Rev Xi An Poon
親愛的家人，平安。
在創世記第14章，亞伯蘭剛剛經歷一場很大的得勝。他為了救回羅得，勇敢出去爭戰；得勝之後，他將十分之一獻給至高神的祭司麥基洗德，也拒絕接受所多瑪王的財物，免得人說：「是我使亞伯蘭富足。」
從外面看，亞伯蘭是剛強的、得勝的、分別為聖的。但到了創世記第15章，神對他的第一句話卻是：「亞伯蘭，你不要懼怕！我是你的盾牌，必大大的賞賜你。」
這讓我們看見，神不單看見亞伯蘭外面的信心，也看見他裡面的懼怕；神不單看見他外面的奉獻，也看見他心中的空缺。亞伯蘭仍然沒有兒子，仍然未看見應許成就，裡面仍有無奈與不安。
但神沒有責備他，神乃是親自向他顯現，安慰他，應許他，並與他立約。這就是天父的愛：祂不單在我們剛強時與我們同在，也在我們有空缺、有懼怕、有未完成之處時，讓我們更深經歷祂。
一、讓神進入我們真實的懼怕
創世記 15:1「亞伯蘭，你不要懼怕！我是你的盾牌，必大大的賞賜你。」
亞伯蘭外面剛剛得勝，但神知道他裡面仍有懼怕。這提醒我們，外面的順服不代表裡面沒有掙扎，外面的剛強不代表心中沒有不安。
很多時候，我們也仍然負責、仍然服事、仍然照顧家庭、仍然做該做的事，但心裡其實有許多擔心。
神今天也對我們說：「不要懼怕。」祂不只是給我們保護，祂自己就是我們的盾牌；祂不只是給我們賞賜，祂自己就是我們最大的賞賜。
二、讓神打開我們受限的眼光
創世記 15:5「你向天觀看，數算眾星，能數得過來嗎？」又對他說：「你的後裔將要如此。」
亞伯蘭最深的空缺，是他仍然沒有兒子。他對神說：「我既無子，你還賜我什麼呢？」這是他心中最真實的無奈。
神沒有責備他，反而領他走到外邊，叫他向天觀看。亞伯蘭在帳棚裡看見的是自己的限制；神把他帶到星空下，讓他看見神的應許。
我們也常常被困在自己的「帳棚」裡，只看見年齡、環境、家庭、健康、經濟、過去失敗和眼前限制。但神要帶我們走出來，重新看見祂仍然能夠。
在空缺中經歷神，不是因為空缺立刻消失，而是神在空缺中重新打開我們的眼光。
三、照神的話預備，等神親自成就
創世記 15:6「亞伯蘭信耶和華，耶和華就以此為他的義。」
亞伯蘭相信神，不是因為他已經看見兒子出生，也不是因為他已經得著土地，而是在還沒有看見成就時，仍然相信神所說的話。
後來神吩咐亞伯蘭預備立約的祭物。亞伯蘭所做的，就是照神的話預備；但最後經過肉塊中間的，是象徵神同在的「冒煙的爐」和「燒著的火把」。這表明，神的應許不是靠亞伯蘭自己完成，而是神親自承擔、親自保證、親自成就。
神也在這一章預先告訴亞伯蘭，他的後裔將來會寄居、受苦，後來神要親自帶他們出來。這是要讓後來出埃及的以色列人知道：他們的苦難不是神失控，他們的拯救也不是偶然；一切早已在神的計劃中。
今天，我們也有很多未明白、未完成、未看見答案的地方。但我們需要做的，不是替神完成祂的工作，而是照祂的話預備自己，守住信心，等候祂親自成就。
總結
創世記第15章讓我們看見，神不是只在我們完整時與我們同在，神更在我們的空缺中讓我們經歷祂。
- 當我們懼怕時，祂是我們的盾牌。
- 當我們覺得缺乏時，祂是我們的賞賜。
- 當我們眼光受限時，祂帶我們向天觀看。
- 當我們不知道應許如何成就時，祂用祂的約堅固我們。
- 當我們只能照祂的話預備時，祂親自承擔並成就祂所應許的。
信心不是因為我們已經擁有一切，而是在仍有空缺時，仍然相信神。信心不是因為環境已經清楚，而是在還不明白時，仍然把自己放在神的信實裡。
追求
今天，讓聖靈溫柔光照我們：
- 我們是否外面看似剛強，裡面卻仍有懼怕？
- 我們是否一直負責、付出、堅持，卻不敢承認自己心裡也有空缺？
- 我們是否因為應許仍未成就，就只看自己的限制，不再向天觀看？
- 我們是否以為一切都要靠自己完成，卻忘記神才是親自成就的主？
今天，神不是要責備我們的空缺，而是要在我們的空缺中與我們相遇。祂不是要我們假裝剛強，祂是要我們真實地把心打開，讓祂的愛、保護、應許和信實進入我們生命中未完成的地方。
禱告
親愛的天父，感謝祢透過創世記第15章讓我們看見，祢深深認識人的心。祢看見亞伯蘭外面的忠心，也看見他裡面的懼怕和空缺。
主啊，我們承認，很多時候我們外面仍然努力，裡面卻有不安；我們仍然前行，心中卻有未得著、未明白、未成就的地方。
求祢今天對我們說：「不要懼怕。」當我們覺得沒有保障時，讓我們經歷祢是我們的盾牌；當我們覺得缺乏時，讓我們看見祢自己就是我們最大的賞賜。
主啊，求祢帶我們走出自己的限制，重新向天觀看，重新相信祢的應許。幫助我們照祢的話預備自己，也把不能掌控的結果交給祢。
願我們在等候中不失去信心，在空缺中更深經歷祢。
奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
創世記 15
1 這事以後，耶和華在異象中有話對亞伯蘭說：「亞伯蘭，你不要懼怕！我是你的盾牌，必大大地賞賜你。」 2 亞伯蘭說：「主耶和華啊，我既無子，你還賜我什麼呢？並且要承受我家業的是大馬士革人以利以謝。」 3 亞伯蘭又說：「你沒有給我兒子，那生在我家中的人就是我的後嗣。」 4 耶和華又有話對他說：「這人必不成為你的後嗣，你本身所生的才成為你的後嗣。」 5 於是領他走到外邊，說：「你向天觀看，數算眾星，能數得過來嗎？」又對他說：「你的後裔將要如此。」 6 亞伯蘭信耶和華，耶和華就以此為他的義。 7 耶和華又對他說：「我是耶和華，曾領你出了迦勒底的吾珥，為要將這地賜你為業。」 8 亞伯蘭說：「主耶和華啊，我怎能知道必得這地為業呢？」 9 他說：「你為我取一隻三年的母牛，一隻三年的母山羊，一隻三年的公綿羊，一隻斑鳩，一隻雛鴿。」 10 亞伯蘭就取了這些來，每樣劈開分成兩半，一半對著一半地擺列，只有鳥沒有劈開。 11 有鷙鳥下來落在那死畜的肉上，亞伯蘭就把牠嚇飛了。
12 日頭正落的時候，亞伯蘭沉沉地睡了，忽然有驚人的大黑暗落在他身上。 13 耶和華對亞伯蘭說：「你要的確知道，你的後裔必寄居別人的地，又服侍那地的人，那地的人要苦待他們四百年。 14 並且他們所要服侍的那國，我要懲罰，後來他們必帶著許多財物從那裡出來。 15 但你要享大壽數，平平安安地歸到你列祖那裡，被人埋葬。 16 到了第四代，他們必回到此地，因為亞摩利人的罪孽還沒有滿盈。」 17 日落天黑，不料有冒煙的爐並燒著的火把從那些肉塊中經過。 18 當那日，耶和華與亞伯蘭立約，說：「我已賜給你的後裔，從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 亞摩利人、迦南人、革迦撒人、耶布斯人之地。」
Dear family, peace to you.
In Genesis 14, Abram had just experienced a great victory. In order to rescue Lot, he courageously went out to battle. After the victory, he gave a tenth to Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High, and he also refused to receive the possessions offered by the king of Sodom. He did not want anyone to say, “I have made Abram rich.”
From the outside, Abram looked strong, victorious, and set apart for God. But at the beginning of Genesis 15, the first thing God said to him was, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
This shows us something very deep. God not only saw Abram’s outward faith; He also saw the fear within his heart. God not only saw Abram’s outward offering; He also saw the emptiness within him. Abram still had no son. He still had not seen the promise fulfilled. Deep inside, there was still uncertainty, helplessness, and fear.
But God did not rebuke him. Instead, God came to him, comforted him, promised him, and made a covenant with him. This is the Father’s love. He is not only with us when we are strong; He also comes to us when we have emptiness, fear, and unfinished places in our lives.
- Let God enter our real fears
Genesis 15:1 “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Abram had just won a victory on the outside, but God knew that there was still fear inside him. This reminds us that outward obedience does not mean there is no inward struggle. Outward strength does not mean there is no fear in the heart.
Many times, we also continue to take responsibility, serve, care for our families, and do what we need to do. But deep inside, there may still be many worries.
Today, God also says to us, “Do not be afraid.” He does not only give us protection; He Himself is our shield. He does not only give us rewards; He Himself is our greatest reward.
- Let God open our limited vision
Genesis 15:5 “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Abram’s deepest emptiness was that he still had no son. He said to God, “Sovereign Lord, what can You give me since I remain childless?” This was the most honest cry from his heart.
God did not rebuke him. Instead, God brought him outside and told him to look up at the sky. Inside the tent, Abram saw his own limitations. Under the stars, God helped him see His promise.
We are often trapped inside our own “tent.” We only see our age, circumstances, family issues, health concerns, financial pressure, past failures, and present limitations. But God wants to bring us out, so we can see again that He is still able.
Experiencing God in our emptiness does not always mean that the emptiness disappears immediately. It means that in the midst of our emptiness, God opens our eyes again.
- Prepare according to God’s word, and let God fulfil His promise
Genesis 15:6 “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.”
Abram believed God, not because he had already seen his son born, and not because he had already received the land. He believed God while the promise was still unseen.
Later, God told Abram to prepare the animals for the covenant. Abram’s part was to prepare according to God’s word. But in the end, it was the smoking firepot and the blazing torch that passed between the pieces. This showed that God’s promise would not be fulfilled by Abram’s own strength. God Himself would carry it, guarantee it, and fulfil it.
In this chapter, God also told Abram in advance that his descendants would live as strangers in another land, suffer there, and later be brought out by God. This helped the Israelites who came out of Egypt understand that their suffering was not outside God’s knowledge, and their deliverance was not an accident. Everything had already been held in God’s plan.
Today, there are also many things in our lives that we do not yet understand, have not yet completed, and have not yet seen answered. But our part is not to complete God’s work for Him. Our part is to prepare ourselves according to His word, hold on to faith, and wait for Him to fulfil what He has promised.
Summary
Genesis 15 shows us that God is not only with us when we feel complete. He also allows us to experience Him in our emptiness.
- When we are afraid, He is our shield.
- When we feel lacking, He is our reward.
- When our vision is limited, He leads us to look up.
- When we do not know how the promise will be fulfilled, He strengthens us through His covenant.
- When all we can do is prepare according to His word, He Himself carries and fulfils what He has promised.
Faith is not believing because we already have everything. Faith is believing God while there is still emptiness. Faith is not believing because everything is already clear. Faith is placing ourselves in God’s faithfulness while we still do not fully understand.
Reflection
Today, let the Holy Spirit gently shine His light on us.
- Do we look strong on the outside, but still carry fear within?
- Have we continued to take responsibility, give, and persevere, yet not dared to admit the emptiness in our hearts?
- Have we started to see only our limitations because the promise has not yet been fulfilled?
- Have we forgotten to look up at God’s promise?
- Do we think everything depends on us, forgetting that God is the One who fulfils what He has spoken?
Today, God is not rebuking our emptiness. He wants to meet us in our emptiness. He does not ask us to pretend to be strong. He invites us to open our hearts honestly, so that His love, protection, promise, and faithfulness may enter the unfinished places of our lives.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for showing us through Genesis 15 that You deeply know the human heart. You saw Abram’s outward faithfulness, and You also saw his inward fear and emptiness.
Lord, we admit that many times we still try hard on the outside, but inside we feel unsettled. We continue to move forward, yet there are still places in our hearts that are not yet fulfilled, not yet understood, and not yet completed.
Please speak to us today: “Do not be afraid.” When we feel unprotected, help us experience You as our shield. When we feel lacking, help us see that You Yourself are our greatest reward.
Lord, lead us out of our limitations. Help us look up again and believe Your promise again. Teach us to prepare ourselves according to Your word, and to surrender the results we cannot control into Your hands.
May we not lose faith while waiting. May we experience You more deeply in our emptiness.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Genesis 15
1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”
4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
7 Then He said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”
8 And he said, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?”
9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying:
“To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— 19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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