“大渊的泉源都裂开了，天上的窗户也敞开了。四十昼夜降大雨在地上。” - 创 7:11-12

人们通常不会将挪亚和大洪水的故事仅仅看作一场水上的旅程，然而挪亚却是圣经中最具有恩赐的海员之一。他建造了一艘巨大的船，可以容得下他一家和所有不同种类的动物。神帮助他在风暴和洪水中航行了四十昼夜，之后他们又等待了好几个月，大水才退去。

看着水从四方八面涌来 — 从地上、从海上、从天上 — 这是一场毁灭世界的大灾难，必定是极其震撼人心的。尽管挪亚用了很多年建造了这艘船，并且已经有心理准备来面对这件事，但对挪亚和他的家人来说，风暴的能量和破坏的程度必定仍然令他们震惊到无以复加的程度。

然而神已经预备了拯救的方法。神教导挪亚怎样建造方舟。当洪水到来时，神指引挪亚、他的家人、和所有的动物进到一个他们可以安身之处。神又应许永远不会再重复这样规模的大洪水。

圣经让我们看到神的公义，同时也看到衪的慈爱和怜悯。纵使洪水带来了创伤和毁灭，神仍然在其中提供了避难所，也应许赐更新和丰盛的生命。今天，透过耶稣为信衪之人而降生、死亡、和复活，我们就理解得更清楚了！

祷告

天上的父，感谢你，因为你必定会实现你所应许的。我们面对生命中的风暴时，求你保护我们，又在你的怜悯中引导我们。阿们。

创世记 7:1-12

1耶和华对挪亚说：“你和你的全家都要进入方舟，因为在这世代中，我见你在我面前是义人。
2凡洁净的畜类，你要带七公七母，不洁净的畜类，你要带一公一母，
3空中的飞鸟也要带七公七母，可以留种，活在全地上。
4因为再过七天，我要降雨在地上四十昼夜，把我所造的各种活物都从地上除灭。”
5挪亚就遵着耶和华所吩咐的行了。
6当洪水泛滥在地上的时候，挪亚整六百岁。
7挪亚就同他的妻和儿子、儿妇，都进入方舟，躲避洪水。
8洁净的畜类和不洁净的畜类，飞鸟并地上一切的昆虫，
9都是一对一对的，有公有母，到挪亚那里进入方舟，正如神所吩咐挪亚的。
10过了那七天，洪水泛滥在地上。
11当挪亚六百岁，二月十七日那一天，大渊的泉源都裂开了，天上的窗户也敞开了，
12四十昼夜降大雨在地上。

The Floodgates Of The Heavens

"All the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights." - Genesis 7:11-12

The story of Noah and the flood is not usually described as a journey at sea, but Noah was one of the Bible’s most gifted seafarers. He built a massive ship that housed his family and all kinds of animals. And with God’s help he navigated 40 days and nights of storming and flooding. Then they all waited months for the waters to recede.

It must have been extraordinary to see the waters coming from all directions—from the ground, from the sea, from the sky—a cataclysm bringing destruction on the earth. Though Noah had built the ship and prepared for this over many years, the force of the storm and the scale of devastation must been shocking and overwhelming for Noah and his family.

Yet God had prepared a way of salvation. God taught Noah how to build the ark. And when the flood came, God guided Noah, his family, and all the animals to a place where they could land. God also promised that a flood like that would never come again.

The Bible shows that God’s justice flows together with his love and mercy. Despite the trauma and destruction of the flood, God provides shelter and promises new and full life. Today we see this even more clearly in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for all who believe in him!

Prayer

Father in heaven, thank you for always being faithful to your promises. Protect us in the storms of life, and guide us in your mercy. Amen.