Friendly humpback whale 友善的座头鲸

[Dexu Xia]

Friendly  humpback whale

Am I my brother’s keeper?   Genesis 4:9

A marine biologist was swimming near the Cook Islands in the South Pacific when a 50,000-pound humpback whale suddenly appeared and tucked her under its fin. The woman thought her life was over. But after swimming slowly in circles, the whale let her go. It’s then that the biologist saw a tiger shark leaving the area. The woman believes the whale had been protecting her—keeping her from danger.

In a world of danger, we’re called to watch out for others. But you might ask yourself, Should I really be expected to be responsible for someone else? Or in Cain’s words: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). The rest of the Old Testament resounds with the thunderous response: Yes! Just as Adam was to care for the garden, so Cain was to care for Abel. Israel was to keep watch over the vulnerable and care for the needy. Yet they did the opposite—exploiting the people, oppressing the poor, and abdicating the calling to love their neighbors as themselves (Isaiah 3:14–15).

Yet, in the Cain and Abel story, God continued to watch over Cain, even after he was sent away (Genesis 4:15–16). God did for Cain what Cain should have done for Abel. It’s a beautiful foreshadowing of what God in Jesus would come to do for us. Jesus keeps us in His care, and He empowers us to go and do likewise for others.

Who has God entrusted to your care? How have you embraced that responsibility? How have you tried to evade or avoid it?

Compassionate God, thank You for Your care for me. You keep me and watch over me. Help me to do the same for others.

友善的座头鲸

我岂是看守我兄弟的吗？—创世记4章9节

    一名海洋生物学家在南太平洋的库克群岛附近游泳时，突然游来了一只重约23公吨的座头鲸，还将她夹在自己的鱼鳍下。这名生物学家原本以为自己命在旦夕，但这只庞然大物慢慢游了几圈后就让她离开了。就在那时，这名生物学家看见一只虎鲨正游离附近的海域。这位生物学家相信，这只鲸鱼是在保护她，救她脱离危险。

    在这个充满危机的世界里，上帝要我们照看他人。但你可能会问：我真的应该对别人负责吗？或是用该隐的话说：“我岂是看守我兄弟的吗？”（创世记4章9节）旧约其他的书卷则发出宏亮的回响：是的！就像亚当要照看伊甸园一样，该隐也要看顾亚伯。以色列百姓原本应该看顾弱者和穷人，然而，他们所行的却与此相反。他们剥削百姓、欺压贫民（以赛亚书3章14-15节），违背了上帝要他们爱人如己的诫命。

    然而，即使该隐因杀害亚伯而被驱逐离开，上帝依然看顾该隐（创世记4章15-16节）。上帝为该隐做了该隐本应为亚伯做的事，美好地预表了上帝藉着耶稣为我们成就的一切。耶稣总是看顾我们，祂也赐给我们能力，使我们也可以为他人付出。

    上帝将谁托付给你？你如何承担这项责任？你曾如何试图逃避这项责任？

慈悲的上帝，谢谢祢看顾我。祢保守我、眷顾我。求祢帮助我，也能如此待人。