“耶和华神使他沉睡,他就睡了,于是取下他的一条肋骨,又把肉合起来。” – 创 2:21
神创造世界时,衪造的一切生物基本上都需要休息和睡觉。有些生物,例如青蛙,不大需要睡觉;但有些像无尾熊的生物,却每天需要超过20小时的睡眠。至于我们人类,我们一生四份之一的时间都用在睡眠上。若没有足够睡眠,我们的身体便无法重新得力和复原的了。
在创世记2章,我们看到一件特别的事,就是神使人类的始祖亚当“沉睡。”神这样做的目的,并不是趁亚当沉睡时捉弄或欺骗他。在这个历史的关键时刻,神在继续进行衪的创造奇功,藉此来赐福给亚当、人类、和所有被造之物。亚当沉睡时,神取下他一条肋骨来造了一个女人,这个女人被命名为夏娃,因为这个名字表示她将要成为众生之母(创世记 3:20)。
这个故事告诉我们很多关于人类生命开始时的事情;当神领我们进入衪所创造的世界时,这个故事显明神的创造大能和衪对我们的看顾。我们知道我们需要神,我们彼此需要,我们需要神为我们创造的这个世界。我们生活在这个世界和管理它时,我们也需要睡眠。此外,我们也看到神以独特的方式使用睡眠来完成衪的创造大功。今天当你预备上床睡觉时,请你为休息和睡眠的福份来感谢神 – 又为神信实的供应和看顾感谢衪。
祷告
父啊,我们是被你亲手奇妙可畏地创造的。当我们在你里面安息时,我们为睡眠和为你对我们的看顾感谢你。阿们。
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创世记 2:4-22
4创造天地的来历,在耶和华神造天地的日子,乃是这样:
5野地还没有草木,田间的菜蔬还没有长起来,因为耶和华神还没有降雨在地上,也没有人耕地。
6但有雾气从地上腾,滋润遍地。
7耶和华神用地上的尘土造人,将生气吹在他鼻孔里,他就成了有灵的活人,名叫亚当。
8耶和华神在东方的伊甸立了一个园子,把所造的人安置在那里。
9耶和华神使各样的树从地里长出来,可以悦人的眼目,其上的果子好做食物。园子当中又有生命树和分别善恶的树。
10有河从伊甸流出来,滋润那园子,从那里分为四道。
11第一道名叫比逊,就是环绕哈腓拉全地的。在那里有金子,
12并且那地的金子是好的,在那里又有珍珠和红玛瑙。
13第二道河名叫基训,就是环绕古实全地的。
14第三道河名叫底格里斯,流在亚述的东边。第四道河就是幼发拉底河。
15耶和华神将那人安置在伊甸园,使他修理看守。
16耶和华神吩咐他说:“园中各样树上的果子,你可以随意吃;
17只是分别善恶树上的果子,你不可吃,因为你吃的日子必定死。”
18耶和华神说:“那人独居不好,我要为他造一个配偶帮助他。”
19耶和华神用土所造成的野地各样走兽和空中各样飞鸟都带到那人面前,看他叫什么。那人怎样叫各样的活物,那就是它的名字。
20那人便给一切牲畜和空中飞鸟、野地走兽都起了名,只是那人没有遇见配偶帮助他。
21耶和华神使他沉睡,他就睡了。于是取下他的一条肋骨,又把肉合起来。
22耶和华神就用那人身上所取的肋骨造成一个女人,领她到那人跟前。
Creative Sleep
“The Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh.” – Genesis 2:21
When God created the world, he built into his creatures the need for rest and sleep. Some creatures, like frogs, barely sleep at all; but others, like koalas, sleep over 20 hours a day. We humans spend about a quarter to a third of our lives sleeping. Without sleep, our bodies cannot restore and repair themselves.
In Genesis 2 we read of a particular occasion when God causes Adam, the father of humankind, “to fall into a deep sleep.” God’s purpose wasn’t to trick or deceive Adam while he was sleeping. At this pivotal moment in history, God continued his creative work in order to bless Adam, all humanity, and all of creation. While Adam was asleep, God used one of his ribs to create a woman, who would be the mother of humankind. And she was named Eve to reflect that (Genesis 3:20).
This story tells us much about the beginnings of human life. It shows God’s creative power and his care for us as he brings us into the world he has made. We learn that we need God, we need each other, and we need the world God created for us. As we live in and take care of this world, we also need sleep. What’s more, God used sleep in a special way to complete his creation. As you prepare for sleep today, give thanks for the blessings of rest and sleep—and for God’s faithful sustenance and care.
Prayer
Father, by your hand we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank you for sleep and for your care over us as we rest in you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳