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第二次核民数

2021-01-10 in , /by

〈民数记〉26:64      被数的人中，没有一个是摩西和祭司亚伦从前在西奈的旷野所数的以色列人。

摩西特别指出，流便的后裔法路族的和可拉党向摩西和亚伦挑衅，向耶和华争闹时，虽然有火烧灭了250个首领，但可拉的众子并没有死亡。可见神的审判不涉及无辜。在〈诗篇〉里我们还可以看到有可拉或其后人的创作，他们的后人在圣殿的敬拜中也占了相当的地位。

数算人数的目的之一是为了全迦南地分配迦南地的产业。虽然还没有进到迦南，但神都凡事先做好准备：「人多的，要把产业多分给他们；人少的，要把产业少分给他们。要照被数的人数，把产业分给各人。」虽然如此，有时人数不相上下，怎么办？神要他们使用拈阄分地。

俞建霈牧师在〈拈阄分地的意义〉里指出：「阄」这字在希伯来文是goral。根据学者研究，这字的意思是「小石头」，或「小圆石」。因为原初希伯来人用「小石头」，或「小圆石」来作「阄」或「签」，goral这字就转而用来指「阄」或「签」，进一步就是「得的分」， 「命定」，「运气」，或「命运」。与这字相关的动词有描述「投」 「掷」 「抛」 「丢」等动作的四个希伯来文动词；还有「临到」，「落到」， 「使..落下」的三个动词，并一次是「赐下」。

按人来说，拈阄是在于运气，但神就是我们的运气，在祷告之后，拈阄的结果乃是照着祂的命定。神创造地时，关于美地的情形，祂有清楚的看见。譬如，祂很清楚，耶路撒冷和周围地区是为著犹大，基督要从其中而出。这是豫先命定的，但仍必须借着拈阄而得以实现。神命定的手在拈阄上指引其结果。这就是说，分地不在于约书亚、大祭司、或神以外的任何人。结果，各支派没有理由埋怨所给他们那地的分。拈阄分地的方法是公平的，这使每个人服气。正如所罗门王在箴言里说的：「掣签能止息争竞，也能解散强盛的人。(箴18:18)」

When You Feel Small

2021-01-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 18:21-28.  Let’s go!

Joshua 18:21-28 (NIV) 
21  The tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, had the following cities: Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 
22  Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 
23  Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 
24  Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba–twelve towns and their villages. 
25  Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 
26  Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, 
27  Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 
28  Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah and Kiriath–fourteen towns and their villages. This was the inheritance of Benjamin for its clans.

On verses 21-28:  Here we get a list of the cities that were included in the land that the tribe of Benjamin received.  Benjamin was one of the smaller tribes of Israel and the amount of land it was given reflected its smaller size.  Yet notice that this small tribe was given “the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem)” (v28), which centuries later would become the capital and most important city in Israel.  Also, later on God would select Saul, the first king of Israel, from this land and this tribe of Benjamin, “the smallest tribe of Israel” (1 Samuel 9:21).   It’s a reminder to me that size is not necessarily an indicator of importance, and that God is able to use, honour and exalt you regardless of your size or background.

更丰盛的生命(之一)

2021-01-08 in /by

基督超越文化各界

「盗贼来，无非要偷窃，杀害，毁坏；我来了，是要叫羊（或作：人）得生命，并且得的更丰盛」（约10:10），这是耶稣道成肉身到世上来的第三个宣告，这样的话是没有一个宗教创办人讲过的，这样一句话是基督教信仰一个很重要的核心，无论宗教、哲学、政治、军事、财经等等文化最重要的内容，都不是为了生命的问题，这是很突出显明基督到世上他的任务是很不一样的，基督所做的与其他文化的事业有着本质上的差异。我们如果没有得着耶稣这方面到世上的目的，我们根本不认识基督教。

科学带给我们知与不知的分别，宗教界带给我们的是善与恶的分别，哲学所提出来的是智愚的分别，政治界让我们看见统治的问题，经济学所要告诉我们的是如何赚而不亏，军事所着重的是怎样占领别人的土地，唯有耶稣基督完全不提这些事情，耶稣所提的，就是生与死的问题。《圣经》说：「上帝爱世人，甚是将祂的儿子赐给他们，叫他们不致灭亡，反得永生。（约3:16）」你完全得着其他的范围，你还是要死，但「上帝在耶稣基督里所给我们的恩赐，乃是永生」(参：罗6:23)，这也是上帝给人类所有应许里最大的一个，所以〈约翰一书〉第二章告诉我们：「神的应许，就是永生」（参：约一2:25）。

基督的生命赐给我们的，是哪一种生命呢？不是原先从亚当传下来肉身被造的生命，如果是这个生命，我们大家早就有了，为什么耶稣还要说祂来了为要使你得生命呢？上帝在耶稣基督里应许我们的、基督所宣布的，是超过自然界的受造生命，这个生命就是超自然的生命，就是上帝自己的生命，是永远的生命。

Your Buffer Zone

2021-01-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 18:11-20.  Let’s go!

Joshua 18:11-20 (NIV) 
11  The lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:
12  On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the desert of Beth Aven.
13  From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth Addar on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon…….

On verses 11-20:  According to scholars, the tribes of Judah and Joseph were rivals, even though they were all part of the nation of Israel.  Interestingly, the lot is cast and Benjamin ends up getting the land right “between the tribes of Judah and Joseph” (v11).  In this way the tribe of Benjamin acted as a buffer between the two rivaling tribes, Judah and Joseph.

It reminds me of the role that Jesus plays in our lives.  When we were enemies of God because of our sin, Jesus stepped in the middle and acted as the buffer between us and God. 

以色列人在什亭犯罪

2021-01-07 in /by

〈民数记〉25: 12 因此，你要说：我将我平安的约赐给他。

以色列人在当时并不知道摩押王请了术士巴兰去咒诅他们。因为这事是摩押王偷偷去做的，为了削减以色列人的力量，以便将来和他们打仗时，可以一举把他们赶出摩押平原。

此时以色列人安营在约旦河东大约廿多里外之地，那里有一片数里宽的平原，也是一个低洼的山谷，因为是热带气候，那里的皂荚树很多，又长得十分茂盛，因此那地又称为什亭谷。什亭是皂荚树原文的发音。什亭亦称亚伯什亭，与耶利哥城隔着约旦河遥遥相对。先知约珥曾说：「到那日，大山要滴甜酒，小山要流奶子，犹大溪河，都有水流，必有泉源从耶和华的殿中流出来，滋润什亭谷。（珥3:18）」表明神至终要祝福以色列人，连他们停留的地方也要祝福和供应。

在犹太人的记录里，巴兰咒诅以色列人失败，回家后耶和华神的灵也离开他了。他越想越不甘心，不仅名利双失，并且失去了摩押王的恩竉。他的贪念一起，便回去向摩押王献计，因为他已经从神的祝福中得知，只要以色列人犯罪，便会失去耶和华神的祝福和护佑。摩押王依照巴兰的计谋，为他们的神明举办了一个盛大的庆祝，并私下由巴兰去引诱以色列人去参加这个庆典。

以色列人以为巴兰是上帝的先知。假如巴兰把上述的经历告诉以色列人，以色列人当然觉得，耶和华神都把祝福以色列人的话给了巴兰，让巴兰祝福以色列人，那他肯定是从耶和华神来的先知了。巴兰只要隐瞒他自己要害以色列人的心意就行了。所以百姓中有人随着巴兰去参加摩押神明的庆典。

Take Initiative and Fight for God’s Best

2021-01-07 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 18:1-10.  Let’s go!

Joshua 18:1-10 (NIV) 
1  The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control,
2  but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.
3  So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?……

On verses 1-10:  The Tent of Meeting was a portable tent that was set up as a place where God could meet with the people of Israel.  The Tent of Meeting is set up at Shiloh (v1) and there Joshua speaks to the entire assembly of Israelites, saying “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?” (v3)  At this point 7 tribes of Israel had still not received their allotments and had been waiting to take over some land in the promised land.  So Joshua sends 21 surveyors, 3 from each of the remaining 7 tribes that did not have land, to survey the remaining land (v4-9).  Joshua then cast lots to see which tribes would get what land (v10).

It’s All in the Approach

2021-01-06 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s GAME passage is Joshua 17:11-18.  Let’s go!

Joshua 17:11-18 (NIV) 
11  Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth). 
12  Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. 
13  However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely. ……

On verses 11-18:  The tribe of Manasseh was supposed to drive out the Canaanites from the land they had been allotted, but the Canaanites were too strong for them (v12).  Eventually when they are able to subdue the Canaanites, rather than driving them out as Deuteronomy 20:16-18 commanded, they subjected them to forced labour instead (v13).  Then the people of Joseph (i.e. the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim together) approach Joshua, complaining that Joshua has given them too little land for a people as numerous as them (v14).  Joshua turns their complaint into a challenge for them:  “if you are so numerous, then go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there” (v15).  The people of Joseph further complain to Joshua that they are scared of the Canaanites who live in that area and their iron chariots (v16).  Joshua encourages them, telling them that they are numerous, powerful and capable of taking that land (v17-18).

巴兰之歌3和预言

2021-01-06 in /by

〈民数记〉24章12-13节    巴兰对巴勒说：「我岂不是对你所差遣到我那里的使者说：『巴勒就是将他满屋的金银给我，我也不得越过耶和华的命，凭自己的心意行好行歹。耶和华说甚么，我就要说甚么』？

第三次，巴勒就领巴兰到那下望旷野的毘珥山顶上。

 巴勒对巴兰说：「来吧，我领你往别处去，或者神喜欢你在那里为我咒诅他们。巴勒就领巴兰到那下望旷野的毗珥山顶上。」

巴兰一直跟巴勒说：「我岂不是告诉你说『凡耶和华所说的，我必须遵行』吗？」但是巴勒还是坚持，想用各种方法引诱巴兰不听神的话。他不明白，所有的灵都在神的权下。

从毘珥山顶上望下去正好是以色列人的营地。以色列人的营地非常整齐，是按著神在西乃山上的指示所安排的。有个画家把整个营地画出来，其形状竟有如一个巨大的十字架。巴兰是个术士，在前两次他曾经想用法术来咒诅以色列人，但是都失败了，神的临在使他不能任意妄为，他只能听神的话，按著神的意思去祝福。巴兰见耶和华喜欢赐福与以色列，就不像前两次去求法术，却面向旷野。「面向旷野」就是面向摩押的平原观看以色列人。

当他观看以色列人时，神的灵临到他身上，巴兰开始赞美。这段话的英文NIV是这样写的：The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,  the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,  the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,  who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened。我是这样译的：比珥的儿子巴兰预言，一位眼目看得清楚的人预言，一位听神之话的人预言，那些得见从全能者来的异象之人，那些仆倒敬拜之人，以及那些眼目睁开之人（的预言）。这是一段前言，来表示他巴兰能清楚看见神给他的异象而做出的预言。他不是随便讲的，因为神开了他的眼，使他得以清楚看见。神让他看见什么呢？

The Blessing of Taking Initiative

2021-01-05 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 17:1-10.  Let’s go!

Joshua 17:1-2 (NIV) 
1  This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn, that is, for Makir, Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because the Makirites were great soldiers.
2  So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh–the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

On verses 1-2:  As we discussed in previous chapters of Joshua, Manasseh had the distinction of being the only tribe in Israel that was given land on both sides of the Jordan River. The descendants of Manasseh’s firstborn son Makir received land on the east side of the Jordan River, namely Gilead and Bashan (v1; see also Joshua 13:29-31).  The rest of the tribe of Manasseh would receive land on the west side of the Jordan.  Before we read of what land they would get on the west side of the Jordan, verses 3-6 tell us an interesting story.

巴兰之歌1/2

2021-01-05 in /by

〈民数记〉23章20节    我奉命祝福；神也曾赐福，此事我不能翻转。

第一次，巴勒带巴兰来到一个名为巴力的高处，从那里往下，可以望到以色列民的营地。巴兰对神有一些了解，因为他要求摩押王巴勒为他准备七座坛，七只公牛、七只公羊。在《圣经》里，有许多地方都显示「七」代表神的数目。一周有七天，神在第七天安息，又立第七日为安息日，圣所的金灯台有七座；人若犯罪，祭司应当七次为他蘸血，七次洒血在圣所的幔前；赎罪日的血要七次洒在施恩座前，〈启示录〉里的七间教会，等等。说不完的「七」例子。巴兰对巴勒明说，他得准备去迎见耶和华神，看看神要他说什么。

神迎见巴兰，将话传给巴兰。

等巴兰一开口，巴勒不禁愣住了，他究竟是巴兰来做何事呢？他付了一大笔钱给这家伙，听听他说些什么？：「巴勒引我出亚兰，摩押王引我出东山，说：来啊，为我咒诅雅各；来啊，怒骂以色列。神没有咒诅的，我焉能咒诅？耶和华没有怒骂的，我焉能怒骂？我从高峰看他，从小山望他；这是独居的民，不列在万民中。谁能数点雅各的尘土？谁能计算以色列的四分之一？我愿如义人之死而死；我愿如义人之终而终。 (23:7-10) 」

这段话里指出巴勒的恶念，但耶和华神高于一切，因此巴兰必须顺服神。这高峰指的就是巴兰和巴勒所站之处，不管是从高峰看或从小山上看，以色列民都是与世人不同的民族。没有人能够数点雅各的后裔，连四分之一也算不过来，表明神给他们的祝福无限大。这里的义人指的是属神的人，有的人说是指雅各，因为以色列人是雅各的十二个儿子所组成的。神给雅各取名为以色列，所以他的后裔就叫做以色列人。雅各之死有何特别？