MHCC:创世记 16

Chapter 16第十六章

Sarai gives Hagar to Abram. (1-3) Hagar's misbehaviour to Sarai. (4-6) The Angel commands Hagar to return, The promise to her Birth of Ishmael. (7-16) 撒莱将夏甲给亚伯兰。（1－3）夏甲对撒莱不敬。（4－6）天使命令夏甲回去，并应许她将生下以实玛利。（7－16）

Verses 1-3 Sarai, no longer expecting to have children herself, proposed to Abram to take another wife, whose children she might; her slave, whose children would be her property. This was done without asking counsel of the Lord. Unbelief worked, God's almighty power was forgotten. It was a bad example, and a source of manifold uneasiness. In every relation and situation in life there is some cross for us to bear: much of the exercise of faith consists in patiently submitting, in waiting the Lord's time, and using only those means which he appoints for the removal of the cross. Foul temptations may have very fair pretences, and be coloured with that which is very plausible. Fleshly wisdom puts us out of God's way. This would not be the case, if we would ask counsel of God by his word and by prayer, before we attempt that which is doubtful.

1－3撒莱不再指望自己能生孩子，她建议亚伯兰将她的使女夏甲娶来为妾，使夏甲的孩子成为撒莱的产业。他们没有寻求上帝就这么办了。不信的心开始发动，上帝的全能被遗忘了。这是一个反面例子，它带来了一系列恶果。在生活的各种境遇和状况中，有一些十字架需要我们去背负：等待主，直到我们用他所指示的方法将我们身上的十字架移去，这种等待是对持续忍耐地顺服的信心的锻炼。险恶的试探往往会有堂皇的理由，往往经过能说会道的嘴的装饰。属血肉的智慧使我们偏离上帝的道路。当我们在进行可疑的尝试之前，如果能够以上帝的话语，以祷告来向他寻求，那么我们就不会做这样的错事。

Verses 4-6 Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar very soon made a great deal of mischief. We may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us, when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this case, Passionate people often quarrel with others, for things of which they themselves must bear the blame. Sarai had given her maid to Abram, yet she cries out, My wrong be upon thee. That is never said wisely, which pride and anger put into our mouths. Those are not always in the right, who are most loud and forward in appealing to God: such rash and bold imprecations commonly speak guilt and a bad cause. Hagar forgot that she herself had first given the provocation, by despising her mistress. Those that suffer for their faults, ought to bear it 1 peter .

4－6亚伯兰和夏甲的不幸婚姻很快带来了重大的负面影响。当我们偏离正道的时候，我们应该庆幸罪恶感和痛苦的紧随而来。从这起事件中我们看到，易怒的人总是容易和人发生争吵，而他们也往往应此而招责备。撒莱将她的使女给了亚伯兰，但是她哭诉：“我因你受屈。”充满骄傲与愤怒的语言，说出来必然是不智慧的。那些不能一直行在正道上的人，在向上帝恳求时却总是最大声、抢在最前面的：这种轻率而厚脸皮的诉求常常导致罪从口出或者成为坏事的因子。夏甲忘了是她自己首先挑起撒莱的愤怒的，因为她轻视她的女主人。他们的痛苦是因为他们自己的过错，他们理当承受。

Verses 7-16 Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought to consider who have this advantage. Whither wilt thou go? Thou art running into sin; if Hagar return to Egypt, she will return to idol gods, and into danger in the wilderness through which she must travel. Recollecting who we are, would often teach us our duty. Inquiring whence we came, would show us our sin and folly. Considering whither we shall go, discovers our danger and misery. And those who leave their space and duty, must hasten their return, how mortifying soever it be. The declaration of the Angel, "I will," shows this Angel was the eternal Word and Son of God. Hagar could not but admire the Lord's mercy, and feel, Have I, who am so unworthy, been favoured with a gracious visit from the Lord? She was brought to a better temper, returned, and by her behaviour softened Sarai, and received more gentle treatment. Would that we were always suitably impressed with this thought, Thou God seest me!

7－16当天使找到夏甲的时候，她已经离开了她的本位，偏离了自己的职责，并走向更远的堕落。不论是因为自己的良心还是因为上帝的及时眷顾，能够在罪恶的道上被截回，都是一件非常值得感恩的事情。“你从哪里来？”你逃离了你的职责，也离开了在亚伯兰的帐篷里所蒙的祝福。住在上帝的家中是好的，那些拥有这些好处的人应该经常想想这个。“你要往哪里去？”你正往罪恶的道上直奔。如果夏甲回埃及，她就是回到了偶像之地，她会在途中必经的旷野中遭遇危险。多想想我们是什么人，这能够让我们认识到我们该做什么。问问自己从哪里来，我们就能看到自己的罪孽和愚蠢。想想我们去哪里，我们就会发现我们的危险和可悲。那些离开本位，离开自己的职责的人是多么令人痛心啊，他们应该尽快回转。天使说话时用了“我必使你”（I will），这表明这位天使是上帝永恒的道，是上帝的儿子。夏甲不得不承认上帝对她的怜悯，并为之感动：我如此卑微的人，竟然也蒙上帝的眷顾。这一件事使她有了更好的性情，使她回转，以她的品行软化了撒莱，获得了更多温和的待遇。我们应该将这话铭感于心：主，我的上帝，你一直看顾我！--【译】赵威&【搬】何叶^-^~2012年3月26日(一)09:10 (CST)