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Until We Go Home

2021-01-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 22:1-9.  Let’s go!

Joshua 22:1-9 (NIV) 
1  Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh
2  and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded.
3  For a long time now–to this very day–you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you.
4  Now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan….

On verses 1-9:  The Reubenites, Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh (whom I call collectively “Team RGM”) had already received their God-given inheritance, that being the lands east of the Jordan River.  But in obedience to God and out of love and loyalty toward their fellow Israelites, team RGM decided not to go home until they helped their fellow Israelites gain their land inheritance as well.  Only when they had finished helping their fellow Israelites did Team RGM go back home at Joshua’s command.

记出埃及的路程

2021-01-21 in , /by

〈民数记〉33:53 你们要夺那地，住在其中，因我把那地赐给你们为业。

从摩西的记载里，我们认识到神是一位很仔细的神。祂吩咐摩西要记载他们出埃及的行程。不知道你有没有写日记的习惯，若是没有这样的习惯，就会忘记人生中很多的细节。有时同一件事情在自己的回忆里，和别人所记得的，地点时间都不一样。但这是神做事的记录，也是神带领以色列人的根据。神会记得，以色列人会忘记，所以摩西记下来之后，就可以作为后人回顾的根据。

以色列人走旷野四十年，而这些沿途扎过营的地方正好也是四十个地点。每一个地点都有不可磨灭的记忆，虽然大部份是以色列人悖逆的记录，神却只让摩西记下：在以琳有十二股水泉，七十棵棕树。想想看我们的人生里也有许多得罪神的时候，但是等我们见神的时候，祂却只提起我们得救的美丽时刻，进而把我们拥入怀中，接回天家。一切的罪孽，祂都不再记念；一切的过犯，祂都丢到背后。何等恩典！

但是当我们看到这些地名时，我们依然记得在那些地方曾经发生过的事。当我们把这些地点都想一想时，再看看神的信实，在每一个地方所彰显的大能，我们就明白，人生虽然有苦难，但只要有神同行，那些苦难都会成为过去。只要我们肯相信神，只要我们愿意顺服，就可以少走许多冤枉路。

在这趟路程里，有过红海的神蹟，有玛拉的苦水，利非订的吵闹，基博罗哈他瓦抓鹌鹑的贪婪，等等。神好像一个严父，又好像一个慈母。每天云柱火柱不相离，吗哪天天供应，磐石出水显神蹟，虽然旷野的生活十分枯燥，但是神在每个层面的保守是何等无微不至。我们的生活有时也像古井无波，天天如是。想一想，还是要胜过在旷野的行路。假如在旷野都要思想到神那充沛的恩典，那么我们平常的生活，岂不应当更加感谢？

河东地的分配

2021-01-20 in , /by

〈民数记〉32:27 但你的仆人，凡带兵器的，都要照我主所说的话，在耶和华面前过去打仗。

和米甸人打完战之后，紧接着战利品的分配，有人已经在观察地势。倘若以色列人通通越过约旦河，那么这片刚刚打完占领的土地要归谁呢？土地很重要。有很多企业家都是从房地产发迹的，想要拥有庞大的财富，没有土地是不可能的。因此许多人一有钱就买屋置地，因为投资不一定赚钱，但是土地永远在那里，最能保值。因此有些国家不卖土地，只让人拥有九十九年。也有人想尽办法挪移地界，想在不知不觉之中骗取别人的土地。但是我听过最有趣的一则有关土地的新闻：有人在盖完了新家之后，才发现是盖在别人的土地上。

但是雅各的子孙可没有那么糊涂，流便和迦得的子孙在别人都还没上心时，就留意到这块肥沃的土地了。何必过约旦河呢？看看这些地土的青草长得何等青翠，看看那些牛羊惝徉在绿意无限的草地上，何等悠游自在，有什么地方比这片土地更合适他们住？何况，这块地总得有人去住，对不对？他们不住，不是又给外邦人占去了吗？思考再三，他们去跟摩西和大司及众首领提出申请。他们想要留在雅谢地和基列地，这两地就是以色列人刚刚征服之地。你想，摩西听了会有怎样的反应呢？

怎么可以这样子？想捡现成的便宜？才刚打完第一仗，就不想再往前了？这地是大家一起打下来的，你们要去度假了，享受大家打来的地。那么下一块地，谁来帮忙打仗呢？假如大家都这样做，那么参与作战的人越来越少，不是很不公平吗？亏他们想得出来这么自私的点子！摩西骂得比较有学问一点，有历史有背景，引经据典。咱是在瞎凑热闹。

但是这两个支派的代表也不是省油灯，他们说，冤枉了，老大。我们先造城垒圈，把妇人、孩子和牲畜安置好，就陪你们去打仗了，不打到大家都有地了，我们绝不回家。

Rest on Every Side

2021-01-20 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 21:34-45.   Let’s go!

Joshua 21:34-42 (NIV) 
34  The Merarite clans (the rest of the Levites) were given: from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam, Kartah, 
35  Dimnah and Nahalal, together with their pasturelands–four towns; 
36  from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer, Jahaz, 
37  Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands–four towns; 
38  from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim, 
39  Heshbon and Jazer, together with their pasturelands–four towns in all. 
40  All the towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, were twelve. 
41  The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands.
42  Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns.

On verses 34-42:  These verses conclude the list of towns that were given to the tribe of Levi, ending with the Merarite clans. “Merari” literally means “bitter”. The fact that these Levites could receive these towns as well as pasturelands, and this despite the sin that their forefather had committed in Genesis 34, is a pretty sweet deal made possible by God’s grace. 

戮米甸人

2021-01-19 in , /by

〈民数记〉31:2 「你要在米甸人身上报以色列人的仇，后来要归到你列祖那里。」

神下令叫摩西带领以色列人去杀米甸人，等报完这个仇，就要回天家了。归到列祖那里，就是回天家的意思。换了是你，若老板说，你把这工作做完，就可以回家，不必再来上班了。你会有何感想？你会好好去做完老板交代下的最后一个工作吗？

摩西完全顺服，他立刻分配以色列人出战。

米甸人可能没想到他们陷害以色列人，会引起灭顶之灾。米甸人是亚伯拉罕的第二位妻子基土拉的后裔，他们最初出现时，把约瑟卖到埃及；再来和亚玛力人、摩押人联合来欺负以色列人。最糟糕的是，术士巴兰是米甸人，他不但跟摩押王献计，还鼓动自己人去行恶作乱，使以色列人陷入淫乱与拜偶像的网罗里。因此神说要报仇，为他们陷害以色列人的罪报仇。因为巴兰设计让以色列人得罪耶和华；以致神惩罚以色列人，以色列人因而死了两万四千人（民25）。所以神要报仇。

有时我们被人陷害，遭受打击和损失，而害我们的人却还活得津津有味，享受人生，难免心怀不平。此时要想想米甸人的结局，他们所有的男丁都被杀了。在所杀的人中，包括米甸的五王，就是以未、利金、苏珥、户珥、利巴，还有比珥的儿子巴兰。

以色列人掳了米甸人的妇女孩子，并将他们的牲畜、羊群，和所有的财物都夺了来，当作掳物，又用火焚烧他们所住的城邑和所有的营寨，把一切所夺的、所掳的，连人带牲畜都带了去，将所掳的人，所夺的牲畜、财物，都带到摩押平原，在约旦河边与耶利哥相对的营盘，交给摩西和祭司以利亚撒，并以色列的会众。

回到以色列营地后，又把所有的男孩和己结过婚的女人都杀了，因为她们正是引诱以色列人犯罪的祸首。以色列的军长们竟然忘记这件事，还把这些女人都带回营，那不是要再次害死以色列人吗？

When God Changed Your Destiny

2021-01-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 21:23-33.   Let’s go!

Joshua 21:23-33 (NIV) 
23  Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 
24  Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands–four towns. 
25  From half the tribe of Manasseh they received Taanach and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands–two towns. 
26  All these ten towns and their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans. 
27  The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Be Eshtarah, together with their pasturelands–two towns; 
28  from the tribe of Issachar, Kishion, Daberath, 
29  Jarmuth and En Gannim, together with their pasturelands–four towns; 
30  from the tribe of Asher, Mishal, Abdon, 
31  Helkath and Rehob, together with their pasturelands–four towns; 
32  from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Hammoth Dor and Kartan, together with their pasturelands–three towns. 
33  All the towns of the Gershonite clans were thirteen, together with their pasturelands.

On verses 23-33:  These verses continue to describe the towns given to the Levites.  In verses 23-26 we read of the towns given to the rest of the Kohathites (v23-26).  Then in verses 27-33 we read of the towns given to the descendants of Levi’s oldest son Gershon, known as the Gershonites. 

许愿之例

2021-01-18 in , /by

〈民数记〉 30:2 人若向耶和华许愿或起誓，要约束自己，就不可食言，必要按口中所出的一切话行。

过年时大家最喜欢许愿或立志，不知道时至今日(1月19日)，你所许的愿或立下的志可否有实行了？我立下一个志愿，今年每一天都要先写完功课再玩游戏，或看电影，到目前为止，己经保持了19天，希望不要破记录。

许愿或立志的实行关键在于「要约束自己」，才不会食言，才有可能按口中所出的一切话行。「约束自己」，不是一件容易的事。例如减肥，大家都知道只要吃得健康，加上运动就可以了。胖的原因就是热量进得多，消耗得少，自然增磅；只要消耗的热量比进食的热量多，自然减肥。但是能约束自己的人不多，所以减肥成功的人也不多。自己对自己许的愿都不容易做到，何况对神所许的愿。

在〈士师记〉里，以色列人屦屦向神许愿，不去拜外邦人的偶像，但是每次神拯救他们之后，他们就又转去拜偶像。他们不能约束自己，总是投降于自己的邪情私欲和引诱，因而被罪所困，痛苦不堪。

有许多人在危急时，也会向神许愿求助；但是一旦神听了人的呼求，帮助他度过困难或窘迫的时刻后，很多人都会忘记曾经许过的愿。不然就说事有凑巧，不肯把荣耀归给神。

在〈士师记〉里有一个很出名的例子，就是耶弗他。耶弗他要出征去和亚扪人打仗前，向神许愿：「你若将亚扪人交在我手中，我从亚扪人那里平平安安回来的时候，无论什么人，先从我家门出来迎接我，就必归你，我也必将他献上为燔祭。（士11:30-31）」没想到他的独生女因为太爱她的父亲，等耶弗他一回来，就拿着鼓跳舞出来迎接他 。耶弗他虽然极度痛苦，但还是实现他对神的许愿。有的人认为，是让他的女儿终身不嫁，不是烧为燔祭，因为耶和华神不喜欢用人做为祭品；但也有人认为他真的把女儿献为燔祭。不管怎样，耶弗他在极大的痛苦中，依然守住自己的愿，向神还愿，是一个很了不起的人。

Where Saint and Sinner Meet

2021-01-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 21:13-22.   Let’s go!

Joshua 21:13-22 (NIV) 
13  So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah, 
14  Jattir, Eshtemoa, 
15  Holon, Debir, 
16  Ain, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands–nine towns from these two tribes. 
17  And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba, 
18  Anathoth and Almon, together with their pasturelands–four towns. 
19  All the towns for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were thirteen, together with their pasturelands. 
20  The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim: 
21  In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer, 
22  Kibzaim and Beth Horon, together with their pasturelands–four towns.

On verses 13-22:  These verses continue to describe the towns given to the Kohathite division of the Levites, starting with the descendants of Aaron (v13-19) and then moving onto to the rest of the Kohathites (v20-22).  Notice that these Levites are given two cities of refuge, Hebron (v13) and Shechem (v21).  As discussed in Joshua 20, cities of refuge were towns where a person accused of murder could flee to for safety until he received a fair trial. 

住棚节当献之祭

2021-01-17 in , /by

〈民数记〉29:12-40七月十五日，你们当有圣会，什么劳碌的工都不可做，要向耶和华守节七日。又要将公牛犊十三只、公绵羊两只、一岁的公羊羔十四只，都要没有残疾的，用火献给耶和华为馨香的燔祭。同献的素祭用调油的细面：为那十三只公牛每只要献伊法十分之三，为那两只公羊每只要献伊法十分之二，为那十四只羊羔每只要献伊法十分之一。并献一只公山羊为赎罪祭，这是在常献的燔祭和同献的素祭并同献的奠祭以外。

和赎罪日的气氛完全相反，住棚节是一个充满了欢乐的节期，把赎罪日的严肃和哀伤一扫而空。在〈利未记〉23章40节里，神要以色列人「在耶和华你们的神面前欢乐七日」，以色列人要住在棚里七日，以记念神带领他们的祖先出埃及时，曾使他们住在棚里。

记念耶和华的恩惠，使人对生命有盼望。有一首歌的副歌歌词这样说：“It is no secret what God can do, What He has done for others, He’ll do for you.”意思是说，神若为别人行了大事，祂也会为你行大事。所以记念神为以色列先祖行的神蹟，便可以明白神也会为现在的以色列人行神蹟。神为以前的圣徒行神蹟，也会为现在信靠祂的人行神蹟。

在《每日研经丛书》里对住棚节有极美的诠释：「住棚节一共有八天。要献的公牛犊从第一天的十三只递减，每天减一只。到了第八天用一只公牛即可。」根据拉比的解释，犹太人传统上在头七日共献上70只公牛，代表全世界的70个民族（基于创十章），借着为他们献祭，期望他们转向以色列的神。而头七日每天献14只羊羔，共98只，是为了避免〈申命记〉28章15至68节中记载的98个咒诅。在第八日的献祭只为以色列自己。在〈利未记〉23章39至43节的经文中，这个节期的名称得到了解释。我们在那里读到：『你们要住在棚里七日；凡以色列家的人都要住在棚里。』它现在变成一个回想和认明上帝在旷野无微不至的照顾和训练祂的百姓的时间──这与〈民数记〉中的事件相关的时间，这就不同于这个节期原来在农业上的目的。

Your Share in the Inheritance

2021-01-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 21:1-12.   Let’s go!

Joshua 21:1-12 (NIV) 
1  Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel
2  at Shiloh in Canaan and said to them, “The LORD commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock.”
3  So, as the LORD had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

On verses 1-12:  When Moses was still alive and leading the Israelites, God had commanded that upon taking possession of the promised land, the Israelites were to give the tribe of Levi towns to live in and to possess.  God even commanded that these towns and pasturelands for the Levites be taken from the Israelites’ own inheritance (see Numbers 35:1-5).  This was quite an act of grace and mercy toward Levi and his descendants.  That’s because when Levi was alive, he was notorious for a vengeful series of killings that he and his brother Simeon committed in Genesis 34.  Levi and Simeon’s sins had the effect of disqualifying their descendants from owning large areas of land for themselves (see Genesis 49:5-7).  By commanding the rest of the Israelite tribes to give towns and pasturelands to the Levites, God was showing great grace and mercy to Levi and his descendants.