“耶和华神将那人安置在伊甸园，使他修理，看守。” – 创2:15
起初，人类没有理由离开家园，因为他们生活在乐园里。上帝创造的伊甸园提供了人类繁衍生息所需的一切。在园子里工作也是充实而舒适的。圣经将上帝无微不至的关怀描绘成对祂所造之物的白白的赏赐。
从创世之初，上帝就为我们人类提供了一个在祂面前生活的地方，那里有我们所需的一切。我们可以享受上帝与我们同在的喜悦，在上帝面前自由自在地生活。
那么，我们为什么要离开呢？正如圣经所描绘的，我们对家一个基本的感觉就是满足，这是一种在上帝的关顾中享有安息的能力。因此，当上帝设置了限制，比如有一棵我们不能吃其上果子的树，我们能相信这是为了我们好吗？我们会发现，人类很难知足。相反，我们更愿意走自己的路，找到一个可以随心所欲的地方。这样我们就永远远离了上帝同在的完美家园。
但是，自从我们离开伊甸园，我们的灵性就开始干渴，渴望那些两边满溢着上帝创造之美善的河流。只有在祂的儿子耶稣身上，上帝才让我们重获满足。今天，你愿意跟随祂回家吗？
祷告
主啊，我们发现自己很难在你的恩典和供应中安稳。求你饶恕我们，帮助我们有知足的心；使我们在基督完成的工作中得到安息，带我们回到你的家中。阿们。
创世记 2:8-23
8耶和华神在东方的伊甸立了一个园子，把所造的人安置在那里。
9耶和华神使各样的树从地里长出来，可以悦人的眼目，其上的果子好做食物。园子当中又有生命树和分别善恶的树。
10有河从伊甸流出来，滋润那园子，从那里分为四道。
11第一道名叫比逊，就是环绕哈腓拉全地的。在那里有金子，
12并且那地的金子是好的，在那里又有珍珠和红玛瑙。
13第二道河名叫基训，就是环绕古实全地的。
14第三道河名叫底格里斯，流在亚述的东边。第四道河就是幼发拉底河。
15耶和华神将那人安置在伊甸园，使他修理看守。
16耶和华神吩咐他说：“园中各样树上的果子，你可以随意吃；
17只是分别善恶树上的果子，你不可吃，因为你吃的日子必定死。”
18耶和华神说：“那人独居不好，我要为他造一个配偶帮助他。”
19耶和华神用土所造成的野地各样走兽和空中各样飞鸟都带到那人面前，看他叫什么。那人怎样叫各样的活物，那就是它的名字。
20那人便给一切牲畜和空中飞鸟、野地走兽都起了名，只是那人没有遇见配偶帮助他。
21耶和华神使他沉睡，他就睡了。于是取下他的一条肋骨，又把肉合起来。
22耶和华神就用那人身上所取的肋骨造成一个女人，领她到那人跟前。
23那人说：“这是我骨中的骨、肉中的肉！可以称她为女人，因为她是从男人身上取出来的。”
Our First Home
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” – Genesis 2:15
In the beginning, there was no reason to leave home because humanity lived in paradise. The garden God had created provided everything needed for human flourishing. Even work in the garden was fulfilling and comfortable. The Bible pictures God’s extravagant care as a free gift of grace for his creatures.
From the world’s beginning, God offered us human beings a place to live in his presence with everything we needed. We could delight in God’s being with us, and we could enjoy being at home with ourselves before God.
So why would we ever leave? As the Bible portrays it, one essential element of our sense of home is contentment, an ability to rest in God’s care for us. So when God sets limits, such as a tree from which we may not eat, can we trust that this is for our good? As we will see, humans find it difficult to be content. We prefer instead to make our own way, to find a place where we can follow our own desires. And we forever run away from the perfect home with God.
But ever since we left the garden, we have been spiritually thirsty, longing for those rivers overflowing with God’s created goodness. Only in his Son, Jesus, does God offer a return to contentment. Will you follow him home today?
Prayer
Lord, we find it hard to rest in your extravagant grace and provision. Forgive us. Help us to be content. Give us rest in the finished work of Christ that brings us home with you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
