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耶穌為什麼到世上來？

2020-12-25 in /by

〈約翰福音〉10章10節   耶穌說：「盜賊來，無非要偷竊，殺害，毀壞；我來了，是要叫羊（或作：人）得生命，並且得的更豐盛。」

耶穌為什麼到世上來？這是耶穌到世上六次宣言之一。耶穌說祂來，1.為要尋找拯救失喪的人，2.為要呼召罪人而非尋找義人，3.要捨命做多人的贖價，4.並要給人生命且得的更豐盛，這四大宣布就是基督道成肉身最大的目的。除此之外，還有〈詩篇〉與〈希伯來書〉提到耶穌來了為要遵行天父的旨意。這些都是耶穌從天降到地上道成肉身所成就的大事。

耶穌把自己在世上與強盜做一個完全不同的對比，「盜賊來，無非要偷竊，殺害，毀壞；我來了，是要叫羊（或作：人）得生命，並且得的更豐盛」，這個宣布是所有宗教家沒有人說過的。耶穌說「我來」，而不是「我生出」，表示祂是從另一個地方特地來到世界。耶穌從哪裡來？怎麼說到這個世界來？「我從父出來，到了世界；我又離開世界，往父那裡去。」（約16:28）祂來是從父那裏出來，祂去世回到父那裡去，父把偉大的使命交給祂，把偉大的差遣賜給祂，耶穌到世上來是要遵行天父的旨意，成全天父的計畫，祂是帶著使命到世界上，為了遵行上帝的計畫來到世上，祂成全了這個計劃之後回到天父那裡去。

這世界太多盜賊了，盜賊來是來偷東西、毀壞世界、殺害人的生命，耶穌說祂不是，祂乃是要叫人得生命。生命是上帝永遠的旨意，永生是上帝對人所定的最大計畫，所以〈約翰一書〉第二章告訴我們：「主所應許我們的就是永生」(約一2:25)，這才是從神而來的生命。你說：「我會吸呼、會聽、會行動，難道沒有生命嗎？」我們每個人都有生命，我們的生命是被造的生命，我們的生命是會死、是暫時的、靠著肉體存活的生命，這不是〈約翰一書〉所說的生命。

The Treasure In Your Hands

2020-12-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 13:8-23.  Let’s go!

Joshua 13:8-23 (NIV) 
8  The other half of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the LORD, had assigned it to them. 
9  It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon, 
10  and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, out to the border of the Ammonites. 
11  It also included Gilead, the territory of the people of Geshur and Maacah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salecah– ……

On verses 8-23:  These verses as well as verses 24-33 describe the land east of the Jordan River that was given to 2.5 Israelite tribes, namely, Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh. Moses had led the Israelites in conquering these lands, taking them from kings like Og king of Bashan (v12) and Sihon king of the Amorites (v10).  Verses 15 to 23 describe the lands allotted specifically to the tribe of Reuben.

摩西遣探子窺迦南地

2020-12-24 in /by

〈民數記〉13:30  迦勒在摩西面前安撫百姓，說：「我們立刻上去得那地吧，我們足能得勝！」

離開西乃山之後，沒有用很多時間，以色列就到達迦南地的邊境巴蘭的曠野，加低斯。這是西乃半島中最肥沃的一塊綠洲。雖然神曾經再三跟摩西介紹迦南地，但是為了讓以色列人更放心，神叫摩西派人去窺探迦南地。每個支派要派出一個首領，要窺探三件事：一，要看那地所住的民是強或弱；二，所住之地如何，是營盤是堅城（camps or strongholds帳棚或堡壘）；三，看那地土是肥美是瘠薄，有沒有樹木，有的話就帶些果子回來。

在迦南地，葡萄初熟時是大約陽曆七月，以色列人從西乃山走到此地，大約是兩個月的時間。所以他們真正走曠野的時間不是很長。到目前為止，最長的時間就是在西乃山下的裝備，神不僅頒佈律法，並且讓以色列人造了會幕，設立了軍隊。神讓以色列人從埃及的奴隸，變成一個獨立自主的民族，不僅有了法律，還有自己完整的軍隊體系。即使在現今，要成立一個國家，也沒有這樣的速度吧！現在我們回頭看，會覺得當時以色列人只要再多忍耐一下，那麼就不必再多走曠野38年。但是設身處地的想，若換成我們天天在乾燥無比的曠野行走，前不見村，後不見店，日復一日是荒涼的沙漠和曠野，我們是否也會失去盼望？我們有沒有可能相信，迦南就快到了？我們有時形容自己在困境時，好像在曠野行走，那麼就要相信，神必然領我們到迦南地，只要再忍耐一下就好了，迦南就快到了。

「他們上去窺探那地，從尋的曠野到利合，直到哈馬口。」尋的曠野是位於死海南端與地中海之間直線以南，又稱為南地，是迦南地的南界；利合經常被認為是地中海和夏瑣中間的巴拉特伯利合遺址；哈馬口在迦南的北界。當時探子們探查了約但河和地中海之間，整個南北全長三百五十哩的地區，幾乎概括了以色列全地。共花了四十天的時間。

The Story Will Continue

2020-12-24 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 13:1-7.  Let’s go!

Joshua 13:1-7 (NIV) 
1  When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the LORD said to him, “You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. 
2  “This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites: 
3  from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite (the territory of the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron–that of the Avvites); 
4  from the south, all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek, the region of the Amorites, 
5  the area of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath. 
6  “As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, 
7  and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

On verses 1-7:  The Lord speaks to Joshua in his old age and tells him that there are still very large areas of land that the Israelites have yet to take over. After describing these remaining lands (v2-5), God promises to Joshua that He Himself will drive out the Sidonians living in the mountain regions (v6).  In other words, God would do this part without Joshua.  God tells Joshua to allocate this area to Israel, dividing it among the nine and a half tribes of Israel that would be living west of the Jordan (v7).

Kings to Conquer

2020-12-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 12:9-24.  Let’s go!

Joshua 12:9-24 (NIV) 
9  the king of Jericho, one the king of Ai (near Bethel), one 
10  the king of Jerusalem, one the king of Hebron, one 
11  the king of Jarmuth, one the king of Lachish, one 
12  the king of Eglon, one the king of Gezer, one 
13  the king of Debir, one the king of Geder, one 
14  the king of Hormah, one the king of Arad, one …….

On verses 9-24:  What can we learn from this list of 31 kings that Joshua and the Israelites defeated?    As I look at this list of conquered kings, I am reminded that we all have certain kings to conquer in our lives.  Maybe it’s a king called worry, a king called laziness, a king called pride, or self-centeredness? Maybe it’s the king of negativity and complaining? Maybe it’s the king of jealousy or bitterness?  Which king poses the biggest threat to you at this time?

米利暗患大痲瘋

2020-12-23 in /by

民數記 12: 7-8   我的僕人摩西不是這樣，他是在我全家盡忠的，我要與他面對面說話，乃是明說，不用謎語，並且他必見我的形像。你們毀謗我的僕人摩西，為何不懼怕呢？

摩西的古實妻子是指誰？解經家有三種解釋：一，就是摩西在米甸娶的妻子西坡拉。二，是摩西在埃及地當將軍時娶的妻子。三，西坡拉死後，摩西另娶。「Cush」古實，是希伯來文；在希臘文則稱為「Ethiopian」依索匹亞，是挪亞兒子含的後裔之一。每一種解釋都有說法，所以我們不用在這事上多費心。問題是，為何摩西的古實妻子會給米利暗和亞倫有毀謗的理由？

根據百度百科：「誹是背地議論，謗是公開指責。毀謗，指以言語相攻擊或嘲諷醜化，將不好的事誇大化，故意捏造事實，以詆毀和破壞他人名譽。」摩西有何事可以讓他們毀謗呢？若是因為他的妻子，這其中有什麼利害關係？摩西是當時以色列人的領袖，摩西的年記越來越大了，年記大了會讓人關心何事？既然神揀選亞倫做大祭司，亞倫的兒子是大祭司的接班人；那麼，誰是摩西的接班人？摩西的妻子既是古實人，不是以色列人，她生的兒子有沒有資格接摩西之位呢？除了這件事，還有何事讓摩西會因為妻子的緣故被毀謗？

因此米利暗和亞倫說：「難道耶和華單與摩西說話，不也與我們說話嗎？」在這裡「摩西為人極其謙和，勝過世上的眾人。」，在英文聖經裡都用括弧（摩西為人極其謙和，勝過世上的眾人。），表示不是摩西自己寫的，是後人加上去的。摩西謙和到一個怎樣的程度呢？他寧願讓兄姐罵他，也不把此事拿去跟神講，他默默忍受下來，把所有的委屈往肚子裡吞。米利暗和亞倫的挑釁顯露出他們追根究底，心裡極深的嫉妒。神跟米利暗說話了嗎？神跟亞倫說話了嗎？沒有，從來神都是通過摩西傳話。

耶和華的膀臂豈是縮短了

2020-12-22 in /by

〈民數記〉11:23 耶和華對摩西說：「耶和華的膀臂豈是縮短了嗎？現在要看我的話向你應驗不應驗。」

在西乃山下，神的軍隊秩序井然地向著迦南地走去。神的雲彩白天為他們遮蔽炎陽，夜裡變為火柱，給他們保暖，並且防止野獸的侵襲。清晨有嗎哪降下，日復一日。以色列人才走了三天，離西乃山不遠，興奮感卻在面對「大而可畏的曠野面前」而消失了，取而代之的可能是失望、懊惱、不舒服……等等，無論甚麼樣的情緒，引出的是對神的埋怨而非感謝。

百姓在此發怨言，耶和華聽到後怒氣發作，使火在他們中間焚燒，直燒到營的邊界。經摩西一再哀求，火才熄滅。該地因此得名「他備拉 Taberah 」，意思是 「耶和華的火在燃燒」。(民11:1-3；申9:22)

有一股怨氣在他們中間蔓延開來。除了嗎哪，還是嗎哪，以色列人開始哭號：「誰給我們肉吃呢？我們記得，在埃及的時候不花錢就吃魚，也記得有黃瓜、西瓜、韭菜、蔥、蒜。現在我們的心血枯竭了，除這嗎哪以外，在我們眼前並沒有別的東西。」

記得我母親年幼時，因為日本人統治台灣，戰爭連年不斷，大家生活非常貧困，以蕃薯（地瓜）充饑。每天都是吃蕃薯，他們翻來覆去地變花樣，吃到最後還是怕了，長大後，聽到蕃薯，不管人家說有多好吃，怎樣也不肯嚐一口了。

再好吃的食物，若給你連續吃上三天九餐，你可能也會生厭；何況以色列人是日以繼月，月以繼年地吃。百姓裡有閒雜人，也就是非以色列人。因為在埃及地時，有的埃及男人和以色列女人結婚了，當埃及人因為鉎的兒子和牲畜被殺死，因而急著要把以色列人趕出埃及時，可能也把那些和以色列人通婚的埃及人也趕了出來；還有一些埃及人或其他人種看到神的權能，因此也跟著以色列人出埃及。

Don’t Get Caught Up In Comparisons

2020-12-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 12:1-8.  Let’s go!

Joshua 12:1-8 (NIV) 
1  These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah: 
2  Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge–from the middle of the gorge–to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. 
3  He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Kinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah. ……

On verses 1-8:  In listing some of the kings and lands that the Israelites conquered, these verses show us how much each of Moses and Joshua accomplished from a military perspective.  It leads me to this question:  Do you ever feel like you’re living in someone else’s shadow? Do you often compare yourself, or do others often compare you, to someone you grew up with who accomplished great things? Maybe it was your sibling, your parent, your cousin, your spouse, a peer at school?

Joshua probably felt the burden of comparisons for a while. He was Moses’ assistant for many years.  When Joshua finally succeeded Moses as leader of the Israelites, he probably compared himself, and others probably compared him, to his predecessor Moses and wondered how he could possibly fill such big shoes.

有神同行

2020-12-21 in /by

〈民數記〉10:36約櫃停住的時候，他就說：「耶和華啊，求祢回到以色列的千萬人中！」

在以色列人離開西乃山之前，神給摩西下了最後的一個指示，就是做兩支銀號。想想看，在曠野和沙漠地帶，兩三百萬人要同時行動，何等困難。即使有麥克風，也很難把領隊的意思表達得很清楚。神設立銀號，教導百姓聽聲而動，何等有效率！據史學家約瑟夫記載，銀號為直筒形，長約45公分，末端張開如喇叭，吹時可發出大、小、長、短信號。依猶太人傳統，吹長聲召集人到會幕敬拜；短而急的聲音用於起營與作戰。不同場合用不同號音，有祭司專司其職。

神的雲彩指示起行和安營，銀號指揮軍隊的行動，兩支銀號配搭來吹，如此以色列民便可行動如一人。〈民數記〉講神子民如何編組、配搭、和行動，再次讓我們看到神是一個有計劃有秩序的神。神不著急。我們做事都想一蹴而就，不想等待，但是神做事想得很遠，想到整體。即使大家在西乃山下都很想離開了，祂還是不慌不忙地叫他們先造兩支銀號。可能有的人會說，唉啊，還造銀號有啥用啊？但是這銀號造好了，對以色列人的行動可真有極大的幫助。若沒有銀號，行動時就費勁了。這邊叫了，那邊聽不到；那邊叫了，這邊還在打包！銀號一吹，大家都上路了！值不值得花一點做銀號的時間呢？更何況吹這號要成為世世代代的定例，那就更值得了。

當以色列人往前行時，他們的心裡該是何等快樂。神與他們同行，神引領他們。曠野的路雖然崎嶇險峻，但是在神的帶領下，他們終於可以向迦南地出發了。一切都按著神的安排，神的指示：猶大營先行，然後革順的子孫和米拉利的子孫拆卸帳幕，抬著帳幕往前行；再來是魯本營。哥轄人抬著聖物先往前行，他們未到以前，革順的子孫和米拉利的子孫已經把帳幕支好；等他們到了，就可把聖物一一擺進會幕裡。再來是以法蓮的營，但營壓後。軍隊和利未子孫相互交叉，有保護，也有順序，一點都不紊亂，有條有理。

It’s Not Just About You

2020-12-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 11:12-23.  Let’s go!

Joshua 11:12-15 (NIV) 
12  Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of theLORD had commanded. 
13  Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds–except Hazor, which Joshua burned. 
14  The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed. 
15  As the LORD commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.

On verses 12-15:  Notice the emphasis on how Joshua did what his leader Moses told him to do.  Verse 15 describes it this way: “As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it”.  Joshua was fully devoted not just to God but to his leader Moses.  Submission to his God-given leader was a crucial ingredient in Joshua’s recipe for success.