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Just Take the Next Step + God Provides in the Mourning

2021-06-02 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 24:52-67.  Let’s go!

Genesis 24:52-61 (NIV)
52  When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
53  Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother.
54  Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way to my master.”……

On verses 52-61:  Willingly Rebekah leaves her home and goes back with Abraham’s servant to become Isaac’s wife.  To leave her family, friends and homeland and to move to a new land to marry a stranger was no easy task.  Earlier in Genesis 24 we learned that Rebekah had the heart of an excellent and humble servant.  Here in these verses we see that Rebekah was also brave.  It’s no wonder God used Rebekah to help accomplish God’s plan of building a family of nations through Abraham, a family which would ultimately include you and me and everyone else who places their trust in Jesus Christ.  Nothing in Genesis so far seems to suggests that Rebekah had any idea of God’s bigger plan to use her life in this way.  Most likely, Rebekah was just faithfully taking the next step that she believed God was showing her and had no idea how much God would end up using her decision to become Isaac’s wife.

但族遣人覓地

2021-06-01 in , /by

〈士師記〉  18:31 神的殿在示羅多少日子，但人為自己設立米迦所雕刻的像也在但多少日子。

閱讀經文：〈士師記〉  18:1-31

「那時以色列中沒有王」，這句話在〈士師記〉中一共出現了四次（17:6/18:1/19:1/21:25），表示作者在寫此書時，以色列中已經有王治理。所以他認為，以色列人的問題，是因為以色列中沒有王的原因。其實「王」只是領導者的代名詞，但是以色列人想的並不是這樣，他們渴望的是像外邦人一樣有個耀武揚威的王，使人產生敬畏的王。因為摩西、約書亞和一些士師，其實都起了很好的帶領作用，使他們遠離偶像，敬拜耶和華，在許多方面蒙福。因此我們可以看到，以色列人一直沒有找出他們得罪神和失敗的根源。

在約書亞為以色列人分地時，但支派似乎沒有像其他支派那樣，得到又大又美的地界。他們分到了十七個城邑，散住在迦南各地（地圖上有紅點的便是但人原分得的城）。在〈士師記〉第一章34 節說：「亞摩利人強逼但人住在山地，不容他們下到平原」，加上在參孫做士師前後受到非利士人的壓迫，所以但支派的人一直在為尋找一個可以定居的地方而努力。從約書亞死後到參孫做士師的時期結束，可以算出的大約是410年，當然其中有一些年數是我們無法統計的，因為作者沒有把它們列出來。但支派找到拉億定居是否是在參孫死後，因為無法抵抗非利士人，所以更積極地尋找長久的定居之地呢？因為參孫被耶和華的靈感動時，但的軍營或者說但的營地，尚在瑪哈尼但，瑣拉和以實陶之間。

Made to Love and Be Loved

2021-06-01 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 24:15-33.  Let’s go!

Genesis 24:15-17 (NIV)
15  Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.
16  The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
17  The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”

On verses 15-17:  Just as God brought Rebekah to Abraham’s servant even before Abraham’s servant finished praying, God knows your need even before you express it.  So why ask God if He already knows what we need?  Even though He already knows what we need, we ask God because asking is part of growing in our relationship with God, learning to rely on Him and experiencing the power of faith.  Faith is like a muscle that grows with use.  So use your faith muscles and ask God for what you need.

米迦造偶像

2021-05-31 in , /by

〈士師記〉   17:6  那時以色列中沒有王，各人任意而行。

閱讀經文：〈士師記〉  17:1-13

雖然〈士師記〉  裡參孫是最後一個士師，但是真正最後的一個士師是撒母耳。在〈士師記〉  裡最後幾章都是描寫以色列中沒有王，各人任意而行的幾個例子，讓我們明白在一個心中沒有王的社會裡，會產生的奇怪現象和許多悲劇。

第一個例子說到有一個叫做米迦的人的家中所發生的事情。有一天，米迦的母親丟了一千一百舍客勒銀子，米母（簡稱）非常生氣，可能大罵小偷無恥無道，又咒詛他絕子絕孫的。假如你丟了那麼多錢，你會怎樣罵小偷，你想得到的，她可能都罵出來了。

沒想到偷她錢的小偷聽到了，這個小偷天天聽她咒詛，越聽越不是滋味，更深怕那咒詛在自己身上應驗。於是他自首了。迦母沒想到偷錢的是自己的兒子，立刻改口：「我兒啊，願耶和華賜福於你！」那時她多麼希望能收回那些咒詛的話啊！怎能讓那些咒詛落到至愛的兒子身上呢？只好求神賜福，希望可以蓋過那些咒詛。別人偷錢該死，自己兒子偷錢罵兩聲也夠了。這就是人的標準，別人做錯事，就要下十八層地獄，若是自己人，陪個不是就可以了。

為了消除自己的咒詛，米母就想為兒子雕個神像，她以為這樣可以討耶和華神的高興。她雖然知道耶和華神，對於律法卻一無所知。以為雕像當作神來拜，就是在敬拜耶和華了，卻沒想到她的作法正好與神的教導相悖，她做了神最討厭的事。我們會不會這樣呢？有時憑著一股熱心，要為神做這個做那個，卻沒想到反而得罪神。

Serve with Excellence

2021-05-31 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 24:15-33.  Let’s go!

Genesis 24:15-17 (NIV)
15  Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.
16  The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
17  The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”

On verses 15-17:  Just as God brought Rebekah to Abraham’s servant even before Abraham’s servant finished praying, God knows your need even before you express it.  So why ask God if He already knows what we need?  Even though He already knows what we need, we ask God because asking is part of growing in our relationship with God, learning to rely on Him and experiencing the power of faith.  Faith is like a muscle that grows with use.  So use your faith muscles and ask God for what you need.

When Looking For That Special Someone

2021-05-30 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 24:1-14.  Let’s go!

Genesis 24:1-4 (NIV)
1  Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
2  He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh.
3  I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,
4  but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”

On verses 1-4:  Even in Abraham’s old age, Abraham still had goals to accomplish and things he wanted to get done.  A top priority for Abraham was finding a good wife for his son Isaac, as per the traditions of his culture where parents would arrange the marriage for their child.  Since Abraham could not do this himself in his old age, he delegated this responsibility to his chief servant and placed him under a strict oath to go back to Abraham’s home country and find for Isaac a wife that met Abraham’s criteria.

參孫的結局

2021-05-30 in , /by

〈士師記〉 16:28 參孫求告耶和華說：「主耶和華啊，求你眷念我！神啊，求你賜我這一次的力量，使我在非利士人身上報那剜我雙眼的仇！」

閱讀經文：〈士師記〉 16:1-31

在這一章的經文裡，我們看不到「耶和華的靈感動參孫」這句話了。有的人質疑，參孫身為士師，竟然去找妓女，而且愛上妓女，難道也是出於神的旨意嗎？〈士師記〉的作者在寫書時，一點不含糊，在這些事上，完全沒有神的靈在作工的跡象，參孫被情慾所操縱了。參孫出生時的身份是拿細耳人，但是他破壞了所有拿細耳人的規矩，這就是參孫失敗的真正原因。

拿細耳人的律例有三個方面：1.禁戒各種酒類，以及酒作的醋、葡萄、葡萄乾，乃至葡萄樹上結的，自核至皮所作的各種物品。2. 不可剃去頭髮，任由髮綹長長。3.不可靠近人或動物的屍體，甚至是親人的屍體。這也是為何當參孫拿死獅體內的蜂蜜給父母吃時，不告訴他們是從哪裡取得的。因為他的父母一定告誡過他，不可以碰任何死屍。他若說了，父母可能不吃，他還要挨罵。當他在非利士人之地擺設婚宴時，又豈能滴酒不沾？三方面的禁忌，他破了兩方面，在最後一項，他能把持得住嗎？

失去了妻子的參孫心情上可能十分沮喪，但是他跑去找非利士的妓女時，作者再沒有寫耶和華的靈感動他。因此，我們知道這是參孫自己的選擇，他放縱自己的情慾。可能有的人覺得參孫在出世之前，神已經揀選他，賜恩給他，他就應該是一個循規蹈矩的人。但是出生在教授家庭的孩子就一定知書達禮嗎？那也不竟然。只能說，神揀選了參孫，但是神賜給每一個人的自由意志，參孫也有。神揀選人，但是神不強迫人，可是人要為自己的選擇負責。神知道一切，祂知道我們做每一個選擇的後果會如何。我們不能把什麼責任都推給神，正如孩子不能把失敗的責任都歸咎於父母。

What Death Can’t Separate

2021-05-28 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 23:1-20.  Let’s go!

Genesis 23:1-2 (NIV)
1  Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old.
2  She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.

On verses 1-2:  For some reason the first time a person in the Bible is recorded as weeping, it’s in a situation where Abraham lost his wife Sarah.  The two had been together for many decades.  Together they had moved to and lived in many different places, experienced so many ups and downs, trusted in God’s promises and saw God work powerfully in their lives.  Other than the presence of God, there was no one whose presence was more constant in Abraham’s life than Sarah’s.  And now Abraham and Sarah were saying goodbye.  No doubt even in their old age, this was a very difficult thing to do.

To me in part it’s a reminder that God sees us as His bride.  Because He never wanted to lose us to death, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins, so that we could be with Him forever.

第三封信：給別迦摩教會

2021-05-28 in , /by

別迦摩教會，是代表教會第三個時代（311-1590年）。此時代是政教聯合時代。在羅馬王君士坦丁，教皇貴勾利第一時，教會與世界聯合，因此教會一天天的腐敗墮落。

名義──「別迦摩」原文是「聯婚」之意。教會本來與基督定婚，是已獻給基督之童女，等基督來時可結婚，但現在教會在基督再來前已與世界結婚，如一個女人有兩個丈夫，這是教會反常之現象，可見教會之罪惡腐敗，與世界聯合，何等危險。像船是在水上，但船現在卻沉下去，教會與世界聯合，就是如船沉下去。這證明是撒但之詭計，牠的詭計更加利害，在士每拿教會時，撒但想藉武力，使教會消沉，但逼害之結果，教會反而興旺。但現在他變更計劃，使人喜歡教會。撒但的笑容比怒目更可怕，參孫不怕戰場上之戰爭，只失敗在一個女人手中，在一個女人膝上睡覺，結果失敗。

「別迦摩」另一名義是「高樓」之意，教會與世界聯婚之後，得崇高地位，照人看來，是何等幸福。本來他應與未婚夫耶穌一樣被世界厭棄逼迫，但現在竟得崇高地位，叫人羨慕，他們這樣顛倒是非。本來學生不能高過先生，現在教會之實況，是學生高過先生，僕人不能高過主人，但他們之實況是僕人高過主人，家人與家主應該一同受辱罵，現在家人倒受稱讚。主降生在馬槽，死在十架上，現在教會有高地位，與主之情形大不相同，教會與主之目的大不同，實在可惜。

一、主的自稱：「兩刃利劍。」對別迦摩教會情形很相合。

1.兩刃利劍刺開一切隱密處。「神的道是活潑的，是有功效的，比一切兩刃的劍更快，甚至魂與靈，骨節與骨髓，都能刺入剖開，連心中的思念和主意，都能辨明。」（來四12）一切都是赤露敞開，從主對別迦摩教會的自稱，可知主對他的表示，他們屬靈之光景，敞開祂的話如利劍，把他們之原形，完全顯出。若明白羅馬歷史和教會遺傳的，都知道自從戴奧革利庭，和加勒利阿死後，君士坦丁、馬生特亞，兩人爭奪王位。

The Lamb Who Suffered For Me

2021-05-27 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 22:13-24.  Let’s go!

Genesis 22:13-14 (NIV)
13  Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
14  So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

On verses 13-14: Instead of making Abraham sacrifice his only son Isaac, God provides a substitutionary sacrifice for Isaac.  Just as Abraham predicted in verse 8, God Himself provides a lamb for the offering.  It’s a ram caught by its horns in a thicket, which some scholars say was a thornbush.  Now consider this: a ram is a male adult lamb.  “Horns” in the Bible are often seen as a symbol for one’s destiny.  “Thorns” in the Bible often represent suffering.  Just as God provided an adult male lamb who destiny was to suffer  on a mountain in place of Isaac, so Jesus was the male adult lamb whose destiny was to suffer and die in our place on a hill called Calvary.  On the day Jesus was sacrificed, they even placed a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head so that, like the ram, Jesus’ head is caught in thorns.  I love how the Old Testament points us to Jesus.  Truly the Lord is our provider, as verse 14 says, for on the mountain God provided us with His sacrificial lamb to atone for our sins.