- Government 执政 (1–7)
God gave some new rules for life on the cleansed earth. He always guides His redeemed and shows them His will. Noah and his family could now eat animal flesh (Gen. 1:29), but they were forbidden to eat the blood (Lev. 17:11–14). The sanctity of human life was affirmed in the ordaining of human government (Rom. 13). God established government because man is basically a sinner and must be kept under control. Murder is a terrible crime because man is made in the image of God, and to kill a human being is to attack God’s image. All people are not children of God, but all belong to one human family because God made us of one blood (Acts 17:26).
在这被洁净的土地上，神给予了生活上的一些新条例。神总会引导祂的选民，并向他们显明自己的旨意。挪亚一家现在可以吃肉了（创1:29），但他们不得吃带血的肉（利17:11-14）。人生命的神圣性后来由政府的设立肯定了（罗13）。神建立政府的原因是因为人基本上就是一个罪人，必须受到管辖。谋杀是一个可怕的罪，因为人有神的形象，而杀人同等于攻击神的形象。虽然不是所有人都是神的儿女，但我们都属人类的大家庭，因为神由一个血脉创造了我们（徒17:26）。
- Grace 恩典 (8–17)
God gave assurance that He would never send another flood to destroy life on the earth. The covenant included not only man but also birds, cattle, and the beasts of the field (Ezek. 1:10; Rev. 4:7). The sign of the covenant was the rainbow, a bridge of beauty that joins heaven and earth. Whether we look at the rainbow or not, God looks upon it and remembers His promises. Noah saw the rainbow after the storm; Ezekiel saw it in the midst of the storm (Ezek. 1:4ff.); and John saw it before the storm of judgment (Rev. 4:1–3).
神发誓决不会再以洪水毁灭地球上一切有血肉之物。这约也包括了鸟禽、牛畜和田野里的走兽（结1:10；启4:7）。这约的记号就是彩虹，一道连接天与地的美丽桥梁。无论我们是否看到彩虹，神会看着它，并纪念自己的承诺。挪亚在风雨后看见彩虹；以西结在风暴里看见彩虹（结1:4）；约翰更在如暴风雨的判决前也看见它（启4:1-3）。
- Guilt 愧疚 (18–29)
Imagine, a “preacher of righteousness” (2 Pet. 2:5), who was over six hundred years old, getting drunk! (See Gen. 6:5; 8:21; 1 Cor. 10:12.) Ham should have grieved over his father’s sins, not gloated over them (Prov. 14:9). His brothers did what love always does: “covers all sins” (Prov. 10:12; 12:16; 17:9; 1 Pet. 4:8).
试想想，一个超过六百岁的“传义道”者（彼得后书2:5）竟然喝醉了（见创6:5，8:21；林前10:12）！迦南应该为父亲的罪感到悲伤，而不是在那儿幸灾乐祸（箴14:9）。他的兄弟却做了爱应该有的表现，即“遮盖”，因为“爱能遮掩许多的罪”（箴10:12，12:16，17:9；彼前4:8）。
Noah’s words must not be interpreted to mean that certain races are inferior and destined to be enslaved. In fact, history shows that some of Canaan’s descendants were mighty nations with great empires. For that matter, even the Jews, the descendants of Shem, have had their share of captivity. His words were a prophecy: the sin of Ham would be visited on his son Canaan, who must have been involved in some way; Shem would have God’s blessing (Rom. 9:1–5); Japheth (the Gentiles) would multiply and would worship the God of Shem. John wrote, “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). People who trust Christ for salvation are all one in Him (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11).
挪亚的话不能被译为某些种族比较卑劣，注定要成为奴隶。事实上，历史证明了一些迦南后裔成为了强大的国家和伟大的帝国。况且，闪的后裔，即便是犹太人，也曾经当过奴隶。挪亚的话是在预言含的罪将由他的后裔迦南承担；闪却会得到神的祝福（罗9:1-5）；雅弗（外邦人）人数则会扩大，并敬拜闪的神。约翰写道，“救恩是从犹太人出来的”（约4:22）。凡信靠基督得救的，在祂里面都合而为一了（加3:28；西3:11）。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- Good news! We can eat meat, it is biblical! However, animal lovers might think that we are amoral people. Let’s pray that we don’t define our moral standards by their standards and that our love for upholding these standards is not greater than the Word of God. That is pride in itself. That shows that we are arrogant, thinking we know better and that we can set the limit as to what to do and what to eat.
好消息！我们可以吃肉了，这是符合圣经的！然而，动物爱好者可能会认为我们不道德。让我们祷告，叫我们不以世人的标准决定我们的道德标准，而我们对持守这标准的爱不会大于对神话语的爱。否则，我们便是傲慢的，以为自己懂得更多，可自行决定要做什么、吃什么。
- Although men sinned yet they still have God’s image. So when we look at another human being, we must see the God who created him. Let’s pray that we value every human life.
人虽然犯了罪，但仍然有神的形象。因此，当我们看另一个人时，也必须看到创造他的神。让我们祷告能珍视每条人命。
