝福。
As God has called me to serve in my fellowship, I have gained so much. I’ve met great people, I’ve learned to step out of my comfort zone. I’ve learned how to teach kids, lead worship, serve as a translator and how to make people feel welcomed.
神呼召我来在团契中服侍，在服侍中我们受很大祝福。我见到了许多了不起的人，我学会了走出舒适区，我学会了教导小孩，学会了带敬拜，学会了翻译，也学会了迎接弟兄姐妹。
Getting back to my story of my children watching the cartoon. Will you be the boy or girl who is willing to pause the cartoon and respond to the Father, ‘Hi Ne Ni, here I am”?
再来说我孩子看卡通的故事，你愿成为那个停下看动画片回应父亲“Hi Ne Ni我在这里”的小孩吗？
