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卅八年的懲罰

2026-05-31 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。

米利暗和亞倫的挑戰

2026-05-29 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？

A Life of Joy and Abundance

2026-05-29 in /by

Jesus was accused of much, but of being a grump, sourpuss, or self-centered jerk? No. People didn’t groan when he appeared. They didn’t duck for cover when he entered the room. He called them by name. He listened to their stories. He answered their questions. He visited their sick relatives and helped their sick friends. He fished with fishermen and ate lunch with the little guy and spoke words of resounding affirmation. He went to enough parties that he was criticized for hanging out with rowdy people and questionable crowds.

People were drawn to Jesus! Thousands came to hear him. Hundreds chose to follow him. They shut down their businesses and walked away from careers to be with him. His purpose statement read, “I came to give life with joy and abundance” (John 10:10 The Voice). Jesus was happy and wants us to be the same.

Finish the Race

2026-05-28 in /by

The Christian race is demanding, grueling, and sometimes agonizing. It takes a massive effort to finish strong. But many don’t. They may come to church and warm a pew, but their hearts aren’t in the race.

Jesus is the classic example of one who endured, in spite of temptation, accusations, and shame. The devil tempted Jesus nonstop for forty days. Jesus’ own family called him a lunatic. And, on the cross, he bore the collective shame of all humanity. How did he endure? By focusing on “the joy that God put before him”—that was the prize of heaven. And what he saw gave him strength to finish—and finish strong.

Someday we will be seated, and Christ will christen the meal with these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And in that moment, the race will have been worth it.

摩西求死

2026-05-28 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。」

What Jesus Celebrates

2026-05-27 in /by

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories of something lost and something found. A lost sheep. A lost coin. And a lost son. At the end of each story, Jesus describes a celebration. The point is clear. Jesus is happiest when the lost are found.

Jesus rejoices because he knows what awaits the saved. In Heaven, you will at long last, have a heart just like his. Guiltless. Fearless. Tirelessly worshiping. Flawlessly discerning. Jesus also rejoices that we are saved from hell. He says there’s only one sound there, and that is the “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Every person you meet has been given an invitation to dinner. When one says yes, celebrate! When one hesitates, urge him to get ready. You don’t want anyone to miss the party.

雲彩下的人生

2026-05-27 in , /by

〈民數記〉9: 17 雲彩幾時從帳幕收上去，以色列人就幾時起行。雲彩在哪裡停住，以色列人就在哪裡安營。

曠野裡的逾越節在這裡有兩個意思，一是指從第一次出埃及前過逾越節算起，這是曠野裡第一次過逾越節；另一個意思是指若有人因為不潔淨而不能和大家一起過逾越節，那麼一個月之後可以補過逾越節，是一年之中的第二個逾越節。所以神的意思是，逾越節是一個以色列人非參加不可的節日，若有人找藉口推辭不守逾越節，那人要從民中剪除。在逾越節裡，以色列人要記念神藉著被殺的羔羊拯救他們出埃及，對基督徒而言，也是信徒非記念不可的受難節。因為藉著耶穌的受難，我們的罪得以被遮蓋；藉著祂完成的救恩，我們能與神和好。

逾越節也是一個寄居的、本地人和外人都可以向神守的節日，因為神的救恩屬於萬民，並不局限在以色列人身上。在耶穌的受難節裡，我們更看出這件事的實質，神的救恩屬於萬國萬民。守逾越節必須先潔淨自己，因此沾染了污穢的人不能參加，要延後一個月補過。不潔淨的人不能守逾越節，那麼我們若心裡有罪孽，可否守受難節？所以受難節也是基督徒自我省察的時刻。因為守節是向神守的。

曠野裡的逾越節

2026-05-26 in , /by

〈民數記〉9: 4-5  於是摩西吩咐以色列人守逾越節。 他們就在西奈的曠野，正月十四日黃昏的時候，守逾越節。

逾越節在這裡，一是指從第一次出埃及前過的逾越節，二是指這是曠野裡第一次過逾越節。若有人因為不潔淨而不能和大家一起過逾越節，那麼一個月之後可以補過逾越節，是一年之中的第二個逾越節。所以神的意思是，逾越節是一個以色列人非參加不可的節日，若有人找藉口推辭不守逾越節，那人要從民中剪除。在逾越節裡，以色列人要記念神藉著被殺的羔羊拯救他們出埃及，對基督徒而言，也是信徒非記念不可的受難節。因為藉著耶穌的受難，我們的罪得以被遮蓋；藉著祂完成的救恩，我們能與神和好。

逾越節也是一個寄居的、本地人和外人都可以向神守的節日，因為神的救恩屬於萬民，並不局限在以色列人身上。在耶穌的受難節裡，我們更看出這件事的實質，神的救恩屬於萬國萬民。守逾越節必須先潔淨自己，因此沾染了污穢的人不能參加，要延後一個月補過。不潔淨的人不能守逾越節，那麼我們若心裡有罪孽，可否守受難節？所以受難節也是基督徒自我省察的時刻。因為守節是向神守的。

The Outlook of Christ

2026-05-26 in /by

Jesus said, “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar.”

In Gethsemane, Jesus faced betrayal on all levels. The disciples ran away. The people rejected him. And God didn’t answer his anguished appeal to avoid “the cup of suffering.” So, what did Christ do? He found enough good in the face of Judas to call him friend, and he can help us do the same with those who hurt us. He found purpose in the pain, seeing it as a necessary part of God’s greater plan.

Wouldn’t you love to have a hope-filled heart? God never promises to remove us from our struggles. He does promise, however, to change the way we look at them.

The Doorway to the Heart

2026-05-25 in /by

Proverbs 4:23 advises, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Think of your heart as a greenhouse and consider your thoughts as seed. We must be selective about the seeds we allow to come into the greenhouse. To have a pure heart, we must submit all our thoughts to the authority of Christ. You see, your mind is the doorway to your heart. The Holy Spirit stands with you on the threshold, helping you manage and filter the thoughts that try to enter. If Jesus agrees with the thought, then let it in. If not, kick it out.

How do you know if Jesus agrees or disagrees? You open your Bible. Armed with the opinion of Christ and the sword of the Spirit, guard the doorway of your heart. The more selective you are about seeds, the more delighted you will be with the crop.