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创世记生命读经 · 第50篇

与在人水平上的神来往

(Living in Fellowship with God)
1在本篇信息中，我们来看创世记十八章，本章含有亚伯拉罕对神亲密经历的记载。我们若将十一至二十四章所载亚伯拉罕对神的经历作概括性的观察，会看见他的经历分四大段。首先，当他住在迦勒底的鬼魔之地，他蒙了神的呼召。突然之间，令他大吃一惊，荣耀的神向他显现。（徒七2。）那是他对神经历的开始。第二段，在十二至十四章，亚伯拉罕为著他的生存，经历凭著相信神而活。他已经蒙神呼召，来达成神的神圣目的，但身为一个人，他还必须有食物、保护、以及维持生存所需的一切。他在新地作客，没有自己的产业。因此，神训练他运用神所注入他里面的信心，为著他的生存信靠神。
1In this message we come to Genesis 18, which contains an intimate record of Abraham’s experience with God. If we take an overall view of Abraham’s experience with God as found in chapter eleven through chapter twenty- four, we shall see that his experience is in four major sections. Firstly, while he was living in the demonic land of Chaldea, he was called by God. Suddenly, much to his surprise, the God of glory appeared to him (Acts 7:2). That was the beginning of his experience with God. Secondly, in chapters twelve through fourteen, Abraham experienced living by faith in God for his existence. He had been called by God for the fulfillment of God’s divine purpose, but, as a human being, he still had to have food, protection, and all that was necessary to maintain his existence. He was a stranger in a new land, having no property of his own. Thus, God trained him to exercise the very faith which God had infused into him to trust in God for his existence
2接著，在十五至十七章，就是第三段，神训练他认识恩典以达成神的目的。在这里亚伯拉罕学习不凭著自己或靠著自己作甚么，乃凭著并同著神作一切。虽然神需要他，但神不需要他的任何东西。亚伯拉罕一切所有、所是并所能的，都完全为神所弃绝。在这件事上，神至少花了十五年训练亚伯拉罕。因他作得不合式，十三年之久神向他隐没了。亚伯拉罕受到训练、管教，并且非常蒙神的恩宠，但他没有行在神面前，反而行在他妻子面前。他妻子向他题议，用肉体产生后裔，以达成神的目的。亚伯拉罕盼望他的后裔以实玛利能达成神的目的。但神似乎说，『不，我不称许以实玛利。他是你努力的结果，是你作为的产品。我弃绝他，你也不可保留他。亚伯兰，你必须知道，你所能作的对我毫无意义。我只需要你，不需要你的才能和力量。我不需要你的罗得、以利以谢、夏甲、或你的任何东西。你必须行在我面前，不凭著自己或靠著自己作甚么。你必须凭著我神圣的乳房得著滋养并供应，然后你才能产生一些东西；不但是为著我，并且是出于我。我只悦纳并称许出于我自己的东西。没有你，我不会产生以撒。我要藉著你产生以撒，但不是出于你。你是我的管道，并不是源头。你若认为自己是源头，你就是侮辱我。我是那独一、全丰全足的源头。你已经认识我是至高的神，天地的主。现在你必须认识我是以利沙代，是有乳房的全足全能者。你要留在我的乳房下，凭我的全丰全足不断的得著供应和滋养。这就是行在我面前的路。』当亚伯拉罕学会认识恩典以达成神的目的时，神就在他的名字和性情上改变了他。神藉著给亚伯拉罕行割礼，改变了他的构成。亚伯兰了结了，亚伯拉罕产生了。这是亚伯拉罕对神经历的第三大段。
2Following that, in chapters fifteen through seventeen, the third section, God trained him to know grace for the fulfillment of His purpose. Here Abraham learned not to do anything by himself or on his own but to do everything by and with God. Although God needed him, God did not need anything of him. All that Abraham had, was, and could do was absolutely repudiated by God. God spent at least fifteen years to train Abraham in this matter. For thirteen years, God disappeared from him because he did not behave himself properly. Abraham was trained, disciplined, and very much in God’s favor, but he did not walk in the presence of God. Rather, he walked in the presence of his wife, the one who proposed that he exercise his flesh to produce a seed for the fulfillment of God’s purpose. Abraham expected that Ishmael, his seed, could fulfill God’s purpose. Nevertheless, God seemed to say, “No, I don’t approve of Ishmael. He is the issue of your effort, the produce of your doing. I reject him and you must not keep him. Abram, you must learn that nothing that you can do means anything to Me. I only need you, not your ability and strength. I don’t need your Lot, Eliezer, Hagar, or anything of you. You must walk before Me, not doing anything by yourself or on your own. You must be nourished and supplied by the sufficiency of My divine udder. Then you will be able to produce something not only for Me but also of Me. I only accept and approve what is out of Myself. I shall not produce an Isaac without you. I shall produce an Isaac through you, but not out of you. You are My channel, not the source. Whenever you consider yourself to be the source, you insult Me. I am the unique, all-sufficient source. You have known Me as the Most High God, the Possessor of heaven and earth. Now you must know Me as El-Shaddai, as the all-sufficient Mighty One with an udder. Stay under My udder and be supplied and nourished constantly by My all-sufficiency. This is the way to walk before Me.” As Abraham learned to know grace for the fulfillment of God’s purpose, God changed him in both name and in nature. God changed Abraham’s constitution by having him circumcised. Abram was terminated and Abraham came into being. This is the third major section of Abraham’s experience of God.
（四） 活在与神的交通里
d. Living in Fellowship with God
（1） 与在人水平上的神来往
1) Communion with God on the Human Level
3此后，他立刻被引进荣耀的段落－活在与神的交通里。（创十八～二四。）亚伯拉罕已经蒙召，已经学会为著他的生存凭著相信神而活，并且已经认识恩典以达成神的目的。现在他被带进与神不断的交通里。他的第四段经历见于创世记十八至二十四章。在这七章里所启示的每一件事，都是亚伯拉罕与神亲密交通的一面。在亚伯拉罕第一段的经历中，神向他显现为荣耀的神。在第二段，神启示祂自己是至高的神，天地的主。在第三段，神临到亚伯拉罕是以利沙代，是有乳房之全丰全足的大能者。在第四段，神以非常不同的方式，以平常的人来到。当亚伯拉罕在大热天坐在他的帐棚门口，他看见三个平常的人走来。（创十八1～2。）二节译为『人』的希伯来文，意即平常的人，人类。神以这样的形态向亚伯拉罕显现。起先，亚伯拉罕不知道这些人中有一位是主，是耶和华，另二位是天使。神显现为荣耀的神，至高的神，以利沙代，以及平常的人；在这些形态中，你喜欢那一种？你喜欢神向你显现为荣耀的神么？祂若这样向你显现，你会被吓住。你喜欢祂以至高神的身分临到么？倘若美国总统到我这里来，说，『我是至高的美国总统，来访问一个小人物，』我会感到局促不安。但他若以和我一样的平民身分来到，我会说，『先生，你好么？请进来歇息歇息，吃点东西。』他若这样来临，到后来才显示他是总统，我就能与他有一段美好的时光。在神这四种显现的方式里，我更喜欢祂以平常人的形态临到我。
3Immediately after this, he was ushered into a glorious section — living in fellowship with God (18:1 — 24:67). Abraham had been called, had learned to live by faith in God for his existence, and had come to know grace for the fulfillment of God’s purpose. Now he has been brought into constant fellowship with God. The fourth section of his experience is found in chapters eighteen through twenty-four. Everything revealed in these seven chapters is an aspect of Abraham’sin tim ate fellowship with God. In the first section of his experience, God appeared to Abraham as the God of glory. In the second section He revealed Himself as the Most High God, the Possessor of heaven and earth. In the third section He came to Abraham as El-Shaddai, as the all-sufficient Mighty One with an udder. In the fourth section God came in a very different way—as a mortal man. As Abraham sat in the door of his tent during the heat of the day, he saw three mortal men approaching (vv. 1-2). In Hebrew, the word translated “men” in verse 2 means mortal men, human beings. God appeared to Abraham in such a form. At first, Abraham did not realize that one of these men was the Lord, Jehovah, and that the other two were angels. Of these forms of God’s appearing—as the God of glory, as the Most High God, as El-Shaddai, and as a mortal man— which do you prefer? Do you prefer that God appear to you as the God of glory? If He did, you would be terrified. Would you like Him to come as the Most High God? If the president of the United States were to come to me and say, “I am the most high president of the United States coming to visit a little man,” I would feel uneasy. But if he were to come as a man the same as me, I would say, “Sir, how are you? Please come in and rest and be refreshed.” If he were to come in this way, revealing later that he was the president of the United States, I could have a very good time with him. Of these four ways of God’s appearing, I prefer that He come to me in the form of a mortal man, not in His divine glory, in His most high position, nor in His all-sufficiency.
4我们都需要经历我们的神到这样的程度。在我们经历的开始，我们觉得祂是荣耀的神。但我们越经历祂，越察觉祂是以人的形态来临，就和我们一样。倘若神不是采取这样人的形态临到亚伯拉罕，亚伯拉罕怎能称为神的朋友呢？创世记十八章启示，亚伯拉罕和神彼此谈话，像朋友一样。亚伯拉罕对神说，『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。』（创十八3～4。）亚伯拉罕豫备水给神洗脚，神就在亚伯拉罕帐棚前的树下歇息。很少基督徒想到神会以平常人的形态来临，在树荫下歇息，并用人所豫备的水洗脚。你想那一种情况叫神更愉快？是叫祂坐在宝座上要求我们向祂俯伏敬拜呢，还是叫祂坐在树下洗脚？主耶稣的脚在西门家中被那女人用眼泪所洗之前，（路七38，44，）神的脚就在亚伯拉罕的帐棚前被洗过了。当耶稣在西门家中洗脚并受膏的时候，犹太教的祭司正在殿里敬拜神。当时神在那里？是在耶路撒冷的殿里呢，还是在西门的家中？当然是在西门的家中。照样，在创世记十八章，神在那里？是坐在宝座上等候亚伯拉罕敬拜呢，还是坐在亚伯拉罕帐棚前的树下接受洗脚？何等奇妙，祂竟以平常人的形态，在亚伯拉罕的帐棚前接受洗脚！在你的经历中，你的神在那里？祂是坐在天上的宝座上呢，还是在你的帐棚前接受洗脚？你是喜欢你的神坐在宝座上，等候你向祂说，『圣哉，圣哉，圣哉』呢，还是喜欢祂坐在你的帐棚门口？神在亚伯拉罕的水平上，并以人的形态临到他。神既是这样来临，祂就能和亚伯拉罕成为朋友。在本章里，没有敬拜和畏惧，只有甜美的亲密。何等美妙！今天你的神是谁？祂仅仅是荣耀的神，至高的神，以利沙代呢，还是在平常人形态里的一位，与你一样？
4We all need to experience our God to such an extent. At the beginning of our experience, we sense Him as the God of glory. But the more we experience Him, the more we realize that He comes in a human form, the same as we are. If God had not come to Abraham in such a human form, how could Abraham have been called His friend? Genesis 18 reveals that Abraham and God spoke with one another like friends. Abraham said to Him, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree” (vv. 3-4). Abraham prepared water for God to wash His feet, and God rested under a tree in front of Abraham’st ent. Very few Christians think that God would ever come in the form of a mortal man, rest under the shade of a tree, and wash His feet with the water that was prepared by a man. Which do you think is more pleasant—for God to sit on His throne demanding that we bow down to Him and worship Him, or for God to sit under a tree and wash His feet? Before the feet of the Lord Jesus were washed with the woman’st ears in the house of Simon (Luke 7:38, 44), God’s feet were washed in front of Abraham’st ent. While Jesus was in the house of Simon having His feet washed and anointed, the priests of Judaism were worshipping God in the temple. Where was God at that time—in the temple in Jerusalem or in the house of Simon? Surely He was in the house of Simon. Likewise, where was God in Genesis 18 — sitting on His throne waiting for Abraham to worship Him, or washing His feet beneath the tree in front of Abraham’st ent? How marvelous it was that He was in the form of a mortal man washing His feet in front of Abraham’st ent! Where is your God in your experience? Is He sitting on a throne in heaven or washing His feet at your tent? Do you prefer to have your God sitting on the throne, waiting for you to say, “Holy, Holy, Holy” to Him, or do you prefer to have Him sitting at your tent door? God came to Abraham on his level and in a human form. Since He came in this way, He and Abraham could be friends. In this chapter there is no religious worship or fear, just sweet intimacy. How wonderful! Who is your God today? Is He only the God of glory, the Most High God, and the El-Shaddai, or One in the form of a mortal man, the same as you are?
5我不是说在创世记十八章，神是平常的人；祂只是在平常人的形态里。在创世记十八章，向亚伯拉罕显现的三个人中，有一位是耶和华神。十三节题到『主。』在希伯来文里，这里的主就是耶和华。以人的形态临到亚伯拉罕的，乃是耶和华！多年前我读创世记十八章，感到很困惑。在本章，亚伯拉罕确实看见了主，但是新约说，从来没有人看见神。（约一18。）亚伯拉罕不是看见在神圣形态里的神，乃是看见在人形态里的神。神是以人的形态向亚伯拉罕显现。主耶稣在地上的时候也是一样。人不是看见在神圣形态里的神，乃是看见在那人耶稣里的神。首先，神在祂神圣的荣耀里向亚伯拉罕显现；然后，神在祂至高的地位上，并以以利沙代，就是有乳房之全丰全足大能者的身分来临；最后，神以人的形态来临。亚伯拉罕不是看见神的形态，乃是看见人的形态。他看见三个平常的人，起初并没有察觉其中一位是耶和华。神喜欢这样向我们显现。祂不是以神的形态来临，乃是以人的形态来临，并没有宣告祂就是耶和华神。神和亚伯拉罕谈话，好像一个人和另一个人谈话一样。忽然祂问亚伯拉罕：『你妻子撒拉在那里？』这也许使亚伯拉罕吃了一惊。他也许想：『这人认识我的妻子！他怎么会认识？他不是陌生人么？』然后主说，『在生命的时候，我必要回到你这里。』（创十八10，直译。）亚伯拉罕也许说，『你是谁？你必定是那将以撒出生的应许赐给我的以利沙代。』（创十七19，21。）亚伯拉罕对这事也许还不确定，直到神说，『你的妻子撒拉必生一个儿子。』撒拉听见这话就暗笑。当时没有人知道撒拉心里暗笑，但主说，『撒拉为甚么暗笑，说，我既已年老，果真能生养么？』（创十八13。）这时候，主就清楚的向亚伯拉罕揭示祂是耶和华神，说，『耶和华岂有太奇妙的事么？』（创十八，另译。）当撒拉否认她笑的时候，主说，『不然，你实在笑了。』（创十八15。）这指明祂是无所不知的神，知道一切，连人心里的事都知道。这时亚伯拉罕才清楚，这人就是全能的耶和华，就是以利沙代。照样，耶稣的门徒也是逐渐的认识，那人耶稣就是神。
5I do not say that God was a mortal man in Genesis 18; for He was just in the form of a mortal man. One of the three men who appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18 was Jehovah God. Verse 13 mentions “the Lord.” In Hebrew, the Lord here is Jehovah. It was Jehovah who came to Abraham in the form of a man! When I read Genesis 18 years ago, I was troubled by it. In this chapter Abraham certainly saw the Lord, but the New Testament says that no man has ever seen God (John 1:18). Abraham did not see God in His divine form, but God in a human form. God appeared to him as a man. It was the same when the Lord Jesus was on earth. People did not see God in His divine form; they saw God in the man Jesus. Firstly, God appeared to Abraham in His divine glory. Then He came in His most high position and as the El-Shaddai, the all-sufficient Mighty One with an udder. Lastly, He came in the form of a man. Abraham did not see the form of God but the form of man. He saw three mortal men, not realizing at first that one of them was Jehovah. God likes to appear to us in this way. He does not come in the form of God but in the form of man, without making any declaration that He is Jehovah God. God talked with Abraham as one man talks with another. Suddenly He asked Abraham, “Where is Sarah thy wife?” This might have shocked Abraham, and he might have thought, “This man knows my wife! How could He know her? Isn’t he a stranger?” Then the Lord said, “I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life” (v. 10). Abraham might have said, “Who are you? You must be the very El-Shaddai who gave me the promise of Isaac’s birth” (17:19, 21). Probably Abraham was still uncertain about this until God said, “Sarah thy wife shall have a son.” Sarah laughed when she heard this. No human being could have known at that time that Sarah was laughing within, but the Lord said, “Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?” (v. 13). At this juncture, the Lord clearly unveiled to Abraham that He was Jehovah God by saying, “Is anything too marvelous for the Lord [Jehovah]?” When Sarah denied laughing He said, “Nay; but 14 thou didst laugh” (v. 15), indicating that He was the omniscient God, the One who knows everything, even what is in man’s he art. At this time Abraham was clear that this man was the Almighty Jehovah, the very El-Shaddai. In like manner, the disciples of Jesus gradually came to know that the man Jesus was God.
6我们都需要这样经历神。我们不该把与神相会当作宗教形式来遵行，说，『现在是敬拜神的时间。我必须打扮，梳头，恭恭敬敬的走进教堂，在那里与神同在。』我们若是采取这种作法，神也许不会向我们显现。许多时候，乃是当我们坐在帐棚门口，神临到我们了。我们没有豫备要敬拜神，不过是看见有人走近我们，我们就请他停留片时，到末了我们得知这一位竟然就是神。你没有这样的经历么？按著宗教，神是在教堂或礼拜堂里会见人。但神常以十分平常的方式会见我们，这种方式就宗教而论反而是很特别的。我喜欢神以平常人的形态，在亚伯拉罕的帐棚门口向他显现。许多姊妹有这样的经历，当她们在厨房里作饭或洗衣时，主以非常亲密、满了人性的方式临到她们，她们与主就有一段甜美交通的喜乐时间。她们与主谈话，好像与朋友谈话一样。许多弟兄也有同样的经历。当他们在工作或在家里休息时，主像亲密的朋友临到他们，他们就与主有亲密的交谈。这就是经历主在我们人的水平上来访问我们，使我们与祂来往，好像与亲密的朋友来往一样。你是在亚伯拉罕四段经历的那一段？你经历神是荣耀的神，至高的神，以利沙代，还是在平常人形态里的一位？你有没有与在人水平上的神活在亲密的交通里？神没有带著祂神圣的荣耀，也没有在祂崇高的地位上临到我们，却以平常人的形态临到我们，这是何等的甜美！
6We all need to experience God in this way. We should not practice a religious form of meeting with God, saying, “Now is the time to worship God. I must dress up, comb my hair, and reverently walk into the cathedral where I shall be with God.” If we take this way, God may not appear to us. Many times God comes to us while we are sitting at our tent door. Although we may be unprepared to worship God, we may see someone approaching and ask him to stay with us for a while. Eventually we learn that this One is God. Have you not had this kind of experience? According to religion, God visits people in a cathedral or chapel. But God often visits us in a very normal way, in a way which is extraordinary as far as religion is concerned. I like the God who appeared to Abraham in the form of a mortal man at his tent door. Many sisters have the experience that while they are cooking in their kitchens or doing the laundry, the Lord comes to them in a very intimate, human way, and they have a pleasant time of sweet fellowship with the Lord, conversing with Him as with a friend. Many brothers have the same kind of experience. While they are working on their jobs or resting at home, the Lord comes to them as a dear friend, and they have an intimate conversation with the Lord. This is the experience of the Lord coming to visit us on our human level so that we can commune with Him as with an intimate friend. In which of the four sections of Abraham’s experience are you? Are you experiencing God as the God of glory, as the Most High God, as the El-Shaddai, or as the One in the form of a mortal man? Are you living in intimate fellowship with God on a human level? How sweet it is when God comes to us not with His divine glory or in His high position but in the form of a mortal man!
（a）在亚伯拉罕受割礼以后
a) After Abraham’s Circumcision
7亚伯拉罕与神交通，开始于他受过割礼并被了结以后。（创十七24～。）他不但已经蒙召，学会为他的生存凭著相信神而活，并且学会弃绝、否认他天然的力量，事事信靠神，以成就祂的目的。他成了这样的人以后，就开始活在与神的交通里。他是在受过割礼的光景里，得著神来访问他；他也是身为受过割礼的人，与访问他的神有亲密的交通。他不需要去神那里，乃是神来访问他。宗教总是吩咐人去神那里，但创世记十八章启示神来访问受过祂割礼的人。受过割礼的人不需要到圣殿或教堂去；他的帐棚成了神的帐幕，在那里神享受受割礼者所供应的水和食物。乃是在我们的肉体受割礼，我们天然的人被了结以后，神才来访问我们，我们才在与祂亲密的交通里，供应祂水和食物，使祂畅快并满足。
7Abraham’s fellowship with God began after he was circumcised and had been terminated (17:24-27). He had not only been called and learned to live by faith in God 27 for his existence, but he had learned to reject and deny his natural strength and to trust in God for everything for the fulfillment of His purpose. After becoming such a person, he began to live in fellowship with God. In his circumcised state, God came to visit him, and as a circumcised person Abraham had an intimate communion with the visiting God. He did not need to go to God; God came to visit him. Religion always charges people to go to God, but Genesis 18 reveals that God came to visit His circumcised one. The circumcised one did not need to go to a temple or cathedral; his tent became God’s tabernacle, the place where God enjoyed His circumcised one’s ministry of water and food. It is after our flesh has been circumcised and our natural man has been terminated that God comes to visit us and we minister water and food to Him for His refreshment and satisfaction in our intimate fellowship with Him.
（b）如同神的朋友
b) As a Friend of God
8当亚伯拉罕活在与神的交通里，神就以他为祂的朋友。（雅二23，赛四一8，代下二十7。）在本章里，亚伯拉罕和神的谈话，好像两个朋友之间的谈话。这事发生在希伯仑幔利橡树旁，就是亚伯拉罕照著神的喜悦所住的地方。（创十三18。）希伯仑这名，希伯来文的意思是交通、来往和友谊。乃是在这交通和友谊的地方，神才像朋友一样访问亚伯拉罕，亚伯拉罕也像欢迎朋友一样欢迎神，豫备水给祂洗脚，使祂畅快，并给祂吃了丰富的一餐，使祂满足。亚伯拉罕行了这一切，乃是在橡树荫下的帐棚门口，在与他朋友亲密的交通里，而不是在『祭司』或『牧师』的带领下，教堂或圣堂中对神的宗教敬拜里。亚伯拉罕在大热天坐在帐棚门口纳凉的时候，神和两个天使向他显现。他看见他们走近，便跑去迎接他们，请他们留下。他豫备了水给他们洗脚，并且用三个在炭火上烤成的细面饼，一只又嫩又好的牛犊，奶油和奶，这么丰富的一餐款待他们。（创十八4～。）在古时，三细亚等于一伊法。照著撒上一章二十四节和士师记六章十九节，一餐的正常分量是一伊法细面。为甚么创世记十八章六节和马太十三章三十三节一样，题三细亚而不18题一伊法？因为在创世记十八章和马太十三章，三细亚细面都是表征在人性里复活的基督。这样一位基督就是烤成饼的细面，给神和人作食物。亚伯拉罕也豫备了一只嫩牛犊。这牛犊和路加十五章二十三节给浪子吃的肥牛犊一样，也是基督的表征。亚伯拉罕又用奶油和奶，款待神和天使。神早在以色列子民之前，就喝了美地的奶。饼、牛犊、奶油和奶，都象征包罗万有之基督的丰富，作了神和人的满足。
8As Abraham lived in fellowship with God, God considered him to be his friend (James 2:23; Isa. 41:8; 2 Chron. 20:7). The conversation between Abraham and God in this chapter resembles that between two friends. This happened by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron, where Abraham lived according to God’s pleasure (13:18). The name Hebron in Hebrew means fellowship, communion, and friendship. It was at this place of fellowship and friendship that God came to visit Abraham as a friend, and Abraham welcomed God as a friend, preparing water for God to wash His feet for His refreshment and feeding God with a rich meal for His satisfaction. Abraham did all this in the intimate fellowship with his Friend at his tent door under the shadow of the oak trees, not in the religious worship of “God” in a cathedral or sanctuary under the service of a “priest” or “minister.” When Abraham was sitting in the tent door to cool himself in the heat of the day, God appeared to him with the two angels. When he saw them approaching, he ran to welcome them and asked them to stay with him. He prepared water for them to wash their feet and served them a rich meal of three cakes of fine wheat flour baked on embers, a tender and good calf, and butter and milk (vv. 4-8). In ancient times, three 8 measures, or three seahs, were the equivalent of an ephah. According to 1 Samuel 1:24 and Judges 6:19, the normal portion for a meal was an ephah of fine flour. Why then does 18:6, like Matthew 13:33, mention three measures, not one ephah? Because in both Genesis and Matthew 13 three measures of fine flour signify the resurrected Christ in His humanity. Such a Christ is the fine flour baked into cakes to be food for both God and man. Abraham also prepared a tender calf. This calf, like the fatted calf used to feed the prodigal son in Luke 15:23, was also a figure of Christ. Abraham also served God and the angels butter and milk. God drank the milk of the good land much earlier than the children of Israel did. The cakes, the calf, and the butter and milk all signify the riches of the all-inclusive Christ for the satisfaction of both God and man.
9圣经虽然没有说，亚伯拉罕把这一餐当作祭物给神摆上，但实际上他就是这样作。多年以后，以色列人每年去过节，他们将美地的出产，就是将植物或动物生命的出产献给神。原则上，亚伯拉罕在创世记十八章也是作同样的事。每当我们与神享受一段美好的时光，与神有亲密的交通，那时神不但将基督供应我们，我们也将基督献给神，将基督的丰富献给神，作祂的享受。换句话说，我们将基督当作三细亚细面，一只又嫩又好的牛犊，以及奶油和奶献给神。感谢主，我们对这点至少有一些经历。当我们享受与神亲密的交通时，我们不但从神领受基督，也将基督献给神作神的食物。我们将复活人性里的基督当作三细亚细面献上，我们将基督当作又嫩又好的牛犊献上，我们将基督一切的丰富献上，作神的享受。许多时候，我在擘饼聚会中享受基督，还不及我将基督献给神作神的享受那样多。当客人来你家拜访你的时候，你不盼望他们给你吃。反之，你喜欢给他们吃。姊妹们尤其喜爱服事饭食，看著客人吃。客人吃得越多，姊妹们越喜乐。我们都需要与神在这样亲密的交通里，使我们不但享受基督，也将基督献给神作祂的享受。最高的交通不是当我们在神面前多多享受基督的时候，乃是当神在我们里面享受基督，过于我们所享受的时候。在召会中最高、最丰富的聚会，乃是我们将基督献给神使祂满足的聚会。
9Although the Bible does not say that Abraham presented this meal to God as an offering, in actuality he did so. Years later, when the children of Israel went to their yearly feasts, they offered God the produce of the good land, offering Him the produce of either the vegetable or animal life. In principle, Abraham did the same thing in Genesis 18. Whenever we enjoy a good time with God, having intimate fellowship with Him, at that time Christ not only is supplied to us, but we offer Christ to God, offering Him the riches of Christ for His enjoyment. In other words, we offer Christ to God as three measures of fine flour, as a tender and good calf, and as butter and milk. Thank the Lord that we have had at least some experience of this. While we were enjoying intimate fellowship with God, we not only received Christ from God but also offered Christ to God as God’s food. We offered Christ in His resurrected humanity as three measures of fine flour, we offered Christ as the tender and good calf, and we presented all the riches of Christ to God for His enjoyment. A good number of times at the Lord’stable I have not enjoyed the Lord as much as when I have offered Christ to God for God’s enjoyment. When guests come to visit you in your house, you do not expect them to feed you. Rather, you enjoy feeding them. The sisters especially enjoy serving a meal and watching the guests eat it. The more the guests eat, the happier the sisters are. We all need to be in such an intimate fellowship with God that we not only enjoy Christ but also offer Christ to God for His enjoyment. The highest fellowship is not when we enjoy Christ so much before God but when God enjoys Him in us more than we do. The highest and richest meeting in the church is the meeting in which we offer Christ to God for His satisfaction.
（c）从神领受启示
c) Receiving Revelation from God
10亚伯拉罕享受与神这样甜美的交通，那时他就从神领受关于以撒出生和所多玛毁灭的启示。这些乃是两件基本的事，神要为著这些事一直对付我们。以撒的出生与基督有关，所多玛的毁灭与神对罪的审判有关。以撒必须来，所多玛必须去。这意思是基督必须进来，罪必须出去。今天神不仅在成就祂的计画，以达成祂的目的，并且祂这万人之上的主也在审判罪。这原则在我们生活的每一面，在我们的婚姻生活，家庭生活，个人生活，基督徒生活，和召会生活中，都是一样。神所关心的乃是藉著我们生出基督，并消除一切罪恶的事物。祂要在我们的家庭生活，职业生活，甚至基督徒生活和召会生活中产生基督，并且毁除『所多玛。』我们从神所已经领受，以及将要领受的一切启示，多半与这两项有关。你若想想自己的经历，就会发现是这样。每当你与神交通，从祂领受启示，这启示总是在积极一面与基督有关，在消极一面与罪有关。在积极一面，我们更多看见了基督，就说，『我看见了基督的一些新事物。我真是恨恶自己没有更多凭祂而活。』这就是关于以撒出生，在我们生活中把基督生出来的启示。但在消极一面，我们看见自己的罪，就说，『主阿，赦免我。在我里面还有这么多的自私、恼恨和嫉妒。我有这么多的失败、缺欠、甚至罪恶的事。主，我审判这些事物，我要牠们被毁除。』在原则上，这就是神审判并毁除罪。在我们的基督徒生活中，必须带进基督，毁除『所多玛。』照样，在召会生活中，基督必须扩增，罪必须除去。
10As Abraham was enjoying such sweet fellowship with God, he received revelation from Him regarding the birth of Isaac and the destruction of Sodom. These are the two basic things concerning which God will always deal with us. The birth of Isaac is related to Christ, and the destruction of Sodom is related to God’s judgment upon sin. Isaac must come and Sodom must go. This means that Christ must come in and sin must go out. Today God is not only accomplishing His plan to fulfill His purpose, but as the Lord over all men He is also judging sin. The principle is the same in every aspect of our lives: in our married life, home life, personal life, Christian life, and church life. God’s concern is to bring Christ forth through us and to eliminate all the sinful things. He intends to produce Christ and to destroy the “Sodom” in our home life, work life, and even in our Christian and church life. All the revelation that we have received and shall receive from God mostly concerns these two items. If you consider your own experience, you will find that this is so. Whenever you have received revelation from God during the course of your fellowship with Him, it has always concerned Christ on the positive side and sin on the negative side. Positively we see more of Christ and say, “I have seen something new of Christ. How I hate that I have not lived more by Him.” This is the revelation regarding the birth of Isaac, the revelation that Christ will be brought forth in your life. But negatively we see our sins and say, “O Lord, forgive me. There is still so much selfishness, hatred, and jealousy in me. I have so many failures, shortcomings, and even sinful things. Lord, I judge these things and want them destroyed.” This, in principle, is God’s judgment upon and destruction of sin. In our Christian life, Christ must be brought in and “Sodom” must be destroyed. Likewise, in the church life, Christ must increase and sin must be abolished.
《一》关于以撒藉撒拉的出生
1) Concerning the Birth of Isaac through Sarah
《1》应许得坚立
a) The Promise Confirmed
11基督怎样才能生出？第一，有应许。在创世记十七章十九和二十一节向亚伯拉罕所立关于以撒出生的应许，在十八章十节得著了坚立。神不仅应许亚伯拉罕要藉撒拉生以撒，并且在全本圣经，尤其在新约，也有关于基督的丰富应许。我们得著应许：基督要作我们的生命，我们的供应，和我们的一切。新约关于基督的应许何其多！这一切应许都能藉神恩典的眷临得著成就。
11How can Christ be brought forth? Firstly, there is the promise. The promise made to Abraham regarding the birth of Isaac in 17:19 and 21 was confirmed in 18:10. Not only did God promise Abraham that he would give birth to Isaac through Sarah, but in the whole Bible, especially in the New Testament, there is the rich promise concerning Christ. We have the promise that Christ will be our life, our supply, and our everything. How much the New Testament promises concerning Christ! All these promises can be fulfilled by the gracious visitation of God
《2》在生命的时候，约定的时候
b) At the Time of Life, the Appointed Time
12以撒的出生是在生命的时候，约定的时候。（创十七21，十八10，14。）基督总是在生命的时候在我们里面扩增，并藉我们生出。我们需要多有这种生命的时候。我愿意每天都有一次。生命的时候总是约定的时候，就是神所约定的时候。是神约定，不是亚伯拉罕约定。今天对我们也是这样，约定的是神，不是你我。我们已过的经历会帮助我们领会这事。每当神来访问我们，生出基督，那时就是约定的时候，生命的时候。
12The birth of Isaac was at the time of life, at the appointed time (17:21; 18:10, 14). Christ always has been and always will be increased in us and brought forth through us at the time of life. We need to have many such times of life. I would like to have one every day. The time of life is always the appointed time, the time appointed by God. God made the appointment, not Abraham. It is the same with us today, for it is God who makes the appointments, not you and I. Our past experiences will help us to understand this. Whenever God comes to visit us to bring forth Christ, that time is the appointed time, the time of life.
《3》亚伯拉罕老迈如同已死，撒拉也断了生育的能力
c) Abraham Becoming Old as Dead and Sarah Becoming Out of Function
13亚伯拉罕和撒拉生命的时候，乃是他们成为无有的时候。亚伯拉罕老迈如同已死，撒拉也断了生育的能力，那时候以撒就出生了。（创十八11～13。）照样，每当我们成为无有的时候，那就是美好的时候，神圣约定的时候，叫我们有分于更多的生命。
13The time of life for Abraham and Sarah was the time when they had become nothing. Isaac was born when Abraham had become as old as dead and Sarah had become out of function (vv. 11-13). Likewise, whenever we become nothing, that is a good time, a divinely appointed time, for us to participate in more life
《4》主美妙且奇妙的作为
d) A Wonderful and Marvelous Doing of the Lord
14在创世记十八章十四节主说，『耶和华岂有太奇妙（或美妙）的事么？』（另译。）在我们眼中，每次对基督的经历都是奇妙的；那是主美妙的作为。撒拉如何能生以撒？就人说是不可能的。这事若是发生在我们身上，在我们眼中必会看为美妙且奇妙的事。基督徒的经历总是这样，因为基督徒的生活乃是不可能的生活。何等奇妙，一切的不可能对基督都成为可能！我们能作别人所不能作的，我们能成为别人所不能成为的，因为基督在我们对祂的经历中乃是奇妙且美妙的。
14In verse 14 the Lord said, “Is anything too marvelous [or wonderful] for the Lord?” (Heb.). Every experience of Christ is marvelous in our eyes; it is a wonderful doing of the Lord. How could Sarah have brought forth Isaac? It was humanly impossible. If that had happened to us, it would have been a wonderful and marvelous thing in our eyes. Christian experiences are always like this because the Christian life is a life of impossibilities. How marvelous it is that all the impossibilities become possibilities with Christ! We can do what other people cannot do and we can be what others cannot be because Christ is marvelous and wonderful in our experience of Him
《二》关于所多玛的毁灭
2) Concerning the Destruction of Sodom
《1》亚伯拉罕与神同行送祂一程
a) Abraham Walking with God to Bring Him on the Way
15亚伯拉罕领受的第二个启示，与所多玛的毁灭有关。（创十八16～21。）神和两个天使享受了与亚伯拉罕这样亲密的交通之后，得著了满足、加强和畅快。创世记十八章十六节说，『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。』亚伯拉罕和他们走了相当的距离，引导他们，给他们送行。常常当客人来访后，我们会送他们上车，看他们上路。亚伯拉罕与他的访客同行，就像人给朋友送行一样。
15The second revelation that Abraham received concerned the destruction of Sodom (vv. 16-21). After enjoying such intimate fellowship with Abraham, God and the two angels were satisfied, strengthened, and refreshed. Verse 16 says that then “the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.” Abraham walked with them for a certain distance to conduct them, to send them away. Often when guests come to visit us, we walk them out to their car after their visit, seeing them on their way. Abraham’s walking with his visitors was like one sending his friend away
《2》神不向亚伯拉罕隐瞒祂的心意
b) God Not Hiding His Intention from Abraham
16亚伯拉罕给神送行的时候，『耶和华说，我所要作的事，岂可瞒著亚伯拉罕呢？』（创十八17。）神不能将祂的心意向亚伯拉罕隐瞒，为此就将祂要审判所多玛的心意告诉亚伯拉罕，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么？若是不然，我也必知道。』（创十八20～21。）神的心关切罗得，但若没有代祷的人，祂就不能为他作甚么。在下篇信息中我们要看见，神在这里寻找代祷的人。神虽然没有题到罗得的名字，但祂心里知道，亚伯拉罕懂得祂在作甚么。神和亚伯拉罕彼此奥秘的交谈，谁也没有题罗得的名字。外人不懂得他们的意思，但他们彼此却懂得。
16As Abraham was bringing God on His way, “The Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” (v. 17). God could not hide His intention from Abraham, but told him of His intention to judge Sodom saying, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know” (vv. 20-21). God’she art was concerned about Lot, but He could do nothing for him without an intercessor. As we shall see in the next message, God here was seeking for an intercessor. Although God did not mention Lot’s name, He knew within His heart that Abraham understood what He was doing. God and Abraham spoke to one another in a mysterious way, neither of them mentioning Lot’s name. The outsiders did not understand what they meant, but they each understood.
（d）仍旧在神面前
d) Remaining in the Presence of God
17创世记十八章二十二节说，『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。』那两个天使离开时，亚伯拉罕没有向主说再见，他仍旧站在耶和华面前。我们要看见，他站在耶和华面前的目的是为著代祷。在创世记十八章我们看见，亚伯拉罕，一个受过割礼的人，与神相安。亚伯拉罕虽然没有期待这样的访问，神却以平常人的形态向他显现，和他谈话，好像和朋友谈话一样。这样亲密的交通，一点没有宗教。在那次交通中，亚伯拉罕在积极一面从神领受了关于以撒出生的启示，在消极一面领受了关于所多玛毁灭的启示。然后，天使离开往所多玛去，亚伯拉罕却仍旧在神面前。神找到了一个能倾吐心意的对象，一个能响应祂心意，回应祂心愿的人。在本章里，我们看见那对神最甜美、最亲密的经历，乃是像我们与最亲密的朋友所有的经历一样。
17Verse 22 says, “And the men turned their faces from thence and went towards Sodom: but Abraham remained still standing before the Lord” (Heb.). When the two angels left, Abraham did not tell the Lord good- bye. No, he remained standing before the Lord. As we shall see, the purpose of his standing before the Lord was for intercession. In Genesis 18 we see that Abraham, a circumcised man, had peace with God. Although Abraham did not expect such a visitation, God appeared to him in the form of a mortal man, conversing with him as with a friend. There was nothing religious about such intimate fellowship. In that fellowship Abraham received revelation from God positively concerning the birth of Isaac and negatively concerning the destruction of Sodom. Then, after the angels had left for Sodom, Abraham remained in the presence of God. God had found a man to whom He could commit what was on His heart, a man to respond to His heart’sin tent i on and echo His heart’s desire. In this chapter we see that the sweetest and most intimate experience of God is like what we have with our most intimate friend