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创世记生命读经 · 第55篇

隐藏的软弱和羞惭的代祷

The Hidden Weakness and a Shameful Intercession
1圣经是一本诚实的书。牠在创世记十八和十九章，记载亚伯拉罕对神的经历达到高峰；其后在二十章，记载他的软弱。亚伯拉罕在与神有这样亲密的交通，有这样荣耀的代祷以后，你能信他会有二十章所记载的经历么？我们很难相信并领会，亚伯拉罕会显出这样的软弱。我们再一次看见圣经不是人写的。倘若圣经是人写的，作者不会把亚伯拉罕的软弱和缺点记载在内。但圣经是诚实的，其中有创世记二十章，这也是神圣启示的一部分。
1The Bible is an honest book. After Genesis 18 and 19, in which we see Abraham’s high attainment in his experience of God, there is a record of his weakness in Genesis 20. Can you believe that after having such intimate fellowship with God and after making such a glorious intercession, Abraham could have the experience recorded in chapter twenty? It is difficult to believe and understand how Abraham could have shown such weakness. Once again we see that the Bible is not man-made. If it were of human manufacture, the writer would not have included this record of Abraham’s weakness and shortcomings. But the Bible is honest and it has Genesis 20 as part of the divine record
（6） 隐藏的软弱和羞惭的代祷
6) The Hidden Weakness and a Shameful Intercession
2我年轻的时候，很宝贵创世记十八、二十一、二十二和二十四章，但是对二十章却不感兴趣。本章记载两件主要的事：隐藏的软弱和羞惭的代祷。亚伯拉罕这个属神的人，在他里面的深处隐藏著软弱。在十八章，他有荣耀的代祷；在二十章，我们看到他羞惭的代祷。
2When I was young, I appreciated chapters eighteen, twenty-one, twenty-two, and twenty-four, but I had no interest in chapter twenty. In this chapter two main things are recorded: the hidden weakness and a shameful intercession. Abraham, a man of God, had a weakness hidden deep within him. While in chapter eighteen he made a glorious intercession, in chapter twenty we find the record of a shameful one
（a）隐藏的软弱
a) The Hidden Weakness
《一》向南迁移
1) Journeying toward the South
3我们先看亚伯拉罕隐藏的软弱。（创二十1～16。）一节告诉我们：『亚伯拉罕从那里向南地迁去。』亚伯拉罕向南迁移，意思是他离开了希伯仑幔利橡树旁交通的立场。他应当留在希伯仑，因为在那里他与神有亲密的交通。没有甚么比这更好。他与神有亲密的交通之后不久，就离开希伯仑，向南迁移。在十七章二十一节和十八章十四节，神对亚伯拉罕说到以撒的出生，然后在二十一章，以撒出生了；这其间不会超过一年。为甚么在那一年之内，亚伯拉罕忽然离开希伯仑，向南迁移？在表号上，南边表征安逸。北边表征艰苦。南边温暖，北边寒冷，但神住在北边。（诗四八，七五6～7，结一4。）在北边艰苦，但有神的同在；在南边安逸，但没有神的同在。在创世记二十章我们看不到甚么暗示，说到神吩咐亚伯拉罕向南迁移。在这次迁移上，亚伯拉罕是凭自己行动。
3Let us first consider Abraham’s hidden weakness (20:1-16). In verse 1 we are told that “Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country.” Abraham’s journeying toward the south meant that he had left the standing of fellowship at the oaks of Mamre in Hebron. He should have remained in Hebron because there he had intimate fellowship with God. Nothing is better than this. It was not too long after he had intimate fellowship with God that he left Hebron and journeyed southward. Between the time the Lord spoke to Abraham regarding the birth of Isaac in 17:21 and 18:14 and the time of Isaac’s birth in chapter twenty - one, there could not have been more than a year. Why did Abraham suddenly leave Hebron and journey toward the south during that year? In figure, south signifies easiness and north hardships. The south is warm and the north is cold, but God dwells in the north (Psa. 2 48:2; 75:6-7; Ezek. 1:4). In the north we have hardships with God’s presence. In the south we have easiness, but without God’s presence. There is no hint in Genesis 20 that God told Abraham to journey southward. In making this journey, Abraham acted on his own.
4亚伯拉罕也许想要有些变动，想要去度假。虽然你在安那翰享受召会生活，但有一天你感觉需要有个变动，想要南下去墨西哥市旅行。召会生活是美妙的，我们都非常享受。但有些人会有点厌倦，想要去拉斯维加斯旅行。倘若你到了拉斯维加斯，在那里遇见人问你在家里作甚么，你会发觉很难给他诚实的答覆。亚伯拉罕有两次在这样的情况下不诚实。（参创十二9～12。）在十二章亚伯拉罕向南迁移，因为那地遭遇饥荒。那次饥荒给他南下埃及的藉口，但在本章亚伯拉罕没有藉口。他和妻子也许感到厌倦，想要度个假。他们若留在希伯仑的幔利橡树旁，亚伯拉罕就无须说谎。他说谎是由于他站错了地位。藉此我们看见，正确的立场相当重要。我不信任何弟兄能在拉斯维加斯的赌场里祷读，或者作活的见证。他在那里不会有立场作这样的事。我们要为神作甚么，必须有正确的立场。亚伯拉罕离开了与神亲密交通的立场，向南迁移，就失去了神的同在。圣经没有说神在南地向亚伯拉罕显现，也没有说亚伯拉罕在南地筑坛并呼求主的名。他完全失去了能与神交通的正确立场。青年人，你必须看见，你需要留在正确的地位上。你若留在召会中，你就蒙到保守并保全。但你若向南迁移，你就舍弃了正确的立场，并且失去了神的同在。自然而然的，你的旧人就回来了。在二十章以前，亚伯拉罕受了割礼。在二十章，他是个受过割礼的人，不该是个天然的人，因为他确实受过神的对付。有些基督徒宣称，一旦他们经历了某种祝福，就不会再在肉体里。但看看亚伯拉罕的例子。虽然他在肉身和属灵上都受了割礼，但当他离开与神交通的正确立场，就又在肉体里了。信心之父亚伯拉罕在对神的经历达到这样的高峰以后，所行的竟和二十多年前在创世记十二章所行的一样！藉此我们看见，只要我们仍在旧造里，我们就会在肉体里作任何事情。我们若不留在与神的交通里，我们就会与世人作同样的事。不要说因为你蒙了重生，经历了灵浸，或者有了所谓第二次的祝福，你就不会再在肉体里。无论你从神领受了多少祝福，你若不留在与祂的交通里，你就会在肉体里。你的经历证明这是真的。
4Abraham might have wanted to have a change and take a vacation. Although you may be enjoying the church life in Anaheim, one day you may feel that you need a change and desire to journey southward to Mexico City. The church life is marvelous and we all enjoy it very much. But some may become a little bored and want to take a trip to Las Vegas. If you go to Las Vegas and meet someone there who asks about what you do at home, you will find it difficult to give him an honest answer. On two occasions, when Abraham was in such a situation, he was not truthful (cf. 12:9-12). In chapter twelve Abraham journeyed southward because there was a famine in the land. That famine gave him an excuse for going southward to Egypt. But in this chapter Abraham had no excuse. He and his wife might have been bored and wanted a vacation. If they had remained by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron, Abraham would have had no need to lie. His lying was due to his wrong position. We see by this that the proper standing means a great deal. I do not believe that any brother can pray-read or give a living testimony in a casino in Las Vegas. He would not have the standing there to do such a thing. In order to do anything for God, we must have the proper standing. When Abraham left the standing of intimate fellowship with God and journeyed southward, he lost God’s presence. The Bible does not say that in the south country God appeared to Abraham, nor that Abraham erected an altar and called on the name of the Lord. He had altogether lost the proper standing on which he could have fellowship with God. Young people, you must see that you need to stay in the right position. If you stay in the church, you will be kept and preserved. But if you journey southward, you will forsake the proper standing and lose God’s presence. Spontaneously, your old man will return. Before chapter twenty Abraham was circumcised. In chapter twenty, he should have been a circumcised person, not a natural person, for he had truly been dealt with by God. Some Christians claim that once they have experienced a certain blessing, they can no longer be in the flesh. But look at the example of Abraham. Although he had been circumcised both physically and spiritually, when he left the proper standing of fellowship with God, he was in the flesh again. After having such a high attainment in his experience with God, Abraham, the father of faith, acted the same as he did in Genesis 12, more than twenty years before. By this we see that as long as we are still in the old creation we are capable of doing anything in the flesh. If we do not remain in fellowship with God, we can do the same things that the worldly people do. Do not say that because you have been regenerated, have experienced the baptism of the Spirit, or have had a second blessing, you can no longer be in the flesh. However many are the blessings that you have received from God, if you do not remain in fellowship with Him, you will be in the flesh. Your experience proves that this is true.
5我们绝不该对自己有任何信心。己是绝对不可靠的。我们必须信靠主的同在，告诉祂说，『主，你若从我收去你的同在，我不过是一只狗。但我赞美你，在你的同在里，我是圣徒，是神的一个子民。』神的同在对我们是何等重要！亚伯拉罕在十八章给神送行的时候，他是美妙的圣徒，他能站在神面前，并与神面对面的谈话，好像与亲密的朋友谈话一样。但在二十章，这美妙的人变得非常卑下。他离开了与神交通的立场以后，竟会说谎牺牲他的妻子。这似乎是不可信的，但他竟然这样作了。我们若想想自己已过的经历，就会发现至少有几次我们也作过同类的事。这给我们看见，留在神的同在里真是重要。我们的保护不是我们的自己，乃是祂的同在。
5We should never have any confidence in our self. The self is absolutely untrustworthy. We must put our trust in the presence of the Lord, telling Him, “Lord, if You take Your presence away from me, I am just a dog. But I praise You that in Your presence I’mas aint, one of the people of God.” How much God’s presence means to us! When Abraham was bringing God on His way in chapter eighteen, he was a wonderful saint, a man who could stand before God and talk face to face with Him as with an intimate friend. But in chapter twenty this wonderful person became very mean. After he had left the standing of fellowship with God, he could lie at the sacrifice of his wife. It seems unbelievable, but he did it. If we consider our past experience, we shall find that at least a few times we have done the same kind of thing. This shows us the importance of remaining in the presence of God. Our protection is not our self; it is His presence
《二》重复老旧的失败
2) Repeating the Old Failure
6亚伯拉罕离开了神的同在，并且向南迁移以后，就重复老旧的失败－说谎牺牲他的妻子。（创二十2，参十二11～13。）说谎是一回事，牺牲妻子是另一回事。许多弟兄会说谎，但也许没有人会牺牲他的妻子。但亚伯拉罕竟然这样作了。我欣赏撒拉真是个好妻子，她没有埋怨，反而同意她丈夫的谎言。
6After Abraham had left God’s presence and had journeyed toward the south, he repeated an old failure— lying by sacrificing his wife (20:2; cf. 12:11-13). To lie is one thing, and to sacrifice our wife is another. Although many brothers may lie, perhaps none of them would sacrifice his wife. But Abraham did it. I admire Sarah for being such a good wife. She did not complain but was agreeable with her husband’s lie
《三》隐藏的软弱被暴露
3) The Hidden Weakness Exposed
7在二十章八至十三节，我们看见亚伯拉罕隐藏的软弱被暴露出来。亚伯拉罕不是偶然说谎，他是从走神道路的头一天就计画好了。亚伯拉罕告诉亚比米勒：『当神叫我离开父家飘流在外的时候，我对她说，我们无论走到甚么地方，你可以对人说，他是我的哥哥；这就是你待我的恩典了。』（创二十13。）甚至在亚伯拉罕受了割礼以后，这隐藏的软弱仍留在他里面。原则上，今天我们多半是一样的。一面我们在召会中跟随主，另一面我们有所保留。若是某件事情发生了，我们就有豫定的计画来应付。你要对主绝对么？若是要，可以问问主，你还有甚么隐藏的保留。你也许不信你有保留，但是当你向召会生活『请假』的时候，这保留就会暴露出来。许多在召会中跟随主的青年姊妹，在她们里面的深处有保留。她们对自己说，『也许有一天某件事情会发生。若是发生了，我知道我要怎么作。』这就是她们从开头跟随主的时候，就计画好的保留。不错，我们在召会生活中是凭信而活。但我们的信心失败的时候怎么办？我们就用我们所保留的。也许不久以后，你的软弱就要暴露出来。这要证明尽管你宣称自己是绝对的，但你还不是百分之百的绝对。
7In 20:8-13 we see Abraham’s hidden weakness exposed. Abraham did not lie accidentally; it was planned from the day he first began to follow the way of God. Abraham told Abimelech, “It came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’sho use, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother” (v. 13). This hidden weakness was kept within Abraham even after he had been circumcised. In principle, most of us are the same today. On the one hand, we are following the Lord in the church; on the other hand, we have a reserve. In case a certain thing happens, we have a reserve plan to deal with it. Do you mean to be absolute with the Lord? If you do, ask Him whether you still hold on to some hidden reserve. Although you may not believe that you have a reserve, when you take a vacation from the church life, it will be exposed. Many young sisters who are following the Lord in the church have a reserve deep within them. They say to themselves, “Maybe some day a certain thing will happen. If it does, I know just what I will do about it.” This is the reserve planned from the time they first began to follow the Lord. Yes, we are living by faith in the church life. But what do we do when our faith fails? We use our reserve. Perhaps after a short while your weakness will be exposed. This will prove that in spite of your claim to be absolute, you are still not one hundred percent absolute.
8我信二十章这段记载的目的是要给我们看见，迟早我们的软弱要被暴露出来。圣经与属世的书不同，圣经是对寻求神的人真挚、诚实的记载。无论我们多寻求神，我们仍有保留。我恐惧战兢，也许在我深处仍有隐藏的保留，有一天要被暴露出来。
8I believe that the purpose of this record in chapter twenty is to show us that sooner or later our hidden reserve will be exposed. The Bible is different from any worldly book, for it is a genuine and honest record of a God-seeking people. However much we seek after God, we still have a reserve. I fear and tremble that perhaps there is still deep within me a hidden reserve that one day will be exposed
《四》蒙神主宰的看顾所保守
4) Preserved by God’sS ove reign Care
9在圣经里，在表号上，亚伯拉罕代表信心，撒拉代表恩典。换句话说，在神面前，男人总是代表信心，妻子总是代表神的恩典。亚伯拉罕是信心之父，他的一生是信心的一生。撒拉既是神恩典的表号，以撒从她而生，意思就是以撒从恩典而生。反之，以实玛利从夏甲而生，就是从律法而生，从辖制而生。在表号上，每当信心失败了，恩典就受到破坏。这意思是在我们这面的信心一旦失败，在主那面的恩典就受损。每次亚伯拉罕失败，撒拉就受损；撒拉受损，就是恩典受损。
9In the Bible, Abraham, in figure, stands for faith and Sarah stands for grace. In other words, in the presence of God, a man always stands for faith and the wife always stands for God’s grace. Abraham was the father of faith, and his life was a life of faith. Since Sarah is the figure of God’s grace, for Isaac to be born of her meant that he was born of grace. Ishmael, on the contrary, was born of Hagar, of the law, of bondage. In figure, whenever faith becomes a failure, grace is damaged. This means that when faith fails on our side, grace suffers on the Lord’ss i de. Each time Abraham failed, Sarah suffered, and when Sarah suffered, grace suffered
10不仅如此，恩典和见证也是并行的。甚么时候有恩典，甚么时候就有见证。当亚伯拉罕说谎的时候，他对恩典就没有享受。因此，他就失去他的见证。每当信心失败，恩典就受损，恩典的见证也就失去了。神进来拯救撒拉，使她得以恢复。在表号上，这意思是神进来看顾祂的恩典和祂的见证。神知道如何主宰的保护祂的恩典，并保守祂的见证。我们不知道有多少次处在破坏恩典并失去见证的危机中，因为我们离开了正确的立场。但在紧要关头，神进来应付那些境况，使祂恩典的见证得蒙保守。亚伯拉罕若是清楚这点，他就不会说谎了；他会相信神要看顾祂的恩典和祂的见证。
10Furthermore, grace and testimony go together. Whenever we have grace, we have the testimony. When Abraham lied, he did not have the enjoyment of grace. Therefore, he lost his testimony. Whenever faith fails, grace suffers, and the testimony of grace is lost. God came in to rescue Sarah and to restore her. In figure, this means that God came in to take care of His grace and His testimony. God knows how to sovereignly protect His grace and preserve His testimony. We do not know how many times we have been in danger of damaging grace and losing the testimony because we have left the proper standing. But at a certain juncture, God came in to deal with the circumstances so that the testimony of His grace might be preserved. If this had been clear to Abraham, he would not have lied; he would have believed that God would care for His grace and His testimony.
11虽然亚伯拉罕的信心失败了，神仍然藉祂主宰的看顾保守他。（创二十3～7，14～16。）因为亚伯拉罕的经历不正常了，神就没有向他显现。在十八和十九章，神向亚伯拉罕显现，但没有向罗得显现。在二十章这里，祂没有向亚伯拉罕显现；祂在梦中向亚比米勒显现。（创二十3。）可以说，亚伯拉罕在二十章的立场，几乎与罗得在十九章的立场相同。因此，神向一个外邦君王亚比米勒显现，告诉他那向他说谎的人是祂的申言者。亚比米勒听见神的申言者向他说谎，牺牲他的妻子，很觉希奇。在本章，我们看见神的智慧、主宰、公平和看顾。神离开说谎的亚伯拉罕，对受骗的亚比米勒说，『你是个死人哪，因为你取了那女人来，她原是别人的妻子。』（创二十3。）亚比米勒大为震惊。然后神告诉他必须归还亚伯拉罕的妻子，亚伯拉罕就要为他祷告。（创二十7。）神没有感动亚伯拉罕为亚比米勒祷告；反之，祂向亚比米勒指明，亚伯拉罕是申言者，有地位为君王和他的家人祷告。神这样作，并没有责备亚伯拉罕。虽然亚伯拉罕在神的同在之外，神仍然保守祂的见证，并且赐给亚伯拉罕许多财富。（创二十14～16。）当亚伯拉罕打败基大老玛和诸王，救了罗得时，他拒绝从所多玛王接受任何东西，因为他有至高的神。（创十四21～24。）然而，当亚比米勒给亚伯拉罕牛羊、仆人和银子时，亚伯拉罕不敢说，『我不需要你的帮助。我有至高的神。』他没有地位这样说，他的口被封住了。我不信亚伯拉罕会为亚比米勒的礼物感谢他，或者很高兴的接受他的礼物。当他在撒拉面前从亚比米勒接受礼物时，他必定很羞惭。神智慧并主宰的使撒拉归回，顾到祂的恩典和祂的见证，同时管教了亚伯拉罕。
11Although Abraham’s faith failed, God still preserved him by His sovereign care (vv. 3-7, 14-16). Because Abraham’s experience had become abnormal, God did not appear to him. In chapters eighteen and nineteen, God appeared to Abraham but not to Lot. Here in chapter twenty, He did not appear to Abraham; He appeared to Abimelech in a dream (v. 3). In a sense, Abraham’s standing in chapter twenty was nearly the same as Lot’sin chapter nineteen. Therefore, God appeared to Abimelech, a Gentile king, telling him that the one who had lied to him was His prophet. Abimelech was surprised to hear that one of God’s prophets had lied to him at the sacrifice of his wife. In this chapter, we see God’s wisdom, sovereignty, fairness, and care. Leaving Abraham, the one who had lied, God spoke to Abimelech, the one who had been cheated, saying, “Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife” (v. 3). Abimelech was shocked. Then God told him that he must restore Abraham’s wife and that Abraham would pray for him (v. 7). God did not inspire Abraham to pray for Abimelech; rather, He indicated to Abimelech that Abraham was a prophet and had the position to pray for the king and his family. In doing this, God did not rebuke Abraham. Although Abraham was outside God’s presence, God still preserved His testimony and gave Abraham many riches (vv. 14-16). When Abraham defeated Chedorlaomer and the other kings and rescued Lot, he refused to accept anything from the king of Sodom because he had the Most High God (14:21-24). However, when Abimelech gave Abraham sheep, oxen, servants, and silver, Abraham did not dare to say, “I don’t need your help. I have the Most High God.” He did not have the position to say this, and his mouth was shut. I do not believe that Abraham thanked Abimelech for his gifts or was happy to receive them. When he received all those gifts from Abimelech in front of Sarah, he must have been ashamed. God wisely and sovereignly restored Sarah, taking care of His grace and His testimony, and at the same time He disciplined Abraham
（b）羞惭的代祷
b) A Shameful Intercession
12亚伯拉罕从亚比米勒接受了礼物以后，就为他祷告。（创二十17～18。）亚比米勒需要亚伯拉罕的代祷，因为神已经使亚比米勒家中的妇人，不能生育。你想你能在这样羞惭的情况中祷告么？亚比米勒可能对亚伯拉罕说，『你是神的申言者，为甚么向我说谎？看看发生了甚么事！现在一切事情都解决了，我也归还了你的妻子，我就要你为我祷告。』许多时候，我们使主失望以后，即使没有人知道我们的失败，我们也会有几天不能祷告。亚伯拉罕要在亚比米勒面前祷告更是何等困难！然而，亚伯拉罕祷告了，『神就医好了亚比米勒和他的妻子，并他的众女仆，他们便能生育。』（创二十17。）
12After receiving the gifts from Abimelech, Abraham prayed for him (vv. 17-18). Abimelech needed Abraham’s intercession because the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech. Do you think that you would be able to pray in such a shameful situation? Abimelech might have said to Abraham, Why did you, a prophet of God, lie to me? Look at what has happened! Now that everything has been settled and I have returned your wife, I want you to pray for me.” Many times, after we have failed the Lord, we are unable to pray for days, even though no one knows about our failure. How much more difficult it was for Abraham to pray in the presence of Abimelech! Nevertheless, Abraham prayed, and “God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children” (v. 17
13亚伯拉罕要为亚比米勒代祷，必须胜过两件事：他在亚比米勒面前失败的记忆，以及他妻子不生育的思想。他必须忘记他在亚比米勒面前的失败，并且不想他妻子不生育的事。倘若我是亚伯拉罕，我会说，『很抱歉，亚比米勒，我已经使主失望，现在我没有信心为你祷告。』我们都必须学习，为别人代祷不凭著我们的成功，乃凭著需要。一旦神指出一项需要，我们就必须为这需要代祷。亚伯拉罕也许对主说，『我已经失败了。我向亚比米勒说过谎，他也责备过我。我怎能为他代祷？』我们为别人代祷时，必须忘记我们的自己，我们的环境，和我们的景况，并且代祷如同地上除了我们与神之外，没有别人。尽管我们失败了，我们仍必须运用我们的灵，放胆祷告。虽然神被迫离开亚伯拉罕，并且临到亚比米勒，亚伯拉罕还是比亚比米勒高。虽然他失败了，亚比米勒还是远在他以下。圣经说，向来位分大的给位分小的祝福。（来七7。）因为亚伯拉罕比亚比米勒高，所以他能为亚比米勒代祷。不仅如此，我们也不该以为，因为神不答应我们为自己的需要而有的祷告，我们就不能为别人祷告。倘若我是亚伯拉罕，我会说，『亚比米勒，你请我为你祷告，但我已经为我妻子祷告了多年，并没有得著答应。因此，我不能确定神会答应我为你的祷告，我也没有胆量祷告。』我们需要忘记我们未蒙答应的祷告，而为别人祷告。我们若不愿为别人祷告，也许神就不答应我们为自己的需要而有的祷告。不要说因为你自己的需要还没有满足，你就不能为别人祷告。当亚伯拉罕忘记他的需要，而为亚比米勒和他家人代祷时，不仅他们的需要得著满足，亚伯拉罕自己的需要也得著满足。你若忘记你的需要，而为别人的需要祷告，神不仅会答应你为他们的祷告，也会答应你为自己的祷告。祂会顾到你的需要。
13In order to intercede for Abimelech, Abraham had to overcome two things: his memory of his failure before Abimelech and his consideration of his wife’s barrenness. He had to forget his failure before Abimelech and not consider his wife’s barrenness. If I had been Abraham, I would have said, “I’m sorry, Abimelech, but I have failed the Lord and now I don’th ave the faith to pray for you.” We all must learn that interceding for others does not depend upon our success; it depends upon the need. Once a need has been designated by God, we must intercede for it. Abraham might have said to the Lord, “I have failed. I lied to Abimelech and he has rebuked me. How can I intercede for him?” When we intercede for others, we must forget about ourselves, our surroundings, and our circumstances and intercede as if there were no one on earth except us and God. In spite of our failures, we must exercise our spirit and pray with boldness. Although God was forced to leave Abraham and go to Abimelech, Abraham was higher than Abimelech. Although he had failed, Abimelech was far below him. The Bible says that the greater always blesses the lesser (Heb. 7:7). Because Abraham was higher than Abimelech, he could intercede for him. Furthermore, we should not think that because God has not answered our prayers for our own needs we cannot pray for others. If I had been Abraham, I might have said, “Abimelech, you ask me to pray for you. I have been praying for my wife for years without receiving an answer. Because of this, I’m not sure that God will answer my prayer for you and I don’th ave the boldness to pray.” We need to forget about our unanswered prayers and pray for others. If we would not pray for others, God will probably not answer our prayers for our own needs. Do not say that since your own need has not been met, you cannot pray for others. When Abraham forgot his need and interceded for Abimelech and his house, not only were their needs met but also his. If you forget your need and pray for the needs of others, God will not only answer your prayer for them but also your prayer for yourself. He will take care of your needs.
14亚伯拉罕为亚比米勒的代祷，是羞惭的代祷。在这样羞惭的境况中，任何人都很难代祷。圣经没有充分的记载亚伯拉罕为亚比米勒的代祷，不像记载他为罗得的代祷那样。也许亚伯拉罕在灵里不是那样刚强。然而，他为亚比米勒代祷，并且他的代祷也得了答应。藉此我们看见，虽然我们在灵里也许不是那样放胆，但只要我们照著神的指示为别人代祷。我们的代祷就会得著答应。我能从我的经历证实这点。好多时候我在为难中，我为著难处祷告，但我没有得著答应。忽然有同样难处的人到我这里来，请我为他们祷告。我为他们祷告以后，神不仅答应我为他们的需要而有的祷告，也答应我为自己的境况而有的祷告。我们都必须学习不照著自己的得胜祷告。我们得胜以后很容易祷告，但我们失败以后就不然。虽然我不鼓励人失败，但我确说，我们不该为自己的失败所困扰。神不看我们的失败，祂乃看我们的所是。在神面前，我们是新人。这是我们的所是，我们必须照著这个来祷告。因为我们仍在旧造里，我们会跌倒失败。但我们能忘记旧造里的失败，站在新造的地位上。当亚伯拉罕站在他是神申言者的地位上，他就能为亚比米勒祷告。创世记二十章是非常宝贵的一章，我们需要花工夫来看其中的一切要点：寻求神的人隐藏的软弱；他怎样受亚比米勒责备，怎样暂时被神摆在一边；他为亚比米勒和他家人的代祷；以及神怎样答应他的祷告。你若花几小时思想本章，你的灵会得著丰富的滋养。今天当我思想本章，我发现本章比十八章更为我们所需要。十八章虽然甜美，二十章却很宝贵，因牠教导我们一些宝贵的功课。
14Abraham’s intercession for Abimelech was a shameful one. In such a shameful situation it is difficult for anyone to intercede. The Bible does not give us a full record of Abraham’s intercession for Abimelech like it does of his intercession for Lot. Perhaps Abraham was not bold or strong in spirit. Nevertheless, he interceded for Abimelech and his prayer was answered. By this we see that although we may not be bold in our spirit, as long as we intercede for others according to God’s designation, our intercession will be answered. I can testify to this from my experience. A number of times I was in difficulty and prayed about it. But I received no answer. Suddenly people came to me who had the same difficulty and asked me to pray for them. After I prayed for them, God not only answered my prayer for their need but also my prayer for my own situation. We all must learn not to pray according to our victory. It is easy to pray after we have been victorious, but not after we have failed. Although I do not encourage anyone to fail, I do say that we should not be bothered by our failures. God does not count on our failures; He counts on what we are. In the presence of God, we are the new man. This is what we are, and we must pray according to it. Because we are still in this old creation, we may fall back and fail. But we can forget that failure in the old creation and stand upon our position in the new creation. When Abraham stood on his position of being God’s prophet, he could pray for Abimelech. Genesis 20 is a very dear chapter, and we need to spend time to consider all its main points: the hidden weakness of God’ss eeking one; the way he was rebuked by Abimelech and was temporarily set aside by God; his intercession for Abimelech and his family; and the way God answered his prayer. If you dwell on this chapter for a few hours, your spirit will be richly nourished. As I consider this chapter today, I find it more needful than chapter eighteen. Although chapter eighteen is sweet, chapter twenty is precious, teaching us some precious lessons
15本章教导我们，为别人代祷不在于我们的光景，乃在于我们的立场，我们的所是。我们是神的申言者，是新造，是基督身体的肢体。我们在召会生活中是基督身体的肢体，这给我们立场来为别人代祷。要忘掉你的环境和你的失败。你若固持自己的感觉，你的囗会被封住，撒但会胜过你，使你多日死沉。这是非常严肃的。我们必须忘掉我们的失败和我们的需要，采取正确的立场，照著神的指示为别人代祷，并为别人相信神。
15It teaches us that interceding for others does not depend upon our condition. It depends upon our standing. It depends upon who we are. We are the prophet of God, the new creation, the members of the Body of Christ. Being in the church life as a member of the Body of Christ gives us the standing to intercede for others. Forget about your environment and your failures. If you hold on to your feelings, your mouth will be shut, Satan will be victorious over you, and you will be deadened for days. This is very serious. We must forget our failures and our needs and take the proper standing to intercede for others according to God’s designation and believe in God for others.
16我们也必须学习认识自己。不要以为你若达到像创世记十八和十九章所记载的那么高，你就没有问题了。我们不能请假离开我们与神的交通。不要相信你老旧的自己。虽然你老旧的自己受了神的对付，甚至完全受了割礼，他仍是不可靠的；无论我们觉得不觉得，我们深处在跟随主的事上仍有保留。有一天这种保留，就是对我们天然软弱的保留，会暴露出来。当这事发生的时候，不要希奇。要豫备好接受恩典，忘掉你的失败和你的需要，并且为别人代祷。你是基督身体的肢体，是新人的一部分，是主恢复里的圣徒，你要站在这个地位上祷告，即使你是带著羞惭的感觉祷告。你的代祷也许是羞惭的，其中没有荣耀，但神仍要答应你的代祷。祂要答应你羞惭的代祷，同时也要答应你先前为著自己的需要而未蒙答应的祷告。这是何等美妙！当亚伯拉罕这神的申言者向别人说谎时，别人就发死了。然而当他忘记自己在他们面前的失败，为他们代祷时，他们就得著生命，他自己也得了复苏。照样，我们若忘记我们的失败，并为那些我们在他们面前失败之人的需要代祷，我们就不仅供应生命给他们，也供应生命给我们自己。愿我们都学会本章所包含的功课。
16We also must learn to know ourselves. Do not think that if you have attainments as high as those recorded in Genesis 18 and 19, you will have no problems. We cannot afford to take a vacation from our fellowship with God. Do not have any confidence in your old self. Although your old self has been dealt with by God, it is still untrustworthy, even if it has been fully circumcised. Whether we are aware of it or not, deep within us there is a certain reservation in following the Lord. One day this reservation, this reserve of our natural weakness, will be exposed. Do not be surprised when it happens. Be prepared to take grace, forget your failures and your needs, and intercede for others. Stand on your position as a member of the Body of Christ, as a part of the new man, and as a saint in the Lord’s recovery and pray, even if you pray with a sense of shame. Your intercession may be shameful and there may be no glory in it, but God will still answer it. Along with His answer to your shameful intercession, He will also answer your previously unanswered prayers for your own needs. How wonderful this is! When, as God’s prophet, Abraham lied to others, they became deadened. But when he forgot his failure before them and interceded for them, they received life and he himself was revived. Likewise, if we forget our failures and intercede for the needs of those before whom we have failed, we shall not only minister life to them but also to ourselves. May we all learn the lessons contained in this chapter