“耶和华与亚伯兰立约，说：‘我已赐给你的后裔，从埃及河直到幼发拉底大河之地 …。’” – 创 15:18
政治家往往会向人许下很多承诺，尤其是在竞选期间便更加如此。但当这些漂亮的承诺没有兑现时，我们也不会感到惊奇。事实上，在今天，要找到说话可靠的人，似乎越来越困难。我们很难相信神所应许的，是不是也出于这个原因呢？
然而神亲自向我们启示，衪便是那位立下应许和持守应许的神。透过不断揣摩，亚伯拉罕终于发现，他唯一可以永远信赖的就是神。神是永远不会食言的。
在上古时代，君王时常会与他们的子民立约。这些都是正式的协议，它们包括庄严的誓言和约定，目的是要稳固和维系彼此的关系。
在创世记15章，神以誓约来回应亚伯拉罕的疑惑，衪以此来保证自己的应许必定会应验。在那个年代，誓约通常会采用一个宰杀牲畜的歃血的仪式作为保证。仪式的目的是要说明，如果誓约没有兑现，违约之人的命运便会像那受苦的牲畜一样了。令人惊奇的是，神亲自向亚伯拉罕发出了这样的誓约，衪应许赐福给他和他的后裔。而神也言出必行，正是衪一如既往的那样。
在今天，有什么是你需要信靠的应许呢？
祷告
主啊，你始终都是可靠和信实的，我们感谢你。求你帮助我们知道，当你立下应许，你必定会成全。阿们。
创世记 15:6-21
6亚伯兰信耶和华，耶和华就以此为他的义。
7耶和华又对他说：“我是耶和华，曾领你出了迦勒底的吾珥，为要将这地赐你为业。”
8亚伯兰说：“主耶和华啊，我怎能知道必得这地为业呢？”
9他说：“你为我取一只三年的母牛，一只三年的母山羊，一只三年的公绵羊，一只斑鸠，一只雏鸽。”
10亚伯兰就取了这些来，每样劈开分成两半，一半对着一半地摆列，只有鸟没有劈开。
11有鸷鸟下来落在那死畜的肉上，亚伯兰就把它吓飞了。
12日头正落的时候，亚伯兰沉沉地睡了，忽然有惊人的大黑暗落在他身上。
13耶和华对亚伯兰说：“你要的确知道，你的后裔必寄居别人的地，又服侍那地的人，那地的人要苦待他们四百年。
14并且他们所要服侍的那国，我要惩罚，后来他们必带着许多财物从那里出来。
15但你要享大寿数，平平安安地归到你列祖那里，被人埋葬。
16到了第四代，他们必回到此地，因为亚摩利人的罪孽还没有满盈。”
17日落天黑，不料有冒烟的炉并烧着的火把从那些肉块中经过。
18当那日，耶和华与亚伯兰立约，说：“我已赐给你的后裔，从埃及河直到伯拉大河之地，
19就是基尼人、基尼洗人、甲摩尼人、
20赫人、比利洗人、利乏音人、
21亚摩利人、迦南人、革迦撒人、耶布斯人之地。”
The Covenant-making God
“The LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to . . . the Euphrates.’” – Genesis 15:18
Politicians make lots of promises, especially during campaigns. But we are not surprised when their lofty promises are broken. Today, in fact, it seems to be getting harder and harder to find people whose word is credible. Could that be why we might struggle also to take God at his word?
Yet God reveals himself as the promise-making, promise-keeping God. Through trial and error, Abraham came to discover that God is the only One who can always be counted on. God is forever true to his word.
In ancient times, kings often made covenants with their subjects. These were formal agreements, including oaths and solemn vows, to establish and maintain relationships.
In Genesis 15 Abraham’s doubts led to a covenantal response from God, by which God sealed his promises with an oath. In those days, oaths were often sealed by means of a gory ceremony involving the slaughter of animals. This was intended to show that if the covenant were broken, the violator would suffer the same fate as the animals. Amazingly, God made this kind of oath with Abraham, promising to bless him and his descendants. And God remained true to his word, as always.
What promise of God do you need to rely on today?
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for always being trustworthy and true. Help us to know that when you make a promise, you will surely fulfill it. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
