1/4/2013 挪亞的方舟

經文:

創世記6－9章

中心思想:

創世記6章

提要

        在叛逆的過程中，人類罪貫滿盈，以致上帝要向全人類判決死刑。在恩典中上帝指示挪亞──一個與上帝同行的義人──建造一艘大船，好躲過這場即將來臨的審判浩劫。挪亞遵行上帝的旨意，當洪水肆虐全地時，方舟護庇了人類與動物的生命，於是有了一個新的開始。方舟安全的停在亞拉臘山上後，上帝頒佈新的指示，並與挪亞和他的後裔立約：「我便記念我與你們……所立的約。」（創9：15）

每日與主同行

        「你說你真是厭煩了等候上帝匡正這個時代的邪惡嗎？或許你應該辭去工作，加入挪亞父子造船公司，他們需要幫手，如果你知道怎樣建造三層甲板的貨船，鐵定會在那裏大受歡迎，備受重用。」
        「好像以前沒有人嘗試過這樣的事，但挪亞完全相信上帝，照著上帝所說的去作，他努力不懈直到洪水泛濫之日。」
        「合約上註明一百二十年──不多也不少叫挪亞指出上帝要給百姓另一個歸向祂的機會，上帝ㄧ點也不急躁，因為祂可以長期忍受各種痛苦，但上帝不會一直苦苦等待下去，時候一到，祂就讓洪水淹沒大地，上帝永遠都是信實的──而且也在適當的時候表明出來。
        「好了，你可以開始鋸堅厚的歌斐木做甲板……。」
        參考六到九章，列出挪亞所持守的順服的信心步驟。挪亞以拿起鐵鎚和鋸子表明順服上帝的心志。，今天在你加入挪亞信心的行列時，上帝要求你做什麼？

默想

彩虹何時出現？
        上帝以彩虹為一個明顯的記號，象徵祂絕不再以洪水毀滅大地。然而聖經沒有明說，彩虹是否以前就已存在，然後被上帝選出為記；或者它是一個新的現象，表明大洪水之後天候的改變。

金言

使人得到賞罰的原因與其說是行為，不如歸咎於個性。

1/4/2013 Noah's Ark

Scriptures:

Genesis 6-9

Heart of the Passage:

Genesis 6

Overview

        In the course of its rebellion, humanity becomes so sinful that God prepares to execute the death sentence on the entire race. In grace He directs Noah—a just man who walks with God—to build a great ship in order to escape the coming judgment. Noah obeys God, and while the floodwaters purge the earth, the ark preserves human and animal life for a fresh start. After a safe landing on Mount Ararat, God gives new directions and makes new commitments to Noah and his descendants: "I will remember my covenant" (9:15).

Your Daily Walk

        Just imagine: ''You say you sometimes get tired of waiting for God to right the wrongs in your day? Maybe you should quit your job and sign on with Noah & Sons Shipbuilders. They're short of help, and you will be doubly welcome if you know anything about building triple-decker cargo ships.
        "Seems nobody's ever tried this kind of thing before. But Noah is convinced God told him to do it. Says he's working against a deadline too.
        "The contract calls for 120 years—no more, no less. Ol' Noah figures the Lord wants to give people another chance to turn back to Him. God's not in any hurry. That's because He's long-suffering. But the Lord won't wait forever. When the time comes, it's going to get real wet around here.
        God always keeps His word—and just at the right time too.
        "Well, you can start by sawing those gopher logs into planks,..."
        Make a list of the faith-inspired steps that Noah took in chapters 6-9. Noah obeyed God by picking up a hammer and saw. What is God asking you to do to join Noah's faithful ranks?

Insight

When Came the Rainbow? — 
        God decreed the rainbow a tangible sign of His promise never again to destroy the earth by flood. However, Scripture does not indicate whether the rainbow had previously existed, and was then chosen by God as a sign; or whether it was a new phenomenon, suggesting a changed climate after the Flood.

Adage

It is character rather than separate acts that will be rewarded or punished.