Rev Xi An Poon
親愛的家人，平安。
上一次天父餐桌訊息，我們讀到創世記第二章，看見神把人安置在伊甸園裡。那是一個有神同在、有神供應、有神託付，也有神界線的地方。人原本活在神面前，沒有懼怕，沒有羞恥，也沒有躲藏。
可是到了創世記第三章，整個畫面改變了。原本與神同行的地方，變成了躲避神的地方；原本自由、清潔、親密的生命，變成了羞恥、懼怕和遮蓋。
女人看見那棵樹的果子「好作食物，也悅人的眼目，且是可喜愛的，能使人有智慧」。這句話讓我們看見，人裡面的掙扎，往往是從眼目、感覺和自己的判斷開始。當人開始用「我看見」「我覺得」「我想要」去決定什麼是好，人的中心就慢慢從神轉向自己。
神曾說：「你吃的日子必定死。」所以，人吃了果子之後，死亡已經開始發生了。這死亡首先不是身體立刻倒下，而是與神關係的斷裂。當神在園中行走，人聽見神的聲音，卻不是迎向神，而是躲藏起來。這就是死亡最深的意思：人離開了神的同在，失去了與神之間原本親密、清潔、自由的關係。
【過渡】
創世記第三章不只是人犯罪的經過，更像一面鏡子，照出人心如何從神轉向自己。但神沒有停止尋找人。當人躲藏，神仍然呼喚；當人落在羞恥和懼怕中，神仍然要把人帶回祂面前。
一、停下來，看見自己被什麼牽引
創世記 3:6「於是女人見那棵樹的果子好作食物，也悅人的眼目，且是可喜愛的，能使人有智慧，就摘下果子來吃了；又給她丈夫，她丈夫也吃了。」
女人陷入試探，不只是因為蛇說了話，也因為她的眼目停留在那棵樹上。她開始用自己的眼目重新判斷神已經說過的事。
今天，我們也可能被很多事情牽引：被慾望牽引、被比較牽引、被恐懼牽引、被人的肯定牽引，也被「我覺得這樣比較好」牽引。
要從自己回到神面前，第一步就是停下來，看見自己正在被什麼牽引。不是只問：「我想要什麼？」而是重新問：「神怎樣說？」不是只問：「這對我有什麼好處？」而是問：「這是否使我更靠近神？」
詩篇 119:105「你的話是我腳前的燈，是我路上的光。」
當我們願意停下來，讓神的話光照我們的眼目和內心，我們就開始從自己回到神面前。
二、放下遮蓋，承認自己真正的光景
創世記 3:7「他們二人的眼睛就明亮了，才知道自己是赤身露體，便拿無花果樹的葉子為自己編作裙子。」
人吃了果子以後，眼睛明亮了，卻看見自己的赤身露體。他們沒有變得更自由，反而開始羞恥；沒有變得更像神，反而開始害怕被看見。於是，他們用無花果樹的葉子為自己編作裙子，想用自己的方法遮蓋自己。
今天，我們也常用不同的「葉子」遮蓋自己：用忙碌遮蓋空虛，用解釋遮蓋錯誤，用表現遮蓋不安，用責怪遮蓋責任，用控制遮蓋不信靠。
但人的遮蓋不能真正帶來醫治。要從自己回到神面前，我們需要放下遮蓋，在神面前真實承認：「主啊，我其實害怕；我其實軟弱；我其實在逃避；我其實沒有真正信靠祢。」
約翰一書 1:9「我們若認自己的罪，神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。」
當人願意放下遮蓋，神的光才可以進來；當人停止保護自己，神的恩典才可以遮蓋我們。
三、聽見呼喚，重新走回神面前
創世記 3:8「天起了涼風，耶和華神在園中行走。那人和他妻子聽見神的聲音，就藏在園裡的樹木中，躲避耶和華神的面。」
這一節讓我們看見死亡的顯明。死不只是身體停止呼吸，更深的死，是人與神的關係斷裂；是人聽見神，卻不敢回應；是人知道神在尋找，卻選擇躲藏。
但感謝神，人躲藏，神仍然行走在園中；人避開神，神仍然主動尋找。
創世記 3:9「耶和華神呼喚那人，對他說：你在哪裡？」
「你在哪裡？」不是神不知道亞當在哪裡，而是神在呼喚人面對自己真實的位置。今天，神也在呼喚我們：「你在哪裡？」
你的心現在在哪裡？
你的眼目現在停留在哪裡？
你的安全感現在建立在哪裡？
你是否聽見神的聲音，卻因為羞恥、懼怕、失敗而不敢回應？
羅馬書 6:23「因為罪的工價乃是死；惟有神的恩賜，在我們的主基督耶穌裡，乃是永生。」
從自己回到神面前，不是靠自己變好才回來，而是在聽見神呼喚的時候，願意不再躲藏，轉身回應祂。
【總結】
創世記第三章讓我們看見，人的跌倒不是單單從外面的果子開始，而是從裡面的眼目、感覺和自己開始。當眼目離開神的話，人就容易被可喜愛的事物吸引；當自己坐在中心，人就開始遮蓋自己；當人聽見神的聲音卻躲藏，死亡已經在關係中顯明出來。
但感謝神，人躲藏，神仍然尋找；人落在死亡中，神仍然呼喚。今天，天父呼喚我們從自己回到祂面前：停下來，看見自己被什麼牽引；放下遮蓋，承認自己真正的光景；聽見神的呼喚，不再躲藏，重新走回祂面前。
【追求】
今天，讓我們在神面前安靜思想：
我是否常常用「我看見」「我覺得」「我想要」來決定生命的方向，卻沒有讓神的話光照我？
我是否用忙碌、解釋、表現、控制，來遮蓋自己裡面的不安和逃避？
我是否聽見神的聲音，卻因為羞恥、懼怕或失敗，不敢回到祂面前？
神今天仍然在呼喚我們：「你在哪裡？」這不是定罪，而是愛的尋找。讓我們不再躲藏，從自己回到神面前。
【禱告】
親愛的天父，我們來到祢面前。
求祢赦免我們，很多時候用自己的眼目、感覺和判斷代替祢的話。
求祢光照我們裡面以自己為中心的地方，幫助我們放下遮蓋，不再躲藏。
當祢呼喚我們：「你在哪裡？」求祢幫助我們勇敢回應，重新回到祢面前。
聖靈，求祢帶我們從自己回到神面前，從羞恥回到恩典，從躲藏回到親近，從死亡回到生命。
奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
創世記 3
1 耶和華神所造的，唯有蛇比田野一切的活物更狡猾。蛇對女人說：「神豈是真說，不許你們吃園中所有樹上的果子嗎？」 2 女人對蛇說：「園中樹上的果子我們可以吃， 3 唯有園當中那棵樹上的果子，神曾說：『你們不可吃，也不可摸，免得你們死。』」 4 蛇對女人說：「你們不一定死！ 5 因為神知道你們吃的日子眼睛就明亮了，你們便如神能知道善惡。」
6 於是女人見那棵樹的果子好做食物，也悅人的眼目，且是可喜愛的，能使人有智慧，就摘下果子來吃了；又給她丈夫，她丈夫也吃了。 7 他們二人的眼睛就明亮了，才知道自己是赤身露體，便拿無花果樹的葉子，為自己編做裙子。 8 天起了涼風，耶和華神在園中行走，那人和他妻子聽見神的聲音，就藏在園裡的樹木中，躲避耶和華神的面。 9 耶和華神呼喚那人，對他說：「你在哪裡？」 10 他說：「我在園中聽見你的聲音，我就害怕，因為我赤身露體。我便藏了。」 11 耶和華說：「誰告訴你赤身露體呢？莫非你吃了我吩咐你不可吃的那樹上的果子嗎？」 12 那人說：「你所賜給我與我同居的女人，她把那樹上的果子給我，我就吃了。」 13 耶和華神對女人說：「你做的是什麼事呢？」女人說：「那蛇引誘我，我就吃了。」 14 耶和華神對蛇說：「你既做了這事，就必受咒詛，比一切的牲畜野獸更甚！你必用肚子行走，終身吃土。 15 我又要叫你和女人彼此為仇，你的後裔和女人的後裔也彼此為仇，女人的後裔要傷你的頭，你要傷他的腳跟。」 16 又對女人說：「我必多多加增你懷胎的苦楚，你生產兒女必多受苦楚。你必戀慕你丈夫，你丈夫必管轄你。」 17 又對亞當說：「你既聽從妻子的話，吃了我所吩咐你不可吃的那樹上的果子，地必為你的緣故受咒詛，你必終身勞苦，才能從地裡得吃的。 18 地必給你長出荊棘和蒺藜來，你也要吃田間的菜蔬。 19 你必汗流滿面才得糊口，直到你歸了土，因為你是從土而出的。你本是塵土，仍要歸於塵土。」 20 亞當給他妻子起名叫夏娃，因為她是眾生之母。 21 耶和華神為亞當和他妻子用皮子做衣服給他們穿。
22 耶和華神說：「那人已經與我們相似，能知道善惡。現在恐怕他伸手又摘生命樹的果子吃，就永遠活著。」 23 耶和華神便打發他出伊甸園去，耕種他所自出之土。 24 於是把他趕出去了，又在伊甸園的東邊安設基路伯和四面轉動發火焰的劍，要把守生命樹的道路。
Dear family, peace to you.
In our last Father’s Table message, we read Genesis 2 and saw that God placed man in the Garden of Eden. It was a place of God’s presence, provision, calling, and boundary. Man originally lived before God without fear, without shame, and without hiding.
But in Genesis 3, the whole picture changed. The place where man once walked with God became the place where man hid from God. A life that was once free, pure, and intimate became a life marked by shame, fear, and covering.
The woman saw that the tree was “good for food,” “pleasant to the eyes,” and “desirable to make one wise.” This shows us that many of our struggles begin with our eyes, our feelings, and our own judgment. When we begin to decide what is good by saying, “I see,” “I feel,” and “I want,” the centre of our life slowly moves from God to self.
God had clearly said, “In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Therefore, after man ate the fruit, death had already begun. This death was not first seen in the body falling down immediately, but in the breaking of relationship with God. When God walked in the garden, man heard His voice, but instead of coming toward Him, man hid from Him. This is the deepest meaning of death: man leaving the presence of God and losing the original intimacy, purity, and freedom he had with God.
Genesis 3 is not only the account of man’s sin. It is like a mirror, showing how the human heart turns from God to self. But God did not stop looking for man. When man hid, God still called. When man fell into shame and fear, God still desired to bring him back into His presence.
- Stop and see what is pulling your heart
Genesis 3:6
“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.”
The woman fell into temptation not only because the serpent spoke, but also because her eyes remained fixed on the tree. She began to use her own eyes to re-evaluate what God had already spoken.
Today, we can also be pulled by many things: desire, comparison, fear, the approval of people, or the thought, “I feel this is better.”
To return from self to God, the first step is to stop and see what is pulling our heart. Instead of only asking, “What do I want?” we need to ask again, “What has God said?” Instead of only asking, “What benefit will this bring me?” we need to ask, “Will this draw me closer to God?”
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
When we are willing to stop and allow God’s Word to shine upon our eyes and our hearts, we begin to return from self to God.
- Lay down your covering and admit your true condition
Genesis 3:7
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.”
After they ate the fruit, their eyes were opened, but what they saw was their own nakedness. They did not become more free; they became ashamed. They did not become more like God; they became afraid of being seen. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves in their own way.
Today, we also use different “fig leaves” to cover ourselves: busyness to cover emptiness, explanations to cover mistakes, performance to cover insecurity, blame to cover responsibility, and control to cover unbelief.
But human covering cannot bring true healing. To return from self to God, we need to lay down our covering and honestly admit before God: “Lord, I am afraid. I am weak. I am avoiding the truth. I have not truly trusted You.”
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
When we are willing to lay down our covering, God’s light can come in. When we stop protecting ourselves, God’s grace can cover us.
- Hear God’s call and walk back to Him
Genesis 3:8
“And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”
This verse shows us the reality of death. Death is not only the body stopping to breathe. A deeper death is the broken relationship between man and God. It is when man hears God but dares not respond. It is when man knows God is looking for him, yet chooses to hide.
But thanks be to God. When man hid, God still walked in the garden. When man avoided God, God still took the initiative to seek him.
Genesis 3:9
“Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’”
“Where are you?” was not because God did not know where Adam was. It was God calling man to face his true position. Today, God is also calling us: “Where are you?”
Where is your heart now?
Where are your eyes fixed now?
Where is your security built now?
Do you hear God’s voice, yet dare not return to Him because of shame, fear, or failure?
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Returning from self to God is not about waiting until we become better. It is about hearing God’s call, no longer hiding, and turning back to Him.
【Summary】
Genesis 3 shows us that man’s fall did not begin only with the fruit outside, but with the eyes, feelings, and self within. When our eyes leave God’s Word, we can easily be drawn by what looks desirable. When self sits at the centre, we begin to cover ourselves. When man hears God’s voice but hides, death is already revealed in the relationship.
But thanks be to God. When man hid, God still sought him. When man fell into death, God still called him. Today, the Father is calling us to return from self to Him: stop and see what is pulling our heart; lay down our covering and admit our true condition; hear His call, stop hiding, and walk back to Him.
【Reflection】
Today, let us quietly reflect before God:
Do I often use “I see,” “I feel,” and “I want” to decide the direction of my life, without allowing God’s Word to shine upon me?
Do I use busyness, explanations, performance, or control to cover the unrest and avoidance within me?
Do I hear God’s voice, yet dare not return to Him because of shame, fear, or failure?
God is still calling us today: “Where are you?” This is not condemnation, but the searching love of the Father. Let us stop hiding and return from self to God.
【Prayer】
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You.
Please forgive us. Many times, we have used our own eyes, feelings, and judgment to replace Your Word.
Shine Your light upon the self-centred places within us. Help us lay down our covering and stop hiding.
When You call us, “Where are you?” help us respond with courage and return to You.
Holy Spirit, lead us from self back to God, from shame back to grace, from hiding back to intimacy, and from death back to life.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Genesis 3
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
16 To the woman He said:
“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.”
17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:
“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”
20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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