应许遥不可及时——亞伯拉罕的信心之旅（十）
When Promises Seem Far Away——
Abraham’s Journey of Faith Message of No.10
亚伯拉罕的信心之旅第十篇的信息：『COME HOME归家』——SOFTLY AND TENDERLY GOD CALLS THE WANDERING VICTIM上帝对流浪中受害者的慈声呼唤
《创世记》Genesis 16：7-16
主讲：林慈信牧师_校对：刘加立弟兄
IV.HOW GOD’S WORD DEAL WITH US (PART ONE)：HE SHINES LIGHT ON OUR TRUE CONDITION IN ORDER TO CHANGE US上帝的话如何对待我们（上）：祂照亮我们的真相，为要改变我们:
Fourthly，let us take a look第四现在我们来看：How God’s word deal with us where we are上帝的话怎么对待我们，怎么在我
们所处的情景对待我们（上）：God’s word shines light on our true condition in order to change us上帝照亮我们的真相，为的是要改变我们的。
1.God examined Hagar and analyzed her condition首先上帝审核夏甲，分析她的情况：
Where did you come from你从哪里逃来的？And God called Hagar the servant of Sarai上帝这样称呼夏甲，她是撒莱的女仆人、
奴隶；she belongs where Sarai is夏甲应该是在撒莱那里的where her duty is这个是她的责任。And by the way where Sarai and Abram are，that’s what God and God’s promises are不但如此，撒莱和亚伯兰所在的地方就是上帝的同在和上帝的应许的所在地。From where has she escaped她从哪里逃出来的？She has been fleeting from her mistress Sarai她从她的女主人撒莱那里逃出来，fleeting from God and from duty从神、从自己的责任逃出来的——Now Hagar confessed this夏甲也承认这个事实。So God analyzed her situation所以上帝分析她的情况。
2.God convicted Hagar of her rebellion上帝叫夏甲扎心知罪，承认自己的叛逆
“You’re running away from God、from duty你是从上帝、从你的责任逃出来的。And where you were running to你逃去什么地方？
You were running into sin and danger你逃到罪和危险中。”So when we forsake God and our duty当我们离弃上帝、不负责任的时候，let us remember我们必须要记得：From where have we fallen or wondered我们离开了什么地方来到这个地方流浪呢？Well we’ve left God and our duty我们是离开了上帝和我们的责任的；and to where have we fallen to or wondered to我们流浪到什么地方、堕落到什么地方？We fallen into sin and danger我们堕落到罪和危险。There is no escaping to freedom and abundant life我们逃跑了，是不会找到自由、不会找到丰盛的生命的。《John》16：8 & 9《约翰福音》十六章8-9节：Holy Spirit will convict us of sin and righteousness圣灵是为了罪、为了义的缘故，使我们扎心知罪的。
3.God issued commands to Hagar上帝向夏甲发出命令：
Return回去，return to your mistress回去你女主人那里；and
submit yourself under her hand顺服她、服在她的手下——Chapter 16 verse 9《创世记》第十六章第9节。God promises her a safe return上帝应许她能够安全回到女主人的家中。There is no blessing outside Abram’s men and his descendants除了在亚伯拉罕和他的后裔那里，是不能够蒙福的。Submission is a painful lesson顺服是一个痛苦的功课，but it is the only way to receive God’s blessing但是顺服是唯一蒙福之路。Sometimes we must endure for a very long time有的时侯我们要忍受很长的一段时间的， because of our own sin因为自己的罪，sometimes because of other people’s sins也因为别人的罪。We can not just run away and wave away the consequence of sin罪的后果不是说消失就消失了，不是挥一下手就消失的！Finally，God did promise blessing for Hagar最后上帝向夏甲应许、要赐福给她的。In fact this blessings became a problem for the People of Israel其实这个福分是为以色列人民带来麻烦的！
4.God meets Hagar with mercy——with his promises最后，上帝的怜悯临到夏甲——上帝向她发出应许的
When we return to God and duty当我们回归上帝，回去拿起我们的责任的时侯，上帝为我们留着他的恩典的——God will meet us with his mercy上帝的怜悯会临到我们。God promised Hagar a safe return and a safe delivery上帝应许夏甲平安到家、平安生产——《Psalm》31：5《诗篇》三十二篇第5节：I said我说：I’ll confess我承认我的罪，thou forgavest你就赦免。
This leads us to the next part：Part V…现在我们就来到第五部分：
V.HOW GOD’S WORD DEALS WITH US (PART TWO)上帝的话如何对待我们（下）：HE REVEALS HIS PLAN，PROMISES HIS GRACE他显明（启示）祂的计划，应许祂的救恩。
1.Promise: Safe return应许：平安到家：
Now let’s take a further look how God’s word deal with us我
们再仔细一点看一看，上帝的话是怎么对待我们的。We already saw我们已经看到：God analyzed、God convicted and commanded前面我们看到了上帝分析、上帝叫人扎心知罪、上帝发命令。Now let us see how God reveals this plan and promises his grace现在我们来看上帝怎么显明他的计划或者启示他的计划、应许他的救恩。
2.Promise: Safe delivery of a son应许：平安生产，要生一个儿子：
Yes，God promised a safe return and a safe delivery是的，上帝应许夏甲平安会到家，平安生产要生一个儿子的；not just because of providence in general不仅仅是因为上帝一般性的护理——that is not only that Hagar will be saved in childbirth夏甲不单单在生产上会得救，but because of God’s specific promise to her而是因为上帝对她直接所讲的应许：a son一个儿子——she will bearing for a son她要生一个儿子。That’s what Abram desired这个也是亚伯
兰所想要的。
3.God names her son——Ishmael上帝给夏甲的儿子命名以实马利：
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And you see God gives the son、gives her son a name上帝为夏甲的儿子命名Ishmael以实马利。God will hear神会听到——《Genesis》16：11《创世记》第十六章第11节；refered to《Exodus》3：7参考《出埃及记》三章第7节。Her son’s name is Ishmael because God has heard夏甲的儿子的名字是以实玛利，神会听到，那是因为上帝的确已经听到了。Even if in our cry to God，there isn’t much devotion to God就算当我们向上帝呼喊的时候并没有对上帝那么的忠诚；God sometimes will hear us有时上帝会听我们 we their(26：50）afflicted、their abused in our cry会听我们这些被压迫的受害者的呼求。God has pity and grace上帝有怜悯，有恩典的！And God further describes the character of this son上帝进一步描述这个儿子的性格：a wild man、a wild donkey of a man 野蛮，野蛮像驴子；rude and bold 粗鲁、大胆；not afraid of other people不怕别人；untamed、intractable不能被驯服、不能被制服的；living at large 活在野地；impatient to serve、impatient to be restrained没有耐心服事、没有耐心被制服。His hand will be against others’ hands——that’s his sin他的手要向别人加害——这是他的罪；others’ hands will be against him别人的手也要向他加害——that will be the punishment for sin这个是对他罪的惩罚。A heart that is turbulent一个动荡不安的心灵 will live out a troublesome lives这种心灵的生活也必然是不安的。Yet he lives in a relative safety但是，他仍然要相对来说安全地存活下去的。He will be strangely preserved by Providence——by God’s common grace上帝的护理——他的普遍恩典，奇妙地保存他。God is better to us——much better to us than we deserve上帝对待我们，是我们不配得的。
4.Promise: There will be numerous offspring上帝更应许：后裔众多：
Further more God promise that there will be numerous offspring from this son上帝再进一步地应许，这个儿子的后裔会众多的——these are what we call Arabs today这些就是我们今天所称为阿拉伯人。The Ishmaelites so involved in the story of Joseph以实马利人在约瑟的故事里有份的。Ishmael is not the son of God’s
promise以实马利并不是上帝所应许的儿子或者后代。In fact，again Hagar’s blessing became Israel’s long term problem事实上，
夏甲所得的福份成为以色列人长期的祸害。But God does care for
their needs但是上帝仍然眷顾他们，供应他们所需的。How should we look at the Arab people today我们今天又怎么看待阿拉伯人。
- COMING HOME，TRUST AND OBEY——HAGAR’S RESPONSE夏甲的回应：归家，信靠顺服：
Sixth第六方面，let us look at Hagar’s response我们来看夏甲的回应：She came home她回家了，she trusted and obeyed信靠
顺服。
- Wonder and Worship她诧异，她敬拜：
She understood that God is God who Sees她明白了：上帝是
看见人的上帝；God sees everything上帝鉴察万事；God knows everything上帝无所不知；God rules everything上帝掌管万事。But an awesome thought：“Thou God sees me上帝啊，你看见我。”——这么一个大而可畏的事实；reminds us of《Psalm》139:1让我们想起《诗篇》139篇第1节的。God not only sees everything上帝不仅仅是看到万事，God sees me上帝看见我，God sees my repentance上帝看见我的悔改，God sees my return上帝看见我的回转、我的归家，and God sees that I am serious and sincere上帝看见我悔改是认真的、是诚恳的。
2.Wonder and Thanksgiving——God Has Shown Favor诧异和感恩——上帝施恩宠：
Secondly第二，Hagar wondered and gave thanks夏甲诧异并且感恩；because God has shown favor to her因为上帝向她施行恩宠。Have I here looked after him that sees me我在这个地方竟然看到那位眷顾我的、看见我的上帝吗？Now maybe Hagar didn’t really understand who was there spoke with her有可能夏甲并不完全认识与她讲话的究竟是谁，what is that（31：59）until he was departing直到他离开；reminds us of the disciples on the road to Emmaus——《Luke》24:31, 32让我们想起在以马忤斯路上的门徒们——《路加福音》二十四（章）31到32节；God doesn’t only dwell in Abram’s tent上帝不仅仅住在亚伯拉罕的帐棚里的，God is here上帝也在这个地方——in the wilderness在旷野！
3.Wonder and Remembrance诧异与纪念：
Thirdly第三，Hagar wondered and remembered夏甲诧异，记念；she named this place她为这个地方命名：Beer-lahai-roi——the well of Him that lives and sees me这口井，是因为那位活的神，看
见我的神命名的——Chapter16：14（《创世记》）十六章14节。This is the world God manifested his glory上帝在这个地方彰显他的荣耀，through his special care of poor woman in distress上帝透过眷顾一位困苦的妇人，透过向她施恩，彰显了他的荣耀。
Brothers and sisters弟兄姐妹，do you have a remembrance to make你有什么事要纪念的吗？God sees us上帝看见你，鉴察你，眷顾你的。
4.Hagar did as the angel commanded her夏甲听从了天使的命令：
Finally fourthly4第四最后，Hagar did as the angel commanded her夏甲听从了天使的命令。She did return to Sarai her mistress
她的确回到撒莱她的女主人那里；and during time，her son was born到了时候她的儿子出生了。
VII.CONCLUSION结论：HAGAR AND SARAI AMONGST US——THE OPPRESSED AND THE OPPRESSOR BOTH NEED GOD’S MERCY我们中间的撒莱和夏甲——被压迫的和压迫别人的，同样需要上帝的怜悯：
Now let us make some further points and draw conclusions
好，我们进一步再讲一两点，然后做个结论。There are Hagars among us在我们中间有不少的人就像夏甲一样，there are also Sarais and Abrams among us在我们中间也有撒莱和亚伯兰这种的人的。Those oppressed and those who are oppress source被压迫的人和压迫别人的人，they both are in the church他们都在教会，they both need God’s mercy他们都同样地需要上帝的怜悯的。
- God’s words to Hagar is to return上帝向夏甲的吩咐是：回家。
In the《New Testament》we find the apostle Paul issue the same command to Philemon’s slave参考《新约圣经》里保罗对腓利门的奴隶的命令：回家。
2.Look at Sarai：rushing ahead of God，complaining、oppressing跑在上帝的前头，抱怨，压迫她的仆人：
Now let’s look at Sarai我们来看看撒莱：Rushing ahead of
God跑在上帝的前头、complaining抱怨、oppressing压迫她的仆人。
I start contrast with Hannah in I《Samuel》Chapter1&2与哈拿在《撒母耳记》上第一、第二章成为鲜明的对照。Hannah knew God and committed her bitterly situation to God哈拿认识上帝把她的痛苦交托给上帝。And when her son was born 然后当她的儿子出生的时候，she fullfilled her promise她就兑现了她的应许，dedicated and gave back the son Samuel to God to live before God forever她就把她的儿子撒母耳献给上帝，一生在上帝面前服侍他。
Likewise we can contrast Sarai with Mary我们也可以把撒莱的
态度与马利亚的祷告对照，in《Luke》Chapter1在《路加福音》第一章。God does impossible上帝做一些人认为不可能的事：God opens wombs上帝使不能生育的生育；and God broad for his son——The Incarnate Son through a virgin上帝用童贞女来生下道成肉身的神的儿子的。
God does see上帝是鉴察万事的。And God continues to fullfill his plan上帝一步一步地实现他的计划的。So you see Man’s condition——running away所以我们看到人的处境——人逃跑。We see God’s requirements我们看到上帝的要求——return回来。And we hear God’s comfort and promises我们也听到上帝安慰跟应许。Through it all，we see God’s plan and God’s sovereignty在一切的一切的事情上，我们看到上帝的计划在前进，上帝在掌他的主权。Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever耶稣基督，昨日、今日，直到永远是不改变的——《Hebrews》13：8《希伯来书》十三章第8节。
And then然后呢，you finding 《Genesis》between 16 & 17我
们看到（《创世记》）第十六章跟十七章中间：after Ishmael was born以实玛利出生了。God then remained silent for 13 years上帝沉默了十三年。God is just and God is pure、holy上帝是公义的、是圣洁的。Can we say He’s got a sense of humor as well我们可以说他有一点的幽默感吗？There is no one like our God没有人像我们的上帝的。
Let us pray together我们一起祷告：Father we confessed：for many of us，we feel like victims of abuse and oppression上帝承
认：我们很多人都觉得自己就好像一个被虐待、被压迫的受害者一样，and our response is that often been to run away from you而我们的回应往往都是：逃跑、离开你。We pray that you do the gracious work of Holy Spirit to lead us to return圣灵求你动你的善工：使我们回转、归家。All because of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ都因为我们主耶稣基督从死里复活的大能。Holy Spirit，make us return帮助我们归家。We thank you for the way you manifest yourself in this mess the people made谢谢上帝，你在人闯大祸的时候你竟然彰显你自己——your mercy、your holyness你的怜悯、你的圣洁，and your plan还有你的计划。We worship you我们敬拜你，Give us more faith求你赐下更多的的信心给我们out of your mercy都是因为你怜悯我们！We pray in Jesus’name我们奉耶稣基督的圣名而求。
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