Don’t Rationalize God Away

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 20:13-22.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

1 Kings 20:13-22 (NIVToday’s passage is 1 Kings 20:23-34.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

1 Kings 20:23-34 (NIV)
23  Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.
24  Do this: Remove all the kings from their commands and replace them with other officers.

On verses 23-34:  The officials of Ben-Hadad King of Aram had no idea whom they were dealing with.  They assumed that the reason why the outnumbered Israelites unexpectedly defeated the Arameans at the first battle was because the Israelites were experienced at fighting in the mountains. 

God Keeps Pursuing You

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 20:13-22.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

1 Kings 20:13-22 (NIV)
13  Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the LORD.'”
14  “But who will do this?” asked Ahab. The prophet replied, “This is what the LORD says: ‘The young officers of the provincial commanders will do it.'” “And who will start the battle?” he asked. The prophet answered, “You will.”

On verses 13-22:  Through an unidentified prophet God tells Ahab that Ahab will be victorious over Ben-Hadad and his armies and that Ahab’s junior officers will be the ones to lead Ahab’s army to victory.  So Ahab mobilizes 232 junior officers to launch an attack against Ben-Hadad, followed by 7,000 more soldiers.  Meanwhile Ben-Hadad and the kings allied with him are unsuspecting and getting drunk (v18).

與神相處/承認祂的主權

申命記34:1-7

摩西從摩押平原登尼波山,上了那與耶利哥相對的毗斯迦山頂。耶和華把基列全地直到但, 2 拿弗他利全地,以法蓮、瑪拿西的地,猶大全地直到西海, 3 南地和棕樹城耶利哥的平原,直到瑣珥,都指給他看。

申命記34:1-7記載老年的摩西登上尼坡山的毘斯迦山頂,神讓他觀看近在眼前的迦南地,對他說:「這就是我向亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各起誓應許之地,說:『我必將這地賜給你的後裔。』現在我使你眼睛看見了,你卻不得過到那裡去。」

於是,耶和華的僕人摩西死在摩押地,年一百二十歲;眼目沒有昏花,精神沒有衰敗。摩西帶領以色列人出埃及前往迦南地,終極勞苦40年,目的地近在咫尺,未能踏入,令人唏噓!

回轉聽命的約拿進尼尼微城,宣告尼尼微必傾覆的信息,沒想到進城僅走了三分之一的路程,全城的人就宣告禁食,穿上麻衣,連尼尼微王也下寶座、脫朝服,披麻蒙灰。神察看他們各人離開惡道、丟棄強暴,就後悔,不降災禍。

與神相處/無可推諉

士師記6:34-40

耶和華的靈降在基甸身上,他就吹角,亞比以謝族都聚集跟隨他。 35 他打發人走遍瑪拿西地,瑪拿西人也聚集跟隨他。又打發人去見亞設人、西布倫人、拿弗他利人,他們也都出來與他們會合。

神在不同的世代選召人來完成祂所託付的使命,被選召的人縱使推託,但終究無可推諉、無處可逃,需要領命前行。

耶和華差遣基甸去從米甸人手裡拯救以色列人,基甸說:「主啊,我有何能拯救以色列人呢?我家在瑪拿西支派中是至貧窮的。我在我父家是至微小的。」他向神尋求證據,神用杖頭挨近肉和無酵餅,火從磐石中出來,燒盡了肉和無酵餅。(士師記6:11-24)

當耶和華的靈降在基甸身上,他聚集眾人,再次向神尋求證據,神用「禾場上羊毛乾濕」的神蹟叫基甸無可推諉。(士師記6:34-40)

聖經裡另一個逃避神選召的人是先知約拿。他被神召喚去尼尼微城宣告神的信息,但他選擇逃避。在一場暴風雨中,約拿被丟進海裡,被一條大魚吞下。在魚腹中三日三夜,約拿祈禱、悔改,神就吩咐魚把它吐在旱地,得以存活。

Are You Trying To Make a Deal with the Devil? Don’t.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 20:1-12.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

1 Kings 20:1-12 (NIV)
1  Now Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria and attacked it.
2  He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, “This is what Ben-Hadad says:
3  ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.'”

On verses 1-12:  Ben-Hadad king of Aram, together with his entire army and 32 other kings (most likely rulers of smaller neighbouring city states), besiege Israel’s capital city of Samaria.  Ben-Hadad tells Ahab in verse 3, “Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.” (In the Nintendo International Version, Ben-Hadad says “All your base are belong to us.”  I’m kidding.)

Are You Feeling Depressed?

Hi GAMErs,

Do you struggle with feeling depressed?  In today’s passage we learn four powerful steps you can take to help you when you are depressed.  Let’s go!

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 19:1-21.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

1 Kings 19:1-3 (NIV) 
1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 
2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life…

On verses 1-3a:  Elijah has just been used by God to accomplish one of the most impressive miracles ever recorded in the Bible: fire from heaven has come down upon Elijah’s sacrifice (1 Kings 18:38-39).  The prophets of Baal are seized, silenced and killed, and Elijah is riding a spiritual high, literally outrunning King Ahab’s chariot (1 Kings 18:40-46). 

與神相處/怒氣不成就義

民數記20:1-13 

正月間,以色列全會眾到了尋的曠野,就住在加低斯。米利暗死在那裡,就葬在那裡。

2 會眾沒有水喝,就聚集攻擊摩西、亞倫。 3 百姓向摩西爭鬧說:「我們的弟兄曾死在耶和華面前,我們恨不得與他們同死。 4 你們為何把耶和華的會眾領到這曠野,使我們和牲畜都死在這裡呢? 5 你們為何逼著我們出埃及,領我們到這壞地方呢?這地方不好撒種,也沒有無花果樹、葡萄樹、石榴樹,又沒有水喝。」 6 摩西、亞倫離開會眾,到會幕門口,俯伏在地。耶和華的榮光向他們顯現。

摩西帶領以色列人出埃及約三個月,經過汛的曠野到達利非訂安營,百姓因沒水喝向摩西發怨言,耶和華囑咐摩西拿杖擊打磐石,磐石必有水流出,使百姓可以喝。摩西就在以色列的長老眼前這樣行了。(出埃及記17:1-7)

出埃及兩年後,以色列人來到尋曠野的加低斯,派遣探子去窺探迦南地。由於他們不信神的應許,引起民眾的恐慌和叛亂,因此,神宣布那一代的以色列人(二十歲以上的)不得進入迦南地。(民數記14:20-35)於是,以色列人在曠野中漂泊38年,大部分時間在加低斯附近度過,舊一代以色列人逐漸過世。

新一代以色列人在加低斯,再次因沒有水喝,聚集攻擊摩西、亞倫。耶和華曉諭摩西拿杖,和亞倫招聚會眾,吩咐磐石出水,給會眾和他們的牲畜喝。摩西、亞倫就招聚會眾,摩西說:「你們這些背叛的人聽我說:我為你們使水從這磐石中流出來嗎?」摩西舉手,用杖擊打磐石兩下,就有許多水流出來,會眾和牲畜都喝了。那時,耶和華對摩西、亞倫說:「因為你們不信我,不在以色列人眼前尊我為聖,所以你們必不得領這會眾進我所賜給他們的地去。」(民數記20:1-13)

與神相處/謙卑的僕人

哥林多後書12:9    祂對我說:「我的恩典夠你用的,因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。」所以,我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱,好叫基督的能力覆庇我。

摩西的一生,年少在埃及法老王宮享受富貴40年,接著因殺人而避難到米甸曠野牧羊忍受艱辛40年,最後蒙神選召領導以色列民出埃及,在西乃沙漠中幫助看顧以色列人40年,耶和華稱摩西爲「我的僕人」(民數記12∶7-8)。我們看這位神的僕人在曠野荊棘中,如何面對神的呼召?(出埃及記3∶1-4:18)

神從荊棘裡呼叫說:「摩西!摩西!」他說:「我在這裡。」

神說:「以色列人的哀聲達到我耳中,我要打發你將我的百姓從埃及領出來。」

摩西說:「我是甚麼人,竟能去見法老,將以色列人從埃及領出來呢?」

神說:「我必與你同在,這就是我打發你去的證據。」

摩西說:「我到以色列人那裡,要對他們說祢是谁?」

神說:「你要對以色列人這樣說:『那自有永有的打發我到你們這裡來。』」

接著,神細說了祂與以色列人的立約,以色列人當時的光景和祂所要施行的拯救。(出埃及記3∶15-22)

摩西說:「他們必不信我,也不聽我的話。」

How To Experience the Fire of the Holy Spirit

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 18:30-46.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

1 Kings 18:30 (NIV) 
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins. 

On verse 30:  What does the writer of 1 Kings mean when writing that Elijah “repaired the altar of the Lord, which was in ruins”?  It means that Elijah was re-establishing a culture of worshiping the Lord, a culture that had disappeared in the face of rampant and ongoing idolatry in Israel.  

與神相處/成為祂的朋友

創世記18:16-19    三人就從那裡起行,向所多瑪觀看,亞伯拉罕也與他們同行,要送他們一程。 17 耶和華說:「我所要做的事,豈可瞞著亞伯拉罕呢? 18 亞伯拉罕必要成為強大的國,地上的萬國都必因他得福。 19 我眷顧他,為要叫他吩咐他的眾子和他的眷屬,遵守我的道,秉公行義,使我所應許亞伯拉罕的話都成就了。」

亞伯拉罕在幔利橡樹接待天使,天使即將啟程離開,望向所多瑪,神說:「我所要做的事豈可瞞著亞伯拉罕呢?…所多瑪和蛾摩拉的罪惡甚重,聲聞於我。…」(創世記18:16-21)

亞伯拉罕近前來,說:「無論善惡,你都要剿滅嗎?假若那城裡有五十個義人,你還剿滅那地方嗎?不為城裡這五十個義人饒恕其中的人嗎?將義人與惡人同殺,將義人與惡人一樣看待,這斷不是你所行的。審判全地的主豈不行公義嗎?」耶和華說:「我若在所多瑪城裡見有五十個義人,我就為他們的緣故饒恕那地方的眾人。」(創世記18:23-26)