- A New Beginning 一个全新的开始 (1–4)
God chastened Abram in Egypt, and Abram returned to the land he never should have left. He was a very wealthy man, but his tent and altar were the most valuable things he possessed. When we fail, the Lord is ready to forgive and restore (1 John 1:5–2:2). “The victorious Christian life is a series of new beginnings,” said Alexander Whyte.
神在埃及惩罚了亚伯兰，亚伯兰就回到了他原来不应该离开的地方。他是一个非常富有的人，但他的帐篷和祭坛才是最宝贵的东西。当我们跌倒的时候，主必原谅我们，使我们复兴（约壹1:5-2:2）。亚历山大·怀特说：“得胜的基督徒生活是一系列新的开始。”
- A New Burden 一个全新的包袱 (5–13)
While in Egypt, Lot acquired wealth and a taste for the world, and his temporal interests were partly Abram’s fault. God forgave Abram’s sin, but He did not prevent the sad consequences. We reap what we sow, even after we are forgiven. Abram’s first test of faith came from a famine; his second test came from his own family. Family tests are the hardest tests of all. Abram was a peacemaker because he lived by faith; Lot was a troublemaker because he lived by sight. Abram chose a heavenly city (Heb. 11:13–16); Lot chose an earthly city, and a wicked one at that. The city appeared to be ideal, but it was headed for destruction. You can move your tent nearer and nearer to sin, but you cannot take your altar with you. Lot left God behind and destroyed his home.
罗得在埃及的那段时间获得财富，尝到世俗之美，而亚伯兰是有责任的。神赦免了亚伯兰的罪，但祂并没有阻止其不良后果。即使我们被神赦免，我们也要承担罪所带来的后果。亚伯兰信心的第一次试炼来自饥荒，第二次试炼便来自自己的家庭了。家庭的试炼是最严峻的考验。亚伯兰凭信心而行，所以是个使人和睦的人；罗得却是一个闹事者，因为他行事是凭着眼所见的。亚伯兰选择一个的天上的城邑（来11:13-16）；罗得却选择了一个世俗和邪恶的城市。那城市表面上看似理想，但它正朝着被销毁的命运。您可以将你的帐篷扎得愈加靠近罪，但你不能把你的祭坛带去。罗得最终背离神，也毁了自己的家。
- A New Blessing 一个全新的祝福 (14–18)
The man of faith always receives a special word from God after a time of testing. Let others take what they want; our God gives us far more than they can ever imagine (Ps. 16:5; 33:12). Abram lifted up his eyes and saw the land. He lifted up his feet and claimed it by faith (Josh. 1:3). Then he lifted up his heart and worshiped God. Lot had broken Abram’s heart, but God blessed Abram’s heart—and made him a blessing.
信心之人经历试炼后，必从神得到特别的话。且让别人拿走他们想要的吧，我们的神所赐的是远远超乎人所能想像的（诗16:5；33:12）。亚伯兰抬起头后看见了地。之后，他举起脚，凭信心得到了那片土地（书1:3）。接着，他举起自己的心敬拜神。罗得伤了亚伯兰的心，神却赐福于亚伯兰的心，并使亚伯兰成为万人的祝福。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- Yes, faithful men sometimes failed and fell. But the Lord is gracious to bring them out of their difficult situations. Abraham learned his lesson, repented, and “went up” out of Egypt (13:1). Let’s pray that we quickly repent and return to God when we realized we have failed and fell.
是的，信主的人有时也会失败跌倒。但主满有恩典，将他们从困境中带出来。亚伯拉罕吸取了教训后悔改，从埃及“上去”（13:1）。让我们祈求神，当我们意识到自己失败、跌倒时，让我们能迅速悔改并归向神。
- Because of Abraham’s sin, Lot developed a taste for the world. He liked Jordan Valley because it was “like the land of Egypt” (Gen 13:10) and later Lot moved his tent closer and closer to Sodom. (Gen 13:12). Yes, the Lord does forgive us and save us from His future judicious punishment but we still have to bear the consequences sin brings. An AIDS patient can be forgiven of his sin yet he’ll still die of AIDS. A gambler can be forgiven yet he cannot get back the fortune he gambled away. Let’s pray that we do not treat sin lightly but see the truth and consequences that sin brings.
因着亚伯拉罕的罪，罗得尝到了世俗的美。他喜欢约旦河的平原因为它像“埃及的土地”（创13:10），所以将自己的帐篷逐渐挪近所多玛（创13:12）。是的，主赦免我们，救我们脱离他未来的审判，但我们仍然要承担罪所带来的后果。一个艾滋病患者的罪是可以被赦免的，但他仍然还是会死于疾病。一个赌徒是可以被赦免的，但他再也讨不回之前所输光的财富。让我们祷告神使我们不轻看罪恶，却能看清罪的恶及它所带来的后果。
- Abraham is truly a man walked by faith not by sight. Of course Abraham, like Lot, saw that Jordan Valley was well watered, like the garden of the LORD (Gen 13:10). Yet he gave up the material gain. Can you give up material gains for the sake of holiness? Let’s pray that our eyes are not attracted to the world but by the Lord who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. (1Ti 6:17)
亚伯拉罕是一个真正凭着信心行事的人。当然，亚伯拉罕与罗得一样，看到了约旦河的平原的滋润，如同耶和华的园子（创13:10）。然而，他愿放弃物质利益。你能为了圣洁的缘故放弃物质利益吗？让我们祷告神不叫我们的眼目被世俗吸引过去，而是专注于那提供一切丰富让我们享受的主（提前6:17）。
